The Kopite View

Could Cody Gakpo be looking for a move away from Liverpool in January?

I don’t think we can completely rule it out.

And the reason is simple — the summer transfer window suggested that Liverpool were at least open to the possibility of selling him.

There was plenty of speculation throughout the summer that Gakpo could leave Anfield, with Tottenham interested and Manchester City eventually emerging as a serious option.

But what really caught my attention was the suggestion that Liverpool were willing to let Gakpo go if they could find the right replacement.

Sky Sports reported that Liverpool would not be willing to let the Dutchman leave without having a replacement through the door.

And we know how close things came.

Liverpool reportedly explored moves for Yankuba Minteh and Ismaïla Sarr as potential replacements, but neither deal happened. Manchester City then made an approach for Gakpo, with reports suggesting the proposed move ultimately collapsed because Liverpool couldn’t secure another winger before the deadline.

So Gakpo stayed.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean the door has been permanently closed.

Could January be different?

This is where things get interesting.

Liverpool now have Bradley Barcola, Victor Muñoz and Rio Ngumoha competing for places in the wide areas, while Gakpo has also shown that he can operate from the right if required.

The club therefore have more options than they did when the summer window was closing.

And if Gakpo feels that his long-term future would be better elsewhere, January could potentially provide another opportunity.

There was even a report that Gakpo held “clear the air” talks with Liverpool’s owners after his proposed summer transfer collapsed, with the expectation having been that he would leave before the window closed.

That doesn’t mean Gakpo is unhappy at Liverpool.

It doesn’t mean he’s demanding a transfer.

And it certainly doesn’t mean Liverpool are actively trying to sell him.

But it does show that a move was genuinely on the table.

I wouldn’t want Liverpool to rush this

Personally, I’m not convinced Liverpool should be looking to sell Gakpo in January.

In fact, his recent performances are probably the biggest reason why.

He scored in Liverpool’s 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Tottenham, having also been involved in the team’s attacking play, and The Times noted that Liverpool’s decision to keep him rather than allow him to leave is increasingly looking like important business.

That’s the Gakpo Liverpool need.

He’s capable of scoring goals, creating chances and playing in different positions across the front three.

But if the player himself decides that he wants a new challenge, that’s a different situation.

Liverpool would then have to decide whether the right offer arrives and whether they have enough attacking depth to cope with losing him halfway through the season.

January could tell us a lot

For me, the biggest thing to watch isn’t whether Liverpool suddenly announce that Gakpo is for sale.

It’s whether Gakpo’s role changes significantly over the next few months.

If he’s playing regularly, producing goals and looking settled, I can’t see why he would need to leave.

But if Barcola becomes the undisputed first choice on the left, while Gakpo finds himself moving between positions and struggling for consistent minutes, then the situation could become much more interesting.

And Liverpool have already shown that they are prepared to listen to offers if their valuation is met.

So while I certainly wouldn’t say Cody Gakpo is leaving Liverpool in January, I wouldn’t completely dismiss the possibility either.

The summer told us that a Gakpo departure was possible if the circumstances were right.

January could tell us whether that was simply a summer opportunity that disappeared — or the beginning of something Liverpool may have to revisit.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool’s search for future midfield options appears to be continuing, with another interesting name now being linked with a move to Anfield.

According to Christian Falk and CF Bayern, Liverpool are showing interest in PSV midfielder Paul Wanner as they assess potential future additions to their squad. Liverpool have also been reported to be closely monitoring the 20-year-old’s development.

Wanner has already made 40 appearances for PSV since moving from Bayern Munich last summer, and there is currently no indication that Bayern are looking to bring him back to Germany.

And this is certainly a player worth keeping an eye on.

Who is Paul Wanner?

Wanner came through the Bayern Munich academy and made his first-team debut as a teenager before spending time on loan with Elversberg and Heidenheim.

He eventually made the permanent move to PSV, where he has continued his development and become an increasingly important player.

He’s predominantly an attacking midfielder but can also operate in a deeper role, with that versatility potentially appealing to Liverpool.

That ability to play in different midfield positions is particularly interesting to me.

Liverpool need more competition in midfield

I’ve said this a few times recently, but I really do think Liverpool need to keep looking at their midfield.

Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch are excellent players, while Trey Nyoni and James McConnell are giving Iraola some exciting young options.

But Liverpool are competing on multiple fronts.

They need quality.

They need depth.

And, perhaps most importantly, they need genuine competition for places.

That’s why I like the idea of Wanner.

He’s only 20 and clearly isn’t the finished article, but that’s not necessarily what Liverpool should be looking for.

They should be looking for players who can develop into top-level footballers.

The numbers are encouraging

There are already some positive signs in Wanner’s game.

Last season in the Eredivisie, his underlying attacking numbers compared favourably with other midfielders, particularly for non-penalty expected goals, expected assists and big chances created.

He’s also continued to attract attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern among those reported to be monitoring him. PSV have reportedly put his potential value somewhere around €45m-€50m.

That’s obviously a significant amount of money for a 20-year-old.

Which brings me to my verdict.

My verdict: I really like this one

I’m actually very interested in this rumour.

Out of all the midfielders Liverpool have been linked with recently, Wanner is exactly the type of player I want the club to be looking at.

Young.

Technically gifted.

Versatile.

Already playing regularly at a good level.

And with plenty of room to improve.

I’m not saying Liverpool should throw £40m-plus at him tomorrow.

Far from it.

But I absolutely want the club to be having these conversations.

We’ve seen how quickly midfield can become a problem when the options aren’t quite right, and I don’t want Liverpool waiting until they desperately need another midfielder before doing something about it.

If the recruitment team genuinely believe Wanner can develop into a top Premier League midfielder, I’d be very happy for Liverpool to make a serious move.

And there’s another thing I like.

Liverpool aren’t just looking at established stars. They’re looking at players who could become stars.

That’s exactly how you build the next generation of a squad.

Paul Wanner is a rumour I’m definitely keeping an eye on — because, personally, I’d love to see Liverpool try to sign him.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

James Milner has reminded Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt of something they probably didn’t particularly want reminding about.

During an appearance on their The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Milner was sat across from the two former Manchester United midfielders when the subject of his record against their old club came up.

And Milner had a rather brilliant response.

“I think there is a stat where I have beaten Man United by one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven.”

He’s absolutely right.

And when you actually look at the scorelines, it’s quite incredible.

Milner has done the lot

Milner’s record against Manchester United includes victories by every margin from one goal all the way through to seven.

1-0: Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United — April 30, 2012

2-0: Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United — March 10, 2016

3-0: Manchester City 3-0 Manchester United — March 25, 2014

4-0: Liverpool 4-0 Manchester United — April 19, 2022

5-0: Liverpool 5-0 Manchester United — October 24, 2021

6-1: Manchester City 6-1 Manchester United — October 23, 2011

7-0: Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United — March 5, 2023

And yes, Milner played in all seven of those victories.

That’s some record.

The 7-0 in particular will obviously bring back wonderful memories for Liverpool supporters. Milner came off the bench late in that game as Liverpool produced one of the most extraordinary results in the history of the rivalry.

From City to Liverpool

What makes the statistic even better is that Milner managed to build this ridiculous collection of results while playing for both Manchester City and Liverpool.

He was part of the City side that demolished United 6-1 in 2011 and beat them 1-0 and 3-0 in subsequent seasons.

Then, after moving to Liverpool, he continued doing damage.

Liverpool’s 5-0 victory at Old Trafford in 2021, the 4-0 at Anfield in 2022 and then that unforgettable 7-0 in 2023 all feature on his list.

Milner has therefore experienced some truly memorable Manchester derbies and North-West derbies from both sides.

And somehow he’s managed to tick every single winning margin from one to seven.

You couldn’t make it up

I absolutely love this.

There’s nothing complicated about it.

Milner was simply sitting across from two Manchester United legends and casually reminded them that he has beaten their club 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, 6-1 and 7-0.

That’s the sort of statistic that is almost impossible to plan.

It just happens to be there.

And knowing Milner, I suspect he was more than happy to bring it up.

At 40, Milner is still going and remains one of the most experienced players in English football. His career has taken him from Leeds to Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton, with the vast majority of his Premier League career spent competing at the very highest level.

