The Kopite View

Football has a way of reminding us that players do not suddenly become bad overnight.

Looking at Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool supporters have a reasonable question to ask:

Were some of them ever really the problem?

Richard Hughes and Arne Slot’s time at Liverpool already looks different with the benefit of hindsight. Salah has left and is thriving with Trabzonspor, Gakpo has become one of Andoni Iraola’s most important players, and Mac Allister is beginning to resemble the midfielder Liverpool knew he could be.

Maybe the problem was not always the players.

Salah being ‘finished’ looks ridiculous now

Liverpool were repeatedly told that Salah was entering the twilight of his career and was no longer the same player. The club eventually moved on, with his final appearance coming against Brentford, where he assisted Curtis Jones and finished his Liverpool career as the club’s outright record-holder for Premier League assists.

Now, Salah has scored seven goals in six Turkish league appearances, including a hat-trick and an assist in Trabzonspor’s 4-0 win over Galatasaray.

Playing in Turkey is not the same as playing in the Premier League, but the point remains: Salah has not forgotten how to play. His movement, finishing and hunger are still there, leaving Liverpool supporters to wonder what might have been had he stayed at Anfield.

Gakpo and Mac Allister show the same pattern

Gakpo is perhaps the clearest example of a player who should not have been written off. Liverpool were reportedly prepared to consider a significant offer for him during the summer, with Manchester City among the clubs linked. Instead, he stayed, and his performances under Iraola are making that decision look increasingly important.

Gakpo struggled for consistency under Slot, often looking frustrated and ineffective. Under Iraola, however, he appears more confident, direct and dangerous. He scored in Liverpool’s 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Tottenham, despite the Reds making ten changes.

Mac Allister has undergone a similar transformation. Last season, the Argentine sometimes looked ordinary and struggled to impose himself on matches. Now, his intelligence, passing, aggression and confidence are returning. He scored Liverpool’s opener against Tottenham with a superb first-time finish, again in a heavily rotated side.

These are not players who suddenly rediscovered their ability. They are players who appear to be benefiting from a better environment and clearer structure.

The system matters

It would be too simplistic to blame everything on Slot. He won the Premier League title with Liverpool and enjoyed considerable success, although his final season became increasingly difficult before his departure.

However, several players who looked below their best during that period have since shown they were capable of much more.

When a team is not functioning properly, individual players can become victims of the system. A midfielder may struggle because the structure around him is poor, while a forward can look ineffective if he receives the ball in the wrong areas. Confidence can also disappear when every mistake is magnified.

That is why Hughes’ decisions deserve a second look. His Liverpool tenure is reportedly coming to an end after the summer transfer window, but Gakpo’s situation shows the value of patience. Had Liverpool sold him and watched him flourish elsewhere, supporters would likely have questioned why another talented attacker had been allowed to leave.

Liverpool may not need to rebuild as much as expected

The biggest lesson may be that a new manager does not always need to tear everything apart. Sometimes the priority is simply getting more from the players already at the club.

Gakpo and Mac Allister already look different, and there are signs that others could improve too. If Iraola can revive players who appeared ordinary last season, Liverpool’s squad may contain considerably more quality than many assumed.

The irony is that Salah, the player Liverpool can no longer benefit from, is providing the clearest reminder. He is scoring in Turkey, Gakpo is thriving at Liverpool and Mac Allister is looking like himself again.

Maybe they were never finished. Maybe they were never bad players. Maybe Liverpool simply were not getting the best out of them.

Good footballers should not be written off too quickly. Sometimes they need the right system, the right manager and a fresh start.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

“Salah is finished.”

“He doesn’t have it anymore.”

“It’s time for Liverpool to move on.”

Those were the kind of opinions we heard when Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool future was being debated.

Well, watching him tonight might make those words feel very painful indeed.

Salah has just produced an outrageous performance for Trabzonspor, scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist as his new club demolished Galatasaray 4-0 in the Turkish Super Lig.

In other words, he directly contributed to every single goal.

And for Liverpool supporters watching on, it was difficult not to think about what we’ve lost.

Salah was simply sensational

The Egyptian opened the scoring after just four minutes, racing through before calmly finishing.

He then turned provider in the 39th minute, setting up Noah Saviolo for Trabzonspor’s second.

Five minutes later, Salah was on the scoresheet again.

And with 10 minutes remaining, he completed his hat-trick.

Three goals. One assist. Four goal contributions.

Against Galatasaray.

That’s not a player who looks finished.

That’s Mohamed Salah reminding everyone that the footballer is still very much there.

And that’s what makes this so painful

Liverpool supporters knew exactly what Salah was capable of.

We watched him do this for years.

We watched him score ridiculous goals.

We watched him produce when Liverpool needed him most.

We watched him break records, win trophies and become one of the greatest players ever to wear the famous red shirt.

And now we’re watching him do it somewhere else.

That’s the difficult part.

Because when a Liverpool legend leaves, you naturally want to believe the timing was right.

You want to believe that the club made the correct decision.

You want to believe that the player has reached the end of his time at Anfield.

But then Salah goes and produces three goals and an assist in a huge game, and suddenly those emotions come flooding back.

Was the idea that he was finished completely wrong?

Of course, nobody can predict how a player will age.

Salah is now 34, and Liverpool had to make a decision about the future.

But saying he was finished was always a different argument.

And performances like this make that argument look incredibly foolish.

Salah has now scored seven goals in his first six league appearances for Trabzonspor, according to Anadolu Agency.

He’s not simply hanging around at a new club.

He’s making a difference.

He’s scoring goals.

He’s creating goals.

He’s still deciding football matches.

And tonight, he completely destroyed Galatasaray.

Liverpool fans will miss him more than they realise

Perhaps that’s the biggest thing this performance has reminded us of.

We miss Mo Salah.

We miss that left foot.

We miss the movement.

We miss the celebrations.

We miss the feeling that if Liverpool needed something special, Salah could produce it.

Liverpool have moved into a new era under Andoni Iraola.

There are exciting new players.

There is a different style of football.

There is a new project being built.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t look back and appreciate what Salah gave us.

And watching him score a hat-trick tonight makes the loss feel that little bit more real.

A Liverpool legend is still doing Liverpool things

Salah didn’t just score three goals.

He contributed to all four.

He opened the scoring.

He created the second.

He scored the third.

Then he completed his hat-trick with the fourth.

That’s vintage Mo Salah.

And maybe that’s why it hurts.

Because somewhere inside every Liverpool supporter who watched him tonight is the same thought:

“We could really do with him right now.”

The club has to move forward.

Salah has moved forward.

But that doesn’t mean we have to stop missing him.

Six years of memories don’t disappear because a player changes clubs.

And if Salah continues producing performances like this, Liverpool supporters are going to be reminded of just how special he was — and still is.

The King is still scoring.

And honestly?

It hurts seeing him do it in somebody else’s shirt.

Thank you for everything, Mo.

You’ll Never Walk Alone. 

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool U21s produced an emphatic response on Saturday afternoon as they swept aside Brighton & Hove Albion 5-1 in Premier League 2.

Rob Page’s side were in complete control at the Kirkby Academy for large periods, racing into a three-goal lead inside the opening 25 minutes before adding two more after the break.

It was exactly the kind of attacking display Liverpool’s young side will have wanted after their 1-0 defeat to West Ham last weekend.

Liverpool make flying start

The Reds couldn’t have asked for a better opening.

Liverpool needed less than two minutes to break the deadlock.

A brilliant move from left to right ended with Isaac Mabaya driving forward before cutting the ball back for Josh Sonni-Lambie, who finished from close range to put Liverpool ahead.

It was Sonni-Lambie’s first goal at U21 level — although unfortunately Mabaya picked up an injury while providing the assist and was forced off shortly afterwards.

Liverpool didn’t allow the disruption to affect them.

