Potential Alberto Moreno replacement Sead Kolasinac confirms talks have begun with Schalke over new deal

Reported Liverpool target Sead Kolasinac has revealed he is in talks with Schalke over a contract extension.

The Schalke left-back has been linked with a move to the Premier League with West Brom rumoured to be considering resurrecting their interest in the defender and Liverpool also thought to be keen.

Jurgen Klopp brought Joel Matip from Schalke this summer, but Kolasinac has now said he has begun negotiations for a new deal at the Bundesliga club.

‘(Christian) Heidel (Schalke general manager) has already contacted my agent over prolonging my contract’ Kolasinac told Kicker.



‘It must fit both sides, but there is no time pressure.

‘I feel good here and Schalke is a great club.’

Liverpool are in need of another left-back as doubts have emerged over the long-term future of Alberto Moreno at the club.

Natural midfielder James Milner has been playing at left-back for Liverpool this season and although has been doing an excellent job, is not a long-term solution.

More games: Friv

Ex-Liverpool Left-Back Points To Sign Alberto Moreno Still In Jurgen Klopp’s Plans

Former Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise believes that Alberto Moreno is still in Jurgen Klopp's plans at Anfield.

Moreno came in for heavy criticism for his poor defensive performances last season and early this term lost his place in the side, with Klopp choosing to replace him at left-back with James Milner, despite the Englishman being a midfielder.

Eyebrows were raised when Klopp did not offload Moreno and Riise thinks that shows the German is still keeping the left-back firmly in his plans.

Asked on Twitter if he feels Klopp still has plans for Moreno, Riise replied: "Yes, or he would have sold him."
 

Riise was also questioned on which side he would choose to score against if he could have scored just one more goal for Liverpool.

And the Norwegian said: "Everton, at Anfield."

Despite being 36 years old, Riise is still playing and is currently turning out in the Indian Super League with Chennaiyin.

Since leaving Liverpool in 2008 he has also played for Roma, Fulham, APOEL, Delhi Dynamos and Aalesund.

Riise won 110 caps for Norway at international level between 2000 and 2013.

Alberto Moreno criticism will not force Jurgen Klopp to sign new left-back for Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is ready to resist the clamour to sign a new left back, despite the renewed criticism of Alberto Moreno.

Moreno’s performance against Arsenal on Sunday revived harrowing memories of poor displays last season, most notably in the Europa League Final.

The Spaniard’s lapses in concentration have proven costly on multiple occasions, but Liverpool have kept faith in him so far and are showing no inclination to rethink their plans.

Liverpool tried to sign another left back to provide competition to Moreno during the summer, but Klopp pulled the plug on a move for Leicester’s Ben Chilwell when he felt the fee of £10  million was excessive.

Klopp does not believe such funds should be squandered on a full-back – certainly not for one who is untried at the highest level - and has not yet identified an obvious candidate to add to his squad who would be anything more than a temporary solution.

Instead, he is prepared to wait for James Milner to return to fitness and give him the chance to settle and establish himself in the position.

Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool players celebrate on Sunday

Milner has made it known he is not especially keen on reinventing himself as a left back, but he would put the team’s needs first and such is his professionalism Klopp is sure he would add a new dimension to the side in the role.

Liverpool are also waiting patiently for the return to fitness of Joe Gomez – who started last season at left back prior to his serious knee injury – while there are other emerging youngsters who could also fill in if required. Centre-back Ragnar Klavan could also play left back if the situation demanded it.

That has made Klopp less convinced of the urgency to recruit than many of those who witnessed his side’s exhilarating but flawed opening day win at The Emirates.

It is not completely out of the question Klopp will rethink before August 31, and he has more funds available should he require more players before the end of the month, but it is clear he believes the solution to Liverpool’s left back issue is already within his squad.

Jürgen Klopp Not Actively Pursuing a Replacement For Alberto Moreno

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is no closer to signing a new left-back in this transfer window and is now set to stick with Alberto Moreno for his first full season in charge of the reds. 

Throughout last season Moreno repeatedly cost Liverpool due to his defensive frailties, with his Europa League Final performance against Sevilla emphatically emphasising the Spaniard's inability to defend. 

However, to the dismay of many Liverpool fans, the Liverpool Echo have reported that Klopp will not seek a direct replacement for Moreno this summer. 

