David Beckham issues Trent Alexander-Arnold verdict as Saudi Pro League chief discusses Liverpool transfer stance
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A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as David Beckham gives his verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold and a Saudi Pro League chief discusses Mohamed Salah's transfer.
Luca Stephenson reveals Arne Slot is 'impressed' with the Liverpool prospect
Liverpool academy prospect Luca Stephenson has claimed that Arne Slot admitted the Reds head coach is 'impressed' with his potential during pre-season training this summer. The 21-year-old relished his brief chance to impress the Dutchman while Liverpool were in America.
The Merseyside natives met Real Betis, Arsenal and Manchester United in the States for the bulk of their first pre-season with Slot as Liverpool's head coach. Stephenson also enjoyed a brief cameo against all three teams before heading to Dundee United in a season-long loan.
Stephenson has been a mainstay of the Terrors' XI since arriving at Tannadice Park for seven appearances, all starts, yielding one goal and two assists. The midfielder also spent last term with Barrow AFC, where his 34 games first put Stephenson's emerging talent on Slot's radar.
Stephenson outlined to the Liverpool ECHO: "I spoke to the manager when we were out in America. He said he'd been impressed by me and spoke about last season's loan and what the level was like there. He was really good with me."
Read more about what Stephenson claims Slot told him during Liverpool's pre-season, here.
Saudi Pro League chief Michael Emenalo admits Mohamed Salah didn't want to leave Liverpool
Michael Emenalo admits the Saudi Pro League sporting director did not feel Mohamed Salah wanted to leave Liverpool this summer. Interest still remains strong in taking the 32-year-old to Saudi Arabia one day but that day was not in 2024 as the Reds also refused to see him go.
Salah has long been a chief target for the Pro League as it looks to persuade more and more global stars to help improve Saudi Arabia's image. But Anfield chiefs would not entertain the offers that Emenalo put on the table this summer and made the Pro League to bide its time.
Liverpool have relished their refusal to sell Salah with the Egyptian scoring six goals and five assists in 10 matches this season so far. His haul further includes four of each through seven Premier League games. But the Pro League looks on, as Emenalo told the Obi One podcast:
"Fundamentally, Liverpool didn't want to sell and what price were we willing to buy at? I didn't feel the player was ready to come because he felt like he had unfinished business."
Read more about what Emenalo said about Salah securing a transfer to Saudi Arabia, here.
David Beckham 'loves' Trent Alexander-Arnold does what other players 'don't think about'
David Beckham admits he 'loves' that Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold tries things on the ball some players will not think about. The right-back's passing range especially stuns Beckham, with the Manchester United and England hero seeing himself in the Reds product.
Alexander-Arnold is often praised for giving Liverpool a quarterback-esque threat given how the 26-year-old fires passes around Anfield or Wembley for England like Beckham once did. It can be as easy for him to play a perfect 60-yard ball over a defence as a one-yard pass.
No player reminds Beckham more of himself than Alexander-Arnold with the Liverpool vice-captain's skill on the ball. His skill in possession even led Jurgen Klopp and Gareth Southgate to experiment with playing the Liverpool star in midfield to hide his defensive shortcomings.
Beckham told Rio Ferdinand Presents: "I suppose if there was one player where I look and I think, 'He's very similar in the way he delivers the ball, he's very similar in the way he crosses the ball or passes', it has to be Trent.
"When I look at a player and I think, 'I see myself in the way he puts the ball in, in what he sees in the long balls that he plays'. You know, he plays balls that some players don't even think about. And that's what I love about him as a player."
Read more about what Beckham has said about Alexander-Arnold, here.
