27 Sports Wednesday, November 13, 2019 Emotions got the better of me, says dropped Sterling We are like a family and all families have disagreements: Southgate

LONDON: Raheem Sterling said he allowed his “emo- ence on Tuesday he would rather deal with the matter tions” to get the better of him leading to a brief alterca- publicly now than let it fester till his usual meeting with tion with Liverpool’s Joe Gomez that resulted in the the media on the eve of matches. Manchester City player being dropped for tomorrow’s The 49-year-old, clearly irked by how the informa- Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro. tion had leaked out regarding the set-to, said Sterling’s Sterling admitted on Instagram yesterday he and emotions had run over but “it is not the same for Joe Gomez “had words” when they met up at the England (Gomez)”. camp the day after Liverpool’s 3-1 win over defending However, he emphasised a line had been drawn champions City which left the latter nine points adrift of under the incident. “I love all of my players,” he said. Jurgen Klopp’s side. “We are like a family and all families have disagree- “Both Joe and I have had words and figured things ments. “The important thing is for a family to communi- out and moved on,” Sterling said. “We are in a sport cate and work through problems. where emotions run high and I am man enough to admit “I don’t expect as a manager to not have to deal with when emotions got the better of me. “This is why we issues, that’s part of the job. “Our focus is now on mov- play this sport because of our love for it — me and Joe ing forward.” Despite being dropped for tomorrow’s Gomez are good, we both understand it was a five to match Sterling took part in England squad training — 10-second thing... it’s done, we move forward and not as did Gomez — yesterday. make this bigger than it is. Sterling, who according to some reports had packed “Let’s get focus on our game tomorrow,” Sterling his bags but changed his mind when Liverpool mid- added. The Daily Mail reported that Gomez and fielder Jordan Henderson intervened and persuaded Sterling had to be separated by teammates on Monday him to stay, has been one of the stars of England’s qual- after a “physical confrontation”. The pair had also ification campaign, scoring eight goals in six games. clashed on the field towards the end of Sunday’s match. A draw against Montenegro at Wembley will be England manager Gareth Southgate moved quickly enough to guarantee England’s place at Euro 2020. to deal with the issue — arguably one of his achieve- Sterling has enjoyed a makeover in his image in the past ments during his time in the post has been to erase the year with less biting observations of his perceived rivalries between members from different clubs which lifestyle in the press and more positive headlines BURTON-ON-TRENT: England’s defender Joe Gomez (L) and England’s midfielder Raheem Sterling attend an plagued previous England squads. regarding his public stance against racism. England team training session at St George’s Park in Burton-on-Trent, central England yesterday, ahead of their The likes of former star defender Rio Ferdinand have Six Chelsea fans were banned — one for life — after Euro 2020 football qualification match against Montenegro. — AFP spoken about how when they used to join the England racially abusing him during a league game last season. camp he and Manchester United players would stick He also suffered abuse along with England team-mates rifle tattooed on his leg by revealing it was his pledge He has been hailed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan together and find it hard to mix with Chelsea or in their Euro qualifiers against Bulgaria and never to touch a gun following his father being shot for his campaigning against racism. “I’d go as far to say Liverpool stars. Montenegro. dead in Jamaica in front of his own father when the star he’s the best statesman we have (for fighting racism),” Southgate said in a hastily-organised press confer- The 24-year-old silenced the critics over having a was just two. Khan said in September this year. — AFP

