Liverpool

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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Milos Kerkez says he is "delighted" that Andoni Iraola got the Liverpool job, having previously worked with the Basque coach at Bournemouth.

Kerkez, 22, played under Iraola between 2023 and 2025 before moving to Anfield last summer.

"I was delighted, honestly," Kerkez told reporters. "I worked for him before, and he helped me and improved me a lot in the two years that I spent with him. I was really happy, obviously for myself but also for the team. Everyone knows what type of football he plays, so I think he is the perfect fit for us."

On Iraola's style of play and what Liverpool fans can expect, the Hungarian left-back added: "He's all about intensity. He's not scared to play one-on-one all over the pitch, to press high and to be on the front foot always. If you see footage of how we all are after training, all lying down, then you can see what he is preparing us for. You definitely need legs and good condition for what he wants us to do, but we will be alright.

"The gaffer likes to play more with the full-backs down the line - underlapping, overlapping. It worked well for me at Bournemouth, so I think it will also work well for me here. He always told me that as a full-back, you need to defend hard and everything that you do in front is a bonus.

"I was always focused on defending and then running forward to help the wingers. He showed me that when you do your job, you're free then to do what you want. I felt really free with him. I know what it means to play for Liverpool. I showed it a bit last year and I am going to show it more this year."

Kerkez and Liverpool began pre-season under Iraola with a 4-2 win over Sunderland on Saturday. The Reds take on Wrexham in New York City on Wednesday evening before concluding their pre-season tour of the USA with a game against Leeds in Chicago on Sunday.

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The Redmen TV's Luke Fury discussed Liverpool's reported interest in PSG winger Bradley Barcola on BBC Radio Merseyside's Total Sport show..

The Champions League holders reportedly want £140m for the 23-year-old.

"Yes I would definitely have him," Fury said. "£145m is extortionate. Just to put that into perspective, we paid £125m for Isak. Barcola and Isak are similar profiles, I'd argue the Isak deal was bigger. Barcola has played 46 matches for PSG this season. He's got 13 goals and seven assists. Three goals and one assist at the World Cup. He's not much of a creator, he's more of a finisher.

"Some people think he's wasteful, but when you think about Liverpool's performance on Saturday, Kieran Morrison getting in behind with Lewis Koumas - if that's how we're playing, Barcola definitely suits Liverpool."

Listen on BBC Sounds or hit play below

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

From the outside, Liverpool's failure to seal a move for Marc Guehi last summer looks even more interesting now.

They have a buyback clause with Jarell Quansah, who left for Bayer Leverkusen for £35m last July, but there are no current plans for Quansah to return.

Sources stress that if Liverpool bring in Bradley Barcola, who Paris St-Germain value in excess of £100m, then there will be limitations to what more they can do in the market.

Deals for Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz have cost a combined £94.5m.

Without any major outgoings from Andoni Iraola's squad, there is an understanding that this summer will not be like last summer, when a club record £450m was spent.

Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, who scored 183 times for the Reds, said: "When you look at Liverpool across the past decade, one of the problems that we've had is that the first XI is more than capable but the argument that people have is the squad depth.

"I'm a big believer in getting the squad right because it gives everyone a lift and keeps people on their toes, knowing that if you're not performing, someone else could do the job.

"Go back to the days of Phil Neal and he'll tell you stories about how players would never want to get injured because they knew that if someone else came, they wouldn't get their place back.

"You need that mentality and I think that has a real knock-on effect on standards."

In six months from last summer through to January 2026, Liverpool agreed deals for five centre-backs who were aged 20 or under at the time - Giovanni Leoni, Mor Talla Ndiaye, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Noah Adekoya and Jacquet.

It is worth noting that Ndukwe, who was impressive against Sunderland in Nashville, must go out on loan this year as he does not yet meet the criteria for a UK work permit.

The long-term potential of centre-backs is not a concern at Anfield but experience is in short supply - a glaring gap in this Liverpool squad and one that needs to be addressed.

Paris St-Germain and Senegal forward Ibrahim Mbaye has been offered to both Liverpool and Manchester City after his agents made it clear the 18-year-old will not be joining Aston Villa this summer. (Teamtalk), external

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English football is set to implement a trial to try to eradicate the goalkeeper tactical timeout this season, BBC Sport can reveal.

