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Premier League officials and VAR are annoying enough; they might cost Liverpool the title.

In the Christmas edition of his monthly Liverpool column, John Aldridge discusses the 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Saturday and looks ahead to today’s match against Burnley.

The weekly officiating standards we witness in the Premier League have me really concerned.

It’s beyond comprehension how Martin Odegaard’s handball against Liverpool on Saturday night went unnoticed. How in the world could referee Chris Kavanagh miss that when I could see it from high up in the stands while providing game commentary? It was blatantly obvious.

Being on VAR, David Coote decided it wasn’t worth sending Kavanagh to the pitchside monitor for. Honestly, it just defies comprehension. Coote has caused us problems in the past, most notably when Jordan Pickford ended Virgil van Dijk’s season while he was using VAR and didn’t even receive a yellow card.

Even though this was the easiest choice Coote would have to make all season, he still made the incorrect choice. Odegaard’s hand is now in the ball’s direction. That is definitely a foul if it was outside the box. What makes it different from anywhere else on the pitch if it’s in the penalty area?

It seemed strange since it was played down on television and not given the same level of scrutiny as many decisions. It is shambolic in its poverty. The fact that VAR failed to identify it is inexplicable.

When Odegaard saw Salah advancing past him with the ball, he became alarmed, and we all followed suit. Though it is a ridiculous call that cannot be ignored, this shouldn’t overshadow what was a fantastic game. After this, Coote need to be off duty for two weeks since you never know what impact this might have in the future.

We might end up second in the league or first depending on this incorrect call. After the scandal with Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal against Tottenham Hotspur, we now have to deal with another shameful judgement. When will this be over? In the event that it’s a tie, you can understand. But what has Coote observed that has prevented him from reporting it, given that it was an obvious penalty?

Moving past VAR, Arsenal deserves some credit for at least creating a fun game. They had a purpose when they came to Anfield, unlike Manchester United, and they should be pleased with how they played. Under their boss, they are developing as a team, and it is evident how much they have changed.

More than anything else, our draw with Arsenal was a fantastic outcome for Manchester City. After seeing how that turned out, they will have been thrilled and will now be looking forward to our and Arsenal’s pursuit. Without a doubt, once De Bruyne is healthy, they will return with a fight.

We poured forward in the second half and Trent Alexander-Arnold had a chance to win the game for us when he struck the crossbar. It was unfortunate that he did not receive a true pass. A striker in that position would guide the ball and allow it to leave their foot. Trent aimed for power, which is why it only went a little bit high, but his effort and rushing to claim the spot demonstrated how important it was to him. Once again, he was among the top players on the pitch because of his immense influence. It was absurd how he assisted Salah in scoring.

Injuries beginning to bite

It was devastating to lose Kostas Tsimikas on Saturday night; he had made an impression without Andy Robertson. It was an awful injury. Our current lack of a healthy senior left-back is a serious concern. It’s a waiting game till Robertson returns, which should happen at least next month, which will be fantastic.

Joe Gomez is someone we absolutely need to keep healthy because if we lose him, we’ll have a serious issue. Gomez is the epitome of versatility; he can play centre back, right back, and left back. He is a huge addition to the squad because of this. He’ll probably have to cover for Tsimikas at left back. James Milner is no longer in the picture, thus others will have to fill in as needed.

Jota and Robertson must be on the verge of returning, as must Alexis Mac Allister. We are unaware of Bajcetic, and I’m beginning to lose hope in Thiago because I have no idea what has transpired there. I’m praying Luis Diaz’s injury is not too severe. It would be horrible to lose him for an extended period of time once more.

Liverpool’s next opponent is Burnley later this afternoon, and they will be fierce after winning convincingly against Fulham on Saturday.

December 27, 2023
Why Martin Odegaard’s handball against Arsenal did not result in a penalty kick for Liverpool

On Saturday, Liverpool and Arsenal played in the Premier League.
Odegaard touched the ball in Arsenal’s box, but no penalty was called, and the referee was not called to look at the VAR screen.

The majority of the lead-up to Liverpool’s Premier League match against Arsenal was devoted by Jurgen Klopp to the Anfield faithful.

Following what Klopp thought were two dull performances by the Merseyside faithful against West Ham and Manchester United, the chief orchestrator of Liverpool insisted on “a proper Anfield experience” and asked supporters to surrender their tickets “if you are not in the right shape”.

After Martin Odegaard touched the ball in Arsenal’s box during the first half, the bulk of the 57,000 spectators who crammed into the stadium on Saturday night let out a collective yell of disapproval when referee Chris Kavanagh waved away strong claims for a penalty.

This is the reason why the captain of Arsenal got away with it, much to the vociferous disapproval of many at Anfield.

Why weren’t Liverpool given a penalty against Arsenal for Martin Odegaard’s handball?

