
Southampton avoids unwanted points record in Premier League
SOUTHAMPTON, England — Southampton avoided an unwanted Premier League record after moving past the competition's lowest ever points total by drawing with Manchester City 0-0 on Saturday.
With Southampton on 12 points, Derby County will stand alone as having the lowest single-season tally ofh 11 from the 2007-08 season.
'It's nice to get that off our backs,' Southampton defender Jack Stephens said. 'We're obviously still very disappointed with how the season has gone. We've not been good enough.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Times
28 minutes ago
- New York Times
Vikings minicamp: Dallas Turner makes play of the day, but will he get more snaps?
EAGAN, Minn. — Locating Dallas Turner on the field is not tricky. Look for the green mouth guard flopping beneath the facemask. It's usually near the line of scrimmage, swaying back and forth before the snap. But not this time, not amid an early seven-on-seven rep during Tuesday afternoon's mandatory minicamp practice for the Minnesota Vikings. Advertisement On this play, Turner lined up as an off-ball linebacker in the middle of the field, his eyes watching the quarterback and his bright red no-contact jersey. Most drills feel like walk-throughs this time of year, especially with how the Vikings value player health over the summer. This one differed in that the wideouts sprinted off the line of scrimmage. Turner floated backward into coverage. His vision shifted back and forth between the quarterback and the nearest receiver. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores had called a zone coverage, and here Turner was, moving fluidly, looking like he was meant to be there, roaming perfectly in the receiver's window. Just as the ball arrived, he batted it away. His teammates noticed. When asked after practice about Turner's growth, veteran safety Josh Metellus mentioned the deflection. 'I'm loving what I'm seeing,' he said. 'He is able to show that growth right now, and that's what you want.' The bar to clear may be low given the number of full-speed reps, but if there were an award for minicamp play of the day, that would take the cake. It's not that Turner's play was a huge surprise. Rewatch last year's game in Seattle against Geno Smith and the Seahawks, and you'll stumble upon a well-read, second-quarter interception by Turner in the flat. It's more that the 2024 first-round pick who played sparingly on defense last year is taking advantage of every opportunity to show his stuff. .@UnoErra snags it! 📺: @NFLonFOX — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 22, 2024 Not that the 22-year-old needs to prove what he's capable of, by the way. Flores reiterated multiple times last season that Turner's lack of playing time was primarily a byproduct of the two talented edge rushers occupying the every-down spots. Andrew Van Ginkel earned an All-Pro honor, and Jonathan Greenard was also deserving. They combined for 138 tackles, 23 1/2 sacks, five forced fumbles and two interceptions returned for touchdowns. It felt like Van Ginkel possessed an almost telepathic knowledge of what the opposing team was trying to do. Greenard, meanwhile, maintained an energy level that made you wonder if he was recharging electronically between series. Advertisement Flores didn't view Turner as a backup-level player — 'I see it as three starters,' he said Tuesday. Two additional factors were working against Turner. First, he injured his knee in Week 2 against San Francisco, sidelining him the following week and halting whatever momentum he had created. Second, he was new to a complex defensive system. Learning to be an edge rusher at the pro level is a challenge in itself, but Turner is also athletic and smart enough to play inside linebacker. Each spot requires different techniques. Mastery requires patience, a quality that is rare in NFL circles. Outwardly, Turner didn't struggle with the minimal snaps. He said all of the right things in interviews throughout the season. That he was absorbing knowledge from Greenard and Van Ginkel. That he knew his time would come. These comments showed his professionalism, but privately, he had a burning desire to see more of the field. So much so that not even a month after the Vikings lost in the playoffs to the Los Angeles Rams, Turner texted longtime trainer Javon Gopie to ask when they could begin workouts. Most NFL players were vacationing, sipping beverages in tropical climates. Gopie, who has worked with Greenard, Denver's Nik Bonitto and Miami's Jaelan Phillips, understood Turner's fire but encouraged him to take more time. 'I had to turn him down, just encourage him to take more time off,' Gopie said recently. 