Liverpool bowed out of Europe with a whimper as their 1-0 win away to Atalanta tonight wasn’t enough to undo the damage of last week’s 0-3 defeat at Anfield.

However, some Reds fans may be left wondering if things might’ve worked out differently had the referee taken a different view of one moment in the first half at the Gewiss Stadium.

Shortly before half-time, Isak Hien was booked for handball as he cut out what could’ve been a gilt-edged chance for Luis Diaz, who argued that the Nerazzurri defender ought to have been sent off for denying what he felt was a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Speaking on punditry duty for TNT Sports, ex-LFC striker Peter Crouch raged (via Liverpool Echo): “I was screaming for a red card straight away. You can see he leans into the ball.

“There was a definite move of the arm, and I think Diaz is going in here. I think he takes the touch across him. I think that should be a red card. If you look here, he leans right into it and I don’t think the player is covering behind him.”

Fellow pundit and former Liverpool player Gary McAllister shared the Englishman’s indignation, saying: “I think it is denying a goal-scoring opportunity. If it gets to Diaz without the handball, I think his first touch is taking it towards the middle of the goal and away from the covering centre-back. You could argue that it should be a red.”

READ MORE: Klopp may be quietly satisfied with one part of Liverpool’s night despite Europa League exit

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Referee François Letexier would’ve been within his rights to have sent Hien for an early bath, as the Atalanta defender quite deliberately handled the ball and prevented Diaz from being put through clean on goal.

Had the Sweden international been shown a red card, or had the Liverpool attacker got to the ball and gone on to double his team’s lead on the night, the second half could’ve had a very different feel to it. Imagine if the home side were trying to hang on with 10 men, or the Reds needed only one goal after the interval.

That incident has left a sense of ‘what if’ over our Europa League exit, but the harsh truth is that we simply didn’t do enough over the two games to deserve anything other than quarter-final elimination, having only played well during the first half tonight and been downright putrid at Anfield a week ago.

We could argue all night that Hien should’ve been sent off, but LFC still had 45-50 minutes to find two more goals and frankly didn’t look like scoring even one.

Europe is done – let’s make sure we don’t have any regrets over the final six matches of our Premier League campaign between now and 19 May.

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Gary McAllister issued an instant reply when asked about Liverpool’s chances of being genuine Premier League title contenders this season.

Going into the October international break with nearly a quarter of the campaign played, the Reds have taken 17 points from a possible 24 and sit only three points behind leaders Tottenham.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have already ticked off away fixtures against Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham and Brighton, along with winning convincingly at home to two European competitors in Aston Villa and West Ham.

Speaking to Sky Sports, McAllister was asked if he thinks Liverpool can challenge for Premier League glory this season, and he was in no doubt, emphatically replying: “Yes. I think when you hear managers saying ‘we can maybe get here’ [holds up left arm slightly], ‘they’re big favourites’…

“Liverpool start the season every season looking to win the league, and the fact that the fans feel that as well, that’s the wonderful thing about Liverpool. The expectation of the fans will never go away, so you’re under pressure to win games. Winning the league is the true barometer for Liverpool.”

Reds fans will love the conviction behind the former Anfield midfielder’s statement, and a club of LFC’s stature should go into every season with ambitions of being Premier League champions.

It might be a very difficult feat in the era of a dominant Manchester City side, but we’ve shown that it can be done (and in style, too). At this stage of 2023/24, Klopp’s team looks like one which could be pushing to finish first for most, if not all, of the campaign.

You can view McAllister’s comments below (from 7:27), via Sky Sports Football on YouTube:

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Gary McAllister has named one trait in particular that he’s enjoyed seeing from Dominik Szoboszlai at Liverpool so far.

The Hungarian has scored twice in his 11 appearances for the club since his summer move from RB Leipzig (Transfermarkt), with both of them stunning efforts from outside the penalty area, not least his screamer in the Carabao Cup win over Leicester City.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the 2001 UEFA Cup winner praised the 22-year-old for his willingness to take ‘responsibility’ and shoot for goal when the opportunity presents itself.

McAllister said: “It’s just nice to see somebody shoot. In the six, seven, eight games since the season started he’s not shy of getting the ball outside his right side and having a crack from 20-25 yards, which is very rare.

