Trent Alexander-Arnold is among the Liverpool players past and present to have shown their support to Jordan Henderson after his tribute to Diogo Jota on Sunday.

Former Reds captain Henderson scored his first goal since joining Brentford in the summer during the Bees’ 1-1 draw with Leeds United at the weekend, and he duly took the opportunity to remember Jota.

The England international recreated Jota’s iconic gaming celebration, which he memorably produced after scoring a late winner for the Reds against Tottenham in 2023. It’s a celebration that has been used by a number of players following his death earlier this year in a car accident in Spain.

Henderson had been close friends with Jota, with the 35-year-old paying an emotional tribute and laying flowers at the memorial site at Anfield in the summer.

“It was his birthday recently,” Henderson told Sky Sports after Sunday’s game. “We’ll never forget him. We will always remember him. I can only imagine what the lads at Liverpool are going through.

“He was a good friend. I don’t score many goals, so when I did, I always thought that I would dedicate it to him.”

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Henderson also posted a picture of himself performing the celebration onto his Instagram account, along with the caption “Forever 20”, referencing Jota’s shirt number at Anfield, which has been retired following his passing.

The post has garnered plenty of reaction from some of Henderson’s current and former teammates, including Alexander-Arnold.

The now-Real Madrid star replied with two love heart emojis. The former Liverpool right-back recently paid his own tribute to Jota upon his return to Anfield with his new side last month, having joined Xabi Alonso and Dean Huijsen in laying a floral tribute at the memorial site.

Jordan Henderson posted a picture of himself performing Diogo Jota's celebration to his Instagram account

In a note attached to the wreath, Alexander-Arnold wrote: “My mate Diogo, you are so missed but still so loved. Yours and Andre’s memory will always live on.

“I smile everytime I think about you and will always remember the great times we shared. Miss you mate, every day. Love, Trent and family. Forever 20 YNWA.”

As well as Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Caoimhin Kelleher were among the other players to show Henderson some love for his tribute to Jota - the latter now plays alongside Henderson at Brentford after leaving Liverpool during the summer.

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Mohamed Salah will fly out to join Egypt’s preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations soon, with the Liverpool forward sharing another cryptic post on social media.

Salah is set to join the Egypt squad ahead of the mid-season AFCON this week, having played his final game for Liverpool before the tournament in Morocco.

The 33-year-old produced an excellent display from the bench as the Reds beat Brighton 2-0 at Anfield, having been brought back into the squad following talks with Arne Slot.

His applause for supporters at full-time has been interpreted in different ways, with some believing it was a farewell from the No. 11 as he continues to be linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

With the situation not entirely resolved, Salah’s latest post on social media is likely to be given the same treatment.

Mo Salah broke Premier League record vs. Brighton

pic.twitter.com/KFM2eIknxu

— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) December 15, 2025

An assist for Hugo Ekitike‘s second goal on Saturday means the Egyptian has eclipsed Wayne Rooney’s record for the most goal involvements for a single club in Premier League history.

Salah shared a graphic to recognise that achievement on Instagram, X and Facebook, with no caption to accompany it.

This could be viewed as a sign of his ongoing commitment to Liverpool, for whom he has made a combined 277 goal contributions in the Premier League alone.

Or it may further highlight his claim that he is not being treated as he deserves, having told reporters after the 3-3 draw with Leeds: “I don’t have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it.”

What Salah said about ‘earning his place’

“I don’t get it,” he said, having been named on the bench for three consecutive games and gone unused in two of those.

“I think if I’m somewhere else, every club would protect this player. I don’t know why I’m in this situation now.

“But how I see it now is like, ‘you throw Mo under the bus because he’s the problem in the team now’.

“I don’t think I’m the problem. I have done so much for this club, to get the respect I want to get, and I don’t have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it.

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“People will say ‘you’re not bigger than…’, I’m not bigger than anyone, I just earned my position.”

