Featured
Liverpool enter ‘bidding war’ with Real Madrid for £52m teen as Reds star accepts pay cut to leave
Liverpool are reportedly ‘set to engage in a bidding war’ with Real Madrid to sign Kees Smit from AZ Alkmaar while a Reds star is ready to accept a pay cut to escape Anfield.
WATCH 📺Best of Kees Smit, 👇
Arne Slot is under serious pressure with Liverpool now 14 points off league leaders Arsenal having stormed to the Premier League title last term.
Transfer rumours are rife amid the strife and with the January window open, and the Daily Star claim the Reds bosses are considering a move for 19-year-old Smit.
The report states:
‘Liverpool seem set to engage in a bidding war for Kees Smit. The AZ Alkmaar sensation has been turning heads in the Eredivisie recently, prompting the Reds to keep tabs on him.
‘However, the downside is that Real Madrid are also reportedly interested in the midfielder. With a staggering £52m price tag, whoever secures the young prodigy could end up shelling out even more to outbid the competition.’
Space on the wage bill for Smit could be opened up by the departure of Federico Chiesa, who’s grown increasingly frustrated by his lack of opportunity under Slot.
Gazetta dello Sport claim the 29-year-old is so desperate to return to Serie A that he’s prepared to slash his £5m per year earnings to move back to Juventus.
On Chiesa’s potential return, Juventus boss Luciano Spalletti said recently: “He was in my team at the time (the Italian national team). It was a compliment I wanted to give him. Sinner is one of the strongest for consistency and perseverance. Chiesa, on the other hand, for his strikes: he’s a player of big numbers, who beats his man and creates chaos.”
MORE LIVERPOOL COVERAGE ON F365
* Klopp requests six signings at Real Madrid, including top Liverpool target, as Romano reveals latest
* Xabi Alonso next job rankings: from the batsh*t (Man Utd, Spurs) to the obvious (Liverpool)
* ‘I thought I was Fabrizio Romano’ – Redknapp spills source for Semenyo to Liverpool transfer gaffe
Liverpool have also faced significant problems in defence this term, with Ibrahima Konate the most vehemently criticised for his displays.
Konate’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, so quite why Aston Villa would entertain the swap deal that Stan Collymore is suggesting isn’t entirely clear…
Speaking to BetWright football betting, Collymore said: “Liverpool must identify a replacement for Ibrahima Konate if he leaves, especially because I don’t think Virgil van Dijk will be far behind him.
“I know there’s been talk of Marc Guehi, but I’m looking at someone like Ezri Konsa – who’s probably going to start for England at the World Cup alongside John Stones. If I was head of recruitment at Liverpool, I think Konsa and Guehi would both be deals that provide good value for money.
“Aston Villa have PSR issues that they need to address, so if they were to get a big fee for Konsa, they might have to consider it. For me, Konate thinks he’s the best defender since sliced bread but hasn’t played like it recently.
“I’m sure he’s thinking he’ll be going to the likes of PSG or Real Madrid, but could there be a swap deal where Konsa goes to Liverpool and Konate goes to Aston Villa? That would be something that would work for both parties.”
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Man City (Szoboszlai, 74)
HE’S DONE IT AGAIN!
An absolutely sensational free-kick goal from Dominik Szoboszlai. This one might be even better than the one against Arsenal.
From a central position, around 25 yards out, it’s an absolutely sensational hit which swerves out of reach of Donnarumma, who doesn’t even dive, and slams into the net off the post.
Amazing. And what could that mean for the title race? Arsenal staying nine points clear as it stands.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Man City (Szoboszlai, 74)
HE’S DONE IT AGAIN!
An absolutely sensational free-kick goal from Dominik Szoboszlai. This one might be even better than the one against Arsenal.
From a central position, around 25 yards out, it’s an absolutely sensational hit which swerves out of reach of Donnarumma, who doesn’t even dive, and slams into the net off the post.
Amazing. And what could that mean for the title race? Arsenal staying nine points clear as it stLiverpool vs Man City LIVE! Premier League match updates, news, score, stream and highlights – live on Sky Sports
Sunday 8 February 2026 18:05, UK
Second Half: Liverpool 1-0 Man City – live on Sky
Szoboszlai scores OUTRAGEOUS free-kick! View post
Got Sky? Watch now on the Sky Sports app📱
Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract📺
Ekitike missed huge chance as Liverpool came to life View post | Teams
Live Premier Leagueands.
