Liverpool
‘Klopp masterminded this’ – National media react to Liverpool FA Cup win at Arsenal
National media and the Liverpool ECHO reaction to Liverpool’s 2-0 FA Cup win over Arsenal.
Liverpool booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory at Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds came into the game without Wataru Endo and Mohamed Salah, who have both headed off on international duty. Jurgen Klopp’s side was also without Virgil van Dijk due to illness, along with a number of other players.
Arsenal enjoyed the better of the opening stages, but Trent Alexander-Arnold did manage to rattle the bar for the Reds during the first half. However, with 10 minutes of normal time remaining, Liverpool opened the scoring after Jakub Kiwior sent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick into his own goal.
The win was capped off deep into stoppage time when Luis Diaz fired past Aaron Ramsdale following a swift counter-attacking move. And below is how the national media and the ECHO reported on the game at the Emirates.
Oliver Holt of the Daily Mail wrote: “Arsenal had enough chances to have won the game at a canter. They wasted all of them. And in the face of their carelessness, Liverpool, who have usurped them at the top of the Premier League, summoned yet more of the fighting spirit that has characterised their surge upwards and staged a supreme smash and grab raid with two late goals.
“Their win, achieved despite the absence of their talisman Mo Salah, who is away at the Africa Cup of Nations, moved them into the fourth round draw and provided another huge boost to their confidence. The impetus in a season that once felt as if it would belong to Arsenal has shifted north to Merseyside.”
‘Klopp responded to Arsenal’s first-half threat’
Henry Winter of The Times wrote: “Liverpool’s 7,500 fans filed joyously out of the Emirates singing: “I’m so glad that Jurgen is a Red.” Klopp had just delivered his trademark three punches towards the support to usual wild acclaim and his fingerprints were all over this FA Cup third-round victory.
“Klopp responded to Arsenal’s first-half threat. If Mikel Arteta’s side had been able to call upon a proper centre-forward and finisher, like Ivan Toney, rather than relying on the lightweight, out-of-position Kai Havertz, they would been leading comfortably at the break. The Germany forward wasted three good chances.
“Top managers like Klopp react decisively. He changed the emphasis of Liverpool’s approach at the break, instructing Alisson to go long at times, rather than always building from the back. He told Darwin Nunez to go left, get on the ball and cut inside Ben White. Luis Diaz went to the right and Harvey Elliott tucked inside. When Diogo Jota came on 14 minutes into the second half, Liverpool had their lightning attack of Diaz-Jota-Nimez.
“Klopp masterminded this. It’s this in-game management, the confidence running through his side, and the culture that Klopp’s instilled that shaped this game. It absolutely summed Liverpool up that instead of closing the game down deep in stoppage time — they were 1-0 up through Jakub Kiwior’s own goal — they simply attacked again. Nunez flew down the left, Jota turned the ball across and Diaz almost broke the net.”
‘Liverpool’s joy knew no bounds’
David Hytner of the Guardian wrote: “It was one of those days when Arsenal might have played for another 90 minutes and failed to score. It was all so deeply frustrating for Mikel Arteta and the home support.
“The sting in the tail, however, would devastate them, sparking boos at full-time and the feeling that the club have stumbled into a mini-crisis.
“Liverpool’s joy knew no bounds. There had been the impression that this FA Cup tie was more important for Arsenal, given the form that they had taken into it – three Premier League defeats in five. The need for them to recover momentum was greater. Liverpool, sitting pretty at the top of the table, also had the security of their shot at Carabao Cup glory; they face Fulham in the first leg of their semi-final at Anfield on Wednesday.
“It was Liverpool who rode out the Arsenal storm or, to put it another way, watched them repeatedly lack the needed ruthlessness in front of goal; for Arteta, it is an increasingly worrying trend. And then Jurgen Klopp’s team hit them hard.”
‘Lead to angst and soul-searching at Arsenal’
Jason Burt of the Telegraph wrote: “The importance of this win for Liverpool may not be felt until May. Not necessarily in the FA Cup but in the context of a tautly contested Premier League title race when every set-back or advantage, and whatever the context, feels extremely significant.
“For the second season in a row Arsenal have gone out of this competition to what was, at the time, one of their closest rivals. Manchester City knocked them out in the fourth round of that campaign and went on to become champions as well as FA Cup winners. This year, Liverpool, their nearest title challengers as things stand, were their conquerors.
