Liverpool News LIVE updates: Leicester Cup tie preview, Klopp questions, Ox assurance

LIVERPOOL NEWS LIVE UPDATES: Follow below for the latest news and gossip from Anfield.

Tuesday September 19

Klopp under pressure - Babb

15.45: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is under “immense pressure” to win silverware as soon as possible at Anfield, according to former Reds defender Phil Babb.

“I think there is immense pressure,” Babb said on Sky Sports.

“Certainly at a club like Liverpool. 

“He’s got to two finals - the Europa League final and the League Cup final - and failed in both of them. The club want silverware.”

Drax alert

09.30: Arsenal and Liverpool are chasing PSG ace Julian Draxler and could make moves in January.

The Germany winger is keen to leave the French side after the arrival of Neymar this summer.

Draxler has seen his involvement drop with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe arriving at the Parc des Princes for huge fees.

And he wants to quit as soon as possible to get first team football ahead of next summer’s World Cup.

And, according to transfermarketweb, Arsenal and Liverpool are monitoring his situation.

Klopp under pressure

05:30: Liverpool fans will begin asking questions of Jurgen Klopp if he doesn’t change their fortunes at the back. 

That’s according to Liverpool legend John Aldridge, who says he was pulling his hair out during the 1-1 draw with Burnley on Saturday.

“I’m a massive fan of Klopp and remain totally convinced he is the right man to lead Liverpool, but he has to get to grips with defensive woes that are costing him points far too often,” Aldridge told the Irish Independent.

“If he can’t find solutions to the problems at the back, fans will start to question Klopp and his coaching staff because they do not seem to be getting to grips with the basic problems undermining their team’s ambitions.

Leicester not underdogs

04:30: Charlie Nicholas will not be surprised if Leicester beat Liverpool tonight in the Carabao Cup.

Jurgen Klopp is yet to win a trophy in his two years on Merseyside and many believe a cup competition is his best bet for silverware this season.

But the Liverpool boss is set to make a number of changes to bring in fringe players to the starting line-up tonight and Nicholas believes that could backfire for the German coach.

“I covered Liverpool at the weekend and I was baffled by Jurgen Klopp's seven changes,” Nicholas told Sky Sports.

“They looked defensively vulnerable again and could have lost the game when Ben Mee went agonisingly close in the dying stages.

“Other than Liverpool's reputation, I really don't see this as an upset, especially as I'm inclined to think they will make another six or seven changes, with Ben Woodburn and the other young guys coming in.

Oxlade-Chamberlain assurance

03:30: Jurgen Klopp has reassured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain he has made the right decision to quit Arsenal to join Liverpool.

The 24-year-old has been limited to cameo appearances from the bench since his £35million move to Anfield on transfer deadline day.

But Klopp is set to hand Oxlade-Chamberlain his first start in tonight’s Carabao Cup match away to Leicester.

And the Liverpool boss insists there is no need to rush Oxlade-Chamberlain’s development at Liverpool.

"He played all the games for Arsenal from the beginning and now he comes here and is on the bench so it looks, 'Oh, not the best decision', but it is long-term thing,” Klopp said.

"We want to use him and to prepare him also. It is all good from this side at the moment."

Liverpool news: Follow below for all the latest news and gossip from Anfield

Monday, September 18

Phil will stay - Hislop

17.20: Liverpool will once again stand firm and not allow Philippe Coutinho to leave the club in January, according to Shaka Hislop.

Hislop cannot see Liverpool changing their stance and reckons he will stay until the end of the season at least.

“After everything that’s happened, if he hasn’t left yet, he isn’t going anywhere,” Hislop said on ESPN FC.

“Liverpool quite clearly don’t want to do business, even at the ridiculous prices that were quoted this summer. 

“As a result I don’t see anyone matching that.”

Solanke for defence!

15:58: Liverpool fans have jokingly called on striker Dominic Solanke to play in defence to solve their backline woes.

The official club Twitter account heaped praise on Solanke this afternoon following his sub appearance against Burnley.

They wrote: “‘He's full of joy and quality.’ Jürgen Klopp impressed by @DomSolanke's Burnley cameo.”

But it didn’t get the response the Liverpool social media team were looking for.

One fan, alluding to Klopp’s problems in defence, joked “can he play centre back ?”

Another added: “Can he play defence?”

