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Chelsea predicted lineup against Luton Town – Premier League

Chelsea target their first league win of the season
Despite a rocky start, Caicedo is on course to earn his first star for the Blues
Mudryk could replace injured Chukwuemeka in attack

Under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, things did not go to plan for Chelsea. The Blues have taken just one point from their opening two Premier League games, despite heavy spending in the transfer market.

A 1-1 draw with Liverpool on the opening weekend of the new season was followed by a disheartening 3-1 loss to West Ham United in their final match and Pochettino will be hoping for their first competitive win in as Chelsea manager on his return visit. promoted Luton Town on Friday.

The Blues haven’t played particularly badly in either game and may be unlucky not to have more points on their tally, but the Premier League are relentless and things need to change quickly.

Here’s how Pochettino could face Luton for his first three points as Chelsea manager. Goalkeeper:

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Luton (3-4-2-1)

GK-Robert Sanchez – With a deal imminent for Djordje Petrovic, Sanchez now has competition for his starting spot. The Spaniard has done well with Chelsea so far and will need to maintain a high level against Luton.

CB: Axel Disasi – A goal on his debut against Liverpool was followed by a more difficult 90 minutes against West Ham, but Chelsea’s new man has shown enough so far to please Pochettino.

CB: Thiago Silva – Still an authority figure in the Chelsea youth academy, despite not wearing an armband, the Brazilian continues to set a positive example for his centre-backs.

CB: Levi Colwill – he’s been impressive since his promotion to the starting lineup and there’s little chance he’ll lose his place in the squad, especially with the Chelsea centre-back’s current injuries. RM: Malo Gusto – Reece James’ injury has benefited Chelsea’s new signing, who has been fairly quiet in his two appearances for the Blues so far. He’s still unlikely to follow in James’ footsteps, but Gusto needs to do better on the right.

CM: Moises Caicedo – It may have been a disastrous start to life at Chelsea for the £115million new man, but the Ecuadorian is still a phenomenal player and his debut is sure to be a flop.

CM: Enzo Fernandez – Well, he might not be in the penalty shootout anymore, but he will definitely be in the starting XI. One of the highlights of Chelsea’s early games, especially against Liverpool, and it will only get better once he forms a partnership with Caicedo. LM: Ben Chilwell – While Gusto and Chilwell can perform more like full-backs at times, their forward roles will make them wingers when Chelsea are in possession. Chilwell was incredibly forward in his opening matches and it showed the qualities of him on the left wing.

AM: Raheem Sterling – Chelsea’s best player ever against West Ham and looked back at the electric best of him. Pochettino seems to have the better of the former Manchester City.

AM: Mykhailo Mudryk – He came on after Carney Cukwuemeka’s injury against West Ham and could be offered his first start of the season. Mudryk still looks a bit lost in the Premier League but has shown flashes of his qualities.

ST: Nicolas Jackson – The striker has already proven himself to be an absolute handful for opposition defenders but he needs to add a bigger end product.

More news…….

As the summer transfer deadline approaches, Chelsea and Manchester United battle for a wonderkid.

Chelsea transfer news: The Blues are set to face Manchester United and a host of other clubs for striker Dino Klapija this summer.

Chelsea will join Manchester United and many other European sides in the summer transfer window as they compete for striker wonderkid Dino Klapija.

There is just over a week left before the market closes and reopens in January, with clubs having to make last-minute inroads to bolster their squads. The Blues have already spent a lot of money under their new owner but show no signs of slowing down in the coming days.

Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson and Axel Disasi have taken early steps to join the west London squad, while efforts to strengthen the squad have intensified in recent weeks. Robert Sanchez arrived to bolster the goalkeeping ranks, while Romeo Lavia arrived from Southampton and Moises Caicedo found his way in a blockbuster £115million transfer from Brighton.

The recent strategy is to buy promising talents when they are young and develop them into the best in the world. This push should last until the deadline, as there are still a whole host of open goals for the first team and for the future.

According to the Daily Mail, the latest associated name is Kpija, a 16-year-old striker who has impressed among youngsters in recent years. The Blues aren’t the only team to follow him though, as Manchester United are another Premier League side in the hunt for a striker. Other European teams are also in talks, with Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan and RB Leipzig also considering a move. Klapija is a young Croatian international who finished his career at New York City FC before joining Dinamo Zagreb.

He has since left that position to join NK Kustosija at the academy, although the sides are currently changing and are ready to offer upwards of £5m for the youngster. It remains to be seen whether a concrete offer will be presented in the coming days as the deadline approaches, but it’s a move that certainly makes sense for Chelsea.

