Liverpool latest: Iraola plays down Barcola injury fears

2026-09-09 · Sky-Transfer

Dominik Szoboszlai was at it again with another stunning long-range strike as Liverpool sealed a 3-1 win against Tottenham in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Anfield.

POLL! Szoboszlai's best strikes...

Dominik Szoboszlai was at it again with another stunning long-range strike as Liverpool sealed a 3-1 win against Tottenham in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Anfield.

There was no stopping Szoboszlai's stoppage-time effort as it arrowed beyond Martin Dubravka, and it's not his first stunner in a Liverpool shirt.

But which of his strikes is the best?

Watch all of Szoboszlai's best goals and have your say using the poll below!

Carabao Cup fourth round draw confirmed

Liverpool will play Chelsea in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

The fourth round of the competition takes place the week commencing October 26.

Szoboszlai: Koumas and McConnell deserve to play and will make it hard for Iraola

Dominik Szoboszlai says Lewis Koumas, 20, and James McConnell, 22, deserve to play and will make it hard for Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola after the duo starred in a Carabao Cup win over Tottenham.

Liverpool beat Spurs 3-1 at Anfield on Tuesday night to book their spot in the fourth round, with Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo on the scoresheet.

Koumas and McConnell both made their first start of the season in a youthful team that included Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha.

Asked about their involvement, Szoboszlai said:

> “They both did a really good job. Koumas with his timing and McConnell with his running ability. > > "Both of them deserve to play. They both played very well. And now they will make it really hard for the gaffer.”

Koumas shows the way for Liverpool

Dominik Szoboszlai stole the show in stoppage time with a thunderbolt for Liverpool's third goal in their 3-1 win over Tottenham, but Lewis Koumas was the player of the match. The young forward did not stop running for his team.

That typifies the energy that Andoni Iraola wants from his players and was sorely missing from the performance against Fulham at the weekend. It is not just the senior figures leading the way. Maybe Koumas can be an example for this new Liverpool?

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola speaking about Lewis Koumas:

> “I said in the week and say it for a reason, I see it in training every day. The energy that he shows is contagious for the rest. When they see the ones up front doing it, they are forced to go from behind.”

Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp on Liverpool and their improved pressing:

> “The amount of times they won it back because they were so quick and aggressive to get after them. That's what Andoni did at Bournemouth and that's what he's trying to do at Liverpool. It will take time, but they'll certainly get it."

'We need to find a balance' | Iraola calls on squad to pull together

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola says he is happy with his squad but has called on his players to pull together in a bid to be better collectively...

Iraola: We will assess Liverpool squad in January

Andoni Iraola says he will reassess his Liverpool squad in the January transfer market after being reluctant to comment on whether the club needed to sign another midfielder during the summer.

The Reds were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw against Fulham on Saturday, just three days after the 2-1 win against Atletico Madrid, and Iraola admitted the squad lacked "freshness" after the game.

Just two changes were made to the starting line-up as Victor Munoz replaced Rio Ngumoha and Alexis Mac Allister made way for Ryan Gravenberch.

When asked if Liverpool were one midfielder short after the summer transfer window, Iraola told Sky Sports:

> "I think now is not a moment to look backwards to the market. > > "When the January market opens, we will see where we are. We have very good players and a very good squad. > > "We need to find the balance and the right combinations so everyone can look even better than the player he is. > > "If we are not well drilled, the timings are not there, then everyone looks worse. Everyone has to add a little bit."

Carra: Players are to blame for 'really poor' start to season

Jamie Carragher says Liverpool's players should take the blame for a "really poor" start to the season under new boss Andoni Iraola.

The Spaniard replaced the sacked Arne Slot this summer, but despite an unbeaten start, the Reds' goalless draw at home to struggling Fulham has left Liverpool six points off top spot.

Carragher told Sky Sports News:

> "I'm putting no pressure or criticism on the manager - it hasn't been a great start. > > "But we're at the stage now with this group of players where what we saw last season wasn't acceptable for the club. > > "They changed the manager on the back of last season, and the Liverpool hierarchy were basically saying, 'We've got great players; you're not getting enough out of them'. > > "Okay, fair enough, so the new manager comes in, so you can't then say the new manager needs transfer windows. > > "The new manager's come in; it's very early days, but these players have been really poor for a long time. > > "The start to the season has been really poor, and Liverpool haven't had difficult fixtures. > > "Really, Liverpool should have 10 points, so it's been really poor. > > "No Liverpool supporter will be looking at or questioning the manager. > > "This season will be about the players, so for me, and most Liverpool supporters, we'll be looking at those players and thinking you've got to do an awful lot more."

Merse: I am worried about Liverpool - how long can they wait for Wirtz?

In his latest Sky Sports column, Paul Merson says he is worried about Liverpool this season while also raising questions about both Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola.

Gomez in contention to face Spurs, but Bradley 'not close to training'

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is in contention to make his first appearance of the season in the Carabao Cup against Tottenham on Tuesday having returned to training following the muscle injury suffered in preseason.

