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Ten of the Most Prolific Strikers in Europe This Season

Jamie Vardy, Sergio Agüero, Duván Zapata, Paco Alcácer, Loren Morón and Tammy Abraham have started the season in style. Composite: Getty Images
Jamie Vardy, Sergio Agüero, Duván Zapata, Paco Alcácer, Loren Morón and Tammy Abraham have started the season in style. Composite: Getty Images
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Ten of the Most Prolific Strikers in Europe This Season

Jamie Vardy, Sergio Agüero, Duván Zapata, Paco Alcácer, Loren Morón and Tammy Abraham have started the season in style. Composite: Getty Images
Jamie Vardy, Sergio Agüero, Duván Zapata, Paco Alcácer, Loren Morón and Tammy Abraham have started the season in style. Composite: Getty Images

Afew strikers in Europe’s top leagues have enjoyed blistering starts to the season. Robert Lewandowski set a new record on Saturday by scoring in the first nine games of a Bundesliga season, but he is not the only striker on top form. In fact, his rate of a goal every 60 minutes is not the most impressive in Europe so far this season.

10) Jamie Vardy, Leicester: 100 minutes per goal

Jamie Vardy completed a hat-trick in the last minute of Leicester’s record-equaling rout of Southampton on Friday night to overtake Tammy Abraham and Sergio Agüero as the top scorer in the Premier League. The 32-year-old shows no sign of slowing down. He has played every minute of Leicester’s league campaign, scoring nine goals from just 20 shots, giving him an impressive conversion rate of 45%.

9) Loren Morón, Real Betis: 99 minutes per goal

Real Betis would be in real trouble were it not for Loren Morón’s scoring touch this season. They are sitting above the relegation zone on goal difference alone even though their 25-year-old marksman is the joint leading scorer in La Liga. He has scored seven goals despite only starting seven games.

8) Tammy Abraham, Chelsea: 92 minutes per goal

The young Chelsea striker has only scored one goal in his last five league games but he still boasts an excellent strike rate, with eight goals to his name so far (only Vardy has scored more). The 22-year-old has hit more shots on target (17) than any other player in the league.

7) Paco Alcácer, Borussia Dortmund: 89 minutes per goal

After a disappointing stalemate in the Reiverderby against Schalke, Borussia Dortmund have been boosted by the return to training of Paco Alcácer. His time in Germany has been hampered by injury but the Spaniard has been prolific while on the pitch. He scored 18 times last season at a rate of a goal every 67 minutes and started this season with five goals in his first four league games.

6) Duván Zapata, Atalanta: 86 minutes per goal

Another player whose fantastic start has been halted by injury of late, Duván Zapata returned from international duty with an abductor muscle tear. The Colombian had scored six goals in seven Serie A appearances beforehand, picking up this season where he left of last, taking his tally to 19 league goals in 2019.

5) Wissam Ben Yedder, Monaco: 73 minutes per goal

When Monaco signed Wissam Ben Yedder from Sevilla in the summer it looked like a great move for the Ligue 1 club. He has already proven a hit. The 29-year-old, back in his homeland following a successful spell in Spain, has scored nine goals in his first nine league games for Monaco. He is currently on a six-match scoring streak.

4) Sergio Agüero, Manchester City: 72 minutes per goal

Sergio Agüero’s goal return is mightily impressive given that he and Gabriel Jesus have rotated in and out of the Manchester City side in recent times. Agüero found the net in his first six league games this season and has eight goals so far even though he has only started six times in the Premier League. Agüero is closing in on Thierry Henry and Frank Lampard on the Premier League all-time top scorer list.

3) Ciro Immobile, Lazio: 70 minutes per goal

Ciro Immobile scored his 10th goal of the season at the weekend, hitting the winner for Lazio in their 2-1 victory at Fiorentina. The 29-year-old must have his eyes on a third Capocannoniere of his career – he won the award for Serie A top scorer as a Torino player in 2013-14 and for Lazio in 2018-19. It is remarkable that Immobile has already hit double figures this season given that he has only completed the full 90 minutes in five matches. The Italian has also picked up five assists this season, meaning he has had a direct hand in more goals (14) than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues.

2) Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich: 60 minutes per goal

At the age of 31, Lewandowski is enjoying the best start to the season of any player in Bundesliga history. The Poland international has scored 13 goals in his first nine league matches. He has also scored five time in the Champions League – at a rate of a goal every 54 minutes.

1) Luis Muriel, Atalanta: 42 minutes per goal

Talk about healthy competition. Atalanta boast two strikers in this list. Luis Muriel has stepped into the boots of his injured teammate, Zapata, and delivered some real statement performances this season. Muriel is something of a journeyman, the rapid forward has played for five current Serie A clubs but, for one reason or another, never really settled. That may be about to change. Atalanta’s vibrant attacking football suit the Colombian to a tee and he has scored eight goals from just 337 minutes of action so far this season.

The Guardian Sport

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Victor Boniface: Leverkusen Boss Alonso Makes You ‘Up Your Game’ 

Bayer Leverkusen's Nigerian forward #22 Victor Boniface sits after an interview with AFP at the BayArena in Leverkusen, western Germany, on April 24, 2024. (AFP)
Bayer Leverkusen's Nigerian forward #22 Victor Boniface sits after an interview with AFP at the BayArena in Leverkusen, western Germany, on April 24, 2024. (AFP)
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Victor Boniface: Leverkusen Boss Alonso Makes You ‘Up Your Game’ 

Bayer Leverkusen's Nigerian forward #22 Victor Boniface sits after an interview with AFP at the BayArena in Leverkusen, western Germany, on April 24, 2024. (AFP)
Bayer Leverkusen's Nigerian forward #22 Victor Boniface sits after an interview with AFP at the BayArena in Leverkusen, western Germany, on April 24, 2024. (AFP)

Bayer Leverkusen and Nigeria striker Victor Boniface said Xabi Alonso has a particular advantage over other coaches on the training pitch.

"Imagine you're training and your coach is doing better than you," Boniface told AFP in an interview.

"Then you want to step up your game.

"For him to be involved in training gives us a boost," Boniface said of Alonso, who "has won everything that can be won in football".

"Sometimes he tells me of players he played with, with similar abilities to me. He tries to improve me in my weakest areas."

Leverkusen host third-placed Stuttgart on Saturday knowing they are four games away from becoming the first team to go through a Bundesliga season unbeaten.

Their runs to the German Cup final, where they face second-division Kaiserslautern, and Europa League semi-finals, where they take on Roma, mean they have gone a record 45 games unbeaten in all competitions this season.

'I love penalties'

Boniface, 23, was born in the southern Nigerian city of Akure and told AFP he was "always" a football fan.

Earlier this month, he coolly dispatched a penalty to open the scoring in the 5-0 home rout of Werder Bremen which made Leverkusen Bundesliga champions for the first time.

Leverkusen had never previously won a league title in their 120-year history.

The club's record of second-placed finishes -- often somehow snatching defeat from the jaws of victory -- saw them tainted with the unwanted "Neverkusen" moniker, but Boniface said he was not nervous when he took the spot-kick.

"No. To be honest, I didn't feel pressure. We're football players.

"Moments like this -- I took the responsibility to help the team. That's why I'm here. I love penalties."

The pressure of a spot-kick pales in comparison with some of the struggles Boniface has already endured in his young career.

He moved from Nigeria to Norway at 18, signing with Bodo/Glimt.

Despite playing a part in the club's first-ever Norwegian title in 2020, he tore his ACL twice and later said he considered quitting the game.

After a successful stint with Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium, he moved to Leverkusen last July, receiving his first Super Eagles call-up earlier this season, which he called "a dream come true".

He scored 16 goals in his first 23 games but was then injured again while preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, missing four months including his country's run to the final, where they lost to hosts Ivory Coast.

"It was really difficult when I got injured. When I got injured, in my head I said 'OK, I'm missing AFCON, I'm going to miss a lot of games for Leverkusen.'

"During that time it was difficult for me, but I have my teammates and a club which takes care of me.

"It's difficult but at the same time it's just football. There are good moments and bad -- it's just how you take it."

'With this team we can do something'

Many have tipped Boniface for the top and he does already have one essential ingredient: a signature celebration.

"To be honest, it doesn't mean anything," Boniface said of his swaggering, finger-pointing celebration.

After scoring an equalizer in Belgium, he was being chased by a teammate and the striker "was just trying to do something really funny".

