Tight end Antonio Gates, cornerback Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe are the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and will be inducted Aug. 2 in Canton, Ohio.

It's the smallest class since 2005, also a four-member class. That's the year Dan Marino, Steve Young, Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman were enshrined.

Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri, Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, all in their first year of eligibility, were not selected.

The class was chosen by the Hall's board of selectors in a virtual meeting in January.

An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Gates entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the San Diego Chargers in 2003. He played basketball at Kent State and helped it to an Elite Eight appearance in 2002. Gates finished his career with 955 receptions, fourth in league history for a tight end, and 116 receiving touchdowns, the most for a tight end.

"The opportunity I got speaks volumes of how [the Chargers] believed in me," Gates said. "I'm happy it all paid off."

Eric Allen's 54 career interceptions are 21st all time, and 14 of the 20 players in front of him are in the Hall of Fame. Allen, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders, returned four of his six interceptions for touchdowns in 1993, one of his six Pro Bowl seasons.

"Rarely does life play out like you want it to," said Allen, who was elected on his 19th year of eligibility. "There's always some curves and bends. But time always reveals the truth. ... It took maybe time for people to see the complexity of my situation."

Jared Allen played 12 seasons, most notably with the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings. His 136 career sacks are 12th all time since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. He also has an NFL-record four safeties. Ten of the 11 players in front of him are in the Hall of Fame. The one who isn't, Terrell Suggs, was a finalist this year.

"You almost appreciate it more," Allen said about being one of four chosen for enshrinement. "Nothing comes easy. When I found out it was only four, it became more special. There's a true emphasis on what it means to be a Hall of Famer. Clearly we fit that. For me, it was kind of a sigh of relief."

Sharpe, whose brother Shannon is a Hall of Famer, had his career cut short by a neck condition. But in his seven seasons, only Jerry Rice caught more passes and had more touchdown receptions than Sharpe, who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers from 1988 to 1994. He led the league in receptions three times in his career, including his final two seasons. He also led the NFL in receiving yards once and touchdowns twice.

"I don't think that has really set in yet," Sterling Sharpe said. "It's one of those situations where the closer it gets to having the same color jacket he has and standing in same place he stood and being able to have a conv about the journey to get there I think it will set in. But right now it hasn't hit home yet."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

LOS ANGELES -- Luka Doncic is targeting Monday for his Los Angeles Lakers debut when L.A. hosts the Utah Jazz, a source familiar with Doncic's plans confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

Doncic, who was sidelined for the Dallas Mavericks since Christmas Day with a left calf strain, participated in a 5-on-5 scrimmage after Lakers practice Wednesday with L.A.'s "stay ready" group comprised of end-of-the-bench players and coaches.

"It went well," Lakers coach JJ Redick said of the scrimmage before they hosted the Golden State Warriors. "I think [his first game will be] probably, more likely, Monday. Again, no commitment made or anything, but probably trending more towards Monday."

Doncic's plans were earlier reported by veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein.

Prior to the scrimmage, sources told ESPN that Doncic was "trending towards" a Saturday debut against the Indiana Pacers, but those plans have been adjusted.

Redick added there were "no setbacks" during Doncic's on-court session Wednesday, and the 25-year-old star also worked out and lifted weights Thursday.

"All is well, all is positive," Redick said. "And hopefully we get the word at some point in the new few days that he is going to play. We all want to see him in a Laker uniform."

Los Angeles won its first game after the trade that sent Anthony Davis and Max Christie to Dallas 122-97 over the LA Clippers on Tuesday, with Doncic watching from the bench in a black Lakers track suit.

Redick also was asked what Doncic and the team are considering to clear him for a return.

"In terms of an evaluation, we want him to feel confident, we want our medical staff to feel confident," Redick said. "We're not going to rush anything here and we're all anticipating that -- I know the fans are anticipating that, and certainly our coaching staff and our players are anticipating that. And I think the one thing that we all have in the back in of our mind as we've shifted and had to recalibrate in the last week is, we're not going to be able to snap our fingers and it's all going to work right away.

"There's work to be done once he's back and healthy and in the lineup and that's going to be fun. It's going to be fun to figure it all out together."

