Anfield Index

Guy Drinkel is here with today's Daily Red as he looks at a report that Manchester City were told about their charges in the summer. He then looks at the players wages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Davis and Lewis Steele turn their attention firmly towards Liverpool, assessing the major decisions facing the club as Andoni Iraola continues shaping his squad.With Liverpool attempting to build on their early progress under the new head coach, Dave and Lewis examine where improvements can still be made and how the club's recruitment strategy could develop over the coming months.The discussion looks at the balance of the squad, the players Iraola can build around and the areas where Liverpool may eventually need further reinforcements. There is also the wider question of how quickly the club should act, with January presenting an opportunity if the right player becomes available.Lewis provides his perspective on the thinking around Liverpool and the challenge facing the recruitment team as they attempt to give Iraola the personnel required for his style of football.It's a fascinating look at a Liverpool squad still evolving under a new manager, with some potentially significant decisions looming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Davis and Lewis Steele close out Media Matters by tackling one of the biggest questions surrounding Andoni Iraola's Liverpool: does the head coach actually know his strongest XI yet? Injuries to Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak have created uncertainty ahead of Liverpool's next fixtures, leaving Iraola potentially considering Bradley Barcola through the middle, Lewis Koumas or even a false-nine solution. Lewis believes Liverpool's defensive picture is becoming clearer, but midfield and attack remain far less settled. Competition for places is healthy, although the coming weeks now provide an opportunity for individual players to establish themselves and give Iraola some definitive answers. Attention then turns towards Liverpool's ceiling this season. Lewis believes challenging for the Premier League title remains possible, although winning it may still represent a step too far. With Liverpool six points behind Manchester City at the point discussed in the transcript, the upcoming meeting with City could significantly change that picture. City, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Arsenal and Crystal Palace form a demanding sequence before the next international break. Liverpool's response could tell us considerably more about just how far Iraola's new side can go Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Davis is joined by Lewis Steele for a packed edition of Media Matters, with the fallout from Manchester City's financial case dominating the agenda. Lewis reacts to the extraordinary developments surrounding City and considers what could happen next as the dispute moves towards appeals and potentially years of further legal action. With Liverpool among four clubs said in the transcript to have previously reserved their right to seek compensation, Dave and Lewis discuss how difficult it could be to calculate the financial and sporting consequences of City's breaches. Could Liverpool argue that City's actions cost them Premier League titles and other trophies? What happens to the legacy of Jürgen Klopp's great Liverpool side? And how can the authorities possibly determine the impact across clubs that missed out on trophies, European qualification and prize money? There's also important Liverpool news from the international break. Jeremy Jacquet earns praise following an impressive France debut, while injuries to Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo create major concerns ahead of the upcoming Manchester City clash. Lewis assesses their chances of returning and provides an update on Giovanni Leoni's recovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Davis continues Newsround with Liverpool's transfer plans moving firmly into focus following Julian Ward's return as sporting director. Centre-back is one position generating plenty of discussion. Nico Schlotterbeck continues to be linked with Liverpool, although his status as a left-footed defender raises an obvious question about what any move could mean for Virgil van Dijk. Former Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi is another name reportedly being monitored, with his limited opportunities at PSG potentially putting his future back on the agenda. Attention then turns to midfield and one familiar dream target, Aurélien Tchouaméni. Dave explains why the Real Madrid midfielder would be an outstanding Liverpool signing, while acknowledging that his recently extended contract makes a deal extremely difficult. A considerably more realistic option could be Lamine Camara. His Monaco numbers jump off the page, including a league-leading 46 possessions won and 26 tackles, and Dave believes the midfielder feels like an obvious candidate for Liverpool if they decide to act in January. There's also Yankuba Minteh, with reports suggesting Liverpool retain an interest despite previously seeing bids rejected. Dave assesses why the winger's age, pace, defensive work and overall profile remain attractive, while explaining why a move would probably require an existing attacker to leave first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Davis is back with another Newsround, bringing all the latest Liverpool news from the international break. The spotlight falls on Jeremy Jacquet after a superb senior France debut. The Liverpool defender completed the full match in a clean-sheet victory over Belgium, winning four tackles, six duels and completing ten passes into the opposition's final third. Dave digs into the numbers and explains why Liverpool could have an exceptional defensive talent on their hands. There is also an intriguing comparison with Ibrahima Konaté, Dean Huijsen and Marcos Senesi. Jacquet's early progressive passing numbers are particularly striking, suggesting Andoni Iraola has inherited a centre-back capable of giving Liverpool another dimension when building from defence. Elsewhere, there is less encouraging news surrounding Cody Gakpo. The Dutch forward has withdrawn from international duty with an ankle problem and reports suggest he could miss several weeks, putting his involvement against Manchester City in serious doubt. Dave also discusses Liverpool's heavy international workload, Bradley Barcola's France performance and Julian Ward officially returning to work, with contracts and midfield recruitment already providing plenty for Liverpool's sporting director to address. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trev Downey and Dave Davis assess Alisson Becker’s contract situation, whether Liverpool should extend his stay and, if the Brazilian eventually moves on, where the club could find their next number one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trev Downey and Dave Davis discuss Virgil van Dijk’s Liverpool future and why securing another contract for the captain could be crucial as the club builds its next defensive unit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trev Downey and Dave Davis take a deeper look at Jeremy Jacquet’s outstanding start at Liverpool, analysing why the French defender has settled so quickly and how his qualities fit Andoni Iraola’s system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave is back with the latest football news and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave proposes adequate punishments for Man City. Then relocates their best players to the rest of the Premier League. And finally picks two all time City teams. Before and after the cheating. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave is back discussing all things LFC and much more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave and Karl talk about Liverpool's recent injury bad luck, before delving into two more Premier League teams who have caught the eye this season. They finish with a discussion about Manchester City, and what their punishment needs to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Davis and David Lynch continue Media Matters by examining the enormous job awaiting Liverpool's new sporting director Julian Ward. With Ward officially back in the role, attention immediately turns towards the decisions that could define Liverpool's next phase. David explains why Ward's experience, reputation within recruitment and understanding of the club could provide some much-needed stability, while the possibility of January business is already on the agenda. Virgil van Dijk's future is among the major issues requiring attention, with his contract due to expire and AC Milan reportedly interested. David argues that Liverpool should be looking to extract another couple of elite-level seasons from their captain while the club's younger centre-backs develop. Recruitment is another major talking point. Lamine Camara is discussed as a midfielder Liverpool have watched and like, while the possibility of getting ahead of the market in January is considered. Full-back is also identified as an area requiring attention, alongside questions over Alexis Mac Allister's longer-term future and whether Liverpool eventually need greater balance across their attack. The section also continues the Manchester City fallout, including the prospect of Liverpool seeking significant financial compensation and the enormous consequences City could face. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Davis is joined by David Lynch for Media Matters, with Manchester City dominating the discussion following reports of a major verdict in the Premier League financial case. What could happen next, how much room do City have to challenge the findings, and just how severe could the eventual punishment become? Lynch examines the possibility of expulsion, the wider financial consequences and why the ramifications could stretch far beyond City themselves. There is also a major Liverpool angle, with discussion around potential compensation claims and what the controversy means for previous title races involving the Reds. Before that, Dave and David assess Liverpool's international break injury concerns, with Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo both emerging as doubts ahead of the huge meeting with Manchester City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Davis and David Lynch round off Media Matters by assessing the opening weeks of Andoni Iraola's Liverpool reign and asking whether the new head coach is getting closer to discovering his strongest side. Three consecutive clean sheets have provided one of the biggest positives. Lynch admits he did not expect Iraola to make Liverpool so difficult to break down this quickly, particularly given the attacking reputation he brought from Bournemouth. That defensive solidity offers encouraging evidence that Iraola is prepared to prioritise results rather than become wedded to one particular style. However, Florian Wirtz remains a major talking point. His Champions League performance against Atlético Madrid impressed, but Lynch believes the German still has to demonstrate his best consistently in the Premier League. The verdict remains very much open, with plenty of time for Wirtz to answer those early questions That feeds directly into Iraola's biggest tactical puzzle: Liverpool's midfield. Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Trey all provide different possibilities, and it remains unclear exactly which combination Iraola ultimately prefers. Lynch believes the back four and likely front three are becoming clearer, but the midfield means Iraola may not yet know his strongest XI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices