Liverpool - News

Liverpool 5-2 Norwich: What Jurgen Klopp said:

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was good, it was really good. We probably could've created more in the first half but it was really nice by Norwich as well. We didn't play quick enough or with enough purpose.
"We scored two good goals created by our young boys. We conceded then, that can happen. Both teams can take a lot from the game. We are in the next round and Norwich played good."

On the youngsters that were playing: "They are really good. We wouldn't be where we are if these boys hadn't made the next step.
"James McConnell was put in the six because we had injuries in pre-season. Conor Bradley has everything at right-back, you can talk to him about tactics and he gets it. Jarell Quansah is an adult centre-half and nothing else.
"Our big guns are back now and we play again in three days. [We've got] Chelsea and Arsenal, it doesn't get much bigger."

On the atmosphere in the ground: "I get it, it's very emotional. I just have to make sure that I don't get on that side of it. I said they don't have to do it because I know our relationship already.
"In these games, we need to be warriors and not celebrate the old man on the sidelines.
"[It's the] first match after the news and we can get used to it. Chelsea are in a good moment, it will be tough, but let's make sure we are ready for that."


Liverpool 5-2 Norwich: What Virgil Van Dijk said:

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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the game: "The big task is to get through to the next round. It was a pleasing day because of the players coming back from injury and the young players getting another game. We're ready to go again for Chelsea."

On the atmosphere at Anfield: "It was the first time since the announcement that the manager [Jurgen Klopp] was back in the stadium seeing all of the fans. It was always going to be a bit different. Within the squad, nothing has changed. It was very emotional on the day.
"As a squad, we have a lot of targets to achieve. Let's give it everything we have. The manager is here until the summer. We have to deal with the noise. It's my job, as captain, to make sure it doesn't reach our players."

On having more motivation now: "I can only speak for myself in this case. We have been through so much together and I'm grateful for everything that he has done for me, my family and my career. Why not end it on a high and make more memories? Let's see.
"We still have more goals. We don't just want to win for the boss. We want to win for ourselves, the club, and because we are winners. We need a bouncing Anfield on Wednesday and a perfect performance against a good Chelsea [team]."

On the youngsters that are coming through: "I'm very impressed with the youngsters. I see them daily in training. They have to keep working and stay humble.
"They are at a fantastic club and the culture here is outstanding for young players. You have to use the opportunity as well because you don't get many as a professional footballer."

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We asked for your thoughts on Sunday's goal-fest between Liverpool and Norwich in the FA Cup fourth round.

Here are some of your views:

Jason: A very good performance from everyone. Pick of the players for me were Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah and James McConnell who, for me, should've been given man of the match. Klopp has been a revelation since joining Liverpool and let's hope the players dig in just that little bit more to win the Premier League and all of the cups we're in. Let Klopp go out in style.

Tracy: Tactical precision play by the Reds which sees us into the fifth round of the FA Cup. Great respect and love to Klopp as our manager who has installed a lasting belief and confidence into Liverpool Football Club and at academy levels. What a legacy to leave us with. What a legend. Keep going Reds.

Marilyn: Fantastic match! Great to see the youngsters who look like they are enjoying every second. There were tears in my eyes for our great manager. Just win everything for him boys!

Asa: I'm really impressed with the young kids coming through. Conor Bradley deserved man of the match, but I thought James McConnell was outstanding on his first start. It was great to see [Andy] Robbo and Trent [Alexander-Arnold] back as well. Good times.

Willow: Great win for the lads. Conor Bradley is going from strength to strength. Good to see [Andy] Robbo and Trent [Alexander-Arnold] back.

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Former Liverpool Goalkeeper David James has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast about Jurgen Klopp's departure from Liverpool at the end of the season:

"The way Klopp dealt with the media in the press conference after the video announcement just underlines what an amazing character he is.

"I think the succession plan will already be in place. I think the club will know who they are going for, they have probably known 18 months ago.

"How are they going to get a manager that can deal with the media as well as Klopp?

"I think Edin Terzic at Borussia Dortmund should be the next manager. He’s the type of guy that can speak properly and handle the media. Whether he’s good enough in Liverpool’s eyes is another question.

"I think the media bit is the most important because nobody has got anything on Klopp from what he says after a game, how he’s reacted, how he’s dealt with things and, when he’s had to deal with problems, he's always dealt with it in a manner that is surprising in a positive way."

Liverpool: 'End of era' if Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah follow Jurgen Klopp out of club..

Liverpool could be facing the "end of an era" this summer if stars Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah follow manager Jurgen Klopp out of the club.

Klopp will step down at the end of the season after nine years in charge.

Captain Van Dijk says he does not know if he will be part of the new era, while forward Salah has been linked with a move away.

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"It may feel for some that they may want to move on," ex-Blackburn striker Chris Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Klopp's announcement came with the club in the running for four trophies. They top the Premier League, face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final and are still in the FA Cup and Europa League.

"They have such a close-knit group, Klopp has been there years. The players he signed will feel they owe him one. They'll want to be galvanised and win everything," continued Sutton on Monday Night Club.

"But then because they've been part of the journey under Klopp it may feel for some like Van Dijk that they may want to move on. Van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Salah look like they might move on. It is possibly the end of an era, not just for Klopp but for some of the players.

"A lot of players Klopp brought in will feel that bond with him and may think 'we can't argue it's the right time to leave when Jurgen Klopp does, a natural time'."

