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Hello and welcome to my column with Empire of the Kop! You can read about all the latest updates around Liverpool Football Club and its forays into the transfer market right here, every week, with EOTK Insider. Thanks for giving this a read and let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Today’s top stories:

• What life without Ruben Amorim might look like…
• Could Niko Kovac be the next Liverpool manager?
• And further updates on Luis Diaz, Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez and more!

Crystal Palace review

There were a couple of familiar themes at play again against Crystal Palace. A slow start and wastefulness cost Liverpool, the latter in the second half in particular! It is strange, isn’t it, because I don’t think Liverpool played well, and even if they’d come away from the game with a 2-1 win, I would have said, ‘Wow, that was a tough one, they sort of got away with one a little bit,’ or ‘they’ve had to dig deep for that one’. They still created a lot of chances. I saw an Instagram post this morning of two side-by-sides of Curtis Jones clean through and Diogo Jota on the six-yard box – how neither of those ended up in the net is beyond me! Then there’s the Mo Salah one at the end where you’re thinking, ‘That has to be a goal!’ Nunez had one earlier in the second-half as well, so there were four great, real chances in a match that, on another day, you might have ended up taking all four or two or three. At the same time, I think Liverpool were the architects of their own downfall.

I did some research and found that Liverpool have gone 1-0 down 15 times in the first 25 minutes of a game this season. Whilst we can always somewhat rely on Liverpool’s resilience and ability to figure games out, go in at half-time and make subs, and eventually win the game, the more times you go to the well, of course, the more you’re increasing the chance that one day the well will run dry. It looked like it might have run dry in the second-half against Manchester United, it looked like it ran dry against Atalanta on Thursday in the Europa League, and again on Sunday. It depends on your viewpoint, but the only saving grace is what happened to Arsenal on Sunday, or whether it makes you feel even worse about Liverpool’s result. When you look now, Liverpool had a chance to take complete control of the Premier League on Sunday in a home game against a team in the bottom half of the table. There will be a lot of regrets waking up on Monday morning but also a lot of resignation, not just amongst the fans, but I think a few of the players might feel that was the chance missed and there won’t be another one.

The emotional drain of having to be on a knife edge so often is an important factor. You look at all the great moments Liverpool have experienced this season and they have been knife-edge moments, haven’t they? You look at the Carabao Cup final victory, the great late win against Nottingham Forest and the roaring comeback at Newcastle. They’ve all been when Liverpool have been right up against it. It says a lot about the team’s resilience, character and quality that they’ve been able to do this so regularly. But when you get to this stage of the season, you want as quiet a life as possible; you want routine, you want the kind of result you see Manchester City get over Luton Town (5-1) on Saturday, where you have to exert yourself but not absolutely drain yourself physically, technically and emotionally. We know, of course, that Liverpool aren’t really that kind of team, but when they were for that period in 2019, that’s when they steamrolled the league, when they became that game-winning machine. What they’ve been this season is really, really rugged and resilient, not to mention consistently able to dig out these results.

Another thing that has to be mentioned, and it’s easy to forget, is the reality of this Liverpool side being a very new team. There are a lot of players here who are experiencing this for the first time – and not just the ones signed last summer! You look at the younger players that have come into the side and were around the great Liverpool sides under Jurgen Klopp but weren’t front and centre at the time. There are also those who haven’t been involved in a Premier League title challenge on an active basis like Darwin Nunez, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, Conor Bradley and the like. There’s a great deal of newness around this – and it’s not just those players who may have underperformed; you look at the experienced players like Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate who have had a couple of poor games. All this adds up to Liverpool potentially coming up short.

There was always the danger that they might. I thought there was a chance they could win the league and I was under the impression that if they won at Old Trafford the momentum could maybe carry Liverpool to the title, but there was always a chance Liverpool could come up short. I think a lot of people outside of Liverpool suspected their pedigree wasn’t quite as strong as Manchester City or even Arsenal. That said, there are still six games to go. You look at the league table and think, ‘If Arsenal can beat at home by Aston Villa, Manchester City could lose at Tottenham!’ Arsenal also have to play Tottenham, for what it’s worth, so there is the potential for twists and turns. The one worry that I have now, and the one worry that’s fair to have around Liverpool, is even if the other two slip up, you wonder if Liverpool are going to be faultless. I think they’ll have to be if they’re going to win the league and I’m just not sure whether they’re in the position at this moment in time to win the last six.

End-of-season decisions

There are a couple of big decisions to be made with contracts and Salah’s obviously one of the three that needs to be sorted. I’ve been on record as saying I would let him see out his contract and take out another year, but I don’t think Liverpool will. There’s obviously Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract and I personally expect that to be sorted. I also expect Virgil van Dijk to get a new contract. In terms of the rest, if you look at the ones who aren’t coming to the end of their contract or who are in the mid-peak age, if you like, in their early to mid-20s – there are some decisions to be made here. Obviously, Luis Diaz has been linked with a move away from Liverpool quite recently and there was some talk about his contract. You make a case either way here; you could say a great offer would be too good to turn down and you could get a player comparable or at least as good or better than Diaz, or you can make the case that he’s been really good for Liverpool and carried them through a tough period of the season and he deserves to be treated as a star. That depends on your preference.

I think a lot of people might have a similar opinion about Darwin Nunez. I’m personally a big fan of his, but I suspect a number of people might get to a point where they think after two seasons, ‘Do we need to be brutal? Or does the team need to change in the way it’s set up to really get the best out of him?’ The centre-back position is definitely an area that needs another body, regardless of who the next manager is. Though, if the next manager plays with three centre-backs then, of course, that adds to it! I still think you’re in the same position with Ibou Konate when you signed him where, though he’s a really good player with serious potential, he misses too many games and you spend a lot of the season having to compensate for his absence.

I think all of the signings brought in last summer were brought in for the long-term, but there will be some who look at Ryan Gravenberch and want to see a lot more from him. What would happen if a bid came in for him? For me, there are no obvious ones where they’re flashing red on the dashboard, but there are a lot of ones you look at and wonder what might happen if £50m was slapped on the table for them. There are a few players at Liverpool at the moment where if £50m was on the table, there would be a split in terms of what you’d do with them, whether you’d sell or keep.

