No prospect of Klopp exit & Kabak replacement linked – Liverpool FC Roundup

March 8, 2021
This Is Anfield

Liverpool won’t be making any rash decisions due to our thoroughly miserable form in 2021, say today’s media reports, while the rumour mill keeps going too.

Fiorentina man in our sights

Ozan Kabak hasn’t had a perfect start to life at Liverpool, though has perhaps done as much as could be expected for a young defender, in on loan, without a regular partner, to a team which is wildly underperforming, having been at a relegation-threatened team previously.

Put like that, he’s probably actually been a stellar performer.

But Liverpool might not take up their option to sign him permanently, according to reports in Italy, with a move for Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic apparently on the table.

He has just over a year left on his deal and would cost “a similar amount” to Kabak.

Plenty of big choices ahead this summer, you feel.

No chance Klopp is asked to leave

As should be the case, Jurgen Klopp has “credit in the bank” and will not be sacked by FSG, with the Athletic reporting that his job is entirely safe.

There’s no question that improvements must be made across the club, with 2021 so far being as abysmal as all of 2019 was majestic.

But the plan to restore the team’s fortunes very much has the boss front and centre of what might now be a rebuild.

There’s also a handful of decisions to take of those already at the club, with contracts winding down and several players not really contributing of late.

Senior talk

It’s the established names who need to step up most for the Reds right now. Here’s the latest news around a handful of them.

Gini says there’s nothing new regarding his contract and the priority is to “fix” Liverpool’s results and form
Mo Salah has received an international call-up for this month and more will follow – but not the Brazilians
And Klopp says winning a game is the first step back, however difficult that is currently proving

Quickfire LFC news

Elliott and Van den Berg impress again in our latest loan watch (TIA)

Steven Gerrard is flying high after landing a first title as manager (TIA)

Neco Williams was the only player brave enough to post on social media after yet another dismal defeat (TIA)

And LFC Women beat Palace 1-0 in their latest Championship match (LFC)

Around the Prem

Chelsea will offer Andreas Christensen a new deal after some good recent displays (Telegraph)

Norwich right-back Max Aarons says he wants to play for England, not Jamaica, and presumably he hasn’t been on Twitter to see the list of players for that position (NEN)

West Ham are worried that other teams will try and poach Moyesie, so he’s being offered a big new contract – the final confirmation this is a strange, strange time for humanity (TT)

And Gareth Bale is over his ‘psychological scars’ from earlier in the season, says Mourinho. Presumably those scars are related to seeing up close just how Jose’s teams play (BBC)

Stupid moan of the day

“It does feel almost personal at times but you have just got to get on with it and make sure you’ve got a team good enough to win without referees.”

That’s Neil Warnock, a manager who has made a career out of directly criticising other players and bosses’ personalities and styles, complaining that refs’ bad decisions make it feel personal.