Connect with us

Published

on

Sven-Goran Eriksson has finally fulfilled his lifelong dream of managing Liverpool – a wish he revealed after his terminal cancer diagnosis.

The 76-year-old former England manager went public with his diagnosis in January, telling Sky News in an interview he “always wished to be the manager of Liverpool”.

On Saturday his dreams were realised as he stepped out as manager of Liverpool Legends, as they played in a charity match against Ajax at Anfield.

After the game finished 4-2 to Liverpool, Eriksson told a post-match news conference: “That will be a huge memory in life. Absolutely beautiful.

“To sit on the bench for Liverpool, that’s been my dream my whole life. Now it happened, and it was a beautiful day in all meanings.

Sven-Goran Eriksson with Ian Rush and John Aldridge at the Liverpool Legends game on Saturday. Pic: PA
Image:
Eriksson with Ian Rush and John Aldridge at the Liverpool Legends game on Saturday. Pic: PA

“The crowd, the game, the players, everything, fantastic, and thank you to Liverpool for giving me this opportunity, to invite me for such an important game – it’s not points but the importance of the game is incredible.

“It was full of emotions, tears coming. It’s been my dream club all my life – even when I had England, I also supported Liverpool, but I couldn’t say it at that time.

“It’s a good finish, to finish with Liverpool, it can’t be much better than that.”

Sven-Goran Eriksson with Steven Gerrard before the match. Pic: PA
Image:
Eriksson with Steven Gerrard before the match. Pic: PA

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Eriksson’s Liverpool dream comes true

Read more
Jurgen Klopp offers to fulfil Eriksson’s dying wish
Fans desperate to help realise ex-manager’s dream

He was joined on the bench by former stars of the team John Barnes, Ian Rush, and John Aldridge.

The team was captained by Steven Gerrard, who was part of the England squad when Eriksson was in charge.

Gerrard said: “Sven being here today was very special, as soon as I knew he was going to be the gaffer today, I couldn’t wait to come and play with him one last time.”

Goran-Eriksson on the bench at Anfield
Image:
Eriksson on the bench at Anfield. Pic: PA

Eriksson also revealed he met Jurgen Klopp for the first time ahead of a training session on Friday.

He said: “It was a surprise, he came to the dressing room before training yesterday and he said something to the team.

Goran Eriksson and John Barnes ahead of the game
Image:
Eriksson and John Barnes ahead of the game. Pic: PA

Goran Eriksson is hugged by Gregory Vignal. Pic: PA
Image:
Eriksson is hugged by Gregory Vignal. Pic: PA

“A great man, great manager, doing extremely well with Liverpool and can win in Europe, win the Premier League this season. It was an honour to meet him for sure.”

A record-breaking 60,000 people turned out for the Legends game – the eighth annual event so far.

Previous matches have raised £6.4m for the LFC Foundation, which funds education programmes and the club’s former players association.

Continue Reading

UK

Hainault sword attack: Man charged with murder after boy, 14, killed and four injured

Published

on

By

Hainault sword attack: Man charged with murder after boy, 14, killed and four injured

A man has been charged with murder after 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin was killed and four people were injured near a London Tube station.

Two Metropolitan Police officers were among those hurt as they responded to reports of an attacker with a sword in Hainault, northeast London, on Tuesday.

The man charged has been named as Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, a 36-year-old dual Spanish-Brazilian national from Newham, east London.

He has also been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.

Monzo will appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The families of all those affected by the incident have been informed.

Daniel Anjorin.
Pic: Met Police
Image:
Daniel Anjorin was killed as he walked to school. Pic: Met Police


Daniel Anjorin was a pupil at Bancroft’s private school in Woodford Green – also attended by Nottingham attack victim Grace O’Malley-Kumar.

Staff and pupils at the school said they were in “profound shock and sorrow” at his death.

Daniel’s family told Sky News he was “a wonderful child” who was “well loved” and “hard working” – and that his death “leaves a gaping wound in the family”.

