Van Dijk Tells Liverpool To Keep Calm, Follow Arsenal’s Lead

After overcoming Real Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said the English champions must rebuild from the bottom.

Before a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday, Liverpool had lost six of their previous seven games and gone ten games without recording a win.

As goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois prevented an embarrassing score for the 15-time European champions, Madrid arrived in Merseyside in free-scoring form with very few opportunities.

“We won twice in a row, so it’s simple to say now.” You must remain composed and observe the world from a different angle, according to Van Dijk.

“We all understand how football works; it can change over the course of a week.”

The opening goal of Burnley vs. Arsenal’s English Premier League game at Turf Moor in Burnley, north-west England, is scored by Swedish striker #14 Viktor Gyokeres (C) with teammates after the match. (Photo by PETER POWELL/AFP)

At the top of the Premier League, Arsenal leads Liverpool by seven points, and they have also won their first four Champions League games on a run of eight straight clean sheets.

Van Dijk and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who has scored 26 goals for club and nation this season, will face off in a huge test of their title defense on Sunday.

“As you can see, Arsenal are flying right now, and it’s down to keeping clean sheets and not conceding chances,” Van Dijk continued.

“We have the ability to hurt anyone on the break,” according to the defending. You witnessed the diligent work today.

We must continue, they say. Another challenging day is on the horizon.

Read more about [UCL] Flawless Arsenal Dispatch Slavia Prague, Extend Clean Sheet Streak To Eight Games.

Following the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England, on November 4, 2025, Dutch manager Arne Slot (R) congratulates Liverpool’s Northern Irish defender #12 Conor Bradley (L). AFP/PAUL ELLIS photo

Arne Slot, manager of Liverpool, made an important point about a return to Anfield in light of the club’s recent upturn in fortunes.

Only two of the Reds’ six losses this season were at home, including one when Slot faced a changeless Crystal Palace side in the League Cup match last week.

In my opinion, playing in front of these fans and in front of Real Madrid is beneficial because it encourages both my players and our supporters, Slot said.

“A fantastic performance against a team that only lost once all season.” Maybe there could have been a little more. “

On November 4, 2025, during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England, English defender #12 Trent Alexander-Arnold (L) makes a substitute appearance. (Photo by Paul ELLIS/AFP)

As a late substitute for Madrid, Trent Alexander-Arnold received a hostile reception upon his return to Anfield.

After claiming seven major awards while playing for his hometown club, the England international was once a hero among the Liverpool faithful.

In a shaky start to the season, Conor Bradley struggled to find his rightful place in Alexander-Arnold’s place.

Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate kept Kylian Mbappe quiet, but the Northern Irishman excelled in halting Vinicius Junior’s threat.

I mentioned before the game that Mbappe and Vinicius have each contributed 24 goals (goals or assists), and that Slot has also added.

You must ensure that these two are not on the scoresheet if you want to win this game.

Conor was outstanding. Not everyone wants to compete with Vinicius one against one. He excelled today.

Tottenham Supporting Udogie After Alleged Gun Threat In London

Destiny Udogie, 22, was allegedly threatened with a gun by Tottenham and his family in London, and Tottenham say they are supporting him.

In connection with the September incident, police made a 31-year-old man’s arrest. While the inquiries continue, he has been released without bail.

We have supported Destiny and his family since the incident and will continue to do so,” according to a Tottenham spokesman on Tuesday.

We are unable to make any further comments because this is a legal issue.

Late on September 6th, police were called to a residence in north London where a man in his 20s was reported to have been threatened with a gun.

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Officers spoke to the victim, and according to a spokesman, another man in his 20s was allegedly threatened and blackmailed by the same person while also being investigated.

In either incident, no injuries were reported.

A 31-year-old man was detained on suspicion of driving without a license, attempting to infiltrate a computer, and attempting to do so with intent.

Tottenham defeated Copenhagen 4-0 at home on Tuesday to begin the Champions League campaign.

Atletico’s Le Normand Set To Miss Spain Qualifiers After Knee Injury

The La Liga team announced on Wednesday that Atletico Madrid defender Robin Le Normand has a “high grade” knee injury.

The Spanish center-back injured himself in the 3-1 Champions League victory over Union Saint-Gilloise on Tuesday.

Le Normand’s expected return was not announced by Atletico, but Spanish media reported that he would not be able to play with his country in upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

In a bid to advance to the 2026 World Cup, Spain will face Georgia on November 15 and Turkey on November 18.

Read more about Arsenal’s Dowman becoming the youngest player in the Champions League.

On November 4, 2025, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, the Ecuadorian forward #13 Kevin Rodriguez and Atletico Madrid’s 24-year-old defender #24 Robin Le Normand play for the UEFA Champions League league phase day 4 football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Union St-Gilloise. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP)

According to Atletico, “Le Normand has sustained a high-grade injury to his left knee’s posterior capsule.”

His meniscus and knee ligaments were not impacted by the injury, according to the club.

Before the international break, the defender will not be able to face Levante on Saturday in La Liga.

Arsenal’s Dowman Becomes Youngest-Ever Player In Champions League 

Max Dowman, an Arsenal midfielder, started for Slavia Prague on Tuesday and scored a 3-0 lead, becoming the youngest Champions League player ever since that moment.

Youssoufa Moukoko, a German striker who was 16 years, 18 days old at Zenit St. Petersburg in 2020, was defeated by Dowman, who is 15 years, 309 days old.

Moukoko currently plays for Copenhagen’s FC.

