Liverpool
Roberto Firmino sends touching message as Fabinho shares shock reaction to Liverpool forward’s…
Roberto Firmino sends touching message as Fabinho shares shock reaction to Liverpool forward’s…![](https://soccerlivenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/f99b049618f465706d30a458771d1246.png)
Welcome to your Liverpool FC morning digest for Friday, May 26.
Roberto Firmino sends new emotional message after ‘incredible’ Liverpool farewell
Roberto Firmino has thanked Liverpool supporters for the “incredible” reception he was granted after the Reds’ final Anfield game of the season against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Earlier this year, the Brazilian revealed he would be ending his eight-year stay on Merseyside to pursue a new chapter in his career upon the expiration of his contract. It comes after winning the Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup, Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup and Community Shield during a glittering career at Anfield.
And after scoring a last-gasp equaliser against Unai Emery’s side on Saturday, Firmino, alongside fellow Anfield departees Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and vice-captain James Milner, was afforded an emotional farewell by the 54,000 Kopties packed inside of Anfield, before celebrating his extraordinary career with the Reds during a private party with his family, friends and team-mates some 24 hours later.
Writing on Instagram to his 14.7m followers on Thursday, the 31-year-old thanked Reds supporters for the celebration of his career over the weekend, which coincided with the unveiling of a mural on Rockfield Road.
Read the full story by clicking HERE.
Fabinho reveals Liverpool squad shock at Roberto Firmino decision after contract pleas
Fabinho admits he was shocked by compatriot Roberto Firmino’s decision to leave Liverpool.
The Brazilian forward has called time on his glittering eight-year stay with the Reds. His last game for the club comes this weekend when Jurgen Klopp’s side travel to already-relegated Southampton.
Firmino, whose contract runs out this summer, will leave Liverpool in no doubt about how much he is adored by his team-mates and supporters. That much was clear on Saturday before and after he fittingly scored the Reds’ equaliser in the 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa. It was the 31-year-old’s final appearance at Anfield.
Firmino will be followed out of the Reds exit door by fellow Champions League and Premier League winners James Milner, Alex Oxalde-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, who also see their contracts expire next month.
But it’s arguably the talismanic forward’s impending departure that has brought the most outpouring of emotion. And Fabinho, in an interview with Sky Sports News, has admitted Firmino’s exit has surprised the squad.
Read the full story by clicking HERE.
READ NEXT:
Latest Liverpool transfer news on Mason Mount, Alexis Mac Allister and more
What happened to the three forwards who snubbed Liverpool before Mohamed Salah transfer
Steven Gerrard reveals blunt message he sent Jurgen Klopp over Liverpool player
Liverpool are about to get £25m boost that could be decisive in summer transfer rebuild
Liverpool could repeat £36.9m transfer if Alexis Mac Allister and Mason Mount reject them
READ NEXT..
Liverpool ace Salah: I’m totally devastated; absolutely no excuse
Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah was left floored after their top four failure was confirmed last night.
Manchester United’s 4-1 rout of Chelsea confirmed their Champions League qualification and ended Liverpool’s hopes in the process.
Salah posted to social media in the aftermath: “I’m totally devastated. There’s absolutely no excuse for this. We had everything we needed to make it to next year’s Champions League and we failed.
“We are Liverpool and qualifying to the competition is the bare minimum. I am sorry but it’s too soon for an uplifting or optimistic post.
“We let you and ourselves down.”
READ NEXT
Liverpool’has cut Mason Mount transfer alternative’as $50m star can take Cody Gakpo path
As the transfer window fast approaches, Jürgen Klopp faces the task of revamping his squad following an inconsistent season. Signing one Eredivisie star could be the perfect alternative to one top target and prove shrewd business for Liverpool.
Anfield’s recruitment chiefs will be all too aware by now that the Reds probably require at least three fresh additions in midfield in the summer, especially given the impending departures of James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keïta. A number of potential options have been mooted by observers in recent months, however supporters will be hoping the club avoids a repeat of last year, with indecision having cost Liverpool significantly last summer.
