Liverpool

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We asked for your views on Harvey Elliott's expected move to Aston Villa.

Here are some of your comments:

Jack: Quite disappointed about Elliott leaving. If it was just a loan I'd be fine with it - but with the clause to buy in the deal it's frustrating. He's got the talent to be a phenomenal player. I just hope that, like Jarell Quansah, we put a buy-back clause in so we don't entirely lose him and have the option to bring him back. He loves the club and we love him, but ultimately it's what is best for his career.

Sabarni: Liverpool shouldn't sell Elliott outright because he has huge potential and is a lifelong Liverpool supporter. A buy-back clause would allow him to gain experience elsewhere while keeping the option to bring him back once the team is ready for a regular starting role for him.

Shaun: Should be staying as Mo Salah goes to Afcon.

Keith: Really sad to see Elliott go. He's Liverpool through and through but there isn't room in the squad for him, unfortunately. I wish him all the best luck in the world. Thanks, Harvey.

Rob: Harvey has been a great servant for Liverpool. He has worn the badge with great distinction. I will be sorry to see him go.

Jay: He's been the star of the past two U21 Euros, winning both and has watched as others have progressed to full England caps and starting week in, week out for their clubs. Only issue is he's at one of the best clubs in Europe, behind the best right winger in Europe. I'd let him go on loan to a big club so he can see if he's up to a full England tour. Don't sell the lad.

Shane: Gutted he's going to another Premier League club but can understand he needs game time that he will not get under Slot. Good luck for the future.

Mark: The lad is great but with the team we have, he would never be a first-choice starter, apart from perhaps in domestic cups and if a few other players were out injured. As he has one eye on internationals and needs playing time for that. it is totally understandable to go to Villa. Good luck, lad, and thanks.

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

A thunderbolt from Dominik Szobozslai illuminated a nip and tuck affair at Anfield on Sunday.

Lost in the ferocity of the Hungarian's strike will be key details on how Liverpool came to edge out rivals Arsenal in a game of fine margins.

As a collective, Liverpool played just 62 passes in the Arsenal half in the opening 45 minutes as players repeatedly passed backwards and respect between the two sides took up the order of the day. After the break, Liverpool constructed 108 passes in Arsenal territory, a key uplift as players showed the courage to receive passes in better areas, where damage can be done.

A nod should be offered the way of Curtis Jones. The Liverpudlian played 22 passes after being introduced on 61 minutes. In contrast Florian Wirtz - on the pitch for 89 minutes - only played 28. In defence of Wirtz, no Liverpool player ran further than his 11.1km, perhaps showing that while in possession he is yet to make a telling mark, his work rate without the ball is evident.

Szobozslai married all aspects of the game together. His 24 sprints was a high for Liverpool and he played 15 passes in the final third - a high for the Reds. His six clearances was a high for Liverpool players who started the game.

After 45 minutes that lacked bravery and risk taking in possession in midfield, Jones should be praised for playing a pivotal role in ushering in change.

Szobozslai, however, ghosted forward from right-back, did midfield work and delivered magic and a click of his fingers.

The magic will take the headlines but his graft and pockets of bravery on the ball ultimately proved the trick that flummoxed Arsenal.

In a seven-day spell he has taken up an emergency right-back berth, delivered a dummy to tee up Liverpool's winner at Newcastle and decided a clash between last season's top two.

The arrival of Wirtz was - for some - a sign Szobozslai would move to the bench.

He appears to have other ideas.

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Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott is closing in on a move to Aston Villa.

The 22-year-old is nearing an Anfield exit, currently undergoing a medical at Villa before a loan move that will include an obligation to buy for £35m.

Elliott's only appearance so far this season was a late cameo off the bench at Newcastle.

The Fulham academy graduate joined Liverpool in July 2019, two months after becoming the Premier League's then youngest player at 16 years and 30 days.

He has made 149 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals and providing 20 assists.

How do you feel about the news?

Should the Reds have kept hold of Elliott?

