[Getty Images]Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez says competition from Mike Penders can only help raise standards as the club prepares for the new Premier League season.Last season Sanchez, 28, saw off competition from Filip Jorgensen, who is set to join Strasbourg on loan.But Penders, 21, has returned to Stamford Bridge after spending last season with the French side and will provide fresh competition for the number one shirt.New manager Xabi Alonso has made it clear that every position in his squad is "open", including in goal, but Sanchez welcomes the challenge.Asked about the arrival of Penders, Sanchez said: "He is a great young goalie and had a great season at Strasbourg last year."He's tall, 6ft 7in, dominates his area, is very calm and is a top guy. I think he is going to be a great keeper in the future. He has massive potential."Despite establishing himself as Chelsea's first-choice goalkeeper, Sanchez believes competition is essential to maintaining performance levels.He added: "You never know what will happen to the first-choice keeper, whether he is going to get injured or go through a rough period."So you need another option to provide cover and push each other to raise the level. If you do not have someone pushing you every day, you get lazy and then performance drops."I think it is always good to have one or two people pushing you every day."Sanchez is preparing for his fourth season at Chelsea after joining from Brighton in a 25m move in 2023.After making 111 appearances in all competitions for the Blues, he is among the most experienced players in Alonso's squad and is expected to battle with Penders for the starting spot throughout the campaign.

Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Ulster (5) 10Tries: Boles, BarrettConnacht (5) 15Tries: McGann 2 Con: Deely Pen: DeelyA dominant second-half performance by Connacht saw the western province inflict a painful 15-10 defeat on Ulster in their opening match of the Interprovincial Championship at Affidea Stadium.Two tries by the dangerous Irish international Anna McGann and a penalty from the boot of Meabh Deely saw the visitors clinch victory after a hard-fought contest.Just four minutes in, a cross-field kick from Meabh Deeley found McGann and there was no stopping the wing who used her explosive pace to get over for the opening score of the game. Deely missed the conversion but Connacht continued to look threatening, with an immense carry from Faith Oviawe and a cross-field kick to Ava Ryder edging them close to the try-line on two separate occasions, but Ulster stayed patient and disciplined to keep the visitors from scoring again.At the mid-way point of the half, Kara Mulcahy was shown a yellow card for failing to retreat 10 metres when making a tackle after a quick tap penalty from Ulster's Rachael McIlroy and the home side continued to edge their way forward.An already special day for Claire Boles, as she captained the team in the absence of the injured India Daley, got even better as she dotted down for Ulster's first try of the campaign. Craig Hansberry's side looked to edge ahead before the break, but Meabh Deely kicked the ball dead and both teams returned to the changing rooms with the scores level at 5-5.The second half started slowly but Ulster got the home crowd behind them and roaring, as they took the lead for the first time when Sophie Barrett went crashing over, although again they could not add the extras.However, the visitors suddenly shifted the momentum in the final quarter with McGann typically to the fore with ball in hand before she accelerated from close range to get her second score of the game. This time Deely's was accurate with the conversion to give the westerners a two-point lead. Ulster attempted to force their way back through a monstrous scrum but they were penalised for crossing and player of the match Deely added another three points off the tee to give her side breathing room. Skipper Boles searched desperately for a way back into the game for her side but with time running out, Connacht did enough to hold on for victory.Ulster will now head to Energia Park to face Munster on 15 August (16:30pm BST), before returning to the Affidea Stadium in Round 3 a week later to conclude the round-robin against Leinster. 'We'll be back with all our fight'Speaking to BBC Sport NI, Ireland back-row Boles felt her side lost control of the game in the closing stages."We came out strong in the first half, but we kind of lost our way in the second half and let Connacht get ahead. "We were pushing to get back into it in the last five minutes, but it just wasn't our day."We'll focus on trying to control the match in those last five minutes more and where to play and where not to play."Despite the defeat, she said she was both proud of the side's efforts and to lead out the squad."I'm so proud to have captained. I love being from Ulster, it's my home. "Each and every one of the girls makes you want to play harder and I'm so proud of them all."There are a lot of tough girls in our squad and there's a lot of belief in us for the next few games and although it didn't go our way, it's closer than any of our other games and we'll be back with all our fight."Ulster: Niamh Marley; Katie Gilmour, Caitlin Crowe, Lucy Thompson, Siobhan Sheerin; Abby Moyles, Rachael McIlroy; Sadhbh McGrath, Maebh Clenaghan, Sophie Barrett; Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan, Rebecca Beacom; Moya Hill, Christy Hill, Claire Boles (capt).Replacements: Emily Whittle, Sarah Roberts, Ava Fannin, Ellen Patterson, Katie Hetherington, Amy McConkey, Leah Irwin, Ella Durkan.Connacht: Clara Barrett; Anna McGann, Lyndsay Clarke, Siofra Hession, Ava Ryder; Meabh Deely, Aoibheann Reilly (co-capt); Ella Burns, Kara Mulcahy, Lily Morris; Faith Oviawe, Emma Fabby; Emma Kelly, Ailish Quinn (co-capt), Jemima Adams Verling.Replacements: Stacy Hanley, Laura Scuffil, Hannah Rapley, Olivia Tallon, Hannah Johnston, Grinne Moran, Alanna Fitzpatrick, Emily Foley.

