Liverpool face Brighton at Anfield on Sunday looking for their first Premier League home victory in six months, with Andoni Iraola due to hold his pre-match press conference at 1.30pm today.
There are still fitness questions surrounding Victor Muñoz and Bradley Barcola, Bayern Munich’s interest in Rio Ngumoha is back in the headlines, and Arsenal are awaiting news on Bukayo Saka.
Anfield form under the spotlight
Liverpool’s last Premier League victory at Anfield came on 25 April, when they beat Crystal Palace 3-1.
Sunday’s meeting with Brighton falls exactly six months later.
The BBC highlighted the worrying home record following the 3-0 defeat by Manchester City on 11 October.
Liverpool have now gone five consecutive Premier League home matches without a win, drawing four and losing one.
Iraola’s side have failed to win any of their three home league fixtures this season, including the goalless draw against Fulham.
Going back to January, Liverpool have won only four of their 13 Premier League matches at Anfield in 2026.
Away results have helped keep Liverpool’s league campaign moving, while victories at home in the Champions League and Carabao Cup demonstrate that Anfield hasn’t lost all its magic.
Tuesday’s 4-3 comeback against Villarreal was another reminder of what the stadium can produce.
Sunday presents an opportunity to end that disappointing league sequence against one of the Premier League’s strongest-performing sides.
Brighton up next
Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton are third in the Premier League with 16 points from seven games, four ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool.
Their 23 league goals are the highest total in the division.
Brighton drew 0-0 away to Jablonec in the Conference League on Thursday evening, ending a six-match winning run.
Hürzeler made eight changes from the side that thrashed Crystal Palace 5-0 last weekend, with most of his regular starters rested.
Brighton dominated possession and registered 26 attempts but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.
Although their manager rotated heavily, Brighton will have had two fewer days to recover than Liverpool, who played Villarreal on Tuesday.
Team news and Iraola’s press conference
Bradley Barcola completed an individual recovery session on Thursday rather than training with the rest of Liverpool’s squad.
Sky Sports News and the Liverpool Echo reported that the arrangement was precautionary following his recent workload rather than the result of an injury.
Barcola played 250 minutes across the three matches against Manchester City, LASK and Brentford before appearing for the final 16 minutes against Villarreal on Tuesday.
Victor Muñoz also missed Thursday’s training session as he continues recovering from a minor knee problem.
Neither player has been officially ruled out of Sunday’s match.
Sky Sports reports that Dominik Szoboszlai could miss another one to three games with his thigh problem, while Jeremie Frimpong faces approximately four weeks out with a hamstring injury.
Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitiké and Giovanni Leoni remain sidelined.
Iraola will hold his pre-Brighton press conference at 1.30pm today, with Liverpool streaming it live.
Further updates on Barcola, Muñoz and Liverpool’s other injured players are expected.
Bayern still keen on Ngumoha
Italian transfer journalist Gianluca Di Marzio says Bayern Munich remain interested in signing Rio Ngumoha, while Arsenal are also monitoring the Liverpool youngster.
Speaking to German website Wettfreunde, Di Marzio suggested that Bayern could attempt a move as early as January.
However, he also acknowledged Liverpool’s determination to retain Ngumoha and extend his contract, saying it was difficult to imagine the club allowing him to leave.
The Daily Mail and Fabrizio Romano have separately reported that Liverpool are progressing with talks over a new long-term agreement.
Ngumoha’s existing contract is understood to run until 2028.
Interest from Bayern appears genuine, but there is no confirmed offer or indication that Liverpool intend to sell.
Ngumoha recognised for Villarreal display
Rio Ngumoha was named UEFA’s Player of the Match following his outstanding performance in Liverpool’s 4-3 victory over Villarreal on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old provided two assists and was subsequently shortlisted for the Champions League Player of the Week award, which was won by Manchester City’s Phil Foden.
Ngumoha was also voted Liverpool’s Player of the Match by supporters.
Transfers
There has been no significant fresh reporting from Liverpool’s leading correspondents, including David Ornstein and Paul Joyce, overnight.
Ronald Araújo: Spanish newspaper AS reports that Liverpool are increasingly interested in keeping the Barcelona loanee beyond this season following his impressive start at Anfield.
Liverpool have a reported €55m option to make his move permanent, but no decision has been confirmed. Barca Universal has also cited MARCA in reporting that a permanent transfer is becoming more likely, although we have not independently verified the original MARCA report.
Manu Koné: Bayern Munich continue to be linked with Roma’s French midfielder, according to Italian reporting.
Liverpool have also been mentioned in recent speculation, but there is no new evidence of an approach or negotiations involving the Reds.
There are no credible new ownership, FSG, investment, sporting-director or senior staffing developments.
Elsewhere
Arsenal are awaiting further information on Bukayo Saka’s quadriceps injury ahead of Saturday’s home match against Everton.
Saka was substituted after ten minutes of Wednesday’s Champions League draw with Bayern Munich.
His availability for Arsenal’s visit to Anfield on Sunday 1 November remains uncertain.
Former Liverpool winger Luis Díaz is also facing a spell on the sidelines after Bayern confirmed that he suffered a small muscle fibre tear in his left hamstring against Arsenal.
Bild expects him to miss at least four weeks, although Bayern have not announced an official recovery timetable.
Fixtures (UK times)
Sunday 25 October: Liverpool v Brighton, Premier League, 2pm (Sky Sports)
Wednesday 28 October: Liverpool v Chelsea, Carabao Cup fourth round, 8pm (Sky Sports and ITV)
Sunday 1 November: Liverpool v Arsenal, Premier League, 4.30pm (Sky Sports)
Wednesday 4 November: Fenerbahçe v Liverpool, Champions League, 5.45pm
The clocks go back an hour early on Sunday morning, so all kick-off times above are GMT.
