TIG Post

Tag: Liverpool

  • Salah betters Lewandowski feats with six-minute Champions League hat-trick

    Mohamed Salah made a piece of Champions League history with his quickfire hat-trick in Liverpool’s 7-1 thrashing of Rangers on Wednesday, scoring the fastest ever treble in the competition.

    Just six minutes and 12 seconds separated Salah’s first and third goals in Liverpool’s comeback win, the shortest timeframe ever recorded in the Champions League.

    Salah’s hat-trick saw him eclipse the efforts of former Bayern Munich hero Robert Lewandowski, who has scored two of the five fastest trebles in Champions League history.

    Lewandowski required 11 minutes and seven seconds to hit a treble against Red Star Belgrade in November 2019, an achievement he bettered against Salzburg in March this year, when he scored three times in 10 minutes and 22 seconds.

    Other than Salah, only Bafetimbi Gomis and Mike Newell have scored a hat-trick in quicker time than Lewandowski, while Cristiano Ronaldo sits just outside the top five after managing an 11-minute treble against Malmo for Real Madrid in 2015.

    Salah scored his hat-trick over two minutes faster than previous record holder Gomis, who took eight minutes and 45 seconds to do so against Dinamo Zagreb in 2011.

    Salah brought up his treble with a trademark strike, latching onto Diogo Jota’s pass before cutting in from the right wing and bending a fine finish into the top-left corner.

    Jota assisted all three of Salah’s goals as Liverpool returned to form in emphatic fashion, which represents the first time a player has assisted a team-mate’s Champions League treble since March 2012, when Franck Ribery teed up Mario Gomez’s strikes for Bayern against Basel

    Meanwhile, Salah has now scored 38 Champions League goals for Liverpool, the most managed by any player for an English club in the competition.

    The Egypt talisman had previously trailed former Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, who each hit 36 goals for their respective clubs in the competition.

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Guardiola says form goes out the window for big clash with Liverpool

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is looking forward to Sunday’s trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool, allowing some key players to rest during Tuesday’s 0-0 Champions League draw against FC Copenhagen.

    City were bright early and had chances to take the lead, with a disallowed goal in the 11th minute and a saved penalty from Riyad Mahrez in the 25th, before Sergio Gomez was shown a straight red card that changed the game.

    After controlling 66 per cent of the possession in a comfortable first half, that figure dipped to 46 per cent after the break as Copenhagen found a foothold into the game and fought hard for their point.

    Speaking after the match, where star striker Erling Haaland was rested and starting midfielders Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva were only used as late substitutes, Guardiola said the compressed schedule with multiple games per week had finally started to catch up to some players.

    “Many players didn’t start today because they were really, really, exhausted, tired and fatigued and had some niggles,” he said.

    “Erling [Haaland] didn’t feel very good after the game against Southampton, Phil [Foden] had some problems, Bernardo [Silva] was so tired yesterday, he told us.

    “The players, they feel better and I of course, didn’t want to take a risk. Of course, it was so important, but when we have nine points already in our pocket, we need one more game to qualify mathematically, ok we took one point, we played for that and we started really well.

    “We cannot deny how well we played for the first minutes, knowing that it’s difficult. Their defence is so deep and well-organised and after that, those situations, the goal disallowed, the penalty, the sending off, the game changed, especially playing almost for an hour 10 against 11.”

    When asked if this is a perfect time to face Liverpool – coming off a loss to Arsenal and with one fewer day of rest after they play Rangers on Wednesday – Guardiola said form goes out the window in fixtures this big.

    “It’s the scale of the fixture when you have to go to Anfield,” he said. “It’s not about how you arrive, good or bad, you have to perform every time.

    “We have four days [to prepare] – we travel right now, tomorrow we have regeneration, one day off, clear our minds, because for one or two weeks we’ve not had a day off with a game every three days, and after that we’ll prepare the game against Liverpool.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Klopp blows his top at Hamann’s comments over Reds future

    Jurgen Klopp has hit back at criticism by Dietmar Hamann suggesting his Liverpool job could be in doubt.

    The Anfield club have made their worst start to a Premier League season under the German boss after picking up just 10 points from their first eight games following Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Arsenal.

    Hamman, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, said questions may be asked of the manager if results do not improve and added that the Merseysiders need to find a “spark”.

    Those comments were put to Klopp ahead of their trip to face Rangers at Ibrox in the Champions League tonight.

    He said: “Oh great, he is a fantastic source. Well respected everywhere.

    “[Being a former Liverpool player] doesn’t give you the right to say what you want, especially when you have no idea.

    “I actually think Didi Hamann doesn’t deserve that you use his phrase when asking a question. Do me a favour and ask your own question. Try to ask the question without the word ‘spark’.”

    Reds fighting on

    Klopp’s misery was compounded after it was confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joel Matip are both out for up to three weeks with injury, while Luis Diaz will be sidelined until after the World Cup.

    They add to the list of casualties the Reds are contending with, with Naby Keita, Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and summer loan signing Arthur Melo unavailable for the trip north of the border.

    While currently up against it, Klopp preferred to see the positive side of the situation and vowed that his team will come out fighting in Glasgow this evening.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold's injury dealt a further blow to Liverpool following their 3-2 defeat to Arsenal
    Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury dealt a further blow to Liverpool following their 3-2 defeat to Arsenal

    He added: “If you sleep on a problem, sometimes you realise life goes on. I just stood there at Arsenal and we had lost the game. I knew already that we had three big injuries.

    “So how can I, in this moment, not feel downbeat? It’s not possible.

    “But then you get information on the injuries step-by-step and it’s two or three weeks rather than my fear of eight weeks for Alexander-Arnold. The other injury, for Matip, is not too long as well and the other is out for as long as we expected.

    “This is a tough situation but it is also a challenge. We always face challenges but we go for it and I am sorry to all our people that after last season we go again and it’s not the case that we are competing for everything.

    “I cannot promise that we will fly tomorrow but we will fight, definitely, until someone tells us the fight is over.

    “It hasn’t got easier since Sunday because of the injuries but the team I saw in training I liked a lot. So let’s give it a go.”

    Ibrox cauldron

    Rangers midfielder John Lundstram wants to use the “aura” of Ibrox to get the better of Liverpool tonight.

    The Gers are participating in Europe’s elite competition for the first time in 12 years but have begun their Group A campaign with three defeats from three and no goals scored.

    They head into tonight’s clash with the second-placed Reds as underdogs despite their opponents’ patchy start.

    But Liverpudlian Lundstram, 28, insisted the atmosphere may give the home side an extra edge, just as it did during their run to the Europa League final last term.

    John Lundstram is eager to harness the Ibrox atmosphere tonight
    John Lundstram is eager to harness the Ibrox atmosphere tonight

    The boyhood Reds fan said: “There’s something special about Ibrox on European nights. Anyone who has been here will have felt the atmosphere, felt the aura around the place.

    “There’s just something that happens underneath the lights here, I don’t know what it is, I can’t put my finger on it.

    “It gets everyone and gives you a lift. There’s something in the air and hopefully that can be the same again tomorrow.”

    Liverpool were 2-0 winners in the reverse fixture at Anfield last week, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s outfit struggling to put up much of a fight against last season’s Champions League finalists.

    Determined to present more of a challenge this time, the former Sheffield United ace added: “It’s great to come up against these players but they’re on the other team.

    “You’ve got to block that out and play your own game and show them respect to a certain extent, but at the same time show them no respect as well.

    “We have to try and get in amongst it.

    “A lot of players can be great players when you have time on the ball, I think we’re great players when we have time on the ball but when you get up in someone’s face, things change.

    “Hopefully if we can do that and our midfield match their midfield, that will be key.

    “As long as we’re up against them and laying a glove on them, hopefully we can get something.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Thomas Partey’s role highlighted in Arsenal’s win over Liverpool

    Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey shone for Arsenal in their 3-2 victory over Liverpool on Sunday at the Emirates stadium.

    Partey lasted the entire duration of the game as he helped the Gunners seal all three points and remain in the lead with eight wins from their first nine fixtures.

    Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring for Arsenal in the first minute and Bukayo Saka followed with a brace to sink Liverpool to their second Premier League defeat of the season and into 10th place in the table.

    Pundit Jamie Redknapp was quick to highlight Partey as Arsenal’s unsung hero this season, despite doubts over his fitness.

    He told Sky Sports, “I think people like Thomas Partey today. His involvement, the way that he controlled that midfield, he is brilliant at that job. Can they keep him fit?”

    Partey, who has been one of the key cog of Mikel Arteta’s side has made six league appearances and scored one goal for Arsenal so far this season.

  • Liverpool’s Fahey set for biggest match of career

    Liverpool captain Niamh Fahey has said that reaching the World Cup finals with the Republic of Ireland would mean everything to her.

    The 34-year-old will be part of Vera Pauw’s Irish side that takes on Scotland in a World Cup play-off at Hampden Park on Tuesday night.

    The Republic are aiming to reach a first-ever World Cup finals.

    “In terms of magnitude it is going to be the biggest game of my career,” Fahey told Sportsound Extra Time.

    “Hopefully now we can go one step further and get to a World Cup. That would be huge, it would mean everything. It is the pinnacle of a career, to be able to get to a major finals.

    “We have to seize the moment, have no fear. It is 90 minutes, it is 11 v 11. You can get caught up in the outcomes, in what might be and what might not be, but you have to just treat it as a one-off game and just play the game.

    “That’s how I’m approaching it and that’s what I will be telling anyone else.”

    Liverpool captain Fahey joined the Merseyside club in 2018

    There are two other play-offs taking place on Tuesday night – Wales travel to Switzerland and Portugal host Iceland – with only the two top-ranked of the three winners on the night guaranteed a World Cup place, and the third winner facing an inter-confederation play-off in New Zealand in February.

    In short, the Republic, ranked third on the basis of their qualification record to date, must win and hope that at least one of Switzerland or Iceland lose or only win on penalties.

    Fahey’s tough choice after GAA All-Ireland win

    Fahey is well used to high-pressure environments with Liverpool, who have won one and lost one of their first two games back in the Women’s Super League after earning promotion last season.

    However, her winning mentality stretches back to her days of playing GAA for her home county Galway, with whom she won an All-Ireland title in 2004 – a success which meant she had a difficult choice to make in pursuing a career in football.

    “It was a tough one to leave the Gaelic football set-up because that was my first love,” she explained.

    “We are a big Gaelic football family, my brother played for Galway, won an All-Ireland and I won an All-Ireland myself with the Galway women’s team.

    “It was really tough to leave that maroon jersey [of Galway] behind but the ultimate is playing for your country. To be able to play for Ireland and to be able to pull on the green shirt is something special.”

    And she will not be short of good-luck messages from her former GAA team-mates ahead of Tuesday night.

    “We have a WhatsApp group from the 2004 team. We have that special bond that winning creates.

    “They are a great group of girls, we have met up regularly, that bond still exists and it is like a little support group that is there for each other all the time, which is really cool. They always send a text and are really supportive.”

    Source: bbc.com

  • Transfer Talk: Liverpool ready to steam ahead with Rice move

    Liverpool remain interested in Declan Rice and want to make the England international their marquee midfield signing next summer.

    The Reds have been pushing to sign Three Lions team-mate Jude Bellingham, 19, but are facing tough competition from the likes of Real Madrid and others.

    That will see them turn their attention to landing Rice’s signature, according to Football Insider.

    West Ham’s captain, 23, has also been the subject of intense speculation in recent seasons and Jurgen Klopp is said to be a huge admirer.

    The German boss wanted to sign Rice in the most recent summer window but the Anfield club were unwilling to provide the funds for the deal.

    A hefty price tag of £100million was quoted for Rice by the Hammers, with boss David Moyes even suggesting £150m should be the minimum.

    But the midfielder’s fee is set to fall as he enters the final 18 months of his contract in the new year.

    He has reportedly rejected multiple offers to extend his stay at the London Stadium, with his current deal expiring in the summer of 2024.

    Liverpool are expected to face competition from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United for the London-born star.

    In other news

    Manchester United right-back Diogo Dalot is attracting the interest of Barcelona
    Manchester United right-back Diogo Dalot is attracting the interest of Barcelona

    Barcelona are keen on bolstering their right-back options with the signing of Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot, 23, according to reports in Spain.

