I knew I had to leave Liverpool after training with Mohamed Salah,Alexis Mac Allister says Salah is the reason for his his suspended,and sent angry massage to Salah 

I knew I had to leave Liverpool after training with Mohamed Salah,Alexis Mac Allister says Salah is the reason for his his suspended,and sent angry massage to Salah

Former Liverpool striker Taiwio Awoniyi reflects on his Reds career, his decision to leave Anfield in 2021, and facing his old club with Nottingham Forest

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ByTheo SquiresLiverpool FC Writer
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Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita, Taiwo Awoniyi and Sadio Mane of Liverpool during pre-season training in Austria
Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita, Taiwo Awoniyi and Sadio Mane of Liverpool during pre-season training in Austria

Taiwio Awoniyi is set to miss out on his latest reunion with former club Liverpool when Nottingham Forest travel to Anfield on Sunday.

The Nigeria international started the season in a rich vein of form, scoring in each of the Tricky Trees’ first three games of the campaign before recording back-to-back assists. Such a run was just a continuation from the end of last season, having returned six goals and an assist from Forest’s final six games of the campaign to help secure their Premier League survival.

However, the 26-year-old has missed Forest’s last two games with a groin injury, and could remain sidelined for a further two weeks. Consequently, Steve Cooper will be without the striker’s services this weekend against Liverpool.

READ MORE: Liverpool FC release statement after Luis Diaz parents kidnapped in Colombia

READ MORE: Pep Guardiola makes blunt Liverpool and Man United point after Man City question

Awoniyi actually scored the winner for Forest against the Reds at the City Ground last October, before making his first appearance at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp’s side ran out 3-2 winners back in April.

That outing was a dream come true for the striker, having never made an appearance during his six years at Liverpool due to not being granted a work permit. But looking back on the defeat, Awoniyi admits he felt mixed emotions facing his former club.

“It’s been a long journey!” he said. “Last season playing at Anfield was a dream come true,” he said. “Of course I probably dreamed of playing there for Liverpool before I left, so playing there against them, it was a mixed feeling, I would say.”

The Reds would sell Awoniyi to Union Berlin in a £6.5m deal in July 2021, following a succession of loans in Germany, Holland and Belgium. Yet he would spend just one permanent season in the Bundesliga before Forest granted him his Premier League dream.

After scoring 20 goals in 43 appearances for the German outfit, he would complete a £17m move to the newly-promoted side. Now boasting 13 Premier League goals from 32 appearances, Awoniyi has since proven himself to be a prolific striker in the English top-flight.

And while he never made an appearance during his time at Liverpool, he is still grateful to his former club for the role they played in his career rise.

“For me, going through all those clubs and all those stages, it was all with the aim of one day being back in the Premier League,” he said. “I think in the end it was worth it, but I can say it was a tough journey.

“Liverpool, I always say, is a family club. You develop as a person as well as a footballer, and I give so much credit to Liverpool for the way they looked after me, all the time I was away. I’m forever grateful for that.

“It was an important period, really good for me, and it was a big reason I was able to develop into the player and the person I have.”

While Awoniyi was unable to play competitively for Liverpool, he did train with the first team and was part of the camp that went to Austria for pre-season training in the summer of 2021 prior to his permanent exit.

But despite being granted a taste of what he wanted to achieve with the Reds that summer, working alongside Klopp’s first team squad, he admits training with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane also helped make him realise it was time to leave the club.

“The training sessions, wow! I knew that this is the kind of training that you win something from!” Awoniyi told Livepoolfc.com. “You don’t train like that and then at the end of the season you get nothing.

“For me as a player, that was the kind of environment I had always wanted. But in life sometimes you have to make tough decisions, and I knew for me that I needed to go and play every week.

“You look at the time, there was Salah, Mane, Firmino and others. I knew the chances (to play) were very, very slim. I knew I needed to get to a place where I was playing every week. It was hard (to leave), but it was a decision I had to make.”

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Liverpool star Luis Diaz’s dad ‘rescued from kidnapping after shootout leaves two dead’
The parents of Liverpool star Luis Diaz were kidnapped in Colombia on Saturday evening, his mother’s safe return has been confirmed and his father has reportedly also been rescued

Authorities in Colombia are believed to have rescued Luis Diaz’s parents after being kidnapped (Image: Getty Images)
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ByGerard CouzensNews CorrespondentJosh O’BrienSports Writer
09:21, 29 Oct 2023UPDATED09:48, 29 OCT 2023
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Luis Diaz’s dad has reportedly been rescued from a kidnapping during a shootout that left two of his captors dead hours after the footballer’s mum was freed from her ordeal.

