Latest news with #AndyRobertson
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Trent Alexander-Arnold has moved on but Liverpool's new-look full-backs could dominate Dream Team this season
DREAM TEAM managers were able to rely on Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson year after year but that era has passed. With the 2025/26 season looming large, gaffers are now weighing up Liverpool's new full-back partnership of Jeremie Frimpong (£5m) and Milos Kerkez (£5m). 4 The pair are among the most expensive defenders in the game ahead of Gameweek 1, only Daniel Munoz, Josko Gvardiol and Virgil van Dijk (£5.5m each) cost more. These punchy price tags are partly due the fact the Reds are the reigning Premier League champions and, as the strongest team, are expected to keep clean sheets on a regular basis. In fact, no player contributed to more clean sheets (21) than Van Dijk last season, a testament to the club's defensive fortitude since Arne Slot's appointment. Even so, selecting Frimpong from the get-go comes with a certain degree of risk as he is untested in the English top flight. Many new arrivals have taken to the Premier League seamlessly but just as many (if not more) have needed time to transition while others have never fully adapted. 4 However, the Netherlands international is a hugely exciting prospect with sky-high potential. Few defenders in world football are as attack-minded as Frimpong, who often fulfilled a role more akin to a winger in Bayer Leverkusen colours. The 24-year-old registered 26 goal involvements in 2023/24 and a further 17 last season - outstanding numbers in his position. However, for all his success, Frimpong has rarely played in a back four for club or country. It seems unlikely that Slot will deviate from the tactics that worked so well last season so it will be interesting to see whether Frimpong is afforded the same licence to attack. Might the former Celtic man have to share his minutes with Conor Bradley (£3.5m)? Such a strategy might be a smart move from Liverpool's perspective but it would certainly limit the pair's Dream Team viability. 4 On the opposite side, Kerkez has already proven himself in the Premier League having impressed for Bournemouth since his transfer from AZ Alkmaar in 2023. Avid followers of the Premier League would agree the Hungarian left-back was among the best players in his position last season. Kerkez notched 205 Dream Team points via two goals and six assists but even those stats don't do justice to the effective nature of his performances. There is a sense among some Dream Team bosses that swapping the Cherries for Liverpool could propel him to the stratosphere. 4 Kerkez started all 38 league games last season and is expected to be first choice at Anfield but Robertson remains a Liverpool player. Those attuned to such matters expect Kerkez to be the main man and the experienced Scotsman to adopt a mentor role. Funnily enough, Liverpool are due to host Bournemouth in Gameweek 1 and wouldn't it be fitting if the 21-year-old got underway with a healthy double-digit return at the expense of his former club? At the time of writing, Frimpong features in 14.8% of teams created while Kerkez's ownership is 8.7%. They are the sixth and ninth-most popular defenders in the game respectively.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Andy Robertson's Liverpool future comes into focus as Scotland captain apologises for swearing
EPL club took on Serie A side AC Milan in Hong Kong Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scotland captain Andy Robertson apologised for swearing at a referee during Liverpool's pre-season trip to Hong Kong. The English Premier League club lost 4-2 to AC Milan at the Tai Kak Sports Park in Kowloon on Saturday, with Robertson's outburst coming after he was denied a penalty kick. The 31-year-old played the first half of the game and felt he was unfairly challenged by Milan defender Malick Thiaw whilst trying to turn inside the penalty box with the scoreline at 1-1. However, referee Ping Wun Tam waved away his protests. Robertson was captured by TV cameras reacting with a foul-mouthed retort at the official, and later admitted he was caught in the heat of the moment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I thought first half it was an even game, we obviously lost the goal on the counter-attack, which is never good,' he said. 'I thought we created some good chances, some good link-up in the midfield and things like that, so I thought that was pleasing. We didn't really see that in the second half. 'You want to win these games but you get a lot out of it. It's been a tough week in terms of training and there were tired bodies but I think we got enough out of to move forward. Sometimes you forget the cameras are on and I got reminded of it at half-time, so I apologise for that - but I still think it was a penalty. 