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Jurgen Klopp warning, a captain hint – Three things were observed in Chelsea’s pre-Liverpool training ahead of Liverpool Clash

News regarding Chelsea: Following the conclusion of their preseason tour of the United States, the Blues have been practicing for the first time at Cobham.

Mauricio Pochettino is preparing his players for their Premier League debut against Liverpool, so Chelsea is facing a crucial week at Cobham. The Blues have had a productive preseason, winning three of their first five games and playing an attacking brand of football.

They ended their preseason campaign with a 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund in Chicago, but Christopher Nkunku’s injury was the biggest worry. However, the Frenchman faces a race against time to be ready for the Liverpool match. Thankfully, a lengthy absence appears unlikely.

Nkunku is recovering from a problem alongside Benoit Badiashile and Armando Broja, but Pochettino has been working his players hard on the Cobham fields. So, football it is then. As Chelsea begins the final week of preparations, London has compiled all of the training-related observations.

Warning to Klopp

Chelsea may have the best chance to take advantage of Liverpool’s flaws on the right side of the field. While the Reds look for a new holding midfielder, Trent Alexander-Arnold has either been used in midfield or has drifted centrally.

Ben Chilwell, who made significant progress forward in preseason, could take advantage of a sizable gap that was present in that area of the field after his potential partner was made known.

Chilwell was photographed alongside Nicolas Jackson, who would probably start if Nkunku were to miss the game due to injury, as the Chelsea players took to the Cobham pitches. Chilwell will undoubtedly launch numerous crosses on the first day of the Premier League season, so the 22-year-old could carry that form into the regular season.

Pochettino Captain hints.

After admitting the choice would be made on the day of the Liverpool match, Pochettino hasn’t talked in great detail about the subject of captaincy.

There are many candidates, including Reece James, Thiago Silva, Enzo Fernandez, and Raheem Sterling, but Pochettino may have given a hint during Chelsea’s practice. Silva, Pochettino, and Jesus Perez were seen laughing while watching his team members participate in a drill. This may have been a hint that Silva has been named the official captain of the team.

Injury boost

Pochettino has received a huge injury boost ahead of the match, but Nkunku’s potential absence against Liverpool will be a huge blow if he cannot be cleared in time.

After arriving late from England’s under-21 European championship victory with a hamstring injury, Noni Madueke did not participate in any preseason games. However, he is now back in training and does not appear to have experienced any setbacks.

Madueke wrote in the caption of an Instagram story he shared showing himself back in action at Cobham: “Back w the boys, God is in control *Blue heart emoji, praying emoji*. “.

More news……….

The £38 million player, who is now very close to joining Chelsea, has a huge fan in Laurence Stewart.

Axel Disasi, a French defender who is currently close to joining Chelsea, is reportedly a huge fan of Laurence Stewart.

That is what Nathan Gissing, writing on Gianluca Di Marzio’s website, claims.

Let’s take a look at the most recent information regarding Axel Disasi and Chelsea.

Why is this happening?

The France international is reportedly a favorite of Stamford Bridge’s Technical Director Stewart, who started negotiations to bring him in from Monaco back in April.

Disasi has reportedly undergone a medical at Chelsea ahead of a £38 million move to west London, and an official announcement is anticipated soon, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Prior to Todd Boehly hiring him to direct a rebuild at Chelsea, Stewart actually worked for Monaco from 2020 to 2023.

In August 2020, shortly after beginning his employment with the Ligue 1 team, the 37-year-old acquired Disasi from Reims.

Therefore, Stewart undoubtedly has a wealth of knowledge about the 25-year-old, and it is telling that he believes the central defender is now proficient enough to represent Chelsea.

Regardless of whether they support the move or not, fans will always be able to voice their opinions on transfers. However, when a person like Stewart has clearly done extensive research on a player, it can be difficult to be opposed to the transaction.

At Chelsea, Axel Disasi must engage in combat right away.

Given the other central defenders in the Argentine squad, it will be interesting to see if Mauricio Pochettino chooses to start Disasi right away.

Since the South American typically lines up with a standard back four, Chelsea can choose from Levi Colwill, Thiago Silva, Benoit Badiashile, and Trevoh Chalobah to fill two positions in the center of defense.

Wesley Fofana, who is also at Stamford Bridge, might not play in the 2023–24 season due to a torn knee ligament.

In order to earn a spot in Pochettino’s starting XI, Disasi will therefore need to make a very good first impression on the coach.

August 5, 2023
Martin Skrtel looks unrecognisable and now plays ‘like Messi’ seven years after leaving Liverpool

Liverpool ECHO’s LFC head writer Ian Doyle spoke to ex-Reds defender Martin Skrtel in Singapore to chat about life at Anfield and after

For anyone who hasn’t seen Martin Skrtel in a while, the look of him might come as a shock.

Notorious for his aggressively shaved head during his playing days at Liverpool, the former defender walks into Singapore’s Ritz-Carlton hotel sporting a coiffure.

“It’s not fake!” He smiles. “A lot of people have now said that I don’t look as scary or ugly anymore, so I think I’ll keep it!”

However, this is nothing compared to how Skrtel now enjoys playing football. The former centre-back, who retired last year, is making good on his promise playing for local club FK Hajskala Raztocno. “You wouldn’t believe it, but now I’m the striker for them!” he tells ECHO. “Actually, I’m more of a Messi-like player in the sense that I go where I want. When I left my village at 15 to play professionally, I told my friends that one day, when I retire, I would go back to play with them again.

“And they remembered, so the last few years of my career they called me and said, ‘Stop it, we want to play you again!’ When I retired my fitness was clearly not the best, but I wanted to keep my promise, so I went back.

“It’s the lowest division in Slovakia, the level isn’t the best. In the first game I was central defender and I like to pass the ball from behind but there was nobody to pass to. So I said to the coach: ‘Maybe I should move to midfield and have a little more ball’. So I stayed there all season and scored a few goals. I like it because it’s different. You just played the game and had a few beers afterwards. That’s great!”

