The Kopite View

This Manchester City situation is getting bigger by the day.

And now Graeme Souness has weighed in with something that is going to get Liverpool supporters talking.

Speaking about the reported verdict in Manchester City’s long-running Premier League financial case, Souness said he believes City’s legacy could be destroyed if the findings ultimately stand.

His words were pretty brutal.

> “The legacy is gone. If it goes the wrong way for them, they’ll be consigned to history as cheats, and whatever they did, whatever they won in that period, should not count.”

Souness also suggested there could be an argument for Liverpool being awarded Premier League titles if City are stripped of trophies from the relevant period.

That is obviously a huge statement.

And it’s important to remember where we actually are with this case.

Reports say an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of all but one of the 115 charges, although City have maintained that the Premier League process remains ongoing and are expected to appeal. The Premier League itself has not publicly confirmed the verdict because the process is confidential.

So we are nowhere near the end of this yet.

But the implications are enormous.

The charges cover a period stretching from 2009-10 through to 2022-23, during which City won multiple Premier League titles and established themselves as one of the dominant forces in English football.

And that is where Liverpool fans naturally start looking at the history.

Liverpool finished runners-up to Manchester City by a single point in both 2018/19 and 2021/22.

Those two title races still hurt.

97 points and finishing second.

92 points and finishing second.

Two extraordinary Liverpool teams that would have won the Premier League in most seasons.

But Souness isn’t simply talking about those two campaigns.

He’s talking about the wider question of what happens to trophies if City are ultimately punished for rule breaches covering the relevant period.

That’s where things become incredibly complicated.

The Premier League has a range of possible sanctions available, including points deductions, fines, suspension and even expulsion. Stripping titles is also technically possible under the rules, although there is currently no indication that Liverpool will simply be handed trophies retrospectively. (Sky Sports)

And I think that’s an important distinction.

As a Liverpool supporter, obviously part of me looks at those two one-point defeats to City and thinks about what might have been.

But I wouldn’t want Liverpool’s history rewritten simply because we finished second.

If City were ultimately found to have gained a competitive advantage through serious financial rule breaches, that’s a different conversation.

Then the question becomes much bigger than Liverpool.

It becomes about whether the Premier League can simply leave the historical sporting consequences untouched if the competition itself was distorted.

That’s the can of worms Souness is talking about.

And he went even further, suggesting that financial penalties alone wouldn’t be enough because City’s resources mean that even a huge fine could potentially be absorbed.

He also mentioned relegation, while admitting he wasn’t sure what the appropriate punishment should be.

That part is going to divide football supporters.

Some will argue that the punishment has to be severe enough to matter.

Others will point out that the case is still subject to an appeal process and that Manchester City have consistently denied wrongdoing.

Both things matter.

What happens next is therefore just as important as the reported verdict itself.

City are expected to appeal, and any sanction would have to wait for the legal and disciplinary process to progress.

For Liverpool supporters, though, it’s impossible not to look back at those years and wonder.

What if?

What if Liverpool had been awarded the 2019 title?

What if the 2022 season had ended differently?

Would those incredible Liverpool teams now be remembered as multiple-time Premier League champions rather than the team that kept finishing agonisingly close behind City?

I don’t know where this ends.

And nobody else does either.

But Souness is right about one thing: this has gone far beyond a normal financial punishment.

The case is now touching the history of the Premier League itself.

If the reported findings survive the appeal process and serious sanctions follow, football will have to decide what those years actually mean.

And that could change how one of the most dominant periods in English football history is remembered.

For Liverpool fans, that’s a pretty extraordinary thought.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

I honestly never thought we’d be talking about Trent Alexander-Arnold returning to Liverpool so soon.

But here we are.

Reports are now claiming that Liverpool are among the Premier League clubs monitoring Trent’s situation at Real Madrid, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea also having been approached about a possible move.

The story comes as Trent continues to fight for his place in Madrid.

TEAMtalk reports that intermediaries have contacted Liverpool and the other Premier League clubs, although it is important to stress that Trent himself is not currently pushing to leave Real Madrid and there is no expectation of a January move at this stage.

So let’s not get carried away.

But it’s still a fascinating situation.

Trent left Liverpool in the summer of 2025 after his contract expired and joined Real Madrid. His first season in Spain didn’t go as he would have wanted, with injuries and competition for his position limiting him to 30 appearances.

Things haven’t suddenly become straightforward this season either.

