Liverpool

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The clock ticked down, a ball dropped from the sky and Dominik Szoboszlai nonchalantly trapped it in front of The Kop on Liverpool's opening night of the season.

The Hungary international was in the right place, allowing Mohamed Salah to cross a ball that would allow Federico Chiesa to finish and help Liverpool past an impressive Bournemouth at the death.

In their next fixture, again at the death, Szoboszlai stepped over a ball in the Newcastle penalty area, his dummy affording Rio Ngumoha the time to put his name up in lights and earn the Reds an away win against 10 men.

Six days later, Szoboszlai pinged a free-kick past David Raya - again in front of The Kop - to make it nine points from nine and add to his importance early in the campaign.

And so it has gone on, for the midfielder at least. For while Liverpool have been sporadically good and largely miserable ever since, Szoboszlai has gone on to deliver his best season at the club.

In all competitions, he now stands on 13 goals and 10 assists - impressive numbers for a player who managed eight goals last term and seven the time before.

Perhaps more impressive is the fact that Szoboszlai's output means he is the first Liverpool midfielder to have both 10 or more goals and assists in a season since a certain Steven Gerrard (14 goals, 14 assists) in 2013-14.

Comparisons have been made between club-legend Gerrard and Szoboszlai, helped in no small way by the Hungarian's tendency to cover ground at will, with an all-action style to boot. His ability to switch positions also brings with it a Gerrard-like quality and it should be remembered that, for many, when the season started Szoboszlai was the likely candidate to miss out in the Reds' midfield to make way for Florian Wirtz.

He has dug in and seemingly used such doubt as fuel. Some fans now ponder where they would be without him.

Seasoned Kopites will explain the former Leipzig midfielder has many roads to conquer before he can ever be considered in the same universe as local-hero Gerrard.

But, much like Gerrard, he has shown the strength of character and ability to have immense influence in a side that is up against it.

To deliver when others are floundering is no small feat.

One wonders how Szoboszlai - now entering his prime at 25 - might prosper in a side playing with more zest and efficiency.

In a season that has flattered to deceive, his impact at least offers something to take forward.

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"It's the best phase of football. There are more important things in the world but creating this kind of emotional atmosphere together is so special."

The words of Jurgen Klopp in the moments after his side fought back from 3-0 down on aggregate to beat Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield on this day - 7 May - in 2019.

Liverpool, without Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, found a way to reach the Champions League final, where they would secure the title for the sixth time.

Klopp added: "We had to be serious but we needed to be cheeky as well. All the predictable things they defend well. We said before the first game, you need to be unpredictable in moments."

Liverpool were indeed unpredictable in the most spectacular and memorable way.

In The Independent, journalist Jonathan Liew would write: "This is Liverpool's gift: to rip up what you thought you knew about football and footballers, to take you – mentally and physically – to a place you don't know and never wanted to go. To make your eardrums ring and your sinuses twang and your heart thump to the point where it's all you can think about.

"A night when Anfield heaved with the heft of the impossible, when a crowd of thousands and an audience of millions lost itself in the mad, dangerous intoxication of football."

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Liverpool supporters say they "welcome" the club's decision to scrap plans for successive ticket-price increases across the next three seasons.

Fans have protested in recent weeks against plans to raise prices year-on-year across each of the next three campaigns.

Flags were removed from The Kop by the Spion Kop 1906 group, while supporters' union Spirit of Shankly orchestrated the handing out of thousands of yellow cards, which fans held aloft at Anfield during the recent fixture with Crystal Palace.

Supporters also moved to delay renewing season tickets and limit spending inside of Anfield while dialogue was ongoing with the club's hierarchy over the proposals.

Liverpool - who had widely cited soaring costs as a reason for increasing prices - have now confirmed an inflationary increase of 3% to general admission tickets for next season, before a price freeze for 2026-27. The club said "further discussions" with its supporters board will take place regarding later campaigns.

