Champions Liverpool played well in the opening half-hour with Mohamed Salah wasting an early chance, but once Haaland had scored from the spot in the 37th ​minute after a foul on Nico O’Reilly their resistance crumbled.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk conceded ​the penalty with a rash challenge, and there was little the Dutch defender could ⁠do as City played scintillating attacking football for the remainder of the game.

His blond hair swinging ​behind him in a ponytail, Erling Haaland netted his second two minutes into first-half stoppage time with a ​well-placed header from an excellent Antoine Semenyo cross.

Semenyo got on the scoresheet himself five minutes after the break, latching on to a ball in behind from Rayan Cherki and chipping it beautifully past Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Erling Haaland completed his treble ​with a shot off the underside of the crossbar in the 57th minute.

Liverpool’s woes continued when ​Mohamed Salah, who is set to leave the club at the end of the season, capped off a poor performance ‌by ⁠having his penalty saved by James Trafford, snuffing out any faint hopes Liverpool might have had of a comeback.

As the game turned into a victory parade, many Liverpool fans started heading for the exits, and City manager Pep Guardiola rang the changes, replacing Haaland with Omar Marmoush, the Norwegian striker receiving a ​standing ovation as he ​left the field.

In the ⁠other quarter-finals, Chelsea take on Port Vale and Southampton host Arsenal later on Saturday, with Leeds United travelling to West Ham United on Sunday.

The semi-finals ​will take place at Wembley, and Erling Haaland is relishing a return to the ​stadium.

“First half, ⁠we struggled a bit, but then we after around 30 minutes we kept going and in the end it’s an amazing game. Another Wembley trip for us is amazing and important,” he told broadcaster TNT.

“I think (my ⁠form this ​season) has been a bit too much up and down, ​which is not good enough. I cannot keep on thinking about what I could have done differently or what didn’t happen, ​or what happened. I have to think about the next game.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) debuted a season-long trial earlier this week, allowing fully participating, like-for-like replacements in the case of injuries, illness or significant life events like the birth of a child or the serious illness of a family member.

Injured players could be replaced by a substitute fielder under existing rules, but the ECB allowed them to participate fully after the International Cricket Council (ICC) asked member boards to experiment with injury substitutes in domestic cricket.

Similar rules have been tried out in the domestic first-class competitions of Australia, India and South Africa.

The substitutions must be approved by the match referee and once replaced, a player cannot return to the game.

As a like-for-like replacement for Westley, who is primarily a batter, Noah Thain will be allowed to bat but cannot bowl in this match.

The former Burnley, ​Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid player ​was key to Newcastle’s League Cup ⁠campaign last season when they won ​their first domestic trophy in 70 years.

“This is ​where I have felt most at home. It’s emotional … I’m going to miss you all, ​but to win a trophy with ​you guys was really, really special, the best ‌of ⁠my career,” Kieran Trippier, 35, said in a statement.

After Kieran Trippier joined from Atletico in 2022, Newcastle enjoyed their best Premier ​League season ​in two ⁠decades as they finished fourth in 2022-23, returning to European ​competition for the first time since ​2012-13.

“From ⁠the moment he walked through the door, he has helped to drive standards ⁠that ​have changed the club’s ​trajectory,” Newcastle coach Eddie Howe said.

According to sources, a letter has been delivered to the secretary sports, culture and tourism for amendment in the rules. “The letter has recommended amendment in the local councils rules”.

Sources said that the government and public places could be named after a living person. The letter has suggested amendment in the rule 5 to reducing it to 30 year. In the current rule, the name of a place could not be changed until 50 years, according to sources.

A case has been under the hearing of the Peshawar High Court against the renaming of the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium, in which attributing the name of the public place to a living person has been challenged.

It has also been argued that a public place could not be renamed until 50 years.

Ali Gohar Durrani Advocate representing Arbab Amjad Ali has filed petition against the government’s renaming of the stadium.

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) in a hearing of the case directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial administration to submit its reply within a week.

The bench directed to the government lawyer to present concerned papers within a week and adjourned further hearing of the case until April 21.

The provincial government has officially renamed Arbab Niaz cricket Stadium in Peshawar as Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, despite opposition from various political groups and individuals.

