Liverpool

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool will be without midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai and forwards Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo for Wednesday's Champions League game against LASK.

The trio, who missed Liverpool's defeat by Manchester City on Sunday with injuries, will also miss the game in Austria.

Szoboszlai scored the Reds' equaliser in last month's 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in their opening league-phase match.

Jayden Danns, Wellity Lucky and Josh Sonni-Lambie are all part of the 23-man travelling party.

Andoni Iraola's side will train at the Raiffeisen Arena later on Tuesday, while the Spaniard is due to speak to the media at about 15:30 BST.

Liverpool travelling squad: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Wirtz, Mac Allister, Tsimikas, Munoz, Mamardashvili, Woodman, Barcola, Frimpong, Araujo, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Chambers, McConnell, Koumas, Ngumoha, Danns, Sonni-Lambie, Lucky.

Come back to this page later on Tuesday for all the key lines from Iraola's news conference.

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discussed Liverpool's mixed start to life under Andoni Iraola and the continued indifferent form of Florian Wirtz.

"It's very difficult to see any progress with Wirtz," explained The Observer's football correspondent Rory Smith.

"With [Bradley] Barcola it's still very early so it's a bit different, but he's not hit the ground running when maybe they need him to.

"They still look a very fragmented side. I'm not quite sure what the final version of Liverpool we're working towards right now looks like.

"That is more of a concern than the result against Manchester City."

Also on the show, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton joked that Wirtz's issue is that he does not have the presence of former Everton and Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

"He has a sensational football brain. But then you look at him and think: what are his attributes? I wouldn't say he is a dribbler, like Eden Hazard. He's not like a Philippe Coutinho, who gets shots off. He doesn't run in behind.

"He's not the biggest - he's not a Tim Cahill or a Fellaini. His problem is what actually is he? He's just a very intelligent five-a-side player."

Watch a clip above for more of the discussion or listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard believes Manchester City should at least have an asterisk next to their achievements during the period they have been found guilty of breaking the Premier League's financial rules.

Gerrard said he "wouldn't accept anything" if City's trophies were taken off them and handed to those who were runners-up, but he does think they need a transfer ban.

The former Reds captain missed out on his best chance of breaking his league title duck with the Anfield side in 013-14 but his side missed out by just two points to City.

"I wouldn't want individual players to give stuff back," he told the latest episode of Overlap Daily.

"I don't think that would be right. I wouldn't accept anything. I've come to terms with where I am and what I achieved. But in terms of the club, they have to be stripped.

"There needs to be an example set, historically. There needs to be, minimum, an asterisk. Because then it doesn't matter whether the titles are stripped or not.

"As soon as that asterisk is there, everyone knows that happened.

"I think there needs to be a transfer ban. I think there needs to be points [deductions] over a period of time. Make them suffer like they've made everyone else suffer for the nine, 10 years that they've done it for."

BBC Radio Merseyside's Paul Salt and Mike Hughes dissect Liverpool's defeat to Manchester City in the latest episode of The Red Kop.

"I was commentating on the game and Liverpool started really well," said Hughes.

"It was a shame they didn't manage to exploit how well Victor Munoz was playing early on as he had Nico O'Reilly in all sorts of difficulties.

"I thought Manchester City looked shaky at the back in the opening 20 minutes, but then grew into the game.

"It all hinged on the sending off [of Ryan Gravenberch]. Liverpool had willingness and desire to run and put City, a team who had won their opening five games, under pressure.

"Granted, they didn't create a whole lot of chances, but defensively they are starting to look a lot more solid."

Listen to The Red Kop by clicking the play button below, or listen on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says they have to quickly get over the disappointment of Sunday's home defeat by Manchester City because the fixtures are coming thick and fast.

The Reds travel to Austrian side LASK in the Champions League on Wednesday after being beaten 3-0 at Anfield by the Premier League leaders - a game in which they had Ryan Gravenberch sent off with the score 0-0.

It comes at a time when head coach Andoni Iraola faces more injury woes with Dominik Szoboszlai the latest to be sidelined alongside Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo.

"We struggling a little bit with some injuries at the moment and I think in the first half we showed a lot of fight and intensity – the bare minimum by the way," said Van Dijk.

"It was an even game up until the red card. The early goal after the red card changed the whole game - that's just the fact.

"There were a lot of good things in the first half but the fact is we lost it 3-0. That hurts and we have to quickly turn this frustration and disappointment back to full focus.

"The Champions League away at Lask, people might think is an easy one – it isn't. We have to focus quickly, recover and be back on it."

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

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Johnie: City showed their class in the final third, they were ruthless after the red card. Our paper thin squad is now starting to show with more injuries, suspensions and a big run of tough games. We will know where we are by the next international break.

Harry: Very good game until the sending off. They weren't yellow cards but the ref thought otherwise. LFC lacked the depth from the bench which cost us. Too many injuries and top players who never got going.

Ian: We are seriously lacking a cutting edge. Big signings are anonymous.

Alex: Liverpool were always going to be up against it with Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai all injured. Nevertheless we were competing and were well in the game until Kavanagh dismissed Gravenberch, who was arguably our best player. I like Iraola, he will get us to where we need to be given time.

Anthony: Gravenberch was untouchable and the midfield. It was all Liverpool until the red card. Referee was too hasty in giving the second yellow. Doku made the difference for City.

Man City fans

Harry Y: It's not my job to apologise for what my club's ownership have done. This game may eventually have meant nothing, but for now it's moments like that from Cherki which I live for. Who knows where we're going to end up, but I'm enjoying where we are. For all this talk of a hostile atmosphere, it ended up being much easier than last year. For the cost of Isak and Wirtz you could have eight Cherki's, once again proving that it's not about the money, rather how you spend it.

