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)

There are some football opinions that make you stop and listen.

And when that opinion comes from Wesley Sneijder, I’m definitely listening.

The former Netherlands midfielder has been speaking about Virgil van Dijk after another night where Liverpool’s captain showed exactly why he remains so important to his country.

The Netherlands found themselves 2-0 down against Greece, but somehow fought their way back into the game.

And who got them started?

Virgil van Dijk.

The Liverpool captain rose to the occasion again, scoring the goal that gave the Netherlands hope before Tijjani Reijnders completed the comeback with a late equaliser.

For me, that is Van Dijk all over.

Sneijder understands what Van Dijk means

Sneijder’s comments about Van Dijk were brilliant.

He basically described him as the player he wishes the Netherlands had possessed during his own international career, praising him as one of the greatest defenders of the modern era and pointing out that when things get difficult, Van Dijk steps up as captain.

That’s some praise coming from Sneijder.

We’re talking about a player who knows exactly what it means to represent the Netherlands at the highest level. He was part of that incredible Dutch generation that reached the 2010 World Cup final and also played at the 2014 World Cup.

So when someone like Sneijder says he would have loved to have Van Dijk alongside him during those years, I think Liverpool supporters should appreciate just how significant that is.

And I particularly liked the point about Van Dijk scoring goals.

Because he does.

When Liverpool or the Netherlands need something, he has a habit of appearing.

Look at that goal against Greece

The Netherlands were in trouble.

Two goals down away from home and heading towards what would have been a hugely disappointing result.

Then Van Dijk scores.

It wasn’t just another goal on his international record.

It changed the mood.

Suddenly the Netherlands had something to chase.

Suddenly Greece had something to protect.

And suddenly the Dutch players had a reason to believe they could get back into the match.

That’s exactly what Sneijder was talking about when he said Van Dijk’s goals give the whole team hope.

I’ve watched Van Dijk do this for Liverpool so many times.

Sometimes it’s a goal.

Sometimes it’s a huge defensive intervention.

Sometimes it’s simply him taking control of a situation and calming everybody down.

That’s what being a captain is about.

It’s not just wearing the armband.

This is why I still wouldn’t swap Van Dijk

I’ve seen plenty of discussions over the years about whether Liverpool should be looking towards the next generation of centre-backs.

Of course they should.

Liverpool have to plan for the future.

But there is a massive difference between planning for life after Van Dijk and deciding that Van Dijk isn’t good enough anymore.

He is still incredibly important.

And watching him for the Netherlands only reinforces that for me.

He played the full game against Greece and, despite the disappointing first half, was part of a Netherlands side that improved dramatically after the break. Van Dijk himself described the first half as unacceptable afterwards, but focused on the positives from the comeback. (NOS)

That tells you something else about him.

He doesn’t hide from responsibility.

He doesn’t pretend everything was brilliant.

He knows when the team hasn’t been good enough.

But he also knows how quickly things can change.

Liverpool are seeing it too

That’s why I’m really pleased with the way Van Dijk has started this season.

There were questions about his future during the summer, with reports of interest from AC Milan and Barcelona, but Liverpool kept their captain.

For me, that was important.

Not just because of what Van Dijk does defensively.

It’s everything else.

The leadership.

The experience.

The organisation.

The communication.

And now you’ve got Jérémy Jacquet beside him, with the youngster gaining experience from playing alongside one of the best defenders of his generation.

That’s massive for Jacquet.

And it’s massive for Liverpool.

Van Dijk doesn’t have to play every single game forever. He doesn’t have to be Liverpool’s centre-back for the next five years.

But while he’s still capable of producing performances like this, I want him at Anfield.

Sneijder’s words mean something

This is probably the biggest thing I took from Sneijder’s comments.

He wasn’t simply saying Van Dijk is a good defender.

He was talking about what Van Dijk represents.

A player the Netherlands can look towards when things aren’t going their way.

A leader who can change the mood of a match.

A defender who can score when his team needs him.

And someone whose experience has been earned at the very highest level.

