There is a storm brewing over Anfield. The legendary stadium will host an intriguing Premier League encounter between struggling Liverpool and table-topping Arsenal. The London club hasn’t won at Liverpool’s ground since 2012, but this time they hope to do so with the help of Martin Odegaard, a boyhood Reds’ supporter.The Gunners’ captain grew up in Norway supporting his today’s opponents. Undoubtedly, he dreamt of winning titles wearing the Liverpool shirt, but his journey played out quite differently. If he ends up on the winning side at Anfield today – his Arsenal team will make a giants stride towards the trophy.Martin Odegaard being linked to Arsenal back in 2015. pic.twitter.com/6ZwtjLypSJ— Sky Sports Retro (@SkySportsRetro) August 20, 2021 It’s easy to forget the Norwegian is still only 24 years old. After all, he was only 15 when he made his senior international debut in 2014. Bursting onto the scene in his homeland, he quickly became one of those wonderkids you hear about.The young playmaker went on a series of trials with several clubs – including Liverpool. He had been training with Brendan Rodgers’ first-team squad, while he was still weighing up his options when leaving his boyhood club, Stromsgodset. It looked like he was destined to join Liverpool after he’d referred to them as his dream club. However, Real Madrid were the only club to come forward with an official offer so he joined them in a deal worth around $3 million in January 2015.##NAJAVA_MECA_7161304##Only a year later, Martin Odegaard professed his love for Liverpool, although he claimed that it wouldn’t be the main factor in his decisions.”Liverpool have always been my dream club, but I will not let this affect my decision when I choose a new club. It’s all about finding the best team for me and my development. That is not necessarily Liverpool. I haven’t really thought about my future yet. I will end the season here and then visit several clubs. I have not made a final decision yet, though. Of course, it’s flattering when you hear that big clubs are after you, but I don’t think about it too often.”The competition was too tough in Madrid and Martin would make just 11 appearances for the Real Madrid first team between 2015 and 2021. He was gifted a brief senior chance by Los Blancos in the 2020/21 season after successful loan stints with Heerenveen, Vitesse Arnhem, and Real Sociedad. But his destiny was to go to Arsenal and find his permanent home in north London.That ball from Odegaard😍 pic.twitter.com/WW1qhWd1zN— Nyvan G (@GreevilleE) April 2, 2023 Jurgen Klopp also had long conversations with the Odegaard family in 2015. Back then, the German wanted to sign the young talent for his Dortmund team, but the lure of Madrid proved too strong. “We had a long conversation when he was still a boy, together with his father. Ultimately, he decided on Madrid, which is fine, but that’s why I’ve always followed him. It is very, very impressive. You can only imagine how many, huge, crazy talents, I have seen throughout quite a while in this industry. Martin was 15 years old and playing in Norway at the time. The whole world went berserk. Until he was 15, he probably experienced no hardship. After that, a lot of things went against him. It makes him the person he is now, the man he is now, and the player he is now.”Today, the acquaintance between Klopp and the Norwegian international will be renewed.PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 30SaturdayMan.Utd. – Everton 2-0 (1-0)/McTominay 26, Martial 71/Aston Villa – Nott.Forest 2-0 (0-0)/Traore 48, Watkins 90+5/Brentford – Newcastle 1-2 (1-0)/Toney 45+1 pen – Joelinton 54, Isak 61/Fulham – West Ham 0-1 (0-1)/Reed 10 og/Leicester – Bournemouth 0-1 (0-0)/Billing 40/Tottenham – Brighton 2-1 (1-1)/Son 10, Kane 79 – Dunk 34/Wolverhampton – Chelsea 1-0 (1-0)/Nunes 32/Southampton – Man.City 1-4 (0-1)/Mara 72 – Haaland 45, 68, Grealish 63, Alvarez 74/Sunday16:00: (2.15) Leeds (3.45) Crystal Palace (3.70)18:30: (2.80) Liverpool (3.50) Arsenal (2.60)***odds are subject to change***
