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      Liverpool legend looks unrecognisable 18 years on as he appears on TV for Champions League draw

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      A LIVERPOOL legend looked unrecognisable as he popped up on TV for the Champions League draw. Some fascinating ties were drawn out of the hat as Europe’s Premier competition reaches its final round.
      A Liverpool icon was on hand to help out with the European draws earlier todayCredit: AFP
      With Liverpool knocked out the competition on Tuesday night, their fans may have thought there would be little point tuning in to the draw.
      But if they had they would seen a man who left their club back in 2005 – and who wrote himself into Reds folklore in the infamous Champions League final of that year.
      The 49-year-old looks different now and any fans who missed his introduction may not have even recognised him.
      The midfielder spent six years at Anfield and became a fan favourite with his knack for producing big moments.
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      The man in question is Vladimir Smicer, who sported a small beard and neat comb over hairdo as appeared on TV.
      This was very different from the spiky hair and clean shaven look that fans will have been accustomed to in his playing days.
      Smicer arrived on Merseyside in 1999 during Gerard Houllier’s reign and would make his impact felt over the years.
      ‘Vladi’ is best remembered for his goal in the 2005 Champions League as Liverpool staged on of European football’s most infamous comebacks against AC Milan.
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      The Czech midfielder was not even in Liverpool’s starting line-up that day but had to come on as a first-half substitute after an injury to Harry Kewell.
      The Reds trailed 1-0 when Smicer arrived on the pitch and it would be 3-0 by half-time.
      But then the miracle began and Smicer’s brilliant strike from range was sandwiched in between goals from Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso as Rafa Benitez’s side clawed their way out of their grave.
      Smicer then scored the decisive final Liverpool penalty – his last kick of the ball in a red shirt – before Jerzy Dudek saved Andriy Shevchenko’s spot-kick to seal the win.
      The match would cement his legacy but Smicer also scored big goals down the years against Chelsea and Dortmund.
      Only a serious injury suffered in 2003 would blight his time at Liverpool.
      The star would go on to play for Bordeaux and Slavia Prague before retirement.
      Smicer came off the bench to help rescue Liverpool in 2005Credit: AFP
      Smicer scored in normal time and netted a crucial penalty against AC MilanCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      Jurgen Klopp will let THREE international midfielders go this summer as he plots Liverpool transfer rebuild

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      JURGEN KLOPP has reportedly already decided to let THREE midfielders leave this summer as he plots his Liverpool rebuild.The Reds were this week dumped out of the Champions League with a 6-2 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid.
      Jurgen Klopp has allegedly already decided to let three of his midfielders depart this summerCredit: Getty
      They are also out of the FA Cup, which they won last season, and failed to retain the League Cup.
      And now they face a fight for a top four finish with their dismal campaign leaving them six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham.
      Klopp’s ageing midfield is one of his main priorities once the transfer window re-opens.
      Liverpool are in the chase to try and sign Dortmund’s teenage England star Jude Bellingham.
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      And they have also received a boost in their transfer pursuit of Mason Mount from Chelsea.
      However, room will have to be made in Klopp’s squad for any new arrivals – and a fresh report states a decision has already been made regarding departures.
      The Athletic claim that he will allow former England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 29, and Guinea’s Naby Keita, 28, both to leave as free agents when their contracts expire.
      And he will not try to sign Brazilian Arthur Melo, 26, on a permanent deal once his season-long loan ends.
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      Meanwhile, Liverpool have been rocked after it emerged star Stefan Bajcetic has been ruled out for the rest of the season with injury.
      The teenage midfielder confirmed the news in an Instagram post, before vowing to be “back stronger than ever” next season.
      Bajcetic, 18, started Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday before suffering an abductor injury. More

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      Mason Mount drops HUGE hint he will quit Chelsea in summer transfer window as Man Utd and Liverpool prepare to pounce

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Liverpool could have received a boost in their pursuit of Mason Mount.The England international midfielder, 24, is under contract until June 2024 and is stalling negotiations on a new deal.
      Mason Mount has appointed a new agent to look after his interestsCredit: Getty
      Mount is understood to be after a significant pay rise from his current wages of around £80,000 per week.
      And he is reluctant to sign a huge long-term commitment like compatriot Reece James.
      Chelsea’s influx of players has also left Mount pushed down the pecking order.
      Now the Daily Mail has claimed that he has appointed a new agent to look after him.
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      Neil Fewings, who previously worked for Wasserman Media Group but who is now the UK managing partner of ROOF, is in charge of Mount’s interests.
      And the publication states that it is “the strongest indication yet that he is set to leave Stamford Bridge” at the end of the season.
      Chelsea have insisted that they have made their final offer regarding a new contract and are reluctant to risk losing him for nothing next year.
      And that could lead to them trying to cash in on their academy product this summer with both United and Liverpool waiting in the wings to pounce and sign him.
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      Mount’s father Tony has been representing the ace for the last 18 months since the star left previous management company, Stellar Football.
      Now they have “sought more specialist assistance to negotiate with other clubs”.
      And with mounting interest in the ace, with Newcastle also keen, the “change of approach may already be paying off”.
      While it remains to be seen whether he will stay or go, rival English clubs have been put on alert by reports of a £50MILLION price tag. More

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      ‘The player is ours!’ – Jose Enrique leaks Liverpool’s first summer transfer with Bayern star on brink of shock move

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      LIVERPOOL have already completed their first signing of the summer… according to their former player Jose Enrique.The Reds are eager to bolster their midfield after enduring a difficult campaign this time around.
      Jose Enrique played 99 times for Liverpool between 2011 and 2016Credit: Getty
      Thiago Alcantara and Arthur Melo have missed plenty of time with injuries, while Stefan Bajcetic has now been ruled out for the season.
      Liverpool have been linked with a stunning swoop for England star Jude Bellingham.
      But according to Enrique, they’ve already sealed a move for another midfield wonderkid.
      Appearing on a live stream, the Spaniard was asked about Bayern Munich youngster Ryan Gravenberch.
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      He said: “This player is ours, amigo… He said ‘yeah’.”
      Enrique, 37, then elaborated: “It’s the same agent as me, team Raiola.
      “We had a meeting not long ago in London, this is our player.”
      His co-host then interrupted him, warning: “Be careful, you’re on live!”
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      Gravenberch burst on to the scene with Ajax before making the switch to Bayern last summer for a fee rising to around £20million.
      He has struggled to make an impression at Allianz Arena, however, starting just ONE Bundesliga match this season.
      Despite his lack of action, Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann backed Gravenberch to become one of the world’s best midfielders.
      He told Sky Germany in October: “I had a good conversation with Ryan this week.
      I’ve told him that he is going to be one of the best midfielders in the world one dayJulian Nagelsmann
      “I’ve told him again clearly what the difference is from his role last year, when he always played from the start.
      “It’s not quite so easy for a young player to come in at 20 and only come on for 20 minutes. It’s just a whole different approach.
      “He is of course sad that he doesn’t play much, but not frustrated or angry at all. He’s a great guy, who will continue his development.
      “I’ve told him that he is going to be one of the best midfielders in the world one day, and I’m committed to that.
      “He just has to adjust a few things, and he will do that.”
      Ryan Gravenberch has started one Bundesliga match since joining Bayern MunichCredit: Getty More

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      Fans terrified by Jurgen Klopp’s ‘psychotic smile’ as Liverpool crash out of Champions League vs Real Madrid

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      JURGEN KLOPP left viewers terrified with a “psychotic smile” as Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League. Liverpool were visiting the Bernabeu knowing they had to overturn a 5-2 first-leg defeat.
      Jurgen Klopp’s ‘psychotic smile’ left fans terrifiedCredit: Getty
      It came as Liverpool crashed out of the Champions LeagueCredit: beIN Sports
      But it was Carlo Ancelotti’s Champions League specialists who broke the deadlock in the 78th minute thanks to 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema.
      As the game reached injury time, Kostas Tsimikas saw the ball strike his arm after deflecting off his thigh as he blocked a shot inside the penalty area.
      A VAR check ensued, with the outrageous amount of time taken to come to a decision leaving Jurgen Klopp smiling on the side, though most likely not through enjoyment.
      Viewers rushed to social media to comment on the German’s “creepy” smile.
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      One said: “Klopp got that psychotic smile.”
      A second commented: “Klopp’s smile is so creepy 😭.”
      A third remarked: “Someone screenshot that Klopp smile bro hes not real 😭😭.”
      “THAT KLOPP SMILE FRAME WITH ANCELOTTI SHSHSHSHS ALL TIMER,” declared a fourth.
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      A fifth admitted: “Omds that Klopp smile was worth suffering through this whole match lmaooooooooooo.”
      A sixth joked: 😂😂 Klopp smiles like a creep when his team is losing,” while another added: “Klopp could deadass look at anything and still smile at it lmao.”
      Madrid saw out the final few seconds before playing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from their speaker system in a classy gesture.
      The Reds Champions League exit comes after a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth which saw their top four hopes dented.
      Klopp’s side have gone from being two games away from winning an unprecedented quadruple last season to having virtually no hope of winning a trophy this term.
      The Champions League represented the club’s final realistic avenue to silverware, but now the best they can hope for this season is a spot in the top four. More

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      Liverpool want to sign THREE Portugal international midfielders from Prem rivals if they miss out on Bellingham transfer

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      LIVERPOOL have reportedly set their sights on THREE Portuguese midfielders if they cannot secure Jude Bellingham.The Reds have made Bellingham, 19, their No1 transfer target in the summer as they finally look to prize him away from Borussia Dortmund.
      Liverpool are set to seek new midfielders in the summerCredit: Getty
      Joao Palhinha, left, has enjoyed a sensational season with FulhamCredit: Reuters
      But they face huge competition in the market as the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid are also closely monitoring him.
      It means Jurgen Klopp is having to prepare for the eventuality of missing out on the England midfielder.
      And, as SunSport exclusively revealed in a related story on Sunday, their back-up shortlist contains a trio from Premier League rivals.
      They are Fulham man Joao Palhinha and Wolves duo Matheus Nunes and Ruben Neves.
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      Palhinha, 27, has been sensational for the Cottagers since joining from Sporting Lisbon for £17million in the summer.
      He is being chased by Man Utd, but Liverpool will be hoping they can leapfrog their bitter rivals to rip him away from his deal in West London – which runs until 2027.
      His value is thought to have more than doubled thanks to his impressive performances this season, with his price tag now around £40m.
      Then there are two more Premier League midfielders Liverpool have their eye on – and they are both from Wolves.
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      Ruben Neves has also been linked with a move to AnfieldCredit: Alamy
      Nunes, 24, and Neves, 26, are being linked with moves to Anfield in the summer.
      Man Utd have been chasing Neves for a long time but always ended up going for alternative options.
      However, as he prepares to enter the final 12 months of his deal at Molineux, now seems the most likely time for him to leave.
      By contrast, Nunes only arrived at Wolves at the start of the season.
      Much like Palhinha, he has four more years left on his contract and will likely be blocked from leaving unless the offer is too good for the club to turn down.
      Liverpool are keen to bolster their midfield after difficult seasons for the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.
      Klopp’s men face a fight to finish in the top four, sitting six points adrift of Tottenham with a game in hand.
      Matheus Nunes is understood to be a Liverpool targetCredit: Getty More

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      Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand blasts Liverpool’s ‘small-club mentality’ and aims BRUTAL dig at Carragher and Souness

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      RIO FERDINAND blasted Liverpool’s “small-club mentality” and aimed a brutal dig at Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness. Liverpool were humbled by Bournemouth on Saturday just six days after thumping Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield.
      Rio Ferdinand blasted Liverpool’s ‘small-club mentality’Credit: AFP
      Rio was not impressed by Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness’ on-air celebrationsCredit: Sky Sports
      Ferdinand slammed Liverpool for losing to Bournemouth after thrashing Man UtdCredit: AFP
      Reacting to the result, Ferdinand said on FIVE: “That is a small club mentality. That screams small club.”
      Ferdinand also hit out at ex-Liverpool players Carragher and Souness for over-celebrating Liverpool’s shock thrashing.
      He added: “The way Souness and Carragher were celebrating, the way they were trying to antagonise the guys [Roy Keane and Gary Neville], and then their team goes and does that at the weekend.
      “They should be ashamed of themselves.”
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      Liverpool lost ground on the race for top four and now sit six points behind Newcastle after their setback at the weekend.
      Manager Jurgen Klopp said on BT Sport: “What can I say? It was never really our game.
      “We were dominant in the first half but mostly we put ball in at the wrong moment against a compact side.
      “They had their counter-attacks they wanted to have. I really think the spaces we had to play were super clear, super open.
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      “The rest was more or less busy with covering other spaces, we didn’t use that often enough, didn’t enjoy the challenge to face a deep, compact side.
      “It’s clear we cannot get through with all the balls but it was like we didn’t get through and things didn’t work out.
      “Little things which make a massive difference and then we go 1-0 down, not helpful obviously in the counter-attack.
      “They did the same stuff but it was successful enough because we didn’t defend it well and then I thought we started pretty well in the second half and then got the penalty and we missed it and after that we were in a real rush and didn’t create enough really and that’s it.”
      Jurgen Klopp looks on in defeat against BournemouthCredit: Getty More

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      Liverpool will be Man Utd’s main challengers for Fulham midfielder Palhinha with bitter rivals set for £60m transfer war

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      LIVERPOOL have joined Manchester United in the race to sign Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha, according to reports.Last week, SunSport exclusively revealed that United were plotting a swoop for the 27-year-old Portugal ace.
      Liverpool and Man Utd are interested in signing PalhinhaCredit: Getty
      And according to The Daily Mail, Liverpool have also expressed an interest.
      Palhinha joined Fulham in a £20million transfer from Sporting Lisbon last summer.
      However, following a series of impressive performances at Craven Cottage, he is now valued at around £60m.
      The Cottagers are confident that the midfielder will remain in West London for at least one more season, but club chiefs may be forced to cash-in if a suitable offer is made.
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      Chelsea, Newcastle, Arsenal and Tottenham are also interested in signing Palhinha, who has made more tackles than any other midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
      Man United and Liverpool are both eager to sign a new midfielder when the summer transfer window opens.
      And for Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, Palhinha could be the perfect alternative to priority target Jude Bellingham.
      The 19-year-old England star carries a £130m price tag, so Liverpool may have to set their sights on other midfield options.
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      Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag is eager to bolster his Man Utd midfield and he believes Palhinha could be the perfect addition.
      The Red Devils are also interested in signing 20-year-old midfielder Gabri Veiga from Celta Vigo. More