Liverpool fans face another two-week wait before their team returns to action against Manchester City. Andoni Iraola will be preparing his tactical plan after an up-and-down start to the 2026/27 Premier League season, with the Reds sitting sixth on nine points after three draws and two wins.
Iraola demands ruthlessness
Iraola has urged his team to be as ruthless as possible in order to return to a good run of form. Speaking after a winning return to Bournemouth, the 44-year-old admitted that the coming weeks will be extremely demanding for his team, but improvements have been made.
"I think overall we've improved, definitely since the first games. Some of the things we still need to improve, more things. I am happy it is the third clean sheet in a row in the league. But we still have to get ready because the schedule that we have now, it's very difficult," he said.
"I think we are playing against top-four teams and then in between Champions [League] and then in between Chelsea in the Carabao [Cup] and everything in two, three days. So we have to get ready because this next month, after this break, it's going be very demanding for us."
Klopp defends Wirtz
Jurgen Klopp claims that Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool at an "unfortunate time" for the club as he continues to defend the struggling star. Criticism has followed the Germany international since his £125million move from Bayer Leverkusen, with Jamie Carragher worried that Wirtz isn't actually in poor form.
Despite this, Klopp has backed Wirtz to eventually succeed at Anfield. He called the star up to the national team squad early due to Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala sustaining injuries.
Discussing the 23-year-old, Klopp explained: "When you look at the overall context, Flo joined Liverpool at a very unfortunate time. It's about the passing of Diogo Jota. He joined a team with the players whose priority was not football at that time, which is very understandable."
"He learned a lot from his first year. Now is a new season under a new coach, he started all games, I think. He's physically doing very well. The team is starting to find itself again. Attacking players always need a functioning team around them."
"Everyone who loves football can still see what an outstanding player Flo Wirtz is. His footballing ability is beyond any doubt. He is on a good path, but people are never satisfied with how quickly things happen. We have to make sure that Flo feels comfortable with us and can fit into what we want from him. With us, hopefully, he can simply be Flo."
Isak suffers toe injury
Alexander Isak has returned to Anfield after suffering a "real blow" of an injury while on international duty with Sweden. The striker injured his toe against Romania after being stamped on, but still completed 90 minutes.
His foot was visibly bloodied in a picture shared by Sportbladet, but Isak has played down fears that it is a serious issue. He said: "It was a real blow. You can see it. It was a real punch. Those of you who have played may know that it takes a few minutes before it releases, but it was okay."
Sweden boss Graham Potter was planning to play Isak in all four games, but he will now miss the clashes against Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the return leg against Romania.
