David Lynch

Andoni Iraola "quite optimistic" that Florian Wirtz will be available to face Chelsea. Says he is "not so sure" on Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz.

Ronald Araujo wins his challenges, is versatile, committed, and can play a bit, too. Why wouldn’t you sign him? youtu.be/rBtIkCcwFbw?...

It felt like we might witness a statement performance when Liverpool raced into a 2-0 lead, but thought that was still impressively mature. Brighton have scored goals for fun of late, but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities here despite chasing the game for 70 minutes.

Liverpool to face Brighton: Alisson, Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak, Barcola. Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa, Tsimikas, Nyoni, McConnell, Koumas, Ngumoha.

Just nearly been blown away walking up to the ground but the conditions far more serene pitchside. Hopefully shouldn’t have too big an impact on the match itself.

Dominik Szoboszlai set to miss the meeting with Brighton. Has yet to resume team training, though he is doing individual sessions.

Bradley Barcola trained yesterday and is ready for Brighton, Victor Munoz a doubt with pain in his knee after a knock against Brentford.

Liverpool have won seven, drawn three, and lost just once under Andoni Iraola, despite battling injuries and the difficulties of embedding a new style. But they don’t seem to be getting much credit just yet - so why is that? www.davidlynchlfc.co.uk/p/is-andoni-...

Liverpool are seeing their hand weakened in their ongoing contract negotiations with Rio Ngumoha every time he takes to the pitch at the moment. He is the present and the future of this club - sign him up! www.youtube.com/watch?v=20ZQ...

Liverpool to face Villarreal: Alisson, Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Mac Allister, Ngumoha, Koumas, Gakpo. Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Kerkez, Wirtz, Isak, Barcola, Chambers, McConnell, Danns, Laffey.

Given how long they played against 10, a win was clearly the bare minimum for Liverpool today. But Brentford didn't really have to alter their gameplan after the red, and so Alexander Isak's quality and Andoni Iraola's use of his bench were still key. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKy...

Almost impossible to read anything into a game that hinged so much on the first red card, but that's a great three points for Liverpool for no reason other than that Brentford away is an utter nightmare of a fixture, as we saw even at 11 vs 10.

Seems strange to say it after they’ve scored six away from home, but Liverpool’s attack hasn’t worked as it should for a long time. Fixing their inability to create high-quality opportunities in the Premier League is arguably Andoni Iraola’s key challenge. www.davidlynchlfc.co.uk/p/fixing-liv...

Giovanni Leoni now unlikely to join team training until the next international break, Andoni Iraola reveals.

Liverpool have to "wait and see" on Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak, but Andoni Iraola refusing to rule any of them out of Saturday's trip to Brentford.

I know it's only LASK, but I'm sure Liverpool fans would much rather see Florian Wirtz fail while at least trying things as he did tonight, rather than the timid/safe performances we've seen of late. He played with an arrogance from minute one in Austria. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALxW...

A great night for Liverpool, that. Plenty of rotation, a fine performance, goals and confidence-boosting performances for those who needed them, and big contributions from youngsters, too. I'm sure Andoni Iraola will be delighted.

I've been largely of the view that the harshest punishments Man City face should be directed at the owners and protect fans. But you'll struggle to find many who support that stance after the full-throated backing for Khaldoon et al in the away end today. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxyt...

Thought even with key absentees Liverpool had the best of that until the red card, but then City took the next seven shots and scored three to decide it. The away end delighted but farcical to have this club winning like this at Anfield and leading the league with all we know.

Liverpool to face Manchester City: Alisson, Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Munoz, Koumas, Barcola. Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa, Tsimikas, Frimpong, Nyoni, McConnell, Ngumoha.

In truth, we’re not entirely sure if this game has any meaning whatsoever, but I’m not sure the fans will see it that way come kick-off.

Jeremy Jacquet fit and available to face Manchester City, Andoni Iraola confirms.

Cody Gakpo has an ankle injury and Alexander Isak a muscle issue. Neither long-term problems but enough to rule them out of Sunday, Andoni Iraola reveals.

Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo ruled out of Liverpool's meeting with Manchester City.

