Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has insisted that Daniel Sturridge will have a huge role to play in the upcoming campaign after having enjoyed a fruitful and injury-free spell in pre-season.
The England international believes his compatriot is ‘world-class’, and they cannot place a price on his services.
Sturridge has had a series of niggles in the past couple of seasons at Liverpool, and this has sort of reduced his importance with Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi being preferred for the centre-forward duties. However, he has managed to come through the pre-season unscathed to date, and Lallana is confident that the Reds will see the best of the 27-year-old during the 2017/18 season.
“Listen, Sturridge has been absolutely brilliant in pre-season so far. He is looking really sharp and to have him firing on all cylinders would be like having two new signings if we can keep on the pitch and get him scoring goals,” he is quoted by the Liverpool Echo. “He is a world class player. He has come back from the summer looking absolutely brilliant, so fit. He is going to be a massive player for us this season. I can feel it. You couldn’t put a price on him.”
Liverpool will get their first real test of pre-season action when they take on Bayern Munich in the Audi Cup on Tuesday. Following this, they will face off against one of Atletico Madrid or Napoli on Wednesday depending on the results of both games. Jurgen Klopp’s side qualified for the Champions League via a fourth place finish last term, and they are now expected to tackle one of Europe’s unseeded teams in a two-legged playoff scheduled on August 15/16 and 22/23.
The Merseyside giants also face the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal in the first five games of the Premier League campaign, and they will hope to revive their form from last season, where they were unbeaten against the top-six opposition.
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool midfielder Emre Can entering into the final 12 months of his contract is not a good sign.
Answering press questions ahead of their second clash with Hoffenheim for UCL last qualification round, the former Borussia Dortmund boss opined that it is really not in the best interest of Liverpool to watch their employees contract run its course. It puts them in a position of weakness should contract renewal battle drums roll out.
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool midfielder Emre Can entering into the final 12 months of his contract is not a good sign.
Answering press questions ahead of their second clash with Hoffenheim for UCL last qualification round, the former Borussia Dortmund boss opined that it is really not in the best interest of Liverpool to watch their employees contract run its course. It puts them in a position of weakness should contract renewal battle drums roll out.
According to NetBet.co.uk, Can is odds-on to sign a new contract before the close of the transfer window.
Klopp however confirmed that so far “there is no signing and that is the situation,” adding that they were “still in talks.”
”It is an important contract for [Emre Can] at his age. I am 100 percent sure that we don’t sell the player now in this situation. Not a player from the first-team lineup for sure. He will play here for the next year that is for sure. All the rest we have to see,” said Klopp.
Negotiations for the Germany international were reported in May but it appears both halves of the discussion’s round table could not find a mutual ground to stand on.
Klopp however still maintains that “the situation is not perfect,” and “would prefer that [Emre] has already signed,” but is still positive they “can find the right solution for both sides. Emre is in a good way. He has really improved in a lot of parts and is a really important player for us. He can play different positions.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher is hoping that his former club will splash the cash in the final month of the transfer window. The Reds have spent reasonably this summer with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson having joined from AS Roma and Hull City respectively, whilst Dominic Solanke has arrived on a free from Chelsea – subject to a tribunal.
The likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea have coughed up huge sums to bring in top-class players this summer, but Klopp has called for patience in the market as he plans to bring in quality signings who could fight for a spot in the starting lineup.
Carragher admits that the club’s faithful would be nervous over the club’s transfer activity, but he is hopeful that the club will bring in the right players before this month’s transfer deadline, he said: “To be honest, I think we were all hoping that we would have been a lot happier at the stage. However, you’ve got to have patience. I’m sure the club are working 24/7 behind the scenes to bring players in, not only to keep the supporters happy, but to strengthen the squad for the big season ahead. I think Jurgen Klopp is looking to bring in quality rather than quantity, which is something that I’m personally happy with too.”
Carragher also admits that Liverpool have cooled their interest in Naby Keita with RB Leipzig reluctant to place a price on his services. The Reds are nevertheless expected to try for his signature next summer when his £47m buyout clause will become active.
Adam Lallana suffered a thigh injury during the Audi Cup final against Atletico Madrid earlier this month, and his setback is likely to push the Reds into a midfield signing prior to the end of the transfer window. Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains a suitable target, but the Gunners are prepared to risk their attacker for the final year of his contract.
Graeme Souness has insisted that Daniel Sturridge will have to change his attitude in order to become a regular with Liverpool next season.
The England international has struggled with numerous injuries over the past few years, and last season, was no exception, with just 11 starts across all competitions. Sturridge has also looked short of fitness ever since his standout season alongside Luis Suarez in 2013/14, and Souness has questioned the marksman’s mentality and preparation ahead of games.
Graeme Souness has insisted that Daniel Sturridge will have to change his attitude in order to become a regular with Liverpool next season.
The England international has struggled with numerous injuries over the past few years, and last season, was no exception, with just 11 starts across all competitions. Sturridge has also looked short of fitness ever since his standout season alongside Luis Suarez in 2013/14, and Souness has questioned the marksman’s mentality and preparation ahead of games.
He told TalkSPORT: “If Daniel Sturridge didn’t have these issues of keeping fit, he’d be the first name on the team sheet. I think he’s got amazing qualities, but he just can’t get himself fit. I saw a game towards the end of the season and the camera panned on Sturridge and it showed him warming up, and it was pathetic. He wasn’t stretching properly, he was just going through the motions.”
The former Chelsea man has been linked with the likes of West Ham United and Newcastle United since the conclusion of last season, but it looks likely that he would remain at Liverpool for the upcoming season.
However, his stay does not guarantee him playing time with Jurgen Klopp having recruited Mohamed Salah, who will compete with the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane for a role up front. Meanwhile, Dominic Solanke also looks a solid prospect for the future after he netted his first unofficial goal during the Reds’ Premier League Asia Trophy game against Crystal Palace.
Liverpool managed to resist a late push from rivals Arsenal in order to clinch a Champion League qualification place and the emphasis will now be on progressing further in the competition starting with the playoffs next month. The Reds have been fairly quiet in the transfer window this summer, and Klopp is hoping to remain patient to pursue his preferred targets which include Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk and RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita.