Instead, Liverpool’s primary left back target is Ben Chilwell, a 19-year-old with only 11 senior club appearances to his name. Chilwell was second choice behind Christian Fuchs as Leicester became champions, and it is likely he would serve as backup to Moreno at Anfield as well. 

Chilwell is a player Klopp and his recruitment team believe could be a gem, but he is far from a guaranteed upgrade on Moreno at this stage. 

Last week it was reported that negotiations for the young Englishman had hit a stumbling block, Leicester City have been demanding £10m, with Liverpool only willing to offer £7m and threatening to look elsewhere. 

If negotiations cannot progress with Leicester for Chilwell's services then it would be interesting to see where the Reds would look next. A host of left-backs from across Europe have been linked with the problem position at Anfield this summer including German international Jonas Hector, Wolfsburg's marauding Ricardo Rodriguez and yet another return to Southampton for Ryan Bertrand has been touted. 

However, for the time being, it appears as though Moreno's starting berth is somehow safe with Klopp valuing his speed, control and the continuous attacking width he provides. Klopp prides himself on bringing the best out of players and he sees the development potential in the 23 year old, even if every step forward he makes seems to be followed by a couple backwards.

Liverpool Transfer News: Jordan Amavi Eyed in Alberto Moreno Replacement Rumours

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is reportedly in the hunt to sign Aston Villa left-back Jordan Amavi in a cut-price deal as he looks to replace Alberto Moreno.

According to French newspaper L'Equipe, the Reds have already contacted Amavi's agent to hash out terms following Villa's relegation from the Premier League (h/t the Sun's Dave Fraser).

According to the report, both AC Milan and Ligue 1 giants Lyon are hoping to compete for Amavi's services just a year after he completed a £10 million move to Villa Park.

Amavi stands as one of the most likely figures to leave Villa this summer after they made the drop into England's second tier, and Bleacher Report's Jack Lusby has previously rated the defender highly:

Liverpool incumbent Moreno has come in for criticism of late, and Klopp is expected to strengthen at left-back after the Brendan Rodgers signing failed to impress toward the end of the season.

In particular, Moreno drew plenty of criticism for his performance in the UEFA Europa League final loss to Sevilla, and BT Sport's Steve McManaman wasn't impressed by his showing:

Amavi made just 10 Premier League appearances for Villa last season after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury last November, ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign.

That being said, Squawka Dave has shown his strengths in defending after breaking down the best tacklers and intercepters in Europe's top five leagues across the past two seasons:

Former Nice star Amavi has previously been tipped for a big future, and Villa's relegation to the Championship means they may be desperate to offload some of their bigger earners, the 22-year-old being one of them.

That being said, it's reported the Villans are still hoping to recoup the entire £10 million sum they paid for the player, and it's as of yet unclear as to whether the Reds would be willing to fork out such a substantial fee.

50 pictures of Liverpool FC squad training ahead of Everton derby

Jurgen Klopp put his players through their paces at Melwood today in preparation for the Merseyside derby against Everton.

These pictures show Jurgen Klopp putting his Liverpool FC players through their paces at Melwood today ahead of tomorrow's 226 Merseyside derby.

Divock Origi was among them and should be fit to feature against Everton after back problem complaints following a substitute appearance in Sunday’s 2-1 win at Bournemouth.

Klopp made 10 changes at the weekend - and Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Alberto Moreno, Dejan Lovren, James Milner and Philippe Coutinho all trained today and will be in contention for Anfield tomorrow.

Speaking about team selection earlier today, Klopp said: “Kolo Toure had cramp against Bournemouth during the game. Divock was only a little bit (troubled) with his back, maybe from sitting on the bench.

“But it’s not a real issue. He felt it a little bit in the game, and we left him out of training yesterday because we wanted to take no risks. That’s okay.

“Before the game against Bournemouth, Martin Skrtel wasn’t fit as he had a little groin problem. Otherwise, there’s nothing new.”

LIVERPOOL FC VS EVERTON FC – CAN THE REDS PILE ON THE MISERY FOR THE TOFFEES?

Liverpool look to carry on the momentum gained from their famous Europa League quarterfinal victory over Borussia Dortmund, while Everton will hope to make the most of what manager Roberto Martinez has called a “defining week” for the club this season.

