Liverpool

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool look to stop the rot following three consecutive defeats in all competitions, taking on a Manchester United side that have not won at Anfield since January 2016.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Sunday's match.

Arne Slot has lost three games in a row for the first time in his managerial career but the Dutchman is understandably taking a pragmatic view of his side's dip in form, insisting after defeat at Chelsea on 4 October it is "fine margins" that are proving costly for the reigning Premier League champions.

Nonetheless, the losing habit is one Liverpool will swiftly want to kick. It is a decade since the Reds were beaten in four straight matches, with the third defeat in that run also a 2-1 loss to Chelsea.

The Merseysiders begin the weekend a point off the top so there is no need to panic just yet. Slot will, however, be contemplating just how to get the best from his new-look attack, with Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz all having joined in the summer.

Wirtz, who came on at half-time at Stamford Bridge, has yet to score or assist following his move from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £100m in June. The 22-year-old's underlying metrics have also dipped since swapping the Bundesliga for the Premier League, but he should be a little sharper after starting both of Germany's games over the international break.

United's long wait for an Anfield win

Manchester United have alternated between victory and defeat in each of their past six games, with disappointing performances away to Grimsby, Manchester City and Brentford followed by improved displays in home wins against Burnley, Chelsea and Sunderland.

Ruben Amorim is a fortnight away from the first anniversary of his appointment as United manager and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe insisted last week that the 40-year-old needs three years to prove he is a "great" coach.

No-one has lasted that long in the role since Sir Alex Ferguson, and if Amorim is to buck that trend a substantial improvement will be required, particularly away from home.

The Red Devils have not won a top-flight away match since March, losing six of eight fixtures on the road since a 3-0 victory at Leicester.

They also have a poor recent record at Liverpool, failing to win each of their previous 10 matches at Anfield in league and cup, with their last victory there coming courtesy of a Wayne Rooney goal in January 2016.

Musician and Liverpool fan Jamie Webster says he "would rather play someone else this weekend than Manchester United" because of the form the Reds are in.

Arne Slot's side slipped to three consecutive defeats before the international break in all competitions and lost their spot at the top of the Premier League to Arsenal.

"It is probably a good time for them to play us," said Webster on The Wayne Rooney Show. "International players are coming back from all parts of the world and they are never fresh. Players like Alexis Mac Allister tend to struggle.

"I will back Liverpool at Anfield, but it is our second derby so form goes out of the window and it comes down to who wants to fight more on the day.

"We showed fight at the beginning of the season but you can see the effect of losing three games. It is like the tables have turned.

"I still think we will have a good season because it is only a couple of losses but I would rather play someone else this weekend than Manchester United.

"If we lose then people will start saying that it's not our season and you get written off. I don't know whether that is right or wrong, but pundits and the media will write Liverpool off if it is four defeats in a row.

"That might give some players a kick up the bottom, or equally it might get in some player's heads.

"What Liverpool need more than anything is a 2-0 win, a clean sheet and Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak to be the scorers.

"That could then be a turning point."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says summer signing Alexander Isak is nearing full fitness again, six weeks after making his British transfer record £125m move from Newcastle United.

The striker spent "around three or four months" on the sidelines at St James' Park, after making his wishes to leave known, but Slot believes the Sweden international is finally "close to the level he should be at fitness-wise".

Speaking in his pre-match news conference, Slot said: "I think we can judge him in a fair way from now on.

"His pre-season has maybe only just finished now that he has played a few games, getting 70 or 80 or 90 minutes, so let's see where he is in the upcoming weeks."

He also gave an update on Alexis Mac Allister's fitness, assuring supporters that the midfielder will "get back to the level he wants, and the level I want".

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester United at Anfield (kick-off 16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Ryan Gravenberch is "completely fit" and Ibrahima Konate is expected to train today.

• However, goalkeeper Alisson Becker has not yet returned to group training so "will not play this weekend or next week" against Brentford.