which his team mate responded “Come back in May.” Liverpool have conceded 10 goals with only sec- High standards The healthy rivalry between the Merseyside club’s ond-placed Leicester City (eight) and Sheffield marauding full backs has seen them create chances on United (nine) letting in fewer. Robertson hailed the par with some of the best forwards in the world, remarkable progress of Liverpool-born Alexander- helping Liverpool’s adding venom to Liverpool’s already potent attack as Arnold, who is not far behind him with three assists Premier League they chase a first league title in 30 years. this season. full backs fire: “Me and Trent had big numbers last season in “Trent is 21 and he’s producing performances sharpshooters in terms of contributing to goals and stuff, but it was unbelievably and hopefully he keeps that up,” more than that,” Robertson, 25, told Liverpool’s web- Robertson said. “Hopefully the team keeps it up Andy Robertson site https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first- because we’re doing well so far and there’s confidence Africa as CAN team/372976-andy-robertson-man-city-reaction. in that changing room.” LONDON: A day after Liverpool’s Andy Robertson “Defensively we were also very good and this sea- More praise came from former Liverpool striker qualifying begins made his fourth assist of the Premier League season in son we’ve tried to do the same. We just try and pro- Peter Crouch. “Some of Trent’s passing is as good as a Sunday’s 3-1 victory over defending champions duce high standards in every single game — it’s not midfielder’s. I’ve played with Steven Gerrard and Xabi Manchester City, he issued a challenge to fellow full always possible.” Robertson and England’s Alexander- Alonso and I’d put him right up there,” Crouch told the JOHANNESBURG: English Premier League back Trent Alexander-Arnold. Arnold have combined for 30 league assists — 15 BBC in his role as an analyst. sharpshooters Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sadio The Scotland captain posted a short video clip on each — since August 2018 when Liverpool began to “With what they do for this Liverpool team, Mane and Mohamed Salah flew to Africa this Twitter of himself smiling wryly with the caption hit top gear under manager Juergen Klopp. Robertson and Alexander-Arnold are redefining the week, seeking goals as 2021 Cup of Nations “Realising you have more assists than @trentaa98” to In the 12 games the pair have started this season, way full backs play.” — Reuters (CAN) qualifying kicks off. New Arsenal captain Aubameyang has claimed eight league goals this season and Liverpool duo Mane and Salah seven and six respectively, putting the trio among the top 10 scorers. The form of VAR has been a Gabonese Aubameyang, Senegalese Mane and Egyptian Salah will encourage their nations as success despite they face two matches each between this Wednesday and next Tuesday. Mane, who is looking good to succeed two- criticism: Swarbrick time winner Salah as African Footballer of the Year, will be first into action with Senegal hosting Congo Brazzaville in Thies today. LONDON: The use of the Video Assisted Referee Having scored for Liverpool in a 3-1 triumph (VAR) in the Premier League has been vindicated over reigning champions Manchester City Sunday despite several controversial decisions and criti- and travelled to Dakar Monday, Mane will have lit- cism from fans and pundits, the system’s chief Neil tle time to prepare for the Group I clash. Swarbrick said on Monday. Fortunately for 2019 Cup of Nations silver Speaking to the media after the latest round of medallists Senegal, whose defence is marshalled matches in which Sheffield United had a goal dis- by Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, Congo allowed for offside against Tottenham Hotspur and have not impressed recently. Any outcome other Manchester City were denied a penalty for hand- than a comfortable win for Senegal would be sur- ball against Liverpool, Swarbrick defended the prising as the nation currently ranked first in Africa technology. launch another attempt to win a maiden Cup of “We are in the infancy with VAR, 12 match Nations title. weeks into the Premier League season, and you Aubameyang and Salah play tomorrow with need to give us time to operate and utilise it,” he Gabon away to central African neighbours the told Sky Sports. Democratic Republic of Congo in Group D and “It is working as we wanted. It’s taken quite a Egypt at home to Kenya in Group G. Salah will few years for other competitions or sports - the work with recently appointed Egypt coach likes of cricket and rugby union - to get to where Hossam el Badry for the first time, having missed a they are today regarding technology. It doesn’t warm-up win over Botswana last month because happen overnight.” of an injury. VAR was introduced in the Premier League this El Badry succeeded Mexican Javier Aguirre, season after trials in the League Cup and FA Cup. who was sacked after the Pharaohs flopped as 2019 