Football news: Slot casts doubt on Alisson’s future; Livramento blow for Howe
Liverpool’s goalkeeping situation in spotlight as Newcastle manager fears for fitness of his England defender
Slot hints at Alisson exit
Arne Slot has said Liverpool will act in the best interests of the club should an offer arrive for Alisson this summer and the goalkeeper’s vast experience is not the only factor to take into consideration.
Juventus are keen on signing the Brazil international, who is under contract at Anfield until June 2027 after Liverpool recently triggered a 12-month option on his deal. The 33-year-old remains Liverpool’s first-choice keeper and one of the finest in the world when available, but has suffered several hamstring injuries over the past three seasons. Alisson has missed Liverpool’s past six games with a muscle problem and remains a doubt for Saturday’s meeting with Crystal Palace.
Liverpool will lose Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson at the end of this campaign, prompting a call from captain Virgil van Dijk this week for a new leadership group to “step up”. When it was put to Slot that he can ill-afford to lose another experienced leader in Alisson, the head coach did not give any assurances over his future and claimed the club could have a decision to make. He has previously stated that Liverpool may have to sell “good players” to buy this summer.
“Well that is your opinion and I will bring that opinion to the ownership and to Richard,” said Slot, referring to Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director. “The history of all the transfers shows that nothing was done without a purpose or without thinking about it. The people who make these decisions take everything into account. They try to make the best decisions with the interest of the club. It [experience] is definitely one argument to keep him but there are other arguments. That is a decision the club has to make if that is needed. In the end, he still has one year [on his contract].”
Liverpool can take another important step towards Champions League qualification with victory against Palace, who have beaten Slot’s team three times this season already. The Dutchman conceded his side have been dull on occasions but insists there are numerous reasons why his playing style has not prospered this season. “I definitely don’t like hearing that [his team are dull] but in some moments it was true,” Slot conceded. “I would like to react to that with 15 arguments I can hold against it. There comes a lot of criticism with losing games – being boring and what is the style of play?
“But I think we might still be No 1 in terms of ball possession and you don’t have ball possession if you don’t press aggressively. But from that ball possession, you would like a Liverpool team to generate more chances. I can tell you exactly why that is not happening, but I don’t want to do that. It is not the moment for it.” Andy Hunter
Livramento out for rest of season, fears Howe
Eddie Howe is unsure whether Tino Livramento will recover from a thigh problem in time to play again this season. Newcastle’s manager is awaiting the results of a second scan on an injury his England full-back picked up against Bournemouth that could jeopardise the defender’s hopes of being part of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.
“We will wait and see whether Tino plays again this season,” said Howe, who revealed that Anthony Gordon would miss Saturday’s trip to Arsenal with hip trouble. Although the England winger’s potential World Cup participation is not thought to be in doubt, Gordon’s absence at a time when he is being linked with a summer move to Bayern Munich has raised eyebrows. Howe, though, was adamant it is wrong to question the former Everton player’s commitment to Newcastle. “Anthony Gordon is injured, 100%,” he said. “So it’s a non-question [to query his loyalty].”
After eight defeats in 11 league games, Howe’s job security looks weaker than at any time during his St James’ Park tenure but he insisted he was looking forward to meeting Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian majority owners at a club summit next week. “It’s something that happens regularly, so it’s nothing out of the norm for us,” Howe said. “I always like the chance to talk directly to the owners and to express things from my perspective.”
Howe has challenged his team to win their five remaining fixtures and said he believed a lack of confidence rather than disillusionment with his management was to blame for the slump. “Everyone is committed, we are all feeling the pain at the moment,” he said. “But we’re lacking confidence and, when that happens, you can overthink things and try too hard.”
Howe was asked why he continued to leave two of last summer’s marquee attacking signings, Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, on the bench. “You have to reward players for what they deliver,” said Howe, who is expected to persist with Will Osula as his lone striker at Arsenal. Louise Taylor
Guardiola backs Stones for World Cup
Pep Guardiola is certain John Stones can play for England at the World Cup despite the defender having only 353 minutes in the Premier League for Manchester City this season. While the 31-year-old has endured another injury-blighted campaign, Stones is available for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley and may start as the manager is considering resting many frontline players.
Stones last played in the 3-1 FA Cup win at Newcastle United on 7 March but has not featured since and his last league start was the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on 25 October. Under Thomas Tuchel Stones has played 331 minutes for England.
Guardiola believes he can “definitely” play at the World Cup this summer. “He has been injured many times, now he is back. The important thing is in two or three weeks he is already training full and well, and this is the best news. I don’t have doubts with John – when he reaches his level, he is a top central defender. I only want him fit and unfortunately, like last season, a lot of the time it is not possible. Still we have tomorrow [semi-final], we have five, potentially six games]. We will see what happens.”
Guardiola was asked about the high cost of attending the tournament. On Fifa’s resale site, prices for the United States opening match against Paraguay on 12 June in Los Angeles were listed earlier this week as costing $4,105 (£3,039), $2,735, $2,330 and $1,940. “I remember the World Cup years ago was a celebration of the joy of football and everyone travelled from around the globe to see their country and it was affordable. Now, in modern times, it is so expensive. I’m not there so I don’t know the reason why. Hopefully they can think about it. Football is for the fans. They have to think about sponsors and this kind of stuff or it will not be sustainable but fans are the key.” Jamie Jackson
Branthwaite’s latest injury troubles Moyes
David Moyes has said Everton are worried about Jarrad Branthwaite’s hamstring problems after the defender was ruled out for the rest of the season with the injury he sustained against Liverpool.
