Sport paid tribute to the King on the day of his coronation as Chelsea forward Sam Kerr led the Australian delegation in the formal procession in London.

Kerr was chosen to bear her country’s flag as part of the Commonwealth, fronting an Australian contingent which included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as they made their way into Westminster Abbey for the service on Saturday morning.

After cricketers had stood to observe the national anthem ahead of day three of the current round of LV= Insurance County Championship matches, the afternoon’s football matches also paid tribute to the King.

Premier League leaders Manchester City hosted Leeds at the Etihad Stadium, where the national anthem was played before kick-off as the players stood around the centre circle while the big screen showed a symbol to mark the coronation.

Ahead of the games at Bournemouth and Tottenham, fans had been given the opportunity to watch the ceremony, as were spectators at the Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire, where events had been paused during the ceremony.

Further afield, Formula One sent its congratulations to the King, with several teams displaying the coronation emblem at the Miami Grand Prix this weekend.

Sir Alastair Cook – who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 – was among those cricketers who stood to observe the national anthem.

Cook joined his Essex team-mates and opponents from Surrey, including England players Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes and Will Jacks, as they lined the boundary edge at Chelmsford while God Save the King played out to those in attendance.

There were similar scenes at the likes of Headingley, Ageas Bowl and Trent Bridge, although some of the fixtures were unable to start on time due to rain.

England stars James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Jonny Bairstow were among the best known faces to take part in proceedings.

Charles, previously the Prince of Wales, has been a patron of Glamorgan since 1986 and they posted a picture of him holding a bat during a visit to Sophia Gardens.

Two matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, at Old Trafford and Chester-le-Street, were marked in similar fashion.

Events in London also had an impact at the Badminton Horse Trials.

Saturday’s dressage started at 8am and paused at 10.15am to allow spectators to watch the coronation on big screens.

The action resumed at 12.45pm, with some screen access still available for those wishing to take in the full ceremony.

Milan pushed on in the battle for a top-four Serie A finish as Ismael Bennacer and Theo Hernandez scored in a 2-0 win over Lazio at San Siro.

Stefano Pioli's side were in full control from the off, though Lazio were masters of their own downfall for the opening goal as Marcos Antonio's error allowed Bennacer to bundle home. 

Hernandez doubled Milan's advantage before the break with a terrific solo effort, helping the Rossoneri to fourth in Serie A ahead of Inter's crucial clash with Roma later on Saturday. 

However, Milan's victory was marred by the sight of star forward Rafael Leao limping from the field early on, with the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against Inter just four days away.

Having rested several players for Wednesday's draw with Cremonese, Pioli may have regretted naming a more familiar lineup when Leao was withdrawn just 11 minutes in – the forward appearing to suffer a groin injury.

Yet Milan made light of his absence as Bennacer pounced on a Lazio mix-up, combining with Olivier Giroud before volleying into the ground and over Ivan Provedel.

Milan doubled their lead from a lightning break 12 minutes later. Hernandez received the ball from Mike Maignan near his own penalty area before driving forward and lashing home from 20 yards via a slight deflection.

Lazio failed to record a single shot on target before the break, and Milan continued to dominate after the interval as substitute Malick Thiaw powered a header over from Sandro Tonali's corner. 

Milan were denied a late third when Ante Rebic slotted home from an offside position, but it was of little consequence as they warmed up for Wednesday's Champions League derby in style.

Lewis Hamilton has described Mercedes’ form as a “kick in the guts” – but team principal Toto Wolff insists his superstar driver will still sign a new contract.

Hamilton heads into Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix 45 points behind championship leader Max Verstappen after just four rounds of the season.

The British driver’s Mercedes team have endured a turbulent campaign.

Hamilton finished second in Australia at the beginning of last month to raise hope of a Mercedes’ fightback, but the 38-year-old, whose contract with the Brackley team expires in just over six months, was a distant sixth in Azerbaijan last weekend.

And, despite an encouraging opening practice session at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, with George Russell leading his team-mate in a Mercedes one-two, Hamilton ended the day’s concluding running in seventh, nine tenths back from Verstappen.

Asked for his assessment of Mercedes’ speed in the Sunshine State, Hamilton replied: “It is the same as every weekend.

“We are a second down. We are just not particularly quick. It is a struggle out there.

“We are trying different things. First practice looked good and then we got to second practice and the true pace came out. It is a kick in the guts. It is difficult to take sometimes.”

Mercedes are due to introduce an upgrade at the next round in Imola in a fortnight’s time, but Wolff has already warned Hamilton that he will not have the speed to fight with Red Bull.

Hamilton added: “I am going to stay optimistic, but it feels like we are racing the same car as last year. We desperately need those upgrades, that is for sure.

