Liverpool

Liverpool fan Nahyan Chowdhury speaking to BBC Sport about the Reds' recruitment strategy now that sporting director Richard Hughes has left the club: "His time at Liverpool wasn't short of criticism though I think that is a little overstated given the fact he oversaw some fantastic signings that us as a fans got excited for.

"If I was in charge of hiring a sporting director I would employ someone who would look to go back to the model we implemented under Jurgen Klopp - don't sign superstars, make them.

"Andoni Iraola is no Jurgen Klopp, yet. But he did a fantastic job at Bournemouth developing talent like Rayan, Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott. Those are the type of players that could thrive at Liverpool. Don't sign superstars, develop them.

"I do think Liverpool have lacked recently in buying market opportunities. Look at Mamadou Sangare who is new to Brentford. Those are the type of signings Liverpool would have made under Jurgen Klopp.

"By no means am I saying don't sign superstars. I absolutely think we should do. Isak, Barcola, those type of signings made me excited. However, as a fanbase we do fall in love with players who we see rise to the top. Let Iraola do his job. He's a coach at the end of the day. Let him coach some players into superstars."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on what Liverpool's recruitment model should look like.

Here are some of your comments:

Richard: I would like to see more thought and consideration go into signings, rather than the scattergun approach, which we have seen over recent years. A focus is required on what the squad requires for balance, while also returning to a philosophy of signing the person (not just the player) as was the case under Klopp, Shankly, Paisley, Fagan, and Dalglish. I would also rather see more imagination and in-depth scouting, rather than walking into major European clubs with money falling out of our pockets asking "who do you have and how much do you want?"

Ed: Once upon a time, not all that long ago, the first you heard of a new Liverpool signing was after the business was done. I appreciate media coverage is wider and arguably better than ever before, but please can Richard Hughes' successor do whatever (s)he can do to ensure that potential targets are not identified days/weeks/months in advance.

Prince: It should look like the 'Andy Robertson' model. There are fantastic players in the Championship and even lower, who, with the right coaching, can surprise us. If we can't also transition players from the youth team, then we need to change things there too.

David: Liverpool's recruitment should be designed around two things, age and players who are comfortable on the ball. Today's game has evolved so much that you haven't got time on the ball, it's pure instinct with your position and the pass on the pitch.

Ian: Faster signings that don't drag on. Richard Hughes missed out on so many top players. Andoni Iraola and Bournemouth were great at finding gems and developing them, like Jurgen Klopp, so that's what they need to do.

Liverpool and Manchester United are monitoring Germany defender Malick Thiaw, but Newcastle have no intention of selling the 25-year-old. (Caught Offside), external

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Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola is looking forward to experiencing his first Champions League game as a manager when Liverpool take on Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday.

"It's a special night for me - everyone talks about Champions League nights at Anfield and also the first game is against a strong opposition," said Iraola.

"Diego Simeone is doing an incredible job as a manager, all the years achieving every season the goals of the club is remarkable. It's a big challenge for us. I played against him as a player and when he was a coach and also coached against him. He has much more experience than me but I hope tomorrow, we can give him a good game."

Iraola is winless in his four games against Simeone's Atlético Madrid, losing three of them and drawing once.

Liverpool face four games in 12 days and Iraola admitted it will be a "challenge" but revealed Bradley Barcola is "ready to play more minutes" after the £123m signing made his debut off the bench at Ipswich on Friday.

Earlier in the week, Dominik Szoboszlai told TNT Sports that "no one can stop us" if Liverpool can rediscover their intensity of old.

Asked how he would balance the desire for intensity with such a hectic fixture schedule, Iraola said: "I think it's something that has to be in us - we have to be always as intense as possible because I think we are better like this, sometimes we have to control games and be on the ball more.

