Liverpool

Mike Hughes
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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A 90% win record in all competitions for Liverpool as we go into the second international break of the season is hugely impressive.

It is even more so when you consider it has been achieved with a new head coach who had replaced one of the best managers in modern football history.

Early days of course and proper judgement calls are longer in the making, but Arne Slot appears calm, efficient and effective. He has implemented a style geared towards acquiring more control by being dominant in possession.

It is not a massive gear change tactically, but some significant adjustments have been made and Liverpool's players deserve credit for how they have adapted.

The Reds' new boss has accepted the early praise by highlighting the wonderfully gifted squad Jurgen Klopp left him and noting that the fixture list has been relatively kind so far.

When the Premier League returns, the tests will get tougher and having to cope without one of the world's best goalkeepers presents another challenge.

Liverpool's defensive record so far this season has been commendable, with the whole team contributing. Nevertheless, Alisson's form in this early part of the campaign has been first class. The number of goals conceded points to an almost watertight backline. The reality is rather different.

The Reds have given up some very good scoring chances. Alisson's agility in goal is excellent - but his positioning is even better and he will be a big miss.

Every cloud has a silver lining and Caoimhin Kelleher will get yet another opportunity to show what a fine goalkeeper he is.

In all honesty he is far too good to be a stand-in.

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We asked for your views on how Liverpool will cope without Alisson after it was confirmed the goalkeeper will miss at least seven games with a hamstring injury.

Here are some of your comments:

Natalie: Alisson was injured in November last year and in February 2024. By the time he came back full-time, we had won the Carabao Cup and were still in the Europa League and FA Cup. Caoimhin Kelleher is an excellent keeper. We still have a great defence. We'll be fine.

Fraser: Losing Alisson just before our difficult run is a blow. He's very unfortunate to get injured so many times. That being said, it's not a fatal blow. We are lucky to have Kelleher as a solid back-up and this is his time to shine. Our defence is also better than last season, so I'm sure we will be OK. Now I can understand why we signed Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Sam: It will be a huge blow for us. I'm just glad we've got Kelleher and Mamardashvili arriving in the summer.

Janet: Gutted for Ali. He's been in good form and saved us at times this season already. He's been a key part in our defensive solidity. I just hope he's not rushed back and is allowed to properly heal. Thankfully Kelleher is there - a fantastic keeper who would walk into any Premier League team.

Ken: While Alisson arguably is a world-class goalie, he is also world class at picking up injuries. I cannot recall a keeper being so injury prone, which brings into focus the reasons for the acquisition of Mamardashvili from next season. However, at present, Kelleher will be a more than able deputy, as he has been in recent seasons.

Elvis: Losing the best goalkeeper in the world is HUGE!

Rybr: It's not that big an issue, which is a strange thing to say when you're talking about the greatest keeper in the world. Liverpool's number two is probably the fourth-best keeper in the league so the drop-off is minimal.

Neilob: Kelleher is solid and would have been a great long-term replacement for Alisson when he opts to leave. Tough games ahead but still plenty to be excited about.

This is the second time Alisson will miss games this season, having been absent for two matches at the start of the campaign with a thigh problem.

The latest injury for the Brazilian is expected to keep him out until mid-November at the earliest and will mean he misses key fixtures against Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premier League, plus meetings with RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

It isn't uncommon for Liverpool to be without their star goalkeeper in recent years.

In 2019-20, during his second season with the club, he missed a total of 18 games - 15 with a calf issue early in the campaign before a hip injury later kept him out for three more.

He missed 10 matches in 2020-21 - a shoulder problem kept him out for five matches before another hip injury meant he missed three more soon after. Two more games were missed through illness across the course of the campaign.

Alisson was ever-present in the following two seasons, making an impressive 101 appearances for the Reds - before injury troubles returned in 2023-24.

The 32-year-old missed more games (19) for Liverpool last season than he had in any previous one, with muscular problems and a hamstring injury keeping him sidelined for a large chunk of the campaign.

Liverpool great Mark Lawrenson believes the "amazing" players at the club make head coach Arne Slot's job "one of the easiest you can have".

Speaking on the latest episode of the Sacked In The Morning podcast, Lawrenson was asked what he makes of Liverpool now, and the pressure on Slot as a result of Jurgen Klopp's successful reign.

Lawrenson said: "What's he got to do? He's got all the players he needs - well, maybe he wanted one or two more, but you look at the players that they've got and it's amazing.

"They'll have to finish in the top three and it looks like they're going to do that. What Arne Slot's done at the moment is got them playing a little bit more football rather than 'heavy metal', as Jurgen used to put it.

"But, it's the same thing. You've got to win games and it doesn't matter how you win games.

"The dressing room is really, really good. So it's started really well."

Listen to the full episode here

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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The international break probably comes at a good time for Sean Dyche given the injury problems in the run-up to the Newcastle game.

He will hope to have Jarrad Branthwaite back sooner rather than later, and the break gives one or two others a chance to come back in to the squad.

