Kylian Mbappe is not on Liverpool’s radar, according to Jurgen Klopp.
The 24-year old Mbappe wants to leave PSG, and the club wants to sell him this summer for €150 million rather than let him leave for free the next year.
“We laugh about it,” Klopp told Sky Germany. “I can say that I think he’s a really good player but the financial conditions don’t suit us at all. I wouldn’t like to ruin the story now … but as far as I know, there’s nothing to it.
“It’s possible that someone else from the club is preparing something and wants to surprise me…that hasn’t happened in the eight years that I’ve been here.That would be the first time.”
Kylian Mbappe’s the Parisian star has seen many clubs express interest with the Serie A club leading the bidders.
However, few weeks ago, Saudi club, Al-Hilal made world record £259m bid for PSG striker after which they were given a greenlight to start talks with Mbappe.
But per reports, Mbappe is not ready to move to Asia.
A knife attack in a town centre claimed the life of a 19-year-old guy.
Violence erupted shortly after midnight on Saturday in Ormskirk, Lancashire, and the kid was stabbed as a result.
Emergency personnel arrived on the scene in Railway Road quickly and located the victim nearby, but they were unable to save him.
After the incident, he passed away in the hospital.
A second 19-year-old was also stabbed; he was transported to the hospital, but it is not believed that his injuries are life-threatening.
Two men, both 19 years old, have been detained on affray suspicion after being arrested.
There is a substantial police presence in the region, and officers have taped off several roads to create a large-scale cordon in the town.
Police stated that they responded to allegations of a “ongoing disturbance” near Railway Road at 12.05am.
According to a Lancashire Constabulary spokesman, a 19-year-old was discovered nearby with stab wounds. He tragically passed away later in the hospital despite the best efforts of the emergency personnel.
‘Two 19-year-old men, one from Maghull and one from Liverpool, have been detained on suspicion of affray. They are still being held as of right now.
The arrests are related to a fight between many individuals that happened in Railway Road. The town centre has designated a considerable area as a crime scene.
Sadio Mane is on the verge of joining Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr and teaming up with Cristiano Ronaldo, pending a medical examination.
Bayern Munich has reportedly accepted a verbal proposal for the Senegalese forward, who faced challenges adapting to the Bundesliga after his move from Liverpool last summer.
Al Nassr has been engaged in intense negotiations with Bayern Munich for Mane’s transfer and made a £32 million offer for the talented winger.
The Saudi Pro League club is confident that they can finalize the deal before the end of the week.
According to The Sun, Mane’s agent is already negotiating personal terms with Al Nassr as the 31-year-old forward is expected to become the latest big name to move from Europe to Saudi Arabia.
Mane is set to become Al Nassr’s fourth major signing this summer after completing deals for Marcelo Brozovic, Reuben Neves and Seko Fofana by the Saudi club.
Mane’s Bayern performance not satisfactory Meanwhile, Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer has described Sadio Mane’s time at the German club as ‘not satisfactory’ as the Senegalese forward looks set to leave for Al Nassr, ESPN reports.
The former Liverpool forward scored 12 goals in 38 appearances for Bayern, but only one of those goals came after a leg injury in November that kept him out of the World Cup.
Mane has two years left on his contract with Bayern, but after a disappointing and injury-hit first season with the Bundesliga champions, both parties have decided to part ways after just one season.
Sadio Mane snaps at reporter Earlier, Sports Brief reported Sadio Mane’s immediate future at Bayern Munich remains unsettled after the forward suffered a reported fallout with the German club hierarchy.
However, Mane appeared to have noticed the amount of backlash he has received from the media and he wasted little time showing how displeased he was with them.
In a video posted on Twitter by Maximilian Koch, an Abendzeitung reporter, the player was seen posing for a photo with a fan when a journalist approached.
Fabinho has been excluded from Liverpool’s squad flying out to Singapore as midfielder nears £40m ($51.82m) Al-Ittihad transfer.
The Brazilian’s move to Saudi Arabia was thrown into doubt due to payment structure issues, but negotiations have resumed and all parties are committed to finalising the deal.
According to The Athletic, Fabinho will be the latest superstar to join the Saudi Pro League following the takeover of four major clubs by the country’s Public Investment Fund.
The midfielder will join Jordan Henderson in heading to the Middle East, with Liverpool confirming the captain has sealed a deal to join Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq.
Fabinho had previously been left out of Liverpool’s pre-season camp in Germany as talks have been ongoing for a few weeks now. Now he will sit out the Singapore trip where Liverpool will play two friendlies against Leicester City and Bayern Munich.
Meanwhile, Liverpool continue to hold discussions with Southampton for the acquisition of Romeo Lavia. They have seen their first bid of £37 million ($48m) knocked back as the Saints remain firm on their £50m ($64m).
Fabinho is expected to complete his move to Al-Ittihad in the next few days. While Liverpool are gearing up to face Leicester City on Sunday in a pre-season friendly.
Jurgen Klopp has made excellent signings inAlexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, both of whom are perfectly suited to the team’s playing style, according to Liverpool legend John Barnes.
Liverpool secured the services of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Hove Albion for a reported initial fee of £35 million, while Dominik Szoboszlai joined from RB Leipzig for £60 million (€69 million) ahead of the 2023-24 season.
These two midfielders are expected to bring versatility to the team as they can play in multiple positions.
They will add much-needed energy to Liverpool’s midfield, which is experiencing an aging process and may soon lose key players like Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, who are reportedly heading to Saudi Arabia.
Mac Allister and Szoboszlai’s ability to adapt and perform in various roles, after initially starting as wingers before moving to central positions, aligns perfectly with Klopp’s tactical approach.
Their acquisitions are seen as tailor-made fits for the Liverpool squad, and fans have high hopes for their contributions in the upcoming season.
“Last season I think it was fairly apparent that we needed midfield players,” Barnes told Stats Perform. “Of course, what you do is you use every opportunity to get who you can.
“So, in the strikers that we’ve got, I think that bodes well for the future. But I think you can see that we were a little bit short in midfield from an age perspective but also from a quality and intensity perspective.
“We knew we were going to lose two or three midfield players, so they are welcome additions to the squad from a positional point of view and also from the quality point of view too.”
Mac Allister was also the only player to average two-plus shots (2.68), two-plus tackles (2.18) and 50+ passes (56.2) per 90 minutes in last term’s Premier League, among players with 1,000 or more minutes.
That all-round approach and energetic demeanour makes the 24-year-old a suitable fit for Klopp’s high-pressing philosophy, in the opinion of Barnes.
“It’s not all about what impresses me, but he’s the type of player who will suit our style,” Barnes said of Mac Allister, who hit 10 league goals for Brighton last term.
“He may not be able to play for Manchester City but that doesn’t mean he’s better or worse. It’s just that we have to sign players that suit our style and are hardworking all-action midfield players.
“He’s not a Bernardo Silva type, but he suits what we want. Liverpool have always done that and looked to get players who suit their system, regardless of how other good other people think they are, or not.
“He suits our midfield profile and the template of a midfield player that we want. Hardworking, aggression and playing the ball forward quickly. He suits our style perfectly.”
Jurgen Klopp expressed his satisfaction with Liverpool’s “top-class” training camp in Germany, despite his side being held to a surprising 4-4 draw by second-tier Greuther Furth.
In the behind-closed-doors match, the Reds initially took the lead 1-0 and later extended it to 3-1, but they faced a setback as they fell behind 4-3.
Fortunately, Mohamed Salah scored a last-minute equalizer to salvage a draw and prevent an embarrassing defeat.
Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez (twice) were also among the scorers in the rollercoaster match, and Klopp, who is 56 years old, views the trip to his homeland as a positive experience for his new-look squad.
Despite the mixed result, the training camp appears to have been beneficial for Liverpool’s preparations for the upcoming season.
He told the club’s website: “You could see now, last day of the camp. Travel, play, travel — it is always a bit exhausting.
“But that’s it and you have to go through it, that’s what we did. Most importantly, nobody got injured.
“Of course, nobody wants to concede four goals but you saw in the second half, we were too late in mind, passed the balls too late, first touch not good, and that’s how we brought them back into the game.
“We scored, on the other hand, some really, really nice goals, to be honest.
“So, a lot of good individual performances and that’s most important, that we have like 50-ish minutes for everybody and, again, nobody got injured. A good camp and I’m really happy.”
New Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has been relishing his recent journey with the club.
The 24-year-old Argentine, who is a World Cup winner, made a move to the Merseyside from Brighton for an initial fee of £35 million just last month.
Over the past two weeks, he has showcased his skills in matches against Furth and Karlsruher.
On his opening outings, Mac Allister said: “There is a lot of positive things [to take from the camp].
“I am a new player so I still have to know my team-mates, their strengths and their weaknesses, but I think there are really good players here and we can build something important.
“The welcome from the team was amazing and they are helping me every day so I can do my best on the pitch, so it’s a really good team.”
The Reds now head home before a trip to Singapore, where further friendlies against Leicester and Bayern Munich lie in store.
As per German media reports, a representative from the Roof agency, responsible for handling Mane’s affairs, recently met with Al Nassr’s sporting director, Goran Vucevic, at a hotel in Portugal to explore the possibility of the transfer.
Mane, aged 31, made the switch from Liverpool to Bayern last summer for a fee of $45 million, signing a contract until 2025.
However, his first season with the German champions was somewhat inconsistent, as he managed to score only seven goals in 25 Bundesliga appearances.
Unfortunately, the Senegalese forward suffered a leg injury in November, causing him to miss both the World Cup in Qatar and some of Bayern’s games.
Al Nassr has been active in the transfer market, securing signings such as Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan and Seko Fofana from Lens.
The club is also aiming to finalize a deal for Manchester United’s full-back, Alex Telles.
Liverpool midfielder, Jordan Henderson, will be absent from the team’s initial pre-season match against German club Karlsruher as negotiations continue regarding a potential transfer to Al-Ettifaq, managed by Steven Gerrard.
Reports indicate that Al-Ettifaq has reached an agreement with Liverpool for the 33-year-old, with the transfer fee set at £12 million (€13 million/$15 million).
Consequently, Henderson was excluded from Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly.
It is reported that Henderson is set to earn a substantial weekly salary of around £700,000 by joining Al-Ettifaq, following the trend of English players moving to the Middle East.
