This Is Why Klopp Changed The Goal Nets At Liverpool

http://i1.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/reda-320x213.jpg?fit=320%2C213

Getty

If you’re reading this then chances are you know everything that happened at Anfield over the weekend. 

4-1 was the score as the final whistle was blown; The Reds had fundamentally destroyed the title holders in front of their largest home crowd since 1977 – but was there more to it than just liquid football?

It’s hard to argue that Liverpool looked almost impeccable against Leicester but Mr Klopp had made one minor, bizarre change just before the first whistle – and it could’ve made all the difference, reports Liverpool FC.

Getty

For the past four years, the nets of the Anfield goals have been lined with red netting – but Jurgen made sure they were changed to a classic white ahead of the clash with Leicester.

Why? Because on Thursday night’s training session, Klopp and the training staff at Liverpool noticed that the red netting blended in way too much with the sea of red shirts at the Kop end.

On a typical game night at Anfield both ends of the stadium are brimming with home team shirts, and if you’re trying to take a decent shot, apparently the red netting is indistinguishable from the crowd making it significantly harder to see the goal.

Getty

And whether you agree with Klopp’s reasoning or not it’s hard to argue against him considering the team in red bagged four goals against Ranieri’s reigning men.

As Alan Partridge would’ve said numerous times if he was watching the game: ‘Shittttt………..did you see that? He must have a foot like a traction engine!’

Football – UNILAD
http://wp.me/p59zQO-97j
#Changed, #Goal, #Klopp, #Liverpool, #Nets, #This - #Soccer

Liverpool striker Ballotelli to have medical at Nice: report

http://www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/10d92df7a7657ae909c24c3c53baf6a223b37abf.jpg

Nice (France) (AFP) – Liverpool’s outcast Italian striker Mario Balotelli was to have a medical at French side Nice on Wednesday amid transfer deadline day talks between the clubs, l’Equipe newspaper reported.

The 26-year-old could be sold or loaned to Nice, the report said. Once one of the biggest hopes in Europe, Balotelli has not played for Italy since the 2014 World Cup and has been told he is not wanted by Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp.

A Nice official told l’Equipe no agreement had been reached and that the medical was “to save time” if an accord could be found.

“If the situation works out, maybe late in the day, it will be done. If we don’t agree with Liverpool, he will leave again,” the official added.

Nice want a permanent transfer but a loan was also possible, the club official was quoted as saying. Balotelli spent last season on loan at AC Milan but the Italian side chose not to extend the deal.

The post Liverpool striker Ballotelli to have medical at Nice: report appeared first on World Soccer Talk.

World Soccer Talk
http://wp.me/p59zQO-7i1
#Ballotelli, #Liverpool, #Medical, #Nice, #Report, #Striker - #Soccer

Liverpool Join Chelsea And Arsenal In Chase For £50 Million Man

http://i1.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/James-web-2-320x213.jpg?fit=320%2C213

Getty

Since taking over as Real Madrid manager in January, Zinedine Zidane has wasted no time putting his mark on the club.

The Frenchman has promoted the likes of Lucas Vasquez and Marco Asensio to the first team, and is picking them ahead of some of the more established galacticos.

One of those that have fallen out of favour at the Bernabeu is James Rodriguez, and Liverpool are the latest team being linked with the Colombian, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Getty

Since arriving in a whopping £63 million move from Monaco in 2014, James has struggled to make himself a first team regular in Madrid, and Zidane will allow him to leave this summer, if a suitable bid is tabled.

Madrid are holding out for a fee around £51 million, which could potentially put off a lot of suitors.

Jurgen Klopp is still looking for improvements, and has inquired about the possibility of signing James, but when you consider how many attacking midfielders Liverpool already have, it’s hard to see why such a fee would be spent on another.

Getty

Maybe the Reds are worried about losing Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in future? Who knows, but it’s clear Klopp is monitoring the 25-year-old’s situation.

Arsenal and Chelsea have also been credited with an interest in him, but as we know, it’s hardly likely that the Gunners will pay out that kind of sum, and Chelsea seem more keen on the idea of bringing in another striker.

There’s less than a week to go until the transfer window slams shut, so anyone willing to shell out on James will have to do it quickly, or stick with what they’ve got.

Football – UNILAD
http://wp.me/p59zQO-6tC
#50, #Arsenal, #Chase, #Chelsea, #Join, #Liverpool, #Million - #Soccer

Where to find Burton Albion vs. Liverpool on US TV and streaming

http://i1.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/burton-liverpool-600x284.jpg?fit=600%2C284

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Burton Albion vs. Liverpool, you’ve come to the right place.

