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Liverpool FC star Virgil van Dijk admitted to a costly second-half mistake that proved pivotal in the Reds’ recent loss to Arsenal, reported by GOAL. The Liverpool captain acknowledged the turning point he created with an error that gifted a crucial goal to Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli.
The moment unfolded after Liverpool had equalized just before half-time, temporarily silencing the Emirates Stadium. Van Dijk’s decision not to clear a long ball downfield, combined with a mix-up involving goalkeeper Alisson, resulted in an easy tap-in for Martinelli. The blunder shifted the momentum of the game, putting Arsenal back in contention for the Premier League title.
Van Dijk, visibly disheartened after the match, took full responsibility for his misjudgment, stating, “I take full responsibility for that. It’s a big turning point in the game. I should’ve done better, should’ve made a better decision there and it hurts.”
The Dutch defender acknowledged Liverpool’s dominance before the crucial error, emphasizing that the team had been performing well. However, he recognized the impact of his mistake, expressing the disappointment it caused for himself and the team.
Despite Gabriel’s Magalhaes’ own goal giving Liverpool an equalizer, the match took a downturn for the Reds after Van Dijk’s lapse in composure. Liverpool lost Ibrahima Konate to a red card and conceded a late goal to Leandro Trossard, resulting in a victory for Arsenal and narrowing the gap between the two teams in the title race.
Looking ahead, Liverpool, led by Virgil van Dijk, will aim to bounce back in their upcoming match against Burnley. The Reds will then face a challenging away fixture against Brentford, with the lessons learned from the Arsenal defeat guiding their preparations for the upcoming contests.
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Tottenham Hotspur star's LAFC transfer raises eyebrows for the right reasons
There aren't many athletes like Son Heung-min, the Korean attacker who's set to join Los Angeles FC for a blockbuster transfer fee of $20M-$26M, per GIVEMESPORT. During his 10-year run with Tottenham Hotspur — a stretch in which he broke Premier League scoring records and led the team to its first championship trophy in 17 years — Son played a major role for the Spurs off the field, too. The 33-year-old attacker hosted massive Korean banquets for Spurs staff, often catered by himself and his mother. He became godfather to teammate Ben Davies' child. Son also became renowned for treating people with respect, regardless of their station, and proved that you can be a world-class athlete without losing your principles. Son wasn't interested in leaving the Spurs for another Premier League club. He wasn't keen on signing elsewhere in Europe despite receiving serious interest from dozens of top clubs. Instead, he zeroed in on a wild, unexpected career shift to Major League Soccer. His transfer will be one of the biggest in the 31-year history of MLS. There are two types of players who join MLS on mega-deals like this: young, hyped talent from European and South American leagues (Atlanta's Emmanuel Latte Lath or Cincinnati's Kevin Denkey) and past-their-prime legends (Miami's Lionel Messi or the New York Red Bulls' Emil Forsberg). Son doesn't fit either of those categories. At 33, he's neither a moldable prospect nor an inflexible veteran. He's a world-class athlete in his prime, one who would be just as stellar at world powers Barcelona or Bayern Munich as he will with LAFC. This is the first time in a long time that MLS has successfully courted a player of Son's caliber and fitness level. One could argue that Toronto FC pulled it off when it signed Italian attacker Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi in 2022, but both players floundered in MLS. (Toronto released each this summer.) Son, with his indefatigable spirit and endless desire to please, is unlikely to make the mistakes in MLS that Insigne and Bernardeschi did. He's a willing ambassador and team player. In other words, he Messi with a little more gas in the tank. He's also a fascinating addition for LAFC. American soccer succeeds through multicultural exchange and owes much of its growth — on and off the field — to diasporas around the country. Son is one of South Korea's most famous and beloved celebrities, and Los Angeles features one of the world's largest Korean communities. His arrival in the L.A. will introduce American soccer fans to the Korea diaspora and should bring a wave of interest and positivity. According to GIVEMESPORT, Son's LAFC deal is expected to be finalized in early August. That would give Son a chance to improve LAFC's fortunes. The team (10-6-6), once known for its stability and unshakable nature, is sixth in the Western Conference with 12 games left to play in the regular season. LAFC will return to MLS action Saturday against the Chicago Fire.
