Throughout this international break, Liverpool’s focus has been well beyond even the European coasts, with plenty of action coming from South America. The Reds’ attackers generated a stir in World Cup qualifying when Darwin Núñez put Argentina to the sword and Luis Díaz’s impassioned brace delivered an upset against Brazil.
However, a little closer to home, a lot is going on in Europe, some of which may have an impact on Liverpool. This season, Jürgen Klopp’s team is mostly focused on the Europa League, but he will be hoping for a swift return to the top table, which he is currently on course to accomplish.
Meanwhile, he still has a good chance of running against a European behemoth in the secondary competition on the continent. With two games remaining and leading their Champions League group, Xavi’s team is only three points ahead of third place after a recent loss to Shakhtar Donetsk. There’s a chance it might even be Barcelona.
Back in the Premier League, Liverpool may run across Timo Werner once more before the season ends as Klopp continues to pursue a top-four finish at the absolute least. He was once a transfer target for Chelsea, but he is back at RB Leipzig after a difficult stint there. As the international break continues, here is Liverpool.com’s analysis on some of the most important stories surrounding European football right now.
Timo Werner may return to the Premier League
It’s difficult to evaluate Werner’s Chelsea tenure objectively. He won the Super Cup and Club World Cup in addition to winning the Champions League, where he scored four goals along route. However, he never quite lived up to expectations and was never the club’s ideal answer to its enduring striker shortage.
There were a lot of similarities to Fernando Torres’ time at Stamford Bridge after moving there from Liverpool. In the end, Werner and he would both go back to their former teams.
But Werner’s homecoming with RB Leipzig hasn’t exactly been a joyful one. After he descended the hierarchy, the club is now prepared to let him go, according to 90MIN.
The clubs in London that seem most positioned to move are a group of them. The move is regarded as “receptive” by Fulham and Crystal Palace, but West Ham has “ruled nothing out”.
According to Liverpool.com, it’s difficult to imagine Werner’s Premier League comeback succeeding if things haven’t worked out for him at the team where he made his breakthrough. Even though he is 27 years old and should be in his prime, it’s difficult to ignore the possibility that the striker’s explosive speed from his earlier years was always his main tool.
Liverpool will undoubtedly think it was wise to explore alternative possibilities. However, having previously expressed interest, it will undoubtedly recognize Werner’s quality and be on the lookout for him should they face him in the second half of the Premier League season.