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Klopp’s Premier League leaders recover to win

Liverpool reasserted their control on the Premier League title race by overcoming a first-half scare to beat Luton 4-1 at Anfield.

Luton led through Chiedozie Ogbene after 12 minutes, as two early missed chances by Luis Diaz only served to highlight the absences of Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota for Liverpool.

Virgil van Dijk’s headed equaliser from a corner turned the game for Liverpool 11 minutes after the restart, with Cody Gakpo nodding in two minutes later to put Liverpool in control.

Diaz scored a third with less than 20 minutes to go, before Harvey Elliott added another at the death to send Liverpool four points clear of second-placed Man City, having played a game more.

Luton, who held their own for the best part of an hour, suffer a third consecutive defeat and stay in the relegation zone due to Everton’s far superior goal difference.

Liverpool needed a fast start to put the crowd at ease with Man City hot on their heels after Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Brentford, but early missed chances by Diaz set a nervous tone at Anfield.

A ball over the top from Caoihmin Kelleher, standing in for the injured Allison in goal, put the forward through but his miscontrol saw the opening vanish and moments later he fired wide with his left foot in the box.

Luton punished Liverpool’s uncharacteristic wastefulness as Ogbene headed in at the back post after Kelleher saved Tahith Chong’s shot with his legs and the ball sat up for the winger to score his third league goal of the season.

Diaz had six shots in the first 35 minutes, hitting the target once, as he registered an Expected Goals tally of 0.67, compared to Luton’s 0.68 in the same period. Groans could be heard from the stands, which appeared to rile up Klopp on the touchline.

Luton took chances at the back in their build-up but Liverpool failed to capitalise and had little luck from set pieces either, unable to convert from their seven first-half corners.

The tide turned for Liverpool, ironically, from a corner as Van Dijk rose highest to meet Alexis Mac Allister’s delivery to level the score in front of the Kop. Barely had the supporters sat down before they were on their feet to celebrate another.

Connor Bradley took advantage of a Luton change as his quick throw found Mac Allister in space down the right and the midfielder picked out Gakpo this time, who nodded in 125 seconds later.

Luton kept fighting but there was an inevitability to Liverpool after they took the lead which helped settle Diaz’s nerves. He kept his nerve after being played in by substitute Andrew Robertson to finish cooly with his left.

The visitors suffered a further blow when Alfie Doughty pulled up injured soon after Liverpool’s third. Issa Kabore was brought on to replace him.

In the final minute of normal time, Elliott marked his 100th appearance for the club with goal to put Anfield in a jubilant mood ahead of Sunday’s trip to Wembley. The victory ensured Liverpool will remain top until they return to league action.

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U-13 JOF Kids Cup: B.Unit Boys To Battle Versity Boys In Final

All roads lead to the Sports Centre of the University of Lagos in Akoka, Yaba, Lagos as the final ceremony of the 5th edition of JOF U-13 Cup

 

Finalists have emerged in the ongoing 6th edition of the U-13 JOF Kids Cup Championship.

After gruelling two semi final crackers on Saturday at the Ojo Oniyun playground in Ebute Metta, Lagos, B. Unit Boys of Lagos Island and Versity Boys also from Lagos Island will slug it for the star prize on Sunday 27 April 2025.

The two finalists indeed justified their places in the final judging from their performance since the first blast of whistle in the grassroots football tournament a few weeks ago.

It was not surprising, however, to see B.Unit Boys triumph over Strong Dove of Orile after they both played 2-2 in the regulation time. The penalty shootouts ended 4-2i n favout of the winners.

Versity Boys on the hand beat First Class Boys 3-1 to book a ticket in the final.

The third place match will see Strong Dove taking on First Class Boys.

The U-13 JOF Kids Cup Tournament is organised by the Lagos State Grassroots Football Association and sponsored by JOF Nigeria Limited, a wholly indigenous Nigerian company, which prides itself in the development of talent of the Nigerian youth.

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NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko to Declare Niger Delta Sports Festival Open, as Commission Backs Initiative

 

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has thrown its full support behind the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), recognizing the event as a significant platform for discovering and nurturing emerging sporting talent.

The Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko, will officially declare the festival open, underscoring the Commission’s commitment to promoting grassroots sports development across every region in Nigeria.

Speaking ahead of the Festival, Bukola Olopade, Director General of the NSC, praised the initiative and called on more states to adopt similar programs to expand Nigeria’s talent pool.

“The Niger Delta Sports Festival represents a vital platform for discovering and nurturing raw talent,” Olopade stated.

“We encourage more states to adopt similar initiatives to expand the talent pool and strengthen Nigeria’s sporting future.”

In a major boost for the event, the NDSF on Friday unveiled PremiumTrust Bank as the official bank of the festival.

The event is scheduled to take place from April 1 to 8 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, bringing together athletes from across the region to compete in various sporting disciplines.

The Niger Delta Sports Festival aims to showcase budding talents, foster regional unity, and promote youth engagement in sports.

 

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JOF Kids Cup: Strong Dove, B. Unit Boys, Versity Boys, First Class Boys Lock Horns In Saturday’s Semi Finals 

JOF U-13 Cup: Teams Battle For Final Tickets

 

The battles from the final tickets among the last set of four teams of the ongoing 6th U-13 JOF Kids Cup now shifted to Ojo Oniyun playground, Ebute Metta, Lagos on Saturday.

This is coming after the Round of 8 matches were decided at the Lekki playground and Ojo Oniyun playground on Wednesday.

Strong Dove of Orile beat Miracle FC of Ijesha 1-0 to book a place in the semi finals, while B. Unit Boys from Mainland stopped Oloto Babes in tension-soaked tie that ended 3-2 at Lekki playground.

Versity Boys of Lagos Island ran away victory with 4-3 goals during the penalty shootouts after they had played a 1-1 game in the regulation time against ThankGod Boys of Oko Baba, while First Class Boys from Lagos Island beat Solution Boys 4-2.

According to the semi final fixtures released to the media by organisers, Lagos State Football Association, Strong Dove will settle scores against B. Unit Boys in the first semi-final tie, which kicks off by 12 noon, while Versity Boys will go to war against First Class Boys in the second semi final game on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ojo Oniyun playground, Ebute Metta will be agog on Saturday with more spectators expected to watch the matches than any other day since the tournament began a few weeks ago.

The Lagos State Football Association, the joint organisers of the competition, has invited members of the JOF Under-13 Soccer Tournament Committee to watch the kids displaying their God-given talent on the field of play.

The U-13 JOF Kids Cup is sponsored by JOF Nigeria Limited, a wholly indigenous Nigerian company, which prides itself in the development of talent of the Nigerian youth.

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