Richard Hughes may be closing in on a £40m deal after the events of this week.

The Liverpool sporting director hasn’t really set the world alight since his arrival at the club. Hughes failed to address the glaring midfield problems last summer.

Meanwhile, he’s also failed to tie down the likes of Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold to long-term deals, much to the dismay of the club’s supporters.

All three of them will be free to leave Anfield for pastures new at the end of the season if Hughes doesn’t find a way to extend their deals.

And that’s not the only thing he has to worry about this summer. There are going to be massive changes at the club, including as Anfield Watch exclusively revealed a major overhaul in Liverpool’s attack.

But there is some good news. After the events of last week, Hughes might be closer to making a big sale this summer.

Richard Hughes one step closer to £40m transfer deal

In the January transfer window reports emerged that Liverpool were open to selling Harvey Elliott. At the time those reports claimed that the fee Liverpool wanted for Elliott was £40m.

Nobody made a bid for Elliott back then but things have been different for the 21-year-old since.

After his winner against Paris Saint Germain, he now has three goals in his las three Champions League games. And he’s averaging 0.88 goal contributions per 90 for Liverpool in all competitions, only Cody Gakpo and Salah average more for the Reds.

All those numbers plus the hype from scoring the winner against PSG will be music to Hughes’ ears.

At the end of the day, as impressive as Elliott has been when he has played, the fact that he has spent such little time on the pitch shows Arne Slot doesn’t really fancy the midfielder.

Out of Liverpool’s first team players only Federico Chiesa and Tyler Morton have played fewer minutes than Elliott this season. He’s spent just 517 minutes on the pitch and with his 22nd birthday on the horizon these are not the kind of minutes he should be aspiring towards.

Elliott will know his value too and he will understand he might have to move on in order to fulfil his potential.

There’s clearly an exciting talent there. A talent who has on more than one occasion delivered for Liverpool.

But there is just no room for him in this Liverpool team. Elliott simply doesn’t suit Slot’s system and that has been made abundantly clear.

At the same time, he has got a high value. Hughes will be pitching that to prospective buyers. He’ll be showing Elliott’s winner against PSG, the data that highlights his productivity.

Somewhere else Elliott can absolutely be a success and that is why Hughes should be confident that if Elliott continues to make his mark when he does get on the pitch, he will be able to sell him for the price that he wants.

That PSG winner just means Hughes is closing in on his desired £40m deal and that’s a sale that could be of huge benefit to Liverpool’s plans to overhaul the squad this summer.

The woman whose letter of thanks brought Jurgen Klopp to tears says she’s been overwhelmed by his response.

Lifelong LFC fan Molly Gardner wrote to Klopp to tell him how he’d given her the will and strength to fight back from a serious illness which had left her clinging to life.

And she says: “I’m overwhelmed by it all, I’m still in shock he’s read my letter – never mind be touched by it.

“It really has just rounded off the perfect goodbye to him, but also given me such a lift in my road to recovery.

“I can’t believe I’ve gone viral with the boss!”

Molly laughs: “I’ll go to my grave saying I’m the woman who made Klopp cry.”

In footage released by Liverpool FC on their YouTube and social media channels this week, Klopp is seen reading fans’ letters during his final days at Anfield.

But it’s the one from Molly which leaves the former manager wiping tears from his eyes and taking in deep breaths to go on.

Molly, 52, from Edge Hill, put pen to paper to thank him for giving her strength as she lay fighting for her life in a hospital bed.

She told him how, in December 2022, her life was turned upside down when she became desperately ill with pancreatitis.

Molly wrote: “I had to wear an oxygen hood for 16 hours a day to breathe, my lungs were failing. I was fed through a tube. I had wires in every direction keeping me alive, procedures, operations and, more recently, a bleed in my spleen.”

Molly was in and out of hospital until October ’23, and lost five stones in weight. As a result of her illness, she has developed diabetes.

“I thought I would never see my home or family again, never mind be able to go the match. Six months on, I am now proud to say I am home and my rehab has begun, and I am able to get to the home games, which is a huge step for me.”