After just three minutes, Arsenal took the lead with their 11th set-piece goal of the season, and Gabriel tried his hardest to hush those on the red side of Stanley Park with a looping header.

Midway through the first half, Odegaard found himself in his own penalty area despite having swung in that tempting delivery. With a deft touch, Mohamed Salah beat the captain of Arsenal to the ball and caught Odegaard off guard. Odegaard lost his footing and slapped the bouncing ball with his left hand in a desperate attempt to correct his placement, which infuriated many.

The FA handbook’s much-discussed Law 12 emphasises that “not every touch of a player’s hand/arm with the ball is an offence”.

Odegaard undoubtedly touched the ball by accident, but if a player “has made their body unnaturally bigger,” intent is irrelevant. Salah’s charge into Arsenal’s box was halted by Odegaard’s lowered arm, even though his studs were embedded in the ground.

In contrast, “the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation” absolves them of any criminal responsibility.

In order to avoid players receiving penalties for contacting the ball with the arm they are using to cushion their fall, this particular feature was included. Though he barely regains his balance, Odegaard seems to counterbalance his unsteady footing by moving his hand to the turf rather than punching the ball away. Referee Kavanagh had to have reached at least this conclusion when he made the snap decision in real time.

VAR David Coote either did not consider Kavanagh’s judgement to be a “clear and obvious error” or agreed with Kavanagh’s call, which is quite feasible. There was no request to have the on-pitch official check again via the pitchside monitor.

Reaction to Liverpool’s non-penalty against Arsenal

It’s reasonable to conclude that Stockley Park’s residents were not the majority. The initial responses on social media varied from curious to…

Odegaard lucky there 👋 #LIVARS

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) December 23, 2023

… to outright befuddled.

In what world has Martin Odegaard not handled the ball there? Baffling decision.

— Amos Murphy (@AmosMurphy_) December 23, 2023

Odegaard started playing basketball with it

— DB (@Kloppholic) December 23, 2023

Many experienced a near-existential crisis over the rules of what should be an easy game as a result of their inability to make a decision.

Honestly, I’m not sure what the handball rule is anymore if that Odegaard handball isn’t a handball.

— Yomi Kazeem (@TheYomiKazeem) December 23, 2023

December 24, 2023
Where Liverpool stands with their Super League aspirations following the court judgment against UEFA

The much-maligned European Super League, which ended in 2021, is making news again after the European Court of Justice found that FIFA and UEFA violated competition law by obstructing the breakaway proposal.

When plans to establish a new competition including the best teams in Europe were revealed two and a half years ago, the future of football as we know it was thrown into disarray.

Nine clubs, including Liverpool, retracted their decision to join the league within a day of declaring their intentions, as fans swiftly denounced the concept.

The Super League was not allowed to develop, and teams who wanted to participate were sanctioned by FIFA and UEFA. However, A22, a corporation set up to help the league get off the ground, later contested the authority of the governing bodies to do so.

It is now official that FIFA and UEFA violated competition rules in order to implement these actions, which has led to concerns that club owners might be persuaded to return to the idea.

Following complaints from supporters and threats of more punishment, Liverpool promptly withdrew their plans to join the league. Shortly after, primary owner John W. Henry apologised for the “disruption” the incident had caused.

The club has since maintained its position against any subsequent attempts to rekindle the project, as stated in a statement they provided to the Guardian back in 2021:

Our participation in the suggested ESL plans has ended. There should be no doubt that we are fully committed to seeing that through to the end.

“We are acting in accordance with the best legal advice and strategy to suitably terminate our engagement.”

This Is Anfield understand that, in contrast to Manchester United, Liverpool will not be making an announcement on the most recent events in the Super League narrative.

Their stance hasn’t altered, though, since the club has no plans to participate in any more breakaway attempts.

The most recent developments may naturally make supporters fear the worst, but it doesn’t seem like there are any plans to revive the ideas that were greeted with strong opposition back in April 2021.

The current UEFA Champions League, which is preparing for its biggest format change since group stages were added in 1991, was supposed to be replaced by the European Super League.

36 clubs will be divided into four pots of nine in Europe’s highest club competition, which will now have a Swiss system. The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while teams seeded nine through twenty-four must play an extra round of playoffs.

More news……

Liverpool transfer target may be hijack by PSG as agreement is close

According to one source, Paris Saint-Germain are nearing an agreement for Lucas Beraldo Liverpool target.

As Jurgen Klopp deals with escalating injury concerns, the 20-year-old defender has been mentioned as a potential target for the Reds prior to the transfer window reopening next month.

Liverpool has previously committed to adding one or more defensive players by 2024. But Joel Matip’s season-ending injury has only made the need for additional back-end players more pressing.