Skrtel, now 38, was among a group of former players invited to join Liverpool’s tour in Singapore. And he enjoyed seeing familiar faces again after leaving Jurgen Klopp in the summer of 2016 at the end of his first season as manager.

“Being part of the club again and seeing how happy the fans are to see me again is something special and an honor for me,” he said. “I am grateful for. Unfortunately I have only returned to Anfield three times since I left as I was always busy playing.

I’ve been back for two Legends games and also to perform there as we’re making a movie about my career. I was there to film some things. It’s always nice to come back. Now that I’m retired I have more free time and I hope to be able to come back more often”.

The Liverpool chapter of Skrtel’s film debut began when he joined Zenit St Petersburg for a £6.5m fee in January 2008. But while he knew there was an opportunity to move to Merseyside, it came as a surprise to the former Slovakian international that he was at Anfield.

“It’s a pretty funny story,” he says. “I’ve always dreamed of going to England and talked a lot about it with my agent. Just before signing for Liverpool, I played for Zenit in the UEFA Cup against Everton at the Goodison, and after the match there were rumors that Everton would have gone to me asked.

“At the time I wasn’t thinking about any particular club, I just wanted to go to England and tell my agent that if he could find something it would be great. “Then he called me and said we were going to England for talks with a club and in my mind I thought it was Everton. But when he then said it was Liverpool, I “I was shocked. I never dreamed of joining such a big club with so many great players. It was a great moment for me and my family and I’m very happy that it happened.”

Skrtel made over 300 appearances for the Reds, scoring in the 2012 League Cup final win over Cardiff City and being named Player of the Season in 2011/12. However, his first start for the club in the FA Cup against Havant & Waterlooville didn’t quite go to plan. “To be honest, the start of my career at Liverpool wasn’t the best,” he said, after conceding an own goal that afternoon. “I arrived as an unknown player without much experience and people may have had high expectations of me when I signed.

But I just tried to do my best and learn from my teammates and improve every day. At that time, Rafa Benitez helped me a lot, supporting me all the time and trying to make me more confident. After that my time at Liverpool got better and better.”

Skrtel is one of the few players to have played under five different managers at Liverpool. He started out at Benitez, worked with Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish and Brendan Rodgers, and finally Jurgen Klopp. “Everyone was different,” she says. “Rafa brought me to the club, he was the first great manager I met, even though I was at Zenit with Dick Advocaat. When you work at Liverpool with Rafa Benitez, it’s a different thing. He taught me a lot, he spoke to me every day and tactically he gave me more than any other coach.

“When he left Roy Hodgson came in and had a different style but it was only a short time with him. Then it was Kenny, then Brendan and of course Jürgen, with whom I spent little time.

“I try to take something away from every manager I work with. They are all experienced managers and good people. I was very lucky to have them at Liverpool, they were always nice to me and tried to make me a better player.”

Skrtel, like Liverpool, were elusive for the Premier League title until they ended a 30-year championship wait in 2020. However, there were exciting title fights under Benitez in 2008/ 09 and Rodgers in 2013/14. “Every team is different, with different players and different styles of play,” says Skrtel. “I wouldn’t try to pick a better team out of the two. It’s just a shame we didn’t manage to win.

“In 2009 it was Torres, Alonso, Gerrard and Hyypia, but in 2014 it was Coutinho, Sturridge, Suarez, Sterling. If you put them together it could be the best team in the world!

The 2013/14 season saw Skrtel arguably his best game for Liverpool and one of Anfield’s most famous games of the Premier League era, the 5-1 win over Arsenal which saw the Reds lead 4 -0 in They also hit the post and missed two more big chances. “People always come up to me and talk about this game,” Skrtel says. “I actually had a conversation with an Arsenal fan about it this week.

“I had never scored two goals in a game before. We had a free kick down the left early on and Stevie (Gerrard) was about to shoot it and signaled he was going to shoot it in the space I ran into and shot. After 10 minutes we had a corner and I was like, ‘Well, it’s not against me because I’ve already shot’, but it happened and I fired again. It was crazy!

“You don’t score many goals as a defender so I was happy with every one of them. So this game was special in a special season. At this point Arsenal were ahead. We beat Tottenham 4- 0 at home and Everton 4-0 at home this year. It was a great season but unfortunately we couldn’t finish at the top.”

After leaving Liverpool, Skrtel spent most of the rest of his career in Turkey, first with Fenerbahce and then Basaksehir before spending a final season in Slovakia with Spartak Trnava. However, there was also a very brief stint in Italy where he soon realized that playing in a three-man defense was not his forte.

“Atalanta are a big club but I felt it was not the right choice and after three weeks I decided to cancel the contract,” explains Skrtel. “I just felt like moving there was the wrong decision. There were rumors of a falling out with the manager, but it wasn’t true. I went back to Turkey and won the league when from my first season with Basaksehir, so it worked well for me.

To this day, and Skrtel believes that while the Liverpool team has a new look, one aspect hasn’t changed. “We’re talking about Liverpool, one of the biggest teams in the world,” he says. “The goals should always be the highest for this season. But of course we know how competitive the Premier League is and it will never be easy with clubs like Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

“But with the quality we have in the squad – new players have come in and some have left – I saw them here in Singapore against Leicester and they look strong. If the players can keep fit and the squad stays strong, it’s going Well”. It will be a long and hard season, I believe Liverpool can get back to where they belong.”

August 4, 2023
As Liverpool’s transfer ruse ends, André’s move was expedited and Roméo Lavia was signed in the perfect summer.

Liverpool still have work to do in the transfer market, with moves for Andre and Roméo Lavia possible while an FSG transfer trick could fail.

Liverpool know what to do with the end of the summer just 29 days away. In exactly 29 days – from the minute this article is published – the transfer window will close.

