Birmingham City were dealt a shock 2-0 defeat by Peterborough United in the Vertu Trophy final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, with NFL legend and minority owner of the club Tom Brady watching on.

Birmingham, having already clinched the League One title, were expected to wrap up a momentous double in the Vertu Trophy, a competition which is largely comprised by teams in English football's third and fourth tiers.

However, they were brushed aside by the unfancied Peterborough, who are 16th in League One with 47 fewer points than Birmingham.

Harley Mills opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a sublime free-kick before another stunning strike -- from captain Hector Kyprianou -- doubled Peterborough's advantage.

While Birmingham had 75% possession, they could not break down a stubborn defence and Peterborough became the first team in the competition's history to lift the trophy in back-to-back years.

Brady, who entered a partnership with Birmingham owners Knighthead Capital Management in 2023, jetted in to watch the game in London and delivered a rallying cry to the team beforehand.

In a video on Instagram, the seven-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL MVP said: "There's a moment in every player's journey when everything, all the sacrifices, pain and endless hours come down to one, final opportunity.

"So Blues, this is your time. You've earned it, now go make it count."

Having already been confirmed as League One champions after Wrexham, co-owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, dropped points on Saturday, Birmingham can set their sights on the Championship -- one tier below the Premier League -- next season.

Wrexham will hope to join them, with a one-point advantage over Wycombe Wanderers for the final automatic promotion place. Both teams have four games remaining.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has said he would "love" to play with Virgil van Dijk next season after the Dutchman dropped a massive hint over his future.

Salah brought months of speculation to an end on Friday by committing to a two-year-contract extension at Anfield. There also remains optimism on Merseyside that Van Dijk, whose current deal expires in the summer, will extend his stay at the club.

The defender scored the winner for Liverpool in their 2-1 victory over West Ham United on Sunday and celebrated by kissing the badge on his shirt in front of the Kop.

Asked about his celebration after the match, Van Dijk told Sky Sports: "Everyone knows how much I love this club and let's see what next week will look like."

Reflecting on his own decision to stay at Anfield, Salah added: "I am glad we managed to do that [contract] before the end of the season. Hopefully, Virgil will be next. He can do whatever he wants but I would love to play with him next season."

Liverpool dominated against West Ham in the first half and took a deserved lead through Luis Díaz in the 18th minute.

However, Graham Potter's side improved after the break and equalised through an Andy Robertson own goal four minutes from time, before Van Dijk nodded home from a corner.

"It was a big relief," Slot said in his post-match news conference. "Alisson made sure West Ham didn't score earlier. They had multiple chances to make it 1-1 and then we score [the own goal]. All of a sudden, seven minutes are added on, with no time wasting at all from both teams. It helped because we scored a goal.

"Of course, that was a relief, because it felt like the way the second half went, it was more likely they would score but our fans and our players thought differently."

Liverpool are now 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table, and could clinch the title as early as next weekend if they beat Leicester City and Arsenal lose to Ipswich Town.

Liverpool resumed their march to a second Premier League title on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over West Ham United as Mohamed Salah broke the record for most goal involvements in a season and Virgil Van Dijk scored a late winner.

After West Ham had scored an equaliser in the 86th minute, skipper Van Dijk grabbed the winner with a header three minutes later in front of the Kop to put Liverpool two wins away from the title.

The result gave Liverpool a 13-point lead over second-placed Arsenal in the standings with six games left, while West Ham are 17th with 35 points, 14 points from the relegation zone.

Prior to kickoff, a minute's silence was held at Anfield to honour the 97 victims of the 1989 Hillsborough Stadium disaster. But the fans were in full voice soon after, chanting Salah's name to celebrate his two-year contract extension.

Following a bright start for the home side, Salah duly delivered the cross for the first goal -- a sublime pass with the outside of his boot that curled past the last defender and gave Luis Díaz a simple tap-in at the edge of the six-yard box.

The opener gave Salah the record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League season -- 45 consisting of 27 goals and 18 assists.

West Ham came close to an equaliser three minutes later when Mohammed Kudus found Alisson off his line and attempted a lob but the Brazilian keeper scrambled backward and tipped the shot onto the crossbar to give Liverpool a reprieve.

Alexis Mac Allister nearly doubled their lead from a free kick two minutes after the restart but saw Alphonse Areola get a hand to it as the ball rattled the crossbar.

But as West Ham grew into the game, the Anfield crowd became restless while Salah also looked visibly disappointed when he was taken off as his mini goal drought extended to five games in all competitions.

A minute later, Liverpool gifted West Ham the equaliser when a breakdown in communication saw Andy Robertson score an own goal when he tried to deal with Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross.