    The Mirror say Leeds have agreed personal terms with PSV winger Cody Gakpo, 23, and are now working on a fee with the Eredivisie outfit.

    Arsenal have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Manuel Locatelli, 24, according to reports in Italy, with the midfielder deciding to remain at Juventus.

    Source: Livescore

  • Klopp hopes Salah close to ‘exploding’ into form but sees Haaland comparisons as unfair

    Jurgen Klopp hopes Mohamed Salah is close to “exploding” into a rich vein of goalscoring form, but believes comparisons with Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland are unfair.

    Salah shared the Premier League’s Golden Boot with Son Heung-min after scoring 23 goals in the competition last term, but has only found the net twice in seven outings this season.

    The Egyptian’s diminishing returns have mirrored those of his team, with Liverpool sitting 13 points behind City – with a game in hand – ahead of Sunday’s trip to Arsenal.

    Haaland’s arrival has taken City to new heights this campaign, with the Norwegian hitting 15 goals in his first nine Premier League games, and Klopp believes any comparisons with Salah would be unhelpful.

    “With Mo, I hope it’s like us, we are close to exploding,” Klopp said. “Whose season was it yet? From our side, nobody.

    “Mo is like this, even when his goalscoring numbers aren’t crazy, often he’s involved, it’s just the problem that if you don’t score around that, nobody appreciates that.

    “Nobody in the world can cope with the [Erling] Haaland situation, it’s crazy what he’s doing.

    “He’s an exceptional player in an exceptional team and I don’t think we should compare anyone with that at the moment.

    “Mo wants to score goals desperately, 100 per cent, that will never change. Call him in 20 years, it will be the same.”

    Liverpool approach their trip to the Emirates Stadium having recorded two draws and one defeat in their first three away outings of the Premier League campaign.

    Not since 2010-11, under Roy Hodgson, have Liverpool failed to win any of their first four away league games in a single season.

    Meanwhile, Saturday represented the seventh anniversary of Klopp’s appointment at Liverpool, and the German left each of his two previous posts – at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund – before bringing up an eighth year at the helm.

    Klopp, however, insisted Liverpool’s struggles have nothing in common with those of his former clubs, saying: “The situation in the clubs was very different.

    “A seven-year spell was not planned or because I lost energy or these things. I was manager at Mainz and after three years, we got promoted to the Bundesliga then three years later we got relegated.

    “We tried one more year and the club needed a change. Players left us for the Bundesliga, so they needed a fresh start, definitely.

    “I was full of energy. I went directly to Dortmund and it was all fine. [It was] seven years and it was just a situation that players constantly got bought by other clubs.

    “It was a really hard job to do, instead of developing a team, constantly making two steps back. It was really intense and really exhausting.

    “I can understand that I left after seven years, and now we are in a difficult situation, but, if you think twice about it, you realise the situation is completely different.

    “Being here for seven years is intense, no doubt about it. But it’s nice as well, I got so many things back. If there’s one club that has a chance to go through it together, it’s us.”

    Source: Livescore

     

     

  • Fantastic Firmino is enjoying a Reds renaissance at Anfield

    Roberto Firmino’s time as a Liverpool first-team regular looked to be coming to an end — but he is reminding everyone of his qualities after a blistering start to the season.

    The Brazilian forward, 31, was expected to be pushed down the pecking order by the arrival of big-money signing Darwin Nunez.

    However, Firmino has shone, despite the Reds’ collective struggles this campaign.

    Ahead of Liverpool’s crunch clash with Premier League leaders Arsenal this afternoon, we take a look at the impact that their No9 is having in 2022-23.

    No Nunez? No problem

    The summer arrival of Nunez did not bode well for Firmino’s prospective game time this term.

    The Maceio native’s contract expires at the end of the season and his new £85million competitor is eight years his junior.

    However, Nunez was sent off in just his second Premier League appearance, opening the door for Firmino to take centre stage.

    The Uruguayan has managed just one league goal this season and has failed to live up to expectations thus far — but Firmino’s fine form has helped mitigate Nunez’s slow start to life on Merseyside.

    Jota competition

    Nunez is not Firmino’s only competition for Liverpool’s centre-forward berth, though.

    Diogo Jota, 25, had already seized the 55-cap international’s regular starting spot up front last season, making 35 Premier League appearances and scoring 15 goals.

    However, the Portugal forward has struggled with injury issues at the start of the current campaign and is only now returning to fitness.

    He is now back in action and was operated just behind Nunez in Liverpool’s last outing — a 2-0 win over Rangers in the Champions League — in which Jurgen Klopp utilised a 4-2-3-1 formation.

    Heart and soul

    No Liverpool player has scored more goals across all competitions than Roberto Firmino
    No Liverpool player has scored more goals across all competitions than Roberto Firmino

    Klopp insisted towards the end of pre-season that Firmino remained a key part of the Liverpool squad — despite increased competition for places and doubts over the attacker’s game time.

    He said: “Bobby is crucial for us, the heart and soul of this team. The way we played in the last years was only possible because of Bobby.

    “That’s why I’m really happy he was able to train for the majority of the time here in pre-season so far. Everything looks really good so I am absolutely fine.

    “There is no doubt about Bobby’s quality.”

    Firmino on fire

    Liverpool's Roberto Firmino has been clinical from inside the box this term
    Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino has been clinical from inside the box this term

    Despite playing just 420 Premier League minutes so far this season, Firmino has been remarkably productive in front of goal.

    He is Liverpool’s top scorer in the competition on five strikes, with only three players in the division scoring more.

    Additionally, Firmino has hit the target with 12 shots — a team-leading total.

    Just five other top tier players can better that tally, demonstrating the experienced forward’s decisiveness this term.

    Selfless Firmino

    Roberto Firmino has always excelled when it comes to chance creation — and this campaign is no exception
    Roberto Firmino has always excelled when it comes to chance creation — and this campaign is no exception

    Firmino does not only top Liverpool’s goalscoring charts in the Premier League — he is their most prolific provider too.

    His three assists rank behind only Bukayo Saka, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne across the division.

    In the face of real competition for his place, Firmino has produced some of his best attacking numbers in a Liverpool shirt.

    Klopp now faces a difficult decision — who should start against table-topping Arsenal?

    Source: Livescore

  • Ghana winger Kamaldeen Sulemana could join English Premier League giants Liverpool in winter window

    Ghana international Kamaldeen Sulemana could join English Premier League giants Liverpool in the winter transfer window, Footballghana.com can report.

    Sulemana has been impressive since joining French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennes in July 2021 despite injury setbacks.

    According to El Nacional, the Reds are ready to splash 35 million euros to convince Rennes to sign the enterprising winger in the upcoming transfer window.

    The 20-year-old current contract will expire in the summer 2026 but a January move is possible due to Liverpool’s huge interest.

    Sulemana has featured 10 times this season, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists in the process.

    He is currently injured and will not be in action this weekend when Rennes host Nantes.

    Source:GFA

  • Ghana winger Kamaldeen Sulemana could join English Premier League giants Liverpool in winter window

    Ghana international Kamaldeen Sulemana could join English Premier League giants Liverpool in the winter transfer window, Footballghana.com can report.

    Sulemana has been impressive since joining French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennes in July 2021 despite injury setbacks.

    According to El Nacional, the Reds are ready to splash 35 million euros to convince Rennes to sign the enterprising winger in the upcoming transfer window.

    The 20-year-old current contract will expire in the summer 2026 but a January move is possible due to Liverpool’s huge interest.

    Sulemana has featured 10 times this season, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists in the process.

    He is currently injured and will not be in action this weekend when Rennes host Nantes.

    Source: FootballGhana

  • Nunez opens up on difficult Liverpool start

    Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez says he has had to learn to adapt to life in the Premier League after a difficult start, adding: “I needed to calm my nerves”.

    The Uruguay international was the flagship signing of the Reds’ transfer window and netted in his first two appearances for the club in a blaze of early potential.

    But a red card for an altercation with Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen shortly afterwards handed him a three-match ban that has left him struggling to acclimatise since.

    Nunez arguably delivered his best performance since the opening weeks in Tuesday’s 2-0 home win over Rangers in the Champions League, and now feels he is making steps forward once more.

    “The truth is that it was a little difficult to adapt, but I believe that, as training and games go by, I will adapt little by little,” he told TNT Sports Brasil.

    “[After the red card] was a very tough time. I was suspended for three games, I know I made a big mistake, and now I’m aware that it won’t happen again.

    “I have to calm my nerves during the games and talk less. We all make mistakes and I know it will serve as a learning experience.

    “The important thing is to leave my mark on the team, someone who can always contribute by playing well and, if I don’t score, I have to be calm.”

    Difficulties with the language barrier have seen Nunez lean heavily on Jurgen Klopp’s assistant Pep Lijnders to bridge the gap, but the German has reassured his star of his support.

    “I don’t know English and he doesn’t know Spanish,” Nunez said about Klopp.

    “But the relationship with the coach is that he supports me, gives me confidence and I have to repay that on the field.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Van Dijk defends Liverpool team-mate Alexander-Arnold

    Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has leapt to the defence of team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold amid recent criticism of the right-back’s performances.

    Alexander-Arnold has been the subject of plenty of scrutiny following his poor defensive performances in the Premier League and Champions League.

    The defender’s mistakes in Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, in particular, drew heavy criticism from fans and pundits.

    The 23-year-old also failed to feature in either of England’s two Nations League games last week, with Gareth Southgate making it clear Alexander-Arnold is not his first-choice right-back.

    But van Dijk, speaking after Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Rangers on Tuesday in which Alexander-Arnold opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick, said: “We know the quality he has and he showed it again today.

    “He has been showing it over the last couple of years; he has developed as one of the best right-backs in the country.”

    Netherlands international Van Dijk also questioned the culture surrounding player welfare and media scrutiny in English football.

    He said: “I’ve been in the UK now for eight, nine years and everyone here is very good to praise a player very high up to the sky and let them fall as hard as they can.

    “That’s what we, as players, have to deal with. Everyone is talking about how we should accept it.

    “For him to just carry on working – not only him but other players as well – deal with it and show reaction today is what we need, all of us. I think it’s important that we back him.”

    Liverpool’s victory against Rangers leaves them second in Group A behind Napoli, who beat Jurgen Klopp’s men 4-1 in the opening group game.

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Klopp concedes Liverpool criticism has been fair

    Jurgen Klopp believes the criticism that has come Liverpool’s way in recent weeks has been justified, as he quipped he is relishing the chance to read a newspaper again.

    Liverpool have had an underwhelming start to the season and sit ninth in the Premier League following Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion.

    They bounced back in the Champions League on Tuesday, beating Rangers 2-0 at Anfield thanks to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick and Mohamed Salah’s penalty.

    Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor pulled off a string of excellent saves to keep the scoreline respectable, with Darwin Nunez frustrated in his search for a first Anfield goal, but the Reds got the job done with a minimum of fuss to claim a second straight win in Group A following their 2-1 defeat of Ajax last month.

    When it was put to him in his post-match news conference if Liverpool had used criticism of their performances as additional motivation, Klopp said with a smile: “I cannot wait for the moment when I can read newspapers again!”

    He continued: “No, I have no clue. The criticism was completely fine. We are not over the moon about our situation, let’s put it like this.

    “We’ve still been playing some really good games, it’s not like [success] was 10 years ago. Champions League nights at Liverpool are always quite enjoyable, usually.

    “I don’t think it had too much to do with the situation. I saw tonight a team fully committed, that’s what I like about it.”

    Captain Jordan Henderson, who started alongside Thiago Alcantara in a two-man midfield as Klopp tweaked his side’s formation, told BT Sport: “It can be difficult. You try to not listen to social media especially when you go through a tough period as an individual or a team.

    “You’ve got to switch off the noise and focus on what you do day-to-day and stay focused on what we’re trying to achieve as a team. That’s not easy. It can hurt players at times but you’ve got to try and find a way to use it as fuel and energy on the pitch.”

    Alexander-Arnold has been one of the players to face the most scrutiny, but delivered an excellent performance.

    His stunning free-kick seven minutes in opened the scoring and he finished with more touches (96) and more successful passes in the opponent’s half (40) than any other player, while he also produced a joint-high four tackles.

