CAPTAIN’S STATEMENT: VIRGIL VAN DIJK CONFIRMS LIVERPOOL’S COMMITMENT TO HONORING THE JOTA FAMILY
Virgil van Dijk leads Liverpool’s emotional tribute to Diogo Jota as the Reds face Wolves in their final match of 2025.
Virgil van Dijk said everyone at Liverpool is still thinking about Diogo Jota's family as they get ready for an emotional game against Wolves on Saturday at Anfield.
Jota came to the Reds from Wolves in September 2020. This weekend will be the first time the teams have played each other since Jota, who was well-loved, died in a car crash with his brother, Andre Silva, in early July.
Jota's wife, Rute, will be there for the game, and their two sons, Dinis and Duarte, will be mascots. In his notes for the game program, team captain Van Dijk wrote about his former teammate, who was buried in his hometown of Gondomar on July 5.
Saturday is our last game of 2025, and when I look back at the year, everyone at the club has felt all kinds of different things. Van Dijk wrote.
Of course, there have been some amazing moments. Winning the Premier League title back in April was incredible. I'll never forget lifting that trophy in front of you all at Anfield, I promise. It took real teamwork, and it was well-earned after a season of hard work, both on and off the field.
But soon after that, we had the worst thing happen. Losing Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in July was something none of us could have ever been ready for, and we're all still trying to deal with it.
As always, we're thinking about Diogo and Andre's family. We will never forget them, and we will always remember them.
Van Dijk added, "As for football, this season has been up and down, to say the least." We've seen a lot of changes in the team, with players leaving and new players joining, and I think it's fair to say we haven't been at our best all the time.
We've still had some good games and some wins we'll remember, but it's also been really hard, with some tough times. As captain, I feel those tough times as much as anyone, believe me.
But right now, we're only thinking about Saturday's game against Wolverhampton Wanderers. We want to keep getting good results and finish the year strong in front of our fans at Anfield.
I know a lot of people will be watching this game and looking at where our opponents are in the league table and expecting us to win. But we know it's going to be a really hard game against a team that will be really motivated.
Liverpool decided to retire Jota’s No. 20 shirt after he died to honour him. He played a big part in helping Slot's team win the Premier League title last season.
ALAN SHEARER DEMANDS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TROPHY FOR ARNE SLOT TO KEEP JOB
Arne Slot under fire! See the Shearer vs Richards debate on The Rest Is Football podcast about Liverpool’s future.
Alan Shearer thinks Arne Slot needs to actually win the Champions League if he wants to stay in charge at Liverpool, but Micah Richards sees things differently. He says Slot deserves another season, no matter what happens.
Right now, Slot’s under real pressure. Liverpool’s Premier League title defence has been a mess. They got humiliated in the FA Cup, losing 4-0 to Manchester City, and things aren’t looking any better as they head to France to face PSG in the Champions League quarter-final. If they don’t win in Europe, they probably miss out on the Champions League next season at least, that’s how Shearer sees it, since their league form has been awful.
On The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer was blunt: “It’s crazy, especially after last season and all the money they’ve spent. It just hasn’t worked; they’re all over the place, so inconsistent. He has to win the Champions League. I’m not even sure finishing top five will be enough, and it’s just sad seeing how things have gone at Liverpool.”
Back in January, Shearer said he expected Slot to get sacked if he didn’t secure Champions League football for next year. There’s a small lifeline: the Premier League might get an extra Champions League spot through the coefficient rankings, but that’s not confirmed yet.
If that happens, fifth place gets you in. Liverpool is fifth right now, but the race is tight. Only five points separate them from ninth-place Fulham, and teams like Chelsea, Brentford, and Everton are waiting for any slip-ups, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Shearer’s convinced Slot is in trouble if he misses out on the top European competition. Richards, though, thinks the Dutchman’s earned more patience, especially after winning the league just last season.
Richards said, “I’d give him another season. I hate calling it a transition, and yeah, he’s spent a lot of money, but their main striker’s been out injured, there’s been tragedy in the club, the whole contract saga with Salah has been one thing after another. Give him one more pre-season. If things aren’t fixed by Christmas, then fine, make the change. Let’s not forget, he just won the Premier League.”
Shearer wasn’t buying it. He cut in: “That’s fine, but after winning the league, they’re miles off this season, even after all that spending. I hear what you’re saying about bad luck and circumstances, but this is Liverpool. They’re expected to win, and they’ve spent a fortune. They might not even finish in the top five, that’s why he has to win the Champions League.”
FABRIZIO ROMANO CLARIFIES REAL MADRID’S STANCE ON SELLING LIVERPOOL TARGET EDUARDO CAMAVINGA
Fabrizio Romano reveals Real Madrid's stance on Camavinga as Liverpool battles Man Utd for Maghnes Akliouche.
Liverpool is going head-to-head with Manchester United for a talented winger who could step in for Mohamed Salah. Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has weighed in on Real Madrid’s position regarding a possible sale of a major Liverpool midfield target.
With Salah officially confirming he’ll leave Anfield at the end of the season, Liverpool have agreed to let him go for free, waiving the final year of his contract as a mark of respect for what he’s done for the club.
RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande looks like the favourite to replace Salah. But Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche has become a serious option, too.
Both Liverpool and United have ramped up their interest in Akliouche, recently sending scouts to watch him in Monaco’s 2-1 win over Marseille. Liverpool sees him as a real target after Salah’s departure, mainly because of his versatility, creativity, and potential for growth.
They’ve checked in on other top wingers like Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola, but Akliouche seems to be a more realistic option. Monaco is open to a sale, but wants about €70 million (about £61 million).
United, though, are now in the mix as well. So Liverpool has some competition for Akliouche, who tallied seven goals and eight assists in his 37 games this season.
On the Real Madrid front, French outlet L’Equipe claims the club could be willing to sell Eduardo Camavinga, a player Liverpool wants for their midfield. Romano responded, saying that while Madrid isn’t shoving Camavinga out the door, they would consider a strong offer from Liverpool.
Romano made it clear: Camavinga’s still a key part of Madrid’s plans, even if his form’s dipped a bit lately. Madrid doesn’t want to lose him unless a really attractive deal comes along. If no huge offer arrives, they simply keep him.
Some whispers suggest Camavinga could be available for as little as €50 million (£44 million), but the real price is likely to be closer to €70 million.
Back at Liverpool, Paul Joyce reports that FSG’s confidence in new boss Arne Slot will get tested soon, with a tough run of fixtures featuring PSG, Everton, Man United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa.
Journalist Pete O’Rourke even says Liverpool would be ready to sack Slot if things go sour and the atmosphere turns toxic.
Former player Steve Nicol has also changed his mind about Slot. Initially, he pushed back on the idea of bringing in Xabi Alonso, but now he admits that, given the current options, he’d go for Alonso if Slot departs. In Nicol’s eyes, if Slot leaves, Alonso wouldn’t be a bad solution; nobody else stands out as a better pick.
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