Welcome to the Liverpool ECHO's Thursday live Reds blog for your latest Liverpool news, rumours and transfer gossip.
The Premier League have confirmed their restart plans while Jurgen Klopp has reportedly held talks by phone with Kalidou Koulibaly about a move to Liverpool.
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Brescia owner regrets signing Balotelli
Some things never change for Mario Balotelli.
The former Liverpool striker joined hometown club Brescia last summer but has only scored five goals this season.
And with the Italian outfit bottom of Serie A, club owner Massimo Cellino says he regrets signing the forward.
"He doesn't show up to training, he doesn't look very committed let's say, for the future of the club. That's the problem.
"Balotelli's got a contract in Serie A, but he doesn't have a contract in Serie B. So if we're relegated, Balotelli won't have a contract any more.
"Balotelli apparently doesn't like to stay in Italy any more because he's not acting that way.
"I think we both made a mistake. I thought that coming to Brescia, which is his town, would commit him very much. At the same time, I think he was handled the wrong way by my previous coach [Eugenio Corini]."
Merseyside derby might be moved from Goodison?
Liverpool could clinch the Premier League title in a Merseyside derby played in Manchester report the Mirror.
They claim police fear fans will congregate near Goodison Park to be ready to celebrate the title should the Reds clinch the title at the home of their local-rivals, with Thursday’s meeting seeing Liverpool told they could have to play all of their home games away from Anfield until excitement from winning the title dies down.
The report also adds other high-risk games face the same treatment, though Liverpool and Everton, with the support of all the 20 clubs are still trying to convince the authorities to let them play in their own stadiums.
However, the ECHO understands no decision has yet been made on Liverpool playing the Merseyside derby or remaining home games away from Anfield with neutral venues not part of the discussion in Thursday's meeting.
Gini magic
Gini Wijnaldum has a message for Liverpool fans after the Premier League confirmed its restart plans.
BBC to air four live Premier League matches
Looks like we're getting free Premier League football on the BBC for the first time too.
Premier League confirm restart plans
Premier League Shareholders today agreed to a new provisional restart date for the 2019/20 season of Wednesday 17 June, provided that all safety requirements are in place.
Aston Villa v Sheffield United and Manchester City v Arsenal, postponed due to the EFL Cup final, will now take place on 17 June, followed by a full match round beginning on Friday 19 June.
Due to COVID-19, matches will take place behind closed doors.
Shareholders also approved a proposal that would see all 92 remaining matches broadcast live in the UK by the League’s existing broadcast partners: Sky Sports, BT Sport, BBC Sport and Amazon Prime.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: "Today we have provisionally agreed to resume the Premier League on Wednesday 17 June.
"But this date cannot be confirmed until we have met all the safety requirements needed, as the health and welfare of all participants and supporters is our priority.
"Sadly, matches will have to take place without fans in stadiums, so we are pleased to have come up with a positive solution for supporters to be able to watch all the remaining 92 matches.
"The Premier League and our clubs are proud to have incredibly passionate and loyal supporters. It is important to ensure as many people as possible can watch the matches at home.
"We will continue to work step-by-step and in consultation with all our stakeholders as we move towards resuming the 2019/20 season."
The planned kick-off times in the UK for live matches will also differ from the traditional times.
Scheduled kick-off times
Weekend matches will be scheduled as follows (all times BST):
Friday 20:00
Saturday 12:30, 15:00, 17:30 and 20:00
Sunday 12:00, 14:00, 16:30 and 19:00
Monday 20:00
Midweek matches will be scheduled as follows (all times BST):
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 18:00 and 20:00
Paul Gorst on Premier League return day
We're still waiting official confirmation from the Premier League but here's Paul Gorst with what we know so far about football's return on June 17.
Liverpool appoint U23s manager
Liverpool have confirmed Barry Lewtas has been appointed as the new coach of their Under-23s side.
Lewtas, who joined the Reds in 2013, will take over following the departure of Neil Critchley in March.
With Lewtas stepping up from the Under-18s, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson has been named as his replacement.
Klopp holds talks with Koulibaly
Away from the Premier League return now as we await an official statement, and some transfer gossip for you!
Reports in France claim Jurgen Klopp has taken the first steps to try and lure Kalidou Koulibaly to Anfield.
Le10 Sport report the Liverpool boss called the Napoli centre-back to share details of what his plans are with the Reds, wanting the Senegal international to partner Virgil Van Dijk.
Koulibaly as a ‘clear preference’ for a move to England, and the ‘idea of playing the Champions League seduces him a lot’.
However, Napoli want €70m for his services. At that price, it definitely won't be happening.
And that's before you remember Liverpool already have Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren etc etc.
Premier League restart date 'confirmed'
Liverpool are set for the chance to claim their first title in 30 years when the Premier League resumes on June 17.
Premier League officials have been locked in talks for much of the week, via video link, with discussions ongoing on Thursday about a restart date.
Those two fixtures are the four teams' respective 'game in hand' before a fuller-looking fixture list kicks off on Saturday, June 20.
It means Liverpool will head back to action on either June 20 or June 21 as they get set to head to Goodison Park to face Everton in the Merseyside derby.
And it means they could win the Premier League in that first game back depending on Manchester City's results beforehand.
Paul Gorst has more...
Games in hand set to be played first
Exclusive: Premier League will restart on June 17 with Aston Villa at home to Sheffield United and Manchester City hosting Arsenal.
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) May 28, 2020
More here from @JBurtTelegraph https://t.co/2wrdJ84km1
George Gillett's son in talks to purchase relegation-threatened club
Foster Gillett, the son of former Liverpool owner George Gillett, has made an offer to buy Heart of Midlothian claim the Mirror.
They say the American businessman made contact last week with chairwoman Ann Budge.
Reports claim Budge has rejected the deal citing the need for "stability".
But Mirror Sports understands no bid has been rejected and Gillett is still awaiting a response.
Foster was made a director at Anfield during his father’s spell as joint-owner of the Reds with Tom Hicks.
He also held talks last year about possibly buying Derby County from Mel Morris.
Hearts were relegated last week after the SPFL decided to end the season due to the coronavirus pandemic but honoured the league's standings.
It means the Edinburgh-based club will be playing in the Championship next season, although they said in a statement that no club "should be unfairly penalised" and they were taking legal advice.
Premier League respond to restart claims
The Premier League have responded to the claims over restart dates by stating:
"The meeting ongoing not in a position to confirm anything."
Maybe they're not but given where these reports are coming from, personally I'm inclined to believe them.
Season 'to finish' at the start of August
From today's Premier League meeting: majority of clubs are keen to restart season on June 19/20, with the season to conclude on/by August 1. #ProjectRestart
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) May 28, 2020
Premier League restart date agreed
Told Premier League clubs have agreed on a restart date of June 20
— Simon Mullock (@MullockSMirror) May 28, 2020
Wijnaldum social distancing
Keeping distance #LFC #SocialDistancing pic.twitter.com/AtnvRpLMw3
— Gini Wijnaldum (@GWijnaldum) May 28, 2020
Police tell the Premier League that they can host games at clubs' home grounds
Police have told the Premier League that they can host games at clubs' home grounds when games resume.
The Daily Mail reports:
The Police have informed the Premier League that they have no issues with the majority of matches being played at their original venues.
However, they have raised concerns over the hosting of a small number of high-profile fixtures, amid concerns of supporters gathering outside, and expressed a desire to see them played at neutral sites.
That information is expected to be fed back to clubs at today's top flight meeting, which is ongoing.
Police feel that as long as their costs are covered and clubs provide stewarding to ensure they can deal with potential issues, most matches can be played at their existing stadiums.
But there are fears that key matches – at both ends of the table – may well cause issues should they remain at the original sites.
The final decision is down to the government, in conjunction with the Premier League. However, they are likely to strongly lean on the advice of the police and local safety advisory groups, made up of clubs, emergency services and local authorities.
The move opens the door for the hybrid model – a mix of home and away and neutral venues.
De Jong agent speaks out on Liverpool transfer talk
Frenkie de Jong's agent has shot down claims that he has been offered to Liverpool and a host of other clubs amid apparent struggles to play with Lionel Messi.
The Express write that there was a surprise claim in the Italian media earlier this week, in which De Jong was said to be offered to Juventus, Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
However, the player's agent Ali Dursun, has since hit back at those reports with a damning statement.
Dursun, who also rubbished claims that De Jong was struggling to play with Messi, said:
"Complete nonsense.
"Of course I speak to Messi. Everyone is always asking about that.
"But we don't sit down for half an hour to talk about football. I don't do that with other players, nor did I at Ajax.
"During a conversation like this, he mainly indicates what he wants.
"It's not that I'm the person who will tell him how I want him to play."
Oxford want Woodburn back
Oxford United have made enquiries about bringing Liverpool starlet Ben Woodburn back for a second loan spell next season reports the Oxford Mail.