Ruben Amorim

I think Ruben Amorim has been very sensible in his comments to the press. They’re on the brink of winning the league, with a cup final also coming up. I think he’s in a position where he doesn’t want any further distractions. He’s already made it clear that he doesn’t want to engage in further talk over his future between now and the end of the season. That’s perfectly fair! We’ve spoken before about managers and who might succeed Jurgen Klopp, but it’s very easy to forget about the club or the fans that manager represents. They have to be fair to them and put them front and centre in this situation. It’s only right that whilst Sporting are in a position where they’ll have the perfect end to the season, he’s not dampening the flames or upsetting the apple cart by saying he’s dreaming of going to Liverpool. You don’t want to take away anything from what has been a magnificent season. There has to be a chance that he does decide he’s happy with his lot with Sporting, but it would be unlikely to me.

He’s a young manager and quite clearly an ambitious manager. You’ve seen some of the interviews he’s given and he’s spoken in the past about aiming high. He knows he’s in demand, doesn’t he? He’s fully aware that it’s not a deep pool of managers at this moment but there are a lot of clubs that are fishing in it. He know he’s going to have at least one good option, maybe more, this summer. I think he probably would leave Sporting this summer, but, like I say, he’s still got a job to do – and so do Liverpool! Sporting are four points clear of Benfica and in a really good position to win a league. I think he’s done the right thing by his club by cutting down those stories and making sure every press conference isn’t dominated by managerial talk.

Niko Kovac links to Liverpool

I saw the headline and it made more sense for his agents who have been sounding out Premier League clubs. That feels like an agent-led story to me. I don’t think Liverpool will be in the running for Niko Kovac. It will be someone with a lot more recent pedigree.

Where would Liverpool go without Amorim?

It would leave Liverpool in an imperfect situation with two of their least imperfect options – in Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim – gone. Whoever Liverpool appoint, it’s going to be a manager where you think, ‘I like this and this about him but there’s always this and there’s this issue’. You’re going to be in that position regardless, even if it is Amorim. What it does is it puts Liverpool in a position where there are probably more of the negative aspects to contend with in terms of any manager they subsequently bring in. Steven Gerrard, Julian Nagelsmann and Ange Postecoglou will probably be on that betting list, but even as I’m listing those options I’m almost mentally crossing them off. It would leave Liverpool with a really tough decision to make – not to suggest they don’t already have one! They have a situation where whoever comes in will have a very, very tough job on their hands. The other fly in the ointment is that there are a few other clubs in Europe, like Bayern Munich and Barcelona, that look like they’ll be searching for another manager. If not now, certainly in another month or two.

The post EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Kovac rumours, what if Amorim stays at Sporting? & more appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool’s Premier League title fate is no longer in their own hands after taking just one point from their last two games, which has given Manchester City the chance to jump above them and lead the way going into the final six matches of the campaign.

The Reds are still only two points behind Pep Guardiola’s side and will go above them with a win at Fulham on Sunday, as the Etihad Stadium outfit are on FA Cup duty against Chelsea next weekend, so all is certainly not lost in the pursuit of domestic glory.

However, the margin for error has now disappeared, and journalist Neil Jones has raised the question as to whether Jurgen Klopp’s team would take advantage of any potential slip-ups by Man City or Arsenal.

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Speaking to EOTK Insider, he said: “There are still six games to go. You look at the league table and think, ‘If Arsenal can [lose] at home by Aston Villa, Manchester City could lose at Tottenham!’ Arsenal also have to play Tottenham, for what it’s worth, so there is the potential for twists and turns.

“The one worry that I have now, and the one worry that’s fair to have around Liverpool, is even if the other two slip up, you wonder if Liverpool are going to be faultless. I think they’ll have to be if they’re going to win the league and I’m just not sure whether they’re in the position at this moment in time to win the last six.”

READ MORE: ‘Expect that to be sorted…’ – Neil Jones allays Liverpool fans’ worries over Anfield duo

READ MORE: (Video) David Ornstein claims Liverpool could ‘think outside of the obvious’ in manager search

Despite the recent slump which has seen us go three games without a win for the first time all season, Liverpool are definitely not out of the Premier League title race just yet.

However, Jones is right in saying that the Reds simply can’t afford to drop any more points in the run-in, especially if either of both of Man City and Arsenal were to stumble.

If we win our six remaining matches and still fall short, similar to how we ended the 2018/19 campaign, it’ll leave a tinge of regret but at least it’d come with the recognition that we couldn’t have done any more during those half-dozen fixtures.

On the other hand, if our title rivals slip up but we fail to take advantage and end up missing out by a point in the final reckoning, that’d be far more difficult to bear, knowing that the opportunity was there to pounce and it went begging.

Liverpool will almost certainly need six wins out of six from hereon, and the Reds should only concern themselves with taking care of their own business. So long as Klopp’s team do their bit, there’s a chance that we might leapfrog City yet.

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Niko Kovac rumours, what if Amorim stays at Sporting? Summer contract calls, Crystal Palace review and much more!

The post ‘The one worry…’ – Journalist cites big Liverpool doubt which could scupper Reds’ title hopes appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Neil Jones has sought to allay Liverpool fans’ fears over the futures of two crucial first-team players at Anfield.

As things stand, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are approaching the final year of their respective contracts with the Reds, which may leave some supporters worried that the duo mightn’t renew terms with the club.

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However, speaking to EOTK Insider, the journalist is confident that it won’t be much longer before the LFC hierarchy will tie down both players for another few years.

Jones stated: “There’s obviously Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract and I personally expect that to be sorted. I also expect Virgil van Dijk to get a new contract.”

READ MORE: (Video) David Ornstein claims Liverpool could ‘think outside of the obvious’ in manager search

READ MORE: ‘Needs another body’ – Neil Jones insists Liverpool must strengthen in one position this summer

With Jurgen Klopp leaving in a few weeks’ time and speculation arising once more over Mo Salah’s future (his current deal also expires in June 2025), Liverpool could be at risk of facing into a period of alarming uncertainty.

We still don’t know who’ll be taking over from the German as the Reds’ next manager, and that process could be delaying the contract situations regarding Trent and Van Dijk.

