Welcome to the Liverpool.com daily Media Digest. From transfers to tweets, it can be hard to keep up with everything going on in the Anfield sphere. Credible, incredible and anything in between: we round it all up in one place here, taking a sideways look at the day’s media goings-on from around the world.

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Bellingham to Real Madrid will 'depend on coach'

Liverpool has been told of a potential new factor that could play a part in Jude Bellingham's decision over his next club this summer.

The midfielder is of course one of the most sought-after players in Europe at the moment, with Liverpool in a three-way battle with Manchester City and Real Madrid for his services.

The Spanish giant though may yet decide to leave the race - according to transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio, Madrid's interest could hinge on who is in charge at the Bernabeu next season.

READ MORE: Steven Gerrard has just told Liverpool what Jude Bellingham can help it rediscover next season

READ MORE: Three things that 'definitely' happen amid Man United sale twist as Liverpool and FSG watch on

“With Real Madrid it depends on who the coach will be next season so it’s difficult to say," Di Marzio told MyBettingSites.co.uk.

“If Carlo Ancelotti isn’t the coach and I know they want Pochettino it will depend on whether Pochettino wants Jude Bellingham and the way he wants to play.

“If he says ‘I have Vinicius, I have Benzema, I have Rodrygo and I don’t need Bellingham' then they won’t spend one hundred million euros on Bellingham.”

Liverpool ‘outraged’ by Man City

Liverpool’s encounters with Manchester City in recent seasons have seen tensions rise both on and off the pitch as the two clubs’ rivalry has stepped up to a new level.

That though has led to some unsavory incidents, and according to The Mirror, Liverpool has now been left outraged by City’s latest move ahead of the clash on April 1.

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The Reds will reportedly make a direct appeal to the Premier League after City cut the visitors’ allocation by nearly 20 per cent ahead of the trip to the Etihad Stadium.

City’s reasoning has been due to “the threat to public order that has led to the reduction in allocation, on the advice of the Safety Advisory Group.” Liverpool fan group Spirit of Shankly though believes the move could strain relations between the two clubs further.

“At the corresponding fixture last season, Liverpool fans experienced overzealous stewarding and policing, and were locked in the ground after the match with no access to toilets,” Spirit of Shankly wrote.

“Such undue treatment of supporters serves only to increase tension, which SOS fed back to Greater Manchester Police at the time.

“Now, it appears, Liverpool supporters are to be penalized further.

“We understand reduced allocations at the Etihad have also happened to other clubs, which don’t seem to be about away fan behavior, but poor crowd management.”

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There is no doubt that Liverpool faces a real fight when it comes to finishing in the top four with the Reds currently trailing Tottenham and Newcastle United in the race. With 12 games to go, they will need as many of their key players available to ensure they stand a chance of Champions League qualification.

Following the conclusion of the international break, the brutal reality of the Premier League will be laid bare for Liverpool as crunch fixtures against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal all fall within just eight days of each other. Of course, given the Reds' mixed fortunes so far this term, it would be a surprise for them to take maximum points from all three clashes but the players will be under no illusion that a top-four finish will come without a fight and Jürgen Klopp's side will be looking to send a message to rivals that they are the team to beat in the chase.

Manager Klopp will also have one eye on this summer and next season, and one imagines his recruitment staff will be assessing a variety of options who may be able to strengthen the squad in a number of problem areas. One such position where we will likely see the Reds make reinforcements in is the center of defense where backup options for first-choice pairing Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk will likely be sought.

READ MORE: Sadio Mané may be contributing to Liverpool and FSG issue amid 'unhappy' Bayern Munich claim

READ MORE: Liverpool could soon give Jürgen Klopp defensive boost for free and England call-up proves it

Although the Reds have a lot to do between now and the end of the season, it is clear that this summer will be pivotal if Liverpool is to get back to challenging for major honors in the coming years. Here are the two Liverpool.com stories from today that you shouldn't miss.

Latest Liverpool injury news as at least two miss Man City

The aforementioned trio of blockbuster clashes against 'Big Six' rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal could well come to define Liverpool's season. With that in mind, the majority of Reds supporters will likely be sweating on the fitness of a couple of major stars who could prove the difference in the upcoming fixtures.

Of course, mercurial forward Darwin Núñez was forced to withdraw from the Uruguay squad for this round of international matches after picking up an ankle injury and it remains to be seen whether this will be severe enough for him to miss any games for his club. The Kop-favorite sustained the injury against Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League tie earlier this month and, thankfully, it is not thought to be the kind of knock that could see him sidelined for too long.

Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz will be pivotal for Liverpool as they look to make the top-four in the final Premier League run-in (Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

One player who made a major impact for Liverpool in the second half of last season was Luis Díaz, following his move from Porto last January. The Columbian has been ruled out with a knee injury since October and has been sorely missed, having arguably been the Reds' best player in the early months of the season. There is no doubt that the forward could well have a massive impact for Liverpool from now and the end of the season and he should be in full training ahead of the clash against Manchester City.

Read the full story from Matt Addison here

Liverpool could soon give Jürgen Klopp defensive boost

With Liverpool having been inconsistent so far this season, it is obvious that a major overhaul of Klopp's squad is likely a necessity for the Reds to get back to the form of previous years. Anfield recruitment gurus will likely have designs on addressing some of the key concerns through the transfer market but the rise of one youngster may also give some cause to look within at some of the talent already at the club.

Liverpool is likely looking at needing at least one backup center-half this summer with the long-term futures of Joël Matip and Nat Phillips uncertain and the form of Joe Gomez having been mixed this season. In this vein, the Reds have been linked with a host of names including RB Leipzig defender Joško Gvardiol and soon-to-be free agent Evan Ndicka of Eintracht Frankfurt but the progress of one Liverpool academy graduate may give Klopp some food for thought.

Jarell Quansah was called up to the England U20 squad this week after excelling while on loan at Bristol Rovers in League One. The 20-year-old made the temporary switch in the January transfer window and has been a mainstay in the side since his arrival, with his homegrown status likely to strengthen his case for first-team action at Liverpool when he arrives back on Merseyside in the summer.

See the full article from Ben Bocsak here

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Ever since Brexit, Liverpool has had to adapt its approach to transfers, particularly when it comes to academy recruitment. Prior to the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, thanks to free movement, the Reds were able to concentrate a lot of the club's academy recruitment on scouting EU-based players from abroad.

At times Liverpool's academy was filled with foreign stars, particularly from Spain while Rodolfo Borrell and several other Spanish coaches were still at the academy. Of course, in recent years, Liverpool has had to pivot from that strategy, and thus began in the last couple of years a scouting process more heavily concentrated on players on the British Isles, particularly when it comes to prospects under the age of 18.

In the last year alone this saw Liverpool sign the exciting Ben Doak, who has already made several appearances at first-team level for the club despite his tender age, as well as Trent Kone-Doherty.

READ MORE: Sadio Mané may be contributing to Liverpool and FSG issue amid 'unhappy' Bayern Munich claim

READ MORE: Liverpool could soon give Jürgen Klopp defensive boost for free and England call-up proves it

But it's not been all success, and the latest reminder of that has been Brighton's Evan Ferguson.

The exciting 18-year-old has been in good form with Brighton recently, and has been finding himself on the scoresheet regularly for the club's first team which has rightfully earned him a senior international call-up and his first start for Ireland's national team.

Ferguson didn't hesitate to make that moment count, scoring in the 17th minute of the game to open his account for his country.

His success recently will be regarded with a little bit of a sour taste at Anfield. Back in 2020, while Ferguson was still playing for Bohemian FC, he attracted the interest of Liverpool and even held talks with the club. However, in the end he rejected Liverpool's offer, in the hope of more first-team opportunities at Brighton. A choice that has worked perfect dividends.

"I went to Liverpool a few times,” Evan explained his decision to The Athletic. “It’s a good club, but you see so many boys at Liverpool just fading away and there’s no chance to get in the first team. I was thinking, ‘Do I just want to play two years of Under-18s and then go to the U23s and go from there to where?’"

His comments will be positive for Liverpool, but they will also give FSG and Jürgen Klopp some food for thought.

Evan Ferguson once rejected Liverpool in favour of Brighton. (Image: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ferguson's comments are positive for Liverpool because he still talks with a high level of appreciation about the club describing the Reds quite simply as a 'good club.' Now that he has proven himself at first-team level and in the Premier League, he is clearly going to be a player Liverpool would maintain a level of interest given the club's scouts will be familiar with him from his days back in Ireland, and it's not unheard of the Reds going back in for a player they scouted heavily several years down the line.

