MX23RW : Thursday, December 17 13:56:27| >> :60:2214:2214:

Schalke defender Malick Thiaw responds to Liverpool speculation

Malick Thiaw responds to Liverpool speculation
© Reuters
Liverpool-linked defender Malick Thiaw admits he is flattered by links to the Premier League champions but insists he made the right decision staying at Schalke.

Schalke 04 defender Malick Thiaw has admitted that he is flattered by links to Liverpool but is fully focused on performing in Germany.

Jurgen Klopp is facing a defensive crisis at Anfield with first-choice centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez facing lengthy spells on the sidelines, while Joel Matip has been in the wars as well.

The Reds have since been linked with a number of top centre-backs - namely Kalidou Koulibaly and Dayot Upamecano - to solve their problem, while Thiaw is also believed to be on the radar of the Premier League champions.

However, the 19-year-old affirmed that he is committed to Schalke after signing an extension with the Bundesliga side back in July, telling Schalke TV: "Of course you're happy when big clubs are after you, but it was actually clear to me that I would stay at Schalke."

The centre-back - who is eligible to represent Germany, Senegal or Finland at international level - already has one Bundesliga goal to his name this season and is contracted to Schalke until 2024.

As well as losing Van Dijk and Gomez to potentially season-ending injuries, Liverpool have also seen Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara suffer problems of their own, while Mohamed Salah recently tested positive for coronavirus.

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pictured on November 8, 2020
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1384129191028
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs1374225121325
3Southampton137332518724
4Leicester CityLeicester138052417724
5Everton137242318523
6Chelsea1364326141222
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham136342116521
8Manchester CityMan City125521812620
9Manchester UnitedMan Utd116231917220
10Wolverhampton WanderersWolves136251317-420
11Aston Villa106042113818
12Crystal Palace135351918118
13Leeds UnitedLeeds135262224-217
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125251621-517
15Arsenal134271116-514
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton132561521-611
17Fulham132381222-109
18Burnley11236618-129
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom131481026-167
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd120111521-161

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