Latest news with #JohnAldridge
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
38 years ago today...
On this day in 1987, Liverpool legend John Barnes completed a £900,000 move to Anfield from Jamaica-born winger was signed by former manager Kenny Daglish and arrived on Merseyside alongside fellow attackers John Aldridge and Peter went on to clock up 406 appearances during his 10-year stint at Liverpool, scoring 107 was twice named England's Footballer of the Year, after winning the title in 1987-88 and 1989-90. His silverware on Merseyside also included the 1989 FA Cup and the League Cup in 1995.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Eagle-eyed fans spot Gary Neville making a swift exit from Anfield after bumping into Liverpool legend during wild title celebrations
Eagled-eyed fans have spotted the moment Gary Neville made a swift exit from Anfield - just 14 seconds after Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions. The Reds thrashed Tottenham 5-1 on Sunday to ensure they secured a historic 20th league title - with players and staff soaking up the occasion on the pitch. However, along with the travelling Spurs fans, there was one man inside Anfield who did not care to see the title celebrations. Neville, who had been on co-commentary duty for Sky Sports, appeared in the background of a video posted on Liverpool's X account, just after the final whistle. As the majority of Anfield rejoiced in celebration, the ex-Man United star snuck out the commentary box - but not before bumping into Liverpool legend John Aldridge. The pair shared a quick embrace - with Neville all smiles - before the former United full-back continued on his way, with his backpack slung over his shoulder. Neville, who was on co-commentary for Sky Sports, hurried out of the media zone - but not before bumping into Liverpool legend John Aldridge, who was on commentary for the club Fans were quick to spot the moment and comment on it on social media, with one user writing: 'It was literally impossible for @GNev2 to leave that gantry any quicker'. Prior to kick-off, Neville had already outlined how it was a 'sobering' day for Man United as their record (20) for most league titles was matched by Liverpool. Speaking on Sky Sports ahead of Sunday's match, a downbeat Neville conceded: 'You have to respect the team that have won the title, they have been the best team. 'It is one of the great coaching performances we have seen, to come in and not get players, and still achieve this, you have to hand it to him. But it is a sobering day.' On the wider significance of Liverpool reaching 20 titles, Neville added: 'It is a massive deal. 'When you think of the importance of a league title, the managers at Liverpool and United always talk about your bread and butter being the league. You could debate the most successful club when United were on 20. 'Obviously Liverpool have more European Cups, but the painful thing to say is the debate is over for a period until United become successful again and win leagues. 'It should cause real tremors at Old Trafford. Liverpool will be the most successful club after today, and that should cause heartache and pain. 'It took a lot to get ahead of Liverpool, and now that will be gone.' 🏃♂️ It was literally impossible for @GNev2 to leave that gantry any quicker 😂 — The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) April 29, 2025 Though he didn't hang around the commentary box, Neville was still on hand post-match to deliver a scathing assessment of one of Spurs' players on the day. He took aim at 19-year-old midfielder Lucas Bergvall for his role in Liverpool's third goal and labelled the Sweden international as 'pathetic'. 'Bergvall's header is appalling, it's pathetic,' Neville said on Sky Sports commentary. 'He half ducks his head. 'I have no idea what he's doing. It was a free header and he ended up glancing it into his own box'.
