Liverpool

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Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has admitted last season's title defence was "unacceptable", but he believes the players "have an opportunity to turn it around" under new head coach Andoni Iraola.

The Reds still qualified for Champions League football despite finishing fifth in the Premier League last season with 60 points.

"We all know how tough it will be, but if you aren't up for the challenge then you aren't at the right place," Van Dijk said. "What I feel at the moment is everybody is up for the challenge.

"Let's see how we go about it. I'm really looking forward to this season.

"I don't feel we have a point to prove to anyone. We just have to show how much we care, how much we want to fight for this badge and also realise how privileged we are to be playing for Liverpool."

The 35-year-old will welcome better cover in central defence this season, with Liverpool signing Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo while Giovanni Leoni is close to a return from an ACL injury

There will also be a new style of play under Iraola, who won plaudits for his brand of football during his time at Bournemouth.

"If you look at Bournemouth last season, they were pretty exciting," Van Dijk added. "If we keep working, believing and showing our quality, we can be very excited.

"We need everyone to be fit. We need a squad that is able to compete on all four fronts, that's the only way to try to be successful.

"Let's see what the last couple weeks of the transfer window brings and then let's go for it."

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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A number of players are leaving Liverpool for loan moves as Andoni Iraola cuts down his squad for the season ahead.

Winger Kieran Morrison has completed a temporary switch to Sheffield Wednesday for the duration of the 2026-27 campaign.

Morrison, who was impressive during Liverpool's pre-season tour of the USA, turned down interest from Europe to move to League One as the 19-year-old believes he will get consistent first-team football at Hillsborough.

Earlier this summer, Liverpool tied Morrison down to a new deal until 2030.

Meanwhile, Calvin Ramsay is set to complete a loan move to St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership. The 23-year-old right-back is out of contract with Liverpool next summer.

And 18-year-old centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe - who can't play competitive football yet for Liverpool because of work permit issues - has travelled to Spain as he closes in on a move to Levante in La Liga on loan.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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When it was revealed on Tuesday that Fenway Sports Group (FSG) had actually sold about 38% of Liverpool to 1892 Holdings, there was certainly an element of confusion.

On Friday, the understanding was that the Jeff Bezos-backed consortium had purchased about a third of Liverpool - and BBC Sport was informed that speculation placing the investment in the range of approximately 30% to 33% was "directionally accurate".

So why was a different figure reported just four days later?

FSG's policy is not to publicly disclose precise ownership stakes but, with numbers circulating before the official announcement, the Boston-based conglomerate was keen to indicate what was being reported was in the right territory, rather than simply referring to it as a "minority investment".

The chain of events, though, has led to some at Liverpool privately asking why FSG was not more transparent, seeing the confusion as unnecessary.

On Friday, BBC Sport also reported the agreement included an option for the consortium to increase its investment in the future.

Four days later, BBC Sport learned there was a specific option within the deal for the consortium to buy a controlling stake in the next 12 months, again raising questions about transparency.

There is an option that would allow 1892 Holdings to become majority owners within a year, though it does not involve a formal commitment.

But the very inclusion of it does pose the question: what is FSG's long-term vision with Liverpool?

When FSG bought Liverpool for £300m in 2010, the club were "literally on the brink of bankruptcy" according to current CEO Billy Hogan.

Sixteen years later, this deal is said to value the club between £5bn and £6bn, meaning the club is worth more than 15 times its value in 2010.

"It is a great deal for FSG," football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport. "They generate more than £1bn from the deal and still keep control - this represents the best of both worlds."

But for how long do FSG remain in control? The partnership may have been announced as a minority stake but, make no mistake, these are major developments.

Read the full article here

Chris has sent me this question around Liverpool's pursuit of Bradley Barcola, while Josh has asked if the Reds will look to replace Curtis Jones with a transfer in midfield.

Liverpool's priority in the transfer market is still in attack and namely, Bradley Barcola. The pursuit of Barcola is dragging on but it is very likely that both PSG and Liverpool to come to an agreement this summer for the French winger.

As it stands, a move for another midfielder looks unlikely but as is always the case, if an opportunity in the market presents itself then Liverpool may act.

This year, Liverpool have tied down Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch to new long-term deals while 19-year-old Trey Nyoni will now get an opportunity to show Andoni Iraola what he can do.

Alexis Mac Allister, who is entering into the final two years of his current deal at Anfield, will also be staying put this summer.

With no active talks over a new deal yet for Mac Allister though, midfield could well become more of a priority over the coming 12 months for Liverpool.

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We asked for your views on the potential sale of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones to Inter Milan.

Here are some of your comments:

John: It's about time. I hope Curtis Jones finds another level abroad. He was always just short of a first-choice player.

