On Sunday, 19 July, Spain and Argentina will contest the World Cup final on football’s biggest stage. While the mainstream media will discuss the battle of La Masia graduates, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, Liverpool supporters will have their own interest when watching the fixture.

Alexis Mac Allister and new signing Víctor Muñoz will both be part of the showpiece occasion, ensuring Liverpool once again have representation on football’s biggest stage. For one, it is an opportunity to cement an already remarkable international legacy. For the other, it could provide the perfect introduction before beginning life at Anfield.

Alexis Mac Allister, chasing another place in Liverpool history…

Mac Allister joined the Reds in 2023 as a World Cup winner. The Argentine won the competition in Qatar in December of 2022 and will be hoping to retain the title to cement his name among the club’s distinguished list of World Cup winners.

He would join Roger Hunt, who played the full 120 minutes during England’s historic 4-2 win over West Germany, German winner Karl Heinz-Riedle and Fernando Torres, who was brought on from the bench in extra-time as a member of Spain’s 1-0 win against the Netherlands in 2010.

Throughout the tournament, Mac Allister has once again demonstrated his talent on the world’s biggest stage. The Argentine has featured in 629 minutes for Argentina over the last month and has contributed towards their progression by recording one goal and one assist during the tournament. The midfielder has also reminded fans of his passing ability, always managing to dictate the tempo of matches whilst also showing flashes of his ability to hurt the opposition in their box, registering three shots against England, one of which worried Everton’s Jordan Pickford greatly. His contributions have made him a crucial figure in Lionel Scaloni’s midfield and new boss Iraola will hope his performances can be replicated at Anfield this season.

There is more than another winners’ medal at stake for Mac Allister. Should they prevail, they would become only the third nation to retain the World Cup, joining Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962).

Frustration for Víctor…

Muñoz agreed to move to Merseyside on 18 June, three days after Spain’s World Cup opener against Cape Verde. Unfortunately for Víctor, he arrived at the World Cup carrying a calf concern, then suffered another muscular issue during an individual recovery programme. This has prevented the left-winger from featuring in any match for his nation.

However, he has not been completely ruled out from appearing against the South American side…

SPORT reporter Jordi Gil reported that Muñoz was expected to feature against Belgium, yet de la Fuente ultimately chose not to introduce him. Although his involvement remains uncertain, simply returning to contention would represent an encouraging step following an injury-disrupted month before linking up with Iraola for pre-season.

The unwanted record…

Both players will also hope to avoid the other side of Liverpool’s World Cup history. Four Reds have previously finished on the losing side of a World Cup final. Most recently, this included former defender Ibrahima Konaté’s role during France’s loss against Argentina in the 2022 final. Midfielder Dietmar Hamann and forward Dirk Kuyt are also on the list after losing the 2002 and 2010 World Cup finals respectively. Finally, Croatian player Dejan Lovren was also defeated by France in the 2018 final in Moscow.

Regardless of Sunday’s outcome, Liverpool will once again be represented on football’s biggest stage, with either Mac Allister or Muñoz returning to Merseyside carrying the experience of a World Cup final into the new season.

By Harry Yates

Liverpool are certainly going through another period of change on and off the pitch as the Andoni Iraola era gets underway, with the Basque manager himself describing the situation above him as ‘not perfect’ in the first press conference. 

Despite the upheaval and reported end of summer exit, Sporting Director in situ Richard Hughes is still expected to oversee a huge summer of turnover in terms of players. 

Dan spoke to Liverpool journalist David Lynch, who has offered his assessment of Andoni Iraola’s first weeks in charge, the Reds’ summer transfer plans and the challenges facing the club following Michael Edwards’ departure…

‘KEEP AN EYE ON…” – DAVID LYNCH TALKS LIVERPOOL TRANSFER LINKS TO KONE, GOMES & ZABARNYI

On the manager

David Lynch believes that Andoni Iraola made an encouraging first impression during his opening press conference, which he described as an “open goal” that allows the Spaniard to ease himself into the job without the judgement of a “prison of results”. According to Lynch, Andoni ticked “an awful lot of boxes”, especially his desire to play his “aggressive style” and his understanding that Anfield will unlock its best conditions when “inspired” by his side. Another encouraging sign, according to Lynch, was Iraola’s talk of “engaging with the city”, following several complaints about his predecessor for not embracing such. David highlighted the importance of this interview, stating that it is vital for Iraola to be able to “create a bond with the supporters”.

Lynch was also quick to express his relief regarding Andoni’s approach to the academy, something he felt Slot “fell a little short on”.

The effects of Michael Edwards’ departure

Michael left his role as FSG’s chief executive officer of football on Friday 10th July, but Lynch thinks that this will not impact Liverpool “at all”. Edwards was re-appointed at the club in 2024 to oversee all football operations for FSG, including the transition to a multi-club ownership, but this plan never fully developed. Lynch thought that it would be a “shame to lose someone of Edwards’ calibre”, but this decision was simply “inevitable” for all involved parties.

