After an exhilarating season that culminated in a record-equalling 20th Premier League title, Liverpool have amped up preparations for the new season by keeping busy in the transfer market.
The Reds have splashed out over £260 million on new talent for their title challenge this season, with attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz top of the list.
It was important for Liverpool to replenish their attack and they started by smashing their transfer record to sign Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £100 million, with a further £16m of add-ons.
Liverpool unveiled their other fresh acquisitions during a friendly against Athletic Bilbao, with Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike making a positive impression.
However, one player whose spot will forever remain vacant is Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car crash last month.
Arne Slot will have the difficult task of getting the team ready, while caring for the mental health of players who might still be coming to terms with the tragedy.
Slot revealed it had been a “tough time for everyone connected with the club, but especially for Diogo's family, his wife, his children and friends”.
“We cannot imagine the pain that they have been going through, and the club will continue to give them all the support they can going forward,” he stated.
“We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go.”
Liverpool's season begins rightaway with a Community Shield clash against Crystal Palace. Their Premier League campaign kicks off the following Friday against Bournemouth.
The focus will be on the new signings and also established stars like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool aim to win back-to-back English titles for the first time since the 1980s.
As the new season approaches, we take a look at where Liverpool's new signings rank in the overall wage bill.
Data is collected from reports, capology.com and spotrac.com. This list could get a substantial bump if Liverpool succeed in signing Newcastle star striker Alexander Isak.
Liverpool salaries for 2025/26
1. Mohamed Salah – £400,000 per week
2. Virgil van Dijk – £350,000 per week
=3. Florian Wirtz – £200,000 per week
=3. Hugo Ekitike – £200,000 per week
5. Andy Robertson – £160,000 per week
=6. Alexis Mac Allister – £150,000 per week
=6. Ryan Gravenberch – £150,000 per week
=6. Alisson Becker – £150,000 a week
=6. Federico Chiesa – £150,000 a week
=10. Cody Gakpo – £120,000 per week
=10. Dominik Szoboszlai – £120,000 per week
12. Jeremie Frimpong – £100,000 per week
=13. Giorgi Mamardashvili – £85,000 per week
=13. Joe Gomez – £85,000 per week
=15. Conor Bradley – – £75,000 per week
=15. Kostas Tsimikas – £75,000 per week
17. Ibrahima Konate -£70,000 per week
18. Wataru Endo – £50,000 per week
=19. Harvey Elliott – £40,000 per week
=19. Stefan Bajcetic – £40,000 per week
=21. Calvin Ramsay – £15,000 per week
=21. Curtis Jones – £15,000 per week
Note: Weekly salary of Milos Kerkez not known
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
Kandahar%20
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How Beautiful this world is!
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The specs
Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric
Transmission: n/a
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 659Nm
Price estimate: Dh200,000
On sale: Q3 2022
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Arabian Gulf League fixtures:
Friday:
- Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
- Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
- Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm
Saturday:
- Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
- Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
- Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books
Fight card
1. Featherweight 66kg: Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg: Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg:Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg: Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg: Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg: Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg: Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Ahmed Abdelraouf of Egypt (EGY)
9. Featherweight 66kg: Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%203%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Einer%20Rubio%20(COL)%20Movistar%20Team%20-%204h51%E2%80%9924%E2%80%9D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%20-%2014%22%3Cbr%3E3.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20-%2015%22%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeneral%20classifications%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lucas%20Plapp%20(AUS)%20Ineos%20Grenaders)%20-%207%22%3Cbr%3E3.%20Pello%20Bilbao%20(ESP)%20Bahrain%20Victorious%20-%2011%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000