Phil Foden has been named the Premier League's Player of the Season, it was announced on Saturday after the 23-year-old had the best campaign of his career to help put Manchester City within reach of their fourth consecutive league title.

The England international has scored 17 goals and contributed eight assists in 34 league games this season playing centrally and in wide positions.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Heading into the final day of the season, City are two points ahead of Arsenal and should Pep Guardiola's side lift the title, Foden will become the youngest player ever to have won six Premier League trophies.

"To win this award is an achievement that I am extremely proud of," Foden said in a statement. "The Premier League is acknowledged as the greatest league in the world, and it is a pleasure to have been nominated with so many other great players who have all enjoyed special seasons for their clubs.

"Overall, I've been very happy with the way I have played this season and really pleased that I have been able to contribute with the goals and assists throughout the season.

"I'd like to thank all of the City staff, coaches and especially my teammates because without them this wouldn't be possible. And I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who voted for me as the award means a lot."

Foden topped an eight-man shortlist which also included Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak, Martin Ødegaard, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Virgil van Dijk and Ollie Watkins.

City players have now won the award five years in a row as Foden joins Rúben Dias, Haaland and two-time winner Kevin De Bruyne in winning the prize.

- ESPN's Luis Miguel Echegaray's Premier League 2023-24 awards: MVP, best signing, best goal
- Premier League title rivals Arsenal, Man City unveil new kits
- Postecoglou: Manchester City game was my worst experience as manager

The last player not from City to win the award was Liverpool's Van Dijk in the 2018-19 season.

England international Foden also won the Football Writers' Association's player of the year award earlier this month.

Palmer was named as the Premier League's Young Player of the Season on Friday following an oustanding debut campaign with the west London club, having joined them from Man City on deadline day.

The 22-year-old has scored 22 times in the league so far and has 10 assists.

He saw off competition from Man City duo Foden and Haaland, Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo, Arsenal's Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, as well as Tottenham's Destiny Udogie to win the award.

Jürgen Klopp has said Liverpool will move in an "exciting direction" when a new era under Arne Slot begins, saying that his team "aimed for the moon and ended up in the stars" ahead of his final game as manager.

Klopp will step down from his role after almost nine years in charge at Anfield following Sunday's Premier League home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
- Jurgen Klopp's farewell: What he means to Liverpool

The former Borussia Dortmund coach leaves Liverpool after ending the club's 30-year wait for a league title in 2020 and also having delivered a sixth European Cup / Champions League crown in 2019.

Feyenoord coach Arne Slot will be officially confirmed by Liverpool as Klopp's replacement next week -- Slot said on Friday that he will be taking charge at Anfield -- but with just 90 minutes remaining of his reign as manager, Klopp said that the club will continue to be successful after he leaves.

"The big positive for Liverpool is that no matter who is leaving, the club is still in a very, very good place," Klopp said in a message to supporters in the match programme for Sunday's game. "This season we aimed for the moon and ended up in the stars which is never too bad and the players and staff who are remaining are top, top class.

"Yes, they will have new leadership before too long but this is a club that is ready to take the journey in a new and exciting direction, not one that is ready for the journey to come to an end.

"This is what I have always known Liverpool to be -- a club of journeys and adventures, some that end with trophies and some that don't, but whatever happens there are always stories and moments that are unforgettable.

"In my time here we have been blessed with quite a few and it is important that I stress that what we have done has always been underpinned by stable, intelligent and creative ownership. Again, I could not be more grateful for this but I am also excited because I know that this will continue going forward and that can only be good news for Liverpool FC."

- Watch: Why Mohamed Salah is Arne Slot's first big Liverpool problem
- I could have won more trophies at Liverpool - Jürgen Klopp
- Watch: Why Klopp will be remembered alongside Dalglish & Paisley at Liverpool
- One player from each team to watch at the under-17 Euros

Anfield is preparing to give Klopp an emotional farewell before, during and after Sunday's clash with Wolves, with tickets being sold online for more than 1,400 ($1,778) as fans desperately attempt to find a way to witness Klopp's departure.

