02/02/2026

SPORTS MONDAY | FEB 2, 2026

29 Slot hails Konate France international’s early return from compassionate leave helps Reds down Magpies

Football killing managers’ celebrations: Moyes DAVID MOYES fears modern football is in danger of killing managers’ celebrations after he was booked for running on to the pitch following Everton’s dramatic late equaliser in a 1-1 Premier League draw at Brighton. The Toffees boss struggled to contain his emotions at the Amex Stadium when substitute Beto struck in the seventh minute of added time to cancel out Pascal Gross’ 73rd minute opener. Moyes’ joy was reminiscent of David Pleat dashing on to the Maine Road pitch after his Luton side avoided relegation from the top flight on the final day of the 1982-83 season with a 1-0 win against Manchester City. The 62-year-old Scot briefly contemplated a knee slide and insisted the yellow card will not curb his enthusiasm in future. “I hope you’re not going to call me ‘Pleaty’ going forward,” said Moyes. “The difference is David Pleat doesn’t get booked for it, they think it’s OK and everybody enjoys seeing the celebrations. “We’re killing it that the managers can’t come out of their technical area to celebrate a goal, knee sliding, do things which give you people quite a bit to talk about.” Asked if he would do it again, Moyes replied: “I bloody will do it again! Actually, if I’d been a bit more mobile, I might have done a knee slide. That would only have got me a yellow as well, so I might as well have gone the whole hog.” Everton produced a poor first-half display but were the dominant side in the second period and wasted a golden chance through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall before falling behind to Gross’ first Brighton goal since his return from Borussia Dortmund. The Seagulls, who almost went ahead in the 19th minute courtesy of Kaoru Mitoma, looked to have done enough to hang on for all three points. But Beto sparked jubilant scenes at the death by tapping home after Jake O’Brien’s thumping effort was spilled by Seagulls goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. “It was a bit of a crazy ending because it didn’t look as if we were going to get the equaliser,” said Moyes. “It was in many ways deserved. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has a chance to put us one up, they missed a big chance in the first half as well.” – The Independent Ű BY EDWARD ELLIOT

Ű BY CARL MARKHAM

room after the final whistle. When he came in, every one was cheering. “It is very nice for him to score a goal when he has had such a difficult time and I think this team has shown we are always there for each other in difficult circumstances – that’s what they were for him in the last few days.” Konate’s goal came after Hugo Ekitike scored twice ahead of Florian Wirtz’s sixth in 10 matches as Liverpool came from behind to win a Premier League match for the first time since April. “Everyone should talk about his goals or his actions but for me as a manager I see throughout the last six or seven months a lot of improvement off the ball, ability to keep on going off the ball,” said Slot on Ekitike. Newcastle’s defeat meant they have not won at Anfield in 32 years. “We didn’t create a host of chances but we were the better team and deservedly scored,” said man ager Eddie Howe, who was not expecting any sign ings before the close of the transfer window with only Jamaal Lascelles a possible departure. “Imploded? I don’t know if that is the right word but we could have defended better. You have got to give Ekitike a lot of credit for the second.” – The Independent

“He had a very difficult two weeks and probably still has a difficult time. We spoke at the end of last week when he said he was planning to be back for the end of this week and it would have meant he could not play this game,” said Slot. “But when he saw the problems we had defensively he called me early this week and said: ‘I want to be back to help the team against Newcastle.’ “He came back on Wednesday and

L IVERPOOL head coach Arne Slot praised the commitment of Ibrahima Konate after the centreback cut short his compassionate leave to help relieve their defensive issues. The France international’s father died last week and he was not due to return until Friday but with Joe Gomez still injured

and also no fit recognised right-back, the 26-year-old called to say he would be back sooner than planned and marked his return to the team with the last goal in a 4-1 win over Newcastle. He broke down in tears after

trained twice with us. Today, not only he scored a goal but he played a great game and the fans were really appreciative throughout the whole game but defi nitely at the end when he scored. “His teammates were just as appre ciative when he came in the dressing

scoring his first League goal at Anfield but was immediately surrounded by his teammates,

including goal keeper Alisson Becker – who lost his own father almost five years ago – who sprinted 100 yards to join in.

