Liverpool 2 Sunderland 2
LIVERPOOL // Languishing in his hospital bed, recovering after successful surgery to remove his appendix, Jurgen Klopp missed Sunderland's comeback. So did many Liverpool supporters. Perhaps 6,000, probably 8,000.
They had seen their side take a two-goal lead and then taken their leave. Not in attempts to beat the traffic. This was principle, not pragmatism. It was protest, rather than the praise often heard here.
There are times when choruses engulf Anfield. Great players are serenaded, their beloved team is celebrated. This was different. There were rumblings in the rafters. A chant began. “Enough is enough.”
Read more: Frustrating, but fruitful – Thomas Woods on how Anthony Martial is being developed right by Louis van Gaal
It was a campaign where they backed up their words with action. There were 13 minutes remaining when, united in protest at rising ticket prices, they headed for the exits. Organised by two influential fans’ groups, Spirit of Shankly and Spion Kop 1906, they produced the first mass walkout ever documented at a ground first used in 1884. Some, as they departed, directed offensive signs at the directors’ box.
For the first time, a season ticket at Anfield could cost more than £1,000 (Dh5,320) next year. The most expensive seats will go for £77. There was a sea of black flags. One banner directed at owners Fenway Sports Group read: “FSG: Fleecing Supporters Guaranteed”. Another proclaimed: “Football without fans is nothing.”
The mutiny brooked no complaint from the coaching staff.
“We have one of the best groups of supporters in the world so if they want to make a statement, they have the right to,” said first-team coach Pep Lijnders. He complained more about the result. “Normally the scoreboard doesn’t lie,” Lijnders added. “I think today it did.”
For long periods, 0-0 seemed the more probable outcome. For large swathes, there was too little entertainment, especially at the start, where the medical bulletins occupied more of the attention.
Injuries have been a constant at Anfield this season. Dejan Lovren and Joe Allen departed before the break, but the players are not the only ones sidelined.
Klopp was rushed to hospital and underwent an operation to remove his appendix. It prompted quips that he has had problems with his side for four months.
Zeljko Buvac, the German’s long-term assistant, was in charge on the touchline, though Klopp may return for Tuesday’s FA Cup tie at West Ham.
A Klopp favourite, Adam Lallana, brought brightness. Alberto Moreno attacked with verve from left-back. He had two opportunities, both fashioned by Lallana, and drew a fine stop from Vito Mannone with the first.
But highlights were few and far between until Roberto Firmino delivered Liverpool’s first goal in 359 minutes. The two-footed Brazilian had twice unleashed fierce efforts from distance. Both narrowly missed the target. He hit it from altogether closer range. James Milner whipped in a superb cross. Firmino headed in his fifth goal in six games.
Mannone made a double save to thwart Lallana and Jordon Ibe but he only delayed the second goal by a matter of minutes. Firmino picked Billy Jones’ pocket, put his foot down with a surge of speed and then centred to leave Lallana with a tap in.
That should have been that, but Liverpool have a careless streak and Sunderland have spirit. Sam Allardyce is reshaping his side and fielded four January signings, but introducing a more familiar face had a greater short-term impact. Substitute Adam Johnson halved the deficit with a free kick that squirmed under a culpable Simon Mignolet.
Then Wahbi Khazri, one of the new additions, teed up Jermain Defoe, whose 89th-minute equaliser was taken clinically.
“He could be our saviour,” said manager Sam Allardyce, given added hope of avoiding relegation when Anfield was emptying.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
more from Janine di Giovanni
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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)
