Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk sheds new light on Liverpool injury crisis as returns date hint made
Virgil van Dijk reacts to Joe Gomez having to play defensive midfield for Liverpool and the Reds’ ongoing injury crisis.
One position in particular should have caused Liverpool plenty of headaches this season. Yet Jurgen Klopp continues to sidestep such issues with ease.
Last summer, the Reds found themselves without any senior defensive midfielders following the unexpected departures of both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia. Pursuits of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Andre Trindade would all end in failure, before the curve-ball arrival of Wataru Endo from VfB Stuttgart in a £16.2m deal.
Eyebrows were understandably raised at the signing of the then 30-year-old Japan captain, who had often found himself embroiled in relegation battles in the Bundesliga. Inevitably, he took time to adjust to the Premier League.
Prior to his signing, Trent-Alexander Arnold and Curtis Jones had filled the vacancy during pre-season, with the former impressing only for an injury to Conor Bradley requiring him back in his natural right-back role. With the latter not as convincing, Alexis Mac Allister was then turned to with it clear that it was not the Argentine’s natural position.
Initially a short-term fix ahead of Stefan Bajcetic’s anticipated return from injury, a fresh setback to the young Spaniard prompted a rethink as Mac Allister continued in the role. Gradually, he looked more and more of a natural.
When he was struck down by injury in December, an acclimated Endo stepped up to demonstrate why the club had signed him in the first place as he established himself as a firm fan-favourite. Fortunately, when he departed for Asian Cup duty in January, Mac Allister was back fit.
Unfortunately, further midfield absences were just around the corner, ensuring that both Endo and Mac Allister would be needed to line up together game after game throughout February until they were both struck down.
The Japanese left Wembley on crutches and in a protective boot after Liverpool’s League Cup final win over Chelsea, with the Argentine succumbing to illness. While he would recover enough to be utilised as a substitute against Southampton on Wednesday night, Klopp needed a creative solution.
Alexander-Arnold, Jones, and Bajcetic were all still sidelined while James McConnell, who had played at number six against Norwich City last month, was needed at number eight due to the extent of the Reds’ injury woes. Klopp was ultimately left with no choice other than to think outside of the box when he settled on Joe Gomez as the latest makeshift solution.
The 26-year-old has shone this season after rediscovering his best form, despite being asked to play right across the defence. But even for the versatile England international, lining up as a defensive midfielder rather than full-back or centre-back was something rather new.
Despite being flanked by teenagers McConnell and Bobby Clark in an untried midfield trio, Liverpool need not have worried about Gomez against the Saints as they ran out 3-0 winners. Setting up an FA Cup quarter-final clash away at Manchester United, Klopp was full of praise for the unlikely hero after the final whistle as a result.
“Joe Gomez saved our lives 20 times tonight and the kids kept us in the competition,” he said. “So we can talk about the boys but but the real story today is Joe Gomez.
“The game he played today I have never seen before, with chaos around him, as a No.6 [for the first time], I couldn’t respect it more.”
What made his showing even more impressive was the fact that the Reds had had next to no time to work on it in training, while sweating over the availability of Mac Allister.
“Because there was such a short turnaround we didn’t even work on it that much,” club captain Virgil van Dijk admitted to the ECHO and other media outlets. “We had a team meeting about Southampton and how we wanted to play, what to expect.
“But it was always going to be a bit difficult because you are not used to being there from the get-go. He (Gomez) can invert in but it’s a different scenario.
“They played out well. Obviously we played with a team which didn’t play too many times together so pressing-wise we were, at times, a little bit all over the place in the beginning but you have to try to stay in the game like we always try to do and that worked and we scored a goal with a little bit of luck.
“He did outstanding, big credit to him for him to perform at left-back, right-back, centre-half, six and does it on the high level.”
“I’m just pleased for him and knowing what we have been through together a couple of years ago,” the Dutchman continued, referencing the serious season-ending injuries both he and Gomez suffered back in 2020. “And for him to be playing on that level is something he should get maybe more credit for.
“But he is a very close friend of mine and he is a very good player and has been outstanding. Maybe one of the players of the season this year.”
Of course, Gomez isn’t the only player impressing in the Liverpool starting XI after overcoming difficult circumstances. Caoimhin Kelleher is shining in goal too in the extended absence of Alisson Becker, much to the delight of Van Dijk.
“I said it before, I am one of the biggest fans of Caoimh,” he said. “It must be difficult to be a second goalie at times.
“Obviously you want to play each and every game but if you are the second goalie behind the best goalkeeper in the world in my opinion, it is not a punishment. But when he steps up and when he plays, he did very well. He had an outstanding game at Wembley and today, the first part of the game (against Southampton) as well.