The Netherlands have now drawn 2-2 with Greece after falling two goals behind, leaving them third in their Nations League group after three matches.

There were plenty of things for Xavi and his players to worry about after that first half.

But Van Dijk wasn’t one of them.

He was part of the reason they came back.

And that is why I completely understand why Sneijder has given him so much praise.

Liverpool fans should appreciate him while we can

I’ve probably said this before, but I don’t think we appreciate Van Dijk enough while he’s still playing.

One day we’ll be watching somebody else wear that Liverpool shirt and we’ll be telling younger supporters just how good Van Dijk was.

We’ll talk about the pace.

The positioning.

The aerial ability.

The passing.

The calmness.

The trophies.

The ridiculous defensive performances.

And the goals.

But above everything else, I’ll remember the feeling of knowing that when Liverpool were in trouble, Van Dijk was there.

Sneijder has basically said the same thing about the Netherlands.

And coming from a Dutch legend who knows exactly what that generation was missing at the biggest tournaments, I think that’s pretty special.

Van Dijk isn’t finished.

He’s still the Netherlands captain.

He’s still Liverpool’s leader.

And when the pressure is on, he’s still capable of standing up and saying:

“Right. Follow me.”

That’s why Wesley Sneijder’s praise means so much.

And that’s why, as a Liverpool supporter, I’m very happy Virgil van Dijk is still ours.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

I’m going to hold my hands up here.

I was wrong about Cody Gakpo.

Not completely wrong. I’m not going to pretend I thought he was a terrible footballer.

But last season, there were plenty of times when I watched Gakpo in a Liverpool shirt and thought: Is this really as good as it’s going to get?

I wasn’t convinced.

I wasn’t enjoying watching him as much as I had when he first arrived.

And if Liverpool had sold him this summer, I wouldn’t have been sitting here screaming that it was a disaster.

Well…

I’m bloody glad they didn’t.

I thought Gakpo might have run his course

That’s the honest truth.

Last season frustrated me.

Gakpo looked short of confidence and, at times, he looked like a player who wasn’t quite sure what he was supposed to be doing.

He could play on the left.

He could play through the middle.

He could drop deeper.

But I kept waiting for him to really grab a game by the scruff of the neck.

It didn’t happen often enough.

And I wasn’t the only one questioning him.

Gakpo himself has admitted that his previous season wasn’t good enough, which makes my own criticism feel a little less harsh in hindsight.

So when the summer transfer rumours started, I wasn’t exactly devastated by them.

Manchester City were interested.

Liverpool were reportedly willing to consider letting him go.

And there was a genuine possibility that his Liverpool career could have ended.

Then everything changed.

Liverpool decided to keep him.

And I’m very happy they did.

Look at him now

This is what gets me.

Gakpo just looks happier.

More confident.

More aggressive.

More involved.

I don’t mean he’s suddenly turned into Lionel Messi.

But when he gets the ball now, I actually expect something to happen.

That’s a big difference.

He’s taking players on.

He’s carrying the ball further.

He’s getting involved in the build-up.

He’s finding Isak.

He’s creating chances.

And he’s not just standing out wide waiting for somebody else to make something happen.

Iraola clearly likes him too.

And I think we’re starting to see why.

Then I watched the Bournemouth game

The goal tells you a lot.

Isak gets the headlines because he’s the striker and he scored the winner.

But watch what Gakpo does.

He drives forward.

He keeps going.

He gets himself into a dangerous position.

He gets the ball into the box.

And Isak finishes it.

Liverpool’s own match report highlighted Gakpo’s contribution, while The Guardian noted that he has now assisted all four of Isak’s Premier League goals this season.

That isn’t a coincidence anymore.

There is something developing between those two.

And I bloody love it.

Because this is exactly what I wanted to see from Gakpo.

Maybe I was looking at the wrong thing

This is the bit I’ve been thinking about.

Perhaps I was too focused on what Gakpo wasn’t doing.

I wanted goals.

I wanted assists.

I wanted him to dominate games.

But there is more to his game than that.

He’s becoming one of the players who makes things happen.

And sometimes you don’t appreciate that until the player starts doing it consistently.

Liverpool’s attack is still nowhere near perfect.

Let’s not kid ourselves.

But Gakpo is making it better.

And that’s something I didn’t expect to be saying quite this early in the season.

Then Manchester City came calling

This makes the whole thing even more interesting.

Imagine if Liverpool had sold him.

Seriously.

Imagine watching Gakpo start the season like this in a Manchester City shirt.

I’d have been absolutely sick.

Thankfully, Liverpool decided to keep him.

And now I’m looking at Gakpo and thinking:

Thank God.

Sometimes you get lucky.

Sometimes you make the right decision after nearly making the wrong one.

Liverpool kept him.

And I think they’re going to be very glad they did.

I also think Iraola deserves credit

One thing I don’t want to do is make this all about Gakpo suddenly finding his old self.

The manager deserves some credit here.

Iraola has changed the way Liverpool want to attack.

There’s more movement.

There’s more intensity.

There’s more responsibility on the forwards to be aggressive.

And Gakpo seems to suit it.

He’s also developing an understanding with Isak and Wirtz.

That’s going to take time.

Liverpool have thrown a lot of new attacking pieces together and expected them to immediately click.

Football doesn’t work like that.

Sometimes you have to play together.

Sometimes you have to make mistakes together.

Sometimes you need a few games before you instinctively know where your teammate is going to be.

We’re starting to see that with Gakpo.

And then he got injured with Holland

This is the bit that really annoys me.

Just as Gakpo was starting to build some real momentum with Liverpool, he picked up an ankle injury playing for the Netherlands against Serbia.

He was forced off after just over 15 minutes and subsequently withdrew from the Dutch squad, returning to Liverpool for further assessment.

It’s such a pity.

Honestly, I couldn’t believe it when I saw him go off.

After everything we’ve been talking about with Gakpo, after the way he’s started this season and after finally looking like one of Liverpool’s most important attacking players, the last thing he needed was another interruption.

Hopefully it’s nothing serious and he’s back quickly.

Because I want to see where this goes.

I want to see Gakpo continue building that relationship with Isak.

I want to see him playing with Wirtz.

I want to see what he can do when Liverpool’s attack finally starts clicking properly.

He’s earned that opportunity.

So yes, I’ll admit it

I was wrong.

I thought Gakpo might eventually become one of those Liverpool players where you remember the good moments but wonder whether it was time for both sides to move on.

Instead, I’m now looking at him thinking he could be one of the most important players in Iraola’s Liverpool team.

That’s a pretty big change.

And I’m delighted about it.

Because I don’t want to be right about Liverpool players failing.

I want to be wrong.

Every single time.

If Gakpo scores 20 goals, creates another load of chances and helps Liverpool win trophies, I’ll happily come back to this article and laugh at myself.

That’s football.

We watch.

We react.

We get things wrong.

And sometimes, thankfully, the player gives us a very good reason to change our minds.

Cody Gakpo has done exactly that with me.

I was wrong about him.

And I’m absolutely delighted I was.

Now I just hope that ankle injury doesn’t keep him out for too long.

Because I’m not ready to stop watching this version of Cody Gakpo yet.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool supporters spent much of the summer worrying about the centre-back position.

Now?

I’m not sure we need to worry quite so much.

In fact, Andoni Iraola could soon have the opposite problem.

Who actually plays?

Virgil van Dijk has been outstanding.

Jérémy Jacquet has looked increasingly comfortable alongside him.

Ronald Araújo can play at centre-back but has also made a strong case for himself at right-back.

And Giovanni Leoni is finally getting close to a return.

According to The Athletic’s Gregg Evans, Leoni is expected to return to full training this month, most likely in the week commencing October 12.

After more than a year out with an ACL injury, that is brilliant news.

It also gives Iraola a very interesting selection problem.

Van Dijk isn’t going anywhere

For me, Van Dijk is still the first name on the teamsheet at centre-back.

He’s the captain and the leader, while Liverpool’s recent defensive improvement has been particularly encouraging, with him and Jacquet developing an understanding at the heart of the defence.

