We round up the latest Liverpool news and transfer rumours on Friday, as Jurgen Klopp conducts his pre-Chelsea press conference.
Today’s Main Headlines
- Watch Klopp’s pre-Chelsea press conference
Some brilliant words from the boss at Melwood.
- Klopp sends strong message on racism after Salah incident
“You should not be allowed to enter a stadium again in your life.”
- Klopp tells fans to ignore 2014 references
“We want to make our own history.”
- How Liverpool can stop “world’s best” Hazard
The Chelsea superstar usually turns up at Anfield.
- Adidas also in talks over record-breaking Liverpool kit deal
It seems Nike are not the only party interested.
- Wilson’s resurgence can play big playoff role & Grujic’s chance to rebuild
Another busy weekend for Liverpool’s loanees.
- Henderson’s role change will revitalise Liverpool captain at a crucial stage
The skipper is thriving as a No. 8.
- All you need to know for the Premier League weekend
Rafa vs. Rodgers & chance for Palace to do the double over Man City.
Mignolet Will Be Sold This Summer
Simon Mignolet has made just two appearances for Liverpool this season, against Chelsea and Wolves in the League Cup and FA Cup respectively.
DH report that the likeable Belgian will move on from Anfield this summer, bringing an end to six years at the club.
Mignolet is seen as too expensive to be a deputy to Alisson, with the 31-year-old also keen on playing regularly elsewhere.
The only reason he stayed last summer was supposedly in case Alisson struggled after his big-money move from Roma—something that couldn’t have been further from the case, in hindsight.
We Are Behind Salah, Says Giroud
Mohamed Salah was the victim of vile racist chants from a group of Chelsea supporters on Thursday, prior to their Europa League clash away to Slavia Prague.
The behaviour has been rightly condemned and Blues striker Olivier Giroud has lambasted his own fans, saying Salah has the support of everyone at the club:
“I think these people shouldn’t belong to Chelsea.
“I think the club and everybody condemns these kind of things, and we are 100 per cent behind Mo Salah.
“I think nowadays it shouldn’t happen.”
Willian’s Warning to Liverpool
Chelsea they can once again severely damage a Liverpool title bid on Sunday, with dropped points by the Reds potentially fatal.
Willian has scored twice at Anfield before and he insists the Blues will be going for a much-needed win of their own this weekend.
“Sunday will be a very, very big game, and a very exciting game,” the winger told Sky Sports.
“We are ready to play this game and we are excited.
“We have targets in the Premier League and in the Europa League.
“Our target in the Premier League is to stay in the top four, so we have to go there on Sunday and try to win the game.”
It is sure to be another one of those uncomfortably nervy affairs, with so much riding on it for Liverpool in particular.
Klopp Scoops Award
Klopp has been named the Premier League Manager of the Month for March, after masterminding a superb run of results for Liverpool.
The month started with a frustrating 0-0 draw away to Everton, but the Reds won every other game from that point on.
Burnley, Fulham and Tottenham were all seen off in the league, with the latter pair beaten in dramatic fashion, while Bayern Munich were also defeated 3-1 at the Allianz Arena.
Klopp has started April with a 100 percent record, following victories over Southampton and Porto—here’s to him winning the award this month, too!
Gerrard’s Interesting Quotes on Henderson
Jordan Henderson is thriving back in the No. 8 role many believe he is best in, following a long stint in a deep-lying midfield berth.
Someone who feels a more forward-thinking position best suits him is Steven Gerrard, with Henderson’s predecessor as Liverpool captain highlighting it in his autobiography back in 2015, in an opinion that feels topical.
“Roy [Hodgson] decided we would play with two sitting midfielders, with Jordan Henderson joining me in a holding role,” wrote Gerrard.
“I thought it was a waste of Jordan’s best attributes because his game is based on energy and bursting forward. He’s happy to go box to box.
“In choosing to play him in a sitting role I felt we would be forcing him to be much more subdued.
“I would have like us to have take the shackles off Jordan and let him power forward while I held the formation together as the lone pivot.”
Westerveld Relishing Dublin Visit
The Liverpool Legends take on a Republic of Ireland XI in Dublin on Friday night, in a game raising funds for the Seán Cox Rehabilitation Trust.
Sander Westerveld will be between the sticks for the Reds and he told LiverpoolFC.com that he is looking forward to a first match in the Irish capital for almost 20 years:
“This will be the first time I have been back in Dublin since playing there for Liverpool in 2000 and the support over there in Ireland is always amazing, so I’m really looking forward to this game.
“Most importantly I hope we will have a sold-out crowd and we raise as much money as we can for Seán Cox and his family, because it’s very important to help his rehabilitation.
“This is a big thing and for us it’s easy to play this game.
“I’m delighted to be back and these are the games you miss when you are retired. If you ever get the chance to play in games like this it’s amazing and I’m really looking forward to it.
“This is like a little reunion for us and it’s always good to catch up.”
Kickoff at the Aviva Stadium is at 7.45pm (BST).
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