Liverpool

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Former Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward has been appointed to a new role by the club's Fenway Sports Group owners.

Ward became the Anfield side's sporting director after Michael Edwards left the role in summer 2022 but, in a decision that surprised and disappointed the Reds, he departed the club at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp announced in January he would be leaving the Merseysiders at the end of this season after almost nine years in charge. Since then, Edwards has been been persuaded to return to the FSG fold as its chief executive of football.

He has now brought back Ward, who will become FSG's technical director on 1 June in a role, like that of Edwards, which will include but not be limited to Liverpool as the organisation looks to add a second club to its portfolio.

Edwards has already appointed a new Liverpool sporting director in Richard Hughes, who will begin his role when he leaves his position as Bournemouth technical director at the end of the campaign.

The restructure at Liverpool is taking place as the Reds prepare for Klopp’s farewell to a role he has been in since October 2015 and with Feyenoord manager Arne Slot set to succeed the German.

Jurgen Klopp has addressed speculation over the future of Darwin Nunez.

The striker has drawn focus on times this season over missed chances and this week talk of a possible summer exit grew when he reportedly deleted Liverpool images from one of his social media platforms.

His manager said he was unaware of plans to move Nunez on.

Image source, Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp gave a "hello and sorry" after arriving a little late to his news conference this morning to look forward to Monday night’s game at Aston Villa.

But, when he was reminded it wasn’t the first time in recent weeks, he replied with a, "to be honest, who gives a …?"

It was classic Klopp as he continued to give the air of a manager who will be leaving at the end of the season.

He is proving as captivating a character as he has always been as his stint at Liverpool comes to and end and showing why Reds fans adore him so much.

Klopp has good and bad memories of playing at Aston Villa, with a comeback 2-1 win when the Reds won the league in 2019-2020 before a 7-2 thrashing the following season.

The German talked about the former game and how the turnaround happened after two players had an argument in the dressing room at half-time, although he added “you will not get the names from me”.

With the Reds' title hopes all-but over, he also questioned if his side “were the best team in the league” in a season in which “we had our moments”.

He said he was “surprised” Mohamed Salah was not on the Premier League player of the season shortlist but that was about as much as he had to say on the issue.

Nevertheless, Klopp was on good form before making his exit in the build-up to his penultimate game as Reds boss.

Jurgen Klopp says he "regrets" not playing Harvey Elliott more this season following his impressive performance against Tottenham.

The midfielder has so far made 32 Premier League appearances for the Reds, but 23 of those have been from the substitutes bench.

The 21-year-old, who has surpassed a century of appearances for his boyhood club, has scored four goals in all competitions and registered nine assists.

"If I regret something a little bit," said Klopp. "It is that Harvey did not play more, maybe."

In a difficult season plagued with injuries to key players, the Liverpool boss has had to rotate his squad where possible to keep league and European hopes alive.

Cody Gakpo has been another player who has been in and out of the team.

In recent weeks he has found form again, with Klopp revealing one-on-one talks have proven significant.

"Cody knew for a while he was not at his best," Klopp said on his absence from being in the starting 11. "We had a conversation and it has helped him a lot.

"How can I have an answer for a situation if I do not understand? Maybe it took too long but after the talk, he really stepped up.

"He is so physically strong, he is smart and he has real confidence. He is great for us."

Jurgen Klopp has been speaking to the media before his final away game in charge of Liverpool at Aston Villa on Monday.

Here are the key lines:

• He said he "is surprised" that Mo Salah has not made the Premier League shortlist for Player of the Year.

• He expects a difficult game against Villa because "it is their last home game of the season so they will want a good last one".

• On Unai Emery, who is set to bring Champions League football to Villa Park: "He is one of the best we have in the business. I have known him for so long and he always had a clear idea of his play. He is doing an exceptional job."

• He said he will try and not get a yellow card on Monday because he would then be suspended for his final game in charge of the club. He added: "I don’t need to be on the touchline, but it would be cool I guess!"

• He said the intensity of their performance against Tottenham was what they "needed and wanted and what the fans deserved".

• Centre-back Jarell Quansah "had a really good game" against Spurs but Klopp added he picks his side based on "who looks in the best moment" in training.

• In response to the rumours of Darwin Nunez's departure: "There is no speculation so that must be external. He has been unlucky in so many situations because he does everything right and the ball doesn't go in."

• On Nunez, Klopp added: "He knows about expectations, he has big expectations of himself. He has no alternative than going through this. We will try to help him as much as we can but in the end you have to go through this, everybody had to go through this. This is part of a footballer's career.”

