Gold Cup groups set, Liverpool closer to title and Rome derby draw
Kick off your week with all the action from this past weekend
Good morning!
The last few days offered a clearer look at what will be ahead of us this summer.
The United States was placed in Group D at this summer’s Gold Cup, a tournament that matters more than usual given that the World Cup is just a year away.
In the club game, both Liverpool and Inter Milan inched closer to the Premier League and Serie A titles, respectively. While the Red are more than secured the title, inter still have a challenge from Napoli in the remaining weeks.
A note to readers: “Soccer Monday” will be off next week for Easter. The newsletter will return April 28.
Here’s a look at the major storylines from this past weekend:
Gold Cup: USMNT opens group stage on June 15 against T&T
The United States will open the Gold Cup against Trinidad & Tobago on June 15 in San Jose, Calif., face Saudi Arabia four days later at Austin, Texas, and close first-round play in Group D against Haiti on June 22 at Arlington, Texas.
CONCACAF announced the match schedule on Friday, a day after the draw was conducted.
The United States has won its group in 16 of 17 Gold Cups, along with a second-place finish to Panama in 2011. Its group stage record is 40-5-1.
These will be the last competitive matches for U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino’s team before its World Cup opener on June 12, 2026. Sending a second-string team for the second straight Gold Cup, the U.S. lost a 2023 semifinal to Panama on penalty kicks.
You can check out the entire Gold Cup schedule here.
Premier League: Liverpool on the brink of another title
Virgil van Dijk scored a late winner against West Ham on Sunday to move Liverpool to within six points of the league title.
A 2-1 victory at Anfield means the Reds need to win just two more games to be certain of a record-equaling 20th English league title to draw level with Manchester United’s total.
Liverpool had looked like dropping points when Andrew Robinson scored an own goal in the 86th minute to level the game at 1-1 after Luis Diaz’s opener. But Van Dijk rose to head home in the 89th minute, ensuring the league leaders took advantage after second-placed Arsenal slipped up on Saturday by drawing 1-1 with Brentford.
Chelsea came back from 2-0 down against relegation-fighting Ipswich to draw 2-2 and Wolves’ hopes of avoiding the drop were further boosted by a 4-2 win against Tottenham.
Wolves moved above West Ham on goal difference and up to 16th in the standings. Both teams need at least five more points to be certain of staving relegation.
Serie A: Roma and Lazio draw 1-1 in tense derby
In the biggest game of the weekend in Italy, Roma and Lazio played to a 1-1 draw at the Olympic Stadium in the Roman derby.
The typically-tense derby was marred by pre-game violence after supporters from both team threw flares at police in riot gear outside the stadium.
Alessio Romagnoli, who grew up an Lazio fan, achieved a childhood dream when he put his boyhood club ahead shortly after the break.
In response, Matias Soule equalized for Roma with a long-distance shot midway through the second half.
Sixth-placed Lazio remained two points ahead of seventh-placed Roma, which have not lost since December.
At the top of the table, leaders Inter Milan inched closer to the title on Saturday after defeating Cagliari 3-1 at home to take a lead of six points over Napoli.
In other news: The USWNT will face Jamaica instead of China on June 3 in St. Louis. The Americans will still host China as planned in a friendly on May 31 in St. Paul, Minn. China had previously announced it would play both matches during the international window, but later informed U.S. Soccer that it could only play the first game. … Leo Beenhakker, the Dutch coach who led two national teams at World Cups and won three league titles with Real Madrid, has died at age 82. Beenhakker coached Ajax in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s — winning two Dutch league titles and a third with its fierce rival Feyenoord — along with three straight La Liga titles with Madrid from 1987 to ‘89. … USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie is among 13 players being investigated for illegal online betting in Italy. A new investigation by Milan prosecutors stems from evidence given by Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Fagioli in 2023. Both served bans, ruling them out for most of last season, after agreeing to plea bargains that also included therapy for a gambling addiction.