The KP government last year decided to rename the stadium, which was originally named after Arbab Niaz Muhammad, a former federal sports minister from Peshawar, when it was built in 1984.

The decision sparked a controversy, and the matter was challenged by a petition in the high court.

It’s one of the world’s most challenging Arctic expeditions, marking a significant milestone for Pakistan in global adventure sports.

The expedition, organized by Fjällräven, takes participants across the harsh Arctic wilderness, where they complete a 300km dogsled expedition & endure extreme weather conditions, sub-zero temperatures, and physically demanding terrain over multiple days.
Completing this expedition requires not only physical endurance but also mental resilience and survival skills.

Samar Khan represented Pakistan on this prestigious international platform, pushing beyond limits and overcoming the challenges of the Arctic environment to cross the final finish line.

CROSSED THE FINISH LINE OF FJÄLLRÄVEN POLAR 2026

From Pakistan to the Arctic…
Completed a 300 km dogsled expedition across the frozen Arctic tundra.
Gratitude to @Fjallraven_Swe @SwedeninPK @SwedenAmbPK
for their incredible support in expediting my visa process. pic.twitter.com/2hNtJnrv6z

— Samar Khan (@SKhanAthlete) April 4, 2026

Samar Khan’s achievement highlights the growing presence of Pakistani athletes in global adventure sports and serves as an inspiration for young women and aspiring athletes across the country to pursue unconventional paths.

This accomplishment not only adds to her list of achievements but also places Pakistan on the global map of endurance and exploration-based sports.

The 34-year-old former Real Madrid and Everton attacker featured in Sunday’s World Cup warm-up match in Landover, Maryland, which Colombia lost 3-1. Rodriguez was substituted off after 63 minutes, having appeared sluggish and disconnected from the game.

He “presented symptoms of severe dehydration that required his hospitalization over the past 72 hours,” said the federation.

Rodriguez was taken to hospital in Minnesota, where he plays for Major League Soccer side Minnesota United, “for preventive clinical monitoring and recovery.”

Minnesota United confirmed Rodriguez is recovering, telling AFP that his status for this weekend’s clash with LA Galaxy will be updated on Friday.

Rodriguez joined the MLS side in February but has played just 39 minutes so far due to injury. The federation statement said his hospitalization was not related to those injuries.

His physical fitness remains uncertain ahead of Colombia’s World Cup campaign this summer, when they will face Uzbekistan, DR Congo and Portugal in Group K.

Rodriguez was the top scorer in the 2014 World Cup, joining Real Madrid soon after.

He continues to play a pivotal role in the Colombia side. Head coach Nestor Lorenzo has fielded criticism for starting Rodriguez against France and a previous friendly versus Croatia despite his lack of match fitness.

The Spanish champions visit Atletico on Saturday as they bid to maintain or even extend their lead at the top of La Liga, before two further games against Diego Simeone’s team in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Barca have already faced Atletico three times this season, beating them in La Liga in December but falling in the Copa del Rey semi-final over two legs.

Without Raphinha, out with a hamstring injury until May, the onus will be on 18-year-old winger Yamal to provide the magic Barca need to proceed on two fronts in the approaching inevitably intense battles with Atletico.

Barca hold a four-point lead on Real Madrid, who visit Mallorca earlier on Saturday, at the top of the table.

Yamal played for Spain this week in a goalless draw against Egypt in Cornella at Espanyol’s stadium, which was notable for Islamophobic chanting from the home supporters that the teenager, a Muslim, condemned.

“To those who sing these things: using a religion as a form of mockery on a pitch shows you up as ignorant and racist,” wrote Yamal on social media.

Yamal has shown maturity beyond his years since bursting onto the scene as a 15-year-old, including starring for Spain as they won Euro 2024 and blossoming further still as Barca claimed a domestic treble last season.

The youngster, often compared to another graduate from Barca’s La Masia youth academy, Lionel Messi, seems to save his best performances for the biggest occasions.

Yamal netted six times for Barca in his last seven matches across all competitions, and the Catalan giants will hope he can continue that form into the final phase of the season.

He admitted in February that he has not been happy this season, in part due to a long-running groin injury, but lately feels better.

