Try GOLD - Free

Inter’s Thuram wary of wounded Liverpool as Salah storm rages

The Mercury

|

December 09, 2025

INTER Milan striker Marcus Thuram insisted yesterday that the Italian side always rise to the occasion in the Champions League as he anticipates a fightback from crisis-hit Liverpool.

The English giants are struggling in ninth place in the Premier League with only four wins in their last 15 matches and a crisis sparked by Mohamed Salah's criticism.

The Egyptian has scored 48 goals in the Champions League across his career, but has been left out of manager Arne Slot's squad for the match at the San Siro following his public airing of grievances after Liverpool's 3-3 draw at Leeds on Saturday.

"The truth is that a champion, when doubts arise, wants to show what they're really capable of," Thuram told a pre-match press conference.

"Everyone might think this is the perfect time to face Liverpool, but maybe not," he warned of the English club, who are 13th in the league phase standings.

"We're going to face a great team with great players. It's up to us to continue doing what we've been doing lately and even do better."

MORE STORIES FROM The Mercury

The Mercury

UK, France in joint strike on IS site

The British Ministry of Defence said it cooperated with France on Saturday night to strike an underground facility in Syria that had likely been used by the Islamic State group to store weapons.

time to read

1 min

January 05, 2026

The Mercury

Conrad confident in Maphaka's role for the 2026 T20 World Cup

PROTEAS coach Shukri Conrad believes that the 19-year-old Kwena Maphaka can play an important role in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup in India following the announcement of South Africa's 15-player squad on Friday.

time to read

2 mins

January 05, 2026

The Mercury

Venezuela to meet the same fate as Iraq

THE same lies and tactics used to sell the illegal invasion of Iraq are now being deployed against Venezuela.

time to read

1 min

January 05, 2026

The Mercury

UN calls on Israel to reverse NGOs ban

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for Israel to end a ban on humanitarian agencies that provided aid in Gaza, saying he was \"deeply concerned\" at the development.

time to read

1 min

January 05, 2026

The Mercury

DA demands action after senior DIRCO official’s nuclear threat

THE Democratic Alliance demands that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) urgently institute disciplinary action against its Head of Public Diplomacy, Mr Clayson Monyela, and require an immediate public apology following his endorsement, however flippant, of calls for South Africa to revive a nuclear weapons programme.

time to read

2 mins

January 05, 2026

The Mercury

2026 promises to be a year of the Overton Window

BESIDES the significance of the 250th anniversary of America's Declaration of Independence, there are developments afoot that, in terms of the Overton Window, indicate that 2026 is going to upend certain narratives.

time to read

2 mins

January 05, 2026

The Mercury

Mantashe laments passive society that depends on the State for service delivery

THE relationship between government and society in South Africa is flawed and has led to the creation of a passive society where the public \"sits in the sun\" and waits for the government to deliver services.

time to read

2 mins

January 05, 2026

The Mercury

Call for matches to be moved outside India

BANGLADESH will request their matches at next month’s T20 World Cup be played in Sri Lanka, after India forced a Bangladeshi player to quit the Indian Premier League.

time to read

2 mins

January 05, 2026

The Mercury

Flick praise for ‘unbelievable’ Barca goalie Garcia

DANI Olmo and Robert Lewandowski’s late strikes helped Barcelona snatch a 2-0 win at Espanyol on Saturday to move seven points clear at the top of La Liga, with coach Hansi Flick left thanking his goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

time to read

2 mins

January 05, 2026

The Mercury

Serial rape suspect nabbed after 20-year crime spree

THE South African Police Service has arrested a 55-year-old man believed to be responsible for a series of rapes and robberies committed over more than two decades across Welkom, Thabong and Bloemfontein.

time to read

1 mins

January 05, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size