Liverpool

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai has insisted that his celebration after scoring a stunning goal against Tottenham on Wednesday was for himself.

No Premier League player has scored more goals from outside the box (13) in all competitions than Szoboszlai since he signed for Liverpool in July 2023.

The Liverpool midfielder scored a screamer at Anfield to wrap up the win for Andoni Iraola's side in the Carabao Cup and celebrated by pointing his hand to his ear.

Asked if he was trying to make a point with his celebration, Szoboszlai said: "No, (it was) just for myself. I just decided before the game and I just did it."

And the 25-year-old insisted that he was not aware of any criticism after Liverpool drew 0-0 with Fulham last weekend - in a game where Szoboszlai won just one of his 10 duels.

"This goal (against Tottenham) was for the people who are always next to me because we are also humans so we can have bad games and we can have bad days," said Szoboszlai.

"I think never ever was a player who played every game of his life (well) so there will be days also and games where I am going to play bad, but I think the most important is the reaction and I think I reacted quite well and hopefully I can keep on going on Sunday against Bournemouth."

On his role in midfield, Szoboszlai stressed that under Iraola, Liverpool do not play with two midfielders next to each other.

"We play with one six, one eight and one 10, so the six and the eight are not next to each other, the eight is a little bit higher and the six is a little bit deeper and the 10 is a little bit even higher so it is not two next to each other," he said. "So you put the pictures or in the media - it is a six, an eight and a 10 so yes, it is just the system."

Asked about his preference between midfield roles, Szoboszlai, who is now one of Liverpool's vice-captains, added: "I just want to be on the pitch. Maybe I am not at the best in the six position because I win one of the 10 duels but maybe the next game I am going to win eight out of 10, so I am then a good six?

"So it's always balance. There will be games where we are not playing at our best as a team, as personally me or somebody else, but it is always 'leave the past and then the next one' - the reaction is what matters."

Liverpool are considering a January move for 22-year-old Monaco and Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara, who missed out on a deadline-day move to Chelsea. (Football Insider, external)

Meanwhile, Vincent Joseph has confirmed his departure from Liverpool, with the 16-year-old expected to join Arsenal. (Standard, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the Carabao Cup fourth round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties in the order they were drawn.

• Fleetwood Town v Arsenal

• Manchester City/Norwich v Brighton

• Everton v Newcastle

• Sunderland v Brentford

• Liverpool v Chelsea

• Bradford v Peterborough

• Fulham v Crystal Palace

• Bournemouth v Aston Villa

The matches will be played in the week commencing 26 October.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool midfielder Dominic Szoboszlai says "everything was perfect" for his stunning strike in Tuesday's Carabao Cup win over Tottenham.

Szoboszlai scored the third in stoppage time in the 3-1 win by smashing a bouncing ball into the top right corner from around 35 yards out.

"I would say it's in my top five," he said on the goal after the match.

"As soon as I had a good touch after Cody [Gakpo] passed me the ball I wasn't thinking longer, I just took the shot and it went in.

"You know when you had a good shot, you feel it. I thought it was going in the middle but I saw it go to the right. Everything was perfect."

It was a morale-boosting win for Andoni Iraola's side, who were blunt in Saturday's 0-0 home draw with Fulham.

"It was very important [to win]," added Szoboszlai.

"We are in the next round and we take every competition very seriously. I'm very happy to be in the next round and very happy for the guys who had the chance to play and who didn't maybe have the chance during the season until now.

"I think everyone showed they are ready to play.

"It's a lot of new things, but we have to get used to this and to each other and to the new manager. We need to build a good team."

Listen to the full chat by pressing play below or on BBC Sounds here

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel has backed the decision not to award a penalty to Liverpool at Ipswich Town earlier this month.

Liverpool led 2-0 towards the end of the first half when Abdul Fatawu slid in to make a block and brought down Cody Gakpo on the edge of the area.

Referee Darren England allowed play to continue, and video assistant referee Nick Hopton decided against a review.

The KMI Panel voted 4-1 that it should not be a spot-kick, and 5-0 that there should be no VAR review.

"An unusual situation where some contact is made by Fatawu on Gakpo after the ball is laid off," the KMI Panel members said.

"The majority feeling was that the contact was below the high threshold for a foul and they unanimously felt that this was not a clear and obvious error for VAR intervention."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Carabao Cup third-round tie between Liverpool and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Angela: Still a bit laboured. If Spurs had put away their chances it could have been a very different outcome.

