Liverpool could be crowned Premier League champions tomorrow. For many weeks the Reds have known first place is all but sewn up, but a Crystal Palace win over Arsenal on Wednesday will rubber stamp what many have known for a long time.
If not, a win over Tottenham Hotspur will do it. Ange Postecoglou’s side were beaten again last night, losing 2-1 to Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest.
In the meantime, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future continues to dominate the agenda. While Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have penned new deals in the last two weeks, Alexander-Arnold’s situation remains unresolved.
An announcement on a move to Real Madrid is expected. It increasingly feels like a case of when, not if that news is confirmed.
Elsewhere, there are fresh reports on Liverpool’s stance on a bid for Alexander Isak, and Dean Huijsen’s future looks increasingly likely to involve the Premier League.
Check out the latest Liverpool news throughout the day.
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Liverpool given Dean Huijsen green light
Liverpool could be given a free run at signing Dean Huijsen this summer, according to journalist David Lynch.
It's suggested that, while Real Madrid would be the Bournemouth defender's preference, the Spanish giant is unlikely to follow up on its interest for the time being.
What's more, Lynch hints that Huijsen's future could be resolved early on in the transfer window, meaning Liverpool may not have to wait too long to find out whether he will be heading to Anfield.
Slot knows Emi Martinez truth
Another mistake from Emi Martinez tonight, with the Aston Villa goalkeeper at fault for his side conceding the opener against Manchester City.
It once again opens up the debate about the best goalkeeper in the world, and any Liverpool fan would tell you it's Alisson Becker.
It's not just the fans though - Arne Slot is in absolutely no doubt that the Brazilian is the best around:
I have had some very good players as a manager but never the best goalkeeper in the world until now.
Howard Webb admits Tarkowski 'error'
PGMOL chief Howard Webb has admitted James Tarkowski should have been sent off for his challenge on Alexis Mac Allister during the Merseyside derby at Anfield.
Speaking on the latest edition of Mic’d Up alongside former Liverpool striker Michael Owen, who also felt the Everton defender should have been dismissed, Webb said:
I agree 100 per cent, it’s a red card challenge. It’s an error by the match officials not to send James Tarkowski off.
We said from the very outset of creating this show we would play situations that are a good use of VAR, but also play the ones where we don’t use it in the right way, and this was one of those examples.
Xavi Simons breaks silence as door open to Liverpool transfer
Xavi Simons isn't ruling out a move away from RB Leipzig this summer, with Liverpool reportedly one of the teams keen on his signature.
According to Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, the Reds and Manchester United are among the sides keen on the Netherlands international, with a departure possible as Leipzig demands $92M.
Speaking about his future, Simons has said:
I’m still a young player, I have many dreams – and the club knows that. But right now, the most important thing for me is to play well in the upcoming games. Then we have the international matches, and after that we’ll sit down and see what happens.
Victor Osimhen blow
Manchester United is pushing ahead with a $54 million deal to sign Victor Osimhen, according to The Mirror, which may cross one potential name off Liverpool's shopping list.
Osimhen looks likely to be on the move in the summer as his loan at Galatasaray comes to an end. With just one year remaining on his contract at Napoli, the Italian club will have to sell him in the next few months or risk losing him for nothing next year.
United is said to be confident it can land the striker for a fee considerably lower than his market value. That could come as a blow to Liverpool, with Osimhen having also been linked with the Reds as they look for a new striker this summer.
At least four signings expected
John Aldridge is predicting a busy summer for Liverpool but said he wants the Reds to retain Harvey Elliott’s services, despite him not starting a league match this season.
“There will be at least four new players coming in this summer — at least four," the former striker wrote in his weekly Liverpool Echo column. "There will be players going out too, 100 per cent, because we balance the books. There will be a lot of money coming in.
“Most of the pundits and supporters have an idea of the players who will go out. I just don’t want to see Harvey go out. I hope he stays. But there will be at least four players who go out and at least four who come in. At least four. And that’s not including the goalkeeper we already know is coming in."
Ex-Everton man on Liverpool radar
Liverpool is interested in signing ex-Everton forward Ademola Lookman this summer, according to reports in Italy. Corriere dello Sport claims Atalanta could be open to offers of around €60 million for the 27-year-old, although Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Newcastle are also said to be monitoring the situation. Lookman will enter the final year of his contract and has scored 18 goals in 36 appearances for Atalanta this season.
