bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738 
|
Post by bluetornados on May 14, 2023 19:15:14 GMT
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 15, 2023 19:50:57 GMT
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 15, 2023 21:17:09 GMT
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 16, 2023 1:19:23 GMT
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 16, 2023 1:20:38 GMT
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 17, 2023 22:17:26 GMT
Liverpool: James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita & Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to leave club..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/15BA3/production/_129759988_bbc-sport-index-imagery-4-split-images-gradient-62369de3-e938-4416-b471-7ac3efbc2254.pngJames Milner, Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all leave Liverpool at the end of the season, the club has confirmed. All four players' contracts expire this summer. They were all part of the side that won the Champions League in 2019 and Premier League in 2019-20. A statement from Liverpool said: "All four players will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for the contribution they have made." The club added that special tributes would be paid to the players in the Reds' final Premier League home game of the season against Aston Villa on Saturday. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had already outlined the club's intentions to be active in the summer transfer window. His side have had a difficult season but seven consecutive wins mean they now sit fifth in the Premier League and could still qualify for the Champions League. Milner and Firmino joined the club in 2015 under Brendan Rodgers and went on to win a historic Premier League title in 2020 - the club's first top-flight triumph in 30 years - as well as the FA Cup last season. Former Manchester City midfielder Milner, who has made 330 appearances for the club, has been linked with moves to Brighton and Leeds. The 37-year-old has made 617 Premier League appearances, the third highest in the league's history. Firmino became the highest-scoring Brazilian striker in Premier League history in 2019 and now has 80 goals in 254 top flight appearances but has not played since March. The 31-year-old will be best remembered at Liverpool for his time playing alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane as part of a prolific front three under Klopp. Klopp had said he wanted Firmino to stay and, although the forward had been in discussions over a new contract, he has chosen to move on. Keita, who scored 11 goals in 129 appearances, signed in 2017 but has made just 12 appearances this season having struggled with injuries. Meanwhile Oxlade-Chamberlain has also struggled for minutes this season, making just 13 appearances, the last of which was against Real Madrid in Liverpool's Champions League last-16 exit. The 29-year-old joined in 2017 and has made 146 appearances for the club, scoring 18 goals.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 18, 2023 17:12:06 GMT
Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool boss receives two-match ban for Paul Tierney comments..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/D491/production/_129771445_gettyimages-1359864407.jpgLiverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has received a two-match ban for comments he made about referee Paul Tierney after his side's 4-3 victory over Tottenham in April. It means the German will miss Sunday's match against Aston Villa at Anfield. The second game is suspended until the end of the 2023-24 season, meaning Klopp will not miss the final game of this campaign against Southampton. Klopp suggested Tierney had "something against" the Reds after the Spurs game. He has also received a £75,000 fine having admitted improper conduct and saying he regretted making the comments. Klopp was shown a yellow card for celebrating Liverpool's 94th-minute winner in front of the fourth official and later claimed what Tierney said to him was "not OK". The refereeing governing body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited, said at the time it "strongly refutes" any accusation Tierney's actions were "improper". Liverpool sent a letter in response to the charges three days after the match, suggesting emotions were heightened during a tense fixture and that while Klopp had not intended to "question Tierney's integrity", the referee had been involved in a number of "questionable decisions" involving the club. 'We will give you the benefit of the doubt'However, the FA said the comments were a "particularly serious example of misconduct" and it was "disturbed by the very aggressive nature" of Klopp's behaviour towards fourth official John Brooks. Klopp also wrote a letter of apology, saying the words he used in the post-match interview were "inappropriate" and "driven by emotion". The FA has also released the transcript of what Tierney said to Klopp when he booked him, which the Liverpool boss deemed to be "unacceptable". After being told by Brooks about Klopp's behaviour and having sought confirmation from the video assistant referee (VAR), Tierney said: "Right, I have to show you yellow... it could be red, but I am going to show you yellow. "He [VAR] said yellow. We will give you the benefit of the doubt, don't do anything more." Klopp was previously given a one-match ban after he was sent off against Manchester City in October for berating an assistant referee and the independent commission acknowledged his "poor disciplinary record" when deciding on the sanction.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 19, 2023 14:53:48 GMT
Gossip:
As well as Brighton's Argentina World Cup winning midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, 24, Liverpool are monitoring Chelsea's England midfielder Mason Mount, 24, while Bayern Munich's Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, 21, is another player being assessed.
Liverpool are also admirers of Feyenoord and Turkey midfielder Orkun Kokcu, 22, as an alternative to Mac Allister and England and Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, 19.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 20, 2023 21:14:48 GMT
Liverpool 1-1 Aston Villa: Roberto Firmino's farewell will see a Reds 'rebuild'...By Shamoon Hafez, BBC Sport at Anfield.
ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/C561/production/_129792505_firmino.jpgRoberto Firmino and Liverpool's three other departing players were given a guard of honour at full-timeAs chants of 'Si Senor' rang around Anfield on Saturday evening, Liverpool's departing hero Roberto Firmino took time to soak in the serenading of the home crowd. The Brazilian made his 361st appearance in a red shirt and almost provided a fairytale finish in his final home game, scoring a last-minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa. But despite 10 minutes of added time, the 31-year-old could not conjure another magical moment which would have taken the roof off the stadium. When Firmino leaves the pitch at Southampton on the final day of the season next Sunday, he will do so as one of Liverpool's greats in the Premier League era.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 20, 2023 23:15:45 GMT
ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/16147/production/_129793409_-ad979eb5-3814-47c4-b9a5-e1d3d63f048f.pngLiverpool have almost agreed personal terms with Brighton and Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, 24, although a deal is not yet done. Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi has told the club's board to block any bids for Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma, 26, with Mac Allister and 21-year-old Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo set to leave the Seagulls this summer. Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona are interested in a summer move for Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich, 28.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 22, 2023 8:48:58 GMT
Graeme Souness: Football legend to swim English Channel for charity..Graeme Souness fights back tears and struggles to speak on live TV as he reveals he's swimming the English Channel for a 'butterfly disease' charity, weeks after leaving his Sky Sports punditry job at 70. Souness is aiming to raise £1.1m to help the charity DEBRA with swim on June 18th. Funds will help those with Epidermolysis bullosa, which attacks the skin. 70-year-old counts the 21-mile swim as one of his toughest challenges ever. An emotional Graeme Souness has revealed he is swimming the English Channel to help people living with the rare skin disorder Epidermolysis bullosa. The former Liverpool and Scotland captain, who has just stepped away from his punditry role on Sky Sports after 15 years, fought back tears as he described the pain and misery the illness brings to children. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mail Sport columnist Souness, 70, said: 'It's the most horrendous disease. If you're inflicted by it you must wake up every morning and say "why me?" 'It's a desperate situation. And then the parents have to deal with that. And that's why we're doing this. 'I am involved in this because of how evil this disease is. 'If people haven't experienced it, or seen it, you have no idea how desperate this thing is.' He wants to raise at least £1.1million, because he wore the No 11 on the football field. Souness was filmed chatting to Isla Grist, a 14-year-old girl who required plastic surgery on her hands because of the degenerative disease. Isla described the agony of even having her bandages changed on her hands, with Souness almost lost for words at her bravery. Souness plus Isla's dad, Andy, and four others will be taking on the waters between Dover and Calais next month and a fundraising page has been set up on the DEBRA website. 'Isla is just the most courageous human being I've ever come across,' Souness added. 'When I'm in her company, I'm very tearful. 'She just inspires me, she is just unbelievably courageous and brave.' The crossing could take up to 16 hours to swim but Souness said: 'I wanted to do something that could make a difference to Isla's life and to the lives of so many others living with EB, and the slightly crazy idea of swimming the English Channel was suggested. i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/22/08/71258893-12110157-Former_Liverpool_and_Scotland_footballer_Graeme_Souness_will_swi-a-13_1684740615353.jpgFormer Liverpool and Scotland footballer Graeme Souness will swim the English Channel to raise money for charities supporting those suffering from Epidermolysis bullosai.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/22/08/71258895-12110157-Souness_will_be_taking_on_the_21_mile_Channel_challenge_next_mon-a-14_1684740621802.jpgSouness will be taking on the 21-mile Channel challenge next month alongside Andy Grist, the father of a 14-year-old girl, Isla, who suffers from the conditioni.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/22/08/71259833-12110157-image-a-24_1684741777708.jpgThe legend has been a familiar sight on their Premier League coverage for over a decade
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 26, 2023 7:47:26 GMT
Champions League: Which Premier League teams can secure European football ?..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/DF8B/production/_129872275_gettyimages-1468319143.jpgLiverpool missed out on Champions League qualification as Manchester United booked their place with a thumping win over Chelsea on Thursday. With Manchester City winning the Premier League title and Arsenal assured of second, fourth-placed Newcastle also secured their spot among Europe's elite with a goalless draw at Leicester City on Monday. Three-time European champions United had required just a point from their final two home games and took three in relatively comfortable fashion at Old Trafford against the Blues to avoid any final-day tension. It means Jurgen Klopp's side will now have Thursday-evening football to look forward to for the first time since 2015-16, when they lost 3-1 in the Europa League final to Sevilla. The teams finishing in the top seven will secure some form of European football next season and BBC Sport takes a look at how things are shaping up. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/1406B/production/_129872028_-82a23e2f-aaff-4c69-8895-b1a64a39c9f7.pngWho can finish in the Champions League places ?Manchester City, who could also win the Champions League this season, have been crowned Premier League champions, while Arsenal are guaranteed to finish second. Third-placed Manchester United will also be in the competition next season along with Newcastle, who are two points further back in fourth. Liverpool are four points adrift in fifth but even if Manchester City go on to win the Champions League, whoever finishes fifth in the Premier League will not qualify for next year's competition. The only way five English teams could have qualified for the Champions League was if a Premier League club won the competition, but had failed to finish inside the top four. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/69F7/production/_129872172_-d68faa2b-a0a7-4966-9f9b-3c52d9263312.pngThe teams that finish fifth and sixth in the Premier League are guaranteed a place in the Europa League, because FA Cup finalists Manchester City and Manchester United will both finish in the top six. Liverpool and Brighton are guaranteed to play in the Europa League, with Aston Villa four points behind the Seagulls in seventh and Tottenham a further point back. What about the Europa Conference League ?The team that finishes seventh will go into the Europa Conference League play-offs, because Carabao Cup winners Manchester United are guaranteed a place in the Champions League. That place appears to be a three-way fight between Villa who host Brighton, Tottenham who travel to relegation-threatened Leeds, or Brentford, who host Manchester City on Sunday. How could eight English teams compete in Europe next season ?West Ham are well out of the picture for a top-half finish, but have reached the Europa Conference League final. The Hammers will face Italian side Fiorentina in the final in Prague on 7 June and are slight favourites, with a 58% chance of winning the competition, according to Nielsen's Gracenote. If they win the trophy they will earn a place in the group stage of next season's Europa League.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 26, 2023 8:08:16 GMT
Mohamed Salah: Liverpool forward 'devastated' on Reds missing out on Champions League..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/372F/production/_129872141_hi084790718.jpgSalah has scored 19 Premier League goals with one game left this seasonLiverpool forward Mohamed Salah said he is "devastated" the club have missed out on a spot in next season's Champions League and added "there's absolutely no excuse for this". Salah posted his comments on social media shortly after Liverpool's failure to finish in the top four was confirmed by Manchester United beating Chelsea. Liverpool will finish fifth and play in next season's Europa League. "We let you [fans] and ourselves down," said Egypt international Salah, 30. Liverpool won seven of their past eight games in a late push for fourth place but, ultimately, could not make up for their inconsistent form for much of the season before that run. United only needed a point at home to Chelsea in the penultimate game of their season to confirm their Champions League place and join champions Manchester City, second-placed Arsenal and Newcastle United as England's contingent in Europe's top competition next season. "We had everything we needed to make it to next year's Champions League and we failed," said Salah, who was part of the Liverpool team that won the tournament in 2018-19 and lost last year's final to Real Madrid. "We are Liverpool and qualifying to the competition is the bare minimum. "I am sorry but it's too soon for an uplifting or optimistic post." Liverpool started the campaign off promisingly by beating Manchester City in the Community Shield but then won only two of their opening eight Premier League games. They struggled away from home in the top flight before their recent upturn in form, with three of their eight away defeats coming at relegation-battling Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Bournemouth, while they were only beaten by struggling Leeds United at home in the league. Liverpool were comfortably beaten by Real Madrid in the last 16 of this season's Champions League, while they went out at the fourth-round stage of both the FA Cup and League Cup to Brighton and Manchester City respectively. Salah, who signed a lucrative new three-year contract with Liverpool last summer, has scored 19 league goals this season, with six coming in 14 games before the 2022 World Cup and 13 in 23 games following the tournament.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 26, 2023 23:39:10 GMT
Mohamed Salah: Jurgen Klopp has 'no worries' over Egyptian winger's future at Liverpool..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/150DE/production/_129883268_gettyimages-1488251232.jpgJurgen Klopp says he has "no worries" over Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool despite the winger saying he was "devastated" about failing to qualify for the Champions League. Salah posted his comments on social media shortly after Manchester United's 4-1 win over Chelsea on Thursday which denied Liverpool a top-four finish. Klopp's side will finish fifth and play in next season's Europa League "Mo loves being here and Mo was part of it," Klopp said on Friday. "He said apologies for what 'we' did - not apologies for 'what the other guys did, but I had to go with them'. It is all fine." The Egypt international said on Twitter on Thursday: "There's absolutely no excuse for this. We had everything we needed to make it to next year's Champions League and we failed. "We are Liverpool and qualifying to the competition is the bare minimum. I am sorry but it's too soon for an uplifting or optimistic post. We let you and ourselves down." Salah, who signed a new three-year contract - worth more than £350,000-a-week - with Liverpool last summer, has scored 19 league goals this season. Asked whether he was concerned about Salah's future at the club following the 30-year-old's social media comments, the Liverpool manager said: "No worries, no. I only heard what he said but I couldn't read anything that could lead in that direction. "If ever a player would come to me and said, 'oh, we didn't qualify for the Champions League, I have to leave', I would drive him to the other club myself. "I would take the key, [and say]: 'come in the car, where do you want to go, I drive you'." United only needed a point at home to Chelsea in the penultimate game of their season to confirm their Champions League place. Liverpool won seven of their past eight games in a late push for fourth place, but could not make up for their inconsistent run of form in the first half of the season. Klopp said the squad is still "really united" despite the disappointment of missing out on the last Champions League qualification spot. "We didn't point fingers at each other. That's all good. If you don't qualify for the Champions League, the best place you can possibly end up is fifth, so that's what we did," he said before Liverpool visit Southampton on Sunday. "If you'd have asked me 10 games ago if that was possible, I'd have said no. That the boys did that is really good but it's not perfect. "We didn't end up fifth because of the last 10 games, we ended up there because of the lack of consistency before that."
