Transfer Talk: Liverpool’s Van Dijk set for raise to thwart Real Madrid

ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop can’t understand why Real Madrid would even entertain the thought of bringing back Jose Mourinho to manage the club.

Paul Mariner and Ross Dyer dissect the latest transfer rumours, including Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho making surprise returns to former clubs.
The transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals, and keep track of who has joined the big boys. Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world’s media and set correspondents loose to see what’s on the agenda for the summer.

VVD set for bumper deal to warn off La Liga Interest

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is set to be handed a huge pay rise in the coming weeks, with Anfield bosses keen to tie down one of their prized assets.

The Dutchman is currently…

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Aguero, Van Dijk headline Premier League Player of the Year candidates

Following a goalless Merseyside derby, ESPN FC’s Mark Ogden assesses what’s gone wrong for Liverpool as they’ve fallen behind Man City.

ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol laments Liverpool’s missed chances and inability to find a way to win when they’re not at their very best.

The FC crew answer your tweets on the wind factor at Goodison Park, the most intriguing title race in Europe, how good Gerard Pique is and more.
We are approaching the business end of the season, when titles are won or lost and the Champions League reaches its decisive stage.

It is also the point of the campaign when the top individual performers can elevate themselves above the rest to become the front-runner for the top individual awards.

So as the 2018-19 season enters the final straight, who are the leading candidates to be named Premier League Player of the Year?

Sergio Aguero (FW, Manchester City)

Now in his eighth season…

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Virgil van Dijk a ‘colossus,’ Mo Salah wasteful as Liverpool slip up at rivals Everton

Liverpool’s front three missed a slew of chances against Everton as Manchester City consolidate their lead atop the Premier League table.

Manchester City are now in control of the Premier League title race as Liverpool were frustrated by Everton in a 0-0 draw at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.
City, who defeated Bournemouth 1-0 on Saturday, now sit one point clear at the top of the table.

Positives
Any threat of Everton securing their first victory over Liverpool since 2010 were thwarted by Virgil van Dijk’s outstanding performance. He has a real chance of becoming the first defender since John Terry in 2004-05 to win the PFA…

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Liverpool fans’ title nerves not necessary – Van Dijk

ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol and the FC crew discuss the ‘antsy’ atmosphere at Anfield and the pressure associated with a tight Premier League title race.

It wasn’t the decisive win Liverpool fans were looking for but a 1-1 draw is enough to see their lead grow to five points over Manchester City.
Virgil van Dijk has said that now is not the time for Liverpool and their supporters to be nervous in the Premier League title race.
Anfield was on edge for large parts of Wednesday night’s 1-1 draw with Leicester, as Liverpool, who are chasing a first league title in 28 years, moved five points clear of Manchester City.
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Welcome to the 2018 FC 100
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How Mourinho unravelled at Man United
Fear, paranoia, difficult behaviour and constant battling with club officials and players led to the inevitable, writes Rob Dawson.

The greatest game never played
When Boca Juniors and River Plate were set to meet in Argentina’s most important match, Buenos Aires lost its mind, writes Wright Thompson.

– Follow Transfer Talk LIVE in January
– Fantasy: Set lineups, check scores!

But Van Dijk does not believe tension from the crowd impacted Liverpool’s performance.
“I don’t think so, but obviously you get that feeling as well [of nervousness] from the crowd…

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Bill Barnwell’s Premier League midseason awards: Hazard best player, Fred worst summer signing

After going unbeaten in their first 15 Premier League games, the FC crew try to pinpoint what’s gone wrong for Man City in their last three out of four.

As we hit the peak of the festive season and approach the start of the January transfer window, now is a good time to take a look back at the Premier League. The competition is hitting its halfway point after 19 matches, and following a suffocating performance from Manchester City last season, the race between City and Liverpool (with Tottenham Hotspur on the outside) is shaping up to present the most exciting second half of a campaign since Leicester claimed the title in 2016.

Today, I’m going…

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Van Dijk dominates both ends of the pitch to earn 9/10 as Liverpool win at Wolves

Liverpool impressed yet again with a comfortable win over Wolves at Molineux extending their lead to four points at the top of the Premier League table.