The search had continued for Luis Manuel Diaz after Cilenis Marulanda was rescued following a police chase triggered by the kidnap of the Liverpool star’s parents on Saturday afternoon near their home in the town of Barrancas in Colombia’s Caribbean region.

Local media from the La Guajira region claim that the Reds’ forward’s dad has now been freed following a police rescue mission, which resulted in the deaths of two of the four kidnappers. The incident is said to have happened near an area called Los Barrancones as the captors aimed to head towards Colombia’s border with Venezuela with the intention of smuggling him into the neighbouring country.

As of yet, there has not yet been any official confirmation Luis Diaz’s dad has been rescued by the local authorities. His mum was pictured overnight enjoying a tearful reunion with relatives.

Luis Diaz parents kidnapped with mother rescued as search for father continues

Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez have hugely different nights on international duty
A man described as the best friend of Luis Manuel Diaz has told a Colombian radio station the footballer’s parents had been heading to the home of a relative of Cilenis near a petrol station where they had just filled up their car with fuel when they were taken hostage.

Victor Medina said: “It was 5.30pm local time on Saturday. They had filled up with petrol and then went to a neighbourhood nearby to collect something from a relative of Celinis. There the captors arrived, four men on motorbikes.

“They threatened them with weapons, made them get into the same vehicle and sped off with the other two on a motorbike tailing them. They headed for a rural area. The authorities were informed and there was a chase.”

Luis Diaz’s mother and father have been rescued from the kidnappers
Asked if there was any shoot-out between the captors and authorities before Cilenis was rescued, Mr Medina said: “I haven’t had the chance to speak to her yet.

“It’s a difficult situation. She’s back at home with doctors because we know she arrived quite distressed after what has been a trauma for her. We’re just waiting for everything to calm down a bit before we speak with her.”

He added: “Luis Manuel Diaz is a person who is much loved in Barrancas and there’s never been any talk of threats. He and his family are highly appreciated in this municipality and that is why he always felt calm and safe here.

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“But there is always going to be someone who wants to harm a family, a family which is bringing a lot of glory and a lot of recognition to Barrancas. The general public rejects acts like this targeting a much-loved and respected family in our municipality.”

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Early on Sunday morning, Liverpool released a statement on the situation that read: “Liverpool Football Club can confirm it is aware of an ongoing situation involving the family of Luis Diaz in Colombia.

“It is our fervent hope that the matter is resolved safely and at the earliest possible opportunity. In the meantime, the player’s welfare will continue to be our immediate priority.”

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Liverpool could drop Gravenberch for Klopp’s 5 foot 10 “machine” today
BY
ANGUS SINCLAIR
PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO
Liverpool will be looking to dominate the Tricky Trees at Anfield this afternoon.

HIGHLIGHTS
Liverpool have won their last two matches and are aiming for a third consecutive victory against Nottingham Forest.
Jurgen Klopp could be set to make changes ahead of their midweek Carabao Cup tie as the games keep coming.
Wataru Endo could be a good option to start in midfield, providing a more traditional anchor role and allowing Alexis Mac Allister to thrive in a more advanced position.
Liverpool have emerged from the international break with victories over Everton and French side Toulouse in the Premier League and Europa League respectively, and now have the chance to make it three wins on the bounce against Nottingham Forest at Anfield this afternoon.

Steve Cooper’s side have entered their second season in the English top flight after achieving promotion in 2022 and have so far kept their heads above the murky abyss of the relegation zone this term, but have now gone five Premier League games without a win after a stunning 1-0 display at Stamford Bridge last month.

That result will give the travelling team hope that a major upset can be struck, but Jurgen Klopp will ensure that the hosts are poised to inflict damage on an out-of-form opponent.

Liverpool team news vs Nottingham Forest
Liverpool will be expected to bring the firepower today after Klopp made eight changes for the continental clash on Thursday night, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota retaining their places.

Alexander-Arnold will likely play from the outset once again, but the other two might lose their places as rotation is issued to maintain the freshness and fluidity of the Reds’ squad.

Curtis Jones will complete a three-match suspension stemming from his dismissal against Tottenham Hotspur in September, while Andy Robertson will continue his rehabilitation following recent shoulder surgery.

