Stephen Warnock spent five years at Liverpool but his Champions League debut for the Reds against Olympiacos in 2004 left him feeling like he was "well out of my depth"

Stephen Warnock spent five years at Liverpool but his Champions League debut for the Reds against Olympiacos in 2004 left him feeling like he was "well out of my depth"

Liverpool are reportedly ready to go with another kit manufacturer from the 2025/26 season

Liverpool are reportedly ready to go with another kit manufacturer from the 2025/26 season

Max White fell in love with the city as a teenager

Max White fell in love with the city as a teenager

The next Liverpool boss has a habit of improving strikers, which could be a huge benefit to the Uruguayan

The next Liverpool boss has a habit of improving strikers, which could be a huge benefit to the Uruguayan

Feyenoord manager Arne Slot is primed to become the next Liverpool manager following Jurgen Klopp's exit at the end of the season

Feyenoord manager Arne Slot is primed to become the next Liverpool manager following Jurgen Klopp's exit at the end of the season

Liverpool legend Didi Hamann assesses the success of the Reds' midfield overhaul last summer and has his say on his public feud with Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool legend Didi Hamann assesses the success of the Reds' midfield overhaul last summer and has his say on his public feud with Jurgen Klopp

Virgil van Dijk has been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award. He's the sole Liverpool representative on the eight-man list.

It's a more eclectic mix than usual, with only two clubs boasting multiple nominees. Liverpool, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Newcastle all have a player in the running, while Manchester City and Arsenal have two apiece.

Manchester City's Phil Foden is expected to take home the award, after an excellent individual campaign that looks as though it will spearhead his side to a fourth successive Premier League title. The inclusion of Van Dijk, meanwhile, will raise one or two eyebrows.

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Nonetheless, it's an admirable selection. The season is 38 games long, and for most of them, Van Dijk was a central figure as Liverpool sustained a legitimate title challenge. The recent defensive slump does not take away from his previous performances.

As recently as the start of March, when the quadruple dream was still on, we mentioned that Van Dijk could even be an outside contender in the Ballon d'Or discussion if Liverpool went on to achieve its season goals. Nor was it just us — a month later, the defender remained in the top 20 of GOAL's power rankings.

Now that the clean sheets have dried up, it's easy to forget. But this is welcome recognition for Van Dijk at a time when his long-term Liverpool future is somewhat up for discussion.

That said, there are those within the Liverpool camp who could legitimately feel they had at least as strong a case. In terms of consistency across the campaign, few can match Alexis Mac Allister. Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah would have obviously liked to make the list; he has significantly more goal contributions than Alexander Isak, who did make the cut, so that will rankle.

Here is the list of nominees in full:

• Phil Foden
• Erling Haaland
• Declan Rice

• Martin Ødegaard

• Alexander Isak

• Cole Palmer

• Ollie Watkins

• Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool.com says: There's no hiding from the fact that Van Dijk is a surprise inclusion on the list, but it's not an outrageous choice. After all, few would truly try and pin Liverpool's recent defensive downturn on him, and his form before the team's slump was impeccable.

It's a timely reminder to look at the bigger picture when it comes to Van Dijk. There are question marks over whether he really warrants a new contract, given that he will turn 33 in the summer — and while it is a decision that requires some serious consideration, it would be rash to look at recent results and declare that he is past his best.

So far, there's been no indication that the center-back is anything other than world class when playing in a side that is functioning as it should. If Slot can fix the slight issues further up the pitch, Van Dijk could still be a key player for a few years yet.

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Union Saint-Gilloise star Mohamed Amoura has already shown Liverpool what he is capable of ahead of the summer transfer window. The Algerian international has been linked with a move to Anfield following his strong showings in the Europa League.

Liverpool has since dropped out of the European competition, following a tough tie against Serie A side Atalanta. The Reds secured a 1-0 win in the second leg, however, it wasn't enough to overturn the 3-0 deficit the team faced after the first meeting between the two sides at Anfield.

