Latest news with #TheReds
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
How Florian Wirtz will bring a new dimension to Liverpool and why the German star could be a £109million bargain
LIVERPOOL are ready to spend a huge £109million on Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz. They moved quickly to try to acquire the services of the 22-year-old, who has snubbed German giants 11 The Reds have bid £109m for the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Credit: GETTY 11 Florian Wirtz is said to be keen on joining Liverpool after a productive chat with Kop chief Arne Slot Credit: AP It will be a statement signing by The Reds have already made The Liverpool for £29.5m to replace outing who is joining . The moves come on the back of extra investment in the squad with the new deals completed for Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Wirtz is considered a generational talent in And he will bring a touch of the unpredictable to Liverpool 's attack next season. Tactics expert Lee Scott believes the arrival of Wirtz will help prolong the career of one of their biggest stars. Goal threat Last season saw Wirtz contribute an impressive 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 games across all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen . Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK His ability to create space for himself and to be decisive in the final third really stood out as key for Leverkusen as they attempted to retain their Bundesliga title. He is dangerous in 1v1 situations when picking up possession wide or in the inside channel, or even centrally. And when he is moving at pace he is a threat with his shooting from distance with the ability to generate power and accuracy. Positionally when he is in the attacking third he does not really stick to one area and instead likes to drift to find himself pockets of space. Jamie Carragher reveals why PSG's Luis Enrique is refusing to speak to him and CBS Sports before Champions League final 11 Wirtz had 10 goals in the Bundesliga last season Looking at the current Liverpool squad it is likely that Slot will want to use him from the left of the three-man attack with Salah on the right. This will effectively give Liverpool true gamebreakers on either side of the attacking three. In the example below, Wirtz takes possession with the opposition, who are leading, in a deep defensive block. The thing that makes Wirtz different to most young attackers as this defensive block is not a barrier for him. He takes the ball and drives through the centre of the defensive block before scoring from the edge of the area. 11 Wirtz receives the ball wide on the left wing but has the ability to drive to goal from an unlikely starting point 11 Wirtz drifts into space but prefers the left side Increasingly we have seen teams have to worry about the performances of Salah on the right-side for Liverpool. This means that teams tend to slide their defensive blocks slightly over to that side of the pitch. They want more protection against the Egyptian international and try to stop him going 1v1 against a single defender. Now, with Wirtz on the other side of the flank, opposition teams cannot overload their defence to either side. Next season Liverpool will have one of the most balanced and dangerous attacks in football . Wirtz is also very comfortable in the inside channels when receiving the ball. With rumours that Liverpool are also looking to add an attacking left back, they could be heavily reinforced on the left-side of the pitch to help to break down deep and stubborn defensive blocks. In this second example, Wirtz is holding the width and playing on the outside of the deepest opposition defender. As he receives the ball in these positions he generates real threat with his ability to drive inside and finish. 11 Wirtz is a genuine goal threat and is able to play on the wing or in the middle Adding a player of Wirtz's quality to their attacking options will increase the output from Liverpool in front of goal. But it will also make it far more difficult for opposition teams and coaches to figure out how to defend against them. Creativity in the final third As we have already mentioned above, Wirtz finished with an impressive 15 assists in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen last season. While his goal output will be important for Liverpool in terms of adding direct threat to their attack, his creativity in and around the final third will also bring value for Slot's team. Wirtz takes intelligent positions on the pitch to receive the ball and often finds himself in a pocket of space. The fact that he is then a threat to turn and drive at teams through the centre of the pitch makes defenders less likely to want to get tight to defend against him aggressively as they run the risk of being quickly outplayed. The fact that they will then tend to sit off against him though just gives him the time and space to find passes to outplay the defensive line. 11 Wirtz has the ability to read the game, and here picks out the run of Garcia and pulls the ball back to the edge of the penalty area Wirtz doesn't always play the obvious pass. Here, he goes out wide and gets his head up and instead of firing across goal as many other players would he identifies that the better ball is a deep cut back to the edge of the area to the incoming Aleix Garcia, who then scores. One of the things that makes Wirtz such a dangerous player around the final third of the pitch is that he seems to be able to slow the game down and find time to get his head up to identify the best option. 