Speaking after Salah’s return to the side against Brighton, Slot suggested the matter had now been dealt with and “there is no issue to resolve.”

The head coach insisted he expects his No. 11 to stay with Liverpool after his time at AFCON.

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Mohamed Salah is reportedly set to travel to Saudi Arabia this week amid continued speculation about his Liverpool future.

Salah returned to the fold in the weekend win over Brighton and was called upon earlier than planned to replace the injured Joe Gomez. He was given a rousing reception from the Liverpool crowd and was largely impressive, setting up Hugo Ekitike for his second goal of the game.

But there remains doubts about his future following his outburst at Arne Slot after the game at Leeds. During that interview, Salah suggested the Brighton game may be his last for the club as he jets off to AFCON, and fueled speculation further when he waved to the Kop at the end of the game.

He will definitely be departing for a matter of weeks for the tournament with Egypt and it remains to be seen if Saudi Pro League clubs will formally reignite their interest in the January window.

According to Saudi broadcaster Al-Riyadiya (via WinWin), Salah will travel to Jeddah before he links up with his international colleagues in Morocco.

It is stated that the main reason for the trip will be to perform the pilgrimage of Umrah and may also link up with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism.

However, links to a blockbuster January transfer remain and it was reported over the weekend that Saudi clubs believe they would be able to land him for $134M (£100m) despite Liverpool's stance that he will stay put.

Mohamed Salah could miss eight Liverpool games as he heads to the Africa Cup of Nations (Image: Getty Images)

Slot suggested after the win over Brighton that the issue had been dealt with and he expected Salah to return to Merseyside after the tournament.

"He wasn't the only player who walked around the pitch thanking the fans because the fans deserved a thank you from us," Slot said.

"Our players worked incredibly hard to keep a clean sheet and for the first time in weeks, maybe months, we had a little bit of luck.

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"What has been said between the two of us in that conversation stays between us. What you see is what you get to know, that he was in the squad and my first substitution.

"Mo is going to go the AFCON now. I hope he is going to do very well and in the meantime we have to play here without him with not that many players available."

Egypt is due to play a warm-up friendly against Nigeria on Tuesday with Salah given extra time to join up with the squad. The AFCON group stage then begins against Zimbabwe on December 22 before games against South Africa and Angola.

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Leeds United are said to be closing in on a deal to sign Liverpool academy prospect Kai Morrall, with the 15-year-old winger having taken to social media to confirm his departure from the Reds

Leeds United are said to be closing in on a deal to sign Liverpool academy prospect Kai Morrall, with the 15-year-old winger having taken to social media to confirm his departure from the Reds

Dominik Szoboszlai could miss Liverpool’s trip to Tottenham on Saturday after picking up an ankle injury against Brighton, but fears of a serious issue have been downplayed.

A Szoboszlai injury seemed inevitable at some stage in Liverpool’s busy schedule – and it unfortunately came just before their run of fixtures slowed down.

Prior to his departure 83 minutes into the 2-0 win over Brighton, he was one of only two players to feature for the Reds in every minute of every game in the Premier League and Champions League.

But Szoboszlai is now facing doubts over his involvement in Saturday’s trip to Tottenham due to an ankle issue.

What Hungarian sources say on Szoboszlai injury

According to Hungarian newspaper Nemzeti Sport, Liverpool are yet to learn whether their No. 8 will be fit for the clash with Thomas Frank’s Tottenham.

However, it is claimed that “initial tests did not reveal any serious injury” which will clearly be seen as a major boost.

If Szoboszlai does miss out on Saturday, Arne Slot could be particularly short of options in both midfield and attack – while the No. 8 is also viewed as cover at right-back.

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Liverpool are already without Wataru Endo and Stefan Bajcetic in midfield, while Mohamed Salah has now departed for the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo is out with a muscle injury.

Joe Gomez is likely to join the list of absentees after a scan to assess a hamstring problem and both Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike suffered cramp in the latter stages of the win over Brighton.

