Liverpool news LIVE: All the latest gossip from Anfield
Friday December 15
Wilshere to replace Coutinho??!?
14:30: Liverpool would be all over Jack Wilshere in January and he could replace Philippe Coutinho, according to Sky Sports pundit and former Arsenal forward Paul Merson.
Wilshere is out of contract at Arsenal at the end of the season with manager Arsene Wenger confirming today negotiations over a new deal will start at the end of the month.
While Coutinho is on Barcelona’s radar again and is open to a move, and Merson does not think the England international should extend his Emirates deal.
When discussing what club Wilshere could join, he believes the Reds are the only team in the so-called top six who would take him.
“Everton, West Ham, I think anybody after them. Man City, no. Chelsea, I don’t think so," Merson said on Sky Sports News.
"Liverpool maybe, I think Liverpool would take him all day long. They rely on Coutinho to break people down, if you get Jack Wilshere as well then you’ve got two people who can break people down.
“At the moment they are very reliant on Coutinho. If Coutinho doesn’t do it, there are not too many others who can put the ball through the eye of a needle who play for Liverpool. For me I think Liverpool would be all over him.”
Coutinho price
13:45: Barcelona have repeatedly been quoted £127m for Philippe Coutinho.
Liverpool have been resolute in their determination to keep the Brazilian.
But Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo claim talks over a January transfer are underway.
Barca ideally want to drive down the quoted price and also need to iron out how to pay the fee in instalments and bonuses.
But they will likely face resistance from a Liverpool outfit that successfully deflected their deflected all last summer.
Liverpool & Chelsea favourites to sign Lemar
13:00: Liverpool and Chelsea are neck-and-neck in the battle to sign winger Thomas Lemar, according to bookmakers Betfair.
The France midfielder, 22, turned down a move to the Premier League in August but Monaco’s Champions League failure could make a January deal possible.
Reports in France claim Chelsea and Liverpool are set to bid £70million next month, while The Sun think Antonio Conte is prepared to use Michy Batshuayi as a makeweight.
Arsenal remain in the hunt, and were given reasons to be optimistic after Lemar sent fans into a frenzy on social media after he 'liked' a comment suggesting he is moving to the Emirates.
Thomas Lemar next club odds: Liverpool 10/3, Chelsea 10/3, Barcelona 11/2, Arsenal 7/1, Tottenham 10/1, Paris St-Germain 16/1, Manchester City 20/1, Real Madrid 33/1.
Thomas Lemar has sent Arsenal fans into a frenzy on social media
Karius stakes claim
12:00: Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius is determined to become the club's first-choice ahead of Simon Mignolet.
Most of the German's appearances this season have been in the Champions League, but he performed well in Mignolet’s absence during Wednesday's 0-0 draw with West Brom.
Liverpool next play in the Champions League in February with a trip to Portugal to face Porto but Karius is keen on getting more matches under his belt, starting with Sunday's league trip to Bournemouth.
"I want to play every game and my favourite option would be to play again on Sunday. But I have to take it as it comes and perform well when I am in the squad," Karius said.
"It is always a battle, it doesn't matter in which club or which position. If you don't perform well, even when you start, you might lose your spot in any position. I was happy I got a start and I'll just try to keep the standard high in training. That's all I can do. The decision who plays is the manager's job."
Hislop - Reds will beat Cherries
11:00: Liverpool will bounce back with victory over Bournemouth this weekend but it will not be easy for Jurgen Klopp’s side, according to ESPN FC pundit and former West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.
“I’m really not sure about this, I really am. I just feel going to Bournemouth, small ground, Liverpool haven’t been great of late,” Hislop said.
“I’m tempted to go for the draw but the thing is Liverpool have been so poor by their standards of late. I’m expecting a response and I’m sure Klopp gets it out of his team. That is the only reason, any other time I would have gone Bournemouth.”
Lemar Instagram hint
10:00: Thomas Lemar has sent Arsenal fans into a frenzy on social media after he 'liked' a comment suggesting he is moving to the Emirates.
Arsenal came extremely close to signing Lemar in the summer after having a bid of £90million accepted by Monaco.
But the deal fell through due to Manchester City failing to agree a deal for Alexis Sanchez, leaving Arsenal unable to complete a move for Lemar.
However, recent reports have suggested Arsenal will return with a fresh approach in the New Year and will face competition from both Chelsea and Liverpool.
With Monaco crashing out of Europe entirely, Lemar could look to fast-track his move to the Premier League.
And Chelsea were believed to be the shock frontrunners for his signature, but the Gunners have received a surprise boost in their pursuit with Lemar liking a comment on Instagram welcoming him to the club.
Lawrenson predicts Liverpool win
09:00: Surprising, eh?
Liverpool go into this weekend’s showdown with Bournemouth off the back of two disappointing draws against Everton and West Brom.
But Lawrenson believes the Reds will be able to take advantage of Eddie Howe’s attacking approach.
"Liverpool have had an iffy week, dropping points against Everton and West Brom. The Reds were pretty ordinary against the Baggies," Lawrenson told BBC Sport.
"Jurgen Klopp played the so-called 'Fab Four' after people moaned when he rested a couple of them at the weekend, but it didn't make any difference - they all just had a poor night.
"Bournemouth have hit another sticky patch too, although their poor run has lasted a bit longer. The Cherries came back from 3-1 down with 15 minutes to go to win this game 4-3 in December 2016, but I don't see them staging a repeat.
"In many ways this is the perfect game for Liverpool, because Bournemouth will not sit in. They will come at the Reds, and I think Klopp's side will pick them off."
Philipp Max blow
08:15: Bad news for people wanting to see Augsburg left-back Philipp Max playing in the Premier League next season.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton have been linked with the Augsburg defender in recent weeks.
But Augsburg chief Steffen Reuter says the club are under no pressure to sell.
"That our players are interesting, shows that they're producing good performances. We are not interested in selling," Reuter said.
Brazil legend Pele hails Mohamed Salah
07:00: Brazil legend Pele has taken to Twitter to praise Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
The attacker has had a magnificent start to life with the Reds scoring 19 goals in his maiden season.
And his performances have led to him winning the African Player of the Year award - drawing praise from Pele.
“It's been an incredible year,” Pele wrote to Salah on Twitter.
“Keep going and I look forward to seeing you play on the greatest stage next year - the World Cup.”
Klopp’s tactics questioned by Thompson
05.45: Jurgen Klopp lacks the ability to adjust his tactics mid-game when Liverpool need to defend, according to former Red Phil Thompson.
"I supposed there's a bit in Klopp's inability to adjust tactics, to see games out with the right personnel, but at the same time the attacking talent is our strength," Thompson told Sky Sports.
"With that strength comes an offensive mentality, whereas when Jose Mourinho gets in front he's not frightened to put Marouane Fellaini on to help them defend set-pieces.
"It is also about that lack of options, with Jordan Henderson relied upon to be our holding midfielder. What I'd like to see is him bring James Milner in to offer a bit more strength in that role.”
Pique leads Coutinho rebellion
05.15: Gerard Pique is said to be furious that Philippe Coutinho is set to be handed a bigger contract than him at Barcelona, should the club lure him away from Liverpool.
Barcelona have not given up hope of signing Coutinho, despite Liverpool supposedly not willing to listen to offers in the New Year.
Coutinho made it clear in the summer that he wanted to leave when he handed in a transfer request with Barcelona having three bids knocked back.
But his potential arrival could spark unrest in the Barcelona dressing room.
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