Liverpool agreed personal terms with Ibrahima Konate in April. On May 28, they activated his release clause with RB Leipzig, even though the deal could not be officially completed until July 1. And in the subsequent two months, Liverpool have signed no one.
They have revived their reputation as astute sellers, capable of extracting fine prices for unwanted players. They have almost raised Konate’s £36 million ($50m) fee by selling Harry Wilson, Marko Grujic, Taiwo Awoniyi, Liam Millar and Kamil Grabara, none of whom were likely to feature much.
Yet, to increasing irritation among the fanbase, those funds have not been reinvested in the squad beyond Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract extension.
Even with a spate of departures, Jurgen Klopp still has a sizeable squad. Jamie Carragher’s analysis was that Liverpool require added quality, rather than much extra quantity. “I’d like to see someone who could get goals, whether that’s from midfield or part of the front three,” said the 2005 Champions League winner. There are two positions that could require addressing: in midfield and in the forward line.
Georginio Wijnaldum is yet to be replaced. Not that he was Carragher’s dream finisher: Paris Saint-Germain’s new signing has proved prolific for Holland but not Liverpool.
Klopp’s Anfield model can involve an attacking midfielder but rarely a regular scorer from that department. It suggests the prime objective should be another forward.
Wijnaldum was integral and a constant, the man who only missed 11 league games in five years at Anfield. But with a full complement of centre-backs, and all fully fit, Fabinho can return to the centre of the pitch. There is a theory that the Brazilian, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara was Klopp’s preferred midfield last season; instead, due to injuries and time in defence, they only began as a midfield trio once, in the fateful derby when Virgil van Dijk was injured.
Perhaps, in Thiago, Wijnaldum’s successor arrived a year before he left. Certainly Liverpool are not short of midfielders, with James Milner, Curtis Jones and the oft injured but gifted pair of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in reserve.
The forward equation is different. Diogo Jota had a stop-start first campaign but it was encouraging. Mohamed Salah remained potent in troubled times. But Sadio Mane declared it the worst season of his career, posing the question if it is a one-off and if he will return to his previous brilliance. There is a stronger case for saying Roberto Firmino is in decline, his goal return deteriorating from 27 in 2017-18 to nine three years later, his incessant efforts perhaps burning him out.
Five players Liverpool should sign this summer
The problem of having a front three born within nine months of each other is that one will have to be phased out first. Firmino’s uniqueness means sourcing a duplicate is nigh-on impossible. It is nonetheless apparent that, but for the crunch on their finances caused by the pandemic, Klopp would have signed Timo Werner last summer; his propensity to make Mane-esque runs could have allowed the Senegalese to take the central role.
It is intriguing that Oxlade-Chamberlain has been tried as a false nine in pre-season. It has compounded the issues of the Brazilian’s struggles that Takumi Minamino has struggled to show a Firmino-like aptitude for the deeper role in the middle of the attack and that the 2019 cult hero Divock Origi has faded away to such an extent that his lone goal last season came against Lincoln.
Each can testify to the difficulties of slotting into Klopp’s idiosyncratic front three, which makes finding suitable additions harder. But the drop-off in Liverpool’s output – to 68 goals after seasons of 84, 89 and 85 – show why a scorer to ease the burden on Salah must be the top target.
PRISCILLA
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ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 3
Fleck 19, Mousset 52, McBurnie 90
Manchester United 3
Williams 72, Greenwood 77, Rashford 79
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz S 450
Price, base / as tested Dh525,000 / Dh559,000
Engine: 3.0L V6 biturbo
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 369hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm at 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.0L / 100km
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
RESULTS
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