Liverpool’s progress to the semifinals of the Europa League and their distance from the Top 4 has resulted in Jurgen Klopp holding the Europa League in higher priority over the rest of the season. Everton’s season, on the other hand, is currently dying a slow death, but their upcoming FA Cup semifinal against Manchester United serves them with an opportunity to end the season on a high. Little wonder then that Wednesday’s Merseyside Derby is the least hyped in recent history.

Jurgen Klopp vs Roberto Martinez

The identity of both managers and the perception the respective supporters of their clubs currently hold is indication that Liverpool and Everton are heading in completely opposite directions at this point in time. Jurgen Klopp’s intelligent game management on the touchline and his work behind the scenes has primed the Reds for a potentially successful ending to a season bookended by a trophy. Roberto Martinez’s complete disregard for the importance of defending coupled with the friction between himself, senior players and the fans has meant that an FA Cup semifinal maynot be enough to satisfy the fans.

Klopp will want more of the same from the Reds

Even though the Europa League is most definitely a priority for the Reds, the challenge for manager Jurgen Klopp is in ensuring that Liverpool have something to play for in the League until the last day of the season. Klopp will want to ensure that the new-found momentum stays with the Reds, while ensuring key players stay fit and available for the rest of the season.

Klopp is likely to bring back the majority of the first choice players who sat out the away trip to Bournemouth this past weekend. Hence, the likes of Simon Mignolet, Dejan Lovren, Alberto Moreno and Nathaniel Clyne will most likely be back in the starting line up. A mini injury crisis in midfield makes life hard for Klopp, whereas the competition between Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge may prompt a “horses for courses” approach up front.

Martinez currently on thin ice

Everton supporters’ patience with Roberto Martinez is running thin. His emphasis on ball possession while simultaneously not paying enough attention to the importance of defending has turned the team to  an artistic but soft team from the gritty side they were under David Moyes. Martinez has labeled this as a defining week due to the Toffees having to play both Liverpool and Manchester United in quick succession, but the danger for him is that it could turn out to be defining for all the wrong reasons.

Injuries to key players like Phil Jagielka and Seamus Coleman, coupled with the complete loss of form and confidence for John Stones, leaves Everton particularly vulnerable in defence. Romelu Lukaku will most likely face a late fitness test, while James McCarthy should be back in the side from suspension. The looming presence of the FA Cup final this weekend might tempt Martinez to throw in the likes of Tom Davies and Callum Connolly in order to keep his players fit for the weekend.

Key Battles

Divock Origi vs Ramiro Funes Mori

Divock Origi had barely made his Liverpool debut at the time of the last Merseyside Derby, but his work rate and improved finishing over the last 3 months has meant that his stock among Liverpool supporters is only rising by the day. The son of former Kenya international Mike Origi, his performances up front against Borussia Dortmund both home away has meant his manager’s willingness to start him ahead of a fully fit Daniel Sturridge is not misplaced.

Ramiro Funes Mori arrived on Merseyside from his homeland with the reputation of a talented but rash defender, but the struggle for form and fitness among all Everton defenders has meant that he has been the best performer at the back for the Toffees. Funes Mori will need to be on high alert given Origi’s raw pace though, but will also provide Everton with an aerial threat on the night.

Romelu Lukaku vs Mamadou Sakho

Everton’s talisman was missing during the drab 1-1 home draw against Southampton this past week on account of a groin injury, but the “defining week” for Roberto Martinez and Everton would be defining for all the wrong reasons if Lukaku does not start the Merseyside Derby at Anfield on Wednesday night. Lukaku has already started all but one league game for Everton this season, and Martinez has already declared that Lukaku will start every game when fit.

Mamadou Sakho’s declaration of ‘Liverpool country’ following the win over Borussia Dortmund at Anfield has enhanced his cult hero status among the fan base, but his inconsistent performances still cast a shadow over his growing reputation. Sakho’s level of performance has oscillated between imperious at Old Trafford to shaky at Southampton, but his ability to raise his game to the occasion will make his battle with Lukaku a fascinating one.