It’s understandable that players might want to hold out until the managerial situation is sorted before committing their futures to a club, especially in the Dutchman’s instance as he turns 33 in July.

However, the duo’s status as captain and vice-captain makes it clear how highly they’re valued at Anfield, and there’s still enough time for them to assess their respective futures before the clock truly begins to tick on their existing deals.

Like Jones, we’ve every confidence that both Trent and Van Dijk will pen contract extensions well before the June 2025 expiry date, thus ensuring that Liverpool keep hold of two of their most integral players for another few years.

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Niko Kovac rumours, what if Amorim stays at Sporting? Summer contract calls, Crystal Palace review and much more!

The post ‘Expect that to be sorted…’ – Neil Jones allays Liverpool fans’ worries over Anfield duo appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Neil Jones is adamant that Liverpool need to strengthen one area of their squad with at least one new signing in the summer.

A period of significant change is approaching at Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp soon stepping aside as manager (and his replacement as yet unknown) and Richard Hughes set to oversee his first transfer window as the club’s new sporting director.

Speaking to EOTK Insider, the journalist believes that those in power on Merseyside must treat the arrival of at least one central defender as a priority during the off-season, and possibly more depending on the preferred formation of the German’s successor.

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Jones stated: “The centre-back position is definitely an area that needs another body, regardless of who the next manager is. Though, if the next manager plays with three centre-backs then, of course, that adds to it!

“I still think you’re in the same position with Ibou Konate when you signed him where, though he’s a really good player with serious potential, he misses too many games and you spend a lot of the season having to compensate for his absence.”

READ MORE: ‘Feels like an agent-led story’ – Journalist rules out 52y/o as prospective Liverpool manager

READ MORE: Liverpool unlikely to block player’s exit if he wishes to leave this summer amid Premier League interest

Even with Joel Matip sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury and likely to depart in the summer once his contract expires, Liverpool still have four senior centre-backs who’ve proven capable of excelling at a high level.

Virgil van Dijk is one of the world’s best players in his position, although Jarell Quansah is still young, Joe Gomez is often required to deputise at full-back if needed, and as Jones mentioned, Konate is simply too injury-prone.

Ruben Amorim is the current frontrunner to replace Klopp as manager, and he’s deployed a three-man defence throughout his time at Sporting Lisbon, so there’s a strong chance that he’d seek to implement the same formation if he takes over at Anfield.

That’d leave Liverpool at risk of being threadbare when it comes to centre-back options and would duly see that position shoot up the priority list for the summer transfer window.

Even if the 39-year-old opts to go with just two starting central defenders, or if somebody else is appointed as manager, the Reds could do with adding to their ranks in that part of the squad during the off-season, particuarly if Matip departs as expected.

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Niko Kovac rumours, what if Amorim stays at Sporting? Summer contract calls, Crystal Palace review and much more!

The post ‘Needs another body’ – Neil Jones insists Liverpool must strengthen in one position this summer appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Neil Jones has dismissed rumours surrounding one manager who’s recently been touted as a possible candidate for Liverpool.

Over the weekend, the Daily Mail claimed that Niko Kovac has come into contention to replace Jurgen Klopp, with the 52-year-old’s agents believed to have spoken with a few Premier League clubs during a recent visit to London.

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However, speaking to EOTK Insider, the journalist doesn’t think that the former Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg boss is a credible candidate for the upcoming vacancy at Anfield.

Jones said: “I saw the headline and it made more sense for his agents who have been sounding out Premier League clubs. That feels like an agent-led story to me. I don’t think Liverpool will be in the running for Niko Kovac. It will be someone with a lot more recent pedigree.”

READ MORE: Liverpool unlikely to block player’s exit if he wishes to leave this summer amid Premier League interest

READ MORE: (Video) Darren Bent is starting to get tormented by Liverpool player who ‘does so many good things’

Kovac’s name appeared to spring from nowhere when it was first mentioned in tandem with the Liverpool job, and his most recent managerial post wouldn’t offer any great encouragement that he’d be a success at Anfield.

The Croatian was sacked by Wolfsburg last month following a nightmare sequence of just one win in 15 matches, which came away to the Bundesliga’s bottom club Darmstadt in December (Transfermarkt).

He left Die Wölfe 14th in the table at the time of his dismissal, not exactly the kind of placing which’d have clubs of LFC’s stature moving heaven and earth to secure his services.

It’s hard to imagine that Liverpool would have Kovac higher on their list of managerial candidates than Ruben Amorim, who’s currently on course to win a second league title in four years at Sporting Lisbon and has been given a glowing character reference by one of his former players in Fulham’s Joao Palhinha.

We agree with Jones – the rumours surrounding the 52-year-old and the Anfield job appear to be nothing more than his agents putting out feelers ahead of a summer which’ll likely see a frantic merry-go-round of managers in England and across Europe.

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Niko Kovac rumours, what if Amorim stays at Sporting? Summer contract calls, Crystal Palace review and much more!

The post ‘Feels like an agent-led story’ – Journalist rules out 52y/o as prospective Liverpool manager appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool fans could all do with some positive news following the disappointment of a draw at Old Trafford.

Neil Jones has the perfect remedy, sharing details of the Reds’ latest injury boost on X (formerly Twitter). The EOTK Insider columnist relayed a tweet from @LFC showcasing the return of Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Stefan Bajcetic to team training.

Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Jota and Bajčetić are all back training #LFC https://t.co/IqXv7A8jAT

— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) April 9, 2024

The Merseysiders are set to next take on Atalanta in the Europa League before also welcoming Crystal Palace to Anfield this Sunday.

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READ MORE: Another exit: James Pearce shares another Liverpool contract set to end early

READ MORE: ‘Senior club sources’ say: Liverpool insider breaks club’s reaction to Amorim agreement news

Huge boost for Liverpool’s title push

As admirably as the likes of Caoimhin Kelleher and Conor Bradley have performed, there’s no question these are massive returns for Jurgen Klopp.

With only goal difference separating ourselves and Arsenal, in second and first place respectively, such an instant injection of quality could be a difference-maker down the line.

Let’s hope they’re all able to get involved in a jam-packed April of fixtures as soon as possible!

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Could a surprise candidate now replace Klopp? The search after Xabi Alonso, and much more!

