Liverpool
Wirtz rebuts Van Dijk claim as Slot criticises defensive collapse after 4–0 defeat
Wirtz disputes Van Dijk’s ‘gave up’ line, after their 4–0 defeat; Slot singled out defensive errors.
Florian Wirtz has publicly pushed back against Virgil van Dijk’s assertion that Liverpool “gave up” during their 4–0 loss to Manchester City, while manager Arne Slot delivered a far sterner appraisal of how the goals were conceded.
Asked about Van Dijk’s comments before Wednesday’s meeting with Paris Saint-Germain, Wirtz said: “I didn’t know about this, that he said this,” and added: “But I think I would not agree directly because we still tried to create chances to turn the game around.” He acknowledged the psychological strain of a heavy deficit: “Of course, when the game gets longer, and it is in the 80th minute, and you are 3–0 down, it is mentally difficult to go and go and go.”
Wirtz defended his team’s effort through the closing stages. “We just tried to give our best in the game—also when it was 3–0 or 4–0. I think we also had a few chances then. This is not our standards that we lose 4–0 to City. We wanted to go through the round. Next year, we should go better and be better on the pitch.”
The result was particularly galling for supporters and the manager because of the manner in which the defeat unfolded. After an opening first-half blitz from Erling Haaland, the Liverpool defence began making a string of sloppy errors and the side failed to recover.
Slot, speaking to TNT Sports, made clear this was not an isolated worry: “It’s not the first time this season that we’ve conceded goals that were a concern to me.” He continued: “Now there were four in one game, four chances conceded, four goals conceded. That’s not the first time this season. I think many times this season we’ve only conceded one or two chances and those were goals.”
On the pattern of mistakes, Slot said: “So the manner we conceded them, I think I could separate them ‘two and two’ where every goal you concede something goes wrong, and you would like to improve something, but two out of the four were goals I hated more to concede than the other two.”
Liverpool
Liverpool’s Mac Allister Contract Position Raises Fresh Questions
Mac Allister says Liverpool are not offering a new deal, leaving his future increasingly uncertain.
Alexis Mac Allister has cast doubt over his Liverpool future after revealing that the club are not currently offering him a new contract. The 2022 World Cup-winning midfielder said he had the “chance” to leave during the recently closed transfer window, and added that his agent was told Liverpool are “not in a position to renew.”
His current deal now has fewer than two years remaining, a stage when clubs often move to protect the value of key players under 30. Liverpool, however, have not taken that step, despite already extending the contracts of Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch this year until 2031 and 2032 respectively.
Mac Allister addressed the situation before Liverpool’s Champions League opener against Atlético Madrid. “I see Dominik and Ryan renewing their contracts, and that makes me very happy because they deserve it, but at the same time, it makes me a little bit sad that I didn’t get mine,” he said. The Argentine also made clear that there is still a chance matters could change, adding, “There is still time” to sign a contract.
The question of salary appears central, even if nothing has been confirmed. Szoboszlai and Gravenberch are now estimated to be among Liverpool’s highest earners, with only Virgil van Dijk paid more than the latter. Mac Allister’s own wage, reported at around $203,000 (£150,000) a week, would likely need to rise sharply for any new agreement, while Liverpool must also balance the risk of piling too many players near the top of the pay scale.
At 27, heading towards 28 before the end of the year, Mac Allister is no longer in the youngest bracket of those being tied down on long-term deals. His form over the past 12 months has also not strengthened his case. Mohamed Salah forced the issue publicly when his own contract was nearing expiry in 2025, but he was delivering one of the great seasons when it mattered most.
Mac Allister said there were options to leave this summer, but insisted, “I have the mindset to give my 100% for this club.” He also said, “I don’t want to say things they never said, but what I got from my agent was that they were not in a position to renew me,” before adding, “It’s really sad because we won a Premier League together, we’ve been through difficult times together and I always give my best. We will see what happens, but it makes me a little bit sad.”
Liverpool
Liverpool’s new shirt deal set to reshape the Premier League’s commercial picture
Liverpool’s new Turkish Airlines deal is set to surpass Standard Chartered and reshape elite shirt sponsorship.
Liverpool are preparing for a significant change to their kit sponsorship model, with Turkish Airlines set to replace Standard Chartered as the club’s shirt sponsor from 2027-28. It will be Liverpool’s first major shirt-front change in 17 years, underlining how rarely the club alters such a prominent commercial partnership.
The club highlighted the status of the space in its own statement, saying: “The front of the shirt is one of the most recognizable positions in world sport and one that the club has historically reserved for long-term and meaningful partnerships,” Liverpool said.
The new branding will appear on men’s, women’s and academy match shirts. Liverpool will continue with AXA on training wear, while Expedia remains the sleeve sponsor on match kit.
The Times and The Athletic reported at the same time that the five-year agreement is worth more than $405 million (£300 million) in total, or at least $81 million (£60 million) a season. That would place it above Standard Chartered’s previous deal, which had been worth $68 million (£50 million) annually since its last renewal in 2022.
Liverpool’s commercial growth has been striking since 2010, with last season’s revenue passing $946 million (£700 million) for the first time. One year of the Turkish Airlines agreement would be worth more than the club’s entire commercial income 17 years ago.
BBC Sport reported that Liverpool believe the contract is the most valuable shirt sponsorship in soccer, ahead of Manchester United’s Snapdragon arrangement, which is worth $75 million and began in 2024.
Manchester City and Arsenal take in more from Etihad Airways and Emirates respectively, but those deals also include stadium naming rights. The same is true of Real Madrid and Barcelona, whose agreements with Emirates and Spotify stretch beyond match shirts.
Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are said to be in a similar range to Liverpool and Manchester United. Chelsea, by contrast, remain well behind after a run of short-term agreements and four seasons without a primary shirt sponsor, with onfield instability limiting their earning power.
Atlético Madrid
Kerkez says Liverpool cannot yet maintain Iraola’s press for a full match
Kerkez says Liverpool are still adjusting to Iraola’s pressing demands after their first win of the season.
Milos Kerkez has admitted Liverpool are still learning how to handle Andoni Iraola’s demanding style, with the defender saying the team cannot yet press for the full 90 minutes at the level the manager expects.
After a month in which the same issues have remained in place, Liverpool finally recorded their first win of the season on Friday, taking the points at the third attempt with a 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town. Kerkez said the result did not hide the fact that the physical demands of Iraola’s approach are still being worked through.
“When you press like us, it’s a bit tough to do it for all the game and all the 90 minutes,” he told club media . “We can do it for the first 30 to 35 minutes and in some ways we can do that in the second half at the beginning, but then it’s all about staying compact and talking to each other.
“That’s what we said also that we need to improve, and as defenders we are happy with the clean sheet. We defended pretty well their crosses and the set pieces. Like I said, everyone was 100% focused.”
There were clear signs on Friday that Liverpool are beginning to absorb Iraola’s ideas. The performance featured intense running, two early goals from Alexander Isak and a Premier League-high sprint speed from Bradley Barcola in his first appearance off the bench.
That said, the match also served as a reminder that the road ahead remains long. Ipswich may have been a useful starting point, but the standard of opposition is set to rise quickly.
Wednesday’s meeting with Atlético Madrid will provide the next test of whether Liverpool can turn those early signs into something more consistent. Kerkez’s assessment was guarded but optimistic, suggesting the squad are starting to get to grips with the manager’s expectations even if the full physical load is not yet in place.
