🚨 Saliba on why he snubbed Real for Arsenal stay, Man United eye Madrid star, Wirtz slammed as Liverpool lose, & more

Some BIG updates today as Arsenal get a boost, while it's more bad news for Liverpool...

(Photo by George Wood, Justin Setterfield, Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Good morning folks and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing! Thanks as always for reading, and hope you enjoy today’s post! :-)

Today’s top stories:

• Man United want Real Madrid star

• William Saliba signs new Arsenal deal

• Plus Champions League news clips & more

Champions League round-up

Victor Osimhen penalty hands Liverpool another defeat

Liverpool have lost back-to-back games now, with Victor Osimhen’s penalty giving Galatasaray the three points in last night’s Champions League clash.

It wasn’t a great performance by the Reds, and Osimhen punished them with a superb finish from the penalty spot.

FT Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool [Pictures from Amazon Prime Video Sport]

Chelsea edge past Jose Mourinho’s Benfica

It wasn’t a vintage display from Chelsea, but they picked up their first three points of the season in the Champions League last night.

The Blues welcomed back former manager Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge, and it was a close game as Alejandro Garnacho forced a first-half own-goal from Richard Rios, which proved to be the decider.

FT Chelsea 1-0 Benfica [Pictures from TNT Sports]

Kylian Mbappe scores hat-trick in big Real Madrid win

It was comfortable as you’d expect for Real Madrid last night as they thrashed Kairat 5-0 away from home.

Kylian Mbappe scored a delightful hat-trick, with his first goal coming from the penalty spot, his second a neat little dink over the goalkeeper, and a perfect balance of power and precision for the third.

FT Kairat 0-5 Real Madrid [Pictures from TNT Sports]

Tottenham fight back to claim draw in Norway

Tottenham had to make a late comeback from two goals down to come away with a draw at Bodo/Glimt last night.

Two superb goals from Jens Petter Hauge gave the hosts the advantage, but Micky van de Ven pulled one back and an own goal eventually made it 2-2 to secure a point for Thomas Frank’s men.

FT Bodo/Glimt 2-2 Tottenham [Pictures from TNT Sports]

Champions League scores in full:

Kairat 0-5 Real Madrid
Atalanta 2-1 Club Brugge
Atletico Madrid 5-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Bodo/Glimt 2-2 Tottenham
Chelsea 1-0 Benfica
Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool
Inter Milan 3-0 Slavia Prague
Marseille 4-0 Ajax
Pafos 1-5 Bayern Munich

Arsenal

• William Saliba has signed a new five-year contract with Arsenal, with the club officially announcing his new deal until June 2030. (Arsenal.com)

• Arsenal legend Robert Pires says he can “definitely” see the Gunners board sacking Mikel Arteta and hiring a new manager if they don’t win the Premier League title this season. (Foot Mercato)

• Saliba: “I feel proud of myself because I first signed in 2019 and now I’m still here to extend my contract. I feel at home. It’s the best place to be. I enjoy every day when I have the chance to wear this shirt.”

• Saliba on Arsenal fans: “I have a special connection with them. Even when I was on loan, when I was not playing here, they would send me messages to say: ‘one day, you will play for this club, you don’t have to give up.’ I will never forget this!”

• Saliba on Trent Alexander-Arnold joining Real Madrid: “He won some titles at Liverpool, with me I didn’t win anything here except Shield. I want to stay here and win a lot of trophies. I love this club, I couldn’t leave without giving something back.”

