Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp urged to sign new defender as Virgil van Dijk brings in rule
Liverpool got their Premier League title challenge back on train last Saturday by beating Everton in the Merseyside derby – but they must now focus on the Europa League again
Jurgen Klopp’s side, who are the favourites to win UEFA’s secondary club competition, have made a brilliant start to their campaign by beating Austrian team LASK and Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise. Reds fans would love to reach the final in Dublin next May.
Victory against Toulouse would be another huge step towards the last 16. If Liverpool finish finish second in the group, they will have to endure a two-legged play-off. Klopp will be desperate to avoid that and ease his team’s busy schedule. Here are the latest headlines from the red half of Merseyside…
Arsenal revive transfer interest in Premier League star and Jurgen Klopp will welcome move
Salah urged to ‘have a word’
BBC pundit Garth Crooks believes Mohamed Salah should speak to Luis Diaz about his ‘theatrics’. “Referee Craig Pawson’s inability to show some discretion in the Merseyside derby exposed him once he failed to exercise any consistency,” Crooks told BBC Sport.
“Neither was it helped by Luiz Diaz who rolled over at least five times for dramatic effect after (Ashley) Young had fouled him. Meanwhile, Mo Salah is back to his brilliant, unselfish and supportive best and has erased the sort of antics now affecting Luiz Diaz. It’s time Salah had a word with Diaz.
Jarrad Branthwaite has impressed at Everton this season
Who do you think Liverpool should sign? Let us know in the comments below!
Liverpool legend John Aldridge believes his former club should try to sign Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite. Aldridge told the Liverpool ECHO as much after the Merseyside derby, which the Reds won thanks to Salah’s second-half brace.
“I don’t want to upset any Evertonians by saying this, and whether Liverpool would buy from Everton is another matter as it rarely happens, but I certainly think he has got the ability to go on and become a leading figure and a starter for England,” said Aldridge.
“The fact Jurgen Klopp even talked him up before the game in his pre-match press conference was interesting. He is likely to be on the radar of other teams as well, Manchester United have already been mentioned as a possible destination.
“But it’s up to Everton over what they do with him… Coming to Liverpool would be hard for the lad, it takes a bit of doing to make that switch across Stanley Park.
Virgil van Dijk, who succeeded Jordan Henderson as Liverpool’s captain in July, insists on a team huddle before every game. The defender said: “It was something that we did when I was a Celtic player. And I always liked it because I thought it set the tone for the game and it also gave the crowd a signal that we were ready to go.