Spanish midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara remain out, while teenage talent Ben Doak is not expected to be involved after missing Liverpool’s last two matches.

Wataru Endo could be Klopp’s midfield “machine” today
Gravenberch was the man of the hour against Toulouse this week and appears to be a more impressive signing with every passing game, having posted two goals and assists apiece since completing a £34m transfer from Bayern Munich in August.

The Dutchman’s performance led reporter Neil Jones to express that he’s “got the lot”, and his all-action, press-resistant style has allowed him to slot right into Klopp’s system, but it might be wise to drop him back to the bench against Forest.

Having started two matches in succession, relieving the 21-year-old of a starting berth may well be prudent given that a trip to Bournemouth looms on Wednesday evening in the Carabao Cup.

With this in mind, it would be a good move to unleash Wataru Endo from the start in the Premier League for the first time since the victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park in August.

As per FBref, the £50k-per-week ace ranks among the top 15% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals and the top 9% for aerial wins per 90, while he was praised as a “machine” in the middle by his manager for his tough and tenacious style following his arrival.

The 5 foot 10 star has also been described as a “proper warrior and leader” by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Thatchard, and his industriousness in the centre could offer Liverpool a more established and traditional anchor.

In doing so, Alexis Mac Allister could ply his trade further upfield in his more natural role, having assumed the No 6 position across his nine outings in the Premier League for Liverpool.

Whether Klopp will enforce the change remains to be seen, but there’s no denying Endo deserves another shot from the start in the league, and with Gravenberch used regularly of late, it would make sense to make the adjustment and see Mac Allister’s creativity shine as a by-product.

Liverpool will expect to beat an injury-hit Forest team, but no match is certain in the Premier League, and this could be the apt move to make given the circumstances.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angus Sinclair • Freelance Football Writer
(1554 Articles Published)
Angus is a freelance analytical writer for Football FanCast.

Having graduated from Southampton Solent University with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2022, Angus found a home at FFC after previously writing for Vavel and OurSoundMusic.

A passionate Liverpool supporter and a lover of statistics, Angus also holds a fondness for MMA and Tennis.

Outside of football, he is a voracious reader with a particular love for fantasy and historical fiction.

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
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Pundit says he’s not sure Jurgen Klopp trusts Liverpool player right now

Jordan Harris
Sun 29 October 2023 6:15, UK
Steve Nicol has suggested that Jurgen Klopp is yet to fully trust Wataru Endo after he was asked why the Liverpool boss does not start the Japan international more often.

Nicol was speaking to ESPN with the 30-year-old only making one start in the Premier League following his switch to Anfield in the summer transfer window.

Wataru Endo is certainly the summer signing who has had the quietest start to life at Liverpool. He would not have been a household name before his move to Merseyside.

Steve Nicol not convinced Jurgen Klopp trusts Wataru Endo
Dominik Szoboszlai has made a brilliant start. Meanwhile, there have been flashes from both Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch.

Endo is the holding midfielder of the quartet. And yet, Jurgen Klopp has tended to use Mac Allister in that deeper role instead.

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Steve Nicol suggested that Mac Allister keeping his place in front of the defence is an indication that Endo is yet to really prove himself to Klopp.

“I don’t think he fancies him right now,” he told ESPN. “All the managers use that ‘well, he hasn’t quite settled in yet. He’s still learning the way we play’.

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“I don’t think too many people would argue that to have Szoboszlai and Mac Allister further up would be better. The thing is he can afford to have Mac Allister a little deeper because they are pretty good still at going forward.

“But I don’t think he trusts Endo, I think that’s probably a better word. He doesn’t trust him yet to start him and have the other two further up.”

Positive signs in midweek
It is imperative that Endo takes any opportunities which come his way. Right now, he is struggling for minutes in the Premier League. But Liverpool are battling on several fronts.

Klopp said Endo was insane in Liverpool’s Europa League win over Toulouse in midweek. So that is definitely a positive sign for the summer signing.

It will definitely be good news for Liverpool if Endo can prove himself in that role. It is surely fair to say that the holding role does not play to Mac Allister’s strengths. And there have been a couple of games where he has struggled.

Against some sides, that may not be much of an issue. But there are going to be times where Liverpool’s lack of a world-class holding midfielder may be exposed.

It remains to be seen whether Endo will be able to fill that void over the coming months. But you would think that he is going to get the chances to really show what he can do.

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