Klopp has won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup with Liverpool - with Salah, 31, and Van Dijk, 32, part of that success.

Egypt's Salah has scored 204 goals in 332 games for Liverpool, while the Netherlands centre-back Van Dijk replaced Jordan Henderson as captain last summer.

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The experienced duo and homegrown right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold are all out of contract at the end of next season.

"If they lose Salah and Van Dijk, they would be two huge players to walk away from Liverpool," said Sutton.

"They're more likely to move on at the end of the season as a natural end to the Klopp era and it's a totally different job then to lose two massive juggernauts to the team."

"It's a hospital pass going in after Jurgen Klopp," said Sutton.

The odds-on favourite to be the next Liverpool manager is Xabi Alonso, whose Bayer Leverkusen side are top of the Bundesliga in his second season in charge.

The 42-year-old Spaniard played for Liverpool from 2004 to 2009.

"The problem is Alonso is a rookie," said Sutton. "I wonder if they will think he hasn't managed long enough. Klopp was so charming and larger than life.

"It's not just about coaching, you have to handle the atmosphere, the whole club.

"When Liverpool got Klopp in he'd had seven years and done incredible things at Dortmund. He'd had highs and lows and experienced everything. That's the one thing that would go against a rookie like Alonso.

"At the moment everything is going swimmingly well but Bayer Leverkusen aren't expected to win the Bundesliga. To go in at Liverpool and follow a giant, if things don't start well how would he handle adversity?"

Leicester City defender Conor Coady, who started his career with the Reds, says they have to decide what style of play they want now.

"Klopp brought his philosophy of heavy metal football, gegenpressing, he changed Liverpool's way of being," said Coady.

"It's interesting to see how they move forward. Do they bring in a manager like that? Do they keep that style of play? It's whether they want to go rebuilding or go down the same route again."

Liverpool assistant managers Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz and elite development coach Vitor Matos will leave in the summer, with sporting director Jorg Schmadtke to depart at the end of January.

"It showed with the amount of people leaving that want something different," said Coady. "His backroom team, sporting director, it's such a big rebuilding job.

"You're never going to get another Jurgen Klopp. He's taken it to such a level, the top of the mountain. Do they go down the same path? It doesn't look like it because of how many people have left. But a rebuild takes time."

'No one has to worry' about Liverpool's future - Liverpool v Chelsea (Wed 31.01.24 - 8.15pm)

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Now Jurgen Klopp himself is speaking to the media, and he begins by talking about defender Virgil van Dijk saying he's unsure about Liverpool's future once Klopp leaves in the summer.

"It's completely normal," said Klopp. "It's clear the outside world will not give you a second to process it.

"A week ago no-one knew about my situation. There was still 18 months on their contracts and no-one asked, so give us a break. No-one has to worry.

"Write what you want, the club is stable. Everything will be fine, I'm 100% sure. I would recommend to stay calm.

Very often the fans' concerns are not as big as you might think. You underestimate the intelligence of our supporters."

Giving an update on team news, Jurgen Klopp said: "Macca (Alexis Mac Alister) trained yesterday so should be fine.

"Thiago trained, which was an incredible moment after all these months and to train at the level he does. But he needs time."

Jurgen Klopp on Mohamed Salah, who picked up a muscle injury playing for Egypt at the African Cup of Nations: "There was no pressure on him other than wanting to get fit as quickly as possible anyway. But we don't rush.

"If you could rush the healing process then Thiago wouldn't have been out for 10 months.

"You do what you can do and, whilst that happens, we have to wait. Mo’s not ready for this game or the next. He’s injured and a muscle injury takes time.

"It could have been a lot worse but he’s not available and he’s having rehabilitation."

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On having to play 'youngsters' because of Liverpool's ongoing injury list, Jurgen Klopp said: "With these boys, everything so far is outstanding.

"A 19-year-old boy (James McConnell, above) doesn’t need to play week in, week out. We don’t have to rush him. But it was wonderful for him and his family.

"I knew it before the Norwich game that he could have came on before. For these boys it’s outstanding. They have to improve still but even if the big guns are coming back, it doesn’t have an impact on their development."

On Wednesday's opponents Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp said: "They play really good stuff and are a really good team. Nobody was ever in doubt about that.

"A team in form, I think. Won majority of games recently. We play them in first matchday, we weren't great but they were pretty good. A point was alright. We have to do better but we are different now.

"They had a lot of injuries but now they have a core group together. They have the midfield they want together and the entire back-line other than Reece James. It's a really good team, even if you can't see it in the table yet. I expect them to make big steps, but start after our game."

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Liverpool could move for Fulham's English defender Tosin Adarabioyo, 26, this summer.

Adarabioyo came through Manchester City's academy, making a handful of senior appearances in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, before joining Fulham in 2020.



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We asked you for your thoughts on Wednesday's Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Paddy: If Liverpool put on a performance like that till the end of the season then not many teams will be able to handle or beat them. Terrific performance.

Steve: Great, confident win and a mountain of chances created. One day they will convert a bigger percentage and whoever they play that day could concede a record amount. Overall, a resounding, powerful, confident performance.

Anthony: With the emergence of Conor Bradley and the energy shown by the whole team, surely the key games are Arsenal away and Manchester City at home. If they come through them, we've got it. Up the Reds.

Paul: One of the most complete performances of the season. Konate was calm and controlled at the back with great distribution. The midfield was electric with real fight. The attack was mesmerising. And Conor Bradley... wow.


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