But when it comes to Manchester United, he has one hell of a story to tell.

One, two, three, four, five, six and seven.

James Milner has beaten Manchester United by them all.

And I have to admit, that is absolutely brilliant. 

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Looking back at Liverpool’s summer transfer business, there is one decision that could have had a very different outcome.

According to James Pearce, Liverpool can count themselves lucky that Brighton rejected their £50m and £60m bids for Yankuba Minteh.

Because if Brighton had accepted either offer, Cody Gakpo would have left Liverpool for Manchester City.

That’s quite a revelation.

Speaking on The Athletic FC Podcast, Pearce explained that Gakpo had been open to joining City because Liverpool were prepared to sell him as part of their plans to bring in another winger.

And suddenly, those rejected Minteh bids look extremely important.

Imagine Liverpool without Gakpo right now

This is the part that really gets me.

Gakpo has started the season in excellent form under Andoni Iraola.

He’s looked dangerous, confident and far more like the player Liverpool supporters hoped they were signing when he arrived from PSV.

According to the latest reports, he has already contributed two goals and four assists in his first five appearances under Iraola.

So imagine if Brighton had accepted that £60m offer for Minteh.

Liverpool potentially lose Gakpo to Manchester City and replace him with Minteh.

That could have completely changed the look of Liverpool’s attack.

And let’s not forget that Minteh was injured at the time and wasn’t expected to return until around October. Pearce described the potential decision as a “disastrous” one.

Gakpo has responded brilliantly

What I like most about this whole situation is how Gakpo has handled it.

Whatever happened behind the scenes, once the transfer window closed, he got on with his job.

There hasn’t been any obvious sulking or drop-off in effort.

Instead, he’s come back into the Liverpool team and started producing.

He scored again in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup victory over Tottenham, continuing what has been a very encouraging start to the campaign.

And that makes Pearce’s comments even more interesting.

Liverpool supporters could easily have been watching Gakpo playing in a Manchester City shirt right now.

Instead, he’s scoring goals for us.

Sometimes a failed transfer is a blessing

Liverpool supporters spend plenty of time talking about transfers that didn’t happen and wondering what might have been.

But this is a slightly different situation.

The club clearly wanted another winger and were prepared to spend heavily on Minteh.

Brighton simply refused to sell.

That forced Liverpool to reconsider their options — and ultimately Gakpo stayed.

Football can be strange like that.

A decision that might initially have felt like a disappointment because Liverpool couldn’t get their preferred target could actually have prevented the club from making a decision they would now regret.

I’m certainly glad Gakpo is still here.

He’s looking settled, he’s contributing and he appears to be enjoying his football again.

And if he continues playing like this, Liverpool supporters may look back at those rejected Minteh bids and think:

Thank you, Brighton.

Because keeping Cody Gakpo could turn out to be one of the best things that happened to Liverpool’s attack this summer.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

There was some positive news from Liverpool’s training session at the AXA Training Centre on Thursday.

The Reds were back on the training pitches as Andoni Iraola’s side continued preparations for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Bournemouth, and importantly, there were no unexpected absences from the squad.

That’s exactly what Liverpool supporters will want to hear at this stage of the week.

Liverpool have already had to deal with a number of injuries this season, so getting through another training session without picking up any fresh problems is a positive.

Freddie Woodman is back

There was also a welcome sight with Freddie Woodman back training with the squad after missing Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup victory over Tottenham.

The goalkeeper wasn’t involved as Liverpool beat Spurs 3-1 at Anfield, but his return to the group is another indication that there are no fresh concerns surrounding him.

Woodman is part of Liverpool’s senior Premier League squad and provides experienced goalkeeping cover behind Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Now it’s all about Bournemouth

Liverpool’s attention can now fully turn towards Sunday’s trip to the south coast.

After making 10 changes for the Carabao Cup win over Tottenham, Iraola will have to decide which players come straight back into his starting XI and which of the youngsters who impressed against Spurs have done enough to keep their places.

The good news is that, based on Thursday’s training session, there don’t appear to be any new injury headaches for the manager.

Liverpool have already had to manage a busy opening schedule, with Iraola previously acknowledging the increased workload and the need to learn which players can handle playing every few days.

