Liverpool fans worry as one face is missing from first day of training
By David Gate
Liverpool fans are worrying after one key face was missing from the first day of training for the 2018/19 season began at Melwood today.
The pictures from the first day of pre-season training are always fun. The Liverpool players and staff have had four weeks rest and holiday and they all return with suntans and smiles ready for to prepare for the new season. However fans are worried by one notable face missing from the crowd; Zeljko Buvac.
The Liverpool assistant manager left the club for personal reasons shortly before the Champions League semi-final second leg against Roma. While family issues were given as the official reasons, strong rumors have been he entertained an approach by Arsenal for their vacant manager’s position.
Whatever happened has clearly severed the relationship with manager Jurgen Klopp. The pair have worked together across 17 years at three different clubs; FSV Mainz, Borussia Bortmund & Liverpool.
There was no sign of Buvac today, all but confirming the end of his time at Anfield.
Zeljko Buvac not at Melwood for first day of training - looks as though he won't be returning to backroom staff. Klopp will not make another coaching appointment
— David Maddock (@MaddockMirror) July 2, 2018
Zelkjo Buvac has not returned for pre-season training. His situation with Liverpool remains unresolved but highly unlikely he will come back now. NO plans to make additional appointments. Story is on @MailSport
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) July 2, 2018
A number of Liverpool fans are concerned and sad about this development:
Was hoping Buvac would of just returned to Liverpool today. Sad that he’s now unlikely to come back.
— Paul Senior 🥤 (@PaulSenior1) July 2, 2018
This upsets me. I liked Buvac. https://t.co/JNzAg16kKc
— Ben Webb (@BenWebbLFC) July 2, 2018
Come on, #Klopp, get that thing sorted with your-brother-from-another-mother #buvac! #bff
— BenjiB.LFC (@SignoreBB) July 2, 2018
We need him back! #LFC pic.twitter.com/X1dPAWAS4M
It does not appear as if Klopp is planning on finding a direct replacement for Buvac. Instead the manager will lean on his other assistants; long term second coach Peter Krawietz and the highly rated Pep Lijnders. The Dutchman recently returned to the Reds backroom staff after leaving his manager position at NEC Nijmegne at the end of last season.
All the healthy Liverpool players who were not involved at the World Cup arrived back at Melwood today including new signings Fabinho and Naby Keita. It will be a few more weeks before Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Marko Grujic return after their countries were knocked out of the tournament.
Next: All of Rafa Benitez' Liverpool signings ranked 45 to 1!
Liverpool still have five players at the competition; Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold with England; Simon Mignolet with Belgium; Roberto Firmino with Brazil and Dejan Lovren with Croatia.