Football news LIVE: Slot to hold make-or-break talks with Salah, Isak injury update, Arsenal tipped to win double

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Live BlogUpdated: 9:14, 12 Dec 2025talkSPORT.com brings you all the latest news from the Champions League, Europa League and beyond.Many of the headlines this week have surrounded Liverpool, with the topic of discussion being the future of Mohamed Salah after his bombshell interview on Saturday.Salah was not included in their squad to face Inter on Tuesday, but the Reds won 1-0 thanks to a late Dominik Szoboszlai penalty.Meanwhile, Tottenham were 3-0 winners at home to Slavia Prague and Chelsea lost 2-1 away to Atalanta despite leading at half-time.In Wednesday night's fixtures, Manchester City came from behind to beat Real Madrid 2-1, Arsenal eased to a 3-0 win away at Club Brugge, and Newcastle drew 2-2 with Bayer Leverkusen.Salah-vatingLiverpool manager Arne Slot has kept tight-lipped over whether Mohamed Salah will return to the squad to face Brighton.The Liverpool superstar's future in the Premier League has been thrown into major doubt after his bombshell interview.He revealed that he felt he had been 'thrown under the bus' and that his relationship with manager Slot had broken down.His shocking words came after he sat on the bench for a third successive Premier League match.As punishment, it was decided by Slot and co. that Salah would not travel for the 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League.Tomorrow's clash with Brighton is Salah's final match before he departs for AFCON, and could potentially be his last at Anfield.Slot said: "I will have a conversation with Mo this morning; the outcome of that conversation determines how things will look tomorrow."I think the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. Now I believe even more, because I'm a son of God."'He needs to step up'talkSPORT's Gabby Agbonlahor has called for instant improvement from Alexander Isak after his poor start.After getting back to full fitness late, the British record signing has looked a shadow of his former self for Liverpool.He has only scored one Premier League goal since his summer move and now major concerns are arising about his performances."Isak, I don't know who this is, but he's not the Isak they signed from Newcastle," Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT Breakfast.

And after a 3-0 whooping of Club Brugge last night, Jordan discussed their real threat of picking up two major trophies."I think there's a possibility that Arsenal can win both," the ex-Crystal Palace owner said."I think it's going to be a tall order."The emotional maturity of the squad and the manager being able to contest two very significant fronts might mean they just get one or the other."But I think there's a capability of doing both." Comments clarified Al-Kholood owner Ben Harburg joined talkSPORT this morning to speak further on his comments around Mohamed Salah.In a post below, you can see Harburg's shock stance that the Liverpool superstar Salah isn't the right fit for Saudi Arabia...He clarified: "My comments on Salah were not to say we don't want stars, the first comment I made publicly was we don't want to overpay for them, so if he wants to come to us, I said welcome him, but he needs to take a commensurate salary...we're happy to bring these players in, as long as they're taking commensurate pay, we shouldn't be five times over paying them to be here."And then ideally targeting players who are earlier in their career, so they can grow up and contribute rather than viewing it as one last stop before they retire."When asked whether Al-Kholood, his club, are going to be bidding for him, he said: "We couldn't afford him anyway!"In any event, he certainly wouldn't be our type of player. He wants something more."Salah not the right fit for SaudiAl-Kholood owner Ben Harburg has warned Saudi clubs not to sign Mohamed Salah from Liverpool.Salah's future in the Premier League is in major doubt after his recent bombshell interview about his treatment at the Reds.talkSPORT understands that multiple Saudi Pro League clubs are now looking at trying to sign the 33-year-old in January.But Harburg doesn't think it is smart business.He said at the World Football Summit in Riyadh: "There's a narrative around him that they asked him to come before and he rejected us."These are not people that like to be spurned and are going to come back around the second time."So I do think that there's already, even amongst the public, much more apprehension around his coming into the league."He's 33 years-old, he got paid a boatload [at Liverpool]… and has underperformed massively since then."Harburg then continued to name a superstar that Saudi sides should be trying to sign instead of Salah."I'm sure some people like his star power, he's from the region, but my sentiment is that he is not a fit for our league," he added."If it were between him and Vinicius Jr., I'd take Vinicius.

