Your Liverpool morning headlines for Wednesday, September 21
Liverpool face defining £200m transfer problem with three exits looming
Even though Liverpool waited until transfer deadline day to bring in a new midfielder, the need for reinforcements was much more obvious to other people.
Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara are the two midfielders who are near-certain names on Jurgen Klopp ’s team sheet. The other position in that trio is then up for grabs with a host of other players.
READ MORE: Darwin Nunez cost Liverpool 'less' than some may think as £147m point missed
However, some of the options at Klopp’s disposal are far from long-term. This made the argument for a new midfielder even stronger.
James Milner is out of contract at the end of the season, as are Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita. The chances of all three remaining at Liverpool for the start of next season are, you would think, unlikely, and how many of the trio will still be contracted at Anfield is uncertain.
Read the full story from Mark Wakefield.
Liverpool analysis - Arthur Melo makes his mark as two new midfield options emerge for Jurgen Klopp
It’s doubtful Arthur Melo had even heard of the Papa John’s Trophy before last week. But it speaks volumes for the on-loan midfielder’s desire to succeed at Liverpool that he happily exchanged a few days off for the chance to travel down the M62 to take on League Two side Rochdale in the competition.
Having played the full 90 minutes for the under-21s in their Premier League 2 win at Leicester City on Saturday, the Brazil international got just over an hour under his belt here.
Arthur’s involvement was total, at one point briefly scalding James Norris for not finding him with a throw-in despite being closely marked. He wanted the ball as often as possible.
And while clearly not fully fit – Arthur arrived from Juventus at the start of the month having not played a game since May 11 – there were signs of what he may offer to Klopp, particularly with his passing and willingness to get stuck in.
Read the full story from Ian Doyle.
READ MORE:
- Guinea make final decision on Liverpool star Naby Keita amid injury concerns
- Bruno Fernandes says Ten Hag is copying Jurgen Klopp trait he's done 'for years'
- Liverpool have two youngsters ready to send first-team message to Jurgen Klopp
- Gary Neville hits out at US investment in Premier League as Liverpool and FSG 'danger' raised
- Alex Ferguson got what he wanted from Liverpool boss who didn't defend players