    He has now scored more free-kicks (six) than any other Liverpool player since the start of the 2016-17 season, while the England international – who was left out by Gareth Southgate for the Three Lions’ final match before the World Cup against Germany – is the first Reds player to net such a goal in the Champions League since Steven Gerrard against Basel in 2014.

    “It’s a wonderful goal. What can I say?” Klopp said.

    “He played a good game, defensively especially. It is not that he has had a defensive problem it’s that we have had a defensive problem, because our line was not right.

    “If the timing is not right, you open gaps and these gaps are very often on the back of Trent but not because of him, but because of the situation where we put our right-back.”

    Henderson added: “You’ve got to give Trent a license to get forward and produce what he can produce up the pitch. I thought he was good defensively tonight, he did the basics really well. I didn’t have to cover too much.”

    Source: Livescore

  • Klopp backs Nunez to get off the mark at Anfield after Rangers frustration

    Jurgen Klopp says it will only be a matter of time before Darwin Nunez gets his first Liverpool goal at Anfield after the striker failed to find the net against Rangers.

    Liverpool ran out comfortable 2-0 victors against Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side in the Champions League, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah on target.

    Allan McGregor was forced into eight saves to keep the scoreline down, while Nunez had more shots than any Liverpool player in the match – finding the target with four of his attempts.

    The former Benfica striker’s six efforts were the most a Liverpool player has had without scoring in a Champions League group stage game since Sadio Mane against Salzburg in December 2019 (also six).

    Despite just the sole strike to Nunez’s name in the Reds’ first Premier League game of the season at Fulham, Klopp insists the 23-year-old will soon get off the mark at home.

    “I think you can see that. The way the boys moved together up front today was extremely good for just one [training] session,” Klopp said of his attackers responding to a change in shape against Rangers.

    “We only had one session, low intensity because we only played recently, so it showed how good a striker he is, getting into these situations. Everybody saw tonight, this will happen.”

    Liverpool trail Group A leaders Napoli, who hammered Ajax 6-1 on Tuesday, by three points ahead of a return trip to Rangers next week after visiting Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Klopp admits there are no ‘instant’ solutions for Liverpool woes ahead of Rangers clash

    Jurgen Klopp says there are no “instant” solutions in football as Liverpool look to bounce back ahead of their Champions League clash with Rangers.

    The Reds failed to turn their rough form around upon their return to Premier League action this weekend when they were held to a 3-3 draw by Brighton and Hove Albion.

    With just one win in their last four games across all competitions, Klopp’s side – FA Cup and EFL Cup winners last term as well as Champions League finalists – risk falling short on multiple fronts this term.

    But the German feels his side will be able to work out their problems, stating they must “go back to the basics” and that they cannot expect an immediate revival of fortunes.

    “We realised after Napoli it was a real low point, and we had to change things quickly,” he stated. “We didn’t play Wolves, played Ajax, then didn’t play Chelsea and couldn’t keep up any momentum from the Ajax win.”

    “When you spot a problem and think you have the solution, you expect the solution to be instant and influential, that’s never the case in football.

    “When it doesn’t work out, you realise step by step that you have to go back to the basics. We have to be patient again to do the right thing, and then we will be fine again.”

    Liverpool’s mixed form has made it hard for new signing Darwin Nunez to have the desired impact after an early season red card, but Klopp is unconcerned over the forward’s personal attributes.

    “He is still adapting,” he added. “New players come in and everybody talks about them and wants them to shine immediately and that happens from time to time.

    “We had a long talk yesterday and we told him we are completely calm. It’s really important in our situation that he isn’t worrying. The three-game suspension didn’t help him to settle, that’s clear.

    “The team isn’t flying and that doesn’t make it easier for a striker, especially a finisher. It’s not that everything is clicking, that is not our situation at the moment.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • ‘I will never forget my time with Liverpool’ – Sadio Mane

    Sadio Mane says he “will never forget” his time with Liverpool having made a move to Bayern Munich in the recent transfer window.

    Mane joined the Reds from Southampton in 2016 and spent six successful years at the club, winning both the Premier League and the Champions League.

    And while the 30-year-old now plies his trade in the Bundesliga, he says he will always have fond memories of playing for Liverpool.

    “Honestly, I will never forget my time there,” Mane told UEFA.com.

    “I learned a lot – as a man and as a football player. The supporters were amazing, the people from the city were amazing. It is a club that will stay in my heart forever.

    “It is also a legendary club – they have won everything. And also, it is the club that had all the best Champions League nights.”

    Mane cited the 2019 Champions League final win against Tottenham in Madrid as a particular highlight, adding: “I remember the second goal that Divock Origi scored very well. I was over the moon at that moment. I couldn’t believe it.

    “I just thought back to my childhood, when I was watching the Champions League. I found myself playing a final and, more importantly, winning it.

    “It was amazing – 2019 was an outstanding year. The celebrations, the club, you just had to be there to understand. I think over half a million people were out in the streets waiting for us to parade our trophy. It was just beautiful.”

    The Senegal international has endured a mixed start to his Bayern career, scoring three in three league games to start the season but then going on a run of five appearances without a goal in all competitions before finally finding the net again in Friday’s 4-0 thumping of Bayer Leverkusen.

    And he admitted his move to Germany had not all been plain sailing so far, saying: “Switching from one club to another is not easy.

    “I spent eight very nice years in England, six years at Liverpool [after] two at Southampton, and now I am in a new country. It is not easy because everything changes so suddenly, people, training, everything.

    “Everything is changing so it is not easy at all. I need to adapt. I knew that and it came as no surprise. It is happening just the way I imagined it.

    “People here are welcoming, and they’re real players. People around the club are amazing so I am very happy.

    “We have a very, very young squad. It’s the first time in my career that I have been part of such a young group. What really stands out to me is that they’re all hungry. They all want to develop and they’re attentive too.

    “Training sessions are as intense as the games. It’s important as I think it makes a real difference and it shows. It’s so easy to play alongside these youngsters, who are massively talented and promising.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • A suspect in Olivia Pratt Korbel’s murder makes an appearance in court

    Thomas Cashman is also charged with the attempted murder of the girl’s mother Cheryl Korbel and convicted burglar Joseph Nee, as well as two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

    The man charged with the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool has appeared in court.

    Thomas Cashman, 34, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court this morning.

    The case has been sent to Liverpool Crown Court where it will be heard at 2pm today.

    Olivia was fatally shot by a gunman who chased convicted burglar Joseph Nee into her home in Dovecot on 22 August.

    Her mother Cheryl Korbel, 46, was injured in the shooting, which happened just after 10pm.

    Cashman, of Grenadier Drive, West Derby, is also charged with the attempted murder of Ms Korbel and Nee, as well as two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

    Cashman, wearing a pale T-shirt, was in handcuffs in the dock and surrounded by four police officers. He spoke to give his name, date of birth and address.

    The court heard the case could only be dealt with by the crown court.

    During a short break, while a date for his next appearance was arranged, Cashman sat with his head bowed.

    Olivia’s parents were in court along with police officers and more than 20 members of the media.

    Olivia Pratt-Korbel

    Paul Russell, 40, of Snowberry Road, West Derby, also appeared in court, charged with assisting an offender.

    The court heard he was alleged to have assisted Cashman by driving him away from the scene and disposing of clothing.

    No application for bail was made, and he was remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 31 October.

     

  • Gabby meets Jesus, Partey, others at Emirates Stadium after Spurs game

    Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko was at the Emirates Stadium, in London, to watch Arsenal play against Tottenham Hotspurs on October 1 in the North London derby.

    The game ended 3 – 1 in favour of the Gunners with Ghana international Thomas Teye Partey grabbing the first goal through a sublime curler from outside the box.

    Gabby, a known Arsenal fan, has exclusive access to the backroom at the Emirates after the game and shared photos of himself and Arsenal players at the facility.

    It is believed that his close relationship with Partey may have been what gave him the access to interact with some of the players.

    In photo shared on his Twitter handle, Gabby is seen chatting with or posing for photos with Partey, Gabriel Jesus (who was also on the scoresheet on the day) as well as Emmanuel Saliba.

    He captioned one set of the photos: “Feels like a good weekend. Spurs losing, Liverpool drawing. Arsenal topping, Emirates buzzing!”

    He also took photograph with Zinchenko, Granit Xhaka, another goal scorer on the day, as well as with Gabriel Martinez.

    “Basking in the 3-1 glory against Spurs. We rule North London and we are on top of the EPL!” he captioned another set of photos.

     

    Source:Ghanaweb

  • Ashley Dale: Police investigating murder of Liverpool council worker release images of vehicle in the area

    Ms Dale’s death was one of three fatal shootings within a week in Liverpool, with nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel killed on 22 August and 22-year-old Sam Rimmer gunned down in Dingle on 16 August.

    Police investigating the murder of a council worker in Liverpool have released images of a vehicle travelling in the area shortly before she was shot.

    Ashley Dale, 28, was found with gunshot wounds in the back garden of her home in Old Swan in the early hours of Sunday 21 August. She was taken to hospital but died a short time later.

    Ms Dale, an environmental health officer for Knowsley Council, is not believed to have been the intended target of the shooting.

    Her death was one of three fatal shootings within a week in Liverpool, with nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel killed in her home in Dovecot on 22 August and 22-year-old Sam Rimmer gunned down in Dingle on 16 August.

    On the night of Ms Dale’s death, officers were called to an address in Leinster Road at around 12.40 am following reports of concern for a woman at the property.

    Ashley Dale graduation picFrom Merseyside Police
    Image:Ashley Dale was shot dead in Old Swan. Pic: Merseyside Police

    Eight people have been arrested in connection with Ms Dale’s murder and remain on conditional bail or under investigation.

    Police are now appealing for information about a grey Hyundai i30 N performance car that was spotted in the area earlier in the evening. The car has not yet been recovered.

    Detective Chief Inspector Cath Cummings, of Merseyside Police, said: “We now believe that this Hyundai was driven in the areas of Dovecot and Page Moss during the evening of Ashley’s murder, including on Pilch Lane.

    “As we look to gather all available evidence, I want to continue to appeal to anyone who lives in these areas and may have any information about this car.

    “This might range from knowing who was driving, seeing someone being picked up, or capturing further images or footage on CCTV, dashcam or doorbell devices. We also need to know where the car is now.

    “Please don’t assume that what you know or have captured is not important, or that someone else has already told us.

    “A minor detail could have major significance and we will review everything that comes in and make that assessment, and it all forms part of detectives building up an evidential picture, something that can of course take time.

    “Please come forward with anything you know to help us bring those responsible before the courts and get justice for Ashley’s family.”

    The footage in relation to Ms Dale’s death comes as police have made another arrest in connection with the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

    A 40-year-old man from Dovecot was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender on Friday.

    It comes a day after a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of her murder.

    Anyone with information about Ms Dale’s murder is asked to contact the investigating team through the online portal at mipp.police.uk, or via social media @MerPolCC. Alternatively, they can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000615873.

     

  • Trent Alexander-Arnold: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp defends full-back after England omission

    Jurgen Klopp would pick “exceptional” Trent Alexander-Arnold in any team after the full-back was overlooked by England manager Gareth Southgate.

    The Liverpool defender, 23, did not figure against Italy and was dropped from the squad that drew with Germany.

    Reds boss Klopp says there is “space for improvement” in Alexander-Arnold’s defensive game, but his offensive ability is “so extreme”.

    “I’d decide obviously differently, but I’m not in charge,” said Klopp.

    “My point of view, it’s an easy pick. Whichever team I would coach in the moment, I would sign him because he is exceptional.”

    Southgate has said he feels Alexander-Arnold’s “all-round game” is behind that of right-back rival Kieran Trippier.

    Alexander-Arnold, who missed last year’s European Championship through injury, has made just one international appearance this year.

    He has been a key player for a Liverpool side that has won the Premier League and Champions League in recent years, but he has struggled to transfer that form to international football and has won just 17 caps since his 2018 debut.

    “You really want to open this box?” said Klopp.

    “We are fine here because it’s completely different because I see him differently. It’s obvious.

    “There are stories out there all the time that talk about him and say he’s not a good defender, but that’s not true.