"I saw the clip and thought -- this is nice. It's a funny celebration."

Boniface was seen partying alongside his teammates well into the night after wrapping up the title, but also took the time to tell thousands of fans gathered on the stadium grass the season was not over.

"Sometimes it's difficult to switch out of party mood," Boniface said, admitting "the guys who were out, I think some of them had a little bit of a tough day the next day at training."

Boniface said confidently "with this team, we can do something", but refused to look past the next challenge.

"Right now, I don't think anyone is talking about Roma in the dressing room. We are focusing on the game on Saturday.

"After the Stuttgart game, we can focus on Roma."

Boniface, who admits to being a childhood Arsenal fan, said he was not thinking longer term either.

"Right now my full focus is on Leverkusen and being ready to try and achieve more good things with the club."

He does however look forward to playing in the Champions League with Leverkusen, saying "it will be one of the proudest moments for me."

Sports

Atletico Face Bilbao Challenge in Champions League Race

Athletic Bilbao knocked Atletico Madrid out of the Copa del Rey in the semi-finals and have beaten them three times this season. Ander Gillenea / AFP
Athletic Bilbao knocked Atletico Madrid out of the Copa del Rey in the semi-finals and have beaten them three times this season. Ander Gillenea / AFP
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Atletico Face Bilbao Challenge in Champions League Race

Athletic Bilbao knocked Atletico Madrid out of the Copa del Rey in the semi-finals and have beaten them three times this season. Ander Gillenea / AFP
Athletic Bilbao knocked Atletico Madrid out of the Copa del Rey in the semi-finals and have beaten them three times this season. Ander Gillenea / AFP

Atletico Madrid have the chance to keep Athletic Bilbao at arm's length in the race to qualify for the Champions League when the sides meet on Saturday in La Liga.
Diego Simeone's stumbling Atletico, fourth, have a three point lead on Copa del Rey winners Athletic, fifth.
It will be a high-intensity clash in the Spanish capital, with Atletico still licking their wounds from last week's Champions League quarter-final elimination by Borussia Dortmund.
They suffered a humiliating 2-0 defeat at Alaves last weekend, increasing the pressure ahead of Los Leones' visit to the Metropolitano stadium.
Ernesto Valverde's side arrive knowing a victory would give them a huge chance of returning to Europe's premier competition for the first time since 2014.
This season Athletic have put Simeone's team to the sword on all three occasions they have met, scoring six goals and not conceding any.
Athletic thoroughly outplayed Atletico in December in La Liga, winning 2-0 at San Mames.
"You can't win titles like this, you can't win leagues... Bilbao were a lot better than us," noted Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who was similarly critical of his team after the recent Alaves defeat.
"We've entered a terrible dynamic," noted the stopper.
"If we don't improve it will be a very tough end to the season."
The teams met again in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, with Atletico on top but falling to a 1-0 defeat, their first at home in over a year.
Atletico fans argued that their opponents had enjoyed more rest ahead of the game and that an unusually rash challenge from Reinildo Mandava gave away the penalty which Alex Berenguer converted to secure Athletic's win.
However in the second leg Athletic dominated and romped to a 3-0 victory against Simeone's flailing Athletic.
Athletic stumbled to a 1-1 draw against Granada last week but Atletico's defeat turned that into a point gained rather than two dropped.
After winning the Spanish cup for the first time in 40 years to spark days of wild celebrations, a comedown was almost inevitable but Valverde needs his team to knuckle down again in the final weeks to make it a better season still.
"Someone will have to get them down from the clouds and focus on La Liga, and that someone is usually the coach," said Valverde after the cup win.
Veteran Raul Garcia is retiring at the end of the campaign while captain Iker Muniain has also said he will depart, and taking the Basque side back to the big time would be the perfect note to walk out on.

Sports

Enzo Fernandez Has Undergone Surgery and Will Miss the Rest of Chelsea’s Season 

Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - April 23, 2024 Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez looks dejected after Arsenal's Kai Havertz scores their fourth goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - April 23, 2024 Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez looks dejected after Arsenal's Kai Havertz scores their fourth goal. (Reuters)
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Enzo Fernandez Has Undergone Surgery and Will Miss the Rest of Chelsea’s Season 

Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - April 23, 2024 Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez looks dejected after Arsenal's Kai Havertz scores their fourth goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - April 23, 2024 Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez looks dejected after Arsenal's Kai Havertz scores their fourth goal. (Reuters)

Enzo Fernandez has undergone surgery and will miss the remainder of Chelsea's season.

