TLW

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.” View full article

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." View full article

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.” View full article

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. View full article

Loris Karius has spoken publicly about the level of animosity that he received following his calamitous performance in the 2018 Champions League final.The German keeper who signed for the Reds in the summer of 2016 made a number of errors during his two seasons as a first team squad member, but was supported by Jürgen Klopp throughout that period.When you have a public profile, you are bound to receive criticism angles whenever a high profile error is made.Karius was directly at fault for two of the Real Madrid goals in their 3-1 victory, but says that there were a number of mitigating circumstances that were behind his poor display.The Mirror (via Sports Bild) reported Karius as saying:“Believe me, I’ve learned a lot from that.“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.The keeper knew that there would be some critical analysis, but even he was taken aback by the pure vitriol."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.Karius believes professional Footballers have to accept that they are going to be in the firing line for supporters, but there is a line that should not be crossed. "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."It became evident after the final that a new first choice Goalkeeper would be on the top of Jürgen Klopp’s transfer hitlist.Klopp assessed his options and took his time before finally identifying his man which was Alisson.The rest as they say is history.Karius was soon on his way to a Turkey to play for Besiktas on a two year loan.It has been anything but smooth sailing and while his future remains clouded, he still has a fondness for his parent club and keeps in close contact with certain figures there.“I primarily write with goalkeeper coach John Achterberg. “Almost weekly, he is my first point of contact.“But now and then I also write with Jurgen Klopp, I am in good contact with everyone. I was never out of it.“The fact is that I have a contract in Liverpool until 2022. “And at the moment I'm just concentrating on the season at Besiktas.“It is far too early to say anything about summer. "Especially now that nobody knows exactly what to do because of the coronavirus." View full article

Curtis Jones will be a member of the Liverpool first team squad next season.The Mirror reports that Jürgen Klopp has no intention to send the impressive young midfielder out on loan and has been earmarked to make more regular league appearances.There will certainly be more minutes available for the likes of Jones and Harvey Elliott especially when you take into account that Adam Lallana and Xherdan Shaqiri are likely to leave the club in the off-season.The 19 year-old was the standout star of Liverpool’s FA Cup run this season scoring two goals including the winner against Everton and generally looking at home against seasoned professionals. His leadership qualities are known throughout the club as he is currently the U/23 Captain and led the team in their fourth round tie against Shrewsbury.Although he found the going notably tougher in the next round against Chelsea, it was a incredibly valuable lesson in the senior Football education of the local product.Speaking after the Derby, the manager expressed his delight of the performance by Jones and what was to come.“Unbelievable player, Scouser, very confident, can't wait to play in the first team. Rightly so.“He has made big steps, he will be a Liverpool player if nothing strange happens 100 per cent."However Danny Mills has issued a word of warning to the youngster with the former Leeds and Man City defender saying that it is wise to explore all options before committing to stay at the club.“If you get the opportunity to go out and play – go out and play,”“You have to look at players on an individual basis. Is he really going to play at Liverpool?“Probably not. It is not that he has given up, it is being realistic.“Do not damage yourself.”However with the record that Klopp has developing young players wherever he has been, you sense Jones is at exactly the right club for his future. View full article

Igor Biscan has given a frank assessment of his time at Liverpool.The Croatian international came to the Reds in December of 2000 from Dinamo Zagreb for around £5.5 million.He made a number of handy appearances during that treble season including the famous win at Old Trafford and in the League Cup final against Birmingham City, however being cup-tied, he couldn’t play in the successful UEFA Cup campaign.He was rarely used for the next two seasons (22 appearances in all), but was back in favour for the 2003/4 campaign which ended up being his most prominent of his Liverpool career with 39 appearances.In a interview with the Official site republished in the Echo, Biscan who won four trophies in his Liverpool career documented his Reds journey with true honesty.“I wasn’t good enough, to be honest.“It took me some time to really adapt and understand and find my place in the team, within the team in this type of football.“It wasn’t easy and I didn’t play much. “I just needed to change some things about the way I think about the game; then I did it and when I did it, when I changed some things, of course I still had to be patient and give myself a little bit of time.“Then it was OK, I felt much better and felt I could play much easier."While Biscan only played one season under Rafa Benitez, he said it was his most enjoyable where he was able to play in his preferred position.And the results were clear for everyone to see as the cult figure played a key part in the Reds successful Champions League run. “When he (Benitez) first spoke to me, he asked me which position I preferred to play and I told him I’d like to play as a central midfielder or defensive midfielder.“At least that’s what I thought And I contributed the way I expected myself to contribute during the whole period I was there. “Sometimes it just happens like this. Fortunately for me, I managed to reach at least that level of quality that I could play a part."While Biscan did not get to play a minute in the iconic final, he did not take the decision to heart.“You want your team to win, your club to win because it’s the final, probably the biggest game in club football.“Inside yourself you feel a little bit disappointed but, ,it’s just too important a game to have any selfish thoughts or any type of thoughts like this. “You just don’t think in that way.”Biscan talked a bit about that European run in the 2004/5 season and the emotion that he felt when Jerzy Dudek saved Andriy Shevchenko’s penalty.“It (the final) was crazy. After the last penalty kick… it’s difficult to explain because of the way we won it, not only this game – that game is a separate story and the most amazing one - but the whole season and especially in that competition, where we struggled a bit and it looked like we weren’t going to make it through the group stage."But once we managed to get from the group stage we just looked solid – very solid and tough. It looked like nobody would beat us."The celebrations in the stadium, after in the hotel and when we came back to the streets of the city, it’s difficult to explain really. It’s a blur, it’s so emotional – really, really emotional. Unbelievable."Since retiring, Biscan has turned to management and won his fair share of honours along the way including the Slovenian Prvaliga with Olimpija Ljublana.Currently Biscan is the Croatian U/21 manager, a role he is enjoying greatly.“It’s a different job to club football. “You have more time, you can spend more time with your family, you can spend more time going around watching games, thinking about football. It’s a nice change for me.Biscan says his main aim is to challenge himself and be the best manager possible.“I try to learn, just to learn. Every period of time that passes by, I try to learn more and be a better coach. It’s a very complex job. “The results will say how good I am. “So far with Croatia, so far so good, I would say. “My intentions are to test myself on a high level so we will see. View full article