In a statement on their website, Liverpool said: "The club and Supporters Board will use the certainty of these seasons to seek longer-term alternative solutions across the game and explore commercial ideas with the Supporters Board in an attempt to avoid future ticket price increases and address issues around affordability and accessibility for future generations.

"LFC believes that, without wider progress on alternative solutions, future inflationary increases may still be required, including season 2028-29, and will continue to engage with its supporters.

"Both the club and the Supporters Board are committed to exploring a longer-term solution that works in the interests of all."

A joint statement by a host of Liverpool supporter groups, external welcomed the news, adding: "We have asked Liverpool that it now works with us to explore alternative ways to generate revenue rather than ticket-price rises during this time, to which it has publicly committed.

"We understand disappointment at next season's increase in ticket prices will remain for some, but there will be none the season after and we want to assure fans we will continue talks with the club and do our best to find other ways to prevent future rises."

How do you feel about the news? Does it go far enough for supporters?

Send your views here

Liverpool Chelsea and Tottenham are interested in Brighton's Netherlands centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, 25. (Teamtalk, external)

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

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Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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It has been an incredible period for exciting games with plenty of goals. It is also no surprise considering what is at stake. Many clubs are needing wins as opposed to just wanting them, and of course there is the tiredness at the end of the season which top players will always take advantage of.

Everton 3-3 Manchester City might just have outshone Manchester United beating Liverpool 3-2 on Sunday, but that win by Michael Carrick's men was another hi-octane nailbiter that had the emotions overflowing from the start. It wasn't quite the spectacle of PSG 5-4 Bayern Munich last Tuesday, but we are currently seeing classics on a more than weekly basis just now.

There were also a whole bunch of schoolboy errors on show, though to be fair Marc Guehi's bizarre, you-wouldn't-expect-that-in-an-under-eights-game backpass, did steal the show at the weekend.

The two big take aways were that first, Liverpool have a lot of work to do over the summer particularly with their defence. Second, if Manchester United do not give Michael Carrick the job full-time, then they will probably get what they deserve – more of the mayhem they have endured for the past 13 years.

I have never understood why they got rid of David Moyes, who I was convinced would have built a dynasty given a modicum of time and indeed due respect. Carrick is in the classic United mould, has done an exceptional job with 32 points from 42 available, that is league-winning form in many seasons.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is set to stay at the club, despite Ajax being interested in the Dutchman. (Mirror, external)

The Reds are weighing up a move for 28-year-old Bournemouth and Argentina defender Marco Senesi, who has verbally agreed to join Tottenham if they avoid relegation from the Premier League. (Talksport, external)

Meanwhile, Liverpool and England midfielder Curtis Jones is on Inter Milan's radar. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian, external)

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We asked for your views on the standards at Liverpool and whether there are valid concerns about a culture problem at the club, following Mohamed Salah's comments around the need for players to set good examples when he leaves.

Furthermore, in recent days captain Virgil van Dijk has been asked about the number of days off players get - which you can watch lower down this page - and Jamie Carragher has questioned whether a group of players seen playing one-touch in the Old Trafford tunnel were appropriately focused.

Here are some of your replies on the debate around standards:

Dan: It does seem that standards in training intensity may be drifting, this is evident in match sharpness; most notably mental and physical drop offs towards the end of games. This drop of in sharpness is also evident and shows up in the lack of pressing football this season, something that was part of 'the way we play here' - that identity is now missing. If you train hard you fight hard and the ability to fight is inconsistent this season!

Thomas: Mo's hinting at slight unrest behind the scenes. It's apparent the gel is not there like it used to be. New manager and new players, but it seems Slot has an unhappy bunch, probably as unconvinced of him as many of the fans are. Next season is definitely make or break for Slot.

Nigel: Salah's comments always suggest something deeper is at play but, it's easy to read too much into them. My instinct is the manager isn't a strong enough personality, and there aren't enough leaders in the team. Standards do appear to have dropped.