Prior to January, the Reds were linked to several centre backs. They were even tipped as the front-runners for Sao Paulo’s impressive South American centre back, Beraldo.

Santi Aouna claims that PSG will actually finalise a winter contract for the Brazil youth international.

The journalist from Foot Mercato stated on X: “PSG is optimistic that Lucas Beraldo’s arrival will be completed in exchange for a 20+5M Euro bonus. close coordination between the parties. Potentially scheduled for next week’s medical examination.”

According to Aouna, PSG is reportedly in advanced talks with Corinthians to sign 18-year-old midfielder Gabriel Moscardo, who has also been tangentially connected to Liverpool in recent weeks.

Although Beraldo may no longer be an option, it is unclear if Liverpool will make any additions the following month.

The likelihood of Liverpool bringing in a replacement for the injured Matip has been downplayed by manager Jurgen Klopp in public. And yet another story says the Reds are willing to negotiate ‘if the price is right’.

In addition to Piero Hincapie of Leverkusen and Leny Yoro of Lille, Goncalo Inacio of Sporting CP is another centre back who has frequently been mentioned as a possible target.

Anfield Watch is aware that the Reds’ top objective for 2024 will be to strengthen their defence, even though a high-profile addition is probably more likely to come in the summer.

Despite Klopp’s remarks, Liverpool has experience signing players in January, having done so with Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo in the last two years.

December 23, 2023
Liverpool’s projected starting lineup against West Ham – Premier League

Once again, Liverpool managed to secure a Premier League victory without needing a strong first half.

An early goal from Jordan Ayew on Boxing Day saw the league leaders trailing against Leicester City, but there was little doubt that Arne Slot’s side would eventually find a way past the Foxes to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Cody Gakpo’s magnificent goal just before the break set the tone for a second-half onslaught, with a final score of 3-1 showcasing the attacking strength of Liverpool. Moving through the gears effortlessly is not an issue, particularly with Slot adjusting tactically to improve his team’s chances.

The Reds will be eager to finish the year on a high before Manchester United arrives to start 2025. They will face West Ham on Sunday afternoon, and here’s the lineup Slot might choose for the match in east London.

Liverpool predicted lineup vs West Ham (4-2-3-1)
Liverpool came from behind to defeat Leicester on Boxing Day / Copa/GettyImages

GK:Alisson – The Brazilian has found clean sheets hard to come by since returning from injury, but Caoimhin Kelleher will only feature if Alisson faces another injury setback.

RB:Trent Alexander-Arnold – The full-back was relentless in his efforts to assist teammates at the back post on Boxing Day, particularly in the first half, before Liverpool adjusted their strategy after the break. Slot will be cautious with Alexander-Arnold after he played the full 90 minutes on Thursday, but Conor Bradley is still unavailable.

CB:Joe Gomez – Ibrahima Konate will reclaim a starting spot when he is available, but Gomez is proving to be a reliable deputy, just as he did last season.

CB:Virgil van Dijk – Ayew’s goal on Boxing Day deflected off Van Dijk’s boot, but he otherwise had little to do as Liverpool dominated Leicester for most of the match. Jarrod Bowen’s energy will pose a challenge for the Dutchman on Sunday.

LB:Kostas Tsimikas – Andy Robertson has played heavily over the past month, and many consider him to be the weakest link in Liverpool’s squad. Slot is likely to rest the Scotsman and bring Tsimikas back into the starting lineup.

CM:Ryan Gravenberch – A consistent presence at the base of midfield, Gravenberch has arguably been the Premier League’s top-performing midfielder this season, and Slot will be hesitant to rest him here.

CM:Alexis Mac Allister – Liverpool are at their best when Mac Allister excels in his central midfield role. He is the mastermind behind the team, but he has also contributed in the final third occasionally.

RM:Mohamed Salah – While Salah wasn’t at his best on Boxing Day, he still delivered for Fantasy Premier League managers (especially those who captained him) by scoring Liverpool’s third goal. Inevitably, he had an impact.

AM:Curtis Jones – Jones was outstanding against Leicester and continues to be a crucial member of the squad. With Dominik Szoboszlai suspended, this selection is a straightforward one.

LM:Cody Gakpo – Gakpo’s stunning curler sparked Liverpool’s momentum against Leicester, and the Dutchman is thriving on the left flank.

ST: Luis Diaz – Darwin Nunez’s frustrating performances suggest a change up front, and Diaz, who has impressed in a false nine role this season, was an unused substitute last time.

December 19, 2023
Liverpool isn’t included in the Europa League draw; why? Playoff regulations: UK sides are excluded

Four British teams—Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham, and Rangers—have all advanced to the Europa League knockout stages; however, they will not be participating in the draw on Monday.

Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham, and Rangers have already advanced to the tournament’s final 16, thus they will not be represented in Monday’s Europa League play-off draw.

The House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland is the venue for the Europa League’s first knockout round draw. On Monday, there will also be the draws for the Europa Conference League play-offs and the Champions League’s round of 16.

Eight teams who placed second in the group stage and eight teams that placed third in the Champions League group stage will compete in the Europa League play-off draw. Each group stage runner-up will play a team that is descending into the tournament from the Champions League thanks to a seeding system in the draw.

Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham, and Rangers have all qualified for the Europa League’s round of sixteen automatically because they won their respective groups. They won’t know who their next opponents are until the eight play-off round winners are known.

The eight Europa League teams that placed second in their group (seeded) are Freiburg, Marseille, Sparta Prague, Sporting, Toulouse, Rennes, Roma, and Qarabag. Eight Champions League teams—Galatasaray, Lens, Braga, Benfica, Feyenoord, AC Milan, Young Boys, and Shakhtar Donetsk—finished third in their group (unseeded).

In the play-off round, clubs from the same nation cannot be paired against one another. Therefore, there is no opportunity for Roma to play Milan or Marseille to play Lens.

The 2021–2022 season saw the introduction of the play-off system. Previously, the top-finishing teams from each Europa League group, together with the runners-up and those relegating from the Champions League, would advance to the competition’s final 32.

Teams who place first in their group, like the four British competitors, are rewarded under the current system. Similar rules apply to the Europa Conference League, which is now contested by the teams that placed third in their Europa League group.

Ajax, Molde, Maccabi Haifa, Union Saint-Gilloise, Sturm Graz, Olympiacos, Maccabi Haifa, Servette, and Real Betis have all been eliminated from the Europa Conference League (unseeded). In the play-off round (seeded), they will play Ludogorets Razgrad, Ferencvaros, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bodo/Glimt, Legia Warsaw, Gent, Dinamo Zagreb, and Slovan Bratislava.

After winning their group, Aston Villa is not included in the Europa Conference League play-off draw. Club Brugge, Fiorentina, Lille, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Viktoria Plzen, PAOK, and Fenerbahce have all advanced to the tournament’s round of sixteen.

The eight group winners and the eight group runners-up will face off in the Champions League. Group winners must play runners-up from a different group; clubs within the same nation cannot be paired against one another.

Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal are all seeded. The teams without seeds are Porto, Lazio, Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig, Copenhagen, PSV, Napoli, and Inter Milan.

On Monday, the Champions League draw will take place first, at approximately 11 a.m. Following at approximately 12 p.m. (UK time), the Europa Conference League draw will occur at approximately 1 p.m.

December 18, 2023
Liverpool and Barcelona are pursuing Florian Wirtz for a 2024 transfer.

Barcelona and Liverpool have already started corresponding with Florian Wirtz in anticipation of a move early in the upcoming summer.

Barcelona and Liverpool are attempting to have an early advantage in the competition for Florian Wirtz, according to German publication Sport1. Giants in the Premier League and Spain have reached out to the player’s camp in an attempt to finalise a deal for next summer.

The Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are listed as the top candidate in the article highlighting Liverpool and Barcelona’s interest for Florian Wirtz. According to the reporter, Bayer Leverkusen won’t consider selling the 20-year-old Bundesliga prodigy until the 2024–2025 season is over, so any proposals made the following summer may encounter resistance.

However, Liverpool, Barcelona, and numerous other teams have already made offers with the intention of signing the German prodigy for the upcoming summer. According to reports, the Premier League and Spanish powerhouses have gotten in touch with the agents of players to inquire about possible trades.

As he continues to support Bayer Leverkusen in their pursuit of the Bundesliga championship under Xabi Alonso, Wirtz is one of the team’s most valuable assets going forward. There is no shortage of suitors for the 20-year-old Bundesliga player; Real Madrid is rumoured to be willing to spend a high price to sign him.

Manchester United and City are among the many teams vying for this talent; there is a lengthy queue in the backdrop. Given that Wirtz is among the greatest players in the Bundesliga, Bayern are unavoidably in the chase. But he can also be drawn in by attention from overseas.

After Wirtz leaves Bayer Leverkusen, the long-term performance of German players outside of the Bundesliga will still be taken into consideration. In order to have the 20-year-old available for the Champions League run the following season, the club is determined to maximise his worth.

Both Barcelona and Liverpool are keen to sign Wirtz in the summer. With their alleged advances to the player’s side, the two are attempting to get an advantage over the competition. But unless Bayer Leverkusen receives a very good offer, it is unlikely that they will allow him to depart next summer.

In October, Barcelona withdrew from the race for this reason alone. However, if circumstances improve for the Catalans, they may sit down again. Other than Barcelona and Liverpool, a lot of clubs are currently battling for Wirtz, which will make him one of the hottest properties in Europe come football season.

