Liverpool FC News Recap: Szoboszlai update, more Mbappe, Fulham fallout
Here’s our Liverpool FC news recap for Thursday 11th of January. The Reds are entering their winter break after the win over Fulham.
Liverpool won’t play for 10 days now – it’ll feel like a long wait before the game at Bournemouth on January 21st. Still, they go into the break in good spirits after the 2-1 win over Fulham in the Carabao Cup.
It’s not exactly shaping up to be a busy transfer window, but with the Reds thriving at the top of the Premier League and in all four cup competitions, there’s no great need for additions. Not that there’s nothing to talk about.
Here’s our Liverpool new update for Thursday.
SZOBOSZLAI TEASES POSSIBLE RETURN
Dominik Szoboszlai has revealed when he could return for Liverpool from a hamstring injury. The midfielder has been out for two games.
The Hungarian – who has just been named his country’s player of the year – provided an update on his fitness this week. Things sound about as positive as you could hope for.
“I am still running without a ball, but soon I will be able to carefully try training with a ball,” he told Nemzeti Sport. “I am getting better.”
Szoboszlai was then asked whether he could play in Liverpool’s very next game: away at Bournemouth on January 21st. The midfielder is certainly hopeful.
➡️ READ MORE
MBAPPE USING LIVERPOOL?
Guillem Balague has laid out exactly why Liverpool are in the Kylian Mbappe ‘equation’ right now. The Frenchman is in high demand.
It feels like an incredibly unlikely transfer for Liverpool. They’ve literally never completed a signing of this magnitude; getting Mbappe would be far and away the biggest signing in the Reds’ history.
So why is there any confidence? Well, Guillem Balague suggests this might simply be a case of Mbappe using Liverpool as he pushes for a big contract.
➡️ READ MORE
DARWIN NUNEZ: PLAYMAKER
Jurgen Klopp admitted he was at a loss as to how to explain the reason for Darwin Nuñez’s finishing struggles, but underlined his happiness with the forward, who bagged two assists as Liverpool beat Fulham on Wednesday night.
The Uruguayan’s finishing has been the topic of much debate, while he had four shots in the win over Fulham. However, what cannot be faulted is his link-up play.
With ten lay-ons in just 167 minutes in all competitions, Nuñez has the best assist rate of all Premier League players this season – as reported by Opta.
➡️ READ MORE
BRADLEY ON ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
Conor Bradley described his Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold as ‘probably the best player in the world at the moment’ following the Reds win over Fulham on Wednesday night.
Speaking after the game, the full back said: “Trent’s obviously the best right-back in the world at the moment, probably the best player in the world at the moment with the way he’s playing.
“He’s a big miss but I just tried to do everything I could to fill in for him and thankfully we got the win.”
➡️ READ MORE
CHAMBERS COULD LEAVE ON LOAN
Liverpool youngster Luke Chambers is the subject of interest from League One side Wigan Athletic, according to a report.
Paul Joyce of the Times now reports that Wigan are ‘interested’ in taking Chambers on loan.
If sanctioned, the move would further deplete Jurgen Klopp’s options at left-back, with the versatile Gomez the only fit senior option with experience in the role in the absences of Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas.
READ NEXT:
Jamie Carragher claims Liverpool was right on massive transfer call Jürgen Klopp ‘didn’t want’
Jamie Carragher has recounted how an ‘adamant’ Liverpool once pushed back on Jürgen Klopp’s transfer preference, showcasing how business should be done.
Jamie Carragher has used a Liverpool example to explain the ideal transfer dynamic between managers and their clubs.
(Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)Jamie Carragher reckons Liverpool’s choice to sign Mohamed Salah instead of Julian Brandt in 2017 shows that managers shouldn’t always get their way. Jürgen Klopp had first set his sights on his compatriot, but ended up signing Salah for $45m (£35m/€41m).
The Reds boss initially wanted to bring the then-Bayer Leverkusen winger to the Premier League, but Liverpool opted for the Egyptian player instead. Despite being linked with a $32m (£25m/€29m) move, Brandt turned down Liverpool’s advances.
Despite his earlier struggles at Chelsea, Salah has been a huge success at Liverpool. The 31-year-old has won numerous honors, including the Premier League and Champions League, and has broken many records.
READ MORE: Everyone made Moneyball point when I spotted Liverpool quirk as FSG transfer plan ‘unlocked’
READ MORE: João Palhinha did something no player has against Liverpool this season after transfer admission
Carragher discussed who should have a say in signing players during a Stick to Football episode. He was joined by Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Jill Scott and Gary Neville. They debated whether recruitment teams and data-driven transfer dealings should be used, or if those in the dugout should control the market business.
Carragher said on the Stick to Football podcast: “When he initially came in, an interesting one was Mohamed Salah and Jürgen Klopp is open about this. He didn’t want to sign him, he wanted Julian Brandt.
“Liverpool had tried to sign Salah before he went to Chelsea and the people behind the scenes at Liverpool were still there and Salah then went to Roma, and they were very adamant that they had to sign this player. You look at what Mohamed Salah has done, but it could have easily gone the other way.
“I do feel that this idea that managers should buy every player isn’t right, but a manager shouldn’t have a player pushed on him. I don’t think a manager should just be able to do what he wants, you look at Manchester United and it’s worrying, it feels as if he’s [Erik ten Hag] just bought every player he knows.”
These days, Brandt is making waves in Germany with Klopp’s old team, Borussia Dortmund. The 27-year-old has shown his worth, appearing 215 times for Leverkusen before moving to Dortmund where he’s played nearly 200 games.
Making the move to Anfield ‘wasn’t right’ according to Brandt. “I had that chance to take that next step to join Liverpool, but the time wasn’t right for me,” he revealed to The Athletic in 2023. “I was aware that they were also looking at Mo Salah at the time. It’s a shame because I would have loved to play for Kloppo.”
Liverpool.com says: Only a select few will ever know how close Liverpool came to getting Brandt instead of Salah, or exactly how hard Klopp pushed for his man. But it’s safe to say the right final decision was reached.
In fairness to Brandt, his subsequent career shows he probably could have made a success of it at Liverpool, but it’s hard to imagine he would have become one of the world’s best players in the way Salah has. This was undoubtedly a sliding doors moment, and shows the value of collaboration across various departments when it comes to recruitment decisions.
READ NEXT:
Fixture change hands Liverpool an FA Cup financial boost as fourth-round path clear
Liverpool will face either Norwich City and Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup fourth round
Liverpool’s FA Cup fourth round tie has been picked for broadcast as the Reds await the winners of Norwich City and Bristol Rovers.
Jurgen Klopp’s side booked their place in the next stage of the competition after beating Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium. Luis Diaz rubber-stamped the win, rounding off an incisive counter-attack, after Jakub Kiwior’s own-goal broke the deadlock late on.
The triumph against Premier League opposition kept their hopes of a ninth FA Cup alive, as they remain in the hunt for a famous quadruple. Wednesday’s win over Fulham handed Liverpool the advantage in their Carabao Cup semi-final as the record-holders take a 2-1 lead into the second-leg at Craven Cottage.
READ MORE: Liverpool will soon welcome ‘new signings’ back as Jurgen Klopp faces selection dilemma
READ MORE: Angry Jurgen Klopp given referee apology as Liverpool make unexpected change
The League Cup is the first chance to pick up silverware but they have a strong chance of adding to their honours board with a date in the Europa League knockout stages set, as well as a three-point cushion at the top of the Premier League.
Liverpool are now scheduled to play the victors of the Canaries and the Gas on Sunday, January 28 with the game live on ITV 1 at 2:30pm.
David Wagner’s side travel to the Memorial Ground on January 17 looking to book an encounter with the Liverpool boss, and friend of over 25 years.
The Championship and League One side played out a draw in their initial meeting at Carrow Road as Grant Ward’s strike earned a replay, cancelling out Ashley Barnes’ opener on 12 minutes.
Bristol Rovers appointed Matt Taylor as Joey Barton’s replacement, after the former QPR and Newcastle United midfielder was sacked from his role as manager.
So far, Taylor has a 44% win percentage as the South West club sit nine points off the top six in League One.
Each club picked for broadcasting will receive a live broadcast fee of £110,000 in addition to any payments from the competition’s prize fund which stands at £120,000 for fourth-round winners.
Leave a Reply