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Klopp Wants Nothing To Do With Liverpool ‘Quadruple’ Talk

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted on Thursday that it was far too early in the season to talk about another quadruple bid by his side after they reached the League Cup final.

The Premier League club had a shot at winning four trophies in one season two years ago after defeating Chelsea — their opponents in next month’s final — at Wembley.

But they had to settle for a domestic Cup double, after also defeating Chelsea in the FA Cup final, with the Reds narrowly beaten to the Premier League title by Manchester City on the last day of the season and losing to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

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READ ALSO: Liverpool Stage Late Show To Stun Arsenal In FA Cup Third Round

Liverpool are competing on four fronts again this season, with Klopp’s men five points clear at the top of the Premier League and into the last 16 of the Europa League as they prepare for Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at home to second-tier Norwich.

“I didn’t think about it to be honest because we are far off having ‘four finals’,” Klopp said Thursday, less than 24 hours after Liverpool’s 3-2 aggregate League Cup semi-final win over Fulham.

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“We have qualified for one. It makes no sense to plan the next one before you have played the first one.”

The German added: “It’s very unlikely we reach all three finals, it’s just the nature of it.”

READ ALSO: Liverpool To Face Chelsea In League Cup Final

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Klopp, meanwhile, tried to defuse a potential club versus country row involving Liverpool and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah heading back to England from the Africa Cup of Nations.

The forward has returned to England for treatment on a hamstring tear to give him what Liverpool hope will be the best chance to be available for the Africa Cup of Nations final, should Egypt be involved in the February 11 showpiece in Abidjan.

But there were reports that Klopp providing an update on Salah’s fitness has caused problems for Egypt officials who wanted to make a similar announcement themselves.

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READ ALSO: Liverpool Vs Arsenal: Premier League Top Spot ‘Up For Grabs’ At Anfield [Preview]

Klopp stressed he had not “intentionally” spoken out of turn, with both Liverpool and Egypt keen to uphold Salah’s best interests.

Most people in Egypt understand the situation because we have exactly the same target as Egypt — make Mo fit as quick as possible,” he added.

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“That’s all we want and that’s how it always is. If a player is injured we try everything to help him to get fit as quick as possible.

“All parties agreed that it makes sense he is doing rehab here. We have a season to play so we want him fit but if he is fit earlier then as long as Egypt is still in the tournament he will go back, that is clear. Then it’s a win-win.”

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Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup Dream Ends In Penalty Shoot-out Loss To DR Congo

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Nigeria will not be at the 2026 World Cup after they lost the CAF playoff final to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday night.

The Super Eagles took an early lead in the first half after Frank Onyeka’s shot was deflected in.

But the Leopards were level after Mechak Elia pounced on a defensive error to finish past Stanley Nwabali.

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READ ALSO:Nigeria Vs Lesotho: What Super Eagles Must Do To Qualify For 2026 World Cup

The game ended 1-1 after 120 minutes and was decided on penalties.

Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi all missed their kicks as DR Congo clinched the ticket to represent Africa at the intercontinental playoffs.

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They will now play in a six-team intercontinental qualifier, which will be staged from March 23 to 31 in 2026 to decide the final two sides for next year’s World Cup.

 

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NPFL26: Bendel Insurance Beat Kano Pillars 3-2

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Bendel Insurance jinx of inconsistent and goal drought in the current Nigeria Premier Football League season were on Saturday evening broken at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin as they defeated Kano Pillars 3-2 to move a step out of the deep.

‎The Benin Arsenals returned to winning ways with a remarkable  3-2 comeback
‎victory over the sai Masu Gida side with goals from Kayode Oke, Emmanuel Dung and Akpan Emmanuel who handed
‎ Kennedy Boboye his first maximum points since joining Insurance over a month ago.
‎.
‎Kayode Oke opened scoring for Insurance in the 17th minute, but veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali got an equalizer for the visitors from the penalty spot in the 34th minute.

READ ALSO:Bendel Insurance Head Coach Suspended

‎Four minutes later, Chiedozie Okorie gave Pillars the lead in the halftime of the match day 13 encounter under the rain.

‎Insurance returned for the second half with double substitution and mounted much pressure on the visitors and got rewarded for their efforts with a spirited comeback when Emmanuel Dung powered an equalising goal for Insurance in the 77th minute with a rocket strike from the edge of the box to send the already agitated home fans into wild jubilation.

‎As time drifted away from the regulation mark, Emmanuel Akpan sealed the victory with a stoppage-time strike in the 88 minutes.

‎It was Insurance second victory and first for coach Kennedy Boboye in the current football season.

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The Benin Arsenals now move up to 17th on the table with 12 points.

READ ALSO:Enabulele Congratulates Bendel Insurance For Pre-Season Tournament Performance

‎Speaking during a post match media conference, coach Kennedy Boboye said that he was relieved to have his first maximum points as Vendel Insurance Manager after five matches -one loss, one win and three draws so far.

‎He said that he remains focused and determined to get out of the red zone.

‎”I am relieved and happy we got the victory we have been looking for and I must give it to my players,fans and the supporters club who are always there for us irrespective of the results we posted.
‎I dedicate the victory to them,” he said.

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Arsenal’s Gabriel Injured In Senegal Friendly

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Arsenal’s defensive rock, Gabriel Magalhães, limped off during Brazil’s 2-0 friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

This injury is going to be a major headache for Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta, who still has many players out injured.

The 27-year-old Brazilian center-back was forced to depart in the 64th minute, clutching his right thigh and groin area following a seemingly innocuous challenge. He was replaced by Flamengo’s Wesley.

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READ ALSO:Arsene Wenger Recruits John Terry, Michael Owen, Drogba As FIFA Fights To Host World Cup Every Two Years

This comes at the worst possible time for the Premier League leaders, who face Tottenham in the North London Derby on November 23, barely a week away, followed by Champions League and league tests against Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti later confirmed it was a muscular issue but offered no timeline, stating: “We’ll have to wait and see on the extent—it’s too early to say.”

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