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Liverpool remain in negotiations with Southampton for midfielder Romeo Lavia, but to the indignation of the Anfield support, progress is moving at a snail's pace with the 2023/24 Premier League campaign just one week away.

Who are Liverpool signing this summer?

The summer transfer market started so brightly for the Reds, with Alexis Mac Allister arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion in a £35m deal before Dominik Szoboszlai was captured from RB Leipzig for £60m.

But progress was hampered when Saudi interest led to the departures of industrious midfield duo Fabinho and – captain – Jordan Henderson.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Jurgen Klopp's side have since seen two bids for Lavia rejected, the second offer, £41m, still some way below Saints' £50m demand for the precocious engine room machine.

What is Romeo Lavia's style of play?

Lavia has been superb since joining Southampton from Manchester City one year ago in a deal potentially rising to £14m, and his performances on the south coast suggest that he boasts every ounce of quality requisite for success at the very highest level.

The 19-year-old would be a long-term project and the successor to Fabinho's role as the midfield anchor at Anfield, though given his Premier League displays over the past year there will be confidence at Liverpool that he could hit the ground running.

As per Sofascore, he recorded an average rating of 6.80 in the English top-flight, despite the tumult at St. Mary's Stadium and the discordant and disjointed harmony of Southampton's squad, resulting in a 20th-placed finish.

If Klopp succeeds in his pursuit, the £38k-per-week ace will be able to slot seamlessly into the Liverpool centre; the words of The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell corroborate the argument, as he said: in terms of technical quality and tactical understanding, he's more than ready to go right into that Liverpool midfield."

It is his innate ease and presence in the No. 6 role that will consequently allow teammates around him to flourish, with his ranking among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for blocks per 90, as per FBref, illustrating his tenacity and determination to stifle opposition transitions.

Szoboszlai would certainly benefit from Lavia's arrival at Anfield, with the 32-cap Hungary captain's creative capabilities requiring steel-clad framework behind him to ensure he can effectively contribute to the offensive efforts.

And the £120k-per-week maestro could aid Lavia in his work too, ranking among the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers for blocks and the top 13% for clearances per 90.

Szoboszlai recorded an exemplary average rating of 7.42 in the German Bundesliga last season after scoring six goals and supplying eight assists from 28 starting appearances, creating 2.3 key passes per game, averaging 1.5 tackles per match and completing 83% of his passes.

Lavia is the "absolute monster" – as called by journalist Benjy Nurick – that Szoboszlai needs to thrive in the Premier League, while he can also utilise his own dynamism and defensive application to ensure that the workload is not too great for the teenage talent; it could be a partnership for the ages on Merseyside and Liverpool must ensure that they get this one over the line.

Arsenal fans have slammed the news that the FA are investigating their celebrations after Reiss Nelson’s late winner against Bournemouth.

The Lowdown: Investigation

Nelson’s last-minute winner in the 3-2 victory over Bournemouth sparked wild celebrations from the home side as they came back from 2-0 down to get all three points.

They kept themselves five points clear at the top of the table, with Manchester City beating Newcastle United 2-0 in the earlier kick-off.

However, it has been reported that the FA are investigating those celebrations as Arsenal players and staff ran onto the pitch, with referee Chris Kavanagh noting it to the governing body.

The Latest: Arsenal fans fuming

Taking to Twitter after the update was shared, Arsenal fans voiced their fume over the decision to investigate their celebrations:

“This is getting embarrassing now, the FA and it’s officials clearly can’t cope with us doing well and us overcoming everything they throw our way.” – @SimplyScalvini

“This has got to be a wind up.” – @Hugojha23

“The agenda is real TBH.” – @taophyc_AFC

“This is madness.” – @kendrickmclare1

“They are corrupt. They’re issuing out fines because we hurt their feelings. It’s disgusting.” – @marco4549

“Incredible this. After 3 penalties not given. A goal awarded that should have been ruled out and loads of time wasting, the ref reports this.” – @TheCockneyTurk

The Verdict: Enjoy the moment!

The Gunners needed to enjoy the moment of Nelson’s shot hitting the back of the net, which was the difference between three points and just one.

The goal could be a vital moment in the title race, and one that they look back on if they win the Premier League.

We have to be careful not to take the emotional side of out of the game, and so the FA and Kavanagh need to apply a little bit of common sense here.

