The Hungarian midfielder sealed the win at Anfield with a brilliantly executed set-piece from 30 yards out in the 83rd minute — the only goal in a tightly contested match. ..Continue Reading
Raya suggested that the recently introduced Puma match balls in the Premier League affected his ability to read the ball’s movement, making it harder to anticipate and react to the strike.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Raya said: ‘It’s just a really good strike, especially with the new balls we still have to adapt, especially the goalkeepers, I think everybody would say the same.’
‘It’s going away from me so it’s a little bit harder to gauge and to get there. It’s disappointing not to save it and not to help the team in the way of at least getting a point.
Asked if it feels like the balls are moving differently, Raya said: ‘They’re very different to the Nike balls so we still have to adapt to it. Especially for us, the grip is different, kicking it is different, when they kick it it’s different.
‘With time we will adapt. We’ve been playing with the Nike balls for so many years and just changing to Puma now it’s different but it’s like that for everybody.’
Puma took over as the Premier League’s official match ball provider this summer, ending Nike’s two-decade-long run in that role.
Ahead of the new campaign, the league introduced the PUMA Orbita Ultimate PL ball as its fresh centerpiece on the pitch.
The Premier League stated the ball ‘features 12 evenly sized panels that ensure precise weight distribution, keeping it perfectly balanced’.
They added: ‘Its high-frequency moulding guarantees long-lasting durability, with enlarged and deeper seams designed to improve aerodynamics and maintain shape retention.’
Last season Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta was critical of Puma balls after his team’s Carabao Cup exit against Newcastle.
Arteta said: ‘We kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it’s tricky that these balls fly a lot so there’s details that we can do better.’
Liverpool’s win saw last season’s champions maintain their perfect start to the season.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have taken six points out of a possible nine, with the defeat to Liverpool having come after wins against Manchester United and Leeds.
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