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• Leiva: Liverpool can challenge for Premier League title

  Former Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva believes the Reds have the quality to challenge for the Premier League next season.

  Liverpool were part of a three-horse race for top spot for the majority of last season, along with Manchester City and Arsenal.

  However, a run of poor results in April saw them drop out of contention, eventually finishing nine points behind Pep Guardiola's side in Jurgen Klopp's final season in charge.

  Arne Slot has stepped into the German's shoes, having been picked for a similar style of tactics to his predecessor, and questions have been asked whether Liverpool can pick up where they left off under a new manager.

  And Leiva, who played for the Reds for 10 years between 2007 and 2017, has backed them to do just that.

  "I think Liverpool can challenge against [Manchester] City, against Arsenal," Leiva told Stats Perform.

  "Last year, like I said, Liverpool missed out in the last four weeks of the season. Of course, it will be difficult.

  "Man City and Arsenal and other teams are getting stronger, and we know how difficult it is to beat Man City. But Liverpool showed last year the quality to challenge with a lot of young players coming through, and it was very positive.

  "I don't see why Liverpool could not challenge Man City this year for the Premier League. I think the team is very good, and of course, other players will arrive to help."

  Despite the optimism surrounding Liverpool's new manager, there are concerns over whether key players will still be at Anfield come the end of the season.

  Mohamed Salah is entering the final year of his contract and has attracted interest from a number of Saudi Pro League clubs.

  The Egyptian has scored 211 goals since joining the Reds in 2017, though his Premier League tally of 18 goals was his least prolific season for them, and Leiva thinks he may have a point to prove under the new manager.

  "Mo, what a player he has been for the club," Leiva said. "We know that he came under Jurgen, but I think Mo has got a point to prove as well now.

  "He will be a very important player, not only on the pitch, but off it as well. On the pitch, he's been amazing, and he's scored a lot of goals. He has been one of the best [players] in the history of the club.

  "But with a new manager coming in now, I think he will need the senior players to help the other guys to settle in, even the new manager to settle in. So, Mo will be really important as well off the pitch. And I'm sure that he has many, many good years ahead of him in the Liverpool shirt."

  Another Liverpool stalwart entering the final year of his contract is captain Virgil van Dijk, who has been a talismanic presence since joining from Southampton in 2018.

  Only four players have made more appearances than his 197 since making the move to Anfield, and Leiva is confident he will not be leaving any time soon.

  "I expect Virgil to stay. He's under contract," he added.

  "He's the captain of the team. He had a great Euro, and the same as Mo, he will be really important.

  "[Arne] is a Dutch manager, so he will play a big part in helping this new team, this new Liverpool team, going forward. Now he's on holiday, and hopefully, he will come back recharged and ready to go."

  Trent Alexander-Arnold rounds out the trio with their future up in the air going into the new season.

  The right-back, who started in the Liverpool academy in 2004 aged six, has been integral to Liverpool in recent seasons.

  He was involved in the most attacking sequences among Liverpool defenders in the league last season (151), and Leiva is adamant the club should make it a priority to keep the home-grown talent.

  "I've known Trent since he was 16 years old. He started when I was playing for the club, and at that young age we could see how good he was," Leiva said.

  "He's a Liverpool player born in Liverpool. He is what Liverpool means.

  "I think it's really important to keep your best players, and Trent is one of them. Like I said, he's a Scouser, and I'm sure that he'll be focusing on helping the team.

  "He's a vice-captain of the team. He's grown so much in the last few seasons, and like all the senior players, I think these players now will play a big part in the new team. Helping the young lads coming through, as well as the academy.

  "So, of course, with contract talks, you always have speculation, but I think you know it's really important for Trent to stay at the club because it's his home and I know how much it means to him to play for Liverpool."

• Klopp's 'unique' style would suit England, says Leiva

  Lucas Leiva believes Jurgen Klopp's "unique" coaching style would be a perfect fit if he were to succeed Gareth Southgate as England manager.

  Southgate stepped down as Three Lions boss after eight years following their 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final earlier this month.

  The 53-year-old led England to their first-ever Euros final in 2021 before reaching the showpiece match on foreign soil at a major tournament for the first time in their history.

  However, he also became the first manager to lose two consecutive finals in the competition.

  During his tenure, he was often accused of being overly cautious at times, despite the team scoring 213 goals during his 102 matches in charge.

  Klopp, who ended his nine-year stay at Anfield in May, is one of the names being linked with the vacant job, and former Liverpool midfielder Leiva believes the German would be a success in the role.

  "I think his coaching style can adapt to any club, to any national team, because Jurgen, the way he manages, is unique," Leiva told Stats Perform.

  "I don't know if he will accept that, because maybe he's having a rest, having a break. But, as a Brazilian, if he gets the English national team, I'll be very worried because I know how he works.

  "Of course, with a national team you always have less time to work with the team, and the way he plays, it needs time.

  "But, if he gets the English national team, of course I'll be supporting him because he's a fantastic guy, a fantastic manager. And I think his style can be a success."

• Alvarez unhappy to be left out of Man City's 'important games'

  Julian Alvarez has expressed doubts over his Manchester City future after being left out of 'important games'.

  Alvarez played 2657 minutes in the Premier League for City last season, his most in a single campaign since joining the club in January 2022.

  He made 31 starts in the league, though mainly as an attacking midfielder, and in other competitions, including the Champions League and FA Cup, in which the Citizens reached the final, he was often second choice to Erling Haaland.

  The Argentinian, who is currently representing his country at the Olympics, admitted his frustration at not getting a chance in big games when asked about his future.

  "I haven't stopped to think about what I'm going to do," Alvarez told DIRECTV Sports.

  "Last season I was one of the players who played the most minutes in the team.

   

  "But it's true: in the end, in some important games, it's not pleasant to be left out. I will have time to consider my decision.

  "I haven't stopped to think things through calmly. Once the Olympic Games are over, I will take the time to reflect on what I want for myself."

  Alvarez has scored 36 goals in 103 appearances for City in all competitions, also providing 18 assists.

  Arsenal, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are reportedly interested in the 24-year-old's signature should he decide to move away from the Etihad.