The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women's Super League have agreed on the measure, pending permission from the International Football Association Board (Ifab).

Earlier this year, Ifab decided against changing the law and invited leagues to volunteer for trials.

Pro Ref, led by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, has been in discussions with the leagues to determine how to tackle the issue. It settled on a team having to remove an outfield player from the field.

If a referee signals that the physio can come on to treat a goalkeeper, the coach will have 10 seconds to nominate another player to leave the pitch for one minute, telling the fourth official of their choice.

If no player has been selected within 10 seconds, the captain must leave the field.

Read more on the trial

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We asked for your views on Federico Chiesa's future at Anfied.

Here are some of your comments:

Phil: I love Chiesa but just like Joe Gomez he's always injured. We need players who are available for the majority of games so we can get consistency.

David: We should keep him and hopefully give him more chances. I think he could do a good job for the team.

Mick: He was only a bit-part player under Arne Slot, and in my opinion should have played more minutes. I hope the hierarchy keep him. We have definitely not seen his best, yet!

Adam: Chiesa seems to always be positive and get on well with his team-mates, plus he clearly loves the club. I wanted him to be our new Divock Origi but he hasn't really been given the chance yet. I hope he does as he's clearly got the drive and determination.

Kevin: Stay. I prefer a player that wants to play for Liverpool than a player that is only playing for money - you know that he will put a shift in every game.

Carl: Difficult call as I don't think Federico has had a fair crack of the whip with minutes, particularly from Slot. Personally I would keep and play him more, he is a classy player and, importantly, I think he will suit our style of play.

Paul: Liverpool should keep Chiesa, he puts in 100% every time he plays, he's a great player and would benefit from an injury-free run of games to show his quality and value.

Peter: Absolutely keep him. If Andoni Iraola shows faith in him and deploys him regularly I believe we will discover what a very useful player he is. He is sharp, fast-paced, with an eye for goal and intelligent moves and positioning. A hidden gem unrecognised by Slot.

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Milos Kerkez expects Liverpool to return to a full-throttle style of play under new head coach Andoni Iraola.

The Reds were known for 'heavy metal' football under Jurgen Klopp, with some fans frustrated at a drop in intensity under Arne Slot - who was sacked at the end of last season despite winning the Premier League in his only other campaign at Anfield.

"I think the heavy Liverpool team that Liverpool used to be – press, front foot, everyone in front," the left-back told the club website, external. "Like I said, front-foot, full pressing.

"Anfield, obviously, is going to push us a lot, give us also that energy. When they see us pushing a lot, they're going to give us big support home and away.

"So the big difference is going to be, I think, the pressure, the pressing, the aggressiveness in our game this year."

Kerkez also said he is trying to mentor younger players on the club's US tour, where the Reds recorded a win over Sunderland on Saturday.

He added: "It's my fourth year in the Premier League. Obviously my first year was development, it was tough. I needed to get in the gym a bit more.

"That's normal when you come to the biggest league in the world – it is so far ahead of any league. You need to build that physicality, you need to build the legs.

"We're all helping the young lads. There is a lot of quality and we need to help them. They will improve.

"I'm really, really happy with everyone and we build on this."

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Federico Chiesa insists he is only "thinking about Liverpool" amid continued speculation over his future.

Across two seasons at Anfield under Arne Slot, the Italian forward has started one Premier League game and scored just five times in 50 appearances.

The 28-year-old, who is contracted until 2028, told La Gazzetta dello Sport, external in June: "If I don't find consistency in the Premier League, I'll have to look elsewhere."

But after scoring in the first friendly of the Andoni Iraola era on Saturday, when Liverpool claimed a 4-2 win over Sunderland, Chiesa said: "Right now, at the moment, I'm happy here at Liverpool.

"I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything. I'm doing the best I can to have a chance here - and then we will see.

"At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool."

When asked if a fresh start under Iraola is possible, he added: "I don't know, it is difficult to say. It is always a fresh start at the beginning of the season.

"Maybe there have been too many fresh starts, but I don't care. I'm trying to do my best for this new manager.

"Let us say it is a new chapter. There is a new manager and I have to focus on that."

What are your thoughts on Chiesa's future at Anfield? Should he be kept or moved on?