“You just have to keep going and games like this and at the weekend will give him a boost and confidence going towards the last part of the season because we need him to be at his best and he just has to keep going.”
Kelleher’s stint in the starting XI is not scheduled to end anytime soon with Alisson ruled out until at least after the March international break. He isn’t alone, with Alexander-Arnold, Jones, Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara, Ryan Gravenberch, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip, and Ben Doak also still in the treatment room.
But having avoided any further injuries against Southampton, Van Dijk is hopeful that Liverpool will welcome back some senior players when they travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday as they pursue further silverware after their League Cup final win. It remains unclear if Endo will be fit to return, but Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai are all closing in on comebacks, while Robertson should overcome illness.
“Overall I think it was very important to go through and come out for the game with no injuries and prepare for Forest,” Van Dijk said. “The last two games were already very important, Luton too of course.
“The (young) guys did well and we need everyone in this fight. Hopefully we have a couple of players back for the weekend as that will be a tough game as well. We lost there last year and we want to make things right.
“I think the positivity comes from winning games, that is how the football business works. We all play the game to win but since the start of this season, there has been this mood that we want to make things right, not only for the fans but ourselves as well as it was very difficult season last season for many different reasons.
“We are on a good way, we can’t be satisfied at this point and we won’t be. We want to keep going, keep working, keep fighting and we need each and everyone of us plus the fans in order to hopefully achieve things we are dreaming of.”
Liverpool
Troy Deeney tells Liverpool they’ll win the Premier League five years in a row if they complete one signing this summer
Former Watford striker Troy Deeney has claimed Liverpool will win the next five Premier League titles if they sign one player this summer.
Deeney, 36, registered 47 goals in 165 Premier League appearances for Watford between 2010 and 2021 before going on to become a coach and regular member of the panel on talkSPORT.
On Monday (April 28), Deeney weighed in with his take on Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning squad after the Reds were crowned champions following a convincing 5-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday (April 27).
The likes of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk starred as Arne Slot saw his side secure the title on his first attempt.
However, the Reds’ squad could still arguably be improved, and Deeney believes one signing would see the Reds pull away from their competitors.
“They’re linked with [Alexander] Isak as well – if they were to get that, just give them the title for the next five years if they get that fella,” Deeney said when speaking alongside Ally McCoist on talkSPORT.
Isak, 25, has scored 22 league goals in 31 appearances for Newcastle United this term and will likely attract the interest of several elite clubs come this summer.
The Swede is contracted to the Magpies until June 2028 and could even warrant a transfer fee of over £150m, according to various reports.
Deeney then went on to identify three other areas he believes Slot could bolster this summer.
“I can see them looking at a left-back,” Deeney added. “[Andrew] Robertson has been fantastic but unfortunately, there comes a time when you get moved, it’s just part and parcel of football.
“Probably another centre half because if one of the guys goes down, they are light in that situation.
“And I still think they need an extra body in midfield. They haven’t been lucky but nobody in that midfield three has been injured for a sustained period of time and if that was to happen then they are a little bit light after that.”
What has Alexander Isak said about his future?
Speaking to Swedish outlet Fotbollskanal earlier this year, Isak said: “There’s not much to say, really. I’ve commented on my situation and my security in Newcastle several times.
“It’s been written how much I love the city and the club, how well I feel there. I’m not thinking about the future.”
He added: “I just want to perform for Newcastle. Now we won the cup, but we want to finish strong and reach the Champions League games. That’s where my focus lies.”
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp breaks silence with message to Liverpool fans after Arne Slot’s touching tribute to former manager
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has had his say on his old team’s Premier League title win.
Liverpool became champions of England for the first time since 1989-90 under the management of Klopp, claiming a famous 19th title in 2019-20 to put a triumphant cap on the club’s progress with the German in charge.
The Reds confirmed title number 20 on Sunday, comfortably beating Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield to put themselves out of the reach of Arsenal.
New head coach Arne Slot wasn’t short of generosity when giving Klopp credit for leaving him with a team of players ready to capitalise on the shortcomings of defending champions Manchester City.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp asked Slot how he made it look “so easy” replacing Klopp.
“That’s… not only my job, that’s the job of the players who are standing here and the staff members standing over there, and the work Jurgen and Pepijn [Linders, Klopp’s assistant manager] left behind over here,” said Slot.
“The culture of the team, the quality of the team, was outstanding. We all knew that.