"But you can be on the ball and still be intense by moving the ball fast and making runs. I don't want my players to think we have to save energy because we have a game in three days. You play 55 minutes for me and you are dead and ask for a sub, then perfect. We have a top level 55 minutes and then a top level 35. If I have to choose, I prefer that they are not with a calculator thinking let's win a little bit and not a lot because we have to play in three days. Let's push and do our the best is the way to get used to a higher rhythm. We need to increase our rhythm and the only way is pushing and being more demanding."

Cody Gakpo is a doubt for the Atletico Madrid fixture after he missed training on Tuesday as a precaution but there was good news for Iraola, with Joe Gomez returning to training after recovering from a muscle injury he sustained in July during Liverpool's pre-season tour of the USA.

It's fair to say Alexis Mac Allister had quite a lot to get off his chest - and he has done that and more here.

We walked into the news conference room at Anfield thinking the focus would be on Andoni Iraola's first game as a manager in the Champions League. Instead, the talk is all about Mac Allister.

It wasn't quite Mohamed Salah in a mixed zone saying he was "more out than in", but it was certainly a shock to hear Mac Allister speak so candidly in such a public setting so early in the season.

Quite clearly, there is a sadness on his part that he has not had the same treatment as Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, who both signed new long-term deals this year.

Richard Hughes - the now former Liverpool sporting director - was involved in the discussions with Mac Allister's camp and the Reds hierarchy opted not to offer him a new contract after a below-par campaign last term.

Perhaps Mac Allister's comments are a strategy to see the reaction from the fanbase, but, deep down, he will know he must return to the levels he showed during Liverpool's title-winning campaign in 2024-25, when he scored five goals and provided five assists.

At 27 and with his proven quality, Mac Allister would command a hefty fee in a market where the value of midfielders is only rising.

But he is clear that he loves Liverpool and Iraola's comments that the Argentine can develop as a player suggests there could be another chapter to the club and Mac Allister's relationship.

Now it remains to be seen how another contract saga - something Liverpool are getting increasingly used to - will play out over the course of the season.

What do you make of Mac Allister's comments and the timing of them? How do you expect things to play out from here?

Get in touch with your views here

Jude Winter
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid at Anfield (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Iraola said he had not spoken with Alexis Mac Allister about renewing his contract and backed the midfielder's claim the club were "not in a position to renew".

• The Spaniard added that he hopes to help Mac Allister develop as a player and that "if all goes well, everything will be resolved".

• He said his first Champions League night at Anfield will be "special" and one of the things people mentioned when he took the job.

• The departure of sporting director Richard Hughes "wasn't a surprise" for Iraola, who wished him "all the best".

• On Milos Kerkez and his performances, Iraola said: "He still has big potential. He has a good amount of experience in the Premier League and with the international team. I trust him. He has a lot to improve, like all the players, otherwise there is no bigger ceiling. I am ready to try to help him become a better player."

• Against Atletico Madrid, Iraola wants his side to be "proactive, start well and press our opponents early in the game". He knows the La Liga side "pretty well" and said it will be a "big test".

• He said the squad "needed" the win against Ipswich to get their season up and running.

• Bradley Barcola is "ready for more minutes" and has been training "normally" with the rest of the squad.

• A busy September will be a "challenge", but Iraola does not believe picking a squad for the Atletico Madrid game will be the "most difficult scenario" of the season.

• He does not want his players to "think we need to save energy", saying he would prefer them to run for 55 minutes and be "dead", playing with high intensity.

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

Listen to full match commentary of Liverpool v Atletico Madrid on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds on Wednesday

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

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has said he was "sad" to learn the club could not renew his contract during the summer and that he had "options" to leave.

The 27-year-old is currently under contract until the summer of 2028.

He was widely criticised for his form last season, adding to speculation he may be near an Anfield exit.

Speaking before Liverpool's Champions League opening fixture against Atletico Madrid, Mac Allister said "no direct conversations" between himself and the club had taken place over a new deal.

"They were with my agent. I don't want to say things they never said, but they said they were not in the position to renew me," added the Argentina international.

