Liverpool handed Bellingham transfer boost as board's Klopp stance made clear

07 February 2023 , 05:00

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Another away defeat for Liverpool on Saturday left Jurgen Klopp and his squad licking their wounds ahead of a big few weeks.

Wolves became the third team in succession to hand the Reds an away league defeat, with the 3-0 victory their biggest win of the season. As for Liverpool, a huge Merseyside derby is the next test, followed by tough games against Newcastle and Real Madrid.

It's not all bad news, though, with some hope ahead of a crucial summer in the transfer market. Here are the latest lines from around Anfield during a critical month for last season's Premier League runners-up.

Hope in Bellingham chase

Liverpool have been offered fresh hope in their pursuit of Jude Bellingham, with reports suggesting Real Madrid privately expect the England star to move to the Premier League. Bellingham is under contract at Borussia Dortmund until 2025, but speculation has grown over a summer move.

Real Madrid are fans of the England international and have reportedly working for months on a deal to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu. However, they are also aware of the Premier League's financial pulling power.

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While Bellingham has not always put money first - as evidenced by his decision to move to Dortmund in 2020 - Madrid are unlikely to be able to match the highest offers from England. Liverpool have long been admirers of the 19-year-old, though Manchester City have also been linked.

Crooks slams Reds stars

Former striker and BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks has taken no prisoners after Liverpool's weekend defeat. An own-goal from Joel Matip, a debut strike from Craig Dawson and a first goal since November for Ruben Neves helped Wolves beat the Reds 3-0.

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Liverpool handed Bellingham transfer boost as board's Klopp stance made clear

Liverpool were made to look ordinary by Wolves (Getty Images)

"Liverpool are leaking goals. I said some time ago that injured defender Virgil van Dijk is their most important player and one clean sheet in their last 10 away Premier League matches rather proves the point," Crooks wrote for BBC Sport while tearing into several members of the team.

"At the moment, Liverpool look average at best. This was another excellent performance from Neves against a Liverpool side that seemed to be lacking in every department. What on earth has happened to Joe Gomez, Thiago and Naby Keita?"

Board's position on Klopp

Jurgen Klopp is believed to retain the full backing of Liverpool's board despite the recent poor run of results. The Reds are yet to win a league game in 2023 and have also been eliminated from the FA Cup by Brighton.

There is 'no chance' of the former Borussia Dortmund boss being sacked, according to The Athletic. While Klopp's team have struggled this season, they were two results away from winning an unprecedented quadruple last term.

"I don’t think they are [at their] best in the moment and do I like that? No," Klopp said of his team after the latest defeat. "But I still know how good they are and how good they can be. But football, and life, is not like this. We work every day and it's not because of him, him, him."