07/02/2026

SPORTS SATURDAY | FEB 7, 2026

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Reds planning for life without Van Dijk with Jacquet signing: Slot

Ű BY RICHARD JOLLY

every three days, not only now for our club but for his country for seven or eight months already. “Hopefully, he can stay as fit as he is for multi ple years but this club is not stupid. We do know somewhere in the upcoming years, there is life for this club after Virgil. “You are talking about Virgil but I can say this for every position. This club is not only thinking short-term future but also the mid to long-term future.” Liverpool play host to Manchester City on Monday (12.30am Malaysian time) in the Premier League but will be short on defenders with Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong out, while Slot confirmed Joe Gomez will not be in contention to play the whole game. – The Independent

I’ve said many times the mid- and long-term future of this club, and even the short term, is in a very good place.” Slot, however, insists the deadline day sign ing was not a panic buy, citing Van Dijk’s succes sion plan as motivation for Liverpool’s late winter business. “Everything done over here is never from panic, it’s always long term idea and or some thing that has been thought about for a long time and not only one person,” he added. “Of course, we are aware of the fact that Virgil won’t play for 10 years but he has one-and-a-half years (of) contract left, so he will be with us for that time, maybe longer even longer if he keeps staying fit as fit as he is now. “What a compliment to him at his age to play

pid” and ignoring Van Dijk’s age as they look to the long term. “Very pleasing, of course,”he said on Jacquet’s arrival. “He’s a very big talent and maybe even more than talent but we speak about talent because of his age. “Second, because we weren’t the only one interested in him so it’s a big compliment to the people working really hard to sign players. “It is another example of the model we’re using at this club – young, very talented players sometimes at the start of their careers or some times already a little bit a few years into their career but always players that are young and can improve us in the short term but also definitely in the long term. “We’ve signed a lot of them recently and like

ARNE SLOT said he was delighted Liverpool managed to sign Jeremy Jacquet as he admitted they are planning for life without captain Virgil van Dijk. The French defender has been signed for an initial £55 million (RM297m) and will arrive at Anfield in June while Liverpool have also tied up deals for three other young centrebacks, in 19 year-old Noah Adekoya, 18-year-old Mor Talla Ndiaye and 17-year-old Ifeanyi Ndukwe. Van Dijk turns 35 in July and has a contract until 2027 but Slot believes the veteran, who has played 34 games already this season, could earn a new deal and extend his time at Anfield. But Slot emphasised Liverpool are not “stu

A mural of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (left) and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is seen in London and Manchester. – REUTERPSIC

Shifting title race Latest twists in Premier League expose new questions for Guardiola’s City, while Arteta’s vision is landing at Arsenal as Liverpool add new dimension

A S opposition coaches ana lyse Manchester City, they believe they have seen something shift. It may even fit with the volatility of the Premier League right now. Put simply – and unlike for much of the last decade – if you can stay in a game with City, you now have a chance. The team of two years ago would, after all, probably have blown that Tottenham Hotspur side away in the first half. The bare statistics are telling enough. In first halves of Premier League games this season, City have scored 27 goals and conceded six. In second halves, they have scored 22 and conceded 16. Last week’s 2–2 draw at Spurs was the third time in 2026 alone that they have led a League match and failed to win – from just six Premier League games. That is not the all-powerful force the competition has grown accus tomed to. The numbers only tell part of the story, though. For oppo sition coaches, the underlying cause lies in the “unseen” game – some thing that was flagged with City Ű BY MIGUEL DELANEY

There has been change there, too. Florian Wirtz has clearly started to adapt, while Hugo Ekitike is developing at the striking rate that made him the most valued forward of the summer window outside Alexander Isak. The smoothness of his movement, already likened to a peak Fernando Torres, has been much noted. That could be key over the medium term. In a season dominated by press ing systems and set-pieces – Liverpool are finally seeing the influence of individual inspiration they calculated could prove a cru cial differentiator. How Aston Villa could do with that spark now. Every time they look capable of achieving something more, they seem to be checked back. The performance in the 1–0 home defeat to Brentford was not as poor as against Everton, but that arguably made it more exasperat ing. This is not really something they should be criticised for. Villa have been drastically overperforming to sit third, and that description would still apply even if they finished in the top five. The frustration lies in the

six-point lead once more. All within six days. Their 4–0 win over Leeds United was crucial in restoring a sense of purpose that had only dipped a few weeks earlier; that vital balance of mindset Arteta believes is essential to winning. You want edge, but not so much that it tips into panic. Hence the methodical nature of the approach that led to 2–0, before they finally began to enjoy themselves – just as Arteta had implored – in the second half. Arteta is keen to re-establish that spirit properly. Just as relevant in the context of the League’s volatility, this was only the sixth win of the 2025–26 season by a margin of four or more goals. Two of those six have been Arsenal victories against Leeds United. The title race is already develop ing a familiar back-and-forth rhythm. A problem for City is how Liverpool have very suddenly begun to feel resurgent. They still have clear defensive issues, but scoring 10 goals in two games does wonders for belief – and for removing a previously inhibiting doubt.

much earlier in the season. It is the pressing system. In admirably trying to keep his tactical ideology fresh through the appointment of different assistants, Guardiola may have ensured his side are now undergoing a longer period of adaptation than antici pated. Former Jurgen Klopp assistant Pep Lijnders has introduced a more intensive approach, involving a far more vertical game. At times, that allows City to resemble the City of old, producing intimidating bursts, particularly at the start of matches. The issue is that the squad remains largely built for a steadier, possession-based style, creating a disconnect. By the second half , City simply do not press with the same intensity. Gaps begin to appear. It may yet prove an influential factor in deciding this season’s major positions – if it were not for the Premier League itself being so changeable. Just consider the last week alone. Arsenal have gone from endur ing what felt like a potentially defini tive meltdown to apparently having the title secured again, opening up a

promise of more. The concern now is the gap beginning to close. Liverpool’s meeting with City will reveal plenty. Manchester United, meanwhile, suddenly look as though they are enjoying a release, the players genuinely having fun. The experiment of Ruben Amorim obstinately placing players in unfamiliar positions now feels all the more bizarre. Or, as senior fig ures in the hierarchy said to each other just before deciding to sack him: “What exactly are we doing here?” That is without European foot ball, too, meaning United should be fresh for every game. Then there was the nature of Benjamin Sesko’s stoppage-time winner against Fulham and everything around it, including what it could do for the striker’s confidence. Chelsea enjoyed something similar against West Ham United, at a crucial formative stage of Liam Rosenior’s tenure. There is already debate about Carrick’s future. Like so much in the Premier League right now, everything has changed… at least for a week. – The Independent