More news……

Hakan Calhanoglu is being pursued by West Ham United, Chelsea, and Liverpool.

Hakan Calhanoglu, 29, of Inter Milan, is a midfield player that Chelsea, Liverpool, and West Ham United would all love to have on their team.

A report from Calciomercato claims that West Ham United, Chelsea, and Liverpool are all interested in hiring Hakan Calhanoglu. Since joining Inter Milan, the 29-year-old has been performing admirably, and his outstanding efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Prior to joining Inter Milan in the summer of 2021, Calhanoglu was a member of AC Milan. Since joining Inter, he has only become better. The club’s defensive midfielder has made appearances in 112 games and has helped contribute to 41 goals.

Over the years, the Turkish international has played every position on the pitch. In his early years, the 29-year-old playmaker was frequently spotted on the wings or up top, but at this point in his career, he likes to play as a holding midfielder or a central midfielder.

With more than three years remaining on his contract, he has been a vital member of Inter Milan’s first team in recent seasons. Nevertheless, he might have to leave them in the summer of next year as Premier League teams try to sign him.

Even though Liverpool added a lot of midfield players over the summer, their transformation is far from finished. With his expertise, Calhanoglu may be a wonderful match as a deep-lying playmaker. They need another defensive midfielder.

Chelsea may be concentrating on acquiring young athletes with enormous potential. To maintain order, they do require some experience among their ranks. Despite having a number of defensive midfielders already, they may still want to sign Calhanoglu because of his versatility in both attacking and centre midfield roles.

West Ham United, meanwhile, has long been a fan of the 29-year-old. They intended to sign him as Lucas Paquetà’s replacement throughout the summer. The Brazilian ultimately decided to remain at the London club, and the Inter midfielder’s singing was abandoned.

The Hammers will seek Calhanoglu, and an offer of about €50 million might get them there regardless of what happens with Paqueta next summer. Even though Inter would prefer to hang onto their star, their financial difficulties are still present. Also, since he was a free agent when he signed with them in the past, his departure might enable them to make a tidy profit.

December 16, 2023
Liverpool transfers news: Is Mbappe a viable addition to Liverpool or Arsenal?

Could Kylian Mbappe really be a realistic target for Liverpool or Arsenal?

As usual, Kylian Mbappe’s future has been in the news, with rumours that Liverpool and Arsenal are considering the financial terms of a possible transfer. But if Mbappe does ultimately decide to leave PSG, I believe it’s important to note that it’s quite difficult to see him turning down Real Madrid.

Regardless of whether it’s Arsenal, Liverpool, or another team, if he leaves PSG, it will be to join Real Madrid. Though it’s a dream and objective of his, it’s not really equivalent to affection for someone like Liverpool or a desire to play in the Premier League. The question is whether it will happen in the coming months or later in the future.

Mbappe’s admiration for Liverpool is not new, and the player has spoken nothing but praise for them. However, he has a strong emotional bond with Real Madrid because he was raised as a supporter of the team. He has a clear career goal in mind, thus it seems inevitable that he will play for Real Madrid at some point.

Mbappe’s next chance to join Real Madrid will come at the beginning of 2024, when he will be in the last six months of his contract. Although there have been rumours that Real Madrid may set a deadline to complete this, no one is any the wiser as to what Mbappe could or might not do. That wouldn’t be very well welcomed, in my opinion, as there are still a lot of questions around Mbappe’s future and PSG’s project is just getting started with more French talent in the lineup. There is noticeable improvement being made because, despite just making it through a challenging group, they are still in the Champions League and are atop Ligue 1.

There are advantages, and PSG appears to be headed in the right direction. However, they weren’t producing the same amount of opportunities as they have this season when they had players like Neymar and Lionel Messi. Naturally, Mbappe’s future will be impacted by PSG’s success in the Champions League. After all, he wants to win the competition, having watched Erling Haaland win it with Manchester City. Therefore, PSG must address the important question of whether this current project will allow Mbappe to achieve the Champions League success he so desperately desires in the near future.

You wouldn’t consider PSG to be the favourites based on their performance in the Champions League thus far this season, but teams have occasionally emerged from the group rounds and gone on unexpected runs. I do believe that PSG will be a team that opponents will want to stay away from, and they might have a fortunate run into the closing stages. There are a lot of moving parts here, so I doubt Mbappe would be grateful if Real Madrid gave him a timetable to make a decision.

Even though I don’t think anything will be decided by January, there will undoubtedly be a lot of talk regarding Mbappe. Due to the Premier League’s evident financial power, it’s even possible that this will help teams like Liverpool or Arsenal, who will then be ready to strike if, for whatever reason, things don’t work out with Real Madrid.

