MO SALAH SPECIAL AGAIN, VAN DIJK REMINDS REAL MADRID WHO RULES
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk calls for a repeat of last season's 2-0 win over Real Madrid at Anfield, urging fans to recreate the electric atmosphere for the crucial Champions League clash and help continue their winning momentum.
Mo Salah, left, and Virgil van Dijk, right - via Getty Images
On and off the field, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has asked for a rematch of the team's thrilling victory over Real Madrid last season.
Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo's goals in the second half helped the Reds defeat the Spanish powerhouses 2-0 at Anfield last November. After a year, Real Madrid returns to the Premier League for another Champions League match.
Van Dijk believes that Liverpool's victory from the previous season was among their best performances, and he hopes the Reds can have a similar showing this time.
In his match notes, Van Dijk told Reds supporters, "Games do not come much bigger than Real Madrid at Anfield in the Champions League."
"As a player, these are the evenings you live for, so it goes without saying that we are all really looking forward to the challenge, and I am sure you guys are too."
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The Reds defeated Aston Villa 2-0 on Saturday night to get back to winning ways after six losses in seven games across all competitions. Van Dijk believes that triumph, together with memories of the team's success over Real Madrid the previous season, will motivate the home crowd at Anfield.
Van Dijk went on, "Of course, we know what to expect, and they (Real) will too." "We beat them 2-0 at this time last year, and we deserved it with one of our best performances of the entire season. That evening, we were outstanding and put up a true team performance.
We shall need more of the same this evening. I recall that as one of the finest atmospheres of the entire season. From the first whistle to the last, we need your support, we need enthusiasm, and we need noise.
"The support against Aston Villa was excellent, in my opinion, and it was really valued. There has undoubtedly been a lot of noise and criticism, particularly from the outside, during this difficult time in terms of results, but on Saturday, you guys were there from the beginning, and your support undoubtedly helped us get a crucial three points."
Following Mohamed Salah's 250th goal for the Reds against Villa, Van Dijk again praised the Egyptian, praising his teammate for the accomplishment.
"I would like to acknowledge Mo Salah, who scored his 250th goal in a Liverpool shirt against Aston Villa," Van Dijk remarked.
"What a player, and what an accomplishment. Reaching that milestone at a club like Liverpool is truly unique, and the fact that he continues to be driven to work hard and get better every day speaks volumes about his character and professionalism. He is undoubtedly a role model for everyone.
He should score again tonight, and we should be able to add another significant victory to our record at Anfield.
BUFFON SHARES INSIGHT WITH CASSANO: ALLEGRI BEST CHOICE FOR MILAN
Gianluigi Buffon declares Massimiliano Allegri the "best coach" for AC Milan, praising his immediate impact. Under Allegri, Milan is on a 10-game winning streak and sits just one point off the top of Serie A.
Buffon praises Allegri to Cassano - COURTESY/PHOTO
Massimiliano Allegri is the best candidate AC Milan could have recruited for the head coach position, according to Gianluigi Buffon.
Due to Allegri's outstanding efforts, Milan is just one point behind league leaders Napoli. The Rossoneri defeated Roma 1-0 on Sunday night, their tenth consecutive win in all competitions.
This season, the Diavolo have already played Napoli, Juventus, Atalanta, and Roma, earning eight points from their four encounters (two victories, two draws). When you factor in the victory over fifth-place Bologna, that comes to 11 points from five games.
Milan has seven more points than they did at the same point in 2024–25, which is a noticeable shift from the previous season. There have been hints that a title charge would be feasible, but everyone is keeping their feet on the ground.
Buffon gives Allegri's work high marks.
During his appearance as a guest on the program Viva El Futbol, Buffon discussed a variety of topics, including Milan and Allegri, his former Juventus coach. MilanPress carried his remarks, and he began by addressing Antonio Cassano's criticism of Max.
"I am aware that you [Cassano] do not think much of Allegri, but I can assure you that Max is Milan's best coach at the moment. Milan appears to be a well-run club now that he has been there. Managerial and player interviews are no longer conducted in a certain manner.
"Everything proceeds in a way that may yield outcomes. Allegri already merits recognition for this, since he has contributed a way of thinking and acting in the group to succeed—or at least strive to—which he may have put into practice over the years with his expertise.
You can see that he is able to give the team a sense of identity, whether you like it or not. They consistently play well and let up a few goals. Last year, Milan gave up a lot of goals. He had five clean sheets in ten games when he got there.
His teams are consistently well-balanced. You have to acknowledge that Milan has looked like a contender to win the Scudetto ever since he arrived, both because of what occurs on the field and because of what doesn't.
After that, I watched the game. Tell me, how many coaches are as honest as he was to admit Roma's supremacy in the opening thirty-five minutes? A coach would never say that. I witnessed a "Gasperin-esque" Roma for the first time for thirty-five minutes. However, I must acknowledge that it could have been 4-0 from the 35th to the 60th minute.
EVERTON DOMINANCE EVAPORATES; PICKFORD, MOYES REACT WITH DISBELIEF AND FURY
Everton's draw at Sunderland felt like two points dropped after Iliman Ndiaye's opener was cancelled out by a deflected Granit Xhaka strike. Jordan Pickford's emotional return was a key storyline in a match filled with drama.
Jordan Pickford, goalkeeper of Everton waves at fans after the Premier League match between Sunderland and Everton at Stadium of Light (Image: Getty Images)
With a draw that felt like both a win and a loss, Everton left the Stadium of Light.
They controlled Sunderland for thirty minutes, to the extent that discussions between reporters from the North East in the press box came to the conclusion that it was the first time this season that the recently promoted team appeared overpowered by an opponent.
However, the hosts were able to rally late in the game since the visitors were unable to capitalise on their superiority and failed to build on Iliman Ndiaye's opening goal. By the end, Everton was relieved to hear the final whistle. Here are a few of the match's moments that went beyond the news.
Jordan Pickford's distress over James Tarkowski's help
When Granit Xhaka's effort was deflected past Jordan Pickford to tie the score for Sunderland on Monday night, his expression told it all. The England number one was a picture of agony as he reprimanded the centre back for extending out his leg to block the shot and turned to face captain James Tarkowski.
When the effort was redirected away from his dive, the goalie seemed frustrated that Tarkowski had not left it for him to handle, even though it was supposed to be a simple stop. The goal was vital because it gave the home crowd more energy and helped the Mackems maintain the momentum they had at the end of the first half.
Everton failed to bounce back, but they managed to hold on for a point that seemed crucial considering the second half's struggle, which Moyes said was "awful." Moments after the equaliser, Pickford had to make a crucial stop as an Enzo Le Fée strike was deflected away from him, despite his worries about those blocking shots in front of him going unanswered.
England's top player receives praise from everyone.
During his first game back at Sunderland since leaving for Everton in 2017, Pickford was a main attraction. He has remained a devoted fan of his boyhood team and saw them finish a protracted and agonising period outside the top flight by winning promotion from the Championship last season.
The home audience applauded when his name was called before the game and cheered him off the field with the song, "He is one of our own," after the final whistle.
The away end frequently broke into the "dynamite" song that was composed for him at the conclusion of the previous season, demonstrating that the affection was reciprocated.
David Moyes is playing.
Although the two clubs' good connection was always evident during this game, tensions remained high for the entire ninety minutes. This also applied to the dugouts. Trai Hume made a crazy lunge at Jack Grealish in the second half, causing him to writhe in agony. The incident so shocked Moyes that he jumped onto the field in what seemed to be a mix of worry and rage.
Moyes later felt that his playmaker deserved a lot of protection after Hume was booked for the tackle. Pedro Porro of Tottenham Hotspur and Evann Guessand of Aston Villa have both made clumsy challenges against him in recent weeks.
Then his head was in his hands.
On the touchline, Moyes actively participated in the game's emotions. When Vitalii Mykolenko seemed to give up too early on a ball he believed was going out for a throw-in among a tangle of legs, his incredulity contrasted sharply with his rage at the challenge on Grealish.
Moyes just stood with his hands on his head for a few seconds as Sunderland took advantage of the opportunity and picked up the lost ball to make another attack down Everton's left.
Two clubs come together to emphasise the important things.
This event made it very evident that there are more significant things in life than football. Bradley Lowery, a Sunderland fan, won hearts all across the world throughout his fight against neuroblastoma before dying at the age of six. He developed an especially tight relationship with Everton, with former chairman Bill Kenwright providing him with substantial backing for his awareness-raising initiatives.
Gemma, Bradley's mother, went to Everton's home game against West Ham United since the team was supporting the Bradley Lowery Foundation, which was established in his honour. Reuben, a nine-year-old Sunderland fan who has been fighting leukaemia, led Everton out on Monday night after the team donated their mascot experience to the charity. The home end also unfurled a huge flag with Bradley on it at the beginning of the game, with the caption, "There is only one Bradley Lowery."
In a heartfelt remembrance of nine-year-old Sunderland supporter Anna Bradley, who lost her fight with a rare blood cancer last week, the stadium erupted in cheers in the ninth minute as well.