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Tag: Dominik Szoboszlai

Dominik Szoboszlai’s banner was unveiled just seven games into the £60million move to Liverpool.

Since moving from RB Leipzig to Liverpool this summer, Dominik Szoboszlai has had a positive impact that is already being recognized.

Dominik Szoboszlai has a devoted following among Liverpool supporters, as evidenced by the midfielder’s own banner being displayed on the Kop during Sunday’s victory over West Ham.

The 22-year-old was signed by the team in July after Jorg Schmadtke and Anfield executives snuck in to activate a £60 million release clause just before it was set to expire.

Merseyside was ablaze with excitement as positive feedback and well wishes arrived from Germany.

After seven appearances for Liverpool across all competitions, it is easy to understand why Szoboszlai arrived with such a positive attitude.

Three minutes into the match against Aston Villa, he scored his first goal at Anfield by skillfully volleying a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner into the goal.

On Sunday, Curtis Jones sneaked offside before heading in his skillful cross, so he was even denied an assist.

However, much more than goals are to blame for the fervent adoration fans have shown in such a short period of time.

He has contributed to the overhaul of the engine room, which now appears much more composed and in control than it did with the players who are currently gone, ranking 18th for the most passes completed in the Premier League with a completion rate of 859 percent.

He has assisted Jurgen Klopp’s midfield in rediscovering its intensity and attacking verve, and he ranks fourth among all top-flight players for shot creation actions and 14th for ball recoveries (all stats via Fbref .
com).

As a result, in addition to leading the club in t-shirt sales so far this year, the No. After the 3-1 victory over the Hammers, 8 was able to witness the presentation of a flag in the colors of his home country on the Kop.

Alongside customary banners honoring club heroes and legends like Bill Shankly, Steven Gerrard, and Mohamed Salah, it read: “Szoboszlai, Székesfehérvár, Hungary,” the middle word being the name of the city the midfielder is from. It was printed across the horizontal stripes of the Hungarian flag.

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As Jürgen Klopp’s risk demonstrates a clear plan A, Liverpool has a weapon more effective than Erling Haaland.

As evidenced by Jürgen Klopp’s ‘risk’ to start him against West Ham, Liverpool has a forward who is more productive than even the formidable Erling Haaland.

Since entering the Premier League, Erling Haaland has established the standard for goal scoring. But Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp have been working on a strong weapon of their own to counter Pep Guardiola’s concoction.

And throughout the course of this season, especially in the most recent week against LASK and West Ham United, that antidote has been effectively unleashed, time and time again.

Darwin Nunez has always been compared to Haaland from the moment he was signed.
These comparisons were inevitable given that both players joined England’s top two teams in the same summer.

However, it’s fair to say that only Haaland lived up to the expectations in the first season.
Nunez significantly underperformed compared to expectations based on his own standards.

However, it’s fair to say that only Haaland lived up to the hype in the first season.
Nunez significantly lagged behind what was expected of him by his own standards.

Thankfully, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and sometimes it takes time to integrate a forward—even one as productive as Nunez—especially in a system as exacting as Klopp’s gegenpressing one at Anfield.

It’s a good thing that Rome wasn’t built in a day because it can sometimes take time to integrate a forward, even one as productive as Nez, especially in a system as exacting as Klopp’s gegenpressing one at Anfield.

In a club, Nez often starts off slowly before exploding suddenly.
His first season at Benfica saw him score just 14 goals, but his second saw him light up the world.

Now, based on what he has demonstrated so far this season, it appears that history may be about to repeat itself.

Nez gave the impression that he was on a mission the moment he arrived in preseason.
In the preseason, he had a lot of goals and appeared to be a completely different, terrifying prospect.

Nunez has now continued in that form during the regular season.
The Uruguayan has already shown his clutchness numerous times this season, including with a crucial brace to turn the game around against Newcastle, a goal and an assist against Aston Villa, and a goal and another assist midweek against LASK.

But Klopp could have easily benched him against West Ham.
Starting him back-to-back in two games so soon after picking up an ailment during the international break was undoubtedly a risk.

But it turned out to be a risk worth taking.

The Uruguayan gave Liverpool yet another pivotal moment with his goal to give his team the lead. Nunez’s goal served as a significant catalyst for the game.

Nunez is more prolific than Haaland himself, who has so far “only” contributed a goal every 87 minutes on average at the club level.

Nunez is only three goals behind Haaland despite having played 463 more minutes than the Norwegian and having contributed to six goals overall.

In a Liverpool jersey, it has taken him some time to get going, but once Nunez finds his golden clutch, he has already shown at Benfica that he is impossible to stop.
Liverpool will be hoping that Anfield will follow this trend

September 26, 2023
Fabrizio Romano describes Liverpool star as “something incredible” and the “bargain of the summer.”

The Premier League spent a record amount during this summer’s transfer window.

All the big clubs continued to give heavily and fans saw the British record broken not once, but twice.

Declan Rice has become the country’s most expensive player after moving £105million from West Ham to Arsenal. However, the England international soon lost his title after Moises Caicedo joined Chelsea from Brighton for the whopping sum of £115m.

However, Arsenal and Chelsea aren’t the only teams to achieve huge success this summer. Liverpool have also been tasked with several signings.

After losing almost all of their veteran midfielders at the end of last season, including Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson; As both left the Premier League in favor of lucrative deals with the Saudi Pro League, Jurgen Klopp knew he had to spend the summer rebuilding his midfield.

Determined to restore the club to its former glory, the German opted to sign four midfield signings.

Dominik Szoboszlai joined RB Leipzig for £60m, Ryan Gravenberch joined Bayern Munich for £34m, Wataru Endo joined Stuttgart for £16m and Alexis Mac Allister joined for £16m from Brighton, a reported £35m fee.