Liverpool could avoid additional Nunez fee
Liverpool may opt to avoid starting Darwin Nunez again this season, as it would result in the club owing Benfica a €5m ($6m/£4m) fee. As per Portuguese outlet A Bola, Liverpool has already paid €10m ($12m/£9m) in add-ons from his 2022 transfer, but will be obliged to pay further sums if he starts one more game in the Premier League or Champions League. Given Nunez is expected to leave this summer and there’s nothing riding on Liverpool’s final five games of the season, it’s unlikely he’ll start again for the Reds.
Results round-up
In case you missed it yesterday, Tottenham lost 2-1 to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, a result that boosts the latter’s Champions League hopes. Meanwhile, Aston Villa travels to Manchester City today in another match that will have ramifications for the top-five race.
Elsewhere, wins for Leeds United and Burnley yesterday secured their returns to the Premier League. They’ll both be at Anfield next season, with another side set to earn promotion via the Championship playoffs next month.
Cunha move looks unlikely
Manchester United is “inching closer to agreement” with Matheus Cunha over a move from Real Madrid. The Daily Mail states the Red Devils haven’t yet activated Cunha’s £62.5million ($83.6M) release clause but the player is set to form a huge part of the club’s summer rebuild under Ruben Amorim. Liverpool has previously been linked with a move for the Wolverhampton Wanderers forward.
Huijsen latest
Real Madrid is reportedly set to drop out of the race to sign Dean Huijsen this summer, leaving the door open for the defender to make a move to Liverpool.
Speaking on GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast, Fabrizio Romano said: “I’m hearing that internally at Real Madrid, they have still not decided whether they want to sign a center-back or not in the summer, how much they want to spend.
“They have Raul Asencio at the club, who is doing very well. So that’s why Real Madrid are not so convinced, not about Huijsen, but about signing a new centre-back in the summer. And this is why the timing is helping the English clubs.
“So Liverpool will be there, Arsenal will be there, and Chelsea will be there. The release clause is £50million ($67M), so the negotiation is on player side, basically. And I’m sure that all these three clubs will push and push again in the next days, weeks, to try to reach an agreement with Dean Huijsen and his camp.”
Alexander Isak decision
Liverpool will bid for Alexander Isak this summer, but only if Newcastle United’s asking drops below the $199 million (£150M) mark.
Transfer journalist Ben Jacobs has told GiveMeSport's Market Madness show that the Reds are not in a position to match that fee and, with the Magpies likely to qualify for next season's Champions League, there is no need for the club to see its star man.
Therefore, Liverpool is to be considering alternatives and "loves" Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro.
Alexander-Arnold lates
Van Dijk also discussed the future of his teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, after he scored the winner against Leicester City on Sunday.
“Whatever may happen in the future for him, that's something that he has to resolve with himself and the family,” the Liverpool skipper told reporters at the King Power Stadium. “Since I've joined the club, he has been a fantastic, fantastic player.
“There's a lot of good things that he will always be remembered for if he decides to leave. But listen, at this point we don't know as a group what's going to happen. I think he was under a lot of pressure already so there’s no point for me to put him on the spot. The full focus was for him to get back to full fitness and be important for the remaining games of the season. And he showed today that he was so now it's on to the next.”
Squad plans
Virgil van Dijk has confirmed the team plans to watch the Arsenal match together as a group, which evokes memories of the 2020 title win when the Reds watched Manchester City slip up at Chelsea.
“I expect Arsenal to win at home,” Van Dijk said. “But yeah, if it doesn't happen then I think it would be nice to be together. However that may look, we will discuss in the next couple of days. But if Arsenal just win that game, what they probably expect they will do against a very good Crystal Palace, then we have to do our job at the weekend.
“It doesn't really matter to me [when it happens]. I want to be champions of England and let the dream come true. I would love to lift the cup with the club I love so much. If it doesn't happen on Wednesday then we have the opportunity to do it on Sunday in front of our own fans at a red Anfield. It will be special, that is for sure.”
Just one more day (potentially)
The start of a new day means the Reds are (possibly) less than 48 hours away from being crowned Premier League champions. A win for Crystal Palace over Arsenal tomorrow will mean the Reds have mathmatically secured top spot.