"I see Dominik [Szoboszlai] and Ryan [Gravenberch renewing their contracts and that makes me very happy because they deserve it.

"At the same time, it makes me a little bit sad that I didn't get mine. Of course, there is still time.

"The fans don't need to worry because I will give 100% until the last day I am here. We will see what happens.

"There were options to leave this summer. Right now, I'm at the right club."

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Turkish Airlines will become Liverpool's front-of-shirt sponsor from the start of the 2027-28 season in a £300m deal.

The five-year contract is worth in excess of £60m a season, an increase on the current £50m-per-season deal with Standard Chartered, which has been the club's main partner since 2010 and is the existing front-of-shirt sponsor.

Liverpool believe the agreement with Turkish Airlines is the the most valuable front-of-shirt-only commercial deal in Premier League history - with Arsenal and Manchester City's deals with Emirates and Etihad Airways respectively also involving stadium naming rights.

In February, Liverpool announced record revenues of more than £700m for the most recent financial year and were the highest-placed Premier League club in the Deloitte Football Money League.

Turkish Airlines will become only the third different front-of-shirt partner in 35 years at Liverpool, following Carlsberg and Standard Chartered, with the latter remaining in position this season before transitioning to become a global partner from 2027-28 onwards.

The airline will be the sixth front-of-shirt sponsor in the club's history, following Hitachi (1979-1982), Crown Paints (1982-1988), Candy (1988-1992), Carlsberg (1992-2010) and Standard Chartered (2010-2027).

Negotiations with Turkish Airlines started before 1892 Holdings - a consortium led by Liverpool vice-chairman Amit Bhatia - purchased a stake of about 38% in the club last month.

Chief commercial officer Ben Latty said the front of the shirt "holds a special place in the history" of Liverpool, adding that the partnership will build on "strong foundations" from the Reds' Champions League win in Turkish city Istanbul in 2005.

Turkish Airlines chief executive Ahmet Olmustur said: "This partnership brings together two global brands united by their international reach, commitment to excellence and ability to inspire millions of people around the world."

With Richard Hughes' move to Al-Hilal now confirmed, Liverpool are seeking a new sporting director for the fifth time since 2022.

Hughes joined Liverpool in the summer of 2024 and oversaw the appointments of Arne Slot then Andoni Iraola. He informed the club earlier this year that he wanted to pursue a new challenge in Saudi Arabia.

Mike Gordon, the president of Fenway Sports Group (FSG), is overseeing the process of finding Hughes' replacement, with Liverpool keen to make a swift appointment.

Liverpool will look at internal candidates, but have not ruled out the possibility of appointing someone from outside the club. There is a desire to have someone that is committed long term.

When the question of stability was put to Billy Hogan, Liverpool's CEO, this summer, he told BBC Sport: "I would send a message that we are in a very healthy place as a football club - the leadership from the ownership is in a very steady place and we're looking forward to the next season and the season ahead."

However this has been a summer where Liverpool have changed managers, welcomed new investors, lost a number of senior players and seen their sporting director leave a year earlier than expected. Michael Edwards, who appointed Hughes, also resigned as FSG's CEO of Football.

Hughes, who is understood to have been influenced by Edwards' departure, was integral in the decision to sack Slot and appoint Iraola and ultimately the new sporting director will have a big say in the Spaniard's future.

When he joined Liverpool, Iraola said he only signed a two-year-deal because he didn't just want to be somewhere because he had a contract.

His relationship with Hughes from their time at Bournemouth played a part in him getting the Liverpool job. Now it will be down to someone else to work in tandem with Iraola as Liverpool look to challenge again.