However, there are other factors to consider. Mbappe has been a part of PSG and Ligue 1 for a considerable amount of time, and he is now in a position to potentially make league history in addition to club history. Perhaps Mbappe wants to leave his mark on French football so profoundly that he stays and attempts to create records that might not be surpassed for decades or even forever. The financial state of Ligue 1 is another issue to consider; new TV agreements may help matters there, which may encourage Mbappe to remain in France.

We also know that Mbappe has approved of PSG’s extensive roster purge; the team now appears to be playing as a cohesive one rather than just when Mbappe or other elite players are performing well. As we seen last night with Warren Zaire-Emery, PSG now has a generational talent who can share the load with Mbappe without taking away from the position that Mbappe plays. Other players are also capable of pulling them out of tight situations. There are several factors to consider while speculating on Mbappe’s future because he was raised in Paris and has an additional connection to PSG due to his academy education. It’s not as easy as picking a choice in the first few weeks of January, in my opinion.

Just to be clear, though, I still find it impossible to imagine Mbappe turning down Real Madrid in lieu of a transfer to the Premier League. It is my understanding that he has an unquestionable goal of playing for Real Madrid, but he would also like to try himself in the Premier League at some time in the future. These are more of preferences than goals.

To be really honest, I don’t think Mbappe would be as drawn to Arsenal as he would be to Real Madrid. Of course, Thierry Henry would be compared, but I don’t believe that history would play a role in any choice. Arsenal under Arsene Wenger was the Arsenal that kind of flirted with Mbappe when he was a bright young kid at Monaco, and Arsenal now is very different from that Arsenal.

In my opinion, Mbappe would seriously consider joining Arsenal if an offer were made and Real Madrid withdrew from the picture. Arsenal is an appealing idea right now. Although I believe Liverpool’s interest in Mbappe has been more serious and long-standing, Liverpool is also going through a transitional period, so neither club seems like the obvious choice for Mbappe right now; only Real Madrid truly fits the bill in that regard.

Though Jude Bellingham is already at Real Madrid, it’s worth considering that Erling Haaland may choose to go there as his next destination. It’s unlikely that all three of these players will be on the same squad in the future, as these players will undoubtedly be the top candidates for the Ballon d’Or in the next years. Therefore, the question is where Mbappe believes he can leave the greatest legacy.

Although I wouldn’t entirely rule out Arsenal or Liverpool, I believe those teams would trail Real Madrid in importance. Additionally, it’s not as though he has decided he’s done with PSG at this point.

In the following several weeks and months, a lot might happen, but I believe that Real Madrid’s strategy in this transaction will be the most important development. We’ll have to wait and see how they launch their next charm offensive to see whether Mbappe becomes more interested in joining Arsenal or Liverpool.

December 15, 2023
Liverpool team news: suspension list, and injury vs. Crystal Palace

When Liverpool plays Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday lunchtime, they have the opportunity to shoot up to the top of the Premier League table—at least for a few hours.

Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai provided the game-winning strikes as the Reds defeated Sheffield United 2-0 on Wednesday to extend their winning streak to three games across all competitions.

After the midweek round of games, Jurgen Klopp’s team is only two points behind Arsenal. Since the Gunners don’t play until 3 p.m. on Saturday, a Liverpool victory over Palace would allow them to briefly hold the top spot.

Sports Mole compiles the most recent injury and suspension updates for Liverpool prior to their matchup with the Eagles, who were defeated 2-0 by Bournemouth on Wednesday night.

Alexis Mac Allister

Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: December 9 (vs. Palace)

In the opening half of Wednesday’s match, Alexis Mac Allister took a blow to the knee and eventually had to be substituted just before the hour. It is unlikely that the midfield player will be declared fit for the match at Selhurst Park after Klopp disclosed that the player needed stitches for his wound.

Joel Matip

Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: Unknown

In the exciting 4-3 victory against Fulham last weekend, Joel Matip tore his ACL completely. The Cameroonian defender is anticipated to miss the remainder of the season due to injury, which might mean a harsh end to his career with the Reds before his contract expires in the summer.

Alisson Becker

Status: Out
Type of injury: Thigh
Possible return date: December 14 (vs. Union SG)

As he recovers from a thigh injury, Alisson Becker ought to be the first person out of the Liverpool hospital, but he won’t be prepared to play against the Eagles.

Diogo Jota

Status: Out
Type of injury: Muscular
Possible return date: December 26 (vs. Burnley)

Diogo Jota, like Alisson, had to leave the game against Manchester City last month due to a muscular issue. Unlike his goalie, Jota’s injury won’t go away right away, so he might play again before the year is up.

Andrew Robertson

Status: Out
Type of injury: Shoulder
Possible return date: January 1 (vs. Newcastle United)

Although Andrew Robertson is steadily recovering from surgery to mend a dislocated shoulder two months ago, the New Year is still thought to be his most likely return date.