Real Madrid brought in Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan, giving Jose Mourinho another established option at right-back. Trent has also been used in midfield, while his place in the starting XI has not been guaranteed.

And that is where this gets interesting from Liverpool’s perspective.

Because Liverpool have a right-back problem.

We’ve already seen the concerns surrounding Jeremie Frimpong. Conor Bradley has had his own injury problems, while Ronald Araújo has ended up providing an excellent alternative after arriving from Barcelona on loan.

So imagine adding Trent back into that mix.

I’m not going to pretend the idea wouldn’t be tempting.

This is still the same player who came through Liverpool’s academy, won the Premier League and Champions League with the club and became one of the best creative full-backs in world football.

His passing hasn’t disappeared because he moved to Spain.

Neither has his ability to see passes that most players simply don’t see.

The bigger question would be whether a reunion actually made sense for both sides.

Liverpool have changed.

Trent has changed.

Andoni Iraola has his own ideas about how he wants his full-backs to operate. If Trent came back, he wouldn’t simply be returning to the same Liverpool side he left.

That’s probably the biggest thing people need to remember.

This wouldn’t be a simple case of bringing back the old Trent and expecting everything to go back to normal.

There would be a lot of football to figure out.

And then there’s the emotional side.

Let’s be honest — Trent’s departure hurt a lot of Liverpool supporters.

He was a local lad who had spent his entire senior career at the club before choosing to leave for Real Madrid. Some fans have moved on from it. Others haven’t.

A return would certainly create plenty of debate.

Personally, I’d find it fascinating.

Not because Liverpool need to bring Trent back. They don’t have to.

But because he remains an extraordinary footballer, and Liverpool now have a genuine issue at right-back.

That’s a conversation worth having.

What I don’t want is for people to turn a few reports about interest into “Trent is coming home”.

We’re nowhere near that.

TEAMtalk’s reporting is actually pretty clear that Trent remains focused on Real Madrid and isn’t currently considering a January departure. The situation could be reassessed at the end of the season, though.

So for now, I’ll leave it there.

Trent Alexander-Arnold isn’t on his way back to Liverpool.

But Liverpool are apparently one of the clubs being kept informed about his situation.

And considering what is happening at right-back at Anfield, I don’t think many Liverpool supporters will be completely uninterested in hearing what happens next.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

This is the news Liverpool really didn’t want.

Cody Gakpo is set to be out for several weeks after suffering an ankle injury while on international duty with the Netherlands.

Rik Elfrink of Eindhovens Dagblad reports that tests carried out in Eindhoven have shown Gakpo will spend several weeks on the sidelines. The Netherlands have also confirmed that he has left the squad and will return to Liverpool. (Goal)

It is a significant blow for Andoni Iraola.

Gakpo was forced off just 17 minutes into the Netherlands’ 2-1 win over Serbia after taking a heavy challenge from Sasa Lukic. He initially tried to continue, but eventually had to signal to the bench that he couldn’t carry on.

At first, there was some hope that it wouldn’t be too serious.

That has now disappeared.

There is still no exact return date, so we don’t know precisely how many games Gakpo will miss. But “several weeks” is enough to know Liverpool are going to have to cope without one of their most important attacking players for a period of the season.

And that is a real problem.

Gakpo has been one of Liverpool’s most productive players under Iraola so far. He has contributed two goals and four assists this season, and his form had been particularly encouraging.

His absence also comes at a particularly awkward time because Liverpool already have problems up front.

Alexander Isak has returned from international duty with a minor thigh problem, while Hugo Ekitike remains out. That leaves Iraola with some difficult decisions to make if both Gakpo and Isak are unavailable when Liverpool return to action.

And the first game back isn’t exactly a gentle one.

Manchester City are due at Anfield on October 11.

There is still time for players to recover, of course, and Isak’s injury has been described as minor. But suddenly the international break has become a pretty worrying one for Liverpool.

What I don’t want to see is anyone panicking.

Liverpool have options.

Bradley Barcola can play across the front line. Rio Ngumoha has already shown that he isn’t frightened of playing senior football. Lewis Koumas is another young option, while Liverpool’s system can be adapted depending on who is available.

But replacing Gakpo’s current contribution isn’t straightforward.

He’s become more than just another winger. His ability to attack from the left, move inside, combine with other attackers and contribute goals has made him a hugely important part of the team.

And I think his absence could also give Ngumoha a really interesting opportunity.

I’ve been saying for a while that the youngster needs opportunities rather than simply being talked about as a future star. Well, this is the sort of situation where those opportunities can suddenly arrive.

Nobody should expect a teenager to simply replace Gakpo.

That’s not fair.

But if Ngumoha gets more minutes over the next few weeks, he has a chance to show Iraola exactly what he can offer.

That’s probably the positive Liverpool have to take from this.

Because there isn’t much point feeling sorry for themselves.

Gakpo will recover, Liverpool will get him back, and Iraola now has to find a way through the period without him.

The frustrating part is that Gakpo had looked in really good shape before this injury.

He had just scored for the Netherlands against Germany, then started against Serbia before the ankle problem ended his night after only 17 minutes.

Now Liverpool have to wait.

Hopefully “several weeks” turns out to be the shorter end of that description rather than something much longer.

But make no mistake, this is a proper injury blow for Liverpool.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

This is an interesting one.

According to a report from El Nacional, Virgil van Dijk has offered himself to Barcelona ahead of a potential free transfer next summer.

The Liverpool captain apparently wants to experience La Liga once his current contract at Anfield expires in June 2027, with Barcelona one of the clubs being considered.

But there is a pretty big twist.

The report claims that Barcelona manager Hansi Flick isn’t convinced by the idea and would rather the club pursue a younger centre-back.

That would certainly make things interesting for Liverpool.

Van Dijk is 35 now, but I don’t think anybody watching him this season would describe him as a defender who is finished. He remains Liverpool’s captain, still looks comfortable at the heart of the defence and has formed an interesting partnership with Jérémy Jacquet.

Liverpool themselves have plenty to think about because Van Dijk is one of several important players whose contracts currently run until 2027. The club still haven’t announced a new deal for their captain, and Van Dijk himself recently said there was “nothing to report” when asked about his contract.

So the Barcelona story isn’t completely out of nowhere.

Whether Van Dijk has actually offered himself to Barcelona is another matter.

El Nacional is the source of the claim, and it has been picked up elsewhere, but there is no indication from Liverpool that the captain has made a decision to leave Anfield.

And honestly, I find the idea of Van Dijk playing for Barcelona quite strange.

Not because I couldn’t see him playing in Spain. Quite the opposite.

He has spoken before about the appeal of experiencing different things in football, and a move to La Liga at the end of his Liverpool career would certainly be a major change.

But Van Dijk has become so closely associated with Liverpool that it would feel very odd seeing him walk out at the Nou Camp in Barcelona colours.

There is also an interesting connection here because Barcelona currently have Ronald Araújo on their books — and he’s spending this season on loan at Liverpool.

Araújo joined Liverpool in the summer on a one-year loan and can play both centre-back and right-back.

So you have a slightly bizarre situation developing.

Liverpool have Van Dijk, their captain and defensive leader, whose contract expires next summer.

They have Araújo, a Barcelona defender, spending the season at Anfield.

And now there is a report claiming Van Dijk could be offered to Barcelona when his Liverpool contract expires.

Football can be funny sometimes.

From Liverpool’s point of view, though, I still think the priority should be keeping Van Dijk around for as long as he can maintain this level.

I don’t think Liverpool should be making decisions based purely on age.

If he’s still performing, still leading the dressing room and still capable of playing at the highest level, then give him another contract and worry about replacing him when the time comes.

The club have already had to rebuild a huge part of the squad.

Losing their captain for nothing would be another major change.

And if Barcelona really are considering younger options instead of Van Dijk, that may actually work in Liverpool’s favour.

Because I’d much rather see Liverpool sitting down with their captain and asking him how long he wants to continue at Anfield than watching him negotiate his next move with Barcelona.

For now, though, that’s exactly what this is:

a rumour.

Van Dijk’s contract situation is real.

The Barcelona interest has been reported.

But there is a long way to go between a report claiming he has offered himself to Barcelona and actually seeing the Liverpool captain walk away from Anfield.

And personally, I’m not ready for that yet.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Sometimes statistics tell you things you already suspected. Other times they highlight something that is easy to miss when you are simply watching Liverpool every week.

WhoScored’s latest statistical profile of Liverpool is interesting because the strengths are pretty much what I would expect from this team.

The weaknesses are where it gets more intriguing.

According to WhoScored, Liverpool’s biggest strengths include creating chances with through balls, defending set pieces, coming back from losing positions, finishing chances, attacking down the wings, creating long-shot opportunities, protecting a lead, winning the ball back and competing in aerial duels.