The revenue protection officer for London Northwestern Railway, went on: “This isn’t a sob story, but an important message to say that football is one small part of life, it doesn’t really mean all that much when your life is on the line, but part of your legacy that you will leave is strangely much more than football.

“The meaning of believing, believe if you fight hard enough, you can do it, you can bounce back from the hardest times, from the impossible. That’s what you have given to me Jurgen, and thousands of others. A lasting effect that is so much to a city that you will probably never comprehend.

“…. At the end of the storm is a golden sky.”

As he looks at photos she has sent, a visibly emotional Klopp says: “I read it, and I believe it…but when people say it… How can that be me?

“I mean, if Molly says it, that I had an impact on her life, yeah, that’s good.  Very good.”

Molly, who with friends raised £10,000 for the charity Guts UK to help people with pancreatitis with a 50-mile bike ride, says: “It was the scariest time of my life, but now I’m doing better.

“I am trying to put the weight back on and gain strength, and I’m getting there. This has made me fight even more.

“To be honest, I was devastated he was going and this just about tipped me over the edge,” she smiles.

“I don’t have children and I live and breathe Liverpool FC. I have been going to the match since I was 10 – I’d miss family weddings for a game – so I cried like a baby when Jurgen read my letter. And the messages I have received from friends and family since have been amazing.

“Jurgen Klopp has been a big part of my life, he’s given me the best days of my life – and he gave me the reason to live.

“I made it back to Anfield at the start of this season and, although I missed a few games, it was a sign of my getting back to normal.

“I still have days when I find it hard to get out of bed, physically and emotionally, but this week I have been skipping out.

“One day, when I’m 100% back to fitness, I’ll send Jurgen a video of my own and say ‘you got me here’.”

WATCH KLOPP IN TEARS HERE

Sturridge and Carragher had a lively debate on Sky Sports after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United.

Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Carragher were involved in a heated debate on Trent Alexander-Arnold after his performance in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United.

Alexander-Arnold started the Premier League clash days after Liverpool reportedly rejected a bid worth around £20 million from Real Madrid for the 26-year-old.

The right-back’s contract at Liverpool expires in the summer, and the Reds face the prospect of losing the academy graduate on a free transfer in the summer if they cannot agree fresh terms.

Against United, Alexander-Arnold gave the ball away before the visitors’ first goal at Anfield, and was criticised by Roy Keane for his defending.

He was substituted by Arne Slot with five minutes left in the game and replaced by Conor Bradley, despite Liverpool having been chasing a late winner at the time.

And his future – amid the Real interest – was a significant talking point in the Sky Sports studio between Carragher, Sturridge, Keane and Gary Neville after the match.

At one point in the debate, Sturridge interjected: “Jamie, before Madrid, you had a problem with the situation as well.

“[You were saying] ‘How things are going, we’re hearing rumours, the contracts, this and that’.”

Carragher bluntly hit back: “Daniel, tell me what the problem is. That was just a load of waffle.”

Sturridge said: “This is a simple question I have for you. Are you saying you are happy with Trent leaving for free, or are you saying you want money for him? Which one is it?

“You can’t stay on the fence, Jamie, and say you either want him to stay and sign a contract or you want him to leave now and you want money. But we can’t have it both ways. That’s football. I’m a fan of Liverpool too – I love Trent Alexander-Arnold.”

“When did I say I wanted him to be sold now for money?” Carragher interjected. “When did I say I was unhappy…”

Sturridge then began his response, before Carragher said: “No, stop. When did I say I was unhappy with him going to Madrid? I have never, ever said I have a problem with him going for free.

https://x.com/SkySportsPL/status/1875995133470200192?t=hue9LaoYDB8AuZ-No9O2ZQ&s=19

“I’ve constantly said, and defended him to other Liverpool fans and on this show, that the lad came for nothing, and if he leaves for nothing, there should be no criticism for that.”

He continued: “In terms of selling him right now, I’m disappointed because I know how transfers work. He will know that Real Madrid have bid for him.

“Real Madrid can do what they want. My problem is, Liverpool are going for the league title here. It’s January, and that will have kicked up a fuss ahead of a big game.”