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 27, 2023 23:54:37 GMT
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 28, 2023 18:18:47 GMT
SUNDAY 28th MAY 2023 - FA PREMIER LEAGUE
Southampton 4 (Ward-Prowse 19, Sulemana 28, 47, A.Armstrong 64) Liverpool 4 (Jota 10, 73, Firmino 14, Gakpo 72)ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/2F7F/production/_129895121_gettyimages-1494051745.jpgRoberto Firmino scored on his final appearance for LiverpoolSouthampton bid goodbye to the Premier League with a thrilling 4-4 draw against Liverpool at St Mary's. Liverpool opened the scoring through Diogo Jota who punished Romeo Lavia's poor pass before Roberto Firmino made it 2-0 after 14 minutes, scoring in his final match for the Reds. The Saints pulled a goal back through James Ward-Prowse and were level in the 28th minute when Kamaldeen Sulemana netted his first goal for the club. Sulemana completed the turnaround just after half-time and Adam Armstrong put the hosts 4-2 up in the 64th minute. But Liverpool responded with Cody Gakpo's 72nd-minute tap-in, and Diogo Jota levelled the fixture with his second a minute later. Mohamed Salah then hit the post for Liverpool in the final 15 minutes with a lobbed effort, but neither side was able to find a fifth in a hugely entertaining affair.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 29, 2023 16:04:48 GMT
Gossip:
Real Madrid are considering making a move for Brazil forward Roberto Firmino, 31, who will become a free agent when his Liverpool contract expires this summer.
Liverpool could sign Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, 28, for 26m euros (£22.5m), with the Serbia international's contract due to expire in 2024.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 30, 2023 11:10:06 GMT
Jorg Schmadtke: Liverpool appoint new sporting director..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/21D4/production/_129906680_gettyimages-1463432517.jpgSchmadtke has fulfilled similar behind-the-scenes roles at Wolfsburg, Cologne, Hannover and Alemannia AachenLiverpool have appointed Jorg Schmadtke as the club's new sporting director. Schmadtke, 59, replaces Julian Ward who has vacated the role after 11 years at Anfield. The German's most recent position was at Wolfsburg, where he was sporting director until February. "Jorg will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience into a role in which such qualities can only be beneficial both to him and us," Liverpool said in a statement. "Jorg will work with our football operations department as it continues to provide support for [manager] Jurgen Klopp, in keeping with our ongoing endeavour to keep growing and developing the club in all areas. "At the same time as we welcome Jorg, we must also bid a fond farewell to Julian Ward, who has served us with unstinting diligence, fortitude and energy in a number of roles, the most recent one being sporting director." Schmadtke, a goalkeeper in his playing days, spent four and a half years at Wolfsburg, during which time the club qualified for the Champions League after finishing fourth in the Bundesliga at the end of the 2020-21 season.
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on May 30, 2023 11:12:25 GMT
|
|
bluetornados
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 15,738
|
Post by bluetornados on Jun 1, 2023 8:40:48 GMT
Gossip:
Newcastle United have offered Bruno Guimaraes a £200,000-a-week deal to ward off interest from Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona and make the Brazil midfielder, 25, their highest-paid player.
Liverpool are in talks with Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, 24, over personal terms and hope to complete his signing from Brighton next week.
|
|
