Liverpool are readying up for another Premier League match, while the headlines around the club focus on transfers, improvements and the club’s future plans.
Tech trial offers hope for Anfield fans
The Athletic‘s Raphael Honigstein is reporting that the Reds are looking at German technology to allow fans into Anfield next season.
A system which is already in use for testing at Borussia Dortmund, among others, checks fans’ temperature and monitors social distancing, allowing partial stadium use on matchdays—vital for clubs’ revenues.
Software company G2K can install the system to work with existing CCTV capabilities, with just an installation of temperature-sensitive cameras required—at a cost of around €100,000 per game.
Any proposals would need both UK government and Premier League sign-offs before trials could take place on Merseyside.
But if Dortmund’s proposal applies to England, we could see Anfield at 30 percent capacity—meaning around 16,000 in attendance—as early as the start of next season.
“Unlikely” we go for Thiago
Liverpool have been widely linked with a move for Thiago Alcantara, and while though those reports haven’t been dismissed out of hand by the usual set of local journalists, there also doesn’t appear to be too much concrete evidence supporting an impending transfer.
Now The Independent‘s Melissa Reddy has sought to clarify the club’s current stance and why it could be that a move for the Spanish playmaker is deemed a potential option, when it goes so much against the grain of the usual modus operandi.
Essentially, it can be summed up in two sentences; one for the signing of the elite midfielder:
“There could be slight shades of Manchester United signing Robin van Persie, 29, from Arsenal in 2012 with Alex Ferguson saying at the time: “You can’t turn that down.”
And one against the probability of it:
“Liverpool would have to whistle past a lot of red flags to make a significant financial outlay – transfer fee and wages – on Thiago in a coronavirus-affected market they have vowed to be more measured in…it is unlikely at this stage that Liverpool will come to the table.”
All in all, this still appears a far-fetched, albeit dreamy, move which isn’t going to come to fruition.
Maybe.
Preparing for Brighton
Liverpool are off to Brighton today for an overnight trip and Wednesday night’s match, before playing Burnley at home on the weekend.
Thankfully, star names should mean that the Reds’ quality shines through in these games—and few have as much star quality as Sadio Mane.
The boss paid tribute to our No. 10’s “unbelievable” levels after finding consistency since swapping Southampton for Liverpool.
And, as usual, you can see Klopp’s entire pre-match press conference here.
Future plans
It’s not just about the next 90 minutes with the Reds, but the season ahead and beyond.
- Klopp has always placed huge emphasis on the team behind the team and says the club will reward the staff members who have played a massive role in our success
- Klopp name-checked Rhian Brewster and spoke about how the club can turn to youth to save money in the “crazy” summer transfer market
- And after Curtis Jones‘ new contract and first league goal, the boss has spoken of his dreams for a team of Scousers at Anfield
Quickfire LFC news
- Jurgen Klopp says the wife of Sean Cox is the greatest ‘real life’ leader he has known (Echo)
- Former Reds defender Steve Nicol doesn’t believe that Thiago Alcantara would walk into the Reds’ starting XI, even if he does sign (Goal)
- Upcoming opposition boss Graham Potter says a game against Liverpool is a chance to measure how far his Brighton side have come (BHAFC)
- And LFC Women have signed a new goalkeeper, with Rachael Laws signing from Reading (LFC)
Around the Prem
- Lampard wants Rice at centre-back next season for Chelsea, and there’s probably a joke in there about ‘soaking up’ pressure for a defence which has been ‘porous’… (Times)
- Man United and Man City are battling for either Koulibaly or Skriniar and it would be so much easier if they realised they could have one each (Independent)
- Whether they stay up or not – and they won’t, they’re crap – Bournemouth will see Eddie Howe, Josh King and Nathan Ake depart this summer (Mail)
- And Crystal Palace are going big for Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard, which will surely come as a surprise to big Benteke and his stunning goal return (L’Equipe)
Stupid post-match interview of the day
Apologies if you watched the garbage served up by Spurs and Everton last night.
Jose Mourinho’s post-match press conference said an argument between two of his players was “beautiful”, took full blame for it happening and yet claimed it was also something his team “needed”, says he was “critical” of his players and also that he has “no doubts” about them.
All in the name of making people forget what absolute dross you’ve just served up for 90 minutes, hey Jose?
Tweet of the day
Reactions, reflexes, reach – the full package.
Unbelievable save by Pickford ? pic.twitter.com/FI9hODPGDz
— Jack Doolan (@j_doolan3) July 6, 2020
What we’re reading
Norwich City’s Onel Hernandez is the first Cuban in the Premier League; here’s the story of how his home nation barely knows about him, on BBC Sport.
And also on BBC Sport, the disturbing story of the Brazilian goalkeeper Bruno, who scored a top-corner free-kick one week and was behind bars, imprisoned for murder and kidnap, just a couple of weeks later.
Worth watching tonight
The battle at the bottom, Watford vs Norwich at 6pm. Winner could stay up, loser in massive danger of going down. Later, AC Milan vs Juventus is a must-watch at 8:45pm in Serie A.
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