Akash: Great courage and conviction shown by the lads. City also played better football and that is what matters most. It is shameful to taunt the players.

Dave: Just what we the supporters needed, as well as the players. A fantastic result.

Brian: This was a statement win in a week when statements were the headlines. To go to Anfield and play as a team and win with three different scorers was truly a credit to a team under so much pressure. This was Man City doing what they as a team can only do and that is play to their max and enjoy the game. The delight on their faces at the end was not relief but pride. This is a team riding high and playing to a very high standard. Man City fans can truly believe and empower this team to continue to show the world that we are City full of pride.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Andoni Iraola's unbeaten start is now over. This was actually his first Premier League defeat in 24 games (W10, D13) since January, including his time at Bournemouth.

The Reds, though, are now winless in three Premier League home matches this season - although they have won at Anfield in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

That winless run in the league at Anfield stretches back to last season with Liverpool now without victory in five successive Premier League home games (D4 L1).

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live: "The best teams in the world are also horrible to play against. Liverpool aren't horrible.

"They're an easy touch at the moment. They have too many players that are nice and they have to change that part of things.

"Liverpool have got a lot of work to do. They don't have enough leaders at the moment, apart from Virgil van Dijk barking orders."

Liverpool are considering a move for 19-year-old Barcelona and Spain midfielder Marc Bernal. (Fichajes - in Spanish, external)

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool's hopes of piling further misery on embattled Manchester City foundered on a lack of resources through injury - and a lack of quality from big-money players they hoped would step up.

Head coach Andoni Iraola suffered without those injured during the international break, with Alexander Isak, Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo all missing.

Despite the noisy support of Liverpool's fans fired up by Manchester City's presence, they could not sustain any momentum.

Spain winger Victor Munoz was a glowing exception, but Liverpool must expect far more from £116m Florian Wirtz, as well as £123m summer signing Bradley Barcola.

Wirtz, as he has done for most of his Liverpool career, looked lightweight and off the pace, an easy proposition for City in the physical challenges. It was no surprise when he was substituted after 66 minutes.

Barcola also failed to last the course after an afternoon spent losing possession and running up blind alleys. He may still be adjusting to the Premier League - but there is no such explanation for the bitterly disappointing Wirtz.

Liverpool starting XI:

Alisson: Could do nothing to keep out Erling Haaland's strike then beaten by a beauty from Jeremy Doku and some solid footwork from Rayan Cherki. 5

Ronald Araujo: Got a cheap yellow card early on and will be annoyed that the first two Man City goals came from his side. 5

Virgil van Dijk: Often pushed out of position to help Liverpool deal with getting outnumbered in midfield. Perhaps could have closed Haaland down quicker. 6

Jeremy Jacquet: Wasn't a bad display from a young talent who is very impressive but this must have been a real eye-opener against a quality City attack. 6

Milos Kerkez: Battled well with Iliman Ndiaye and pushed up regularly but lacked quality in the final third. 5

Alexis Mac Allister: Grew into the game and put in a good shift but struggled once Liverpool went down to 10 men. 5

Ryan Gravenberch: Came in for the injured Dominik Szoboszlai and was Liverpool's best player until he got sent off for a second yellow card. Naive on his part. 6

Victor Munoz: Played with such a fearlessness and was an absolute nuisance for Man City, causing Nico O'Reilly all sorts of problems. 7

Florian Wirtz: Simply has to do better, particularly in games of this magnitude. Was largely ineffective and made some poor decisions. 4

Bradley Barcola: Sharp on the ball and did his defensive duties but, like Wirtz, must to do more in the final third. 5

Lewis Koumas: Making his first Premier League start and the 21-year-old got stuck in from the outset in an energetic display that was loved by the Anfield crowd. 7

Liverpool substitutes:

Nyoni (on 66, Wirtz): 6

Frimpong (on 75, Araujo): 5

Ngumoha (on 75, Koumas): 5

Gomez (on 88, Jacquet)

Chiesa (on 88, Barcola)

Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Endo, Tsimikas, McConnell

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola, speaking to BBC MOTD: "I think the first part is that we played two different games. One until the red card, and then after. For 60 minutes, the players were very good. The second game from the red card was where City were better than us.

On Ryan Gravenberch's red card: "The first yellow card was just a kick in the toe. It was nothing. It was a normal foul.

"It was the moment when we were pushing more. The momentum was coming for us and the atmosphere in the stadium was so nice.

"We conceded very little in the first half. We did a really good job. The second half, we were translating into chances.

"You learn a lot in games like today. I am very proud of my players. They put the work rate and everything in today. It's a loss and we didn't get anything from the performance but I liked it a lot.

On injured players coming back for Champions League: "It'll be difficult because it's two days. You never know."

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk speaking to Sky Sports: "First half was good from us. We showed our intensity, could've done better on occasions where we got on the break. They weren't massive chances but we showed we wanted to win and we had intensity which is the bare minimum.

"Second half the red card changed the game, especially when you concede quickly afterwards. We end up with 10 men is the fact and we concede quickly after and it becomes a difficult game against them again."

On the atmosphere: "I think the atmosphere is always good here, I've been fortunate to play in a lot of big games here. For other players maybe it was different but for me I was ready to compete and I think we showed that especially in the first half."

Hear more from Iraola on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• This was Liverpool's joint-biggest defeat at Anfield in the Premier League after 4-1 defeats in October 2005 (v Chelsea) and February 2021 (v Man City) and 3-0 defeats in August 2015 (v West Ham) and November 2025 (v Nottingham Forest).