Liverpool FC Thread #156 :- We Are Liverpool

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Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp and record-breaking Reds forward Mohamed Salah feature in a new art exhibition 'Like the Gods' that depicts footballers as historical leaders.

The instillation is the work of Italian artist Fabrizio Birimbelli (@pupazzaro) and was launched at the Museum of the Russian Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg to coincide with their hosting of the World Cup finals.

More than 40 portraits of players and coaches in historical military uniform make up the project, which opened on June 20 and runs through to the end of the tournament.

Birimbelli's catalogue of work also includes similar depictions of Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson, Kop hero Steven Gerrard and former Reds such as Dirk Kuyt, Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres.

Jürgen Klopp



Mohamed Salah



Jordan Henderson

[NI KI]

Steven Gerrard



Dirk Kuyt



Luis Suarez



Fernando Torres

[NI KI]

Roberto Firmino's intelligent movement makes him the perfect foil for fellow Liverpool forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, according to former Reds striker John Aldridge.

The Brazilian enjoyed the most productive season of his Anfield career thus far last time out, scoring 27 of the 91 goals mustered by Jürgen Klopp's first-choice front three.

But Aldridge was most impressed by the regularity with which Liverpool's No.9 created space for his pacier colleagues, a factor he feels brings balance to the forward line as a whole.

"When you've got three players [up top], you've got to strike a balance - we're very well balanced," he told Liverpoolfc.com.

"You've got to get different things from different players and he just balances it. The way he comes off, the other lads can go into a central role, Mane or Salah.

"I think he's the best mover of the three of them; he drags people out of position with his movement, he's very clever, he opens spaces up for the other two to take advantage of.

"Don't forget he scored 25 goals or so last year, which in itself is tremendous, plus his assists are right up there as well.

"The way we play, he's absolutely vital, he's always involved with the other two."

Although he expects Firmino, Mane and Salah to repeat last season's exploits next time around, Aldridge hopes to see their goal haul supplemented by the midfield and defence.

"If we need more goals it's from midfield," he continued.

"The three [forwards] can't do anymore than they did from a creative point of view, from a scoring point of view but we didn't get enough goals from midfield last year.

"I think we've got to take the weight off the front three players, we depend on them an awful lot.

"We need a few more goals from [midfield] and the centre-halves."

[NI KI]

Latest on Liverpool goalkeeper hunt as two options dismissed after Alisson hopes dented further

Liverpool have no intention of pursuing a deal for either Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope or Lazio's Thomas Strakosha.

The Reds have been heavily linked with both shot-stoppers as Jurgen Klopp looks to strengthen his squad this summer and increase competition for the No 1 spot.

However, the ECHO understands that neither of them is currently under consideration.

Reports had suggested that £18million-rated Pope, who is part of England's World Cup squad, was on Liverpool's radar, while speculation in Italy has focused on Strakosha.

The Albanian keeper has been touted as an alternative target to Roma's Alisson with talk of Klopp eyeing a £30million transfer but Liverpool aren't in the race for his signature.



Brazil international Alisson was the Reds' No 1 keeping target for this summer. But hopes of securing a deal with the Serie A outfit have been dented.

Not only do Roma want in excess of £70million but Real Madrid is believed to be Alisson's preferred destination. The situation will become clearer after the World Cup finals.

[NI KI]

Jurgen Klopp's great goalkeeping dilemma - and why the Liverpool boss could take biggest gamble yet

In the wake of Liverpool's agonising Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, there were three areas which clearly needed to be addressed this summer.

The first involved securing a replacement for Juventus-bound Emre Can. That was achieved with ruthless efficiency as the Reds quickly wrapped up a £43million move for Monaco's Brazilian midfielder Fabinho.

The second was filling the void which had existed since Philippe Coutinho was sold to Barcelona back in January. Liverpool coped admirably without him but the need to sign a creative class act capable of unlocking a stubborn defence was glaring. A potent attacking armoury had to be reinforced.

Again the Reds acted with haste. Nabil Fekir was the man Jurgen Klopp identified and Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards thrashed out a £53million deal with Lyon.

A fortnight ago, just hours away from an expected announcement and with the France international's club media duties already completed, the transfer dramatically collapsed. Liverpool had sought a second opinion over concerns about Fekir's knee and ultimately decided not to proceed under the terms agreed.