But Liverpool restored their lead on a corner kick when Van Dijk's towering header beat the keeper to spark wild celebrations at Anfield.

Kylian Mbappé was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge in the first half of Real Madrid's nervy 1-0 LaLiga win over Alavés on Sunday.

Madrid had just taken the lead in the 34th minute with an Eduardo Camavinga goal -- after Raúl Asencio had an earlier goal disallowed for a foul -- when Mbappé was dismissed in the 38th minute for his tackle on midfielder Antonio Blanco.

The player count, however, was leveled in the second half after Vinícius Júnior was subjected to a similar foul by Manu Sánchez, who also was sent off.

Carlo Ancelotti's side could not afford to drop points in their bid to keep pace with Barcelona in the LaLiga title race.

Madrid's win leaves them four points behind leaders Barça, who won 1-0 at Leganés on Saturday.

Mbappé's red card was his first since joining Madrid last summer.

Previously, he was sent off three times for Paris Saint-Germain -- once in Ligue 1 and twice in cup competitions.

Mbappé's red added to Madrid's difficult week, in which they lost 3-0 at Arsenal in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Tuesday.

Former LSU receiver Kyren Lacy was found dead Saturday night in Houston, an LSU official and his attorney confirmed to ESPN on Sunday.

A cause of death was not immediately known.

Lacy was accused of causing a crash that killed a 78-year-old man on Dec. 17 and then fleeing the scene without rendering aid or calling authorities. On Jan. 12, he turned himself in to authorities, was jailed and then released on $151,000 bail, according to police records.

Lafourche (Louisiana) Parish Sheriff's Office records indicated that Lacy was charged with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run with death and reckless operation of a vehicle. A grand jury was to begin hearing evidence in the case Monday.

"It is with profound sorrow that we confirm the tragic passing of Kyren Lacy. First and foremost, we ask that the public and the media give his family the space and time they need to grieve this unimaginable loss in peace," Lacy's attorney, Matthew Ory, said in a statement to ESPN's Mark Schlabach.

Ory added that he was "very confident the evidence, after being fully collected and reviewed, would lead to a declination of charges" and that, "we will be demanding a full and transparent review of how this investigation was conducted and why."

According to a news release from Louisiana State Police, Lacy was allegedly driving a 2023 Dodge Charger on Louisiana Highway 20 and "recklessly passed multiple vehicles at a high rate of speed by crossing the centerline and entering the northbound lane while in a designated no-passing zone."

"As Lacy was illegally passing the other vehicles, the driver of a northbound pickup truck abruptly braked and swerved to the right to avoid a head-on collision with the approaching Dodge," a Louisiana State Police news release said.

"Traveling behind the pickup was a 2017 Kia Cadenza whose driver swerved left to avoid the oncoming Dodge Charger. As the Kia Cadenza took evasive action to avoid impact with the Dodge, it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a southbound 2017 Kia Sorento."

Police alleged that Lacy, 24, drove around the crash scene and fled "without stopping to render aid, call emergency services, or report his involvement in the crash."

Herman Hall, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, who was a passenger in the Kia Sorento, later died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to state police.

Lacy's agent, Rocky Arceneaux, said in a statement that his client was "fully cooperating with the authorities."

Lacy declared for the NFL draft on Dec. 19, two days after the crash, and did not play in LSU's win over Baylor in the Texas Bowl. He participated in March at LSU's pro day and was ranked as high as the No. 6 receiver prospect in the draft by ESPN's Mel Kiper in December. Lacy was not ranked among the top 10 available wide receivers in Kiper's most recent Big Board, which was published last month.

Lacy played three seasons at LSU after starting his career at Louisiana. Lacy had his best season last year when he caught 58 passes for 866 yards and a team-leading nine touchdowns.

MILWAUKEE -- Giannis Antetokounmpo and most of the Milwaukee Bucks' other top players will sit out Sunday afternoon's regular-season finale with the Detroit Pistons as both teams already are locked into their respective playoff positions.

The Bucks are seeded fifth and the Pistons sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Bucks will face Indiana in a rematch of a 2024 first-round series the Pacers won 4-2, while Detroit takes on the New York Knicks in the Pistons' first playoff appearance since 2019.

Milwaukee clinched the No. 5 seed after winning 125-119 at Detroit on Friday.

Antetokounmpo was ruled out for Sunday's game with tendinopathy in his left shoulder. Other Bucks ruled out for Sunday's game after being available Friday include Brook Lopez (rest), Kevin Porter Jr. (right wrist sprain), Bobby Portis (rest), Taurean Prince (right knee patella tendinopathy), Gary Trent Jr. (right knee bruise) and Ryan Rollins (left shoulder).

