The Kopite View

Andoni Iraola has made it clear that Liverpool will not be treating the Carabao Cup as a competition they can afford to take lightly.

Asked about the importance of the competition, Iraola insisted that there is no point ranking the different trophies and deciding in advance which ones matter more.

“It’s not about ranking the competitions. They are different.”

And that is exactly the attitude Liverpool supporters will want to hear.

Of course, if you were given the choice between winning the Champions League, the Premier League or the Carabao Cup, most supporters would naturally put the major honours at the top of the list.

But football doesn’t work that way.

Resting key players for one competition doesn’t guarantee that you will win the next game. Likewise, deciding that a cup tie is less important can quickly come back to bite you.

Iraola’s message is simple: Liverpool are going into the game to win.

“We want to win and play well, and that’s what we are going to try tomorrow.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean we will see Liverpool’s strongest possible XI from the first minute. With a demanding fixture schedule, changes are inevitable and this is exactly the sort of game where players such as Lewis Koumas, Trey Nyoni, Wataru Endo, Jeremie Frimpong, Cody Gakpo and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili could get an opportunity.

But there is a big difference between rotating the squad and not taking the competition seriously.

Liverpool have had plenty of disappointing cup exits in recent years, and with the Premier League and Champions League providing such a demanding challenge, the domestic cups could offer Iraola a realistic opportunity to deliver silverware while also giving some of his squad players valuable minutes.

The Carabao Cup might not carry the prestige of the Champions League or Premier League.

But it is still a trophy.

And if Liverpool are going to have a successful season under Iraola, there is no reason why they shouldn’t try to win every competition they enter.

Iraola’s stance is absolutely right — don’t rank the competitions, just go out there and win the game in front of you.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool are expected to make plenty of changes for Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup clash with Tottenham at Anfield.

According to James Pearce, Lewis Koumas and Trey Nyoni are both in contention to start, while Wataru Endo, Jeremie Frimpong and Cody Gakpo are also pushing for opportunities.

Giorgi Mamardashvili is also expected to start in goal after being among the substitutes for Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham.

And honestly, this feels like exactly the right game for Andoni Iraola to rotate.

Give the squad players their chance

Liverpool have just come through a demanding period which included a Champions League game against Atlético Madrid before the frustrating 0-0 draw with Fulham.

The Fulham performance looked like a team that had run out of energy.

Iraola therefore has little reason to risk all of his key players again against Spurs.

This is what the squad is for.

Players such as Koumas, Nyoni and Endo need competitive minutes if they are going to become genuine options for the manager as the season progresses.

And the Carabao Cup is the perfect opportunity to give them that.

Koumas and Nyoni could be particularly interesting

There is plenty of excitement around Liverpool’s young players.

Koumas has shown flashes of his ability and could provide some much-needed attacking energy, while Nyoni is another youngster who looks capable of making the step up.

These are exactly the sort of games where young players can put themselves firmly into the manager’s thinking.

If Koumas or Nyoni impress against Spurs, Iraola has another couple of options to call upon.

That could become particularly important given Liverpool’s packed fixture schedule.

Frimpong and Gakpo also need minutes

Frimpong is another player who could benefit enormously from starting.

The Dutchman has found himself under pressure after an inconsistent start to life at Liverpool, but he remains an incredibly talented attacking player.

Rather than constantly discussing what he isn’t doing well, this is a chance for him to go out and remind everyone what he can do.

Gakpo is another player who could come back into the starting eleven after being among the substitutes against Fulham.

With Liverpool needing more attacking options and rotation becoming increasingly important, getting Gakpo back to full sharpness would be a major boost.

Mamardashvili gets his chance

Mamardashvili starting is hardly a surprise.

Alisson has been Liverpool’s No.1, but the Georgian needs competitive football too.

The Carabao Cup should give him the opportunity to show Iraola that he can be trusted whenever required.

And with Liverpool facing a long season across multiple competitions, having a goalkeeper capable of stepping in is important.

This is about more than just resting players

The biggest benefit of making changes isn’t simply keeping the first-choice players fresh.

