Sports

Liverpool beat Southampton to seal FA Cup quarters

Published

2 years ago

February 29, 2024

Liverpool beat Southampton to seal FA Cup quarters

Lewis Koumas scored on his debut, and fellow 18-year-old Jayden Danns registered his first two goals as a depleted Liverpool side beat Southampton 3-0 at Anfield.

Liverpool’s victory, just three days after an exhausting 120-minute Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea, set up an FA Cup quarter-final at archrivals Manchester United.

Whether the Liverpool academy players will be required for that will depend on how fast the club can rehabilitate the 13 players currently injured in the next fortnight, but regardless, they have done their job.

Koumas, son of former Tranmere and West Brom midfielder Jason, was one of six players 21 or under in the Liverpool team.

And it was one of his fellow Liverpool academy colleagues, Bobby Clark, one year his senior and making his 10th appearance, who supplied the assist just before half-time.

Danns, the son of former Crystal Palace midfielder Neil, who only made his debut at Wembley, came off the bench to score the second in the 73rd minute, which allowed Anfield to breathe a sigh of relief.

That allowed Klopp the luxury of sending on Trey Nyoni, who, at 16 years and 243 days, became the club’s youngest player in the competition and the third youngest in the club’s history.

That was the signal for the party atmosphere to kick in with the Kop singing “We haven’t won a trophy since Sunday afternoon” just before Danns fired home his second in the 88th minute after goalkeeper Joe Lumley parried Conor Bradley’s drive.

Southampton, however, were left ruining a missed opportunity against under-strength opponents, having created enough chances in the opening half-hour to have made life difficult for their hosts.

Five of Liverpool’s Sunday starting XI—Caoimhin Kelleher, Virgil van Dijk, Harvey Elliott, Cody Gakpo, and Bradley—were retained, with three others—Ibrahim Konate, Alexis Mac Allister, and Luis Diaz—dropped to the bench.

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However, it was not all routine with defender Joe Gomez, who has been deployed all across the back four this season, asked to play the holding role in midfield alongside youngsters James McConnell and Clark.

But being asked to play a late cameo in a cup final and delivering from the off in a somewhat experimental team are two different things, and the disjointed nature of the first 40 minutes was understandable.

Southampton, fourth in the Championship and with eyes on a bigger prize than cup success to the extent they made eight changes from Saturday’s defeat to Millwall, took advantage but not enough to open the scoring, which was largely due to their decision-making in the final third.

Sekou Mara had the ball in the net after just 38 seconds but had gone too early and was flagged offside.

Kamaldeen Sulemana hit the post, and Mara forced Kelleher into two saves, with Sulemana then opting to shoot at the goalkeeper with Mara and Samuel Edozie waiting for a pass.

There was a point late in the half when Kostas Tsimikas was shouting instructions to Gakpo, only for Klopp to tell the left-back to do something different when he had the ball.

It summed up the confusion and lack of cohesion—until a moment of clarity fashioned on the training fields of Kirkby broke the deadlock.

Lumley had waited 40 minutes to make a save from Elliott’s 25-yarder, but he was undone by the quick feet of Koumas and a deflection off Jack Stephens.

Koumas started the move out on the left wing, and when Clark picked out the winger’s run, he cut onto his right foot and hit a shot that flicked off Stephens on its way past Lumley.

In a pre-planned move, Konate replaced Van Dijk for the second half to present Liverpool with a different challenge without the leadership of their inspirational captain.

The substitute assumed the mantle immediately, doing just enough to put off Mara as he tried to reach Sulemana’s cross, while at that same far post, the unmarked Shea Charles fired into the side- net with only Kelleher to beat after a corner dropped to him.

Danns showed composure, belying his age, by clipping a shot over Lumley after Will Smallbone’s errant pass went straight to Elliott before adding a late second.

Liverpool beat Southampton to seal FA Cup quarters

Sports

Platini Sues FIFA, Infantino Over Alleged Plot to Block His FIFA Presidency Bid

Published

2 hours ago

June 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Platini Sues FIFA, Infantino Over Alleged Plot to Block His FIFA Presidency Bid

Former UEFA president Michel Platini has launched a fresh legal battle against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, claiming that corruption allegations brought against him more than a decade ago were deliberately used to derail his bid to become the most powerful figure in world football.

