9th of September 2024 - UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE A - GROUPE A2 - MATCH 2 - FRANCE vs BELGIUM - GROUPAMA STADIUM barcola bradley in action against castagne timothy and bakayoko johan DECINES FRANCE Copyright: xSPORTPIXPRESSx xFREDxPORCUx
Liverpool lost their first and only game in the Champions League group phase midweek.
The Reds lost 3-2 away from home to PSV. Liverpool rested multiple key players before the match, with Arne Slot insisting the team needs fresh legs for the upcoming schedule. The Dutch coach also made a huge statement about this season’s Champions League format:
”They don’t need to prove themselves, we know the quality.
Like all the teams in Europe, we’re playing many many games. These players are ready, all the one that are left behind could have played tomorrow.
It doesn’t tell us anything about the game on Saturday, but for the long-term, if you look back at our season, if there was a moment to get back some freshness, we took it.”
Liverpool face Spurs, Bournemouth and Everton in tough games within the next month.
Quiz: Can you name the team Liverpool sold these players to?
[freshpress-quiz id=”23054″]
€50M star wants to play for Liverpool
PSV put up a good fight in Wednesday night’s game. The Eredivisie side had to come from a goal down, twice to win the game. Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliot were on the scoresheet for the reds in the game. PSV star Johan Bakayoko starred in the game. The Belgian winger scored a great goal, where he faked a shot to send two Liverpool defenders flying before he put the ball into the net.
After the game, Bakayoko said in an interview that he feels he can play for Liverpool in the future:
“I definitely think that I can join Liverpool,” Bakayoko said. “We can be happy that we won against big names, but they didn’t come with the strongest team either. It’s a shame that they didn’t come with the strongest team.
“I’m in a good place. I feel the confidence of the entire club. As long as that is there, I feel good, whether I play well or badly. I would not make such a move to Saudi Arabia now, no. I would not do it.”
The 21-year old has been linked with big European clubs over the last year including Liverpool. Borussia Dortmund had made an approach to sign Bakayoko this month.
Bakayoko not ready for Premier League giants
Despite the players ability showed during the game, and the confidence to come out and make such a statement, Bakayoko is not ready to join the reds. The winger still has a lot to add to his game if he wants to come to Anfield, and possibly replace Mohamed Salah. Liverpool would be better off pursuing more experienced attackers this summer.
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