And it’s the latter that Fabrizio Romano, top transfer expert and CaughtOffside columnist, has dubbed his “bargain of the summer”.

“I would like to mention Alexis Mac Allister [as the bargain of the summer],” Romano said on Monday’s DeBrief podcast.

“For me, he’s a great signing from Liverpool. I think they’ve done a really good job. […] For a sum of almost 40 million euros, I think it’s something incredible.”

Since Mac Allister, who signed a five-year contract, made his competitive debut for a club earlier in the season, he has started all four of Liverpool’s Premier League games.

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Mohamed Salah couldn’t hide his true feelings at Anfield mixed zone after Liverpool reject transfer offer

Speculation continues over Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool, but signs are positive for Reds fans, writes Paul Gorst

For the amateur body language savvy, being able to analyze Mohamed Salah’s late goal celebration was a godsend under the circumstances.

The Egyptian’s second win came at the Kop End on Sunday, when he completed a Darwin Nunez strike from Andy Robertson’s corner to complete a relatively comfortable 3-0 victory over Aston Villa.
It was his 188th with the Reds, but the big question remains: will it be his last?

This was what many, immediately after the goal, tried to decipher. There was no great display of emotion from Salah and his ending was met with the kind of hushed response that surely would have been livelier had he thought this might be his last major act before his adoring audience.

The muted celebrations only added credence to the idea that Salah knows he will score bigger and better goals before becoming Liverpool’s top scorer of the Premier League era.

As for the players themselves, they are adamant that Al-Ittihad’s interest won’t see their top scorer eliminated.
At least not yet.

“There’s nothing for us to worry about,” Andy Robertson said after Sunday’s win.
“For us, Mohamed Salah is a Liverpool player and we believe that will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.” “The position of the club was to clear the ball, to reject the offer and that was the position. For me, Mo was good for Mo. He doesn’t bother him, I stay very close to him and he doesn’t bother him at all.”

Robertson’s insistence matches what Dominik Szoboszlai revealed after the match, when he stated that Salah had already told his colleagues that he would stay.

“We talk to each other,” Szoboszlai said.
“He wants to stay here, he wants to be here, he wants to be with us.
In the end, he stayed and that’s great news.
He’s a top player.”

And while Jurgen Klopp hasn’t said Salah has instilled similar feelings in him, the Reds boss was in no mood to back down given his now long-term stance that the No.11 was simply nothing. not to sell.

Klopp said: “He speaks through his training, his performances and his behavior. We had meetings this week and these meetings were not about what we have done in the past but about what we are going to do in the future.

“Mo was on the players’ (guidance) committee and he had times where he spoke and it wasn’t like ‘it’s only until next week for that matter’ or whatever.”

His latest performance means he has now scored in 150 of his 309 games for Liverpool, cementing his position as the Reds’ fifth all-time goalscorer. It was also his tenth goal in as many games at Anfield.

What happens next in Saudi Pro League champion Al-Ittihad’s boardroom will be fascinating.
FSG chairman Mike Gordon’s immediate rejection of the £150m offer on Thursday night will certainly not spell the end of this saga, with reports in the Middle East suggesting the offer will be increased to £200m.

However, if the £150m fee is rejected, the question is how willing Liverpool will be to accept the extra £50m.

With Salah now part of a fearsome five-man front-line division at Anfield, it seems unrealistic that his departure will pave the way for more than one addition to the strike force.
There’s just no room at the inn.

But given the 31-year-old’s ridiculous performance, there’s a valid argument that there isn’t a direct replacement who would be close enough to appease a fan base who would likely be furious to lose him.
Salah exudes noble air when it comes to the top scorers in modern football. He is irreplaceable in this respect, especially for a club with the operating model of Liverpool.

If Salah is a player disturbed by the intense and constant daily speculation about his next move – chatter which, it must be emphasized, comes almost entirely from Saudi Arabia – he did not show it on Sunday afternoon when he confronted a handful of journalists.

who looks like a carefree man has passed.
As always, requests for a few minutes of his time were politely declined, but he couldn’t help but laugh as he walked through the mixed zone with a big smile on his face. It seemed transfer speculation was the furthest thing from his mind as he continued his longstanding and friendly dodging of the local press.

This interaction, perhaps more than any other conversation on either side, was the clearest. Liverpool may still have days to go before they can be reassured about their star’s future, but the signs are certainly positive for Reds fans.

September 5, 2023
Jurgen Klopp finally has the quality that Kevin De Bruyne offers when the Liverpool midfielder transformed

There is a quality Dominik Szoboszlai has at Liverpool that Jürgen Klopp has not had in midfield so far and which gives him a new dimension.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s first games for Liverpool have definitely exceeded expectations. Jürgen Klopp was an admirer of the Hungarian, but perhaps he didn’t even expect how quickly Szoboszlai would settle into his team at Liverpool.

Much has been said about the Hungarian’s energy on the pitch, the way he competes in the many duels and the kind of protection he provides to the Liverpool defence.

But against Aston Villa we also saw what he can do for Liverpool in the future. His outstanding opening finish will long be remembered by Anfield fans who saw him.

It was not Szoboszlai’s first shot for Liverpool in the Premier League this season, however. The opener came against Bournemouth, who were saved by Neto and fired by Diogo Jota, who put the ball into the net with vigor.

Moreover, Szoboszlai also scored a penalty in this match which means he has been involved in at least three goals after four games so far in a Liverpool shirt.

Various sources claimed that Szoboszlai was used in a more defensive role at Liverpool. Even Marco Rossi suggested the Hungarian should ‘shoot more for Liverpool’ in an exclusive interview with Liverpool.com.