Joe Allen vs James McCarthy

Questions remain over the future of Joe Allen’s Liverpool career, but those questions surrounding his form since the turn of the year are no longer being asked. Joe Allen has played like a player who knows exactly what his required of him – whether as a sub or as a starter. He still does not score or assist often enough, but his ability to keep the ball helps Liverpool gain and keep control of the midfield. His suitability to Klopp’s pressing game is another plus as well.

James McCarthy, on the other hand, is arguably Everton’s first choice as a defensive midfielder. He will be tasked with paying close attention to Allen, and will be the one player relied upon to instigate turnovers of possession in a side that does not work hard enough on the field.

Liverpool

Strengths

• Liverpool are one of the better sides in the Premier League at implementing a pressing game, especially against the technically proficient, possession-based teams in the league.
• Daniel Sturridge’s fitness has been improving ever since he first made his most recent comeback to Liverpool’s matchday squad, while his goalscoring touch has not gone anywhere.

Weaknesses

• Liverpool have not been good at defending set pieces for nearly four seasons now. Romelu Lukaku will be ready to pounce on any mistakes made at the back.
• Injuries to Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Emre Can have left Liverpool thin in midfield.

Everton

Strengths

• Combination play between Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley moving forward should keep the Liverpool defence busy at Anfield.

Weaknesses

• Emphasis on ball possession without paying enough attention to covering ground will leave the Toffees vulnerable to Liverpool’s pressing from the front.

Crystal Palace drop threat is very slim - but they are in danger of delivering a huge anti-climax

Crystal Palace have killed off a Liverpool title dream and popped the balloons on Steven Gerrard’s Anfield farewell party - so this defeat hardly evens the scores.

Relegation is still a distant threat despite the woeful form being shown by the Eagles. Just be thankful that their slide only started from mid-December and not a few weeks sooner, otherwise their position would be a whole lot more desperate.

Aston Villa were gone long ago. And Norwich and Newcastle are nine points behind Palace with as many games left to play. One bookie has them 28/1 to be relegated. It simply won’t happen.

But Alan Pardew’s side are in danger of one thing that hasn’t been used to describe their seasons since the club came out of administration in 2010 - anti-climax.

If Palace get knocked out of the FA Cup at his former club Reading on Friday night then there is no way of sugarcoating a campaign that promised so much up to Christmas and will have delivered so little.

That competition remains a chance for the South London club to still salvage something of substance.

It’s often said that form goes out of the window in the FA Cup, and the Eagles will gladly embrace that.

Life in the Premier League has been wretched for them since Big Ben chimed in 2016.

Some statistics can be manipulated for the sake of an argument. But not 12 top-flight matches without a win. Not four points from a possible 36.

And while injuries have helped to wreck Palace’s season - it was entirely in keeping that bang-in-form Connor Wickham was ruled out with a fresh knock - you can’t hide behind excuses.

Alex McCarthy’s slip as he went to clear a pass back handed Roberto Firmino a gift-wrapped chance to cancel out Joe Ledley’s goal - with Liverpool down to 10 men and struggling to fashion openings.

But it was unforgiveable how Jurgen Klopp’s Reds took control following James Milner’s dismissal.

That should have been the point at which the screw was turned. Instead Palace played without intelligence and allowed themselves to be dominated.

The Eagles sat deep and nullified their numerical advantage. A lack of pressing helped Liverpool play without pressure - led by Philippe Coutinho. Jordon Mutch, Bakary Sako and Dwight Gayle combined could not match the pintsize Brazilian’s industry or control.

Liverpool had 62 per cent of the possession and ran 113 kilometres as a team - two more than Palace. In the match-deciding final phases the hosts failed to stay in control.

They could easily have been behind before Christian Benteke’s late winner. Alberto Moreno struck the base of the post and McCarthy partially redeemed himself by denying the big Belgian after Coutinho threaded a ball through the Eagles backline.

Palace had been the better team for the first hour but in a results’ business they are not getting anywhere near enough of them.

An eighth defeat in this miserable spell came in the sixth minute of time added on. Replays showed that Damien Delaney’s right knee made contact with Benteke’s heel and down he went.

Gamesmanship? Maybe. The merest of touches? Definitely. But Pardew would surely have celebrated without compassion if the situation had been turned around. Benteke’s penalty was ice cool. He waited for McCarthy to dive during his run up before rolling the ball into the opposite corner.

