Hello and welcome to the Liverpool ECHO's Saturday live blog for all your very latest Liverpool news, rumours and transfer gossip.
The ECHO will provide breaking stories, reaction and comment to all the big talking points from Anfield as well as keeping tabs on transfer market gossip from around the world.
Liverpool are reportedly ready to 'open talks' with Roberto Firmino over a new contract. The Brazilian is set to leave Anfield for free in the summer due to the expiration of his current deal, but his stay at the club could well be extended.
The Reds are also linked with a move for Spain international and Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente after the Spaniards failed to reach the Champions League Round of 16.
Get involved and send your thoughts to @LivEchoLFC.
And don't forget to subscribe to our free Liverpool FC newsletter, our YouTube channel and listen to our Blood Red Podcast, with all your favourite ECHO regulars including Paul Gorst, Ian Doyle, Joe Rimmer, Sean Bradbury, Theo Squires, Marcus Banks, Mark Wakefield, Tom Cavilla, Charlotte Coates and Keifer MacDonald.
Liverpool legend reveals what happened in dressing room after infamous red card
Kevin Keegan is a Liverpool and football legend. While these days he might be best-remembered for his ‘I would love it if we beat them’ rant when the then Newcastle United manager came out on the losing side in both mind games and a Premier League title race with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, there was a time when he was the poster boy of English football.
A two-time Ballon d’Or winner, the former striker scored 100 goals for Liverpool in his six seasons at Anfield as he helped fire the Reds to three league titles, an FA Cup (where he scored twice in the final), two UEFA Cups and their maiden European Cup win in his final game for the Reds in 1977. Yet one of the most memorable incidents from his playing career was also the most infamous, as he was sent off in the 1974 Charity Shield after brawling with Leeds United’s Billy Bremner at Wembley.
Keegan was enraged after Leeds midfielder Johnny Giles had two-footed him, just moments after escaping a red card for punching the Liverpool forward. A number of Whites players would confront him as he exploded on the pitch, leading to him punching Bremner who would hit him back in a fiery encounter.
Becoming the first player to be sent off at Wembley as a result, Keegan initially argued with referee Bob Matthewson, before removing his shirt in disgust as he left the field in what was an unheard of gesture in football at the time. Bremner would do the same as he too was dismissed following the altercation, with both players handed lengthy bans and fined for bringing the game into disrepute.
To read more, click here.
Moukoko issues update on future
Borussia Dortmund forward Youssoufa Moukoko has provided an update on his future as he continues to be linked with a transfer move.
The 17-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, was twice on target in Dortmund's 3-0 win over Bochum this afternoon and has been in fine form this campaign.
Liverpool are among the teams to have been linked with the striker, who was quizzed on his likely next step after today's game.
Speaking to SPORT1, he said:
“I’ve been here at Borussia Dortmund for seven years, I feel at home here. I know this club very well and the manager [Edin] Terzic trusts me.”
Jeff Stelling sends on-air apology after comments about Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Jeff Stelling has apologised for comments he made about Jurgen Klopp on Saturday afternoon having originally questioned the amount of time the Liverpool boss has been dedicating to media appearances.
The German, like many of his players, has had his fair share of critics after Reds' poor start to the season which has left the team trailing both Arsenal and Manchester City by a considerable distance just three months into the campaign.
Never afraid to own up and take responsibility, Klopp has owned up to his team's below-par displays this term while recognising time remains for a change in fortunes to occur.
A common criticism of Klopp in recent weeks has been remaining loyal to a number of first-team players who are no longer deserving of starting roles within the team, though a fresh accusation was made by Stelling on Sky Sports in relation to how the former Borussia Dortmund boss is spending his time away from the sidelines.
To read the full story, click here.
'Liverpool fans feel' - Jeff Stelling slammed after criticising Jurgen Klopp decision
Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling has questioned whether Jurgen Klopp should be spending so much time with the media amid Liverpool’s struggles.
The Reds are in the midst of a domestic crisis having lost to Nottingham Forest and Leeds United in their last two Premier League matches. As a result of their slow start to the season, they are currently 15 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Klopp's side have accrued almost as many points from six Champions League matches (15) as they have from a dozen games in the Premier League (16). And speaking on Saturday afternoon, Stelling was critical of Klopp for engaging in so many interviews amid a dreadful run of form for Liverpool.
He kicked things off by saying: “I have to say, Jurgen Klopp is very generous, very generous with his time for the media.
“They’re down in ninth place, they’ve lost against Leeds, should he be spending so much time with the media? It is a genuine question.”
Connor O'Neill has more, here.
