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  • TLW
    The transfer rumour mill has delivered some contrasting news for Liverpool fans today.

    One report seemingly out of the blue sees Chelsea star Willian heavily linked, with the Mirror (via Sport) saying that the Reds have jumped to the head of the queue to secure the services of the Brazilian.

    Willian is one of a list of players whose contract runs out in the summer and the 31 year-old was keen to extend his time at Stamford Bridge by another three years but Chelsea were only wanting to give the veteran another two seasons as they eye look to boost their own attacking options with Philippe Coutinho heavily linked to the West London outfit.
     

     
    If this rumour does eventuate, then much like the Betway app Willian would be a very handy addition, not only with his eye for goal and playmaking ability but he also is a hard working player which would certainly fit into the Reds style.

    However a move for another player that Liverpool have been widely linked to has seemingly come to a halt.

    Timo Werner is reportedly keen and ready to move to the Reds in the off-season if they activate his £52million release clause.

    However The Mirror (via Sky Sports) say that Liverpool are not considering a bid before his clause expires on the 15th of June.

    While Werner has expressed his desire to join Liverpool, he is wary of fully committing to the club unless he is sure of receiving his fair share of playing time.

    With the formidable front three of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane not going anywhere for the foreseeable future, he may well have to bide his time on the substitutes bench and therefore a club like Chelsea who are actively looking for a striker could come in from the side and sign him.
     
    You sense this potential transfer has a few more twists and turns ahead in the upcoming months.

  • Florent Sinama-Pongolle has documented an example of the fierce feud between Steven Gerrard and El- Hadji Diouf.

    The Senegalese forward had a forgettable tenure on Merseyside with his on field performance subpar as best, while his antics quite often rubbed opponents and supporters the wrong way.

    But it was not just the opposition who had issues with Diouf and the Frenchman recalled that he was affected by the incident.

    The Mirror via (Sport Witness) reported Sinama-Pongolle as saying: 

    “Half-time of a preseason game. Fight between Diouf and Gerrard. I was traumatised,").

    “Can you imagine the young ones seeing this and thinking that’s what professionals are like at that level?

    "At half-time, in the dressing room. Stevie G is all like ‘you have to pass, you have to pass’ and [Diouf] just loses it.

    “He didn’t speak English. His English was rubbish. You know what he did? They hated each other so much.
     
    "Steven Gerrard arrives, he insults Diouf. ‘Hey, you f******’.

    “And [Diouf] couldn’t answer, so he grabs [former Liverpool boss] Gerard Houllier and says: ‘Tell him, I’ll f*** his mum’.

    "He came in and said: ‘I’m not his mate, I’ll do him in straight away’."
     


    Diouf and Gerrard had a number of run-ins when the two-time African player of the year left the Reds and have not been shy in documenting their hatred of each other.

    Gerrard referred to Diouf in his Autobiography as someone who never cared for the Reds or being a Footballer in general.

    Diouf in return had this to say:

    I respect the player, very big player, but the man, I do not respect. And I told him, I let him know that.

    "For me in Liverpool, he was not just a player like anyone else. He had to work and play his football as I had to work and play my football.

    "Then as you know, there were some brown-nosers, who went to the manager to repeat what I said. 

    “That was the real problem. 

    “When Gerrard did that, we had an argument, like real men."

    In Football there are times when feuds are put to rest after a number of years, but you sense this one will not be one of them.

     
  • Jürgen Klopp insists there is still plenty of improvement in this Liverpool team despite the success that they have had in the past 10 months.

    The Champions League success against Tottenham last June was followed by victories in the Super and Club World Cups.

    And the Reds stand on the cusp of securing the long awaited Premier League trophy after a superb season of consistency and fine all-round play.

    While admitting he cannot predict the future, what Klopp is certain of is that he sees plenty of room for improvement.

    Sky Sports reported the manager as saying:

    “We will not change, that's the first thing, but whether we will be successful depends on what other clubs are doing as well because they have all the chance to improve things, do things better. 

    “So I have no clue what the future will hold for us.

    "But we will not change, this team is not the finished article, and we have a lot of space for improvement, and we work on that.
     


    The German reflected on the challenging early days in his early tenure and was thankful for the support that he got from top management.