Antetokounmpo finishes the regular season averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. He joins Wilt Chamberlain (1959-66) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970-73) as the only players ever to average at least 30 points and 10 rebounds per game in at least three consecutive seasons.

Pistons players ruled out for Sunday's game include Isaiah Stewart (right knee inflammation) and Ausar Thompson (patellar tendinopathy in left knee). Stewart also didn't appear in Friday's game, though he did play Thursday in a 115-106 victory over the Knicks.

BOSTON -- Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla on Sunday confirmed an ESPN report that Jaylen Brown received pain management injections during the week to help his troublesome right knee.

Brown's minutes had been decreased the last month or so as he tried to work through the injury. The reigning Finals MVP sat out Friday's victory over Charlotte and will miss Sunday's regular-season finale in the rematch against the Hornets.

"Just part of the rehab process for him to get back to be his absolute best," Mazzulla said. "He's continuing to take care of himself and put himself in great position to be ready for the postseason."

When asked if he was confident Brown would be ready for the start of the playoffs, Mazzulla said: "A hundred percent."

In Boston's run to the championship last spring, Brown was their main defender against the opponents' top scorer.

Mazzulla said it was the player's decision to sit out. In doing so, he became ineligible for postseason awards because he'll be short of the league's threshold for total games played.

"It was more, he makes that call," Mazzulla said. "He knows his body better than anybody. He knows exactly where he's at. He knows where he needs to get to in order to be at his best for what matters most. The most important thing is trusting him."

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed coach Chauncey Billups to a multiyear contract extension, general manager Joe Cronin announced Sunday.

Trail Blazers officials negotiated a new deal with Billups' representation, Andy Miller of Klutch Sports, as the coach was finishing his fourth season and the final guaranteed year on his contract Sunday.

The Trail Blazers also reached a multiyear extension with Cronin on Monday to fortify their leadership structure. Cronin and Billups have spoken publicly about their friendship spanning decades, making for a cohesive GM-coach relationship.

"Chauncey Billups is a great leader, motivator and communicator that has worked tirelessly to establish an identity for this team that has taken shape over his time in Portland," Cronin said in a statement. "I am beyond excited to continue this partnership with Chauncey and take this team to the next level."

Portland is 35-46 and out of playoff contention entering Sunday's regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Lakers. But Billups has led the Trail Blazers to a 22-18 record since Jan. 19, ranking in the top five in the NBA in defense and third in transition defense during that span, according to ESPN Research.

In guiding the third-youngest roster this season by playing time, Billups led the development of several players, including Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara. The Trail Blazers have been building around a mix of veterans such as Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton and Avdija along with young talent in Sharpe, Camara, Scoot Henderson and Donovan Clingan.

"We are building this team the right way with a defensive-minded, hard-nosed, competitive culture," Billups said in a statement. "I look forward to continuing to give Rip City fans a product on the court that they can be proud of and cheer for every night."

Billups is 116-211 in his four seasons as Trail Blazers coach, his first head-coaching opportunity. Portland's 35 wins this season are its most since 2020-21, when it made its last playoff appearance.

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last year, Billups won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, when he was the Finals MVP, and was a five-time All-Star over a 17-year NBA career spent primarily with the Pistons and Denver Nuggets.

NEW YORK -- Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman had a cortisone shot to treat swelling in his inflamed left knee.

Stroman went to a hospital for scans after the 33-year right-hander mentioned pain to the team following Friday's start, when he allowed five runs and got two outs in a rainy 9-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

"The MRI was good, but he had some swelling in there somewhere," manager Aaron Boone said Sunday, "So try to eliminate that, hopefully get him ramped up pretty quick and, hopefully, something that really helps him move it forward."

Stroman was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday, one day after throwing 46 pitches in steady rain. Boone said he did not know how much time Stroman will miss but hoped his absence would be short-term. Boone said he was uncertain if pitching in rain contributed to the knee issue.

"I'm not even sure," Boone said. "Even watching the video, watching how (he was) not finishing properly on his front leg and I think that was due to the knee."

Stroman is 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA in three starts after allowing a three-run homer to Jung Hoo Lee and a two-run double to LaMonte Wade Jr. in his shortest career start that was not interrupted by rain.

Stroman turns 34 on May 1 and is in the second season of a two-year contract guaranteeing $37 million. The right-hander's deal includes a $16 million conditional player option for 2026 that could be exercised if he pitches in at least 140 innings this year.

Last season, Stroman was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 30 games (29 starts) when he threw 154 2/3 innings, his most since 2021 with the Mets. Stroman struggled in the second half and did not pitch in the postseason, when the Yankees made their first World Series appearance since 2009.