LFC Official Membership are giving one lucky Member or season ticket holder the chance to win a VIP trip for two to the Reds' Champions League tie against Red Star at the Rajko Mitic Stadium on Tuesday November 6.

The prize will include: 

• Two x Category One match tickets 

• Return flights from a selection of specified UK airports

• 2 nights’ hotel accommodation

• Exclusive access to watch the final training session prior to the game

Not a Member? Join now and enter in the Members Area for your chance to be there.

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Go behind the scenes of Liverpool's preparations for Saturday's match against Huddersfield Town with our latest 'Inside Training' video.

Go behind the scenes of Liverpool's preparations for Saturday's match against Huddersfield Town with our latest 'Inside Training' video.

LFCTV GO's camera were afforded exclusive access to the Reds' Monday evening session at Melwood.

Take a look at the best bits of what they captured - including action-packed small-sided games - above.

Need to sign up? Join LFCTV GO now and get a month free.

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Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has revealed the extent of Virgil van Dijk‘s rib injury, and how he has managed the pain to still perform for Liverpool.

Van Dijk was substituted 55 minutes into the Reds’ 3-0 victory over former club Southampton last month, and subsequently missed the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the League Cup.

But despite concerns over a longer layoff for Jurgen Klopp‘s defensive leader, he was back in action three days later, playing the full 90 in the 1-1 Premier League draw with the Blues.

Ever-present for the following 1-0 loss to Napoli and 0-0 draw with Man City, Van Dijk then departed to join the Netherlands squad for the international break.

After scoring in an impressive 3-0 win over Germany, the 27-year-old returned to Merseyside in a pre-planned move that, regardless, was touted as a ‘setback’ by journalists.

Speaking ahead of his side’s friendly clash with Belgium, Koeman has told De Telegraaf that Van Dijk “constantly” requires painkillers to remain in action.

“Virgil has been playing with two broken ribs for weeks and has been constantly injecting to play at Liverpool in recent weeks,” he said.

“He insisted on being present against Germany. That’s great, because you want internationals who want to be here at the expense of everything.

“The club would have preferred him there. But he said that he wanted to play against Germany.

“If you get something, you also have to give something back.”

Earlier in October, Van Dijk told the Liverpool Echo‘s James Pearce that he “took some painkillers, but not much,” but Koeman’s testimony highlights his commitment.

The centre-back added that “it was more about being strong and being a warrior,” and this has certainly been the case with his performances at the back for the Reds.

With Liverpool challenging for the league title this season, as well as in the Champions League, Van Dijk’s drive is essential.

Playing through injury may not be advised in certain cases, but broken ribs—despite being highly painful—can be managed carefully.

Van Dijk’s strength clearly aids this, but it is more about his mentality and will to win here, and there is little arguing when he is on the pitch.

The same can be said of James Milner, who is claimed to be gearing up for his comeback against Huddersfield Town on Saturday despite initially being ruled out for up to a month.

Liverpool need this dedication, particularly among their key players, if they are to get over the finish line this season.

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Last Updated: 16/10/18 10:00am

Sadio Mane has scored four goals in 11 appearances for Liverpool this season

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has reportedly suffered a broken thumb while on international duty with Senegal.

Images have emerged of the 26-year-old with a bandage on his left hand, coupled with an X-ray of the alleged injury.

Sky Sports News has contacted Liverpool for a comment and is awaiting a response.

Liverpool return to action on Saturday in the Premier League against Huddersfield.

Sadio Mane has broken this left thumb in training with Senegal national team, his injury could get worse if he played. He's expected to miss the game vs. Sudan and Liverpool's clash against Huddersfield in the Premier League. pic.twitter.com/U8weZuucy7

— Mootaz Chehade (@MHChehade) October 15, 2018

Mo Salah suffered a muscle injury while playing for Egypt, while Virgil van Dijk aggravated a previously sustained rib injury during the Netherlands' 3-0 win over Germany last Saturday.

Both players have been called back to Liverpool as a result so the club can monitor their fitness, although Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman claims Van Dijk will be fine for Saturday's trip to the John Smith's Stadium.

"The medical staff of the Dutch national team spoke to the medical staff of Liverpool and made the decision that he was playing only the Germany game and then after back to Liverpool," said Koeman.

"He is ready to play next weekend."

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Liverpool are considering a big money move for Lorenzo Insigne after the Napoli forward's brilliant start to the season, reports say.

Liverpool are considering a big money move for Lorenzo Insigne after the Napoli forward's brilliant start to the season, reports say.