“It will lead to angst and soul-searching at Arsenal as to the wastefulness and wafer-thin belief of their attack – with Kai Havertz a husk of a centre-forward as he spurned chance after chance – and while Liverpool were hardly deadly, they are in the hat.”
‘This team could very well be the real deal’
Paul Gorst of the ECHO wrote: “While the scores of disgruntled Arsenal fans headed for the exits as the game prepared to kick off at 2-0 to Liverpool, deep into stoppage time, their visiting counterparts could be heard going through their repertoire of terrace anthems.
“The contrasting scenes of the two fanbases could hardly have been different.
“”We shall not, we shall not be moved!” roared those in the away end before the full-time whistle brought about boos from those Gunners who had remained in situ. A statement victory had booked Liverpool’s place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
“And after declining against performing his trademark post-match fist-bumping routine for so long throughout 2023, that Jurgen Klopp was made to dust it off for the second time in six New Year days gives an indication as to the general direction of this campaign now. Something is stirring. This team could very well be the real deal.”
Liverpool
Mohamed Salah signs new contract with Liverpool FC
Mohamed Salah signs new contract with Liverpool FC
Liverpool FC can announce Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract that will keep him with the club beyond the 2024-25 season.
So far this term, Salah has scored 32 goals in just 45 appearances in all competitions – 27 of which have come in the Premier League, making him the division’s leading marksman. These strikes have been supplemented by 22 assists for his teammates.
And today’s news means Salah will extend an eight-year stay at Anfield into the future and continue to help Arne Slot’s team challenge for the game’s biggest honours.
He told Liverpoolfc.com in exclusive reaction: “Of course I’m very excited. We have a great team now. Before also we had a great team. But I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies and enjoy my football.
“It’s great, I had my best years here. I played eight years, hopefully it’s going to be 10. Enjoying my life here, enjoying my football. I had the best years in my career.
“I would like to say to [the fans], I am very, very happy to be here. I signed here because I believe we can win a lot of big trophies together. Keep supporting us and we’ll give it our best, and hopefully in the future we’re going to win more trophies.”
Salah has cemented himself as a Liverpool legend since his transfer from AS Roma in the summer of 2017.
His remarkable record in front of goal has taken him to outright third in the Reds’ all-time top scorers list, with 243 strikes in 394 appearances to date.
During his time at Anfield, Salah has lifted seven major honours, picking up medals in the Premier League and Champions League, as well as the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups.
In addition, he has won the Premier League Golden Boot on three occasions, been named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice and taken home two FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
Now Salah will look to add further to those collections together with Liverpool, having committed his future to the club once more.
Liverpool
Mohamed Salah and Federico Chiesa left amazed after what Liverpool teammate did in training
Mohamed Salah and Federico Chiesa Left Stunned by Liverpool Teammate’s Jaw-Dropping Training Moment
Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton has not featured for Arne Slot’s side since January but has left his Reds teammates in awe especially Mohamed Salah and Federico Chiesa after a stunning training ground display.
Despite only making five appearances for the Reds this season and not featuring since late January, he’s been turning heads in training. After two seasons on loan with Blackburn Rovers and Hull City, the England U21s international had hinted at a potential departure from Liverpool in January due to limited playing time.
However, he remained with the club post the transfer window closure. Arne Slot, in early February, revealed that Morton had undergone surgery following a shoulder injury. Although he hasn’t been included in a matchday squad since January, he was seen back in training towards the end of March, just before the Merseyside derby.
Morton recently stunned his teammates by scoring an impressive goal during a training drill at the AXA Training Centre. As Salah, Federico Chiesa and Cody Gakpo looked on, Morton shrugged off some playful teasing from a coach to score with aplomb.
The Reds’ squad was left in awe after witnessing a stunning display of skill from their midfielder, who executed a perfect Cruyff turn and flick, eliciting a ‘Wow!’ from his teammates before he scored with a sublime curl into the bottom corner, sparking further applause.
Gakpo celebrated with a hand-twirling gesture, and amid the laughter, Chiesa exclaimed, “You’re a wizard!”. Morton then linked up with a coach for a one-two, dashing onto a through-ball. Anticipating the outcome, Gakpo yelled ‘Hat-trick!” just before the midfielder expertly finished with his left foot from a tight angle, prompting more cheers from his teammates.
Morton’s celebration saw him slide on his knees in the corner, joined by Harvey Elliott, as Salah chuckled and Gakpo praised, “Well done, Ty!”. Chiesa was spotted applauding and remarking “nice”, while Elliott, after a celebratory leap, was overheard saying, “Never seen anything like it” as he rejoined the group.
