Post by sharky on Apr 26, 2016 16:08:44 GMT
From the Daily Post. Good question, what's happened to Steven Caulker? He'll be back at QPR next year probably without a likelihood of a Premiership buyer. We may be forced to keep him
Has anyone seen Steven Caulker? The mystery of Liverpool FC's January loan signing
16:00, 26 APR 2016
BY NEIL JONES
The Reds defender hasn't had many minutes since joining in the last transfer window and hasn't been seen much lately
The January window brings out some unusual signings and Liverpool's loan of Steven Caulker must rank up there with the best.
However just as suddenly as he arrived, the defender appears to have disappeared off the map.
Here the Liverpool Echo goes on the trail of the Reds' forgotten man.
It was a signing which came as a surprise to most, not least the player himself.
âWhen my agent first called, I thought it was a wind-up!â revealed Steven Caulker after moving to Liverpool on loan in January. Judging by the reaction across social media, many Reds fans felt similar.
Caulker was the only arrival at Anfield during the winter transfer window, penning a season-long loan from QPR having spent the first part of the campaign at Southampton.
âWe are absolutely convinced that Steven is the right solution for us,â said Klopp at the time. Remember, Liverpool were without Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez at that point, with Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure also nursing knocks. It was understandable that the club would look for a short-term measure.
The situation is better now than it was then. News of Sakhoâs potential anti-doping violation comes at an inopportune moment, but at least Klopp has recognised options in the Frenchmanâs absence.
Indeed, he ran through them after Saturdayâs draw with Newcastle.
âWe have Martin, Dejan, Kolo, Lucas, Tiago Ilori, we have a few players who can play centre half,â he pointed out.
No mention of Caulker.
The former Spurs man is registered to play in the Europa League for Liverpool â Ilori, who was recalled from a loan spell at Aston Villa in January, is not â but as the Reds prepare to travel to Villarreal this week, he looks unlikely to feature.
No sign of Londoner in training galleries
Indeed, he hasnât been seen in a matchday squad since the Round of 32 first leg tie in Augsburg on February 18 â and he was an unused substitute that night.
No great surprise there, perhaps. After all, Sakho and Lovren are a burgeoning partnership, while Skrtel, Toure and Lucas have all been available if needed.
Eagle-eyed viewers of the Liverpool training picture galleries, though, have noted Caulkerâs absence from the usual Melwood pics of late.
He was in Tenerife with Kloppâs shadow squad during the last international break, but has been conspicuous by his absence since. When Liverpool's U21s took on Norwich City at Kirkby on Monday afternoon, he was nowhere to be seen.
An injury, perhaps? Klopp, in fairness, is rarely asked about the fitness of his sixth-choice centre back â though a recent Instagram post boasting of Caulkerâs prodigious weightlifting power suggests not. The alternative, of course, is that he has simply fallen out of favour.
He has managed one start for the club, keeping a clean sheet at Anfield against West Ham in the FA Cup, but his three other appearances total just four minutes. And saw him used as an emergency centre forward.
In fairness, Kloppâs unusual gamble paid off against both Arsenal and Norwich, as Caulkerâs presence caused sufficient mayhem in the penalty area to allow the Reds to net dramatic late goals.
âI think on Saturday morning I would have had shorter odds to win the lotto than to be making my Liverpool debut UPFRONT 4 days later,â the defender posted on Instagram after the Arsenal game. âWhat an honour!â
Now, his team prepares for their biggest game of the season.
Will Caulker be on the flight to Spain this week? At the moment, your guess is as good as ours...
Has anyone seen Steven Caulker? The mystery of Liverpool FC's January loan signing
16:00, 26 APR 2016
BY NEIL JONES
The Reds defender hasn't had many minutes since joining in the last transfer window and hasn't been seen much lately
The January window brings out some unusual signings and Liverpool's loan of Steven Caulker must rank up there with the best.
However just as suddenly as he arrived, the defender appears to have disappeared off the map.
Here the Liverpool Echo goes on the trail of the Reds' forgotten man.
It was a signing which came as a surprise to most, not least the player himself.
âWhen my agent first called, I thought it was a wind-up!â revealed Steven Caulker after moving to Liverpool on loan in January. Judging by the reaction across social media, many Reds fans felt similar.
Caulker was the only arrival at Anfield during the winter transfer window, penning a season-long loan from QPR having spent the first part of the campaign at Southampton.
âWe are absolutely convinced that Steven is the right solution for us,â said Klopp at the time. Remember, Liverpool were without Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez at that point, with Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure also nursing knocks. It was understandable that the club would look for a short-term measure.
The situation is better now than it was then. News of Sakhoâs potential anti-doping violation comes at an inopportune moment, but at least Klopp has recognised options in the Frenchmanâs absence.
Indeed, he ran through them after Saturdayâs draw with Newcastle.
âWe have Martin, Dejan, Kolo, Lucas, Tiago Ilori, we have a few players who can play centre half,â he pointed out.
No mention of Caulker.
The former Spurs man is registered to play in the Europa League for Liverpool â Ilori, who was recalled from a loan spell at Aston Villa in January, is not â but as the Reds prepare to travel to Villarreal this week, he looks unlikely to feature.
No sign of Londoner in training galleries
Indeed, he hasnât been seen in a matchday squad since the Round of 32 first leg tie in Augsburg on February 18 â and he was an unused substitute that night.
No great surprise there, perhaps. After all, Sakho and Lovren are a burgeoning partnership, while Skrtel, Toure and Lucas have all been available if needed.
Eagle-eyed viewers of the Liverpool training picture galleries, though, have noted Caulkerâs absence from the usual Melwood pics of late.
He was in Tenerife with Kloppâs shadow squad during the last international break, but has been conspicuous by his absence since. When Liverpool's U21s took on Norwich City at Kirkby on Monday afternoon, he was nowhere to be seen.
An injury, perhaps? Klopp, in fairness, is rarely asked about the fitness of his sixth-choice centre back â though a recent Instagram post boasting of Caulkerâs prodigious weightlifting power suggests not. The alternative, of course, is that he has simply fallen out of favour.
He has managed one start for the club, keeping a clean sheet at Anfield against West Ham in the FA Cup, but his three other appearances total just four minutes. And saw him used as an emergency centre forward.
In fairness, Kloppâs unusual gamble paid off against both Arsenal and Norwich, as Caulkerâs presence caused sufficient mayhem in the penalty area to allow the Reds to net dramatic late goals.
âI think on Saturday morning I would have had shorter odds to win the lotto than to be making my Liverpool debut UPFRONT 4 days later,â the defender posted on Instagram after the Arsenal game. âWhat an honour!â
Now, his team prepares for their biggest game of the season.
Will Caulker be on the flight to Spain this week? At the moment, your guess is as good as ours...