However, the departure of Richard Hughes holds a different effect in Lynch’s eyes…

David reports that the “cumulative lack of continuity” could have deep repercussions for the Reds. In the last four years, Liverpool have had three different directors, with another expected to be added to this tally. Along with this, the continual changes among the coaching staff could also contribute to this, with Lynch pointing out that the Reds have had “three goalkeeping coaches in three years”. This lack of “consistency” above the manager could affect their performance, with the reporter stating that this “massively helped” Jurgen Klopp during this spell at the club. Michael Edwards was the director of football under Klopp from 2016–2022 and was massively credited for the signings of key players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk.

Lynch also outlined Liverpool’s “complete failure” with regard to easing the transition from one manager to the other, stating that the directors were meant to offer that “continuity” even when changing managers as they would keep the policy “the same”. He hopes that the next director will “stay for a while” to give the club “that consistency”, who also sees Liverpool as “the end goal”.

The Making Of Diogo Jota & André Silva’s Anfield Memorial

On transfers

When discussing the potential arrival of Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes, Lynch suggests that there is “potential legs” in the rumour following the club’s interest in the Wolves player during his time in Brazil for Flamengo. Despite this previous pursuit of the 25-year-old, David remains a “little bit sceptical” because of Atletico Madrid’s attempt to sign the player before the deal collapsed. He argues that if Liverpool saw him as an “ideal midfield target”, they would not allow Atletico to come so close to signing the player. He also does allow for the possibility that one of the club’s primary targets is now unavailable, forcing them to investigate other options.

Meanwhile, the journalist dismisses any reports between Manu Kone and Liverpool. He recalled the club’s previous attempt to sign the Frenchman, with representatives telling him there was “nothing really in” the links other than maybe a “slight interest”. Lynch thinks that this rumour could simply be people “digging up past interest” because of his performances in the World Cup for France. Manu had played a role in five of France’s World Cup matches, including their exit to fellow European giants Spain.

With regard to business in midfield, the Liverpool journalist thinks that it would be “dependent on outgoings”. Players such as Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister have both suffered from speculation regarding their future at the club alongside academy graduates Stefan Bajectic and Trey Nyoni. Unlike other positions where players “are needed”, midfield is purely “dependent on outgoings”.

Following Iraola’s comments about Curtis Jones and his desire to work with him for “many years”, Lynch thinks that there is a “very, very important conversation to be had” between the two.

He stated that we cannot take Iraola’s word as “concrete proof” that Jones will remain at his boyhood club, as Jones may want a move away regardless. The reporter also recognises that Inter’s readiness to prepare “another bid” suggests “a keenness on Curtis Jones’ part”.

David also thought that Mac Allister’s future in Merseyside will be determined “after the World Cup” and that this storyline will be a very “interesting” one to follow.

Addressing rumours connecting PSG’s Illia Zabarnyi to Liverpool, the journalist thinks that the whispers could have some credibility given their previous interest in the Ukrainian. He believed that Liverpool would be “all over” his situation if PSG were willing to offload the player at a “cut-price deal”. Zabarnyi arrived at the French capital last year and started 26 matches in Ligue 1. David compared the defender’s situation at the European champions to Ryan Gravenberch’s situation at Bayern Munich. Gravenberch too only lasted one full season at his club before swapping the Allianz for Anfield, showing the club’s alertness for “those types of signings”. The reporter would not “rule this one out”, but admits that it may need PSG to inform the player that “there’s not really a role for you here” for the deal to progress.

Finally, David addressed the possibility of the Dutch attacker Cody Gakpo leaving the club. Gakpo joined Liverpool in the winter window during 2023, and following a frustrating season, the Reds may be looking to offload the 27-year-old as he has been linked with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. Lynch said that he was “surprised” that the club views him as a player with a price on his head and has decided to not label him “untouchable”. He reports that the club would be looking upwards of £60 million for the player. David stated that if Tottenham came in with a respectable offer and the player is willing to move, a deal could be agreed despite their need to sign a lot of players anyway.

He states that this willingness to let go of players is a result of the new hierarchy who are “not fearful” of the business of some windows, a contrasting view when compared with Klopp’s desire to “keep things together.” This approach “raises concerns” with David, as last season it was “not particularly helpful”, and with more change happening this season through a new manager, he continues to be worried. Additionally, the reporter pointed out the club’s “choosy” attitude will cause them to fall short in some signings. In recent history, the club has opted to commit time on individual players like Martin Zubimendi and Marc Guehi for positions, and when these signings fall through, the club decides to leave other options as they are not “absolutely perfect” in their view. Lynch hopes that the club will become “more flexible” during this window and will learn from past mistakes.

REDMEN REACTS

Both Gomes and Kone would certainly add much-needed steel to the Liverpool midfield, and whilst, as Lynch states, the strong interest is more dated than recent, it would certainly be a step in the right direction were the Reds to ramp up their intentions here. 

As for Zabarnyi – described as ‘unbelievable’ by teammate Philip Billing – Iraola has inherited a defensive department also requiring at least one more body, so reuniting with a former star of his team would certainly make a lot of sense.