'It's one of those ones. When I arrive in the box, which is quite rare nowadays, I thought I was clean on goal and the defender stopped me, so I thought it was a penalty. I was just ready to argue with Mo [Salah] so I could take it instead of him! But look, you shouldn't really swear at the ref, so I apologise for that.' Liverpool transfer news with Robertson's future in focus ahead of new EPL season Robertson's long-term future at Liverpool is still unclear with the English Premier League season due to start in just over two weeks' time. The left-back signed a five-year contract at Anfield back in 2021 and is therefore due to become a free agent next summer. After the £40m arrival of Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, Robertson's position is under threat. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Interest from Atletico Madrid did not progress to a concrete offer, so the former Dundee United player is now waiting to see what might develop between now and the transfer window closing on 1 September. He is content to play out the final year of his deal and fight for his place at Liverpool. Suggestions emerged last week that he could even be named vice-captain of the club by head coach Arne Slot following Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid. Robertson was quick to deny that any final decision had been taken on that subject. 'I've seen rumours and I've had texts and people congratulating me, but I've not heard anything,' he told the Anfield Wrap. 'We're obviously part of the leadership group, me, Mo [Sala] and Ali [Mac Allister], and obviously Virgil [Van Dijk] being captain. The manager has not spoken to any of us yet, and obviously we've lost Trent as vice-captain, so that role is available. 'We do what we do - the four of us are a good, tight-knit group. I spoke about it the other day in terms of helping the new lads come in, and that's what you've got to do. You've got to help them come in, you've got to help the young lads like Trey [Nyoni] and Rio [Ngumoha] to develop.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Andy Robertson Responds to Liverpool Vice-Captain Rumours
Robertson, Rumour and Role: Shadows of Leadership at Liverpool In the humidity of Hong Kong's neon sky, Liverpool drifted through a pre-season spell that felt less like football and more like theatre. Against AC Milan, the match played out with a rhythm that twisted between purpose and mystery, leaving supporters with more questions than answers. Among them, one hums the loudest through the corridors of Anfield: who will become vice-captain now that Trent Alexander-Arnold has departed for Madrid's marble halls? This isn't a straightforward football tale. It's textured, laden with quiet glances and unspoken conversations. In the stillness following the Reds' defeat, a whisper took form — Andy Robertson. The Scotland captain, known for his relentless energy and razor-sharp edge down the left, was rumoured to be next in line. Photo: IMAGO Robertson Reacts in Shadows After the game, Robertson was asked directly about the role. The Scot responded, but it wasn't quite an answer, more of a laugh echoing through red mist. 'I've seen rumours, I've had texts and I've had people congratulating me, but I've not heard anything!' Robertson told The Anfield Wrap, a grin tugging at the corner of his words. 'We're obviously part of the leadership group, me, Mo [Salah], Ali [Alisson] and obviously Virgil being captain. The manager's not spoken to any of us yet, obviously we've lost Trent as vice captain so that role is available. But we do what we do, the four of us are a good tight-knit group.' It sounds casual. But listen closely, and there's something else beneath it. Something unsaid. Like an answer that's already written but waiting for the right time to be spoken aloud. Slot's Silence and the Decision Already Made Behind the curtain, Arne Slot already knows the name. Liverpool's head coach confirmed the decision exists. But like a magician holding a card behind his back, he refused to show it. 'It is probably already decided but I'm not telling it here yet who will be the new vice-captain,' Slot revealed after the match. 'But it's clear we have more than a few that can take that role.' Slot, who led Liverpool to Premier League glory in his very first season, operates not just with tactical brilliance but a sort of mysticism. He sees leadership not as a badge but a presence, a force humming through the training ground and dressing room alike. Leadership Beyond the Armband At Liverpool, vice-captaincy isn't only about titles. It's in gestures, eye contact, the silence before the storm. Robertson, Alisson, Salah — these figures move with gravity. Virgil van Dijk may wear the captain's armband, but the soul of leadership is diffused, like the red lights of Anfield spilling into fog. As rumours ripple and the truth waits, Liverpool prepare for what's next. The Premier League beckons again. The ghost of what was and the shape of what's coming both linger at Melwood, now under Slot's calm, cryptic command. Whether Robertson steps forward or remains part of the chorus, the play goes on. And Liverpool, under Slot's gaze, keep walking that line between clarity and dream.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
🎥 Liverpool new boy lifts the lid on his bizarre pre-season moment
