Liverpool news recap: SHOCK inclusion, Jota UPDATE, Messi SECRET | OneFootball

Here's our round up of all the latest Liverpool news today (Tuesday 22 October) as Arne Slot offers an update on Diogo Jota.

Nunez embarrasses Rice

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Darwin Nunez has really made Declan Rice look shocking in a bizarre stat thrown up by the Premier League.

Darwin Nunez seriously caught the eye against Chelsea on Sunday. The Uruguayan played a lot more football than initially planned, given Diogo Jota started the fixture.

But a rib injury for the Portugal striker brought Nunez into the fray. The no.9 got about the pitch incredibly well and while he didn't end up with any chances of his own, he was a defensive force.

Three tackles won is an incredible feat for any striker, let alone in a big fixture. But Nunez was eager to race back at all times, winning a couple right on the edge of Reds' box.

Slot gives Jota update

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Liverpool supporters are still waiting for updates on the severity of Diogo Jota's injury, which forced him off during the 2-1 victory over Chelsea.

The Reds remain top of the Premier League table, with Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones finding the back of the net to seal the win against the London side.

However, during the first half, Diogo Jota was forced off after being brought down by Tosin Adarabioyo near the halfway line. The forward was substituted after 30 minutes, with Darwin Nunez taking his place.

Jota is undergoing an evaluation by Liverpool’s medical team, but Arne Slot is preparing for the likelihood that he will miss Wednesday's Champions League clash against RB Leipzig.

Special youngster celebrates contract

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Liverpool's training session for their UEFA Champions League trip to RB Leipzig provided a few clues to who will be in Arne Slot's matchday squad.

Although the absence of prolific goalscorer Diogo Jota and summer signing Federico Chiesa will have worried fans who were watching the club's official live stream on YouTube, there were plenty of positives to be picked up.

For example, Alexis Mac Allister was fully involved, despite his recent fitness issues, and the Argentinian could return to the starting line-up in east Germany after making only a cameo appearance as a substitute in Sunday's gritty 2-1 win over Chelsea.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk also looked sharp as he trained in front of the cameras for the first time since confirming negotiations over his new contract are now in progress.

But it's a player at the other end of his career who supporters will have been buzzing to see on the pitch at the AXA Training Centre.

Shock squad inclusion

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Arne Slot has made a surprise inclusion to his travelling squad against RB Leipzig.

Liverpool are set to travel to Germany in their next game in the Champions League and will face a familiar foe.

The Reds have faced RB Leipzig in pre-season friendlies several times in the past and have even encountered the German side in the knock-out round of the Champions League during the 2020/21 campaign.

Not to mention current Liverpool stars like Dominik Szoboszlai and Ibrahima Konate have previously represented RB Leipzig prior to joining the club.

Ahead of the game, Slot has picked a strong squad to travel to Leipzig, although with some notable omissions.

Diaz and Messi's secret conspiracy

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Liverpool star Luis Diaz has revealed how a boyhood idol made his football dreams come true when they faced each other in an international match a few years ago.

The livewire Colombian has started the 2024/25 season in scintillating form, scoring five goals - including two against historic rivals Manchester United - and registering one assist for the Premier League leaders.

Diaz has also helped Arne Slot's side to secure maximum points from their first two matches in the UEFA Champions League, a competition that his hero excelled in by scoring a staggering 129 goals and winning the trophy four times with Barcelona.

Diaz's icon is, of course, Lionel Messi - despite their respective countries being great rivals in the Copa America and World Cup qualifiers.

City lucky to be close to Liverpool

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Liverpool's 2-1 win against Chelsea on Sunday saw the Reds stay top of the Premier League table.

Head coach Arne Slot has had a decent start to life on Merseyside winning 10 out of 11 games across all competitions. Many believed that Slot's Reds would be nowhere near the same standard as Jurgen Klopp's side, safe to say they've all been proven wrong.

Liverpool sit one point clear at the top of the table, with Manchester City in second place, however, new data reveals that the gap should be bigger.

Data from Understat predicted that the Reds would be on 18 points at this point in the season while Pep Guardiola's side were expected to have 14 points. Expected points takes the xG for and against from each game and distributes points that way.

Liverpool close to momentous £300m deal

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A new interview with Liverpool's chief executive officer has fuelled rumours that the club is closing in on a massive injection of cash, to support Arne Slot's quest for Premier League and Champions League glory.

Reds CEO Billy Hogan was the subject of a four-page feature in Football Business magazine, in which he discussed the expansion of the Anfield Road End stand which was finally completed this summer, a year later than initially expected.

The delay was due to the club's original choice of builders, Buckingham Group, going into administration and their replacements, Rayner Rowen Construction, taking their time to assess the site. And while the stand was progressively opened in phases last season, it has been fully operational for 2024/25 - perfect timing, considering Slot's side have made a flying start to the season.

According to the report Liverpool are on the verge of receiving another colossal boost to the club's commercial coffers, from a new shirt sponsorship deal.