The search for a new number six is the order of the day, with Curtis Jones and others having stepped into that role over the past few weeks. However, a permanent solution could not be found. Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajčetić are expected to return to full training soon, but the former is not perfect for that role, which has many defensive needs, while the latter is only 18 years old.

But there will be no economic solution for Liverpool, not least because the Reds have poured $66m (£52m / €60m) from Saudi Arabia for Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.

André’s move accelerated and Roméo Lavia signed in Liverpool’s ideal summer

What more needs to be done in the transfer window to make Liverpool feel they have done everything possible to have a good season in which to collect trophies?

At least one midfielder is an absolute must. Ideally there would be two players, with Roméo Lavia and André Trindade currently the two prominent midfield options. Then there is an urgent need for another defender, with left-back priority. A central defender is a must for Klopp’s team balance.

A \’Moneyball\’ transfer trick vanishes for FSG

FSG have long been associated with a ‘moneyball’ approach to transfers, where a shortage in the transfer market can leave excellent players freely available for picking while other clubs look elsewhere.

But one of those moves – buying from relegated sides – changed this summer. Where Liverpool could once pick up players like Andy Robertson, Gini Wijnaldum and Xherdan Shaqiri for next to nothing, this is no longer the case.

Given interest from West Ham United, Southampton are sticking to their valuation of James Ward-Prowse, while the same can be said of Lavia, with Liverpool keen but so far unwilling to pay the price. asked for $64m (£50m/€58m) to be paid.

More news…….

The replacement for Fabinho may already be found, according to Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool.

Before the start of the new Premier League season, Jurgen Klopp will need to fill the void left by Fabinho’s departure.

Fabinho’s replacement at Liverpool, Curtis Jones, has been mentioned by Jurgen Klopp, who was impressed with the 22-year-old at the end of the previous campaign. Fabinho, a Brazilian midfielder who spent five years with the Reds on Merseyside, announced on Monday that he would be leaving the team after a reported £40 million move to Al-Ittihad.

Jordan Henderson was sold to Al-Ettifaq a few days prior to Fabinho’s departure, leaving Liverpool worryingly short of options in the middle of the park less than a fortnight before the start of the new season. The six-time European champions will undoubtedly try to add some new players before the summer transfer window closes, but Klopp has suggested that Jones might be a surprise choice to fill the void.

The Liverpool manager stated during a press conference in Singapore that Jones is undoubtedly one of the options in the current setup and the composition of the squad. “I think it’s no secret that we are still looking for players to join us; however, using what you already have is equally important, and I think Curtis can play that position with no problem.

“Can he play it when no one else in the team is defending? No, there’s no chance, but then again, I don’t know any player who can do that. But if you truly comprehend the current state of affairs, a proven 6 is not currently available. Do we offer an explanation for this?

“A lot of things can happen during the season; this has always been true. We approach it as a challenge and work to find a solution that is nonetheless compact. With the ball in his hands, Curtis can without a doubt make a significant impact. His growth over the past few months since he’s been here, in my opinion, has been truly amazing.

“Held back by some injuries sustained at the wrong time and for too long. It’s not anyone’s fault; it just happens to young players. The steps he took prior to that were excellent. It makes sense for him to be on the field. If no one else is there, he can definitely play that position. “.

Jones played in the Premier League only 18 times last season, but the latter part of the year was arguably when he was at his best while playing for Liverpool. When Jones was given responsibility by Klopp for running the show in the backroom, he frequently excelled in the middle of the park and the Reds went on to win all 11 of their final games.

It’s unclear whether he will be able to continue where he left off when the new season starts, but Klopp’s high praise suggests that he will at least be given the chance to prove himself in Fabinho’s absence. Romeo Lavia of Southampton is rumored to be one of the players Liverpool is considering signing, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them search the market for another midfielder.

It has always been the case that a lot can happen during the season. We consider it a challenge and work to be as compact as possible despite that. Without a doubt, Curtis can make a significant impact from that position when in possession. His growth over the past few months since he’s been with us, in my opinion, has been truly amazing.

“Held back by some accidents that happened at the wrong time and for too long. Nobody is at fault; it simply occurs with young players. He had taken some really good steps prior to that. It makes sense to have him on the field. If no one else is available, he can definitely play that position. “.

Jones only made 18 appearances in the Premier League last season, but the latter part of the year was arguably when he played his best football while playing for Liverpool. When Klopp gave Jones the responsibility of running the show in the backroom, where he frequently excelled, the Reds went on to win all 11 of their final games.

It is unclear whether he will be able to continue where he left off when the new campaign gets underway, but Klopp’s high praise suggests that he will at least be given the chance to prove himself in Fabinho’s absence. Romeo Lavia of Southampton is rumored to be one of the players Liverpool is considering when searching the transfer market for a new midfielder. However, this would not be unexpected.

August 4, 2023
There are seven major questions that Liverpool supporters have, before the new season.

There are many unanswered questions at Liverpool following a summer of significant staff turnover.

Jurgen Klopp acknowledged this himself, but it is still unclear who he intends to start against Chelsea given all the incomings and outgoings.

There are many questions that need to be answered, both on and off the field, and the answers may take some time to come.

In light of this, we compiled a list of queries raised by supporters and tried our best to respond.

Who will start in defensive midfield vs. Chelsea?

The question has been on Liverpool supporters’ minds ever since the first reports of Fabinho’s departure surfaced more than a fortnight ago, but there is still no clear solution.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is paired with a defensive midfielder in the new system, which we will discuss later, who can do the majority of the running for him. 66 to concentrate on doing what he does best, which is creating.

And the front three?

Romeo Lavia is the obvious choice for the position, but given the specifics of Klopp’s defensive midfield and the fact that his arrival from Southampton has not yet been confirmed, it is unlikely that he will be ready to join the team right away.

Currently, Curtis Jones is in the lead.

After playing the position during preseason, his manager remarked, “In this position, he can play that for sure if nobody else is there. ”.