Liverpool's search for a new midfielder in the summer transfer window has made significant progress since the failure to land Moises Caicedo, following an update from journalist Jacob Steinberg.

How old is Romeo Lavia?

The Reds' midfield has undergone a huge amount of surgery since the end of last season, now looking unrecognisable compared to several months ago.

Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have both left for Saudi Arabia in a couple of surprise exits, while James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also departed after their contracts expired. Meanwhile, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have come in from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively, but it is clear that more signings are needed before the summer window reaches its conclusion.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Lavia has arguably been linked with a move to Liverpool more than any other players this summer, and having missed out on Caicedo to Chelsea, he looks like the next-best option to bring in as the new No.6. It looks as though that could happen now, following an encouraging new update.

Will Liverpool sign Romeo Lavia?

Taking to Twitter, Steinberg claimed that Liverpool have agreed a £60m fee for the signing of Lavia, as the Reds are now on the verge of their third summer signing:

"Liverpool have agreed a £60m deal to sign Romeo Lavia from Southampton. They must still convince the midfielder to choose them over Chelsea. More on @guardian_sport soon.

"Liverpool now the only club with an agreement with Southampton to sign Lavia. Chelsea will have to raise their bid."

This is great to hear from a Liverpool perspective, but it is also clear that Lavia hasn't yet decided who to join out of the Reds and Chelsea. The Caicedo saga is proof that supporters shouldn't get too excited until a move is officially announced, but it would be a surprise if the Southampton star opted for a move to Stamford Bridge, as reports have suggested he has already agreed personal terms at Anfield.

Playing time is surely going to be harder to come by there after the addition of Caicedo, while the west Londoners also don't have European football to offer this season, unlike the Merseysiders.

At 19, it is clear that Liverpool wouldn't be signing the finished article with Lavia, but he is a footballer already playing with a maturity well beyond his years, with his ability to avoid the press labelled "ridiculous" by Saints media members.

It is frustrating that Liverpool didn't simply act quicker and bid a cheaper £50m last week, however, signing him in time for Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea, which could have made all the difference. They appear to have been a little slow in their efforts and will end up spending £10m more than they needed to, if he does choose them over the Blues.

The most important thing is that the Reds acquire new signings as soon as possible, though, and if Lavia can come in very quickly and be available for Saturday's visit of Bournemouth in the league, it will stand Liverpool in good stead moving forward. Another midfielder and a left-sided centre-back also have to come in, in order to complete the ideal summer of spending at Anfield.

Crystal Palace are targeting moves for Everton star Demarai Gray and Chelsea forgotten man Callum Hudson-Odoi and both would bring 'similar package there in terms of creativity' at Selhurst Park, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Demarai Gray and Callum Hudson-Odoi?

Roy Hodgson will need to enter the market for a new winger this summer following the imminent departure of club legend Wilfried Zaha to Turkish giants Galatasaray on a free transfer last week , as per The Guardian.

The Daily Mail report that the Eagles are said to be stepping up their interest in Everton winger Gray, who is open to a new challenge after becoming frustrated with his lack of involvement at Goodison Park.

Clubs in Saudi Arabia are also hot on the tail of the Jamaica international, who could be available for £12 million as Everton look to raise money to help them fight back against Financial Fair Play stringency.

Fulham appear to have entered the race for Gray and are looking to strike a cut-price deal for the £25k-a-week ace, which could total around £7 million, according to The Sun.

In the case of Hudson-Odoi, the 22-year-old is garnering attention from Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Fulham and has fallen completely out of the picture at Stamford Bridge, as detailed by The Evening Standard.

The same outlet have given an update on the future of Hudson-Odoi and confirmed that both Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest have been priced out of securing his signature. Personal terms have been agreed between £180,000 per week earner Hudson-Odoi and Fulham while Serie A giants Lazio linger in the background contemplating a loan offer with an option to buy.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones has signalled that he expects both Gray and Hudson-Odoi to be offered around to a 'similar' level of club this summer.

"I feel like whoever doesn't get Hudson-Odoi is going to be going for Demarai Gray because you're getting a similar package there in terms of creativity, in terms of spark, in terms of what they can do in one-on-one situations.

"And I know that they are both being offered around to similar clubs at the moment, so if Palace didn't get Hudson-Odoi but ended up with Demarai Gray, I think Roy Hodgson will be happy with that. I know he's a player that he's rated in the past as well."

