Get up to date on the latest Liverpool FC transfer news and rumours with our bite-sized round-up

One of the major tasks for Andoni Iraola at Liverpool will be to coax out the best from a big-money strike force at Anfield, writes Paul Gorst

One of the major tasks for Andoni Iraola at Liverpool will be to coax out the best from a big-money strike force at Anfield, writes Paul Gorst

Trent Alexander-Arnold is poised to play alongside an ex-Liverpool teammate at Real Madrid next season after a deal was agreed and a long-term contract was signed

Trent Alexander-Arnold is poised to play alongside an ex-Liverpool teammate at Real Madrid next season after a deal was agreed and a long-term contract was signed

With the official announcement of the new head coach, Andoni Iraola, completed, Liverpool fans can now turn their attention to the upcoming 2026/27 campaign. That’s because the 2026 World Cup is just around the corner. Jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the world’s premier football competition kicks off with a match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11. 

Nine Liverpool players have earned selection for their respective National Teams, which should provide players with valuable minutes and experience to help stabilise a club in transition due to the departures of legendary figures like Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson.

Below is a list of players, and LFC Globe will explore each player’s role with their respective National Team, how that might differ tactically from their role with Liverpool, and an updated schedule so fans will know how and when to tune in to watch their favourite players on the pitch. Be sure to check LFC Globe often during the tournament for updates.

The Players

• Alisson Becker - Goalkeeper, Brazil (Group C)
• Virgil van Dijk - Defender, Netherlands (Group F)
• Ibrahima Konate - Defender,  France (Group I) 
• Ryan Gravenberch - Midfielder, Netherlands (Group F) 
• Wataru Endo - Midfielder, Japan (Group F) 
• Alexis Mac Allister - Midfielder, Argentina (Group J) 
• Florian Wirtz - Midfielder, Germany (Group E) 
• Cody Gakpo - Forward, Netherlands (Group F) 
• Alexander Isak - Forward, Sweden (Group F) 

Alisson Becker: The Consummate Shot Stopper

Brazil is one of the favourites to lift the trophy. Oddsmakers give them about an 11 per cent chance. If they are to do so, it all starts in the back with Alisson Becker. Not only is he adept at making world-class saves, but his uncanny pitch awareness should also allow him to start Brazilian counterattacks with long throws or punts that have become commonplace occurrences during his time at Liverpool.

Virgil van Dijk: The Backbone Of The Backline

Just as with Liverpool, Virgil Van Dijk will captain and anchor the Dutch backline. Fans can expect him to use the same skill set that they see at Anfield, clearing away dangerous balls over the top with defensive headers, but also being a threat offensively with set pieces. He scored five goals on headers during the EPL campaign. 

So it would not surprise me if he bangs in a couple during the World Cup. Van Dijk’s pairing with Liverpool teammates Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo creates a familiarity that will only benefit the Dutch as they progress in the tournament.

Ibrahima Konate: Bolstering The French Defence

Even though Ibrahima Konate’s Liverpool contract expires on June 30th and he has indicated he will not re-sign with the club, he has been a valuable piece for the Reds for the past five seasons. France are second favourite to lift the trophy this summer, behind Spain, and with a roster loaded with stars like Mbappe on the squad, Konate may be overshadowed a bit, but his solid defense in the back should allow France to push forward, knowing that Konate can stuff out any counterattacks.

Ryan Gravenberch: The Versatile Midfield Option

As we move up the pitch to the midfield, Ryan Gravenberch is the perfect choice for the Dutch in one of the midfield spots. He rarely gives the ball away against high-pressing teams. Coming from a Liverpool side that liked to control possession under former Reds manager Arne Slot. Slot,, who is Dutch, used some of the same tactics as the national team, and that should only increase Gravenberch’s transition from domestic football in the EPL to international football. On the pitch, look for Gravenberch to hold up possession when needed and then quickly play the ball forward when the time is right. 

Wataru Endo: The Rising Sun’s Shining Star

It will be good to see Wataru Endo back on the pitch in any capacity, as he spent much of this past season on the sideline due to injury. Whereas Ryan Gravenberch was a midfielder who could attack or defend, Endo is more of a defensive midfielder and was used by Arne Slot when healthy as a late sub to see out games. Slot even mentioned Endo as a key piece on the Reds' side that brought home the EPL title in 2024/25. He is a well-respected player and a quiet leader, so I would expect him to see a lot more minutes at the World Cup.

Alexis Mac Allister: Macca Looking To Repeat

Alexis Mac Allister played a vital role in Argentina winning the World Cup in 2022 and looks to do so again in 2026. He was one of the more consistent players for Liverpool this past season and, as a result, was a constant fixture in the Reds' starting XI. Playing for clubs like Liverpool and Argentina seem to suit Mac Allister’s personality. He is more than happy to step up and take a big shot in important moments, but he also does not mind deferring to global superstars like Messi and Salah. That mixture of skill and selflessness bodes well if Argentina want to lift the World Cup again in 2026.

