Gossip: Reds could break transfer record again for Rayanpublished at 07:11 BST 14 September
07:11 BST 14 September
Liverpool could break their transfer record to sign 20-year-old Bournemouth forward Rayan next summer, should they choose to meet his £130m release clause which will become active in 2027. (Football Insider), external
Bayern Munich are keeping a close eye on the situation of 23-year-old Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz at Liverpool. (Teamtalk), external
The Reds have a 55m euros (£47.2m) option to turn their loan deal for Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo into a permanent move from Barcelona. (Fabrizio Romano via Caught Offside), external
Juventus are not prepared to sell Pierre Kalulu in the January transfer window, with Liverpool and Manchester United both linked with a possible move for the 26-year-old France defender. (Manchester Evening News), external
Championship clubs and Celtic are eyeing a move for England youth international and Reds defender Luke Chambers in January. (Football Insider), external
Analysis: Flat Reds fail to entertain as Fulham fight for Arbeloapublished at 11:18 BST 13 September
11:18 BST 13 September
Aadam Patel Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Against a Fulham side who had conceded seven goals in their first three league games, this should have been the ideal opportunity for Liverpool to build on their momentum and for Andoni Iraola to show this squad can cope with two games a week.
Instead, the hosts looked like a different team from the one Anfield saw on Wednesday and were far too flat throughout.
A return of six points from their first four games is hardly cause for concern, but Iraola will surely be disappointed they have already dropped four points at Anfield, with draws against Nottingham Forest and Fulham.
Including last season, that is now four home Premier League draws in a row for them as they failed to score in a home league game for the first time since Leeds visited in January.
For Fulham, this was a big step in the right direction after a poor start and proof, if needed, that the team are playing for their manager after they were booed off at home last week.
Affengruber was superb on debut and so was the captain and his centre-half partner Calvin Bassey. Fulham also had more touches (24) in the opposition box than Liverpool (18).
Arbeloa's side face the three promoted sides in October and there will be a better indication of his start to life in London by then.
But here, on familiar territory for the Spaniard, there were plenty of positives.
Had his side been more clinical, they could have snatched a notable success, but Arbeloa became the first ex-Liverpool Premier League player to pick up a point against his former side as a manager - following defeats for Paul Ince, Mauricio Pellegrino and Steven Gerrard.
Liverpool 0-0 Fulham: What Iraola and Alisson saidpublished at 18:23 BST 12 September
18:23 BST 12 September
Media caption,
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "When you draw, especially at home, you can't be happy. Today we lacked a bit of freshness and we did not do enough offensively to make the difference.
"We have been good enough to keep the clean sheet. It was slightly better in the second half. In the first half we started the game slow, we lacked energy and it was not enough, we have to be offensively better.
"It is less than three days, 60 hours, [since they played Atletico Madrid in the Champions League] and a lot of players had to adapt. Most of the changes were for physical reasons because the players were tired, but that is the season and in less than three days we will be here against Spurs [in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday].
"We have to adapt and find ways to win."
On Bradley Barcola: "Bradley is one we are building up physically with games and the games will give him the condition we want. But it is not just Bradley, we lack the freshness. I only remember one clear chance [for Fulham] and we kept the structure but offensively we need to do much better."
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, speaking to Sky Sports, said: "It was a poor performance, sometimes from myself, and collectively we didn't play well. Many things we tried to do we could not do it. We could not press them well in the first half, we spent too much energy trying to press them.
"It's a big challenge [playing] Wednesday night and Saturday and another one on Tuesday. We need to get the right mentality and we didn't do that. With the ball, Fulham have quality and we didn't create as many chances as we would expect, that's the challenge and we have to do better.
"If we want to do something special [this season] we have to cope with playing a game Wednesday, Saturday and then Tuesday. We need to have the right mental state and that was not the case from what we showed. Inside we have it, but we have to just put it out and put more energy on the pitch.
"We are not happy at all with the draw. It is not something that should happen with Liverpool. To be unbeaten, but with three draws, is not something to celebrate too much with this shirt.
"We take the clean sheet but we're not happy at all. We wanted the three points."
Did you know?