Jeremie Frimpong could, however, return to availability against Tottenham with plans to rejoin full training this week.

How Liverpool could line up vs. Tottenham

Slot could return to his 4-4-2 diamond setup in north London, with Alexander Isak able to partner either Ekitike or Federico Chiesa up front.

The makeup of his midfield would depend on Szoboszlai’s fitness, with Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Florian Wirtz otherwise available.

Conor Bradley will start at right-back with the head coach hoping Frimpong can at least make the bench.

If Szoboszlai is fit, however, he could be considered either as part of a four-man midfield or on the right wing if Slot fields a 4-2-3-1.

Predicted XI vs. Tottenham: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Isak, Ekitike

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Virgil van Dijk is yet to signal any plans to retire as a professional footballer, but the Liverpool captain has given an indication of his ideal job after his playing career ends.

Van Dijk signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool in April, taking him to the end of next season by which point he will be 36.

However there is no sign this will be his last contract as a player, with it entirely possible that he extends his stay at Anfield further – or, if not with the Reds, continuing his career elsewhere.

But now entering his mid-30s there are obvious questions over how long Van Dijk will continue playing and what his plans are in retirement.

Virgil van Dijk names the ONE player he'd love to play with and more ? @fifpro pic.twitter.com/TRHvT46d8Q

— GOAL (@goal) December 2, 2025

In an interview with GOAL after being named in the FIFA FIFPRO World 11 for 2025, the Dutchman hinted that his next job could be as a sporting director.

Asked what he would be if he wasn’t a footballer, Van Dijk named the position currently held by Richard Hughes at Liverpool.

This comes with the No. 4 having already played down becoming a manager on a number of occasions, including in an interview on the Rio Meets podcast last year.

Van Dijk has no desire to become a manager

“I said no, but that’s also coming from this hectic, busy, on-it life that my family is sacrificing a lot for, my wife and my kids,” he explained.

“To then have a year or two years off and then going back into it, I don’t think I see it happening. But never say never.

“I really feel like I definitely will give something back to football. I love working and seeing younger players out there.

“I like going for example to the Liverpool academy to watch the under-11s, 12s, 13s. The other day I watched a little tournament, under-16s if I’m correct, and just a couple of games.

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“The thing is, I know when I was younger, I was eight or nine, we had a training session and the first-team players from my team back then, Willem II, like two or three players came and trained with us.

“I will never forget that, and I know what kind of impact that makes to younger boys and the younger generation.

“But what they give to me as well, seeing them happy, playing with pure joy, nothing in their minds, that’s something that brings a lot to me as well.

“Going back then to the question, I would love to stay in football in the future, but on my time. I don’t know which kind of role, it’s too far away to think about.”

Van Dijk has already moved into youth football with the Virgil’s Legacy Trophy, with Liverpool’s U13s winning the inaugural tournament at Willem II’s youth stadium in September.

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The 54-year-old was 'completely sober' when he ploughed into more than 100 men, women and children on Water Street

The 54-year-old was 'completely sober' when he ploughed into more than 100 men, women and children on Water Street

A man who ploughed a car into more than 100 Liverpool fans at a Premier League victory parade "lost his temper in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to" and "intended to cause people within the crowd serious harm", his sentencing hearing was told.

Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC told Liverpool Crown Court that Paul Doyle - who admitted 31 offences related to the crash last month - was driving his grey Ford Galaxy Titanium from his home in Croxteth into central Liverpool to collect a friend and his family from the celebrations on May 26.

Doyle had made the journey into the centre of Liverpool earlier in the day to drop them off at the parade and had agreed to pick them up again at the end of the celebrations.

His vehicle weighed nearly two tonnes.

Mr Greaney said the road was extremely busy with pedestrians on what should have been a day of joy.

He said: "The defendant drove the Galaxy on to Dale Street at 5.54pm and began to travel in the direction of Water Street, so on a course opposite from the direction of travel of most of the fans, and towards them.