Would Demarai Gray be a good signing for Crystal Palace?

Gray is a technically gifted winger with an eye for goal and would offer some excitement to Crystal Palace fans moving forward following the painful departure of club icon Zaha once his move is finalised.

Last term, the Jamaica international featured 36 times in all competitions for Everton, registering six goals and one assist in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Carrying a keen threat, 27-year-old Gray racked up around 1.8 shots and 1.1 key passes per match in the Premier League over the duration of 2022/23, demonstrating his capacity to trouble opposition defences regularly, as per WhoScored.

Chance provision is another big feature of Gray's game and he also managed to successfully complete 95 shot-creating actions in the English top flight, according to FBRef.

Crystal Palace boss Hodgson will be well acquainted with Gray's qualities and a move for the Birmingham-born attacker to Selhurst Park may suit all parties.

Tottenham Hotspur’s striker search continues despite claiming their first win under Ange Postecoglou, with one recurring name sure to have fans worried…

Who else are Tottenham signing this summer?

With Harry Kane having starred on his Bundesliga debut for Bayern Munich, scoring and assisting, the Lilywhites’ clash with Manchester United drew added pressure as they sought to build on their opening-day draw at Brentford.

It’s fair to say that they more than dispelled the frustrations regarding the sale of the England captain, with an emphatic 2-0 win in front of a rampant home crowd.

However, the clash was marred by the underperformance of RIcharlison, whose anonymity has seemingly spurred them back into the market. His 6.4 Sofascore rating was the lowest of any starter from Postecoglou's side.

As such, Italian outlet Calciomercato even suggested on Friday that they have entered talks to sign Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

It is expected that the west London outfit will command a fee of just €45m (£38m) for his services, which marks a monumental loss that the Blues are set to make, given he was signed for £97.5m back in 2021.

How good is Romelu Lukaku?

Whilst there are numerous reasons to avoid the potential acquisition of the hulking Belgian, there is one comparison that can be made which would turn fans away from this swoop.

Despite being contracted to Chelsea, the 30-year-old has most recently spent a year on loan at Inter Milan, having only recently moved to Stamford Bridge from Italy.

Given that Antonio Conte had impressed at the Nerazzuri before joining Spurs, this link will be a frightening reminder of a torrid era and one of the club’s darkest years in recent history.

With their abysmal football aside, it was the Italian’s tendency to lash out in press conferences that truly led to the end of his stay in north London.

The former statement is supported by pundit Danny Murphy, who lambasted his style back in March: “It’s time now. He has been overpaid and underachieved. He hasn’t delivered. They sneaked into the top four last season because Arsenal threw it away. Tottenham have been in the top four many times, so that’s hardly an overachievement.

“They’ve gone out of the League Cup to Forest, FA Cup to Sheffield United, he’s causing chaos at least two or three times a season with his attitude. The football’s generally turgid, and nobody’s enjoying watching it”.

In fact, the sacking of the 54-year-old only came after one such explosive interview, where he took issue with the club, the players and the hierarchy.

One particularly damning quote from that press conference read: "They don't want to play under pressure, they don't want to play under stress. It is easy in this way. Tottenham's story is this. 20 years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stay here? I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench. You risk to disrupt the figure of the manager and to protect the other situation in every moment.”

Worryingly, Lukaku has also had a penchant for these outbursts in high-profile settings, first pushing an exit from Everton before lambasting Manchester United years after his exit.

Then, most recently, whilst still employed by Chelsea he admitted he would have preferred to have stayed at the San Siro that summer he made his switch.

It is this history of jumping ship that led to journalist Ben Grounds outlining his reputation as a “mercenary”, as a similar troublemaker to how Conte was.

Even with his off-field antics aside, it could be argued that his best days are way behind him now anyway, with little reason for his purchase.

He only scored ten Serie A goals last season, having been forced out on loan after notching just eight Premier League goals upon his return to west London.

Given how vocal Postecoglou has remained with his admiration for Richarlison, despite his failures in front of goal, there is even less reason to make such a lucrative risk:

“He works hard for the team and a lot of what he does, does not get seen. His pressing, his runs. Sometimes he does not get the ball but he is always making those runs and he is a constant nuisance for defenders. I have said before that I really like Richy”.

With a preference for a hard worker, alongside Lukaku’s similarities with the villainous Conte, there is seemingly little reason to bring in the underwhelming forward.

Everton will be "absolutely delighted" with some exciting off-field news that has emerged, according to football finance expert and Sky Sports pundit Kieran Maguire.

Everton stadium updates

It's fair to say that it has been a taxing period at Goodison Park in recent years, with not much success to enjoy on or off the pitch and a number of Premier League relegation battles coming their way.

The Blues have got through various managers who have tried and failed to turn the tide, while off-field issues surrounding owner Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright have also led to plenty of unrest, and even protests outside the ground.

The hope is that things at Everton are gradually changing for the better, however, with Sean Dyche starting to pick up more positive results and a huge change arriving at the end of the season.

A move to Bramley Moore Dock is planned at that point, as the Blues move into a shiny new home on the River Mersey, heralding the start of an exciting new era at the club. It should generate more funds for signings and potentially attract better players, assuming Dyche's men remain in the top flight beyond the current campaign.

Bramley Moore Dock hosts Euro 2028 matches

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire claimed that the Blues could be boosted hugely when Everton's new stadium is used as one of the ten grounds at Euro 2028, as was confirmed last week:

"I think Everton are looking to make a big statement with their new stadium. Being part of the Euro 2028 stadium shortlist will help to deliver that statement – and what a statement. We’ve seen the same in Manchester in the sense that the Etihad is going to be used instead of Old Trafford despite it having a smaller capacity.

"So I think Everton will be absolutely delighted and it will give them an opportunity to showcase the new stadium. On the back of that, they will earn other contracts for concerts and alternative uses for the Bramley Moore Dock stadium."

This is such a big coup for Everton, and perfectly outlines the importance of their stadium move, in terms of the club's growth moving forward, rather than simply staying at Goodison and being left behind.

Wembley

England

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tottenham

Etihad Stadium

Man City

Villa Park

Aston Villa

St James' Park

Newcastle

Bramley Moore Dock

Everton

Hampden Park

Scotland

Principality Stadium

Wales

Aviva Stadium

Republic of Ireland

Casement Park

Northern Ireland

The fact that the new ground has even been picked ahead of Anfield speaks volumes, and is no doubt something that will aid local bragging rights with Liverpool supporters. As Maguire alludes to, the Blues could also become a venue for various other forms of entertainment, as the likes of Wembley Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium currently are, hosting music concernts, NFL matches and boxing events

This is all in the future for now, though, and it is essential that Everton's Premier League status is preserved this season, with relegation to the Championship having the potential to hold them back horribly.

The current signs are arguably promising, even though there have clearly been poor results so far in 2023/24, and fans should feel buoyed by one of football's biggest tournaments being featured in their new home in five years' time.

Rangers were beaten 1-0 at home to Celtic on Sunday afternoon and it has led to an interesting claim emerging over the future of manager Michael Beale, courtesy of journalist Jonny McFarlane.

What went wrong for Rangers against Celtic?

The Gers faced a huge Scottish Premiership clash at Ibrox on Sunday, as they hosted their bitter rivals, going into the match one point behind them after three matches. A win would be a much-needed boost for Beale, following their demoralising 5-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last Wednesday, but it was clear that a loss would also be a damaging early blow in the SPL title race.

Rangers felt aggrieved when Kemar Roofe's goal was eventually disallowed by VAR in the first half, due to a foul in the lead-up to him finding the net, and from that point on, things only got worse. Kyogo Furuhashi fired home impressively just before half-time to give Celtic the lead, silencing the home fans, and despite pushing hard for an equaliser, Beale's men couldn't find one in the end.

It means that the Gers are now four points adrift of their adversaries, and while it is still clearly early days in the new season, it is already a deficit that is not going to be easy to claw back.

The result has further heaped the pressure on Beale, who appears to be on thin ice currently, not least because of the grim way his side exited the Champions League last week.

Is Michael Beale's job under threat?

Taking to Twitter after the defeat to Celtic, McFarlane was critical of the job Beale is doing, claiming he now has "major problems" as he looks to keep his job:

"Michael Beale has major problems. Hard to see the identity. A performance littered with mistakes. Toothless in the top end of the pitch and prone to errors at the back isn’t a great combination."

