Tag: Liverpool

22Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Diaz moves Liverpool to top spot, United held at Palace

Liverpool moved to the top of the Premier League with a resounding 3-0 win over Bournemouth as Manchester United were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace on Saturday. Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 win at West Ham, while Aston Villa are level on points at the top after coming from behind to beat Wolves 3-1. Liverpool suffered the first setback of Arne Slot’s early days in charge when Nottingham Forest shocked Anfield seven days ago. But the Reds responded in style to blow Bournemouth away before half-time. Luis Diaz was rested for an impressive 3-1 win at AC Milan to start Liverpool’s Champions League campaign in midweek. Restored to the starting line-up, the Colombian struck twice inside two minutes. Diaz pounced on a misjudgement from Kepa Arriz...

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21Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Liverpool now eyeing move to sign “unique” defender who can play multiple positions

Liverpool and Arne Slot are keeping tabs on a new defender ahead of a potential summer move, it has been revealed, with the Reds' backline in need of reinforcements. Liverpool's defensive concerns Though they have conceded just two goals in five games so far this season, there are longer-term concerns over the Liverpool defence. Of the Premier League winning back four, all of Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain, but the Scot and Van Dijk are now over 30 years old (33 in Van Dijk's case) and there are concerns over Alexander-Arnold's future amid interest from Real Madrid and an unclear contract stance. A centre-back is on their shopping list as they look to rejuvenate their backline, but there are also concerns at left-back. Kostas Tsimikas has been a valuabl...

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19Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Martin Zubimendi makes Real Sociedad ‘large salary’ decision and sends this message to Liverpool

Martin Zubimendi was a target for Liverpool in the summer transfer window. Martin Zubimendi has reportedly asked Liverpool to revive interest in him when the January transfer window opens. The midfielder was the Reds’ chief target in the summer as Arne Slot wanted to bolster his midfielder options. Liverpool were prepared to meet Zubimendi’s release clause of £52 million in his Real Sociedad contract - but he decided to stay at his boyhood club. Zubimendi was expected to sign a new deal in San Sebastian. Yet Estadio Deportivo reports that the Spain international - who helped his country to Euro 2024 glory - has ‘opted to reject a large salary’ It is reported that Liverpool will have to decide whether to again make a move for Zubimendi, although he ‘intends to land in ...

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18Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

Champions League

Liverpool kick off UEFA Champions League with 3-1 win over AC Milan

Liverpool celebrated their return to the UEFA Champions League after a one-season absence with a 3-1 victory over AC Milan at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, on Tuesday, overcoming a shaky start with goals from Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai. MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 17: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool FC embraces Tammy Abraham of AC Milan at the end of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC at Stadio San Siro on September 17, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) The Reds got off to an awful first few minutes in the battle between the two European heavyweights, as Christian Pulisic fired the Rossoneri in front at home following a quick counterattack in the third minute, aided by L...

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17Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool boss Arne Slot accused of ‘making mistake Jurgen Klopp would never have made’

Richard Keys believes Arne Slot underestimated Nottingham Forest at the weekend - something former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp would never have done. The Dutchman, who succeed Klopp in the summer, tasted defeat for the first time since taking the top job at Anfield as the Reds fell to a shock a 1-0 loss against Nuno Espirito Santo's side. Liverpool named the same XI that beat Manchester United 3-0 prior to the international break, though they had been on international duty beforehand. And Keys reckons that was a sign of naivety from Slot, whose predecessor would have known better. Writing for his blog, Keys said: “It’s been suggested Slot got it wrong because he picked 11 starters who’d been on international duty. If it was an error I don’t think Klopp would’ve made it. H...

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17Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Liverpool transfer news as $56m-rated winger Karim Adeyemi becomes a target

Liverpool is among three Premier League clubs that are monitoring Borussia Dortmund winger Karim Adeyemi ahead of a possible swoop next summer. Unfortunately for Liverpool fans who want to see the club sign Adeyemi, the report comes from notoriously dubious Spanish transfer website Fichajes. Adeyemi, 22, has emerged as a key player for Dortmund in recent times, and it's claimed that Liverpool, as well as Manchester United and Newcastle United, is interested in signing him. Adeyemi was valued at €50 million ($56 million) last summer, with Juventus said to be interested in him but unwilling to meet Dortmund's demands for the youngster. Meanwhile, Inter Milan is being linked with a surprise move for Jarell Quansah. The defender broke into the Liverpool team last season but has not figured f...

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13Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool to hear Mohamed Salah contract news as injury blow outlined

Arne Slot will preview Saturday's visit from Nottingham Forest at 9am at the AXA Training Centre on Friday. The Liverpool head coach has been back at work since the start of the week and has no doubt been watching on with his fingers crossed as many of his squad were involved during the international break. After getting his international contingent back at the £50m Kirkby base on Thursday, Slot was able to put his players through their paces ahead of the return of Premier League action this weekend. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford on September 01, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) ...

