Welcome to our Liverpool live blog for Wednesday, September 20.
The Reds will be flying out to Austria today for their first Europa League encounter against LASK Linz on Thursday. There will be an open training session around midday before they jet into Europe.
There will be a press conference from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and one of his players for their group opener.
Klopp spoke for the first time about his future at Anfield amid links to the vacant managerial position with the German national team. Reports have suggested that Julian Nagelsmann is closing in as Hansi Flick's replacement - after he was sacked earlier this month.
On Thursday, Ben Doak signed a new long-term deal with the Reds after establishing himself among the Liverpool options. Joel Matip, however, has a year remaining on his deal at Anfield and has been speaking about his future.
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Jurgen Klopp outlines Europa League intentions clear
Jurgen Klopp was in fine spirits on Wednesday night as he previewed Liverpool's Europa League group opener against LASK.
The Reds endured a difficult trip to Austria with a number of delays which saw the press conference delayed as the German was joined by club captain, Virgil van Dijk.
Klopp is adamant Liverpool won’t use the Europa League to give fringe players minutes – but admits he doesn’t yet know if his team will be capable of competing on two major fronts this season.
Click here for the full story.
You can also catch all of what the Liverpool manager had to say by recapping using our live-blog, click here for more.
Jurgen Klopp press conference LIVE
Jurgen Klopp's press conference will begin in just under one hour.
He will be previewing the Reds clash against LASK in their first Europa League group stage match.
Follow all the action and words from Jurgen Klopp here.
Anfield Road target
Liverpool are reportedly planning for next month's Merseyside derby to be the first Anfield game played at full capacity.
The Reds were forced to leave the upper section of the Anfield Road stand empty for their home matches against Bournemouth and Aston Villa after the construction company working on the stadium entered administration.
Work is now back on track at Anfield after an alternative firm were sourced, and the Times have claimed Liverpool are 'working towards' their match with Everton on October 21 being played in front of 61,000 fans.
Spurs dealt injury blow ahead of Liverpool game
Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed Ivan Perisic is set for a spell on the sidelines after sustaining an ACL injury.
The Croatian had featured in all five of Spurs' Premier League appearances so far this season from the bench, though will not be available for an extended period of time.
Spurs host Liverpool in the Premier League next Saturday.
We can confirm that Ivan Perisic has suffered a complex Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 20, 2023
The experienced Croatia international sustained the injury in non-contact training and will undergo surgery.
Wishing you well in your recovery, Ivan pic.twitter.com/U9BMv2U7Kb
That's all
That is the end of the open training session at the AXA Training Centre.
We will be hearing more from Jurgen Klopp on his squad later tonight when he speaks at his press conference - starting at 7pm.
Passing drill
The players are now completing some basic passing drills, picking each other with lofted balls played in the air. The likes of Ben Doak and Harvey Elliott are showcasing their close control when taking the ball down.
Reds in high spirits
The Liverpool players appear to be in high spirits as they are put through their paces by the Reds' head of fitness and conditioning, Andreas Kornmayer.
After first doing some streching under his supervision, the team are now working through some more intense exercises to test their speed and agility.
No sign of Trent and Thiago
The Liverpool players have now emerged at the AXA Training Centre.
All the usual suspects are present, except for Thiago and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Both players are currently nursing injury issues and don't appear to be part of the training session.
LASK Linz preparation
Liverpool's open training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of tomorrow's match against LASK Linz is about to begin.
Stay tuned for any developments from the Reds camp.
Minamino beats Mbappe to Ligue 1 Player of the Month
Here's one not many would have seen coming ahead of the current season...
Takumi Minamino has been named the Ligue 1 Player of the Month for August, beating none other than Kylian Mbappe to this accolade!
Minanino struggled for starts during his debut campaign in France but has experienced an impressive revival this season after being handed regular opportunities.
The Japan international scored three goals and provided two assists in the three league matches he played in August, with Mbappe scoring the same amount but setting up no goals.
Roberto Firmino praise
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has named Roberto Firmino as the player who has caused him "the most problems as a manager."
Firmino scored two goals in a 4-2 win at Old Trafford during Solskjaer's reign before starring in the Reds' emphatic 5-0 victory at the home of the Red Devils the following season.
Ex-United boss Solskjaer has now heaped praise on the Brazilian during an interview with the Athletic, saying.
I made the wrong decision and that was my lowest point as United manager by a mile. Roberto Firmino was probably the opposition player who caused me the most problems as a manager. The 6-1 defeat at home to Spurs was different and affected by a sending-off."
To read what else Solskjaer had to say, click here.
Open training session
Liverpool will be holding an open training session at approximately 12:20pm ahead of tomorrow's Europa League tie with LASK Linz.
The likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai are expected to be put through their paces in front of the cameras as Jurgen Klopp continues his preperations for Thursday's contest in Austria.
Klopp on Europa League aims
Jurgen Klopp has admitted he would "love" to reach the final of this season's Europa League.
The Reds get their European campain underway tomorrow evening against LASK Linz and will be hopeful of progressing deep into the competition.
Klopp could claim the one trophy he has failed to win as Liverpool boss should his side go all the way in the competition, though the German is not willing to get carried away just yet.
"We never had like public targets, we never needed that to go as far as we can," he told TNT Sports via Liverpoolfc.com of the club's ambitions in the Europa League.
"First and foremost, I think we all have to make sure that everybody, for the team I'm responsible, [but] that we all respect the competition in the right manner [and] that we respect the opponents [in] the right manner.
"Wherever we will go that will be a massive game for the teams. Everybody [who] comes to Anfield, it will be a massive game for them. It's also in the Champions League the same.
"But it will be here as well, and we have to be 100 per cent ready for that. That's the most important stuff. And what do you say? Don't praise the day before the night? So why should we talk about anything before we even play the first game?
"We want to go as far as somehow possible. I would love to go to the final, obviously, but I have no clue if you can reach that because there will be a lot of fantastic football teams in between us and that target. So we have to make sure we perform."
Joao Felix future - would you take him at Liverpool?
Barcelona are currently bringing the best out of Joao Felix, who joined the Spanish club on a season-long loan from Atletico Madrid during the summer.
Since signing for the club, Felix has scored three goals in thee matches and is looking to be a shrewd addition to the team.
A decision will have to be made as regard Felix's future at the end of the season, with Atletico expected to cash in on the Portugal international.
Barcelona are expected to make a move to sign the forward on a full-time basis, though El Nacional have claimed Liverpool, PSG and Arsenal are all 'in the equation'.
Shearer shares Salah prediction
Alan Shearer believes Liverpool will accept a bid for Mohamed Salah in January should a similar offer to the one they received this summer arrive.
The Reds rejected £150m from Al-Ittihad for Salah and are braced for further interest in the Egyptian during the next transfer window.
Of the view Jurgen Klopp's side would be wise to cash in should the Saudi club return with a big-money proposal, Shearer told The Rest Is Football Podcast: “If you’re getting north of £150m for someone of that age... I get why it didn’t happen because they came in so late and wouldn’t have had time to get a replacement.
“But, if they know they’re coming back in January with a ridiculous offer then they’ve got time to find a replacement and again it depends on where they are I think. But I think they’d bite at £150m in January.”
Federico Valverde future
Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde has refused to rule out an exit from Real Madrid after being asked about his future at the club.
The Uruguay international has been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent times, among other Premier League clubs, though remained put at the Bernabeu this summer.
Speaking out on his possible next move, he said:
Premier League offers? I have the possibility of playing for Real. The day I don't feel like that, I will probably look for another solution or Real itself will look for one for me."
Show your colours!
Liverpool will debut their third kit on Thursday.
The purple strip was a surprise release during the summer as Alisson Becker, Dominik Szoboszlai and Missy Bo Kearns turned up to the Olympia for a pre-season edition of BOSS Night.
The strip sees Liverpool wear purple for the first time since the 2018/19 season. Following on from the iconic Red and remake of a 1996/96 classic, the third kit features a purple ripple pattern with black sleeve cuffs, collarbone inserts, side panelling with matching shorts and purple rippple socks.
It has been revealed that the kit will be worn in European competitions and will feature the LFC Foundation, the clubs official charity, patch on the reverse.
"You can’t just cut out the eight years"
Jurgen Klopp has emphatically dismissed reports that he will become Germany manager.
Hansi Flick was sacked from his position earlier this month and reports have seen Klopp tipped to become his successor.
Claims in Germany suggest Julian Nagelsmann could be his replacement but the Reds boss has done an interview with an outlet in his native country and sensationally pours cold water on the murmurs.
"We’re building Liverpool 2.0 here, we want to attack again and not just look at how much longer can we go on? I have a loyalty to Liverpool," he said.
"My heart is here in Liverpool. You can’t just cut out the eight years. I signed a contract here and, as far as I can remember, I wasn’t drugged or tied up and had to sign with my mouth. That was a free decision. And that’s why it doesn’t fit."
Hello and welcome!
Liverpool are close to returning to competitive action as they prepare to take on LASK Linz in the Europa League.
While it's still Europe for the Reds, it's unchartered territory as Jurgen Klopp looks to scoop the only piece of silverware that has evaded him in his Liverpool career.