    “It was really clear we needed time. It was clear we cannot fix it overnight. Everyone wanted that, but we couldn't so I had to ask for time. I knew.

    "Before that in my career I never got the sack so I had no experience with that, but I knew then it was a different level, and if I can't deliver here quick enough, then I will get the sack.

    "We got that time, and the nice thing is that after six, seven, eight games, they were really positive about the situation, they realised we were on the right path. 

    “From that moment they didn't question it one second. They were full of faith and trust, and they said the path we will stay on, and everything will be fine.

    “That's what we did then. 

    "When we lost finals against Sevilla or City or Real Madrid, I think pundits say then if he doesn't' win the next one then they might change, but internally it was never somebody thinking like this."

    Klopp believes there is no rush to restart Football, but when it dies it can play an important role in the recovery of the country.

    “We are all at home, all isolated, we have no cases or stuff like this. If we come together and train in groups of two or five or six or eight, I'm not sure when that will be possible, we have to wait for the government on that. We cannot force that and will not, because we can't, there's absolutely nothing for that.

    “But if football can help in some departments with lifting the mood, giving something to think about and to deal with in a different way, then we have to start training at one point, but I don't know when that will be."

    “We will see, they [Germany] are all very optimistic they will start mid-May. We will see what that means.

    Klopp has regularly kept fans up to date with how he is coping in lockdown and finding things to keep him occupied such as watching movies, reading books speaking to his players via WhatsApp or learning new skills.

    He says while most things haven’t changed in his life, he certainly misses certain aspects of it.

    “Look, my life didn't change too much to be honest. I can't usually go out, stuff like that. 

    "I could go to Melwood once a day for eight, nine, 10 hours it would be the same because at home it is always the same.
     
    "We don't go in restaurants and stuff like this so we didn't change too much. So I don't miss this part of it, but of course I miss the boys, football, and for everybody else to have their normal life.

    "It's not important how I feel because I am used to a private lockdown if you like, but I can imagine for other people it is much more difficult and I hope it will change at some point."


     
  • To say that Liverpool FC has come alive under Jürgen Klopp is an understatement.
     
    What was once the greatest team in the English Premier League metamorphosed into an ordinary middle-table team. The arrival of the German coach in 2015 saw Liverpool going all the way to their first UEFA Champions League Final since 2007 in 2018. 
     
    That wasn't all; the Reds finished 2nd in the 2018–19 Premier League with a haul of 97 points. The best way to come with the first silverware for Liverpool after a long time in the form the UEFA Champions League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Liverpool's first FIFA Club World Cup.
     
    While the team is already out of the Champions League this year, they have an incredible 25 point lead of at the top of the English Premier League (EPL). However, it's the remarkable nature of their performances that have excited fans across the globe. 
     
    The indefatigable football team has broken multiple records this season. Take a look:
     
    44-Game Unbeaten Run
     
    With Liverpool's performances on the pitch, it had seemed that this was the team that would finally break Arsenal's record of going unbeaten through the season. However, their 3-0 loss to lowly Watford brought an end to the fairy tale. However, this was a remarkable record that fans will talk about for a long time.
     
    Most Home Wins In A Row
     
    All teams want to win at home and transform their home bases to fortresses. It doesn't always work, but for Liverpool FC, the 3-2 win over West Ham United marked their 21st consecutive Premier League home win. They took the record for most home wins in a row from their rivals Manchester City (20 home wins). 
     
    Best Start Ever
     
    The team's haul of 61 points from their opening 21 matches was a record for the best start ever in Europe's top five leagues. The Reds even extended their tally to 79 points from their first 27 games before losing to Watford. 
     
    Biggest Lead At The Top
     
    The 25 points gap that Liverpool has created at the top gives the team another record of the biggest lead at the top in English top-flight football.
     
    Most Points over 38 Matches 
     
    When Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur in January, it might have looked like another casual win. However, the team won another record for amassing104 points from 38 Premier League matches. 
     
    If you are a Red’s fan and a sport betting enthusiast, these stats help you determine the performance of the team at any time. To get a better idea, simply check all currently available football odds for the Reds’ and compare them with their latest performance stats to improve your chances of winning.
     