"From an early stage, Paul Doyle drove dangerously along that road, frightening people as he did so. Then at 5.59pm, he encountered some traffic implementation measures that were filtering vehicles off to the right.

"He came to (a) halt, but shortly afterwards set off down the left side of Dale Street towards Water Street, ignoring the measures."

Dashcam footage showing the shocking moments when Doyle ploughed through crowds was shown in court.

The video, from inside the Ford Galaxy, captured audio and visuals as the 54-year-old swerved into hundreds of fans who were making their way back from the city's waterfront after the celebration.

Doyle cried as the footage was shown to the court, putting his head down and shutting his eyes as the footage showed his car hitting crowds of supporters.

Victims in court were also in tears as the video was played.

Once in Dale Street - which was open to traffic but busy with supporters - Doyle could be heard saying "f****** pricks" as pedestrians pulled their children out of the way of his car to stop them being hit.

The view through his windscreen showed him approach a line of cars waiting to turn right off the road before it becomes Water Street.

Doyle then swerved away from the traffic and into the left lane, which was closed as hundreds of fans were making their way back from the celebrations. He could be heard shouting and screaming "move", "f****** pricks" and "get out the f****** way" as shocked members of the public tried to jump out of the way of his car.

The footage, which will not be released because of its graphic nature, showed the windscreen smash after a man landed on it.

Others could be seen on the bonnet of the car as Doyle continued to drive and people, including children, appear to go under the vehicle.

Doyle cried as he appeared in the dock for his sentencing hearing.

He wore a black suit and grey tie with white shirt and had a tissue in his hand, which he held to his face at times.

The 54-year-old admitted dangerous driving, affray, 17 charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, nine counts of causing GBH with intent, and three counts of wounding with intent last month. He had previously denied the offences, which relate to 29 victims aged between six months and 77.

Doyle's actions "generated horror in those who had attended what they had thought would be a day of joyfulness", said Mr Greaney.

He said: "By 6.01pm, so less than two minutes later, the Galaxy was stationary on Water Street and attempts were being made by fans to drag Paul Doyle from it. He was quickly protected by police officers, and thereafter arrested and detained, having sustained only minor injuries.

"What had happened in that short period between 5.59pm and 6.01pm is that the defendant had driven his vehicle into a collision with well over 100 people, causing injuries including serious injuries to many and, when the vehicle was brought to a halt, people including children were trapped beneath it.

"The prosecution case is that the defendant had used the vehicle as a weapon over that period of time.

"In doing so, he not only caused injury on a large scale, but also generated horror in those who had attended what they had thought would be a day of joyfulness.

"The truth is a simple one - Paul Doyle just lost his temper in his desire to get to where he wanted to get to. In a rage, he drove into the crowd. When he did so, he intended to cause people within the crowd serious harm."

Doyle was arrested at the scene on Water Street just after 6pm and charged later that week.

The youngest victim was six-month-old Teddy Eveson, whose parents later told media he was thrown about 15 feet down the road in his pram when the crash happened.

Doyle, of Croxteth, Liverpool, admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to the baby.

Five other children, who Doyle either injured or attempted to injure, cannot be named for legal reasons.

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A closer look at Curtis Jones's situation after the Liverpool midfielder registered his 200th appearance for his boyhood club on Saturday

A closer look at Curtis Jones's situation after the Liverpool midfielder registered his 200th appearance for his boyhood club on Saturday

Morgan Rogers was Aston Villa's match-winner against West Ham on Sunday. Erling Haaland scored another two goals for Manchester City in their victory over Crystal Palace.

But who is the Premier League's biggest game-changer?

Between the Lines reveals which players' goals and assists have won their clubs the most points, both this season and historically.

Bruno just ahead of Rogers

Bruno Fernandes comes out top for this season as he continues to show his value even in another tough season for Manchester United.

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His four goals and six assists have won Ruben Amorim's side a whopping 13 points heading into their game against Bournemouth, live on Sky Sports on Monday Night Football.

