Tony Cascarino believes that Liverpool already know who’ll be in line to take over from Jurgen Klopp as the club’s manager from the beginning of June.

The German announced in late January that he’ll be departing at the end of this season, although he’d informed Anfield chiefs of his decision internally two months previously.

The past few weeks have seen plenty of speculation as to who’ll replace him, with Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim appearing to be the current frontrunner, but one pundit is adamant that the LFC hierarchy already have their preferred candidate in place.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Cascarino explained: “I think they know their man already. If you knew in November that your guy was going, you’d have spent a hell of a lot of work knowing who is the right appointment. If you don’t know by April, so nearly six months ago now, then there’s something’s wrong somewhere. You must have an inkling.

“They kept Klopp under wraps, incredibly, without anybody having any inkling at all. Even in the press, no-one had a clue that Klopp was leaving. If you’ve got six months to choose a manager, I’d imagine they’d have to had it nearly in place, but have just kept that under wraps as tightly as they kept it under wraps that Klopp is leaving.”

You’d like to think that, if the Liverpool hierarchy knew in November that Klopp was leaving at the end of the season, they’d have immediately begun prowling for his replacement.

As Cascarino suggests, perhaps Anfield chiefs have their next manager essentially secured already, although the need to appoint a new sporting director in the meantime may have hampered the managerial selection process.

It hopefully won’t be too much longer before we discover who’ll be taking over from the legendary German in the Reds’ dugout.

You can view Cascarino’s comments below (from 2:58), via talkSPORT on YouTube:

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Tony Cascarino has been wowed by the ‘incredible improvement’ of one Liverpool player who’s now become ‘a well-oiled machine’.

One of the standout performers during the Reds’ impressive season so far has been Curtis Jones, who’s made light of injuries to several midfield teammates with a string of excellent performances.

The 22-year-old starred in the 2-1 win over Fulham in midweek, changing the course of the Carabao Cup semi-final with his second half equaliser (albeit with the aid of a deflection), and the ex-Republic of Ireland striker feels that the Scouser is now a crucial part of Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Speaking on The Game Football Podcast, Cascarino gushed: “The incredible improvement of Curtis Jones, he’s a man now. He’s 22, he’s lost that puppy fat that you sometimes get. He’s a well-oiled machine – his touch, I’ve seen loads of midfielders who play different positions. He is now a really complete midfielder.

“I think he will be in the Liverpool team a lot between now and the end of the season. He looks a way more athletic midfielder to me. His skill level is extraordinary.”

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The 2023/24 season looks set to go down as the one where Jones truly stepped up from being the young academy graduate with high hopes to becoming an influential fully-fledged member of Klopp’s senior squad at Liverpool.

The Toxteth lad has been in flying form of late, with four goals in his last six appearances, with that tally already equalling his best return in a single campaign since making his first-team debut five years ago this month (Transfermarkt).

Injuries and a very harsh suspension have limited him to just seven Premier League starts this term (Transfermarkt), but his recent displays have been of such a standard that he could well keep his place even if/when the Reds get the bulk of their injured midfielders back fit.

With Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic all unavailable either through international duty or injury, Liverpool have needed Jones to step up for them. The 22-year-old has answered that call and then some.

Two decades on from when another local hero in Steven Gerrard adorned the number 17 shirt at Anfield, its current bearer is fast becoming one of Klopp’s most important players. Cascarino’s glowing praise is fully merited.

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Tony Cascarino has insisted one Liverpool player in particular must improve if the Reds are to have any chance of winning the Premier League this term.

Jurgen Klopp’s side came from a goal down at Selhurst Park to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on Saturday with late strikes from Mo Salah and Harvey Elliott turning the game on its head after Jean-Philippe Mateta had put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot.

“If Liverpool are going to have the chance of winning the league, he’s got to turn up. He’s got to be clinical and he’s got to be in the side to prove his worth. At the moment, I’m watching Darwin Nunez in the last few games, and his games are all over the place,” Cascarino told talkSPORT (via Rousing The Kop).

“His touch is off, he’s running into space and getting caught offside all the time. Liverpool fans love him and we’d all love him, he’s got more goals for Uruguay this season than Liverpool in the Premier League.

