A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Arsenal defender William Saliba issues an honest verdict about Virgil van Dijk and the Reds rival the Gunners’ £25.5m transfer.
Andy Robertson offers an update on the Liverpool star’s return from injury
Scotland international Andy Robertson is relieved to finally be ‘pain-free’ for the first time in five months after featuring as Liverpool beat Ipswich Town to open the new Premier League season. The left-back played 79 minutes at Portman Road, before feeling ‘a bit tired’ late on.
Roberston endured a disrupted summer while he strived to recover from the ankle ligament injury he sustained in Scotland’s friendly with Northern Ireland back in March. The 30-year-old fought through the pain to play for Liverpool after the injury, before going to Euro 2024.
Jurgen Klopp was only without Robertson for two of Liverpool’s final 16 fixtures last season following his return from an earlier shoulder injury. But Robertson admits he was not truly fit throughout the run-in or then in Germany, where the 74-cap star played every possible tie.
“I was playing in pain from March onwards and, obviously, it was a really important time for the club, and then a really important time for my country,” he told Liverpool’s club website.
“I hoped that the three weeks off would have settled things down but it didn’t and I needed a wee bit longer. So, I managed to get my fitness up to a really good level in terms of not being with the team, which was hugely frustrating.”
Robertson continued: “I started to get a little bit tired, which is normal, but I felt good, I feel good. I am pain-free for the first time in five months, which is always positive.”
Read more about what Robertson has said about the Liverpool star’s injury, here.
Liverpool hijack Arsenal’s transfer for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia
Liverpool are mulling hijacking Arsenal’s interest in the transfer of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia. That is according to Mundo Deportivo, which reports that the Gunners already found an agreement with the 23-year-old but the Reds are striving to try and change his mind now.
Anfield chiefs have been keeping close tabs on Garcia and watched his release clause rise to €30m (£25.5m) in recent days. The Merseysiders view the 23-year-old as an alternative for Valencia shot-stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili, over whom Liverpool have opened talks to sign.
Liverpool remain attentive to Garcia’s transfer as Espanyol stress the La Liga side are still yet to receive a formal approach. The Spain international is also calm about his future and even started as Espanyol opened their Spanish top-flight season with a 1-0 loss at Real Valladolid.
Read more about Liverpool’s interest in Garcia’s transfer from Espanyol, here.
William Saliba issues his verdict on where Virgil van Dijk ranks as a Premier League great
Arsenal ace William Saliba has given his honest verdict on where Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk ranks among the greatest centre-backs to feature in the Premier League era. The France enforcer discussed his counterpart after they both made the 2023/24 PFA Team of the Year.
Van Dijk is the only Liverpool player to have made the PFA Team of the Year after skippering the Anfield outfit for the first time last term. Saliba, on the other hand, was one of five from Arsenal who made the best XI of last term beside his centre-half partner, Gabriel Magalhaes.
But speaking with the Daily Mail at the PFA award ceremony, Saliba revealed where he feels Van Dijk ranks among the best Premier League centre-backs of all-time. He initially favoured the 33-year-old over Rio Ferdinand, as well as Jamie Carragher, Tony Adams and John Terry.
Saliba even continued to pick Van Dijk over Manchester City icon Vincent Kompany, Arsenal Invincible Sol Campbell and Manchester United hero Nemanja Vidic. But when pushed on if there is a better modern centre-half than Van Dijk, Saliba did not hesitate for Sergio Ramos.
Read more about where Arsenal ace Saliba rates Liverpool captain Van Dijk, here.
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