His agent insisted this week “this is not the end of the story”, fuelling talk that the deal could be renegotiated after the World Cup.

The tournament was always going to have an impact on Liverpool's summer transfer business – both in terms of incomings and outgoings.

Things will only start to happen again as players' involvement in Russia ends. If the Fekir deal isn't revived then Klopp will target an alternative.



But what about the third area which needed to be strengthened and arguably the most important – the keeper situation?

A month on from Loris Karius' painful meltdown in Kiev, Liverpool's pursuit of a new No 1 has gone very quiet.

The ECHO understands that recent speculation linking the Reds with Burnley's Nick Pope and Lazio's Thomas Strakosha is wide of the mark.

Alisson was the one Klopp wanted but hopes have been dented by Roma's £70million-plus asking price and the Brazilian's desire to join Real Madrid.

Tempting Jan Oblak away from Atletico Madrid wouldn't be easy and there's the small matter of his £88million release clause.

If landing someone of that calibre isn't possible then Klopp has a big decision to make – does he lower his sights in the transfer market or stick with what he's got?

What we know from the opening three years of his Anfield tenure is that Klopp won't buy for the sake of it and he certainly won't be swayed by public opinion.

In the summer of 2016 the calls for him to buy a left-back and a holding midfielder were deafening but he did neither.

Last summer he ignored the clamour to sign a centre-back after the Reds failed to land Virgil van Dijk. He decided to wait six months for the Dutchman.

It was a similar story when Liverpool sold Coutinho and Klopp decided not to instantly replace him.

If he doesn't buy a keeper this summer it would represent the biggest gamble of the lot.



Only Karius will know how much that blow to the head from Sergio Ramos contributed to his two catastrophic mistakes in Kiev.

Take that night out of the equation and the German keeper did improve over the course of last season. But there were still some alarming mistakes along the way, not least in both legs of the semi-final against Roma.

With Simon Mignolet expected to depart, can Liverpool really kick on with Karius and Danny Ward competing for the No 1 shirt in 2018/19?

Dejan Lovren has taken the road to redemption under Klopp and Karius will hope to tread the same path. It would be some comeback.

Whether to give him that opportunity or dip into the transfer market is the biggest decision facing the manager over the coming weeks.

[NI KI]

Lyon president lifts lid on Liverpool's failed Nabil Fekir transfer - and says he could still move

Jean-Michel Aulas has lifted the lid on Nabil Fekir's failed move to Liverpool - and believes the midfielder could move to Real Madrid.

Fekir was set to complete a £48.4million deal to move to Anfield before Lyon announced they were withdrawing from negotiations.

The breakdown in the deal was thought to revolve around the player's injury history, but the French club's president has spoken out on how the move fell through, claiming he decided to end talks because it was taking too long.

"Nabil was close to Liverpool, but I didn't green-light the move," he said.

"Things didn't go all the way because it was taking too much time. Nabil is an exceptional player."

Liverpool continue to consider their options following Fekir's failed move, but Aulas has suggested the 24-year-old could move elsewhere, with Spanish giants Real Madrid one option.



"When the Liverpool move didn't happen, lots of clubs revealed their interest in him, not only Real Madrid and their new coach," he added.

"Everything is possible, but we want him to stay. But if he wants to leave, we will try and find the biggest club to fit his dimension and efficiency."

Fekir's agent, Jean-Pierre Bernes, had earlier suggested a deal to Anfield could still be resurrected.

"Well he didn’t sign because well… it is not over," Bernes said on Monday.

"This is not the end of the story."

Fekir is currently with the French squad at the World Cup and has made two substitute appearances for Didier Deschamps' side.

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Naby Keita has touched down on Merseyside as he prepares to begin life as a Liverpool player.

The Guinean international sealed his dream move to Anfield last summer in a deal worth around £52.75million, under the agreement he would spend the 2017/18 campaign with RB Leipzig.

He will officially become a Liverpool player on July 1, and is expected to take part in pre-season training at Melwood on July 2.

The midfielder could make his debut for the club in a friendly against Chester on July 7.

Keita was photographed arriving in the city on Friday as he gets set for the next chapter in his fledging career.



The 23-year-old scored six goals in 27 games in his final Bundesliga campaign as Leipzig finished sixth.