That is quite a list.

And when I look at Liverpool under Andoni Iraola, quite a lot of it makes sense.

The through-ball statistic particularly interests me. Iraola wants Liverpool to play forward and attack with purpose, rather than simply moving the ball around for the sake of possession. When Liverpool find the right pass through the lines, there is enough pace and movement in the team to cause serious problems.

The wide attacking strength also makes sense.

Liverpool have players capable of stretching teams and attacking from different areas. Milos Kerkez can provide width from the left, while the right side has offered plenty of attacking threat depending on who Iraola uses there. Add players such as Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola and Alexander Isak into the equation and there is certainly no shortage of attacking talent.

Finishing chances is another encouraging one.

Liverpool have spent a lot of money rebuilding their attack and, even though I still don’t think everything has clicked yet, there are players in this squad who can punish teams when opportunities arrive.

Isak is probably the obvious example. He doesn’t need five chances to score a goal. Give him the right opportunity and he can finish it.

Then there is the less glamorous side of the game.

WhoScored has Liverpool down as strong at defending set pieces and in aerial duels, and that is something I think has become increasingly noticeable. Virgil van Dijk remains one of the most important players in that department, while Jérémy Jacquet and Ronald Araújo give Liverpool plenty of physical presence.

For all the criticism Liverpool have received at different times this season, the defence has become a much more reliable part of the team.

And protecting a lead is important too.

It sounds obvious, but it wasn’t always something Liverpool could be trusted to do last season. There were too many occasions when a comfortable position suddenly became uncomfortable.

This Liverpool side looks more capable of managing games once they get their noses in front.

The other strength that caught my eye was coming back from losing positions.

That tells you something about the mentality in the squad. Liverpool aren’t necessarily going to dominate every match from start to finish, and Iraola is still trying to establish exactly how he wants this team to play. Being able to respond after conceding is therefore valuable.

But then we get to the two weaknesses.

Avoiding offside.

Liverpool apparently have a problem with it.

I can’t say I’m shocked.

There have already been plenty of occasions when Liverpool have got themselves into promising positions only for the flag to go up. Sometimes it is fine margins, but there is a difference between making aggressive runs and constantly giving the opposition an easy way out.

With the quality Liverpool have in the final third, they don’t need to make life harder for themselves.

The bigger concern for me, though, is the second weakness:

Defending counter-attacks.

That one deserves attention.

Opta previously highlighted Liverpool’s vulnerability when opponents break quickly, noting that Newcastle had repeatedly exposed the space between Liverpool’s midfield and defence. (Opta Analyst)

It is also one of the natural risks of the way Iraola wants his team to play.

Liverpool want to attack. They want players forward. They want their full-backs involved. They want to win the ball high up the pitch.

Brilliant when it works.

Dangerous when it doesn’t.

Lose possession with too many players ahead of the ball and suddenly Van Dijk, Jacquet or Araújo can find themselves defending a huge amount of space.

That is probably the area I would be watching most closely as the season develops.

Because Liverpool’s other characteristics suggest there is plenty to like.

They can create through balls. They can attack from wide areas. They can finish. They can win aerial battles. They can defend set pieces. They can recover from losing positions and protect a lead.

Those are useful foundations.

The challenge for Iraola is making sure Liverpool’s attacking ambition doesn’t leave the back door open.

And if he can improve that one part of the team’s game, while also getting the players to time those forward runs a little better, I think Liverpool could become a very awkward team for opponents to deal with.

WhoScored’s numbers don’t tell the whole story.

But they certainly give us plenty to talk about.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

All eyes on Bradley Barcola tonight.

Liverpool fans will have another reason to watch France when they take on Belgium in the Nations League, because this could be a really important game for our new signing.

Barcola has been included in Zinédine Zidane’s France squad for the first time and, with Kylian Mbappé unavailable, there is an opportunity for some of the other attacking players to step forward.

And Barcola is one of the players I’m particularly interested in seeing.

Reports from France suggest Zidane is expected to make changes for the game in Brussels, with Barcola potentially starting alongside Michael Olise and Désiré Doué.

That’s a pretty exciting front three.

This is exactly what Barcola needs

Barcola has only just arrived at Liverpool.

He’s still getting used to a new club, a new manager and a completely different set of expectations after his move from Paris Saint-Germain.

