Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he was “angry” for failing to land one transfer ahead of their match against Ajax on Wednesday night.

The Reds will travel to the Amsterdam Arena tonight as they face Alfred Schreuder’s side in a crucial Champions League group stage match.

Klopp is likely to face former Southampton winger Dusan Tadic with the Liverpool manager revealing he was “angry” at himself for missing out on signing the attacker in previous years.

Tadic made a good impression in the Premier League over four seasons, contributing 20 goals and 27 assists during his time at Southampton.

The Serbian moved to Ajax in 2018 in a deal worth £12.3m and he’s set the Dutch capital alight with 94 goals and 98 assists in 209 matches for the Eredivisie side.

And Klopp admits he was gutted that he missed out on signing Tadic before he moved to Ajax four years ago.

The Liverpool boss told RTL: “I love him [Tadic] as a player.

“I was very angry with myself when he went to Ajax, because I was also interested in him.”

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Speaking in 2019, Tadic admitted that he left Southampton to move to a less physical league after insisting he had numerous offers from the Premier League.

“I had a lot of offers. There were a lot of teams who offered money, a lot of teams from the Premier League and offers from other countries like Italy.

“My heart is close to Holland. I like Holland and Ajax was always my dream club. In Holland, and in other countries, you are protected [by referees]. If they touch you a little bit, it’s a foul.

“We [Southampton] were getting worse and worse. We sold a lot of players and, after that, it was difficult. When you are there when it was the best, and after when it’s not so good, you feel a little bit like you need to go.”

Liverpool know that by avoiding defeat against Ajax they will qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League but Virgil van Dijk has warned his Reds team-mates that they must start showing consistency.

“It was a very, very intense, difficult week, six days actually. A fantastic win against City, a difficult (1-0 home) win against West Ham (last Wednesday), and then an away game, early kick-off, against Forest. We tried everything.

“We know that our performance in general has to be as consistent like how it always was, and that’s what we try to do.

“There are always reasons for why things are not going as well, and we try to sort that and do everything in our power to do that, that’s what we work for.”

READ MORE: Liverpool get surprise Man Utd assist in Bellingham transfer chase as Salah ‘forced to apologise’

SOUTH AFRICA RETURNED to winning ways with a 31-28 victory over England at Twickenham on Saturday.

England, 20-6 down early in the second half, capitalised on the sin-binning of Victor Matfield to score 14 points while the veteran lock was off the field as forwards David Wilson and Ben Morgan rumbled over for converted tries to tie the match at 20-20.

But South Africa, still a man down, regained their composure to score a try through man-of-the-match Schalk Burger, while impressive fly-half Pat Lambie kicked 16 points in total.

It was England’s second agonising three-point loss in as many weeks following their 24-21 defeat by world champions New Zealand but they could have few complaints.

Fresh from their shock tour-opening 29-15 defeat by Ireland in Dublin, the Springboks made it 12 games unbeaten against England as more doubts were raised about the ability of the 2015 World Cup hosts to challenge for the Webb Ellis Trophy.

Defeat was England’s fifth in a row — albeit four were against the All Blacks — and their worst run of results since they suffered seven successive losses back in 2006.

It also meant that in 13 matches under coach Stuart Lancaster against the southern hemisphere giants of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, England had won just two.

Once again, England’s scrum and line-out held up well but they once more suffered from poor decision-making, loose kicking ane needless knock-ons.

Lancaster largely kept faith with the side that lost to New Zealand as Anthony Watson made his first Test start in place of injured Bath colleague Semesa Rokoduguni on the right wing.

South Africa responded to their Dublin debacle by making five changes.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, significantly, dropped both half-backs Francois Hougaard and fly-half Handre Pollard, their places taken by Cobus Reinach and Lambie respectively.

A scrappy opening in wet conditions saw the Springboks take the lead in the 10th minute.

England fly-half Owen Farrell, running from close to his own line, gave a poor pass to Watson, who was engulfed by a horde of green shirts.

South Africa worked the ball wide to wing Bryan Habana but knocked on.

However, England captain Chris Robshaw had infringed and Lambie kicked the routine penalty.

South Africa made it 10-0 when England scrum-half Danny Care, winning his 50th cap, took too long at the base of a ruck and saw his pass intercepted by Jan Serfontein, the centre running in unopposed from 60 metres for a try under the posts which Lambie converted.

England spent plenty of time in the Springbok half but failed to make it count in the 26th minute when lock Dave Attwood, having broken clear, delayed what should have been a try-scoring pass to Watson, allowing the Springbok defence to recover.