It is about building a squad Iraola can trust.

Liverpool cannot expect to play the same XI every three or four days throughout the season.

They need players on the bench who can come into the team and maintain the intensity and quality the manager demands.

That is particularly important after Saturday’s performance against Fulham, when Liverpool struggled to find a way of changing the game.

Perhaps Tuesday night can provide some answers.

Koumas. Nyoni. Endo. Frimpong. Gakpo. Mamardashvili.

There is a real opportunity for several players to make their case.

And if Liverpool are serious about competing on multiple fronts this season, Iraola needs to know exactly which members of his squad he can rely on.

The Spurs game could be the perfect audition.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool have enjoyed plenty of possession during the opening weeks of Andoni Iraola’s reign.

But there is one statistic that suggests the Reds aren’t making enough of that possession — and it should concern the new Liverpool head coach.

According to Jimmy Murphy, Liverpool have lost possession 545 times in their first four Premier League games.

That is the third-highest total in the entire division.

Only Brentford, with 587, and Fulham, with 552, have lost the ball more.

And when you consider Liverpool are averaging more than 60% possession, that figure becomes even more interesting.

Liverpool are having the ball — but what are they doing with it?

Possession for possession’s sake means very little.

You can have 60% or 65% of the ball and still fail to control a football match.

We’ve already seen evidence of that this season.

Liverpool dominated possession in several matches but have struggled at times to turn that control into sustained pressure, clear chances and goals.

The 0-0 draw with Fulham was perhaps the clearest example yet.

Liverpool had the ball, but Fulham looked more dangerous for long periods and created some of the better opportunities.

That isn’t what you expect from a side enjoying that much possession at Anfield.

Losing the ball is becoming a problem

There is obviously nothing wrong with taking risks.

Liverpool have always been a team that wants to play on the front foot, move the ball quickly and attack.

But there is a difference between positive risk-taking and repeatedly giving the ball away cheaply.

Every turnover gives the opposition an opportunity to attack the spaces Liverpool have left behind.

And that becomes particularly dangerous when the midfield isn’t controlling the game.

That has been one of the biggest concerns during Iraola’s opening weeks.

Liverpool can look very good when everything clicks.

But when the passing becomes sloppy and the ball is turned over, the team can suddenly look vulnerable.

This is where the midfield question comes in

It is difficult not to connect this statistic with the concerns over Liverpool’s midfield.

The combination of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai has not consistently given Liverpool the control we expected.

There is plenty of talent there.

But Liverpool need midfielders who can not only progress the ball but also protect possession and dictate the tempo.

Mac Allister showed against Fulham how much difference he can make when he comes onto the pitch and brings composure and control.

That cannot be left entirely on his shoulders.

And perhaps this is another reason why the reported interest in players such as Manu Koné is worth watching.

Liverpool need more options.

Iraola has a big job on his hands

None of this means Liverpool are suddenly a bad team.

They have only played four league matches under a new head coach.

Iraola is trying to change the way Liverpool play while working with a squad largely built for a different system.

That takes time.

But these statistics give him something to work on.

Liverpool cannot simply dominate possession — they need to dominate what happens when they have it.

If the Reds are going to become a serious force under Iraola, they have to become more efficient with the ball, reduce unnecessary turnovers and make their possession hurt the opposition.

Because having more than 60% of the ball means very little if you’re giving it away 545 times in four games.

That is a number Iraola will certainly want to see come down.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool’s search for midfield reinforcements appears to be gathering pace, with reports claiming the Reds have enquired about Roma and France midfielder Manu Koné.

According to reports from Italy, Liverpool have asked about the 25-year-old and could make a more determined move in the coming months.

The interest makes plenty of sense when you look at Liverpool’s current midfield options.

The Reds have already shown this season that the combination of Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch doesn’t always provide the control, energy and physicality that Andoni Iraola wants from his midfield.

And that is where someone like Koné could potentially come in.