Marko Grujic admits that he may have to join another club to continue his career.The Serbian defensive midfielder was Jürgen Klopp’s first signing as Liverpool manager in January of 2016.He was coveted by a number of Europe’s top clubs but the Reds swooped in to get their man for around £5 million.But in that four year period, the 24 year old has made just 14 appearances for the club, and as Liverpool have a number of senior midfielders on their books, they have looked to send Grujic on loan to gain first team experience.A catalogue of injuries have hindered his progress somewhat, but Grujic himself knows that it is now or never if he wants to make the grade at the senior level.Even if that means calling time on his Liverpool career.The Echo (via The Athletic) reported the current Hertha Berlin loanee as saying“That challenge is so big.“Those boys have performed so well this season, which I’m happy about. “There are a lot of quality midfielders at Liverpool. It’s honestly hard to get a chance.”“I’m not stupid. I know that Liverpool right now are an unbelievable team, the best team in the world."So, I know that I have to be at a very high level if I want to have a chance."When he has got his body right, Grujic has impressed many observers with his quality at Hertha.There was talk that a permanent deal was in the works at the end of last season but Liverpool wanted to keep him on their books and monitor his progress.Grujic admits all options are now on the table. At the age of 24, I’m at the stage when I need to be making important steps in my career. I need to think and I need to be clever about what happens next.“Is the best thing to stay in Liverpool and wait for a chance or is it time to have another loan or move to another club? “At the moment, I don’t know the answer. Everything is still open."It is refreshing to see a player so realistic about where he is currently placed.If there to be a continuation to this season, Grujic knows how pivotal the next few months can be to his own career. View full article

Dietmar Hamann has significant doubt whether Timo Werner would be a good fit for Liverpool.The RB Leipzig striker is on the top of the transfer Wishlist of many clubs after producing an outstanding body of work over the last couple of years at RB Leipzig.This season the 24 year-old has scored 27 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions for his club. Liverpool have been constantly been linked, and there appears to be mutual respect and interest between both parties.However the former Liverpool midfielder and German international feels that Werner would not fit into the Reds system at this moment of time and perhaps he was too keen in signalling his interest.Football 365 via The Athletic reported Hamann as saying: “I don’t think he’s a player for [Bayern] Munich or Liverpool [with] the way they play at the moment. “I read quotes from journalists or people close to the club in Liverpool when he always said Liverpool is a great club [and that] Klopp is the greatest trainer, that he was a bit too forward in showing interest in going to Liverpool."Where’s he going to play? "Even if Mane or Salah go, [then] out wide is not his position and the centre-forward position, the way they do play, is probably the most crucial one.Hamann feels that the work of Roberto Firmino is greatly underrated and needs to come into the equation in regards to if any deal for Werner is viable. “Firmino is probably a bit underrated in some people’s eyes. "He’s a ball-playing centre-forward, he probably doesn’t get the goals that other players get.“But he brings other players into position and that’s certainly not Werner’s game, so [it’s] a no from me.” View full article

Easter is often seen as a time of reflection and former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has done just that.The former English international was a crowd favourite in his three year spell for the club.When in form, the beanpole forward was a absolute nightmare for opposition defenders and contrary to the impression that target men are one-dimensional, Crouch had a terrific technical ability and scored many memorable goals with his feet.In looking back at his career, Crouch spoke of one regret in his long and distinguished career.The Mirror (via The Mail) reported Crouch as saying:“Things happen for a reason and I accepted many things in my career, such as losing the Champions League final in 2007.“The one thing that niggles away at me is leaving Liverpool in 2008. Rafa Benitez was happy to let me go and I was only ever going to be a Plan B.“One of the reasons I went to Portsmouth was because Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were such a dynamic partnership.“But, 18 months later, when I saw Andriy Voronin and David Ngog getting opportunities, it made me wish I had stayed.“You don't leave a club like Liverpool easily." After leaving Pompey, Crouch went on to play for Tottenham and Stoke before ending his professional career with a very brief spell at Burnley last season.In all, Crouch scored 42 goals in 134 appearances for Liverpool while for England, he had an outstanding ratio of 22 goals in just 42 appearances.Crouch narrowed down what his favourite three goals in his career were:“The first would be the goal that completed my hat-trick for Liverpool against Arsenal in March 2007; the technique, the move that led to it and putting it away in front of The Kop was special."For emotion and an adrenaline rush, scoring against Manchester City to put Tottenham into the Champions League was incredible. If I think about it now, I can still see the away end going mental.“Last but not least, I'll pick my first goal for England, at Anfield, against Uruguay in March 2006." View full article

Charlie Nicholas has offered a somewhat critical view regarding the form of Virgil Van Dijk this season.The Sky Sports pundit believes the Dutchman has not been at the same level as he was last year.Football 365 via Sky Sports reported the former Arsenal striker as saying:"Has he been as good as last year? No. “He looks cumbersome and sluggish at times, but his pace can rescue him.“He has pace and purpose on the ball, while having a great awareness of danger He never jumps in and rarely dives in.“If someone is really quick, they may have a chance, or if a player is tricky, they could send him the wrong way, but he stands up and asks them to do something, meaning the player would normally lay it off. "He has an authority within the game."While thinking that Van Dijk has not been up to his elite standards this campaign, Nicholas does not doubt his ability and still believes he should be in the Premier League team of the season. “Is he as good as what people think? "Yes, he is that good. People are scared to test him. Little balls in behind can make him vulnerable, but who isn’t? “He is a leader and has such a response of being on the ball, whether it be 10 yards or 60. "He is good in the air both in attack and defence, he has to be in the team of the season.” View full article

With general life grinding to a halt in the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, you may have seen a fair share of “best of” lists being published all over the World Wide Web. Football is certainly no different in that regard. There have been all manner of 'Best XI's' and 'Combined XI's' and one of the most discussed was when Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane debated Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool Or Ferguson's United? The latest premier league outright odds has the Reds at the shortest price any team has been at this stage of the season and that prompted some discussion as to how they compared with United's 1999 treble winners. Comparing players from different eras is tricky, however, whereas a team of the season is more straight forward as it's easier to compare players. With that in mind, Paul Merson has revealed his team of the Premier League season and it includes a extremely high number of Liverpool players.The exact number is eight, which is an illustration of the dominance that the Reds have displayed over the rest of the league.That figure is one more than his fellow Sky Sports analyst Jamie Carragher who included seven Liverpool players.In goal, Carragher included the impressive Sheffield United Dean Henderson while Merson went with Alisson.In terms of the back four, Carra went with all Liverpool players,, while Merson selected Crystal Palace central defender Gary Cahill over Joe Gomez.The Mirror reported Merson explained his reasoning for going with the former Chelsea man."He's been outstanding for Crystal Palace."He came in last summer and you've got to remember he didn't play much football at all last season for Chelsea."He was completely frozen out at Stamford Bridge and he really shouldn't have been considering what he did for the club and what a good player he was."To then go to Palace where you are playing in a team that only gets 35 to 40 per cent possession, compared to Chelsea's 60 per cent, and to defend as well as he has, he deserves credit. “He has marshalled that defence and he's a key reason Palace aren't deep in a relegation battle."Both pundits went for the same three In midfield in Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum and Kevin De Bruyne.Merson explained his admiration for the Dutchman. "He's got to go in for me - Another outstanding performer for Liverpool."I put him down as a big-game player."He gets big goals in big games. “There are a lot of players around who score a lot of goals, but if you weigh their goals up, they'll get the third or fourth in a 4-0 win, or they'll get the consolation goal in a 5-1 defeat. "Another really top player, who goes under the radar."While Sadio Mane and Mo Salah were no brainers in the front three for both Carragher and Merson, there was one difference in their choice for the final forward spot.Carragher went with the talismanic Man City frontman Sergio Aguero but Merson went for Jamie Vardy, a player whose importance to the fortunes of his team is indisputable.“It's freakish what he's done for Leicester this season. He took a big gamble by saying he wouldn't play for England again to look after himself and extend his career."After doing that, though, he has produced at the highest level."He's recaptured his form and is back to the Vardy we all knew, and that Vardy is an absolute nightmare to play against.”These lists are always a bit of fun and certainly bound to start discussion and debate.But when it comes to Liverpool this season, no discussion is needed. View full article