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Legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly pushing hard for a 52-year-old friend of his to replace Erik ten Hag as Red Devils boss this summer.

Man Utd manager latest

The managerial situation at Old Trafford is continuing to rumble on, with Ten Hag seemingly not knowing if he is being retained or moved on in the coming weeks. He has been under pressure for some time, but United's FA Cup triumph has arguably made it harder for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to sack him, having won a trophy in each of his two seasons in charge.

England manager Gareth Southgate appears to be a top target for INEOS, but deciding to bring him in could be met with plenty of negativity, not least because he finds himself under pressure with the Three Lions heading into Euro 2024, following his side's 1-0 defeat at home to Iceland last Friday.

Ratcliffe is also believed to have met Thomas Tuchel with regard to replacing Ten Hag in the Old Trafford hot seat, but the German has since decided against taking charge, instead choosing to have a breather after his stint at Bayern Munich.

Arguably the other standout option currently is Mauricio Pochettino, who left Chelsea by mutual consent at the end of the season, and who was seen as a front-runner to come in at United back in 2022, following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Sir Alex Ferguson wants 52-year-old as manager

According to a new update from HITC, Ferguson wants Pochettino to be Manchester United's next manager, replacing Ten Hag this summer in the process.

The report states that the legendary Scot "has the ear of" Ratcliffe, and is "very close to Pochettino". It goes on to add that he "continues to press the case for the Argentine to be given the chance to take charge – having previously missed out to Ten Hag for the United job in 2022".

Like so many of United's rumoured targets, the jury is out a little with Pochettino, who doesn't quite have the reputation he did during his Tottenham days, when he guided the north Londoners to the 2019 Champions League final. Since then, the Argentine hasn't exactly excelled at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, despite spending lots of money in that time.

That being said, the 52-year-old is a superior option to Southgate, considering he has proven himself far more at club level, shining with Southampton before his move to Spurs and also winning one Ligue 1 title with PSG.

Chelsea

51

1.78

Paris Saint-Germain

84

2.15

Tottenham

293

1.84

Southampton

60

1.45

Espanyol

161

1.22

The fact that Ferguson has reportedly endorsed Pochettino as the standout option to come in and be Ten Hag's successor has to be seen as a good thing, although it is worth remembering that the United icon liked the idea of David Moyes as his replacement back in 2013, in a move that didn't work out at all.

Following several departures and emotional Anfield farewells on the final day of the Premier League season, Liverpool could yet lose one more player, who will reportedly push for a summer exit.

Liverpool transfer news

It was not the result against Wolverhampton Wanderers that took centre stage at Anfield. Instead, it was the goodbye to a Liverpool great in Jurgen Klopp. He made sure that it wasn't just him in the headlines, however, with a similar farewell for his coaching staff and players leaving as free agents, whilst also ensuring a fine welcome for Arne Slot.

The new manager arrives with plenty to do in what could be a busy first summer now that Michael Edwards has returned. The Reds have already been linked with the likes of Johan Bakayoko and even Real Madrid's Rodrygo, but only time will tell whether the Reds opt to welcome a new star winger. Instead, it could be a summer dominated by exit news.

Whilst it seems as though Mohamed Salah is set to stay put, the same can't be said for another member of the Anfield dressing room. According to Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, Caoimhin Kelleher is set to push for a Liverpool exit this summer amid a desire to have a permanent starting role.

Contact made: Liverpool hold talks to sign £85m star for Slot

He has been backed to become a “legend”.

By
Henry Jackson

May 22, 2024

The Irishman enjoyed his best season yet at Liverpool, playing an unexpectedly crucial role in the absence of Alisson Becker to play a huge part in the Reds' Carabao Cup win against Chelsea and their hunt – albeit one that ended in failure – to push for the Premier League title.

Truth be told, however, Alisson's number one place is unlikely to be taken on a permanent basis anytime soon as long as the Brazilian is around, meaning that Kelleher must seek minutes elsewhere this summer.

"Outstanding" Kelleher deserves a starting role

Liverpool should hold zero grudges if Kelleher does push for a move this summer. The goalkeeper, on just £10k-a-week at Anfield, has more than earned the chance to hunt down the number one role that he won't get in Merseyside and wherever he does end up, Klopp will likely be watching on in admiration, having been full of praise for him earlier this season.