• On 'An Evening With Jurgen Klopp' event: "I said whatever people ask me to do that in that perspective, I will do. If the people want that, I will be here."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences here

Here are the key facts and figures before Monday's game between Aston Villa and Liverpool in the Premier League.

• Aston Villa have won just one and lost 10 (D1) of their last 12 Premier League games against Liverpool. Their one victory was a 7-2 win at Villa Park in October 2020.

• Liverpool have won more Premier League away games against Aston Villa than they have vs any other opponent (16). Only against Newcastle and West Ham (35 each) do they have more wins overall than against Villa in the competition (33).

• Aston Villa lost 1-0 against Brighton last time out - and they have not lost consecutive Premier League games since May last year (1-0 vs Manchester United and Wolves).

• Liverpool have only lost one of their last 26 Premier League games in May (W19 D6) and are unbeaten in their last 18 since a 1-0 loss at Chelsea in 2018 (W15 D3).

• Only against Brighton (6) has Ollie Watkins scored more Premier League goals than he has against Liverpool (5). His next goal will be his 20th in the league this season – the last Aston Villa player to score 20+ in a top-flight campaign was Peter Withe in 1980-81 (20).

• Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has both scored and assisted in four different Premier League games this season. Only Cole Palmer has done so more often (5). Salah has done it 31 times overall in the Premier League - with only Wayne Rooney (36) and Thierry Henry (32) doing so more.

Eintracht Frankfurt want 50-60m euros for 22-year-old Ecuador defender Willian Pacho, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool. (Sky Sports Germany), external

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

Image source, Getty Images

Nominees for the Premier League's manager of the season have been revealed:

• Mikel Arteta - Arsenal

• Pep Guardiola - Manchester City

• Jurgen Klopp - Liverpool

• Unai Emery - Aston Villa

• Andoni Iraola - Bournemouth

Voting is open now on the official Premier League website, external with the winner to be announced on Tuesday, 21 May.

Image source, Getty Images

The eight-man shortlist for player of the season has been released and supporters can vote on the Premier League website, external.

Here are those in the running:

• Declan Rice - Arsenal

• Martin Odegaard - Arsenal

• Phil Foden - Manchester City

• Erling Haaland - Manchester City

• Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool

• Ollie Watkins - Aston Villa

• Alexander Isak - Newcastle

• Cole Palmer - Chelsea

The winner will be revealed on Saturday, 18 May.

Just two matches remaining for Jurgen Klopp before his time as Liverpool manager ends. Reds fans everywhere will be sad to see him go.

His period at Anfield has been full of magical memories. That is why it is imperative this "Liverpool 2.0" team he has built end the season with the purpose and the panache that has been a trademark for much of the campaign.

In some recent performances they have been a pale shadow of what we have come to expect from them and that is why what they served up against Tottenham on Sunday was so well received by the fans. It was simply much more like it.

Beating Spurs in their current form is perhaps not the best barometer for arguing their form has returned, but there was a belief and energy that had been missing on too many occasions.

Monday night at Aston Villa promises to be a real challenge however. Though they have suffered a dip in form, their ability to last the course in the race for a Champions League place for next season has been hugely impressive.

Allied to that Unai Emery has done a fabulous job. In double-quick time he’s established Villa as force to be reckoned with. They have a formidable home record this season, causing problems for even the best teams in the division. Manchester City and Arsenal both lost at Villa Park and Emery’s men even beat the Gunners at Emirates Stadium last month.

All the ingredients are there for a cracking contest but if Liverpool can maintain the high energy, free flowing approach that laid Tottenham to waste last weekend, they have every chance of coming away with a good result at a ground where they have a strong record.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg has discussed his 14-year stay at the club as he nears a summer exit alongside manager Jurgen Klopp.

The 52-year-old will depart with the club's current manager and his staff at the season's end.

In an exclusive chat with BBC Radio Merseyside, Achterberg said: "When the news broke about the boss you had a little time to think about what will be next. My contract will be running out so you have to look at different things. I didn't want to come to the end of the season and you come unstuck as you don't know what is happening.

"From that period I started being more active on the market if you like, to find out about different things."

Achterberg joined the Reds in 2009. Asked if he expected to be at the club so long, he said: "Of course not. It was my next step up. I was coaching at Tranmere, I did it in Holland, I had this passion to be a goalkeeper coach after I had played football. In 2009 I was 38 and probably could have continued as a player-coach for one or two years but got the offer to join Rafa Benitez. He offered me a contract to join them as reserve team goalkeeping coach and academy goalkeeper coach. He left and I made the step to the first team."

