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Tag: Jurgen klopp

Injury status and projected comeback date for Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold was back to his best in Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa

Unfortunately, the full-back also picked up an injury.

Jarell came on after 71 minutes at Anfield

For 71 minutes, Anfield fans were treated to a performance from Trent Alexander-Arnold on Sunday afternoon.

After a difficult game at St James’ Park last weekend which could have resulted in an incredibly early dismissal, the Reds captain showed his best day against Aston Villa in the absence of Virgil van Dijk.

His passing Showcase ended criminally with just one assist as his distribution terrorized Villa defenses in Liverpool’s impressive all-afternoon triumph.

His performance ended on a dark note, however, as he caught up with 20 minutes to go and was subsequently sent off. Whether or not he’ll spend any time on the sidelines because of the hit remains to be seen, but here’s what we know so far about Trent’s injury.

When will Trent Alexander-Arnold be back from injury?

Proud moment. 🤩🔴 pic.twitter.com/ME5b3UxvJe

— Trent Alexander-Arnold (@TrentAA) September 3, 2023

A suspected hamstring problem is believed to have disrupted his Sunday performance, with Alexander-Arnold being replaced by youngster Jarell Quansah after 71 minutes on Sunday.

After the match, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp confirmed that the England international would undergo an examination to determine the extent of the problem: “I’m not exactly sure [of the nature of his injury]. I asked him about it, he said It’s [his] hamstring. His opinion isn’t too serious, but of course we have to wait for the scans and then we’ll know more.”

Alexander-Arnold, who is once again listed as a midfielder for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Ukraine and the friendly against Scotland, but his injury could see him out of action. A potential hamstring injury could sideline him for weeks, although Alexander-Arnold himself doesn’t believe the problem is serious.

Once club football returns after the international break, Liverpool take on Wolves at lunchtime on Saturday 16 September before kicking off their Europa League campaign against LASK five days later at Anfield. Injured or not, Alexander-Arnold is not expected to play a major role in the Reds’ group stage this season, only in the latter stages of the competition.

more news…….

Liverpool plan to sign £42.2m star late – report

Liverpool have already agreed a deal to sign Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich and are said to be considering poaching Leroy Sane from Bayern first.

The Reds have rejected a mammoth offer worth £150m to sell Mohamed Salah.

However, Sky’s Paul Merson believes the Al-Ittihad threat is not over and a £200million offer would be too big to turn down.

There would be no point in selling arguably the best player when there are only a few hours left in the summer transfer window because it will be difficult to replace him.

However, the Reds are said to be looking for ways to replace the Egyptian and Leroy Sane’s name would be in the spotlight.

According to an exclusive report from Football Insider, Liverpool are considering a late signing of the Germany international who shone for Manchester City in the Premier League.

The news source mentioned that the Anfield club are looking for a replacement for Salah and are keeping a close eye on 27-year-old Kaiser.

Sane won every major domestic league title with Sky Blues, including two Premier League titles, under manager Pep Guardiola.

Moreover, the 53-time national player has already won three Bundesliga titles since joining the Allianz Arena.

The quick and tricky winger contributed 24 goals for Bayern last season and has already netted twice in three appearances this term.

Almost two weeks ago, Football Transfers spoke about Liverpool’s interest in Leroy Sane, saying his expected transfer value was around £42.2m (€49.3m).

Do you think the German is good enough to replace Mohamed Salah at Liverpool?

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Ex-Premier League referee suggests more appropriate penalty for Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk

Anyone who witnessed Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk’s reaction to being sent off against Newcastle at the weekend will undoubtedly think the subsequent one-match suspension he’s received is insufficient.

The Dutchman was somewhat combative with the referees and took a long time to actually leave the playing area.

In many ways, this was behavior unbecoming of a player who might be the new Reds captain for many more seasons.

But wearing the armband entails having the duty of leading the team as its representative both on and off the field.

A specific behavior pattern must be followed to achieve this, and it was evidently lacking at St. James Park.

Although van Dijk didn’t completely lose his mind, his antics were at best despicable, and Mark Halsey, a former Premier League referee, thinks the center-back got off easy.