But the numbers certainly don’t reflect that. According to FBref, Szoboszlai has the most dribbles (seven), the most runs inside the penalty area (six) and the most touches in the final third (81) of any Liverpool player.

Moreover, Szoboszlai already tops Liverpool’s midfield shooting record with eight shots in four games. Second on the list behind him is Harvey Elliott, who has only fired one shot so far. For years, practically since Klopp’s arrival, Liverpool had never had a midfielder shooting on target from midfield and looking to score goals. Meanwhile, Manchester City and Pep Guardiola have benefited in the form of Kevin De Bruyne. However, Szoboszlai finally offers a similar ability and can use it to devastating effect.

Liverpool have already benefited from his long-range strikes twice. But Szoboszlai knows he can do even better. Of his eight shots so far, only the two Liverpool have scored on have found the net.

“To be honest, I’ve said it before, sometimes we practice in training and I think two weeks ago I had two situations in a row [and] I shoot the ball 50 yards over the goal,” Szoboszlai told Liverpool. the official website. “Today I was even more focused on kicking the ball and scoring. It worked.”

There is still room for improvement, but the fact that he is encouraged to shoot and take advantage of the opportunities that come his way is an encouraging sign.

Klopp is clearly trying to transform and revolutionize his midfield at Liverpool. Szoboszlai could be the key man in his attempts to achieve this as the Hungarian’s shots can add another dimension to the way Liverpool play.

Whether he scores directly or with Jota’s goal, the ball is returned to a Liverpool striker. A player who can get shots on target from long range is a great asset to any team.

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Mohamed Salah has “agreement” with Saudi Arabia as Liverpool transfer offer for $38m star ‘awaited’

Media Digest: Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has reportedly agreed a deal with Al Ittihad as a Bundesliga side face a $38m transfer bid.

Offer from Manu Koné “expected”

Bundesliga outfit Borussia Mönchengladbach ‘expect’ Liverpool to make an offer for midfielder Manu Koné before the transfer deadline expires, BILD’s Christian Falk writes in his daily briefing. Koné is now back from injury and could be available for a relatively cheap price.

“There is also Manu Koné to consider (for Liverpool),” Falk wrote. “I have heard that Gladbach are also expecting an offer from Liverpool soon, as they have become cheaper after his injury.” “Before, a suitor had to pay about $54 million; now you may be able to get it for around $38 million. So it’s up to Liverpool to take the next step. PSG are still interested in Kone, so there could be serious competition for the player if Liverpool enter the fray.”

Wataru Endō was signed from Stuttgart last week, but getting another player across the line for midfield wouldn’t be a bad thing, as long as it doesn’t hinder a future signing of a player Liverpool really want. (i.e. the later Moisés Caicedo).

Mohamed Salah to Saudi Arabia latest

Italian journalist Rudy Galetti has said Mohamed Salah would be open to a contract with Saudi side Al Ittihad, but the final decision would depend on Liverpool’s decision to raise funds – and the Reds are not among those keen to participate.

TV channel beIN Sports (via Al Jazeera) reported earlier this week that Salah has agreed a salary package with the Saudi Arabian outfit, but the final decision will rest with Liverpool. At this point in the summer, losing Salah would be unthinkable.

It makes sense that a massive salary is on offer for one of the biggest and most marketable players in the world. Neymar moved to Saudi Arabia, but Salah would surpass even that figure.

However, it would be a disappointment if the player chose money over staying in the best and most competitive league in the world. For Liverpool, the sooner a Salah switch can be categorically ruled out, the better.

September 5, 2023
The new Fab Four of Liverpool! With the addition of Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, and Endo to his midfield to replace veterans

Liverpool’s New Fantastic Four! Jurgen Klopp completes £145m rebuild of his midfield with arrivals of Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister and Endo to replace Saudi veterans Henderson and Fabinho

Let’s talk about six, honey. That was the famous phrase Jurgen Klopp coined when Liverpool won their sixth European Cup in Madrid, a play on the Salt-N-Pepa hit Let’s Talk About Sex.
Four years later, the Reds’ summer semester history is roughly six years.

The long search for a number 6 – a midfielder who favors those who prefer the traditional language – has seen them publicly drop two important goals, fight to sign a little-known 30-year-old and finish in the bottom two. hours of Deadline Day, make it feel light in the central areas.

But with an hour and a quarter remaining in England’s transfer window, Liverpool have finally released the official announcement: Ryan Gravenberch has arrived from Bayern Munich.
Klopp and sporting director Jörg Schmätäke have finally found their man.

The Dutch midfielder completed the incredible four midfield additions for Klopp and Co after new additions Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo.

Three of the four new signings are 24 or younger and the Liverpool midfielder now looks refreshed.

Liverpool have signed Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich for £35million.

The Reds finalized their trip one hour and 15 minutes before the end of the transfer window.

You didn’t have to be a football expert to see how desperate the Merseyside club were to rebuild.
Although they finished fifth last season after a late rebound in form, the midfielder has often been blamed for a significantly below average season.
And so Klopp approved the departure of James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, as they went on loan for Fabio Carvalho.
But they were rocked by two unplanned exits in mid-summer when Jordan Henderson and Fabinho left for Saudi Arabia.

Henderson’s departure sparked a major debate after the Englishman betrayed the LGBTQ+ community by relinquishing previous allegiances as one of the few high-profile male players to support gay people.
A football-related debate soon ensued about what Klopp’s team was losing.

Although Henderson and Fabinho had seen better days on the pitch – neither had reached their top level last season – the pair’s departure left Liverpool incredibly light in midfield and they entered the new season without a recognized midfielder.
Endo was a bargain at £16.2m but was clearly not the club’s No.6 first choice after public prosecutions for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
As things stand, Liverpool are left with four midfielders for barely more than Chelsea paid for Ecuadorian Caicedo.

