28/08/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | AUG 28, 2025

29

Go slow with Rio Don’t put too much

SHORTS Devils not ready for Europe: Amorim RUBEN AMORIM insists Manchester United are not ready to compete in Europe and has taken the silver linings from his side’s continental absence this season. United, who finished 15th in the Premier League last season, missed out on the chance to qualify for Europe’s top club competition when they lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final in May. “I think we were not prepared to play in Europe, that is my feeling,” Amorim said ahead of the clash. “To have strong games in the Champions League and then play Premier League, we need time to develop as a team. “So (the players) need to fight for their places, and then everything can change.” United have failed to win in their first two Premier League games this season, having lost their opening match 1-0 at home to Arsenal before being held 1-1 at Fulham on Sunday. Amorim blamed his team’s defensive mindset for surrendering the lead against Fulham, stressing the players must improve. “The games are really, really competitive,” he added. “We need time to build the base and then, in the future, to move forward. “ We will reach a moment where we need to have Europe for everybody to play games.” Gordon apologises to fans, Van Dijk ANTHONY GORDON has issued a public apology to Virgil van Dijk over his studs-up tackle that earned him a red card in Newcastle United’s dramatic 3-2 loss to Liverpool. The forward maintains his “intentions were pure”, with Eddie Howe’s side battling back from two goals down to pull level, only for Reds starlet Rio Ngumoha to strike a winner in the 110th minute. Gordon left two stud marks down the back of the Dutch defender’s calf, with referee Simon Hooper upgrading the yellow card to a red upon a VAR review, and the 24-year-old has now released a statement reaching out to his rival on the pitch. “I want to sincerely apologise to my teammates and the fans,” Gordon said in a statement. “My intentions were pure. I was just trying to create energy in the game and I mistimed the tackle. “I also want to apologise to Virgil. I would never intend to tackle somebody like this on purpose. We spoke after and he knows that. “More importantly, I’m so proud of the time I spent on the pitch and how we played tonight,” Gordon added. “The atmosphere from you all is what makes St James’ Park so special. “I love everything we stand for as a club and no more than right now. I’ll be back and better, the same as every other setback I’ve ever faced. See you soon.”

expectation on Ngumoha, says Liverpool great Barnes

Ű BY JAMIE GARDNER

for me isn’t a good look,” he added. “You want to start the season with the team that is going to go into it. “Doing everything before the season starts would make more sense. “I don’t think either club has done anything wrong, because (Liverpool) want the player, (Newcastle) want the price. “If an agreement isn’t reached, is he going to be rehabilitated back into Newcastle? Will the Newcastle fans accept him? “I have no instinct or gut feeling, because in modern football you can never tell what’s going to happen.” Barnes believes Liverpool arguably need more strength in defensive areas based on their opening performances, but said of their pursuit of Isak: “This is modern football, you get players when you can. If you get an opportunity to get good players, that’s what you do. “But I think the balance has to be right for Liverpool moving forward, because I don’t think we can continue to concede so many chances against the opposition.” – The Independent

“It’s been a fantastic rise for him in terms of what he did in pre-season and now coming on to score the winner, (showing) great composure in terms of the finish. So I’m pleased for him.” Asked if he had the makings of a future England senior international, Barnes said: “Absolutely, but let him grow slowly. “We remember Theo Walcott, he was the same at 16. Let’s not put too much expectation on him, and Liverpool will handle him well. “He’s not going to be a starter for Liverpool anytime soon. “But to involve him in the squad, keep his feet on the ground, let him grow slowly, he’s at the right club for that because Liverpool know how to handle their youngsters.” Alexander Isak’s future at Newcastle was the major pre-match talking point, with the player having expressed a desire to leave and Liverpool having already had one bid rejected. Barnes says he is in favour of the transfer window closing before the season starts. “There’s just so much upheaval somewhere along the line in Premier League football, which

R IO NGUMOHA must be given time to “grow slowly”, according to former Liverpool star John Barnes. The 16-year old, who posed for a photo with Barnes when he was just seven, was the Reds’ stoppage time match-winner in a feisty encounter at Newcastle on Tuesday. He is the fourth youngest player to score in a Premier League fixture, but said after the 3-2 victory he will not get “carried away with all the noise”. Barnes agrees, and believes Liverpool is the perfect place for him to develop. “I’ve heard about Rio for quite a while now,” Barnes said. “I’m friends with his house family, where he has been since he moved up from London. “My friend told me a while ago he had this boy coming from London to live with him and then he actually showed me a picture of me and Rio when Rio was about seven years old in the underground in London.

