Thursday’s biggest stories for the Reds.
Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert revealed he did have discussion with Aston Villa over transfer
During the January transfer window there were strong rumours that Lambert was moving to Villa and it turns out the speculation was true.
The 33-year-old has struggled to make an impression at Anfield since a summer switch from Southampton, but decided to stay with his boyhood club.
“I got a phone call from gaffer Brendan Rodgers at 4pm on deadline day saying Villa had come in. I didn’t think it was right for me to leave six months into my Liverpool career. I didn’t want to go,” Lambert was quoted by Sky Sports.
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Marseille line up Juventus forward Fernando Llorente as Andre-Pierre Gignac’s departure looks inevitable
Arsenal and Reds target Gignac is out of contract this summer and his current club appear to have given up hope of retaining his services as they seek to sign out of favour Llorente as a replacement, according to the Daily Express.
The Frenchman has been in fine form this season in Ligue 1, scoring 14 goals in 25 league appearances for Marcelo Bielsa’s side as they compete for the French title.
Signing the 29-year-old on a free transfer would prove to be something of a coup for any Premier League side.
Europe has not seen the best of the Reds yet says Brendan Rodgers
Ahead of their Europa League tie with Besiktas, Rodgers insists that his team’s poor showing in the Champions League earlier this campaign was not a reflection of what his side is capable of.
The Merseysiders fell into the second tier of European club football after failing to progress from a group that also included Real Madrid, FC Basel and Ludogorets, but the Northern Irishman says his team have greatly improved since then.
“Certainly it wasn’t the real Liverpool earlier on in the season. If we were in it [Champions League] now with this group and the confidence we’re showing and the way of working then we would have had a chance,” Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
AS Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic will only move to Anfield if they qualify for the Champions League
The Bosnia & Herzegovina midfielder is interested with linking up with Rodgers, but only if he can continue playing in the Champions League next term, according to the Metro.
With captain Steven Gerrard leaving for LA Galaxy this summer there is a big gap to plug in midfield and the £25m rated Pjanic is viewed as the ideal option.
However, with the 24-year-old currently playing regularly in Europe’s top tier of club football with Roma he does not want to sacrifice that to move to Merseyside.
Adam Lallana admits he left a ‘sour taste’ in fans’ mouths after leaving Southampton
Lallana is preparing to return to St Mary’s for the first time on Sunday since leaving his boyhood club for Liverpool in a £25m move over the summer.
Whilst the 26-year-old hopes he gets a good reception from the home crowd, he realises that his departure may not have gone down well with the Saints faithful.
“I’m not stupid enough to think the way I left didn’t leave a sour taste in a few people’s mouths. I regret the way I left. I regret bits and pieces of how it happened and it got nasty. It was sad the way it happened,” the England international told the BBC.