Pope’s moment of madness in Liverpool defeat gives Karius shot at Newcastle immortality

Newcastle’s goalkeeper Nick Pope, right, reacts after receiving a red card during the English Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James’ Park on Feb. 18, 2023. (AFP)
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Updated 20 February 2023
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Pope’s moment of madness in Liverpool defeat gives Karius shot at Newcastle immortality

  • Goalkeeper change on cards for upcoming Carabao Cup
  • Man United is hurdle to major silverware for 54 years

NEWCASTLE: Carabao Cup heartbreak for Nick Pope has opened the door for forgotten man Loris Karius as Newcastle United imploded at St. James’ Park in the Premier League against Liverpool.

A moment of madness from Pope saw him handle outside the area and was subsequently red-carded as the 10-man Magpies crashed to only their second topflight defeat of the season.

First-half strikes from Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo saw the Reds into a comfortable lead before Pope was dismissed, meaning he will miss next weekend’s trip to Wembley, where Manchester United sit between Newcastle and their first meaningful silverware for 54 years.

German Karius is now set to make his Magpies debut in next weekend’s showpiece — and it will be his first final since his disastrous show for Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final, which the Reds lost 3-1 to Real Madrid.

“I thought they were clinical with their chances when they came and obviously Nick Pope’s sending off changed the game,” said head coach Eddie Howe.

“I’ve not had a proper word with him but I’ve seen him and he looks visibly upset. He’s been outstanding for us this season.

“It was probably technically handball but I don’t know the rules on red cards outside the box. For me it was a harsh reaction but I understand if it’s in the rules. It’s harsh for Nick because he’s been magnificent for us and to miss the next game is a huge blow for him.

“We’ve got a decision to make. Mark Gillespie has trained very well this season as has Loris.

“Nick is very disappointed, as are we. He doesn’t deserve to miss the game. It is what it is, we will see what our options are.

“There was real quality, we opened Liverpool up at times and created some real chances. That’s the difference, they took their chances and we didn’t take ours.”

Despite the 2-0 final score, it was United who really burst out the blocks at a fired-up St. James’.

And had Miguel Almiron tucked away an early opportunity the complexion of this one could have been so different.

Man of the match Alisson made the first of three top class saves after just three minutes when he got a hand to what looked like a near certain 11th of the season for the Paraguayan.

Allan Saint-Maximin then went close with a volley as a shaky looking Liverpool backline creaked under United pressure.

However, on the break, as they so often do, an incredibly weighted pass over the top from Trent Alexander-Arnold was taken down by Nunez, and the Uruguayan’s finish was emphatic.

The Gallowgate End net was rippling again soon after when Dutchman Gakpo latched on to a beautiful clip over the top by Mo Salah and again finished with aplomb.

Then came the real game-changer, potentially season-defining moment. For Pope it may prove to be the biggest moment of his career.

Chasing to close down an Alisson long ball with Salah clean through, Pope misjudged a bouncing ball and missed a clearing header. Attempting to clean up his error, muscle memory kicked in and Pope handled, inexplicably, leaving referee Anthony Taylor with no choice.

Martin Dubravka replaced Pope on the day, but is cup tied, having played in the competition on loan for Manchester United. So, it’s Karius time for United next weekend.

Despite being down to 10, the Magpies continued to impress and only as they tired did Liverpool ever really look like adding to their two-goal tally.

Alisson tipped a Saint-Maximin strike on to the bar, before it was again rattled by a powerful Dan Burn header.

Fabian Schar should have done better with a header before Brazilian Alisson completed his trio of top saves by denying sub Callum Wilson a consolation.

As fatigue kicked in Nunez forced Dubravka into a world class save of his own before Diogo Jota missed two headers at the death to make the scoreline wider than United would have deserved.

Howe said: “I thought it was actually a good performance in the main. We started really well. We had a good early chance and the crowd were in the game, the tempo was good and we were set for a really good match.

“There was real quality, we opened Liverpool up at times, and created some real chances. That’s the difference, they took their chances and we didn’t take ours.”


Egyptians take on South Africans in African Champions League semis

Updated 1 min 19 sec ago
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Egyptians take on South Africans in African Champions League semis

  • Holders Al Ahly continue their bid for a fifth title in six seasons in Pretoria on Saturday
  • Egyptian giants Al Ahly are the dominant force in African football and have won 12 previous Champions League titles

CAPE TOWN: Two Egyptian clubs face two from South Africa this weekend in the semifinals of this season’s African Champions League in a rare bilateral contest.
Holders Al Ahly continue their bid for a fifth title in six seasons in Pretoria on Saturday against Mamelodi Sundowns, a side who once handed them a record defeat but have too often exited in the knockout stages after dominating the group phase.
Also on Saturday, Pyramids will be hoping to consolidate their fast-track emergence as a force in the African game when they take on Orlando Pirates in Soweto.
The return legs are both in Cairo next Friday with the winners advancing to the two-legged final at the end of May and in early June.
Egyptian giants Al Ahly are the dominant force in African football and have won 12 previous Champions League titles while the other three semifinalists have two triumphs between them — Pirates in 1995 and Sundowns in 2016.
But despite their strong track record, Ahly are not favorites after unconvincing performances in the league phase, where they were runners-up in their group.
There has been criticism of their Swiss coach Marc Koller in recent days after they also stumbled against Pyramids in the Egyptian league.
Sundowns handed Ahly a record 5-0 defeat in the 2019 quarter-finals and also scored five against them in Pretoria two years ago in the group phase.
But the South African club, owned by the family of Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe, have a long history of falling short in the knockout rounds.
Pyramids are competing in the Champions League for only the second time.
The club was formed in 2008 but moved to Cairo a decade later after being taken over by Saudi investors and are well placed to win a first Egyptian championship at the end of this season.
Opponents Pirates were one of only two unbeaten sides in the group competition and have won three away matches in north Africa in this season’s campaign.
But they will need home success on Saturday to ensure a defendable lead to take to Cairo for the return leg.
It is not the first time clubs from two countries have clashed in both Champions League semifinals.
In the 2020, Al Ahly beat Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca 5-1 on aggregate in their semifinal, while Zamalek were too good for Raja Casablanca, winning 4-1 over their two ties.
Al Ahly edged Cairo rivals Zamalek 2-1 in the final in the Egyptian capital.


Bayern defender Stanisic sorry for pushing ball kid in Champions League loss

Updated 9 min 12 sec ago
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Bayern defender Stanisic sorry for pushing ball kid in Champions League loss

  • “Every team in the world tries to run down the clock a little," Stanisic told German media
  • “It was also maybe a bit stupid of me and I'm sorry that I pushed him”

MILAN: Bayern Munich defender Josip Stanisic has apologized for pushing a ball kid during the Champions League quarterfinal loss at Inter Milan.
Stanisic pushed the ball kid off his stool after the boy appeared to throw the ball away to delay Stanisic taking a throw-in during added time. Bayern were seeking another goal to force extra time and went on to lose Tuesday's game 4-3 on aggregate.
“Every team in the world tries to run down the clock a little. They did that a bit better than some others," Stanisic told German media in comments broadcast on Wednesday by sports website RAN.


“It was also maybe a bit stupid of me and I'm sorry that I pushed him. In that moment I was just really annoyed that these little games were being played and I found that unnecessary.”
Inter's coaching staff spotted the incident immediately and appealed to the referee. Stanisic was not booked.
UEFA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on whether it would pursue any disciplinary proceedings against Stanisic.


One-legged footballer shines in German amateur league

Updated 27 min 12 sec ago
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One-legged footballer shines in German amateur league

  • The social worker now showcases that passion weekly with Bavarian club TSV Brand’s second team
  • Coach Ulf Forster highlights Kaiser’s tangible contribution during his debut appearance

ECKENTAL, Germany: Pierre Kaiser has truly mastered the art of ball juggling. And when it comes to the classic rondo drill, the 35-year-old is right in the thick of it. What makes it special: in 2007, Pierre lost his leg in a train accident. Since then, football has become his greatest passion.
The social worker now showcases that passion weekly with Bavarian club TSV Brand’s second team, where his remarkable determination has earned him a spot in regular league play this season.
“I moved out here, to the countryside with my wife, and our neighbor came over and said, ‘Oh, you played amputee football? Well, you’re coming along to training’,” Kaiser recalled. “At first, I didn’t really want to, but he kept asking, and eventually I joined the guys — and they were just an incredibly friendly bunch. It was so much fun.”
His impact extends beyond mere participation. Coach Ulf Forster highlights Kaiser’s tangible contribution during his debut appearance.
“He already got a run-out from us once, and everyone was absolutely thrilled. He basically helped set up the 2-1 goal by unsettling the defense,” Forster said. “That’s what led to the goal — the opponents just didn’t know how to respond.”
Kaiser’s commitment shines through in every training session, though he acknowledges certain limitations remain — matching teammates’ speed and enduring full matches present ongoing challenges. His crutches, meanwhile, follow specific rules: if he deliberately blocks the ball with them, play stops as with a handball.
Between amateur league matches, Kaiser competes at the elite level of German amputee football.
“In four or five weeks, the amputee football Bundesliga kicks off again. There are five teams competing. We have five matchdays, and the champion is decided through a playoff in October,” he explained.
While continuing his Wednesday training routine with TSV Brand, Kaiser is simultaneously working to establish an amputee football team in nearby Eckental — because football, after all, is for everyone.