BRENTFORD boss Keith Andrews believes his side’s hard-fought 2-0 Carabao Cup second-round win at Bournemouth will help silence their doubters. The Bees were Andrews happy to silence negative narrative around Bees Brentford’s Rico Henry (centre) in action with Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams (left)

a club, as a squad.

“We have a real togetherness and I am really pleased with a lot of the performances tonight. “Some of the players coming back from long-term injuries in particular have been on a tough journey. “It’s not easy when you’re not available to play and do the thing you love doing, so with Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey and (Igor) Thiago and his goal there were positives tonight. “We defended amazingly well again and did the basics of the game that I feel will get you results. We came up with two good goals. “The reality is there’s probably been a narrative around the club in recent weeks and months, which I understand to a point because of the departures of staff and players. “But people don’t realise what goes on on a day-to-day basis.” Fabio Carvalho fired Brentford into the lead 11 min utes before half-time, and substitute Thiago sealed the win in the 65th minute after some slack Bournemouth defending. – The Independent

and Alex Scott. – REUTERSPIC

among the pre-sea son favourites for Premier League rele gation after losing Thomas Frank, Bryan Mbeumo and captain Christian Norgaard, but rookie head coach Andrews has now won two of his first three games in charge. He said: “These games are really early in the sea son and you’re looking for fitness levels and to ensure everyone’s fully up to speed. “I think you can see that from the games in general over the last couple of weekends, so it’s important to utilise the squads for that reason. “There were tough calls going into the Villa game at the weekend. Players that were left

out would have been frustrated, and tonight shows what we have as

Skipper warns Reds ahead of Gunners clash

VIRGIL VAN DIJK has cautioned that Liverpool must raise their standards if they are to hold onto their Premier League crown. The Liverpool skipper maintains they are savouring Sunday’s title clash with Arsenal following both rivals securing victories in their opening two fixtures. Nevertheless, Van Dijk acknowledged the manner in which Liverpool are shipping goals – having conceded four across their opening triumphs against Bournemouth and Newcastle – represents a significant concern. The Netherlands centreback argues this should be a greater source of anxiety for Liverpool than Arsenal’s £300 million (RM1.74m) transfer splurge as the Gunners attempt to hunt down and surpass the champions. Van Dijk declared: “I look at it that we have to keep improving to retain the title. Many teams improved their squad but it is down to us personally to find the consistency and win games and nothing else matters.

against Newcastle. Despite the remarkable fighting spirit displayed, he emphasised that tightening up defensively must be their priority. He continued: “After you win a game, then it is maybe easier to give an answer. But I think we have to get back into it a little bit. “I won’t say the performance was bad because we played against a team that was very intense from the start until the end, and it is a difficult place to come. “But there were so many good moments as well. “And at this stage of the season, especially at the start, it is all about the points. “We’re doing pretty well. We don’t want to concede goals and I think today we conceded two goals from set-pieces. “Those two goals got Newcastle back in the game and gave them belief. That is something we have to keep working on, and we will.” – Express Newspapers

“In the other years we were successful, we didn’t look at the other teams. There is no point because all of the teams in the Premier League, in my opinion, are very good. I’m really looking forward to it. “We’re playing a fantastic team with a great manager, that has been challenging for the Premier League for many years now as well. “The games we played against each other are very intense as well. “We have to prepare and we will recover now and then we have to be ready. “The Premier League has no easy games so it doesn’t really matter who you are going to face – it is always going to be difficult, especially when we’re at the stage we’re at right now where the transfer window is still open. “Things could still happen in and out and after the international break, we have the team to go forward.” Van Dijk highlighted the need to improve at set pieces, which proved their achilles heel once more