25/12/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | DEC 25, 2025

30

Newcastle boss Howe takes no comfort from recent United record

NEWCASTLE MANAGER Eddie Howe (pic) said the Magpies’ recent good run against Manchester United will count for little at Old Trafford on Saturday (4am Malaysian time). Howe's men will arrive at the “Theatre of Dreams”having won five of their last six games in all competitions against United and four of the last five Premier League encounters since they lost 2-0 to the Red Devils in the 2023 League Cup final. But asked if that Wembley reverse had proved a catalyst for his team, Howe replied: “I don’t know. “That was a painful moment, but I think you just go against every opponent in an honest way. My process is to see the strengths and weaknesses of

Howe. “You can see the crowd are really happy for him and he’s happy to embrace the celebrations with the crowd. “I thought it was his best performance for the team on Saturday. I thought he played really well, especially in the first half. “You saw his qualities returning for the team, really, in the sense that his linking play … he was dropping slightly lower on the pitch, he helped us build the ball through the thirds of the pitch, but most importantly when the ball arrived in the box, he was there.” – AFP

were really strong and produced a good performance.” Newcastle finished 10 places and 24 points ahead of Manchester United last season, but will run out for the Boxing Day clash three points adrift of their hosts after letting two slip in Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Chelsea. Record signing Nick Woltemade scored both goals in an impressive first half display to strengthen his bond with Newcastle's loyal and passionate supporters. “You can see that when

the team that we’re playing against. “You don’t particularly look at the name or who you’re playing as such, you just attack the game, then try to highlight those weaknesses and try to protect yours, so it doesn’t really change the process is the same.” The former Bournemouth manager added: “Our record has been good against Manchester United in recent games, but that counts for nothing in this game. “It will be another independent game and as I say, they’ve improved, they’ve been really strong in the games – even the game at Aston Villa, where they didn’t win in their last match, I thought they

he scores, he’s got a really good connection,” said

Long layoff for Isak Liverpool’s Swedish striker faces two months out after ‘reckless’ tackle A LEXANDER ISAK faces two months on the sidelines after fracturing his leg in a “reckless challenge” from Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven, Liverpool boss Arne Slot said yesterday. The Sweden striker was injured in a tackle from the defender in the act of scoring the opening goal in Sunday’s 2-1 victory at Spurs. The Premier League champions said in a statement on Monday the forward had undergone surgery on “an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture” in his left leg. “It’s going to be a long injury, for a couple of months,” Slot told reporters. “So, yeah, that’s a big, big, big disappoint ment for him. And as a result also of course for us.” The Dutchman, whose team are fifth in the Premier League, described Van de Ven’s tackle as “reckless”. “The tackle of Van de Ven, if you make that tackle 10 times, I think 10 times there’s a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury,” he said. Tottenham boss Thomas Frank was unimpressed with Slot’s verdict and jumped to Van de Ven’s defence when he faced the media just hours after the Liverpool manager’s blast. “I am obviously disagreeing in many ways. Unfortunately Isak plants his foot so it makes it look worse than it is, but that is a natural action for a defender,” Frank said. “Reckless challenge? I don’t think you see anything like that from Micky. He is very fair and I know the two players have sorted it out, so that’s a good sign.” Isak’s injury is the latest setback for the 26-year-old after he signed from Newcastle for a British record fee of £125 million (RM684m) on transfer deadline

6065/2025

24/12/2025 (WED)

8587 9995 5913

2912 4739 9686 9584 6796

3950 4101 9101 5304 9814

3470 0465 7890 9111 9390

2629 3212 4000 0856 8331

Draw Date: 24/12/25 (Wed)

Draw No: 6012/25 Venue: WISMA GENTING, KL

8603 1209 2798

3,564,787.74

3081+ 1588 1918 + 8874 7355+ 2561 9326+ 1405 1101 + 7158

8867 + 7349 7546 + 9929 2204 + 3958 2167 + 3052 1956 + 8771

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140,742.91

5

RM19,613,733.70

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1209 + 8603 2798 + 8603 2798 + 1209

8587 9995 5913 HORSE

day in September. He arrived at Anfield lacking match fitness after his protracted move and subsequently suffered a groin injury, which set him back further. Slot admitted it had been a “challeng ing and difficult period” for his new striker, who has scored just three goals in 16 appearances in all competitions. But he believes Isak could still play a valuable role later in the season. “You join a new club, usually when you join a new club, he was very excited of course as well, but you want to show immediately all the qualities you have, but that was simply impossible,” said Slot. “Maybe no one understands, but if you haven’t trained for three or four months on a serious level with the team, and you are playing in this league you need to be on top of your game to impact a game of football.” Slot added: “We always knew it would take him time and that’s why he’s so unlucky that he’s now injured because we all saw with his goal against West Ham, with this goal, that he was getting closer and closer to the player he was last season at Newcastle.” Isak’s absence will be a major blow for Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo a doubt for Saturday’s home match against bottom club Wolves. Hugo Ekitike, who has scored five goals in his past four games, and the lit tle-used Federico Chiesa are the only fit senior forwards. Isak’s injury means Liverpool could boost their attacking options in the January transfer window but Slot was tightlipped when asked about a potential move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. – AFP

RM335,396.80

RM241,388.80

488 603 + HORSE

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RM710,000.00

571 209 + DOG

1 6 5 8 0 7 2 0 6 3

RM813,339.00

632 798 + RABBIT

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3,132,280.36

5 10 16 25 30 41 34

12,805,126.34

298,837.24

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