Yusuf: We used to get the best out of players such as Mane and Salah because they'd always push to do better. Henderson and Klopp would always support that. We had a genuine desire to achieve, and that competitive culture came from Klopp and his philosophy of always wanting to play fast-paced, electric football. That lack of desire and the perceived need to slow things down also comes from the lack of drive in the team. We now play football expectantly rather than proactively which is really saddening - the desire of the team has gone as the manager now wants to play slower and more controlled football. What happened to full-throttle football and wanting to make the fans come back every game? It has regressed to the opposite now - and it comes from the lack of drive, and this is not Liverpool by any stretch.

Lorraine: Something that won't cost any money, change the skipper. VVD has no drive or passion, too cold - pass the captaincy to Dominik.

Ian: There's no fight in the team, they've got lazy and sloppy. There are so many passes going astray in every game, so many mistakes in defence, so many chances missed and we've got the worst midfield we've had in years. We need a massive clearance throughout the club, not just the players, the recruitment team and management need to go too before we end up mid-table nobodies.

This is your Liverpool page. Bookmark it and come back for stats, fan views, expert analysis and more.

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Liverpool principal owner John Henry has insisted Fenway Sports Group "don't settle for mediocrity" amid disappointing performances from its two biggest assets; the Boston Red Sox and the Premier League holders.

Henry was responding to his sacking of the long-serving Red Sox manager Alex Cora in April after the team won just 10 of their first games of their Major League Baseball campaign.

After Sunday's defeat by rivals Manchester United, Liverpool have now lost 18 times in all competitions - their most in a single campaign since suffering the same amount under Brendan Rodgers in 2014-15.

In an email to the Sports Business Journal, Henry referenced an incident when fans criticised the ownership recently, while emphasising the need for hard work in order to turn fortunes around.

"Fans get frustrated. The Sox looked terrible for (their) first 25 games," he wrote.

"I remember a plane flying overhead when we were beating Manchester United 7-0 that read 'FSG OUT!'.

"It doesn't mean you ignore them, it means you work harder – you don't settle for mediocrity. You have to win."

Some Liverpool fans have recently been protesting against planned ticket price increases over the next three years, while some supporters have called for Arne Slot to become the first Reds title-winning boss to be sacked the following year.

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Mohamed Salah has hinted that standards are falling at Liverpool, saying he is "happy" that "everything that is going on this season" has made him realise it is the right time for him to depart.

Salah announced he will leave the club at the end of the season in March amid a difficult season and after an interview he gave to reporters in December after Liverpool's draw at Leeds, where he said he was "thrown under the bus" by the club and his relationship with head coach Arne Slot had broken down.

"The season was tough for all of us… I don't want to say much," he has reflected on the campaign.

"I'm happy about it, everything that is going on this season makes me like 'No, it's time to go', so I'm happy.

"The bond of the team is changing so I really hope the guys hold it together and have that for the future."

Salah has helped Liverpool to win two Premier League titles, the Champions League, Fifa Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup, FA Cup and two EFL Cups, as well as the Community Shield, scoring 255 goals which places him third in the clubs' all-time list.

However, this has been a difficult campaign for Slot's side who will finish without silverware and will likely only narrowly qualify for the Champions League.

Salah has observed "concerns" over the mentality within the squad.

"I want the guys to succeed here, I want the club to be there," he told Sky Sports.

"And this is one of my main concerns. I spoke to a member of staff, I spoke also to guys up there, I told them when I leave, you need an example here. You need people to come early to the gym and people look at them - 'Oh he go to the gym, so I need to go.'

"If that didn't happen or doesn't happen I think it will be tricky for this club because it's something very very necessary. You put the standard high, like people have to come early. People have to go gym. People have to look after themselves and I don't want that to change after I leave or anything.

"I just want to have that standard at the club because it's very important for the team to keep winning things and this is one of my main concerns for me."

Liverpool fans, do you think there are valid concerns over a culture problem at the club? Or is it an oversimplification to fit a narrative around a poor season?