So these international games aren’t just about France.

They’re useful for Barcola too.

He needs minutes.

He needs confidence.

And, perhaps most importantly, he needs to feel like an important player again.

There’s no question about his ability.

Liverpool didn’t spend a reported £120 million up front, with the deal potentially rising to £123m, because they weren’t convinced about what he could do.

They’ve bought him because they believe he can become a major attacking player for this team.

Now we get to see him doing it on another stage.

Mbappé’s absence could help him

Obviously, nobody wants to see another player injured.

But Mbappé’s knee problem means France are without their captain for this game, and Zidane has to find a different way of putting his attack together.

That could give Barcola a bigger role.

And I think that’s exactly what Liverpool supporters should be hoping for.

We know what he can do when he gets space.

We know how dangerous he is when he can run at defenders.

But I’d like to see him play with a bit of freedom tonight.

Don’t overthink it.

Get the ball.

Run at them.

Make something happen.

That’s Barcola at his best.

And Liverpool fans should be watching Jacquet too

Barcola isn’t the only Red involved.

Jérémy Jacquet is also in the France squad for the Belgium game.

That’s another fascinating one for Liverpool supporters.

Jacquet has been one of the biggest positives for me at the start of this season.

He’s still only 21, but he’s already looked increasingly comfortable alongside Virgil van Dijk.

So having him involved with the senior France squad is another step forward in his development.

Imagine being a young defender and suddenly finding yourself training alongside some of the best players in the world.

That’s going to do him no harm at all.

I really want to see what Barcola can do

This is why I’ll be watching tonight.

Not because one international game is going to tell us everything about Barcola.

It won’t.

But I want to see him get a proper opportunity.

He’s joined Liverpool with a huge price tag hanging over him.

There will be pressure.

There will be expectations.

And Liverpool supporters are going to want to see exactly why the club were prepared to spend so much money on him.

Tonight gives him another chance to show it.

France face Belgium at the King Baudouin Stadium, with kick-off at 8.45pm BST.

And for me, there is one Liverpool player I’ll be watching more closely than anyone else.

Come on, Bradley.

Go and enjoy yourself.

Run at them.

Show Zidane what you’ve got.

And, most importantly, come back to Liverpool full of confidence.

Because I have a feeling we’re going to see a lot more from Bradley Barcola as this season goes on.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

The last thing Liverpool needed was another injury.

Cody Gakpo being forced off after just 17 minutes for the Netherlands against Serbia is obviously a concern, particularly after Alexander Isak has already had his own injury problems.

But there could be a silver lining.

Could this be Rio Ngumoha’s chance to really shine?

Because if Gakpo is going to miss games for Liverpool, somebody is going to have to step up.

And I’m more than happy to see what Ngumoha can do.

The teenager has already been getting plenty of opportunities from Andoni Iraola this season.

He’s made five appearances so far, including three starts, and one thing I really like is that Iraola isn’t treating him as someone who can only play in one position.

Ngumoha has played on both wings and has spoken about how the new manager has given him another tool to his game.

That’s important.

Because he’s not just some academy kid being thrown into the squad because Liverpool are short of bodies.

Iraola clearly sees something in him.

We saw it against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.

Ngumoha started on the right, caused problems for Destiny Udogie and was involved in the move that led to Alexis Mac Allister opening the scoring. He was eventually replaced by Bradley Barcola in the second half.

There were some really encouraging moments.

And that’s what I want to see more of.

This is how young players get their chance

Nobody wants Gakpo injured.

I’d much rather have him fit and starting for Liverpool.

But football doesn’t always work that way.

If his injury keeps him out for a period of time, Iraola has a decision to make.

Does he stick with the more experienced options?

Does he move somebody else across?

Or does he give Ngumoha a bigger role?

For me, I’d be very tempted by the third option.

Not because I expect an 18-year-old to suddenly replace everything Gakpo gives Liverpool.

That’s unrealistic.

Gakpo has become one of Liverpool’s most important attacking players and has shown that he can score, create and work incredibly hard for the team.

Ngumoha isn’t Gakpo.

That’s precisely why I’d like to see him.

He gives Liverpool something different.

He’s fearless.

He wants to run at defenders.

He wants to take people on.

He doesn’t seem particularly interested in playing it safe.

And sometimes you need that.

Iraola seems to trust him

This is another reason why I’m interested.

If this was happening under a manager who didn’t fancy giving young players a chance, I’d be worried.

