23/01/2026

SPORTS FRIDAY | JAN 23, 2026

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Gerrard begs Slot to ‘stop mentioning low blocks’ after Reds win

SHORTS Man City players to refund fans

Ű BY CHRIS WILSON

will turn those low block games into wins, rather than draws.” Gerrard emphasised that the club will continue to face low blocks as they hunt for European football this season. “It’s not going to change, it’s what this team are going to face,” explained the 45-year-old. “They’re going to probably face a low block at times against Bournemouth at the weekend but they’ve got to be ruthless, they’ve got to show their talent, the big players have got to step forward and score the goals that are needed to win them games because they are diffi cult to win.” – The Independent

because it can’t be easy when you’re under that pressure, when results are not consistent. But his tactics were spot on tonight and I think he deserves a lot of praise and credit,” said Gerrard. “But he needs to stop mentioning low blocks. Low blocks have been happening to Liverpool ever since I played and many, many years before me, that’s just the way it is. “Teams are going to do that, they’re going to try and do every thing they can to stop Liverpool. The key is, you’ve got to find the solutions. You’ve got the players to do it, you’ve got to find the solutions and then you

old replied: “I know why we’re not consistent and that is mainly to do when a game is open, it is completely different than playing against a low block. “You cannot compare that with the game tonight when both teams want to press and play out from the back. If we’re inconsistent, it’s because we struggle with low blocks.” While Gerrard was full of praise for the performance offered by his for mer club, the ex-England interna tional highlighted that Slot “needs to stop mentioning low blocks” and instead work on finding solutions. “I’m really pleased for him (Slot)

FORMER Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard claimed Reds boss Arne Slot “needs to stop mentioning low blocks” after the Dutchman blamed his side’s inconsistency on matches where teams sit deep. Liverpool ran out 3-0 winners over Marseille at the Stade Velodrome on Wednesday evening as Slot’s side suc cessfully navigated a potentially tricky away fixture, with the Liverpool boss praising his side after the win. However, when asked what the key factor is to going on a consistent run of winning matches, the 47-year Caicedo strikes late

MANCHESTER CITY’S players will refund ticket costs for fans who flew all the way to the Arctic Circle only to witness a humiliating 3-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League. City suffered one of the most chastening results in their history on Wednesday as the Norwegian minnows claimed their first Champions League group-stage victory. The entire 55,000 population of Bodo could nearly fit into City’s Etihad Stadium, while the financial gulf between the clubs is huge. City’s players have agreed to reimburse the cost of tickets for the 374 supporters who made the trip. Tickets for the tie at the tiny Aspmyra Stadion cost around £25 (RM136) each. A statement yesterday from City’s group of captains, comprising Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Erling Haaland, said: “Our supporters mean everything to us. “We know the sacrifice that our fans make when they travel across the world to support us home and away and we will never take it for granted. “They are the best fans in the world. “We also recognise that it was a lot of travelling for the fans who supported us in the freezing cold throughout a difficult evening for us on the pitch. “Covering the cost of these tickets for the fans who travelled to Bodo is the least we can do.” The refund gesture was welcomed by Kevin Parker, a representative of City’s official supporters club. Boro regain C’hip second place MIDDLESBROUGH moved back into second place in the Championship promotion race after a 2-1 win at Stoke yesterday. Kim Hellberg’s side had been knocked out of the second automatic promotion berth by Ipswich’s 2-0 victory over Bristol City earlier. But Middlesbrough regained the initiative in the battle to reach the Premier League with a gritty success in the Potteries. Second-placed M’brough’s third successive league victory left them six points behind leaders Coventry and two ahead of third-placed Ipswich. Southampton eased the mounting pressure on boss Tonda Eckert, ending a seven match winless run with a 1-0 victory against Sheffield United at St Mary’s. Saints climbed one place to 15th position, while United remain 17th, four points above the relegation zone, after slipping to a third successive defeat. Portsmouth moved out of the bottom three after a 1-1 draw against Watford, whose hopes of regaining a playoff place were thwarted at Vicarage Road.

