Amorim: Utd have ‘no excuses’ not to beat Everton​​

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté has suggested he is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering an injury in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Real Madrid.

Arne Slot’s side face Manchester City in a pivotal clash at the top of the Premier League on Sunday and look set to have to do so without Konaté in their backline. Liverpool head into the match eight points clear at the top of the table, while City have failed to win any of their last six games in all competitions.

However, it is a huge blow if Konaté’s injury keeps him out for an extended period. The France international hobbled off the pitch at Anfield following a late coming together with Madrid forward Endrick in which he appeared to hurt his knee.

While no timescale has yet been placed on Konaté’s absence, the defender — who has so far enjoyed a superb individual campaign partnering Virgil van Dijk in the centre of Liverpool’s defence — said he was frustrated at the timing of the injury.

“So frustrating to pick up this injury right at the end of a great game on Wednesday night,” Konate on Friday in a post on Instagram.

“Now we start the recovery process but one thing I promise is I will come back and be the best I can be once again.

“Thank you for the amazing support at Anfield. Inshallah we will keep going and I will support the team every step of the way.”

Liverpool will be boosted by the return of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold against City, with Slot confirming in his pre-match news conference that the defender is fit to start following a hamstring injury sustained earlier this month.

A minor who racially abused Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior during a Spanish league game at Rayo Vallecano last season has apologised to him, the club said on Friday.

The teenager was identified and reported by LaLiga for hurling racist insults at the Brazil international during a 1-1 draw against Rayo at the Vallecas stadium on Feb. 18.

Due to his status as a minor, the perpetrator reached an out-of-court agreement, which included writing a letter of apology as well as undertaking 40 hours of socio-educational activities requested by the Prosecutor’s Office for Minors.

Moreover, he will serve a one-year ban from attending matches in official football competitions and will have to pay a fine given by the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport.

Real Madrid welcomed the punishment and said in a statement: “Since last June, there have now been four legal proceedings, either in criminal or juvenile jurisdiction, which have ended with the punishment of the perpetrators of the unacceptable racist acts committed against Real Madrid players both in different sports stadiums and in forums and social media.

“Real Madrid has acted as a private prosecutor together with its players in these proceedings and is currently prosecuting others, and will continue to strive to protect the values of our club and to eradicate any racist behaviour in the world of football and sport.”

A leading voice in the fight against racism, Vinícius, 24, admitted he has “suffered a lot and still suffers” because of the abuse he’s been subjected to since arriving in Spain in 2018.

LaLiga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have worked to combat racism in the country.

In June, three Valencia fans were jailed for eight months for racially abusing Vinícius during a LaLiga game in May 2023, in the first verdict of its kind in Spain.

In September, a Spanish court handed a 12-month suspended sentence to a Mallorca supporter that used racists insults against Vinícius and Villarreal‘s Samuel Chukwueze in February 2023.

In October, Spain’s national police arrested four people responsible for a hate campaign against Vinícius.

Lindsey Horan said she was proud of the six USWNT players nominated for FIFA Best awards, including herself, following “world-class performances.”

Horan was nominated for Best Women’s Player alongside teammates Naomi Girma, Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman, with Alyssa Naeher nominated for Best Women’s Goalkeeper.

The USWNT captain said the six nominations are welcome after feeling that U.S. players have been overlooked in the past.

“I think that’s [six players receiving nominations] the biggest thing for me,” Horan told a news conference on Friday. “I think a lot of the times you don’t see a lot of U.S. players involved in that and I think looking at the Ballon d’Or nominations, I was really happy because I’m like, it just hasn’t been like that. We haven’t had a lot of players in there and I would always ask why.

“I think we’ve had some world-class performances, not just in the Olympics, but in NWSL as well from those players that were nominated, and I’m so proud of my teammates as well that are nominated in this and obviously it is always an honor for me to be in that mix and with some of the best players in the world.”

The USWNT will face the reigning European champions on Saturday at Wembley Stadium as the hosts continue preparations to defend their title at the 2025 Euros in July. England defender Lucy Bronze praised the budding rivalry between the sides, while Horan believes the nature of the game is the environment where she and the team thrive.

“I don’t know rivalry is the right word, but you get to face a top opponent, and I think now in the women’s game, there’s no easy game,” she said.

“Even coming off the last camp that we had, the teams that we played had such difficulty for us in certain scenarios so now we’ve got to go play against England in a world-class stadium and legendary stadium. I think that’s just the tip for us. I mean it’s incredible, but I think for us players and like Emma said, I’m a competitor.

“I think these are the games that we thrive in. We love the pressure moments, and I think it’s got to be one of the most entertaining games for you guys to see.

“I think my message to the players was this is a chance of a lifetime. Obviously in women’s football we’re getting more and more of these opportunities, but you’re going to play at Wembley against England. You shouldn’t have to get yourself motivated for that.

“I think the opportunity to come into a camp like this and even step out and see a stadium like that, I think that is such a special thing for me and I hope that the team as well. So I hope there’s not much motivation needed there.”

Horan also praised Hayes’ leadership, saying that the former Chelsea manager has instilled confidence into the side during her six-month tenure thus far and that the players are still growing despite their ages.

“I’m not just blowing smoke right now,” she joked. “I think for us going into the Olympics, the poise, the calmness, the confidence that we have had and still have is directly related to how our manager is and how she is on the sideline and how she is in meetings.

“I have a lot of respect for that because it gives me calmness. It gives us poise, it gives us the confidence to go and do our thing and know that we can. I think it’s really, really special with a leader. I think you have just a little bit of time to prepare for an Olympics and to be in these camps and the teachable moments are so crucial.

“I, as a veteran, I’m not going to say my age, I’m still learning and I’m growing as a player and I think that’s the coolest thing for me. So think of all these young players coming in and into this environment and going into these games as well.”