Sports
Slot pinpoints problem at the heart of Liverpool struggles
Liverpool’s rocky form continued with a 3-0 Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with the defending champions now having won just one of their last seven top-flight clashes.
Arne Slot’s side have slipped down to 12th in the Premier League table, now behind Merseyside rivals Everton on goal difference, and 11 points off leaders Arsenal following what has been a disastrous defence of their title.
Forest’s direct approach caused major issues for Liverpool as Sean Dyche’s tactics yielded a second successive win for the club away at Anfield and piled pressure on Slot after a dream first season in charge.
Halfway there
Liverpool have conceded 20 Premier League goals from 12 played so far in 2025/26, after only shipping 41 in the entirety of their 2024/25 title-winning charge, and eight at this stage last season.
Forest’s opening goal came via Murillo’s blasted finish from a corner, before Liverpool’s failure to clear their lines from inside Alisson’s penalty area allowed Nicola Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White to fire home after the restart.
A fresh weakness from set-pieces has been highlighted by Slot as a major concern and the clear difference-maker for his team so far this season.
“I would describe it [our form] as ridiculous. It’s something I did not expect to be in this season,” he said ahead of a key Champions League tie with PSV Eindhoven tomorrow.
Set-piece struggles
“We are conceding far more goals than last season. The amount of goals we have conceded and the amount of goals from set-pieces is close to ridiculous for a club like us. This time last season we conceded zero from set-pieces. Now it’s nine.
“I showed them how many times we arrived in the box [vs. Forest] and how many crosses we made, which was six or seven times more than Forest did. But they defended their box much better than we did.
“The biggest issue [from last season] is the goals we now concede. From open play, we still generate enough chances to get a result.”
Champions League form
The Champions League has offered Slot some respite in recent months, with three wins from four, including back-to-back European victories over Eintracht Frankfurt and Real Madrid, ahead of hosting PSV.
A clash with PSV means a meeting with the Dutch giants for the second season running after Slot lost to Peter Bosz’s side in their final league phase game in January 2025.
With a spot in the knockout stages already assured ahead of that clash, Slot rested several key players in the Netherlands, and his rotated team slipped to their first European defeat under his management at the Philips Stadion.
Sports
Erling Haaland’s Post After Arsenal Lose Champions League Final Goes Viral
Erling Haaland is one of several players to seemingly fire indirect shots at Arsenal with a post on social media, following the Premier League side’s defeat in the Champions League final.
The Gunners took the lead early on through Kai Havertz, as they hunted down the trophy for the first time in their history, but Ousmane Dembele‘s coolly finished penalty in the second half drew PSG level.
Both teams pushed for a winner in regulation time and extra time, but neither could find that one golden opportunity to seal the win, forcing it to be decided by a penalty shootout.
In the end, misses from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes sealed Arsenal‘s fate, losing the Champions League final and a chance at a historic double.
While the Premier League title will be the main focus for the players, who will get an opportunity to celebrate on Sunday at an Emirates Stadium parade, it is their rivals who celebrated on Saturday night.
Erling Haaland’s Wordless Arsenal Post
Plenty of Arsenal’s rivals seemingly relished the team losing in the Champions League final, taking an opportunity to rub it in on social media.
Chelsea posted a savage shot at the Gunners over the defeat, making reference to their two Champions League triumphs, as well as their Club World Cup win.
And shortly after, Erling Haaland appeared to take a cheeky dig at Arsenal with a post of his own on social media.
The Norwegian striker posted a photo of himself smiling, surrounded by friends, with the caption remaining wordless, but posted conveniently just after the Gunners lost.
Arsenal v PSG: Ex-PL Ref Gives Verdict After Madueke is Denied Penalty in UCL Final
Former referees have given their verdict on Daniel Siebert after the official’s performance in the Champions League final.
The time is likely no coincidence, with the 25-year-old knowledgeable when it comes to what people will talk about in football, as seen in his many battles with Arsenal.
Haaland famously told the Gunners to “stay humble” in a previous clash with the side, as both teams have continued to battle it out for the Premier League over the past four years.
Earlier this campaign, the striker simply smirked and sang lyrics Flo Rida song “Good Feeling” after he helped Man City secure a huge win over Arsenal, ripping the title race wide open.
While that didn’t go in his favour in the end, it appears as though Haaland has got at least one last laugh over his rivals, and he isn’t the only one.
Tottenham Players Fire Shots At Arsenal
It wasn’t just Haaland who had his fun after Arsenal’s defeat, as their nearest and dearest rivals, Tottenham, seemingly joined in the mix through a few of their key players.
Richarlison was among the first, posting a video of a child laughing, with awfully coincidental timing to the Gunners losing the final in the shootout.
Djed Spence quickly followed, responding to an Arsenal tweet from back in February that said “Locked up” in reference to the full-back struggling in the North London Derby.
He simply replied with eye emojis and an unlocked lock, without making too many comments on the actual match itself.
That may make for a slightly frosty reception when Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke all meet up with Spence in the England camp in a few days time for the 2026 World Cup.
Sports
Joao Neves Criticises Arsenal After PSG’s Champions League Final Victory
Arsenal have been criticised for their display against PSG, as midfielder Joao Neves claims they were the only team who “wanted to play” in the Champions League final.
