LONDON: Manchester United’s problem in their 0-0 draw at Anfield, Jose Mourinho said, was that they kept waiting for the game to break but it didn’t. Jurgen Klopp then paid tribute to the way his side had countered “one of the best counter-attacking teams in the world” by not giving them space to break into.
It was a game of chicken in which neither side had blinked. Was that, the optimistic of Merseyside wondered, a sign of a growing maturity at Liverpool? Were they finally learning how to defend?
The answer came resoundingly last weekend: It was not. Tottenham ripped Liverpool apart. They scored four but could have had six or seven. Every sort of defensive calamity was there: General sluggishness and a failed offside trap for the first goal; a missed header and a lack of cover for the second; a weak header and a failure to pick up a lurker at the edge of the box for the third; further dead-ball lethargy for the fourth. With all of them there was a question as to whether Simon Mignolet might have done better.
It may not have been wise for Klopp to say that he could have done better had he been playing in his trainers, but it was probably true. Whatever mental fortitude his side had shown in maintaining their discipline against United had vanished, perhaps it had been no more than an illusion conjured by Mourinho’s negativity. Poor Dejan Lovren took most of the blame. Substituted after 31 minutes, he looked dazed when he came off, so much so that the assumption was he must be ill or injured; not so, said Klopp.
Except, of course, he is injured. In a recent interview in his native Croatia, Lovren said he had to take five painkillers before each game to help him play despite back and Achilles problems. Plus there have been various issues in his personal life that mean he is due a level of sympathy: Marital difficulties and a burglary at his holiday home in Croatia during which he fears he may have been drugged with a soporific gas.
At most clubs Lovren would probably have been given time out of the spotlight to recover from his injuries. But Liverpool have no other options. With Mamadou Sakho gone, the club targeted Virgil van Dijk and having failed to sign him had no back up. Klopp clearly doesn’t trust Ragnar Klavan and so Lovren is forced into regular action when it seems likely he would benefit from a break. That speaks of a clear failure of recruitment: Why spend £35 million ($45 million) on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when there was there was such a clear shortfall elsewhere? And yet to speak in terms of transfers is perhaps to be side-tracked from the greater point, which is that this is not an issue of personnel. Or rather, it isn’t just an issue of personnel. Playing under Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton, Lovren was a good defender; that’s why Liverpool bought him. But at Anfield, first under Brendan Rodgers and now Klopp, he has become a laughing stock, cruelly nicknamed Dejan Vu for the familiarity of his mistakes.
While off-field circumstances have not helped, part of the problem is to do with structure. Whereas at Southampton, Lovren had Morgan Schneiderlin protecting him, at Liverpool he has had Steven Gerrard and then Jordan Henderson at the back of midfield. Both are fine, energetic players and good passers of the ball but both are box-to-box players rather than natural holders. Neither has the discipline or tactical inclination to hold their position.
At Dortmund, Klopp had the likes of Sven Bender, Sebastian Kehl and Ilkay Gundogan to hold that position. There is no equivalent at Liverpool. That is a major structural issue to do with both tactics and recruitment.
At the same time, it is hard to believe Mignolet radiates confidence from the goal. Panic and uncertainty prevail, and Lovren is caught in the midst of it, an easy man to blame. He must take some responsibility but he’s certainly not the only one at fault.
The worry for Liverpool is that a little over two years after he took the job, Klopp appears no closer to finding a solution.
Halo is starting to slip for Klopp as Liverpool flounder
Halo is starting to slip for Klopp as Liverpool flounder
Strong field set for season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai
- Major champions Shane Lowry, Justin Rose and Adam Scott will tee off at at Jumeirah Golf Estates from Nov. 14-17
DUBAI: The 2024 Race to Dubai is set for a thrilling conclusion, with a host of global stars already confirmed for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates from Nov. 14-17.