And the 56-year-old said he now wants the fans to afford his successor the same support and backing he received since taking charge in October 2015.

"Of course, this is my final game as Liverpool manager," he said. "This is something you have all known for a few months and I have known for a little longer but as much as I know it is the right time for me to leave I know also that it will take some getting used to. If the starting point was the announcement, the next big step into the future is Sunday.

"Finally, to the supporters I have only thanks and love. Everything that we have done has been because of you, with you and for you. I have referred many times to the banner on the Kop which says Unity Is Strength and I think this is a belief that we have all lived up to.

"The important thing now is that it continues so that my successor can have the same benefits of it as I've had.

"After today I will be a supporter too, so hopefully I can play my part in that."

US-based Brit clocks 12:54.66 at the USATF LA Grand Prix to narrowly miss Farahs national record

Sam Atkin went No.2 on the UK all-time rankings for 5000m and almost took down Mo Farahs British record in the process at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix on Friday (May 17).

Atkin clocked 12:54.66 to finish eighth in a race won by Selemon Barega of Ethiopia in 12:51.60.

Farahs national record of 12:53.11 dates back to 2011 when he ran the time in Monaco.

On this weekend two years ago, Atkin ran the Night of the 10,000m PBs. But this time the 31-year-old from Grimsby focused on the LA meeting and smashed the Olympic qualifying standard in the process as he went past Marc Scott and George Mills on the UK all-time lists.

For close followers of the sport it should come as no great surprise as Atkin clocked 12:58.73 indoors in Boston in February. He also set a UK 5km record of 13:16 on the roads in Lille in March last year plus  7:31.97 for 3000m indoors.

In total there were 11 men inside 13 minutes in the race in LA. Behind Barega, fellow Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi was runner-up in 12:52.09 followed by Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo, the Ugandans running 12:52.38 and 12:52.91 respectively.

It was a good night for US athletes, too, as Grant Fisher was fifth in 12:53.30 while Cooper Teare ran 12:54.72 and Cole Hocker 12:58.82.

Elle St Pierre of the United States was also in fine form as she won the womens 5000m in 14:34.12 ahead of Venezuelas Joselyn Brea as Hannah Nuttall of Britain was third in a PB of 14:57.91.

There was another British PB on the night in the steeplechase as well as Zak Seddon brought his best down to 8:20.77, while Lizzie Bird clocked a European Champs qualifying standard of 9:32.95 in the womens 3000m steeplechase.

Seddons previous best was 8:21.28 from 2019 and he now sits No.9 in the UK all-time rankings after edging past Paul Davies-Hale.

In the field, Sandi Morris won the womens pole vault with 4.70m as fellow American Valarie Allman won the discus with 67.93m.

The meeting continues on Saturday with full results and timetable here.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson is among the competitors at the annual Loughborough International match on Sunday

World heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson has chosen to compete in the Loughborough International this weekend (May 19) instead of the Gotzis combined events meeting in Austria.

High jumper Joel Clarke-Khan and hammer thrower Taylor Campbell are also in action at the traditional curtain raiser to the UK domestic track and field season.

Loughborough Students here

England Athletics here

GB Under-20 team here

Scottish Athletics here

The Dallas Stars outlasted the Colorado Avalanche in double overtime to advance to the Western Conference finals.

Next up for Dallas will be the winner of the Vancouver Canucks-Edmonton Oilers series, which Vancouver leads 3-2.

Here's a look at how the Stars got here and how they match up against either Vancouver or Edmonton.

Going farm-to-table has allowed the Stars to eat this postseason

Executives are always discussing the importance of trying to build a team through the draft and develop the sort of talent that can someday carry a franchise. The Stars have done just that recently, and this postseason has shown the value of taking such an approach.