If Van Dijk is fit, he plays the big games.

The interesting question is who lines up alongside him.

Jacquet has given Iraola a decision

I was excited about Jacquet before he had properly played for Liverpool.

I’m even more excited now.

The £60m signing arrived with plenty of expectation, but he has handled the pressure well and helped Liverpool put together a much more settled defence. His performances have also earned praise from Van Dijk.

That changes the situation for Leoni.

When Leoni was injured, Liverpool didn’t really know what they had. Now Jacquet has established himself, Leoni doesn’t need to return and immediately prove he’s better.

He just needs to get fit and start his Liverpool career properly.

And Araújo isn’t making things easy

Liverpool brought Araújo in from Barcelona when the defence was short of options, partly to add experience and flexibility.

He has done exactly that.

Araújo can play centre-back, but we’ve also seen him used at right-back, where his defensive qualities have given Liverpool another option. His versatility was one reason Liverpool wanted him in the first place.

That could become particularly useful once Leoni returns.

Rather than automatically moving Araújo into the middle, Iraola can leave him at right-back and give someone else a chance at centre-back.

That is a significant change from the situation Liverpool faced a few months ago.

Then Leoni comes back

Leoni has played just 81 minutes of competitive football for Liverpool.

That’s it.

He made his debut against Southampton in September 2025 and suffered his ACL injury during that game, so we still don’t know what he is going to become at Liverpool.

And I’m perfectly happy with that.

I don’t want ridiculous expectations placed on him before he’s properly recovered. Let him train, regain his confidence and play some Under-21 football if that’s what Liverpool decide is best.

Reports say Leoni has remained on Merseyside during his rehabilitation, using the time to build relationships with Liverpool’s staff and improve his English.

He’s also still only 19.

There is plenty of time.

I wouldn’t rush Leoni for anyone

Just because Liverpool have more defensive options doesn’t mean Leoni should be thrown straight into the team.

He’s been out for over a year, which is a long time for any footballer, never mind a 19-year-old still adapting to a new club and league.

Liverpool have to be patient.

If that means Leoni doesn’t make his first Premier League start until November or later, so be it.

I’d much rather see him properly fit in January than watch him return too quickly and suffer another setback.

But imagine the competition

Think about that group when everyone is available.

Van Dijk.

Jacquet.

Leoni.

Araújo.

Then you’ve got Joe Gomez as another experienced option who can cover several positions.

Liverpool’s defensive options were a concern when injuries hit Jacquet, Leoni and Gomez, which was one reason the club brought Araújo in on loan.

Now the picture is changing.

Jacquet and Leoni could potentially become Liverpool’s long-term centre-back pairing. Van Dijk offers experience, Araújo brings physicality and versatility, and Gomez provides further cover.

That isn’t a defensive crisis.

That’s a manager having choices.

And honestly, Iraola could do with a few more problems like this.

Liverpool have spent huge money rebuilding their attack, but the defence is quietly becoming one of the most interesting parts of this team.

The three consecutive Premier League clean sheets earlier in the season weren’t a fluke. There is something starting to develop there.

I can’t wait to see Leoni, not because I expect him to walk straight into the starting XI, but because I want to finally see the player Liverpool were so excited to sign from Parma.

And if he turns out to be as good as Liverpool believe he can be?

Well, centre-back suddenly becomes one of the easiest positions for Iraola to rotate.

That’s a brilliant problem to have.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

I think Liverpool fans have been waiting for this for months.

Not one particular signing.

Not one particular result.

Just the chance for Andoni Iraola to actually get a proper look at the team he is supposed to build.

Because there have been so many interruptions.

New players arriving. Players leaving. Injuries. International football. Players trying to understand a completely different style of football.

It has been difficult for Iraola to get everybody together and work out exactly what his Liverpool team should look like.

Now, finally, that is starting to change.

And some of the signs are really encouraging.

The defence is starting to look settled

The biggest change for me has been at the back.

Liverpool have now kept three consecutive Premier League clean sheets, and Iraola himself pointed to the growing understanding between Jérémy Jacquet and Virgil van Dijk, with Ronald Araújo and Milos Kerkez also becoming part of a more settled defensive unit.

