Klopp promises more & a step forward for VAR? – Wednesday’s Liverpool News & Rumour Roundup

September 5, 2018
Henry Jackson

We round up the latest Liverpool news and transfer rumours on Wednesday, as the September international break kicks off for Curtis Jones.

Main Headlines

Klopp Says There Is More to Come

Liverpool are yet to hit top gear this season, but they sit top of the Premier League with maximum points on the board.

There has been a rustiness about a number of the performances and Jurgen Klopp believes his side have a lot more to offer, describing the start of the campaign as “pre-season”.

“The players are not at their top level yet. That is because we are in the early part of the season. It is normal,” Klopp said.

“Everybody should know we have a lot of work to do still, but if they don’t then I have told them.

“When you win four times it sounds really crazy to say this, but it is still part of the pre-season for a very long time after the summer.

“From mid-September, we play every three days. So we do the work now, and this is how it is—it is normal that you are not quite at 100 percent in the games.”

Henderson Heaps Praise on Gomez

Joe Gomez has arguably been Liverpool’s standout performer in the opening four games of the season, with Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk also in contention.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Jordan Henderson believes this is just the beginning for the young centre-back:

“He’s already very good but he can be even better.

“He’s still very young. He’s still improving, still learning and there’s no better place to do that than at Liverpool with the players that he’s got around him and the manager.

“I’m excited for him because I know how good he can be and he’s got the right mentality as well.

“He’s very mature for his age. His feet are firmly on the ground and he can be as good as he wants to be.”

Gomez is set to feature for England in their upcoming friendlies against Spain and Switzerland, giving us another chance to see him shine.

Reds Trio to Start for Brazil

Brazil are also in action in the coming days, with Tite’s side facing the United States and El Salvador on Saturday and Wednesday respectively.

According to Globo Esporte, both Alisson and Fabinho lined up as part of the 57-year-old’s starting side in training.

Roberto Firmino is also set to start against the USA, with Liverpool’s No. 9 the only senior centre-forward available.

Fabinho is expected to be used in a right-back role, with Firmino leading the line—as should have been the case at the World Cup.

Away-Goal Rule Change?

Away goals are a crucial aspect of both the Champions League and Europa League, with scoring on your travels potentially priceless in the knockout rounds.

Not all are in favour of the rule, however, with BBC Sport claiming Europe’s top coaches are in favour of getting rid of away goals altogether.

“The coaches think that scoring goals away is not as difficult as it was in the past,” UEFA’s deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti explained.

“They think the rule should be reviewed and that’s what we will do.”

Managers are also believed to be keen on ensuring every European transfer window closes on the same day, following the Premier League‘s trialling of an August 9 cut-off this summer.

VAR to Be Trialled

VAR proved to be a success at the World Cup, despite certain teething problems, and the Premier League is edging closer to following suit.

The new technology will be trialled in 15 top-flight matches in England this season, according to Sky Sports, with its first use set to be in five 3pm kickoffs on September 15—though it won’t be used to influence any decisions.

That means Liverpool won’t be involved in the trial, however, with the Reds playing Tottenham at Wembley in the 12.30pm game.

VAR has already been used in the League Cup this season and is also set to be trialled in the FA Cup.

U19s UEFA Youth League Fixtures

Liverpool U19s’ UEFA Youth League home games will be played at St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium this season, it has been confirmed.

Their first match at the rugby league ground is against PSG on September 18, before hosting Red Star Belgrade on October 24 and Napoli on December 11.

The young Reds reached the quarter-finals of the competition last season and will be desperate to go at least one better in 2018/19.

UEFA Youth League Fixtures

PSG (H) – Tuesday September 18, 3pm

Red Star Belgrade (H) – Wednesday October 24, 3pm

Napoli (H) – Tuesday December 11, 3pm

The U19s will also travel with the first team for the reverse fixtures away from home, providing the likes of Adam Lewis, Neco Williams and Paul Glatzel vital experience.