England eventually won a penalty, which Farrell kicked and he landed another before the break, with Lambie kicking one and missing one to leave the Springboks 13-6 up at the break.

England caught cold

South Africa caught England cold barely 38 seconds into the second half when Lambie’s well-judged kick ahead was superbly caught by fullback Willie Le Roux, running at pace, and he fed Reinach,the scrum-half running in under the posts from 20 metres for his first Test try.

Then came Matfield’s sin-binning and England made their man advantage count with two huge driving mauls that led to tries for prop Wilson and replacement Morgan.

But South Africa hit back through Burger, the flanker going in on the blindside following a close range line-out off a penalty.

And just after the hour mark, it was England’s turn to be a man down when hooker Dylan Hartley was sin-binned for stamping.

Lambie’s third penalty made it 28-20 to the Springboks before England replacement fly-half George Ford’s penalty, virtually his first touch, cut the deficit to five points.

But Lambie put South Africa eight points in front with just four minutes left when his kick to touch set up a line-out from which he landed a close-range drop-goal.

England created an overlap for a try by South Africa-born centre Brad Barritt but Ford missed the conversion and it was South Africa who were denied a try with the last play of the game by the replay official.

– © AFP 2014

Willie le Roux conjured a bit of magic to create this gorgeous try at Twickenham‘I never thought I’d do what I’m going to do tomorrow’ – Reddan confesses ahead of captaincy debut

Former Arsenal star Pablo Mari says Mikel Arteta “changed my vision of football” and reflected on a “two-year masterclass” under the Spanish boss.

Mari joined the Gunners on loan from Flamengo in January 2020 and made his move permanent six months later.

The centre-back made 14 league starts under Arteta before he moved to Udinese on loan at the start of 2022 and then Monza in the summer.

Despite a lack of regular football and then being shown the door, Mari is clearly a huge admirer of Arteta.

“He is a coach who has changed my vision of football. I have done a two-year masterclass with him,” Mari told AS (via Sport Witness).

Arteta has seemingly been close to the sack at Arsenal on a number of occasions and was criticised at the end of last season after they missed out on Champions League qualification having slipped out of the top four.

But the Gunners now lead the Premier league with 28 points from 11 games, and Mari says he’s not surprised by the “stratospheric level” they’v reached this term.

“Yes, of course [I am watching Arsenal], they are at a stratospheric level. For me the key has been a word called time. It doesn’t surprise me because it was clear that their way of working would give them a lot of joy,” Mari added.

Technical director Edu has played a big role alongside Arteta in Arsenal’s rise, and that role has caught the attention of other suitors.

Arteta insists Edu’s role at the club is “really important” and hopes to see him remain for “a long time”.

“I just hope he stays here for a long time because I think it’s going to be a really positive thing for the club,” Arteta said.

“I work with him really well, I think he’s a super important figure at the club who represents all the values and ideas that we want, to do everything in the right way, and hopefully that will be the case.

“There is a lot happening in a football club and he has a huge role and he has a really good way of communicating with people and managing a lot of things that happen daily. For me and for the team he is really important.

“It has to build that relationship. It has to be very well respected, the roles have to be very clear, you have to share the same ideas.

“But at the same time you have to be challenged by each other because sometimes coaches we have all the ideas and we want something right now that is not the best thing for the club and we have the right balance, not only with Edu but with Vinai [Venkatesham] and with Rich [Garlick] and with the ownership.

“It’s really important. We make a decision, it’s all together it’s not your decision or my idea. It’s important in good and difficult moments as well to be together.”

IT IS A concept that has been talked about for several years but reports in Australia say that the Super Rugby champions, the NSW Waratahs, are in negotiations to play their European equivalent, Toulon.

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Rugby fans have long wanted to see a playoff between the champions in each hemisphere and the Australian Telegraph are reporting that a propsed clash in February is possible.

The idea is that the Waratahs would play Toulon in France in their final Super Rugby pre-season game, which is set for one week before the start of their proper season.

No doubt Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal is pushing for this money-spinning friendly that will further showcase his array of galacticos but it would still be a surprise if this game actually went ahead.

There would be some great battles though, with Israel Folau and Kurtley Beale going up against ex-teammates Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell.

Do you think a Toulon vs Waratahs friendly would be interesting?

‘He used to give me daggers from the bench’ – Cheika on Sexton’s rise from sub to star‘We’ll have to show Cheika something he hasn’t seen before’ — Jonathan Sexton

YOU’RE MINDING YOUR own business, wandering around town wondering what socks to buy your dad for Christmas and all of a sudden you find yourself surrounded by Rugby World Cup winners.

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Standard.

