We round up the latest Liverpool news and transfer rumours on Thursday, on the eve of the Reds’ crucial trip to Wolves.
Today’s Main Headlines
- Wolves vs. Liverpool Preview
Another testing assignment as Reds aim to be Christmas No.1.
- Competition for places pushing Gini Wijnaldum to best Liverpool form
Wijnaldum relishing the fight to play every week.
- Naby Keita can hold the key to Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge
Henry Jackson on Keita coming alive in the second-half of the season.
- Wolves’ Conor Coady on facing Liverpool, his big early influences and the Reds’ “frightening” attack
An interesting interview with the former Liverpool youngster.
- The 10 best Liverpool academy players in the first half of 2018/19
Jack Lusby given us his countdown of the top young Reds talent.
- Dejan Lovren shows the right attitude as Liverpool stay unbeaten in title race
This has caused an unnecessary storm!
The Latest On Rabiot
According to L’Equipe, via Sport Witness, Barcelona have not agreed a fee with Adrien Rabiot, as was reported earlier in the week.
In fact, Liverpool are believed to have held talks with the player, with several meetings claimed to have taken place with regards to a January move.
Tottenham are also targeting the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, who is able to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Will PSG cut their losses and accept a big bid in January? It could be an interesting one to follow.
Riise Wants More From Robertson
Andy Robertson has proved to be an outstanding signing, with the Scot arguably the best left-back in Europe on current form.
Former Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise had lauded Robertson’s brilliance, but has called for the 24-year-old to add goals to his game.
“He’s brilliant because he’s aggressive, quick and can cross the ball very well. He’s great defensively as well,” Riise told ESPN.
“[But] I want him to be more of a goalscoring threat as well. I watched a few games where he’s inside the 18-yard box and he’s crossing and always crossing. At the end, the opposition will know he’s going to cross it.
“If he starts shooting sometimes then it’s harder for the opposition to know what he’s doing. I want him to start shooting and take more risks when he goes forward.”
Robertson has just one goal in 51 Reds appearances, while Riise netted 31 times in 348 games during his seven years at Anfield.
Then again, the Norwegian did try his luck from distance about a hundred times a match!
Milner Scoops Award
James Milner‘s remarkable longevity has been recognised, with the 32-year-old given a special award for reaching 500 Premier League appearances.
The midfielder achieved the feat away to Bournemouth earlier this month and he spoke to the Premier League‘s official website about Liverpool’s title hopes this season:
“A big strength of this group is how we’ve improved over the last few years but also how we stay in the present and focus on each game.
“We know how good the teams are in the Premier League and how tough it is to win every game.
“It [the title] is a special achievement and one we’re obviously hoping to get to but it’s a long way to go and we’re coming up against a lot of good teams.
“As a group we just want to concentrate on playing as well as we can and keep on improving.”
Milner’s experience and winning mentality can be huge for the Reds between now and May, with the Englishman twice clinching league title glory at Man City, in 2011/12 and 2013/14.
Liverpool Tracking Salzburg Man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTDM3SHUr6A
According to Football Whispers‘ Sam McGuire—occasional This is Anfield contributor—Liverpool are eyeing up a move for RB Salzburg forward Munas Dabbur.
The Reds are thought to be looking for an “ideal understudy to Roberto Firmino“, with Dabbur ticking many of the boxes.
With doubts still surrounding the long-term futures of Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Dominic Solanke, reinforcements could be required sooner rather than later.
Dabbur joined Salzburg in 2016 and has since gone on to score 35 goals in 77 appearances for the Austrian Bundesliga club.
VAR For FA Cup Clash
Liverpool’s FA Cup third round clash at Wolves next month will see VAR take centre stage.
The much-discussed technology will be used in a total of eight cup games over the weekend, ending with the Reds’ trip to Molineux on Monday, January 7.
FA Cup third round VAR matches:
Saturday, January 5
Bournemouth vs. Brighton (12.30pm)
Burnley vs. Barnsley (12.30pm)
West Ham vs. Birmingham (12.30pm)
Man United vs. Reading (12.30pm)
Crystal Palace vs. Grimsby (5.30pm)
Newcastle vs. Blackburn (5.30pm)
Sunday, January 6
Fulham vs. Oldham (2pm)
Man City vs. Rotherham (2pm)
Monday, January 7
Wolves vs. Liverpool (7.45pm)
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