• Liverpool great understood to be recovering well

• Club thank hospital for giving ‘the best care possible’

Ian Rush has been released from hospital having spent two days in intensive care last week with flu.

The former Liverpool and Wales striker was admitted to the Countess of Chester hospital with breathing difficulties and taken into intensive care. He responded to treatment and was able to go home on Monday, and is understood to be recovering well.

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Экс-футболист «Ливерпуля» и сборной Англии Джейми Каррагер дал совет египетскому нападающему Мохамеду Салаху на фоне его непростых отношений в клубе.

В понедельник, 15 декабря, завершился 16-й тур английской Премьер-лиги.

«МЮ» отстал на 10 очков от «Арсенала» в таблице АПЛ.

«Манчестер Юнайтед» на 10 очков отстает от лидирующего в таблице АПЛ «Арсенала» после 16-го тура.

Команда тренера Рубена Аморима дома потеряла очки в матче с «Борнмутом» (4:4) и занимает 6-е место, имея 26 баллов.

«Арсенал» набрал 36 очков и идет первым, на 2 балла опережая «Манчестер Сити» и на 3 «Астон Виллу».

Замыкает четверку «Челси» (28 очков), следом идут «Кристал Пэлас», «МЮ» и «Ливерпуль» – у всех по 26 очков.

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Big money signings always come with big scrutiny, especially at a club that has just won the Premier League under a new manager. Arne Slot’s debut title season raised standards across the squad, and any player arriving for £125m was never going to be judged gently. That is the backdrop to the growing conversation around Alexander Isak, a conversation sharpened by comments from Dave Davis on Anfield Index’s Fan Focus podcast.

Since his deadline day arrival, Isak’s return of two goals and one assist across all competitions tells its own story. Fitness issues have disrupted rhythm, while Liverpool’s attacking structure has evolved rapidly around him. That combination has created uncertainty, and in a title winning side, uncertainty rarely lasts long.

Dave Davis on selection and current pecking order

Dave Davis was direct in his assessment of where Isak stands right now. As he put it, “In Liverpool’s strongest lineup right now, I don’t care what anyone says, Alexander Isak isn’t there.” That line cuts to the core of the issue. Liverpool are no longer searching for a functioning system, they have one, and selection is ruthless.

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Davis went further by underlining who has seized the opportunity instead. “Hugo Ekitike has to be the first attacking name on the teamsheet.” The contrast between the two forwards is stark. Ekitike, signed for £69m, already has ten goals across all competitions. He looks sharp, physically ready, and tactically aligned with Slot’s demands. In elite football, form quickly becomes currency.

Fit within Slot’s attacking structure

There is nuance here, and Davis acknowledged it. “We haven’t been playing to Isak’s strengths but his performances haven’t been great.” Slot’s Liverpool relies on relentless tempo, aggressive pressing, and explosive transitions. That demands sharp movement and physical readiness, especially from the central striker.

One moment in the 2-0 win over Brighton summed it up memorably. “There’s one moment on Saturday where Liverpool are on the break and he is overtook by Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk!” It was an image that travelled fast among supporters, not because of mockery, but because it highlighted a deeper concern around sharpness and confidence.

Pressure, AFCON and minutes ahead

Importantly, the criticism has not been framed as personal. “This isn’t about banging on Alexander Isak, but it’s about objectively saying that we spent £125m on a striker that isn’t doing the business and isn’t fit.” Objectivity matters, especially when context looms large.

That context includes Mohamed Salah heading off to AFCON. As Davis noted, “We need him now more than ever with Mohamed Salah heading off to AFCON.” Opportunities will come, partly because of squad needs, and partly because Slot has limited alternatives. “We know that Arne Slot doesn’t fancy Federico Chiesa, so Isak is going to get minutes and he needs to perform because there is a few red flags creeping in now.”

For Isak, the next stretch feels defining. Liverpool are stable, successful, and demanding. That leaves little room for grace periods. The quality is there, but at a club moving this fast, potential must quickly turn into impact.