Following Liverpool’s sharing of the goal on social media, Elliott later posted the clip to his Instagram story, captioning it: “Best thing I’ve ever seen! Limbs!”. As Liverpool gears up for their next match against West Ham United at home on Sunday, all eyes are on whether Morton, now back in training, will make it into Slot’s matchday squad or whether he will miss out again.
Liverpool
Jürgen Klopp’s Wife Expresses Her True Feelings: Life Outside Anfield
It’s been a year since Jürgen Klopp brought his unforgettable Liverpool chapter to a close—a decision that shocked fans, left a void in the heart of Anfield, and quietly shifted the rhythm of life for those closest to him. Among them is Ulla Sandrock, Klopp’s wife, who recently opened up about how life has changed since leaving Merseyside behind.
“It Was Never Just Football”
Reflecting on their time in Liverpool, Ulla describes it as more than just a footballing journey. “It was a full life,” she shared. “It wasn’t just about the trophies or the matches—it was about the people, the passion, the city that welcomed us with open arms.”
A New Rhythm
Since their departure, Ulla and Jürgen have embraced a quieter lifestyle—more travel, more time together, and more space to breathe. “We don’t wake up thinking about the next fixture anymore,” she smiled. “Now, we wake up and ask, ‘Where should we go today?’”
But leaving Liverpool wasn’t easy. “It was home,” Ulla said simply. “We built a life there. Leaving was like leaving family.”
A Lasting Connection
Though they now live away from the buzz of the Premier League, the love for Liverpool still runs deep in their hearts. “We still follow the club, still watch the games,” Ulla admitted. “And when Liverpool wins, we still smile like we’re part of it—because in many ways, we always will be.”
What Lies Ahead
Ulla hinted at future plans—some writing, some philanthropy, and above all, peace. “We gave so much of ourselves to football. Now it’s time to enjoy what we’ve built together.”
As the Klopp era remains etched in the annals of Liverpool history, Ulla’s quiet strength reminds us that behind every great leader is often an even greater love—one that now gets to write its next chapter far away from the floodlights of Anfield.
Liverpool
Liverpool complete Man City swoop that could have huge impact on both clubs
Liverpool are set to appoint Laurie Shaw as their new chief scientist, with the Scot currently on gardening leave after leaving his role as director of football data at the City Football Group.
Liverpool have reportedly poached Laurie Shaw from rivals Manchester City to become the club’s new chief scientist. Shaw joined the City Football Group (CFG) in February 2021, leaving his role as a research scientist and lecturer at Harvard University to start working in football.
The Scot was appointed head of AI at CFG, the multi-club model that owns stakes in a number of teams including City, Girona and Palermo, before becoming director of football data in September 2023.
However, the Liverpool Echo are reporting that he is now set to join Premier League rivals Liverpool after serving a period of gardening leave.
The report states that he is set to work specifically with Liverpool, although owners Fenway Sports Group do have stakes in a number of other sports teams around the world.
Shaw’s new role will see him work under Liverpool’s director of research Will Spearman, with the club’s data department widely viewed as one of the best in football.
Dr Ian Graham spearheaded Liverpool’s analytics department after joining the club in 2012, with Spearman replacing him when he left in 2023. Liverpool’s use of data has been a huge part of their success in recent years and the addition of Shaw will come as a huge boost for the Reds.
Opening up about how analytics helped shape Liverpool’s success, Graham told The Athletic last year: “Mike Gordon, Michael Edwards, myself and the rest of the transfer committee always had the belief the process would pay off if we could get all the parts working properly.
“Our personalities were similar in not caring about the outside noise and sticking to a long-term view. The first guy I ever hired to my team, I told him ‘I’m not going to say this is a job for life; if we’re still here after two years we’re doing well’.
“I think at most clubs with those failures in the first few years, they would have gone in another direction. But Fenway knew the process was working.
“They could see that a department was being created which would give us an edge over other clubs in the future. It was just that the rest of the world couldn’t see it at that time.
“The typical experience of a data person going into a club back in the early 2010s was you come in with some bright ideas straight out of university and some old football guys think, ‘This is all rubbish; we’re not going to listen to this stuff’.
“There was resistance — and there was certainly resistance from Brendan [Rodgers]. Tough as that was, I knew it was a much better position to be in than at most clubs because I had buy-in from the owners and from Michael who was my direct manager.”