Klopp said via This is Anfield: “He was outstanding (against Brentford). I don’t know exactly who is the number one for Ireland but if they have a better goalkeeper, respect. He’s outstanding. This year we gave him more games than he had previously. It’s well deserved.

"We need him. We need him with rhythm. Now the situation around Alisson shows that makes absolute sense. We will see how long Alisson is out, but Caoimhin is exceptional. (On Saturday) he had an A+ performance.”

That said, his exit will still prove to be a problem for Liverpool should it take place. It's a difficult task to find a shot-stopper not only happy to be a number two, but also one who can step up and come as close as possible to matching Alisson's quality – something Kelleher almost always did.

“For a player, it will be a challenge to get into the groove quickly and maintain that because it’s going to be a long tournament”

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-2020

‘Managing the bubble, ensuring players’ safety will be a task’•NurPhoto via Getty Images

It will be a challenge for the “anxious” players to shake off the rust and “get into the groove quickly” during the IPL, while the coaches will have a task on their hands to make sure the players “are in a happy space” in their biosecure bubbles, Kings XI Punjab director of cricket operations Anil Kumble feels.”The good thing is that, as cricketers, you have an opportunity to play in a safe environment where we are trying to minimise risks. It’s new to all of us. As a sportsperson, you tend to adapt to whatever situations you are in,” Kumble was quoted as saying by the . “It’s a long period and we are going to Dubai almost three and a half weeks prior to the tournament. This is the first time that an IPL team has got together that early, although all the players won’t be there because of their international commitments.”For a player, it will be a challenge to get into the groove quickly and maintain that because it’s going to be a long tournament. IPL has its ups and downs and every team goes through that. So, you have to keep calm and not worry about what happens to the result because if it’s a good result, we tend to react to it and if it’s a bad one, sometimes we overreact. Keeping a balance will be the key.”Kumble was speaking on the sidelines of a training session involving Kings XI’s large contingent of players from Karnataka – KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, K Gowtham and J Suchith – and agreed that the support staffers would have to play a big role in keeping the players motivated in these extraordinary circumstances.”Getting used to the SOP will be the biggest challenge,” Kumble said. “Health and safety of players and support team will be most important, so we’ll have to make sure that everyone follows the SOP. Managing the bubble, ensuring players’ safety will be a task. I’m sure there will be times when we’ll have to motivate them. It’s not easy living in a bubble and we’ll have to make sure they’re in a happy space. In such a scenario, it’s about managing life and the players’ mental space rather than cricket because that comes naturally to them once they get onto the field. So, communication will be the key.”The most important aspect one needs to look at is the anxiety factor. Everybody is anxious. They want to go out and play. You have to sort of pull them back because it’s been four months of not doing enough and you cannot go out there and put in your 100% from day one. It’s going to be tough for the players to get match ready, we’ll build up to it.”We play a few practice games and that should give them enough confidence. I think it’s all about trying to build their confidence and then saying, okay, you’re ready. That takes a bit of time. The advantage we have is that we have enough experience in the support team and someone like Andrew Leipus (physio) and Adrian le Roux (strength and conditioning coach) understand these kinds of situations.”KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, two of the many Karnataka boys in the Kings XI Punjab team•BCCI

And once in the UAE, when the squad members have to go through their mandatory quarantine, the plan is to approach the situation like a “family” and keep everyone occupied and engaged.”We are trying to build certain activities which will keep them busy,” Kumble said. “There’ll be some fun and team bonding exercises as well. There is a six-day quarantine as we land, which means for that period we sit in a room, not see each other. We are planning some activities so we will find a way of engaging them and keeping them in a happy space.”We’d like to see this as a family for the three months that we are together. We are leaving behind our families, so we must make sure the players feel like they’re part of this family.”The Kings XI side has 17 Indian players in their ranks, and, apart from Kumble, batting coach Wasim Jaffer, team analyst Ashish Tuli, general manager (cricket operations) Avinash Vaidya and Naresh Kumar, the masseur, are also Indians, so all of them should leave for the UAE together. Of their overseas players, Chris Gayle, who has opted out of CPL 2020, could well join the team early, and Nicholas Pooran should join them in good time after the CPL, but Kings XI might have to set the ball rolling without Glenn Maxwell, who will be with the Australian white-ball squads in England until at least September 16, three days before the IPL kicks off.