That doesn’t happen overnight.

Jacquet has had to adjust to the pace of Premier League football, but his performance at Bournemouth was another big step forward.

He was voted Player of the Match after making important interceptions, defending his box and completing 54 of his 61 passes. Liverpool’s own analysis recorded 10 line-breaking passes from the young centre-back.

Then you’ve got Araújo.

He was brought in to give Liverpool more defensive strength and versatility, and he is already looking like an important part of the team.

And behind all of them is Alisson.

That is beginning to look like a proper defensive platform.

I’m not saying Liverpool have suddenly become unbeatable.

They haven’t.

But there is a much better feeling about the defence than there was a few weeks ago.

Now the injured players are coming back

This is where it gets really interesting.

Giovanni Leoni is expected to return to full training this month, with the week commencing October 12 reported as the likely target.

That is a massive moment for the youngster.

He has been out since suffering an ACL injury in September 2025, meaning he has barely had the chance to start his Liverpool career. Iraola had already said the plan was for Leoni to return to group training during the international break.

Then there is Federico Chiesa, who has also been working his way back.

Joe Gomez is another important option for Iraola.

And further down the line, we should eventually see Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley return from their long-term injuries. Liverpool have previously indicated that those two would take longer than the September/October international break.

That changes the squad.

Suddenly Iraola isn’t looking at the same group of players every week and trying to find solutions to problems created by injuries.

He’s going to have more options.

And that matters.

The attack still has work to do

I’m not going to pretend everything is suddenly perfect.

Liverpool have spent an enormous amount of money on their attack, and I still want to see more from it.

Florian Wirtz needs to become more influential.

Bradley Barcola needs time to settle.

Alexander Isak needs to stay fit and keep getting the service he needs.

But there are signs.

Isak already has four Premier League goals this season, and his winner at Bournemouth showed exactly why Liverpool spent so much money bringing him to Anfield.

Cody Gakpo has also become incredibly important.

In fact, I think Liverpool will be very happy they didn’t sell him.

Gakpo has talked about the improved understanding between himself, Isak and Wirtz, pointing out that playing together more often is helping them develop patterns of play.

That might be one of the most important things Liverpool have going for them.

You can’t buy chemistry.

You have to build it.

And then there is Wirtz

This is probably the biggest piece of the puzzle for me.

We know Wirtz is an outstanding footballer.

We’ve seen it.

The question is how Iraola gets the best version of him at Liverpool.

His Germany performances have provided a useful reminder of what he can do when he is confident, involved and allowed to influence the game.

I don’t think Liverpool need to panic about Wirtz.

They need to keep working with him.

Give him the ball.

Get him into dangerous areas.

Build an understanding with Isak and Gakpo.

And let him settle into the new system.

He’s still learning.

So is everyone else.

This is what I wanted to see from Iraola

When Iraola arrived, I didn’t expect everything to suddenly click.

How could it?

He inherited a squad that had gone through a huge amount of change.

Liverpool had lost major players, brought in several expensive new signings and were dealing with injuries at the same time.

Iraola himself said Liverpool had chosen to think beyond short-term problems rather than spend “crazy money” on temporary solutions while waiting for injured players to return.

I actually like that approach.

Because Liverpool don’t need to keep throwing money at every problem.

They need to get the players they’ve already got working.

And we’re starting to see that.

Now comes the really interesting part

Liverpool go into the international break unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions.

They aren’t playing perfect football.

Far from it.

But they’re improving.

The defence is becoming more settled.

Isak is scoring.

Gakpo is contributing.

Jacquet looks increasingly comfortable.

Araújo is giving Iraola another defensive option.

Leoni is getting closer.

And there are still players like Ekitike, Bradley, Gomez and Chiesa to come back into the picture.

Then comes Manchester City at Anfield on October 11.

That will be a serious test.

But perhaps that’s exactly what Liverpool need.

Because after all the changes, injuries and uncertainty, Iraola is finally getting closer to having the Liverpool squad he actually wanted to work with.