In February, we will be better."Don't misunderstand me, winning at the Bernabeu is a big, big task."But at the same time, whatever the results look like, for the level to arrive to the semi-finals, it's not enough."Not good enoughAnthony Gordon has claimed he and his Newcastle players are lacking the mentality needed to hold on for wins in Europe.Newcastle have now dropped points on the road against Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen when leading.Speaking to TNT Sports, Gordon said: "I don't know [how the game slipped away] but it's happening too many times, to be honest."The first half an hour was really poor but we reacted well and we came out well in the second half. I don't know if that is fatigue, but it all comes back to mentality."We have to hold out in these games because that is what top teams do."FULL-TIME ACROSS EUROPEWhat another enthralling night of Champions League action!Arsenal may have boasted the biggest winning margin by beating Club Brugge 3-0, but they weren't the only big winners.Manchester City fended off a late charge from Real Madrid to win 2-1 at the Bernabeu - inflicting another defeat on Xabi Alonso to intensity speculation over his future.As for Newcastle, they had to settle for a point after Bayer Leverkusen equalised in the 87th minute in a four-goal thriller.In Wednesday's other ties, Borussia Dortmund were held to a 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt, while Juventus edged out a hard-fought 2-0 win over Pafos.Meanwhile Benfica beat Napoli 3-0, Ajax came from behind to win 4-2 at Qarabag, with Copenhagen winning 3-2 at Villarreal.Club Brugge 0-3 Arsenal - FULL-TIMEArsenal have all-but secured Champions League qualification into the knockout stages.It's now six successive wins for the Gunners in Europe's premier competition.With their latest victory, it is now ten Champions League group stage wins in a row.Incredibly, they are only the second English side to achieve the feat, the last being Liverpool, who won 12 between September 2022-January 2025.Arsenal's three victories away from home in the group stage is the first time they achieved that since the 2005/06 season.A perfect night for the north London giants.Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle - GOALHeartbreak for Newcastle at the death!Just like he did at the Etihad, Alex Grimaldo has come to Leverkusen's rescue.Latching onto a through ball inside the box, the Spanish full-back fired in a low right-footed strike under Aaron Ramsdale in the 87th minute.Incredibly, that is the defender's ninth goal this season in all competitions.Is there time for a later winner for either side?Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Newcastle - GOALLewis Miley has turned the game on its head!What a comeback in Germany!The Newcastle homegrown hero raced onto Anthony Gordon's cross to head into the bottom right corner in the 74th minute!In doing so, the 19-year-old has become Newcastle's youngest ever goalscorer in the Champions League.What an impact he has made off the bench!As it stands, Newcastle are up into sixth spot in the table.Club Brugge 0-3 ArsenalGabriel Jesus is back on the pitch!The Brazilian has spent 332 days on the sidelines after suffering an ACL injury in Arsenal's FA Cup defeat to Manchester United in January.But he has finally made his long-awaited return - coming off the bench for Viktor Gyokeres just after the hour mark.Can he mark his return with a goal?Club Brugge 0-3 Arsenal - GOALAnother Arsenal stunner!And this time it's Gabriel Martinelli, who has created Gunners history in the process!Cutting inside off the left wing, he neglects a pass sideways and curls home into the top right corner from 25 yards.He has now scored in each of his five Champions League matches this term.No other Arsenal player has ever scored in as many Champions League games in a row for Arsenal.It feels like a matter of how many Arsenal will get tonight...Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Newcastle - GOALIt's all level at the BayArena!Anthony Gordon has equalised from the penalty spot for his fifth Champions League goal of the season.The England international made no mistake by firing home into the bottom left corner.It's a soft penalty, with Mark Flekken dithering on the ball, allowing Nick Woltemade to rob him of possession.And he was adjudged to have brought the striker down, although both men were tussling together.Club Brugge 0-2 Arsenal - GOALIt's Noni Madueke again!He cannot stop scoring in the Champions League!Just two minutes into the second half, Martin Zubimendi is sent through down the left wing.He clips in a delightful cross, with an unmarked Madueke making no mistake to head home into an empty net from a yard out.Dream start to the half for Arsenal.How about stat?Manchester City starlet Nico O'Reilly is the youngest English player to score against Real Madrid in nearly 25 years.The City academy graduate hauled the visitors level at the Bernabeu before Erling Haaland put Pep Guardiola's men in the lead just before the break.O'Reilly found the back of the net at the age of 20 years and 264 days - the youngest since Alan Smith scored for Leeds [20 years, 129 days] against Los Blancis in March 2001.Meanwhile, Haaland has created Champions League history by scoring the most goals by a player from their opening 50 Champions League starts.Incredibly, the Norway international has fired in 51 goals when being named in the starting XI in Europe's premier competition.