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11Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

TRANSFERS

Fabrizio Romano issues Liverpool transfer update about 23-year-old attacker

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo for a long time. Citing unnamed reports in Spain, TEAMtalk has reported that the Premier League giants are interested in a move for the Brazilian attacker. It was widely believed that Rodrygo will become a victim at Santiago Bernabeu after the arrivals of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick over the summer. However, nothing of that sort has happened and the 23-year-old has featured in all the La Liga matches this season, scoring one goal and assisting another for the Spanish champions. Transfer news specialist Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that the Brazilian has not intention of leaving Los Blancos. Romano mentioned on his Youtube channel that Rodrygo is fully committed to Real Madrid and he wants to continue representi...

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10Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

TRANSFERS

Liverpool are considering a move to sign Bryan Mbeumo

Even though the summer transfer window for the 2024-25 season just closed, speculation about next summer’s signings is already heating up. Liverpool are reportedly laying the groundwork for a significant acquisition, with Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo emerging as a key target. With Mohamed Salah’s contract set to expire in less than a year, Liverpool may need to prepare for a potential departure. If Salah opts not to renew his contract, the Reds will face the challenge of finding a suitable replacement. Mbeumo, who is valued at around £50 million, has been identified as a potential candidate. According to Give Me Sport, Liverpool are considering an early move for Mbeumo, but they will face competition from clubs like Newcastle United and Arsenal. Earlier in the summer, L’Equipe rep...

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9Sep By Silver Emmanuel4 Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk clarifies future as Real Madrid star ‘rejects’ transfer chance

It has been a perfect start to the new Premier League season for Liverpool as they have recorded three wins from their opening fixtures against Ipswich Town, Brentford and Manchester United. However, head coach Arne Slot has seen the breaks put on his fast start to life at Anfield as September saw his players jet across the globe to join up with their international teams. Van Dijk sets the record straight on future Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has committed his future to the Netherlands until the 2026 World Cup - just weeks after he was considering whether to retire from international duty. The 33-year-old had contemplated ending his nine-year career with the Oranje after a last-gasp defeat to England in the sem-finals of the European Championships. But after a summer o...

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7Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Arne Slot gets major injury boost as Liverpool substitutions start to make sense

A key feature of Arne Slot's early days at Liverpool has been his willingness to bring off players without fear or favour. Subplots and storylines may have subsequently emerged from his substitution of players like Jarell Quansah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, but the Reds' head coach has not ducked anything so far. Questions around his decision to sub Quansah at half time of the 2-0 win over Ipswich Town on the opening weekend were followed up by a simple explanation for the introduction of Ibrahima Konate in his place. "First thing I said was we don’t have to speak about tactics if we lose so many duels and that’s what we did," Slot said. “That’s not that Jarell lost every duel – many of us lost too many duels – but I think we needed Ibou Konate to win these long balls in the air from...

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6Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Liverpool transfer news as ‘approach’ made for $106m star amid Real Madrid battle

The transfer window may be closed, but the rumors keep coming, with some claims that will no doubt raise eyebrows among Liverpool fans. Despite a quiet summer, which saw just Giorgi Mamardashvili and Federico Chiesa signed, the Reds have made a perfect start to the season under new head coach Arne Slot. There’s still a long way to go though, and it won’t be long before the Dutchman gets another chance to add to his squad in January. As things stand, he may not take that chance, although with questions remaining over the futures of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool may need to take action. The latest rumors see the Reds being linked with a couple of young defenders. Here is the Football Flame verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the...

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5Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Liverpool reveal why three stars left out of Champions League squad

Liverpool have revealed why three of their first-team stars were omitted from their Champions League squad. The Anfield outfit are finalising preparations for this season's new 36-team league format and new manager Arne Slot has named 25 players in his side.Eight of the squad members must be 'locally trained players' while four of these must be 'club trained' adding further restrictions to the footballers the boss can choose. The Reds are set to come up against AC Milan, Bologna, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid, Girona, Lille and PSV, in the league stage of the competition but some supporters were concerned that a number of snubbed names would not feature in these matches. In particular, many were shocked to see Harvey Elliott, Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah left off t...

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4Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Jarrad Branthwaite transfer ‘stance’ emerges as Liverpool ‘scout’ defender

Liverpool will be looking ahead to a return to Premier League action after the international break. The Reds went into the first hiatus of the season on the back of a convincing win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. Arne Slot's team next have Nottingham Forest at Anfield before travelling to face AC Milan in the Champions League when club football returns later this month. Before then, though, several members of the Liverpool squad will be travelling across the globe representing their respective national teams. When Liverpool return to action, they will be hoping to build on the 100 percent start to the Premier League season with three wins from three so far. The Reds will also have new signing Federico Chiesa at their disposal following his arrival from Juventus before the tr...

