Donald Trump ‘really does not care’ if Iran play at World Cup 2026 — and more

• Iran was only country missing from Fifa planning summit

• US and Israel began attacking Iranian targets on Saturday

Donald Trump has said he does not care whether Iran participate in this summer’s World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The US and Israel began attacking targets in the country on Saturday, with the conflict in the Middle East since spreading to the wider region.

US president Trump told Politico: “I really don’t care. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They’re running on fumes.” Iran was the only nation missing from a Fifa planning summit for World Cup participants held this week in Atlanta, deepening questions over whether the country’s team will compete on US soil this summer amid an escalating regional war.

Gerrard Urges Slot to Drop Gakpo After Wolves Defeat

Wolves Punish Liverpool’s Lack of Urgency

Liverpool’s defeat to Wolves on Tuesday night did not simply dent their momentum; it exposed a side struggling to find rhythm at a critical stage of the campaign. The 2-1 loss at Molineux was decided late on, but for long stretches Liverpool looked blunt, slow and short of ideas.

Wolves struck first through Rodrigo Gomes before Liverpool finally responded with Mohamed Salah levelling late in the game. Yet just as Liverpool seemed to have rescued something from the contest, Andre struck in injury time to seal only Wolves’ third Premier League victory of the season.

The result left Liverpool sitting fifth in the table and vulnerable to being overtaken by Chelsea depending on results elsewhere. More concerning, however, was the manner of the performance. Liverpool laboured in possession and rarely threatened with the urgency expected of a team chasing Champions League qualification.

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard did not hold back in his assessment after the match. Speaking to TNT Sports, he described the opening period as woefully short of the standard required.

“For 65 minutes Liverpool were desperate tonight, really poor, didn’t create enough, didn’t play at the right speed or the right tempo, didn’t have enough quality,” Gerrard said.

His criticism reflected a wider frustration that Liverpool, despite their attacking options, lacked sharpness against a Wolves side willing to fight for every second ball.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool, Premier League GOAL scores 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers defender 

Gerrard Calls for Gakpo to Be Dropped

One of the most pointed moments in Gerrard’s analysis centred on Cody Gakpo. The Dutch forward started on the left flank but struggled to impose himself on the contest before being replaced.

Gerrard believes the time has come for Arne Slot to make a decisive change.

“He has to start Ngumoha now. He has to start him because he’s coming on and he’s doing more in a short cameo in a short space of time than Gakpo’s doing in 65, 70 minutes,” Gerrard said.

That comment carried weight. Gakpo has been a regular presence in Liverpool’s attacking rotation, but performances like the one against Wolves raise questions about form and consistency. In a side pushing for major honours, patience is rarely unlimited.

For Gerrard, the evidence was clear. The teenager Rio Ngumoha offered greater urgency and directness when introduced, forcing defenders to react and giving Liverpool an injection of pace that had been missing earlier in the match.

“He deserves to start now. He’s got to start the kid on Friday night,” Gerrard added, referring to Liverpool’s upcoming FA Cup clash with Wolves.

Ngumoha Opportunity After Gakpo Struggles

Ngumoha may be only 17, yet his cameo against Wolves left a strong impression. His willingness to run at defenders and move the ball quickly highlighted exactly what Liverpool lacked for much of the evening.

While Gakpo drifted in and out of the contest, Ngumoha appeared fearless. He attacked space, demanded the ball and gave Wolves something different to think about.

Gerrard’s argument is not simply about one player replacing another. It is about energy and intent. Liverpool’s attacking play against Wolves often looked predictable, allowing the hosts to stay compact and organised.

Introducing Ngumoha from the start in the FA Cup could shift that dynamic. Young players bring unpredictability, and sometimes that is precisely what a team needs when creativity stalls.

In contrast, Gakpo’s recent displays have raised concerns about confidence and influence. Talent has never been the issue, but matches like this highlight the fine margins between promise and performance.

Defensive Errors Gift Wolves Vital Win

Liverpool’s attacking struggles were not the only problem. Gerrard was equally frustrated by the defensive lapses that allowed Wolves to secure victory.

“It was a basic ball up to a target man, a focal point, you’ve got a two versus one that’s got to be dealt with,” he explained.

According to Gerrard, Liverpool failed to respond quickly enough to key moments, particularly Andre’s late winner following a poor clearance from the goalkeeper.

“The second goal is a poor clearance from the goalkeeper and there’s no reaction. Liverpool have got three players around that could’ve reacted a lot quicker to stop it before it becomes a shot on goal,” he said.

For Wolves, the result represented a significant boost in a difficult season. For Liverpool, it served as a reminder that sloppy defending and hesitant attacking rarely coexist successfully.

As reported by Metro, Gerrard’s message to Arne Slot was blunt: changes are needed if Liverpool are to remain competitive across multiple competitions.

The FA Cup meeting with Wolves now arrives with added intrigue. Will Slot stick with experience and faith in Gakpo, or will he heed Gerrard’s advice and turn to youth?

Football history is filled with moments where bold selections redefine a season. Liverpool’s next move could prove one of them.

Bayer Leverkusen will travel to Hamburg to take on Hamburger SV in a crucial Bundesliga encounter on March 4, 2026. The match, part of the 17th matchday, is scheduled to kick off at 20:30 local time.