Here are your Liverpool morning headlines for Thursday, 15 October.
A decade of FSG
It was 10 years ago today that New England Sports Ventures – later to become Fenway Sports Group – took ownership of Liverpool Football Club.
On that day, the team were preparing for a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, just as they are today. But that’s where the similarities end, as the Reds were in the relegation zone back in October 2010, and they are now the reigning champions of England.
The route to this point was not smooth, and in the first eight years of their ownership the club had only won one League Cup. There were also issues off the field, not least with a proposed hike in ticket prices which led to a fan walkout at Anfield.
Things couldn’t be too much better at the moment though, and Paul Gorst has taken a detailed look at the power structure at the club to mark the 10th anniversary of FSG’s ownership.
Divock derby decision could prove telling
During a remarkable time at the club, Divock Origi has written his name into Liverpool folklore.
While his decisive goal against Barcelona and his Champions League final-settling strike against Tottenham spring to mind, his record against Everton has also endeared him to Kopites.
The Belgian forward has scored five times against the Blues in his eight Merseyside derby appearances. His next favourite opponent has been Southampton, against whom he scored a hat-trick in a League Cup match back in 2015, but Everton are out in front.
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Yet he may not feature in the derby at Goodison Park on Saturday. While always a deputy to Jurgen Klopp’s established front three, Origi is probably behind Takumi Minamino and Diogo Jota in the pecking order now too.
Ian Doyle ponders whether the match on Saturday could prove very telling with regards to the player’s future with Liverpool.
Jota in line for derby start?
A Merseyside derby is always an important match, but with Liverpool having been battered by Aston Villa in their last game, and Everton top of the table, this is one of the more crucial clashes of recent times.
One man who has done his chances of featuring no harm whatsoever is Reds’ new boy Diogo Jota.
The former Wolves forward was one of the better performers at Villa Park, and opened his account for the club by scoring against Arsenal in the league game prior to that.
Jota also picked up two goals and an assist for Portugal last night, so is clearly a man in form. Dan Kay has compiled a rundown of how the rest of the Reds’ squad fared in the recent international break.