Liverpool have drawn four consecutive Premier League games at Anfield for the first time since November 2011 under Kenny Dalglish.
The Reds have failed to score in the first half of three consecutive Premier League games at Anfield for the first time since April 2021 (run of eight).
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Hull City" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Everton 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.
Why is Ekitike in Liverpool's Champions league squad?published at 11:13 BST 12 September
11:13 BST 12 September
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter
Liverpool's inclusion of the injured Hugo Ekitike in their Champions League squad has been the subject of several questions sent in via our Ask Me Anything form for the Reds.
Like Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, there is hope that Ekitike will be on course to play a role later in the league phase of the Champions League.
Ekitike's return date from the Achilles injury he sustained in April is unclear but the France forward is aiming to return to training before the end of the year.
In the previous format of the Champions League, all six group games would usually be completed by the end of December, but this format sees teams play another two games in January. Liverpool travel to Inter Milan and welcome Lens to Anfield in the new year.
Iraola was actually asked about Ekitike during his news conference on Friday, saying "It's difficult with these long-term injuries and I think he's still far [away from returning].
"We had a meeting with the medical department to analyse when we completed the [squad] list for the European games. There is a reasonable chance that he could help us in the last two games of the group stages.
"It's still very early to say because it's a long-term injury and a big part of the rehab [he] is still to meet.
"But we decided to put him there because there is a hope and a realistic chance that he could help us in January."
Had he not been included in the original Champions League squad, Ekitike could have been added after the 36-team league phase.
Clubs that qualify for the knockout rounds can register up to three new players before 5 February 2027 - though the overall limit of 25 players remains in place, as does the quota of eight locally trained players.
Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.
We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.
Sutton's predictions: Liverpool v Fulhampublished at 08:44 BST 12 September
08:44 BST 12 September
I am covering this game for BBC Radio 5 Live and will be co-commentating with Ian Dennis.
For Fulham, the big talking point is their manager, and whether they will sink any lower under Alvaro Arbeloa. He will be under pressure until he gets his first Premier League win.
Fulham look a little bit lightweight to me and, while Cesar Palacios in midfield and Gonzalo Garcia up front have clearly got something about them, it is always going to be hard for any young player to hit the ground running when they are thrown into the Premier League, especially under a manager who is new too.
If you don't get off to a good start, you are going to be scrutinised. It is the same for every manager and, while Fulham have got some good attacking players, they are shipping goals at the other end.
To lead twice against Crystal Palace, who had also started the season poorly, and still lose makes this game even bigger for Arbeloa.
He is trying to play a high-pressing game, and he also wants to dominate the ball, but at the highest level, which the Premier League is, if you are not on point with your press then teams will play through you.
Arbeloa needs a result to kick-start his season, or at least something to grab hold of, and I don't think it's impossible for them to get something at Anfield.
I certainly don't think Liverpool have cracked it after watching them win at Ipswich, and they will give up some chances with their high defensive line too.
Fulham will score, but the problem for Arbeloa is that Liverpool will score more.
Liverpool v Fulham: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:35 BST 11 September
19:35 BST 11 September
Tom McCoy BBC Sport journalist
BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Saturday's match (15:00 BST), with Alvaro Arbeloa seeking his first points as Fulham boss against his former club Liverpool.
Reds on a roll
Liverpool are chasing a third win in the space of eight days after Andoni Iraola's first Premier League victory as Reds boss, a comfortable 2-0 success at Ipswich, was followed by Wednesday's victory over Atletico Madrid in his first Champions League match as a manager.
Alexander Isak scored twice at Portman Road, meaning he has already equalled his league tally from an injury-disrupted 2025-26 campaign, and the Swede is now aiming to score in three consecutive top-flight games for the first time in 18 months.
Summer signing Bradley Barcola, meanwhile, is set to make his first Premier League appearance at Anfield. His home debut in midweek did not quite go to plan, with the 24-year-old missing some clear-cut chances before being forced off with cramp after an hour.
Barcola will be keen to open his account sooner rather than later, and a game against opponents who historically struggle on Merseyside could provide the ideal opportunity to begin repaying his sizeable transfer fee.