Florian Wirtz: Germany’s Free-Flowing Winger

Even though Florian Wirtz is listed as an attacker on the roster, I think he will be more of a winger, as he is for Liverpool. He had a bit of a rollercoaster season for the Reds as his record signing did not produce the number of goals Liverpool fans were expecting. He showed flashes, however, and has also shown the propensity to put the ball in the back of the net during international competitions, scoring seven times in a German shirt. Wirtz is only 23 years old, so he is on the path to becoming the next German superstar.

Cody Gakpo: The Dutch Oven

Cody Gakpo is the third and final member of the Liverpool trio playing for the Netherlands. At times, he struggled to see time in the Starting XI behind the likes of Hugo Ekitike up top in Liverpool’s 4-2-3-1 formation. Once Ekitike went down with an injury, Gakpo was more productive, scoring seven goals and five assists. Gakpo is a streaky player, and if he gets hot, there is no telling how far the Dutch can go.

Alexander Isak: The Scandinavian Striker

Alexander Isak is the focal point of the Swedish attack, much like Zlatan Ibrahimovic was in the past. He has already scored in Sweden’s pre-World Cup friendly vs. rival Norway. Isak's domestic season was derailed by a devastating injury, but a strong World Cup performance will hopefully act as a springboard to a productive campaign for Liverpool beginning in August. 

Where To Watch

Here is each team's schedule for the Group Stages that involve Liverpool players. All 104 matches will air on the Fox family of Networks in the United States. In the UK, they will be broadcast on the BBC and ITV.

Group C schedule

Saturday, June 13: Brazil vs Morocco - MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey - 6 pm ET

Friday, June 19: Brazil vs Haiti - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia - 9 pm ET 

Wednesday, June 24: Scotland vs Brazil - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami - 6 pm ET 

Group E Schedule

Sunday, June 14: Germany vs Curacao - NRG Stadium, Houston - 1 pm ET 

Saturday, June 20: Germany vs Ivory Coast - BMO Field, Toronto - 4 pm ET 

Thursday, June 25: Ecuador vs Germany - MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey - 4pm ET 

Group F schedule

Sunday, June 14: Netherlands vs Japan - AT&T Stadium, Dallas - 4pm ET

Sunday, June 14: Sweden vs Tunisia - Estadio BBVA, Monterrey - 10pm ET

Saturday, June 20: Netherlands vs Sweden- NRG Stadium, Houston - 1pm ET

Saturday, June 20: Tunisia vs Japan - Estadio BBVA, Monterrey - Midnight ET

Thursday, June 25: Japan vs Sweden- AT&T Stadium, Dallas - 7pm ET

Thursday, June 25: Tunisia vs Netherlands - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City - 7pm ET

Group I Schedule

Tuesday, June 16: France vs Senegal - MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey - 3pm ET 

Monday, June 22: France vs Iraq - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia - 5pm ET 

Friday, June 26: Norway vs France - Gillette Stadium, Boston - 3pm ET 

Group J Schedule

Tuesday, June 16: Argentina vs Algeria - Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City - 9pm ET 

Monday, June 22: Argentina vs Austria - AT&T Stadium, Dallas - 1pm ET 

Saturday, June 27: Jordan vs Argentina - AT&T Stadium, Dallas - 10pm ET 

LFC Globe Verdict

Liverpool players are set to make a big impact at the 2026 World Cup. Some, like Alexander Isak, will carry the team while others will be vital role players. Either way, no matter the country, we can all cheer on the Reds while we wait for the new season to start. Enjoy the games, everyone! 

Have Your Say

What are you looking forward to the most about the upcoming World Cup? Drop a comment below.

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Divock Origi wrote his name into the Anfield history books when he scored for Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur

Divock Origi wrote his name into the Anfield history books when he scored for Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur

Jurgen Klopp said Divock Origi "is, and will be for me, forever a Liverpool legend".

But what defines a club legend?

Sometimes, it's the thrill of a derby day goal. Or the euphoria created from the promise and fulfilment of a European comeback.

Maybe a goal scored to then help claim eventual European glory underpins that status.

For Liverpool, Divock Origi, who has retired aged 31, is all of that and more.

While legends of the past wrote their history in appearances or even a trophy haul, Origi wrote his Liverpool story in the moments that mattered most.

And the goals he scored for Liverpool in the crunch moments are the ones that matter most to him.

"Three goals come to mind," Origi told Sky Sports as he reminisced about the moments that stand out during his career.

