Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp questions Man Utd transfer strategy

Jurgen Klopp is wasting no time in laying the gauntlet down to Manchester United, with the Liverpool boss questioning how the Red Devils can afford the likes of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane.

The managerial mind games have started early this season, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp questioning how Manchester United can afford their transfer business.

Klopp will hope to see his side back at the top of the Premier League this term after a disappointing campaign last time around, and is wasting no time laying the gauntlet down to opposite number Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United are fourth-favourites to regain the title they last won under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 and haven't been shy about splashing the cash this summer.

Jadon Sancho arrived in a £73million deal from Borussia Dortmund just after the European Championships, while an agreement is also in place to sign Raphael Varane for Real Madrid.

Varane is expected to cost £41million, which means United's transfer spend will be north of £100million when the Frenchman finally puts pen to paper at Old Trafford.

By contrast, United have recouped barely any money in transfer revenue, with the little known duo of Johan Guadagno and Charlie McCann both having left the club for undisclosed fees.

Speaking ahead of Liverpool's Premier League opener against Norwich City, he said: "We all know the situation of Chelsea and City and PSG.

"What United are doing, I don't know how they did it. We have our own way to do it. We are allowed to spend the money we earn.

"This year we spent before we earned money by buying Konate. It's not about me being surprised [by rival spending], I've been here long enough to know they always find a solution to these things.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic happy with Anfield draw

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was happy with Manchester United’s 0-0 draw at Liverpool on Monday, and insists his side remain in the running for the Premier League title.
It was a closely-contested game of few chances at Anfield, but David de Gea had to be at his best to deny Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho in the second-half as Liverpool ended the game with 65 per cent possession against a stubborn United side.
Ibrahimovic fluffed is lines with United’s best chance, failing to convert Paul Pogba’s cross with a header, but the former Sweden international was content to take a point back to Manchester.
“I think it was a good result, after the second half, the chances they had,” Ibrahimovic told Sky Sports.
“First half we did what we needed to do. Second half we did it less. It opened up more for them. They had more chances than they did in the first half.”
Ibrahimovic remains upbeat about United’s long-term prospects, as Jose Mourinho looks to re-establish the club’s credentials as challengers for key trophies.
“We will still work and we can do much more. We are working hard and we are getting there,” Ibrahimovic added.
“The season is long. Many teams are losing points at the same time. Any week different things can happen. You need to win games [but] if you win two games in a row you are near the top. That’s the way it has been so far.
“It’s a long season, the competition is long, it’s not easy. We are fighting, we are training hard so we just need to click – then it will be easier.”
On his own spurned chance he admitted: “It was difficult…but I should have at least got it on target. But I was there, that’s the important thing and next time I will do better.”

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho claims Liverpool deserve criticism for performance

Jose Mourinho rubbished concerns over Manchester United's possession stats at Liverpool by insisting Jurgen Klopp's side deserved more criticism.

United enjoyed just 35 per cent of possession in their goalless draw at Anfield - their lowest in a Premier League game for 13 years. Mourinho claimed after the game they actually had 42 per cent but match data issued by Opta stated it was 35 per cent.

David de Gea made two phenomenal saves from Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho in the second-half, having made a simple stop in the first period, but Mourinho was keen to highlight how little Liverpool worked the Spaniard over the course of the 90 minutes.

"Look, last season United won here," Mourinho said. "Liverpool had 14 shots on target and United had one. How many shots on target did Liverpool have today? Two? Two shots with 65 per cent of possession. You have to be critical of Liverpool, not of us, because 65 per cent and two shots, it is their problem, not our problem.

"I think the team was perfect. Even the goalkeeper was on holiday for 90 minutes but he had two big saves to do and he did."

Mourinho also felt Liverpool's decision to pair Jordan Henderson with Can was 'cautious', a tactic enforced on Klopp by Giorgino Wijnaldum's unavailability due to injury.

"We stopped them to play, but they also did very well by the defensive point of view," Mourinho said. "They played Can and Henderson for some reason, and they did that for 90 minutes, so they normally project more players in attack.

"They were very cautious, they kept always Can and Henderson in position, they had only one player behind the three more offensive players, so I think it was that intention to try and control us, which they also did well.

"I think it was a good performance, difficult match for us and for them and I think we controlled the game tactically and we controlled the game emotionally, and it's not easy to do both things in here.

"The result I think is acceptable, we wanted more for long periods in the game we thought that we could be positive but we didn't score and we don't score we don't win, but I think a very positive performance."

Paul Scholes: Manchester United lack identity, Liverpool favourites to win

Paul Scholes believes that Jose Mourinho's Manchester United remain a work in progress and Liverpool are favourites to win when the two sides meet at Anfield on Monday.

