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In the Premier League, not only have Liverpool got themselves comfortably in the race to win the title and scored more goals than any other team in the top flight, but the Reds have also managed to keep eight clean sheets along the way.

With the January transfer window on the horizon, it seems as though the Merseyside club could be in danger of losing one of their current senior players.

What’s the news?

It has recently been reported by the Sunday Mirror (via Liverpool Echo 16:58) that newly appointed Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has got Reds defender Joe Gomez on his radar for a potential transfer move in the upcoming January transfer window.

Since joining the Merseyside club back in the 2015 summer transfer window from Charlton Athletic in a deal worth a reported fee of £3.5m, Gomez has made a total of 128 appearances for the Reds across all competitions.

Labelled as a “sensational” player by Jurgen Klopp in the past, Gomez has hardly had a look in for their current Premier League campaign, making just two appearances and playing just 13 minutes of action.

However, the 24-year-old, who is currently valued at £27m according to Transfermarkt, has played the full 90 minutes in both of Liverpool’s Carabao Cup games and one of their Champions League games, winning all of three of them and keeping two clean sheets in the process.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-liverpool-news” title=”Check out the latest Liverpool news!”]

Even though he has been injured in recent weeks, it’s safe to assume that Gomez would possibly be tempted to join Villa if he would be guaranteed regular playing time in the Premier League and play under Gerrard.

However, from a Liverpool point of view, it would be a calamity if FSG were to approve Gomez’s potential move to Villa. After all, he has vast experience with the Reds and has demonstrated enormous potential, leading us to believe he could become a regular figure in the team for the next few years alongside the likes of Ibrahima Konate.

With Vigil van Dijk and Joel Matip both now at the age of 30, it’s safe to say that Liverpool will be relying on the likes of Gomez and Konate to be their long-term replacements in the future, which would be quite hard if Gomez joins Villa.

It’s safe to say this wouldn’t be the wisest move from departing directing Michael Edwards.

In other news: Edwards could be set for LFC disaster as claim emerges on “unstoppable” £200k-p/w gem – opinion

Some Everton fans have been left fuming over some manager news that has emerged involving Jose Mourinho.

As per The Daily Mirror, the AS Roma manager has emerged as a potential candidate to take over from Rafa Benitez, should he be sacked at Goodison Park.

Supporters of the Merseyside club vented their anger towards the Spaniard as well as the board after their 4-1 defeat at home to Liverpool in midweek, and Benitez is now under pressure following a run of eight matches in the Premier League without a win.

Now, the board could turn to Mourinho should they wish to pull the plug on his reign.

Of course, Mourinho’s success in English football, in where he has won the top-flight title three times with Chelsea, is a factor as to why the board are looking at him as a potential successor, but he has tailored off in recent years, having left both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United midway through the season outside of the UEFA Champions League spots.

Toffees supporters may not be a fan of his pragmatic approach to games either, and so it is understandable to see why a fair few fumed when they read the news.

Everton fans on Mourinho news

These Blues fumed as the manager news was shared on Twitter:

“Rather liquidate”

Credit: @mcnallyc95

“This is worse then Benitez.”

Credit: @thomas41448377

“From one mess to another. This is an an awful idea”

Credit: @toffee5000

“This is comical”

Credit: @Andy25787904

“And this is why they’re clueless.”

Credit: @glioriginali_

“Another dinosaur, no thank you”

Credit: @ToffeeTosh1878

In other news, find out what manager news has Evertonians talking here!

John Lyon, the former Lancashire wicket keeper, died in South Africa over the Christmas holidays.

Cricinfo staff04-Jan-2010John Lyon, the former Lancashire wicket keeper, died in South Africa over the Christmas holidays. He was 58.Lyon played 84 matches for Lancashire between 1973 and 1979, initially as a replacement for Farokh Engineer before becoming the first choice for his last three seasons, taking 159 catches and making 12 stumpings. Although he was a limited lower-order batsman, he did score a first-class hundred against Warwickshire in 1979 along with Bob Ratcliffe, who also made his only first-class century.Lyon then had a marked impact on Irish cricket, initially with Bangor and then Clontarf where he proved highly successful as a coach.He subsequently emigrated to South Africa where he ran a sports bar while continuing to coach.

Sussex were five wickets away from a fifth successive win after Andrew Hodd led a stirring third-day fightback in their Division Two clash with Middlesex at Hove

07-May-2010
ScorecardSussex were five wickets away from a fifth successive win after Andrew Hodd led a stirring third-day fightback in their Division Two clash with Middlesex at Hove.The leaders looked up against it when they lost the England wicketkeeper, Matt Prior, in the second over of the day, to effectively leave them 39 for 5. But Sussex rallied, led by Hodd’s fourth career century and a career-best 46 not out from Monty Panesar, as their last five wickets added 203.That left Middlesex needing 243 for their first win of the season. However, another brittle performance from the top-order left them struggling at 122 for 5 at the close – still needing 121 runs to win.Corey Collymore started the rot when he trapped Scott Newman (5) lbw offering no shot, and then bowled Owais Shah (4) via an inside-edge with the new ball. The real damage was done, however, by allrounder Robin Martin-Jenkins who picked up three wickets in 14 balls including England captain Andrew Strauss for 23.Strauss, desperate for some runs with the first Test against Bangladesh less than three weeks away, was beginning to look the part when he was trapped on the crease in Martin-Jenkins’ first over. Strauss has scored one fifty in 10 championship innings this season.Martin-Jenkins followed that by bowling Neil Dexter (8) who fatally played back to one angled into him before John Simpson (0) nicked to Prior, having already survived an lbw shout and edged just short of secondslip earlier in the same over.Dawid Malan held his side together with an aggressive unbeaten half-centurywhich has already included 10 fours and will resume tomorrow on 56, having so far added 44 with Gareth Berg (10 not out) for the sixth wicket.If the second half of the day belonged to Martin-Jenkins, he would recognise that his side were only able to press for victory thanks to Hodd’s 109 and the support he received from the tail.Prior, who made an unbeaten 123 in the first innings, appeared to be their best hope but he added just a single to his overnight 48 when he hooked Iain O’Brien’s first ball of the day to the fielder at deep midwicket. Martin-Jenkins shouldered arms to Tim Murtagh but James Anyon helped turn the tide in a seventh-wicket stand of 65 for the seventh wicket.Murtagh returned to pick up Anyon (19) and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (1) insuccessive overs, at which point Sussex’s lead was 144, but the busy Hodd and Panesar were soon taking the attack back to Middlesex with some enterprising strokeplay.Hodd’s hundred came off 161 balls with 10 boundaries and he passed 1,500first-class runs in the process. He added another nine runs before O’Brienreturned to pin him with the second new ball but Panesar and last man Collymore added to Middlesex’s frustration.Panesar was dropped at third slip on 35 and made the most of his reprieve to reach his career-best 46 not out in just under two hours with five fours. Just when it looked as if Panesar might celebrate a maiden fifty Collymore (13), who had helped him add 33 for the last wicket, became the 15th lbw victim of the match, trapped by Pedro Collins.

United States men's national team boss Gregg Berhalter has revealed he was "very close" to taking the Club America head coach job last summer.

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Berhalter guests on Lalas' podcastReveals he almost joined Club AmericaWas instead re-hired as USMNT bossWHAT HAPPENED?

On Alexi Lalas's podcast, where the ex-U.S. international hosted Berhalter as a guest, the USMNT boss revealed that last summer was a state of uncertainty between stints as manager. At the end of 2022, a scandal involving the Reyna family resulted in a months-long investigation into a 1992 Domestic Violence incident.

The subsequent investigation found that Berhalter was both honest and forthcoming around what happened and owned his actions. The investigation concluded that he would be available as a candidate for the USMNT job once again, and was re-hired in the Summer of 2023.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT BERHALTER SAID

“To me it was about unfinished business,” Berhalter said. “So when this opportunity [the USMNT job] came, it was something that I felt very strongly about. But in terms of Club America, it was very close. One thing I could say is it’s a really professional club, high-level club, an exciting club and [there are] really good people there. For me, it was a really good opportunity.”