The League Cup game between Burton Albion and Liverpool will be shown live on US television via beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español. But whether you get beIN SPORTS or not on your cable or satellite system, you can watch the game for free with a 24-hour trial to legal streaming service fuboTV.

With the Capital One Cup being renamed the EFL Cup, it’s Liverpool chance to book their place in the third round of the competition if the Reds can get past Burton Albion (managed by Nigel Clough).

Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming:

Who: Burton Albion vs. Liverpool
What: League Cup, Round 2
When: Game kicks off at 2:45pm ET / 11:45am PT; Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Where: Live on beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español and fuboTV (free trial)

With fuboTV, you can watch Burton Albion vs. Liverpool and tons of other League Cup games with a free 24-hour trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast or Roku.

Plus fuboTV, the legal streaming service, also streams La Liga, Liga MX, MLS, Primeira Liga, Serie A, Ligue Un, Brasileirao, Championship, CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, NASL, Copa Argentina, 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup and 2019 Copa America.

The fuboTV app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Apple TV, Android smartphones, Android tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Kindle.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Premier League games on US TV and streaming

The post Where to find Burton Albion vs. Liverpool on US TV and streaming appeared first on World Soccer Talk.

World Soccer Talk
http://wp.me/p59zQO-6cn
#Albion, #Burton, #Find, #Liverpool, #Streaming - #Soccer

Mane sparkles as Liverpool crush Barcelona

http://i0.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/63241d14d673bb3f6fd66010a09cfa5e94c3e8cc.jpg?fit=640%2C462

London (AFP) – New signing Sadio Mane scored one goal and made another as Liverpool slickly defeated Barcelona 4-0 in a one-sided friendly match at a sun-soaked Wembley on Sunday.

A 34 million pounds ($ 44.5 million, 40.1 million euros) capture from Southampton, Mane struck a 15th-minute opener and then supplied the cross from which ex-Liverpool player Javier Mascherano scored an own goal.

Divock Origi added a third seconds later and substitute Marko Grujic chipped in with a stoppage-time header as Jurgen Klopp’s side registered their sixth win in eight pre-season games.

They play Mainz, one of Klopp’s former clubs, in a friendly in Germany on Sunday before tackling Arsenal in their Premier League opener next weekend.

Barcelona’s defeat meant that Paris Saint-Germain won the International Champions Cup friendly tournament for the second year running.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique was missing Neymar, who is on duty with hosts Brazil at the Olympics, but fielded both former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, who hit the post in the first half.

Barca play Sampdoria at the Camp Nou in their final pre-season friendly on Wednesday and face Sevilla in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on August 14.

The glamour tie drew 89,845 spectators to Wembley — the stadium’s second-highest attendance — and it was Liverpool’s fans, comfortably in the majority, who went home with smiles on their faces.

With seven friendly games behind them to Barcelona’s two, Liverpool were the sharper team and they took the lead with a slick goal.

After winning possession on halfway, Adam Lallana surged forward and exchanged passes with Roberto Firmino before teeing up Mane, whose rising shot beat goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Klopp reacted with a flurry of fist pumps, but his side had to weather a succession of Barcelona chances before half-time.

Suarez, facing his former club for the first time, teed up Messi to roll a shot against the right-hand post, while Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet saved from Arda Turan and Suarez.

James Milner, who announced his England retirement on Friday, was again deployed at left-back for Liverpool, but had to give way to Alberto Moreno before half-time.

Within three minutes of kick-off in the second half, the game was as good as over.

In the 47th minute, Origi’s flick released Mane and his low cross from the right was bundled into the net by Mascherano.

Barely a minute later, Kevin Stewart caught Jeremy Mathieu dawdling on the ball and freed fellow half-time substitute Origi, who coolly beat Barcelona replacement goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

Grujic, a January recruit from Red Star Belgrade, put the cherry on the cake in added time, meeting fellow Serbian Lazar Markovic’s scooped pass with a fine header that looped over Bravo.

The post Mane sparkles as Liverpool crush Barcelona appeared first on World Soccer Talk.

World Soccer Talk
http://po.st/T4NezU
#Barcelona, #Crush, #Liverpool, #Mane, #Sparkles - #Soccer

Key Liverpool Man Claims He’s Ready To Be Next Club Legend

http://i1.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Can-Web-320x213.jpg?fit=320%2C213

Getty

Liverpool have struggled to replace Steven Gerrard ever since the Reds legend upped sticks and headed for Los Angeles last year.

