There is endless discussion in football right now about whether the sport is a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community.

Only a handful of professionals worldwide in the men’s game have publicly come out as gay, and the attempts by some authorities to positively support LGBTQ+ communities has often been met with ridicule or worse – not only on social media but also in grounds themselves.

Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, a previous ally of the gay community, has essentially cut his ties by signing for a club in Saudi Arabia, where it is illegal to be gay and potentially punishable by death.

Is the game moving forwards on this respect? Is it as hard as it ever was to come out?

A new play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this weekend – written by the journalist Rob Crossan and performed by Chris Larner – focuses on this issue – in the glare of the public spotlight.

It’s at Underbelly Bristo Square, Dexter, Aug 6-13′ – and you can get tickets to ‘The Gaffer’ here.

As a Liverpool fan with progressive views and a feeling that things need to change so that football is for everyone, this is probably worth a watch, Reds.

The post New football play deals with issues of sexual identity and trauma appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool will not enter the transfer market to replace Neco Williams this summer – should the Welshman get his wish and leave Anfield for first-team minutes.

Williams is a top talent, but he’s not going to be our first-team right-back unless Trent Alexander-Arnold gets injured, and he probably deserves a chance elsewhere.

Instead, according to the Athletic, Jurgen Klopp will trust Joe Gomez and youngster Connor Bradley as potential backups.

“Senior Anfield sources insist a replacement won’t be needed due to Joe Gomez’s ability to play right-back and the development of academy youngster Conor Bradley, who won his first cap for Northern Ireland last month,” James Pearce writes. 

Realistically, Gomez is not an appropriate sub for Trent as they’re totally different players – we need right-backs with thrust and crossing ability.

Bradley is only 17-years-old and a talent, but shouldn’t be getting minutes for a side chasing the Premier League title yet.

In fairness though, any noise that comes from the club regarding transfers is always that it won’t happen – that’s the tried and trusted method to avoid leaks – so we’ll only really know in September.

For us though, if Williams departed, we’d need a Kostas Tsimikas signing – an attacking, senior fullback who can develop and provide a rotation option. The Greek hasn’t done this yet, but hopefully will this term.

The post Liverpool plan to use new player as backup for Trent Alexander-Arnold after Neco Williams likely exit appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

There’s a story in the Athletic today that describes just how much Jurgen Klopp appreciates the talents of Aston Villa’s Scottish midfielder John McGinn.

According to James Pearce and Greg Evans, the Liverpool manager has long been following McGinn’s progress and has specifically asked Andy Robertson about his countryman’s skillset.

“The interest from Liverpool is very real,” the article claims.

“In 2019, an impressed Klopp said: “John McGinn, what a super player he is.”

“Liverpool’s manager has been further encouraged by what he has seen from the Scot since. Yet interest in a player is one thing, actually moving to try to sign him is another.”

Despite Klopp’s keenness, the article pours cold water on the story at the same time, suggesting Villa will not sell this summer and that it would take an astronomical £50m bid for them to even consider it.

At EOTK, we can’t see the Reds stretching quite that far.

Liverpool obviously need a replacement got Gini Wijnaldum, although the current noises coming out of the club point to the fact we are already well-stocked in central midfield, with Thiago now fully embedded and the emergence of Curtis Jones as a first-team option.

James Milner though won’t play anywhere near as many games and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita cannot be relied upon. A new midfielder is almost as essential as a forward.

The post Big news as Athletic claim Liverpool interest in Aston Villa star ‘very real’ appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Back in 2015, Memphis Depay was about to sign for Liverpool, until the club decided to focus on Christian Benteke instead…

The story in the Athletic sums up the odd transfer approach that often defined the period Brendan Rodgers was in charge – under the infamous transfer committee – that actually ended up being something Jurgen Klopp had no problem with – to great benefit.

Here’s how they tell the tale:

In the spring of 2015, Brendan Rodgers invited him to his house in Formby. Liverpool were willing to spend £25 million plus add-ons. Tottenham had approached Liverpool about the availability of Adam Lallana and his sale would, in theory, fund some of the fee.

“The contract would make him one of the highest-paid players at the club, beside Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho,” a Merseyside-based source tells The Athletic. “Brendan wanted Coutinho to take a more central role in the team and play Depay off the left. He saw his long-term future as a centre-forward. It looked like everything was agreed.”

Depay liked Rodgers, who made him feel relaxed and confident about himself. “It was as good as sorted,” Depay confirmed in his book with Zwartkrius. “The discussion went well. Liverpool’s offer was great, too. There were no problems at all.”