The post Neil Jones shares huge news coming out of Liverpool this afternoon appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Neil Jones hasn’t questioned critics’ suggestions that Roberto De Zerbi wouldn’t be a good fit at Liverpool based on Brighton’s league positioning.

The Seagulls find themselves ninth in the Premier League table following a hard-fought 2-1 defeat at Anfield.

“I don’t think it’s fair to judge Roberto De Zerbi on Brighton’s league position. People talk about Brighton having an underwhelming season. They were eighth before the weekend and now find themselves ninth in the league table. Brighton & Hove Albion being eighth is still a very new phenomenon; I don’t think we should get blase about it!” the Covering Liverpool journalist shared in his latest exclusive column with Empire of the Kop.

“‘Oh, Brighton are only eighth in the table, that’s disappointing’ – are you kidding? Brighton weren’t even a Premier League club a few years back. Their progress is still to be admired. Just look at the way they play! Look at how nervous that game was on Sunday.

“They’ve got Arsenal next and I think a lot of people are thinking that’s a chance for Liverpool to make some ground on Arsenal if they don’t beat Brighton. That’s down to where they are as a club and the managers that have come before – but a lot of it is still down to the work De Zerbi has put in and how difficult they are to play against.”

The south coast-based outfit is set to next take on fellow mid-table outfit Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium this evening.

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READ MORE: ‘One of the best’: Neil Jones absolutely amazed by 25-year-old Liverpool player vs Brighton

READ MORE: ‘Have to say’: Liverpool pundit simply in awe of what £37m player has done since Boxing Day revival

Would De Zerbi be open to a move?

There have been suggestions that the Italian head coach is not entirely happy with Brighton’s current ambition levels.

However, how the club could have significantly improved on its league finish of sixth last term after losing both Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister in the summer is beyond us.

De Zerbi’s side have nine league games left to make up a 20-point deficit to last season’s points tally (62).

It’s worth further pointing out that Brighton are only nine points off matching their second-highest points total since their last promotion (51).

Regardless, when a vacancy of the Liverpool job’s calibre comes up, it’s always hard to say no, isn’t it?

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Michael Edwards and a multi-club model, Alonso’s Liverpool-esque moment and much more!

The post ‘Are you kidding?’: Pundit reacts to what’s now being said about Liverpool’s next potential manager appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Neil Jones has credited Alexis Mac Allister with helping raise the ceiling of what Liverpool can achieve this season.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion technician was instrumental in the Reds’ 2-1 victory over his former club at the weekend.

“I think Alexis Mac Allister is becoming one of the best midfielders around,” the Covering Liverpool journalist wrote in his exclusive EOTK Insider column with Empire of the Kop.

“I was talking about this yesterday… you get these players who can take a while to enter peoples’ radars as great players, but then you take a deeper look at their career and there’s this clear correlation between them being in a team and the team being really good.

“Call them a ceiling raiser or a floor lifter – either or! You look at people down the years like Arturo Vidal who are always around successful teams but then you don’t always necessarily associate them with being world-class players, but they are always around world-class teams. Mac Allister is that, isn’t he?

“You look at Brighton emerging as one of the brightest teams in Europe and that was when he was in their midfield, all of a sudden Argentina win the World Cup and he’s in their midfield, and now he’s at Liverpool and they’re top of the league with nine games to go and playing really good football.”

The Merseysiders now find themselves top of the Premier League table by two points over second-placed Arsenal. It follows the Gunners’ stalemate with Manchester City.

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READ MORE: ‘Have to say’: Liverpool pundit simply in awe of what £37m player has done since Boxing Day revival

READ MORE: Liverpool have surprise managerial candidate ‘possibility’ that should intrigue fans

Liverpool’s window tops the lot

It’s hard to immediately think of another English top-flight outfit matching or surpassing our achievement in the summer window.

Given the quality seen out of the door – including skipper Jordan Henderson and ‘lighthouse’ Fabinho – what we’re achieving directly after a disappointing 2022/23 campaign is astounding.

Much of the credit has to go to Julian Ward, of course, for observing the opportunity to land the Argentine international for what now appears a snip at £35m.

From the disappointment of Europa League qualification to the highs of a title challenge.

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Michael Edwards and a multi-club model, Alonso’s Liverpool-esque moment and much more!

The post ‘One of the best’: Neil Jones absolutely amazed by 25-year-old Liverpool player vs Brighton appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Luis Diaz’s form has not gone unnoticed by Neil Jones following a productive 2024 for the Colombian international.

The former GOAL journalist credited the 27-year-old with being a particularly influential presence for Liverpool since their December victory over Burnley.

“He scores goals that you’d want from your forward players. It’s all well and good cutting in and smacking goals in from 25 yards. You might be able to do that once in a blue moon, but it’s the other goals that pay the rent,” the Covering Liverpool reporter shared in his latest EOTK Insider column.

“I thought Diaz was excellent! How unlucky was he to not have another one with that offside decision that was a hair’s breadth at the back post? What an assist that would have been from Salah too!

“I think Diaz, to be fair, has been excellent since coming off the bench on Boxing Day at Burnley and setting up a goal for Diogo Jota. Since then, I feel he’s rediscovered his mojo and he’s kept on getting better.

“If Liverpool do go on to win the league and Europa League, you’ll have to say Luis Diaz has made a huge contribution to that. When they were short of bodies, he certainly stepped up.”

The ex-FC Porto wide man has registered nine goal contributions since the turn of the year (in 16 appearances across all competitions).

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READ MORE: Liverpool have surprise managerial candidate ‘possibility’ that should intrigue fans

READ MORE: Next Liverpool manager: Twist in Klopp replacement hunt as ‘definite’ candidate named

Luis Diaz is a gamechanger for Liverpool

It’s worth pointing out that Jurgen Klopp was without chief goalscorer Mo Salah for a significant chunk of games between mid-January and early March.

In the six league fixtures the Egyptian spent in the treatment room, Diaz registered five goal contributions to help us through a packed schedule.

If there were any doubts over what our January 2022 £37m signing brings to this side and whether he can genuinely impact games when required – they’ve been since firmly dispelled following his return from injury.

Luis is a bona fide game-changer at Anfield and we’re all here for it.

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Michael Edwards and a multi-club model, Alonso’s Liverpool-esque moment and much more!

The post ‘Have to say’: Liverpool pundit simply in awe of what £37m player has done since Boxing Day revival appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Xabi Alonso’s decision to stay put at Bayer Leverkusen for another season could force Liverpool to look in a less obvious direction for their next manager.

The Spanish head coach could lift multiple pieces of silverware this season, with the club currently sitting 13 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table.

“It has to be a possibility that Liverpool do bring in a manager some, or many, weren’t expecting, simply because the pool is so shallow in the sense of the obvious candidates not being there,” Neil Jones wrote in his exclusive EOTK Insider column.

“I’ve said previously even with Alonso that he was the best of a very risk-laden group. Every candidate that has been mentioned come with their own risks attached; be it personality, be it tactics, be it experience, be it recruitment record or associations with other clubs – they all come with a degree of risk. Even the proved ones of the past (like Carlo Ancelotti) would come with a risk if they’re replacing Jurgen Klopp because of how successful he’s been and the relationships he’s enjoyed. It’s very difficult to try and get the perfect fit at this time.

“What you can do is try and get someone with a pretty reliable record and a pretty reliable personality, plus a potential willingness to work within the structure that Liverpool are putting in place. That does lend itself to the idea that they might have someone in mind we haven’t given the time of day to.”

One (potentially) left-of-field option the Merseysiders could pursue this summer is Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi.

The 47-year-old has likewise inspired his outfit to new heights in Italy, with the Nerazzurri 14 points clear at the league summit.

“For instance, I am surprised Simone Inzaghi’s name doesn’t pop up more when talking about the clubs that need new managers, not just Liverpool. You look at Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Chelsea, among others. You see the work Inzaghi has done taking Inter to a Champions League final last year (which they very narrowly lost), romping away with the Serie A title this season and playing some wonderful football as well.”

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READ MORE: Next Liverpool manager: Twist in Klopp replacement hunt as ‘definite’ candidate named

READ MORE: FSG closing in on behind-the-scenes appointment in morning update

Should Liverpool recruit from Italy?

The former Lazio striker’s record with Inter Milan has been particularly exemplary, winning multiple domestic cups since 2021.

Most notably, however, Inzaghi managed to guide his side to a Champions League final in his second season in charge and looks set to secure their first league title since 2020/21.

A quick glance at Inter’s stats indicates that we’d be getting an attacking-minded manager who doesn’t neglect the defensive side of the game.

FootyStats have the Serie A side down as scoring 2.15 goals per game this term (compared to Liverpool’s 2.6) and conceding 0.56 per game (compared to Liverpool’s 1).

Impressive stats that surely must be hitting the mark somewhere on the map of our data analysts.

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Michael Edwards and a multi-club model, Alonso’s Liverpool-esque moment and much more!

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One current Premier League manager has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Liverpool job in the future, although not as Jurgen Klopp’s immediate successor.

The search for the 56-year-old’s replacement is ongoing, with Xabi Alonso the strong favourite ahead of other primary contenders such as Ruben Amorim and Roberto De Zerbi.

Neil Jones was discussing the managerial situation in his latest Daily Briefing column when he cited two names who have ‘strong relationships’ with Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, albeit with the caveat that neither is likely to ‘come into contention’ to follow that duo to Anfield this year.

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The journalist wrote: “Edwards and Hughes also have strong relationships with both Eddie Howe and Gary O’Neil, but I don’t expect either of those two to come into contention for the role this summer.

“If O’Neil were to continue impressing at Wolves, however, then I wouldn’t rule out the idea of him coming onto Liverpool’s radar in the future.”

READ MORE: Liverpool ‘hero’ had teammates queuing to praise him on Instagram after landmark career moment

READ MORE: Neil Jones insists Liverpool ‘would be mad’ to part with ‘world-class performer’ any time soon

Could O’Neil be a viable candidate to become Liverpool manager in a few years’ time?

The 40-year-old already has ties with the Reds, having spent six months as Barry Lewtas’ assistant with the under-23 side during the 2020/21 season before joining Bournemouth and working his way up to the manager’s job at the Vitality Stadium, with Hughes as the south coast club’s technical director.

He took over at the Cherries shortly after they were thrashed 9-0 at Anfield and led them to 15th place, eventually fending off relegation with a degree of comfort, although he was shown the door last summer in favour of Andoni Iraola.

O’Neil then took charge amid chaos at Wolves just five days before their first match of the current Premier League season. Some pundits had the Old Gold as potential candidates for the drop, but the ex-Portsmouth midfielder has them sitting ninth in the table and with a genuine chance of European qualification.

Having yet to complete a full campaign as a manager, it’s too soon to talk of him taking over at Liverpool, especially as the immediate successor to someone with the aura and success of Klopp, who’ll be an incredibly hard act to follow.

However, if the 40-year-old continues to work wonders over the next few years, who’s to say that he won’t be regarded as a plausible option to be given the main gig at Anfield, especially if Hughes is still at the club?

More power to him for what he’s done at Wolves – except when, for the third time in six years, they provide the Reds’ opposition on the final day of the season in May!

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Michael Edwards and a multi-club model, Alonso’s Liverpool-esque moment and much more!

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Neil Jones has implored Liverpool not to sell one ‘world-class performer’ at Anfield who’s found himself at the centre of recent discussion over his future.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is among the Reds players who’ll be out of contract in June 2025 as things stand, and Real Madrid are believed to be keeping a close watch on that situation, should they decide to pounce (Fabrizio Romano).

In his latest Daily Briefing column, Jones urged the LFC hierarchy to sort out the 25-year-old’s future sooner rather than later, although he thinks it’s ‘highly unlikely’ that the vice-captain will leave this summer.

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The journalist said of Trent: “He’s such an important player for the Reds, and a symbol of Liverpool as a club too. He is, like Steven Gerrard previously, the homegrown star who represents both the city and the club.

“He’s the vice-captain, and primed to take over from Virgil van Dijk as skipper one day; and on top of that, he’s a world-class performer who makes a huge difference to the team.

“At 25, Liverpool would be mad to consider selling him, and I fully expect that with Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes now in place on the football administration side, a new deal will be finalised.”

