Virgil van Dijk wants transfer to Liverpool

Liverpool are preparing to make Virgil Van Dijk the most expensive defender in the world after the Dutchman decided he wants a summer move to Anfield.

Now the Merseyside club will test the resolve of Southampton to keep the 25-year-old international, who is likely to cost a record £60 million should he leave in this transfer window.

Southampton have indicated they are ready to fight to retain Van Dijk and feel they can resist any offers.

Van Dijk is one of the most in-demand players ahead of the transfer window, which officially opens in July 1.

Chelsea and Manchester City have also been strongly linked with a move for the 25-year-old.

It’s a huge boost for the Merseyside club, who had made Van Dijk their top summer target after their leaky defence almost cost them a place in the top four of the Premier League and Champions League qualification.

Van Dijk will become Liverpool’s highest-paid player if the move goes ahead and can expect to earn as much as £200,000 a week. His fee is sure to eclipse the current world record for a defender - the £50 million paid by Paris St Germain for David Luiz in 2014.

The onus will now switch to the negotiations between Liverpool and Southampton.

Liverpool have become accustomed with dealing with Southampton every year for the last few seasons, securing Sadio Mane in 2016 having earlier recruited Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Rickie Lambert from the club.

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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Goal Highlights: Liverpool 2-1 Sunderland

Liverpool reclaimed second position in the Barclays Premier League and closed the gap to leaders Chelsea to a single point with a 2-1 victory over Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Steven Gerrard broke through the away side's stubbornness via an outstanding set-piece with moments remaining in the first half, then Daniel Sturridge doubled the advantage minutes after the restart with the help of a deflection.

Substitute Ki Sung-Yeung capitalised on too much space from a corner to the back post on 76 minutes to set up a nervy finale, but the hosts warded off the threat of a damaging equaliser to take the three points.

When teamsheets were handed in to the referee, the one bearing Liverpool's name confirmed that Brendan Rodgers had selected exactly the same starting XI and substitutes as the group that racked up a 6-3 victory over Cardiff City last weekend.

Glen Johnson and Philippe Coutinho both crashed long-range efforts high over the crossbar during the opening exchanges, before fans waited in expectancy as Luis Suarez braced over an inviting free-kick from 20 yards - but the ball travelled narrowly over the crossbar.

Next it was Sturridge's turn to train his sights from distance - off target from the right corner of the Sunderland area - and the No.15 was then unfortunate not to successfully redirect an outside-of-the-boot cross from his strike partner at the far post.

The Reds were dominating possession but finding the visitors difficult to break down, which prompted Joe Allen to unleash a drive after completing a one-two with Suarez, but that too was no danger to Vito Mannone between the posts.

Attempting to take matters into his own hands, the Reds' top scorer set off on a lengthy dribble which concluded with a left-footed punt shortly after the half-hour, but once again there was little to concern the Sunderland goalkeeper.

The home fans were in uproar when Santiago Vergini was shown merely a yellow card when he hauled down Suarez as he bore down on goal, but their annoyance quickly turned to joy when Gerrard stepped up to curl over the wall and past Mannone in the 39th minute.

Full reports: Official Liverpool FC

Image credits to Getty Images.

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Premier League Result: Fulham 2-3 Liverpool

Steven Gerrard struck the winner as Liverpool fought back from a double deficit at Craven Cottage on Wednesday night to claim a sensational 3-2 victory from their challenging Barclays Premier League encounter with Fulham.

The deadlock was broken in unexpected fashion on the evening as Kolo Toure unfortunately diverted a cross beyond his own goalkeeper, although Daniel Sturridge registered for the seventh consecutive league match for 1-1.

Kieran Richardson re-established the Londoners' lead in the second half by capitalising on another defensive error, but the Reds hauled themselves level once more courtesy of Philippe Coutinho's accurate conversion from distance.

But the stage was set for the skipper in the closing seconds, stepping up to dramatically convert from 12 yards after Sturridge had rightly been awarded a penalty for a late challenge by Sascha Riether.

One hour before kick-off, it was confirmed that Brendan Rodgers had selected an unchanged starting line-up for the fourth consecutive fixture; fit-again Daniel Agger was named among the substitutes, while Academy talent Joao Carlos Teixeira was included for the first time.

Full report: Official Liverpool FC

Are Liverpool a genuine title contender?

Jose Mourinho claims Liverpool are the title-race danger-men because they are the one contender not liable to a spring meltdown.