“Players and teams are looking to play little tight combinations and trying to score the perfect goal, but I like the fact that he is quite willing to take the responsibility and have a shot at the goal.”

The statistics back up the 58-year-old’s comments, with Szoboszlai taking the joint-fourth most shots of any Liverpool player (18) and recording the second-longest average shot distance (26.2 yards) of anyone in Jurgen Klopp’s squad (FBref).

His readiness to shoot for goal brings to mind that old adage of buying a ticket in order of being able to win the raffle. Not every attempt will succeed, but success will only come by having a go.

You can view McAllister’s comments on Szoboszlai below (from 6:00), via Sky Sports Football on YouTube:

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Liverpool fans of a certain vintage will thoroughly enjoy the new nickname Jurgen Klopp has given to Alexis Mac Allister.

The Argentina midfielder became the Reds’ first signing of the summer when he moved from Brighton last month, with the 24-year-old getting an introduction to the AXA Training Centre as he commenced pre-season preparations this week.

His surname is almost identical of that of a former player at Anfield from the early 2000s – it could only be Gary McAllister, of course!

While the Scotsman was at Liverpool a good decade-and-a-half before Klopp’s arrival at the club, the German has shown he clearly knows plenty about the Reds’ history when conferring a new moniker on Mac Allister.

Speaking to LFC’s official website, the 56-year-old said: “I was immediately thinking about nicknames and I thought it would be a great nickname for Alexis… Gary!”

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READ MORE: Klopp reveals LFC players’ three-word reaction to hearing of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai signings

McAllister only spent two seasons at Liverpool and came on a free transfer (BBC) but made a massive impression, winning five trophies with the Reds, scoring a sensational last-minute Mersey derby winner and producing a masterclass in the epic 2001 UEFA Cup final against Alaves.

We hope that Mac Allister will spend a lot more than two years with us (his contract runs until 2028), and if he can replicate some of the Scot’s heroics during his time at Anfield, the Argentine will be every bit as adored as the 58-year-old continues to be more than two decades on from his spell with the club.

The UEFA Cup has long since been rebranded and reformatted as the Europa League, although the 24-year-old may get to score in the final of that competition next May should LFC reach the decider in Dublin, a city where the ex-Brighton star has ancestral roots.

We can’t wait to see what the man who Klopp affectionately calls ‘Gary’ can produce in the iconic red shirt over the next few years!

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Liverpool supporters were treated to the return of so many heroes and legends at Anfield, as a host of former Reds returned to wear the famous shirt again – with Gary McAllister being one of them.

Speaking alongside Steven Gerrard after the game, the Scot was asked how it felt to play in the 2-0 victory over Celtic.

READ MORE: (Video) Celtic fans show off their Poznan-inspired dance inside Anfield

The 58-year-old said: “I’m the same as Steven, any time you get a chance to come and play here on this pitch – it takes all of a millisecond to say yes but then when you know what the cause is for, it makes it even more greater”.

There won’t be many who would turn down to chance to play in our famous stadium and it’s great to see how much it still means to one of our treble heroes.

You can watch Gerrard and McAllister talking (from 3:05:11) via Liverpool FC on YouTube:

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There aren’t many longer or better Liverpool songs than the famous one created for Gary McAllister, during his two-year stay at Anfield.

Despite being at the club for such a relatively short amount of time, the veteran midfielder won five trophies in 87 appearances for the Reds and was a key part of the 2001 treble winning side.

Such was his cult hero status, a famous song was created that highlighted all of his key moments and goals for Gerard Houllier’s side and it still gets sung today.

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Evidence of its current and longstanding popularity is a new video that has circled online, featuring a young supporter who was leading the concourse at the Brighton and Hove Albion game.

With confidence and a voice beyond his years, the youngster had the whole of the inside of the AMEX stadium at his beckon call and it’s great to see the way all the other fans followed his lead.

It really is a fantastic song and the more it’s sung the better!

You can watch the rendition of Gary McAllister’s song via @JacobNoonan8 on Twitter:

pic.twitter.com/y8AkTjDtvA

— Jacob (@JacobNoonan8) March 13, 2022

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Steven Gerrard has provided all Liverpool fans a topic of conversation for the weekend as his move to Aston Villa has been confirmed.

This has lead to a lot of speculation that he will be the man to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, should this move be a success.

