Liverpool
‘I cannot accept the lie’ – Liverpool hero without a club after 3am Snapchat plea and being banished by Jurgen Klopp
Mamadou Sakho was the most expensive centre-back in Liverpool history when he joined in 2013 but his Anfield career was over before it even began.
As Liverpool was getting ready to wrap up a busy summer, it was a last-minute signing that got fans excited.
Brendan Rodgers was looking to strengthen his defence after signing Kolo Toure for free. He brought in Thiago Ilori, a promising but untested player, for £7million.
But it wasn’t Ilori who stole the show in September 2013. Instead, all eyes were on Mamadou Sakho, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain amid much excitement.
Sakho cost £18m, making him the most expensive centre-back in Anfield history at the time and one of the top five most expensive players in any position to sign for the club.
Some might have been worried about the timing of the deal – it came right at the end of the transfer window. But Sakho’s signing was seen as a big statement.
At just 23, the former PSG captain was thought to be the solid foundation of a defence that would support Rodgers’ quest for glory at Anfield.
By September 2013, Sakho had already played for France 14 times. He was seen as someone who could become a key part of Liverpool’s defence for many years.
Rodgers certainly agreed with this idea.
“You look at some teams and they have ageing centre-halves because it is a struggle to get a really good one,” Rodgers said at the time.
“Sakho is 23 but he is an experienced player, he has senior international caps and looks an absolute monster in training. He is one who is ready for now and that is what we want.”
“We had a chance to protect the club for maybe the next 10 years and that is what we have done.”
Sakho’s first season with Liverpool almost saw them win their first title in nearly 25 years. However, he would only play in 18 Premier League games as Liverpool’s defence let in a massive 50 goals.
This was nearly double the amount of goals third-place Chelsea let in, making it clear where things went wrong.
Some people thought the Frenchman looked nervous and unsure, especially when he had the ball. Despite this, Sakho managed to achieve a pass accuracy of 92 per cent in his first season.
But even with players like Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger in the team, it seemed like Rodgers didn’t fully trust his £18m player.
The addition of Dejan Lovren for £20m in July 2014 suggested that Sakho hadn’t convinced everyone in his first year.
And he would play even less in the following season as Liverpool struggled to recover from missing out on the title.
Sakho’s time at Liverpool hit a low point when the team suffered a 6-1 defeat to Stoke in Steven Gerrard’s final game for the club. The next season was seen as a fresh start, with new team members and staff brought in.
New faces like Sean O’Driscoll, Gary McAllister and Pep Lijnders joined the team. Big signings like Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Nathaniel Clyne were made, costing over £70million. Sakho was given the captain’s armband for a Europa League game, but his first Premier League start of the season didn’t come until the end of September.
Sakho played in Jurgen Klopp’s first Liverpool team at Spurs in mid-October. He put in some strong performances in Europe as Liverpool made it to the final of the Europa League.
Sakho became a big favourite with fans when he scored against Everton and in the amazing comeback against Dortmund at Anfield in April 2016.
“The fans never leave us and they always, always shout. And I think together, it is a win for the Liverpool country,” he said after the match.
He won more love when he and Divock Origi took a sneaky selfie and put it in Reds fan Liamie Marum’s photo gallery after Liamie lost his phone during the excitement of the Dortmund win.
But in April 2016 things took a turn for the worse for Sakho when he was hit with a major doping ban at the end of the month. He had decided against taking a second test after the first one showed a fat-burning substance, finding himself suspended for 30 days before the ban was overturned on appeal. He would later win substantial damages against the World Anti-Doping Agency after it was found that higenamine was not banned by Wada.
This meant he couldn’t play in the Europa League final against Sevilla or be in France’s team for the European Championships that summer.
After that, things went downhill for Sakho at Liverpool.
He came back from the ban hoping to start over and fight the World Anti-Doping Agency quietly while playing football again.
He was cleared in July and even got an apology from WADA, but his chance to come back strong during Liverpool’s pre-season trip to the USA didn’t go as planned after a hard few months.
Sakho’s decline at Liverpool was accelerated when he fell out with Klopp while receiving treatment for an Achilles injury in the US. His attitude at the training camp raised concerns, leading to his quick return to Merseyside on Klopp’s orders.
The exact reasons for Sakho being sent back from America were never fully explained. However, it was reported that he nearly missed the outbound flight, skipped a rehab session and was late for a team meal.
Sakho’s behaviour in California was the last straw for Klopp, who had run out of patience. The defender was relegated to the Under-23s and never played for the first team again, even when Liverpool’s defence was under intense scrutiny before Virgil van Dijk joined in January 2018.
