"Bring him to Anfield in January whatever the price", "Special talent" - Liverpool fans wowed as long-term transfer target scores in the UEFA Champions League

The Reds have been linked with Bellingham for some time now. As per the Daily Mail, they are expected to sign the Englishman in the 2023 summer transfer window.

During Dortmund's visit to the Etihad in the Champions League on Wednesday (September 14), Bellingham proved exactly why Liverpool seem to want him.

The midfielder oozed class almost every time he got on the ball against Manchester City. He also went on to score the opening goal of the contest, heading home from Marco Reus' cross in the 56th minute. It was his second goal in as many Champions League matches this season.

Liverpool fans quickly took to Twitter to laud Bellingham for his display, with one fan tweeting:

Bellingham ended the match against City with one successful dribble, two accurate long balls and three successful ground duels. He also won two fouls, blocked two shots and made three interceptions.

However, the Englishman's efforts were insufficient as Pep Guardiola's side took all three points from the contest. John Stones brought City level in the 80th minute before Erling Haaland hooked the ball home against his former club four minutes later to complete the comeback.

Liverpool's midfield struggles took a backseat in win over AFC Ajax

Liverpool's middling start to the season has largely been put down to fatigue as well as a lack of creativity from midfield. Fans have been crying out loud for the Reds to sign Bellingham as he could bolster an aging core at the centre of the park.

However, those worries were momentarily quelled as Jurgen Klopp's side defeated a spirited AFC Ajax side in the Champions League on Tuesday (September 13). Thiago Alcantara's return from injury revitalized the Reds, while Harvey Elliott also put in a decent performance.

Regardless of that display, however, fans of the club will likely still want the Premier League giants to sign Bellingham. James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all be out of contract next summer. Jordan Henderson, meanwhile, has endured an ordinary start to the ongoing campaign.

Bellingham would add depth, creativity and an eye for goal to Liverpool's squad. The 19-year-old has scored 13 goals and laid out 18 assists in 99 appearances across all competitions for Borussia Dortmund.

About the author

Anantaajith has been covering European football news at Sportskeeda for almost three years. He previously spent five months at Total Football Analysis, where he deep dived into the likes of the A-League, Chilean and Argentine Primera Divisions, the Turkish league and the Maltese league. A graduate in English and Journalism, and currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sport Analytics and Technologies from Loughborough University London, Anantaajith is adept at analyzing complex statistics and translating it into concise and reader-friendly content.

He started following football in 2010, watching the FIFA World Cup with his father, a memory he holds very special. The tournament also ignited his admiration for Lionel Messi, who he feels makes the game look simple and produces magic every time on the pitch. Luis Enrique and Sebastien Hoeness are his favorite managers. He supports Barcelona and their 3-2 El Clasico win in the 2016-17 season left a lasting impact on him. The 2022 FIFA World Cup final between France and Argentina is another match etched in his memory.

Anantaajith has interviewed many ISL footballers like Anirudh Thapa, Vincy Barretto, Samik Mitra, Jordan Murray, and covered the entirety of the 2022-23 ISL season and the 2023 SAFF Championship. He was cited on the ISL website several times for his efforts.

In his free time, he likes to sing, work out, play football, or play cricket at club/divisional level.

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