Category: Liverpool

Former Everton and Man United striker Louis Saha belives Liverpool target Bradley Barcola has what it takes to make it to the very top.The winger is said to be valued at around £130m by PSG. Saha told Live Football Tickets: “Bradley Barcola is a terrific player. He has already won two Champions Leagues, and he could even win the World Cup over the next few weeks, his achievements for such a young player are staggering.”He has become a much improved player over the past few seasons, he gets better and better every year, and he can go right to the very top of football.“What Barcola needs is to move somewhere where he is going to be first choice in his position week in, week out. His confidence will improve ten-fold once that happens, and then he will be a way more dangerous player.“He has enormous potential, and I’m not surprised Liverpool are looking at him. They need a replacement for Mohamed Salah, and Cody Gakpo has looked uncomfortable at times for them out wide. Barcola could easily fill either of those positions.”He is so direct, creative, and he has the ability to go in behind, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a bidding war for him go on all summer between top sides if he wants to leave PSG and cement his place in a top Premier League side.”Bradley Barcola looks on during the World Cup game between Paraguay and France.(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Hospitality bosses in Liverpool have described scrapping free evening parking as the “straw that broke the camel’s back” for the industry. Liverpool City Council is facing a legal challenge over its decision last year to reduce free parking from between 18:00 and 08:00 to between 23:00 and 07:00, while also increasing fees.Business owners told the BBC that since the change came in they have struggled to recruit lower paid staff and that lone female workers have been left feeling vulnerable leaving their shifts in the early hours. The council said it was satisfied it had acted “lawfully and properly”. The upcoming legal challenge clams the charges must be imposed for “legitimate traffic management purposes”, such as managing traffic flow, rather than primarily to generate money for the council.It will also argue that the council failed to properly to consider the impact on women in the night-time economy. Peter Schriewersmann, from the Liverpool Hospitality Association, said: “The guests that come into the city now have to pay an additional £6 to £8 on top of their meal. “It discourages from coming, it’s the straw that broke the camel’s back for us to be frank.”

A series of upgrades are planned for both the north and south ends of the cityVauxhall Road (Liverpool Council)More than £15m is to be spent introducing new cycle lanes at two key routes in Liverpool with work potentially starting this Autumn. Liverpool Council’s cabinet will be asked to sign off on plans to install a fully segregated cycle lane and other improvements worth £12m across a mile-long stretch between Vauxhall Road and Commercial Road.An additional active travel scheme could also be adopted around Sefton Park from Princes Avenue Junction, through Princes Park and connecting to the historic park. A contract worth £3.5m is recommended to be given the go-ahead when members meet next Tuesday.Cllr Dan Barrington, Liverpool Council cabinet member for transport and connectivity, said the works around the northern end towards the city centre would “create accessible, high‑quality routes for everyone who travels through this part of the city.” The carriageway will also be resurfaced throughout the scheme, making journeys smoother for all road users.If approved, work would get underway by November with a completion date of 2028 earmarked by officials. The plans include a fully segregated cycle lane, upgraded footpaths and new pedestrian crossings at busy junctions, including Leeds Street, Burlington Street, Boundary Street and Sandhills Lane.Around Sefton Park, the proposed active travel scheme is approximately 800m in length and runs from Princes Avenue Junction, through Princes Park and connects to Sefton Park.People walking in the sunshine in Sefton Park(Image: Liverpool Echo)The £3.6m scheme is part of a wider plan over a 4km long corridor to provide high speed commuter cycling and walking routes between Sefton Park and Liverpool city centre.A fully segregated cycle route will be introduced through Princes Park. Footway upgrades, improved pedestrian crossings and upgrade junctions will also be completed at Princes Avenue/Croxteth Road/Kingsley Road roundabout, Ullet Road/Windermere Terrace/Sefton Park Road/Aigburth Drive, and Aigburth Drive/Croxteth Drive.It is hoped the work along Vauxhall Road will also help to improve safety, having been designed to reduce the number of collisions along the route. Initial proposals were shared with residents in September 2024.Commercial Road, VauxhallThe project forms part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which is developing a network of high‑quality active travel routes across the region. Funding will come in part from Active Travel England.Cllr Barrington said: “These works will create accessible, high‑quality routes for everyone who travels through this part of the city.“By giving people safe, dedicated space for walking, wheeling and cycling, we’re making it easier for residents to choose active travel when it suits them.“And for those who continue to travel by car, better‑designed junctions, clearer crossings and fully segregated cycle lanes mean safer, more predictable journeys for all road users.” A date has not been confirmed for works to begin around Sefton Park.

It’s been 10 months since there has been anything from the marketCrowds at the new market in Liverpool’s Chinatown today(Image: Liverpool Echo)The future of Liverpool’s Chinatown market remains unclear. In a city first, the area trialled the new initiative back on Sunday, September 28, 2025, starting at the iconic arch, the largest outside of China, and stretching along Nelson Street.On the day, around 40 stalls offered a mix of street food, handmade crafts, curated goods while community activities took over the area. Visitors enjoyed a lively atmosphere with something for everyone, including family-friendly entertainment and local makers. There was even a state-of-the-art pop-up ‘Roboshop’ that showcased cutting-edge Chinese technology, thanks to PIX Moving Co, Ltd – a global business with a proven track record.The market, organised by Liverpool City Council, was part of a wider initiative to support and reinvigorate Liverpool Chinatown and enhance the area’s visitor economy and cultural heritage offer.It was initially said if successful, it could become a regular fixture in the area. However, 10 months on, there has been no update.Bernice from Joyce the Florist at the market(Image: Liverpool Echo)The ECHO received several messages about its comeback and, each time, we reached out to the council for some form of confirmation.However, since February, ahead of the city’s Chinese New Year celebrations, the council has repeatedly said it hasn’t been in a position to provide any form of update.The most the council was willing to say was “we have nothing to share at the moment, but when we do, we will be in touch”.The event spotlighted Chinatown’s existing businesses and restaurants, encouraging visitors to explore the area and perhaps discover some local gems for the first time.Bowls and chopsticks on sale at the market in Liverpool’s Chinatown(Image: Liverpool Echo)At the time, Ming Wang, Secretary General, Liverpool Chinese Business Association, said: “Liverpool’s Chinatown has always been a place where heritage, enterprise, and community spirit converge.”We are proud to welcome and support the first Chinatown Market, organised by the council. This event showcases the vibrancy of our local businesses, cultural traditions, and collaborative spirit.”We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the city to experience the energy and diversity that make Chinatown so special.”

Aaron Mills started feeling unwell last December(L-R) Aaron Mills, his mum Deniz, his dad Anthony and his sister Casey(Image: Supplied)A teenager who told his mum he had a headache tragically died five days later. Aaron Mills, 18, was a “shining light” who “always made people welcome” according to his dad Anthony.As a massive Liverpool FC fan like his dad, Aaron was delighted when he moved to Liverpool in September of last year. He had started a football science degree at Liverpool John Moores University and dreamed of becoming part of the coaching staff at his beloved club. He was also a talented player, coach and referee.The first semester went well for the student, who lived at Byrom Point student halls in Liverpool city centre, however when he returned home to Kidderminster in December to see his family, Aaron fell ill.The teenager started to feel unwell shortly after surprising his dad by turning up at his 50th birthday party back home, however the symptoms didn’t seem alarming at first.Dad Anthony said: “We partied, we sang together, danced together, it was brilliant. Then on December 29, he was feeling a bit groggy, that’s all.“He spent some time in bed and then he came down at night and watched a film with us. Then the following morning, he went down to his mum at 6am and said he had a headache.“He had some paracetamol and went back to bed. And then half an hour after that, he woke me up because he was moaning. I went into his room and he was having a seizure.”Aaron in the dressing room at Anfield(Image: Supplied)Aaron was rushed to hospital on December 30, where it was discovered that he had meningitis, specifically a strain of Meningococcal group B (MenB) bacteria. Aaron’s condition quickly deteriorated and he died on January 3.According to the UK Health Security Agency, MenB bacteria can cause serious, life-threatening illnesses including meningitis. Being around lots of new people in shared living spaces like university halls increases the risk of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease spreading.Anthony added: “I knew what it was, so I didn’t hesitate. We rang the ambulance. Him having the seizure, that was within half an hour of speaking to his mum.“There were no warning signs that something was serious. We didn’t stand a chance. It went from a headache to a seizure, and he never recovered from that seizure.”Describing what his son was like, Anthony told the ECHO: ”He had this soft, gentle way about him and he made everybody feel warm and welcome. He was just a kind and generous person.“He was my best friend. My dancing buddy, my singing buddy, my football buddy. Liverpool Football Club, he was just crazy about it. It was his religion.“He was off to Liverpool, the city he loved, and he was doing football science, hoping to become part of the coaching staff. His ultimate dream was to be working at Liverpool Football Club.“We dropped him off at university, it was a special time for us. I was just so proud because he was going to live his life and have adventures.“After being in university, he really came out of himself and you could see the kind of man that he was going to become. I just really enjoyed his company.”Aaron showing his LFC tattoo(Image: Supplied)Aaron’s death was devastating, however the family said they have tried to look at ways his legacy could continue. They allowed his organs to be donated and around 300 people attended his funeral, all wearing a Liverpool top in memory of him.The teenager also had a season ticket at Kidderminster Harriers, his local team. The team paid tribute when he died with a standing applause in the 18th minute and presented Aaron’s friends with a signed shirt with “AARON 18” on the back.His parents then turned to the question of why Aaron was not vaccinated. A vaccine for Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) is always offered in school, which Aaron did have. However, he did not have one for MenB and this vaccine is not routinely offered to young people.After the outbreak in meningitis in Kent earlier this year, Anthony started emailing MPs about this discrepancy and secured a meeting with Sharon Hodgson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Health and Social Care.The government then agreed to offer the MenB vaccine this summer for Year 13 students and under 25s who will be starting university as undergraduates or moving into residential further education settings for the first time in autumn.Friends and family are now in the process of organising a 100 mile charity run, over five days in September, from Aggborough Stadium in Kidderminster on Wednesday, September 16 at 9am to Anfield on Sunday, September 20.A close family friend, Shaun McEntee, has chosen to take on the entire challenge. Many of Aaron’s friends and family will be running and/or cycling parts of the route with Shaun.Some will join for the last leg to Anfield. Stopping at Byrom Point, staff and students from LJMU will join the run through the city centre and on to Anfield, where more friends and family will be waiting at the Shankly Gates.Anthony said: “Shaun is the son-in-law to Aaron’s godfather. He was up there in hospital to support us. It affected Shaun because he knows what Aaron was.“He’s got two young kids and he told me that he wants his kids to be just like Aaron. He approached me with this challenge. There isn’t a more fitting challenge. He had a season ticket at Kidderminster Harriers, he used to go there with his mates.“And of course, Liverpool was his religion. He was living in Liverpool for the last part of his life and that’s where all his hopes and dreams were. So it is a poignant journey, doing it from Aggborough to Anfield.”Anthony is hoping to get official support for the challenge from LJMU and Anfield.He said: “The local mayor (in Kidderminster) is going to be there, our MP’s going to be there. There’s going to be a big send-off for him from this end. We’re just trying to put the feelers out to Liverpool Football Club to try and give him a big welcome.”You can donate to a fund in memory of Aaron here.

Liverpool’s pursuit of a winger to replace Mohamed Salah this summer may hinge heavily on Paris Saint-Germain’s transfer activity.Initially, the Reds looked poised to swoop for RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, who impressed for the Ivory Coast at World Cup 2026. But with his price tag set at over £100m and the Reds wanting to pay nearer £86m, reports suggest Paris will be his next destination.Bradley Barcola, who is currently employed by PSG, has also been linked with a move to Anfield and there has now been a significant update regarding both of these stars.Lee Kang-in, a PSG winger who was competing for minutes with Barcola and whose sale could get the ball rolling regarding Diomande, is set to join Atletico Madrid.That’s according to RMC Sport, which claims an agreement has been reached on a £34m deal. This may spark a series of transfers into life where Diomande and Barcola are concerned as Liverpool watch on…

Liverpool are one of several clubs thought to be keeping tabs on Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub BouaddiAyyoub Bouaddi battles for the ball in Morocco’s World Cup win over Scotland(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)Lille president Olivier Letang has slapped a £100m price tag on in-demand midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, likening the Morocco international to Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali.Liverpool are one of several clubs who have been linked with the teenage sensation and Letang conceded the interest in Bouaddi is fierce this summer.The 18-year-old has shone in midfield for Morocco, who will play for a place in the semi-final of the World Cup when they meet favourites France in Boston on Thursday evening (9pm kick-off, UK time).Letang insists no valuation has been placed on a young player who has caught the attention during the tournament in North America.However, the Lille chief suggested the £116m deal that took Anderson from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur’s club-record transfer of Newcastle United star Tonali, which could be worth £100m, are useful barometers to judge Bouaddi’s potential asking price.“How to answer that question? Have I spoken, brought up the subject or given a figure? No, never. You have to look at his level,” Letang told Eurosport when asked about Bouaddi’s future.“How much have players like Anderson or Tonali been sold for, who are much older (23 and 26 respectively), but without room for improvement, so you have an idea of the value of Ayyoub, who has a unique profile at only 18 years old.“Many clubs are interested in him, but very few can afford him right now. He’s already one of the best midfielders in the world and still has significant room for improvement.“He’s only 18 and has his whole future ahead of him.”Liverpool have so far spent £94.5m on adding centre-back Jeremy Jacquet and winger Victor Munoz to their squad this summer transfer window.New head coach Andoni Iraola’s first game in charge takes place on Saturday, July 25 when the Reds face Premier League rivals Sunderland in Nashville in the first friendly of their US tour.

Plans have been requested to transform the buildingThe Thomas Frost Wetherspoons pub, formerly Frost’s department store, Walton Road(Image: GOOGLE STREETVIEW)A planning application, logged with Liverpool City Council, has requested an exciting new development on the portion of land adjacent to the Thomas Frost pub. The Walton Road premises is a historic piece of the area that was once a thriving department store named after its owner.Named after draper and local entrepreneur Thomas Frost, the family-run business acquired the building and transformed it into the T.W. Frost & Co. department store in 1910. In May 1978, the ECHO reported that the store would close at the end of the month, bringing 97 years of trading to an end.In 1988, it was reported the building was purchased by RD Jenkins & Co ltd, who were specialists in industrial sewing machines. Then owner Robert Jenkins went on to convert the three-storey building into individual retail outlets and a number of small factory units.He incorporated his own established individual and domestic sewing machines business – The Sewing Centre – and a bedding and furniture shop – The Prescot Furnishing Company.In more recent years, the site has been home to a Wetherspoons pub. But it still gives a nod to its roots – named The Thomas Frost.JD Wetherspoon has now applied for the to develop the land on Warden Street to be used as a beer garden.The Thomas Frost Wetherspoons pub, formerly Frost’s department store, Walton Road(Image: GOOGLE STREETVIEW)The layout of the building will also be altered slightly, with a new internal lobby being created to permit access to the side beer garden, to allow for better control of access.Customers will only be able to access the beer garden area from within the pub. The rest of the building will remain unchanged in terms of layout.The scale of the building will not be affected by the proposed works. The proposed beer garden is to occupy a portion of Warden Street.There is also plans to introduce planters which include festoon posts and railings to the side elevation and a oak pergola which utilises planters is to feature in the beer garden area.Wall-mounted light fittings will also be installed along the elevation alongside festoon lighting to span from the proposed posts.

Claire House Children’s Hospice is expanding its Liverpool site to offer 24-7 care16:05, 05 Jul 2026Updated 16:05, 05 Jul 2026Claire House in West Derby. Pictured mum Amelia Christie with her son Oliver, five. Photo by Colin Lane(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)Families who rely on a vital Liverpool children’s hospice for care have spoken of their relief and appreciation for the service after its expansion plans got the go-ahead. Claire House Children’s Hospice in West Derby secured vital permission from Liverpool City Council to grow its site on Honey’s Green Lane into a round-the-clock service to support hundreds of seriously ill babies, children and young adults.The hospice was given the former Carmelite Monastery site in West Derby in 2017 and has since carried out minor internal refurbishment to areas on the ground floor to make it functional and usable for daycare facilities for families and children. For many families, distance has long been one of the biggest barriers to accessing hospice care when they need it most.Long journeys to the charity’s Wirral hospice have often meant families spending precious time travelling, rather than being together. Amelia Christie has been supported by the organisation since her 20-week scan with son Oliver.She said: “We found out that Oliver had a serious heart condition. He had hypoplastic left heart syndrome and Claire House has actually been with us ever since that 20-week scan.“They’ve been there through night and day when he’s been in hospital. Oliver does hydro swimming at the Wirral hospice and also he does respite as well. So literally Claire House is the family that we never knew we needed until we were introduced to them at the 20-week scan.”The development will allow for bedrooms to be installed for much-needed overnight respite services, as well as private suites where families can spend time with their child after they have died. Therapeutic spaces, including a hydrotherapy pool, will be brought in alongside emotional and practical support services for the whole family.Amelia, 35, from Formby, said the hospice managed to make the difficult decisions facing her family easier to process. She said: “We got told that there was something wrong with the heart and we needed to go to foetal medicine for a more in-depth scan. Claire House were already there and they said, ‘Would you like Claire House involved in this meeting?’”Obviously it was extremely daunting, the meeting. There were lots of, you know, big medical words that we’d never heard of, myself and my husband, and that’s when Claire House came in and put those medical words into English for us. And they were really like, ‘This is very daunting news, but we can have a plan A, B, C, we can have a plan Z if you want to’.”Amelia explained how Oliver has received vital support following open heart surgery in March and the hospice was able to provide the relief for her too. She said: “He absolutely adores going.“He was just in respite last week, in all honesty. He only stayed two nights and then when we picked him up, he cried, he didn’t want to leave.“We actually attended a wedding last week when Oliver was in respite and I just was like, ‘I just feel so relaxed and so calm’. To be at that wedding and knowing that Oliver was in the best care ever and when it was really hot as well, they had air conditioning. So, he was really, really well looked after. And I just feel so much more relaxed as well now after those two nights of respite.“You need that as myself, you know, I wasn’t mum. I was Amelia again and as a couple as well as husband and wife, we needed that because we don’t get time alone.”Chief executive David Pastor(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)David Pastor is chief executive of Claire House and oversees the care of 500 babies, children, young people, and families every year. He said securing the planning permission was like “we’ve collected our number and we’re just on the starting line”.He said: “It’s taken us such a long time to get here. We first really decided that we desperately needed a hospice in Liverpool in 2014 and we found the site really, really quickly, which is great.“Through all sorts of twists and turns, we nearly got ourselves to planning, so we had outline planning in 2018. Then covid happened just at the point we were going to develop some really detailed plans and so we had to take a step back and here we are finally in 2026 and ready to go.“It’s just such a relief and we’re so proud to have got planning permission and now our dream can become a reality.” It is expected the build will begin in January next year with a view to opening in 2029.David said work now begins to raise the vital funds required for the scheme. He added: “Obviously the crucial part of that is then the fundraising side of things.Claire House in West Derby. Photo by Colin Lane(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)“We’ve got to a point now where we’ve been able to save about £10m just through trying to run Claire House really, really well and obviously the huge support of the people of Merseyside and we wouldn’t be here without them.“Now here comes the really hard fundraising task in earnest where we’ve got to raise another £13m to get the project over the line but it’s great to be able to start that properly now that we have planning permission.” For families like Jill Jones’ from Orrell Park, who is mum to four-year-old Joshy Farrell, the new hospice isn’t just about convenience, it’s the reassurance and proximity they desperately need during their most vulnerable moments.She said: “Any temperature means a 48-hour hospital stay for Joshy – so having Claire House Liverpool just 15 minutes from home, and right next to Alder Hey, gives us the reassurance we desperately need. So many children need this place, it benefits everyone.“It’s reassuring for families to know if their child had complex needs, they’d be in safe hands. It’s a community.“Liverpool gets behind everything, I know we can make this happen.”Claire House in West Derby. Pictured: mum Karen Roberts with her son Dylan,18 and carer Luke Causer. Photo by Colin Lane(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)Karen Roberts’ son Dylan, 18, has complex needs relating to cerebral palsy. The family travel from Southport to the Wirral site for respite care four times a year.Karen said: “It’s really good because obviously we feel safe leaving Dylan with them. So when we leave him and go away, we get a really good break. It refreshes us and plus it gives me time to spend with the other children because obviously Dylan’s needs sometimes take over some of the stuff we can’t do.“It just gives us time to kind of have a little break and refresh ourselves ready for the next kind of week ahead. He really loves the staff and the care he gets, he gets really excited about coming and plus he meets friends who are already here that he’s made friends with or other people we know who come and because he’s so happy to come and we know that he’s getting all the care and attention he needs.“It just gives us that relief really, and he just loves the place, the atmosphere, the kind of fun it is.”

Manchester United’s interest in Manchester City academy prospect Xavier Parker will not result in a transfer this summer, with academy sources playing down the prospect of a move to Old Trafford.That is according to the Manchester Evening News, which reports that despite noise around a potential switch, the deal is simply not on the cards.AdvertisementParker’s Profile🔴 Follow Stretty News on Google as a preferred source and be first with every United update.Parker, 16, is one of the more eye-catching young midfielders in English football. The England Under-16 captain – who has skippered his country in wins over Argentina and Mexico – joined City at Under-14 level two years ago from West Ham and quickly established himself as a key creative presence across multiple age groups.He registered six goals and seven assists in all competitions for City’s Under-18 side last season, maintaining a goal or assist every 73.9 minutes in the U18 Premier League. Parker also became the second-youngest player to represent City in the UEFA Youth League, stepping up to the Under-19 group while still Under-16 eligible, and featured in the FA Youth Cup final – a 2-1 win over United on 14 May.AdvertisementLiverpool Favourite as City Contract ExpiresUnited are not the only club to have been frustrated in their pursuit. Parker’s City contract was due to expire at the end of June, and with it has come a multi-club chase – though Liverpool have emerged as the clear frontrunners. Reports from The Secret Scout indicate Parker is a Liverpool fan and that both parties want the move, with direct contract talks already underway. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Liverpool’s interest while noting City are working hard to convince Parker to stay.That context makes United’s position even more marginal. The Reds were one of several clubs credited with interest, with Jason Wilcox – formerly of City – driving academy recruitment at Carrington and also targeting City prospects David Eze and Karim Cassim. Whether those two pursuits fare better is still unclear.Alas, the Parker miss is symptomatic of a difficult summer window across both the senior and academy setups. City beat United to Elliot Anderson, while midfield remains the most pressing area of need at first-team level too. Tottenham pipped the Reds for both Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, leaving INEOS scrambling, with Aurélien Tchouaméni now among the alternatives being considered.AdvertisementOn the academy side, Colombian wonderkid Cristian Orozco is set to arrive, and the Reds are also tracking Charlton Athletic’s Tyrie Arojogun, Derby County’s Blake Henry, and Liverpool’s Isaac Konde. Parker, in all likelihood, will not be joining them at Carrington.