LIVERPOOL, England: Mohamed Salah’s 100th goal at Anfield underpinned Liverpool’s 1-0 win against Brentford in the English Premier League on Saturday.
Salah’s 13th-minute strike was far from his best as he bundled the ball over the line, but he became the first Liverpool player to score in nine successive home matches in all competitions.
More importantly, the Merseyside club’s sixth straight win moved them to within a point of fourth-placed Manchester United and still in with a shot of qualifying for the Champions League.
On the day of the coronation of Charles III, fans jeered the national anthem, “God Save the King,” because of what is perceived to be a long-held opposition toward the establishment.
But Salah gave the home fans something to cheer when he scored. He has 30 goals for a third successive season, and fourth in six.
It put him level with Steven Gerrard in fifth place on the club’s all-time goal-scoring list with 186.
Much has been made of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s passing from a new hybrid midfield position but it was Fabinho, in his more traditional holding role, who set up the winner.
His chip over a crowded penalty area picked out Virgil van Dijk, who headed to the far post where Salah pounced.
Salah scores again as Liverpool wins 6 in a row
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Salah scores again as Liverpool wins 6 in a row
- Salah's 13th-minute strike was far from his best as he bundled the ball over the line
- The Merseyside club's sixth straight win moved them to within a point of fourth-placed Manchester United
PSG fans display banner calling for end to ‘genocide’ in Gaza during Champions League final
- PSG fans are known for their stance against the war in Gaza
- The latest banner was likely to lead to disquiet among local authorities in Munich
MUNICH: Paris Saint-Germain supporters displayed a banner saying “Stop genocide in Gaza” during the Champions League final on Saturday.
They raised it shortly after Achraf Hakimi gave their team a 1-0 lead against his former side Inter Milan in the 12th minute. Désiré Doué scored PSG’s second after the banner was raised for a 2-0 halftime lead.
PSG fans are known for their stance against the war in Gaza. They previously displayed a giant banner saying “Free Palestine” in November during the Champions League match against Atlético Madrid.
The latest banner was likely to lead to disquiet among local authorities in Munich. Munich’s city hall displays an Israeli flag as well as a Ukrainian one, and German support for Israel is strong for historical reasons.
PSG could also face a fine. UEFA bans the use of gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit a provocative message that is judged not fit for a sports event, particularly provocative messages that are of a political, ideological, religious or offensive nature.
Financial penalties are typical for a first offense — 10,000 euros ($10,700) for a political banner or disturbances.
Israel’s nearly three-month blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of over two million to the brink of famine. It has allowed some aid to enter in recent days, but aid organizations say far from enough is getting in.
The UN World Food Program said the fear of starvation in Gaza is high.
Portuguese goalkeeper Patricio joins Al-Ain for Club World Cup
- “Patricio will arrive to the UAE tomorrow evening to undergo medical tests,” Al-Ain said
- Patricio played 108 matches for Portugal
ABU DHABI: Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio will join Al-Ain on a short-term contract for the Club World Cup, the team from the United Arab Emirates said on Saturday.
“Al-Ain has signed Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio to participate with the team in the 2025 Club World Cup,” the club said on X about the 37-year-old Portugal international who is joining them from Atalanta.
“Patricio will arrive to the United Arab Emirates tomorrow evening to undergo medical tests and join the first-team training,” Al-Ain added.
Patricio played 108 matches for Portugal, helping them win Euro 2016, and has had spells with Sporting Lisbon, Wolverhampton Wanderers and AS Roma.
Al-Ain, who won the AFC Champions League title in 2024, reached the final of the 2018 Club World Cup final in front of their home fans.
This year’s revamped 32-team tournament will take place in the United States in June and July.
Al Ain have been drawn in Group G with Juventus, Manchester City and Morocco’s Wydade.
FIFA opened an exceptional transfer window from June 1-10 to allow players to be signed for the tournament.
Green Falcons hold Alkhobar training session in preparation for World Cup qualifiers
- French coach Herve Renard supervised the team as they held a light recovery session
- Team preparations resume tomorrow night with full training session
KHOBAR: The Saudi national football team held a training session on Saturday in Alkhobar, as they continue preparing for the decisive ninth and 10th rounds of the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
French coach Herve Renard supervised the team as they held a light recovery session at the health facilities of the Green Falcons’ base camp, a media statement said.
