Reports: Liverpool signed world best Midfieder there is joy in Anfield 

Liverpool’s clash with Newcastle this weekend is a huge gauge of where both sides are at, and the Magpies’ spine could ultimately prove to be decisive.

Jurgen Klopp‘s men sealed their first win of the season last Saturday, seeing off Bournemouth 3-1 at Anfield, but bigger tests lie ahead.

One of those arrives on Sunday afternoon, as Liverpool face a Newcastle side who are improving all the time, once again pushing for a top-four finish.

They were only narrowly beaten at Man City last time around, and if the Reds aren’t switched on at St James’ Park, it could be a tough 90 minutes for them.

With kickoff now just a few days away, we spoke to Newcastle fan and writer Dave Black (@cm9798) to hear about an in-form Magpies side, Liverpool’s best player and Sunday’s mouthwatering encounter.

You’ve started out with a win and a loss – how optimistic are you for the season ahead?

I’m still relatively optimistic, despite the reality check given to us by Man City on Saturday.

We’ve got a really tough start with four of last season’s top seven to start us off, and then we get into playing twice a week with Champions League commitments, so it’s a different kind of challenge.

I said in the preview a few weeks ago that we would struggle to match last season, but having seen some of the competition so far, I’m not as fearful of the likes of Chelsea and Man United as I was.

Who do you view as Newcastle’s key players this season?

I think if you look at the spine of the team then Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak are all going to be key.

Botman I am more impressed with in every passing game – I thought he was outstanding against City. He’s a ball-playing centre back, but he reads the game so well and his positioning is excellent.

In front of him, Bruno has always been key for us since he joined, but there’s a bit of an expectation on him now and he’s not been at his best in 2023.

With Sandro Tonali now alongside him, who should be afforded time to settle, there’s a feeling he should start stamping his authority on more games, especially if we have more of the ball.

Finally, Isak is a real talent up front who could go on to be one of the best players we’ve ever seen in a Newcastle shirt.

Liverpool have seen the potential he has with some of the moments he pulled out last season, and now we will see him in his first full season with a full “Newcastle” pre-season behind him and hopefully no injury setbacks.

What’s one thing you’d change at your club currently?

I’ll keep this to a footballing answer before we get all geopolitical – the ticketing process is in transition if we’re being kind.

It’s not working out well so far.

Away from the Magpies, which team will surprise us in 2023/24?

From the early signs, I’d have to say Tottenham.

A lot of people, myself included, thought they’d struggle to even get as high as eighth without Kane, but the early signs are that they are a better team than last season without that star individual.

I don’t know whether it’s sustainable over a whole season, but they don’t have Europe to worry about, which should help.

Which Liverpool player would you most want at Newcastle?

Mo Salah. I’ve always had a soft spot for him since he joined Liverpool and he just seems to effortlessly score goals.

He would be a nice replacement for Miguel Almiron if he fancies a move further north.

Sunday’s game is an away one for Liverpool, but what’s it like visiting Anfield as an away fan?

I think there are a lot of similarities in our fanbases in terms of hugely passionate crowds, but it definitely works both ways.

It’s a bit chicken and egg sometimes – does the team get the crowd going or does the crowd get the team going?

There’s no doubt the away team at both stadiums comes to try and quieten the crowd as that’s half the battle, but generally, it’s a famous old stadium and it has an aura about it which is the way it should be.

We very rarely win at Anfield, though, so it’s not my favourite place to go!

Where will the key battles take place on Sunday?

If Alexis Mac Allister‘s suspension was upheld I think that would have given us a huge advantage in midfield.

The formation you are playing encourages a bit of a basketball-style match and one of our biggest strengths is our running power and stamina, so that sort of game would suit us rather than a chess match.

Last season was a bit of an eye-opener, which I hope Eddie Howe has learned from. We were picked off very easily three times which cost us two goals and a goalkeeper, so less of that this time would be good.

On a more philosophical answer, the dugouts will be key.

Jurgen Klopp really doesn’t seem to like us for various reasons and I feel like he will really not want to lose this one.

Finally, what’s your prediction?

Liverpool are a hard team to predict, as I don’t feel like this is your final squad, but it’s still stacked with talent.

We generally do well against teams who come to attack, but as I mentioned earlier, you did that last season to great effect, so it’s a bit of a tactical quandary for us.