“I have that desire to smile on the pitch that I haven’t had for a long time and I’m very happy, now I’m happy playing,” said Yamal after scoring the first hat-trick of his career, against Villarreal.

In recent weeks Barca have been dependent on the forward in attack and goalkeeper Joan Garcia at the other end.

Strikers Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres have struggled for consistent form, while Marcus Rashford has fallen somewhat out of favour.

Raphinha’s injury opens the door for the England international, on loan from Manchester United, to start on the left again.

Yamal’s pressing and off-the-ball work is an excellent example for Rashford, who despite his strong contribution in terms of assists, sometimes lacks the relentless energy and focus Flick wants from his forwards.

As well as Raphinha, Barca are also likely to be without Frenkie de Jong at the weekend, but Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde may be able to return after injury.

Simeone’s Atletico, fourth by a distance from fifth-place Real Betis, have little to play for in the league but will want to build momentum before Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at Camp Nou.

Largie Ramazani

Valencia have risen to mid-table in recent weeks, largely thanks to the form of Belgian forward Ramazani. The 25-year-old, on loan from Premier League side Leeds, has scored five goals in his last nine appearances. Los Che host Celta Vigo on Sunday looking to add to their run of three wins from their last four matches.

Arsenal and Chelsea will expect to reach the semi-finals at Wembley against lower tier opposition, while West Ham and Leeds put their battle for Premier League survival on hold in a bid to reach the last four.

AFP Sport examines what to look out for in the four ties:

Manchester City v Liverpool, Saturday 11:45 (all times GMT)
City produced perhaps their best performance of the season to dominate Arsenal and win the League Cup final 2-0 before the international break.

They remain in the running to match their feat as the only English side to ever win the domestic treble of League Cup, FA Cup and Premier League in 2018/19.

Liverpool face a defining 10 days for their season and possibly Arne Slot’s future at Anfield.

Languishing fifth in the Premier League, the FA Cup and Champions League are the Reds’ only remaining hope of glory.

After visiting the Etihad, Slot’s men face European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals over two legs on April 8 and 14.

Despite leading Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title less than a year ago, Slot is under huge pressure to end a difficult second season on a high if he is to remain in the job.

The rest of Liverpool’s season will also be marked by a long farewell to Salah.

The Egyptian announced over the international break that he will leave at the end of the campaign having netted 255 goals so far for the club.

“Hopefully he can make his legacy even more special in the upcoming weeks and months where we still play for something special, but he will always leave this club as a legend,” said Slot.

Chelsea v Port Vale, Saturday (1615)

Chelsea can ill afford to add a massive cup upset to a maelstrom of discontent on and off the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

Four consecutive defeats have plunged manager Liam Rosenior’s future into doubt less than three months into his reign.

Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella have spoken out publicly in recent weeks, criticising the decision to sack Enzo Maresca in January.

Chelsea then annonuced a Premier League record pre-tax loss of £262.4 million ($349.3 million) for the year to June 30 on Wednesday, sparking speculation over who the Blues may have to sell this summer.

A Port Vale side rooted to the bottom of League One and headed for the fourth tier should still pose little problems for the Premier League giants.

But Vale have won as many games in the FA and League Cup this season (seven) as they have in 38 league games.

Southampton v Arsenal, Saturday (1900)

Mikel Arteta’s team selection will be scrutinised at St. Mary’s after most of his key players pulled out of international duty with injuries.

Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes were among the 10 Gunners’ to withdraw from action with their nations.

Arteta is seeking a reaction after Arsenal’s six-year wait for a trophy was prolonged by City at Wembley.

But they remain in pole position for a first Premier League title in 22 years and also have a favourable Champions League quarter-final draw against Sporting Lisbon.

West Ham v Leeds, Sunday (1530)

The priority for both sides may be Premier League survival, but the draw has handed them a rare chance to make the last four.

Leeds have not reached the FA Cup semi-finals since 1987, while West Ham last made it that far 20 years ago.

West Ham sit in the Premier League relegation zone, four points adrift of Leeds, but have used the positive momentum of a cup run to turn their season around.

Since ending a 10-match winless run against QPR in the third round, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have lost just three of 13 games.