Additionally, Henderson’s teammate Fabinho is currently in discussions regarding a possible move to the Middle East, with Al-Ittihad reportedly nearing a £40 million (€46 million/$51 million) deal.
Nothing is official yet, but Henderson’s move will damage his reputation among Liverpool supporters and those within the LGBT+ community, given Henderson’s pro-LGBT+ stance in the past.
It could also be likely the move will signal the end of his England career.
Liverpool have omitted midfielder Fabinho from the squad heading to their training camp in Germany following the receipt of an official bid for the player.
According to reports from the PA news agency, Al-Ittihad, one of the Saudi Arabian clubs owned by the country’s Public Investment Fund, has made a £40 million offer for the Brazilian international.
Receipt of a “serious, official” offer prompted discussions within the club which resulted in a decision, taken in consultation with Fabinho, to withdraw the player from the squad which flew out on Saturday.
Captain Jordan Henderson, who has been linked to a reported £700,000-a-week offer from Al-Ettifaq, managed by former teammate Steven Gerrard, has accompanied the squad to the training camp.
This is because no bid has been received for him so far.
Liverpool is undergoing a midfield overhaul this summer, with the experienced James Milner departing for Brighton and the contracts of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita expiring.
The offer for Fabinho, who will turn 30 in October, is seen as another opportunity to rejuvenate the midfield.
The club have been looking for a long-term successor to the Brazil defensive midfielder as although the 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic impressed in a short spell before injury last season, he needs time to grow into the role having made just 19 senior appearances.
Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, at 19, was also under consideration but the pending immediate departure of Fabinho is likely to prompt a change in targets with the need to recruit a ready-made replacement.
A number of names have been linked this summer but Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, whom the Seagulls value at £100million-plus, is not an option.
Henderson’s uncertain future means the need to bring in experience is now a priority for Liverpool.
Their new recruits were likely to have meant reduced playing time for the 33-year-old, who has lifted every elite trophy during his captaincy of the club and – while he remains an integral part of the dressing room – Liverpool are not averse to selling.
However, they would look for a figure closer to £20million-plus for a player who has two years remaining on his contract.
Liverpool managerJurgen Klopp has expressed his satisfaction with the impact made by new signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai on the squad. The Reds invested almost £100 million in securing the midfield duo from Brighton and RB Leipzig during the summer transfer window.
Klopp expects Mac Allister and Szoboszlai to play crucial roles in revitalizing Liverpool’s midfield. He revealed that the first team members were excited to witness the arrival of these highly-rated players, highlighting their potential contributions to the team.
Speaking about his summer acquisitions to Liverpool’s official site, the 56-year-old said: “Very happy [to have signed them]! Two very good players.
“I was immediately thinking about nicknames and I thought it would be great nickname for Alexis — Gary [McAllister]! He plays pretty good football, obviously, the same as Dom.
“I was pretty clear in the moment we signed them, the public reception was pretty good, internally it was outstanding, the boys know about football so they were immediately like, ‘Oh my God’ so that’s really good.
“Now they are here and didn’t take long to impress on the pitch as well, so that’s good.”
The Reds trained as a full group for the first time on Thursday ahead of five pre-season friendlies over the next month, starting with a clash against Karlsruher SC in Germany next week.
Liverpool’s summer signings have begun pre-season training with their new team-mates
Klopp is pleased with the attitude shown so far by his players, who are determined to make the new season a success after an underwhelming 2022-23 campaign.
He added: “We are all full of energy, I think we can say that. It was a good break, it was an important break as well, but it was a long enough one as well.
“Now we are back and the boys are really ready to work, that’s the first impression I got.
“Absolutely [there’s a real buzz]. We don’t have to say it now too often and all the time, but we all know that we want to show a reaction.
“And the reaction doesn’t start on the first matchday, it starts with the first training day.
“That was clear, that’s how we left and that’s how we came back. Yes, there was a proper buzz when everybody was here again.”
Tottenham is the newest Premier League team to enter the bidding for Chelsea defender Levi Colwill.
Due to worries that they would miss out on signing Mickey van de Ven, Spurs have entered the competition for the talent of Chelsea’s gifted center-back Colwill.
The young defender has a lengthy list of supporters, and this north London club is the latest.
Liverpool and Manchester City are also keen on securing the services of the 20 year-old while Brighton want him on a permanent deal after he spent the last season on loan with the Seagulls.
Chelsea are adamant on keeping hold of the Southampton-born player and have reiterated the youngster isn’t for sale.
Mauricio Pochettino is set to hand him a key role for next season in a bid to keep him at the club.
Colwill played a key role in England’s Under 21 European winning campaign recently. He started five out of six games as England conceded zero goals throughout the tournament.
Paul Pogba has received a three-year, €100 million contract offer from the Saudi Arabian team Al Ahli, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
The 30-year-old French midfielder will join Edouard Mendy, a former Chelsea custodian, and Roberto Firmino, a former Liverpool striker, on Al Ahli’s roster.
The Saudi Pro League team, which has already spoken the terms of the deal to Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta, will want to assess his physical condition before offering him the contract.
The revelation comes following an injury-plagued campaign in which Pogba, who Juventus re-signed from Manchester United as a free agent last summer, managed just 161 minutes from 10 appearances across all competitions.
There are also questions about whether or not Pogba wants to leave the Serie A side.
If Pogba tells Juventus that he wants to move, the Bianconeri will not block the deal and will look to bring in a €10m transfer fee.
Fellow midfielders Denis Zakaria, Weston McKennie and Arthur Melo could also leave Juventus, who are looking at Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners, Barcelona’s Franck Kessie, Atletico Madrid’s Rodrigo de Paul and Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra as possible candidates to strengthen that area.
Liverpool and Egypt may face a potential disagreement as the Egyptian national team manager, Rogerio Micale, expresses his desire to include Mohamed Salah in his squad for the 2024 Olympic Games.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Micale has openly admitted his intention to have Salah participate as an overage player in the Olympics, which is scheduled to take place between July 26 and August 11 in Paris.
If Salah were to be selected, it is likely that he would miss the beginning of the 2024-25 season, as his involvement in the tournament would overlap with the start of domestic fixtures.
Moreover, Salah is already expected to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) between January and February of the upcoming season, leading to his absence from several Liverpool matches.
Liverpool has previously turned down a request for Salah to participate in the Olympics, rejecting a similar proposal for the Tokyo edition in 2021.
As such, the situation between Liverpool and Egypt may potentially lead to a dispute regarding Salah’s availability for both international and club competitions.
Because the Olympics is a non-FIFA sanctioned event, clubs can block their players from participating, and Liverpool may do so again.
Micale said: “We still have one year to think of the matter and evaluate the situation, but for sure we welcome Salah… Salah is as significant as Neymar in Brazil.”
Salah is likely to be key for the Reds as they attempt to recover from a disappointing 2022-23 season, in which they failed to qualify for theChampions League.
The former England and Liverpool midfielder, Steven Gerrard,has accepted the position of manager at Saudi Arabian side, Al-Ettifaq, despite declining the offer in June.
“Without a doubt, Gerrard’s presence will be an addition and a quantum leap to our league,” said Khalid Al-Dabal, the club’s chairman.
Steven Gerrard has officially signed a two-year contract with Al-Ettifaq, the Saudi club. After being dismissed as Aston Villa manager last year, Gerrard had been without a job until now.
Al-Ettifaq finished seventh in the Saudi Pro League last season, trailing the champions by 35 points.
Gerrard’s move to Saudi Arabia aligns with a trend of Pro League clubs making significant investments and attracting top European players, including Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United.
It is understood that Szoboszlai has a £60 million release clause in his contract, which is set to expire on June 30. Meanwhile, Newcastle has withdrawn from the race for the midfielder.
Szoboszlai has expressed a desire to join Liverpool, and with Newcastle no longer pursuing him, there is an increased possibility of a deal being reached with RB Leipzig.
Liverpool had positive discussions with the player’s representatives on Monday and are actively engaged in negotiations.
The club appreciates Szoboszlai’s talent, attitude, and versatility in playing across the midfield.
His impressive chance-creation skills and ability to carry the ball align with Liverpool’s desired profile for midfield reinforcements.
Alongside Szoboszlai, Liverpool has also been exploring other options to enhance the technical quality, dynamism, and depth in midfield.
Although Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella has been targeted, he appears inclined to remain at the San Siro, as he aims to become a club legend.
Liverpool has also been monitoring Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich and Khephren Thuram from Nice as potential options for midfield reinforcements.
Image:Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella is wanted by Liverpool
Liverpool are navigating the biggest shake-up of Jurgen Klopp’s tenure at a time when the market – especially for midfielders – is severely inflated, and without Champions League revenue or a big player sale to help.
Affordability, availability and the appetite to restore Liverpool as a domestic and European force are the core factors being assessed.
The Reds secured Alexis Mac Allister at the start of June for an initial fee of around £35m in the type of shrewd transfer that had marked them out as recruitment leaders.
However, that deal is viewed as an anomaly rather than the norm during a summer of soaring valuations.
Renowned Liverpool legend aged 48, Robbie Fowler has taken up the managerial position at Al-Qadsiah, a second-tier teamin Saudi Arabia.
This marks his return to the sidelines after a two-year hiatus since departing from Indian club East Bengal.
Al-Qadsiah, Fowler’s new team, ended the previous season in the 11th position in the Saudi Second Division, trailing the top four teams by a significant margin of 23 points, all of whom were promoted.
Fowler becomes the latest high-profile figure to head to the Gulf state, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante recently joining Pro League clubs.
His former Reds team-mate Steven Gerrard turned down the opportunity to manage top-tier side Al-Ettifaq but Fowler has opted for a move to the Middle East.
It is the Liverpudlian’s fourth job in management, having spent a season in Thailand as player-manager of Muangthong United before taking over at Brisbane Roar in Australia seven years later.
A well-travelled managerial career then took him to India with East Bengal, where he spent the 2020-21 season in charge prior to a brief spell coaching at Oxford.
He will hope to gain further experience in the dugout and fire his new club to the top flight at the first time of asking.
As a player, Fowler is regarded as one of English football’s all-time great strikers, scoring 162 goals in 379 Premier League appearances.
