A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as fears rise that Mohamed Salah sustained an injury while with Egypt and Arne Slot declares who he now realises is a ‘special’ player.
Tony Cascarino urges Liverpool to keep Luiz Diaz after transfer interest from Barcelona
Tony Cascarino has told Liverpool to keep Luis Diaz as the FC Barcelona transfer target can give Arne Slot ‘something different’. The former Chelsea striker is a huge fan of what Diaz is able to offer in the attack at Anfield and is desperate to see the 27-year-old stay a Reds star.
Liverpool retained the Colombian this summer after Diaz was heavily linked with a potential transfer to Barcelona. The forward has also justified the Reds’ position and why Cascarino is so adamant Diaz must stay on Merseyside with five goals and an assist to start his season.
Diaz has penned each of his goal involvements so far this season over seven Premier League games, of which he has started six. Liverpool head coach Slot has also started him once in two Champions League fixtures after delighting Cascarino by fending off the interest in Diaz.
“I was delighted when Liverpool kept him in the summer,” Cascarino told talkSPORT (12/10, 08:56). “When I heard rumours that he could be going out the door, I was like, ‘I don’t know, I really want to keep him’.
“He is something different. He wants to attack full-backs, he will cut inside [and] he will go on the outside. He is fearless in the way he plays. I really want [Liverpool] to keep Diaz.”
Read more about what Cascarino has had to say about Diaz’s future with Liverpool, here.
Arne Slot admits he now realises how ‘special’ Alisson Becker is after joining Liverpool
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot admits he now realises how ‘special’ Alisson Becker is having seen first-hand at Anfield the number of ‘important saves’ the Brazilian makes. The 32-year-old has been the Reds’ No1 since his arrival back in 2018, but Slot is an even bigger fan now.
Alisson joined Liverpool from AS Roma for what was, very briefly, the world-record fee for a goalkeeper at £58m plus £9m in add-ons. But he has proven to be worth every penny and a lot more as a hero between their sticks, often saving Liverpool multiple points every season.
Since Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp in charge of Liverpool this term, Alisson has also kept five clean sheets in eight games to only three goals conceded. He has also kept four shut-outs to two goals conceded in six Premier League games but is set to miss a month with an injury.
Alisson’s hamstring injury is a big blow, and Slot has told Amazon Prime Video Sport that he is an ‘easy pick’ to start for Liverpool when fit. The Reds will now have to rely on Republic of Ireland shot-stopper Caoimhin Kelleher to deputise until after the November internationals.
“Everybody would understand that I pick Alisson because I work with him now. But he was also really important when they won the Champions League a few years ago,” Slot shared.
“Since I have worked with him, I have seen how special he is and how many important saves he has already made. He has been outstanding for Liverpool all these years. It’s an easy pick for me to go for Alisson.”
Read more about what Slot has had to say about Alisson after seeing him at Liverpool, here.
Egypt grant Mohamed Salah permission to return to Liverpool amid injury fears
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan will give forward Mohamed Salah permission to return to Liverpool if the player asks to withdraw from their October international camp early. That is according to Ismael Mahmoud, who notes Hassan is open to Salah avoiding a possible injury.
The Pharaohs beat Mauritania 2-0 in the third of Egypt’s six Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group C games on Friday. Salah scored Egypt’s second goal of the match to reach 58 in 101 caps to date. But the condition of Mauritania’s pitch for Tuesday’s meeting concerns Hassan.
Mauritania host Egypt for another AFCON qualifier next week but Hassan fears the pitch will put Salah at risk of an injury. So, the Pharaohs tactician will now let the 32-year-old return to Liverpool if he wants to so Salah remains available to Arne Slot ahead of three huge fixtures.
Liverpool come out of the international break at home to Chelsea, before visiting RB Leipzig in the Champions League and then travelling to Premier League title rivals, Arsenal. Salah is one of their most important players and has six goals plus five assists in 10 games this term.
Read more about the fears that Liverpool winger Salah sustained an injury with Egypt, here.
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