Sources close to the player suggest Liverpool’s approach was confusing. “They had told Memphis he was their first choice and this made him feel great — he really wanted to go. His mind was on Liverpool; a historic club with big ambition. Depay had seen how close the team had gone to the title (in 2014). The atmosphere at Anfield was incredible. But suddenly, the message was different and he started to have doubts.”

Depay failed at United, but that was largely because of how he was managed by Louis van Gaal.

At Lyon, he’s proven his class over the past few years and he’s expected to sign for Barcelona on a free this summer.

We think he’d be quite a handy option for Liverpool – and would certainly provide competition in the front-three. Depay can play on the left or centrally – providing competition for Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

With Divock Origi likely to depart, a new striker is essential, especially with Taki Minamino likely to depart permanently as well – with Southampton a potential buyer.

The post How Liverpool messed up Memphis Depay signing with ‘confusing’ approach that left player with ‘doubts’ appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Richard Keyes and Andy Gray were furious last night on beIN Sport at the suggestion Rafa Benitez is set to become Everton boss.

At the moment, he’s leading the running, but nothing has been finalised – with the Spaniard likely testing the water of public opinion and Liverpool approval before signing on the dotted line…

Keyes and Gray also claimed that Everton fans had text them claiming they would never go to Goodison Park again – so any rage Liverpool fans feel over this hypothetical appointment is nothing in comparison to what it’s done to the Blue Noses…

Where do we stand? It’s not ideal, is it? Benitez has family on the Wirral and would do anything to get the Liverpool job again – but that won’t happen – so perhaps he feels this is what’s best for him as a person.

We don’t begrudge him that, but just like Michael Owen did when joining Manchester United, he’ll have to accept those who turn their backs on him.

"They could not make a more divisive appointment!"

Breaking news in the Premier League, former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez looks set to take over at Everton.

Andy Gray & @richardajkeys are not happy! #beINEURO2020 #EURO2020

Watch Now – https://t.co/RRmQgctETJ pic.twitter.com/2gqC3phEZq

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) June 16, 2021

The post (Video) Keyes and Gray’s Rafa Benitez fume hilarious – as is what they claim Everton fans have text them saying appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool have been mentioned as a potential suitor for Dele Alli in a long article in Liverpool.com, in which former EOTK writer Enis Yucekoralp suggests the Englishman as a huge bargain now that his stock has dropped.

“At 25-years-old, Alli fits the age bracket best-suited to be capitalised upon. In May 2018, his value according to Transfermarkt was £90m: it is currently £27m. That fact alone suggests that someone of his profile is ripe for reconditioning. Not necessarily by Liverpool, but a cost-effective deal could be had should Spurs wish to sell,” he writes.

There was once a time when Liverpool derided Brendan Rodgers and FSG for not buying Alli when we had the chance. Instead, he joined Spurs from MK Dons and quickly became perhaps the most exciting youngster in the Premier League.

But now, out of the England squad and used sparingly by Tottenham, his situation is far removed to the one we expected a few years back – when Alli was flying.

There is space in our midfield – after all – Gini Wijnaldum has exited – but Alli is better in more advanced positions off a front-man.

We don’t think there is room for him in Jurgen Klopp’s system, as we’re not sure he has the discipline and defensive nous to sit in the midfield three – even with Fabinho anchoring the trio.

Still, there’s probably a bargain to be had if a club takes a punt and gets the best out of him – we’re just not sure it’ll be us!

The post Liverpool told to buy perfect Money Ball player in £27m Dele Alli appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Thiago has been wearing his socks by his ankles since Jack Grealish was on loan in League One – but many England fans on social media thought the Spanish legend was copying the Aston Villa man when they saw Liverpool’s midfielder at the Euros!

Below are a load of tweets about the subject – which are like saying Antonín Panenka copied Jorginho with his penalty technique!

Someone tell Thiago to pull his socks up and have some respect for Grealish

— CrøydönKDB (@LiamFOfficial) June 14, 2021

Thiago at 34 wearing his socks like Grealish and stinking the place out. Goodness me

— Phil O’Siffy (@unitedbobo1) June 14, 2021

Thiago got on ankle socks thinking he going to ball out like Grealish, go away you bum

— Dios Mio (@Farda_Alphonso) June 14, 2021

As this picture below proves however, Thiago was doing it first!