    “He is a good defender. He doesn’t always defend good, that is true as well, but that is what we’re working on – he is a young player, he is 23.

    “There is space for improvement, definitely, but we only discuss it on the level we discuss it because his offensive impact is so extreme for us. It could be for each team in the world.”

    ‘Alexander-Arnold was not in party mood on return’

    Southgate prefers to start with Chelsea’s Reece James, who can also play as part of a back three, with Trippier as back-up, making Alexander-Arnold’s chances of being in England’s World Cup squad increasingly slim.

    But Klopp believes Alexander-Arnold could still find a way to prosper in the current squad, and has no concerns about his player’s response to his latest England setback.

    He added: “Trent came back and was not in a party mood, but he just accepts the decision of the manager as well because he understands football pretty well.

    “He is an extremely smart boy and in football you cannot offer more than you can offer.

    “For me he is a world-class player, and not playing for your country is difficult, but it is only because there are other world-class players as well.

    “England is obviously blessed with a lot of really talented players in a similar position and it’s difficult to line them all up together.

    “In this case, it could work. Reece James can play in a three in the back, and that would be interesting to see how they could interchange positions.”

    Source: BBC

  • Heskey expects Liverpool to trail in City’s wake

    Emile Heskey has dismissed Liverpool’s title chances because he fears they will be unable to keep pace with “relentless” Manchester City.

    The Premier League returns this weekend, with City already flying high and on the coat-tails of early leaders Arsenal.

    Pep Guardiola’s City team are undefeated with five wins and two draws so far, plus a league-high goal difference of plus 17, six better than any other side.

    By contrast, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have won only two of six games to date, struggling to match the high standards they set when pushing City all the way to the final day in last season’s championship.

    Former Reds striker Heskey declared Liverpool are “probably not” in this season’s title race, stating: “I think their main focus is top four now because Champions League is a must.

    “I think City are relentless. Give them an inch, they’ll take a mile. They know how to exploit things.

    “They might be 1-0 down, but you know that they’re going to come back. And this is the relentlessness that I think Liverpool had a couple of seasons ago, and they’re trying to get back now.

    “I don’t think it’s going to be a particularly bad season getting into the top four, I think it is still massive.”

    Heskey said “everyone knows” losing Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich amounted to “a huge miss” for Liverpool, with the sale having gone through in late June, ending a six-year Anfield stay for the Senegalese forward.

    Former England international Heskey rates Luis Diaz and is hopeful Mohamed Salah will roar back to Golden Boot form, having made a somewhat underwhelming start to the campaign, with two goals and two assists in six league games.

    “The thing with Mo, is we are so used to it,” Heskey said of the Egyptian’s prolific scoring. “But when it wasn’t Mo, we had another person that could take up that mantle.

    “And if you haven’t got that other person to take up that mantle, who will get you the goals that Mo used to as well, you can then start pointing back at Mo and saying, ‘Well, he’s not doing this, he’s not doing that’.

    “But the pressures come with that and he understands that, and he’s able to get on with that and deal with it. He’s a fantastic player.

    “I think just give him the ball and let him go and enjoy himself again. When you saw Mo Salah smiling, that’s when you know that you’ve got something good. Even when he’s missing chances and he’s smiling, you know that he’s on form.”

    Liverpool face Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday, their first domestic game in four weeks, after two postponements in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death were followed by the international break.

    Darwin Nunez has yet to show his peak Benfica form in a Liverpool shirt since switching from the Portuguese giants in the close season, but Heskey suspects the talent is there for the Uruguayan striker to become a “phenomenal” Premier League performer.

    As was the case with a pair of Arsenal greats, Heskey feels Nunez could come good after a settling-in period.

    Heskey said: “He’s still a young player and one thing we’ve got to understand is, these players coming from abroad who are coming and adapting, not all of them adapt straight away.

    “It’s a bit of an anomaly for the ones who just come in and just fit straight in.

    “You need to give them time. You’ve got to remember Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry didn’t just fit in and click straight away, and we’re talking about Premier League greats. So give him the opportunity, and give them the time to settle in. I know we don’t have time, but give them time to settle in and he will be a phenomenal player.”

    Source: Livescore

     

     

  • Otto Addo allays injury fears of Brighton defender Tariq Lamptey ahead of Liverpool clash

    Tariq Lamptey will be allowed to train upon returning to Brighton and Hove Albion ahead of their match against Liverpool, according to Ghana coach Otto Addo.

    Lamptey was included in Otto Addo’s 29-man squad for friendlies against Brazil and Nicaragua after switching allegiance to Ghana in June.

    He debuted for the Black Stars when Ghana lost 3-0 against South American powerhouse Brazil in Le Havre, France.

    However, Lamptey’s injury prevented him from playing in Ghana’s 1-0 friendly victory over Nicaragua at Lorca, Spain.

    Ghana coach Otto Addo confirmed Lamptey “felt something” during the warm-up at training ahead of the Nicaragua match but was hopeful he will be able to train on his return to the club.

    “We just didn’t want to take that risk and it doesn’t look too bad.” He said.

    Meanwhile, Brighton will be monitoring the injury situation of the enterprising right-back ahead of the Liverpool encounter this weekend.

  • Liverpool striker Nunez backed ‘to score a lot of goals’ by ex-Red Sissoko

    Darwin Nunez will “score a lot of goals and show his talent” despite a tough start to his Liverpool career, says ex-Reds midfielder Mohamed Sissoko.

    Striker signing Nunez, who scored on his Premier League debut against Fulham, has failed to add to his tally following a three-match ban for a red card against Crystal Palace in August.

    But Sissoko – a Liverpool player for three years under Rafael Benitez – is confident the Uruguay forward simply needs time to adapt.

    “It’s not easy to play in the Premier League. It’s a big difference between the Portuguese league and the Premier League,” Sissoko told Stats Perform.

    “If Liverpool spent a lot of money for this player, it’s because he has quality. I’m sure he’s going to score a lot of goals and show his talent, because he has talent.”

    Liverpool are down in eighth place in the Premier League after a disappointing start to the season in which they dropped points against Fulham, Palace, Manchester United and Everton.

    And Nunez is not the only player to have struggled, with fellow forward Mohamed Salah criticised in scoring only twice in six league matches.

    But Sissoko feels Salah’s team-mates are as much to blame, adding: “It depends on the team also. When you play well, when you score, you make lots of good things, it depends on the team, not one player.

    “The team has to play well, and after Mo Salah is going to show his talent.”

    With a tough run of fixtures ahead and with only two clean sheets so far, Liverpool will also need to improve defensively if they are to climb the table.

    When asked about Liverpool’s back line and recent scrutiny of Virgil van Dijk, Sissoko said: “He’s still one of the best defenders in Europe.

    “[Just] because he’s not playing well in one game or three games, you can’t say he’s a poor player. He has quality.

    “He’s captain of the Netherlands national team, he plays for Liverpool, and he’s shown everyone he’s a good player. He’s a leader also.

    “Sometimes in football, [things] happen. Sometimes you play well, sometimes you play not good, but I’m sure after the international break all the team is going to win and [take] Liverpool higher.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Jude available for £83m as top-four rivals step up pursuit

    Jude Bellingham will reportedly be available for just £83million next summer as long as the fee is paid up front.

    The midfielder, 19, is being chased by Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United thanks to his accomplished performances for Borussia Dortmund and England.

    His current employers are believed to want £130m to let him go but The Sun claim that their demands could take a significant reduction in order to secure the cash in a one-off payment.

    The report adds that Pep Guardiola’s Citizens believe they have the money and draw to ensure they beat their rivals to the signature of one of the brightest talents in world football.

    City won the race for former Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland last summer and the Norwegian has already racked up 11 goals in seven Premier League appearances.

    Bellingham enjoys a good relationship with the prolific marksman and spoke highly of his former team-mate ahead of Dortmund’s Champions League defeat against the Citizens.

    Liverpool have long been thought to be in pole position to sign the playmaker, who has made 100 first-team appearances for the Bundesliga outfit, as Jurgen Klopp looks to refresh his ageing midfield.

    Big-spending Manchester United and Chelsea will also have their say in the pursuit, while Real Madrid have also been tipped to make a move.

    In other news

    Emi Martinez's performances have caught the eye of Atletico Madrid
    Emi Martinez’s performances have caught the eye of Atletico Madrid

    Atletico Madrid are keeping tabs on Aston Villa stopper Emi Martinez in case they need a replacement for Jan Oblak, according to The Mirror.

    The same outlet claim that Chelsea are ready to shell out £30m to land 17-year-old Fulham forward Luke Harris, who is in the Wales squad for tonight’s clash with Poland.

    United are preparing to trigger a 12-month extension clause in Marcus Rashford’s contract to avoid losing him for nothing as talks drag on, report the Daily Star.

    Source: Livescore

  • Van Dijk admits poor Liverpool displays

    Virgil van Dijk acknowledges he has not performed to the best of his ability during a frustrating start to the season for Liverpool.

    Liverpool have taken just nine points from their first six matches of the Premier League season, their worst return since Jurgen Klopp took charge in 2015.

    Postponements following the death of Queen Elizabeth II mean Liverpool have not played a domestic game since September 3, though they clinched a much-needed Champions League victory over Ajax last time out.

    While Van Dijk has been an ever-present for the Reds this season, he has not always lived up to his reputation as steady defensive influence, most notably in a 4-1 thrashing at Napoli.

    Speaking after the Netherlands posted a 2-0 Nations League win over Poland on Thursday, Van Dijk admitted he has been disappointed with his own displays.

    “I know I could have done better in the beginning of the season. I’m not naive about that. I know very well when I make mistakes,” Van Dijk said.

    “I also know that I am one of the important players at the club and of course also here at the national team. I feel that responsibility.

    “Mentally it’s a challenge. You feel a lot of pressure on your head. A lot of people forget that too, it’s not easy to do that.

    “We all try to show our best and if, in my case, you are one of the mainstays at the club, then you get the criticism you deserve. You have to deal with that and that is not always easy. But I did that just fine.”

    The Netherlands conclude their Nations League campaign against Belgium on Sunday, with Louis van Gaal’s team needing to avoid defeat if they are to secure top spot in Group A4.


    Source: Live score

  • Charlie Adam :Former Scotland, Rangers and Liverpool man ends playing career

    Former Scotland, Rangers and Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam has announced he has retired as a player, saying: “It’s not been a bad ride.”

    The 36-year-old left Dundee this summer after two seasons during which he helped his hometown club win promotion to the Scottish Premiership.

    “Something I feel incredibly passionate about and have been enjoying for the last few months,” Adam states.

    Adam was spotted helping West Ham United manager David Moyes during their pre-season training at St Andrews – and more recently with Burnley’s under-23 set-up – as he worked towards completing his coaching badges.

    In a social media statement, Adam thanks fans of Rangers, Ross County, St Mirren, Blackpool, Liverpool, Stoke City, Reading and Dundee for their backing during his time as a player and says: “Hopefully I’ve gave you all some memorable moments along the way.

    “I’ve been lucky enough to play for some of the biggest clubs in the world, from Champions League nights at Ibrox for Rangers, winning promotion into the Premier League as Blackpool captain, pulling on the famous Liverpool shirt and scoring in front of the Kop, eight incredible seasons at Stoke City to guiding my boyhood club to promotion and playing 25 times for Scotland.”

    Adam becomes the second former Scotland midfielder to retire from playing within a few weeks.

    Craig Bryson, who for Clyde, Kilmarnock, Derby County, Cardiff City and Aberdeen, ended his career after only eight games with Stenhousemuir, the 35-year-old’s summer move to the Scottish League 2 club having been hampered by an ankle injury that cut short his time with St Johnstone last season.

    Source: BBCsports

  • Mohammed Kudus opens up on failed Everton transfer

    Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus has explained how he recovered from a failed transfer to Everton to become one of the in-form players in the world currently.

    Kudus has scored a career-best six goals in his last five matches, including a stunner against Liverpool in the Champions League last week, but things could have been different had he got his wish last month.

    The Ajax star had an impressive pre-season for the Eredivisie giants, scoring three goals in as many games, but coach Alfred Schreuder only gave him a combined 28 minutes in the first four games of the season, leading to agitation for a move away due to frustration.

    “Everton offered me a great opportunity and I wanted to try it,” Kudus told NOS.

