Liverpool news LIVE updates: Bertrand says Van Dijk wanted move, Woodburn backed to shine

LIVERPOOL will be hoping to put their last two results behind them when they take on Burnley tomorrow - and Express Sport brings you all the build-up and latest news from Anfield.

Sadio Mane's PRICELESS reaction to 'red card' question

LIVERPOOL NEWS LIVE UPDATES: Follow here for the latest news from Anfield

Saturday September 16

Klopp should have signed defender - Nicholas

15.40: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp should have signed another defender after finding out his pursuit of Virgil van Dijk was over, says Charlie Nicholas. 

Klopp did not pursue another centre-back which was a mistake according to Nicholas. 

“If you were persistent in trying to get Van Dijk, why weren’t you as persistent in getting somebody else knowing that you aren’t going to get him?” he said on Sky Sports. 

“He’s committed to saying ‘I know I need to get somebody better in which is the right ingredient’. 

“But he knows he’s not getting him, why doesn’t he (go for someone else)?.”

Burnley will score - Hislop

12.45: Burnley have been impressive so far this season and will score against Liverpool this afternoon, according to Shaka Hislop.

However, the former West Ham goalkeeper thinks the Reds will come out on top.

“Burnley have been good, I’ve been impressed,” Hislop said on ESPN FC.

“Liverpool equally so, don’t expect a clean sheet in this one from either club. 

“But I think Liverpool will score more.”

It was wrong to focus on Van Dijk - Molby

11:45: Liverpool legend Jan Molby has questioned why the club focused on Virgil van Dijk this summer.

“Was Van Dijk really the only defender who would have improved this team? I refuse to believe that was the case,” he wrote in his column for the Liverpool Echo.

“Of course some weren't for sale but part of scouting is finding players. I wonder about the boy Davinson Sanchez, who went to Spurs from Ajax.

“Why didn't we show any interest in him? I still think we're a more attractive proposition than Spurs. It makes you wonder sometimes.

“A week ago we were thinking we might be able to survive our defensive issues because of how good we've looked going forward.

“But I think deep down as Liverpool fans we knew at some stage it would come back and bite us and that's what's happened.”

Vokes on Woodburn

10:13: Sam Vokes feels his Wales colleague Ben Woodburn is ready for regular Premier League football with Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp ponders what to do without Sadio Mane against Burnley.

Liverpool host Burnley today (3pm) with Mane missing due to suspension.

"Ben has been fantastic for Wales, obviously getting a goal on your international debut is huge," Vokes said of his Welsh team-mate.

"I think he might be limited to chances at Liverpool but obviously from an international point of view to come and score your first goal and in the second game get a massive assist for us was huge. I am sure on the international side it will be massive for Wales.

"I am sure he is ready to play in the Premier League regularly. They have a wealth of talent at Liverpool so he is going to be limited with chances. But from his point of view it will be great for him to get some club football under his belt going into the international games.

"Obviously I am sure when he comes away with Wales now he will want to be involved and playing. He will want that chance at club level. I am sure the talent he has got he can step into that Liverpool side. From our point of view at Wales, he has been fantastic."

Bertrand on Van Dijk move

07:40: Ryan Bertrand has opened up about Virgil van Dijk’s desire to leave Southampton this summer.

Van Dijk submitted a transfer request in a bid to force through a move away but his move to Liverpool - who were forced to apologise for tapping the player up earlier in the summer - never materialised.

"It is nice to keep hold of players," he told Sky Sports. 

"There were no bad vibes in the dressing room. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and what they want to do in their lives, but we just get on with it and play as a team.

"He has clearly stated that there are some big teams involved and wanted him and he just wanted to go on and pursue his career and move on to really big things.

"But he had a contract with Southampton and it did not happen. The club did not want to sell him and that is it, that is football."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says SImon Mignolet is his number oneGETTY

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says SImon Mignolet is his number one

Friday September 15

Mignolet returns

23:00: Simon Mignolet will return to Liverpool’s starting XI for Saturday’s clash with Burnley after being dropped for the midweek draw with Sevilla.

