14/10/2026

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | OCT 14, 2026

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Invincibles no more!

MIKEL ARTETA said Arsenal “lost two players” to freak injuries during a post match cool-down, something he said had “never happened in seven years” that he had spent at the club. The Gunners returned to Premier League action after the extended international break with a 2-1 win over Leeds on Saturday, with Riccardo Calafiori and Bruno Guimaraes secur ing all three points despite them fal ling behind early. But a post-match training session ended in disaster for Piero Hincapie, who was pictured being carried off the pitch, and Martin Zubimendi. Arteta explained yesterday: “We had a training session planned for after the game for players that did not have enough minutes, and in two very unfortunate actions we lost two play ers. Not great. “We need to assess them today and have further scans to see where they are then we will have a timeframe on how long they are going to be out for. “It’s far from ideal.” Both players missed training yester day ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League encounter with Lille at the Emirates today. Arteta said both were ankle inju ries, with the one suffered by Hincapie more serious, while he also seemed displeased goalkeeper Illan Meslier carried the Ecuador international off the pitch rather than a member of staff. He said: “That’s something else, not to discuss here.” He had a sharp response when asked what could be done to prevent such injuries occurring, saying: “Very easy, you don’t train. If they never train then they don’t get injured, but the consequence to that is when they are needed to play they have no rhythm and when you ask them to play they are going to have no impact in the game. “That could happen at the Emirates – it never happened in seven years that I have been here. It could happen the next day in the training session. That has happened before and hopefully it doesn’t happen again. “What can you do? If I had a crystal ball I would just say ‘guys, get in the Jacuzzi and I will see you tomorrow’.” However, he had more positive news on William Saliba, with the Frenchman having returned to train ing after suffering a back injury at the World Cup this summer. He said: “He has been back now for over a week at least. It is about manag ing that load and how many repeti tions and sessions in a row that he can do. But he is building now his capacity to do good standards and then in the coming weeks we can start to intro duce him again into the team to see where we are and when we can actu ally make him available to the squad.” The Spaniard added that “we are still talking in terms of weeks” before Saliba’s return and he did not know for sure whether he would be fit after the next international break in November. He added: “It is a very specific heal ing process and I cannot tell you exactly how he is going to react to it.” – The Independent ‘Never happened in seven years’ Ű BY FLO CLIFFORD

Ű BY RICHARD JOLLY

Liverpool face big questions after City expose Anfield flaw – but it’s too early to write off Reds’ transfer strategy

T HE Iraola Invincibles are no more. Rayan Cherki’s superb goal helped Manchester City condemn Liverpool to their first defeat under Andoni Iraola, ending a run that had stretched back to January. The result also ensured Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan remain the only permanent Liverpool managers to go unbeaten in their first six league games in charge. Iraola had not suffered a defeat in 90 minutes since Jan 3, although Liverpool could point to Ryan Gravenberch’s red card as a turning point at Anfield. “I think the analysis is quite clear,” said Iraola. “I think we played two different games: one until the red card, and one from the red card until the end.” City’s visit was expected to provide a stern test of Liverpool’s progress under their new manager. Instead, the final half hour exposed the gap between the Premier League leaders and a Liverpool side still adapting to Iraola’s demands. Liverpool were also weakened by injuries, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo unavailable. The absences limited Iraola’s options and highlighted City’s greater squad depth, with Jeremy Doku proving a decisive substitute. Doku played a key role in Gravenberch’s dis missal and contributed to all three goals, underlining City’s ruthlessness when Liverpool began to unravel. Gravenberch had endured a difficult start under Iraola and was dropped after Liverpool’s opening draw against Newcastle. However, he appeared to be enjoying his best

Barcola will ultimately help determine whether the club’s substantial investment pays off. An alternative approach would have spread the budget across more players, potentially giving Iraola greater depth. Liverpool’s squad has looked thin during his early tenure, although the returns of Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai should provide relief. Iraola indicated, however, that none would be available for the Champions League meeting with LASK tomorrow (12.45am Malaysian time), while Gravenberch will miss Saturday’s trip to Brentford through suspension. Despite the setback, there are encouraging signs. Anfield has responded to Iraola’s high-tempo foot ball, and his willingness to make difficult selection decisions has already demonstrated a desire to reshape the team.