That’s why a clean bill of health at this stage of the week is particularly welcome.

Now we just need to get through Friday and Saturday without any problems.

Bournemouth is the next big test — and Liverpool look to be heading into it with their squad in good shape.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool appear to be keeping a very close eye on Chelsea winger Estevao Willian — and this latest rumour is certainly interesting.

According to Football FanCast, Liverpool chiefs have contacted the representatives of the Brazilian and are attempting to deter him from entering talks over a potential new contract at Stamford Bridge.

Now, let’s be realistic.

This doesn’t mean Estevao is about to become a Liverpool player.

Chelsea have no obvious desire to sell him and he is already contracted to the London club until 2033. Reports have also suggested Chelsea value him at more than £100 million.

But Liverpool making contact with his representatives is still something worth keeping an eye on.

Liverpool clearly like Estevao

This isn’t the first time Liverpool have been linked with Estevao.

There were reports before the summer transfer window closed that Liverpool had already made an approach for the teenager, only for Chelsea to make it clear that they had no intention of selling him.

So if these latest reports are accurate, Liverpool haven’t simply forgotten about him.

They’re continuing to monitor the situation.

And I can understand why.

Estevao is exactly the sort of young attacking player that Liverpool should be interested in.

He’s still only 19 and has already established himself at Chelsea and with Brazil. His first season in England produced eight goals and four assists in 36 appearances, while his opportunities have reportedly been more limited at the start of this season.

Could Liverpool exploit his situation?

This is where things get interesting.

Chelsea are reportedly considering improved terms for Estevao, but Liverpool are apparently hoping to get involved before those discussions become too advanced.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Liverpool believe they can simply walk into Stamford Bridge and sign him.

It could simply be a case of making sure the player knows there is another option available.

And if Estevao ever did become available, I suspect Liverpool would be extremely interested.

He’s young, hugely talented and has already shown that he can produce decisive moments at Premier League level.

In fact, Liverpool supporters have already seen exactly what he can do.

Estevao scored a late winner against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge earlier this month, producing the sort of moment that shows why clubs are watching his development so closely.

This one could run for a while

I’m certainly not getting carried away with this one.

Liverpool have already spent heavily on their attack and there are plenty of other areas of the squad that could require attention before another huge attacking transfer becomes a priority.

But if the club genuinely believe Estevao can become one of the best young attackers in European football, I have absolutely no problem with them keeping tabs on his situation.

Sometimes you have to look ahead.

And this feels like Liverpool doing exactly that.

Chelsea clearly see Estevao as a major part of their future. Liverpool apparently see an opportunity to change that.

Whether anything actually comes of it is another question entirely.

But after Liverpool’s reported interest in him this summer, I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if the Estevao story refuses to go away anytime soon.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

There was something about Jürgen Klopp’s comments on Florian Wirtz that really caught my attention.

Rather than talking about goals, assists or spectacular moments, Klopp focused on something much simpler — Wirtz helping the team.

And honestly, I think that could be exactly what the Liverpool midfielder needs right now.

Klopp revealed that he has been keeping in touch with Wirtz and highlighted the work the 23-year-old has been putting in for Liverpool.

He pointed out that Wirtz has covered more ground than any other Liverpool player this season and said the willingness to work is clearly there.

That is important because Wirtz has come under plenty of scrutiny since arriving at Liverpool.

The price tag means supporters and pundits naturally expect something special from him.

Every game becomes a discussion about whether he has scored, assisted or produced one of those magical moments we saw so often during his time at Bayer Leverkusen.

But Klopp’s message is basically: stop judging him solely on that.

And I completely agree.

Klopp could give Wirtz exactly what he needs

Klopp said Liverpool and Germany need to make Wirtz feel comfortable and that the team needs to work collectively so individual players can shine.

He also made the excellent point that there should be nothing wrong with Wirtz having a game where he gives everything, doesn’t score or assist, but still helps his team win.

That is a really important message.

Imagine Wirtz playing 90 minutes, pressing, running, creating space, linking play and helping Liverpool win 2-0.

He doesn’t score.

He doesn’t assist.

And suddenly people are asking whether he’s “working out”.