After all, Liverpool was aware of the talents and had scouted both Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz even before they moved to Europe. In this sense, the door is definitely still open for Ferguson to don the red shirt in the future. Although now FSG would have to pay a significant fee in order to land his services considering Tony Bloom is a tough negotiator at Brighton. But that's a problem the club would have to solve in the future when the matter becomes pertinent.

On the other hand, Ferguson's comments also raise a level of concern that must be investigated at Anfield. The path for forwards into the first team has been severely restricted in recent years.

And while much of that can be explained by the level of success and world-class players Liverpool has had in the squad, in that time the Reds saw the emergence of players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harvey Elliott or Curtis Jones in the first team.

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In fact, young strikers failing to make the grade at Liverpool dates back to even before the days of Klopp.

There was a time when Liverpool could boast the likes of Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler as homegrown forwards in the squad. But in the 21st century that production line has stuttered.

There's been plenty of exciting young forwards in the academy. From Adam Morgan who was lauded as the 'next Fowler' to Jerome Sinclair, who became the youngest player to debut for Liverpool's first team and Rhian Brewster, who was always prolific at academy level, yet couldn't quite make the step up to replicate that form at senior level.

Clearly, this is a trend prospective strikers like Ferguson are taking a notice of, and it's something Liverpool has to address, especially since the club is in a position of transition at the moment, meaning Liverpool will have to attract younger players to Anfield in order to build for the future.

FSG's next step is therefore obvious. Break the academy forward curse at Liverpool. Though of course, that's easier said than done. The task is now up to Klopp to complete.

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He is by no means the only player out of form, but Trent Alexander-Arnold hasn’t performed to the level Liverpool expect this season.

Vinicius Jr. made light work of Liverpool’s right-back across two legs in the Champions League, and Alexander-Arnold came in for some criticism.

After the Real Madrid match, Jamie Carragher said that his fellow Scouser “needs to, at the end of this season, have a long think about where he is as a right-back.”

But is Alexander-Arnold really a liability in defence or is the debate over a change of position overblown?

Here, Liverpool fans Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87), Tom Eves (@TomEvesJourno) and Adam Beattie (@beatts94) assess where the 24-year-old is up to in his career and if something needs to change at right-back.

First off, how would you assess his season so far?

Adam: It’s one he’d rather forget, that’s for sure, on a personal level as well as a collective.

Confidence has been hard to come by across the whole squad but he certainly seems to have felt it more than most.

Henry: It’s been a disaster, let’s face it.

He has arguably been Liverpool’s most consistently poor player in a terrible season for so many individuals.

Defensively, he has switched off time and time again, being targeted by opposition wingers, and just two assists in the league show that he has also not been as effective in an attacking sense.

Tom: We’re so used to celebrating Trent’s assist tally, and what he offers going forward, yet, like Henry says, this season he only has two assists in the Premier League.

I think he, himself, will have wanted more than that at this stage.

Henry: Trent hasn’t been helped out by Liverpool’s struggles overall with the midfield not offering him any protection, but there is no denying that this has been a really poor season for him.

It doesn’t help when the team’s not playing well, do you think it’s just a blip?

Adam: I remember similar conversations during the pandemic season and he certainly wasn’t the only one.

I’m hopeful that new signings in midfield will help him because we’re painfully short of legs there at the minute and, obviously, that leaves him somewhat exposed.

Tom: Yeah, it is definitely a blip.

We all know how good Trent can be and the talent he possesses, I think he just needs to get some confidence back.

Henry: All great players go through tough periods – look at Marcus Rashford last season compared to this one, for example, or Steven Gerrard in his younger years.

Trent will be back to his best after a break in the summer with new signings made.

Is his defending really that bad?

Henry: Is he a naturally great defender? Absolutely not.

He can sometimes switch off and doesn’t have the same defensive reading of the game as Andy Robertson, but he is still absolutely fine in that area.

You can’t play in a Liverpool team that has won so much recently and not be good in all facets of your game – look at his performance up against Leroy Sane in the Champions League back in 2018, he was magnificent defensively.

There is a witch-hunt with Trent now but it is becoming increasingly hyperbolic.

Tom: With our system over the years, the midfield has always protected the full-backs as they push upfield but, this season, our midfield hasn’t been great so I think that’s had a knock-on effect on Trent also.

Adam: I suppose it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy because it felt like lazy criticism last year, whereas this season you’d have to admit it is accurate.

Could we see a move into midfield?

Adam: He’ll be 25 years old in October and has been a permanent fixture within the starting XI since 2017/18.

For the majority of that time, he’s been one of the best right-backs in the world in a system that has allowed him to showcase his capabilities.