“We had to reinvent the team, the midfield will be like this and completely new, in recent years we had to do the same with our front,” said Klopp, who says he is particularly happy with the new arrivals.
They lacked the appeal of Champions League football.

“We got younger but we had to, we have less experience but that’s normal but we are full of desire.” I love this team.
Age is not a problem. These players have already played many matches at a very high level.

“I know it’s been a long time, but in Dortmund we became the youngest champions in history and a year later we became the second youngest champions in history because the team was a year old.
more.

It’s not a problem, it didn’t hold us back then and it won’t hold us back now.”

After three league games this season, Szoboszlai is shaping up to be one of the best signings of the summer.

Unlike long sagas about a defensive midfielder, Szoboszlai was quick to wrap up, signing just three days after negotiations with Liverpool began.
Sporting director Jorg Schmadtke is said to have been instrumental in much of the summer’s activities, noting that three of the German’s four signings have come from Bundesliga clubs.
José Fortes Rodriguez, right arm of former super agent Mino Raiola, is also influential.

Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed in games for Liverpool so far

30-year-old Japanese captain Wataru Endo has been signed by Bundesliga side Stuttgart for £16m

World Cup winner Alexis MacAllister has joined the Reds from Premier League rivals Brighton

Jürgen Klopp will be happy with his midfield signings during the summer transfer window

In their last six starts this summer, Liverpool have lost 1,776 Premier League games.

But all the new guys, despite their young age, have considerable experience.

Endo and Szoboszlai are the captains of their respective national teams, respectively of Japan and Hungary.

Mac Allister won a World Cup and was instrumental in Argentina’s success.

Those close to the former Brighton player say he is ‘like a bulldog’ in training.

Although it didn’t work out at Bayern Munich, Gravenberch played over 100 times for Ajax.

Klopp likes Gravenberch for his versatility and the Dutchman will play all over midfield.

This completes the remodeling of the midfield.
“Ryan knows he needs to improve but he’s 21, it would be crazy not to,” the manager said.

“But he’s super talented, he can control the ball, he can be a box-to-box threat.

He has good feeling for a pass and a good pass.
I’ve said before that we have a big challenge to reinvent one of the most successful midfielders this club has ever had and I really like that.

September 2, 2023
Two-word message from Erling Haaland to Dominic Szoboszlai on his arrival to the Premier League

Liverpool new signing Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed in his first two games on Merseyside after a warning from his close friend and former Salzburg team-mate.

A message appeared on Dominik Szoboszlai’s phone just before he was about to fly to Liverpool to take the biggest step in his impressive career development.

It came from his close friend and former team-mate Erling Haaland and contained just two words: ‘Get ready’.

It was ‘monster’ after ‘monster’, back-to-back world-class Premier League talent in a year, both for amounts that hardly reflect their value in today’s bloated transfer market.

Besides, Haaland’s message was hardly necessary. It looks like Szoboszlai was born ready to play for Liverpool… right down to the tattoo he once had on his arm, which is loosely based on a quote from Anfield legend Steven Gerrard.

It’s no surprise to those who know the 22-year-old Hungarian that he took over as Gerrard’s number 8 at the club he joined for £60m in late July. The midfielder does not lack confidence or belief in his own talent.

He showed it at a young age: he was just 16 when he sent the Hungarian U17 team to the European Championship with a miraculous injury in an injury-caused win against Haalands Norway, and just 17 when he made his debut under senior national team coach Marco Rossi.

Rossi then captained the midfielder, for the same reason Jürgen Klopp spent £60m to bring him to Anfield. “Because of his personality and his natural leadership,” explained the Italian coach.

“The most impressive thing from the start was his incredible personality, his natural leadership at such a young age and all of this, of course, coupled with his talent and dedication.

Haaland and Szoboszlai during their stay in Salzburg

“Everyone here in the national team has no doubt that Dominik could be one of Liverpool’s most important players in the future.”

Like Haaland, a release clause in Szoboszlai’s contract allowed him to leave RB Leipzig at less than the current market value of a world-class midfielder.

Chelsea almost doubled that amount for Enzo Fernandez and then Moises Caicedo, while Manchester United paid almost half that amount for aging Casemiro.

Yet two games after joining Liverpool he has already shown great promise which has every manager who has worked with him raving about his talent… and hinting that he is the best midfielder in this game. which has been a simply insane summer transfer window. The Premier League could be.

The latest Hungarian to play for Liverpool is goalkeeper Adam Bogdan, Szoboszlai’s former Hungarian team-mate and someone who has no doubts about his success at Anfield and knows the club as well as he does.

“He was born to be a star.” He’s the biggest talent Hungary has had in recent years, but maybe overall. And he isn’t fazed by the pressure that status brings; he will not play for Liverpool.

“One of his best friends in football is Erling Haaland and I think he has a similar mentality to him. He’s not really scared and doesn’t get nervous. The greater the pressure, the better his performance will be. “The money for a Hungarian player is incredible, but given his heritage, Liverpool can say with great certainty that this is possible.”

Klopp called him a monster when he signed. Haaland describes it the same way. For his coach of the national team Rossi has a monstrous “potential”.

“You see how he has grown so much every year under the guidance of excellent coaches. He now works with one of the best coaches in the world and with Klopp he can take these steps to the highest level.

August 24, 2023
The transformation of the Liverpool midfielder: reasons to be happy, parts 1, 2 and 3

Liverpool’s recent victory at Anfield against Bournemouth might not have been as haunting as it was at this time last year, but there were signs of a new horizon.

A promising end to the season in terms of form and results, an initially optimistic start to our summer transfer business, then disruptive Arabian Nights followed by no return attempts to lure Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Anfield.

Add an incomplete stand at Anfield and things are a bit turbulent.

Glad everything is going well on the pitch as the new season has started…

An overly generous and sloppy opening, profuse gifts offered as a goal in our own half seemed elusive. When the ball first landed in the Liverpool net on Saturday, the incident itself – and the linesman’s flag – should have acted like fragrant salts.

But they didn’t.

Even with a deficit, Jurgen Klopp’s players seemed to be tripping over their own feet, as if the score in the corresponding game last season had entitled them to sleepwalk in the first home game.

As juxtapositions go, this was the opposite of what happened at Stamford Bridge six days earlier, where Liverpool were dominant and calm until Mo Salah’s VAR foul turned an expected 2-0 lead into a inconclusive 1-1 draw.

Three goals and a red card later, and it looked a little more than scripted we might have imagined for the start of 2023/24, after 2022/23 ended with a run of seven wins and four draws in one unbeaten streak last 11 Premier League games.

Perspective and all while some of us are opting for the layer of emotional protection that comes with an “expect the worst and hope for the best” approach to our hopes this time around despite the transfer setbacks, I think there are reasons to be cheerful. A two-part renovation

Two-part rebuild

The midfield, which had long been the elephant in the Anfield dressing room – including during winning seasons in the Champions League and Premier League – has finally had its much-needed restart.

Partly planned, partly unexpected. Five out, three in as things stand, with the third of those newcomers arriving just over 24 hours before kickoff on Saturday.

It provided an uplifting but uncomfortable rejuvenation.

The numbers game is no doubt a concern, but it was tempered by the emergence of Stefan Bajcetic last season and the ground made up by Curtis Jones in the run up to that. Of the others we were able to keep, Thiago remains but will certainly stick to his average, missing at least a third of the season, while the decision on Harvey Elliott, which seemed to raise more questions than answers, is still largely undecided. his late appearance on Saturday.

The departures of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came as no surprise this summer, but the losses of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson were clearly not part of the script.

The latter two were certainly keen on their lucrative move east, but it was highly unusual for Liverpool to let them go without a replacement being found and secured.

The next great midfield duo?

Rightly or wrongly, Fabinho and Henderson provided Liverpool’s midfield base for a long time, with a revolving door system dictating who should play alongside them.

Demographics are changing dramatically. The departure of Henderson and Fabinho could very well do us.

The next great midfield duo?

You can’t help but be thrilled by the additions of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai who, together, offer us third eye vision and a force of nature that can mesmerizingly serve us for many years to come.

Mac Allister is perfect for Liverpool in theory. Cultured, intelligent and calm in possession, he worked out the angles in his head long before interacting with the ball. Potentially, after nearly a decade and a half of waiting, we may have finally found an heir for Xabi Alonso.

He had difficulties with the red card shown to him on Saturday, but even if it had been a yellow card it would still have been two yellow cards in the first two games.

Even if his sending off against Bournemouth were to be reversed, we will probably have to get used to his periodic suspensions over the next few months.

In Szoboszlai we find a player who seems to have everything you could want from a midfielder.

Power, pace, offensive spirit, no problem handling the dark arts when necessary, nose for goal, will to win, passion and dedication. An iron fist in a player’s velvet glove, it’s a joy to behold.

The missing piece?

Our latest signing, Wataru Endo, entered the fray shortly after Mac Allister’s departure on Saturday, and played his part in taking us to as serene a third endgame as we could have wished for with 10 men.

Strangely, Endo was canceled by a glass-half-empty caller on the Radio Merseyside phone as I was walking home, apparently for no better reason than the fact that it was about £95m cheaper than Caicedo would have stopped us.

Whether or not Klopp makes another midfield addition before the end of the transfer window, signing Endo could prove to be a smart move.

The departures of Henderson, Fabinho and Milner have seen much of the team’s experience disappear and the Japanese captain is able to make up some of the shortfall.

We’ll probably need a lot of that at Tyneside next Sunday in a game where we can’t afford to have Cody Gakpo in midfield.

Coming off a crucial win over Bournemouth, a fixture between trips to Chelsea and Newcastle next Sunday gives us an opportunity to make a statement if we can.

That goes for both Liverpool’s position and whether Eddie Howe and his players are raising doubts about how they feel about themselves and their chances this season.

August 21, 2023
PAUL MERSON IMPRESSED BY ONE LIVERPOOL MIDFIELDER VS BOURNEMOUTH

While watching Dominik Szoboszlai play for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool against Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League, Sky Sports analyst Paul Merson gushed about the player.

Dominik Szoboszlai was “very good” for Liverpool against Bournemouth in the first half of the Premier League game at Anfield this afternoon, according to the former Arsenal star on Sky Sports News (3:46pm, August 19, 2032).

In the final seconds of the first half, Merson remarked that Szoboszlai had been Liverpool’s top performer.

For Liverpool vs. Bournemouth, Dominik Szoboszlai received praise.

In the Premier League game, Liverpool defeated Bournemouth at home.

Szoboszlai has been excellent, Merson remarked. “.

He has been the best player thus far in this first half, the Sky Sports analyst continued. “.

Despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half, Liverpool handled Bournemouth fairly comfortably.

One of the best players for the Merseyside club in the Premier League was Dominik Szoboszlai.

The attacking midfielder showed great promise against Chelsea the previous weekend, and in front of the Liverpool supporters today against Bournemouth, he improved.

The international player for Hungary had excellent ball control.

Szoboszlai skillfully handled the ball, passing it when necessary and dribbling when he had to.

As he frequently assisted Trent Alexander-Arnold, it was encouraging to see the attacking midfielder work hard off the ball.

The Anfield faithful will now be hoping that Liverpool can build on its strong start to the new season.

The Merseyside team’s goal for the current campaign is to win the Premier League championship.

