We round up the latest Liverpool news and transfer rumours on Tuesday, on the eve of the Reds’ clash with Burnley.
Today’s Main Headlines
- Klopp doubtful over Mane and Robertson ahead of Burnley trip
Changes expected at Turf Moor on Wednesday.
- Firmino’s form “nothing to worry about”, insists Klopp
The boss also gives praise to Origi.
- Fabinho’s assessment of derby display shows his confidence is growing
Pleasing words from Liverpool’s improving Brazilian.
- Trent believes derby-day win can give Liverpool title momentum
How key could the Everton victory prove to be?
- Awoniyi is Liverpool’s midweek loanee to watch with quarter-finals in sight
Six loanees could be in action, including two exciting attackers.
- Can you name Liverpool’s 31 injury-time winners in the Premier League?
Our latest Reds quiz is a hard one!
Fabinho Ready for “Tough Month”
Liverpool are in the midst of a very busy schedule, with the trip to Turf Moor on Wednesday night followed by Bournemouth away on Saturday lunchtime.
Fabinho has spoken to LiverpoolFC.com about the gruelling run of December games, saying he has faith in the squad tackling them successfully:
“We know it’ll be a really tough month. We have eight games this month, we are prepared for this run of fixtures—important games against big sides.
“We’ve got the Champions League game which will determine our future in the competition and in the Premier League it’s an opportunity to stay at the top and open up a gap on the teams behind us.
“We know that recovery time will be short, we need to recover well after each game. We have everything we need to do that here at the club, the squad are prepared.
“The coach says that he’s going to need all of us available, so we aim to be prepared.
“We’re used to playing two to three games a week. Yes, we’ve got a tough run of games coming, but that can’t be an excuse. We need to be focused and prepared.”
The Brazilian is improving all the time in a Liverpool shirt and his physicality and quality will need to increasingly come to the fore this month.
Bale “Surprised” by Salah’s Puskas Win
Mohamed Salah scooped the Puskas Award earlier this year—given to the scorer of the best goal over a 12-month period.
The Egyptian took home the prize for his superb solo effort against Everton last December, but Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale says he feels his own Champions League final strike should have won it.
“Yeah, I was surprised by that, to be honest, but what can you say,” Bale told FourFourTwo.
“It makes the award look a little diminished, although it was obviously a great goal by Salah.”
As good as Salah’s goal was, even the most ardent Liverpool fan would struggle to claim it was better than Bale’s outrageous overhead kick that broke Reds hearts in Kyiv.
Another Prize for Salah
Salah was named Men’s Player of the Year for 2018 by the Football Supporters’ Federation’s (FSF) at a ceremony in London on Monday.
The 26-year-old beat off competition from Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Eden Hazard, as well as Liverpool team-mate Virgil van Dijk.
Meanwhile, it was a proud evening for former Times journalist Tony Barrett, who scooped the Supporter Liaison Officer Of The Year award.
And in Italy, Alisson was awarded Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year for his efforts with AS Roma last season, as well as being named in the Team of the Year.
You can read our recent in-depth interview with Tony Barrett HERE.
Lampard on Wide Man Wilson
Harry Wilson is enjoying a magnificent loan spell with Derby County this season, scoring a string of Goal of the Season contenders, including two strikes in 2-1 win over Swansea.
Rams boss Frank Lampard has told the Derby Telegraph that he believes the Liverpool youngster’s best role is out wide, despite improvements being required there:
“Different games bring different challenges.
“I thought Craig Bryson and Mason Mount were good, their energy and their work rate, and then you have Harry with a bit more freedom from a wider position.
“He still needs to work off the ball, which he did against Swansea.
“He picked up nice positions, smart positions where he could get the ball and turn, hence the two goals.”
Wilson is next in action on Saturday, as Derby make the trip to Wigan Athletic in the Championship, though it remains to be seen whether to takes up duties on the wing or in midfield.
Five Years Since Suarez’s Genius
It is exactly five years to the day since Suarez produced one of the greatest individual displays ever witnessed at Anfield.
The Uruguayan scored four times as Liverpool thrashed Norwich City 5-1 on December 4, 2013, with two of the goals utterly outrageous.
No player in world football was better at that point, at a time when the Reds were slowly beginning to look like title challengers.
Where did those five years go, though?
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