Today has been a busy day of news for Liverpool as they prepare for their Premier League game against West Ham at the London Stadium. Jurgen Klopp responded to a question about the search for a new sporting director, saying that it was going in the right direction. Names linked with the role have been former Werder Bremen and Leverkusen figurehead Tim Steidten, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Markus Krosche and Liverpool’s current head of recruitment, Dave Fallows. Klopp also revealed that Naby Keita is “much closer” to a return and could be in partial training today or Wednesday, and that Ibrahima Konate has had an injury problem but he is “rather positive” that he will face West Ham. Additionally, Klopp said that Conor Bradley’s short-term future is to bring him back and keep him.
In other news, Paul Tierney has been appointed referee of Liverpool vs. Tottenham, David Coote will be the lead VAR and Kalvin Phillips of Man City is being “targeted” by Liverpool for a summer transfer, according to the Mirror’s Jeremy Cross. Mason Mount underwent minor surgery on Tuesday and will “probably” miss the rest of the season, while Jonjo Shelvey was “ordered” to stay away from the Nottingham Forest squad against Liverpool due to his “furious reaction” to being a substitute. Ryan Gravenberch, another reported Liverpool transfer target, has added to speculation that he could leave Bayern Munich, telling Voetbal International that his role from the bench does not match his expectations. Finally, new murals of John Barnes, Ian Callaghan and Phil Neal have been unveiled.
The pick of the Premier League tonight is Leeds vs. Leicester who both hover precariously above the relegation zone. The match kicks off at 7.45pm (BST) and is on BT Sport 1.