Liverpool should maintain a positive attitude despite the challenges ahead.

Szoboszlai will be crucial to Liverpool over the next few weeks and months.

More news………

Liverpool set ‘shortlist’ for transfer of six midfield players after Romeo Lavia failure

Liverpool have been chasing a midfield addition in the closing weeks of the transfer window, having recently seen moves hijacked by Chelsea from Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.

Liverpool have placed Fulham star Joao Palhinha at the top of a list of six midfielders as they scramble for signings.

Jürgen Klopp is desperate for reinforcements in midfield before the end of the transfer window. The Reds had a deal with Brighton for Moises Caicedo but have seen the Ecuadorian complete a move to Chelsea.

An attack on Romeo Lavia looks set to go the same way as the Blues are close to signing the Southampton youngster for a fee of over £50m. That leaves Liverpool with few options as they look to secure a signing. However, Klopp has compiled an extensive list of potential recruits. According to MailOnline, six options are being studied.

Fulham star Joao Palhinha is reportedly the most favourite. The Portuguese shone with Marco Silva’s men last season following a move from Sporting Lisbon.

West Ham were linked with a move for him earlier this summer, but he competed for Southampton star James Ward-Prowse instead. Fulham have reportedly put a price tag of over £60m on Palhinha and whether Liverpool are willing to pay that fee remains to be seen.

Another one of their options is also expected to be expensive. Crystal Palace star Cheick Doucoure has been considered, but the Eagles are asking around £70m for the former Lens midfielder.

There are several other candidates who could potentially move to Anfield before the end of the transfer window, who had been under consideration previously. Kalvin Phillips has been admired by Klopp in the past and the Reds have been urged to re-examine a transfer for the Man City man. Sofyan Amrabat is also linked with a move from Fiorentina to Merseyside. Liverpool have their hands full to secure his services and bitter rivals Manchester United are also hot on their heels.

The Reds are also neck and neck with United over the signing of Khephren Thuram. Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move to the Nice midfielder, although the Red Devils have reportedly been eyeing this in recent weeks with a close eye on Jean-Claire Todibo.

A final option could potentially be Brazilian prodigy Andre van Fluminese. The Reds are keen on a deal for the midfielder but his current employers don’t want to lose him this summer, instead wanting a deal in January.

Speaking about his team’s need for a new midfielder ahead of Chelsea, Klopp said: “It’s no surprise that we’re looking for that position. It’s clear and it would be great if we could do something, but for now we can do a lot of things.

“We can also play a double six or a double pivot and Stefan [Bajcetic] comes back. He played that position exceptionally well, so we have options, we have Curtis [Jones], we can adjust the system and we have options. But yeah, it would be absolutely amazing if we could.

August 20, 2023
Roy Keane compares Liverpool to Man Utd, Newcastle, Arsenal, and Chelsea in the top four competition.

Liverpool secured a hard-fought point in Sunday’s Premier League opener after being held 1-1 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It was an action-packed game as both teams were denied a goal and Liverpool had to register a second-half VAR penalty.

It’s been just one game and the Reds have already had heart-pounding drama. We can only expect this season to continue as it started, with many twists and turns, especially when it comes to fighting for the top 4.

Last season, Liverpool struggled to maintain consistent form and failed to qualify for the Champions League. They finished fifth after the last game of the season, which was canceled by Manchester United and Newcastle, both certainly another challenge.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Roy Keane admitted he sees another triumph for Manchester City at the top of the table, but says there is “a lot of competition” when it comes to battling for a top-four finish.

“I said before, unless they really drop out and get seriously injured or lose that hunger, other teams have a chance, but I don’t see anyone competing with Manchester City. I think United will be in the top four, look at L ‘Arsenal have improved, look at Newcastle, Villa will respond well [to defeat].

“Liverpool, Chelsea – there’s a lot of competition, but for a lot of these teams it’s the top four and that includes United. Newcastle are definitely in contention for the top four. I think they’ve gotten stronger, their recruiting has been great.”

Immediate rivals Liverpool have strengthened considerably in the transfer market this summer, making plenty of signings. The Reds got off to a good start after signing Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but the sudden departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho left Jurgen Klopp struggling to sign replacements for the now decadent and worrying midfielder.

More news…….

Trent Alexander-Arnold has confessed he cannot be the leader that James Milner was and has urged other Liverpool stars to fill the void.

Milner, 37, has now left Anfield for Brighton after a fantastic eight years at the club. He moved to Merseyside in June 2015 after five seasons with Manchester City. The Leeds-born ace won two Premier Leagues, an EFL Cup and an FA Cup with the Citizens.

And he added the 2018-19 Champions League to another Premier League triumph with the Reds. The former England winger also won both domestic cups with Liverpool but has now joined the Seagulls.

Milner left his contract this summer and signed a one-year contract with Amex with an option for an additional 12 months.

Since Jordan Henderson also left the club, Virgil van Dijk took over the captaincy.

Alexander-Arnold was named vice-captain. But the Englishman believes it will take a concerted effort to replicate the effect Milner had in the dressing room. “I play a role in making sure I live up to the standard every day,” she told the Daily Mail. “By losing Milner, you can’t replace him immediately. A lot of people will be needed. Others have to step forward.

“We have to make sure that the way he has continued to push us forward is replaced.”

Liverpool’s midfield will look very different in 2023/24. Fabinho, Naby Keita, Fabio Carvalho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joined the departures of Henderson and Milner.

Carvalho’s departure was on loan to RB Leipzig for a year, while Roberto Firmino has also left.

There are newcomers too, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister now on board.

Alexander-Arnold aware of Liverpool’s role
Liverpool fans are hoping for a return to the form they played regularly in the Champions League until last season.