As loveable as Joe Allen is, he wasn’t quite up to the job, but another midfielder is eyeing the Gerrard role after settling into the Liverpool team in his second  season at Anfield.

Emre Can is that man, and after getting a regular run in his favoured defensive midfield role under Jurgen Klopp, the German has high hopes for becoming a future Liverpool leader.

Getty

Speaking about the Gerrard role, Can said:

The new midfield leader can be me, of course.

I have played a lot of games for Liverpool and know I am still young but I have to show it on the pitch now.

I can say I am a leader but you have to show it. Of course we have other leaders like Hendo or Milner.

We all want to do it – I am like that. I want to be the one pushing the team on.

Can found his feet in the second half of last season, after being utilised at right back, centre back and a variety of midfield roles under Brendan Rodgers after joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2014.

His form got him into the Germany Euro 2016 team, and he played in Die Mannschaft’s semi final defeat to France last month.

Getty

And he should find himself as a permanent fixture under Klopp this season, with long serving midfielder Lucas Leiva set to depart, leaving a holding midfield role wide open.

But it’s not just a starting place the 22-year-old has his eye on:

My confidence is high.

We have a very good team and we will see next season what it is but that target has to be to win titles.

If you play for Liverpool the target always has to be winning titles and it will be the same next season.

The closest Liverpool have came to winning the title was in 2013/14, when the combination of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez came within a whisker to bringing the Reds their first ever Premier League crown.

Getty

And Can is a fan of the Liverpool legend, although is keen to carve out his own legendary status rather than be compared to the Englishman.

He added:

I say I have lot of respect for him and I am far off that level he played for Liverpool.

I have to go my own way, be Emre Can. But I have great respect for him and still keep in touch.

I met him in Los Angeles recently, and we still speak.

Klopp’s Liverpool should be an interesting entity this season, as the German boss makes his mark on his new team in his first full season.

Can is ready to thrive in the midfield though, and the Anfield faithful will be hoping he can go on to become even half as much of a legend as Stevie G was.

Football – UNILAD
http://po.st/N7sGUe
#Claims, #Club, #HeS, #Legend, #Liverpool, #Next, #Ready - #Soccer

Liverpool Boss Ready To Splash More Cash To Land Defender

http://www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Willems-Web-320x213.jpg

Getty

Liverpool are no strangers to spending big money.

This summer, they’ve kept up their annual raid on Southampton by taking Sadio Mane for over £30m, and also signed Gini Wijnaldum from Newcastle United for £25m.

Add Ragnar Klavan and Loris Karius into the mix, and the Reds have spent over £60m this summer – and they’re not done yet.

Despite adding experienced Estonian Klavan to his defence, Klopp still has worries about the left back position, currently occupied by Alberto Moreno.

Getty

Moreno is one of those modern day full backs who attacks twice as well as he defends, and his German boss is looking at two players as potential replacements for the former Sevilla defender.

The first is AC Milan’s Mattia De Sciglio, who has long been one of the brightest young defenders in Europe.

The 23-year-old has been part of Milan’s first team for five years, and has 26 caps for Italy since coming through the youth ranks at his boyhood club.

Getty

A fee around £16m is enough for the Italian giants to sell, and it’s thought they’d be willing to do so in order to keep star striker Carlos Bacca, as they look to make a push for the Champions League next season.

Despite being right footed, De Sciglio has spent plenty of time playing left back for Milan, and is more than comfortable there.

Should Klopp fancy an old fashioned left footed left back, PSV’s Jetro Willems could be the man.

Getty

Available for a similar price to De Sciglio, the speedy Dutch international would fit in nicely at Anfield, having played with fellow new signing Wijnaldum for the Netherlands national team.

And it looks like Willems is aware of the interest, if his recent Twitter activity is anything to go by:

I wish you all the best at your new club my friend, we"ll see each other again soon! @GWijnaldum pic.twitter.com/P7nFu8HjkX

— Jetro willems (@JetroWillems_15) July 22, 2016

‘See each other again soon’ could be the clearest sign that Liverpool are in the market for a left back, which is bad news for Alberto Moreno, but good news for football fans who dislike footballers with top knots.

Every cloud and all that.

Football – UNILAD
http://po.st/9tXsZb
#Boss, #Cash, #Defender, #Land, #Liverpool, #MORE, #Ready, #Splash - #Soccer