Related items

• CFU to assume responsibility for Caribbean Club Shield from Concacaf

  The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) will now assume responsibility for the organization and management of the Caribbean Club Shield, as Concacaf has opted to shift the respected Caribbean club competition from its portfolio.

  As such, CFU will take the reins of the tournament, which will be rebranded as the CFU Club Shield for the 2024 edition and onwards, and will qualify two clubs into the Concacaf Caribbean Cup. While CFU will organize and manage the competition, Concacaf will provide support for its delivery, as per the terms of what is viewed as a significant transition agreement. 

  According to Concacaf President, Victor Montagliani, this decision reflects a collaborative effort between Concacaf and the CFU to further bolster the growth of clubs and leagues, and football as a whole, across the Caribbean region.

  “The development of regional club football is a major priority for Concacaf and alongside our Caribbean member associations, we are dedicated to fully supporting the growth of clubs and leagues across a region known for its passion for the sport. This collaboration with the CFU is a testament to the leadership of the CFU President and highlights the ambition we share to deliver opportunities that will take the game in the Caribbean to the next level. We look forward with great anticipation to supporting the delivery of the inaugural CFU Club Shield later this year," Montagliani shared.

  His CFU counterpart Randolph Harris expressed his delight to take the reins.

  “The CFU is extremely pleased to be taking over the management and organization of the Club Shield, and to rebrand it as an official CFU competition. We welcome the cooperation from Concacaf in ushering in this new era of the CFU delivering an important club competition and we look forward to continuing to work closely with the Confederation to grow club and league football in the region. We are excited to deliver a competition that is as robust as any on the field of play and to delivering administration that meets and exceeds the mark,” said Harris.

  Established in 2018, the Caribbean Club Shield has a primary objective of advancing professional football throughout the Caribbean. Participation is open to semi-professional and amateur teams holding current championship titles in their respective domestic leagues.

  The tournament format involves up to 16 clubs, grouped into four sets of four. Winners of each group progress to the semifinals, with the ultimate finalists earning coveted berths in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, subsequently qualifying for the Concacaf Champions Cup.

  In 2023, Suriname’s SV Robinhood emerged victorious in both the Caribbean Club Shield and the Caribbean Cup. The team has solidified their position as the most successful team in the history of the Caribbean Club Shield, boasting two championship titles.

  This year's edition is set to unfold from July 25 to August 4, 2024. The venue for this year's competition will be announced in short order.

• Vlaar: Slot is the right fit for Liverpool

  Former Dutch defender Ron Vlaar believes that Arne Slot will not need time to adapt to the Premier League when he takes over as Liverpool manager.

  It was reported last week that Feyenoord and Liverpool had reached an agreement in principle for Slot to take over from Jurgen Klopp next season.

  The Dutchman led Feyenoord to their second Eredivisie title last season after taking over the club in 2021, and his attacking style of play has been likened to that of Klopp’s.

  Vlaar, who played under Slot at AZ Alkmaar, is confident that his former coach will not take long to settle in on Merseyside.

  “He could, but I hope not. It's quite similar to what they already have now, but it's a new coach, so they will always change some things,” he told Stats Perform.

  “Hopefully it's more in the details. And I think he will show that with videos of how he wants to play for other teams. When he coached me, he used Liverpool as an example.

  “I don’t know what other examples he’ll use now he’s the coach of Liverpool. I think the players are smart enough to recognise it. They have to build on some trust with each other. If he can manage that, and he can do that, then I think it will all be fine.”

  Klopp, who announced he would be leaving Liverpool after nearly nine years at the club in January, has given his backing to Slot’s appointment at the club, stating that he likes his attacking style of play.

  Among teams in the top ten European leagues, only Benfica, Cercle Brugge and Man City have won possession in the final third more often per game than Feyenoord (6.87) this season. Equally, only Bayern Munich and PSV have a higher xG than Feyenoord in their domestic leagues this season (82.95).

  Vlaar also recognises the similarity in both coaches’ styles, saying: “I played under Arne at AZ Alkmaar, and we were high up on the pitch, pressing high, standing on halfway line so the pressure needs to be very good then from the forwards as well.

  “I think that's quite similar if you look to Liverpool nowadays. So I think they’re comparable coaches. Arne Slot hasn’t achieved what Jurgen Klopp has achieved so far, but the club showed that giving Klopp some time paid off. So, I hope Arne can build on that.”