According to his article in The Sun, “Van Dijk will appropriately serve a one-match suspension for the straight red card, but I believe his suspension should be increased.”.

Of course, this will depend on Brooks’ official report, but the new Reds manager’s use of derogatory language may merit another RED CARD and a subsequent three-match suspension.

Van Dijk would miss a total of four games as a result, which would be a just punishment for his inappropriate behavior. ‘.

Halsey speaks with authority because he spent many years occupying the middle, so it is important to pay attention to what he has to say.

Halsey knows all too well what it’s like to be on the receiving end of such outbursts, and if she is treated less kindly moving forward, it will undoubtedly serve as a deterrent.

It’s a safe bet that a player will reconsider their actions if they realize that engaging in such behavior will result in a four-match suspension rather than a one-match suspension.

September 5, 2023
André in, $38m transfer: Liverpool can still land two Jürgen Klopp transfers in time for title push

Liverpool have made some excellent transfers this summer, but some gaps remain in Jürgen Klopp’s squad. For the Reds this may not matter.

Liverpool will not be able to make any further signings until January. The summer transfer window is closed meaning Jürgen Klopp’s side are set in stone, but there are some caveats.

The first is that not all transfer windows are closed. Saudi Pro League clubs have until Thursday to make signings and another push for Mohamed Salah – despite Liverpool insisting he will go nowhere – cannot be ruled out.

While it seems strange that Al Ittihad has so far been waiting to make a move for Salah – in case Liverpool are unable to spend the money on offer on the 31-year-old – a big enough offer could be tempting.

The question is what that amount should be and whether there is a desire to get that amount higher in numerical terms.

Only in January will Liverpool be able to make further purchases for the choice of Klopp. But it’s not necessarily too late for the Reds to push forward on all fronts this season and bring home more trophies.

The draw for the Europa League group stage has resulted in a series of favorable matches for Liverpool.

The Reds will want to move back to the top of the table to avoid reaching the last 16 in the new year, but this should be possible even with sufficient changes to the starting line-up.

Similarly, domestic cup competitions may not have started until January, to the point where a strong team was needed. Leicester at home later this month in the Carabao Cup should be a good opportunity for Ben Doak and others to gain minutes.

After that there is only one round before Christmas, while the FA Cup does not include European competitions until January.

This means Klopp’s men should be able to compete on all fronts as long as Liverpool continue to struggle with injuries. The absence of the Champions League means players like Salah and Virgil van Dijk have far fewer minutes played until the second half of the season, leaving them almost entirely to focus on the Premier League.

Arthur Theate of Rennes, 23, valued at $38m (£30m/€35m) was a defensive target to watch this summer, David Lynch reported in an article for This is Anfield, while Teradeportes have indicated there is interest in the 21-year-old.
-old.

1-year-old Piero Hincapie is valued at around $49m (£38m/€45m) by Bayer Leverkusen.
Whether it’s one of them or anyone else, additional depth in this area will likely be more helpful in the second half of the season than the first.

Meanwhile, Brazilian broadcaster Globo expects Liverpool to return to replace Fluminense midfielder Andre Trindade in January, with his side reportedly more willing to let him go. For now, he wanted to keep the 22-year-old for a better chance of winning the Copa Libertadores, but the Brazilian season will be over by the time Liverpool can make more transfer moves.

It is clear that, despite a good summer, there are gaps to fill in central defender and midfield.
By completing it, however, Klopp’s team will feel much more complete.

Meanwhile, the absence of the Champions League should allow the Reds’ best players to focus solely on the Premier League and hopefully position themselves calmly for a league title and a cup or two.

More news……

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
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.

More news………

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.

More news……..

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
Liverpool player removed from Europa League squad by Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp faces a tough decision when naming his Europa League squad as the Liverpool boss is forced to leave out one of his most experienced players.

Clubs must submit their final squads for this year’s Europa League group stage by Monday at 11:00 p.m. BST.

Matches will then begin on September 21, with Liverpool facing LASK, Union SG and Toulouse in Group E.

Ahead of the opening match against Austrian club LASK, the Reds’ UEFA squad will be confirmed by club officials.

