We round up the latest Liverpool news and transfer rumours on Thursday, following the Reds’ galling 3-0 defeat to Barcelona.
Today’s Main Headlines
- Early end to season for Keita after injury against Barcelona
A big blow for the Guinean after some excellent form.
- Tactical analysis of Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool
Karl Matchett on how Klopp’s tactics were right—but Valverde won the battle.
- Debating Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool
The good, the bad & is there hope?
- Liverpool players react to Barcelona loss
The need to “bounce back” after defeat.
- Klopp “couldn’t be more proud” of Liverpool despite Barcelona result
A dreadful result but a good performance.
- The media assess Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool
Fine margins & “Magic Messi” at the Nou Camp.
- Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool: Player Ratings – What the media and statistics say
Matip and Robertson impress, Wijnaldum struggles.
Kent Wants Permanent Move
Ryan Kent‘s superb season on loan at Rangers has been rewarded with a nomination for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.
The 22-year-old admits he wants to start living a less nomadic footballing existence, however, aiming to settle down and find a permanent club.
“I want to kick-start my career somewhere now,” said Kent.
“I am tired of changing clubs each year, I want to settle down somewhere.
“Liverpool have been good to me, but the enjoyment factor of going back there each year and doing well in pre-season and going back out on loan, it is a repetitive cycle.”
It is an understandable stance for Kent to take and he is now at a stage where he is ready to kick on and be a key man somewhere.
That may be at Rangers if Steven Gerrard decides to keep him on, but only time will tell.
Robbo Rues Reds’ Misfortune
Andy Robertson was one of Liverpool’s best players in the Nou Camp on Wednesday, providing quality at both ends of the pitch and displaying his fighting spirit.
Speaking to LiverpoolFC.com, the Scot rued the final outcome in Catalonia, bemoaning his side’s luck and saying they must now focus on Saturday’s trip to Newcastle:
“We dominated large periods of the game, especially at the start of the second half.
“Their fans were booing them, players were getting booed off. We had them where we wanted them, which is exactly the kind of atmosphere you want to create when you are the away team.
“Then they go and create and the second goal is just so lucky in my opinion. Hopefully we get the rub of the green next week.
“We had the chance to score and 3-1 is different but look, these are things we’ll be lying in our bed thinking about tonight.
“But we need to dust ourselves down because we’ve got a huge game on Saturday and we need to be ready.”
Carragher’s Warning to Suarez
Liverpool fans know all about Luis Suarez and he was at his pantomime villain best against the Reds, scoring the opening goal and spending much of the night mastering the dark arts.
The Uruguayan may be expecting a nice ovation when he returns to Anfield next Tuesday, but Jamie Carragher believes that will have changed after the first leg.
“I don’t think it will be as warm as he would have hoped. He was Luis Suarez. You love him when he is in your team and you hate him when he plays for the opposition,” ” Carragher told Viasport.
“It was the first time he was in the opposition and I don’t think Liverpool fans will have liked him. He plays on the edge, very street-wise.
“A great first goal for him but I don’t think it will be the hero homecoming he will be hoping for.”
Some Liverpool fans have revealed their disgust at Suarez rolling around and harassing the referee, but we all know this is what he’s like.
It all feels a bit hypocritical laying into him now, after adoring him for three-and-a-half years in a Reds shirt.
Dybala Price Tag ‘Revealed’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BYuxhRPg7k
According to Corriere dello Sport, Paulo Dybala will be allowed to leave Juventus for £68 million this summer.
The Argentine has fallen out of favour since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo last summer, having previously been a key man in Turin.
The Serie A champions are willing to let Dybala find a new club at the end of the season and Liverpool have been loosely linked with his signature.
Barcelona and Inter Milan are also reportedly eyeing up a move for the 25-year-old, who remains a hugely talented footballer in need of a fresh challenge.
A switch to Anfield doesn’t seem likely though.
Shelvey Regrets Liverpool Exit
Jonjo Shelvey made fully made the grade at Liverpool, having arrived as an exciting teenager from Charlton Athletic back in 2010.
The midfielder could face his former club for Newcastle this weekend, and in an interview with the Evening Chronicle, the 27-year-old admits he left Anfield too soon, joining Swansea City in the summer of 2013:
“I probably shouldn’t have left Liverpool. I had the option to stay but I felt I had to go away as I was at that age where I wanted to play football matches.
“You’d get a game one week, big players would come back and you’d be out of the team next week. It was stop-start. I came away from Liverpool and kinda had regrets.
“But it is what it is. I played a lot of football at Swansea and that helped me get a move to Newcastle.”
There was never too much doubting Shelvey’s natural ability, but he was a loose cannon who never came close to being a long-term success story with the Reds.
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