Before this clash, Liverpool had high hopes of securing the Europa League trophy following the performances in Group E of the competition. The Reds topped the group, which included Toulouse, Union SG and LASK, with 12 points across the six games.

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It wasn't all plain sailing for Jürgen Klopp's side, especially against Belgian side Union SG. Liverpool won the first meeting 2-0 back in October but then suffered a 2-1 loss at Lotto Park in the reverse fixture in December. A loss that was kickstarted by a goal from Amoura in the 32nd minute.

According to French outlet L’Equipe, Liverpool have now joined the race to secure the signing of the versatile forward this summer. Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion is also in contention for the transfer.

It comes as no surprise after having a firsthand look at what Amoura is capable of. For his goal against the Reds, the Union SG forward burst in behind the Liverpool defence and displayed an immense amount of pace, before roundingCaoimhín Kelleher and slotting his effort home.

While it was only a brief moment, it was certainly enough to give a glimpse of what he might be capable of if he did arrive at Liverpool. Amoura is currently contracted at the club until until 2027 but could be available for as little as $21.4million (€20m/£17m) this summer.

It is understood that Brighton has a 'priority option' for the player, given the close relationship the Seagulls have with the Belgian side. Liverpool has reportedly made 'enquiries' regarding his availability more recently, while German duo Vfl Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt also monitor the situation.

Liverpool.com says: At this price, Amoura would be a bargain. If CEO of football Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes thinks he is capable of producing in the Premier League, it is a no-brainer. If Brighton is interested, it is usually a good indication of a solid talent, too! Whether it is a move Arne Slot would sign off on, remains to be seen.

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Liverpool has just two games left under Jürgen Klopp. The coming days will be filled with nostalgia: that Barcelona comeback, lifting the Premier League title for the first time, and even those infamous celebrations after a 2-2 draw with West Brom. Nobody outside of Anfield really saw what the manager was building that day, but look where it has led.

There have been some low points too. A walking reminder of one of Klopp's more testing seasons is currently being coveted by Stockport. But the manager will leave as one of the all-time greats of Liverpool Football Club.

The focus will soon turn to the future, with Arne Slot seemingly the one chosen to replace Klopp. He will arrive as 'head coach' rather than manager, with Michael Edwards and new sporting director Richard Hughes taking the lead on transfers — and all eyes will be on summer business.

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Nico Williams is one name who has been mentioned, and it seems both Chelsea and Aston Villa have gone off the Athletic Club forward. Here, Liverpool.com takes a scan around the Premier League and across the continent to see what's going on at Liverpool's rivals.

Chelsea backs away from Nico Williams demands

Chelsea and Aston Villa have both balked at the wage demands of Nico Williams. That's according to 90MIN.

The younger brother of Iñaki Williams has been hotly touted for a transfer this summer, having forged his own reputation at the Basque club. Liverpool is one of the clubs to have been linked (Mirror), while TeamTalk claims Barcelona boss Xavi is 'determined' to bring him to the Nou Camp.

But it seems neither Chelsea nor Villa will be taking its interest any further. They have been 'put off' a deal by the finances, despite the fact that the contract Williams signed in January contains a relatively modest $54m (£43m/€50m) release clause.

That's because the new deal also reportedly took Williams' salary up to $215k (£172k/€200k) per week. The 21-year-old would expect an increase on this figure were he to make a move elsewhere.

Liverpool.com says: That apparent salary increase in January looks far more significant than the release clause that was inserted. It's little wonder that Chelsea and Aston Villa have been put off by the prospect of having to improve such hefty personal terms.

Williams is an exciting talent, but even in the Premier League, it would be unusual to see a youngster paid so much. Plenty of Liverpool's key performers are on a lower wage than that, so it goes without saying that the Reds will also surely drop any interest they might have had.

If the report is accurate, you wouldn't be unduly surprised to see Williams follow the path of his brother. For a while, Iñaki was constantly linked with moves away, but nothing materialized, and he ultimately became an all-time great at Athletic.

