Premier League
Five Liverpool players could leave club today
The high-profile arrival of Luis Diaz at Liverpool looks set to have a knock-on effect at the club with numbers squad players tipped for moves away on deadline day
Accordng to Mirror Football, it’s been an unexpectedly quiet January transfer window for Liverpool so far, but that has now all changed.
Just when it appeared as though Jurgen Klopp had settled on his squad for the second half of the season, Tottenham’s apparent interest in long-term target Luis Diaz forced the Reds into action.
The highly-rated Porto winger has now signed a 5-year deal after Liverpool upped their efforts to secure his signature, and his arrival is set to have a knock-on effect as we head into deadline day.
The addition of the Colombian is likely to lead to a last-minute reshuffle in attack while a number of defensive options have been continuously linked with moves away from Anfield over the past few weeks.
As the clocks ticks ever closer to Monday night’s deadline, there are a several members of Klopp’s squad who now appear surplus to requirements and set for transfers late in the window.
Courtesy Mirror Football, we bring you the latest on five of those potential leavers…
Divock Origi
Divock Origi’s Liverpool love affair looks to be coming to an end The Belgian striker has secured cult hero status at the club following a number of crucial goals in recent years, but his Liverpool love affair appears to nearing its conclusion as his contract expires in the summer.
Despite talk of a clause being included in his current deal which could see him kept on for another year should he play a certain number of matches, Origi has found game-time limited this season with a recent knee injury only compounding matters.
The 26-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Italy this month, however the forward is reportedly keen to remain in the Premier League.
Newcastle are among his admirers and could look to add further attacking reinforcement in their bid to beat the drop, while Serie A side Atalanta are also reportedly keen and could push for a move should they lose star striker Duvan Zapata, who himself has attracted interest from the Magpies.
Takumi Minamino
The arrival of Diaz in attack is also likely to impact the immediate future of Takumi Minamino.
The Japanese forward struggled for minutes prior to Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane ‘s African Cup of Nations commitments and the addition of more competition in attack will surely further hamper his chances of first-team action.
Leeds and Monaco are the two clubs reportedly leading the race for his signature and it is believed Liverpool would be willing to allow the 27-year-old forward to depart should a club meet their valuation of around £20million.
With Marcelo Bielsa’s men in particular having received a setback in their pursuit of Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Brendan Aaronson, a deadline day move for Minamino makes sense for all parties.
The £36m summer arrival of Ibrahima Konate has limited the number of opportunities available to fellow defender Nat Phillips, who provided some much needed cover at the back following several injuries last season.
However, the centre-back has only featured on three occasions so far this term and has openly expressed his desire to seek first-team football elsewhere, amid interest from numerous suitors.
Liverpool reportedly rejected a £7m offer from Watford earlier in the window and turned away an initial loan proposal from Newcastle, one of a number of setbacks the Magpies have received in their pursuit of defensive reinforcements.
West Ham are another Premier League rival reportedly keen to acquire Phillips as cover for the injury-stricken Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna, but the Reds appear determined to hold out for a figure in the region of £15m for the 24-year-old.
Neco Williams
Another defensive option who could well depart before Monday night’s deadline is right-back Neco Williams.
The Wales international is reportedly attracting interest from at least one Premier League club and a number of Championship sides and, according to Liverpool Echo, the Reds will consider offers of a loan with an obligation to buy.
Williams himself is believed to be keen to gain first-team experience elsewhere in order to bolster his international prospects, with Wales involved in crucial World Cup qualifying play-offs come March.
The 20-year-old has only made eight appearances so far this campaign, including a mere seven minutes of Premier League action, and is reportedly valued at around £10m.
Rhys Williams
Like Phillips, Rhys Williams was another who impressed when called upon during Liverpool’s defensive injury crisis of last season and now looks set for a move away.
The centre-back spent the first half of this campaign on loan at Swansea City but was recalled by the Reds after making a mere seven appearances.
A second loan spell in the Championship looks likely with Sheffield United and Reading reportedly interested in his services, though a deal could hinge on the future of the aforementioned Phillips.
The need to provide cover for the potentially outgoing centre-back was another factor behind Williams’ recall and, should a move away materialise, the 20-year-old may well be retained as defensive back-up.
Liverpool will have to wait for a few more days to be crowned Premier League champions despite a 1-0 victory at Leicester City after Arsenal kept their slender hopes just about alive with a 4-0 romp at 10-man Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the bench to score Liverpool’s winner in the 76th minute at the King Power Stadium to restore their 13-point lead at the top with five games left.
While Liverpool can almost taste a record-equalling 20th English crown, Leicester’s defeat confirmed their relegation back to the Championship after just one season.