Exactly how beneficial has the Stars' model been? Eleven of the 21 players who've played at least four games for the club were drafted by the Stars. That's tied with the Bruins for the most homegrown players to play at least one playoff game this postseason Their three top point leaders this postseason are homegrown talents -- Miro Heiskanen, Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson -- while four of their top five scorers were drafted by the club.

The same goes for the three players -- Heiskanen, Thomas Harley and Esa Lindell -- who lead them in average ice time. In fact, five of the six players who led the Stars in ice time during this playoff run were all drafted by the team -- the lone exception being trade deadline acquisition Chris Tanev, who is fourth in minutes per game.

And then there's goaltender Jake Oettinger whose performances have seen him post a 2.27 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage this postseason. Yes, there are key contributors who came over via free agency and trade, but this is a notably homegrown crew.

The young star who keeps burning bright

When Johnston scored 24 goals and 41 points as a rookie last season, it created the belief that the Stars might have something special. What Johnston has done throughout the 2023-24 season has further cemented that notion.

He broke out for 32 goals and 65 points in the regular season while averaging 17 minutes per game and playing all 82 of them. Then came the Stanley Cup playoffs, which has allowed Johnston to take an even bigger role as the Stars have now reached the Western Conference finals for a second straight season.

Johnston has paced the Stars with a team-high seven goals, while his 11 points are third on the team. His 20:10 of average ice time is top among Stars forwards and fifth on the team overall. In fact, he was the only Stars forward who averaged more than 20 minutes per game in the playoffs, with the next closest being Robertson at 19:05.

Even when they've lost, they've still made gains

Enough is in place to suggest the Stars have had arguably the hardest route of any team that will reach the conference final round this season.

It started when they beat the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in the first round before beating the 2022 champions Avalanche in Round 2. Facing the two most recent Cup champions allowed the Stars to showcase their ability to come back in the series. They initially opened the first round in an 0-2 series hole against the Golden Knights only to come back and win four of the next five games. Keep in mind, the Stars had lost their past six against the Golden Knights and nine of the past 11 prior to beating them in Game 3.

As for the Avalanche, the Stars watched a three-goal lead in Game 1 disappear and the Avs win in overtime. Since then, the Stars fended off a late Avs push to win Game 2, remaining patient during what was an offensive barrage in Game 3 before orchestrating one of their strongest offensive performances in Game 4. And after a loss in Game 5 to potentially close things out early, they rallied to seal the deal in Game 6.

This shows the strength of Dallas' system, and its faith in it even when game results don't go its way.

A not-so-false sense of security

Let's just say that another hallmark of the Stars' success is their ability to play the proverbial possum.

Perhaps the most bizarre detail about this iteration of the Stars' ascension is their Game 1 struggles. Not only did they lose their respective Game 1s to the Golden Knights and Avalanche, but the Stars have lost six straight Game 1s as a whole. That said, they've won three of their past four series despite getting off to a slow start.

And if that's not enough, how about having Peter DeBoer behind the bench, who is now 8-0 all time in Game 7, tied with Darryl Sutter for the most Game 7 wins by a coach in NHL history?

How Dallas matches with the Edmonton Oilers

Regular season record vs. EDM: 2-0-1

Anyone that's ever wanted to watch a penalty kill's hopes and dreams die just needs to watch the Oilers' power play this postseason. They lead the playoffs with a 46.7% success rate. Possessing one of the NHL's most formidable power plays is one of the reasons why the Oilers are within striking distance of a second conference finals appearance in three years. Short-circuiting that power play is critical if this is the matchup for Dallas.

There is the possibility that the Stars could have solutions for how to deal with the Oilers on the extra-skater advantage. The first step in that plan is something that has served the Stars well this postseason: They don't take many penalties. Entering Game 6, the Stars were the least-penalized squad of any team that made it to the second round, with just 66 penalty minutes. The next closest team was the Avalanche at 79 minutes.

