Latest news with #Anfield
Times of Oman
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Times of Oman
"Wanted to join a club that ranks among the top three": Florian Wirtz on joining Liverpool
London: Before the 2025-26 Premier League season, German star Florian Wirtz has officially joined Liverpool. The former Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder opened up about his move, sharing his joy, the thought process behind the decision, and a heartfelt message for the fans who had been eagerly waiting for his arrival. "I feel very happy and proud. It's finally done, something I have been waiting for a long time. I'm really happy," Wirtz said on JioHotstar. The 22-year-old playmaker was one of Europe's most sought-after talents this summer, with several clubs showing interest, but for Wirtz, there was clarity in his decision. "I felt it was the right moment in my career to take the next step. I wanted to join a club that ranks among the top three in the world, and in my opinion, Liverpool is one of them," he explained. "I saw myself in the best hands at Liverpool and was truly convinced by the people here, the club's vision, and what it offers me. Ultimately, it was an easy decision to make," he said. Wirtz now begins a fresh chapter in the Premier League, a challenge he's excited to embrace, but even before kicking a ball for his new club, the young German already feels the warmth of the Anfield faithful. "I would say thank you for the support," he said, addressing Liverpool fans who had flooded social media platforms, urging the club to sign him. "I have seen on Instagram and elsewhere how much they wanted me to join. I'm really looking forward to playing in front of them and achieving great things together. I'm very happy and sorry for the long wait," he noted.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Why do you love Liverpool?
There is something unique about a football fan's love for their once said by the great Arrigo Sacchi: "Football is the most important of the least important things in life".Tears of joy - and heartbreak. Friendships forged. Memories that last a it is there from the beginning, sometimes a moment is what starts it all or takes it to another it comes from, the love for a club is often there for a new season edges closer, we want to know why you love was the moment it all began?What is your most special memory?Your first home game? Earliest shirt? A seminal away trip?Send us your pictures and stories
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Liverpool transfer news: Alexander Isak, Rodrygo, Jean-Philippe Mateta and more
Liverpool are bracing for a busy summer to build on this season's Premier League title success. Arne Slot orchestrated a stunning debut campaign at Anfield, inheriting a stacked squad from Jurgen Klopp before taking English football by storm to seal a record-equalling 20th top-flight crown for the club. Mohamed Salah was the posterboy of Slot's title winners, with an eye-watering 46 goal contributions in 37 games taking the Reds out of reach at the top of the table. However, it was in midfield where Liverpool surprised most, with Slot refining a midfield trio brought in by his predecessor and making each one of them an invaluable entity. His transformation of Ryan Gravenberch from a promising yet raw talent to a world-class defensive midfielder was most astounding. The summer months of 2024 hardly shaped the season that followed for Liverpool, and Slot has already proven that he doesn't require overwhelming transfer activity to be successful. Last summer, he saw just two arrivals come through the door in the form of Giorgi Mamardashvili (who was immediately loaned back to Valencia) and Federico Chiesa, who played a total of just 104 minutes in the Premier League. But with Trent Alexander-Arnold heading for the exit and a Premier League title to defend, Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards are expected to engage in a substantial recruitment drive over the coming months. And the signs are extremely promising for Reds fans, with Jeremy Frimpong having signed from Bayer Leverkusen before Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike followed through the door. Arrivals & areas to improve As tends to happen with champions, Liverpool are position-for-position the strongest team in the Premier League. But that is not to say they don't have room for improvement. In goal, the Reds have added Giorgi Mamardashvili to create probably the best starting and backup goalkeeping duo in the league. Their first priority would have been to address weaknesses - or vacancies - in the full-back roles. Right-back and local lad Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid following the expiry of his contract, though it looks like Liverpool have already found their replacement in the form of Frimpong. At left-back, Scottish stalwart Andy Robertson has looked shaky and could be set for a drop down the pecking order, while deputy Kostas Tsimikas could also be on the chopping block. A younger, Premier League-proven replacement has arrived in the form of Milos Kerkez, who joined in a deal worth £40m from Bournemouth and arrives to solve the issues at left-back. Further depth in midfield and defence could be required if Slot is to successfully