Liverpool are gearing up for the first Champions League game of the season with the aim of going one better than they did last season in European club football’s elite competition.
The Reds made it all the way to the final last term only to suffer heartache at the hands of Spanish giants Real Madrid. Their bid to improve gets underway with a trip to Naples to take on Napoli.
The Serie A outfit have proved somewhat of a bogey team for a number of European titans in recent years, Liverpool included as the manager admitted in his recent press conference.
Mirror Football has collected all the relevant headlines and talking points associated with Liverpool as they aim to kick-start what has so far been a stuttering season out in Italy.
Klopp left angered by Naples question
Jurgen Klopp struggled to hide his anger over a question put to him over whether he has any concerns over the safety of Naples as a city.
There have been widespread fears over potential violence between fans both in the build-up and after the match, with Liverpool’s very own verified fan service account taking to twitter to warn supports over the risks they face in the city centre.
However, when pressed for comment on the situation, Klopp hit back: "You want headlines! Do you think it's a dangerous city? You know exactly what they are talking about. I am not here for your headlines."
The Reds manager then proceeded to walk out of his presser shortly after, such was the level of his anger at the question he felt designed purely to trip him up.
Read the full story HERE.
Van Dijk deemed a different player by ex-Red
Former Liverpool star Danny Murphy has claimed that Reds stalwart Virgil van Dijk has not been the same player since his anterior cruciate ligament injury from two years ago.
The Dutchman was on the wrong end of a brutal challenge from Everton shot-stopper Jordan Pickford in a Merseyside derby back in October 2020.
Murphy was damning in his assessment of what he has seen from Van Dijk this campaign, telling talkSPORT : “He's not up to his level. Before his injury he was arguably looking like one of the best centre-halves we've ever seen.
"The injury, which is a huge one and he’s come back from, although he's not had problems in missing games, I think psychologically he’s not in the same place.
“What I mean by that is not wanting to be as physically engaged with players and tackles.”
Read Murphy’s review on Van Dijk in full .
Liverpool coach slapped with FA charge
Reds goalkeeping coach John Achterberg has been charged by the Football Association after Liverpool's recent last-gasp 2-1 home win over Newcastle inspired some heated exchanges between the two dugouts.
Magpies head of performance Daniel Hodges was also met with the same punishment as both sets of backroom staff came to verbal blows in response to Fabio Carvalho's dramatic winner at Anfield.
An FA spokesperson said: "Coaches from Liverpool and Newcastle have been charged with breaching FA Rule E3 during their Premier League fixture on August 31.
"It is alleged that the behaviour of John Achterberg and Daniel Hodges in the 98th minute of that game was improper, and that the Liverpool coach also used abusive and/or insulting gestures.
"John Achterberg and Daniel Hodges both have until Thursday, September 8 to provide their respective responses."
Read more on the incident HERE .
