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Liverpool won the first and away leg of their Champions League playoff round tie with Hoffenheim 2-1 today, but the real victory occurred before a ball was kicked. The Jurgen Klopp pregame press conference had unexpectedly sexy results, as one reporter asked the German if he remembered his “first time,” and just left it there.
She was obviously asking the German about his first time competing in the UEFA Champions League, and not the moment he lost his virginity.
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Roberto Firmino said it would be “awful” if his teammate for both club and country, Philippe Coutinho, were to leave Liverpool and join Barcelona. As of now, Coutinho has officially submitted the formal transfer request, Barcelona are very keen to spend big bucks on him, but Liverpool leadership maintains that he’s not for sale.
It’s a stalemate of stalemates, and it’s resulting in the player himself not being mentally fit to play, because the distraction of his very transfer saga hangs in the balance and overshadows everything else. It’s very much like David de Gea two summer ago, in the Manchester United-Real Madrid transfer tug-of-war.
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Liverpool played Watford to a 3-3 draw today that certainly feels like a loss to Reds supporters. With all the drama and roller coaster of emotion, it was a typical Liverpool fixture. As you could expect, Liverpool fan Twitter is melting down and flipping out.
That includes club icon Jamie Carragher, who swore at Manchester United legend Gary Neville on the micro-blogging platform.
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Welcome! It’s time to once again play world football’s favorite 2017 summer transfer window guessing game: Philippe Coutinho, staying or going? In today’s edition, the ownership group of Liverpool Football Club released a statement, espousing the same position that they have maintained all along- Coutinho is not going to Barcelona, and that he’s simply not for sale at this time.
It wasn’t long until reports emerged that Philippe Coutinho had himself emailed in a transfer request.
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Today in the Philippe Coutinho transfer saga- club legend Steven Gerrard says the Brazilian won’t be able to leave Liverpool and join Barcelona unless he forces the move himself. Stevie G. says that if Coutinho does force his way out, it will create “war” at Anfield.
Multiple sources in Spain reported yesterday that the two clubs reached an agreement, and that the deal is reportedly for €90 million (£81.6m, $105m) in base pay. With bonuses and add-ons, the Coutinho transfer could hypothetically reach €120m (£108.8m, $140m).
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As the elite comedian Daniel Tosh famously said: “they say money can’t buy happiness, no, but it buys a wave-runner.” Likewise, British pounds and Euros can’t buy a Premier League title, but it buys the most talented roster possible. At least on paper, you have to point towards Manchester to see the highest quality grouping of players.
Man City and Man United had blockbuster summers, spending big on critical roster additions. We predict the blue side of Manchester will rule the Premier League roost, with United coming in just behind them. Pep Guardiola needed time to adjust at The Etihad, to implement his way of doing things. We think the time is now right for the Citizens.
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Multiple sources in Spain are reporting that Liverpool and Barcelona have reached an agreement for the transfer of Philippe Coutinho. The deal is reportedly for €90 million (£81.6m, $105m) in base pay, with bonuses and add-ons that could hypothetically bring the deal to €120m (£108.8m, $140m).
You knew that the world transfer fee shattering deal for Neymar would have ripple effects and this is the first domino to fall.
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Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona this summer, but Anfield has consistently maintained that the Brazilian is not for sale. LFC manager Jurgen Klopp has been adamant about this- he does not wish to part with his side’s best player.
Of course, €100 million changes everything. Now, as Barcelona are flush with major additional cash from the €222m sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain, the Catalan club are reportedly throwing more money after the young budding star. It may be an offer that cannot be refused, especially if Coutinho himself actually wants the move.
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It was a huge news day at Liverpool FC on Friday. We learned that the Reds will be without one of their best overall players in Adam Lallana for the first couple (or few) months of the season. It was also revealed what games Lallana will miss in the UEFA Champions League playoff round, as we now know who stands in the way of LFC reaching the group stages.
The opponent will be TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, of the Bundesliga. Thus Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp will have an opportunity to visit his German homeland during this tie. It’s certainly a side that Klopp knows well.
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Here we go again- the injury bug is back and it returned to take a major bite out of Liverpool FC.
The Audi Cup, a not so meaningful preseason “tournament,” gave the Reds friendlies on back to back days and it appears that this took it’s toll. Adam Lallana played the second half against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, and then the first half against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, where he suffered a thigh muscle injury.
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It’s official: Paris Saint-Germain have now processed payment to FC Barcelona, and the Catalan Club have finally accepted the €222 million ($263.5m, £200.6m) sum for Neymar. The Brazilian superstar now becomes the world’s most expensive player, having more than doubled the previous transfer record, which until today belonged to Paul Pogba.
The Manchester United midfielder returned to his old club from Juventus for £89.3 million just last summer.
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As Jurgen Klopp continues to reshape Liverpool in his mold, he becomes more comfortable with the team he’s built at Anfield. That comfort leads to confidence, as the German believes his side will be Premier League title contenders this season.
Never mind the detractors, who consistently point out the disappointments and deficiencies in the transfer market this summer, Klopp believes his Reds will be in the hunt.
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