“No family should have to go through what we are experiencing today,” they said. “Any family will understand it’s an absolute tragedy.”

Floral tribute at floral tributes in Hainault, north east London, where a 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, was killed in a sword attack on Tuesday . Pic: PA
Image:
Floral tributes for Daniel have been placed in Hainault. Pic: PA

Monzo is accused of crashing a van into a fence just before 7am, and attacking two members of the public with a sword.

It is alleged he then killed the 14-year-old and seriously injured two police officers as they tried to stop him – one of whom nearly lost her hand.

The suspect was initially taken to hospital after suffering injuries in the van crash.

Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with the family of Daniel and all those who have been impacted by this horrific incident.”

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that they have a right to a fair trial,” she continued.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Continue Reading

UK

UK weather: Met Office issues thunderstorm warnings for southern England and South Wales

Published

on

By

UK weather: Met Office issues thunderstorm warnings for southern England and South Wales

The Met Office has issued warnings for rain and thunderstorms – with the alerts in place until Thursday morning.

The first warning began at 8pm and covers an area stretching from Portsmouth to Plymouth, and northwards to South Wales, and lasts until 8am.

Heavy rain is expected, with a chance of thunderstorms, and the Met Office said it could bring difficult driving conditions and some flooding.

The second warning kicks in at 11pm and covers nearly all of southeast England, stretching as far north as Oxford and including London. It’s in force until 6am on Thursday.

“Thunderstorms are likely at times later this evening and overnight, leading to travel disruption and some flooding,” said the Met Office.

There will be a risk of sudden flooding and power blackouts in both affected warning areas, added the forecaster.

There’s also a chance of hail and strong winds.

Flooding and lightning strikes could cause disruption on the roads, as well as delays and cancellations to rail and bus services.

Get the latest Sky News forecast for your area

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Around 2cm to 4cm of rain is expected overnight, with 5cm possible in some places.

“Much of this rain may fall over a two or three-hour period,” the Met Office said.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: “You may well get woken up tonight by a rumble of thunder, or some flashes of lightning across parts of the South.

“A lot of heavy rain falling in a short space of time as well.”

He said it could create a lot of spray and surface water on the roads for commuters on Thursday morning.

Read more from Sky News:
Boy arrested for attempted murder
Radcliffe comments on JK Rowling fallout

Elsewhere, it will stay dry with temperatures mostly holding up in double figures across England and Wales, or staying at around 8C to 9C in towns and cities further north.

Deakin said: “A cloudy start then to Thursday one way or another, still some heavy bursts of rain early on across the South West.

“That should tend to clear away, but always the likelihood of further showers across southern parts of England, Mid and South Wales.”

He added: “Parts of northwest Scotland, Northern Ireland, northwest England, much of the Midlands down towards East Anglia should have a fine and sunny day tomorrow.”

Continue Reading

UK

Scottish government survives vote of no confidence at Holyrood

Published

on

By

Scottish government survives vote of no confidence at Holyrood

The Scottish government has survived a vote of no confidence at Holyrood.

Scottish Labour pressed ahead with its motion despite Humza Yousaf announcing earlier this week his intention to stand down as SNP leader and first minister.

It failed by 58 votes to 70.

The Scottish Greens voted against the motion, with party co-leader Patrick Harvie branding it “chaos for the sake of chaos”.

If it had passed, all ministers in the minority SNP government would have been forced to quit.

Opening the debate, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar thanked Mr Yousaf for his service and wished him well, but said Scotland was “crying out for change” from the UK Conservative government and the SNP Scottish government.

He said the country needed “credible and effective leadership” to deal with “twin crises” in the economy and NHS.

More on Humza Yousaf

Mr Sarwar added: “I have no confidence in the SNP’s ability to deliver that and that is why I am bringing this motion to parliament today.”

