Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp gives reasons why without Caoimhin Kelleher Liverpool would not be where they are today
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Jurgen Klopp gives reasons why without Caoimhin Kelleher Liverpool would not be where they are today
Caoimhin Kelleher has received the utmost support from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who also stated that without him, the team would not be attempting to achieve a treble.
Tonight, against Sheffield United, Republic of Ireland international Kelleher will make his 24th appearance of the season, a feat that would surprisingly see him tie the record set by Liverpool’s top scorer, Alisson Becker.
Alisson, who was killed by a hamstring injury at the start of February, was widely considered to have been Liverpool’s Player of the Year.
The Brazilian continues to make good steps in his rehabilitation and it is hoped he will re-join team training next week.
Many anticipated Liverpool’s prospects would have been significantly hindered without Alisson in goal but Kelleher has stepped up significantly with a string of outstanding performances, such as in the Carabao Cup final when his crucial saves provided the foundation for a 1-0 win over Chelsea.
Liverpool turned down a £15million bid from Nottingham Forest for Kelleher in January, adamant that his value is well in excess of £20million, but – as far as Klopp is concerned – his contributions, such a huge save from Brighton’s Lewis Dunk on Sunday, has been priceless since he stepped up.
“I’ve never been shy of praising “Quive” but how well these boys have done when opportunities have come to them has been extraordinary,” said Klopp, who hopes Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota are close to ending their own lengthy absences.
“You hope this will be the case, for players such as Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez having to play on the left, but you can never expect it.
“I’ve never been in doubt about them but it is wonderful, absolutely wonderful, seeing them do this.
“How can I say it: without Caoimhin Kelleher in goal, there is no chance we are in this position; no chance at all.
“Ali is with the goalkeeper coaches, so I just see them through the fence (working), but that looks good as well.”
Klopp knows Liverpool’s season is approaching boiling point and the quest to add the Premier League – and, potentially, the Europa League in Dublin – will take shape over the next seven days with games against the Uniteds from Sheffield and Manchester, as well as Atalanta.
Many have made Liverpool favourites to become domestic champions once again but Klopp, who is sweating on the fitness of Japan midfielder Wataru Endo, is paying no attention to outside noise and his only thoughts are on the first assignment.
The situation is, for us, Sheffield United and not who is the favourite,’ said Klopp. ‘I’m pretty sure when we lost at Arsenal (on February 4) we weren’t favourites after that – maybe rightly so – but I don’t know and I don’t care.
‘One of the most important things to get through this period is to ignore the outside noise. as it goes up and down and is emotional. We have to be professional – be emotional but in the right way – and be the best version of ourselves, play the best football we can play.
‘Then let’s see what eh outcome is. There are no guarantees, there are just opportunities. The clearer the opportunity the more likely you can take it.’
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Man City, Arsenal, or Liverpool? Danny Murphy eliminates one team from the PL title race
Danny Murphy has identified three games that might ruin Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League since he does not believe the Gunners will defeat Manchester City and Liverpool.
Even though there are only three points separating Liverpool, Arsenal, and Man City after 29 games, former England midfielder Murphy thinks Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola’s teams have far easier run-ins.
Midweek action features all three championship contenders: Manchester City hosts Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium, Arsenal plays Luton Town, while current leaders Liverpool hosts Sheffield United.
Murphy says the title race is turning into a ‘real ding dong’ but reckons the fixture list favours Liverpool – bidding to win the title in Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield – and Man City, attempting to clinch a record fourth successive Premier League.
The 47-year-old pinpointed Arsenal’s away fixtures at Brighton, Manchester United and north London rivals Tottenham as potential banana skins for Mikel Arteta’s side.
‘This is what we want from a Premier League title race,’ Murphy said on talkSPORT. ‘Unless you’re a Man City fan you probably want someone else to win it.
‘I wanted Arsenal to win it last year, for example. It’s not that I don’t admire Man City, of course I do, it’s a phenomenal team with a great manager. But we need that competition in the Premier League and this is turning into a real ding dong.
‘I don’t think Arsenal will get over the line, just because of the fixtures. They’ve got to go to Tottenham, Old Trafford and Brighton
‘They are three tough away games and they’ll have to be bang on it to win them all. I think Liverpool and Man City’s run-in is easier.
‘I think Liverpool have a hell of a good run-in, it’s only that Tottenham game that would worry me for them. Man City have a pretty good one as well.
‘I think the best thing that happened for Liverpool was getting knocked out of the FA Cup because that would have given them a right good kick up the bum. I don’t see Liverpool making that mistake again, they are too good for United.’
Come the end of the season, last Sunday’s events at Anfield and the Etihad may be seen as a crucial moment as Liverpool came from behind to beat Brighton and Arsenal held Man City to a goalless draw.
Two points clear at the top of the table, Liverpool may be viewed as favourites for the title but Klopp has played down the suggestion.
‘I’m pretty sure when we lost at Arsenal we were not favourites after that matchday,’ Klopp said at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
‘One of the most important things for getting through this period is just ignore the outside mess. As this goes up and down, and the emotion and these kinds of things, we have to be professional. We have to be emotional but in the right way.’
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe is considering five EFL transfers for Manchester United as he looks to sign the “next Kylian Mbappe”
Man United transfer news as eyes shift to the EFL to find bargain acquisitions and surprising talent in the hunt for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Kylian Mbappe replacement.
