Liverpool latest: FSG ‘scrap’ plans and Trent Alexander

Liverpool’s owners have performed a dramatic U-turn while there’s more bad news for former Red Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool will take on Brighton on Saturday afternoon with the atmosphere around the club completely transformed. Arne Slot’s team demolished Galatasaray 4-0 on Wednesday evening in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie to progress to the quarter-finals.

A commanding performance at Anfield appears to have relegated recent difficulties to the back of supporters’ minds. Nevertheless, the Reds understand they cannot afford any mistakes against the Seagulls with qualification for next season’s Champions League in the balance.

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Today’s Liverpool news sees club custodians Fenway Sports Group (FSG) wrestling with a significant U-turn, whilst former Reds star Trent Alexander-Arnold has suffered a serious setback. The ECHO examines the details more closely.

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FSG U-turn

Liverpool owners FSG have reportedly scrapped plans to establish a multi-club model despite negotiations having occurred. FSG announced intentions to acquire a second football club in 2024.

The return of Liverpool’s former sporting director, Michael Edwards, who departed in 2022 and re-joined in 2024, as chief executive of football, was also believed to be driven by FSG’s ambition to secure another club.

Preliminary discussions took place, with as many as 25 clubs being proposed. French outfit Bordeaux were amongst the options, whilst Spanish pair Malaga and Getafe along with Monaco were also contemplated.

According to The Athletic, the plans have been abandoned, with no clear sign they will be resurrected in the near future. President Mike Gordon had informed staff in 2024 that the initiative had been set in motion.

In an email to employees, he said: “To remain competitive, we must identify every avenue available to us to gain an edge.” FSG have been Liverpool’s owners since 2010 and have presided over arguably the club’s most triumphant era in modern times.

The Reds have claimed two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the League Cup and more since 2019. Whilst proposals regarding multi-club ownership are not advancing, FSG possesses several other sporting franchises in their collection, including MLB outfit Boston Red Sox.

Trent Alexander-Arnold setback

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been left out of Thomas Tuchel’s final England squad ahead of this summer’s World Cup. Despite an improvement in performances at Real Madrid in recent weeks, the former Liverpool player did not feature in the Germans’ extended 35-man selection for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

The defender has not represented England since a 1-0 victory over Andorra in June, but speaking following Real’s Champions League triumph on Tuesday, he disclosed he hadn’t abandoned hope of featuring at this summer’s World Cup.

“I’ve not spoke to him [Tuchel], but I know the squad gets announced this week, so hopefully I get the call and I can play for my country, which is always the greatest honour,” he told Amazon Prime.

The right-back concluded his Liverpool career last year, having been with the Anfield club since he was just six. He left the Reds with two Premier League titles in five years, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the FA Cup, two League Cups and the UEFA Super Cup under his belt.

However, his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu didn’t get off to a smooth start, as numerous injuries limited his time on the pitch. The sacking of Xabi Alonso as manager added to the turmoil, but he has appeared in his team’s last nine matches across all competitions.