Liverpool's dire run of form continued as Craig Dawson and Ruben Neves got on the scoresheet for Wolves in a 3-0 thrashing of the beleaguered Reds at Molineux on Saturday.

The Reds' bid for a first Premier League victory of 2023 never got going as debutant Dawson followed up Joel Matip's bizarre own goal to put Wolves firmly in control within 12 minutes.

Jurgen Klopp's team enjoyed plenty of possession after the break, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed with 19 minutes left as Neves capped a swift break to put Wolves 3-0 up.  

As well as avenging last month's FA Cup exit against Liverpool, Wolves claimed a huge three points in their bid to avoid relegation, leaving crisis club Liverpool in 10th and winless in four league matches.   

Wolves needed just five minutes to breach a Liverpool defence bereft of confidence, as Hwang Hee-chan's cut-back spun off Matip and against the post before crossing the goal-line.

Rocked by that goal, Liverpool fell further behind seven minutes later when Joe Gomez inexplicably headed Matheus Cunha's cross away from Alisson's grasp, allowing Dawson to fire high into the net from close range. 

Jose Sa denied Darwin Nunez with a one-on-one save two minutes later, but Liverpool were fortunate to reach half-time 2-0 down as Matheus Nunes broke clear to draw a similar stop from Alisson.

Max Kilman cleared off the line amid a goalmouth scramble as Liverpool looked to respond after the break, before Mohamed Salah bent an effort narrowly wide of the bottom-left corner.

Sa made another huge save from Nunez's low strike as Wolves sat deep to defend their lead, but Julen Lopetegui's men made the points safe when Adama Traore broke clear to tee up Neves for a neat left-footed finish. 

Manuel Neuer may end up leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season after his scathing criticism of the move to dismiss the club's goalkeeping coach, claims Stefan Effenberg.

Bayern captain Neuer said the sacking of Toni Tapalovic was "the most brutal thing I've experienced in my career", and those comments drew a sharp rebuke from club CEO Oliver Kahn.

Kahn, himself a former Bayern goalkeeper, said Neuer's remarks were not befitting of his role as captain and promised the club would directly confront the 36-year-old about the comments.

Tapalovic made his Bayern exit soon after Neuer suffered a broken leg while on a skiing trip in December, after the World Cup.

In an interview with The Athletic, published this week, Neuer said news of his mentor's departure was "a blow – when I was already down on the ground".

Reports claimed Tapalovic and head coach Julian Nagelsmann had become incompatible, with sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic saying in a January 23 announcement: "Differences, particularly over the way we worked together, have now led to us going our separate ways."

Former Germany midfielder Effenberg, who was a key figure at Bayern in two separate playing spells, believes Neuer may have written himself out of Bayern's future with the tone of his remarks.

Effenberg described it as "an interview that will probably go down in football history", saying Neuer should appreciate coaching changes only ever happen for a reason.

"This is the way it is in life and in football," Effenberg wrote in his t-online column. "Sometimes paths separate when certain things have happened.

"Those responsible certainly had their reasons for making a change – and they did. With this, FC Bayern makes decisions for the future of the club.

"A player simply has to accept that, even if he's the captain. Because nothing and nobody is above the club. No player, no coach is bigger than Bayern Munich."

Neuer has 18 months left on his Bayern deal, and he may struggle to displace Yann Sommer, who has been brought in from Borussia Monchengladbach to cover for his absence.

For many years, Neuer was widely regarded as the world's best goalkeeper, but he is in the autumn of his career now.

Effenberg wrote: "He should think about whether it makes any sense for him to still fulfil his contract with FC Bayern, which is valid until 2024, after these allegations, or whether it might be better to leave the club. From the feeling it could well be that it will even come down to that. I wouldn't be surprised if they split up this summer."

A Champions League winner in 2001 with Bayern, Effenberg said the emotional nature of Neuer's comments "are no longer good prerequisites for further good and harmonious cooperation".

