The Kopite View

I’ll be honest, I really don’t like the idea of Liverpool selling Florian Wirtz.

Not yet anyway.

But a report from TEAMtalk has raised the possibility that Liverpool could move the German on in the summer of 2027 if he doesn’t produce the breakthrough the club expected when they spent so much money to bring him to Anfield.

And the name being mentioned as a possible replacement is Rayan Cherki.

Now that would be some story.

Liverpool wanted Cherki before he joined Manchester City in 2025, and the Reds have apparently continued to monitor the Frenchman.

So could we really see Wirtz leave Liverpool after just two seasons, with Cherki coming in to replace him?

I hope not.

At least, not yet.

Wirtz still has time to change the conversation

Let’s put this into perspective.

Liverpool paid Bayer Leverkusen an initial £100 million for Wirtz, with another £16 million potentially due in add-ons.

That’s an enormous amount of money.

And yes, he hasn’t looked like a £100m player consistently enough.

I’ll admit that.

There have been games where I’ve watched Wirtz and thought, where is he?

He’s had spells where he’s struggled to influence matches and hasn’t produced enough goals or assists for a player who arrived with such a huge reputation.

But we’re talking about a 23-year-old who has also had to settle into a completely new league, a new country and now a new manager.

And Liverpool’s current manager is Andoni Iraola.

I don’t think we should underestimate how much that could change things.

Liverpool themselves recently quoted Wirtz saying the team has “a good base to build on” and that they need to improve their ability to decide games.

That doesn’t sound to me like a player who has given up.

And it certainly doesn’t sound like a player Liverpool have given up on.

But the Cherki link is interesting

This is where the story gets really interesting.

Liverpool wanted Rayan Cherki before he moved from Lyon to Manchester City for around £34m in June 2025.

So this isn’t some random player whose name has suddenly appeared because Wirtz is struggling.

Liverpool already liked him.

They knew about him.

They had considered signing him.

And TEAMtalk now reports that Liverpool could be among the clubs interested in Cherki if he becomes available from Manchester City in 2027.

That naturally raises the question:

Could Cherki eventually be viewed as an alternative to Wirtz?

It’s certainly possible.

Cherki is exactly the sort of attacking midfielder Liverpool have admired for some time. He’s technically gifted, creative and capable of playing in several attacking positions.

But that doesn’t automatically mean Liverpool should sell Wirtz to make room for him.

For me, that’s a completely different conversation.

I still think there is a player in Wirtz

This is the bit I don’t want Liverpool supporters to forget.

We have seen Florian Wirtz play brilliant football before.

At Bayer Leverkusen, he wasn’t just a decent player.

He was one of the best young attacking midfielders in Europe.

Liverpool didn’t spend £100m because somebody had a good feeling about him.

They spent it because they had watched him repeatedly produce at the highest level.

So I’m not suddenly going to decide that he’s a bad player because his first period at Anfield hasn’t gone exactly how we wanted.

Football doesn’t work like that.

Sometimes players need time.

Sometimes they need a system that suits them.

And sometimes they simply need to feel comfortable.

That’s why I was encouraged when Liverpool brought in Iraola.

If Iraola can get Liverpool playing the attacking football he wants, Wirtz should have plenty of opportunities to show what he’s capable of.

And perhaps that’s when we finally see the player Liverpool thought they were buying.

But 2027 could be a different conversation

This is where I think the TEAMtalk report is fair.

Liverpool can’t wait forever.

If we get to the summer of 2027 and Wirtz still hasn’t become an important player for Liverpool, the club will have a decision to make.

At that point, two years will have passed.

He will have had plenty of Premier League football.

He will have had time to settle.

And Liverpool will have to decide whether continuing to wait is the right thing to do.

TEAMtalk says German reports have suggested summer 2027 could become the right time for Wirtz to leave if the expected improvement doesn’t arrive. But importantly, TEAMtalk also says Liverpool are currently not considering a 2027 sale and remain committed to helping him succeed under Iraola.

That’s an important distinction.

This isn’t Liverpool putting Wirtz up for sale.

It’s a report about what could happen if things don’t improve.

And that’s very different.

Would I swap Wirtz for Cherki?

Right now?

No.

I’d give Wirtz another season.

I’d actually give him the chance to work properly under Iraola before making any decision.

Because I still believe there’s a top player in there.

And I’d much rather see Liverpool get that player out of him than sell him and then watch him go somewhere else and suddenly become the footballer everybody expected him to be.

We’ve seen that sort of thing before.

The frustrating part is that Cherki would be extremely tempting.

Liverpool wanted him before.

He’s now playing for Manchester City.

And if City were forced to sell players in 2027, Cherki could become one of the most interesting attacking players available. TEAMtalk reports Liverpool would be among the clubs interested if that situation arose.

But I don’t think Liverpool should be looking at Cherki and thinking:

“We need him because Wirtz isn’t good enough.”

They should be thinking:

“Can we get both?”

That’s the question I’d be asking.

Give Wirtz the chance first

I’ve already seen enough from Wirtz to know he’s capable of much more.

Maybe he needs more confidence.

Maybe he needs Liverpool’s attacking players around him to click.

Maybe Iraola’s football will suit him better.

Maybe he simply needs time.

I don’t know.

But I do know that Liverpool spent a huge amount of money on him for a reason.

And I’m not ready to write him off after one difficult period.

If we’re sitting here in 2027 and nothing has changed, I’ll have a different opinion.

At that point, Liverpool would have to make the cold footballing decision.

But we’re not there yet.

For now, I’d rather see Iraola try to unlock Florian Wirtz than watch Liverpool spend another fortune trying to replace him.

And if Rayan Cherki really does become available?

Well, that’s another conversation.

Because maybe Liverpool don’t need to choose between them.

Maybe the real dream is finding a way to have both.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

I’ve been thinking about Gini Wijnaldum recently.

And honestly, I think Liverpool supporters underrated him.