Learning his trade at our academy, our former No.8 has a lot of Liverpool connections in his coaching staff already and most are coming with him to Villa Park.

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Other than former striker Danny Ings who is on the playing staff in Birmingham, all the rest are coaches poached from the gaffer’s coaching and playing days at Anfield.

The two best known would be Michael Beale and Gary McAllister who have followed the Huyton-born club legend.

Of course, Gary Mac was a key part of Gerard Houllier’s treble winning side and went on to follow the former manager to Villa and so he has a lot of understanding of his new role where he will be assistant manager.

Beale was part of our academy before he was asked to join the journey to Scotland which has now taken him to England’s second city.

His time on Merseyside was spent alongside fellow coaches Tom Culshaw, Jordan Milsom and Scott Mason who are all following our former captain on the next leg of his journey.

It’s going to be an emotional return for a lot of them come December, Stevie G might get the best reception though!

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The post Steven Gerrard isn’t the only Liverpool connection heading to Villa, a look at the other ex-Reds following him to Birmingham appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Gary McAllister – now over at Rangers with Steven Gerrard – feels the Glasgow side would be “first in line” should Ryan Kent be shipped out on loan again in comments reported by the Echo.

Now assistant manager, McAllister said of any Kent move: “It is ongoing, but the decisions at Liverpool will probably be later down the line. Is he worth the wait? I would say so.

“He has got a rapport with the fans and there is no doubt he enjoyed his time here. That’s on the pitch, in and around the training ground and the city as well – he enjoyed Glasgow.

“We have to be aware that Liverpool might receive bids, but you don’t know.

“If Ryan is to go back out on loan again, I think we’d be first in line.”

Kent had an impressive season on loan with the Kop heroes, helping them achieve a second-place league position and saw the 22-year-old handed the Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year award.

A fee in the realm of £12 million has been touted for the young Oldham-born winger, owing in part to his successful and convincing loan spell at Ibrox; at that cost, Rangers might be out-priced.

While another loan move could be on the cards, Kent has previously spoken of the frustrating “repetitive cycle” of his itinerant early career so far and is keen on a long-term option.

In all honesty, Kent probably doesn’t have a future at Anfield so we should move him on in the interests of all parties.

It remains to be seen whether he will head back up north of the border, but the Reds would do well to sell him on and reinvest the funds in much needed full-back cover for the coming season.

The post Rangers still eager to negotiate transfer for £12m-rated Reds loanee appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Gary McAllister has joined the majority of Liverpool supporters in greeting the club’s relatively convenient 2017/2018 Premier League fixture list.

The Reds will open the season with a trip to Vicarage Road to face Watford before welcoming Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Burnley as well as facing Manchester City away from home across their next four games.

Despite early games against two notable top four contenders, McAllister is happy with the schedule, including a helpful Christmas period.

“Recently, we’ve had really tough starts but started well. This looks pretty favourable, although we’ve got Man City and Arsenal back-to-back in the opening five games,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.

“I always think it is crucial to get away [well] because it builds confidence immediately, especially if we’re bringing in two or three new players – they get bedded into the team and confidence grows.

“It’s not much fun when you’re playing catch-up going into the Christmas and New Year period.

“Boxing Day and December 30 are both at home, and then the game after that going into the New Year we’re just down the road at Burnley.

“So the beauty of those games is that we don’t have to travel, we’re at home. The players will be able to spend a bit of time with their family over the Christmas period, although the training and games schedule is always very tough.”

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Getting off to a strong start promises to be vital for Jurgen Klopp’s men with the upcoming Premier League season threatening to become the most competitive yet.

Liverpool will potentially have to contest with a new challenge this season in the form of European football, providing they can come through August’s play-off round.

If the first half of last season is anything to go by, this team, plus a few new signings, isn’t far away from being capable of mounting a serious title challenge.

Not long to wait now, Reds.

You can book Gary or contact his agents, here

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A special occasion played out by a host of special players from Liverpool’s history.

Saturday’s match between Liverpool Legends and Real Madrid treated fans to seven goals and an incredible opportunity to watch some of the Anfield greats in action.

Supporters of all ages got to see their heroes put on the Liverpool shirt again and play on the ground where they have all achieved so much.

