A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as the Reds eye a replacement for Mohamed Salah and learn what Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim shares with Jurgen Klopp.
Jurgen Klopp will snub Diogo Jota when Liverpool host Atalanta on Thursday
Reds coach Jurgen Klopp will snub Diogo Jota from the Liverpool line-up against Atalanta on Thursday. That is according to the Liverpool Echo, which claims that Jota will not start in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash even if the club consider the winger fit to.
Jota has not featured since Liverpool beat Brentford in February after suffering a knee injury. It sparked fears that his season was over. But Klopp has welcomed the 27-year-old back into his fold at the AXA Training Centre and he could resume full, group work later on this week.
Yet no matter what Jota shows in training ahead of Atalanta’s visit to Anfield, Klopp will not include the forward in Liverpool’s starting XI. The Porto native may make the bench for the Anfield encounter. But Klopp and the Reds are eager to avoid Jota suffering an aggravation.
Read more about Klopp’s plans for Jota ahead of Liverpool hosting Atalanta, here.
Abel Xavier sees one clear similarity between Jurgen Klopp and Ruben Amorim
Former Liverpool right-back Abel Xavier believes the Reds are eying a manager with a similar philosophy to Jurgen Klopp in Sporting CP’s head coach, Ruben Amorim. The Anfield natives see the Leoes boss as a primary candidate to take up the club’s soon-to-be vacant hot seat.
Klopp will vacate Merseyside at the end of this season after announcing his decision to leave this January. So, Florian Plettenberg reports that Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement with Amorim to take over. The 39-year-old is also keen to replace Klopp on a deal until 2027.
Liverpool are in the final stage of their negotiations with Sporting to name Amorim as their next manager after Klopp. They have overcome interest from Bayern Munich and Chelsea to convince the Portuguese tactician. And Xavier sees a similarity between Klopp and Amorim.
Xavier told BBC Sport: “Yes, I believe so. Liverpool’s philosophy was never signing the best players in the world. They can afford it but if you saw under Klopp, they want to have the best collective team in the world. I think Ruben’s approach is very similar.”
Read more about what Xavier has had to say about Klopp and Amorim, here.
Liverpool are ‘very keen’ on Nico Williams as a replacement for Mohamed Salah
Liverpool are ‘very keen’ on the transfer of Nico Williams after identifying the Athletic Bilbao forward as a replacement for Mohamed Salah. That is according to Dean Jones, who reports that the Reds have scouted him throughout this term as they prepare for a Salah-less future.
Saudi Arabian sides are set to target Salah’s transfer once again after Al-Ittihad failed to seal a £150m deal last summer. Al-Ittihad remain keen on the Egyptian and see him as a leading target to replace Karim Benzema. So, Williams’ form has put chiefs at Anfield on high alert.
Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur also like Williams and could move to trigger his £42m release clause. The 21-year-old is even open to moving to England after offering six goals and 14 assists through 30 appearances so far this season.
Read more about Liverpool’s interest in Williams as a replacement for Salah, here.