I know that’s probably going to sound strange considering he was such an important part of Jürgen Klopp’s best Liverpool team.

But I still don’t think we appreciated just how good he was until he wasn’t there anymore.

Wijnaldum left Liverpool in 2021 after five seasons at Anfield.

Since then, we’ve seen plenty of talented midfielders come and go.

We’ve had different types of players, different systems and different managers.

But that Gini energy?

I’m not sure Liverpool have ever really replaced it.

He just kept going

This is the thing I remember most about Wijnaldum.

He never seemed to stop.

He could play 90 minutes and then somehow look like he could have played another 90.

Liverpool’s own retrospective on Wijnaldum describes him as a model of consistency and quality, while highlighting his ability to win the ball, keep possession and contribute creatively. He made 237 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 22 goals, and was a key part of the team that won the Champions League and Premier League.

But those numbers don’t really explain what made him so valuable.

Gini was one of those players who made things easier for everybody around him.

He’d receive the ball under pressure.

He’d turn away from trouble.

He’d carry it forward.

He’d press.

He’d track back.

He’d cover somebody else’s position.

And then he’d do it all again.

And again.

And again.

That’s not always the sort of thing that gets you onto highlight reels.

But it’s bloody important in a football team.

Klopp knew exactly what he had

The funny thing is that Jürgen Klopp knew.

He wasn’t fooled by the lack of huge goal numbers.

Klopp once described Wijnaldum as an “outstanding player”, pointing to his ability to protect the ball, play in different midfield positions and contribute defensively.

And in 2019, Klopp went even further.

He described Gini’s skillset as that of a “perfect midfielder”, saying he had virtually everything Liverpool needed and complaining that Wijnaldum somehow went under the radar.

That last part is interesting.

“It is not my fault if he goes under the radar,” Klopp said.

And I think that’s exactly what happened.

Wijnaldum wasn’t flashy enough.

He wasn’t constantly scoring 15 goals a season.

He wasn’t producing spectacular assists every weekend.

He just kept doing his job.

And he was bloody good at it.

Barcelona showed just how important he could be

Of course, nobody will ever forget what happened against Barcelona.

Liverpool went into that second leg 3-0 down.

Roberto Firmino wasn’t fit enough to start and Wijnaldum came off the bench at half-time.

Eleven minutes later, he’d scored twice.

Two goals.

In eleven minutes.

Liverpool won 4-0 and somehow reached the Champions League final.

That’s probably the moment most supporters immediately remember when you mention Wijnaldum.

But that’s almost the problem.

Because Gini was much more than that night.

He was a huge part of the team that came desperately close to winning the Premier League in 2018-19 before collecting 97 points.

Then the following season he featured in 37 of Liverpool’s 38 league matches as Klopp’s team finally ended the club’s 30-year wait for the title.

And in his final season, when Liverpool were absolutely battered by injuries and everything seemed to be going wrong, Wijnaldum played every single Premier League match, starting 34 of them.

That’s Gini.

You could rely on him.

That’s the bit Liverpool haven’t replaced

This is where I think the comparison with modern Liverpool becomes interesting.

We’ve had midfielders who are better passers.

We’ve had midfielders who score more goals.

We’ve had midfielders who are stronger defensively.

We’ve had midfielders who are more creative.

But finding somebody who combines all of those things with Wijnaldum’s ridiculous reliability and energy is much harder.

And I think Liverpool supporters have noticed it.

You don’t necessarily notice what Gini gives you when he’s playing.

You notice it when he’s missing.

There were games during Klopp’s reign when Liverpool’s midfield simply needed somebody to take the ball, absorb pressure and keep the team moving.

Gini would do it.

No fuss.

No drama.

Just give him the ball and let him get on with it.

That’s an incredibly valuable quality.

I wish we’d appreciated him more

I’ll admit it.

There were times when I watched Wijnaldum and thought Liverpool needed more from him.

More goals.

More attacking contribution.

Maybe more risk.

Looking back, I think I got that wrong.

Because perhaps part of the reason Wijnaldum didn’t produce spectacular numbers was because Liverpool didn’t need him to.

His job was to keep the machine running.

And he did that exceptionally well.

He was part of a midfield that helped Liverpool become European champions, world champions and Premier League champions.

He barely missed a game.

He could play different roles.

He could cover for teammates.

He could carry the ball.

He could defend.

And when Liverpool desperately needed something special against Barcelona, he even gave us that.

What more could you really ask for?

I don’t think Liverpool have replaced his energy

This is probably the main thing for me.

Liverpool have replaced players since Wijnaldum left.

But I don’t think they’ve replaced Gini Wijnaldum.

And I don’t mean that as a criticism of the current midfield.

It’s just that players like him are incredibly difficult to find.

You can buy a midfielder who can pass.

You can buy one who can tackle.

You can buy one who can score.

But finding someone who can quietly do everything for 50 games a season is another matter.

That’s why I think Wijnaldum deserves more appreciation.

He wasn’t the biggest personality in that Liverpool team.

He wasn’t always the first name supporters talked about.

But when you look back at the greatest period of Klopp’s Liverpool career, there he is.

Running.

Pressing.

Covering.

Passing.

Carrying.

And occasionally popping up with something unforgettable.

Maybe that’s why I’ve come to appreciate him more with every year that passes.

Gini Wijnaldum was seriously underrated.

And if Liverpool haven’t quite found that energy again since he left, perhaps that’s because there was only ever one Gini.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

Jarell Quansah left Liverpool last summer.

I don’t think many supporters expected us to be talking about bringing him back quite this quickly.

But here we are.

According to Sport Bild, Liverpool have a €70m buy-back option for Quansah which can be activated until June 15, 2027. Even more interestingly, Real Madrid are now reportedly watching the England international very closely.

And honestly, I can see why.

Quansah has developed into an important player for Bayer Leverkusen and has also shown that he can operate at right-back as well as centre-back.

Suddenly, that decision Liverpool made to include a buy-back clause in his transfer looks very important.

Liverpool have given themselves a way back in

This is the clever part.

Liverpool sold Quansah to Leverkusen for around €35m in 2025, but they didn’t completely close the door behind him.

They kept an option to bring him back.

Now Sport Bild reports that Liverpool can exercise that clause for €70m before June 15, 2027.

That’s a lot of money.

There’s no getting away from that.

But if Quansah continues developing at his current rate, Liverpool could find themselves with a very interesting decision.

Do they pay the €70m and bring back a player who already knows the club?

Or do they allow one of Europe’s biggest clubs to come knocking?

Because Real Madrid are apparently interested.

And we’ve seen how these stories can develop very quickly.

Quansah is becoming a very different player

What I find particularly interesting is how much Quansah has developed since leaving Anfield.

He isn’t simply playing centre-back every week.

He’s also being used at right-back.

England have done the same, with Thomas Tuchel starting him at right-back against Spain during the recent international fixtures.

That versatility is valuable.

Liverpool know exactly what Quansah can do as a central defender, but he’s now gaining experience in another position as well.

And he’s doing it at a club where he’s getting regular football and responsibility.

That’s probably one of the reasons Real Madrid are interested.

BILD reports that Madrid’s scouts are monitoring him closely as they look at options for their defence next summer.

And this is where it gets interesting for Liverpool

Liverpool’s defence isn’t exactly short of young talent.

Jérémy Jacquet has made an excellent impression.

Giovanni Leoni is working his way back from injury.

Ronald Araújo can play centre-back and right-back.

And Liverpool still have Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk to consider depending on their future situations.

So I wouldn’t say Liverpool have to bring Quansah back.

But I do think they have to take the opportunity seriously.

Because €70m might sound like a huge amount now, but if Quansah establishes himself as an England regular and continues to improve in the Bundesliga, the market could look very different by next summer.

There is also the possibility that other clubs make things even more complicated.

Arsenal reportedly had a €65m offer rejected for Quansah last summer, while Chelsea have also been linked with an interest.

So Liverpool aren’t the only club watching what happens next.

Then there’s Real Madrid

This is the bit that would make me nervous if I were Liverpool.

Real Madrid don’t tend to monitor players for no reason.

They’re reportedly expecting to need defensive reinforcements next summer, and Quansah’s ability to play in more than one position makes him an attractive option.

And, of course, he already knows Jude Bellingham from England duty.

I’m not saying that means Bellingham will suddenly start trying to convince Quansah to move to Madrid.

But it certainly won’t hurt that the two already have a good relationship.

Liverpool have been on the wrong end of enough Real Madrid transfer stories over the last few years.

I don’t particularly want to see another one.

I’d be very tempted to bring him home

I’m not going to pretend I know exactly what Liverpool will do.

They may decide €70m is too much.

They may decide their other young defenders offer enough potential.

They may decide Quansah’s development has reached the point where bringing him back makes sense.

There are plenty of factors to consider.

But if I’m looking at it simply as a Liverpool supporter, I’d be very tempted.

This isn’t a player who has failed after leaving Anfield.

It’s the opposite.

He’s gone to Germany, played regularly, developed his game and earned more recognition with England.

And now Real Madrid are reportedly watching him.

That tells me Liverpool have a decision coming.

The really clever thing is that they made sure they had an option before they sold him.

They don’t have to enter a normal bidding war with Leverkusen.

They already have a route back in.

The question is whether they decide to use it.

For me, if Quansah keeps progressing like this, €70m could start looking like a very different figure by next summer.

And I certainly wouldn’t want to watch him become a Real Madrid player after Liverpool had the chance to bring one of their own academy graduates back to Anfield.

Liverpool sold Jarell Quansah.

But they never completely let him go.

Now they’ve got until June 15, 2027 to decide whether they want him back.

And with Real Madrid watching closely, I wouldn’t leave that decision until the last minute.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

I’ve always found Rio Ngumoha an interesting player because everything happened so quickly for him.

One minute he was the exciting kid Liverpool supporters wanted to see, then he was scoring at Newcastle, making an impact in the first team and eventually getting an England call-up.

But looking back at last season, Ngumoha admits there was a period when he wasn’t getting much football. Interestingly, he doesn’t seem bitter about it at all. In fact, what he has said about Arne Slot and his development makes a lot of sense.

Ngumoha knew he had to be patient

Ngumoha has explained that Slot knew he could stay around the first team and prove himself. But after the Carabao Cup, the minutes became harder to find.

“I didn’t get a lot of game time because obviously I was young, I was learning and I think my body needed time to adapt physically,” Ngumoha explained.

I actually think that’s an important point.

It’s easy for supporters to watch a talented youngster and think, why isn’t he playing? I was guilty of that myself.

But Ngumoha was still incredibly young. He was learning what senior football was all about and, as he admits himself, his body needed time to adapt.

Instead of becoming frustrated and switching off, he used that time to watch and learn.

“When I was on the bench, I watched every game closely, learning and looking at who I could learn from, even opposition players as well.”

That’s a really mature attitude from a teenager. He wasn’t simply sitting there waiting for his chance; he was studying the game and trying to understand what he could take from the players around him.

Then his opportunity arrived

Ngumoha says his big chance came in January against Leeds. He came off the bench and showed what he could do before starting against Barnsley in the FA Cup and getting a run of games.

But it was Nottingham Forest where he felt he really took another step.

Liverpool supporters who watched that game will remember the impression he made. He came on and immediately looked like he wasn’t frightened by the occasion.

That’s one of the things I like most about him. He doesn’t play like a youngster who is desperate not to make a mistake. He wants the ball, he wants to take players on and he wants to make something happen.

Liverpool themselves highlighted how his minutes increased as last season progressed, with Ngumoha eventually making 29 appearances in all competitions.

And now we know what was happening behind the scenes.

He was learning.

