Liverpool FC Thread #141:- Liverpool are returning to the Champions League

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Danny Ward was a hero at Wembley as Huddersfield Town secured promotion to the Premier League with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Reading on Monday.

With the score still goalless after 120 minutes of the Championship play-off final, the much-coveted final spot in the top flight had to be decided from 12 yards.

And on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Ward played his part, keeping out the fifth spot-kick from Jordan Obita before Christopher Schindler converted to send the Terriers into the Premier League.

Huddersfield return to the top level of English football for the first time since the 1971-72 season, joining Newcastle United and Brighton in promotion from the second tier.

Ward had previously saved two penalties in the play-off semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month as David Wagner's side won that shootout by the same scoreline.

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Luis Garcia is relishing the prospect of watching Philippe Coutinho take his precocious talents into Europe next season and aiding Liverpool's Champions League campaign, should they progress.

Having secured a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, the Reds will ensure a berth in the competition proper if they successfully navigate a two-legged qualifier in August.

Key to sealing that leading-quartet spot was Coutinho’s outstanding end-of-season form, in which he scored seven goals in nine games to end the term as the top scorer for Jürgen Klopp’s side.

“He was very good at the beginning of the season and after a couple of injuries, we missed him very much,” Garcia said of the No.10 during conversation with Liverpoolfc.com.

“He arrived fresh at the end and showed what he is capable of – amazing goals, tricks, flicks, every kind of fantastic play, giving the team the extra that is needed against difficult teams who play compact at the back, very deep, with no space in between the lines.

“You need to have that pass that is perfect – not long, not short, the perfect speed at the right angle. He is one of the best in the league. He showed it with the pass that no-one was expecting to Sturridge [at West Ham]. He is one of the most important players for the team and he showed it at the end of the season.

“He is one of those who can make the difference for a team, it doesn’t matter what team. We are lucky to have him. I would love to see him play in the Champions League next year.”

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Liverpool FC legend Steven Gerrard celebrates his 37th birthday today.

The iconic former Reds captain, who will take charge of the club’s U18s team from the beginning of next season, was born on May 30, 1980 and became one of the greatest football players of his generation.

Naturally blessed with practically every asset needed in the modern game – technique, speed of body and mind, agility, power, stamina, creativity, vision – Gerrard spent 17 years in the first team at Anfield and surpassed a century of caps for England.

His record of 710 Liverpool appearances stands third in the all-time list, behind only Ian Callaghan and Jamie Carragher, while 186 goals have the midfielder in fifth in the ranking of top scorers for the club.

Nobody has captained the Reds in more games than Gerrard, whose leadership inspired the team to Champions League glory in 2005 – one of seven major honours he collected.

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Liverpool FC has announced that Jürgen Klopp's team will play a friendly in Dublin this summer as part of their pre-season preparations.

The Reds will face La Liga side Athletic Club on Saturday August 5, with kick-off at 5.15pm.

This will be the first time the teams have met since the European Cup campaign of 1983-84, which saw Liverpool go on to lift the trophy for the fourth time in Rome.

The game with Los Leones will be held at the Aviva Stadium, where the Reds last played more than three years ago when they defeated Shamrock Rovers 4-0.

LFC ambassador Ian Rush, who scored the goal against Athletic last time the clubs met in 1983, said: “We always get such an amazing reception in Dublin.
“Even though this is a friendly game, I’m sure our incredible Irish supporters will make the atmosphere just as good when we meet Athletic Club this time around.”

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Liverpool will face Crystal Palace in their opening game at the Premier League Asia Trophy in Hong Kong this summer.

The meeting is set for a 1.30pm BST (8.30pm local time) kick-off on Wednesday July 19, at Hong Kong Stadium.

Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion will clash in the tournament’s other semi-final earlier on the same day, before a third-place play-off and final on Saturday July 22.

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Liverpool FC have agreed personal terms with Dominic Solanke to sign the England youth international this summer.

The 19-year-old striker will complete the transfer to the Reds on July 1, 2017, upon the expiry of his contract with his current club, Chelsea.

Solanke made his senior debut for the London side as a substitute in a Champions League tie in October 2014, and scored seven goals in 25 Eredivisie appearances during a productive loan spell with Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem in 2015-16.

