Liverpool
Ngumoha underlines his Liverpool ambition as left-wing competition grows
Ngumoha is using preseason to press his case as Liverpool weigh up growing left-wing competition.
Rio Ngumoha has set out a clear message in Liverpool’s preseason: he wants minutes, responsibility and a chance to prove himself. The teenager said he “just wants to play” and show Andoni Iraola what he can offer, with a valuable opportunity unfolding during a summer in which Liverpool’s left-side options are already under pressure.
Cody Gakpo’s future remains uncertain, while Liverpool have already invested in Víctor Muñoz for Ngumoha’s position. Interest in Bradley Barcola would only sharpen the battle for places. Although Barcola can also operate on the right, his career has been built mainly on the left, the same role where he excelled most with Paris Saint-Germain.
Ngumoha has made strong use of preseason so far. He has played 45 minutes in each of the wins over Sunderland and Wrexham, both matches featuring heavy rotation. Against Wrexham on Wednesday night, he scored the only goal at Yankee Stadium.
“It has been good,” the youngster said of his experience to Liverpoolfc.com. “All the lads are treating me like I’m a professional player. Obviously, I’m still young and I’m learning, but all the players have been top. It has been good.
“Definitely, [it’s an important preseason]. On from the end of last season, I just want to play and start as many games as I can. These games are a really good showcase to show the manager, because it’s a fresh start for everyone. It’s really important and it’s good.”
That determination to “show” Iraola what he can do reflects both the scale of the chance in front of him and the need to seize it quickly.
Liverpool are still working with a largely young group at this stage of preseason. Gakpo has only just returned to training after his World Cup involvement with the Netherlands, while Muñoz, part of Spain’s squad, will not return until mid-August.
There are three preseason games left for Ngumoha to strengthen his case. Liverpool face Leeds United in Chicago on Aug. 2, before returning to Anfield for matches against Monaco on Aug. 9 and Como on Aug. 16.
Liverpool
Liverpool’s summer arrivals: early returns assessed
Liverpool’s new arrivals have made contrasting starts, with Barcola slow and Muñoz already producing key moments.
Liverpool did not repeat the scale of last summer’s record outlay, but the club still spent heavily in the latest transfer window. Those additions have helped deliver an unbeaten opening to the campaign, with four wins and three draws before the three-week international break.
The question now is how much each newcomer has contributed in the early stages of their Liverpool careers.
Bradley Barcola has made five appearances and, as the club’s statement signing of the summer and the second-most expensive transfer in its history, attention around him was always going to be intense. Yet there are clear reasons his start has been restrained. Arriving late from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee that could rise to £123 million ($163 million) with add-ons, he also missed pre-season under Iraola. His situation was further complicated by a late return from the World Cup and his omission from early rosters for the European champions, leaving him without any friendly or competitive action before moving. That has produced a quiet beginning, with no goal involvements from his five outings, though he is expected to improve as sharpness returns.
Victor Muñoz has taken a different route. He technically joined Liverpool as a World Cup winner without playing a minute in Spain’s successful run, but his place in Luis de la Fuente’s squad followed an excellent season with Osasuna. Since arriving on Merseyside, the 23-year-old has offered genuine spark across six appearances. He has not yet reached the level of Cody Gakpo early in the season, but he has still been Liverpool’s second-most lively wide player. His first competitive outing brought a stoppage-time penalty that secured a draw at Newcastle United, and he followed that with a powerful equaliser against Nottingham Forest. Supporters have already seen his speed, attitude and versatility, with more expected across the rest of his debut season.
Arsenal
One key issue facing each Premier League side after five matches
Five games in, the Premier League is already revealing title doubts, transition pains and early surprises.
The first five matchdays of the 2026/27 Premier League season have already given shape to a campaign that promised uncertainty from the outset. With the table still settling and another international break leaving a long pause before Matchday 6, there is time to take stock of what has emerged so far.
Arsenal’s title defence has already met resistance after a heavy defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Before that trip, they looked close to untouchable, but the champions have not yet shown enough to pull clear of their rivals. Bruno Guimarães has added quality, though injury has delayed his rhythm, while Christos Tzolis has stepped in as a serviceable replacement for Leandro Trossard. Even so, Arsenal’s attack was found wanting in their toughest test to date, with concerns lingering over the goalscoring burden on Bukayo Saka and the lack of a set-piece breakthrough.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, are navigating a period of change after rebuilding their core in the summer. Their first league win of the season offered encouragement, with Johan Manzambi, Nicolas Jackson and João Gomes all making useful contributions. Bournemouth have begun slowly under Marco Rose, but there is little panic as they balance league form with European demands after an opening win at Real Sociedad. Brentford continue to look like a difficult assignment at home, built on physicality and a set-piece threat that has already caused problems for visiting sides.
Brighton’s pressing game has been a feature of the early weeks, while Chelsea’s start under Xabi Alonso has raised serious questions about their structure without the ball. Coventry City finally recorded a first Premier League win in more than 25 years, though goals remain a concern. Everton’s window left them thin on options, Fulham are showing signs of adjustment under Álvaro Arbeloa, and Hull City have been one of the early surprises, even if history offers a warning.
Elsewhere, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur all have distinct questions to answer as the season develops.
Liverpool
Ranking Julian Ward’s Liverpool Signings From His First Spell
Julian Ward is expected back at Liverpool, and his first seven signings tell a mixed story.
Julian Ward is back in line for a key Liverpool role, with The Athletic reporting that he is expected to return as sporting director. Ward previously held that job for the 2022-23 season before leaving the club, and after coming back as technical director in 2024, he is now set to oversee recruitment once more.
That earlier period produced seven signings, and their impact varied dramatically. Some deals brought promise, others profit, and a few were undermined by injuries or inconsistency. Here is a fresh look at how those additions shaped up.
At the bottom sits Arthur Melo. The midfielder managed only one senior appearance, a 13-minute outing in a 4-1 defeat to Napoli. An injury picked up in training required surgery and ended his season. Signed on loan from Juventus to address midfield shortages, the move quickly became a costly setback.
Calvin Ramsay also struggled to establish himself. Liverpool paid $5.5 million for the right back after his promise at Aberdeen, but he made only two senior appearances. Knee surgery in February 2023 kept him out for 264 days, and loan spells at Preston North End, Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic and Kilmarnock failed to reignite his momentum. He is currently at St. Mirren and looks set to leave when his contract expires next year.
Fábio Carvalho offered some return, though not enough to convince Liverpool he had a long-term future there. After a January move from Fulham collapsed, he signed in the summer of 2023. He was used early under Jürgen Klopp but later faded, finishing with just two Premier League appearances after Christmas in 2022-23. A difficult loan at RB Leipzig was followed by a stronger spell at Hull City, yet Liverpool sold him to Brentford for $25.5 million in 2024.
Darwin Núñez brought goals, chaos and frustration in equal measure. Signed for an initial $78.6 million, he produced 31 goal contributions in Klopp’s final season, but missed chances and disciplinary lapses repeatedly undercut his case. He has since moved to Saudi Arabia.
Cody Gakpo remains more divisive than definitive. Signed for $45 million, he has delivered both dry spells and productive stretches, including 18 goals in all competitions in 2024-25. Last season brought only nine goals in 52 games, but his record suggests there is still time to improve his standing.
