Roberto De Zerbi expects Brighton to lose key players in the summer but does not feel Moises Caicedo has added incentive to impress during Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal. Influential midfielder Caicedo expressed his desire to leave Albion amid January bids from the title-chasing Gunners but subsequently signed a new contract at the Amex Stadium after the offers were rejected. The 21-year-old Ecuador international and Argentina’s World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, 24, continue to be heavily linked with rival clubs ahead of the transfer window opening next month. Seagulls head coach De Zerbi has already begun planning for next season, having last week clinched the signing of Brazilian forward Joao Pedro from Watford for a reported fee of almost £30million. The Italian is braced for some big-name departures in the coming months but wants his squad fully focused on a tricky weekend trip to Emirates Stadium and the ongoing push for Europe. “I don’t know what will happen next season but I think if you want to improve your team, you have to decide (make plans) before the next season,” he said. “I think we will lose some important players and we have to be ready to restart stronger than this season.” Asked if Caicedo has extra motivation to perform in north London, De Zerbi replied “No, I think no. “He’s playing for Brighton now and only Brighton. I have no doubts but I want only players focused in our team and our club. “He’s playing very well. He always is one of the best players on the pitch.” Pedro’s imminent arrival in a club-record deal was confirmed before Brighton’s Europa League quest was damaged by a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of relegation-threatened Everton. De Zerbi believes the transfer is a statement of intent as Albion bid to build on the best league campaign in the club’s 122-year history. “Joao Pedro is a very important signal,” he said. “I spoke with him last month and I am really pleased to work next year with him. I think Joao Pedro can be a top player for us. “He’s a young player and he’s a right player for us. It’s a good deal for Brighton.” Brighton have injury concerns ahead of the trip to the capital, with Solly March and Adam Webster joining Tariq Lamptey, Adam Lallana, Jakub Moder and Jeremy Sarmiento on the sidelines, while Joel Veltman is a doubt. Webster’s absence should result in a recall for on-loan Chelsea defender Levi Colwill. Although England Under-21 international Colwill is expected to remain at Stamford Bridge next term, De Zerbi hopes to keep hold of him. “I would like to work with him another two, three, four years because it’s difficult to find another left centre-back with his quality,” he said. “He’s a good guy. This year his improvement has been fantastic and I hope he can stay with us.” Seventh-placed Brighton will bid to dent Arsenal’s title pursuit by bouncing back from Monday’s embarrassing heavy loss to the lowly Toffees. While De Zerbi is a big admirer of Mikel Arteta’s men, he is optimistic about registering a second away win of the season against the Gunners following November’s 3-1 Carabao Cup success. “Arsenal are one of the best teams in the Premier League,” he said. “They play in a clear way. I like them in terms of style of play, I love this style. “But we are playing well and we have the quality to reach the result. “We are fighting for the Europa League. If you are fighting for a dream, every game is tough.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Anything can happen in football – Pep Guardiola wary of threat posed by Everton Jurgen Klopp happy Liverpool ‘could show up a little bit’ before end of season On this day in 2006: Liverpool win thrilling FA Cup final against West Ham

Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will make his first return to Old Trafford since being dismissed as manager this weekend for their Premier League match with Wolves.