Gazza: Good result and big bonus to rest key players while knowing you can rely on youth to help. Still not convinced by us defensively but it's early days. So pleased that Gakpo has stayed. If he can gel with Isak, Wirtz and Barcola then that's an exciting prospect which should put fear into most opposition defences.

Robby: We may just pull off a few surprises this season with our wealth of youth all pressing for game time. The contribution put in by the younger players was definitely uplifting for both the team and the fans. Things are finally taking shape.

Nigel: Koumas - amazing non-stop pressing! He must be a nightmare to play against.

Ian: A much more positive performance. It was good to see everyone battling to keep possession and making good use of it, with some creative play capped off with three excellent goals.

Tottenham fans

Richard: Some promise, but still ineffective in front of goal. Maybe time to dispense with some of the 'old guard'. It was a little unlucky to draw Liverpool away early in the competition - hardly a confidence driver.

Febz: Chances made are frustrating when there isn't enough quality to finish them. We will always struggle without someone reliable to find the net. Improving side but fairly blunt at the sharp end. Eternally optimistic...

Ian H: We got bullied from start to finish. The Liverpool kids looked a lot sharper than we did and we need to start putting our chances away or it's going to be another long, hard season to watch.

Greg: Same issues. Just can't stick the ball in the net. We had a lot of attacking moments that didn't go anywhere and spent far too long just passing it between the goalkeeper and defenders, especially after we were losing.

Mike: Huff and puff. No finish. Dreadful football. What a shame to have sunk to this level.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It didn't take long for Andoni Iraola to decide that Lewis Koumas would be part of his Liverpool squad for the season ahead.

"For me, Koumas, the first week I was here I told the club that he was staying for all the season," Iraola said last week.

Koumas waited 907 days between his first and second appearance for the Reds - which came on the opening day of the season when he got his first Premier League minutes at Newcastle - and on Wednesday, the Wales international rewarded Iraola's faith in him with a man-of-the-match performance when he started against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.

Iraola described the 20-year-old's energy as "contagious for the rest" of the squad, with Koumas leading the press from the front with his intensity.

"When you see the ones up front giving everything you are kind of forced to go behind and use the same intensity levels," said the Liverpool boss.

And Koumas, who turns 21 on Saturday, said: "I think how I play is ultimately the Liverpool way. We have always been a club where players have to give absolutely everything on the pitch. We're bringing that back now and the crowd are loving it."

Just three days on from a flat, goalless draw against Fulham at Anfield, Iraola named a much-changed side that entertained the crowd with a solid display in the 3-1 win over Spurs.

"It [running non-stop] is definitely something the manager is trying to instil, but it's also me through and through. That's why I'm being trusted to go out there and do a job for the team," added Koumas, who made his debut under Jurgen Klopp in 2024.

The Welsh forward has spent the past two seasons on loan at Stoke City, Birmingham City and Hull City and insisted that he never doubted that he would return to Anfield.

"The past two years have been massive for my development. Going out on loan helped me to become the player I am today. I was able to impress the new manager in pre-season and it's all worked out well," said Koumas, who is the son of former Wales international Jason.

"I never showed a weak mentality about how the future would look for me at Liverpool. I always had the drive that I would get here. The reason for going out on loan was to prepare for this moment. It all sort of worked out.

"A lot of hunger can be lost in the game with how things go. But for me, coming through the pre-academy and right through the academy, my hunger has always been there. My hunger comes from representing Liverpool Football Club and wanting to give everything for the best club in the world."

Rio Ngumoha is on Arsenal's radar, but Liverpool want to extend the 18-year-old winger's long-term contract. (Athletic - subscription required, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

As expected, Andoni Iraola made a number of changes for Liverpool's third game in less than a week at Anfield and he was rewarded with an energetic display from a largely second-string side.

"I made a lot of changes but I think I needed to do it," said Iraola. "We lacked a bit of energy the other day and we needed fresh legs and I am happy that all the players have given us energy and aggressiveness."

The goals may have come from familiar names but Iraola will have been pleased with how well his youngsters coped against Premier League opposition.

Rio Ngumoha, 18, was superb while Lewis Koumas, 20, was relentless in leading the press from the front and the 20-year-old came close to scoring too. Trey Nyoni, 19, and James McConnell, 22, were impressive as well.

"It is very clear what he needs to do what the team needs and the energy he shows is contagious for the rest," said Iraola, when asked about Koumas.

With Florian Wirtz rested, along with Virgil van Dijk, and watching on from the hospitality suites at Anfield, the performances from the players on the pitch ensured that Iraola was not left to regret his decision.

