Liverpool have completed the £1.3 million signing of PEC Zwolle's coveted teenage defender Sepp van den Berg amid fierce competition for his services.

The centre-back, who passed his medical on Wednesday, spurned interest from Bayern Munich, Ajax and PSV Eindhoven to join the European champions.

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The 17-year-old's initial fee is accompanied by £3.1m in add-ons, which would only be activated if he was to amass close to 350 appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League and continental competitions.

Van den Berg, touted as one of the brightest talents in Dutch football, will initially link up with the Under-23s, but is expected to train at Melwood.

Like his countryman Ki-Jana Hoever, the Netherlands under-19 international is predicted to ultimately break into Jurgen Klopp's plans.

"It's just an amazing feeling," he told Liverpool's website. "It is, for me, the biggest club in the world and it's a dream come true. I am really excited.

"I've seen what kind of players from the academy grew into the first team here. It is unbelievable, especially when this kind of big club does that.

"Of course, the trainer [Jurgen Klopp] is a great guy and one of the reasons they are successful -- and also one of the reasons I came here.

"I think this is the best place for me to grow and hopefully play a lot of games here."

Van den Berg made his first-team debut for Zwolle in 2017-18, featuring seven times in their Eredivisie campaign, before making 15 appearances last season.

He is strong in the tackle, boasts great recovery pace and is comfortable in possession, but needs to develop his ability to dominate in the air.

Van den Berg, represented by Key Sports Management who also have Joe Gomez on their books, becomes Liverpool's first signing this summer, during a window the club will be patient in with minimal business expected.

As reported by ESPN FC, Klopp does not feel "the best squad he has ever worked with" is in immediate need of blockbuster additions, but they are primed to react if game changers become accessible.

Liverpool strongly refuted information suggesting they were in talks with Lille over the transfer of Nicolas Pepe as pure lies.

Left-arm spinner George Dockrell and medium-pacer Barry McCarthy have been left out of Ireland's ODI squad for the three-match series against Zimbabwe that begins on July 1 in Bready. Dockrell, however, has found a place in the squad for the three-match T20I series that follows the ODIs.

Offspinner Simi Singh and seam-bowling allrounder Shane Getkate, who recently impressed for Ireland A as well as Northern Knights in the domestic T20 tournament, were the only changes to the ODI squad that faced Afghanistan last month.

Getkate has played six T20Is for Ireland, but is uncapped in ODI cricket. Meanwhile, uncapped legspin-bowling allrounder Gareth Delany has broken into Ireland's T20I squad. He has played 19 T20s so far, picking up seven wickets at an economy rate of 6.22.

Left-arm quick Josh Little, who claimed a four-wicket haul against England earlier this year, and seamer Craig Young will make up the T20I pace attack along with Boyd Rankin, Tyrone Kane, and Getkate.

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Batsman Greg Thompson, who made his international debut for Ireland in 2008 and last represented the side in 2017, has been recalled into the T20 set-up after a consistent run for Northern Knights.

"The selectors are also mindful of the balance of the squad and have taken note of current form, and the decision to recall Greg Thompson into the national T20 set-up is recognition of his impressive form," Andrew White, the chairman of selectors, said. "With the T20 World Cup Qualifier on the horizon, we want to ensure no stone is left unturned in finding a side that will give us the best possible chance of being successful, so we wish Greg well with this opportunity.

"Likewise, the form of Northern Knights' allrounders Mark Adair and Shane Getkate can't be denied, and we are excited at the first inclusion of Gareth Delany, who has clearly demonstrated his skills with both bat and ball during the opportunities he has had with the Wolves and at inter-provincial level."

ODI squad: William Porterfield (capt), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Shane Getkate, Tyrone Kane, Andrew McBrine, James McCollum, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O'Brien, Boyd Rankin, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson.

T20I squad: Gary Wilson (capt), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, Tyrone Kane, Josh Little, Kevin O'Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Greg Thompson, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.

The power struggle in Zimbabwean cricket has raged on this week, with the police being dispatched to secure Zimbabwe Cricket's office in Harare, amid allegations that ousted board chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani has instructed ZC employees not to turn up for work.

The suspension put in place by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) last week targeted only the board and acting managing director, and the SRC had hoped that unaffected ZC employees would return to work this week. This has not been the case, however, and Gerald Mlotshwa, the SRC chairman, has accused Mukuhlani of "sabotage" and of orchestrating the stay-away. The SRC is a government parastatal and the governing organisation of all registered sporting associations in the country

"Staff are still not turning up for work in the expected numbers at ZC Headquarters despite the SRC, through the public media, encouraging all to return for work as usual," Mlotshwa said yesterday.

"It is clear that key staff are being intimidated about returning to work under the interim committee. I have a recorded conversation stating that guards at ZC premises were instructed by the ZC security manager to go home as there was 'no work', on Monday," Mlotshwa added.

Mlotshwa made the same allegations in a letter sent to ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney explaining the situation earlier this week. "This is happening at most of ZC premises, including Harare Sports Club, where the groundsmen reported that they had been told to go back home by the suspended ZC chairman until further notice," Mlotshwa wrote. "There appears to be an orchestrated attempt to cause maximum confusion, fear and despondency within the employees of ZC, including the professional cricketers themselves."

Mlotshwa also explained that police had been dispatched to ZC's headquarters "to ensure that no assets or other documents, especially of a financial nature, left the premises".

"This is in light of the impending forensic audit into the financial affairs of Zimbabwe Cricket over the years, including the manner in which public and International Cricket funds have been utilised," Mlotshwa wrote. It is believed that the SRC is preparing to present the ICC with a formal dossier on the situation at ZC.

"We believe that the concerns of SRC coincide with that of the ICC," Mlotshwa's letter continued. "Zimbabwe Cricket cannot continue to lurch from one controversy to another. It must all end and be resolved conclusively in the best interests of Zimbabwean cricket."

Amid all this, Mukuhlani has maintained that his board remain the legitimate ZC leadership despite the formation of an interim committee, headed by David Ellman-Brown, to run cricket in the country. Mukuhlani has also accused that Mlotshwa of having a "personal vendetta" against him.

"In so far as we are concerned we are a legitimate board, we were properly elected through a proper electoral process," Mukuhlani was quoted as saying by the Herald newspaper.

Mukuhlani denied allegations of financial malfeasance, saying: "Everyone at ZC is innocent until proven guilty." He insisted that his board would not co-operate with a new audit into ZC finances until the results of a previous audit are received, accusing the SRC of having a "predetermined outcome" in mind.

"That's why they want a new audit and we are not going to accept that," Mukuhlani said. "We will only accept an audit that comes from the ICC."

The suspended board members have taken their fight to the courts, filing an urgent application at the High Court and seeking a temporary suspension of the SRC's decision, pending the outcome of an Administrative Court hearing.

"Indeed, the suspended members of Zimbabwe Cricket, including the acting managing director Givemore Makoni, filed an appeal with the Administrative Court on the 24th of June 2019," Mlotshwa explained.

"I am glad that they are going to court, this is a correct and civilised way of dealing with grievances. Let's let the court do its work and pronounce its verdict regarding the grievances of the suspended directors."

INEOS 1:59 Challenge to take place in Austrian capital on October 12 after “extensive worldwide assessment process”

The Austrian city of Vienna has been named as the location for the INEOS 1:59 Challenge – Eliud Kipchoge’s attempt to break the two-hour barrier for the marathon – which is due to take place on October 12 this year.

After what has been described as “an extensive worldwide assessment process”, The Prater – a large public park in the Austrian capital – has been chosen as the venue which will provide optimum conditions for the Kenyan world record-holder’s bid to make history. The news comes as something of a surprise, given initial suggestions that the event would take place in London.

The marathon is to be held on a multi-lap, 9.6km course centred on Hauptallee – a long, straight and tree-lined avenue which runs through the heart The Prater. Each lap will involve Kipchoge running two 4.3km out-and-back stretches, with the turning points coming at the Lusthaus and Praterstern roundabouts at either end of the Hauptallee avenue.

Saturday October 12 has been identified as the date upon which the attempt will take place, however a reserve window of eight days has been scheduled until October 20, in case of adverse weather conditions. On what promises to be a busy weekend for the marathon, October 13 will see Mo Farah defend his Chicago title in the United States.

Organisers say Vienna has been chosen because it provides:

• A fast and flat track
• A straight road, the 4.3km stretch of Prater Hauptallee
• Consistent and optimum performance weather conditions in October
• Fresh air – the park is described as the ‘green lung of Vienna’
• Wide, traffic-free and illuminated roads
• Ability to have supporters lining the route
• Within a 3-hour time difference of where Kipchoge trains in Kenya
• A proactive and welcoming local Mayor and experienced Vienna Marathon team

“Eliud Kipchoge is the greatest ever marathon runner and the only athlete in the world who has any chance of beating the two-hour time,” said Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS. “Nobody’s been able to achieve this. It’s not unlike trying to put a man on the moon. If Eliud runs 1:59 it will be the first time that any human has ever been able to break that barrier.

“We have a responsibility to ensure he is given the best chance. After an extensive search of venues fitting Eliud’s criteria, we are delighted to be working with Vienna, and hope to see history made in October.”

Kipchoge, who has begun his preparations, added: “I’ve been informed Vienna has a fast and flat course, nicely protected by trees. The course is as well situated in the heart of this beautiful city which will enable a great number of spectators to be part of this historical event.”

National championships back to Sportcity next year due to redevelopment at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium

The British Athletics Championships is returning to Sportcity in Manchester for the first time since 2007. Recent years have seen the event staged at the Alexander Stadium but the Birmingham venue is undergoing redevelopment ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

A three-year deal means athletes will be competing in Manchester for British titles and team places at the Tokyo Olympics next year 2020, the IAAF World Championships Eugene 2021 and European Championships in 2022.

Manchester previously hosted the British Championships between 2005-2007 and when the event was last staged in the north-west city 12 years ago the event was sponsored by Norwich Union and saw Jessica Ennis-Hill score a rare sprint hurdles and high jump double while Marlon Devonish stormed to a sprint double.

British Athletics major events director Cherry Alexander says: “It’s brilliant to be returning to Manchester with our British Championships from 2020. The sport has enjoyed some iconic moments at the facility and we have wonderful memories of our athletes warming up for their Commonwealth Games races on that very track.

“We’ve had great experience working with the venue in previous years, not just from our Championships but also in their staging of the Manchester International in last few years. The City is investing in the sport and the venue and I’m looking forward to working with them to help grow the audience further.”

The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired forward Erik Haula from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for forward Nicolas Roy and a conditional fifth-round draft pick in the 2021 NHL draft, the teams announced Wednesday night.

Haula, 28, played in just 15 games last season before undergoing season-ending surgery on his right heel. He was injured Nov. 6, and Vegas general manager George McPhee said in December that Haula had surgery a couple of weeks later.

Haula had 29 goals and 26 assists in 76 games in 2017-18, helping lead the expansion Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final. He spent his first four NHL seasons with the Minnesota Wild, accumulating 42 goals and 47 assists.

Roy, 22, has appeared in seven NHL games, all with the Hurricanes. Last season, he finished 17 goals and 19 assists for the American Hockey League's Charlotte Checkers.

Jozy Altidore scored in a 1-0 victory over Panama to seal top spot in the group for the United States at the Gold Cup in Kansas City, Kansas, on Wednesday.

Gregg Berhalter fielded a rotated side, including a start for Altidore for the first time since October 2017 and giving Omar Gonzalez the captain's armband, with the U.S. needing only a draw to top Group D over Panama.

Altidore had two good first-half chances, but fired wide on one and shot tamely at Panama keeper Jose Calderon on the other as the teams went to half-time tied 0-0.

With the U.S. continuing to struggle to create quality chances in the second half, Berhalter brought Christian Pulisic off the bench right before the 65th minute to try to spark the attack.

Seconds later, the U.S. took the lead when a header back across the goal mouth following a corner kick and Altidore finished from close with a nice overhead kick to give the Americans a 1-0 lead they saw out for the three points.

The tally was Altidore's 43rd for his country, which ranks third for the U.S. behind the 57 of Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan.

The U.S., which won all three of its group games without conceding a goal, will now play surprising Curacao in the quarterfinals Sunday, while Panama takes on Group C winner Jamaica on the same day.

It might just go down as the MLS Goal of Year when the season is all said and done, as Wayne Rooney's magical 68-yard strike gave D.C. United a 1-0 win at home against Orlando City on Wednesday night.

D.C. (8-4-6, 30 points) stayed right in the thick of the Eastern Conference race, while Orlando City (5-8-3, 18 points) still sit on the outside looking up at a playoff spot.

Rooney got the only score in the 10th minute with a goal that will garner praise as perhaps the best in MLS in years.

A deflected clearance found Rooney with the ball 15 yards from the midfield line in his own half of the field. A look up for Rooney showed him that Orlando goalie Brian Rowe was well outside his 18-yard box.

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Without hesitation, the former England star launched a first-touch shot that sailed over Rowe's helpless dive, landed on the goal line and bounced into the net for the sensational score.