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan. —————————- TOP STORIES —————————- TITLE-42-IMMIGRATION-ASYLUM — The U.S. turned the page on pandemic-era immigration restrictions with relative calm at its border with Mexico as migrants adapted to strict new rules aimed at discouraging illegal crossings and awaited the promise of new legal pathways for entering the country. By Valerie Gonzalez, Elliot Spagat and Giovanna Dell'Orto. SENT: 910 words, photos. ELECTION 2024-IOWA — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump will share the spotlight in Iowa, providing a chance to sway influential conservative activists and contrast their campaign styles in Republicans’ leadoff voting state. By Thomas Beaumont and Michelle L. Price. SENT: 890 words, photos. UPCOMING: 990 words after noon event with DeSantis; Trump rally at 8 p.m. CONGRESS-DEBT LIMIT — One outcome is clear as Washington reaches for a budget deal to end the debt ceiling standoff: The ambitious COVID era of government spending is giving way to a new focus on stemming deficits. It’s a turnaround from just a few years ago, when Congress passed trillions in emergency aid to halt the pandemic and rebuild the U.S. economy. By Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro. SENT: 1,090 words, photos. CENSUS-CHALLENGES-BIG-CITIES — Some of the largest U.S. cities challenging their 2020 census numbers aren’t getting the results they hoped for from the U.S. Census Bureau — an effort by Memphis to increase its official population resulted in three people being subtracted from its count during an initial appeal. By Mike Schneider. SENT: 770 words, photos. SCABBY-THE-RAT — For decades, a giant, inflatable rat with beady eyes, sharp teeth and a pustule-covered belly has been looming over union protests, drawing attention to construction sites or buildings with labor disputes. Over the decades, Scabby the Rat has become an icon at the site of labor disputes and weathered multiple legal challenges. Now Scabby’s challenge is staying relevant in the age of new technology and social media. By Mae Anderson. SENT: 1,090 words, photos, video. This story moved as the Sunday spotlight. G7-JAPAN-FINANCE — The Group of Seven’s top financial leaders united Saturday in their support for Ukraine and their determination to enforce sanctions against Russia for its aggression. By Business Writer Ellen Kurtenbach. SENT: 890 words, photos. ————————————————————————— SPOTLIGHTING VOICES ————————————————————————— BBC-BLACK COLLEGE WORLD SERIES - Players convened in Alabama’s capital city for the Black College World Series seeking a championship and just maybe a pro shot. The event comes at a time when only 6.2% of players on MLB’s opening day rosters were Black and none came from HBCUs. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. ————————————————————————— RUSSIA UKRAINE WAR ————————————————————————— RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR — Ukrainian military commanders say their troops recaptured more territory from Russian forces at the scene of the war’s longest and bloodiest battle, for the eastern city of Bakhmut. It wasn’t clear if this marked the start of Kyiv’s long-expected counteroffensive. SENT: 940 words, photos. —————————- MORE NEWS —————————- FBN-COMMANDERS SALE — A group led by Josh Harris that includes Magic Johnson has agreed to buy the NFL’s Washington Commanders from longtime owner Dan Snyder and his family. SENT: 530 words, photos, audio. FATAL-SHOOTING-ABORTION — A man who didn’t want his girlfriend to get an abortion fatally shot her during a confrontation in a Dallas parking lot, police say. SENT: 330 words, photos. MAYOR MISSING TEXTS-SETTLEMENT — The city of Seattle will pay $2.3 million to settle a lawsuit brought by employees who helped reveal that thousands of then-Mayor Jenny Durkan’s text messages had been deleted in 2020 amid protests over George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police. SENT: 600 words. PHOTO-GALLERY-EUROVISION — The Eurovision Song Contest field has been narrowed to the 26 acts who will sing their hearts out for a chance at glory and national bragging rights. SENT: 300 words, photos. SCI-LAUNCH TO JUPITER — A crucial radar antenna on a spacecraft bound for Jupiter is no longer jammed. Flight controllers in Germany freed the antenna after nearly a month of effort. SENT: 230 words, photo. DANGEROUS AIR BAGS — A Tennessee company could be heading for a legal battle with U.S. auto safety regulators after refusing a request that millions of potentially dangerous air bag inflators be recalled. SENT: 770 words photo, audio. ———————————————————— WASHINGTON/POLITICS ———————————————————— ELECTION 2023-KENTUCKY-SECRETARY OF STATE — Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams won bipartisan praise for expanding voter access during the COVID-19 pandemic. He now must persuade Republican primary voters who have been bombarded for years with false claims about rigged elections. SENT: 1,080 words, photos. ELECTION CONSPIRACIES-VOTER ROLLS — Virginia’s top election