Last updated: 21 August 2026
Now it begins.
Liverpool open their Premier League season away to Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday, 23 August.
It will also mark the beginning of Andoni Iraola’s first Premier League campaign as Liverpool head coach.
And I have to admit:
I cannot wait.
I am excited about Iraola.
The aggressive pressing.
The counter-press.
The more direct attacking football.
The runs towards goal.
Jeremie Frimpong flying forward.
Florian Wirtz operating between the lines.
Dominik Szoboszlai pressing everything that moves.
Alexander Isak attacking the space behind the defence.
Rio Ngumoha and Víctor Muñoz taking defenders on.
And perhaps more than anything, I want Liverpool to become a team where, after five minutes, you can immediately think:
THAT is Liverpool.
But alongside the excitement, I have one major concern just before the season begins:
Where exactly is Liverpool’s transfer plan?
From the outside, Liverpool’s summer increasingly looks reactive rather than carefully executed.
The club knew Mohamed Salah was leaving.
Liverpool knew about Ibrahima Konaté’s contract situation.
They knew Conor Bradley had suffered a major injury.
They have known since April that Hugo Ekitike would miss a significant period following his Achilles injury.
Yet Liverpool approach the Premier League season with major questions at:
right wing.
defensive midfield.
right-back cover.
centre-forward depth.
And one of the latest major moves?
A £50 million bid for Yankuba Minteh.
Brighton rejected it.
And Minteh himself is expected to be out for around:
EIGHT WEEKS.
Liverpool need attacking depth now.
Liverpool need goals now.
Liverpool need assists now.
Liverpool need a natural right winger now.
Yet one of the club’s latest concrete attempts is for a player who cannot solve the immediate problem. Brighton rejected Liverpool’s reported £50m offer, while Minteh is expected to miss around eight weeks with a leg injury.
Minteh could still become an excellent long-term signing.
But the timing makes me ask:
Is this a coherent long-term plan – or are Liverpool beginning to fight fires?
Liverpool RIGHT NOW – 21 August 2026
| Area | Status |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Andoni Iraola |
| Premier League 2025/26 | 5th |
| First league game | Newcastle away – 23 August |
| Mohamed Salah | Gone |
| Andy Robertson | Gone |
| Ibrahima Konaté | Gone |
| Rhys Williams | Gone |
| Hugo Ekitike | Long-term injury |
| Conor Bradley | Long-term injury |
| Giovanni Leoni | ACL rehabilitation |
| Stefan Bajcetic | Returning after long absence |
| Jérémy Jacquet | New signing |
| Víctor Muñoz | New signing |
| Ronald Araújo | New on loan |
| Right wing | Still unresolved |
| New No. 6 | Still not signed |
| Right-back cover | Too thin |
| Yankuba Minteh | £50m bid rejected – injured |
| Bradley Barcola | Transfer target |
| Ibrahim Mbaye | Transfer target |
| Curtis Jones | Very close to Inter |
| Cody Gakpo | Tottenham interest |
| Harvey Elliott | Could be sold |
| Federico Chiesa | Could be sold |
| Calvin Ramsay | Could be sold |
| Wataru Endo | I would keep him |
| Richard Hughes | Future uncertain |
| 1892 Holdings | New major minority investor |
| Transfer deadline | 1 September |
Liverpool finished fifth with 60 points, 63 goals scored and 53 conceded last season. Finter’s full English Premier League preview contains the complete 2025/26 table, statistics, set pieces and 2026/27 predictions.
Read the full English Premier League 2026/27 season preview on Finter.dk:
Who Has Already LEFT Liverpool?
This needs to be understood before analysing Liverpool’s transfer window.
Liverpool are not simply adding two or three players.
The club are in the middle of a major rebuild.
Among the senior departures are:
Mohamed Salah
Andy Robertson
Ibrahima Konaté
Rhys Williams
Those are not four insignificant names.
Liverpool have lost:
- one of the greatest attacking players in club history
- their automatic first-choice right winger for nearly a decade
- one of the defining left-backs of Liverpool’s modern era
- an established international centre-back
That is a major generational transition.
Which is exactly why I expected the squad to look more complete by this stage of August.
Mohamed Salah – The Hole Is Much Bigger Than His Goals
Salah leaves an enormous vacancy.
Not just because he scored.
For years, he made one position incredibly simple:
RIGHT WING.
Nobody needed to ask:
Who starts there?
The answer was Mohamed Salah.
Now Liverpool no longer have that certainty.
They lose:
- goals
- assists
- runs in behind
- finishing
- one-v-one threat
- penalty responsibility
- creativity
- opposition attention
- the ability to decide close matches almost by himself
That is not something you replace with one random transfer.
Salah’s Final-Season Output
Salah finished his final Liverpool season with:
12 goals
and:
10 assists
in all competitions.
That is:
22 DIRECT GOAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
Even in a season below his greatest Liverpool standards, that is a lot of production to redistribute.
And this is the critical word:
REDISTRIBUTE.
Liverpool should not expect one new winger to recreate Salah.
The goals and assists must come from:
Isak.
Wirtz.
Szoboszlai.
Gakpo if he stays.
Rio.
Muñoz.
and new signings.
Who Could Still LEAVE Liverpool?
This is where the rebuild becomes even bigger.
Several more players could depart before the deadline.
Curtis Jones – Inter Deal Very Close
Curtis Jones appears extremely close to leaving Liverpool.
Reports say Liverpool and Inter have agreed a deal around £30 million / €35 million, with Jones allowed to proceed towards the move.
I like Curtis.
He is:
- homegrown
- a Liverpool academy graduate
- technically strong
- press-resistant
- comfortable in tight areas
- tactically flexible
But he is also 25.
If Iraola does not see him as a major starter, then:
SELL.
But use that money intelligently.
Liverpool cannot sell midfield depth and then discover in November that the squad is short.
Harvey Elliott – I Would Also Sell at the Right Price
I like Elliott as a footballer.
But where is his natural role in this Iraola team?
No. 10?
Wirtz.
Attacking No. 8?
Szoboszlai.
Mac Allister.
Right wing?
Liverpool appear to want more explosive pace, direct running and one-v-one ability there.
If a sensible offer arrives:
SELL.
It could ultimately be better for both Liverpool and Elliott if he joins a club where he becomes an automatic starter.
Federico Chiesa – Can Also Leave
My position here is now clear.
Chiesa can be sold.
But:
SIGN THE REPLACEMENTS FIRST.
If Liverpool sign two new wide forwards such as:
Barcola.
Mbaye.
Minteh.
or players of a similar level and profile,
then Chiesa can move on.
Liverpool need to shape the squad specifically around Iraola.
Calvin Ramsay – Sell, But Only After Cover Arrives
I would also move Ramsay on.
But not while Liverpool still have a shortage at right-back.
Bradley remains unavailable.
Frimpong is the starter.
The correct order is therefore:
1. SIGN RB/CB COVER.
2. SELL RAMSAY.
Not the other way around.
Cody Gakpo – Could He Leave Too?
This is another fascinating situation.