The Premier League club posted an injury update on social media Friday saying the 23-year-old midfielder “has undergone successful surgery on a groin issue and will now begin a period of rehabilitation.”

The Argentina international is expected to be available for the Copa America staged in the United States in June and July.

Fernandez played 67 minutes of Chelsea's 5-0 loss against Arsenal on Tuesday.

Fernandez became Britain's most expensive player when joining Chelsea from Benfica for 106.7 million pounds ($131.4 million) last year.

But the 2022 World Cup winner has not yet been able to bring success to the London club, which has endured another disappointing season under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

Despite spending more than $1 billion on transfers since buying Chelsea in 2022, the club, which won a full set of major trophies under former owner Roman Abramovich, has gone into rapid decline.

The loss to Arsenal was Chelsea's 11th of the season and delivered another blow to manager Mauricio Pochettino's hopes of qualifying for Europe.

Fernandez was one of Argentina's star performers at the last World Cup and was named the tournament's best young player.

Argentina is aiming to win back-to-back Copa America titles having triumphed in the last edition of the tournament in 2021.

Sports

Aramco and FIFA Announce Global Partnership

FILES) This picture shows Aramco tower at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh on April 16, 2023. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)
FILES) This picture shows Aramco tower at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh on April 16, 2023. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)
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Aramco and FIFA Announce Global Partnership

FILES) This picture shows Aramco tower at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh on April 16, 2023. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)
FILES) This picture shows Aramco tower at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh on April 16, 2023. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)

Saudi Aramco signed a four-year global partnership with professional football association FIFA, according to an Aramco statement.

The company becomes FIFA’s major worldwide partner exclusive in the energy category, with sponsorship rights for multiple events including the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 26™ and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™, said the statement on Thursday.

The agreement, which runs until the end of 2027, builds on a shared commitment to innovation and development, and will combine football’s unique global reach with Aramco’s history of championing innovation and community engagement.

“Through this partnership with FIFA, we aim to contribute to football development and harness the power of sport to make an impact around the globe,” said Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser. “It reflects our ambition to enable vibrant communities and extends our backing of sport as a platform for growth.”

"Our existing relationship with the Saudi football team Al-Qadsiah, our support for women’s golf through the Aramco Team Series, and our backing of F1 in schools each demonstrate the possibilities of such partnerships to create pathways for opportunity, positively impact society, and promote development at the grassroots level,” he said.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the partnership will assist the soccer body to successfully deliver its flagship tournaments over the next four years.

“Aramco has a strong track record of supporting world-class events, but also a focus on developing grassroots sport initiatives. We look forward to collaborating with them on a variety of initiatives over the coming years,” he added.

Aramco also intends to work with FIFA to drive innovation, identifying opportunities to deploy the company’s expertise and technologies in the delivery of football events globally. This includes initiatives that aim to provide new and innovative ways for football fans to engage with FIFA’s events, the statement said.

Sports

Spain’s Government to Oversee Football Federation Until New Elections

A man looks at the front pages of Spanish newspapers reporting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's decision to suspend public duties after the court launched a preliminary investigation into his wife Begona Gomez, at a newspaper shop in Barcelona, Spain. REUTERS/Nacho Doce
A man looks at the front pages of Spanish newspapers reporting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's decision to suspend public duties after the court launched a preliminary investigation into his wife Begona Gomez, at a newspaper shop in Barcelona, Spain. REUTERS/Nacho Doce
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Spain’s Government to Oversee Football Federation Until New Elections

A man looks at the front pages of Spanish newspapers reporting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's decision to suspend public duties after the court launched a preliminary investigation into his wife Begona Gomez, at a newspaper shop in Barcelona, Spain. REUTERS/Nacho Doce
A man looks at the front pages of Spanish newspapers reporting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's decision to suspend public duties after the court launched a preliminary investigation into his wife Begona Gomez, at a newspaper shop in Barcelona, Spain. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