Read more on problems Liverpool must solve

Forward Federico Chiesa will look to leave Liverpool in January if he struggles for game time when he returns from injury. (Football Insider), external

Liverpool and Manchester United have made direct contact with Wolves over a move for 18-year-old winger Matheus Mane. (Ekrem Konur), external

The Reds will let Luke Chambers leave on loan in January, with Scottish Premiership champions Celtic keen on the left-back. (Anything Liverpool), external

Meanwhile, Manchester United have completed a deal to sign 16-year-old midfielder Isaac Konde from the Anfield club. (Fabrizio Romano), external

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

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Liverpool showed "intent" and a press that screamed Andoni Iraola.

That's the view of the BBC Radio Merseyside team as they bring you the latest instalment of The Weekend Round-up.

There's talk of Friday's win at Ipswich being a "statement performance".

"The link-up between Isak and Gakpo is something to behold," says BBC Radio Merseyside's commentator Mike Hughes.

"There's two players on the same wavelength. That has to be a really big positive for Liverpool. For Gakpo, who must have got sick of the headlines being so negative - he played a really good role in Liverpool winning the title. He started this season really well and that is going to be massive for him and Liverpool."

BBC Radio Merseyside's Paul Salt added: "I don't think you can drop him now. Even though Barcola is here. He is almost the go-to man."

On the full-debut of Ronald Araujo, who played at right-back, Hughes, who covers the Reds consistently throughout the season, commented: "He looks really formidable. You look at the physicality of him, his strength and ability to win balls in the air. There are going to be other players available when Bradley is fit, we wait to see on Frimpong, but he's made that position his own for now. He played with a real sense of authority. There was a nice understanding with Jacquet mainly on that side. Araujo looks very resilient and self-assured. There's quality there. When you have that kind of quality and a player who can play in two roles, that is another real positive for Iraola and Liverpool."

So listen to the episode in full by hitting play above or on BBC Sounds here

Take in a clip of Chris Coughlin discussing Isak's display below...

It is all change again in Liverpool's recruitment department with sporting director Richard Hughes now confirmed as having left the club to join Saudi outfit Al-Hilal.

We have a simple question for you as a result - what should Liverpool's recruitment model look like? Tell us how it should be led and what should be at its core.

Get in touch with your views here

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool striker Alexander Isak says scoring twice in Friday's win at Ipswich "lifts some weight" off his shoulders.

Lats summer's £125m signing struggled with form and injuries during his first season with the Reds, but fired past Kjell Scherpen twice inside the opening nine minutes at Portman Road to take his tally to three in three at the start of this campaign.

"Winning our first game of the season was very important and I'm happy to be on the scoresheet twice," Isak said.

"Scoring goals always lifts some weight off your shoulders. It's important, especially at the start of the season, to get off to a good start.

"I'm happy to score and I want to keep on building on this."

It was Liverpool's first win under new boss Andoni Iraol, who gave a debut off the bench to new £123m signing Bradley Barcola.

"It changes a lot for all of us when you have a new manager and new players come in," Isak added.

"We are all still adapting and learning the new way but we all feel all very happy and optimistic with where we are at and knowing we will only get better as well.

"It's very exciting. We have a lot of danger up front and adding Bradley into that is only going to make us much better. So, we are all really happy to have him here."

Listen to the full chat below or on BBC Sounds

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It has been almost public knowledge over the last year that Richard Hughes would be leaving for Al-Hilal and the announcement of his departure marks another moment of massive change at Anfield this summer.

Liverpool replaced Arne Slot with Andoni Iraola at the end of last season before Michael Edwards, FSG's then CEO of football, resigned in July.

Last month FSG confirmed it sold a minority stake in the club to Amit Bhatia's 1892 Holdings - a consortium that includes Jeff Bezos - and now the club are on the hunt for their fifth sporting director since 2022.

Edwards left the role of sporting director in 2022 and was replaced by Julian Ward, who is now FSG's technical director. Ward was replaced in 2023 by Jorg Schmadtke before Hughes arrived in 2024.

