Sports
Klopp refuses to rule out Liverpool return one day
Jürgen Klopp has said a return to manage Liverpool one day is “theoretically possible” but insisted he does not miss coaching.
Klopp left Liverpool after nine successful years in 2024, declaring he was “running out of energy.” He has since joined Red Bull as head of global soccer.
While he has said he does not intend to return to management, the German claimed a return to Liverpool is not impossible.
“I said I will never coach a different team in England. So that means if [Klopp returns] it’s Liverpool,” Klopp told the Diary of a CEO podcast.
“So yeah, theoretically it’s possible. “I love what I do right now, I don’t miss coaching. I don’t. I mean I do coach, just different, not players. And I don’t miss it. I don’t miss standing in the rain two-and-a-half, three hours. I don’t miss going to press conference three times a week, having 10-12 interviews a week. I don’t miss that.
“I don’t miss being in the dressing room in the sense that I don’t have it often enough, I coached 1,080 something games. So, I was in the dressing room very, very often.
“I’m 58, that’s from your perspective, old from the other side, it’s not that old. That means I could make the decision in a few years. I don’t know. [If] I had to make the decision today, I won’t coach again but thank God I don’t have to do that. I can just see what the future brings.”
Klopp also revealed he often had interactions with his replacement Arne Slot, who won the Premier League title last season in his first campaign.
He said Slot was smart not to make a lot of changes initially, and it’s not surprising there are some teething issues after a busy transfer window this summer.
“We had a lot of contact after that; he’s a super good guy. He got the best out of this team, and they became champions in an incredible manner,” Klopp said.
“It’s not about Arne wants to show the world what he can do, it’s about how to get the best out of this team and that’s exactly what he did.
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“Change always has an impact and change always need time. If he keeps the exact same team as las season; Darwin Núñez still there, Luis Díaz still there as an example, they start playing and have problems [people say] ‘we needed change.’
“Now the new guys are there and they are really good players, it’s not working out at the minute. Development needs time, nobody can change that, people need time to adapt to certain things. It’s all good.”
Sports
Fulham to revisit USMNT’s Ricardo Pepi transfer in summer – sources
Fulham are likely to reignite their interest in United States men’s striker Ricardo Pepi in the summer transfer window after the potential move broke down this January, sources have told ESPN.
Fulham and PSV Eindhoven were close to agreeing on a fee in the region of €37 million ($43.9m) for the USMNT striker, but the deal was contingent on PSV finding a replacement, according to sources.
With the transfer deadline ticking ever closer, PSV pulled the plug on the deal as they were unable to find a suitable candidate to fill Pepi’s shoes.
The Premier League side has already recruited Oscar Bobb this window and was keen to add the young striker as well.
Pepi, 23, has been in fantastic form for PSV this season, scoring eight goals in 15 Eredivisie matches. He is seen as an ideal target to bolster Fulham’s forward options, though he is out currently with a broken forearm.
Sources say that Fulham are keen to explore another move for Pepi in the summer.
The 23-year-old began his career at FC Dallas before spells at Augsburg and Groningen before joining PSV, where he has 26 goals in 60 games, alongside 13 in 34 for the USMNT.
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Sports
Pakistan Shaheens announce squad for T20’s, ODI’s – SUCH TV
Pakistan Shaheens have announced their squad for the upcoming T20 and ODI series against England Lions to be played in the United Arab Emirates, with Shamil Hussain named captain for both formats.
All matches of the series will be held at the Oval Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The three-match T20 series will begin on February 20, followed by a five-match ODI series from February 27 to March 9.
Abdul Samad, Hassan Nawaz, Moaz Sadaqat and Saad Khan have been included in the squad, along with Sameer Minhas and Arafat Minhas.
Rohail Nazir and Saad Baig will share wicketkeeping duties.
Spin bowlers Saad Masood and Sufyan Muqim are also part of the team, while the fast bowling unit includes Ali Raza, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Muhammad Salman and Shahid Aziz.
Pakistan Shaheens will hold a seven-day training camp in Karachi from February 11 to February 17.
Former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been appointed mentor and manager of the Shaheens.
Ijaz Ahmed will serve as head coach, with Mansoor Amjad named fielding coach and Aizaz Cheema as bowling coach.
Sports
NHL outdoor game sees its 1st goalie fight between Vasilevskiy, Swayman
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning credited the first goalie fight in an NHL outdoor game for helping to spark their historic Stadium Series comeback win over the Boston Bruins on Sunday.
With 8:59 left in the second period and the Bruins leading 5-2, Lightning forward Brandon Hagel tried to poke the puck from under Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman after a save. Swayman then jumped on top of Hagel next to his crease, leading to a melee between the teams while the Lightning were on a power play. Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy skated from his crease to the opposite blue line during the chaos.
“I just saw Sway was swinging the blocker on [Hagel] a bit, so it was just a reflex to go to the red line and challenge him. He accepted,” Vasilevskiy said.
Swayman spotted the Tampa Bay goalie, dropped his stick and skated out to meet Vasilevskiy as the two engaged near center ice. Swayman took off his gloves and mask and signaled to Vasilevskiy to remember to remove his mask before the fists flew.
“I don’t want to hit his helmet, so I’m glad we didn’t do that,” Swayman said.
The Lightning goalie nicknamed “The Big Cat” grabbed Swayman’s collar and started throwing left hands. The Boston goalie wasn’t able to get much offense in before Vasilevskiy wrestled him to the ice.
Did Swayman know that Vasilevskiy was a lefty before their fight?
“No,” the Bruins goalie said curtly, with a laugh. “Glad we both had our first gig against each other. Really worthy opponent.”
Vasilevskiy gave him a tap on the back and then tapped the back of Swayman’s head in appreciation of the moment, grinning widely as the fans roared inside Raymond James Stadium.
“When we both fell, we just kind of said to each other nice words. It was super nice. It’s one of the biggest moments for me, because I never fought in the NHL,” Vasilevskiy said. “Big thanks to him. He was great in the net all game and great in the fight as well.”
Swayman was also appreciative.
“He wanted to win, which is good. So did I. So that’s game respecting game,” he said. “I’m fighting the biggest, toughest goalie in the league. It wouldn’t be my first choice, but glad we got the first one out of the way. Probably retire after that.”
The crowd of nearly 65,000 fans stood and cheered during the confrontation, and then again when the referee announced the goalies had both received five-minute majors for fighting. Players on both benches were on their feet, too, slapping their sticks against the boards in appreciation and respect for their netminders.
“He was throwing lefts. I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I didn’t want to be the other guy,” Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov said. “I was so happy. I was so fired up. I think the bench felt it. Everyone in the building felt it. Ever since that fight, the game was turned. Vasy had to do it, I guess. He had to wake us up.”
The Lightning would score twice on 5-on-3 power plays over the next 5:12, cutting the Bruins’ lead to 5-4 heading into the third period. Kucherov tied the score in the third period, and the Lightning eventually won 6-5 in a shootout.
Tampa Bay’s rally from a four-goal deficit to win marked the largest comeback victory in franchise history and the largest in an NHL outdoor game.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he could feel the momentum starting to swing before the fight, but the goalie throwdown was an emotional high the Lightning needed at that moment.
“I was like, ‘Thank goodness something positive was going to happen to our game,'” he said. “I give Boston a lot of credit. They took it to us and we weren’t prepared for it. Vasy was pissed.”
Hagel said he felt the fight was “a big turning point in the game.”
So did Kucherov, who was also convinced that his goalie would win the fight.
“I knew he was going to beat the wheels off of Swayman right away,” Kucherov said. “We call him ‘White Tyson’ now.”
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