Iraola has three weeks of thinking and three calls to make
Andoni Iraola has had three weeks during the international break to plan Liverpool's next phase, and he goes into the Manchester City match with three major decisions to make (6).
One of them is the Ronald Araujo dilemma in defence (6). Liverpool have won four of their last five in all competitions, and the draw at home to Fulham on September 12 is the only blot on that run.
The City match is at Anfield on Sunday, October 11, 17:30 CEST. Your team go in off a 1–0 win away at Bournemouth on September 20.
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Wirtz is the project everyone has an opinion on
Paul Ince says Florian Wirtz should copy Roberto Firmino at Liverpool (2). Ince also praised the balance around Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, and what Alexis Mac Allister gets in this set-up (2).
Emile Heskey has his own take on Wirtz, framed around the Jurgen Klopp captain decision and how Iraola gets the best from the £116m playmaker (3).
Everyone has a view. The only scoreboard that settles it is the one at Anfield on Sunday.
A €70m buy-back on Quansah, and a June 2027 deadline
Liverpool hold a €70m clause to re-sign Jarell Quansah from Bayer Leverkusen (5). Leverkusen paid €35m for him a little over a year ago, so the price has doubled (5).
The clause runs until June 15, 2027, and Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid are all in the picture too (5).
Mbappe talk is back, again
Kylian Mbappe has reportedly decided on a 2027 move, and Liverpool are being linked again (1). Treat it as a rumour until something concrete lands.
Van Dijk, Morton and the rest of the rumour pile
Virgil van Dijk's Liverpool contract expires in June 2027 and no new offer has reportedly been made, with Inter Miami among the clubs linked (9).
Tyler Morton is drawing Premier League interest after his Lyon season (7) (8). Newcastle are reported to be favourites to beat Nottingham Forest to him, with Keith Wyness saying Morton wants to see his pathway: "He's a hot talent that everybody's after, but as usual, it's minutes, and he wants to see his pathway, and I think Newcastle could offer that for him" (7). Crystal Palace and Pierre Sage are also in the mix, and Liverpool hold a 20% sell-on clause (8).
No return for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Reports from Spain about a comeback are dismissed, and Liverpool have no interest (10).
Ismaila Sarr could be back on the radar in January if he gets a release clause at Crystal Palace (12). Liverpool are also watching Fulham's 19-year-old Josh King, with Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United circling (13), and are in a £60m fight with Manchester United for a Premier League defender (11).
Fan reactions
The mood on the subreddit is nostalgia-heavy before City: one thread is replaying Fabinho, Salah and Mane scoring in the 2019 meeting with City (link). There is also a warm send-off for Fabio Borini, who has announced his retirement (link).