"Barcelona, in the Champions League final, and the Everton derby in the 96th minute.

"Each one is iconic in its own way. The final probably represents the height of it all; you saw the fruit of everything.

"But if I had to choose one, I'd say the Barcelona goal. The emotion and the feeling of those three will stay with me forever."

Beyond those goals, there were more that will keep Origi etched into Anfield folklore. Rivals Everton were his favourite opponents during his career, with his six goals in Merseyside derbies more than he had managed against any other side.

The Belgian striker's moments are littered across Jurgen Klopp's time at Liverpool too. Before Mohamed Salah, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk arrived to change the face of modern-day Liverpool, Origi was there in the difficult early days under Klopp, starting in his first 11 games and scoring vital goals in the Europa League.

Brendan Rodgers signed Origi in 2014 to kick-start a career at Liverpool that would produce 41 goals across 175 games. There were loans during his time at Anfield, too, with Klopp admitting Origi deserved more than just the impact role he made his own.

Origi left Liverpool in 2022 but his name will echo around the halls of Liverpool along with that of Klopp's. He took with him a Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup medal.

For a player who found regular minutes hard to come by under the German, the bond Klopp and Origi shared was a unique one.

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Just months before Origi left Anfield, Jurgen Klopp described the forward as a 'Liverpool legend'

"Klopp holds a special place for me," Origi said.

"We shared special moments and won the biggest trophies together. But the gift was that he helped draw out who I truly am, off the pitch.

"The first thing he told me was that he believed in me. I was in his first starting XI, and from day one he believed in me.

"He said that as long as I was all in, we'd achieve great things together. And we did. When I left, he thanked me for everything we'd achieved together, and he was excited for what was to come for me."

After testing spells at AC Milan and Nottingham Forest, it's now time for a new chapter for Origi, with his last competitive appearance coming in 2024. He closes the old one with a feeling of satisfaction.

"I've been blessed to win some of the biggest trophies in the game," he told Sky Sports.

"But more than that, I'm proud to have contributed to teams that will forever be remembered in the history of football, clubs like Liverpool that have shaped the game and will keep shaping it.

"And alongside that, I'm proud of who football made me. It helped shape me into the man I was created to be. It shaped my faith.

"I have no regrets. Every journey has its challenges, but through my faith, I've always believed that every challenge came to sharpen me, either as a man or to push me to grow as a player, to sharpen my craft.

"That's how it was meant to be. I embraced every celebration and every challenge, because both made me the player and the man I am today."

Next for Origi is an opportunity to pursue what he calls his love for fashion, while also working alongside his friend Marvin Willem Ofori for the Belgian football agency DLF Sports.

Origi is also studying among the best in the world to become a top entrepreneur.

Those in Liverpool will remember him as a "legend", but asked what he'd like to be remembered as, what Origi said was simple.

"A player who authentically fulfilled his purpose. A player who fully walked in who he was created to be, not just as a player, but as a man."

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It's going to be a busy summer for the former Liverpool manager

It's going to be a busy summer for the former Liverpool manager

Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images

A loss Thursday would be a devasting blow in an already frustrating 2024/25.

As is the case for any (sobs) 14th-place team, Tottenham Hotspur's season hinges on competitions outside the Premier League. A bye into the Europa League Round of 16 keeps that avenue open, and the FA Cup remains a possibility as well, but the most immediate and realistic path to silverware is the League Cup. Yes, the road is brutal, with a trip to Anfield before a final against Newcastle, but only 180 minutes separate Spurs from ending their long-standing trophy drought.

That makes Thursday the biggest match of the season so far. Tottenham impressed in the semifinal's first leg, grinding out a 1-0 win despite ceding possession, absorbing pressure, and deploying a makeshift backline. Now, the battle shifts to Liverpool, where the country's best team will be confident in its ability to overcome a one-goal deficit. Spurs enter as clear underdogs but must find a way to advance.

Semifinals (2nd Leg): Liverpool (0) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (1)

Date: Thursday, February 6
Time: 3:00 pm ET, 8:00 pm UK
Location: Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
TV: Paramount+ (USA), Sky Sports Main Event (UK)

Since the first leg, Liverpool has gone 5-1-1, with the lone defeat coming in a meaningless Champions League contest with a rotated lineup. With a Premier League title in sight and a strong European campaign underway, one might assume this competition sits lower on the priority list. Unfortunately for Spurs, there are no significant matches on Liverpool's immediate horizon, meaning Arne Slot is likely to field a strong XI at Anfield.

Both teams were relatively cautious in North London, though for different reasons. Tottenham's approach was shaped by a defense missing three of its four preferred starters, alongside a newly introduced Antonin Kinsky. Ange Postecoglou now has the opportunity of choosing from options like Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel, though plenty of important names like Micky van de Ven remain injured.