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Mohamed Salah returned to the Liverpool squad for the 2-0 victory over Brighton after being dropped for the game against Inter Milan following his outspoken interview

Mohamed Salah returned to the Liverpool squad for the 2-0 victory over Brighton after being dropped for the game against Inter Milan following his outspoken interview

Бывший защитник «Манчестер Сити», а ныне футбольный эксперт Майка Ричардс поделился мнением об игре нападающего «Ливерпуля» Мохамеда Салаха в матче 16-го тура английской Премьер-лиги с «Брайтон энд Хоув Альбион» (2:0).

Jamie Carragher doesn't see Mohamed Salah playing for Liverpool next season but thinks the forward should delay any immediate thoughts about quitting the club in January to secure a fitting Anfield send-off at the end of the season.

Liverpool’s title winning debut season under Arne Slot has already produced plenty of talking points, yet the narrative around the forward line continues to evolve. Much of the summer focus centred on the record breaking £125m arrival of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, a signing that naturally dominated headlines. Quietly, though, Hugo Ekitike has begun carving out his own importance within Slot’s squad, delivering early evidence that Liverpool’s attacking depth may be one of their defining strengths this season.

Early impact despite crowded headlines

Ekitike’s £69m move from Eintracht Frankfurt arrived with intrigue rather than fanfare. Overshadowed by Isak’s deadline day drama, the Frenchman initially operated without the weight of expectation that often accompanies big money transfers. That has worked to Liverpool’s advantage.

Across all competitions, Ekitike has already scored ten goals, seven of them in the Premier League. Those numbers alone place him firmly in the conversation as one of the league’s most efficient new attackers. More telling, however, is the timing of his goals. Since being restored to the starting eleven, he has struck twice against Leeds United and twice against Brighton, delivering tangible returns at moments when Liverpool needed cutting edge rather than control.

X: @LFC Finishing and link play shaping Slot’s system

Slot’s Liverpool demands fluidity from its forwards. Pressing, movement between the lines and intelligent combination play are non negotiable. Ekitike’s adaptation to those demands has been swift.

Speaking on Anfield Index’s Fan Focus podcast, Dave Davis captured the mood around the forward’s early contribution, saying, “Liverpool have got a really special talent on their hands.” That assessment goes beyond goals alone. Davis added, “He’s a great finisher but also he’s so good at linking the play.” In a side built around positional rotation and midfield runners, that ability to knit attacks together matters as much as finishing chances.

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The Frenchman’s Bundesliga background has translated well, with his movement stretching defences and creating space for Isak, Mohamed Salah and the advancing midfielders. Davis reinforced that wider view, noting, “He has got everything and he’s showing it already despite just arriving from the Bundesliga.”

Rotation, momentum and long term questions

Liverpool’s schedule across domestic and European competitions will demand rotation, and Ekitike’s form gives Slot genuine options rather than forced compromises. He does not need to start every match to influence outcomes, but his recent run suggests he may be difficult to leave out.

There remains a sense of measured optimism rather than hype. As Davis cautioned, “We will see how the season unfolds for him.” That feels appropriate. Early season numbers are encouraging, yet sustainability across a long campaign will define how Ekitike’s role is ultimately judged.

For now, Liverpool look well stocked. Isak provides the headline power, Salah the enduring excellence, while Ekitike offers balance, movement and goals. In a title defending side shaped quickly by a new manager, that blend could prove decisive as the season deepens.

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Liverpool’s forward planning continues to attract attention, with Give Me Sport reporting fresh insight into the club’s admiration for Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo. The update, shared via Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive newsletter, suggests this is not a passing glance but a developing situation as the January window approaches. Liverpool, crowned Premier League champions under Arne Slot last season, are again positioning themselves assertively in the market.

