Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has expressed his desire for Mohamed Salah to stay at the club, even after the forward’s fiery comments about the Reds. However, van Dijk acknowledged that the situation remains uncertain over the coming weeks. Salah made his first appearance since his explosive interview during Saturday’s match against Brighton, coming off the bench. Last weekend, following Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds, the Egyptian star claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club. In the same interview at Elland Road, Salah revealed a strained relationship with manager Arne Slot, who had named him as a substitute for three consecutive games. Salah was then left out of Liverpool’s midweek Champions League victory at Inter Milan but returned as a first-half substitute against Brighton.

Barcelona fought back to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 in the Champions League. It was their first-ever win over the German club. It also extended Frankfurt’s winless run to four games. Barça started fast. They pressed high and created early chances. Robert Lewandowski scored in the 10th minute, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside. Moments later, Gerard Martín forced Michael Zetterer into a sharp save. Frankfurt struck first in the 21st minute. Nathaniel Brown slipped a clever pass to Ansgar Knauff. Knauff held off two defenders and drilled a low shot past Joan García. Barcelona kept attacking but lacked precision in the final ball. Frankfurt doubled up on Lamine Yamal and slowed Barça’s rhythm. Pedri and Raphinha pushed forward, but the visitors stayed organized. Just before halftime, Ellyes Skhiri went close after a smart setup from Knauff. Frankfurt opened the second half with two quick chances. Barça responded through Raphinha, who fired over from a Marcus Rashford cutback. The pressure finally told. Rashford whipped in a superb cross and Jules Kounde headed in the equaliser. Two minutes later, Kounde struck again. He found space in the box and punished Frankfurt’s static defending. Barcelona held on for a deserved comeback win.

Raheem Sterling and his family were at home when burglars broke into their Berkshire property last Saturday. The intruders entered around 17:30 GMT but fled empty-handed after being disturbed, with Sterling reportedly confronting them. Sterling’s representatives confirmed he and his children were present but unharmed, calling it “the ultimate violation of privacy and safety.” This is the third time Sterling has been targeted. His Surrey home was robbed during the 2022 World Cup, and his Cheshire home was hit in 2018. Sterling has not played for Chelsea this season after being frozen out by Enzo Maresca and is currently training away from the first-team squad.

Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordonez is emerging as one of Europe’s most in-demand young defenders. Inter Milan are pushing hard for the Ecuadorian, while Chelsea and Newcastle are leading the Premier League interest. West Ham United  and Aston Villa  are also monitoring him, with all three English clubs targeting a defender for 2026. Ordonez, 21, has impressed with his calm, athletic style and has already faced Bayern Munich and Barcelona in the Champions League. He recently signed a deal running to 2029, putting Brugge in a strong position to demand a high fee. Brugge expect a battle to keep him, and the main question now is whether a move happens before or after next summer’s World Cup, where Ordonez is expected to feature for Ecuador. Inter hope to lure him to Serie A, but the Premier League remains a major pull. Ordonez’s rise is rapid, and he looks set for a major move in the next year.

Wesley Sneijder believes Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz must adjust faster to the Premier League after a poor start to life at Anfield. Wirtz, signed for £116m from Bayer Leverkusen, has looked out of place since joining in the summer. The 22-year-old has no goals or assists in 11 league games, highlighting his difficult transition from the Bundesliga. Speaking to AdventureGamers.com, Sneijder said Wirtz’s struggles are familiar. “I always say this about players with the German or Dutch mentality. It is the same,” he said, pointing to the higher demands of English football. Liverpool have slipped behind both Arsenal and Manchester United, sitting eight points off the top. Manager Arne Slot now faces pressure to revive Wirtz’s form if the club want to stay in the title race. Wirtz has signed a five-year deal, and Liverpool remain committed to him, but expectations are already weighing heavily on the young midfielder.

Former Chelsea and Brazil midfielder Oscar is in stable condition in hospital after being diagnosed with vasovagal syncope — a common fainting condition triggered by a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. The incident occurred during pre-season cardiac tests on Tuesday, during which Oscar suffered complications. He was immediately attended to by São Paulo’s medical staff and doctors from Einstein Hospital Israelita. São Paulo FC released an update stating: Oscar is clinically well and stable He is hospitalized in a cardiology unit He will undergo an electrophysiological study on Friday to investigate the causes further Oscar, now 34, is in his second stint with his boyhood club São Paulo after returning in December on a three-year contract. His career includes: 2 Premier League titles with  Chelsea 3 Chinese Super League titles with Shanghai Port. The club expects more clarity after Friday’s study, but for now, the outlook is positive.