In August of that year, WADA confirmed they wouldn’t appeal UEFA’s decision to clear Sakho. He was then told he needed to go on loan if he wanted to keep playing top-level football.
Despite the clear signs that his time at Liverpool was over, Sakho didn’t secure a move before the transfer deadline. Stoke and West Brom showed interest, but no deal was reached. Sakho saw a move to either club as a big step down.
Sakho found himself training with the club’s Under-23s at the Kirkby Academy. He also posted on his Snapchat account at 3am, expressing his frustrations about the situation.
He wrote: “Now it’s 3 weeks I am fit to play games.” and “I finish[ed] all my rehabilitation work.”
“They don’t want me to play also with the segonde team (U23s) lol! Why? I don’t know.”
“[I am] Still working hard like [a] Scouse soldier! Still not talking [because] I want to speak on the pitch…I will speak soon for the people who support and me and don’t understand the situation.”
“I accept my situation but I can’t accept the lie…The fans deserve to know the truth! Thanks for your support.”
After being suspended in April, Sakho didn’t play again for over five months. His return was in a low-key match at Prenton Park for the U23s against Wolfsburg.
Those who trained with Sakho praised his professionalism and dedication. They were surprised by his willingness to play for the U23s.
However, if Sakho was hoping for a change of heart from Klopp, he was mistaken.
As January arrived, Sakho finally left Liverpool, agreeing to a loan move to Crystal Palace.
West Brom and Stoke, the clubs Sakho turned down in the summer might have seemed a step down to him, but after nine months of zero activity at top level, he accepted the offer from Palace.
“Right now it’s a new page for me,” Sakho said, “When I have a new shirt I always give my best.”
It’s thought that Christian Benteke, his old pal from Anfield, played a big part in Sakho making the move to Selhurst Park.
Sakho did so well down south that Palace paid their most ever on a player when they scooped him up permanently in 2017’s summer, for a hefty £25m. In 2022’s summer, he left along with other big stars whose contracts had ended.
And in 2024, it’s tough to work out where Sakho stands at Liverpool. He’s a player who divides supporters.
Everyone has opinions about Sakho – some think highly of him, others less so.
While some believe he could have been a key defender at Anfield for years, others saw him as a walking disaster waiting to happen.
Indeed, Sakho remains unattached in 2024, having left Montpellier following an altercation on the training ground with his manager,
Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk gives contract update Liverpool fans will love as he reveals “progress” in talks
Virgil van Dijk gives contract update Liverpool fans will love as he reveals “progress” in talks
The defender has given his clearest indication yet that he could be set to remain at Liverpool beyond the end of the season, with talks continuing over a new deal for the 33-year-old.
Virgil van Dijk has revealed he and Liverpool have made “progress” in their negotiations over a new contract.
The Liverpool skipper is one of three high-profile figures who could walk away for free this summer – along with teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah. The contract sagas surrounding the trio have dominated the news agenda this season, with Arne Slot repeatedly asked about their futures over the campaign.
He has tended to steer clear of those discussions, often stating there has been no update. Van Dijk, who stops to speak to the media after every game, usually deploys a similar approach, reiterating that he is calm about the situation and there have been no major developments.
As recently as last month, Van Dijk said he had “no idea” if he would remain at Liverpool beyond this season, and it makes Sunday’s change of tact so intriguing, perhaps suggesting a resolution could be reached soon. Asked about his contract situation after the 3-2 defeat against Fulham, Van Dijk replied: “There is progress, yeah.”
Pushed on the details of those talks and whether he’ll stay beyond the end of the season, the Dutchman said: “I don’t know, we’ll see. These are internal discussions and we’ll see.
Those remarks come just days after Van Dijk gave his clearest indication yet that he could stay beyond the summer.
“I can’t say more than there will be news in the upcoming weeks, whether it’s positive or not,” the defender said, when asked last week if he had played his final Merseyside derby. “I have no idea at this point, well I don’t know. I mentioned it many times before, I said I am calm.
“Like I said also many times before, you know I love the club, and the club loves me. I love playing for Liverpool. At this stage, I’m not really panicking whatsoever, so let’s see.”
Ensuring Van Dijk remains next season could be key ahead of what feels increasingly like a summer of major change at Anfield. Slot made just one signing last year – and Federico Chiesa is yet to start a Premier League game for the club since joining.
After 12 months in charge, several additions are expected this summer, with Jamie Carragher last week calling for six new arrivals ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. Sorting out the futures of Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Salah will be the first assignment for Slot and director of football Richard Hughes, before attention turns to recruitment.
Van Dijk has played every minute for the Reds this season and looks set to collect a second Premier League winners’ medal of his career at the end of the campaign.