Just nine minutes later, the advantage was doubled.

Michael Laffey finished after Will Wright had created the opportunity, giving Liverpool a 2-0 lead inside the opening 11 minutes.

Will Wright takes centre stage

Then came the first of Will Wright’s two goals.

The striker met Joe Bradshaw’s pass in behind before cutting inside and firing a superb effort into the far corner from outside the box.

Three goals inside 25 minutes.

Liverpool were flying.

Brighton managed to pull one back through Valentin Joseph just before half-time, but there was little doubt which team had been in control.

Wright strikes again

Liverpool restored their three-goal advantage just five minutes into the second half.

Wright produced another composed finish after turning his marker, calmly placing the ball beyond Brighton goalkeeper Steven Hall.

Two goals for Wright and four for Liverpool.

The striker even came close to completing his hat-trick later in the game, only for Hall to produce an excellent reaction save.

Liverpool eventually got their fifth in the 66th minute when Brighton’s Theo Outen inadvertently turned an inswinging corner into his own net.

5-1. Game over.

Plenty of positives for Liverpool

The result was impressive, but it was the manner of the performance that will please Page most.

Liverpool scored five, created plenty of opportunities and showed excellent attacking movement throughout the game.

Sonni-Lambie opened his U21 account, Laffey got on the scoresheet and Wright produced a two-goal performance.

Joe Bradshaw also played an important role, providing the assist for Wright’s first goal, while Alvin Ayman was involved in the build-up to the fifth.

There was also a strong contribution from goalkeeper Bailey Hall, who produced an outstanding reflex save in the second half to prevent Brighton from finding a way back into the match.

A perfect response

After losing at West Ham, Liverpool needed a reaction.

They certainly got one.

Five goals, three points and an attacking performance full of confidence.

For Wright in particular, this was another reminder of the talent coming through the academy.

The striker now has another two goals to his name after previously scoring twice against Leeds and once against Everton earlier this season.

Liverpool’s U21s now turn their attention towards the EFL Trophy, with a trip to Rochdale coming on Tuesday evening.

After this performance, they’ll head into that game full of confidence.

The future continues to look exciting at Kirkby.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool’s interest in Estêvão appears to be one that isn’t going away.

According to Liverpool reporter James Wathland, the Reds admire the Brazilian winger greatly and are following him closely, with the 19-year-old remaining high on their list.

That is certainly an interesting development given that Estêvão only joined Chelsea from Palmeiras this summer.

Liverpool clearly see something in Estêvão

Estêvão was one of the most highly-rated young players in Brazilian football before making the move to Europe.

Chelsea won the race for his signature, but Liverpool’s interest reportedly hasn’t disappeared.

And considering the changes to Liverpool’s attacking options this summer, it’s not difficult to understand why the club would continue monitoring him.

Mohamed Salah has left Anfield, while Liverpool are still trying to establish the long-term shape of their attack under Andoni Iraola.

Bradley Barcola arrived from Paris Saint-Germain for a huge fee, while Víctor Muñoz was also brought in as another attacking option.

Yet Liverpool are clearly still looking at the market for potential solutions on the right side.

The Guardian also identified the right wing as an area where Liverpool’s squad depth remained a concern following the summer transfer window.

Could Liverpool make a move?

That’s the big question.

At this stage, there is no suggestion that a transfer is imminent.

Estêvão is contracted to Chelsea and only recently arrived at Stamford Bridge, so any potential deal would likely be extremely complicated.

However, reports have emerged this month claiming Liverpool have already made contact with the player’s representatives, with his situation at Chelsea being closely monitored.

Chelsea have reportedly been reluctant to entertain the idea of selling him, while other reports have suggested Estêvão could become frustrated if his opportunities remain limited.

That could potentially make his situation one to watch.

Liverpool aren’t giving up on their interest

For Liverpool, the most interesting part of Wathland’s report is the wording.

Estêvão isn’t simply someone Liverpool have looked at. He’s reportedly a player the club admire greatly and one who remains high on their list.

