THE NOTEBOOK: Jurgen Klopp will be PRAYING Liverpool can fend off massive Saudi bids for Mo Salah, as Jordan Henderson peddles PR guff… while Moussa Diaby looks a GREAT buy
- Mo Salah pounces on Darwin Nunez’s header amidst rumours of a big Saudi bid
- New signing Dominik Szoboszlai smashed in a strike for his first Liverpool goal
- Moussa Diaby was the only bright spark all day in a stunted Aston Villa attack
Liverpool cruised to a routine 3-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield courtesy of goals from new signing Dominik Szobszlai, Saudi-linked Mohammed Salah, an own goal from Matty Cash.
Hungarian Szoboszlai scored his first goal for the club with a lovely half volley inside the first three minutes, before Matty Cash turned the ball into his own net after Darwin Nunez hit the post.
The lively Nunez was also on hand to flick on a header to Salah at the back post as the Egyptian registered his second goal of these season days after The Reds rejected a £150m bid for him from Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi transfer window closes on Thursday 7th September and Jurgen Klopp will be praying he can keep hold of his talismanic forward.
Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE takes a look at some of things you may have missed at Anfield
Mo Salah pokes home Darwin Nunez’s flicked header from a corner to make it 3-0 to Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp will be praying he can fend off massive Saudi bids for the talismanic Egyptian
New signing Dominik Szoboszlai gets off the mark for Liverpool after a sumptuous half volley
Mo Salah is firing at Liverpool… but £200m Saudi bid awaits
At risk of this story being ‘man turns up at workplace’, Liverpool fans would have been relieved to see Mo Salah on the pitch – and he was their best attacker as ever, showing why he is priceless to the club.
An exit this summer has always been hugely unlikely but the story will not go away. Al Ittihad will refuse to give up on signing Salah, with the Saudi Arabian club willing to break the world transfer record and bid £200million for the Egyptian. Liverpool insist he is not for sale.
A bizarre turn of events saw Dominik Szoboszlai claim Salah had told the squad he wanted to stay, then Jürgen Klopp denied that conversation had taken place. With the Saudis and their bottomless pit of cash involved, the saga might have a further twist or two to come…
Saudi Arabia are reportedly ready to table a massive £200m bid for the Egyptian superstar
Jordan Henderson peddles Saudi PR guff
Speaking of Liverpool players in the Gulf state, former captain Jordan Henderson yesterday peddled some Saudi PR guff by tweeting: ‘The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the hospitality of the hosts, the enthusiasm of the fans, the exciting league and the irreplaceable sense of victory.’
The Englishman registered an assist for Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq on Saturday, with another former Liverpool midfielder joining them as Gini Wijnaldum has completed a move to the club, which is not one of four controlled by the Public Investment Fund.
Captain Jordan Henderson registered his first assist for manager Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq
Van Dijk awaits red card verdict
Virgil van Dijk penned his usual captain’s column in the matchday programme and spoke about Liverpool’s valiant fightback at Newcastle last week but did not address the elephant in the room about his red card and subsequent FA charge for improper conduct.
Other than noting in passing the mere fact he had been sent off, the Dutchman did not mention his one-match ban, which could be extended if the defender is proven to have used abusive and/or insulting language.
Some might say he had already said enough when barraging the officials last week. Van Dijk is set to find out in the coming days whether he will be cleared to play against Wolves in a fortnight or not.
Virgil van Dijk sat out the game vs Aston Villa as he is waiting for the verdict on his red card
Moussa Diaby impresses in a poor Villa attack
An indifferent day for Aston Villa’s big-money summer recruits. Moussa Diaby looks a great buy and was generally Villa’s best – and perhaps only – attacking threat here, as his movement caused problems. Defender Pau Torres, on the other hand, has had a difficult start to life in England, looking suspect in defeats at Newcastle and now Liverpool. He was bullied by Darwin Núñez here.
France winger Moussa Diaby was Aston Villa’s only real bright spark in attack against Liverpool
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