If the switch were to eventually happen, I could envisage it being to a holding midfielder in the same move that the likes of Joshua Kimmich and Phillip Lahm made.

He’d still have space to dictate play and you could still feel the benefit of his passing range from back there.

Tom: I still expect to see him playing right-back, yes.

We have been very successful with Trent in that position, but I wouldn’t be opposed to see how he would fare in a midfield role at some stage.

Henry: I think I’m in the minority, but I would certainly at least consider giving him a go in a right-sided No. 8 role in midfield.

He played in midfield during his youth-team days so it’s not like he doesn’t know the position, and the quality he possesses means he could shine in a similar manner to Kevin De Bruyne.

Do you agree he needs competition at right-back?

Henry: Absolutely.

The hope is that Calvin Ramsay is that man – he has looked great the few times we’ve seen him this season – but his injury problems are a concern and he is still a very young player who is learning.

I would consider bringing in another right-back to alleviate that issue – perhaps a fairly experienced head who is willing to be a squad player but can do a good job when required.

Basically, a right-back version of Kostas Tsimikas!

Tom: Just as Robbo and Tsimikas battle it out on the left I’d love to see adequate competition for Trent.

Adam: I think we were all hoping that would be Ramsay!

Obviously, it hasn’t quite worked out for him this season, and even prior to the injury he was rarely making matchday squads.

So, if Klopp doesn’t see a way in which this changes next season, then we absolutely need to be in the market for another one.

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Thursday’s Liverpool news round up includes mixed reports in the hunt for a new sporting director and links to yet another young midfielder.

Monaco sporting director “ruled out” of Liverpool move

Liverpool looked to have stepped up their search for a new sporting director by identifying recruitment expert Paul Mitchell as a major target, but subsequent reports have suggested he is now out of the running.

The Independent‘s chief football writer Miguel Delaney has reported that while Liverpool had considered Mitchell for the position, he is no longer a contender.

Mitchell, who will be leaving his post at Monaco this summer, was linked with a move to Liverpool and it had been rumoured that talks were expected to commence in the coming weeks.

The latest reports are that Man United could look to appoint the 41-year-old, with the Sir Jim Ratcliffe-led consortium INEOS said to be planning an approach for Mitchell should their takeover bid be successful.

It is a difficult story to keep up with, who knows what will happen next?

Midfielder linked to Liverpool & Gerrard returns to legends squad

• Liverpool are prepared to pay the €40 million release clause for Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga according to El Nacional, with the 20-year-old also said to be a target for Real Madrid

International watch

• Cody Gakpo has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad with an illness, but is likely to be available for Liverpool’s return against Man City

• Caoimhin Kelleher had mixed fortunes in Republic of Ireland’s 3-2 win at home to Latvia, with a couple of errors leading to an initial fightback from the visitors

• Harvey Davies, Jarell Quansah and Dominic Corness each played a role in keeping a clean sheet for England under-20s in their 2-0 win over Germany

What else has been happening?

• Harry Kane could become England’s all-time leading goalscorer if he gets on the scoresheet in this evening’s clash with Italy (The Independent)

• Roberto Mancini has insisted that his time at Man City was “all above board” following allegations of financial breaches at the club (Goal)

• Barcelona’s troubles continue as UEFA are set to investigate payments made to former vice-president of Spain’s referees’ committee (BBC)

Tweet of the day and match of the night

Check out our latest teaser on Liverpool’s top assist-makers under Jurgen Klopp and see if you can name the missing two:

??? Fill in the ??????! pic.twitter.com/l1NL6cYHZC

— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) March 23, 2023

England travel to Naples to face Italy in a European Championship qualifier this evening. Kickoff is at 7.45pm (GMT) but you can catch the full coverage from 7pm on Channel 4.

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Ibrahima Konate has laughed off comparisons between Virgil van Dijk and old centre-back partner Dayot Upamecano, as he is “on a different planet.”

It has been a difficult season for Van Dijk, as it has for most Liverpool players, but Konate is of the belief that he is still the best in the world.

That is why, when asked in an interview with Eurosport this week how the Dutchman compares with his France team-mate Upamecano, the 23-year-old was so emphatic in his reply.

“What kind of question is that? You can’t compare the two,” he laughed.

“With Upamecano, we are in the same category even if he is a very high competitor.

“But Van Dijk, I put him on a different planet.

