Liverpool
Klopp Praises Salah as an All-Time Great and Limits Comparison with Ekitiké
Klopp calls Salah an all-time great and questions who in the next decade can match his numbers soon.
Jürgen Klopp set out a clear hierarchy when reflecting on Mohamed Salah’s place at Liverpool, praising the forward’s extraordinary record while offering a measured view of any near-term challengers. Salah’s 255 goals for the club place him third on Liverpool’s all-time list. His first 100 Liverpool goals came in just 151 games, a club record, and he leads the way with goals scored in Europe with 53.
Salah’s individual honours underline that output: he is a four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, three-time FWA Footballer of the Year, three-time PFA Players’ Player of the Year, a two-time Premier League champion and a Champions League winner. Klopp, who was Liverpool manager for seven of Salah’s nine seasons with the Reds, acknowledged that even elite players face day-to-day demands but put those in perspective. “In the moment when you work with him, it is the same as every other player: ‘You can’t lose the ball here, you have to defend here,’ all these kind of things. But with the bigger view, it is just ridiculous.”
Klopp stressed how rare Salah’s sustained numbers are and questioned whether anyone will reach them soon. “[Salah has] unmatched numbers—will we be talking in 10 years and someone else has them? Ekitiké or whoever. I think it will be really difficult [to surpass Salah]. I think he is one of the all-time greats.”
That comparison landed on Hugo Ekitiké, who is only at the start of his Liverpool career. The French striker had not long turned 23 when he arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer and has been described as Liverpool’s best new signing this season, even though he has had to cope with effectively being replaced by Alexander Isak within a matter of weeks. Ekitiké has 17 goals across all competitions, a respectable total but well short of the 44 Salah managed in his debut year in 2017–18. Klopp’s remarks underline both Salah’s exceptional legacy and the scale of the task facing any player hoping to emulate him.
Bournemouth
Iraola Highlights Liverpool Rest Edge Before Bournemouth Meeting
Iraola says Liverpool may have an edge from extra rest ahead of Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium reunion.
Andoni Iraola has suggested Liverpool’s extra recovery time could tilt Sunday’s meeting in their favour at the Vitality Stadium.
Liverpool arrived into the fixture after Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round win over Tottenham Hotspur, where a rotated side claimed a 3-1 victory. Bournemouth, by contrast, were in Europa League action on Thursday and returned from their trip to Real Sociedad with a 2-1 win, earned through goals from Justin Kluivert and Rayan.
Speaking in his prematch press conference, Iraola was clear about the scheduling imbalance. “I think we have an advantage,” he said. “Most of the times it has been the opposite. We have been the team that played last, but this time we played two days before they played.
“I think there should be an advantage there, but also I know where we are going, and I know what they have there, not only the stadium but overall.
“When you see the number of games they have lost in a long while [just three defeats in 2026], you realize how difficult it is to beat Bournemouth.”
Liverpool were able to use younger players and lesser-used squad members against Spurs, while Marco Rose selected a full-strength Bournemouth line-up in San Sebastián. On that basis, the Reds are expected to arrive fresher for Iraola’s reunion.
Even so, the Bournemouth boss will have noticed Liverpool’s flat display in last Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Fulham. After their victory over Atlético Madrid only a few days earlier, Liverpool appeared drained at Anfield and struggled to impose themselves in a match that finished without a goal.
That pattern is not new. In the 11 Liverpool matches that have followed midweek trips this calendar year, they have won only six. Three draws and two defeats sit alongside that return, including one loss at Bournemouth in January. For Iraola, the recent numbers offer reason to believe this could be a tighter contest than the schedule alone might suggest.
Bournemouth
Iraola and Klopp back Wirtz amid rising scrutiny
Iraola and Klopp defend Wirtz as criticism grows, stressing his team role and work rate.
Andoni Iraola has offered firm backing to Florian Wirtz as criticism of the Liverpool midfielder continues to build, aligning himself with the view already expressed by Jürgen Klopp.
Wirtz has faced increasing scrutiny over a modest return of goals and assists, with frustration around his output rising after each passing week. Yet Iraola was clear in his defence ahead of Liverpool’s visit to Bournemouth, stressing that the German should be assessed in the same way as every other player.