    Most Assists For A Defender
     
    It's not always easy to follow up on individual player records especially on assists. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold's impact as a defender is not easy to miss.  It's no wonder his tally of 12 assists is a record for a full-time member of the defense. 
     
    First International Treble For An English Team 
     
    Most football fans might not know this record but it is a proud one nevertheless. Liverpool is the first English team to win an international treble.  They hold theUEFA Super Cup, Champions League, and FIFA Club World Cup titles. 
     
    Final Thoughts  
     
    Liverpool FC still has many records they can break when football resumes. As a football fan, it's such records that make the game exciting. Such records distinguish ordinary teams and special teams. Whether you are a Liverpool fan or not, you have to admire their resolve and, of course, their beautiful game. 
  • Erdin Shaqiri clams that there will be a number of offers for his brother once the transfer window re-opens.

    Erdin is the agent of Xherdan and says there was a fair bit of interest in January, and feels that clubs will come again for the utility player who when fit has made a considerable impact for the Reds.
     
    "Big Shaq" as he is affectionately known, has not been a regular starter and at times has been frustrated by his lack of playing time but when he has been given an opportunity, then like a Bwin promo code he has often provided a welcome bonus. 

    The Echo (via Swiss outlet Blick) reported Erdin as saying.

    “I think there will be many offers for Xherdan in the summer. These - their names have already been taken up in various media - will knock again."

    Those three clubs are speculated to be Sevilla, Roma and CSKA Moscow.

    The impact of Shaqiri has been lessened by his knack of picking up muscle injuries that seem to linger. Add that to the fact that the team has been in fine form during this season and competition for places is incredibly fierce.
     

     
    In all, the 28 year-old has made just 10 appearances in all competitions this season with his only goal coming in the Derby.

    Erdin believes that there have been ideas floated by the manager in terms of getting Xherdan more involved, and believes when fit he should certainly be in the lineup.

    "Jurgen Klopp is in talks with him about more game practice - we have to wait and see.

    "I think Xherdan deserves a lot more. He was unlucky with his injuries.

    “But every time he could play again, he did his job and changed the game."
  • Loris Karius has lodged a complaint to FIFA against his current club Besiktas over unpaid wages.
     
    The goalkeeper who currently on loan at the Turkish club says that he is owed four months wages.

    It is a key reason behind his want to return to his parent club.

    A board member of the Turkish club confirmed the actions taken by the 26 year-old.
     


    The Evening Standard (via A Spor) reported Erdal Torunogullari as saying:

    “Karius has gone to Fifa over his unpaid wages and termination of his contract.

    “He wants us to pay him for the months he hasn’t played. 

    “He wants to leave, and that’s his decision.

    “We don’t want to make an undeserved payment.”

    The report also says that Liverpool would be willing to make up any shortfall in Karius' wages were he to return to Merseyside earlier than expected.

    But it remains to be seen if the Reds have any grounds to pursue legal action against Besiktas over the alleged breach of loan conditions by Beskitas.

    It is another chapter to what has almost become a soap opera in the career of Karius.

    While he may well be certainly in the right on this occasion, you just hope that things start going right for Loris wherever his next club may be and he makes his name as a solid gloveman.


     
  • Sunday Apr 12:
     
    Hodgson says the season needs to be completed, regardless of how it’s done. Now this is a fella whose team is 11th and has no real stake at the top or bottom. It would be easy for him to jump on the ‘void it’ bus but his comments on this were a lot more sensible than most I've seen of late. 
     
    Basically he said that everyone will have to make compromises on how long they get to prepare the players for the restart, and also that there may need to be a lot of games played in a short space of time. Good stuff from the old boy.
     
    Not so good stuff from Bernardo Silva though, who proved that it’s not just Man City’s press office that has a massive chip on their shoulder about the Reds.
     
    "I hope this is not a bad example, and people don't take it badly. But I always think about the last three seasons, Man City and Liverpool. Three seasons ago we win the league and they were 30 points behind. Kevin De Bruyne, unbelievable season, Mo Salah, scores a lot of goals. He's a great player and I admire him a lot, and they give the award to Mo Salah.”
     
