FSG financial DISASTER, Hughes ABSENT, Tsimikas OUT - Liverpool FC News Recap

Anfield Watch

·26 November 2024

FSG financial DISASTER, Hughes ABSENT, Tsimikas OUT - Liverpool FC News Recap

As one of the biggest clubs in Europe, the health of Liverpool's finances is paramount.

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The club is run behind the scenes by owners Fenway Sports Group, who took ownership of the club in October 2010.

Each year, they have to successfully manage the commercial revenue (broadcast and matchday) while balancing their expenses (travel, wages and player transfer fees).

As such, fan pleas for new transfers and renewed contracts are less than straightforward.

Where is Richard Hughes as Liverpool face contract CHAOS?

Liverpool have started the season in emphatic fashion under new head coach Arne Slot.

In and amongst all the carnage, Arne Slot is trying to focus on the job at hand, success on the pitch.

Given the title of 'head coach' by Director of Football Michael Edwards, in contradiction to former boss Jurgen Klopp's managerial title.

And yet Slot seems to be just as involved in answering questions surrounding speculation over his players' futures, while Richard Hughes - Liverpool's Sporting Director, who is charged with focusing on transfers and contracts - is nowhere to be seen.

Most of the time, the focus on Liverpool pertains to their ambitions on the football pitch, while the behind-the-scenes running of the club by owners Fenway Sports Group is often forgotten about.

However, neither issue is mutually exclusive from the other, the finances impact sporting output and likewise, if the team has a bad season then the finances are likely to deteriorate.

As such, when Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League in the 2022/23 season, there was always likely to be a knock-on effect, which according to the latest report from OffThePitch, has meant that the club recorded record losses for the 2023/24 season.

Liverpool have been dealt yet another injury blow with games against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Manchester City in the Premier League on the horizon.

Following injuries to Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa, Arne Slot will now be without another first-team star for the next few games in all likelihood.

Kostas Tsimikas has been battling it out with Andy Robertson for the left-back spot all season, but according to Lewis Steele of the Daily Mail, the Greek international has suffered an ankle injury and is set to be sidelined for the next few days.

Huge Trent Alexander-Arnold injury boost

Liverpool have been given a huge injury BOOST ahead of games against Real Madrid and Manchester City as Trent Alexander-Arnold has returned to training.

The right-back was captured in training ground footage on Tuesday afternoon as Arne Slot put his squad through their paces ahead of the Champions League showdown against Madrid on Wednesday night.

Alexander-Arnold, 26, has not played since being injured in the Premier League victory against Aston Villa on November 9, where he played just 20 minutes before marching down the tunnel after clutching his hamstring.

Liverpool's main Mo Salah contract obstacle revealed

Liverpool’s start to the season has been almost perfect, but there is a huge issue lurking in the background that could ruin it all.

The dark cloud overshadowing the Reds’ early season success is the contract saga currently unfolding with three of the club’s biggest stars, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

As it stands all three will be leaving Anfield in the summer for free, and although negotiations for extensions are reportedly underway, they appear to be stalling.

Now, the main sticking point in Liverpool’s negotiations with Salah has been revealed.

The future of Mohamed Salah is the hottest topic of discussion regarding Liverpool, despite the Reds being eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The Egyptian King has been a key figure for Liverpool since his arrival, but it now looks like a serious possibility that his time at Anfield is coming to an end.

Salah, alongside Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, is out of contract at the end of the season and, as it stands, will be leaving Liverpool for free.

The 32-year-old sent the situation nuclear when he revealed he hadn’t been offered a contract yet by the club in an impromptu mixed zone interview after the Reds’ comeback victory at Southampton, and Jamie Carragher had some strong thoughts on the situation.

Arne Slot’s arrival at Liverpool was surrounded by uncertainty, but the Dutchman has proven himself and now looks like a phenomenal appointment.

Former player Xabi Alonso was initially the favourite for the job, but after he ruled himself out of the running it was Ruben Amorim who was the apparent frontrunner.

Despite the heavy speculation, Liverpool did not opt for Amorim and instead appointed Arne Slot, a decision that now looks genius.

The players that have left Liverpool this season have largely enjoyed success on their other ventures.

Primarily the young loanees - Ben Doak, Lewis Koumas and Owen Beck - have already come on leaps and bounds, with Doak in particular making a case for Liverpool first-team minutes when he returns from Middlesbrough.

Players that were sold have been up and down, with Bobby Clark’s stint at Salzburg not exactly going to plan (but nothing about their season is), whilst Sepp van den Berg is establishing himself well at Brentford.

Brentford also took on Fabio Carvalho from Liverpool after the youngster had been touted as one of the most exciting young players in Europe.