Billy Horschel, who recently claimed his second BMW PGA Championship title, will tee off on the Earth Course alongside major champions Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, and Adam Scott, and fellow Rolex Series winner Robert MacIntyre, who won the Genesis Scottish Open in July.
They join reigning Race to Dubai champion Rory McIlroy and his fellow Ryder Cup star and 2017 European No. 1 Tommy Fleetwood, with both already confirmed for the final Rolex Series event of the season.
Horschel’s victory at Wentworth saw him move up to third on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, and the American will be making his second appearance in the season-ending event.
The 37-year-old won the PGA Tour’s FedExCup in 2014 after claiming the BMW Championship and Tour Championship titles in back-to-back weeks, and the eight-time PGA Tour winner is excited by the opportunity to win the DP World Tour’s season-ending title.
“I’m excited to return to Dubai next month to finish my season,” said Horschel. “I really enjoyed my experience at Jumeirah Golf Estates three years ago and I’m looking forward to getting back to the UAE.
“It has been great playing in some of the DP World Tour’s most historic events in the latter part of the season and I hope to finish the year on a high note with another memorable experience in Dubai.
“I’m incredibly proud to have won the Tour Championship on the PGA Tour, so to have a chance to add the DP World Tour Championship title to my trophy cabinet would certainly be very special.”
Horschel finished joint runner-up at the 152nd Open at Royal Troon alongside Justin Rose, who has also confirmed his return to the DP World Tour Championship. Joining them in the field is Australian Adam Scott, who won the Masters Tournament in 2013, the same year that Rose won the US Open at Merion.
Fellow major champion Lowry will be competing in back-to-back weeks in the UAE, after also confirming his appearance at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. The Irishman, who won the 148th Open at Royal Portrush in 2019, has recorded 13 top 20 worldwide finishes in 2024, including a victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on the PGA Tour alongside McIlroy.
Scotsman MacIntyre is enjoying a career-best season a year on from making his Ryder Cup debut at Marco Simone, having won both the RBC Canadian Open and his home Genesis Scottish Open in 2024.
The 28-year-old is currently sixth on the Race to Dubai Rankings and is hoping to eclipse his previous highest finish of ninth on the season-long standings, which he achieved in 2019.
WTA Finals in Riyadh should be the ‘most prestigious’ event, says tournament director Muguruza
- ‘We could make an impact that lasts beyond the event itself, to leave a legacy for many years to come,’ said Marina Storti, CEO of the WTA’s commercial arm
There is a famous viral video of an eight-year-old Coco Gauff dancing to Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” in the stands of center court at the US Open during Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.
From that same 2012 edition of the tournament, there are images of the young Gauff watching Venus Williams play her first round match. She is seen sitting right behind Williams’ bench.
Eleven years later, Gauff stood in the middle of Arthur Ashe Stadium and lifted the US Open trophy, becoming a Grand Slam champion at the age of 19.
Just as she was inspired by Venus and Serena Williams growing up, and got to manifest a dream that started when she was a young fan in the stands at the US Open, Gauff is hoping she and her fellow players can have a similar impact when the WTA Finals roll through Riyadh this November.
“I feel like in order to enact a dream or for a kid to see a dream, they have to see it in person,” Gauff said in New York last month.
“Obviously, you guys all saw that video of me a long time ago here. A lot of the people are hoping that there is a player or a kid that comes out from Saudi and able to say, ‘This WTA Finals changed my outlook,’ or made me realize I had a dream or a possibility in this sport.
“I think that’s what tennis is all about.”
if this isn’t proof that your dreams are closer than you think then idk what is pic.twitter.com/EwVxVhM7jy
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) April 11, 2024
The prestigious season-ending championships of the WTA Tour will be hosted in Riyadh for three years, with the first edition taking place from November 2-9, 2024 at King Saudi University’s indoor stadium.
The tournament features the best eight singles players and top eight doubles teams on the women’s circuit and will be the biggest professional tennis event to be staged in Saudi Arabia.