The French football legend has filed both criminal and civil complaints in France, accusing Infantino, former FIFA legal director Marco Villiger and former FIFA audit committee chairman Domenico Scala of orchestrating events that ultimately prevented him from contesting and winning the FIFA presidency.

Platini is also seeking financial compensation from FIFA, arguing that the investigations and disciplinary sanctions imposed on him caused irreparable damage to his reputation, career and future opportunities in football administration.

At the centre of the dispute is a controversial payment of two million Swiss francs made to Platini in 2011 and approved by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter. The payment was linked to consultancy work Platini carried out for FIFA between 1998 and 2002.

The transaction became the subject of intense scrutiny in 2015 after Swiss prosecutors opened an investigation into Blatter. Shortly afterward, FIFA’s Ethics Committee launched its own inquiry, leading to the suspension of both men from football-related activities.

At the time, Platini was widely regarded as the overwhelming favourite to replace Blatter as FIFA president. Having served as UEFA president since 2007, he had built significant influence across European and global football and was considered the leading candidate to take over the sport’s governing body.

However, the ethics investigation effectively ended his campaign. FIFA initially imposed an eight-year ban on Platini, although the punishment was later reduced to four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

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The suspension paved the way for Gianni Infantino, who had served as UEFA General Secretary under Platini, to enter the race and eventually win the FIFA presidential election in 2016.

Platini now claims the disciplinary process was manipulated to eliminate him from the contest and clear a path for Infantino’s rise to power.

His latest legal filing alleges malicious prosecution and influence peddling, while also seeking a judicial review of the circumstances surrounding the investigations that led to his suspension.

The case has gained renewed attention following Platini’s legal victories in Switzerland. In 2022, a Swiss federal court acquitted both Platini and Blatter of corruption-related charges linked to the payment.

Swiss prosecutors appealed the ruling, but in 2025 an appeals court again cleared both men, effectively bringing the long-running criminal case to an end and reinforcing Platini’s position that the payment was lawful.

Following the acquittals, Platini has intensified efforts to challenge what he sees as a miscarriage of justice that robbed him of the opportunity to lead world football.

According to reports, the civil aspect of the case seeks compensation for financial losses, reputational harm and the collapse of his presidential ambitions. His legal team argues that the allegations and subsequent sanctions permanently altered the course of football governance.

The lawsuit has also reignited debate over one of the most controversial periods in FIFA’s modern history, raising fresh questions about the events that reshaped the organisation’s leadership after the downfall of Sepp Blatter.

The timing of the legal action is particularly significant, coming just days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament that will once again place FIFA and its leadership under intense global scrutiny.

As of the time of reporting, FIFA has not publicly responded to Platini’s latest legal action. The organisation has, however, consistently denied wrongdoing in previous disputes connected to the matter.

With the case now before the French courts, the latest chapter in the long-running feud between Platini and FIFA could once again expose the power struggles and governance controversies that have defined world football over the past decade.

Platini Sues FIFA, Infantino Over Alleged Plot to Block His FIFA Presidency Bid

Sports

Galatasaray Ask Osimhen to Help Secure Ademola Lookman Transfer

Published

1 day ago

June 9, 2026

Trends Admin

Ademola Lookman and Vctor Osimhen

Galatasaray Ask Osimhen to Help Secure Ademola Lookman Transfer

Turkish champions Galatasaray have reportedly enlisted the help of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen in their ambitious bid to sign fellow Nigerian international Ademola Lookman from Atlético Madrid this summer.

According to reports from Turkish outlet Fotomaç, Galatasaray view Lookman as a key target as they seek to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2026/27 season and another campaign in the UEFA Champions League. The club is believed to have asked Osimhen to use his close relationship with the reigning African Footballer of the Year to help persuade him to consider a move to Istanbul.

The move underlines Galatasaray’s determination to assemble a formidable squad capable of competing both domestically and in Europe. Club officials reportedly believe that Osimhen’s influence and popularity among Nigerian players could be instrumental in opening discussions with Lookman.

The 28-year-old attacker only joined Atlético Madrid from Atalanta during the January transfer window in a deal reportedly worth €35 million. Since arriving in Spain, Lookman has quickly established himself as an important member of Diego Simeone’s squad.