He continued his strong play in holding midfield for the England U21 team into preseason, and Klopp recognized his potential there.

Alexander-Arnold is a possibility there as well, but doing so would be unlikely because the team would lose some of the advantages of having him float as a hybrid right-back.

Although having a problem like this is undoubtedly a good thing, Klopp needs to know how his players will lineup when the new season begins.

Who we anticipate the front three to be vs. Chelsea:.

Sam: Diaz, Gakpo, Salah
Adam: Jota, Gakpo, Salah
Jack: Jota, Gakpo, Salah
Matt: Jota, Gakpo, Salah

Is the new system here to stay?

A change in strategy was made by Klopp toward the end of the previous campaign as Liverpool’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League began to dwindle.

When in possession, the Reds started to play in a formation more akin to a 3-4-3 as opposed to the conventional 4-3-3.

Alexander-Arnold does this by advancing from right-back to infield before dropping back when the ball is out of his hands.

The adjustment helped Liverpool’s fortunes in the final stretch, and it seems to be sticking around.

The manager stuck with it during preseason, and it appears that his signings were made with the intention of making the new system a permanent one.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister are the ideal midfielders to support Lavia, a transfer target, as they are both capable of covering a lot of ground and contributing in both attack and defense.

Unambiguously, the answer to this question is yes.

who will serve as Trent’s backup?

It is obvious that Alexander-Arnold won’t be able to play in every game with Liverpool battling on four fronts, including a hopefully lengthy run in the Europa League.

But because of his exceptional skills with the ball, he is crucial to the new system, so this presents a challenge.

Right now, Conor Bradley appears to be the right-back Liverpool needs to replace Alexander-Arnold because the Reds are unlikely to look for another right-back.

While it’s obvious that Bradley isn’t the same player as Alexander-Arnold, he has been trying out for the position during preseason and could serve as a useful backup against weaker teams in the Europa League and domestic cup competitions.

Long-term, though, Bradley’s skills are better suited to playing as a more conventional attacking right-back.

The Anfield Road stand should be ready soon.

61,000 spectators were expected to attend the first home game of the new season at Anfield. Instead, only 51,000 people will be present.

As a result of the redeveloped Anfield Road Stand project taking longer than expected, this has happened.

The stand will now undergo a phased reopening, with capacity increasing over the course of the following few months.

Billy Hogan, the CEO of Liverpool, said on This Is Anfield: “We’ll open it gradually over the course of the next few weeks, working very closely with Buckingham and Liverpool City Council to ensure that we do that in the appropriate way. ”.

It is hoped that the new deadline will be met in time for the Merseyside Derby on October 21.

Is midfield a problem for Liverpool?

Liverpool still has a shorter midfield than they did last season despite adding two excellent midfielders and probably Lavia or Andre.

The club decided to upgrade with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai after losing Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

But after that, Henderson and Fabinho’s departures caused the situation to change once more.

Lavia will most likely replace Fabinho as the starting holding midfielder if he signs.

Many now think Liverpool needs to bring in a fourth midfielder this summer as a result, but Stefan Bajcetic will likely be given more responsibilities instead.

When he played last season, he, however, appeared better as a box-to-box midfielder as opposed to a defensive midfielder.

Will the new players start off strong?

In any case, the early indications are encouraging.

Both Szoboszlai and Mac Allister, the latter in particular, finished their moves in plenty of time to participate in the Reds’ preseason games.

The fact that Klopp has always seen this as a huge plus is what motivates Liverpool to try to close deals as soon as possible during the transfer window.

Mac Allister has participated in each of the four exhibition games so far, standing out particularly in the Reds’ 4-0 victory over Leicester.

He has the best chance of getting into the starting lineup for the Premier League opener.

Szoboszlai, meanwhile, has had a more erratic start to life at Liverpool, but he still appears to be in good shape heading into the new campaign.

He rolled his ankle during practice, but he returned in time for the Leicester game and made a significant contribution while playing against them. Bayern Munich and Leicester.

Lavia is a different matter; if he does join, it will take him longer to adjust to a challenging position to play.

August 4, 2023
The dilemma in Liverpool’s midfield and the risks of taking another chance.

Romeo Lavia appears to be on the verge of joining Liverpool, but it would be extremely risky to wait until after the Belgian before adding another midfielder.

One would anticipate Liverpool to step up its efforts to sign Lavia as their third player of the summer after the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho were officially confirmed.

Lavia won’t have had a proper preseason with Liverpool, so it is unclear whether he will be ready to start the opening Premier League game at Stamford Bridge should the deal go through.

In either case, Lavia’s addition to Jurgen Klopp’s team would be a thrilling development for the current campaign as well as many years to come.

He’s obviously still developing, and there will be plenty of room for improvement as he grows and develops, but his potential is alluring.

But if and when Lavia does, a critical question arises: will Liverpool still pursue another midfielder during this transfer window, or will they opt to make due with what they already have for the upcoming season?

The midfield numbers game

Liverpool unquestionably has fewer midfielders than they did at the end of the previous season, just in terms of personnel.

Five senior midfielders have left the team in Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (excluding Fabio Carvalho and Arthur Melo), and only two have been replaced them.

It might be more helpful to concentrate on minutes played rather than player count when evaluating the breadth of Liverpool’s midfield options.

The Liverpool midfielders who played the most minutes in all competitions in 2022/23 were Fabinho (3,534) and Henderson (2,556).

If all goes well, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai should be able to more than adequately fill those minutes in 2023–2024.

While Lavia played for Southampton last season, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Keita only clocked up slightly more than 2,300 minutes (the equivalent of 25 complete games) between them.

Therefore, even though Liverpool may be down two players, it’s likely that Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, and Lavia will have made up the minutes that the five senior midfielders lost by their departures.

It should also be taken into account that it’s highly likely that Curtis Jones will log significantly more time than the 1,153 minutes he logged last season.

