Liverpool

Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder and Planet Premier League pundit Cesc Fabregas believes the transfer window should close before the season begins.

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Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at Manchester United (kick-off 16:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Curtis Jones will not train on Friday and is unlikely to be fit for Sunday, but Slot has no other injuries to contend with. New signing Federico Chiesa will train but is not expected be in the squad for the trip to Old Trafford.

• Slot says he is "excited" by Chiesa, while the signing of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is "for the future of the club".

• More on Chiesa: "One of the best things about working here is the culture of the team. They work really hard to achieve goals. It is really important that the first player you bring in has the same attitude and brings the same culture. He works really hard on and off the pitch and combines this with scoring goals and being really aggressive without the ball."

• Slot is not anticipating a busy deadline day at Anfield: "I'm not expecting anything but, again, it's not different than all the days before. If we see an opportunity we could act."

• He understands the magnitude of a trip to Old Trafford: "Some people have told me a few things about this fixture, but when you work at Liverpool, everybody knows how important this game against United is. It's similar to how important Ajax versus Feyenoord is. If you follow the game of football you know the importance."

• On Harvey Elliott's lack of game time so far this season: "Like all the others, the disadvantage for some without a lot of playing time is we only have one game a week. He has a lot of competition. He will get playing time if he keeps doing what he does."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the action from transfer deadline day

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Italian football expert James Horncastle says the reasons behind Juventus allowing Federico Chiesa to leave and join Liverpool must be questioned but that the Italy forward could regain his form under Arne Slot.

Chiesa joined the Reds for £10m, with a further £2.5m in add-ons, earlier this week after being left out of newly appointed Juventus boss Thiago Motta's first two matchday squads this season, with his contact set to expire next summer.

"I'm not surprised in terms of if you know he's available for £12m then it's fairly low risk for a Premier League team even if you look back at him having that ACL problem 18 months ago," Horncastle told the Football Daily Euro Leagues podcast.

"But, you also have to ask the questions: 'why are Juventus not offering him a new contract, why are Juventus not willing to build their team around this guy?' He's supposed to be the face of the Italian national team.

"On social media the Chiesa lobby is very strong. It ignores the fact that he's only had one season in the league where he scored 10 goals and that was his last season at Fiorentina. It ignores the fact that other players have played in a Max Allegri system which is perceived to be negative and they have had good seasons and managed to score lots of goals.

"There are reasons why Chiesa was available at that price. There have been other players who were in the 'bomb squad' at Juventus who have been reintegrated - Weston McKennie for example - but this didn't happen with Chiesa.

"As much as people want to to see and believe there is still the player we saw at Euro 2020, there is talent there but he's not shown it on a consistent enough basis.

"You wonder whether in this Liverpool team, which will definitely be more attacking than an Allegri team, he might have better players around him and he might be able to show more of what got people so excited in 2021."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

We asked what you have made of Liverpool's transfer window so far, and what needs to be done on deadline day.

Here are some of your comments:

Ken: We still need an established number six. Joshua Kimmich could be an opportunity as there was a suggestion that he was prepared to leave Bayern Munich over the summer. A left-sided centre-back would be a prudent acquisition. Goncalo Inacio could be attainable, but my choice would still be Micky van de Ven!

Eddie: I still think we need a left-back and a left-sided centre-back. I think Gravenberch and Endo can do the holding midfield job, but I definitely think the defence needs strengthening. Definitely don't let Joe Gomez leave.

Dave: Tricky one this window, as we do seem to have two quality options in every position, as long as no-one else is leaving! I would like to see a quality central defensive midfielder brought in and also new contracts signed for the players with contracts that are up in the next 12 months, if both parties are wanting them to stay.

Ian: Before any transfer business, they need to tie down Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk and Salah to new contracts. Then they need to buy a central defender and a number six. Then they should sell Nunez. Job done.

Fred: This has been an awful transfer window for Liverpool. Lots of players leaving and only two signed, one of which won't even play this season. It's a joke! Where's the £100m for Caicedo? I expected very little and I'm still underwhelmed.

Here's all you need to know about transfer deadline day on Friday...

When does the window close?

The transfer window will close at 23:00 BST on Friday, 30 August for the Premier League, English Football League and Scotland.

The date was brought forward by the domestic leagues to align with European leagues.

Across Europe, the Bundesliga window will close at 19:00, Ligue 1 at 22:00, La Liga at 22:59 and Serie A at 23:00, but the Saudi Pro League transfer window remains open until 7 September.

