PICTURED: MICHAIL ANTONIO TRAINS IN DUBAI FOR A RETURN TO FOOTBALL, TWO MONTHS AFTER CAR CRASH WHICH BROKE HIS LEG AND LEFT HIM FEARING FOR HIS LIFE

• Antonio was involved in a car accident in December which saw him break his leg

• The West Ham striker is currently completing a training programme in Dubai 

• LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Will Liverpool recover from Everton blow in season-defining week?

West Ham forward Michail Antonio has stepped up his recovery from a horrific car crash with a 12 day warm-weather rehabilitation programme in Dubai.

The Jamaica international was involved in a deeply concerning car accident in December which saw him escape with a broken leg.

The images of the wreckage raised major fears for Antonio's long-term well-being.

But the 34-year-old is now on the road to recovery and is currently in Dubai completing a training programme ahead of a potential return.

Antonio is said to be making positive and steady progress during the programme in the United Arab Emirates.

After the crash, Antonio needed to be released from his car after becoming trapped during the incident on December 7 in Epping, Essex, and was taken to a central London hospital.

He was eventually operated on after suffering a lower leg fracture.

On New Year's Eve, Antonio posted on social media: 'Every year around this time, I'm asked what I'm grateful for, and every year I've struggled to find the right words. But this year, I know exactly what I'm grateful for: being alive.

'I've spent so many years taking life for granted. I made plans for the next day, the next year, always assuming tomorrow was guaranteed. I've seen close friends pass away, witnessed others face near-death experiences, and even then I didn't fully grasp just how precious life is,' Antonio said.

'What I've been through recently has opened my eyes. Life is fragile, and every single moment matters. I'm so grateful to God for giving me the strength to keep going and for allowing me to still be here.'

- SAMI MOKBEL

MICHAIL ANTONIO: WEST HAM PAY TRIBUTE BEFORE WOLVES CLASH

West Ham's players wore warm-up shirts with Michail Antonio's name and number on the back ahead of their Premier League clash with Wolves. Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images

West Ham players warmed up in Michail Antonio's No. 9 shirt before they played Wolves in the Premier League on Monday after the forward was involved in a car crash on Saturday.

The club have confirmed that Antonio has successfully undergone surgery for a lower-limb fracture after his Ferrari was involved in a single-vehicle collision after which he was airlifted to a nearby hospital.

On Monday, West Ham confirmed they would pay tribute to the forward.

"Our players will show their support for teammate Michail Antonio tonight ... Ahead of our fixture against Wolves, the players will warm-up in special 'Antonio 9' shirts, as well as walking out in tops adorning the striker's name," West Ham said in a statement.

West Ham went on to win the game at the London Stadium 2-1 owing to goals from Tomás Soucek and Jarrod Bowen. Soucek held up nine fingers in a reference to his teammate as he celebrated, while Bowen raised an Antonio shirt above his head in front the Hammers fans after slotting the winning goal.

Soucek told Sky Sports after the game that the squad had spoken to Antonio via video call earlier on Monday, adding that the Jamaica forward was in good spirits.

Antonio has featured in all 14 of West Ham's Premier League matches so far this season.

- ESPN

WEST HAM ISSUE REASSURING MICHAIL ANTONIO UPDATE AS STRIKER "STABLE" AFTER ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

West Ham United have announced that Michail Antonio is stable, conscious and communicating in hospital after he was involved in a road traffic accident earlier on Saturday.

The Irons confirmed earlier this afternoon that the Jamaican striker had been involved in an incident, although neither they nor local authorities disclosed any further details.

A report from the Daily Mail included a picture of a totalled silver Ferrari in a woodland, supposedly showing the aftermath of Antonio's horror crash, but that has not been verified.

West Ham's statement was met with an outpouring of support from the footballing community, as several of the Irons' Premier League rivals sent their well-wishes to Antonio and his family.

Now, the Irons have released a reassuring update on X - formerly known as Twitter - saying that the 34-year-old is stable in hospital and they will not make another statement for the rest of the day.

"West Ham United can confirm that Michail Antonio is in a stable condition following a road traffic accident this afternoon in the Essex area," West Ham said in a social media statement.

Antonio under "close supervision" in hospital after car accident

"Michail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision at a central London hospital. At this difficult time, we kindly ask everyone to respect the privacy of Michail and his family. The Club will make no further comment this evening, but will issue a further update in due course."

Antonio has made 15 appearances for Julen Lopetegui's side across all competitions in the 2024-25 season, including 11 starts in the Premier League, where he has scored one goal and set up one more.

The striker played 28 minutes off the bench in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, his 323rd appearance for the Irons in all competitions since joining from Nottingham Forest in 2015.

Antonio has amassed 83 goals and 41 assists for the Irons over the past nine years, winning one trophy in the form of the 2022-23 Conference League, prior to which he won the Championship title with Reading in the 2011-12 season.

The 34-year-old has also represented Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Colchester United and Cheltenham Town in his senior career, while netting five goals in 21 games for the Jamaica national team.

West Ham return to Premier League action against fellow relegation-threatened outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night, where either Niclas Fullkrug or Danny Ings will start up front in Antonio's place.

- Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter

LEVERKUSEN,ROMA, ATALANTA, MARSEILLE,INTO EUROPA LEAGUE S.F.

 Liverpool failed to overcome a three-goal deficit and was eliminated from the Europa League on Thursday despite beating Atalanta 1-0 in the second leg of their quarterfinal matchup.

The result officially ended Liverpool’s hopes of a treble of trophies in manager Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield, though the feat had looked unlikely after the Italian team won 3-0 in the first leg in Merseyside.

“We won the game and that was the reaction we wanted to show,” Klopp told TNT Sports. “It was difficult and we knew it would be, but Atalanta deserve to go through, 100%."

Days after celebrating its first-ever Bundesliga title, Bayer Leverkusen remained on course to claim a historic treble by holding West Ham to a 1-1 draw at London Stadium to stretch its unbeaten streak to 44. Xabi Alonso's team advanced to the semifinals 3-1 on aggregate.

Leverkusen will face Roma in the last four after the capital club beat AC Milan 2-1 in an all-Italian quarterfinal to advance 3-1 on aggregate.

Michail Antonio put West Ham ahead early, heading in a cross from Vladimir Coufal. Jeremie Frimpong came off the bench and equalized in the 89th minute to clinch the aggregate victory and extend the team's unbeaten run.

Alonso’s team will play second-division Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final in Berlin on May 25, three days after the Europa League final in Dublin.

In Bergamo, Liverpool had a dream start after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross hit Matteo Ruggeri’s hand. Mohamed Salah sent goalkeeper Juan Musso the wrong way from the penalty spot for an early lead in the seventh minute.

But the Reds failed to convert any other chances — a long way off from their 5-0 win at Atalanta in the Champions League in 2020.

Atalanta will meet Marseille after the French team topped Benfica 4-2 in a shootout after winning 1-0 to level the aggregate score at 2-2.

With the English League Cup already secured, Liverpool still hopes for a second Premier League title under its German manager but is now in third and two points adrift of first-place Manchester City.

Inconsistent in Serie A, Atalanta has been shining in the second-tier continental league this season. Thursday’s loss was its first in the campaign after six wins and three draws.

It’s only the second time the Italian club reached the semifinals of a European competition.

In Rome, Roma coach Daniele De Rossi marked an extension of his contract announced earlier Thursday by reaching the last four with his team reduced to 10 men.

Gianluca Mancini put the hosts 1-0 up early at Stadio Olimpico after Lorenzo Pellegrini’s shot bounced off the post and the defender was in the right place to net. Mancini also scored the winner in the first leg at San Siro last week.

Paulo Dybala doubled the advantage in the 22nd.

Roma defender Zeki Celik received a red card on the half-hour mark for fouling Rafael Leão but Milan only halved the deficit with a Matteo Gabbia header five minutes from time.

Milan, the seven-time European champion, is second in the Serie A, trailing leader Inter by 14 points on the way to finish the season without a trophy after it was knocked out of the Italian Cup.

After Arsenal and Manchester City were eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday, the Premier League clubs were knocked out also from second-tier Europa League.

Aston Villa remains the only English club in Europe in the third-tier Europa Conference League.

EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE

Emiliano Martínez saved two spot kicks and Douglas Luiz converted the decisive penalty for Villa to prevail 4-3 in a shootout over Lille and advance to the Europa Conference League semifinals.

After Villa won the first leg of their quarterfinals 2-1 last week, Yusuf Yazıcı and Benjamin André scored in each half for Lille's 2-0 lead before defender Matty Cash's 87th-minute goal evened the aggregate score 3-3 to force extra time.

Villa is into its first European semifinal since 1982 and will face Olympiakos which beat Fenerbahce 3-2 on penalties for a spot in the May 29 final in Athens.

Fiorentina, last year's runnerup, also reached the semifinals after Nicolás González and Cristiano Biraghi both scored in extra time to edge 10-man Viktoria Plzeň 2-0 in the second leg. The opening leg was a goalless draw. The Italian team will face Club Brugge, which won 2-0 at PAOK to advance 3-0 on aggregate, Plzeň’s Brazilian midfielder Cadu received a red card in the 66th minute.

NEWCASTLE EDGE WEST HAM 4-3 IN INJURY-RAVAGED THRILLER

 

Harvey Barnes scored the winner for Newcastle

Substitute Harvey Barnes struck twice as Newcastle United fought back from 3-1 down to beat West Ham United 4-3 in a thrilling Premier League match at St James' Park on Saturday.

Newcastle led through Alexander Isak's early penalty before Michail Antonio and Mohammed Kudus put West Ham 2-1 up at half-time.

The home side were on track for an afternoon to forget after they lost Jamaal Lascelles, Emil Krafth, Tino Livramento and Miguel Almirón to injury.

Jarrod Bowen extended the visitors' lead but Isak's second penalty 13 minutes from time gave Newcastle hope, and the livewire Barnes equalised with a clinical finish past keeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Barnes then lashed in a sweet shot from outside the box in the 90th minute to a deafening roar from the St. James' crowd, and although Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon was sent off in stoppage time, the hosts hung on for the win.

"It was one of the maddest games I have played in for sure. We are obviously disappointed to be where we are in the game and then we had a mountain to climb. This team is all abut team spirit and never give up and that showed in abundance today," Barnes told the BBC. 

"These are the games and moments you want to be involved in. Sitting on the sidelines, in the stands, it's the worst feeling so it makes you want to work even harder to get to stages like today and enjoy moments like today."

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe praised his side's character. 

"A lot of emotions in that game, we were swinging all over the place really, ups and downs, injuries, sending off but just brilliant from the lads, brilliant comeback when it was a real challenge at 3-1 down," coach Eddie Howe told TNT.

"When you're 3-1 down at home with the recent run we've been on and everything seemingly going against us, very, very difficult for the players to regroup and go again but they did second half and it was just a wonderful feeling at the end," Howe said.

West Ham manager David Moyes was disappointed after his team's third match without a win.

"We have lost a game when we should have won a game," Moyes told BBC.

"This is a tough place to come and for a long period we looked as though we were going to be the side who finished on top. We didn't see the job through and weren't tough enough."

Newcastle climbed to eighth in table on 43 points after 29 games, a point behind West Ham in seventh.

- Reuters 

MICHAIL ANTONIO ON THE FOOTBALL'S FOOTBALL PODCAST

EXPERIMENTAL U S. SQUAD WITH DRAW AGAINST JAMAICA OPENS GOLD CUP

Brandon Vazquez/Getty

Less than a week after the U.S. men’s national soccer team coasted to the Concacaf Nations League crown, an experimental American squad learned that defending its second regional title would not come so easily.

Fielding a largely second-string roster for the Gold Cup, North America’s long-running biennial championship, the United States needed a late equalizer from substitute Brandon Vazquez to open the tournament with 1-1 draw against Jamaica on Saturday night at Soldier Field in Chicago.

MICHiAIL ANTONIO ON CALLS TO SACK KURT ZOUMA VIA FOOTBALL DAILY