Premier League Asia Trophy: Liverpool beats Leicester City for the trophy

Liverpool rounded off their tour of Hong Kong by winning the Premier League Asia Trophy with a 2-1 victory over Leicester City on Saturday.

Islam Slimani headed the Foxes into an early lead from close range; however, Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Salah combined magnificently to enable the former to nod in an equaliser soon after.

Coutinho then got himself on the scoresheet with a stunning finish prior to the break, cutting in from the left and drilling into the far corner to ensure it was the Reds clinched the pre-season friendly tournament trophy.

In front of a near-40,000 crowd, a sizeable majority of which there in support of Jürgen Klopp’s side, Liverpool began strongly.

The zip of the Reds’ attacking play was raising decibel levels and causing Leicester problems, and Coutinho had Kasper Schmeichel worried with a trademark curler after just three minutes on the clock.

However, firmly against the run of play, the Foxes grabbed an early lead; after opening up their opponents down the left, Christian Fuchs delivered to the back post, where Slimani powered a header into the net from point-blank range.

Nevertheless, Liverpool didn’t waste any time restoring parity – and they did so via a goal of outstanding quality.

Initially collecting the ball wide right, Salah swapped passes with Trent Alexander-Arnold before moving inside. He then laid it square to Coutinho and continued to dart into the box.

The Brazilian took a touch before scooping a pass into the path of his teammate’s run, and Salah did the rest by heading beyond Schmeichel.

Then, 10 minutes before half-time, the Reds went close to taking the lead. Kasper Schmeichel’s punch under pressure at a Coutinho free-kick dropped invitingly for Georginio Wijnaldum, but his hook back towards goal bounced just wide of the upright.

Klopp was forced into a change just before the interval, with Alberto Moreno taking the place of James Milner due to a knock, but Coutinho gave cause for cheer when he struck a second with a trademark piece of quality.

Picking up possession on the left, the No.10 ducked and weaved his way beyond Leicester challenges before arrowing an unerring effort across goal and into the far corner.


However, that advantage could have been wiped out twice inside the opening three minutes of restart.

First, Jamie Vardy moved into space inside the box and steered his shot across goal but wide of the post, before he was thwarted in a one-on-one situation by Loris Karius on the edge of the area soon after.

At the other end, substitute Marko Grujic hooked a half-volley over the crossbar with an acrobatic effort, while Liverpool required another new introduction to the contest – Ragnar Klavan – to pull off a saving challenge to prevent Vardy from steering home a leveller after he’d again wriggled into a dangerous position.

There were to be no further opportunities of note for either team as the game edged towards its conclusion in sweltering conditions, meaning the Reds were the team lifting the Premier League Asia Trophy before heading back to Merseyside.

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Liverpool complete signing of Mohamed Salah

Liverpool Football Club have completed the signing of Mohamed Salah from AS Roma.

The 25-year-old agreed a long-term contract with the Reds on Thursday after completing a medical. He will officially become an LFC player on July 1, 2017.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com after the move was sealed, Salah said: “I’m very excited to be here. I’m very happy.

“I will give 100 per cent and give everything for the club. I really want to win something for this club.

“We have a great team and very good players. I was watching the games last year and everyone was giving 100 per cent to win something.

“Everyone can see the coach gives everything. I hope to see that together we can give everything to win something for the club, for the supporters and for us.”

Salah scored 29 goals in 65 appearances in Serie A across two seasons with Roma.

The Egyptian, who has also previously represented Basel, Chelsea and Fiorentina, has been capped on 52 occasions by his country since 2011, scoring 29 goals in that time.

Source: Liverpool FC Official

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Liverpool set to seal Salah transfer

Liverpool expect to sign Mohamed Salah before the end of the week, with the winger due to have a medical on Merseyside before completing a £35m transfer from Roma.

Salah left his native Egypt on Tuesday and is likely to have his medical at Liverpool’s Melwood base. Personal terms are believed to have been agreed with the 24-year-old.

The deal will bring to an end a period of negotiations between Liverpool and Roma that began at the start of the month and saw the Serie A club reject an initial £28m bid. With Jürgen Klopp determined to sign Salah an increased amount, which could rise with add-ons, was eventually offered.

Signing Salah represents a case of second time lucky for Liverpool, who wanted the player in 2014 only to see him move to Chelsea instead from the Swiss club Basel. He struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge, however, and in 2015 moved to Italy, joining Fiorentina on loan before moving to Roma, also on loan, soon after.

That became a long-term move last August and Salah has subsequently flourished for the Giallorossi. In the 2016-17 Serie A season he scored 15 goals and assisted 13 others in 31 league appearances.

Klopp believes Salah can provide Liverpool with an injection of pace in their frontline, something all but absent when Sadio Mané is unavailable, and such is the manager’s keennees to acquire the player that Liverpool are poised to make him the joint most-expensive signing in their history, following the £35m spent on purchasing Andy Carroll from Newcastle United in January 2011.

Source: The Guardian

Image credits to Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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Roma told Liverpool to add another £10million into their bid

Liverpool have been told to add another £10million onto their bid to land Mohamed Salah — or forget it.

The Reds have resurrected talks with the winger’s club, Roma, after having an initial bid of more than £26m turned down.

But on Wednesday, as ­negotiations intensified and were confirmed by their sporting director Monchi, Liverpool were warned that “Roma is not a ­supermarket” and the Italians will set the price.

We understand that the price is around £35.5m — and the ­Premier League side will be told it is a take-it-or-leave-it deal for the Egypt international, who has been identified by Jurgen Klopp as the pacy wideman his system needs.

