Harvey Elliott has left an impression on Aston Villa coaches with his attitude, as doubts over the Liverpool star's future linger on

Harvey Elliott has left an impression on Aston Villa coaches with his attitude, as doubts over the Liverpool star's future linger on

Jamie Carragher has given his verdict on Pep Guardiola leaving Man City ahead of the Premier League clash between the Etihad club and Liverpool this weekend

Jamie Carragher has given his verdict on Pep Guardiola leaving Man City ahead of the Premier League clash between the Etihad club and Liverpool this weekend

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has told football pundits they have a “duty of responsibility” to younger players when they criticise performances.

Earlier this season Van Dijk challenged former Man United captain Wayne Rooney after comments about his displays for Liverpool, and more recently United defender Lisandro Martinez has responded to criticism from Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.

Speaking to one of those pundits, Gary Neville on Sky Sports, Van Dijk accepted some criticism is inevitable but said ex-players need to think about the impact they can have on the mental health of players – particularly younger professionals – and not chase ‘clickbait’.

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“For me personally, I can deal with it, but I’m a bit worried for the next generation,” the 34-year-old told Neville on Sky Sports.

“I feel like the ex-top players have a responsibility to the new generation.

“Criticism is absolutely normal and part of the game, and I think it should stay that way.

“But sometimes criticism also goes into being clickbait, saying things to provoke things, and without thinking about the repercussions for a mental side of players, and especially the younger generation, who are constantly on social media…

“There is always this thing of when you play a good game, younger players check all the positive praises, but when you have a worse game, and you’re getting bullied all over social media, or you’re getting bad criticism, it can really affect you.”

Van Dijk’s manager, Arne Slot, has been under the spotlight this season due to an underwhelming defence of their Premier League title.

As they prepare for Sunday’s match against second-placed Man City, Liverpool go into the weekend 14 points behind leaders Arsenal.

“Criticism for the season we are having is well-deserved because of the way we have been playing at times, the way we have been losing games on the bounce, that’s not the standard we set, especially last year,” Van Dijk added.

“But you have criticism and you have disrespect…we are in a process of things, and it takes time.”

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Harvey Elliott's 2025/26 campaign may have taken a very different turn if Jurgen Klopp was still calling the shots at Anfield

Harvey Elliott's 2025/26 campaign may have taken a very different turn if Jurgen Klopp was still calling the shots at Anfield

Arne Slot is expected to name an unchanged lineup as Liverpool host Man City in the Premier League on the back of their 4-1 dismantling of Newcastle a week ago.

The Reds finally won in the Premier League after four draws and a loss, and they will look to follow that up with a clash with Man City at Anfield.

Hopes for another victory are certainly higher than they would have been before high-scoring wins over Qarabag (6-0) and Newcastle (4-1).

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And with the schedule reduced to a game a week until the resumption of the Champions League, Slot could consider an unchanged XI vs. Man City.

Liverpool team news vs. Man City: 7 out, 1 doubt Liverpool Predicted XI vs. Man City: Why unchanged lineup could pay off

Despite the failure to strengthen in the winter market and a mounting list of injuries, Slot has options to mull over ahead of Sunday’s 4.30pm kickoff.

Those include Andy Robertson at left-back, Wataru Endo at right-back and Curtis Jones in midfield.

But the likelihood is that Liverpool will head out at Anfield with the same XI as they did eight days previous for their clash with Newcastle.

That would mean Dominik Szoboszlai remaining at right-back and Milos Kerkez at left-back, with Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch in midfield.

Florian Wirtz could then retain his role as No. 10 as part of a promising front four along with Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and the in-form Hugo Ekitike.

Liverpool’s unchanged lineup would look like this:

Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike

With a 21-man Liverpool squad involved in training on Thursday and issues still possible between then and Sunday, it is certainly not guaranteed that the same side takes to the field against Man City.

However is seems the most sensible decision if possible: the Reds should be given an opportunity to build on their win at Newcastle and that XI is built to face up to the threats Pep Guardiola’s side pose.

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola remained coy on whether he'll start Erling Haaland against Liverpool and still hails the Reds as an 'exceptional team'.

Arne Slot has made two changes to the Starting XI vs. Newcastle, with Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konate coming back in the defence. Curtis Jones is back on the bench after recovering from an illness that caused him to miss the match midweek.

Liverpool Confirmed Starting XI

Starters: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, MacAllister, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitake, Gravenberch

Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Nallo, Ngumoha

Newcastle Confirmed Lineup

Starters: Pope, Trippier, Hall, Tonali, Gordon, Barnes, Thiaw, Elanga, Willock, Burn, Ramsey

The Verdict

This is pretty much the lineup that everyone expected. I would have liked to see Andy Robertson get consecutive starts, but he is also a great option coming off the bench. With all the injuries, this is a solid lineup.

Where To Watch Match InfoUK BroadcastUS BroadcastCanada BroadcastKick-off3:00 PM GMT 8:00  PM ET 8:00 PM ETTV ChannelTNT SportsNBCFuboTVLive StreamDiscovery +Paramount+FuboTV Canada

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In what has been a disastrous Premier League title defence, it is the exciting attacking partnership that has developed between Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz that gives Liverpool hope their season can still be rescued.

Heading into their Super Sunday clash with Man City at Anfield, Arne Slot's side remain infuriatingly inconsistent as they still struggle to find their identity, capable of producing an away-day masterclass at the Stade Velodrome a fortnight ago, only to ship three goals at midtable Bournemouth just days later to drop out of the top four.

However, amid the gloom that has seen the champions already lose ten times in total so far this campaign, more than in the whole of last season, the recent form of two of their big-money summer signings means all is not lost for Slot and his players.

When Liverpool fell behind at home to Newcastle United last Saturday night, an audible groan could be heard around Anfield as the Reds faithful thought, 'Oh no, not again!'

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Just a few minutes later, though, and the hosts were back on level terms thanks to some sumptuous approach play and quick feet in a tight space from Wirtz, showing exactly why he was brought to the club, followed by a lethal finish arrowed into the bottom corner by Ekitike to help start the comeback.

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That meant the two players have now combined for six goals in all competitions so far this season, more than any other Premier League pairing, assisting three goals each, five of which have come since the end of December as their understanding together continues to grow.

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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Liverpool’s match against Newcastle in the Premier League.

And it is a partnership that going forward, excites Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher.

"It's exciting because you are looking to the future of what the team can be like," he said on Monday Night Football. "Eventually it has to move on from [Mohamed] Salah and [Virgil] van Dijk.

"For the manager, last week we spoke about hope - it gives you hope seeing the new signings playing as they are.

Image: Ekitike and Wirtz have formed a brilliant on-field partnership (AP Photo/Jon Super)

"I think both like to play in the left channel, but when you think why you buy players like Wirtz, deep blocks - you need a player with magic feet."

Image: Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike's heat maps in the Premier League this season

It has taken time though for Ekitike and Wirtz to gel together, partly because the playmaker, brought to the club in part to help unpick Slot's much-loved low blocks, initially struggled to adapt to the physical demands of the Premier League following his then British-record £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen in June.

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The duo may have taken only four minutes of their competitive debut to combine for the opener in August's Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace, linking up nicely in the lefthand channel of Wembley's vast acres, an area of the pitch both love to occupy.

Image: Ekitike and Wirtz linked up well when they first appeared together in Liverpool's Community Shield loss to Palace in Aug

But while Ekitike, 23, then hit the ground running, scoring three more times, as well as contributing an assist, in his next five league matches, incredibly Wirtz had to wait until Liverpool's win against bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 27 to score his first goal for the club.

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Florian Wirtz reacts to scoring his first goal for Liverpool against Wolves.

The real low point for Wirtz came in November against Sunday's opponents as Liverpool produced an anaemic display to go down 3-0 at the Etihad, with the German, who was brought to the club to help make them more dynamic in attack, anonymous throughout.

"I thought Wirtz in particular - it was a really bad day for him," said Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville on his podcast.

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Gary Neville offers his take on Florian Wirtz following Liverpool's defeat to Man City and thinks the 22 year-old's performances have become a 'problem'

"We've been tip toeing around him haven't we, for a few months, around the fact that he's young, coming to a new country. But he's £120m, you're going to have to stand up soon.

"He's been mauled out there today by [Matheus] Nunes and by others. He's been chucked around the pitch and didn't deliver in the quality side of things either. His performance was a real worry.

"Wirtz is a problem, let's call it what it is. It's an issue. He's £120m and he looked like a little boy out there."

Wirtz is a problem, let's call it what it is. It's an issue. He's £120m and he looked like a little boy out there. Gary Neville after Liverpool's 3-0 loss at Man City in Nov

Ekitike, meanwhile, was by now also going through his own struggles in front of goal having not scored in the league since September, but since that dark winter's afternoon in Manchester, the duo have gradually begun to show why the club were prepared to invest just shy of £200m to bring them to Anfield last summer.

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Wirtz, 22, has bulked up, doing more work in the gym to cope with the physicality of the Premier League that often shocks new signings from abroad, while the more he played, the better his understanding became with his team-mates.

"First and foremost, credit to the player because he has to do the work," said Slot ahead of his side's trip to City this weekend.