Get in touch with your views here

Follow Liverpool reporter Aadam Patel on BBC Sport

Paris St-Germain want £145m for 23-year-old France forward Bradley Barcola, with Liverpool and Arsenal interested. (Times - subscription required), external

Chelsea will demand a significant fee for Portugal winger Pedro Neto, 26, amid interest from Liverpool, Manchester City and Saudi Arabian teams. (Mail), external

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Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool started life under Andoni Iraola with a 4-2 win over Sunderland thanks to goals from Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas.

But the Iraola era had initially got off to the worst possible start when Joe Gomez, who started the game as centre-back and captain, went down injured and was taken off in the eighth minute.

"Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe. We were happy because we were going through training without losing any players and unluckily for us we've lost Joe straight away," said Iraola, who was also without new signing Jeremy Jacquet - who plays centre-half - for the opening friendly of Liverpool's tour of the USA.

"With Jeremy we decided to take it easy with him. He's had a lot of months without playing and he's been training very well but we're going to take it easy with him," Iraola added. "He will play probably in the last game of this tour and he will have time to have minutes."

With Virgil van Dijk given extra time off following the Netherlands' World Cup campaign, it meant that two teenage centre-backs held the line until the 68th minute.

Mor Talla N'diaye, 18, and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, 18, made their debuts and both performed admirably given the situation but neither can be expected to feature regularly yet. Meanwhile, Giovanni Leoni, 19, is still undergoing individual training as he works his way back from a severe ACL tear.

Iraola said earlier in the week that his squad was "very thin" defensively. Liverpool's sporting director, Richard Hughes, was in Nashville for the game and if he wasn't aware already, seeing Gomez trudge off must have underlined how they are desperately short when it comes to experience in the centre-back department.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Liverpool FC

Liverpool arrived in Nashville on Friday before the first game of their pre-season tour against Sunderland on Saturday at 23:00 BST.

Natasha Dowie, Liverpool women's all-time leading scorer, says she is excited about what is to come under Andoni Iraola.

"There's a buzz around the playing style of the new manager - the front-footed football that we like, the high pressure, the energy. That's what I want to see from the off and I think that's what the Liverpool fans want to see too," Dowie told BBC Sport.

"It's about seeing new players like Jeremy Jacquet and seeing some of the older faces come back like Harvey Elliott and Kostas Tsimikas. And seeing some of the younger players from the academy get opportunities too.

"When I retired three years ago [Liverpool's academy director] Alex Inglethorpe allowed me to get involved with the academy and do some mentoring there, so when I see the likes of Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha and Kieran Morrison here, that puts a really big smile on my face because I know how hard these guys have worked."

On the opening day of Liverpool's tour in the US, young patients at Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville were treated to a special morning as Dowie paid a visit alongside former striker Ian Rush.

"The children had some brilliant questions for us, and you could really feel the passion for Liverpool here in Nashville. It means a lot that we've been able to spend time with supporters and their families in this way," said Dowie.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool have 32 players out in America, though a handful have only travelled as it was felt best for them to carry on their individual rehabilitation with the squad than at an empty training ground back home.

With the World Cup this summer, it's understandable that some key names are still missing though Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Ryan Gravenberch will link up with the squad for the second week of the training camp.

Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz will be the final players to join up with the squad. Cody Gakpo, Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson will not travel.

On the whole, those inside the camp over the first few weeks of pre-season have spoken of a positive and youthful vibe.

"Szoboszlai and Kerkez haven't been to the World Cup and I can tell you this from experience because I never went to the World Cup. Those players have had a long rest and they'll be desperate to get back into it," said former forward Ian Rush.

Harvey Elliott is back in the squad and eagle-eyed fans will have noticed that Stefan Bajcetic rejoined team training yesterday. The Spanish midfielder last played a game for the club in 2024.

Iraola is keen to have a look at all of his options but either way, this squad needs strengthening before the Premier League starts.

The club knew back in March, if not earlier, that Mohamed Salah was leaving and he still hasn't been replaced.

Liverpool want a winger and Bradley Barcola seems the most likely option but, for now, 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha has been training on his versatility across both flanks and will be an option down the right, as well as his preferred left.

