Max Verstappen picked up where he left off by posting the fastest time in opening practice for the Dutch Grand Prix. Verstappen, who has won 10 of the 12 rounds so far and will match Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive victories if he triumphs again on Sunday, finished 0.278 seconds clear of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton took third spot for Mercedes, three tenths adrift of Verstappen, with Sergio Perez fourth in the other Red Bull. Verstappen dominated the opening half of the Formula One season to establish a 125-point championship lead in his pursuit of a third straight world title. On Thursday, Hamilton raised the prospect of the Dutchman winning all of the remaining 10 rounds, and on the evidence of the first running, he will head into the weekend in front of an expectant Zandvoort crowd as the clear favourite to continue his commanding streak. For Hamilton, the seven-time world champion said his goal for the second half of the season is to finish runner-up in the drivers’ standings. The 38-year-old is currently fourth, 41 points behind Perez, who occupies second spot, and he will be relatively pleased with his opening salvo. Mercedes team-mate George Russell finished 11th, the best part of a second down. Haas announced ahead of this weekend’s race that Nico Hulkenberg will be retained for a second term with the American team. But the veteran German crashed out of practice after losing control of his machine through the penultimate corner. With his Haas beached in the gravel, the running was suspended. Over at Ferrari, Charles Leclerc was only 16th, three spots ahead of Robert Shwartzman, a junior driver for the Italian team who stood in for Carlos Sainz for first practice. McLaren driver Lando Norris finished sixth, one place behind Williams’ Alex Albon. Second practice gets under way at 4pm local time (3pm BST). Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Haas announce Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg staying for 2024 F1 Dutch Grand Prix LIVE: Practice updates and times as Formula 1 returns Max Verstappen posts fastest time in first practice for Dutch Grand Prix

Gareth Southgate backed Raheem Sterling to recover from his nightmare season – after leaving him out of his latest England squad. The Chelsea forward will miss the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia next month. Southgate spoke with Sterling last week with the 28-year-old battling a hamstring problem and admitting he had not hit top form. But, despite his omission, Southgate expects one of his star players to rediscover his spark. “I will always back him to respond strongly and have the resilience and tenacity to prove himself,” he said. “He said himself he’s not been happy with how it’s been but that will be a temporary thing. “He really wasn’t in consideration. We didn’t get to the point of whether he should be in or out. He doesn’t think he’s operating on the level he needs. “He’s an important part of our group and that remains the same. But he is in an area of the pitch where players are playing well for their clubs and playing well when they are playing for us. “The dynamic is different from maybe two-to-three years ago. We had four or five players who were almost guaranteed to be in the team. Now we’ve got competition pretty much everywhere. “But he has shown time and again for us that he has been an important player. His mental toughness stands out in why I would expect him to come up at a good level.” Sterling has struggled for form and fitness since a £47.5million move from Manchester City last summer. He has scored nine goals in 37 appearances in Chelsea’s chaotic season which has seen them sack Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter with Frank Lampard in interim charge since April. He has shown time and again for us that he has been an important player. His mental toughness stands out in why I would expect him to come up at a good level Gareth Southgate on Raheem Sterling They travel to Manchester United on Thursday and host Newcastle in Sunday’s final game of the season. Chelsea will finish in the bottom half of the Premier League despite owner Todd Boehly spending almost £600million. “I found him (Sterling) positive, strong and understanding with what’s gone on. It’s been difficult for everyone with all the changes this year. Three different managers, three different ways of training, three different ways of playing,” said Southgate. “There was a lot of upheaval. Clubs have these moments. There have been a couple of clubs who haven’t been where they want to be this year. “That will be even more intense next year. They won’t have any European football so will have a game a week. I think they’ll be really strong next season and certainly he’ll be a big part of it. “I can’t see a scenario where Chelsea aren’t in the top six next year. It has been really difficult for all the managers this year but that will calm down over the summer and they have an outstanding squad. They are going to have a good season and he’ll be fundamental to that.” Meanwhile, Southgate remains hopeful Jude Bellingham will be fit for the game in Malta on June 16 and against North Macedonia in Manchester on June 19. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder missed Sunday’s 3-0 victory at Augsburg with a knee problem he suffered in the 5-2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach and is a doubt for Saturday’s final game against Mainz. Dortmund are two points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga, hunting their first title since 2012. Southgate added: “He will be doing everything he can to be available for this weekend. Whether he will win that race we don’t know yet but I would have thought there is enough time for our games but we don’t know for sure.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Frank Lampard not surprised contract talks with Mason Mount are taking time Craig Overton stars as Somerset begin Blast by thrashing Hampshire Cameron Norrie starts Lyon Open title defence with win over David Goffin

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Friends fans think they've found the original clip that inspired Matt LeBlanc's tribute to Matthew Perry with the actor joking that he still owed him 'twenty bucks'. In an episode titled The One With the Kips, which first aired on 29 October, 1998, Monica makes up that Chandler has stolen $20 from her purse to cover up their secret fling. "You know what, now that I think about it, I constantly find myself without twenties, and you always have lots", Joey chimes in, thinking her rouse is genuine. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter

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A wild weekend in England’s top flight has Fantasy Premier League bosses considering what could come next and whether overthinking taking the captaincy away from Erling Haaland is really the way to go - but this week presents a chance for calmer reflection and, just maybe, sweeping wholesale changes to reignite a title bid, especially if a wildcard is available to use. Here are five players we think could impress in gameweek 13 and perhaps beyond, with managers needing to decide whether using a transfer or two earlier in the week is a gamble worth taking, or holding out until after the upcoming international fixtures is worth the potential greater price. Note: Our FPL tips come out every Monday but this is international week - so no domestic fixtures this weekend! James Ward-Prowse, West Ham (6.1) The central midfielder ended a run of six games without a goal or assist last time out to register two of the latter for the Hammers - and there’s reason to think his points could continue to tally up fast after the break. Ward-Prowse faces bottom club Burnley in the first match back, followed by a run which includes Crystal Palace at home, Fulham away and Wolves at home in the next four fixtures. These are games West Ham will feel they can win, but Ward-Prowse’s set-piece delivery will be a big part of that if so and he could be a solid operator for a period without breaking the bank. Luca Koleosho, Burnley (5.0) Our picks this time out are going to include some contrarian options, fair warning! And one of the starters for the league’s bottom club definitely comes under that category, especially since Luka Koleosho has just a single assist and no goals to his name this term. Yet his recent performances have been good, he’s in the starting lineup on a regular basis and between his acceleration, his dribbling and his willingness to get shots away, it looks only a matter of time before the 19-year-old starts to find some end product. Add in the Clarets’ upcoming fixture list - after West Ham at home it’s Sheffield United home too, then Wolves, Brighton and Everton - and if Burnley are going to mount some sort of resistance against relegation, he’ll surely play a part and it’ll surely have to come in this run of games. Listed as a midfielder in FPL, the wide forward is a cheap option to consider as a bench alternative at least. Christopher Nkunku, Chelsea (7.3) Speaking of contrarian options, how about getting ahead of the game? Chelsea’s £51m signing is still waiting for his competitive debut for the Blues but Christopher Nkunku has all the talent to make himself not just a starter for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in rapid order, but prove himself one of the Premier League’s best all-round attackers. It remains to be seen exactly where he fits into the team, but Chelsea are starting to click and the France international is on the cusp of his comeback from injury. Away to Newcastle seems a hard fixture at first, but the Magpies are decimated by injuries right now, particularly in defence and midfield. Nkunku, an FPL forward, might play here, might not - but when he does, it’s almost certain his price will quickly start to rise as managers jump in on his dribbling and high volume of shot-taking. Why not get in ahead of time? Jayden Bogle, Sheffield United (4.5m) If a Burnley attacker is contrarian, a Sheffield United defender might be even more so. But with a couple of nice fixtures to play, an upturn in team results and confidence and plenty to like about Jayden Bogle’s attacking capabilities, he could be another squad makeweight for the odd game who doesn’t take up big funds and might just offer a well-timed assist. The right wing-back has one goal this season and two assists (in FPL terms at least!), and if we set aside the hammering by Arsenal, has mustered an average of just under three points per game over his (other) last four appearances. There could even be a rare clean sheet bonus to come against either Bournemouth or Burnley in the next couple of games. Abdoulaye Doucoure, Everton (5.5m) Rounding off our selections is Everton’s advanced midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, a key component under Sean Dyche and an in-form one, too. He notched a goal and an assist against Crystal Palace last time out and will look to add to both across a run against a very poor Manchester United side, a leaky Nottingham Forest and an injury-hit Newcastle. It’s surprising really that Doucoure’s price hasn’t really risen; he’s selected currently by fewer than 1% of teams, yet has picked up more FPL points this season than the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Martin Odegaard, Dejan Kulusevski or Marcus Rashford. Playing just off the front man, Everton’s powerhouse runner from deep is often a goal threat and could comfortably sit in squads as a regular rotation option depending on the Toffees’ upcoming opponents. Read More The surprise truth behind Klopp’s blueprint to beat Pep Guardiola How Pep Guardiola borrowed from Jurgen Klopp to elevate Manchester City Many Premier League managers have been in contact after FA charge – Mikel Arteta The surprise truth behind Klopp’s blueprint to beat Pep Guardiola How Pep Guardiola borrowed from Jurgen Klopp to elevate Manchester City Many Premier League managers have been in contact after FA charge – Mikel Arteta

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