"Both sides now have a few months to think about how things should continue beyond the summer – or not," Effenberg added. "With this interview, Neuer certainly made life very difficult, if not impossible, for Bayern for the future."

Ireland lived up to their billing as pre-tournament favourites with an emphatic 34-10 bonus-point victory over Wales at the Principality Stadium in the opening game of the 2023 Six Nations.

The visitors, looking to go one better than last year when finishing second to France, led by 24 points at half-time and saw the job through despite dropping off for much of the second period.

Caelan Doris, James Ryan, James Lowe and Josh van der Flier all helped themselves to tries for Ireland, who will face a far sterner test when they host reigning champions France next weekend.

Returning head coach Warren Gatland saw Wales' numerous issues up close in his first game back in charge, with the Dragons now on a four-game losing run in the competition.

Conor Murray's quick pass allowed Doris to cross over inside two minutes and Ireland had a second try soon after when a short tap penalty culminated in Ryan muscling over.

Johnny Sexton's successful conversions had Ireland 14 points up, but Wales elected to take on a penalty – slotted home by Dan Biggar – instead of pushing for a first try. 

Fly-half Sexton wasted no time in restoring Ireland's cushion from the boot, and Ireland were out of sight when Lowe anticipated Biggar's pass and charged 60 metres to score.

Having already kicked over the conversion, Sexton added three more points from another penalty, but Wales did at least show some sort of response early in the second half.

Liam Williams found a gap and dived under the posts soon after the restart, which Biggar converted to see the hosts enjoy a prolonged spell on top for the first time.

But Ireland, who were forced into a late line-up change when Jamison Gibson-Park was replaced by Murray, cruised to victory after Williams was sin-binned for a challenge on Sexton.

Andy Farrell's side put that man advantage to good use as, after wave after wave of attacks, Van der Flier dotted down between the posts to get the bonus points on the board.

Rare Irish win in Cardiff after lightning start

Doris' try with 119 seconds played was the third-quickest in a Six Nations match and set the tone for Ireland, whose 27-point half-time total was their highest ever in this fixture.

Ireland opted for defence over attack in the second half as they became the first away side to prevail in this fixture in 10 attempts, since they last did so in Cardiff in 2013.

Wales woes continue despite return of Warren

Gatland's return to the hot seat did not quite have the instant impact Wales fans would have hoped, with the Dragons having now lost four Six Nations games in a row.

Wales had previously won seven on the spin in the competition under Gatland, who returned to the role to replace Wayne Pivac in December, but already their title hopes are looking slim.

What's next?

Ireland have a huge showdown with France in Dublin next Saturday, with that potentially a showdown for the title. Wales travel to Scotland for their next outing in a week's time.

Sean Dyche emphasised the importance of going back to basics after his tenure as Everton manager began with a surprise 1-0 win over Premier League leaders Arsenal.

James Tarkowski's 60th-minute header was the difference as Everton ended an eight-match wait for a Premier League win at the first attempt under Dyche on Saturday, dealing a blow to Arsenal's title bid.

Dyche thus became just the second boss to beat the Premier League's leaders in his first match in charge of a new club in the competition, after Alan Curbishley's West Ham upset Manchester United in 2006.

Speaking to BT Sport after dealing Arsenal their first defeat in 14 Premier League outings, Dyche backed his side to improve as they become more accustomed to his approach.  

"It gives us a platform to move forward," Dyche said. "The performance was key for me. We've crammed a lot in this week, and the performance was the first marker.

"We managed to press the game well, I still think we can deal with the ball better, but that comes with confidence and belief in doing the basics well.

"That's my style, if you like. I want them to understand the basics of the game, but we've got some very good players here."

Everton adopted an aggressive approach from the off at a raucous Goodison Park, and Dyche was delighted with his team's application in their hard-fought win.

