Genoa striker Leandro Pavoletti is the latest forward to be linked with a move to Anfield, with Arsenal also interested, according to Tuttomercatoweb. The 27-year-old has scored three times in five games this season and earned his first international call-up for this period of World Cup qualifiers.
However, the Italian is no spring chicken at 27 and has no record of being prolific. Having nearly signed for Leeds last year that may provide a more realistic reflection of his ability, and it’s hard to imagine Pavoletti providing a more attractive option than any of Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi or Danny Ings.
In other news, Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that he will continue to rotate and give opportunities to youngsters in the upcoming EFL Cup tie at Anfield as the Spurs boss told the press:
For me, they are not kids or boys, they are players. They can show and prove that they can compete and have the quality to stay in the first team. It is the same to play against Gillingham at White Hart Lane and against Liverpool at Anfield… You know, always the big, big players start their career and they need to make their debut sometimes in a difficult place like Anfield.
To date, Jurgen Klopp has fielded fairly strong line-ups in the competition and it seems that his side will take it seriously this season after being beaten finalists last campaign. How they will fare against Spurs’ youngsters could be one of the challenges of the season for the Reds.
Jamie Carragher, Liverpool legend turned footballing pundit, has offered some advice to Daniel Sturridge as his former teammate struggles for minutes this season, as he told the Liverpool Echo:
At this moment Jurgen Klopp fancies Roberto Firmino in that central striker position. He is only playing one striker at the moment, which is a problem for Daniel. Last season he was playing with two, so that’s something he has to think about. How can he improve? What is Firmino doing that he is not doing? Daniel Sturridge’s strike rate for Liverpool (55 goals in 99 games) is outstanding. Up there with the greatest strikers Liverpool have had. We know he can do that, but perhaps Jurgen Klopp wants different things from him that Firmino can add. So maybe Daniel has to look at that and think where he can improve to get back into the team.
Sturridge’s performances have been inconsistent to date and he has failed to nail down a starting place in the starting eleven. There is no doubting his quality, but he needs to produce when he is next given the opportunity.
Featured Image: All rights reserved by Ryan West.