The Nigerian forward enjoyed an impressive second half of the season, scoring five goals and providing four assists in 24 appearances across all competitions. His contributions helped Atlético Madrid reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and the final of the Copa del Rey, where he delivered several crucial performances, including goals against Barcelona.

Reports in Turkey claim Osimhen has already held informal conversations with his international teammate regarding a potential move to Galatasaray. While there is no official agreement between the clubs, the Turkish giants are said to be optimistic that the strong bond between both players could help facilitate negotiations.

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However, securing Lookman’s signature is expected to be a difficult task.

Atlético Madrid signed the Nigerian winger on a long-term contract and are reportedly reluctant to part ways with one of their most influential attacking players so soon after his arrival. The Spanish club are also facing uncertainty in their forward line following recent squad changes, making Lookman an even more valuable asset for Simeone.

Beyond Atlético Madrid’s resistance, financial considerations could also complicate any potential deal. Lookman’s salary package in Spain is believed to be significantly higher than the wages earned by most Galatasaray players, meaning the Turkish champions would likely need to structure an attractive financial package to make the transfer feasible.

Galatasaray have, however, shown a willingness to invest heavily in elite talent. The club demonstrated its financial strength by securing Osimhen on a permanent deal after his successful loan spell, making the Nigerian striker one of the highest-paid players in Turkish football.

Osimhen has become a fan favourite since arriving in Istanbul, regularly expressing his admiration for the club, supporters and atmosphere. His successful experience at Galatasaray could be one of the factors the club hopes will convince Lookman to consider a move.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Lookman has been linked with Turkish football. Both Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe were previously credited with interest in the winger before his move to Atlético Madrid earlier this year.

For now, negotiations remain at an early stage, but Galatasaray’s decision to involve Osimhen highlights how highly the club rates Lookman. Whether the Turkish champions can produce an offer strong enough to convince Atlético Madrid to sell remains the biggest question in what is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing transfer stories involving Nigerian footballers this summer.

Galatasaray Ask Osimhen to Help Secure Ademola Lookman Transfer

Sports

Tobi Amusan Storms to Gold in Taiwan with New Meet Record

Published

4 days ago

June 6, 2026

Trends Admin

Tobi Amusan

Tobi Amusan Storms to Gold in Taiwan with New Meet Record

Nigeria’s sprint hurdling star, Tobi Amusan, produced another outstanding performance on Saturday, winning the women’s 100m hurdles at the New Taipei Athletics Open in Taiwan while setting a new competition record.

The 29-year-old clocked 12.72 seconds to secure the gold medal in commanding fashion, finishing well ahead of her closest rivals and further strengthening her reputation in international athletics and women’s sprint hurdles.

Amusan’s performance erased the previous meet record of 12.80 seconds, which was held by former world champion and Olympic silver medallist Nia Ali of the United States, confirming her continued dominance on the global circuit.

The Nigerian athlete showed early intent after dominating her heat in the preliminary rounds before carrying the same momentum into the final.

In the final race, Amusan surged into the lead after clearing the fourth hurdle and gradually widened the gap, displaying exceptional rhythm, speed, and technical control over the hurdles.

She crossed the finish line comfortably ahead of the field, with Taiwan’s Bo Ya Zhang taking silver in 13.17 seconds, while Yi Po-an claimed bronze in 13.37 seconds.

Spectators at the venue erupted in cheers as Amusan finished in style, underlining her superiority in the event.

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The victory marks another milestone in Amusan’s impressive 2026 season, as she continues to deliver consistent podium finishes across major competitions.

It is the second time this season that she has broken a meeting record, having previously achieved a similar feat at the Rabat Diamond League, where she also demonstrated strong form against world-class opposition.

Amusan has now won three of her five races this season, maintaining a perfect record of podium finishes and reinforcing her status as one of the leading contenders in global athletics championships.

Her latest triumph further boosts her momentum as she builds toward upcoming international events, where she is expected to compete against the world’s best hurdlers.

Since her historic world record run and World Championship gold medal in 2022, Amusan has remained one of the most consistent performers in women’s hurdles, combining speed, technique, and experience to stay competitive at elite level.

Her continued success in 2026 highlights her sustained excellence and readiness for future global titles.

Tobi Amusan Storms to Gold in Taiwan with New Meet Record