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Kaide Gordon and Ben Doak of Liverpool during a training session at the Lincoln Financial Field on July 29, 2024 (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool are gearing up for their Premier League return when they host Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

After the postponement of last Saturday's Merseyside derby with Everton, the visit of the Cottagers will be the Reds' first domestic commitment for 10 days as they aim to bounce back from a 3-3 draw with Newcastle on December 4.

Arne Slot will be speaking to the media on Friday morning to preview that game before a trip to Southampton next week for the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.



Ahead of the weekend's action, the ECHO brings you all the titbits from around Anfield in our weekly Liverpool Notebook.

Japan on the agenda

Liverpool are weighing up a visit to Japan and Hong Kong as part of a summer tour of Asia before the start of the 25/26 campaign.

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The Reds haven't visited Japan since the 2005 Club World Cup when Rafa Benitez's Champions League holders were beaten by Brazil side Sao Paulo, but it is understood that a pre-season tour of the region is firmly on the agenda for Arne Slot's second summer as head coach.

Liverpool's ties with the country have grown in the last year or so having signed the captain of the national side in Wataru Endo from Stuttgart back in August 2023 before a deal was agreed with Japan Airlines in June of this year.

The ECHO understands that talks have been ongoing since at least September and the commercial agreement with Japan Airlines could see the club's first-ever airline partner use one of their jets for the long-haul journey.

Liverpool have a huge fanbase in Asia and visited Thailand and Singapore in successive summers of 2022 and 2023 but their most recent trip to Hong Kong was back in 2017.

As part of the multi-year deal, which was made public on June 25, Japan Airlines were given naming rights to one of Anfield's main executive lounges, while the Tokyo-based company also support the club's official charity, the LFC Foundation, on a number of projects.

The organisation lent their backing to a youth football clinic in Philadelphia back in July with something similar likely to be lined up should Liverpool fly to Japan next year.

Minako Kent, managing director of global marketing at Japan Airlines, said earlier this year: "Japan Airlines and Liverpool FC share a deep commitment to nurturing multinational talent, investing in youth development, and supporting the communities we serve.

"Through our partnership with LFC Foundation, we are excited to expand these efforts and make a lasting positive impact on young people around the world."

It's been stressed that an agreement is not yet close but a trip to Japan in particular would mean further strengthening ties in a potentially lucrative market.

Talks planned for Gordon

Liverpool are planning to hold talks with Norwich City over Kaide Gordon and have not ruled out a recall ahead of another Championship loan move.

The winger has made eight appearances since his transfer deadline day loan switch, which have totalled just 165 minutes.

Gordon has been absent for the last three match-days for the Canaries and was only a stoppage-time substitute for a 2-2 draw at West Brom back on November 23, which was the 20-year-old's most recent outing.

It's understood that there is an expectation at Norwich that Gordon will return to Liverpool but the Reds are yet to make a definitive call either way ahead of further discussions with the Championship side next month.

Liverpool would ideally like Gordon to feature more prominently and may exercise their right to bring back the winger ahead of another move when the window opens at the turn of the year.

However that is just one of the options available as things stand with further talks in the pipeline around a player who became the youngest player to score in the Reds' FA Cup history when he netted against Shrewsbury Town at Anfield nearly three years ago.

Two figures key to Alisson recovery

It was a successful return to action for Alisson Becker on Tuesday night, as he marked his first appearance for over two months with an outstanding performance and clean sheet in a 1-0 win over Girona in the Champions League.

The Brazil international suffered a serious hamstring injury in the 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace back on October 5 and was finally cleared for comeback when he flew to Spain on Monday as part of the travelling squad.

And the Reds were indebted to his enduring excellence as he made a number of eye-catching saves to shut out the hosts and help his team-mates to a sixth straight victory in the revamped European Cup.

It's been a long road back to recovery for Alisson, who utilised the expertise of two men in particular to ensure he came back in peak condition and ready to contribute significantly.

Alisson has worked closely with head of physiotherapy Lee Nobes during the often taxing sessions inside the gym of the club's AXA Training Centre.

The pair collaborated on long sessions to make sure the goalkeeper was ready to return in the best possible shape for such a critically important period of the campaign while Alisson also enlisted the help of doctor Mauren Mansur, who is a Brazil-based specialist in rehabilitation.

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Alisson has worked closely with Dr Mansur over the last couple of years during his injury troubles at Liverpool and once more consulted the physio and his expertise during his convalescence from the problem picked up at Selhurst Park back in early October.

Alisson, meanwhile, used his time out injured to pen new terms with his representation, agreeing a fresh contract with agency Neis World Sports, who have advised the goalkeeper throughout his time as a Liverpool player.


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