• Alexander Isak played twice for Sweden during the break and is "close to the fitness level he should be". Slot said Liverpool can "judge him in a fair way from now on".

• On the Reds form so far this season: "Results don't lie, so if you lose three in a row then you have to do better. We have to react, but we have to give the same reaction if we win three times in a row. We need to do what we usually do but hope for that spark of one or two per cent more."

• He broke down the key differences compared with last season: "We don't create as many chances as we did [last term], but from open play we still create the most chances and have the most shots on target. We've conceded too many goals."

• He said "there should always be a reaction" to three defeats, especially "when you wear a Liverpool shirt," but he "cannot blame the players because they go all in" [for every game].

• On their defensive struggles: "From open play, we are conceding too may crosses, so that is one thing we have to address and do better. Teams are facing us differently to last season."

• On facing Manchester United: "I look forward to every single Premier League game, but maybe even more towards this one because I know how special of a game it is. It's the game being watched the most all over the world."

• He said they "have to be at their best" because in his opinion United "have had a better start to the season than the league table is showing."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to live commentary of Liverpool v Manchester United on BBC Radio 5 Live from 16:30 BST on Sunday

Liverpool are eyeing a 90m euros (£78m) move for 23-year-old Athletic Club and Spain forward Nico Williams. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

The Reds are also expected to approach 25-year-old Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck over a summer move. (Sports Illustrated), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool writer and content creator Josh Williams speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside about the form of Florian Wirtz: "I think there's no smoke without fire when it comes to the criticism. There have been situations where he has maybe lost the ball or been robbed. From an individual level he can play better than what we have seen. But there is a lot of adjustment there. It's a very physical league and he is only 22. Despite being painted as a wonderkid and on the scene for a few years now, he's still really young. He's a connecting kind of payer, he likes to associate with those around him, in small pockets and stuff like that. If he's not on the same wavelength as those players he just looks like a stranger a little bit, trying to get these connections going but they're not working. Long-term I am not worried as he's a really good player. But short term there's a bit of debate on how to get the most out of him."

Williams also spoke about the Reds' recent dip in form and whether the international break was beneficial: "I am inclined to look at it from Arne Slot's perspective where he gets a fortnight to analyse what's going wrong. If you lose three in a week it's not a fluke. It suggests something is wrong. A lot of the wins, there's been too many scares or moments. It's good for Match of the Day but not for your heart. Generally speaking over the season you want to be fourth on Match of the Day where you've picked up a 2-0 win.

"I would have taken 15 points at the start of the season, we've had a tough start by the way. You've signed players who are offensive, youthful, full of energy, they play the Liverpool way. I did expect it to be smoother than it has been. The only player I can say has hit the ground running is Hugo Ekitike. Alexander Isak has mitigating circumstances. Wirtz had a perfect summer so I am a little bit surprised by that. I think it may be short term pain for long term gain maybe. I think when some of these players start to click, you have a serious XI with a really high ceiling."

Find Williams and more BBC Radio Merseyside audio here

Image source, Getty Images

The 25-player shortlist for the Golden Boy award was revealed on Wednesday, with nine players from the Premier League selected.

The award, created by Italian newspaper Tuttosport, is given to the best under-21 footballer each year, with Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal last year's winner.

For a player to be considered for selection in 2025, they must have been born on or after 1 January 2005 and belong to a squad in one of Uefa's top 25 leagues.

Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri have both been selected after their breakthrough seasons in 2024-25.

Lewis-Skelly played 40 times across all competitions and also made his England senior debut, while Nwaneri appeared 37 times and scored nine goals.

Chelsea are represented twice, with summer arrivals Estevao, who scored his first goal for the club with a dramatic late winner against Liverpool before the international break, and defender Jorrel Hato making the shortlist.

Tottenham Hotspur also feature, with midfielders Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray being chosen.

Manchester United defender Leny Yoro, Manchester City full-back Nico O'Reilly and Liverpool centre half Giovanni Leoni - a wildcard choice - have also been selected.

