Conte eases Richarlison injury fears

TOTTENHAM manager Antonio Conte has put to rest fears Richarlison could miss the World Cup by confirming the forward is expected to be fit to feature in the tournament next month.

The Brazilian sustained a calf injury during the second half of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Everton and left the ground on crutches.

Richarlison gave a tearful interview post-match where he conceded his World Cup dreams could be over but his club boss provided a positive update on the 25-year-old when tomorrow’s trip to Manchester United.

“No, absolutely not. No, I can confirm this, that the player is not risking to not play at the World Cup,” Conte said.

“It’s an injury but not so serious. He has a problem in his calf. I think he needs a bit of time to recover and then to be fit. I hope for him to play other games with us before the World Cup but for sure the injury is not so serious.”

Meanwhile, defender Nathan Ake insists Manchester City do not have a mental block in front of the Anfield crowd.

Sunday’s 1-0 defeat was their 17th Premier League loss at Liverpool in 26 visits and their February 2021 win there was only their second during that period.

However, that was behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, so City’s last win in front of the Liverpool fans was in May 2003.

In the white-hot atmosphere generated by a visit from their biggest modern-day rivals, Jurgen Klopp’s previously inconsistent side rose to the occasion and that meant even City’s in-form striker Erling Haaland drew a blank.

“It doesn’t affect us, every game we go into with the same mentality, every game we want to win,” said Ake.

“That it didn’t happen is not going into our minds saying ‘This is a place where we don’t win’.

“Next time we come here we have to do the same, we played well so we have to keep that momentum and go to the next one.

“It’s frustrating, it’s not nice, something we don’t want to feel, but we’ve got a full week now to refocus and prepare for the next game.”