Ecuadorian late header spares Chelsea’s blushes in crucial Pafos victory M OISES CAICEDO’S late goal gave Chelsea a vital 1-0 win against Cypriot minnows Pafos yesterday as the Blues moved closer to automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16. In Liam Rosenior’s first Champions League game as Chelsea boss, Caicedo netted in the closing stages at Stamford Bridge to end Pafos’ stubborn resistance. Chelsea’s fourth victory from seven Champions League group stage matches lifted them into eighth place. A win at Napoli in their final group game on Jan 29 would likely be enough to send Chelsea through to the last 16, depending on other results. The Blues would face the unwanted stress of a play off round if they finish outside the top eight. “I was delighted for Moises Caicedo to get the goal and the win we deserved,” Rosenior said. “Moises is an outstanding player, a world-class mid fielder. When you play against a low block your pivot players play higher up and hopefully he can continue chipping in with goals.” Rosenior has won three times and lost once in his first four games since arriving from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca, who left Stamford Bridge after mounting tensions with the club’s hierarchy. It was far from plain sailing for Rosenior as Chelsea struggled to find a way past inspired Pafos keeper Jay Gorter before Caicedo made the breakthrough. Optimistic Chelsea fans have noted their two Champions League triumphs in 2012 and 2021 came after they changed manager in mid-season. But there is a long way to go before Rosenior can hope to emulate those iconic victories masterminded by Roberto Di Matteo and Thomas Tuchel. Chelsea have been steady rather than eye-catching so far under Rosenior, with far sterner tests lying in wait in the surprise choice to replace Maresca. “Of course you want to score more goals but the reality is we are in the top eight,” Rosenior said. “We have to keep focusing on the job and that is to win as many games as possible. I can’t affect how peo ple judge me but I am very excited for the future of this club. I would like the fans to be with us and with me but to do that I need to earn that.” Rosenior made six changes from the 2-0 win over Brentford on Saturday, with injured England forward Cole Palmer absent due to a slight strain. – AFP

Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo (centre) scores the winning goal during yesterday’s Champions League match against Pafos at Stamford Bridge. – REUTERSPIC

Lopez brace leads Barca Champions League win

FERMIN LOPEZ’S first half brace and second half goals by Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski earned Barcelona a 4-2 Champions League win at Slavia Prague yesterday. The result keeps Barca in conten tion for a top-eight finish in the league phase, which guarantees direct passage to the last 16. The Catalans face Copenhagen at home in their final league phase game next week. “I’m happy that we came back and the team played really good and I also think at the end we deserved the

and two goals in the Champions League this season. “We knew it would be a tough game because of the cold, the pitch, they put the pressure on you really well here and it got tricky after their goal,” Lopez told Movistar . “We wanted to keep a clean sheet but it was tricky. Still, the most impor tant thing is the victory, and we won by two, and now on to the next match.” Flick was without the suspended Lamine Yamal and striker Ferran Torres due to a muscle injury.

points,” Barca coach Hansi Flick told reporters. “We didn’t start well in this Champions League, but at the end we still have the chance to reach the (top) eight and this is what we want, because then we’ll have two games less,” he added. Barca got back to winning ways on a freezing night in Prague after Sunday’s La Liga loss at Real Sociedad ended a run of 11 successive victories. Reigning Czech champions Slavia, returning from a winter break, had previously only managed three draws

He said he expected another diffi cult game against Copenhagen. Yamal will return for that match but Torres and Pedri are in doubt and De Jong is ruled out after picking up a yellow card in Prague. “But at the end it’s like that, we have to manage it and we have the chance to reach the (top) eight. And this is our goal,” the German coach said. Slavia were eliminated after a fourth loss in seven European outings left them third-bottom in the stand ings. – AFP