This is where Slot deserves some credit

I know plenty of Liverpool supporters were frustrated with Slot’s use of Ngumoha last season, and I understand why. When you’ve got a player who can produce something out of nothing, you want to see him on the pitch.

But perhaps we should also listen to Ngumoha himself.

He doesn’t describe that period as wasted time. He describes it as learning from Liverpool’s players, watching opponents and understanding what was required at senior level. When his chance came, he was ready for it.

That’s probably one of the most important things a young player can learn.

Your opportunity might not come when you want it, but when it does come, you have to be ready.

Ngumoha clearly was.

And now everything has changed

Look at where he is now.

He has established himself around Liverpool’s senior squad, made his England debut and experienced international football. He is no longer simply the exciting youngster waiting for his first opportunity.

Liverpool’s own review of his breakthrough season noted that he made 29 appearances and gradually earned more minutes as the campaign progressed.

That’s a huge amount of development for such a young player.

And I think his comments show just how quickly he has matured. He understands that becoming a first-team footballer isn’t simply about having talent. You have to learn, adapt physically, understand the game and then take your opportunity when it arrives.

Ngumoha did exactly that.

Now he wants to make the place his own

The final part of his comments is probably the bit I like most.

After describing how he watched and learned while he wasn’t playing, Ngumoha said:

“Ever since then, I’ve just tried to make a place in the team my own.”

That’s the mentality Liverpool need from him now.

He’s no longer just trying to get a few minutes here and there. He’s trying to become an important Liverpool player, and that’s a very different challenge.

I don’t think anybody should expect an 18-year-old to suddenly become one of Liverpool’s most important players overnight. There will be good games, poor games, starts and periods on the bench. That’s normal.

But the attitude matters.

And from everything Ngumoha has said, he seems to understand that.

For me, that’s really encouraging.

Because when I look at Rio Ngumoha now, I don’t just see a talented young winger. I see a player who has already learned how to be patient, how to listen and how to take his opportunity when it arrives.

Perhaps that’s one of the biggest things Arne Slot gave him.

Not just minutes.

A proper introduction to senior football.

Now it’s up to Ngumoha to show Andoni Iraola just how far that education can take him.

And judging by the way he talks about making his place his own, I don’t think he’s planning on waiting around for somebody to hand it to him.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

I don’t think Liverpool supporters will be shedding many tears for Manchester City right now.

The independent commission has found City guilty of serious Premier League financial breaches covering nine seasons between 2009/10 and 2017/18, including findings that the club used sham commercial agreements to artificially inflate revenue and reduce costs. The commission said the figure involved was more than £900m.

Manchester City deny wrongdoing and have appealed the verdict.

But whatever eventually happens with that appeal, I can’t help looking back at those years and thinking about Liverpool.

Because City’s rise wasn’t happening in isolation.

Liverpool were there.

And quite often, the two clubs were fighting over the same players, the same ambitions and eventually the same trophies.

Long before Jürgen Klopp arrived.

Long before Pep Guardiola arrived.

This goes all the way back to 2009.

Liverpool had already been there first

One of the first names that immediately comes to mind is Gareth Barry.

Liverpool had spent a long time trying to sign him from Aston Villa. Rafael Benítez wanted him and the whole saga became one of the defining transfer stories of that period.

Then City came along.

In June 2009, they signed Barry for £12m. Even City’s own announcement described him as a player who had been the subject of a high-profile chase by Liverpool.

Barry later admitted that the Champions League was a major ambition when he joined City, having previously been heavily linked with Liverpool.

At the time, it felt like a warning.

City weren’t just another club trying to improve.

They were suddenly able to walk into transfer battles involving established Premier League clubs and change the entire equation.

If Liverpool wanted a player, City could want him too.

And City could offer something Liverpool couldn’t.

That was only the beginning.

Then came David Silva

This one is particularly interesting.

David Silva was exactly the sort of player Liverpool wanted during Benítez’s time at Anfield.

The Spaniard was emerging at Valencia and Liverpool had reportedly been working on a deal for him.

Instead, City eventually signed Silva from Valencia in 2010 for a reported £24m plus bonuses.

And look at what Silva became.

One of the defining players of the Premier League era.

Liverpool never got him.

City did.

Then, just a month later, City signed James Milner from Aston Villa for around £26m.

Again, Liverpool had been interested.

Milner eventually joined Liverpool as a free agent in 2015 and became an enormous part of Klopp’s team.

That’s the strange thing when you look back.

Some of these stories eventually came full circle.

Milner went from being a player Liverpool wanted, to becoming a Manchester City player, before eventually becoming a key part of Liverpool’s most successful modern era.

Then City came for Liverpool’s own player

This is where it gets personal.

Raheem Sterling.

Liverpool had discovered a brilliant young talent and watched him develop into one of the most exciting young players in English football.

Then City came calling.

Sterling eventually moved to Manchester in 2015 for an initial £44m, potentially rising to £49m, making him one of the most expensive English players at the time.

And City got their man.

Liverpool supporters were furious.

There was the agent controversy, the contract situation and the feeling that City had simply been able to turn Sterling’s head.

But there was something else happening at Liverpool that summer.

Jürgen Klopp was about to arrive.

And that’s where the story becomes fascinating.

What if Liverpool had won the league in 2014?

I’ve thought about this one before.

Liverpool came agonisingly close to winning the Premier League under Brendan Rodgers in 2013/14.

They finished runners-up to City by two points.

That season produced Luis Suárez at his absolute best, the emergence of Sterling and one of the most memorable title races Liverpool had experienced for years.

But imagine a different outcome.

Liverpool win the title.

Steven Gerrard gets his Premier League medal.

Sterling stays.

And perhaps Liverpool don’t feel the same need for a change of manager.

Maybe Klopp doesn’t arrive when he does.

Obviously, that’s impossible to prove.

Football doesn’t work like that.

But it shows how interconnected everything was.

City weren’t simply winning trophies while Liverpool did their own thing.