After Jurgen Klopp stepped down, Hughes oversaw the appointment of Slot, who helped Liverpool win their second Premier League title. For that, Hughes deserves credit - even if he was part of the decision to sack Slot.

But his legacy will perhaps only be fairly judged in the future, given he oversaw the appointment of Iraola and Liverpool's mega summer window in 2025 where Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak arrived for fees in excess of £100m and the club spent a then record £415m.

Hughes made the decision to leave earlier this year, informing the ownership of his desire to seek a fresh challenge.

This followed the decision of Edwards to step down in autumn - which was confirmed over the summer - and it was agreed that Hughes would remain in position until the end of the summer window.

His existing relationship with Iraola further underlined the logic of keeping him on through the summer.

Despite speculation that Hughes was already working for Al-Hilal, Liverpool are satisfied that an agreement for him to only work for Liverpool during this period was honoured.

Get the full story on Hughes here

We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Ipswich Town and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Ipswich fans

Philip: Absolutely terrible start and never really recovered after that. The defence will cost us games, and the midfield needs to be ready for the battle every single week. Never really laid a glove on Liverpool, to be honest.

Rob: We played well after a poor start. I am not sure that our new goalkeeper is an improvement on Christian Walton.

Mel: We lost the ball too easily and didn't manage to dispossess them hardly at all. So many bad passes. Apart from Enciso, Fatawu and Davis, some expensive players still need to get their acts together. Not sure our new goalkeeper is better than Walton. But, on a positive note, they are slowly getting better and I can see us getting some good results this season and staying up.

Joseph: Two years ago we would have rolled over and conceded five or six. Fair play to this Ipswich side for trying. The cutting edge will come with time, we hope!

Liverpool fans

John: The system showed signs of coming together perfectly. The threat of Bradley Barcola on the bench seems to have fired up Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak to wake up. Defence still looks a bit unsteady, especially at right-back.

Ian: So important to get the win. Lots of positives. Jacquet played his first 90 mins. Two goals for Isak. Araujo tidy at right-back. Gakpo's attitude and performance were impeccable. Onwards and upwards.

John Y: Much better first half. Struggled to control the game in the last 20 mins by conceding possession far too easily. Isak and Gakpo worked well together. Funny game, football. Gakpo could easily have been at Manchester City rather than providing two assists for us this evening.

Arshad: Our £125m striker has finally arrived. Gakpo was immense and I'm sure every Liverpool fan is thankful we didn't sell him. Unfortunately, Wirtz is still looking lightweight, hopefully he'll turn it around. Overall, a much better performance and finally a clean sheet.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Alexander Isak was the £125m striker who finally arrived at Liverpool by tormenting Ipswich Town - while Cody Gakpo's virtuoso performance had them giving thanks he never left.

The nuts and bolts of a comfortable Friday in Suffolk were that Liverpool won 2-0 - thanks to two Isak goals in the first nine minutes, giving them their first Premier League victory of the season and new manager Andoni Iraola's first since succeeding the sacked Arne Slot.

Liverpool's win must be placed in the context of being against a newly promoted Ipswich Town who were game, but who shipped five goals at Manchester United last week and look ripe for the picking against attacking quality.

The wider significance, however, was that Isak finally looked like the player Liverpool broke, at that time, the British transfer record to seal an acrimonious transfer from Newcastle United last summer.

Throw in the added bonus that Bradley Barcola showed flashes of devastating pace in a 26-minute debut display after his £123m arrival from Paris St-Germain, and this was a night that ticked every box for Iraola and Liverpool.

Even Barcola's bow, however, was overshadowed by Isak.

The Sweden striker looked a lost soul in his first season at Liverpool, arriving out of condition after downing tools to secure his move from Tyneside, then troubled by injuries as he gave the impression of being the most expensive vanity purchase in British football history.

He was outshone by fellow striker Hugo Ekitike, his statistics stark as he suffered along with many others in an astonishing decline amid Liverpool's dismal title defence that led to Slot's sacking only a year after he lifted the Premier League trophy.

