Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said it will be "pretty special" if his side's title race with Manchester City goes to the final day of the season.

City overtook Klopp's side to return to the top of the table by a point when they won 2-0 at Manchester United on Wednesday, with both teams having three games left.

And the Liverpool boss told a news conference ahead of Friday's home game against relegated Huddersfield that there would be more title challenges in the season to come.

"If we win our next two games, then the title will be decided on the final matchday and that would be pretty special. That's what we are concentrating on," he said.

"This is our first time trying to be champion, not the last time. Last season, we were 25 points behind. It's all good and we will carry on. At the end, only one team will be the champion.

"We don't need to summarise the season. "If we win it, we win it. If we don't there are no regrets as long as we give our best, and that's what we've done all season.

"Yes it's a big target, and we are pretty close and have a chance. The club and the people are waiting for a long time for it."

Klopp said the summer transfer window would "probably not" be the biggest for the club, but stressed that they would be keeping their eyes open.

He backed his squad to get even better, saying: "We have been together more than three-and-a-half years. They are at the perfect age. They have a lot of space for improvement."

But he ruled out a rumoured move for Napoli striker Lorenzo Insigne, saying: "He is a very good player, but he has a long-term contract at Napoli. We will not even try it."

The Premier League has drawn up plans to have two trophies and two sets of medals on standby if the title race between Liverpool and Manchester City goes to the final day of the season on May 12, sources have told ESPN FC.

Defending champions City moved one point clear of Liverpool with a 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday and will retain the title if they win their remaining three games against Burnley, Leicester and Brighton.

But with Liverpool able to reclaim top spot on Friday by defeating relegated Huddersfield at Anfield, there remains a strong possibility that the title will not be decided until the final round of fixtures.

Liverpool host Wolves on the final day of the season, with City travelling to Brighton.

With 270 miles separating those two stadiums, sources have told ESPN FC that the Premier League has ruled out the prospect of a helicopter carrying the trophy being positioned halfway between them.

If the race goes down to the wire, the Premier League will adopt the same plan as on the final day of the 2011-12 season, when City and United were separated by goal difference going into their fixtures against Queen's Park Rangers and Sunderland.

A trophy presentation team travelled to the Etihad Stadium and the Stadium of Light, each carrying a trophy and set of medals,as two stoppage-time goals secured the title for City.

Sources told ESPN FC that the Premier League has two identical trophies -- one housed at the League's London headquarters and the other in the trophy cabinet of the reigning champions.

More than an hour after Manchester City's exit from the Champions League last week, Sergio Aguero was sitting in the dressing room still wearing his kit. The laid-back striker is normally the last to leave -- be it off the team bus arriving at the stadium and from the ground after the final whistle -- but this time was different. Aguero was crestfallen, tears in his eyes after City's brutal quarterfinal exit at the hands of Tottenham.

The manner of that defeat was, in Pep Guardiola's words, cruel. Raheem Sterling's 94th-minute goal was celebrated with raw passion and emotion as Spurs players collapsed to the pitch. But just 73 seconds later it was ripped away when the video assistant referee correctly chalked off the effort for offside and, with that, City's dream of European success slipped out of reach for another year.

- Ogden: City too good to let title slip
- Bernardo Silva stars as City ease past United

For some of the club's older players the defeat was hard to take, knowing that they may only have one or two more shots left at winning the Champions League. Among them Fernandinho, who turns 34 next week. The Brazilian has played some of the best football of his career this season, but he couldn't hide his anger as he slammed open the door to the mixed zone. Asked for a comment about the defeat, he simply replied: "F--- VAR."

The introspective David Silva, 33, slipped out of a backdoor from the Etihad Stadium knowing his impressive medal collection from winning the World Cup, European Championship, Premier League and FA Cup may forever be short of the Champions League. Captain Vincent Kompany, also 33 and for the past 10 years the leader in the dressing room and adept at dragging his teammates out of difficult times with his positivity, was typically the one to stay to console Aguero -- the Argentine, so often the hero, feeling the weight of his first-leg penalty miss that was to prove to be so important.