The U's Liverpool-born boss Karl Robinson said:
We’d love the opportunity for Ben Woodburn to be back and we want Nathan Holland back with us next year.
“They’re conversations we’re having. We feel it would be right for their careers.
“They are both players who should have come and ripped it up.
“They did when they were fit, but unfortunately the injuries have probably knocked them back six months.
“If we went up we think both of them are Championship players anyway and if we didn’t then we’d have some of the best players in League One.
“It’s a no-brainer for us and there’s continuity for them, which I think they all want.
“While they have that we’d get to steal a bit of a march on everybody else.”
Carragher laments Benitez's line-up for 2007 final
As much as no Liverpool fan would ever want to swap their memories of 'The Miracle of Istanbul' with their extraordinary comeback against AC Milan in the Champions League final, a feeling prevails that they won the 'wrong' final against the Italians whose ageing side were seemingly there for the taking two years later in 2007.
Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher admits that the defeat in Athens is still tough for him to take and believes that Rafa Benitez, who started with just Dirk Kuyt up front, got his team selection wrong for the big game.
The Mirror quote Carragher as telling Sky Sports:
"I've never watched that game again. It's a killer losing a game of that magnitude, knowing how close you are.
"We can't complain. We were very lucky in 2005 and maybe Milan had a touch of luck in that we were probably the better side.
"But I didn't come away from the game thinking we'd done enough to win the game if I'm being totally honest.
"It's easier with hindsight I suppose, but I just look at Craig Bellamy being on the bench that night and not coming on.
"I think they had [Paolo] Maldini who was 39, 40 at the time, and you're thinking 'oh if we just had Bellamy for 20 minutes running at him...'
"So there are always little regrets, but you're also lucky to get to a final of that magnitude."
Three more positive tests
Some general news from the Football League ahead of Project Restart.
BREAKING: The English Football League has confirmed three individuals from two clubs have tested positive for coronavirus following the latest round of testing.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 28, 2020
Liverpool the big movers among Europe's most-valuable clubs
Last year's Champions League winners and Premier League leaders Liverpool are the big movers among Europe's most-valuable clubs having climbed two places in KPMG's fifth annual report.
It's worth noting that the figures were compiled before the global coronavirus pandemic.
The Reds have risen to fifth place with a supposed value of £2.26billion - a year-on-year increase of over 19%.
1. Real Madrid (unchanged) - £2.95bn (+1.5%)
2. Manchester United (unchanged) - £2.84bn (-2%)
3. Barcelona (+1) - £2.71bn (+12.2%)
4. Bayern Munich (-1) - £2.44bn (+0.4%)
5. Liverpool (+2) - £2.26bn (+19.3%)
6. Manchester City (-1) - £2.21bn (-0.3%)
7. Chelsea (-1) - £1.88bn (-6.3%)
8. Tottenham Hotspur (+1) - £1.75bn (+15.8%)
9. Paris Saint-Germain (+2) - £1.62bn (+36.7%)
10. Arsenal (-2) - £1.57bn (-13.2%)
Robertson: Reds need to keep our heads to finish the job
Andy Robertson says that he and his Liverpool need to keep their heads to finish the job of winning the Premier League title when matches resume.
Jurgen Klopp's side need just six more point to land their first League Championship since 1990.
Robertson told the club's website:
"For me, that’s what I try to keep in my head. We’re so used to competing – and we’ve not competed in a very long time.
"Obviously the last game we did compete in, we fell short. That was tough to take, but now we want to get back to it, we want to get back to competing.
"It’s been 30 long years for this club and the fans probably couldn’t have imagined we’d have to wait nine weeks when we were so close to going into games where we hopefully could have won to seal the Premier League title.
"But we’ll get back to it, we’ll get going again, we’ll get our rhythm again and hopefully we can win the games we need to win and that’s what our aim is now.
"The light at the end of the tunnel was just getting back into training, to be honest.
"At times, there were some days you didn’t think that would have been possible, but now we’re back here, we can look forward and look to the next step.
"Then, like I said, hopefully with the games we’ve got ahead of us, we can get back to it.
"Would we like to play in front of 55,000 people at Anfield? Of course we would.
"Winning games or whatever without the fans won’t feel the same, but it’s something we know we need to go through and it’s something we know that in their houses and stuff they will be supporting us like mad and we’ll feel that support.
"Hopefully we can celebrate a title if we get the job done – and there will be time to celebrate it when the time is right.
"But for now we need to keep focused, we know whatever games are coming up and whenever they start, we need to get them won and get that trophy for this club. "