Let us know here

Italian side Juventus have made Alisson their top target for the summer. The Brazil international is entering the final year of his contract at Anfield. (Sky Sports, external)

Liverpool and Arsenal are among a number of Premier League teams monitoring Paris St-Germain and France forward Bradley Barcola, 23. (Teamtalk, external)

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

After Sunday's defeat at Manchester United Virgil van Dijk was asked about the perception aired on social media that Liverpool's training schedule has been light. The Reds' captain defended the suggestion that his side have had too many days off.

The players had one day off in the week leading up to the Manchester United game and are scheduled to have one day off this week before they play Chelsea on Saturday.

When it was put to Van Dijk that some of his team-mates went on holiday last week, the Liverpool defender said: "I'm not sure it's a holiday. It's a city trip. But I think if you have one day off, and you don't have many days off, they decide what they want to do with their families. We are not kids. Everyone is an adult.

• Read more from Van Dijk

"I wish we had a couple more days off at times because I think it works both ways. You see Pep Guardiola giving [Manchester] City three days off the last weeks in a row and they are doing pretty well. It is finding the right balance.

"I can understand if people think we are not training and when results are not there it could be a reason for why we are not getting results."

Liverpool sit fourth in the table and are 18 points behind leaders Arsenal.

"Like anyone else, personally I want this to be solved," Van Dijk said. "I want us to experience what I have had over my time here. I want us to be successful. I want to be consistent with the team, winning games, fighting. We want to get the job done.

"At the minute, we are just disappointed. Consistency is the most difficult thing in any job you do. But it is also the best way to be successful and get results. We have three more games, then the World Cup. We have to realise that next season, this season cannot be repeated. It is unacceptable."

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

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I didn't feel too emotionally affected by the defeat by Manchester United on Sunday.

The season has fizzled out and uninspiring performances have become the norm.

I don't like to moan too much about refereeing decisions, but the handball call for Benjamin Sesko goal really confused me.

If you are using VAR to check if the ball hits the hand, you must disallow the goal once you see it has hit the hand. These are the rules. You might not like them and the touch was minimal, but it still happened.

It doesn't change the fact Liverpool deserved to lose of course. Even the second-half salvo only happened because United gifted us two goals, although Dom Szoboszlai still deserves huge credit for his role in both.

Where would we be without the Hungarian this season? He's arguably been the only player to have a good season. That's what makes the summer so difficult to predict.

On paper, Liverpool's players are good. On the grass, they haven't been for 18 months. But do we need to bring in six or seven again and face the bedding in problems that affected the start to this campaign? Absolutely not.

I'm at the point now where I'd change the manager, but it doesn't look the club will do that.

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

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Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has questioned Arne Slot's persistence in picking 23-year-old Florian Wirtz over 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who has shown a "fearless factor" this season.

The England Under-19 international, who became Liverpool's youngest Premier League goalscorer at Anfield back in April, came on as a substitute as the Reds fell to a 3-2 defeat against Manchester United on Sunday.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, Reo-Coker said: "Please can someone tell me why Arne Slot isn't playing the young kid Rio Ngumoha?

"I'm still trying to work out why they aren't playing him, especially when you look at their current run of form and their lack of creativity.

"He has that fearless factor about him, so why don't they just start him in games like the one against Manchester United?

"There should be no problem if his playing style hasn't matured fully, because you've only got one of him in a team of 11 players. That is fine.

"I'm certain that you would probably get more production off him than you would get off Florian Wirtz at the moment, which is another aspect of my argument."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

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Six points clear of sixth-placed Bournemouth with three games left, Liverpool should secure Champions League football and deserve some credit for that.

But watch them on a weekly basis and it's clear to see this is a team that is struggling and cannot wait for this campaign to finish.

The injuries have been relentless and that was encapsulated with record signing Alexander Isak absent at Old Trafford and third-choice Freddie Woodman and fourth-choice Armin Pecsi as their two goalkeeping options.

Mohamed Salah, also ruled out with injury, watched on from the directors' box and how Liverpool could have done with the Egyptian, who has scored more times against Manchester United in the Premier League than anyone else.

Despite the absences, Liverpool would have been aware of the task against Michael Carrick's resurgent outfit and had all week to prepare, yet still delivered a woeful first-half performance.

Once again, they went behind first and despite United's best efforts to gift them a way back into the game and drawing level at 2-2, it was another Liverpool error which helped the hosts secure the three points.

Alexis Mac Allister will know he should have cleared his lines before Kobbie Mainoo's 77th-minute winner.

Arne Slot spoke earlier in the week about this summer representing the start of new cycle. At the bare minimum, he and his players need to ensure that includes Champions League football.

"I wouldn't say I'm concerned [about qualifying] but I am completely aware that we need three points and that is why I am so annoyed we did not get them," said the Dutchman.

"If you are 2-2 and have come back from 2-0 down, you should at least come out with a draw."

Deep down, he will know that regardless of Champions League qualification, Liverpool are in for a summer of change.

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Man Utd fans

Carl: Sometimes you cannot fathom why players do the things they do and the mistakes they make. What is always pleasing is when they react positively and make amends. Well done to the management team and a special mention to Kobbie Mainoo and his team-mates. What was a poor season has become a good one with Champions League qualification.

Neil: In the past few games, why has Lammens fallen into playing out from the back? It was one of his strengths when he came in that he kept it simple with long balls, unlike the calamity Onana. Another lucky escape after Brentford. I'm sorry, but Michael Carrick is living on borrowed time. Julian Nagelsmann is my choice.

Mark: That 20-minute period early in the second half just shows how close the performance of the current United and the United from last season are. It's a thin line between success and failure for us at the moment, and we're just falling on the right side. We need cool, calm heads in the midfielders we bring in.

Simon: Great man-of-the-match performance from Kobbie, particularly in the first half, breaking up Liverpool's play with interceptions and tackles based on great positioning. The goal was his reward. Mainoo is nailed on for England.

Liverpool fans

Wiz: Regardless of injuries, we are papering over cracks all the time with Arne Slot. Boring, slow, predictable and passionless. It clearly doesn't work in the Premier League. He won it last year with the last of Klopp's team and has now dismantled it totally. There is no identity at all. Slot has still got to go, or it'll be another 30 years before another trophy.

Kieran: Liverpool's problems this season are many in all areas of the field. Their biggest problem is the correct recruitment. No alternatives to Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. No cover for Conor Bradley at right-back. Florian Wirtz has been a major disappointment, and he is not suited to the physicality of the Premier League. Missing out on Marc Guehi was the club's biggest mistake. Alexander Isak and Jeremie Frimpong should not have been bought. Sporting director Richard Hughes is the real problem!

Mez: Very poor overall. They were gifted two goals early in the second half, but they never looked like winning it. Slow play, no identity, no bite up front, all over the place defensively and, more importantly, no midfield. Even if Slot keeps his job beyond this summer, I think he will be sacked within weeks of the new season.

Dax: If it wasn't for United's mistakes we could have been hammered. It's not that Slot doesn't have a clue, it's that the team just aren't playing with any kind of passion... except for Rio Ngumoha and Dominik Szoboszlai. The counter-attack is non-existent or too slow, the passing lacks any kind of purpose and nobody seems to want to close down opponents. All too frequently, we are allowing opponents to form an attack safe in the knowledge that we'll give them the space to do it. We need to show teams the kind of pressing we were so good at and be ready for the break. I don't think Slot is at fault here. It's the players.

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Judging whether the ball has touched a player's hand can be one of the trickiest roles of the video assistant referee.

It involves using split-screen angles because depth perception can give the incorrect suggestion the ball has touched the hand or arm on just one camera.

The decision comes down to a VAR assessing the weight of evidence, and asking themselves if they can be sure the ball did touch the hand.

In these situations, who is in the VAR chair can make a difference. Because, while handball before a goal is considered a factual decision, whether you think the ball touched the fingers in a case like this is very much subjective.

Slow motion can help, but there should not be an over-reliance on zooming in. Broadcasters have higher frame rate options with an ultra zoom, which Sky showed a few minutes after play had restarted.

In this case, VAR Stuart Attwell felt he did not have the definitive evidence to overturn the goal. He may have believed it was likely, but he could not be absolutely sure.

Match referee Darren England explained this to the two captains before play got under way again.

If you are a Liverpool fan, you will absolutely feel that there was proof, of course.

Pundits Micah Richards and Alan Shearer join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Bournemouth 3-0 Crystal Palace

• Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been speaking after the defeat at Old Trafford: "We weren't able to control their strengths. We were aware of them in terms of set-pieces and counter-attacks. You have to know where to lose the ball if you play against Manchester United, they are really strong when they play into the middle. They have so many fast players. Bruno Fernandes to hurt you in transition, and that's exactly what happened with the second goal.

"We were 2-0 down, we came back in the second-half to 2-2, but then we shut off and immediately conceded the goal. We had a lot of ball possession in the second half, but one of their strengths is also defending."

On whether there were familiar problems: "I don't think anyone expected us to lose that game at 2-2, or maybe you do after the whole of our season. As I've been shown so many times this season, when we are playing well or we think we are able to win it, we switch off.

"I know what we can improve on and we are already working hard on this. The same issues keep coming back, which isn't a huge surprise as you don't have long to fix it during the season. Tactically you can change certain things, but for me it is clear where we have to improve - and we will."

On the potential handball from Benjamin Sesko: "If it was a touch, it should've been disallowed. I want to focus on how we conceded that second goal though, because that's where we can do better."

• Hear more from Slot on BBC Sounds and explore all Liverpool audio

Liverpool goalscorer Dominik Szoboszlai has also been speaking to Sky Sports: "It's not good. We go home with zero points. After the first half, we shouldn't be happy at all. We should be who we were at the start of the second half.

"You concede from a set piece. You talk about counter-attacks and that's how the second goal happened. We have to focus more and look at the details.

"I don't focus on next season. I focus on these three games. We want Champions League next season because we belong there, but we'll see what happens in the future."

On whether he is a leader on the pitch: "You have to ask the players that. I try to do my best and hopefully set an example day-by-day. We have a lot of players who can set example and I try to be one of them, and if it works I'm happy."

Did you know?

• Liverpool suffered their 18th defeat of the season in all competitions. They have only lost more times in a single campaign on three occasions since being promoted to the top flight in 1962; 1992-93 (20), 2004-05 (19) and 2009-10 (19).

• The Reds have conceded 17 goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season. It is the most they have ever conceded in a single campaign in the competition, overtaking 16 in 1992-93

• Cody Gakpo has scored five goals in four Premier League starts against Manchester United, his most against any opponent in the competition.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter at Old Trafford

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool and boss Arne Slot can point to their injury problems - and they were far from full strength here - but there can be no excuses for their feeble first-half display, which left them two goals behind and with a mountain to climb.

Slot has spoken so often about the importance of the first goal in a game, yet for the 21st time in 54 matches this season Liverpool conceded the opener.

And only against Arsenal (2) in August 2025 have Liverpool had fewer touches in the opposition box in the first half of a league game under Slot than the four they managed at Old Trafford.

The sheer lack of fight, initially, was glaring to see.

Yet the character and quality they showed after the break to score twice in nine minutes was impressive - and it was evidence that this team does have something about them.

Manchester United were guilty of gifting the visitors - but Liverpool, lacking a centre-forward after Alexander Isak was ruled out with a minor groin injury, were still clinical.

Liverpool's player of the season Dominik Szoboszlai scored a brilliant individual goal - one that the onlooking Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish and Mohamed Salah would all have been proud of - before Cody Gakpo punished Senne Lammens' error.

In the grand scheme of things, without two goalkeepers, two strikers and a bench filled with youngsters, a draw at Old Trafford would have been a point gained rather than two dropped.

But Liverpool were the architects of their own downfall again, when Alexis Mac Allister made a woeful attempt to clear his lines and was made to pay by Kobbie Mainoo.

Liverpool should still secure Champions League football for next season over the coming weeks but, yet again, the barrage of problems they have were laid bare.