A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Virgil van Dijk issues his honest verdict on Jordan Henderson and Manchester City winger Jack Grealish praises a Reds attacker.
Liverpool star Diogo Jota ‘respects’ Jurgen Klopp’s decision to join Red Bull
Liverpool star Diogo Jota notes he ‘respects’ the decision Jurgen Klopp has made by signing up to become the global head of soccer for Red Bull. The German will join the energy drink’s football operation in January 2025 after walking away from managing the Reds this summer.
Klopp was under contract with Liverpool through June 2026 but he opted to walk away after the 2023/24 season. The 57-year-old confirmed his decision this January and insisted he wanted to spend more time with the tactician’s family and Klopp’s recently-born grandchild.
Yet only five months after managing his final Liverpool game, Klopp and Red Bull announced his arrival. Jota said in a press conference on Thursday previewing Portugal’s UEFA Nations League tie with Poland that he respects Klopp’s decision and wishes him ‘luck’ at Red Bull.
“Klopp? He is a person for whom I have a lot of affection, it is to respect his decision,” noted Jota. “I wish him the best of luck in this new stage.”
Read more about what Jota has had to say about Klopp joining Red Bull’s hierarchy, here.
Manchester City winger Jack Grealish rates Luiz Diaz above Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli
Manchester City winger Jack Grealish has professed his admiration of Luis Diaz and he has also ranked the Liverpool forward above Arsenal rival Gabriel Martinelli. Grealish noted that ‘I like Luis Diaz, yeah’ while ranking his favourite wide threats on talkSPORT’s TikTok account.
Grealish also continued to rank Diaz above AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and former Liverpool star, Sadio Mane. But he then snubbed the 27-year-old in favour of Tottenham Hotspur’s captain, Son Heung-Min, even though the Spurs forward has had a less spectacular season this term.
Son and Diaz have played almost the exact same number of minutes in the Premier League so far this term with 450 and 451. Yet across Son’s five starts, the 32-year-old has two goals and two assists. Diaz has five goals and one assist in seven matches, of which he started six.
Diaz further bagged his haul with braces against Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth, plus a goal and an assist against Brentford. Son, meanwhile, registered his tally with a brace of goals at home to Everton and a pair of assists against Brentford before suffering an injury.
Read more about what Manchester City star Grealish thinks about Liverpool’s Diaz, here.
Virgil van Dijk hails James Milner and Jordan Henderson’s leadership at Liverpool
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has named James Milner among the players who helped the 32-year-old to grow the most. Former Reds skipper Jordan Henderson is another player who Van Dijk praises for being an inspiration to him at Anfield after captaining Liverpool superbly.
Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018, two-and-a-half-years after the Merseyside natives had already signed Milner and six-and-a-half after Henderson had joined from Middlesbrough. Milner joined Liverpool when his contract for Manchester City expired.
Together, Van Dijk, Milner and Henderson helped Liverpool to win the Champions League in 2018/19 and the Premier League in 2019/20. They also helped the Reds win the FA Cup and the EFL Cup in 21/22. Van Dijk even played 165 games with Milner and 182 with Henderson.
The leadership and authority that Milner and Henderson showed with Liverpool meant they stood out to Van Dijk as the Netherlands captain told the Premier League’s YouTube channel about the players he believes have helped the centre-back to grow the most over his career.
“I think all the senior boys that I’ve had over the years,” Van Dijk said. “Whether it’s Jordan Henderson, who was an unbelievable captain I think for Liverpool.
“James Milner has been outstanding in the way he’s been showing authority within the team, on matchdays, whether it was on the pitch or off the pitch.”
Read more about what Van Dijk has had to say about Milner whilst with Liverpool, here.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
