Here is your Liverpool morning digest for Wednesday, October 26.
Pep Guardiola sends Jude Bellingham transfer message to Liverpool
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has praised Borussia Dortmund star and Liverpool target Jude Bellingham.
The England youngster has established himself as one of the standout under-21s in Europe. At last week's Ballon d'Or awards, the former Birmingham City playmaker controversially missed out on the Kopa Award, finishing second, as Gavi scooped the prize.
Bellingham has been in scintillating form for Dortmund both domestically and in Europe, scoring in every one of their Champions League fixtures this season - as well as consistently over the last 12 months.
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The 19-year-old has captained the Bundesliga side on a number of occasions this season and could wear the armband for their important clash with Manchester City on Tuesday.
Speaking ahead of their Champions League encounter, the Spaniard praised Bellingham but conceded that had he moved to one of the big six in the Premier League instead of Borussia Dortmund it would have stifled his progression.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Jurgen Klopp may be forced to unleash new Liverpool plan
When Liverpool played Fulham on the opening day of the season, plenty was made of Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI which included six players aged 30 or over, writes Theo Squires.
With Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip all selected, it was the first time the Reds had named six players on the wrong side of 30 in a starting XI for a Premier League match since February 1994.
For the record, Matt Le Tissier scored a hat-trick as Graeme Souness’ side lost 4-2 at the Dell that day. Veterans Ian Rush, John Barnes, Ronnie Whelan, Steve Nicol, Mark Wright and Bruce Grobbelaar, who had won 23 First Division titles, 15 FA Cups, 10 League Cups and five European Cups between them during their time at Anfield, all started for Liverpool but were no match for the Saints as an ageing side and ageing squad finished the season in a dismal eighth position.
Coming just four years after their last league title win, it would be their worst league finish since 1962/63 when they were a newly-promoted side having won the second division the year before. Meanwhile, it remains their joint-worst finish in these past 60 years in the English top-flight, with them also finishing eighth under Kenny Dalglish in 2011/12 and in Klopp’s first season in 2015/16.
Admittedly Souness’ squad was riddled by injury for the majority of his reign, which also coincided with the emergence of talented youngsters, either from the Reds’ academy or signed from elsewhere, like Robbie Fowler, Steven McManaman, Jamie Redknapp, Rob Jones, Dominic Matteo, and David James.
Supporters could be forgiven for thinking this all feels rather familiar. After all, 28 years on from that 1994 loss to Southampton and, off the back of recent success, Liverpool again have an ageing squad, riddled by injury but complemented by talented youngsters.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
READ NEXT:
- 'I don't think so' - Ajax boss dismissed Liverpool claim and makes 'crazy' prediction
- FSG CEO Sam Kennedy makes Liverpool future vow
- What happened during Ajax press conference after dance party leads to major pitch concerns
- Jude Bellingham: Liverpool can afford to spend £100m on Dortmund midfielder and still sign more players
- Liverpool have just 'missed out' on chance to solve midfield crisis for free
