As Liverpool prepare to face Rangers in a competitive match for the first time in their history this week, here's your evening headlines for Monday, October 3.
Gary Neville sends warning to FSG over 'issue' with Liverpool fans
Gary Neville has insisted he doesn't worry over Liverpool's immediate future following a poor start to the Premier League season but insisted a prolonged period of poor results could spell trouble for the club's owners Fenway Sports Group.
Having faltered during the early weeks of the new season with draws to Fulham and Everton, and defeats to Manchester United and Napoli, the Reds were once again frustrated on Saturday afternoon as Brighton and Hove Albion visited Anfield and secured a 3-3 draw.
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It was a performance lacking in intensity and authority, that summed up the troubles of Jurgen Klopp's side so far this term as, after impressively restoring parity from two goals down, they squandered a 3-2 lead in the final quarter of the game.
Klopp's assessment of the result was rather damning as he described his side's performance as "horrible" and "horrendous", citing the ease with which Roberto de Zerbi's side were able to play through the lines as a major problem. But with Liverpool looking like a shadow of the side that amassed a 63-game campaign last term and went within two games of an unprecedented quadruple, Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United defender Neville has leapt to the defence of the Liverpool manager but warned owners FSG about potential trouble if their lack of investment causes the Reds to fall further behind Manchester City.
"You could argue they should’ve signed a midfield player in the summer and all those kinds of things, also they’ve been punching well above their weight, haven’t they?" said Neville on the Gary Neville podcast. "Exceptional manager, brilliant manager, great team-spirit married with the fans over the last few years coming together, they’ve had an outstanding time but when you compare their net spend with these two clubs today [Man City and Man United], they are competing with both hands behind their back.
"When Liverpool start to perform at their level; how they’ve recruited, how Jurgen Klopp’s coached the team, how the team have performed, when they start playing at where the investment takes them that’s where I think there will be an issue with FSG. The Liverpool fans will be thinking, ‘Hang on, we have to spend as much as the other clubs’ like Chelsea have done this summer."
Read the full story HERE.
Why Jurgen Klopp held 'long talks' with Darwin Nunez and Pep Lijnders
Jurgen Klopp has revealed having lengthy discussions with Darwin Nunez – but Liverpool are remaining “really calm” over the striker’s early difficulties at his new club.
Nunez has made just two starts following his potential club-record £85million move from Benfica in the summer and was limited to just a few minutes from the bench during the 3-3 home Premier League draw with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday. The Uruguay international was hampered by a three-match suspension following his red card against Crystal Palace on his Anfield debut in August and hasn’t scored since the opening top-flight weekend.
Having come off the bench against Napoli and Ajax, Nunez will hope to make his first Champions League start of the campaign when Rangers visit on Tuesday evening. But Klopp is adamant the 23-year-old shouldn’t be concerned by his lack of minutes and pointed to Liverpool ’s overall indifferent form as a reason the forward hasn’t yet made the intended impact.
“He’s good,” said the Reds boss on Monday. “Of course he’s still adapting, how players always adapt. New players come in and everybody talks about them and wants them to shine immediately, that happens from time to time and sometimes not. Only yesterday we had a long talk with Pep Lijnders because my Portuguese is still not better. We just told him we are really calm. It’s really important in our situation that he isn’t looking like he is worrying or whatever.
“I know this kind of discussion will open up to the outside world. Of course the three-game didn’t help him, that’s clear. But that’s pretty much all. The team is not flying, and that makes it not easier for a striker especially not for a finisher. It’s not that we aren’t creating chances, but it’s not like everything is clicking and we put in one player and he finishes our situation off. That’s not our situation at the moment as much as I wish it would be. That’s all.”
Read the full story HERE.
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