They were affecting the decisions Liverpool had to make, the players Liverpool could attract and retain, and eventually the standard Liverpool had to reach.

Then Klopp arrived

And suddenly the whole thing changed.

Liverpool and City became the two teams capable of producing ridiculous numbers of points.

The 2018/19 title race.

The 2021/22 title race.

Liverpool finishing with 97 points and still not winning the league.

Then 92 points and still finishing second.

These weren’t ordinary title races.

Liverpool were pushing themselves to levels that would have been enough to win most Premier League seasons.

But City were there.

Again.

And again.

That’s why the independent commission’s findings are going to be uncomfortable for Liverpool supporters.

The period under investigation ends in 2017/18, just before Liverpool’s greatest battles with Guardiola’s City really took shape.

But it covers the years in which the foundations of City’s dominance were being built.

The Premier League says the commission found that City had breached financial rules throughout the nine-season period and that the alleged financial manipulation helped the club appear compliant with spending limits.

City will fight those findings.

They have every right to appeal.

But Liverpool supporters are still entitled to look at the history and ask questions.

Because the damage, if the findings ultimately stand, isn’t simply about one balance sheet.

It’s about what those advantages helped create.

Liverpool kept coming back for more

This is probably what impresses me most when I look back at it.

Liverpool didn’t disappear.

They kept building.

They found Salah.

They found Mané.

They found Robertson.

They found Alexander-Arnold.

They signed Van Dijk and Alisson.

They brought in Klopp.

And eventually they pushed City harder than almost anybody else could.

Liverpool finally won the Premier League in 2020, but by then City had already established themselves as the benchmark.

And even when Liverpool reached extraordinary levels, City kept finding another level.

That’s why this story matters to Liverpool fans.

It’s not about pretending Liverpool would have won every title City won.

We simply don’t know that.

It’s about recognising just how difficult Liverpool’s job became during that period.

And now an independent commission has found that City breached the Premier League’s financial rules across the very years in which that transformation was taking place.

That is a fact supporters are going to have to sit with while City’s appeal plays out.

The history can’t simply be erased

Nobody knows what the final outcome will be.

The appeal could change the picture.

Sanctions have yet to be determined.

So I’m not going to pretend the story is finished.

But I do think Liverpool supporters are entitled to look back at the last 15 years differently.

Gareth Barry.

David Silva.

James Milner.

Raheem Sterling.

Then the relentless battle for Premier League titles.

City were already changing the landscape before Klopp and Guardiola turned it into one of the greatest managerial rivalries English football has seen.

Liverpool kept trying to catch them.

Kept rebuilding.

Kept coming back.

And eventually became the club capable of going toe-to-toe with them year after year.

That’s why this isn’t just a Manchester City story.

For Liverpool supporters, it’s part of our story too.

And if the commission’s findings ultimately survive City’s appeal, football will have to have a very uncomfortable conversation about what those years really meant.

Because you can’t change history.

But you can certainly start asking different questions about it.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

I really enjoyed watching Dominik Szoboszlai against Georgia.

Not because he scored.

He didn’t.

Not because he got an assist either.

He didn’t do that.

But he was everywhere.

Hungary won 1-0 thanks to Milos Kerkez’s header, but for me, Szoboszlai was the player who really caught the eye.

And the numbers are pretty ridiculous.

A 9.3 Sofascore rating.

Szoboszlai created eight chances, more than anybody else in the game, including one big chance. He had five shots, completed all five of his dribbles and won nine of his 11 ground duels.

He also completed 52 of 58 passes, with eight key passes and 8/9 accurate crosses according to Sofascore.

That’s the bit I like.

He wasn’t just having a nice game.

He was demanding the ball and trying to make things happen.

And that’s the Szoboszlai I want to see at Liverpool.

He looked like the captain

Szoboszlai wore the captain’s armband for Hungary and played with that responsibility.

There was a point in the game where it seemed almost everything went through him.

Want to create something? Give it to Szoboszlai.

Need to switch the play? Give it to Szoboszlai.

Want somebody to carry the ball forward? Give it to Szoboszlai.

He wasn’t waiting for somebody else to take control.

He was trying to do it himself.

That’s something I want to see more often at Liverpool.

This is why I still believe in him

I’ve been critical of Szoboszlai at times.

I think Liverpool supporters have every right to expect more from him because we know how good he can be.

There are games where I watch him and think, come on Dom, get involved.

Against Georgia, there was none of that.

He was involved.

He wanted the ball.

He ran at players.

He created.

He crossed.

He shot.

He fought for possession.

He kept trying to move Hungary forward.

That’s why the 9.3 rating doesn’t surprise me.

Sometimes a player can score a goal and have a quiet game.

This was the opposite.

Szoboszlai didn’t score and still managed to be one of the most influential players on the pitch.

Liverpool need more of this

This is where I’m hoping Szoboszlai can take something from his international performances back to Liverpool.

Because the Reds have plenty of attacking talent now.

Florian Wirtz is there.

Alexander Isak is there.

Cody Gakpo is there when he’s fit.

Bradley Barcola is another option.

But somebody in midfield has to make things happen.

That’s where Szoboszlai can be so important.

He has the ability to play the difficult pass, carry the ball, shoot from distance and deliver dangerous crosses.

And, when he’s confident, he can be an absolute nightmare to play against.

We’ve seen all of those qualities before.

The frustrating thing is that we don’t always see them together.

Against Georgia, we did.

And I think that’s why Liverpool supporters should be encouraged by this performance.

Not because it’s one international match.

Not because he got a 9.3.

But because it was a reminder of the player Liverpool thought they were buying.

And Kerkez got the winner

There is one other Liverpool connection worth mentioning.

Milos Kerkez scored the only goal of the game with a header in the 35th minute, beating his Liverpool teammate Giorgi Mamardashvili.

So Liverpool supporters had plenty to enjoy.

But for me, this was really about Szoboszlai.