Liverpool vs Man City LIVE! Premier League match updates, news, score, stream and highlights – live on Sky Sports
Sunday 8 February 2026 16:30, UK
First Half: Liverpool 0-0 Man City – live on Sky
Got Sky? Watch now on the Sky Sports app📱
Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract📺
Updates, tables and teams
Alisson denies Haaland early opener
Title-chasing Man City face huge test at Anfield | Teams
Liverpool aiming to maintain push for CL qualification
Live PL table | Sky Bet | Latest: Liverpool | Man City
Liverpool FC team news vs. Man City: 6 defenders unavailable for Arne Slot
Liverpool have six defenders unavailable for their game against Man City, with Arne Slot‘s hand forced at centre-back and right-back.
Liverpool are down to their bare bones at the back, with six defenders unable to start as the Reds try to keep pace with their top-four competitors in the Premier League.
Liverpool Injury & Absentee List
PlayerInjury TypeStatusExpected ReturnJoe GomezKneeDoubtMan City (H)Jeremie FrimpongGroinUnavailableEarly MarchConor BradleyKnee (Surgery)UnavailablePre-season 2026Giovanni LeoniACL (Surgery)UnavailableNext seasonAlexander IsakFibula FractureUnavailableLate MarchStefan BajceticHamstringRehabLate FebruaryJayden DannsHamstringRehabFebruaryWellity LuckyHamstringUnavailableApril
Joe Gomez‘s fitness is the main talking point ahead of the match at Anfield, given his presence would provide cover at centre-back and full-back.
He didn’t train on Thursday, though, and Slot explained: “We have a little bit of hope that he might train on Saturday.
“So not available to start, but maybe available to help the team if needed during the game because, as you know, there are not that many defenders available at the moment.”
With Giovanni Leoni out until next season, academy defenders Amara Nallo and Wellity Lucky have made the bench in the Premier League a combined five times this season.
The latter is injured, however, so unable to come in against Man City.
Nallo got injured during Tuesday’s UEFA Youth League exit to MSK Zilina, but was named to start for the U21s on Saturday, meaning he will not be available at Anfield.
As for Lucky’s injury, the 20-year-old is set to be sidelined until April due to a hamstring injury sustained in training midway through January.
Also on Liverpool’s list of absentees is right-back Conor Bradley, who will miss the rest of the campaign.
Like Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong is currently injured but his outlook is more positive than his teammate’s.
Slot gave a brief update on the flying Dutchman’s fitness, saying he “will definitely not train this week” due to his ongoing groin problem.
With Nallo featuring at academy level, Liverpool will be without six defensive options against Man City.
READ MORE
Liverpool Predicted XI vs. Man City: Szoboszlai right-back, no start for Jones
Liverpool’s available squad vs. Man City
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Robertson, Ramsay
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Endo, Nyoni
Forwards: Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike, Ngumoha, Chiesa
-
Featured4 months agoVAR AND REFEREE ERROR Why Manchester United goal stood despite head injury to Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister
-
ARSENAL'4 months agoArsenal’s next five fixtures compared to Liverpool and Man City after Crystal Palace win
-
Liverpool4 months agoPremier League explains two controversial Liverpool penalty decisions as referee replaced
-
ARSENAL INJURY UPDATE3 months ago
Gabriel Jesus training footage sends clear message to Mikel Arteta ahead of Tottenham clash
-
Featured3 months agocentre-backs available THIS SUMMER for Liverpool FC
-
Arsenal predicted XI4 months agoFulham 0-1 Arsenal 69: NO PENALTY! Finally the decision is made. Anthony Taylor steps away from the screen and announces that Kevin played the ball. It seemed pretty clear but it took an age to get there.
-
Liverpool4 months agoGOAL! Brentford 2-1 Liverpool | Kerkez ’45+5
-
Arsenal predicted XI4 months agoFormer Arsenal star training with first-team ahead of Atletico Madrid