Liverpool

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Goalkeeping coach John Achterberg has announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after 15 years at Anfield.

A former Tranmere Rovers goalkeeper, Achterberg joined the Reds' backroom staff in 2009 and worked with the youth teams before his appointment as goalkeeping coach in 2011.

He will depart the club this summer alongside manager Jurgen Klopp, who he paid tribute to in a farewell message., external

"Klopp has fulfilled all our dreams at LFC," he said. "He is one of [the] best managers in the history of the city, the club and world football.

"For me personally, I cannot thank him enough for everything he has done for me and my family, for the trust he gave me to do my job to the best I can, the joy, inspiration and the great leadership."

These have been tough times for Liverpool. Their Premier League title-winning hopes are surely only still possible in mathematical terms rather than footballing ones.

Performance wise, they have failed to match the expectations that were set and maintained by an incredible first half of the season, that was much better than the vast majority of seasoned Reds watchers had anticipated.

The four-trophy finale to Jurgen Klopp's time as manager was always more of a dream than a realistic ambition. Nevertheless, it has not been any less painful for the fans to see such an outlandish scenario slip away.

But the time for post-mortems has passed, even if the opportunity to learn lessons has not.

In some of their recent matches, there has been a lack of intensity both individually and collectively. The players all know that it has become not only a fundamental requirement for success in the Premier League, it is also been a central pillar of the way Liverpool have played since Klopp arrived in 2015.

The reasons for their fall from grace are many and various. They have had a horrendous run of luck with injuries all season, in every single position. Even though the enterprise and endeavour displayed by "Klopp's Kids" played a big part in their Carabao Cup win, it does not come as a surprise that there was a knock-on effect to losing a number of key players at the same time.

The fact that a lot of them returned to the squad, at pretty much the same time, for the final couple of months of the campaign is also a factor. Getting the very best footballer fit is one thing, getting them match-fit is another.

There are just three games left in Liverpool's season and just three games remaining of the Jurgen Klopp era. Since "The Normal One" captivated everyone at his very first news conference, he has been a force for good for the club.

During his time, Liverpool have won almost all there is to win in club football. To push Manchester City so close on two occasions in the Premier League is also worthy of an honourable mention. He has enabled Liverpool to return to football's top table and he has done it with a passion and a purpose that were at the very core of Bill Shankly's great teams.

Tottenham provide the opposition at Anfield in the first of those final three matches. Given the talent in their ranks, they have the capability to cause problems for even the best teams.

Liverpool need to regain their confidence and composure that has been sadly lacking recently and, if possible, get back to the fire-and-brimstone football that has been the hallmark of the Klopp era.

The Football News Show chats to Dutch football journalist Marcel van der Kraan to find out how Arne Slot's lack of pace during his playing career may have turned him into one of the most sought-after managers in European football.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

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Liverpool's former head physio Andy Renshaw believes the turnaround time between some games is "madness".

Renshaw spent eight years with the Reds before leaving in 2017 and now works as a consultant to clubs across the country.

This season, Jurgen Klopp and other Premier League managers have spoken about the difficulties of players' workload, following increased numbers of injuries at some clubs.

Speaking exclusively to the BBC Football Extra newsletter, Renshaw said: "Each player responds differently to the workload. Some can tolerate it, some can't.

"Whether that means we are hitting that limit more than we ever used to, we'd need to analyse accurate data from all clubs to support that. The Premier League will have all that anyway but the clubs should be coming out with all that information in my opinion.

"In terms of an increased intensity, that's certainly been the case in the past few years. The game continues to go that way, the speed continues to increase. Whether we're hitting a point where we can't push any more, we do that over the course of a season anyway."

While other countries take a winter break over the festive period,, in recent seasons the Premier League has had a mid-season pause for clubs in January.

However, this will now be scrapped for the upcoming season after changes to the footballing calendar.

"You've only got to look at injury numbers as they peak during pre-season and they peak at Christmas," added Renshaw.

"I remember one year at Liverpool, we played Manchester City in the late kick-off on New Year's Eve. We were back in on the morning on New Year's Day to train and travel because we had a 3pm kick-off in Sunderland the next day.

"Two games in 48 hours - it's madness."

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At West Ham, the wheels finally and officially came off Liverpool's bid for glory. Not only the wheels but the wings too - well, the right wing with Mohamed Salah anyway.

It had been another less than glorious performance by the Reds, but the denouement could start to look a little sad after the very public breakdown between the manager and his star player.

Salah was frustrated at being left out again, then not brought on at half-time and that he was then only given 13 measly minutes to affect the game. The Hammers' equaliser, scored while he stood on the touchline, was the final straw. We have all been there in the game, but you usually bite your lip at what is the manager's "error" in your eyes.

There is almost certainly something else going on in the background too which will be revealed eventually, though I am sure it was not about Jurgen's imminent departure and him losing the team's full respect because of that.

Their race was probably already run in midweek after Everton had more desire to survive than Liverpool had desire to hang on grimly to their fading hopes. As the Bible didn't quite say 'And Then There Were Two', but well done Liverpool for staying this far.

The new Liverpool FC starts here and Klopp will be a hard Messiah to replace. It might also be impossible for Salah to be as big an influence going forward with the new coach's high intensity style.

This weekend truly was the end of an era.

Pat Nevin was writing for the BBC Football Extra newsletter

Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman believes that a culmination of things involving Liverpool and Mohamed Salah has made the whole situation "very intense".

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Osman said: "This spat [against West Ham] has been a terrible timing for the whole situation Liverpool are in.

"With them falling out of the title race, with Jurgen Klopp leaving in the summer, with the potential of Mo Salah leaving."

New York Times journalist Rory Smith said: "Regardless of what happened - with Klopp, with the new manager, with the title race and with the four trophies - there would have been a conversation over whether this would be Salah's last season anyway.

"The big problem for everyone involved is: if I'm Mo Salah, who is 31 and in very good nick, do I want to go to Saudi Arabia? Probably not.

"It was different last summer when that first wave of players went. They could pretend it was exciting and new and they were building the game in one of its great frontier lands.

"If you're an athlete who thinks of themselves at the absolute peak of their powers, I'm not sure whether you go [now].

"If Salah doesn't go to Saudi Arabia, I don't entirely know where he does go."

The Egypt forward's contract runs out in the summer of 2025, when he will be 33, and Smith added: "Salah maybe stays - because that's the most sensible move. He won't feel as though he's ready to go to Saudi Arabia."

Watch the full episode of Monday Night Club on BBC iPlayer or listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been answering your questions.

Gary asked: Have teams caught on to the fact that Trent Alexander-Arnold is not the greatest defender, and can Liverpool and England afford to take a chance on him defensively?

Simon replied: I think we have known for a while Alexander-Arnold is not the most watertight when it comes to tracking runners or holding his position in transition. The question is whether his abilities on the ball, which are exceptional, balance that out.

I am still uncertain. He can clearly step into midfield as has become the trend in the Premier League. But would I pick him in midfield for England? I am not sure about that given the players we have there.

I would definitely have him in my squad for the Euros but he is not starting ahead of Kyle Walker. It is slightly different with Liverpool because you can construct a squad that covers his weaknesses.

Image source, Getty Images

Mohamed Salah's contract at Liverpool runs out in summer 2025 and there has been speculation about his future - including talk of a possible move to Saudi Arabia - following his touchline spat with manager Jurgen Klopp at West Ham on Saturday.

However, Liverpool's stance has not changed - the Egypt forward was not for sale before the Hammers game and that remains the case as things stand.

Owners Fenway Sports Group recently appointed the Reds' former sporting director Michael Edwards as chief executive of football.

Richard Hughes will also become the club's new sporting director when he leaves his position as Bournemouth technical director at the end of the season and Salah's future will be one of the things on their agenda.

Liverpool fully expect Mohamed Salah to stay this summer and are planning for next season on the basis of the forward still being part of their squad. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Incoming sporting director Richard Hughes will lead talks over a new contract for Salah, whose current deal runs until 2025. (Times - subscription required), external

Crystal Palace's £55m-rated defender Marc Guehi is of interest to Liverpool, as they seek a replacement for Joel Matip, who is set to leave when his contract runs out in the summer. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Premier League clubs have voted in favour of adopting an anchoring economic model, which will be linked to the earnings of the bottom club (tv and prize money).

The proposed system would operate like a spending cap.

The next stage is final analysis and drafting of rules, which will potentially be put to clubs at an AGM in June.

The model will be presented to clubs and - should clubs vote in favour then - it will replace the Profit and Sustainability Rules currently in place, from the 2025-26 season onwards.

Any new element of the financial system would come in shadow next season, to fully replace PSR in 2025-26.

“We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a ‘hard’ cap on player wages," said the PFA

“There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on.”

Aston Villa, Manchester City and Manchester United opposed the vote, with Chelsea abstaining.

We asked Liverpool fans for their thoughts on Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah's touchline argument at West Ham on Saturday.

Here are some of the responses we received:

Dom: Club first, manager second and players last. Mo should remember his place if he doesn't want to stain his legacy as a modern club great.

Colin: Salah has nobody to blame but himself for the position he is in. He has been out of form since his injury, and has had countless chances to score goals, but unfortunately not done so. But to be disrespectful to Jurgen Klopp is inexcusable. He will always be a legend at Liverpool, but is tarnishing his legacy.

Murna: I’m not joining the band wagon that says Klopp has been great for Liverpool. Yes, Salah has been poor this season, but Klopp winning one title in nine years is not success. Klopp has lost titles after titles to Pep Guardiola and would laugh doing so. Pep would be disappointed Klopp, his good luck charm, is leaving!

Trevor: Salah has been great for Liverpool since we signed him, an absolute gem. But if you are not on form and you get benched, why be angry with the manager? Salah has been half his usual self since he came back from injury - he should keep his mouth shut and accept what the manager says. Salah's time is up now. Liverpool will sell him in the summer.

Tommy: Salah is well past his sell by date and must leave the club at the end of the season. He had absolutely no right to berate Klopp. Thanks, but it's time to go.

Bill: Salah needs to look at his own performances since January, which have simply not been good enough. Without his goals he offers very little and the reason we have faded from the title race is the front three are not taking their chances and killing games off.

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been answering your questions.

One fan asked about the apparent bust-up between Mohamed Salah and Jurgen Klopp on Saturday and whether, given the manager's departure at the end of the season, this simmer could be the right time to cash in on the forward.

Simon replied: I can see the merit in that but I can also see an argument for Liverpool keeping one of their best players to give Arne Slot the best chance of hitting the ground running.

We are not exactly sure what caused the spat at London Stadium but it is reasonably safe to assume Salah was not too happy at being left out.

However, his performances generally have been well below his normal high standards. When Salah is on form, he would never be left out.

Image source, Getty Images

Keo asked: Liverpool have been misfiring this season. Do you think it is down to players being slow to come back from injuries, or do they need an overhaul up front like they did for their midfield?

Simon replied: It feels like we are approaching the end of an era at Anfield. The spat between Jurgen Klopp and Mo Salah did not look good at all and suggested a breakdown in relations between the coach and players, given Salah obviously has friends in the dressing room.

The campaign as a whole has not ended the way anyone at Liverpool would have wanted and Klopp's exit brings a fresh pair of eyes in Arne Slot.

And, while one of the attractions of Slot is that he plays a similar style of football to Klopp, any new manager would want at least a couple of his own players.

Evolution rather than revolution is how I see it at Liverpool this summer.

Read more of the Q&A with Simon here

It is quite a sad ending to a beautiful story.

The best player of Jurgen Klopp's era fighting with his manager on the sideline as any hope of a farewell title faded away.

Mo Salah should know better. This is a footballer who covers his mouth with his hand whenever he speaks to anyone after the game, acutely aware that the cameras are always on him. But he simply didn't care when first rejecting his manager's act of encouragement and then berating him before he was subbed on in the 2-2 draw with West Ham.

Klopp tried to diffuse the situation after the game, telling the media that the matter was dealt with in the dressing room. Salah did not.

"If I speak today, there will be fire," he said, which only added to speculation and fanned the flames he was supposedly putting out.

• What do you think of Salah and Klopp's argument? Tell us here

Salah has no right to be angry at being benched. He has been in horrendous form and has looked a shadow of himself since the beginning of March.

Obviously, he is a legend and one of the greatest players to ever represent the club. It would be great if both he and Klopp could put on a show of togetherness in the next fixture at home to Spurs, even if it was just for the fans.

This season has fizzled out into a likely third-place finish when it promised so much. So we now need to at least celebrate Klopp's tenure without rubbish like this getting in the way.