Fernandes's three goal involvements in Manchester United's last game against Wolves were the difference between a draw and a victory, winning the side two points. Before that, he won them three points by assisting both goals in the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

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Rogers sits second in the list with goal involvements worth 12 points to third-placed Aston Villa, a total which includes the three points won by his double against West Ham on Sunday.

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Jamie Carragher was full of praise for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers after his superb performance in the win over West Ham on Sunday

The England international has only contributed a combined eight goals and assists for Unai Emery's side in the Premier League but, with the exception of his assist in the 3-1 win over Fulham in September, all of them have been game-altering.

His total puts him two points ahead of Haaland. The Manchester City striker has nearly twice as many goal involvements as any other Premier League player this season, with 17 goals and three assists, but only seven of them have directly changed results.

Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo hasn't registered a goal involvement since scoring two goals and setting up another against Fulham in October but he still ranks third for points won, level with Everton's Jack Grealish and Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike on nine.

Bruno's unmatched importance to Man Utd

Another way to measure player influence is to look at whose goal involvements have earned the highest proportion of their team's points. Again, it's Fernandes who sits top of the pile this season.

The 31-year-old's goals and assists have won more than half of Manchester United's 25 points after 15 games.

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Semenyo is second despite his recent goal involvement drought, while Brentford striker Igor Thiago ranks third, his 11 goals having won 40 per cent of the side's 20 points.

Grealish is just behind him on 38 per cent, with all of his six goal involvements this season having directly impacted Everton's results.

Rogers, Ekitike, Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes, Sunderland's Granit Xhaka, West Ham's Callum Wilson and Brighton striker Danny Welbeck make up the rest of the top 10.

Salah the ultimate game-changer

Fernandes leads the way this season, but when factoring previous seasons, going back as far as 2010/11, it's Mohamed Salah who comes out on top as the Premier League's biggest game-changer, despite his much-discussed dip in form this season.

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Mohamed Salah registered an assist for Liverpool against Brighton on Saturday

Salah's 280 Premier League goal involvements have been worth 177 points, putting him just ahead of Harry Kane on 173 points and highlighting the size of his contribution to Liverpool.

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Former Leicester striker Jamie Vardy has the third-highest total for points won by goal involvements, with 127, while Kane's former Spurs team-mate Heung-Min Son is fourth on 106 and Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero is fifth on 104.

Salah, in addition to having the highest total, has boasts the highest percentage of a team's points won by goal involvements in a single season since 2010/11, with his 45.2 per cent last term just ahead of Robin van Persie's 42.7 per cent for Manchester United in 2012/13.

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Salah's output has of course dipped this season. He only has four goals and three assists in 14 Premier League appearances so far.

But it is worth noting, as shown below, that those goal involvements have still won 23 per cent of Liverpool's points total, a higher proportion than in three of his previous campaigns at the club.

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So was he right to suggest he has been unfairly singled out during a difficult campaign for everyone at the club? The numbers suggest he has still made a useful contribution.

And while Fernandes leads the way this term, Salah is undoubtedly the Premier League's biggest game-changer of the last 15 years.

Read last week's Between the Lines

Ninety-three injuries in 18 months? We dissected Arsenal's continued injury issues in last week's edition and the knock-on effects of losing players in the same positions.

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Former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel brands Mohamed Salah "egotistical" and names the dream replacement - if the Egyptian is to leave in the January transfer window

Former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel brands Mohamed Salah "egotistical" and names the dream replacement - if the Egyptian is to leave in the January transfer window

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A round-up of the biggest headlines surrounding Liverpool amid Mo Salah's uncertain Anfield future

A round-up of the biggest headlines surrounding Liverpool amid Mo Salah's uncertain Anfield future

Dominik Szoboszlai was forced off with an ankle injury in Liverpool's win over Brighton but once again managed to avoid a suspension

Dominik Szoboszlai was forced off with an ankle injury in Liverpool's win over Brighton but once again managed to avoid a suspension