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  1. Why Alonso staying in Leverkusen could be a blessingpublished at 07:59

    Chris Bertram
    BBC Sport journalist

    Xabi AlonsoImage source, Getty Images

    A decorated and highly popular former player who looks likely to wrest the Bundesliga title from Bayern Munich with a club from a town the size of Harrogate.

    He has played under - and presumably learned from - a roll call of the greatest managers of the last 20 years.

    But, with Xabi Alonso looking set to stay in Germany, it is actually fair to suggest he would not be the best choice to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool anyway.

    Alonso may have been looking at his Leverkusen squad and, assuming the club - funded by pharmaceutical giant Bayer - assure him it will stay together, fancy a crack at the Champions League.

    Indeed, another of his former clubs in Real Madrid may well be looking for a new manager in 2025 and they quietly seem on the brink of creating a young squad for the ages.

    Alonso staying in Germany will disappoint many Liverpool fans and understandably so. He seemed the perfect fit.

    It might be a blessing though. He has just 14 months' experience as a manager and managing Leverkusen is not like managing Liverpool.

    He would arrive on a wave of goodwill and emotion, but that would be no good when you are 2-0 down to Brentford at Anfield on the back of two draws.

    There would be 55,000 eyes trained on him to see if a man with just 17 months' experience as a manager to fall back on - and none of it in adversity - was the equal of Klopp.

    It's well known Alonso inherited the team that sat second bottom of the Bundesliga, but they were a good squad that had had a bad start; they finished third the year before.

    He has them playing compelling, efficient football - they are unbeaten all season - and while the Bundesliga is weaker than usual, it is incredibly impressive.

    But so was, for example, Andre Villas-Boas' one season at Porto in 2010-11. He was undefeated in the league - which Porto won by 20 points - and also won the cup and Europa League.

    That, too, was his second season as a manager. His third was at Chelsea and the rookie was found wanting.

    Liverpool will provide a different environment, but succeeding Klopp is patently a mammoth task.

  2. Gossip: Reds monitoring Amorim and De Zerbi published at 07:45

    Gossip banner

    Liverpool are looking at Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim and Brighton's Roberto de Zerbi to replace outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp with top target Xabi Alonso set to stay at Bayer Leverkusen. (Telegraph), external

    Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are ready to battle it out for Juventus' Dean Huijsen, 18, with the Spanish defender catching the eye this season during a loan spell with Roma. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

    Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

  3. Your tributes to former defender Lloydpublished at 17:38 28 March

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    What asked for your memories of Larry Lloyd in a Liverpool shirt after the former defender died aged 75.

    In a statement on the club website, the Reds say they are "deeply saddened" by the passing of a player who spent five years at Anfield and won the league championship and Uefa Cup with the club.

    Here are some of your responses:

    Neil: My first memory of watching football is the 1971 Cup final which we lost to Arsenal 2-1 after extra-time. Larry Lloyd played centre-back and enjoyed a fine game. By the time we returned to Wembley to win the cup in 1974 Larry had fallen down the pecking order and left the club that season... ending up in a Forest team that proved our nemesis. A fine player indeed!

    Sue: A fantastic defender and a brilliant character. The game will miss him.

    Jamie: A true footballing legend who gave his all for the Reds. He'll always be remembered for his fierce dedication on the field, inspiring both team-mates and fans alike. He'll be missed!

    Jim: What a nice man. Lived a few doors away in Maghull. Good solid centre-half. RIP.

    Eug: I have no memories of Larry Lloyd in a Liverpool shirt but he was a good player for Forest. Must be good if Brian Clough played him. Unsung hero.

  4. 'Everyone is wondering how it works' - Dyche on Forest points deductionpublished at 16:43 28 March

    Sean Dyche during Everton trainingImage source, Getty Images

    Everton manager Sean Dyche says "everyone is wondering" why Nottingham Forest received a four-point deduction for their breach of Premier League financial rules given the Toffees were initially docked 10 points.

    Everton's penalty was reduced to six points on appeal, and Forest confirmed on Tuesday they would also appeal their sanction.

    The deduction moved Forest into the relegation zone, four points behind Dyche's side having played a game more.

    "I don't know the minutiae of our own, let alone theirs," he said in his pre-match news conference before Saturday's trip to Bournemouth.

    "I can only imagine there's more depth to it, which is why they gave them those points and us ours. But in its simplest form everyone is going 'how does that work out?' But I don't know the depth involved, because there is so much that goes into it.

    "The rhymes and reasons behind it will be down to the appeal situation, it's not down to me, that's for sure."

    Everton are also facing a hearing into a second charge but Dyche is happy with the mindset of his players despite the possibility of a second points deduction hanging over them.

    "You can't judge every person about their own psychology but the main thing is we know we're all on board with it," he added.

    "It's the reality. We've dealt with it before really well.

    "It's an experience nobody wants but it's the reality. The players don't seem affected at this time so we will see what it brings."

  5. Have Liverpool got the easiest run-in?published at 16:04 28 March

    Michael Brown

    BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

    Akhtar asked: Do you think Liverpool have a better run-in than Manchester City and Arsenal? And who do you think will win the Premier League?

    Michael replied: Manchester City have got quite tricky games in Tottenham, Aston Villa and Brighton. The Arsenal game at the weekend will be key for them, but then they have so many potential injuries from the international break.

    Liverpool could have a slightly easier run-in. They are favourites at this moment in time because of those fixtures and their performances.

    Arsenal were on a wonderful run which has gone unnoticed, but they have some tricky ones too.

    At this moment in time, Liverpool slightly edge it.

    Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

  6. Dyche on financial charges, takeover and Pattersonpublished at 14:27 28 March

    Nat Hayward
    BBC Sport journalist

    Everton manager Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League match away to Bournemouth.

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • On the second charge for alledgedly breaching profitability and sustainability rules: "The last one jolted football so we're just waiting now. From our point of view, we can only give the appropriate information. We hope they can see accordingly what the club's been trying to do. We hope it comes to nothing.

    • He added: "The players don't seem affected at this time so we will see what it brings."

    • Dyche played down reports he struck defender Nathan Patterson on their warm weather training camp: "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Nothing in it really, I tapped him on the head like an older brother would and he didn't get the joke. It's really that simple."

    • On the prospective takeover from 777 Holdings: "I know no more than what I did know. I'm sure they would let me know. The one meeting I've had with them was very casual so no news."

    • He offered an injury update: "Idrissa (Gueye) played 70 minutes (for Senegal) - lots of travelling involved but he's fit. Arnie (Danjuma) has only just been back on the grass and it is literally his first training session with us today. He'll need time to get right."

    • On Saturday's opponents: "They've changed slightly. Early season it was out-and-out football. They've gone slightly more direct but roughly the same kind of plan and fair play to their manager - he's stuck with it. They're a good outfit. You have to be a good outfit to do what they're doing."

    Follow the rest of Thursday's Premier League news conferences

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  7. What are your memories of Lloyd?published at 14:04 28 March

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    Liverpool have paid tribute to Larry Lloyd after the former defender died aged 75.

    In a statement on the club website, the Reds say they are "deeply saddened" by the passing of a player who spent five years at Anfield and won the league championship and Uefa Cup with the club.

    What are your memories of Lloyd in a Liverpool shirt?

    Let us know here

  8. 'Van Dijk has been the lynchpin for Liverpool this season'published at 10:57 28 March

    Virgil van DijkImage source, Getty Images

    BBC Radio Merseyside's Paul Salt believes that Virgil van Dijk's form is the key reason why the Merseysiders are challenging for the Premier League title this season.

    Speaking on the latest episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast, Total Sport Merseyside host Salt heaped praise on the Dutchman, who he feels is back to his best.

    "He has been the lynchpin this season," he said.

    "Normally a title challenge is built around a goalscorer, a Mohamed Salah, but a lot of this title challenge is down to Virgil van Dijk.

    "He has been absolutely brilliant."

    The fact Jurgen Klopp is leaving the club at the end of the season is another contributing factor to the Reds' form this term, believes Salt.

    "They have been galvanised by it," he said.

    "It is not as if Liverpool were playing badly before the announcement, but you look at the results [and they are performing well].

    "The Arsenal game at the Emirates will be the blip."

  9. When were the other closest three-way title races?published at 10:57 28 March

    Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen KloppImage source, Getty Images

    There have only been a handful of three-way Premier League title races where the teams have been separated by just two points towards the end of a 38-game season.

    2013-14: By as late as 6 May 2014 only two points separated Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, but City won their game in hand to leapfrog a stumbling Liverpool - characterised by Steven Gerrard's infamous slip and Crystal Palace's comeback - and snatch the title.

    2001-02: On 23 April 2002, Arsenal led Liverpool by a point, with Manchester United a further point back. But the Gunners had a game in hand and were part-way through a run of 11 consecutive wins and sealed the title by beating United at Old Trafford.

    1995-96: In mid-March, with eight games left Manchester United were level on 61 points with Newcastle United and Liverpool were on 59 points in third. Despite having played two games more, Sir Alex Ferguson's side saw off the challenge of Kevin Keegan's Magpies.

    What if they finish level on points?

    Going into Sunday's game between Arsenal and Manchester City, the chance that at least two of the three title contenders finish level on points at the top of the Premier League is 9.4%, according to simulations run by Gracenote. The chance that all three finish level on points is just 0.5%.

    Should there be a tie, the league is decided on goal difference, then goals scored, then most points in the head-to-head matches, then most away goals in the head-to-head record.

    Whatever happens, there are certain to be plenty of twists and turns between now and the final day of the campaign on 19 May.

    Read more on how the title race could play out here

  10. Match-by-match projections in the title racepublished at 17:55 27 March

    Manchester City are in typically formidable post-Christmas form as they aim for an English top-flight record of four consecutive titles. They have 10 wins from 13 league games since December's 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa.

    Projected 87 points - Predicted to win all of their remaining games

    As for Liverpool, the 3-1 loss at Arsenal on 4 February remains their only league defeat in nine games so far in 2024. Jurgen Klopp's team still have a trip to Goodison Park for the Merseyside derby to fit into a busy schedule.

    Projected 86 points - Predicted to win all their games bar Manchester United and Aston Villa away

    On Arsenal, although are top of the table, Simon Gleave, head of analysis at Nielsen's Gracenote says their Euro Club Index simulations have the title battle as a "two-horse race", rating City and Liverpool higher as well as the Gunners having "trickier" fixtures.

    He said: "Arsenal have six matches left against teams in the Premier League's top half but five of those are away from home. Manchester City and Liverpool also both have six matches remaining against teams in the top half of the Premier League, but four of City's are at home and half of Liverpool's are."

    Projected 83 points - Predicted to lose against Brighton, Tottenham and Manchester United

    Read more on the Premier League title race