defend his title, and while Marc Guehi has been linked to a move to the champions, links to midfielders have been rare so far throughout the window. The futures of Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and more recently Luis Diaz have been up in the air, which could lead to Liverpool investing in more forward-thinking options this summer. Alexander Isak is said to be the dream striker signing at Anfield after Ekitike completed his arrival. Done deals Ins: Florian Wirtz (Bayern Leverkusen, £100m), Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt, £79m), Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth, £40m), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen, £29.5m), Amin Pesci (Puskas AFC, £1.5m), Freddie Woodman (Preston North End, free transfer) Outs: Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen, £35m), Caoimhin Kelleher (Brentford, £18m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid, £10m), Nat Phillips (West Brom, £3m), Vitezslav Jaros (Ajax, loan transfer), Harvey Davies (Crawley Town, loan transfer) Potential targets Alexander Isak, Newcastle With much of the rest of the squad seemingly in top shape ahead of 2025/26, Liverpool continue to be linked with one man. Alexander Isak has been touted as the club's 'dream' target, and while a move initially looked unlikely, the Swede has now expressed his desire to move away from Newcastle. Liverpool are about to sanction the £65m sale of Luis Diaz to help fund a monster bid for the striker, expected imminently. Isak has transformed into one of the best strikers in world football in recent months, and his signature would certainly make Liverpool favourites for back-to-back league titles (and probably a European Cup to add to it). Jean-Philippe Mateta, Crystal Palace Liverpool have been linked with a move for Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta in recent days, with French media reporting that the Reds have met with the player's reps in Paris. The Frenchman has impressed for the Eagles in recent months and could be a smart addition with the London club having set his using price around £35m, though it is assumed that he would not be targeted as a starting striker ahead of the Reds' impending title defence. Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace With Jarell Quansah on his way out, Virgil van Dijk ageing and Ibrahima Konate entering the final year of his contract, Liverpool appear willing to splash the cash on a proven Premier League centre-back for the future in Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi. The England international has stamped his mark as one of the best in the division in recent seasons and despite being continually linked with a switch to Chelsea and Tottenham over the past year or two, it now appears that a move up north is increasingly likely. That said, Liverpool will reportedly only intensify their pursuits if Palace budge on their £70m asking price. Rodrygo, Real Madrid On the wing, Liverpool could look to provide further reinforcements in the form of Real Madrid star Rodrygo. The Brazil international appears to be heading for the Santiago Bernabeu exit door this summer after being used sparingly at the Club World Cup. Premier League rivals Arsenal are also said to be interested. Angelo Stiller, Stuttgart Liverpool have found joy when fishing at the Stuttgart well for defensive midfielders before. They will hope highly-rated German star Angelo Stiller, 24, will follow in Wataru Endo's suit and swap the MHP Arena for Merseyside. The former Bayern Munich prospect has been at the heart of their midfield for the past two seasons and helped Stuttgart qualify for the Champions League in 2023/24.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Luis Diaz heads for Anfield exit: What it means for his legacy and Liverpool's transfer plans
When Luis Diaz's then girlfriend Gera Ponce posted a tribute to Liverpool supporters on social media at the end of last season, it felt like a goodbye. The words were accompanied by photographs and videos of them celebrating in front of the Kop with their young daughters Roma and Charlotte following the Premier League trophy lift in May. Diaz had the Colombian flag wrapped around his waist as his song boomed around Anfield. Advertisement 'From the first day we arrived, we felt first hand what it means to be a part of this club,' she wrote. 'What you have made my boyfriend and our entire family feel is something we carry in our souls. Thank-you for so much love, for so much dedication and for making us feel at home. This is a real bond, deep and strong, that reaffirms that we'll never walk alone.' Two months on, that farewell has been confirmed with Diaz set to complete a €75 million (£65.6m; $88.1m) move to Bayern Munich. It brings the curtain down on a three-and-a-half-year Anfield career which yielded 41 goals in 148 appearances. His impact was instant following his arrival from Porto in January 2022. With his ability to bamboozle defenders, he created a goal for Takumi Minamino just 10 minutes into his debut against Cardiff City. Jurgen Klopp said he had never met a player who smiled so much in training. With Sadio Mane moved into the centre to accommodate Diaz on the left, he quickly became a fans' favourite. They loved his