Rosenior defends substituted players

Ű BY ROBERT O’CONNOR

a collective failure in the first half. “My biggest learning is that there’s a spirit and a fight, and a resilience in this group that I really like,” he said. “I’ve demanded from the first day. I’ve spoken about reacting positively to setbacks, about reactions to losing the ball, pressing, energy and intensity. All of that was there in the second half which wasn’t there in the first half. “I don’t put that just down to the changes I made. We’ve had so many games in a short space of time, I was fearful of a lack of energy. I felt our decision-making was really poor in the first half. “The reaction in the second half tells me we’ve got something really special here if I can utilise the squad in the correct way.” Jorrel Hato, Alejandro Garnacho and Benoit Badiashile were the players withdrawn at half-time. “It’s easy right – the individuals came off and then people will look at them,” said Rosenior. “That wasn’t on them. It was a collective poor performance in the first half.” West Ham’ manager Nuno Espirito Santo, whose side remain five points adrift of safety, reflected on the challenge to come, but bemoaned the way his team had allowed Chelsea back. “There’s a lot of football to be played,” he said. “If we can maintain the levels we played at in the first half, we will win matches. “We allowed their centrehalf to step in and cross (for Pedro’s goal). After that we tried to survive.” – The Independent front of goal and rued his side’s missed chances. Edwards said: “We have to be more ruthless and find a way to take those chances. That’s not me coming for an individual but need to find a way to put the ball in the back of the net. We cre ated too much not to have. “I was convinced if we found an equaliser we could’ve pushed to win it. I don’t feel we deserved to lose.” – The Independent

LIAM ROSENIOR refused to blame the players he replaced as three half time substitutions helped Chelsea storm back to win 3-2 against West Ham at Stamford Bridge. There were seven changes from the side which had beaten Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday, and that decision backfired heavily as the home side were booed off at the break following goals from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville. The Blues looked a mess, disorganised down a left flank from where the Hammers scored their two goals and lacking in cohesion in attack. Rosenior turned to Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro on his bench at the interval and the move paid off – it was the first time in Premier League history that Chelsea had come from two down at half time to win. Fofana set up a goal for Pedro then Cucurella headed home the equaliser.

Pedro, fresh from his two goals in Naples, set up the winner in stoppage time for Enzo Fernandez, but afterwards R o s e n i o r p o i n t e d towards

West Ham’s Jean-Clair Todibo (left) clashes with Chelsea’s Joao Pedro before being sent off during yesterday’s Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. – REUTERSPIC

Iraola delighted with Cherries’ reaction to Semenyo exit

Ű BY SUNNY BADWAL

of January, considering the factor of Antoine. I think we’ve played very well in December but were not getting the rewards for performances. “We were drawing a lot of games and I hope we can continue. I said it before, it’s impossible to replace Antoine player for player but if we play well as a team we will find players who can score goals.” Wolves boss Rob Edwards admitted his side have to be more ruthless in

mer talisman Semenyo. Iraola believes his side are now get ting the rewards for their performances following a first away win since August. He said: “Very important (win) because we have good results at home but away we were struggling more, a lot of draws but there have been good per formances lately at Chelsea, (Manchester) United and Brighton – we really needed this win. “We have done a very good month

at Molineux. Andre’s error led to Junior Kroupi smashing in his eighth goal of the sea son for the opener and the Cherries had to wait till stoppage time in the second half to seal the points when Alex Scott finished emphatically from close range. Following a run of 11 games without a win earlier this season, Bournemouth have responded with three victories from their last four matches and con tinue their upturn in results without for

BOURNEMOUTH BOSS Andoni Iraola is delighted with how his side have reacted to the departure of Antoine Semenyo after they extended their unbeaten run to four matches with a 2 0 victory over Wolves. Bournemouth have now won two of their last three matches since Semenyo made the switch to Man City and their latest came with a hard-fought display