However, unlike the Premier League, whose parameters mean that any player currently available to Klopp can be classified as over or under 21, UEFA’s rules make this more difficult.

Before Liverpool’s squad is announced, the manager must remove a player from the European squad.

This is because both Ryan Gravenberch and Ben Doak, who qualify as under-21 players in the Premier League, must be on List A.

Europa League teams are split into two lists, with List A containing all players who are ineligible for List B – either due to their age or tenure at the club.

Although Gravenberch and Doak meet the List B age limit, neither player has been in the Liverpool books for two consecutive years.

The UEFA rules read:

“A player may be placed on List B if he was born on or after 1 January 2002 and is eligible to play for the relevant club on or after his 15th birthday for an uninterrupted period of two years, or a total of three years consecutive periods with a maximum of one loan period at a club of the same association for a maximum period of one year”.

He will therefore need to be placed on list A to be eligible for the Europa League group stage, with seventeen ‘foreign’ and eight ‘locally qualified’ places available.

Doak is not considered a homegrown player as he was brought into the Scottish FA system before moving to Merseyside in 2022.

Homegrown Liverpool players not eligible for List B are Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones and Caoimhin Kelleher.

Unfortunately, Klopp’s squad has 18 players classified as ‘outsiders’ this season, with just 17 places.

It remains to be seen who will be left out, although many would argue for third-choice keeper Adrian to be left out.

Doak could well be left out but it was hoped chances would open up for the winger and while Thiago’s injuries could force a decision, his importance to the team when fit needs to be included .

In the past, Klopp’s side have been “helped” by the sackings of the likes of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but Liverpool now have a leaner and more reliable squad.

Perhaps there will be a surprise and a key player rested for the Europa League, although this option is unlikely.

More news…….

Europa League group stage draw: who can Liverpool face and when?

Liverpool will determine their opponents for their first Europa League season since reaching the 2016 final in Friday’s draw. Here’s who they can face.

The Reds were knocked out of Champions League places last season for the first time in seven years as they are used to dining at the top of European football.

Jurgen Klopp led his side to three Champions League finals between 2018 and 2022, but he is due to play football for the next European Championship on Thursday night.

Despite dropping a notch for the 2023/24 season, there are still a number of top clubs Liverpool could face if they are to progress to the knockout stages of the competition.

The groups will consist of one team from each of the four pots, with Liverpool unable to meet another English side until later rounds.

The Reds are the highest ranked team in the competition and are therefore in the first pot. Here’s a look at who we could face in the Europa League group stage this year.

Europa League group stage winning pots

Here are the 32 teams in the Europa League. Liverpool will be drawn in pots two, three and four. They cannot be drawn with Brighton, meaning there are 23 potential opponents in Friday’s draw.

Pot 1: Liverpool, West Ham, Roma, Villarreal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atalanta, Ajax, Rangers

Pot 2: Sporting CP, Slavia Prague, Rennes, Olympiakos, Real Betis, Marseille, Qarabag

Pot 2 or 3: Molde

Pot 3: Brighton, Sheriff Tiraspol, Union Saint-Gilloise, SC Freiburg, Sparta Prague, Maccabi Haifa, Sturm Graz

Pot 3 or 4: Toulouse

Pot 4: AEK Athens, TSC, Servette, Panathinaikos, Rakow Czestochowa, Limassol

TBC: BK Hacken, LASK

When and where is the draw?

The draw will be taking place in Monaco on Friday, September 1 at 12pm (BST).

It will also be streamed live on UEFA‘s website and on TNT Sports 1.

Group Stage Schedule

Matchday 1: September 21

Matchday 2: October 5

Matchday 3: October 26

Matchday 4: November 9

Matchday 5: November 30

Matchday 6: December 14

The Round of 16 will then begin with a play-off in February, which Liverpool can circumvent by finishing top of their group.

The final will take place in Dublin on May 22, where Liverpool will be hoping to do better than their previous appearance at Basel eight years earlier.

September 4, 2023
Liverpool was right about Jude Bellingham as UEFA tripled Jürgen Klopp’s lead

Liverpool’s Jude Bellingham’s Plan B will pay off, while Jürgen Klopp has been given a triple push following Friday’s Europa League draw.

The transfer window has come to an end and now Liverpool, along with all their Premier League rivals, will have to wait until at least 1 January to make further additions to the squad.

Ultimately, the Reds spent a total of $183m (£145m/€169m) on four new players, all midfielders. Alexis Mac Allister got in first, Ryan Gravenberch got in on deadline day, and Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endō got in the way.

On the incumbent side, Liverpool managed to generate $66m from the unexpected sale of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to the Saudi Pro League.

This resulted in a total net spend of $117m (£93m/€108m), placing him sixth in the Premier League, behind Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur (via Squawka).

Liverpool also recorded the second highest spend under Jurgen Klopp, behind only the summer of 2018, when they acquired Alisson, Fabinho, Naby Keïta and Xherdan Shaqiri in a wave of transformation.

Liverpool take the right decision from Jude Bellingham

Liverpool owners FSG decided to overturn Jude Bellingham’s proposed move as they needed to share their resources more evenly and that approach has paid off.

By bringing in three young midfielders, Liverpool have effectively restored Bellingham “as a whole”. Ryan Gravenberch can mimic his defensive contribution, while Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai can make an impact on offense, with Szoboszlai particularly effective as a creative force.

UEFA gives Jürgen Klopp triple Liverpool edge

On Friday, the draw for the Europa League group stage took place and Liverpool learned the identities of their three opponents – Austrian club LASK, Belgian club USG and French club Toulouse.
Of course, the Reds would prefer to contest the Champions League this year, but they can at least make the most of their participation in Europe’s second biggest club competition.

Facing weaker opponents, Jurgen Klopp can rest his biggest stars and give the squad’s youngsters and players chances. Meanwhile, Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United will all face a tighter schedule this fall which will put even more pressure on their teams.

When Liverpool travel to Old Trafford in December for one of the biggest games of the season, the fixture schedule is clearly an advantage.

More news…….

Bobby Clark to sign new contract with Liverpool as the youngster awaits Jurgen Klopp’s decision

Curtis Jones of Liverpool congratulates Bobby Clark after scoring a goal during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Leicester City at National Stadium on July 30, 2023 in Singapore.
(Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Liverpool youngster Bobby Clark is on the verge of signing a new long-term deal at Anfield before going on loan

Derby County are waiting for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to approve their loan offer for youngster Bobby Clark – with the midfielder set to sign a new five-year deal before temporarily leaving Anfield.

The 18-year-old was part of Liverpool’s squad for their summer tour of Germany and Singapore but returned to the Under-21 squad for the start of the Premier League 2 season, putting in an impressive individual performance. during their 4-0 win over Everton earlier this month.

Since that August 14 appearance, Clark has been absent from the Under-21s’ last two appearances. He instead made part of Liverpool’s touring squad for Sunday’s outing at St James’ Park. However, Clark was not on the bench as the 21st man in the 2-1 win over Newcastle United.

However, ECHO have now learned that League One side Derby County are close to securing Clark’s services for the 2023/24 season. It is understood there have been talks of a season-long loan with the option of a recall clause in January, as well as the possibility of an initial four-month deal until early 2024.

Having signed his first professional term at the club in February 2022, Clark is set to sign a new five-year deal with the Reds before sealing a loan move before Friday’s deadline.

The midfielder has been the subject of interest from Championship clubs this summer. However, it was felt that these offers may not be the right choice for a player looking to follow in the recent footsteps of Jarell Quansah and Tyler Morton and divert attention away from Anfield.

September 3, 2023
Why Ryan Gravenberch was signed by Liverpool

Gravenberch arrived from Bayern Munich on transfer deadline day in a £34m deal
The former Ajax star struggled to earn playing time at Bayern

Gravenberch is the fourth midfielder signed by Liverpool this summer

The 2023 summer transfer window was one of the most transformative in Liverpool’s modern history.

Jurgen Klopp had to leave five first-team midfielders and sign four new ones. “We face the big challenge of reinventing one of the most successful midfielders this club has ever had,” the German coach warned at the end of the summer break.