After a stellar 8-2 record in July, the Indiana Fever (19-12) have begun August with consecutive losses and are seeking to rebound today against the Chicago Sky (12-19) inside the United Center.The Fever's back-to-back losses so far this month have come against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx (108-100) and the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces (86-84 OT).As the Fever and Sky clash on the court today, follow along for live updates and highlights, including Caitlin Clark's latest points and stats:Indiana Fever injury reportAccording to the Fever's day-before injury report, Caitlin Clark (back) and Aliyah Boston (right lower leg) are both listed as probable, while Damiris Dantas (left knee) is not with the team after undergoing season-ending surgery on her left knee.Status Report for tomorrow's game at Chicago:Aliyah Boston Probable (right lower leg)Caitlin Clark Probable (back)Damiris Dantas NWT (left knee) pic.twitter.com/j7LEj7WA06 Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 7, 2026Where to watch Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever vs. Chicago SkyWatch Indiana Fever vs. Chicago SkyDate: Saturday, Aug. 8Time: 2:30 p.m. CTTV: ABCWhere to stream Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever vs. Chicago SkyFans can stream Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever against the Chicago Sky via Fubo.Contact/Follow us@HawkeyesWireon X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.Follow Scout on X:@SpringgateNewsThis article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky: Caitlin Clark points, stats

Leeds star set to miss start of Premier League season in blow for boss FarkeLeeds United boss Daniel Farke has revealed that Gabriel Gudmundsson is expected to miss the start of the Premier League season.Gudmundsson suffered the setback during the pre-season win over Liverpool last week, and speaking after Leeds 2-0 friendly win over RB Leipzig, Farke said: Bad news with Gabi, a muscle injury.Obviously he had a difficult summer anyway because he was just injured before the World Cup and got fit for the World Cup but came back later and right now its a muscle injury.The initial assessment is probably that it could be that he misses the start of the Premier League season, he added.At the moment it is too early to speak overall about his injury, four weeks.The first week is right now so nearly done but it could easily be that he misses the first game or the first two games.Goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha gave Leeds a 2-0 win over RB Leipzig at Elland Road.

