01/08/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | AUG 1, 2025

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Boost for Amorim United cruise over Bournemouth in Premier League US friendly M ANCHESTER UNITED made it two wins out of two with a 4-1 victory over Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series pre-season Substitute Williams needed just two minutes to make an impact curling a low finish into the bottom corner to put United 4-0 up. The only blemish on United’s performance came with an 88th-minute own goal from Matthijs de Ligt.

SHORTS Endo proud to wear captain’s armband

WATARU ENDO will never forget the pride he felt at captaining Liverpool in his homeland of Japan. The 32-year-old was given a rousing reception by his compatriots when he was introduced in the second half of the Reds’ 3-1 win over Yokohama F. Marinos yesterday. The occasion was made even sweeter for him as the teammate he was replacing, Virgil van Dijk, handed over the skipper’s armband for him to wear. “It was an amazing moment for me because I came back to Japan as a Liverpool player. For me, it meant a lot. It was an amazing moment for me,” Endo told Liverpoolfc.com . “First of all, I really appreciate my manager and Virg (Van Dijk) because of what they have done to me. I think it was a great gesture. I think all Japanese people maybe wanted me to be captain! “All my family came to watch the game today, so I think they were very excited to watch this game today. I’m happy that I could show this game to my family. They are happy.” Endo revealed he could not join Yokohama F Marinos after a trial at the J-League club years ago. “I supported this club actually and I went to (a) trial but I couldn’t join this club. Now I came back here as a player of (Liverpool). It was a dream-come-true moment,“ LIVERPOOL head coach Arne Slot is happy 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha is already influencing games but admits the teenager still has plenty to learn. Ngumoha, who joined from Chelsea a year ago, has been one of the stand-out players in the Reds’ two matches in the Far East and produced another impressive cameo off the bench, capped by a brilliant individual strike, in a 3-1 over Yokohama F. Marinos in Tokyo yesterday. Fellow academy graduate Trey Nyoni, 18 last month, scored Liverpool’s second goal after club record signing Florian Wirtz had opened his account with the equaliser. “Rio again showed the quality he has and that’s nice for us because we have a lot of very good players,” Slot said at his post-match press conference. “But to get some very good players through the academy is always helpful and always gives energy to a team as well. “It’s always nice to see young players from 16, 17 or 18 years old already impacting a game. If you are 16 and you can impact the game like he did, that’s definitely worth a compliment.” Slot did, however, sound a word of caution. “There was also a moment in the game where he should have squared it to Macca (Alexis Mac Allister) or Curtis (Jones) so (there are) also learning parts for him,” he added. the 32-year-old said. Ngumoha still needs to learn: Slot

Having only arrived at Old Trafford in January, the 20-year-old is beginning to learn just how the boss wants him to play in his favoured wing-back role. “I feel like the pre-season is helping everyone to understand Ruben’s ideas even more,” added Dorgu. “The more training we have, the more we will grow into his ideas and I feel like it is being seen a little bit on the pitch already. We just keep improving.” United boss Amorim reserved special praise for Dorgu following the Dane’s decisive performance against the Cherries. “It’s impressive. He’s 20 years old. He looks more and more like he belongs in Manchester United, and that is hard to do (at) 20 years old, but he’s so powerful, he’s getting his technique in his game, he’s defending so well, he’s pressing so well. So I’m really impressed with Patrick.” Referring to the game, Amorin said: “Really, pleased. I think the intensity was there. They are so focused in the games. “They are really focused in training. They are bonding with each other. So, it was a good test.” – AFP/Agencies

tournament in Chicago yesterday. Goals from Rasmus Hojlund, Patrick Dorgu, Amad Diallo and teenager Ethan Williams sealed an encouraging result for Ruben Amorim’s side at a rainy, windswept Soldier Field. United, who had opened their tour with a 2-1 victory over West Ham on Saturday, were always in control against the Cherries, taking the lead after just eight minutes through Hojlund. Dorgu curled in an inviting cross from the left flank and Denmark international teammate Hojlund timed his run and jump to perfection to glance a header past Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic. Dorgu then doubled United’s lead in the 25th minute, latching on to a clever, lofted quick free kick from Mason Mount, muscling his way into the area and sliding a cool finish beneath the advancing Petrovic. Diallo bundled in United’s third in the 53rd minute before Amorim made nine changes with 20 minutes to go. FLORIAN WIRTZ scored his first Liverpool goal as the Premier League champions beat Yokohama F. Marinos 3-1 in a pre-season friendly in Japan yesterday. French forward Hugo Ekitike made his debut for Liverpool, one week after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported £69 million (RM400m). Wirtz equalised after Yokohama opened the scoring early in the second half, the German slamming home a right-foot shot from inside the box in front of over 65,000 fans. “I am really happy that I could score my first goal. I hope there are more to come,” said Wirtz, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a blockbuster deal. Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha also scored for Liverpool, who announced the sale of Colombian forward Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he was happy to see his team come from behind to win but was not pleased with their missed chances. “A good game against an opponent that is already in the middle of the season (and) used to the circumstances over here. “They made it an intense game for us, which is always nice to have in pre-season because this is also what we’re looking for. “We want to have teams that can really compete with us and today was definitely one of them. I’ve seen a few very positive things. “For example, us coming back after going 1-0 down, this is something that we did last season a lot of times; seeing players from the bench impacting the game. “So, more than a few times there were some very good moments in build-up, but what I also saw in the

Speaking after the match, Dorgu, who was one of the Reds’ standout stars, said he is happy to be able aid his teammates in whatever way possible, as countdown to kickoff in the Premier League closes in. “It felt good,” the Denmark international told MUTV in Chicago. “It was good to help the team out there and it was good to get the win, we just keep improving and look forward to the season. “It was good to see the fans were still there even thought the weather conditions were not so good. “It was good that the team gave a good performance for the fans.” Combining with Mount and Bruno Fernandes throughout his cameo, Dorgu’s energy came at vital intervals for Amorim’s side, who punished Bournemouth throughout the game. goal we conceded and in the first half the big chance we conceded was that we had to work harder in those moments to sprint back than we did. “That is something that also happened to us when we played (AC) Milan. It could be with a tough training camp and it could be with the heat circumstances – but that’s something that we definitely have to improve towards (Athletic) Bilbao that we’re going to play as our next opponent. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker missed the match after travelling home to Brazil “for private reasons”, Liverpool said. Shortly before kickoff, an emotional tribute was given to Diogo Jota, who passed away this month in a car crash. Liverpool dominated throughout but Yokohama opened the scoring when Asahi Uenaka pounced in the 55th minute to beat Giorgi Mamardashvili. Wirtz levelled when he latched onto a Mohamed Salah pass. Nyoni volleyed home a

Wirtz opens Liverpool account

Jeremie Frimpong cross to put Liverpool in front, before Ngumoha dribbled from the halfway line and fired in a shot from the edge of the box. – AFP/Agencies

Mo Salah (left) and Florian Wirtz. – REUTERSPIC

Hammers come from behind to defeat Everton NICLAS FULLKRUG came off the bench to net a well-placed winner as West Ham came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 in the Premier League Summer Series yesterday in Chicago. We can always work on it to become better. “We made pretty poor mistakes on the ball for the goals.

New Jersey on Saturday, this was a welcome success for the Londoners at the home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears. “It’s pleasing. I don’t think we came back from a goal down last season, it’s not a habit you want to get into but it’s a good characteristic to have,” said West Ham manager Graham Potter. “The intensity was there from our perspective. Fullkrug can play a great role. His intensity off the bench is something unique but it’s nice to have the option with him from the start. “He brought energy to the team and near enough made the goal for himself.” The four-team competition concludes in Atlanta on Sunday, with United facing Everton and West Ham taking on Bournemouth. – AFP

“We’re looking to make more additions and do better, if we’re going to lose games we’re not going to let that happen,” Everton boss Moyes said afterthe game. “I’m not overly concerned because I don’t have the players which I need and what I want. “We knew before we came (to the US) we were going to be really up against it. So, it was never going to be us coming here and winning.” “At the moment we’re not ready to perform well enough in this tournament, and we’re not ready to start the Premier League season.” Having lost narrowly to Manchester United in

Idrissa Gueye put Everton 1-0 up after 17 minutes before West Ham recovered to equalise through Brazilian international Lucas Paqueta just before half-time. Germany international Fullkrug’s 64th-minute strike sealed the Hammers’ win. The result was another disappointing pre season setback for Everton, who were soundly beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth on Saturday. “It wasn’t so good again. We were a little bit better in the second half than the first, and we conceded a couple of really bad goals against Bournemouth but we’ve done that again tonight.