11 Wirtz is one of the best passers in Europe He is rarely rushed, even when under pressure, and he has the technical ability to stay on the ball and then find the correct option at the correct time. Having a player who is a creative passer in their forward options will bring another dimension for Liverpool in their attack. While they have the likes of In the example below, Wirtz is in possession with a solid defensive block ahead of him. He sees the angle to bypass the entire opposition defence with a low driven through ball to release his striker in behind. 11 Wirtz hits the killer pass to put the striker clean through on goal Liverpool are obviously looking for ways to make themselves less predictable in the attack. Signing a player who is as creative and dangerous as Wirtz will go a long way to making that happen for them. Intelligence in the opposition half We touched on the fact that Wirtz is the kind of attacking player who is able to slow the game down when under pressure and in tight spaces. This is a mark of his game intelligence and the fact that he has the technical level to be able to trust himself and his touch when under pressure. He has an innate ability to be able to take the ball and make positive decisions with the ability to hurt the opposition defence. He can get on the ball and either drive forward into the heart of the penalty area or he can play on the half-turn and combine quickly or play the final pass to break through the opposition defensive line. In the example below, he gets on the ball in the No10 position and immediately drives forward into the heart of the opposition defensive block. 11 Wirtz makes a driving run into the Dortmund defence While this may not always lead to a shooting opportunity for himself it will pull defenders towards him and create space for teammates. He scans and checks his shoulder often in the final third and this means that he will find himself in space with time to receive the ball whether that is wide or in more central areas of the pitch. This will allow Liverpool to quickly progress the ball forward and into more dangerous areas of the pitch. This time we see Wirtz occupying intelligent spaces in the final third and between the lines. As he receives the ball he has no defenders in a position to immediately get touch-tight to him and he can take the ball and turn towards goal 11 Wirtz here has found space and can turn and run at the defence With Salah perhaps being best as a front facing threat who likes to get on the ball when facing the opposition goal, it is interesting that Liverpool are adding a player in Wirtz who is more creative with his positioning. Again, this signing will make planning for matches against Liverpool a very difficult experience for opposition coaches. Conclusion While the expected fee for Wirtz will be extremely high there is a sense that Liverpool will still be getting a bargain when they sign the 22-year-old German international. They will be signing a player who can extend the effective career of Salah straight away and when they do eventually move on from the Egyptian they will have their next attacking talisman in the building already.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Liverpool fan says his baby was flung 15ft in his pram and his partner run over during trophy parade
A father has told Sky News how his partner was driven over, and his baby son was flung 15ft in his pram, after they were hit by a vehicle during the Liverpool parade collision. Daniel Everson, 36, had been with Sheree Aldridge and their five-month-old baby, Teddy, at Liverpool FC's victory parade on Monday. "The best day of my life turned into worst", said Daniel, a lifelong fan of 'The Reds'. Daniel described the moment the car came towards him and his family. "I tried to hold on to the front of the car and try and stop it, push it, do whatever I could [to stop it] from hitting my partner and my baby. "Me and my partner were flat on the roof, on the bonnet… we were just both trying to hold on for dear life with Ted next to us. "And my partner went under the wheels of the car, of the front of the car, and it rolled over her leg, and I just bounced off to the side, but my boy and his pram got bounced totally in the opposite direction - about 15ft down the road. Read more on Sky News: "As soon as that happened, I just started screaming for my partner, and I found her and I asked where Teddy was, and she didn't know… and I found him and he was okay, thank God. "He was in the road, in his pram, on his back, and I grabbed him. I chucked the pushchair to the side and I ran up to some paramedics with him." Daniel, from Telford, said he felt like he was in "hell" as he rushed back to find Sheree. "I had to carry her up the road with four police officers holding her while she was screaming and crying. At that point, I didn't know what was wrong with her, but I could see the injuries to her leg," he explained. Sheree, 36, is recovering at Aintree University Hospital after suffering muscle tissue damage. Daniel has been allowed to return home with Teddy after he was assessed at Alder Hey Children's Hospital. "I feel a lot of emotions right now. Upset, angry, traumatised. A lot of unanswered questions that need to be answered. "To me, it just wasn't handled properly - the situation with the car getting that far into the crowd, in my opinion, he should not have got anywhere near us." Merseyside Police have now been given more time to question a 53-year-old arrested after a car struck a crowd at Liverpool FC's victory parade on Monday. The suspect, who police have described as a white British man from the local area, is being held on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving, and drug driving. Police have said the extra time they have been given to question the suspect runs into Thursday.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Daily Record
Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid shares 'devastating' Liverpool update as she's forced to break from show
Good Morning Britain was paused as Susanna Reid shared news of the Liverpool car crash which saw four children injured following the Premier League victory parade Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid sombrely announced "horrific" breaking news on Tuesday's episode. At the outset of the show, Susanna informed viewers that four youngsters were hurt in a mishap during the previous day's Liverpool FC celebrations. A 53-year-old man has been arrested after a vehicle ploughed into several people in Liverpool's city centre amidst the team's victory parade through the city's streets. Thousands lined the route to soak in the club's league title victory as The Reds heroes made their way through the city on an open-top bus with the trophy. Accounts from witnesses and video footage spreading online apparently showed a vehicle charging into a crowd of people, sparking panic and prompting many to flee the scene. Authorities have confirmed that they are not treating the upheaval as an act of terrorism but as an isolated event, reports the Mirror. "Our breaking news this morning is that we now know that four children were among the dozens injured yesterday as a people carrier was driven into crowds celebrating Liverpool's Premier League victory parade," Susanna declared. "Firefighters had to lift up the vehicle to rescue a child, who was among four people trapped underneath it." Ed Balls added: "The Prime Minister has paid tribute to the city's unity, saying Liverpool stands together and the whole country stands with Liverpool." Chief correspondent Richard Gaisford delivered updates live from Liverpool, while Nitya Rajan reported from outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Before moving to a pre-taped piece, Richard cautioned viewers due to the sensitive nature of the report. Subsequently, Nitya elaborated on the injuries resulting from the unsettling event. "One child out of the four that were injured has sustained serious injuries," she confirmed. Back in the studio, Susanna Reid and Ed Balls reflected on the devastating impact of the incident on the local community. "Devastating scenes there. Of course, everyone thought that they were celebrating something joyful," Susanna commented. "This parade was miles long, and initially people would not have realised what happened in Water Street if they had already drifted off in other directions. "Obviously, your heart goes out to everyone injured, those who saw what happened, people would have been really devastated witnessing that, but everyone else in the parade thinking it was one of the best days of their life, and all that's come over that now is just awful." Ed chimed in: "It's so particularly upsetting for this to happen in Liverpool. They were denied a parade during the pandemic when they won the league. Liverpool has faced such terrible football hardship over the years. "For this to happen again and on the day when they're celebrating such a dramatically brilliant win in the Premier League is really unfair. It's terrible."
The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
How brave Liverpool fans desperately smashed driver's window as rampage horror unfolded leaving 4 kids among 47 injured
FURIOUS footie fans desperately smashed the windows of a car after it ploughed through crowds in Liverpool yesterday. What should have been a day of glory for the city turned into devastating carnage after a vehicle rammed into pedestrians. 15 15 15 15 15 At around 6pm on Monday, half a million people lined the streets for a victory parade after The Reds lifted the Premier League trophy. But joy swiftly turned to horror when a dark grey Ford Galaxy ploughed into footie fans. Several people were thrown to the sides and some fell beneath the rampaging vehicle. Cops then had to fight back the fuming pedestrians who were trying to get at the suspect in the back of a police van. Fire crews arrived to find four people trapped under the vehicle, including a child, and worked quickly to free them. Around 27 people were rushed to hospital, two - including a child -had serious injuries. At 2.30pm, hundreds of thousands packed the streets to watch a ten mile open-top bus tour as the team celebrated winning the Premier League. Some revellers climbed traffic lights to get a view of their heroes and crimson flares were set off during the ten-mile city tour. It was the first time since 1990 Liverpool could celebrate a title win with a parade, their 2020 success coming during the pandemic. But as the parade began to wind down just before 6pm, a dark grey Ford Galaxy suddenly appeared in Water Street. Distressing footage shows the car moments before it ploughed into the crowd. It was in the midst of footie fans, with some appearing agitated and one reaching for the car door handle. The driver swung the door closed before putting his foot down as shocked pedestrians watched on in horror. Some gave chase, attacking the car in a desperate bid to stop it. Despite their efforts, numerous people were thrown to the sides and some fell beneath the rampaging vehicle. After pushing through dozens of footie fans for around 20m, the car came to a stop. Furious fans rushed the vehicle, battering it and smashing through the windows. 