Liverpool
‘Arrogance’ – Paul Scholes picks out Liverpool star who may be responsible for ‘sloppiness creeping in’
Liverpool fell to a 3-2 loss against Fulham and were left to rue the defensive errors they made.
Paul Scholes has claimed that Liverpool have become ‘arrogant’ in the run-in towards claiming the Premier League title.
The Reds are 11 points clear at the top of the table. But their form recently has dropped and have lost three of their previous four games in all competitions. Arne Slot’s side suffered a 3-2 defeat by Fulham at Craven Cottage – their maiden reverse away from home this season.
Liverpool conceded three goals in 14 first-half minutes in West London, with each being a defensive error. The Reds missed the chance to put more distance between themselves and second-placed Arsenal, with 11 points needed from the final seven games to claim the top-flight crown.
Captain Virgil van Dijk was at fault for Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz’s third goal for Fulham, while the Liverpool centre-back got away with an error in the first half of the Merseyside derby win against Everton when Beto hit the post. Scholes, who won the Premier League title 11 times with Manchester United, believes that ‘sloppiness’ is stemming from van Dijk.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, the former England midfielder said: ‘It [the title race] could be prolonged. You’d expect them to beat West Ham and Leicester City. You just need someone a bit closer to them. Arsenal have to be kicking themselves because this was a real opportunity, obviously with Man City not having the quality you’d expect in the title race.
“If Arsenal were a bit closer it could have got a bit shaky for Liverpool. It still could if Arsenal win all their games – you can’t think Arsenal are going to win all their games especially with the two Real Madrid games coming up.
“But Liverpool are going to limp over the line looking at today’s performance. I sense a bit of arrogance about them as if “you shouldn’t be able to land a finger on us today. You shouldn’t be able to beat us,” and I think they’ve shown that in the last few weeks.
“A bit of sloppiness creeping in and I think it comes from the captain [Van Dijk]. I think he really needs to make sure that there’s a proper determination to get over the line as soon as possible.”
Liverpool head coach Slot defended the recent form of his skipper van Dijk after the game, however. Slot told reporters at his post-match press conference: “Van Dijk is not the first player to find it difficult to defend against Beto. And the one that played here today, you have to give credit to him also.
I still see a lot of things that Virgil does really well, but if you play 50-60 games a season, there will be moments, even for him, where you could have done better.”
Liverpool
Liverpool fans want player sold ASAP after shock Fulham defeat and know who they want to replace him
Liverpool fans want a player sold ASAP following their shock defeat to Fulham and know who they want to replace him.
Liverpool suffered just their second league defeat of the season as they were humbled by Fulham, who ran out 3-2 winners at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring with a stunning strike from distance. Ryan Sessegnon levelled proceedings before two quick-fire goals put the hosts 3-1 ahead before the break.
Alex Iwobi scored his side’s second before Rodrigo Muniz added a third.
Luis Diaz pulled one back in the second-half as the visitors were condemned to their second defeat of their Premier League campaign.
Liverpool fans want player sold ASAP after Fulham defeat
Liverpool’s first-half capitulation got fans online talking as they think it’s time to address ‘the elephant in the room’.
They also aimed their frustration at Andy Robertson, who was at fault for Iwobi’s goal.
He attempted a woeful cross-field ball before failing to clear his lines.
One X user wrote: “Well, that’s the nail in the coffin of Andy Robertson’s time as a starter at LFC.”
A second slammed: “It’s a f**king disgrace Robertson wasn’t replaced in the summer. Absolutely outrageous having to put up with this.”
A third added: “Robertson has genuinely been at fault for so many goals this season, all from mistakes.”
Liverpool fans know who they want as replacement
Liverpool fans already know who they want to replace Robertson, who has been at the club since 2017.
Supporters on social media called for Liverpool to sign Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez this summer.
Kerkez has starred for the Cherries this season, producing heroics from the left flank.
The 21-year-old could slot in Liverpool’s backline from the start, having already proved he can operate in the Premier League.
One fan said: “Jesus Christ Robertson is so washed my god get me Kerkez ASAP.”
A second commented: “Give Bournemouth whatever they want for Kerkez. Robertson is worse than useless.”
Another wrote: “Robertson simply needs to be back up left back at most next season. Kerkez come on down.”
Liverpool suffered only their second Premier League defeat of the season after a 3-2 loss against Fulham.
The Reds were completely outplayed in west London as Marco Silva’s side fought back from Alexis Mac Allister’s fantastic opener for Liverpool to secure a famous win at Craven Cottage, with Arne Slot’s side simply not at the races.
