Liverpool FC news recap: Diaz DECISION, Trent STUNS Slot & Thiago LEAVES Barcelona

Here is your Liverpool news recap for Friday 16 August. The Premier League campaign kicks off tomorrow at Ipswich Town for the Reds. 

Arne Slot opens up on Luis Diaz future

Arne Slot has revealed that Luis Diaz is an important part of Liverpool's future despite consistent rumours linking the Colombian with an Anfield exit. 

The 27-year-old has been strongly touted with a move away from Merseyside this summer, with Barcelona the club seemingly most interested in his services.

Speaking before Liverpool's clash with Ipswich at Portman Road, Slot revealed that the Reds have no plans to sell Diaz this summer and that he will be a significant figure at Anfield this season.

"His future is with us because I like a lot what I’ve seen in the last ten days and I saw the same last season. He’s had a big impact on Liverpool seasons and I’m hoping that he has a big impact in the upcoming season as well," said Slot.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold stuns Liverpool boss

Trent Alexander-Arnold certainly impressed new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot after completing an "impossible" challenge during a training session.

During one session, Slot pulled off an impressive trick by curling the ball into a goal from behind the touchline and then challenged Alexander-Arnold to the same. However, there was a twist.

The England international opted to move the ball further back before attempting the trick and despite being warned by the Dutchman that the shot was an "impossible" one, he managed to send the ball bouncing into the back of the net to earn a round of applause from his head coach in the process.

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Thiago leaves Barcelona...already

Former Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara's first venture into coaching is over already.

The 33-year-old announced his retirement from professional football earlier in the summer, not too long after leaving the Merseyside giants as a free agent due to his contract expiring at the end of June.

It did not take Thiago long to reveal his next move as he returned to boyhood club Barcelona, joining Hansi Flick's coaching staff following the appointment of the German tactician as successor to Xavi Hernandez.

However, in a surprising turn of events, it has been confirmed that the Spaniard is leaving the Catalan outfit just a day before they begin their 2024/25 La Liga campaign against Valencia

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Liverpool fully-fit for Ipswich trip

Arne Slot has the ideal scenario ahead of his first competitive game in charge of Liverpool.

The post-Jurgen Klopp era officially begins at Saturday lunchtime when the Reds travel to newly-promoted Ipswich Town for their opening game of the 2024/25 Premier League season and the Dutchman has revealed a major boost.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, Slot confirmed that there are no injury concerns to contend with ahead of the trip to Suffolk. In fact, when asked if he has a full squad to choose from, his response what short, sweet and positive: "Yes, we have," he noted.

So with one final training session scheduled, the Liverpool head coach will run the rule over the squad before settling on a starting XI tasked with getting three points against Ipswich to start the season in style.

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Arne Slot responds to Martin Zubimendi snub

Arne Slot has addressed Martin Zubimendi's decision to reject a transfer to Liverpool.

The Reds, who are the only Premier League squad yet to make a signing this summer, suffered a setback in their attempt to bolster their midfield options when the Spain international decided to stay at Real Sociedad.

"I've said many times already that I think our squad is really strong and it's not so easy to find players that can help us or can even strengthen the squad," said the 45-year-old.

"Zubimendi was one of them to be fair but he decided not to come and we go on with the ones we have and those ones have done well in pre-season.

"We're in a good place and like I said many times before, in the background Richard [Hughes], is trying to strengthen the squad as he can but unfortunately Zubimendi decided not to come."

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