Lukaku leaves Manchester United, Inter Milan sign him for $90 mn PAGE 12 FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 Tottenham, Arsenal splash cash on ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Premier League deadline day PAGE 12 LIVERPOOL VS NORWICH CITY Man City’s eyes firmly set on third straight Premier League title The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. One of City’s biggest chal- Once again lenges, however, may be trying Nine Qatari officials favoured to lift to replace defender Vincent Kompany. the trophy, Pep The club’s long-time cap- appointed to AFC tain left after last season to Guardiola’s side take over as player-manag- er of Anderlecht in his native committees can join a special Belgium. Though he’d been group by claiming plagued by injuries the past few seasons, Kompany’s lead- a hat-trick ership was invaluable in the dressing room. of English “Vincent was an incredibly championships important player on and off the pitch,” Guardiola told re- DPA porters last month. “When he LONDON was fit, he was always ready on the pitch. AFTER a historic domestic “He was a very important treble last season, Manchester player, he made decisions for City are setting their sights on the team.” With one long-time Hani Taleb Ballan (left) and Abdulrahman al Qahtani are among a Premier League hat-trick. stalwart gone, another is looking those who will be joining the AFC’s committee from 2019 to 2023. Pep Guardiola’s side are for a final triumphant farewell. favourites to win their third Midfielder David Silva will TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK tor of Competitions at Qatar straight league title as they leave the club after a trophy- DOHA Stars League, for member- kick off their campaign at filled 10 years in which he’s ship of the Competitions West Ham on Saturday. captured four league titles, two THE Asian Football Confed- Committee. City have earned an amaz- FA Cups and four League Cups. eration (AFC) has approved Fahd al Thani, Direc- ing 198 points the past two One of City’s stars of the the admission of nine Qatari tor of the Development De- seasons but took different future said he’ll miss the tal- officials to various commit- partment of QFA, has been road to the title in each. ented 33-year-old when the tees for the next four years included as member of the They waltzed in 2018, fin- time comes for him to say (2019-2023). Technical Committee, and ishing a staggering 19 points goodbye. “It’s going to be a The AFC approved the Mohammed Khalid Fakhro, ahead of runners-up Man- shame,” 19-year-old midfield- joining of Hani Taleb Bal- Head of International Re- chester United. er Phil Foden said. lan to be Vice-Chairman of lations of QFA, is the new Last season they were “I’m not thinking about the referees committee, and member of the AFC Develop- pushed to the final day before that too much because I don’t Abdulrahman al Qahtani, a ment Committee. beating out Liverpool by a sin- want it to happen. He’s here member of the QFA Execu- The nine Qatari officials gle point. now so let’s try and be happy. tive Committee, to join the now joining AFC working A third straight crown “He’s still a great player.” AFC’s committee. committees under the QFA would match a feat accom- While many expect City to Salman al Ansari was cho- leadership of Sheikh Hamad plished by just four other Eng- continue to play are a record- sen as vice-chairman of the bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al lish clubs - Huddersfield Town breaking pace this season, mid- Appeals Committee, Man- Thani is a positive move for (1924-26), Arsenal (1933- fielder Kevin De Bruyne says sour Mohammed al Ansari, Asian football as a whole. 35), Liverpool (1982-84) and consistency will be the key. Secretary General of QFA, The officials are highly neighbours Manchester Unit- “You don’t need to be bet- for the membership of the qualified and with vast man- ed, who did it twice from 1999- ter, you need to be consistent,” Finance Committee, Khalid agement experience in foot- 2001 and 2007-09. the Belgium international told Mubarak al Kuwari, Director ball and sports in general. “We know it’s going to Sky Sports. of Marketing and Commu- AFC’s decision to include be difficult,” winger Raheem “At the end of the year, nications, as member of the these officials in their com- Sterling told the Manchester with all the competitions, may- AFC Marketing Committee, mittees follows after joining Evening News. “It’ll be harder Manchester City’s newly-signed Portuguese defender Joao Cancelo attends a press conference during his be you