Dave: I don't like this business of selling Jones at all. I wish Curtis all the best but such a shame to be losing a very talented local player from the team. I felt he always had the ability to deserve more game time. I guess financial regulations mean it's a 'pure profit' sale, so I understand we may need to offset, but I've never liked that 'pure profit' aspect either, as it encourages sales of home-grown and club-trained players. Similar to what happened with Jarell Quansah, and I think that was a mistake...

Jay: Nice to have a local lad around, but Jones really hit his ceiling a few seasons back. His concentration was his downfall. Too often walking around our 18-yard box and watching the game. Hasn't been able to break into the team and play at a high level consistently. Dominik Szoboszlai coming in and progressing so well has highlighted Jones' limitations. Time to sell before it becomes another contract saga. With John Stones and Djed Spence going to Inter Milan this summer, it's going to be a much easier transition for Curtis. The cash is definitely going towards getting at least one winger from PSG, so all round, a good deal. Good luck to the lad, he's leaving with a sackful of trophies and superb memories.

Jim: Frankly, he wasn't going to get much game time, and although he is a local boy, other than a decent holding midfielder, we have a lot of options in that area of the park. Therefore, any money is good money. Maybe this might finally help us get some of the other mooted deals over the line. It still begs the question of who we have of real quality that is going to fill the homegrown quota though.

Last season: Fifth.

This season: Third.

Andoni Iraola has arrived from Bournemouth to restore some order after a dismal title defence last season.

The start of the post-Mohamed Salah era will not be easy, and Iraola's all-out intense style may take time to bed in, but there is still lots of quality in Liverpool's squad and players such as Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak now know what life at Anfield is all about.

If Bradley Barcola arrives from Paris St-Germain and Rio Ngumoha's rapid progress continues, Liverpool can have a good season.

Young central defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are also potential stars. Spain winger Victor Munoz will provide thrust and pace.

Definitely a top-four place and in contention for trophies.

• Read more of Phil's predictions

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

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Teams in the bottom half of the Premier League in 2025-26 finished with more points than they had in years, meaning that judging them simply by their position in the table is perhaps a little harsh.

Everton may have been underwhelmed with their 13th-place finish but it was the most points a team in that position had finished with since the Toffees themselves in 1999-2000.

The points of the four places below them were all the highest they have been in the Premier League for 23 years and West Ham can consider themselves unlucky to have gone down with the highest points total for an 18th-placed side since 2010-11.

However, competition has come at a cost.

One place where the Premier League has become less competitive - because it has become more fiercely-contested overall - is at the very bottom.

While it is almost expected for one side to be cut adrift long before the end of the season, nowadays two sides are getting left behind.

The average points tally of the second-bottom side in a 38-game season is 31, meaning teams that finish there have usually competed in a relegation battle for most of the season before ultimately falling short.

After the Premier League was reduced to 20 teams in 1995-96, only two 19th-placed sides failed to reach 30 points in the first 21 seasons. But in the past decade, seven of the 10 sides to finish in that position have failed to do so.

In the past two seasons, promoted sides Ipswich and Burnley have both finished there with just 22 points - the fewest ever taken by a second-bottom side.

Relegation battles are now mostly a fight to see who takes the final spot in the bottom three, with the other two accounted for long before the final day - often by promoted sides.

But inspired by the survival of Sunderland and Leeds, promoted trio Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City will all be hoping they have what it takes to match the competitiveness of the Premier League this season.

Read more on the Premier League's competitive numbers

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Tributes to the late Kevin Keegan will take place at St James' Park on Sunday when two of his former clubs, Newcastle United and Liverpool, meet in the Premier League.

The former England manager died in July aged 75 and both clubs will come together to celebrate his remarkable playing and managerial career.

The teams will warm up in special shirts and wear black armbands during the match.

Among several other tributes, a minute's applause will take place before kick-off and a display by Wor Flags will include both home and away supporters.

Fans have been asked to arrive early for the 16:30 BST kick-off.

Inter Milan are closing in on a deal worth 35m euros (£30m) for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones.

Liverpool are open to selling Jones and want something in line with the £30m package that Inter paid Tottenham for Djed Spence.

How would you rate this potential sale? Tell us

Mike Hughes
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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A week before the start of the new Premier League season, a new exhibition opened at the Liverpool FC museum at Anfield.

It is devoted to the goalscoring exploits of legendary striker Ian Rush and highlights the role he played in the club's incredible success during the 1980s and 1990s.

But at a time when modern football and its surrounding football lexicon is packed full of "high press, counter-pressing and triggers", then maybe it is a worthwhile exercise to reflect on how the man who became a nightmare figure for defenders in England and Europe was the finest exponent in all of the above before the terminology became universally popular.

