Monday’s briefing: Liverpool target Andoni Iraola and Declan Rice raps

Liverpool and Arsenal are moving on quickly from their weekend setbacks.

Manchester City’s women, however, have another trophy in the cabinet.

Liverpool make move for Iraola

Liverpool are set to open formal talks with Andoni Iraola in the coming days as they seek to make a swift appointment to replace Arne Slot.

The Dutchman was sacked on Saturday just 12 months on from winning only the club’s second Premier League title in 30 years after a pitiful defence ended with them stumbling to a fifth-placed finish.

After a review of the campaign, beset first by the tragedy of the death of Diogo Jota in a car crash last July and then a serious of injuries which hampered the team’s performance to the extent they lost 19 matches and took two points from their last four league matches, owners Fenway Sports Group decided a change of direction was needed.

Iraola, who is leaving Bournemouth after guiding them to their highest league finish of sixth, securing a maiden European campaign, was identified as a front-runner and the Press Association understands an official approach will be made next week.

Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes already has a relationship with the Spaniard, having appointed him at Bournemouth when he was in a similar role there.

It is understood Iraola, who is said to be keen on taking the job, has already spoken to Crystal Palace, Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan.

Rice in trophy pledge

Declan Rice celebrated Arsenal’s Premier League title success by rapping to ‘Ice Ice Baby’ on their open-top bus – and then vowed his side are “coming back for more” next season.

England midfielder Rice grabbed a microphone and belted out the Vanilla Ice classic as thousands upon thousands of Gunners fans lined the streets of north London.

The party was jumping despite their Champions League penalty shoot-out heartbreak against Paris St Germain less than 24 hours earlier.

Rice told Sky Sports: “I love this team, I love the manager. To see the joy we can give people, it’s crazy.

“But, next year we’re coming back for more. You heard it here first now. Lock in or get locked out.”

Clarke’s restless night

Scotland boss Steve Clarke admitted he lost plenty of sleep pondering his decision to bypass his World Cup standby list to replace injured Billy Gilmour with 19-year-old Tyler Fletcher.

Midfielder Fletcher, the son of former Scotland captain Darren, was handed his international debut in coming on for the second half in Saturday’s 4-1 friendly win over Curacao at Barclays Hampden.

While Connor Barron, Andy Irving and Lennon Miller were put on standby when the 26-man squad was announced, Manchester United’s Fletcher – not in the original squad – was drafted in after Napoli playmaker Gilmour suffered a knee injury against Dick Advocaat’s side, which has ruled him out of the tournament that starts next month in North America.

Before flying out from Glasgow airport to Scotland’s Florida training camp on Sunday afternoon, Clarke said: “It was a really difficult night, I haven’t slept much, I have to be honest. I had to disappoint another three players again, to tell them that they had missed out.

“I just felt Tyler came into the squad this week and showed up really well, did well in the game so that was the thinking behind that one.

“Obviously devastated for Billy and also really disappointed for Lennon, Andy Irving and Connor Barron.”

City searching for more success – Jeglertz

Andree Jeglertz challenged Manchester City to maintain an insatiable appetite for success after they sealed a maiden domestic double in his first season in charge.

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and captain Alex Greenwood became the first pair of team-mates to score and assist in a Women’s FA Cup final this century as Women’s Super League champions City beat Brighton 4-0 at Wembley to lift the FA Cup for a fourth time.

Jeglertz said: “Winning the WSL title was big for the club, but we’ve also talked about being able to win the title but also just a couple of weeks later being able to be a winning team that is also winning the next title, so keep on having this hunger and dedication to want something more, not be pleased.

“I think that will be a very important thing for us in the future, to not think that anything will be prevented. We need to keep on having this hunger for the next level.”

What’s on today?

The majority of the England squad fly out from Birmingham Airport to Florida to begin their World Cup acclimatisation ahead of their opening game against Croatia on June 17 in Dallas.