There is a scenario in which it could all work out absolutely fine if Liverpool enters the new season with just three new midfielders, provided that injuries and form go according to plan.

The problem is that it wouldn’t take much to go wrong before the options started to look uncomfortably limited.

It’s important to keep in mind that Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago are both recovering from serious injuries, and it could be some time before they are fully fit again.

The only remaining midfield options (aside from Trent Alexander-Arnold in the hybrid right-back role) if we place an asterisk next to both of those two for the time being would be Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jones, Lavia, and Harvey Elliott, and only one of those six is a specialized defensive midfielder.

However, Mac Allister and Jones are best used higher up the field where they can connect with the front three. Sure, they can occasionally drop back into a deeper role.

You wouldn’t want to see it for a very long time, but it might work well against specific types of opponents as a temporary fix.

All it would take is for Lavia to sustain an injury for Liverpool to find themselves suddenly down to just one senior defensive midfielder. Of course, this is assuming that Lavia picks up speed relatively quickly, which is by no means a given.

Furthermore, it would be unfair to expect a 19-year-old to step in and immediately take over the defensive midfield void on his own.

Another unnecessary gamble

When this summer’s transfer window first opened, the general opinion was that Liverpool needed to sign three midfielders.

Nobody anticipated that two Saudi Arabian clubs would be successful in luring Henderson and Fabinho away for exorbitant sums of money, significantly disrupting preseason plans and greatly expanding the scope of the rebuild that would be necessary.

Given how poorly Henderson and Fabinho played for the majority of last season, there was already a compelling argument to sign Lavia before any news about them broke.

Due in large part to a lack of dynamism and intensity in the middle of the pitch, Liverpool was regularly and easily penetrated last season, frequently by so-called inferior opponents.

Lavia would have offered strong competition without having to worry about becoming a guaranteed starter week in and week out if Henderson and Fabinho had stayed.

If Liverpool’s midfield rebuild ends with Lavia, given the unanticipated departures of Henderson and Fabinho, they run the risk of leaving themselves dangerously short of players.

A second midfielder would be added to the Belgian, which would lessen the pressure on Lavia to start playing right away and lessen the effect of any potential injury problems that might develop.

The choice not to address key positions in the squad and plan for the possibility that certain things might go wrong resulted in Liverpool performing significantly worse than anticipated in two of the last three seasons.

In 2020–21, Liverpool came dangerously close to missing out on a top–four finish due to the team’s decision to not replace Dejan Lovren and start the season with just three senior center-backs.

Liverpool’s failure to qualify for the Champions League last season was largely caused by the decision not to strengthen the midfield.

It is to be hoped that the lessons from those campaigns have been applied, and Liverpool won’t make the same type of error by trying to cut corners this time.

It might be Manu Kone or Khephren Thuram, who were both strongly connected earlier in the window, or it might be a sudden development that catches everyone off guard like Szoboszlai.

However, completing the transfer window by adding one more midfielder (and a left-sided center-back) after Lavia could be the key to proving that Liverpool are capable of mounting a serious challenge on all fronts.

Although there are many reasons to be optimistic about this new beginning for Klopp’s Liverpool, there is still significant work to be done.

August 3, 2023
Liverpool currently have six undroppable players as £37m deal May be priceless

While playing a preseason friendly against Bayern Munich, Cody Gakpo once again showed his mettle and has the potential to excel at Liverpool.

The Dutchman took Bayern Munich by surprise with a stunt that has become a regular feature of Cody Gakpo’s game since moving to Liverpool eight months ago.

After a deft one-two with Diogo Jota, Gakpo was closing in on Yann Sommer’s goal and only two minutes had passed in Liverpool’s last preseason game before their 2023 tour of Singapore.

Gakpo gave the Bundesliga champions a scare with a sublime weak-footed strike after making one touch to caress the ball and another to steady himself. This gave Liverpool the lead. With Kopties having moved from PSV Eindhoven, the 23-year-old saw this all too familiar sight as he received the ball in a deep central area.
It was a lightning-fast, back-to-front sequence that started.

In addition to being his second preseason goal, the £37 million January signing’s most recent standout performance has him well-positioned to start at Stamford Bridge next weekend.

Even though Josip Stanisic and Frans Kratzig’s late goals sealed an incredible comeback for Bayern Munich, which saw Jurgen Klopp’s team lose 4-3 at the Singapore National Stadium, Liverpool will be returning to Merseyside on Wednesday night with the knowledge that their goal-scoring ranks are strong ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Aside from his outstanding opening goal, Gakpo’s performance on Wednesday highlighted his place among the essential—and possibly untouchable—members of Liverpool’s team. Only players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bryan Ruiz, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Mohamed Salah can truly claim to be at such an elite level at Anfield.

That ranking represents a significant difference from the feeling that met his arrival on Merseyside eight months ago after then-sporting director Julian Ward had utilised the festive period to thrash out a deal with his Dutch counterparts at PSV. In fact, the sight of Gakpo posing in Liverpool red for the first time was met with a fair amount of perplexity by some quarters of the fanbase given Klopp’s side had been crying out for midfield reinforcements for the best part of two-and-a-half years.

However, his latest showing in Singapore – not for the first time in the fledgling stages of his Liverpool career – will have left Bayern Munich and other heavyweights of the European game clenching their fists in frustration.

At a time when the Bundesliga champions are looking to right the wrongs of a first season in nine years without Robert Lewandowski by striking a deal for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane, which, if finalised, is expected to cost in the excess of £90m, Gakpo’s excellence at both leading the line and operating out of possession cannot be understated.

Though even with the apparent impasse in negotiations with the North London outfit, Thomas Tuchel’s side, who also saw their attacking ranks weakened by the departure of Sadio Mane earlier this week, still managed to tally four goals past Alisson Becker.