We are usually very good at home and Howe doesn’t tend to make the same mistake twice, so I think we might edge it 2-1.

As ever when these two teams meet, though, it could be absolutely any score.

rousingthekop.com

Burnley have just launched bid to sign ‘explosive’ Liverpool target – journalist

Burnley have seen an offer to sign reported Liverpool target Johan Bakayoko turned down.

Bakayoko had a breakout season with PSV Eindhoven last season, making 10 Eredivisie goal contributions. This has led to suggestions that the likes of Liverpool are watching him very closely indeed.

But – according to reports last night – it’s Burnley who have taken the bold move of bidding for the 20-year-old. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, their offer of around £17m has been rejected.

Photo by Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images

“PSV Eindhoven have rejected Burnley new proposal for Johan Bakayoko,” says the journalist. “€20m [£17m] bid turned down as not enough to sell talented winger. There are more clubs keen on signing him.”

Following that up, Dutch journalist Rik Elfrik claimed, also on Twitter, that PSV are expecting Burnley’s offer to be backed up by other clubs. Perhaps even Liverpool.

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“Burnley now wants to pay more than 20 million euros for PSV attacker Bakayoko, but PSV wants much more money for the Belgian,” Elfrik reports.

“New bids are still expected for Bakayoko, who is well represented by clubs from Naples to Liverpool.”

Burnley make Bakayoko move

Burnley’s late-night move for Bakayoko last night simply highlights just how strong the Premier League is at the moment.

They may have just come up from the Championship, but they’re still a likely candidate to sign one of Europe’s most promising young forwards.

That’s a frightening prospect for the rest of Europe, who must be sick of the sight of English clubs.

Photo by Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images

In terms of Liverpool though, they might be as well trying to get ahead in this one. Reports last night that Mohamed Salah may now leave Anfield have brought into focus the fact that the Reds don’t have a high-level back-up for him.

If the Egyptian were to go, Jurgen Klopp doesn’t have a natural successor in the squad.

That hopefully isn’t something that we’ll have to worry about. It still looks more likely that Salah ends up staying for another season at least. But with the squad already feeling on the thin side, it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared.

Described as ‘explosive’ by footballtalentscout.net, the left-footed Bakayoko could well be a candidate to take on that hefty mantle. If Burnley come back in, then perhaps Liverpool should do too.

telegraph.co.uk

Liverpool’s Dominik Szobozslai is the ‘modern day David Beckham’

Already a hero in his native Poland, ‘the new Puskas’ has his eyes set of Premier League domination

In Hungary, they call Dominik Szoboszlai ‘the new Puskas’. In Germany his playing style is compared to Portuguese legend Rui Costa.

To his former coach, Jesse Marsch, another superstar springs to mind when assessing Liverpool’s new signing.

“He is the modern-day David Beckham,” says Marsch amid a prolonged, enthusiastic summary of his talent.

“When the ball is on his right foot he can put it anywhere he wants. The precision and the pace he can put on the ball is ridiculous. And I say ‘modern day’ because he is more mobile and more dynamic.”

The Beckham comparison extends further than on-field, Szobozlai’s photogenic image ensuring in his homeland every move and word is subject to forensic scrutiny. That will amplify having joined one of the world’s biggest and most written about clubs.

Szbozslai’s first two games at Anfield prompted column inches beyond Budapest’s sports pages. One publication, Magyar Nemzet, dedicated a politically motivated 800 word editorial on their hero being ‘compelled’ to take the knee before the opening game at Chelsea for fear of being “forced to leave the team”.

It reflects how Szoboszlai unwittingly finds himself as much ambassador and symbol of his country as he is a sportsman.

Szoboszlai worked closely with Jesse Marsch at RB Salzburg

Credit: Getty Images/Alejandro Rios

“I was in Budapest on vacation with my family recently and Szobo’s face is everywhere, but he relishes that responsibility,” says Marsch.

“He has known for years this was his path. This is the way it is supposed to go. He is the hope and pride of his nation, seen as ‘the next Puskas’.

“The vision for him was always clear when speaking to his father and agent at a young age.”

Szoboszlai was 17 when he joined the Red Bull empire, his journey beginning in his home city of Szekesfehervar where his football player father, Zsolt, dedicated himself to honing his son’s close control using golf balls.