Liverpool have lost only two of their 33 home league matches versus Fulham and won 2-0 when the sides last met in April.
Arbeloa targets lift-off on Anfield return
Fulham are one of two pointless sides in this season's Premier League, along with newly promoted Coventry City, and a fourth straight defeat would leave the omens looking a little bleak for the west Londoners.
The only previous top-flight campaigns in which they lost their opening four matches were 1951-52 and 2020-21, with both seasons ending in relegation.
The Whites, who host Manchester United next weekend in their final game before the three-week international break, have shown plenty of attacking endeavour under new boss Arbeloa and lead the league for touches in the opposition box.
But they have been alarmingly open out of possession, conceding a league-high 14 big chances and recording an expected goals against figure of 6.2, the second highest in the top flight.
Arbeloa spent two and a half years at Liverpool and came off the bench in their Champions League final defeat by AC Milan in 2007.
But history offers little encouragement on his return to Anfield. Liverpool have won all five previous Premier League matches against managers who represented the club as players in the competition.
Iraola on team fitness, Koumas' development and Fulhampublished at 12:51 BST 11 September
12:51 BST 11 September
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham at Anfield (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Bradley Barcola, who was forced off during Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League with cramp, "should be available" for Saturday's match.
Iraola confirmed the team will train on Friday afternoon and then they will assess whether Cody Gakpo "is ready" to face Fulham, or if they "need to wait" until Tottenham on Tuesday in the Carabao Cup.
He said their opening games have shown "the team has goals" as they have been "dangerous and created chances". Iraola now wants his side to be "more efficient" and start matches "a bit better" so they are not chasing games, having gone a goal down in three of their four matches soo far.
Iraola said he is "happy with the improvements" Alexander Isak is making "game to game", with the striker "in a really good place" physically. He added: "He moves with confidence and technically we know he is very good. He is understanding what we need from the number nine position [better]."
On Lewis Koumas, who Iraola has given a Premier League and Champions League debut to: "He can cover us as a seven, nine, 10 and 11. He trains very well, has a good attitude and is great player. He scores goals. I see him ready to help us and I like what he gives us. I am very happy to have him."
He said "there is a chance" sidelined Hugo Ekitike "could help us with the last two games of the [Champions League] group stage, but it is still very early to say".
On opponents Fulham, who are yet to get a point on the board: "If you look at the stats then you would think they'd have four or five points at least. They've been controlling the games with possession and comfortable on the ball."
John: We must not let either of these two magnificent servants leave - not until we have established centre-backs and goalkeepers with the know-how to navigate a fiercely competitive Premier League and European competition. Their experience will only help up-and-coming replacements but, as things stand, we have potential and not finished articles. They can only learn from the best.
James: Generational talents are always worth holding on to! And they have exceptional attitudes to inspire those coming on. I'd be going all out for contract extensions.
Lee: Two great players, still playing at top level. Alisson and Van Dijk have both been affected by not having a stable defence, but I still think they'll be good for a few more years.
Yusuf: Goalkeepers can really go on for a long time, like Manuel Neuer or Thibaut Courtois, so Alisson should stay while he can still do a good job between the sticks, ideally for another two to three years. With Van Dijk, I think we do need him for one more year after this season, then he can give the armband to Dominik Szoboszlai.
Paul: Goalkeepers usually play on for longer than outfield players and Alisson has proved time and again that he is one of the best in the world. It would be a needless gamble to let him go if he can keep up his high standards. As an outfield player, Van Dijk will need his defensive team-mates to improve and be consistent if he is to remain with the club. There is no doubt he is capable of captaining the team this season and next, as long as he stays fit.
Winger variety meets transition concerns - will Iraola find balance?published at 08:01 BST 11 September
08:01 BST 11 September
Image source, Getty Images
Liverpool have to "strike the balance" between "attacking aggressively and improving their defensive structure" this season, believe former Premier League players Charlie Adam and Paul Robinson.
Andoni Iraola's side have already conceded five goals in their four matches so far, but they have also scored two goals in each of them - the latest being Wednesday's 2-1 comeback victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
On Liverpool's transformed attack, ex-England goalkeeper Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast: "You can see he wants his team to be forward-thinking. Whenever they turn over possession, he doesn't want them passing backwards or sideways.
