A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Mohamed Salah issues a fresh demand to agree to a new contract and Manchester City star Rodri gives his verdict on the Reds.
Arne Slot to recall Dominik Szoboszlai vs Everton with Alexis Mac Allister suspended
Liverpool boss Arne Slot is set to recall Dominik Szoboszlai to their starting XI when the Reds travel to Everton with Alexis Mac Allister suspended for the last Merseyside derby played at Goodison Park. That is according to The Athletic, which reports Slot is planning one change.
Everton go into the Merseyside derby on the back of claiming a resounding 4-0 win at home to Wolves on Wednesday night while Liverpool drew 3-3 at Newcastle United. Referee Andy Madley showed Mac Allister a yellow card in the 20th minute which put him on five this term.
Ryan Gravenberch also looked rather tired at Newcastle, where Mac Allister played the rest of the game on a caution after the early foul. Yet Slot only plans to bring Szoboszlai into his XI at Everton as an enforced change with Mac Allister serving a one-game suspension now.
Mac Allister has been a big part of Slot’s team since the Dutchman took over as Liverpool’s head coach this summer. The 25-year-old has started 12 of their 14 Premier League games, while Szoboszlai has been in and out of the XI so far this season with 10 starts in 14 games.
Read more about Slot’s plans to deal with Mac Allister’s suspension against Everton, here.
Manchester City star Rodri explains his admiration for Liverpool
Manchester City trail Liverpool by nine points after the first 14 games of the Premier League season and recently endured a 2-0 defeat at Anfield with Pep Guardiola still trying to find an answer for the absence of Rodri, who is likely to miss the rest of the term with an ACL injury.
It is the latest chapter in the rivalry between the Etihad Stadium side and Merseyside squad. But Rodri has now opened up on his admiration for Liverpool, with the Manchester City star praising the way the Reds go about their fixtures with the Citizens when so much is at stake.
“Normally, [it is] ‘I punch you [and] I punch you’ and maybe the game is more open,” Rodri told FourFourTwo. “But, now, you see that it doesn’t matter if the level of the two teams is similar. When you defend, you go back and when you attack, you spread…
“That’s why I enjoy most of the games we play against Liverpool. It’s great because it’s like, ‘I don’t care, I want to punish you’ and we have the same feeling.
“They are not conservative. They go with their mentality and once you are on the pitch, you enjoy those moments because it’s not just the same [style of] game.”
Read more about what Manchester City star Rodri has had to say about Liverpool, here.
Mohamed Salah tells Liverpool he wants a new two-year contract to stay
Mohamed Salah has asked Liverpool to offer him a fresh two-year contract to stay at Anfield beyond the end of the current season. That is according to TEAMtalk, which reports that the winger feels remaining on Merseyside could be key to his dreams of winning the Ballon d’Or.
Salah will become a free agent on July 1, 2025 and can agree a pre-contract with overseas sides as soon as the winter transfer market opens on January 1. Yet Liverpool remain in talks with the 32-year-old about a new contract in fear of seeing their talisman walk out the door.
Now, in a boost to their ambitions, Salah has told Liverpool that he wants a two-year deal to stay beyond his current deal and Arne Slot has impressed the winger. He also believes being at a European club over joining a side in Saudi Arabia can be vital to winning the Ballon d’Or.
Being named the best player in the world remains a real target for Salah, who has been such a vital figure for Slot as Liverpool’s head coach. The attacker now has 15 goals and 12 assists in just 21 games this season – including 13 and eight in just 14 Premier League appearances.
Read more about the latest update on Salah’s stance about a new Liverpool contract, here.
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