Stockport wants to make Louie Barry deal permanent

Rewind the clock to January 2021. Liverpool's defenders were dropping like flies, with Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies mere weeks away from arriving in panic deadline day deals.

Even so, the Reds still went into their FA Cup tie against Aston Villa as massive favorites, after a Covid outbreak had swept through the Midlands outfit's squad. In an uncanny reversal of a previous EFL Cup meeting, where Liverpool had sent its senior squad to the Club World Cup, the two teams played out a massively mismatched encounter.

Aston Villa's side didn't have a single senior appearance to its name, but Louie Barry caused some buzz, having been on the books at Barcelona until quite recently. The seemingly inevitable happened when he inflicted some pain on Liverpool, cancelling out an early Sadio Mané goal to give Klopp a scare.

Liverpool went on to win 4-1, although it was still a season to forget in the end. As for Barry, the now-20-year-old has been sent out on a succession of loans.

The latest and most successful was to Stockport County, whom he helped to the League Two title. Now, per TeamTalk, the newly-promoted side is looking to make the deal permanent.

Liverpool.com says: This isn't what Barry would have expected when he was a teenager at Barcelona, nor even when he was netting against Liverpool. But his loan at Stockport has certainly got him back on the right track.

It's claimed Championship clubs are also monitoring his situation. Still, it looks as though it could be a circuitous journey back to the top for Barry, who for so long looked like being fast-tracked there.

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Fabio Carvalho has admitted to making a mistake in how he handled his withdrawal from international duty in 2022, but has made it clear which country he wishes to represent.

In November 2022, Carvalho pulled out of international duty with Portugal under-21s via a text message, leaving coach Rui Jorge “disappointed” by his conduct.

He has since failed to play any international football, but in an interview with the Echo, Carvalho acknowledged his mistake and pledged allegiance to Portugal.

Carvalho explained: “There was a little hiccup with Portugal, a little misunderstanding let’s say. It was my fault.

“There were other factors going into it, but I think the way I handled the situation because I had a family matter, wasn’t the best. But I’m still learning and I’ve learnt from my mistake.

“I want to play for Portugal. I have obviously played for England, but I don’t really have a British passport to play in European competitions or the World Cup.

“So I think that door is closed if I’m being honest with you.

“But I’m Portuguese and I want to play for Portugal. If they call me up, I’ll be willing to represent.”

The 21-year-old is Portuguese-born but he did represent England from U15 to U18 level, though his decision is clear and only time will tell if he earns a call-up.

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Carvalho will return to Liverpool this summer for the start of pre-season, and he will have a new manager to impress after two loan spells in 2023/24.

The first half of the campaign was spent with Leipzig, which proved underwhelming, before a successful spell at Hull followed, where he made 20 appearances, scored nine goals and assisted two.

He recently said: “I’m just excited for the future. It’s not been great [so far], but in a way, that’s a good thing, depending on how you look at it. It can only get better.”

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Despite constantly professing his English is not always up to scratch, Jurgen Klopp knows how to string words together to make the biggest impact – whether it be emotional, for laughs or inspiration.

There is something to be said about a person who can read the room and deliver the words we either want to or need to hear, and Klopp had the ability long before he arrived at Anfield.

Charismatic and captivating, the German has always been able to find the right words for any moment, whether it be in times of triumph or disappointment.

It takes a special character to do so, and we’ve been privileged for nearly nine years with a front-row seat to his magic off the pitch.

Without further ado, here are some of Klopp’s best quotes as Liverpool manager:

If there was a quote that sums up how Klopp approaches football, it’s this:

“You can fall down and then you must stand up. Only silly idiots stay on the floor. We will strike back, 100 percent.” – Said after 2016 League Cup final defeat

From the off, he made it clear what fans could expect from his side moving forward:

“I ask that you believe in this team and believe that together we can achieve great things.

“The team will go out and battle for you and look to represent you, the club and the city in how we approach our work: this is my commitment.”

