Liverpool Lunchtime Round-Up, Monday 26th October 2026: Reds Bask in Brighton Win as Araujo and Van Dijk Take Centre Stage
There's a nice feel-good mood around Anfield after the weekend's 2-0 win over Brighton, with plenty of reaction still rolling in this morning. Cody Gakpo says an "all-in mentality" is driving the squad forward under Andoni Iraola, and he's spoken about the "feeling" he has that the Reds are heading in the right direction (LiverpoolFC.com) (Liverpool.com). Pundits have been similarly complimentary, with some "scary" signs picked out as Iraola's plan starts to click, while the national media have also made a point about Liverpool's spending ahead of what's being billed as a "pivotal week" (Liverpool.com) (Liverpool Echo). Liverpool.com have also run the rule over the Reds' next five fixtures compared to Arsenal and Man City as Iraola looks to build on the momentum (Liverpool.com).
Ronald Araujo continues to be the talk of the town following his committed display at the back against Brighton, with footage doing the rounds of a crunching header-tackle he made during the game (LiverpoolFC.com). Virgil van Dijk has been full of praise for his defensive partner, saying the crowd loves what Araujo brings and that he has "what we need" (This Is Anfield) (Liverpool.com). It's even sparked a fan poll from the Echo on whether Liverpool should make his reported £47m permanent transfer happen (Liverpool Echo). Van Dijk also used his post-match words to lay out a new "reality" for the club, challenging the side's big-money recruits to keep delivering at Anfield (Liverpool Echo).
On the injury front, Florian Wirtz has given an update on the ankle knock he picked up against Brighton before being replaced by Trey Nyoni, admitting "I need to get that sorted out" (Liverpool.com) (This Is Anfield). Liverpool.com have also rounded up the wider injury picture and possible return dates involving Wirtz and Victor Munoz (Liverpool.com).
Elsewhere, Brighton boss had a pointed dig after the game, suggesting "one team tried to win" as Liverpool's possession dropped to a season low (This Is Anfield). On loan at Valencia, Harvey Elliott has publicly apologised to his team-mates, admitting "I made a mistake" (This Is Anfield). Away from the pitch, former Red Jermaine Pennant has described being left "covered in blood" after being mauled by a dog while protecting his own pet (Liverpool Echo) (Liverpool.com). And Jamie Carragher has weighed in on the Manchester United managerial situation, naming two "obvious" candidates he'd pick to replace Michael Carrick (Liverpool.com).
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.