BOSTON -- As the Dallas Mavericks return home for the first time since making the seismic decision to trade superstar guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas is fully preparing for there to be an emotional scene at American Airlines Center for Saturday afternoon's game against the Houston Rockets.

"Probably a lot of heartbreak amongst the fans," Klay Thompson said after scoring 25 points in a 127-120 victory over the defending champion Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Thursday. "Probably some boos. But, as a professional, you have to embrace everything, and we're paid to play this game and perform at the highest level.

"I don't know what to expect. I know Luka was so dear to every Mavs fan's heart. We've just got to win, and do it on a consistent basis, and give ourselves a chance to win the whole thing, and I think that will ease all of the fans' pain and anger.

"It's going to be weird, but that's what we sign up for."

Although the trade happened close to a week ago, the wounds it opened in Dallas remain fresh. Protests are expected to be held at the arena Saturday. A Go Fund Me to put up billboards criticizing both general manager Nico Harrison and the Adelson family, which bought the team from Mark Cuban last year, for trading away Doncic has already raised $40,000.

Even around the team, the hurt that's lingered from the trade has gone on far longer than it would for a typical transaction -- or even one where a star player is moved. Kyrie Irving said Tuesday there's still a "grieving" process over the loss of Doncic.

And, earlier Thursday, guard Spencer Dinwiddie said the anger shown toward the franchise is "completely understandable" as the team prepares to return home.

"It shows what Luka meant to the community. It shows how much the fan base loves him. Still loves him," Dinwiddie said. "Also, I think for a fan base that had Dirk for 20 years and seemingly right when Dirk was about to retire, they got Dirk 2.0 in a sense, it's understandable. Nobody is mad at Dallas fans for their reaction. With something that's emotional, you have to give it a chance to process and feel and live in that moment."

It appears that's what is going to happen Saturday, which is why the specter of a return to Dallas, and what awaits the Mavericks there, overshadowed a win over the defending champions in which the Mavs hit 15 3-pointers and Thompson led the way with 25 points -- all while newly acquired Anthony Davis remained out with an abdominal strain he suffered last week, while with the Lakers, against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Davis worked out after shootaround ahead of Tuesday's game in Philadelphia and Thursday ahead of the Celtics game, and Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said before the game tipped off that the hope is Davis will return Saturday.

What, exactly, the reception for him -- and the rest of the Mavericks -- will be, however, remains to be seen.

But Kidd said he understands the pain the fans are feeling, and said it's his job to help his players prepare for, and overcome, whatever obstacles are put in front of them.

"Things that have taken place ... our sympathy goes to the fans, and understanding they can be upset. But, at the same time, as a coach, the guys that I have, we have to put them in position to be successful against Houston, and that's all I'm focused on.

"That's freedom of speech. That's why they are called fans. But for us it's a matter of getting this to move forward, and that's what we have to do."

LOS ANGELES -- Sporting a huge smile, Jimmy Butler could not have looked any happier to be a Golden State Warrior.

Introduced to the media here with his new team Thursday, Butler said he is thrilled to have a fresh start and to be playing basketball again after a tumultuous ending with the Miami Heat.

"All of that is behind me, moving forward," Butler said when asked about the speculation that surrounded him over the past month. "I'm happy to be here. I'm happy to be wanted again."

Asked if regaining his joy was just a matter of putting on a new jersey -- he will wear No. 10 after Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar -- and to play basketball again, Butler couldn't contain his enthusiasm.

"I got a feeling I'm [going to] be back, in a big way, too," he said. "So I'm smiling. I've been going at it, I've been training, I've been doing everything I'm supposed to be doing. I know that I have my joy back now. I'm in a different situation, different group of guys."

Butler said he hopes to make his Golden State debut Saturday against the Bulls in Chicago. The six-time All-Star initially said he didn't have anything negative to say about the Heat, noting how he formed a lot of long-lasting relationships in his five-plus seasons with the franchise.

But when asked what made him want to leave, he also made it clear that his time in South Beach essentially ended when his relationship with team president Pat Riley and the organization soured.

"That's a good question actually," Butler said. "That is a good question. I don't know. Maybe just a lot of talking back and forth. And sooner or later, talking's got to stop."

