Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk has called for “lazy criticism” when Wayne Rooney blames a lack of leadership for the club’s recent poor form.
The Reds won the Premier League title last year under manager Arne Slot’s first leadership, but after registering five top-flight victories in the campaign for 2025-26, they have lost interest.
After losing to the Bees for the fourth time in a row last week, Van Dijk and team-mate Mohamed Salah no longer “really led that team this season,” according to former England and Manchester United player Rooney.
“It doesn’t hurt me,” I said. Just to reiterate that this particular player is a legend, a major player in the game, and someone who has inspired so many, I can only say positive things about him, but I would say that it’s a bit of a lazy criticism.
He says, “It’s simple to blame the other players for this, but he knows we do it all the time, attempting to help each and every one of us in this effort. You didn’t hear that at all last year when things went well. It is what it is.
The “Pundits” must perform that task. We must deal with his opinion because he has one. No unfavorable feelings are present. I’m not at all taken personally by it.
In preparation for two crucial games this week, Liverpool is third in the Premier League and seven points clear of Arsenal.
Before traveling to Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday, Slot’s side travel to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Van Dijk continued, “I’ve heard the reports about [Slot] being under pressure, but I don’t believe we play at a club that makes rash decisions,” adding.
Before having breast surgery, Stephanie Davis opened up in a candid conversation on Instagram about her worries that she wouldn’t wake up and her outlook on life.
Digital Reporter Jessica Clarke
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Stephanie Davis has shared her fears over her surgery(Image: Instagram)
Hollyoaks actress Stephanie Davis, 32, admitted to her followers that she was worried she wouldn’t ‘wake up’ following her breast removal surgery. In a video shared to her Instagram stories, she discussed how she was feeling before the surgery and shared that she hadn’t slept the night before due to worrying.
The soap star expressed her concerns about “until she sees someone again” and called her implants “horrible” and “massive” Before the operation, Stephanie acknowledged that while she was nervous, she knew she was in “safe hands.” She was sat in a hospital gown and spoke openly about it.
Stephanie said, “I didn’t sleep well last night worrying, but I know I’m in good hands.” I’m having these terrible, massive implants removed from my years-old implants. I pondered whether getting big boobs would make me feel more confident, seductive, and attractive without having any sense of self-worth. And I wish I could go back and never have accomplished them. But hey, ho”.
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The mother of two expressed her thoughts on how her outlook on life has changed as she has matured, saying, “You do things willy nilly, without realizing how drastic they are, and how they will affect your body.
I wish I could go back and never touch my body because I was perfect, but I didn’t realize until then. So I’m now trying to go back and get back to where I was. Because they have grown to be so large, the plantations are small, natural, and now implant.
Stephanie informed followers that the surgery was successful a few hours later when she made a second appearance on Instagram. She continued, “Girls, I’m out through the other side,” adding, “Them ridiculous boobs have gone.” I’m just so happy to be able to go back to what I once was.
I’m “dead happy,” so I knew it would take a while for them to settle in and drop and all that, and there are still some swelling.
Following the birth of her son Samuel with her partner Joe McKalroy, 28, in January, Stephanie became a mother of two earlier this year. Caben, the actress’s eighth-year-old son, was already a parent through a previous relationship.
Fans were able to see the news on Instagram, along with a number of hospital-related photos. After sharing his son’s name, Joe claimed that it had been a “traumatic experience.”
He said: “Welcome to the world my beautiful baby boy Samuel McKalroy. Named after your uncle the one and only who will always weigh heavy on my heart I wish so much that he could’ve met you and cherished you as much as I do. It has been a traumatic experience but you are finally here in our arms.” The couple have since gone their separate ways.
Big Brother and This Morning star Josie Gibson won praise from her fans as she and her son dressed as a cop and robber to attend a family house music event for Halloween
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Josie Gibson dressed as a police officer for Halloween(Image: Josie Gibson/Instagram)
Josie Gibson stunned her fans when she dressed up as a police officer as part of Halloween celebrations. The 40-year-old Big Brother icon also dressed up her six-year-old son, Reggie, as a classic robber for a fun and festive double costume.
Over the weekend, Josie was a guest of honour at a nightclub in Bristol where family members were able to attend a day of house music – and while celebs around the world embraced spooky season. The Little Groovers event previously revealed that Josie would be attending to bring additional fun to celebrations.
They said in an online statement: “Josie represents everything we’re about: family, fun, and unforgettable vibes. Having her part of the Little Groovers family is massive – and we couldn’t think of anyone better to stand with us as we bring the city together this Halloween”.
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And Josie certainly completed her assignment as she and Reggie dressed up as cops and robbers. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Josie delighted fans with a snap of them together.
