Liverpool

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This Is Anfield's Adam Beattie believes Liverpool fans shouldn't lower their expectations, after winning all three of Arne Slot's first Premier League games.

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, Beattie said: "There was a lot of uncertainty - but three wins, three clean sheets. You can't ask for more than that.

"We just play with so much control - the Brentford game was a good example, we got the two goals nice and early and we just killed it. In the past we may have tried to go for three or four, it was just a really professional performance.

"Then the Old Trafford one was something else, it was really impressive - we have gone there and won 5-0 in recent years but that one looked just as assured, if not better."

On expectations, he added: "There's no reason as to why we can't keep the expectations as to where they were last season, you've got to give the manager time to implement his style - but it's looking really good."

Listen to the full clip here

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Liverpool have won all three of their Premier League games under new manager Arne Slot without conceding a goal.

No manager in the competition's history has kept a clean sheet in each of their first four matches in charge, while only six have won their first four fixtures - most recently Maurizio Sarri with Chelsea in 2018.

England and Lille midfielder Angel Gomes has admirers at Liverpool, Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund, with the 24-year-old also a top transfer target for Newcastle. (Sun), external

Finally, the Reds, Manchester City and Chelsea are interested in Sunderland's 17-year-old English midfielder Chris Rigg. (Givemesport), external

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

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We are yet to see where Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott fit into this Arne Slot team.

From their perspective, it is hard to start the season on the bench. But a lot can change in a season and it might finish differently to how it started.

It is difficult to tell where a player stands until someone is injured or suspended and the person you would expect to come in to replace them doesn’t. That is when you know whether you are surplus to requirements.

They might not be Slot's first options, but while they are there it is fair to presume that the same team will not play week in, week out because you do rotate. They are in the Champions League so automatically that adds more fixtures to your schedule and Slot will have to balance his squad.

It is rare that people on the bench are there because they have been the worst in training. It is usually because the manager already knows his starting XI.

But you have to keep pushing and this is when the mentality of a professional matters. You cannot really do anything to influence the manager but you have to make the choice to push on and make sure that you are ready for when you are called upon.

It is like how some people decide to down tools before leaving in the next transfer window, while some work harder in readiness for that move.

Every player is better when they are having a run of games but not everyone is afforded that opportunity. You just have to hope that when that opportunity comes you do something to make the manager see you in a different way.

Nunez and Elliott just need to be ready and not be disruptive.

It is OK to feel sadness but if you are disruptive, you will get even further from the team.

In a month's time it might be completely different for them.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Josh Sexton
Fan writer

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Last week, we asked you what nobody is talking about at Liverpool but should be. A number of your replies focused on Darwin Nunez and whether he has a future under Arne Slot given he seems to be featuring less. Here is what supporter Josh Sexton thinks about it...

Slot has had some big decisions to make early on in his tenure as Liverpool manager.

While it would be fair to say the Dutchman appears to have got most of them right, the one thing that can often go forgotten in the whirlwind of the football news cycle is the knock-on effect his decisions can have on his players.

In that sense, one of the most notable early absentees has been Nunez.

The forward certainly divides opinion, so much so that it seemed a combination of social media and "reports in Uruguay" were suggesting an unhappy player seeking a move after just two games under Slot.

However, the reason anybody would think there was any merit in those rumours is that the Reds are flying high and their all-action forward has been, well, out of the action.

The announcement of Slot as Liverpool's new head coach came alongside the suggestion from trusted journalists that the powers-that-be at the club saw Nunez as one of his biggest projects.

It is unlikely that after just three games any of the big decision-makers has already decided to rip up those plans. However, it is clear that Diogo Jota is the preferred option in the number nine role for now.

Can Darwin turn it around? Absolutely, and given that his new boss is so determined to stress that the best work gets done on the training pitch, the blueprint to improving is right in front of the 25-year-old in order to force his way into the plans.

Time will tell, yet Nunez's sheer force of personality leaves this supporter convinced that his story at Anfield is anything but over.

Find more from Josh Sexton at The Anfield Wrap, external

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Trent Alexander-Arnold is going to play a big part in the future of this England team.

For the past few years there has been plenty of choice in the right-back position, which has almost justified him not being in there. But now there isn't.

Kyle Walker is 34 years old, Kieran Trippier has announced his retirement from international football and Reece James has had his own injury issues. If Walker is unavailable and Alexander-Arnold does not play there, then who does?

There is a really good chance for him to flourish playing for England and it will make the game better.

Traditionally, international football has not been about having players who can stretch the games, but maybe that is the X-factor for England going forward.

Lee Carsley playing him in his first two games also feels like a significant sign. And it was not in central midfield - where Alexander-Arnold could play if he wanted too - it was in that right-back position.

And that is where he features quite heavily, in my opinion, for England in the future.

That is not saying Walker will not be playing at the World Cup in two years, but he will also be 36 by then.

If it is not Walker, then it is hard to look beyond Alexander-Arnold.

Nedum Onuoha was talking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

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Interim manager Lee Carsley has put his stamp on England, from the new young faces to giving Trent Alexander-Arnold the backing and the platform to finally deliver for his country what he regularly produces for Liverpool.

Alexander-Arnold did not appear to have Gareth Southgate's full trust, especially in the defensive aspect of the game, while the "experiment" of using him in midfield at Euro 2024 in the summer was ill-thought-out and doomed to failure.

Carsley has talked up what Alexander-Arnold can do rather than what he cannot and has been rewarded in both games, starting with an outstanding pass that showed remarkable vision to Declan Rice's first goal against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

He then helped to set up Harry Kane's first goal against Finland on Tuesday with another piece of intelligence, and he created the most chances for England on the night.

Carsley was full of praise, saying: "You have seen Trent's array of passing, an ability to control a game. It's not a surprise as we have seen him do it for Liverpool."

As with England, greater tests will lie ahead for Alexander-Arnold, especially defensively but Carsley's words will be music to the ears of the 25-year-old, who has sometimes looked a little unloved on international duty.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold created the most chances (five) for England in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Finland. Since the start of 2019, it is the third time the Liverpool defender has created five or more chances in a game for the Three Lions, with no other player doing so on more than one occasion in that time.

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

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Luis Diaz scored again for Colombia on international duty to extend his sublime start to the season.

Over the summer, there were many Liverpool fans happy to consider selling Diaz in order to replace him with Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon.

But Diaz is showcasing genuinely world-class ability at both creating and finishing chances. It is a real bit of luck no club came in for him as it was looking like Liverpool may well have sold the dazzling winger.

Against Peru in Colombia's first World Cup qualifier of the international break, Diaz snuck in at the back post to score with his head. It was the kind of unflashy-but-clinical poacher's goal that will bolster his end product massively.

Last season under Jurgen Klopp, Diaz toiled, ran and fought, but often could not quite deliver in decisive moments. His poor finishing, and that of Darwin Nunez and others in the run-in, contributed to the title charge failing.

This term, though, Diaz is on fire - and we should remember that he has gone through a huge amount in the past two years that is likely to have contributed to his mixed form.

Not only did he suffer a horrendous injury in 2022-23 that meant he missed most of the campaign - last season, his parents were kidnapped.

Those two things will have taken time to recover physically and emotionally from.

But under Arne Slot, Diaz looks fresh, rested and tactically perfect for the new manager's system.

He hugs the lines and dribbles, but also cuts inside and gets into the box when the time is right.

That is why he has got three goals and an assist for Liverpool already, and why an improved contract is rumoured to be on the way.

He deserves it, too.

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

Liverpool might make a move for 26-year-old Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze, if 32-year-old Egypt forward Mohamed Salah doesn't sign a new deal with the club. (Liverpool Echo), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Journalist and author John Keith says former Liverpool captain Ron Yeats, who has died at the age of 86, was a "gentle giant" that "felt at home right away" after joining the Reds under Bill Shankly in 1961.

Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside's Phil Munns about the Liverpool legend, Keith said: "He will go down as one of the great names in Liverpool history, without a doubt. He was one of the props of the revolution under Bill Shankly.

"Ron Yeats arrived in the same summer as Ian St John and, with Tommy Lawrence behind them, Shankly formed what he called his 'spine'.

"He was always very proud to talk about his 'spine' - it was Lawrence in goal, big Ron in the middle at the back and St John up front.

"There were many funny stories. When Shankly signed Ron, he invited the press in and he said: 'I have signed a colossus boys - come in and walk around him'.

"Shankly was just so proud of the signing and Yeats was just a marvellous big figure of Liverpool Football Club."

On the centre-back's footballing ability, Keith added: "Ron was very mild-mannered off the field. He was a former slaughterman in Aberdeen, but he certainly didn't subject the centre-forwards to that.

"He was firm in the challenge but you could never call him a dirty player. He was a gentle giant in every way. His team-mates thought the world of him because he was a formidable barrier at the back for the opposition.

"I think Ron felt at home right away at Liverpool. He was just a great player for the club and he will always be remembered."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

The Premier League's summer transfer window saw clubs spend almost £2bn in all.

Data from Footballtransfers.com, external shows the biggest net spend by a club - that’s all the money spent minus all that came in from sales - was Brighton.

The Seagulls had a net spend of £153.5m.

On the flip side, the club who generated the biggest net summer profit on transfers was Manchester City, who made £115.8m, thanks in large part to the sale of Julian Alvarez.

Liverpool made a net profit of £14.4m. Only six clubs generated a summer profit on transfers.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk's contract runs out next summer and the 33-year-old Netherlands international says he wants to sign a new deal to stay at the club until the 2026 World Cup. (Mirror), external

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

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Ron Yeats became a central pillar to Liverpool's revival along with fellow Scot Ian St John, who joined the same year.

Bill Shankly described their arrival as "the turning point" as Liverpool rose from the Second Division to become the dominant force in British football.

Such was Yeats' impact he was appointed captain months later and would wear the armband for the next eight seasons.

In 1964, when Yeats was chosen to model Liverpool's new all-red kit, Shankly said: "You look about 8ft tall in that. You'll scare the living daylights out of them."

That season, Yeats became the first Liverpool player to lift the FA Cup, telling the Queen he was "absolutely knackered" after a 2-1 win over Leeds United at Wembley.

During his time as chief scout he recommended Liverpool sign Sami Hyypia, who cost £2.6m from Willem II in 1999.

The Finland defender went on to win 10 major honours, including the 2005 Champions League, with Yeats later describing Hyypia as one of the "best bits of business" the club have done.

Yeats' later years were overshadowed by ill health, with Liverpool announcing in January that the club's former players' association had made a donation to help pay for his care.

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Liverpool will lower flags to half mast across club sites on Saturday following the death of Anfield legend Ron Yeats at the age of 86.

Yeats was part of the Liverpool side that won the Second Division title under Bill Shankly in 1962, before going on to win two top division titles, the FA Cup - the club's first in 1965 - and three Charity Shields.

He made 454 appearances before leaving for Tranmere in 1971.

More than 400 of those appearances were as captain, with only Steven Gerrard leading the team on more occasions.

After signing Yeats from Dundee United in 1961, Shankly famously said to the media: "Walk around him. He's a colossus."

Asked about his greatest achievements at Anfield, Yeats once said: "Being the captain that took the club out of the Second Division after eight years was a very, very proud moment.

"To follow that by being the first captain of Liverpool to lift the FA Cup is something I am very proud of.

"I do not go round with the medals on my chest- it is just there for me to say."

Yeats returned to Liverpool as chief scout in 1986 and eventually retired in 2006.

A Liverpool club statement said: "The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Ron's wife, Ann, all of his family and his friends at this incredibly sad time."

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We asked you to tell us one thing - good or bad - related to Liverpool that nobody else is talking about.

Here are some of your replies:

Robel: Darwin Nunez. Where does he fit in this team and what is his part? Given his wages and price tag, will he be OK becoming a back-up? Diogo Jota seems to be (rightly) first choice for Arne Slot and he can also play false none. So what's to become of Darwin?

Chief: No-one is talking about the ruthless dumping of Wataru Endo. He worked wonders last season to pull us out of a dire situation, after we missed out on our primary targets. Now he has been cut off at the knees, with apparently no way back into this style of play. I feel for the guy.

Anthony: The one thing I don't think people are talking about is the players who are yet to play. Harvey Elliott, Endo and Nunez, to name a few, have all been sparingly used in the first three games. After the international break, we move to two games a week and that is when we will have a better understanding of where we are in terms of potential. The next few games will tell all.

Smudger: There were a couple of interesting signings at the end of the window - but what does that mean for Caoimhin Kelleher? He is a talented goalkeeper who is Premier League quality, but will be spending another season as our number two and then what? Will he stay and be number two behind Giorgi Mamardashvili or will he leave? Has Mamardashvili signed to be number two behind Alisson?

Brendan: Luis Diaz's sensational form. He looks like the player he was before injury and his father's kidnap - with his pace, trickery, guile, link-up play, ability on the counter-attack and clinical finishing. Mo Salah gets the headlines, but Diaz has been every bit as good.

Jay: Nobody is talking about how Trent Alexander-Arnold is nailed on to go to Real Madrid. Yes, he is a Red through and through, but he is also good enough to be playing for Real, especially as a couple of old hands have retired from there this summer. As a life-long Liverpool fan of over 40 years, I would gladly wave him off with thanks and good wishes, knowing he will do fantastic there.

Liverpool are keen to offer defender and captain Virgil van Dijk a new deal to extend his stay at Anfield beyond the summer. (Football Insider), external

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

There's always so much noise at the start of the season and 2024-25 has been no different.

We've even asked you this week where you think Liverpool will finish, based on their start to the season and how the transfer window unfolded.

But now we'd love a little more detail. When it comes to the Reds, what is the one thing nobody is talking about yet - good or bad?

Tell us over here, external