But as well as the frustration over City's exit, Guardiola was fearful that the pain of that defeat had the potential to wreck their entire season. With no let-up from Liverpool in their tight and tense title race and a Premier League rematch against Spurs just over 48 hours away, the City boss felt he needed to quickly re-energise his squad to get them focused once more.

There were no strong words from the City boss in the dressing room after the 4-3 victory that ultimately proved not enough due to the away goals rule, only praise echoed when he spoke to reporters. "I am so proud of the players and the fans," he said shortly after full-time.

The City boss was also determined to ensure his players were not motivated by revenge despite some frustration over the way Fernando Llorente's decisive goal was reviewed by VAR and the onfield referee not given an angle that showed the ball hitting the Spanish striker's elbow before going in.

His players were back at the Etihad Campus the following day with the mood considerably gloomier. Guardiola felt he had to make changes for a third game against Spurs in 12 days after a draining evening, which is when the enthusiasm of Phil Foden shone through. The 18-year-old is constantly pushing for his first-team opportunities, working tirelessly in training and heeding the advice of Guardiola, assistant Mikel Arteta and the rest of the coaching staff.

Guardiola has no doubts about Foden's ability, but has held him back to grow his experience around the first team. But with his energy and fearlessness needed for the Spurs rematch, Guardiola decided to throw him in for just his second Premier League start. It worked perfectly with the teenager scoring the only goal after just four minutes. But his players were exhausted and, in the final 20 minutes, City switched to survival mode and it was a mixture of delight and relief that greeted the full-time whistle. "As a footballer, I could not have done what my players have done today -- the title is still in our hands," Guardiola said after the game.

They would, however, only move top of they could navigate Wednesday's Manchester derby -- a date ringed on many pundits' calendars as the potential pivotal fixture of the run-in. While some Liverpool and United fans were conflicted over what result they wanted, there was no expectations from inside City for anything other than a feverish derby against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.

For all their recent bad form, United had not lost at Old Trafford in the Premier League since August. Guardiola decided he needed experience to deal with the intensity, recalling Kompany, David Silva and Fernandinho -- players who have delivered time and again on derby day.

As Leroy Sane -- who had come off the bench for the injured Fernandinho -- slammed in the second to secure victory, Guardiola bent double in celebration, fists clenched, with the Premier League's destiny remaining in his hands. It couldn't have a bigger contrast to the sight of the Catalan sinking to his knees in despair almost exactly a week earlier when VAR cut short the pandemonium that followed Sterling's late strike.

Guardiola will keep minds sharp and focused on the three games that remain and the three victories required even if they have survived the two toughest games of their run-in. But there won't have been a more important week if City are to hold off the challenge of Liverpool in the fiercest title race in Premier League history.

A shoulder injury to Dale Steyn has thrown South Africa's World Cup preparations off track, with the 35-year-old fast bowler cutting his time with Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL short after only two games.

Steyn will return to South Africa after his right shoulder - which had previously been seriously injured - flared up. He will be assessed by a shoulder specialist, with Cricket South Africa putting measures in place in an attempt to get him ready for the World Cup next month.

"Dale felt discomfort after playing his second match at the tournament," explained South Africa team manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee. "Upon assessment and subsequent investigations, a flare-up of his right shoulder was confirmed. With the World Cup around the corner, it is our priority to get him back to full fitness before the squad departs on May 19. He will consult with a shoulder specialist upon his return and a recovery plan will be put in place."

Having gone unsold at the IPL 2019 auction, Steyn was a late addition to Royal Challengers' roster. He jetted in as a replacement for Nathan Coulter-Nile, who pulled out of the tournament with a stiff back. Royal Challengers won both the matches Steyn played in, with the fast bowler taking 2 for 40 against Kolkata Knight Riders and following that up with 2 for 29 in the one-run win over Chennai Super Kings.

"Dale Steyn has been prescribed ample rest due to inflammation in his shoulder," said Royal Challengers chairman Sanjeev Churiwala. "On account of state of his health, Dale will not be available to take part further in the ongoing season of IPL.

"His presence has helped the team immensely and we are very thankful for the inspiration and passion that he brought to the squad. The team will deeply miss his energy and presence around. We wish him a speedy recovery and all the luck for all future endeavours."

