Liverpool

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Liverpool striker Alexander Isak has returned to his club after picking up a minor injury while on international duty with Sweden.

The 27-year-old will not be involved in Sweden's remaining three matches in this international break and will be assessed by his club's medical staff.

He played the full 90 minutes and scored a goal in Sweden's 2-1 win over Romania in the Nations League on Friday.

"He's got a small problem with his thigh. It's not a big one but because of the amount of games we've got in a small space of time, he won't be able to make those," Swedish coach Graham Potter told reporters.

"Not a big one, but frustrating for him, and obviously for us."

Isak has started the season with four goals in five Premier League games for the Reds.

His first season at Liverpool last year - after a £125m move from Newcastle - was hampered by injury and he was limited to 14 Premier League appearances, scoring three goals.

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We asked you to rate Liverpool's start to the season and tell us what Andoni Iraola should be focusing on during this extended international break.

Here are some of your comments:

Johnnie: Solid away from home, fragile at home. Fans need to play their part and make Anfield a fortress. Defence looks sharp with the new additions, the middle looks imbalanced as we persist with Florian Wirtz. He needs to be benched and Ryan Gravenberch start to let Dominik Szoboszlai bomb on. I feel Wirtz may be more effective against tired sides later on, so he gets some confidence back.

Gareth: Let's face it, we were spoiled in Arne Slot's first season. Nobody expected us to win the league with a new manager, particularly when following a club legend. Therefore, this start under Iraola is very typical and totally expected. I think there are good signs and with each game we are shaking off the turgid rubbish that was evident last season. I'm very optimistic.

Ste: A steady, unbeaten start. Iraola is still finding out about players and who will fit into his style of play. Having had a reasonably quiet transfer window, I'm expecting a couple of new signings in the next window.

Joseph: Unbeaten in all competitions. In the right part of the table after five matches and a win against Manchester City would put us three points off top. Nothing to complain about so far. Decent start for Iraola.

Andy: Underperforming. Too many players are not good enough. Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong are both hopeless. Wirtz and Alexander Isak are a bad fit for us. We look better than last season, but the quality of football is very average.

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Liverpool will return from the international break to a "real test", says BBC Radio Merseyside's Chris Coughlin.

The Red Kop team discussed Liverpool's start to the Premier League season and how much more difficult it is going to get for Andoni Iraola's side with the upcoming fixtures.

Coughlin said: "After the international break, Liverpool have Manchester City at home, Brentford away, Brighton at home and Arsenal at home - that four-game run is arguably against the four top teams in the Premier League at the moment and the four most in-form.

"Liverpool are going to have a real test after this break so that's why it's important to go into it off this good run.

"I think eight points is fine [from those four fixtures], because that's two wins and two draws; against good opposition I can see that being a reasonable points tally. I think anything more than eight is a really good return."

Listen to the full edition of Red Kop on BBC Sounds here

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"Liverpool fans were naturally expecting the finished product to arrive and Florian Wirtz probably isn't that just yet," says Liverpool podcaster Josh Williams, who also admits the 23-year-old isn't living up to his £116m price tag.

Wirtz has made 55 appearances for the Reds, scoring seven goals and contributing 11 assists, since penning a five-year deal to move to Anfield from Bayern Leverkusen in June 2025.

However, the attacking midfielder is yet to find the target in 404 Premier League minutes this season.

When asked if Wirtz is as bad as the recent criticism he has received, Williams told BBC Radio Merseyside: "If you look at his performance against Bournemouth, yes. It was a disgrace. I get it might happen here and there, but it isn't supposed to happen to a £100m player.

"The credit he has got in the bank is largely from his Bundesliga days. It has been over a year since he arrived in England but we aren't seeing a player that grabs the game by the scruff of the neck - and I suppose a £100m player should do that.

"It is a difficult one because he is still really young and there are tactical reasons why he didn't succeed last season. We are only six games into Andoni Iraola's reign as well, so I would encourage patience with Wirtz."

On whether Wirtz being crowned Bundesliga player of the year back-to-back brought even more expectation, Williams added: "It obviously did. I absolutely understand why there's expectation there.

"I'm reluctant to defend him and make out that he has actually been a worldie because what we've seen so far hasn't been that great."

Hit play below to hear the full discussion or listen on BBC Sounds here

Liverpool are considering a move to bring 23-year-old midfielder Tyler Morton back to the club from Lyon, with Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Brighton also monitoring him. (Teamtalk), external

Juventus could be set to reignite their interest in goalkeeper Alisson, whose future at Anfield is in doubt. (Football Italia), external

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

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Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Liverpool are expected to appoint technical director Julian Ward as their next sporting director, succeeding Richard Hughes, who left to join Al-Hilal after the summer transfer window.

Reds owners Fenway Sports Group has spoken to a number of external candidates, including former Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman, now at Saudi Pro League side Al-Diriyah.

Brentford technical director Lee Dykes was also approached.

BBC Sport reported last Friday that Ward was a leading candidate to fill the role, with FSG minded to make an internal appointment.