The Spanish government on Thursday announced the creation of a special committee to oversee the country's football federation (RFEF) until the governing body holds new elections.
The decision was taken "in response to the crisis in the organization and in defense of the general interest of Spain," the National Sports Council (CSD), which is the government agency responsible for sport, said in a statement.
The move follows months of scandals after a corruption investigation sparked by an unsolicited kiss from former RFEF chief Luis Rubiales on player Jenni Hermoso at the on pitch awards ceremony for Spain's women's World Cup success in Sydney, Reuters reported.
"The Spanish government has taken this decision in order to correct the serious situation that the RFEF is going through and to allow the organization to begin a period of regeneration," the CSD said.
"This Commission for Supervision, Normalization and Representation will be headed by independent persons of recognized prestige."

Sports

French Open to Reveal 2nd Retractable Roof Court at Roland Garros Ahead of Olympics

This photograph taken on April 25, 2024, shows a view of the Court Suzanne-Lenglen with its new retractable roof and a Roland Garros Paris logo after a press conference presenting the 2024 edition of the Roland Garros Grand Slam tennis tournament, at the Roland Garros stadium complex in Paris. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)
This photograph taken on April 25, 2024, shows a view of the Court Suzanne-Lenglen with its new retractable roof and a Roland Garros Paris logo after a press conference presenting the 2024 edition of the Roland Garros Grand Slam tennis tournament, at the Roland Garros stadium complex in Paris. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)
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French Open to Reveal 2nd Retractable Roof Court at Roland Garros Ahead of Olympics

This photograph taken on April 25, 2024, shows a view of the Court Suzanne-Lenglen with its new retractable roof and a Roland Garros Paris logo after a press conference presenting the 2024 edition of the Roland Garros Grand Slam tennis tournament, at the Roland Garros stadium complex in Paris. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)
This photograph taken on April 25, 2024, shows a view of the Court Suzanne-Lenglen with its new retractable roof and a Roland Garros Paris logo after a press conference presenting the 2024 edition of the Roland Garros Grand Slam tennis tournament, at the Roland Garros stadium complex in Paris. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP)

The second retractable roof at Roland Garros will be inaugurated on the opening day of the French Open next month, organizers said on Thursday about a project planned with the Paris Olympics in mind.
A ceremony for the roof over the 10,000-seat Suzanne Lenglen court will be held on May 26 when play starts in the main draws, tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said at a news conference.
Even before the inauguration for the two-week tournament, the roof can be closed if rain comes during qualifying rounds on the six previous days, The Associated Press reported.
The main 15,000-seat Philippe Chatrier court has had a retractable roof since 2020.
“It is a court that will help us a lot,” Mauresmo said, calling it the “most visible new feature” of the 2024 tournament.
Mauresmo praised the new roof as giving more flexibility in scheduling matches and ensuring play for 25,000 fans on the grounds and TV viewers worldwide.
The two roofed courts will help keep the Olympic tournament on schedule from July 27-Aug. 4 at the Paris Games. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, matches in open-air courts were disrupted by searing heat and humidity.
Rafael Nadal, the record 14-time French Open men’s singles champion, doubted on Wednesday he will be ready for Roland Garros as he's dealing with injuries at age 37.
“We cross our fingers for him and for us. He’s at home and he knows it,” Mauresmo said, hours before Nadal was due on court at the Madrid Open. “We are waiting to see what happens and we will follow his desires.”
Nadal, an Olympic gold medalist in singles and doubles, is expected at Roland Garros for the Summer Games, and could play doubles with Carlos Alcaraz, French Tennis Federation official Stéphane Morel suggested.
Roland Garros also stages boxing finals in the second week of the Olympics. Mauresmo said the extra attractions had only a positive effect on demand for the French Open.
The tournament is sold out for the first week with daily crowds of 75,000 expected, and about 650,000 across the three weeks including qualifying.

