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Virgil van Dijk does not believe missing out on Champions League football makes Liverpool any less attractive to potential new signings. The last-gasp 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa all-but ended the club’s unlikely pursuit of a top-four place as they now require either Newcastle or Manchester United to lose both their remaining matches. It is the remotest of possibilities but as transfer planning is well advanced and with Liverpool’s desired rejuvenation of their midfield no secret, Van Dijk insists players will not be deterred from joining even if they face the prospect of playing Europa League football. “Obviously the chances to reach Champions League football were quite slim but now it makes it more difficult,” said the Netherlands captain. “Pre-season will be massive. I’m very excited for next season. I think that feeling came a couple of months ago when we turned the page. “Obviously there’s still a lot to work on but the good thing in this case is that we have the whole pre-season to work on this and that’s definitely the plan. “The noises I’m hearing, it’s going to be a very intense pre-season with a lot of physical work but also a lot of tactical work trying to get ready for a tough season. “Players are leaving, hopefully players come in and will be ready for the start of pre-season. “Everybody knows we’ve been going through a little bit of a transition and, if I’m a player on the rise and I have options to go to the next step and Liverpool is knocking on my door, then I would be very interested. “I don’t think it’s going to change much but, if someone wants to play Champions League no matter what then that’s their ambition.” While the draw was not the send off they wanted to give their departing quartet of players, there was the fitting moment of Roberto Firmino coming off the bench to score an 89th-minute equaliser on his final appearance in front of the Kop. The Brazil international will leave next month when his contract expires, along with midfielders James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, and leaves a huge hole to fill having been an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s game-plan. January signing Cody Gakpo appears his heir-apparent, having performed the central false nine role in the majority of his appearances. Compatriot Van Dijk admits it will be impossible to replace Firmino but thinks Gakpo will grow into the role. “Bobby (Firmino) has been a very big part of the goals and the assists, together with Sadio (Mane) and Mo (Salah), and that creates the headlines,” he said. “But all the other stuff that the other three have been doing as well shouldn’t go unnoticed and that’s why they’re very respected within the group and also Liverpool fans. “I think it’s a very difficult role to play and I think Cody’s doing exceptional. He’s still learning, still adapting. In my opinion, Bobby has been one of the best in this role. “Cody, it’s his first six months and he’s already doing so well, so that’s a positive sign and he has to keep going, keep both feet on the ground – and listen to me!” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Lee Gregory’s face mask returned following Sheffield Wednesday appeal Ronan O’Gara reveals Ireland ambition after latest Champions Cup success Champions Manchester City given rapturous reception ahead of Chelsea match

Turkey's leader is favourite to win another five years as president, after taking a first-round lead.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the US is unlikely to reach mid-June and still be able to pay

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he expects to speak with President Joe Biden within the next hour on