Liverpool
Mohamed Salah sends wordless message within hours of major Liverpool contract update
Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah is on the verge of signing a new contract at Anfield to extend his stay beyond this summer.
Mohamed Salah took to social media within two hours of the news dropping that Liverpool are increasingly confident he will sign a new contract with the club. As reported by the ECHO on Wednesday evening, the expectation from Liverpool is that a deal will be struck between them and the 32-year-old.
The forward’s current contract expires in the summer and is therefore able to walk away on a free transfer. However, that now appears to be unlikely with Salah having always insisted that he wishes to remain at Anfield beyond this summer.
The news about the breakthrough in negotiations dropped around 5pm on Wednesday, and at 6.45pm, Salah took to X to post two pictures of himself. The first was of him smiling in the gym, and the other featured the forward and team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai at the coffee bar at the club’s AXA Training Centre.
No caption was included on the post, but Salah has long spoken of his desire to remain a Liverpool player beyond this summer. And back in January, Reds boss Arne Slot said the club are keen for Salah to extend his stay.
https://x.com/MoSalah/status/1910026262304718982?t=X5zZ8Vo_o48RxZB23wdziA&s=19
He said: “It would be a surprise if anyone said they didn’t want Mo Salah. He has done so well for so many years, that everyone probably wants him.
“He has done so well without my advice so he can keep doing what is best for his career, even without my advice. My advice to him would be different to the one [of Al Faisal].
“Everybody wants him, including us. We, of course, want him to extend as well.
“That is clear. But I am not surprised someone wants him.
“He has done so many smart things in his career, so he will make the right decision for himself and hopefully for us as well.”
Providing an update on his future in January, Salah said: “It’s my last year in the club so you want to do something special for the city, that is the thing in my head.” Asked if he really believed this campaign would be his last hurrah, he continued: “So far, yeah, it is the last six months.
“There is nothing, no progress there. We are far away from any progress so we just need to wait and see.”
Before he continued: “I think the thing in my head is, ‘OK, if this is your last six months or last year, what do you want to see in the future?’ Do you want to look back and say, ‘Oh, I was concerned about the contract or stressed?’
“Or do you just want to say, ‘OK, I had an unbelievable season.’ So that is in my head now, if I feel a kind of distraction I just remind myself, ‘You want to look back and say, ‘I had an unbelievable season,’ so that’s what I want to do.”
Liverpool
New Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk Liverpool contract lengths after major ‘breakthrough’
Liverpool are closing in on fresh contract terms with Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk
The news that almost all Liverpool fans will have been craving for the last number of months arrived on Thursday with widespread reports claiming key pair Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk were closing in on new deals at the club.
Salah and Van Dijk, along with right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, are all out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season. Alexander-Arnold has been strongly tipped to join Real Madrid as a free agent ahead of next campaign. However, Salah and Van Dijk are now both set to stay with a number of reports on Thursday claiming Liverpool were increasingly confident of finalising fresh terms with the pair.
The news can provide the Reds with a major boost heading into the final seven games of the campaign as they look to rack up the required points to confirm themselves as Premier League champions.
Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk new contract lengths
David Ornstein of The Athletic provided more detailed information on the contract situation of Salah and Van Dijk, as he revealed that the pair are poised to both sign new two-year deals. It would keep them at the club until the summer of 2027.
He wrote on X: “Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk closing in on signing new 2yr [sic] contracts with Liverpool. Both players into final months of existing deals but breakthrough found in negotiations & fresh terms set to extend key pair at Liverpool until summer 2027.”
While Liverpool look closer to signing Salah and Van Dijk on new deals, Alexander-Arnold appears no closer to remaining with his boyhood club as he continues to be pursued by Real Madrid. All three players have been free to speak to foreign clubs since January 1 and agree a pre-contract ahead of next season.
Speaking last week after a 3-2 loss to Fulham, Van Dijk said of his contract, stating: “There is progress, yeah. I don’t know [if I’ll stay], we’ll see. Listen, these are internal discussions and we’ll see. I love the club, I love the fans and they were there for us again and we wanted to reward them.”
How important are Salah and Van Dijk to Liverpool?
While the pair are entering the latter years of their respective careers, there is no doubting the quality that both men still possess. Salah turns 33 and Van Dijk will be 34 by the time next season rolls around but neither of the duo have shown signs of droppinf off this season. Van Dijk has played the most out of any Liverpool player in all competitions with Salah right behind him in the minutes played rankings.