performance under the Spaniard before his dis missal while attempting to stop a counter-attack. His departure left Iraola short of midfield options, with Trey Nyoni waiting to enter as Erling Haaland opened the scoring. Liverpool, meanwhile, lacked City’s clinical edge. Lewis Koumas brought energy to the press on his first Premier League start but failed to convert either of his opportunities. Comparing the young forward with Haaland may be unfair, but Liverpool’s expensive attacking rein forcements faced an equally uncomfortable com parison. Since his £125 million (RM676m) move to Anfield, Isak has not featured in any of Liverpool’s four meetings with City. Haaland, by contrast, has scored six goals across those matches. Liverpool’s other marquee signings also struggled to make an impact. Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola remain without goals this season, while City’s Cherki and Doku made decisive contributions. Liverpool had considered Cherki before signing Wirtz, making the Frenchman’s performance an uncomfort able reminder of the decision. However, it remains too early to declare Liverpool’s recruitment strategy a failure. The performances of Isak, Wirtz and

Liverpool’s strongest displays against Atletico Madrid and Tottenham have come in other competitions, however, and ninth place in the Premier League underlines the work still required. Iraola’s project is far from finished. But City’s ruthless victory offered an early warning that enthusiasm and ambition alone will not close the gap at the top. – The Independent

Coventry crush Newcastle at home to climb out of relegation zone

COVENTRY earned a slice of Premier League history as they climbed out of the relegation zone with a stylish 4-1 win against Newcastle yesterday. Frank Lampard’s side are the first club in 127 years to secure successive English top-flight victories immedi ately after losing their opening four games without scoring. Jack Rudoni’s penalty early in the first half put Coventry ahead with their first ever Premier League goal at the CBS Arena, which became their home in 2005. Guinean forward Sidiki Cherif increased the Sky Blues’ lead after the interval. Sven Botman got one back for Newcastle, but Ellis Simms and Stephen Mfuni struck late to ensure Coventry jumped from 19th to 14th place. Lampard’s men had taken their first points of the season by beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 before the international break and Coventry’s first

win over Newcastle since 1999 bol stered their bid to avoid relegation in their first season in the Premier League since 2001. They will look to make it three con secutive wins when they travel to trou bled Tottenham on Oct 20. “Today we showed a big energy and showed our abilities. Some quality goals went in,” Lampard said after Coventry’s first top-flight home win for 25 years. “You have to ride a bit of luck, but we did it. If we don’t have that spirit, we haven’t got a chance. We need eve rybody. “We have to keep our feet on the ground because it’s so hard in this league. If you think you have cracked it you haven’t.” A win would have taken Newcastle into fourth place, but instead they were beaten for the sec ond time in six league games this season. – AFP

Coventry’s Sidiki Cherif (bottom) celebrates with Jack Rudoni after scoring their team’s second goal against Newcastle at Coventry Building Society Arena yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

TOUCHLINES

CHELSEA are willing to meet Bournemouth’s ask ing price for 23-year-old England midfielder Alex Scott in January, although the Cherries are still hopeful he will sign a new deal. A HOST of Premier League clubs are interested in signing Inter Milan’s 21-year-old Serbia mid fielder Aleksandar Stankovic. BRIGHTON have identified Red Bull Salzburg’s Polish attacking midfielder Bartosz Mazurek, 19, as a leading January target. LIVERPOOL are considering a move for 19-year old Barcelona and Spain midfielder Marc Bernal. ASTON VILLA are planning to make a move to sign 20-year-old Brazil striker Endrick on loan from Real Madrid in January.

FORMER Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann has been linked with a return to RB Leipzig but Red Bull football chief Roger Schmidt has rejected those rumours and backed current boss Martin Demichelis. ARSENAL, Aston Villa and Newcastle United are chasing Norway forward Antonio Nusa, who is val ued at £60m (RM324m) by RB Leipzig. EVERTON hold the strongest interest in Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul, although Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton and Leeds United have the 26-year-old France international on their radar. ASTON VILLA have set aside the money for a possi ble £18m (RM97m) bid to sign Athletico Paranaense and Colombia striker Kevin Viveros, 26.

MANCHESTER UNITED will be taking a close look at Atletico Madrid’s 23-year-old Argentina forward Giuliano Simeone when the two sides meet in the Champions League. CHELSEA need to pay at least £50m (RM270m) to tempt Barcelona into selling Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong, 29, in January. WERDER BREMEN do not have an option to sign on-loan Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug, 33, from West Ham and the clubs are yet to hold any talks on a future deal. BELGIUM goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 34, is very close to extending his contract with Real Madrid until 2028.