"I'm not knocking what they were trying to do under the last manager, I've got my style of working, that's all it is," Dyche added.

"We want to make sure everyone knows we are committed to the cause and giving everything.

"For the players, the basic requirements never change. You have to win your battles, win your races, win with commitment to the cause.

"I still think we could improve on our play, but that comes with confidence and confidence usually comes with results."

Tarkowski's winner represented his first Premier League goal for Everton, with all eight of his strikes in the competition coming under Dyche's management (seven for Burnley).

The defender echoed Dyche's thoughts in his own post-match interview, praising Everton's determination and describing the win as a potential turning point in their battle for survival.

"It has been tough for us and the fans and for all the staff at the club," he said. "Hopefully this is the turning point for the club, there is a lot of talent here.

"We've lacked that little bit of grit at times and that's what the fans want. We've seen what it's all about today."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is still "so proud" of his players despite the leaders slipping to a 1-0 defeat at lowly Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The defeat, which came courtesy of James Tarkowski's second-half header at Goodison Park, was just Arsenal's second of the Premier League season – their first coming against Manchester United at Old Trafford in September.

The result means Manchester City can cut the Gunners' lead at the top of the table to just two points with victory over Tottenham on Sunday, although the London side will have a game in hand.

Arteta, who became the first Arsenal manager to lose three consecutive away Premier League games against the Toffees, lamented his side's inability to deal with Everton's physical threat, but hopes it will act as an important lesson for the remainder of the season. 

“We had loads of the ball and we generated many chances, but we lacked that purpose and quality in the final third," he told BT Sport.

"Then we conceded and they slowed the game down and we struggled.

"They do this to every team. Their physicality is their strength. If you want to control the game against them you have to control this. We did not do that.

"We needed more composure and to better control the game emotionally. We gave away so many unnecessary free-kicks and that's what they want.

"Today I love them much better than the week before or a month ago. It is easy to be next to someone when they are winning well. I am still so proud of all of these players, they deserve it.

"This is not going to be a rosy pathway. This is going to be tricky and we will have to dig in and play much better than we did today."

Arsenal will hope to return to winning ways against Brentford next Saturday, before a mouth-watering clash with Pep Guardiola’s City four days later.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has provided Milan with a major lift ahead of the derby against Inter, returning to first-team training and sharing pearls of wisdom with his Rossoneri team-mates.

Sunday's San Siro battle comes too soon for Ibrahimovic to make an impact on the pitch, but the 41-year-old striker is back in the fold, close to returning from the knee surgery he underwent last May.

It was envisaged he would be absent for around eight months, and Milan have given the veteran all the time he needs.

Head coach Stefano Pioli believes having Ibrahimovic around the squad can only be a positive as last season's Serie A champions bid to recover from a drastic dip in form.

Milan have lost three games in a row, including a Supercoppa Italiana final 3-0 thumping by Inter, and are without a win in their last six.

Discussing the return of the charismatic Ibrahimovic, who is a former Inter player, Pioli said on Saturday: "He has always been fundamental for this team.

"On Friday he resumed training with us, even if to a small extent. Unfortunately, the two games against Tottenham [in the Champions League] come too soon, and right now we don't know when he will be at 100 per cent.

"I hope with all my heart he can come back soon, especially for what he's doing. Few people would do what he's doing to come back from such a difficult and complicated injury.

"Has he talked to his team-mates? I think so, he knows how to strike the right chords."

Pioli's team have slipped 15 points behind leaders Napoli and entered the weekend in fifth place, albeit only two points behind second-placed Inter, so there is all to play for at San Siro.

"It will be a great opportunity for us and we must do everything to seize it," Pioli said. "Inter come into the match in excellent form, but we have a great desire to start again."

Since the Supercoppa loss on January 18, Milan have been beaten 4-0 at Lazio and 5-2 at home by lowly Sassuolo, putting their top-four prospects in unexpected mid-season peril.