official says she plans to withdraw the state from a bipartisan effort aimed at ensuring accurate voter lists and combating fraud. SENT: 680 words, photos. KARI-LAKE-ELECTION — A judge is hearing arguments over whether to dismiss the only surviving legal claim in Republican Kari Lake’s challenge of her loss to Democrat Katie Hobbs in the Arizona governor’s race. SENT: 540 words, photos. —————————- NATIONAL —————————- TRIBES-BORDER-CROSSING — The Pascua Yaqui Tribe has drafted regulations in an effort to formalize the border-crossing process for their relatives in Mexico coming to their reservation in Arizona. Like dozens of Native American nations across the U.S., the Pascua Yaqui Tribe was sliced in two by modern-day international borders. When deer dancers and musicians living in Sonora, Mexico, make the trip into the U.S. for ceremonies, they may be detained or have their cultural objects confiscated. SENT: 920 words, photos. BUFFALO-SUPERMARKET-SHOOTING — It’s hard for Jamari Shaw, 16, to have fun at the park with his younger brothers in their East Buffalo neighborhood. He’s too busy scanning for danger, an aftereffect of a gunman’s attack that killed 10 Black people at a local grocery store. SENT: 700 words, photos. PACIFIC NORTHWEST-HEAT WAVE — Temperatures are expected to start climbing significantly Saturday in parts of the Pacific Northwest as an early heat wave takes hold, possibly breaking records and worsening wildfires already burning in western Canada.. SENT: 670 words, photos, audio. NORTH-CAROLINA-ABORTION — North Carolina’s Democratic governor will veto legislation that would ban nearly all abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, capping a week of attempting to generate enough opposition to block the Republican measure he said is much more restrictive than meets the eye. SENT: 290 words, photos. HANDGUNS-YOUNG ADULTS-EXPLAINER — A judge’s ruling striking down a federal law that bans licensed federal firearms dealers from selling handguns to young adults under 21 is the latest example of how a landmark Supreme Court decision is transforming the legal landscape around firearms. SENT: 1,110 words, photo. REL-PITTSBURGH-SYNAGOGUE-SHOOTING — The head of security for Pittsburgh’s Jewish community says there has been an “uptick in hate speech” on the internet in the early stages of the trial of the man accused of killing 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018. SENT: 790 words, photos. PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS-CHINA — A Boston man has been accused of working with Chinese government officials to keep tabs on Chinese activists and dissidents in the area. SENT: 540 words. ————————————— INTERNATIONAL —————————————- VATICAN-HERCULES-RESTORED — Vatican Museum restorers are working to remove centuries of grime from the largest known bronze statue of the ancient world: the gilded Hercules Mastai Righetti. The 13-foot-tall (four-meter-tall) figure of the half-human Roman god has stood in the same niche for more than 150 years. It has barely garnered notice among other antiquities because of the dark coating it had acquired. SENT: 560 words, photos. ————————————————— HEALTH/SCIENCE ————————————————— MED-MENOPAUSE DRUG — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new type of drug to treat hot flashes caused by menopause. SENT: 270 words, photo, audio. ————————————————— BUSINESS/ECONOMY ————————————————- TWITTER-NEW-CEO-INTERVIEW — Elon Musk has announced that NBC Universal’s Linda Yaccarino will serve as the new CEO of Twitter. Yaccarino is a longtime advertising executive credited with integrating and digitizing ad sales at NBCU. Her challenge now will be to woo back advertisers that have fled Twitter since Musk acquired it last year for $44 billion. SENT: 560 words, photo. FEDERAL-RESERVE-INFLATION — Federal Reserve governor Philip Jefferson has said that inflation remains too high and there has been “little progress” made toward bringing it down to the central bank’s 2% target, a pessimistic assessment given signs in a report earlier this week that price increases might be slowing. SENT: 590 words, photo. —————————————- ENTERTAINMENT —————————————- MUSIC-REVIEW-JONAS BROTHERS — Married with kids, the Jonas Brothers are all about love on their new album ‘The Album,” where every lyric hides a nudge to their homes. The brother pop trio bring that carefree vibe they are known for with experimentation into new genres that make it more special and fresh. The Associated Press’ Martina Rebecca Inchingolo writes in a review that the brothers, who broke hearts all over the world as they said, ‘I do,’ reflect in the album about fatherhood and sibling dynamics. SENT: 400 words, photo. ————————— SPORTS ————————— BKN—LAKERS ADVANCE — LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers never trailed in their third home victory over Golden State in seven days. They’re also the first team since 2014 to eliminate Stephen Curry’s Warriors from the playoffs before the NBA Finals. And now they’re in the Western Conference finals. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 6 a.m. With BKN-WARRIORS-LAKERS — The Los Angeles Lakers eliminated the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors with a 122-101 victory in Game 6 of their second-round series (sent). BKN—HEAT ADVANCE — Inside the Miami Heat locker room, now officially halfway to the season’s ultimate goal, Erik Spoelstra stepped onto the NBA championship logo on the center of the floor and gathered his team around him. “There’s been nothing about this season that’s been easy,” Spoelstra said. He’s right, and the Heat aren’t complaining about that, either — since this anything-but-easy season is still going. UPCOMING: 710 words, photos by 6 a.m. With BKN--KNICKS-HEAT — Jimmy Butler scores 24 points, Bam Adebayo added 23 and the Miami Heat are headed back to the Eastern Conference finals after topping the New York Knicks 96-92 (sent). BKL—MERCURY-GRINER — Brittney Griner returned to game action for the first time since a nearly 10-month detainment in Russia on drug-related charges ended with a prisoner swap in December. The seven-time All-Star, who missed the entire 2022 season because of the detainment, finished with 10 points and three rebounds for the Phoenix Mercury in a WNBA preseason game against the Los Angeles Sparks. SENT: 620, photos. —————————- HOW TO REACH US —————————- At the Nerve Center, Vincent K. Willis can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, ext. 1900. For graphics and interactives, ext. 7636. Expanded AP content can be obtained from AP Newsroom. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call 844-777-2006. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Zelenskyy to meet with Pope Francis at Vatican in Rome visit Vatican experts uncovering gilded glory of Hercules statue struck by lightning Census Bureau rejects many big-city challenges that claimed the 2020 headcount missed their people

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is delighted his players have finally been able to show some of their best form before the end of the season. An inconsistent campaign has left the Reds with only an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League and only a run of six successive victories – their best sequence in over a year – has put them in that position. “We play a really bad season, I think everyone in this room agrees, and now we have 62 points. It is strange,” said Klopp ahead of Monday’s trip to Leicester. “There is still quality in the boys. I am really happy we could show up a little bit. Where it will end up it’s really not about that. “I know everyone wants to go to Champions League, I understand that 100 per cent as that’s what I want, it is just not really likely, that is the situation we created. “But to show up and show again we are able to do special things I am really happy about. “Winning six games in a row is special and if it was easy we would have done it much more often, other teams would have done it much more often. “Adding the seventh is even more difficult but eight and nine really difficult because it is football and other teams prepare well for the games and they have their own targets but this part of the season gave us a clear sign we are still there. Leeds 1-6 Liverpool Liverpool 3-2 Nottingham Forest West Ham 1-2 Liverpool Liverpool 4-3 Tottenham Liverpool 1-0 Fulham Liverpool 1-0 Brentford “Not everything is bad about us and around us. We had a bad season but let’s see what we can make of it.” Part of Liverpool’s problem has been their woeful away record, which is only the ninth-best heading into the weekend. It has been boosted by recent wins at Leeds and West Ham which has given Klopp’s side the opportunity to win a third in a row away from home for the first time this season at Leicester. “Our away record is still not brilliant. This season I think we are third or fourth (they are second before this weekend) in the home table and ‘somewhere’ in the away table so it is still not great,” added Klopp. “But we had that discussion years ago, early when I came here, that at home we created something like a fortress but away we were not a top-six or top-four team at that time and we realised it is not that difficult, the difference is not as big as we might think. “But there is a difference and we have to make sure we are ready for that. We just were not consistent enough, we needed too much help from the outside in moments this season and didn’t use it then always. That’s why we are in the position we are in.” While the lack of Champions League football will be financially damaging next season Klopp is confident it will not impact his transfer plans. “It is not about that. When I talk to a player – if I am allowed, which is rarely the case – but you realise in his eye that he has already clarified (the situation),” he said. “We can’t tell anyone in the moment that we will definitely be in the Champions League next year so if we are talking to him then he already knows. Winning six games in a row is special and if it was easy we would have done it much more often, other teams would have done it much more often Jurgen Klopp “It is obvious that we have to fight for being part of the Champions League and trophies and if you want to be part of that you are more than welcome. “There is only one thing we can’t guarantee this year and that is Champions League football but all the rest is still the same, it is a fantastic football club. “It is still Liverpool, we are really attractive for a lot of players and we should not forget that and that’s why I’m not concerned about that factor. “Everything is more difficult without the Champions League, that is how it is especially in the long term, so we should not do these kind of things more often but apart from that it is absolutely OK the situation we are in.