Liverpool

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We asked for your views on Federico Chiesa's future at Anfied.

Here are some of your comments:

Phil: I love Chiesa but just like Joe Gomez he's always injured. We need players who are available for the majority of games so we can get consistency.

David: We should keep him and hopefully give him more chances. I think he could do a good job for the team.

Mick: He was only a bit-part player under Arne Slot, and in my opinion should have played more minutes. I hope the hierarchy keep him. We have definitely not seen his best, yet!

Adam: Chiesa seems to always be positive and get on well with his team-mates, plus he clearly loves the club. I wanted him to be our new Divock Origi but he hasn't really been given the chance yet. I hope he does as he's clearly got the drive and determination.

Kevin: Stay. I prefer a player that wants to play for Liverpool than a player that is only playing for money - you know that he will put a shift in every game.

Carl: Difficult call as I don't think Federico has had a fair crack of the whip with minutes, particularly from Slot. Personally I would keep and play him more, he is a classy player and, importantly, I think he will suit our style of play.

Paul: Liverpool should keep Chiesa, he puts in 100% every time he plays, he's a great player and would benefit from an injury-free run of games to show his quality and value.

Peter: Absolutely keep him. If Andoni Iraola shows faith in him and deploys him regularly I believe we will discover what a very useful player he is. He is sharp, fast-paced, with an eye for goal and intelligent moves and positioning. A hidden gem unrecognised by Slot.

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Milos Kerkez expects Liverpool to return to a full-throttle style of play under new head coach Andoni Iraola.

The Reds were known for 'heavy metal' football under Jurgen Klopp, with some fans frustrated at a drop in intensity under Arne Slot - who was sacked at the end of last season despite winning the Premier League in his only other campaign at Anfield.

"I think the heavy Liverpool team that Liverpool used to be – press, front foot, everyone in front," the left-back told the club website, external. "Like I said, front-foot, full pressing.

"Anfield, obviously, is going to push us a lot, give us also that energy. When they see us pushing a lot, they're going to give us big support home and away.

"So the big difference is going to be, I think, the pressure, the pressing, the aggressiveness in our game this year."

Kerkez also said he is trying to mentor younger players on the club's US tour, where the Reds recorded a win over Sunderland on Saturday.

He added: "It's my fourth year in the Premier League. Obviously my first year was development, it was tough. I needed to get in the gym a bit more.

"That's normal when you come to the biggest league in the world – it is so far ahead of any league. You need to build that physicality, you need to build the legs.

"We're all helping the young lads. There is a lot of quality and we need to help them. They will improve.

"I'm really, really happy with everyone and we build on this."

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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Federico Chiesa insists he is only "thinking about Liverpool" amid continued speculation over his future.

Across two seasons at Anfield under Arne Slot, the Italian forward has started one Premier League game and scored just five times in 50 appearances.

The 28-year-old, who is contracted until 2028, told La Gazzetta dello Sport, external in June: "If I don't find consistency in the Premier League, I'll have to look elsewhere."

But after scoring in the first friendly of the Andoni Iraola era on Saturday, when Liverpool claimed a 4-2 win over Sunderland, Chiesa said: "Right now, at the moment, I'm happy here at Liverpool.

"I love the club, I love the fans, I love everything. I'm doing the best I can to have a chance here - and then we will see.

"At the minute, the only thing I am thinking about is Liverpool."

When asked if a fresh start under Iraola is possible, he added: "I don't know, it is difficult to say. It is always a fresh start at the beginning of the season.

"Maybe there have been too many fresh starts, but I don't care. I'm trying to do my best for this new manager.

"Let us say it is a new chapter. There is a new manager and I have to focus on that."

What are your thoughts on Chiesa's future at Anfield? Should he be kept or moved on?

Get in touch with your views here

Follow Liverpool reporter Aadam Patel on BBC Sport

Paris St-Germain want £145m for 23-year-old France forward Bradley Barcola, with Liverpool and Arsenal interested. (Times - subscription required), external

Chelsea will demand a significant fee for Portugal winger Pedro Neto, 26, amid interest from Liverpool, Manchester City and Saudi Arabian teams. (Mail), external

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Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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Liverpool started life under Andoni Iraola with a 4-2 win over Sunderland thanks to goals from Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas.