The 24-year-old forward’s future at Paris Saint-Germain is uncertain, and he is reportedly seeking an exit from France, with Real Madrid currently seen as the frontrunners for his signature.
However, in a surprising development, Liverpool has now emerged as a contender in the race, despite it potentially requiring a substantial investment of over £200 million for the Merseyside club.
Mbappe shot to stardom at Monaco before securing a move to the Ligue 1 champions in 2018 and winning the World Cup with his country the same year.
In 260 appearances for Les Parisiens, the 70-cap international has bagged 212 goals, making him the club’s top scorer ahead of Edinson Cavani.
And with just one year left on his deal at the Parc des Princes, PSG may look to offload their most valued player for a massive fee rather than lose him for free next year.
Liverpool could turn to Mbappe as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah, who has just turned 31 and may be entering his final years at the top level.
It will be a tough task for Jurgen Klopp to pry one of Europe’s most wanted strikers away from the clutches of Madrid, but the appeal of the Premier League may be something to sway Mbappe’s decision.
In surprising news, reports suggest that Luis Suarez, the former Liverpool and Barcelona striker currently playing for Grêmio in Brazil, is contemplating retirement from his illustrious football career.
The 36-year-old, widely regarded as one of the finest strikers of his generation, is said to be considering this decision due to persistent knee pain.
Despite making 25 appearances for Grêmio this season, Suarez has reportedly informed the club about his intention to retire as a result of the troublesome knee injury, according to Marca.
This new development all but quashes any possibility of Suarez’s reunion with his long-time friend and former teammate Lionel Messi.
Messi recently agreed to join Major League Soccer outfit Inter Miami, and it was rumoured that Suarez could follow the Argentine.
Suarez’s career timeline
Regardless of his decision, there is no denying that Luis Suarez has had a career many football players would love to have.
He came up with FC Nacional in his home country before moving to the Netherlands at the tender age of 19, joining Dutch outfit Groningen, as per Transfermkt.
At Groningen, he impressively netted 15 goals and seven assists in 37 games, attracting the interest of FC Ajax, who wasted no time taking up his services.
It was at Ajax that Suarez really made a name for himself, bagging 111 goals and 68 assists in three seasons with the club, eventually joining Liverpool in January 2011.
His 11-year stint in Europe also saw him play for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, but it was at Barca where he will be remembered fondly as one of the members of the most formidable attack in history also comprising of Lionel Messi and Neymar.
As part of the notorious MSN at Barcelona, Suarez netted 195 goals and got 113 assists as he won four La Liga title , the Champions League and other pieces of silverware with the Catalan giants before leaving in 2020.
He is also the leading marksman for his nation Uruguay with 68 goals.
Asamoah Gyan retires
Sports Brief also reported on the retirement of Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan, whose heart was broken by Luis Suarez’s handball in the 2010 World Cup.
Spanning nearly two decades, Gyan’s illustrious career blossomed with countless unforgettable moments, leading many football enthusiasts to consider him as the greatest player of his generation and even transcending the boundaries of time.
Despite a fairly decent career, Gyan’s football stint has been filled with heartbreaking moments as well.
This significant encounter will also serve as Mauricio Pochettino’s return to English football, following his appointment as the new manager of Chelsea.
Scheduled for Sunday, August 13, the fixture will take place just two days after defending champions Manchester City commence their season with an away game against Burnley.
This particular match holds additional significance as Vincent Kompany, now the Head Coach of Burnley, welcomes his former team to Turf Moor.
Arsenal will have an early opportunity to exact their revenge on Nottingham Forest when they clash at the Emirates on Saturday, August 12. Steven Copper’s side claimed a huge 1-0 victory over the Gunners to hand Manchester City the title with three games to spare.
Manchester United, meanwhile, will be in action on Monday night when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford.
Debutants Luton Town will have a taste of top-flight football for the first time when they play Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.
Liverpool has repurchased their former Melwood training ground, this time for their women’s team.
The men’s first team had relocated from the West Derby site in November 2020 to a new facility at their existing academy base in Kirkby.
Originally, plans were in place to develop the land into a housing complex, but protests from the local community led to a change of plans.
With the arrival of the Robbie Fowler-Jamie Carragher academy, Liverpool decided to buy back their former training ground.
As part of the move, the LFC Women’s team will now be aligned with the official club crest, moving away from their previous training base at Tranmere’s facility on the Wirral.
We are once again the proud owners of the Club’s iconic former training ground, Melwood.
The legendary elite facility is set to create a whole new chapter for @LiverpoolFCW’s first team and academy 🙌
“This is a truly historic moment for Liverpool Football Club and the continued desire of the LFC Women’s board to elevate and develop our women’s first team and category one professional game academy,” said Liverpool’s managing director Andy Hughes.
“We also have an opportunity to further develop the use of the site to support the local community by using it as an additional base for LFC Foundation.
“We are delighted that FEFA (Fowler Education and Football Academy) will continue to use the site for its college that provides sport and educational opportunities for young people.
“We have always taken the views of the local community seriously and we look forward to re-engaging with them in the near future.”
Torus will use the funds from the sale of Melwood to build much-needed homes across Merseyside.
Developments also continue apace at Anfield where the 282-tonne roof of the old Anfield Road stand has been removed to make way for the completion of the new stand which is due to open for the start of next season and expand the ground’s capacity to 61,000.
Liverpool has made an acquisition in their midfield as manager Jurgen Klopp sets out to strengthen the team.
Alexis Mac Allister, the talented Argentine player from Brighton, has joined the Reds.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who was part of Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad, contributed significantly to Brighton’s impressive sixth-placed finish in the Premier League, securing qualification for the Europa League under the guidance of manager Roberto De Zerbi.
He told Liverpoolfc.com: “It feels amazing. It’s a dream come true, it’s amazing to be here and I can’t wait to get started.
“I wanted to be in [from] the first day of pre-season, so it’s good that everything is done. I’m looking forward to meeting my team-mates.
“It was a fantastic year for me — World Cup, what we achieved with Brighton — but now it’s time to think about Liverpool and try to be a better player and a better human being every day.
“Since I won the World Cup, I said that I want to win more trophies and I think that this club will help me to do that — that’s the aim and when you are in a big club like this one you have to win trophies. So, that’s what I want.
“Since I arrived here, I can see how big this club is — the players we have, the staff, everyone. I’m really pleased and looking forward to playing for this club.”
Seagull takes flight
Since making his Premier League debut in March 2020, Mac Allister made 112 appearances for the South Coast outfit, netting 20 goals.
Seagulls boss De Zerbi said: “I’m proud to have been Alexis’s coach. He is a very talented player. It has also been a privilege to work with a guy who has strong and traditional values, and I want to wish him good luck for the future.”
While club chairman Tony Bloom added: “We are incredibly proud of Alexis and we are sad to see him go. He did something very special, becoming the first Brighton player to win the World Cup, and was a key player in our best-ever season.
“He will always be welcome here at the Amex and in the city. On behalf of all Albion fans, I would like to thank Alexis for the many amazing memories and superb performances in a Brighton shirt and wish him well for the next chapter in his career.”
Despite a challenging campaign for Liverpool, which saw them narrowly miss out on a top-four finish and end the season without a trophy, Salah managed to score an impressive 30 goals across various competitions.
Nevertheless, Salah appears to have put the disappointments of the season behind him as he shared a heartwarming moment with his daughter during their vacation.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah will be looking to add to his impressive scoring record against Leeds United
This demonstrates his focus on personal connections and cherishing the joys of family amidst a break from the intense football schedule.
In a photo shared on social media, Salah is seen with his daughter at a beach as he enjoys the break before pre-season starts.
Following a disappointing season, the former Chelsea player took to social media to express his frustrations but insists the team will be back stronger next season.
“I’m totally devastated. There’s absolutely no excuse for this. We had everything we needed to make it to next year’s Champions League and we failed. We are Liverpool and qualifying to the competition is the bare minimum. I am sorry but it’s too soon for an uplifting or optimistic post. We let you and ourselves down,” he wrote on Twitter.
Fans react to Salah’s post
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that fans of the English Premier League have taken to social media to react to Mohamed Salah’s post after Manchester United beat Chelsea to end Liverpool’s hopes of a Champions League finish.
The Red Devils thrashed Chelsea 4-1 to move into third place and secure the last UEFA Champions League spot for England after Newcastle United confirmed their place on Tuesday with a draw against Leicester City.
With a game left, Liverpool are four points behind fourth place Newcastle United.
Salah disappointed after UCL miss
Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah released a worrying statement after his side failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
The Reds will have to play in the second-tier Europa League in the 2023-24 season, after Manchester United’s win over Chelsea on Thursday confirmed their place in the final Champions League spot.
This is certainly unfamiliar territory for Salah, as it is the first time Liverpool have failed to qualify for the Champions League since 2017.
However, time is of the essence, as the summer transfer window approaches and Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, is keen to strengthen his midfield options.
Mac Allister is the top target for the Reds in their quest to reinforce their squad.
Liverpool are on the verge of signing Brighton star Alexis Mac Allister but need to do it in JuneCredit: Getty
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, an agreement on personal terms is “90 per cent done” between the Merseysiders and the versatile midfielder.
However, Liverpool will have to be quick as the Argentina international’s contract includes a fixed amount that can only be triggered in June.
Romano told his YouTube show Here we Go: “There is a fixed amount into the contract of Alexis Mac Allister at Brighton.
“We could say that this is working like a release clause. Yes, there is an exit clause for Alexis Mac Allister to leave Brighton.
“Formally, it’s something that Alexis Mac Allister’s camp and Brighton decided when he signed a new contract months ago.
” In that moment they decided the fixed amount for Alexis Mac Allister to leave the club in the summer and to leave the club in June. So early in the window.
“This is why Liverpool want to be fast, the agreement on personal terms is 90 per cent done.
“So Alexis Mac Allister is really really close to Liverpool but this clause is also helpful on club side.
“Liverpool need now to complete the agreement on these details and then in that moment will be able to complete the deal.
“But they know it is crucial to reach a full agreement with the player also on the final details to avoid any potential competition from other clubs with Mauricio Pochettino a big fan of
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed his admiration for the departing group consisting of James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita.
As their contracts are set to expire next month, these four players will receive a heartfelt farewell at Anfield during the match against Aston Villa.