Sunday 8th February 4:00pm Kick off 4:30pm

"Not only on the pitch but also in the gym. Then as a manager, even if he is struggling a little bit at the start, you have to keep playing him because that is the only way he can improve. He is an example of that.

"I think he didn't improve that much on the ball because from the start he was special maybe now he has a better connection with his team-mates because they've played more and more together. Off the ball is where I see the biggest improvement with him, and some others, and that combination makes you ready for the Premier League."

However, it is the on-field chemistry between Ekitike and Wirtz, who have also formed a strong bond off the pitch having both played in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt and Leverkusen respectively prior to moving to Anfield, that has really begun to flourish of late.

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Clinton Morrison analyses Liverpool's dominant 3-0 victory over Marseille away from home in the Champions League

"He is just unbelievable," said Wirtz of Ekitike after his eye-catching double helped the champions return to winning ways in the league last weekend, while also taking his own tally to an impressive 15 goals in all competitions so far this season.

"You can see him today again two fantastic goals, and it is just fun to play with him on the pitch. Happy I could assist him again today after many assists from him to me."

Such has been Ekitike's impact in his debut campaign in England that Steven Gerrard has even likened him to former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, who scored 81 goals in 142 games for the club between 2007 and 2011.

"He reminds me of Torres, this player, every time I watch him," the Liverpool great told TNT Sports. "He's scoring similar types of goals, where if you give him space in the channel, he'll run it, he's too quick, you can't catch him and he's deadly."

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Jamie Carragher lauded Hugo Ekitike's second goal against Newcastle at Anfield and suggested that he's a better player than Fernando Torres.

Carra agrees, saying: "I think Ekitike is a better player than Torres. He may not get as many goals, but Torres was made by Gerrard at Liverpool. Ekitike wont reply on Wirtz as much, but, if the combination keeps going, he could get the goals Torres got."

As for Wirtz, it is now four in his last seven top-flight matches having had to wait to the midway point of the season to register his first league goal for Liverpool and Carragher hopes he can now take that form with him into Sunday's huge clash against City.

"Wirtz is getting better all the time," he said. "Eventually, the mantle has to be passed on, and there is no doubt the lad has real quality.

Wirtz has gone from a little boy and it's a great opportunity to shove those words down Neville's throat. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher

"The Premier League has lost Kevin De Bruyne, [but] we have gained Wirtz. We are talking about special players coming into our league. I have watched him a lot and thought about whether he can get to De Bruyne's level. When I watch Wirtz, I think he could be lovely on the eye like David Silva, but he has almost a bit of both.

"I'm not sure if he will get the numbers De Bruyne got. But, talking about a slow start, one of the games was City away and Gary Neville said he looked like a boy out there - now he has City at Anfield.

"He is confident. He has gone from a little boy, and it's a great opportunity to shove those words down Neville's throat."

And while Liverpool have, rightly, been accused of being boring to watch this season, with these two now bringing some much-needed dynamism to their previously stilted attack, the future may not be so downbeat after all.

Watch Liverpool vs Man City live on Sky Sports on Sunday from 4pm; kick-off 4.30pm

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Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images

A loss Thursday would be a devasting blow in an already frustrating 2024/25.

As is the case for any (sobs) 14th-place team, Tottenham Hotspur's season hinges on competitions outside the Premier League. A bye into the Europa League Round of 16 keeps that avenue open, and the FA Cup remains a possibility as well, but the most immediate and realistic path to silverware is the League Cup. Yes, the road is brutal, with a trip to Anfield before a final against Newcastle, but only 180 minutes separate Spurs from ending their long-standing trophy drought.

That makes Thursday the biggest match of the season so far. Tottenham impressed in the semifinal's first leg, grinding out a 1-0 win despite ceding possession, absorbing pressure, and deploying a makeshift backline. Now, the battle shifts to Liverpool, where the country's best team will be confident in its ability to overcome a one-goal deficit. Spurs enter as clear underdogs but must find a way to advance.

Semifinals (2nd Leg): Liverpool (0) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (1)

Date: Thursday, February 6
Time: 3:00 pm ET, 8:00 pm UK
Location: Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
TV: Paramount+ (USA), Sky Sports Main Event (UK)

Since the first leg, Liverpool has gone 5-1-1, with the lone defeat coming in a meaningless Champions League contest with a rotated lineup. With a Premier League title in sight and a strong European campaign underway, one might assume this competition sits lower on the priority list. Unfortunately for Spurs, there are no significant matches on Liverpool's immediate horizon, meaning Arne Slot is likely to field a strong XI at Anfield.