Thiago Alcantara

Status: Out
Type of injury: Hip
Possible return date: January 1 (vs. Newcastle United)

Due to a hip injury, Thiago Alcantara hasn’t been spotted in a Liverpool uniform since April. The Spanish midfielder has also experienced two setbacks, meaning he won’t be back until at least January.

Stefan Bajcetic

Status: Out
Type of injury: Calf
Possible return date: Unknown

Before being sidelined once more due to a calf issue, Stefan Bajcetic fully healed from an adductor injury. There is presently no word on when the teenager would return to action.

More news……

Liverpool and two other Premier League rivals are vying for the 25-year-old South American’s signature.

Douglas Luiz, a midfielder for Aston Villa, has been connected to a departure from the team in recent months.

According to a report from 90 Min, Liverpool has now entered the competition for the 25-year-old Brazilian midfielder, who is reportedly being watched by many Premier League clubs.

It seems that Liverpool has expressed interest in signing the player should he decide to leave Aston Villa. Liverpool could use more players like the 25-year-old, who has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most dependable midfielders.

Alexis Mac Allister has had to fill in as their defensive midfielder this season because they were unable to buy a quality player during the summer transfer window. The Argentine international is better suited as a number eight, and Mac Allister will be able to play for his country now that Luiz has arrived.

Luiz could finish off Jurgen Klopp’s midfield group for the foreseeable future and would be a great fit for the Liverpool midfield.

The athlete has also been connected to Manchester City and Arsenal.

The player may find the chance to play for a major club appealing, but it appears that the West Midlands club is unwilling to allow him go in January. This season, Aston Villa has been very strong, and they are trying to qualify for the Champions League. It is unclear if Liverpool will want to make a test offer in January, but they won’t want to deplete the team anytime soon

December 8, 2023
Preview: Liverpool vs. Fulham: team news, lineups and prediction

In Sunday’s Premier League match, Liverpool hosts Fulham at their Anfield fortress in the hopes of maintaining their perfect home record in the 2023–24 campaign.

The Reds defeated LASK Linz 4-0 on Thursday to go to the Europa League round of 16, while Marco Silva’s team narrowly prevailed 3-2 against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday.

Match preview

In Thursday’s Europa League Group E match, Austrian powerhouse LASK Linz became the tenth visiting team to test their mettle on Anfield turf this season. Thomas Sageder’s team swiftly became the tenth club to leave empty-handed, as Liverpool comfortably advanced into the round of 16 with a game remaining.

After losing to Toulouse 3-2 and earning just one point, the Reds missed their chance to qualify three weeks prior. However, Liverpool secured the top spot with to goals from Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, and Mohamed Salah, who scored his 199th Reds goal.

As Liverpool gears up for an intense winter schedule, which begins this weekend with the first of eight games scheduled for December, Klopp understandably praised the significance of wrapping up progress early. This month, they play their final group game against Union SG, with nothing more at stake than pride.

The Reds’ match against Manchester City at the top of the table last weekend did not quite live up to the pre-game hype, but a brilliant strike from Trent Alexander-Arnold earned them a point in a 1-1 draw. However, Ruben Dias had to call a timeout after Manuel Akanji had knocked down Alisson Becker.

Liverpool now sits in third place after missing the opportunity to overtake the defending champions, Arsenal, who lead Klopp’s team by two points. Nevertheless, the Reds will host Fulham on Tuesday after winning all ten of their home games this season by a margin of at least two goals.

In Monday’s intense match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, where three spot kicks were awarded in the second half of the match, the Cottagers were also thanking their lucky stars for video assistant refereeing. The Wanderers, on the other hand, were left to lament yet another round of controversial decisions going against them. The match ended in a five-goal thriller.

Fulham’s four-game winless streak in the division came to an end when Willian, the winger for Fulham, scored twice from 12 yards, following goals from Alex Iwobi and Matheus Cunha. However, Wolves manager Gary O’Neil reeled off a list of questionable calls that the officials admitted wrongly went against his side on the evening.

The PGMOL may have offered Wolves a meaningless apology, but Fulham earned a crucial three points in their attempt to escape danger. The Cottagers are currently in 14th place in the standings, but they have a comfortable 10-point lead over Sheffield United in 18th place.

The good vibes in the Fulham camp could not last long, though, as the Cottagers have lost their previous six Premier League away games under Silva. They have now conceded in each of their last nine games in all competitions.

The lowest percentage for any team to play at least 10 away games against a single opponent is Fulham’s meagre four goals from 16 Premier League games versus Liverpool at Anfield. However, in May’s top-flight match, only a Salah penalty kick could separate the two teams.

