RED FACES
Before Tuesday night’s entertaining Bigger Cup match at Anfield, Jack Reacher was invariably Football Daily’s go-to guy when it came to watching a giant man deliver a calmly authoritative, surgically precise and brutal takedown on an Amazon Prime TV show. But in the aftermath of Liverpool’s thoroughly deserved win over Real Madrid, it was Virgil van Dijk who strode purposefully down the touchline with vengeance and a ruthless, immediate form of vigilante justice on his mind, as he spied Wayne Rooney standing at second slip in the four-strong cordon of pundits offering their post-match thoughts to Gabby Logan.
Taking the proffered microphone and towering over the former England international who had recently used his BBC podcast to publicly criticise the Liverpool captain for his poor leadership and body language, Van Dijk stressed the importance of staying calm and keeping things in perspective in “a world of chaos”, specifically one where Liverpool had contrived to lose six out of seven matches and become the recipients of regular shoeings from assorted pundits, including the eponymous presenter of The Wayne Rooney Show. “You looking at anybody round here in particular?” asked Gabby mischievously, stopping just short of handing her other guests – Robbie Fowler, Theo Walcott and Daniel Sturridge – boxes of popcorn.
“No, no … not all,” he declared, even if his face was adorned with a smirk so knowing it could have won the last series of Mastermind. “I think it’s over the top at times but that’s because we live in a world where there are so many platforms, so many people can say stuff. It will be picked up and made bigger. I think it would be good if ex-players that played at the highest level, that dealt with difficult moments as well, would put things in perspective.” Looking suitably chastened, Rooney countered that he would not be commenting on Van Dijk’s or Liverpool’s shortcomings again, as it appeared to have electro-shocked them out of their recent funk. “I’m not saying anything no more because I think I’ve spurred them on,” he sniffed. “I’ve put them on a winning streak.”
While Rooney was also subjected to a good-natured dig regarding his less than stellar managerial career in another post-match interview conducted with Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot, he wasn’t the only scouser to come in for abuse at Anfield on the night. Booed out for his warm-up, booed as his name was announced as a Madrid substitute, and booed on to the pitch when he replaced Arda Güler with 10 minutes to go, Trent Alexander-Arnold endured a torrid evening upon his losing return to the club he left in the summer. “He has been special to this club, he has been special to me and he is a special human being,” countered Slot following the game, even if most of Anfield and the paintbrush-wielding Banksy wannabe who defaced a nearby mural of the former Liverpool defender vociferously begged to differ.
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
Join John Brewin at 5.45pm for Bigger Cup updates on Qarabag 0-1 Chelsea, while Scott Murray will be on hand at 8pm for goal updates on the rest of the night’s action, including Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Manchester City and Newcastle 1-0 Athletic Club.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“In the first team you’re going to crash into players who have crashed into players 200,000 times. They’re so strong. I look at photos of me before: my legs are chicken legs. So what happens, happens. Look at pictures of me now and it’s totally different. [Knack] made me see that. Training finishes, but there’s more to do” – Athletic Club striker Gorka Guruzeta gets his chat on with Sid Lowe about bulking up for Bigger Cup and how he once got “well angry” when he scored a worldie and was then hauled off at a match in Leigh, of all places.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
Mladen Zizovic personified what the big-hearted Bosnians are known for. For someone who must have grown up during the Siege of Sarajevo the scars must have been deep. It is hence unusual for a Bosnian to lead a Serbian football team. His name means ‘young’ and that’s how he shall remain in all football lovers’ hearts. A sad loss” – Krishna Moorthy.
Re: yesterday’s Football Daily. The evisceration of the hapless Wolves and Saints was sublime (‘no longer vying for the best Hampton’ was just downright filth), and I know it’s not considered cool or socially acceptable to compliment Football Daily but in this instance I’m making an exception, well done (don’t let it go to your heads)” – Scott Coyne (and no others, sadly).
Tottenham Hotspur may have let down foodies when they cancelled plans for a VIP cheese lounge but last night the club showed that it is still capable of the culinary cutting edge. They served Danish for dinner!” – Peter Oh.
Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … Krishna Moorthy. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.
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