The USMNT boss elaborated that the "pressure" of the job in Mexico is what enticed him, explaining: “When I was in discussions with Club America, it was really exciting to be playing under that pressure, coaching under that pressure every single week, because it’s very volatile there and it forces you as a player to really push and to be focused on performing at a really high level every game.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Berhalter was reinstated as USMNT boss and the group has since come together to qualify for the Concacaf Nations League semifinals this March and this summer's Copa America. The biggest tests of his managerial career await him, and they're both coming up fast.

It feels as thought it's win-or-nothing this March, whereas Copa America will be a true test for the 50-year-old and his squad. If they can manage to find themselves in a semifinal match this summer, it will likely be looked at as positive growth for the group.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BERHALTER AND THE USMNT?

The squad has a Concacaf Nations League semifinal against Jamaica this March to focus up on before this summer's Copa America. If they defeat the Reggae Boyz, they're then onto the final for a chance at their first trophy of 2024.

Manoj Tiwary speaks about how he stayed motivated during a long spell on the bench

Abhishek Purohit in Pallekele06-Aug-2012No one expected Manoj Tiwary to walk in for the pre-match press conference ahead of the solitary Twenty20 international. Once he arrived, it was to be expected that he would be asked more questions about how he handled his long spell on the bench than about tomorrow’s game. Tiwary did not disappoint. He spoke frankly but not bitterly, clearly but not with hurt. He spoke about how difficult a time it was, how he had kept himself motivated by watching videos of other sportspersons, and how, on getting two chances after 14 games, he had made them count with a half-century in the fifth ODI.”It was not very easy when I got an opportunity to play after sitting out for so many days,” Tiwary said. “My focus was on how I can improve my game during practice sessions and be ready since I knew that someday I will get a chance to play. The effort was to maintain a good mindset. It is not always easy [to do that].”Tiwary used the word “mindset” a lot, saying that his focus was on being in the proper frame of mind. He could have easily lost his confidence after being ignored in favour of Rohit Sharma, despite the latter’s lack of runs, despite the former’s century in his previous ODI before this series.”Those who play in the first XI get more practice during the practice sessions so at that time it is a bit difficult to maintain your mindset,” Tiwary said, and got a surprised stare from the team’s media manager, as if he had let out a state secret. “It is important to be ready because these days the competition is so much that the moment you get an opportunity you have to grab it. I used to always focus on maintaining the right frame of mind and not lose my self-confidence and self-belief during that process. That was the preparation and the self-belief that helped me perform.”Whenever I think about all these things like not playing, not getting an opportunity despite scoring a hundred I just analyse myself [and] as the days pass by you tend to improve mentally and you get experienced. When you look around, when you travel with the Indian team, sit with them, when you follow so much of cricket with so many things happening in front of you, you know how to deal with situations each day.”Tiwary had to keep himself motivated through each day of practice, through each day spent travelling around the globe without knowing when he would get a game. “My family has been supportive of me and my coach and some friends as well. I watch a lot of motivational videos from all sports and by looking at them I do get pumped up at times and it keeps my mind in the right frame. I always wanted to contribute to the team in the way other athletes around the world have in tough situations.”When the opportunity finally came, he found himself walking into tough situations as well. India were 60 for 3 and 87 for 3 when Tiwary came in, and on both occasions, he did not let the innings meander, making 21 off 38 and 65 off 68. He could not have been faulted had he batted for his place in the XI, but, to his credit, he didn’t.”The mindset was to stay positive. When a player is playing after a long time there is pressure to perform and plus the situation on the ground and the conditions [have to be taken into account] so you have to build the innings accordingly. I had it at the back of my mind that no matter what, I have to play according to the situation and if I get out while playing positively then no problem. The team and its requirement come first.”