Koné was very close to Chelsea

Koné was one of the most talked-about midfielders on Chelsea’s radar during the final stages of the summer transfer window.

The Blues reportedly got extremely close to signing him, with reports of a €65m (£56m) offer and personal terms being agreed.

However, Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini was determined to keep hold of the French international unless the club could find an adequate replacement.

Roma ultimately resisted.

That could prove significant for Liverpool.

Reports now suggest the Reds are monitoring the situation and could look to make their interest more concrete, potentially as early as January. Sky Sports has also reported that Liverpool have placed Koné on their radar as they consider midfield reinforcements.

He looks like the type of midfielder Liverpool need

Koné is a very different profile to some of Liverpool’s current midfield options.

He offers physicality, ball-carrying ability, aggression and defensive intensity — qualities that could give Iraola another dimension in the middle of the pitch.

That could be particularly important after what we saw against Fulham.

Liverpool struggled to control the game in midfield during the 0-0 draw at Anfield, and there is already a growing feeling that the club could have done with adding another midfielder during the summer.

Koné would certainly give Iraola another option.

And importantly, Liverpool wouldn’t necessarily need him to become an instant superstar.

They would simply need him to provide something different.

Chelsea aren’t going away

Liverpool may have competition, though.

Chelsea are expected to return for Koné after failing to get the deal over the line in the summer, while other Premier League clubs have also shown interest.

That means Liverpool may have to move quickly if they decide Koné is the midfielder they want.

Roma also have little reason to sell cheaply.

Koné is under contract until 2029 and became an important part of Gasperini’s plans after staying in Rome.

So this would almost certainly be a significant investment.

Could Koné be Liverpool’s answer?

I certainly wouldn’t be against it.

Liverpool need to be honest about what happened during the summer.

The midfield wasn’t strengthened, and the early signs suggest that could become a problem.

Mac Allister can change games. Szoboszlai has enormous ability. Gravenberch remains a talented player.

But Liverpool need another midfielder who can bring something different when games aren’t going their way.

Manu Koné could potentially be that player.

For now, this is only an enquiry and there is a long way to go before we can start talking about a genuine transfer.

But with Liverpool reportedly keeping tabs on Koné, this is definitely one midfield story worth watching.

And if the Reds do decide to make a serious move in the coming months, Chelsea could once again find themselves competing with Liverpool for the same player.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool could be about to receive a welcome boost on the injury front, with Joe Gomez reportedly in contention to return against Tottenham on Tuesday night.

According to Alex Wys Young, Gomez could make his comeback against Spurs, although Sunday’s trip to Bournemouth could be a more realistic target if Liverpool decide not to rush him back.

And with Liverpool’s squad already being tested by injuries, having another experienced defender available would be a major boost for Andoni Iraola.

Gomez could be back very soon

The possibility of Gomez returning against Tottenham is particularly encouraging.

Liverpool have already had to deal with several defensive absences, and Gomez’s versatility gives Iraola another hugely valuable option.

He can play at centre-back or full-back and has the experience to step into the team without needing a lengthy settling-in period.

If he isn’t quite ready for Spurs, the Bournemouth game on Sunday could provide the next opportunity.

Liverpool could certainly do with him back.

Ekitike faces a longer wait

Unfortunately, Hugo Ekitike is looking at a much longer spell on the sidelines.

The latest expected return is December 2026, meaning Liverpool could be without one of their attacking options for a significant portion of the first half of the season.

That is particularly frustrating given the excitement surrounding Ekitike and his importance to Iraola’s plans.

Liverpool have plenty of attacking talent, but losing a striker for several months inevitably puts additional pressure on the likes of Alexander Isak.

Chiesa could return in October

There is better news regarding Federico Chiesa.

His expected return date is currently October 11 against Manchester City at Anfield.

That would be a huge boost.

Chiesa gives Iraola another attacking option and, perhaps just as importantly, another player capable of changing the dynamic of a game from the bench.

Liverpool have already shown against Fulham that they can struggle when the manager needs to change things during a match.

Getting players like Chiesa back will gradually give Iraola more solutions.

