Hello and welcome to the Liverpool ECHO's Wednesday live Reds blog for all your very latest Liverpool news, rumours and transfer gossip.
The ECHO will provide breaking stories, reaction and comment to all the big talking points from Anfield as well as keeping tabs on transfer market gossip from around the world.
We'll have all the best build-up ahead of the Reds' weekend trip to Watford as well as all the latest news around the Premier League and the global game.
Get involved and send your thoughts to @LivEchoLFC or @CaoimheSport .
And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel or listen to our Blood Red Podcast , with all your favourite ECHO regulars including Paul Gorst, Ian Doyle, Caoimhe O'Neill, Joe Rimmer, Sean Bradbury, Connor Dunn, Dan Kay and Theo Squires.
ICYMI
Spanish expert warns Liverpool over signing Ousmane Dembele
This week's Analysing Anfield for your listening delectation
Robertson on Reds 'fight' and how Man City are being ignored
Rafa Benitez verdict on Liverpool's CL knife-edge tie with Atletico
Arsene Wenger wants Champions League away goal rule change
Flashback
Liverpool midfielder misses training as Keita all smiles at Melwood
Shaqiri position becomes clear as huge Liverpool fact emerges
Reds 'suffer Jadon Sancho setback'
Liverpool may have reportedly suffered a setback in their bid to land Borussia Dortmund starlet Jadon Sancho.
The Reds have been linked with a move for the 19-year-old for some time, with the perceived wisdom being he is unsettled in Germany and is likely to move on in the summer.
However latest reports via NorthWalesLive and TalkSport now claim the winger has not yet made up his mind if he actually wants to leave Dortmund or not.
There is now a suggestion Sancho, who is contracted until summer 2022, may hang on for another six months and leave in January 2021. We shall see.
This says it all...
The Incredible Trent
Ticket to ride
Former boxer Tony Bellew has joked that he and Gary Neville are flying to the moon if Liverpool win the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp’s are closing in on glory with just four wins needed to secure a maiden title.
And the ex-cruiserweight world champion, Bellew, told TalkSport: “I’ve spoken to Gary and we’re on the same flight – it goes to the moon as soon as the parade starts.
“Do you know what, I’m going to be honest, my attitude has changed towards Liverpool I used to be the worst and most bitter Blue you’ll ever see in your life, but after losing my brother-in-law a couple of years ago… he was a mad Liverpool fan and followed them all around the world.
“I’m not going to say I’m happy for them, because I’m not, it’s hard to watch and it annoys me to see them doing so well.
“But you’ve got to give them the credit they deserve, they are one of the best teams I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Lots going on here
Timo Werner offer speculation
Well, this is quite the transfer claim.
Journalist Nicolo Schira has reported Liverpool have offered RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner a five-year contract with ‘talks ongoing to finalise the deal’.
Party time
With the Reds closing in on Premier League glory the whole city is set to be one big party.
Here’s one event you may want to RSVP to.
Transfer strategy
Liverpool appoint Man City physio
Liverpool have appointed Man City physio Steve Lilley, with the medic set to join Liverpool next month according to reports.
Training Ground Guru suggest Lilley is making the move to Melwood after nine years at City.
Lilley will reportedly be reunited with former City first-team physio Lee Nobes who is currently head physio with the Reds.
They also report Arsenal’s Gary O’Driscoll has been recruited to replace Andy Massey as Head of Medical Services at the club.
Massey is departing to take on a new role with FIFA.
Meanwhile, Richie Partridge is also leaving next month. The first-team physio is taking up a position with Qatar’s national team.
The website also claim Christopher Rohrbeck will make his exit at the end of the season. The German physio joined the club from Mainz in 2017.
Youngsters set for maiden South Africa trip
Liverpool’s Academy will send two teams to South Africa for the first time in the club’s history later this year.
The young Reds will take part in the 2020 Lucky Star Cup in Cape Town this October.
130 teams will take part in the special tournament with the Reds set to send Under-12s and Under-14s sides.
Head of Academy operations, Andrew Powlesland said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be able to bring our young players to South Africa and support this tournament for the very first time.