direct approach with the ball at his feet and his tenacity out of possession. Diaz, who was affectionately known as Lucho by team-mates and staff, started all three finals in 2021-22 as Liverpool won a domestic cup double but suffered an agonising defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League showpiece in Paris and finished a point behind Manchester City in the Premier League. He was hampered by a knee injury the following season but in 2023-24 he was massively influential as Klopp's side lifted the League Cup again before their title challenge faded. There was the relief of his father Luis Manuel Diaz being released after being held hostage for 12 days by the National Liberation Army in Colombia. On the field, one complaint was that for all the dazzling approach play, there was a lack of end product at times. Arne Slot set about improving that last summer by getting Diaz on the ball in more central areas. Advertisement There was a first hat-trick of his professional career against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last November when he was employed in a false nine role. It was a tactic Slot persisted with when they lined up without Darwin Nunez or Diogo Jota. Diaz scored twice in the 6-3 demolition of Tottenham having done likewise against Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier in the season. He also cancelled out Tottenham's early opener at Anfield on the day the title was won in April. His overall return of 17 goals in all competitions was the best of his Liverpool career and only Mohamed Salah scored more than his 13 league goals for the club in 2024-25. On the face of it, agreeing to sanction the exit of such a popular figure who is at his peak is questionable, but when you dig deeper, it makes more sense. For a start, Diaz was determined to leave having twice turned down attempts by Liverpool to get him to sign a new contract. There was just too big a gap between what he wanted and what the club was willing to offer. He had initially signalled his desire to pursue a new challenge 12 months ago when he had Barcelona pursuing him, but Liverpool made it clear then that he wasn't for sale. That stance remained in place at the start of this summer, but with Diaz still unwilling to sign an extension and Bayern prepared to increase their initial offer of €67.5m, the ground started to shift. Liverpool reluctantly did business, knowing that if they kept hold of him for another season then next summer his value would have been considerably lower with him down to the final 12 months of his contract. Ultimately, sporting director Richard Hughes ensured they pocketed €75m for a 28-year-old who cost them €49m from Porto and gave them great service for three and a half years. The parting of the ways has been respectful with Diaz not missing a training session during the tour of Asia before being granted permission to fly to Munich to complete the formalities. In terms of filling the void, Liverpool believe they have sufficient left-sided cover already in place. Cody Gakpo, who scored 18 goals last season, is expected to kick on and play an even bigger part. New signing Hugo Ekitike can operate off that flank as well as through the middle, while the emergence of teenager Rio Nguhoma is another factor. It would be wrong to expect too much from Nguhoma given he doesn't even turn 17 for another month, but he's a massive talent. He has lit up pre-season so far and you don't want to block his pathway. Advertisement Diaz is highly unlikely to be the last senior Liverpool attacker to leave in this window. There's ongoing interest from the Saudi Pro League in Darwin Nunez, while Federico Chiesa continues to be linked with a return to Italy. On the right side, Liverpool have Jeremie Frimpong who can deputise for Salah. Harvey Elliott and Ben Doak are also options, although they could both depart in the coming weeks if suitable offers are forthcoming. The real intrigue surrounds what happens centrally. Nunez being replaced by Alexander Isak is the dream scenario. However, for that to happen Newcastle United will have to soften their stance over the Swedish striker not being for sale. Liverpool would also need to command a decent fee for Nunez to help finance it. Slot wants to have tactical flexibility and Florian Wirtz could operate at times in the false nine role that Diaz filled on occasions last season. In terms of his legacy, Diaz never consistently hit the heights of Salah, Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino. When it comes to legendary status, he belongs on the next rung down. It feels like a strange time to want to leave Liverpool but at this stage of his career he wanted the security of a big pay rise across a long-term contract stretching into his early 30s. His salary on Merseyside was always significantly higher than the £60,000 per week sometimes reported. Diaz and Gera Ponce got married in their homeland last month and they will now start a new chapter together in Munich. He will be missed in the Liverpool dressing room, especially among the close-knit South American contingent. He leaves behind some special memories and is guaranteed the warmest of receptions at Anfield if he returns with Bayern.
Yahoo
2 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.