Liverpool are planning to open talks with an "irreplaceable" player in a "priority" deal at the end of this season, according to an exciting update regarding his future.

Liverpool stars out of contract

The Reds could have a busy summer ahead of them, with Arne Slot replacing Jurgen Klopp and aiming to get some important incoming business over the line, upgrading on departing players and finding talent better suited to his own system.

Indeed, there is a lot to sort out when it comes to the futures of so many current Liverpool players, with Joel Matip and Thiago expected to leave Anfield when their contracts run out this summer.

There are three huge individuals whose futures are causing the most concern, though, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah all seeing their current deals expire at the end of next season.

While there is no indication that any of the legendary trio are unhappy currently, any club in Europe would likely want to sign them, so tying them down for the foreseeable future is vital. Salah arguably feels the most likely to move on, especially if a mammoth offer arrives from Saudi Arabia, but it still feels more likely that the Egyptian will stay put.

Meanwhile, Caoimhin Kelleher could feel that a new challenge is needed in order to become a first-choice goalkeeper – Celtic have been linked with a summer move for him – while a recent report has also suggested that Joe Gomez is weighing up the idea of moving on.

Liverpool plan talks with "irreplaceable" star

According to Football Insider, Liverpool will open talks with Virgil van Dijk over a new deal once this season reaches its conclusion, in what is seen as "A1 priority" business for Michael Edwards and Co.

The Dutchman is seen as an "irreplaceable" figure at Anfield with so much to offer still, and the hope is that he signs on the dotted line as soon as possible, with talks planned for immediately after the season ends.

This is fantastic news for Liverpool, with Van Dijk arguably the greatest centre-back in the club's history, having been such a game-changing signing ever since arriving midway through the 2017/18 season. Within months of joining, the Reds were in the Champions League final, and the Dutchman has gone on to win five major trophies, including the Premier League title.

Virgil van Dijk's key trophies wins at Liverpool	Year
Premier League	2020
Champions League	2019
FA Cup	2022
EFL Cup	2022
EFL Cup	2024

At 32, the Liverpool captain clearly isn't getting any younger, but given the pace he still possesses, there is no reason why he can't remain a big force for another three or four years. He is still only one year into being Reds skipper, and he will surely feel that this is just the start of that chapter, commenting on his future in recent days.

There is perhaps no better academy in world football than Manchester United’s. For many years, they have had an incredible production level of elite talent who have gone on to play for United and clubs elsewhere in England and the rest of Europe.

In the mid-20th century, it was the famous Busby Babes who were United’s elite academy players. Fast forward to the start of the Premier League era, and you have the Class of ‘92. More recently, local talents like Danny Welbeck, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford have played a part for the club.

The latest crop of academy talent has seen two players break into the first team and become key players. Alejandro Garnacho has nine goals and four assists in 42 games in his first season as a regular starter for the Red Devils. Kobbie Mainoo has revolutionised United’s midfield and has now played 24 first-team games this season. He may well be destined for a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad.

Whilst injuries have affected United’s season, they have had 57 separate cases in total, it has given the chance for youth to shine through.

Now, with continued problems at left-back due to persistent injuries for Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka – who was awarded a 2/10 match rating by the MEN against Brentford – struggling out of position there of late, United could well look to the academy again ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City.

Man Utd's left-back solution vs Coventry

17-year-old left-back Harry Amass is one of the most exciting talents in the Manchester United academy. He joined the club last summer from Watford, and after a superb season has been deservedly fast-tracked from the under-18s to the under-21s, where he has so far played twice.

Amass has had first-team experience before, although has not yet made his debut. Aged just 15, he was on the bench for Watford in the FA Cup, in a 2-0 defeat away to Reading. Since then, the youngster has featured on the bench for United’s first-team, with a debut perhaps not too far around the corner.

Journalist Daniel Martins explained that Amaas is “highly rated by Ten Hag and his coaches”, prior to the Premier League game away to Bournemouth last weekend, which ended 2-2 with United coming from behind twice.