But Sturridge argued: “It’s the same thing for Salah, though. You can’t say one thing for Trent, a local lad, he should be revered by the fans like yourself, like Steven Gerrard. Trent is someone who’s been at the club from the academy, he’s come through at the club to 27 years of age.

“The fact of the matter is, if Real Madrid decide they want to test the waters… they might have had a flirt-up. We know football. That’s not a problem.”

Carragher added: “My problem with Trent, in terms of if he leaves, it’s not anger or I’m not happy with him. It’s probably disappointment.

“The disappointment for me, as a local player, is that Trent is a local boy, he is a Liverpool fan. Liverpool are on the verge of equalling United in league titles. He could be the captain in two or three years, and he could lift these trophies. Liverpool fans will be disappointed and that’s where my disappointment comes from.

“He might think differently. If I was in his position, that would be my mentality – ‘I can put Liverpool in a position where they can beat United in league titles. I can lift those trophies’. Of course I want him to stay.”

Presenter David Jones then asked Sturridge if he was ‘fine’ with Alexander-Arnold deciding to reject a contract and move elsewhere: “I think he has been an incredible player for Liverpool, and whatever Trent wants to do with his career, it’s his decision.

“I think Liverpool have had ample opportunity to sign the player, and I’m a fan of Liverpool, I love Liverpool. I would love Trent to stay and to be like a Stevie G, or yourself [Carra] than leaving.”

Arne Slot could see one of his Liverpool players leave after falling out of favour at Anfield.

Liverpool could be set to see a forgotten player leave in the January transfer window as Arne Slot looks to freshen his squad for the second half of the Premier League season.

Slot, 46, has had a huge impact on Liverpool since he replaced Jurgen Klopp after the 2023/24 season. The Reds currently sit at the top of the Premier League and 36-team Champions League group phase, as well as being in a Carabao Cup semi-final.

However, a challenge that Slot faced was the lack of transfers in the summer window.

Liverpool tried and failed to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, but Ryan Gravenberch has since proved his worth in the ‘number six’ role.

Federico Chiesa was the only signing of the summer window, and he has failed to impress in his four appearances for Slot’s side.

While the Reds did agree a deal worth up to £29m (as per BBC Sport) for Valencia’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, although he will not join the squad until the start of the 2025/26 season.

He will link up with an already top-quality goalkeeping unit alongside Alisson, Caoimhín Kelleher and third-choice Vitezslav Jaros next summer. But it is another ‘keeper who could be set to leave Liverpool in the January transfer window.

Brazilian goalie Marcelo Pitaluga could move on from his current loan spell at Scottish Championship side Livingston, according to Liverpool.com.

His time at Livi has not led to many minutes, having played just twice so far this campaign.

Pitaluga, 22, was previously loaned to Macclesfield and St Patrick’s Athletic, but his chance of making it into a Liverpool squad, let alone the first-team, seems slim given the quality of the competition.

Brazil-based outlet UOL explains how ‘talks are underway’ regarding a possible return to former club Fluminense with a deal possible in this month’s window.

The player did sign a contract extension at the Reds in January 2024 and is valued at around £166k by Transfermarkt.

Back in November 2024, the ‘keeper gave his thoughts on being loaned out to several clubs.

“It is about being ready,” he told Liverpool.com.

“Football can change really quick and you never know when you might be needed — Vite is a good example.

“When Ali was injured and Caoihm was ill, he got to play. That’s what the loans give you.”

Of course, Pitaluga was referring to Jaros who unexpectedly replaced Alisson when he sustained an injury against Crystal Palace during a Premier League match back in October.

“Vite has gone on loan a few times and he did really well on the last one,” he added.

“Then you build confidence and experience to be ready for these things. Be ready and it doesn’t matter where you end up.”

Liverpool and Fulham are currently locking horns at Anfield in what has turned out to be a fiery clash in the Premier League.

It’s safe to say things haven’t gone as planned for Liverpool as Andreas Pereira has given Marco Silva’s side a 1-0 lead.

Things went from bad to worse for Liverpool as Andy Robertson was sent off for a rash tackle on Harry Wilson.

Arne Slot’s side haven’t been anywhere close to their best, but Mike Dean feels the home side were on the wrong end of a poor refereeing decision.

