Manager Jurgen Klopp talks about his time at Liverpool. (Image: That Peter Crouch podcast)
Liverpool’s difficulties this season have been widespread. The Reds’ unusual foray into last summer’s transfer window was intended to usher in a new era of supremacy, but that aspiration has yet to materialize. Their staggering £450m spend has brought in some of the most popular players in world football.
From record-paid Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak to Milos Kerkes and Hugo Ekitike, Arne Slott looked like the perfect fit when it came to securing future talent. Indeed, like the rebuilding of the team that won the Premier League last season, integrating players can take time.
The Reds are currently in another summer of transition after losing 2-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, with Slott’s future uncertain and several players linked with a move to Anfield.
In today’s news, club icon Steven Gerrard has revealed who he wants to join the club this summer, while former manager Jurgen Klopp speaks to fans.
Gerrard’s desired transfer
Gerrard defended the Reds signing Bayern Munich’s Michael Oliseh this summer, but the Champions League champion believes they should also consider re-signing club hero Luis Diaz. Dias left Liverpool last summer to join Bayern for £65m.
The Colombian winger was brilliant in the Bundesliga this season and in Tuesday night’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, helping Bayern secure a 2-1 advantage heading into the second leg.
Express sports on FB! Get all the best sports news and more on our Facebook page
Asked on TNT Sport whether he wanted to see Olise at Liverpool, Gerrard said: “All day.” “But the question is why did he leave Bayern Munich? A big club, they are challenging for big honours, probably the strongest Bayern Munich team we have seen for a while.
“He’s going to take the World Cup by storm in the summer. He’s a very happy kid, calm… I don’t think he’s going anywhere. But yeah, I want to love him at Liverpool. And guess what? I wouldn’t mind Dias coming back.”
Gerrard also joined talkSPORT to discuss how the club will replace Mohamed Salah, who is set to step down at the end of the campaign. He added: “I think the concern is that if you’re looking to replace Salah, there are very few players available in a similar way.”
Steven Gerrard and Jurgen Klopp have made their feelings towards Liverpool clear. (Image: PA)
“I would say Olise would be one of them, but I don’t think he will be available, but having been at Liverpool as a player and having had the experience of me leaving, the Liverpool recruitment team will have different options and that doesn’t necessarily mean they will look for someone similar.”
“For example, when we had to replace[Sadio]Mane, we chose a slightly different Diaz. Or when[Luis]Suarez left, they had different types of options to replace players.”
World Cup Legends: The stars of soccer’s biggest tournament in history – buy the special edition now
Manager Klopp thanked Liverpool supporters for their support over his nine years at Anfield. The legendary German player appeared on the ‘That Peter Crouch’ podcast and reflected on his incredible spell at the club.
The former Reds manager was in charge for nearly a decade before retiring in May 2024, winning every major accolade the club has to offer, including the club’s first league title in 30 years in 2020 and the club’s sixth Champions League title in 2019.
Currently Red Bull’s head of global football, he recently returned to Anfield to oversee Liverpool Legends’ match against former team Borussia Dortmund and was hailed as a hero.
Klopp told former Liverpool striker Crouch: “I mean, we had a good time and no one needs to thank me, that’s a good thing to hear.”
“Because for the exact same reason, I have to say thank you. Every time I meet people, I say, ‘Oh, thank you, for supporting us all these years.’ So what we needed was what we went through, and that was our life. We tried our best to be as successful as possible, but sometimes it worked out, and sometimes it didn’t.
“We’ve had big failures, we’ve had momentary failures. And the thing is, this is what I’ve always wanted and when I’m older I’ll look back and have a smile on my face. There’s no one who can’t look back on the last nine years without smiling, because it was truly amazing. Everything about it, how connected we were.
“So I 100 percent understand why people are happy when they see me, just because I support this era. And I’m just as happy when I see them, just because they support this era.”