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31Aug By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Ten Hag: Slot inherited better team than I did

Erik ten Hag believes Arne Slot will have an easier time taking over at Liverpool than he experienced when he arrived at Manchester United. Ten Hag says the mess he inherited at Old Trafford in the summer of 2022 was "the most difficult thing I will ever do in my life. "In contrast, the United boss insists Slot, who has taken over from Jürgen Klopp, has walked into a Liverpool team which is in "a different phase of the lifecycle." The two Dutchmen meet in the Premier League for the first time on Sunday when United face Liverpool at Old Trafford."That was one of the reasons I wanted to come here, to have this challenge," Ten Hag said when asked about the situation he found at the club when he arrived from Ajax. "I knew beforehand that this was the most difficult thing I would ev...

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31Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

PREMIER LEAGUE

Virgil van Dijk relishing being link between Arne Slot and Liverpool team-mates

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is enjoying life under Arne Slot and relishing his role of being the link between the new head coach and the rest of the squad.The Netherlands international has had a key role to play in a summer of upheaval at Anfield after the departure of long-time manager Jurgen Klopp and his entire backroom staff. However, the arrival of his compatriot has brought fresh ideas and the campaign has begun well with two victories. Predictions of a struggle without the influential Klopp have so far proved unfounded but after wins over newly-promoted Ipswich and Brentford the first real test comes on Sunday at Old Trafford.However, the mood in the camp is buoyant and Van Dijk has done his utmost to help make the transition as seamless as possible. “I’ve actually en...

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29Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Carabao Cup 3rd-round draw: Liverpool to host West Ham

Holders Liverpool will begin their defence of the Carabao Cup by hosting Premier League rivals West Ham United in the third round at Anfield. Wednesday's draw also pitted Premier League champions Manchester City at home against second-tier Watford while Arsenal will host League One's Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates. Manchester United have a home game against League One Barnsley at Old Trafford, Tottenham Hotspur must travel to second-tier Coventry and losing 2024 finalists Chelsea host fourth-tier Barrow. The third round sees the teams playing in European competition this season enter the competition after the rest of the Premier League teams began in the second round. Matches will be played in the weeks commencing Sept. 16 and 23. West Ham beat Bournemouth on Wednesday in an all-Prem...

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27Aug By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool also want to sign ‘outstanding’ winger after declaring Federico Chiesa interest

Liverpool’s transfer window seems to have sprung to life as we edge closer to deadline day. Federico Chiesa has been linked with a move to Anfield as the Reds contacted Juventus yesterday to test the waters about a potential transfer. TURIN, ITALY - AUGUST 8: Federico Chiesa of Juventus during a training session at JTC on August 8, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images) With less than a year left on his current deal, Chiesa is available for around £15m, making him a low-cost option.However, the Italian is not the only attacker on Liverpool’s radar, with Kingsley Coman also linked with a move to Arne Slot’s side before the deadline. Liverpool want Kingsley Coman to strengthen attack Coman has decided to leave Bayern Muni...

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17Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Mohamed Salah breaks goal record on opening day of Premier League season

Mohamed Salah has broken a Premier League record on the opening day of the season after scoring for Liverpool against Ipswich Town. The Egyptian latched on to Dominik Szoboszlai's pass to slide the ball under Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton, doubling a Liverpool lead that been handed to Arne Slot's side by Diogo Jota. Salah's strike was the ninth time he's scored on the first day of a Premier League season, pulling one clear of Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer. The 31-year-old has previously scored on the first day against Watford - his Liverpool debut during the 2017/18 season - before going on to score goals against West Ham, Norwich City (2), Leeds United (a hat-trick), and Fulham. The only time Salah has failed to score on the first day of the season was during 2023/24,...

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17Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Liverpool boss responds to Luis Diaz to Barca transfer talk

New Liverpool boss Arne Slot has shut down talk about a possible move to Barcelona for Luis Diaz. The forward has once again been linked with the Catalans after Barca became frustrated in their attempts to land Nico Williams. Diaz’s father has previously admitted his son would love to play for Barca, but Slot says the Colombia international is going nowhere. “When I walked in, the whole day is about talking about football, it’s no surprise I hear speculation about Diaz,” he told reporters. “Is there anyone we don’t talk about? His future is with us. I like a lot of what I saw. He has had a big impact on Liverpool and I hope he has one for the coming season.” Barca have already signed Dani Olmo this summer but any more signings are now looking unlikely, with the club’s financial situat...

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