Courtois questions Real Madrid’s ‘individual’ attack after lopsided loss to Arsenal

Updated 17 April 2025
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Courtois questions Real Madrid’s ‘individual’ attack after lopsided loss to Arsenal

  • “Sometimes you have to be self-critical and have a good look at everything,” the Belgian goalkeeper said
  • “Maybe we need to make more team moves and not so many individual ones”

BARCELONA: Thibaut Courtois watched from the other end of the pitch as Real Madrid’s forward took turns crashing against the Arsenal defense.
Courtois had done his part by stopping a penalty. But Kylian Mbappé’s best shot sailed high and wide. Rodrygo’s dribbles got him nowhere, and Vinícius needed a defensive blunder to take Madrid’s sole goal of a 5-1 aggregate defeat in the Champions League quarterfinals.
“Sometimes you have to be self-critical and have a good look at everything,” the Belgian goalkeeper said after the 2-1 home loss to Arsenal midweek.
“Maybe we need to make more team moves and not so many individual ones, because if they double-mark Vini or Mbappé they can break it once, but not three, four or five times,” Courtois said. “We can’t always rely on one of our four attacking players dribbling past three defenders and scoring a great goal, we have to attack and defend better as a team.”
Exiting from the competition they have won five times in the last decade was not what Madrid expected when they added Mbappé to a squad that was coming off a record 15th European Cup and Spanish league title last season.
The France captain has scored a glut of goals in his first season with Madrid but failed to come up big in the biggest games, including two lopsided losses to Barcelona. Jeers were heard for Mbappé when he limped off the field on Wednesday with a hurt right ankle.
The hard truth is that the team have played worse with him on board. Madrid have had injuries in defense and they lost midfielder Toni Kroos to retirement but their attack has failed to click, with Mbappé having to adapt to a central striker role as Vinícius’ production dropped.
Courtois even called into question the range of attacking options for a squad that also counted on Endrick and Brahim Díaz as sparks off the bench. The goalie said Madrid were missing the tall, big striker who could win balls in the box like Joselu Mato, who scored critical goals in last season’s Champions League.
“It was difficult to find openings and we had little success. We were also unlucky with balls into the box. This year we don’t have a Joselu who can win those duels,” Courtois said. “Now we have to analyze what we can do better because we still have the (Spanish) league, the final of the Copa del Rey and the Club World Cup, and we want to get everything right.”
Athletic Bilbao up next in La Liga
There will be little let up for Madrid with a strong Athletic Bilbao arriving on Sunday aiming to dig into the wound left by Arsenal.
Madrid must try to overhaul a four-point deficit to Barcelona in La Liga as they try to salvage the season by defending their domestic title.
Madrid could be facing a seven-point gap with Barcelona by kickoff, if the front-runner beat Celta Vigo at home on Saturday.
Madrid will also face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final next week, but coach Carlo Ancelotti will likely also need his team to retain the league crown to keep his job. The Italian manager admitted his future was in doubt after his team was outplayed by Arsenal, while also attempting to dampen speculation.
“I’m only thinking about preparing for the next game to stay in the fight for the league title and try to win the Copa del Rey,” he said.


Van Dijk signs new Liverpool contract

Updated 17 April 2025
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Van Dijk signs new Liverpool contract

  • The announcement comes with Liverpool potentially just days away from winning the EPL
  • “I’m very happy, very proud,” said Van Dijk, whose existing deal, like Salah’s, had been set to expire at the end of the season

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk on Thursday signed a new two-year contract with the club, ending months of fevered speculation over his future just a week after Mohamed Salah extended his stay.
The announcement comes with Liverpool potentially just days away from winning the Premier League title in Arne Slot’s first season in charge.
“I’m very happy, very proud,” said Van Dijk, whose existing deal, like Salah’s, had been set to expire at the end of the season.
“There are so many emotions obviously that go through my head right now speaking about it.


“It’s a proud feeling, it’s a feeling of joy. It’s just incredible. The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing and I’m so happy.”
With new deals confirmed for Salah and Van Dijk, the future of defender Trent Alexander-Arnold remains unresolved.
The England international, who returned to training on Wednesday after a month out because of injury, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Van Dijk, 33, has made 314 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 27 goals.
He has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup, all under former manager Jurgen Klopp.
Last month Van Dijk said he had “no idea” if he would remain at Anfield but on Sunday hinted that he was set to extend his stay.
The imposing center-back had been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain but said his heart was set on Liverpool.
“It was always Liverpool,” he said. “That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan and it was always Liverpool.
“There wasn’t any doubt in my head that this is the place to be for me and my family. I’m one of Liverpool. Someone called me the other day an adopted Scouser — I’m really proud to hear these things, it gives me a great feeling.”
Van Dijk arrived from Southampton in January 2018 for £75 million ($99 million), then a world record fee for a defender, and has been instrumental in Liverpool’s rise back to the top of the English and European game.
He won the Champions League in 2019 and a year later helped deliver the club’s first league title for 30 years.
He also came second in the 2019 Ballon d’Or vote, losing out to Argentina star Lionel Messi, who has won the award eight times.
Van Dijk, who played for Celtic before joining Southampton, took over the club captaincy in 2023 following the departure of Jordan Henderson.
Now he is on the brink of adding to his collection of silverware with Liverpool, who are set to equal Manchester United’s record of 20 English titles.
The Reds are 13 points clear of Arsenal with just six games remaining and could wrap up the title this weekend if the Gunners lose.