Do they need to replace him?

Get in touch here

It's been the biggest transfer saga of the summer and now Alexander Isak is finally set to join Liverpool from Newcastle for a British record fee of £125m.

Watch how the story unfolded.

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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Once completed, the signing of Alexander Isak underlines Liverpool's mindset as a club. Champions yes, but not standing still.

If Liverpool want to dominate the domestic scene for the next few years, they will need world-class players, and that's what they have gone out and got this summer, spending over £400m in the process.

That is quite a statement of intent. They won the title last season comfortably but Arne Slot and Richard Hughes have identified the areas that needed strengthening, and have strengthened them.

Isak is world class and - on paper - this now looks a formidable squad.

It may take a while to gel as a team, but in the meantime, Liverpool have nine points out of nine already. And that's without Isak!

Watch a Total Sport transfer deadline day special for Merseyside, focusing on the business done by Liverpool and Everton, plus the region's EFL clubs.

You can follow the show live from 18:00 to 20:00 BST to get the latest updates and analysis for your team's transfer business as the window shuts.

Watch live here later

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We asked for your views on the deal for Newcastle's Alexander Isak and whether it is a statement of intent, or an overpriced fee.

Here are some of your comments:

Simon: Let's hope the stance he took to get to Liverpool allows him the freedom to continue being a world-class forward. If we get Marc Guehi as well then this team could be the most dominant force in the Premier League.

Paula: I really hope Isak is a team player as everything I've seen and read over the past six weeks has muddied the water. There is no I in team and he needs to be a team player. Lots of hype to overcome if he's going to fit in, otherwise he's going to be a very expensive mistake!

Steve: After losing three strikers in Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and sadly Diogo Jota, Isak is needed to fill the void of goals we have lost. Quality striker is just what we need.

Stuart: Hope I'm wrong, but this feels like a very expensive mistake to me. Not sure he is of the right 'stuff' to be a Liverpool player. No doubt about his finishing prowess, but what of his mental attitude?

Kevin: Before the beginning of the season, I would have felt a lot more excited about this. But with the team playing as they have been, I don't think it's as needed. Other positions are more needed. However, I trust that Arne Slot has a plan with Isak in mind and can see him being a 20-plus goalscorer in no time!

Paul: There's no doubt Isak is a good striker. My biggest concern, though, is not how well he plays but how he reacts if Real Madrid come looking. Will building a legacy at Liverpool be enough for him or will he down tools again?

Andy: Time will tell if it's too much money. If he scores plenty of goals then no; if not, then yes. Personally, I think it's too much.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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No prizes for guessing where Liverpool's priorities lie today.

They have agreed a deal with Newcastle to sign Alexander Isak for a fee of at least £125m.

That figure, according to sources, could rise to £130m with other associated payments.

Isak will now have a medical before signing a six-year deal this afternoon.

Liverpool will also look to seal a minimum £35m deal for Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi.

A deal on financials is virtually agreed but Oliver Glasner threw a spanner into the works on Sunday night by insisting he believes Guehi needs to stay if Palace are to have a successful summer.

So the ball is in Palace's court on that deal.

Alex Keble
Football tactics writer

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Liverpool's summer window was already the most curious we've ever seen from a Premier League champion.

But bringing in Newcastle's Alexander Isak pushes the Reds' transfer business into unprecedented territory, having already also signed Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Not since the age of good old-fashioned 4-4-2s - when little-and-large strike partnerships were borderline mandatory - have we seen a top club sign two elite number nines in the same window.

What exactly is Arne Slot thinking? Here are two ways it might work.

Ekitike replacing Diaz as left-winger in Slot's conventional 4-2-3-1

The simpler thing to do is fully convert Ekitike into a Luis Diaz replacement.

Ekitike had played just nine games (two starts and 324 minutes total) as a left-winger before joining the Reds, although he has often tended to drift out to that side, most notably throughout 2023-24.