    The way he casually dismissed Mo there - “scores a lot of goals”. He scored 44 goals you cunt. We’re talking about about the most historic goalscoring seasons in English football history. De Bruyne was phenomenal that year and could have won it, but you can’t blame anyone who was swayed by someone scoring 44 goals. Plus, he scored home and away against City in the CL, whereas De Bruyne did fuck all. Like it or not, that influences the voting.
     
    Silva wasn’t done whining though. "The season after, very tight. Raheem Sterling was on the run with van Dijk, they give the award to van Dijk. This season again, Kevin de Bruyne, another unbelievable season. We're behind, but because Liverpool are champions probably one of them is winning the award again."
     
    Cry me a river, short arse. If you want recognition, join a big club. Simple as that.
     
    Monday Apr 13:
     
    Didi Hamann says Werner wouldn’t fit our style. This is completely at odds with the general consensus, and Werner himself has spoken about how the way we play suits him perfectly. It feels like just because he runs around a lot everything thinks he’s a “Klopp player”. 
     
    There’s far more to it than that though and I agree with Hamann, which is not something I say very often as, much as it pains me to say, he’s a bit of a knob. His logic here is sound though. Werner would be a huge drop off from Salah or Mané out wide, and his style is completely different to Bobby’s so if he played central we wouldn’t be able to play the same way.
     
    As I’ve said before, I’m basing this on a small sample size but based on the limited amount I’ve seen him I reckon he’s a bit of a bull in a china shop and doesn’t have the guile required to play in our front three. 
     
    Tuesday Apr 14:
     
    Graeme Sharp wants the season void. You know, I’ve never liked that cunt. I actually have a lot of time for some of the Everton 80s Legends. For example I like Reidy and Big Nev is one of the best people around. Howie was my boy too, but Sharp is second behind Ratcliffe when it comes to being a bad bitter knobhead.
     
    Didn’t like him as a player as all he used to do was back in and try and get free kicks off Hansen and Lawro. He was all elbows and mullet, the prick. Can’t stand his little high pitched voice either, the whiny bastard. The only reason he’d want the season voided is to stop us winning the league. Bitter cunt.
     
    Story in Germany today that our plans to sign Werner are in the balance because Klopp can’t meet with him face to face because of this social distancing and no flights. What a load of fucking bollocks. That might have been a legitimate problem 10 years ago but not anymore. 
     
    IF Klopp is trying to sign him, he’ll have been face timing the shit out of him. Hell, he’s probably part of the daily yoga class we’ve been seeing on LFCTV, only they’ve carefully edited him out before they post it online. Can just see Werner giving the “Naby laaaaaaad” with the others. His birthday was in March, so Ox probably sang to him in German.
     
    On a serious note though, this deal has now become complicated as fuck as the buy out clause had to be activated this month to get him at the rescued fee, but everything has to be on hold now as no clubs have any idea how long this is going to last and how much it’s going to cost them if they have to keep paying the players.
     
    Wednesday Apr 15:
     
    31 years ago today a large number of people died due to the incompetence of the establishment. The establishment didn’t accept responsibility of course, they pointed the finger of blame anywhere they could to avoid admitting their role in so many needless deaths.
     
    Still, that was 31 years ago and at least that’s not happening anym… ah, ok. 
     
    As a great man once sang “the more things change the more they stay the same”. 
     
    If the rest of the nation were as clued up as the people of Liverpool and surrounding areas (not you Southport, you cunts) then this shit wouldn’t keep happening. 
     
    RIP the 96 and the thousands who died at Grenfell and those who are still dying through this fucking wretched virus.
     
    Thursday Apr 16:
     
    Loris Karius has come out swinging. Not sure what prompted this, but maybe he just needed to get it off his chest...
     
    “In retrospect, I should have dealt with it more aggressively in public. I had a concussion after a blow from Sergio Ramos, which restricted my spatial vision. 
     
    “This was unequivocally ascertained in a detailed study by one of the world’s leading brain specialists. At first, I was happy to know what went on in this game. I didn’t want to make it public myself.
     
    "When the result was released, there was a lot of malice and insult, often well below the belt. I never used it as an excuse. But when people make fun of someone who has badly injured their head, I have no understanding.
     
