Liverpool are interested in Inter Milan's 29-year-old Netherlands wing-back Denzel Dumfries. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Meanwhile, Reds midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai says his future is not in his hands as talks continue over a new contract. (Athletic - subscription required), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool defender Milos Kerkez says the Anfield atmosphere was "unbelievable" in Saturday's big 4-1 win over Newcastle.
The Reds showed character to bounce back from Anthony Gordon's opener and comfortably record their first Premier League win of 2026.
"We're really happy," Kerkez said.
"Finally we take three points in the Premier League which is really good.
"We had to build on the performance in the Qarabag game and I think there was brilliant energy. In the stadium also it was unbelievable, the fans gave us a big push so a really fantastic game for us."
Kerkez has received criticism at times this season for his performances since arriving from Bournemouth in the summer, but both he and fellow summer acquisition Florian Wirtz appear to be finding their feet in recent weeks.
"Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world," Kerkez added.
"When you come in you need a bit of time for adaptation. Everyone helped us a lot since the first day. It took us a bit of time but we accept the challenge, work hard every day, focus, don't listen to the outside noise and just focus on improving."
Another summer signing Hugo Ekitike scored twice against the Magpies as he continues his impressive debut season, and Kerkez believes he and Wirtz can be key figures in the Reds' attack for many years to come.
"Top players," he added.
"I see them every day in training and they are working hard since they arrived. They needed a bit of time to adapt to play better between each other but you see how things go.
"They are brilliant players helping us a lot. They are running even more, pressing even more, which is helping us also.
"They just have to continue to work and they will be very helpful for a lot of years for this club."
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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Newcastle.
Here are some of your comments:
Liverpool fans
Roger: That was a Liverpool team that had a kick to to it. The players all worked for each other. When we play like this we are unbeatable because we have that belief and the supporters know this.
Stuart: A lively, end-to-end game. Liverpool immediately responded to going a goal down. There was a great tempo to the match, accompanied by the raucous supporters. The script was written for an Ibrahima Konate goal after a strong performance from the defender. Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz continue to improve too. Ten goals from the Reds in four days can't be bad!
Tony: Signs of the old swagger there and, as a bonus, Konate played the best game of his season.
Dax: It was definitely the Liverpool we needed. Our signings were on top form. Milos Kerkez clearing his lines or scrapping for every ball. And the deadly duo of Wirtz and Ekitike could see the start of another famous Liverpool partnership. However, all the praise should go to Konate. Absolutely solid in defence, a towering performance all over the pitch and a goal at the Kop end. His dad would've been proud.
Jim: Best performance in the Premier League this year despite pressure from Newcastle. Another disappointing performance by Mohamed Salah. A very emotional goal from Konate - you can't write that sort of thing.
Newcastle fans
Dabe: We look very good when attacking but have a tendency to over-commit, leaving gaping holes at the back. First half was great and we should have been two up, but when we give the ball away as much as we did, we got punished. More work to do and we need a genuine centre-forward.
Sam: Embarrassing is being generous. The fact we went 1-0 up and then gifted them four easy goals angers me. What angers me even more is that we gave up in the second half and pretty much let them win the game. Don't get me started on Nick Pope's embarrassment. I rated him throughout the season, but now I want him out.
Bryan: Getting rather tired of these excuses. Sloppy passing again giving Liverpool possession and goalscoring opportunities. Set pieces (mainly corners) a predictable shambles. Always getting caught on the break. Come on Eddie - get real.
Sean: Deja vu. Yet another game taking the lead and then throwing it away. Howe should have made changes earlier but, once again, the usual subs at 70 minutes after conceding who didn't impact the game. Mid-table mediocrity for this season.
Howard: Started really well but could not keep our defence tight. We miss Bruno Guimaraes and big Joelinton. I trust Eddie and his team as they are superb tactically, but the players cannot afford to ignore the plan. Three wingers up front made Liverpool struggle but we lost the shape and the pressure. I have no doubt we will bounce back but we may have to put up with a mid-table position this season - then strengthen the squad and go again.
It's transfer deadline day tomorrow, with the window closing at 19:00 GMT.
