Liverpool FC Thread #159:- Unity Is Strength!

[NI KI]

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has been included on the 10-player shortlist for France Football magazine's 2018 Kopa Trophy.

The right-back, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Sunday, enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2017-18, helping the Reds reach the Champions League final and then travelling to the World Cup with England.

To date, Alexander-Arnold has played 54 games for his boyhood club.

The inaugural Kopa Trophy recognises the talent of players under the age of 21.

2018 Kopa Trophy nominees

Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Houssem Aouar (France/Lyon), Patrick Cutrone (Italy/AC Milan), Ritsu Doan (Japan/Groningen), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy/AC Milan), Amadou Haidara (Mali/Red Bull Salzburg), Justin Kluivert (Netherlands/AS Roma), Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris Saint-Germain), Christian Pulisic (USA/Borussia Dortmund), Rodrygo (Brazil/Santos).

[NI KI]

Nineteen members of Liverpool's first-team squad have been called up for international duty this month.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Jordan Henderson are with England as Gareth Southgate’s side prepare for UEFA Nations League ties away from home against Croatia on Friday October 12 and Spain three days later.

They could come up against Reds teammate Dejan Lovren in the first game, with the defender part of the Croatia group that will also take on Jordan in a friendly on Monday October 15.

Dominic Solanke will represent England U21s in European Championship qualifiers with Andorra and Scotland on Thursday October 11 and Tuesday 16 respectively.



And Curtis Jones has been selected by England U18s; they host Sweden on October 11 and Czech Republic four days later.

Scotland captain Andy Robertson will join up with his country for a trip to Israel in the Nations League (October 11) and a home friendly against Portugal on Sunday October 14.

Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum have two big matches with the Netherlands, who host Germany in the Nations League on Saturday October 13 and then travel to Belgium – for whom Simon Mignolet has been called up – for a friendly on October 16.

The latter will meet a familiar face before then, too, as Xherdan Shaqiri’s Switzerland face the Belgians on October 12. The Swiss’ second tie of a Nations League double-header sees them take on Iceland three days later.

In Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, Naby Keita has a double-header against Rwanda with Guinea, Mohamed Salah will represent Egypt against Swaziland home and away, and Sadio Mane’s Senegal face Sudan twice.



Three Reds have been called up by Brazil: Alisson Becker, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino. Tite’s team will play friendlies with Saudi Arabia on October 12 and Argentina on October 16.

Goalkeeper Kamil Grabara is with Poland U21s for matches against Denmark and Georgia, while Rafael Camacho joins up with Portugal U20s as they meet Switzerland and then Italy.

[NI KI]

Liverpool's Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have been shortlisted for the 2018 Ballon d'Or.

The 30 candidates for the annual prize, presented by France Football magazine, were revealed on Monday – with the Reds quartet confirmed among the nominees.

Alisson joined the club from AS Roma during the summer after helping the Serie A side reach the Champions League semi-finals last season and having represented Brazil at the World Cup.

The No.13 has made an impressive start to life at Anfield, recording five clean sheets in 10 appearances so far.

Firmino scored 27 goals in all competitions in 2017-18 - including 10 in the Champions League proper - and has found the net three times to date this term.

Mane, meanwhile, was another key performer for Liverpool last season, netting 20 times in total and in every knockout round of the European Cup campaign.

Salah enjoyed one of the finest debut campaigns in Reds history with 44 goals after signing from Roma in 2017, including a record tally of 32 in a 38-game Premier League season.

2018 Ballon d’Or nominees

Sergio Aguero (Argentina/Manchester City), Alisson Becker (Brazil/Liverpool), Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Edinson Cavani (Uruguay/Paris Saint-Germain).

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium/Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Diego Godin (Uruguay/Atletico Madrid)

Antoine Griezmann (France/Atletico Madrid), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Isco (Spain/Real Madrid), Harry Kane (England/Tottenham Hotspur), N'Golo Kante (France/Chelsea)

Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham Hotspur), Mario Mandzukic (Croatia/Juventus), Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Marcelo (Brazil/Real Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris Saint-Germain)

Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Luka Modric (Croatia/Real Madrid), Neymar (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain), Jan Oblak (Slovenia/Atletico Madrid), Paul Pogba (France/Manchester United)

Ivan Rakitic (Croatia/Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Luis Suarez (Uruguay/Barcelona), Raphael Varane (France/Real Madrid)

[NI KI]

[NI KI]

[elimmel]

Modric has to be favourite. Champions league winner and World Cup finals.

[Robson]

Originally Posted by elimmel

Modric has to be favourite. Champions league winner and World Cup finals.

Then he has 2 competitors in Varane and rakitic

[NI KI]

[NI KI]

Shortly after scoring a memorable goal at Old Trafford, Harry Wilson's phone beeped with a message from Jürgen Klopp.

‘Fantastic free-kick, really great football,’ the Liverpool manager wrote to the Wales international, who is on loan from the club at Derby County.

Wilson had just scored a stunning long-range set-piece in the Rams’ Carabao Cup tie with Manchester United – one they would go on to win via penalties after a 2-2 draw.

“It’s great to hear from the manager whose team you want to be in in the future,” enthused the 21-year-old.

Wilson enjoyed a hugely productive loan spell with Hull City during the first half of the year, scoring seven times in his 13 Championship appearances.

He returned to Liverpool in the summer and signed a new long-term contract before joining up with Frank Lampard’s Derby and carrying that impressive form into the next stage of his career.

“Early on in the year I was desperate to get out on loan and get some senior appearances in,” added Wilson.

“When Hull came calling it was a great, great move for me and when I went there I managed to get some goals and assists and get a senior Wales call-up.

“I got my full senior debut and a goal in China, and this season with Derby has been great. I’m in the Wales squad regularly now and I’m delighted.”

[NI KI]

Dejan