Miami suspended Butler three times this season, twice for conduct detrimental to the team. He also missed a team flight. His last suspension started on Jan. 27, after he left shootaround when he was told he would be coming off the bench. The Heat announced that suspension would last at least five games, which went up to Thursday's trade deadline. He hasn't played since Jan. 21.

The Warriors said they are ecstatic to land an elite two-way player like Butler to pair with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. They traded Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Dennis Schroder, Lindy Waters III and a 2025 top-10 protected first-round pick in a multiteam deal for Butler, who sources told ESPN also agreed to a new two-year, $111 million deal that runs through the 2026-27 season.

The Warriors have been desperate to find Curry some help. After a 12-3 start, they've sputtered, and with Thursday night's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, they're now 25-26.

"He is a big-time pressure player, postseason player," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before the game. "So that would fit well in our locker room. We've got other guys who have been through the battles, been through the war. So I think when you put a group of guys like that together, there's going to be a belief, there's going to be a confidence that comes with that. And so I'm excited to see what that looks like."

While Curry said he would watch Heat film to see what suits Butler's game best and what can be meshed with Golden State's offensive system, Butler said it will be easy fitting in with his new team.

"We good," Butler said. "Pass the ball to Steph. And get out the way. Easy."

Butler, who has shown the ability to carry a team in the postseason, says he can learn something about winning from Curry, Green and Kerr, who have won four championships with the Warriors.

Green has said that Butler will fit in fine because he has a winning pedigree like the Warriors. Green also said he sees a lot of similarities in how he and Butler play with an edge and aggression.

"I think our personalities are going to be fine," Butler said of playing alongside Green. "I would like to say that I am a winner. I haven't won it. But I would like to call myself a winner. I do want to win it. It being a championship.

"Playing with Steph, I mean everybody knows he's the greatest shooter in the world, greatest shooter in history. Makes my job a lot easier. I probably got a lot more space out there."

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said the franchise got what it was seeking -- a star talent to help maximize Curry's and Green's championship window while not having to give up any assets like Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski or multiple first-round picks.

"We've picked a path and we're going in a direction, and we have three kind of older generational players," Dunleavy said. "But the beauty of the whole thing to me is we've got a lot of good complementary pieces. We've got assets, we've got young players. So in some ways in terms of our financial stuff, there's a commitment. But on the whole, we'll have a lot of flexibility."

Dunleavy has said that the only way Golden State will mortgage its future is for a franchise-altering type superstar. And he says the Warriors are still positioned to go after such a blockbuster move if the opportunity presents itself in the future.

"Come this draft, I think we will have multiple unprotected picks available, pick swaps and anything else on the roster that people find attractive," he said. "So I think from that standpoint, we can evaluate this roster some more, and if there's other moves that need to be made, we'll be in the game for those just like we've been for everything else."

If Butler has his way, he will be adding another title to the Golden State dynasty. He's happy to be playing "meaningful basketball" again.

"I just want to be able to go out there and do what I've been doing for a very long time," Butler said. "And have fun, smile, rip and run and not feel like I'm just doing cardio majority of the game.

"So I'm very, very, very happy that I'm not getting suspended no more."

Fin Smith's most-recent fly-half cameo came when he was introduced in the 64th minute in Dublin on Saturday.

England were 10 points adrift at the time but tries from Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman helped the visitors close the gap to a 27-22 final scoreline, ensuring a losing bonus point.

Since the start of 2023, England have lost nine of 11 Tests starting with Marcus Smith at 10, with the only wins in that sequence both coming against Japan.

The Harlequins star prefers to play at fly-half but has been used several times by Borthwick as a full-back.

He was deployed at 15 in wins over Chile, Fiji and Argentina during the 2023 Rugby World Cup and played there for almost the entirety of England's narrow 33-31 loss to France last season following a George Furbank injury.

Fin Smith insists that the pair, along with third centrally-contracted fly-half George Ford, have a strong enough relationship to withstand the strains of selection.

He said: "We're competitive as anything on the pitch and then as soon as the whistle goes it will be 'Oh, Marcus, what did you think of this?' or 'Fordy, what could we have done better here?'