Steyn has been named in South Africa's 15-man squad for the World Cup, but it is unclear yet how much time he will take to recover. South Africa's squad will assemble for their week-long camp on May 12, prior to their departure for the tournament.

Worryingly, Steyn's current injury has flared up in the same shoulder in which he snapped a coracoid bone during South Africa's tour of Australia in November 2016. That injury almost ended his career, and required surgery and 13 months in recovery. During the Wanderers Test match against Pakistan earlier this year, Steyn left the field early on the second day clutching the same shoulder, causing worries in the South Africa camp, but that injury scare did not prove to be serious, and he later returned to the field to help wrap up a 107-run win.

The full extent of the latest flare-up remains to be seen, but if Steyn is unable to recover in time to play in the World Cup, it could signal the end of his white-ball career. Steyn has hinted that he would retire from ODI cricket after the tournament, but has made clear his intentions to keep playing Test cricket.

The World Cup squad named by South Africa can be amended until 23 May, one week before their tournament opener against England at The Oval.

South Africa allrounder Dwaine Pretorius will join Northamptonshire for this season's Vitality T20 Blast.

The 30-year-old Pretorius will link up with the Steelbacks squad for the tournament, which begins in mid-July, alongside another newcomer to Wantage Road, Faheem Ashraf of Pakistan. Pretorius may also be available for selection for the County Championship match against Worcestershire in August.

Pretorius is part of South Africa's squad for the World Cup starting on May 30, having played 19 ODIs and four T20Is.

"I am really stoked to be joining Northamptonshire for the T20 Blast and for some red ball cricket," Pretorius said. "I have always wanted to play county cricket - personally it's a dream come true and I can't wait for the opportunity. I will be doing everything I can to help the Steelbacks lift the cup and I'm thankful for the opportunity to be part of the team."

In his T20 career to date, Pretorius has scored 1426 runs with a strike rate of 141.46 - including 77 not out off just 42 balls against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg in March - and has taken 72 wickets with an economy rate of 8.22. He will join Northamptonshire subject to a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) being granted by CSA.

Northants head coach David Ripley said: "It's great to have Dwaine joining us for the T20 campaign. He is very hungry for his opportunity and gives us another hard-hitting allrounder in our line up, which in this format is always great to have."

Did Virat Kohli mock R Ashwin's controversial run-out of Jos Buttler after he caught his India team-mate at the long-on boundary? Paul Collingwood, former England captain and a staunch critic of the run-out of Buttler, certainly noticed it.

Love @imVkohli reaction catching @ashwinravi99 Great entertainment @RCBTweets and @IPL !! Mother cricket always gets you!! #mankad

— Paul Collingwood (@Colly622) April 24, 2019

With 27 required off the last over against Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab's captain Ashwin hit the first ball for a six. The next only made it as far as Kohli at the long-on boundary. Kohli made a hand gesture before moving his right hand - which held the ball - behind his body, an action not too dissimilar to flicking the bails behind you when you effect the run-out without delivering the ball.

Ashwin then proceeded to throw his gloves furiously upon reaching the dugout. He was asked about what had been going on between him and Kohli - Ashwin has been animated whenever his side has got Kohli out. Ashwin's response was short and crisp: "I just play with passion, so does he. That's it. As simple as that."

No current India cricketer has openly come out in support of Ashwin - or made any comment - on the run-out debate whereas current England cricketers - and others - have taken to Twitter to criticise him. The support for Ashwin has only come from former cricketers.

Ashwin did pull out of his delivery during his match against Delhi Capitals with Shikhar Dhawan, the non-striker, not leaving the crease. When Ashwin ran in to bowl the next ball, Dhawan danced outside the crease but with the bat inside it. Kohli reacted similarly when Sunil Narine pulled out of his delivery but without any intention to run the non-striker out. He squatted low to send the message he was doing all he can to keep his bat inside the crease.

Sam Billings' return to action for Kent lasted just a matter of minutes, as he suffered a dislocated shoulder that may rule him out of England's ODI trip to Ireland next week.