Achterberg, who played for NAC Breda, FC Eindhoven and Tranmere, was at the club when Klopp joined in 2015.

"The first time he came through the door it was like I knew him for 10 years the way he dealt with me and talked to me," Achterberg said of Klopp.

"I had a feeling this guy is special because of the way he did things and the authority he has with the players or the way he speaks to them."

Listen to Achterberg discuss Alisson, winning the European Cup and more here

West Ham United have opened talks to sign Corinthians' 19-year-old Brazilian winger Wesley Gassova, who is also a target for Liverpool. (Standard), external

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

Manchester United's defensive midfielder Casemiro has been heavily scrutinised in recent weeks for mishaps, slow pace and overall lacklustre performances.

But is the Brazilian getting a hard time, or is the criticism valid?

According to Opta, the 32-year-old has been dribbled past 52 times (so far this season) by an opponent in the Premier League. That is still 17 less times than Brentford midfielder Mathias Jensen, who has recorded the most.

It is also less than top-flight stars Alexis Mac Allister, with the second highest at 62, and United captain Bruno Fernandes who rounds off the top three with 57.

He has also been beaten less than Trent Alexander-Arnold and Tottenham's Pedro Porro.

Here is the full breakdown of the top-ten:

1. Mathias Jensen (Brentford) - Dribbled past 69 times in 30 Premier League starts

2. Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) - Dribbled past 62 times in 31 Premier League starts

3. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - Dribbled past 57 times in 33 Premier League starts

4. Antonee Robinson (Fulham) - Dribbled past 56 times in 35 Premier League starts

5. Pedro Porro (Tottenham) - Dribbled past 54 times in 32 Premier League starts

6. Christian Norgaard (Brentford) - Dribbled past 53 times in 29 Premier League starts

7. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - Dribbled past 53 times in 26 Premier League starts

8. Joao Gomes (Wolves) - Dribbled past 53 times in 32 Premier League starts

9. Casemiro (Manchester United) - Dribbled past 52 times in 22 Premier League starts

10. Joao Palhinha (Fulham) - Dribbled past 47 times in 31 Premier League starts

One important thing to note, however, is appearances.

Excluding Casemiro, Alexander-Arnold and Christian Norgaard, they have all made over 30 Premier League starts this season. Casemiro has made the least with 22 to date and Alexander-Arnold and Norgaard have made 26 and 29 respectively.

Therefore it highlights the difficult season the five-time Champions League winner has had under Erik ten Hag compared to last season's strong debut campaign.

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Tom asked: What do you think the future holds for Liverpool? How do you think Liverpool should approach the transition concerning the summer transfer window - have faith in the senior players or rejuvenate the squad?

Phil answered: Jurgen Klopp leaving is obviously a hugely significant change at Liverpool and he will leave a massive hole, but the club have clearly done full due diligence on Arne Slot and believe they have the right man to take Liverpool on into the future.

I think the good news is, the basis of an outstanding squad is already in place with top-class senior players like Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, as well as the newer acquisitions such as Alexis Mac Allister.

There is also a group of highly-talented young players, but I am sure Slot will be allowed to bring in his own players as well.

So it will be transitional, Tom, but I can see Liverpool still being right in among the contenders next season.

Liverpool and Uruguay forward Darwin Nunez has emerged as a shock target for Barcelona, with the 24-year-old seen as a potential replacement for Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, 35. (Sun), external

Nunez has fuelled speculation of a summer exit from Liverpool by deleting all images of his time at Anfield from his Instagram page. (90min), external

Chelsea have stepped up their interest in Shakhtar Donetsk's £65m-rated Ukraine midfielder Georgiy Sudakov, 21, who is also being monitored by Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool. (Mail), external

Arne Slot, who is expected to replace departing manager Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, could return to Feyenoord to sign Netherlands midfielder Mats Wieffer, 24, and Netherlands defender Lutsharel Geertruida, 23. (Football Insider), external

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

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Vicky asked: Do you think Liverpool's manager-in-waiting Arne Slot will keep faith with Darwin Nunez next season?

Phil answered: Good question. Nunez, despite flashes of brilliance, has once again shown he is a very erratic player and in recent weeks even the so-called "chaos" that he caused - the big selling point among his supporters - has disappeared just when Liverpool needed him to deliver goals.

For all that, Liverpool's fans have been incredibly supportive and patient.

There is clearly talent and desire there, but will he ever become a reliable, composed finisher? I’m not so sure.

It will be interesting to see what Slot does, but I suspect he will give Nunez a chance, although it would be interesting to see what would happen if Liverpool got a good offer from elsewhere because I think Jurgen Klopp, in particular, has been a huge supporter of Nunez.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld says prospective new manager - and personal friend - Arne Slot can turn the Reds into Premier League title-challengers once more.

