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Alexis Mac Allister has been booked in for a medical with Liverpool.

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane has hit out at the “damaging” new guidelines on added time and conduct for this season’s Premier League and asked why players’ opinions are not being heard. Competitions around the world have been instructed to more accurately calculate time lost to stoppages this season, including goal celebrations and VAR checks. Arsenal equalised in the 11th of 13 added minutes at the end of Sunday’s Community Shield against Manchester City and went on to win on penalties. The game’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board, said in March that the approach to calculating added time was “positively received” when it was first tested at the men’s World Cup in Qatar last year and would be rolled out worldwide. However, Varane says the changes have been brought in “despite our previous feedback” and are placing too much pressure on players. He tweeted on Monday morning: “We had a meeting last week with the FA. They recommended from the referees new decisions and rules. “From the managers and players, we have shared our concerns for many years now that there are too many games, the schedule is overcrowded, and it’s at a dangerous level for players’ physical and mental well-being. “Despite our previous feedbacks, they have now recommended for next season: longer games, more intensity, and less emotions to be shown by players. We just want to be in good condition on the pitch to give 100 per cent to our club and fans. Why are our opinions not being heard?” Varane retired from international football at the age of 29 earlier this year, likening the slog of the top-level game to being in a washing machine. The new guidelines on added time have been introduced to tackle timewasting and increase effective playing time. FIFA found 10 minutes and 11 seconds of added time were played on average in Qatar, an increase on the average for the previous World Cup finals in Russia, but also found effective playing time was up in Qatar by more than four minutes compared to Russia. However, the impact of the extra added time on players over a sustained period has already been highlighted by their global union FIFPRO, which reported earlier this year that the changes would amount to the equivalent of up to three extra games per season for players with the highest existing workloads. “As a player I feel very privileged to do the job I love every day but I feel these changes are damaging our game,” Varane added. “We want to be at our maximum level, the best we can be and put on amazing performances for fans to celebrate every week. “I believe it is important that we, players and managers, highlight these important issues as we want to protect the game we love and give the fans our best.” Varane’s remark about “less emotions to be shown by players” appeared to be a reference to a new code of conduct designed to improve the behaviour of players, coaches and fans at all levels of the English game announced last week. It has been launched with the support of all of the football authorities, with the Professional Footballers’ Association understood to have helped shape the new guidance. Referees will be expected to take a more consistent and tough line when players surround them to challenge decisions. Officials should issue at least a yellow card where two or more players confront them. Players and coaches who seriously or repeatedly abuse referees could face increased financial penalties from the Football Association, while a tougher line is set to be taken against fans involved in football tragedy abuse. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Mohamed Salah ‘remains committed’ to Liverpool amid Saudi Arabia links Pat Cummins set to be fit for World Cup despite fractured left wrist Henry Slade omitted from England World Cup squad

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Armando Bacot’s 22-point, 20-rebound effort and RJ Davis’ 22 points led No. 19 North Carolina to a 90-68 win over Lehigh on Sunday.

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A furious George Russell lashed out at Lewis Hamilton following a dramatic crash with his Mercedes team-mate at the very first corner of Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix. Max Verstappen, crowned champion of the world for a third time following Saturday’s sprint, started his title parade by racing to his 14th win from the 17 rounds so far. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri followed up his victory in Saturday’s 19-lap dash by taking second place while his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris completed the podium. But Verstappen’s emphatic win and McLaren’s continued resurgence played second fiddle to Hamilton’s crash with Russell which left the seven-time world champion in the gravel. Russell fought back from last to fourth. Hamilton, third on the grid, attempted to drive round the outside of Russell, one starting place higher, and pole-sitter Verstappen in a gung-ho bid for glory. But Hamilton tagged the front-left of Russell’s machine. An out-of-control Hamilton was sent into the gravel with the right-rear wheel of his Mercedes flying off into the air. Russell was sent spinning round before limping back to the pits for a new front wing. Out came the safety car and the inquest started. “F****** hell,” yelled Russell, 25. “Come on! What the hell! I have got damage.” Referencing their ding-dong battle at the last round in Japan, Russell added: “Guys, come on, f***! Two races in a row.” Sitting in the sandtrap, Hamilton, 38, pointed the finger at his younger team-mate. “Yeah, I got taken out by my team-mate,” he said. Back on track and sitting at the rear of the field, Russell returned to the intercom. “Sorry guys, I wasn’t even looking,” he added. “I was focused ahead and he came from nowhere. “I am lost for words. Honestly. I have just seen the replays on the TV screen. I couldn’t do anything. Totally sandwiched.” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is absent from this race – his second in a row – as he recovers from knee surgery. But the Austrian came on the intercom in a move to calm Russell down. The relationship is not broken. I don’t have any problems with George. We have a great relationship and we always talk about things Lewis Hamilton “George, let’s race now and get the best out of it,” he said. Forty minutes after the accident, Hamilton, 38, accepted blame for the coming together. “In the heat of the moment, it was frustrating because I felt this tap from the rear but I don’t think George had anywhere to go,” said the seven-time world champion using a towel to mop the sweat from his brow. “It was an unfortunate scenario and I am happy to take responsibility because that is my role. I need to go back and look at it, but I don’t feel like it was George’s fault. “Before the race, we knew we were on different tyres so we wanted to work together. I had the soft tyre and everyone around me was on the medium and I needed to get by. I tried going round the outside of Max and it just didn’t work out. “It was not our plan to come together. It is just really gutting for the team. I feel just really sad for everybody for my part in it.” Hamilton wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, after the race, saying: “I’ve watched the replay and it was 100% my fault and I take full responsibility. Apologies to my team and to George.” He insisted his partnership with Russell had not been damaged by the collision. Mercedes announced at the end of August that Hamilton and Russell will continue alongside each other until at least the end of 2025. He continued: “The relationship is not broken. I don’t have any problems with George. We have a great relationship and we always talk about things. “This is just unfortunate and I am sure he was frustrated in the moment, as I was, but we will talk about it offline and move forwards.” Amid safety concerns about the Pirelli tyres, Sunday’s 57-lap race took place against the backdrop of a flurry of mandatory pit stops – with the drivers only able to do 18 laps on a single set of rubber. Yet, the disruption had little impact on Verstappen who sealed another comfortable win, taking the flag 4.8 seconds clear for the 49th win of his career. Charles Leclerc finished fifth for Ferrari ahead of the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso. Sergio Perez, whose crash in Saturday’s sprint officially handed Verstappen his third title, started from the pit lane and crossed the line ninth on yet another weekend to forget for the Mexican. Perez was also handed a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits, demoting him to 10th. Read More Lewis Hamilton crashes out after first-corner collision with George Russell In his own words: Christian Horner on world champion Max Verstappen Angry Lance Stroll shoves personal trainer and storms out of interview Max Verstappen fastest in Qatar practice as he closes in on world championship Fernando Alonso lauds Max Verstappen as best F1 driver since Michael Schumacher Fernando Alonso lauds Max Verstappen as best F1 driver since Michael Schumacher