Ryan Gravenberch was the final part of the rebuild, completing his move from Bayern Munich on transfer deadline day. There was no future in Bavaria for the underused 21-year-old. So why were Liverpool willing to shell out £34m for him? What Ryan Gravenberch can bring to Liverpool
“Counter-pressure is your ticket to this team,” Klopp revealed in April.

He explains why Cody Gakpo was integrated into the Liverpool squad so quickly after joining from PSV Eindhoven in January and provides insight into Darwin Nunez’s struggles.

Gravenberch was described by former Ajax and PSV striker Wim Kieft as a “complete player prototype” when he deliberately entered senior football aged 16. Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag made his debut for Gravenberch, explaining that while his strength lies in the ball, he doesn’t back down in his defensive duties.

“He has a lot of skills, especially in attack, but he also understands hard work,” Ten Hag said. This discipline will be crucial to his success at Liverpool.

Klopp was a longtime admirer of the 6’3 midfielder and quickly learned the player’s skills upon his arrival on Merseyside.

“He’s super talented, he can drive the ball, he can really be a threat from box to box, he’s going for it. He has a good eye for a pass and a good pass,” Klopp enthused.

Gravenberch, who has compared himself to a “contortionist” in the past, is more adept at maneuvering his massive body around an opponent than dodging them with a scalpel. Brian Tevreden, Gravenberch’s youth coach at Ajax, hailed him as “a better version of [Paul] Pogba on his best days at Juventus in terms of technique and presence on the pitch”.
Really high praise.

Thomas Tuchel has explained that Gravenberch’s lack of success at Bayern – he’s only been allowed six appearances in all competitions, less than backup goalkeeper Sven Ulreich – is because he preferred a role than the Bayern did not have.

The left side of the Liverpool midfield – or possibly in a double pivot alongside Wataru Endo – matches all of Gravenberch’s impressive qualities.

Ryan Gravenberch details at Liverpool

🫶 pic.twitter.com/zBZGIvbREv

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 2, 2023

Liverpool loved Gravenberch 12 months ago and narrowly missed out on pursuit when the midfielder joined Bayern. In April this year, 90min revealed that Liverpool were one of several Premier League clubs to have expressed an interest in the Netherlands Under-21 international. Midfield reinforcements have always been at the top of the Reds’ shopping list this summer, but the surprise departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho – both to the Saudi Pro League – have increased demand.

After paying the release clauses of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool lost in embarrassing fashion to Chelsea in pursuit of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. Endo eventually arrived from Stuttgart as a specialist defensive midfielder, but Klopp’s rebuild was not complete.

Gravenberch has always prioritized playing time when making career decisions and informed FC Bayern Munich last April that he wanted to come off the bench. The 21-year-old reiterated that wish in August as Manchester United were still in contention to sign with Liverpool.

Eventually, the Red Devils turned their attention to Sofyan Amrabat, leaving Liverpool to deal directly with Bayern. A transfer fee of £34m was agreed which saw Bayern make a decent profit after signing Gravenberch for an initial fee of £16m just 12 months earlier.

With teary eyes, Gravenberch only boarded a plane for England early on Friday before the deal was finalized on transfer deadline day. Liverpool completed negotiations before the window closed but missed the player registration deadline ahead of Aston Villa’s trip to Anfield on Sunday afternoon. Every Premier League player must be registered by 12:00 on the working day preceding an important match. Gravenberch’s arrival was announced at 9.45am on Friday, but the player’s work permit was not processed quickly enough.

“I’ve been told that won’t happen with the paperwork,” Klopp confirmed. “I’m pretty sure that on deadline day everyone, or the decision-making agencies, is pretty busy.”

Gravenberch had a full pre-season with Bayern – including playing a friendly against Liverpool – so he should be fit enough to be considered for selection immediately. Liverpool will play Wolverhampton Wanderers again on Saturday 16 September as the international break approaches. Liverpool’s 2023 signing will have to wait until 24 September for his home debut when West Ham United leave for Anfield.