Considered the crown jewel of the tour, the WTA Finals has experienced great uncertainty over the past few years, mostly due to the coronavirus pandemic that came after just one staging of the tournament in 2019 in Shenzhen, which was meant to host the event for 10 years.
The three-year partnership between the WTA Finals and the Saudi Tennis Federation has numerous objectives and there are several reasons why Riyadh was chosen as the new host city for the tournament.
“It was really important to us that we were not only bringing the WTA Finals to make the Finals into an amazing event, but also that we could make an impact that lasts beyond the event itself, to leave a legacy for many years to come,” Marina Storti, the CEO of the commercial arm of the WTA, WTA Ventures told Arab News in a recent interview.
“And really, this is part of our strategy of growing women’s tennis as a global sport and really looking to reach new audiences but also inspiring the next generation, helping tennis development and really contributing at the community level.”
The STF has an ambitious goal of inspiring one million people in the Kingdom to take up tennis by 2030.
That aligned well with the WTA’s targets and since June, community programs, spearheaded by Judy Murray, have started taking place in Riyadh.
“What was really good is we sat down with the STF and we were like, ‘okay, we really want something that’s concrete. This needs to have a real impact.’ So we developed a program that is in three pillars: the community tennis and workforce training, which is the bit that Judy is leading for us. The second one is women’s health, and the third piece is youth engagement,” explained Storti.
Building a workforce to grow tennis in Riyadh as part of the @wta community engagement programme around next months World Tour Finals. Lots of clinics for young people and workshops for teachers, students, parents and coaches. My kind of thing. @WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/u1TCRqFJmp
— judy murray (@JudyMurray) September 27, 2024
Murray was recently joined in Riyadh by WTA Finals tournament director, and former world No.1, Garbine Muguruza, where they visited schools, held community clinics, helped train coaches and teachers, and spent time with members of the Zahra Breast Cancer Association.
The women’s health pillar will involve the WTA bringing their ACEing Cancer campaign to the Kingdom, raising awareness and funds for the cause, while the youth engagement pillar is about “supporting local initiatives as much as bringing in new ideas, and it was recently confirmed that we’re working with the Special Olympics in Saudi Arabia towards holding clinics during the Finals,” Storti added.
Staging the WTA Finals in Riyadh will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the Kingdom, where young fans can get acquainted with the sport throughout the three years and perhaps choose to pick up a racquet themselves.
From a tour perspective, there is a lot riding on the success of these Finals.
After a promising start to what was meant to be a decade-long stay in Shenzhen in 2019, and where champion Ashleigh Barty pocketed a record paycheck of $4.42 million, the WTA Finals moved from one city to another — Guadalajara in 2021, Fort Worth in 2022, Cancun in 2023 — without finding a stable footing.
Prize money dwindled, attendance fluctuated, and the lack of a multi-year deal made it difficult to stage the tournament the way it was meant to be, which is the pinnacle of the WTA Tour.
Now with a three-year deal in place with Saudi Arabia, the prize money is back to where it should be, with organizers committing $15.25 million for the first edition, matching the total sum on offer for the men’s equivalent ATP Finals.
“We are at the beginning of a real transformation of women’s tennis,” said Storti.
“We see huge growth opportunity ahead, we’ve had an amazing 51 years but there’s still so much more to build. So it’s about developing tennis as a global sport, creating more opportunities for women to play at the elite level but also creating new markets and new audiences.
“And the fact that Saudi Arabia is a very rapidly growing market for sport and a country with a really young population that is showing an increasing trust in sport, and showing that real appetite to invest in both the elite level and at the grassroots, we think it’s fantastic to be part of that growth.”
The top players have been vocal about the issues they faced at the tournament in the last two years, sharing their discontent both publicly and behind closed doors with the tour’s top management.
These finals in Saudi Arabia are a great opportunity to restore the players’ trust in the WTA and rediscover the luster of the Tour’s crown jewel.