D.C. appeared to make it 2-0 in the 73rd minute when Ulises Segura scored, but the goal was disallowed after video review determined Segura was offside on the play.

Other than the disallowed goal, the second half belonged to Orlando.

The best chance for Orlando came in the 58th minute, when there was a loose ball scramble in front of the D.C. goal, but goalie Bill Hamid and two defenders were able to get the ball cleared for a corner kick.

While Orlando controlled the play in the second half, it was all about D.C. and Rooney in the first.

Rooney created a multitude of chances in the first 45 minutes. The best three, other than his wonder goal, came in the 7th minute, when he sent a header from 12 yards out just over the bar; the 30th minute, when Rowe was forced to make a diving deflection off a Rooney free kick from 20 yards; and the 41st minute, when Rooney ripped a 25-yard shot that went just wide.

Rowe and Hamid each finished with three saves, as Hamid got his seventh shutout of the year.

Speaking postmatch Rooney, who has scored similar long-range efforts during his Premier League career for Manchester United and Everton, revealed it is a technique he tries to perfect on the training ground.

"I thought it was nice and it was special to score the goal this evening," he said. "It's something that I've practiced so many times.

"Different managers and teammates are like why are you practicing this, you won't score from this position, but for nights like tonight that's why I do practice it. It was a good strike and an important goal for us."

With a berth in the quarterfinal stage already booked, head coach Gregg Berhalter made the maximum number of changes to his lineup for the final group stage match versus Panama on Wednesday in Kansas City, and the U.S. pulled off a 1-0 win. A slow and sloppy group struggled to create clear chances for more than an hour before a Jozy Altidore goal from a corner kick put them in front and pushed them to victory in the game and in Group D.

Positives

Rest for the group that played the first two matches in the tournament and reps for the group that replaced them. If Berhalter's primary concern was setting his team up for the knockout rounds, simply turning over the roster was enough to ensure fresh legs for Sunday's match. Altidore's goal, his first for the national team since 2017, should be a boost of confidence for an important player.

Negatives

Turning over the full team ended the momentum built from two dominant performances to open the tournament. The slower speed of play and lack of sharpness reflected the clear drop in quality from the first-choice XI that scored 10 goals in two games to the second-choice group that lined up to face Panama.

Manager rating out of 10

6 -- If judged just on the result, Berhalter gets a passing grade. The U.S. won the game and the group and moves into the quarterfinals with confidence that it can get results even without the best talent on the field. Any arrested momentum is obviously of secondary concern to the coach, though fans will wonder what was lost via an uninspiring group stage finale.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 the best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Sean Johnson, 6 -- Made the saves required. Secure and confident enough passing out of the back.

DF Reggie Cannon, 6 -- Mixed in plenty of good moments to go with some questionable decisions and a lack of final product. Dynamic and aggressive, particularly up the field.

DF Matt Miazga, 7 -- Applied smart, effective pressure to help the Americans win the ball in midfield. Headed down corner that led to Altidore's goal.

DF Omar Gonzalez, 5 -- A step slow in at least one-vs.-one situations that allowed Panama to threaten. Good in the air but struggled to pass from the back.

DF Daniel Lovitz, 3 -- Made a host of poor decisions, particularly in the first half. Did not appear up to the speed of the game.

MF Wil Trapp, 5 -- Uneven. Switched play effectively on occasion. Passed teammates into pressure and turned the ball over in the middle of the field.

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MF Jordan Morris, 6 -- Among the best American performers in the first half. Direct and energetic, combined well with Cannon on the right flank.

MF Cristian Roldan, 4 -- Best moments came in combination with Morris but was prone to turnovers and overly ambitious choices in the final third that fell flat.

MF Djordje Mihailovic, 4 -- Too slow. Loose with passes in the final third. Set piece service mostly poor until the game winner.

MF Jonathan Lewis, 5 -- Lively on the flank but lacked the final product necessary to make runs to the end line count.

FW Jozy Altidore, 6 -- Acrobatic goal for the winner. Did not give enough via hold-up play but showed flashes. Hit a poor shot on excellent chance in the first half.

Substitutes

MF Christian Pulisic, NR -- Popped up with a few good moments drifting inside from the left wing.

MF Tyler Boyd, NR -- Handful of touches as a late sub. Did not impact the game.

FW Gyasi Zardes, NR -- Only real contribution came via a high press.

Name the artist most likely to provide the soundtrack to a David Warner batting montage over the past decade and many would reach for an AC/DC record - all blazing guitars and hair-raising lyrics - or perhaps something even heavier.