Having all experienced success as Champions League and Premier League winners, Firmino and Milner, who joined just before Klopp’s appointment in 2015, have particularly stood out with their impactful performances.
Jurgen Klopp
However, Klopp emphasized that each of the four players has made significant contributions to the team’s accomplishments throughout their time at Liverpool.
“We spoke already with the boys earlier this week about it,” said Klopp.
“It is super-important for us and kind of super-emotional as well for different reasons because we say goodbye to, from my point of view, four Liverpool legends.
“Two of them were here when I arrived – Millie (Milner) and Bobby (Firmino) – and nothing of all the good things which happened in the last few years would have happened without them.
“Bobby, my God, how much I love the guy. It is 100 per cent deserved.
“Millie played an incredible number of games, I think I am the manager he played the most games for in his career, and probably the same for Bobby.
“My English is not good enough to really express my respect for them but that’s the same for Ox (Oxlade-Chamberlain) and Naby, for different reasons.
“Ox was unlucky in moments with bad injuries in absolutely the wrong moment. I remember the (2018 Champions League game) against Roma when he got badly injured and I had no clue how to sort that situation as he was that good and pretty much irreplaceable in that moment.
“Everyone knows we spent a lot of money on Naby and there were a lot of expectations and because of injuries in the wrong moments he couldn’t fulfil all of them but go back and look at the football he could play in his good moments.”
The Quartet leaving Liverpool soon
Milner has been heavily linked with a move to Brighton, but the futures of the other three are less clear, although they will not be short of offers.
Klopp added: “I wish them all well and hope they find a place where they are as much respected and needed as here and they find their luck again because they had a lot in the last few years.
“All four won pretty much each available trophy and we love them but it is professional football and nothing is forever.
“There is always a moment and it’s a good moment because it means one chapter will be closed and we can start writing a new one, which is good as well for them and for us.
“I will be forever thankful to them because without them nothing would’ve happened. They were super-important in all they did and that’s the farewell they deserve.”
And in his 2016 book, titled ‘My Story’, he opened up about a memorable exchange with former teammate Leiva, which occurred during a post-season trip to Dubai.
Gerrard wrote: “Lucas asked if he could come in for a moment.
“‘I’ve got a little something for you,’ he said.
“‘Of course,’ I said. I was always happy to see Lucas.
“He presented me with a silver salver. It was from him to me and he had written the words inscribed on the plate.
“‘I’ve been thinking about getting this done for a while,’ Lucas said. I felt a lump in my throat as I read his message.”
It read: “We often hear the expression there will never be another. In your case, my friend, it is most definitely the case.
“A captain, leader and a legend in every sense of the word.
“Every moment I have spent on the pitch with you has been a privilege. The very best to you and your family with all your future endeavours – Lucas Leiva.“
Gerrard recalled: “I just about held it together while Lucas quietly watched me read his words.
“I thanked him and he smiled happily. We hugged it out.
“But once he left, I was gone. There was no stopping my tears.”
The midfielder joined Liverpool in 1998 and made 710 appearances for the club during his 17-year spell.
He also won three League Cups, two FA Cups and a Champions League title with the Reds.
Steven Gerrard’s tenure at Liverpool is nothing short of legendary. The English midfielder spent his entire professional career at the club, cementing his status as one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players.
Gerrard made his debut for Liverpool in 1998 and quickly established himself as a key figure in the team.
Known for his exceptional leadership, technical skills, and powerful long-range shooting, he became the heartbeat of the Liverpool side.
Gerrard’s versatility allowed him to excel in various positions, primarily as a central midfielder but also as a second striker or right midfielder when needed.
Throughout his time at Liverpool, Gerrard was instrumental in the club’s success.
He played a vital role in Liverpool’shistoric UEFA Champions League triumph in 2005, inspiring the team with his remarkable performance in the final against AC Milan.
Gerrard’s iconic goal and overall contribution helped Liverpool stage a memorable comeback from a three-goal deficit to win the trophy.
Gerrard’s dedication and loyalty to Liverpool were evident throughout his career. He had opportunities to move to other top clubs, including Chelsea, but chose to stay and lead his boyhood team.
His commitment to Liverpool endeared him to the fans, who saw him as a symbol of the club’s values and passion.
After 17 remarkable years at Anfield, Gerrard bid farewell to Liverpool in 2015, moving to the MLS to join the LA Galaxy.
However, his legacy at Liverpool lives on, with his name forever etched in the club’s history.
Following his retirement as a player, Gerrard returned to Liverpool as a coach, initially overseeing the club’s youth academy before becoming the manager of Scottish club Rangers.
He remains an iconic figure in Liverpool’s rich footballing heritage and continues to be revered by fans worldwide.
Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp is happy that his team has now had a chance to display some of their best performance before the season is out.
An inconsistent campaign has left the Reds with only an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League and only a run of six successive victories – their best sequence in over a year – has put them in that position.
“We play a really bad season, I think everyone in this room agrees, and now we have 62 points. It is strange,” said Klopp ahead of Monday’s trip to Leicester.
“There is still quality in the boys. I am really happy we could show up a little bit. Where it will end up it’s really not about that.
“I know everyone wants to go to Champions League, I understand that 100 per cent as that’s what I want, it is just not really likely, that is the situation we created.
“But to show up and show again we are able to do special things I am really happy about.
“Winning six games in a row is special and if it was easy we would have done it much more often, other teams would have done it much more often.
“Adding the seventh is even more difficult but eight and nine really difficult because it is football and other teams prepare well for the games and they have their own targets but this part of the season gave us a clear sign we are still there.
“Not everything is bad about us and around us. We had a bad season but let’s see what we can make of it.”
Part of Liverpool’s problem has been their woeful away record, which is only the ninth-best heading into the weekend.
It has been boosted by recent wins at Leeds and West Ham which has given Klopp’s side the opportunity to win a third in a row away from home for the first time this season at Leicester.
“Our away record is still not brilliant. This season I think we are third or fourth (they are second before this weekend) in the home table and ‘somewhere’ in the away table so it is still not great,” added Klopp.
“But we had that discussion years ago, early when I came here, that at home we created something like a fortress but away we were not a top-six or top-four team at that time and we realised it is not that difficult, the difference is not as big as we might think.
“But there is a difference and we have to make sure we are ready for that. We just were not consistent enough, we needed too much help from the outside in moments this season and didn’t use it then always. That’s why we are in the position we are in.”
While the lack of Champions League football will be financially damaging next season Klopp is confident it will not impact his transfer plans.
“It is not about that. When I talk to a player – if I am allowed, which is rarely the case – but you realise in his eye that he has already clarified (the situation),” he said.
“We can’t tell anyone in the moment that we will definitely be in the Champions League next year so if we are talking to him then he already knows.
“It is obvious that we have to fight for being part of the Champions League and trophies and if you want to be part of that you are more than welcome.
“There is only one thing we can’t guarantee this year and that is Champions League football but all the rest is still the same, it is a fantastic football club.
“It is still Liverpool, we are really attractive for a lot of players and we should not forget that and that’s why I’m not concerned about that factor.
“Everything is more difficult without the Champions League, that is how it is especially in the long term, so we should not do these kind of things more often but apart from that it is absolutely OK the situation we are in.”
Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, acknowledges that while his team has experienced miraculous turnarounds in the past, they cannot control their fate regarding Champions League qualification this time.
A month ago, Liverpool was in eighth place, trailing fourth-placed Manchester United by 10 points.
However, their recent streak of six consecutive wins has propelled them to fifth place, just one point behind their rivals, who still have a match to play.
They also came from a seemingly impossible position in the Premier League in 2021 when they they made a late run into the top four, registering eight wins and two draws in their final 10 matches – which included goalkeeper Alisson Becker scoring a 90th-minute winner at West Brom – having been completely out of the running in March.
Klopp said: “It is not that we mention it but everyone who was involved in these moments will never forget it in our entire lives.
“That means it is part of us and, you are right, we were around when miracles happened, that is true, but it was then still in our hands.
“We had to score against West Brom and we had to win against Barcelona. Now we have to win but that does not mean anything changes because the other teams could win all their games.
“I knew weeks ago it was completely out of sight, I couldn’t see it at all, but that did not mean we would not try to get closer. That’s the only thing we did, we got closer.”
Klopp recalls Liverpool being in the position of the team being chased in his second full season in 2017-18, and he knows it is not easy for the clubs in possession of the qualification places.
However, he does not believe their recent run, coupled with recent defeats for third-placedNewcastle and United, has been able to exert that much pressure on their top-four rivals.
He added: “I am pretty sure we were in a situation like that years ago. I think Chelsea was winning all the time behind us so we had to win all the games.
“It’s not comfortable but in the end we made it anyway. Newcastle and United would be happy if we would not be there any more, but still it is more likely they will do it.
“I respect that. If they finish the season above us, they deserve it and that’s how I see it.”
Forward Roberto Firmino is set to return to training next week ahead of what could be his final Anfield appearance.
The Brazil international is leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season but has missed the last five matches with a muscle problem.
With Liverpool having only one more home game, against Aston Villa next Saturday, there was a chance the 31-year-old would not get to say his goodbyes on the pitch.
But Klopp raised hopes Firmino could be in his squad for an emotional send-off.
He said: “I saw Bobby in training yesterday and it looks like pretty much he is nearly there, but I don’t think he will be in for the weekend.
“If I go out of here and he will be in the session, I would be surprised.
“I assume that we start with him team training-wise after theLeicester game.”
Liverpool has only three games left in the current season.
If they win all three and get some support from teams such asManchester United, Newcastle, and Tottenham Hotspur, they could qualify for the Champions League.
The team is expected to undergo significant changes before the next season, with both departures and arrivals expected as part of a significant rebuilding plan for Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
According to Mirror UK, Jorg Schmadtke is set to be appointed as the new sporting director to replace Julian Ward, just a year after replacing the hugely successful Michael Edwards.
Schmadtke will be saddled with the responsibility of overhauling the team. Sports Brief looks at five players whose departures are confirmed, all of whom are leaving due to expired contracts.
1. James Milner
Theveteran midfielder will leave Anfieldafter eight successful years. At 37 years, he is nearing the end of his career but is willing to play for Brighton next season, having agreed to a one-year contract, according to talkSPORT.