'He was super-motivated, man.' When they finally began meeting on turf fields under the blazing Miami sun, one of their conversations revolved around Bonitto. He and Turner had played together at renowned St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Both stood around 6-foot-3 and weighed close to 240 pounds. They shared traits, both moving smoothly in their pursuit of the quarterback. Advertisement Bonitto's professional arc started slowly — he only played 357 defensive snaps as a rookie. The uptick in snaps during his second season coincided with more sack production. What Gopie wanted to talk to Turner about was Bonitto's 2024 season: the 13 1/2 sacks, the overall pressure production, the interception returned for a touchdown. 'What'd you think about Nik's year?' Gopie asked Turner on the metal benches before a workout. 'What'd that mean to you?' 'You have no idea,' Turner responded. Gopie's take on its effect? Knowing what Bonitto accomplished suggested Turner could also reside in that upper echelon of NFL pass rushers. 'He's one of one, man,' Gopie said. 'I have no doubt, based on the reps, that he's a 10-plus-sack guy.' It's not a matter of mindset, at least not according to Flores, who complimented the high standard Turner sets for himself. Nor is it a matter of being willing to take coaching. Turner checks the professional boxes. The only remaining question is the one Gopie alluded to, the one about where the playing time will come from. Flores hasn't tipped his hand there, other than to say, 'Dallas is coming into his own as far as how he's going to contribute as a rusher, as a dropper, on the ball, off the ball, in different packages.' His point? The green mouth guard could be all over the place this fall. Maybe he'll stay stationary on the edge, or maybe he'll shift from the inside linebacker spot to the A-gap. That he's capable of doing all of this — and, more importantly, doing it well — is why he's worth playing in the first place.


New York Times
34 minutes ago
- New York Times
Thomas Tuchel says ‘no need to panic' for England after Senegal defeat
Thomas Tuchel insists there is no need for England to panic after losing 3-1 at home to Senegal in Tuesday night's friendly. Harry Kane gave England an eighth-minute lead but goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra and Cheikh Sabaly gave Pape Thiaw's side a deserved victory. Tuchel, 51, had guided England to victories in their World Cup qualification group over Albania, Latvia and Andorra in his opening three matches, but the German coach's 100 per cent winning record was ended at the City Ground in Nottingham. Advertisement 'We lost a test match, so there's no need to panic,' Tuchel said after the game. 'We have played three qualification games, we have nine points and and not conceded. We will be competitive in September and we will go for two more victories 100 per cent. 'We know more now. We are smarter. It is tough at the moment. I'm the first one to hate losses like, like nothing else. But we don't go next week to the World Cup. 'We go in one year, and I think by nature it will get more competitive in the qualification process and in the demands for the players to be selected and to be with us in September, October, November.' Tuchel was quizzed on why striker Ivan Toney was not introduced until the 88th minute, replacing left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly, despite starting No 9 Harry Kane being replaced in the 58th minute by Morgan Rogers. 'No it was too early,' Tuchel said of Toney not being introduced around the hour mark. 'We wanted to play there with Morgan Rogers — more fluid, much more physical player. I think it was too early for Toney because the game was so physical. 'We were not close enough to the goal consistently to get his strengths into play. That is my view of the game.' England return to action at home to Andorra on September 6 before an away game in Serbia three days later. (Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
49ers' Trent Williams on his future: ‘Not going to retire with something left in the tank'
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Trent Williams has seen it all as he gets ready for his 16th NFL season, but he is admittedly new to the whole voluntary organized team activity thing he's participated in this offseason. The San Francisco 49ers' left tackle has been at team headquarters for a couple of weeks now, including Tuesday's start of the team's two-day mandatory minicamp. While he said he doesn't regret missing every non-mandatory session the past 10 years, he is very excited to have been around more this offseason. Advertisement 'You wouldn't think that this is a team that went 6-11 last year,' Williams said Tuesday. 'The confidence, the way the kids are flying around. … The new draft class to me looks like it has several steals, several great picks that are going to contribute. 