He has represented his country at every age level from U16 to U21 and is currently in South Korea for the FIFA U20 World Cup, where the forward has so far featured in all three games and scored once to help England into the knockout stages.

Solanke, twice an FA Youth Cup champion and winner of the UEFA Youth League and U17 European Championship, will officially join Jürgen Klopp’s squad on July 1.

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YouTube Video

Solanke to be part of Klopp's U23 vision

It’s interesting to see what Jurgen Klopp is doing with Liverpool’s U23 side right now.

Solanke will join the likes of Harry Wilson, Ben Woodburn, Sheyi Ojo, Ovie Ejaria, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Danny Ward in Liverpool’s U23s next season.

That’s a lot of potential, all in one place.

I like the idea of Jurgen Klopp developing those players together, so that they forge a decent understanding for Liverpool to benefit from in the future.

It shows Klopp’s long-term vision, as well as his short-term plans.

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Reds unlikely to sign Mendy

Liverpool, as you will be aware, are today linked with a ‘serious offer’ for Benjamin Mendy in today’s edition of French newspaper L’Equipe.

The Monaco left-back has impressed with his performances for the French champions this season.



However the ECHO understands that Mendy is more likely to join Man City or Chelsea this summer, and not make a move to Anfield.

Liverpool will be competing with Spurs to sign Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon.

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Liverpool have moved quickly to secure the services of highly-rated Bosnian youngster Dal Varesanovic.

The Reds completed a deal for the youngster for a reported £43,000 from FK Sarajevo a few months ago, fighting off competition from Barcelona and Dinamo Zagreb.

But Liverpool had to wait until the left-footed player turned 16 before he was allowed to make the move to Anfield.

The midfielder is expected to link up with the U18s and learn under the guidance of Steven Gerrard next season.

Comfortable on the ball, Varesanovic is said to be a keen dribbler, likes to take on opponents and has already built a stellar reputation in his homeland.

Having signed a long-term contract, he will continue his development at Kirkby.

One to keep an eye on next season up at the Academy.

He was pictured signing for Liverpool this week.

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David Wagner plans Jurgen Klopp talks following Huddersfield's Premier League promotion



David Wagner will ask Jurgen Klopp if Huddersfield can keep play-off hero Danny Ward following Huddersfield Town’s promotion to the Premier League.

And the Terriers boss is ready to ask his old pal for a couple more favours as he prepares for life with the big boys.

Ward was the key man as the Huddersfield secured promotion at Wembley on Monday. The goalkeeper, on loan from Liverpool , saved from Reading’s Jordan Obita during the sides’ tense penalty shootout, repeating his heroics from the semi-final win over Sheffield Wednesday.

It secured Town their first return to the top flight since 1972, and afterwards an emotional Wagner revealed he would be in contact with Klopp, a close friend, once the enormity of his achievement had set in.

He said: “I need to take a few weeks to get my head around it,” said Wagner. “I will have a lot of phone calls to make. I will call Jurgen, but not just to talk about Danny.”

Klopp stated last month that Ward would return to Melwood this summer to provide competition for Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius, Liverpool’s two senior goalkeepers.

Huddersfield’s promotion could change that, however. Wagner is keen to keep Ward at the club, and Liverpool could welcome the chance to give the Welsh international a season of Premier League experience.

Others may also be in line for a move to the John Smith’s Stadium. Wagner is a big admirer of winger Ryan Kent, who impressed on loan at Barnsley this season. Sheyi Ojo and Joe Gomez will also attract interest, if Liverpool look to loan either out next term.

Wagner’s achievement in taking Huddersfield to the Premier League should not be underestimated. The former Borussia Dortmund coach is in his first full season with the club, and has worked with one of the Championship’s more modest budgets throughout.

Wagner added: “I said to the players before the [play-off] semi-finals: ‘You are heroes, you finished fifth in the league, but from hero to zero in football is sometimes only a week and now you have the opportunity to become legends.’

“Now they are legends for sure. Everybody will remember what this group of players have done with a small budget.

"And they deserve it. This football club has written an unbelievable story.”