Liverpool

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Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez had a "point to prove" but struggled to make his mark at Copa America.

The Uruguay striker had been in fine form during World Cup qualifying, scoring five goals and making two assists in six games.

It was hoped he would carry that form into the Conmebol tournament but, as with his the Reds last season, missed a number of big chances and saw his side exit in the semi-final to Columbia on Wednesday.

"It's a real shame because for Uruguay and [Marcelo] Bielsa, he [Nunez] has been a different animal," Joyes told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"In the South American World Cup qualifiers, he scored five goals, outscoring Lionel Messi and leading the way. He came into this tournament with more of a point to prove and under Bielsa he has been more vocal about how he has loved that relationship.

"He scored a couple of goals in the group stages - a rather weak group - and missed a few chances. On Wednesday night, he missed three or four huge opportunities in the first half and fizzled out in the second half when Uruguay were chasing the game, so it wasn't the Darwin Nunez tournament we all hoped for."

The 25-year-old was also involved in an altercation with spectators in the stands after Uruguay's 1-0 defeat in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The incident broke out in a section of the stadium where many family members of the Uruguay players were seated and an investigation has now been opened by Conmebol.

"I'm not in a position to say what is going to happen to him," said Joyes. "I think it would be very unfortunate for him to have a ban considering circumstances in and around and looking to protect his family and loved ones."

The United States have made former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp their top candidate to replace Gregg Berhalter. (Independent), external

However, Klopp is not interested in the USA role and would like a break from management. (Athletic - subscription), external

Klopp is also wanted by his native Germany. (Team Talk), external

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Arne Slot has added Aaron Briggs to his backroom staff as first team individual development coach

The 37-year-old, who has most recently worked at Wolfsburg in Germany, has also had roles at Blackpool, Preston North End, Manchester City and AS Monaco.

He joins first assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff, lead physical performance coach Ruben Peeters, and head of first-team goalkeeper coaching Fabian Otte as part of Arne Slot's backroom staff.

Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are possible destinations for 29-year-old France midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who became a free agent after his Juventus contract expired last month. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

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Spain winger Nico Williams, who has attracted interested from Liverpool, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, has a 55m to 58m euros (£46.5m to £49m) release clause in his Athletic Bilbao contract. (Marca - in Spanish), external

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

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Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold has said there are no "negative vibes" within the England squad and manager Gareth Southgate's decision to play him in a substitute role is "part and parcel of football".

Alexander-Arnold started the opening two group games of Euro 2024 in central midfield, but he was dropped for the matches against Slovenia, Slovakia and Switzerland.

However, he came off the bench against the Swiss to score the winning penalty in the shootout on Saturday.

"The game takes you on a journey," said the 25-year-old. "I would have liked to keep my position in the team and be starting every game, but the manager has made decisions and I respect his decisions.

"And they have worked - we are still in the competition. No matter what, the team always comes first and you have to buy into that.

"You've got to be ready for the moment when it comes and I think the other day I epitomised that more than anything."

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

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Liverpool are considering appointing former Netherlands centre-back Johnny Heitinga as first-team coach.

Heitinga, who had a spell at Everton during his playing career, has told De Telegraaf newspaper, external in his homeland that he has been approached about taking the role in new Reds manager Arne Slot's coaching set-up.

The 40-year-old was a first-team coach at West Ham last season but left in May following the departure of David Moyes as manager.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are set to appoint Aaron Briggs as elite development coach.

He would replace Vitor Matos, who left the Liverpool at the same time as ex-boss Jurgen Klopp at the end of last season.

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

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Liverpool have rejected a bid worth about £4m from Trabzonspor for defender Nat Phillips.

The Reds are looking for significantly more for the 27-year-old and value him at closer to £10m.

Burnley are also believed to be interested in Phillips, who played under new Clarets boss Scott Parker when he led Bournemouth to promotion from the Championship during the 2021-22 season.

Phillips, who has one year left on his Anfield contract, had spells on loan at Celtic and Cardiff City last season.

The centre-back joined Liverpool in in 2016 and has made 29 appearances.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the winning penalty for England in the penalty shootout against Switzerland in the quarter-final of Euro 2024.

It has been a difficult campaign for Alexander-Arnold after he started the tournament as England’s midfield "experiment" and was then substituted early in the second game.

Gareth Southgate has said he has kept talking to the Liverpool right-back and told him he can still have big moments in an England shirt.

"Trent has stuck with the task," said the Three Lions boss.

"He could have thought his tournament was done, but I kept talking to him about how he can have moments and still have a big part to play.”

Now England have switched to three at the back there is the possibility that Alexander-Arnold can come into the wing-back position.

If not from the start, he can be used from the bench if England need to chase games and look to use his passing ability.

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Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold says the pressure of taking a penalty is something he enjoys rather than dreads.

Alexander-Arnold converted the decisive effort from 12 yards in the shootout with Swtizerland to seal England's place in Wednesday's Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands.

"It is incredible," he told BBC Radio 5 Live "These are the goals and aims we set for ourselves.

"Switzerland were difficult opponents but the team showed a lot of belief and character. We dug deep when it mattered the most and showed heart.

"We knew it was going to be tight but to get the win from a penalty shootout is all that matters to us.

"It [penalties] is what we practised and they are the moments that I enjoy. When the gaffer told me I was taking one, my belly does not drop.

"I had practised it so I knew what spot I was going for and I just needed to execute it."