An international jury of 50 journalists will decide the winner, which will be revealed at a news conference in November.

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Cody Gakpo has undoubtedly been a standout player for the Netherlands in recent months.

The 26-year-old has provided three goals and two assists in his past three caps and after his stunning strike against Finland on Monday, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf considered him "almost unbeatable at speed", adding that "his return for the national team is incredibly high".

So have Gakpo's best performances come in the famous orange shirt or in the red of Liverpool?

Since he joined the Reds in January 2023 he has contributed 43 goals and 16 assists in 138 appearances - that is a goal involvement every 2.3 games.

That ratio improves to a goal involvement every 1.7 matches with the Netherlands, with Gakpo notching 16 goals and eight assists in 37 caps during his spell on Merseyside. He also creates more chances while on international duty.

His expected goals per 90 minutes is higher for Liverpool, however, and he also takes more shots and has more touches in the opposition box for the Premier League side.

Gakpo is a genuine focal point and source of goals for his country. But, he has not quite reached that status at Anfield yet, despite his excellent return of 18 goals last season.

He is also given more freedom in orange and has a little less defensive responsibility.

The Netherlands deploy him in a similar system to that of Liverpool and he is used either on the left of a front three or on the left wing in Ronald Koeman's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. However, Koeman often plays a defensive-minded left-back, with Nathan Ake and Micky van de Ven less inclined to attack when compared with Liverpool's Milos Kerkez or Andy Robertson.

It is also worth noting that the Dutch often face a lower calibre of opposition, especially during a qualification campaign. Gakpo scored twice against Malta last week and registered an assist versus Lithuania in September, with both nations ranked well outside of the world's top 100 according to Fifa.

Regardless of opposition, Gakpo has found the net in three successive matches for club and country. He has never scored in four consecutive games since signing for Liverpool.

It is fierce rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday - and that would be the perfect way to achieve that personal milestone.

• Get news alerts on your Premier League club

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League table is starting to take shape and while results are obviously what matter most, they don't tell the whole story in terms of how teams have been playing so far.

Expected goals (xG) tells us how much teams have been dominating games by creating lots of good chances up front and restricting opponents to few, bad ones at the back.

Penalties are excluded because they distort a team's numbers on how threatening or vulnerable they are in general, especially at this early stage.

Below is a graphic showing how good teams have been in attack and defence, with the most dominant teams in the top-right corner and the least impressive in the bottom-left corner.

Arsenal and Manchester City have been the most dominant sides, with the Gunners having the best defence and fourth-best attack and City the joint-best attack and fourth-best defence.

High-flying Crystal Palace are the only side to rival City's attacking threat, while Newcastle are living up to their name by being almost as impregnable at the back as Arsenal.

Both Manchester United and Chelsea have one of the top five attacks in the league but worryingly also rank in the bottom five defensively.

• Find and follow your Premier League club on BBC Sport

Liverpool's back-to-back defeats following five straight wins gives a more accurate picture of how they have been playing, while Tottenham have needed to be very efficient to make up for their lack of dominance in games.

Aston Villa's early-season struggles are no longer to do with finishing - they have now scored six non-penalty goals from an xG of 6.0 - but simply because they have not been playing well.

While promoted sides Leeds and Sunderland have adapted quite well to the top-flight, Burnley have struggled to make the jump so far with both the worst attack and the worst defence.

Read more on what expected goals tell us about the start to the season

Paris St-Germain are holding contract negotiations with Bradley Barcola, 23, after the France forward attracted interest from several clubs including Liverpool and Bayern Munich in the summer. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Juventus have rebuffed multiple enquiries for France defensive midfielder Khephren Thuram, 24, from Premier League clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool during the past six months. (TBR Football), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your reflections views on Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group completing 15 years since their takeover of the club.