More importantly, the way Slot has used Cody Gapko and Diaz - as one-on-one dribblers, using their acceleration to cut inside full-backs - corresponds with Ekitike's best qualities.

He hasn't done it much before, but Ekitike has the makings of a Slot left-winger.

Ekitike and Isak together, Frankfurt-style, in a 4-2-2-2

Ekitike's best football at Frankfurt came as part of a proper strike partnership with Omar Marmoush before his January departure to Manchester City saw the end of Dino Toppmoller's 3-5-2 formation.

Marmoush and Ekitike regularly swapped positions, dove-tailing instinctively as one dropped and the other went in behind. It was a swirling, rhythmic balance that confounded defenders and propelled Frankfurt into a title challenge until late December.

Liverpool are unlikely to move to a back three any time soon, not least because a 3-5-2 with Ekitike and Isak would mean benching Mohamed Salah. But there is a way to put Isak and Ekitike together, albeit a pretty risky one.

Slot's Liverpool regularly line up in a 4-2-4/4-4-2 when not in possession, but crucially that's with a 10 (Dominik Szoboszlai) playing very much as a third midfielder when Liverpool have the ball.

What we're suggesting here is notably more fragile through the middle, requiring a two-man midfield to cover all the space when a quick turnover triggers an opposition counter-attack.

There's also the problem of playing Wirtz on the left, a position he has only very occasionally played for Bayer Leverkusen and Germany.

In all likelihood, this is one for when Liverpool are chasing a game. It's a bit kitchen-sinky for anything earlier than that.

Ekitike as competition for four separate forward positions

We don't necessarily need to come up with a wildcard formation that crams all the new signings into the same team.

If all goes well Liverpool will play over 60 games next season, meaning they will need a regularly rotating front line to keep legs fresh and opponents guessing.

Ekitike as a £69m cover option probably doesn't sound very appealing, but he will arguably be the second-best player in four separate positions for Liverpool - although Szoboszlai, rivalling Wirtz, might say otherwise.

When you consider injuries, the need to rotate for twice-weekly football, and Slot's tactical adaptations to the opposition, Ekitike could easily tot up over 30 starts in all competitions even if he wasn't technically considered to be in the club's best XI.

Not that managers of elite clubs tend to think in terms of 'best XIs' anymore - schedules are too busy and injuries too common for that.

In fact, what fans assume to be their team's best XI rarely actually play together, as many Liverpool supporters know all too well.

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Is Mohamed Salah undroppable?

It has been a quieter start to the season for the Liverpool winger than many would have hoped and in Sunday's narrow victory over Arsenal, he struggled to get on the ball.

"I don't think Arne Slot would ever drop him," said former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "He did have a bad game and his touch was way off it, but he can always get you a goal at the click of his fingers.

"The only time he is getting dropped is when he goes for the African Cup of Nations

"They also haven't got a lot of wide players up front - even if you are including Alexander Isak - so you stick with Salah because he scores goals.

"He hasn't been at his highest level, but it is crazy that this is even a conversation.

"I did think he would miss Trent Alexander-Arnold because if you look at a lot of his goals from last season, Trent made those with his passing.

"Dominik Szoboszlai can also do that but they need to build a connection. He is undroppable at the moment."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

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Liverpool have their man.

Sources close to the deal have told BBC Sport Alexander Isak is set to make the switch from Newcastle for a British record transfer fee of £125m.

The 25-year-old striker will have a medical on Monday before signing a six-year deal at Anfield.

How big a signing is this for the Reds? Is it a statement of intent for defending the Premier League title? Or do you fear you have overpaid?

Get in touch with your views here

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We asked for your views on what is still needed by Liverpool on transfer deadline day.

Here are some of your comments:

Dan: Shoring up the defence is the main priority and not quibbling over £5m for Marc Guehi. Get it done Reds! If Adam Wharton was available, I'd go all in on him too.

Bill: Defence is the priority. Leaky at the back - similar to when Klopp took over. Once he sorted it, we never looked back.