These are the six performances that have made the ESPNcricinfo awards shortlist for the Twenty20 batting and bowling performances of 2009

Cricinfo staff19-Feb-2010The year 2009 featured the ICC World Twenty20 in England, and with teams fielding their best available sides it is no surprise that five of the six nominations for best batting and bowling in the format for the year are performances from that tournament. Unlike cricket’s two other international variations, Twenty20 offers a greater potential for surprise; Australia have not been the best contenders in the shortest format, and three out of the six nominations have them at the receiving end. Pakistan, after distinguishing themselves in Twenty20 cricket by winning the global tournament, have three nominations.Australia were knocked out early in the World Twenty20, and Chris Gayle, who is among the three shortlisted for batting performances, shared a bulk of the responsibility, smashing a blistering 88 including two monstrous sixes off Brett Lee at The Oval to inflict a dispiriting defeat. But West Indies were unable to overcome Tillakaratne Dilshan in the semi-final, as he smote an unbeaten 96, the highest score in the competition, to post what proved an adequate 158. His trademark ramp shot was yet another example of the innovations wrought by Twenty20 cricket. In the other semi-final, against South Africa, Shahid Afridi chipped in with a match-winning display, scoring a 34-ball 51 to help Pakistan recover to a competitive total after a shaky start, and bagged two wickets to seal their place in the final which they went on to win.Umar Gul leads the bowling nominations with two entries, one from the World Twenty20. He finished with an extraordinary 5 for 6 against New Zealand at The Oval, leaving the batsmen clueless with his swing and accuracy to shut them out for 99. Daniel Vettori said he had “never seen someone reverse the ball after 12 overs”. Australia failed to measure up to Gul, as he grabbed 4 for 8 in Dubai to dismiss the opposition for 108 after they had started on a promising note. And finally, Ajantha Mendis, who, like he had done against India in a Test series, cut through Australia’s line-up, which was facing him for the first time. He picked up 3 for 20 to restrict them to 159, which Sri Lanka overhauled.The top three in each category were drawn on basis of votes from a 14-member jury that includes some of the leading cricket experts in the world and Cricinfo’s senior editors.A departure from the usual year-end awards looking at overall performances, ESPNCricinfo’s honours are in two categories: a jury-based award looking at the year’s best batting and bowling performances and a stats-based award using numbers from Cricinfo’s extensive database. The winners for all the awards will be announced on February 19.

Jurgen Klopp slammed the Anfield atmosphere during Liverpool's 5-1 victory over West Ham United in the Carabao Cup.

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Liverpool cruised past West Ham 5-1Sailed into Carabao Cup last fourYet Anfield failed to bring out their bestWHAT HAPPENED?

Despite leading 1-0 at half-time with a stunning goal from Dominik Szoboszlai, Klopp felt that the excitement in the stands was lacking. Liverpool eventually secured a comfortable win over the Hammers with Curtis Jones, Cody Gakpo, and Mohamed Salah finding the net after the break.

AdvertisementWHAT JURGEN KLOPP SAID

Speaking to reporters, Klopp said: "I thought in the first half when the boys played really exceptionally, I was not overly happy with the atmosphere behind me. I asked people what do they want? We changed a lot of things and we dominated West Ham like crazy and missed chances. If I was in the stands I would be on my toes, 1,000 per cent. I don’t know, if the Man United game was that bad that we have to say sorry we didn’t smash them?

"If it is too much football in December, if you are not in the right shape, give your ticket to somebody else. It was just not the excitement I felt. There were so many good performances but we were only 1-0 up.”

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Liverpool are set to host Arsenal in a blockbuster top-of-the-table Premier League clash on Saturday and Klopp kept no stone unturned to rally the Reds faithful ahead of the crucial fixture.

“We need Anfield on Saturday," he said.

"Arsenal didn’t play this week. They’ve prepared for this game and anyone who knows anything about them knows they will be prepared. So we need Anfield on their toes from the first second, without me having an argument with the opposition coach."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Gary Neville also criticised the Anfield atmosphere after the 0-0 draw against Manchester United and labelled it "the worst I've seen ever for a Liverpool-Manchester United game."

The Reds expect to make significant signings ahead of next season, but who could be on their way out of Anfield?

Change will be in the air at Anfield this summer, and rightly so. This, unquestionably, is the end of an era at Liverpool, with on-field struggles this season matched by off-field uncertainty.

The club is up for sale, the sporting director is leaving, a new stand is opening and a new team needs to be built, with contracts expiring, key players ageing and Jurgen Klopp’s midfield options, in particular, in need of serious reinforcement. 