Manchester United would prefer to develop young players than purchase the polished product.
Since his ownership of Manchester United was established earlier this year, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made a lot of soundbites public. Among the most intriguing are his rumors that he is looking to sign the next Kylian Mbappe.
After spending excessively and mostly without a plan for the last ten years without much success, the Red Devils are entering a brave new world.
Away from even the well-documented marginal gains, United are looking to transform their football operations and the market tactics will certainly be part of that.
A far cry from the long-term attempts by the Glazer family and their structure to sign readymade players, throwing them into a team with a big-name head coach, Ratcliffe promises to be different.
“What I would rather do is find the next Mbappe, rather than spend a fortune just trying to buy success,” he told the Geraint Thomas Cycling Club podcast last month. “It’s not that clever, is it, buying Mbappe, in a way?
“Anybody could figure that one out. But what’s much more challenging is to to find the next Mbappe, the next [Jude] Bellingham or the next Roy Keane.”
With reports suggesting that United are now looking to land Port Vale starlet Baylee Dipepa,Manchester Evening News has taken a look at some of the other prospects that the club could turn to in order to unearth gems for the future. Given that players such as Bellingham, Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins, Jamie Vardy, Harry Maguire, Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, and Jack Grealish have all come from EFL backgrounds, it’s certainly a goldmine to be attacked.
Baylee Dipepa
The logical place to start, Dipepa has been linked with a move to Old Trafford. The Sun reports that the 17-year-old is already a player that United are keen to do business with and that they are leading the race for his signature.
Dipepa made his senior breakthrough earlier this season, only turning 17 in January, and has slowly risen to become a regular in Darren Moore’s squad despite their struggles in League One. That such trust has been placed in a player only making their Under-17s debut last month is a testament to the talent available.
Dipepa has scored twice for Vale’s senior side this season as well as getting two assists from his 21 games. He is certainly someone now being monitored at the top level.
Ronnie Edwards
It’s hard to be the next Mbappe as a centre-back, but as far as young defenders go, this guy is right up there. Already linked with a move to Chelsea amongst other sides, the 21-year-old has stacks of EFL experience for his age.
Edwards has already racked up 134 appearances for Peterborough and has started every single game this term so far in League One. Posh are challenging to get back to the Championship, where Edwards has already played most of a full season, and his stock only continues to rise.
As an England Under-20 international, the right-footed, right-sided centre-half, Edwards one of the best in the division. It is worth remembering at this stage that John Stones spent time coming through the EFL as a young defender, as did Joe Gomez.
United have spent big to try and solve their problems at the back, including on another EFL graduate in Maguire, and Edwards at this stage of his career would represent an exciting shift for the club. His contract expires in the summer of 2025 and a bargain could be on the cards.
Archie Gray
If United fancy trying to get one back on their old rivals Leeds then this is certainly one to be on top of. Gray is hardly an unknown to the world of football at this stage but then again neither were Olise or Eze and they still left for pennies compared to some of the moves United have made.
Gray is sure to attract plenty of attention in the coming years and should Leeds go up then the moment he kicks a ball in the top flight next season his price will rocket, but it’s still the type of deal that Ratcliffe can look at. Gray is a Leeds academy prospect capable of playing right-back or midfield and frankly, he’s the real deal.
It doesn’t quite have the allure of picking up a more unknown talent and taking them to the top, but it would still represent a great acquisition.
Jack Clarke
This one is slightly different. Clarke was once the wizz-kid that Dipepa, Gray, and Edwards are currently being touted as, but has seen things stagnate. Now 23, the former Leeds youngster has come into his own.
Since moving to Sunderland he has found a lease of life, something Amad can also attest to, and is having comfortably his best season to date. Following up an impressive nine goals and 12 assists for the Black Cats in the Championship last year, Clarke now has 15 goals and four assists this term despite the team dropping off.
Given he’s older than most that are deemed ready to step up to the Premier League in a move like this it represents even more of an unsuspecting deal. Tottenham only sold him in July 2022 and he has had several struggles along the way, but for what would be a small price, Clarke is showing he’s ready for the step-up.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Another player that has had an up and down time, Dewsbury-Hall has excelled as perhaps the Championship’s MVP this year. From an untroubling, unsuspecting deeper option for Leicester in the top flight between 2021 and 2023, dropping down a level has seen him develop significantly.
Dewsbury-Hall now has 11 goals and 13 assists in a Foxes side vying for promotion. Given their financial struggles he will be one of the main assets clubs look at over the summer should they go up or not.
As a versatile midfield option, Dewsbury-Hall may well provide value for money despite being another older option on this list. At 25 he is not a wonderkid but a solid piece of business instead. He is the type of player it wouldn’t be surprising to see play in the Premier League next year, stand out for whoever he is representing, and be linked with a quick move up the table.
United can get ahead of the game by risking him now.
Jobe Bellingham
Looking for the next Bellingham? This is quite literally it.
Jokes aside – and bad ones at that – Jude’s brother is also making waves. Still a teenager, Jobe is another combative midfielder from Birmingham.
Coming through the Birmingham academy like Jude, Jobe joined Sunderland in the summer and has gone from strength to strength. He has already played 3,000 minutes in the Championship with seven goals and an assist coming.
There’s something in the name and United would be well advised to get themselves in the pack
for signing the next Bellingham if the chance opens up.
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