Here are some of your comments:

Niall: Two Premier Leagues and a Champions League, alongside various other trophies! And let's be honest, if it weren't for Manchester City, we'd have more too. We've been blessed with one of the greatest managers in the club's history, all the while spending quite little in reality (except for this summer, of course, where we went crazy), so yes, they have been a great success.

Steve: FSG are fantastic owners. Sports people who seem to recruit well at all levels. When I look around the league, I feel fortunate that they are the owners.

Mark: Fabulous. Have won everything and bought the best players. No complaints.

William: Honestly, this is by far the best management group in modern-day football. Prudent, financially savvy, with the best interest of the football club. Yes, it is a business, but it's a very successful business.

Ian: I think I can say for everyone that new owners should always come with a warning label, but over the past 10 years, the way the club has invested (and not invested) at the perfect time has grown us into the Premier League powerhouse we are today. Not many fans could have hoped for such a fantastic relationship between us and ownership.

While most fans we heard from praised FSG for turning the club around, there were a number who remain frustrated by the ownership's attempts to join the European Super League in April 2021.

Henry: There's no doubt that FSG have done a wonderful job in bringing Liverpool back to the top of English and European football, and I'll always be grateful for that. But ultimately, I will forever remember them as the people who tried to bring in the European Super League and tried to take football away from the people, to fill their own pockets.

Adam: Mostly good. Should have backed Jurgen Klopp a bit more, think they realise that now. Also should have made a bit more mention of Klopp in the statement. Missteps regarding furlough and Super League, but would I swap them with any other owner? No.

• Get news alerts on your Premier League club

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group have issued a statement marking 15 years at the club. You can read it in full lower down this page.

How do you reflect on their ownership so far?

Have they done enough in 15 years?

Get in touch with your views here

Image source, Getty Images

John W. Henry, Tom Werner and Mike Gordon look back on 15 years of Fenway Sports Group's ownership of Liverpool:

"When we first became involved with Liverpool, we knew we were joining something extraordinary and we hoped we could restore such an incredibly storied institution to standards it had previously set — but we could never have imagined exactly how the next 15 years would unfold.

"From the outset, our primary aims were simple: to bring success back to Anfield and to ensure the long-term health and stability of this great club. We understood the responsibility that came with being its custodians, and we've tried to honour that every single day. We also understood the scale of the challenge but recognised the potential that could be realised if everyone pulled in the same direction.

"Looking back now, it's not only been quite a journey; it's also been an incredible adventure that we, as owners, have been privileged to be a part of.

"The two Premier League titles — one under Jurgen and one under Arne — and the Champions League win are the obvious milestones. We will never forget being inside Anfield earlier this year on the day we were finally able to lift that league trophy in front of our fans. It is a memory that will stay with us for life.

"But there have been so many other moments that matter just as much. Sir Kenny Dalglish guiding us to our first trophy together in 2012. Becoming world champions in 2019. The cup double in 2022. The League Cup final in 2024. Back-to-back WSL title wins in 2013 and 2014 under Matt Beard. Each of them told its own story about what this club stands for — belief, togetherness, heart and so much passion.

"Of course, there have been tough times too. We've lost finals and missed out by the smallest of margins. Off the field, there have been times we've got things wrong. We know that and we have learned from it. All our decisions are made with the best, long-term interests of the club at the centre of our thinking.

"We are proud today of how the club has grown in every sense. The men's team now train in world-class surroundings. The women's team call Melwood home again, linking our future to our history. And Anfield itself — from the Main Stand to the new Anfield Road — has been transformed while never losing what makes it special.

"We also want to take a moment to recognise all the leadership at Liverpool, both on and off the field. Their guidance, commitment and dedication has been central to everything we've collectively achieved.

"Liverpool Football Club means so much to so many people, and that's something we've always been conscious of. This club is part of the fabric of the city and far beyond it. It connects generations and communities in a way that is truly special. Being part of that story is a privilege, and it brings a responsibility we never take for granted.

"Today is a day to look back with gratitude. But it's also a reminder that our work isn't done. There's still so much more ahead of us — more to achieve, more to win, and more memories to make, together.