15 15 15 15 Ambulances, a hazardous area response team, MERIT doctors, North West Air Ambulance and senior clinicians were very quickly on scene to offer aid and treatment. Emergency ambulances took patients to the Royal Liverpool, Alder Hey, Arrowe Park and Aintree Hospitals. Around 20 patients were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Around 27 people were rushed to hospital, two - including a child -had serious injuries. Meanwhile, cops had to fight back the fuming pedestrians who were trying to get at the suspect in the back of a police van. Merseyside issued a statement on the horror crash soon after. The force quickly addressed the incident, saying: "We are currently dealing with reports of a road traffic collision in Liverpool city centre. "We were contacted at just after 6pm today, Monday 26 May, following reports a car had been in collision with a number of pedestrians on Water Street. "The car stopped at the scene and a male has been detained. "Emergency services are currently on the scene. We will issue more updates as we have them." The North West Ambulance Service released their own statement on the tragic incident. "All of us at North West Ambulance Service are horrified and saddened that a day of celebration for the people of Liverpool could end in such terrible circumstances. "Our thoughts are with everyone who witnessed the incident and those who have been injured." The statement added: "Our cyclist paramedic was also unfortunately struck by the vehicle, but we are pleased to report that no injuries were sustained. "We also know some patients have self-presented at local hospitals. "We are working closely with our partners at Merseyside Police and share their appeal for calm. "This is indeed, an appalling incident, and we understand that people will be deeply upset. The people of Liverpool have shown many times before that you are a strong community, you support one another. 15 15 15 "North West Ambulance Service share with you the frustration that this wonderful day has ended like this. "To the people of Liverpool, we are sorry this has happened to you today – we are all thinking of you." The fire services were told about the tragedy at 6.07 and were on the scene within four minutes. They arrived to find four people trapped under the vehicle, including a child, and worked quickly to free them. A Water Street witness, Peter Jones, 44, from the Isle of Man, said: 'We heard a frantic beeping ahead and a car flew past me and my mate. 'People were chasing it and trying to stop him. A lot of people were injured.' Daniel Jones, 28, said he was only feet from the people carrier when it was driven through a crowd of people. He said: 'Luckily my wife had just gone up to the hotel with my three-year-old son. I dread to think what would have happened if they hadn't done that. 'It was a horrifying scene.' A man from Belfast in his 30s outside the Riva restaurant said: 'I was right by the car. One minute I was having the best day of my life. The next second, the worst. 'I'm so freaked out. I'd give up every title ever for that not to have happened.' At around 7.30pm, reports said the Prime Minister and Home Secretary were being briefed. Soon after, Sir Keir released a statement calling the incident "appalling". "The scenes in Liverpool are appalling - my thoughts are with all those injured or affected. "I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident. "I'm being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate." Half an hour after that, Liverpool FC released a statement on X. It read: "We are in direct contact with Merseyside Police regarding the incident on Water Street which happened towards the end of the trophy parade earlier this evening. "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident. "We will continue to offer our full support to the emergency services and local authorities who are dealing with this incident." Shortly after 8pm, police issued a further short statement confirming they had arrested a man thought to be the driver. "We would ask people not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding tonight's incident on Water Street in Liverpool city centre. "We can confirm the man arrested is a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area. "Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision. "We would ask people not to share distressing content online but to send the footage or information directly to us." 15 15 15 As updates filed in, eyewitnesses told of the horror that unfolded in front of their eyes. Harry Rashid, 48, who was at the parade with his wife and two young daughters, said: 'It happened about ten feet from us. 'We had no control over where we would be because the street was very narrow. The vehicle came to our right. It emerged from just right next to a parked ambulance. 'It pulled up from the right and rammed into all the people at the side of us. It was fast. The noise was terrifying.' Mr Rashid, of Solihull, West Mids, described how crowds began trying to smash the car windows. He said: 'The driver stalled for a few seconds, probably about ten. Then loads of people a bit further back started rushing at him trying to smash his windows. 'But then he put his foot down again and just ploughed through the rest of them. 'It was horrible. It looked clearly deliberate. So many innocent people, fans just wanting to enjoy the parade, were hurt.' He added: 'I just wanted my kids to get off the road regardless because I couldn't trust whether there's a follow-up attack or something like that, because you're just exposed there on the pavement. 'It was all horrendous, so horrendous.' Shortly before 9pm, Yvette Cooper wrote on X: "Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response to the truly shocking and horrendous scenes in Liverpool this evening. "Thinking of all those affected at this very difficult time. The police are investigating and I'm being kept updated on developments." The mayor of Liverpool City Region said: "Our hearts go out to all of those affected, especially those who have been injured. "Thank you, as ever, to the first responders for their professionalism and swift action. "This is a difficult day for our city region, but we stand together." Minutes later, The Premier League issued a statement, saying it is "shocked by the appalling events in Liverpool this evening". A spokesperson added: "Our heartfelt thoughts go out to all those injured and affected. "We have been in contact with Liverpool FC and have offered our full support following this serious incident." By 9.30pm, the chaotic scenes had calmed down and the streets were cleared. North West Ambulance Service said on X: "We have now cleared the scene following the incident in Liverpool and will be updating on casualty numbers at a press conference scheduled for later tonight." The overwhelmed local hospitals urged members of the public not to call to ask about their loved ones. NHS University Hospitals Liverpool Group said: "Following the incident in Liverpool city centre this evening, we know that many people are concerned about loved ones. "Next of kin will be contacted, so please help us to manage the incident as best we can by refraining from calling our switchboard." At 11pm, police updated the public via a press conference. Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims thanked emergency services and called the evening a "terrible tragedy". "What I can tell you is that we believe this to be an isolated incident and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it. "The incident is not currently being treated as terrorism." Four kids among 47 injured after white British man, 53, 'ploughed' car into Liverpool FC parade as cops rule out terror By Patrick Harrington and Nawal Abdisamad FOUR children are among 47 people injured after a car ploughed "full-throttle" into a crowd at Liverpool FC's Premier League victory parade. A 53-year-old white British man from the Merseyside area was arrested at the scene and is believed to have been the driver of the car. The disturbing events followed a day of jubilation in Liverpool after The Reds lifted the Premiere League trophy on Sunday. An estimated half a million people had lined the streets to celebrate the win, despite the miserable weather. But as the parade began to wind down at 6pm, carnage unfolded. The devastating scenes saw a dark grey Ford Galaxy accelerating and making a sharp-right turn into the milling fans, including young families. Distressing footage shows the car moments before it ploughed into the crowd. It was in the midst of footie fans, with some appearing agitated and one reaching for the car door handle. The driver swung the door closed before putting his foot down as shocked pedestrians watched on in horror. Some gave chase, attacking the car in a desperate bid to stop it. Despite their efforts, numerous people were thrown to the sides and some fell beneath the rampaging vehicle. After pushing through dozens of footie fans for around 20m, the car came to a stop and the driver was arrested at the scene. Furious fans rushed the vehicle, battering it and smashing through the windows. Cops then had to fight back the fuming pedestrians who were trying to get at the suspect in the back of a police van. Fire crews arrived to find four people trapped under the vehicle, including a child, and worked quickly to free them. Around 27 people were rushed to hospital, two - including a child -had serious injuries. The North West Ambulance Service said 20 were treated at the scene, with more patients self-presenting later on Haunting photos show fans kitted out in their footie merchandise with blankets around their shoulders, supported and kept on their feet by emergency services. Liverpool city council leader Liam Robinson said the ordeal "cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day".
The Citizen
6 days ago
- The Citizen
Liverpool trophy parade: Car ploughs into football fans
Police said they were ruling out terrorism. English football team Liverpool's Premier League trophy parade was marred by tragedy after a 53-year-old white British man rammed his car into pedestrians during the celebration, leaving dozens injured. The car rammed into a packed crowd celebrating Liverpool's Premier League title victory on Monday. Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims told a press conference they had ruled out terrorism. No terrorism Sims said the man was arrested. 'We believe this to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it. The incident is not being treated as terrorism'. She urged people to refrain from sharing 'distressing footage' from the incident online, but called for videos to be passed on to the police. ALSO READ: South African fans have always walked with The Reds Injuries At least 27 football fans were hospitalised, including two who were seriously injured, after a dark-coloured vehicle swerved through the huge crowds, hitting people in its path, minutes after the players' open-topped bus passed by, according to AFP. Four children were among those hurt, including one seriously. Twenty people treated at the scene did not require hospital treatment. A cyclist paramedic was struck by the vehicle but did not sustain an injury. Attack Videos of the incident posted on social media showed a dark-coloured car swerving into the crowds in Liverpool at the end of the celebrations as players showed off the trophy on an open-topped bus through the city. When the car stopped, angry fans converged on it and began smashing the windows as police officers intervened to prevent them from reaching the driver. 'It was extremely fast,' said Harry Rashid, 48, from Solihull, near Birmingham, central England, who was at the parade with his wife and two young daughters. 'Initially, we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of the car,' he told reporters. 'It was horrible, and you could hear the bumps as he was going over the people'. Standing with Liverpool Prime Minister Keir Starmer commended the 'remarkable bravery shown by the police and other emergency services'. 'They are supporting and caring for those injured in these terrible events,' he said. 'The whole country stands with Liverpool'. ALSO READ: Alexander-Arnold 'never felt so loved' as Liverpool star says farewell