For Liverpool, the decision to play pragmatically was likely strategic — returning home with just a one-goal deficit seemed an acceptable trade-off. Having made that decision, Slot's side will now bring intensity reminiscent of December's league fixture. Players like Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Dominik Szoboszlai were all absent from the first leg's starting lineup, but may be called upon Thursday with the objective more clear.

A few moments of greatness

Tottenham will not see much of the ball at Anfield. Liverpool will dominate possession, generate the bulk of the chances, and apply relentless pressure in Spurs' defensive third. That is a daunting prospect for cobbled-together squad; the number one priority is minimizing mistakes, especially with a lead to protect.

That said, Spurs must be willing to attack when opportunities arise and will not need much possession to be dangerous. Both Dominic Solanke's narrowly disallowed goal and Lucas Bergvall's successful strike in the first leg came via direct play over the top. Exploiting Liverpool's high press with quick, vertical attacks could be Tottenham's best path to maintaining the advantage.

If Spurs can capitalize on a pressing opponent and snatch an insurance goal, the tie will come down to their ability to weather the inevitable storm. Recent form does not inspire much confidence in their defensive resilience, but Tottenham has produced surprising performances against top teams this season. Postecoglou will need another one to keep his second-season trophy promise alive.

Liverpool fans will have seen the social media stories circling that both Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk signing a new contract, something Arne Slot was asked to comment on.

Speaking (via 90min.com), our head coach said: "We have some contractual situations that you don't probably don't know about.

"But Trent, Mo and Virgil haven't extended yet. So we are aware of the fact that we have to be sharp and ready for things that can happen.

"My life is mainly short term but we have so many quality people at this club that look at the longer term as well.

"You always have to be prepared for all the new things coming up.

"The players that don't play a big part at the moment; will they be able to do this another year? Will they fight for their place or will they [want to] go somewhere else?

"So we have to be prepared for the next window and what we can do."

The Dutchman doesn't really like to provide a direct answer on these topics, as it's not something he's directly involved in and prefers to allow time to pass.

However, confirmation that contracts have not been signed is a clear indication of the current situation and does debunk Robbie Fowler's theory.

Salah, Van Dijk and Trent have not yet signed a new contract Pictures via @MoSalah on X

John Barnes has stated that if he were in charge of the new deals, he would select our captain as the most important of the trio.

Many fans have their own opinions as to who they would or wouldn't allow to leave the club but it does feel that the overwhelming majority want all three to commit their future to staying on Merseyside.

You would assume the club can afford to do this but whether the financial model allows it is another question.

It's the same situation we've been in all campaign but we can take from this that no deals have yet been signed and it doesn't feel like we're close to them being done either.

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One year on: EOTK's tribute to Alex South – the former LFC defender who played with Liddell & Paisley

The post Arne Slot directly responds to rumours of Salah and Van Dijk’s new contracts being signed appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all out of contract in the summer, with Liverpool at risk of losing all three of their stars for nothing

Liverpool are set to face Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg tonight.

The Reds lost the away first leg 1-0 controversially courtesy of Lucas Bergvall's late goal but he really should’ve been sent off earlier.

Newcastle United have reached the final by beating Arsenal in the other semi-final so the winner of this tie will take on the Magpies at Wembley on 16th March.

As per team news, Joe Gomez and Diogo Jota have returned to full fitness after recovering from their injury problems but Trent Alexander-Arnold has sustained an issue since featuring against the Cherries. So, he has been ruled out.

Predicted Liverpool lineup vs Tottenham

Caoimhin Kelleher has been playing in the cup competitions but Alisson Becker started in the previous leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Brazilian may continue in goal for the hosts tonight.

Jarell Quansah has started all the Carabao Cup matches thus far this season but considering the importance of the fixture tonight, Ibrahima Konate is expected to be called upon to feature alongside Virgil van Dijk in the CB position.

Conor Bradley would replace injured Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas might get the nod to start in the left-back position ahead of Andy Robertson.

Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are likely to continue in the engine room with Dominik Szoboszlai in the CAM role. Therefore, Wataru Endo and Curtis Jones could be among the substitutes.

Cody Gakpo has also played all the League Cup games and should continue in his preferred left-wing position, while Mohamed Salah would be on the opposite side.

Luis Diaz may start again in the CF role, therefore, Darwin Nunez and Jota could feature off the bench if needed. Here is how Liverpool could line up vs Tottenham:

The post 4-2-3-1: How Liverpool could line up against Tottenham – Carabao Cup appeared first on Paisley Gates.

The Sky Sports campaign to try and destabilise Alexander Isak and get him out of Newcastle United is relentless, with the likes of Paul Merson and others, always willing to...

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