September 3, 2023
Bobby Clark to sign new contract with Liverpool as the youngster awaits Jurgen Klopp’s decision

Curtis Jones of Liverpool congratulates Bobby Clark after scoring a goal during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Leicester City at National Stadium on July 30, 2023 in Singapore.
(Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Liverpool youngster Bobby Clark is on the verge of signing a new long-term deal at Anfield before going on loan

Derby County are waiting for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to approve their loan offer for youngster Bobby Clark – with the midfielder set to sign a new five-year deal before temporarily leaving Anfield.

The 18-year-old was part of Liverpool’s squad for their summer tour of Germany and Singapore but returned to the Under-21 squad for the start of the Premier League 2 season, putting in an impressive individual performance. during their 4-0 win over Everton earlier this month.

Since that August 14 appearance, Clark has been absent from the Under-21s’ last two appearances. He instead made part of Liverpool’s touring squad for Sunday’s outing at St James’ Park. However, Clark was not on the bench as the 21st man in the 2-1 win over Newcastle United.

However, ECHO have now learned that League One side Derby County are close to securing Clark’s services for the 2023/24 season. It is understood there have been talks of a season-long loan with the option of a recall clause in January, as well as the possibility of an initial four-month deal until early 2024.

Having signed his first professional term at the club in February 2022, Clark is set to sign a new five-year deal with the Reds before sealing a loan move before Friday’s deadline.

The midfielder has been the subject of interest from Championship clubs this summer. However, it was felt that these offers may not be the right choice for a player looking to follow in the recent footsteps of Jarell Quansah and Tyler Morton and divert attention away from Anfield.

More news…….

Despite Jurgen Klopp’s return declaration, Thiago is still not participating in Liverpool training.

Although Jurgen Klopp said Thiago would be back in full training ahead of Aston Villa’s visit, the midfielder went missing again on Wednesday.

Thiago underwent surgery to correct a long-standing hip injury towards the end of last season and three months later he is still not fully recovered.

The 32-year-old has attended several sessions at the AXA Training Center but is no ordinary player in first-team training in his current form.

Ahead of the 2-1 win over Newcastle, Klopp picked up the plan for both Thiago and Curtis Jones to rejoin the squad in preparation for their upcoming clash with Aston Villa.

But when a 30-man squad stepped up training on Wednesday, there was no sign of the Spanish. Jones was one of those in the lineup, as was Stefan Bajcetic, with nine midfielders involved in the session, including youngsters Bobby Clark and James McConnell.

Fewer central defenders were available. Virgil van Dijk trained but was suspended this weekend, leaving only Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Jarell Quansah.

Other youth players involved included Luke Chambers, Lewis Koumas and goalkeepers Marcelo Pitaluga, Vitezslav Jaros and Fabian Mrozek.

Pitaluga, 20, received praise from Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah for a string of saves during shooting practice.

Thiago was at the AXA Training Center on Wednesday, but he probably followed an individual program because he didn’t catch up with his teammates. Also absent were injured Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley, as well as Nat Phillips, who instead traveled to Glasgow on a short-term loan to Celtic.

Thiago’s ongoing recovery will continue to worry Liverpool staff, although caution should be exercised in any case regarding his reinstatement.

Given the nature of his injury and the need for surgery, Thiago’s long-term fitness could be of serious concern.

However, it is hoped that once the veteran is fit he can put in a consistent performance at Anfield last season ahead of a likely free transfer next summer.

Celta Vigo will be among the interested clubs when his contract expires. Thiago’s father Mazinho admitted this week he would love to see his son come “home”.

The Liverpool squad in training on Wednesday

Goalkeepers: Alisson, Kelleher, Adrian, Pitaluga, Jaros, Mrozek

Defenders: Van Dijk*, Gomez, Matip, Quansah, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Tsimikas, Chambers

Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Endo, Jones, Elliott, Bajcetic, Morton, Clark, McConnell

Attackers: Salah, Diaz, Gakpo, Nunez, Jota, Doak, Koumas

September 1, 2023
Liverpool may no longer have enough time to execute the “perfect” signing.

With the Reds racing against the clock to sign the Bayern Munich midfielder in time, Liverpool may have run out of time to sign Ryan Gravenberch.

