Slot Warns Liverpool 'Can't Afford Mistakes' in Top-Four Scrap

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Liverpool Press Conference - AXA Training Centre, Liverpool, Britain - January 27, 2026 Liverpool manager Arne Slot during a press conference Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Liverpool Press Conference - AXA Training Centre, Liverpool, Britain - January 27, 2026 Liverpool manager Arne Slot during a press conference Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
TT

Slot Warns Liverpool 'Can't Afford Mistakes' in Top-Four Scrap

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Liverpool Press Conference - AXA Training Centre, Liverpool, Britain - January 27, 2026 Liverpool manager Arne Slot during a press conference Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Liverpool Press Conference - AXA Training Centre, Liverpool, Britain - January 27, 2026 Liverpool manager Arne Slot during a press conference Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Arne Slot said Liverpool "cannot afford a lot of mistakes anymore" as his team battle for a top-four Premier League finish following the collapse of their title defense.

The Reds are sixth in the table, two points behind fourth-placed Manchester United ahead of Newcastle's visit to Anfield on Saturday, AFP said.

In a congested table, just five points separate United from Sunderland, in 11th spot. Eddie Howe's Newcastle are three points behind Liverpool.

A top-four finish in the Premier League guarantees automatic qualification for next season's Champions League.

"It's obvious that the closer you come to the end, the fewer opportunities you have to make a mistake," Liverpool boss Slot said on Friday.

"And we are now in a position that we cannot afford a lot of mistakes anymore, because we've made far too many, and with mistakes I mean giving away goals in the last minute."

The Reds conceded in the 95th minute to lose 3-2 to Bournemouth last week.

Liverpool booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a commanding 6-0 victory over Qarabag on Wednesday.

But their domestic form has been terrible -- with just five wins from their past 18 games -- after they swept to a 20th English title last year.

"We are fully aware of the fact that one win isn't enough at this club, so the next one is coming fast with Newcastle," said Slot.

"I'm 100 percent sure that that game is a bigger challenge than the one we faced Wednesday, but it's always helpful to win."

The Dutchman said he was pleased to see Mohamed Salah back on the scoresheet against Qarabag for the first time for Liverpool since November 1, but he emphasized the role of the team.

"The team has to make sure he gets in good positions, and I think that's what we are doing more and more, not only with him but with many players," said Slot.

"I think I've said this recently quite a lot -- our game in between boxes is good enough for our attackers to be often enough in promising positions, and I know we know that if this happens enough times, then our players will do what we expect of them because they have so much quality."

The Liverpool manager said defender Jeremie Frimpong would be out for a few weeks after picking up an injury against Qarabag but it was "not as bad as we thought".

Center-back Ibrahima Konate, who has been absent following the death of his father, is in the squad for the Newcastle match.



Sport Ministry Wins Three Global Awards at Clio Sports 2025

Sport Ministry Wins Three Global Awards at Clio Sports 2025
TT

Sport Ministry Wins Three Global Awards at Clio Sports 2025

Sport Ministry Wins Three Global Awards at Clio Sports 2025

The Saudi Ministry of Sport has won three international awards at Clio Sports 2025, presented by The Clio Awards in New York, United States, among the world’s leading honors in sports marketing and media.

The film 'Overtake the Future' received the Silver Award in the Sound Design category of the Film Craft track, while 'Race the Sunset' won the Bronze Award for Best Cinematic Film, SPA reported.

In addition, 'Year of the Camel' earned the Bronze Award in the Best Cinematic Film category.

This achievement comes as part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to develop sports-related media and marketing content and to document sporting stories and events through diverse and innovative production approaches.


Lebanon Name Madjid Bougherra as New Coach

Lebanese national flag flutters in Beirut, Lebanon, August 18, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Lebanese national flag flutters in Beirut, Lebanon, August 18, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
TT

Lebanon Name Madjid Bougherra as New Coach

Lebanese national flag flutters in Beirut, Lebanon, August 18, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Lebanese national flag flutters in Beirut, Lebanon, August 18, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Lebanon have appointed former Algerian international Madjid Bougherra as their new coach, the national football association said.

Local media said it was a four-year deal.

The 43-year-old had previously been in charge of Algeria’s A team and won the Arab Cup with them in 2021 but resigned after they failed to defend their title in Qatar in December.

Bougherra captained Algeria at the 2014 World Cup and also played at the 2010 finals.

The French-born central defender began his playing career at Gueugnon before moving across the English Channel playing at Crewe Alexandra, Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and Rangers in Scotland.

His first match in charge will be Lebanon’s Asian Cup qualifier against Yemen in Qatar on March 31 where they only need a draw to qualify for the 2027 finals in Saudi Arabia.


Senegal and Morocco Fined and Players Banned after African Cup Final Walk-off and Chaos

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw (Reuters)
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw (Reuters)
TT

Senegal and Morocco Fined and Players Banned after African Cup Final Walk-off and Chaos

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw (Reuters)
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw (Reuters)

Africa's soccer body issued fines worth more than $1 million and banned Senegal's coach and Senegalese and Morocco players Wednesday following a shambolic African Cup soccer final this month that involved a walk-off protest by one of the teams, fans trying to storm the field and fights among journalists.

The bans only apply to African games and not the World Cup kicking off in June that Senegal and Morocco have both qualified for, The AP news reported.

The sanctions announced by the Confederation of African Football included fines totaling $615,000 for the Senegalese soccer federation and $315,000 for the Morocco federation for unsporting and improper conduct by their players, coaching staff and supporters, among other offenses.

The Jan. 18 African soccer showpiece was marred by Senegal players walking off led by coach Pape Thiaw in protest against a penalty awarded late in regulation time to host Morocco. Thiaw was banned for five African games and given an individual fine of $100,000 for bringing the game into disrepute, the African confederation said.

The game restarted after a delay of around 15 minutes, Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal won the African title 1-0 after extra time.

The heated final in Rabat also saw supporters trying to storm the field, Morocco and Senegal players scuffling on the sidelines, reporters from the two countries fighting in press areas, and a bizarre sequence where Moroccan ball boys attempted to seize a towel being used by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy — in an apparent bid to distract him and help their team win the continental title.

That behavior by the home team's ball boys led to a $200,000 fine for Morocco's federation, which will be a co-host of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal and has come under scrutiny for the chaotic African final.

Morocco was hoping to host the 2030 World Cup final at the under-construction Hassan II Stadium, set to be the largest soccer arena in the world with a capacity of 115,000 after its planned completion in 2028. But this month's African final reflected badly on it.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui said the game had given African soccer a “shameful” image.

Senegal players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were banned for two African games, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi was also banned for two games, with one suspended, and Morocco's Ismael Saibari was banned for three games and fined $100,000 for unsporting behavior.

The African soccer body dismissed an appeal by Morocco to have the result canceled and Morocco declared the winner because of the Senegalese walk-off.

The game even strained diplomatic ties between Senegal and Morocco, prompting political officials in both nations to pledge to stay friends and call for calm. In Morocco, rights groups denounced what they called hate speech targeting sub-Saharan African residents in the country.

Senegal Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said on an investment-related trip to Morocco days after the game that the reaction to it should be seen as “emotional outbursts produced by fervor and not as political or cultural rifts.”