Liverpool kicked off the Andoni Iraola era with a 4-2 win over Sunderland in Nashville.

Goals from Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas helped secure an impressive victory in the first friendly of pre-season.

And this latest post-match podcast focuses on the fact that it was the performance as m…

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It may be quiet in the transfer market for Liverpool at the moment, but that does not mean there aren’t deals being negotiated at Anfield.

That is because, as emerged on Tuesday, British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia is heading up a consortium hoping to acquire a minority stake in the club.

Upon that news breaking, sources close to owners Fenway Sports Group were at pains to insist that talks are at an early stage, yet it is understood they have been taking place for a number of months.

What’s more, the fact that Bhatia has now transferred his stake in Queens Park Rangers to majority owner Ruben Gnanalingam after 18 years of involvement felt instructive.

It might not just be the pace of those negotiations that FSG are trying to obscure at this point, either, but also their long-term implications.

While it is, indeed, early to draw such conclusions, this does have all the hallmarks of a move that could pave a path to the American owners eventually departing.

Clearly, that was not the case with the investment made by Dynasty Equity in 2023, which was estimated to give them just 3-4% of the club worth roughly £125m.

This time around, though, the suggestion is that a far more significant stake of up to 30% is being discussed, while the identity of the investors involved is equally noteworthy.

For starters, Bhatia is representing the interests of his father-in-law Lakshmi Mittal - once ranked the third-richest person in the world and in possession of a net worth of around £15 billion.

It is said, too, that Amazon owner Jeff Bezos - the fourth-richest man in the world with a net worth of £192bn - has been approached to join the investment group.

Given Liverpool’s standing in the sporting world is lofty enough, it is clearly not the case that a man like Bezos is needed in order to boost the reputation of the project as a whole.

Instead, it makes more sense that he might be required for his sheer financial might, particularly if an overall valuation of £4.5bn is ever to be met in the long term.

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Liverpool are closing in an agreement over a new long-term contract for Dominik Szoboszlai in a major boost to head coach Andoni Iraola.

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Had Arne Slot kept his job, then it could have been said with some certainty that Curtis Jones would be leaving Liverpool this summer.

That outcome had previously been locked in as early as January, when Inter Milan first made an approach and the midfielder’s standing within the squad was underlined by him failing to start six games in a row.

In the end, the Reds saw off that initial interest from the Italians, resolving not to lose players during what was proving to be a difficult season.

But there were few subsequent signs of Jones’ situation changing, as he remained behind Alexis Mac Allister in the midfield pecking order and only ended up in the starting XI late in the campaign thanks to an injury crisis at right-back.

For that reason, a firm summer push from Inter was expected to be enough to get a deal over the line.

However, the appointment of Andoni Iraola has offered a glimmer of hope regarding a change of heart, particularly if the Spaniard’s words at his Monday unveiling are anything to go by.

Speaking to reporters, he said of Jones: “I rate Curtis very highly. For me he is a great player. It’s very important he’s Scouse, that he’s from here. I also like the personality. I hope we can keep him, not only for this year, more time.”

And you can see why he might be keen on a player who is so efficient in terms of getting the ball back and using it wisely - surely the two most important jobs of any midfielder.

The Englishman may never pass the eye test for some, but the fact is he occupies elite company among under-25 midfielders in both duel-winning and progression of the ball on a per-90 basis.

That he sits next to Vitinha - perhaps the best ‘midfield metronome’ in Europe right now - in this particular graphic is also instructive as to both his profile and quality.

Throw in that Jones is a homegrown player in a squad that has lost plenty of local representation recently and it is hard to fathom why the powers that be at Liverpool aren’t doing everything they can to keep him.

Perhaps with a strong endorsement from the new head coach, that will change, though contract talks have been shelved for so long that you worry they can no longer be salvaged.

And, while Liverpool and Inter sources have both dismissed reports of a new bid having been tabled this week, it is interesting that it is said to have come through intermediaries, allowing for an element of deniability.

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There is rightly a focus on the fact that Liverpool need to do smart business this summer in order to give Andoni Iraola a shot at a strong start.

However, it is also worth noting that one of the key reasons his predecessor Arne Slot was dismissed was for not getting enough out of what he already had.