The outgoing first minister defended his government’s record, adding that in the 13 months he has spent in charge he had not “heard a single positive idea” from Scottish Labour.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar during a debate on a motion of no confidence in the Scottish Government, at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh. Picture date: Wednesday May 1, 2024.
Image:
Anas Sarwar thanked Mr Yousaf for his service, but said Scotland was ‘crying out for change’. Pic: PA

Mr Yousaf added: “What I have heard is the deafening sound of principle after principle being thrown out of Anas Sarwar’s window.

“U-turning on the two-child cap, U-turning on the devolution of employment law, U-turning on the devolution of drug law, U-turning on his support for Waspi women.”

Mr Yousaf said pro-UK parties, in their “cosy Westminster alliance”, would be “terrified” of a vote of no confidence.

He added: “As I have found out only too well in the last few days, politics is definitely about the choices we choose to make.

“As a government, I am exceptionally proud of our choices.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

What comes next for the SNP?

The debate and vote has come following the breakdown of the Bute House Agreement.

Within hours of the powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens coming to an end last week, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross announced he would be bringing a motion of no confidence in the first minister.

Angry over the way the party was dumped from government, the Scottish Greens announced its MSPs would be backing the motion.

Scottish Labour then announced it was planning a motion of no confidence in the Scottish government.

Mr Yousaf reached out to his political opponents in an effort to stem the uprising but conceded that he had “underestimated the level of hurt and upset” his actions had caused Scottish Green colleagues.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Speaking to Sky News earlier on Wednesday, Mr Yousaf said: “I will certainly be regretting the way it ended.”

The Scottish Tories dropped their motion following Mr Yousaf’s resignation, but Scottish Labour pressed on as the party believes the decision on the next first minister should be put to the public.

Mr Yousaf intends to remain in post until his successor is announced.

Read more:
Who could replace Humza Yousaf?
What happens now following his resignation
SNP stands at a crossroads – what direction will party take?

Former deputy first minister John Swinney and ex-finance secretary Kate Forbes have emerged as potential frontrunners to throw their hat into the ring.

Kate Forbes speaks to the media at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The SNP is beginning the search for a new leader after a day of drama in Scottish politics saw Humza Yousaf announce his resignation as the country's First Minister. Picture date: Tuesday April 30, 2024.
Image:
Kate Forbes speaking to journalists earlier this week. Pic: PA

Mr Sarwar pointed to reports that Ms Forbes could struggle to appoint ministers and described Mr Swinney as “the finance secretary that broke the public finances and the worst education secretary in the history of the Scottish parliament”.

Mr Ross, whose party threw its support behind the Scottish Labour motion, was forced to apologise to Mr Swinney after referring to him as “not so honest John” in the Holyrood chamber.

John Swinney at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The SNP is beginning the search for a new leader after a day of drama in Scottish politics saw Humza Yousaf announce his resignation as the country's First Minister. Picture date: Tuesday April 30, 2024.
Image:
John Swinney at Holyrood on Tuesday. Pic: PA

Mr Ross was first reprimanded for referring to Mr Swinney as “honest John”, but when presiding officer Alison Johnstone reminded him not to use nicknames, he said: “Oh sorry, I thought it was on accuracy because it would be not so honest John with some of the things we’ve heard recently.”

Scottish Conservative party leader Douglas Ross being interviewed at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The SNP is beginning the search for a new leader after a day of drama in Scottish politics saw Humza Yousaf announce his resignation as the country's First Minister. Picture date: Tuesday April 30, 2024.
Image:
Douglas Ross (pictured) was first reprimanded for referring to Mr Swinney as ‘honest John’. Pic: PA

Apologising, Mr Ross said: “I will apologise. I’m very sorry for any hurt caused.”

The Scottish Tory leader added: “Whether we have a bitter battle or a cosy coronation to elect the next leader of the SNP, they will continue campaigning for independence and the Scottish people will continue to be failed by them.”

Continue Reading

Trending