He's been doing it since Grealish was in League 2 mate, I doubt he's copying some bozo with a fash haircut https://t.co/q371x6aEkf pic.twitter.com/HUC8eLqEZz

— Jay ☭ (@ScouseCommie) June 14, 2021

Neither brilliant playmaker started for either England or Spain respectively in the opening Group Stage games, which says a lot about the pragmatism of international managers.

Grealish is England’s most exciting player, and Thiago – well – in our opinion is one of the best midfielders on the planet and in a different league to Koke – who played instead.

The post England fans think Thiago is copying Jack Grealish, but he really, really isn’t appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Youri Tielemans says the way he walked around the field at the King Power Stadium, applauding the fans, on the last day of the season, wasn’t proof he is departing Leicester City…

The Belgian sparked rumours galore, including here in his home country, that he could be Anfield bound – as the most obvious Gini Wijnaldum replacement, with the Dutchman moving to PSG on a Bosman.

But Tielemans says it was essentially just miscommunication.

“It was all a big misunderstanding,” he said, reported by journalist Kristoff Terreur.

“Apparently it had been agreed to make a lap of honour with the team. Only: I didn’t know anything about it. When I saw my teammates walk in, I didn’t understand it…

“Afterwards it turned out that they were just gathering inside, but I thought at that point: what a shame for the fans. Just when they were allowed back in the stadium and we had the chance to give them something back. I decided to go and applaud them on my own.”

Tielemans is excellent and at 24, the perfect age to make a big transfer to an elite club.

Jurgen Klopp and Michael Edwards love signing players around this bracket, in fact, but we think the midfielder will simply be too expensive.

He’d cost the same kind of money as Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, and we only spend that on true, elite game-changers – while with Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago, Tielemans wouldn’t be an automatic starter next term.

The smart money is on Florian Neuhaus.

The post Tielemans explains his Lap of Honour on final day of PL season amid Liverpool links appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Former Liverpool centre-back Dejan Lovren has sent a tweet to his pal Mo Salah on the Egyptian King’s 29th birthday.

Salah, who has 125 goals for Liverpool in four seasons, is being celebrated online for his achievements since signing from AS Roma in 2017.

Lovren’s message included a joke that Salah looks older than him, but that sums up their friendship!

I wish a Happy Birthday to my older looking brother @MoSalah

May God bless you and protect you.

— Dejan Lovren (@Dejan06Lovren) June 15, 2021

The Croat won the Russian title with Zenit, but wasn’t in his side’s starting XI for their defeat by England in the opening game of this summer’s Euros.

Salah is currently enjoying a well-earned break, and we hope he returns to Liverpool for pre-season instead of heading to Japan for the Olympics.

It’s silly of Egypt to call him up in the first place, and we hope Liverpool reject it. After all, they’ll have him for a month of the season after Christmas due to the irritatingly timed African Cup of Nations, which will also see us without Sadio Mane and Naby Keita.

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PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe, long rated as a fantasy Liverpool target, has praised his club for securing Gini Wijnaldum on a free transfer ahead of next season.

The Reds have lost a key component of our midfield, and more annoyingly, on a Bosman, with Gini choosing to run down his contract and not accepting Liverpool’s renewed terms, instead more than doubling his wages in Ligue 1.

Wijnaldum is currently on international duty at the Euros where he is skippering the Netherlands, for whom he scored a wonder-goal in their opening 3-2 win over Ukraine, but will join PSG post-tournament.

“He’s really a very good player, I’m very happy he’s coming, it was a great opportunity that the club seized. They worked very well,” Mbappe told Le10 Sport.

PSG have loudly announced they will not be selling Mbappe, despite the fact he only has two years left on his contract.

Neymar has extended his deal though, so perhaps the French giants will be able to convince the younger, just as marketable forward, of their project.

For Liverpool, he’s likely only a pipe-dream. The wages required to make the deal happen are just not feasible. We should be lowering our expectations and hoping for the next big thing, instead.

The post Mbappe lauds PSG for signing Liverpool’s Gini Wijnaldum on a free appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Jose Enrique, EOTK columnist, has shared an image of Jordan Henderson and Jude Bellingham on Instagram – along with the caption ‘Bellingham to Liverpool confirmed’.

The 17-year-old is away on England duty with Liverpool’s skipper and has made some recent comments about how much he’s learning from the 2019/20 Premier League title winner.

We’d love Bellingham at Anfield – what a Gini Wijnaldum replacement that’d be – but it won’t be happening any time soon.

Borussia Dortmund might sell Jadon Sancho this summer, but Bellingham won’t be going anywhere.

