Liverpool are revelling in having won yet another three points and today’s headlines focus on the players’ performances, the potential for summer deals and a potential change in the curtain-raiser.
Changes ahead for Community Shield
Liverpool will be in the Community Shield once more to start the 2020/21 season…if it goes ahead at all.
There is still an element of uncertainty over dates for the start of next term, but if the Wembley fixture is played, Liverpool will be there as league champions.
Their opponent, however, may be changed. Usually, we’d play the FA Cup winners—fine if it’s Chelsea or Arsenal. But if either Manchester club wins the trophy and they reach their respective European finals, the dates could clash.
In that case, the Times reports that the Reds may instead face the Championship winners.
West Brom are currently top, two points ahead of Leeds, but the latter have a game in hand. Brentford are third, though likely too far off the pace now to take top spot.
The report also suggests that the FA may use the occasion to test-run getting fans back inside stadiums for games for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown.
Thiago keen on Premier League switch
It seems that the Thiago talk has died down over the last day or two!
The Reds are still linked with the Bayern Munich midfielder, but those accounts suggesting contact had been made or that a deal was imminent have all gone extremely quiet.
James Pearce of the Athletic confirms that the Reds have had “no contact” with the Bundesliga club over a move and that it’s currently “unlikely” a deal will go ahead.
But Thiago does want a switch.
It’s further reported he is keen on moving to the Premier League and with just one year left on his contract, £30 million is the guide price to snare him.
Evidence of our success
On and off the pitch, Liverpool are the undisputed team to mimic right now.
- AC Milan have discussed commercial approaches, recruitment and more with the Reds to find out how they have become so successful after a down period
- Klopp has waxed lyrical over his front three after they hit 250 goals between them and explained how the Brighton win showed the fundamentals of our approach
- And defender Joel Matip says the players would “walk through fire” for Jurgen Klopp, such is the bond between the squad and the coach
Quickfire LFC news
- Young goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros has signed a long-term contract extension with the Reds (TIA)
- Former striker Stan Collymore reckons the perfect duo for the Reds to sign are Wolves pair Jimenez and Adama (Goal)
- And Joe Gomez warns rivals that the Reds are far from the finished article and want to improve further (LFC)
Around the Prem
- John Stones reckons City are still the best team in England despite being more than Norwich City’s points tally behind Liverpool. You’ve lost nine times, lad – and that’s not even with you in the team most of the time (Mirror)
- Norwich want £50m for centre-back Ben Godfrey and maybe someone needs to show them their ‘goals against’ tally (Sky Sports)
- Ajax, Spurs and Everton all want Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg off Southampton, and one seems rather more likely to win trophies than the others (Telegraph)
- And Carlo Ancelotti says he has been given “assurances” that the club will improve the squad in summer. Mate, have you seen your midfield? They could give you a garden gnome and that would “improve” on putting Gylfi Sigurdsson in there (Guardian)
Stupid rumour of the day
Sheffield United are interested in signing Norwich City’s attacking midfielder Todd Cantwell this summer when the Canaries are relegated.
Sounds ok so far, doesn’t it?
So let’s see what price tag the Star are giving Cantwell with this ‘exclusive‘ inside story.
£10 MILLION.
Ten million?! Think the Blades might just have a bit of competition if that’s the going rate for a Cantwell – or have they put most of his value on Godfrey for some reason?!
Tweet of the day
Neco Williams is a positional rival for Trent now, technically. So it’s superb to hear the No. 66 speak so well about how high the Welshman could go.
"With the right attitude, which he's got, he's got the potential to be a world-class player"
Trent Alexander-Arnold discusses Neco Williams' #PL debut for #LFC…
Listen to our Football Daily podcast now on @BBCSounds ? https://t.co/sJltNDzMrk#bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/dsn7LXJfB1
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) July 9, 2020
What we’re reading
The story on BBC Sport of the anti-racism demonstration in MLS as the games returned and the players took a stand—for eight minutes and 46 seconds.
And this incredible story by Jack Lang on the Athletic, about Bernio Verhagen: the non-playing professional who conned multiple teams into signing him up and is now in prison in Denmark.
Worth watching tonight
Bournemouth vs Spurs at 6pm. Athletic vs Sevilla in LaLiga at 9.
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