Five Liverpool stars set to depart Anfield as Jurgen Klopp planning summer overhaul

Liverpool kept their dim Champions League hopes alive with a win over Fulham on Wednesday, but Jurgen Klopp still has big work ahead in the transfer market

A hectic few days for Jurgen Klopp quieted down on Wednesday night after his Liverpool side recorded a 1-0 win over Fulham at Anfield.

Mo Salah’s penalty kept their waning Champions League hopes alive, although Manchester United trail by two points after two more games, a Europa League place now looks the more likely outcome. As is often the case at Anfield these days, the result was not without controversy, with the visitors storming off in anger at the penalty which proved to be decisive.

As for Klopp, he has the potential for a lengthy touchline suspension hanging over his head after being charged by the FA this week over his controversial behavior during last Sunday’s clash with Spurs.

However, the German manager is continuing to plan an overhaul of his squad this summer after the Reds missed key target Jude Bellingham. Klopp is preparing for the summer

Four iconic Liverpool shirts could be on offer this summer as Jurgen Klopp prepares for both arrivals and departures.

The club may have given up on pursuing Jude Bellingham but a major recruitment is still underway. current offers all expire in June.

This would suddenly free up the number 7, 8 and 9 shirts in the squad, with the number 10 still free since Sadio Mane’s move to Bayern. The race for numbers previously worn by the likes of Kevin Keegan, Steven Gerrard, Ian Rush and John Barnes will soon begin.

Fulham star claims ref admitted penalty error

The fallout from Liverpool’s win over Fulham has been nothing to match the explosion that signified the aftermath of the Spurs clash, but Tom Cairney has made a stinging claim over the game’s defining moment.

Darwin Nunez fell into the box after dispossessing Issa Diop and referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot, with his call seemingly confirmed by a quick VAR check. However, slow-motion replays appeared to show Diop avoiding making contact with the Uruguayan striker, and the Fulham player Cairney later said Attwell acknowledged that notion.

“He (Attwell) told one of our players in the second half that it wasn’t a penalty, so it’s frustrating because it’s for other people to make the correct decision,” he told Fulham’s official website. “Issa Diop didn’t touch it, Nunez took another step and then went over, and then you lose to something like that at Anfield, which is frustrating when we try to go as high as we can.”

Alisson close to tears after keeping clean sheet

Despite Fulham’s complaints, they could still have snatched a point at Anfield were it not for an outstanding save by Liverpool’s Brazil keeper Alisson in the 77th-minute to keep out countryman Carlos Vinicius.

And the stopper was surprisingly emotional after conceding a first goal in five Premier League games, with Klopp afterwards saying: “Alisson almost cried with just one goal. It’s quite rare for us this season. It’s very nice, especially for him.

It was perhaps a measure of his standards that meant “rarely” a 12th goalkeeper ban this season – the third most in the league and surpassed only by David de Gea and Nick Pope. Allison himself said: “Really happy to keep a clean sheet. Tonight was great to keep the three points as well. It was a very difficult match against a very good team.”

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Liverpool’s next four fixtures after Man United’s defeat to Brighton boosts Champions League hope 

Manchester United suffered a dramatic late defeat at Brighton on Thursday, a result that could give Liverpool some hope with their Champions League chances.

Liverpool got a glimmer of hope in their meager Champions League hopes on Thursday as Manchester United suffered a dramatic late defeat at Brighton.

After taking five wins in a row against Fulham 24 hours earlier thanks to Mohamed Salah’s penalty, The Reds and Jürgen Klopp could look on to see if Roberto De Zerbi’s side could please them by keeping their dim hopes alive.

And Brighton duly did it, with Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty deep into stoppage time giving his side a 1-0 win that could also bring hope to Liverpool.

In terms of what’s left in Liverpool’s hands, there are four games left to get as many points as possible. Meanwhile, Manchester United now have five games to play, as does Newcastle.
Liverpool: Brentford (H), Leicester City (A), Aston Villa (H), Southampton (A)

Newcastle: Arsenal (M), Leeds United (A), Brighton (M), Leicester City (M), Chelsea (A)

Manchester United: West Ham (A), Wolves (A), Bournemouth (A), Chelsea (A), Fulham (A)

What’s immediately obvious is that no one has the easiest fights. Up next for Newcastle is an extremely demanding test against Arsenal. Losing it would void one of the games in hand, making things that much more interesting. To follow that up with a trip to Leeds – now with Sam Allardyce at the helm, looking to earn a seven-figure bonus to stay in the Premier League – is an undisclosed amount.

Subsequently, Brighton were one of the teams to beat this season. Leicester are unlikely to look completely in danger at the moment in the penultimate week of the season, especially if Liverpool can beat the Foxes, so he could also be a potential banana peel. Finishing at Chelsea looks easy, but the array of talent at Stamford Bridge is certainly capable of producing a result at some point.

This could make Newcastle the team to catch, especially as Eddie Howe’s side have no experience of such a situation. But Erik ten Hag could also have problems.

After suffering defeat at Brighton, his Manchester United side are now just four points clear of Liverpool with one game to play. Then they face a not quite sure West Ham side. After that, things get easier on paper, but further point losses would increase the pressure. Of course, this remains an extremely difficult task for Liverpool. As things stand, Newcastle and Manchester United remain big favorites for the final two Champions League spots. But the hunt can’t be given up completely just yet, with plenty of room for more twists before the season is over.