More than the Reds’ stalemate with Man City last weekend, where both Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota tweaked leg muscles in the second half, none of Klopp’s players emerged from the victory over LASK with a new injury issue to report.

While Jota’s injury is more serious and Klopp is unsure of when the Portuguese attacker will return, Alisson will stay in the treatment room for a few more weeks, giving Caoimhin Kelleher just his sixth Premier League start for the Reds.

With Andrew Robertson (shoulder), Thiago Alcantara (hip), and Stefan Bajcetic (calf) out of the lineup for Klopp’s three long-term absences, Diaz should start for the hosts in the attack against Fulham. Salah needs one more goal to reach a fantastic 200 for the Merseyside giants.

Regarding the visitors, Silva will be happy to have the vital midfield player Joao Palhinha return to the engine room; Tom Cairney or Harrison Reed will have to make way for the Portugal international, who was suspended for the team’s victory against Wolves.

After defeating Wolves, the Cottagers also came out on top. However, Issa Diop is not likely to return from his foot injury anytime soon, and Adam Traore (thigh) and Rodrigo Muniz (knee) are also out of the running for the time being.

Ex-Liverpool winger Harry Wilson should not start against his former employers since both Iwobi and Willian are making a lot of net space. However, with Tosin Adarabioyo recovering from a groyne treatment, Silva faces a defensive conundrum.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed; Iwobi, Pereira, Willian; Jimenez

We say: Liverpool 3-0 Fulham

When Wolves visited town on Monday, it took a few strokes of luck for Fulham to cross the finish line. However, since the Cottagers have had plenty of time to heal, it shouldn’t matter too much when they play Liverpool.

With numerous rested big-hitters making a comeback to the starting lineup and playing goals for joy in front of their own supporters, Klopp’s crop should be able to maintain their 100% home record without too many setbacks on Sunday.

December 2, 2023
Jürgen Klopp is incensed at the decision and Liverpool observes as the Man City hearing date is set

As the Man City hearing date is announced, Jürgen Klopp is incensed by the decision and Liverpool observes.

Even though Liverpool easily defeated LASK in their Europa League match last night, Jürgen Klopp was nevertheless not happy. Man City has scheduled a time for the third party panel.

Although Jürgen Klopp’s team still has a match left in the group stage against Union SG of Belgium, they have already been declared the winners of the group. Together with Toulouse’s goalless draw, the Reds’ 4-0 victory over LASK guaranteed that they would have an insurmountable lead going into the last round of games.

Consequently, Klopp won’t have to worry about Europe until March, giving him a pass through the extra play-off round, which is where the Champions League’s dropouts initially compete. As a result, there was enough to be happy about, but the Liverpool manager still had a big grievance about what happened that evening.

Outside of the pitch, Manchester City has seen some noteworthy changes. With 115 Premier League charges hanging over its head after it won the treble last season, an independent panel’s hearing date has been tentatively set. The claims have always been refuted by the club.

Naturally, every Premier League team and football fan will be eagerly monitoring those events, including Liverpool. These are the most recent stories from Liverpool.com that you simply must not miss.

Hearing date for Man City set

As is now common knowledge, Manchester City has been accused of multiple Premier League rule violations, the great majority of which have to do with financial matters and are collectively referred to as “Financial Fair Play” (FFP). This year’s February saw the filing of the charges following a year-long inquiry.

It was soon obvious that there would be no quick fix. There has been some progress, though, as the Daily Mail reports that the Premier League and Manchester City have decided to have the independent panel meet in the autumn of next year. Theoretically, a decision on it may be anticipated during the summer of 2025.

There’s also the chance of an appeal, albeit that may still be delayed. Premier League rules outline a thorough procedure for contesting a ruling, so appealing to CAS is at least out of the question. Overall, though at a painfully slow pace, a decision is getting closer.

Jürgen Klopp fumes at Liverpool vs LASK decision

For Klopp, it was unquestionably a successful evening as his team was certified as both a Europa League qualifier and a winner. However, the Liverpool manager’s evening on the sidelines was anything but leisurely.

Klopp was particularly enraged by one call. As the game was coming to an end, Liverpool gave LASK several opportunities to break fast, but in the build-up to one of those, there was a blatant offside. Nevertheless, the officials decided to allow the manoeuvre to proceed.

Liverpool was now desperately trying to come back, and it was only by luck that a collision between an oncoming Caoimhín Kelleher and a sliding Kostas Tsimikas did not turn unpleasant. The TNT Sports pundits claim that Klopp gave the fourth official a hard time for his “dangerous” decision to continue playing.

Kelleher is anticipated to participate in the upcoming matches following Alisson’s injury against Manchester City. This would have also been a very annoying method for the backup custodian to suffer an unexpected setback.

December 2, 2023