“So, be the Uruguayan Darwin Nunez, the player that plays for his national team, the player that can excel at a club where you’re in a forward line that will get goals. I just think there has to be more from him for Liverpool to have a chance of winning the title.”

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Our No. 9 has seven goals and seven assists across all competitions this term which are pretty decent numbers for this stage of the season but he had an afternoon to forget in the capital.

He was caught offside on numerous occasions and never really got going so it was no surprise to see him replaced with 15 minutes to go even though we were trailing 1-0.

The former Benfica man does appear to have what is required to shine in the Premier League, for example his frightening pace and clever movement, but he often lacks composure in front of goal.

We’re confident that Klopp and Co. can continue to develop the forward, however, and he’ll soon be firing on all cylinders.

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Liverpool have been told they made the best signing of the summer out of all the Premier League clubs by bringing Dominik Szoboszlai to Anfield.

The 23-year-old has hit the ground running on Merseyside following his £60m move from RB Leipzig with a number of impressive displays, helping to revitalise Jurgen Klopp’s midfield which struggled badly last term.

The Hungary international still has plenty of time to get even better and Tony Cascarino has heaped huge praise on our No. 8 when discussing the signings of the summer.

“I’ll probably go for Szoboszlai at Liverpool. There’s a bit of bias in there, obviously. But I do think they’ve got way more than they thought they’ve got,” he told talkSPORT (via The Boot Room).

“I think they knew he was a really good attacking midfielder with bundles of pace. I think he’s really arrived at Liverpool and set a new standard. Remember, that whole midfield was dismantled. And Liverpool needed to rebuild. And I thought he’s come in and he’s looked from the very first game that he’s going to be a hell of a player for Liverpool over the next five or six years.”

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Three other midfielders were signed in addition to Szoboszlai but he’s the one player who has stood out and has slotted into Klopp’s side smoothly.

His all-round game is brilliant to watch and we’re looking forward to seeing him develop further under the watchful eye of our German tactician.

We need the Hungary captain at his very best on Saturday when we travel to the Etihad to face league leaders Manchester City. Winning the battle in the middle of the park is imperative against Pep Guardiola’s side.

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Tony Cascarino has named the player he believes Liverpool should sign as a replacement for Mo Salah if the Egyptian were to leave Anfield.

The 31-year-old had been the subject of a £150m transfer offer from Saudi Arabia a few weeks ago, and while the Reds stuck by their ‘not-for-sale’ stance (The Guardian), there’s a strong possibility that clubs from the Middle East try their luck again in 2024.

In his column for The Times, the former Republic of Ireland striker claimed that the ideal successor to our current number 11 is a man who’s already operating in the Premier League and who’s been in fine form this season.

Cascarino wrote: “If Mohamed Salah ever leaves Liverpool, the club should go and buy Bryan Mbeumo as his replacement. At only 24, his best years are ahead of him and he has all the attributes to succeed at a club of Liverpool’s stature: he is versatile, durable and counterattacks with real ferocity.

“He has increased his goal output, with nine in the Premier League last season and six in only ten appearances this year, including the tap-in to an empty net that wrapped up Brentford’s 2-0 win away to Chelsea.”

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As Cascarino referenced, Mbeumo has done a fine job in filling the goalscoring void for the Bees that Ivan Toney’s lengthy ban created, with four goal involvements in his last two games for Thomas Frank’s resurgent side (Transfermarkt).

There are plenty of factors which suggest that he could be an ideal player to target – reasonably experienced at 24 while yet to hit his peak, a direct right-winger replacement for Salah and a player who’s already familiar with the Premier League.

He could certainly do as an alternative to the 31-year-old, but replacing him outright is another matter, as it’d require an elite level operator to make up for the eventual exit of the Egyptian, whose goalscoring numbers are staggeringly consistent.

Liverpool would do well to think back to 2014, when they cashed in on another world-class forward in Luis Suarez but brought in replacements who were nowhere near the same quality, and the team’s fortunes nosedived as a result.

Mbeumo is a more than capable Premier League player, for sure, but that’s an altogether different level from taking on the unenviable task of replacing Salah when the latter ultimately departs Anfield.