The image showed the reality star wearing a navy police officer’s catsuit and knee high boots. While her son was dressed in a black and white striped top.
Sharing the photo, Josie wrote in an accompanying catption: “Lovely little mix at @littlegrooversevents Missing the handcuffs…#halloween #copsandrobbers #motherandson @circuit.bristol Thank you @topof_bristol love you mate.”
Her followers flooded the comments section with glowing messages. In a photo that was beautiful, and you look absolutely gorgeous in those boots and costumes. Another user remarked, “You look fantastic, great pic.”
Josie shared earlier this year that she had lost five stone after adhering to a strict diet. She also shared her journey. The mother-of-one insisted she could do it all without any shortcuts while living in a world where there are options for weight loss surgery or diets.
She stated to her fans in March that she had moved more, ate less, and educated herself on what she was putting into my body.
Josie admitted to treating herself while staying committed to her goals, highlighting a realistic approach to indulgence. She previously told the Mirror: “I did the six-day plan on Do The Unthinkable, which entitled me to one day off.”
She continued, “Now that I had one cheat meal, I didn’t go crazy and consume ten bottles of wine and binge all day on food and chocolate and other naughty things, I just had my one cheat, and that was it.”
Don’t do anything about it if you only have one day off. Enjoy your one cheat meal all at once. Avoid a day-long binge.
Continue reading the article.
Josie explained that in order to accomplish her goals, she also embraced intermittent fasting. She insisted that this was necessary to maintain a healthier lifestyle and that her eating habits forced her to avoid food for eight solid days.
Two months after a quake in the impoverished country’s east, a powerful earthquake of 6.3 magnitude struck northern Afghanistan, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
At 12:59 am local time (20: 29 GMT), the USGS announced overnight that the earthquake struck in Kholm, near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, at a revised depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles) at 12:59 am local time (GMT). The AFP news agency’s correspondents in Kabul, which is based there, felt it.
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The initial estimate for the depth was 10 kilometers (6 miles).
Local authorities broadcast emergency phone numbers to call, but they did not immediately report any fatalities or injuries.
An AFP correspondent observed that many people in Mazar-i-Sharif fled into the street because they worried their homes might collapse.
Since coming to power in 2021, the Taliban government has been the subject of a number of significant earthquakes, including one in the western Herat region near Iran, which left over 1,500 people dead and more than 63, 000 homes destroyed.
The country’s east on August 31 experienced the deadliest tremor in recent Afghan history, a shallow 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck this year, killing more than 2,200 people.
The country is frequently hit by earthquakes, particularly along the Hindu Kush mountain range, which is close to the intersection of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
After decades of fighting, Afghanistan has experienced numerous crises, including severe drought, severe drought, and the forced return of millions of Afghans from neighboring Pakistan and Iran.
Poor infrastructure and the poor construction of many modest Afghan homes impede rescue efforts in the wake of natural disasters like earthquakes.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane considering move to Barcelona, Manchester United and Tottenham monitoring Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Liverpool watch Fulham winger Kevin.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has a 65m euros (£57m) release clause that kicks in next summer and the 32-year-old England international is weighing up his options, which include staying in Germany and considering a move to Barcelona. (Sport – in Spanish)
Manchester United and Tottenham are closely monitoring 23-year-old England centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who Everton do not want to sell and value him at around £70m. (Caught Offside)
Tottenham and Chelsea are set to go head-to-head in a battle to sign Porto’s 21-year-old Spanish striker Samu Aghehowa, who could be made available for 80m euros (£70.5m). (Correio da Manha via Goal)
Arsenal and Barcelona are tracking France Under-16s captain Lacine Megnan-Pave after the 15-year-old registered 15 goals and 12 assists in 24 games for Montpellier under-17s. (Sport – in Spanish)
Liverpool’s chief scout Barry Hunter was at Craven Cottage on Saturday to watch Fulham’s £35m summer signing, Brazilian winger Kevin, 22, in their 3-0 win over Wolves. (Football Insider)
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is Athletic Club’s preferred option to become their manager if Ernesto Valverde does not renew his contract with them beyond next summer. (La Razon – in Spanish)
Bayern Munich director of sport Max Eberl says the club will do everything they can to get France defender Dayot Upamecano, 27, to sign a contract extension. (Sky Sports Germany)
Switzerland centre-back Manuel Akanji, 30, says it will be up to Inter Milan whether they want to turn his loan move from Manchester City into a permanent switch, but the Serie A club “seem happy” with him so far. (Football Italia)
Colombia’s most tense frontier is the Catatumbo region, which extends along the border with Venezuela in the Norte de Santander department.
This border region, which is rich in oil reserves and coca plants but impoverished and neglected, has historically seen violent fighting between armed groups battling for territorial control.