Insigne has long been linked with a transfer to the Premier League, with Chelsea the most recent side to be credited with an interest. The 27-year-old is well known to Blues boss Maurizio Sarri, having coached him while in charge at Napoli.

Chelsea’s interest in Insigne could well heat up, but Rai Sport claim Liverpool will rival the Blues for the goalscorer’s signature.

Jurgen Klopp got an up close view of Insigne’s talents when the Italian scored a late winner for Napoli in a recent Champions League group game. Insigne still has four years left to run on his current Napoli deal and the club would presumably demand a huge fee for their prized asset.

But Klopp wants to add more firepower to his striker department and Insigne could be the perfect fit at Anfield.

Only Genoa sensation Krzysztof Piatek has scored more goals in Serie A than Insigne this season, as Napoli continue to stake their claim to be champions.

But two costly defeats early in the season mean Napoli sit six points behind Juventus, who are yet to drop any points this campaign.

Source: Metro

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

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Liverpool’s fan base extends to all corners of the world and to get the inside story on one of the supporters groups in Hong Kong we spoke to one of the group’s committee members, Ian McAlan.

Hong Kong, a dynamic city where the ‘East meets in the West’ in a blend of cultures, is home to thousands of expatriates, people who live outside their native country. It is a transient community and one which often tightly bands together over a common interest.

For Ian McAlan and the Hong Kong Expatriate Supporters Group it is the sense of belonging which Liverpool Football Club provides year-round. From forming their own football team to working closely with the charity Camp Quality, the Hong Kong Reds congregate for more than just ninety minutes at a time.

Hong Kong’s unique mix of cultures also ensures a local branch sits alongside the expatriate one, and although there is often a language barrier the shared passion and love for the club is a form of communication all in its own.

This Is Anfield spoke to Ian, originally from Liverpool, to gain an insight into life supporting the Reds almost 6,000 miles away.

 

Community Spirit is at the Heart of Everything

“I was born and bred in Liverpool and then came out to Hong Kong in 1997. I still tried to follow Liverpool as much as I could, but you know it was significantly more difficult obviously, especially back then.

“If ever there was a Liverpool game being shown live, the occasional Sunday game, then it was really something that you would gather around for and congregate with other people. I found myself going regularly to a particular Irish bar, other Reds would be there, and then while watching a game I met a guy who actually started the supporters club in Hong Kong and I signed up as a member.

“That guy subsequently left Hong Kong but through being more and more involved in the supporters club I eventually I got around to taking over part of the running of the club but with other people.”

The Hong Kong Reds have now been in existence for over 16 years, but the spirit of the club has always been integral to its operation.

“Our ethos always centres around Bill Shankly’s quote about being part of the Liverpool family. You know holding your head up high and being able to say ‘We are Liverpool’ and that’s really what drives us.

“It is being able to enable people to come together if they want to feel a part of that family even though they may be very far away from them, which obviously we are in Hong Kong.

“People come and go and pass through Hong Kong so the membership can be very transient. There are obviously English language speakers, so that takes in the English, Scots, Irish, Welsh, we have got all of those. We’ve got Americans and Canadians, Aussies, Germans, the French, and the Dutch.

“I guess really anyone who feels that English is a bit easier for them to speak than Cantonese.

“Everything we are about is about getting people together. It’s not so you can say ‘I’m a card-carrying member of a supporters club’, it’s being more active than that and coming together. We do events and try to raise money for a local charity, and so it’s all about that community and family idea.

“You are sort of going off the idea that people, when living so far away from home, are looking for something in common anyway because the sense of familiarity is quite comforting.

“I’m sure most will feel the same that all clubs have a community type of spirit but there is something just a bit more special about Liverpool. We certainly feel that here and it absolutely drives everything we do.”

 

Tradition and Commitment

Part of supporting Liverpool from afar is the late nights and early mornings, but the commitment to watching the Reds and making lasting memories together ensures it is all worthwhile for those in Hong Kong.

“We do every weekend game irrespective of whether it’s FA Cup, Premier League or the League Cup. Obviously, the time difference changes to either seven hours or eight hours so that could mean a kick off can be 10 or 11pm.

“If it’s the late Saturday one that means it’s 12:30 or 1:30 in the morning kick off here and obviously if it’s a half past midnight kick off on a Sunday going into Monday the attendance tends to be slightly less, but you’ll always get your hardcore who turn out.