Bradley and Leoni also remain out

Conor Bradley is expected back in December 2026, while Giovanni Leoni is reportedly targeting a return in late October.

Leoni’s eventual return will be particularly interesting.

The young defender was brought in with a big future in mind, and his return will give Iraola another option in the centre of defence.

Bradley, meanwhile, will provide important competition and depth at right-back.

Liverpool need everyone back

The timing of these returns is important.

Iraola is still trying to work out his best Liverpool team, and injuries are making that process even harder.

The manager needs options.

He needs competition for places.

And he needs the ability to change games from the bench when things aren’t going according to plan.

That’s why every returning player matters.

Gomez could be the first major boost, with Chiesa and Leoni hopefully following over the next few weeks.

The wait for Ekitike and Bradley will be considerably longer, but getting players back gradually could make a huge difference as the season develops.

Liverpool’s squad is going to be tested.

But if these return dates prove accurate, Iraola should have considerably more options available to him as we move towards the winter.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

There’s something about Liverpool’s transfer planning that still doesn’t quite make sense to me.

When Liverpool won the Premier League title, plenty of supporters were already saying the same thing:

The midfield needed strengthening.

Not necessarily because the existing players were poor.

But because Liverpool needed more balance, more defensive security and another midfielder capable of controlling games.

The biggest question was around the No.6 position.

And yet, when Liverpool went into the transfer market, the answer was to spend a huge amount of money on Florian Wirtz — a No.10.

I absolutely love Wirtz as a player.

But that wasn’t the position I thought needed strengthening most.

And looking back now, I have to ask:

What exactly was the plan?

The problem was already obvious

Liverpool had just won the league.

That should have been the perfect opportunity to strengthen from a position of power.

Instead of waiting for problems to appear, the club could have looked at the squad and asked:

Where are we short?

Where do we need more competition?

What happens if our midfield gets overrun?

Who can protect the defence?

Who can control games when Liverpool aren’t dominating possession?

Those questions were being asked by supporters long before the current problems became obvious.

The concern wasn’t that Liverpool didn’t have quality midfielders.

They did.

The concern was balance.

Then came Florian Wirtz

And this is where I thought Liverpool must have had a plan.

Because signing Wirtz was clearly a massive statement.

He’s an outstanding footballer and one of the most talented attacking midfielders in Europe.

Liverpool didn’t spend that kind of money without having a reason.

Wirtz was brought in to play as a No.10 and provide creativity between the lines. Liverpool’s official profile describes him as an attacking midfielder, while the Premier League confirmed his arrival in June 2025.

So I assumed there was something else coming.

I thought:

They must be planning to sign a proper midfielder as well.

Maybe a No.6.

Maybe a powerful No.8.

Maybe somebody who could give Liverpool the defensive platform that had been missing since Fabinho’s departure.

But it never really happened.

Surely Wirtz wasn’t supposed to solve everything?

This is the part I struggle with.

Wirtz can press.

He can work hard.

He can drop deeper.

He can help Liverpool control possession.

But he’s not the player I would have identified as the solution to Liverpool’s midfield problem.

If the issue was defensive balance, Wirtz wasn’t the obvious answer.

If the issue was protecting the defence, Wirtz wasn’t the obvious answer.

If the issue was winning the ball back and controlling transitions, Wirtz wasn’t the obvious answer.

He was another attacking weapon.

And Liverpool already had attacking talent.

The problem hasn’t gone away

Fast-forward and we’re still talking about Liverpool’s midfield balance.

Recent criticism has focused heavily on the lack of a defensive-minded midfielder, with FourFourTwo arguing that Liverpool’s midfield issue remains unresolved and that the team lacks the kind of player who can provide protection and control during transitions.

That’s exactly why I keep coming back to the summer when Wirtz arrived.

Because the warning signs weren’t new.

They were already there.

Winning the league should have made the decision easier

This is what frustrates me most.

Liverpool weren’t rebuilding a team from scratch.

They had just won the Premier League.

They had a squad capable of winning the title.

