WeAreLiverpool

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As we move ever closer to the new season, Liverpool have confirmed the departures of three players, including much-maligned defender Dejan Lovren, who makes the switch to Tottenham in a deal worth around £32m. Also departing Anfield are Lazar Markovic and Ragnar Klavan, while Striker Danny Ings moves to Watford on loan for the season.

Dejan Lovren has left to join Tottenham Hotspur, and despite them being a league rival, fans seem confident that the transfer leaves them in a stronger position than Spurs, as they have offloaded a defender who had often been pinpointed as making glaring, game-changing mistakes at key moments. It is highly likely that the funds raised from this transfer will be re-invested in the squad and fans are pressing for a top-class replacement for Lovren.

Ragnar Klavan has also found himself on the move, having failed to impress in his 20 starts last season. The 31 year old has moved to Monaco for £5m, and it is thought his departure opens up space for one of the club's younger centre-backs to step up into a more involved role. Lazar Markovic is also moving on after failing to impress since his £20m move from Benfica in 2014. Markovic has spent the last 3 seasons out on loan, first at Fenerbache, then Sporting, and most recently Hull, however 3 goals in 3 seasons at lower-caliber opposition has not been enough to secure Markovic's future, and the Serbian has moved to Leverkusen in a £5.25m deal.

Danny Ings moved to Liverpool from Burnley in 2015, with the Anfield club paying almost £7m in compensation for the striker who had been out of contract. He scored 2 goals in 6 games that season, before being sidelined with torn knee ligaments in October 2015. Ings was out for 6 months with that injury, but failed to make another league appearance, before damaging the Cartilage in his knee in October 2016, which kept him out of action for 7 months, and many have claimed he has never fully recovered from those injuries. Ings has suffered a total of 4 long-term knee injuries in the last 5 years, and is sure to be hoping this loan spell with Watford can kick-start his career. The Hornets have the option to buy Ings for around £10m at any point, but even if that move doesn't materialise, there is a massive opportunity for the Englishman to make an impression.

No real surprises beside Lovren, but I'm sure a lot of Liverpool fans will be happy to see the back of Dejan and for a good fee too.

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In the aftermath of Dejan Lovren's departure, Liverpool have today confirmed the arrival of highly-touted Ajax youngster Matthijs De Ligt, in a deal worth around £10m. The 17 year-old Centre Back comes with a fast-developing reputation for his technical ability and never-say-die attitude.

De Ligt made his first-team breakthrough last season, with 11 senior starts, and 2 goals, while also making 17 starts for Jong Ajax, and he impressed for both sides, and must now be hoping that his £10m move to Liverpool is the catalyst for a long and glittering career.

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De Ligt certainly has the mentality to succeed at Liverpool, and has been lauded in the past for his ability to mark opponents out of the game, and his strength in the tackle. He told liverpoolfc.com that "I am ready to take the next step in my career now, and for that move to be to the Premier League is both a challenge and an honour. Liverpool has a brilliant team, and I have been made to feel very welcome already. I hope to be able to contribute to some more success for this club, and make a future for myself in England."

Some good signings, but most of all I'm glad to see Ings move on. His career could have been so much more.

Strength: Daniele Rugani is one of two new faces at Anfield

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Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has today confirmed that he has concluded all the transfer business he wants to conduct this summer, as Liverpool welcome two final signings to the Anfield fold; Juventus starlet Daniele Rugani, and Celtic left-back Keiran Tierney, in deals which total around £40m.

Juventus star Rugani has enjoyed a glittering career so far, joining Empolu in 2010, and spending 3 seasons there, before moving to Juventus for £4m. He was loaned back to Empoli for the 2014/15 season, in which he made 38 appearances, and scored 3 goals, as Empoli finished second in Serie B. In the following two seasons, Rugani started 32 matches, scoring twice as he helped Juventus to consecutive Serie A and Italian Cup trophies in 2016 and 2017.

The 23 year old Italian has been capped 3 times by his national side, and has often drawn praise for his physicality, and uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time to break up an opposition attack. Seen as a direct replacement for - and improvement upon - the outgoing Dejan Lovren, Rugani's arrival has filled Liverpool fans with a hope that maybe, just maybe, their defensive woes are finally coming to an end.

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At times, Keiran Tierney has seemed like he is Scotland's one great hope: an athletic left-back who has always given 100% for his club since his debut in the 2014/15 season. Since his debut, Tierney has made 50 league appearances for Celtic, and won the SPL twice, alongside a Scottish Cup win last season. He was also voted the Premiership's Young Player of the Year in both 2016 and 2017, and with his electrifying pace, and willingness to put his body on the line, Tierney looks set to push Alberto Moreno and Andrew Robertson for a starting spot at Anfield before too long.

A lot of very good acquisitions, seems FSG are finally putting their money where their mouth is

You've made some unreal signings, and the outs are even better! Bye Bye Lovren you won't be missed

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp today confirmed that the first-team will use a 33-man squad in the coming season, giving opportunities to some of the exciting home-grown talent at the club, while also balancing the needs of the club in each competition.

How do u get Ligt that cheap? U can train Tierney as Right Back but i rather put arnold and milner to fight for this position (while clyne was not available).
Some reserve players have random stats and potential. In my save, coyle, kane and wilson have very decent stats.
Henderson as captain is useless bcos he refused to talk to any unhappy team mates. Milner however will do it for you.

2017-11-01 03:08#246766 haroMawing : How do u get Ligt that cheap? U can train Tierney as Right Back but i rather put arnold and milner to fight for this position (while clyne was not available).
Some reserve players have random stats and potential. In my save, coyle, kane and wilson have very decent stats.
Henderson as captain is useless bcos he refused to talk to any unhappy team mates. Milner however will do it for you.

I negotiated Ajax down a fair bit, and a lot of it is tied up in clauses too haha...Yeah, KT has the potential to play on either side of a back 4, which i like for versatility, but i'm gonna give Milner licence to roam further up the pitch, so it made more sense to bring in another LB, at least until I can afford a new winger to replace Milner, and then see how we go from there.

so you are sticking with Sturridge? Will he be your first team striker or will it be Firmino?
What are the chances of Solanke? Will he be given chances?
Very interesting signings and thank the lord, the pest Lovren is out.

Some fantastic signings made and great job on negotiating down Ajax for De Ligt. Tierney is interesting and I'm keen to see how he adapts to the Premiership, should be an exciting season ahead for Liverpool.

Such a young squad, reminds me a lot of Tottenham's with young talent that should really develop into one hell of a squad

This team
Looks
Strong

Finally. And praise lord Infra for including Brewster!!

Encouraging: Salah and Firmino put on a show of force over pre-season, scoring 10 goals between them

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Liverpool warmed up for the new season in (mostly) impressive fashion, winning 6 of the 6 games they played, and scoring an incredible 15 goals in those 8 fixtures, with 10 of them coming from an impressive partnership between Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, who linked in impressive fashion for such a new pairing.

Results - Pre-Season 2017

2-0 v Liverpool U23s
Closed Doors | Prenton Park | Friendly
Starting XI: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Matip, Moreno, Can, Coutinho, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Woodburn, Firmino
Matip, Firmino
Moreno
Joel Matip (8.1)

3-1 v Lokomotiv Moscow
8,487 | Lokomotiv Stadium | Friendly
Starting XI: Mingolet, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson, Locatelli, Coutinho, Wijnaldum, Salah, Mane, Solanke
Salah (2), Woodburn (Sub 55)
[imghttps://www.fmscout.com/]assets/icons/yellow-card.png[/img] Wijnaldum
Mohamed Salah (8.7)

2-2 v Olympiakos
16,062 | Georgios Karaiskakis | Friendly
Starting XI: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, de Ligt, Robertson, Geiger, Wijnaldum, Locatelli, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Firmino
Firmino, Solanke (Sub 59)
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (8.1)

3-0 v Barnsley
21,169 | Oakwell | Friendly
Starting XI: Ward, Alexander-Arnold, Jones, Phillips, Grujic, Ejaria, Henderson, Mane, Woodburn, Firmino
N/A
Mane
N/A

4-0 v Dagenham
5,471 | Victoria Road | Friendly
Starting XI: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, De Ligt, Robertson, Geiger, Wijnaldum, Locatelli, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner, Firmino
Firmino, Milner, Sturridge (Sub 64), Coutinho (Sub 64)
Alexander-Arnold
Sturridge
James Milner (8.4)

3-0 Torquay
6,095 | Plainmoor | Friendly
Starting XI: Mingolet, Milner, Matip, Rugani, Tierney, Can, Coutinho, Henderson, Salah, Mane, Firmino
Firmino (2), Rugani
Milner, Coutinho, Mane
Roberto Firmino (9.1)

1-0 v Eibar
32,036 | Anfield | Friendly
Starting XI: Mingolet, Kimmich, Matip, Rugani, Robertson, Can, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Salah, Woodburn, Firmino
Firmino
Henderson
Joel Matip (7.3)

3-0 v AC Milan
48,879 | Anfield | Friendly
Starting XI: Mingolet, Kimmich, Matip, Rugani, Robertson, Can, Locatelli, Henderson, Salah, Mane, Firmino
Salah, Firmino, Woodburn (Sub 61)
Henderson
Robertson
Joshua Kimmich (8.3)

Overall, Pre-Season was a positive experience for the squad, and there's a definite sense of togetherness, and with some impressive attacking performances, and only a few defensive concerns, fans are sure to be enthusiastic about the season to come, as Liverpool set out to compete on 4 fronts.