Jordan Chamberlain can be found at Empire of the Kop, external

Image source, Getty Images

At the crucial moment, Liverpool's finishing touch has deserted them.

The Reds began a season-defining April with a 3-1 home win over Sheffield United which opened up a two-point lead over Arsenal and three-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League - each with eight games to play.

Since then, Jurgen Klopp's farewell tour has faltered with two defeats, two draws and just a solitary win in their last five league games, effectively ending the German manager's dream of bowing out with a second Premier League title.

In this period however, the frequency and quality of their opportunities have not dipped. In fact, Liverpool have actually taken more shots per game over these five matches than in their first 30 games - 23 to 20 - and their xG [expected goals] created of 2.3 per 90 has been exactly the same.

It is just the final touch which has been missing with their shot conversion rate of 12% in their first 30 halving to 6% in their last five. It is notable also that main man Mohammed Salah's only league goal in April was a penalty at Old Trafford.

An untimely moment then to also begin allowing opponents more, and better quality, shots than they have done at any point this season.

An unusual bluntness in front of goal has been coupled with an uncharacteristic porousness in defence. Liverpool have faced an average of 11.2 shots in their last five games compared to 10.8 in their first 30 but 5.8 on target per match compared to 3.5 before the draw at Old Trafford on 7 April.

In their first 30 games only around 1 in 3 of the shots they gave up tested the goalkeeper but over the last five games every other shot has hit the target.

The proportion of their opponent’s shots off target has dropped from 40% to 28% and the proportion of their opponent’s shots they have blocked has dropped from 28% to 20% - meaning the defence are allowing shots from better positions and are failing to put themselves between the shot and the goal as often as earlier in the season.

It is as if the wave of emotion they have been riding since Klopp announced his departure is fizzling out before our eyes married with the fatigue of a grueling season, intense external pressure and inexperience in some quarters.

His successor - which appears likely to be Feynoord boss Arne Slot - will have clear areas to work on to make the Reds the finished article again, despite a solid and promising base to build upon from Klopp's final season.

We asked for your views on Saturday's match between West Ham United and Liverpool.

Here are some of your answers:

West Ham fans

Harry: I'll take a draw. We should have scored maybe two or three goals in the first half, but deserved the opener through a great header by Bowen. A terrible start to the second half, conceding two goals within 20 minutes, but we made up for it with a good header by Antonio. The result keeps us in the talk for Europe.

Steve: As a team, we drop too far back and invite teams to attack us. Bowen and Kudus were the outstanding performers, in my opinion, for the Hammers but our defence was very shaky again. It was just a good job that Liverpool didn’t take their chances. It is time for Moyes to go - he has taken us as far as he can and his tactics have had their day.

John: It wasn’t a bad performance, but it was typical of the season. We just can’t seem to hang on to a lead. We have also conceded more goals than anyone outside the bottom three. For a pragmatic manager, that is poor. David Moyes has made mistakes, but it has been with a very thin squad. I'm on the fence.

Mo: Well done, Hammers. We would have gladly taken 2-2, if offered that result before the match. It shows what we can do, with disciplined defensive organisation. European qualification is still a possibility. We are not a rich club but we have brought in good players, astutely, recently. Please, please, please stay Moyes!

Liverpool fans

Seth: The team look out of energy, out of ideas, and out of any sort of cutting edge. There are too many big players missing in action, who are not standing up to be counted. Our inability to find the net and kill off games when we are in the ascendancy, coupled with a very leaky defence, meant the possible quadruple fizzled out meekly in a matter of weeks.

Mike: Liverpool have lost the plot and will be lucky to finish third in the Premier League this season. They are far too inconsistent and Klopp announcing his departure was not the wisest of moves. That alone will have affected some of the player's thoughts, especially as to where they will stand when he leaves.

Conor: I can't remember the last convincing win Liverpool had. It feels like they were only in a title race through sheer luck in matches. Klopp is maybe leaving at the right time because the club looks like it needs fresh energy at this point.

Ian: It is such a shame that Klopp may be remembered by some for his last few months and not the great work he has done over the years. The spat with Salah appears to be more fuelled by him not starting and being substituted more often, but he must score to warrant starting! Since his injury, he has not been at his best. Maturity is required by all.

Image source, Getty Images

The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards says Liverpool coming up short this season sums up Jurgen Klopp's time at the club.