Celebrated primarily for his goals, the Wales international was also Liverpool's first line of defence, setting standards that would fit seamlessly into today's game.

Rush's extraordinary scoring record understandably dominates discussions about his career. However, labelling him as just a penalty-box predator overlooks a crucial aspect of his contribution.

Liverpool's success in that era was built not only on technical excellence, but also on relentless work without the ball. Rush embodied that philosophy better than anyone.

What made Rush so effective was his willingness to chase seemingly lost causes.

Defenders who thought they had time to settle in possession were rarely able to enjoy such luxury. He closed down central defenders, full-backs and goalkeepers with remarkable intensity, forcing hurried clearances and rushed decisions.

At a time when many strikers conserved their energy for potential attacking moments, he viewed defensive work as a vitally important component of his overall job.

His pressing was intelligent and reliable. Rush understood angles, using his runs to cut off passing lanes while simultaneously applying pressure on the ball carrier.

Rather than charging aimlessly, he shepherded opponents into uncomfortable areas where Liverpool's midfielders could win back possession.

In modern terminology, he was activating pressing traps decades before football analysts began giving them names.

Liverpool's dominance under Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish was built on collective discipline as well as footballing artistry and Rush was central to that culture.

In the more recent landscape, when players like Roberto Firmino and Liverpool's recent forwards are praised for their defending from the front, Rush deserves recognition as a pioneer of the role.

He managed to combine world-class finishing with tireless pressing, making him not only the Reds' greatest goalscorer, but also their most effective "defensive forward".

The language may have changed, but the principle remains the same. Long before "high press" entered the football vocabulary, Rush was emphasising the moments that a striker's contribution begins were the moment his team loses possession.

His goals may have won matches, but his pressing helped to build champions.

Listen to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details of live Everton/Liverpool match commentaries on BBC Radio Merseyside

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Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who has starred for Liverpool in pre-season, is closing in on a loan move to Levante in La Liga.

The 18-year-old is ineligible to play competitive football for Liverpool this season due to work-permit issues and a move to Spain looks increasingly likely but no deal has been struck yet.

BBC Sport understands that if the move does happen, it will be a season-long loan move that will then be reviewed during the January transfer window.

There is a chance that Ndukwe could be recalled from any loan in January if he earns enough points to qualify for a UK work permit by then.

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Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is set to join Al-Diriyah on a loan deal from Al-Hilal.

The 27-year-old's move between the Saudi Pro League clubs is at an advanced stage with the transfer expected to be confirmed in the coming days.

It is understood Al-Diriyah sporting director Dougie Freedman has played an integral role in the proposed deal.

Freedman left his position at Crystal Palace last summer and helped the Al-Diriyah secure promotion into the Saudi top-flight in his first season.

Having joined Liverpool in 2022 for a fee of up to £85m, the Uruguay international left Anfield last summer joining Al-Hilal.

Nunez scored nine goals in all competitions for the club last season before making three appearances at the World Cup.

He has been linked with a return to European football this summer but is set to stay in Saudi Arabia.

Eli Junior Kroupi, Igor Thiago and Nico O'Reilly were among the breakout stars who made their mark on the Premier League last season - but who will be next?

BBC Sport's TV and radio commentators have picked 13 players they believe are worth watching out for over the next few months.

Liverpool's Trey Nyoni is on the list ...

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Name: Trey Nyoni Age: 19 Position: Centre-midfield Country: England

Steve Wilson: The young central midfielder has been one of Liverpool's best performers in pre-season. Signed from Leicester City in 2023, he made his Premier League debut in late December after a handful of appearances in domestic cup competitions.

Arne Slot liked what he saw enough to give the then 18-year-old a dozen appearances from the bench in the second half of last season.

Andoni Iraola has been impressed by Nyoni on his new side's somewhat shaky US tour and, with central midfield an area Liverpool aren't especially strong in, he may be reconsidering listening to offers to send him out on loan.

Find the full list of possible breakout stars here

Liverpool and England midfielder Curtis Jones, 25, remains a top target for Inter Milan, who believe a bid of 35m euros (£29m) will be successful. (CaughtOffside), external

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

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Fancy testing your football prediction skills? With the new season under way, BBC Sport has just the thing to keep you entertained every week.

After the success of our World Cup Predictor game, we've rebranded it for the club season as Match of the Day Predictor.

It's simple to play - just predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

And don't worry if you've joined late - players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.

Once you've submitted your predictions, you'll also be able to see what others think the outcome of the match will be.

Read more about it here

You can find the predictor in the navigation bar at the top of this page, or click here to play