On the whole, the Stars' penalty kill is operating at 72.0%, which is worst among active teams. But what could help them against the Oilers is if they could find a way to replicate the success they had against the Avalanche's power play going into Game 5. The Avs' power play operated at a 37.5% success rate in the first round against the Winnipeg Jets. Game 1 saw the Avs score two power-play goals in their dramatic 4-3 overtime comeback victory. But then they had a stretch with no goals in eight power-play opportunities against the Stars.

And of course, having a goalie of Oettinger's caliber helps out any penalty kill.

How Dallas matches with the Vancouver Canucks

Regular season record vs. VAN: 2-1-0

The Stars are averaging exactly 3.00 goals per game while the Canucks are averaging 2.73 per game, the second fewest of the teams that are still in the playoffs. Those figures help reinforce the idea that the team that can either be the first to score three goals or the one who can consistently score three goals could have the edge.

Here's why. Finding and continuing to trust the connection between their five-player defensive structure and goaltenders are how the Canucks and Stars have found success this postseason. Of the teams that were still alive heading into Friday night, the Stars have allowed the second-fewest goals per game (2.50) while the Canucks gave up the third-fewest (2.55).

And the other detail to consider is that both teams are quite comfortable with playing in tight contests. The Stars are 4-2 in this postseason in one-goal games, though their Games 2, 3 and 4 wins against the Avalanche saw them win by an average margin of three goals. As for the Canucks, all but two of their playoff games have been decided by a single goal, both of which came in the first two contests of their series against the Nashville Predators.

Noni Madueke believes Chelsea are starting to "take shape" under Mauricio Pochettino and has backed teammate Romeo Lavia to help take the team to another level next season.

Chelsea head into the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday with a chance of securing fifth place following four consecutive victories, which has given them the opportunity to finish a difficult campaign on a high.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Madueke said: "We've had some great results and some great performances as well. I feel like the team's starting to really take shape.

"We're starting to really play for each other, work hard for each other and just enjoy the games.

"That was the feeling I had in the last game especially that we were just enjoying ourselves and we have to try and keep this momentum going to finish the season strong and start the next season strong as well."

Discussing Pochettino's impact on his own game, Madueke said: "For me, I'd say he's very real, very straight to the point. I think he wants to help you genuinely and he has this clear way of how he's going to do that, which I admire about him.

"He's helped me this season for sure from the start. If you look at where I was at the start to where I'm now in terms of my game. So he's helped me a lot with developing a certain mentality in me that allows me to perform."

Lavia joined Chelsea from Southampton in a 58 million ($74m) deal last August but the 20-year-old has made just one appearance -- playing 32 minutes in December's 2-1 home win over Crystal Palace -- due to hamstring and thigh injuries.

He will also miss Sunday's home game against Bournemouth.

"I don't want say I feel like anyone's going to be better than anyone else. However, I'm really excited to watch Romeo play next season. He's got bags of ability and it's been unfortunate for him this season being out for so long," Madueke said.

"But I remember when he played Southampton, he was outstanding. So really excited to see him. He's a top player and he just needs time. He's been injured for a whole season. He's still very young, so it's not really about putting a lot of pressure on him, just letting him grow and develop at his pace, but he's got elite talent and a good mindset as well."

Madueke, a 30m ($38m) signing from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, also cited the influence of Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé -- who is set to join Madrid after leaving Paris Saint-Germain on a free this summer -- among others in helping develop his own game after a positive end to the campaign in which he has registered two goals and two assists from the last five games.

-Chelsea to land 5m bonus from Hazard's Madrid move - source
-Premier League 2023-24 awards: MVP, best signing, best goal
-Chelsea break Premier League record for most yellows cards

"The main [inspiration] of course was [Cristiano] Ronaldo, that's probably when I was a bit younger, but Mbappé, Vinicius Jr., I watch those type of players and try and take bits from their game," said Madueke. "Arjen Robben [too]. They are decisive. They win games on their own and they entertain crowds. That's what I like to do as well."

Chelsea will embark on a pre-season tour to the United States this summer with ESPN set to broadcast three of their games live including the opening game against Wrexham in Santa Clara on July 24.