At times like this - Palace are only three games shy of the 15-match winless top-flight run in 1997-98 - the manager is scrutinised, perhaps more so then the personnel he puts out on the pitch.

More money has been spent on the squad. But has it made them stronger?

Wickham has looked the biggest potential success of the major signings - spells on the sidelines disrupting him.

Yohan Cabaye has failed to live up to his superstar billing.

Either the team is not set up right around the French international, or his inclusion has knocked the midfield out of sync and left Jason Puncheon marginalised before his injury.

McCarthy had made high-profile mistakes since joining from QPR - even if Sunday was more down to misfortune. Bakary Sako has a whole lot to do to convince he can deliver on English football’s highest stage.

If Palace miss out on an FA Cup semi final then a furious inquisition will really commence.

Give him wings, let him fly- Is Alberto Moreno the left winger for Liverpool?

If you listen carefully to the commentator’s remarks throughout the game, you will understand the enigma that Alberto Moreno is.

"And a cross comes into the box, oh, Alberto Moreno almost gets on the end of it."

Alberto Moreno isn't a bad player; in actuality, he's pretty good. His runs on the left are evidence of his quality; his dribbling, speed and distribution (crossing and interplay with midfield players) is even eye-catching at times. His wrongfully disallowed volley at St. James' Park in a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle earlier this season, was absolutely world class. And when it comes to striking it from a distance, he is certainly no pushover.

The issue? He's playing at left back. His love for forward runs often means he's caught out of position. He is highly dependent on his speed to recover back to his position. With Liverpool suffering problems at the back, the positional discipline becomes even more important.

Nathaniel Clyne, Moreno's  counterpart on the right, has similar exploits on the right side of the pitch. However, the difference is Clyne's perception of position, maintaining an awareness of how much he'll have to do to in order to be able to return to his defensive duties.

"Liverpool caught out on the left again as their opponents move forward."

Moreno's runs sometimes not only leaves himself stranded, but his team scampering for cover. While he is pretty strong on the ball, his stature doesn’t allow him to have a real aerial presence (0.4 aerial battles won per game). To top it all off, his defensive decisiveness is questionable, committing to rash tackles at times when it’s simply unnecessary.

However, in all fairness, he has improved defensively: he’s averaging 2.9 tackles per game compared to 1.9 tackles last season. The number of fouls per game has also taken a dip to 0.9 from 1.3, while making 1.8 interceptions per match, up from 1.2 last season. His attacking game has also improved, with 1.8 key passes per game (up from 1.2) and an assist in all three competitions this season.

The above-mentioned weaknesses remain deeply etched in the minds of Liverpool fans because of the Red’s frailty at the back in recent times. Until the core of Liverpool's defence is rectified, it is essential that all deployed defenders contribute to defending the Liverpool goal. 

The question we’re left with is simply, can Liverpool depend upon Moreno to have that discipline? Or does he have the flair to be played solely as an attacking player at left midfield or on the left wing? It’s an intriguing proposition, as his link-up play with the likes of Coutinho, Firmino, and Lallana in the final third shows real promise. He certainly offers more pace and creativity with the ball than Milner or the currently out of form/unfit Henderson. 

"Unnecessary foul there by Alberto Moreno, a pretty rash and unnecessary challenge by the Spaniard.

The primary issue is the personnel who replaces Moreno at the back. Brad Smith and Joe Flanagan are direct options if the experiment is attempted this season, with Joe Gomez an option when he returns if the assessment is carried out in the summer. The young Englishman has played in the position before, not enough to confirm however not enough to consider him as a secondary option. But, the time he has spent there, he has looked a natural.

The secondary issue is the return of Lazar Markovic, who Klopp wants to have a look at this summer. If he is a part of Klopp’s plans, then Lazar’s preference for the right wing will increase competition for a developing Jordon Ibe on both sides. On the plus side, it will provide Liverpool with an additional player without having to go out and purchase another $15 million hit or miss.

However, if this isn’t a part of Klopp’s plans for the future then Moreno will need to improve defensively. At the age of 23 and with several other players for his position, the Spaniard has time and impetus to work with. Still, it's a proposition, that if implemented, might just benefit the Reds in the long run.