It is understood Ward's promotion at Anfield is now in the process of being finalised.

As we enter the season's first international break, we want to hear your thoughts on the opening five games of the Premier League.

Liverpool are a work in progress for new manager Andoni Iraola, but the Reds are unbeaten, with two league wins and three draws to sit in sixth position.

Iraola has picked up his first Champions League win, with a victory over Atletico Madrid, and also progressed in the Carabao Cup.

The Reds have found a more solid defensive formula in the last three games too, and while Florian Wirtz has yet to fire, Alexander Isak is behind only Manchester City's Erling Haaland in the goalscoring charts.

How do you rate the Reds' start to the season and why? And what should Iraola be focusing on during the extended break?

Get in touch with your views here

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Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha says he "never looked back" after first being named in the club's senior squad for pre-season before the 2025-26 campaign.

Ngumoha had become the youngest player in the club's history to start a first-team match when he made his debut as a 16-year-old in the FA Cup against Accrington Stanley the previous season, and further impressed Arne Slot during the tour of Hong Kong and Japan.

The winger then marked his Premier League debut by scoring a stunning late winner in the Reds' dramatic 3-2 win away at Newcastle in their second game of the campaign.

What followed was a breakout season for Nguomha, who made 31 appearances and was handed his England senior debut in a friendly against New Zealand after being named in Thomas Tuchel's preparation camp for this summer's World Cup.

"I can't put it into words, especially since last year," the 18-year-old said after being named in Tuchel's latest Three Lions squad for the upcoming Nations League matches.

"I started with the first team properly in pre-season last season and I never looked back really. [I] just kept on going and going, trying to prove to myself and to everyone what I could do.

"I think I showed that, so far, it's been quick, but I think it's been good. I have been enjoying it."

Despite his meteoric rise, Ngumoha says he is taking it all in his stride.

When asked if he would have believed his progress if someone had told him what would happen last August, he added: "Yes, definitely I would have, because like I say, I am a big believer in that you have to say what you want to achieve.

"Manifest it, even though it might sound crazy to another person, it can happen in life. Life can just be like that, so fast.

"So, I did believe it would happen."

Liverpool will not consider selling playmaker Florian Wirtz to Bayern Munich in the January transfer window, while the German giants would only make a move next summer if winger Michael Olise turns down a new deal. (Christian Falk - Bayern Insider/Bild), external

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The LFC Poets podcast's Peter Warburton believes Florian Wirtz would look like a "world beater" if his Liverpool team-mates were on his wavelength and says he has not "become a bad player overnight".

The Germany attacking midfielder has come under criticism since he signed last year in a deal worth £116m.

And after a modest first campaign, Wirtz has laboured in the early stages of this season - but Warburton thinks the signing can still prove himself in the Premier League under Andoni Iraola

"I've said for a long time that he's such a clever player and if other players were on his wavelength, he would look a world beater. I truly think that.

"Alexander Isak had his problems last season because of injuries, but when he came in the team, you could see the runs he was making.

"I think under a new manager it may be a different way of playing because we were so slow coming forward last season.

"They were calling it 'Slop-ball' in the end and I think if we play to Wirtz's strengths, I think you'll see a lot of his detractors eat their words.

"You don't become a bad player overnight whether you're in the Bundesliga or Premier League.

"I don't think he's a bad player. The likes of Wirtz, [Bradley] Barcola and Isak are not judged on how they perform - the first thing people say is he cost that much money, so he should snap into it like that."

Listen to the full clip below or on BBC Sounds

Chris Wathan
BBC Sport Wales

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It took less than a week of pre-season for Lewis Koumas to show new Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola what he could offer.

And it has taken less than a month of the new season for him to show why he has a place in Liverpool's plans.

Reds legend Ian Rush is among a growing number impressed by Koumas' potential, a potential that - despite his recent rise to prominence - has been obvious for a number of years.

Former Liverpool Under-21 head coach Barry Lewtas describes him as "a coach's dream".

"The effort, the will to learn and develop, how he applies himself, it's all there," Lewtas says.

A Liverpool supporter from birth, Koumas has been with the Reds since primary school age, following in the footsteps of his father Jason, who was once a nine-year-old team-mate of Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen.

While Jason moved on to Tranmere without making the breakthrough at Liverpool, Lewis has flourished with the Premier League club, especially since being pushed from midfield into a forward role at the age of 16.

"That was an important part of his development, getting that exposure of playing deeper, dealing with the ball and the technical side," adds Lewtas.

"But then, when your skill-sets develop, you find the area that suits you best."

Given the influence of then Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, Lewtas says Koumas' finishing prowess combined with a ferocious attitude towards pressing meant his path was obvious.

"He fitted us and we fitted him," Lewtas says.

By 2024, Klopp had given Koumas his senior debut.

He scored in the FA Cup against Southampton in February 2024 was then an unused substitute as Liverpool beat Chelsea to win the League Cup at Wembley.

There were more than 900 days before his next first-team appearance for Liverpool, with three loan spells in the Championship in between.

