List of All Articles with Tag 'b'

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is embracing his ‘hybrid’ role by watching video clips of some of the world’s greatest midfielders in order to gain greater understanding. Towards the end of last season the 25-year-old was asked to vary his right-back role by stepping into central areas to be able to dictate on the ball more and offer a different attacking dimension. It is something which was first pioneered with John Stones by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and, while Alexander-Arnold has studied how his England team-mate has performed, he has not limited his learning to ‘hybrid’ players. “I enjoy learning about the game, watching things, watching players, different systems, different teams, how different players play it and there are some players who play it really well,” he said after the 3-0 victory over Brentford which set up a top versus second clash against Manchester City when the Premier League resumes after the international break. “I think as someone who plays the inverted, hybrid role – I don’t know what people call it these days – then it is obviously John Stones. “He is someone who, for a long time, I have admired his game; he is exceptional, so I watch him a lot. Clips or even when I am just watching City’s games, I will sit and focus on him. “I have always admired him, I do admire the way Rodri plays. “He is pivotal in that team and someone who is massively underrated but like we have seen recently, when you take him out of the team, they are not the same. That just shows how important he is. “I would say it is those kinds of players I watch, but there are a lot. I will watch players from the past as well – (Sergio) Busquets, (Xabi) Alonso, (Andrea) Pirlo, Stevie G (Gerrard): those players I have always enjoyed watching.” I will watch players from the past as well – Busquets, Alonso, Pirlo, Stevie G Trent Alexander-Arnold on learning from great midfielders It makes sense for Alexander-Arnold to educate himself on the ways of such midfield maestros as there has been more than a hint he could be transformed into a genuine option. He was first tried centrally by Gareth Southgate in a game against Andorra just over two years ago and when the England squad is now published, Alexander-Arnold is listed as a midfielder. At the time Jurgen Klopp questioned why he would play the world’s best right-back in midfield but he has mellowed his stance since then and even brought Alexander-Arnold on as the defensive midfielder in the Carabao Cup win at Bournemouth last month. “The conversations I have had with the (England) manager and the staff there, I go there as a midfielder, I train there and that is where I try and play on the pitch barring the Australia game last time,” he added. “It really does help me in that sense. I am not playing midfield week in, week out here but I am getting on the ball in central areas and knowing how to receive and conduct yourself and play a game in midfield is a lot different to at the side of the pitch. “I think the way I see it and the way I am told and explained to play it (at Liverpool), it is almost when we have the ball I am midfielder and when we don’t have the ball I am a right-back. “I think when the ball advances up the pitch it becomes more about protection and stopping counter attacks. It is more disciplined. “When I come in as a right-back there is still (Wataru) Endo or Macca (Alexis Mac Allister) there, Fabinho last season, and their job is to stay as the number six. “My job is the one who comes in and still has the freedom to underlap Mo (Salah) or overlap him, get into the box, shoot or cross whereas as a number six it is more rigid, your role along with the two centre-backs to ensure that when the ball pops out of the box it doesn’t go into the striker’s feet and they can build from there.” Read More John Carver urges Lawrence Shankland to make the most of late Scotland call-up Ben Davies keen to prove doubters wrong as Wales target another major tournament Britain’s Katie Boulter eager to build on her successful season in 2024 On this day in 2006: Gold Cup winning Desert Orchid dies at the age of 27 The sporting weekend in pictures San Francisco 49ers return to winning ways against Jacksonville Jaguars

By James Pearson LONDON (Reuters) -China’s biggest lender, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, has paid a ransom to

The Russian defence ministry has blamed the report's publication on a "fake account" linked to Ukraine.

Actor Noah Schnapp has been seen promoting 'Hamas is Isis' and 'Zionism is sexy' stickers. Schnapp, who is Jewish, posted a statement to Instagram back in October saying he was "afraid" after the attacks by Hamas. Writing "you either stand with Israel or you stand with terrorism". On October 7 Hamas carried out an attack where they entered Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, killing more than 1,400 people. Since then Israel have launched out a counter military campaign, with Palestinian officials saying more than 10,000 people have been killed in Gaza. As a result, waves of 'Free Palestine' marches have occurred worldwide. Zionism is defined by Cambridge Dictionary as "a political movement that had as its original aim the creation of a country for Jewish people, and that now supports the state of Israel". Schnapp was tagged in what appears to be an Instagram story whilst he and his friends hold up the stickers smiling and laughing in a restaurant. Many on Twitter/X have been sharing the video with their views. With some saying his blatant sharing of views contradicts with his claim of being afraid. Others compared Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid losing jobs for supporting Palestine whilst Schnapp and other Israel supporters such as Amy Schumer, do not. Many also called on the boycotting of season 5 of Stranger Things, the show where Schnapp made his name: Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings. How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel

Orsted A/S has withdrawn from a partnership developing offshore wind projects in Norway as the company grapples with

Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley is poaching donors from her Republican competitors, fueling a surge in her

The Pentagon says these "self-defence strikes" are in response to attacks on its bases.

Villanova University in Pennsylvania is rescuing bondholders who own debt sold by Cabrini University, a small Roman Catholic

The team that finished last in the NFC South last season got off to a 2-0 start this year. However, the Atlanta Falcons have struggled mightily ever since.

Secret Service on Biden granddaughter's detail spotted suspects breaking into a parked government car.

By David Milliken LONDON Climate change and countries' different approaches to combat it are likely boost inflation and

The European Union is finalizing a 12th package of sanctions against Russia that includes an export ban on