Category: Liverpool

Liverpool has yet to make a signing in the January transfer window as Arne Slot aims to secure multiple trophies, including the Premier League title, this season.

Under Slot’s management, Liverpool’s impressive form continues, highlighted by their 2-1 victory over Lille on Tuesday. The Reds secured the win at Anfield, maintaining their perfect Champions League record, with goals from Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott. Slot’s side leads the standings and has already qualified for the last 16.

In the Premier League, Liverpool holds a six-point lead over second-placed Arsenal and third-placed Nottingham Forest, with a game in hand. The Reds are also still in contention for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, though they must recover from a one-goal deficit in the second leg of the latter’s semifinal. With expectations high, Slot is expected to deliver silverware in his first season in charge.

As the January transfer window nears its close, here are the latest rumors from Merseyside:

Luis Diaz (Barcelona)

Barcelona continues to show interest in signing Luis Diaz, according to Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness). The Spanish club has compiled a shortlist of three players, which includes Diaz, Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford.

Barcelona is looking to strengthen its attack in January, with Diaz and Isak considered priorities over Rashford. However, Rashford may be a more affordable option, as he no longer seems to be part of United coach Ruben Amorim’s plans. Barcelona has long admired Diaz, who still has two-and-a-half years remaining on his Liverpool contract.

Liverpool.com states: There’s no way Liverpool will sell Diaz in January, as the 28-year-old is a key part of Slot’s plans. However, this won’t be the last time Barcelona is linked with the Colombian forward.

Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

Liverpool is reportedly more likely to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich this summer rather than Manchester City, according to German outlet Bild (via Rousing the Kop). The Reds are said to be considering a move for the 29-year-old at the end of the season.

Kimmich is highly regarded as one of Europe’s top midfielders, with over 400 appearances for Bayern. He has won eight Bundesliga titles and the Champions League since joining from RB Leipzig in 2015.

The German international, who has 97 senior caps and won the Confederations Cup, will be out of contract at the end of this season. While he’s not expected to leave Bayern in January, it remains uncertain whether he will sign a new deal before June.

Liverpool.com adds: Securing Kimmich on a free transfer could seem like a bargain, but the question remains whether Liverpool truly needs him. As the midfielder turns 30 in February, he is likely to demand a substantial contract for the final years of his illustrious career. The Reds may want to prioritize renewing deals with key players like Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil van Dijk, who are all out of contract in June, before turning their attention to Kimmich.

Liverpool has officially announced the permanent departure of midfielder Tom Hill from Anfield this afternoon.

With only 12 days remaining in the January transfer window, Liverpool has yet to make any signings, but this marks the third outgoing transfer from the club in this period.

Previously, it was confirmed that Calvin Ramsay had gone on loan to Kilmarnock after being recalled from Wigan, and Marcelo Pitaluga has moved back to Brazil with Fluminense. Now, there has been another permanent exit.

Liverpool confirms permanent departure of Tom Hill

Earlier today, Liverpool confirmed on their official website that Tom Hill has completed a permanent transfer to Harrogate Town, a move that had been anticipated following Paul Gorst’s report earlier this week.

Hill, who had represented Liverpool at every youth level, made just one competitive senior appearance for the club in the Carabao Cup quarter-final loss to Aston Villa in December 2019.

Unfortunately, Hill suffered a 20-month injury layoff the following year, shortly after signing a professional contract with the club. However, he was involved with the senior squad during the 2022 pre-season and had been named on the bench for the Europa League last season.

Hill was highly regarded during his time at Liverpool

In the aforementioned Aston Villa game over five years ago, Harvey Elliott and Caoimhin Kelleher also made appearances for Liverpool’s first team, but whereas they went on to feature regularly, Hill’s appearance remained his only one at senior level for the club.

Had it not been for a devastating injury setback that cost him nearly two seasons of his career, Hill likely would have had more opportunities to play in the first team.

Despite this misfortune, the 22-year-old made a strong impression at both Liverpool and Harrogate Town. Lewis Bower, a Liverpool academy reporter, shared on X that Hill “was very well thought of” at Anfield, while Harrogate’s head of recruitment, Lloyd Kelly, described him as “an energetic, versatile midfielder” who “has always stood out” to the club (Yorkshire Post).

Everyone at Empire of the Kop extends their best wishes to Hill as he embarks on his journey at Wetherby Road and for the future of his career. The League Two side has acquired a real talent.

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Arne Slot exposes fresh Liverpool injury concern as key player may miss Brentford match

In a live update ahead of Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League match against Brentford, head coach Arne Slot provided the latest injury news, highlighting a concern over Diogo Jota‘s fitness. The Portuguese forward picked up a potential injury during his brief appearance off the bench against Nottingham Forest.

Slot confirmed, “We have to see today — it is not sure that he will be available. He felt a little niggle (midweek). There is no doubt about Jota’s importance for us, but he wasn’t training. He finished the game but complained a bit about it. We’ll see for tomorrow.”

Both Jota and Luis Diaz trained separately on Thursday, with their participation in Saturday’s match still uncertain. However, Slot seemed optimistic about Diaz’s condition, stating, “I assume Diaz will train today. He was just on his own earlier in the week because of a sore throat.”

The Liverpool manager also praised Diaz’s adaptability, particularly his performance as a striker, saying, “Diaz has done well as a nine and even before the winter break, it was a very good performance. Afterward, Diaz played there three more games — United, Spurs, Forest. We have created chances as a team and that’s important. I am happy if we play Diaz as a 9 or 11.”

In terms of defensive updates, Ibrahima Konaté is continuing to build up his fitness after managing 66 minutes against Nottingham Forest. The French defender is gradually regaining sharpness. Meanwhile, Joe Gomez remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained against West Ham at the end of 2024.

Finally, Darwin Núñez, who served a suspension midweek, is available again but is more likely to start in Liverpool’s upcoming Champions League match against Lille rather than the Premier League fixture at Brentford.

Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones played a key role in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Lille, a result that helped Arne Slot’s team secure their place in the Champions League knockout stage ahead of schedule.

Earlier in the week, Curtis Jones had sparked some debate by stating that at his peak, Eden Hazard was a better player than Mohamed Salah. However, Jones quickly clarified that he would still prefer Salah as a teammate. This sentiment was exemplified 11 minutes before half-time during a chilly home match against Lille, Hazard’s former club, when Jones set up Salah for the opening goal in a previously uneventful game.

After Kostas Tsimikas dispossessed Jonathan David in Liverpool’s half, the ball was passed from Ryan Gravenberch to Jones. Seeing Salah sprinting forward, Jones delivered a perfect pass, allowing Salah to take the ball forward and finish neatly into the top corner.

Salah celebrated in his usual manner, sitting on an Anfield Road Stand advertising hoarding with arms outstretched, before being joined by Jones, who pointedly gestured to the pitch as a sign of support for his teammate amidst ongoing contract talks.

For Salah, it marked the end of a rare goal drought, having not scored in three games. The goal, his 50th in European competition for Liverpool, also brought his tally for the season to 22. However, Jones’ night ended early after he suffered a knock before half-time and did not return for the second half.

Liverpool’s dominance in the new-look Champions League group stage is evident, with this being their seventh win out of seven. While the victory over Lille is viewed as routine, it’s worth noting that Lille, who had previously beaten Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, were unbeaten since September and had proven difficult to break down.

Barcelona’s dramatic 5-4 win over Benfica means that Arne Slot’s side must still secure a result next week at PSV Eindhoven to claim top spot. Few, however, could have predicted how well Liverpool have adapted since their return to Europe’s elite competition.

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Explaining Liverpool’s Champions League permutations before the Lille match

Liverpool need a point against Lille on Tuesday night to secure their place in the Champions League last 16.

The Reds will welcome the French side to Anfield for their seventh match of the current league phase, with an 8pm GMT kick-off.

Arne Slot’s team has been perfect in the competition so far, winning all six of their matches. They are three points ahead at the top of the standings and are assured of at least a spot in the knockout play-offs.

A draw against Lille would guarantee a top-eight finish for Liverpool and automatic progression to the last 16.

Depending on results elsewhere, Liverpool could still advance to the last 16 even with a loss to Lille, as only 11 of the other 35 teams still have a chance to surpass them in the table with two games remaining.

Slot’s squad will also travel to the Netherlands to face PSV Eindhoven on January 29 in their final match of the league phase.

Clubs finishing in 9th to 24th place in the final standings will compete in two-legged play-offs to reach the last 16. Teams finishing 25th and lower will be eliminated from European competition for the 2024-25 season.

The knockout play-offs will take place on February 11/12 and February 18/19, with the last-16 ties scheduled for March 4/5 and March 11/12.

The top eight finishers in the league phase will be seeded for the last 16, facing a qualifier from the knockout play-offs. These seeded teams will play the second leg of their last-16 match at home.

Liverpool is reportedly interested in signing 22-year-old Algerian international Anis Hadj Moussa from Feyenoord for €12 million in the upcoming summer transfer window.

According to Africa Foot, the Reds are keen on adding a wide attacker to their squad, given the uncertainty surrounding Mohamed Salah’s long-term future at the club. As a result, Liverpool plans to complete the transfer for Moussa, with a deal expected to be worth €12 million when the summer window opens.

Who is Anis Hadj Moussa?

Anis Hadj Moussa is regarded as one of the brightest young attacking talents globally, although his output has been limited so far. Born in Paris, Moussa’s youth career took him through the academies of three French clubs before he graduated from RC Lens’ youth system.

However, it was in Belgium and the Netherlands where the 22-year-old truly made a name for himself. Since joining Feyenoord from Patro Eisden in the summer, Moussa has made significant strides, contributing six goals and two assists in 22 appearances across all competitions this season.

Moussa’s development has not gone unnoticed, drawing the attention of several top clubs around Europe. Premier League teams, in particular, are eager to secure the services of the Algerian, with Liverpool being one of the frontrunners for his signature ahead of the summer transfer window.

Premier League move on the horizon?

Liverpool’s interest in Moussa makes sense, especially with the ongoing doubts about Mohamed Salah’s future. The Egyptian forward has hinted that the 2024/25 season could be his final one with the club. While Liverpool cannot afford to lose Salah, they need to plan for the future.

As a result, Moussa has become a realistic target, with Africa Foot reporting that Liverpool is set to finalize a €12 million deal to bring the winger to Anfield in the summer.

Though Moussa may not immediately replace Salah, he has the potential to develop into a key player for Liverpool. It will be intriguing to see if the transfer of the Algerian international materializes.

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Omar Marmoush comments released as ‘Liverpool target confirms transfer agreement’

In a live update on the potential transfer saga of Omar Marmoush, it appears that the Egyptian forward could be heading to Manchester City this month, although Eintracht Frankfurt has yet to receive an official offer for the player, who is having a stellar season.

Speaking to the press, Frankfurt’s sporting director Markus Krosche confirmed, “There is still no inquiry, no email, no offer. Our intention is to keep the squad together.” This comes amid growing speculation linking Marmoush to top Premier League clubs, with reports from Sky Sports suggesting the 25-year-old has agreed a deal in principle to join Manchester City.

Marmoush has been in sensational form this season, with 18 goals and 12 assists in 24 appearances across all competitions for Frankfurt, making him one of Europe’s standout performers. Only Mohamed Salah has more goal contributions than Marmoush in the top five leagues. The forward, who plays alongside Salah for the Egypt national team, looks more likely to move to Manchester City than Liverpool at this stage.

Negotiations between City and Frankfurt are reportedly set to begin soon, as Marmoush has reportedly agreed to be part of Pep Guardiola’s squad. Frankfurt is believed to value the player at around $82 million, but Manchester City is expected to push for a deal closer to $52 million to $62 million. Frankfurt is likely to reject any offers significantly below their asking price.

City, who are currently without a recognized backup for Erling Haaland after selling Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid last summer, are looking to bolster their attacking options. While Haaland has scored 21 goals in 27 appearances this season, Phil Foden is the next highest scorer for City with just five goals, two of which have come in the Premier League. The addition of Marmoush could provide a valuable alternative, offering more versatility, agility, and a different playing style compared to Haaland—similar to the profile of Alvarez.

Liverpool supporters are increasingly confident that the club has already re-signed two of their key players whose contracts are set to expire at the end of the season.

The futures of Virgil Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been major topics of discussion this season, with all three set to see their Anfield contracts run out in the summer.

Currently, these players can negotiate with foreign clubs and will become free agents when the summer transfer window opens. Liverpool icon Robbie Fowler has now shared his thoughts on the situation.

He told Amazon Prime: “I do have a little theory actually, and I don’t know if this is so far from the truth. I just think two of them have signed already, you know? For some reason, and maybe one hasn’t.
“The simple fact is the club can’t come out and say, ‘You have signed’ and the other one hasn’t, because it makes the other one look worse.
“There’s a possibility that may have happened. If two of them have signed and they come out and say, ‘We’ve signed them’ it puts so much pressure on the other one.”

Although Liverpool has yet to make any official statements regarding the trio’s contracts, fans are inclined to believe Fowler’s words.

Supporters feel that the club might be “protecting Trent from public pressure,” speculating that Van Dijk and Salah have already agreed to new terms.

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Arne Slot must unleash key player as Liverpool await crucial answer to big question within 24 hours

In a dramatic 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, Liverpool had to fight back after an early deficit, and the key to their second-half resurgence came from an inspired double substitution. The importance of Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota‘s first touches in this match may not be fully realized until later in the season, but their impact was clear.

For now, Arne Slot will be left reflecting on several missed opportunities, as Forest goalkeeper Mats Sels was in outstanding form, denying Liverpool a crucial victory. Sels was superb, keeping out efforts from Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Jota, while Ola Aina also made a crucial clearance off the line. This resilience from Forest is exactly why they currently sit second in the league, showing their ability to withstand intense pressure from Liverpool’s attacking waves.

Though Forest may not challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title come May, their defense is proving formidable, and a top-four finish looks very attainable, especially with rivals like Chelsea and Manchester City faltering after their own 2-2 draws earlier this week. If Arne Slot truly believes those teams are still title contenders, then no ground was lost here for Liverpool.

In terms of defensive solidity, Forest certainly deserve recognition. Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo were exceptional, exemplifying why Forest have conceded only 20 goals in 21 games—matching Liverpool‘s defensive record. Only Arsenal have conceded fewer.

From the outset, Liverpool controlled the game, dominating possession against a Forest side that opted to sit back rather than press. The hosts were content to invite Liverpool forward and defend deep, but, as in their previous meeting in September, a sharp counterattack caught Liverpool off guard. Chris Wood capitalized on the hosts’ first shot on target, finding the net after just eight minutes.