Time is running out for the Anfield giants to sign the Dutchman, according to journalist Alfredo Pedulla, as Bayern are looking to replace Gravenberch before selling him to Liverpool.

Although the midfielder and the Reds are frantically trying to complete a deal, given the short amount of time left in the window, Liverpool actually runs the risk of losing out on Gravenberch.

As Pedulla points out, even though the Reds have once again handled this transfer poorly, there’s a good chance that this issue would not have arisen had Liverpool made their move to sign the youngster last week.

Indeed, Liverpool supporters are aware that their team has handled this deal poorly once again and that time is now running out because Jurgen Klopp is thought to view Gravenberch as the “perfect” midfield addition.

Liverpool left it too late to sign Gravenberch, and they may soon pay the price for it. Transfers can be accelerated in the final days of the window, but there’s no denying that they did.

Liverpool should have moved for Gravenberch way earlier this summer

To say that Liverpool has made some underwhelming signings this summer, including Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, would be an understatement.
Gravenberch may soon join that list.

The fact that Liverpool cannot make any more mistakes Alfredo Pedulla now and tomorrow night for Gravenberch is universally acknowledged as the fact that time is running out.

With the benefit of hindsight, Liverpool realizes that they ought to have made a move for the midfielder much earlier in the transfer window because the Reds were a team that stood to gain from completing their transactions first.

More news…….

Jurgen Klopp intervenes as angry Virgil van Dijk ‘insults’ officials over Liverpool red

Virgil van Dijk was sent off in a nightmarish first half for Liverpool against Newcastle.

Jurgen Klopp stepped in by seemingly pushing Virgil van Dijk through the tunnel after the Liverpool defender was sent off against Newcastle. Van Dijk has been sacked for the first time in his Reds career after bringing down Aleksandar Isak to deny a clear scoring chance.

The Dutchman was visibly angry with the decision and it took him some time before he walked off the pitch. He continued to yell at referee John Brooks, with Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville implying he was “insulting” the referee. Van Dijk eventually made his way to the touchline and continued yelling at the fourth official, sounding like he was cursing in his face. Liverpool manager Klopp then appeared to step in to prevent his experienced star from getting into further trouble.

Klopp gently nudged Van Dijk through the tunnel and away from the scene, where the defender clearly wanted to continue arguing his case against the fourth official. The German then continued to protest with the agents, risking being reprimanded.

Van Dijk’s red card came as part of a chaotic first half for Liverpool at St. James’ Park. Fellow defender Trent Alexander-Arnold narrowly escaped sending off in the opening six minutes.

The England defender was booked after three minutes for throwing the ball away after a decision he didn’t like – now considered a mandatory yellow card under guidelines given to referees at the start of the season. Moments later, the right-back cynically brought down Anthony Gordon.

Umpire Brooks only let an embarrassed Alexander-Arnold get away with a warning. But it was the English ace’s mistake that led Newcastle to open the scoring midway through the first half. Mohamed Salah’s poor pass proved too much for Alexander-Arnold to control, allowing Gordon to escape on goal. The former Everton winger coolly passed Alisson.

Newcastle then had the chance to make it 2-0. Isak collected Gordon’s pass and appeared to be one-on-one with Alisson, only for Van Dijk to bring down the Swede savagely.

Brooks had no choice but to show the 32-year-old the red card. Van Dijk will miss the match between Liverpool and Aston Villa next weekend, but his apparent abuse of the referee and fourth official could cost him an extended suspension.

Speaking of Sky’s match commentary, ex-Manchester United defender Neville said: ‘Now he’s abusing the referee. You just have to take your medicines and leave the pitch. We’ve all been there.’

August 31, 2023
Luis Suarez sends Darwin Nunez four-word message after Liverpool heroics

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez had a memorable day against Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon

Luis Suarez has sent a message of support to Darwin Nunez after the Liverpool forward’s crucial brace in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United.

Nunez came off the bench 13 minutes from time at St James’ Park and brought the Reds back even with a superb finish into the bottom left corner. He repeated this action in stoppage time to secure the three points for Jurgen Klopp side

That double couldn’t have come at a better time for Liverpool’s No.9 as he hasn’t started his first three Premier League games of the season and is now struggling to stand out like Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz.