That meant the club didn’t need to make ten changes.

They needed to identify the weaknesses and improve them.

And midfield looked like one of those areas.

Instead, Liverpool invested heavily in attacking quality.

Again, I’m not criticising Wirtz himself.

Far from it.

I’d sign Florian Wirtz again.

The question is why Liverpool didn’t also address the obvious weakness.

Did Liverpool believe the existing midfield was good enough?

Perhaps that was the thinking.

Maybe the coaching staff believed Ryan Gravenberch could develop into the deeper midfielder they wanted.

Maybe Alexis Mac Allister was viewed as capable of playing that role.

Maybe Dominik Szoboszlai’s physicality and work rate were considered sufficient.

Maybe the tactical system was supposed to compensate for the lack of a traditional No.6.

And that would at least explain the decision.

But if that was the plan, it needed to work.

Because football doesn’t care what the plan looked like on paper.

If the midfield doesn’t give the defence enough protection, opponents will eventually find the space.

I’m not saying Liverpool should have ignored Wirtz

This is important.

I don’t want this to become:

“Liverpool signed Wirtz instead of a midfielder.”

That’s not really fair.

Liverpool could have signed Wirtz and strengthened the midfield.

That’s what I wanted.

That’s what I still want.

Wirtz gives Liverpool something they didn’t previously have.

A genuine elite-level creative No.10.

But adding another attacking midfielder doesn’t automatically fix a structural weakness elsewhere.

You need balance.

Maybe this was always the bigger mistake

For me, the issue isn’t that Liverpool got their priorities completely wrong.

It’s that they didn’t finish the job.

They identified one area where they could dramatically improve the team.

They went and got Wirtz.

But they didn’t seem to give the same urgency to the midfield position that supporters had been worried about.

And now we’re still having exactly the same conversation.

Where is the No.6?

Who protects the defence?

Who gives Liverpool control when games become chaotic?

Those questions haven’t disappeared.

Wirtz isn’t the problem

I’ll say it again:

Florian Wirtz isn’t the problem.

He’s a brilliant footballer.

The problem is squad construction.

If Liverpool had signed Wirtz and then brought in a dominant defensive midfielder, I’d have been delighted.

Imagine having Wirtz creating chances while a top-class No.6 gives the team the platform to attack.

That would have made far more sense to me.

Instead, Liverpool added another weapon to the front end of the team while leaving a question mark in the middle of the pitch.

Liverpool must finally address it

I genuinely thought Liverpool must have had a plan when they signed Wirtz.

I thought there was another move coming.

I thought the club understood what supporters had been saying about the midfield.

But looking at it now, I’m not convinced they did.

Liverpool won the league.

The midfield still needed strengthening.

The club signed a world-class No.10.

And somehow, we’re still asking for the same thing.

A proper midfielder.

A player who can protect the defence.

A player who can control games.

A player who gives Liverpool the balance they need.

Wirtz was a brilliant signing.

But Liverpool needed more than one brilliant signing.

And for me, that’s the frustrating part.

They already had a league-winning team.

They didn’t need to reinvent it.

They just needed to identify the weaknesses — and fix them.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Fulham has only strengthened my feeling that Andoni Iraola should take the cups seriously this season.

The Reds have made a stuttering start to their Premier League campaign, with three draws in their opening four league matches under the new manager.

Iraola is still unbeaten, and there is absolutely no reason to panic.

But if we’re being realistic, Liverpool shouldn’t be going into this season expecting to win the Premier League.

This is a new era.

There is a new manager trying to change the way the team plays, a squad that still has weaknesses and plenty of players adapting to different demands.

So where could Liverpool’s best chance of silverware come from?

The cups.

And that starts with Tottenham.

I wouldn’t rotate too heavily against Spurs

Liverpool face Tottenham at Anfield in the third round of the Carabao Cup, with the tie taking place on Tuesday night.

Normally, this would be the sort of game where you’d expect a manager to make plenty of changes.

But I’m not sure Iraola should go down that route.

Tottenham are a Premier League side.