READ MORE: ‘Could be one to watch…’ – Romano drops update on 2023 Liverpool target who’s changed agents

READ MORE: (Video) Leverkusen ace already seems to be yearning for Liverpool showdown in Europa League final

When a player approaches the final 12 months of their contract, it’s natural that speculation will abound as to their future, especially when the man in question is someone of Trent’s stature and ability.

Along with Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah, whose current deals also expire in 2025, Liverpool fans will be desperate to have the Scouser tied down before long, so that the Real Madrid rumours will be ‘put to bed’, as Jones phrased it.

Thankfully, even with Jurgen Klopp leaving in May and ongoing uncertainty as to who’ll replace him, the decision to make the 25-year-old vice-captain last summer was a clear indication of how much importance the Reds place on him, and should duly entice him to continue serving his boyhood club.

It’s encouraging that Trent is reportedly ready to commit to LFC for the foreseeable future and hasn’t shown any sign of wanting to leave (Graeme Bailey, HITC), so it could simply be a case of arranging a new contract in line with his expectations.

If Edwards and Hughes can strike fresh terms with Liverpool’s number 66, it’d represent a serious statement of intent and allay any fears among the fan base that the local hero may depart either this year or next.

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Michael Edwards and a multi-club model, Alonso’s Liverpool-esque moment and much more!

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Join Neil Jones for his weekly column with EOTK Insider, exploring all the latest and greatest transfer and news stories around Liverpool Football Club

Today’s top stories:

• What Xabi Alonso accomplished recently screamed of a future Liverpool boss…
• Concerns around a multi-club ownership model…
• And further updates on the title race, Bayer Leverkusen, Michael Edwards and more!

Manchester United review

Similarly to the league game at the Emirates, you could look at the defeat as being a bit self-inflicted. The game was in their hands, wasn’t it? I know United had good chances and could have won it in the 90 minutes with Marcus Rashford’s big chance. Also, when you score four goals, you probably feel that you’ve earned your victory. That said, I do feel that if Liverpool had been closer to their real top level – especially in the final third – they would have won the game relatively comfortably. I think that will have been the frustration.

Virgil van Dijk posted on social media and said we’ve ‘only got ourselves to blame’, didn’t he? That was the feeling I took away from it really. I watched it in a very different setting to normal; I wasn’t in the press box, I wasn’t watching it at home on TV, I was out and about on a weekend away. I think everyone who was watching it around me pretty much took the same thing out of it: Liverpool missed their opportunity to kill that game off, certainly in the second-half.

Not necessarily through missing huge chances in front of goal, it was more failing to create huge chances with breakaway situations and failing to make the most of real big spaces on the pitch. Even in extra-time, you look at Manchester United ending up with Antony playing left-back and Bruno Fernandes playing alongside Harry Maguire at centre-back and you think that should really be ripe for the taking, shouldn’t it? They didn’t do it and paid the price later on with a breakaway goal against them.

I think I’ve come away from it not necessarily feeling it will be too damaging in the long-term or even the short-term, but once this season is over (and we don’t know yet how it will finish), I reckon they would look back at this game and think, ‘Ah, that’s one we really should have taken care of’. As it turns out, they would have been playing Coventry in the semi-final and having a big chance to go to another final. So, I think they will see it as an opportunity missed if not necessarily the biggest game to come in the next few weeks.

I think, maybe, the longer the game goes on tiredness can become a factor. I saw a statistic before the game that noted it was Liverpool’s 18th game of 2024 and Manchester United’s 12th! Obviously, that comes from success and being in Europe. Maybe that becomes a thing as you get to extra-time. Some of Jurgen Klopp’s comments on the matter were fair enough; he said that Liverpool didn’t really have the subs there this time and there were far too many players he probably needed to take off, plus he mentioned three afterwards that had picked up issues during the game. It was clear that Mo Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson couldn’t have done 120 minutes or even 90 minutes perhaps.

I also look at that Sparta Prague game on Thursday and think there were a few players there who did a few minutes longer than I expected them to. Salah, for one, did a full 90 due to circumstances and I just think if you’re going to use fixtures and tiredness and fatigue as an excuse, you maybe paint yourself into a corner by going so strong in a game you’re already 5-1 up in. I still think Liverpool should have taken better care of the game, that’s the flip side of it really! Even allowing for these issues and excuses, if you like, or reasons for Liverpool’s failure – they still should have won and been in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

We’re two days on from the defeat. I think a lot of people are still disappointed and feeling very frustrated because it was at Old Trafford, it was a quarter-final, the draw subsequently, the idea of the quadruple… but I do think Liverpool have earned a bit of leeway to say, ‘That was just one of those games we should have won, didn’t win, move on!’ It’s just a shame it’s almost two weeks until they’re allowed to move on.

Title race

I look at the next three league games and – we all trust Liverpool at Anfield, don’t we? – find myself focusing on the next two against Brighton and Sheffield United, and then leading into Manchester United, and think there’s a chance for Liverpool to put themselves in a real, real strong position. I had a couple of messages off Liverpool fans who I always debrief games with. One of them felt the FA Cup result really gives United a belief now that they can really put the spanner in Liverpool’s season and kill them in two competitions. For me, however, my feeling about this Liverpool team is that it doesn’t make the same mistake twice; it learns from its mistakes, even within games an awful lot of times. You often see this after a bad first-half and Liverpool come out and correct themselves in the second-half. I have a lot of faith in Liverpool that they’ll go with some extra focus or determination to do what they didn’t do at Old Trafford the first time around.

United get a lot of praise and I don’t disagree with it – they did battle hard, some of the players performed really well and they’ve scored four against Liverpool, which isn’t easy to do! Ultimately, they came from behind and showed a lot of character, all of those things. However, they’re not a great side. Manchester United are not a side that you look at and think, ‘When they’re on it – we can’t cope with them’. They’re a side you look at, even when they play well, knowing you can beat them quite comfortably if you play properly. Liverpool know that, even United with the home crowd and their season on the line (even with certain players performing at their level), they had their chances to go and win that game and they should have taken advantage of them. So, for me, I view it more as an opportunity for Liverpool, and a big one, but I think there will be a lot of callbacks to this game when they go and visit United on April 7 to tell them not to let their hosts off the hook, to be more precise with the passing and put their foot on United’s throat. That’s what Liverpool didn’t do on Sunday and it cost them. If it was to cost them in the Premier League – and we are now at the stage where one defeat or draw could prove costly come the end of the season – at Old Trafford, that would be a really tough one to take for the fans, the players and the manager especially.