Nine defeats in the top flight have left them well off pace and in fifth place. That just means Europa League for the Anfield faithful.

They will open the season at home against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

Alexander-Arnold will be one of the players Klopp will look to when the chips run out.

The man with 20 England caps knows he won’t have the same impact as Milner.

But he hopes to have qualities that can provoke a reaction from his teammates. “I am aware of myself. I know I will never be a James Milner,” he added.

“I will never be that kind of leader, but the leadership qualities that I have have to be demonstrated and they have to be seen, heard and used in an effective way for the team.”

“I have to keep pushing forward to try to achieve the things that I want to achieve.”

Alexander-Arnold could well be used in Klopp’s midfield this season. Last season he was used several times in the hybrid position. Gareth Southgate has also propelled him higher up the pitch for England and it could be that the future of the Liverpool man lies on the right side of midfield.

August 15, 2023
Dominik Szoboszlai has already identified ‘dream’ number six transfer Liverpool should now pull off

Dominik Szoboszlai has already identified the no.6 transfer as the one Liverpool should make right away.

Liverpool has been concentrating on the number six position over the past month or so after securing the signing of Dominik Szoboszlai. The club urgently needs a suitable replacement for Fabinho now that he has left, but the Reds’ search for one has so far been fruitless.

Moisés Caicedo would have rather moved to Chelsea than Anfield, despite Liverpool having had a bid accepted for him. It appears that the Reds’ efforts to sign the Brighton midfielder have now been in vain.

As a result, Jürgen Klopp must start over. In the current state of the holding midfielder market in international football, many of the top players in the position have already left for greener pastures this summer.

However, there is one player who might be free. Szoboszlai, a new Liverpool player, has previously praised him and included him in his “dream XI” at position six.

Szoboszlai was asked to name his ideal starting lineup of players from his career thus far on Fabrizio Romano’s Here We Go show in 2021. The Hungarian chose Tyler Adams of Leeds United to fill the sixth spot.

Tyler Adams would be one of the two sixes behind me, Szoboszlai told Romano. He’s good, he’s good. He is a boss. “.

Similar to how Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister would have worked, Szoboszlai and Adams are familiar with one another from Leipzig, which makes them a desirable pairing for Liverpool.

But what made Szoboszlai such a desirable candidate for the Reds is also what makes Adams an ideal candidate. The USMNT international, who went through the New York Red Bulls academy system before joining RB Leipzig, has been a Red Bull product from an early age, much like the Hungarian.

He has been raised in the gegenpressing system, which should make him much more adaptable to life at Liverpool than other players in his position. He is available and for sale, which is significant.

He’s available for a discount with a $25 million release clause (£20 million/€23 million). According to David Ornstein, Chelsea was interested in Adams along with Caicedo and Roméo Lavia, but that deal fell through. Currently, a number of top Premier League clubs are monitoring the situation of the USMNT captain.

Adams’ current injury does make things more difficult for Liverpool. He is worth the risk, though, at a pitiful $25 million.

He demonstrated his talent and produced outstanding performances for Leeds United during the previous Premier League season. The club was only ultimately dragged into the relegation zone and kicked out of England’s top division while he was away.

There aren’t many better options than Adams, particularly at that price range, who is comfortable with the ball, has great mobility, and is very good defensively. Liverpool would be able to sign another midfielder for such a low cost, which could help Klopp’s team even more.

This signing makes perfect sense. Szoboszlai, Liverpool’s newest signing, would concur based on his prior remarks.

More news……..

Liverpool have already completed two transfer ‘steals’ but Jürgen Klopp to-do list remains clear

Liverpool fan Nick Sapia of LFC Boston gives us his take on the latest pre-Chelsea talking points, including contests for Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia.

Liverpool take on Chelsea later today at Stamford Bridge in the opening match of the Premier League season for the pair, but attention has been almost exclusively on chasing Brighton’s Moisés Caicedo – and to some extent Southampton’s Roméo Lavia – beyond the last days .

Whatever happens in the transfer market, Liverpool could really use one to help Chelsea make a real statement at the start of the new season. Given the number of changes Mauricio Pochettino has had to oversee, this might not be the worst time to face him. We asked Liverpool fan Nick Sapia of LFC Boston a few questions about the Reds ahead of kick-off. What do you think of the summer transfer window from Liverpool’s point of view? What else needs to be done?

Well, everyone said they wanted a makeover, right? I think the window has been solid so far, although we can all recognize that there is still work to be done. In today’s market, Alexis Mac Allister is the real deal and a brilliant work of the club. Dominik Szoboszlai looks like someone with huge potential and the midfield is already significantly better than last season, although more depth is needed.

Liverpool will obviously need a defensive midfielder, although I don’t mind that it took some time to find the position. With all the transfer nonsense with Chelsea, I hope the club have also kept defensive options in mind.

Ibrahima Konaté can’t play every week and the ‘box-midfield’ system really starts to break down when he’s not on the pitch. There has been a lot of talk about a left centre-back but I still think the right side is more important given the profile required for the system to work. I’m much more confident with Andy Robertson on the left than with any of our current replacement options on the right.

If the club can sign another midfielder and defender, it’s hard to imagine a better summer window. However, they must be determined in the coming weeks to achieve this.

The pursuit of Romeo Lavia has now dragged on quite a bit. Is he the right target to sort out the Liverpool midfielder if Moisés Caicedo is unavailable? I think we now understand why it’s taking so long. Even if Caicedo joins Chelsea, I agree that the club explores all options in terms of defensive midfield. You clearly have a rating for Lavia and are reluctant to exceed it. I’m also skeptical that Chelsea will sign both Caideo and Lavia, but wonder if Liverpool will continue to explore other options rather than returning to Lavia immediately.