Scholes played for United throughout their period of dominance in the English football, and while the Red Devils have won the last four Premier League meetings between the two sides he feels Liverpool could now have the edge.

The former England international believes Jose Mourinho has caused confusion with his team selections since taking over from Louis van Gaal in the summer, leading to a mixed start which leaves United in sixth place in the table and three points adrift of Jurgen Klopp's team.

"If you were betting, you would be betting on Liverpool," Scholes told BBC Sport. "He [Mourinho] was not ruthless enough in the off-season. There is so much confusion about who should play.

"What I saw of Mourinho at Chelsea is that he had 13 or 14 players who played every week. He never rested players even in the League Cup or whatever competition he was in.

"With United, it is still a settling-in period. It is going to take a bit of time for them to knit together and see what they are about. Is there an identity to the team yet? I don't think there is."

When Mourinho won the title with Chelsea in 2015, he used only 19 outfield starters in the whole of the season, and he has already used 15 with United this season.

Liverpool hit five past ten-man Hull

James Milner scored two penalties and Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho were on target as Liverpool beat 10-man Hull City for their third consecutive Premier League win.

Lallana opened the scoring on 17 minutes before Ahmed Elmohamady was sent off for handling the ball on the line on the half-hour. Milner converted the spot-kick.

Sadio Mane made it 3-0 before half-time with a fierce drive.

David Meyler gave Hull hope, scoring from an early second-half corner but, less than a minute later, Coutinho curled in the fourth from 25 yards.

Milner completed the scoring with his second penalty on 71 minutes after Andrew Robertson had fouled Daniel Sturridge.

Mario Balotelli calls Liverpool move the 'worst mistake' of his life

Striker Mario Balotelli believes his ill-fated move to Liverpool was the "worst mistake" of his life.

The Italy international was bought for £16 million in the summer of 2014 by then manager Brendan Rodgers, but scored just four goals in 28 appearances.

It quickly became apparent he did not fit in with Rodgers' style of play and soon fell out of favour, being loaned out to AC Milan last season.

He returned this summer, but, with no future under new boss Jurgen Klopp, who opted not to include him on their preseason tour to the United States or any of the club's other friendlies, he completed a free transfer to Nice on deadline day.

"It was the worst mistake of my life," Balotelli, who scored twice in Sunday's Ligue 1 debut as Nice beat Marseille 3-2, told Canal Plus.

"Apart from the fans, who were fantastic with me, I must be honest, and the players, who I had a good rapport with, I didn't like the club.

"I had two coaches, Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp. As people they didn't make a good impression on me. I didn't get along with them."

Balotelli completes transfer from Liverpool to Nice on permanent deal

Liverpool have confirmed that Mario Balotelli has completed a permanent transfer to French side Nice.

Nice have signed the striker on a free transfer to end his two-year nightmare stay on Merseyside.

Balotelli was in the south of France on Wednesday for discussions with the Ligue 1 outfit and underwent a medical, one source told ESPN FC.

Liverpool have been trying to find suitors for Balotelli, who had one year remaining on his contract, all summer after Jurgen Klopp made it clear that the misfiring forward would not be part of his plans.

Nice recently had 80 percent of the club bought out by Chinese and American investors, with club president Jean-Pierre Rivere believing the club "will scale new peaks and will continue to grow," due to the injection of new resources.

"We are very happy to welcome Mario," Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere said. "We hope that at Nice, in a family atmosphere, he'll rediscover his enjoyment of the game.

"We know, him and us, that nothing will be easy but with desire and, I hope, the support of all our fans, we'll enable him to blossom and to bring all his talent to the service of the team.

"We're still a club under construction. Our progression is being carried out step by step. We [hope] to have a good season with our squad in all the different competitions that we will have to contend with."

Balotelli joined Liverpool in the summer of 2014, with then-manager Brendan Rodgers even labelling the move a "gamble".

He scored one goal in the Premier League for Liverpool before he was shipped out on loan to AC Milan last season.

Balotelli returned to Merseyside from his spell in Italy this summer for preseason training, but was left behind as the team toured the United States and did not appear in any of the nine friendlies.

I was not a failure at Liverpool - Christian Benteke

Christian Benteke blames the sacking of Brendan Rodgers for his Liverpool nightmare

The Belgian international, who left Anfield after just one season to join Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace in a £27million deal, is hoping to get his career back on track after a frustrating 12 months on Merseyside.
‘I don’t see my time there as a failure,’ Benteke told the Daily Mail. ‘When I signed there was another coach and with him it might have turned out differently,’ he added in reference to Brendan Rodgers.
‘I did not fit the tactical system of the new coach. That was not easy mentally because I was left to fight a losing battle. But I must not look for excuses. I could also have done better in those few minutes I got. I have not performed as expected.