Giorgi Mamardashvili had a nervy start but made a number of crucial saves and showed exactly why Iraola was so keen to sign him at Bournemouth.

It was a solid evening for Liverpool who will travel to Bournemouth in the league this weekend - where Iraola will be reunited with his former club - with a spring in their step as they look to continue their unbeaten start to the season.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after the game: "I am pleased with the performance. I think there have been different phases in the game but overall I liked the energy. We scored but I am happy because we are in the next round.

"I think at 2-0, they have to take a risk and win some territory. We were defending well but conceding a lot of set-pieces and when they scored that put us under some pressure. Luckily for us we found a way to score a third and finish the game properly."

On Dominik Szoboszlai's goal: "I think the thing with Dom is when he is going to shoot he has a chance to score. With him you believe because he has done it before. He is a great finisher."

On Andy Robertson: "I think he deserves all this and I was happy. I was thinking he honestly deserves this because he has given so much to Liverpool."

Hear more from Iraola on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

What did you make of Tottenham's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Wednesday for a selection of your replies.

There are five Carabao Cup third-round ties on Tuesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Peterborough v Barnsley (19:30)

• West Ham v Fulham (19:45)

• Liverpool v Tottenham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Ipswich v Arsenal - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Reading v Brentford

Kick-off times 20:00 BST unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Tottenham" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Ipswich match", for example.

New this season: Live match updates

Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.

Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.

Find out more here

Image source, BBC Sport

New this season: Match of the Day Predictor

Simply predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

Players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.

Read more about it here

You can find the predictor in the navigation bar at the top of this page, or on this link

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on whether the Anfield atmosphere is becoming a problem after BBC Radio Merseyside's latest episode of The Red Kop discussed "the atmosphere getting worse" at the start of the new season with fans leaving games early.

Here are some of your comments:

Matti: There have been big problems with transport after matches, even worse than usual recently, meaning that some are starting to get out early to try and avoid that. The mayor really needs to do something about this. For me, unless you have a really good reason, you never leave a match early. Why waste your money on a ticket if you're not going to stay to the end? Even if it's a bad match, you never know what could happen at the death... But then, I'm that one guy who insists on staying in the cinema until the credits have finished for every movie.

Steve: Not new, just worse, probably down to more 'casual' fans getting tickets now. I remember the chants from The Kop at the Kemlyn Road season ticket holders leaving early in the early 70s, so it has happened for a long while to some extent.

Russel: Blaming the quality of the football for poor atmosphere is missing the point entirely - it comes down to how much match tickets cost and who can afford to buy them. Sell tickets at an affordable price and fill Anfield with local supporters, and you'll make less money but the atmosphere will be electric. Sell tickets at high prices and fill Anfield with rich people and day trippers, and you'll make more money but you won't get the atmosphere. Depends what the club's priorities are, really.

Kevin: We had the same issue several years ago when Jurgen took over and fans were leaving early. He made a clear statement aimed at these fans and it appeared to have an impact. Maybe Andoni Iraola needs to look at a similar approach.

David: If you don't want to watch the match until the end, I would give my teeth (dentures) for a season ticket. If you're not part of the cure your part of the cause.

Loraine: It was once a reputable fortress where the opposition were no doubt intimidated by the persistence of the Liverpool fans fanatically cheering the Reds on until the final whistle. It's poor support currently unless our team are on top. Come on - if you want the performances from the boys, make some of the infamous Kop noise and keep on until the final whistle. That is what fanatical support does. Sadly, at the minute, the once intimidating support is just like every other team's fans. Nothing special and nothing to fear.

Denis: I agree the volume and support at Anfield is terrible. I find it shocking that often the away supporters sing for longer and make more noise. Liverpool chants go up and half the people join in and within one or two rounds it peters out. No noise at corners, etc, and no noise at all five minutes after kick-off unless they score. And then before half and full time is the really strange sight of dozens all around you heading out. This starts at 84/85 minutes when the result is still to play for. They're missing 10 or more minutes of what they paid for. Crazy. It's so hard to get tickets - you would think people would want to squeeze every moment.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola indicated at his pre-match news conference that there will be a number of changes for Liverpool against Tottenham in the third round of the Carabao Cup later, with Giorgi Mamardashvili already confirmed to replace Alisson in goal.

Given that there are five more days before Liverpool visit Bournemouth in the Premier League (14:00 BST on Sunday) and an international break to follow, the expectation is that Iraola might be able to turn to his more regular starters on the bench if needed against Spurs.

But it remains to be seen how exactly the Reds boss will approach the game, given it will be his side's third in under a week. Will there be mass changes or just a handful?

In Liverpool's third-round fixture in this competition last season against Southampton at Anfield, Arne Slot made 11 changes and named a youthful side. The hosts progressed that night thanks to a late winner from Hugo Ekitike.

However, when Slot made 10 changes against Crystal Palace in the next round, Liverpool were brushed aside 3-0 - with the Dutchman, who had take the Reds to the final in his first season in charge, criticised for having no-one older than 21 on the bench.

You only have to recall the start of Jurgen Klopp's tenure at Anfield, when the German led Liverpool to the final of the League Cup and Europa League after taking over in October, to see the feel-good factor that progress through cups provided.

Deep down, Iraola will know that a good cup run can only be a positive, but Liverpool struggled with the short turnaround between games last week. It is a delicate juggling act that is new for Iraola too.

"We are in a position where I have to learn who is ready to play and who is ready to rest so their performance level doesn't drop," said Iraola. "I had an idea with some of them, but for some of them it is new as they haven't played as many games before."

Judging by that, Iraola will be learning plenty more on Tuesday night.

Is there an issue with the atmosphere at Liverpool's home ground?

That is the one of the topics BBC Radio Merseyside's Paul Salt and Carl Woodward have been discussing after another flat showing from the Reds in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Fulham.

"This isn't a new thing, this has been creeping in more and more," said Salt on the latest Red Kop.

"I don't know if it's a hangover from last season, when the football was pretty ropey, but in the first couple of games in the Premier League this at Anfield this season, I feel the atmosphere is not helping.

"I'm sorry to have a bit of a pop, but I look around at about 83, 85 minutes and the amount of people leaving is incredible. It had been a poor game of football, but come on.

"I don't know why it's happening. It's getting worse."

In this week's edition of Red Kop, the pair also discuss the Reds' home form and the potential of European fatigue.

Listen to the round-up show by hitting play above or on BBC Sounds here

And hear the full atmosphere debate below...

So, what do you think, especially with Liverpool having another home game later on against Spurs in the Carabao Cup? Is the Anfield atmosphere now a problem? And if so, what's behind it?

Get in touch with your views here

Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are all interested in bolstering their midfield with PSV Eindhoven's 20-year-old Austria international Paul Wanner. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

You get the feeling that the schedule and length of turnaround between fixtures will be a common topic of conversation with Andoni Iraola.

Liverpool were brilliant against Atletico Madrid last Wednesday but followed that up with a poor display against Fulham less than 72 hours later.

Iraola pointed out the lack of freshness on Saturday as a factor and now, just over 72 hours after that game, Liverpool will play at Anfield for the third time in less than a week when Tottenham are the visitors in the Carabao Cup third round.

As Iraola indicated at Monday's news conference, expect to see a heavily changed Liverpool line-up. Giorgi Mamardashvili will be in goal and fans will get the chance to "see some players we haven't seen yet". Iraola himself will also "see whether they can help us".

The Spaniard insists he is "very happy" with his squad and a cup game against Premier League opposition will provide a strong indication about how reliable his options really are.

Flora Snelson
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Carabao Cup game against Tottenham at Anfield (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Giorgi Mamardashvili will start in goal against Spurs. Defender Joe Gomez, who has been out with injury since July, is back training with the team and will be available.

• Connor Bradley, who has been recovering from a knee injury since January, is not close to training with the team, but is touching the ball in individual training - Iraola expects Giovanni Leoni to return first.

• Iraola suggested that Tuesday's team will feature players who we have not seen play before.

• On squad rotation, he said he is still learning about his players and their capacity to deal with a busy fixture schedule: "There are players who play every three days with no issues. They are very robust, their performances don't change too much. There are other players where the risk is bigger and the performances are different."

• Iraola is "frustrated" that his team took a "step backwards" against Fulham after stepping forward in their wins over Ipswich Town and Atletico Madrid, but noted: "We have to accept there are going to be ups and downs in this process."

• He observed that the main issue against Fulham was that his players recovered the ball "a lot lower" on the pitch: "This is key in our system, to recover the ball as high as possible because it makes the offensive side a lot easier. Situations to attack in one-v-ones, or against fewer [players], are less [frequent] if you recover [the ball] in your half of the pitch."

• When a reporter asked whether the issue around ball recovery and duels could be fixed by coaching, Iraola insisted that it is a "collective" effort - not just the responsibility of his midfielders: "When the team plays well, everyone looks better. The key is that we all play collectively well. Everyone looks smarter and in a better position."