There is no question that Beale now has to be under huge pressure to stay in the Ibrox hot seat, following a terrible few days for him, both in Europe and domestically.

For too much of the game against Celtic, there was a lack of quality and genuine guile on show, with good chances few and far between, having only three shots on target. Granted, the Hoops' defence was opened up on occasions, but it always felt as though the visitors had more cutting edge in the final third, and they could easily have scored a second goal as the minutes ticked by after the break.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

With the international break now arriving, those high up at Rangers now have a key period in which to make a big decision over Beale's future, with some supporters certainly keen on the idea of him being relieved of his duties, despite only taking charge last November.

There isn't enough patience in the modern game, so sacking Beale could still feel knee-jerk, despite the losses to PSV and Celtic, but if he is retained, performances and results have to improve drastically as soon as Rangers return to action, starting away to St Johnstone on September 16th.

Tottenham Hotspur could make a bid to sign Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie "next week" if they sell Harry Kane, and it is believed he "would welcome" a move to England.

Who will Spurs sign?

Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou has been backed with three major signings so far this summer, not including Tottenham's permanent deals for defender Pedro Porro and forward Dejan Kulusevski.

The north Londoners have reinforced their goalkeeping department with the signing of Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli for around £17.2 million, and he was followed closely by England international star James Maddison.

Winger Manor Solomon, after an impressive spell on loan at Fulham last campaign, then joined on a free transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk – with the trio of new additions making their Spurs debuts in pre-season.

Attention now turns to star centre-backs, and it is believed they're eyeing two senior defensive signings for that area of the pitch, which doesn't include their potential deal for Blackburn Rovers starlet Ashley Phillips.

"That's definitely our intention, absolutely," said Postecoglou when asked about signing new defenders.

"We've been working on it for a while and we'll definitely try to get it done as quickly as possible.

"I don't think it's any secret about some of the areas we needed to strengthen. Some of it I identified early on. The goalkeeper was one and central defence is another.

"In terms of the other boys, we've got a big squad but my view is I wanted to bring them along and just work with them, get some clarity in my head and give clarity to them."

Elsewhere, as Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg edges closer to Atletico Madrid, Spurs may well look for a replacement if he does go. Star striker Kane's future is also shrouded with uncertainty, coming as Bayern Munich make a serious push for him.

Now, according to Spanish news outlet Sport, one midfield ace attracting Postecoglou's serious interest is Kessie of Barca.

Tottenham have apparently "warned" the La Liga champions that they could make an offer him just "next week" – if they receive funds from Kane's potential sale.

Kessie, who is a real candidate for the chopping block as Barca look to get rid of one player per position, is apparently considered an interesting player at Spurs.

The £199,000-per-week ace, for his part, "would welcome" a move to the Premier League as Tottenham eye a move.

How good is Franck Kessie?

His best season at the top level arguably came at AC Milan during the 2020/2021 season, where he racked up a brilliant 13 goals and four assists in 27 Serie A appearances (WhoScored).

These numbers indicate that Kessie is a serious threat from midfield when at his very best, with former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson once claiming he could be a good fit.

"Kessie would fit the bill," said Robinson to Football Insider.

"He is strong, quick and effective at both ends of the pitch. He ticks a lot of boxes.

“There is no doubting that he is an amazing player. The question is, would he come in and command a starting spot? Hojbjerg and Bentancur have done extremely well. [Yves] Bissouma has struggled to get a look in at times."

Celtic are “progressing” in talks to sign IF Elfsborg defender Gustaf Lagerbielke, and a reliable journalist has revealed where the player stands on a move to the Scottish Premiership.

Who is Gustaf Lagerbielke?

Lagerbielke is naturally a centre-back who has played his football at the Boras Arena since 2021 having joined from Vasteras SK, but having made just 26 appearances during his two years at the club as a result of being sent out on loan to Degerfors, it’s a strong possibility that he could be on the move before the end of the ongoing window.

Swedish outlet Expressen previously reported that the Hoops and Brendan Rodgers were chasing a deal for the 23-year-old and had submitted a bid worth SEK 40m, equivalent to approximately £2.9m, which would be a record fee for Jimmy Thelin’s side to receive.

The Allsvenskan outfit’s director Stefan Andreasson later confirmed that they had received an approach for their defender, but insisted that there were currently no ongoing discussions. He said:

“We've had a dialogue in this case. There's an interest, yes. But we're not in negotiation. The club must move from interest to acting concretely. We're not there right now.”

Are Celtic signing Gustaf Lagerbielke?

Taking to Twitter X, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph delivered an update on Celtic’s pursuit of Lagerbielke, who is believed to be excited by the prospect of putting pen to paper at Parkhead. He wrote:

“Talks between Celtic and Elfsborg for Gustaf Lagerbielke are understood to be progressing well. There’s a willingness from all sides to get a deal done, as the centre-back is keen to move to the Scottish champions this summer.”

How good is Gustaf Lagerbielke?

Celtic are clearly serious about signing Lagerbielke having developed their interest to the final stages of a deal and it’s no surprise considering what he could bring to the side should he sign on the dotted line, so despite having the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki available, his potentially imminent arrival could be a huge boost for Rodgers.

Elfsborg’s 6 foot 3 colossus is not only a rock at the heart of his side’s backline with his huge physical presence, but he’s also a threat when it comes to set pieces at the opposite end of the pitch having scored 12 goals in 110 appearances since the start of his career, as per Transfermarkt.

The Stockholm native additionally has the ability to operate out wide at both left-back and right-back alongside his usual role at centre-back, so he would provide the boss with wonderful versatility and be able to easily adapt should he ever want to tinker with his formation, team selection or just need to adjust for injuries.

Whilst Lagerbielke still has another two years to run on his contract, the Glasgow outfit don’t seem to be phased by the transfer fee that’s being demanded, and having been dubbed a player with “impressive” passing ability by journalist Ryan McGinlay, he would only excel further under the guidance of the Northern Irishman.

Liverpool have confirmed that a youth player was racially abused in an Under-16 game against Juventus, leading the team to walk off the pitch.

Why did the Liverpool U16 team walk off the pitch?

Playing in the Next Generation Trophy last Friday – a tournament held in Austria – the Reds were up against their Italian counterparts when the incident took place.

As per The Athletic, the Liverpool teenager involved went to the touchline to report the abuse to the coaching staff, who informed the players to follow protocol and leave the field.

The Juventus youngster involved was then suspended by his club for the rest of the tournament while staff offered the English side a full apology.

A Liverpool spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a member of our under-16s team was racially abused by an opponent while playing in the Next Generation youth tournament in Austria.

“The individual responsible was identified immediately and removed from the competition as a result of the swift intervention of our own players and staff, tournament organisers and opposition management, who have also taken additional disciplinary measures inclusive of education.

“We would like to place on record our appreciation for the prompt actions taken by all involved. This applies most of all to the player subjected to the attack, who showed remarkable maturity in following established protocols, including leaving the pitch, in order to report the matter as soon as it occurred. He is receiving the full support of the club.

“We would also reiterate that our condemnation of all forms of racist abuse remains unequivocal and absolute.”

What has been the reaction to the racist incident in the Liverpool U16 game vs Juventus?

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, before the statement had been officially given by Liverpool's spokesperson, former player Djibril Cisse took to social media to express his dismay and anger about what had happened.

The ex-French footballer has a son, Prince, who currently plays in the Reds' academy and was involved in the game.

Writing to his two million Instagram followers, Cisse said (via TalkSport): “Now it’s too much.

“During the game @LiverpoolFC vs @Juventus under 16s (my son Prince Cisse was playing) a kid from Juventus called a @LiverpoolFC a n****.

“The @LiverpoolFC staff had to stop the game. @Juventus what are you gonna do now? It’s a f****** shame. 15 years old kid @Juventus, you better act strongly now and shame.”

As per The Athletic, direct action has already been taken. Indeed, they report that staff members from Juventus’ academy and tournament organisers Red Bull Salzburg have since contacted Liverpool academy director Alex Inglethorpe to express their regret about the incident and check on the youngster’s well-being.

While it's also mentioned that the Juventus youth player is now undergoing a course to educate him that racism and all forms of discrimination are unacceptable. It is understood that senior Liverpool figures are happy with how Juventus have handled the matter.

All in all, it's a shameful incident and thoroughly disappointing to learn of such attitudes and behaviour existing within the academy of Europe's biggest football clubs.

In response to the incident, however, in a show of solidarity ahead of their following game at the Next Generation Trophy, Liverpool and their Argentinian opposition Independiente took the knee before kick-off.