Andoni Iraola could not say when Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai will be back, after none of the three travelled to Austria for Wednesday’s Champions League game at LASK.
“They are not far, but it’s difficult to tell you right now any of the three have trained with the group,” he said at his pre-match press conference in Linz, which started late after the squad’s flight was delayed. “We are taking it day to day.”
Asked about the next few games, he added: “I don’t know if they are going to be ready for Brentford, for Villarreal, for Brighton, I don’t know. I don’t really know.”
Milos Kerkez, who spoke before Iraola, said Szoboszlai is recovering, does not like being out and would want to play at Brentford on Saturday, but that his fitness is a question for the manager.
Changes likely in Linz
Iraola said LASK is a game “we want to win, we need to win”, but signalled rotation with four games in 10 days: “Sometimes because of freshness reasons, because of some niggles, I think it’s going to be difficult to put exactly the same starting XI tomorrow.” Virgil van Dijk, who reported a painful calf knock after Sunday’s 3-0 defeat by Manchester City, is in the travelling squad, and there has been no club update on the calf since. Ryan Gravenberch is also in the party: his one-match ban is a Premier League suspension, to be served at Brentford.
The 23-man squad
Liverpool flew out from John Lennon Airport on Tuesday and trained at the Raiffeisen Arena this evening. The squad: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Wirtz, Mac Allister, Tsimikas, Munoz, Mamardashvili, Woodman, Barcola, Frimpong, Araujo, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Chambers, McConnell, Koumas, Ngumoha, Danns, Sonni-Lambie, Lucky. Academy pair Wellity Lucky and Josh Sonni-Lambie are included alongside Jayden Danns, James McConnell and Luke Chambers. Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo are ineligible, having been left out of the league-phase squad list, while Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni remain long-term absentees.
Iraola backs Wirtz and Barcola
Iraola defended Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola after criticism of the big-money signings, saying he trusts both “100 per cent”. On Wirtz he said: “He had good performances for the national team. He scored a goal. He will have better and worse games.” On Barcola: “The more he plays and the more he gets connections with the ones around him, the better he will become.”
Alex Scott: Bournemouth open to a January sale
BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella reported this evening that Bournemouth are now open to selling England midfielder Alex Scott in January under certain conditions, ending their not-for-sale stance after a final round of talks with his representatives. According to the BBC, senior sources say the Cherries would sanction a sale if an offer of about £100m arrives, and their league position will also be a factor. Chelsea and Liverpool are believed to retain an interest, with the BBC saying Liverpool would be in a strong position because of Iraola’s close relationships with Scott and figures at his former club. The Daily Mail also reports that Bournemouth want in excess of £100m, but suggests the cost could be prohibitive for Liverpool. Scott, 23, is out for at least a month with a thigh injury picked up on England duty. Nothing in the reporting suggests Liverpool have made a bid, so this is one to watch rather than a move in the making.
Other transfer talk
The Media Watch section of the club’s official website reproduced reports linking the Reds with Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck and Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu, but that section only republishes outside stories and carries the club’s own note that they do not necessarily represent its position. Neither link has been backed by the likes of David Ornstein and Paul Joyce.
Cam Williams signs first professional contract
Academy left-back Cam Williams, 17, has signed his first professional contract with the club. Born in Liverpool and on the club’s books since the age of six, he broke into the U18s in 2024-25, returned from a long-term injury at the start of this season and has been capped by Scotland at U17 level. Beyond that, there was nothing new on first-team contracts, ownership or staffing today.
How to follow LASK and what comes next
All times UK. LASK v Liverpool, Champions League, Wednesday 14 October, 5.45pm at the Raiffeisen Arena, live on TNT Sports in the UK, with LFCTV Matchday Live from 4.30pm. Germany’s Tobias Stieler is the referee. Liverpool won their opening league-phase game 2-1 against Atletico Madrid. Saturday 17 October: Brentford v Liverpool, 3pm. Tuesday 20 October: Liverpool v Villarreal, 8pm. Sunday 25 October: Liverpool v Brighton, 2pm. Wednesday 28 October: Liverpool v Chelsea, Carabao Cup fourth round, 8pm.
