Liverpool target Virgil van Dijk looks set to miss the opening game of the season as speculation over his future rumbles on.

The Southampton defender remains linked with a move to Anfield despite the Saints' efforts to keep him at the club.

And now the unsettled Dutchman could try and force through a move by sitting out of their first game of the season against Swansea next weekend, according to the Telegraph.

Van Dijk has not taken part in any pre-season matches or even full training as talks continue.

Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino has admitted that he would like to keep Van Dijk at the club.

“I would like to persuade him that he’s important for us and the club will not sell him,” he said.

Klopp 'in regular contact' with Mbappe

Liverpool supporters should not give up hope of their club signing Kylian Mbappe, report the Liverpool Echo.

French papers are claiming the French striking starlet has now decided to leave Monaco after feeling let down by the club failing to sort out a new contract and the continued sale of other top stars.

Liverpool have kept tabs on Mbappe and would like to be involved in transfer talks if the 18-year-old decides that England is right for his continued development.

But L'Equipe report a who’s who of top football clubs as potential destinations for Mbappe, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG and Man City all mentioned.

Klopp is reportedly talking to the Monaco sensation (
Image:
REUTERS)

Klopp reveals plan to make stars see Red — by dropping them

Jurgen Klopp wants his players to be angry with him... because it means he will have created a winning mentality.

The Liverpool boss has cut a frustrated figure in the transfer window so far, forced repeatedly to deny claims that Kop playmaker Philippe Coutinho is heading to Barcelona.

The German has been emphatic in his assertion the Reds will not sell a single player he wants to keep. His target is to have two equally-matched players vying for each position, and if that means some players lashing out at him, then he will gladly take it on the chin.

Talking about wanted-man Coutinho, Klopp said: “Everybody thought, ‘He’s going, he’s going, he’s going’ but so far, ­nobody is going.

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Coutinho, Mane and Matip struggle with Scouse challenge

It can't be easy living and working in a country that doesn't speak your natural born language.

And it must be even harder living in an area where the residents speak with a thick accent and slang.

Deciding to test how well some of Liverpool's stars have been settling in, the folks at MBNA got Philippe Coutinho , Sadio Mane and Joel Matip to take on a brilliant Scouse phrase challenge.

The trio went head-to-head and were tasked with working out three different phrases.

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