  Twenty players have played in ten or more games in the Eredivisie for Feyenoord this season, with only four of them over the age of twenty-six, and Slot has been praised for his track record of improving young talent and man-management style.

  “He's very open and clear. So I think everyone knows what they’re getting. It's really straightforward and he's open about it. I think that's a good thing,” Vlaar added.

  “Dedicated, energetic, and he tries to help the team as much as possible. He will coach players if needed. And I think that's what he is, how he's like.

  “I'm really happy for him because this is a massive club, one of the biggest clubs in the world. And that's a big step forward for him, coming from Feyenoord and going to Liverpool.”

• Liverpool v Chelsea: Hayes' WSL title-chasers 'playing catch-up'

  Chelsea will still be feeling the pain from their Champions League exit last weekend, but their attention must now switch back to the WSL title race.

  It is the final chance for Emma Hayes to salvage silverware from her last season in charge before she heads off to become the USWNT coach.

  Chelsea are six points behind WSL leaders Manchester City, who also have a plus-seven goal difference on their rivals, but, due to their exploits in Europe, the Blues do have two games in hand.

  The first of those matches comes on Wednesday, as Chelsea head to Merseyside to face Liverpool. The Reds sit fifth in the table.

  Chelsea have won four of their last six away games in the WSL against Liverpool but have failed to win on both of their last two trips to face the Reds on Merseyside (D1 L1); the Blues have never gone three away games in a row without victory over Liverpool in the competition. 

  This is the time that Chelsea need to show why they have been so dominant over the last few years, and prove their credentials for a fifth consecutive league title.

  The Blues have won 15 of their 18 WSL games this term (D1 L2), their joint-most wins at this stage of a campaign, alongside 2022-23 and 2020-21. They went on to win the title in each of those campaigns. 

  But Man City are in exceptional form, and Hayes cut a frustrated figure when facing the media in her pre-match press conference, suggesting her team were not the favourites to win the title.

  She said: "After any loss one of the worst things you can have is a big period of time between the loss and the next game but we don't have time to dwell on exiting, we have dealt with that on our day off.

  "We have to continue. We have a small chance of winning a league, so we have to put everything into doing that and everyone's efforts today are into competing against Liverpool tomorrow.

  "We are not in the driving seat, we don't have the goal difference so as far as I am concerned we have to catch up.

  "We have always known we were going to be playing catch-up, so for us it's not anything we haven't prepared for."

  Despite Hayes' reservations, the form guide suggests that if they continue in this form they will be in a good position to lift the trophy once again, but Liverpool manager Matt Beard may have other plans.

  Beard managed Chelsea 23 times across the inaugural two WSL seasons in 2011 and 2012 (W7 D5 L11) before joining Liverpool. Since his departure, no manager has inflicted more away league defeats on the Blues than Beard (three – level with Nick Cushing).

  Liverpool lost their most recent home game in the WSL against Man City 4-1, and are aiming to avoid back-to-back league defeats at Prenton Park for what would be just the second time under Beard, having also done so in November 2022.

  Champions League qualification is out of sight, but Liverpool are aiming to push Manchester United, who sit in fourth, all the way, sitting just three points behind them, with nine points up for grabs. The Reds will be channelling memories of their 2-1 victory over Chelsea in September 2022, they came from behind to get the win.

  Hayes reflected on that game: "I think it is what you learn about every game as opposed to one back then, I know that you have to start the game strongly, I think if you allow a team like that to get on top it can be very difficult.

  "As always in football you have to compete, you have to manage the duels you have to deal with the physicality of a game especially away from home and for us, we have to be ruthless in the final third. Executing that and holding each other to account, that's what I will look for."

   

  Commenting on Liverpool's campaign, Hayes added: "They have had a brilliant season. They are vying for the top four and Matt is a seasoned veteran in this league who knows what the needs are, and moving to [the training ground at] Melwood has really helped them as a club.

  "They are definitely a tough, tough team, we know the way they play. They are physical, they make it difficult, they are great in transition, they're a good side."

  One aspect with which Liverpool have struggled is their discipline. The Reds have received 36 yellow cards in the WSL so far this season, the most of any side in the competition. That tally is also already six more bookings than any side picked up in the whole of last campaign.

  Taylor Hinds, meanwhile, is in line to make her 100th appearance for the Reds.

  This will be a huge week for Liverpool with two home games back-to-back with Chelsea and then United respectively, so it is not just the Blues who have a lot on the line.