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Welcome to the Liverpool ECHO's Monday live Reds blog for your latest Liverpool news, rumours and transfer gossip.

Steven Gerrard 'in talks' with Liverpool, Rhian Brewster is a doubt to face Aston Villa and the Reds drawn against Atletico Madrid.

Send your thoughts to @LivEchoLFC or @TheoSquiresEcho, listen to our Blood Red Podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Goodnight

That’s all from the blog until tomorrow morning but in the meantime, here are some of today’s top Liverpool stories.

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Salah ready to conquer the world

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Liverpool release strong statement following apology for pitch criticism

Liverpool have released a strong statement in response to Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes’ apology for criticising the Prenton Park pitch.

Click here for the full story

The Prenton Park pitch prior to the FA Women's Super League match between Liverpool and Chelsea on December 15, 2019
The Prenton Park pitch prior to the FA Women's Super League match between Liverpool and Chelsea on December 15, 2019 (Image: Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC via Getty Images )
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Van Dijk misses training but he's not injured

Every player in Liverpool’s travelling party for the FIFA Club World was present at their first training session in Doha apart from Virgil van Dijk.

Connor Dunn writes:

Anfield sources remain tight lipped over why the defender was not present and taking part with the rest of his team-mates.

However, the ECHO understands he is not suffering from injury and that cannot be cited as the reason he was missing.

Virgil Van Dijk during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Watford at Anfield
Virgil Van Dijk during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Watford at Anfield (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Pitchside view

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Reds training in Doha

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Napoli 'worried by Liverpool Berge interest'

Napoli are reportedly switching their attentions to Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira after fearing missing out to Liverpool in a move for Sander Berge.

Genk's Sander Berge battles for the ball against Liverpool forward Divock Origi
Genk's Sander Berge battles for the ball against Liverpool forward Divock Origi (Image: Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

Gazzetta dello Sport, cited by Sport Witness, claim the Serie A side are concerned they would be unable to compete with the Reds for the Norwegian with them not willing to bid more than €20m.

And the report goes on to suggest interest in Torreira has been initiated by their fears of missing out on Berge.

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Liverpool 'scouting' Benda

Liverpool are reportedly keeping tabs on goalkeeper Steven Benda.

Steven Benda of Swansea looks on during the Premier League 2 match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre
Steven Benda of Swansea looks on during the Premier League 2 match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre

The German is currently on loan at Swindon Town from Swansea City and is said to have caught the eyes of both the Reds and Aston Villa after keeping five clean sheets from nine outings.

And Football League World report that while a move is not expected in January, Liverpool are continuing to scout the shot-stopper.

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Dutch duo missing

Liverpool are currently training out in Qatar.

Couple of first teamers missing though...

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Swansea City 'want' Jones

Rhian Brewster isn’t the only Liverpool starlet Swansea City are chasing, they reportedly want Curtis Jones as well.

Liverpool's Curtis Jones during the Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth.
Liverpool's Curtis Jones during the Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth.

Goal.com, cited by Wales Online, claims the Swans have enquired about taking the midfielder on loan in January.

Jones made his Premier League debut against Bournemouth earlier this month and is currently with the Reds’ first team squad in Qatar for the FIFA Club World Cup.

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On this day...

Ah, a year since Xherdan Shaqiri cost Jose Mourinho the Manchester United job. Marvellous.

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Critchley on Brewster

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Liverpool's updated FIFA Club World Cup squad

Here’s Liverpool’s updated squad for the tournament in Qatar...

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Critchley on FIFA Club World Cup

Neil Critchley has had his say on a couple of Liverpool’s youngsters being part of the Reds’ FIFA Club World Cup squad, missing the Carabao Cup clash with Aston Villa in the process.

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"Maxi, Maxi Rodriguez runs down the wing for me!"

I’m a big fan of Maxi Rodriguez.

He had a boss chant, a great eye for goal and was just class.

He caught the eye against the Reds too before signing, scoring this beauty in front of the Kop in 2008.

Jamie Carragher won’t want to watch that back...

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Preston 'rule out' Kelleher

Preston North End have reportedly ruled out making a move for Caoimhin Kelleher next month.

Liverpool's goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher during the Carabao Cup, Third Round match at Stadium MK, Milton Keynes.
Liverpool's goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher during the Carabao Cup, Third Round match at Stadium MK, Milton Keynes.

The goalkeeper had been linked with a loan move to the Lilywhites.

However, the LEP report the Irishman is not under consideration with North End satisfied with their goalkeeping options.

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Trio added to FIFA Club World Cup squad

Liverpool have added Sepp van den Berg, Ki-Jana Hoever and Harvey Elliott to their squad list for the FIFA Club World Cup after injuries to Dejan Lovren and Rhian Brewster.

Matt Addison has the story HERE.

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Liverpool's head of medical services headhunted by FIFA

You might have missed this earlier but Liverpool club doctor Andrew Massey could be set to leave Anfield to take on a new role at FIFA next year.

Paul Gorst has the story HERE.

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Brewster injury blow

Rhian Brewster is a fitness doubt for Liverpool’s Carabao Cup quarter-final at Aston Villa on Tuesday.

Paul Gorst has the story HERE.

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Atletico Madrid dates confirmed

Liverpool have confirmed when they’ll play Atletico Madrid.

Matt Addison has the story...

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-champions-league-dates-madrid-17427785

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"We'll be ready"

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Busy, busy, busy

And we’re back!

What a busy morning that was.

Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, Rhian Brewster’s injury and three additions to Liverpool’s FIFA Club World Cup squad.

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UEFA Champions League draw LIVE

If you want to keep me company instead of Kathryn though, our Champions League R16 draw LIVE blog is also well underway.

Kicking off at 11am, be the first to find out who Liverpool face in the knockout stages HERE.

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Neil Critchley press conference LIVE

Neil Critchley is speaking to the press today ahead of tomorrow’s Carabao Cup clash with Aston Villa.

Getting underway at 11.30am , Paul Gorst is currently on his way to Melwood and you can follow LIVE updates with Kathryn Batte HERE.

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Gerrard 'in Reds talks'

Steven Gerrard is reportedly in regular contract with Liverpool about succeeding Jurgen Klopp.

Steven Gerrard has been widely tipped as Jurgen Klopp's successor at Liverpool.
Steven Gerrard has been widely tipped as Jurgen Klopp's successor at Liverpool. (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Gerrard and Klopp both signed new contracts until 2024 last week and The Athletic claim the Reds legend has been informally discussed as the German’s eventual successor.

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Swansea 'lead' Brewster chase

Swansea are reportedly leading the chase to sign Rhian Brewster on loan next month thanks to his relationship with Swans boss Steve Cooper.

Liverpool players celebrate against Arsenal
Liverpool players celebrate against Arsenal

Cooper was Brewster’s manager when England won the Under-17s World Cup in 2017 and is keen to reunite with the Liverpool forward.

Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, Preston North End and Huddersfield Town are all looking at the teenager report the Telegraph, with a move to the Championship looking most likely.

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Berge eyes Genk exit

Sander Berge is open to leaving Genk as links with Liverpool continue.

The midfielder impressed against the Reds in the Champions League with recent reports suggesting they could even move for him in January.

Genk's Sander Berge battles for the ball against Liverpool forward Divock Origi
Genk's Sander Berge battles for the ball against Liverpool forward Divock Origi (Image: Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

Speaking to Belgian news outlet Het Laatste Nieuws, cited by TEAMtalk, Berge had his say on his future and recent speculation.

Winter or summer, every transfer period there is a lot of speculation about my future. But at the moment, there’s nothing concrete, and that’s just the truth.


Playing Champions League with Racing Genk was a dream come true for me, but it’s not because that adventure is over that I absolutely want to leave now.


If the right club comes forward and puts the right amount on the table for me then we can talk.


Otherwise I’ll just stay with Racing Genk until the end of this season.

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Liverpool 'rival' Man City for Said

Liverpool are reportedly set to rival Manchester City for Nigerian starlet Ibrahim Said.

Ibrahim Said of Nigeria celebrates his three goals after the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 Group B match between Nigeria and Ecuador at Estadio Olimpico de Goias)
Ibrahim Said of Nigeria celebrates his three goals after the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 Group B match between Nigeria and Ecuador at Estadio Olimpico de Goias)

Currently with the Dabo Babes Academy, Manchester United, Chelsea, Porto and Sporting Lisbon are also said to be keen on the teenager after he impressed in the Under-17s World Cup earlier this year.

But according to TEAMtalk, it is Man City who are currently leading the race for the forward.

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Liverpool 'set to sign' left-back

Liverpool are short on specialist full-backs beyond first-choice duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.

Joe Gomez and James Milner both act as their deputies when required but it’s not their favoured positions.

According to 90min.com the Reds are set win the race to sign young Coventry City left-back Sam McCallum ahead of a number of Premier League rivals.

Sam McCallum of Coventry City is challenged by Kieron Morris of Tranmere Rovers during the Sky Bet League One match between Coventry City and Tranmere Rovers at St Andrews Trillion Trophy's Stadium
Sam McCallum of Coventry City is challenged by Kieron Morris of Tranmere Rovers during the Sky Bet League One match between Coventry City and Tranmere Rovers at St Andrews Trillion Trophy's Stadium

The 19-year-old has impressed since breaking into the Sky Blues team last year and has made 19 appearances so far this season.

And the report claims Liverpool are set to sign him in January, ahead of the likes of Manchester City, and will let him spend the rest of the season on loan with Coventry

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VOTE: Who do you want Liverpool to draw in R16?

So you know who Liverpool can face in the R16 but who do you want them to face?

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