Can a Premier League player signed on deadline day play this weekend?

Under league rules, new signings are eligible for the next Premier League game if the club submit the required documents by midday on the last working day before that match.

So any player signed after 12:00 on deadline day would be unable to play in this round of Premier League fixtures.

Where can I see all the confirmed transfer deals on deadline day?

You can find all the deals completed on transfer deadline day within our dedicated confirmed transfers page.

When does the January transfer window open?

Clubs will be able to make transfers again from Wednesday, 1 January until Monday, 3 February at 23:00 GMT. This is the same in Germany, Italy, Spain and France.

How can I follow transfer deadline day on the BBC?

We have this live page dedicated to all the latest transfer news, reaction and analysis.

You will also find regular updates on BBC Radio 5 Live and breaking news across BBC Sport's social media channels, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

There will also be a special edition of The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer and the Red Button from 22:00 until 23:15.

Liverpool have rejected a cash-plus-player offer from Nottingham Forest for goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. (Athletic - subscription required), external

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

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Liverpool's Champions League draw is complete - Arne Slot's side now know which eight clubs they will meet in the new 36-team league format.

As a reminder, all of the teams that have qualified for the Champions League this year will be in one 36-team league phase, rather than the past format of eight four-team groups.

The Reds will face: Real Madrid (H), RB Leipzig (A), Bayer Leverkusen (H), AC Milan (A), Lille (H), PSV Eindhoven (A), Bologna (H) and Girona (A).

The order in which those fixtures will take place will be announced on Saturday by Uefa.

Champions League group phase dates:

Matchday 1: 17–19 September 2024

Matchday 2: 1-2 October 2024

Matchday 3: 22-23 October 2024

Matchday 4: 5-6 November 2024

Matchday 5: 26-27 November 2024

Matchday 6: 10-11 December 2024

Matchday 7: 21-22 January 2025

Matchday 8: 29 January 2025

Champions League knockout stage dates:

Knockout round play-offs: 11-12 and 18-19 February 2025

Round of 16: 4-5 and 11-12 March 2025

Quarter-finals: 8-9 and 15-16 April 2025

Semi-finals: 29-30 April and 6-7 May 2025

Final: 31 May 2025, Munich

See how the rest of the draw panned out

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Manchester City, Arsenal Liverpool and Aston Villa are about to find out who they will face in the new league phase of this season's competition.

Follow it all unfold here

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

We've seen a little flurry of activity this week with goalkeeper Giorgi Marmadashvili due to arrive for next season and with a confirmed deal for Juventus forward Federico Chiesa now sorted.

Darwin Nunez hasn’t yet started a league game this season but he’ll be seen as a key member of the squad. Mohamed Salah has spoken about concentrating on the final year of his contract, so his immediate future also looks clear. It remains to be seen if any late offers come in for Joe Gomez.

Stefan Bajcetic looks set for a loan spell with RB Salzburg but otherwise it could be a fairly quiet deadline day at Anfield.

Interim head coach Lee Carsley has named his first England squad for September's Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.

Newcastle defender Tino Livramento, Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, Lille's Angel Gomes and Chelsea's Noni Madueke are the four new caps named.

Image source, Getty Images

Federico Chiesa has completed his transfer from Juventus to Liverpool and says he "immediately" knew the move was right for him.

The 26-year-old, who can play in several attacking positions, has moved for £10m, with a further £2.5m in add-ons based primarily on team performance.

He told Liverpoolfc.com: “I'm so happy to be a Liverpool player. When Richard Hughes called me and he said, 'Do you want to join Liverpool?' – and the coach called me – I said yes immediately because I know the history of this club, I know what it represents to the fans.

“So, I'm so happy and I can't wait to get started.”

Did you know?

Chiesa's injury record has been a point of conversation after he missed 10 months with an ACL injury in 2022. However, in the 2023-24 campaign, he made 37 appearances in all competitions. That is more than the likes of Andy Robertson (30), Alisson (32), Diogo Jota (32), Curtis Jones (36) and equal to games played by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate.

The transfer deadline is almost upon us, so tell us what you've made of your club's business and if more is needed?

Send your thoughts here, external

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This will be Arne Slot’s first game in charge of Liverpool against Manchester United. None of the Reds’ last nine managers have won their first league meeting with the Red Devils since Bob Paisley beat them 3-1 in November 1975.

George Kay is the only Liverpool manager to win his first away league game against Man Utd, winning 5-2 at Old Trafford in November 1936.