"Previously, there was a lot of keeping the ball, recycling possession, showing patience and not always being on the front foot.
"Liverpool essentially had two wingers who were running past their full-backs at all times against Atletico Madrid.
"It is going to look different when Cody Gakpo comes back into the equation, though, and it will be interesting to see what Iraola does with him.
"This is a very different Liverpool with the likes of Rio Ngumoha, Jeremie Frimpong, Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz. They are all different wingers who bring different dimensions.
"He has a lot of quality at his disposal, it is just how he deploys them."
On the Reds' leaky defence, former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Adam added: "They are still open to huge transition moments at times, when the turnover is there.
"The space between the backline, the midfield and the forwards was just too big at times against Atletico Madrid. They don't look very connected at the moment.
"When their opponents beat that first press, all of a sudden they are in the backline - and that is where the goal came from in their Champions League opener.
"That is still a worry for Liverpool. If they don't sort it, they will concede a lot of goals in transition this season."
'I'm pleased to hear the manager come out and take responsibility'published at 07:24 BST 11 September
07:24 BST 11 September
Image source, PA Media
The Redmen TV's Dan Clubbe says there are still things to iron out for Liverpool following their 2-1 victory against Atletico Madrid.
BBC Radio Merseyside discussed Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola's post-match comments on Wednesday, when he admitted he was surprised "tactically" by Diego Simeone's side and took blame for their opening goal.
However, Clubbe believes it is a problem that predates Iraola's time in charge.
"That's been the running theme all the way back to Bournemouth at home first game of last season, when we were carved open a couple of times by Antoine Semenyo. We never truly managed to get to grips with it," Clubbe said.
"A lot of us were hoping some defensive-minded midfielder would come in and maybe shut us up in the middle of the park. That hasn't happened and we're left with the midfield profiles that we have.
"There's still things to iron out but a lot of that will come with being better off the ball in terms of possession, and not allowing their defence or midfield so much time in order to dictate and get through what is a very soft underbelly right now.
"I'm pleased to hear the manager come out and take responsibility for that because that's him saying the players are the players, they are what they are, and I need to be the one to fix it."
Gossip: Reds were interested in Palestrapublished at 06:55 BST 11 September
06:55 BST 11 September
Liverpool were interested in 21-year-old Italy defender Marco Palestra, who later moved from Atalanta to Chelsea, but were hampered by needing to strengthen in other areas. (Athletic - subscription required, external)
What does future hold for Van Dijk and Alisson?published at 18:58 BST 10 September
18:58 BST 10 September
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Alisson's deal expires at the end of the season and although Juventus were interested in the goalkeeper this summer, Liverpool had no intention of letting him leave.
Andoni Iraola appointed Alisson one of his vice-captains and the 33-year-old has started all four games - three in the Premier League and Wednesday's Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid - so far this season. He remains comfortably their best goalkeeper, even if he is not at his peak.
Liverpool are not short of options. However, Giorgi Mamardashvili has not fully convinced thus far and 18-year-old Lucca Brughmans, who will arrive next summer from Genk in a deal worth up to £30m, is unlikely to be viewed as an immediate first choice.
Alisson has been one of Liverpool's best players during a period in which they won two Premier League titles and a Champions League, and the new sporting director will have to decide whether to try to keep him at Anfield next season.
The same can be said of skipper Virgil van Dijk, who is out of contract at the end of this season.
Having lost senior figures Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson at the end of 2025-26, Liverpool need experience, so losing both Alisson and Van Dijk in the same summer would carry risk.
After an extended break following the World Cup, 35-year-old Van Dijk has played every minute of Liverpool's league campaign so far and, although he may not be quite the force he once was, he is still comfortably one of Europe's best centre-backs.
Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni, Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye have huge potential and the new sporting director may view Van Dijk as the perfect player for them to learn from.
How are you feeling about Van Dijk and Alisson's futures? Should it be a priority to offer them new deals or would next summer be the right time to move on?