That suggests the Reds’ recruitment team have identified qualities they really like.

Whether that eventually leads to an offer is another matter.

Liverpool will have to assess how Barcola develops, how Estêvão’s Chelsea career progresses and whether the Brazilian becomes available at some point in the future.

But this could be one of those transfer stories that develops over a much longer period.

Another name to keep an eye on

Liverpool supporters shouldn’t get carried away with this one just yet.

Estêvão is a Chelsea player and there is currently no guarantee Liverpool will ever make a formal move for him.

But if Wathland’s information is accurate, Liverpool are continuing to watch him closely.

And given the importance of finding the right long-term options in attack following Salah’s departure, it makes sense for Liverpool to keep monitoring elite young talent.

Estêvão is certainly a player worth keeping an eye on.

Liverpool clearly like him.

Now we’ll have to wait and see whether admiration eventually turns into something more concrete.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool’s start to the season under Andoni Iraola hasn’t exactly gone to plan.

The Reds have won just one of their opening four Premier League games, drawing three, and Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham highlighted one of the biggest problems facing the new Liverpool boss.

Liverpool are not struggling to get shots away. They’re struggling to make those shots count.

And when you look at the numbers, there is an interesting story developing.

Liverpool have had 64 shots in four league games

Across their opening four Premier League matches, Liverpool have registered 64 shots.

That’s an average of 16 shots per game.

Against Newcastle, Liverpool produced a huge 27 attempts.

That dropped to 13 against Nottingham Forest before Liverpool had 10 shots at Ipswich.

Then came 14 against Fulham.

Overall, the Reds have managed 21 shots on target from those 64 attempts — around one in every three.

So this isn’t a Liverpool team that simply isn’t shooting.

There is plenty of attacking activity.

The problem is what happens at the end of those attacks.

The Fulham game was particularly concerning

Fourteen shots sounds respectable.

But only three were on target.

And Liverpool failed to score.

That was the first time this season that Iraola’s side had failed to find the net, and it was another reminder that possession and shot numbers don’t automatically translate into goals.

Victor Muñoz came closest when his header struck the woodwork, but Liverpool never really looked like a team that was going to score multiple goals.

That is something Iraola will want to address.

Liverpool need better chances, not just more shots

This is perhaps the most important point.

You can have 20 shots and still struggle to score if too many of them are low-quality attempts.

Liverpool need to create situations where Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola, Cody Gakpo and the rest of the attack are getting clearer opportunities.

Against Fulham, too many attacks broke down before Liverpool could create that final opening.

Iraola himself has spoken about the need for Liverpool to win the ball higher up the pitch, allowing them to attack more quickly and create better opportunities.

That could be crucial.

Isak needs more service

Alexander Isak has already shown what he can do.

He has scored three Premier League goals this season, putting him among the early league scoring leaders.

But Liverpool need to get him into dangerous positions more often.

A striker of Isak’s quality shouldn’t be relying on scraps.

The same applies to Wirtz and Barcola.

Liverpool have invested heavily in attacking talent, but the system still needs to find the best way of getting those players into positions where they can hurt teams.

The numbers aren’t all bad

It would be wrong to suggest Liverpool’s attack has been a complete failure.

They have scored six goals in four league matches and scored twice at Newcastle, twice against Nottingham Forest and twice at Ipswich.

And Liverpool have also shown they can create chances.

The problem has been consistency.

One week they can look dangerous.

The next, they can dominate possession without creating enough clear opportunities.

That inconsistency is understandable with a new manager and a different tactical approach.

But it is something Iraola has to solve.

The challenge for Iraola

Liverpool don’t necessarily need to start shooting more.

They need to start shooting better.

Better positions.

Better combinations.

Better final balls.

Better decisions around the penalty area.

And ultimately, better quality in front of goal.

The encouraging thing is that these are things that can improve as Iraola’s ideas become more familiar to his players.

Liverpool are still learning how to play this way.