“It feels like a bit of a mini Kop, we have got a good atmosphere going and plenty of singing and shouting.

“The only ones we don’t do initially are the midweek games, so if it’s a cup game, a league game or the Champions League games we tend not to get together for those, but if we are progressing further we definitely do – so last season, for example, was fantastic.

“Even though it’s like four o’clock in the morning kick off we were filling out the space and we had to find a bigger bar, unbelievably. Some people were coming in for 4:00am having a couple of Cokes and then at 6am going in to the office.”

On an experience which continues to live long in the memory and now serves as a small tradition at their regular meeting point, Ian explained: “We went to a Liverpool supporters club tournament in Malaysia a few years ago and Gary McAllister was there helping to give out prizes, and basically there was a futsal tournament and they had quizzes and also a singing competition.

“Now we were hopeless at the football, we were pretty rubbish on the quiz as well, but we won the singing competition, so we were the best singers in Asia.

“We won with a rendition of ‘Poor Scouser Tommy’, so we always bust it out at some point during the game and we like to claim it as an award-winning version of the chant. It’s part of that craic and banter that makes sort of attending the games special.”

 

A Perfect Blend of Cultures

Hong Kong is home to over seven million people, a population which is influenced by a wide variety of cultures from around the globe, and it is home to Liverpool supporter groups for both Cantonese and English-speaking Reds – a relationship which transcends language barriers.

“There is that split of the expatriate community and the local community. English is still spoken quite a lot here so despite being all the way in Asia, our group is specifically English language speaking. I guess that is unique in Hong Kong because there are other supporters’ groups but they’re all Cantonese speaking and all their activities are conducted in Cantonese.

“We have a very good relationship with them, the stumbling block obviously is our language and a lot of their members speak next to no English and a lot of our members speak next to no Cantonese.

“But we do a lot of stuff with them so for example, recently we all got together on a big roof top in Hong Kong and watched the Champions League final together, and obviously them being the local branch they got significantly bigger numbers.

“There were hundreds of us on a rooftop and they actually bought a full-size replica of the Champions League trophy and they had that lined up and people could take photos. And any big game during the season, like your Man City game or Arsenal, if it’s a good decent time we’ll get together with them.

“So we really do try to make an effort to maintain that because again it’s that whole family thing, the commentary language is the most significant separation between us as they prefer to watch it in Cantonese, but we still want to make it that that’s the only thing that separates us.

“In terms of ethos and community, we are essentially the same. It’s great to have that link, to be able to be somewhat separate but also together in support of Liverpool.”

Thanks again to Ian and the Hong Kong Expatriate Supporters Group, you can find them on Facebook here.

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Previously ruled out until November, James Milner is reportedly in line to return to training this week, as Liverpool prepare to take on Huddersfield Town.

The veteran midfielder was forced off the field just 29 minutes into the Reds’ 0-0 draw with Man City, which conveniently came just before the international break.

Already retired from England duty, Milner has spent the past eight days in recovery, but was not expected to make his comeback until early next month.

However, according to the Mirror‘s David Maddock, who has provided a positive triple injury update, he could in fact rejoin training before Saturday’s game.

Liverpool make the short trip across to Huddersfield for a 5.30pm kickoff, and Jurgen Klopp‘s backroom staff “will give him every chance” to take part.

Maddock claims Milner “will have to resume full training with the squad by Thursday, but he hasn’t ruled that out,” which would be a remarkable testament to the 32-year-old’s fitness.

Meanwhile, it is also reported that Mohamed Salah “should be allowed to resume training” this week, after picking up a minor groin injury with Egypt.

With Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman already confirming that Virgil van Dijk had arranged to depart from his squad in order to make the Liverpool squad for Huddersfield, this is a major boost.

While Salah has struggled to reach the heights of last season, all three have been key players for Klopp so far this term, and have featured in every Premier League game.

Finally, while Sadio Mane left Senegal duty with a broken thumb on Monday, he isn’t expected to miss any playing time due to the minor injury.

Klopp led a skeleton squad back into training on Monday afternoon, with Joel Matip, Adam Lallana, Divock Origi, Alberto Moreno, Daniel Sturridge and Nathaniel Clyne among those involved.

The manager also called upon youngsters Dan Atherton, Adam Lewis, Matty Virtue, Liam Coyle and Paul Glatzel, while goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher made his return from a calf injury.

Sixteen Liverpool players can be expected to be in action for their international sides on Tuesday, including first-team regulars Alisson, Fabinho, Naby Keita, Gini Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino.

