23 February 2024 , 04:00
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Liverpool just keep on rolling, no matter what gets thrown at them.
The Reds came from behind to beat Luton 4-1 on Wednesday night, despite missing 11 first-team players. After a frustrating first half, they came good in the second 45 minutes to restore their four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Now comes the small matter of a cup final, with Chelsea waiting at Wembley on Sunday. Jurgen Klopp will be hoping to get some players back for the Carabao Cup final, having been without the likes of Alisson, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez against Luton.
Meanwhile, the speculation regarding the identity of Klopp’s successor as manager this summer continues to rumble on. The race for Xabi Alonso’s services is heating up, with Bayern Munich joining the Reds and Barcelona in looking for a new manager. Here are the latest headlines involving Liverpool.
Alonso speaks out
Alonso is a man in demand thanks to his work at Bayer Leverkusen – and it seems he is beginning to get fed up with the rumours. The former Liverpool midfielder has Leverkusen eight points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga table and just wants to focus on finishing the job.
Klopp's dream Liverpool line up as last-gasp January transfers rejected
Unsurprisingly, however, the media wants to ask him about the future – namely whether he wants to succeed Klopp at Liverpool, or Thomas Tuchel at Bayern. "Right now I am Bayer Leverkusen coach and that's certain," he said. "Regarding the future, I have nothing new to say."
Asked about succeeding Tuchel, he added: "That's only hypothetical. Again, I have nothing new to say." Leverkusen obviously want to keep their head coach, but that could prove difficult, with Europe’s top clubs circling.
Xabi Alonso is fed up with answering questions about Liverpool (Rene Nijhuis/Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Who should Liverpool go for to replace Jurgen Klopp? Comment below.
Wenger offers some advice
Arsene Wenger has had his say about Liverpool’s search for the perfect manager this summer. The former Arsenal boss thinks Klopp should not have any kind of say on his successor.
“No, no," Wenger told beIN Sports when asked if Klopp's advice should be sought out. "I don't think so unless he becomes officially appointed by Liverpool as an advisor. You do your job and you let other people do their jobs. I think organisations work well when that is the case. Everybody does what they are responsible for. At least you know when it doesn't work, who to speak to.”
Thankfully for Wenger, Klopp has already confirmed he will not meddle in the recruitment process. He said: “No, why should I? It looks like I do all the work but I don’t, I can’t.”
Van Dijk offers injury update
Virgil van Dijk powered in a header to make it 1-1 vs Luton (PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk has confirmed that the team came through the Luton game without suffering any more injuries. He said: “It is important for us to look ahead who we face but today was an important and difficult one in many reasons. I don’t think there was any injuries from tonight and now it is time to focus on the final.”
That is a relief considering Liverpool were already without Salah, Alisson, Nunez, Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Ben Doak for the game. It remains to be seen how many of them will be fit enough to play at Wembley on Sunday.
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