On November 4, 2025, Slavia Prague and Arsenal FC’s UEFA Champions League – league phase day 4 football match pitting their teams at 0-0 against Slavia Prague in Prague, Czech Republic, with Spain’s #23 Mikel Merino celebrating with Arsenal’s #07 Bukayo Saka. (Photo by Michal Cizek/AFP)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Dowman’s “personality” and “courage” at the post-game press conference in Prague.

He said, “He comes in, he takes people on, he starts dribbling, he gets a foul,” and that is exactly what he does.

You are unable to instruct that. It’s irrelevant whether you have it or not on your passport.

I’m really happy with the fact that you put him in this situation and that he can adapt and give a good performance, Arteta continued.

Read more about [UCL] Flawless Arsenal Dispatch Slavia Prague, Extended Clean Sheet Streak To Eight Games.

On November 4, 2025, Slavia Prague and Arsenal FC’s UEFA Champions League – league phase day 4 football match, between the teams’ Spanish goalkeepers #01 David Raya, Brazilian defender #06 Gabriel Magalhaes, and English midfielder #56 Max Dowman, celebrate. (Photo by Michal Cizek/AFP)

When the Gunners defeated Leeds 5-0 on August 23 to claim his Premier League debut, Dowman was 15 years and 234 days old.

After teammate Ethan Nwaneri, who was 53 days younger on his debut in 2022, and he is the second-youngest Premier League player ever, second only to him.

But in the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Brighton in the League Cup fourth round last week, Dowman became the youngest player to start a game for Arsenal.

UCL: Flawless Arsenal Dispatch Slavia Prague, Extend Clean Sheet Streak To Eight Games

Arsenal won the Champions League match 3-0 at Slavia Prague on Tuesday, the Gunners’ fourth in as many games. Mikel Merino scored two more goals in the second half to lift the score to 3-1.

The outcome also represented an eighth consecutive clean sheet for the Premier League leaders and a 10th straight win in all competitions.

In the Champions League, they have so far scored 11 goals and not conceded any, moving them clear of the leaderboard.

On November 4, 2025, Slavia Prague and Arsenal FC’s English midfielder #56 Max Dowman celebrates after the UEFA Champions League – league phase day 4 football game in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Michal Cizek/AFP)

Max Dowman, an Arsenal player, was the youngest player ever to play in a Champions League game when he arrived on the field in the 73rd minute, aged just 15 years and 309 days.

After Slavian captain Lukas Provod had handled the ball in the box, clearing a corner, stand-in captain Bukayo Saka opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 32 minutes.

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On November 4, 2025, Slavia Prague and Arsenal FC’s English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka prepares to score from the penalty spot in the UEFA Champions League – league phase day 4 football game in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Michal Cizek/AFP)

After Leandro Trossard’s excellent pass left him unmarked in the Slavia box, Merino made it 2-0 with a quick breakaway.

On 68 minutes, he headed a header past Declan Rice’s cross past Slavia goalkeeper Jakub Markovic.

Mikel Arteta made four changes to the Gunners’ 2-0 league win at Burnley on Saturday, with Merino making one.

On November 4, 2025, Slavia Prague and Arsenal FC’s #23 Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino celebrates scoring the team’s 0: 3 goal in Prague, Czech Republic, during the UEFA Champions League – league phase day 4 football game. (Photo by Michal Cizek/AFP)

Gabriel Magalhaes fired wide from outside the box, and Provod followed suit within the first two minutes.

Slavia’s tireless defense stifled any attempts to get close to the Arsenal goal, and the reigning Czech champions struggled to score even one shot on target throughout the contest.

Despite the absences of injured strikers Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal quickly took the lead and started dominating possession.

On November 4, 2025, Slavia Prague and Arsenal FC’s English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot in the UEFA Champions League – league phase day 4 football match in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Michal Cizek/AFP)

Midway through the first half, Saka alone had three shots on goal within eight minutes, but Markovic’s Markovic kept them both shut down.

On the following 60 minutes, the goalkeeper stopped the Arsenal captain’s low shot from inside the box.

With two points from their four Champions League matches, Slavia, the Czech top-flight leader, is left with.

Trent’s Mural Defaced Ahead Of Liverpool Return

Trent Alexander-Arnold, a former Liverpool fan, was vandalized just before his Tuesday return to Anfield with his new team Real Madrid.

After leaving his former Reds team for Spain at the end of last season, the full-back is expected to make the Real squad for the Champions League game.

Some Liverpool fans booed him at times during his final months at the club because of the 27-year-old’s decision to terminate his contract.

Following Liverpool’s Champions League victory, the large mural near Anfield, which had the word “Rat” written on it, was unveiled in 2019.

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On March 11, 2025, Liverpool’s English defender #66 Trent Alexander-Arnold reacts to an injury in the final 16th leg of the UEFA Champions League game between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England. (Photo by Oli SCARFF/AFP)

Workmen worked quickly to clean the picture after it was covered in white paint and repeated instances of the same word were written on Tuesday.

Alexander-Arnold’s Tuesday reception is almost certain to be frosty.

The defender claimed that his return “mixed emotions” and that he would not be happy if he scored.

He said it was up to the fans’ reactions, adding that he will “always love the club”.

He told Amazon Prime, “No matter what, my feelings for Liverpool won’t change.”

“I have memories there that will last a lifetime and that will never change, no matter how I’m received.”

Arne Slot, the manager of Liverpool, promised to warmly welcome his former teammate.

The Dutchman said, “I have great memories of the player and the person.”