But Iraola has already shown that he’s willing to put his faith in Ngumoha.

The youngster has even spoken positively about working with him, saying the Liverpool boss has been helpful and that playing on both sides has given him another dimension to his game.

That’s a pretty big compliment from a young player.

And I think Iraola sees the same thing supporters do.

There is something exciting about Ngumoha.

You can see the raw ability.

The pace.

The confidence.

The willingness to take responsibility.

He just needs minutes.

And if Gakpo is unavailable, those minutes could suddenly become much more valuable.

Don’t put too much pressure on him

This is the important part.

I don’t want to see people expecting Ngumoha to score every week because Gakpo is injured.

That’s not fair.

He’s 18.

He’s still learning.

There will be games where he frustrates us.

There will be games where he loses the ball trying something that doesn’t come off.

That’s football.

I’d rather see him try something than become scared of making a mistake.

Because that’s how you find out what you’ve actually got.

And Liverpool have already seen enough to know there is something there.

Ngumoha has already represented England at senior level too, becoming the fifth-youngest player to play for the Three Lions when he made his debut against New Zealand in June.

So this isn’t some completely unknown academy player.

He’s already knocking on the door.

Maybe this is the moment

That’s how I’m looking at it.

Obviously, first things first, I hope Gakpo’s injury isn’t serious.

Liverpool need him.

But if he does have to miss a few games, perhaps this is exactly the sort of situation that can accelerate Ngumoha’s development.

Give him a run.

Let him play.

Let him make mistakes.

Let him frighten a few defenders.

And see what happens.

Because one thing I’ve learned with young Liverpool players is that sometimes you don’t know they’re ready until you actually give them the opportunity.

We’ve already seen flashes from Ngumoha.

Now he might get the chance to give us something more.

Cody Gakpo’s injury is bad news for Liverpool.

But it could be very good news for Rio Ngumoha.

And I’ve got a feeling the kid is going to be desperate to make the most of it.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

I’m sorry, but when you actually stop and look at the Ryan Gravenberch contract, it really was quite something.

Six years.

Until 2032.

And reports put his new wages somewhere around £280,000 to £300,000 a week.

That’s an enormous commitment to a midfielder who, not that long ago, had just come through one of the most difficult periods we’ve seen from a Liverpool No.6.

Liverpool officially confirmed the six-year deal back in March, keeping Gravenberch at Anfield until 2032. The club clearly believed he had become an important part of the team under Arne Slot.

But here’s the bit that makes me laugh.

Apparently this was the player Liverpool decided to give superstar wages to.

I know football contracts are complicated.

I know there are bonuses involved.

I know reported wages aren’t always completely accurate.

And I know Gravenberch had a very good 2024/25 season as Liverpool won the Premier League.

But even allowing for all of that, the numbers being reported are absolutely huge.

And it makes me wonder what Andoni Iraola would have made of it.

I just can’t see Iraola doing it

This is one of the biggest differences between the Liverpool we have now and the Liverpool we had before.

Iraola doesn’t strike me as someone who would hand out a massive six-year contract simply because a player had one good season.

He would want to know exactly what he was getting.

He’d want to know whether the player fits his football.

Whether he can perform consistently.

Whether he can handle the physical demands.

And, most importantly, whether he is actually worth building part of the team around.

That’s not me saying Iraola doesn’t rate Gravenberch.

I have absolutely no idea what his opinion of him is behind closed doors.

But I do know that Iraola has already shown that he isn’t afraid to make big decisions.

And that is something I really like about him.

Gravenberch has gone from £150k to potentially £300k

This is the part that really makes me raise an eyebrow.

Previous wage estimates had Gravenberch on around £150,000 a week.

The new reported figure is roughly double that.

That’s some pay rise.

And remember, we’re talking about a player who was a squad player during his first season at Liverpool before establishing himself in the following campaign.

Liverpool clearly saw his development and decided they wanted to protect their investment.

Fair enough.

But six years is a massive commitment.

By the time this contract finishes, Gravenberch will be around 30.

So Liverpool have effectively decided that he is somebody they want to be part of the club’s midfield for the best years of his career.

That’s a huge statement.

And this is where I struggle with it

I’ve been critical of Gravenberch before.

There have been games where I’ve looked at Liverpool’s midfield and wondered what exactly he’s giving us.

There have been periods where I’ve thought the combination of Gravenberch and Szoboszlai simply hasn’t worked.