But after the frustration of the Fulham draw, there is no doubt the attacking side of the team needs to improve.

The statistics tell us Liverpool are getting shots away.

Now Iraola needs to make sure they’re getting the right shots away.

Because if Liverpool can turn their attacking possession into better chances, the goals should follow.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Six years ago today, Liverpool signed Diogo Jota from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

On September 19, 2020, the Reds officially announced the arrival of the Portuguese forward, who joined Liverpool after three seasons at Wolves. The reported initial fee was £41 million, potentially rising to £45 million with add-ons.

At the time, it felt like another excellent addition to an already outstanding Liverpool attack.

Looking back now, it turned out to be so much more than that.

Jota quickly became one of the most popular players at Anfield.

He didn’t take long to make his mark

Jota’s Liverpool career got off to a flying start.

He scored his first goal just nine days after signing, coming off the bench against Arsenal at Anfield and finding the bottom corner with a composed finish.

Then came that incredible Champions League hat-trick against Atalanta.

It took Jota only ten appearances to announce himself on the European stage, as he scored three times in a brilliant 5-0 victory in Bergamo.

Liverpool supporters immediately understood what they had.

Goals. Movement. Work rate. Intelligence. And that ability to produce something when the team needed it most.

Jota became a Liverpool fan favourite

There was something special about Jota.

He wasn’t always guaranteed to start, particularly with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino competing for places, but he never seemed to need many opportunities to make an impact.

He could play anywhere across the front three and gave Jürgen Klopp another weapon.

And then there was the chant.

“Diogo! Oh, Diogo!”

It became one of those songs that immediately belonged to Anfield.

Jota’s numbers tell only part of the story.

He finished his Liverpool career with 182 appearances and 65 goals, winning the FA Cup, two League Cups and the Premier League.

But it was the importance of many of those goals that made him so special.

He gave us so many memories

There were late winners.

Important goals.

European nights.

Derby goals.

That incredible performance against Atalanta.

And countless moments when Jota seemed to appear in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.

His final Liverpool season ended with him helping the club win the Premier League, something he had dreamed of achieving.

He scored in the Merseyside derby during the run-in — a goal that would ultimately prove to be the final goal of his life.

And that makes looking back at his Liverpool career incredibly emotional.

Six years later, we still miss him

Jota tragically passed away in July 2025 alongside his brother André Silva.

Liverpool subsequently retired the No.20 shirt in his honour, ensuring that number will forever be associated with Diogo Jota at Anfield.

So today isn’t simply about remembering a transfer.

It’s about remembering a player who gave Liverpool supporters some fantastic memories and became a genuinely loved member of the Liverpool family.

Six years ago, Liverpool signed a 23-year-old forward from Wolves.

Nobody could have known everything that would follow.

Nobody could have known how many goals he would score, how many trophies he would win or how much he would mean to supporters.

But six years on, one thing is certain.

Diogo Jota will always be a Liverpool player.

And he will never be forgotten.

Rest easy, Diogo. You’ll Never Walk Alone. 

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool’s search for midfield reinforcements appears to be gathering pace.

The Reds reportedly sent scouts to watch AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit in action against Sunderland in the Europa League this week, with the highly-rated Dutchman attracting plenty of attention from Premier League clubs.

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool representatives were among those in attendance at the Stadium of Light as AZ suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland.

Smit started the game and reportedly impressed despite his side’s defeat, providing another opportunity for Liverpool’s recruitment team to assess him at close quarters.

Liverpool have been watching Smit for a while

This isn’t a player who has suddenly appeared on Liverpool’s radar.

TEAMtalk reports that Liverpool have been long-term admirers of Smit, who has attracted interest from English clubs for more than two years after breaking into the AZ first team in 2024.

The 20-year-old has developed into one of the most highly-rated young midfielders in Dutch football.

And his performances have now resulted in a growing list of Premier League clubs keeping a close eye on his progress.

Chelsea, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Brighton were also reportedly represented at Sunderland.