They’re not some lower-league opponent Liverpool should be able to beat comfortably with a second-string team.

And this is a knockout competition.

Lose and you’re out.

That makes this very different from a league game where you have 37 more matches to put things right.

If Liverpool have a genuine opportunity to win a trophy this season, why wouldn’t they give themselves the best possible chance?

The cups could be Liverpool’s route to success

The Premier League is going to be incredibly difficult.

Liverpool have already dropped points in three of their first four league matches, while other teams have started strongly.

There is also the Champions League to contend with, where Liverpool will face some of Europe’s best teams.

That’s not to say Liverpool can’t compete.

Of course they can.

But realistically, the domestic cups could offer Iraola his best opportunity to deliver silverware during his first season.

And winning a trophy would be hugely important.

It would give the new manager something tangible to show for his first campaign.

It would give the players belief in his methods.

And it could provide the foundation for something much bigger in the following seasons.

Iraola needs to find his winning team

There is another reason I’d go strong against Tottenham.

Iraola needs to learn more about his players.

The Fulham game showed that Liverpool still have plenty of questions to answer.

The midfield remains a concern.

The squad doesn’t always have enough options to change a game.

And some of the new players are still adapting to their teammates and the manager’s system.

A competitive cup tie against a strong Premier League opponent could tell Iraola far more than an easy victory against lower-league opposition.

Who handles the pressure?

Who deserves to start?

Who can change a game?

Who isn’t quite ready?

These are the sorts of questions the manager needs answered.

But there’s a balance

I’m not saying Iraola should simply pick the exact same team that started against Fulham and run his best players into the ground.

Liverpool have already experienced the problems of a congested schedule.

They played Atlético Madrid on Wednesday before facing Fulham on Saturday, just 65 hours later, and the lack of freshness was obvious. Iraola himself acknowledged the physical demands.

So there should absolutely be rotation.

But rotation doesn’t have to mean surrendering the game.

Liverpool have enough depth to make several changes while still putting out a team capable of beating Tottenham.

I’d like to see some of the younger players given opportunities alongside experienced first-team players.

That is the perfect balance.

This could be the beginning of something

Liverpool supporters have become accustomed to competing for major honours.

That’s why this season feels slightly different.

We’re watching the beginning of Iraola’s Liverpool.

There will be mistakes.

There will be frustrating performances.

There will be games like Fulham.

But that doesn’t mean the season has to drift away.

Quite the opposite.

The cups give Liverpool an opportunity to make this season memorable.

Get past Tottenham and suddenly you’re one step closer.

Then another favourable draw could open the door even further.

Before you know it, you’re in a semi-final or final.

That’s how cup football works.

I’d go for it

If Liverpool were sitting top of the Premier League with four wins from four, I might have a different opinion.

But they’re not.

The league has already shown that this Liverpool team isn’t the finished product.

Iraola needs time.

He needs another transfer window.

He needs to work out his best midfield.

He needs to improve the squad.

And he needs to develop his own identity.

But he can still win something.

That’s why I’d like to see Liverpool go strong against Tottenham.

Take the competition seriously.

Get through the tie.

Build some momentum.

And give this new Liverpool era a chance to lift a trophy.

Because if we’re honest, the cups could be our best chance of success this season.

And I wouldn’t be willing to throw that opportunity away.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool could be preparing to make a major statement in the January transfer window.

According to Topskills Sports UK, Liverpool have identified Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde as their No.1 target for January, with new Reds boss Andoni Iraola reportedly keen to make the Spanish international a key part of his plans.

The report claims Liverpool’s hierarchy are already working behind the scenes to explore a potential deal.

And if there is any truth to it, this is certainly an exciting name for Liverpool supporters.

Balde would be a perfect fit for Iraola

One of the biggest changes under Iraola is going to be the way Liverpool use their full-backs.

Balde has many of the qualities you’d expect from a modern attacking left-back.

He’s quick, technically gifted, aggressive going forward and comfortable carrying the ball into the final third.

Those qualities could make him extremely attractive to Iraola.

