• Liverpool players celebrate after Ibrahima Konate scores the opening goal in the 3-2 FA Cup semi-final win against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 16. EPA
    Liverpool players celebrate after Ibrahima Konate scores the opening goal in the 3-2 FA Cup semi-final win against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 16. EPA
  • Konate heads the first goal. AP
    Konate heads the first goal. AP
  • Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen looks on as his error leads to Sadio Mane scoring Liverpool's second goal. PA
    Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen looks on as his error leads to Sadio Mane scoring Liverpool's second goal. PA
  • Liverpool's supporters clebrate after Sadio Mane's goal. AFP
    Liverpool's supporters clebrate after Sadio Mane's goal. AFP
  • Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hugs Sadio Mane. EPA
    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hugs Sadio Mane. EPA
  • Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates. Getty
    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates. Getty
  • Sadio Mane celebrates after scoring Liverpool's third goal. AFP
    Sadio Mane celebrates after scoring Liverpool's third goal. AFP
  • Klopp celebrates with defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. EPA
    Klopp celebrates with defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. EPA
  • City's Jack Grealish pulls a goal back. AP
    City's Jack Grealish pulls a goal back. AP
  • Jack Grealish celebrates his goal. AP
    Jack Grealish celebrates his goal. AP
  • Bernardo Silva scores City's second in time added on. Getty
    Bernardo Silva scores City's second in time added on. Getty
  • Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola embrace at the end of the game. AFP
    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola embrace at the end of the game. AFP

Virgil Van Dijk urges Liverpool to block out quadruple talk to avoid 'extra pressure'


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Virgil van Dijk has said completing the quadruple is "almost impossible" and has urged Liverpool to block out the external noise or risk heaping more pressure on themselves.

Liverpool are 11 games away from a potentially historic season. The Reds have already won the League Cup, are in the final of the FA Cup, sit second in the Premier League by a solitary point, and have advanced to the Champions League semi-finals.

Jurgen Klopp's men saw off Manchester City 3-2 in an FA Cup semi-final thriller on Saturday to set up a final with Chelsea next month - the same side they beat on penalties to lift the League Cup in February.

City stand in their way for the Premier League title with the English champions holding a one-point lead at the top of the table with seven games to go. And the top two in England could also meet in the Champions League final as Liverpool take on Villarreal and City face Real Madrid in the last four.

"Nobody did the quadruple and there is a reason for it – because it is almost impossible to do," said Van Dijk.

Liverpool face arguably the tougher run-in for the Premier League title with old rivals Manchester United and Everton visiting Anfield this week desperate for points in their own battles to reach next season's Champions League and avoid relegation respectively.

"All this talk about quadruple or treble is from the outside world and could put extra pressure on us," said Van Dijk. "It is something that everyone would dream about, to win every competition you participate in, but we will see what it brings. Anything can happen, with other teams as well."

Virgil van Dijk, right, is challenged by Nathan Ake during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Manchester City. AP
Virgil van Dijk, right, is challenged by Nathan Ake during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Manchester City. AP

Van Dijk's return to fitness has been pivotal to Liverpool's stunning season so far. The Netherlands captain missed 10 months due to cruciate ligament damage last season and the chance to lead his country at Euro 2020.

With the World Cup in Qatar also just seven months away, he is relishing just being back on the field.

"I was not a great player back in the days, I was quite a late bloomer – that's why I enjoy my career even more," he said. "I just want to keep it going, stay fit, win games and see what it brings and get ready for the World Cup as well."

Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
​​​​​​​Penguin Press

Challenge Cup result:

1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

'Munich: The Edge of War'

Director: Christian Schwochow

Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons

Rating: 3/5

WIDE%20VIEW
%3Cp%3EThe%20benefits%20of%20HoloLens%202%2C%20according%20to%20Microsoft%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EManufacturing%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Reduces%20downtime%20and%20speeds%20up%20onboarding%20and%20upskilling%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngineering%20and%20construction%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Accelerates%20the%20pace%20of%20construction%20and%20mitigates%20risks%20earlier%20in%20the%20construction%20cycle%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EHealth%20care%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Enhances%20the%20delivery%20of%20patient%20treatment%20at%20the%20point%20of%20care%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEducation%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Improves%20student%20outcomes%20and%20teaches%20from%20anywhere%20with%20experiential%20learning%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Match info

Costa Rica 0

Serbia 1
Kolarov (56')

The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

Updated: April 18, 2022, 10:16 AM