Tottenham have shown interest in Cody Gakpo.
There is no completed deal.
He remains a Liverpool player.
But Gakpo now belongs in the category:
POSSIBLE DEPARTURE.
And Liverpool need to be extremely careful here.
Gakpo’s Goals and Assists Matter
Cody Gakpo 2025/26
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 52 |
| Goals | 9 |
| Assists | 6 |
| Goal contributions | 15 |
Fifteen goal contributions matter.
Especially when:
Salah is already gone.
Ekitike is injured.
Liverpool already need more goals.
Would I Sell Gakpo?
YES – BUT ONLY UNDER VERY SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.
If Tottenham or another club offer a huge fee.
And Liverpool have already signed major attacking replacements such as:
Barcola.
Mbaye.
or another proven high-level attacker.
Then you can consider it.
But if Liverpool’s strategy is:
- sell Gakpo
- hope Barcola arrives
- hope Mbaye arrives
- chase another winger on Deadline Day
then:
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
My rule for the rest of this transfer window is simple:
BUY FIRST.
SELL SECOND.
Full Exit Picture
| Player | Status | My View |
|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Salah | Gone | Enormous loss |
| Andy Robertson | Gone | Generational change |
| Ibrahima Konaté | Gone | Major defensive loss |
| Rhys Williams | Gone | Squad departure |
| Curtis Jones | Very close to Inter | Sell |
| Harvey Elliott | Uncertain | Sell for a good offer |
| Federico Chiesa | Uncertain | Sell after new wingers arrive |
| Calvin Ramsay | Uncertain | Sell after RB cover arrives |
| Cody Gakpo | Tottenham interest | Only sell after major attacking signings |
| Wataru Endo | Still at Liverpool | KEEP |
If all those possible exits happen, Liverpool will have made a huge change to the squad in one summer.
Which makes the next question even more important:
WHERE ARE ALL THE REPLACEMENTS?
IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A CLEAR TRANSFER PLAN
This is where I want to be very clear.
I obviously do not know exactly what is sitting on Richard Hughes’ laptop.
Liverpool clearly have:
scouts.
data.
shortlists.
A-options.
B-options.
negotiations.
price limits.
long-term models.
So I am not saying Liverpool literally have no internal plan.
I am saying:
I CAN ONLY JUDGE THE EXECUTION.
And from the outside, the execution does not look particularly coherent.
Salah’s Departure Was Known
Liverpool had time to prepare.
Yet they enter the final part of August without a clear senior specialist succeeding Salah on the right.
That is difficult to understand.
Konaté’s Situation Was Known
Liverpool knew their centre-back group was changing.
Jacquet arrived.
I like that signing.
Araújo has arrived on loan.
Also understandable.
But the defensive rebuild has still been heavily influenced by injuries and late adjustments.
Van Dijk himself has acknowledged that Liverpool’s new-look defence will need time to develop chemistry following the departures of Konaté and Robertson and the arrival of new defenders.
Bradley’s Injury Was Known Too
Yet Liverpool are still asking:
Who is Frimpong’s natural deputy?
Araújo can also play there.
Gomez can also play there.
Ramsay can play there.
Szoboszlai can also fill in.
And this is one of the themes I dislike most about the current squad:
“HE CAN ALSO PLAY THERE.”
Flexibility is useful.
But Liverpool also need:
SPECIALISTS.
A Top Squad Needs Specialists
Right wing:
A REAL RIGHT WINGER.
No. 6:
A REAL NO. 6.
Right-back cover:
A NATURAL OPTION.
If the same player can cover another position too?
Excellent.
But:
SPECIALIST FIRST. FLEXIBILITY SECOND.
Look at Liverpool’s Attacking Targets
Liverpool have been associated with several very different players.
Bradley Barcola
Established elite-level winger.
Ibrahim Mbaye
18-year-old super-talent.
Yan Diomande
Young explosive development profile.
Endrick
Primarily a striker.
Yankuba Minteh
Premier League right winger.
These are very different profiles.
That might simply reflect Liverpool pursuing several separate roles.
But from the outside it can also look like:
Liverpool are trying a bit of everything.
And then comes the latest concrete offer:
£50 MILLION FOR AN INJURED WINGER.
That is when Liverpool begin to look pressured.
The Minteh Bid Makes Liverpool Look Desperate
“Desperate” is my analysis, not a confirmed internal fact.
Minteh is not a bad player.
I actually like him.
But look at the timing:
The season is starting.
The right-wing position remains unresolved.
A £50m bid is rejected.
The player cannot play for around eight weeks.
Liverpool may bid again.
That does not look like the ideal outcome of a summer that should have been carefully prepared.
Yankuba Minteh – What Does He Actually Offer?
Minteh is 22.
A Gambia international.
Premier League experienced.
Fast.
Direct.
Naturally suited to the right.
Comfortable attacking defenders.
Willing to run behind.
Able to maintain width.
On paper, he can suit Iraola extremely well.
Yankuba Minteh 2025/26
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Premier League appearances | 34 |
| Starts | 26 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 4 |
| Goal contributions | 7 |
He has nine Premier League goals across his two Brighton seasons.
Exciting player?
YES.
Finished superstar?
NO.
Minteh Offers More Than His Goal Total
He attacks defenders.
He runs.
He stretches the pitch.
He can go outside.
He can create chaos.
He is brave in one-v-one situations.
And those qualities matter.
Finter’s English dribbling analysis actually placed Minteh among the leading high-volume dribblers in Europe’s major leagues, with 64 successful dribbles from 119 attempts and a 53.8% success rate in its data set.
That gives a better indication of why Liverpool may like him.
Read the English Finter.dk dribbling analysis:
Salah vs Minteh – The Output Gap
It is obviously unfair to demand that a 22-year-old becomes Mohamed Salah immediately.
But Liverpool are replacing the right side of their attack, so comparing output is relevant.
Premier League 2025/26
| Statistic | Mohamed Salah | Yankuba Minteh |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 27 | 34 |
| Goals | 7 | 3 |
| Assists | 7 | 4 |
| Goal contributions | 14 | 7 |
| Goal contributions per 90 | approx. 0.59 | approx. 0.26 |
Salah produced approximately twice as many direct league goal contributions.
That does not mean:
Minteh is poor.
It means:
MINTEH CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO REPLACE SALAH’S OUTPUT ALONE.
Minteh Is a Development Signing
What Liverpool would be buying is:
✅ pace
✅ Premier League experience
✅ a natural right winger
✅ one-v-one ability
✅ age profile
✅ development potential
✅ a strong stylistic fit for Iraola
But not:
20 GUARANTEED GOALS.
And He Is Injured
This is the biggest issue.
Liverpool need a winger:
NOW.
Minteh could be excellent in:
October.
November.
December.
But Liverpool’s league season is starting:
NOW.
That is why Minteh cannot be the complete solution.
Watch Yankuba Minteh
Brighton’s official video:
Best Of Yankuba Minteh – Goals, Assists & Vital Tackles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxlbyLQfjwU
If Minteh Arrives, Liverpool Still Need Another Attacker
My position is straightforward:
MINTEH ALONE = NOT ENOUGH.