Billings, Kent's captain, had returned to the team for his first county fixture of the season, against Glamorgan at Cardiff in the Royal London Cup, after completing his stint with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

However, he suffered a dislocated left shoulder in attempting to stop a shot in Harry Podmore's first over of the match.

In obvious pain, Billings was left prone on the outfield for several minutes, and treated with oxygen before being helped from the field.

Kent later confirmed that he had been taken to hospital, where the shoulder was relocated, and returned to Sophia Gardens afterwards. He is scheduled to see a specialist on Friday, where he will undergo scans.

Billings had not been included in England's 15-man squad for next month's World Cup, but was likely to play against Ireland in Dublin next Friday, and had also been named for the one-off T20I against Pakistan in Cardiff two days later.

He is one of a number of concerns for England, particularly among their batsmen, as they build towards the World Cup opener against South Africa at The Oval on May 30.

Jason Roy is missing for Surrey in the latest round of Royal London Cup games, after suffering a back spasm earlier this week, while Eoin Morgan also sat out the same fixture for Middlesex after complaining of sore shins before the toss.

Kent's other England selection, Joe Denly, was not included for the trip to Glamorgan after himself suffering a back spasm while batting against Gloucestershire on Tuesday.

Alex Hales, meanwhile, has been put on indefinite leave by Nottinghamshire for personal reasons, but is expected to link up with the England squad for a pre-season training camp in Cardiff this weekend.

Toss: Rajasthan Royals chose to bowl v Kolkata Knight Riders

Rajasthan Royals captain Steven Smith decided to field first against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Thursday. Smith said that it was a welcome change to play on a slightly more grassy pitch, which his opposite number Dinesh Karthik also said would help the batsmen.

The home side have dropped Harry Gurney and KC Cariappa, and have brought in Prasidh Krishna and Carlos Brathwaite. That means there was still no room in the XI for Robin Uthappa and Kuldeep Yadav, who had been left out in Knight Riders' previous game, against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Royals have given an IPL debut to fast bowler Oshane Thomas and also added Varun Aaron, dropping Ashton Turner and Dhawal Kulkarni.

Knight Riders are looking to break their five-match losing streak this season, having slid down to sixth on the points table after beginning the season well. They also have the worst bowling economy rate, conceding runs at 9.10 per over in IPL 2019. Royals have had problems of their own, chiefly to do with their team's batting and bowling not clicking together. They are currently in last place on the table with just six points.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Chris Lynn, 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Dinesh Karthik (capt, wk), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Carlos Brathwaite, 8 Rinku Singh, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Prithvi Raj, 11 Prasidh Krishna

Rajasthan Royals: 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Sanju Samson (wk), 3 Steven Smith, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Riyan Parag, 6 Stuart Binny, 7 Jofra Archer, 8 Shreyas Gopal, 9 Jaydev Unadkat, 10 Oshane Thomas, 11 Varun Aaron

NEW YORK -- A video recording of a conversation about paying college coaches and athletes that was played Wednesday in the college basketball corruption trial featured aspiring sports agent Christian Dawkins promoting his connections to top coaches, including Arizona's Sean Miller.

At one point in the June 6, 2017, recording, Dawkins -- who is on trial for having allegedly bribed college coaches -- talks about incoming Arizona player Deandre Ayton and says Miller told him, "I'm taking care of everything myself. I wanna bring you in. I'll turn everything over to you."

The recording played while prosecutors questioned former financial adviser Marty Blazer, who was present for the conversation and said the reference was about Miller "taking care" of payments for Ayton.

"Sean Miller has to know everything that's going on. I can call Sean and have a conversation ... like this is what is needing to be done," Dawkins said on the video. He said that Miller is, "talking on the phone about stuff he shouldn't be talking on the phone about."

U.S. District Court Judge Edgardo Ramos ruled Friday that defense attorneys could not subpoena Miller and LSU's Will Wade to testify during the federal bribery trial. Steven Haney, Dawkins' lead attorney, said he was going to file a motion Thursday morning asking the judge to reconsider his decision about Miller.