There is no doubt about Ngumoha's talent but expect Liverpool to make a signing in that department this summer.

"He's still young but as the manager has said, we need someone to replace Salah and that won't be easy at all," says Rush. "We've got Isak, who played well in the World Cup, and I hope he comes back as a new player and looking to prove a thing or two after last season."

Across the next week or so, fans can also expect to see more of Kieran Morrison, 19, who made his debut last season, as well as Will Wright, 18, and Josh Sonni-Lambie, 18. Keep an eye out too for 16-year-old Josh Abe, who is widely regarded as one of the hottest young prospects in English football.

Read more about what to expect from Liverpool's pre-season here

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Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Ian Rush has paid tribute to fellow Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan, who died earlier this week at the age of 75.

Keegan played for the Reds between 1971 and 1977 and will be remembered when Liverpool take on Sunderland in a friendly in Nashville, USA on Saturday. Both sets of players will wear black armbands and there will be a minute's applause for the former England manager.

"I have lots of memories of Kevin Keegan. He was one of my dad's favourite players. What he did for Liverpool was fantastic - and he did fantastic in Europe as well," Rush told BBC Sport.

"He was a great person. I remember when I was playing for Wrexham in 1998 and he was the manager at Fulham. They beat us 2-0 and the first thing he did was come and give me a big hug and he told me to just keep on going and enjoy the football, so that's the kind of person he was. He always put others before himself.

"You had Keegan and Toshack then Rush and Dalglish, so it's great to compare that. It's special. Even when he was England manager, I really thought they'd win something.

"He threw everything at it as a player and a manager. As long as you gave 100%, he'd be happy - and, more importantly, he gave 100% to everything he did. That's what made him such a special player and manager."

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We asked for your views on the best way to honour the late Kevin Keegan, who passed away earlier this week.

Here are some of your comments:

Vincent: The mighty Kevin Keegan was a transformative player for Liverpool, a giant even by that club's standards. A large bronze relief of Kevin with the ball at his feet, prominently displayed for all visitors to Anfield.

David: Let the teams play for Keegan cup based on the aggregate score over the home and away matches between Newcastle and Liverpool each season.

Ken: Keegan was the epitome of a humble superstar, so something fitting would be renaming the training ground after him as that's where he honed his talents or renaming the media centre, or perhaps work with the City Council to commission a bronze statue to be located somewhere along the waterfront.

Ian: Andrew Knott is your man, organised Anfield's mosaics for years, he'll get it right for Keegan.

Tori: He needs a statue outside both Anfield and St. James' Park in my opinion. Also name a stand after him at either or both stadiums. He was an absolute legend. My late grandfather, a big LFC fan, adored him.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola says he was in talks with other clubs before taking over as Liverpool manager.

The 44-year-old replaced Arne Slot as head coach this summer, after stepping down as Bournemouth manager following a three-year stay.

"It happened quite fast," he said. "Yes, it was true that I was talking with some clubs. It was the first or second week after the season ended when Liverpool contacted me, and it didn't take a lot [to say yes]."

Iraola's arrival was seen by Liverpool as a means of trying to deliver an attacking brand of football.

In his introductory news conference last week, he spoke about wanting to give fans "a team to be proud of".

And the former Spain international, who spent 12 seasons of his playing career at Athletic Club, sees some similarities between the Reds and his hometown club, where there is a policy to only use players born or developed in the Basque country.

"It is a very special club," said Iraola. "You have to maximise every player you have in the squad. You cannot sell him and choose another one a lot of the time.

"As a player, you have to give a bit extra. The only way that policy can be successful is if you give 100%. This creates a connection - you see they win things and they have never been relegated.

"I see a lot of things [similar to Liverpool]. This sense of belonging and of being a little bit different. This connection with players from the academy. The atmosphere of Anfield.

"This is one of the biggest clubs in the world and, in some ways, the comparison probably isn't fair - but, in a lot of ways, I see a lot of similarities."

Read the full article here

Arsenal and Manchester City are among the clubs in a race to sign Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig, who previously rejected a £69m bid from Liverpool for the 19-year-old. (Bild - in German), external

Meanwhile, Reds defender Amara Nallo is set to join Finnish club HJK Helsinki on a season-long loan deal. (Athletic - subscription required), external

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