“We started off really well and, yeah, it maybe helped a bit that [Manchester] City had a difficult spell which they haven’t had in five years, so maybe that helped us a bit as well.”
Klopp repaid the compliment on Monday with a heartfelt love letter to newly crowned champions Liverpool on social media.
“Super grateful for the past, super, super happy about the present, extremely positive about the future!” enthused the former Reds boss on Instagram.
“Congratulations – YNWA.”
Klopp spent nine seasons in charge at Anfield before stepping down at the end of last season.
He subsequently took up a senior strategy role with the Red Bull multi-club ownership group but was not forgotten during Sunday’s celebrations on Merseyside.
Slot and his predecessor managed a seamless handover. Last May, Klopp moved to get the Kop behind the incoming Dutchman by teaching them a chant.
On Sunday, Slot sang it back to the only other Liverpool manager to win the title in the Premier League era.
Between them, they put Liverpool back on the perch they’ve been eyeing up for more than a decade.
Philippe Coutinho left Liverpool for Barcelona in a £142million deal in January 2018, and now the Brazilian’s comments about the Reds look very foolish in hindsight.
Philippe Coutinho’s exit from Liverpool marked a monumental shift for both the player and the club. The Brazilian, once revered by the Anfield faithful, made a blockbuster £142million switch to Barcelona in 2018, lured by the prospect of chasing “big titles” he felt were out of reach on Merseyside.
But hindsight tells a different story. As Liverpool celebrate their 2024/25 Premier League championship, Courthouse words from seven years ago echo with painful irony.
“I really want to win big titles,” he said upon joining the Catalan giants. “It was one of the reasons that made me sign for the club. I want to win as many as I can.”
Coutinho’s departure sent shockwaves through Liverpool. He was the team’s creative pulse, a pivotal player under Jurgen Klopp and previously under Brendan Rodgers.
Although his sale brought in a massive sum, many fans feared it might stall the club’s upward momentum. Yet, the midfielder’s decision ended up fuelling Liverpool’s success.
By 2020, the Reds had conquered both Europe and the English top flight – achievements partly funded by the windfall from Coutinho’s transfer. With that money, the club brought in vital players like Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, and Fabinho – forming the defensive bedrock that freed Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Andy Robertson to attack with reckless abandon.
Meanwhile, Coutinho’s dream stint in Spain began to unravel. He struggled to cement a consistent place in Barcelona’s setup, registering only 106 appearances over four-and-a-half years – a stark contrast to the influential star he once was in red.
He was loaned to Bayern Munich, but his contributions there were limited, and the German club opted not to sign him permanently. Spells at Aston Villa, Qatari side Al-Duhail, and most recently Vasco da Gama, showed brief glimpses of his talent but lacked staying power.
Persistent injuries and fluctuating form have haunted him, and now, at 32, his career stands in sharp contrast to the continued rise of Liverpool. The club has now secured eight major trophies since his exit, their latest league title a symbol of their relentless drive – something Coutinho misjudged.
His journey also acts as a reminder: the grass isn’t always greener away from Anfield. Still, Coutinho maintains he has “no regrets” about the path he chose.
“I had this dream to play for Barcelona. Then the opportunity presented itself and I couldn’t say no to my dream,” he told Premier League Stories earlier this month.
“I have no regrets about everything I experienced, all the places I’ve been. I gave my all, was very professional and tried to do my best.
“It worked out well at some clubs, while not so much at others. But that’s football. But I don’t have any regrets, only thanks and gratitude for every club I’ve been at.”
Liverpool
Mo Salah aims hilarious dig at Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool’s Premier League title was confirmed
Mohamed Salah aimed a comical dig at Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool clinched their 20th English top-flight title on Sunday.
Salah, 32, got on the scoresheet during Liverpool’s 5-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, which saw Arne Slot’s side crowned Premier League champions with four games left to play.
The Egyptian’s strike for Liverpool’s fourth goal was his 28th in the 2024/25 league campaign, but his first since penning a new two-year deal on April 10.
Of course, despite winning the league in 2020, this was the first time Liverpool’s players and fans could enjoy the moment together since 1990, as only around 500 family and friends were in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic five years ago.
And Salah was asked which triumph was more special following yesterday’s title-clinching victory.
Salah told Sky Sports: “Ah, this is way better, 100 per cent. Without Sadio, without Jurgen, without Bobby, with everybody it feels more special, with the fans. But you know, you have a different group now, a different manager, and you show you are able to do it again – it’s something special.”
He then went on to hint that he prefers his role in Slot’s side compared to his previous one in Klopp’s team, Salah added: “You can see the numbers.
