Liverpool morning headlines as Jurgen Klopp draws Bill Shankly comparison and Van Dijk could be rested

© Provided by Liverpool Echo Jurgen Klopp looks at the Premier League trophy

Here are the Liverpool morning headlines on Friday 24th July.

Star names could be rested for Newcastle test

Liverpool’s final game of their triumphant 2019-20 Premier League campaign comes at St James’ Park this weekend – home of Newcastle United.

Reds boss Jürgen Klopp may field a weakened side in order to protect his star names, many of whom have already played the vast majority of fixtures in Liverpool’s sprint to the finish since the restart.

With the title won, Klopp can rotate his team, giving minutes to players on the fringes of the side. In doing so, he will be protecting his key men from potentially picking up needless injuries in a game which is a dead rubber for both sides.

Title-winning titan Virgil van Dijk may be rested, as could Mohamed Salah with Takumi Minamino, Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri fit and waiting in the wings for a start.

Salah may be eager to start the game to boost his chances of becoming the first Liverpool player in 50 years to score 20 goals in three consecutive seasons. However, the final decision lies with Klopp, and the German will be keen to start the 2020-21 campaign with a fully fit squad.

Liverpool as the Premier League’s Moneyball men

In an exclusive interview speaking to the Blood Red podcast, baseball legend Billy Beane has revealed he believes Liverpool’s recruitment strategy somewhat mirrors his Moneyball method which helped the unfancied Oakland A’s to the Major League Baseball World Series.

Beane described his relationship as a close one with Liverpool owner John W. Henry, who also has strong links to MLB in the United States.

“They are an amazingly well-run team, they are fun to watch and they have a great manager – everything that you would want in a successful sports team. They are easy to root for,” Beane said.

Despite being a baseball aficionado, Beane drew on his knowledge of the English game, complimenting Brentford on their impressive recruitment policy, whilst comparing that to Liverpool’s approach, mentioning Michael Edwards – the numbers man behind the club’s recruitment – by name.

“I’m such a fan of the way that they have done things over there. Every move that they make, you know exactly why they are doing it,” he added.

For more from Beane and Liverpool’s recruitment, click here.

Klopp comparisons from Liverpool CEO

Liverpool’s title celebrations have been in full swing over the past few weeks, with the club finally lifting the Premier League trophy for the first time against Chelsea on Wednesday evening.

The club’s CEO Peter Moore has made a direct comparison between the legendary Bill Shankly and current boss Jürgen Klopp.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Moore said : “Shankly came in 1959 and soon thereafter said: ‘I was made for Liverpool and Liverpool was made for me’. I think Jurgen can probably say the same thing.”

Moore commended Klopp’s leadership abilities, something he attributes to the team’s great success on the pitch over the past 12 months or so. Klopp’s man-management has been a huge factor in getting the best out of players who were not considered world stars before arriving at Anfield.

Whether Klopp goes on to replicate Shankly’s success in terms of the sheer amount of silverware he won, remains to be seen but nevertheless, the good times have certainly returned and the feeling is a jubilant one from the boardroom, all the way down to the terraces.

Video: “Klopp praises Liverpool’s ‘absolutely special’ Premier League campaign” (Evening Standard)

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