Academy striker Liam Millar is the last in action, as Canada take on Dominica at midnight.

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International pop icon P!nk is the second act confirmed to play at Anfield.

All five of Liverpool's internationals in action on Monday ended on the winning side.

Preparations for this weekend's trip to Huddersfield Town have begun at Melwood - and our photographers were present at Liverpool's latest training session.

By Liam Grace

Last Updated: 16/10/18 10:34am

0:30 Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has confirmed Virgil van Dijk will be rested against Belgium, but insists the Liverpool defender is fit to play at the weekend Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has confirmed Virgil van Dijk will be rested against Belgium, but insists the Liverpool defender is fit to play at the weekend

Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman says Virgil van Dijk is fit to return for Liverpool, but claimed the defender has been playing with two broken ribs.

Van Djik played 90 minutes and scored as the Oranje beat Germany 3-0 on Saturday, but Koeman confirmed he will be rested for Tuesday's clash with Belgium after being in contact with the Premier League club.

The 27-year-old, who is the captain of the national team, first injured his rib in Liverpool's win over Southampton last month but had been playing on through the pain.

Virgil van Dijk first injured his rib in Liverpool's win over Southampton

Van Djik is now back in England to focus on his recovery ahead of Saturday, when he is expected to be fully fit, as Jurgen Klopp's side travel to Huddersfield in a 5.30pm Premier League kick-off.

Koeman told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: "Virgil has played with two broken ribs in the last weeks. He wanted to play against Germany but you have to give the club something back now."

He added: "He (Van Dijk) spoke to the manager. The medical staff of the Dutch national team spoke to the medical staff of Liverpool and made the decision that he was playing only the Germany game and then after back to Liverpool.

"He is ready to play next weekend."

3:33 Highlights of the Nations League match between the Netherlands and Germany Highlights of the Nations League match between the Netherlands and Germany

Meanwhile, Liverpool will continue to monitor Mohamed Salah, who suffered a muscle injury in Egypt's 4-1 win over Swaziland on Friday.

Salah was due to travel to Swaziland with his international team-mates for the return African Nations Cup qualifier, but the Pharaohs confirmed he has since travelled back to Merseyside.

Sky Sports News understands Liverpool have not yet ruled out Salah for the trip to Huddersfield.

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Liverpool FC Women secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Yeovil Town Ladies thanks to a late Jess Clarke goal, and you can watch extended highlights with our free video on LFCTV GO.

Liverpool FC's official charity, the LFC Foundation, has announced that the second official Legends game at Anfield raised £1,000,000.

Liverpool will this week continue to monitor the fitness of injured trio Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and James Milner.

Liverpool will this week continue to monitor the fitness of injured trio Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and James Milner.

And none of the three have yet been definitively ruled out of the Reds' Premier League trip to Huddersfield Town on Saturday evening.

Salah returned to Merseyside over the weekend having withdrawn from Egypt's squad for their Africa Cup of Nations clash against Swaziland on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old scored in the Pharaohs' 4-1 win over the same opposition on Friday but was substituted during stoppage time after suffering a muscle injury.

Similarly, Van Dijk netted in Holland's 3-0 UEFA Nations League victory over Germany on Saturday, after which the Dutch national team decided not to consider the defender for Tuesday's friendly against neighbours Belgium in Brussels as he continues to recover from a rib injury.

Van Dijk suffered the injury before the Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain in September and aggravated the problem against Southampton the following weekend, prompting his substitution.

He has since played through the pain barrier for Liverpool in their games against Chelsea, Napoli and Manchester City.

Source: Liverpool Echo

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

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Liverpool are red hot favourites to sign Italian wonderkid Nicolo Barella, according to reports from the country.

Liverpool are red hot favourites to sign Italian wonderkid Nicolo Barella, according to reports from the country.

The Cagliari midfielder, 21, is fast becoming one of the most exciting prospects in Serie A, and a summer bidding war could see his market value sky-rocket.

But Football Italia claim Liverpool are leading the pack for his signature, and the midfielder could set them back around £44million.

Barella has made nine appearances for Cagliari in all competitions this season, and was even on the scoresheet in their 1-0 win over Atalanta.

The youngster also recently represented Italy in their 1-1 draw with Ukraine on Wednesday.

Source: Daily Mirror

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

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Liverpool FC Retail are pleased to offer supporters the chance to own a genuine piece of Anfield history by purchasing their own personalised Main Stand boundary wall brick.