LIVERPOOL // The cost of Luis Suarez's eight-match suspension is becoming apparent. Two points went begging in a game when Liverpool had neither ambition nor incision and Stoke City possessed both organisation and determination.
Without their controversial forward, Liverpool secured a first-leg lead in the Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester City, but impotence in the attack afflicted them yesterday.
It is not that the Uruguayan, banned for racially abusing Patrice Evra, is a guarantor of goals - he should have scored far more than five in the Premier League - but he is irrepressible, forever involved, ensuring a constant supply of chances for his side and a tiring afternoon for their opponents. Without him, Liverpool lacked a cutting edge.
In one respect, it is a familiar tale. They have scored fewer league goals than Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers and, while unbeaten at home, have now drawn seven of their 11 games at Anfield. But whereas they normally lament the heroics of a visiting goalkeeper, that was no explanation yesterday. Thomas Sorensen was unoccupied for large swathes of the game, had a solitary shot to field, from Jordan Henderson, and few opportunities to enhance his reputation.
His defenders, the defiant Robert Huth in particular, did theirs no harm with a performance of admirable resolution, but it was a stalemate that said much about both teams. Spirited and solid, Stoke showed why they are in the upper half of the Premier League. Unable to fashion a breakthrough, Liverpool indicated why they are outside the top four.
"On the day we weren't good enough," Dalglish said. "They came to go away with a point and they got a point. The responsibility is on us to be more imaginative to break them down. In a game like that you have to take your opportunities."
There were moments to sum up their failings in front of goal: when Dirk Kuyt's touch betrayed him after Steven Gerrard's pass appeared to put him clear; when Andy Carroll inadvertently blocked a goal-bound Henderson volley. There was only one gilt-edged opportunity, when Jose Enrique's cross looped up off Jonathan Woodgate. A diving Kuyt met it with his head, but missed the target. In the final few minutes, Kuyt headed into the side-netting and Martin Skrtel, via the ground, over the bar, but it scarcely qualified as a late onslaught.
"There was nothing wrong with their effort or determination," Dalglish said. Graft was apparent, but craft was lacking. Injuries have depleted his squad, but not to such an extent to explain his team selection.
The Scot has a habit of reconfiguring his team for Stoke. He deployed three central defenders at Anfield last season and revived the tactic yesterday, Sebastian Coates, who was making his first league start, and a recalled Jamie Carragher adding to the height his side possessed in a game when an aerial attack was anticipated. It never materialised, leaving the three centre-backs marking one forward, Peter Crouch.
The beanpole striker was a 2005 recruit at Anfield. His modern-day equivalent, Carroll, was demoted to the bench, in a significant switch.
Even with Suarez suspended and Craig Bellamy, whose fragile knees mean he rarely starts two games in a week, on the bench, he still did not start. When called upon, Carroll's contribution largely entailed a series of optimistic pleas for penalties. Howard Webb, the referee, lectured players about holding in the box without pointing to the spot.
"It's difficult to comprehend," Dalglish said. Not unsurprisingly, Tony Pulis disagreed. "Some referees might have buckled," the Stoke manager said. "Thankfully, Howard is experienced enough and strong enough not to."
He did not appear unduly worried by Liverpool's frequent appeals. "I think it was more out of desperation," he said.
While his side scarcely threatened, a solo run and stinging shot from Matthew Etherington apart, their defensive efforts pleased their manager.
"We're delighted," Pulis said. "The effort and the commitment the players put in was fantastic.
"That's four points off Liverpool, two clean sheets and that's a great achievement for us. Thomas Sorensen has not made save after save after save."
Indeed, the goalkeeper, who was cautioned for time-wasting, need not have bothered. He appeared troubled most not by a shot but from a low cross, delivered by Skrtel, that evaded both him and the advancing Charlie Adam.
Both were the joint top scorers of the side selected, with two league goals to their credit. It is a statistic that highlights Liverpool's troubles. They may not ease for a while, either. Suarez is still missing for another four games.
sports@thenational.ae
Newcastle United v Queens Park Rangers preview, s10-11
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Pakistan World Cup squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sonchiriya
Director: Abhishek Chaubey
Producer: RSVP Movies, Azure Entertainment
Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Manoj Bajpayee, Ashutosh Rana, Bhumi Pednekar, Ranvir Shorey
Rating: 3/5
The specs: Hyundai Ionic Hybrid
Price, base: Dh117,000 (estimate)
Engine: 1.6L four-cylinder, with 1.56kWh battery
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 105hp (engine), plus 43.5hp (battery)
Torque: 147Nm (engine), plus 170Nm (battery)
Fuel economy, combined: 3.4L / 100km
Key developments in maritime dispute
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
CHINESE GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2nd row
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
3rd row
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)
4th row
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
5th row
Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
6th row
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Force India)
7th row
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
8th row
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
9th row
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Lance Stroll (Williams)
10th row
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 390bhp
Torque: 400Nm
Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579
ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE FIXTURES
Thursday, September 21
Al Dahfra v Sharjah (kick-off 5.35pm)
Al Wasl v Emirates (8.30pm)
Friday, September 22
Dibba v Al Jazira (5.25pm)
Al Nasr v Al Wahda (8.30pm)
Saturday, September 23
Hatta v Al Ain (5.25pm)
Ajman v Shabab Al Ahli (8.30pm)
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Ferdous, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-3 Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 2,400m
Winner: Basmah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6pm: UAE Arabian Derby Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 2,200m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Emirates Championship Group 1 (PA) Dh1,000,000 2,200m
Winner: Somoud, Patrick Cosgrave, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Group 3 (TB) Dh380,000 2,200m
Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Conditions (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Bairaq, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
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