2. Roberto Firmino
The Brazilian forward, an important part of a deadly front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, will leave the club in the summer. He is yet to announce his next destination, with Barcelona and AS Roma rumoured to be interested.
3. Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain
The former Arsenal midfielder has been a part-time player at Merseyside but will leave this summer as his contract will not be renewed, according to The Athletic. He could remain in the Premier League, having received interest.
4. Naby Keita
The Guinean midfielder’s injury-ladened time at Anfield is set to end in the summer. According to Metro UK, he cost the Reds £52.75m, but things never worked out between the two parties.
5. Arthur Melo
According to Guardian, Liverpool signed Arthur on loan from Juventus for £3.75m to solve midfield problems, with an option to make it permanent, but he has made a cameo of just 13 minutes and will return to Italy.
Five midfield options for Liverpool
Sports Brief previously considered five midfielders Liverpool can sign to revamp their midfield after cooling their transfer interest in Borussia Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham due to the transfer cost.
Klopp reportedly needs three midfielders, and the club is linked to Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister, Chelsea’s Mason Mount and an out-of-favour Bayern Munich midfielder.
On coronation day, the Egyptian was again the Reds’ matchwinner as he moves level with Steven Gerrard on the club’s all-time scoring list
Anfield hailed its true King on Saturday as Mohamed Salah’s 30th goal of the season gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Brentford to keep alive their hopes of Champions League qualification.
The Egyptian struck early on from Virgil van Dijk’s nod down, his goal moving him level with Steven Gerrard in fifth on the Reds’ all-time scoring list and, more importantly, putting Jurgen Klopp’s side within a point of fourth-placed Manchester United in the Premier League table.
It was not a vintage Liverpool performance by any means, but they defended firmly in a bitty second half as a robust and determined Brentford side repeatedly threatened from a series of set-pieces.
Did what he needed to do. Saw too much of the ball in the second half for Klopp’s liking, but his work from crosses was excellent.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (8/10):
More evidence of his incredible passing ability. Should have had an assist for Nunez and stung David Raya’s palms with a 20-yarder. Best player on the pitch.
Ibrahima Konate (7/10):
Needed to be on guard throughout against Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney. He was.
Virgil van Dijk (7/10):
Unselfish assist for Salah. Strange early booking, but kept his composure well in a fraught second half.
Andy Robertson (6/10):
Solid and steady before appearing to suffer a hamstring issue.
Midfield
Fabinho (7/10):
Stood up to the physical test and kept things simple.
Curtis Jones (6/10):
Repeatedly led the press from midfield in the first half. Less of that in the second 45, but a couple of lovely touches.
Attack
Mohamed Salah (7/10):
Poacher’s goal to open the scoring and move level with Steven Gerrard on the Reds’ all-time scoring list.
Cody Gakpo (6/10):
A few nice touches in what was more a midfield role generally. Looked a little leggy in the second half and somehow didn’t score from virtually on the line.
Liverpool still believes they can make the top four, but if manager Jurgen Klopp’s remarks regarding referee Paul Tierney come back to haunt them, their late push for Champions League participation might be thwarted.
Klopp said he did not know what the official “has against us” following the thrilling 4-3 victory over Tottenham, in which the Reds required a goal in stoppage time from Diogo Jota to extend a four-match winning streak after blowing a 3-0 lead in the first 15 minutes.
Klopp was booked for his over-zealous celebration in front of fourth official John Brooks but said of Tierney’s attitude: “What he said to me when he gave me the yellow card is not OK.”
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited was quick to respond, saying in a statement: “PGMOL is aware of the comments made by Jurgen Klopp after his side’s fixture with Tottenham Hotspur.
“Match officials in the Premier League are recorded in all games via a communications system and having fully reviewed the audio of referee Paul Tierney from today’s fixture, we can confirm he acted in a professional manner throughout including when issuing the caution to the Liverpool manager so, therefore, we strongly refute any suggestion that Tierney’s actions were improper.”
But it is Klopp’s suggestion of bias which is likely to land him in trouble with the Football Association and could lead to him receiving a touchline ban for Liverpool’s remaining few matches.
He had previously received a warning for his behavior following a one-match suspension and a £30,000 fine following the FA’s successful appeal of the severity of his penalty for abusing an assistant referee during the home victory over Manchester City in October.
Liverpool’s momentum and slim chances of catching fourth-placed Manchester United, who are currently ahead by seven points with a game remaining, could be destroyed if Klopp is not on the sidelines for any or all of their remaining games against Fulham, Brentford, Leicester, Aston Villa, and Southampton.
One mistake and the best Liverpool can hope for is Europa League football but they came close to throwing it away against Spurs having coasted into a three-goal lead through strikes from Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah.
Harry Kane equalled Wayne Rooney’s Premier League tally of 208 goals just before half-time, leaving only Alan Shearer (260) ahead of him in the all-time list, and when Richarlison’s first league strike in added time followed Son Heung-min’s 77th-minute effort, Spurs looked like they had escaped with an unlikely draw.
However, just 99 seconds after equalising, Jota slotted in his fifth goal in four matches to spark wild – some would argue too wild in Klopp’s case – celebrations as Liverpool’s slim Champions League qualification hopes were kept alive.
“Sometimes we don’t half make it hard for ourselves,” said midfielder Harvey Elliott, back in the side after almost a month.
“We started the game unbelievably well, got three goals in quick succession, and personally I think we took our foot off the gas a little bit and allowed them to play a bit more football while not playing football ourselves.
“It’s a tough one to explain. It’s not a lack of concentration. Maybe because going 3-0 up early hardly ever happens so the way we deal with it is new to us.
“It’s always a hard situation because emotions are high, performing well and then we just decide to switch and didn’t do our game-plan.
“We decided to keep the ball and I felt it was just a bit slow in the way we moved it around and that caused ourselves problems. That’s something we need to snap out of.”
Ryan Mason, two matches into another spell as interim head coach following the sacking of Cristian Stellini after the 6-1 embarrassment at Newcastle, was less interested in Tottenham’s top-four chances now they had dropped to sixth than he was of repairing some of the recent damage.
“My priority is to get some togetherness, create some good feelings and energy around the place and bring our fans with us,” he said.
“The only way to do that is winning matches so it’s difficult to take. We’re just devastated in the way we lost the game.”
After authorities declined to press charges against him for molesting a 12-year-old just two years prior, a paedophile kidnapped and sexually molested a six-year-old girl.
In August of last year, the toddler was kidnapped by Lewis Jones, 24, when she was playing with pals in Tameside, Greater Manchester.
The victim was left bloodied and traumatised following the horrifying sexual attack she endured in broad daylight.
But a court heard Jones may not have been free to carry out the assault had police intervened sooner following his initial attack.
Jones, from Liverpool, was interviewed twice by officers, in June 2020 and April 2021, where he lied saying he ‘didn’t know it was wrong to have sex with a 15-year-old’.
He also had 102 indecent images of children stored on his mobile phone.
Despite this Jones was released under investigation, with ‘no fetters’ on his freedom.
He was only charged after he was found to have assaulted the six-year-old girl.
He left the girl ‘bloodied and traumatised’ (Picture: MEN Media)
The court heard Jones approached the young child, offering to help her ‘make a den’, before grabbing her and taking her into a wooded area.
Jones only let her go after he heard her family screaming her name in a desperate bid to find her.
Her mother said: ‘When I first heard about what happened I couldn’t stop screaming. I couldn’t believe that someone had taken my little girl and assaulted her in such a horrific way.
‘I feel helpless because I wasn’t there to protect her. I feel lucky that she is still with us, we could easily have lost her that day. I feel very angry that he (Jones) has done this to us.’
Criticising the police, Judge Hilary Manley called the case an ‘egregious example’ of delays, saying their response made ‘very unhappy reading’.
She said: ‘If he had been charged when he should have been, he would not have been at liberty to abduct this six-year-old girl.
‘That’s the cold fact of the case.’
The court heard it took Merseyside Police ‘two years to build a file’, and it then ‘failed the internal police triage anyway’.
Prosecutor Vanessa Thomson told Jones’ sentencing hearing: ‘There seems to have been issues with personnel, retirement, third party records and examination of a mobile phone.’
Meanwhile, the impact of the assault on the 12-year-old girl has been ‘catastrophic’, and she is now living in care.
He convinced the young girl he was a 14-year-old boy, and tricked her into a sexual relationship.
She became distressed after finding out he was really 21-years-old at the time, and the police were alerted.
Judge Manley said it was ‘by no means the first’ case where an offender had been released under investigation and went on to commit further offences, but said it was ‘one of the most egregious examples’.
Jones admitted to kidnap and two counts of assault by penetration in relation to the attack last year, and four counts of sexual activity with a child, assault by penetration and having indecent images of children in relation to the 2020 attack.
He was handed a life sentence yesterday and ordered to serve a minimum of 12 years in prison.
The judge also demanded an explanation of the situation from Merseyside Police.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Kameen said: ‘We acknowledge the comments made by Judge Manley in the sentencing of Lewis Jones with regards to the time it took Merseyside Police to bring charges against Jones for the offence he committed in Merseyside.
‘We absolutely owe it to the victims of sexual offences to ensure that we fundamentally develop and improve the way we work.
‘It’s only right and proper that we establish what happened in this case and therefore we will undertake a formal review of the circumstances which led to the delay in bringing charges.
‘We are committed to delivering an effective and timely justice for all victims, particularly the most vulnerable, which includes children.
‘Our thoughts at this time are with the victims and their families, who will never get over the impact of the heinous offences committed by Jones, and I would like to reassure them that I will personally oversee the review.’
After securing a third straight victory to climb to sixth place in the Premier League, Jürgen Klopp wants Liverpool to keep “showing our genuine face.”
Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over West Ham at the London Stadium came as goals from Cody Gakpo and Joel Matip cancelled out Lucas Paqueta’s early goal.
West Ham manager David Moyes was enraged when a late handball appeal against Thiago Alcantara in the penalty area was denied by both referee Chris Kavanagh and the video assistant referee (VAR).
“I liked the performance a lot,” Klopp said at his post-match press conference. “First half, I think we were exceptional. Controlled the game from the beginning pretty much, made one mistake and bam – 1-0 down. Great goal, I have to say – what a screamer – but [we] stayed calm, kept playing, scored our screamer as well and controlled the game.