That’s madness.

As Klopp basically said, there are just as many reasons to say that Wirtz is working.

This isn’t about lowering expectations

I don’t think Klopp is saying we shouldn’t expect brilliance from Wirtz.

Quite the opposite.

We all know the ability is there.

We’ve already seen glimpses of what he can do in a Liverpool shirt, and he has produced special moments since arriving at Anfield.

But perhaps the best way to unlock more of that is to remove some of the pressure surrounding him.

And this is where I think Klopp could be brilliant for him.

Wirtz is now working with Iraola at Liverpool, while Klopp is his Germany manager. That gives the player another world-class coach who knows exactly what it takes to perform under enormous pressure. Wirtz has already spoken about making contact with Klopp and his desire to take on more responsibility at Liverpool.

Klopp can give him that confidence.

He can tell him: You don’t have to win the game on your own.

Just play your football.

Work for the team.

Make the right decisions.

And when the opportunity comes to produce something special, go and produce it.

Liverpool need to help him too

I also think this is where Liverpool’s team structure matters.

Iraola has already spoken about Wirtz’s contribution beyond statistics and has backed his ability to influence games as a No.10.

So we’re getting a consistent message from both managers.

Trust Wirtz.

Give him responsibility.

Let him settle.

Don’t turn every game into a referendum on whether the transfer fee was justified.

Because he’s still adapting.

He’s still learning his teammates.

He’s still learning the demands of English football.

And he’s playing in a Liverpool team that is still being moulded by a new manager.

I genuinely believe there is a huge player in there.

And if Klopp can help Wirtz rediscover that freedom and confidence with Germany, while Iraola continues to build the right environment for him at Liverpool, we could eventually see the very best version of him.

So when Wirtz has a game where he doesn’t score or assist but runs his heart out and helps Liverpool win?

I’ll take that.

Because the special moments will come.

And I have a feeling Jürgen Klopp could play a pretty big part in bringing them back.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

very closely when the January transfer window opens.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are planning a move for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara as Andoni Iraola looks to address concerns in the middle of the pitch.

The 22-year-old was already on Liverpool’s radar during the summer, but the Reds didn’t complete a deal.

Now it appears they could go back for him in January.

Liverpool wanted a midfielder in the summer

This isn’t a completely new name coming out of nowhere.

Liverpool were looking at midfield options during the summer transfer window, but ultimately didn’t bring in the extra midfielder they had been considering.

Camara was one of the players discussed.

His situation became particularly interesting when Chelsea came close to signing him on deadline day in a deal reported to be worth around £47 million, only for the move to collapse.

Now Liverpool could potentially take advantage of the situation.

Is Camara what Liverpool need?

That’s the big question.

Liverpool have some very talented midfielders, but there have been concerns about the balance and control in the middle of the pitch during the early part of the season.

We’ve already seen different combinations being used by Iraola.

Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch all bring different qualities, while Trey Nyoni and James McConnell are also pushing for more opportunities.

But Liverpool are competing on multiple fronts.

If Iraola believes another midfielder is required, bringing in someone of Camara’s profile could give him another option.

January could be interesting

I actually like the idea of Liverpool continuing to look at the position.

That doesn’t necessarily mean they need to panic and sign somebody simply for the sake of it.

But if the club genuinely believes Camara can improve the squad, January could be the right time to make a move.

Football Insider’s report suggests the midfielder has now moved high up Liverpool’s list of potential mid-season targets.

And considering Chelsea were prepared to spend heavily on him only a few weeks ago, Liverpool clearly aren’t the only club that see something in the player.

Another player to keep an eye on

For me, this is one to watch.

Liverpool’s midfield situation could look very different by January depending on how the next few months go.

If Iraola’s current options establish themselves and the youngsters continue developing, perhaps the need won’t be quite as great.

But if the same concerns remain, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Liverpool make a serious move for a midfielder.

And Lamine Camara could be one of the names right at the top of that list.

It’s still September, so there’s obviously a long way to go before the January window opens.

But this is definitely a transfer story I’m going to be keeping an eye on.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Liverpool supporters might want to enjoy the international break while they can because once the players return to club duty, the games are going to come thick and fast.