"Just really just picking each other's brains about stuff. I think that's really positive.

"We're all we're driving each other to get better and ultimately it's out of any of our hands who who plays in in the 10 shirt at the weekend."

Willis, whose brother Jack plays for Toulouse and is therefore ineligible for selection for England, has been rewarded for his fine Saracens form.

The 26-year-old will make his first Test start after a couple of replacement appearances.

England suffered their record home defeat the last time they hosted France in the Six Nations, losing 53-10 with Marcus Smith starting at fly-half ahead of Owen Farrell.

France, who thrashed Wales 43-0 in their opening match of this year's tournament, named their team earlier on Thursday with fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and wing Damian Penaud coming into their starting XV.

"He's got a real box of tricks," said Fin Smith of Jalibert.

"If we we give him time, space and and opportunities to run with the ball and put other people in space, it could be a long day for us."

Hear more from Fin Smith and Steve Borthwick on Friday's Rugby Union Weekly.

LaLiga President Javier Tebas criticised Real Madrid on Thursday, saying the club had "lost their minds" after lodging an letter of complaint against the Spanish league's referees.

Madrid sent the letter following their 1-0 defeat by Espanyol on Saturday, with controversy surrounding a decision not to award a red card to Espanyol defender Carlos Romero for fouling Kylian Mbappé as he ran up the pitch on a counter-attack.

"They are against everything. That's the reality. Real Madrid want to damage the competition, not just the referees," Tebas told a meeting of LaLiga clubs, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and representatives of the Spanish refereeing committee (CTA), which Madrid did not attend.

"They have constructed a narrative of victimhood that culminated in the statement they released the other day. They have told a story of victimhood that is not true," Tebas added.

The LaLiga champions said the officials' decisions -- including those of the video assistant referees (VAR) -- were biased against them and "completely discredited."

They sent the complaint to the RFEF and the Spanish High Sports Council, requesting VAR audio after Mbappé's foul and Vinícius Júnior's disallowed goal.

"What happened is not an isolated incident or a simple refereeing error. It is the latest and most serious manifestation of a refereeing system whose credibility has been completely undermined," the club said in the letter on Monday.

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has described external criticism of his team as "irrelevant" following their 4-1 aggregate defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semifinals.

Spurs took a slender advantage into the second leg at Anfield thanks to Lucas Bergvall's late winner in north London last month. However, they were comprehensively beaten by Arne Slot's side on Merseyside thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk.

The manner of the defeat will only heighten the pressure on Postecoglou as his team's dismal campaign continues, with Sky Sports pundit and former Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp condemning his former club's performance at Anfield.

"I cannot remember a team in my lifetime go down with less of a fight with what Spurs did today," Redknapp said.

Reflecting on those comments, Postecoglou said: "People are on TV to give opinions. That's their job. My job is to manage this football club. What other people think or don't think is kind of irrelevant. It doesn't place any kind of emphasis on who we are or what we're trying to do. At the end of the day, everyone is allowed to have an opinion and express that opinion."

Asked whether he feels the criticism being levelled at him is fair considering Tottenham's lengthy injury list, Postecoglou added: "I don't worry about being judged or who's judging me. Ultimately my responsibility is to try and get the players I have to the best of my ability.

"It was disappointing tonight because we had an opportunity to get to a final and they don't come around too often."

Spurs' Carabao Cup disappointment comes on the back of their disappointing Premier League campaign -- they sit 14th in the table and have lost 13 of their 23 games so far this season.

Despite the damaging defeat at Anfield, Postecoglou and Spurs still have the opportunity to end the season with silverware if they find success in the Europa League or FA Cup.

The north London club have qualified for the Europa League round of 16 and travel to face Aston Villa in the fourth round of the world's oldest national football competition on Sunday.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised Ferran Torres' ability to fill in for Robert Lewandowski after the forward netted a hat trick in Thursday's 5-0 Copa del Rey quarterfinal win over Valencia at Mestalla.

Fermín López and Lamine Yamal were also on target as Barça joined Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Real Sociedad in next Wednesday's semifinal draw.

Torres' treble took his tally for the season to 11 in all competitions, with Flick increasingly using the winger as a central striker to rest Lewandowski.