Inter will fancy piling on more misery, but Pioli said: "We have not lost the spirit that has always distinguished us. We must go back to showing it."

Milan are determined to get back into the top four and ink themselves in for another Champions League campaign, but Pioli said: "It shouldn't be taken for granted.

"We have to win many games from here until the end to get as high as possible."

There was late disruption for Ireland as Jamison Gibson-Park and Cian Healy were ruled out of their Six Nations opener against Wales on Saturday.

Scrum-half Gibson-Park and prop Healy missed out due to injury, forcing head coach Andy Farrell to make late changes.

The vastly experienced Conor Murray replaced Gibson-Park in the number nine shirt at the Principality Stadium.

Craig Casey and Dave Kilcoyne were drafted in to take their places on the bench in Cardiff.

Ireland, the top-ranked side in the world, also this week lost key man Tadhg Furlong to injury ahead of their first match of the tournament.

Sean Dyche's Everton reign got off to a flying start as James Tarkowski's header handed Premier League leaders Arsenal a surprise 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park.

Everton looked revitalised in their first outing under the former Burnley boss, and it was two of his former Clarets players who combined for the winner – Tarkowski powering Dwight McNeil's corner home on the hour.

Arsenal were kept at arm's length by Everton during an unusually disjointed display, with the deserved victory dragging the Toffees – at least temporarily – out of the relegation zone.

Having suffered just their second league defeat of the season, the Gunners could see their lead at the summit cut to two points when title rivals Manchester City face Tottenham on Sunday. 

Despite Everton starting strongly at a boisterous Goodison Park, Arsenal missed the first clear chance on the half-hour mark, Eddie Nketiah firing wide following excellent work from Bukayo Saka.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin somehow failed to slide home Amadou Onana's low delivery three minutes later as Everton threatened, before the unmarked Abdoulaye Doucoure headed McNeil's cross wide.

Conor Coady then made a vital goal-line clearance from Saka's volley, before Calvert-Lewin almost found the top-left corner with a looping header as an entertaining first half ended level.

Visiting captain Martin Odegaard blazed over from a good position after 59 minutes, and Arsenal were punished a minute later as Tarkowski found the bottom-right corner with a fine header from McNeil's right-wing corner.

Arsenal introduced January additions Jorginho and Leandro Trossard in search of a leveller, but the latter's 20-yard attempt, saved by Jordan Pickford, was as close as they came as their title hopes suffered a huge blow.

Carlo Ancelotti hailed Vinicius Junior as a role model after the Real Madrid forward faced fresh criticism from the Real Mallorca camp ahead of Sunday's LaLiga game at Son Moix.

Madrid won 4-1 at home against Mallorca in September, with Vinicius complaining during the game of instructions from visiting boss Javier Aguirre.

The Brazilian felt Aguirre was telling his Mallorca players to hand out some rough treatment, and Vinicius confronted him about his orders.

Days later, Mallorca captain Antonio Raillo told Diario de Mallorca: "Vinicius should dance, but he shouldn't be disrespectful, he shouldn't insult or belittle his fellow professionals; then when he is branded as provocative he uses the race card."

This week, Raillo spoke again about Vinicius, saying in a clip on DAZN's Twitch channel: "If tomorrow I have to set an example for my son as a player, maybe I would give [Luka] Modric or [Karim] Benzema, but never him."

It means there will be focus on Vinicius on Sunday, but Ancelotti has no doubt the 22-year-old can cope with the attention.

"Vini's going to prepare for this game the same way as he does for all matches," said Ancelotti. "He doesn't need a sit-down, for me to have a chat with him.

"For me, Vinicius is an example of a footballer. Youngsters like players with such quality. My grandchildren have his shirt and they don't want another one."

Ancelotti spoke in a press conference on Saturday, ahead of a trip to face a Mallorca side who sat 10th heading into the latest round of games.