“Second half I liked as well. We had to really dig in deep then because of the physicality of West Ham, they always have a chance to come back as long as you don’t kill the game – and we didn’t. [We] had massive chances after set-pieces, I have no clue how we didn’t take them – I didn’t understand it but then [we] scored a wonderful goal from a set-piece.
“I heard now about the handball [but] we were on the other side of that. I thought he just fell on the ball but I can understand Moysey sees that probably completely different.
“In the end, if you look at the game, I think we are the deserved winner and that’s, for me, very important. If we got a point, I’m still happy with the game, not with the result – [but] now I’m happy with both.”
The win took Liverpool within six points of the top four, albeit having played two more games than fourth-placed Manchester United and one more than Newcastle United in third.
On the race for the Champions League spots, Klopp said: “I can’t see the race yet, because we are not in position for a race. The only thing we can do is win football games, if that puts pressure on other teams that’s not in our hands because we don’t play them [United and Newcastle].
“I want us to finish the season as good as somehow possible. I want us to take something out of this season for next year, if that is European competition, great, if not, we have to accept it as well and go from there.
“I want us, at least for a few weeks, [to] show our real face – and not the nice one, the ugly one, the nice one, the ugly one. It’s really tough to do that. So now we did it for kind of three games – three and a half, the second half against Arsenal was brilliant as well.
“We played here plenty of times, it’s always tough. Result-wise, it looked better from time to time but the goals we scored were then counter-attacks, stuff like that, quick reacting, all these kind of things. Tonight we controlled the game in a way we never did before against West Ham and I really liked that.”
Klopp had earlier told BT Sport how pleased he was again with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance in his new hybrid role between right-back and midfield, with the 24-year-old claiming an assist for Gakpo’s goal, and making more passes in the opposition half than anyone else on the pitch (62).
The Liverpool manager refused to entertain the idea that Alexander-Arnold’s new role had led to West Ham’s chances down their right side, and replied to a question about one specific chance that ended with Virgil van Dijk narrowly denying Michail Antonio in the first half: “That had nothing to do with the role of Trent.
“We had three players on the other side in a challenge, so we just don’t win the ball. That means we move to the ball side, that is a risk you take, you should win the ball then.
“Three v one we don’t win the ball, then the other side is open… it has nothing to do with Trent Alexander-Arnold.”
Thomas Cashman‘s murderous accomplice, who shot Olivia Pratt-Korbel, 9, to death, has been imprisoned.
Following the shooting death of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in her Dovecot, Liverpool, home in August, Paul Russell, 41, was found guilty of aiding a criminal and sentenced to 22 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court.
With 183 goals for the Reds, the Egyptian attacker has established himself as a fan favourite at Anfield and has now tied Robbie Fowler on the club’s all-time scoring list.
Although he has won several major honours while playing for Merseyside, including thePremier League and Champions League crowns, three Golden Boots, and two PFA Player of the Year awards, he is not always included when people are talking about the world’s top players.
Van Dijk expects that to change in time, with the Dutch defender in awe of what a talented club colleague has achieved.
The Liverpool centre-half has said of Salah: “Most of the players here have contributed to winning big trophies. Mo will definitely be seen as a legend. He’s such an important player.
At a later stage, I think the things he’s done will be appreciated a lot more by the outside world. For us, we appreciate everything he does day in, day out. We see all the hard work that he puts in. He just has to keep it going.”
Salah is already Liverpool’s record goalscorer in the Premier League and has equalled Steven Gerrard’s haul of most strikes for the Reds in European competition.
Salah should continue to rewrite the history books in the years to come, with the 30-year-old frontman having committed to a contract at Liverpool that is due to keep him in his current surroundings until at least the summer of 2025.
Darwin Nunez, according to Jurgen Klopp, is “a long-term project” at Liverpool and the striker “still adapting” to life with the Reds.
The Uruguayan international, who went to Anfield from Benfica before the current campaign for an initial sum of £64 million, has scored 15 goals in 37 games in his first season with Liverpool, who are currently eighth in the Premier League and nine points behind the top four.
However, Nunez has recently had difficulty getting into the game, having started just one of the Reds’ last four games as Klopp opted for a front three of Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Diogo Jota.
But the Reds boss, who will be without Roberto Firmino for the visit of Nottingham Forest on Saturday due to a muscle injury, insists the 23-year-old will get plenty of opportunities between now and the end of the season.
“Darwin is a player with a different skill set to our other players, which is good,” Klopp said during his pre-match press conference. “He’s a real handful, a machine.
“He will score a lot of goals, and he’s scored a decent number already. But of course, he’s still adapting. His English still isn’t great, but we’re working on that.
“He was injured in some moments, suspended in others. This is a long-term project.
“I understand that he wants to play desperately from the beginning, but we have to find a way that really works for us again and then fit in the players we can use with the specific strengths.
“I am completely fine with the situation and I understand that Darwin isn’t always fine. He doesn’t smile in my face when he realises he won’t start and say: ‘thank you, boss’.
“But when you have five or six players available up front, you have to make decisions. The door is miles open. He came on the other night and was exceptional. It was exactly the right way. With five games in the next two weeks, Darwin will start games, definitely.”
With Luis Diaz also returning to fitness in recent weeks, what must Nunez do to give himself the best opportunity to regain his place in the starting line-up?
“The ticket into this team must be and will be counter-pressing,” Klopp added. “We had so many games where I didn’t like that, and it’s a pretty strict thing.
“All five available now can do it pretty well. If you do it in a game you play, then you’ll have a good chance of starting again.
“We have opportunities to change and with five games in the next two weeks, there will be changes. Everyone will play, everyone is super important to us.
“But the ticket will be the desire to win the ball back after we’ve lost it, because we had so many times when that made the difference in games. It’s super important against deep-defending sides.”
Following Liverpool’s 6-1 thrashing of Leeds in Monday’s Premier League match, Jurgen Klopp praisedhis team’s “best game in a long time.”
At Elland Road, two players—Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota—each scored a hat trick after Cody Gakpo’s opening goal and Darwin Nunez’s late goal.
With a game remaining against fifth-place Tottenham, the win brought an end to Liverpool’s five-game losing streak in all competitions and brought Klopp’s team closer to the six-point threshold needed to qualify for the Europa League.
The Liverpool manager pinpointed his side’s intensity as a key factor in arresting their previously poor form.
“I think it’s the best game we’ve played this season from all different perspectives and aspects of the game,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“I think we forced a lot of errors, but it was a really good game, sensational goals and counter-pressing – it was the best game for a long time.
“My favourite part was in the 92nd minute we chased the poor boy on the ball from Leeds. I am really happy with that game.”
Klopp elaborated further as he suggested Liverpool have started to click, with a pivotal moment in their season coming after fighting back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Arsenal on April 9 at Anfield.
He added: “It’s a general thing. To play good football you need stability, the stability you only get from defending, but when you are in this kind of negative flow then you make wrong decisions.
“You think to play better you have to be foremost concerned with the offensive stuff. We can be super offensive-orientated, if we react in the right moment.
“I can’t explain why our counter-pressing didn’t work, but tonight it clicked. It clicked in the second half against Arsenal.
“Tonight I’m not sure how many goals we scored after we won the ball back – that makes all the difference and I think we know that.
“But there is always a bit of difference from knowing and understanding and really feeling it.”
16 – Leeds have conceded 16 goals in their four Premier League games in April this year, eight more than any other side, and one more than they shipped in January, February and March combined (15 in 11 games). Foolish. pic.twitter.com/hwvwIiB3J1
Liverpool are nine points behind fourth-placed Newcastle United and an unlikely Champions League qualification,with Klopp acknowledging a top-four push may be out of the Reds’ reach.
“Where we end up I don’t know, but it will go on after the season, so we need all the games to understand,” he continued.
“The games are super important. If we can’t get anything this season, then we have to build on good performances from this last part of the season.
“I have no clue if we can get close, but I don’t think it’s too important. I would like to see us with the same desire, the same passion, the same understanding that we showed tonight.”
Jurgen Klopp claims he has the hunger to get the Reds back on track and says Liverpool will attempt to be “smart” with whom they sign during the forthcoming transfer window.
They are currently out of all cup competitions and are currently eighth in the Premier League.
A week ago, there were rumours that the club had given up on Jude Bellingham because Borussia Dortmund had raised their asking price, which further infuriated the supporters.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Leeds United on Monday, Klopp said people will just have to “wait and see” when it comes to their transfer plans.
“There’s really nothing to say. You have to wait until we finish our business and then you will see what we did,” he said.
“We have to be ready for praise or criticism. We’ll work from the first day of the new season with the boys and we’ll really go for it – that’s much more important.
“All the rest is speculation from the media. We have nothing to do with that.”
Liverpool have been linked with players such as Mason Mount, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch in recent weeks, and Klopp expressed his belief that those in charge of transfers at the club are well-placed to solve their issues.
“We always try to be smart in our recruitment,” Klopp said. “I am 100 per cent sure that if you gave the power stick to a few people, then next season we’d bring in 20 new players.
“If you gave it to a few others, then we’d bring old players back when we were successful before and stuff like this. We are in charge, that’s what we decided on and let’s go from there.
“It’s an interesting period, very interesting and we always try to be smart in the transfer market, so it’s not completely new to us.”
Klopp is coming to the end of his eighth season in charge at Anfield, with three more years left on his contract, and he remains as driven as ever despite this season’s difficulties.
“Yes, I am still motivated,” he said. “Maybe even more, because now I know everybody here and I feel even more responsible for everything.
“I’ve said it a couple of times, it’s a little bit strange when you have to say ‘I’m fully in’ because maybe people from the outside question it. But no, motivation is absolutely not my problem.”
The German believes he has identified the problems he must solve, and is “looking forward” to the challenge, adding: “The way we defend, that must be much clearer.
“We also have to work on the way we attack and how we control games. It’s a big job, but it’s something I’m looking forward to.”
Such agencies are expected to see a major increase in business as a result of the plans, which reward childminders double for using an agency.
Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain said the revelations amounted to “another day and another accusation of a Conservative prime ministers bending the rules”.
“After months of Conservative sleaze and scandal, the public just want a government who are focused on the country, rather than saving their own skin.”