Sunday's game at Anfield is being billed as a grudge match and a chance for Liverpool fans to show their anger, but the wait for an end to the Man City case means this fixture, like the last decade, might have zero meaning. Now that's a sham. Free to read. www.davidlynchlfc.co.uk/p/liverpools...

Why did Liverpool (re)appoint Julian Ward? A look at his credentials, past transfer record, and priorities after taking up the sporting director role again. youtu.be/aZoiFcYt3hQ

Liverpool put another new-look set-piece coaching team in place this summer - so how is it getting on? www.davidlynchlfc.co.uk/p/no-goals-y...

The first international break a good opportunity to see how far along Liverpool are in their attempts to adapt to a new brand of football under Andoni Iraola. Lots of progress but also some distance left to travel. youtu.be/1AKLUE-4a6A?...

If we accept that Florian Wirtz has yet to live up to expectations at Liverpool, the only question that matters now is if he ever will. Here's a look for signs that more is coming from a player who has, we must remember, only just turned 23. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1qO...

Andoni Iraola was hired for his front-footed, attacking football, but his first priority has been to make Liverpool hard to beat and he is succeeding. On a defence that can now grind it out and whether a big call on Florian Wirtz and Trey Nyoni is coming. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQtn...

On a weekend that saw Chelsea and Arsenal chewed up by Brentford and Brighton, you get a real sense of just how good a three points that is for Liverpool on the road. It was a battle, but the main positive was how they kept Bournemouth from creating anything truly clear cut.

No fresh injury concerns for Liverpool ahead of the trip to Bournemouth.

Iraola on Wirtz: "He should be judged like everyone else. I say how does the team play when you are on the pitch? He understands what we need from him and he is trying to help in every aspect of the game."

Liverpool have been drawn to face Chelsea at Anfield in the fourth round of the League Cup.

Alexis Mac Allister's physical metrics so far this season are actually worse than the last, but he looks sharper, fitter, and stronger in duels. A piece on the combination of compactness and sheer bloody-mindedness that has brought him back to his best. www.davidlynchlfc.co.uk/p/how-a-revi...

Tonight was a crucial audition for Trey Nyoni, and he could not have done much more to nail it. So what does Andoni Iraola do now? www.youtube.com/watch?v=qapp...

Joe Gomez is back in training and is expected to be available to face Tottenham.

Giorgi Mamardashvili will start against Tottenham, Andoni Iraola confirms.

Finding the necessary intensity three times a week was always going to be Iraola's biggest challenge at Liverpool, and his team fell short today. But it's *very* early days and the clean sheet earned in part thanks to the excellent Jacquet was a positive. www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5et...

A pretty poor game of football that showed Liverpool are still a work in progress under their new head coach. Just never looked like they could replicate the intensity of midweek and paid the price for it with two dropped points.

Liverpool to face Fulham: Alisson, Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Munoz, Isak, Barcola. Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Frimpong, Nyoni, Koumas, Ngumoha.

Hugo Ekitike still a while away from fitness but Andoni Iraola says he was included in the Champions League squad because there is a chance he could feature in the final two group-stage games.

Cody Gakpo planning to join training today but still a doubt for Fulham, Andoni Iraola says.

Bradley Barcola should be available to face Fulham after suffering "just cramp", Andoni Iraola says.

I've been surprised by how well Liverpool have calmly controlled large parts of the last two games given that Iraola's reputation for intensity and that it's so early in his reign. Reflections on that, Bradley Barcola's debut and many other positives here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kNz...

A first Champions League game for Andoni Iraola ends in a first Champions League win, and his team good value for it, I thought. Important for Liverpool's top-eight hopes to get that home win over pot one opposition, too, so a great night all round.

Liverpool to face Atletico Madrid: Alisson, Araujo, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Ngumoha, Isak, Barcola. Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Tsimikas, Munoz, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Chambers, McConnell, Koumas, Danns.

The Champions League back at Anfield and a big night for Andoni Iraola in particular.

Alexis Mac Allister asked if there was a chance he could have left Liverpool this summer: "There was a chance, as I think everyone knows. I received the news that the club was not in a position to offer me a new contract, which makes me very, very sad."

BREAKING: Liverpool announce Turkish Airlines as their new front-of-shirt sponsor, replacing Standard Chartered from next season for the next five years. Understood to be a an uplift on previous £50m-a-year deal and biggest in Premier League.