Branthwaite’s slim hopes of gatecrashing England’s World Cup squad are also over having been taken off on a stretcher in tears in the 87th minute of the derby defeat. The defender missed the first half of this season with a hamstring problem that eventually required surgery. While the latest setback is to a different area and he does not need an operation, Moyes admits Branthwaite’s record is a concern.
The Everton manager, who expects the centre-half to be fit for the start of next season, said: “Jarrad is feeling much better because he’s realised it isn’t an injury to the same area as the hamstring operation, it’s in a different spot. It’s like a hamstring injury that any player could get when you could be out for six weeks or so. We hope he gets back. You see the shape of him, and speed is a big part of his game, and when you’re getting to that level I think there probably is a bigger chance of getting hamstring injuries. We feel for him because he played really well in the game.
“I hope it’s not [a risk in the future]. I don’t want to say it’s growing pains because it’s far from that, he’s a grown man now, but I think he’s still learning more about himself and what he does. But ultimately he’s had a couple of hamstrings now and we’re worried about it.”
Moyes will take charge of his 750th game in the Premier League when he returns to former club West Ham on Saturday. The Scot said Everton were “bubbling away” with anger over their 100th-minute defeat in the derby but, with Beto missing due to concussion protocols, accepted it would not be easy to vent that frustration against the relegation-threatened Hammers.
“They are fighting for everything,” added Moyes. “West Ham is a really good football club that shouldn’t be going into the Championship, but the Premier League is unforgiving and if you’re not quite at it, you don’t recruit right or spend enough, you can find yourself in that position. Chopping and changing managers doesn’t help either. Clubs need to look at themselves a bit to see if they can do a better job.” Andy Hunter
Nuno plots surprise for returning Everton manager
Nuno Espírito Santo plans a few surprises for David Moyes when the former West Ham manager brings Everton to the London Stadium. The Hammers need a win against their two-time former manager to ensure they stay out of the relegation zone. But Nuno, who has previously managed Wolves, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, knows the advantages of facing a former club.
“It’s not just another game, basically because we’ve been in these clubs. I speak for myself,” he said. “The advantage is that you know the players. You sometimes know the routines. In this case, David knows the routines and knows the players. So we have to try and make new things happen so we don’t become so predictable. But it’s not just another game. It’s always a special game due to respect and love that you have from former clubs. But you want to win. You want to compete and win.” PA Media
Rangers and Celtic row over tickets for Old Firm game
Rangers have complained to the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) after being told they will receive no tickets for the crucial derby at Celtic Park unless they exclude the Union Bears supporters group.
Rangers rejected Celtic’s conditions for handing over tickets for the 10 May encounter, which could have a major say in the Premiership title race. Celtic reacted with “surprise and disappointment” that Rangers did not agree to the stipulations.
The move comes after a number of supporters invaded the pitch from the area housing the Union Bears after Celtic’s Scottish Cup win at Ibrox on 8 March. A Celtic player and member of staff were allegedly assaulted as Rangers fans charged towards the Broomloan Stand after visiting fans spilled on to the pitch to celebrate.
A Rangers statement read: “Celtic informed us that they will not provide any tickets for the forthcoming game to our supporters unless we agree not to allocate tickets to members of the Union Bears. We have firmly rejected those conditions and have referred the matter to the SPFL board.
“Rangers is fully committed to safety at football matches, and we have been clear in condemning the actions of certain individuals on 8 March. We have been attempting to work with Celtic to mitigate any security concerns for the upcoming match.
“At a crucial stage of the season, the removal of away supporters from one of the defining fixtures of the competition would introduce a clear and material sporting imbalance. It would also set a precedent with potentially significant consequences for the league in future seasons.
“This game is an opportunity for Scottish football to demonstrate that it can respond constructively to recent events. It should be a showcase occasion and a chance to rebuild confidence in how matches of this nature are managed.
“We ask the SPFL board to uphold the integrity of the competition, enforce the rules and ensure that the agreement in place between both clubs is honoured.”
A statement from Celtic read: “To be clear, we are ready and willing to make the full allocation as normal available to Rangers, subject to a condition regarding distribution to a particular section.
“Celtic’s priority will always be the safety of those attending Celtic Park, and following a detailed risk assessment with regards to the forthcoming match, the club has made a reasonable request of Rangers that tickets are not distributed to a section of supporters which very recently and identifiably engaged in serious violence and disorder involving Celtic supporters, staff, police and stewards.
“To our surprise and disappointment Rangers have not agreed to this request. Celtic are ready to engage further with the SPFL and Rangers on this matter.”
An SPFL spokesperson said: “The SPFL board will now appoint a subcommittee to consider Rangers’ request for a determination under SPFL Rule I27.”
That rule dictates that clubs must make provision for a “reasonable number” of visiting fans and allows the SPFL board to determine the number of tickets. PA Media