Kolby Aipa, Surf Royalty, Tragically Dies in E-Bike Accident
On Saturday night, surf royalty heir Kolby Aipa was involved in a tragic accident in Huntington Beach, CA. The 20-year-old grandson of iconic and innovative Hawaiian surfboard shaper, Ben Aipa, was put on life support; on Tuesday, he passed away. According to reports, Aipa was towing behind a car of friends on his e-bike when the accident happened. He was struck by the same vehicle that was towing him. Since the news of his untimely passing, an outpouring of mourning from the surf community – from Hawaii to Huntington Beach – has been flooding in. “This is the hardest post we will ever make,” began the tribute from the official Aipa Surf Company account. “We are completely heartbroken. We wanted to thank all the visitors, supporters, food deliveries, donations, flowers, cards, countless stories and photos his friends have shared with us, Drs and nurses that have taken care of our sweet boy. The HB community and everyone around the world have touched our hearts in an unimaginable way. Thank you for loving our boy.” Following in his strong surfing lineage, Kolby was an up-and-coming surfer himself. He was sponsored by the clothing brand AVVA, Dakine, Cobian footwear, and others. He was a member of the Huntington Beach Board Riders club. The Aipa Surf Co. post announcing his passing continued, speaking to Kolby as a human: “Kolby always had a way with touching the lives of whoever he met. His acts of kindness and caring was his gift of Aloha to friends and strangers alike. To everyone that reads this... pass his Aloha on. So, how Kolby treated you, treat others in that same way...In this you are continuing his legacy of Aloha. And you too can be like Kolby.” A memorial paddle-out for Kolby is being planned; stay tuned for more information. Rest in peace, Kolby Aipa. To donate to the GoFundMe, see here.
Yankees quickly pull plug on key trade-deadline acquisition
After a disastrous start to his time in the Bronx, the New York Yankees have seen enough of reliever Jake Bird. Acquired in a trade-deadline deal with the Colorado Rockies, Bird was sent to Triple-A after giving up a game-winning three-run home run against the Texas Rangers on Monday night. The long ball continued what has been a head-shaking start for the 29-year-old right-hander with the Yankees, as he has given up seven runs (six earned) and four hits in just 2.0 innings worked over three games. His recent outings extend what has been a downward spiral for Bird. While with the Rockies, Bird allowed runs in 10 of his last 17 games before being traded, equaling a 13.20 ERA during that stretch. Before that, Bird was one of the most dominant relievers in baseball, posting a 1.41 ERA through his first 28 outings of the season. Bird's collapse in the Bronx goes along with the overall struggles of the Yankees bullpen. Devin Williams, another trade that was supposed to be an answer in the late innings for New York, served up the game-tying homer on Monday night in Texas. Over his last seven appearances, he has a 7.71 ERA, and a potential change at closer could be in the air after manager Aaron Boone's comments after Monday's loss. The Yankees made deals at the deadline to boost the bullpen, bringing in Bird from Colorado, David Bednar from Pittsburgh and Camilo Doval from San Francisco. However, those moves have mostly hurt the Yankees, who also saw leads evaporate in a three-game road sweep at the hands of the Miami Marlins. While it's still too early to say the Rockies won the trade by acquiring two prospects for Bird, the early results for the Yankees certainly point in that direction. If Bird isn't able to regain the confidence that was such a big part of his demeanor while in Colorado, the trade will be a decision that New York could regret for the rest of the season and beyond.
Steelers defender announces season-ending ACL injury
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without a key defensive lineman for the entire season. Via an Instagram post on Tuesday, veteran Dean Lowry revealed he suffered an ACL injury during practice last week. "During a training camp practice last week I sustained an ACL injury that will likely end my season," Lowry wrote. "Hard to comprehend the thoughts and emotions I have felt since then." Lowry said he was "heartbroken" that he wouldn't be able to play with his Steelers teammates in 2025. Lowry, 31, signed with the Steelers in 2024. He played in 12 games for Pittsburgh and started one, recording five tackles and one sack. Lowry was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. He's appeared in 132 games and started in 85, recording 271 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 18 passes defensed and one forced fumble. The injury is frustrating for Lowry, who was entering his 10th season. He was set to rejoin his former Packers teammate, Aaron Rodgers, on a special season in 2025, but instead will have to rehab his injury.
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