Both teams were relatively cautious in North London, though for different reasons. Tottenham's approach was shaped by a defense missing three of its four preferred starters, alongside a newly introduced Antonin Kinsky. Ange Postecoglou now has the opportunity of choosing from options like Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel, though plenty of important names like Micky van de Ven remain injured.

For Liverpool, the decision to play pragmatically was likely strategic — returning home with just a one-goal deficit seemed an acceptable trade-off. Having made that decision, Slot's side will now bring intensity reminiscent of December's league fixture. Players like Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Dominik Szoboszlai were all absent from the first leg's starting lineup, but may be called upon Thursday with the objective more clear.

A few moments of greatness

Tottenham will not see much of the ball at Anfield. Liverpool will dominate possession, generate the bulk of the chances, and apply relentless pressure in Spurs' defensive third. That is a daunting prospect for cobbled-together squad; the number one priority is minimizing mistakes, especially with a lead to protect.

That said, Spurs must be willing to attack when opportunities arise and will not need much possession to be dangerous. Both Dominic Solanke's narrowly disallowed goal and Lucas Bergvall's successful strike in the first leg came via direct play over the top. Exploiting Liverpool's high press with quick, vertical attacks could be Tottenham's best path to maintaining the advantage.

If Spurs can capitalize on a pressing opponent and snatch an insurance goal, the tie will come down to their ability to weather the inevitable storm. Recent form does not inspire much confidence in their defensive resilience, but Tottenham has produced surprising performances against top teams this season. Postecoglou will need another one to keep his second-season trophy promise alive.

Liverpool fans will have seen the social media stories circling that both Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk signing a new contract, something Arne Slot was asked to comment on.

Speaking (via 90min.com), our head coach said: "We have some contractual situations that you don't probably don't know about.

"But Trent, Mo and Virgil haven't extended yet. So we are aware of the fact that we have to be sharp and ready for things that can happen.

"My life is mainly short term but we have so many quality people at this club that look at the longer term as well.

"You always have to be prepared for all the new things coming up.

"The players that don't play a big part at the moment; will they be able to do this another year? Will they fight for their place or will they [want to] go somewhere else?

"So we have to be prepared for the next window and what we can do."

The Dutchman doesn't really like to provide a direct answer on these topics, as it's not something he's directly involved in and prefers to allow time to pass.

However, confirmation that contracts have not been signed is a clear indication of the current situation and does debunk Robbie Fowler's theory.

Salah, Van Dijk and Trent have not yet signed a new contract Pictures via @MoSalah on X

John Barnes has stated that if he were in charge of the new deals, he would select our captain as the most important of the trio.

Many fans have their own opinions as to who they would or wouldn't allow to leave the club but it does feel that the overwhelming majority want all three to commit their future to staying on Merseyside.

You would assume the club can afford to do this but whether the financial model allows it is another question.

It's the same situation we've been in all campaign but we can take from this that no deals have yet been signed and it doesn't feel like we're close to them being done either.

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The post Arne Slot directly responds to rumours of Salah and Van Dijk’s new contracts being signed appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all out of contract in the summer, with Liverpool at risk of losing all three of their stars for nothing

Liverpool are set to face Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg tonight.

The Reds lost the away first leg 1-0 controversially courtesy of Lucas Bergvall's late goal but he really should’ve been sent off earlier.

Newcastle United have reached the final by beating Arsenal in the other semi-final so the winner of this tie will take on the Magpies at Wembley on 16th March.

As per team news, Joe Gomez and Diogo Jota have returned to full fitness after recovering from their injury problems but Trent Alexander-Arnold has sustained an issue since featuring against the Cherries. So, he has been ruled out.

Predicted Liverpool lineup vs Tottenham

Caoimhin Kelleher has been playing in the cup competitions but Alisson Becker started in the previous leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Brazilian may continue in goal for the hosts tonight.

Jarell Quansah has started all the Carabao Cup matches thus far this season but considering the importance of the fixture tonight, Ibrahima Konate is expected to be called upon to feature alongside Virgil van Dijk in the CB position.

Conor Bradley would replace injured Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas might get the nod to start in the left-back position ahead of Andy Robertson.

Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are likely to continue in the engine room with Dominik Szoboszlai in the CAM role. Therefore, Wataru Endo and Curtis Jones could be among the substitutes.

Cody Gakpo has also played all the League Cup games and should continue in his preferred left-wing position, while Mohamed Salah would be on the opposite side.

Luis Diaz may start again in the CF role, therefore, Darwin Nunez and Jota could feature off the bench if needed. Here is how Liverpool could line up vs Tottenham:

The post 4-2-3-1: How Liverpool could line up against Tottenham – Carabao Cup appeared first on Paisley Gates.

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