Fakhar was penalised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after being found guilty of a Level 3 breach of the tournament’s Code of Conduct, relating to ball-tampering during Lahore Qalandars’ clash against Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The left-handed batter had denied the charge and opted for a full disciplinary hearing, which was conducted by match referee Roshan Mahanama. Following a review of the evidence and Fakhar’s defence, the referee imposed a two-match suspension, the maximum penalty for a first Level 3 offence.

In response, Fakhar Zaman lodged a formal appeal, seeking a reassessment of the decision.

The matter was then revisited by the PSL Technical Committee, which conducted a fresh review before arriving at the same conclusion.

According to the PCB, the committee, comprising Professor Javed Malik, Dr Mumraiz Naqshband, and Syed Ali Naqi, carried out a de novo inquiry, examining all available evidence and hearing submissions from relevant parties before dismissing the appeal.

“Pursuant to conducting a de novo inquiry, reviewing all evidence, and hearing submissions from relevant individuals, the Committee has dismissed the appeal and upheld the two-match ban imposed by Match Referee Roshan Mahanama,” the cricket board stated.

The board confirmed that the original sanction would stand, meaning Fakhar will now miss Lahore Qalandars’ upcoming fixtures, including their match against Multan Sultans on April 3 at Gaddafi Stadium, followed by an away game against Islamabad United on April 9.

Gabriele Gravina revealed he would step down as the country’s top football official following a meeting held at the FIGC’s headquarters in Rome on Thursday.

His announcement came a day after Sport Minister Andrea Abodi called on him to resign.

Four-time World Cup winners Italy fell at the play-offs again on Tuesday, this time after a penalty shoot-out against Bosnia and Hercegovina, and will miss this summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The shock waves of the latest humiliation for one of the world’s most successful football nations forced Gravina, 72, to go back on his initial plans to wait until a FIGC board meeting next week to announce a decision on his future.

The FIGC said in a statement that a vote for a new president would be held on June 22.

Giovanni Malago, the former long-time head of the Italian Olympic Committee who was president of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics organisation committee, is reportedly one of the names in the hat.

Before then, head coach Gennaro Gattuso is expected to also step down, while general manager Gianluigi Buffon, the former Italy goalkeeper, announced his resignation on Thursday.

Italy’s failure to reach the first ever 48-team World Cup — which will feature the likes of Cape Verde and Curacao — led Abodi to release a statement saying: “It’s clear that Italian football needs to be rebuilt from the ground up and that starts with changes at the top of the FIGC.”

That came a day after Gravina had hit out at politicians “who have only pushed for resignations”, while also admitting Italian football “is in a profound crisis”.

UEFA threat

Gravina was elected FIGC president in October 2018, becoming the permanent replacement for Carlo Tavecchio, who stepped down following Italy’s first World Cup play-off defeat to Sweden the previous year.

The highlight of his reign was Italy’s thrilling triumph at Euro 2020, when an Azzurri team under Roberto Mancini, which went unbeaten for 37 matches, beat England at Wembley to be crowned kings of the continent for the second time.

But two World Cup qualification failures and a dismal defence of the European title left Gravina with little choice but to resign as Italy’s football woes deepen.

And those do not just relate to diminishing performances by the national team and Serie A clubs — none of whom have won the Champions League since 2010.

Italy are due to co-host Euro 2032 with Turkey but on Thursday, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin hit out at the state of Italy’s stadiums, warning the country could be stripped of hosting rights.

“I just hope that the infrastructure (in Italy) will be ready. If that’s not the case, the tournament will not be held in Italy,” Ceferin said in an interview with the Gazzetta Dello Sport.

Italy’s football malaise contrasts sharply with its success in other sports.

Italy claimed a record 30 medals at the recent Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, including 10 golds, and left the 2024 Summer Games in Paris with 40 medals.

The Mediterranean nation also has top performers in a wide variety of other sports, such as tennis star Jannik Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam winner.

Gravina caused anger on Tuesday by referring to other sports as “amateur” and “state sports” compared to football due to the large number of athletes, particularly Olympians, who are nominally employed by different branches of Italy’s armed forces and police.