An absence of the aforementioned metallic clang about Warner's performances at this year's World Cup has been so evident as to raise questions about what is now going on inside the left-hander's head, for he has been seemingly batting to the loping rhythm of an emo folkie. Following Australia's win over England at Lord's he has finally provided an answer: emo folk indeed, from the Scotsman Lewis Capaldi. Lewis Capaldi? The Bruises, Grace, Someone You Loved Lewis Capaldi, so loathed by Noel Gallagher? Yes, really.

The flip side of Warner's composed and relaxed visage in the middle during games - a jarring contrast with so many of his previous, antagonistic displays - has been his use of headphones in the nets. During Australia's training sessions, Warner has donned the ear buds and played tracks off his watch to block out external noise and slow his tempo. It's a technique drawn from one of the many relaxation methods Warner tried during his 12 months banned from the international game.

"Why do I wear headphones at training, well I was waiting for that. It is something for me to relax my mind," Warner said. "We do a lot of different things. In the last 12 months I just did a lot of different stuff. I did a lot of stuff on recovery.

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"I am not an ice bath man but I went and did cryotherapy [use of extreme cold to aid recovery], I did a whole session with my headphones on a couple of times and it really relaxed me at training. When you have guys coming at you at 150kph you don't want to be listening to any external noise around the training sessions. So I just sing along to whatever top 40 is on my iWatch. It is a bit of a tempo thing."

"There is a Lewis Capaldi [song], I think he is on there at the moment. There is a bit of slow music, but for me it is calming me down while I am out there."

Blocking out external noise, of course, was something Warner and Steven Smith needed to be ready for on their returns to Australian ranks, and there were still plenty of boos at Lord's, tacitly approved of by England's captain Eoin Morgan. Smith's own year of self-discovery featured the taking up of music - he now travels with an acoustic guitar - and for Warner the decision to find a different headspace in which to bat and play the game can be related to what he saw when he played club cricket in Sydney over the summer.

"For me it is about enjoying the game when it is taken away from you, you realise what it is all about," Warner said. "Going back to grass roots was fantastic. I really saw smiles on people's faces to be out there on a Saturday afternoon. All the volunteers that come down and put time and effort, whether it is making the drinks, making the lunches. People's parents, my mum, my dad coming down, it is just great. You can't take that for granted. I am just grateful for the second opportunity to come back here and represent my country and do the country proud. You know I am just excited to be back here and playing World Cup cricket for Australia."

If there was criticism of the way Warner dragged Australia's run rate down against India at The Oval, this has been drowned out by how he and Aaron Finch have proven to be this tournament's calmest and most reliable opening pair.

Their qualities have been most evident on a pair of days, against Pakistan and England, when they were sent in to bat in conditions tailored to seam and swing. But instead of being methodically nicked off, they have won the battle between the ears on a big occasion as Pakistan sprayed the new balls and England dropped too short. Then when Australia bowled in defence of middling tallies, their pacemen took on the lessons and fashioned the wins that have qualified Australia for the semi-finals.

"I think when we looked at this wicket specifically that was our game plan, to keep wickets in hand," Warner said of Lord's. "We knew up front Woakesey [Chris Woakes] was going to be challenging, obviously Jofra [Archer] as well with his pace.

"But I really think there was a lot of pace taken out of that wicket. It did seam a bit but there was just no real pace in that wicket. So credit to the way our bowlers came out and bowled, we knew early wickets was going to be the key and we managed to do that. You saw I think nine wickets taken by our fast bowlers which is exceptional.

"It's always challenging. I was thinking back to the Pakistan game, it's one of those things where you tighten up a little bit and you pounce on anything that's short and if anything's full, as we say you throw the kitchen sink at it. We were patient, we bought our time and the knock that Finchy played, to get a hundred there - I know he was disappointed not to go on - but he played an exceptional knock. And the little cameo that Kez [Alex Carey] did as well was fantastic and put us into a great position to put 280 on the board."

For this tournament at least, Australia now have well founded confidence that they have chosen the right method, one to which Warner has adapted by way of his own self-knowledge from 12 months away. A similar approach during the Ashes from a similar group of players would appear likely too.

While the question remains open as to how sustainable it all is - Warner, after all, did not become a dominant international batsman at Test level by simply hanging around and waiting for the bad ball - it appears the right approach for this moment. Time will tell whether Warner's head stays full of Lewis Capaldi, or something livelier takes his place.