‘Only negative’; Some Liverpool fans have problem with Man United defeat

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Some Liverpool fans see a real problem with the Manchester United defeat on Wednesday. The Reds’ rivals exited the Champions League.

Liverpool fans watched RB Leipzig defeat Manchester United on Wednesday – but there’s a problem. It could really affect their January transfer plans.

That’s because RB Leipzig will now be in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages in February. As a result, they’ll surely want to hold onto the players that got them there.

Two of those players – Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate – are linked with Liverpool. Bild’s Christian Falk says the Reds want both players.

But fans think that will be tough now that RB Leipzig are in the last 16.

What RTK has to say

There’s a good chance this is true. RB Leipzig wouldn’t sell Naby Keita a year early because they wanted him to try and qualify for the Champions League.

You’d imagine that feeling would strengthen when they’re in the knockout stages. They won’t want to lose either player – unless Liverpool make a truly staggering offer.

We can’t see that happening, though. Liverpool look too good at the back right now to justify deliberately overpaying for anyone.

If the club were struggling, then maybe we could see it. Then there would be a good reason to do what it takes to get a top centre-half.

But that just isn’t the case – the Reds look capable of challenging with what they’ve got.

So yes, the fans are probably right, here. RB Leipzig might have prioritised cashing in on players this January if they were out. Particularly Upamecano, who has a release clause at the end of the season.

But any extra money they could get from an early sale wouldn’t offset the potential Champions League revenue from keeping him. Liverpool will surely have to wait for the summer to sign either player.