Bournemouth away, and Iraola has two calls to make
Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday, 15:00 CEST, and it's the last game before the international break (3) (4). Liverpool are unbeaten under Andoni Iraola and a win makes it two in the Premier League (3) (4).
Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola are the lineup decisions (3). The ECHO's writers split on both, which tells you Iraola has not settled on his front line yet (3).
Bournemouth are the third of the "3 B's" that keep getting brought up as where title challenges go to die (4).
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What the table actually looks like
Liverpool sit 10th on 6 points from 4 games, goal difference +2 (context). Form reads D D W W D.
The last five: Newcastle United 2–2 Liverpool FC away on Aug 23, Liverpool FC 2–2 Nottingham Forest at home on Aug 29, Ipswich Town 0–2 Liverpool FC away on Sep 4, Liverpool FC 2–1 Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Sep 9, then Liverpool FC 0–0 Fulham at home on Sep 12.
Two wins, three draws. Unbeaten, and still drawing too many.
Smith is worried about Wirtz
Alan Smith called the Wirtz question "worrying" and thinks Liverpool still have a midfield balance problem to solve (1). A former Arsenal striker saying it out loud puts the pressure on Iraola to find the right shape around him (1).
Smicer says do not sell Wirtz
Vladimir Smicer has told Iraola exactly what he thinks about the Bayern Munich talk, and his answer is no (6). Bayern interest in Wirtz is live, and Liverpool's line is that he stays (6) (10). Arsenal could move for Endrick in January while Liverpool hold firm on Wirtz (10).
Endrick in January, Ngumoha stays
A January move for Endrick is possible (2). The club has also set its stance on Rio Ngumoha: he is not leaving (2).
Arsenal have been linked with Ngumoha and Liverpool sent them a hands-off warning (8). Bayern Munich are in that conversation too (8).
Munoz is giving Iraola a problem
Victor Munoz has made a strong start at Anfield, and it's the exact selection headache the summer signings were built to create (5). More depth means harder calls. Iraola has one of those for Bournemouth.
Salah scored a hat-trick in Turkey
Mohamed Salah hit a hat-trick as Trabzonspor beat Galatasaray 4–0 on Saturday, and he was involved in every goal (11). Noah Saviolo played in the same game (11). Former Reds still doing former Reds things.
The unbeaten run, spelled out
Iraola has not lost yet: the Champions League win over Atlético Madrid, the Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sep 15, and a Fulham draw that could have gone either way (9).
Alexis Mac Allister scored in the Spurs cup tie (9). Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha both got minutes against a strong Tottenham side (9). Alisson Becker, Bradley Barcola, Alexander Isak, Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz and Victor Muñoz were all part of it (9).
Fan reactions
The mood over on r/LiverpoolFC is warm, with one thread pulling up an old Klopp-era team goal as the benchmark to chase. The end of the Fulham draw has the rest of the fanbase asking for more cutting edge in front of goal. Join the conversation.
