Reds ‘keeping tabs’ on Zielinski, Mane’s wonderful gesture – Friday’s Liverpool FC News Roundup

October 12, 2018
Henry Jackson

We round up the latest Liverpool news and transfer rumours on Friday, as the Reds’ English and Croatian contingent prepare to face each other.

Main Headlines

Honest Assessment From Robertson

Andy Robertson captained Scotland in their 2-1 defeat to Israel on Thursday night, with boss Alex McLeish starting both the Liverpool man and fellow left-back Kieran Tierney.

Speaking to BBC Scotland after the game, the 24-year-old admitted he and the highly-rated Celtic defender struggled to adapt to the 3-5-2 system:

“Both of us are out of position.

“So it’s two positions we need to try and learn. We’ve played there before but we need to learn it in this system. Unfortunately, that will take time. Both of us want to play left-back and there isn’t that slot just now.

“The gaffer has looked at it and wants to get me and KT down the left. I’ve got to start a lot higher and I don’t have a winger to play with.

“From that point of view, it is a lot harder. I won’t speak for Kieran, but I wasn’t good enough.”

You’ve got to admire such honesty in a player.

Fantastic Gesture From Mane

Sadio Mane is a footballing icon in Africa and he has put his fame to wonderful use, donating 100 of his former Liverpool No.19 shirts to orphans in Malawi.

Speaking to ESPN, FOMO founder Mary Woodworth couldn’t hide her delight at the gesture:

“It’s like a dream for the children in the villages, getting a t-shirt that they never thought they would get.

“It’s just magical basically.

“Sadio Mane is from Africa, his name is just everywhere. To see the t-shirt of Sadio Mane will just be overwhelming.

“It will make a big difference, especially in the villages. Because they don’t have the means of getting any money or to be able to buy one t-shirt. It’s a dream come true for them.”

Like a lot of the Reds’ current squad, Mane comes across as being a humble and caring person.

Sturridge Wins Goal Of The Month

Daniel Sturridge‘s sensational late equaliser at Chelsea has deservedly scooped the Premier League‘s Goal of the Month award for September.

It was one of the 29-year-old’s standout moments in a Liverpool shirt and preserved the Reds’ unbeaten league run in priceless fashion.

Sturridge’s memorable effort also won LFC’s Goal of the Month prize following an online fan vote.

Solanke Nets For U21s

Dominic Solanke is having a hard time of things at the moment, as he still waits for his first minute of first-team action this season.

In many ways it may have been a relief for the 21-year-old to head off on international duty and he had a productive evening for England’s U21s on Thursday.

The Three Lions destroyed Andorra U21s 7-0 and Solanke scored his side’s fifth goal, having been introduced as a 73rd-minute substitute.

Hopefully, it will help his confidence as he looks to become a bigger part of Jurgen Klopp‘s plans in 2018/19.

Liverpool “Keeping Tabs” On Zielinski

According to the Mirror, Liverpool are monitoring the contract situation of Piotr Zielinski – a player strongly linked with the Reds back in 2016.

The Napoli midfielder is reportedly set to be offered a new deal with the Serie A giants, with his release clause to be doubled to approximately £11 4million.

Zielinski and his agent are believed to feel that is too excessive an amount, however, potentially preventing him moving on one day.

Don’t read too much into it for now.