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Posts by Richard Jolly

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Konate’s underrated quality shows why a Liverpool extension makes perfect sense The French centre-back’s contract expires this summer, but a new deal appears close and, as Richard Jolly explains, his value goes beyond his inconsistent form this season

Ibrahima Konate is close to a new deal at Liverpool. Despite his mixed season, it probably makes sense for him and them. But if Konate is a bridge between different generations of centre-backs, surely Liverpool need fewer contract issues next year:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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How Arsenal’s summer transfer business set up Premier League title race collapse Arsenal’s lack of firepower is proving decisive in the battle with Man City and their recruitment strategy last year is at least partly to blame

Arsenal could come second in a one-horse race. That's not solely down to Viktor Gyokeres' no touches at Man City. But the City defeat, a lack of goals of late and summer signings could all be factors:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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How Bernardo Silva’s last dance has transformed Man City The midfielder will leave the club at the end of the season despite being one of Pep Guardiola’s outstanding performers

Bernardo Silva has been man of the match in two of the biggest games of the PL season. He has never been voted Footballer of the Year, though Pep Guardiola would surely vote for him if he could. But maybe this year Silva deserves to win it:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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How Erling Haaland inspired Man City to a massive momentum shift over Arsenal Man City 2-1 Arsenal: City’s Norwegian superstar scored the goal that moved the Premier League title race into the hands of Pep Guardiola’s side and left the Gunners searching for answers

Now it is advantage City in the title race. Haaland may have had the decisive say as Donnarumma's big error didn't cost City and Arteta lost to Guardiola again: On Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Arsenal’s title race advantage means nothing in the era of Pep Guardiola’s Man City Guardiola, a six-time Premier League winner, believes a 22-year title wait could favour Arsenal. But is also brings pressure, and City have looked more comfortable dealing with it

Pep Guardiola says that if Man City lose on Sunday, the title race is over. But City could soon overhaul Arsenal. Guardiola claimed he likes watching Arsenal but he may enjoy the way this title race develops:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Liverpool’s rebuild project is now clear – here’s how it might look Arne Slot hopes to reshape Liverpool and blames luck for a testing season, which will result in no silverware, but will he be afforded the opportunity to oversee the project beyond this campaign?

Arne Slot says next season will be better that this. The Liverpool manager explains why he thinks that - though there are reasons to worry about next season:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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The masterstroke behind Coventry’s stunning Premier League return Blackburn 1-1 Coventry City: The Sky Blues achieved promotion back to the top flight for the first time since 2001, despite no parachute payments, with Lampard proving masterful in the dugout

Coventry's 25-year exile from the Premier League is over. Their fall and rise is complete, while Frank Lampard's appointment has proved a masterstroke. On Coventry's promotion:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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The painful Liverpool decision created by Hugo Ekitike’s disastrous injury The Reds were eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals, but without the injured Hugo Ekitike, writes Richard Jolly, Arne Slot faces a major call on Alexander Isak in the battle to finish insi...

Hugo Ekitike's season seems over after a promising start to life at Liverpool. Over to Alexander Isak, ineffective both against PSG and for Liverpool. Slot may not have a plan to use both, but now he only has one. On the Liverpool forwards:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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The stark reality facing Liverpool after PSG cause Champions League deja vu Liverpool 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain (0-4 agg.): Arne Slot’s side looked so far off the European elite as they crashed out of the Champions League to the holders

Deja vu all over again for Liverpool, eliminated by PSG again, but this time more emphatically with Ousmane Dembele at the double. On Liverpool 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Carrick has no reason to complain – the cards have been stacked in Man Utd’s favour Carrick wasn’t happy after Lisandro Martinez’s sending off in defeat to Leeds for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair and must also cope with seeing his Man United side exposed at a critical point of...

Michael Carrick has complained about officials in Manchester United's two games. But the 2-1 defeat to Leeds highlighted issues in his own squad and, in a broader sense, United have been in an advantageous position this season:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Leeds make history in rare Old Trafford win but the real loser isn’t Man Utd Manchester United 1-2 Leeds: Daniel Farke’s side picked up their first league win at Old Trafford since 1981 to take a huge step towards survival

History for Leeds with a first league win at Old Trafford in 45 years, courtesy of Noah Okafor's brace. A bad night for Manchester United, compounded by Lisandro Martinez's red card for hair-pulling. Not a great night for Tottenham, either. On Man Utd 1-2 Leeds:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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The decisions Slot must make as he calls on Liverpool’s comeback kings Liverpool are charged with producing another famous Champions League night at Anfield but have their work cut out after being outclassed by PSG in the first leg

Liverpool need at least two goals against Paris Saint-Germain. Arne Slot has done the maths. Now he has to do the tactics to try and conjure a comeback. Dominik Szoboszlai has vowed to go all in. Slot and Szoboszlai on PSG:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Robertson’s Liverpool journey was a dream but exit is a ‘weight off his shoulders’ The Scot revealed this week he will leave Anfield after nine years and departs as one of the greatest Premier League left-backs

Andy Robertson on his Liverpool career and exit as Virgil van Dijk leads the tributes to the departing left-back:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Liverpool have a star in Rio Ngumoha — can Arne Slot trust him against PSG? Liverpool 2-0 Fulham: The 17-year-old has an ability to run at defenders and embrace his one-on-ones, and it is a case to start him in the Champions League quarter-final second leg