And when you’re playing as the deepest midfielder, I think the standards have to be incredibly high.

You can’t just be technically good.

You have to read danger.

You have to protect the defence.

You have to control games.

You have to make the right decision when you’re under pressure.

That’s a huge responsibility.

And I don’t think Gravenberch has always looked comfortable carrying it.

Which makes the size and length of this contract all the more fascinating.

Maybe Liverpool saw something I didn’t

This is the bit I have to be fair about.

Liverpool’s decision wasn’t made in a vacuum.

The club had watched Gravenberch develop for two years.

He started 37 Premier League games during Liverpool’s title-winning 2024/25 campaign, and the club described him as having become a fundamental part of the side.

So clearly, the people making the decision saw a player worth committing to.

And perhaps they’re right.

Maybe Gravenberch develops into exactly the midfielder Liverpool think he can become.

Maybe in three years we’ll look back at this contract and say it was brilliant business.

That’s entirely possible.

But right now?

The reported numbers still look absolutely bonkers to me.

Six years.

Potentially around £300,000 a week.

For a player who still has plenty to prove.

And that’s why I keep coming back to Iraola.

I just can’t imagine him looking at a deal like this and saying, “Yep, let’s give him six years.”

I think he’d make Gravenberch prove it first.

And maybe that’s exactly what Liverpool need.

Not sentiment.

Not reputation.

Not one good season.

Prove it every week.

Because under Iraola, I get the feeling nobody is guaranteed anything.

And honestly, I think that’s a pretty good thing.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

It was a pretty mixed weekend for Liverpool’s internationals.

There were wins for Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch with the Netherlands, but unfortunately the biggest talking point from a Liverpool point of view was Cody Gakpo being forced off injured.

Florian Wirtz and Kostas Tsimikas were also involved for Germany and Greece respectively, while Lewis Koumas came off the bench for Wales.

Here’s how the Reds got on.

Van Dijk and Gravenberch win with the Netherlands

Virgil van Dijk completed the full 90 minutes as the Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 in Belgrade.

The Liverpool captain led his country through another full match and will be pleased to have come away with three points.

Ryan Gravenberch also started the game and played 67 minutes before being substituted.

It was another decent amount of international football for the Liverpool midfielder, who has been an important player for both club and country this season.

But unfortunately, there was one major concern.

Gakpo forced off after just 17 minutes

Cody Gakpo started for the Netherlands but lasted just 17 minutes before being forced off.

The Liverpool forward appeared to hurt his ankle following a challenge from Serbia’s Sasa Lukic and, after trying to continue, eventually signalled that he could not carry on.

That is the last thing Liverpool supporters wanted to see.

Gakpo had been one of Liverpool’s most consistent attacking players at the start of the season and had only recently scored the late equaliser against Germany.

Now everyone will be hoping this is nothing serious.

With Alexander Isak already dealing with a thigh problem, Liverpool certainly don’t need another important attacker picking up an injury during the international break.

There should hopefully be more clarity on Gakpo’s condition soon.

Wirtz gets 25 minutes for Germany

Florian Wirtz came off the bench for Germany against Greece and played around 25 minutes.

Unfortunately for Wirtz, it wasn’t a happy night for his country as Germany suffered a 1-0 defeat.

It was another opportunity for him to get some minutes under Jürgen Klopp, though, and I’m sure Liverpool supporters will be watching closely to see whether this international break can give Wirtz a bit of confidence.

He hasn’t quite found his best form at Liverpool yet.

I’m certainly not writing him off.

We know how much ability he has, and sometimes a player just needs a few positive moments to get things moving.

Tsimikas plays the full match

Kostas Tsimikas completed the full 90 minutes for Greece against Germany.

Greece came away with a 1-0 victory, giving Tsimikas another full international appearance and another clean sheet.

He also gets the benefit of playing regular football during the break, which can only be useful given the competition for places at Liverpool.

Tsimikas may not always be the first name on the team sheet at Anfield, but having an experienced international left-back available is important for Iraola.

Koumas gets another Wales appearance

Lewis Koumas came off the bench for Wales against Denmark and played just over 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, Wales suffered a 2-0 defeat.

Still, every appearance at senior international level is valuable for Koumas.

He’s still developing and trying to establish himself, so getting minutes with Wales is another part of that process.

Hopefully there will be more opportunities for him as the season progresses.

