Welcome to another edition of your latest Liverpool news, views, opinion and transfer tittle-tattle.
Rivaldo is the latest high-profile footballing figure to weigh in to the 'should Liverpool re-sign Coutinho' debate with the former Brazil and Barca legend advising his compatriot against it. The 2002 World Cup winner told Betfair Coutinho should stay at Barcelona to "try to raise his game and prove his value, showing that he can get through that bump in the road".
Meanwhile there were reports Nabil Fekir, a year on from his failed move to Anfield, has reportedly agreed to join Real Betis this summer. Canal+ journalist Romain Collet-Gaudin has claimed he’s agreed a five-year contract with the La Liga club with Lyon agreeing a €25million deal.
And Daniel Sturridge learned his fate over breaches of FA betting rules. The former Reds striker fined £75,000 and handed a six-week suspension. However, the FA disagree with the findings and will appeal against the charges and the sanction imposed.
Theo Squires and the rest of the team will be with you today from 7am to ensure constant coverage of all things LFC, including news, great photos, nostalgia, live interviews and much, much more.
The ECHO will also provide you with the very latest transfer news as it happens throughout the week, with every rumour and story digested and analysed each day with updates from full-time LFC reporter Ian Doyle in the United States for the Reds' pre-season tour and much more.
There will also be all the latest team news before games, plus every one of Jurgen Klopp press conferences covered live and with video.
We want you to get involved too - tell us your thoughts on what's happening at Anfield by tweeting @LivEchoLFC or @TheoSquiresEcho. Join the debate right now and get involved.
That's all for tonight folks
We’ll be back in the morning with all the latest Reds news, views and transfer rumours - plus of course all the best updates from the US tour
Time to switch over
Our Jurgen Klopp press conference live blog is now up and running.
Click here to switch over
Diouf's harsh verdict on Reds title chances
Former Liverpool striker El Hadji-Diouf has given his verdict on next season’s fight for the Premier League title, where he doubts the Reds will be able to compete.
The retired Senegalese international who has infamously criticised the likes of former team-mates Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher after quitting Anfield, told A Bola:
“They were very good last season. I can’t believe they can play like this next season. They missed the chance to win the title.
“Every season is different and the way they have done it, it will be impossible to repeat such a good course.
“Their level of performance was incredible, and looking at how they lost the title of English champions with a distance of one point. We have to be realistic.
“City is a great rival because they struggled a lot to get to the title. In my opinion, Liverpool will not be able to produce the same level they produced last season.”
Click here for the full story
'I felt Steven Gerrard pain five times but Liverpool's 2019 team are better than 2005'
The first manager to face Liverpool after ‘The Miracle of Istanbul’ believes that the current Reds side are better than the class of 2005 he came up against.
Back in 2005, seeing as they had finished outside of the Premier League’s top four, holders Liverpool were required to go through the qualifying stages of the following season’s tournament and their first opponents were Welsh Premier League champions TNS, managed by Birkenhead-born Kenny McKenna.
Now assistant boss at Morecambe, where he and Jim Bentley are the longest-serving managerial team in English football, McKenna told the ECHO:
“The game has got a little bit better over that period of time.
“I think that the side they’ve got now have been fantastic.
“They were excellent in the Premier League and were really unlucky. It was only a brilliant run of results from Manchester City that upset them.
“You’ve got to take your hat off to them. The game against Barcelona at home was unbelievable.
“For any side to beat them 4-0 must be a special team and they’ve got a really good manager.
“They deserved to win something and I’d have this team as being much better than their side of 2005.”
Click here for the full interview including Scouser Jim Bentley’s thoughts on becoming English football’s longest-serving manager at the age of 42!
Pepe rumours won't go away
Despite Liverpool declaring that information suggesting they are in concrete talks with Lille over the transfer of Nicolas Pepe was “pure lies”, rumours linking the Ivory Coast international with a move to the Reds refuse to go away.
L’Equipe, via the Metro , claim that the Reds are one of three clubs who have made ‘concrete’ (that word again!) offers to Lille for the 24-year-old, who scored 22 goals last season.
Arsenal and Inter are said to be the other two clubs, with Atletico Madrid and Napoli also reported to be in the mix.
Reds approach French wonderkid claims report
Foot Mercato report that 18-year-old attacking midfielder Bilel Hassaini has been the subject of an approach from Liverpool.
The AS Nancy player, who has performed for France at U17 level, is still waiting for a concrete proposal from Arsenal. St Étienne have also made enquiries for the player.
Ex-Red Shelvey reported to be caught up in takeaway bust up
Former Liverpool player Jonjo Shelvey and his Newcastle United team-mate Karl Darlow were involved in a 3am street fight where a rival was punched and kicked after Shelvey, who has alopecia, was allegedly called a ‘bald c***’ following a pub crawl, report MailOnline who write.
Goalkeeper Karl Darlow is alleged to have kicked a man in the back during a brawl outside a Northumberland takeaway after an argument involving team-mate Shelvey.
The fracas in Morpeth kicked off when the millionaire midfielder responded to the ‘bald c***’ taunt by telling his abuser: ‘Go back to your council house, you peasant’.
The fight came just ten hours before the squad flew to China for the troubled Premier League club’s pre-season tour, which began with a 4-0 thrashing by Wolves yesterday.
In exclusive footage of the bust up, goalkeeper Darlow, wearing a black hoodie, shorts and white trainers, appears to aim a kick at a man who had been shoved to the ground after punches were thrown.
Shelvey, who is wearing a white cap and designer ‘slider’ flip-flops, tries force his way into the brawl before being pushed back to the pavement in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Newcastle’s highest paid player, who earns £70,000-a-week, had been in a takeaway when he was allegedly verbally abused about his lack of hair.
A source told MailOnline: ‘Jonjo Shelvey was in the takeaway when a group of lads called him a “bald c***”. He laughed it off and said, “‘Go back to your council house, you peasant”.
Sturridge reaction
Daniel Sturridge has reacted to his ban and the FA’s decision to appeal his punishment.
I am pleased that nine of the 11 charges were dismissed and that the panel found me to be an honest and credible witness, and that my actions on one particularly difficult day were out of character,” he said.
The case was heard over seven days by a distinguished panel, which resulted in a lengthy and carefully considered decision, and followed an extensive investigation by the FA. It is therefore extremely disappointing to hear that the FA will be appealing this decision. I will continue to defend the case and the appeal.
I am training hard and fully focused on the upcoming football season.
Coutinho told not to rejoin Liverpool
Rivaldo has advised Philippe Coutinho to avoid returning to Liverpool as his future remains the subject of speculation.
The Brazilian has struggled since trade Merseyside for Barcelona and looks set to leave Camp Nou this summer.
Loosely linked with a return to Anfield, the 2002 World Cup winner has told Betfair he doesn’t think Coutinho should go back.
We all know that Philippe Coutinho played his best football at Liverpool, and I always believed that he could replicate it at Barcelona, but things haven’t been going that way,” he told Betfair.
The chance of a return to Liverpool could be beneficial for him, but I’m not sure if he is thinking of going back to England.
He might stay at Barcelona to try to raise his game and prove his value, showing that he can get through that bump in the road.
He is coming back from winning a Copa America title and his confidence is high, so it’s hard to say if he’ll stay or go.
I really appreciate his qualities as a player and think he has time to show his best at Camp Nou this season. Let’s wait and see...
If he decides to join Liverpool, they will become stronger, but they are European champions and that will add more pressure for him, as it’s tough to win it successively.
It would be a big challenge for both club and player.
Remember, they were Champions League finalists and then winners in consecutive seasons after Coutinho’s departure, so if he does return, he’ll face that extra burden to win trophies for them.
Rangers want Kane
They’ve got Sheyi Ojo, they want Ryan Kent back but now Rangers have reportedly set their sights on another Liverpool youngster.
Steven Gerrard wants to bring Herbie Kane on loan to Ibrox this summer following his successful stint with Doncaster Rovers according to Football Insider, cited by the 72.
However, they face competition from a number of Championship clubs.
Klopp urged to sign Sessegnon
I’m losing track of the number of players Steve Nicol is urging Jurgen Klopp to sign.
Well here’s another one - Ryan Sessegnon.
With Alberto Moreno leaving Liverpool, he’s told ESPN that the Fulham youngster would be the perfect understudy to Andy Robertson.
Still a teenager.
Well he [wouldn’t be] starting, he’s pushing.
He’s there to push and he’s there to make the eleven that start better.
He’s still a teenager, still has a lot to learn.
But, what, in two or three years time, he’s pushing Robertson or anybody else down that left-hand side.
Got any questions for the Blood Red podcast?
Sean Bradbury, Connor Dunn and I will shortly be recording the latest Blood Red podcast and we want your questions!
Send them to @LivEchoLFC, @seanbrad2, @ConnorDunn7 or @TheoSquiresEcho to get involved.
Regulatory Commission confirm Sturridge betting punishment
Daniel Sturridge has been fined £75,000 and handed a six-week suspension for breach of FA betting rules.
The former Liverpool striker is said to have instructed his brother, Leon, to bet on a possible move to Sevilla, breaching inside information regulations as a result.
By way of sanction, the Regulatory Commission imposed on Mr Sturridge a 6 week suspension from participation in any domestic football matches (including friendlies), such suspension being effective from 17 July 2019. Four weeks of that ban have been suspended until 31 August 2019, meaning that Mr Sturridge will be able to resume participating by 31 July 2019 in the event he commits no further breaches of FA Rule E8. In addition, the Regulatory Commission imposed a fine of £75,000 on Mr Sturridge.
However, the FA disagree with the findings and will appeal against the charges and the sanction imposed.
El-Hadji Diouf strikes again
Oh El-Hadji Diouf. If you’d scored as often you hit out at Liverpool since leaving the club, you’d have been an Anfield hero.
Yep, that’s right. The controversial Senegalese is at it again.
At least this time he’s not having a pop at Steven Gerrard or Jamie Carragher.