However, after the questionable officiating that overlooked Wednesday’s game – mainly for Bayern’s first and fourth goals – and Liverpool’s obvious teething problems as their defenders continue to get up to speed with the requirements of their new-look 3-2-2-3 formation, the 4-3 victory certainly holds no danger of persuading Tuchel to cease his long-standing pursuit of Kane.

Having said that, the 2020 Champions League winners are not the only side who will be left to lament Ward’s masterstroke and final notable act as Liverpool’s transfer chief. Of course, such efficiency led to the Reds besting Manchester United in the race to land Gakpo, who, as a fellow Dutchman, Erik Ten Hag had been a main admirer of.

As a result, United’s search for a focal point of their attack has led them to agree to a £72m fee with Atalanta for 20-year-old Rasmus Højlund. His imminent move to Old Trafford comes after stop-gap solution Wout Weghorst fired blank in his 17 Premier League outings last term while on loan from Championship side Burnley.

Meanwhile, back in Singapore, Gakpo’s first-half performance was further complemented by an equally as impressive cameo on the left side of midfield in the second half, shortly before he was replaced by 18-year-old Bobby Clark.

“I played in midfield a few times last season already,” said Gakpo, speaking to the ECHO in the Far East earlier this week. “I just have to see what’s going to happen, if I maybe play in the midfield or in the striker position or somewhere else. There are multiple options. Do I have a preference? Just to play!”.

Bayern Munich would have been understood for being relieved to see the back of Liverpool’s No. 18 when he was withdrawn on 61 minutes. That would, however, stand true if his impending exit wasn’t supplemented by the introductions of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez shortly after half time.

On that basis, it’s fair to say Liverpool’s arsenal is well-stocked ahead of next week’s Premier League get-go.

August 3, 2023
Jürgen Klopp concurs with Pep Guardiola in FIFA request after Saudi transfer raid on Liverpool

After Jordan Henderson and Fabinho left the club, Liverpool felt the impact of Saudi Arabia’s Pro League, and Jürgen Klopp expressed his worries.

Jürgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, has expressed his disapproval of Saudi Arabia’s large football-related investments.

The transfers of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson from Liverpool to the Saudi Pro League, which sparked controversy because of the large contract offers involved, have come after this. With significant financial incentives, Saudi Arabian clubs have gone on a spending binge, bringing in a number of well-known players from Europe.

Both Henderson and Fabinho left Liverpool for the Middle East, and according to reports, Henderson is now making an incredible $891,000 (£700,000/€812,000) a week at Al-Ettifaq, the Mirror reports.

This disparity in transfer window timings between Europe and Saudi Arabia is one of Klopp’s biggest worries. While Saudi clubs have until September 20 to finalize their deals, European clubs have until September 1 to complete their transfer business.

For European teams, this longer window presents a problem because it increases the possibility of losing players before they have time to find suitable replacements. In an effort to address this problem and find solutions that keep European clubs from suffering, Klopp has urged FIFA and UEFA to take action.

He stated, “It is massive, at the moment,” to underscore the seriousness of the situation. The Saudi Arabian transfer window is open for three weeks longer, which is pretty much the worst thing, in my opinion.

That’s not helpful, at least not in Europe, if what I heard is accurate. For that, UEFA or FIFA needs to come up with solutions. But ultimately, I’m not sure exactly what will happen right now.

We can definitely say that it has already had an impact.
It is something we will have to get used to, and that is what we do. I think that’s about all I have to say about it; time will tell. “.

Liverpool and other European teams are already feeling the effects of Saudi Arabia’s spending spree. Manager of Manchester City Pep Guardiola has recently cautioned clubs to be mindful of the shifting dynamics in the market as a result of Saudi Arabian investments, and Klopp’s worries are in line with his concerns.

Guardiola remarked, “When Cristiano [Ronaldo] was the only player to leave a few months ago, nobody imagined this many elite players would play in the Saudi league.”. Clubs must be informed of what is going on because there will be more in the future.

“Saudi Arabia is a fact; it is not about being a threat. They wish to build a powerful league, and as of now, they are the only league capable of doing so. Due to its superior organization and higher broadcast rights, the Premier League was able to spend more than the other leagues.

For how long the Saudi league will continue like that, I’m not sure. The athletes, however, wish to use this experience to play in that league. The market has evolved due to Saudi Arabia. “.

Premier League CEO Richard Masters played down worries about Saudi football’s ascent. He mentioned that something novel is occurring, but for the time being, he is not unduly worried.

Masters further noted that the Premier League’s current standing, level of competition, and sources of income have been developed over decades.

More news……..

Jürgen Klopp gave a Liverpool forward his Champions League debut while he was “in talks” to move on.

In-progress transfer talks could result in the departure of a Liverpool youngster who was regarded highly enough to make his Champions League debut under Jürgen Klopp.

As negotiations with League One team Oxford United advance, Max Woltman, a forward in the Liverpool academy, is on the verge of leaving the organization.

The 2-1 Champions League victory over AC Milan at the San Siro in December 2021 marked the 19-year-old’s first-team debut under Jürgen Klopp.
He has been a member of Liverpool since he was seven years old.

Woltman, however, returned to Liverpool’s under-23s squad for the remainder of the season after a loan stint at Doncaster Rovers last term where he struggled for playing time.

Manager Liam Manning has taken notice of Woltman as he has been playing for Oxford in various friendlies over the summer. Woltman is not an immediate impact player for the team, according to Manning, who views him as a development project.

Manning said (via the ECHO) “We’re talking to Liverpool and exploring what that looks like. “It’s more of a development project than something that will immediately have an effect on the team,” the author said. I believe he is the kind of player who fits how we want to play, considering his personality, character, and some of the qualities he displayed in brief moments.

“We don’t have the next one coming up under that when you look at the competition in his position with Ruben Rodrigues and Billy Bodin. The main factor is how the deal is structured. Everything depends on how the deal ultimately turns out. ”.