don’t need 95 or 100 Abdul Aziz Jeham al Kuwari, of Saud Abdulaziz al Muhan- than last season. unveiling at the City Football Academy in Manchester on Thursday. (AFP) points. Maybe teams get more Chief Executive of Aspetar nadi, Vice-President of AFC, “To do this three times in points out of each other and Sports Hospital, as member FIFA member, Hani Taleb a row is a massive challenge standards in the transfer mar- signing of midfielder Rodri Wednesday by signing right- you win it with 85, just because of of the Medical Commit- Blanc, Vice-Chairman of for us. It’s a challenge we’re ket this summer. from Atletico Madrid and also back Joao Cancelo from Ital- the competition is that high. tee, and Ahmed Khalil al Ab- the FIFA Referees Commit- definitely up for.” With the They broke the club transfer paid 5.3 million pounds for PSV ian champions Juventus, “I cannot predict that. basi, Executive Director of tee, and Salman al Ansari, deepest squad in the league, record with the 68.2 million- Eindhoven defender Angelino. with Danilo going the other We’ll see in the end. But you Operations of National Vice-Chairman of the AFC City have done little by their pounds (83 million dollars) They added again on way in return. need to be consistent.” Teams and Executive Direc- Appeals Committee. Liverpool bank on stability over signings to end 30-year title wait AFP the transfer market. munity Shield last weekend and Rhian Brewster’s return to LIVERPOOL Teenage talents Sepp van again highlighted how little fitness, while Naby Keita can den Berg and Harvey Elliott there is to separate the Eng- have a bigger impact in his sec- MISSING out on the Pre- have been snapped up with lish and European champions. ond season in English football. mier League title despite a an eye to the future, while Yet, in contrast to last sea- “People think that players record-breaking campaign Spanish goalkeeper Adrian son when Liverpool were the from other clubs, other coun- was eased by winning a sixth will replace Simon Mignolet least affected of England’s tries, are better than the play- European Cup for Liverpool as back-up to Alisson Becker Kick-off big six by the late return ers we have here but without last season, but ending a in three low-key arrivals. Jurgen Klopp’s men are to pre-season of players at really having the proof, be- 30-year wait to be crowned Klopp, though, believes the World Cup, Klopp has a cause those players haven’t English champions is now the foundations are already expected to strike first blood tougher time in ensuring his played here,” he said. more important than ever on in place for another tilt at in the title race when they side hit the ground running. “It means whoever wants Merseyside. the title after spending over kick off the Premier League The prolific front three to start has to be at his top Jurgen Klopp’s men are £230 million in the past two season against newly-promot- of Salah, Roberto Firmino level. We have proper com- expected to strike first blood years on the likes of Alisson, ed Norwich under the Friday and Sadio Mane were all in- petition and that’s exactly in the title race when they Virgil van Dijk and Moham- volved in international tour- what you need.” kick off the Premier League ed Salah. night lights of Anfield. naments again this summer. Winning the Champions season against newly-pro- “You should never do Liverpool have decided League also booked Liver- moted Norwich under the transfers because other Man City set the bar against investing heavily pool’s place in next week’s Friday night lights of Anfield. clubs are doing transfers,” A Premier League points tally in back-up for that trio and UEFA Super Cup and Club However, unlike most of Klopp told Sky Sports. “That of 97 would have won the title Coach Jurgen Klopp (right), seen with star striker Mohamed Salah, their presence was missed in World Cup in December, their competitors who have makes no sense, it’s not in any season bar the last two believes the squad he has assembled will be bolstered by Alex a bumpy pre-season that saw meaning they have five tro- delved into the arms race about that. And if you sit as Manchester City have set a Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana and Rhian Brewster’s return to an under-strength side beat- phies to play for this season. for talent in another trans- back for a second and have new bar under Pep Guardiola. fitness, while Naby Keita can have a bigger impact in his second en by Borussia Dortmund, However, it is ending 30 fer window where Premier a look at the squad, do we City have further season in English football.