Arne Slot looks to make history at Old Trafford while Sporting Director Richard Hughes is linked with Al-Hilal. Plus, Luis Diaz shines as Alisson nears return.
Arne Slot may also be able to set a record against the Red Devils this weekend. A peek at the fitness issues both teams are facing ahead of the trip to Old Trafford, while Luis Diaz’s performance in the Champions League semi-final has left Kopites irate.
All that and so much more in ReadLiverpool’s daily news roundup
1 – Richard Hughes on his way to the Saudi Pro League
Richard Hughes is reportedly on his way to the Saudi Pro League side, Al-Hilal, signifying a major shakeup in the Reds boardroom once again. The Scotsman arrived on Merseyside in the summer of 2024, where he was the architect behind last summer’s £450 million transfer splash.
Read more: Richard Hughes near Al-Hilal move amid £450m transfer backlash
It’s a significant turning point for the club, with doubt over the future of several key figures such as Michael Edwards and Arne Slot. A period that promised so much following Jurgen Klopp’s departure could be coming to a premature end, without seeing the true potential of the machine he constructed.
2 – Arne Slot has the opportunity to set a new record
The Liverpool head coach has the chance to write himself into the fabric of the club by becoming to first to win his first two away trips to Old Trafford. When the teams met last year, the Merseyside outfit had too much quality for Erik Ten Hag’s side, beating them 3-0.
Read more: Arne Slot chasing historic Liverpool record vs Manchester United this weekend
It will be a tough feat to achieve, as away from Anfield, Slot’s side have looked inconsistent. Despite a 2-1 win at the first-ever Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, they suffered four defeats on the road prior to that, while United look rejuvenated under interim boss, Michael Carrick
3 – Injury issues affect both Liverpool and United
Injuries have been the talk of the town amongst Kopites, and right now, Slot’s team is plagued by them. Mohamed Salah will play for the Reds once again despite limping off the pitch against Crystal Palace, but that will unlikely be the case this Sunday, though Alisson Becker may return between the sticks, after missing a month of action.
Read more: Liverpool injury, suspension list and return dates vs Man Utd: Alisson, Salah latest
Matheus Cunha was absent in the Red Devils 2-1 victory over Brentford on Monday evening with a hip issue. It’s not clear at this stage whether he’ll feature or not. Michael Carrick will also be without centre-half duo Mathias De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez.
4 – Markus Babbel talks about Florian Wirtz progression
Former Liverpool fullback, Markus Babbel spoke about the difficulty he had to adapt to the Premier League, and compared it to how Florian Wirtz will be feeling, though he still has plenty of faith in the 22-year-old. He scored a spectular third over Crystal Palace last weekend
Read more: Markus Babbel: Why Florian Wirtz will be “top-class” for Liverpool next season
With Mohamed Salah no longer calling Anfield his home as of next season, the German attacker will have to be on his toes to pounce on the void that will be left by the Egyptian King. Babbel believes he can, and we have yet to witness his true greatness
5 – Luis Diaz leaves Liverpool supporters stunned
When the Colombian said his goodbyes to Anfield this summer, there were mixed opinions amongst the fanbase. Some believed he was a fantastic player, while others couldn’t see past his consistency issues. Therefore, when he bagged a sensational goal against current European Champions, Paris-Saint Germain, on Tuesday, it sparked an online debate.
Read more: “Ridiculous” – Liverpool fans fume after watching Luis Diaz star in PSG VS Bayern Munich
Fans were left bewildered by the decision to sell the 29-year-old winger in favour of Cody Gakpo, as they believe it was a huge mistake by Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards. Left-wingers are hard to come by at the moment, which makes the decision to part ways with the South American even stranger to some.
As we look ahead to a massive weekend, the feeling is one of both immense opportunity and looming uncertainty. While Arne Slot stands on the precipice of a historic achievement at Old Trafford, the potential exit of Richard Hughes to Al-Hilal threatens to pull the rug out from under a project that is still finding its feet.
Whether it’s the frustration of seeing Luis Diaz flourish elsewhere or the anticipation of Florian Wirtz filling the “Egyptian King’s” boots, there is never a quiet moment in the world of the Reds. All eyes now turn to Sunday can Slot’s side overcome their travel sickness and the growing injury list to silence the Stretford End once again?