That tells you something about the level of interest surrounding Smit.

£51.5m is a serious price tag

The biggest question is obviously the potential cost.

Smit is reportedly valued at around €60m (£51.5m) by AZ Alkmaar.

That’s a huge amount of money for a 20-year-old who has yet to play in the Premier League, but Liverpool clearly aren’t the only club who believe he could be worth that investment.

And with so many Premier League clubs monitoring him, AZ are in a strong position if a bidding war develops.

Liverpool’s interest is particularly intriguing because midfield has already become one of the major talking points of Iraola’s first season at Anfield.

Could Smit fit Iraola’s Liverpool?

That’s where this story becomes particularly interesting.

Liverpool need more options in midfield.

Gravenberch has struggled for consistency at the beginning of the season, while the combination of Gravenberch and Szoboszlai hasn’t always provided the control and intensity Liverpool need.

Mac Allister remains an important option, but Liverpool can’t realistically expect one player to solve every problem.

Smit could potentially offer something different.

He’s capable of playing centrally and further forward, and his ability to progress the ball and create chances has helped make him one of the more interesting young midfielders in the Eredivisie.

At just 20, there would obviously be plenty of development still required.

But that’s exactly the type of player Liverpool have traditionally been interested in developing.

January could become interesting

TEAMtalk reports that Liverpool are considering a mid-season move for another midfielder, with Smit now potentially joining the list of options being considered.

That’s significant.

Liverpool don’t appear to be simply watching Smit from a distance anymore.

They sent scouts to watch him in person.

That doesn’t mean a January transfer is going to happen, and Liverpool will face competition if they decide to pursue the Dutchman.

But it does suggest that Smit is firmly on the recruitment team’s radar.

And given the issues Liverpool have experienced in midfield during the opening weeks of the season, it’s easy to understand why.

The Reds need more quality and more options in the middle of the pitch.

Whether Kees Smit is the answer remains to be seen.

But one thing is becoming increasingly clear:

Liverpool are looking at midfielders.

And if the club’s scouts liked what they saw at the Stadium of Light, we may be hearing a lot more about Kees Smit between now and January.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Ryan Gravenberch hasn’t had the easiest start to the new season.

The Dutch midfielder has struggled to find the level we know he is capable of producing for Liverpool, and his performance in the 0-0 draw with Fulham only increased the questions surrounding his form.

But perhaps international duty has arrived at exactly the right time for Gravenberch.

The 24-year-old has been included in Xavi’s first Netherlands squad, with the new Oranje boss selecting him for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.

Gravenberch remains an important player for his country, and that could give him the opportunity to get some confidence back.

Gravenberch needs a spark

There is no question that Gravenberch hasn’t looked like the player Liverpool supporters saw at his best previously.

Against Fulham, he and Dominik Szoboszlai struggled badly in midfield, with Liverpool lacking control and energy for large periods.

Iraola has also acknowledged that the midfielders need more help from the players ahead of them, rather than simply blaming the central pair.

That is important because Gravenberch’s problems aren’t necessarily all down to Gravenberch.

Liverpool are adapting to a completely different style under Iraola, and the Dutchman is being asked to operate in a team that is still trying to understand exactly how it wants to play.

That’s going to take time.

But confidence matters too.

And sometimes a player simply needs to get away from the club environment for a few days, play football with people he knows well and remind himself what he’s capable of.

The Netherlands could give him that

Gravenberch is not going into the international break as some forgotten squad player.

He remains part of the Netherlands’ plans.

In fact, he started all four of the Netherlands’ matches at the 2026 World Cup and has been a regular for the national team.

Now he gets the chance to work under Xavi as the former Barcelona manager begins his reign with the Oranje.

That’s potentially a really positive situation for Gravenberch.

A new manager.

A different environment.

Different teammates.

And, most importantly, an opportunity to start fresh.

If he gets minutes and puts together a couple of good performances for the Netherlands, he could return to Liverpool with a completely different mindset.

Liverpool need the old Gravenberch back

This is about much more than one player.