Leeds were shoved to the brink of relegation from the Premier League after their ‘must-win’ match at West Ham ended in a 3-1 defeat. Sam Allardyce’s rescue mission reached crisis point after goals from Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini denied them the victory their new manager admitted they needed to have any realistic chance of staying up. Allardyce arrived at Elland Road as a last-ditch appointment with four games to go, but his first three matches have provided just two points. Now Leeds need to beat Tottenham next weekend and hope a Bournemouth side with nothing to play for can do them an almighty favour at Everton. Moreover, should Leicester beat Newcastle on Monday night, the Whites will start the final day second from bottom. They got off to a great start at the London Stadium as well, with Rodrigo volleying them into an early lead. But Rice, named West Ham’s player of the year before kick-off – six years to the day since he made his debut against Burnley – marked what is likely to be his last home game for the club by equalising with his 15th goal in claret and blue. The Hammers, safe from relegation and with a Europa Conference League final to look forward, should have been easy pickings. They even walked out carrying their children as mascots, giving a distinct end-of-season feel to proceedings. But Bowen’s 12th goal of the season and a late strike from Lanzini saw them sign off from the London Stadium with only their second win in six matches to leave Leeds in deep, deep trouble. Yet Leeds took a deserved lead after 17 minutes, albeit thanks to some awful defending. West Ham had conceded to a long throw at Brentford last weekend but clearly had not learned their lesson. Fiorentina, their European opponents in Prague next month, should take note. This time they somehow let a throw from Weston McKennie float on to the left boot of Rodrigo, who swept it first time into the net from 10 yards out. However, Leeds lost Patrick Bamford to injury moments later, and with him went much of their attacking spark. The Hammers may have been off the pace, but they equalised in the 32nd minute with a delightful goal from Rice. Pablo Fornals, the goalscoring hero at AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night, scooped the ball over the Leeds defence to Bowen, whose chip across goal was sidefooted into the ground and up into the roof of the net by the England midfielder. Leeds should have gone back in front before half-time when Rodrigo robbed Kurt Zouma and cut the ball back but Wilfried Gnonto, on for Bamford, took an air-shot before Jack Harrison sliced his shot wide. Allardyce’s response on the touchline, throwing his arms in the air in frustration, said it all. Leeds, bafflingly, were the more passive team after the break with goalkeeper Joel Robles having to beat away a long-range drive from Lucas Paqueta and tip Tomas Soucek’s header over. They paid the price with 18 minutes left when Danny Ings played in Bowen, who slipped the ball past Robles. Then substitute Lanzini, another likely to leave West Ham in the summer, tucked in Paqueta’s cut-back – despite a VAR check appearing to show the Brazilian was offside – to send Leeds spinning to what looks likely to be an extremely costly defeat. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Ronan O’Gara reveals Ireland ambition after latest Champions Cup success Champions Manchester City given rapturous reception ahead of Chelsea match Sir Mo Farah ‘sucking it all in’ after finishing eighth in his penultimate race

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Manchester City arrived at the Etihad Stadium to heroes’ welcomes on Sunday following confirmation of their fifth Premier League title in six years. City’s lead at the top of the table became insurmountable when closest challengers Arsenal were beaten at Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening. That meant Sunday’s encounter with Chelsea became a celebratory occasion regardless of the result. City fans gathered in large numbers at the entrance to the stadium as the team arrived for the 4pm kick-off. Blue flares were let off and the players were greeted with chants of ‘champions’ as they stepped off the bus. City’s title success, sealed with three games to spare, could be the first leg of a glorious treble for Pep Guardiola’s side, with FA Cup and Champions League finals to come next month. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

President Joe Biden was physically present at the Group of Seven summit in Japan but his focus was

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy suggested his country was losing control of Bakhmut after months of fierce fighting but

South Africa’s state-owned power utility is escalating rolling blackouts, after a breakdown in a generation unit at Duvha

Follow The Independent's live coverage of all the action in the FA Women’s Super League today. The WSL is the top tier of English women’s football with international players from all over the world plying their trade in one of the most competitive and entertaining leagues around. Chelsea have won three of the past four titles and Emma Hayes’ side will be right in the hunt again, with the likes of Arsenal - champions in 2018-19 – and Manchester City, who have been runners-up for each of the past four seasons, among their competitors. With the top three sides qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Champions League, all 12 WSL teams have plenty to play for, although some clubs’ main ambition will simply be to avoid the drop. The side who finish bottom will be relegated to the FA Women’s Championship – a fate that befell Bristol City in 2020-21 – and newly-promoted Leicester City, competing in the top flight of the women’s game for the first time, will be eager to avoid an immediate return. We will bring you all the action and updates from today's game in the live blog below:

Manchester City are looking to close out their home league fixtures in style when they clash with Chelsea for their final home game of the season at the Etihad Stadium. The pressure is off Pep Guardiola’s men as they secured a third successive Premier League title yesterday when Arsenal lost to Nottingham Forest. The champions will use today’s match as a celebration with their supporters before getting back to work chasing the treble with the FA Cup and Champions League finals still to come. City, who have won the Premier League five times in the last six years, will lift the trophy at the Etihad after an impressive run in saw them overturn the Gunners’ eight point lead. Chelsea will hope to put a stop to the party atmosphere by earning a surprise victory against the newly crowned champions. Their form has been terrible under interim boss Frank Lampard the Blues have a talented squad that could yet spring a surprise on Guardiola’s league winners. Follow all the action as Man City host Chelsea in the Premier League: Read More Five titles in six years: Are Manchester City destroying the Premier League? Ilkay Gundogan praises Manchester City’s ‘special’ squad after title triumph Pep Guardiola’s five decisions that won Man City the Premier League