The Liverpool manager wants his team to play with intensity and attack with purpose, and having a left-back capable of providing genuine width and pace would give him another weapon.

Balde would give Liverpool something different.

Liverpool need to think about the problem at left back with Kerkez struggling and Tsimikas not good enough.

Andy Robertson shouldn’t have been allowed to leave.

Liverpool cannot wait until they suddenly have a major problem at left-back and if Kerkez doesn’t improve they will have a problem at left-back.

Balde would represent exactly that sort of forward planning.

He’s still only 22 and already has significant experience at Barcelona and international level.

Liverpool have previously been linked with a move for the defender, with reports earlier this year claiming the Reds were interested in bringing him to Anfield.

But Barcelona won’t want to lose him

The obvious problem is that Liverpool wouldn’t be shopping in a cheap market.

Balde is a Barcelona player and remains an important part of their squad.

There has also been interest from other Premier League clubs, with Manchester United reported to have contacted Barcelona about his situation.

So if Liverpool really have decided that Balde is their priority, they could face serious competition.

And Barcelona would have little reason to make negotiations easy.

Could this be Iraola’s first big January signing?

Liverpool didn’t strengthen every area of the squad during the summer, and the 0-0 draw with Fulham has already highlighted some of the issues Iraola still has to solve.

The midfield needs attention.

There are questions about squad depth.

And the manager is still trying to mould this team into his own side.

Adding a player of Balde’s quality could therefore be significant.

It wouldn’t simply be another signing.

It would be a clear indication that Liverpool are building the squad around what Iraola wants from his team.

For now, we should treat this as a report rather than anything close to a done deal.

But if Topskills Sports UK’s information is accurate and Balde really is Iraola’s absolute No.1 target for January, Liverpool could be preparing for one of the most interesting transfer battles of the winter.

And personally, I’d be very interested in this one.

A young, explosive Spanish left-back who can attack, defend and fit the manager’s football?

That sounds like a Liverpool signing to me.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool are reportedly already planning for the summer of 2027, and Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall has emerged as a top target.

According to James Wathland, Liverpool have placed the England international high on their list as they look towards future recruitment.

And it is a move that would make plenty of sense.

Liverpool have already been looking at how they can continue refreshing the squad under Andoni Iraola, and the full-back positions will inevitably become an area that needs consideration over the next couple of years.

Hall is the sort of player who fits the profile.

Hall is an exciting player

The 21-year-old has developed considerably since establishing himself at Newcastle.

He is comfortable going forward, technically strong and capable of playing in different positions across the left side.

That versatility is particularly attractive in modern football.

Liverpool want full-backs who can contribute to the attack but also have the tactical intelligence to adapt depending on the situation.

Hall certainly appears to have those qualities.

There has already been significant interest in him, with Liverpool previously reported to be among the clubs monitoring his situation alongside Manchester City and Arsenal.

So this isn’t a completely new name for Liverpool supporters.

Could he eventually replace Robertson?

That is perhaps the biggest question.

Andy Robertson has been an outstanding servant to Liverpool and will always have a special place in the club’s recent history.

But Liverpool have to think beyond the present.

At some point, the club will need to replace the experience, consistency and attacking contribution Robertson has provided for so many years.

Lewis Hall could potentially be part of that next generation.

Liverpool already have other options at left-back, but if the club believes Hall can develop into one of England’s best in the position, planning early makes sense.

Liverpool are thinking long-term

One thing that has become increasingly clear is that Liverpool cannot simply think about the next transfer window.

They need to be planning two or three windows ahead.

The reported interest in Hall for 2027 fits into that approach.

Rather than waiting until they suddenly have a problem at left-back, Liverpool can identify a player they believe could fit the team and monitor his development.

And with Hall still only 21, there is plenty of room for further improvement.

But Newcastle won’t make it easy

There is an obvious problem.

Newcastle know exactly what they have.

Hall is an important young player for them, and Liverpool would likely face a significant asking price if they eventually make a serious move.