The draw at the weekend just keeps the unbeaten run going, and while it is only three games, it is a sign that perhaps things are starting to turn in the right direction.

Everton are no longer bottom, in fact they now sit 16th - important psychologically and will help confidence with games coming up soon against two sides below them, Ipswich and Southampton.

No game is a given, of course. They will be tough games but good ones to win.

Despite losing the likes of Branthwaite, Seamus Coleman, and Vitaliy Mykolenko to injury, they have managed to keep things fairly solid at the back and as he showed on Saturday, Jordan Pickford remains a huge presence between the sticks.

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Uncapped duo Curtis Jones and Tino Livramento have been added to the England squad for this week's Nations League matches.

Liverpool midfielder Jones earned his first call-up in May as part of Gareth Southgate's provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024, but did not make the final cut.

The 23-year-old was part of the side that won the 2023 European Under-21 Championship under current England interim boss Lee Carsley.

Newcastle full-back Livramento, 21, was part of Carsley's senior squad for last month's games against Republic of Ireland and Finland, but did not feature.

The Three Lions host Greece at Wembley on Thursday before playing Finland in Helsinki on Sunday.

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Following the hamstring injury he suffered at Crystal Palace, Liverpool do not expect Alisson to be back this side of the next international break, which takes place following a round of league games over the 9-10 November weekend.

Prior to that, the Premier League leaders face top-flight matches against Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton and Aston Villa, while they play RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League and Brighton in the League Cup.

Reds keeper Caoimhin Kelleher missed the game at Palace through illness but will replace Alisson as Reds number one for the period.

How big a blow is this? Or are Arne Slot's side fully set up to cope without their Brazil keeper?

Let us know your thoughts, external

Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given believes Liverpool's centre-back partnership of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil Van Dijk is "up there" with Arsenal's as the best defensive duo in the league.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club about Konate, Given said: "He seems a real character - he's a joker, a character and funny around the dressing room. But he is a brilliant defender - top class.

"People will say the Arsenal pairing are the best in the league but alongside Van Dijk, these two must be up there because they're absolutely fantastic."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

The latest episode of You'll Never Beat Kyle Walker sees the Manchester City full-back joined by former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown.

This week, they discuss away days, intimidating grounds, pre-match meals and tricky flights between matches.

There's chat about shower gel at Spurs, Pep Guardiola's superstition and hostile trips to Anfield.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has reportedly agreed to join Red Bull as their new global head of soccer.

The German has been linked with several vacancies since leaving the Reds at the end of last season.

According to Bild and Sky Sports Germany, he has signed a long-term contract with Red Bull, to start from 1 January 2025.

In his role, it is suggested the 57-year-old will 'advise all Red Bull teams' on different areas of management, such as coaching, philosophies, player development and signing new players and managers.

The German would therefore likely be involved with German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig and their Austrian sister club Red Bull Salzburg. The group also owns MLS outfit New York Red Bulls and Brazilian side Red Bull Bragantino.

Klopp was Liverpool manager for nine years, winning the Champions League in 2019 before taking the club to their first league title in 30 years in 2019-20.

There has been no official confirmation of the appointment.

Liverpool are interested in Bournemouth's 24-year-old forward Antoine Semenyo, 24, but the Ghana international is also attracting interest from Newcastle United and Tottenham after his impressive start to the season. (Give Me Sport), external

Meanwhile, Real Madrid are stepping up their interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold but the Reds are hopeful they can convince the 26-year-old to stay. (Football Insider), external

Finally, Liverpool have identified Eintracht Frankfurt's Egypt forward Omar Marmoush, 25, and Borussia Dortmund's Germany attacker Karim Adeyemi, 22, as potential replacements for Egypt winger Mohamed Salah, 32. (Sky Germany - in German), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Liverpool fan Ben Kent Jr says to be in a situation where Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk all have contracts that are expiring is "mind boggling".

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, Kent said: "It's poor from the club to let it happen.

"If we get to the middle of November and none of these players have renewed then the club are in a horrific position. They would leave on a free, that's it.

"You're talking about potentially £300m worth of players leaving the club for diddly squat.

"I cannot recall any other top player in the country in this situation and to have three of them is a bit mind boggling really.

"You can look at it two ways. You can give them what they want and it isn't an ideal financial situation, but letting them go for free isn't an ideal situation either - and you're going to have to replace them.

"They want to run it prudently but the club cannot afford to lose all three of them for nothing.

"If they do, then I'm sorry, but they have only got themselves to blame."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes Liverpool have a seriously strong squad as the Reds sit top of the Premier League after seven games.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton said: "I look at the Liverpool bench at the weekend, I know they rotated a little bit.

"When I see Manchester City's squad, and a lot has been made about Rodri's injury - they're going to miss him of course. You look at Arsenal and Arteta gives young players opportunities.

"But you look at Liverpool's squad and think blimey that's strong, that is a deep squad that they've got.

"They're not going under the radar but I don't think any of us really thought at the start of the season that they would be serious title contenders but at this moment in time it's a pretty impressive start from Slot."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds