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ASUNCION, Paraguay: Brazil lost for the fourth time in five World Cup qualifiers after Diego Gomez’s goal gave Paraguay a 1-0 win in Asuncion.

Five-time world champions Brazil, who beat Ecuador 1-0 last Friday, are now fifth in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup on 10 points, ahead of Venezuela on goal difference.

Only the top six teams will qualify for the World Cup held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the seventh-placed team having to go through another qualifying round.

Dorival Jr, who took over the Brazil squad from Tite after the team was knocked out in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, saw his side overcome by Gomez’s 20th-minute goal.

“The coach is still looking for the best way for us to play and it is evident in the results of the matches.

“A lot of new players, we’re not confident enough. It’s not easy to qualify, it’s a difficult period and we have to know how to deal with it.

“Now the phase of change, we are not confident enough. We have to work hard, getting results on the field is the best answer,” said Brazilian defender Marquinhos.

Brazil will continue their qualifying campaign next month against Chile and Peru.

LONDON: Liverpool opened the curtain on the Premier League with the goal of striker Mohamed Salah, which is a routine matter for the Anfield club.

At 32 and out of contract next summer, the Egyptian forward is still a revelation at Anfield.

Salah has now scored the most goals in a first game in Premier League history, with his second-half goal against Ipswich the ninth time he has started a campaign with a goal.

Salah also helped Diogo Jota’s goal to complete Liverpool’s 300th goal in 350 appearances.

“Every year he comes back in better shape than the season before. He’s one of those players who has a longer summer break and he takes advantage of it.

“He was brilliant, especially in the second half when he helped us win.

“Mo looks after his body very well. He is a professional who needs to be emulated. If our main players play like that, he will help the team,” said defender Andy Robertson.

LONDON: Chelsea are closing in on signing Brazilian teenage sensation Gabriel Mec from Gremio.

The London club has begun scouting talented players since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over the club in 2022, with the aim of building a long-lasting squad.

The Blues have signed seven players in this transfer window, hoping to improve on last season’s achievements after a big spending spree.

According to Brazilian media, Chelsea have reached an agreement with Gremio to sign the 16-year-old.

The midfielder is worth 20.5 million pounds and Mec agreed to sign a five-year contract with the option of a further two years.

The teenager is yet to feature for Gremio’s main squad but has made an impact in the Brazilian Under-20 Championship – scoring once in six appearances.

If he manages to sign for Mec, he will only join the Stamford Bridge club after turning 18, in line with international transfer regulations for underage players.

Mec will be the 17th teenager signed by Chelsea since Boehly took over the club in 2022.

Ecuador striker Kendry Paez, 17, will also sign a contract at Stamford Bridge after turning 18 in May 2025.

LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur brightened their chances of qualifying for the Champions League after winning 3-1 at home earlier this morning over Nottingham Forest who are trying to avoid relegation while climbing to fourth place in the Premier League.

Second-half goals from Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro, after Forest striker Chris Wood had saved Murillo’s own goal in the first half, saw Spurs seize the opportunity after their challengers Aston Villa and Manchester United suffered losses this weekend.

Tottenham’s win kept them tied with Villa on 60 points but played one match less and left United behind on 49 points after they drew 2-2 with Liverpool.

Spurs coach Ange Postecoglou however told reporters it was “not so much about fighting for the top four places, what I care about is how this team develops.”

Tottenham took the lead after 15 minutes when Brazil’s Murillo, who a few minutes earlier had almost scored a stunning goal from inside his own area, dabbled in Timo Werner’s cross into his own goal.

Spurs were free and a second goal seemed inevitable until Forest equalized against the grain in the 27th minute with Wood’s fourth goal in four games.

Forest felt Spurs should have gone down to 10 men just before the break if James Maddison appeared to have tackled Ryan Yates during an off-the-ball incident but VAR was reluctant to intervene.

“It doesn’t look like he’s pounding it, he’s pounding it,” Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo told reporters.

“I’m surprised VAR didn’t tell (referee) Simon (Hooper) to check it again because to be honest, Maddison lost his mind and he had a blow to the stomach.”

The defeat left Forest in 17th with 25 points from 32 games, ahead of third-placed Luton Town only on points difference.

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool fans criticized the Premier League’s decision to appoint Anthony Taylor as referee for the match against Manchester United.

Three weeks after losing 4-3 in extra time in the FA Cup, the league leaders will travel to Old Trafford once again looking to strengthen their bid for a first Premier League title in four years.

Liverpool have been in hot form all season and currently lead the league with a 19-point lead over United, who were lucky to draw at Brentford on Saturday.

With United desperate to try to prevent Liverpool from winning their 21st and record-high league title, the visit to Old Trafford is the toughest remaining fixture for Jurgen Klopp’s men.

United won 2-1 at Old Trafford last season and tied Liverpool at Anfield in December.

Some Liverpool supporters believe Taylor’s appointment will make their job even more difficult, considering the 45-year-old referee is from Greater Manchester.

Taylor was born in Wythenshawe, south of Manchester, which also gave birth to Marcus Rashford, Cole Palmer and Tyson Fury.

However, the last time Taylor refereed a match between United and Liverpool, Klopp’s men crushed their rivals 5-0 at Old Trafford in October 2021.

This season Taylor refereed Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and the 2-2 draw at Brighton in October when he awarded the Reds a penalty.

Taylor also awarded Liverpool two penalties in their 4-2 win over Newcastle at Anfield on New Year’s Day, but sent off a red card to the Reds in their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in February.

He took part in refereeing United’s 3-1 defeat at the Emirates in September and their 2-0 win at Wigan in the FA Cup in January.

Taylor refereed Manchester City and Arsenal’s match at the Etihad which ended 0-0 and was the official of the fourth match when Newcastle hosted visiting Everton last night.