Klopp has already hinted that an overhaul is likely to take place. Jude Bellingham is the Reds’ No.1 transfer target, with the likes of Matheus Nunes and Teun Koopmeiners also linked. A summer of spending is anticipated, regardless of whether Liverpool qualify for next season’s Champions League.

It is likely to be busy in terms of outgoings, too, with several players expected to leave the club.

Here, GOAL looks at those who could be heading for the Anfield exit door…

GettyAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s six-year stay on Merseyside is set to end this summer when his contract expires. 

The former England international has failed to hold down a regular starting spot in recent years, but has offered a useful squad option for Klopp, playing on the wing or in midfield. 

But at 29 – he will turn 30 in August – Oxlade-Chamberlain’s time at Anfield is up. He will not be offered a new deal, and has already been linked with a move to various Premier League clubs, including West Ham and Southampton. 

Likelihood of leaving? 10/10

AdvertisementGettyNaby Keita

Another player out of contract at the end of this season, Keita has found himself back in favour of late, starting each of the Reds’ last three matches and helping improve a midfield that had struggled badly beforehand.

The Guinea international’s injury record, though, means any optimism surrounding his form must be tempered, and the fact there has been no breakthrough in talks over a new deal does not bode well. A number of German clubs have expressed interest in signing the 27-year-old.

Likelihood of leaving? 8/10

Getty ImagesRoberto Firmino

If Klopp gets his way, Firmino will be staying around. The Brazilian will be a free agent in June, but his manager is eager for him to extend his contract for at least another year, believing he still has an important role to play.

As yet, though, there has been no resolution. Firmino is understood to be open to the idea of remaining on Merseyside, but is expected to receive lucrative offers from elsewhere, and the January arrival of Cody Gakpo hardly bodes well for his future prospects.

Likelihood of leaving? 5/10

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Getty ImagesJames Milner

The last of Liverpool’s out-of-contract quartet, Milner had been expected to leave the club last summer, only to sign a one-year extension in June. 

A repeat this time around cannot be ruled out – Klopp hinted as much recently – but at 37, the vice-captain certainly does not represent the long-term, and with the Reds set to bring in at least two senior midfielders, and probably more, the time might be right for Milner to move on. 

If he does, he has more than played his part in a wonderful era on Merseyside.

Likelihood of leaving? 7/10

The Blancos, amid a testing 2017-18 campaign, are expected to overhaul their squad in the summer and will have a sizeable budget at their disposal

Galacticos of 2018?

Real Madrid are expected to spend big this summer, with a forgettable domestic campaign highlighting the flaws in a squad that swept to a La Liga and Champions League double in 2016-17. Reports suggest that the Blancos could invest as much as €600 million in fresh faces, with high-profile sales – such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Keylor Navas – helping to counter a sizable outlay and ensure the club adheres to Financial Fair Play regulations. Who, though, is on their shopping list as the next ‘Galactico’ recruitment drive at Santiago Bernabeu is pieced together?

AdvertisementGettyDavid de Gea: €130m

The Manchester United goalkeeper has been a longstanding target, with a deal almost done in the summer of 2015 only for a now-infamous fax delay to scupper a return to Spain for the former Atletico Madrid custodian.

De Gea has said of his Old Trafford future: “I don't think it's the time to start talking about the future, it's not the time to be talking contracts. Being a player and a part of this club is special, so when you get to wear the shirt, you go to away games, that's something you are always proud of and is very special.”

Getty ImagesThibaut Courtois: €100m

Amid the struggles to get an agreement in place for De Gea, Chelsea’s current number one has emerged as a possible alternative – with the former Atletico loanee having made no secret of his desire to return to Spain.

Courtois has said: “Yes, my heart is in Madrid. It is logical and understandable. If they [Real] want me, they have to contact Chelsea. We'll see. But they have not done that. What is certain is that one day I will return to Madrid.”

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Getty ImagesToby Alderweireld: €30m

Another man to have once graced the books at Real’s cross-city rivals Atletico, the Tottenham defender is now considered a realistic target as he is yet to commit to fresh terms in England and has a release clause set to kick in from 2019 if no extension is agreed.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has said of the Belgian centre-half: “Toby still has two-and-a-half years of contract. Messi was six months left on his contract. Messi! If something happens, the club is going to communicate.”