Michael Edwards’ return

I think when I saw the story reappear after the initial approach, which came just after Jurgen announced he was going to leave, I thought, ‘Oh, that’s a bit strange’. It was sort of dismissed out of hand at the time and I thought they’ve just tried their hand and that’s that, game over. But when the story reappeared about how Liverpool were still hoping to convince Michael Edwards, I did think there was a good chance around this. Definitely, someone wanted this to happen, and usually when someone wants it to happen – it does. I think it’s a good move for Liverpool, it’s good news for the club. In a really difficult summer off the field, it’s a really positive development.

I spoke to a few people at the club last week and they were in agreement that there was the propensity for so much change to mean that a) you need a lot of time to readjust to new ways, people and processes, but also b) the possibility that some of those changes just don’t work and they’re not the right people or fit. I think with Michael Edwards at the helm, FSG have got someone they know they can trust. They know they can trust his judgement, his processes and his contacts. When Edwards says Richard Hughes is the best sporting director for the job – there’s also the story that emerged about Pedro Marques – when he says these are the guys Liverpool need, they can trust that. I think that’s important. The next step will be to trust his judgement and contacts with regards to a new manager. I think it makes it a lot easier to do it than having Mike Gordon take care of the task or having a new sporting director or new head of football coming from outside and having to learn the ropes of English football. I think it’s a lot easier to trust Liverpool’s position now with Michael Edwards at the helm.

Multi-club ownership model

I know that Liverpool have had relationships with clubs in the past. Not necessarily formalised, but certainly good terms; there are strong links with Portugal and I wouldn’t be at all amazed if that was where Liverpool planted their flag. I have to say I don’t like it and I don’t like the direction modern football is heading in with things like this. It does speak to the state of modern football that money is so prevalent in a handful of clubs and leagues. It almost feels like the rest are just subservient to that.

Nonetheless, there is the reality to consider that 1) every club does it, but 2) you would hope that Liverpool do it in a way that doesn’t steal the soul of the club in question by changing their badge, forcing them to play in red and renaming the club. You would hope it’s not that kind of takeover. You have to appreciate the supporters of that club are likely not wanting to be a feeder club for another side – even one of the biggest sides in world football. I do see the dilemma there and, personally, I fall on the idea that I don’t really like multi-club ownership and the whole concept of it, whilst unfortunately accepting that sometimes the devil needs to be danced with.

I can see the benefits for Liverpool clearly. Obviously, Michael Edwards also made it clear that this was the big sell for him to effectively hand over control of another club and, more widely, a stable of clubs. That said, I can see why if you were a traditionalist and a supporter of a club that was going to be taken over by FSG, you would, at the very least, have some concerns over the soul of your team and whether it was the right thing to happen. Listen, in modern football, there are a lot of things happening which I don’t like.

The European appeal of Xabi Alonso

I was at the Sparta Prague game on Thursday. You’re just sitting in the press box and every so often someone will shout up a result from the games being played. Marseille had a bit of a scare against Villarreal, Aston Villa were beating Ajax in the Conference League… and then someone shouted, ‘Leverkusen are 2-0 down against Qarabag!’. I just thought, ‘Oof! Really? Wow, okay!’ Qarabag were down to 10 men at the time and I think there must have been about 20 minutes to go. The Liverpool game was pretty much dead and buried by this point, so you’re not overly invested in what’s happening on the pitch. You’re watching the game, of course, but there’s no jeopardy there. I said to the person next to me, ‘Leverkusen will still win’. I don’t know where that came from, but that was my feeling at the time.

Maybe I didn’t think they would win in 90 minutes, but I thought they’d get through the tie. I was then just about to do my YouTube video at the end of the Liverpool game and was setting up in the row behind when someone came up to me and said, ‘Do you know Leverkusen got a 97th-minute winner?’ I thought it was going to extra-time, but they told me they won it in extra-time. You sort of end up just shaking your head, but what also crossed my mind was, ‘That’s a bit of Liverpool, that!’

There must be people in Germany saying, ‘Oh, them again? What is it with this team? Why don’t they know when they’re beaten?’ I just think about Leverkusen’s fans and the thrills they must be getting. We associate German supporters with incredible support, the noise, the demonstrations, the activism and the atmosphere they create. We don’t necessarily think of the emotional ride we go on in that sense, and I just wonder what they must be experiencing this season with all the late goals. Wherever they go in Europe and Germany they must go in thinking they’ll win on the day. I just think that’s such a good preparation for the manager who wants to go and manage one of the biggest clubs in the world. That might be Bayern, that might be Liverpool, but I just think he’s ticking an awful lot of boxes for Liverpool at the moment. If you want to be a Liverpool manager, you’ve got to win a lot of games, you’ve got to win trophies, you’ve got to build a connection with supporters and you’ve got to create a team that fights and plays. He’s clearly created a team that can play and he’s clearly created a team that can fight!

It’s a guessing game at the moment, but I’d be far more in the camp that he leaves Leverkusen this summer. My least likely outcome would be that he stays with Leverkusen. I understand the appeal of taking the team into the Champions League and testing himself there, but I just look at Napoli this season… I know it’s a different manager, but there will have been a lot of people hoping to turn this into an era and prove themselves again. It’s very difficult if you’re not one of the established teams because what these outfits do when they don’t win is go and make themselves stronger in order to come back and grind you into the dirt so you don’t get a chance to laugh at them again.

I think Bayern will be strong again next term, and while Leverkusen might be better seeded in Europe if they become champions and their co-efficient improves, they would still get a tough Champions League draw. It would be difficult and there would be fresh pressures whilst juggling Champions League football and Bundesliga games. There’s also the extra respect from opposition teams, bearing in mind their success from the prior campaign, to factor in. If Alonso was to do it, I think it would underline his credentials that he is just a special, special manager. However, with the opportunities that are going to be available this summer, I think it’s too right here and right now for him, isn’t it? I think he’d need to take one of those opportunities – that’s my personal opinion! He might feel differently and, of course, he’s his own man. That said, I think he’d be taking a bigger risk staying at Leverkusen than he would by going to either one of Bayern or Liverpool. I think it would be a more natural decision for him to do one of those two.