Liverpool to 'rival' Barcelona and Real Madrid for Spanish youngster
Liverpool are set to 'rival' Real Madrid and Barcelona for highly-rated Las Palmas midfielder Alberto Moleiro, according to reports.
Spanish publication AS have listed Jurgen Klopp's side as one of those looking to make a move for the 19-year-old after Anfield officials are said to have received a 'very good report' on Molerio.
Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Barcelona are the other clubs interested in his signature, according to AS.
Tottenham face injury crisis ahead of Liverpool with with five first-team players out
Antonio Conte will need to solve an attacking shortage when his Tottenham side comes face-to-face with Liverpool on Sunday.
The Reds will head to North London desperate to register a first away win of the season after back-to-back defeats against Nottingham Forest and Leeds United dented their Premier League ambitions.
Spurs sit 10 points above Jurgen Klopp's side in third place, but they have been rocked by the loss this week of one of their star players. Heung-Min Son has been ruled out of Sunday's clash after the club confirmed that the forward needs to undergo surgery to fix a fractured eye socket, sustained during the 2-1 Champions League victory against Marseille on Tuesday evening.
Conte's forward line was already without the services of Dejan Kulusevski, who has been suffering with a hamstring injury and former Everton favourite Richarlison, who has a calf muscle complaint.
Read the full story, here.
Andy Robertson 'one of the best signings' in Liverpool's history
Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has lauded Andy Robertson as one of the best buys in Liverpool's history.
Speaking to BoyleSports, he said:
Andy Robertson has been one of Liverpool's best signings and probably one of the cheapest as well. When he joined I think people thought he'd be a backup option but he's turned into one of the best left-backs in the world.
There have been a lot of brilliant signings, but when you talk about the best money spent, Andy would be up there.
ICYMI: Every word of Jurgen Klopp's passionate criticism of World Cup in Qatar after cameras had stopped
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has launched an impassioned criticism about the decision to award Qatar the upcoming World Cup.
The tournament will be the first ever to be held in winter and will kick off when the hosts entertain Ecuador on November 20.
FIFA's decision to host the tournament in Qatar has been heavily criticised due to the history of human rights abuse in the nation and the build-up has seen repeated concerns aired around the suffering of low-paid migrant workers who helped build the stadiums needed for the Gulf nation to take part. Discriminatory laws that criminalise same-sex relationships have also been strongly condemned.
On Friday, it was reported that world football's governing body have written to each FA at the World Cup and pleaded with them to steer clear of becoming entangled in the political and societal issues that have dominated the news agenda.
"We know football does not live in a vacuum and we are equally aware that there are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature all around the world," read the letter from FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, and secretary general, Fatma Samoura, according to Sky Sports. "But please do not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists."
In a strong response to questions about the upcoming tournament and the controversies that are expected to overshadow the football itself, Klopp said more critiquing of FIFA should have been forthcoming when the decision was initially announced in 2010.
Read the full story, here.
Reds look to capitalise on Atletico's European mishap
Liverpool could look to capitalise on Atletico Madrid's financial loss of missing out on the Champions League knockout stages by targeting a deal for midfielder Marcos Llorente, according to reports.
The 2020/21 La Liga champions finished bottom of Group B and therefore missed out on the riches clubs acquire for making it to the latter stages of the competition.
That has prompted Spanish outlet Fichajes to link Jurgen Klopp's side with a move for Llorente if Atletico needed to offload players to balance the financial disparity.
Llorente famously knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League in 2020, with two goals in the second leg in what was the last professional football match to take place in England before the Coronavirus lockdown.
Would you take Llorente at Anfield, Reds?
Firmino set for extended Anfield stay?
Liverpool are reportedly ready to open talks with Roberto Firmino in the near future about the possibility of extending the Brazilian's stay on Merseyside.
Firmino, 31, has been in fine form so far this campaign and has scored eight goals in all competitions, but is free to negotiate with any overseas clubs from January 1 due to his contract expiring next summer.
However, Football Insiderreports that manager Jurgen Klopp is keen to keep the Brazilian at Anfield because he believes he has still has a 'big role' to play at the club in the seasons ahead.
The 31-year-old's time at Liverpool - whom he joined in the summer of 2015 - seemed to be coming to an end with the recent signings of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez. However, Firmino has continued to show his worth to Klopp's system this campaign and has been one of the Reds' standout performers.
Good morning, Reds!
Hello Liverpool fans and welcome back to our live blog on this fine Saturday morning! The Reds are in action tomorrow afternoon when they take on Tottenham in North London in what is a huge test for Jurgen Klopp's side.
Stay tuned to our blog for all of the latest news and build-up for the match.
