Liverpool FC Thread #157 :- LFC. This means more.

[NI KI]

Liverpool have named a 29-man squad for their tour of the United States and participation in the International Champions Cup.

The Reds depart for America in the early hours of Saturday morning and will visit Charlotte, East Rutherford and Ann Arbor during an eight-day trip.

Jürgen Klopp’s side have three ICC fixtures on their schedule: Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, Manchester City next Wednesday and Manchester United next Saturday.

Liverpool squad: Karius, Clyne, Fabinho, Van Dijk, Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita, Mane, Salah, Gomez, Sturridge, Grujic, Klavan, Moreno, Lallana, Shaqiri, Robertson, Origi, Solanke, Matip, Phillips, Jones, Markovic, Ojo, Woodburn, Kelleher, Camacho, Chirivella, Grabara.

Danny Ings will not travel and will instead remain at Melwood for extra training after missing several sessions since pre-season began due to blisters and a minor ankle injury.

Summer signing Xherdan Shaqiri is set to join up with the group in time for the New Jersey leg of the trip, at the conclusion of his break after representing Switzerland at the World Cup.

[NI KI]

Anymore new signing? Hoping to see another new playmaker

[NI KI]

The two Champions League rivals Liverpool beat for Naby Keita - and how Jurgen Klopp convinced midfielder to join

Naby Keita has revealed how the chance to play for Jurgen Klopp convinced him to turn down interest from Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

The Guinea midfielder completed a £52.75million transfer to Liverpool this summer – a year after the Reds struck a deal with RB Leipzig.

Bayern and Barcelona were also in the hunt for his signature in 2017 but after discussions with Klopp his heart was set on moving to Anfield.

“It's true to say that there were other teams involved like the ones you mentioned,” Keita said.

“But a big part of my decision was the role of the coach. We had good conversations a year ago. The words he spoke to me about this project really convinced me.

“I could see how the club was developing. I saw how the team was evolving and throughout last season I really keen to get here, especially having seen how well they were doing.

“We have got quality in the midfield and hopefully I can add to that quality and contribute in my own way. I have watched a lot of Premier League football and from being here I know we have got enough quality in our squad.

“It is all about having the mindset and the desire to want it enough and to fight for it enough. That desire and belief goes a long way.”



Keita says his decision to join Liverpool was also influenced by a ringing endorsement from Reds winger Sadio Mane. They played together at Salzburg and have remained close friends every since.

The duo will be part of Klopp's squad who touch down in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday for the start of the club's pre-season tour.

“I spoke at length with Sadio. He told me what a great club this was and how the team had great potential,” he said.

“Sadio is like a brother to me. We had nine months together at Salzburg and built up a good rapport. We have been great friends since that time. We keep in constant contact.”

Keita was already a national hero in Guinea and his switch to Liverpool has created huge interest in his homeland.



“I think the reaction is something that is really going to encourage me to work even harder,” he added.

“It has gone crazy, absolutely crazy. People are watching Liverpool every time that they can.

“I have not been home on holiday this summer but from what people have told me on the phone, I know it has been mad.

“The interest is huge. They are buying Liverpool shirts or just red shirts, whatever they can. There is great interest but it just gives me motivation to work even harder.

“There is no Guinean footballer who has made it big currently or who is playing at a top, top club. The interest is down to that. Most importantly, I think it is a really source of pride back home that I have managed to sign for Liverpool.”

[NI KI]

Football, as we all know and love, is a game of opinions.

But woe betide somebody if they have the temerity to in any way, and for any reason, deviate from a previously declared viewpoint.

Depending, of course, if the current perception is one that fits within a preferred narrative.

Take Jurgen Klopp and transfers.

Here he is talking in the summer of 2016 shortly after Paul Pogba's eye-wateringly expensive move from Juventus to Manchester United.

“If you bring one player in for £100million and he gets injured, then it all goes through the chimney,” he said.

“The day that this is football, I'm not in a job anymore. You always want to have the best, but building the group is necessary to be successful.

“Other clubs can go out and spend more money and collect top players. I want to do it differently. I would even do it differently if I could spend that money.”

And here's what Klopp is being called after he followed making Virgil van Dijk the most expensive defender in history in January by this week making Alisson Becker the most expensive goalkeeper in history.

A hypocrite.

The base claim from the Liverpool boss cannot be disputed. He still hasn't paid £100m for one player.

But the manner in which the Reds splashed out £75m on Van Dijk and then £65m on Alisson has upset those mindful of his dismissal of United spending so massively on Pogba.

Except Liverpool fans, who are understandably delighted at Klopp biting the bullet and sanctioning a major move to hopefully address a consistently problematic position.

They aren't bothered that Klopp has changed his tune to some degree.

Adapt or die. The underlying rule of evolution applies even to football managers, no matter how stubborn they may be on occasion.

And with Liverpool flush with cash from the Premier League television deal, their run to the Champions League final and the sale of Philippe Coutinho for £142m, Klopp has been able to flex his transfer muscles. That's no bad thing, a dereliction of duty to do otherwise.



There are, however, limits. Liverpool weren't interested at Alisson with a £90m price tag. Nor were they willing to do business at £75m. The Reds, Roma were told, weren't interested at that mark.

Once it came down to £65m, a deal could be struck. Klopp, alerted by the travails of Loris Karius during pre-season, had changed his mind. Get it done. And it was.

What's more, Liverpool's record at recruiting big-money players under Klopp and his recruitment team – think Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – has given them the confidence they can spend large amounts without fear of it being poured instantly down the drain.

But consider this.

Van Dijk, despite that huge fee, is not even in the top 10 most expensive players in the world.

Alisson, meanwhile, is 26 – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Arsenal, Angel Di Maria to Manchester United, Aymeric Laporte to Manchester City and Alvaro Morata to Chelsea all cost more.

Klopp's contention that he wouldn't spend a mammoth amount on one player remains true.

The only thing that has changed from his quote of two years ago are the numbers involved. £100m back then is more than £200m now, Neymar the current benchmark.

And the Liverpool boss, nor indeed any manager, can be blamed for that. Just like Klopp can't be blamed for spending money he has on players he wants.

That's football fact, not opinion.

[Robson]

The picture should be by position.

He bought world most expensive goalkeeper..
Where does vvd rank amongst defenders?

[NI KI]

[NI KI]

I am happy so long as LFC don't buy divers or players that will claim goals that r not scored by them

As a LFC fan, I am very happy that we can have the financial capability to buy the player for Klopp's 'Gegenpressing' style of play!

Really don't understand why "rival" fans are so "concern" on how much we spent on particular players'

[NI KI]

YouTube Video

[NI KI]

Arriving at Melwood in style.

[NI KI]

That first hug from the boss.