And it was always a perfect match for Klopp, just as it was for Liverpool:

“I heard from my agent that Liverpool is interested and I felt immediately, ‘Oh God’, it’s like when I met my wife – I saw her and thought OK, I marry her and it was like that with the club.

“It felt right from the first moment.”

We’ve all seen this one after that night against Barcelona, and it will stand the test of time:

“I said to the boys, ‘I think it’s impossible but because it’s you we have a chance.’ And we believed in this chance.

“I don’t know how the boys did it. These boys are f***ing mentality giants, it’s unbelievable.”

And after this wild journey we’ve been on, let’s not forget he’s just the ‘Normal One’:

“I don’t want to describe myself. I’m a totally normal guy. I came from the Black Forest. I’m the ‘Normal One’.”

And normal he may be, but he’s always been incredibly resourceful when it comes to a new jingle:

“Let’s talk about six, baby, let’s talk about you and me, let’s talk about all the good things and all the bad things there may be.”

When it comes to humour, Klopp has always had a knack for that too – take this example after his glasses were broken in that dramatic 5-4 win over Norwich:

“I usually have a second pair of glasses but I can’t find them because it’s hard to find glasses without glasses!”

After Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain‘s serious knee injury in 2018, he came out with this great one-liner:

“I told him already we will wait for him like a good wife when her man is in prison.”

When Alberto Moreno‘s goal was ruled offside against Newcastle, he had this to say about the linesman, in typical Klopp fashion:

“Because we weren’t good enough, the linesman thought, ‘You don’t make a world-class goal if you play this shit so [you don’t get the goal]!”

His first press conference as Liverpool manager was full of gems, and none more so than this one:

“You have to change from a doubter to a believer. We have to start together new and then we will see what will happen this year.”

The weight of Liverpool’s history had been a heavy burden, but Klopp was quick to change that:

“All this time people try to get better to improve and to take the next title. History is only the base for us. But you’re not allowed to carry around your big history with you in a backpack.”

And, thankfully, there has never been a need to head to Switzerland!:

“If we sit here in four years, I think we win one title. If I don’t win the next one, maybe it will have to be in Switzerland!”

If that’s a quote to live by, it’s this one. Said before Liverpool’s clash against Barcelona, when the Reds needed to overturn a three-goal deficit:

“That is the plan: just try. If we can do it, wonderful. If not, then fail in the most beautiful way.”

When Liverpool sold Philippe Coutinho in 2018, Klopp offered a striking quote that will stand the test of time:

“You cannot transfer the heart and soul of Liverpool Football Club, although I am sure there are many clubs who would like to buy it.”

Klopp’s Liverpool did it their way:

“We created our own story and history and didn’t try to do what our wonderful dads and grandfathers did with this club.”

Has a truer word ever been spoken:

“If you had Wikipedia or Google and put in ‘European nights’ the answer must be: Anfield.”

It doesn’t always feel this way, but Jurgen, as ever, hit the nail on the head:

“I’ve said before that football always seems the most important of the least important things.”

The time and investment he gave to the academy means Klopp has come very close to achieving ‘the dream’:

“The dream is to have a team full of ‘Scousers’. What we want to be is the sport for everybody with a Scouse soul.”

On his farewell tour, his penultimate home game, he gifted us with this superb quote:

“This is a very, very special club. I didn’t make them (the fans) believe, I reminded them that it helps when you believe.”

And it is perhaps right for us to finish on this note, with words that came during the 2022 trophy parade that left Klopp mesmerised by the overwhelming support:

“This is the best club in the world, don’t care what other people think.”

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Cody Gakpo can serve has a timely reminder for Darwin Nunez as the Liverpool striker battles to find his form at Anfield

Cody Gakpo can serve has a timely reminder for Darwin Nunez as the Liverpool striker battles to find his form at Anfield

Liverpool's signing of Darwin Nunez in 2022 is not the first time Jurgen Klopp and the Reds' recruitment team have had a difference of opinion when it comes to transfer targets