New York Times
29-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Club thriving with only ‘local' players, DC's Pogba discovery rights, Champions League preview
The Athletic FC ⚽ is The Athletic's daily football (or soccer, if you prefer) newsletter. Sign up to receive it directly to your inbox. Hello! Can you pick a squad of regional players but still have global success? On the way: Imagine your neighbourhood team reaching the semi-finals of one of Europe's top club competitions. Kids from round the corner, competing together against the elite. Sounds like a movie. That's exactly what happens at Athletic Club, a Spanish side based in the city of Bilbao, who have maintained a strict 'Basque-only' policy for more than 100 years. Advertisement As Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero explains, the Basque Country is a historic region of just 3.1million people — around the size of Wales, or Arkansas — which spans the northern end of the Spanish-French border. It has its own language, Euskara, and a distinctive culture and history. Romantically, the story goes that Athletic were stripped of the Copa del Rey in 1911 for fielding ineligible foreign players. They reacted by never picking another player from outside the Basque Country again. Athletic players must now have either come through their own academy, have been born in the Basque Country, or graduate from the academy of other Basque clubs. Not really. Athletic's rivals, Real Sociedad, held a similar policy for almost 30 years, but they broke it by signing the decidedly un-Basque John Aldridge from Liverpool in 1989. Liga MX team Chivas have a 'Mexican-only' policy, while Ecuadorian club El Nacional also only use players from their own country — but those are nations with populations of 130million and 18million. Athletic take on Manchester United in the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday, a club who themselves have a proud history of academy graduates — they have named a homegrown player in every squad for over 85 years. Nottingham Forest have a similar record. Both English clubs have struggled to keep up this run in an increasingly globalised football landscape, keeping the streak alive by promoting teenagers who might not have otherwise featured in first-team squads. Absolutely. With 36 trophies, Athletic are Spain's third-most successful club, trailing only Real Madrid and Barcelona. Alongside those two, Athletic are the only other club in Spain to have never played outside the top flight. In recent years, they have developed outstanding players, including Spain internationals Nico Williams, Aymeric Laporte and Unai Simon. Williams remains at the club as Athletic's outstanding player. Advertisement This season, the club are fourth in La Liga and appear set for Champions League qualification. 'The philosophy gives you more,' former Athletic goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta told The Athletic in 2023. 'When you're different in a market where everyone does the same, your shirt is surely worth more money, your broadcasts are worth more money, your fans invest more in that merchandise because you're unique.' And, well, they must also save money on international scouting. Going to the Arsenal game in London tonight? Mikel Arteta wants you to bring your boots. 'Let's play every ball together,' he says. (OK then… but my corners won't beat the first man.) Pep Guardiola might get a different reaction if he asks Manchester City fans to do the same — they have written an open letter asking him to intervene with the club's CEO, Ferran Soriano, over ticket prices. Marcus Rashford had shown flashes of his best form after being loaned from Manchester United to Aston Villa… but the forward will now miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury. We have football's Final Four. The Champions League semi-finals start tonight with Arsenal hosting Paris Saint-Germain, before Inter travel to Barcelona on Wednesday. PSG midfielder Joao Neves will have an important role to play tonight: the cherubic 20-year-old is the top tackler in the competition with 45, more than any other player in the last eight seasons. 'The less time they have to breathe, the better for us!' he tells The Athletic in our exclusive interview. Not that Neves needs tips, but former Germany and Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm has been explaining how he would defend the Champions League's elite wingers: pressure Michael Olise, push Vinicius Jr wide, cut off Bukayo Saka's supply. He has some pedigree; the precision needed to defend Lionel Messi sounds terrifying. These are four elite semi-finalists — with four leagues represented — and The Athletic's writers have been bickering over a combined XI. Give me Jack Lang's (below). I'd frame that midfield in my living room. 📺 Catch the match: Champions League semi-final first leg: Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain, 3pm ET/8pm UK — CBS, Paramount+, Fubo/Amazon Prime. 📲 Our live blog for Arsenal vs PSG is already up and running, too Saturday marked 39 years since the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, the repercussions of which killed thousands. Pripyat — previous population 50,000 — was left a ghost town. The Athletic's Richard Sutcliffe visited the town's abandoned stadium, an eerie concrete monolith now lined by tall trees. Floodlights, seating, and even turnstiles still remain. Advertisement This was due to be the home of FC Stroitel Pripyat, a club in the fourth tier of Soviet football who initially selected its players from builders helping to construct the nearby power station. By 1986, they were a club on the up, winning three consecutive Kyiv regional championships, investing heavily in their stadium, and facing a regional cup semi-final against Mashinostroitel Borodyanka. The tie would never be played. The stadium would never be used. That Saturday morning, during a routine safety test, reactor four at Chernobyl exploded. Liverpool have won their first Premier League title in front of fans for 35 years — the party was always going to leave some sore heads. It featured cigars, Dire Straits, and a 3am finish… There's only so much celebrating to be done, though. Next season is less than four months away. Who are the early favourites? I went for Arsenal — but, even though it's far too early to make them, here's everyone's predictions. FPL: How did you emerge from the double-gameweek? Abdul Rehman has his tips for the run-in, and it's time to get rid of Cole Palmer. With the season winding down, some teams are already 'on the beach': checked out mentally, going through the motions, and anticipating the summer ahead. Conor O'Neill took on the brave job of defining what it means. He flicked through paper maps to find each stadium's proximity to the nearest beach, before calculating whose form historically cratered in the season's waning days. Which club is already dipping their toes in the water? Ipswich Town, barely a goal kick from Felixstowe Beach and dreadful at the end of the season. And one final quiz question (and it's not even a Friday, you lucky things): which EFL club is furthest away from a beach? That would be Coventry City — no sandcastles for Frank Lampard in their push for the Championship play-offs.
BBC News
18-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cheeky celebration as Reds fan scores first goal in Everton's new stadium
While 10,000 Everton supporters enjoyed the first test event at their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, there was still an opportunity for a Liverpool fan to have a cheeky dig at their neighbours in the form of a Under-18s' Harrison Rimmer made himself a pub quiz answer for years to come by scoring the first goal - and he made the most of the feat by holding up six fingers, referring to the Reds' six European Cup/Champions League was not lost on Liverpool fan accounts, external and former players, including John Aldridge,, external who posted on social media to gently goad their Merseyside rivals.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'There is only one team that worries me in Premier League title race and it isn't Arsenal'
Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge isn't worried about Arsenal in this season's Premier League title race. Instead, it's the Reds themselves that have him concerned. Arne Slot's side is well positioned to claim this season's crown, sitting six points ahead of the Gunners with a game in hand still. It already looks to be a two-horse race at this point, with Chelsea and Manchester City 13 and 15 points off the pace, while Nottingham Forest - who sits nine points off Liverpool - won't be expected to keep up their remarkable pace. At this point then, it is the Reds' title to lose. With games coming thick and fast though, and Liverpool still in the hunt for four trophies, Slot will have a difficult balancing act to strike over the next few months. READ MORE: Carabao Cup transfer rules after Tottenham completes deal before Liverpool second leg READ MORE: Why Liverpool rejected deadline day transfer bid after 'selfish' admission Still with just one league defeat to their name, the Reds show little sign of slowing down, having overcome what was seen as a difficult hurdle in Bournemouth at the weekend. And while Aldridge isn't worrying about Arsenal, he knows a slip in form could make things difficult for Liverpool. 'It's not about Arsenal, Man City or whoever in the title-race now - it's about ourselves,' Aldridge wrote in his column for the ECHO. 'People say to me, 'Who are you worried about?' I'm worried about Liverpool. 'Whether we go through a bad run or whatever. We don't need to worry about Arsenal, only worry about ourselves. We just need to keep on going, keep on doing what we're doing and try to get even better if we can, taking every game as it comes. 'If we win the game in hand and can beat Arsenal at home, they could go a long way to make sure we're there at the end of the season.' Aldridge added: 'There are big games coming up, massive games. We know that. Tottenham, we want to get through to a final again. We love going to Wembley, it's our second home. 'We've probably been to Wembley more times than any other club over the years. We need to overturn that 1-0 deficit. It'll be interesting to see what team Arne puts out, that will be the interesting part. 'I think he'll put a really strong side out to win the game before rotating for the Plymouth game. I'm looking forward to Thursday, it should be a good game, under the lights and in front of our fans.' says: Aldridge is right in that Liverpool should just focus on themselves. With the Gunners not scheduled to come to Anfield until May, the Reds could make that game a total irrelevance by getting the title wrapped up beforehand. The next few weeks will be crucial with that game in hand and the trip to City. Keep on winning those games, and Liverpool will be well on course for the title.