It comes as the Gunners were left narrowly defeated on penalties at the hands of the Ligue 1 champions, who sealed the European title in back-to-back seasons.
Gabriel Magalhaes’s penalty was decisive, as he blasted the ball over the bar, ensuring that Mikel Arteta‘s side are still chasing their first Champions League triumph.
The match itself played out in a set pattern, with Arsenal scoring early and then dropping into a mid-block, while PSG dictated possession but created few clear-cut chances.
While it was ultimately a game of chance that saw them defeated in the end, the Gunners have received some criticism for their style of play.
Arsenal Criticised By PSG Star
Speaking after PSG’s win over Arsenal, Joao Neves paid tribute to his team, but also took aim at the Gunners for how they approached the game.
He told French television outlet M6: “The emotion is there. It’s the second time I’ve been a European champion. It’s not even the victory itself that pleases me, but playing with such teammates, this staff, and this management.
“Coming here was the best decision I’ve ever made. I love everything here. We deserved it today (Saturday), because PSG were the only team that wanted to play.”
It’s a clear shot aimed at Arsenal, who were looking to frustrate PSG after taking the lead, but were unable to see it through for the victory in the end.
The Gunners managed just 28% possession to PSG’s 72%, showing a clear difference in approach across the full 120 minutes that the North London team just couldn’t cope with.
“This year was different. It was harder, more physical,” Neves reflected on the Champions League campaign as a whole. “We were European champions, so we defended our title.
“We’re part of PSG history (he’s interrupted by Luis Campos). We’re all happy. I want to enjoy this with my teammates now.”
While it’ll be a celebratory mood in Paris, it’s Arsenal who are left wondering “What if?”.
Declan Rice On Arsenal Final
While Neves was the midfield maestro celebrating, it was Arsenal’s own midfield giant Declan Rice who faced the media after his side’s difficult defeat.
Speaking to TNT Sports on the match, he said: “The emotions and the stakes are so high. It’s cruel. He [Arteta] spoke about how much he loves us as a group. How we’ve given 100 per cent every single game with everything that’s been thrown at us.
“This is only the start for us. We got over the line in the Premier League, this would’ve been one step further but it wasn’t to be.
“We keep building. Since I came to the club, it was a quarter-final exit, then semi-final and now final. We keep going and keep staying positive. This isn’t going to define us.”
Erling Haaland’s Post After Arsenal Lose Champions League Final Goes Viral
Erling Haaland is one of a few rival players to fire indirect shots at Arsenal following their Champions League final defeat.
For Arsenal, there will be a moment to go back to London and celebrate the Premier League title win, but the focus will quickly shift to where they can improve.
The summer transfer window will be crucial for the Gunners in being able to take the leap to European champions.
Sports
Romano Reveals Man Utd Talks Abroad to Sign Tonali
Manchester United are looking to lay down an early marker in the transfer market, if recent reports are to be believed.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Man United are ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement to sign Ederson from Atalanta, although club chiefs still need to give the move the green light as they consider many new central midfielders this summer.
It has been suggested that should Manuel Ugarte join Casemiro through the Old Trafford exit door this summer, then Red Devils chiefs could look to bring in three new players in that position to compete for a spot in central midfield alongside Kobbie Mainoo.
One report has claimed that United have allocated around £150m of their summer budget to strengthen their midfield, split up as an £80m player, £40m player and a low-cost £20m player.
Ederson would fit into the middle category with the expected fee for the Brazilian, who has a year left on his contract, worth just under £39m.
United also want to land a high-cost, top-class replacement for the outgoing Casemiro, who has been one of their most important players in the middle with Mainoo since Michael Carrick took charge at the beginning of 2026.
Romano: Man United Jet Out for Talks to Sign Sandro Tonali
According to Romano, United are currently killing more than two birds with one stone during their Italian talks to bring Ederson to Old Trafford.
As well as their transfer discussions for the Brazil international, Romano claims that the Red Devils are in talks over multiple other things, including for player exits and with the agents of Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, who are based in Italy.
A separate report from Italy last week claimed that United were actually close to an agreement to sign the ‘elite’ Tonali, with another saying Carrick instructed club chiefs to sign the Italian international ahead of Ederson as part of their major midfield rebuild.
Tonali is Even Better Than Ederson and Fernandes
If United fans want a world-class midfielder to come in and replace Casemiro, there is no doubt that Tonali fits the bill more than Ederson.
The Italian has played at a higher level in the Premier League and Champions League during his career, with Red Devils icon Paul Scholes even claiming earlier this season that he’s ‘better than Declan Rice’.
The 26-year-old has established himself as one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League following his move to St James’ Park, but he won’t come cheap with Newcastle said to value him at around €100 (£86m).
Ederson and Tonali aren’t the only midfielders United are being heavily linked with at the moment, with interest increasing in West Ham United star Mateus Fernandes.
The Portugal international has been gaining admiring glances from the Red Devils for his performances in a claret and blue shirt this term, and there is now an opportunity to prise him away from the London Stadium after the club were relegated to the Championship.
The 21-year-old clearly has a big future ahead of him, but Tonali is currently a class above and entering the prime years of his career.
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