Here are the Liverpool evening headlines for Saturday, October 3.
Dembele ‘listening’ for Liverpool offer
Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele is open to a move to Liverpool and Manchester United before the transfer window closes, according to Spanish outlet Sport.
United have identified the 23-year-old as an alternative to Jadon Sancho, who they look unlikely to sign before the transfer window deadline of 11pm on Monday.
But United could face a fight to bring Dembele to England, with Liverpool open to signing the France international.
The World Cup winner reportedly rejected the Reds’ advances earlier in the summer but has since changed his mind about a move away from the Camp Nou after Ronald Koeman made it clear he wasn't in his first-team plans.
Neville’s United transfer claim exposed by Liverpool
Gary Neville’s assertion that Manchester United need to spend more money before the close of the transfer window has been shown up as ‘ludicrous’ by Liverpool.
The Sky Sports pundit claimed his former club’s lack of business was “appalling” and insisted a centre-back, left-back and forward needed to be signed.
But United’s spending on players like Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly suggests the club have already invested heavily in defence.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have spent well on the positions that needed to be strengthened, while also promoting the most promising youth players.
Chelsea’s £72m signing compared to Liverpool star
Chelsea spent £72m to bring in a player similar to one already at Liverpool, according to Joe Cole.
Kai Havertz was signed from Bayer Leverkusen this summer as Frank Lampard’s side look to close the gap on the Reds at the top of the Premier League.
And former Chelsea midfielder Cole has compared Havertz to Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino.
“I see him as a Firmino-type player where he knits it together,” Cole said on BT Sport. “So you want him playing central, you want him in these positions.
“He's got spatial awareness where he can bring players into the game. Frank played him off the right in this game (vs Brighton) where he was largely ineffectual and this (positional heatmap) highlights it brilliantly.
"When you have a player of his quality, anytime he receives the ball, anyone of those positions he can hurt you. When you play in this position you have to understand how to make space.
“I think he will score lots of goals from this position. Players are going to love playing with him, like how [Liverpool] players love playing with Firmino.
“He's such an exciting player and I feel his impact on this Chelsea team will not just be goals and assists, but bringing the best out of the likes of Pulisic, [Mason] Mount, Callum [Hudson-Odoi] and Tammy [Abraham] because he can knit it together.”
