A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Virgil van Dijk issues his honest verdict on Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Anfield chiefs disappoint their star player.
Peter Crouch predicts a ‘resounding’ Liverpool win vs Manchester City
Peter Crouch has backed Liverpool to secure a ‘resounding’ 3-1 win against Manchester City when the title rivals tussle this Sunday. The top two in the Premier League table meet at the weekend with the Reds able to go 11 points clear at the top or see their lead cut to just five.
Liverpool have not beaten Manchester City in their last four meetings, including three in the top-flight. A sole goal from Mohamed Salah in the 76th minute gifted the Reds their last win over the Citizens in October 2022. Yet Crouch is convinced Sunday will be Liverpool’s day.
Crouch feels Manchester City face a daunting trip to Anfield with Arne Slot’s side firing on all cylinders whilst they struggle. AFC Bournemouth beat Pep Guardiola’s squad 2-1, Brighton & Hove Albion sealed a 2-1 win and Tottenham Hotspur humbled them 4-0 at Etihad Stadium.
“I’m going to go 3-1 Liverpool,” Crouch said on his podcast. “Pretty resounding. I think City are struggling at the moment and the confidence is so high at Liverpool, they’re getting the job done and I think this could be a show. I think they’ll be dominant and they’ll win 3-1.”
Read more about what Crouch has predicted for Liverpool vs Manchester City, here.
Liverpool disappoint Luis Diaz with their latest contract offer
Liverpool have disappointed Luis Diaz with their latest offer of a new contract for the winger. That is according to Antenna 2, which reports that the Colombian’s future with the Reds has become very unclear as Diaz is likely to consider leaving due to the impasse in discussions.
The improved wage Liverpool have offered Diaz does not meet what the 27-year-old wanted to see on the table. FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are also paying close attention with Diaz viewed as a long-term target for Barca plus a successor for Kylian Mbappe at PSG.
Liverpool will continue to hold talks with Diaz’s representatives over the coming weeks as he is an important part of their plans. But the attacker is not ruling out looking to leave without getting the wage he desires after scoring nine and assisting two goals in 18 games this term.
Diaz is still on the same wage he agreed to when joining Liverpool from FC Porto in January 2022. The 61-cap winger penned a five-and-a-half-year deal running to June 2027 to clinch his switch to Merseyside, while snubbing interest from Tottenham Hotspur to join Liverpool.
Read more about Diaz’s stance on a transfer and Liverpool’s offer of a new contract, here.
Virgil van Dijk issues honest verdict on Manchester City striker Erling Haaland
Virgil van Dijk has warned his Liverpool teammates that Erling Haaland could ‘punish you’ at any point when Manchester City visit Anfield on Sunday. The top two in the Premier League table will lock horns this weekend as the Reds bid to move 11 points clear of the champions.
Manchester City will make the trip to Merseyside on a run of three straight top-flight losses. The Etihad Stadium club also blew a 3-0 lead in the final 15 minutes to draw 3-3 at home to Feyenoord in the Champions League. Liverpool beat Real Madrid 2-0 to be 100% in Europe.
Only Arsenal have prevented Liverpool from picking up all three points in a Premier League fixture since Arne Slot suffered his sole defeat in charge against Nottingham Forest, too. But Van Dijk knows Haaland will be a huge threat having scored 12 goals in 12 league games yet.
“Every striker has different qualities in terms of strengths and weaknesses,” Van Dijk has told Optus Sport. “We all know how much quality he has – strong, fast and a good finisher.
“He can punish you in any second and he scores so many goals for a reason. We have to be very good to keep him quiet, and that’s what we aim for.”
Read more about what Liverpool captain Van Dijk has said about Man City’s Haaland, here.
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