The road to Dublin

When the draw was made on Sunday, some people were glad to have avoided Leverkusen. I actually think I wanted Liverpool to play them over two legs, especially to get Xabi Alonso back at Anfield and feel the love a little bit. I’m not sure he needs it, but perhaps just a reminder that this is a special place to come to. I’d have loved a semi-final second leg against Bayer Leverkusen for Liverpool – it would have been unbelievable! Imagine coming there with the game in the balance! I wouldn’t say I was hoping for Leverkusen, but I wouldn’t have been upset if Liverpool got it. I think the draw has worked out quite well for Liverpool in all facets otherwise, but I wouldn’t have been disappointed to see Liverpool get Leverkusen in the quarters or semis.

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Liverpool won’t want, nor should they pursue, a manager intent on being a carbon copy of Jurgen Klopp.

You won’t find another of the 56-year-old in the short-term, that’s for certain. That said, you can still set certain non-negotiables like high performance in Europe and generally combative sides.

In that case, as Neil Jones has noted, Xabi Alonso would appear to fit the bill.

“I was at the Sparta Prague game on Thursday. You’re just sitting in the press box and every so often someone will shout up a result from the games being played,” the Covering Liverpool reporter wrote in his EOTK Insider column.

“Marseille had a bit of a scare against Villarreal, Aston Villa were beating Ajax in the Conference League… and then someone shouted, ‘Leverkusen are 2-0 down against Qarabag!’. I just thought, ‘Oof! Really? Wow, okay!’ Qarabag were down to 10 men at the time and I think there must have been about 20 minutes to go.

“The Liverpool game was pretty much dead and buried by this point, so you’re not overly invested in what’s happening on the pitch. You’re watching the game, of course, but there’s no jeopardy there. I said to the person next to me, ‘Leverkusen will still win’. I don’t know where that came from, but that was my feeling at the time.

“Maybe I didn’t think they would win in 90 minutes, but I thought they’d get through the tie. I was then just about to do my YouTube video at the end of the Liverpool game and was setting up in the row behind when someone came up to me and said, ‘Do you know Leverkusen got a 97th-minute winner?’

“I thought it was going to extra-time, but they told me they won it in extra-time. You sort of end up just shaking your head, but what also crossed my mind was, ‘That’s a bit of Liverpool, that!’”

The former Real Sociedad youth coach took over a struggling Bayer Leverkusen outfit in 2022.

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READ MORE: Exclusive: Neil Jones lifts lid on what Liverpool contacts told him last week amid Michael Edwards return

READ MORE: David Ornstein drops afternoon Liverpool update fans will find intriguing

A risk, but a risk worth taking

Xabi Alonso is unproven! Liverpool fans only want him because he once played for them!

So cry the masses outside of Merseyside.

Whilst our emotional connection to our old midfield wizard remains strong and the reality of his relative managerial inexperience to the likes of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp remains irrefutable, neither are convincing arguments not to pursue his services.

Of the managers available in world football, few set tongues wagging to quite the same degree as the former Spanish international.

Inexperienced or not, how many others could take over a struggling Leverkusen side and quickly transform them into title contenders?

There is a certain amount of risk involved, but given how much risk we’ve mitigated with Michael Edwards’ return, we can surely afford a bit of a gamble elsewhere.

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Michael Edwards’ future, Liverpool contract latest, Musiala to Anfield and much more!

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Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen are the two clear favourites to win the Europa League this year, and last Friday’s draw ensured that they won’t cross paths until the final, if they both make it to the Dublin showpiece.

If Jurgen Klopp’s side advance past Atalanta in the quarter-finals, they’d then face the winner of the Benfica v Marseille tie. On the other side of the draw, Xabi Alonso’s side meet West Ham next, with the winners then taking on either AC Milan or Roma.

While many Reds fans would likely have been relieved at being kept apart from the runaway Bundesliga leaders, who still haven’t lost a match all season, one journalist had actually been half-hoping to see the two teams paired together for a prospective semi-final.

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Writing for EOTK Insider, Neil Jones explained: “When the draw was made, some people were glad to have avoided Leverkusen. I actually think I wanted Liverpool to play them over two legs, especially to get Xabi Alonso back at Anfield and feel the love a little bit. I’m not sure he needs it, but perhaps just a reminder that this is a special place to come to.

“I’d have loved a semi-final second leg against Bayer Leverkusen for Liverpool – it would have been unbelievable! Imagine coming there with the game in the balance! I wouldn’t say I was hoping for Leverkusen, but I wouldn’t have been upset if Liverpool got it.

“I think the draw has worked out quite well for Liverpool in all facets otherwise, but I wouldn’t have been disappointed to see Liverpool get Leverkusen in the quarters or semis.”

READ MORE: Liverpool player’s exit could be drawing near amid ‘increasing noise’ over his future

READ MORE: Liverpool fans face more UEFA frustration amid reports of meagre Europa League final allocation

Jones’ logic for wanting Liverpool v Leverkusen in the last four, instead of waiting until the final, actually makes plenty of sense in the context of the Reds’ hierarchy trying to entice Alonso to take over from Klopp as our next manager in the summer.

Imagine if the two sides were to have met at Anfield in the second leg of the semi-finals, amid the narrative of many LFC fans wanting the 42-year-old to replace the German in the dugout a few weeks later.

There are plenty of examples to showcase why the L4 venue is a stadium like no other when a potential passage to a European final is at stake, and the extraordinary atmosphere which would’ve been generated if Leverkusen were the visitors would surely have left a huge impression on the Spaniard.

As it is, the prospect of Alonso coming up against Klopp in what’d be the 56-year-old’s Liverpool swansong in Dublin remains on course, and that too could make for an incredible occasion if it were to materialise.

The dream scenario would be for that mouth-watering final pairing to occur, with the Reds giving their iconic manager a triumphant, trophy-winning send-off before his opposite number in the other dugout takes the reins thereafter.

Surely that’s not too much to ask…!

EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Michael Edwards and a multi-club model, Alonso’s Liverpool-esque moment, how Reds must respond to United setback and much more!

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