Woltman has scored twice in 13 appearances for Barry Lewtas’ under-23 team since his return to Liverpool in January. He was, nonetheless, ineligible to take part in the UEFA Youth League games.

Oxford, which placed 19th in League One last season, is looking to add players to its roster in preparation for the 2023–24 season. It would gain a promising young talent for the future from the potential acquisition of Woltman.

August 3, 2023
According to report:Liverpool ready to close quick signing of £26m-£34m play breaker

To begin their new Premier League season under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool will play Chelsea away from home in just over ten days.

With only two additions and five departures in the midfield, it will be fair to say that the Reds haven’t been able to adequately strengthen the team thus far.

The Merseysiders must expeditiously finalize a deal for a playmaker to replace Fabinho, and reports suggest that Fluminense’s Andre might be the one to replace his compatriot at Anfield.

According to UOL, the Brazilian team would prefer to keep their prized asset until December before selling it for a sum of roughly 25 to 30 million euros.

However, as claims that Liverpool are willing to swiftly complete the signing of the Selecao player during the current transfer window.

The renowned Spanish news outlet reported that the South American club would demand a fee of £26m-£34m (30-40 million euros) if they had to offload the defensive midfielder this summer.

After Andre, there are other Premier League teams besides the six-time European champions.

The media outlet based in Madrid reports that Fulham is also trying to sign him and that they even had a bid of 20 million euros rejected during the winter transfer window.

Romeo Lavia, a former DM for Manchester City, is still rumored to be interested in joining Liverpool, despite Southampton making no concessions.

We’ll monitor the transfer saga to see how it plays out and will keep you informed.

More news…….

Liverpool striker confirms his emotional departure from his childhood club after 15 years.

Max Woltman has announced that, after 15 years with the team, he is leaving and moving on to Oxford United.

The 19-year-old will depart Liverpool after playing twice for the first team.

The striker impressed during a club trial this summer and has since signed with Oxford United for an undisclosed sum.

Woltman has now accepted his fate because it was never going to be easy for him to join Jurgen Klopp’s team with Liverpool so loaded up in attack.

A visibly moved Woltman wrote on Instagram: “As a lifelong fan, playing in red since I was five, I never imagined to see so many dreams come true.

“I will never forget the experiences I had while going through the academy, making my debut at San Siro, and making my full debut at Anfield.

The time has come to say goodbye and begin a new chapter, though.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to all the players, employees, and supporters for the wonderful memories I’ve had during my 15 years as a red.

“Wearing this badge has been an honor. ”.

In 2021, the Reds defeated AC Milan 2-1, and Woltman was making his Liverpool debut during those final few minutes.

The following season, he started the entire first half up front against Shrewsbury before leaving on loan to Doncaster last summer.

The transfer was “a relief,” according to Woltman, who has since settled down in Oxford.

At Oxford, he joins fellow ex-Liverpool player Cameron Brannagan, who joined the team from Liverpool in 2018.

Tyler Morton, who returned to Liverpool this summer after spending a year at Blackburn Rovers, was Woltman’s childhood teammate.

More news……

A defender for West Ham is in advanced talks with Liverpool.

If conditions at the London Stadium weren’t already dire, it appears that West Ham will lose one of their highly regarded defenders to Liverpool.

It’s unclear whether David Moyes personally, Tim Steidten, the new technical director, or owner David Sullivan are to blame for the manager’s inability to make any purchases in the current transfer market.

Realistically, it doesn’t really matter who is at fault because it is imperative that new players enter the game right away.

East Londoners should be doing everything in their power to stop the vultures from circling rather than allowing other players to leave the game, even though it’s probably too late for Amara Nallo.

According to Football Insider, the 16-year-old is in advanced negotiations with the Reds, which raises the question of what the Reds’ recruitment department is up to given that he reportedly only recently signed a scholarship contract with the Hammers.

It’s mentioned by Football Insider that the player will be able to sign professional contracts when he turns 17 in November, but that still doesn’t explain how Liverpool managed to snag one of the up-and-coming talents from under the noses of the east Londoners.

It appears as though West Ham is operating in a total panic, making poor decisions left and right.

August 3, 2023
Liverpool has already made an £82,000-a-week offer for a creative player worth £34 million.

Liverpool have long been linked to Gabri Veiga, the young Spaniard and Celta Vigo, and now the Reds have made an offer to sign him.

However, the Catalan outlet stressed it would be difficult for the Anfield club to match the €40m, or £34m, release clause.

Now, according to Spanish source, Deportes COPE Galicia (via Estadio Deportivo), Liverpool have made a sizable offer of €25m to attract the midfielder.

To sweeten the deal, the Premier League giants are willing to loan the player to Celta so he can play in La Liga next season.

The loan option would certainly not benefit Jurgen Klopp, who is in desperate need of reinforcements in the center after replacing five midfielders this summer. Veiga is a creative attacking midfielder, who directly contributed to 15 goals (11 goals and 4 assists) last season.

In the last game of the season, he helped his youth club survive relegation by scoring a brace against Spanish champions Barcelona.

He made six appearances at the Under-21 European Championship for Spain, playing 31 minutes in the final against England.

Liverpool could have a good chance of signing Veiga from Celta Vigo as former Anfield boss Rafael Benitez is the Spanish side’s manager.

Rafa sold us a jewel in the form of Philippe Coutinho when he was at Inter and Sturridge when he was at Chelsea.

More news……..

After the transfer to Saudi Arabia was finalized, Fabinho’s wife sent a heartfelt message to Liverpool.

After five years at Liverpool, Fabinho has left the club to join Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. His wife wrote an emotional farewell letter to the club’s supporters.

Rebeca Tavares, Fabinho’s wife, is upset about his departure from Liverpool for Saudi Arabia.

His time at Liverpool has come to an end as the Brazilian midfielder has finalized a transfer to Saudi Pro League team Al-Ittihad. Since their marriage in 2015, Fabinho and Rebeca have had one child, who was born in 2017.

