Having had their eyes firmly on Bayer Leverkusen over the past few months, Liverpool fans now have a new team to follow.
Reds fans had been keeping a watch over Leverkusen as they assessed what Xabi Alonso might bring to the Anfield dugout.
However, with Alonso having decided to turn his nose up at interest from Liverpool, there’s now no real need for them to keep on tuning in. With the Spaniard out of the picture, the Reds now look to have turned to hiring Sporting manager Ruben Amorim.
Like Alonso, Amorim currently has his side top of their domestic championship. With eight games left to play, Sporting are one point clear and looking for a second title under the 39-year-old.
Standing in their way are Benfica. And with the two teams facing off in a Lisbon derby at the Estadio Jose Alvalade tonight, it’s about to become clearer where the title is headed. And as they look to bring in Amorim, that could also have an impact on Liverpool.
What’s the situation in Portugal
If Sporting beat their great rivals tonight, they’ll be four points clear at the top while also having a game in hand. As Porto sit 10 points further back, it would feel like Amorim and co would have one hand on the title.
And according to Portuguese journalist Pedro Sepulveda, this scenario could lead to Liverpool getting a quicker and easier negotiation with Amorim.
“It’s going to depend on the results,” Sepulveda told Sky Sports when asked if the Reds could tie up a deal for Amorim before the end of the season.
“My opinion is that this game tomorrow [tonight vs Benfica] is going to be crucial because if Sporting win, this could make the negotiations go a little bit faster,” he added. “If they don’t win, the points between them and Benfica are going to be not that much.
“So, I think Ruben Amorim is going to make the negotiations a little bit slower if the title is not guaranteed. But I think they are going to have a verbal agreement between the financial terms soon, then the negotiations between Sporting and Liverpool have to start. There is still no contact between the clubs, only Amorim’s agent and Liverpool, then they have to be between the clubs.
“But I really think this deal has everything to be sealed.”
What time is kick-off tonight
There’ll no doubt be plenty of Liverpool supporters tuning in to this biggest of games this evening. By the sounds of it, we’ll have more reasons than one to be rooting for Sporting.
The game kicks off at 8.30pm UK time, with Amorim’s team at home against the reigning champions.
Should Sporting lose, the title will still be in their hands. They’ll be two points behind Benfica, but with a game in hand on the Eagles.
Win though, and it would really start to feel as though Amorim will surely wrap up a second title in four seasons. It could well mean that he’s certain to be Liverpool bound, too.