    “No footballer wants to sit on the bench and neither do I. Although I understood that not everyone can play all the time, Everton seemed like a good option at the time.”

    Kudus did not get his wish and the failed transfer took its toll on him. He failed to turn up for training in the days just after the transfer window shut with reports suggesting that he had been on a go-slow after seeing teammate Antony employ the same strategy to force a move to Manchester United.

    “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to train, but I’m human and had a lot to deal with in a very short time. The chapter is now over and I’m still here,” he explained.

    He has turned the adversity into triumph, scoring in the last five straight matches, including in the Champions League against Rangers and Liverpool, to become Ajax’s main man.

    The goal against Liverpool, when he picked up a Steven Berghuis pass just on the edge of the box and fired an unstoppable rocket in off the underside of the crossbar to beat Alisson with his left foot, saw him hailed as the next jewel from the Ajax school.

    He, however, remains humble, choosing the ‘Wakanda Forever’ celebration, a salute from the Marvel superhero movie Black Panther, whenever he scores.

    “There is negative opinion that comes into our work. To me, that gesture [Wakanda Forever] represents blocking negative things from coming your way,” explained Kudus.

    “I’m picturing that I’m crossing two swords, forming a wall that holds back obstacles and problems.”

    “Such a moment goes much deeper than just celebrating a goal. For me, it is also about my personal life: that I am strong and stay true to myself.”

    After fearing he could miss out on a ticket to the World Cup by staying on the bench at Ajax, Kudus has turned into one of the ‘undroppable’ for Ghana and he cannot wait for the trip to Qatar.

    “My mission is far from complete. There is much more I can show you. The marathon continues: it never ends.”

    Source: Goal.com

  • Staff of Liverpool, Newcastle banned following Anfield clash

    The Football Association has banned some members in the backroom teams of Liverpool and Newcastle United following an altercation at the end of last month’s Premier League meeting at Anfield.

    On August 31, Newcastle came close to taking a point from their trip to Liverpool but Fabio Carvalho scored a 98th-minute winner.

    This sparked a touchline fracas where Newcastle sports scientist Daniel Hodges appeared to throw a bottle into the Liverpool technical area, prompting the Football Association (FA) to investigate.

    The FA subsequently brought charges against both Hodges and Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, and it has now been confirmed the men will serve one-match touchline bans.

    A statement released on Thursday said: “Coaches from Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC have been banned, fined and warned for breaching FA Rule E3 during their Premier League game on Wednesday 31 August 2022.

    “John Achterberg and Daniel Hodges both admitted that their behaviour during the 98th minute was improper, and the Liverpool FC coach also accepted that he used abusive and insulting gestures.

    “An independent Regulatory Commission has fined the Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC coaches £7,000 and £6,000 respectively, banned them from the touchline for one fixture, and warned them as to their future conduct.”

  • Klopp says Liverpool must ‘reinvent’ themselves after Napoli defeat

    Liverpool lost in their opener on Wednesday against Napoli and according to Jurgen Klopp, this indicates that the club must reinvent themselves.

    An abject showing in Naples, coupled with just two wins in six Premier League games, left manager Klopp questioning whether Liverpool need to reshape to tackle a challenging start.

    “Really tough to take, it’s not that difficult to explain when you watched the game. To start with the two penalties, okay first of all Napoli played a really good game, we didn’t, that is the first explanation for the defeat,” the German told BT Sport.

    “They scored one penalty and missed another but the next two goals we served on a plate, that’s not cool and we should defend better. Then 3-0 down having chances but never really in the game. We were not compact defensively or offensively. Until Thiago [Alcantara] entered the pitch I cannot remember one counter-pressing situation, we were too wide,” Klopp added.

    “Everything is obvious but why it happened is now the question, I cannot answer now, let me think about it. It is a really tough cookie to take, but I have to take it.

    “We played bad first halves, unfortunately, usually we don’t concede three, though with Alisson in the goal you have to be really bad to do it. We did the same here when we lost 2-0 [in 2019-20].

    “It looks like we have to reinvent ourselves, there’s a lot of things lacking not in all games but the fun part is we have do that in the middle of a Premier League season and Champions League campaign,” he said.

    Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool lost by 4:1 at the end of the game in the Champions League.

    Liverpool trailed by three goals at half-time for just the fourth time in their Champions League history after strikes from Piotr Zielinski, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Giovanni Simeone on Wednesday.

    Victor Osimhen also missed a first-half penalty after another slow start from Liverpool, who have conceded first in five games this season in all competitions, the joint-most of any Premier League side.

    Zielinski added a second strike after the interval, with Luis Diaz scoring a consolation goal as Liverpool fell to their joint-heaviest defeat in the Champions League.

    Wolves are next up for Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, and Klopp suggested Bruno Lage’s side will be relishing playing the Reds amid a poor run of form.

    “In three days we play against Wolves, if they saw the game tonight they cannot stop laughing probably, I would say it is the perfect moment [to play us],” he added.

    “We have to find a setup to be much better in everything. You could see it on the pitch, we were not working as a team, nothing to do with personal stuff, but we didn’t play good enough it is obvious and clear.

    “We play in the strongest league in the world and have a tough Champions League group, but it is my responsibility and I need time to think about.

    “There a few things that are obvious but it is my job to find out more to reset and go.”

  • Coaches of Liverpool, Newcastle charged with improper behavior

    The Football Association has charged Newcastle’s coach Daniel Hodges and Liverpool’s John Achterberg with improper behaviour.

    The two coaches had an incident during the Reds’ 2-1 win on 31 August.

    Member’s of both teams’ coaching staff clashed after Fabio Carvalho’s 98th-minute winner.

    Achterberg, Liverpool’s goalkeeping coach, is also alleged to have used abusive and/or insulting gestures.

    Both Daniel Hodges and John Achterberg have until September 8 to respond to the charge.

    It follows a review by the FA into incident where a Newcastle staff member appeared to throw an object towards the Liverpool technical area.

    Newcastle boss Eddie Howe called the late winner a “sickener” after his side had led 1-0 through a debut goal from £60m record signing Alexander Isak.

    Roberto Firmino equalised for Liverpool before Carvalho hooked in from close range to win the game with almost the last kick.

  • Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s murder: Fourth man arrested in Liverpool

    Officers looking into the death of nine-year-old Olivia have detained four individuals in the past 24 hours.

    In relation to the Liverpool slaying of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, a fourth man has been detained.

    The suspect, 34, was stopped on the M42 near Leamington Spa on Sunday evening.

    The man, who is from Liverpool, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and is in police custody.

    Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said: “I continue to urge anyone who has information that can help our investigation into Olivia’s tragic murder to please come forward so we can bring those responsible to justice.

    “A number of people have been arrested in respect of this investigation. However, we still need the public‘s help in ensuring that we can build a strong evidential picture so justice is served for Olivia and her family.

    The latest development comes after a man, also 34, was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in connection with Olivia’s killing.

    Two other men, a 41-year-old from Knowsley and a 29-year-old from Liverpool, are being questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender.

    Olivia died after being shot in her home in the Dovecot area of Liverpool when a gunman chased Joseph Nee, a convicted burglar, into the property at about 10 pm on 22 August.

  • Olivia Pratt-Korbel: The police have revealed footage of a different man captured on CCTV

    Merseyside Police say that they “think he may have significant information that could help us capture her killer.”

    In an effort to find her killer, detectives looking into the death of Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool have released surveillance footage of a different guy observed in the area.

    Merseyside Police released a video of a short-haired man wearing a colorful jacket and issued a request for help from anyone who may have seen him or knows his identity.

    “We believe he may have important information that could help us catch her killer,” the force said on Twitter.

    Officers have also revealed that two guns were used in the shooting, in which her mother Cheryl Korbel, and the gunman’s intended target, Joseph Nee, were both injured.

    The nine-year-old girl was killed after she was shot by the masked attacker who had chased Nee into Olivia’s family home on Kingsheath Avenue in the Dovecot area at around 10 pm on Monday 22 August.

    Separate CCTV previously released shows what police believe to be the gunman running away from the scene.

    A service will be held for the nine-year-old in Liverpool on 15 September, according to a funeral director’s notice.

    “Family requested everyone to wear a splash of pink,” the message on the website of Debbie Bennett Funeral Directors said.

    “Olivia will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.

    “Funeral Mass at St Margaret Mary’s Church, Pilch Lane, Dovecot on 15 September at 11 am, followed by a private burial.”

    The church, next to her school, held a vigil for Olivia on Wednesday.

  • Liverpool vs Bournemouth predictions: Cherries’ Reds record is discouraging

    Liverpool’s fixture list appears to have delivered the perfect pick-me-up with the visit of newly-promoted Bournemouth for a traditional 3pm kick-off at Anfield on Saturday.

    The Reds have been off colour so far with only two points taken from three very winnable games – the most concerning performance of the lot being Monday’s meek showing in Manchester.

    Jurgen Klopp seemed lost for answers as to why his team have underwhelmed, but the Liverpool boss has had a few days to come up with new solutions ahead of the Cherries’ visit.

    Bournemouth boss Scott Parker was the last visiting manager to come away from Anfield with a Premier League victory when he did so with Fulham in March 2021.

    The Englishman’s inspiring pre-match team talk that day warned his players of how much they would need to suffer – something Klopp and Liverpool fully intend to make happen.

    Team news

    Klopp has revealed Naby Keita is not yet ready to return after admitting on Monday that the midfielder’s muscle injury required further assessment.

    Curtis Jones remains unavailable because of a calf problem while Thiago Alcantara is still at least a couple of weeks away from a return from a hamstring injury.

    Fabinho is likely to come into the Reds midfield after starting on the bench against Manchester Utd with James Milner due a rest.

    With Joel Matip and fellow centre-back Ibrahima Konate still absent, Joe Gomez will continue alongside Virgil van Dijk in what is likely to be an unchanged Liverpool back four.

    A lack of available options up front because of Darwin Nunez’s suspension and Diogo Jota’s injury means Roberto Firmino is set to continue alongside Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz.

    Former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke could be available to play once more after missing the Cherries’ defeats to Manchester City and Arsenal with an ankle issue.

    He could be restored to a two-man attack alongside Kieffer Moore if he comes through Friday’s training session unscathed, although starting him on the bench would be the sensible option.

    Junior Stanislas, Ryan Fredericks and Joe Rothwell remain sidelined as a result of their respective injuries.

    The stats

    Klopp has made seven changes to his starting XI in Liverpool’s first three matches – no other Premier League manager has made more so far.

    Milner’s recent inclusion has pushed the average age of Liverpool’s 2022-23 line-ups to 28 years and 163 days old – second only to West Ham in the first three Premier League matchday.

    The absence of Thiago appears to be being keenly felt by the winless Reds, given the Spaniard has not finished on the losing side in 27 league matches he has started since March 2021.

    Liverpool have averaged 2.6 points per game during that sequence, but just 2.0 per game when he hasn’t started for them with the same time period.

    Bournemouth have lost on seven of their last eight visits to Anfield in the Premier League.

    The Cherries have recorded only 16 shots so far this season, the fewest of any Premier League club through the opening three games since Huddersfield in 2018-19.

    Prediction

    History does not favour Scott Parker's Bournemouth

    History does not favour Scott Parker’s Bournemouth

    Liverpool look more vulnerable to a potentially huge home shock than at any time since Parker’s Fulham inflicted their sixth Anfield defeat in a row late in that injury-hit 2020-21 campaign.

    Yet it will still take a herculean effort from the Cherries to resist the Reds for 90 minutes, particularly with Klopp looking for a reaction to their defeat at Old Trafford.

    Liverpool will take any win right now, whether it is ugly or laced with controversy, just to get their season back on track and it could pay to oppose them in handicap markets.

    Bournemouth held the lead briefly before going down 2-1 on their last trip to the red half of Merseyside and something of a similar order might be on the cards this weekend.

    Source:livescore.com

  • Diaz insists Liverpool are not concerned by start and hails Salah

    Luis Diaz does not believe Liverpool’s start to the Premier League season has been “problematic”, but accepted the stumbling Reds must improve quickly.

    Liverpool have failed to win any of their opening three league games for the first time since Brendan Rodgers’ first season at the helm in 2012-13, having fallen to a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United on Monday.

    Goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford dealt the Reds their first Premier League loss of 2022, which followed back-to-back draws with Fulham and Crystal Palace.

    Liverpool have now conceded the opening goal in seven successive Premier League games for the first time in their history, while a number of injuries to key players have led to calls for Jurgen Klopp to dip into the transfer market.

    While Diaz recognises the need for rapid improvements, he was keen to avoid overstating Liverpool’s troubles when speaking to Sky Sports.

    “It’s been a bit of a difficult start,” he said. “It’s not quite the outset we wanted for the season. We’re a club that goes out to win three points from every game we play.

    “I wouldn’t say it’s problematic for the players or for the manager, but certainly we all know we need to do better.”

    Reflecting on Monday’s defeat at Old Trafford, the Colombia winger added: “We were fully aware of what kind of rivalry exists between the clubs and we knew we had a big task ahead of us. It didn’t go our way on the day.

    “We know now we have to just do our job and train hard, rest hard and look forward to the next game, when we can hopefully accumulate some points and get a proper start to the season.”

    Liverpool have now lost four games against United in all competitions under Klopp, with each coming against a different Red Devils boss; Louis van Gaal in 2017, Jose Mourinho in 2018, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021 and Erik ten Hag last time out.

    Although there were few positives for Liverpool to take from the loss, Mohamed Salah’s late consolation made him Liverpool’s all-time top scorer against United with 10 goals, and Diaz described the Egypt star in glowing terms.

    “It’s stupendous for me, being able to share my position in the team with Mo,” he added.

    “I’ve seen him over many years on television at so many tournaments and I’d like to say I’m proud of myself, having reached this position where I can share with him these experiences, to wear the same shirt and be a team-mate of his.

    “It’s really something special. Every day, playing alongside players like him, it helps you to improve, not just in a footballing sense as a player but also as a person.

    “He’s a great guy and there’s a very special connection between him and me, and between all of us, in fact.”

    Liverpool welcome Bournemouth to Anfield looking for their first win of the Premier League season on Saturday.

    Source:livescore..com

  • Man arrested in connection with the shooting of nine-year-old girl in Liverpool

    A man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel at her home in Liverpool.

    Merseyside Police said the 35-year-old man, suspected to have been the target of the shooting, has been detained in hospital on a prison recall after breaching the terms of his licence.

    He will be recalled to prison to serve the remainder of his licence. He will be further questioned in connection with the murder and remains in a stable condition, the force added.

     

    Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed by a masked attacker who had chased a man into her terraced home in Kingsheath Avenue, in the Dovecot area of the city, on Monday night.

    Her mother had opened the front door after hearing a commotion outside, and a man being pursued forced his way into the house in an attempt to get away from the shooter.

    Olivia’s mother Cheryl Korbel, 46, was shot in the wrist as she tried to close the door on the gunman, who fired indiscriminately into the house.

    The youngster was fatally shot by the same bullet as she stood behind her.

     

    The man who had entered the family home suffered gunshot wounds to his upper body and, as Olivia lay dying, was picked up and taken to hospital by friends driving a dark-coloured Audi which has since been seized by police.

    Officers arrived and found Olivia with a gunshot injury to her chest

    They took Olivia to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where she later died.

    Mrs Korbel, who was taken to another hospital by paramedics, is recovering from her gunshot wound.

    Police have been conducting house-to-house enquiries and reviewing CCTV footage.

    The gunman was described as wearing a black padded jacket, a black balaclava with a peak, dark trousers and black gloves.

    He fired shots at two men as they walked along Kingsheath Avenue, causing both to run away – one of them into Olivia’s house.

    Source: Skynews

  • 9 year old Olivia Pratt-Korbel killed in Liverpool

    9 year old Olivia Pratt-Korbel killed in Liverpool forced his way into her house. As her mother struggled to close the door, she was also injured.

    Police have described the moment a gunman shot into the house of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, injuring her mother and fatally wounding the child.

    The primary school pupil was killed shortly after 10pm on Monday night after a 35-year-old man, being chased by another man with a gun, forced his way into her house.

    Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said: “We now believe that around 10pm two men were walking along Kingsheath Avenue from the direction of Finch Lane.

    “At that time they were approached by a lone person – potentially a male – who was wearing a black padded jacket, a black balaclava with a peak, dark pants, and black gloves. This individual was approximately 5ft 7ins tall and of slim build, and they were carrying a handgun.”

    He said this person shot at the two men, causing them to run away.

     

  • The 1-1 draw between Crystal Palace and Liverpool featured Jordan Ayew

    Jordan Ayew of Ghana played against Liverpool in Crystal Palace‘s second Premier League match on Monday night.

    Jordan Ayew faced off against Klopp’s team as a right winger, and the game finished in a 1-1 draw.

    Liverpool survived Darwin Nunez’s dismissal for a headbutt on his home debut by drawing with the Eagles thanks to a superb solo strike by Luis Diaz.



    Crystal Palace scored in the 32nd minute thanks to Wilfred Zaha’s strike from Eze’s pass. Liverpool attacker Darwin Nunez was sent off in the 57th minute.

    Jordan Ayew was substituted in the 63rd minute after Liverpool’s equalizer. Compatriot Jeffery Schlupp started the game for the Eagles and was also substituted in the 88th minute.

  • Nunez scores as Liverpool win Community Shield

    Summer signing Darwin Nunez sealed victory as Liverpool landed the first blow of the season on champions Manchester City by winning a thrilling Community Shield encounter.

    The FA Cup winners were pipped to the Premier League title by a single point last term after a season-long fight with City, but came out on top in a tremendous game in Leicester.

    Playing at the King Power Stadium rather than Wembley – which will host Sunday’s Women’s Euros final – the two sides did not hold back in a match that tends to be badged as a ‘glorified friendly’.

    Reds full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the opening goal with a curling effort from the edge of the box which took a slight deflection off Nathan Ake and nestled in the far corner.

    He celebrated by raising his finger to his lips in front of the City supporters, who had helped generate a thunderous atmosphere by trading jibes with their Liverpool counterparts.

    City’s star summer signing Erling Haaland showed glimpses of what he will bring by drawing a good save from Adrian, while Nunez had a one-on-one effort kept out by Ederson.

    But it was another newcomer – Julian Alvarez – who scored next, staying alert after Phil Foden’s shot was saved to poke home the equaliser from close range, with the goal awarded after a lengthy VAR check.

    Mohamed Salah edged Liverpool back in front by scoring from the penalty spot with eight minutes remaining after referee Craig Pawson adjudged – from looking at the pitchside monitor – that Ruben Dias had handled inside the area.

    And Nunez had the final say, stooping to head in from close range before wheeling off to celebrate in front of his new supporters.

    Nunez makes his mark

    Liverpool came agonisingly close to a quadruple last season as they won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, but they missed out on the league by the narrowest of margins and were defeated in the Champions League final by Real Madrid.

    Just 63 days on from that loss in Paris, the Reds were back in action against the side they have formed an intense but respectful rivalry with over the past four years.

    Liverpool came out flying in trademark fashion from kick-off, hassling and harrying the City backline, and Salah – fresh from signing a bumper new contract in the summer – struck the side-netting in just the third minute.

    Andrew Robertson headed into the side-netting too, before fellow full-back Alexander-Arnold broke the deadlock with a curling effort, albeit via a nick off Ake’s head.

    It sparked jubilant scenes in the red end of the ground, where the Liverpool fans lit flares and filled the stadium with smoke.

    The scenes were similar to those at Wembley after their FA Cup triumph over Chelsea in May, but this time the Football Association said it is investigating the use of flares following the introduction of stricter measures to tackle “anti-social and criminal behaviour in football grounds”.

    On the pitch, Nunez has been brought in from Benfica to replace Sadio Mane, who joined Bayern Munich, and the Uruguay international was brought on just before the hour mark.

    He almost made the perfect start to his Liverpool career when latching on to Jordan Henderson’s perfectly weighted through ball only to strike his shot straight at the advancing Ederson.

    But he was involved for Salah’s goal as his header struck Dias’ arm inside the box, and the Egyptian stepped up to net the penalty.

    There was still time for Nunez to head home late on, as the £64m man sealed victory to complete the domestic trophy set for manager Klopp.

    Haaland draws a blank

    City have won four of the past five Premier League titles and are looking to become just the second side after Manchester United to lift the trophy in three successive seasons.

    The City fans were not shy of reminding their Liverpool counterparts, their chants of “You nearly won the league” prompting a riposte of “Where’s your European Cup?”

    Pep Guardiola’s men went into the closing weeks of the season aiming for a Treble of their own, but their hopes were dashed by semi-final defeats in the FA Cup by Liverpool, and in the Champions League by Real Madrid.

    The £51m acquisition of Norway international Haaland from Borussia Dortmund gives them a different dimension up front, following the departures of Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling.

    Haaland outmuscled Robertson in the first half, taking the ball down on his chest only for his side-footed shot to be batted away by Adrian, then he could not get enough connection on a stretching effort.

    Argentina international Alvarez, who signed in January but stayed with River Plate until the end of their season, did level after coming on, to highlight the options Guardiola has at his disposal.

    But the joy was short-lived as Salah and Nunez both scored, before Haaland missed a sitter from a couple of yards out in the final minute.

    Source: BBC

  • Klopp: Liverpool need more match practice

    Liverpool will play a friendly one day after their Premier League opener at Fulham next weekend, manager Jurgen Klopp said, adding that his players need more match practice to cope with a packed schedule in the 2022-23 season.

    Liverpool, who have played Manchester United, Crystal Palace, RB Leipzig and Salzburg during preseason, clash with Manchester City in the Community Shield at Leicester’s King Power Stadium on Saturday.

    They will host Ligue 1 side Strasbourg in a friendly at Anfield on Sunday and begin their league campaign at Fulham on Aug. 6

    Klopp said Liverpool will play another friendly the following day against as-yet unnamed opponents to get players up to speed for the new season, which begins earlier than usual because of the World Cup in Qatar in November and December.

     

    “The situation is that [Saturday] is a very important game but we still have to prepare [for] a season, so we cannot ignore that,” Klopp told reporters on Thursday.

    “We played last night against Salzburg, we lost 1-0. We trained the day before twice, so pretty intense… I cannot ignore the fact that after this important [Community Shield] game there is a season coming up. So we have to extend our preseason into the season.

    “From mid-August on, I think we play every three days, so there is no time for training any more. So we try to do the right things and the schedule is always a challenge, that’s how it is.”

    Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and forward Diogo Jota will miss Saturday’s game against City as they continue to recover from injuries.

    Source: GhanaSoccernet

  • Liverpool show interest in signing Nico Williams

    Reports have it that Liverpool have set their eyes on Athletic Bilbao attacker Nico Williams.

    It is said that The Reds are reportedly readying a huge £35.7m (€42m) offer to Bilbao for Williams.

    This comes after his spectacular performance in 34 La Liga games last season where he scored three goals.

    The young attacker recently won a new deal at Athletic, which included his buyout clause rising from €40m to €50m.

    Williams is expected to feature even more prominently under Ernesto Valverde this season.

    He is the younger brother of Athletic star Inaki Williams, who has decided to play for Ghana.

    Nico Williams first represented Spain with the U-18 squad in 2020, scoring two goals in four games.

    He was called up to the Spain U-19s in February 2021, and made his debut for the U-21s in September of the same year.

    Nico Williams is reported to have shown his interest to play for Ghana.

     

     

     

     

  • Darwin Nunez flops as Liverpool lose to Salzburg

    Darwin Nunez made his first Liverpool start but could not prevent his side from losing for the second time this pre-season as they lost 1-0 to Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg.

    In Liverpool’s last pre-season friendly before Saturday’s Community Shield against Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp put out a second-string side in Austria but started marquee signing Nunez fresh off his four goals against RB Leipzig last week.

    The Uruguay forward struck the crossbar in a frustrating first half for the Reds, which saw them fall behind on the counter-attack courtesy of another familiar name in the transfer window.

    Benjamin Sesko, linked to Manchester United and Newcastle in the UK media, swept past Adrian on the half-hour mark after superbly bursting past Ibrahima Konate to start the attack off.