What made it even more momentous is just how much they all appeared to enjoy being back on the pitch. Seeing the likes of Ian Rush, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler, Jamie Carragher, Steve McManaman, John Aldridge, Gary McAllister and Jason McAteer- to name only a few- all playing together again was something many have waited years for.

It was a lineup that brought back plenty of wonderful memories and one that created an unforgettable day out for all that were lucky enough to get tickets.

Here’s what the Reds had to say after the game…

Always grateful to the amazing fans and The Kop ?? Will always love you ?? @LFC pic.twitter.com/GDn4v7BuTo

— John Arne Riise (@JARiiseOfficial) March 25, 2017

That moment you touch the grass of Anfield Road ?!! Thanks for the amazing support #oncearedalwaysared #Anfield #YNWA

A post shared by Luis Garcia (@luchogarcia14) on Mar 25, 2017 at 12:05pm PDT

The best feeling ever

A post shared by Steven Gerrard (@stevengerrard) on Mar 25, 2017 at 11:44am PDT

Loved every single bit of yesterday ?#lfc

A post shared by @danielagger22 on Mar 26, 2017 at 6:40am PDT

Many thanks to all @LFC legends for yesterday’s game and especially the fans who were fantastic! #YNWA @LFCFoundation ?

— Ian Rush MBE (@Ian_Rush9) March 26, 2017

Robbie,ste G,and myself Scouse power? https://t.co/rHuEDmLq8L

— John Aldridge (@Realaldo474) March 26, 2017

Amazing day yesterday. The supporters made the day extra special -very very special club @LFC pic.twitter.com/YhzJ4S5mzI

— Jason MCATEER (@MCATEER4) March 26, 2017

Goals Goals Goals!!! pic.twitter.com/AenHDSvch1

— michael owen (@themichaelowen) March 25, 2017

With Congo the @realmadrid Legend.

A post shared by Jamie Carragher (@23_carra) on Mar 25, 2017 at 5:03pm PDT

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It is seriously time for Liverpool to kick on now and former Red Gary McAllister is confident the players can do exactly that in what promises to be a decisive stage of the season.

Regardless of the poor start to 2017 or the tense atmosphere around the club at times, Jurgen Klopp’s men remain very much in the race for Champions League football.

McAllister has seen enough over the last couple of weeks to believe the Reds are capable of securing a place in the top four.

“I get the feeling that something big is building. The bigger the game this season, the better Liverpool have played,” he told the Liverpool Echo.

“Getting Champions League football back at Anfield is so important.”

“My best nights here were the European nights. I was at Anfield as a fan for those big semi-finals against Chelsea.”

“It’s a good race for the top four. I’m probably biased but I believe we’ll get there. We’ve got Everton next weekend and then you look at the fixtures and they are games where Liverpool should be able to get a good run.”

“There is a momentum gathering and when that happens at this club it can be difficult to stop.”

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Wins against Arsenal and Burnley and an impressive display in a draw with Manchester City look to have given the players some confidence back after a disappointing spell.

It’s a pool of results capable of kick-starting a strong run and helping us find some consistency again. The upcoming Merseyside derby is not only a significant game in terms of building momentum but it is also a vital chance to increase the gap between ourselves and Everton.

The post McAllister makes exciting prediction as to how Liverpool’s season will end appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Eric Cantona is one of Manchester United’s greatest ever players, and therefore, a natural enemy of Liverpool supporters.

But last night, he went a small way to winning some of our favour, by annoying a group of United fans who’d paid to hear him speak…

Asked who was the best player he ever played alongside, Cantona told them ‘Gary McAllister,’ and was roundly booed, according to talkSPORT!

The Frenchman played with Zinedine Zidane, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane and David Ginola, so the fact he picked Liverpool’s Scottish legend is just brilliant!

The pair played for Leeds United together in the early 1990s before Cantona made the switch to Old Trafford and established himself as a world-class performer.

We got the privilege of McAllister for two years, between 2000 and 2002, and the midfielder racked up five trophies in that space of time under Gerard Houllier, including the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.

He was a phenomenal footballer and the fact Cantona, a player of undeniable talent, rates him so highly – proves this!

The post Why Man. United fans booed Eric Cantona last night will make Liverpool fans roar with laughter… appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Resilience, passion, fight, ability, imagination. Liverpool’s players are being questioned over everything at the moment and rightly so.