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Long-time admirers of Federico Chiesa, Liverpool are bringing in the Italy international to complement a forward line already boasting Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz.

Chiesa started three of Italy's four Euro 2024 matches on the right flank - Salah's preferred position at Anfield - but at Juventus last season he was mainly deployed as a second striker in Allegri's favoured 3-5-2 system.

Slot will be confident of bringing the best out of Chiesa at Anfield - wherever he decides to play him - but it remains to be seen whether a player who has spent over 400 days out injured since November 2021 can stay fit in such a physically demanding league.

"He can bring some proper speed to Liverpool, but he is very prone to injuries," says Italian football journalist Daniele Verri. "With the rhythm and intensity of English football, I'm not sure he will cope with that.

"It is a bet for Liverpool. He won’t cost that much, but it is a dangerous move.

"Motta has already told him and several other players that they are not part of his plans and are better off looking for another club.

"He has trained sometimes alone, sometimes with the group recently, but he has not played because they want to get rid of him."

Read more of Matthew's piece on Chiesa here

Liverpool have turned down an approach from Bayer Leverkusen for England Under-21 midfielder Tyler Morton, 21. (Sky Sports), external

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

Image source, Getty Images

The draw has been made for the Carabao Cup third round, with 17 Premier League clubs having made it through or entering at this stage.

There are three all-Premier League fixtures, including holders Liverpool hosting West Ham in a repeat of last season's quarter-final.

Ties will be played in the weeks commencing 16 September and 23 September.

All the fixtures featuring top-flight sides are shown below:

• AFC Wimbledon v Newcastle United

• Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers

• Brentford v Leyton Orient

• Brighton & Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Chelsea v Barrow

• Coventry City v Tottenham Hotspur

• Everton v Southampton

• Liverpool v West Ham United

• Manchester City v Watford

• Manchester United v Barnsley

• Preston North End v Fulham

• Queens Park Rangers v Crystal Palace

• Walsall v Leicester City

• Wycombe Wanderers v Aston Villa

See the full draw

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Federico Chiesa from Juventus.

The fee is £10m with £2.5m add ons based primarily on team performance.

The Italy international is now set to have a medical.

In terms of Stefan Bajcetic, Barcelona and RB Salzburg are among a number of clubs interested in taking the Liverpool midfielder on loan.

The new-look Champions League draw will be held on Thursday from 17:00 BST and you can watch it live on the BBC Sport website.

Teams will discover which eight clubs they will meet (four at home and four away) - but no actual groups will be drawn.

All the teams will be in one 36-team league phase, as compared to the past format of eight four-team groups.

So how will the draw work?

Teams will be placed in four pots according to their seeding. Each team face two teams from each pot, one at home and one away.

A team will be drawn out of a pot and then Uefa's software will decide their eight opponents - and whether they will be at home or away.

It means more matches between the biggest teams. For example, Manchester City could face Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

The software stops teams playing rivals from their own country - and means each team can only play two clubs from any one country.

Uefa says the computer system plans ahead so will ensure no teams further down the line get drawn against teams they cannot face.

How does the new format work?

Teams who finish in the top eight will qualify automatically for the last 16, while those who place ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout play-off for the chance to join them.

Whoever finishes 25th or lower will be eliminated and will not be entered into the Europa League.

From the last 16 onwards, the Champions League will continue to follow its existing format with the final taking place at a neutral venue - Munich this year.

The number of matches in the new format will increase from 125 to 189.

Each team will play a minimum of eight - instead of six - and a maximum of 17.

The league phase will now run until the end of January instead of ending before Christmas.

Find out more about the draw and how you can watch it live on the BBC here

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Arne Slot couldn't have asked for a better start to life as Liverpool's new head coach but, undoubtedly, the biggest test so far comes this weekend at Old Trafford.

Two wins, two clean sheets and all his main attacking players on the scoresheet. Just the kind of form he would have been hoping for going into a game against Manchester United.

Luis Diaz, in particular, has started the season really well. Slot has put his faith in Ryan Gravenberch as the number six and so far so good for the Dutch midfielder in the opening two games.

At times, Liverpool's passing against Brentford was great to watch and they seemed to have the game under control with the potential to go up a gear or two.

Slot is not afraid to make changes during a game, as we have seen against both Ipswich and Brentford, and who can argue with six points out of six?

Sunday's game will be huge - as it always is - and Liverpool's FA Cup defeat last season might still be fresh in the memory of the fans, but there is an early momentum about this team under Slot.

And with Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz all firing early season goals, there will be plenty of confidence going into this match.