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Pundits and Liverpool fans may be actively rethinking their reviews of the club’s summer business given how well the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Co. appear to be settling on Merseyside.

Tony Cascarino certainly seems to be enjoying watching the Hungarian international in the famous red shirt, commending the player for his remarkable work rate on the pitch.

“The young Hungarian has been outstanding this season, with his reading of the game, lightning pace and a stamina that means he covers every blade of grass,” the former striker told The Times (The Boot Room).

“It is a tribute to great recruitment at Anfield that they picked him up for £60 million from RB Leipzig, which could turn out to be a steal. He has repaid their faith by being brilliant in every minute of every league game so far. He was impressive again in the rout of Nottingham Forest yesterday.

“If it weren’t for the unbelievable headlines being made by the likes of Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and James Maddison, then I think Szoboszlai would have earned far more plaudits than he has.”

We’d certainly agree with his suggestion that the 23-year-old is a little underrated amid some truly exceptional displays from the likes of Jude Bellingham and James Maddison.

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One only need take a quick look at Szoboszlai’s average numbers to confirm as much, with the midfielder having racked up an average of 83.9 touches per game (according to Sofascore) – a far from surprising figure given how central he’s been to everything positive Liverpool have achieved this term.

The eye test would likewise support this view. How many times has our former RB Leipzig ace tracked back to cover gaps left behind Trent Alexander-Arnold or simply just to win the ball back after turnovers high up the pitch?

£60m is increasingly feeling like an absolute steal for a player of our No.8’s quality.

Can we chuck Die Rotten Bullen another million pounds or so? We feel bad!

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Tony Cascarino believes that one Liverpool player looked jaded and jetlagged in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Wolves.

The Reds had to come from behind to claim the three points after a lethargic first-half display, one which prompted Jurgen Klopp to withdraw Alexis Mac Allister during the interval.

The £150,000-per-week midfielder (Capology) was perhaps a surprise starter after he’d not long returned from playing two World Cup qualifiers in South America, and the manager’s decision to start him ultimately backfired.

Speaking on The Game Football Podcast, Cascarino was critical of the Argentine’s performance and felt that his half-time subsitution was inevitable.

The ex-Chelsea striker said: “Mac Allister, he clearly had jetlag. I spoke about Casemiro and how he had jetlag. Mac Allister looked like he had a parachute on his back. He kept giving away the ball.

“If you’re going to give the ball away in that position as the last man you’re in trouble. That’s why he came off immediately at half-time. Klopp thought he couldn’t leave him on because he didn’t have the legs to get around.”

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Mac Allister started both of Argentina’s games during the international break, featuring for 162 out of 180 minutes of normal time across their wins over Ecuador and Bolivia (Transfermarkt), the latter of which was played at high altitude roughly three-and-a-half days before kick-off at Molineux.

It’s only natural that he may have felt less than 100% ready for the match against Wolves and, despite the 24-year-old enjoying a positive start to his Liverpool career, it would’ve been logical for Klopp to take him out of the starting XI on Saturday, as he did with Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.

The statistics from that game don’t portray the Argentine’s performance in a terrible light – his passing success rate was actually higher than the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Mo Salah, Cody Gakpo, Diaz and Harvey Elliott (Sofascore).

However, the eye test would tell you that Mac Allister looked well below his sharpest and, while he only lost possession seven times (Sofascore), some of those occurred in dangerous area of the pitch and instantly put the Reds under pressure.

His half-time withdrawal was ultimately the right decision as his replacement Diaz injected a much-needed spark into the side, but once the World Cup winner has a few days to recuperate this week, we’re sure he’ll be back to his efficient best when he next plays.

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Tony Cascarino has suggested that Chelsea would be making a huge mistake if they were to let Levi Colwill leave this summer.

The 20-year-old, who impressed whilst on loan at Brighton last term and played an instrumental role in England’s U21 Euros success last night, is attracting interest from Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp seeks to strengthen his backline ahead of next season.

Mauricio Pochettino is not willing to let the talented defender leave Stamford Bridge this summer but if the Blues are to receive the right offer for the Southampton-born star it’ll be interesting to see if their stance changes.

“Levi Colwill has really emerged as an incredible player after his loan spell at Brighton for example,” Cascarino told talkSPORT (via The Boot Room).

“Well they’re [Brighton] prepared to pay a record fee for him. Actually, Liverpool are interested as well.

“So, it could even be another one of those [Kevin] De Bruyne or [Mohamed] Salah transfers that goes badly wrong for Chelsea.”

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Chelsea have made some serious blunders in the transfer market in years gone by.

They’ve sold the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah for very small fees only for the players to go on and become world-class stars elsewhere.

They will be keen to avoid any repeat of that scenario with Colwill.

He proved that he can perform in the Premier League while at Brighton last term and he’ll be hungry again for regular first team minutes during the new campaign.

He may very well be questioning whether Stamford Bridge is the right place for him to continue his development so it’ll be interesting to see what decision he makes in the coming weeks.

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Tony Cascarino has admitted he’s unsure as to whether Darwin Nunez will be a success at Anfield.

The 24-year-old was signed from Benfica last summer for an initial £64m but despite netting 15 goals for Liverpool across all competitions we’re yet to see the Uruguay international perform at his best.

He’s a constant threat with his impressive pace and movement in behind but he lacked quality in front of goal on too many occasions last term and Cascarino is yet to be convinced by our No. 27.

“[Jurgen] Klopp has seen a lot of attack-minded players come in in the last year or so,” Cascarino told talkSPORT (via The Boot Room). “But [Darwin] Nunez I just don’t know. He’s had a whole year at Anfield and it’s not worked out.

“He’s had a disappointing year, it looks like to me he’s going to be a [Fernando] Torres or a Timo Wener.

“He’s not going to convert the amount of chances he gets.”

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We understand that Nunez was rather erratic at times last season but it’s certainly far too early to write him off.

It must be remembered that the Uruguayan arrived in the Premier League not knowing how to speak English and with just two full seasons worth of experience of top-flight European football.

He’s had to adjust to a new culture in England while attempting to understand what Jurgen Klopp wants from him when out on the pitch.

He scored some terrific goals last season and once he enjoys another pre season with the club and strengthens his relationship with his teammates even further we believe we’ll soon see him firing on all cylinders.

During his debut campaign on Merseyside many of his new teammates were struggling for consistency and were massively underperforming so we feel it would be harsh to judge Nunez after just 12 months.

Now that we’ve strengthened our midfield with the signing of Alexis Mac Allister and the impending arrival of Dominik Szoboszlai those players will only increase the chances of our frontline shining next season.

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Tony Cascarino has claimed that Trent Alexander-Arnold has similar qualities to Lionel Messi after the Scouser impressed for England on Friday night.

The 24-year-old was deployed in a midfield role by Gareth Southgate and got his name on the scoresheet as Gareth Southgate’s side defeated Malta 4-0 away from home.

Our No. 66 excelled in his inverted role during the final 10 games of Liverpool’s campaign and Cascarino has already tipped the Academy graduate to win player of the tournament at next year’s European Championships.

“We didn’t learn anything we didn’t already know,” the former Chelsea forward told talkSPORT (via The Boot Room). “I love watching him play.

“Lionel Messi spent most of the World Cup walking around and yet when he got it.

“Now, am I comparing Trent [Alexander-Arnold] to Lionel Messi? No. But he’s got qualities that are not far off him.

“Can he improve in that position? That’s the question. He’s also the kind of player that could win player of the tournament.”

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Alexander-Arnold has redefined the full-back position in recent years with his world-class crossing ability but there have always been questions over him defensively.

The role that he’s taken up in recent weeks allows him to showcase his impressive passing and shooting range while placing less reliance on him in a defensive sense.

Jamie Carragher believes the boyhood Red’s new role will soon become ‘the norm’ while the player himself has explained that he’s enjoying the new position and that it feels ‘natural’ to him.

It’s looking good so far for both club and country with Trent in his new role and let’s hope he can help Jurgen Klopp’s side pick up more success by thriving next term.

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Tony Cascarino has now claimed that it’s widely expected in France that Gladbach’s Manu Kone is joining Liverpool Football Club this summer.

The summer window is set to open this Wednesday, with the Merseysiders having already completed the signing of Brighton’s classy World Cup-winning midfielder, Alexis Mac Allister.

“Manu Kone is one they have been looking at. It has been talked about in France that he is going to Liverpool,” the talkSPORT pundit spoke on the platform. “That has been out there for a while. I do think they are reinventing that midfield and it was necessary.”

Jurgen Klopp’s men are understood to be pursuing two further midfield signings in addition to a left-footed centre-back.

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Reports have been far from consistent when it comes to the future of Gladbach’s highly-rated midfield star.

It’s worth pointing out that the club’s sporting director, Roland Virkus, has already admitted they would be prepared to sell for the right figure (Liverpool Echo).

Empire of the Kop have already been informed that €35m [£29.9m] will get us at the table for negotiations – hardly a dealbreaker judging by the amount we were prepared to fork out for Mac Allister.

Feeling in a country and the genuine position of the club can always be at odds of course – as the Jude Bellingham transfer saga should most clearly indicate – though we’d be surprised to see Liverpool fail to take advantage here if an alternative target doesn’t prove more appealing.

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Tony Cascsarino has claimed that Liverpool may not be ‘the best solution’ for Mason Mount this summer with him looking likely to leave Chelsea.

The 24-year-old, who has been linked with a move to Anfield for a number of months, is approaching the final year of his current Stamford Bridge deal and there’s currently no signs of an agreement for an extension.

Speaking before the Blues’ 4-1 defeat to Manchester United last night Chelsea boss Frank Lampard all but confirmed that Mount is on his way out of the club in the coming weeks but Cascarino believes a move to Arsenal would make more sense for the England international.

The 60-year-old wrote for The Times (as quoted by HITC): “I’m not convinced Liverpool will be the best solution for him because Liverpool haven’t had an ambitious midfield recently.

“They have enough up front, so they don’t have to risk another body from midfield, but they have lost three midfielders in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keïta, so Jürgen Klopp is looking for one. Liverpool is, without a doubt, a close second to Arsenal for Mount.”

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Despite Trent Alexander-Arnold’s impressive form since taking up his new inverted role in the side allaying some of the concerns about our midfield it’s no secret that Jurgen Klopp is wanting to strengthen his options in the middle of the park.

Mount has struggled with numerous injuries this season and has registered just three goals and six assists but there’s no doubting his ability.

Klopp could be the man to get the dynamic midfielder performing at his best – even if Cascarino doesn’t agree.

His energy and versatility is something that will appeal to our German tactician but it remains to be seen whether he will opt to remain in the capital and head to the Gunners – a team that he has already held talks with (GOAL).

Chelsea will not be wanting to sell to a huge rival but with them running the risk of losing him for free in just over 12 months time they may have no choice if they receive the right kind of offer.

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Columnist Tony Cascarino has compared Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez to one former Premier League flop and said that the Uruguayan has a lot to prove ahead of next season.

The 23-year-old has a tally of 15 goals from 42 games in his first year at Anfield, having joined from Benfica for an initial £64m, potentially rising to £85m (BBC Sport).

It’s far from a disgraceful return, but he’s had to ship plenty of criticism from some quarters, and it seems there are still some big doubters.

In his latest column for The Times, Cascarino wrote: “This is a huge summer for Liverpool. Some big names will leave, they need new faces and they’ve got a major issue to resolve: Darwin Núñez.

“He’s had the odd moment where it’s clicked but with Luis Díaz and Diogo Jota back he looks nowhere near the starting XI. Cody Gakpo is also ahead of him in the pecking order.

“I hope I’m wrong but he’s reminding me of Timo Werner at Chelsea — lots of running, effort and promise but ultimately falling short. He needs a big pre-season with lots of goals.”

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Even though there’s been a rush to paint Nunez as a flop for Liverpool, a wider look at his numbers this season presents a much different picture.

He’s netted 15 goals in 2,365 minutes on the pitch for the Reds. That’s just one fewer than Diaz, Gakpo and Jota have managed between them in 4,451 minutes combined (Transfermarkt).

Nine of the Uruguayan’s tally have come in the Premier League, with Werner getting 10 across two campaigns (Transfermarkt), which again puts into context that the 23-year-old has been nowhere near as profligate as some have suggested.

