Sports reports: Alisson Becker's statements, Zverev's preparations for the US Open final, and Verstappen's future

Brazilian Alisson Becker, Liverpool's goalkeeper, admitted that his team needs to reach the "right mentality" if it wants to achieve something exceptional this season.

Liverpool failed to show the same strength and intensity that it showed during its victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League a few days ago, after it settled for a goalless draw with its guest Fulham in a frustrating match at Anfield, on Saturday, in the English Premier League football competitions.

Although the result kept Liverpool undefeated in the English Premier League, it was not a compensation for the lackluster performance, and the Brazilian goalkeeper stressed that the team is required to raise its level to deal with the pressure of successive matches.

Alisson told the club’s official website: “It is clear that playing on Wednesday evening and then Saturday evening represents a great challenge, and we have another match on Tuesday.”

The British PA Media agency quoted Allison as saying: “We have to have the appropriate mentality to deal with this, and I think this was not present today.” "We have to improve in the next match."

He continued: “This is the challenge faced by all the big teams participating in all competitions. If we want to achieve something exceptional this season, we have to deal with this matter.”

He explained: “This is what we want, but we need the right mentality.” I think it wasn't there in what we presented yesterday. It's deep inside us, we just need to show it. We have quality, and we have a number of distinguished players, but we have to exert more energy on the field during the upcoming matches.”

Liverpool participated for the first time in a match in the English Premier League with an attacking line consisting of 3 players, each player worth about 100 million pounds sterling, consisting of Bradley Barkula, Alexander Isak, and Florian Wirtz, but the trio did not make a significant impact.

On the other hand, Fulham, which entered the match without any points from its first three matches, was the most active team, and deserved to get a draw point.

Fulham was even close to achieving victory, after a mistake by Alisson caused confusion inside the penalty area, but Jeremy Jacquet cleared the ball over the goal line after Gonzalo Garcia's shot.

Alisson said: “It was a bad performance, and in some moments it was like that for me as well.” Collectively, we didn't play well. “We tried to do many things, but we could not do them well.”

Liverpool may find some justification for the fact that the season is still at its beginning, and that coach Andoni Iraola has not spent a long time in his position, while his ideas and methods still need more time to take hold within the team, but Alisson warned of the need to reach harmony quickly.

The Brazilian goalkeeper explained: “It may take some time for us to adapt to this, but we have to do this as quickly as possible, because we do not have time to waste.”

He stressed: “We are not happy at all with the draw, as this is not something that should happen with Liverpool. Undefeated with 3 draws is not something worth celebrating too much in this shirt.”

Alisson concluded by saying: “We keep a clean sheet, but we are not happy.” We wanted the three points, and we have to aspire to achieve big things.”

German tennis star Alexander Zverev faces the atmosphere that awaits him in his final match in the US Open against American Ben Shelton without any fear, in light of an expected audience attendance approaching 24 thousand fans.

“I don’t care,” Zverev, 29, said before the final scheduled to take place at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the world’s largest tennis stadium, later on Sunday. “I have been playing for more than ten years in stadiums where the crowd is sometimes against me.”

He added: “I got used to it, and I like this atmosphere.” I will enjoy it one way or another, and I hope to achieve success,” he said, referring to his desire to win his second Grand Slam title, after winning the last edition of the French Open.

The German player, born in Hamburg, explained: “For me, having a loud and enthusiastic crowd is always great, as long as it is fair and does not interrupt me while I am playing. Other than that, I always enjoy this kind of atmosphere.”

Shelton, 23 years old, aspires to win his first Grand Slam title, which will make him the first American player to achieve this since Andy Roddick won the US Open title in 2003 at the expense of Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Zverev reached the final of the tournament in New York six years ago, but lost to Austrian Dominic Thiem after leading by two sets to no response.

“Maybe what gives me a sense of calm is that I won in Paris,” Zverev said. Sunday's match will be a huge tennis showdown. There will be a state of tension, and I have to know how to deal with it and perform at my best level.”

Dutchman Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion in the Formula 1 World Championship, confirmed that he seriously considered retiring from car racing, before deciding to extend his contract with the Red Bull team last August.

Verstappen said, in an interview with Bild am Sonntag newspaper, on Sunday: “I seriously thought about retiring. But in the end, I love racing.”

He added that before agreeing to his new contract with Red Bull, which extends until 2030, he was “closer to retiring than to moving to another team.”

Verstappen had already held talks with other teams, but decided to stay with Red Bull. His previous contract ran until the end of 2028.

The Dutch driver spoke publicly earlier this year about the possibility of retirement, following the implementation of new regulations in Formula 1 this season, and said that he may decide to stop racing at the end of 2026 if he does not enjoy the new rules.

Verstappen also publicly criticized the new technical regulations and power unit rules for the 2026 season, and likened the resulting racing style to the video game “Mario Kart.”

Despite his decision to continue his career, Verstappen is still searching for his first victory this season, and he is also out of the title competition.

Before the Spanish Grand Prix scheduled for later on Sunday, Verstappen is ranked sixth in the drivers' class standings, 140 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver.

Verstappen said: “Of course, it would be more fun if I won every weekend, but the car is not at the required level right now. However, it is okay, because we are moving in the right direction, and we form a good team.”

When asked what he thought of criticism that he extended his contract just to get a pay rise, Verstappen replied: “I don’t care what other people think about me.”