Just look at the schedule Liverpool have coming up.

Liverpool vs Manchester City – October 11

LASK vs Liverpool – October 14

Brentford vs Liverpool – October 17

Liverpool vs Villarreal – October 20

Liverpool vs Brighton – October 25

Liverpool vs Chelsea – Carabao Cup, date TBC

Liverpool vs Arsenal – November 1

That is a serious run of fixtures.

Manchester City straight into the deep end

Liverpool return from the international break with one of the biggest games possible.

Manchester City at Anfield.

There isn’t really any easing back into club football for Andoni Iraola’s side.

It’s a massive Premier League game and one that could immediately set the tone for the weeks ahead.

Then it’s straight into Europe

Three days later, Liverpool travel to Austria to face LASK in the Champions League.

That’s followed by Brentford away just three days after that.

And then comes another Champions League night at Anfield against Villarreal on October 20.

That’s four matches in the space of nine days.

And we’re only getting started.

Brighton and Chelsea follow

Liverpool then face Brighton at Anfield on October 25 before another huge home cup tie against Chelsea.

The date for that Carabao Cup fourth-round match is still to be confirmed, but it’s another game against a major Premier League opponent.

And after Chelsea?

Arsenal at Anfield on November 1.

You couldn’t really ask for many bigger domestic fixtures.

This is where squad depth matters

This is going to be a huge test of Iraola’s squad.

There are going to have to be changes.

Liverpool simply cannot expect the same XI to play every three or four days at this level.

And that’s why performances from players like Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, Lewis Koumas and Rio Ngumoha could become increasingly important.

We’ve already seen Iraola trust his squad in the Carabao Cup.

He’s going to need plenty of them again.

What a run of games

When you put the fixtures together like this, you really appreciate how demanding the season is going to be.

Manchester City. LASK. Brentford. Villarreal. Brighton. Chelsea. Arsenal.

Seven potentially huge games.

And that’s exactly why Liverpool need as many players as possible fit, confident and ready to contribute.

For supporters, though?

Bring it on.

This is what being involved in the Premier League, Champions League and cup competitions is all about.

The next few weeks could tell us an awful lot about this Liverpool team and about the direction Iraola’s side is heading.

Jamie (The Kopite View)

Rio Ngumoha could be about to receive another huge boost to his incredible rise.

According to Lewis Steele, the Liverpool youngster could be named in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming Nations League matches.

And if that happens, I think it would be another fantastic achievement for the 17-year-old.

Ngumoha has already made his senior England debut, becoming the fifth-youngest player ever to represent the Three Lions when he came on against New Zealand during England’s World Cup preparations.

Now he could be back involved with the senior squad.

What a rise this has been

It really is remarkable when you stop and think about it.

Ngumoha is still only 17.

Yet he’s already broken into the Liverpool first-team picture, played at Anfield in competitive football and earned a senior England appearance.

And rather than looking completely overawed by it all, he’s continuing to push himself into the conversation.

That’s exactly what you want to see from a young player.

Liverpool supporters have been getting increasingly excited about Ngumoha, and every opportunity he gets at this level is another chance for him to learn and develop.

Iraola is giving him opportunities

One of the most important things for Ngumoha right now is playing football.

And Andoni Iraola has shown that he is willing to trust young players.

We saw that again against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, with Ngumoha included in the starting XI as Liverpool made 10 changes.

That’s a huge positive.

It means Ngumoha isn’t simply being talked about as a prospect.

He’s actually getting opportunities to show what he can do.

England recognition can only help

There is obviously a long way to go in Ngumoha’s career.

Nobody should be putting ridiculous expectations on a 17-year-old.

But being around senior England players, training at that level and learning from experienced internationals can only be valuable for his development.

And with the next Nations League campaign beginning against Spain at Wembley on September 26, this would be another fantastic experience for him.

The England squad is officially due to be announced on Friday, September 18 at 10am.

I’d love to see Rio’s name in there.

He’s already shown that he’s not afraid of the big stage.

Now he’s got another chance to prove that he belongs on it.

Liverpool have got a very exciting young player on their hands — and England clearly see something special in him too.

Jamie (The Kopite View)