Defending LaLiga champions Madrid began the weekend five points behind leaders Barcelona, with a win over Valencia on Thursday atoning to some extent for last weekend's goalless draw with Real Sociedad.

Madrid have won nine of their past 10 games against Mallorca in LaLiga, including each of the last four, while Los Blancos have won six times in their last nine visits to the island outfit (D2 L1).

Ancelotti is unimpressed that Madrid have been handed an early afternoon kick-off slot on Sunday, having been in action on Thursday evening.

"We're not happy," he said. "We don't have a choice. The 72 hours is the minimum needed, so playing at two o'clock I don't think is right."

A Club World Cup campaign awaits, and Ancelotti could rest veteran midfielders Luka Modric or Toni Kroos on Sunday.

Equally, he could play both, as the Italian said: "The most important game is the one against Mallorca. There is a lot riding on the match, so I'll pick my best team, with or without Modric and Kroos, we'll see.

"This is the most important game right now and will help with preparations ahead of the Club World Cup."

Raphael Varane says the "suffocating" schedule of top-level football was behind his decision to retire from France duty.

The Manchester United defender announced on Thursday he has called time on his career in international football, after winning 93 caps in a 10-year stint, landing World Cup glory in 2018 along the way.

The former Real Madrid centre-back, who joined United 18 months ago, featured in six of France's games at the recent World Cup in Qatar, where they were beaten on penalties by Argentina in the final.

At the age of 29, he could realistically have targeted another World Cup campaign, but Varane decided the punishing schedule of modern football was too much for him.

"I gave everything, physically and mentally," Varane told Canal Plus. "But the very highest level is like a washing machine, you play all the time and you never stop.

"We have overloaded schedules and play non-stop. Right now, I feel like I'm suffocating and that the player is gobbling up the man."

Varane, who captained his country 20 times, is the fifth member of France's 2018 World Cup squad to retire from international football, after Blaise Matuidi, Steve Mandanda, Adil Rami and former captain Hugo Lloris.

Xavi is expecting Barcelona's LaLiga title battle with Real Madrid to go down to the wire, despite his side opening up a five-point lead at the summit.

Barca, who last lifted the title in the 2018-19 campaign, have won 16 of their opening 19 league matches to reach the 50-point mark already.

It is only the sixth time Barca have hit that half-century milestone at this stage of a campaign, and they went on to lift the title in four of those previous five campaigns.

Reigning Spanish and European champions Madrid have struggled for consistency either side of the World Cup break, winning only half of their past eight league matches.

However, with the sides also paired together in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, Xavi insists Carlo Ancelotti's men can never be written off.

"I don't feel like the favourites, but rather just a candidate who can win the league," Xavi said at a pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's meeting with Sevilla.

"Winning the league is one of our goals. We're competing against the current LaLiga and Champions League winners and it's hard for us to fight for titles against a strong side.

"I still consider Madrid a strong side and we will have to fight for the league right until the last or penultimate matchday."

Barca have won nine of their past 10 league games, including all four this calendar year, and are unbeaten in their past 14 LaLiga meetings with 13th-place Sevilla.

Jorge Sampaoli's side have won back-to-back matches without conceding to ease their relegation worries, and Xavi says his side will treat Sevilla as they do any other opponent.

"Every game brings pressure. Every time we go out on the pitch we're told it's a key game; always it's the same thing," he said.

"I've also heard that how we perform in the Europa League will determine the success of our season.

"We're a club that is exposed to pressure and that's welcome. It is better to be fighting for these titles than to be relegated.

"Up next is a difficult opponent, despite where they are in the table. Sampaoli has brought back their strong and competitive side, making them strong defensively.

"We know they are a team that can complicate things for us, a team with a lot of experience. Tomorrow is another test and we have to pass it with all three points."

The seven goals conceded after 19 LaLiga games is Barca's lowest-ever tally and the second lowest of any team at this stage after Deportivo La Coruna in the 1993-94 season.