"We are aware of the reports of the testimony today by a Government witness. We will continue to monitor the proceedings," the University of Arizona said in a statement. "As has been stated previously, the University of Arizona is committed to the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct in all of our athletic programs and our commitment to those principles is unwavering."

The recording played Wednesday was of a meeting on a yacht docked in Manhattan, where Dawkins met with Blazer, his business partner Munish Sood and -- unbeknownst to Dawkins and Sood at the time -- two undercover FBI agents posing as potential investors in Dawkins' and Sood's new athlete financial services agency.

Dawkins and ex-Adidas consultant Merl Code are facing a series of bribery-related charges in connection with the alleged payments made to assistant basketball coaches in exchange for the coaches' persuading their top players to sign with Dawkins' new agency when they turned pro.

In August, Sood pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to commit bribery, along with other charges, and he has been a witness for the government. Blazer began cooperating with the government in 2014, as part of an arranged plea deal after he was caught in an investment fraud scheme for which he pleaded guilty in September 2017.

In October 2018, a jury convicted Code, Dawkins and former Adidas executive James Gatto of conspiracy and fraud charges in the first federal case involving a pay-for-play scheme to send top recruits to Adidas-sponsored schools, including Kansas, Louisville and NC State. A judge sentenced Code and Dawkins to six months and Gatto to nine months in federal prison.

Much of the testimony and playback of phone calls and videos Wednesday included several references Dawkins made to the influence college coaches had on players and his connections. Blazer testified that part of the plan was to pay college coaches to gain early access to their top NBA-bound players, so they could gain influence and form relationships before the players knew their true worth.

Prosecutors showed a screenshot of a text message that Blazer said was Dawkins' list of coaches he planned to target. At the top, it said, "These are my main guys," and it included several names of schools and coaches, including six head coaches at the time: Michigan State's Tom Izzo, LSU's Wade, UNLV's Marvin Menzies, Louisville's Rick Pitino, North Carolina State's Kevin Keatts and Arizona's Miller, whose name was listed first. Pitino and Menzies have since been fired.

Some of the other schools on the list, along with names of assistant coaches, were Alabama, Arizona State, Cleveland State, Creighton, DePaul, Miami, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M and USC. The list did not indicate any payments to coaches, nor whether those coaches were contacted.

Blazer also testified that he met with the following assistant coaches: Yasir Rosemond from Alabama, Anthony Coleman from Arizona State and Amir Abdur-Rahim from Texas A&M (now Kennesaw State's head coach), but he did not provide any further details Wednesday of his meetings with those coaches. He said he met with USC's Bland, as well as Creighton assistant coach Preston Murphy, who Blazer said took $6,000 at the meeting and arranged to be set up on a monthly retainer.

In the video taken aboard the yacht, Dawkins also talks about his relationship with former Arizona assistant Emanuel "Book" Richardson, whom Dawkins said was worth paying $4,000 a month because Arizona would have top-10 picks every year.

Richardson, along with fellow ex-coaches Tony Bland (USC) and Lamont Evans (South Carolina and Oklahoma State) have already pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy charges and are awaiting sentencing in their connection with the pay-to-play scheme.

Richardson admitted to accepting $20,000 in bribes. Richardson said he planned to use $15,000 to entice a high-profile prospect to sign with the Wildcats.

A fourth ex-assistant coach -- Chuck Person of Auburn -- has pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. He had been scheduled to go to trial in June, along with Rashan Michel, a former college and NBA referee who ran a successful custom-suit business in Atlanta and is still under indictment.

Defense attorneys said in their opening statements Tuesday that Dawkins and Code were opposed to paying coaches, saying it was a "waste of money," and that the undercover FBI agents were the ones pushing that plan.

But in testimony Wednesday, Blazer said Dawkins had already been making payments to Evans, then at South Carolina, and Blazer ended up taking over those payments.

In a recording of a meeting Blazer had with Evans, Sood and Dawkins in March 2016, Evans and Dawkins talk frequently about the influence Evans -- or coaches in general -- have on players, specifically on whom they choose to work with when they turn pro.