Downing Street said the Prime Minister would clarify how the company ownership had been declared as a ministerial interest, rather than to the Commons.
The Football Association (FA) has fined Liverpool £37,500 for an incident in which their players surrounded the referee during a recent 4-1 Premier League loss at Manchester City.
At the Etihad Stadium, the incident happened in the 34th minute of play with the score tied at one when City midfielder Rodri intentionally fouled Cody Gakpo.
Minutes earlier, the Spaniard had been cautioned for a comparable offense, but referee Simon Hooper decided against issuing a second caution, which would have resulted in a red card.
The decision was challenged by Diogo Jota, Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk, and captain Jordan Henderson, and the FA fined the team as a result.
According to a statement from the FA, Liverpool admitted it had “failed to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or do not behave in a way which is improper”.
The FA announced on Thursday it would be taking “no further action” against assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis after he appeared to aim an elbow at Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson in last Sunday’s draw with Arsenal.
Liverpool’s next game sees them travel to Leeds United on Monday.
With rumours that they have given up on signing Jude Bellingham, Jürgen Klopp acknowledges Liverpool may need to “step aside and do different stuff” in the transfer market.
In his remarks prior to Monday’s Premier League trip to Leeds United, the Reds boss only fleetingly addressed the claim that Liverpool are no longer in the running to sign Bellingham, an English player for Borussia Dortmund.
Reports earlier in the week suggested the club have decided the 19-year-old midfielder would take up too much of their budget in a transfer window in which they will need to sign more than one player.
“It’s nothing to say about, to be honest,” Klopp told a press conference.
“If we don’t speak about players we sign, or not sign, why would we now speak about this kind of speculation and this kind of news? So it’s really nothing to say about.”
He did, however, speak in broader terms about the prospect of chasing top players, and how sometimes clubs, even those of Liverpool’s stature, cannot expect to land all their targets.
Bellingham has been a target of Europe’s elite clubs after shining for club and country, and Liverpool had been seen as front-runners for his signature for what would almost certainly be a nine-figure fee.
However, the Reds look likely to miss out on next season’s Champions League after a disappointing 2022-23 campaign, and they may be readjusting their targets.
“It’s not about Jude Bellingham, my answer now, definitely not,” Klopp said. “I never understood why we constantly talk about things we theoretically cannot have.
“We cannot have six players in the summer where everyone’s £100million, for example. Everybody would say that’s kind of clear.
“You have to realise what you can do, and then you have to work with that. So how much money do we have available? And then you have to work with that.
“We are not children. If you ask a five-year-old what they want for Christmas and they tell you, ‘I want to have a Ferrari’, you wouldn’t say ‘that’s a good idea’, you would say ‘that’s too expensive and anyway, you cannot drive it.’
“That’s how it is. If this kid is then his whole life unhappy because he cannot get a Ferrari that would be a sad life, but it’s just what can you do, and then you do it and you work with that.
“Whatever I want, what we need and what we want, we try absolutely everything to get it.
“But there are moments where you have to accept this or that is not possible for us and just step aside and do different stuff.”
Klopp also touched on Sunday’s half-time flashpoint in Liverpool’s game against Arsenal where assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis appeared to aim an elbow at Liverpool defender Andy Robertson.
Klopp said: “I think it’s been dealt with really well.
“I wasn’t aware of it during the game. I spoke to Robbo and all the other guys, not to the assistant, but I think it’s now been dealt with really well, and now we can carry on.”
The Football Association (FA) has confirmed thatConstantine Hatzidakis won’t be punished for seeming to elbow Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson.
After halftime of Sunday’s 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Premier League leaders Arsenal, Robertson approached assistant referee Hatzidakis, who then appeared to throw his arm up with an elbow aimed in Robertson’s direction.
Hatzidakis was told he wouldn’t be assigned to any games until the FA’s inquiry into the incident was finished.
On Thursday, it was confirmed that the official would not face any further action, with a statement reading: “We have thoroughly reviewed all of the evidence in relation to the recent incident at Anfield involving the Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson and match official Constantine Hatzidakis, and we will be taking no further action.
“Our comprehensive process involved reviewing detailed statements from Liverpool and PGMOL, as well as multiple angles of video footage, in relation to both the incident and its surrounding circumstances.”
Hatzidakis also released a statement via the PGMOL, explaining that he had apologised to Robertson wanted to draw a line under the incident.
“It was certainly not my intention to make any contact with Andy as I pulled my arm away from him and for that I have apologised,” Hatzidakis said.
“I fully assisted The FA with their investigation and have discussed the matter directly with Andy Robertson during an open and positive conversation. It was certainly not my intention to make any contact with Andy as I pulled my arm away from him and for that I have apologised.
“I look forward to returning to officiating matches.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold agrees it was probably too late for a top-four drive, but he saw glimpses of the old Liverpool in Sunday’s comeback victory over Arsenal.
Liverpool battled back from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 with the Premier League’s top team at Anfield, and they probably should have finished the comeback in stoppage time.
Although Arsenal was completely dominant at the stage of going up 2-0 and was perhaps unlucky not to have scored more themselves, a favourable ending did not always appear likely.
The turning point seemed to come in the 41st minute when an altercation between Granit Xhaka and Alexander-Arnold sparked a fiery atmosphere in the stadium, and Mohamed Salah pulled one back shortly after.
Liverpool looked the bigger threat from that point and inexplicably failed to get a late winner after Roberto Firmino’s equaliser, with Darwin Nunez and Ibrahima Konate passing up gilt-edged opportunities.
The point did not do much for the Reds’ Champions League hopes, but Alexander-Arnold felt the performance showed Liverpool are not a lost cause even during a difficult season.
“We showed a different side to us, one that we’ve had in previous seasons, where we get past disappointment and are able to get back into games – and we showed that, so that’s a decent sign,” he told Liverpool’s official website.
“But we need to be getting three points. No matter whether we’re playing top of the league or bottom of the league, three points is our aim and we know we could have got that [on Sunday].
“We showed a different side to us. We showed that we really wanted to go out there and put a good performance in.
“Even though you’re playing probably the best team in the league, we still showed our quality and dominated them for the whole second half and should’ve won the game.”
However, the Reds remain 12 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United with nine matches remaining.
Alexander-Arnold accepts overturning such a deficit looks a tall order.
“We take the point and try to improve it next week,” he continued. “We’ve got a full week to go and train, and that’s what we need to go and do.
“We have our targets and it’s going to be difficult to get Champions League football now I think. But it’s still mathematically possible, so as long as that’s possible then that’s what we go for.
“We’re not in the position we want to be in at all but there’s still nine games to go. That’s where our heads are at – let’s go and try to win all nine.”
Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool, admitted that he is “100% responsible for this crap,” but he is certain that the team can survive its challenging season “in a classy fashion.”
The Reds have had a challenging 2022–23 season after almost losing out on a quadruple last season. They have already been eliminated from every cup tournament, and they currently sit eighth in the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s Anfield matchup with league leaders Arsenal.
The Reds won the EFL Cup and FA Cup in 2021-22, as well as reaching the Champions League final and finishing just a point behind Premier League winners Manchester City.
With 10 matches left this term, Liverpool’s points total of 43 is less than half what they amassed in 2021-22, and Klopp accepts it is unacceptable.
“I’m sorry for our people, that they don’t have the season they wished for. But in the long term they will forget that,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“I couldn’t care less what we did last year or the years before. I’m 100 per cent responsible for this rubbish and it’s really not cool.”
The German coach recently admitted hisgenerally impeccable record with the club was probably the reason his job has not come into question, and shared his appreciation for the support he and his team continue to receive from fans.
“I know everybody can express their emotions in an instant and there will be a lot of negative comments about us – I understand that,” he said. “But the people in the stadium are incredible.
“You see things happening at other clubs, not only sackings but teams against owners, fans against owners, fans against the team – I’ve seen it all.
“But if anyone can get through a situation like this in a classy manner, I really think it’s us as a club.”
5 – Liverpool have lost five of their 10 Premier League matches in 2023, already more defeats than in the whole of 2022 (P35 W24 D7 L4). Downturn. pic.twitter.com/NFtFOnBZtU
“What you’ve seen this year is that a lot of teams that performed last year on an extremely high level are not exactly there,” Klopp added. “Even City. Of course they play sensational football, but they don’t have the same points tally as last year [64, compared to 69 at the same stage in 2021-22].
“The intensity, at one point, gets you and maybe it caught us this year. But that is no excuse for the next 10 games.
“It may be an explanation for why we are not on our top level. We didn’t find a way to bring in consistent performances.”
Sitting 13 points behind Newcastle United and Manchester United in third and fourth place respectively, it will take a significant turnaround for Liverpool to qualify for the Champions League, even if they have a game in hand.
Klopp believes a “lack of confidence” has played a part, as well as injuries, but his team’s potential has still been visible with a 9-0 win over Bournemouth earlier in the season, and a 7-0 thrashing of rivals United in their last home game.
Their shortcomings were on show again just six days later though, stumbling to a 1-0 loss at Bournemouth.
“World-classplayers are performing on a strange level,” he said. “It started with injuries and players coming back early, and we were never really settled in this season.
“We have to go through that and I have no problem with that. When I look back in 10 or 15 years this season will probably not be involved with highlights, but hopefully there’ll be a lot of things we can learn from it and can use next year.
“But we have to fight through this and this is tough. If it was easy they wouldn’t pay me that much money for it.
“We’ve had a super-strange season. We’ve had the two highest wins in our history but then a week later we cannot do it.”
Frank Lampard’s return to Chelsea’s coaching staff, even if just as caretaker manager through the remainder of the season, surprised many.
It is hardly shocking to those in the know.
He provided a clue by watching the Liverpool game from the director’s box at Stamford Bridge.
When the team needs a manager, a club legend and former manager who is currently unemployed appears out of nowhere at the stadium.
He is back, maybe not for long, maybe not. He would pick up where he left off in his first spell.
Chelsea were due to face Wolves on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, and Frank was sacked a day before.
The club’s all-time top scorer has been receiving messages welcoming him back to management, but he received a special one from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, as reported by Metro UK.
Guardiola sends message to Lampard
Pep is an admirer of the Chelsea legend, probably from his playing days, and he does not hide it.