“Now I don’t have to defend much. The tactics are quite different. I said, ‘as long as you rest me defensively I will provide offensively’, so I am glad that I did. He listened a lot and you can see the numbers.”
https://x.com/SkySportsPL/status/1916554493635842506?t=lEjc5MvJm5Y2CngC3qq7Ew&s=19
The 32-year-old is now the favourite to win this season’s Premier League Golden Boot and will likely be a contender to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
Liverpool head coach Slot was quick to praise his predecessor when speaking to the crowd gathered inside Anfield.
“It feels great,” said Slot.
“I don’t think I want to say a lot. The only thing now is to send my appreciation to Jurgen Klopp.”
Speaking to Match of the Day, he added: “I am 99.9% sure that if I pick up my phone there will be a message from Jurgen.
“So many moments in the season the two of us have had contact. I think he showed last season what a wonderful human being he is by introducing me.
“But what mattered most is the team he left behind that was able to win the trophy.”
Richarlison has brutally hit back at Harvey Elliott on social media after he was spotted taunting the former Evertonian as Liverpool won the Premier League.
With a dominant 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, Liverpool won the 2024/25 Premier League title, taking the club to a record 20 English league titles.
Late in the match, Liverpool forward Elliott was brought onto the pitch to enjoy the occasion and see out the game, and in doing so, he was spotted having a back and forth with Spurs striker Richarlison.
And now, the Brazilian has hit back at Elliott on social media with a brutal comment mocking the Liverpool star.
Elliott replaced Luis Diaz, who scored Liverpool’s first goal of the match, in the 76th minute and quickly got involved, firing off a couple of shots as Liverpool looked for another goal to see off the game.
But as the match was coming to an end in the 94th minute, the 22-year-old clashed with Richarlison who, given the result for Spurs and the four years that he played for Everton, was understandably frustrated as full-time approached.
Richarlison grabbed Elliott, leading to the Englishman hitting back by shoving his opponent before being pulled away by teammate Curtis Jones while he held up a three and a zero to mock the Spurs forward.
Reacting to a TikTok breaking down the moment and asking why Elliott held up 3 and zero, Richarlison commented: “He wants to reach 30 goals in his career I think.”
https://x.com/thisisanfield/status/1916581581608906877?t=htXJzm0pHdiQ14c_6ydr9Q&s=19
Due to a lack of minutes at Liverpool, Elliott has only scored 14 goals across 143 appearances for the Reds, with a further seven goals for Blackburn Rovers, who he joined on a season-long loan in October 2020.
Fans appear to disagree on what exactly it was the Elliott was referencing in the moment, with some claiming that he was mocking the fact that Everton have gone 30 years without a major honour, and others claiming it is because Liverpool have now beaten Spurs three times this season.
Liverpool
Tears, Triumph, and a New Anthem: Isaac Kearney’s Iconic Post-Match Moment That Melted Liverpool Hearts
On a night where history was made at Anfield, one story captured the soul of Liverpool fans across the world — and it wasn’t just the victory on the pitch.
It was the unforgettable moment when young Isaac Kearney, against all odds, carved his own place into Anfield folklore.
Despite facing confrontation and unexpected obstacles just hours before kickoff, Isaac — backed by the unwavering love of his family — eventually made his way into the stadium. What followed after the final whistle wasn’t just a celebration; it was a moment that would etch itself into Liverpool’s heart forever.
As the crowd roared in triumph, a sea of red smoke painted the night sky. In the middle of it all was Isaac, lifted high onto a fan’s shoulders, his face lit up with pure joy. The passion of the moment was so electric that fans spontaneously burst into a new anthem, a chant that shook the very foundations of Anfield:
“We love you Isaac, we do!
Oh Isaac, we love you!”
The chant grew louder and louder, echoing through the historic stands, uniting everyone present in a wave of emotion. Isaac, holding the red smoke with pride, raised his arms, tears glistening in his eyes — a true son of Anfield.
Behind him, his proud mother captured every second on her phone, fighting back her own tears as she recorded the moment her son became a symbol of resilience, passion, and unity for Liverpool fans everywhere.
(Watch the emotional video below:
It wasn’t just a celebration — it was a coronation.
In that single, breathtaking moment, Isaac Kearney wasn’t just a young fan anymore. He became a living anthem, a reminder of what Liverpool Football Club truly stands for: Heart, hope, and the unbreakable spirit of family.
Today, across social media, fans are already pushing to make the “We love you Isaac” chant a permanent part of match days. Some are even calling for Isaac to be officially recognized by the club.
