It’s been a quiet night before tomorrow’s visit of Arsenal, and the main talking point is Alexis Mac Allister, who has told Sky Sports that nothing has changed with his contract, but that a new sporting director and new ownership coming into the club mean “everything can happen”.
We go into the game six points behind Arsenal, so a win would cut the gap to three, and there’s good news on Alisson too, who has been left out of Brazil’s squad again.
Mac Allister: ‘Everything can happen’
Asked by Sky Sports what he could say about his future, Mac Allister said: “Not much to be honest. The situation didn’t change, but there’s a new sporting director, and there is new ownership coming into the club. So everything can happen and we will see whether it’s this season or next season.”
He added: “But right now I’m just enjoying my football, enjoying playing for this amazing club that is one of the best in the world.”
His contract runs until 2028, and he said earlier this season that he was “very sad” not to be offered a new deal.
Away from his own comments, Julian Ward returned as sporting director in September. On the ownership side, FSG has agreed to sell a minority stake in the club to 1892 Holdings, a consortium led and managed by Amit Bhatia. It brings together Bhatia and the Mittal Family Trusts, the K5 Sports fund, whose lead investor is Jeff Bezos, and EE Capital, the family office of Elaine and Eduardo Saverin. FSG keeps majority ownership and operational control, and the deal is still subject to regulatory approval.
Reports this week have pointed in opposite directions, with Winwin claiming a new offer is being prepared and others suggesting no new offer is planned. For now, his own words are the clearest guide, and they leave the door open both ways.
Team news: Szoboszlai and Muñoz ‘have a chance’
Andoni Iraola said yesterday that Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Muñoz, who have missed our last three games since picking up injuries at Brentford, both have a chance of being involved. “We still have two days so I think we have a chance, yes,” he said. Florian Wirtz has shaken off the ankle knock he picked up against Brighton.
Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitiké and Giovanni Leoni are still out.
Arsenal arrive after the Fleetwood shock
The champions come to Anfield on the back of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup exit at League Two Fleetwood Town, who held them 1-1 and then won 5-3 on penalties after 16-year-old Max Dowman had been sent off late on.
Mikel Arteta expects Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Christos Tzolis to be available, while Noni Madueke depends on how he comes through training today. Bukayo Saka is still out after another scan, and Dowman starts his three-match ban after Arsenal’s appeal was turned down. William Saliba, who hasn’t played this season after the back injury he picked up at the World Cup, isn’t expected back until after the international break.
We’re fourth on 15 points, six behind Arsenal, who are level on 21 with Manchester City, so a win tomorrow would cut the gap to three.
Arsenal haven’t won a league game at Anfield since 2012, and Arteta knows it. “It’s 14 years that we haven’t won there, so it’s time to do it,” he said.
Carragher’s change of heart
Jamie Carragher has admitted in his column for The Telegraph that he’s moved from “initial scepticism” about Iraola’s appointment towards “cautious optimism”. “I count myself as one of those on a journey with Iraola,” he wrote. He thinks we could emerge as Arsenal’s closest challengers, especially if we beat them tomorrow, but he’s clear there’s still work to do in the transfer market: “Iraola needs two full-backs and a winger who is more comfortable on the right. He is overloaded with left wingers.”
Alisson left out by Brazil again
Alisson has been left out of Brazil’s squad for November’s friendlies against Japan and Singapore, having also missed out in September and October. Carlo Ancelotti insists he’s still the man for the job: “We don’t need to test Alisson, we know him very well. He is the best goalkeeper. When the Copa America begins, he will be called up.”
Ancelotti wants to use the friendlies to look at other options and help his young players develop, and for us it means our number one is spared a long trip to Singapore in the middle of a busy run of games.
Transfers and staff
Ronald Araujo: there are claims that Barcelona have approached us about making his loan permanent in January, but so far they don’t appear to have been backed up by other reliable reporting. His agent, Edoardo Crnjar, says he’s happy at Liverpool but that it’s too early to talk about his future. Credibility: Low.
Alex Scott: Chelsea are reported to be leading the race for the Bournemouth midfielder, but there’s nothing solid to say we’ve dropped our interest. Credibility: Low.
Federico Chiesa and Lamine Camara: nothing new.
There was no fresh Liverpool news overnight from the likes of David Ornstein and Paul Joyce, and we’ve seen no other credible contract, ownership, investment, sporting-director or staffing developments.
Fixtures (UK times)
Sunday 1 November: Liverpool v Arsenal, Premier League, 4.30pm (Sky Sports)
Wednesday 4 November: Fenerbahçe v Liverpool, Champions League, 5.45pm
Week beginning 14 December: Liverpool v Bournemouth, Carabao Cup quarter-final (date and time to be confirmed)
All kick-off times are GMT.