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Anything can happen in football – Pep Guardiola wary of threat posed by Everton Moises Caicedo has no point to prove against admirers Arsenal – Roberto De Zerbi On this day in 2006: Liverpool win thrilling FA Cup final against West Ham

Michael Carrick received the ultimate endorsement for his managerial abilities this week when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted the former midfielder will take charge of Manchester United in future. Carrick has been in charge of Middlesbrough since October, and has led the club up the table and into a coveted play off spot, with just three matches standing in their way of reaching the Premier League. The former Manchester United midfielder has taken charge previously at Old Trafford, albeit briefly, when he succeeded Solskjaer on a temporary basis, for just three matches. He oversaw victories over Arsenal and Villarreal before stepping down following the appointment of Ralf Rangnick in December 2021. Solskjaer heaped high praise on Carrick, noting his calm demeanour, reflective nature and meticulous over details as crucial for his successes as manager and believe he will take the reigns at Old Trafford one day, if the 41 year old desires. Carrick took charge of Middlesbrough in October 2022 and has guided the club to fourth place in the Championship and a position in the play-offs, arguably exceeding similar exploits of those he once called England teammates in Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. His exploits with the Championship club have largely gone under the radar, for someone who spent 12 years at Manchester United and made 34 England appearances. Chris Wilder was unceremoniously sacked on 3 October after the club suffered five defeats in the first 11 games of the Championship campaign, with the prospects of promotion far from anyone’s hopes. Few then could have predicted Middlesbrough’s almost meteoric rise up the table, from just one point above the relegation zone to within touching distance of the riches of the Premier League. It was Carrick’s first permanent managerial position, but he had learned his trade as part of Jose Mourinho and Solskjaer’s coaching staff and has impressed in the north east. His time on the Tees saw Boro secure 15 wins from his first 20 matches, but they have trailed off slightly recently, with just two wins from their last seven games, ahead of a play-off meeting with Coventry, who have spent just 17 days in the promotion places this campaign. Should Carrick lead Boro into the Premier League he will have exceeded all expectations when he took over the role. While Carrick never received the same focus as the Liverpool and Chelsea midfielders as a player, he has also gone under the radar when it comes to management, while Lampard and Gerrard’s managerial campaigns have received significantly more media attention. Gerrard had some success at Rangers, and led the club to their first top-flight title in over 10 years, before leaving in November 2021 to take charge of Aston Villa, where he lasted less than a year. Since his sacking and the appointment of Unai Emery, Villa are now on the cusp of Europe. Lampard is currently employed on his second spell at Chelsea following a disastrous time at Everton and before that, Chelsea. He took charge of his former club from July 2019 to January 2021 but was sacked, and recently returned only in a temporary position to see the club through to the end of the campaign. However, neither Gerrard, Lampard nor Carrick have yet managed successfully in the top flight, although the former United midfielder will be looking to change that, with the first leg of the play-offs at Coventry on 14 May. Read More When are the play-offs? Coventry City aiming to come full circle after journey to hell and back A tiny ground and a squad costing less than a Man City sub. How are Luton within reach of the Premier League? From Netflix embarrassment to the Premier League? Sunderland seek to leave chaos behind A closer look at this season’s play-off contenders as promotion battle resumes Everton have their edge back at the right time in relegation battle – Sean Dyche Jurgen Klopp happy Liverpool ‘could show up a little bit’ before end of season

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