With Alisson Becker once again missing for Liverpool due to concussion protocol, the Anfield side were not at full strength with Trent Alexander-Arnold also recovering from injury, with Fulham all over the Reds despite going a goal down.
And former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison was left fuming by one moment from Andy Robertson after today’s loss against Fulham.
Andy Robertson criticised after ‘horrendous’ error leading to Fulham goal
Speaking on Premier League Productions, the former Scotland international was very critical of Robertson after the Liverpool defender gifted Alex Iwobi the chance to fire Fulham ahead after a poor clearance at the back.
With Liverpool looking to replace Robertson next season, the former Hull City man did not cover himself in any sort of glory this afternoon against Fulham, where the defender was a real weak point for the Reds in their surprise loss in the English capital.
And for Hutchison, Robertson’s role in Iwobi’s goal was a real embarrassment for the Liverpool defender, who was simply not at his usual best this afternoon as the Scottish defender gifted the Cottagers a golden ticket to a big result.
Hutchison said: “Horrendous goal to concede. What on earth has Andy Robertson seen playing that in to midfield? He gives the ball straight to Alex Iwobi, now Liverpool are under massive pressure. There might be a little deflection on the way through, off Robertson’s chest, but he shifts it well to hit the target.”
Liverpool were shown today why Andy Robertson needs replacing
Robertson will go down as a modern Liverpool legend, with the left-back playing an instrumental role in the Reds winning everything they did under Jurgen Klopp and forming arguably the best fullback pairing in Premier League history alongside Alexander-Arnold.
Yet nothing lasts forever in football, and Liverpool were shown today why Robertson needs replacing in the summer, with the defender simply no longer in the world-class bracket of players that the Reds are expecting from every position.
Indeed, Robertson’s legacy at Liverpool is all-but assured already, and moving on from the Scotland international is the right decision this summer as the Anfield side prepare to overhaul the squad in a big way in the off-season.
Fulham and Liverpool fans witnessed a bizarre opening 45 minutes at Craven Cottage.
The Cottagers looked likely to be the Reds’ 23rd victims of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign after Alexis Mac Allister put Liverpool ahead with a brilliant strike in the 14th minute – before a wild 14 minutes of action ensued.
Once Ryan Sessegnon equalised in the 23rd minute, the floodgates opened as Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz added a second and third – ruthlessness Marco Silva would have been hugely impressed by, albeit not so much for Arne Slot.
In fact, Fulham could have even scored four goals in the first half – although VAR let the west Londoners down.
Richard Keys feels VAR should have penalised Caoimhin Kelleher
Just minutes into the game, Ibrahima Konate put Liverpool in danger with a loose touch in the box, which Andreas Pereira pounced upon.
The Reds somehow escaped unpunished, although Caoimhin Kelleher – who Spurs are fans of – did clean the Brazilian out just after he released the ball with a messy challenge, which Richard Keys feels should have earned Fulham a penalty.
Writing on X (previously known as Twitter), the beIN SPORTS pundit opined: “That is some goal (by Mac Allister) – but surely Fulham should’ve had a pen when Kelleher fouled Pereira? We’re waiting for the matchday centre to tell us ‘it didn’t meet the threshold’.”
https://x.com/richardajkeys/status/1908872048048218500?t=t7zuj05s9JJrxgHfh7IUuQ&s=19
It was a very risky challenge from the Republic of Ireland international – and he was fortunate that Chris Kavanagh and those in the VAR booth felt it deserved no punishment.
What the Premier League Match Centre actually said about Caoimhin Kelleher challenge
Keys – who recently hammered Jamie Carragher – alluded to what the Premier League Match Centre would argue to try and wriggle out of the situation, so let’s see what they actually said on the matter.
Also writing on X, the official Premier League account posted: “The referee’s call of no penalty to Fulham following a challenge by Kelleher on Pereira was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed a coming together and not a reckless action. The VAR also checked and cleared the incident between van Dijk and Muniz.”
https://x.com/PLMatchCentre/status/1908871544702460095?t=BFPw937afHKjiSzfOF-PRQ&s=19
We cannot understand how the Liverpool No.62 diving into Pereira can be deemed as a “coming together” – although the Cottagers saw justice served regardless after taking all three points.
The home side had two early penalty appeals reviewed during Sunday’s clash at Craven Cottage.
The Premier League has explained why Liverpool were not penalised during two contentious moments early in their match against Fulham.
Fulham had strong claims for a spot-kick within the opening minutes after Ibrahima Konate’s error in the box handed possession to Andreas Pereira.
Pereira first collided with Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher as he attempted to round him, before Rodrigo Muniz clashed with Virgil van Dijk while chasing the rebound.
However, referee Chris Kavanagh decided against awarding a penalty for either incident—a decision backed by VAR official Matthew Donoghue.
A statement from the Premier League Match Centre read: “The referee’s call of no penalty to Fulham following a challenge by Kelleher on Pereira was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed a coming together and not a reckless action. The VAR also checked and cleared the incident between van Dijk and Muniz.”
Liverpool entered the fixture 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League, boasting an unbeaten run of 26 matches in the competition.
Liverpool
‘This Is Who I Want As Our Striker, Not Isak’ ‘He Is A Beast’ Fans React As Sky Claim Liverpool Want 28 Goal Poacher
Liverpool have been keeping close tabs on Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, according to Sky Sports.
The website claims that the Reds have been watching the Nigerian international for “some time”.
While plenty of fans on X would be keen on their club signing Osimhen, not everyone believes that the Merseysiders would make a concerted effort to secure his signature:
https://x.com/T_T_guy/status/1908227186638664052?t=_l0YhoktsE2BMKb7GxAxLg&s=19
https://x.com/AnythingLFC_/status/1908218675380830550?t=GQQLN2IC2qgIUoD4uubSdg&s=19
https://x.com/NanaEwusie10/status/1908219721012351157?t=78ls7zNI7ev5cNnOYUywnQ&s=19
https://x.com/Clyde694/status/1908222907441877044?t=vRPpeqhGuzRiJjEz_CjtaA&s=19
https://x.com/salah_ftbl11/status/1908226792822816913?t=EnMY_nvAzj3pd-RVdFYfbw&s=19
Osimhen has been in excellent form
After leaving Napoli for Galatasaray on loan last September, the 26-year-old has found the back of the net on a regular basis.
Osimhen has scored 28 goals in only 32 appearances. That strike rate is seriously impressive, although you do have to take into consideration that he is playing in the Turkish Super Lig, which is not the highest standard of competition.
Even so, he has also scored 30 goals in Serie A before so there shouldn’t really be any concerns about his ability.
Liverpool can sign him for a reasonable fee.
Of course, his wages will be quite high and there could be competition from Manchester United, Chelsea and maybe even Arsenal, but he could prove to be a great addition for Arne Slot’s side.
With Liverpool nearing a second Premier League title triumph in five years, Jurgen Klopp is set for a return to Merseyside to complete the one thing he couldn’t do after their 2019/20 victory.
Should Liverpool win the Premier League this season, they’ll finally be able to parade the title in front of hundreds of thousands of their fans – and Jurgen Klopp. The legendary German led his former side to their first league triumph in 30 years during the 2019/20 season.
However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic that saw the season on hold for a number of months, the league winners weren’t able to celebrate their triumph in the traditional trophy bus parade amongst Liverpool fans.
The lack of celebration of the historic title has already been a point of sourness among Reds supporters. But it’ll be a different story this time round if Arne Slot’s men hold onto their sizeable lead at the top of the table for the final stretch of the campaign.
Among the countless fans that will line the streets of Liverpool if they secure the league will be Klopp, who already admitted he’ll be in attendance to watch his former players hoist the Premier League title.
It was in the final few games of his nine-year tenure at Anfield that the 56-year-old made the promise, as he said to TNT Sports: “I’m happy, the better the hands are the club will be in for the next years, the better it is for me because I will follow everything and will watch it from wherever in the world.
“If Liverpool can win the league the next year and if I don’t disturb, I would be around and watch the [bus] driving through the city.”
He reiterated his plans earlier this year as it became more likely Liverpool were in the driving seat of the league. “Yes, the plan is [to be there for the celebrations] but not on the bus,” he said during a fundraising event in Cape Town.
“I will be there where the people are. That’s the idea, but we will see.” He also confirmed plans on being in attendance in Liverpool’s last game of the season against Crystal Palace at Anfield, admitting he’s stayed away from the iconic ground this season due to not wanting to jinx the team.
“I will be there for the last game,” he added. “I didn’t want to go earlier to be honest because I didn’t want to jinx it! They win all the time and I’m the first time in the stadium and they lose! So, I’ll go there when it’s decided.”
Klopp had been invited to games against Manchester City and Real Madrid by Slot who said his predecessor will always be welcome at the club.
“I wouldn’t mind him (Klopp) coming. I invited him, I think, to the (Manchester) City and Real (Madrid) games, but he told me he has a job and is somewhere else in the world,” the Dutchman said.
“He can be here every single time he wants to come – either to the training ground or the games. He is more than welcome.
“But at this moment he had a job to do and in the first half of the season he had a job to do with his wife, enjoying life. For me, he is always welcome.”
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