But:
Minteh + Barcola?
Very interesting.
Minteh + Mbaye?
Very interesting.
Barcola + Mbaye?
Also very interesting.
Bradley Barcola AND Ibrahim Mbaye – Not Either/Or
I want to make this very clear.
I do not see it as:
BARCOLA OR MBAYE.
Liverpool could potentially benefit from:
BARCOLA AND MBAYE.
They are different players.
They are at different stages of development.
They can cover different attacking roles.
And recent reporting has said Iraola wants two wide forwards before the transfer deadline.
Bradley Barcola – The More Established Elite Option
Barcola gives Liverpool:
- elite pace
- dribbling
- goals
- assists
- Champions League experience
- runs behind
- ability to play across the forward line
- immediate first-team quality
The problem?
The price.
PSG’s valuation has been reported at an enormous level, around £145m in the latest coverage.
That is huge.
But Barcola is also far closer than Minteh or Mbaye to being a player who can deliver at elite level:
RIGHT NOW.
Read the full English Bradley Barcola profile on Finter.dk: Bradley Barcola – PSG’s Lightning-Fast Superstar: Goals, Assists, Speed, Skills, World Cup 2026, Records and Full Story
Ibrahim Mbaye – The Long-Term Right-Wing Talent
Mbaye is a very different proposition.
He is only 18.
Less proven.
More developmental.
But extremely exciting.
He gives:
- pace
- one-v-one ability
- right-sided attacking quality
- ability to play on both wings
- youth
- huge potential
If Liverpool can develop:
Mbaye.
Rio.
Muñoz.
alongside players like Wirtz and Isak,
the long-term attack could become extremely exciting.
Could Liverpool Use Barcola, Mbaye AND Minteh?
If Gakpo and Chiesa leave?
YES.
A future attacking depth chart could look something like:
| Position | Options |
|---|---|
| Left wing | Barcola, Rio, Muñoz |
| Right wing | Mbaye, Minteh, Rio, Muñoz |
| No. 10 | Wirtz, Szoboszlai |
| No. 9 | Isak, Ekitike |
That is:
younger.
faster.
more direct.
more one-v-one focused.
more Iraola.
Liverpool Could Play 50-60 Matches
Premier League.
Champions League.
FA Cup.
League Cup.
A deep season means a huge number of matches.
Iraola’s football also demands:
running.
sprinting.
pressing.
counter-pressing.
rotation.
Fresh legs are therefore not simply a luxury.
THEY ARE PART OF THE TACTICAL MODEL.
Minute 65 Could Become a Liverpool Weapon
Imagine this:
Barcola or Gakpo has played 65 minutes.
Mbaye has pressed for 65 minutes.
The opposition full-backs are exhausted.
Then Liverpool introduce:
RIO.
MUÑOZ.
And eventually:
MINTEH.
That is the kind of bench an Iraola side can exploit.
But Where Are the GOALS Coming From?
This may be the biggest question of the season.
Liverpool begin without:
SALAH.
And:
EKITIKE.
That means two of last season’s top three scorers are unavailable at the start of the campaign.
Liverpool’s Key Attacking Production in 2025/26
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hugo Ekitike | 45 | 17 | 6 |
| Dominik Szoboszlai | 53 | 13 | 12 |
| Mohamed Salah | 41 | 12 | 10 |
| Cody Gakpo | 52 | 9 | 6 |
| Florian Wirtz | 49 | 7 | 8 |
| Alexander Isak | 22 | 4 | 1 |
| Federico Chiesa | 36 | 3 | 3 |
The key point is obvious:
Liverpool need several players to increase their attacking output this season.
Ekitike and Salah Were Not Liverpool’s Top Two Scorers
This needs to be precise.
Liverpool’s leading scorers were:
1. Hugo Ekitike – 17
2. Dominik Szoboszlai – 13
3. Mohamed Salah – 12
So it would be wrong to say Liverpool are missing their two leading scorers.
But Liverpool do begin the season without:
EKITIKE’S 17 GOALS
and:
SALAH’S 12 GOALS.
That is:
29 GOALS
from last season that are unavailable at the start.
And then there are the assists.
Hugo Ekitike – Hughes’ Best Major Signing?
For me:
YES.
Seventeen goals.
Six assists.
And the season was cut short by the devastating Achilles injury.
That was a strong debut campaign.
Which makes his absence even more painful.
Liverpool enter the season without last year’s:
TOP SCORER.
If Gakpo Leaves Too?
Then Liverpool potentially lose another:
9 goals
and:
6 assists.
That is why I am completely clear:
DO NOT SELL GAKPO BEFORE THE REPLACEMENTS ARE SIGNED.
Alexander Isak – NOW the Goals Have to Come
Isak carries enormous responsibility.
His first Liverpool season was disrupted.
He finished with:
4 goals
and:
1 assist.
That is nowhere near what Liverpool bought him to produce.
But everyone knows what Isak can do.
His Newcastle career demonstrated that he can be one of the Premier League’s most dangerous centre-forwards.
My Isak Target
I want:
AT LEAST 20 GOALS IN ALL COMPETITIONS.
Preferably:
25+.
Liverpool cannot enter the post-Salah era without their huge-money No. 9 becoming a major goalscorer.
Alexander Isak – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Alexander+Isak+Liverpool
What Happens If Isak Gets Injured?
This remains one of the squad’s biggest problems.
Ekitike is out.
Gakpo?
He can play No. 9.
If he is still at Liverpool.
Wirtz?
He can play false nine.
But then you remove him from his best creative areas.
Chiesa?
Potentially.
If he remains.
Again:
“HE CAN ALSO PLAY THERE.”
I would love Liverpool to sign an attacker naturally capable of playing:
RW + No. 9.
That would solve two problems at once.
Florian Wirtz – Time to Explode
Wirtz produced:
7 goals
and:
8 assists
in his first Liverpool season.
That is not terrible.
But considering:
the fee.
the talent.
the expectations.
MORE IS REQUIRED.
Iraola Could Be Perfect for Wirtz
Picture this.
Liverpool press.
Win possession.
The opposition midfield is disorganised.
Wirtz receives between the lines.
Isak runs behind.
Barcola attacks from the left.
A natural winger attacks from the right.
That can become:
FLORIAN WIRTZ FOOTBALL.
My Wirtz Target
I want:
10+ PREMIER LEAGUE GOALS.
And hopefully:
10+ ASSISTS.
He needs to become the player who makes Liverpool’s fast attacks intelligent.
Florian Wirtz – YouTube
Dominik Szoboszlai – Maybe the Perfect Iraola Player
Do not forget him in all the transfer noise.
Szoboszlai was Liverpool’s:
PLAYER OF THE SEASON 2025/26.
Szoboszlai 2025/26
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 53 |
| Starts | 53 |
| Goals | 13 |
| Assists | 12 |
| Goal contributions | 25 |
Twenty-five goal contributions from midfield.
Outstanding.
