19/03/2025

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WEDNESDAY | MAR 19, 2025

Malaysian Paper

Running on empty Liverpool’s season sliding off the rails as Slot’s players look fatigued T HE Carabao Cup had been lifted by Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier, Eddie Howe drenched in alcohol PSG, albeit while winning it, and again against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final. Perhaps the French champions softened Liverpool up for previous year. His 41st start for Liverpool this season came at Wembley. Gravenberch, who could have Salah’s season has been sensational but his only goals in his last five games were penalties against lowly Southampton; his impact over 300 minutes against PSG and Newcastle in the last two weeks has been insufficient. Ű BY RICHARD JOLLY

Rory’s St. Patrick’s Day delight

- Story on page 27

by Joelinton and the black-and white hordes were starting to disperse when a manager reflected on a historic first. Not the victorious one, though. “It took us seven, eight, nine months to lose twice in a row,” said Arne Slot. It is perhaps not a statistic to echo through the ages like Newcastle’s 70 year wait for domestic silverware or the 56-year gap between claiming any major honour. It was nevertheless a way of illustrating Liverpool’s consistency this season. Slot’s pragmatic explanation underlined why trebles are rarities; within a week, Liverpool’s disappeared, replaced by a solitary pursuit of the Premier League. “You know if you go further into tournaments that the opposition get stronger and stronger and even Liverpool can lose games,” he added. It was notable he referred to Paris Saint-Germain, their first conquerors last week, as the best team in Europe. That tag was applied to Liverpool late last year. They haven’t looked it in March. They were distinctly second best in the first leg against

Newcastle, exhausting them by making them run for 120 minutes, further depressing them with Gianluigi Donnarumma’s excellence in the penalty shootout. Liverpool looked drained at Wembley, even if Slot disagreed. “Were we on

been confined to a bit-part role this season if summer target Martin Zubimendi had joined, has instead been their third most-used player. He was taken off at Wembley with 3,516 minutes to his name this season, behind only – inevitably – Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. Mac Allister, who may not be built for such a schedule, is next with 3,081. Slot had called

Yet in turn, that underlined how Liverpool have become overreliant on him. Diaz’s recent return stands at one goal in 18 games, Diogo Jota’s at none in 10. The Portuguese, who was poor against PSG, is performing in such a way to suggest that centre-forward is a position where Liverpool are in most need of an upgrade. Liverpool have found much to cherish in their campaign but it seems, in very different circumstances, that they are hitting the wall at the same time as they did last year. It may render it just as well that the context has changed. It could be just as well they have a 12-point lead: a side who were even lethargic in the first half against Southampton have fewer guarantees of victory but only need a maximum of 16 points. It will give them just a second League title in 35 years; Newcastle do not have a monopoly on long waits. But if Slot wants to win it twice in a row, some lessons from Wembley may be required if Liverpool are to look stronger at the business end of next season. – The Independent

Tuesday mentally or physically tired?” he asked. “No. This game had nothing to do with running, only to do with duels.”

Dominik Szoboszlai a “machine” but the Hungarian looked like one whose battery was running down against Southampton the previous week. Like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, Szoboszlai has played over 2,800 minutes this season. Luis Diaz and Ibrahima Konate have passed 2,700. Continuity has brought consistency and a commanding lead in the title race. Yet Slot’s preference for working with a small core of around 14 or 15 risks them becoming fatigued at the same time.

Newcastle’s bruising physicality equipped them to win them. Liverpool looked overpowered in midfield. That can be a consequence of facing Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton. But it also highlights Liverpool’s workload. Alexis Mac Allister had one of his most ineffective games. Ryan Gravenberch was a revelation before Christmas but has only found that form sporadically since then. Gravenberch began 21 club games last season, just six the

Reality bites Hamilton

- Story on page 28

‘Natxo, Sumareh selected for Harimau Malaya squad’

- Story on page 31

Harimau Malaya players in a training session ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers Group F match on March 25 against Nepal at the Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) Training Centre. – BERNAMAPIC

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