Liverpool
Van Dijk Urges Unity as Liverpool Seek Immediate Response
Van Dijk urges unity as Liverpool seek response after five defeats in six games; focus required soon
Liverpool arrive at a demanding moment after suffering five defeats in the club’s last six games. There has been speculation about Slot’s job being under threat, but those suggestions have been played down and Liverpool’s chiefs are said to still have “100% confidence” in the Dutchman.
With fixtures arriving quickly, the club must respond at once. A Carabao Cup fourth round tie against Crystal Palace, a side that has troubled Liverpool recently, provides the next opportunity.
In his prematch programme notes the captain pushed for a collective reaction. “My message ahead of this game is a simple one: we stick together, no matter what,” Van Dijk wrote. “We know that this is a difficult moment. We know that results and performances are not what we want them to be, and that will lead to pressure, scrutiny and criticism from the outside. We accept that.
“When you play for a club like Liverpool , it comes with certain standards and expectations. So when you fall short of those standards and don’t meet those expectations, you have to deal with what comes next. That’s just how it is.
“And then you have to show the right reaction. You have to look at yourself, show strength and character, work hard and find a way to bounce back. That is exactly what we will be looking to do this evening.”
Van Dijk went on to reflect on recent results. “Saturday was extremely disappointing, of course,” Van Dijk continued. “Having done well over in Frankfurt in the Champions League , we wanted to try to build on that down at Brentford. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do so, and to lose in the manner we did was a tough one to take, no doubt about it.
“The good thing about top-level football, though, is that there is always another game coming around quickly, another chance to put things right. There is no time to feel sorry for yourself, not when you are representing this football club.
“Our reaction must start now. I’ve said this many times previously, but everything starts with hard work, humility and togetherness. We are a team, and we must show that in both the good times and the not-so-good times. If we do, then I am confident we have the quality to get ourselves out of this difficult period.”
Writing in his own programme notes, Slot echoed similar themes and acknowledged the gap between expectations and recent performances. “It goes without saying that our recent form has not reached the standards that you expect of us or that we expect of ourselves,” Slot penned. “This is, of course, a major disappointment, especially given the positive start we made to the season.
“From our perspective, there are no excuses. Yes, we are aware of the reasons and we will discuss them, but the one thing we cannot and will not do is use them as an excuse. Our responsibility is to recognise what is happening and put things right. There is no other option.”
Liverpool
Salah Calms Team After Public Complaint; Club and Player Seek Longer-Term Solution
Salah’s comments were personal, not aimed at teammates; talks will continue during AFCON in private
Mohamed Salah’s recent public complaint about his situation at Anfield prompted concern inside Liverpool’s dressing room, but team staff and players say the matter has been managed and negotiations will continue. Opinion was divided when Salah spoke out while the team were struggling, and some feared a split would develop between supporters of the forward and those unhappy with the timing of his remarks.
After being dropped for one further game, Salah was reinstated to the matchday squad for the win over Brighton & Hove Albion, and he broke the Premier League’s single-club goal contribution record in an all-smiles performance that appeared to ease tensions.
Curtis Jones, speaking to Viaplay after the game, said:
“We all love Mo. I love Mo,” Jones told Viaplay after the game. “At my hardest times at the club, you know, he was always one of the ones who was there, I could always speak to. And it’s exactly the same now.
“Mo’s his own man, he’s got his own opinions. And, you know, I don’t think his intentions were to affect the team or anything like that. It was just a personal thing. And as everybody knows, the team, the fans, the staff, we all love Mo. He’s a great guy.
“I don’t really like to speak on another man’s issues or his business and stuff. That has to do with Mo. But at the end of the day, I think the important thing that Mo made clear was that it’s not against the team or anything like that, just a personal issue, and that’s it.”