He Looks Built for Iraola
Szoboszlai offers:
pressing.
sprinting.
physicality.
running.
shooting.
set pieces.
energy.
work rate.
He may become even more important under Iraola.
My Liverpool Attacking Goal Budget for 2026/27
This is Finter’s ambition, not an official projection.
| Player | Target |
|---|---|
| Alexander Isak | 20-25 goals |
| Florian Wirtz | 10-15 goals |
| Dominik Szoboszlai | 10-15 goals |
| Cody Gakpo, if he stays | 12-15 goals |
| New elite winger | 10-15 goals |
| Rio Ngumoha | 5-8 goals |
| Víctor Muñoz | 5-8 goals |
| Ekitike after his comeback | Everything is valuable |
Salah should not be replaced by one player.
He should be replaced by:
MORE ATTACKING PRODUCTION ACROSS THE ENTIRE TEAM.
IRAOLA – This Is Still Why I Am Excited
Despite all my criticism of the transfer window:
I REALLY BELIEVE IN THE COACHING CHANGE.
Iraola football is:
direct.
aggressive.
high intensity.
brave.
Liverpool’s 2025/26 team averaged 57.9% possession, the second-highest figure in the league, but Iraola’s Bournemouth played with a significantly more vertical, fast-moving attacking profile.
Liverpool Need to Move Forward Faster
When Liverpool win the ball:
GO FORWARD.
If Isak runs:
play him.
If Rio has a full-back one-v-one:
give him the ball.
If Wirtz finds space:
find him.
If Frimpong has space:
release him.
The One Statistic I Do NOT Expect to Improve: Possession
Liverpool already had around:
58% POSSESSION
last season.
And finished:
FIFTH.
That tells you something.
MORE POSSESSION DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN BETTER FOOTBALL.
I Would Happily Take 54%
If it brings:
more shots.
more high turnovers.
more runs behind.
more big chances.
more one-v-one situations.
faster attacks.
I Would Rather Have 54% and 20 Shots
than:
67% and eight shots.
Liverpool do not necessarily need:
MORE OF THE BALL.
Liverpool need to:
USE THE BALL BETTER.
First Liverpool Need to Become “Iraola Fit”
This is extremely important.
I do not think Liverpool are fully physically prepared for Iraola football yet.
That does not mean the players were poorly conditioned under Slot.
It means:
IRAOLA REQUIRES A DIFFERENT KIND OF FITNESS.
Repeated High-Intensity Actions
Sprint.
Stop.
Press.
Accelerate.
Counter-press.
Recover.
Sprint again.
Duel again.
It is not simply about total distance.
It is about:
REPEATED EXPLOSIVE ACTIONS.
Iraola Has Had a Difficult Preseason
He has had to:
- implement a new tactical system
- change the pressing triggers
- change running patterns
- integrate new players
- wait for World Cup players
- manage long-term injuries
- work with a squad still changing during the transfer window
So I give:
IRAOLA TIME.
The Injuries Have Been Brutal
Hugo Ekitike
Achilles injury.
Long-term absence.
Conor Bradley
Major knee injury.
Giovanni Leoni
ACL rehabilitation.
Joe Gomez
Fitness problems during preseason.
Jérémy Jacquet
Needed to rebuild after a significant injury spell.
Stefan Bajcetic
Returning after a very long absence.
Liverpool’s squad therefore has not entered this season from a perfect physical starting point.
Giovanni Leoni – The Young Italian Centre-Back
Leoni remains an important part of Liverpool’s future.
But an ACL injury means he must be brought back carefully.
Liverpool cannot simply assume he will immediately play 40 matches.
Jérémy Jacquet – Potential Future Defensive Leader
Jacquet is one of Liverpool’s most exciting new players.
Jacquet 2025/26
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Ligue 1 appearances | 19 |
| Aerial duels won | 75.5% |
| Ground duels won | 62% |
| Pass completion | 90.4% |
| Clearances per 90 | 4.9 |
| Possession wins per 90 | 4.14 |
He has:
size.
aerial quality.
composure.
passing.
development potential.
He could eventually become a major part of the post-Van Dijk defence.
Ronald Araújo – Experience RIGHT NOW
Araújo gives Liverpool something different.
Barcelona experience.
Champions League experience.
Uruguay.
physical strength.
aggression.
aerial ability.
leadership.
and the ability to cover right-back.
Liverpool moved for Araújo on a season-long loan as Iraola sought more defensive options during an injury-hit preseason.
He could become a very important addition.
Víctor Muñoz – Maybe the Overlooked Signing
Muñoz is extremely interesting.
Liverpool signed him from Osasuna for around £34.5m, and the Premier League’s own tactical analysis described his pace, ball carrying and direct style as a strong fit for Iraola.
His previous league campaign included:
34 appearances.
7 goals.
5 assists.
He offers:
pace.
one-v-one ability.
direct attacking.
versatility.
Muñoz and Minteh Are Both Among Finter’s Dribbling Leaders
One reason Muñoz fits the Iraola idea is that he repeatedly attacks opponents.
Finter’s English ranking recorded 69 successful dribbles from 174 attempts for Muñoz, while Minteh recorded 64 from 119.
That is exactly the type of direct one-v-one profile Liverpool appear to be building towards.
Read the full English ranking:
Rio Ngumoha – Huge Talent, But Not the Entire Transfer Strategy
I believe in Rio.
A lot.
He should play.
He should start matches.
He should come off the bench.
He should be allowed to explode.
But:
HE SHOULD WIN THE POSITION.
He should not simply receive Salah’s old role because Liverpool failed to sign the right player.
Rio is expected to have a prominent role under Iraola after his breakout season, but his development still includes improving stamina, consistency and goal contributions.
That is normal.
He is still a teenager.
Rio and Trey Nyoni Are Bonuses
They can almost feel like two new signings.
But young players should be:
A BONUS.
Not:
THE EXCUSE FOR NOT BUYING.
If they explode?
Fantastic.
But Liverpool’s entire squad plan cannot depend on teenagers immediately becoming elite Premier League starters.
ATTACKING SET PIECES – Liverpool Could Become Extremely Dangerous
Now we come to one of the areas I really wanted included.
Set pieces.
And it is crucial to separate:
ATTACKING SET PIECES
from:
DEFENSIVE SET PIECES.
Because Liverpool’s story was very different at each end.
Liverpool Started Poorly on Attacking Set Pieces
During the first half of last season, Liverpool were not dangerous enough from dead-ball situations.
But the improvement later in the campaign was dramatic.
The final Finter Premier League data table has Liverpool on:
18 SET-PIECE GOALS.
That is a respectable attacking number.
So the Attacking Side Is Not Starting From Zero
I want Iraola to build on the improvement.
Liverpool should aim for:
✅ more planned corner routines
✅ intelligent blocks
✅ better movement
✅ better first contact
✅ more aggressive second-ball positioning
✅ more goals from centre-backs
✅ maximum use of Szoboszlai’s delivery
Liverpool Have the Players to Dominate Attacking Set Pieces
Imagine Szoboszlai standing over the ball.
