Sports

Liverpool Ready For Goodison Park Clash Against Everton -Slot

Published

1 year ago

February 11, 2025

Editor

Arne Slot said his Liverpool players are “ready for another battle” as they prepare to take on Everton in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

The Premier League leaders have struggled to win at the home of their neighbours in recent years, with nine of the past 12 games there ending in draws.

Everton, much improved under returning manager David Moyes, will be leaving their historic home at the end of this season to play in their new 52,888-capacity Bramley-Moore Dock stadium on Liverpool’s waterfront.

Slot, preparing for his first and last derby at Goodison, believes the emotion of the occasion on Wednesday will add to Liverpool’s challenge.

“It’s probably going to be a fantastic atmosphere and that’s never easy to play against because every single time they cross the half-way line or they get a corner kick or whatever happens, the fans will cheer for that,” he said on Tuesday.

“And then you have to be mentally really strong as an away team to resist all that complete atmosphere and you still have to be focused on what you have to do, defending the corner kick, defending the set-piece, and when you have the ball, be as calm as you can in this fantastic atmosphere.

He added, “I assume our players are ready for another battle tomorrow, for the simple reason that they’ve been ready for the whole season.”

The Dutchman, in his first season at Anfield, said his players would have to keep a “cool head but not cool legs” against an Everton team who have won their past three Premier League matches to ease relegation fears.

“Every time you play against a team that wants to fight with you, and that’s almost every time we play against any opponent, but maybe this one even more, you have to be ready for that,” said Slot.

“So you have to run just as much, you have to be just as intense in tackles. Not going across the line, but be cool enough to play a good and firm tackle. And that’s where it starts and then nine out of 10 times, after 10, 15, 20 minutes, a game settles down a bit, and then you can start to think even more about playing football.”

Liverpool are six points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand but their push for an unprecedented quadruple was ended by defeat at Championship strugglers Plymouth in the FA Cup on Sunday.

“There was a wise man that once said to me ‘Nothing good comes from losing a football game’, and I completely agree,” said Slot.

The Liverpool boss, who made wholesale changes for the match, described the loss as “unacceptable”.

“We have to show a different side of us tomorrow because it wasn’t only the result, the performance was far from what Liverpool standards are as well,” he said.

Trent Alexander-Arnold could return from injury against Everton but Liverpool will definitely be without fellow defender Joe Gomez.

AFP

Sports

UCL, EPL: Petr Cech Advises Chelsea On How To Win Trophies

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Chelsea legend, Petr Cech, has advised his old club on how to win the UEFA Champions League or the English Premier League.

Chelsea are already out of the Premier League title race this season, and they are at risk of missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification for next season because they are currently not in the ninth position on the Premier League table.

Speaking to The Athletic about Chelsea, Cech said that the Blues need to change their philosophy of signing only young players if they want to win the Premier League or Champions League.

According to the former goalkeeper, the Premier League west London club needs to add experienced players to mentor the young players in the squad.

“You have to look at what you want to achieve. You can have young, talented players, and you can win, but it’s very rare that you manage to do that,” he said.

“If you want to win every season and compete every season, that does not go together.

“You have to change your philosophy. Certain things don’t go together because, in order to win a Champions League or a Premier League… these are really tough competitions, and you have to be consistent.

“You need to have a strong core of the team. And then you can bring young, talented players who will grow faster and then will be held by the experienced players to help navigate them through difficult times when they come.”

Currently, Chelsea have just one player, Tosin Adarabioyo, who is over 28 this season, and the defender has not been playing regularly.

Sports

Enabulele Lauds Okpebholo’s Bold Reforms As Edo Sports Witnesses Revival

Published

5 days ago

April 30, 2026

Editor

The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for what he described as a bold and transformative approach to sports development.

Speaking on efforts to reposition sports in the state, Enabulele noted that with Okpebholo’s visionary leadership, the sector has witnessed renewed growth.

In a statement issued by his Media Officer, Edoko Wilson Edoko, the Edo Sports Commission boss attributed the progress to the governor’s strategic policies and sustained commitment to youth development, which he said have laid the foundation for a more structured and results-driven system.

“His Excellency has demonstrated clear vision and genuine commitment to sports development. The level of support we are receiving has significantly repositioned Edo as a competitive force in national sporting events,” he said.

He explained that targeted investments in grassroots development are already producing results, with a growing number of young talents being identified and nurtured across multiple disciplines.

“We are deliberately building from the grassroots. A large percentage of our athletes today are homegrown, which speaks to the sustainability of our development model,” Enabulele added.

The Commission, he noted, is also shifting away from an over-reliance on football to a broader multi-sport focus.

Edo State, he said, is now recording improved performances in athletics, combat sports, and other emerging areas.

“Our goal is to strengthen all sports. The results are beginning to show across different disciplines, and this is only the start,” he said.

Enabulele further pointed to ongoing improvements in sports infrastructure and athlete welfare as critical factors in sustaining performance and encouraging wider participation among young people.

“We are building a system that will endure. With the continued support of the governor, Edo is on course to becoming a dominant force in sports at both national and international levels,” he stated.

He expressed confidence that the current momentum would translate into greater achievements for Edo athletes, reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to excellence, discipline, and long-term development.