'I was really pleased to see how the confidence and how the atmosphere is coming back and kind of being around the guys for the first time.' Wednesday's session is the last practice before the team parts ways until training camp in six weeks. Williams, who turns 37 next month, had mentioned last year that he would like to play until he is 40 years old, and pooh-poohed any talk of retirement. 'I didn't give it a lot of thought (this offseason), honestly,' Williams said. 'I just feel like I do myself and my teammates a disservice if I'm looking towards the end. I'm paid and people count on me to be here now and we've got goals and aspirations as a team. I just don't think putting brain power towards that helps us get to where we want to go. 'You know, when it happens, it happens. I feel like I'll know. One day I should know when it's getting (to be) that time and then I'll do the responsible thing and let them know early enough so that they can make the adjustments needed … (but) I'm definitely not going to retire with something left in the tank.' Williams said his ankle injury, which caused him to miss seven games last season, was completely healed by February. And 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said while he was thrilled Williams came to work early this year, the team will manage his workload. 'With age and the wear and tear and stuff, we just try to keep (his) legs fresher and stuff,' Shanahan said. 'I'll be shocked if we put him out there (Wednesday). He'll be good to go for (training) camp. … He's healthy and right where he needs to be.' Advertisement And he has always been a hard worker, even when he was training on his own in the offseason and not always at the facility. A player has to work year-round to be able to earn playing in 188 career games. 'I love Trent being around so people can see how much he does care about football, how much he does work at football,' Shanahan said. 'It's cool at his age and where he is at in his career for people to still see what he has to do to get ready. He has to do it for himself more than anything, but anytime you have the kind of credibility that someone like Trent has earned, anytime someone gets to watch him do that and watch what he puts into it will always help other people.' And it might help him earn another redo on his contract. While Williams' deal runs through 2026, only this next season is guaranteed at $21.1 million. Williams said that 'doesn't concern' him. 'I'm taking everything one year at a time,' Williams said. 'I feel like if my play warrants a new year or two on a deal or whatever, then I'm here for it. If not, then you know it'd be time to sail on into the sunset.' Williams did have to wave goodbye to some of his favorite teammates this offseason, as players like Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Aaron Banks and Charvarius Ward, among others, left for new teams, while Javon Hargrave and Leonard Floyd were cut and Deebo Samuel and Jordan Mason were traded. 'It's always tough,' Williams said, 'but it's my 16th year, so I understand how the business goes. Those guys are family, so you wanna see the best thing happen to them that puts them in the best situation. All of those guys, I am really, really happy for them. I think that they're really blessed. Like (Aaron) Banks getting compensated, Jaylon Moore getting compensated. It's a blessing that doesn't come often in this league. Advertisement 'I think Deebo found a home that he is going to flourish in.' Williams said he will miss those guys in the locker room and on the field, but is excited about one newcomer, former Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Bryce Huff. 'He's gonna bring that speed demon off the edge, that guy that's gonna require a running back or a chip (blocker) opposite of Nick (Bosa),' Williams said. 'He adds that Dee Ford effect that they had in 2019 that took them to the Super Bowl. One of the reasons we had a really, really good defense for those couple years is having that guy who can actually make that quarterback step up by getting a good jump off the ball and bending the edge.' Williams also was happy to shake hands with the new Brock Purdy after the quarterback signed his new $265 million contract. 'He's one of the richest people I've ever met in person,' Williams, smiling, said. 'For me, it's just super, super fulfilling just to watch a guy like Brock. You talk about a Cinderella story, and this is the epitome of that, from making a few hundred thousand a year to making 50 million a year is astronomical. … And it couldn't have happened to a better guy.' More importantly, Williams said Purdy is 'the' guy. 'He is the guy for this franchise,' Williams said. 'This is just the tip of the iceberg. He's gonna get another contract. He's going to win a lot of football games. He's that good of a player. So super, super happy to see that happen for him. I love him like a brother, you know, so I couldn't be any happier.'