A day for wingers old and new. Mohamed Salah's goodbye to Anfield started with a goal. Rio Ngumoha, 16 years his junior, scored first and starred. On Salah, Ngumoha and Liverpool 2-0 Fulham:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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The Enzo Fernandez saga highlights a key difference between Chelsea and Man City Chelsea will be without £107m man Fernandez for this weekend’s visit of Manchester City due to an internal suspension

On Enzo Fernandez, Rodri and a difference between Chelsea and Manchester City:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Andy Robertson announces Liverpool departure at end of season The 32-year-old will move away from Liverpool when his contract expires this summer

Andy Robertson has announced he will leave Liverpool in the summer. An end to an outstanding Liverpool career:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Liverpool and Arne Slot are in ‘survival mode’ — and it could still get worse Despite spending £450m this Liverpool team remains in transition and has one foot out the exit door - and must overcome the fiercest of opposition and their own self-doubt to salvage their season

Arne Slot said Liverpool are in survival mode. He and they need to survive a season they may wish could end now, while Virgil van Dijk started to talk of a future beyond him:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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The Liverpool gamble against PSG that might have kept Champions League chances alive Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Liverpool: Arne Slot’s new system was unable to keep the hosts totally at bay and left his side with it all to do in the second leg at Anfield

Arne Slot switched to a back five for the first time in his reign and Liverpool only conceded two, though it should have been more. They are just about still alive in this, but rank outsiders now. On PSG 2-0 Liverpool:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Why the sequel to Arne Slot’s favourite tie could spell doom for Liverpool Slot has repeatedly waxed lyrical about Liverpool’s tie with Paris Saint-Germain from last season - but with the Reds in dire straits, the sequel threatens to be far more painful

Arne Slot has kept harking back to Liverpool's games against Paris Saint-Germain last season. But a reunion comes with peril. Alisson saved Liverpool in the Parc des Princes last year but they are a rather more troubled team this time:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Slot calls on Liverpool to draw on rich history to overcome mammoth PSG test Liverpool face the European champions four days after Slot’s side were thrashed 4-0 by Manchester City

Arne Slot says Liverpool’s history gives him hope they can revive their fortunes:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Florian Wirtz: Liverpool dressing room still believes in Arne Slot Slot is under intense scrutiny following Liverpool’s humiliating FA Cup exit to Manchester City

Florian Wirtz says the Liverpool players still believe in Arne Slot:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Harry Maguire signs one-year Manchester United contract extension Maguire’s form under Michael Carrick has been rewarded with a new one-year deal with the option for a further year

Harry Maguire signs new one-year Manchester United contract, with the possibility of a further year after that:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Can Antoine Griezmann and Atletico finally achieve their Champions League dream? Neither player nor club have ever won the top European competition and with Griezmann’s departure set for the end of the season this campaign represents one last chance to end this era on a high

On Antoine Griezmann, ahead of perhaps his last Champions League tie and the greatest player of the Diego Simeone years at Atletico Madrid:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Captain Bernardo Silva to leave Manchester City: ‘Every good story comes to an end’ The midfielder will depart at the end of the season after nine years at the club

Bernardo Silva will leave Manchester City in the summer, Pep Lijnders confirms:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Liverpool have lost their identity and intensity – what are they trying to be? Hailed as ‘mentality monsters’ under Jurgen Klopp, Arne Slot’s side look in need of a new direction

Liverpool's identity was intensity. Now they aren't intense often enough. But what are Arne Slot's side? On their identity crisis:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Dominik Szoboszlai sends clear message to Liverpool team-mates after capitulation Szoboszlai warned Liverpool ahead of what appears to be a daunting trip to PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday

Dominik Szoboszlai said Liverpool lacked fighting spirit in their 4-0 defeat to Manchester City. Arne Slot was unhappy with the way they conceded the four goals:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Liverpool have no ‘fighting spirit’ and their season is on the brink of collapse Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool: Dominik Szoboszlai lamented his side’s capitulation as Erling Haaland’s hat-trick led the outstanding hosts back into the FA Cup semi-finals

Four goals in 18 minutes for Manchester City, a hat-trick for Erling Haaland but a capitulation from Liverpool, whose season is set to end without silverware. On a bad day for Slot and a great one for Guardiola, Man City 4-0 Liverpool:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Slot accepts villain label as Salah farewell tour begins with FA Cup Slot is set to outlast the legendary Egyptian at Anfield, but an FA Cup quarter-final against Man City presents opportunity for redemption for both

Arne Slot accepts he will be seen as the bad guy in Mohamed Salah's departure but says he has no regrets in his handling of the Egyptian. Slot on his part in replacing Salah - and why Salah is irreplaceable:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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James Anderson: I hated The Hundred – leading Lancashire’s promotion push is my focus After being appointed as captain of a county he has represented for 25 years, England’s leading Test wicket-taker sits down with Richard Jolly as he sets his sights on Lancashire’s return to Division ...

Jimmy Anderson on the Lancashire captaincy, whether or not this is his last season and his new target:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricke...

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Why Italy’s latest World Cup disaster is now the norm Comment: The four-time winners will once again miss this summer’s showpiece – and their problems run deep

A third consecutive World Cup without Italy was unthinkable, yet it is reality. This Italian squad is nowhere near as good as its predecessors, but nowhere near as bad as their recent World Cup qualifying record shows. On Italy:
www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

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