Liverpool FC Team Talk, Gossip, Rumours 2024/25

if you offered me a draw in both games now I’d take it. We can afford to rotate in the Madrid game as the 3 games after that are against “weaker” opposition, however rotating a team out against Madrid and getting beat will look bad enough so it’s an awkward situation for slot. I’d expect Tsimikas/diaz/mac to come in atleast on Wednesday.

He was really poor yesterday.

Butchered a few attacks as well.

Robbo though, the pen, his bizarre positioning for goal 2 and then at 3-2 the way he left the man behind him to attack the ball...some of it was so braindead.

I only saw the first 30 minutes but it looked a very scrappy game, a lot of fouling from both sides and play acting from Madrid players, something that we need to look out for.

I had the impression that they didn't know their formation or didn't stick to it from what I saw. Madrid players almost running in to each other going for the same balls.

They were got at a few times with quick counters too.

I think Slot could approach the game similar to Chelsea. Let Madrid have the ball and hit them on counters.

Great performance? We must have been watching a different game.

People need to remember the squad cost restrictions are coming in next season and we were about 1% either side of the limit last year so in order to give Salah, VVD and TAA increases well need to boost income a good bit. This could also affect signings next summer.

Mohamed Salah says he has yet to receive a formal contract offer from Liverpool as he admits “I’m probably more out than in (next summer).”

The forward’s current deal expires at the end of the season and his future is increasingly uncertain.

Salah, who has scored 223 goals in 367 games for Liverpool since arriving from Roma in 2017, could sign a pre-contract agreement with a club overseas from January 1.

“We are almost in December and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay in the club. I’m probably more out than in,” he told reporters following his match-winning double in Sunday’s 3-2 victory at Southampton.

“You know I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this. But in the end it is not in my hands. As I said before, it is December and I haven’t received anything yet about my future.

“I love the fans. The fans love me. In the end it is not in my hands or the fans’ hands. Let’s wait and see.”

Asked if he was disappointed that he hadn’t received an offer at this stage, he added: “Of course, yeah. I’m not going to retire soon so I’m just playing, focusing on the season and I’m trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League as well. I’m disappointed but we will see.”

Salah has scored 223 goals for Liverpool since joining from Roma in 2017 (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Senior Anfield sources insist that discussions with Salah’s representative Ramy Abbas have been positive and remain ongoing.

It was a situation that sporting director Richard Hughes inherited following his appointment earlier this year with captain Virgil van Dijk and vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold also out of contract next summer.

Salah’s age, his status as Liverpool’s highest paid player and the club’s need to plan for the future meant that a swift resolution was always unlikely.

The 32-year-old has been heavily linked with a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League in recent years. Liverpool turned down a £150million bid from Al-Ittihad in 2023 but Salah refused to be drawn on the ongoing interest from Saudi.

“I don’t want to speak about that. I am focused with the team now,” he said.

Salah’s preference is to remain at the highest level in Europe and he is showing no signs of slowing down. He has provided 12 goals and 10 assists in 18 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions this season.

“I’m very professional. Everybody can see my work ethic,” he said.

“I’m just trying to enjoy my football and I will play at the top level as long as possible. I’m just doing my best because this is who I am and I try to give it all for myself and for the club. We will see what happens next.”

A hard-fought victory at St Mary’s extended Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points to ensure momentum was maintained going into a crunch week. Wednesday’s Champions League home clash with Real Madrid is followed by next Sunday’s visit of Manchester City to Anfield.

“We were not at our best but it’s an important win. After the other international breaks we struggled against (Nottingham) Forest and Chelsea. I’m glad that we managed to win after being 2-1 down,” Salah added.

“I’m just playing my game. trying to chill and relax and just play. The whole team has the chemistry now with the new manager. Hopefully we keep winning and win something in the end.”

(Top photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

James Pearce joins the Athletic after 14 years working for the Liverpool Echo. The dad-of-two has spent the past decade chasing women and Liverpool across the globe to give fans the inside track on the Reds from the dressing room to the boardroom. Follow James on Twitter @JamesPearceLFC

One positive for Wednesday is Vini junior being out. He's the one player I see that would make a meal out of every tackle trying to get our players booked or sent off.

I heard the interview. He did all the talking. The club has kept quiet. It's the same tactics used for the last contract. Going, going, signed.

2 year deal for Mo and VVD makes sense at this stage, or ideally 12 months + 12 month club option.

Trent is gone i'd say.

I think the substitution was made with Wednesday in mind, Nunez will more than likely move to the bench. Gakpo, Diaz and Salah will cause the Madrid back line a lot more problems. Against Leverkusen, Diaz was given the #9 role because Slot felt that Tah would have been more comfortable against Nunez. Rudiger would also be more comfortable facing Nunez than Diaz. And as seen against Leverkusen, the front three can swap positions keeping the defenders on their toes.

Given their injury list, the Real Madrid starting line up practically picks itself: Courtois, Mendy, Ascencio, Rudiger, Valverde, Camavinga, Ceballos, Bellingham, Brahim Diaz, Guler, Mbappe. Ancelloti could move Valverde into midfield in place of Ceballos if Vasquez is ready to return at right back, but that's about the only possible change to their line-up. However Diaz/Gakpo would likely get a lot more joy out of facing Vasquez than Valverde.

Tchouameni would be a risk to bring straight back into the starting lineup. He hasn't played since suffering the ankle injury against Barcelona in October and didn't make the bench at the weekend.

Given the option I'd prefer to see him in place of Camavinga because he lacks the versatility. Camavinga has been popping up everywhere and as well as doing the donkey work he makes runs to create space for the wingers and Bellingham. He's also starting to pick out passes that find the runs of Bellingham and the forwards. In contrast, Tchouameni just breaks up play and recycles the ball.

Liverpool would be the happier of the two teams with a draw on Sunday I’d imagine.

Get Salah done , he is extremely fit and not injury prone . If he falls off a cliff the Saudi’s will still buy him . I hope it’s not penny pinching by the club

How do you know he doesn't want 3+ years and has said he won't sign anything less.

We don't know what's going on in the negotiations.