"It's important that everyone shows his best," Flick said in a news conference when asked about Barça not losing their nose for goals when Lewandowski is not on the pitch.

"Ferran, his performance was really good. As a No.9, it counts that you score goals and he did it really great today.

"I am happy because he scored three goals. It's amazing because he has not had an easy time this season. He came back after an injury and I'm happy for him, he was great today."

Torres was one of several players to come into the Barça side as Flick flexed his squad's depth, with López, Frenkie de Jong and Eric García also handed starts.

The changes didn't affect Barça's rhythm as they followed up beating Valencia 7-1 in LaLiga two weeks ago by racing into a 4-0 lead at Mestalla inside the first 30 minutes.

"Now it's important [to show that depth] because we have tough weeks and months until the end of the season," the German coach added.

"It's important everyone shows their best; how good they are. This helps us a lot. I am happy for the players coming in, scoring goals and also playing really good.

"I am happy like the match against Valencia at home [in LaLiga]. Today we started from the beginning very focused, created great chances and scored the goals."

It was a bittersweet hat-trick for Torres as it came against his former club, who are now out of the cup and fighting for their lives in LaLiga.

His third goal in the 30th minute was the cue for some Valencia supporters to head to the exits, while others stayed to protest the club's ownership.

"I wish them all the luck in the world, I hope they stay up because I'm still a fan," Torres told reporters after refusing to celebrate his goals.

"It's hard to see the club of your life suffer like this. They're going through a tough time. I hope the fans can forget all the non-sporting [issues] and get behind the players because they need it to stay up."

Carlos Corberán's side can now focus fully on LaLiga, where they are currently second bottom and four points from safety with 16 games to go.

"I apologise to the fans for giving them so little after having received so much [support] from them," Corberán said in a news conference.

"These fans don't deserve what happened today on the pitch. We were nowhere near the level required. We need to transform the pain we're feeling into a reaction in our next games."

Valencia host fellow strugglers Leganés in a huge league game at Mestalla on Sunday, while Barça travel to Sevilla later on the same day.

Liverpool outclassed a blunt Tottenham Hotspur team 4-0 on Sunday to book their spot in the Carabao Cup final, but captain Virgil van Dijk said he was disappointed with aspects of his side's performance during the dominant win.

Goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Van Dijk saw Liverpool thrash Ange Postecoglou's toothless Spurs team at Anfield.

Liverpool were on top from the first minute and their dominance was such that Spurs failed to have a shot on target in the match, but Van Dijk was critical of their first-half display.

"We needed a complete performance. I still think at half-time we could get a level up in terms of the intensity and put them even more under pressure and that's what I've said [to the team] as well," Van Dijk told Sky Sports.

"But to win here like we did tonight is great for the team and the club and now we focus on the FA Cup."

Pushed to elaborate on his comments, Van Dijk said: "You wanted to start obviously with loads of intensity and I think the game got interrupted a couple of times in the first half. It ruins a little bit of momentum that was there.

"We still did it now and then but I felt like we could do a little bit more and make it even more uncomfortable for them because obviously we know they have the quality to play out. They want to play through the middle and they have these patterns and stuff and if you bring intensity to the game then anybody can make mistakes. I think in the second half we did that and it was a beautiful win today."

The result keeps Liverpool's chances of winning all four major trophies alive, with Arne Slot's team holding a six-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, looking forward to a round of 16 tie in the Champions League and facing a trip to Championship side Plymouth Argyle in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

Slot said that he was particularly pleased with the physical effort his players showed against Spurs.

"For us to be so aggressive without the ball ... It doesn't tell you anything about Tottenham. That should tell you about our work rate without the ball. I think that was what stood out for me, to play against a team that is so good at creating chances, not conceding hardly any [shots]. In the end a good accomplishment," Slot told a news conference.

Liverpool will face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final on March 16.

LIVERPOOL, England -- As the majority of Liverpool's players flocked to celebrate with Cody Gakpo after he had opened the scoring against Tottenham Hotspur, captain Virgil van Dijk had other ideas.

