Here are your Liverpool morning headlines for Thursday, February 9.
Liverpool confirm European Super League stance
Having been kicked into touch back in 2021, proposals for a revamped European Super League competition have been presented.
A22, the company engaged to facilitate the creation of the ESL, has been on the charm offensive over the past six months following the appointment of CEO Bernd Reichart, getting feedback 'from over 50 clubs' as part of their plans to bring about the project in a more palatable way than the one that was presented in April 2021.
The original ESL plan had 12 clubs signed up initially, including Liverpool, with Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona all part of the line up. The plans were met with an angry reaction from fans, leagues, governing bodies and other stakeholders and one by one the numbers of the dozen clubs committed dwindled until just three remained; Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus.
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Those three clubs remain espoused to the idea of an ESL, something that the owners of the English clubs that were involved have pretty much been forced into continually rejecting moving forward, even as they continue to try and disentangle themselves legally from the initial proposals.
The latest proposals for the ESL were presented by Reichart via German newspaper Die Welt, with plans for a 'multi-divisional' competition featuring between 60 and 80 teams mooted where clubs would be guaranteed a minimum of 14 matches and the competition governed based on 10 principles that included an increased focus on financial sustainability, meritocracy and fan experience.
The competition would be based on sporting performance with no permanent members.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Jurgen Klopp stance faces ultimate test
For someone whose boast about ignoring what is written about him is a proud one, Jurgen Klopp is aware of the accusation that he is too loyal, writes Paul Gorst.
The Liverpool boss was asked last month, as his team continued to lurch their way through a difficult season, if he was in fact missing the kind of ruthless side that is often needed for elite-level managers at the cutting edge of football.
"Yes, of course I have heard it," Klopp said. "I heard that before and I am not. I am not. I am not too loyal. I am loyal. I think everybody should be loyal, but I am not too loyal.
"The problem is too complex. You have a good player who did a lot of good things in the past, that is what we are talking about, and then in your mind [you think] maybe that’s it for him. If you can then go out and bring in another player to replace that makes sense. Both sides, good idea, it was a great time, see you later. If you cannot bring anybody in you cannot bring anybody out.
"That is the situation. It is an intelligent question. The only problem with it is what you all make with the answer. That is the only problem with that. But I am not too loyal."
Clearly the inference is one that lingered with Klopp as he referenced the loyalty issue the following week, unprompted, in a response to a question about James Milner's long-term plans for his career.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
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