    "The reactions were over the top and disrespectful. My mistakes were not assessed fairly.
     
    Ok this might surprise you, but I agree with every single word of that. I’m 100% convinced he had a concussion because that first mistake was so outrageous that there is literally no other explanation for it. “No, he’s just shit” is the reason I often see given. It’s bollocks though. He’s never made a mistake like that Benzema goal before and will never do it again. In fact, I’d be surprised if there is another keeper on the planet who has made a mistake exactly like that one. 
     
    The idea that it just happened and had nothing to do with the bang on the head is as stupid as those fucking goons out there now in America with the placards saying “Corona virus is fake”. He had a concussion and it fucked up his game and cost us a European Cup. Nothing wrong with what he said there.
     
    He wasn’t done though.
     
    "All my efforts and good performances before were suddenly no longer relevant. The reactions were over the top and disrespectful, especially that it has been drawn out in this way. Errors are measured with different, even abnormal, dimensions and are not assessed fairly.

    “You can’t blame fans if they whistle a player. You pay an admission [fee] and have the right to be dissatisfied. A professional has to endure that. If there are personal insults or death threats, the line is then crossed. There were some of them [death threats], but I can’t take that seriously. These are people who write anonymously and don’t even show their faces in their profiles."
     
    He’s right there too, although he’s definitely overstating his previous ‘efforts and good performances’ because he was never any good even before Ramos clobbered him.
     
    And that’s the thing. He wasn’t good enough before, he was always going to make mistakes because average goalkeepers do that. What happened in the final put a massive bullseye on his back though, so any mistake he makes now is magnified hugely.
     
    There are some things he said and did in the aftermath that pissed me off (the Baywatch video especially), but generally I just feel sorry for him because there’s no coming back from what happened in Kiev, especially for a goalkeeper.  
     
    Friday April 17:
     
    I thought these comments from Rushy were interesting regarding the possibility of playing behind closed doors:
     
    “I wasn’t the best trainer and sometimes I would just go through the motions. But in front of 40,000 or 50,000 fans I would come alive. If you’re playing in front of no one it begs the question, would you be any good? Would you be up for it, first of all? Would it be the same as a normal game in front of a crowd?

    “It will be like playing a Sunday league game. I don’t think the standard of games will be very good. It will be hard to get motivated even if something is at stake. Crowds bring excitement.

    “Celebrating goals will be strange for a start without there being any crowd interaction and it will still be a shame to see games without the fans who are the lifeblood of the game."
     
    I’ve often wondered what games would be like with no fans. I didn’t watch PSG’s games behind closes doors and I don’t think I’ve ever watched a game with no crowd. Our players thrive off the energy of the crowd at home, but we’re great away from home so I think they’d cope fine in an empty stadium, but I don’t know for sure.
     
    Rushy made some good points there. Some players mightn’t handle it as well as others, but the most important thing here is that if playing in a closed stadium is the only way to finish the season, then it’s something we all just have to deal with. It’s going to be shit though.
     
    One final point worth mentioning. Rush also said that this current team is the best Liverpool side he’s seen. That’s a bold statement, but one I agree with and I’ve felt that way for a couple of years. It counts for a lot more when Rush says it though!
     
    Saturday April 18:
     
    The Souness / Pogba ‘feud’ which has been rumbling for months came to a head this week when Pogba said he’d never even heard of Souness. Doesn’t surprise me in the least. Pogba doesn’t exactly seem like a student of the game, does he? He comes across as one of those lads who doesn’t even like footy and who wouldn’t even give it a seconds thought when he isn’t training or playing. He probably doesn’t even know half of the United legends, let alone the Liverpool ones. He’s fucking lucky he’s playing now and never had to face Souey. Imagine what Souness would do to a preening twat like him.
     
    Meanwhile, Alisson is back in training. That would be big news if there were any games to play, but there aren’t so it’s largely irrelevant. If he hadn’t gotten injured we might still be in the two cup competitions we got knocked out of because of Adrian’s clangers. God, that seems like a lifetime ago now doesn’t it?
     
    Saw this today from Sadio’s international team-mate, Keita Balde. “It depends on many things" Keita Balde told AS when asked if Mane would welcome a move to Madrid. "I don't know what his decision is. In a year or two, maybe he will want to change and I don't think he wants to be there all his life.
      "He is a smart boy and he knows what is good for him and what he has to do. But in Madrid they are giving many names."
    "The coach [Jurgen Klopp] loves him very much. Something very attractive has to come for him to leave Liverpool. He has given much to Liverpool and Liverpool to him. A big one will have to come and I promise him a lot to think about it. There are few teams like Liverpool."
     
    What the fuck is all that shit? Just say “I don’t know where Sadio will be playing in a couple of years” and leave it that. There’s more waffle in there than in one of the government’s daily corona briefings. Lots of talking while saying absolutely fucking nothing. Shut up, Keita Balde. 
     
    Sunday April 19:
     
    Nice interview with Klopp on the official site. He’s just so great isn’t he? Just a really funny guy. He was asked about what he’s been doing and he mentioned some of his favourite movies. Waterboy and Dumb and Dumber, only he pronounced the ‘B’ in Dumb and Dumber and it was hilarious. 
     
    He says it’s not fun for anyone to watch them with him because he laughs so loud that they miss the next joke. What a man. I’d love nothing more than to sit and watch Dumb and Dumber with Kloppo.
     
    Actually maybe that’s true. Spending a day with Robbo might top everything. He’s one of the most naturally funny lads I can remember playing for us. It was obvious from the very first time LFCTV gave him licence to express himself (commentating on the derby game from the season before he arrived) that he’s a funny cunt, and everything he’s done since confirmed it. 
     
    Today he posted his ‘to do list’ on twitter and it was boss. Some of the highlights were four different phone calls to Trent just to make sure he’s ok, drinking Irn Bru “because you deserve it Andy”, texting Virg to tell him he misses him and browsing Milly’s insta. He’s sound. All the lads seem sound, but Robbo is the one who’d be the best company. Him and Milner I reckon.
     
    Christ I’m bored.
     
    Monday April 20:
     
    Not much happening today, although Lovren took out his son with a full blooded slidey in his back garden and posted it on instagram. I’m one of big Dejan’s biggest fans and this has made me love him even more. 
     
    Fuck all else going on.
     
     
    ....and that was the week that was
     
  • Only a handful of Premier League clubs will be active in the next transfer window.

    This is the view of former Liverpool and Tottenham director of Football Damien Comolli who feels the global outbreak of Covid-19 will change the market for the foreseeable future.

    The Mirror via Sky Sports reported the Frenchman as saying:

    “An agent was telling me the other day, that there are actually only three clubs in the Premier League will be able to spend money next summer in the transfer window,"

    “I don't know if this is correct but usually when agents tell you things like this, they usually get intel.

    “We might see very little transfer activity, we might see swaps, we might see loans and I think we are going to see a massive decrease in transfer fees and transfer activity, at least transfers involving money.

    “The longer this crisis goes on, more clubs are going to be in a financially difficult situation. 

    “The first thing that will be impacted will be player remuneration, the second thing will be transfer fees”

    Liverpool have notably reduced their spending in the past two transfer windows with Takumi Minamino being the greatest outlay in that period costing just over £7 million, so it is quite possible that they are one club who can afford to spend.

    Meanwhile a former member of the European Parliament believes the transfer fees for players will be greatly reduced in this new world that we will experience once the health crisis subsides.

    Daniel Cohn-Bendit is a member of the French political party Europe Ecology - The Greens, and he believes that it will be a real opportunity to take stock of the footballing landscapes.

    “This crisis will clean up the irrationality of professional sport. It’s like there was a nuclear attack and it had to be rebuilt, but on other grounds.”

    “Tomorrow, Mbappe will cost at most €35-40m and no longer €200m. And who can buy him?
     


    “There will be de facto regulation. Going even further on a salary cap could be necessary. It is a reorganisation that goes not only through the players' salaries, but also through the right to images and publicity.

    “A little more sobriety is enough for me.

    “A little more sobriety and a little more equality would be a good start. 

    “Footballers will not play worse if they are paid less.”

     
  • Ian Rush has expressed reservations over the plans to play games behind closed doors saying that it will be hard for a player to motivate themselves.