Semenyo’s name now sits alongside several elite level forwards being tracked across Europe. According to Give Me Sport, Liverpool are “believed to be among a host of clubs eyeing a move for the Ghanaian forward when the market reopens next month”, a detail that reflects both the player’s rise and the competitive landscape around his signature.

Semenyo Profile and Rising Market Value

Romano underlined the scale of interest by noting that there is “Genuine interest but there are more clubs also keen. It’s going to be a race also with more sides, depending on what the player wants to do.” That sense of urgency is fuelled by a reported £65m release clause, a figure that allows suitors to bypass lengthy negotiations with Bournemouth.

On the pitch, Semenyo’s output strengthens his appeal. Six goals and three assists in 14 league appearances highlight a forward entering his prime, while earlier in the campaign he was described as the “best player in the Premier League”. Comparisons to being “close to peak Sadio Mane” only amplify the intrigue for Liverpool supporters who remember the impact of a relentless wide forward at Anfield.

Photo: IMAGO

There has been a dip in form since November, both individually and collectively, with Bournemouth taking just two points from their last six matches. Still, context matters. As Give Me Sport outlines, Bournemouth have already sanctioned major sales, raising £147m from the departures of Illia Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen. Semenyo would be another significant asset moved at peak value.

Competitive Landscape Ahead of January

Liverpool’s interest must be viewed through a wider league lens. A release clause invites competition, and Romano anticipates a multi club race shaped by player preference. From Liverpool’s perspective, the profile fits. Athletic, direct, tactically flexible, Semenyo aligns with Slot’s demand for intensity and vertical threat.

This is not a short term fix narrative. Liverpool’s recruitment has increasingly balanced immediate contribution with long term value, a model that helped deliver the title in Slot’s debut season. Semenyo, contracted until 2030, fits that strategic window comfortably.

Slot Momentum and Squad Context

The report also places this transfer talk against Liverpool’s recent results. Back to back wins over Inter Milan and Brighton have steadied momentum, with a 2-0 victory at the weekend lifting confidence. Mohamed Salah’s return and assist before his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations adds further context to the need for attacking depth during January.

As one line from the report implies, this is about readiness rather than reaction. Liverpool are alert, informed, and prepared to act.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

This report feels both exciting and reassuring. Semenyo is not being discussed as a panic buy or a short term cover option, but as a forward who could genuinely elevate the squad. The comparison to Sadio Mane resonates deeply, not because anyone expects a carbon copy, but because of the shared traits of power, drive and fearlessness.

Arne Slot has already shown he can refresh Liverpool without diluting their identity. Winning the Premier League title in his first season raised expectations, but it also bought trust. If Slot and the recruitment team believe Semenyo can thrive within this system, supporters are likely to back that judgement.

There is also realism here. £65m is significant, especially for a player with limited Champions League exposure. Yet modern markets reward decisiveness, and Liverpool have often been strongest when moving before a player becomes unattainable.

The possible absence of Salah during AFCON sharpens the logic further. Depth, versatility and durability are essential for another title push. Semenyo feels like a move that supports both the present and the future, which is exactly where Liverpool should be operating.

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Mohamed Salah has been sent a clear message after returning to the Liverpool squad for the win over Brighton at the weekend

Mohamed Salah has been sent a clear message after returning to the Liverpool squad for the win over Brighton at the weekend

Marc Guehi will be out of contract at the end of the season and available on a free transfer after the collapse of a move to Liverpool last summer

Marc Guehi will be out of contract at the end of the season and available on a free transfer after the collapse of a move to Liverpool last summer

Во вторник, 16 декабря, в Дохе состоится вручении премии The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 года.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has sent a message to Mohamed Salah as the Liverpool star departs for the Africa Cup of Nations

Trent Alexander-Arnold has sent a message to Mohamed Salah as the Liverpool star departs for the Africa Cup of Nations

Бывший защитник «Ливерпуля» и санкт-петербургского «Зенита» Деян Ловрен с юмором отреагировал на рекорд экс-одноклубника Мохамеда Салаха.