A ready-made Luke Shaw “successor”

Amass was previously described as a "Luke Shaw successor” by journalist Alex Turk. Stylistically, the comparison between Amass and United’s first-choice left-back Shaw is more than reasonable.

The 17-year-old is a wonderful ball carrier, able to drive inside or down the line. Amass’ low centre of gravity makes him nimble on his feet, able to turn away from an opposition defender and ride challenges with relative ease. Not only that, Amass is a skilful player, dangerous in one-vs-one situations because of his unpredictability and speed in which he can dribble.

Like Shaw, Amass is a very technically gifted player and is so composed with the ball at his feet. He has one goal and three assists in 14 games for United’s under-18s, and is a wonderful crosser of the ball in the final third, confident when overlapping the winger.

Defensively, Amass is good in duels and reads the game well. He is a deceptively strong player, able to outmuscle the opponent off the ball before bursting forward to start an attack. One of Amass’ best defensive contributions this season came against Manchester City, when his last-minute sliding challenge in the penalty box stopped a certain City goal, showing his excellent reading of the game.

Indeed, Amass is rated so highly that United “want to look at” the youngster before deciding to sign a left-back this summer, according to one source on Twitter.

After Garnacho and Mainoo’s fast track into the first team, it would not be a surprise to see Amass get an opportunity, too. He is certainly a promising talent, and there is good reason for Red Devils supporters to be getting excited about him as a potential first-team player.

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Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Tottenham are trying to convince a £34 million player, who featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, to join Ange Postecoglou's side this summer.

Ange makes transfer admission as Spurs eye another centre-back

Spurs and links to new centre-backs have been a common theme for many seasons, but they were particularly heightened after star defender Micky van de Ven's hamstring injury earlier this season.

Ange hands Tottenham employees transfer mission now star could leave

Postecoglou has gave clear instructions ahead of the summer window.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 11, 2024

The Dutchman is a vital presence in Postecoglou's back four, as his searing pace allows the Australian to deploy his favoured high line. When van de Ven was sidelined midway through the campaign, Spurs' winning run came to an abrupt halt and their form plummeted, leading to demands for chairman Daniel Levy to bring in a quality alternative.

They ended up putting pen to paper on a deal for Radu Dragusin for £25 million from Genoa, and many would've expected that transfer to mark the end of Spurs' search for new central defenders.

However, that actually isn't the case, as explained by Postecoglou himself.

“If you’re saying, ‘Is it an area we can strengthen?’, yes it’s an area we will probably look at”, said Postecoglou on signing another centre-back this summer.

“With all these things, it’s about trying to strengthen the group as much as anything else. If you think about when I first arrived, we had maybe six or seven centre-backs at the club. So it’s not just numbers. It’s more about the ability of those players to play the football we want and to fit in to what we’re trying to build here. I think it is an area of the park we will look to strengthen, but I think we’ll look to strengthen all areas of the park come the end of the season. That is planning that’s already underway, and other people are in charge of it at the moment.”

They've been linked with a few interesting options in that area of the pitch. Spurs are believed to be interested in Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, and Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly, as both top flight defenders could be available at zero cost with their contracts expiring in June.

As well as the soon-to-be free agents, a centre-back abroad who's turning heads at N17 is Bayer Leverkusen's Piero Hincapie.

Tottenham trying to convince Hincapie to sign for Ange

According to Sport Bild, as translated by Sport Witness, Tottenham are "courting" Hincapie and trying to convince him to join them, with his valuation standing at around £34 million.

The Ecuador international has made 21 Bundesliga appearances for Xabi Alonso's title chasers this season, and has previously been called a "really impressive" player.

Piero Hincapie's best Bundesliga games for Leverkusen this season	Match Rating (via WhoScored)
Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Bayern Munich	7.59
Werder Bremen 0-3 Bayer Leverkusen	7.57
RB Leipzig 2-3 Bayer Leverkusen	7.52
Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 Bochum	7.41
Union Berlin 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen	7.34

"We knew he had the potential," said former Leverkusen head coach Gerardo Seoane.

"But the way he's rising to the challenge and coping with the intensity levels is really impressive. We're pleasantly surprised with how he's performing in the Bundesliga and Europe."