    The Reds sit in the cusp of a landmark title win but have been made to wait to collect their deserved reward due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Many ideas have been discussed over the past month over how to conclude this season, but the most likely scenario sees to be games being played in empty stadiums.

    It is something that the Liverpool legend has some interesting thoughts about.

    The Mirror reported Rush as saying:

    “I’ve never played a game behind closed doors so I don’t know what it’s like. 

    “But I don’t think it would bring the best out of me.

    “I wasn’t the best trainer and sometimes I would just go through the motions. But in front of 40,000 or 50,000 fans I would come alive.
     
    “If you’re playing in front of no one it begs the question, would you be any good? Would you be up for it, first of all? Would it be the same as a normal game in front

    “It will be like playing a Sunday league game. 

    "I don’t think the standard of games will be very good. It will be hard to get motivated even if something is at stake. 

    “Crowds bring excitement.

    “Celebrating goals will be strange for a start without there being any crowd interaction and it will still be a shame to see games without the fans who are the lifeblood of the game."
     



    Rush said that his dream scenario would be if the fans could be there to see the team lift the Premier League trophy, but exercising strict social distancing measures in the process.

    However if there were to be no resumption, the team would just have to dust themselves off and go again.

    “If Liverpool are at home and they can win the league I want to be there even if we all have to be two metres apart.

    “But seriously, if it doesn’t happen and the Premier League is declared null and void then you have to move on and not let it affect you. 

    “This Liverpool team is the best I’ve ever seen and I’m certain they will come again."


     


     
  • Steven Gerrard believes he had an telepathic connection with Michael Owen on the pitch, but his one regret was that they didn’t play longer together.

    Gerrard who played with some world-class strikers throughout his career believed the pair were on same wavelength every time they took to the playing arena.

    The Mirror via Sky Sports reported Gerrard as saying:

    “I played with Michael when I was quite young, I’d have liked to have played with Michael further on into our careers when we were both at our prime. 
     


    “I didn’t even have to look when I was crossing the ball, I didn’t have to look twice to see if he was running.

    “I always knew Michael was on the same page and wavelength.

    The talismanic former captain also loved the connection with Fernando Torres, but felt with Luis Suarez it was a bit different as he was playing a different role.

    “I had that same connection with Torres when I moved further up and played in that more advanced role as a no. 10.

    “My role with Suarez was different because I was deeper. I think Suarez had other talents around him, i.e. Coutinho and Sturridge who were capable of creating as well so there was less onus on myself.

    “I’d say Michael Owen and Torres were the two that I thought got the best out of me as a No 8 midfielder.”


     
  • Liverpool are reportedly in talks with the agent of Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic over a off-season move.

    Brozović is a 27 year-old Croatian international with a number of years of experience in the Serie A and was one of the star performers of his country’s run to the 2018 World Cup final.

    The biggest strength of Brozović lies in his flexibility and all-round nature of his game.

    He can play in many different roles, be it as the holding midfielder or as a box to box player and his work rate has been praised by a number of managers including Antonio Conte.
     


    Speaking during the early part of the 2019/20 season, it was clear that the first-year Inter manager admired the talents of Brozović but was also felt he had things he needed to work on.
     
    And he was certainly was not keen to not put him on a mantle as some had likened his play to the legendary Andrea Pirlo.

    "Brozo can get better. He can get better with his passes to the attack, he can set up more goals,.

    “We are working on this. I think he needs to also work on his defensive game. 

    “A holding midfielder must be good in defence too. He can become world class.
     
    "As for Pirlo, I do not want to make a comparison with Brozo. 

    “Pirlo is someone who is a genius. He made history in this game.

    "Brozo has different traits, he is training well and I am pleased with him. I want him to become a world-class player."

    Brozović has certainly worked at his craft, and his reward has been to wear the captain’s armband on a number of occasions this season.

    The midfielder still has another two years left on his contract, and the Express (via Italian publication (Libero) say his buy-out clause currently stands at £52 million which may prove an obstacle for a player set to turn 28 in November.

    Conversely, Inter are believed to be looking at Gini Wijnaldum’s contract status, but the report also says that the Reds are growing ever more confident in locking away the popular Dutchman until 2024 on a contract worth £120,000 per week.




     
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