No, this time the former forward is having his say on Liverpool’s 2018/19 season and title chances this year when speaking to the Mirror.
Because we all care about his opinion... but let’s have a laugh at his latest bitter madness anyway.
Apparently Liverpool bottled the Premier League last year and will struggle again this season.
Ok El-Hadji.
They were very good last season. I don’t think they are going to be able to play like that this season.
They missed the chance to win the title last season, because you know in football every season is different, and if you look at the way they went all out for it last season it will be impossible for them to do it again this season.
That level they were last season was an unbelievable level and look at the way they lost it, with a point difference, so we have to be realistic to ourselves.
They have great competitors in City, and they’ve long been a team that has fought so hard for the title, so for me I maintain that Liverpool will not be able to produce that level of performance they did last season.
At least he’s a big fan of fellow Africans Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane though.
I think that both Mo and Mane are doing amazing and they are up there flying the flag for Africa.
Mane had a good season with Liverpool and he is here making us proud
The facts are there for everyone to see that at the moment they are two of the best players in the world and their contribution to Liverpool both domestically and continentally cannot be underrated.
Nabil Fekir 'agrees' to join Real Betis
Nabil Fekir has reportedly agreed to join Real Betis this summer.
One year on from his failed move to Liverpool, Canal+ journalist Romain Collet-Gaudin has claimed he’s agreed a five-year contract with the La Liga club with Lyon agreeing a €25million deal.
However, the deal won’t go through until Giovani Lo Celso, who has reportedly handed in a transfer request, is sold.
WATCH: James Maddison scouting report
So Liverpool have been linked with James Maddison. But would he be a good signing?
Klopp's warning for Brewster
Jurgen Klopp believes Rhian Brewster is ready play in the Premier League for Liverpool - but has warned that expectations should be limited.
The German boss has been impressed with the 19-year-old striker’s development and progress after overcoming serious injury.
Brewster has already scored three goals in pre-season with a brace against Tranmere Rovers and one against Bradford City and there is a great hope that he can become one of the best talents in world football.
Connor Dunn has the story...
Glatzel's message for fans
Impossible not to feel sorry for the lad.
Still no confirmation on just how bad the injury is but it doesn’t sound good.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0BwEj0lpBr/
He’s thanked fans for the support and at least at Liverpool, he’s got the perfect inspiration to come back from serious injuries.
Reus on Klopp
Remember the days where Marco Reus was repeatedly linked with a move to Liverpool?
Well a move from Borussia Dortmund to Anfield looks unlikelier than ever with the Reds’ front three stronger than ever.
But that doesn’t stop the Germany international from being a massive fan of his former boss.
Speaking to Goal.com, he’s offered a little insight into what it’s like to play under the Reds boss.
Oh my god, Jurgen was such an animal! You only knew somebody like him from TV.
If Jurgen sits in front of you with his aura, with his aggressiveness, which he radiates even when speaking, with his size, then that is quite impressive. Even the way he talks to you - this is rarely the case in professional business.
He pulls you under his spell and will not let you go. I left the conversation with a fluttering heart. He was definitely one of the reasons why I signed for Dortmund.
Before a season you can plan a lot. But so many unforeseen things can happen, such as a system change or injuries, so things can happen completely different.
When a club wants to sign a player, it’s important that the coach teaches the player the philosophy and what he’s up to. That was not different with me.
Shinji Kagawa signed for Manchester United that year, I was the substitute. We talked about what position he sees me in and in which areas I can improve myself.
Jurgen can develop players and make them better. That is a very important factor. He has a special way, in training and personal interaction.
WATCH: Ian Doyle offers update on Salah, Firmino, Alisson and Mane
Ian Doyle’s in the US, though, if you’ve been following him on social media, you’ll know he’s not yet where he’s meant to be after a turbulent time with travel.
Yet he still managed to send us back an update from the States. What a gent.
De Ligt joins Juventus
You really can close the door on this one now.
No sunny ‘De Ligt’ for Liverpool this summer.
This is one transfer rumour we can ‘De Ligt’ from the wish list.
‘Turn De Ligt on’ though? Really?
You’re better than that, Juve.
Liverpool 'interested in' Ugurcan Cakir
Liverpool have again been linked with goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.
The Mirror claim the Reds have contacted Trabzonspor about the shot-stopper’s availability.
Don’t expect any further movement on this unless Simon Mignolet moves on.
While Jurgen Klopp wants to keep the Belgian, his agent was quoted as saying the Liverpool number 2 still wants to leave.
Ajax receive David Neres offer
So one player Liverpool have been linked with this summer is David Neres.
Interest in the winger is no surprise. The Brazilian just helped the Selecao win the Copa America after an impressive season with Ajax as they reached the Champions League semi-finals.
And according to Sporting Director Marc Overmars, speaking to AD in the Netherlands, Ajax have received a concrete offer for Neres.
Next week we will be turning our attention towards the interest in David Neres. For him, there is a concrete offer.
We will then talk about that, but the intention is we as Ajax take the lead. He could have moved to China in the winter, but we didn’t let him go.
