Despite an excellent result over Arsenal at the very beginning of the campaign, it’s not been a great start to the season for Liverpool.Jurgen Klopp’s side currently sit ninth in the Premier League table, 12 points behind leaders Manchester City, with a goal difference of minus two.Liverpool had conceded 16 league goals from their nine matches prior to Saturday’s fixture against Huddersfield Town - a worse record than the likes of Brighton, Swansea, the aforementioned Huddersfield and even 19th-placed Bournemouth.They shipped four of those 16 goals against Tottenham at Wembley last weekend, leading to fierce criticism for Joel Matip and, in particular, the hapless Dejan Lovren.Who knows where Liverpool might be in the table at this moment in time had Klopp’s pursuit of Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk been successful.Liverpool were forced to abandon their plans to sign the Dutch centre-back after they were accused by the Saints of tapping him up.Van Dijk, by all accounts, had his heart set on a move to Anfield and was left devastated after the transfer failed to materialise.
There’s still a lot of talk, however, that Van Dijk could end up at Liverpool in the not-too-distant future.
Joey Barton notices funny sign outside Anfield
Joey Barton was at Anfield for the Liverpool v Huddersfield match today and he noticed a funny Power Power advert featuring the highly-rated defender outside the stadium before the match.
Barton, currently suspended for offences related to betting on football, tweeted: “Arrived at Anfield for @LFC vs @htafcdotcom and @paddypower have put up a very funny board…”
Here’s a closer look at what the board says…
Very cheeky, Paddy Power.
Paddy Power release statement
“Liverpool could do with a reliable sweeper, so obviously they turned to Van Dijk,” Paddy said in a statement on their website.
“But, rather than the spoonful of sugar Klopp hoped for, they had a taste of their own medicine as Southampton resisted – and what’s happened since has been defenceless. Quite literally.
“So we thought we’d help Liverpool’s infamous transfer committee out by giving them a market valuation of their top target for January – however, if they lose to Huddersfield this afternoon, they might as well stick another zero on the end.”
Should Liverpool pay whatever it takes to sign Virgil van Dijk in January? Have your say by leaving a comment below.