It is why the main focus for the WTA and the STF for these finals is perfecting the player experience.
“It’s one thing that we are working so hard on. Having Garbine Muguruza as the director for the WTA Finals is testament to how important we see the player experience,” said Storti.
“She obviously won the tournament and she really cares about the players. She can give us the additional perspective at the leadership level and it shows how much of a priority it is.”
Storti has visited the host venue and says each player will have their own private locker room with its own bathroom and amenities. She said the facilities surrounding the main court will be “premium” and is certain the players will be satisfied. The indoor arena will hold a capacity of 4,200 spectators, which can be extended as the tournament grows in upcoming editions.
“We also want the players to have fun outside of the court. We hope that they’ll enjoy the best of Saudi hospitality, there are some amazing restaurants and spas that we will offer to them and I know they’re getting excited,” added Storti.
Muguruza, who officially retired from tennis earlier this year, won the WTA Finals in 2021 and is keen to bring her own perspective into the mix.
“I think that this relationship with the Ministry of Sport, the federation and the WTA, I think it’s great. I’ve been seeing how much they complement each other and I do believe that it’s going to be a great event,” the Spanish two-time Grand Slam champion told Arab News in a recent interview.
“Or at least I know the objective is to make the finals the most glamorous event, the most prestigious event, because I think the players deserve it.
“I’m trying to bring everything that I would like to see if I am a player. I want the players to feel this way because when I used to play I wanted the crowd to be here and the music and I wanted to feel like I’m part of the show, like I own the show.
“I definitely want to make the players feel so happy that when they leave from Riyadh, they’re going to be like, ‘This was a great experience’. I hope they will want to come back and they will be motivated to play the next years, that’s the ultimate goal.”
As spots in the field are rapidly filling up with players securing qualification in these closing weeks before the finals, many of them are excited about the chance to make an impact on the local community in Saudi Arabia.
American Taylor Townsend locked down her qualification in doubles, alongside her partner Katerina Siniakova, and will be making her WTA Finals debut in Riyadh.
“I think it’s such a huge opportunity to be able to bring women’s sports there but also inspire, just with the nature of the culture, it hasn’t always been very inclusive for women; so to be able to be there and represent, especially as a woman of color, I think it would be fantastic, just on a worldwide stage of representation and just showing how things are evolving in the world,” Townsend, the reigning Wimbledon doubles champion, told Arab News.
“So it would mean a lot to me and for me I’d hold it with the most honor and pride.”
MOD UAE leads after day 1 of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Fujairah
- Al-Ain came in second while Baniyas finished third ahead of Saturday’s action in the younger categories
FUJAIRAH: The opening day of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship – Round 4 (Gi) concluded with MOD UAE taking first place after an impressive showing, with Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club in second place and Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club in third.
Friday saw intense competition across the Men’s and Women’s U-18, Adults and Masters divisions. Athletes showcased their abilities in a series of challenging matches, with numerous submissions and high-level grappling, setting an exciting tone for the weekend.
On Saturday the spotlight turns to the sport’s up-and-coming talents. Boys and girls in the Kids categories, along with Girls U-12, U-14, U-16 and Boys U-12, will step onto the mat. The championship wraps up on Oct. 13 ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi this December.
The first day drew a host of high-profile individuals, including Dr. Ahmed Hamdan Al-Zeyoudi, director of the Fujairah Crown Prince’s Office; Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Ghanem Al-Kaabi, commander-in-chief of Fujairah Police; Mohammed Ahmed Al-Yamahi, member of the Federal National Council; Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Yousef Abdullah Al-Batran, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Nasser Mohammed Al-Yamahi, director general of Fujairah Culture and Media Authority; and Abdullah Ali Al-Dhanhani, director of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank — Fujairah Branch.
Al-Zeyoudi praised the tournament’s organization and quality. “We’re proud to host such an important event like Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship in front of a large audience. The athletes showed impressive technical skill, proving this championship is a key platform for developing athletes and preparing them for high-level competition.” He also thanked the organizing committee and the Zayed Sports Complex team for their work in making the event a success.
Meanwhile, Al-Dhaheri said that the championship reflects the strong support the sport of jiu-jitsu receives from the country’s leadership.
“It also highlights our commitment to fostering a vibrant sports culture,” he added. “This championship plays a vital role in developing athletes’ skills and opening doors for them to lead the sport in the future. Today’s outstanding performances prove that the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s efforts to promote the sport are on the right track.
“The championship plays a key role in building a strong foundation of talented athletes, motivated to excel both locally and internationally. This is driven by an innovative ranking system that encourages continuous growth and skill development.”
Talisson Suarez, coach at MOD Jiu-Jitsu Academy, said that the event had raised the bar in terms of regional athletes taking part.
“Our athletes performed strongly in the first three rounds, and we have a great chance to compete for the title,” he said. “Today’s matches were a real test of their abilities, and the level of competition constantly pushes us to adapt our strategies. I’m proud of what our athletes accomplished today and look forward to continuing this momentum through to the final.”
Andre Luiz de Almeida of Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club, who won gold in the Men’s Adults/Master -85kg division, said: “I’m really happy to win the gold and help Al-Ain Club earn valuable points before the final round. The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Championship is special because of its elite level of competition, bringing together top athletes in an environment that truly challenges and develops our skills.”
Yamamoto outduels Darvish as Dodgers drop Padres 2-0 to advance in MLB playoffs
- Two days after fending off elimination, the Dodgers completed a 3-2 victory over the Padres in the best-of-five National League division series
- The victory means Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani will have a chance to battle for a World Series berth
LOS ANGELES: Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched five brilliant innings and Los Angeles homered twice in a 2-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday that propelled the Dodgers into the National League Championship Series.
Two days after fending off elimination, the Dodgers completed a 3-2 victory over the Padres in the best-of-five National League division series and will host the New York Mets in game one of the best-of-seven NLCS on Sunday.
Yamamoto came out on top in a historic duel with San Diego hurler Yu Darvish — the first Major League Baseball post-season matchup between two Japanese-born starting pitchers.
“I think in Japan, a lot of fans were looking forward to today’s matchup,” said Yamamoto, who added that he was determined to improve on a lackluster performance in the Dodgers’ Game 1 win.
“The last outing, I didn’t do my job well,” he said.
“I was just trying to focus on getting myself ready, preparing more meticulously... I think my mechanics was locked in today,” said the pitcher, who gave up two hits over five innings with one walk and two strikeouts, throwing 63 pitches — 39 of them strikes.
“He set the tone,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, adding that he was confident Yamamoto would rise to the occasion based on his past performances — including for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.
“He’s pitched in big ball games,” Roberts said. “And I believed in him. I knew he was going to rise to the occasion.
“And he was outstanding tonight. And I knew he wasn’t going to run from this spot. I’m looking forward to riding him through the World Series.”
Yamamoto allowed back-to-back singles to Kyle Higashioka and Luis Arraez in the third inning. But he induced Fernando Tatis Jr. to hit into an inning-ending double play and retired the last seven batters he faced before turning it over to the Dodgers relievers — who closed it out without allowing a hit over four innings.
Darvish pitched 6 2/3 impressive innings, but he gave up solo home runs to Enrique Hernandez and Teoscar Hernandez, and that was all the Dodgers needed.
Puerto Rican slugger Hernandez crushed a solo shot to left field to put the Dodgers up 1-0 in the second inning, pouncing on a first-pitch fastball from Darvish, who had walked Max Muncy to open the inning before Will Smith hit into a double play.
It was the 14th post-season homer for 33-year-old Hernandez.
Darvish retired 14 straight batters before Teoscar Hernandez made it 2-0 in the seventh, launching a 420-foot blast into the left field seats.
When the Dominican slugger tossed his bat away to round the bases Dodger Stadium erupted.
“This is my first time in this kind of atmosphere,” Hernandez, who inked a one-year, $23.5-million deal with the Dodgers in January, told broadcaster Fox. “But I love this. This is why I came here.”
Padres manager Mike Shildt could find little to fault in Darvish’s performance.
“I thought Yu was magnificent again,” Shildt said. “Had them off balance. Couple of swings got him. Other than that, he was really good.”
But San Diego’s vaunted hitters — three-time batting champion Arraez, Tatis Jr., Jurickson Profar and Manny Machado, combined to go 1-for-14 at the plate in Game 5.
The Padres failed to score a run in the last 24 innings of the series.
“I think ‘stunning’ is appropriate,” Shildt said of the drought.
The Dodgers, the 2020 World Series champions, are back in the league championship series for the first time since 2021 after division series defeats the past two seasons.
The victory means Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani will have a chance to battle for a World Series berth.
Ohtani earned two American League Most Valuable Player awards in six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels but is in the playoffs for the first time after jumping to the Dodgers in December in a record 10-year, $700 million deal.
Injury-hit Australia thrash ‘embarrassing’ Pakistan at Women’s T20 World Cup
- Spinner Ashleigh Gardner finished with figures of 4-21 in Dubai as six-time winners Australia bundled out Pakistan for 82 — the lowest team total in this edition
- Australia have been clinical in their three matches in Group A to extend their victory run in the tournament since 2020
DUBAI: Defending champions Australia hammered “embarrassing” Pakistan by nine wickets to extend their winning streak to 14 in the Women’s T20 World Cup and close in on a semifinal spot on Friday.
Spinner Ashleigh Gardner finished with figures of 4-21 in Dubai as six-time winners Australia bundled out Pakistan for 82 — the lowest team total in this edition.
Skipper Alyssa Healy hit 37 before retiring hurt as Australia romped home in 11 overs to stay unbeaten against Pakistan in the format.
Healy injured her leg while going for a second run and she walked off in pain, becoming the second player injured after quick bowler Tayla Vlaeminck dislocated her shoulder while fielding in the first over of the match.
“Alyssa sustained an acute right foot injury while running between wickets,” said a Cricket Australia statement.
“Once we have more information based on her assessment and scans tomorrow, her availability for the remainder of the tournament will be clearer.”
Vice-captain Tahlia McGrath said: “It has been a big day for us and heartbroken for the two girls. We will find out in a few days.”
“The thing about this Australian side is how much depth we have got, captaincy-wise and wicketkeeper-wise, yeah, time to use it.”
Australia have been clinical in their three matches in Group A to extend their victory run in the tournament since 2020.
Pakistan, whose semifinal hopes have been seriously hit with their second loss in three matches, suffered a big blow when captain Fatima Sana flew back home ahead of the match after the death of her father.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Muneeba Ali took charge.
Invited to bat first, Pakistan lost regular wickets after left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux dismissed Ali, for seven, and pace bowler Megan Schutt had Sadaf Shamas caught behind for three.
Middle-order batter Aliya Riaz offered some resistance with her 26 but fell to Gardner as Pakistan’s innings ended in 19.5 overs.
“We are not up to the mark in batting. That’s not how you approach T20 cricket, it’s embarrassing and we need to change that and win games for Pakistan,” said Ali.
“Everybody needs to step up and we need to have the confidence to win the last game.”
Australia started strongly with Beth Mooney hitting Sadia Iqbal for three boundaries in the third over before the bowler had revenge in the next.
Mooney was caught out for 15 but Healy took charge before being retired hurt.
Ellyze Perry, on 22, and player of the match Gardner, on seven, took the team home.
Australia next take on India in a much-awaited clash on Sunday in Sharjah.
New Zealand will face Sri Lanka on Saturday in a key Group A clash as they and India could be one of the two teams from this group to move into the semifinals.
