Liverpool FC news recap: Edwards talk, finances, Alonso chances

Here's our Liverpool FC news recap for Thursday the 29th of February. The Reds continue a pursuit of former sporting director Michael Edwards.

Liverpool are through in the FA Cup and looking forward again. Next up, Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

But that's not all they've got to worry about, of course. The Reds are also chasing a new sporting director - or an old one, actually. There's also the ongoing Xabi Alonso pursuit and whatever is going to happen there.

So here's our Liverpool FC news recap.

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Edwards has rejected total control

The Athletic's David Ornstein understands a recent claim about Michael Edwards and Liverpool is incorrect. The Reds wish to reinstall their former sporting director.

David Ornstein believes talk of a recent Michael Edwards demand is incorrect. Liverpool reportedly want their former sporting director back and made him an offer in January.

Edwards rejected them, however, but that hasn't ended the pursuit. Liverpool remain interested and supposedly put in another offer this week.

The Times reported, among others, that the only way Edwards would return to the role is if he had total power. Ornstien, though, understands that's incorrect because Liverpool actually offered him that previously.

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Liverpool release financial accounts

Liverpool released their annual financial accounts for the 2022/23 season on Thursday.

The Reds claimed 'record revenues' from their commercial operations, though matchday and media revenue both fell.

Cutting through the numbers and jargon, here are five key takeaways from the report.

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Alonso unlikely to stay put

Xabi Alonso is highly unlikely to remain at Bayer Leverkusen beyond the end of the season, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 42-year-old is on track for the first league title of his career as a manager and the first in Leverkusen's history.

The German side are unbeaten in 2023/24 and lead the Bundesliga by eight points after 23 games. They also recently saw off nearest rivals Bayern Munich 3-0 in a performance that garnered much attention across the footballing world.

As one of the continent's top young coaches, Alonso has risen to the top of the wish lists of both Liverpool and Bayern Munich — two of his former clubs as a player.

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Schmadtke admits he was wrong on Szoboszlai

Former Liverpool sporting director Jorg Schmadtke has revealed he initially thought the Reds overpaid for Dominik Szoboszlai; a stance he admitted was a 'misjudgement'.

Schmadtke arrived at Liverpool ahead of the summer of 2023 on an interim basis, following the departure of predecessor Julian Ward.

The 59-year-old former goalkeeper who previously worked as a sporting director at Wolfsburg and Koln is credited with helping to oversee the Reds' successful midfield rebuild, with deals for Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch as well as Szoboszlai.

However, the man himself has admitted he initially thought Szoboszlai — widely viewed as one of the transfers of the summer, despite his fee — was overpriced.

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Klopp makes Gomez request

Jurgen Klopp has asked Liverpool fans not to encourage Joe Gomez to shoot every time he is on the ball, following the FA Cup fifth-round win over Southampton on Wednesday night.

Another youth Liverpool lineup beat Southampton 3-0 at Anfield with goals from teenagers Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns (2) to set up a quarter-final showdown with Manchester United.

While the role of the Reds' youngsters became the main topic of conversation around the match, seasoned veteran Joe Gomez out in an impressive performance at the base of midfield for Jurgen Klopp's side.

The 26-year has featured in every position across the backline this season already in order to cover for injury absences, while he was required as the 'number six' on Wednesday night with Alexis Mac Allister rested and Wataru Endo recovering from a knock.

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