    Benjamin Sesko scored the winning goal in Austria
    Image: Benjamin Sesko scored the winning goal in Austria

     

    Nunez was taken off at half-time and Liverpool had a near-full strength side on 60 minutes and created far more chances.

    The best fell to Luis Diaz just minutes after coming on, with the Colombia international playing a one-two with Jordan Henderson before forcing Salzburg goalkeeper Nico Mantl into a good save.

    Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah forced Mantl into a good save, before Diaz had a run and finish disallowed for offside.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson all had late efforts but the Austrian side held on for the victory.

    Klopp: Darwin needs more support | ‘It didn’t feel like a friendly’

    Klopp lamented the way his Liverpool side started Wednesday night’s friendly and called on his players to get close to record signing Nunez in order to be more threatening up front.

    “First half, we made too many mistakes which they could use,” Klopp said after the game. “We had good moments in the game as well, we could have scored four, five goals at least. We didn’t do that.

    “Darwin was alone too much, everybody dropped off and everyone was then too wide and Darwin was alone in the box. He had his chances but he needs more support around him to keep other players busy so they don’t focus on him. It doesn’t feel great but we take it and go from here.”

    Darwin Nunez in pre-season action
    Image: Klopp called on Liverpool’s player to offer more support to Darwin Nunez

    Klopp admitted the match did not feel like a friendly due to the emotion Salzburg put in the game – and while some of the Austrian side’s challenges were too harsh at times, he had full respect for the opposition.

    “In the first half, we were too open, too wide and weren’t connected enough. When we lost the ball, it was like a motorway with their speed – especially when you lose simple passes where nobody can react.

    “The last half an hour was like a thunderstorm. We were like a truck but we didn’t finish them off. It will be fine. We had to make a lot of changes but I take that.

    “It didn’t feel like a friendly, for Salzburg and us as well. Salzburg had these rough challenges but they did really well. All respect to them, sometimes I didn’t like their challenges but nothing happened there I think.”

    Source: SkySports

  • Mohamed Salah signs new three-year Liverpool contract

    Mohamed Salah has signed a new three-year contract with Liverpool.

    BBC Sport understands the deal – worth more than £350,000-a-week – makes the 30-year-old the highest paid player in the club’s history.

    The Egypt forward only had a year left on his previous deal and there had been doubts about whether he would stay.

    “It’s the best decision for us and best decision for him. He belongs with us I think. This is his club now,” said Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.

    “This is a special treat for our supporters to enjoy their weekend even more. I’m sure there will be some celebrations for this news tonight.”

    Salah has scored 156 goals in 254 appearances during his five years at Anfield since moving from Roma.

    “It takes a little bit of time, I think, to renew, but now everything is done so we just need to focus on what’s next,” said former Chelsea forward Salah.

    “I think you can see in the last five or six years the team was always going [upwards]. Last season we were close to winning four, but unfortunately in the last week of the season we lost two trophies.

    “We have new signings as well. We just need to keep working hard, have a good vision, be positive and go for everything again.”

    Source: BBC

  • Liverpools Sadio Mane to join Bayern Munich in £35m deal

    Liverpool have agreed to a 41m euro (£35.1m) deal to sell Sadio Mane to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

    The Reds will get a fixed 32m euros (£27.4m) with an additional 6m euros based on appearances and 3m euros based on individual and team achievements.

    The forward was approaching the final year of his contract with the Reds, who turned down two bids from Bayern before accepting their latest offer.

    The 30-year-old joined Liverpool from Southampton in 2016.

    Source: BBC

  • Darwin Nunez: Liverpool reach agreement with Benfica for Uruguay striker

    Liverpool have reached a deal with Benfica to sign Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, the Portuguese club have confirmed.

    Benfica say a fee of 75m euros (£64m), rising to a potential 100m euros (£85m) with add-ons, has been agreed.

    Nunez, 22, scored 34 times in 41 appearances across all competitions for Benfica last season.

    Liverpool’s record transfer is the £75m paid to sign centre-back Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in 2018.

    Premier League rivals Manchester United were reportedly also interested in signing Nunez, who cost Benfica 24m euros (£20.5m) when he signed from Spanish side Almeria in 2020.

    The striker, who has 11 caps for Uruguay, scored 26 goals in 28 league games in 2021-22 – with 25 of those goals coming in the 24 league matches in which he started.

    He also scored six times in 10 Champions League games last season, including against Liverpool in both legs of their quarter-final in April.

    Liverpool won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season – along with finishing as Premier League runners-up and losing in the Champions League final.

    Portuguese 19-year-old Fabio Carvalho became Liverpool’s first signing of the summer transfer window in May, with the forward set to officially join from Fulham on 1 July.

    The Reds have rejected a deal worth £30m from Bayern Munich for Senegal forward Sadio Mane who, like the club’s Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, is set to become a free agent next summer if an agreement over a new contract cannot be reached.

    Brazil forward Roberto Firmino, another key part of Liverpool’s attack during Klopp’s tenure, has also entered the final 12 months of his current deal, while Japan international Takumi Minamino is attracting interest from a number of clubs.

    Source: BBC

  • Champions League final: Uefa commissions independent report into scenes outside stadium

    Uefa has commissioned an independent report into the scenes outside the ground that delayed Saturday’s Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

    Kick-off at the Stade de France in Paris was delayed by over half an hour with Liverpool ticket-holders seen waiting in huge queues, and French police later using tear gas on crowds.

    On Monday, French authorities complained of what they called “industrial-scale” ticket fraud amid a row over the game’s policing.

    French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said there were “no problems” regarding Madrid supporters and the Spanish side had controlled their travelling fans better than Liverpool, who had let their supporters “out in the wild”.

    Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has since written a letter to Oudea-Castera “demanding an apology” for her comments.

    Werner wrote: “The events that occurred in and around the Stade de France on Saturday night at the Uefa Champions League final were not only incredibly dangerous for all who attended, but raised serious questions about the organization and operation of the event.

    “This should be the focus of all interested parties today rather than pursuing a blame game strategy via press conference.

    “The Uefa Champions League final should be one of the finest spectacles in world sport, instead it devolved into one of the worst security collapses in recent memory.”

    Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan has said the club are “reviewing legal avenues available to us on behalf of affected supporters”.

    In an interview on the Liverpool website, Hogan said he was “incredibly surprised” by Oudea-Castera’s remarks, calling them “completely inappropriate”.

    He added: “We just feel that everyone should be focused on getting the investigation right and less about making inflammatory comments that attempt to deflect responsibility for what happened on Saturday night.”

    Uefa said a “comprehensive review” would examine a number of factors which include the decision-making, responsibility and behaviour of all parties involved in the final, it added.

    Uefa said in a statement: “Evidence will be gathered from all relevant parties and the findings of the independent report will be made public once completed. Upon receipt of the findings, Uefa will evaluate the next steps.”

    The report will be independently compiled and Dr Tiago Brandao Rodrigues from Portugal will lead the production of the review.

    Uefa initially blamed the “late arrival” of fans for the problems, delaying kick-off by 36 minutes, with Liverpool going on to lose 1-0 to Spanish champions Real Madrid.

    France’s interior and sports ministers acknowledged difficulties in managing crowds at the final but have been pointing blame for the chaos at fans with fake tickets and local youths trying to force their way into the stadium.

    However, a spokesperson for France’s independent police commissioner’s union (SICP), Mathieu Valet, told the BBC’s Newshour that “supporters without tickets or with fake tickets were not the main problem”.

    “It’s clear that we needed more police – we didn’t have enough on the ground,” he said.

    On Sunday, Liverpool called for an investigation into the “unacceptable issues” faced by fans before the match.

    Many claimed they had been at the stadium hours before kick-off but were stopped from getting into the ground.

    UK sports minister Nigel Huddleston said he was “very concerned about the upsetting scenes”, while Reds defender Andy Robertson said the organisation of the match was a “shambles”.

    Source: BBC

  • Mohamed Salah: Liverpool forward will be at Anfield next season ‘for sure’

    Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah says he will be at Anfield next season “for sure” but would not be drawn over whether he will sign a new contract.

    Salah’s deal ends in June 2023, leading to speculation he could be sold if he did not sign a new one as he would leave on a free in a year’s time.

    When asked about his future before Saturday’s Champions League final, he said: “I don’t want to talk about that.

    “I just want to see Hendo [Jordan Henderson] with the trophy.”

    The Egypt striker, 29, added: “I don’t focus on the contract at the moment. I don’t want to be selfish.

    “I am staying next season for sure.”

    Salah’s team-mate Sadio Mane said he would announce his decision on his own future after the final against Real Madrid in Paris.

    The Senegal international, who has scored 120 goals in 268 games for the Reds, will also enter the last 12 months of his contract from June.

    He told Sky Sports News: “This question [about my future] I will answer after Champions League. If I’m staying or not, I’m going to answer after [the] Champions League.”

    Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane
    Mohamed Salah scored 31 goals for Liverpool this season while Sadio Mane hit 23

    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has dismissed suggestions the outcome of Saturday’s game will be a factor in whether some players decide to extend their contracts or not.

    “No, not at all,” he said. “What, if we win it they want to go? We are in talks with all the players, it is just not the moment to talk about the results of these talks. None of them are sitting there not knowing what we are planning.

    “There is just not the time, we play every three days. The players have this idea, we have this idea, sometimes they match immediately, sometimes not and then we work together.

    “We have known each other for ages.”

    Salah joined from Roma in 2017 and has scored 156 goals in 253 games for Liverpool.

    He has helped the club win the Premier League in 2019-20, the 2019 Champions League, the FA Cup and League Cup this season plus the Fifa Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup during his time at Anfield.

    In March Klopp said it was up to Salah whether he signed a new contract.

    The former Chelsea forward has previously said he wants to stay but his future is in Liverpool’s hands and he is not asking for “crazy stuff”.

    On Sunday Liverpool were beaten to the league title by a point by Manchester City, ending their hopes of a quadruple that is unprecedented in England.

    Saturday’s match against Real Madrid in Paris will be a repeat of the 2018 Champions League final which the Spanish side won 3-1, with Salah going off injured in the first half after a controversial incident with Sergio Ramos.

    “I’m very motivated, motivated through the roof, after what happened last time [2018 final] and Sunday – everyone is motivated for this,” Salah added.

    “We fight for this and everyone is excited.”

    Source: BBC

  • Title, top four and relegation to be decided – Premier League set for dramatic final day

    Will Manchester City or Liverpool be champions? Can Tottenham seal a Champions League spot ahead of north London rivals Arsenal? Which of Burnley or Leeds are heading for the Championship?

    These are the main questions to be answered on what promises to be a dramatic and emotional final day of the 2021-22 Premier League season.

    It is the first time in 10 years that the title, top four and relegation are all still to be fully decided before the final day.

    BBC Sport takes a detailed look at everything at stake on what promises to be a gripping and tense finale.

    The BBC will be providing the usual coverage on Sunday, with live text commentary on all 10 games on the BBC Sport website and Radio 5 Live audio commentary on Manchester City v Aston Villa, with updates from around the grounds.

    As a special bonus, Final Score will be showing the goals and best action from the seven Premier League games not being shown live elsewhere – those being the matches at the Etihad, Anfield and the Brentford Community Stadium.

    City’s title to lose

    Premier League top two

    Manchester City hold a one-point advantage at the top of the table after their draw at West Ham and Liverpool’s victory at Southampton in the penultimate round of games.

    Few people expect the defending champions to surrender their lead, and not just because no side has ever started a Premier League final day top and not ended it there.

    The main reason is that City have been simply superb this season, winning 28 games to stay out in front despite Liverpool clawing back what was at one stage a double-digit lead.

    Pep Guardiola’s men host Aston Villa on Sunday, knowing a win would make Liverpool’s result at home to Wolves academic and seal a fourth league title of their Spanish manager’s six-season reign.

    Claiming the league crown would put some salve on the wounds inflicted on City in the latter stages of this season by the Reds, who beat them in the FA Cup semi-final, and Real Madrid, who stunned them with a late comeback in the Champions League last four.

    It would also deny Jurgen Klopp’s side a shot at a historic quadruple, with the Carabao and FA Cups already in the Anfield trophy cabinet and the Champions League final to come.

    All Liverpool can do is beat Wolves at home and hope Villa can do them a favour at the Etihad, with a draw no good for them because of their goal difference, even if City lose.