But the Iraola era had initially got off to the worst possible start when Joe Gomez, who started the game as centre-back and captain, went down injured and was taken off in the eighth minute.

"Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe. We were happy because we were going through training without losing any players and unluckily for us we've lost Joe straight away," said Iraola, who was also without new signing Jeremy Jacquet - who plays centre-half - for the opening friendly of Liverpool's tour of the USA.

"With Jeremy we decided to take it easy with him. He's had a lot of months without playing and he's been training very well but we're going to take it easy with him," Iraola added. "He will play probably in the last game of this tour and he will have time to have minutes."

With Virgil van Dijk given extra time off following the Netherlands' World Cup campaign, it meant that two teenage centre-backs held the line until the 68th minute.

Mor Talla N'diaye, 18, and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, 18, made their debuts and both performed admirably given the situation but neither can be expected to feature regularly yet. Meanwhile, Giovanni Leoni, 19, is still undergoing individual training as he works his way back from a severe ACL tear.

Iraola said earlier in the week that his squad was "very thin" defensively. Liverpool's sporting director, Richard Hughes, was in Nashville for the game and if he wasn't aware already, seeing Gomez trudge off must have underlined how they are desperately short when it comes to experience in the centre-back department.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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Liverpool arrived in Nashville on Friday before the first game of their pre-season tour against Sunderland on Saturday at 23:00 BST.

Natasha Dowie, Liverpool women's all-time leading scorer, says she is excited about what is to come under Andoni Iraola.

"There's a buzz around the playing style of the new manager - the front-footed football that we like, the high pressure, the energy. That's what I want to see from the off and I think that's what the Liverpool fans want to see too," Dowie told BBC Sport.

"It's about seeing new players like Jeremy Jacquet and seeing some of the older faces come back like Harvey Elliott and Kostas Tsimikas. And seeing some of the younger players from the academy get opportunities too.

"When I retired three years ago [Liverpool's academy director] Alex Inglethorpe allowed me to get involved with the academy and do some mentoring there, so when I see the likes of Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha and Kieran Morrison here, that puts a really big smile on my face because I know how hard these guys have worked."

On the opening day of Liverpool's tour in the US, young patients at Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville were treated to a special morning as Dowie paid a visit alongside former striker Ian Rush.

"The children had some brilliant questions for us, and you could really feel the passion for Liverpool here in Nashville. It means a lot that we've been able to spend time with supporters and their families in this way," said Dowie.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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Liverpool have 32 players out in America, though a handful have only travelled as it was felt best for them to carry on their individual rehabilitation with the squad than at an empty training ground back home.

With the World Cup this summer, it's understandable that some key names are still missing though Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Ryan Gravenberch will link up with the squad for the second week of the training camp.

Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz will be the final players to join up with the squad. Cody Gakpo, Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson will not travel.

On the whole, those inside the camp over the first few weeks of pre-season have spoken of a positive and youthful vibe.

"Szoboszlai and Kerkez haven't been to the World Cup and I can tell you this from experience because I never went to the World Cup. Those players have had a long rest and they'll be desperate to get back into it," said former forward Ian Rush.

Harvey Elliott is back in the squad and eagle-eyed fans will have noticed that Stefan Bajcetic rejoined team training yesterday. The Spanish midfielder last played a game for the club in 2024.

Iraola is keen to have a look at all of his options but either way, this squad needs strengthening before the Premier League starts.

The club knew back in March, if not earlier, that Mohamed Salah was leaving and he still hasn't been replaced.

Liverpool want a winger and Bradley Barcola seems the most likely option but, for now, 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha has been training on his versatility across both flanks and will be an option down the right, as well as his preferred left.

There is no doubt about Ngumoha's talent but expect Liverpool to make a signing in that department this summer.

"He's still young but as the manager has said, we need someone to replace Salah and that won't be easy at all," says Rush. "We've got Isak, who played well in the World Cup, and I hope he comes back as a new player and looking to prove a thing or two after last season."