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New Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been discussing what formation might be seen under his leadership and if he already has an idea of what Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cody Gakpo's best positions are at his first news conference.

Cody Gakpo has scored six times in 10 games at major finals, including three at Euro 2024.

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Josh Sexton
Fan writer

It’s a new era at Liverpool and fresh starts always bring some level of apprehension, but there is already a lot to be admired in the way the Reds’ new manager Arne Slot carries himself.

While he used his first press conference to show respect to his predecessor Jurgen Klopp, he in no way came across as a bootlicker and is very clearly his own man with his own ideas.

While the presence of new sporting director Richard Hughes made it clear that this is going to very much be a team effort, Slot demonstrated through his words that he already has very clear tactical ideas about the way he wants to set his team up, how he expects them to play as a unit, and the specific roles of individuals within that.

That should provide reassurance to both supporters and players who had concerns around anybody within the squad not yet meeting their potential, while Slot was keen to emphasise the importance of him getting to work building a relationship with his new crop of talent.

There weren’t too many crumbs left behind in terms of further recruitment, but given the smoke and mirrors nature behind every transfer these days - particularly within the work behind the scenes in Kirkby - that should come as no real surprise and anybody jumping to conclusions should take a breath first.

It’s a breath of fresh air for a fresh era at Anfield and the atmosphere should be one of optimism about the challenges ahead. As the new man himself said, it’s a great team that knows how to win trophies.

As important as the weight of his words will be the proof in his pudding: putting silverware in our cabinet.

Josh Sexton can be found on the Anfield Wrap, external

New Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes says Arne Slot's style of play fits the "club as a whole".

The new Reds head coach was appointed as Jurgen Klopp's successor at the end of last season, joining from Eredivisie side Feyenoord.

While with the Dutch club, Slot won both the league and cup, but it was his team's attacking and fast-paced style that drew Liverpool's attention.

"That philosophy, that playing style that attracted us to Arne is based on subjective footballing opinion and data," Hughes said in Slot's first news conference.

"In all the metrics, Arne's Feyenoord team came out really well. The way they played with front-footed attacking football, intelligence, passion, they were all attributes we would welcome here.

"They lend well to the squad we have, the supporters and the club as a whole."

Hughes, 44, joined Liverpool as the club's sporting director after leaving his role as technical director at Bournemouth at the end of the campaign.

One of his first tasks when he joined the Merseyside club was to appoint Klopp's successor and he has now begun his work alongside the Dutchman as they prepare for the upcoming season.

"It has been great to work with Arne," he added. "It was a difficult position at first as we had jobs to finish elsewhere. Since then we have been in communication daily - logistics, organisation, preparing the transfer window which we will know more about as we go on.

"The more time we spend with squad, we are delighted with it and its talents, but we need to improve on the training pitch. With the window open we will always be opportunistic if we can improve things as we go.

"With contractual situations it wouldn't be fair for me to talk about, those are private matters between the club and players. The only concerns I and Arne have in those situations is the total commitment from players for next season and we are convinced that is already there."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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It is clear Jurgen Klopp's legacy is going to hang over Liverpool for some considerable time.

A fair percentage of questions put to Arne Slot at today's training ground unveiling were linked to his illustrious predecessor in some way.

Slot handled them all calmly.

He thinks it is a bonus he is coming into a club that has had someone who has done so well, for such a long time, because it means they have a good team.

Slot also feels Liverpool have done the right thing in appointing someone whose style of play is similar to Klopp's.

Obviously we will only know for certain if he can step up to the mark when the games start - but as first appearances go this was a good one.

Slot doesn't appear overawed by the challenge he faces.

New Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has been speaking to the media for this first time since joining the Reds.

The 45-year-old has been discussing what it is like to follow in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Arne Slot has been speaking to the media for the first time as Liverpool's new head coach.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Slot said he would not have left Feyenoord "for many clubs": "I worked at a really special club [but] Liverpool are one. Hearing why Liverpool wanted to bring me in made [talks] go fast

• When asked to describe himself, he said it was "not about what I tell you now" but considering Jurgen Klopp called himself the "normal one" when he arrived, Slot added: "He may have said 'normal one' but fans see him differently. What he did for the club was more than normal."

• He is not intimidated by succeeding Klopp: "You can look at it both ways - big shoes to fill but also inheriting a squad and a team of winning culture. You want to work at a club with good players and the opportunity to win something, which Liverpool have shown."

• On how he will integrate into the city: "I will take some time to understand everything. The way I'm going use my time in the coming weeks is to make the team ready for the first game. It always helps to get to know the city - but it helps even more if you win your games."

• On whether young players will get their chance: "I like to see good players. If they are old or young, it doesn't matter. It's always nice when young players come through - that always gives energy into the club. In the end it is all about the quality."

• He feels working as a head coach "is not a change as in Europe we work like this" and that there are "not many clubs in the world where one person decides everything. It is collaboration between people."

• He is excited about managing at Anfield: "I have been there once myself and I felt what it meant to fans to see team playing. It is a win-win situation - a very good team to work with but implementing a playing style that is going be similar but different will lead to support from fans and lead to special things."

• He is "expecting two more to join" his backroom staff and there will be "more announcements to come."

• Finally, he offered a hint on summer transfer business: "Not specific numbers [we want]. We have inherited a squad that is a good team. The longer a team plays together, if there is a good manger or coach, normally you see it improve. I'm at a club now that not many players leave. I'm expecting to keep most of our players and from there we can only build."