Liverpool need Gravenberch.

They need the midfielder who can carry the ball, drive through midfield and give the team another dimension.

They need the player who looked so comfortable playing a deeper role during his best spell at Anfield.

And they certainly don’t need Gravenberch playing within himself.

A recent analysis highlighted the concern that his current game hasn’t developed as hoped, while his performances this season have raised questions about his suitability to Iraola’s system.

But I wouldn’t be writing him off.

Far from it.

He’s still only 24 and has already shown Liverpool supporters exactly what he can do.

The challenge now is getting him back to that level.

This international break could be perfectly timed

Sometimes footballers need a reset.

Gravenberch has had a difficult opening to the season, Liverpool haven’t quite clicked under Iraola yet and the midfield has been one of the biggest talking points.

So perhaps a few days away with the Netherlands will do him the world of good.

He can train with a different group, work under a new coach and play without the immediate pressure of trying to solve Liverpool’s midfield problems.

And if he comes back with his confidence restored, Liverpool could benefit massively.

There is a very good midfielder in Ryan Gravenberch.

We’ve already seen him.

Now we just need to see him again.

Hopefully, international duty can be the tonic he needs to rediscover his best form.

Come back feeling confident, refreshed and ready to show Iraola exactly what he can do.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Jeremy Jacquet has only been at Liverpool for a matter of months, but it already looks like the young defender is making a serious impression.

And now we know that Zinedine Zidane has been watching him for years.

The legendary Frenchman, who has just taken charge of the France national team, included Jacquet in his first squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.

Speaking about the Liverpool centre-back, Zidane revealed that his interest in Jacquet goes back much further than his impressive start at Anfield.

“I like his profile a lot. I’ve followed him for a long time because he played alongside my son in the youth teams.”

That is some endorsement.

Jacquet played alongside Zidane’s son, Elyaz, at youth level, meaning the new France boss has had the opportunity to watch his development long before the 21-year-old made the move to the Premier League.

And judging by Zidane’s comments, Jacquet has clearly remained on his radar.

Jacquet has made a fast start at Liverpool

The defender arrived at Liverpool from Rennes during the summer and has quickly been thrown into the action by Andoni Iraola.

Rather than looking overwhelmed by the step up to the Premier League, Jacquet has already shown plenty of composure alongside Virgil van Dijk.

His performance against Fulham was another particularly encouraging display, with the young Frenchman one of Liverpool’s better performers during a frustrating 0-0 draw.

Liverpool’s official profile of Jacquet also highlighted his impressive aerial numbers from last season, while the defender has previously spoken about studying Van Dijk’s game closely.

Now he has the chance to learn from another legendary figure in Zidane.

This is massive for Jacquet

Getting your first senior France call-up at just 21 is a huge moment.

And it is particularly interesting that Zidane didn’t simply describe Jacquet as a player who deserved selection.

He specifically spoke about liking his profile and revealed that he has followed him for a long time.

That suggests this isn’t simply a case of Jacquet benefiting from a good few months at Liverpool.

Zidane already knew about him.

Now the France boss gets the opportunity to work with him directly and see how he fits into his plans.

Jacquet is joined in the France squad by Liverpool teammate Bradley Barcola, while Zidane has also brought several other new faces into his first squad as he begins building towards Euro 2028.

Liverpool fans should be excited

It is still very early in Jacquet’s Liverpool career, and there will inevitably be difficult moments as he adapts to English football.

But there is already plenty to like.

He’s 21. He’s playing regularly. He’s learning alongside Van Dijk. And now he’s been called up by France under Zinedine Zidane.

Not a bad start at all.

Liverpool supporters will be hoping this is only the beginning of what could become a very impressive career at Anfield.

And hearing Zidane say that he has been following Jacquet since his youth-team days only makes the whole story even more interesting.

The Liverpool signing who arrived with plenty of potential is now getting noticed by one of the greatest French footballers of all time.

And that can only be a good thing for Jacquet.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Football can change very quickly.

