It’s been a quiet night after yesterday’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, and attention now turns to Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Istanbul, where Dirk Kuyt will be in the opposite dugout as Fenerbahçe’s interim head coach.
The Alexander Isak penalty row is still rumbling on, Alexis Mac Allister has come in for criticism from the Sky Sports pundits, and there’s little of substance on the transfer front.
Next up: Fenerbahçe
Fenerbahçe v Liverpool kicks off at 5.45pm UK time on Wednesday at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. We’ve won all three of our Champions League games so far, against Atlético Madrid, Villarreal and LASK, and sit third in the league-phase table.
Kuyt, who scored 71 goals in 285 appearances for us between 2006 and 2012 and later played for Fenerbahçe from 2012 to 2015, took interim charge after Ismail Kartal resigned. His first game didn’t go to plan. Matteo Guendouzi put Fener ahead just before half-time, but two late goals gave Göztepe a 2-1 win in Istanbul on Saturday, and Kuyt apologised to the fans afterwards.
Fener have two points from their three Champions League games, seven fewer than our nine, after draws with Roma and Slavia Prague and a 6-0 hammering at Aston Villa, and they’re 31st. They’re fifth in the Süper Lig and lost the derby 2-1 to Galatasaray, but there’s still plenty of quality in a squad that includes Romelu Lukaku, N’Golo Kanté and Mason Greenwood.
Turkish reports say they’re short at the back, with Nathan Aké injured and Kojo Oppong a doubt after going off in pain against Göztepe.
Our Under-19s also face Fenerbahçe in the UEFA Youth League on Wednesday, at the Pendik Stadium, with kick-off at 11am UK time.
The Isak row
The penalty that wasn’t is still the main talking point. Midway through the first half, Jurrien Timber appeared to pull Isak’s shirt, but Isak stayed on his feet, and neither referee Andy Madley nor VAR Stuart Attwell gave it.
Iraola told Sky Sports that if Isak had gone down, “they call the penalty 100 per cent”. Jamie Carragher’s message on Sky was simple: “VAR, do your job.” But Iraola also said in his press conference that “we cannot waste too much time about the refereeing decisions”, adding: “We have to control the things we need to improve.”
Sky Sports’ Ref Watch with Dermot Gallagher is due at 11am today.
Mac Allister flashpoint
Mac Allister has come in for criticism after a late flashpoint. After fouling Martin Ødegaard, he slapped the Arsenal captain on the back of the head while he was on the ground. Timber then confronted him, and when Noni Madueke, who was already on a yellow card, squared up to him and their heads touched, Mac Allister went to ground. Mac Allister and Timber were booked following the confrontation.
VAR checked for possible violent conduct by Madueke but took no action. The Premier League Match Centre quoted the VAR as saying: “There is some contact as Madueke and Mac Allister square-up. In my opinion, it’s not forceful, not violent, not brutal.”
Carragher didn’t hold back on Sky Sports, calling it “a joke from Mac Allister” and saying the play-acting had to stop: “I can’t stand it.” Gary Neville called Mac Allister’s reaction “embarrassing”. On whether Madueke should have been sent off, Iraola said: “I think a red card has to be more clear movement. It didn’t look like a clear red card, no.”
Nyoni’s big day
On a positive note, Trey Nyoni completed 53 of his 55 passes on his first Premier League start before making way for Dominik Szoboszlai just before the hour.
Team news
No new injury concerns have been announced following the Arsenal defeat, and Szoboszlai and Victor Muñoz are both back after coming off the bench.
Jeremie Frimpong is not expected back before the international break, while Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitiké remain sidelined with long-term injuries. Giovanni Leoni is also unavailable, although he is edging closer to a return and is now targeting the November international break to start training with the team.
Transfers
It’s been a quiet night. No significant new developments involving us have emerged from the reliable sources we’ve checked, including David Ornstein and Paul Joyce.
Lennart Karl: Bayern Insider’s Christian Falk says we, Arsenal and Manchester United have all made calls about the Bayern Munich youngster, who is valued at around £50-60m. It’s essentially a rehash of an earlier report in Germany. Credibility: Low.
Lamine Camara: The unreliable Football Insider claims Chelsea have moved on from the Monaco midfielder, clearing the way for us. Credibility: Low.
Ronald Araujo, Mac Allister and Federico Chiesa: No significant new developments have emerged from the reliable sources we’ve checked.
No other significant developments concerning contracts, ownership, investment or senior club staffing have emerged overnight from the reliable sources we’ve checked.
Selected upcoming fixtures (UK times)
Wednesday 4 November: Fenerbahçe v Liverpool, Champions League, 5.45pm
Sunday 8 November: Crystal Palace v Liverpool, Premier League, 2pm (Sky Sports)
Sunday 22 November: Liverpool v Manchester United, Premier League, 4.30pm (Sky Sports)
Wednesday 25 November: Club Brugge v Liverpool, Champions League, 8pm
Sunday 29 November: Everton v Liverpool, Premier League, 12pm (TNT Sports)
Wednesday 2 December: Liverpool v Sunderland, Premier League, 7.30pm (Sky Sports)
Saturday 5 December: Chelsea v Liverpool, Premier League, 12.30pm (TNT Sports)
Wednesday 9 December: Liverpool v Porto, Champions League, 8pm
Week beginning 14 December: Liverpool v AFC Bournemouth, Carabao Cup quarter-final (date and time to be confirmed)
All kick-off times are GMT.