Inside the box:
VIRGIL VAN DIJK.
RONALD ARAÚJO.
JÉRÉMY JACQUET.
ALEXANDER ISAK.
RYAN GRAVENBERCH.
CODY GAKPO, IF HE STAYS.
That should be:
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
DEFENSIVE SET PIECES – This Was Far Too Poor
Now the other side.
Liverpool conceded:
20 NON-PENALTY SET-PIECE GOALS
in the Premier League last season.
That was joint-worst territory in the league and a huge reason their overall defensive record was not good enough. Finter’s English Premier League set-piece table has Liverpool at 18 scored, 20 conceded, -2 net.
For a club with title ambitions:
NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
Liverpool’s Set-Piece Balance
| Statistic | Liverpool 2025/26 |
|---|---|
| Set-piece goals scored | 18 |
| Set-piece goals conceded | 20 |
| Net | -2 |
Compare that with Arsenal:
| Statistic | Arsenal |
|---|---|
| Set-piece goals scored | 25 |
| Set-piece goals conceded | 8 |
| Net | +17 |
That is a:
19-GOAL SWING
in set-piece net performance.
It helps explain how dead balls can influence an entire title race.
The Problem Was Often the Second Ball
Liverpool’s problem was not simply:
Van Dijk needs to win the header.
Often the first phase was defended.
Then:
a poor clearance.
a lost second ball.
a new cross.
a free opponent.
a late reaction.
goal.
That is about:
ORGANISATION.
What I Want Defensively
✅ stronger first contact
✅ better second-ball reactions
✅ clearer marking responsibility
✅ fewer free headers
✅ better protection outside the penalty area
✅ aggressive movement out after clearances
✅ fewer cheap goals
What I Want Offensively
✅ keep last season’s improved production
✅ more routines
✅ better delivery
✅ more goals from the defenders
✅ greater use of Szoboszlai
✅ stronger second-phase attacks
If Liverpool can improve their overall set-piece balance by:
8-10 GOALS
that could translate directly into a significant number of league points.
Why Arsenal Prove Set Pieces Matter
Arsenal scored:
25 set-piece goals
and conceded:
only 8.
Difference:
+17.
Liverpool:
-2.
This is not a small tactical detail anymore.
It is a major part of elite football.
Where Is the New No. 6?
This remains my second-biggest transfer priority.
Ryan Gravenberch is good enough.
That is not the problem.
The problem is:
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE DOES NOT PLAY?
Mac Allister can play deeper.
Endo can.
Bajcetic might.
But again:
“HE CAN ALSO.”
I Want a Real No. 6
A player who can:
read counter-attacks.
win second balls.
close spaces.
protect the centre-backs.
receive under pressure.
move the ball forward quickly.
cover the full-backs.
This role could become even more important under Iraola.
Why the No. 6 Matters Even More in Iraola’s System
Imagine:
Frimpong is high.
Kerkez is high.
Wirtz is attacking.
Szoboszlai jumps into the press.
Liverpool lose possession.
There is space.
The No. 6 must become:
THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
He has to stop the transition before it becomes a 40-metre sprint towards Van Dijk.
Wataru Endo Must STAY
My view is now completely clear.
KEEP ENDO.
He is 33.
He is not Liverpool’s five-year midfield solution.
But right now he gives:
experience.
discipline.
work rate.
duelling.
tactical intelligence.
No. 6 cover.
the ability to close matches.
positional flexibility.
And most importantly:
LIVERPOOL STILL LACK DEPTH.
Endo’s Flexibility Is an Asset Right Now
Normally, I am criticising Liverpool for relying on too many:
“he can also play there”
solutions.
But Endo is different.
He is already a squad player.
His flexibility is useful precisely because Liverpool are currently short in several areas.
Selling him for a modest fee while the squad remains thin makes little sense to me.
When Could Endo Be Sold?
When Liverpool have:
a new No. 6.
Bradley back.
better defensive depth.
a finished squad.
Then reconsider.
But right now:
ENDO STAYS.
Frimpong – Who Is His Backup?
Bradley remains out.
So Liverpool can use:
Araújo.
Gomez.
Ramsay.
perhaps Szoboszlai.
But:
WHO IS THE NATURAL DEPUTY?
That is the issue.
I Want an RB/CB Hybrid
This would be a smart signing.
A player naturally capable of playing:
RIGHT-BACK
and:
CENTRE-BACK.
Then Liverpool get:
Frimpong cover.
centre-back depth.
rotation.
physicality.
defensive flexibility.
Araújo Cannot Be Two Players at Once
This sounds obvious.
But it matters.
If Araújo starts next to Van Dijk:
he cannot simultaneously be:
FRIMPONG’S BACKUP.
That is why “he can also play there” only goes so far.
Left-Back Is Not the Priority
Kerkez is the first choice.
Tsimikas can cover.
That is:
FINE.
Liverpool have much bigger needs elsewhere.
Mamardashvili – This Is Where Liverpool DID Plan Ahead
Goalkeeper is one area where I think the club’s planning makes sense.
Alisson now.
Mamardashvili later.
That is how a generational transition should work:
HAVE THE SUCCESSOR READY BEFORE THE PROBLEM ARRIVES.
Richard Hughes – Is This His Final Liverpool Window?
Richard Hughes’ future remains uncertain.
There has been British reporting suggesting he could leave Liverpool after the summer period, but Liverpool have not officially announced a specific departure date.
So it would be wrong to state:
HUGHES DEFINITELY LEAVES ON 1 SEPTEMBER.
But his future is clearly a major story.
If Hughes Leaves Soon?
My personal view:
I DO NOT THINK HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.
That does not mean everything he has done has been bad.
What Hughes Deserves Credit For
Salah’s 2025 Contract Extension
Important.
Van Dijk’s Extension
Very important.
Player Sales
Liverpool have generated significant money from outgoing players.
Hugo Ekitike
For me:
HIS BEST MAJOR SIGNING.
Seventeen goals.
Six assists.
Before the serious injury.
But Liverpool Have Spent Huge Money
So the argument cannot simply be:
“FSG NEVER SPEND.”
That is not accurate.
Liverpool have spent heavily on players including:
Isak.
Wirtz.
Ekitike.
Frimpong.
Kerkez.
Leoni.
and others.
The issue is not simply whether money was spent.
The issue is:
HOW WELL THE SQUAD WAS CONSTRUCTED.
How Can the Squad Still Have These Holes?
After massive investment, Liverpool still lack:
a clear Salah successor
another natural No. 6
natural Frimpong cover
secure centre-forward depth while Ekitike is injured
That is what I criticise.
Ekitike Has Delivered
Big success.
Wirtz Must Deliver More
Still enormous potential.
But more output is required.
Isak Must Deliver MUCH More
Four goals is nowhere near enough.
The target should be 20-25+.
Frimpong and Kerkez
Both have clear qualities.
But there are still questions around balance and depth.
Leoni
Impossible to judge fairly because of injury.