Salah has scored a remarkable 32 goals and provided 22 assists in all competitions. His goal tally is double that of Liverpool’s second best goalscorer Cody Gakpo. Van Dijk has provided an assured presence in the heart of the Liverpool defence this season as he looks to become only the second player to captain the club to a league title in the Premier League era.
Speaking about the defender earlier in the season, Reds boss Arne Slot said: “He deserves every compliment he gets. He’s been outstanding for this club for so many years and since I’ve been working here, he’s been outstanding for me. He wants, like all the others, to make it a great season. I hope I can enjoy working with him for a long time – I don’t think that’s a surprise.”
Liverpool
‘I made a mistake’ – Jurgen Klopp wanted to punch himself after dreadful error he fixed at Liverpool
“I made a mistake.” Those were the candid words of Jurgen Klopp, who once admitted he wanted to punch himself after passing up on Sadio Mane—before eventually making amends by signing him at Liverpool, where the Senegalese forward would go on to become a legend.
Sadio Mane, who turns 33 today, proved to be one of Klopp’s most inspired signings—though it took a second chance for the move to happen. After winning every major trophy with Liverpool, Mane called time on his Anfield career in the summer of 2022 with a £35m switch to Bayern Munich.
Although he won the Bundesliga, his stint in Germany was underwhelming. Injuries hampered his progress, and a dressing room altercation with Leroy Sane didn’t help. Mane scored 12 goals in 38 appearances, starting only 27 times before moving to Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in August 2023.
Despite his struggles abroad, Mane’s Liverpool legacy remains untarnished. He scored 120 goals over six seasons, helping the Reds reclaim their place in Europe’s elite and win six trophies, including the Premier League, Champions League, and FIFA Club World Cup.
Interestingly, Mane could have linked up with Klopp much earlier. The German coach first considered signing him in 2014 while managing Borussia Dortmund, having tracked his rise since the 2012 London Olympics. The two even held talks, but Klopp backed out.
“I made a mistake,” Klopp later confessed. “We met, we talked—but I didn’t feel it at the time. His baseball cap was askew, the blond streak, he looked like a rapper just starting out. I thought, ‘I don’t have time for this’. I got it totally wrong. A few months later I wanted to punch myself.”
“When Michael Edwards mentioned him in 2016, I didn’t need convincing. I just said, ‘Let’s do it.’ It was one of my first big Liverpool decisions, and it felt right.”
Dortmund’s loss was Liverpool’s gain. In fact, Klopp managed to snatch Mane from under Manchester United’s nose.
“I was really close to going to Manchester United,” Mane revealed in an interview with The Telegraph. “Everything was agreed. I had the contract.”
Then came the call from Klopp.
“He said, ‘Sadio, let me explain what happened at Dortmund.’ I told him, ‘It’s okay, it happened. I forgive you.’ Then he said, ‘Now I want you at Liverpool.’ And I said, ‘Okay, let’s focus on the future.’”
Liverpool
After Months of Injustice, Isaac Kearney Finally Wins—Thanks to Melissa and Loyal Fans
After months of injustice, Isaac Kearney and his family have finally found relief after a long and painful battle against online impersonation.
A fake Facebook page titled “Isaac Kearney Fans” had been exploiting his name and image, deceiving people into sending money under false pretenses.
Isaac’s mother, distraught and determined to protect her son, took action by reporting the page to Facebook multiple times. Unfortunately, those reports were met with silence. Facebook refused to take down the page, stating it didn’t violate community standards. One fan even shared how his report was rejected with a similar response. It was disheartening.
After months of injustice, the pain deepened—not just for Isaac’s family, but for loyal fans who watched helplessly as the impersonation continued. That was until Melissa, a passionate fan and advocate, stepped in.
Melissa raised her voice on social media, calling out the injustice and urging fellow fans to take collective action. Her message sparked a movement. Fans rallied, and in a coordinated effort, they flooded Facebook with reports, demanding the removal of the fraudulent page.
Finally, after months of injustice, justice arrived.
Yesterday, Facebook took down the fake page. What the system failed to do, the people accomplished—thanks to unity, persistence, and one courageous voice that refused to stay silent.
To Melissa, to Isaac’s resilient mother, and to every loyal fan who stood up for truth—this victory belongs to you. It proves that even in a world of algorithms and bureaucracy, the human voice still holds power.
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