Lavia is a long-term project. The way Liverpool approach the first few months of the season won’t change much, as they need time to catch up (just look at how long Fabinho put in). When Liverpool decided to sell Fabinho, they accepted there would be short-term uncertainty about their position for long-term gains. This was 100% the right decision.

The midfield has already improved a lot, a lot with the additions of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai. Caicedo would be the perfect target to complete the midfield rebuild, but he’s not alone in doing so. What are your expectations for this season? What would success represent?

Getting back in the top four is the minimum; I think they will. From there, I wouldn’t say everything else is gravy, but I like that they’re heading into the season without the weight of high expectations.

Liverpool are very intriguing at the moment, and this one is as excited as I have been for a season that has been starting for a while. They remain one of the most talented teams in the league and have a very strong starting XI. They’ve taken one of the oldest teams in the Premier League and made them one of the youngest, which is exciting for the future.

The Europa League is not only an opportunity to pass on valuable experience to new, younger players, but also offers a trophy to be won. I think they are a defensive midfielder and another defender far from a team that can legitimately challenge for the Premier League title this season. Plus, this year they’re going to be a lot of fun to watch. What do you expect from Matchday 1 against Chelsea? A chance to make a mark, or would you take a point?

It’s a crazy game to start the season – we’re not quite sure yet what we’ll get from the Reds (I’m hesitant to even try to pick the starting XI) but Chelsea are even more of an unknown quantity.

I think we are going to see a restrained first half but given the way Liverpool forwards have played so far this season and the firepower they can muster from the bench I think Jurgen will try to find a place to go for the three dots and place a marker. Given what has happened at Chelsea in recent days, I hope the Reds have beaten them.

August 14, 2023
Moisés Caicedo signed, two more transfers – Liverpool’s dream team in Jurgen Klopp’s ideal scenario

Liverpool saw an offer accepted to sign Moisés Caicedo, but the saga took a turn when Chelsea became involved. A dream scenario sees a deal being made, but it’s at stake.

It was a roller coaster ride in the transfer market for around 36 hours, with Liverpool and Chelsea being the main story. The Reds aren’t usually involved in public sagas but this has led to what can reasonably be described as this and then some.

Moisés Caicedo is the man at the center of the battle. In a much abbreviated version of the full story, Liverpool initially appeared to have stolen a gear and become favourites, but Chelsea emerged as the player’s preferred option. (You can read the longer version by clicking here, which also includes a lot about Roméo Lavia). At the moment, at the time of writing, there is still no fix.

What does the dream scenario for Liverpool look like from here? Caicedo

entering would clearly be part of it. After making an offer of $140 million for the Ecuadorian, Liverpool clearly appreciate him a lot. The Reds figured it was worth a shot rather than making no attempt to get the 21-year-old and moved all in.

Whether that’s enough remains to be seen, but it has been made clear that Liverpool see Caicedo as a player who can be transformative in midfield. If a dream scenario were to come true, reuniting him with Alexis Mac Allister and adding Dominik Szoboszlai to the mix would create a terrifying trio capable of rivaling anyone who meets them.

A perfect blend of physique and quality on the ball, few teams could live with that, not least with a number of elite attacking threats ahead of them. Caicedo is one of the few players on the market capable of fulfilling the undisputed number six role Liverpool are trying to create, whilst having the ability to not only survive but also thrive there.

But what if there is no deal for Liverpool? Lavia could become a target again (it’s possible it will be even if Caicedo is brought in), but there aren’t any other obvious options. Chelsea are close to finalizing a transfer for Southampton teenager Lavia, reports Sky Sports.

In a dream scenario, it would be possible to get Caicedo and Lavia, even if it would cost at least $203 million. It seems more likely at this point that it would be Chelsea, not Liverpool, who would pull off that double whammy, but the ‘ideal world’ scenario remains that the Reds would somehow pull it off.

There may be questions at both clubs about who gets minutes in which leagues, with big money additions requiring big roles, but it’s a better question to answer than not having enough quality and depth.

Part of the reason Brighton can demand such a high fee for Caicedo is that there are so few elite midfielders. Caicedo is one, Declan Rice (who has already moved to Arsenal for an equally colossal sum) is perhaps another, and Liverpool lost Aurélien Tchouaméni to Real Madrid last summer.

Without Caicedo or Lavia it would be a problem for Liverpool, but here we are talking about the dream result. Elsewhere in the squad, the Liverpool forward speaks for itself. Mohamed Salah is the only security for his position, while Darwin Núñez could be fifth in the pecking order, but that can change quickly. For the other three senior forwards, any combination can appear and become first choice.

Get the midfield right, with the forward and goalkeeping department already tied up, and that would leave only defense for Liverpool to add this summer. But just like in the middle of the field, there are no obvious options to choose from. Few names have been mentioned as to possible interest from Liverpool, although a player on the left is a priority and not signing anyone for the job would pose a significant risk. Currently, the defensive midfielder and central defender are two obvious weaknesses that need to be addressed.

Liverpool’s ideal team:

Goalkeepers: Alisson, Kelleher, Adrian

Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Gomez, Matip, new recruit as central defender, Robertson, Tsimikas

Midfielders: Caicedo, Lavia, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Elliott, Thiago, Bajčetić, Morton (plus young players who may be involved, including Bobby Clark)

Attack: Salah, Gakpo, Díaz, Núñez, Jota (plus young players who will be involved including Ben Doak)

If Liverpool get neither Caicedo nor Lavia, which is a possibility (as discussed further by clicking here), they should find an alternative. It wouldn’t really be a nightmare scenario, but it certainly wouldn’t be the dream listed above.

As of this writing, nothing is 100% decided yet, but we’ll probably know soon what’s next.

August 12, 2023