Araujo, who is on a season-long loan from Barcelona, started at right-back for the second game in a row and got an assist as the Reds came from 1-0 down to defeat Diego Simeone's side.
"We've got a great team and, little by little, we're growing too - meeting all the coach's demands and reaching a higher level," said the 27-year-old Uruguay international.
"Liverpool is a big club like Barcelona. I'm working hard, as you can see also on the pitch. I am happy here and hungry for more.
"Liverpool are a great club and I'm really looking forward to continuing to give my all so I can keep contributing to the team."
On his first experience of a Champions League night at Anfield, Araujo added: "I love playing in this stadium. It's a very special and lovely place, and when we're also able to show off all our hard work here with a good result, it makes us feel very satisfied.
"We were up against a great opponent, who we knew had already had some good nights here, but we stood up to them, played a great match and came away with the win, which was the important thing."
Alisson fined £8,000 for Forest outburstpublished at 16:15 BST 10 September
16:15 BST 10 September
Image source, Getty Images
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has been fined £8,000 for his actions near the Anfield tunnel after the Reds' 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.
After Saturday's game against Oliver Glasner's side, video footage emerged of Alisson kicking the fourth official's board - used to display injury time and substitutions - as he left the pitch at full-time.
The 33-year-old had conceded a penalty during the match - which was converted by Morgan Gibbs-White to put Forest 2-1 up. However, on Wednesday, the release of findings by the Key Match Incidents panel ruled that the spot-kick should not have been given.
The fourth official's board had also not worked during the fixture when Liverpool were trying to make substitutions when the score was 1-1.
The ball was out of play on three occasions but the Reds were unable to make a change and Forest eventually earned their controversial penalty when Liam Delap took a quick throw-in to Neco Williams, who went down in the area after Alisson had raced out to close down the chance.
An FA spokesperson said Alisson accepted a misconduct charge after it was alleged he "acted in an improper manner around the tunnel area".
Premier League releases festive football schedulepublished at 16:14 BST 10 September
16:14 BST 10 September
Image source, Getty Images
The Premier League has announced it will stage seven matches on Boxing Day this year after releasing its festive schedule.
Four fixtures will be staged at 15:00 GMT, with further matches played at 12:30, 17:30 and 20:00.
The fixture programme for 26 December, which falls on a Saturday in 2026, is considerably bigger than last year, when one game was held.
Three matches will be played on Sunday, 27 December, while three further rounds of games will be held over a period up to Thursday, 7 January.
A round of evening midweek fixtures will staged on 29-30 December, while Leeds will host Everton (20:00) for the only match on New Year's Day.
The remainder of that round will be held over the weekend of 2-3 January, with the fourth round of games spread across the evenings of 5-7 January.
The Premier League has brought forward the announcement of fixture scheduling over the Christmas and New Year period after consultation with both broadcast partners and the Football Supporters' Association and representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards.
Television scheduling for Premier League fixtures has been announced up to Monday, 2 November, with broadcast selections for the remaining games in November and December to be announced in the weeks commencing 21 September and 19 October respectively.
The Premier League has guaranteed clubs at least a 60-hour break between fixtures over the festive period to address the concerns over a congested festive schedule that follows recent expansions of the European and international calendars.
The 25-year-old equalised for the Reds in the 40th minutes with a "really clever" finish past goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
"He is such a big asset when he is playing in midfield," Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "He played a lot of last season at right-back, for whatever reason, but you get so much more out of him in the centre of the park.
"He has a great engine. He gets up there and reads the game so well. He started the game on the front foot and he set the tempo from kick-off.
"When we talk about turning defence into attack, he does that extremely quickly."
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Alistair Bruce-Ball added: "He is just so good at getting on the ball and making things happen. He can score all sorts of different goals.
"When we think of him, his dead-ball striking, free-kicks and long-range hits come to mind, but I actually thought his finish against Atletico Madrid was really clever.
"He reacted well to Ronald Araujo's flick, it ended up sort of between his feet, he just gently touched it with his left foot and just swept it beyond Jan Oblak to find the bottom corner.
"He has been putting in these kinds of performances for Liverpool for quite a while now - and he is going to be a key man this season."