The Midlands club have now been relegated from England’s top flight a record 13 times.
Chelsea secured a massive win in their bid to qualify for the Champions League as they came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage with Pedro Neto scoring in stoppage time.
The win pushed Chelsea above Nottingham Forest in to fifth place, the last spot for qualification to the Champions League, although Forest play at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.
Chelsea have 57 points from 33 games, two behind third-placed Newcastle United and one behind Manchester City. Forest and Aston Villa are level with Chelsea on 57 points.
Wolverhampton Wanderers guaranteed their safety as they beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Pablo Sarabia’s stunning free kick wrapped up a fifth successive league win, the first time Wolves have achieved that in the top flight since 1970.
Liverpool were wasteful at Leicester with numerous chances going begging and Mohamed Salah suffering a frustrating afternoon including hitting both posts with an early shot.
Salah hit the woodwork again moments before the ball came out to Alexander-Arnold who fired a left-footed shot through the crowd to give his side the points — ripping off his shirt and celebrating wildly with the travelling fans.
“We just keep going, mentally we’re really strong,” manager Arne Slot, whose side could be crowned champions if Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, told Sky Sports.
“They enjoy playing football and it helps when you are playing for something special. Today (Alexander-Arnold) knows when it matters most he can just bring a bit more which is something all the top, top players have.”
DISTANT SECOND
If Arsenal avoid defeat by Palace, Slot’s side will seal the title if they beat Tottenham Hotspur at home next Sunday.
“We will focus on Tottenham and looking forward again to a home game and I think the stadium will be full,” Slot, who can become the first Dutch manager to win the English title, said. “It’s a nice game to look forward to.”
Liverpool have 79 points with Arsenal a distant second on 66. Arsenal may have their eyes now on a Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain, but they showed against Ipswich they will not hand over the title to Liverpool.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring early on and Gabriel Martinelli made it 2-0 after a delightful flick by Mikel Merino.
Ipswich were reduced to 10 men before halftime as Leif Davis crudely raked his studs down the back of Bukayo Saka’s calf and the second half was academic.
Trossard grabbed his second in the 69th minute and Ethan Nwaneri added a late fourth to leave Ipswich stuck in 18th place on 21 points. They will be relegated if they drop points again or 17th-placed West Ham United pick up one more point from their remaining five games.
Chelsea were heading for a damaging defeat at neighbours Fulham as the hosts led with Alex Iwobi’s 20th-minute goal.
Substitute Tyrique George equalised with an instinctive shot in the 83rd minute, his first Premier League goal, before winger Neto swivelled and unleashed a thunderous strike in stoppage time to send the away fans wild.
Manchester United reached the Europa League semi-final with an astonishing comeback win against French club Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday but their Premier League woes returned against Wolves.
They are in 14th place and have now lost eight Premier League home games this season, their most defeats at Old Trafford in a league campaign since 1962-63.
“Wolves scored in the only opportunity they had. we had many chances, and we didn’t score. If you don’t score goals, you are not going to win games,” manager Ruben Amorim said.
-Reuters
Egyptian outlet, Ahram, has reported that Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract with Liverpool, extending his stay at Anfield beyond the 2024-25 season as he prepares for what could be the final chapter of a storied career with the club.
While the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, British media reports indicate the 32-year-old forward has signed a two-year extension, keeping him at the club until at least 2027.
Salah, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, has become a modern-day icon at Anfield.
The Egyptian international has scored 243 goals in 394 appearances—third on the club’s all-time scorers list—and has helped the Reds secure seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.
“I had my best years here,” Salah told the club’s website. “Hopefully it’s going to be 10. I signed because I believe we can still win big trophies together.”
He has maintained his prolific form this season, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. His 27 Premier League goals currently lead the division.
During his time with Liverpool, Salah has won the Premier League Golden Boot three times, been named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, and claimed two FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
Now entering the latter stages of his career, Salah remains focused on adding more silverware to his collection and further cementing his legacy at Liverpool.
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Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga, who became the second-youngest Premier League player when he made his senior debut in Monday’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle United, had to wear a blank shirt because it is sponsored by an online cryptocurrency gaming platform.
Britain’s Gambling Act 2005, which underwent a review in 2020, prohibits players under 18 from wearing kits displaying gambling sponsors. Monga, an England U16 international, made his senior debut at 15 years 271 days old.
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri remains the youngest Premier League player in history, having debuted in the competition when he was 90 days younger than Monga.
Leicester, who suffered an eighth straight loss in the league without scoring a goal, are 19th in the standings, 15 points below the safety zone.
-Reuters
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