A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as the Reds hold talks with the agent of their £41m target and Jamie Carragher backs a January transfer for a Premier League gem.
Arne Slot ‘doesn’t expect’ Diogo Jota to start for Liverpool at Southampton after his injury setback
Liverpool visit Southampton in the EFL Cup quarter-finals this Wednesday, but head coach Arne Slot does not expect Diogo Jota will be fit to start after suffering an injury. The 28-year-old is a doubt for the Reds’ visit to the south coast after picking up an injury at the weekend.
Jota felt pain following his brief cameo in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Fulham last Saturday, in which the forward scored their second equalising goal. He struck the back of the net within just seven minutes of leaving their bench to return from a rib injury, which Jota aggravated.
Slot has now confirmed that Jota will be restricted in his involvement if any at Southampton having been unable to train with Liverpool’s first-team squad this Monday. The Portugal star has so far played in 11 games for 664 minutes this season but has five goals and two assists.
“Diogo would have definitely been ideal to play,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. “But after the game, he wasn’t completely fit, so he didn’t train yesterday. Let’s see if he can train today. I don’t expect him to start. Hopefully, he can make some minutes.”
Read more about what Slot has said about Liverpool forward Jota’s latest injury blow, here.
Jamie Carragher praises Liverpool target Milos Kerkez in call to support Andy Roberston
Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher is adamant that Arne Slot must ask the Anfield club to sign a new left-back in the January transfer window, with AFC Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez backed as a strong possible name to target as Andy Robertson is in desperate need of ‘help’.
Kerkez has emerged as a player on the Reds’ shortlist for defensive reinforcements of late as Liverpool technical director Richard Hughes knows the Hungarian well from his time at Dean Court. Carragher also feels the 21-year-old has been a ‘revelation’ under boss Andoni Iraola.
Bournemouth have regularly seen Kerkez show a brilliant presence at both ends of the pitch this season, having started all 16 of their Premier League games so far. On the other hand, it has been a season to forget at times for Robertson, who even got a red card against Fulham.
“He [Robertson] doesn’t look like he’s running back fully [against Fulham],” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “He’s had a whack [earlier in the half], then gingerly goes to control the ball before getting a red card. He needs help.
“Liverpool haven’t got any back-up and it’s something they need to address in January. Kerkez has been a revelation at Bournemouth. The technical director who brought him to Bournemouth [Richard Hughes] is now the sporting director at Liverpool.
“Kerkez looks like a full-back and he’s aggressive. He’s been superb since he came into the Premier League and is one to watch in the future whether he stays or moves on.”
Read more about what Carragher said about Kerkez and a likely transfer to Liverpool, here.
Liverpool have made contact with Ademola Lookman’s camp about a £41m transfer
Liverpool have already made contact with the entourage of Ademola Lookman to sound out a transfer from Atalanta BC for the former Everton man. That is according to Sacha Tavolieri, as the Belgian journalist reports for Sky Sports Switzerland that the Reds are even not alone.
Chelsea and Manchester United are also in contact with his camp amid further interest from Bayern Munich. Teams around Europe have sought to gauge an understanding of his interest in a switch as Atalanta have told Lookman that he can leave the Serie A side for the right fee.
Liverpool are merely sounding out his position on a transfer, so they could have to overcome PSG if the Merseyside club were to advance their interest in Lookman. The Ligue 1 club have already reached a baseline agreement with Atalanta, who value the winger at €50m (£41m).
Lookman, who left Everton for RB Leipzig in 2019 before joining Atalanta in 2022 after loans with Fulham and Leicester City, has so far offered 11 goals and five assists through 19 games this term. The 27-year-old’s haul includes eight goals and four assists in 13 Serie A matches.
Read more about Liverpool’s inquiry into the possible transfer of Atalanta’s Lookman, here.
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