“We’re still a long way from achieving what he did. Although we will get there one day, I have no doubt.”

Konate added: “He has an aura on the pitch, you always feel it.

“It’s an exceptional chance to play with him. But I also have to look at my career and not look at him as a fan all the time.”

Liverpool were linked with both Konate and Upamecano when they were partners at RB Leipzig, but the latter opted to join Bayern Munich in 2021.

Upamecano has flattered to deceive at Bayern while Konate, when fit, has shown the quality required to become world class at Liverpool – likely as a long-term successor to Van Dijk.

Konate came in for similar praise from former centre-back Martin Skrtel, in an interview with The Athletic‘s James Pearce, as he recalled his time alongside Upamecano at Leipzig.

“Everyone was talking about this guy Upamecano,” Skrtel said of his clash with Leipzig while at Istanbul Basaksehir.

“I told my friend, ‘the other centre-back Leipzig have got is even better’.

“I was so happy when Liverpool signed him. Konate is such a good player. He’s strong physically and he seems strong mentally too, and he’s good with the ball.

“He’s still young and will be very important for the club’s future.”

Konate’s future, he insisted to Eurosport, is very much at Anfield, as he said: “When you play for Liverpool, the question honestly is, ‘where can I go next?’.

“And to last at this club, you have to perform. My goal is to be part of the team in the short and long term, and of course to win all the titles.”

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Liverpool FC Legends' squad for this weekend's meeting with Celtic Legends has been confirmed.

Sir Kenny Dalglish will lead a star-studded collection of former Reds out at Anfield on Saturday in the LFC Foundation charity match (3pm GMT kick-off), presented by AXA Health and brought to you in association with Forever Reds, LFC's official former players association.  

Tickets for the game – priced at £27 for adults, £7 for juniors and £17 for over 65s – remain on sale and can be bought online here. Disabled supporters can visit the Accessibility Hub for full sale details. 

One-hundred per cent of the proceeds raised will support a range of LFC Foundation's and partner charities' programmes, including schools, inclusive sports, social action, health and wellbeing, and food poverty.

The contest can also be watched live via the club's official Facebook and YouTube channels, while existing subscribers can also tune in on LFCTV and LFCTV GO.

View the LFC Legends squad returning to L4 in the list below...

Goalkeepers: Jerzy Dudek, Sander Westerveld.

Defenders: Fabio Aurelio, Sami Hyypia, Ragnar Klavan, Bjorn Tore Kvarme, Martin Skrtel, Gregory Vignal.

Midfielders: Charlie Adam, Salif Diao, Steven Gerrard, Mark Gonzalez, Gary McAllister, Steve McManaman, Albert Riera, Momo Sissoko.

Forwards: Djibril Cisse, Luis Garcia, Robbie Keane, Dirk Kuyt.

Management: Sir Kenny Dalglish, John Aldridge, John Barnes, Ian Rush.

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Liverpool FC Legends' squad for this weekend's meeting with Celtic Legends has been confirmed.

Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah have been shortlisted for Premier League awards for March.

Salah is one of six contenders for the division’s Player of the Month accolade after recording five goal involvements and becoming Liverpool’s all-time leading scorer in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Gakpo’s second finish in the 7-0 victory over Manchester United at Anfield – a delightful dink to seal a flowing team move – is nominated for Goal of the Month.

You can cast votes for the Reds pair to win – Salah here and Gakpo here.

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Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah have been shortlisted for Premier League awards for March.

Though he retired as a professional in May, former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is now back playing in his native Slovakia, in a new position.

Skrtel was forced to retire last summer when, after 21 years as a senior professional, back injuries saw him unable to feel his legs when playing.

That ended a decorated career that included spells with Zenit St Petersburg, Fenerbahce, Istanbul Basaksehir and, for eight-and-a-half seasons, Liverpool.

He will represent the Reds again on Saturday in a legends clash with Celtic, before flying straight back to Slovakia where he is set to play for hometown club FK Hajskala Raztocno on Sunday.

As he explained to The Athletic‘s James Pearce, the 38-year-old Skrtel promised his friends he would rejoin them on the pitch when he had retired – and now he plays as a No. 10, rather than at centre-back.

“I do it for them,” he admitted.

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“When I first said I was going to play, everyone was thinking it would just be for one game. We had more than 3,000 people there. Now, it’s usually about 500 to 600.

“I can’t train, because of my back. I just go along each Sunday and play the game.

“For two or three days after, I can’t do any kind of outdoor activity because I’m so fucked.

“I’ve got nine or 10 goals this season. We’re second in the table, but I can’t say we want promotion. We’ve got quite an old team.

“Our goalkeeper, I think, is 56, and we have a few other players in their mid-40s. The most important thing is to have fun. We don’t push it.”

The move to an attacking midfield role may surprise Liverpool fans given his reputation as a no-nonsense defender, but it likely allows him to avoid the more robust elements of the game and showcase his technical ability.

Raztocno is a village in central Slovakia with a population of just over 1,000 people, including Skrtel’s parents and many of his childhood friends.

“It’s a different kind of experience for me,” he told Pearce.

“I want to enjoy still being able to play a bit for as long as possible.

“It’s not easy to just say, ‘right, I’m finished. I won’t kick a ball anymore’. As long as I enjoy it, I’ll keep going.”

Skrtel also revealed he is working towards his UEFA A License with plans to become a manager, and it is not out of the realms of possibility that a new career begins in Slovakia.

Whether that would be as player-manager, though, remains to be seen!

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Liverpool FC Women manager Matt Beard says his team are looking to right the wrongs against Everton in Friday night's Merseyside derby.

The Reds make the short trip to Goodison Park in Barclays Women's Super League action for the 7.30pm GMT kick-off.

Liverpool were beaten 3-0 at Anfield in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign, and will be looking to earn bragging rights on away soil this time around.

Beard wants his charges to embrace the occasion across Stanley Park, hoping they can give their travelling supporters something to cheer about.

Read on for the key points from his pre-match media briefing below...

On the feeling within the squad ahead of the game…

The atmosphere has been great. We’ve put a lot of work in on the training ground and we’ve had a few bodies back this week as well, which has been great just for the bench and competition for places. It was a big win against Tottenham, it’s been a great mood and we’re looking forward to tomorrow night now.

On what he learned from the defeat at Anfield in the reverse fixture…

I think we tried to prepare the team as best we could in a sense of going to Anfield the day before, getting familiar with the dressing room and the walk out onto the pitch. But when you walk out to You’ll Never Walk Alone at Anfield in front of 28,000 people, it’s completely different than what it is at Prenton Park, when we’re generally getting 2,500 at the game. I think you could see in the first-half performance it affected us slightly. I thought second half we did a lot better, but we became too open at the back end of the game trying to chase it. It’s a catch-22 because obviously you want to win these types of games playing in the club’s main stadium, but we’ve become too open at the back end of the game trying to chase it. The learning from that will live with us because we know what we need to do on Friday night. The pressure will be reversed onto Everton playing at Goodison. We’re looking forward to the occasion and I think from our perspective we learned a lot that night. We’re looking forward to hopefully putting the wrongs of that night right on Friday.

On the latest team news in his squad…

Unfortunately, Mel [Lawley] broke down after training on Monday. [Niamh] Fahey and [Natasha] Dowie will still be out, and Leanne [Kiernan] is now progressing really well, so we’re hoping Leanne will be back post-international break with the team training and then fit for games at the back end of April. Everyone else should be back after the international break, so we’ll have a fully-fit squad to choose from. Shanice is back in the squad, which has been great. It’s been great to have her back on the training pitch because she’s such an infectious person as well. We’re looking in good shape.

On whether his squad have 'revenge' on their mind…

I wouldn’t say revenge. We know what this fixture means to the club and the supporters. We would love to give our supporters the bragging rights. I think from the lessons we learned that night at Anfield, we can definitely put into practice, but form goes out the window in the derby games anyway. Everton haven’t won in the last four games and haven’t scored a goal in the last four games, but when it comes down to a Merseyside derby, I don’t think that will have any effect on it because it is the passion. I think whoever stays in control emotionally tomorrow night will end up out on top.

On how different the squads are compared to the first meeting…

We’ve obviously had to adapt to the players we’ve had available at certain times this year with the formations that we’ve played. If you look at Everton, they have played a 3-4-3 and just of late they’ve played 4-3-3 quite a lot. They’ve made changes in January, and obviously in the summer, and this is a tough league, so I think there’s no easy games and you have to be performing week in, week out. Maybe Everton’s inconsistencies over the last few months will be because of that, and it’s the same with us. We’ve been really unlucky with losing players to injury, especially at the top end of the pitch. We’ve found ourselves constantly having to adapt or change to that and I feel because of that it’s probably put more pressure on the players tactically.