My Richard Hughes Rating Right Now
| Area | Rating |
|---|---|
| Incoming transfers | 5.5/10 |
| Sales | 8/10 |
| Contract management | 5/10 |
| Squad balance | 4.5/10 |
| Timing | 4/10 |
| Overall | 5/10 |
That can change.
If Wirtz becomes world class.
If Isak scores 25.
If Jacquet becomes Van Dijk’s long-term successor.
If Muñoz becomes a star.
Then Hughes’ legacy will look different.
But I am judging:
WHERE LIVERPOOL ARE RIGHT NOW.
Contract Management Also Deserves Scrutiny
Hughes deserves credit for extending:
Salah.
Van Dijk.
So it would be unfair to say he failed in every major contract negotiation.
But Liverpool have also had:
Trent.
Konaté.
Robertson.
and later Salah again
move extremely deep into their contract situations.
That is too many major assets reaching dangerous territory.
The Trent Situation Needs to Be Described Correctly
Trent Alexander-Arnold did not literally leave Liverpool for absolutely zero compensation.
Liverpool received a smaller payment to release him before the formal end of his contract so he could join Real Madrid earlier.
The criticism should therefore not be:
Liverpool received nothing.
The criticism should be:
A WORLD-CLASS PLAYER REACHED THE POINT WHERE LIVERPOOL HAD ALMOST NO NORMAL TRANSFER LEVERAGE LEFT.
That is a fairer criticism.
So What Exactly Is the Hughes/FSG Plan?
This is my biggest frustration.
Liverpool knew:
Salah was leaving.
Konaté was leaving.
Robertson was leaving.
Bradley was injured.
Ekitike was injured.
Yet Liverpool are still asking questions about:
right wing.
No. 6.
right-back.
striker depth.
And now:
A £50M BID FOR AN INJURED MINTEH.
That Is Why the Transfer Work Looks Reactive
Again:
I am not saying:
THERE IS LITERALLY NO INTERNAL PLAN.
I am saying:
THE PLAN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IN THE EXECUTION.
Barcola.
Mbaye.
Diomande.
Endrick.
Minteh.
Very different profiles.
Multiple directions.
And the deadline keeps getting closer.
FSG – Liverpool Are Not Financially Weak
Liverpool’s latest published financial results showed:
£703 MILLION IN REVENUE.
A club record.
The breakdown included:
| Area | Amount |
|---|---|
| Revenue | £703m |
| Commercial | £323m |
| Media | £264m |
| Matchday | £116m |
| Staff costs | £428m |
| Profit after tax | £8m |
Liverpool are therefore financially one of football’s biggest clubs.
That does not mean:
£703M TRANSFER BUDGET.
Of course not.
There are wages.
amortisation.
operations.
stadium costs.
PSR.
UEFA rules.
But it does mean:
LIVERPOOL ARE AN ECONOMIC GIANT.
It Costs Money to Win Titles
My position on FSG is simple.
I do not want stupid panic spending.
I do not want Liverpool paying £100m for every footballer just because supporters demand a signing.
But if the team clearly needs:
a No. 6.
a right winger.
a defender.
then:
SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
Sporting Success Also Makes Money
Premier League titles.
Champions League qualification.
Champions League runs.
TV revenue.
sponsors.
merchandise.
global growth.
brand value.
Great signings are not simply:
EXPENSES.
They can also be:
INVESTMENTS.
New Investors – 1892 Holdings
FSG have also brought a new minority investment group into Liverpool.
The group is:
1892 HOLDINGS.
It is led by:
AMIT BHATIA.
The investor group includes capital linked to:
- Mittal Family Trusts
- K5 Sports
- Jeff Bezos as a lead investor in the K5 Sports fund
- EE Capital
- Elaine and Eduardo Saverin’s family office
FSG officially announced the strategic minority investment while retaining majority ownership and operational control.
How Much Do They Own?
Liverpool/FSG officially describe it as:
A MINORITY STAKE.
Recent reporting has put the combined 1892 Holdings position at:
38%.
That should therefore be described as:
A REPORTED 38%.
Not as a percentage Liverpool themselves have formally published.
Jeff Bezos Does NOT Personally Own 38% of Liverpool
This is important.
Bezos is involved through:
K5 SPORTS.
He does not personally own the entire consortium stake.
Amit Bhatia is the central active figure in 1892 Holdings.
Are FSG Preparing to Leave?
We do not know.
FSG have not announced:
“WE ARE SELLING LIVERPOOL.”
So it should not be written as a fact.
But the new ownership structure makes the possibility of a future change much more interesting.
If a huge, well-capitalised minority group has a pathway to potentially increase its stake later, then it is legitimate to ask:
IS THIS THE FIRST STEP?
We simply do not know yet.
FSG Have Created Enormous Financial Value
FSG bought Liverpool for around:
£300 MILLION.
The club is now valued in the:
MULTI-BILLION-POUND RANGE.
That is an extraordinary rise in value.
And it is another reason why I expect:
SPORTING AMBITION.
My Liverpool Squad Rating RIGHT NOW
| Position | Starter level | Depth | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Elite | Elite | 10/10 |
| Right-back | Very strong offensively | Too thin | 6/10 |
| Centre-back | Strong | Injury-sensitive | 8/10 |
| Left-back | Strong | Good enough | 8/10 |
| No. 6 | Strong starter | Too thin | 6/10 |
| Central midfield | Elite | Strong | 9/10 |
| No. 10 | Elite potential | Strong | 9/10 |
| Right wing | Unresolved | Lacks specialist | 5.5/10 |
| Left wing | Strong | Good | 8/10 |
| No. 9 | Elite potential with Isak | Thin right now | 6/10 |
Liverpool’s Best XI Is Not the Problem
If everyone is fit:
Liverpool can beat almost anyone.
The problem arrives in:
MATCH 45.
Champions League on Wednesday.
Premier League on Sunday.
Two injuries.
One suspension.
Three tired players.
That is when you discover whether you have:
A GREAT XI
or:
A GREAT SQUAD.
My Liverpool XI Against Newcastle
Assuming everyone involved is available:
Alisson
Frimpong – Araújo – Van Dijk – Kerkez
Gravenberch – Mac Allister
Szoboszlai – Wirtz – Gakpo
Isak
That is a very strong team.
Alternative With Rio on the Right
If Iraola wants a natural wide player:
Alisson
Frimpong – Araújo – Van Dijk – Kerkez
Gravenberch – Szoboszlai
Rio – Wirtz – Gakpo
Isak
I would not be frightened by that either.
Rio is talented enough to play.
I just do not want Liverpool to make him the forced Salah successor because the transfer window went wrong.
My Dream Liverpool XI After Deadline Day
If the final business is done properly:
Alisson
Frimpong – Araújo/Jacquet – Van Dijk – Kerkez
NEW No. 6
Szoboszlai/Mac Allister – Wirtz
NEW RIGHT WINGER – ISAK – BARCOLA/GAKPO
And a bench containing combinations of:
Rio.
Muñoz.
Mbaye.
Gravenberch.
Mac Allister/Szoboszlai.
Jacquet/Araújo.
Mamardashvili.
Endo.
Tsimikas.
Then later:
Ekitike.
Bradley.
Leoni.
THEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SERIOUS SQUAD.
My Four Transfer Priorities
| Rank | Position | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natural right winger | CRITICAL |
| 2 | New No. 6 | VERY HIGH |
| 3 | RB/CB cover | HIGH |
| 4 | Additional RW/No. 9 or wide attacker | HIGH |
My Final Minteh Verdict
The Positives
✅ 22 years old
✅ Premier League experience
✅ natural right winger
✅ pace
✅ direct football
✅ one-v-one ability
✅ Iraola profile
✅ development potential
The Concerns
❌ only three league goals last season
❌ four assists
❌ far below Salah’s output
❌ £50m already rejected
❌ Brighton do not need to sell cheaply
❌ injured for around eight weeks
❌ does not solve the immediate problem
Verdict:
Exciting long-term target – but nowhere near enough as Liverpool’s only attacking solution.
My Exit Plan
Curtis Jones
SELL.
Harvey Elliott
SELL for the right offer.
Federico Chiesa
SELL after the new wingers arrive.
Calvin Ramsay
SELL after right-back cover arrives.
Cody Gakpo
CAN BE SOLD for a huge price – but only after major attacking additions.
Wataru Endo
KEEP.
Where Will Liverpool Finish?
If the transfer window closed:
TODAY?
I would predict:
4TH-6TH.
My specific prediction:
5TH.
Right now I have:
Arsenal.
Manchester City.
ahead.
Then a tight group involving:
Liverpool.
Chelsea.
Manchester United.
Aston Villa.
What If Liverpool Get the Final Transfers Right?
If Liverpool sign:
a natural right winger.
a No. 6.
RB/CB cover.
extra attacking depth.
Then I move them to:
2ND-4TH.
Then Liverpool can become genuinely dangerous.
Can Liverpool Win the Premier League?
Yes.
The talent is there.
But:
I DO NOT EXPECT IT WITH THE SQUAD AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS.
There are too many:
“ifs”.
If Isak Scores 25
If Wirtz explodes.
If Szoboszlai continues.
If Araújo stays fit.
If Jacquet develops quickly.
If Gravenberch stays available.
If Rio explodes.
If the set pieces improve.
If Iraola gets the pressing right.
If the final transfers arrive.
Then:
LIVERPOOL CAN BE MUCH BETTER THAN MY CURRENT FIFTH-PLACE PREDICTION.
The Cups Could Be Very Interesting
I actually believe Liverpool may have a better chance of:
FA Cup success.
League Cup success.
or a deep Champions League run
than winning the Premier League this season.
Why?
Because:
LIVERPOOL’S BEST XI CAN BE ELITE.
It is the depth across a full league season that concerns me more.
My Five Key Liverpool Players
1. Alexander Isak
Must score.
2. Florian Wirtz
Must create and score more.
3. Dominik Szoboszlai
Could become the perfect Iraola midfielder.
4. Ryan Gravenberch
Extremely important while another No. 6 is missing.
5. Virgil van Dijk
Must lead the entire defensive transition.
Three Wildcards
Rio Ngumoha
Could explode.
Víctor Muñoz
Could become one of the season’s major surprises.
Jérémy Jacquet
Could develop into Liverpool’s future defensive leader.
YouTube Videos for This Liverpool Article
Yankuba Minteh
Best Of Yankuba Minteh – Goals, Assists & Vital Tackles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxlbyLQfjwU
Florian Wirtz
Andoni Iraola Tactics
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Andoni+Iraola+Liverpool+tactics
Alexander Isak Liverpool
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Alexander+Isak+Liverpool
Rio Ngumoha Liverpool
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Rio+Ngumoha+Liverpool
Jérémy Jacquet Liverpool
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Jeremy+Jacquet+Liverpool
Ronald Araújo Skills
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Ronald+Araujo+defensive+skills
Víctor Muñoz Skills
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Victor+Munoz+skills+goals
Bradley Barcola Skills
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Bradley+Barcola+skills
Ibrahim Mbaye Skills
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Ibrahim+Mbaye+PSG+skills
READ MORE ENGLISH FOOTBALL CONTENT ON FINTER.DK
For this English version I would use English-language Finter.dk links only.
Premier League 2026/27 – The Ultimate Season Preview
All 20 clubs, transfers, statistics, new rules, set pieces, Golden Boot predictions and Finter’s final table.
Bradley Barcola – PSG’s Lightning-Fast Superstar
Goals, assists, speed, skills, World Cup 2026, records and full story.
Top 20: The Most-Watched Liverpool Videos on YouTube
Salah, Barcelona, Manchester United, Anfield magic and Liverpool’s biggest official YouTube hits.
World’s Best Dribblers 2025/26
Includes Minteh and Víctor Muñoz among the leading dribblers.
Messi, Maradona, Modrić, De Bruyne, Ronaldinho and the greatest passes ever.
Most Goals Ever
Top 20 in Denmark, the Nordic countries, Europe and the world – goalscoring rates, club goals, international goals and non-penalty goals.
Fastest Hat-Tricks in Football History
Includes former Liverpool superstar Sadio Mané’s Premier League record and Mohamed Salah’s Champions League record.
Most Headed Goals in Football History
Ronaldo, Crouch, Klose and the greatest heading records – useful reading alongside Liverpool’s set-piece analysis.
Finter.dk English Football Homepage
Football stories, statistics, tactics, training, stars, skills, videos, history and much more.
FAQ – Liverpool 2026/27
Have Liverpool really bid £50 million for Yankuba Minteh?
Yes. Brighton rejected the reported £50m bid.
How long is Minteh injured for?
Current reporting says around eight weeks following a preseason leg injury.
How many goals and assists did Minteh have last season?
Three Premier League goals and four assists.
Is Minteh a direct Salah replacement?
Positionally he could become Liverpool’s right winger. In terms of production, he is currently well below Salah’s output.
Should Liverpool buy Minteh?
I like him as a long-term signing, but he should not be the only attacking addition.
Can Liverpool sign both Barcola and Mbaye?
Potentially, yes. I do not see the two players as automatically either/or, particularly if Liverpool intend to add two wide forwards and sell attackers.
Could Gakpo leave?
Tottenham have shown interest, but there is no completed Liverpool-Tottenham deal.
How many goal contributions did Gakpo produce?
Nine goals and six assists – 15 direct goal contributions.
Would I sell Gakpo?
Only for a major fee and only after Liverpool have already secured high-quality attacking replacements.
Who has already left Liverpool?
Salah, Robertson, Konaté and Rhys Williams are among the senior departures.
Who else could leave?
Curtis Jones is close to Inter, while Elliott, Chiesa, Ramsay and potentially Gakpo could also leave under the right circumstances.
Should Liverpool sell Endo?
NO.
Not now.
His experience and ability to cover several roles are too valuable while the squad remains thin.
Do Liverpool need another No. 6?
In my view, absolutely.
Do Liverpool need right-back cover?
Yes. Bradley’s long-term injury leaves Liverpool too dependent on Frimpong and players who merely “can also” fill the position.
Were Liverpool poor at attacking set pieces?
Not by the end of the season. Their overall tally was 18 set-piece goals, but the bigger problem was at the other end.
How bad were Liverpool defensively from set pieces?
They conceded 20, leaving a -2 set-piece differential. Arsenal were +17.
Do I expect more possession under Iraola?
No.
I expect potentially slightly less possession but hopefully far more dangerous football.
Do Richard Hughes and FSG have a transfer plan?
Liverpool obviously have internal scouting, data and transfer planning. My criticism is that the execution does not currently look coherent enough from the outside, because several obvious and long-known squad holes remain unresolved.
Is Richard Hughes definitely leaving after the window?
No official Liverpool announcement has confirmed a specific departure date. His future has been the subject of significant reporting, but it should still be presented carefully.
Can Liverpool afford more signings?
Liverpool are financially one of the biggest clubs in world football. That does not mean unlimited spending, and revenue is not the same thing as transfer cash, but financial weakness cannot explain every unresolved squad issue.
Who are Liverpool’s new minority investors?
1892 Holdings, led by Amit Bhatia, with investment links including the Mittal Family Trusts, K5 Sports and EE Capital.
Does Jeff Bezos personally own 38% of Liverpool?
No.
The reported percentage refers to the wider 1892 Holdings consortium, not a direct personal 38% ownership stake for Bezos.
Are FSG selling Liverpool?
Not officially. FSG retain majority control. But the new minority investment makes Liverpool’s long-term ownership structure much more interesting to monitor.
CONCLUSION: I Believe in Iraola – I Am Much Less Convinced by the Transfer Work Right Now
That is my overall assessment on:
21 AUGUST 2026.
On the pitch:
I CANNOT WAIT.
In the transfer market:
I HAVE QUESTIONS.
Iraola Could Be Fantastic
I want:
HIGH PRESSING.
FAST REGAINS.
DIRECT ATTACKING.
PACE.
RUNS IN BEHIND.
ONE-V-ONES.
AGGRESSION.
CLEAR ROLES.
And less:
possession simply for the sake of possession.
I Expect Improvement From Set Pieces – At BOTH Ends
Offensively:
Liverpool already showed they can score enough.
Now build on it.
Defensively:
20 CONCEDED IS FAR TOO MANY.
Liverpool have:
Van Dijk.
Araújo.
Jacquet.
Gravenberch.
Isak.
There is enough size.
Now the organisation must improve.
I Do NOT Expect Better Possession Numbers
And I am completely comfortable with that.
Give me:
54% POSSESSION AND 20 SHOTS
over:
67% POSSESSION AND EIGHT SHOTS.
Liverpool need to become:
MORE DANGEROUS.
Not simply:
MORE POSSESSION-HEAVY.
I Give Iraola Time
He has dealt with:
injuries.
World Cup returns.
new players.
a new tactical system.
a squad still changing.
I do not expect perfect Iraola football immediately.
That is fair.
But the Sporting Leadership Had Much More Time
Salah’s situation was known.
Konaté’s situation was known.
Bradley’s injury was known.
Ekitike’s injury was known.
Liverpool knew the problems.
That Is Why the Minteh Bid Looks So Strange
£50 million.
Rejected.
The right wing unresolved.
The season beginning.
And the player out for around:
EIGHT WEEKS.
It is hard to look at that and think:
EVERYTHING IS GOING EXACTLY TO PLAN.
If Minteh Is One Part of a Bigger Plan?
Fine.
If Liverpool finish the window with:
Minteh
Barcola/Mbaye or another elite winger
a new No. 6
RB/CB cover
then:
EXCELLENT.
The summer makes much more sense.
If Minteh Is the Major Attacking Solution on His Own?
Then:
NO.
Not enough.
And If Gakpo Leaves Too?
Then the need becomes even bigger.
Liverpool cannot lose:
Salah.
Ekitike to injury.
potentially Gakpo.
potentially Chiesa.
potentially Elliott.
and then simply hope:
Rio.
Muñoz.
and an injured Minteh
replace all of that production.
That would be far too risky.
So My Most Important Transfer Rule Is Simple
BUY FIRST.
SELL SECOND.
I Still Want Four Things
1. A REAL RIGHT WINGER
Not simply another player who “can also play there”.
2. A NEW No. 6
Proper competition and cover for Gravenberch.
3. RB/CB COVER
Natural depth behind Frimpong and in central defence.
4. MORE ATTACKING DEPTH
Ideally somebody who can also naturally contribute centrally.
Barcola + Mbaye?
I still believe:
BOTH CAN MAKE SENSE.
My Final Exit Plan
Curtis Jones: SELL.
Harvey Elliott: SELL for the right offer.
Federico Chiesa: SELL once new wide players are secured.
Calvin Ramsay: SELL once new defensive cover is secured.
Cody Gakpo: CAN BE SOLD for a major fee – but only after major attacking replacements arrive.
Wataru Endo: KEEP.
Richard Hughes?
He deserves credit for:
the Salah extension.
the Van Dijk extension.
Ekitike.
strong player sales.
But he also deserves criticism for:
squad balance.
timing.
contract management.
and a summer where obvious positional gaps remain immediately before the league season.
If he leaves Liverpool in the near future:
I personally do not think he will be greatly missed.
FSG?
Liverpool have:
huge revenues.
a multi-billion-pound valuation.
Champions League football.
a global fanbase.
new capital-rich minority investors.
So I do not expect:
EXCUSES.
I expect:
A PLAN.
Because the Potential Is Enormous
Alisson.
Van Dijk.
Araújo.
Jacquet.
Frimpong.
Kerkez.
Gravenberch.
Mac Allister.
Szoboszlai.
Wirtz.
Gakpo.
Rio.
Muñoz.
Isak.
And later:
Ekitike.
Bradley.
Leoni.
This could become:
A VERY GOOD LIVERPOOL TEAM.
Possibly an outstanding one.
My Final Verdict – 21 August 2026
Andoni Iraola: Extremely exciting.
Playing style: I cannot wait.
Best XI: Very strong.
Squad depth: Not good enough yet.
Right wing: Still unresolved.
Goal production: Major question.
No. 6: Needs more depth.
Right-back cover: Too thin.
Attacking set pieces: Plenty to build on.
Defensive set pieces: Must improve dramatically.
Minteh: Exciting long term – does not solve the immediate issue.
Barcola + Mbaye: Both could make sense.
Gakpo: Keep unless there is a huge fee and replacements are already signed.
Endo: Keep.
Richard Hughes: Around 5/10 so far in my assessment.
FSG: Have the resources – now show the sporting plan.
Transfer strategy: From the outside, it currently looks more reactive than planned.
Finter’s Premier League prediction with the current squad:
5TH PLACE.
With the right final signings:
2ND-4TH.
The potential is enormous.
Iraola is exciting.
There is plenty of quality.
But now Richard Hughes, FSG and Liverpool’s sporting leadership need to show everyone: