Your Liverpool morning digest for Friday, March 24.
Steven Gerrard sends Jude Bellingham message
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has continued his praise of Reds transfer target Jude Bellingham.
The 19-year-old has been frequently linked with a summer move to Anfield amid reports of a summer upheaval in L4 from Jurgen Klopp's side. Bellingham has courted a wide range of interest from Europe and his performances for Borussia Dortmund, as well as England, have prompted comparisons with the iconic number eight.
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Gerrard hasn't been shy in his praise for the English midfielder plying his trade in the German top flight. During his cameo on BT Sport's coverage of Chelsea's visit to the red half of Merseyside, the 42-year-old waxed lyrical over the midfielder - to the point where he offered to fly to Dortmund in an attempt to lure him to the Reds.
The Champions League-winning captain was in attendance for the Three Lions' opening group-stage game in their 2024 European Qualification campaign against Italy. While he wasn't interested in getting sucked into comparisons between him and the former Birmingham City prospect, he was direct in his assessment.
Stephen Killen has the full story here.
Virgil van Dijk speaks out on chicken curry
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has expressed his shock at the breakout in the Holland camp which saw Cody Gakpo among five to be sent home.
The 23-year-old saw his international break end prematurely, and before a ball had even been kicked, after he was sent home due to a viral outbreak in Ronald Koeman's camp. It has since been claimed that there is a strong belief that a 'chicken curry' caused the problems ahead of their clash with France.
Bayern Munich defender Matthijs De Ligt and Newcastle United centre-back Sven Botman were among those who saw their duty with Oranje cut short. For Gakpo, he was looking to continue the exploits at the World Cup prior to his move to Anfield as he joined up with his international compatriots for the first time since signing for Liverpool in January.
However, Van Dijk has partially dismissed the notion that food was the cause for the illness spreading describing the chicken curry as 'delicious'.
Charlotte Coates has the full story here.
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Steven Gerrard sends Jude Bellingham message after comparisons to Liverpool legend
Virgil van Dijk speaks out on chicken curry after Cody Gakpo sent home
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