Xavi added: "The state of the team right now is sensational. The players are working hard and getting results. In general we're in a good moment, especially in defence.

"We're playing much better football now and are understanding certain situations better. We are on the right track, but we're also still under construction in this long process."

Milan Skriniar will no longer captain Inter after agreeing to join Paris Saint-Germain, says Simone Inzaghi, but the Nerazzurri boss still expects the defender to start Sunday's derby against Milan.

Skriniar revealed he had reached an agreement with PSG last week, though the move will not occur until the expiration of his contract in June after Inter stood firm on his €20million valuation in the January transfer window.

The Slovakia international sat out Tuesday's Coppa Italia win over Atalanta, but he captained Inter on his last appearance against Empoli on January 23, when he was sent off.

With club captain Samir Handanovic losing his starting spot to Andre Onana, Skriniar has skippered Inter for much of the season, but Inzaghi has now revealed that will no longer be the case.

"We have hierarchies based on appearances, but because of what happened he will no longer be the captain," Inzaghi said at Saturday's pre-match press conference.

"We talked about it very calmly with the club and the boy.

"The captain is Handanovic, then we'll scale based on appearances with [Marcelo] Brozovic, [Danilo] D'Ambrosio and Lautaro [Martinez]. 

"The thing that matters most to me is the match."

Inzaghi remains likely to name Skriniar in his line-up against city rivals Milan, who have slipped out of Serie A's top four amid a six-match winless run in all competitions.

"I don't judge his choices but the man and the player, who are unique," Inzaghi said of Skriniar. "He is a splendid boy, who works very well every day. He will probably be a starter."

While both Milan giants have struggled to match the pace set by runaway leaders Napoli this campaign, Inzaghi expects the derby to be fiercely competitive.

"I can say that two teams are facing each other who fought for the Scudetto last year, who played in the Supercoppa Italiana, who are well-equipped and want to make their run without thinking about the others," he said.

"In all the derbies I have seen that they are special matches, which live as single episodes, where a single decision can change the game from one moment to the next. 

"We know that there is this gap, at this moment of the season every point is fundamental for any goal, whether it is to bring Napoli closer or to detach ourselves from the teams pursuing us." 

Having lost September's return fixture 3-2, Inter are looking to deny Milan a first Serie A double over their rivals since the 2010-11 season.

Philadelphia Eagles centre Jason Kelce says next week's Super Bowl will be more stressful for his parents than himself and brother Travis.

The pair will become the first brothers to face off in NFL's biggest match, with both aiming to land their second ring, when the Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Arizona.

Mother Donna and father Ed Kelce will be in attendance at State Farm Stadium for the family affair, and older brother Jason would rather be in his position than theirs. 

"I think it's always stressful for the people watching," he told reporters. "I think that's probably more [stressful]... not even just parents but also the coaches and fans. 

"When you don't have control on the field of what's happening, I think that's a stressful situation. 

"I feel like when you're playing, there's a sense of control in the outcome and you can have a difference in it yourself. So it's a little bit less stressful. 

"I would imagine my parents would probably be a little stressed out. I think they are every time they're watching a game."

Jason won the Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2017, while Travis – two years younger than his brother – did so with the Chiefs in 2019.

While rivals on the field, however, Jason explained the pair remain as strong as ever off it, even if the dynamic of their relationship has changed over the years.

"I grew up the older brother, so I was then much more mature, which I don't know if that's a good word to describe me, but I was more mature than him," he said.

"I think when you get to a certain point being brothers, it becomes more of a peer relationship. 

"I'm no longer telling him what to do or showing them the ropes or trying to offer guidance as an older brother. 

"Now it's more just a friend and a different type of brother, right? He does the same for me. I get advice from him now, which growing up didn't happen too often. 

"I think the dynamic has changed a little bit in that regard. We get to genuinely just enjoy each other's personalities and who we are as individuals, and I think that makes it fun."