He revealed he has been in touch with the 44-year-old even during his time at Everton. ‘‘We were in touch when he was at Everton.
Thiago Alcantara and Luis Diaz will soon be able to play again forLiverpool, but manager Jurgen Klopp will choose his team with “calm” despite their impending return from injury.
Following three games with just one point earned, the Reds welcome Premier League leaders Arsenal to Anfield on Sunday in a last-ditch effort to save their season.
Even though Liverpool’s two-game losing streak on Tuesday at Chelsea stopped in a 0-0 draw, it still puts them 10 points behind Manchester United and Newcastle United, who are currently in third and fourth, respectively.
Klopp surprisingly made six changes for the trip to Stamford Bridge, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk dropping out.
Van Dijk’s absence was put down to illness, which Klopp confirmed at Friday’s press conference he has now recovered from, while two other key men are now back in training.
Diaz has not played for Liverpool since the reverse fixture with Arsenal in October, while Thiago is further ahead in his recovery after spending two months out with a hip injury.
“Virgil is back in training. Luis and Thiago are training,” Klopp told reporters. “The plan with Luis is he will be available 100 per cent for Leeds [a week on Monday].
“It was a long injury,so we will have to be careful. We will probably not involve him on Sunday. Thiago is slightly different. He’s trained three times and might be available.”
Asked if those left out against Chelsea are in contention to start against Arsenal, Klopp said: “We’ve had one proper [training] session since then.
“The boys haven’t shown me they don’t want to play. This is not the situation we are in. I have to make decisions about the team based on what I have seen in training.
“That opens the door for everybody. I cannot constantly ask for something I didn’t get. I am always really calm in this moment. In the end, we will see what the outcome is.”
While Liverpool have struggled for consistency, they have won five of their past six matches at Anfield, drawing the other, including the last three by an 11-0 aggregate scoreline.
Indeed, the Reds have not conceded a goal on home soil in seven hours and 26 minutes of league football stretching back to December.
“Anfield is not the only thing we should rely on, but it is no secret that the combination of our people, the ground and the boys is pretty good,” Klopp said.
“That is what we have to throw in, but not rely on it. I have a very good feeling we can [beat Arsenal].”
Arsenal are 29 points better off than Liverpool, having played a game more, and are seeking their first league double in this fixture since the 2009-10 campaign.
However, Liverpool have won their past six home Premier League games against Arsenal, scoring at least three times in each game (22 goals in total).
Klopp has been impressed by the work of opposite number Mikel Arteta, but he remains hopeful his side can put on a show for their supporters at Anfield on Sunday.
“I know people ask for more time for managers, and I think Mikel deserved every minute when it wasn’t going well, because they are there now,” Klopp said.
“Arsenal made good transfers and are now pretty stable. They brought in super important players but not too many.
“Mikel has been building for a few years now and the outcome is pretty impressive. I don’t know exactly what you can say about us at the moment, so that shows the situation.
“It’s still Anfield, we’re at home, and we must show a reaction, an improvement. We have to help the boys with different things. In a home game, the crowd can be a massive boost.”
Klopp is looking to win seven home leaguegames in a row against an opponent for the first time since doing so against Werder Bremen with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
The Football Association (FA) has penalised Liverpool for an incident in which their players surrounded the referee during last Saturday’s 4-1Premier League loss at Manchester City.
At Etihad Stadium, the incident happened in the 34th minute of play with the score tied at one when City midfielder Rodri intentionally fouled Cody Gakpo.
The Spaniard had already been booked for a similar infringement just minutes earlier, but referee Simon Hooper refrained from showing a second yellow, which would have meant a red card.
Diogo Jota, Fabinho, Virgil van Dijk and captain Jordan Henderson ran to the official to query the decision, which has led to The FA charging the club with failing “to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or do not behave in a way which is improper”.
Liverpoolhave until Wednesday, April 12 to respond to the charge.
The striker is already back on the practice field ahead of this weekend’s trip to Southampton, giving them a boost as they try to keep up with Arsenal at the top.
Erling Haaland, who missed Saturday’s 4-1 Premier League victory against Liverpool, is back in training with Manchester City.
After suffering a groyne injury just before the international break, the forward was forced to leave his assignment with Norway last month.
Ahead of City’s return to action against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds last week, Pep Guardiola was non-committal on whether Haaland would feature.
Now, in a boost as they look to keep pace withArsenal at the summit, the striker is back on the training pitch ahead of this weekend’s trip to Southampton.
Chelsea and Liverpool played out their fourth goalless draw in as many head-to-head matches as the Blues missed numerous opportunities to win their first game following the firing of Graham Potter.
Some home fans disrupted the game by chanting about the 1989 FA Cup semi-final disaster at Hillsborough, which claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool fans.
Tuesday’s match was not the first to be overshadowed by such songs this season, with Manchester City expressing regret after similar chants were heard at their 4-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday.
A statement released by Chelsea shortly after full-time read: “Chelsea FC condemns the inappropriate chants heard from some home fans during this evening’s game.
“Hateful chanting has no place in football and we apologise to anyone who has been offended by them.”
Liverpool subsequently responded to Chelsea’s apology on Twitter, calling for supporters to stop partaking in the grim chants.
“We know the impact these vile chants have on those who continue to suffer as a result of football tragedies,” read a Tweet from the club’s account. “For their sake, this has to stop.”
The Premier League, meanwhile, addressed the situation in another Tweet, which read: “The Premier League condemns the tragedy chanting heard at tonight’s match between Chelsea and Liverpool.
“We continue to treat this as an unacceptable issue and are seeking to address it as a priority.”
We know the impact these vile chants have on those who continue to suffer as a result of football tragedies. For their sake, this has to stop. https://t.co/5dLLAl4Ptu
Liverpool players confronted each other during their game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on April 4th.
Team captain Jordan Henderson appeared to have a bone to pick with goalkeeper Alisson Becker and told him off in the full glare of the cameras.
The Brazilian custodian did not take being spoken down to lightly and equally responded with a few tough words of his own before the situation quickly simmered down.
Jurgen Klopp’s side made the trip to London looking to bounce back from the 4-1 humiliation at Manchester City over the weekend.
Chelsea, meanwhile, took to the game under a third different manager this season.
The hosts were the better side of the night, but like their past four encounters, it ended in a stalemate.
Henderson was livid with Liverpool’s defence after an error from Joel Matip nearly cost his side a goal.
Joao Felix blazed his effort over the bar as a quick introspection on the Liverpool side ensued.
It is not clear why the England international was angry with Alisson despite Matip being the one culpable for the error.
The Reds will now welcome Arsenal this weekend in what is set to be a season-defining game for the Gunners.
Havertz’s disallowed goal At the same time, Sports Brief reported that Chelsea fans were left incensed after Kai Havertz’s goal vs Liverpool on April 4th was chalked off for handball.
Havertz scored just before the hour mark. N’Golo Kante, who was making his first Chelsea start since August, laid off a wonderful through ball for the German, who failed to chip the ball over past an on-rushing Alisson Becker.
The ball, however, fell back kindly to him and it ricocheted into an empty net.
Frantic celebrations at Stamford Bridge were halted after replays showed that the ball was pushed in by Havertz’s arm.
After a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa, which dropped Chelsea to 11th place in the Premier League, Potter was fired less than seven months into his job at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues’ next match is at home against Liverpool, who are still licking their wounds from Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Manchester City.
According to their high standards, Liverpool is having a terrible season. The Reds have lost nine league games, are currently in eighth place, are eliminated from the FA Cup and the Champions League, and are eight points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
And Klopp is aware it is the success of previous campaigns that is keeping him in a job.
“The elephant in the room is why I’m still sitting here, in this crazy world. Last man standing,” Klopp told reporters.
“I’m aware of the fact that I’m sitting here because of the past, not because of what we did this season.
“If it was my first season, that would be slightly different. Yes, we have smart owners, they know about the situation, but you better ask them yourselves.”
-7.4 – Chelsea underperformed their xG by 7.4 during Graham Potter's Premier League reign, the worst differential of any side since his first game in charge (21 goals from 28.4 xG).
-7.4 | Chelsea -6.7 | West Ham -6.1 | Everton -5.8 | Southampton -5.3 | Forest
“There’s no need to be afraid, I’m here to deliver. I’m not here as a talisman or whatever, or for murals on walls. I’m here to deliver, nothing else in my mind. But I know I’m here because of the last few years.
“I don’t like the fact that I have to pretty much rely on that. Is it right or not? We will see in the future. I am fully in, there’s no doubt, but we have to sort it.
“We cannot just continue playing like we do from time to time. Not always, thank God, but from time to time – it’s really not allowed. I’m really disappointed by us, that we do these kind of things, but they happen. We have to find a way out, that’s what we’re working on.”
Potter’s dismissal followed on from Brendan Rodgers losing his job at Leicester City, with the Foxes in 19th place.
The pair of departures came a week on from Tottenham cutting ties with Antonio Conte.
“I think both clubs [Chelsea and Leicester] are not where they expect to be,” Klopp said. “I cannot say a lot more about it. I respect them a lot. I like them both. When I met them, really good people, fantastic managers, both of them, but still, things can go the wrong way.
“When decision-makers at a club think they have to change, then they change. I think we all accept that’s part of the business.
“That’s it, a strange week. Conte was the last week, [Julian] Nagelsmann [sacked by Bayern Munich], and now these two.
The season gets into a decisive part and people are afraid of maybe not reaching their targets.
“You would have to ask the decisive people what they will say about it. For all four I mentioned, the managing future is still bright. It’s not a disaster.”
Klopp was unsure how much Potter’s dismissalwould impact Chelsea, noting he expects the Blues to set up in a similar system.
One thing he was sure about was the reaction that is required from Liverpool.
“As badly [needed] as possible,” Klopp said, before calling the defeat to City a “super strange game”.
“It’s unacceptable, but it happened anyway. Now we have to make sure we are ready, that’s it,” he added.
![A man has appeared in court charged with the abduction and sexual assault of a six-year-old girl. Lewis Charles Jones, 23, of no fixed address but from Liverpool, appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court this morning [Aug 20]. Caption: Police tent near Warne Avenue in Droylsden, Greater Manchester, where a six-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted on 17 August 2022](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/SEI_120320016-be49-e1682504054534.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=540%2C617)
