Liverpool thrashed Toulouse 5-1 at Anfield to reach the halfway point of the Europa League group stage with a perfect record, while Brighton & Hove Albion secured their first win in European football with a 2-0 home win over Ajax Amsterdam on Thursday.
Diogo Jota opened the scoring for Liverpool after nine minutes, embarking on a solo run that saw him navigate past four defenders before planting the ball into the bottom corner.
Toulouse responded seven minutes later as Thijs Dallinga perfectly timed his run from the halfway line into the box, effortlessly slotting home in the Group E clash.
The rest of the match belonged to Liverpool as Wataru Endo headed them back in front just past the half-hour mark. Four minutes later Darwin Nunez extended their lead with a shot from a tight angle, capitalising on a rebound inside the box.
Nunez nearly netted again in the 65th minute but his shot from the right side of the box struck the post after a superb run. Nevertheless, Ryan Gravenberch capitalised on the rebound to score Liverpool’s fourth goal.
Three minutes into stoppage time late substitute Mohamed Salah completed the thrashing with a well-placed shot into the top corner from closer range, having bemused his marker.
That goal took the Egyptian’s tally to 43 for Liverpool in major European competitions, a record for any player at an English club.
Liverpool top the group by five points over Union Saint Gilloise and Toulouse, who both have four points.
Union defeated LASK 2-1 with a late Cameron Puertas penalty and winning goal from Christian Burgess four minutes into stoppage time to leave the visitors bottom without a point.
Brighton achieved a European milestone by beating Ajax and reigniting their chances of reaching the knockout stages. They are now level on four points with second-placed AEK Athens in Group B, a point behind Olympique de Marseille.
Marseille overcame AEK 3-1 earlier on Thursday.
Brighton got a break three minutes before halftime when Joao Pedro capitalised on a rebound from a save by goalkeeper Diant Ramaj and slotted the ball into the net.
The Seagulls extended their lead eight minutes after the break when Ansu Fati received a lofted pass into the box and the 20-year-old calmly slotted home into the far bottom corner.
The result leaves Ajax in a difficult position as the Dutch side are now bottom of the group with two points.
The former European champions are also second-bottom of the Eredivisie and parted ways with coach Maurice Steijn on Monday.
Olympiakos Piraeus beat Europa Conference League holders West Ham United 2-1 in Group A to end the visitors’ 17-match unbeaten run in Europe. The Londoners remain top, albeit level on six points with Freiburg who beat Backa Topla 3-1 away.
Kostas Fortounis opened the scoring for the Greek side before Rodinei’s shot was sliced into his own net by Angelo Ogbonna. West Ham pulled one back with Lucas Paqueta’s volley.
AS Roma maintained their dominant form in Group G with a 2-0 victory over Slavia Prague as Edoardo Bove scored after 45 seconds and striker Romelu Lukaku extended his remarkable streak by netting in a 14th consecutive Europa League match.
Jose Mourinho’s side top Group G with a maximum nine points, three clear of second-placed Slavia.
Bayer Leverkusen thumped Qarabag 5-1 in Group H as Alejandro Grimaldo scored twice and Xabi Alonso’s side now lead the group with nine points, three clear of their Azerbijani visitors.
Stade Rennais moved top of Group F with a 2-1 victory at Panathinaikos to move two points clear of their second-placed opponents with goals from Amine Gouiri and Arnaud Kalimuendo.
The Villarreal and Maccabi Haifa match has been rescheduled to December 6.
The DP World International League T20 (ILT20) has officially cemented its status as a global cricket powerhouse. Following the conclusion of Season 4, new data reveals the league has tightened its grip as the second-most watched cricket league in the world, reaching a staggering 397 million unique viewers across TV and OTT platforms.
This represents a 7.49% increase over Season 3, fuelled by expansive broadcast syndication and the maiden title victory of the Desert Vipers on January 4, 2026.
Digital dominance: 2.5 billion views
While the TV numbers are impressive, the league’s digital footprint saw an even more explosive surge. DP World ILT20 platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, amassed over 2.5 billion video views during the season.
“This season we have further strengthened our position… with significant gains across all platforms,” said David White, CEO of DP World ILT20.
“Our digital content, focusing on both high-stakes action and off-field fan engagement, has truly resonated with a global audience.”
Season 4 statistical highlights
Global Reach: 397 million unique viewers (7.49% YoY growth).
Viral Content: Over 350 social media posts surpassed the 1 million views mark.
Star Power: Features elite talent including Sam Curran (Player of the Tournament), Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, and Shakib Al Hasan.
Joseph Eapen, Managing Partner at GSIQ, noted that for such a young tournament, achieving this level of international relevance is a “highly credible and noteworthy achievement.”
With Season 4 in the books, the league is already looking toward the future. Officials have confirmed that dates for Season 5 will be unveiled in the coming days, promising an even larger spectacle for cricket fans worldwide.
Travellers arriving at Dubai International Airport are being greeted with a unique souvenir, a special stamp on their passports celebrating the Dubai World Cup 2026.
The initiative, launched by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), marks the 30th edition (Pearl Jubilee) of one of the world’s most prestigious horse racing events.
A grand sporting celebration
The iconic Dubai World Cup will take place on Saturday, March 28 at Meydan Racecourse, drawing global attention from racing fans and elite stables.
This year’s event promises high-stakes action:
100 horses from top international stables
Nine races across the evening
Total prize pool of $30.5 million
Spotlight on the main race
The highlight of the night is the $12 million Dubai World Cup race, sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Run over 2,000 metres on dirt, the Group 1 race will feature some of the world’s top thoroughbreds, including:
“Hit Show” – last year’s winner
“Forever Young” – UAE Derby and Saudi Cup champion
“Imperial Emperor”
“Meidan” – Super Saturday winner
A memorable arrival experience
The commemorative passport stamp adds a celebratory touch for visitors landing in Dubai, tying their arrival to one of the city’s biggest sporting spectacles.
With excitement building ahead of race day, Dubai is once again showcasing its ability to blend world-class sport with unique visitor experiences.
Soccer superstar Erling Haaland has announced a major investment in Norway Chess, backing the launch of a new global competition format, the Total Chess World Championship Tour.
The initiative, unveiled in Oslo, aims to transform chess into a more spectator-friendly and widely accessible sport. Haaland has partnered with Norwegian business leader Morten Borge to establish a new company, Chess Mates, which will become a significant stakeholder in Norway Chess.
Haaland said his investment reflects a strong belief in chess as both a mental discipline and a global spectator sport.
“Chess is an incredible game. It sharpens your mind, and there are clear similarities to football. You have to think quickly, trust your instincts, and think several moves ahead,” he said.
The newly announced Total Chess World Championship Tour is set to feature four tournaments annually across different cities, bringing together the world’s top players. The competition will crown an overall world champion based on combined performance in three formats: Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz.
The tour has been approved by the International Chess Federation for a minimum of 16 years, underscoring its long-term ambition and significance within the global chess calendar.
A pilot tournament is scheduled for autumn 2026, with the first full season expected in 2027. Each season will include four events and offer a minimum prize pool of $2.7 million.
Kjell Madland, CEO of Norway Chess and Total Chess, welcomed Haaland’s involvement, describing it as a major step forward for the sport.
He said Haaland’s global influence and appeal would help attract new audiences and elevate the profile of chess worldwide, adding that preparations are now in the final stages to secure host cities for the inaugural tour.
With millions of fans worldwide, Haaland’s move into chess investment signals a growing crossover between elite sport and strategic mind games, potentially reshaping how chess is consumed and followed globally.