Real Madrid 'keen' on Rodrygo exchange for another Liverpool player, with Slot to 'make the final decision.'

By Damerex -
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Reports indicate that Liverpool will allow Arne Slot to have the ‘final say’ as Real Madrid looks to exchange Rodrygo for Alexis Mac Allister this summer.  The Reds clinched the Premier League title on Sunday with four games remaining after defeating Tottenham 5-1 in a dominant performance at Anfield.  Liverpool lead their closest competitors, Arsenal, by 15 points – with the Gunners likely to end up as runners-up for the third consecutive season – and now the Reds can focus on their summer objectives.  Slot’s squad received a significant uplift recently when Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk inked new two-year deals after speculation they might depart on free transfers in the summer.  A player who is highly expected to depart is Trent Alexander-Arnold, with numerous reports suggesting he will move to Real Madrid when his contract ends in late June.  Reports from Spain suggest that Real Madrid may be poised to sign another Liverpool star, as Defensa Central stat...
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Mikel Arteta delivers strange comment about Chelsea after Arsenal's close victory

By Damerex -
• Mikel Arteta commended Chelsea's talent following Arsenal's 1-0 win. 

• The Gunners hadn't secured a victory in three Premier League matches. 

• The Blues were without their top three offensive players. 


Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta offered dubious compliments to Chelsea after Sunday's London derby between the teams, possibly hoping to enhance the perception of his squad's victory. 

The Gunners entered the match having earned only two points from the last nine available, placing them 15 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. 

As Nottingham Forest closed the gap to one point behind Arsenal on Saturday and Chelsea had the opportunity to narrow it to three with a win at the Emirates Stadium, it was essential for Arteta's team to secure a morale-boosting win. 

They accomplished just that due to a lone header in the first half by substitute striker Mikel Merino. In general, the game showed a lack of quality from both teams, and it was somewhat strange to hear Arteta's comments about Chelsea afterward. 

"I believe we earned the victory in the match," the Arsenal manager informed BBC Sport. 

"I believe we were the stronger team." We didn’t allow any [chances] except for the unusual save by David [Raya] in the first half against a team that I believe is the top attacking team in the league – due to their setup, the patterns they employ, and the quality they possess." 

It’s that depiction of Chelsea as the top team in the Premier League that might cause some surprise. The Blues have netted 53 league goals this season, matching Arsenal's current total. It’s definitely a strong return, but Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City (both 55) have netted more frequently, whereas Liverpool has accumulated a league-high 69. 

Chelsea were additionally deploying a backup attack in this match, compelled to compete without arguably their three top and most dependable forwards: Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Noni Madueke. 

When asked why Arsenal wasn't able to capitalize on their overall dominance, Arteta attributed it to a "lack of luck, lack of the decisive pass, and making the correct choice when the circumstances were quite favorable." 

"We had a lot of them, but sadly we couldn't complete them." "During the international break...let's take a moment and hopefully bring back some players," he stated, particularly mentioning the current injury absence of key player Bukayo Saka. 


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