One may recall that the Reds failed to line up an alternative to Aurélien Tchouaméni in that instance, before eventually bringing in Arthur Melo on a season-long loan on deadline day after a poor and injury-hit start to the season forced their hand. Now, with Mason Mount having possibly decided to move elsewhere, it now feels more important than ever that the right calls are made this time around.
READ MORE: Liverpool to get ‘significant funds’ as $10m FSG investment ‘benched’ amid LeBron James surprise
READ MORE: Liverpool ‘target’ release clause to be triggered amid intriguing Jude Bellingham transfer claim
In an interview with Sky Sports News, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that the England midfielder has expressed a preference for a move to Manchester United this summer, with fellow suitors Liverpool and Bayern Munich both aware of his choice. With this in mind, therefore, it would seem remiss of the Merseysiders to not move swiftly on with business ahead of what could prove to be a pivotal few months.
According to Football Transfers, one alternative option that may be of interest to Klopp is Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus, with the 22-year-old having experienced something of a breakout year for Dutch giant this term. The eye-catching attacking midfielder has found his goal-scoring touch for the four-time European champion, scoring 18 times and notching six assists this season.
One imagines that his price tag of $50m (£40m/€46m), as per The Athletic, would not put a club of Liverpool’s standing off either, especially when considering that Chelsea will likely demand a fee of double this for Mount. Furthermore, with Cody Gakpo having excelled since moving to Anfield from PSV Eindhoven in January, Klopp will likely feel confident that Kudus could also successfully make the transition to life in the Premier League.
If you enjoyed this piece, you’ll love our Liverpool.com newsletter — every weekday, we send exclusive, bonus content only to people signed up for our mailing list!
Our newsletter subscribers get a rundown Monday to Friday from one of the best Liverpool FC writers — straight to your inbox, and completely for free.
Wherever you are in the world — in the US, the UK or further afield — you don’t want to miss out.
Sign up to the Liverpool.com newsletter here — it only takes a few seconds!
Looking closer at the 23-time international’s statistics from the past year, it becomes clear that he is a player who is ready to make the step up to one of Europe’s big five leagues. As per FBref, Kudus has been one of the best midfield players across the world’s ‘next eight’ competitions — the leagues adjudged to be just below Europe’s big five leagues in terms of standard. Within this peer group, he ranks in the top one per cent of performers in his position for successful take-ons, non-penalty expected goals (xg) and pass completion.
On top of this, the former Nordsjælland trainee was in the top three per cent for touches in the opposition penalty area, by the same measure. Effectively, Kudus has been unplayable in the final third this season, while his output as an attacking midfielder has been as good as anyone’s outside of Europe’s big five leagues. Again, Gakpo is instructive in deciding to what extent output in the Eredivisie might be scalable.
Klopp and his staff have earned a reputation for making smart buys in the transfer market down the years and it is clear that this attacking midfielder could well prove to be a cost-effective Mount alternative. Missing out on the Chelsea star’s signature could be a blow at first but Kudus has shown enough talent this season to indicate that he may well have an equally bright future in the game.
Story Saved
You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.
-
Manchester City5 months ago
Congratulations Phil Foden side chick just gave birth to a baby boy,open to hear Phil Foden speech from conference
-
Manchester City4 months ago
Good New: Erling Haaland UK side chick just delivered a baby boy today, Haaland named the child after Pep Guardiola 🙄
-
Manchester City4 months ago
Report: Manchester City attacking midfielder De Bruyne ‘desperate’ to join English football giants
-
Manchester City5 months ago
Congratulations: Erling Haaland become a father as side chick delivered baby boy earlier today by BBC..
-
Manchester City4 months ago
Footage of Ederson’s Angry Reaction to Pep Guardiola made Phil Foden to send him a warning massage,Pep was shocked when he saw what Phil wrote.
-
Manchester City3 months ago
“Everyone at Man City wants me out, even the fans want me out
-
Manchester City4 months ago
Congratulations to Phil Foden as he bought a new private jet.
-
Manchester City3 months ago
DONE DEAL:Man City has finally signed their long time target,€150M rated