Club and player held private talks and the immediate tension has subsided, but further negotiations between Liverpool and Salah’s entourage are expected during the winger’s time away at the Africa Cup of Nations as both sides seek a long-term resolution that works for everybody, including manager Slot. Slot has said he has “no reason” to want Salah to leave in January, while Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté backed the forward to play for Liverpool again upon his return.
Interest from the Saudi Pro League and several Middle Eastern clubs remains, and reports suggest a summer move is more feasible than a mid-season exit. Salah is under contract until 2027 after signing an extension in April, meaning any interested club will still need to negotiate with Liverpool to reach a deal in the next 18 months.
Liverpool
Van Dijk and Konaté Back Salah as Future at Liverpool Remains Uncertain
Van Dijk and Konaté back Mohamed Salah at Liverpool amid AFCON call-up and transfer uncertainty now.
Two senior Liverpool defenders have publicly backed Mohamed Salah while acknowledging the forward’s future is unsettled. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté offered measured support after Salah returned to the squad and helped the team in a 2–0 victory on Saturday.
Slot recalled Salah to his squad against Brighton & Hove Albion, and the winger, who snagged an assist off the bench and made Liverpool history in doing so, received strong backing from team-mates and supporters.
Van Dijk said: “We showed this week that we are absolutely united. We go forward as one,” following the win. He added: “Mo is going to AFCON and we all hope that he’ll be successful there and he’ll come back and be important for us for the rest of the season.
“The other side of it is that we all know football and we have no idea what is going to happen. I hope that he stays because he is one of my leaders and still very important for the football club. But there’s more parties to this situation.”
Konaté echoed that stance and predicted Salah would see out his contract, which runs to the end of next season. He said: “Personally, no, I don’t think [Salah has played his last game for Liverpool]. You saw how much he loves this club,” the France International told Canal+.
He continued: “What happened with him you have to understand the frustration sometimes felt by players who have such a career, who have done so much. He is a player that everyone loves, the coach loves, he loves the coach, everyone loves each other at this club.”
The comments come amid wider uncertainty. Continued interest from the Saudi Pro League and a highly publicised dispute after Salah was benched for three consecutive games have fuelled debate. The 33-year-old, the reigning PFA Player of the Year, is now set to join up with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations while his long-term future at the defending English champions remains unclear.
Liverpool
Slot issues cautious update after Szoboszlai forced off with ankle concern
Arne Slot expressed concern after Dominik Szoboszlai left with an ankle problem against Brighton…
Arne Slot offered a worrying assessment after Dominik Szoboszlai left Liverpool’s win against Brighton with an ankle problem.
The Hungary international, who has spent much of his time at right back this season, also started against Brighton on the right wing in place of Mohamed Salah. Despite that defensive usage, Szoboszlai leads the Liverpool squad for shots on target in the Premier League and tops the team in progressive passes, crosses and tackles.
Szoboszlai moved back into defence when Joe Gomez could not continue, then went down in the 70th minute following a collision. Medical treatment allowed him to continue for about 10 more minutes, but he limped off before the final whistle.
“Dom, it was his ankle,” Slot confirmed immediately after the 2–0 win. “It didn’t look great when I just saw him.” Slot added: “He has unbelievable mentality so let’s hope for the best,” acknowledging the player’s resilience and the need for further testing.
Slot has started Szoboszlai in all 22 of Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League fixtures this season, deploying him in six different positions. Last season the player was only sidelined by a bout of illness, and it has been almost two years since his most recent muscle injury.
There is a realistic chance Szoboszlai could return for Liverpool’s next match, a trip to Tottenham Hotspur next Saturday, but the appearance of another injury in training or during the game has increased uncertainty.
That uncertainty extended to Joe Gomez, whose fitness remains a concern. Gomez missed 28 games last season with two serious hamstring issues and had been reintegrated cautiously. He had made four starts in two weeks before the Brighton game, but did not last 25 minutes on Saturday.
“If I have a player who goes off with a muscle injury like Joe, that’s normally not a positive thing,” Slot mused postgame. “I would not expect him to be in the squad next week.”