Not only are fans desperate to see a change in fortune but undoubtedly so are Jurgen Klopp and his men. The panic and the fear amongst Reds supporters comes as a result of what a shock this recent downfall has been, given our incredible start to the season.

Three points from the last 15 available isn’t good enough, not when competition for a top four spot is as tight as it is.

Former Liverpool midfielder Gary McAllister has offered a relaxed perspective on how the players can overcome their disappointing run of results.

“As a player, if you make a mistake and there’s a little murmur from the crowd, it’s having that ability and mental strength to go on and get on the ball,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.

“And if the pass presents itself again, you go for it. The easy thing to do is to play safe and not take any risks, and that’s not the style of teams here at Anfield.”

“Trust in yourself, get the fans back onside, and it’s amazing what a couple of results can do.”

“All of a sudden you can go from being in a bad run [to a good run] and, if we can go on a good run, you know what momentum is like at this club. Once we gather a little bit, anything can happen.”

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Facing a top six side this weekend is less daunting than facing a team in the bottom half of the Premier League at the moment.

The threat of being punished by an admittedly strong Tottenham side means the players have to show up and respond to what has been a dreadful few weeks.

Liverpool don’t want to be looking over their shoulder but the reality is that Manchester United are a serious threat to their top four chances right now.

That said, we ourselves are still only a point behind fourth placed Arsenal so by no means should we be disregarded as contenders for a Champions League spot.

Let’s get some belief and confidence back.

The post Anfield legend with some words of wisdom for Liverpool’s struggling stars appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

That Anfield fear-factor we so often talk about.

It has come and gone at times over the past few years, but Gary McAllister believes the recent expansion of the stadium has fuelled the return of a consistently roaring Anfield.

Speaking about the impact of the fans, he told Liverpoolfc.com: “Teams are coming there and they’re getting a bit rattled early in the game. They’re turning Anfield into a bit of a fortress.”

“There’s an air of confidence in the team, they’re starting games very fast and it’s very much like the Liverpool of old.”

“Anfield is pretty unique, it’s different to most grounds and you get a different atmosphere in there.”

“We’re at 54,000 now so the noise is pretty special and the way the players are playing at the moment, the fans are joining in. It’s just a nice place to be.”

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The presence of 8,500 more fans has worked in unison with the energy and the aggression of our work on the pitch in creating an imposing atmosphere for away sides to have to deal with.

For much of the season, we have dictated games at Anfield and ensured travelling teams feel as uncomfortable and as out of place as possible.

Jurgen Klopp so often calls for the crowd to create an intimidating atmosphere at home games, so much so that rarely a week goes by at the moment when the supporters don’t show up in full voice.

There is a fresh and exciting feel to our club this season and the direction it is heading in. The important thing is that we continue to force that winning mentality and optimism onto opposition teams.

The post Former Liverpool midfielder seeing gradual return of Anfield fear-factor following stadium expansion appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Gary McAllister was happier than most when he saw we had been paired with Leeds United in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

He featured for Leeds from 1990 to 1996 – winning a league title in 1992, then played for us from 2000 to 2002, where he was part of the famous treble winning side of 2001.

It is only the second time we’ll have played Leeds in the last 12 years, with the other meeting coming in a League Cup clash at Elland Road in September 2009.

“It’s a great fixture,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.

“I still see Leeds United as a Premier League side, there’s no doubt in my mind they’d be a plus for the top division.

“It’s a one-club city with a fantastic fanbase. They’re punching below their weight but there are definite signs that Leeds are on their way back.

“They should be in the top division. This fixture goes way back, there have been some great games and great players at both clubs.”

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The Scot also explained why the League Cup should be a valuable stepping stone for us this season, even if some fans and even some players) downplay its significance.

“People always associate this cup competition as one of the least priorities,” he said.

“But Jürgen [Klopp] wants to win. If you can get a trophy on the table, it’s massive, the kudos that comes with it and what you can build on.

“You go back to the treble-winning side I played in. Winning the first cup sets the confidence up, the whole belief within the club to go and win others. So it’s a great cup to win.”

We have won more League Cups than anyone else in the league – we have eight titles so far. Our most recent victory came in 2012, and we have also won it in 2001 and 20o3 and been runners-up in 2005 and 2016 since the turn of the millennium.

The post Gary McAllister revelling in appearance of “overdue” fixture appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.