Ex-Match of the Day host Des Lynam has suggested that the BBC "cannot justify" Gary Lineker's lucrative salary.

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• Lineker wage assessed by former BBC host
• England icon currently highest-paid presenter
• Only presenter to earn more than £1m annually

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The ex-Tottenham, England and Barcelona striker has been the highest-paid presenter at BBC over the past seven years drawing an annual salary of £1.35 million – as per . Now Lineker's predecessor and former Match of the Day host Lynam has weighed in on the legendary forward's wages and revealed why the company might find it difficult to justify such a high salary.

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• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Speaking to the , Lynam said: "I don’t suppose you can justify it in terms of what a nurse or firemen does, but it’s the market – that’s what the BBC feel they have to pay to get his services. You can’t say that anybody saying a few words on a television screen is worth more than someone who saves lives, but money dictates. He’s a very lucky chap."

  The ex-presenter added: "He wasn’t comfortable [as a pundit] at the beginning. He’s been highly critical of the England team in the Euros, but when he first came on he wouldn’t criticise anybody. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea but for my money, I think he does a first-class job."

• Getty/GOAL
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lineker drew the ire of his fellow BBC colleagues for his fierce criticism of Gareth Southgate and his Three Lions during the Euros. The staff were reportedly left "uncomfortable and embarrassed" by the furore sparked by the presenter. Several staff members had also complained as they were unhappy that the 63-year-old does not have to comply with their impartiality guidelines.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GARY LINEKER?

  The Daily Mail reported last month that Lineker allegedly approached ITV to gauge their interest in having him as a sports anchor as his contract with BBC is set to expire next summer.

تمكن فريق الأهلي السعودي من تحقيق فوز ثمين على منافسه الشرطة العراقي بخماسية مقابل هدف، خلال المباراة التي جرت بينهما اليوم ضمن منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال آسيا.

ويلتقي الأهلي السعودي مع الشرطة العراقي، على استاد مدينة الملك عبدالله الرياضية (الجوهرة المشعة)، في رابع جولات مرحلة الدوري من دوري أبطال آسيا للنخبة.

وسجل البرازيلي روبيرتو فيرمينو هدف الأهلي الأول في الدقيقة 14 من عمر الشوط الأول، بعد تمريرة طولية لداخل منطقة الجزاء قابلها برأسية سكنت الشباك.

طالع أيضاً.. موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة الهلال واستقلال طهران اليوم في دوري أبطال آسيا.. والمعلق

وأدرك فريق الشرطة العراقي التعادل في الدقيقة 28، عن طريق سجاد قاسم بعد استلامه تمريرة بينية داخل منطقة الجزاء ثم راوغ وسدد الكرة داخل مرمى الأهلي.

وأحرز روبيرتو فيرمينو الهدف الثاني للأهلي في الدقيقة 45+5 من زمن شوط المباراة الأول، بعد كرة عرضية من فراس البريكان من داخل منطقة الجزاء قابلها البرازيلي بتسديدة سكنت الشباك.

وأضاف فراس البريكان الهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 54، بعد تمريرة رائعة من روبيرتو فيرمنيو قابلها البريكان وسددها سكنت المرمى.

وفي الدقيقة 61 تقدم رياض محرز بالهدف الرابع، بعدما أرسل فراس البريكان تمريرة قابلها محرز بتسديدة قوية أرضية من خارج منطقة الجزاء سكنت يمين المرمى.

وبعد مرور 4 دقائق سجل رياض محرز الهدف الثاني له والخامس لفريقه، بعد تمريرة عرضية من زياد مبارك الجهني قابلها محرز بتسديدة داخل المرمى.

ومن المقرر أن يلعب الأهلي مباراته القادمة أمام الرائد، يوم الجمعة القادمة الموافق 8 من شهر نوفمبر الجاري، ضمن منافسات بطولة دوري روشن السعودي.

Jadon Sancho has travelled to the United States with Manchester United after Erik ten Hag named him in the squad for their pre-season tour.

