We round up the latest Liverpool news and transfer rumours on Wednesday, following the Reds’ winning end to pre-season against Torino.
Main Headlines
- 9 players who could still leave Liverpool this month
- How we rated every Liverpool player during pre-season
- 5 things we’ve learned from the Reds’ summer
- Watch Klopp’s post-Torino press conference here
- All you need to know on Liverpool’s pre-season in numbers
Ings Still Set For Reds Exit
The English transfer deadline may be imminent but Liverpool still have potential outgoings on the cards, with Simon Mignolet, Divock Origi, Pedro Chirivella and Lazar Markovic among those surplus to requirements.
Another is Danny Ings, who has been told he can find a new club, with first-team options set to be bleak for him at Anfield this season.
According to the Evening Standard‘s David Lynch, previously a journalist at Liverpool, “Crystal Palace and Southampton currently lead the chase for the popular striker.”
Better get your skates on, Danny!
Alisson Thanks the Fans
Alisson made his unofficial home debut for Liverpool on Tuesday evening, faring better than he did for Roma at Anfield last season, when he conceded five goals.
The Brazilian may have been unable to stop Torino’s Andrea Belotti from heading home but he cut an assured figure throughout and took to his Twitter account on Wednesday to thank the fans for their input on the night:
“Great atmosphere last night. Thanks for your support!”
Sterner tests will come Alisson‘s way, starting at home to West Ham on Sunday, but it was a nice way to ease himself in to life at his new ground.
Henderson Relishing Competition For Places
So much has been said about Jordan Henderson‘s future role at Liverpool following the arrival of Fabinho from Monaco.
The skipper says competition for places can only be a good thing, however, adding that there is a hunger within the squad that can only bode well.
“There’s competition everywhere. All over the pitch we’ve got two or three players in the same position,” Henderson told LiverpoolFC.com.
“Everyone is pushing each other on in training to start. And if you don’t start you have to be ready to come on and make an impact.
“I have only been back for a couple of days but I sense how hard the lads have worked and they are right up at the standard that they need to be at to go flying into the first game of the season.”
Henderson only returned to action on Tuesday evening so it is unlikely that he will start the Premier League opener this weekend.
A place on the substitutes’ bench seems more likely.
Alexander-Arnold’s Praise For Fellow Youngsters
Such is his level of maturity, it is easy to forget that Trent Alexander-Arnold is only 19.
The right-back, who impressed against Torino, has spoken to LiverpoolFC.com about the impressive progress of youngsters such as Curtis Jones, Nathaniel Phillips and Rafa Camacho this summer, urging them to show patience:
“They know themselves that it is difficult and it’s going to take a lot of hard work.
“It’s going to take a lot of patience because it doesn’t happen straight away. But I think the lads that have come in and showed themselves this pre-season have been exceptional.
“They have really done the academy proud on and off the pitch the way they have conducted themselves.
“When I came back, all I heard was good things about them from the senior lads. So, the academy have really shown again that they are doing something right.”
Alexander-Arnold couldn’t be a more perfect role model for these players, having broken through from the academy and become a regular under Jurgen Klopp.
Grujic Set To Stay?
Someone for whom talk about his future has gone quiet is Marko Grujic, with a loan move back to Cardiff City failing to materialise.
The young Serb is willing to fight for his place at Liverpool, according to the Liverpool Echo‘s James Pearce, and he may now stay at the club this season.
Pearce does, however, state that, “a foreign loan hasn’t been ruled out later in the month,” with an exit before Thursday’s Premier League transfer deadline highly unlikely.
Though Klopp’s midfield options are stacked heading into 2018/19, Grujic would certainly add another interesting candidate.
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