The very best in Spain: Ronald Araujo's real value to Liverpool explainedLiverpool are on the brink of signing Ronald Araujo from Barcelona. We've had a look at his real value - and why the Reds want him.Liverpool will imminently announce the signing of Ronald Araujo from Barcelona on a one-year loan deal with an option to buy. Thats according to Fabrizio Romano, who was among those breaking the news on Friday night.The Reds will be able to pay 55m to make it all permanent next July, while theyll also cover his wages in full for the duration of the loan.On the face of it, you can see why Liverpool made this move. They needed a centre-back in his prime years - someone who can bridge the gap between Virgil van Dijk (35), Jeremy Jacquet (21) and Giovanni Leoni (19) but perhaps offer a bit more reliability than Joe Gomez.On top of that, Araujo can play right-back, too, covering the injured Conor Bradley. So the logic here does make sense.Questions about just how reliable Araujo is are absolutely there to be asked, though. He played 1062 minutes in La Liga last season, which is roughly 12 full matches. That number was as low as 759 for the season before and the Uruguayan has only once played in more than 25 league matches across a campaign (30).So why is Araujo the pick?Bet 10, Get 30 in Free BetsOpen an account and place a qualifying bet of 10 at min odds of 1/5 (1.2) or greater.18+New UK/ROI customers. Min 5 deposit. Bet Credits available on settlement of qualifying bets, capped at 10 stake. Min odds 1/5 (1.20). Bet Credits expire in 7 days. Excl. Cashed Out/Free Bets/Boosted odds. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org30 FREECLAIM NOW18+Gambling can be addictive please only bet what you can afford to lose. For free support visitBeGambleAware.org or call 0808 8020 133 (free, 24/7). Self-exclude at GAMSTOP.co.uk. AnfieldWatch is not a licensed betting operator. Offers subject to change.Ronald Araujo's Value AddOur model assesses a player's Value Add across a season, essentially in points. This takes both attacking and defensive value, which can be measured as the number of goals you'd say he helped contribute and the effect he brought to the defence.Think of it as a way of judging the point value a player brings, all things considered. With that in mind, we do feel Araujo was the most valuable centre-back in Spain last season per 90 minutes.Now, that's the key factor here. Araujo's limited game-time means he was nowhere near the most valuable centre-back in La Liga, simply because he didn't play enough. If you're buying a player, you want their value to be the highest total at the end of a campaign, rather than the essentially theoretical value of "if they'd played more".On the flip side, Liverpool will be backing themselves to get more game time out of Araujo and thus more value. IMAGO Perhaps a good example of that is the values across the top-five European leagues. Araujo again boasts one of the best values per 90 across centre-backs but if far, far down the line when it comes to the actual value brought across the season.One name that will stick out if Virgil van Dijk, who despite a relatively low per-90 score, was the third-most valuable centre-back in Europe last season in our model. IMAGO We can leave it up to you exactly how highly you wish to hold defending in Serie A vs the Premier League (Italy's top flight tends to score higher than most with individual value) but the point here is that overall seasonal value is what you're really chasing.With Araujo, it's all potential and what he might be able to give if you can keep him on the pitch. Plainly, Liverpool feel he can be a more reliable option than he was in Spain.Though, it's also worth considering where that value comes from. We have Araujo as an attacking centre-back, first and foremost, and it's his numbers there that drove his value last season.We have him as the outright best attacking centre-back in Spain last season, again per 90 minutes. His lack of playing time hurt his numbers significantly, but no other centre-back matches his per 90 in the last three La Liga seasons. IMAGO And so Araujo is one to watch in possession, rather than a defensive force. At the same time, there is more value to be gained in attack than defence for any player - Araujo just takes that to a relative extreme.The below graph, showing the number of successful duels against the percentage of duels won, demonstrates that Araujo is relatively middle of the pack for centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues. He's above average in both categories, without being in the elite bracket for either.That's in contrast to Virgil van Dijk, for instance, who boasts the best success-rate in Europe. IMAGO So what does make him standout? Well, shooting and passing, really. Araujo was one of three players across Europe's top five leagues to be in the top 10 per cent for shots and successful passes.And so that's where Liverpool feel they're getting value here. He's an attacking asset - one who is a competent defender without being spectacular, but who could end up making a decisive difference on the ball.Is that going to be worth 55m? Time will tell.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr., one of the most prolific receivers in NFL history, was officially enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Fitzgerald was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility following a career defined by record-breaking production and consistency. He is the 11th player from the University of Pittsburgh to be inducted, moving the school into a tie for third among all colleges for most Hall of Fame representatives.PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Pitt star Larry Fitzgerald recounts moment he learned of his Pro Football Hall of Fame nominationDuring a 17-year professional career spent entirely with the Arizona Cardinals, Fitzgerald recorded 1,432 receptions for 17,492 yards. Both totals rank second in NFL history behind Jerry Rice. Fitzgerald also ranks sixth all-time with 121 touchdown receptions and tied a league record by catching at least 50 passes in every season of his career.Fitzgerald was selected to 11 Pro Bowls and earned three Associated Press First Team All-Pro honors. He was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100 All-Time Team. During Arizonas run to Super Bowl XLIII, he set a postseason record with 546 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches in four games.Before his NFL career, Fitzgerald played for the Pitt Panthers from 2002 to 2003. He totaled 161 receptions for 2,677 yards and 34 touchdowns, setting a school record for receiving scores. He established an NCAA record at the time by catching a touchdown pass in 18 consecutive games. In 2003, he won the Biletnikoff Award and became the first sophomore to be named the Walter Camp Player of the Year.Fitzgerald was a unanimous first-team All-American and finished second in the 2003 Heisman Trophy voting. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Larry Fitzgerald shares why he chose Pitt, the lasting impact it had on himDuring his enshrinement speech, he spoke about the role Pitt played in his journey. Then I got to go to the University of Pittsburgh and the city of Pittsburgh gave me two of the best years of my entire life, Fitzgerald said. It was a time filled with incredible accomplishments. I was excelling athletically, but I was also in the depths of my emotions, having lost both a parent and a teammate just two months apart. The love and support I was surrounded by at that time, from Coach Walt Harris and his staff, is something Ill never forget.The former receiver has received numerous honors for his work off the field, including the 2016 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award and the 2025 Heisman Humanitarian Award. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2024. In May 2025, Fitzgerald returned to the University of Pittsburgh campus to address the graduating class and receive an honorary Doctor of Letters.Fitzgerald continues his philanthropic work through The Larry Fitzgerald Foundation, which he established in honor of his mother, Carol. The organization works to expand access to education, technology and breast cancer resources in underserved communities.During his speech in Canton, Fitzgerald encouraged others to focus on service and mentorship.Bring others along with you, Fitzgerald said. Dont just pursue excellence for yourself; help others pursue it, too. Thats the part of this story that matters most. Its not the likes. Its not the follows. Its not the fame. Its the people you travel with and the values you uphold. And in the end, its not just about excellence. Its about the people you help get there. Fitzgerald was inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside four other players: Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: Big strides, assured footwork, smart use of the crease, fluent shots and solid defence. These were the highlights of Devdutt Padikkal's unbeaten 142 off 164 balls at the Nondescript Cricket Club in Colombo on Saturday. The classy left-hander was not a starter when the squad was picked for the series. Still, the moment team management received the update on Sai Sudharsan's niggle, all efforts focused on keeping Padikkal ready for the opportunity. When the chance came, he delivered. And how.It wasn't a raging turner, nor were the opposition spinners posing tough questions, but runs always do the confidence a world of good, especially when they coincide with the update on Sudharsan. Since coming into bat in the first over of the second day's play, Padikkal exuded confidence and scored his runs at a brisk pace even when KL Rahul was happy to buy time at the other end.He controlled the ball and showed equal confidence against both spin and pace, remaining unfazed by the off-spin challenge when Ramesh Mendis and Keshara Nuwantha bowled in tandem. He met most balls under his eyes, and the side-on view of his big strides and the balance with which he operated made it a treat. The 26-year-old hasn't featured in a multi-day fixture for India since November 2024 but has been making the right noise with the India A side and Karnataka in the domestic circuit.Keeping the calendar in mind, he specifically worked on his game against spin and spent a lot of time perfecting the craft. Even when the management persisted with Sudharsan as the No.3 bat, Padikkal was busy upgrading. When he played the two multi-day fixtures at Galle last month, the left-hander hit two half-centuries and served another reminder of his readiness.It was more of the same at the NCC; in front of a handful of spectators, the timing was ideal. Before the fixture got underway, there was optimism around Sudharsan joining the camp, if not in Colombo, then in Galle. Little did Padikkal know that as he closed in on a brilliant century, Sudharsan's hopes of boarding the flight evaporated.Come August 15, India won't need to sweat much over the No. 3 position with Padikkal ready and raring to go. A lot of hard work went on behind the scenes, which was reflected in the ease with which he operated.Back in 2024, chief selector Ajit Agarkar's addition of Padikkal to India's Test squad for the home series against England was a surprise pick. The Indian camp was hit by injury concerns, and KL Rahul's unavailability opened the door for Padikkal, who then made his debut in Dharamsala. One knock in the Ranji Trophy was all it took for the chairman to fast-track the left-hander into the set-up. Padikkal would have certainly thanked his stars that Agarkar's rare appearance for domestic games included the Tamil Nadu vs Karnataka game in Chennai.The left-hander, at No.3, hit a 218-ball 151 which included 12 boundaries and six sixes. The opposition had a decent bowling attack featuring the likes of Sandeep Warrier, Sai Kishore and Ajith Ram. It was a classic case of one-and-done, and in the next two years, Padikkal has continued to make opportunities count.A big one has now come his way in Sri Lanka, and the two Tests -- in Galle and Colombo -- present him with a golden chance to cement a spot in India's batting order.