Now we get to see what he can really do with it.

And honestly, that’s the part I’ve been waiting for.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

I’ve been waiting a long time to see Giovanni Leoni play football again.

Now it looks like that wait could finally be coming to an end.

According to The Athletic’s Gregg Evans, Leoni is expected to return to full training with Liverpool this month, with the most likely date being the week commencing October 12.

That is brilliant news.

It has been an incredibly frustrating year for Leoni.

He arrived at Liverpool from Parma last summer as one of the most exciting young defenders in Italy. Then, just when supporters were beginning to see what he could do, everything changed.

Leoni made his Liverpool debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup on September 23, 2025.

He played 81 minutes.

Then he suffered an ACL injury.

That was it.

His first Liverpool season was effectively over before it had even started.

And for a young player who had just made the biggest move of his career, it must have been incredibly difficult.

Now, nearly a year later, we’re finally getting somewhere.

Don’t expect Liverpool to rush him

The important thing is that full training doesn’t mean Leoni will suddenly be thrown into the starting XI.

Liverpool have absolutely no reason to do that.

The club’s own injury update previously confirmed that the plan was for Leoni to return to team training during the international break, while Iraola also said the Italian would be the next long-term absentee expected to rejoin the group.

That is exactly how it should be handled.

He’s been out for almost a year with an ACL injury.

There is no point rushing him back because Liverpool fans are desperate to see him.

Let him train.

Let him get used to playing with his teammates again.

Let him build up his fitness.

Then, when the medical staff and coaching team think he’s ready, give him some minutes.

I’d much rather wait an extra few weeks and see Leoni properly fit than watch him come back too quickly and suffer another setback.

Liverpool have changed while he’s been away

This is the interesting part.

Leoni left the Liverpool first-team picture before we really knew what he could become.

Now he is returning to a defence that looks very different.

Virgil van Dijk is still there.

Jérémy Jacquet has emerged as a hugely promising young centre-back.

Ronald Araújo has shown that he can give Liverpool another option in defence and at right-back.

Joe Gomez is back involved.

So Leoni isn’t returning to a team desperately waiting for someone to save the defence.

And that’s actually a good thing.

There won’t be the same pressure on him to immediately become a first-team regular.

He can come back gradually and fight for his place.

That’s what I want to see.

Because I still haven’t forgotten that Liverpool didn’t spend around £26 million on a 19-year-old centre-back from Parma without believing he had something special. Reports at the time described him as one of the brightest young defenders in Italy, and Liverpool clearly saw a long-term player in him.

We just haven’t had the chance to see it yet.

I still want to see what Leoni can do

That’s probably what excites me most about this.

There has been so much talk about Leoni’s potential, but potential is one thing.

I want to see him actually play.

I want to see how comfortable he is on the ball.

I want to see his passing.

I want to see how he handles the physical side of Premier League football.

And I want to see how he looks alongside Jacquet and Van Dijk.

Because Liverpool could have a really interesting group of centre-backs developing behind their captain.

But I’m not going to put ridiculous expectations on Leoni.

He’s 19.

He’s coming back from a serious injury.

He has played just 81 competitive minutes for Liverpool.

That’s nowhere near enough to start declaring that we’ve found the next great Liverpool defender.

Let’s just let the lad play.

This is the bit Liverpool fans have been waiting for

There is something quite nice about seeing a player finally getting close to a comeback after such a horrible injury.

Leoni arrived with plenty of excitement around him.

Then, almost immediately, he disappeared from view.

For months we’ve heard updates about his rehabilitation, but nothing beats seeing a player back on the training pitch with his teammates.

And that’s what we’re getting closer to now.

Giovanni Leoni is coming back.

Not tomorrow.

Not necessarily next week.

And certainly not with any guarantee that he’ll walk straight into Iraola’s team.

But he’s getting closer.

After everything he’s been through, that’s more than enough for me.

Let’s get him fit, give him time and see what we’ve actually got.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Emile Heskey has given Liverpool supporters an interesting insight into Trey Nyoni — because he actually coached him at Leicester.

