A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Jurgen Klopp issues an update about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury and the Reds learn who they should snub Ruben Amorim for.
Steve Nicol slams ‘careless’ Darwin Nunez after Atalanta beat Liverpool
Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has slammed Darwin Nunez for his ‘careless’ actions in the area after their defeat to Atalanta. The Merseyside natives must now overturn a 3-0 deficit when they travel to Bergamo next Thursday in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
Gianluca Scamacca (38’, 60’) and Mario Pasalic (83’) stunned the Reds on Thursday night as La Dea gained the advantage. It was even Liverpool’s first defeat at Anfield this season after 22 wins and three draws. The Reds had also scored in each of their past 13 fixtures at home.
Nunez had lots of chances to continue Liverpool’s incredible home form against Atalanta, as well. But the 24-year-old wasted every opportunity to score his 19th goal of the term. Nicol especially did not believe it when Nunez tried to chip Juan Musso in the 15th minute at 0-0.
“Nunez had a chance in the first half and I was annoyed with the way he went about it,” said an irritated Nicol on ESPN FC. “He was trying to just dink it over the goalkeeper. But it looked so nonchalant, careless and sloppy. That really annoyed me the way he tried to do it.”
Read more about what Nicol has had to say about Nunez’s miss against Atalanta, here.
James Horncastle feels Liverpool should snub Ruben Amorim to hire Gian Piero Gasperini
Italian football expert James Horncastle believes Liverpool should overlook naming Sporting CP coach, Ruben Amorim, as their next manager in favour of hiring Atalanta boss, Gian Piero Gasperini. The Reds are still in the market for a manager as the club moves to replace Klopp.
According to Jornal de Noticias, Liverpool have held talks with Amorim’s camp to discuss his interest in replacing Klopp. But Horncastle feels Gasperini proved as Atalanta beat Liverpool that he should also be in the mix, despite not emerging as an option to take over their helm.
Horncastle further believes Gasperini has shown across the past eight years at Atalanta what he can bring to Merseyside. The 66-year-old took over La Dea in 2016 and has also led them to three seasons of Champions League football, including the quarter-finals during 2019/20.
“There’s a big vacancy here in the summer and that guy, Gian Piero Gasperini, doesn’t get talked about,” Horncastle said on TNT Sports. “In over eight years, he’s probably punched above his weight per his resources more than any other coach.
“I think he should be in the conversation for more of these jobs. We’ve spent the last month, six weeks talking about Xabi Alonso coming here [and] Amorim coming here. This guy beat Amorim home and away at Sporting.
“He went four games against them unbeaten. He’s shown that he can build and rebuild teams, he’s been there eight years. Three different teams he’s had [at Atalanta] now.”
Read more about what Horncastle has had to say about Gasperini replacing Klopp, here.
Jurgen Klopp urges patience over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return from injury
Liverpool manager Klopp has pleaded for patience regarding Alexander-Arnold’s return from injury. The 25-year-old was back in the German’s side for the first time since February as the Reds lost to Atalanta on Thursday night. But Klopp must be careful with when he now plays.
Alexander-Arnold was only able to be an unused substitute against Atalanta as UEFA’s rules allow for teams of 23 players. Klopp and Liverpool’s medical staff do not feel he is yet ready to actually play again. The right-back had missed their previous 13 games with a knee injury.
Klopp even states there was ‘no chance’ for Alexander-Arnold to return from his injury when Atalanta visited Liverpool. Additionally, Diogo Jota is not yet ready to enjoy a full 90 minutes after the 27-year-old returned from a knee injury after 11 games with a 76th-minute cameo.
“There was no chance to play Trent,” Klopp said in his press conference this Friday. “He was on the bench because we were allowed to put 23 players into the squad.
“He had two sessions. Diogo didn’t have more, really. But the information from the medical department is [that Jota was a] step ahead. So, he can play a little bit longer. There is no pressure [to protect any players returning from injury], it is just the situation.”
Read more about what Klopp has had to say about Alexander-Arnold’s injury, here.