Liverpool have no game ahead for most of the next three weeks, which is our way of saying to you: prefer for some wild, wacky and potentially annoying rumours.
Klopp willing to swap a forward for Erling
Let’s start with one of the two big strikers who will dominate summer headlines: Erling Haaland.
He – and Kylian Mbappe – will be relentlessly linked with the Reds until one of two things happen: he signs elsewhere, or he leans on a wall at Kirkby. Do we have a leaning spot at Kirkby yet? Hopefully that’s something in the works for summer. Iconic.
Anyway, whether or not you think the Dortmund striker will be rocking up on Merseyside, Mundo Deportivo are pretty sure we want him to.
They say Klopp has put him front and centre of plans for a “big rebirth” and he’s even willing to give up one of Firmino, Salah or Mane to make it happen.
Naturally, every other big clubs’ claims are put forward to, just to confuse matters and allow them to say ‘Ha! We were right!’ when the relentless goal-getter eventually transfers anywhere at all.
Jota gets call-up after ‘red list’ removal
Liverpool will have a fair few players around during the break, with the Brazil trios’ games postponed and the usual batch of non-internationals still in training.
But Thiago Alcantara has already been selected by Spain and Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to follow suit when England’s squad is announced on Thursday.
On Tuesday, two more got the nod: Andy Robertson was of course named as Scotland captain, while Diogo Jota is in the squad for Portugal.
The latter nation has just been removed from the UK’s travel restrictions list, so he won’t have to quarantine for 10 days (or be withdrawn from the squad!) when he gets back.
And yes, they face three games each in the World Cup qualifiers.
Weeks ahead
A league win and progress in Europe – just the tonic needed to head into this break with. What comes next?
- The boss has explained the training plan and how the time off will be a massive change to what we’ve been used to this season
- Jota has challenged the Reds to go unbeaten for what’s left of the campaign as we bid to return to the top four
- And Liverpool will plan to withdraw Naby Keita from a ‘red list’ fixture during the international break
Quickfire LFC news
- Dutch media are convinced the Reds are hiding the pace of Virgil’s recovery from an ACL injury (De Telegraaf)
- Andy Robbo says this must be “only the start” of the recovery after back-to-back wins (TIA)
- The media saw signs of recovery and had praise for Nat and Kabak (TIA)
- Salah is Africa’s greatest-ever player in the eyes of Mohamed Elneny, who could be up against the Reds in our next game (Goal)
Around the Prem
- Spurs and Chelsea are fighting it out to sign Paulo Dybala from Juve this summer, which at this point feels like the new ‘Gaitan to United’ rumour (SW)
- Donny van de Beek wants to leave Man United after less than a season after realising he has to wear and look at their their club badge every day (Star)
- Arsenal‘s deep-thinking approach to recruitment means they’ve already decided they want last-minute loan addition Martin Odegaard back next season, on loan or permanently, just like all the best plans (Mail)
- And Che Adams has switched internationals to Scotland, being rewarded in an immediate call-up (BBC)
Good news of the day
“Rui Patricio is OK,” Wolves boss Nuno has confirmed.
“He’s conscious, he’s aware and he remembers what happened. The assessment is positive – he’s going to be OK.”
Excellent news all-round.
Tweet of the day
Building blocks!
Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak have now played the third most minutes by any Liverpool CB partnership this season.
They've kept three clean sheets out of three in their full matches, and the only goal they've conceded was a penalty.
— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) March 15, 2021
What we’re intrigued by
A long way down the road with many speed bumps to navigate – UEFA and TV deals are just two – but it’s interesting even so that 25 Belgian clubs have voted in favour of merging their league with the Dutch Eredivisie.
Big moment in Belgian football, as 25 professional clubs vote in favour of establishing Beneliga = a merger with Dutch Eredivisie. @ProLeagueBE to play 'active role' in the project. Domestic TV deals end in 2025 in both ?? and ??
— Jon Rest (@jonrest) March 16, 2021
Worth watching tonight
Real Madrid vs Atalanta is far from decided in the Champions League last-16, second leg.
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