After the departure was announced, Rebeca posted a sincere message on Instagram. My heart is beating quickly, she said. Since this is life and football, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye (and I still don’t).

“What a beautiful history we created here. What history this “lighthouse” has produced. A red is a red is a red is a red. Anfield, you will be known to my son.
Thank you for your support and love.
ynwa, never.
“.

The success of the team was greatly aided by Fabinho, who moved from Monaco to Liverpool in 2018. He won several trophies with the Reds during his time there, including the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup, and Super Cup.

From wives of other current and former Liverpool players, Rebeca’s message was warmly received. I love you guys, said Larissa Firmino, the wife of former Reds number nine Roberto Firmino. “You’re our family,” furthered Natalia Becker, who is wed to goalkeeper Alisson Becker. I appreciate you all.

I adore you guys.
“.

This summer, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson both left Liverpool for the Middle East. Steven Gerrard and former Reds captain Henderson got together at Al-Ettifaq.

29-year-old Fabinho said: “Today I leave my home. Wearing this jersey for five years has always been a source of the highest honor and joy. I’ve been welcomed by everyone at Liverpool since the first day. I felt like family in this club because of what I observed about the relationships between the patrons.

“With that jersey, I won every title a player could hope for, and in these five years, I grew as a player and a man. I won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and the World Cup because of Liverpool. I was able to enter a stadium holding my son in my arms because of Liverpool, which was a dream come true for me.

“I played in Anfield, the best stadium in the world with the best atmosphere, all thanks to Liverpool. The biggest game of my life, the comeback victory over Barcelona, was made possible by Liverpool, and it was only possible because of Anfield. I will never forget that specific moment. I adore what this group of people stands for in the club.

“I’ve always been impressed by the club and the fans’ love affair. And I can confidently state that the song “You’ll never walk alone,” performed by our supporters after that game, was the most pivotal moment in my time with Liverpool. I genuinely love this club, and I say that with joy. We are grateful for everything we have experienced together, Reds. You’ll never walk by yourself. “.

August 3, 2023
Jürgen Klopp gave a Liverpool forward his Champions League debut while he was “in talks” to move on.

In-progress transfer talks could result in the departure of a Liverpool youngster who was regarded highly enough to make his Champions League debut under Jürgen Klopp.

As negotiations with League One team Oxford United advance, Max Woltman, a forward in the Liverpool academy, is on the verge of leaving the organization.

The 2-1 Champions League victory over AC Milan at the San Siro in December 2021 marked the 19-year-old’s first-team debut under Jürgen Klopp.
He has been a member of Liverpool since he was seven years old.

Woltman, however, returned to Liverpool’s under-23s squad for the remainder of the season after a loan stint at Doncaster Rovers last term where he struggled for playing time.

Manager Liam Manning has taken notice of Woltman as he has been playing for Oxford in various friendlies over the summer. Woltman is not an immediate impact player for the team, according to Manning, who views him as a development project.

Manning said (via the ECHO) “We’re talking to Liverpool and exploring what that looks like. “It’s more of a development project than something that will immediately have an effect on the team,” the author said. I believe he is the kind of player who fits how we want to play, considering his personality, character, and some of the qualities he displayed in brief moments.

“We don’t have the next one coming up under that when you look at the competition in his position with Ruben Rodrigues and Billy Bodin. The main factor is how the deal is structured. Everything depends on how the deal ultimately turns out. ”.

Woltman has scored twice in 13 appearances for Barry Lewtas’ under-23 team since his return to Liverpool in January. He was, nonetheless, ineligible to take part in the UEFA Youth League games.

Oxford, which placed 19th in League One last season, is looking to add players to its roster in preparation for the 2023–24 season. It would gain a promising young talent for the future from the potential acquisition of Woltman.

More news………

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been named as Virgil van Dijk’s vice-captain by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

In place of Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been named vice captain and Virgil van Dijk has been named the new Liverpool captain by Jurgen Klopp.

The Netherlands defender was brought in to fill Henderson’s shoes after the latter gave up the captaincy to join Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ettifaq after being lured to the region and signing a staggering £700,000-per-week contract.

Van Dijk joined the Reds from Southampton in 2018 and has since established himself as one of the team’s top performers during a successful period that has seen the team win its first Premier League championship and sixth Champions League trophy.

He will assume the captaincy, making him the first Reds defender to do so since Sami Hyypia gave it up in 2003.

Van Dijk said to Liverpoolfc . com in Singapore: “[It’s] a really proud day for me, for my wife, for my kids, and for my family.”. I struggle to put into words the unique feeling I’ve been experiencing.

But it’s something I’m really, really proud of. “Of course, I’m captain of Holland; that was already such a tremendous honor and a proud moment.”. I can’t right now describe what it’s like to also be the captain of Liverpool Football Club.

“It’s just something that makes me very proud, and I will do everything I can to make everyone happy and proud of me and the football club.”. ‘ .

Van Dijk has led the Netherlands since being named captain ahead of the 2022 World Cup, and Klopp has apparently been impressed enough to name him as Liverpool’s newest manager.

The 32-year-old has played a crucial role in the club’s recent success, but over the past two seasons, he has struggled with serious injuries at various points.

He missed 41 days of the previous season due to a hamstring injury, and he also missed nearly the entire 2020–21 campaign due to surgery for a cruciate ligament injury.

In the event that he is unable to participate in games during the upcoming season, vice-captain Alexander-Arnold will assume the captaincy.

The city is where the England international was born, and he has played a crucial role in Klopp’s efforts to help Liverpool win more trophies.

His place in Liverpool’s lineup was called into question following a disappointing campaign the previous year, during which the Reds struggled to find consistency and ultimately finished outside the Champions League spots.

After a late surge of impressive midfield displays, Alexander-Arnold recovered and is once more anticipated to start every game for Klopp in 2019.

August 2, 2023