Browsing: Arne

Liverpool are currently a shadow of the efficient machine that strolled the Premier League last season, having looked vulnerable since day one this season in a Community Shield defeat by Crystal Palace at Wembley.

They are riddled with flaws, remarkable given the fact Slot was handed almost £450m to strengthen the newly-crowned champions.

And amid all the understanding that even stellar names signed in record-breaking deals such as £116m for Florian Wirtz and £125m for Alexander Isak require a settling-in period, the bottom line is that neither have produced anything near enough.

Isak was anonymous again, having been chosen ahead of the much livelier Hugo Ekitike, while Wirtz once again had to be content with coming off the bench.

Their proven quality will make Liverpool optimistic their massive outlay will be rewarded, but their contribution so far, at a combined cost of £241m, has not stretched far beyond non-existent.

“Arne Slot has a couple of decisions to make,” former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told 5 Live.

“Szobozslai looks like the better right-back and suits going into midfield from that position, but does he like being there? No, but for the good of the team it would work better.

“Then Frimpong comes on down the right and has more of an influence in 10 minutes or so than Salah in most of the game. He put two exceptional balls into the box, and Gakpo should have scored from one of them. Ekitike did more when he came on up top than Isak did too.”

For a team that carried an air of calm laced with deadly threat last season, Liverpool now give off an air of chaos and a lack of organisation, especially in their defensive work.

Milos Kerkez struggled badly again, almost scoring an unwitting own goal with a rebound off his face in the second half, which would have summed up Liverpool’s defending.

The debate will continue about whether referee Michael Oliver should have stopped play when Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister lay prone nursing a head injury, inflicted accidentally by captain Virgil van Dijk’s elbow.

Instead, the game continued, Bryam Mbeumo taking advantage of Van Dijk reacting slowly to recover his position, finishing smartly past Liverpool’s deputy keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Source link

The injury suffered by Ibrahima Konate in Liverpool’s game against Chelsea at the weekend could add a new problem to Arne Slot’s current woes.

Konate was substituted at Stamford Bridge just before the hour mark and replaced by Curtis Jones, as the Reds went on to lose 2-1 to the Club World Cup champions.

It’s Liverpool’s third consecutive loss, after being defeated by Crystal Palace and Galatasaray over the course of the previous week.

Slot went on to say it was a substitution he had in mind to shift Ryan Gravenberch into the backline, which he said was desirable due to the amount of the ball the player in that position was getting.

But there may be some positive news for Konate, as according to a report from L’Equipe, the centre-back is expected back to France’s Clairefontaine base on Monday afternoon for further fitness checks, which surely would be avoided in the case of a significant injury.

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, this injury to Konate is, to some extent, exposing a slight lack of balance in Liverpool’s recruitment in the summer.

A further update will be required to know how long Konate may be out for (Image credit: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

On Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, they spent a combined £194m for two forwards despite both competing for the same position in Slot’s one-striker setup.

Meanwhile, they entered the new campaign with just four senior centre-backs, one of which being the 18-year-old Leoni, and another the injury-prone Gomez. Just a fraction of their striker outlay being spent on the defensive would likely have left them feeling much sturdier through their current plight.

Konate is valued at €60m, according to Transfermarkt. Liverpool next face Manchester United, when Premier League action returns after the international break.

Source link

Livingston first team coach Marvin Bartley revealed “there was a bit of an argument” between the dugouts during Sunday’s defeat by Rangers. (Clyde 1 via Sun, external)

Former Rangers defender Arthur Numan is still upset about the red card he received when the Ibrox side lost to Sturm Graz in 2000, with the sides facing each other again in Austria this week. (Record), external

Forward Josh Gentles, 18, is confident he can score goals on loan at Raith Rovers and press his case for game time at parent club Rangers. (Courier – subscription required), external

Ally McCoist, the former Rangers manager and player, urges Celtic to re-ignite the career of Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, 30. (Scotsman – subscription required), external

Former Celtic midfielder Peter Grant backs record signing Arne Engels to prove his worth. (Record), external

Motherwell are going to Celtic Park on Sunday to win, says head coach Jens Berthel Askou. (Record), external

Dundee United captain Ross Graham, 24, could return from a hamstring injury in November. (Courier – subscription required), external

Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts warmed up for Saturday’s Edinburgh derby against Hibernian with a 6-0 defeat of Falkirk in a closed doors game. (Sun), external

Hibs defender Jack Iredale admits he did not comprehend the magnitude of the Edinburgh derby until playing in the fixture. (Edinburgh Evening News – subscription required), external

Ethan Hamilton has brought an old fashion Manchester United-like approach to Dundee, says manager Steven Pressley. (Courier – subscription required), external

Source link

The London-born teenager swapped Chelsea’s academy setup for Liverpool shortly after his 16th birthday, already dubbed one of English football’s…

Liverpool visit Burnley this weekend as they look to continue their 100 per cent record in the Premier League this…

On the face of it, it’s not hard to see why Liverpool would want Alexander Isak. He will not turn…