'I'm NOT meeting with Liverpool': Amorim denies he's had an interview

Ruben Amorim has distanced himself from the Liverpool job after making a passionate rant during a recent press conference.

The Reds are seeking a successor to Jurgen Klopp, who will end his nine-year reign on Merseyside at the end of the year, and had landed on the Sporting Lisbon boss.

They'd initially sounded out Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso but the Spaniard insisted that his future remains in Germany, leading the Reds to turn to Amorim.

Reports emerged this week that claimed the Sporting manager had agreed a deal with the Merseyside giants however he's now come forward to refute those reports.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he said 'To end everything around, this is the last time I talk about my future.

'There was no interview, much less an agreement [with Liverpool]. The only thing we all want here is to be champions for Sporting, and nothing will change.

'I'll say it again: I'm Sporting's coach. There was no interview with any club, no agreement with any club. I am focused, as always, on defending my club.

'And since I really have nothing to say: there will be no interviews or agreements with the Sporting coach. The deal is done, whether for this club or another.'

Earlier in the week, reports from CNN, via O Jogo, claimed the Reds had made initial contact with the 39-year-old manager and his representatives to 'assess the possibility of him leading the team next season'.

O Jogo added that Amorim 'wants to take a step forward in his career' and that he would 'not think twice' about interest from 'one of the biggest clubs in the world'.

His contract expires in 2026 and has a release clause of around £17m (€20m).

Meanwhile, a disputed report from Sky Germany claimed that a three-year deal has already been reached