Liverpool have taken the summer transfer market by storm in the wake of capturing Premier League honours in 2024/25, with many fans and pundits expecting the Reds to top the table once again in 2025/26. Arne Slot has watched the club brass open the cheque book in impressive fashion in recent weeks, with the Anfield side adding Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Ármin Pécsi, and Milos Kerkez to the senior ranks on the red half of Merseyside. Kerkez, 21, has already endeared himself to supporters as he settles to live with the champions since arriving from Bournemouth in a £40m deal, and has impressed in training as well as during the club's 3-1 pre-season win over Preston on 13 July. Speaking with the club's media, Kerkez jokingly expressed his desire to fight for the shirt and what it means to play for the English giants when quizzed on his bizarre attempt at a tackle against Preston North End. With many fans anticipating the possibility of the Hungarian international usurping the starting left-back role from Andy Robertson, current evidence suggests that he may not be too far off from doing just that. 📸 Matt McNulty - 2025 Getty Images
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Hugo Ekitike meets new Liverpool team-mates for first time on pitch in Hong Kong after training drill that saw Mo Salah floor wantaway Luis Diaz with crunching tackle
Hugo Ekitike linked up with his new Liverpool team-mates for the first time on Thursday after completing his £79million switch to Anfield. The 23-year-old striker, who signed from Eintracht Frankfurt on a six-year deal on Wednesday, jetted to Hong Kong to join Liverpool's preseason tour of the Far East and take part in a series of training sessions. Given the quick turnaround, it is unlikely Ekitike will feature during Liverpool's preseason friendly against AC Milan on Saturday, with Darwin Nunez having netted a hat-trick during the Reds' 5-0 win over Stoke before leaving the UK. Liverpool's official X account shared footage of the Frenchman walking out on to the pitch to meet his new team-mates, embracing manager Arne Slot before shaking hands with the likes of Andy Robertson, Conor Bradley and Harvey Elliott. As he made his way round the squad, Ekitike wore a beaming smile on his face and cut an excited figure - making sure to say hello to each and every one of Liverpool's squad and staff. The package Liverpool agreed for Ekitike was a £69m base fee plus £10m in add-ons, which are based on team and player performance. Meeting the Reds 👋 — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 24, 2025 Hugo Ekitike (centre) met up with his new Liverpool team-mates for the first time on Thursday His arrival takes Liverpool's summer spend past a whopping £290m, with Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili having already joined for sums of £116m, £29.5m, £40m and £29m respectively. Meanwhile, there have also been a handful of departures from Anfield this summer, with Trent Alexander-Arnold joining Real Madrid, Jarell Quansah signing for Bayer Leverkusen and Caoimhin Kelleher making the switch to Brentford. The Reds are also expected to sell a number of stars before the window closes, with the likes of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliot all heavily linked with moves away. Diaz, who has told Liverpool he wants to leave Anfield for a new challenge this summer, has attracted interest from several top European clubs including Bayern Munich and Barcelona. The German giants tabled a £58.6m transfer offer to sign the Colombian earlier this month, but their approach was immediately rejected by Liverpool who brought Diaz with them on their tour of the Far East. In a training drill just moments before Ekitike's arrival on to the pitch, Reds legend Mohamed Salah clattered into Diaz in an effort to win the ball back, sending his team-mate to the floor in a heap before continuing with the session. Many Liverpool fans saw the funny side on social media, joking that Salah - who committed his future to Anfield with a new contract last season - was giving the wantaway something to think about. Diaz takes a tumble after a challenge from Salah — Lewis Steele (@LewisSteele_) July 24, 2025 'Salah isn't having any of the exit talks, man': Liverpool fans saw the funny side on social media 'Salah isn't having any of the exit talks, man,' one fan posted on X. A second added: 'Salah telling him to buckle up.' Another fan chimed in and said: 'This is what happens when you want to leave.' During Liverpool's march to the Premier League title last season, Diaz scored 13 times and created a further five goals from 36 appearances during Slot 's debut campaign on Merseyside. As Mail Sport reported earlier this month, Liverpool place a great deal of importance on Diaz and value him beyond £100m – the same fee Manchester United rejected for their influential captain Bruno Fernandes from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal at the beginning of June. Saudi clubs have also been monitoring Diaz for some time, with Al-Nassr at the head of the queue. They had discussed a bid in the region of €72m (£62.5m) prior to Bayern Munich's rejected approach.