I’ve been waiting to see him grab a game by the scruff of the neck like this.

He didn’t need a goal.

He didn’t need an assist.

He just looked like a midfielder who believed he could make something happen every time he got the ball.

And that’s the player I still believe is in there.

Now I just want to see it more often in a Liverpool shirt.

Because when Dominik Szoboszlai plays with that confidence, he can give Liverpool something very different in midfield.

Maybe this is the version of Szoboszlai we’ve been waiting for.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool are showing serious interest in Gilberto Mora, but there is already another familiar name hovering around the teenager.

Real Madrid.

Liverpool have made direct contact with Mora’s representatives as they explore a potential deal for the 17-year-old Club Tijuana star. Real Madrid and Barcelona are also continuing to monitor his situation, with Mora now one of the most talked-about young players in European football.

And this is where I start thinking: here we go again.

Because Liverpool seem to keep finding themselves competing with Real Madrid.

Trent Alexander-Arnold went there last summer.

Ibrahima Konaté followed him this summer.

Virgil van Dijk has now been linked with a move to Madrid as his Liverpool contract approaches its final year.

And even when Liverpool are trying to sign somebody, Real Madrid somehow end up in the conversation.

Mora is the latest example

Liverpool have been interested in Mora for some time, so this isn’t a case of the Reds suddenly jumping on the latest wonderkid hype.

The 17-year-old made a huge impression at the 2026 World Cup and has continued to attract attention since returning to Club Tijuana.

Liverpool have already made contact with his representatives, and reports now suggest they are seriously considering a move once Mora turns 18 on October 14 and can make an international transfer.

But they aren’t alone.

Real Madrid remain interested.

Barcelona are interested too.

And reports from Football Insider now claim Mora’s preference would be to move to Spain rather than join Liverpool.

That obviously makes things more complicated.

It doesn’t mean Liverpool have lost him.

But it does mean the Reds are facing another battle for a player they clearly like.

Liverpool have been here before

The Yan Diomande situation is still fresh in the memory.

Liverpool reportedly made the teenager one of their major targets, only for Real Madrid to eventually win the race.

That’s frustrating enough when you’re a supporter.

But then you look at what’s happened with Liverpool’s own players.

Trent left for Madrid.

Konaté has now followed him.

And Van Dijk is being linked with the same club.

I’m not suggesting there’s some great conspiracy here.

Real Madrid are simply one of the biggest clubs in the world and they want the best players.

But when you’re a Liverpool supporter watching the same thing happen repeatedly, you do start to get a little fed up.

Liverpool shouldn’t back away

This is where I think Liverpool have to stand their ground.

If the club genuinely believes Mora can become a top player, then keep pushing.

He’s 17.

There is absolutely no guarantee that he becomes the superstar people are already predicting.

But Liverpool clearly see enough in him to make contact and explore the possibility of a deal.

That’s what matters.

And I don’t want Liverpool walking away just because Real Madrid are interested.

If you’re going to compete at the top level of European football, sometimes you’re going to be competing against Real Madrid.

You can’t avoid that.

You just have to be prepared to win some of those battles.

That’s the frustrating part

I actually think the pattern says something positive about Liverpool’s recruitment.

They’re identifying players that the very biggest clubs want too.

That’s not a bad place to be.

But I’d quite like to see Liverpool actually get one over on Madrid for a change.

Trent is gone.

Konaté is gone.

Diomande is gone.

Van Dijk’s situation remains unresolved.

And now Mora is being pulled into the same conversation.

Liverpool can’t control what a 17-year-old wants to do with his career, particularly if Real Madrid or Barcelona are offering him the dream move.

But they can show Mora what Liverpool can offer.

They can give him a pathway.

They can explain where he fits into Iraola’s plans.

And if they really believe he’s special, they can make a serious attempt to get the deal done.

Because I’d much rather Liverpool lose a transfer battle after doing everything they possibly can than simply step aside when Madrid arrive.

Liverpool just can’t seem to escape Real Madrid.

But perhaps Gilberto Mora is the one where the Reds finally get the better of them.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

I’m starting to get a little excited about Jérémy Jacquet.

And I know we’ve said that before.

Liverpool signed the young French defender from Rennes for a significant fee, so there was always going to be pressure on him. But what has happened since the start of the season has been pretty remarkable.

Jacquet has gone from a new signing trying to settle into English football to making his senior France debut under Zinedine Zidane.

And after his latest appearance, Zidane had some very interesting things to say.

“Very good. Very, very good. Brave. Not afraid to come way out. Very good in the duel. He was once again very good.”

That’s quite a compliment.

But one word stood out to me.

Brave.

That’s what I like about Jacquet

When I watch Jacquet, one of the things that stands out is how willing he is to defend on the front foot.

He doesn’t seem desperate to sit deep and wait for the opposition to come to him.

He’ll step out.

He’ll follow a player into midfield.

He’ll try to win the ball before an attack develops.

That’s obviously going to come with risks. He’s still a young defender and there will be occasions when he gets the timing wrong.

But I’d rather see that aggression than a centre-back who is afraid to make a decision.

And Zidane has clearly noticed it too.

The France manager specifically picked out Jacquet’s willingness to come out of his defensive position, which tells me that this isn’t just something Liverpool supporters have been seeing.

It’s becoming part of his identity as a defender.

And he’s doing it at international level

This is the part that makes Jacquet’s rise particularly interesting.

He isn’t simply getting praise after a few decent games for Liverpool.

He’s now being trusted by France.

Jacquet made his senior debut in the 1-0 win over Belgium and then started again against Italy, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw.

That’s two consecutive starts for a 21-year-old who had only just broken into the senior international picture.

I don’t think many Liverpool supporters expected that to happen quite so quickly.

And there is something else I like about it.

Jacquet doesn’t appear to be changing his game simply because he’s playing at a higher level.

He’s still willing to step forward and compete.

