Author: Soccerhuz
Virgil van Dijk picked something from Joel Matip when asked what skill of a Liverpool teammate he’d love to call his own. The Reds’ captain is actually envious. Virgil van Dijk gave an in-depth interview with France Football this week and one particularly interesting question asked for a trait of a Liverpool teammate that he’d love to have. It did require some thought, admittedly. But eventually, Van Dijk settled on something he sees from Joel Matip that he’d ‘love’ to call his own. “Not easy [to pick one],” said the Liverpool captain. “Maybe Joël Matip’s dribbling. He loves dribbling from the back. “He…
UNVEILING LIVERPOOL’S BEST ‘SIGNING’ Jurgen Klopp has reshaped the club’s fortunes with a string of astute signings. Yet, surprisingly, his pick for the best acquisition eschews the likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, instead highlighting a homegrown talent. THE GENIUS OF KLOPP’S RECRUITMENT Since he arrived at Anfield in 2015, Klopp’s transfer strategy has been nothing short of revolutionary. It’s a blend of shrewd, value-for-money buys like Andy Robertson, and judicious big-money signings such as Alisson and Van Dijk. Both strategies have reaped immense rewards, transforming Liverpool into European and domestic titans. TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD: THE CROWN JEWEL In…
What makes Liverpool’s start to the season even more remarkable is the fact that everything they have achieved so far has come in spite of an injury list that grows bigger by the week. After cruising into the last 16 of the Europa League, taking over at the top of the Premier League, and booking their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a superb, gutsy victory at title rivals Arsenal, the Reds put one foot in the Carabao Cup final on Wednesday with a comeback 2-1 win at home to Fulham. Jurgen Klopp was without 10 players…
Trent Alexander-Arnold has always thrived for Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp, but he has become particularly important with the role that debuted in the league clash against Arsenal at Anfield last season. That hybrid position really suits him. The Reds’ run of form from the moment he started to feature there saw a turning point in what was a disappointing campaign. It was the catalyst that fired Liverpool into Premier League title contention just months later. But there is no one else who can play in Alexander-Arnold’s inverted full-back role. The vice-captain is the hardest player to find an alternative for,…
Financial Fair Play regulations are back in the news. The Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules (PSR) have already resulted in Everton picking up a points deduction, and the rest of the division is now waiting to hear whether they will face any sanctions. Eddie Howe has mentioned limitations on his transfer spending several times and Newcastle admitted this week that it might have to cash in on a few players to fund more moves despite the Saudi backing that bankrolls the club. Arsenal, meanwhile, is among the teams restricted by what it has previously spent, with clubs allowed a maximum loss of…
VAN DIJK’S ULTIMATE ADVERSARY REVEALED In a riveting revelation to France Football, Liverpool’s defensive stalwart, Virgil Van Dijk, has named Olivier Giroud, the seasoned French striker, as the most formidable opponent he’s faced in his illustrious career. This acknowledgment from Van Dijk is not just a mere statement but a testament to the intense battles these two giants of football have endured over the years. Giroud, a versatile forward who has showcased his talents at Arsenal, Chelsea, and in the French national team, has managed to net six goals in 14 encounters against the Liverpool captain. This statistic alone speaks…
Endo’s country’s bid to go one better than four years ago, when they were beaten finalists, begins against Vietnam on Sunday. Read our preview to find out what awaits the Liverpool midfielder at the 2023 edition of the Asian Cup, which is being hosted by defending champions Qatar… How they qualified Japan coasted to the finals by winning all eight of their matches in qualification Group F, which also included Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Myanmar. The Samurai Blue did so while scoring 46 goals and conceding just two. Group stage Japan are in Group D alongside Indonesia and Iraq as…
The Reds scout players across the globe as they look for the next hidden talent that can become a Kop favourite. One player who has been linked to Liverpool is Colombian youth international Mantilla, who plays as a centre-back for CA Talleres in the Argentine top flight. Liverpool’s interest was first reported in February 2023, but it seemed nothing more than a rumour – that was when he played for Independiente Santa Fe. Then, at the end of January 2023, journalist Ekrem Konur said: “Liverpool and Brighton are monitoring the situation of CA Talleres’ 20-year-old.” Little attention was paid to the claim at the…
Liverpool has shopped fairly often in the Portuguese market with Luis Díaz (FC Porto) and Darwin Núñez (Benfica) both arriving at Anfield from the region thanks to Julian Ward’s knowledge and expertise. Fábio Carvalho, while he came from Fulham, also represents Portugal at international level. Former sporting director Ward departed at the end of last season but now the Reds have been told to make another move for a player performing at the highest level in Portugal, this time from Sporting CP. Rúben Amorim’s side currently leads the standings at around the halfway mark, in no small part down to…
Liverpool fans have called on the club to enable terminally ill Sven-Goran Eriksson to realise his unfilled wish of managing the team. The former England manager, who has pancreatic cancer with about a year left to live at the “best case”, told Sky News’ Niall Paterson of his footballing regret at never having taken the helm at Anfield. Eriksson, like his father, has been a lifelong supporter of the Merseyside club. In response to the poignant interview, supporters have backed the idea of the 75-year-old managing the LFC Legends side in a charity home match against Ajax in March. The annual fixture raises funds…