Premier League
LIVERPOOL FANS SLAM NEW AWAY KIT
Premier League champions, Liverpool have officially unveiled their brand new away jersey for the upcoming season as part of their ground-breaking partnership with sportswear giants Nike – but not all supporters are best pleased with the choice of colour.
According to Daily Mail, the design adopts a teal colour and striking wavy pattern – and, according to the manufacturer, has introduced a ‘visionary’ look aimed at representing both the club and the city.
The iconic Liver Bird and the Shankly Gates at Anfield have also helped fuel inspiration for the strip.
Nike’s first collaboration with the club was revealed earlier this month, with the home edition paying homage to Liverpool’s historic title winning team from 1993 through its teal trim.
The same colour, seen on the Liver Bird statues in the city, has exploded into life across the latest offering ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.
There is another subtle reference to another piece of history at the club, with Nike claiming that the swirling design ’embellishes’ the legendary You’ll Never Walk Alone motif.
But the light blue shade has led to widespread confusion and anger from Liverpool supporters on social media.
One user labelled Nike’s design a ‘terrible kit’ due to the controversial choice of colour.
Another described the creative process as ‘not acceptable’ due to the shirt’s similarity to arch rivals Everton and title contenders Manchester City.
A third fan simply summed up his thoughts by writing ‘blue’, and accompanying it with three vomit emojis.
Jordan Henderson, the Liverpool skipper, has declared himself ‘a massive fan’ of the kit, however.
He added: ‘I really love the design and how it has been influenced by the city and specific aspects of the club. I can’t wait to get back out there and play in it next season.’
The 96 emblem has also been stitched into the nape of the neck in memoriam to those who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster.
Liverpool’s top-flight winners will re-emerge next season with golden badges on their arms – and the whole strip will be rounded off with teal shorts, combined with black trim, and socks.
Nike Football Apparel vice-president, Scott Munson, said: ‘We have very distinct design filters that are fully demonstrated in the collection we’ve created for Liverpool FC. We set out to create a collection that celebrates the rich culture of the city of Liverpool and the club.
The away kit allowed us to be bolder and more expressive in how we brought some of these cultural references to life, and we’ve landed on a look and aesthetic that really reflects that.’
The kit is available for early access on Nike’s official website and will be able to be purchased at all retailers at August 17. It is also available to pre-order at Liverpool outlets and their online club store.
Nike have replaced New Balance to produce the club’s kits as part of a five-year deal worth £70million.
Liverpool supporters will be able to watch their team pull on the shirt for the first time during pre-season.
Liverpool will have to wait for a few more days to be crowned Premier League champions despite a 1-0 victory at Leicester City after Arsenal kept their slender hopes just about alive with a 4-0 romp at 10-man Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the bench to score Liverpool’s winner in the 76th minute at the King Power Stadium to restore their 13-point lead at the top with five games left.
While Liverpool can almost taste a record-equalling 20th English crown, Leicester’s defeat confirmed their relegation back to the Championship after just one season.
The Midlands club have now been relegated from England’s top flight a record 13 times.
Chelsea secured a massive win in their bid to qualify for the Champions League as they came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage with Pedro Neto scoring in stoppage time.
The win pushed Chelsea above Nottingham Forest in to fifth place, the last spot for qualification to the Champions League, although Forest play at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.
Chelsea have 57 points from 33 games, two behind third-placed Newcastle United and one behind Manchester City. Forest and Aston Villa are level with Chelsea on 57 points.
Wolverhampton Wanderers guaranteed their safety as they beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Pablo Sarabia’s stunning free kick wrapped up a fifth successive league win, the first time Wolves have achieved that in the top flight since 1970.
Liverpool were wasteful at Leicester with numerous chances going begging and Mohamed Salah suffering a frustrating afternoon including hitting both posts with an early shot.
Salah hit the woodwork again moments before the ball came out to Alexander-Arnold who fired a left-footed shot through the crowd to give his side the points — ripping off his shirt and celebrating wildly with the travelling fans.
“We just keep going, mentally we’re really strong,” manager Arne Slot, whose side could be crowned champions if Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, told Sky Sports.
“They enjoy playing football and it helps when you are playing for something special. Today (Alexander-Arnold) knows when it matters most he can just bring a bit more which is something all the top, top players have.”
DISTANT SECOND
If Arsenal avoid defeat by Palace, Slot’s side will seal the title if they beat Tottenham Hotspur at home next Sunday.
“We will focus on Tottenham and looking forward again to a home game and I think the stadium will be full,” Slot, who can become the first Dutch manager to win the English title, said. “It’s a nice game to look forward to.”
Liverpool have 79 points with Arsenal a distant second on 66. Arsenal may have their eyes now on a Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain, but they showed against Ipswich they will not hand over the title to Liverpool.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring early on and Gabriel Martinelli made it 2-0 after a delightful flick by Mikel Merino.
Ipswich were reduced to 10 men before halftime as Leif Davis crudely raked his studs down the back of Bukayo Saka’s calf and the second half was academic.
Trossard grabbed his second in the 69th minute and Ethan Nwaneri added a late fourth to leave Ipswich stuck in 18th place on 21 points. They will be relegated if they drop points again or 17th-placed West Ham United pick up one more point from their remaining five games.
Chelsea were heading for a damaging defeat at neighbours Fulham as the hosts led with Alex Iwobi’s 20th-minute goal.
Substitute Tyrique George equalised with an instinctive shot in the 83rd minute, his first Premier League goal, before winger Neto swivelled and unleashed a thunderous strike in stoppage time to send the away fans wild.
Manchester United reached the Europa League semi-final with an astonishing comeback win against French club Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday but their Premier League woes returned against Wolves.
They are in 14th place and have now lost eight Premier League home games this season, their most defeats at Old Trafford in a league campaign since 1962-63.
“Wolves scored in the only opportunity they had. we had many chances, and we didn’t score. If you don’t score goals, you are not going to win games,” manager Ruben Amorim said.
-Reuters
Egyptian outlet, Ahram, has reported that Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract with Liverpool, extending his stay at Anfield beyond the 2024-25 season as he prepares for what could be the final chapter of a storied career with the club.
While the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, British media reports indicate the 32-year-old forward has signed a two-year extension, keeping him at the club until at least 2027.
Salah, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, has become a modern-day icon at Anfield.
The Egyptian international has scored 243 goals in 394 appearances—third on the club’s all-time scorers list—and has helped the Reds secure seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.
“I had my best years here,” Salah told the club’s website. “Hopefully it’s going to be 10. I signed because I believe we can still win big trophies together.”
He has maintained his prolific form this season, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. His 27 Premier League goals currently lead the division.
During his time with Liverpool, Salah has won the Premier League Golden Boot three times, been named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, and claimed two FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
Now entering the latter stages of his career, Salah remains focused on adding more silverware to his collection and further cementing his legacy at Liverpool.
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Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga, who became the second-youngest Premier League player when he made his senior debut in Monday’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle United, had to wear a blank shirt because it is sponsored by an online cryptocurrency gaming platform.
Britain’s Gambling Act 2005, which underwent a review in 2020, prohibits players under 18 from wearing kits displaying gambling sponsors. Monga, an England U16 international, made his senior debut at 15 years 271 days old.
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri remains the youngest Premier League player in history, having debuted in the competition when he was 90 days younger than Monga.
Leicester, who suffered an eighth straight loss in the league without scoring a goal, are 19th in the standings, 15 points below the safety zone.
-Reuters
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