“He should be judged like everybody else, whether he plays well or doesn’t play well” Iraola told reporters at his Friday news conference. “Mostly I always say how does the team play when you are on the pitch? I am very happy with Florian, I rate him very highly, he understands what we need from him. He is trying to help in every aspect of the game.
“Obviously we want him to have assists and goals also, but he is helping us in a lot of different areas.”
Klopp has also defended Wirtz this week after naming his first squad since becoming Germany head coach. The former Liverpool manager selected two separate squads of 44 players for the upcoming three-week international break, with Wirtz included among them.
Asked about the player’s recent displays, Klopp was equally supportive. “I think he’s the player who covered the most ground at Liverpool this season, so the willingness is absolutely there,” Klopp told media on Thursday.
“We have to move away from expecting to always see special moments in front of goal from him. He needs to help us as a team. We have to make sure Flo feels comfortable with us. When the team works, every player shines as a result.
“So we have to be satisfied when Flo plays a game in which he gave everything but didn’t register a goal or assist. We need to give the boy the feeling, ‘That was more than good enough today. You helped us as a team.’”
There is little mystery behind the growing frustration. Wirtz arrived with significant expectation, and supporters have naturally wanted more decisive contributions. Still, his work without the ball has improved under Iraola, with the midfielder leading his teammates for possession won in the final third and distance covered per 90 minutes in the Premier League. Even so, when measured against other attacking midfielders at England’s elite sides last season, he fell short.
Arsenal
Iraola’s selection choices may shape Liverpool’s push to keep Ngumoha
Liverpool want a new deal for Rio Ngumoha as Arsenal’s interest grows and Iraola’s minutes may prove decisive.
Liverpool are working to secure Rio Ngumoha on a new contract as interest from Arsenal continues to grow around the teenage winger.
Ngumoha has already made five more appearances for Liverpool this season and remains central to the club’s first-team thinking. That is notable given the summer arrivals of Bradley Barcola and Victor Muñoz, both of whom operate in the same left-wing role that suits the youngster best.
The situation is made more pressing by the fact that his current deal runs until 2028, with no agreement yet in place on an extension. David Ornstein has confirmed Arsenal’s interest on The Athletic FC podcast, while also stressing that Liverpool are not ready to entertain a sale.
“I think there is some interest from Arsenal in Rio Ngumoha,” said Ornstein. “There’s surely interest from lots of clubs in him, because he’s such a precocious talent. I did hear over the summer that they like him. They’re allowed to like him; that’s their prerogative. It doesn’t mean Liverpool are going to sell him.
“They want to renew his contract. He’s 18 and tied down at Anfield until 2028. I don’t know of an agreement yet on a new deal, so clearly that’s something they’ll try to progress.”
Liverpool regard the teenager as untouchable after already turning away interest from Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig last summer. Even so, the amount of football he receives under Andoni Iraola could prove important in the months ahead.
With Barcola, Muñoz and Cody Gakpo among the options on the flanks, there is pressure on the manager to keep Ngumoha involved and avoid any frustration while Liverpool work on a renewal.
“I heard Arsenal have some interest in him, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens with him and Liverpool because there is no suggestion he’s unhappy there,” Ornstein added.
“I reported over the summer that Ngumoha was actually Bayern Munich’s top target at one point to strengthen in the wing position. They’d done quite a lot of work on it, but it didn’t develop. Liverpool had no interest in trading him.
“RB Leipzig were another club credited with interest. What will be really interesting is to see how much game time he gets at Liverpool, because wingers are the big thing for Andoni Iraola.
“You would expect him to be a real asset for them. Let’s see how it develops.”
Arsenal’s interest is also tied to their lack of depth on the left side. Christos Tzolis has arrived from Club Brugge, but the loss of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard has left the area short of natural options.
At present, Tzolis is mainly competing with Eberechi Eze, who is more naturally suited to central attacking midfield. Mikel Arteta will want reinforcements soon, especially after Arsenal’s unsuccessful attempt to sign Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior over the summer.