Chelsea boss Mourinho believes the imminent return of the Champions League could destabilise any of the current top three.

Echoing comments he made in December, The Special One said: "People are asking if Arsenal might fall apart after what happened at Liverpool, but it can happen to any one of the three of us - any one - but not Liverpool, because they have this stability of playing one match a week.

Moving on, Brendan Rodgers is emerging as a manager capable of mixing it at the top of the table. He is now cast as the strong leader of a confident group. Thankfully, the envelopes have been put back in the drawer.

   "We might be the chihuahua that runs in between the legs of the horses," Rodgers said post-Fulham.

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My Liverpool Experience

One of the things on my bucket list that I have always wanted to do was to go and see a Liverpool match at Anfield. Ever since I can remember I have watched Liverpool FC on the television but have never actually been to a game live. In December last year I decided to fulfil this dream and get Liverpool tickets for the game against Cardiff. Tickets for this game were the cheapest for the season and therefore I decided this was going to be the game. I made the trip from London to Liverpool the night before so I would get the full weekend in the city. This is my experience in Liverpool for the weekend. 

Liverpool Nightlife
Liverpool has a fantastic nightlife especially at weekends and has been voted ‘the best city night to go out in’ for many years on the row. Concert Square is a great place to go out and is always extremely busy and has a very large concentration of bars and clubs all located next to each other. Even though I don’t drink alcohol I decided to go into a few of these bars to see what it was like and I fully enjoyed myself and the atmosphere was great. I fully recommend that anybody not from Liverpool go to the city for an evening, as it is great.
 
The Beatle Story
Aside from Liverpool FC, the city of Liverpool is famous for The Beatles. No trip to the city would be complete without a visit to famous museum. The Beatles Story tells the journey of how 4 local lads from Liverpool joined together and became the biggest band in the world. Fans from all 4 corners of the planet visit this museum and often in the summer queues can be big but for my visit there was no major crowd. Once again, this is a must visit place in Liverpool.

 
The Game
A life long dream was to always sit in the famous Kop Stand and be with all the big Liverpool flags and banners. My ticket was exactly in this stand and the game was great in which we eventually won 3-1 with Suarez scoring 2 and Sterling scoring 1 respectively. This season we have played our best football in a long time and you can feel that in the atmosphere, from the first minute until the last everyone was singing. This truly was an experience I will not forget and so much so I plan on taking my close friend to the Liverpool v Arsenal match in a couple of weeks. 


Written by Adam, a travel blogger and lifelong Liverpool fan from London.

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Goal Highlights: Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff City

Luis Suarez celebrated committing his long-term future to Liverpool by firing two more goals and sending the Reds to the Barclays Premier League summit with a 3-1 victory over Cardiff City.

Fresh from signing a new contract on Friday, the stand-in captain fired a brace of sublime first-half efforts which sandwiched a goal from Raheem Sterling that the Uruguayan created selflessly when played behind in acres of space.

Jordon Mutch headed home a consolation for the side from Wales in the second half, but Brendan Rodgers' team took the points and now top the Premier League standings; they will enjoy first place on Christmas Day if early pace-setters Arsenal cannot overcome fellow challengers Chelsea on Monday evening.

The pre-match team news was straightforward; Suarez retained the captain's armband he wore with distinction against Tottenham Hotspur and the boss kept faith with the same starting XI which notched five at White Hart Lane.

Sterling raced in behind the visiting defence in just the second minute from an incisive Glen Johnson through ball and, when his cross was cleared high into the crisp Merseyside air, Suarez directed a volley wide at the near post.

Suarez then had an effort from a promising central position blocked by Andrew Taylor after being teed up by Sterling, who had streaked onto a lofted Jordan Henderson pass; Philippe Coutinho subsequently slashed wide with his left foot.

In response, Mutch whipped a low attempt comfortably wide from the right corner of the Liverpool penalty area, before Simon Mignolet was required to spring to his right and expertly palm away a Craig Noone curler on 15 minutes.

Full report: Official Liverpool FC

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Preview: Liverpool v Cardiff City

Things get started bright and early on Saturday with a match of great consequence when Liverpool hosts Cardiff City at Anfield.

Liverpool could go top of the table if they manage to overcome Cardiff at Anfield tomorrow lunchtime as they look for their fourth consecutive league victory – and build on the 14 goals they have scored in their previous three games. Luis Suarez is to thank for over half of them. You should be placing your bets on Suarez scoring a few goals in this match on betfair.com or Liverpool winning on a big margin again.