“We have to keep our heads down for one more race and hopefully we will start a new path at the next race.”

Hamilton’s future with Mercedes, and indeed in Formula One, continues to hang in the air.

But Wolff believes Mercedes’ failure to provide the Briton with a championship-winning machine will not prevent him from extending his stay with the team he joined in 2013.

Wolff said: “We have been together for 11 years, and every single time when we talk about Lewis’s contract, it’s six months of, ‘Where are we and what is happening?’ And we keep seeing the same thing, that we’re just rolling on.

“The contract negotiations are not difficult. It’s just putting a different timeline and a few different numbers in there. That is what we are doing and that is what we are working on.

“It’s a work in progress, bouncing emails back and forth, and eventually we’re going to sign it.”

Peter Haring is hoping Hearts can spoil Celtic’s cinch Premiership title party on Sunday.

A victory at Tynecastle – or a Rangers slip-up at home to Aberdeen – will ensure the Hoops secure the trophy for the second year running, but the Jambos’ Austrian midfielder is determined to prevent that scenario.

“As a player you don’t really think too much about that but obviously we want to try and stop that,” said Haring.

“First and foremost, we want to win and get three points but no-one wants to have another club celebrating anything at Tynecastle. We hope we can avoid that.

“It’s always a great game against Celtic, especially at home. At home we’ve got a chance against anybody in this league. We haven’t beaten them this season yet but it’s about time. We have to be confident and full of energy.”

Haring has played in two victories over Celtic since joining Hearts in the summer of 2018 and has featured  in several close matches between the teams.

“Every win is different and some taste sweeter than others but obviously beating Celtic, who have been by far the best team in Scotland since I got here, always feels really good,” he said.

“You need to be defensively very solid and disciplined. That’s key. You need to try and play the game in the opposition half because when they dominate possession, the pressure increases and it gets harder.

“They’re very good at moving the ball quickly so once they’ve pinned you back, it’s really hard to get control of the game again. We’ve worked on a gameplan and everyone needs to be ready. Energy and belief in yourself are the two main things.”

Haring, who recently returned to action following almost six months out with concussion issues, is due to run out of contract this summer.

“I hope so,” the 29-year-old said, when asked if he expects to be at Hearts next term. “The full focus is on the next five games and then we’ll see what’s going to happen.”

County cricket paid tribute to the King on the morning of his coronation, while Chelsea’s forward Sam Kerr led the Australian delegation in the formal procession.

Kerr was chosen to bear her country’s flag as part of the Commonwealth, fronting an Australian contingent which included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as they made their way into Westminster Abbey.

Meanwhile, Sir Alastair Cook – who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 – was among those cricketers who stood to observe the national anthem ahead of day three of the current round of LV= County Championship.

Cook joined his Essex team-mates and opponents from Surrey, including England players Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes and Will Jacks, as they lined the boundary edge at Chelmsford as God Save the King played out to those in attendance.

Similar scenes played out at Headingley, Derby and Trent Bridge, though a handful of other fixtures were unable to start on time due to rain. Two matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, at Old Trafford and Chester-le-Street were marked in similar fashion.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Jonny Bairstow were among the best known faces to take part in proceedings.

Charles, previously the Prince of Wales, has been a patron of Glamorgan since 1986 and they posted a picture of him holding a bat during a visit to Sophia Gardens.

Chief executive Hugh Morris said: “As our Patron, King Charles III has a long-standing association with Glamorgan County Cricket Club and we would like to wish His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort well as we celebrate the Coronation on Saturday, 6th May.”

Aberdeen manager Barry Robson has urged his players to show no fear at Ibrox on Sunday.

The Dons have earned the right to be confident after winning their last seven matches, the most recent of which was a 2-0 victory over Rangers at Pittodrie before the cinch Premiership split.

Former Inverness, Dundee United, Celtic and Aberdeen midfielder Robson, who started his career in the Rangers youth ranks, said: “I have a few memories over the years as a player there.

“My biggest thing as a player, as a person or as a manager is to go down there with no fear. Go and enjoy it, enjoy the cauldron of atmosphere.

“When you’re a young player, and you’re coming into the game, that’s where you want to play, in the big arenas. The arena where the pressure is on. Where it’s hostile, where they will come after you and that’s what the game is.

“That’s where you need to be as a player, your mindset as a player. Don’t fear it.

“You might come up against better players whatever league you are in but you’ve got to try and embrace it.

“Myself, when I played with different teams, coming up against big teams, we always enjoyed it and stayed in the fight.

“That’s what my message is, clear to the players: be brave, be brave with the ball and also be brave without the ball.”

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou believes clinching the title will be even more beautiful if they seal it by overcoming a tough test at Tynecastle.