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Colombia’s largest remaining guerrilla force, the National Liberation Army (ELN), is active across Venezuela’s porous border.
Some of their fighters drive us to meet their commanders after they arrange for an Al Jazeera reporting team there.
This region is still rife with tension. Despite peace negotiations reached in 2016, thousands of people were forced to flee in January as a result of fighting between the ELN and a rebellious faction from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The conflict centers on gaining access to Venezuela’s border, which is a crucial means of removing drugs from the country.
When you first enter the area, you immediately see that this is where the ELN is absolute control. There is no proof that the nation’s military exists. The sideroads are decorated with ENL flags, and the signs express the group’s current perception of Colombia.
They claim that “total peace is a failure.”
Mobile phone signal is also lacking. The Al Jazeera team is informed that phone companies do not want to pay taxes on the armed groups that control the area.
When Gustavo Petro became president, he vowed to put a total peace plan into place with the armed groups in Colombia. However, the ELN’s negotiations, especially those with them, were difficult.
Government officials in Catatumbo have suspended the peace talks, but they now say they are prepared to resume them.
Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) commander Ricardo [Screengrab/Al Jazeera]
In a small, mountainous home, Al Jazeera interacts with Commander Ricardo and Commander Silvana. They claim that the interview needs to go quickly because they are concerned about potential drone attacks and reconnaissance reconnaissance aircraft flying around the area.
Some of their rivals accompany the commanders. When asked how many people live nearby, they respond, “We are thousands, and not everyone is wearing their uniform.” Some are “urban guerrillas”
According to the government, there are about 3, 000 fighters in the ELN. However, it could be much higher.
The region’s commander Ricardo claims there may be a chance for peace.
He claims that the ELN has been battling for a political solution for 30 years, despite various challenges. We hoped that Petro would help us advance along the way. But that was a thing. In Colombia, there has never been peace. The graves’ peace is what we have.
Prior to the talks being suspended, the group and the government had been negotiating in Mexico. Our central command would, in my opinion, agree that the agreements we reached in Mexico could pave the way for a political solution to this conflict, Commander Ricardo tells Al Jazeera.
US threat of drugs
Armed groups are also on alert in this area due to the conflict between the Colombian state and itself. What was once a domestic Colombian conflict has gained an international dimension thanks to the US military campaign against alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean and the Pacific and the US’s aggressive attitude toward Venezuela’s neighbor.
These people are not referred to as guerrillas but as “narco-terrorists” by US President Donald Trump’s administration, and it is not a possibility that they will be attacked on Colombian soil.
More than 62 people have died as a result of the US operation, which started in early September, along with 14 boats and a semi-submersible.
Some of the commanders’ extradition requests are made by the US, and they are alleged to be wanted criminals.
The ELN views US strikes against alleged drug-carriers in the Caribbean as another example of US imperialism, as well as the military deployment there to put pressure on Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro.
One of those boats, according to the US government, belonged to the ELN. Why don’t they capture them and disclose what they did to the world? Asks Commander Ricardo. “But no, they bomb them,” they reply.
He also issues a warning about the possibility of the ELN collaborating with the US. We will have to see how we react if Trump attacks Venezuela, he says, but that’s not just for the better. Because I’m certain there will be many, many people who will use a weapon because it’s too much, “It’s] all of Latin America.” It must end that the United States has the power to rule over people without allowing them to exercise their right to self-determination.
The Cuban Revolution served as an inspiration for the ELN. However, it has been involved in extortion, drug trafficking, and kidnappings over the years.
The ELN is different from other armed organizations in the country, according to Commander Silvana, who was a teenager when she first joined the organization.
She claims that “our principles indicate that we are not involved in drug trafficking.” The international community has been informed of this. Taxes remain in the regions that we have controlled for over 60 years. Of course, we also tax coca if it exists.
[Screengrab/Al Jazeera Commander Silvana of the ELN]
Colombia has long been a key US ally in the fight against drug trafficking. Petro has since started to question US policy in the Caribbean, contending that Washington’s approach to security and immigration is more accurate than regional realities.
He has criticized the US military’s presence and naval operations close to Venezuela, warning that they could lead to tensions rather than fostering cooperation.
Trump has claimed that Petro, a former guerrilla, is a drug trafficker by himself.
Petro retorted incredulously, saying, “Colombia has never been rude to the United States.” It has, in fact, devoted a lot of its time to its culture. But you don’t know anything about Colombia.
Trump’s remarks were also criticized as offensive and a direct threat to Colombia’s sovereignty by the country’s foreign ministry, which vowed to demand international support for Petro and Colombia’s autonomy.
A local Colombian conflict could become a larger regional conflict as a result of the belligerent US policy toward Venezuela and Colombia, both led by leftist presidents.
