Liverpool

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Former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live about the Reds' transfer business with three weeks of the summer window left to go: "I think the one thing you would say, and Liverpool fans have touched on it, they've lost a lot of goals and have lost a lot of creativity.

"Obviously they've lost the creativity and assists of Alexander-Arnold, replacing him with Frimpong and Conor Bradley.

"At the same time they've lost - which is the uncomfortable conversation - Diogo Jota. They've lost his goals either on or off the bench.

"They've lost Darwin Nunez, who got a couple of goals at St James' Park and scored a couple of goals against Brentford. They lost Luis Diaz, who I thought was Liverpool's best, I say number nine because he played in that false nine last season.

"So, they're a little bit light if you can be light with all the fire power that they've got.

"That's why the news of Alexander Isak is not going away because when you looked at the bench today, even though the bench was quite impressive, their best goals and their best numbers was in the starting 11, so they do need more."

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Captain Virgil van Dijk has called on Liverpool to improve defensively after their Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace.

During half-time in Sunday's Wembley showpiece, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher's posted on X to highlight the Reds' attacking threat but defensive vulnerability.

He posted: "LFC looking great going forward but susceptible defensively, as we've seen all pre season. A lot of the goals conceded by LFC have come from going man to man really aggressively and leaving space in behind."

Van Dijk echoed those concerns in his post-match comments after his side's shootout defeat, stressing the need for collective improvement in the team's defensive setup.

"We have to be very honest with ourselves," Van Dijk said to BBC Radio Merseyside.

"Obviously, it is disappointing at the moment because we lost, conceded two goals we could have avoided. I think there were plenty of moments where we looked very good, especially in possession, on the break, and between the lines. But yeah, you stand without the trophy, and that is the main thing that is disappointing today.

"I think it is the collective defensive part that we have to work on. Everyone has the quality, obviously, otherwise you won't play for Liverpool. The absolute reality is that we all have to improve in terms of our defensive setup in order to not concede goals; it is not only the backline, not only Alisson, but together.

"We all take responsibility, I take responsibility, and that is how it should be. There is a reason we had the most clean sheets in the league last season, and we have to get back to that."

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We asked for your views on Liverpool losing to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield on penalties.

Here are some of your comments:

Jimbo: A big game knock against Slot, who erred in his substitutions. Palace were always going to go for it in the last 15, so to bolster the midfield and weaken the attack only encouraged their momentum. Needed a flying 16-year old on the pitch to pin them back more at the death. Strange to see such nerves on the faces of Mac Allister and Salah during the penalties.

Graham: It was one of those football days, unfortunately. I'm sure Salah will score next Friday and we'll give Palace their hour of glory, as I doubt they will be anywhere near us come May. Onwards and upwards, Redmen.

Leslie: Our defence was all over the place. Is Kerkez really a defender? Poor old Van Dijk has lost his pace. To beat us, you just have to run at us with speed. Salah was a passenger. His penalty was a schoolboy error. Difficult to know what to make of it all. Just so disappointed.

Dapo: The lapse in concentration at the back needs to be fixed, as this was shown in the pre-season matches. Liverpool evidently needs Isak and a central defender.

There were a couple of messages coming in suggesting that Arne Slot needs to shoulder the blame a bit more.

Homie: Liverpool fan for 55 years. With the money spent, thought they were absolute rubbish, out-coached and out-played. Lucky last season, they will need more than luck this season. Sorry, Slot is not good enough.

Stephen: Here we go again! Spend £265m, other teams spend nothing, and they win another trophy. What is wrong with Liverpool? Fell away at the end of last season, is this again another year when the Reds get found out! Look what happened when Klopp won the league. The Liverpool manager needs to wake up quickly before it goes horribly wrong.

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Former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison believes the "exceptional" performance of Florian Wirtz wasn't enough to stop Liverpool "toiling", as they lost the Community Shield to Crystal Palace on penalties.

Liverpool have already seen five incomings so far this transfer window, and it was the club's record signing that caught the eye at Wembley.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, Hutchinson said: "Florian Wirtz was the player who got me off the edge of my seat today. I thought some of his one touches and his awareness was brilliant.

"He always plays checking his shoulders and wants to play a forward pass and I thought he was exceptional for 40 minutes".

The Reds had twice been in front but saw Crystal Palace get back in to the game to pick up a second trophy in three months.

Despite Mohamed Salah missing an opportunity to win the match in normal time, Hutchison believes the game shows there is plenty of work still to do as the season begins.

"I think what the game told you about Liverpool is that they are slightly behind in terms of bedding players in to a team and a system," he added.

"Once Hugo Ekitike came off, they tried to gamble with Wirtz as a false nine and you will see that this season - and I'm sure he'll do well in that position - but today I thought it was a bit too much for him."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here.

Pre-season is completed and the countdown to the 2025-26 season is on.

Liverpool start the season at home to Bournemouth on Friday - but are they ready?

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Liverpool are keeping a close eye on Brentford forward Yoane Wissa, with the DR Congo international viewed as a potential alternative target if a move for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak does not materialise. The 28-year-old has attracted interest from Newcastle. (Caught Offside), external

Kostas Tsimikas is edging nearer to leaving Liverpool after being left out of their Community Shield squad, with Nottingham Forest having been interested in the 29-year-old Greece left-back. (Echo), external

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

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Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist at Wembley

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Water and oil. Ketchup and ice cream. Mohammed Salah and Wembley. All things which do not mix.

