Connect with us

CK Updates

Wolves 1-3 Liverpool: Arne Slot’s side reach FA Cup quarter-finals

Published

on

Anfield

Against Wolves, the old guard did the job for Slot with Salah, Robertson and Jones sending Liverpool to victory.

The criticism and spotlight on Salah this season only intensified when he accused the club of “throwing me under the bus” in an explosive interview in December.

He left soon after for the Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt losing to Senegal in the semi-final in January, and the forward now has four goals in 11 games since his return.

Yet the 33-year-old has been nowhere near the levels he set last season, when he scored 34 goals in all competitions as Liverpool won their second Premier League title.

It was a lacklustre first half at Molineux from the forward before he added Liverpool‘s second – although such was the quality of Robertson’s cross he could not miss.

There does appear to have been a truce between Salah and the club, although every goal could be his last for them after a decorated Anfield career.

It was also a rare Robertson strike, in a rare start this season, with the 31-year-old close to leaving for Tottenham in January.

Advertisement

But the Scotland international showed his reliability – along with Jones, who continues to do the same.

Both the midfielder’s goals this season have come in the last two rounds of the FA Cup, having scored in the fourth-round win over Brighton as well.

At 25 Jones is far from old, but he has 215 appearances for Liverpool and the academy graduate has been dependable and valuable for both Klopp and Slot amid big money buys.

It means youngster Rio Ngumoha has the perfect place and perfect players to learn from after the 17-year-old made the fourth start of his young career.

“It’s special when you are 17 years old if you are able to impact it with some very good one-v-one situations,” said Slot. “That also makes him special, there are not many players in the modern game who do that.

“He also did better than three days ago because he kept the ball more. Three days ago he also had impact and today he was even better.

“It was a nice moment to use all his energy for the attacking part.”

Advertisement

CK Updates

Hibs: David Gray ‘will continue until told otherwise’ – but has Hibs boss lost the fans?

Published

on

David Gray took charge permanently in 2024 after three caretaker spells

Kieron: Kilmarnock could have won by three or four and it wouldn’t of flattered them. Hibs were so poor tonight. David Gray’s position is hanging by a thread.

Stuart: The players on that pitch have to take as much responsibility as Gray for this result, nowhere near good enough. Amateur performance.

Andy: How can Gray continue to keep his job? The players are not playing for him. The club is a mess. Banning the only fans that bring an atmosphere. Benching three of our best players. So confusing.

Chris: Question the tactics. Thought for long time long ball is desperate and lacks ambition. Pressure indeed on David Gray.

Lee: If we end the game two points off bottom spot then it’s surely time up for the Hibs manager. It’s not a run and recovery from a bad position needed, it’s deliver and results from the get go the support demands for a club of our size.

Stuart: The players on that pitch have to take as much responsibility as David Gray for this result, nowhere near good enough. Amateur performance.

Paul: Long balls to no-one as usual from Hibs and as usual our keeper is a weak link. Gray has to go even if we win as this is awful football. Bring in Neil Lennon or Steve Clarke asap before our season drifts to nothing as usual.

Advertisement

Andy: How can Gray continue to keep his job? The players are not playing for him. The club is a mess. Banning the only fans that bring an atmosphere. Benching three of our best players. So confusing.

Brian: Worst backline in Scotland, midfielders trot about like headless chickens, feel sorry for strikers. Gray clueless. No plan. No tactics. Blah, blah, blah after game as usual but won’t resign. Board have to act.

SMcDhfc: David Gray has lost the team, it was obvious tonight. As an attacking force, we were shocking, lots of huffing and puffing but not one real effort on target. The players should be embarrassed after that display, but they will get the result they are after, Gray sacked.

Craig: I like Gray but believe it’s time he goes. He has one formation. It’s just not good enough. But, if he goes, Malky MacKay [director of football] should go too. His signings have been terrible.

Continue Reading

CK Updates

Thomas Tuchel: England boss regrets not eating Azteca turf after World Cup win in Mexico

Published

on

Thomas Tuchel, wearing a dark polo shirt, clenches two fists and grins in celebration

England’s victory was only the third time Mexico had tasted defeat at the stadium in 90 competitive matches.

Tuchel described it as one of the highlights of the campaign and hailed the “huge bond” within the camp, especially the reaction to Jordan Henderson’s tournament-ending injury after falling over an advertising hoarding while celebrating the Azteca success.

“This game had so much of what you could wish for,” added the German. “If you needed any proof of what it meant to these players and how they were with each other, it was the moment Jordan fell over and broke his arm.

“Within a second, the players were there. Every single player was there stopping the celebrations, building a shield, protecting Jordan, not going anywhere, in full empathy. It was so special.”

England are next in action against World Cup winners Spain on 26 September in their 2026-27 Uefa Nations League opener, with the 2028 European Championships also on Tuchel’s radar.

Confident of ending England’s wait for a first senior men’s trophy since 1966, he believed their World Cup run not only cemented his relationship with the squad – “it feels like they are my players now” – but also represented “something to build on”.

Tuchel added: “I’m very excited. I think we got another step closer and I think we’re there.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

CK Updates

Northern Ireland: Eligibility rules ‘not particularly fair’ – Michael O’Neill

Published

on

Michael O'Neill and Ceadach O'Neill

Under the Good Friday Agreement – the 1998 peace accord that followed the conflict colloquially known as The Troubles – those born in Northern Ireland can hold both British and Irish passports.

A Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling in 2010 means players born anywhere on the island of Ireland are able to represent the Republic of Ireland regardless of whether they fulfil any other measure of eligibility, namely being born in the territory, having a biological mother, father, grandmother or grandfather born in the territory, or having lived there for an uninterrupted period of five years.

Players born in the Republic of Ireland, however, cannot represent Northern Ireland unless they are otherwise eligible.

“We exploit eligibility, the same as every other country does, down to the grandparent rule, but this is a rule which is obviously unique between ourselves and the FAI [Football Association of Ireland],” said O’Neill.

“I think everyone recognises it’s not particularly fair, but as I say, our focus is to make sure our pathway for our young players is as good as possible and that’s a pathway for boys from any part of the community.”

In May, FAI director of football John Martin said the organisation should at “the bare minimum” be sounding out eligible players.

“We know there are kids out there who want to play for Ireland who haven’t been approached in the past,” said Martin.

Advertisement

“That’s not right. It’s making sure we have a presence and we understand all the players available to us, and that they are being monitored and tracked.”

When asked whether the narrative around young players in or around his squad is tiresome to him, O’Neill said: “It would have been in the past, it’s not tiresome now.

“We have people who comment on this and talk about nationality and talk about identity and talk about all these different things, which are part of being born in Northern Ireland and growing up in Northern Ireland.

“But I think what we’re missing now is that we’re putting young players in a situation where they have to make a decision which is irreversible.”

Continue Reading

Trending

© 2025 - CK Sports UG. All rights reserved.