Monchi was adamant his club would also not be selling ­defender Antonio Rudiger.

And they are in the driving seat when it comes to ­dictating a price for Salah — though Monchi did concede they will sell when the ­bidding reaches their ­valuation of the player.

“It is true that there is a bid for Salah from an English club, but the price is made by Roma, so we will decide, depending on the ­circumstances,” he said.

“Roma does not want to sell players, Roma wants to build the best team for our goals — we are not a supermarket. Only for Salah is there a deal. Rudiger will not leave, there is zero chance.”

Roma, though, have issues relating to Financial Fair Play rules and must raise around 40m euros by the end of June.

That could see them ­accept a bid of £31m, with £5.5m in add-ons.

Liverpool know there are no rival offers for Salah at the moment and will not rush to ­increase their bid.

The 24-year-old, who had a brief, ill-fated spell at Chelsea, has told Roma that he wants a move to Anfield, and his ­fellow Egypt international Mido insisted earlier this week that the deal will be pushed through.

“Salah will definitely move to Liverpool, it’s just a matter of time - Liverpool’s style suits him perfectly,” said Mido. “But I fear for him coping with the tempo of the Premier League.”

Liverpool are considering alternatives, with Sporting winger Gelson Martins an option.

But the ex-Chelsea man remains their top target with a deal around £90,000-a-week thought to have been agreed.

Source: Daily Mirror

Image credits to AFP.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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Liverpool link with Sporting Lisbon winger

Liverpool are looking at alternative targets to Mohamed Salah.

Sky Sports claim their pursuit of Salah have hit the rocks (due to his £35million valuation), and Jurgen Klopp is exploring the possibility of bringing winger Gelson Martins to Anfield.

The Portugal international has been watched by Liverpool representatives and could be tempted by a Premier League switch.

Martins, 22, has a £46.5million release clause in his current contract - although it's claimed Sporting Lisbon will accept £40million.

The winger produced seven goals and 14 assists in all competitions last season.

That quality would likely see him fit in well under Reds manager Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool are in need of quality reinforcements this summer as they prepare for a campaign in the UEFA Champions League and look to sustain a title challenge in the Premier League throughout next season.

Martins has the pace and trickery you'd expect from a promising young winger, but it's clear he possesses real end product given his excellent assist record.

While his goal record isn't overly inspiring, it's equally worth noting he only started 25 matches in all competitions, so 13 strikes overall isn't a bad return.

He still needs to prove he can be a prolific goalscorer, but if brought in relatively cheaply he could be an astute buy.

Liverpool also have joined the race for out-of-favour Real Madrid forward James Rodriguez, according to reports in Spain.

A lack of game time has led to suggestions he will be playing his football elsewhere next term with Manchester United mooted as his next destination.

But Spanish publication Don Balon claim Liverpool are ready to battle their rivals for his signature.

Madrid chief Florentino Perez is refusing to lower his £52million valuation of the Colombian that has proved to be stumbling block in negotiations with United - but Liverpool are reportedly willing to meet his price tag.

Picture of Mo Salah credits to TWITTER @only1essam

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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Liverpool move for versatile winger

Already moves have been made to sign a winger, with Roma's Mohamed Salah the priority.

But, for a variety of reasons, Jurgen Klopp couldn't quite bring a new wide midfielder to Anfield.

Now, as the summer transfer window prepares to swing open, the Reds boss isn't going to make the same mistake twice.

The Bayern Munich winger is keen to make a move this summer having struggled to earn a regular spot under Carlo Ancelotti.

And Bild claim several clubs have been sniffing around including Liverpool and Tottenham.

Juventus, Manchester City, and Manchester United are also mentioned.

However they are looking at alternatives and Costa appears to be one of those.

German publication Bild claim he is on Jurgen Klopp’s radar.

Klopp has already agreed the signing of Dominic Solanke, who will arrive on July 1, but he wants a forward who can go straight into the team.

And Salah and Costa fit the Klopp prototype of fluid players who can play anywhere in the front line.

Costa would cost around £35million - a similar fee to Salah - but Liverpool would face competition from a number of clubs.

The deal to take Salah from Roma is in the works with wages of £90,000 a week said to be agreed, but a an agreement with Roma still to be reached.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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Liverpool switching transfer targets after Roma rejection

Roma have rejected a £28m bid from Liverpool for Mohamed Salah.

The winger has agreed personal terms with Liverpool, but Roma have remained firm on their £35 million asking price.

Jurgen Klopp has now begun considering other options and have lined up a few alternatives.

The 24-year-old signed for fellow Premier League side Chelsea in January 2014, but left on loan to Fiorentina in 2015, before signing permanently for Roma in a €15m transfer last summer after a loan spell at the club.

While Chelsea only paid £11m to sign Salah from Basel, Liverpool could have to pay almost triple that for the forward, who scored 15 goals in Serie A last season.

He also grabbed 11 assists in the league over the last campaign, as Roma finished second.

Liverpool refuse to pay over the odds for Salah and do not believe he is worth the £35 million Roma are demanding.

Roma president Jim Pallotta addressed Liverpool's interest in the player earlier this week when saying there was “nothing in it at the moment”.

It is an excellent return for a right winger and Liverpool see him as the perfect man to add some much-needed pace and width to their side.

Liverpool also need to expand their squad and add depth in quality with the Champions League on the horizon for the Reds.

Liverpool made their first signing of the transfer window this week, with Chelsea's Dominic Solanke to join the club on July 1, when his contract with the Premier League champions expires. The fee will be set by a tribunal but is expected to be in the region of £3m.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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