Quartet chasing Wilson & Shaqiri explains decision to stay – Liverpool FC Roundup

October 13, 2020
This Is Anfield

Liverpool continue to look on and anxiously hope no further players are laid low over the international break, with the derby just four days away.

Four chase late deal for Wilson

Harry Wilson looks set for another temporary switch away from Liverpool.

The domestic transfer window is open until Friday and Championship clubs can still land top-tier talent if they move fast, with Wilson one of the most in-demand players left on the market.

Our Welsh winger looks to have no Anfield future at this point and as no Premier League team came in with a suitable bid, he’ll be heading out on loan for the first part of the season at least, with four teams currently keen to seal a deal.

Two might be particularly appealing given they are from his home nation, but there’s also the chance to head back to Derby County, where he enjoyed a productive loan under Frank Lampard a couple of seasons back.

He’s playing on Wednesday for Wales, so any team hoping to sign him will have to wait until almost the last minute.

Shaqiri speaks out on deciding to stay

Wilson might be leaving but Xherdan Shaqiri is staying put.

The Swiss winger was quizzed on his decision to remain at Anfield while on international duty and although he wanted to focus mostly on the game at hand with his national team, he told reporters that he had thought carefully about whether to jump ship from Jurgen Klopp‘s side.

“Sure, in football there is always speculation and the players think about their situations. That is completely normal,” he said.

“And of course, I have also thought about it, that is completely normal. But in the end I decided to stay there. The transfer window is now closed.

“Now I will go back to training with the team after these international matches and try to continue to perform well, which I have already proven a few times, also at Liverpool. And that is my goal.”

Shaq has a fight on his hands for involvement on a regular basis after Diogo Jota signed, but we’re likely to need the whole squad far more this term and he’s a quality option off the bench.

Internationals and internals

Bobby in action in the early hours; Jota potentially doing so tomorrow night!

Firmino has explained how Tite demands of him almost the exact opposite to Klopp…and he’s perfectly capable of doing so
Diogo Jota has tested negative while team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo is positive for Covid-19 and out of the Portugal squad, leaving a gap in the side for the Nations League match tomorrow
And a familiar face is departing the Reds’ backroom staff as the key appointments keep having to be filled this summer

Quickfire LFC news

Liverpool owner John Henry might finally land a man he has chased for 20 years with a deal involving Billy Beane’s company and FSG (TIA)

Barcelona tried to get Thiago to turn down the Reds at the last minute but he wasn’t interested (Guardian)

Looking for a few footy-related gifts? We’ve sourced some Prime Day ideas for you which are all on offer (TIA)

Young attacker Harvey Blair has signed his first pro deal with the Reds (LFC)

Around the Prem

Man United want Eduardo Camavinga if Paul Pogba leaves, so there’s another 12 months of rumours surrounding United which will eventually lead nowhere (SportWitness)

Jose Mourinho is unhappy Harry Kane will play against Denmark, so perhaps he shouldn’t have been on the pitch as much in Europa qualifiers and League Cup games (Guardian)

New Arsenal signing Thomas Partey was waiting for a “bigger team” to sign him, says his dad, so that’s a nice way to introduce yourself ahead your debut (Mirror)

And Spurs will go back in for Milan Skriniar in January, by which time Mourinho will have gone through the seven stages of acceptance, anger, denial and all the rest with Eric Dier (TT)

Stupid fume of the day

People are getting wound up because Steven Gerrard is being recognised as better than all their favourite Premier League midfielders.

Sorry folks but, you know…he was.

The Ballon d’Or Dream Team candidates are all here – that’s what it stems from!

Tweet of the day

I never want to hear Paul Scholes was better than Gerrard ever again pic.twitter.com/THmbKIrKAU

— Elliot Hackney (@ElliotHackney) October 13, 2020

What we’re reading

A big interview with Arsene Wenger on Arsenal, turning down Real Madrid, playing Wimbledon, still watching football all day and more, on BBC Sport.

And a chat with Loris Karius on Bundesliga.com, where the ‘keeper says his good performances in Germany have been forgotten due to events of the past couple of years.