Isak played 22 games encompassing 1,033 minutes, scoring four goals at a rate of one every 258 minutes. He played 14 games in the Premier League totalling 703 minutes, scoring only three goals at a rate of one every 234 minutes.

He has already equalled that league tally this season, but it was his demeanour as well as his lethal finishing that will have given Liverpool and Iraola confidence that the Isak code has finally been cracked.

And it was done by utilising Isak at his best - running in behind defenders and pressing with pace. It was what made him such a hot property at Newcastle United, and made everything about his every miserable moment on the pitch with Liverpool last term such a mystery.

It was also done in tandem with Gakpo, who could easily have been back in the north west preparing for Manchester City's game against Coventry City at Etihad Stadium had the move not collapsed.

Read more here

Liverpool starting XI:

Alisson: Lucky to get away with misjudging a first-half corner. The occasional anxious moment but no harm done. 6

Ronald Araujo: Strong in the air and on the ground on an impressive Premier League debut at right-back. Important interventions by being in the right place at the right time. 7

Virgil van Dijk: Usual unruffled self in the face of some frantic Ipswich Town attacking. 7

Jeremy Jacquet: Solid alongside Van Dijk. Continues to look a very fine acquisition. 6

Milos Kerkez: Occasionally troubled by Fatawu's pace but never in huge difficulties. 6

Dominik Szoboszlai: Driving runs from midfield and always willing to test the keeper. Iraola should never use him at right-back. 7

Alexis Mac Allister: Still not quite at his best. Too many misplaced passes but never hides or shirks responsibility. 6

Florian Wirtz: Busy but occasionally lightweight. As so often, showed subtle touches that hint at good things to come. 6

Alexander Isak: The best of Alexander Isak at last. Running behind a defence with pace and clever movement with cool finishes. Finally showed why Liverpool bought him. 8

Victor Munoz: Willing and pacy out wide but could have delivered more end product. 6

Cody Gakpo: Could have been playing for Manchester City. How glad Liverpool are he wasn't. Two superb passes for Isak's opening goals, Truly outstanding performance. 9

Liverpool substitutes:

Bradley Barcola (on 64, Munoz): Showed one or two flashes of the lightning pace the £123m signing will bring to Liverpool. 5

Ryan Gravenberch (on 64, Isak): Brought on to shut down any potential Ipswich Town revival.

Nyoni (on 84, Mac Allister)

Lewis Koumas (on 90, Wirtz)

Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Frimpong, Tsimikas, Endo, Ngumoha

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

It was a night that was supposed to belong to Liverpool's latest blockbuster signing, Bradley Barcola, but Alexander Isak had other ideas.

The Swede has endured a difficult, injury-hit first 12 months at Anfield, but he used the familiar surroundings of Portman Road to fully launch his Liverpool career.

The last time he made the trip to Suffolk to face the Tractor Boys, he left with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick in Newcastle United's thumping 4-0 victory.

That came during a season in which the forward scored 27 goals, earned a place in the PFA team of the year and helped the Magpies win silverware.

That is something Andoni Iraola will hope the striker can replicate this term after finally appearing to find his feet in a Liverpool shirt.

If he is to do that, it seems Cody Gakpo will be the perfect dance partner. The Dutchman showed no sign of a hangover from his failed move to Etihad Stadium as he continued his impressive start to the campaign with two assists for the former Newcastle United forward.

The prospect of a fully fit and firing Isak leading the line, flanked by Gakpo and fellow £100m-plus signings Florian Wirtz and Barcola, will no doubt excite Iraola after he secured his first win as Liverpool manager.

Liverpool, however, do have issues at the other end of the pitch and, although they kept their first clean sheet of the season, the Spaniard will not be satisfied with everything he saw.

But the sight of Isak wheeling away in celebration may just be enough to take his mind off those concerns, even if only for one night.