“As well as a chance to play against some excellent teams from all over Africa, we know the trip will act as a wonderful educational and cultural experience for our boys.”
Man City appeal registered
Billy Hogan speaks on new partnership
Liverpool’s managing director and chief commercial officer Billy Hogan has commented on the Reds’ new sustainability partnership.
The club have teamed up with lugis to take action to reduce food waste at Anfield.
This partnership will help the Reds to deliver on their goals to achieve sustainability as part of their Reds Go Green initiative.
Food waste will be diverted from landfill sites by being recycled in special machines which break the waste down into water.
Hogan said: “We’re committed to becoming more environmentally friendly and have made positive strides towards becoming a truly sustainable club.
“This partnership with Iugis is another step towards meeting this goal and will help us better manage our food waste.”
Transfer rumours rated
Here’s all the latest Liverpool transfer rumours rounded up and rated.
Serge Gnabry's Liverpool warning
Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry sure does love returning to London.
The former Arsenal winger scored twice as the Bundesliga champions cruised to a 3-0 win over Chelsea in the Champions League last-16 tie at Stamford Bridge.
Following the match, the 24-year-old referenced Liverpool’s historic comeback against Barcelona and explained it should serve as a warning for Bayern not to sit on their laurels.
He said: “Three goals should give us a lot of confidence.
“We need to be prepared for the second leg and we can’t take it serious enough.
“We saw last season with Liverpool beating Barcelona, we know we have to be careful and focus.”
He's special
Pep Guardiola's complaint
Pep Guardiola’s complaint? Pep Guardiola’s hope?
Call it what you will, his recent words are deep-rooted in the trio of Champions League knockout blows he has suffered as Man City boss.
In the past the Spaniard has complained about some key decisions which have gone against his City side as they dropped out of the competition to Monaco, Liverpool and Tottenham.
Speaking ahead of his return to the Bernabeu as City take on Real Madrid in the last-16 this evening, Guardiola has said he hopes the officiating for the game is fair.
He said: “You need luck. Decisions at certain points are important but we cannot control that.
“We have to have incredible concentration in our plan and be lucky in the things we can’t control.
“Hopefully it can be fair for both sides - the VAR, the referees.”
Timo Werner transfer conditions
In the past couple of weeks nobody has been linked with a move to Liverpool more than Timo Werner.
The RB Leipzig striker has said the Reds are the best side in the world and every day brings more and more speculation regarding the player’s future.
Now, according to Sky Sports’ The Insider column, Werner’s future is said to be in Jurgen Klopp’s hands.
The article suggests the forward is set to leave Leipzig this summer due to his release clause, and they also say he favours a move to Anfield.
Werner will, according to Kaveh Solhekol, only make the switch from the Bundesliga on two conditions.
Firstly, if Klopp thinks he is worth £50m, and secondly if he can convince his compatriot he will get game time with the competition for places in Liverpool’s current set-up pretty fierce.
Top of the morning
Good day to thee!
Welcome to our Liverpool live blog where we will be bringing you the latest and breaking LFC news and transfer rumours.
There is already quite a bit to bring you so be sure to stick with us as I go and prepare your first update of the day.
We have two conditions which could affect rumoured transfer target Timo Werner’s potential move.
Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry has sent a warning inspired by Liverpool to Chelsea, and Pep Guardiola has revealed his one hope.
Back shortly with all that and more. Don’t leave me this way...
Must read stories
In case you missed the rumours and speculation from yesterday catch up HERE
Liverpool's next star is ready and he could decide transfer plans
How do you improve on perfection?
Jurgen Klopp might not want to publicly admit it, but his current Liverpool crop are as close to being perfect as football teams tend to get.
There are no glaring weaknesses to point out, that’s for sure.
Strong defensively and relentless going forward, this Liverpool team can play football with the best sides, they can mix it physically and they can adapt their game to any challenge tactically.
Click HERE to read the full story from Joe Rimmer
Good morning!
Hello everyone and welcome to today’s Liverpool Live Blog.
