Liverpool Round-Up, Saturday 10th October: Iraola Demands Swift Man City Resolution as Injury Crisis Bites Before Anfield Clash
Liverpool head into Sunday's huge Premier League clash with Manchester City short of options, with Andoni Iraola confirming the Reds and City are without eight players between them for the Anfield showdown (Liverpool.com) (Liverpool Echo). Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak are both among the absentees, and Iraola has challenged the rest of his squad to step up in their absence (Liverpool.com). There is also fresh information on Erling Haaland, with This Is Anfield clarifying City have two injury doubts of their own heading into the game (This Is Anfield). Liverpool and City will also release official team news closer to kick-off (LiverpoolFC.com).
With Isak sidelined, Iraola has dropped a hint that Bradley Barcola could be used through the middle against City (Liverpool.com), and Barcola himself has given a selection hint while admitting the Premier League feels "very different" to what he is used to (Liverpool Echo). Barcola also spoke to LFC's official channels about his adaptation to Liverpool, the test City pose and Iraola's "intensity" (LiverpoolFC.com), while This Is Anfield reports he has brushed off doubts about his finishing by saying "I don't care" (This Is Anfield). The winger has also explained why he has been "getting cramps" since joining the club (This Is Anfield).
The build-up to the game has been dominated by Manchester City's guilty verdict in their Premier League financial rules case and their subsequent appeal. Iraola has called for the matter to be resolved quickly, saying prolonged uncertainty is "no good" for the competition (Liverpool.com), and Liverpool.com reports City have held settlement talks with the Premier League as Iraola repeated his call for a swift conclusion (Liverpool.com). Liverpool Echo reports Iraola gave a pointed answer on the charges that reportedly left Jamie Carragher's earlier stance looking off the mark (Liverpool Echo), while City boss Enzo Maresca has dismissed any concerns about the case affecting his side at Anfield, insisting he is "not worried at all" (This Is Anfield).
Liverpool Echo adds that the Reds' significant financial outlay now faces scrutiny as Iraola awaits a statement on the situation (Liverpool Echo), and pundits quoted by the Echo have labelled the match "must-not-lose" territory for Liverpool amid divided predictions from Merson, Shearer and Sutton (Liverpool Echo). Club legends have also had their say: Phil Thompson wants a "severe" punishment for City (Liverpool.com), while Carragher has dismissed hopes of a lenient outcome and issued a warning to City's owners (Liverpool Echo) (Liverpool Echo). Former Red Joe Cole, however, has offered a more cautious verdict on how harshly City should be punished (Liverpool.com), and This Is Anfield has gathered reaction from 14 managers, including David Moyes, who believes Everton were "picked on" (This Is Anfield). Fan opinion is similarly split, with This Is Anfield reporting Liverpool supporters want tough sanctions but have mixed feelings over any lost medals (This Is Anfield).
Away from City, Liverpool.com reports Kylian Mbappe is being linked with a possible move to Liverpool amid reported unhappiness at Real Madrid (Liverpool.com), though this remains firmly in the rumour category. On transfers closer to home, Liverpool Echo reports Glen Johnson has urged the club to prioritise a new contract for teenage winger Rio Ngumoha while dismissing talk of a Dominik Szoboszlai move (Liverpool Echo).
Thiago Alcantara has been back at the AXA Training Centre meeting Iraola, fuelling talk of a possible coaching return, with LFC.com sharing five stories from the meeting including references to padel and honesty (LiverpoolFC.com) (LiverpoolFC.com). Thiago also gave Liverpool.com a classy verdict on Iraola's qualities as a coach (Liverpool.com), and separately opened up to Liverpool.com on his viral touchline exchange with Darwin Nunez and Jurgen Klopp from a 2023 win over Tottenham (Liverpool.com). This Is Anfield also reports Iraola has introduced a new training ground rule at the AXA centre, which now features padel and golf facilities (This Is Anfield).
In the women's and youth game, LFC.com and This Is Anfield report Liverpool's U18s suffered a heavy defeat away at Stoke City in the Premier League Cup (LiverpoolFC.com) (This Is Anfield).
Elsewhere, Jamie Carragher has been embroiled in a social media row with Piers Morgan over Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal walkout, calling Morgan an "absolute phoney" (Liverpool Echo), with Luis Suarez also dragged into the spat according to Liverpool.com (Liverpool.com). Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has caused a stir among Reds fans with a celebration gesture during Chelsea's win over Bournemouth (Liverpool.com), and Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has explained his reasoning behind signing Henderson following his impressive display (Liverpool.com). Liverpool fans have also questioned refereeing consistency after Arsenal's Bruno Guimaraes avoided punishment for a celebration similar to one by Isak (Liverpool.com).
Finally, Virgil van Dijk has spoken to LFC.com about the fixtures every player looks forward to (LiverpoolFC.com), UFC star Paddy "the Baddy" has shared a deeply personal story about a friend's suicide as part of Liverpool FC's mental health campaign (Liverpool Echo), and Phil Thompson has said the original This Is Anfield sign has found a "fitting place" after being sold for £115k (This Is Anfield). Supporters travelling to the match should note a partial closure at Sandhills station (LiverpoolFC.com), and This Is Anfield has a quiz testing whether 20 Liverpool players ever scored against City (This Is Anfield), while the Echo looks back at Liverpool's unbeaten Anfield record against City during the charges era (Liverpool Echo).
This round-up is written with the help of AI, using only the day's headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.