As part of a joint promotion between AIG Insurance and adidas, All Black great Dan Carter along with newly crowned IRB world player of the year Brodie Retallick, Israel Dagg and Sam Cane were at Bear restaurant on Dublin’’s South William Street tonight for dinner with Bernard Brogan, Sinead Goldrick and Jim Gavin.

We’re really not sure about Brodie Retallick’s glasses mind.

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

Source: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE

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Lacey Evans has been added to the Fatal Four-Way to determine Shayna Baszler’s opponent at NXT Takeover: Phoenix. WWE announced that Evans has qualified for the match, joining Bianca Belair as participants:
Lacey Evans has qualified for the NXT Women’s Title No. 1 Contender’s Fatal 4-Way Match on Dec. 26, joining the undefeated Bianca Belair in the four-Superstar fray to decide champion Shayna Baszler’s next challenger at TakeOver: Phoenix.
The Lady of NXT was announced as the newest addition to the match via a tweet from NXT General Manager William Regal.
With the addition of Evans, just two spots remain open in the all-important showdown slated for the Dec. 26 episode of WWE NXT. One of those spots will be filled on this week’s NXT, streaming Wednesday at 8/7 C on the award-winning WWE Network, when Mia Yim battles Reina González in a Qualifying Match.Click Here: Leonardo Bonucci Jersey Sale

Tottenham Hotspur have been urged to sign Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech, who could help them “win the Premier League”.

Ziyech moved to Stamford Bridge from Ajax for £36million two years ago.

He has struggled for consistent game time since joining the Premier League club.

As a result, the Moroccan international has failed to endear himself to fans in west London.

The 29-year-old was absolutely excellent with Ajax, but has failed to replicate that form for Chelsea.

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He was part of the side that famously reached the semi-finals of the 2019 Chamipions League.

Ajax were a whisker away from making it past Tottenham to play Liverpool in the final, but for a last-gasp goal from Lucas Moura, who completed his hat-trick by scoring past Andre Onana.

In his final season with the Dutch giants, Ziyech scored nine and provided 20 assists – including three against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge – across all competitions.

His first season in England was poor given his transfer fee and reputation.

Ziyech scored twice in 23 Premier League appearances and was an unused substitute in Chelsea’s Champions League final victory over Manchester City.

The former Ajax winger once again only managed 23 league appearances the following season, doubling his goal tally to four.

Game time has been even more scarce for the 29-year-old in 22-23.

He has only started once this term – in the 2-1 loss at Southampton – after being linked with a summer switch to AC Milan.

And despite his lacklustre Blues career, Rafael van der Vaart has claimed he could be the man to lead Tottenham to their maiden Premier League title.

Ziyech may well pursue a transfer in January, but it is hard to imagine Tottenham going in for him.

Antonio Conte already has Dejan Kulusevski at his disposal, and the Swede is pretty similar to Ziyech as a left-footer who operates on the right wing.

Spurs also signed Richarlison in the summer, making a potential pursuit of the Chelsea flop even more unlikely.

However, perhaps a bit biased due to his Ajax links, Van der Vaart obviously highly rates Ziyech.

“Hakim Ziyech has to join Tottenham,” he said on Ziggo Sport.

“If Tottenham get Hakim Ziyech, they could win the Premier League.

“I am serious.”

We believe you are serious, mate. We also believe you are resoundingly incorrect.

Van der Vaart spent two years at White Hart Lane, where he became a real fans favourite.

In 77 appearances for Spurs, the 2010 World Cup finalist scored 28 goals.

READ MORE: Ranking all 20 Premier League teams by points dropped from winning positions

THE IRFU HAS today issued an open invitation to all male athletes, from all sports, to consider taking part in the Irish Rugby Men’s Sevens programme.

Four Talent Identification Days (TID) will be held in various locations around Ireland in January 2015, with speed, power and endurance of players tested, to determine whether they have what it takes to compete at the highest level.

In addition to rugby club talent, the IRFU are especially keen on attracting athletes from other team sports whose skills are transferable, such as athletics, basketball, hockey and Gaelic Games.

The IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora, who last October originally announced the scheme and confirmed the entrance of a team in Division C of the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship, said:

“Rugby sevens is a game that rewards explosive and agile athletes with good handling skills from any sporting background. Our initial TID will be aimed at putting players through a battery of physical tests to see whether they have the physiological characteristics we require.

“The best athletes will be selected to then attend a sevens trial day from which an eventual squad of 20 players will be selected to prepare for the European Championships in June 2015.”

The closing date for entries is 19 December and anyone interested can sign up here.

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