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• United name 29-man squad for US tour
• Sancho included in travelling party
• Winger's future uncertain due to Ten Hag rift

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The England international was on the list of 29 players who will board the plane to Los Angeles as the Red Devils begin their tour of the United States. The 24-year-old makes the cut despite the uncertainty surrounding his future at Old Trafford.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sancho was exiled from the United squad last season in the wake of a public spat with coach Ten Hag. The Dutch manager criticised Sancho's effort in training, only for the winger to hit back on social media, resulting in him being loaned to Borussia Dortmund in January.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Sancho featured for United as they beat Rangers 2-0 in a friendly in Edinburgh on Saturday. Despite his involvement in United's pre-season preparations, Sancho's future remains unclear and Dortmund are reportedly interested in bringing him back to Germany this summer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SANCHO?

  The former Manchester City academy star will hope to get more playing time as the Red Devils on Arsenal, Real Betis and Liverpool in the United States in an attempt to boost his hopes of getting back into Ten Hag's side or attract further interest in the transfer window.

In December 2016, Trent Alexander-Arnold made his Premier League debut for Liverpool, coming off the bench against Middlesbrough during a comprehensive 3-0 victory.

The 18-year-old was an undisputed talent and had been recognised for his out-of-the-norm ball-striking ability from young, but the road from academy prospect to first-team star is paved in peril and so many hopefuls fall at this early hurdle.

Alexander-Arnold wasn't the only up-and-comer to make his debut under Jurgen Klopp's wing that year, though, with Kevin Stewart making his debut during Liverpool's 6-0 romping over Aston Villa in February 2016.

Not every rising star is blessed with Alexander-Arnold's elite natural ability and so many get lost in the clammer of youth football, while others break into the first-team fold only to fall by the wayside before cementing a regular spot.

Stewart, unfortunately, falls into that second category.

Xabi Alonso 2.0

Stewart actually signed for Liverpool before Klopp's appointment in 2015, landed on a free transfer in 2014 after Tottenham Hotspur opted not to hand the centre-midfielder a professional contract.

The former Jamaica international, now aged 30, completed 20 appearances for the Reds and looked to be a promising prospect, industrious and crisp, with Liverpool reporter James Pearce remarking that he was a "perfect role model" for up-and-coming academy teammates looking to wedge their way into Klopp's plans. Perhaps Trent took a leaf from his book in that regard?

The ace was even considered to be a distributor of a similar style to Xabi Alonso, playing one delicious threaded ball through to Roberto Firmino against Barcelona during pre-season to earn some comparisons to the now Bayer Leverkusen tactician.

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During the 2016/17 campaign, Stewart featured off the bench across four of the opening five top-flight fixtures of the term but that was the extent of his Premier League career, making an appearance across several cup ties throughout the campaign before being sold in 2017.

Stewart moved to Hull City in July 2017 with full-back Andy Robertson heading in the other direction for an initial £8m fee – Stewart's acquisition was believed to have fallen in a similar ballpark.

Hindsight makes it clear that Klopp engineered something of a masterclass piece of business in this regard, with Robertson, now Scotland captain, integral across the illustrious success on the alternate flank to Alexander-Arnold.

Kevin Stewart's post-Liverpool career

Stewart completed 78 matches for the Tigers across three campaigns, posting two goals and two assists, but he was not handed a contractual renewal in 2020 and he joined Blackpool upon his release.

The former Premier League starlet has been without a club since the 2021/22 season, last featuring for Blackpool in the Championship and racking up two assists from 12 appearances, precluded from performing with greater regularity due to the injury problems that have now severed his hold on professional football.

Stewart's decline has been sad to witness, and it's a shame that injuries and niggling dips in form ruined his chances of building on a promising base at Liverpool, despite being trusted by Klopp to make the breakthrough at first-team level.

The talent was clearly there, with his ball-playing ability earning parallels to Alonso, but ultimately, he failed to achieve the heights that would have been dreamt about throughout those promising early days.

As per his Instagram, Stewart is now a "Worldwide Fitness Coach" – based in Dubai – as his playing career appears to have halted, at least for now.

There's a certain irony in injury-riddled Stewart pausing his professional career prematurely to focus on fitness coaching, but this is a venture he appears to be flourishing in nonetheless.

Now, aged just 30, there is certainly still time for the former Anfield talent to make a return to the game in some regard, but it looks unlikely that he will ever capture the core ability that Klopp recognised way back when.