sport news LIVERPOOL CONFIDENTIAL: Jurgen Klopp backs Adam Lallana's coaching ambitions, ... trends now
There were a couple of reunions at Anfield on Sunday, not least man of the match Alexis Mac Allister getting a rousing ovation from the Brighton faithful. But it also saw a loud ovation for former Reds star Adam Lallana.
Now 35, Lallana had a good chance to score an equaliser late on but pulled his shot slightly wide. The midfielder is soon to move into coaching and is widely tipped to retire from playing either at the end of this season or next.
And Jurgen Klopp has thrown his weight behind Lallana’s coaching career and offered to help him with advice. The former Southampton star, who won 34 England caps, did some work for the national team’s Under 21s alongside Lee Carsley during the recent break from club football.
‘No surprise,’ said Klopp, talking about Lallana’s move into coaching. ‘First and foremost, the most important ingredient for a young coach is to love the game, and obviously Adam's love of the game is coming out of his ears!
‘He could play football for 24 hours if his body would let him do that. Then he needs to be ready for the necessary next steps. Being around the U21s already is a good sign that he is ready to learn.
‘Being a player is one experience, but all the rest you have to look over your shoulder or talk to people. He is someone I have enough time to talk to whenever he wants about my experiences, so we will definitely have talks.
‘I'm really happy for him. Such a football lover really has to stay in the game, and I am really happy that he wants to do that. That can only be good for the game.’ The midfielder also shadowed Roberto De Zerbi for four months last season when injured.
Lallana did, however, raise a few eyebrows before the match on Sunday when he admitted he wanted Liverpool to win the title before playing against them. His last-ditch tackle at one end and narrow miss at the other indicated he was all in for Brighton’s cause, though.
Jurgen Klopp has backed Adam Lallana as the ex-Liverpool player turns towards coaching
Lallana was spotted heading out to training with the England Under-21 squad recently
Liverpool tracking Palmeiras prospect Luis Guilherme
Liverpool are among a growing list of Premier League and European clubs maintaining a watching brief on Palmeiras wonderkid Luis Guilherme, 18, according to sources in the scouting community.
The 18-year-old has impressed for the Brazilian club, featured in the Copa Libertadores and already gained international standing with the Under 20s. And it is believed the Reds, alongside several others of Europe’s elite, have closely monitored his progress.
Palmeiras produced Gabriel Jesus before selling him to Manchester City and recently dealt with Real Madrid for rising star Endrick, who scored for Brazil against England in the recent international friendly. Nottingham Forest also bought Danilo from the club.
It now appears Guilherme is the next off that famed production line, with many European giants looking to gain the upper hand in the race to sign him. The teenager can play as a No 10 or wide forward and reports in Brazil say Palmeiras would demand north of £40million.
Liverpool are among the clubs that are tracking 18-year-old Palmeiras starlet Luis Guilherme
Fernando Torres still looking to learn from Liverpool coaching staff
Fernando Torres is still knocking about on Merseyside after scoring in front of the Kop in a recent charity match, and spent the weekend shadowing Jurgen Klopp and his coaching team, which has seen his odds to take over from the German drop to 18/1!
Occupying Klopp’s hot-seat with no first-team managerial experience will be a step too far but don’t rule him out of a role at the club in the future. Torres is currently managing Atletico Madrid’s Under 19s.
He was shadowing Klopp and Pepijn Lijnders during training on Friday and picked their brains on scheduling sessions plus tactics. Torres was also
