19/06/2025

Read

iPaper at Malaysian Paper

www.thesun.my Free access to iPaper PDF Download

app from the App Store or Google Play TM . Malaysian Paper or download

SCAN ME

SCAN ME

THURSDAY | JUNE 19, 2025

Malaysian Paper

Liverpool host Bournemouth in PL opener, United face Arsenal CHAMPIONS Liverpool will host Bournemouth on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 Premier League season, with Manchester United playing Arsenal at Old Trafford. Liverpool, who won the league in Arne Slot’s first season in charge, will begin their title defence at Anfield in the curtain-raiser on Saturday, Aug 15. Newly promoted Sunderland, back in the top flight for the first time since 2016-17, start their campaign at home against West Ham the following day. Championship winners Leeds welcome Everton to Elland Road on Tuesday, while Burnley - promoted back to the top flight at the first time of asking – travel to Europa League holders Tottenham, who will be led by Thomas Frank in a league match for the first time. Everton fans will have to wait until the second round of fixtures for their first league game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, when they will face Brighton. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will hope to bounce back from a rare trophyless season with a strong start against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. The season, which consists of 380 games over 33 weekends and five midweek rounds, will conclude on Sunday, 24 May. The Premier League has said the start date of Aug 15 – 82 days on from the end of the 2024-25 season – “allows for the maximum player rest time available”. During the festive period, clubs will not be asked to play twice in less than 60 hours. It will be the first season with the new Premier League TV deal in place, with every game outside of the Saturday 3pm (11pm Malaysian time) blackout to be broadcast live by either Sky Sports or TNT Sports . – AFP

OPENING FIXTURES IN FULL Saturday (Aug 15): Liverpool vs Bournemouth, Aston Villa vs Newcastle, Brighton vs Fulham, Nottm Forest vs Brentford, Sunderland vs West Ham, Tottenham vs Burnley. Sunday (Aug 16): Wolves vs Man City, Chelsea vs Crystal Palace, Man United vs Arsenal. Tuesday (Aug 19): Leeds vs Everton.

Grealish’s future uncertain

Guardiola says axed English midfielder needs to get ys

‘butterflies back in his stomach’ M ANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola suggested yesterday that the dropped Jack Grealish needed to rediscover his love for playing football after being left out of the squad for the Club World Cup in the United States. “Jack is an exceptional player. The only reason he didn’t play last season was of course my decisions,” Guardiola told reporters in Philadelphia. “We decided it was best that he stays and has a place where he can get back to what he was in the year of the treble or all his career at Aston Villa.” Grealish joined City in 2021 and was a standout on their run to Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup glory in 2023. However, he started only 10 Premier League games in the following season and only 16 times terday that h needed r playing quad for ates. e only was of told tays k to what r all his was a pions Cup only the mes

World Cup as the first tournament of the new campaign, and therefore a chance to turn the page. “It is the beginning of the season. In sport, what happened in the past, good or bad, is forgotten so we feel like we are starting the season,” he said. City are expected to ease through to the last 16 from Group G, in which they will also meet Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates and Italian giants Juventus. “Football has grown up a lot all around the world. All these teams have individual quality,” said Guardiola. “A good example is Riyad Mahrez from Algeria, Oh my God, what a player. They have incredible players. “We have huge, huge respect. We saw what we could see of them. We have a game plan, we are here to make a good tournament and tomorrow we start.” – AFP

However, the former Barcelona coach appeared to suggest that the player’s future did not necessarily lie away from the Etihad Stadium. “No, no. I don’t know, but for now we decided don’t come here,” he said. City, who finished third in the Premier League, added four new signings in the recent transfer window to freshen up their squad for the Club World Cup. They brought in Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, exciting French creator Rayan Cherki, leftback Rayan Ait-Nouri and back-up goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli. “We are really pleased because all of them have huge quality,” Guardiola said. “With this incredible amount of games we have until the end of the season, 11 months, every three or four days, everyone is going to play.” The last season was one of the hardest of Guardiola’s coaching career and he sees the Club

across all competitions in this campaign. “Without acr com cam “W

him it would have been more difficult to achieve what we did in the treble season, but the fact is that the last him have b achieve did in season, fact is th

two seasons he has not played much minutes,” Guardiola added. “He has to get back to playing and having the butterflies in his stomach that he needs to play every three days.” two seasons h played much Guardiola add “He has to to playing an the butterflie stomach that h play every thre

Guardiola

theSun is published and printed by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd (221220-K) of Lot 6, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7784 6688 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2625 Email: newsdesk@thesundaily.com • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com