The cinch Premiership champions are 13 points ahead of Rangers going into the final five fixtures and will retain the title if they beat Hearts on Sunday.

Rangers kick off 45 minutes later at home to in-form Aberdeen and there are several scenarios where Celtic could be crowned champions when they are getting changed or on the bus back to Glasgow.

So Postecoglou is keen to wrap up proceedings with a victory against a Hearts side who beat Ross County 6-1 in their previous home game, which was interim manager Steven Naismith’s first match in charge.

Postecoglou expects his treble-chasers to handle the occasion as they bid to make it a memorable trip to Edinburgh for their supporters.

“This group of players have experienced this kind of build-up to a big game over the last 20 months and were in this position last year and have had a couple of semi-finals and finals,” he said.

“They know there is a bit of hype and excitement around these big games and they know there’s outcomes that can be pretty special at the end of it, but they have been pretty focused on just playing our football.

“They are human beings, they know what’s at stake and they know what the potential of a positive result is.

“They will take that into the game but they will still be clear on how we play our football and it’s a difficult place to play.

“Hearts have still got a lot to play for so the beauty of it is if we do do it we will have to earn it and that’s the only way you want to do it.”

Postecoglou’s first domestic match in charge resulted in a 2-1 defeat at Tynecastle but he has led Celtic to three victories there since, including a seven-goal thriller in their most recent league visit.

“It’s a great atmosphere, it’s a great venue and it’s always a good game,” he said. “It always feels like it’s a big game.

“Hearts have a new manager in Steven Naismith. I don’t know him well but everyone I have spoken to rates him really highly and I like the way he has gone about his business so far in terms of the way he speaks about what he wants to achieve.

“It’s going to be a good game and if we want to get the outcome we want we are going to have to earn it and that’s the way it should be.”

Fulham boss Marco Silva is feeling smug about his side’s Premier League position after recalling pre-season predictions that they were destined for relegation.

This might be one of the closest survival battles in recent memory, but last season’s Championship winners are not one of the teams worrying about a potentially heart-breaking end to the campaign.

Instead, Silva’s men are 10th, maintaining their top-half status despite picking up just seven points in their last 10 league contests.

He said: “You have to be pleased. You have to be really proud, because I knew what everyone was saying at the beginning of the season about Fulham. I knew we were the favourites (to be relegated).

“Some people even without a doubt said we will be the first ones to get relegated, and of course we have to be pleased. Not because of what the people said, because they have to comment, they have to give their opinions, but much more for ourselves.

“Firstly for our fans because the last two seasons in the Premier League they were really tough for them, and they deserve much more, and the other because I believe, and I said from the last days of last season that I felt that this football club belongs in the Premier League and we showed that during the season.”

In Leicester, Fulham face an opponent in a very different fight from leaders Manchester City and Europe-chasing Liverpool, who got the better of Silva’s side in their most recent meetings, but the Portuguese intends to approach Monday’s meeting with the same overall philosophy.

He said: “In terms of preparation nothing is different. We always prepare ourselves the same way, with different strategies, of course.

“Against City we knew that we probably wouldn’t have the ball as often as we would like, Liverpool more or less the same thing even if they are slightly different.

“And against Leicester of course playing at the Cottage we are going to try to have control of the game even though you know you are going to face a team with a lot of quality around the pitch.

“It will be a different game definitely than the previous two matches but it will be a tough game in the same way. The approach will be the same. We are going to prepare ourselves to be at our best level.”

Michael Beale will use Rangers’ home cinch Premiership game against Aberdeen on Sunday to think about next season but also knows results remain crucial.

The Gers last realistic chance of winning silverware in this campaign ended last weekend with their Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to  champions-elect Celtic, who will retain the title and stay on course for a domestic treble with a win over Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday.

Beale, who took over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst in November, will make changes for the visit of the in-form Dons as he takes the chance at the end of a first trophyless season in three to prepare for the future.

However, the former QPR boss knows there will be an expectant Ibrox crowd looking to be placated.

“At the end of the last two seasons there was a lot of drama,” said Beale, who will be without loan attacking midfielder Malik Tillman who has returned to parent club Bayern Munich with a hamstring problem, while Ryan Kent and Borna Barisic are also added to the injury list.

“At the end of one season you win the league, the next season you are playing a European final, you are fighting at the top end of the league and you have got the Scottish Cup (beat Hearts in final).

“But this the result of the season we have played so far. You play at Ibrox and you have 47,000 season ticket holders and they are demanding a performance against Aberdeen.

“Every time you pull on the shirt it is a huge privilege and I will be looking for things towards the group.

“We have been moving towards next year in ideas since I came in. It is about finishing this season strongly and also building for the future. That continues.

“There are five games against team around us. If we are not at it they are very dangerous games.

“We want to bounce back because we were on a fantastic run. We have had a couple of sore results and we have a team coming to Ibrox on Sunday who are on form. There is a rivalry between the two teams.

“So the players need to perform well. We want to bounce back with a strong performance and a home win.

“Definitely, we will try a few things out for sure. But I thought last week the performance was good so there was things to build on.

“There will be an opportunity for one or two if they earn it via training but there is also an opportunity for one or two that have been patient and probably deserve a go as well.”

Eddie Howe insists he is not losing any sleep over Liverpool’s bid to deny Newcastle a place in the Premier League top four.

Jurgen Klopp’s men, who are responsible for two of the third-placed Magpies’ four league defeats to date this season, have belatedly put together a consistent run of form, winning each of their last five matches to close to within six points.

That gap could have been reduced to just three points – albeit with the Reds having played two games more – by the time Howe’s side runs out to face Arsenal on Sunday with the chasing pack mounting a late sprint.

Asked about the prospect, the 45-year-old said: “Do I lose any sleep? No, I don’t lose any sleep over it, but I’m aware that Liverpool are a top team. Does it surprise me they’re able to go on a run of wins? No.

“There are other teams there as well, but we’re not focusing on that. We haven’t done that all season. We haven’t focused on where we are, who’s around us, form of teams. We’ve just focused on ourselves and that’s all we can do.

“We have a tough run of fixtures, but I think at the same time, a great run of fixtures because every game is important. They’re great occasions and we’ll look to carry on our good form.”

Brighton’s stoppage-time win over Manchester United on Thursday evening left Newcastle two points clear of the men from Old Trafford in the race for the top four with five games each remaining.

They remain 10 better off than the Seagulls – who have a game in hand – in sixth, but victory over the Gunners would not only all-but end the visitors’ title hopes, but nudge the Magpies closer to Champions League qualification.

However Howe, whose team have won eight of their last nine games, is preparing for the battle to go to the wire.

He said: “Nothing’s done and I didn’t expect it to be done. Were competing against elite teams who will fight to the end and we have to do the same.

“Our five games we need to give our best preparation and focus to because the fight that we’re in could go right down to the end of the season.”

Howe and opposite number Mikel Arteta were involved in an angry touchline exchange during the reverse fixture in January, which ended 0-0, but the former Bournemouth boss has only respect for the Spaniard.

He said: “I’ve got a lot of resect for Mikel, he’s done an incredible job. You have to admire everything that he’s done, whether that’s recruitment, coaching, everything, so there’s a lot of respect from me to him.

“Within a game, you’ll always have moments where you come up against opponents and there’s a bit of confrontation. I think that’s natural, that’s part of the job, but there are certainly no issues from my side.”

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi believes “top player” Moises Caicedo is capable of playing any position on the pitch.

Caicedo has starred in the Seagulls’ midfield all season but was required to fill in at right-back during Thursday’s dramatic 1-0 win over Manchester United due to injuries to Pascal Gross, Joel Veltman and Tariq Lamptey.

With Gross facing a fitness test ahead of Monday evening’s clash with Everton and Veltman likely to remain on the sidelines alongside Lamptey, the Ecuador international could once again be deployed in the makeshift role.

Head coach De Zerbi was reluctant to deviate from a four-man defence against United or drop midfielder Billy Gilmour following his starring role in last Saturday’s 6-0 thrashing of Wolves.

And the Italian’s decision was vindicated as Caicedo performed admirably in a pulsating game settled by Alexis Mac Allister’s last-gasp penalty.

“I thought to change to play with three defenders but I think we reach a high level of football and we have the right technologies playing in this tactical disposition,” said De Zerbi.

“And I didn’t want to change.

“I think Caicedo can play everywhere. He’s a top, top player.

“I love giving players the chance to show me their quality and Gilmour was fantastic against Wolverhampton – I thought like this.”

Mac Allister slammed home from the spot in the ninth minute of added time following Luke Shaw’s handball to boost Brighton’s chances of reaching Europe.

The Seagulls are now preparing to complete a trio of consecutive home games against Sean Dyche’s relegation-threatened Toffees.

With a further five Premier League fixtures to come during the next three weeks, De Zerbi has urged every member of his squad to be prepared to aid the club’s quest to secure continental qualification.

“I want that they stay ready always to play because now we need everybody,” he said.

“We need everybody to achieve our target.”

Gross and striker Evan Ferguson will be assessed ahead of the Everton clash but Veltman is not expected to be available due to a hamstring issue.

Lamptey, Adam Lallana, Jakub Moder and Jeremy Sarmiento remain sidelined for the Seagulls.