How would you assess Liverpool's window? Do you think any position needs more attention? If so, give us names of who should be brought in. And what about who needs to go?
Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter
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There is no doubt Hugo Ekitike can finish.
He has already scored 15 goals for Liverpool and such an immediate return will not come as a shock to Newcastle, who always thought the striker would thrive in the Premier League.
"It hurts me from a Newcastle point of view," former Magpies goalkeeper Shay Given told Match of the Day. "[Ekitike] could be wearing a black-and-white shirt.
"He is brilliant at stretching defences. He has picked Liverpool and of all the signings they did make in the summer, he has been the standout."
This was a night when Ekitike became the youngest player to reach double figures for Liverpool in a league season since Michael Owen in 2000-01.
But it was a performance which earned him comparisons with another lethal striker from the club's recent past - Fernando Torres.
Liverpool and Chelsea are in talks with Rennes to sign 20-year-old French defender Jeremy Jacquet, but he will only move in the summer. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column
Pundits Shay Given and Steph Houghton join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.
And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to BBC Match of the Day about Hugo Ekitike's performance: "I can safely say that the fans love him but fans always love players who score a lot of goals.
"What I like about Hugo and also Florian [Wirtz] is that the focus is on their goals and assists - football should be like this because it is a great game to watch, especially when they score goals - but their work-rate has improved so, so, so, so much.
"As a result of that, we are more able to control games. And as a result of that, they come in more good positions."
On the Ekitike-Wirtz partnership: "Hugo was scoring a lot of goals from the start of the season and Florian was involved a lot in creating chances for his team-mates and was unlucky that balls did not go in. It was not always possible to play them together every three days. That is what I mean when I speak about off the ball and match fitness - to be able to play every three days.
"That took a while for them to play at the best of their level at the highest intensity every three days. They are getting closer and closer, and it is no surprise the numbers are going up."
On Ibrahima Konate's goal: "He has had a very difficult two weeks. End of last week, he told me he would come back end of this week, but when he saw the problems we were having defensively he called me and said he would be back for this game because he wanted to help the team.
"That says a lot about him. That is why I really liked the appreciation of the fans during the game, when he scored and after of course that was even more from the players who appreciated him being there to help today."
And speaking to TNT Sports on the transfer window: "In the past 48 to 72 hours there has been a lot of speculation always around us. We are trying to look to strengthen the squad. I don't know exactly what is going on in this moment of time, but we prefer to strengthen the squad not weaken it. Let's see what the upcoming 48 hours will bring."
Hear more from Slot on BBC Sounds
Liverpool defender Konate, speaking to TNT Sports: "I don't have words to describe what I feel right now because it was a very difficult moment for me and my family the past two weeks, but this is part of life. It is hard to accept that and we don't have the choice.
"I know that the team had some injured players, and the manager on the call said to take my time and I don't have to rush back. With this situation [injuries] it was important for me to come back and help the team. I did today with the team at Anfield. The atmosphere was incredible today, and this is what we need until the end of the season."
On Florian Wirtz's performance: "I am very happy for him. He just showed to the world his quality. He has not reached his peak right now, but it is coming very soon. We spoke in pre-season what he is going to do - and if he reaches that, my god, it will be crazy."
On building consistency in the league: "We have to take game after game. For me, we are always the best team on the pitch but we maybe concede too many goals or don't score enough - but today we did very well and we have to take next game after next game."
Liverpool's Wirtz, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was a good turnaround. I think when we went 1-0 down we came together as a team to fight back - there isn't much better you can do."
On scoring goals: "I just enjoy the goals. As long as I can help the team win games, I am happy. When you celebrate your own goal it is always the best. I am just happy to play here in front of the fans."
On his partnership with Ekitike: "Everyone saw again what quality he has and what a great player he is. He is so fast and has a great finish. What a joy it is to play with him."
Did you know?
Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz have combined for six goals this season, more than any other Premier League duo, assisting three goals each.
Since 20 December against Tottenham, Wirtz has been involved in more goals than any other Premier League player in all competitions (nine – six goals, three assists).
Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesThis was the first time that Newcastle and Liverpool had met since Alexander Isak completed his protracted £125m move to Anfield.
But it was another striker who stole the headlines in the injured Swede's absence.
On the eve of this game, Eddie Howe hailed hugo Ekitike as a "huge talent" who has "great movement" and "can score with both feet".
Those words proved rather prescient. Newcastle's loss has been very much Liverpool's gain.
With Newcastle on top, and Anthony Gordon going close to doubling the visitors' lead, Ekitike not only dragged his side level but he put them in front.
It is what the great Liverpool strikers do - step up when their side need them most - and the hosts did not look back from that point.
Remarkably, since Ekitike made his debut for Liverpool in August, only Manchester City's Erling Haaland has been involved in more goals for a Premier League side in all competitions - 31 to Ekitike's 19.
No wonder Ekitike was handed a standing ovation when he came off in the second half.
Following a comfortable 6-0 Champions League victory over Qarabag in midweek, this was an emphatic return to winning ways for Arne Slot's side in the Premier League.
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Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
Have your say on Liverpool's performance
What did you make of Newcastle's display?
Come back on Sunday for a selection of your replies
Ibrahima Konate starts for Liverpool as the champions make two changes for the visit of Newcastle United.
The defender makes his first appearance in two weeks after being granted compassionate leave following the death of his father.
Milos Kerkez also comes back into the side following the 6-0 midweek rout against Qarabag in the Champions League.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike
Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Nallo, Ngumoha
Anthony Gordon looks set to lead the line as Newcastle make three changes for the trip to Anfield.
Newcastle are lining up without a recognised striker after both Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade were left on the bench.
Gordon, Kieran Trippier and Harvey Barnes have all been recalled following the 1-1 draw against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday night.
Newcastle XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Ramsey, Willock, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes
Subs: Ramsdale, Botman, Wissa, Osula, J. Murphy, Woltemade, A. Murphy, Shahar, Miley
There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Brighton v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Leeds v Arsenal - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Wolves v Bournemouth
Chelsea v West Ham (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Liverpool v Newcastle (20:00)
Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated
Follow all of the action and reaction here
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Brighton v Everton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v West Ham", for instance.
Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds
Liverpool's £116m summer signing Florian Wirtz didn't have the most emphatic start to his Liverpool career, but the 22-year-old is beginning to find form.
In this week's edition of The Football Interview, Kelly Somers speaks to the Germany midfielder, who said he had to "stay strong in my mind" after not scoring in his opening 23 games for the Merseyside club.
"I had to keep believing in myself that at one point it had to click because I was telling myself 'you did so good in Germany, you can't just forget how to play football like this here'," said Wirtz.
The former Bayer Leverkusen player has now scored five goals in his last nine appearances for the club, and confirmed he struggled with his confidence during a dry scoring patch.
"It was not easy to have the confidence on the pitch, but I think I dealt really good with it.
"Even when the start wasn't easy, I am so happy I decided like this [to join Liverpool]," added Wirtz.
You can watch the full interview on BBC iPlayer of listen on BBC Sounds
I was in Paris to watch Newcastle for BBC Radio 5 Live on Wednesday. They made loads of changes and started badly - but they could have won it in the end.
They showed a graphic on Match of the Day on Sunday which underlined how important Bruno Guimaraes is to Newcastle - because basically they don't win when he is not playing.
Eddie Howe did not risk his captain against Paris St-Germain and will be hoping he is fit enough to start on Saturday but, even if he is, I still fancy Liverpool here.
Liverpool walloped Qarabag at home on Wednesday, but one of their issues this season has been following up good wins like that in Europe with a similar result in the Premier League the following weekend.
Newcastle's poor away form should help them this time, however. The Magpies have been so flat on the road.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesFernando Torres, Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez. As far as deadline days go, 2011 was crazy for Liverpool.
It was 28 January when Torres handed in his transfer request at Liverpool as he wanted to move to Chelsea and three days later, on deadline day, Liverpool confirmed they had agreed a then British record £50m fee with Chelsea for the Spanish striker.