Cup of Nations hosts, losing to South Africa Asked by the BBC how he would rate the use of at the last-16 stage. Another Premier League star VAR on a scale of one to 10, Swarbrick said: “I’d available to the new coach is Mahmoud give us around about seven-ish. We have more BURNLEY: File photo shows an electronic screen informs the spectators that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is checking a goal , which would have been Burnley’s second before VAR eventually rules it out during ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan, who scored for Aston Villa in a decisions correct with VAR than without it. weekend defeat at Wolves. “If the mark now is seven - early days - in two the English Premier League football match between Burnley and West Ham United at Turf Moor in Burnley, north west England on November 9, 2019. — AFP Kenya appeared at a Cup of Nations this year years’ time I’m hoping for maybe an eight and a for the first time since 2004 and edged Tanzania half or nine. “We are open to evolving with this - between group losses to eventual champions it’s not a case of we’re not budging. We will listen Algeria and runners-up Senegal. to feedback and where we can improve things, we games — were set to clash on Wednesday, but there Aubameyang, the son of a former international, will do.” Momota in shock was no indication why he had withdrawn from his and Gabon have unhappy memories of recent Cup Some pundits were less enthralled with the first match. Srikanth will now face either compatriot of Nations. They could not win any of three 2017 system which has also infuriated fans around the Sourabh Verma or Frenchman Brice Leverdez to group matches despite being hosts and made a world, mostly for decision-making delays which withdrawal from reach the quarterfinal. humiliating first round exit before faring even take up to several minutes. Former Chelsea strik- The 26-year-old has been on mixed form after worse in the following edition by failing to qualify. er Chris Sutton was one of the system’s harshest Hong Kong Open crashing out of the Denmark Open in October. Aubameyang struggled for form in Africa and critics. Momota, with over 300 wins under his belt, saw refused to travel from Gabon to South Sudan for a “Seven out of 10? Did he really say that with a his career descend into controversy in 2016 when he 2019 qualifier because he believed the chartered straight face? Come on, are you serious?” Sutton HONG KONG: World number one Kento Momota was suspended for more than a year for visiting an aircraft was unsafe. Only a handful of countries told the BBC. “There have been so many high-pro- unexpectedly withdrew from badminton’s Hong Kong illegal casino and was denied a spot at the 2016 Rio leave DR Congo capital Kinshasa with maximum file, horrific mistakes. They’ve got too much Open yesterday — without playing a match — leav- Olympics. The star, who was world number two at points and a realistic target for new Gabon coach the time, has since worked his way back to the top wrong. I wanted VAR to work, I backed VAR, but ing Indian challenger Kidambi Srikanth to advance to Patrick Neveu would be a draw. and his win in China had raised his Olympic hopes a they are making such a mess of it.” the second round. Algeria star Riyad Mahrez has managed only year ahead of the Tokyo Games. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson also The shock departure comes only a few days after two Premier League goals for Manchester City This year alone he claimed Japan’s first All pulled no punches in criticising VAR. “It’s been a the 24-year-old beat Taiwan’s world number two this season and was an unused substitute at Chou Tien-chen to claim his 10th title of the year at England men’s series title in March, retaining the bit of a disaster,” he said. It’s still a matter of opin- Liverpool. The ‘Desert Foxes’ hope this will not the Fuzhou China Open, seemingly on an unstop- Japan open — which also doubled up as a test event ion because it doesn’t clear up a clear and obvious affect his performance when the trophy-holders pable path to 2020 Olympic glory. for the 2020 Olympics — before triumphing at host shock 2012 African champions Zambia, who error, It’s just someone else’s opinion. Momota and Srikanth — who have played each Victor China Open, the Korea Open, and the failed to qualify for the last two Cup of Nations, in “It’s been a complete mess from day one and it’s other 15 times, with the Japanese player winning 12 Denmark Open. —AFP Group H.—AFP caused more problems than it’s worth.” — Reuters