Injured left back Muteb Al-Harbi continued his rehabilitation program under the medical staff’s supervision, while teammate Mohammed Bakr resumed physical training with the team’s fitness coach.
After the recovery session ended, Renard gave the players some free time, with the squad scheduled to return later this evening at their base.
The Green Falcons’ preparations resume tomorrow night with a full training session at 7 p.m. in Ettifaq Club Stadium.
The first 15 minutes of the session will be open to the media to offer a glimpse into the team’s readiness as the qualifiers draw near.
Saudi Arabia stands at third place in Group C with 10 points from eight matches. Japan tops the group on 20 points, while second-place Australia has 13 points.
The Green Falcons play against Bahrain on June 5 and Australia on June 10.
Real Madrid most valuable soccer team for fourth straight year, say Forbes
- Real became the first soccer club to bring in a billion dollars in a single year
- England’s Manchester United are second in Forbes’ list with a $6.6 billion valuation
MADRID: LaLiga side Real Madrid topped the list of the most valuable soccer teams in the world for the fourth year in a row with a valuation of $6.6 billion, business magazine Forbes has said.
Real became the first soccer club to bring in a billion dollars in a single year after they posted a record $1.13 billion in revenue for the 2023-24 season, the magazine added in a report published on Friday.
The Spanish club, the second sports team in history to hit the 10-figure threshold after National Football League side Dallas Cowboys, are the first soccer team to register one billion euros in revenue in a single season, Deloitte had said earlier this year.
England’s Manchester United are second in Forbes’ list with a $6.6 billion valuation after generating $834 million in revenue in the 2023-24 season despite a forgettable Premier League campaign where they finished eighth.
Real’s LaLiga rivals Barcelona are third, valued at $5.65 billion, while Liverpool and Manchester City are fourth and fifth.
Forbes named six Premier League sides among the top 10 most valuable teams with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea making the list after Bayern Munich and Paris St. Germain.
“Together, the 30 most valuable soccer teams are worth more than $72 billion, or an average of $2.4 billion, up 5 percent from 2024’s record $2.26 billion,” Forbes said.
Ajax appoint Heitinga as new coach
- Former club manager Marcel Keizer will serve as Heitinga’s assistant
- “John knows the club well,” Technical Director Alex Kroes told the club website
AMSTERDAM: Ajax Amsterdam have named John Heitinga as their new coach, with the former Netherlands defender signing a two-year deal, the Eredivisie club confirmed on Saturday.
Heitinga, who grew up in the club’s youth ranks and was part of Ajax’s senior squad for seven and a half seasons, was one of Arne Slot’s assistants at Liverpool in their Premier League-winning season.
Former club manager Marcel Keizer will serve as Heitinga’s assistant and has signed a contract of the same duration, Ajax added.
“John knows the club well,” Technical Director Alex Kroes told the club website.
“We are convinced that he, together with Marcel, will help improve our players and build on the progress made since last summer in terms of, for example, elite sporting culture and discipline.”
Heitinga replaces Italian Francesco Farioli, who resigned earlier this month after a year in charge.
Record 36-time champions Ajax finished the season second after blowing a nine-point lead as they were pipped to the league title by PSV Eindhoven on the final day.
Ajax last won the league in 2021-22.
“It’s good that it’s decided early on in the summer break that they will be in charge from the end of June. (We) can now continue working with John and the other parties involved on the squad composition for the coming season,” Kroes added.
Former Atletico Madrid and Everton defender Heitinga coached youth and reserve teams at Ajax after he retired from playing, following his return to Ajax, in 2016.
He was also briefly appointed as acting coach of Ajax in 2023 after the firing of Alfred Schreuder.
Heitinga, who won 87 caps for the Netherlands, was then David Moyes’s assistant at West Ham United before taking on the same role at Liverpool.
“I am incredibly excited to start,” Heitinga said.
“The last years in England have done me a lot of good. I’ve been able to develop further alongside David Moyes and Arne Slot, while also getting a behind-the-scenes look at two major clubs.
“I’m ready to continue as a head coach and I’m honored to be given that opportunity at Ajax.”