In an ideal world what you want to try to do is have a formation that you’ve mastered and that you’re comfortable with and have the ability to change if you need to. We’ve not really been able to do that this year. I think we’ve mastered the 3-5-2 now because we’ve played that a lot just of late and we’ve changed in games to that to see them out at times. We’ve played that system a lot and it’s worked well for us. But if you look at our January recruitment, we really wanted to go back to a 4-3-3 because we felt we had the personnel to do that. We had wingers in Mel Lawley, Shanice van de Sanden, you’ve got Yana Daniels, who is different to them as a wide player, Miri Taylor came in with that in mind because she played there in America and can play in midfield. But then we lost Shanice and lost Mel, so we’ve been a bit unlucky with that.

From our perspective, we’ve had a lot of challenges from who has been available, and I think we just want a bit of consistency now. Hopefully when we get the next two games out the way, we’ll have a fully-fit squad to choose from and have the ability to do what we wanted in January.

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Liverpool FC Women manager Matt Beard says his team are looking to right the wrongs against Everton in Friday night's Merseyside derby.

With Liverpool keen to further expand its global brand and reach, the partnership with Nike seemed ideal for being able to hit new markets and ensure that the Reds remained on an upward trajectory off the pitch.

Already, the influence of basketball icon LeBron James, who is a Nike athlete and a lifetime partner in Fenway Sports Group (FSG), has been seen with his collaboration having been unveiled a few weeks back.

Now, another step forward into a new market has emerged with a collection by Nike-owned fashion brand Converse having been detailed, which will come on sale from April 6.

READ MORE: Real Madrid finds Jude Bellingham transfer alternative amid Liverpool race as Cody Gakpo dealt blow

READ MORE: Jürgen Klopp could unlock 'Lionel Messi and David Silva hybrid' amid Liverpool transfer links

The idea is to reach a different demographic and appeal to a wider audience, joining together football (or soccer) with fashion and lifestyle elements.

Finding new ways to grow commercially is hugely important to Liverpool's economic model and the partnership with Nike is a vital part of that, with the Reds getting a base fee of around $43m (£35m/€40m) per year from the US sports giant, plus 20 per cent of sales of Liverpool FC-branded items worldwide.

That is expected, the ECHO says, to make the kit deal worth around double the initial fee generated (that would make it worth around $86m annually), though there is scope for that to increase further, and also helps to grow the Liverpool brand, offering other intangible benefits.

The Liverpool x Converse range has been unveiled. (Image: Liverpool FC)

The partnership with LeBron, for instance, could open Liverpool FC up to fans of basketball in the US, who view the Reds positively thanks to the association with one of the most recognizable athletes in the world.

Nine items in total are available from the Converse collaboration including a Liverpool FC take on the iconic Chuck 70 high top sneakers (as pictured above).

As Liverpool's marketability is further exploited, its commercial value will continue to rise. The deal with Nike, the partnership with LeBron, and now the crossover with Converse, are all signs of what the future holds for the Anfield side off the pitch.

All of these things point to the wider FSG plan as Liverpool looks to hit even more new markets that it's already-vast global reach has, with the Nike deal a central example.

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Whether he ends up at Liverpool or not, sporting director Paul Mitchell has confirmed his exit from Monaco with a view to returning “home” to England.

Liverpool have been aware of their need to replace Julian Ward since November, when the transfer chief tendered his resignation less than five months into the role.

Ward had officially taken over from Michael Ward last summer, playing a key part in negotiations over deals for Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez among others.

But so far, there has been no clear movement when it comes to his successor, only muted reports both in England and abroad.

Earlier this week, Get French Football News claimed that talks had been held with Monaco sporting director Mitchell, who previously worked at MK Dons, Southampton, Tottenham and RB Leipzig.

Now, in an interview with Nice-Matin, the Englishman has confirmed his plan to leave Monaco this summer, hinting that he will return “home” to the north west.

“It was a very difficult decision. I loved my experience at this club,” he said.

Mitchell added: “But I have spent a lot of time away from home and my loved ones in recent years.

“I feel that the mission I had, which was to rebuild the sports project, has been fulfilled.”

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Whether Mitchell intends to resume work closer to home, or take time off as has been the case with Edwards, remains to be seen.

There is even a chance that his contract with Monaco, which was due to expire in 2024, prohibits him from taking up a new job this summer – though he has certainly been considered by Liverpool.