August 24, 2023
“Very tense situation”: Chelsea might soon hijack on PSG’s deal to sign a £43 million forward.

Chelsea may soon have the opportunity to sign Bradley Barcola – although PSG have already agreed personal terms with the Lyon striker.

This is according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the news on Chelsea target Bradley Barcola? We’ll take a look…

What’s the story?

Well, the stalwart Italy reporter believes Chelsea may soon have the chance to sign the precocious France Under-21 international. Romano believes Barcola agreed to join PSG in June after signing Jorge Mendes as his agent and negotiations between all parties had reached an advanced stage.

However, Lyon are now changing their asking price – Foot Mercato estimate it to be €50m (£43m) – which has made PSG “very nervous” about the situation.

Romano told Caught Offside: “Chelsea are interested in this fantastic talent from Lyon but at the moment the player is prioritizing PSG.” When the player changed agents in June and was replaced by Jorge Mendes, personal ties with PSG grew considerably. Barcola said yes to PSG and so the clubs started to negotiate. “However, as far as I understand now, PSG are very nervous about the situation. They are not happy at all, it is a very tense situation.

“PSG are not happy because they believe that Lyon keep changing their asking price: one day it’s a number, the next day another number. The player wants to go to PSG, but Lyon make it very difficult, so things are complicated between clubs. One to watch as it could offer an opportunity for other clubs like Chelsea to enter the race.”

Chelsea should make a bid to escalate the Bradley Barcola saga as PSG grow nervous

In our opinion Chelsea should strengthen their interest with a concrete offer. Lyon appear reluctant to sell to PSG – presumably because they are rivals in Ligue 1 – so if Chelsea make a respectable offer, the French outfit could happily do business with the Blues.

After all, according to Football London, Chelsea and Lyon have a strong relationship following the signing of Malo Gusto in January.

Romano also said Chelsea are prioritizing a creative number 10 who can also operate broadly.

Interestingly, Barcola fits that profile, so we’d recommend keeping an eye on him as we approach the final nine days of the summer transfer window.

More news…….

Moises Caicedo was given excuse after terrible cameo debut in Chelsea loss to West Ham

The 21-year-old will not want to see his Blues debut back anytime soon.

After a shocking 37 minutes for his new team in a 3-1 loss to West Ham at the London Stadium, Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo has been given a lifeline.

In the final seconds of the second half, the midfielder gave away a penalty that allowed the Irons to win the game thanks to Lucas Paqueta, making it the worst possible start to his time with the Blues.

Chelsea, Brighton, and Liverpool had been negotiating for the Ecuadorian international for several months, but Mauricio Pochettino’s team ultimately prevailed after it appeared that Jurgen Klopp’s team might have snuck in with a last-minute £110 million offer.

However, he finally left the Seagulls for Chelsea last Monday for a British record fee of £115 million, and fans questioned whether a week of training with the team would be enough to earn him a starting spot against David Moyes’ team.

It appeared as though Sunday could be the start of the 21-year-old’s dream career when he was joined by former Southampton star Romeo Lavia as new midfield prospects for the team. But it wasn’t to be.

West Ham took the lead twice after Carney Chukwuemeka’s first-half goal, thanks to goals from Nayef Aguerd and Michail Antonio, but Caicedo’s substitution of vice captain Ben Chilwell appeared to further disrupt the Blues’ formation and cohesiveness.

The second half was painful to watch as Chelsea moved the ball around carelessly and erratically, leading to Caicedo’s defensive error in the end.

In addition to the penalty, he also committed eight separate turnovers of the ball and two fouls, all while teammates’ fans mocked him online.

Jamie Redknapp, a Sky Sports analyst, attributes those errors to a lack of recent playing time prior to joining the Blues and thinks his future in a Blue shirt will be much brighter.

Redknapp said, “We have the luxury of hindsight [on Pochettino’s substitutions], but perhaps using someone to release into midfield and maybe bringing Conor Gallagher and bringing [Moises] Caicedo in. However, when you speak to the stats guys here, he has not played for 60 days, and you can see that rustiness because he gives the penalty away.

“Only the manager can see how he has trained; he is new to the club and may have felt he wasn’t ready for 45 minutes yet, but he will improve because it can only get better after giving up a penalty on your debut.

“However, there were some aspects that they simply could not master in the second half despite having played very well in the first. “.

August 23, 2023
Transfer news: Chelsea are considering moves for a striker with three names in the fray

Chelsea keep an eye on Brennan Johnson, Mohammed Kudus and Bradley Barcola

According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea are considering a striker this summer, with Brennan Johnson, Mohammed Kudus and Bradley Barcola all under consideration.