Mignolet was benched following Liverpool’s 5-0 defeat at Manchester City last weekend.

Loris Karius played in the 2-2 Champions League draw with Sevilla on Tuesday night.

But the goalkeeper has not done enough to keep his place, with Belgian Mignolet back in the first team for the visit of Burnley.

Discussing how the shot-stopper took being dropped, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “Sometimes the easiest thing is for me that as boss, the players have to take it. Ask a goalkeeper ‘what do you think’, and he took it and said ‘that’s a good idea’, something would be really wrong. As I said, we need strong goalkeepers. 

“We have young keepers at the best age and they are all ready to play. And we have to use this situation for the good of the club. They have to take that. I did it and they must take it.”

Liverpool vs Burnley prediction

20:00: Liverpool are in for a nervy afternoon when they host Burnley tomorrow (3pm), says Paul Merson.

“It's a must-win game for Liverpool,” Merson told Sky Sports. 

“I know they kept a clean sheet against Arsenal but they are not going to win the league with that defence.

“Philippe Coutinho will probably play with Sadio Mane suspended and he can open teams up, but the way Burnley have been playing they should be full of confidence. 

“Their away form has been good and I don't think they need to sit back and wait for Liverpool to break them down. It could be nervy for Liverpool.”

Klopp should have got Joe Hart

18:00: Phil Neville is surprised Jurgen Klopp didn’t attempt to sign Joe Hart this summer.

The Liverpool boss was adamant throughout the summer that he was happy with his options in goal with Loris Karius, Simon Mignolet and Danny Ward all battling for the No1 jersey.

But former Manchester United and Everton star Neville believes Hart would have been an improvement on all three.

“I’m surprised he didn’t go out and get Joe Hart,” Neville told BBC Radio 5Live. 

“A real top-class, experienced goalkeeper. I think he’s (Hart) better than what they’ve got. I think he would have given them a bit of stature at the back.”

Klopp not happy

15:00: Chris Kamara believes the reason for Jurgen Klopp’s constant changes at the back are because he isn’t happy with his options.

Klopp has chopped and changed with his defensive line-up to try and find the right formula to his side’s defensive woes.

They have conceded 14 goals in their opening seven games, five of which came in the 5-0 defeat against Manchester City.

And Sky Sports pundit Kamara believes the Liverpool boss isn’t happy with his current options in defence.

“Maybe he’s not happy because a manager who is happy with his back four or back five - they stick with them,” Kamara told Sky Sports’ The Debate show.

“Because you need to get an understanding of playing so the goalkeeper knows whether the centre half is going to head it or leave or what position the right back is in.

“But if you’re not happy then you mix and match the whole time and you keep changing because you’re trying to find the right blend.”

Jurgen KloppGETTY

Chris Kamara suggests Jurgen Klopp isn't happy with his defensive options

Mane statement

14:00: Sadio Mane insists he will not change his game despite regrets over the manner of his red card challenge on Ederson last weekend.

The Senegal international was shown a straight red card after booting the Manchester City goalkeeper in the face during Liverpool’s 5-0 defeat at the Etihad.

But Mane insists he didn’t go into the challenge intending to harm Ederson.

“It was a challenge for the ball, it is part of football so I cannot change anything. 

“I think the next time I will get the ball before him. I will do my best.”

No defenders for Klopp

12:00: Jurgen Klopp didn’t have a Plan B for Virgil van Dijk because there wasn’t any more options for him in the market.

That’s according to Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson.

The majority of their summer was spent trying to lure Virgil van Dijk away from Southampton but the south coast club were insistent on not selling the Holland international.

And Merson believes the reason Klopp didn’t identify a different option when he realised Southampton wouldn’t sell was simply because there was nobody else.  

“The major problem we have in this day and age if you’re a manager of a top team - there isn’t a lot of good centre halves around,” Merson told Sky Sports’ The Debate show.

“That’s the problem. We can all say Liverpool need to tighten up at the back but there’s not a lot around.”

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