As followers of Portuguese football would tell you, Nunez hit 14 goals in his first season with Benfica in 2020/21 before exploding the following year with 34 (Transfermarkt), which offers firm hope to the Reds that he could truly take flight in 2023/24.

If anything, the biggest challenge for the Uruguay marksman right now seems to be the sheer quality and competition in Liverpool’s attack, rather than any major shortcomings of his own. It’s far too early to write him off as an unsuccessful signing.

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Tony Cascarino has urged Liverpool to ‘consider a move’ for one Premier League striker who’s won firm approval from Jamie Carragher.

In his latest column for The Times, the 60-year-old wrote about how he was awestruck by Ivan Toney’s performance for Brentford against the Reds last Saturday and recommended that Jurgen Klopp’s side – among other top-flight clubs – think about trying to entice him away from the Bees.

The columnist stated: “I cannot believe Ivan Toney’s improvement technically over the past 18 months. He was one of the best players at Anfield. The Brentford striker has added all sorts of deft touches to his game, such as the clever pass that assisted Bryan Mbeumo’s disallowed goal.

“He has a finesse which, dare I say it, echoes that of Dennis Bergkamp. Toney’s subtlety complements his stature and finishing. Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United should all consider a move.”

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The 27-year-old has spearheaded Brentford’s hugely impressive first two seasons in the Premier League, scoring 32 top-flight goals in that time, with 20 coming during the current campaign (Transfermarkt).

While penalties account for just over a third of that total (Transfermarkt), Toney has shown that he’s much more than a mere spot-kick specialist, something that Carragher has been keen to highlight.

The former Liverpool defender said of the Bees predator on Sky Sports in March: “He’s an all-round footballer…His hold-up play and bringing players in, he is very reminiscent of Harry Kane in some ways.

“I class Ivan Toney as a great player. He’s not just a goalscorer. There is more to his game than just a goalscorer.”

The striker’s goal record at this level for a team who currently sit ninth speaks for itself, but in terms of the Reds possibly moving for him, other positions in the squad must take priority.

Klopp is already blessed with an abundance of riches in attack, whereas midfield and defensive options are less plentiful, while a backup goalkeeper could also be on the summer shopping list amid rumours of an exit for Caoimhin Kelleher.

However, that’s not to say Toney shouldn’t be up for consideration if the need for attacking recruitment arises further down the line.

EOTK Insider: The two-time gold medalist who is the only man to sign for Liverpool and Everton on two separate occasions

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Tony Cascarino has hinted that Jurgen Klopp should start to consider replacing one of Liverpool’s longer-serving stalwarts.

Virgil van Dijk has been immense for the Reds since his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018, winning the PFA Player of the Year award the following year, although he’s come in for strong criticism over some defensive lapses in recent weeks and months.

In his column for The Times, the former Republic of Ireland striker appeared to suggest that it may be time for the manager to begin looking beyond the 31-year-old when it comes to the team’s centre-back partnership.

Cascarino wrote: “Virgil van Dijk, for instance, has been one of the best defenders in Europe in the past.

“Replacing him, or even signing somebody to compete for a starting spot, would be a gutsy call, because he is such a big name.”

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It’s fair to say that Liverpool’s number four has probably had his most difficult season at Anfield in terms of on-field performances in 2022/23, being caught out on occasion to the team’s cost.

Also, with the £220,000-per-week defender (FBref) turning 32 over the summer, it might be no harm for Klopp to have one eye on a potential long-term successor, either from within the current squad or in terms of a possible recruit from elsewhere.

However, Van Dijk remains a hugely important contributor to the Reds, as evidenced by statistics from WhoScored for the current campaign. He’s won more headers per game (2.9) than any of his teammates and boasts the second best passing accuracy (90.3% of anyone to start a Premier League match for us.

There will come a time where Liverpool have no choice but to look at a future beyond the Dutchman, but that moment hasn’t arrived yet and probably won’t for another couple of years at least.

EOTK Insider: The two-time gold medalist who is the only man to sign for Liverpool and Everton on two separate occasions

The post Columnist suggests Klopp should consider making big call about £220k-p/w Liverpool stalwart appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.