‘Liverpool is a big club and, there, you do not go looking for the coach, knocking on the door of his office. I am grown man and I was able to deal with it.
‘He had a particular system and I did not fit in. It was up to me to find a solution. These are things that happen in a career. There are no regrets.’
With his Liverpool nightmare behind him, the 25-year-old former Villa striker couldn’t resist confirming his ambitions to play for ‘a big club’ again in the future.
‘Crystal Palace is a good step for me. I am now on a team that might not have the same ambitions as Liverpool, but I can play well and can show me every weekend,’ the striker said.
‘Of course my dream continues to break through to play at a big club and in European competitions. But I did not go to Palace with the idea to perform and then move on after one season.

‘Palace was not my only option. I could earn more elsewhere. But I am 25, a crucial age, and it is important for me to play and feel the confidence.
‘I really want to show what I can do this season. I had the chance to call and talk in advance with Alan Pardew. He knows my qualities and, although I had hardly played, I knew I had a good pre-season behind me at Liverpool and would not need much time before I was ready to play.’

Friday Transfer News: Joe Hart Begs Reds, United told to splash the cash

Man City goalkeeper Joe Hart is willing to take a pay cut in order to join Liverpool while Man United are linked with a new defender, according the Friday’s papers.

England No.1 Joe Hart is reportedly open to lowering his salary so he can end his Man City exile and join Premier League rivals Liverpool, according to The Sun.

Following the arrival of Claudio Bravo from Barcelona, Hart is set to become Pep Guardiola’s third-choice option at the Etihad. A demotion that puts his long-term England future under serious threat.

Hart admitted after the Champions League qualifier against Steaua Bucharest that there is a ‘situation’ to resolve, and taking a pay cut is an option if it means regular first-team football.

There does not appear to a long queue of clubs interested in taking the 29-year-old, with Everton the latest team to confirm that they have no interest in signing him.

Hart has less than a week to resolve his future, but his apparent willingness to negotiate his salary could lead to a last-ditch transfer.

Manchester United are weighing up whether to make one, final major signing before the transfer window slams shut, with Monaco telling the Red Devils it will cost £25m to land full-back Fabinho.

Dubbed the ‘new Dani Alves’ by the French media, L’Equipe believe that Jose Mourinho has been tracking the Brazilian all summer and still caught in two minds whether to meet the hefty asking price.

After reaching the Champions League group stages Monaco are under no pressure to sell their full-back, who scored eight goals in all competitions last season. The 22-year-old is said to be ‘relaxed’ about his future and is not particularly looking to leave the Ligue 1 club, so United will have to dig deep if they want to sign him.

Other Tranfer News

Tottenham are considering a move for Manchester City and France defender Eliaquim Mangala, 25, before Wednesday’s transfer deadline (ESPN)

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has told manager Alan Pardew he wants the leave the club, amid Tottenham’s interest in the 23-year-old (Daily Mail)

Bookmakers are convinced Zaha will become Spurs’ third summer signing (Daily Star)

West Ham have agreed a £24m fee with Juventus for Simone Zaza and the 25-year-old Italy forward is currently in talks with the Premier League club (Guardian)

Southampton defender Jose Fonte, 32, is set to stay at the club after holding one-on-one talks about his future with chairman Ralph Krueger (Metro)

Premier League champions Leicester City are weighing up a club record £25m bid for Sevilla midfielder Steven N’Zonzi, 27 (Daily Telegraph)

Hull City’s caretaker boss Mike Phelan, who was assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, says striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was on the Scot’s radar while he was in charge at Old Trafford (Manchester Evening News)

Napoli are relying on Everton to bid for their striker Manolo Gabbiadini, 24, so they can move for Serie A rivals Fiorentina’s Nikola Kalinic, 28 (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Valencia are considering a move for Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo, 26. (Deporte Valenciano)

Striker Gabriel Barbosa, 19, a target for Manchester United, is “mulling over” several offers, but could be heading to Juventus or Inter Milan. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Watford have agreed an £8.5m deal to sign Gent’s Sven Kums, 28, with the midfielder set to move to the Hornets’ Italian sister club Udinese on loan for the rest of the season. (Het Laatste Nieuws)

West Brom will improve their offer for Jay Rodriguez, 27, as they look to beat Hull City to the loan signing of the Southampton forward (Birmingham Mail)

Newcastle United are in talks to sign Palermo left-back Achraf Lazaar, 24. The Morocco international has also attracted interest from West Ham, Southampton and Crystal Palace this summer (Evening Chronicle)