Against Italy, France were prepared to leave their centre-backs defending large spaces, and Jacquet was part of that approach.

That’s exactly the sort of experience that can help him at Liverpool.

Virgil van Dijk can only help him

Jacquet has already spoken about how much he has admired Virgil van Dijk, describing him as one of the best centre-backs and someone he needs to learn from if he wants to reach the very top.

Now he’s actually playing alongside him.

That’s some apprenticeship.

van Dijk has spent years dealing with the situations Jacquet is only beginning to experience — when to step up, when to hold the line, when to attack the ball and when to stay patient.

Jacquet clearly has his own qualities, but having Van Dijk beside him at this stage of his career could be hugely important.

And Liverpool have already seen glimpses of what that partnership might become.

I’m not getting carried away

This is where I think we need to be sensible.

Jacquet is still only 21.

A couple of good international performances don’t suddenly make him the finished article.

There will be difficult afternoons.

There will be mistakes.

There will be moments when his willingness to step out leaves space behind him and he has to learn from it.

That’s normal.

What interests me is that he seems to have the personality to deal with those challenges.

He isn’t hiding.

He’s taking responsibility.

And now he’s doing it for France as well as Liverpool.

That’s a pretty good foundation to build on.

Maybe Liverpool knew exactly what they were buying

When Liverpool agreed their deal for Jacquet from Rennes earlier this year, he was still a relatively inexperienced young defender. The club clearly believed there was something there, with the deal eventually completed on a long-term contract this summer.

We’re obviously still very early into his Liverpool career.

But look at the progression.

He arrives at Anfield.

He earns his place in the team.

He settles alongside van Dijk.

He gets noticed by France.

He makes his senior debut.

Then he starts again against Italy.

And now Zidane is describing him as brave and praising the way he defends.

That’s a lot to happen in a very short space of time.

For me, the most encouraging part isn’t even the praise.

It’s that Jacquet looks like he belongs at this level.

And that’s a very different thing from saying he’s already the finished product.

Liverpool don’t need him to be perfect.

They need him to keep improving.

If he does that, the Reds could have a seriously good centre-back on their hands for years to come.

And perhaps Zidane has just given Liverpool supporters another reason to believe that the club made a very interesting investment in Jérémy Jacquet.

I’m certainly starting to believe it.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

There was plenty to keep an eye on for Liverpool supporters during Friday night’s international action.

And thankfully, there was more good news than bad.

Milos Kerkez got himself on the scoresheet for Hungary, Jérémy Jacquet played another full game for France, Bradley Barcola got some minutes off the bench, Giorgi Mamardashvili was in goal for Georgia and Kieran Morrison picked up an assist for Northern Ireland.

Not a bad night for the Reds.

Kerkez gets his first Hungary goal

This is the one that immediately caught my eye.

Milos Kerkez scored his first international goal as Hungary beat Georgia 1-0.

And there was a nice little Liverpool connection to it because the player he beat with his header was his club teammate Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Kerkez got into the box and headed Dániel Lukács’ cross past Mamardashvili ten minutes before half-time.

It was enough to win the game.

It was also Kerkez’s first goal for Hungary, which makes it a particularly nice moment for the Liverpool left-back.

He played the full match and, from a Liverpool point of view, I’m really hoping this gives him a bit of confidence.

Kerkez has had a mixed start to life at Anfield, but there’s clearly plenty of ability there.

I still think we’re going to see a lot more from him once he properly settles into Liverpool’s way of playing.

One little downside is that he picked up his second yellow card of the Nations League campaign, meaning he will miss Hungary’s next game against Ukraine.

Mamardashvili couldn’t stop his Liverpool teammate

It must have been a strange one for Giorgi Mamardashvili.

You’re playing for Georgia and trying to keep a clean sheet.

Then the Liverpool teammate you see every day at Melwood turns up in your penalty area and heads the ball past you.

Mamardashvili completed the full 90 minutes and reportedly made five saves, so the 1-0 scoreline could have been worse for Georgia.

It wasn’t the result he wanted, obviously, but another full game for him is useful.

Liverpool will need Mamardashvili to be ready whenever his opportunity comes at club level.

Jacquet keeps going

I’m really enjoying watching Jérémy Jacquet’s international rise.

It wasn’t long ago that we were talking about his France debut.

Now he’s already played another full 90 minutes.

Jacquet started at centre-back as France drew 1-1 with Italy in Paris. It was his second consecutive start for France under Zinedine Zidane, following the 1-0 victory over Belgium earlier in the international window.

That’s a big deal for a 21-year-old Liverpool defender.

And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Liverpool supporters are becoming increasingly excited about him at the same time.

We’ve already seen how composed Jacquet can look alongside Virgil van Dijk.

Now he’s getting international experience alongside some of France’s best defenders.

That’s only going to help him.

The result wasn’t what France wanted, with Italy coming back to draw 1-1, but from Liverpool’s point of view I’m much more interested in Jacquet getting another 90 minutes.

Give me that all day.

Barcola gets another 14 minutes

Bradley Barcola came off the bench for France and played around the final quarter of the match.

It wasn’t long enough for him to make a huge impact, but at least he’s getting minutes.

After the injury problems Liverpool have had in attack recently, I’m just happy to see Barcola getting through another international appearance.

He was introduced for the final 15 minutes against Italy, while Jacquet stayed on for the full game.

Hopefully he can build up his minutes and return to Liverpool feeling sharp.

The last thing Liverpool need right now is another injury. Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak have already sustained injuries during this period, so everyone connected with the club will be hoping the remaining players can get through the international break safely.

Szoboszlai captains Hungary

Dominik Szoboszlai also completed the full match for Hungary.

He wore the captain’s armband as Hungary beat Georgia 1-0, with Kerkez providing the decisive goal.

For me, Szoboszlai’s role as Hungary captain is another reason why I think Liverpool have something special in him.

He’s still only 25, but he’s already carrying major responsibility for his country.

