Author: Soccerhuz
Trent Alexander-Arnold has surprisingly named former Manchester City youngster Brandon Barker as one of the toughest opponents he’s ever faced. Alexander-Arnold is approaching his 300th appearance for Liverpool after making his debut seven years ago, and he has come up against a laundry list of world-class talent in that time. However, it’s forgotten City starlet Barker who still brings back the worst memories as he recalled a time the winger ‘destroyed’ him in an Under-21 fixture. Local lad Barker joined the Blues at the age of eight and big things were expected of him as he rose through the club’s youth ranks with a series of…
Howard Webb’s attempts to explain the failures of referees and VAR around the Luis Diaz offside goal have not washed with Liverpool supporters. Webb, the head of refereeing body PGMOL, appeared on Sky Sports’ ‘Match Officials: Mic’d Up’ on Tuesday night, covering a number of controversies. At first, the former Premier League seemed to be taking a conservative route as he discussed Liverpool’s 2-1 loss at Tottenham and Arsenal‘s 1-0 win over Man City in particular. But there were two significant claims made by the 52-year-old in the process: 1) Referee Simon Hooper was supposedly not aware of the Diaz offside farce until AFTER the game 2) Referee Michael Oliver did…
Liverpool have been urged to consider a move for Napoli’s Kvicha Kvaratskhelia should Mohamed Salah leave the club next summer. The Reds were able to keep hold of Salah during the most recent transfer window despite attempts from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad to lure the 31-year-old to the Middle East. It remains to be seen what will happen should the Saudi Pro League club or others return with a big-money offer for the Egyptian at the end of the season, as is expected to be the case, though Liverpool will likely have a contingency plan in place. Replacing Salah will…
Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho is open to a move in January, with Juventus and Borussia Dortmund – his former club – both interested. (The i – subscription required) United have added Sporting Lisbon and Portugal defender Goncalo Inacio, 22, to their list of targets as they look to strengthen their defence next summer. Meanwhile, Jamaica could offer United forward Mason Greenwood, who is on loan at Spanish side Getafe, a return to international football – three years after he made a senior appearance for England.
Manchester United entered the international break with a win but still have a lot of T’s uncrossed and I’s un-dotted. Jadon Sancho remains banished from first-team training amid his fall-out with Erik ten Hag. Reports suggest that a January loan exit is likely with the view of offloading him permanently should an apology not be forthcoming. Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo continues his return to fitness following an ankle injury in pre-season. However, it has been suggested that his scheduled inclusion in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Barnsley did not materialise. He is one of a number of United players still sidelined, though, with Raphael Varane,…
Of all the stories written during the first two months of Liverpool’s season, it’s perhaps the one few supporters would have anticipated. But there is something wholly appropriate about Joel Matip enjoying a renaissance as a building block in Jurgen Klopp’s latest Reds revolution. Matip was arguably the initial piece of the jigsaw Klopp painstakingly put together that transformed Liverpool from perennial underachievers to a team capable of conquering Europe, the world and, for the first time in 30 years, England. Marko Grujic had been the first permanent senior signing of the Klopp era in January 2016 but ultimately started…
Manchester United might have won a game in Fergie-time at the weekend but make no mistake, this Reds incarnation are far from the trophy-hunting juggernaut they were under the Old Trafford great. Erik ten Hag may have delivered the Carabao Cup last term to end a six-year hunt for silverware but a campaign of progress has been checked by a chequered start to this term. There is mitigation, with injuries playing a significant role as the Reds seek their best XI. But performances and key personnel have been poor and the summer’s new recruits, Rasmus Hojlund aside, have yet to…
Jurgen Klopp will be satisfied with Liverpool’s current position at the second international break of the 2023-24 season. After substantial change to the Reds’ squad over the summer, with captain Jordan Henderson and vice-skipper James Milner departing along with Roberto Firmino and Fabinho, there were some doubts how well Jurgen Klopp’s troops would start. But supporters aplenty are more than pleased. Liverpool sit fourth in the Premier League, three points adrift of the summit, and their only loss came in a 2-1 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur that was shrouded in controversy. They’ve also won both games of their Europa League campaign, as well as…
Liverpool could lose another big-name star to European rivals Barcelona, as Jurgen Klopp continues his ambitious restructuring at Anfield. The Reds had a busy summer in which they signed four new midfielders and sold key members of their squad. Roberto Firmino, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho both left for Saudi Arabia, Naby Keita went back to the Bundesliga, while James Milner left for Brighton and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain moved to Turkey. Despite signing Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch, however, another influential figure could be leaving. According to ESPN, Thiago Alcantara is lining up a return to Catalonia for next summer,…
According to Football Insider, RB Leipzig will ward off approaches from Premier League club for Lois Openda. The German outfit does not want to sell their €43 million Bundesliga attacker after only six months, as he’s seen as vital to their season. Lois Openda made his move from Lens after helping the French side gain Champions League qualification after a second-place finish in Ligue 1. He had featured on the radars of many top Premier League sides but chose to sign for RB Leipzig to further his career. Leipzig paid a club record fee for the €43 million Bundesliga attacker. The…