• He continued, explaining how on paper, defenders are made to look better when attacking team-mates are defending well from the front: "If the players in front of you are doing their job, the defenders and midfielders will win more duels because they are easier duels. The ball arrives not in the best condition and then you have more chances to win duels."

• Asked about rumoured discussion between Virgil van Dijk and the Netherlands' national team manager Xavi regarding the future of the defender's international career, Iraola confirmed that he had spoken with them both but the contents of these conversations was private.

Hit play above to hear more from Iraola or listen on BBC Sounds here

You can listen to full commentary of Liverpool v Spurs on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds on Tuesday

Got a question about Liverpool? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Fulham.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Ian: The Fulham goalkeeper could have gone home, he wasn't needed. There was a total lack of effort all through the Liverpool team. We definitely need a left back because Tsimikas and Kerkez were woeful. A football match best forgotten.

Jack: Drab and disappointing. Fulham had a doddle against us and it is absolutely unacceptable for us to have a £350m+ attack and for Leno to be so untested and for their backline to be so unconcerned. The two small positives we can take are a clean sheet and another stellar Jacquet performance, but the one huge negative is it looks like we're going to struggle with two games a week. Worries starting to set in.

Xavier: Our defence is stabilising, thanks to Jacquet and Ronald. Attack is okay, they can score goals but there are no balls in the final third. I blame the board for not strengthening the midfield ever since Fabinho left. There's no coordination at all. A natural six is needed to strike a balance, if not we are doomed.

Fraser: Not a good performance but this is a learning curve for Iraola. We are nowhere near a finished product and a work in progress. Fans need to be patient with Iraola, it is going to take time for his ideas to get across our players. Disappointing start to the season, but no need to panic just yet.

Fulham fans

Jeremy: After four poor games defensively, Fulham were fabulous in defence. Bassey has a partner! The attack will come - lightweight but energetic and will click and gel as the weeks go by because King is magical and such a quick learner. Stansfield would fit in these front four perfectly. Just need a Mitrovic or Kane.

Terry: Arbeloa told us to "trust the process " and, on the basis of this evidence, he was right! He made a couple of changes and they made the difference. Affenberger was fantastic alongside Bassey, and Castagne and Robinson ran themselves into the ground. Berge and Charles controlled the midfield brilliantly, and King fully deserved his POTM award. Liverpool were made to look poor because we didn't allow them to play.

Quinn: We need to accept the reality of how much Liverpool's win against Atletico affected their performance. However, it felt like a more solid performance from Fulham and I think that, and the team selection, suggests Arbeloa is learning. Stability first, then flair. Next home game will be crucial.

Rob: Much much better after the carnage in the first two home games. Something to build on and positive signs. Not many sides will earn a shut out at Anfield this season.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Two Premier League matches at Anfield. Two draws.

For just the third time in 63 years, Liverpool have failed to win either of their opening home games of a league season - not exactly the flying start new boss Andoni Iraola would have been dreaming of.

After such an encouraging midweek performance against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, full of urgency, Saturday's goalless draw against Fulham was a flat follow-up, especially with the Cottagers lacking in confidence and having conceded seven goals in their first three league games.

The Reds looked physically and mentally tired and, to put it bluntly, like an entirely different team to the one that won against a Diego Simeone side that made it to the Champions League semi-finals last season.

On the first real look at how Iraola's style will cope with two games a week, this was certainly not what the Liverpool head coach, nor the Anfield crowd, would have wanted to see.

His side are still unbeaten and it is hardly a crisis, but he will look at a return of six points from their first four Premier League games as disappointing, particularly by dropping four points at home to Nottingham Forest and Fulham, with another draw coming at Newcastle and their sole success at Ipswich.

The £364m attacking trio of Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz started together for the first time in a league game and although Liverpool had decent chances, they created nowhere near enough.

Isak's 16 touches in 90 minutes was the second fewest for an outfield Reds player on record, having had the fewest (14) against Forest a fortnight ago.

German Wirtz looked a shadow of the player who was terrific in midweek against Atleti and while Barcola and Isak had a few encouraging moments, that is a partnership that will take time to develop.

It is still early, but already there is a realisation from Iraola and his players that when they have such short turnarounds between games, perhaps it is a case of adapting and finding ways to get a result.

With at least seven more Champions League games to follow and a Carabao Cup tie at home to Tottenham on Tuesday, Liverpool must adapt sooner rather than later as the fixture list cranks up if they are to show they can challenge for honours this season.

Read more on Liverpool's winless home Premier League start