Former Leeds United manager Marsch took over at RB Salzburg shortly after Szoboszlai’s debut, and later managed him at RB Leipzig. He willingly assumes the role of chairman and chief executive of the midfielder’s fan club, vividly recalling the moment he felt it ‘clicked’ and it became obvious rich potential would be realised.

In the spring of 2020, Erling Haaland had just been sold by Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund and the season was in danger of being derailed by loss of the star striker, form and supporters as Covid-19 ushered in empty stadiums.

With the enforced break over and his side playing catch-up in the title race, Marsch had a plan.

“We had a team meeting and I stood Szobo in front of everyone and said, ‘This is now your time. You are ready to lead this team’,” says Marsch.

“’He did exactly that. The following day he scored the first goal in the Austrian Cup final, which we won 5-0. Then we steamrolled through the rest of the league. We won 7-2 at Rapid Vienna. They had never given up seven goals at home in their 120-year history, but again Szobo scored one and had two or three assists. He had returned from the break in incredible shape. This is when he exploded and everyone knew how good he was going to be. We knew he was destined to be a superstar.”

It has not taken the Hungarian long to announce himself at Anfield. A man-of-the-match performance on his home debut against Bournemouth demonstrated the self-belief and leadership that earned him the Hungary captaincy, demanding possession and leading the charge with and without the ball.

For those who have worked closely with him, they are familiar traits.

Szoboszlai’s displays are subject to extensive media coverage in his native Poland

Credit: Getty Images/John Powell

“Usually when you have a young player who is more extroverted than introverted that can be taken to mean they are slightly arrogant,” says Marsch.

“But in a footballer, that kind of ‘arrogance’ can be a good thing that you can encourage in them. Listen, Szobo was a little like that. So much in learning a young player’s potential is learning what their personality is like.

“The beauty of Szobo and Erling [Haaland] is that their arrogance is not selfish.

“What you have with those guys is the desire to be the hardest worker at the club. When I heard Dominik killed it on Liverpool’s lactose test run in pre-season, I thought, ‘There you go and there he goes’.

“Szobo loves being part of a team. He loves being with teammates. He loves to laugh. He loves to train. He will stick around training every day to participate in any group activity. He loves competing and he loves football, but he also loves the feeling of achieving success with others.

“Both Szobo and Erling were fearless early on. They forged a good friendship as they wanted to be on that big stage. They knew they belonged there. We had a lot of established players but they quickly became the cornerstone of what we could achieve.

“If you coach talented young players you scoff at the idea that 18 is not old enough. The Red Bull way is to believe in young players. If you want a brave player, you need to be brave as a manager and pick them. With belief they will embrace that expectation.”

Szoboszlai and Haaland may now be club rivals, but Liverpool owe the Manchester City striker a debt, Marsch witness to the Norwegian’s positive influence. The coach’s observation that Szobozsai is ‘as talented as Haaland’ was referenced in every article announcing Liverpool’s capture. He stands by it.

As talented as Erling Haaland? Perhaps not but Szoboszlai retains plenty of potential

Credit: Getty Images/David Geieregger

“When I took over at Salzburg we had sold nine of 11 starters and it was clear we needed to help Szobo and Erling to establish themselves,” Marsch told Telegraph Sport.

“Erling exploded and Szobo really picked up on the same work ethic. Erling had a level of determination on another level which meant he would return to the training ground in the afternoon for the cold tub or massage, and was constantly demanding video feedback. Szobo picked up these good habits from Erling and became the same in his attitude. He could never have enough video analysis. He always wanted more feedback and was driven to achieve his potential. Once that clicks and a player has that level of self-evaluation, it feels like the work is done and then the player will go on.

“Liverpool got a steal at £60 million, just like Manchester City got a steal with Erling. Look, they are a different profile of footballer. Erling has the ability to change a game because he can score at will. His pace and power is different to anyone else around. Szobo has an elegance and technical ability to go with a physical package which make him unique. There are not many players with his physical stature who can run as he can with the intelligence.

“The point is that these two are destined to be two of the best in the world in their positions.”

Sunday’s opponents, Newcastle, were among those thought to be tracking Szoboszlai before Liverpool made their move. The early signs suggest a good fit.

“I watched both Liverpool games and for me he was the best player,” says Marsch.

“It is the perfect club for him. Liverpool and Jurgen have been really smart to take him.”