Danny Ward to get the call

13.15: Jurgen Klopp is set to use his third goalkeeper of the season after confirming Danny Ward will play against Leicester in the EFL Cup.

Klopp has chopped and changed between Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet already this season.

And now he will choose his third choice keeper.

“I’m not sure the world is ready for such a crazy decision, a third goalkeeper in one season,” he said. “Danny Ward will play tomorrow.” 

Lemina to Liverpool or Arsenal

09:44: Garth Crooks believes Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina could play for Liverpool or Arsenal after a man-of-the-match display in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

He said: “My goodness, this lad looks a powerhouse.

“I suppose when you've played for one of the biggest clubs in the world in Juventus, you should have all the tools to survive in any league. 

“However, what I witnessed in Southampton's Mario Lemina was a player who seemed to stifle Crystal Palace's every move.

“The former Juve man was composed on the ball and timely in the tackle - and for a holding midfielder, he was very capable of hurting the opposition.

“Lemina is a top-four player in my opinion and fair play to Southampton for making the purchase. 

“Why he is not playing for Liverpool or Arsenal is a mystery to me.”

De Vrij deal unlikely

08.35: Liverpool target Stefan de Vrij is close to agreeing a new deal with Lazio, according to the club’s sporting director Igli Tare.

When asked about De Vrij’s situation before the 3-2 win over Genoa at the weekend, Tare said: “We are optimistic on De Vrij's contract renewal.

“We have a great understanding with his entourage.”

De Vrij’s current contract expires next summer, meaning Lazio must act fast if they are to keep him with clubs able to approach him in January.

Redknapp's raving

07.19: Jamie Redknapp believes Liverpool lack the ruthless streak to kill teams off.

They were held by Burnley on Saturday following the draw with Sevilla in the Champions League and the big defeat to Manchester City.

And Redknapp thinks they need a lethal touch up front.

“Liverpool may have issues at the back but what really concerned me was their inability to kill off Burnley,” Redknapp told the Daily Mail.

“All their dominance and creativity produced 35 shots but just one goal. 

“Liverpool are one of the most exciting teams to watch. Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Mo Salah are lovely footballers whose intricate play can be scintillating.

“They share the goals around the team. You are not going to get a golden boot contender from this side. 

“But against teams like Burnley who defend resolutely, Liverpool need a ruthless goalscorer to put the game to bed. Think of Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen. 

“Every time they stepped on to the pitch at Anfield, their sole aim was to score as many as possible. I do not see the same selfish streak in players like Firmino while Daniel Sturridge is lacking in confidence.”

He added: “If they cannot convert their dominance into goals, the Premier League title remains a distant ambition.”

Naby Keita watch

05:00: Naby Keita hit the headlines for RB Leipzig this weekend - for all the wrong reasons.

The 22-year-old picked up an assist in the 2-2 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday, but the game also saw him pick up a straight red card in the dying moments of the match.

The sending off drew comparisons to Mane’s incident involving Ederson last week in which the Senegal international’s raised foot connected with the Manchester City goalkeeper.

The Liverpool star was subsequently banned for the next three domestic games and after missing the 1-1 draw with Burnley, will miss the Carabao Cup and league double against Leicester this week.

And Keita faces a similar sanction after he was given his marching orders after catching Christoph Kramer with a high boot to the face.

Coutinho talks

04:00: Philippe Coutinho is not sure whether Liverpool will be more receptive to bids from Barcelona should they come again next summer.

Coutinho finally broke his silence on his failed move to Barcelona following Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Burnley.

He admitted he was “honoured” to be targeted by the La Liga giants. 

But when asked whether Liverpool have offered him any promises about a move away next summer, he said: ”Not that I know of.

"I am in a place that I have always been - given respect by everyone and (I), too, respect everyone. It is all in the past."

Klopp training tactics slammed

03:00: Jurgen Klopp is making the same errors week in, week out at Liverpool, claims Alan Shearer.

Only West Ham and Everton have conceded more goals in the league this season than Liverpool’s nine while the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United, who currently sit joint top of the table, have only let in two goals apiece.

And England legend Shearer was left questioning Klopp’s training ground tactics as to why his Liverpool side keep making the same mistakes.

“I am left wondering just what he does on the training ground when the same defensive errors are repeated week in, week out,” Shearer told The Sun.

“What I witnessed on Saturday in their draw at home to Burnley was laughable.”