    This season is the third time in four campaigns that the pair have claimed the top two spots. If they match each other’s result on Sunday, it will be the second time, after 2018-19’s gripping race, that they have been separated at the top by just a point.

    North London tussle for fourth spot

    Premier League race for fourth spot

    Spurs are often mocked for doing things described as ‘Spursy’ – meaning throwing away leads and grasping defeat from the jaws of victory.

    It would take something especially ‘Spursy’ for them to miss out on a Champions League spot this season.

    Their hard-fought win over Burnley on Sunday, followed by Arsenal’s deserved defeat at Newcastle the following day, means Tottenham go into the final day two points ahead of their fierce rivals.

    With their vastly superior goal difference, Antonio Conte’s side can afford a draw at relegated Norwich.

    Only a win will do for Arsenal, who are at home to an Everton side now assured of Premier League football next season. If the Canaries can provide a dead cat bounce at Carrow Road and beat Spurs, a win will see the Gunners nick it.

    Premier League sixth and seventh

    There is also an outstanding European issue still to be settled a bit lower down the table, as Manchester United and West Ham fight it out on Sunday to decide who will be playing in the Europa League and who in the Europa Conference League.

    The sixth-placed Red Devils can end a disappointing season by sealing a Europa League spot with a win at Crystal Palace. Anything less, though, leaves the door open for the Hammers, who trail by two points in seventh but have a vastly superior goal difference.

    David Moyes’ side are at Brighton on Sunday, hoping to get another shot at a competition in which they reached the semi-finals this season.

    Below this there will be the usual jockeying for league placings on the final day, with each place higher in the division worth an estimated extra £3m.

    For a club like Aston Villa, for example, it could mean an extra £12m if they can lift themselves from 14th to 10th on the final day.

    Burnley or Leeds for the drop?

    Snapshot of the bottom of the Premier League table: 15th Southampton, 16th Everton, 17th Burnley, 18th Leeds, 19th Watford & 20th Norwich

    At half-time at Goodison Park on Thursday, it looked as though three sides would be battling it out to avoid joining Watford and Norwich in the Championship next season.

    But Everton’s remarkable comeback win over Crystal Palace leaves Burnley and Leeds to duke it out for survival on the final day.

    The pair are level on 35 points but the Clarets have the edge courtesy of a vastly superior goal difference, meaning they only need to match Leeds’ result on the final day to stay up.

    Mike Jackson’s side also have home advantage on Sunday, albeit against an in-form Newcastle side hoping to seal a top-half finish.

    Golden boot, gloves and the rest

    Manchester City and Liverpool are not just battling it out for the title – their respective goalkeepers are also locked in a tussle for the division’s golden gloves.

    City’s Ederson and Liverpool’s Alisson both have 20 clean sheets to their name.

    There is a very close race taking place at the top of the Premier League goalscorers charts too, with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah currently one ahead of Tottenham’s Son Heung-min.

    Golden boot 2021-22
    Player Team Goals
    Mohamed Salah Liverpool 22
    Son Heung-min Tottenham 21
    Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United 18

    If Salah prevails, it will be his third English golden boot after he came out on top in 2017-18 and 2018-19. For Son, it would be a first.

    With 18 goals to his name, it would take something truly special for Cristiano Ronaldo to muscle his way in, although the Portuguese has been performing remarkable goalscoring feats for much of his career.

    Speaking of Ronaldo, could Sunday be the final time we see him in Premier League action?

    The summer arrival of Erik ten Hag as Manchester United’s new boss is expected to mean a major overhaul at the club, with speculation that the 37-year-old could be one of those moved on.

    One player who will definitely be saying farewell to his club’s fans is Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, who has agreed to join Real Madrid this summer.

    The West Ham fans at Brighton’s Amex Stadium will be seeing the last of the retiring Mark Noble and the soon-to-be-out-of-contract Andriy Yarmolenko in a Hammers shirt.

    Will Sunday be the last Arsenal appearance of Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah? Could Christian Eriksen be saying ‘thank you and goodbye’ to Brentford? Will cult hero Divock Origi get a last run-out at Liverpool?

    Potential answers to these questions and more will be provided on what promises to be a gripping Premier League 2021-22 finale.

    Source: BBC

  • Liverpool beat Saints to keep title race alive

    Liverpool have taken the Premier League title race down to the final day of the season by coming from behind to win at Southampton.

    Jurgen Klopp’s side knew defeat would hand the title to Manchester City – while even a draw would effectively end the challenge because of their inferior goal difference.

    And it looked as if Liverpool might have a struggle on their hands when Nathan Redmond gave Southampton a 13th-minute lead with a curling right-foot shot beyond Alisson.

    Liverpool, with nine changes from the side that won the FA Cup by beating Chelsea on penalties at Wembley on Saturday, once again showed their resilience and reserves of strength as Takumi Minamino levelled before half-time with a thumping drive against the club where he spent a spell on loan last season.

    The pressure built after the break and Liverpool took a deserved lead after 67 minutes when Joel Matip sent an instinctive looping header over Saints’ keeper Alex McCarthy.

    City will still retain their title with victory over Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium but Liverpool have pushed them all the way again and ensured the fight will go down to the wire.

    Liverpool were under pressure going into this game – and not just because they could not afford a slip.

    Manager Klopp had to make a host of changes because of tired legs following that gruelling FA Cup final win and also had to contend with injuries to major figures Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

    This was a test of the nerve as well as the depth of Liverpool’s squad and, as at Aston Villa last week when they also fell behind, an examination of their ability to survive adversity and demonstrate powers of recovery.

    All the tests were passed in convincing style as Liverpool dominated once they had recovered from shock of Redmond’s outstanding goal.

    In the absence of Salah and Sadio Mane, and with Luis Diaz on the bench, Roberto Firmino gave an outstanding display of touch and intelligent running, putting in a tireless shift that earned him a standing ovation when he was substituted late on.

    Ibrahima Konate has proved to be an outstanding signing and he was once again a tower of strength in defence, ensuring Liverpool did not miss Van Dijk – his defensive partner Matip scoring the winner with what looked almost like a reflex action header, albeit a highly effective one.

    The only blot on Liverpool’s night was an injury to the luckless Joe Gomez, who fell awkwardly under a touchline challenge and limped off disconsolately at half-time with the consoling arm of goalkeeper Alisson around his shoulder.

    Klopp delivered his tradition triple fist pump in front of Liverpool’s travelling fans at the final whistle.

    He will know City are still in pole position and have the title’s destiny in their own hands but all Liverpool could do was put them through a final-day test and this was mission accomplished.

    Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was hoping for a vibrant display from his side after feeling the full force of fan discontent following their 3-0 defeat at Brentford last time out.

    The Austrian faced chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ and ‘sacked in the morning’ during the dismal defeat in west London on 7 May.

    This was a tame response, ending as he led his team around a largely deserted stadium on a lap of appreciation after the final whistle.

    Saints had the boost of that early lead but never carried the air of a team confident it would be maintained. Liverpool confirmed their obvious superiority while the home side looked nervous, especially when playing out from the back, where they played themselves into trouble on several occasions.

    Southampton lie in 15th place, nearing the end of the season in which moments of promise were eventually overshadowed by disappointment. This is exactly where they finished last season and they have to win at Leicester City on Sunday to equal last term’s points tally.

    Now Hasenhuttl will hope to keep hold of star man James Ward-Prowse this summer and get some much-needed financial backing from the club’s new owners, the company backed by Serb media mogul Dragan Solak.

    Source: BBC

  • Liverpool win at Villa to keep title hopes alive

    Liverpool maintained the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester City as they survived an early scare to come from behind and win at Aston Villa.

    Jurgen Klopp’s side suffered a shock after only three minutes when Douglas Luiz bundled home after Liverpool keeper Alisson failed to hold his header.

    Liverpool were on terms within three minutes when Joel Matip scored following a goalmouth scramble and the sides then exchanged chances before Sadio Mane put the visitors ahead with a superb angled header from Luis Diaz’s cross in the 65th minute.

    The win means Liverpool now lie second only on goal difference before City’s visit to Wolves on Wednesday.

    Former Liverpool striker Danny Ings wasted opportunities to equalise and inflict a blow to his old club’s hopes of winning a historic quadruple – although the Reds did suffer an injury setback when influential midfielder Fabinho went off in the first half with a hamstring problem that must make him doubtful for Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea.

    Liverpool pass stern Villa test

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp made five changes from the side that drew with Spurs at Anfield on Saturday, resting tired legs and freshening things up with Saturday’s Wembley showpiece in mind.

    It was a ploy that worked in the end, although Liverpool were set back on their heels when they were punished for a slow start as Villa went ahead.

    Liverpool showed their character and the threat they carry to reply instantly and, while this was not a particularly assured performance, the only thing that matters at this stage is the final result, and this was a case of job done.

    The injury to Fabinho will be a serious worry to Klopp with FA Cup and Champions League finals on the horizon but he will hope the Brazilian’s swift removal in the first half will limit the damage.

    Once again January signing Diaz was a key figure, a danger all night and the provider of the cross that brought Mane’s decisive header. The Colombian’s signing has proved to be a masterstroke.

    Now the scenery switches to Molineux on Wednesday, where leaders City face Wolves, who still have European aspirations of their own.

    Pep Guardiola’s side still have that advantage on goal difference but Liverpool’s win at least ensures they stay right on Manchester City’s shoulders as the season reaches its climax.

    Gerrard with work to do

    Aston Villa will finish the season in a comfortable mid-table position but so much of this term has been about manager Steven Gerrard discovering what he has at his disposal then laying the groundwork for next season.

    He has talent in the shape of Emiliano Buendia but big decisions remain about whether he will strengthen in defence – where captain Tyrone Mings still looks suspect – and on the possibility of a permanent deal for his former Liverpool colleague Philippe Coutinho.

    The Brazilian, on loan from Barcelona, only showed his ability in flashes here and it was clear the Villa fans felt more of a surge of hope when he was replaced by Buendia.

    Gerrard certainly has something to work with but a lot needs to be done and he is a driven personality who will not want to cruise along in mid-table.

    Villa, and Ings in particular, had plenty of opportunities to take advantage of some uncharacteristic uncertainty in the visitors’ defence, with keeper Alisson fortunate to get away with one or two moments of poor judgement – although he then made a crucial save from the striker when he broke clear with a chance to equalise.

    The end of the season will be the end of Gerrard’s fact-finding mission and the serious reconstruction will begin at Villa Park.

    Source: BBC

  • ‘I never knew it could feel that good’ – Emotional Klopp savours return of Liverpool fans in Wolves win

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp struggled to contain his emotions after seeing Reds fans return to Anfield on Sunday.

    A small crowd of 2,000 were allowed to attend the Premier League clash against Wolves and Klopp’s team rewarded them by claiming an emphatic 4-0 win.

    Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the 24th minute before Georginio Wijnaldum and Joel Matip struck in the second half with a Nelson Semedo own-goal wrapping up the result late on.

    While satisfied with his team’s strong performance, it was the return of the Anfield faithful that really struck a chord with Klopp.

    “The game, the atmosphere, it was so nice. I had goosebumps. They started ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ – really nice. I never knew it could feel that good,” Klopp told the BBC post-match, before starting to become emotional.

    “This started in February and we were waiting to get normality back,” he continued. “Normality is good – I don’t think we appreciated it as much. It was very very touching.

    “Wasn’t it a perfect night? Whatever the weather was like outside, it was sunshine inside the stadium.

    “There were a few challenges before the game – Wolves play different systems. I gave the boys information about how to press them. The boys were outstanding with how they dealt with them – our best result against Wolves.”

    On young goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who started the game and kept an impressive clean sheet, Klopp added: “Very mature. Very calm. Very good with the ball and without the ball. It was a night to remember for him.”

    Wijnaldum netted a superb second goal for the Reds and though quick to dismiss questions about a new contract, he was also thrilled to have fans back at Anfield.

    “It’s wonderful – really exciting when we heard supporters were allowed. It was a great feeling they were back,” Wijnaldum said.

    “I don’t want to say it’s a ‘champions’ performance’. We were patient, the position play was good and we scored good goals.

    “The fans helped the performance a lot because they cheered during the game and before we only had the bench for support.”

    Source: goal.com