In a recording of a conversation Dawkins had with Blazer and Sood in the car after meeting with Evans, Dawkins said Evans was "going to bring you, give you access to the situation, the parents, whatever." At one point, Dawkins says to them, "you can never get caught up," which, Blazer testified, meant that the coach would get in trouble -- possibly fired -- if his payments were discovered.

Blazer said Dawkins told him that he had been going to South Carolina once a month to pay Evans $2,500 in cash so there would be no paper trail. Blazer testified that after he took over the payments, he traveled all over the country delivering them in person or sending them via wire transfers. When Evans pleaded guilty in January, he admitted to accepting $22,000 in bribes for influencing players at South Carolina and Oklahoma State.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- In recent days, some Golden State Warriors players admitted they were keeping an eye on their potential second-round opponent, the Houston Rockets.

"We see our opponent, they're up 3-0," Warriors guard Klay Thompson said of the Rockets after his team's Game 4 win Sunday. "So we don't wanna give them any more rest days."

But the LA Clippers, who beat the Warriors 129-121 in Game 5 on Wednesday to extend their first-round series, took exception to being overlooked.

"For us, our focus was to come in, extend the series and get another win on the home floor," Clippers star reserve Lou Williams said after the win at Oracle Arena, which pushed the series to Game 6 on Friday in Los Angeles. "It's their mistake for looking ahead. So that's on them."

The Clippers are the first team to win two playoff games as double-digit underdogs in the same postseason since the 1993 Lakers, according to ESPN Stats & Information. (The '93 Lakers won Games 1 and 2 against the Suns in the first round as 13.5- and 14-point underdogs before losing the best-of-five series in five games.)

Wednesday's upset also tied for the second-largest postseason upset since 1991, according to ESPN Stats & Info. The Clippers entered the game as 15-point underdogs.

After losing Game 5, Thompson admitted he was looking ahead.

"Yep, start with me. I was," Thompson said. "I thought we were going to come out and win tonight, but sometimes life doesn't go as planned. We're still in a great position with hopefully only 48 minutes left to close these guys out. They've been pesky. They've been tough, but now it's time to do what we do."

Warriors stars Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, however, both said the team isn't looking past the Clippers.

"I know I'm not thinking about the future," Durant said. "Just thinking about the game. And I feel like everybody has their mindset."

Said Curry: "We understand, we've been in this situation plenty of times. We know how hard it is to close a series out. At the end of the day, as bad as we played in the first half, we were up one with 2½ minutes left. So we clawed our way back and gave ourselves a chance to win. They just made shots down the stretch. And you gotta, I think at the end of the day, look yourself in the mirror and hold our team accountable for how we started the game and gotta do a better job of that."

During the series, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said he felt that his team hadn't played to its potential.

"I told our guys, like, they haven't been [themselves] in the series," he said. "We have yet to put a game where we are us through the game."

But that changed Wednesday.

"That was us," Rivers said. "That was our team today. And so that was great to see."

Could the Clippers be ahead 3-2 in the series? Clippers guard Patrick Beverley seemed to say as much after the game when he referenced his team's performance in Game 4.

"This past game, Game 4, we felt like we should have won that," Beverley said. "We felt like we lost a game, not that they beat us."

Rivers also mentioned the possibility that Wednesday could've marked the last game for longtime Clippers broadcaster Ralph Lawler, who is retiring after the postseason.

"Ralph never speaks to me before the game when I'm on the floor, and he walked up to me, first time ever, and said, 'Coach, I've had 20 people [come up] to congratulate me on my career and say good luck, like, tonight is the end of Ralph. Please do something about that,'" Rivers said.

"So Ralph, we did. And it's all good."

Clippers players also spoke about extending Lawler's broadcasting career for at least one more game.

"It's great for Ralph," Williams said. "It's great for all of us. And Ralph's been around 40 years. So for us to have an opportunity to keep dragging him in the gym and having him around, it's great."

For his part, Warriors coach Steve Kerr heaped praise upon the Clippers, describing them as "a hell of a team" that won 48 games in the regular season.

"They have our respect, for sure," Kerr said. "They outplayed us tonight, and they've got a hell of a team. So we've got to bring it if we're going to beat them."

Thompson, when asked to describe the Clippers, replied simply: "They play hard. They play hard."