Liverpool are still without captain Steven Gerrard, who will not be fit to return to the new year because of his hamstring injury.

Brendan Rodgers is also missing striker Daniel Sturridge and defender Jose Enrique.

Cardiff await news on whether ex-Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy will be fit to face his former club.

Aside from that, Bluebirds manager Malky Mackay has a fully fit squad to select from.

Cardiff enter the match on the back of a much-needed victory over West Bromwich, with Peter Whittingham's header ending their five-match winless run in the top flight.

That result saw the end of another managerial reign in the Premier League, with Steve Clarke sacked at West Bromwich following the loss.

Cardiff sit 15th in the table, four points above the relegation zone, but the strained relationship between chairman Vincent Tan and manager Mackay has hit the headlines again this week.

Mackay had previously spoken about his desire to sign players in January but Tan hit back in a strongly worded statement, saying that "not a penny" would be spent in the upcoming transfer window and that the manager had had more than enough funding.

Rodgers shared his sympathies with Mackay, saying: "He has had great results this season and is going to go on and be a great manager at a big club and I find it absolutely astonishing there is talk about him leaving there."

So far this season Liverpool’s home form has been very good, with the loss to Southampton in September the only blot on their Anfield copybook so far this season, and they come up against a Cardiff side that has only won the one game on the road this term.

The two club’s last met in the final of the Capital One Cup in the 2012 when won 3-2 on penalties after it finished 2-2 in normal time.

The last league meeting between the two sides came during the 1959/1960 season in the old second division when Cardiff won 4-0 at Anfield, a similar result this time round would send shockwaves throughout the Premier League.

Fancy Suarez scoring a hat-trick?

 

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Goal Highlights: Tottenham 0-5 Liverpool

Luis Suarez was the creator and provider in his first Barclays Premier League match as Liverpool captain, leading the side to a resounding 5-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

The 26-year-old was handed the armband for the second time in his Reds career as Steven Gerrard was missing through injury.

He was on the scoresheet twice, and superbly helping to create the other three goals, which were claimed by Jordan Henderson, Jon Flanagan and Raheem Sterling.

There was just one change to the starting line-up, with Lucas Leiva returning to the team in the place of Gerrard.
The Reds were presented with a chance in the first minute, as the brilliant Suarez played in Philippe Coutinho, but the midfielder wasn't expecting the ball, and snatched at his shot.
The trend continued in the opening stanza, with Liverpool asking Spurs all kinds of questions in and around their box. Sterling was the creator-in-chief, bursting forward and getting the better of Kyle Naughton.

On 16 minutes, he skipped down the right channel and put pressure on Hugo Lloris' near post. In the next move, the winger got behind Spurs' defence again, but the French 'keeper averted the danger.
Suarez had seen an earlier effort go marginally wide, but there was no such repeat when Henderson slipped him in on 18 minutes.

Full report: Official Liverpool FC

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Goal Highlights: Everton 3-3 Liverpool

Bragging rights on Merseyside will have to be shared after Daniel Sturridge scored a dramatic late equaliser to claim a 3-3 draw for Liverpool against Everton in an action-packed Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

Philippe Coutinho broke the deadlock with a conversion at the back post, before Everton responded immediately through a clever goal by Kevin Mirallas as the ball fell kindly at the back post.

Suarez fired a sensational set-piece into the bottom corner from long range, but Lukaku found the target with a calm finish and later a powerful header to shock the visitors.

Substitute Sturridge had the last say and salvaged a dramatic point, however, by glancing a beautiful header into the top corner from Steven Gerrard's pinpoint set-piece.

Brendan Rodgers had made two changes to his starting XI against the Blues, with midfielder Joe Allen replacing Sturridge and young defender Jon Flanagan entrusted with the left-back position.

It was the home side who made the faster start, forcing a high tempo in the opening exchanges; James McCarthy, in particular, threatened with a lung-busting drive from the centre of midfield.

But in the fifth minute, the Reds struck. Gerrard curled a corner into the Everton penalty area, Suarez flicked on the delivery and there was Coutinho to control and force into the back of the net from close range.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Mirallas produced an instant response for Roberto Martinez's team on eight minutes. The Belgian latched onto a loose ball in the Liverpool box to flick an improvised effort past the hand of Simon Mignolet and into the top corner.

Full report: Official Liverpool FC

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