Sports

Klopp's Liverpool Farewell Fizzles Out Tamely

Fizzling out: Jurgen Klopp's farewell at Liverpool is in danger of becoming a damp squib. Paul ELLIS / AFP/File
Fizzling out: Jurgen Klopp's farewell at Liverpool is in danger of becoming a damp squib. Paul ELLIS / AFP/File
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Klopp's Liverpool Farewell Fizzles Out Tamely

Fizzling out: Jurgen Klopp's farewell at Liverpool is in danger of becoming a damp squib. Paul ELLIS / AFP/File
Fizzling out: Jurgen Klopp's farewell at Liverpool is in danger of becoming a damp squib. Paul ELLIS / AFP/File

Jurgen Klopp's nearly nine years at Liverpool have been filled with memorable milestones but an unwanted first of his reign leaves his final few weeks at Anfield with little left to play for.
Klopp tasted defeat in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park for the first time in nine visits as a 2-0 defeat against Everton left the Reds' dreams of sending their manager off as a Premier League winner in tatters.
Just a few weeks ago, Liverpool were on course for a potential quadruple but have come off the rails, said AFP.
A run of four wins in nine games has seen Klopp's men crash out of the Europa League and FA Cup as well as falling off the pace at the top of the Premier League.
Liverpool trail leaders Arsenal by three points and are only one point ahead of defending champions Manchester City, who have two games in hand.
AFP Sport looks at what has gone wrong to leave Klopp's fitting farewell at risk of fizzling out.
Slow starts
Liverpool's habit of fighting back from losing positions was lauded earlier in the campaign as a sign of the "mentality monsters" Klopp has created throughout his time at Anfield.
They have amassed 27 points after falling behind in the Premier League alone this season, but have seen their luck run out after falling behind to Crystal Palace and Everton in shock defeats over the past 10 days.
In all competitions, Liverpool have conceded the opening goal 22 times this season.
They never recovered from a sluggish start at Goodison as Everton wasted a number of chances and had a penalty overturned by VAR even before Jarrad Branthwaite opened the scoring on 27 minutes.
Wasteful finishing
Liverpool's forward line has also gone off the boil come the business end of the season.
They have failed to score from open play in four of their last five games.
Mohamed Salah has looked out of sorts since returning from a hamstring injury picked up at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez were again guilty of wasting huge chances against Everton.
And Diogo Jota, often heralded as the most natural finisher at the club, has been sidelined again by injury after just returning from a two-month layoff.
"You can see we are in a rush in front of goal," said Klopp. "We create a lot but we don't score often enough.
"You can see that and that's the problem. You have to fight through these periods. It's not a problem of attitude, the boys want it but it is my job to bring them into a situation where they feel confident to do it."
Fatigue
The quest for the quadruple could now be coming back to haunt Klopp as Liverpool look to have run out of steam.
They have played 54 games this season and will have four more before the end of the campaign.
A number of academy graduates stepped up during an injury crisis in the early months of 2024 and helped ensure Klopp did at least secure some silverware in his final season by winning the League Cup in February.
Yet, just as they are getting major players back with Alisson Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold returning in recent weeks, those that have been relied on most during the winter months are fading.
Klopp admitted after the Palace match that midfield duo Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo are struggling due to the burden placed upon them earlier in the campaign.
"Players who played all the games are less fresh but it is the same for the other teams. I don't want that to be an excuse," added Klopp.
"A lot of things come together so it is not great timing. I would prefer to be sitting here winning 4-0 and flying but the job is to win football games and the more you win, the more successful you are.
"In the moment we didn’t win enough to get anything from the season."

Sports

Hernandez on Target as Columbus Down Monterrey in Champions Cup Semi

Columbus forward Cucho Hernandez dribbles past Monterrey's Jesus Gallardo in their CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final. Jason Mowry / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Columbus forward Cucho Hernandez dribbles past Monterrey's Jesus Gallardo in their CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final. Jason Mowry / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
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Hernandez on Target as Columbus Down Monterrey in Champions Cup Semi

Columbus forward Cucho Hernandez dribbles past Monterrey's Jesus Gallardo in their CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final. Jason Mowry / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Columbus forward Cucho Hernandez dribbles past Monterrey's Jesus Gallardo in their CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final. Jason Mowry / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Cucho Hernandez was on target as Columbus Crew defeated Mexico's Monterrey 2-1 in their CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final first leg clash in Ohio on Wednesday.
Colombian forward Hernandez delivered a sparkling performance capped with a well-taken first-half goal to help Columbus take a slender advantage into next week's return in Mexico, said AFP.
Jacen Russell-Rowe headed home the winner for Columbus from a corner on 72 minutes after Maximiliano Meza had leveled for Monterrey just after half-time.
The Major League Soccer champions -- who produced a stunning upset of Mexican side Tigres in the quarter-finals -- once again proved to be more than a match for Liga-MX opposition.
Monterrey started brightly and could have taken the lead through US international forward Brandon Vazquez, whose snap shot from six yards out was well-saved by Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte after six minutes.
But after that early scare, Columbus dominated for long periods, with Hernandez at the heart of most of their attacks at Lower Field.
The Colombian almost set up an opener for Diego Rossi on 17 minutes, but the Uruguayan directed his attempted finish just wide of the post.
Moments later Hernandez saw a vicious shot well-saved by Monterrey goalkeeper Esteban Andrada.
Columbus's pressure paid off after 26 minutes though, with Hernandez working a one-two with Russell-Rowe on the edge of the area and finishing crisply past Andrada for 1-0.
Hernandez almost doubled the Crew lead on the stroke of half-time, but was once again denied by Andrada as the besieged Monterrey goalkeeper beat away a superb shot.
Columbus were rocked on 58 minutes though when Monterrey equalized. Jesus Gallardo ghosted past Sean Zawadzki far too easily down the left and crossed for Meza who jabbed in the finish.
But Zawadzki made amends on 72 minutes, delivering the corner which picked out Russell-Rowe at the far post whose header bounced up and into the net past Andrada.
The second leg takes place in Monterrey next Wednesday.

Sports

Medvedev Hoping for More Clay Success with Simon in His Corner 

Daniil Medvedev. (AFP)
Daniil Medvedev. (AFP)
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Medvedev Hoping for More Clay Success with Simon in His Corner 

Daniil Medvedev. (AFP)
Daniil Medvedev. (AFP)

Daniil Medvedev believes the addition of Gilles Simon to his coaching team can help him understand clay better as the world number four looks to build confidence on his least favorite surface ahead of the French Open starting next month.

Medvedev has won 19 of his 20 titles, including the 2021 US Open, on hardcourts, with a grasscourt crown that same year at the Mallorca Open. He won his lone claycourt trophy at the 2023 Rome Masters in the lead-up to Roland Garros.

Medvedev, who was runner-up at the Australian Open in January, did not have a great start to the claycourt season after losing early in Monte Carlo this month.

However, he said he could see improvements in his game under Simon, who won five tour-level trophies on clay.

"He tries to bring something to my game, which maybe I thought of, but didn't understand how I should bring it on the court," Medvedev told reporters at the Madrid Open.

"He explains how I can do it and for me then it's important because during the match you don't have time to think too much. It's more of a reaction. So I have to be smart to not overthink what he says. Overthink it in practice, maybe, but not during the match.

"I feel like in Monte Carlo, because we talked a lot about playing ... I maybe thought too much about 'OK, next shot, what do I do?' Where I actually had to play more.

"It's very interesting and for the moment it's working great. I'm looking forward to learning more things."

Medvedev begins his Madrid campaign against Christopher O'Connell or Matteo Arnaldi.

Sports

Pochettino Frustrated by Chelsea’s Inconsistency After Thrashing at Arsenal 

Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - April 23, 2024 Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - April 23, 2024 Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
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Pochettino Frustrated by Chelsea’s Inconsistency After Thrashing at Arsenal 

Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - April 23, 2024 Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - April 23, 2024 Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino was left frustrated by his team's inconsistency after their 5-0 thrashing at Arsenal in the Premier League on Tuesday, which came just days after they pushed Manchester City hard in a tight FA Cup semi-final loss.

Leandro Trossard opened the scoring at the Emirates before Ben White and former Chelsea player Kai Havertz both scored twice in the second half to seal the north London club's biggest-ever win in the fixture.

The defeat came after Chelsea had gone eight matches unbeaten in the league, and dealt a blow to their hopes of claiming a European place next season.

"When we have bad days, we are so bad. When we are good, we are capable of everything," Pochettino told reporters.

"We cannot blame the players, I'm not going to blame the players. We cannot blame young guys who came here and after suffering some circumstances, come here to fight against a team preparing to win the Premier League.

"It is true we are disappointed with our performance, but I am not going to say something which is unfair to describe our team, our players, our squad."

Chelsea next face a trip to fourth-placed Aston Villa on Saturday, before hosting fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur on May 2.