Liverpool Morning Round-Up, Saturday 31st October 2026: Iraola and Mac Allister Set the Scene for Huge Arsenal Clash
Morning Reds! All eyes are on Sunday's Anfield showdown with Arsenal, and there's plenty to get through before kick-off. Andoni Iraola has been previewing the game, pointing to Ronald Araújo as a key factor behind Liverpool's much-improved set-piece defending, with the Reds yet to concede from a dead ball in the Premier League this season, though Iraola admits Arsenal pose a different kind of threat (The Guardian) (Liverpool.com) (Liverpool Echo). The Liverpool Echo's Blood Red column reckons this 'friends reunited' fixture could prove particularly revealing for how Iraola's reign is judged (Liverpool Echo), while This Is Anfield has the team news, likely lineups, referee and TV info for the clash (This Is Anfield). There's also a reminder from the Echo of an old rivalry angle, with a look back at an ex-Liverpool player's training-ground run-in with Arsenal's boss at the time (Liverpool Echo) (Liverpool.com).
Alexis Mac Allister remains a big talking point. He's again addressed his contract situation, having previously voiced disappointment at not being offered fresh terms in the summer, and has now made a public promise over Liverpool's title ambitions after Jamie Carragher talked up their chances (Liverpool.com) (Liverpool.com). Iraola has responded by confirming the midfielder "wants to stay," offering his own take on the contract standoff (Liverpool Echo) (Liverpool.com). Liverpool.com's Jamie Carragher-inspired piece argues the title talk isn't as premature as it might seem, provided Iraola can crack a key conundrum (Liverpool.com).
On the punditry front, Alan Shearer has given his prediction for the Arsenal game, suggesting Mikel Arteta could use it to send out a message (Liverpool.com), while also leaving Florian Wirtz out of his combined Liverpool-Arsenal XI in favour of teenager Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool.com).
In transfer news, there are fresh claims over a possible Trent Alexander-Arnold loan move, plus an update on Alex Scott, while Ronald Araujo's agent has spoken out amid talk of a club legend's apparent U-turn (Liverpool.com) (Liverpool Echo).
Finally, fans heading to the Everton derby can still grab tickets, with hospitality packages among the options still available (Liverpool Echo). Plenty to look forward to as Liverpool prepare to welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Sunday.
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.