Westerveld is a former team-mate of Slot at Sparta Rotterdam and plays golf regularly with the 45-year-old.

"If you look at the way [Slot] is with the press, the way he is with the fans, with the people, with the players, his playing style - attractive football, dominating, high pressure," he told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"He said before that he likes the [Pep] Guardiola and [Jurgen] Klopp styles of football. That's who he got inspired by and that's how he plays football with Feyenoord as well.

"He took Feyenoord when they sold their best players to Ajax. The best players left and they didn't have any money to spend so he took the team and he told everybody 'this is OK, I have got the team, I think I can make them better' and he did. A year later they were champions so he takes all the full potential out of the players.

"That's why I really like the idea now and the project that is lying in front of him at Liverpool because it is not like he is taking over Manchester United when [Sir Alex] Ferguson left. OK, this is a base, this is 'Klopp 2.0' as they call it. Everything is there, all the young players are there.

"I am not sure that we need a lot of players. If he comes in and takes the full potential out of this squad I think we can play for the title again.

"I am really excited. I know him, of course, better than any [other] coach - it is a perfect fit.

"I saw all the other names in the frame, like Xabi Alonso, and I never put Slot in there but once he was there I was like 'this makes perfect [sense]', so I am really looking forward to it."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds from 08:20

We asked for your views on Sunday's match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Here are some of your answers:

Liverpool fans

Ken: Elliott put in his most effective performance to date and deserved his applause. However, Liverpool need to learn to manage games better when dropping the tempo because it allows the opposition to believe they have a chance when they ought to have none. Nice to see Klopp's fist pumps in the sunshine though.

Daniel: Dominant first half. Slightly different second half. But overall, a fantastic performance from the lads. I have no idea where this has been last month, but whatever Jurgen said before the game did the trick. What a game as well. Credit to Tottenham. Final 20 minutes and they were still in it. Fair dos. Villa and Wolves next. Let’s keep it up!

Stuart: Rolling back the years! Fantastic to see the players playing with a smile on their faces! What a beautiful goal from Elliott. Bajcetic coming on was nice to see as well.

Tracy: The Liverpool spark that was long awaited is back and great to see. Wonderful goals but a lack of concentration saw two goals let in. If only the Reds had done this earlier as the Premier League is sadly fading but at least next season we are in the Champions League again. Forever grateful to Jurgen for steering Liverpool in the right direction.

Tottenham fans

Maggie: It's the defending or lack of it. When our attackers were clicking it wasn't so bad during the early part of the season but the last few games have been woeful. You can't start playing with 25 minutes to go and 4-0 down. Villa's earlier loss should have inspired us. It's just so disappointing after a fabulous start to the season.

Nick: As with the last three games, if you make mistakes then really good players invariably score. This is still a mishmash squad of a number of players who are mid-table. Ange can take credit for both bringing some stability back and making a transitional season better than hoped. However, next season has to be a genuine step forward.

Joe: Better than Chelsea game, however Son at centre-forward and Emerson at left back are big mistakes. Keep the final formation for the Burnley game. Next transfer window crucial both in and out of the club.

Tony: Another awful display and a scoreline that frankly flattered us. I really don't know where we go from here. Postecoglou looks completely out of his depth and tactically inept. Unproven at this level he was always a bit of a risk and sadly it looks increasingly like the risk is not going to pay off. Will he get another season? Should he?

Image source, Reuters

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says he is "very happy" at the club and will be part of the "big transition" that will take place at Anfield at the end of the season.

The Netherlands centre-back has one year remaining on his contract.

The Reds will have a new manager succeeding Jurgen Klopp - expected to be Feyenoord's Arne Slot - while Michael Edwards is returning as chief executive of football and Richard Hughes has been named sporting director.

Van Dijk said: "The focus is now on the last two games and then the club will focus on who the new manager is and there will be a big transition and I am part of that.

"There is nothing for me to discuss because there is no news, I think the club is very much busy with who is going to be the new manager and that is the main focus.

"Like I said I am very happy here, I love the club and you can see that as well. It's a big part of my life already, and that is all I can say."

The Netherlands centre-back continued: "We know other things are decided and Michael Edwards is coming back, Richard Hughes will be the sporting director, they are the only decisions that have been made. Other than that we will just wait and see but I have got full trust in the club to make that right decision [on a new manager].

"There will be a lot of changes happening and I wouldn't say scary is the right word but it is quite interesting and exciting what will happen now. So let's see."