Sports

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed new signing Ibrahima Konate will make his first appearance for the club on Tuesday.

French defender Konate arrived from RB Leipzig for £36 million (€42m) in Liverpool s first major off-season acquisition.

Konate was signed after Liverpool were hit with a series of injuries to defenders in their 2020-21 Premier League title defence, losing Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

The 22-year-old recruit joined the club s pre-season camp in Austria and will play a part in their back-to-back 30-minute mini-games against Wacker Innsbruck and VfB Stuttgart.

“He’s had a good rest, had a normal pre-season so far, so he can play on Tuesday, Klopp told liverpoolfc.com. For Ibou it is important that he gets minu…

Tactical shooters are usually associated with Counter-Strike, Rainbow Six, and Ghost Recon. Around 2000, another franchise established a niche for itself – NovaLogic’s Delta Force. The gulf in quality from Rainbow Six was very apparent, but it still persevered through the years with one run-of-the-mill sequel after another. Intriguingly, it follows a similar path to Ghost Recon, transforming from a tactical shooter into something more streamlined and mainstream.

While Tom Clancy’s once-future soldiers went open-world in titles like Ghost Recon Wildlands and Breakpoint, Delta Force opts for a different approach – bargain bin Battlefield, circa 2042. Such a…

Arsene Wenger dismissed a report claiming he had offered to take over as the Netherlands coach.

The former Arsenal manager was said to have offered his services to take charge of the Netherlands, according to Fox Sports, with Ronald Koeman leaving the helm to become Barcelona coach.

Wenger, 70, has not coached since leaving Arsenal in 2018 and is currently FIFA s chief of global football development.

The Frenchman dismissed the report, telling De Telegraaf: That is a lie. I have not offered my services to anyone.

I am the only one who talks about my own future.

Wenger left Arsenal after 22 seasons at the helm that included three Premier League titles and seven FA Cup wins.

Koeman is taking over at Barcelona after Quique Setien s sacking…

West Ham United are interested in signing Ivan Toney from London and Premier League rivals Brentford in the summer transfer window, according to Florian Plettenberg. The Sky Germany journalist has reported on X that West Ham have inquired about a possible deal for Toney.

Plettenberg has noted that Brentford want £30-40 million in transfer fees for Toney. Arsenal and Chelsea are also keeping tabs on the situation of the 28-year-old England international striker, so the Hammers, who are aiming to win the UEFA Europa League this season, are not going to find it easy to convince Toney to make the switch to London Stadium in the summer of 2024.

https://twitter.com/Plettigoal/status/1778082530035368353

Toney has made 12 starts and one substitute appearance in the Pre…

Mainz were hit with an €8,000 beer bill on Tuesday after their fans showered Union Berlin forward Max Kruse during a recent Bundesliga game.

Former Germany international Kruse was targeted after he was substituted in the 83rd minute of Union s 2-1 win at Mainz in early October.

He had beer cups thrown over him as he walked behind the goal on his way off the pitch, resulting in a soaking for the 33-year-old.

Kruse kept his cool and said in a post-match interview with DAZN: Why should something like that provoke me? What should I say to such nonsense heads?

Mainz were charged over the behaviour of their fans and German Football Association (DFB) chiefs have now passed judgement.

The sports court of the DFB fined the Bundesliga club Mainz…

Brighton and Hove Albion boss Sami Hyypia acknowledges he is under pressure ahead of Friday s home Championship clash with Millwall.

Brighton who have reached the play-offs in the last two seasons sit 22nd in the table after an awful run of form that has seen them win just one of their last 16 league matches.

Hyypia s position has come under scrutiny, with the former Liverpool defender who was sacked by Bayer Leverkusen earlier this year likely to need a quick turnaround to keep his job.

Brighton lost 3-0 at leaders Derby County last Saturday and now host a Millwall side just two points and as many places above them on the league table.

Everyone knows it s a very important game, Hyypia is quoted as saying in The Argus.

And, of course, for me per…

A rare Thomas Lemar goal helped Atletico Madrid to a hard-fought 2-0 win over Real Valladolid at the Wanda Metropolitano as Diego Simeone s side climbed to the top of LaLiga.

Simeone named Joao Felix, Koke and Marcos Llorente among the substitutes with key games against Salzburg and Real Madrid to come over the next week, and Atleti struggled to get going as a result.

Llorente was introduced at half-time and Joao Felix and Koke followed before the hour, though Lemar had made the all-important breakthrough a few moments earlier with his first club goal since April 2019.

Atleti were in control from that point and added a second through substitute Llorente s route-one strike as the leaders made it seven league wins in a row to move above Real Sociedad.

Jord…

Mario Gotze is glad to be back in action for club and country after returning from another extended spell on the sidelines due to injury.

Gotze, who has had two injury-hit seasons since scoring the winner for Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, has started seven Bundesliga matches for Borussia Dortmund this season.

With Gotze preparing to make his first international appearance in a year against England at Wembley on Friday, the playmaker is keen to reintegrate into the world champions squad.

After the Confederations Cup and the qualifiers, we re very well equipped, Gotze told reporters on Wednesday. I m happy to be back and I think we re in a good way and play two tough tests with two good opponents now.

For me it s important to perform in my club and…

Paul Pogba has emphasised his desire to bring success back to Manchester United, claiming the club belongs in the Champions League.

Pogba, having left United for Juventus in 2012, returned to Old Trafford from the Italian champions for a world record fee of £89million earlier this month.

Having served a suspension in new manager Jose Mourinho s first Premier League game in charge, the midfielder is set to make his second debut for the club against Southampton on Friday.

The 23-year-old France international already has four Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia triumphs to his name.

And he is determined to brush aside his inflated price-tag, insisting his sole focus is on helping United regain their place at the pinnacle of English and European football.