Everton eye John Stones return as Man City contract looks unlikely

Everton are reportedly monitoring Stones' situation, with the defender's formative years at Goodison Park making a return a possibility.

However, the Toffees face a significant gamble, as Stones has only managed four Premier League starts this season due to recurring injuries. His recent withdrawal from the England squad further complicates matters, putting his World Cup participation in jeopardy.

There’s always a worry that a team will come out flat the day after an emotional victory like last night’s come-from-behind win. That’s why it’s important to have a strong performance from your starting pitcher – particularly with this team’s bullpen – and Zac Gallen delivered exactly what the team needed. Unfortunately, he was lined up against the two-time Cy Young winner in Tarik Skubal who continues to show why he’s one of the best starters in the game right now. It’s rare that Opening Day starters square off outside of what should be a national holiday, but that was the case today across the league. And we were treated to a taut, well-played, defensive and pitching masterclass that the D-Backs narrowly took.

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Thankfully though, Skubal wasn’t perfect. One of the few mistakes he made all afternoon opened – and closed – the scoring when Corbin Carroll launched a fastball above the zone that just snuck over the centerfield fence to give the D-Backs a 1-0 lead in the very first inning. The D-Backs created plenty of traffic throughout the game – there were only two innings where they didn’t have at least one baserunner – but they failed to capitalize on any of them. Instead, Skubal did what any starting pitcher would like to do: he induced weak contact and allowed his defense to work behind him by dialing up three separate double plays that extinguished rallies before they even started.

For his part, Gallen was up to the pitching duel, matching Skubal’s scoreless innings step for step. He leaned a little more heavily on his knuckle curve over his slider to great effect, collecting a pair of whiffs on the pitch. But even better, Gallen also leaned on his defense – far from a team strength the last two years – as he had just two strikeouts across his six innings. In fact, there were only eight strikeouts total from each team, landing in the lower-third of strikeout totals for games so far this season. Instead, there were defensive gems on both sides that kept the offense off the board. Crucially, Gallen ended his outing with an incredible show of athleticism and quick thinking. With the tying run at third after a one out triple from Kevin McGonigle, Gleyber Torres smacked a ball ticketed for right field that Jose Fernandez snagged out of the air and immediately threw to third to double up McGonigle and end the inning. It was a heads up play that you can’t always expect from a player who’s in his second career big league game, but Fernandez has already shown a level head for big moments and demonstrated it again today.

In classic baseball fashion, after a deflating sweep at the hand of the hated Dodgers to open the season, the D-Backs returned home to sweep the AL Central favorites with a dynamic offense, excellent defense, and just enough pitching to make it all hold up. It’s easy to live and die with the results of each game and I’m certainly prone to that kind of vacillating feeling throughout the season, but it’s always worth remembering to take a deep breath and remind yourself that it’s a long season and your confidence can change drastically on a day-to-day basis.

The NHL saw one of the wildest games of the season as the Vancouver Canucks stunned the league-leading Colorado Avalanche 8-6.

The Avalanche outshot the Canucks 30-26, but it was the first and second periods that made the big difference. The Canucks scored three goals each in the first and the second period and then finished the final period with two goals to claim the win. This win helped them end their six-game losing streak.

Soon after the final buzzer, the league posted on X, writing, “CANUCKS WIN!! WHAT A GAME!! 😱.”

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The result even drew reactions from fans across the platform. One fan predicted trouble ahead, saying, “Colorado’s gonna be upset in the first round. Bank on it!”

Another user joked about beating the top team, saying, “If we beat the number 1 team… do we become number 1?”

One fan mentioned the point difference between the two teams, saying, “Canucks with 50 pts just beat the Avalanche with 108 pts. That’s hockey, baby!”

A fan shared their perspective on how the Avalanche lost the game, saying, “Imma be honest, I feel like the Avs came into the game thinking too much about the Dallas game again, and then it got away from them. They battled back in the 3rd, but a bounce shook them off their roll.”

A fan reacted, calling the game, “The biggest upset of the season. Worst beats first.”

One fan reacted to Canucks’ goalie Kevin Lankinen and Avalanche’s Mackenzie Blackwood, who was later replaced by Scott Wedgewood, saying, “Did the goalies forget they had a game tonight?”

The Avalanche lost despite their strong third-period push

The Avalanche pushed hard in the third period and outshot the Canucks 17-6. Goals from Parker Kelly and Brent Burns reduced the deficit, and Sam Malinski tied the game 6-6 during a four-goal run. However, Vancouver answered instantly as Marcus Pettersson restored the lead just 23 seconds later.