One fan tweeted:
“Forget the trophies — THIS is Liverpool. Isaac, you’re one of us forever.“
Another wrote:
“I came to watch a match. I left with a story I’ll tell my kids. Isaac Kearney — our new legend.“
Moments like these remind us why Liverpool is more than just a club — it’s a family.
And last night, Isaac Kearney showed us all what it truly means to belong.
Liverpool won the Premier League after earning a 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Ange Postecoglou hailed Liverpool as worthy Premier League champions after Tottenham Hotspur suffered their latest comprehensive defeat.
The Reds’ 5-1 triumph over Spurs saw them win the English title for a record-equalling 20th occasion. Anfield was at fever pitch hours before kick-off as fans anticipated history being made. But Liverpool’s afternoon did not got to script in the early stages after Dominic Solanke headed home in the 12th minute.
However, the Reds quickly regained their composure to brush aside the North Lindon side. Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo started the title celebrations before half-time. Then Mo Salah’s Word strike of the season and a Destiny Udogie own goal delivered the Reds a triumph, with the title celebrated euphorically.
Tottenham, on the other hand, lost for a 20th time in the Premier League this season and we’re swatted aside by Liverpool for a third time. Once Spurs went behind, head coach Postecoglou knew it would be near impossible for his side to get back in front at an electric Anfield.
The Australian said: “Credit to Liverpool, worthy champions and they have been the outstanding team all year, consistent and again today obviously. I thought we started the game well and sort of made things difficult for them. Even apart from the goal, I thought just in general we had decent territory but once they got in front with the atmosphere inside the stadium fair to say it was going to be difficult for us to claw them back and that’s how it proved.”
Tottenham’s priority for the remainder of tbe campaign is the Europa League and they face Bodo/ Glimt in the semi-final first leg in Thursday. As a result, Postecoglou rested several key players including centre-back pair Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.
Postecoglou added: It’s not easy, it’s not easy on the players because if you sort of look at Liverpool’s line up you can almost pick it on a weekly basis. I had made a lot of changes but I just felt it was necessary. A lot of our players have missed a lot of this season with injuries and it wasn’t just about bringing them back but managing their minutes because obviously we want them ready.
“Guys like Micky and Romero today could have played but they’ve missed so much of the season that we’ve just got to be really careful about when we use them. Guys like Pedro [Porro] and [Rodrigo] Bentancur have played a lot this year. It has been a juggling act for sure and that hasn’t helped the team, hasn’t helped the players and when you’re facing the best you pay that price.
“We had a really young midfield with Lucas [Bergvall] and Archie [Gray] and you’re asking a massive task of them. Change three of the back four, all of these kind of things logically tell you it’s going to be a tough day, but when you’re facing the best team, and on such a massive occasion, it was always going to be a huge ask for us and it proved too much.”
Liverpool
Thiago Alcantara sends emotional two-word message after Liverpool Premier League title win
Liverpool have won the Premier League title and former midfielder Thiago Alcantara has offered his reaction.
Thiago Alcantara has issued a two-word message to his former Liverpool teammates after they were crowned Premier League champions. The Reds thrashed Tottenham 5-1 at Anfield to win the title with four matches to spare.
Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah found the scoresheet for Arne Slot’s side with Destiny Udogie’s own-goal completing a fine afternoon’s work. In the end, Liverpool could have and should have scored more but it didn’t matter to the end result as they were confirmed as the 2024/25 Premier League winners.
And after the game, several ex-players congratulated the Reds on their success, including Thiago.
The Spaniard, who left the club at the end of his contract last summer, posted on his Instagram story.
Sharing Liverpool’s official title-winning post, Thiago said: “Congrats lads [flexed biceps emoji]. YNWA.”
He wasn’t the only former Liverpool player to share a message following the title win. Club legend Steven Gerrard reacted on Instagram, posting a story with a simple star eyes emoji.
Gerrard also shared more Instagram stories – one of Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and another of the scenes following the full-time whistle, which he described as ‘special’ – as the Reds toasted a historic 20th title win, levelling with Manchester United.
Liverpool head coach Slot, meanwhile, was in a jubilant mood post-match. He said: “I think even before the game it was already clear that we couldn’t lose this game.
“The way we arrived here with the bus, everybody on the bus thought there was no way, no way we could lose this game. It was difficult to 1-nil down but we always find a way to win.”
“Incredibly proud but not only of the players but everybody knows what effort they’ve put in.
“The people who are standing here, sports directors, my staff members, everyone, we should give them a big round of applause,” he added. “As a player, as a supporter, as a fan, or a staff member. Let’s forget that it’s the second in 35 years. It’s the second in five years.”
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