Previous reports have suggested a valuation in the region of £70 million, although that figure could obviously change considerably by the time summer 2027 arrives.

A lot can happen in football over the next year.

But if Hall continues developing at his current rate, Newcastle will have little reason to make negotiations easy.

It could be another statement signing

Liverpool have shown that they are prepared to spend heavily when they identify a player they believe can become a key part of the next generation.

Hall would certainly fit that description.

He’s young, English, already has Premier League experience and still has his best years ahead of him.

Most importantly, he looks like the type of player who could fit into Liverpool’s long-term plans under Iraola.

For now, though, this remains a report rather than anything close to a completed deal.

There is a long way to go before summer 2027.

But if Liverpool really have made Lewis Hall one of their top targets, it is another indication that the club is already looking several steps ahead.

And that’s exactly what Liverpool need to be doing.

The next great Liverpool team won’t be built in one transfer window.

It will be built by identifying the right players early and making sure they are ready to step in when the time comes.

Lewis Hall could be one of those players.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

James Milner is back at Liverpool.

Just a few months after bringing the curtain down on an incredible playing career, the former Reds midfielder has already returned to the club and taken his first steps towards what could become an equally interesting coaching career.

Milner was spotted at Liverpool’s academy on Saturday morning, wearing full Liverpool FC training gear and taking an Under-11s training session.

It might only be the beginning, but it is fantastic to see.

Milner only retired from professional football this summer after an extraordinary career spanning 24 Premier League seasons, so he hasn’t exactly had much time away from the game.

And perhaps that’s no surprise.

Football has been Milner’s life for decades.

Now he’s beginning to learn the game from a completely different perspective.

Liverpool is the perfect place to start

There can’t be many better environments for Milner to begin his coaching journey than Liverpool’s academy.

He knows the club.

He understands the standards.

And, perhaps most importantly, he knows exactly what it takes to have a long and successful career at the very highest level.

Milner isn’t somebody who relied purely on natural ability.

His career was built on discipline, professionalism, adaptability and an extraordinary work ethic.

Those are qualities that can be incredibly valuable to young players.

Imagine being an 11-year-old Liverpool player and having James Milner standing in front of you telling you what it takes to become a professional footballer.

That’s quite an experience.

He has so much knowledge to pass on

Milner has played under some of the game’s biggest managers and alongside some of its greatest players.

He’s won the Premier League, Champions League and numerous other major trophies.

He’s played almost everywhere on the pitch.

He’s experienced the pressure of playing for Liverpool, Manchester City and England.

And he’s dealt with the highs and lows that come with an elite football career.

But perhaps the biggest lesson Milner can give young players isn’t about tactics or technique.

It’s about professionalism.

Turning up every day.

Looking after your body.

Listening to coaches.

Being prepared to adapt.

Continuing to improve even when you’ve already achieved so much.

Those lessons can be just as important as anything learned with a football at their feet.

Could Milner eventually become a Liverpool manager?

It’s obviously far too early to start talking about that.

Milner is only at the beginning of his coaching journey.

But there’s nothing wrong with dreaming.

Liverpool have already seen former players go into management and coaching, and Milner certainly has the personality and football intelligence to make a success of it if that’s the route he ultimately chooses.

For now, though, he needs to learn.

Working with the academy is the perfect starting point.

He can develop his coaching methods, learn how to communicate with different age groups and gradually build his own ideas about the game.

And who knows where it could eventually lead?

A brilliant return to Liverpool

There is also something rather fitting about Milner beginning this chapter at Liverpool.

He left the club as a hugely respected figure and now, rather than simply walking away from football, he’s choosing to give something back.

Liverpool have always valued the connection between the first team and the academy.

Having someone with Milner’s experience around the youngsters can only be a positive.

And maybe, years from now, we’ll look back at that Saturday morning Under-11s session and realise it was where James Milner’s coaching career really began.

For now, though, welcome home, Mili.

It’s brilliant to have you back.

And somehow, I wouldn’t bet against James Milner eventually becoming very good at this too.

Jamie (The Kopite View)