Earlier this year, the Telegraph‘s Sam Wallace claimed that the club had already “decided against” appointing Mitchell.

That makes the timeline of these reports confusing, with it uncertain whether Get French Football News brought news of further talks between Mitchell and Liverpool, or simply those initial discussions.

It is clearly not guaranteed that the 41-year-old would make the move to Anfield – it would need to be the right fit for all parties – but it would make sense in many ways.

Mitchell is a distinguished sporting director who includes the likes of Sadio Mane, Heung-min Son and Christopher Nkunku as his successes in the transfer market.

Liverpool have a void to fill in their boardroom at a crucial time in the evolution of their squad, and a candidate like Mitchell would seemingly fit the bill.

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Welcome to the Liverpool.com daily Media Digest. From transfers to tweets, it can be hard to keep up with everything going on in the Anfield sphere. Credible, incredible and anything in between: we round it all up in one place here, taking a sideways look at the day’s media goings-on from around the world.

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Next Real Madrid transfer battle

Liverpool is willing to pay Gabri Veiga's release clause to sign the Celta Vigo wonderkid, according to Cadena SER, though the same report suggests that Real Madrid could also make a move before the summer.

READ MORE: Jürgen Klopp could unlock 'Lionel Messi and David Silva hybrid' amid Liverpool transfer links

READ MORE: Todd Boehly and Chelsea have created a transfer problem for Liverpool and $195m duo are proof

The priority for both clubs is Jude Bellingham, of course. But Veiga is also a huge young talent, and his release clause is set at just $43m (£35m/€40m), which is a fraction of the price of the Borussia Dortmund teenager.

It is said that the player's preference is to stay in Spain and sign for Real Madrid, but also that because Bellingham and Veiga play in similar roles, it would be a case of one or the other ending up at the Bernabéu.

Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal are all also said to be keen on a move for the 20-year-old talent, so Veiga will have no shortage of options in the summer, when a big move seemingly beckons.

Cady Gakpo sent home

Five players have been sent home from international duty with the Netherlands including Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, according to L'Equipe, after a spate of illness. The Reds have also confirmed that Gakpo is returning to Merseyside.

The Dutch national side is about to take on France, but a virus means they must do so without Gakpo, Matthijs de Ligt, Joey Veerman, Sven Botman and Liverpool-linked Bart Verbruggen.

Ibrahima Konaté, meanwhile, is, Get Football News France says, set to start the game at the heart of the French back four alongside former RB Leipzig teammate Dayot Upamecano.

The fixture between the Netherlands and France takes place in Paris on Friday night, with England facing Italy in Naples later today.

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Cody Gakpo has withdrawn from international duty with Netherlands amid the current March international break.

Cody Gakpo has become the latest Liverpool player to withdraw from international duty, though concerns over a possible injury are allayed.

The Reds have already seen Darwin Nunez (ankle) and Ben Doak (head) pull out of games for their national teams in an otherwise busy month.

Gakpo has now joined them, though unlike his fellow forwards the 23-year-old is not absent due to an injury, with the Netherlands instead seeing a virus wipe out a fifth of their squad.

The Dutch FA confirmed the news on Thursday, with Gakpo leaving their camp along with Sven Botman, Matthijs de Ligt, Joey Veerman and Bart Verbruggen.

They are not due to return for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against France (March 24) and Gibraltar (March 27), with Ronald Koeman instead calling up three replacements.

Those are Stefan de Vrij, Kjell Scherpen and Ryan Gravenberch, the latter of whom is on Liverpool’s radar ahead of the summer transfer window.

Virgil van Dijk remains with the Netherlands and should captain Koeman’s side in both fixtures, with the dismissal of Gakpo and Co. clearly a preventative measure to avoid any further spread.

Gakpo is now likely to return to Merseyside early, and the hope will be that he can recover and be available for the trip to Man City on April 1.

Liverpool play Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal in the space of nine days at the start of next month, and Jurgen Klopp will need the likes of Nunez and Gakpo available.

Luis Diaz is due to report for full training next week and could, therefore, take a place on the bench at the Etihad, but he would not be considered to start.

Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota are both on international duty this month, but Roberto Firmino was omitted from the Brazil squad along with Alisson and Fabinho.

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Liverpool FC and Converse unveil their new, limited-edition capsule collection with a celebration of the diverse and creative nature of the club's beating heart – its supporters.

Watch Liverpool FC Legends take on Celtic Legends at Anfield on Saturday afternoon with our live coverage across club channels.