Mike Dean says Andreas Pereira should have been sent off in Liverpool vs Fulham

The game started off on a fiery note as the likes of Issa Diop and Luis Diaz were booked for poor challenges in the opening exchanges.

Pereira also got booked for a rash challenge on Ryan Gravenberch as he brought down the Dutch midfielder by stomping him on his leg after letting him dribble past him.

The Brazilian was booked for his challenge, but Mike Dean feels he should have seen a red card as it was a rash challenge, to say the least.

“Pereira caught Gravenberch on the top of his Achilles and scrapped down. He’s nowhere near the ball,” said Dean via Sky Sports.

“He knew what he was doing. It’s 100 percent a red card.”

The decision came back to haunt Liverpool as Pereira got his name on the scoresheet moments later to stun the Anfield crowd.

How many games will Robertson miss for Liverpool?

Robertson’s red card means Liverpool have to see out the rest of the game with ten men.

Additionally, he was sent off for the denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity, so he is set to miss their next domestic game which is against Southampton in the EFL Cup.

It remains to be seen if the Reds appeal the Scotsman’s red card, but for now, they will look to see if they can claw their way back into a potentially crucial game in terms of their title hopes.

The hearing into the Premier League’s financial charges against Manchester City reportedly ended last week.

The hearing into the Premier League’s 115 charges against Manchester City has reportedly ended – with both sides delivering closing arguments for the case last week in London. The Etihad outfit are accused of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules on more than 115 occasions in a nine-year period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.

The hearing in front of a three-man independent panel began at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre on September 16. However, Mail Sport has revealed that the hearing concluded in London on Friday, December 6, with a verdict expected in the New Year.

The Premier League charged Manchester City with over 115 financial breaches in February 2023, claiming the Etihad outfit failed to provide accurate financial information over the nine-year period. During that time, Manchester City won three Premier League titles, one of which came at Liverpool’s expense as they finished two points ahead of the Reds at the end of the 2013/14 season.

City, however, have maintained their innocence and, in February 2023, insisted it welcomed the opportunity to present a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence”.

In October, the Telegraph claimed Manchester City were expecting to receive legal notices from rival Premier League clubs, which reserved the right to seek damages if the eight-time Premier League champions are found guilty.

German publication Der Spiegel first uncovered and put forward allegations of financial wrongdoing in November 2018. Therefore, as per the Limitation Act 1980, clubs across the Premier League only had until the end of last month to initiate proceedings.

If City are found guilty, it has been speculated in the national media that a potential punishment could range from a points deduction to relegation from the Premier League. It was reported by the Independent last week that although some clubs are pushing for the harshest penalty of relegation, it is extremely unlikely as the matter would have to go to a vote between all clubs and 15 would need to be in favour of demoting the champions.

Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw against Fulham in the Premier League title race.

Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-0 at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

Declan Rice gave a brilliant reaction after finding out Liverpool had dropped points against Newcastle United.

On Wednesday night, Rice started at the heart of the Arsenal midfield as they took on Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.

Goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba were enough to seal a vital 2-0 win for Mikel Arteta’s men.

To make the victory even better, Premier League leaders Liverpool dropped two precious points at St. James’ Park against Newcastle after a late Fabian Schar goal made it 3-3.

Straight after the final whistle at the Emirates, Rice was interviewed by Amazon Prime Video and was told that Liverpool had dropped points.

Rice was told: “The other bit of good news, Liverpool drew tonight, they dropped points so you’ve closed that gap, in that sense as well, must feel good.”

The Arsenal man replied: “Yeah it’s good but look, people get carried away with the title talk and I was involved in my first one last year.

“You just need to be in and around it by February time, it’s too early to be calling what’s going on. It’s closed up but there’s still a long way to go. We’ll keep believing in ourselves.” You can watch the interview below.

https://x.com/primevideosport/status/1864434085235425435?t=Ymbs2PYdYxHgh-_c3FhVNQ&s=19

As a result of beating United, Arsenal stay third with 28 points as they trail Chelsea on goal difference. Meanwhile, Liverpool remain top of the Premier League table with 35 points.