Alexander-Arnold contract RESPONSE, Slot QUESTIONED, Alonso decision EXPLAINED: Liverpool FC news recap
By
Bence Bocsak
Bence Bocsak
There was plenty to cover on Monday as Liverpool enjoyed a brilliant weekend kicking off their Premier League campaign with a victory away to Ipswich Town.
After the game, the main focus was all on Arne Slot's call to take off Jarell Quansah at half-time. Former Manchester United right-back, gary Neville, backed Slot and explained how the new Liverpool boss made the right call.
"I thought Arne Slot was quite tough on Quansah," he said. It is [a big call]. I mean subbing someone at half-time is big and I do not think it is done lightly by managers.
"It was the way after the game as well, he was quite blunt about the way he answered it and there was no holding back.
"So, I think there is an element of him being quite clinical and brutal and he was reacting to the game and what was happening. He felt like they needed to win the duels, that was his main thought behind the decision.
"It worked, you have to say, Liverpool were a lot better in the second half and it was a good win for them."
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Gary Lineker questions Arne Slot
Neville may have been a fan of Slot's 'bluntness' but Gary Lineker on the other hand expressed caution over how the new Liverpool boss handled the situation with Quansah on Saturday afternoon.
Lineker likened Slot to Jurgen Klopp and explained how he did not think the former Liverpool manager would place such scrutiny over his players.
“That speaking out publicly about a player’s performance is not something that you would have ever heard, I don’t think, from Jurgen Klopp, so there’s already a slight difference there. I am always slightly nervous when managers or coaches are publicly critical of their players.”
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Jamie Carragher slams former teammate
Elsewhere, Jamie Carragher slammed Raheem Sterling for the statement he made after he was omitted from Enzo Maresca's first Premier League squad at the weekend.
Carragher responded with a rebuttal and explained how his former Liverpool teammate should just focus on proving himself on the pitch.
"Massive fan of Raheem as a player & a lad," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Not a fan of the Chelsea set up with owners etc. But this statement is ridiculous! As a camp………..! We look forward to gaining clarity…….!!
"No need for a statement, especially an hour before kick off!! Just play better."
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Alexander-Arnold's response to contract talks
The Liverpool right-back is under a lot of scrutiny at the moment, having entered the last 12 months of his contract. There are yet no signs of a contract renewal being in the works for Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool reporters were eager to question him after the Reds' opening Premier League fixture against Ipswich Town.
Asked if he had a couple of minutes to spare in the mixed zone to give the journalists his thoughts on his side's 2-0 win over the Premier League newboys, with a wide grin and knowing expression on his face, Alexander-Arnold politely laughed off the requests and said: "I don't know what you'd possibly want to speak to me about!"
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Martin Zubimendi ridiculed by Liverpool fans
Zubimendi is not a popular figure on Merseyside at the moment after rejecting Liverpool in favour of staying at Real Sociedad. However, despite his decision to stay he was only a substitute in Sociedad's opening La Liga game of the season.
The 25-year-old was introduced to proceedings at half-time and did find the back of the net in second half injury-time. Unfortunately for him though, the strike proved to be a mere consolation as the visitors ran out 2-1 victors at the Reale Arena.
Having seen their club rejected by Zubimendi this summer, a number of Liverpool fans tuned into see how the Spaniard fared on his first appearance since making a huge transfer decision.
Judging by some of the responses on X (formerly Twitter) the fact that Sociedad conceded twice with him on the pitch did not go unnoticed.
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Xabi Alonso decision explained
Liverpool were rejected by Xabi Alonso in the club's managerial hunt to replace Jurgen Klopp earlier this year.
The Spaniard opted to stay at Bayer Leverkusen where he has already achieved great things including winning the Bundesliga title and the Super Cup last weekend as well.
Anfield Watch spoke exclusively to Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro, who explained why Alonso ultimately decided to stay at the German club and reject any advances from Liverpool.
"It has been very important for us, and it's important for us that he stays longer. But we know how football works and we have to prepared as a club for a time after Xabi Alonso.
"It doesn't matter if it's 2025, 26, 27, whenever, we as a club have to be prepared for a time after Xabi Alonso because he will not stay here forever, this is clear. For this year, it was extremely important and we hope next year it will be the same."
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