Liverpool were already in the process of signing Luis Suarez from Ajax for £22.7m but decided that without Torres, they needed a proven Premier League striker. As Torres made his way down to London, Andy Carroll was in a helicopter heading towards Merseyside.
Carroll, who was 22 at the time, had scored 11 goals in the first half of the season and Liverpool ended up paying a then club record £35m for the Newcastle striker.
Years later, Carroll said he wished he failed his medical but insisted he had no regrets over the move. Having scored just 11 goals in 58 games in all competitions, the Englishman joined West Ham on loan in 2012 and stayed there the following season after both clubs agreed a permanent deal in the region of £15m.
"I'd just bought my dream house in Newcastle. I was about to sign a new contract and then it gets pulled away from me and you're gone," Carroll recalled to the Daily Mail, external.
"To be honest, I didn't really know what was going on. I didn't really want to go but you're being told you have to go.
"It came up on Sky Sports News saying £30m for Andy Carroll from Tottenham rejected. Then it says Liverpool £35m accepted. I went in to see the manager, he rang the owner and the owner says, 'Yeah, you're gone'."
Suarez, on the other hand, went on to become one of Liverpool's greatest strikers and was part of the Liverpool squad that came agonisingly close to winning the Premier League in 2013-14 but fell short. The Uruguayan moved to Barcelona for £75m in 2014. Even now, it's hard to think that he cost Liverpool less than Carroll.
Meanwhile, Torres failed to reach the numbers he did at Liverpool and struggled at Chelsea but did win the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup during his time at the Blues.
Matt Jones
BBC Sport journalist
After contrasting nights in the Champions League in midweek, it's back to the Premier League grind for Liverpool and Newcastle United when they meet at Anfield on Saturday night (20:00 GMT).
The Reds knocked off some of their domestic rust with a 6–0 win over Qarabag, booking their place in the last 16 of the competition. The freedom with which they played was in marked contrast to their sluggish recent Premier League efforts.
Newcastle performed well in their 1–1 draw away at European champions Paris St-Germain. It was not enough for them to progress directly to the last 16, though, meaning a play-off will be required.
Reds striving for Premier League antidote
When Rio Ngumoha struck deep into stoppage time to earn Liverpool a dramatic 3–2 win at Newcastle in the second week of the season, there were no real signs of the subsequent slump the Reds would endure.
Liverpool would go on to win their next three games in the top flight and establish an early lead in the process. However, since a 2–1 loss away at Crystal Palace in matchweek six, the defence of their Premier League title has unravelled.
Following that defeat, Arne Slot's side have managed only five wins from 18 games. It is the fewest number of victories recorded by a Liverpool side over the same period since Kenny Dalglish won five of his final 18 matches in charge in 2011–12.
The Reds are also on a five-game winless run in the Premier League after their 3–2 loss to Bournemouth last Saturday. It is the joint third-longest ongoing run without a victory in the division.
Nonetheless, matches against Newcastle have historically been kind to them, with the Reds currently on an 18-match unbeaten run against their opponents from the north-east.
Image source, BBC SportGordon conundrum continues for Newcastle
A visit to Anfield may not be ideal for Newcastle at this moment in time as a result.
Not only is their away record woeful in the Premier League this season – two wins from 11 games - the players had to put in a big shift in Paris on Wednesday night. Mental and physical fatigue could be factors as a result.
There will be extra onus on Anthony Gordon going into this one, especially after he was left on the bench in midweek by manager Eddie Howe.
The former Everton player has spoken on numerous occasions about his Liverpool allegiances as a youngster. The Reds showed an interest in signing the England winger in the summer of 2024 too, but a deal didn't materialise.
Gordon finds himself in a peculiar place in terms of his form. In the Champions League he was one of the best players in the league phase, finishing with six goals and two assists. In the Premier League? It's been a different story with the forward's last goal from open play coming on 15 January 2025.
In his last outing against Liverpool, a fired-up Gordon was sent off for a late challenge on Virgil van Dijk. It was a show of frustration that has epitomised his Premier League form so far this season.
If he or Newcastle are to have any hope of ending their unwanted streaks on Saturday night, his evident passion for this fixture will need to be channelled in the right way.
