SPORTENTZ

What will life without Virgil van Dijk be like at Liverpool? Arne Slot offered a clear and pragmatic insight into Liverpool’s long-term planning when questioned about Virgil van Dijk and the club’s interest in young centre-backs. W hile reaffirming Van Dijk’s importance, Slot made it clear that succession planning is already part of the wider strategy at Anfield. Speaking to reporters, Slot said: “We know Virgil won't play for 10 years but he has a year left, maybe longer at us. Hopefully he can stay fit for multiple years but this club is not stupid. We do know somewhere in the upcoming years there is life after Virgil, but that is for every position. We don't think about short-term only; it is mid to long as well.” The Liverpool boss stressed that recruitment decisions are not reactionary but part of a broader vision, balancing experience with future needs. Slot’s remarks underlined a calm realism rather than urgency, as Liverpool continue shaping a squad built to compete bot...

 Interview That would be something special' - Nick Ball on title defence, Anfield dreams and more Boxer Nick Ball says it would be 'something special' to one day fight at Anfield - but for now his focus remains on retaining his WBA featherweight title. Ball makes the fourth defence of his belt against Brandon Figueroa at the M&S Bank Arena on Saturday night (February 7). The 28-year-old has held the title since June 2024 and returns to Merseyside to fight in front of his home crowd once again after last entering the ring in Saudi Arabia. Ball was at Anfield last weekend to watch the Reds defeat Newcastle United 4-1, and he caught up with Liverpoolfc.com for a chat… On trying to defend his title and fighting at Anfield one day… That would be something special. I've dreamed of things like this since I was a kid, and now I'm finally doing it, it's something else. On his fight with Figueroa… He's no average fighter. You don't become a two-weight world c...

'The drop off is huge from last season': Former Liverpool player claims Slot is only in the job because of last season’s success That’s not good enough for Liverpool Football Club Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant hasn't held back in his assessment of the Reds' struggles this season, claiming that manager Arne Slot is lucky to still be in the dugout. With Liverpool currently sitting outside the top five and fighting to secure Champions League football, the drop-off from their 2024/25 title-winning campaign has been alarming. Speaking on the club's current situation, Pennant argued that Slot is living on borrowed time: "I think if it wasn’t for him [Slot] winning the league, I think he would have been sacked by now." "The drop off is huge from last season. They are currently outside the top five places for a Champions League spot. That’s not good enough for Liverpool Football Club." Slot delivered the Premier League title in his debut seaso...

 The combination of personal tragedy and professional turmoil finally got to him When Ibrahima Konaté scored Liverpool’s fourth goal in stoppage time, the celebration was raw and emotional.  He didn't just celebrate; after sliding near the corner flag, he broke down, covering his face with his shirt to hide the tears. It has been a devastating week for the Frenchman. Konaté missed the midweek Champions League win over Marseille due to a "personal family matter." It was confirmed that he had just returned to the squad following the passing of his father, Hamady Konaté, on January 22nd. This performance meant everything. Konaté has faced heavy criticism recently labeled "calamitous" by some pundits after recent struggles, but in this match he was immense.

 Unai Emery Provides Key Fitness Updates Before Aston Villa’s Clash with Liverpool ⚽🔥 During his pre-match press briefing, Emery confirmed that Emiliano Buendia will miss the trip to Merseyside after sustaining an injury in Villa’s narrow 1–0 victory over Manchester City. > “He won’t be available for tomorrow’s game, but his recovery is going well. With a few more days, I expect him to be fit again soon,” Emery explained. Alongside Buendia, Youri Tielemans and Andres Garcia also remain unavailable, though both are reportedly close to returning to full fitness. > “Youri is progressing well and should rejoin team training next week. Andres is also improving, but he’ll still need a few more weeks,” the manager added. With those absences, Villa could face a midfield selection headache, forcing alternatives like Morgan Rogers and Boubacar Kamara to step up against the reigning champions. Meanwhile, Harvey Elliott—currently on loan from Liverpool—will be ineligible to play due to ...