Across the next week or so, fans can also expect to see more of Kieran Morrison, 19, who made his debut last season, as well as Will Wright, 18, and Josh Sonni-Lambie, 18. Keep an eye out too for 16-year-old Josh Abe, who is widely regarded as one of the hottest young prospects in English football.

Read more about what to expect from Liverpool's pre-season here

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Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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Ian Rush has paid tribute to fellow Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan, who died earlier this week at the age of 75.

Keegan played for the Reds between 1971 and 1977 and will be remembered when Liverpool take on Sunderland in a friendly in Nashville, USA on Saturday. Both sets of players will wear black armbands and there will be a minute's applause for the former England manager.

"I have lots of memories of Kevin Keegan. He was one of my dad's favourite players. What he did for Liverpool was fantastic - and he did fantastic in Europe as well," Rush told BBC Sport.

"He was a great person. I remember when I was playing for Wrexham in 1998 and he was the manager at Fulham. They beat us 2-0 and the first thing he did was come and give me a big hug and he told me to just keep on going and enjoy the football, so that's the kind of person he was. He always put others before himself.

"You had Keegan and Toshack then Rush and Dalglish, so it's great to compare that. It's special. Even when he was England manager, I really thought they'd win something.

"He threw everything at it as a player and a manager. As long as you gave 100%, he'd be happy - and, more importantly, he gave 100% to everything he did. That's what made him such a special player and manager."

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We asked for your views on the best way to honour the late Kevin Keegan, who passed away earlier this week.

Here are some of your comments:

Vincent: The mighty Kevin Keegan was a transformative player for Liverpool, a giant even by that club's standards. A large bronze relief of Kevin with the ball at his feet, prominently displayed for all visitors to Anfield.

David: Let the teams play for Keegan cup based on the aggregate score over the home and away matches between Newcastle and Liverpool each season.

Ken: Keegan was the epitome of a humble superstar, so something fitting would be renaming the training ground after him as that's where he honed his talents or renaming the media centre, or perhaps work with the City Council to commission a bronze statue to be located somewhere along the waterfront.

Ian: Andrew Knott is your man, organised Anfield's mosaics for years, he'll get it right for Keegan.

Tori: He needs a statue outside both Anfield and St. James' Park in my opinion. Also name a stand after him at either or both stadiums. He was an absolute legend. My late grandfather, a big LFC fan, adored him.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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Andoni Iraola says he was in talks with other clubs before taking over as Liverpool manager.

The 44-year-old replaced Arne Slot as head coach this summer, after stepping down as Bournemouth manager following a three-year stay.

"It happened quite fast," he said. "Yes, it was true that I was talking with some clubs. It was the first or second week after the season ended when Liverpool contacted me, and it didn't take a lot [to say yes]."

Iraola's arrival was seen by Liverpool as a means of trying to deliver an attacking brand of football.

In his introductory news conference last week, he spoke about wanting to give fans "a team to be proud of".

And the former Spain international, who spent 12 seasons of his playing career at Athletic Club, sees some similarities between the Reds and his hometown club, where there is a policy to only use players born or developed in the Basque country.

"It is a very special club," said Iraola. "You have to maximise every player you have in the squad. You cannot sell him and choose another one a lot of the time.

"As a player, you have to give a bit extra. The only way that policy can be successful is if you give 100%. This creates a connection - you see they win things and they have never been relegated.

"I see a lot of things [similar to Liverpool]. This sense of belonging and of being a little bit different. This connection with players from the academy. The atmosphere of Anfield.

"This is one of the biggest clubs in the world and, in some ways, the comparison probably isn't fair - but, in a lot of ways, I see a lot of similarities."

Read the full article here

Arsenal and Manchester City are among the clubs in a race to sign Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig, who previously rejected a £69m bid from Liverpool for the 19-year-old. (Bild - in German), external

Meanwhile, Reds defender Amara Nallo is set to join Finnish club HJK Helsinki on a season-long loan deal. (Athletic - subscription required), external

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Liverpool and Newcastle United are in discussions over a tribute to Kevin Keegan before their Premier League season opener at St James' Park on Sunday, 23 August (16:30 BST).

Keegan, who won three league titles, the European Cup, two Uefa Cups and the FA Cup during a trophy-laden six years at Anfield, died at the age of 75 this week.