"And to you, our supporters — on behalf of everyone at Fenway Sports Group — thank you. Thank you for welcoming us, for believing in this team through every high and low, for telling us when we've fallen short, and for showing the world what it truly means to be part of Liverpool Football Club.

"You'll Never Walk Alone."

John, Tom and Mike.

Italian club Inter Milan have entered the race for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi but Liverpool remain favourites to sign the 25-year-old England international. (Tuttosport - in Italian, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

An international break might have been just what Liverpool's players needed.

Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk all scored, while Florian Wirtz, Ryan Gravenberch and Conor Bradley put in excellent performances.

It is Manchester United this weekend and Liverpool need to stop the rot, having lost three games on the spin.

Arne Slot needs to pick his best team and stick to it for a bit. He has tweaked too much so far. Not only between games, but during them.

His desperation to keep everyone fit has actually led to disjointed performances and a lack of rhythm.

Alexander Isak needs to play. As do Hugo Ekitike and Wirtz. To get them all in the side, Ekitike should start on the left with Wirtz at number10.

In giving the German the free role, the two midfielders behind him need to be much more responsible. So far, Gravenberch and whoever has played alongside him have wandered forward, leaving gaping holes in the centre of the park.

Given Alexis Mac Allister's terrible form, Slot should put Gravenberch and Dom Szoboszlai in a double pivot, where both are happy to sit and protect the back four.

Given Joe Gomez will likely come into the side because of the injury to Ibrahima Konate on France duty, it is imperative we are not wide open again - like we were at Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

That strength in midfield will hopefully allow the world-class forwards in front of them the freedom to try things and make mistakes.

So far, they have been either too cautious or too slow to make a decisive decision.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

Image source, Getty Images

Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has defended Florian Wirtz's slow start to life with Liverpool, arguing he just needs to "get used" to the Premier League.

Wirtz, 22, is yet to register a goal or assist in England's top flight since his £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen in June.

"Even though he hasn't scored any goals, he is still the player who creates the most chances in the Premier League," Nagelsmann told Sport 1.

"It's not his fault if his team-mates don't convert them, and the statistics don't even tell the whole story.

"Wirtz needs to get used to the league. I saw him playing with total freedom. He knows what he's capable of and how things work.

"He hasn't always had it easy - he'll have to work hard now too."

According to Opta, no player has created more chances than Wirtz (21) in the Premier League so far this season.

And former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also believes the negativity surrounding Wirtz has been overblown.

"His quality is so outstanding," Klopp told German outlet n-tv. "The discussions are a bit exaggerated.

"Liverpool just lost three games in a row, which is unusual. But that's also normal in life. And that's why such things are discussed there.

"[Wirtz is] a once-in-a-century talent, and at some point he'll show that in every game again - just as he did at Leverkusen."

Liverpool, Aston Villa and Tottenham are among the Premier League sides to have sent scouts to watch 17-year-old Nantes centre-back Tylel Tati. (CaughtOffside, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Liverpool are among the Premier League clubs interested in 21-year-old Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton. (Mail, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Our senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel has been answering your questions on Liverpool. In the final part, he discusses Arne Slot's tactics this season after the success of his first campaign.

Joe asked: Was last season a fluke? Liverpool have played terribly and made some questionable buys. I don't see Slot as master of tactics! Could Slot be another Rafa Benitez with first-season luck?

Sami: Last season was not a fluke. They won the Premier League at a canter and Slot's side were the picture of consistency.

A run of three defeats on the spin has certainly raised questions, though even throughout their 100% start to the campaign, there were signs of deficiency. But there was always going to be a period of transition this term.

They made six signings over the summer and lost key players in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz. You do not just hit top gear after such tinkering.

But they will adapt and re-emerge as a force because the players are too good for their poor form to continue.

Check back over the Liverpool page from Thursday to read more from Sami's Q&A

• Not a Reds fan? Find and follow your club here