The Egyptian is so often the most dangerous player on any pitch. Last season, Salah registered 34 goals and 23 assists in 52 games across all competitions for Liverpool.

However, since scoring against Spurs in October 2017, he hasn't registered a single goal involvement in any of his last eight games at Wembley.

It was a similar story against Palace. Despite playing the full 90 minutes unlike the new boys, Salah was in the shadow of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.

He did not have a shot on target until the final few minutes, and struck straight at Dean Henderson. Then in the shoot-out, the less said the better.

Salah's new contract was greeted with joy and fanfare last season, and this was only one game. But it was a very inauspicious start to the new campaign.

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "We faced a good team. They made it difficult for us last season and they did today. We were able to create more than we usually do against teams that it low. But if you are conceding two goals it is too much, especially if you take penalties like we did."

On new signings Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike: "These are players we have brought in for quite a lot of money but so they know how to handle the pressure. Both of them played a good game."

On the penalties: "If the other team misses two out of five penalties, you expect to win and we did not. Mo Salah normally scores, Alexis Mac Allister normally scores and Harvey Elliott normally scores."

On the transfer window: "After two years of no change, we brought a lot of money in and then I think it is a good moment to get new energy in. We have lost four starters and players that have played a lot for us. Some wanted to leave, like Trent.

"As a result of that, we have to bring players in and that is what we did. We have to make sure we are ready for Bournemouth and then after that we have Newcastle away and Arsenal - I don't need to tell you how good those two teams are."

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• Liverpool have finished as Community Shield runners up for a ninth time, with only Manchester United doing so more often (10).

• Three of Liverpool's last four appearances in the Community Shield have gone to penalties, with the Reds losing all three shootouts (2019, 2020, 2025).

• Curtis Jones completed all 53 of his passes today - the best 100% completion rate of any player on record (since 2004-05) in a Community Shield final and the best for a Liverpool player in any competition since Jones himself against Southampton in November 2024 (58/58).

Crystal Palace have won the Community Shield on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Wembley.

Reds new boy Hugo Ekitike gave Liverpool the lead early on before Jean-Philippe Mateta equalised from the penalty spot after Virgil van Dijk bought down Ismaila Sarr.

Arne Slot's side then retook the lead when Jeremie Frimpong's looped cross evaded Dean Henderson and found the far corner.

Sarr equalised again for the Eagles late in the second half to set up the penalty shootout from which Oliver Glasner's team emerged victorious.

What did you learn from the game?

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Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist at Wembley Stadium

Oliver Glasner has named a five-man defence for Crystal Palace's first competitive game of the season.

It is the same system used for their most recent friendly, a 1-0 loss to Augsburg on 1 August. Captain Marc Guehi - subject of transfer speculation as he enters the last year of his contract - is one of three centre backs.

Palace have several injury issues, with Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucoure among those set to miss the start of the season.

Palace XI: Henderson; Munoz, Richards Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell; Wharton, Kamada; Eze, Sarr, Mateta.

Subs: Benitez, Lerma, Clyne, Hughes, Esse, Edouard, Sosa, Devenny, Cardines.

Four of Liverpool's summer signings, including record acquistion Florian Wirtz, make their first competitive starts for the club today.

Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez form a new look pair of full backs, while it appears Hugo Ekitike will lead the line as the central striker.

Alisson keeps his place in goal, with Giorgi Mamardashvili among the subs.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Elliott, Robertson, Nyoni, Doak, Nguhoma.

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

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If Darwin Nunez had a composure and calmness under stress to match his physical ability, we would be talking about the best striker on the planet. And I mean that.

He is ferociously quick and powerful, but works hard off the ball too. It is no wonder Jurgen Klopp was so desperate to sign him. But despite getting in great positions again and again, Nunez just could not finish.

His shooting when Liverpool were at 0-0 or one goal down was largely abysmal, except for the bizarre occurrences when he would score 90-minute winners - the most away from home of any player in Premier League history.

Nunez wore his heart on his sleeve and his fragility was endearing. You could tell when it was not going well for him - it was written all over his face. But you could also see how desperately he wanted it.

In the end, this probably held him back. And yet, he still chased lost causes, closed things down and occasionally did brilliant things.

His emotional vulnerability led fans to love him, especially those who go to Anfield - not the ones on the internet whose teasing also affected his confidence.

The sale is the right move as Liverpool will bank £46m for a player who Arne Slot refused to start at the end of last season.

If Liverpool can use the money recouped for Nunez on Alexander Isak - a massive upgrade - every supporter will be delighted.

If somehow we do not buy a forward, we will look very light up top, but I fully trust Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes to get a deal for Isak done.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

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Darwin Nunez's three-year spell at Liverpool has come to an end with the striker signing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal on a permanent deal.

The 26-year-old joined the Reds in June 2022 from Portuguese side Benfica for an initial fee of £64m but departs for Saudi Arabia for a fee worth £46.3m.

Nunez joined the Reds made 143 appearances and scored 40 goals for the Reds, winning the Carabao Cup in 2024 and Premier League last season.

A Liverpool statement read: "Everybody at the club would like to thank Darwin for his contributions and wish him and his family all the best for the future."

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