In a club statement, external, Newcastle United confirmed they are in communication with Liverpool "to ensure his memory is marked fittingly before the game".

If you could pick an appropriate tribute to Keegan, what would it be?

Get in touch with your views here

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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Goalkeeper Freddie Woodman has signed a new three-year deal with Liverpool.

The 29-year-old is currently with the squad in the USA for the pre-season tour and made four appearances last season - he came on off the bench during Liverpool's Merseyside derby win over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium in April and started the next two Premier League games.

"I'm absolutely delighted," said Woodman, whose new deal will take him through to 2029.

"Last season was amazing for me. To come back in pre-season and there be an offer for me from the club to stay here longer, I was made up. I'm just so happy that I could re-sign here and be a part of this amazing club.

"[I feel] pride and so many emotions. Last season, I came in and did the role I was doing - then when I got the opportunity to play, especially the Crystal Palace game, it just felt like a real connection to the fans.

"Now I get the chance to stay here for longer and to be a part of it again is unbelievable."

The news means that Liverpool are likely to go into Andoni Iraola's first season as head coach with Alisson, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Woodman as the three first-team goalkeepers.

"I'm very happy with the situation we have right now in the goalkeeping area," Iraola told reporters in Chicago. "We have Alisson, we have Giorgi. Freddie played some games [in the] past season. I think it's a guarantee for us."

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has been speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside about Liverpool's potential investment from a consortium lead by British-Indian millionaire businessman Amit Bhatia: "You have only got to go abroad to see the interest in the club.

"It means you have potential investment which will get your name noticed - not just at Anfield on matchday, but all over the world when those matches are broadcast to 109 different countries.

"You associate the success of a football club with an individual and the two can benefit from each other."

Why would FSG sell a stake in Liverpool?

"FSG bought Liverpool football club for £300m when it had been under a distressed time under Tom Hicks and George Gillett. FSG felt it had the skills to turn the club around, and it can be strongly argued that was the case.

"John Henry is not red and white if you cut him through, and that is not a criticism, it is an acknowledgement. If the stories are true that this is a sale of about 30% of LFC for about £1.3bn, he will have got his money back four or five times.

"He will still own over 60% of LFC and it is a fantastic deal. To a certain extent, it is a no-brainer."

Why would Jeff Bezos be part of the consortium?

"Can you imagine how the LFC global brand - highly successful, highly regarded - could work in conjunction with Amazon?

"Is this an opportunity to have some crossover in terms of product and services? Is this an opportunity for Amazon to get its name on the front or side of the shirt of LFC?

"And Amazon Prime is also a broadcaster. Are there broadcasting synergies and benefits here? There's potential of a win-win deal for all parties."

Would this increase Liverpool's transfer budget?

"Fans who are getting excited will have to dampen down that enthusiasm.

"We will have to remember the ability of a club to spend in the market is dictated by the Uefa FSR rules and the incoming Premier League FSR rules, which limit the amount of money that an owner can put into a club which goes into the players' budget."

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Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha has said he is looking forward to showcasing his versatility this season, including operating on the right wing.

Ngumoha, 17, primarily plays off the left but made his England debut in June on the right flank.

Following the departure of Mohamed Salah, Liverpool are in the market for another winger, with new boss Andoni Iraola confirming that when he spoke on Tuesday. And in the meantime, Ngumoha has been working on improving his game down the right.

"Being unpredictable off both sides is key," he said. "Obviously, everyone knows I can play on the left, but on the right I feel like I'm improving and I'm getting better.

"So, yeah, definitely off the left and the right this season."

The teenager enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Anfield last season, making 29 appearances under Arne Slot and became the Reds' youngest goalscorer when he netted a last-gasp winner at Newcastle United in August.

Asked what he wanted to improve, Ngumoha said: "Definitely help the team out with goals and assists, but also my defensive actions as well.

"I've got to improve in both of them, but also just try to implement myself as a starter sometimes. Coming off the bench as well, because obviously we have so many players - so many top players - and we're all competing for places.

"But it's healthy competition. Just try to help the team as much as I can really."