Howard: I really hope Liverpool get a defensive player in before deadline day. If they don't do at least this then the title won't be retained. Defensively, we are looking very shaky indeed and the bigger sides will capitalise on this.

Andrew: Centre-back. One that can push Konate for a starting position and keep Virgil van Dijk on his toes. Being able to 'do a Matip' would be great, but I'd much prefer one that can actually win the ball and keep attention high until the final whistle.

Simon: The necessity for LFC is a centre-half from Crystal Palace. We're good up top - it's at the back we need to strengthen. Ease in Frimpong, Kerkez and start Robertson and Bradley for solidity!

Damian: Keep Elliott - that's all. Rest of the window has been spot on.

Stuart: Need to replace Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, strengthen central defence and bring in a defensive midfielder - or we will finish outside top three.

Rahul: While Liverpool are more than capable of scoring goals, their defensive fragilities have been evident for all to see. Getting Guehi over the line is a must.

Today is the second transfer deadline day of the summer following a brief closure in June because of the Club World Cup.

In a change to previous windows, clubs only have until 19:00 BST to complete deals, bringing the Premier League in line with the EFL, Italy's Serie A, France's Ligue 1 and Germany's Bundesliga. The window in Scotland and Spain remains open until 23:00 BST.

It has already been a hectic window - with a number of storylines still to be resolved - but whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our live text coverage throughout the day here

Get alerts and keep up to date with all the latest news, insight and fan views for your club

AC Milan have made an official bid to sign Liverpool defender Joe Gomez on a permanent transfer, with the clubs discussing terms. (Fabrizio Romano), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Reg: I thought it was a poor performance by Liverpool, but a magnificent goal to win it. Too many passes went astray and not enough attacking like we are used to seeing. Glad this one is behind us.

Martin: It was what we expected - both teams not wanting to lose so quite a defensive display from both sides. It was always going to take a moment of brilliance or a mistake to separate these two great teams. Thankfully, the best player on the pitch stepped up to win it for us.

Steve: I thought we were quite negative, especially in the first half. I think Alisson had more touches than any outfield player. However, Szoboszlai's free-kick was world class and three points are three points.

Christine: We were not at our best but a clean sheet against the best team (on current form) is very good. An amazing goal worthy of goal of the month - a moment of magic. A lot of work still to do to have the team gel, but improvements from Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konate on Sunday. Good to have a win before international break, and another three points.

Arsenal fans

Joseph: Disappointed with the lack of progress and not playing to our strengths. What's the point of heavily investing? When will he learn? Does the manager have the tactical nous to deliver what the fans crave - success?

Andrew: Very disappointed to see Arsenal play for a draw from the start of the game. Such a negative gameplan and a late goal for Liverpool was no surprise. If we'd attacked them as we did in the last 10 minutes, we might have been able to take something from the game. If you play for the draw, that's the best you're going to get.

Debbie: Why sign a first-class striker and give him absolutely no service? Ridiculous. Add to that building a squad and hoping a 15-year-old will save the day, no matter how talented he is.

Andy: Mikel Arteta only has himself to blame. Liverpool were there for the taking. We were clearly the better side but we were too conservative, only to get beaten by a sucker punch. Hopefully lessons learned and we unleash the talent in the squad.

Pundits Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Brighton 2-1 Manchester City

• Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

• Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal

• Aston Villa 0-3 Crystal Palace

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Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas has completed a season-long loan move to Serie A side Roma.

The 29-year-old left-back will spend the rest of the campaign with the Italian club having not featured for Arne Slot's side so far this season.

Tsimikas joined the Reds from Olympiakos for £11.7m in the summer of 2020 and has made 115 appearances for the club.

He has won the Premier League, FA Cup – including scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout victory over Chelsea in the 2022 final – and the Carabao Cup twice during his Liverpool career.

The Greece international struggled to cement a regular starting place in Slot's team and last featured in the league in a 3-2 defeat by Brighton in the penultimate game of the 2024-25 title-winning campaign.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Liverpool go into the international break with maximum points from their three Premier League games - and still without demonstrating the full fluency they showed when they strolled to the title last season.

It is a chilling thought for those, including the Arsenal side beaten at Anfield, who harbour hopes of wrestling away the crown they have now won on 20 occasions.

The art of champions is finding a way and Liverpool have now done it in their first three games, scoring two late goals to beat Bournemouth at Anfield in their opening game, an injury-time winner at Newcastle United, then another victory secured in the closing stages against The Gunners.

In a match that saw both sides cancel each other out for long periods, it was Dominik Szoboszlai who proved to be the match-winner with a piece of stunning individual skill that delivered the blow to Arsenal, giving keeper David Raya no chance with that late free-kick.

Liverpool now assume the familiar position at the top of the Premier League table, with every intention of adding to their all-powerful squad with the pursuit of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi to strengthen their defence before Monday's transfer deadline, as well as the ongoing saga of Newcastle United's striker Alexander Isak which could yet see the Swede move to Anfield.

Arne Slot spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Liverpool's victory against Arsenal: "A moment of magic which was needed to win this game for either side. An uneventful game, two teams quite equal to each other. To me it felt we had the upper hand in the second half but both halves were by magic."

On appearing to let out a sigh of relief in front of the Kop at the end: "I think it had more to do with what they sang at that moment which was a song for Diogo and that just every time gets you. That was why I did what I did but indeed it was a 'phew' game. For a manager it was not too bad but it was uneventful."

On his defence's performance: "They had more than us [corners], nine I think in total. We defended them really well. I don't think it was much as we had to defend on Monday night where we hardly only had to defend the set piece. If you play against Arsneal and concede nine set pieces and win with a set piece I would say 'phew'."

On transfer deadline day: "I always add to that 'for the right money and the right player' but I don't know if that's happening at the moment. I'm just getting my emotions right after winning the game. I will hear probably tonight if anything will happen. If you look at Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones coming in today, it tells you that we already have a strong squad."

Dominik Szoboszlai also spoke to MOTD after victory at Anfield: "It [the free-kick] is a lot of practice, especially in the last few weeks we had chance to have some practice because we had only one game in a week and when we have two then we have to rest. I practiced my whole life and hopefully a couple of times it's come out where I've had the practicing way. Hopefully the next goes in as well.

On playing right back: "I never played there, maybe once in pre-season behind closed doors against Stoke. Monday was the first time. It is always a long discussion between me and the gaffer. I play where he puts me, try to give my best, and help the team."

On the importance of getting a win before the break: "Arsenal are one of our competitiors and before the break it's always good to go away with a win. Now everyone goes away and hopefully ready back for Burnley."

Did you know?

• Liverpool have now scored in 37 consecutive Premier League matches, their longest ever run of consecutive games scored in top-flight history.

• Today was the second time this season that Liverpool's starting XI in a Premier League game didn't feature a single Englishman, as many times as they did in their first 1,266 games in the competition between 1992-93 and 2024-25 (2).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

What did you make of Arsenal's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Liverpool make one change from Monday's dramatic 3-2 win at Newcastle United, with fit-again Alexis Mac Allister coming in for Curtis Jones.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Bradley, Robertson, Chiesa, Jones, Elliott, Ngumoha.

Arsenal's new £60m signing Eberechi Eze is named on the bench for the blockbuster clash with Liverpool at Anfield, even though Bukayo Saka is out with a hamstring injury.

Gabriel Martinelli comes in, while captain Martin Odegaard is only fit enough to be a substitute after suffering a shoulder injury in the 5-0 win against Leeds United. Mikel Merino comes in.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Harriman-Annous, Odegaard, Trossard, Eze, Nwaneri.

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Man City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Liverpool v Arsenal (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Aston Villa v Crystal Palace (19:00)

Kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction from the two 14:00 matches here

Get Liverpool v Arsenal here

And Aston Villa v Crystal Palace is here