After missing out on the signing of Michael Olise from Crystal Palace, the Blues are also looking for a centre-forward and have recently identified Folarin Balogun as a perfect candidate to sign.

Injuries to Carney Chukwuemeka and Christopher Nkunku could force the Londoners to look again for an attacking player, and they appear to have found their target.

Chelsea want to sign PSG target Bradley Barcola.

However, Mauricio Pochettino remains cryptical about signing a new striker as he puts his faith in Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja. The latter is now nearing his return from a lengthy knee injury and will play an Under-21 match to get back into shape.

However, the Blues are on the market to sign a number 10 and see Barcola in the role. Kudus and Johnson are other candidates, but nothing is certain at the moment. Chelsea are exploring their options and could go one step ahead of the summer transfer window expiring for the aforementioned players.

While Jackson has potential, he is far from being a prolific goalscorer. He also lacks experience and may need guidance and support. The arrival of reinforcements should make life easier for the young man.

Chelsea wanted to add another striker and have expressed interest in signing Brennan Johnson.

Johnson is a versatile striker and already has plenty of Premier League experience. Kudus is an Ajax Amsterdam star and possibly the best player of the three. He has incredible versatility and is a dominant player going forward. Barcola is a leading talent and is ready to take the next step in his career. Chelsea could help him with this.

Given that Kudus and Barcola are both dynamic and established players at the highest level in Europe, they can both be excellent choices. Kudus can play attacking midfielder and right wing, while Barcola can play both right and left wing. We don’t have enough creative players. So if we manage to sign Barcola or Kudus, it will give more depth to our offensive line.

More news……..

Moises Caicedo was given excuse after terrible cameo debut in Chelsea loss to West Ham

The 21-year-old will not want to see his Blues debut back anytime soon.

After a shocking 37 minutes for his new team in a 3-1 loss to West Ham at the London Stadium, Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo has been given a lifeline.

In the final seconds of the second half, the midfielder gave away a penalty that allowed the Irons to win the game thanks to Lucas Paqueta, making it the worst possible start to his time with the Blues.

Chelsea, Brighton, and Liverpool had been negotiating for the Ecuadorian international for several months, but Mauricio Pochettino’s team ultimately prevailed after it appeared that Jurgen Klopp’s team might have snuck in with a last-minute £110 million offer.

However, he finally left the Seagulls for Chelsea last Monday for a British record fee of £115 million, and fans questioned whether a week of training with the team would be enough to earn him a starting spot against David Moyes’ team.

It appeared as though Sunday could be the start of the 21-year-old’s dream career when he was joined by former Southampton star Romeo Lavia as new midfield prospects for the team. But it wasn’t to be.

West Ham took the lead twice after Carney Chukwuemeka’s first-half goal, thanks to goals from Nayef Aguerd and Michail Antonio, but Caicedo’s substitution of vice captain Ben Chilwell appeared to further disrupt the Blues’ formation and cohesiveness.

The second half was painful to watch as Chelsea moved the ball around carelessly and erratically, leading to Caicedo’s defensive error in the end.

In addition to the penalty, he also committed eight separate turnovers of the ball and two fouls, all while teammates’ fans mocked him online.

Jamie Redknapp, a Sky Sports analyst, attributes those errors to a lack of recent playing time prior to joining the Blues and thinks his future in a Blue shirt will be much brighter.

Redknapp said, “We have the luxury of hindsight [on Pochettino’s substitutions], but perhaps using someone to release into midfield and maybe bringing Conor Gallagher and bringing [Moises] Caicedo in. However, when you speak to the stats guys here, he has not played for 60 days, and you can see that rustiness because he gives the penalty away.

“Only the manager can see how he has trained; he is new to the club and may have felt he wasn’t ready for 45 minutes yet, but he will improve because it can only get better after giving up a penalty on your debut.

“However, there were some aspects that they simply could not master in the second half despite having played very well in the first. “.

August 23, 2023
Liverpool have just received some very positive news ahead of Sunday’s game against Newcastle

Newcastle United made a new signing ahead of this weekend’s match against Liverpool, while the Reds were given an extra boost on Tuesday.

Lewis Hall will be happy to make his Toon debut at St James’ Park on Sunday, but one player who looked like he wouldn’t be involved at Liverpool was summer signing Alexis Mac Allister.

He was sent off in the 3-1 win over Bournemouth last weekend. The World Cup winner received a red card for a challenge on Cherries CEO Ryan Christie.

Replays showed it to be a questionable decision, but apparently not questionable enough for the VAR to change the referee’s decision. Liverpool played the rest of the game with ten men and managed to prevail, but their main concern was the next game against Newcastle. They already have limited options in midfield and going to St James’ Park without Mac Allister could have been a disaster.