Despite blowing a four-goal advantage, the Canucks held firm in the closing minutes. Boeser’s final goal sealed a dramatic victory, thus snapping their six-game losing streak.

The result stands out given the teams’ contrasting seasons. Vancouver entered last in the standings with major defensive issues and low scoring output, but Brock Boeser’s hat trick made the difference. Colorado, led by Nathan MacKinnon, has dominated with balance and consistency.

This upset showed Vancouver’s attacking ability and hinted at potential despite a difficult campaign.

Celtics' Jayson Tatum Reveals Game-Changing Advice From Former Rival originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Last May, Jayson Tatum suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon in the NBA Playoffs, putting his 2025-26 season in jeopardy. Less than 11 months later, he had a historic triple-double against the Miami Heat.

After a rusty, belated start to his season, Tatum has scored 25+ points in three straight games, looking more like his old self again. He also looks like he's having more fun on the court, too, after showing frustration during his recent shooting slump.

Following his big performance in Wednesday's road win over the Miami Heat, Tatum revealed some key advice he received from Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Klay Thompson, who also came back from the same injury.

“Klay [Thompson] told me this after we played them the first time, he’s just like, ‘Man, he’s like one thing he wished he did more, when he first came back was just give himself more grace. He was like, ‘There's not too many people who understand what this injury is like and coming back and the ups and downs, physically and mentally that you deal with.’ That's just something I've tried to continue to remind myself," Tatum told Celtics reporter Noa Dalzell.

Asked Jayson Tatum if he feels like there’s been a turning point with the joy he’s felt on the floor as of late:

“Klay [Thompson] told me this after we played them the first time, he’s just like, ‘Man, he’s like one thing he wished he did more, when he first came back was just… pic.twitter.com/aoAtVkOzLk

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) April 2, 2026

"It’s a balance of being a competitor and wanting to be the best version of yourself, but I just kind of try to remember, I've come a long way, and I'm grateful to be where I'm at. I wasn't 100% sure I was even gonna be able to play this year, so the fact that I'm able to go out there and contribute even what I'm doing now is a big win," Tatum added.

Thompson's advice has helped Tatum keep things in perspective over the past few weeks as he's battled ups and downs. He admits that he still gets frustrated at times when he doesn't play up to his usual standards.

That hasn't been the case lately, however, as the reigning NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week is starting to resemble an elite player again.

More NBA: Jayson Tatum Joins Larry Bird With Historic Triple-Double Vs. Heat

As athletes from around the world enter their last few weeks of training before the 2026 London Marathon, one entrant is planning an academic twist on the race.

Chris Garratt is planning to run the 26.2 mile (42.2km) course wearing full university graduation dress, in aid of student welfare at the university where he works.

Garratt, who works at the University of Worcester, is hoping his effort will set a new world record for the fastest marathon run in a graduation gown - but he also has to wear a full suit underneath.

"The only saving grace is I can wear trainers," said Garratt.

"When I first looked at it, I thought it would be quite easy," he added. "I have to wear the graduation gown itself, the mortarboard, and a graduation cape.

"What I didn't realise is I also have to wear a full suit - so it's a three piece suit and a tie.".

The event will be the 50-year-old's sixth London Marathon - and his third world record bid.

In 2023, he attempted to set a new record for the fastest marathon run in a lumberjack outfit.

"That was slightly more difficult than this in a way because I had to wear boots," said Garratt. "It was horrible."

That attempt was unsuccessful - but later that year, he did manage to break the record for the fastest half marathon dressed as a lumberjack at the Worcester City Runs.

Garratt is aiming to complete the marathon in under three and a half hours to beat the current record.

But he is aware his outfit will present challenges.

"If it's warm, I am going to overheat pretty quickly," he said.

"There's a lot of things that could fly around - it's like having a cape on.

"And then the hat - if I shake my head it stays on, but whether it's going to stay on for 26 miles, I'm not sure."

Garratt is hoping to raise £500 for the student hardship and scholarship fund at the University, where he has worked for nearly 30 years.

"It could make a difference to students that are struggling financially," he explained. "Just like everyone right now, students are struggling too.

"Student nurses in particular have to study and go into hospitals - it's a massive workload for them.

"To try and do a part-time job on top of that is extremely difficult, so the fact they can tap into the hardship fund to buy food for that week could be the difference between them staying in and becoming a nurse, or having to drop out.

"I just want to give something back to the students."

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More on this story

• Runner to attempt lumberjack marathon record
• Marathon in memory of 11-year-old cancer fundraiser
• London Marathon breaks world record for most finishers

Related internet links

• London Marathon
• Guinness World Records
• University of Worcester