Enrique caveats his joke by declaring he doesn’t think Liverpool have the money for Bellingham right now anyway – and he’s probably right.

“I wish we could put cash for world-class players like him,” he says, in regards to Liverpool’s lack of spending on big names in recent transfer windows, bar the odd exception.

This summer, we’ve already bought Ibrahima Konate, but need a centre-forward and a central midfielder to bolster our options.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jose enrique (@joseenriquee3)

The post Ex-LFC ace wants Bellingham at Liverpool and thinks Agent Hendo can help appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Croatia left-back Joško Gvardiol has claimed he always supported Liverpool as a youngster and would one day love an Anfield transfer.

The 19-year-old already has a cap for his national team, and spent last season on loan at Dinamo Zagreb from Rb Leipzig – a team Liverpool love doing business with – having previously bought Naby Keita and Ibrahima Konate – and nearly Timo Werner, as well.

The post Joško Gvardiol wants Anfield switch: ‘I definitely want the Premier League and Liverpool move’ appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool initially considered Marko Grujic as a viable alternative to Gini Wijnaldum in midfield, but with the Dutchman departed at with PSG, the Reds have decided to move the Serbian on as well.

James Pearce writes in the Athletic that he’s one of a number of peripheral Liverpool players who are on the transfer list, with the club looking to bolster the transfer kitty of Jurgen Klopp.

“Grujic had initially hoped that the departure of Georginio Wijnaldum, who is on the brink of completing a move to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, would lead to him being given the opportunity to revive his Anfield career on his return,” he said.

“However, with Fabinho, Thiago, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner for competition, a parting of the ways now appears to be the best option for all parties. At the age of 25, Grujic’s main motivation is to play regularly and he accepts that’s unlikely to be the case if he stays at Liverpool.” 

Pearce’s list states seven midfield options for Klopp next year, but you cannot really rely on the fitness of most of them.

Keita is a walking sick-note, Ox has his issues, Milner gets increasingly injured; while Fab, Hendo and Thiago – our starting three when everyone is fit, you’d assume – all missed months of 2020/21.

Jones is the only player who hasn’t shown a pattern of injuries, and he’s still only 21-years-old.

Gini’s best attribute was perhaps his availability. He was always ready and fit. We may have seven names to choose from, but Wijnaldum’s absence will be sorely missed unless we enter the transfer market to fill his gap.

The post Liverpool have abandoned original plan to replace Gini Wijnaldum with loanee – James Pearce appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Michael Edwards will try to offload nine Liverpool players this summer – boosting Jurgen Klopp’s transfer kitty in the process if he manages it.

According to James Pearce in the Athletic, a number of fringe first-teamers are set for the chop – with plenty of £15m-odd sales planned.

“The belief is that Liverpool can still raise in excess of £60 million from sales. Harry Wilson and Divock Origi have similar valuations to Grujic,” he said.

“Offers are also expected to come in for Xherdan Shaqiri, who only made seven starts in all competitions last season. 

“Taiwo Awoniyi, who is valued at around £8 million, could also be moved on, along with Loris Karius, Sheyi Ojo, Ben Woodburn and Liam Millar.”

We’d suggest if we manage to sell the lot, we’ll bring in plenty more than £60m – as that’s essentially four £15m sales of Grujic, Wilson, Origi and Shaqiri…

Liverpool have already signed Ibrahima Konate, but we reckon the club needs to sign a combative, technical midfielder to replace the minutes Gini Wijnaldum provides.

Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have proven they can’t do this.

Up top, we need either a wing-forward or a striker to take some pressure off the front-three – especially considering we’ll be without Mo Salah and Sadio Mane for a month during the AFCON – when the English season is at its most frenetic.

The post Liverpool to axe nine players as Michael Edwards set for busiest summer yet appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

German football exert Raphael Honigstein has explained why Liverpool were confident to go ahead with the Ibrahima Konate transfer, despite the number of games the young Frenchman has missed over the past two season with injury.

He told Sky Sports that Konate only really had one major issue with his hip, but that this has fully recovered and the other niggling injuries were not evidence of a player who will be prone to problems all their career.

Konate was signed for £36m after Liverpool agreed to pay his release-clause – and he’ll join up with his new team-mates at the start of pre-season.

The thought of a fit again Virgil van Dijk alongside Konate is very exciting. Let’s hope it’s something that can happen.

"If he stays fit he will be a fantastic compliment to what they have already." @honigstein explains the injury history of new Liverpool signing Ibrahima Konate pic.twitter.com/RCmChE3mfd

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) June 9, 2021

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