Now Liverpool just need everyone home safely

That’s probably the main thing Liverpool supporters will be thinking after this weekend.

The results are secondary.

Van Dijk and Gravenberch got through their game.

Wirtz got some minutes.

Tsimikas played the full match.

Koumas got another taste of senior international football.

But Gakpo coming off after just 17 minutes is the one thing everyone will be watching now.

After Isak’s recent injury concern, Liverpool really don’t need another attacking player spending time on the sidelines.

Gakpo had started the season looking like one of Liverpool’s most important players, so fingers crossed this turns out to be nothing serious.

International football is all well and good, but right now I just want our players back at Anfield fit and ready to go.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool have a three-week international break. Most of the first-team squad are away with their countries, the players who stayed behind have had some time off and there isn’t a competitive match for the men’s team until October.

So what does Iraola do?

He goes to Anfield with his family to watch Liverpool Women take on Everton in the Merseyside derby.

For me, that says quite a lot about the man.

Iraola could quite easily have disappeared for a couple of weeks. He had every right to take a proper holiday after the hectic start to the season.

Instead, he has spent the break around the club, working with the players who stayed behind and getting involved with different parts of Liverpool.

And now he’s sitting in the Main Stand watching the women’s team.

I love it.

Liverpool Women went on to beat Everton 2-0 in the first Women’s Merseyside derby to be won by Liverpool at Anfield, with Beata Olsson and Cornelia Kapocs getting the goals. Iraola was there with his wife and children, alongside sporting director Julian Ward.

And Gareth Taylor noticed it.

Before the game, the Liverpool Women boss described Iraola’s decision to attend as a “really impressive gesture”, pointing out that bringing his family along showed the level of support.

That matters.

Because Liverpool Football Club isn’t just the men’s first team.

It’s the academy. It’s the women’s team. It’s the staff. It’s the supporters. It’s the people working behind the scenes.

It’s everything.

And I think Iraola gets that.

This is what caught my attention

I remember the comparisons being made with the previous regime during international breaks.

There was a perception among supporters that Arne Slot would often use these breaks to get away, with Ibiza becoming part of the conversation around his time away from Liverpool.

I’m not going to pretend I know what Slot did every single day of every international break, because I don’t.

But I do know what I’m seeing from Iraola.

He’s making an effort to be around Liverpool.

During this break, he has been working with the players who weren’t away on international duty, using the time to work on tactics and prepare for what is going to be a demanding run of fixtures.

And now he’s gone to watch the women’s team.

That is the sort of thing supporters notice.

Not because watching a football match suddenly makes somebody a great manager.

It doesn’t.

But because it tells you something about how he sees the club.

Iraola is getting involved

We’ve already seen him give opportunities to younger players.

Trey Nyoni has been involved. James McConnell has been around the first team. Lewis Koumas has been given opportunities.

There has been a much more obvious connection between the senior side and the younger players, and Iraola has also been using the international break to work with the players who remained at the AXA Training Centre.

Now he’s supporting Liverpool Women.

It’s not complicated.

He’s getting involved.

And maybe that’s why so many supporters are warming to him so quickly.

We don’t expect the manager to be at every academy game or every women’s fixture. That’s unrealistic.

But when he chooses to go, it gets noticed.

Especially when he’s taking his family with him.

I think there is something quite nice about that.

He understands the connection

Iraola is still relatively new to Liverpool.

He’s learning the players. He’s learning the league. He’s learning the expectations that come with managing this football club.

But he seems to understand one thing already.

Liverpool is bigger than the first team.

That sounds obvious, but sometimes football clubs can become very compartmentalised.

The men’s team over here.

The academy somewhere else.

The women’s team somewhere else.

Iraola seems keen to knock down some of those walls.

And that’s something I really like.

I’m not saying this suddenly makes Liverpool guaranteed to win trophies. Of course it doesn’t.

I’m also not saying everything Iraola does is automatically brilliant.

He’s still got plenty to prove on the pitch.

But these little things matter.

For me, they tell you something about his character.

And after watching him turn up at Anfield to support Liverpool Women, I can’t help thinking:

Iraola gets it.

He understands that being Liverpool manager isn’t just about turning up at Anfield on a Saturday afternoon.

It’s about becoming part of the football club.

And if he keeps doing things like this, I suspect he’ll become very popular with Liverpool supporters.

Because sometimes it’s the little things that tell you the most.

Andoni Iraola, what a guy.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

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