WOLVERHAMPTON, England — Liverpool will be spending Christmas Day atop the Premier League after beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 on Friday. Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk scored in either half on at Molineux to send Jurgen Klopp’s side four points clear of Manchester City, who host Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Positives

What’s the significance of being top of at Christmas? Each of the past four teams have gone on to become champions. Brendan Rodgers’ 2013-14 Liverpool team were the last…

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Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk believes challenge on Napoli’s Dries Mertens was fair

Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp was left buzzing with adrenaline after Mo Salah scored the only goal of the game to make sure Liverpool progressed to the Champions League knockout stages over Napoli.

The two Premier League sides advanced from the group stage after late drama against Napoli and Barcelona.

Steve Nicol and Gab Marcotti praise Liverpool’s defensive efforts that saw them limit Napoli to just three shots on goal.

Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol suggests Virgil van Dijk was lucky to escape with a yellow card for his challenge on Napoli’s Dries Mertens. LIVERPOOL, England — Virgil van Dijk believes his challenge on Dries Mertens early in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Napoli on Tuesday was a fair tackle.
Mohamed Salah scored the only goal of the game in the 34th minute at Anfield to send Liverpool into the round-of-16 of the Champions League, although they could have been down to 10 men before the goal was scored.
With 13 minutes on the clock in the must-win tie, Van Dijk slid in on Mertens, winning the ball before catching the forward high on the ankle…

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Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk feels ‘something going on’ at club this season

Virgil van Dijk expects Liverpool to compete to the end in a title race that goes beyond Liverpool and Manchester City.
Virgil van Dijk claims he has achieved nothing yet as a Liverpool player, telling ESPN FC that he ‘”expected a lot” from his world-record move to Anfield earlier this year, while adding there’s something special going on at the club at the moment.
The Netherlands captain became the world’s most expensive defender when he left Southampton for Liverpool in a £75 million deal in January and the former Celtic centre-half has quickly emerged as an integral figure in Jurgen Klopp’s team.
Van Dijk…

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Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk: Divock Origi effort ‘not an assist but I’ll take it’

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk says he will take the assist for the side’s last minute winner over Everton but understands how Jordan Pickford after his costly error.

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk says he will take the assist for the side’s last minute winner over Everton but understands how Jordan Pickford after his costly error.
LIVERPOOL — Virgil van Dijk has told ESPN FC he thought he had blown Liverpool’s last chance of winning Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Everton with the late shot in the final seconds which ultimately led to Divock Origi’s stoppage time winner.
Origi sealed a 1-0 win for Jurgen Klopp’s team by scoring in the sixth minute of stoppage time after Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford misjudged the flight of Van Dijk’s effort before it bounced off the crossbar and into the Belgian forward’s path.
Pickford’s…

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Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk gets ‘assist’ vs. Everton despite ball hitting crossbar TWICE

ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop explains why Jordan Pickford’s decision to try and make a play late in the game against Liverpool was the wrong one.

ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop explains why Jordan Pickford’s decision to try and make a play late in the game against Liverpool was the wrong one.

Substitute Divock Origi capitalized on a misjudged save from Jordan Pickford to clinch the Merseyside Derby for Liverpool in injury time.

Substitute Divock Origi capitalized on a misjudged save from Jordan Pickford to clinch the Merseyside Derby for Liverpool in injury time.

Substitute Divock Origi capitalized on a misjudged save from Jordan Pickford to clinch the Merseyside Derby for Liverpool in extra time.

Unable to contain his emotions, Jurgen Klopp took to the pitch to celebrate Divock Origi’s stoppage-time winner with Liverpool goalkeeper, Alisson.

Divock Origi and Virgil Van Dijk break down Origi’s last-gasp winner for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby against Everton.
All involved with Liverpool FC were rightly thrown into delirium following Divok Origi’s 96th-minute winner in Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Everton — just witness Jurgen Klopp’s wild on-pitch celebrations with goalkeeper Alisson.
But for Virgil van Dijk, there was an extra reason to celebrate beyond his team securing a late victory that keeps his team in the title race.
The centre-back’s wild shank of a volley from the edge of the box — which looped high into air, evaded goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s…

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