Keita still adapting, Moreno wanted by Barca, Markovic in the reserves – Tuesday’s Liverpool FC News Roundup

We round up the latest Liverpool news and transfer rumours on Tuesday, as the Reds’ international players make their second games of the break.

Main Headlines


Keita Still Adapting To The Premier League

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 12, 2018: Liverpool's Naby Keita during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Naby Keita has started well for Liverpool this season, although we are still yet to see him at his absolutely swashbuckling best.

That is to be expected, considering he has only just moved to the Premier League, and he admits he is still adjusting to life in England.

“I think it’s fair to say that the Premier League is a tough league,” Keita told the official Liverpool FC magazine.

“I’m very motivated to be playing in it – it’s an attractive proposition – but I’ve been told by many people that a lot of overseas players come into the Premier League and they take time to integrate, depending on the circumstances.

“So playing in the Premier League can be difficult, but I am very motivated to play here, not just for myself and my teammates, but for the club.”


Barcelona Eyeing Up Moreno?

BLACKBURN, ENGLAND - Thursday, July 19, 2018: Liverpool's Alberto Moreno during a preseason friendly match between Blackburn Rovers FC and Liverpool FC at Ewood Park. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

Alberto Moreno is firmly second-choice left-back behind Andy Robertson these days, but Jurgen Klopp appears happy with him as a squad player.

In what is one of the more surprising transfer rumours in recent times, Mundo Deportivo claim Barcelona are interested in bringing Moreno back to Spain, having swapped Sevilla for Liverpool in 2014.

The Catalan giants are thought to be looking for a backup option to Jordi Alba, following Lucas Digne’s summer move to Everton.

Moreno is one of those in contention in the mind of Barca boss Ernesto Valverde, along with Arsenal‘s Nacho Monreal and Atletico Madrid’s Filipe Luis.


Lloris May Return This Weekend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 11, 2017: Tottenham Hotspur's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in action against Liverpool during the FA Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool head to Tottenham on Saturday lunchtime in a crucial league clash, with the Reds hoping to avenge last season’s 4-1 loss at Wembley.

Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has been absent of late with a thigh injury, missing France’s 0-0 draw with Germany on Thursday, but he believes he may be fit in time for the weekend clash.

“Do I have a date of return? Not yet,” Lloris told RMC Sport.

“I will work hard to get back and as quickly as possible. There may be a chance this weekend but we will see how I progress this week.”

Should Lloris again miss out, Michel Vorm will continue to deputise for Lloris, having started in the 2-1 defeat at Watford on September 2.


New UEFA Club Competition

KIEV, UKRAINE - Friday, May 25, 2018: The official match ball on the pitch at the NSC Olimpiyskiy ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final match between Real Madrid CF and Liverpool FC. (Handout/UEFA via Propaganda)

Many supporters feel European club football is well-set with the Champions League and Europa League in operation, but UEFA have other ideas.

The governing body are set to introduce a third competition from the 2021/22 season onwards, with European Club Association chairman Andrea Agnelli giving more details about the venture:

“Pending approval of the UEFA ExCo, the ‘green light’ has been given to introduce a third competition, bringing the overall number of clubs to 96, as of the 2021/22 season.

“A detailed assessment of the existing International Match Calendar is required prior to presenting a new model post-2024. The current model needs modernising.”

No more information has been provided on how the tournament will actually work, but that is sure to arrive in due course.


Markovic Training With The U23s

BLACKBURN, ENGLAND - Thursday, July 19, 2018: Liverpool's Lazar Markovic during a preseason friendly match between Blackburn Rovers FC and Liverpool FC at Ewood Park. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

Lazar Markovic is somehow still a Liverpool player, having failed to move to Anderlecht in the dying moments of the transfer window.

The Serb will play no part in any first-team duties this season, however, as his career continues to fade in rather sad fashion.

Markovic is currently training with Liverpool’s U23s, who invited Crewe Alexandra to train with them over the weekend, as confirmed on the League 2 club’s official website.

Crewe manager David Artell praised the 24-year-old, though, admitting his quality shone through against far lesser fotoballers.

“They are usually younger but they also had Markovic with them and he was a class above,” Artell said.

“It was a great experience for them again and the players can really see the benefit of it.”

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