Just a month ago a quadruple was still on the cards for the Reds. But since their quarter-final defeats in the FA Cup and Europa League, they have "fizzled out", says Edwards.

"It has not been the greatest of weeks for them," said Edwards on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"It is a shame that the wheels have well and truly fallen off Klopp's farewell tour because he is going to end his final season as manager with a Carabao Cup.

"In a way that sums up his time at Liverpool - excellent side and has done a brilliant job, but just come up short."

Saturday's 2-2 draw at West Ham widened the gap between Liverpool and second-place Manchester City to four points, with Arsenal holding on to their one point lead at the top of the table.

"It looks like a team winding down now and that was not helped by the clash with Mohamed Salah," added Edwards. "They have just ran out of steam and momentum, which is a sad way for Klopp's time to come to an end.

"It has all just fizzled out."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

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Liverpool's title hopes are all but a distant memory with the Reds only managing to take one win from their past five Premier League games.

Jurgen Klopp's side dropped more points after failing to hold on to their 2-1 lead against West Ham, but former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer expected the Reds to "come out flying" against David Moyes' side.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer said: "I expected them to come out flying, particularly after being out-fought and out-played in their own local derby, when they were so disappointing.

"They were poor all over the pitch, particularly up front. There were so many bad decisions. They were so poor in forward positions, I think they had so many simple passes across [the box]. Just knock it across with your foot planted. They had some easy balls to knock across.

"For Harvey Elliott's chance, if he doesn't go back across the goalkeeper then he has got to pull the ball back and lay it off square, ready for someone to tap in.

"I don't know what Cody Gakpo was doing [for his chance]. If he steps to the other side of the ball, the defender cannot get anywhere near it. He then tried to do some sort of pirouette, full-turn and flick it over his head. Alright, the ball might not have had the right pace on it, but he tends to come back into the defender then.

"Luis Diaz was offside [for one of his chances]. It was a terrible decision - you are looking right across the pitch - there is no need to be offside there. You can see where the defenders are. Again, another poor decision.

"The manager, without doubt, gets into them at half-time. They start moving the ball quicker, Andy Robertson gets higher up the pitch, then they commit more men into the box and get their reward early in the second-half.

"Mohamed Salah then comes on, and just look at his attitude. Liverpool had a good throw in, they got down the line and, if you look at where he is, he has moved about five yards and there is no-one in the box. No-one, not even him."

Catch up on Match of the Day here

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League strikers Alan Shearer and Ian Wright have been discussing the "very strange" incident between goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and forward Cody Gakpo in the 2-2 draw between West Ham United and Liverpool on Match of the Day.

Wright gave his opinion on referee Anthony Taylor's decision: "I thought the referee had an absolute nightmare. The referee is running off, he is saying to play on, he stops, he actually tells the goalkeeper to get up and he says it a couple of times.

"Then Alphonse Areola finally gets up, the referee runs off and says to play on, and Anthony Taylor turns his back to the players. I think Gakpo should have just gone and finished that off. He just should have gone and finished it.

"But then he blows the whistle - I don't know what's happening at that point, to be honest. It is like: what is going on?"

Shearer added: "When the goalkeeper Areola has collided with the post, that is when the referee should've stopped the play and blown the whistle.

"He hasn't blown the whistle, which is an error, so then Gakpo has then tried to finish it.

"But then the referee actually calls the physios and doctors on - they are not even ready! They don't even think that Areola is injured - he is not injured.

"Anthony Taylor was just trying to rectify the mistake that he had made. It was a very messy situation caused by the referee."

Catch up on Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch highlights of Sunday's games on Match of the Day 2 here

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full:

• Man Utd 1-1 Burnley

• Everton 1-0 Brentford

Liverpool are preparing themselves for bids of up to £150m from clubs in Saudi Arabia for forward Mohamed Salah. (Football Insider), external

Defender Lutsharel Geertruida, 23, could leave Feyenoord alongside manager Arne Slot to join Liverpool. The Netherlands international was watching from the stands during the Reds' 2-2 draw at West Ham on Saturday (Express), external

Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in Brighton's 20-year-old Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba. (Caught Offside), external

Leeds United want to sign Liverpool defender Nat Phillips, who is on loan at Cardiff City. (Mirror, via Yorkshire Post), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column