Liverpool Thriving on Pressure of Quadruple Chase, Says Alexander-Arnold

02 May 2022, United Kingdom, Liverpool: Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold (R) and goalkeeper Alisson take part in a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match against Villarreal. (dpa)
02 May 2022, United Kingdom, Liverpool: Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold (R) and goalkeeper Alisson take part in a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match against Villarreal. (dpa)
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Liverpool Thriving on Pressure of Quadruple Chase, Says Alexander-Arnold

02 May 2022, United Kingdom, Liverpool: Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold (R) and goalkeeper Alisson take part in a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match against Villarreal. (dpa)
02 May 2022, United Kingdom, Liverpool: Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold (R) and goalkeeper Alisson take part in a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match against Villarreal. (dpa)

Liverpool are thriving on the pressure of playing for an unprecedented quadruple and every game feels like a final now, defender Trent Alexander-Arnold said ahead of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg at Villarreal.

Liverpool hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg as they target a third final in five years in Europe's elite club competition.

The English League Cup winners are also a point behind Premier League leaders Manchester City and have reached the FA Cup final, where they take on Chelsea this month.

"To be honest, I feel like we thrive off it (the pressure)," Alexander-Arnold told reporters. "I've said it before, I feel this is always the best time in the season for us lads. Every game is a final, we're pushing on all three fronts now.

"These are the exciting games, you want to be playing in these, you want everything on the line and you want every game to feel like you have to win it ... the lads feel the same way.

"It's exciting, the buzz you get from scoring in the game and you know it's vitally important."

The 23-year-old right back had said earlier this season that Liverpool must aim for a minimum of one trophy per year but he has revised that target.

"I did say one trophy a season minimum and that's probably in a season that's not one of our best. But we're in fine form, we've played outstanding all season, we've been able to win in different ways," Alexander-Arnold said.

"Come the end of May, hopefully we'll be in the history books again."



South Korea Expresses Regret after Its Athletes Introduced as North Korea at Opening Ceremony

 Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
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South Korea Expresses Regret after Its Athletes Introduced as North Korea at Opening Ceremony

 Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)

South Korea expressed regret that its delegation of athletes at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday was introduced as from rival North Korea and has demanded assurances from organizers the mistake will not happen again.

As the boat carrying South Korean athletes passed on the Seine, the announcer introduced them as the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" - the official name of North Korea - in French and English.

The announcer used the same introduction when the North Korean delegation passed.

South Korea's vice minister for sports and culture, Jang Mi-ran, who was in Paris, had requested a meeting with International Olympics Committee President Thomas Bach, the ministry said in a statement.

"We express regret that the country was introduced as North Korea at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games when the athletes of the Republic of Korea were entering," it said.

South Korea's National Olympic Committee immediately referred the incident to the Games' organizers and requested that the error will not be repeated.

South Korea's delegation includes 143 athletes competing in 21 events. North Korea, which is returning to the Games for the first time since Rio 2016, has sent 16 athletes.