At Stoke City, Koumas played under three different managers in a single season, but earned roles under all three during a spell credited for boosting his belief.

He played 25 times for Birmingham City in the first half last season - although managed only seven league starts - before moving on to Hull City and playing an important role in the Tigers' promotion via the play-offs.

Koumas returned to Liverpool in the summer with renewed confidence.

Read more about Koumas and his national call-up to Wales here.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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Boss Rob Page hailed the "character and resilience" of his Liverpool U21's side as they drew 3-3 against Rochdale in the Jersey Mike's Trophy while down to 10-men.

The young Reds scored two goals in injury time to level the group-stage clash and then won the penalty shoot-out 7-6 against the League Two side to earn a bonus point.

"What character and resilience the boys showed to come back from the sending off early on, to see the game through and play as much as we could with 10-men and to dig deep. I've nothing but praise for that group - great character," said Page, who added it was the proudest he'd been of the group since he took the job in 2025.

Mor Talla Ndiaye was sent off in the first half for Liverpool before Devante Rodney broke the deadlock for Rochdale.

Liverpool equalised before the break with a great solo goal from Will Wright, but Rochdale scored twice in quick succession in the second half through 41-year-old Ian Henderson.

But Page's youngsters didn't give up and scored in the 94th and 96th minute through substitutes Ben Trueman and Josh Sonni-Lambie, before winning the shoot-out when Harvey Davies saved from the Rochdale goalkeeper after the first 13 penalties were all converted.

"We talk about being proud to wear the jersey, and when you wear the badge, it comes with a level of expectation when you play for Liverpool," said Page.

"They know that myself and Jay [Spearing] who's played for the club, won't accept anything less than 100%. They've got that built-in resilience. It's the character we want in the team.

"We've tried to change the mentality in the 12 months I've been here and I'm seeing it every day in training. The intensity of training has increased and they've got that winning mentality.

"It's not all about winning, it's about developing players, of course, but they must have that winning mentality and I think we've got it."

The under-21 side's next outing is their second fixture in northern Group H of the Jersey Mike's Trophy – a visit to Doncaster Rovers of League One on 6 October.

Crystal Palace left-back Tyrick Mitchell, 27, is attracting growing interest from Liverpool and Manchester United. (Teamtalk), external

Liverpool remain firmly committed to bringing the best out of 23-year-old attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, despite the player's representatives being sounded out by Bayern Munich. (Teamtalk), external

Julian Ward is set to be reappointed as Liverpool's sporting director. The 45-year-old will switch from his current role as Fenway Sports Group's technical director to replace Richard Hughes in a position he previously held during the 2022-23 season. (The Athletic), external

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

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Jeremy Jacquet's strong start at Liverpool has got lots of fans excited - and delighted the club signed the young Frenchman to replace Ibrahima Konate.

Jacquet's performances are one of the topics discussed by BBC Radio Merseyside's Paul Salt and Chris Coughlin after another impressive performance from the centre-back in the 1-0 win at Bournemouth on Sunday.

The Reds kept a third consecutive clean sheet for the first time since their title-winning campaign in 2024-25.

Coughlin said: "Jacquet has been great, absolutely fantastic; for a 21-year-old, new to the Premier League and he didn't really play that many games in France before he came in.

"I think he looks so composed, he looks decisive in moments as well defensively - there's no wondering what he's going to do next. He's also thinking ahead - I remember against Fulham when he cleared it off the line from Gonzalo Garica. He's anticipating where the danger will be.

"And it takes a lot for Virgil van Dijk to look normal-sized but I think he has an absolute man-mountain alongside him now."

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

And hear the full Jacquet analysis below...

Liverpool are continuing to monitor 20-year-old Feyenoord right-back Givairo Read but Manchester City and Arsenal are also interested in the Netherlands Under-21 international. (Teamtalk), external

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Defender Jeremy Jacquet's performance in Sunday's 1-0 win at Bournemouth was "a step forward" in his development, according to Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola.

The 21-year-old centre-back was named player of the match against Iraola's former side after another assured display, completing his third full 90 minutes in a row in the Premier League.

A five-year deal was agreed in January to sign Jacquet from Rennes this summer, but he suffered a shoulder injury soon afterwards that ruled him out of the rest of the campaign.

However, he arrived in July fit for pre-season and has started all of the Reds' first five Premier League games and their Champions league opener.

Jacquet was substituted in the 70th and 77th minutes respectively in the opening two matches of the Premier League - draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest - but has since played every minute, and he also played the whole second half of the Carabao Cup third-round win over Tottenham.

His impressive early performances have earned him a place in Zinedine Zidane's first France squad for the upcoming international break - his first senior call-up for his country.

"He's going with France, a big national team, and I know that he is happy," said Iraola. "He's still very young. He is adapting really well to the Premier League.

"In the first games, he was feeling the change of rhythm physically. He was finishing with cramps and really tired so we had to sub him.

"[Sunday's win] has been a step forward. He looked solid until the end and I think he's finished physically also in a good place.

"I hope he can continue this development."