Gossip: Real Madrid plot Alexander-Arnold move in Januarypublished at 07:41 7 November
07:41 7 November
Real Madrid will make a January move for Liverpool's 26-year-old England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is out of contract at the end of the season (Marca - in Spanish), external
However, Liverpool are prepared to block any offers for their first-team players in January. (Football Insider), external
Gossip: Everton eye Lamptey on a freepublished at 07:39 7 November
07:39 7 November
Everton have expressed an interest in signing Brighton's Ghana right-back Tariq Lamptey on a free transfer when the 24-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season. (Africa Foot - in French), external
Another challenge for Slot? 'It's what he relishes'published at 17:00 6 November
17:00 6 November
Mike Hughes BBC Radio Merseyside reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Liverpool continue to take almost all before them with their astonishing start to the new season under Arne Slot.
Fourteen wins from 16 matches in all competitions since he became manager is not only a record-breaking opening run in this country, it is over and above what even the most positive of Reds fans expected.
Top of both the Premier League and the new bizarre format of the Champions League at this stage brings only plaudits. Yet in a few days' time we will hit the final international break of the calendar year, which is always a significant benchmark and sacking season for football managers appears to go into overdrive. More than a quarter of the campaign has elapsed and we have a very decent sample size on which to gauge opinion.
In all the metrics that really count, Liverpool show up well. But even if you decide against crunching the numbers, what you see before your eyes is impressive. This team finds a way to win whatever the circumstances.
For most games so far, they have been able to dictate from the front , building a platform after scoring the crucial first goal. However, in the past two Premier League matches, they have gone behind three times and still shown the hunger and desire to change things around.
On Tuesday, after a counter-punching first half of battle with Bayer Leverkusen they powered past the German champions to a 4-0 victory. That scoreline against this sort of opponents is to be admired, but when you add in that Leverkusen are managed by former Reds midfielder and the person everyone wanted to replace Jurgen Klopp, Xabi Alonso, it adds even more lustre.
I doubt Slot will be getting too carried away, even if he enjoyed the Anfield faithful singing his name at the end of the 90 minutes. What is worth considering though is just how well the new manager has done, in just a few short months.
Saturday evening could prove to be another formidable challenge. Aston Villa, despite that surprise 4-1 defeat at Tottenham, are one of the best sides in the country and have not looked out of place in the Champions League. They have a style and pattern of play that is both easy on the eye and brings results.
Unai Emery has worked miracles at Villa and has put together an excellent squad. Morgan Rogers is a breakout star of season so far and, along with Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran, has the potential to cause problems for the Liverpool defence.
But this is just the latest challenge for Slot and Liverpool. You get the feeling that this is something he absolutely relishes.
Van Dijk says table-topping Liverpool can improve furtherpublished at 15:46 6 November
15:46 6 November
Image source, Getty Images
Captain Virgil van Dijk believes there is still room for improvement from Liverpool, despite the Reds topping both the Premier League and Champions League tables.
Since Arne Slot took charge at the start of the season, Liverpool have won 14 of their 16 games in all competitions.
"We are happy but we want to be happy at the end of the season," Netherlands international Van Dijk told BBC Radio Merseyside after Tuesday's 4-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen.
"That is all about working each day to get better on things that we have to improve because there are still so many things that we could improve. We all know that as players and the manager is very keen to show that too.
"We're still a work in progress, the manager wants us to defend in a certain way, we try to do that and try to solve things on the pitch when we can.
"It doesn't always go perfect as you've seen in so many games, but the good thing is that we make sure we are willing to defend, so when they beat the press we are back to not concede any unnecessary chances or crosses."
Liverpool have conceded only six goals in their 10 Premier League games so far and host fellow Champions League side Aston Villa to Anfield on Saturday.
"There are so many moments and things in games that we are doing well and I think so far, so good in terms of results," Van Dijk added.
"[Being] where we are now and still being able to improve is only a positive thing."
Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen- the fans' verdictpublished at 11:09 6 November
11:09 6 November
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Liverpool's Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen.
Here are some of your comments:
Zak: Wow! I was not expecting that result. It was a rampant second-half where we didn't give them a moment of peace. I can't fault a single player on that pitch. It is clear to see they all did their job and it has paid off massively. Top of the Champions League and top of the Premier League. Arne Slot ball is insane!
Fraser: A big statement from Liverpool. What a performance in the second-half! We defeated a very good Bayer Leverkusen side convincingly and, at long last, a Liverpool player gets a hat-trick. Both Diaz and Gakpo are really cooking this season. The Slot machine keeps going. Real Madrid is next up. I never thought I would say this but bring it on!
Jake: Thoroughly enjoying the evolution of Gakpo and Jones under Arne Slot. I was a doubter last season and I was unsure whether they had futures at Liverpool, as they would often go missing in games and fail to influence. They have been the difference in so many games this season, and their battling and incisive play has driven the team forward.
Tricia: An evenly matched first-half but a superb performance from Liverpool in the second-half. They totally outclassed Leverkusen. Slot is a revelation!
Yusuf: A night of two halves. One that was like an arm wrestle and one that showed a team full of confidence. I feel for Xabi on his return to Anfield, but what a performance against the virtually unbeaten German champions. Hopefully this will show other teams that we are not to be messed about with. Bring on Real Madrid!
Media caption,
Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Stephen Warnock analyses Liverpool’s win
Is Gyokeres destined for the Premier League?published at 11:09 6 November
11:09 6 November
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
If any team hopes to bolster their attack in the January or summer transfer window then Sporting Lisbon's number nine Viktor Gyokeres has to be in the conversation.
Following Tuesday's hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League, Gyokeres is the joint leading scorer in this season's most elite European competition with Harry Kane and has scored 66 goals in 67 matches for the reigning Primeira Liga champions.
The sceptics, who have argued the standard of football in Portugal is not that of Premier League, are likely to have been silenced by the striker's performance against the often dubbed 'best team in the world.'
So if the Sweden international is to be snapped up by an English club, where could he go?
Well, Gyokeres is not going to be cheap so it will have to be a club with long-term ambition and deep pockets. The 26-year-old is believed to have a release clause of 100m euros (£83m) despite only signing from Coventry City in 2023 for a fee close to £20m in 2023.
Premier League clubs were linked to Gyokeres while he was at the Championship club but it was Sporting who seized the opportunity to sign him.
The most obvious choice would be to follow head coach Ruben Amorim to Old Trafford. However, with the club already owning Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Antony it is unlikely they would sign Gyokeres without selling at least one.
Plus, it was Dan Ashworth - the current sporting director of United - that sold Gyokeres to Coventry for just £1m in 2021 from former club Brighton.
United's neighbours Manchester City could view Gyokeres as a long-term replacement for Erling Haaland should he leave the Etihad, and Sporting's director Hugo Viana may want to re-sign his Sporting star when he succeeds the outgoing Txiki Begiristain.
Liverpool could also be in the market if Mohamed Salah does not sign a new contract and departs Anfield after eight years next summer.
Chelsea, who have three strikers, have proven they like to spend big in recent transfer windows but it is their rivals in North London that appear to be the most obvious fit.
Fans and pundits have long said that Arsenal need a number nine.
Mikel Arteta's side would be formidable with a striker like Gyokeres and would be strong contenders in the league and Europe if he could replicate his form there.
"I could see that," columnist Nedum Onuoha told BBC Sport. "From the style of play that I have seen from him and the intelligence he has, he is a handful.
"If he comes to England then it is important to note that he is simply coming back because he has already got experience playing here and he knows the physical level required. He comes across as very coachable so in an Arsenal system it could really work for him and them.
"That is on the assumption that he is the sort of player that the Gunners are looking for."
In the meantime Gyokeres will no doubt continue to add to his price tag by doing what he does best - scoring.
Turning down King Kennypublished at 11:09 6 November
11:09 6 November
Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer talks first loves, regrets and turning down Sir Kenny Dalglish on the latest episode of the Sacked in the Morning podcast.
Dyche faces 'interesting selection dilemmas'published at 10:43 6 November
10:43 6 November
Ian Kennedy BBC Radio Merseyside reporter
Image source, Getty Images
With Everton's five-match unbeaten run at an end, another big game looms at the weekend against a West Ham side just two points better off.
The Blues are tantalisingly close to mid-table security, but they are now also looking over their shoulder again.
These are the games you don't want to lose, which is why the defeat at St Mary's last time out was so disappointing.
Beto's impact after coming on was significant – his VAR-denied goal was taken brilliantly, he hit the bar and he was involved in the incident that might have given Jan Bednarek a red card on another day.
Has he done enough to get a start, factoring in his equaliser in the previous game against Fulham? Could he play alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin, in a change of formation?
These are questions for Sean Dyche to ponder.
He will also need to decide if Jarrad Branthwaite comes back into the starting line-up. You can understand Dyche not wanting to change a defensive line-up that has been performing well recently, but Branthwaite is seen as Everton's most valuable asset and there will be many who would like to see him return at the weekend.
It's sage to say there are going to be interesting selection dilemmas for the Blues boss.
Slot's 'impressive' in-game managementpublished at 08:22 6 November
08:22 6 November
Image source, Getty Images
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has been impressed with how Arne Slot has set his Reds' side up for both the league and Europe.
Tuesday's win over Bayer Leverkusen means Liverpool stay at the top of the new Champions League format standings with a maximum 12 points from four games.
"It has been really impressive how Slot has tactically approached the Premier League and Champions League so far," Warnock told the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "He doesn't allow teams to get a two goal lead so he would rather be cagey in the first-half and grow into the second. That means they can have a bigger effect on the game.
"Slot knows they have the capabilities to run over teams and the quality within the final third to be dangerous. The tweaks in the midfield at half-time always have a huge impacts on games and I have seen him do it a few times now."
Gossip: Al-Hilal want Salah before summerpublished at 08:13 6 November
08:13 6 November
Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal want to sign 32-year-old Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah in time for next summer's Club World Cup. (Mirror), external
Barcelona are also interested in signing Salah when his Liverpool contract runs out at the end of the season. (Sport - in Spanish), external
Meanwhile, Liverpool plan to open talks on a new contract with their 30-year-old Scotland international full-back Andy Robertson this summer. (Football Insider), external
