It may have been a season blighted by injury for Liverpool’s two expensive summer striker acquisitions, as both Alexander Isak and, more recently, Hugo Ekitike’s Achilles rupture have meant that both centre-forwards have faced lengthy layoffs. 

However, following perhaps a less high-profile arrival in the previous summer transfer window, Will Wright has certainly been catching the eye following his switch from Salford City to the Reds’ academy. 

Without a goal in his first five appearances and with an injury of his own curbing a slow start to life on Merseyside, the 18-year-old frontman returned to Rob Page’s side in style and finished the campaign with six goals and five assists from 18 appearances across all competitions. 

Recent training sessions with Arne Slot’s first team squad have been awarded with being named on the Premier League bench against Crystal Palace and Manchester United, a sure sign of the development Wright has made since joining Liverpool.

Liverpool’s Interest in Adam Wharton CONFIRMED! LFC Transfer Update

One man who knows what it takes to make the step up from academy prospect to the senior ranks at Anfield is Neil Mellor, and Dan caught up with one of the heroes of 2005 to get his impressions of the latest young number nine…

“I think he will have an outstanding career. I’ve watched many young players come through the academy, and one of the biggest problems is adjusting from youth football to men’s football. I look at Will Wright, and I think, ‘I wouldn’t want to play against you!’

“He wants to fight centre-halves and we havent seen that style of layer come through, it’s a bit of a throwback. In the summer, everyone wanted a big man; the big man will always be in demand. He can work his socks off, he’ll fight, but also, he knows how to score goals!” 

“We’ve got three games left, I’d like to see him on the pitch, get some game time, whether it’s a minute here or there, or whatever. He has really stood out from the 21s, and I think he is a player who deserves the opportunity. 

“I’ll be honest, watching us against Manchester United at the weekend at 2-2, I was thinking ‘I’d love to see Will Wright come off the bench’, that’s only a personal preference and I don’t know what is going on with the manager, what he has seen but the games I’ve watched him play, this kid would get the crowd going. He is definitely a centre-forward I like to watch.” 

The Reds host Callum McFarlane’s Chelsea this Saturday, a win that could see Liverpool make a huge step towards their Champions League qualification push. The home side will be hoping to bounce back from the 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford the week prior, a late Kobbie Mainoo strike denied any aspirations of a second-half comeback. 

Speaking after the match at Old Trafford, Slot said: “This is a complete pattern over the whole season, but there’s also a pattern that we concede ridiculous goals when we are the better team and one or two [are] switching off, and then we concede a goal.” 

A result that now leaves Liverpool needing four points from their last three games to secure Champions League status next season. The Reds are currently sat in fourth on 58 points, six points clear of Bournemouth in sixth, who are the biggest threat in the league currently of putting any pressure on in the final games. 

Liverpool’s Interest in Adam Wharton CONFIRMED! LFC Transfer Update

The travelling side’s form as of late has been nothing to be proud of; the Blues have lost six Premier League games on the bounce, scoring 1 goal in that period. In all competitions, they have only won twice in their last ten, results that led to the sacking of Liam Rosenior.  

Chelsea are now sat in ninth place in the standings, with European football looking more unlikely by the week. They have got themselves into an FA cup final against Manchester City next weekend. Reports are suggesting that the interim manager has told his squad that they are playing for a place in the cup final squad. 

The reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge provided plenty of late drama, and a last-minute Estevao goal in a 2-1 victory secured Chelsea the three points. Enzo Maresca was the man on the touchline that day. 

In Arne Slot’s three encounters with the visitors, he has come out on top once and lost in the two most recent clashes. Their only encounter at Anfield is the occasion on which the Dutchmen’s side came out victorious. 

The Dutchmen spoke on the opposition ahead of the clash at Anfield: “Always a difficult game for both teams. A lot of very good individual players, let’s hope we have a very good team performance as well” 

“All managers have their own idea about football; they’ve had three this season. The current manager is closer to what Maresca usually did, so he has a very clear identity on how the play.” 

Liverpool’s form as of late has been very patchy. In all competitions, the Reds have won three in their last five. Points started to pick up in the league, winning three on the bounce before the defeat to Manchester United last weekend. 

Injury Updates… 

Arne Slot confirmed that Alexander Isak has returned to training as well as Giorgi Mamardashvili. 

Ibrahima Konate and Florian Wirtz are set to return to training today after both missing the previous session. 

Alisson Becker and Mohamed Salah are both “very close” to returning. 

The Liverpool manager also touched on Conor Bradley: “In the rehab it is always important if some steps go well. It’s difficult in the stage he is in now to predict when he will be back.” 

“He’s still inside and working really hard but he is quite far away from going outside, that makes it quite difficult to tell” 

Predicted XI: Mamardashvili, Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha, Gakpo, Wirtz. 

Liverpool have announced that, following conversations with the Supporters Board, they have scrapped their original plans to increase prices of general admission tickets for the next three seasons. 

Instead, the club will continue with the inflationary increase of three per cent to general admission tickets for the 2026/27 season, but will then freeze the prices for the 2027/28 season. 

Future years past the 2027/28 are still hanging in the balance; no confirmation has been given regarding the pricing of tickets from the 2028/29 season and beyond. 

The club and the Supporters Board will be in close conversation to discuss future ticket prices.  

Ste spoke to Jay McKenna, the Chairman of the Liverpool Supporters Board, to get his reaction on the recent announcement.

LIVERPOOL TICKET PRICE U-TURN! Reaction from Jay McKenna of the LFC Supporters Board

Finding A Solution: “We are going to have ongoing dialogue between the club and the supporters about what comes next, not just about what the club might want to do on ticket prices, but us trying to find an alternative solution” 

“The next two years give us certainty as supporters; it also gives the club a little bit of certainty, but most importantly, it gives us time to find those other solutions and not have this conversation in two years’ time”  

The Supporters Board’s feeling on the outcome: “We are pleased, it is much improved from where it was. We all as fans, don’t have to be thinking about protests; we all get to be doing what we want to do, which is going to the game.

“The fans going to the Chelsea game can get a pint from the concourse, bring a flag and bring all the colour. We can also concentrate on what matters, getting Champions League football, finishing as high up in the league as possible, enjoying the match and giving a big send off to two of our best ever players at the Brentford game” 

On whether the protests made a difference: “I think the protests were necessary to say to Liverpool that people are not happy. I think if we had not taken any action, I don’t know if we would be where we are now. I think they recognised the decision was not something people were happy with.” 

On thanking supporters: “I just want to say a big thanks to everybody who has taken part in the action taking place. If that has been the surveys, telling us what they think and feel, sharing things, having fan voices on media, taking leaflets at games, not bringing flags and banners, not spending in the ground and holding up a yellow card.

“All things that on their own might seem low level, but are a good indicator that people care about this stuff and that it matters. “ 

Opportunity to change the dynamic of ticket prices: “I think there is a chance to really change the conversation on ticket pricing, not just at Liverpool but across the country. I think it would be really good if supporters working together might change how ticket pricing is done in this country” 

On the process: “There are fights, I am not going to pretend it has all been friendships, back slaps and gentle jabs, it has been difficult. I have been unhappy and expressed that to Liverpool; they have also been unhappy with me and have expressed that. There is a chance here to draw the line, move forward and get the best for everyone”