Latest news with #PaulELLIS
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man City's Kovacic out of Club World Cup after surgery
Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic is out of the Club World Cup (Paul ELLIS) Mateo Kovacic has undergone surgery on an Achilles injury and will miss the FIFA Club World Cup, Manchester City announced on Monday. The Croatian midfielder, 31, played 42 games for the Premier League club during the recently concluded season, scoring seven goals. Advertisement "Mateo will spend the summer rehabilitating from the operation and everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery," City said in a statement. Fellow midfielder Rodri, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2024, made his return to action on May 20 after eight months out with a knee injury. But City manager Pep Guardiola has warned he will have to be managed carefully. Guardiola's team endured a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, finishing third in the Premier League and failing to win a trophy for the first time in eight years. They will travel to the expanded 32-team Club World Cup in the United States as defending champions after winning the competition under its previous guise in Saudi Arabia two years ago. The month-long tournament starts on June 14, with City opening their campaign against Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia four days later. jw/pi
eNCA
27-05-2025
- Sport
- eNCA
Police seek answers after car-ramming at Liverpool football parade
Football fans from the UK and abroad rallied around Liverpool on Tuesday, vowing to stand by the port city after a car-ramming injured dozens of people, four seriously, and devastated celebrations for its Premier League win. As investigators sought to answer the key question about why a driver ploughed into the crowds as the team's parade wrapped up late Monday, messages of support flooded in. A 53-year-old white British man, believed to be the driver of the car, was arrested, but police have said they are not treating the incident as terrorism. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are injured and affected. You'll never walk alone," said former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, echoing the club's famous anthem which only hours before had echoed joyfully around the city. King Charles III, who is currently visiting Canada, said he was "deeply shocked and saddened". "It is truly devastating to see that what should have been a joyous celebration for so many could end in such distressing circumstances," he said in a statement. At least 47 people were injured when a driver in a dark car slammed into dense crowds on Water Street, just after an open-topped bus parade with Liverpool manager Arne Slot and star players including Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk passed by. AFP | Paul ELLIS Four children were among those hurt, including one seriously. "There are still four people who are very, very ill in hospital," Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool metro region, told BBC radio. Liverpool centre had turned into a sea of red on Monday as the jubilant Reds paraded through the city to celebrate a record-equalling 20th English league title. But on Tuesday a police cordon remained in place, and the silent street was strewn with litter from the festivities. A blue and white tent covered the vehicle involved as forensic officers examined the scene. - 'Pandemonium' - Hundreds of fans gathered at Liverpool's Anfield stadium Tuesday, many having travelled from around the globe to join the celebrations. While there was relief that no one was killed, there was shock that a day of joy had ended in tragedy. "It's devastating... We were all there for the joy of the day," said Adrian Chan, 35, who had travelled from Singapore. AFP | Paul ELLIS Michael Skabara, 28, a bar owner from Poland and a Liverpool fan for 20 years after Polish player Jerzy Dudek's role in its 2005 Champions League final win, was on his first visit. He vowed he would be back. "After what happened yesterday I am definitely coming to a game as soon as I can. Life is too short," he said. Sunil Patel was with friends in a restaurant when they heard the news. Instead of a celebration "we're being told a sad story," he told AFP. Images on social media showed the car ploughing through a crowd, running over people and others bouncing off its bonnet. Other clips showed the vehicle being brought to a halt and swarmed by angry fans, who smashed the back windows as police sought to hold them back. Merseyside police are treating Monday's events as an isolated incident. "We could just see a commotion and a wave of people running back towards us," Adam Hughes, 35, told AFP. "It was pandemonium." Four people, including a child, were trapped under the car, which had to be lifted to free them, fire services said. Prime Minister Keir Starmer commended the "remarkable bravery" of the emergency services, adding that "The whole country stands with Liverpool." - 'Liverpool family' - "Our anthem has never felt more appropriate, 'You'll Never Walk Alone'," legendary former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish said. Everton, Liverpool's Merseyside rivals, said their "thoughts are with all those who have been affected". And great club rivals Manchester United wrote: "Our thoughts are with LFC and the city of Liverpool after today's awful incident." AFP | Paul ELLIS Liverpool's football history has been shadowed by tragedy. In 1989, 97 Liverpool fans died in a crush at a game in the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield. More than 760 people were also injured in the deadliest disaster in British sporting history, which still scars the port city. Police were quick to share the ethnicity of the suspect on Monday which one former police chief termed "unprecedented". "I think that was to dampen down some of the speculation from the far-right that sort of continues on X," former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu told BBC radio. Liverpool FC/AFP | By Kieran Canning With Stuart Graham
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Football unites after car ploughs into Liverpool victory parade
Police arrested a 53-year-old white British man. A car collided with a number of pedestrians in Liverpool, northern England, on Monday evening during Liverpool FC's Premier League victory parade, police said. Photo: Paul ELLIS / AFP The football world united on Tuesday after a car ploughed into a packed crowd celebrating Liverpool winning the Premier League title, sending 27 people to hospital. Police ruled out terrorism following the incident in the city on Monday as thousands turned out in torrential rain to see Liverpool's victory parade. ALSO READ: Alexander-Arnold 'never felt so loved' as Liverpool star says farewell Four children were amongst those hurt, one seriously, after a dark-coloured vehicle swerved through the crowd minutes after the players' open-top bus had passed by. Police arrested a 53-year-old white British man. 'Horror at the parade', wrote several British newspapers on Tuesday's front pages, with the Daily Mail describing it as 'carnage'. The i Paper detailed a 'shocking incident' while The Guardian said that the club's celebrations were 'plunged into chaos' by the car ramming. The Sun called it a 'nightmare' as the football world rallied behind the new Premier League champions. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident,' Liverpool posted on X, where several Premier League clubs offered their support. Great rivals Manchester United wrote: 'Our thoughts are with LFC and the city of Liverpool after today's awful incident.' On the blue side of Merseyside, Everton said: 'Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by this serious incident in our city.' Deposed Premier League champions Manchester City wrote: 'The thoughts of everyone at Manchester City are with those injured or affected by the incident at Liverpool's title-winning parade earlier today.' Liverpool's former captain Steven Gerrard posted an image on Instagram of the city with a red heart. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher wrote on X: 'Devastating end to the day… just pray everyone is ok.' FIFA president Gianni Infantino offered 'thoughts and prayers to all those affected'. 'Football stands together with Liverpool FC and all fans of the club following the horrific incident that has taken place during the trophy parade in the city,' he said in a statement. Images shared on social media showed the car being brought to a halt and swarmed by angry fans, who broke the back windows as police sought to hold them back. Four people, including a child, were trapped under the car. The Premier League said on X that it was 'shocked by the appalling events'. 'Our heartfelt thoughts go out to all those injured and affected,' it said. 'We have been in contact with Liverpool FC and have offered our full support following this serious incident.'
eNCA
27-04-2025
- Sport
- eNCA
Liverpool win Premier League title
LIVERPOOL - Liverpool demolished Tottenham 5-1 to clinch the Premier League title at an impassioned Anfield on Sunday, sealing a record-equalling 20th English top-flight crown. Arne Slot's men stormed back after conceding a surprise early goal to dominate the first half as the decibel level soared among the 60,000-plus crowd. Liverpool, who can no longer be caught by second-placed Arsenal, are now level with bitter rivals Manchester United as the joint-most successful club in English top-flight history. Slot's men started on the front foot at an expectant Anfield after a stirring rendition of club anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" in the warm spring sunshine. Mohamed Salah had an early sighter and Cody Gakpo went close with a spectacular overhead kick but Tottenham briefly threatened to become party poopers when Dominic Solanke powered home a header from a James Maddison corner in the 12th minute. But Liverpool were level just four minutes later when Luis Diaz converted Dominik Szoboszlai's cross from close range. The offside flag went up but VAR awarded the goal. The momentum was now all with Liverpool and the home side took the lead in the 24th minute when Alexis Mac Allister thundered the ball home from the 18-yard line past the flying Guglielmo Vicario. AFP | Paul ELLIS Now the party was well and truly started and Gakpo made it 3-1, slamming a shot into the bottom corner after Spurs failed to clear. Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou had made eight changes from the team that lost to Nottingham Forest last week as he prioritises the semi-finals of the Europa League and they now had a mountain to climb. The Liverpool fans -- deprived of celebrating the 2020 Premier League trophy due to Covid restrictions, ran through their full repertoire of songs as their team pushed for a fourth goal in the second half. - Salah selfie - Top-scorer Salah scored the goal the crowd craved, collecting Szoboszlai's pass before cutting in and blasting his shot into the bottom corner. AFP | Paul ELLIS He celebrated by grabbing a fan's phone before taking a selfie in front of the Kop. Deafening cheers of "We're going to win the league" and "We shall not be moved" rang out. Liverpool had a fifth when Spurs defender Destiny Udogie poked the ball past his own goalkeeper from close range with about 20 minutes to go as the game turned into a procession. As the game went into added time the club's anthem rang out again as scarves were held aloft and the final whistle elicited a thunderous roar. "It was clear we couldn't lose this game," said Slot. "Everyone on the bus said there's no way we're going to lose this game. They always find a way to win. "Incredibly proud, not only of the players but the people standing here, sport directors, my staff members, we should give them a big round of applause. "Let's forget it's the second in 35 years, it's the second in five years (second since 2020)." The win leaves Liverpool on 82 points, 15 clear of nearest challengers Arsenal with just four games remaining. Tottenham are a miserable 16th in the Premier League table after their 19th defeat of the season, putting Postecoglou under enormous pressure. Tens of thousands of fans swarmed around Anfield in the build-up to kick-off in anticipation of Liverpool's coronation, setting off flares as the home team bus arrived. Flags and scarves saying "Liverpool 20-time Champions" were on sale from stalls outside the ground. At the start of the campaign, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City were favourites to extend their dynastic Premier League reign and make it five titles in a row but their form collapsed. AFP | Paul ELLIS Arsenal emerged as their closest challengers but they drew too many games, failing to take advantage of the rare Liverpool slip-ups. It was feared Liverpool's players would need time to adapt to the methods of Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp last June following the German's departure after nine trophy-filled years at Anfield. But the former Feyenoord boss has sailed serenely through the season despite relentless speculation over the futures of three of his biggest stars -- Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Both Salah and Van Dijk have now signed two-year extensions, though England defender Alexander-Arnold is believed likely to be on the verge of a move to Real Madrid. jw/bsp By John Weaver
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ipswich relegated as Newcastle, Chelsea boost top five bids
Ipswich were relegated from the Premier League after losing at Newcastle (Paul ELLIS) Ipswich were relegated from the Premier League after slumping to a 3-0 defeat against Newcastle, while Chelsea kept alive their hopes of a top five finish with a 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday. Emblematic of the self-inflicted wounds that hampered Ipswich this season, Kieran McKenna's side had Ben Johnson sent off in the 37th minute for two bookings in quick succession at St James' Park. Advertisement Newcastle's Alexander Isak converted a penalty after Jacob Murphy was fouled by Julio Enciso in first half stoppage-time. Dan Burn's 56th-minute header doubled Newcastle's lead and William Osula's 80th-minute goal left Ipswich with no chance of beating the drop. Third-bottom Ipswich are 15 points behind fourth-bottom West Ham with four games left, ensuring their first season in the top-flight for 22 years will end with an immediate return to the Championship. Out of their depth among the Premier League elite, Ipswich have won just four of their 34 league games. Their relegation alongside Southampton and Leicester, who were both already condemned to the drop, means all three promoted sides will be back in the second tier next season. Advertisement Ipswich's fairytale rise to the Premier League had captured the hearts of football romantics after their successive promotions from League One and the Championship. McKenna, 38, had earned plaudits for Ipswich's attacking style during their surge up the divisions after his appointment in 2021. But the former Manchester United assistant coach was unable to preserve Ipswich's top-flight status. Newcastle climb to third place as the League Cup winners eye Champions League qualification. Enzo Maresca saluted Chelsea's "nasty" performance after a gritty success that kept them in the hunt for a Champions League berth. Advertisement Nicolas Jackson struck for the first time since December to seal a vital victory at Stamford Bridge. The Senegal striker's first-half blast from 20 yards moved Chelsea into fifth place with four games left. - 'We were nasty' - Chelsea's third win in their last five league matches eased the pressure on Blues boss Maresca, who has come under fire for his team's cautious tactics during their slump in the second half of the season. "First half we controlled the game, we dominated, created chances and didn't concede nothing. Then second half we dropped a little bit," he said. Advertisement "We were strong, nasty enough when we needed to be like that. Overall I think we deserved to win and we are happy." Ryan Sessegnon struck in stoppage-time as Fulham won 2-1 at Southampton to stop the hosts moving past the record-low Premier League points total set by Derby. Jack Stephens' 14th-minute opener had Southampton on course for a first home league victory since November, but Emile Smith Rowe levelled for Fulham after 72 minutes. A draw would have helped Southampton move onto 12 points and avoid Derby's unwanted lowest-ever Premier League points total of 11 from the 2007-08 season, only for Sessegnon to net in the final seconds. Advertisement Brighton reignited their European push by piling more misery on former manager Graham Potter with a dramatic 3-2 victory over West Ham at the Amex Stadium. Potter, who left Albion to join Chelsea in 2022, saw Mohammed Kudus and Tomas Soucek put the Hammers ahead after Yasin Ayari's opener for Brighton. But Kaoru Mitoma headed the Seagulls level in the 89th minute before Carlos Baleba sensationally curled home from distance in stoppage-time. Brighton ended a five-match winless run, while West Ham's dismal streak extended to a seventh game without victory. Potter has taken just 13 points from 14 games since replacing the sacked Julen Lopetegui in January. Advertisement Wolves claimed a club record-equalling sixth successive top-flight win as they put relegated Leicester to the sword with a 3-0 victory at Molineux. Matheus Cunha, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Rodrigo Gomes scored for Wolves, who last won six in a row in the top-flight in 1970, while second-bottom Leicester's winless run stretched to 11 matches. smg/nf
