Slot AVOIDS mistake, Kelleher PRAISE & Carragher DEFENDS Southgate - Liverpool FC news recap

Here is your Liverpool news recap for Monday 15 July, including some intriguing Arne Slot headlines.

ARNE SLOT PRAISED FOR AVOIDING ERIK TEN HAG ERROR

Recently retired Dutch footballer Bram van Polen has praised Arne Slot for not making a key mistake that Erik ten Hag has made at Manchester United. 

Van Polen hung up his boots at the end of the 2023/24 season after a remarkable 17-year career with PEC Zwolle in the Netherlands, playing alongside Slot during the Liverpool head coach's time at the club between 2010 and 2013.

Van Polen has praised Slot for not hiring too many Dutch people upon his arrival at Liverpool, with Ten Hag having signed a number of Dutchmen in recent weeks for his squad and backroom staff.

"It is also dangerous that Ten Hag gathers so many Dutch people around him. You don’t know whether that is wise," said the 38-year-old.

"You're a bit afraid of that. Then you think: here we go again. Because he brings in all those Dutch people, we will also be less good abroad.

"I think that a Slot is very conscious about not recruiting all Dutch people at once. You do create a certain image, and you should partly want to stay away from that."

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CAOIMHIN KELLEHER OFFERS ENCOURAGING PRE-SEASON UPDATE

Caoimhin Kelleher has provided an encouraging update on Arne Slot's first pre-season as Liverpool head coach, with the Reds now only a month away from the start of the Premier League campaign. 

The pre-season cohort is largely comprised of young players to date, but there are more experienced heads available to Slot as well.

One of those is back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who has been discussing his first impressions of the Dutch coach and his training methods.

Speaking with Liverpoolfc.com, Kelleher stated: "It’s been really good, really enjoyable. Obviously the first few days were just testing and stuff, then we got into the actual training sessions, which have been really good.

"[Slot] has been excellent so far. A lot of detail to what he wants us to do, there’s a lot of stuff to take onboard but he gets his messages across really well and easy to understand as well, which is helpful. His sessions are intense and he pushes us, which is always good.

"It has been really enjoyable so far, I must say."

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JAMIE CARRAGHER DEFENDS GARETH SOUTHGATE

Jamie Carragher has defended Gareth Southgate for England's Euro 2024 performances despite the Three Lions boss largely ignoring Liverpool stars Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez. 

Despite playing poorly throughout the tournament and riding their luck enormously, England did reach the final of Euro 2024 against Spain. However, their luck ran out on Sunday evening as they fell to an underwhelming 2-1 defeat against the tournament's most impressive side.

Southgate has been widely criticised throughout Euro 2024 for his team selection and tactical approach, with his loyalty to underperforming players and negative play style frustrating supporters.

For example, Alexander-Arnold - England's most creative player - accumulated just 134 minutes for his country, most of which came in midfield. Joe Gomez, who enjoyed a great season at Anfield, didn't feature at all.

Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Carragher made a series of posts regarding England's final defeat to Spain, but largely backed Southgate despite a poor performance.

"Sven [Goran Eriksson] played 442, Fabio [Capello] was too strict, Gareth is too defensive! Funny how it’s always on the manager isn’t it?!! The fact is our big players didn’t turn up in this tournament. And other tournaments going back years," stated the 38-cap former England international.

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LIVERPOOL-LINKED WONDERKID JOINING PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Liverpool are set to be beaten to the signing of wonderkid centre-back Dean Huijsen as Paris Saint Germain close in on a deal for his signature. 

The Reds have been linked with a move for the 19-year-old over recent months, with the Dutch-born defender having shone in Serie A last season.

The 6'4 colossus has understandably attracted the attention of Europe's elite clubs, including the Reds, but it appears that a move to France is close to being finalised.

Tuttosport had previously reported that PSG were edging closer to a deal for the youngster, but that Juventus were seeking €30m (£25m) to sanction an exit.

With the French champions having only offered €20m (£17m), there was still work to be done despite Huijsen having agreed to a Paris switch.

However, La Stampa have now revealed that PSG are readying another bid for Huijsen and that the player and his team are incredibly eager to join the Champions League semi-finalists.

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