Though there were only 34 minutes on the clock at Anfield when Liverpool drew level on aggregate in their Carabao Cup semifinal tie before eventually winning 4-0 -- Gakpo's strike had cancelled out Lucas Bergvall's first-leg match-winner -- Van Dijk knew there was still work to be done.

Perhaps it is that insatiable hunger for more, that sets this Liverpool team apart from the rest this season.

Not content with having climbed to the summit of both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League tables in recent months, Arne Slot's men are now just 90 minutes away from potentially lifting the first trophy of what could be a truly historic campaign, with second-half goals from Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Van Dijk setting up a date with Newcastle United in the final at Wembley.

Even before kick-off, there was a palpable sense of expectation around Anfield, with supporters queueing in their droves to welcome the team coach to the stadium while, on the terraces, the atmosphere was akin to a European night.

Liverpool might harbour ambitions of yielding more prestigious silverware this term, but this is a club whose very foundations are built on winning, and, with every passing week, Slot's team looked increasingly capable of upholding that proud tradition.

The contrast between Liverpool and their visitors on Thursday night was stark. Tottenham arrived on Merseyside off the back of consecutive victories over Elfsborg and Brentford, though they had won only three of their previous 10.

Shorn of both confidence and quality -- with 10 first-team players missing Thursday's clash through injury -- Tottenham struggled to lay a glove on Liverpool in the first half, managing only 27% possession and just one shot compared to Liverpool's 11.

Slot had commented pre-match about his excitement for his first knockout tie at Anfield, and Liverpool delivered both on and off the pitch, with Gakpo's opener sending the home support into a fist-pumping, scarf-swirling frenzy. The Netherlands international finished with aplomb past goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after connecting with Salah's dangerous cross into the box.

In many ways, Gakpo is the perfect poster boy for Liverpool's success this term, having progressed from an out-of-form utility player in Jurgen Klopp's final season to one of Slot's most trusted lieutenants, with 16 goals so far in all competitions this season. An understated character off the pitch, Gakpo is rarely one to grab the headlines, but he is a vital cog in a team whose greatest strength is their unity and willingness to fight for each other.

Tottenham's fight, however, was ruthlessly sapped out of them after the interval as Liverpool smelt blood and went for the jugular. Salah's coolly taken penalty -- after Darwin Núñez was brought down by Kinsky inside the area -- put Liverpool ahead in the tie before Szoboszlai's smart finish provided the killer blow to Tottenham's Wembley dream.

That the Hungary international was teed up by right-back Conor Bradley following a lung-busting run through the middle of the pitch offers further evidence of the industriousness that Slot demands.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold sidelined with a minor injury, Bradley deputised admirably, fearlessly sliding into tackles and constantly looking to get forward. The fact that Liverpool's reserve full-back is capable of such brilliance is a testament to the strength of the squad that Klopp assembled and Slot has honed.

It was fitting, too, that Van Dijk got on the scoresheet, nodding home from a late corner to cap off a fine individual display. It was the Dutchman who was the matchwinner in last season's final against Chelsea and his importance to this team has only been reinforced this season.

Ensuring that Van Dijk stays at Anfield beyond the expiration of his contract this summer feels imperative. Tottenham would certainly benefit from a player with his quality and leadership abilities at the moment.

Having boldly claimed earlier in the campaign that he "always" wins a trophy in his second season at a club, Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou has arguably just waved goodbye to his greatest chance of silverware this season. There were still 10 minutes to play on Thursday night when hordes of travelling fans began heading for the exit, while the Liverpool supporters taunted the Tottenham boss with chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning."

That Slot was heavily linked with the Spurs job following Antonio Conte's departure back in 2023 will surely be further salt in the wound for those of a Tottenham persuasion. For Liverpool, though, the Dutchman continues to defy expectations and has already created an impressive synergy between himself, his players, and the fans.

"It was so intense," Slot said of his team's performance after the game.

"The players were ready for it, the fans were ready for it and we all simply wanted one thing that was going through to the final. That mentality, we showed it from the first to the last second."

Of course, Slot -- like Van Dijk on Thursday night -- knows there is still work to do if this season of enormous promise is to become one of prosperity for Liverpool. But, based on current evidence, the league leaders look like they will take some stopping.