His valuable contribution in Sunday’s showdown will in some ways help him secure an important first-team role, although it remains to be seen how Klopp will react to the striker’s winning performance.

Who is impressed with Nunez’s efforts is none other than Suarez, who took to Instagram to congratulate his international teammate. “Congratulations, Killer! Keep it up,” wrote the former Liverpool striker after witnessing the Uruguayan’s emphatic performance.

Seemingly keen for the 24-year-old to succeed in his time at Merseyside, Suarez publicly expressed in November that he hoped the former Benfica star would shine at Anfield.

Seemingly keen for the 24-year-old to succeed in his time at Merseyside, Suarez publicly expressed in November that he hoped the former Benfica star would shine at Anfield.

More news…….

Manu Kone signed, $50m centre-back – final week dream of transfer window for Liverpool

Liverpool can fill the major gaps remaining in the squad with just two transfer moves in a smart last week with an attractive ‘discount’ from Manu Kone.

Liverpool have officially entered the final week of the transfer window. After Arthur Melo’s panicked move on the deadline last summer, it seemed unlikely that the FSG would get things back on track any time soon, but there is still work to be done.

At least the arrival of Wataru Endō and the return of Stefan Bajčetić from injury have given Liverpool a solid squad in all parts of the pitch, with a number of recognized defensive midfielders now at Jürgen Klopp’s disposal. But the minor inconvenience of Ibrahima Konaté – one of many notoriously injury-prone picks on defense – should serve as a timely reminder. No other deal would prepare Liverpool for another season where fitness issues could arise at any time. A quadruple push between two disappointing campaigns is a testament to wasted potential, with too much chance in terms of possible injuries to key players.

By contrast, just two smart transfers last week would change Liverpool’s outlook. They wouldn’t need to go broke either, as the plausible options fall well short of the offer FSG were willing to make for Moisés Caicedo before he opted for Chelsea – especially given an apparent discount for Manu Kone.

Koné, mentioned about Liverpool earlier this summer, disappeared from the transfer radar when he suffered an injury during the European Under-21 Championship. But BILD’s Christian Falk says the asking price has fallen as a result.

Obviously this partly reflects potential concerns about any replays, and Liverpool have struggled with injury-prone midfielders in the past. But it’s also the result of many of the original suitors having gone elsewhere, potentially allowing the Reds to capitalize on them.

According to Falk, Liverpool could get Kone for just $38 million. Borussia Mönchengladbach previously sought a fee close to $54m (£43m/€50m). This is a significant discount and the offer seems extremely attractive at this price level.

With Koné able to play as both number six and number eight, it makes perfect sense if Liverpool sign just one more midfielder. This is the most effective way to add depth. Interestingly, Roméo Lavia is among his ten most similar players on FBref – and at 22, the Frenchman is one who still has plenty of time to improve.

The signing of this agreement would be left to the defense alone. Again, versatility is the key word and Liverpool would ideally find someone who can challenge Andy Robertson in the hybrid role while also acting as a potential long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk.

Dávid Hancko from Feyenoord could be that man. The story, linked to Liverpool by Football Transfers, quotes ESPN pundit and former Dutch footballer Hans Kraay Jr as saying the 25-year-old could buy up to $50m (£40m/47 millions of euros). It’s a bit pricey, but with such a short window of opportunity to do business, it would be a pretty good deal.

As a left-handed player, Hancko would be just as adept as covering Robertson or Van Dijk. At 25, he still needs to improve but would be ready to contribute immediately – without too many expectations of immediate guaranteed playing time as his only experience in the top five leagues so far has been a move to Fiorentina, he only had five appearances.

Again, FBref’s ‘Similar Players’ feature brings up a few interesting names, with Gonçalo Inácio and Jurrien Timber both having close encounters in Europe’s ‘next eight’ leagues last year. Hancko could be a really smart buy.

It’s amazing how much more diverse the Liverpool squad would be with these two deals alone. It shows that there are still options: if FSG and the Liverpool recruitment team play their cards right, this could be seen as a really smart transfer window.

August 29, 2023