Atletico Madrid

• Julian Alvarez on his future: “I’m very calm. There’s always talk but the truth is that the season is just starting now. My focus is on improving every day, win for Atletico. That’s the only thing on my mind… social media stories are beyond me.” (ESPN)

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Barcelona

• Deco on Marcus Rashford deal with Man United: “We signed Marcus on a simple loan with an option to buy. It’s not an high fee. There are no penalties if we do not sign him permanently. He’s doing great, we are very happy… the final decisions come later.” (Mundo Deportivo)

• Deco: “There’s no January plan around Ter Stegen exit. If he was fit, he’d probably be playing — he’s our captain. Joan Garcia was about present and future. Signing him wasn’t ‘against’ Ter Stegen; it was smart planning.” (Mundo Deportivo)

• Deco: “I see Frenkie de Jong close to signing new contract. We see him as crucial player for our project. We are talking, I’m confident.” (Mundo Deportivo)

• Luis Enrique: “I love watching Barca! I love how this team performs. You know that I am a Socio, I am a fan, I follow Barca games. Barcelona is my home. Eight years as a player, six years as a manager between youth and first team.”

Bayern Munich

• Harry Kane scored again last night and he’s now on 17 goals and three assists in just nine games so far this season. What a player! Read more talking points from the Bayern game here.

Chelsea

(Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)

• Chelsea have had fresh contacts with Marc Guehi as they enter the running to sign the Crystal Palace centre-back this January. (Simon Phillips)

• Alejandro Garnacho: “I’ve got nothing bad to say about my old club Manchester United. There are just bad moments in life… I’m very happy to be here now, play in this competition and get 3 points today.” (TNT Sports)

• Enzo Maresca: “Andrey Santos has suffered an injury and will be out until the end of the international break.” (Press conference)

• Maresca: “Garnacho was very good today. Not only on the ball but defensively… he was very good in the way he pressed. In the last third he has freedom to go one-v-one when he decides. To arrive in the box is important because it’s from there we score.” (TNT Sports)

Galatasaray

• Galatasaray couldn’t resist a hilarious social media dig at Liverpool after their Champions League victory last night! Full story here.

Liverpool

• Arne Slot has confirmed Alisson Becker will miss the Chelsea game with an injury: “It is never a positive sign when a player has to go off like this. Alisson will not be available to play on Saturday.”

• Jamie Carragher has branded Liverpool a “mess” after their back-to-back defeats, and believes Arne Slot may now need to drop summer signing Florian Wirtz! Read more here.

• Does Arne Slot not trust Jeremie Frimpong? Alan Shearer suggests the summer signing is already facing serious issues at Liverpool. Full story here.

Manchester City

• Bernardo Silva on contract due to expire in June: “I know EXACTLY what I’m going to do but it’s not the time to talk about it. It’s time to focus on Man City, to try to do my best to put the club back where it belongs...”

Manchester United

• Manchester United are eyeing an ambitious move to sign Federico Valverde from Real Madrid. (Fichajes)

• Xavi is interested in the Manchester United job as speculation mounts over Ruben Amorim’s future as manager.

• Deco on Marcus Rashford deal with Man United: “We signed Marcus on a simple loan with an option to buy. It’s not an high fee. There are no penalties if we do not sign him permanently. He’s doing great, we are very happy… the final decisions come later.”

(Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Newcastle United

• Newcastle United have been branded “idiots” for paying so much to sign Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart this summer! Full story here.

PSG

• Achraf Hakimi on the Ballon d’Or: “I’m not disappointed by not winning it, at all. It’s already very good to be in the top ten. I don’t think about the individual trophy but about the collective trophies.”

• Luis Enrique: “I love watching Barca! I love how this team performs. You know that I am a Socio, I am a fan, I follow Barca games. Barcelona is my home. Eight years as a player, six years as a manager between youth and first team.”

Real Madrid

• Xabi Alonso on Kylian Mbappe: “He is decisive in practically every game. He is clinical in front of the goal. The other day in the derby he also scored a spectacular goal. We need his quality to flourish, not only because of the goals, but because of everything. Because of his influence. He can have a spectacular season.”

Tottenham

• Tottenham are now leading the race to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace after his move to Liverpool fell through in the summer. (CaughtOffside)

• Rodrigo Bentancur is close to agreeing terms on a new contract with Tottenham despite interest from other big clubs in Europe. (Football London)