Alexis Mac Allister is no longer suspended for Newcastle-Liverpool

Earlier this week, Liverpool appealed Mac Allister’s red card, hoping the Premier League would reverse the decision.

They received a reply on Tuesday confirming that the 24-year-old’s resignation had been withdrawn. This means he will now be available for Sunday’s match against Newcastle. While Toon fans hoped the ban would stick, it’s the right move. It was a mistake to send him off and he will rightfully be able to play at Tyneside this weekend.

It should be a great game as there are some disagreements between the two clubs after last season. A clash broke out on the fringes of Anfield around this time last year, while Jurgen Klopp has hit out at the Magpies on several occasions in recent months.

They were the only team to beat Newcastle twice last season, so Eddie Howe’s side will be keen to right the wrongs. The Magpies are hoping for a positive outcome, even with the news that Mac Allister will be available for selection rather than suspended.

More news…….

‘I hope soon’ – Stefan Bajcetic’s message after returning from five-month injury

Stefan Bajcetic is optimistic he will be back in action as soon as possible after sitting on the bench in the win over Bournemouth.

The Spaniard’s 2022/23 season has been cut short as he suffered a groin ‘stress reaction’ in March and is yet to fully return to the squad.

Bajcetic broke through before the setback, making 19 appearances in all competitions and becoming a fixture in Liverpool’s midfield.

After watching the Reds’ 3-1 win over Bournemouth from the bench, the teenager shared a positive message on Instagram while anticipating his imminent return to the pitch.

The midfielder wrote:“Felt so good to see you at home again! Hopefully soon on the pitch.”

Saturday marked the first time Bajcetic has been called up to a matchday squad in five months and was a big step towards his return hopefully in the coming weeks.

He did not travel with the team on their pre-season tour to Singapore as he continued his rehabilitation alongside compatriot Thiago.

Thiago himself has been out since April after undergoing hip surgery and hasn’t fully returned to the squad either.

The duo remained at the AXA training center while the team traveled to Southeast Asia for friendlies with Leicester and Bayern Munich.

Bajcetic was one of the standout players of the 2022/23 season before his injury and hopes to pick up where he left off when he makes a full comeback.

The Reds travel to Newcastle next weekend and the 18-year-old will no doubt be hoping to gain a few minutes to reintegrate among his team-mates.

August 23, 2023
As the summer transfer deadline approaches, Chelsea and Manchester United battle for a wonderkid.

Chelsea transfer news: The Blues are set to face Manchester United and a host of other clubs for striker Dino Klapija this summer.

Chelsea will join Manchester United and many other European sides in the summer transfer window as they compete for striker wonderkid Dino Klapija.

There is just over a week left before the market closes and reopens in January, with clubs having to make last-minute inroads to bolster their squads. The Blues have already spent a lot of money under their new owner but show no signs of slowing down in the coming days.

Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson and Axel Disasi have taken early steps to join the west London squad, while efforts to strengthen the squad have intensified in recent weeks. Robert Sanchez arrived to bolster the goalkeeping ranks, while Romeo Lavia arrived from Southampton and Moises Caicedo found his way in a blockbuster £115million transfer from Brighton.

The recent strategy is to buy promising talents when they are young and develop them into the best in the world. This push should last until the deadline, as there are still a whole host of open goals for the first team and for the future.

According to the Daily Mail, the latest associated name is Kpija, a 16-year-old striker who has impressed among youngsters in recent years. The Blues aren’t the only team to follow him though, as Manchester United are another Premier League side in the hunt for a striker. Other European teams are also in talks, with Barcelona, Juventus, AC Milan and RB Leipzig also considering a move. Klapija is a young Croatian international who finished his career at New York City FC before joining Dinamo Zagreb.

He has since left that position to join NK Kustosija at the academy, although the sides are currently changing and are ready to offer upwards of £5m for the youngster. It remains to be seen whether a concrete offer will be presented in the coming days as the deadline approaches, but it’s a move that certainly makes sense for Chelsea.

More news…….

Chelsea’s stance on bringing in a new striker has been confirmed by Mauricio Pochettino.

Chelsea have lost Christopher Nkunku to a knee injury
Armando Broja remains out after undergoing ACL surgery earlier this year
Nicolas Jackson has yet to score in the Premier League

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that the Blues are still looking for a new striker before the transfer window closes.

The Blues made a key addition to their attacking line this summer in Christopher Nkunku, but lost the former RB Leipzig star, who scored 23 goals and nine assists in all competitions last season, to a knee injury during the summer.