SOUTH BEND Adon Shuler, stalwart safety for Notre Dame football, experienced a brief scare early in the third practice of fall camp.The two-time captain and multiyear starter came up limping after CJ Carr completed a short pass over the middle to Micah Gilbert on the first play of a two-minute drill. Shuler headed to the sideline medical tent, where he spent several minutes with a team athletic trainer. Shulers right cleat was removed, and training staff appeared to focus on the safetys right knee as well.A compression sleeve was added to Shulers right knee.Jonaz Walton: Could freshman be the next great Notre Dame football running back?Soon thereafter, the Irvington, NJ product hopped off the medical table and walked over with a smile to give offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock a quick update and a hug. Shuler then spent a few minutes talking between practice periods on the field with athletic trainer Rob Hunt, before later returning to his position group for individual drills.Over the past two seasons, Shuler has played 1,429 defensive snaps and started 27 of 28 games. He had to sit out the first half against Purdue last September after a fourth-quarter targeting ejection in the loss to Texas A&M the previous week.In a news conference on Tuesday, Aug. 6 ahead of training camp, Shuler was asked how he hoped the 2026 Irish defense would be viewed by the opposition this year.You know when you play your older brother in video games? Shuler said. Youre like, Oh, I have to play him. I feel like thats how I want it to be with the defense. Like, Man, we have to play Notre Dame this week. No matter where we go with the ball, theres going to be a guy there thats about their business. That was the vibe last season after the Irish rallied from an 0-2 start to win their last 10 games.Thats the goal for the defense, Shuler said. No matter where you go, there aint no weak points in the defense. Were going to attack you, you know?Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino,This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football safety Adon Shuler seems OK after leaving practice

Washington Huskies tight end Decker DeGraaf was one of 37 players in the country named to the 2026 preseason John Mackey Award watch list on Wednesday. DeGraaf, a 6-foot-4 and 245-pound true junior, was also on the list ahead of the 2025 season, when he doubled his catch total from his freshman year and proved to be a dependable weapon for Demond Williams Jr. behind Denzel Boston and Dezmen Roebuck.The former four-star recruit out of Glendora High School finished third on the team in receptions (32) and receiving yards (360) while being tied with running back Jonah Coleman for third with a pair of touchdown catches. The other four UW players to catch one touchdown catch in 2025Quentin Moore, Omari Evans, Audric Harris and Raiden Vines-Brightaren't with the program, meaning someone will have to increase their production in 2026, and DeGraaf is poised to be that player.The road to the John Mackey Award starts now.Introducing the 2026 Preseason Watch List, featuring the nation's top collegiate tight ends to watch this season. Check out the website to see the official press release pic.twitter.com/ypPkFAzD5N John Mackey Award (@TheMackeyAward) August 5, 2026"I definitely want to be a big part of this offense," DeGraaf said on Tuesday. "Definitely going into year three with Demond, we've built a lot of chemistry. He's looking for me, I'm looking for him. We have a really good offense. I think we have a lot of guysme, Dez, Rashid, Christian Moss, a lot of the young guys. I think a lot of them are going to step up and make a big impact this year."DeGraaf admittedly knows the offense Jedd Fisch runs at UW doesn't have him in the split-out, Travis Kelce-esque style that would allow him to have the large production numbers one would think he'd have. However, as good of a pass-catching tight end the junior is, he's equally suitable as a blocker to pave the way on the outside to spring any one of the Huskies' running backs for a big gain."Presented annually to the most outstanding tight end in college football, the John Mackey Award honors the legacy of Pro Football Hall of Famer John Mackey, whose excellence, leadership, character, and impact on the game continue to inspire generations of student-athletes. Established in 2000 by the Nassau County SportsCommission, the award remains one of college football's premier individual honors for the tight end position," the award wrote in a press release Wednesday afternoon. Only one UW tight end has received the award: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who won it in 2013 after posting a 36-catch, 460-yard receiving season along with a career-high 8 touchdowns over 12 games.This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Football TE Named to 2026 Mackey Award Watch List

IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) involves several carefully planned stages, and fertility injections are an important part of the treatment process. One of the most common questions patients ask before starting IVF is, “How Many Injections for IVF Treatment?” The answer varies from person to person because the number and type of injections depend on age, ovarian reserve, fertility...