Derby County want to sign Watford forward Matej Vydra, 24 (Derby Telegraph)

Aston Villa centre-back Joleon Lescott, 34, is the subject of interest from Greek clubs Olympiakos and AEK Athens (Sport24)

Crystal Palace are interested in signing attacking midfielder Lucas Lima, 26, from Brazilian club Santos (UOL Esporte)

Jose Mourinho has hired Brazilian former Arsenal scout Sandro Orlandelli for Manchester United (Lance, via Metro)

United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, 23, is wanted by Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City (Daily Mail)

Brighton & Hove Albion remain keen on signing Blackburn Rovers defender Shane Duffy, 24, before the transfer window closes (Lancashire Telegraph)

 

Liverpool set record in defeat by Burnley

Jurgen Klopp's team record highest possession numbers for losing side in PL history 

 

Burnley earned their first points against Liverpool in the Premier League with a 2-0 win at Turf Moor but the match also marked another unprecedented event in the competition’s history.
Liverpool lost for the first time to Burnley in five attempts in the PL and, as they went in search for a way back into the match, the Merseyside club managed the highest possession for a losing Premier League side since such data was recorded, from the 2003/04 season.
Overall, Jurgen Klopp’s team had 80.6% possession at Turf Moor.
That is also only the second time in Premier League history that a team has enjoyed more than 80% possession over the 90 minutes of a match.
The highest figure was when Manchester City beat a 10-man Queen’s Park Rangers side 3-2 to win the 2011/12 Premier League title with 82.3% possession.
Liverpool’s previous highest was 79.21% against Bolton Wanderers in 2009.

Highest team possessions in PL history

Date	Team	Opponent	Avg poss  %	Result
13/05/2012	Man City	QPR	82.28	W 3-2
20/08/2016	Liverpool	Burnley	80.59	L 0-2
02/05/2015	Man Utd	West Brom	79.71	L 0-1
29/08/2009	Liverpool	Bolton	79.21	W 3-2
04/12/2013	Southampton	Aston Villa	78.80	L 2-3
25/02/2012	Man City	Blackburn Rovers	78.69	W 3-0
09/11/2009	Liverpool	Birmingham City	78.58	D 2-2
21/03/2015	Man City	West Brom	77.56	W 3-0
06/04/2012	Swansea City	Newcastle United	77.43	L 0-2
20/09/2008	Liverpool	Stoke City	77.09	D 0-0

 *recorded since 2003/04

When you find out your wife cheats on you

£65,000-a-week Liverpool footballer Dejan Lovren discovers his wife is having an affair with £200-a-month forestry worker

Liverpool and Croatian defender Dejan Lovren (pictured left with his wife) missed the Euro 2016 tournament after he found out his wife and mother of his two children was having an affair with a forestry worker, a man named Dario Torbic (pictured right with Anita Lovren), an old friend of Anitas who earns about £200-a-month...

 

Lovren (pictured with Anita and their son), who joined Liverpool for £20million in 2014 and earns £65,000-a-week, was said to be embarrassed when he discovered the affair but has refused to give up on his marriage. He reportedly whisked his wife away for a make or break holiday in June this year, determined to make his marriage to the mother of his two children work.

According to the Sun UK, Dejan and Anita have been together since they were 16 but have recently been having issues.

 Anita and Dario pictured above

Below is how The Sun UK reported it:

The affair started when his wife, 26, and Dario met up last December in their home city of Zagreb. Anita persuaded Dario to fly to England and they got together at a Liverpool hotel after which they swapped hundreds of love messages.

She left her home in England with Lovren in March to return to her homeland and, The Sun on Sunday understands, went to see a divorce lawyer.

 Anita told £200-a-month Dario, who lives in a rented flat, that they would be together.

A source said: “Dejan and Anita’s marriage has been rocky for some time and she sought refuge with her old friend Dario. They had a whirlwind affair and she told Dario she loved him. She told him she would move back to Zagreb and was thinking of divorcing Dejan. She convinced him she would do it. But when Dejan found out he hit the roof.

“He was really hurt at her infidelity. It hurt his pride. He admitted he had not been the best ­husband but he provided a nice home and life for her and their two young children.”

“It hurt his pride and affected his football. It’s usually footballers cheating on Wags, not the other way round.”

Anita eventually decided to ditch her lover and rejoin Lovren in England at the family’s home with their children Elena, three, and Josip, one.

She and Lovren had first got together at 16, moving to France in 2010 when he transferred from Dinamo Zagreb to Lyon.

They are thought to have split for a short time but reconciled when she found out she was pregnant. They tied the knot so she would not give birth out of wedlock.

Source: UK Sun