data-mm-id=”_kat35a9y5″>Virality rules the social media world these days. It doesn't matter if it's something stupid or something important. A memorable five-second clip is more important than a year's worth of effort. Don't believe me? Just consider Tuesday night's sports coverage. In perhaps the most stunning moment of the MLB season, which started in March and is currently in its most important stage, the Tampa Bay Rays chased AL Cy Young favorite Justin Verlander after only four innings and beat the Astros, pushing the best team in baseball (based on regular-season record) to the brink of elimination with a decisive Game 5 to come on Thursday. But maybe you missed it and had no idea there was a baseball game last night. That's not surprising, because if you, like me, scrolled Twitter this morning, all anyone was talking about was Ben Simmons hitting a meaningless 3-pointer in a meaningless preseason game. Sure, you can say it's not meaningless because it was his first three as a pro, but let's get real. It's the preseason. And guess what, even Shaq hit threes occasionally. And yet, if you look at the social accounts of ESPN, Bleacher Report, and the other big players in the sports media game, the most shared posts from last night were of Simmons hitting a three that won't even count in his career stats. Hell, Bleacher Report even made a special video about it. The Rays didn't get the same treatment after beating the World Series favorites to even their series after facing a 2-0 series deficit. All of Philly when Ben Simmons hit a 3: pic.twitter.com/fl9utBBMTT— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 9, 2019Social media reactions don't dictate a true level of caring or interest from the general population. But when your sports editing co-workers come in talking about Ben Simmons and not the Rays-Astros series, you know something's up. The MLB playoffs haven't created a viral moment thus far, unless you include the Rays concession guy doing cartwheels on the field, which I do not. Meanwhile, on the field, athletes who have been training for an entire season for this moment are performing in the clutch, which, no offense to Simmons, is more important than one meaningless (lucky?) shot.
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Lautaro Martinez struck the crossbar early on and missed several other chances of a frustrating evening for Antonio Conte s side, who could not fashion a winner to put them through and ended up bottom of the group.
Injury-hit Shakhtar posed more of a threat in the second half but were similarly unable to make it count, though they do have the consolation of a place in the Europa League.
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Well, the Zlatan Ibrahimovic drama is set to commence. The legendary Swedish footballer is getting closer to finishing his time at Los Angeles Galaxy, after scoring 31 goals in regular season during 2019. His team reached the Major League Soccer play-offs, but lost to city rivals Los Angeles FC. Ever since, Ibrahimovic has been the main talk of rumour mills.
Now he is being linked with AC Milan, his former club, as Marca are suggesting Rosonerri are interested in bringing him back to San Siro in January. He would come as a free agent, as he is expected to leave the United States once his contract with LA Galaxy expires on the last day of 2019.
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The Egypt star s deal expires at the end of the 2022-23 season and there has not yet been a breakthrough in negotiations over an extension.
The 29-year-old has previously made it clear he wants to stay at Anfield but that it is up to Reds owners Fenway Sports Group to come to an acceptable agreement.
Speaking to GQ, Salah called on the club to show their appreciation for what he has achieved since signing from Roma in 2017.
I want to stay, but it s not in my hands. It s in their hands, he said. They know what I want. I m not asking for crazy stuff.
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John Stones deserves an England national team recall, according to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
The 26-year-old defender scored City s opening goal in Saturday s 3-0 win away to Fulham in the Premier League.
Stones has been in excellent form for the league leaders in recent months, prompting talk of an England call-up for the first time since November 2019.
He had lost his place in the City line-up but fought back to become a key member this season, making 25 appearances in all competitions, including 18 starts in the league.
England manager Gareth Southgate will announce a squad next week for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland.
He deserves it, Guardiola said.
Of course Gareth Southgate knows b…
Tired of your mates recycling the same old football trivia questions from years gone by?
Bring them bang up-to-date and get them guessing with our Opta-powered Premier League quiz.
All the answers are at the bottom of the page, so you can claim the high ground when it comes to statistical knowledge!
1. Unai Emery and Jurgen Klopp will go head-to-head for the second time in their careers when Arsenal host Liverpool in a blockbuster at Emirates Stadium on Saturday. What was the year, competition and final scoreline of their only other meeting?
A table to make you excited for the months ahead
— Premier League (@premierleague)
2. Burnley have lost their last two Premier League games 4-0 and 5-0. Only two clubs have ever l…
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The Blades had a great first season back in the Premier League in 2019-20 under Chris Wilder, but this term they ve been glued to the bottom of the table practically from the start. Tensions rose inside the club, and Wilder was relieved of duty in mid-March to be replaced by Paul Heckingbottom on an interim basis.
Meanwhile, Jokanovic, who led Watford and Fulham to Premier League promotion in 2015 and 2018, respectively, is currently at Qatar Stars League side Al-Gharafa SC. However, his contract there expires at the end of the season, and Sheffield United are determined not to stay in the Championship longer than one season. They ve already held discu…
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That bid for Premier League success in 2013-14 was something of an outlier, though. Despite their illustrious history, prior to 2014 Liverpool had only finished in the top two three times since winning their previous league championship in 1990.
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Villa spent a club-record fee reported to be £28million to sign Watkins from Championship side Brentford in September and he opened his Premier League account with a first-half treble in a remarkable triumph over the reigning champions.
John McGinn was also on target as Dean Smith s team took a 4-1 lead into the break and there was no let-up after half-time, with Ross Barkley and Jack Grealish scoring either side of Mohamed Salah netting his second of the game.
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Watching PSG make their return to Ligue 1 action and with a heavyweight showdown at the top of the Championship table, we have found a pair of interesting markets that are worth keeping an eye out for.
20:00 PSG vs Montpellier
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