Heskey was working with Nyoni at Under-16 level and remembers a young player whose footballing brain stood out immediately.

“For someone so frail and young, his mind was way ahead of everyone else.”

Nyoni eventually moved up through the age groups before joining Liverpool in 2023. He is now 19 and has started to establish himself around the first-team squad, making four appearances for Andoni Iraola this season.

Heskey said the step up to Under-18 football was “way too easy for him”, and then exactly the same thing happened when Nyoni moved into the Under-21s.

That is probably the most telling part of Heskey’s assessment.

He wasn’t talking about a youngster who needed years to adjust to playing against older players. Nyoni kept stepping up and looking comfortable.

Heskey also picked out something that Liverpool supporters have started noticing themselves.

“Trey has this ability to step into new environments and be himself without any pressure.”

That’s a valuable quality when you’re trying to break into senior football.

Nyoni has already had to make several big jumps. He left Leicester for Liverpool as a teenager, progressed through Liverpool’s academy and then started getting opportunities with the senior side.

Now he’s been promoted from England Under-20s to the Under-21s after Jobe Bellingham and Lewis Miley withdrew from the squad through injury.

Heskey summed up what he saw all those years ago perfectly:

“When you’re a kid, and you already look like a senior on the pitch, it means you’ve got something special, right?”

Nyoni is still learning and Liverpool have plenty of competition in midfield, so there is no need to rush him.

But I like the fact that Iraola is already giving him minutes, particularly in a midfield role where Nyoni says he currently sees himself primarily as a No.6.

Heskey saw the football intelligence when Nyoni was still at Leicester.

Now Liverpool are finding out what he can do at senior level.

And at 19, there is still plenty of time for him to develop.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

Jürgen Klopp has been watching Florian Wirtz closely, and after Germany’s 2-0 win over Serbia, he had a clear message for Liverpool supporters:

Don’t worry about him.

Wirtz was excellent, scoring one goal and setting up Tom Bischof’s opener as Klopp secured his first win as Germany manager.

Klopp also dismissed the idea that Wirtz’s difficult start at Liverpool was down to the club’s style.

He said: “It’s not about Liverpool playing the wrong way and therefore Flo not being able to make it work there or anything like that. Everything is absolutely fine.”

That will reassure Liverpool supporters waiting to see the best of Wirtz.

I’ve been critical of him myself. I don’t think he’s been bad, but we haven’t yet seen enough of the player Liverpool spent so much money to sign.

Against Serbia, though, Wirtz looked confident, involved and dangerous. Operating centrally, he got on the ball and made things happen. His goal was particularly impressive, carrying the ball into the box before calmly finishing into the corner.

Klopp clearly enjoyed the performance.

“I don’t really know how much Flo has to get right before everyone is finally happy!”

That made me laugh because Klopp understands the pressure Wirtz is facing. His huge transfer fee means every performance is judged against the price tag. One quiet game brings questions, while one good display apparently needs to be repeated before everyone is satisfied.

Klopp wasn’t having it.

“But I think everyone in Liverpool will be very, very happy with his performance today.”

I certainly am.

The other part of Klopp’s comments that stood out was his reference to Wirtz playing with joy while working incredibly hard.

That’s exactly what I want to see at Liverpool: not a player worrying about his price tag or trying to prove himself with every touch, but someone simply enjoying his football.

Wirtz said after the Serbia game that Germany had created plenty of movement through the middle and that everyone was enjoying themselves. He also spoke about continuing to work hard after becoming captain when Serge Gnabry went off.

Perhaps that is what Liverpool supporters need to see more of: a happy, confident Wirtz who isn’t constantly wondering whether his next pass will be judged as proof of whether he was worth the money.

The talent is obvious. Klopp knows it, Germany know it and Liverpool know it. Wirtz has now given himself a reminder too.

One international performance does not solve everything. Liverpool are different from Germany, and the Premier League presents a much tougher challenge.

But this was important.

He scored, assisted, created chances and looked like he was enjoying himself. Klopp saw the same thing.