Just a few months ago, there were plenty of Liverpool supporters — myself included — who were desperate to see Xabi Alonso become the next Liverpool manager.

Liverpool were struggling under Arne Slot and there was a growing feeling among supporters that the club needed a change.

Alonso was one of the names that many Reds fans would have loved to see walking into Anfield.

Fast forward to now and Alonso is having a difficult start to life at Chelsea.

And the latest numbers make for uncomfortable reading.

Chelsea simply cannot keep a clean sheet

Chelsea have now played five Premier League matches this season without keeping a single clean sheet.

Their results have been:

● Fulham 2-3 Chelsea

● Chelsea 4-3 Brighton

● Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea

● Chelsea 2-2 Hull

● Brentford 3-0 Chelsea

That’s 12 goals conceded in five Premier League games.

Chelsea conceded three again on Friday night as Brentford beat them 3-0, with Alonso’s side now having gone three league matches without a win.

In fact, Chelsea currently have the worst defensive record in the Premier League, having conceded 12 goals.

That’s a serious problem.

But it’s still early

We have to be fair here.

It’s only five games.

It would be ridiculous to suggest Alonso is suddenly a bad manager because Chelsea have made a poor start defensively.

He’s managing a new team, with new players and his own ideas that will take time to implement.

There are also mitigating factors.

Chelsea have had injuries to important players, and they were missing Reece James, João Pedro and Moisés Caicedo against Brentford.

So Alonso deserves time.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t look at what is happening and acknowledge that things aren’t going particularly well at the moment.

And I have to admit something…

When Liverpool were struggling last season, I was one of those supporters thinking:

“Why aren’t we getting Alonso?”

There was so much excitement around him.

His work at Bayer Leverkusen had made him one of the most highly regarded young managers in European football, and the idea of a Liverpool legend returning to Anfield was incredibly appealing.

I could completely understand why Liverpool supporters wanted him.

I wanted him too.

But this is football.

What looks like the obvious appointment at one club can look very different when you actually take charge somewhere else.

Alonso has a big job ahead of him

Chelsea have plenty of talent.

That’s what makes their defensive problems particularly surprising.

They can score goals.

They’ve already scored 10 in their five league matches.

But conceding 12 at the other end means they are giving themselves an incredibly difficult task every week.

You cannot keep asking your attackers to score three or four goals just to win football matches.

Eventually, you need some control.

You need clean sheets.

You need to be able to close games out.

And that’s something Alonso has to find quickly.

Liverpool supporters should be patient with Iraola

Interestingly, this also gives us something to think about with Andoni Iraola at Liverpool.

There were supporters who wanted an immediate transformation when he arrived.

But football doesn’t work like that.

Liverpool are also going through a period of change.

Iraola is trying to establish his own style, and we’ve already seen that there are weaknesses that need addressing.

The 0-0 draw with Fulham showed that Liverpool still have plenty of work to do.

But that is exactly why patience is important.

Alonso is experiencing first-hand how difficult it can be to walk into a big club and immediately make everything click.

I still love the idea of Alonso at Liverpool

And here’s the funny thing.

Even after seeing his difficult start at Chelsea, I wouldn’t suddenly say my previous opinion was completely wrong.

I still think Alonso is an excellent young coach.

I still think he has enormous potential.

And I still understand why Liverpool supporters wanted him.

But perhaps the bigger lesson is that there is no such thing as a guaranteed managerial appointment.

Sometimes the manager you desperately want isn’t necessarily the manager who would have produced the immediate results you imagined.

For now, Alonso has a big job on his hands at Chelsea.

Five games isn’t enough to write anyone off.

But 12 goals conceded and no clean sheets is certainly something he needs to fix.

And as a Liverpool supporter who was desperate to see him come to Anfield when we were struggling under Slot, I’ll admit it:

I’m quite happy to give Iraola the time to prove himself.

Football has a funny way of making you question what you thought you wanted.

Jamie (The Kopite View)