Jurgen Klopp had hoped to bring him to Anfield last summer but Leipzig were adamant he had to stay put for this season.

The Reds’ request to bring forward the agreement to January was also rejected.

Keita will be joined by Fabinho at the start of next week - but no new incomings are expected while the World Cup is in full flow.

[NI KI]

Marco Asensio

Who? It's the transfer rumour that has everyone talking. You must have heard it by now. Liverpool. Real Madrid. Marco Asensio. £158m.

Where? Mundo Deportivo claim the Reds will pay a British transfer record fee for the 22-year-old Spanish international.

What? When something is simply too good to be true, that's because it probably is. £158m is a LOT of money and Real Madrid will surely be against selling such a talented young player.

Robin Olsen



Who? The Swedish number one goalkeeper who almost kept Germany at bay last night before Toni Kroos' 94th-minute wondergoal.

Where? The Daily Mirror claim that the Reds are eyeing the 28-year-old Copenhagen man as a replacement for Loris Karius.

What? Sounds like paper talk to us. Olsen has impressed at the World Cup but at club level he has bounced around a number of sides, including Malmo, PAOK and now Copenhagen.

Nabil Fekir



Who? You know who. The French international midfielder who very nearly because a Liverpool player earlier this month, only for the deal to fall through at the 11th hour.

Where? Everywhere. There are all sorts of new reports doing the rounds about Fekir and Liverpool. They include interest from Real Madrid, Manchester United and one report about his fee going up again.

What? It all seems to have been started by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, who admitted that Fekir could still leave the club - and move to Liverpool - after the World Cup. Perhaps talk of Real Madrid and Manchester United is a bid to drive the fee up.

[NI KI]

Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus admits he's under pressure from Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino

Gabriel Jesus admits his place in the Brazil team is under threat due to the brilliance of Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino.

Brazil boss Tite has put his faith in the Manchester City frontman to lead the line in their opening two World Cup games against Switzerland and Costa Rica.

However, Jesus hasn't been able to grasp his chance with the South Americans improving significantly following Firmino's introduction off the bench.

There are growing calls for Firmino, who plundered 27 goals for Liverpool last season, to start Wednesday's final group clash with Serbia.

“That's normal that two players with chances of playing in the national team face comparisons,” Jesus said.

"It's Tite's decision on who is better at the moment to get on the pitch. But Firmino has all the conditions to be among the first 11 as well as I have.

“He can be the main forward player. I hope that, no matter if he plays or if I play, we can play well.”

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Liverpool's plans for Divock Origi revealed as Jurgen Klopp gets set to welcome him back for pre-season

Divock Origi will get the opportunity to resurrect his Liverpool career in pre-season.

The Belgium international will return to Melwood next Monday following an underwhelming loan spell at Wolfsburg.

Origi scored just seven goals in 36 appearances during a turbulent year in the Bundesliga.

Jurgen Klopp is keen to assess the 23-year-old striker over the coming weeks before deciding whether he features in his plans for the 2018/19 campaign.

With Roberto Firmino missing the start of pre-season due to the World Cup, the chance is there for Origi to shine.

It's the same situation with the likes of Ben Woodburn, Dominic Solanke and Harry Wilson, who have been the subject of plenty of loan interest.

Klopp intends to keep them on board for the upcoming friendlies and then it's down to them to impress. Any further loans are unlikely to be sanctioned until later in the window.



A year ago Solanke's fine form in the warm-up games saw him jump ahead of Origi in the pecking order and led to the Belgian frontman seeking a temporary move to Germany.

After a bright start, Origi lost his way at Wolfsburg and was taken off before half-time in a 3-0 defeat to Hoffenheim.

He scored in their play-off win over Holstein Kiel which ensured they retained their Bundesliga status last month but was overlooked for Belgium's World Cup squad.

Liverpool believe there were mitigating circumstances for Origi's struggles in Germany.

Signed by Andries Jonker, he ended up playing for three different managers as Wolfsburg brought in Martin Schmidt last September and then sacked him in February with Bruno Labbadia taking over.

With the formation and the personnel regularly changing, Origi found himself shunted out wide at times and unable to find his rhythm.

The £10million striker has scored 21 goals in 77 appearances for Liverpool since arriving from Lille in 2015.