Liverpool will need that leadership too.

There have been games this season where I’ve wanted more from Szoboszlai, particularly when Liverpool have struggled to control midfield.

But I still think there’s a very good player in there.

And having these international responsibilities can only help him grow into the sort of leader Liverpool will eventually need.

Morrison gives Northern Ireland a boost

And then there’s Kieran Morrison.

The Liverpool youngster is another player I always like keeping an eye on when international football comes around.

He started for Northern Ireland against Ukraine and produced an excellent assist as his country won 3-0.

Morrison’s cross was headed back across goal before Isaac Price finished it, and he played 78 minutes before being substituted.

That’s a really good experience for him.

Northern Ireland have made an excellent start to their Nations League campaign and are yet to concede after three games, so Morrison is getting the chance to be part of something positive with the senior national team.

He’s one of those Liverpool youngsters who could be easy to overlook because he’s not yet around the first team every week.

But keep an eye on him.

He’s developing.

Overall, a good night for Liverpool

When you look at it all together, there was plenty to like.

Kerkez scored his first international goal.

Jacquet played another full game for France.

Barcola got more minutes.

Szoboszlai captained Hungary.

Mamardashvili played the full 90.

And Morrison picked up an assist in a 3-0 win for Northern Ireland.

That’s exactly what I want from an international break.

Give our players minutes.

Give the youngsters experience.

And, most importantly, bring everybody home healthy.

Gakpo and Isak sustaining injuries is a reminder that international breaks can quickly become costly for clubs. Liverpool really don’t want any more players joining the injury list before the season resumes.

There are still more international games to come, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed on that last part.

Liverpool have plenty waiting for them when the international break is finally over.

And after watching some of these performances, I’m looking forward to seeing the Reds back together again.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

I’ll admit it, Trey Nyoni wasn’t somebody I expected to be talking about quite this much already.

At the start of the season, I saw him as one for the future. A really exciting young midfielder who needed time, patience and a few opportunities to show what he could do.

I’m not so sure we can call him just a player for the future anymore.

Nyoni is starting to give Andoni Iraola a proper selection headache.

And I think Liverpool supporters should be very happy about that.

The midfield was one of the areas I was most interested in when Iraola arrived. Gravenberch, Szoboszlai and Mac Allister all have plenty of ability, but Liverpool haven’t always looked completely balanced in there.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m not convinced Gravenberch and Szoboszlai together always give us enough control.

Then there’s Nyoni coming through and making the whole thing a little more interesting.

Liverpool reportedly turned down a $40m offer from Nottingham Forest for him during the summer. That was a huge statement considering he hadn’t even started a Premier League game.

It made me think Liverpool must really believe in this kid.

Now I’m beginning to understand why.

What I really like about Nyoni is that he doesn’t seem scared of the ball.

That sounds simple, but it isn’t.

Some young players get into the first team and you can almost see them thinking, don’t make a mistake.

Nyoni seems to think, give me the ball.

I like that.

Iraola noticed it during pre-season too, praising his willingness to ask for the ball when opponents were putting him under pressure and describing that quality as “very valuable.”

That’s exactly the sort of midfielder I want to see at Liverpool.

Someone who wants responsibility.

Someone who doesn’t hide.

And someone who is prepared to play forward.

Nyoni has mainly been used as a No.6 under Iraola, which is particularly interesting to me.

Liverpool have spent plenty of time trying to find the right player for that sort of role.

I’m not saying Nyoni has suddenly become the answer. He’s 19 and has a lot to learn.

But watch him and there are moments when you can see why Liverpool are so excited.

He’s comfortable receiving the ball.

He looks forward.

He isn’t afraid to get involved.

And he seems to understand what Iraola is asking from him.

Nyoni has also spoken about enjoying Iraola’s football because it’s forward-thinking and aggressive, with an emphasis on pressing and attacking quickly after winning the ball.

That sounds like a pretty good fit to me.

Then we saw him against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.

Iraola changed almost the entire team and Liverpool won 3-1.

Nyoni started, and once again he looked like he belonged.

That’s when I started thinking this could become more than just a nice development story.

Because if Nyoni was simply a promising youngster, Iraola could quite easily leave him out.

But what happens if he keeps playing well?

That’s where the problem starts.

And it’s a problem I want Iraola to have.

I’m not going to sit here and say Nyoni should suddenly start every Premier League game.

That would be ridiculous.

He’s still learning the game.

There will be matches where the pace is too much for him. There will be mistakes. There will be days when the right thing is for him to watch from the bench.

That’s football.

But I don’t want Liverpool to keep a talented player on the sidelines simply because he’s young.

If he’s good enough to contribute, give him the opportunity.

And there is another reason I’m interested in what happens next.

Nyoni has now been moving up the England setup as well, having been promoted from the Under-20s to the Under-21s during the latest international period.

That’s another sign that his development is moving quickly.

It feels like only yesterday we were wondering when Liverpool would see more of him.

Now we’re wondering how much football Iraola can find for him.

That’s a very different conversation.

And I think the senior midfielders need to take notice too.

Gravenberch needs to keep improving.

Szoboszlai needs to keep improving.

Mac Allister needs to keep improving.

That’s not a criticism of any of them. It’s just what happens when a young player starts knocking on the door.

Competition is good.

Liverpool have spent a lot of money building this squad, but one of the most interesting things for me is watching a young player from the academy potentially force his way into the picture.

That’s what supporters want to see.

And maybe that’s why Nyoni is giving Iraola a problem Liverpool didn’t have before.

He isn’t just asking for a chance anymore.

He’s starting to make a case for one.

I still wouldn’t rush him.

I wouldn’t put the weight of Liverpool’s midfield on his shoulders.

But I’d definitely keep giving him minutes.

Because there is something about Nyoni that I really like.

He looks like he belongs.

And if that continues, Iraola is going to have to find a way of getting him onto that pitch more often.

For me, that’s a bloody good problem to have.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)