“He played a brilliant game, just like everyone else, and of course that helps everyone.”

Exactly.

Let’s hope Wirtz brings that confidence back to Liverpool. There is a bloody good footballer in there, and we just want to see him enjoying himself at Anfield too.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

That’s more like it, Florian.

Florian Wirtz has just produced the kind of performance Liverpool supporters have been waiting to see.

Starting for Germany against Serbia, Wirtz scored and assisted in a 2-0 win, playing a major part in Jürgen Klopp’s first victory as Germany manager.

And the numbers back up what we saw.

One goal.
One assist.
74 successful passes from 79.
97 touches.
Six chances created.
Five passes into the final third.
Eight touches inside the opposition box.

The six chances created were the most of anyone on the pitch, while his eight touches in the Serbian box were also a match-high.

That’s the Wirtz Liverpool signed.

We’ve spent the last few weeks talking about his slow start at Anfield. I’ve been critical of him myself because I know there’s so much more to come from this player.

But I’ve never thought he suddenly became a bad footballer.

Tonight was a reminder of that.

Wirtz was involved in Germany’s opening goal, hitting the post before Tom Bischof reacted to the rebound and fired Germany ahead. He then got his own goal in the second half, producing a composed finish to make it 2-0.

And there was a nice little moment at the end when Klopp gave him a huge bear hug.

I’m sure Liverpool supporters enjoyed seeing that.

Because this is exactly what we want from Wirtz.

Not necessarily spectacular tricks every five minutes. Just involvement.

Get on the ball. Create chances. Move into dangerous areas. Take responsibility. Make things happen.

Tonight he did all of that.

The 74 completed passes from 79 are particularly encouraging for me. Wirtz wasn’t just waiting around for something to happen in the final third. He was involved throughout the game and helped Germany control possession.

That’s something Liverpool need to see more often.

Of course, one international performance doesn’t suddenly solve everything.

Liverpool are a different team to Germany, the Premier League is a different environment and Wirtz still has plenty to prove at Anfield.

But this is a bloody good reminder of the player Liverpool bought.

He’s only 23.

The ability hasn’t disappeared.

Wirtz just needed a night like this.

And if he comes back from international duty with the same confidence he showed against Serbia, Liverpool supporters might finally start seeing more of the player we were all so excited about when he arrived.

Maybe this is the beginning.

I certainly hope so.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)

Florian Wirtz starts for Germany tonight against Serbia, and I think this is a really good opportunity for the Liverpool midfielder.

Wirtz hasn’t quite found his best form since arriving at Anfield. We’ve seen flashes of his quality, but not enough of the player who was so influential for Bayer Leverkusen.

That’s why I want to see him enjoy himself tonight.

There is already enough pressure surrounding Wirtz at Liverpool. His transfer fee gets mentioned constantly, every quiet performance is analysed and people are starting to wonder when we’re going to see the best of him.

I think we need to calm down a bit.

He’s still adapting to a new league, a new manager and a new team. That doesn’t mean we have to pretend everything has been brilliant, because it hasn’t. But writing him off would be ridiculous.

The Germany game gives him a chance to play without quite so much of that Liverpool pressure hanging over him.

And there is an interesting Liverpool connection too, with Jürgen Klopp now involved with Germany.

Klopp has already spoken positively about Wirtz and made the point that the youngster needs confidence rather than constant demands to produce something spectacular every time he gets the ball.

I completely agree.

What I want from Wirtz tonight isn’t necessarily a goal or an assist.

I want to see him getting involved.

I want to see him demanding the ball, turning away from defenders, finding those little passes and playing with the confidence we know he has.

Because the ability is still there.

We’ve all seen it.

Liverpool didn’t spend a huge amount of money on Wirtz because they thought he was an average player. They signed him because they believed he could become one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe.

It hasn’t clicked yet.

That doesn’t mean it won’t.

And perhaps a good performance for Germany is exactly what he needs before returning to Liverpool.

Florian Wirtz starts tonight.

Hopefully he can remind himself — and everyone else — why Liverpool wanted him in the first place.

By Jamie (The Kopite View)