But Northern Ireland right-back Conor Bradley remains some way off a return following a long-term knee injury.

> “I think he is not close to training with the team,” Iraola said. “He’s training alone, but he has started touching the ball. > > “Definitely I want him as quick as possible ready, but it’s a long-term injury. > > “I think [Giovanni] Leoni is a little bit ahead of him and still it’s going to take some time for Conor.”

Iraola warns Liverpool will have to accept ups and downs as players adapt

Andoni Iraola said Liverpool must accept there will be ups and downs as players adjust to his style.

Anfield’s frustration was clear during Saturday’s poor goalless draw with Fulham, with Liverpool appearing flat and short of ideas just a few days after they came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid.

Iraola said Saturday evening was perhaps the most frustrated he has felt since he replaced Arne Slot this summer, with the performance a clear step back from the wins over Ipswich and Atletico.

> “I understand the frustration the other day because we were also frustrated,” he said. > > “I think we were coming from two good games and we were considering it’s a step forward, Ipswich was a step forward and Atletico Madrid, and we wanted it to be another step forward. But no, it was a step backwards. > > “The performance level is not like the other two. But this happens in football. > > “I think we have to accept that there are going to be ups and downs in the process, but we are clear where we want to go is more towards where we’ve been – Atletico Madrid, Ipswich – that’s more the style of football that we want. > > “I think now the key is the consistency to perform like this.”

Key to finding that consistency will be balancing the demands of the fixture list as Liverpool compete on four fronts, with struggling Tottenham visiting Anfield on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup.

Iraola is expected to make sweeping changes but said he is still learning which of his players can handle the rigours of playing every three days and who needs more careful management.

> “There are players who play every three days, they have no issues, they are very robust,” he said. > > “They can accept it and their performances don’t change too much. And there are other players where the risk is bigger, the performances are different. > > “I have to learn who is ready to play three, four games in a row every two, three days and who needs a rest so the performance level doesn’t get affected. > > “I have it in my mind quite clear with some of them, but with others it is new even for them because they haven’t played as many games and we are learning… > > “If you ask me how…Jeremy Jacquet is going to deal with playing every three days during two months, I don’t know because he hasn’t done it.”

Iraola headlines ahead of Spurs Carabao Cup visit

That is your lot from Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola ahead of the visit of Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, with the main headlines from the Basque's press conference:

- Giorgi Mamardashvili will start in place of Alisson, while Joe Gomez is also available after injury - However, Conor Bradley is still some way from returning to fitness after a serious knee injury - The Reds boss is still learning which of his players are able to play twice in three days - Iraola has spoken to Virgil van Dijk about his international future, but will not share details of what was said

Iraola: When the team plays well, everyone looks better

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola on whether his midfield are not winning enough individual duels:

> "It's not a matter of just the midfielders, for me it is something more collective than than the midfielders. > > "When we have been good collectively the midfielders have looked a lot better and won more duels and recovered more balls. But it is not just because they are winning duels, it is because we are helping them more to win the duels. > > "It is like the defenders, if the ones up front are doing their job very well then the defenders look very good as the balls that arrive not clean. > > "If we are allowing them to defend one versus one all the time and being comfortable on the ball and we are not aggressive, then our defenders will also struggle. If the players in front of you are doing the job, then defenders look better. > > "It is more collective. That's the help we have to give to our defenders and you look a better midfielder and win more duels if those are easier duels because the ball does not come as clean. The ball arrives, but it arrives not in the best condition and then you have more chances to win duels. > > "It is much more collective than this one has not done this, no there is something more collective going and that is the help we have to give our defenders and midfielders so everyone looks better. > > "When the team plays well, everyone looks better and that is why the key is we are collectively play well and then everyone looks smarter, better and in a better positions. > > "But it starts from the collective side for me."

Iraola: Bradley not close to training with the team

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola:

> "He is not close to training with the team. He is training alone, but he has started touching the ball. Definitely I want him back as soon as possible. Leoni is a little bit ahead of him and it is going to take some time for sure."

Iraola tight lipped on Van Dijk's Netherlands future

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola on whether Virgil van Dijk will retire from international duty:

> "I talked to [Netherlands manager] Xavi [Hernandez] and Virgil, but they were private conversations and definitely not something I can say here. I know Xavi very well, he was here to watch the Atletico game and we have been talking."

Iraola: We need to recover the ball as high as possible

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola on his side's lack of tackling and winning duels against Fulham:

> "Compared to previous games, we won the ball a lot lower in the pitch. The only big chance we conceded was our goal kick we messed up, after we defended well, but we were recovering the ball a lot lower [than in the previous two games] and when this happens you always have to attack against 11 players and that makes it more difficult. > > "In the previous games, we were able to win it a lot higher and then quick transitions and we were able to attack against less players, use the space better and this is key to our system. > > "We need to recover the ball as high as possible because it makes the offensive side a lot easier. We have situations to attack in one v one or against les are bigger than when you recover the ball in your own half of the pitch."

Read the original