To make matters worse, Chelsea are left without injured academy graduate Armando Broja, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in December and is still working his way back.

Nicolas Jackson, another summer signing, has taken charge so far but is still awaiting his first Premier League goal, with 20-year-old Mason Burstow the only alternative.

With Chelsea’s scoring woes once again in full swing in Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at West Ham United, Pochettino took the opportunity post-match to admit the club are still looking for another striker. “It’s a difficult situation because we had two strikers in Nkunku and Broja, but they are injured,” Pochettino told talkSPORT.

“It’s not easy to find the right profile at the moment. We are working on it and working to see if we can add players in this area. But it is a task that is not easy for the club. Admittedly, they are working very hard to add players. “If that’s not possible, we’ll have to wait until Nkunku and Broja are ready and we’ll have help from Mason [Burstow].

“I don’t think the problem is that we need another striker. The chances we’ve created we need to be more lucid. It’s not just the forwards who need to be lucid in front of goal.”

90min understands that Pochettino will be given the choice of a shock return for Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian was left out of pre-season to go elsewhere but with limited options, Chelsea are willing to reinstate Lukaku, but would only do so with their manager’s blessing. It is currently believed that Pochettino is not interested.

August 23, 2023
Chelsea are now ready to shell out £30m for the ‘rare’ striker as he has the same agent as Romeo Lavia.

Chelsea are now looking to sign Folarin Balogun from Arsenal – who, interestingly, has the same agent as Romeo Lavia.

That’s according to the Telegraph.

So what is the situation between Chelsea and Folarin Balogun? We’ll take a look…

What’s the story?

According to Football Transfers, Chelsea have agreed personal terms with the American striker. Balogun rose through the ranks of Mauricio Pochettino’s radar after scoring 22 goals in 39 loan appearances at Reims last season.

Football Transfers have added that Chelsea are ready to shell out £30m for the United States international – although this is £20m less than Arsenal’s asking price of £50m.

However, Chelsea could now be helped by Balogun sharing an agent with Lavia.

The Blues were only recently in talks with the Belgium international’s representatives – likely the Elite Project Group – when they signed the midfielder from Southampton in a £58m deal.

As such, the lines of communication should remain open to discuss a move from Balogun, as a relationship has now emerged between Chelsea and Elite Project Group following successful negotiations with Lavia. Balogun would be a great asset to Lavia at Chelsea

While things are a little frustrating for Chelsea fans at the moment, Todd Boehly is building a team that could truly become one of the best in Europe in just a few years.

The Chelsea squad is full of talented youngsters with world-class potential, such as Moises Caicedo, Levi Colwill, Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez and Lavia.

Balogun is also a player who could become one of the best in a few years, and the Hale End graduate – whom Mikel Arteta has called a “rare” striker – would be a fantastic addition to Chelsea if a £30m deal can be done.

Make sure you keep an eye on this situation as Balogun is looking to leave Arsenal to play regular first team football.

More news…….

Chelsea’s stance on bringing in a new striker has been confirmed by Mauricio Pochettino.

Chelsea have lost Christopher Nkunku to a knee injury
Armando Broja remains out after undergoing ACL surgery earlier this year
Nicolas Jackson has yet to score in the Premier League

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that the Blues are still looking for a new striker before the transfer window closes.

The Blues made a key addition to their attacking line this summer in Christopher Nkunku, but lost the former RB Leipzig star, who scored 23 goals and nine assists in all competitions last season, to a knee injury during the summer.

To make matters worse, Chelsea are left without injured academy graduate Armando Broja, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in December and is still working his way back.

Nicolas Jackson, another summer signing, has taken charge so far but is still awaiting his first Premier League goal, with 20-year-old Mason Burstow the only alternative.

With Chelsea’s scoring woes once again in full swing in Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at West Ham United, Pochettino took the opportunity post-match to admit the club are still looking for another striker. “It’s a difficult situation because we had two strikers in Nkunku and Broja, but they are injured,” Pochettino told talkSPORT.

“It’s not easy to find the right profile at the moment. We are working on it and working to see if we can add players in this area. But it is a task that is not easy for the club. Admittedly, they are working very hard to add players. “If that’s not possible, we’ll have to wait until Nkunku and Broja are ready and we’ll have help from Mason [Burstow].

“I don’t think the problem is that we need another striker. The chances we’ve created we need to be more lucid. It’s not just the forwards who need to be lucid in front of goal.”

90min understands that Pochettino will be given the choice of a shock return for Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian was left out of pre-season to go elsewhere but with limited options, Chelsea are willing to reinstate Lukaku, but would only do so with their manager’s blessing. It is currently believed that Pochettino is not interested.

August 23, 2023
Jeremy Doku met Jurgen Klopp and offered Mohamed Salah a shirt -but Sadio Mane seemed to dissuade him from joining Liverpool.

Five years ago Jurgen Klopp thought he would sign Jeremy Doku as a possible replacement for Sadio Mane – but the ex-Liverpool star has succumbed to the decision.

And now the Reds boss has to deal with the Belgian winger who is set to move to Manchester City.

talkSPORT understands the 21-year-old is on his way to the Etihad after agreeing a £55million transfer fee with Rennes.

However, it was Liverpool who were the first to secure his services as it looked like they had beaten Arsenal and Chelsea to move Anderlecht forward in 2018.

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After being allowed to speak to the then 15-year-old, Doku was given a tour of the club’s former training ground in Melwood. He also spoke to boss Klopp and then Under-18 manager Steven Gerrard, and was even given a signed shirt by Mohamed Salah.

But it was an interview with Mane, whose place he would take in the future, that convinced him to stay at Anderlecht.

Speaking to Ouest-France in 2021, Doku said of the proposed transfer: “My 16th birthday was approaching, the age where you can sign a professional contract.

“Many teams came to me: Liverpool had the most concrete interest, but there were also Arsenal and Chelsea.

“I went with my mom and dad and we got a tour of the stadium, the training ground and even the school I was going to. “They gave me a shirt autographed by Salah and I got to know the players.

“I had the chance to consult with Jurgen and also with Gerrard, we watched some video moments and he talked about the development.

“We met players, [Simon] Mignolet because he was Belgian, [Georginio] Wijnaldum from Holland.

“I talked a lot with Mane, but we didn’t really talk about football. We talked about everything. “He told me that I was young, that I still had time…he didn’t want to convince me or tell me: ‘Come here, you will succeed.’”

Doku added: “I preferred to be careful. I know what my trajectory should have been like.

“That’s why I said to myself at 15 that it was serious because I saw my career. I know where to go and at that moment I knew that I had to stay at Anderlecht.

“Whenever people ask me if I regret it I always say no because if Liverpool came to me when I was 15 and they love me they will come back later for sure.” It’s up to me to play well.”

The 16-capped international finally joined Rennes in 2020 for a club record fee of £25.5m, scoring 12 goals in 91 appearances in all competitions for the French side.

August 23, 2023
Liverpool had a double injury boost prior against Newcastle United, but midfielders were out.

Liverpool got double injury for Newcastle United but the midfielders were absent

Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold were able to attend Liverpool training but Curtis Jones appeared to miss training

Both players were injured in Saturday’s 3-1 win against Bournemouth and were sent off as a precaution as the Reds won their first home game of the new Premier League season this weekend.

With Jürgen Klopp’s side taking on Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, the news that both are fit enough to play a part in early training sessions will be seen as a hugely positive development.

“[Trent] told me he had a pretty painful kick,” Klopp said on Saturday. “But as far as a turn or a crash, it was a kick. That’s why we changed back then, but I hope he’s okay.”

Diaz has also received treatment after retiring late, but he is fit and ready to be selected for Sunday’s match against the team that took them to the top four last season. However, Curtis Jones did not play after missing Saturday’s game with an ankle injury. The England under-21 international was likely still recovering from the issue before a return and Klopp will deliver the latest fitness update at his press conference at the AXA Training Center on Friday.

Elsewhere, new signing Wataru Endo was able to have another session with his new team-mates, following his sudden £16m move from Stuttgart last week.

The Japanese international made his debut for the Reds this weekend when he was introduced as a second-half substitute after sending off Alexis Mac Allister, who is still awaiting an appeal decision over that red card.

Endo was photographed getting some tactical advice from Klopp as the 30-year-old finished in time for the weekend visit to Newcastle. With Mac Allister potentially suspended, the former Stuttgart native could play an important role in the North East.

Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara were not pictured and Klopp will also include the Spanish pair in his latest update when he addresses the media at training camp on Friday.

Jurgen Klopp in Liverpool training on Tuesday

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during a training session at the AXA Training Center on August 22, 2023 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The Liverpool player trains

Mohamed Salah, Harvey Elliott, Joel Matip, Cody Gakpo and Joe Gomez of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Center on August 22, 2023 in Kirkby, England (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The Reds travel to Newcastle on Sunday

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson during a training session at AXA Training Center on August 22, 2023 in Kirkby, England (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Joel Matip was present at the session.

Liverpool’s Joel Matip during a training session at AXA Training Center on August 22, 2023 in Kirkby, England (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images).

Klopp addresses his players ahead of the first training session of the week.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaks to his squad during a training session at AXA Training Center on August 22, 2023 in Kirkby, England (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Luis Diaz was allowed to feature following injury against Bournemouth.

Luis Diaz of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Center on August 22, 2023 in Kirkby, England (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Dutch internationals Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk during a training session at AXA Training Center on August 22, 2023 in Kirkby, England (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Dominik Szoboszlai was impressive against Bournemouth.

Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai during a training session at AXA Training Center on August 22, 2023 in Kirkby, England (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Luis Diaz and new signing Wataru Endo were all smiles.

Liverpool’s Wataru Endo and Luis Diaz during a training session at AXA Training Center on August 22, 2023 in Kirkby, England (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson appear for Liverpool training. Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah during a training session at AXA Training Center on August 22, 2023 in Kirkby, England (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah scored his first goal of the new season against Bournemouth.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah during a training session at AXA Training Center on August 22, 2023 in Kirkby, England (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Trent Alexander-Arnold was not injured against Bournemouth despite being substituted as a precaution.

Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Center on August 22, 2023 in Kirkby, England (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

August 23, 2023
Chelsea prepare to announce double transfer as Mauricio Pochettino continues to spend £350m

Chelsea spent over £300m in the summer transfer window after spending £600m on signings last season

Chelsea are set to confirm two transfers ahead of their next Premier League clash against Luton Town on Friday night. The Blues have already spent over £300m this summer, taking their total signing spend to over £900m in the past 12 months.

The Blues have already signed eight signings, including several young players, and Mauricio Pochettino are still waiting for at least a few more signings before the window closes, football.london reveal. Chelsea have picked up just one point from their opening two Premier League games but are hoping for drastic improvements from last season.

Several departures are still expected in the final stages of the transfer window, including Romelu Lukaku and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who are looking to leave Stamford Bridge on permanent contracts. The future of Trevoh Chalobah and Conor Gallagher remains uncertain ahead of the final nine days of the summer transfer window.

Chelsea are now expecting to sign goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic from the New England Revolution. The Blues reportedly agreed a deal with the MLS club on Monday, reportedly worth £12.5m plus a further £1.5m in surcharges.

Petrovic will fly to England in the coming days to finalize his move to Chelsea. A medical is scheduled ahead of the Blues’ game against Luton Town on Friday. The 23-year-old keeper won’t be the only confirmed signing this week as Deivid Washington has already passed a medical and an announcement should be made “soon” according to Fabrizio Romano. The West London club are looking to add at least one more attacking option to their ranks before the transfer window closes. Pochettino wants a right winger who can also operate as number 10 through the centre, football.london understands this.

Mohammed Kudus and Rayan Cherki remain in Blues care, but other targets are under surveillance. A deal to sign Michael Olise from Crystal Palace collapsed last week.

More news…….

Mauricio Pochettino confirms the striker ‘agreement’ amid a new injury setback in Chelsea news

The latest Chelsea news, transfer gossip and stories with updates on Hakim Ziyech, Romelu Lukaku and The Blues vs West Ham match

Aubameyang dig

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has moved to Chelsea as he congratulates Hakim Ziyech on his move to Galatasaray. The 30-year-old winger had an uncertain future in West London for a while before finally securing a move to the Turkish top flight.

Like the Morocco international, Aubameyang struggled to break into the first team at Stamford Bridge and spent much of the season on the bench before finding a new club in the summer. In his Instagram story, the Marseille ace wrote: \”All the best my brother. Free Hakim *crying laughter emoji* *clapping fist emoji* *heart hands emoji*. \”

Ziyech then reposted Aubameyang’s post to his Instagram story. Unsurprisingly, Chelsea fans have not been happy with the Gabonese international’s coup at the club and have been expressing their feelings online.

Lukaku ‘agreement’

Asked if he could reinstate Romelu Lukaku in the Chelsea squad, Mauricio Pochettino replied: “It’s not just one team, it takes two teams to find the best solution. You can’t just put it on the club, it affects both sides.

“The situation is where it is because of both sides. Both sides have reached an agreement. Before signing, we were informed about each player’s situation,” added Pochettino. “After signing, we had the squad we had. It’s so clear that nothing has changed and if there’s anything to report, we’ll report it.

“We don’t have to do anything, I have to be focused on my team and try to do well. We can’t waste energy on a situation that was obvious before we arrived at Chelsea.”

West Ham defeat

Chelsea suffered their first defeat of the 2023-24 Premier League season on Sunday at the hands of London rivals West Ham United. The Blues failed to capitalize on their dominance in the first half with Enzo Fernandez missing from the penalty spot. Michail Antonio and Lucas Paqueta scored after the break to give the Hammers all three points.

Carney Chukwuemeka, on the other hand, went off injured after an excellent performance with a goal, another blow for Pochettino.

August 23, 2023
Match preview between Newcastle and Liverpool: lineups, officials, TV, and kickoff time
After picking up four points from their first two games of the season, Liverpool now face a tough away game against Newcastle with the aim of back-to-back wins.

Liverpool have certainly shown signs that they can return to peak performance this season, but it will take a lot of work. After earning a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the Reds bounced back from a 1-0 deficit at Bournemouth to eventually win the game 3-1, despite losing to a controversial red card from Alexis. Mac Allister was shorthanded in the second half.

Liverpool’s attack has never been a problem – they have plenty of firepower, even when facing a serious test against one of last season’s best defensive units. However, it’s Liverpool’s defense that sometimes lets them down and with the Magpies scoring five goals against Aston Villa on the opening matchday of the season, things could get tough if Liverpool aren’t at the top of the game.

Nevertheless, Jurgen Klopp is hoping for a strong start and the game has everything it takes to be a success.

Here’s everything you need to know about the game.

KICK-OFF, DATE AND STADIUM
- Date: Sunday, 27 August 2023
- Kick-off time: 16:30 BST / 11:30 ET / 08:30 PT
- Stadium: St James’ Park (52,305 capacity)
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDING

Liverpool and Newcastle have met 185 times in history, with the Reds winning 91 games, drawing 44 and losing 50.

During the Jurgen Klopp era, Liverpool enjoyed incredible success against Newcastle. The Reds boss has only been beaten by the Magpies once since joining the club and that defeat came in his first game at Tyneside in October 2015 (Liverpool lost 2-0). Since that day, Klopp has recorded four draws and nine wins against Newcastle, and was the only manager to beat Eddie Howe both home and away last season, despite Liverpool having a difficult season and Newcastle fans are enjoying their best season since the mid-1990s.
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WHERE TO WATCH NEWCASTLE VS LIVERPOOL ON TV
For UK viewers, Chelsea vs Liverpool can be watched live on Sky Sports.

In Europe the game is available on DAZN.
Vewers in the US can watch on USA Network and Telemundo or stream on fuboTV.

WHO WILL REFEREE THE CLASH

John Brooks will referee Liverpool’s match against Newcastle United on Sunday, with Lee Betts and Akil Howson as assistants and Craig Pawson as fourth official. Meanwhile, Stuart Attwell will be in charge of VAR at Stockley Park, while Constantine Hatzkidakis will act as VAR assistant.

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

Trent Alexander-Arnold hobbled in the tunnel after being substituted in the second half against Bournemouth last weekend and spent the rest of the game in the treatment room.

Although it spooked Liverpool fans, Klopp has since played down serious injury rumours, insisting the Scouser was merely on the wane of a painful injury.

Alexander-Arnold should be fit and ready to face Newcastle on Sunday, but if not Joe Gomez is likely to take his place as a substitute.

Luis Diaz was another player to suffer a hit in the match against Bournemouth after equalizing with an acrobatic finish. However, the issue would once again be minor as the Colombian is expected this week.

Curtis Jones was absent from the squad last weekend after suffering a minor ankle injury in training, but alongside Stefan Bajcetic – who was on the bench against Bournemouth after a long absence – both players are expected to be available this week.

Thiago Alcantara has also not been seen this season as the Spaniard is closer to a return after undergoing surgery for a persistent hip problem before the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

It remains to be seen whether any of the above features will play against Newcastle on Sunday and will be decided in this week’s training session.

One player who will be available however is Alexis Mac Allister. In an official statement on Tuesday night, the FA lifted the Argentine’s three-match gross misconduct ban after Liverpool successfully appealed. It will be a welcome relief and a big boost for the tough away game.

NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS
Newcastle’s biggest injury problem is none other than Joelinton. The Brazilian has enjoyed a stellar season in central midfield and many are eager to see him continue that momentum until 2023/24.

However, the player suffered a limping injury just after an hour against Manchester City last weekend and is a doubt for the game against Liverpool. Joelinton’s midfield team-mate Joe Willock will also be unavailable for the match, having suffered a hamstring injury which will keep the Englishman out until after the international break.

PREDICTED LINEUP

Here’s how Liverpool could start their game against Newcastle on Sunday afternoon:

(4-3-3): Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott, Dominik Szoboszlai; Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota

FORECAST

A trip to Newcastle is never easy and the match is associated with some of the most exciting and famous fixtures in Premier League history.

It will probably be the most important test of the season for Liverpool so far. The Reds have a good record against the Magpies and both teams can score for fun.

Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
August 23, 2023