And there is no better example of that than Florian Wirtz, who struggled to consistently show his best following a £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen 12 months ago.

Described by insiders as a a shy, introverted character, it is clear that the German’s integration was made more complicated by arriving to a dressing room shocked by the tragic loss of Diogo Jota.

On the pitch, the fact he was rarely part of a functioning team during his debut campaign did not help, either.

But Liverpool still ended the season believing they should have seen more, and the will need to going forward if Wirtz is to prove a wise investment.

There is no question that the 23-year-old took some steps forward last term, not least in adding extra muscle to cope with the Premier League’s physicality.

The upside of that started to show around January, during a promising run of form that it was hoped marked his long overdue arrival.

Yet this did not sustain into the final months of the campaign and, in unpicking whether that was more the player’s fault or that of the head coach, Liverpool’s decision makers ultimately settled on the latter.

To be fair to Wirtz (and, one supposes, Slot), the underlying numbers suggest that a correction might well be coming.

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In previous years, it is not hard to imagine Liverpool happily sitting out a winger market as difficult as this summer’s.

The Reds have proven on multiple occasions during Fenway Sports Group’s tenure that they are averse to signing anyone simply to fill a gap, preferring instead to wait for players that genuinely improve them and are available for a fee they consider acceptable.

Be it leaving themselves a centre-half short for 12 months before signing Ibrahima Konate, or turning to Ryan Gravenberch once Martin Zubimendi opted against a move to Anfield - there are plenty of examples of the club’s recruitment staff resisting the urge to work down a list of alternative targets.

And now, in the aftermath of missing out on Yan Diomande to Paris Saint-Germain, it could be argued that a similar approach would be wise given the paucity of viable options out wide.

For starters, the £116m+ pricetag reportedly being placed upon Bradley Barcola by PSG looks prohibitive, even for a player who has long been admired at the AXA Training Centre.

The reigning European champions are, of course, right to use the countless crazy valuations being put forward this summer as a benchmark when they still have Barcola contracted for another two years.

But it is also worth pointing out that they have looked to upgrade on the Frenchman with the signings of both Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and now Diomande in the last 18 months, something which would weaken their hand in a rational market.

In terms of other targets, Liverpool have watched Koln’s Said El Mala and Matias Fernandez-Pardo at Lille, but neither boasts anywhere near the pedigree of Barcola and both possess a similar preference for the left-hand side that is unhelpful when it comes to replacing Mohamed Salah.

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Andoni Iraola immediately ingratiated himself with Liverpool fans by signalling his excitement over the chance to work with the club’s youngsters in his first pre-season.

Speaking to the club’s official website, the Spaniard said of this summer: “The World Cup being there, we will have a chance to work especially with some of the young players, because a lot of the senior players have been out and are arriving later with the World Cup.

“So I think it gives us the chance to know better the players from the academy, some of the players who have been on loan.

“They will be an important part of the first part of pre-season, the American tour, and I think in that way it works very well for us, because it will give us a lot of the information before we take really decisions, before we start the season.”

These decisions will, of course, relate to who might have a chance of pushing for first-team involvement, either now or in the near future.

And so this is a key period for several talented starlets looking to make the step up at Anfield, five of whom are picked out below.

Josh Abe

Liverpool fought off interest and huge contract offers from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City in order to tie Josh Abe down to a scholarship last month.

But that they were able to do so owed much to their ability to outline a clear pathway to the senior side, which is expected to begin with involvement in this summer’s pre-season plans.

The winger will only turn 16 next month, but he is viewed as a future star with the potential to make an impact very early in his career in much the same way Rio Ngumoha has.

The absence of several attackers involved in the World Cup will open up opportunities for him to show Iraola just how far he can go.

Mor Talla Ndiaye

Signed by the Reds in January, Mor Talla Ndiaye is regarded as one to watch by those who have followed his early performances in the academy.

A left-footed centre-back, the 18-year-old’s stature and quality in possession mean he has all the tools to stake a claim for minutes under Iraola.

With Virgil van Dijk eyeing a deep World Cup run and January signing Ifeanyi Ndukwe expected to leave immediately on loan, there should be opportunities for Ndiaye.

If he can take them, then he may well convince the new head coach that he can play a role in the coming campaign.

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For Rio Ngumoha, the start of this summer’s World Cup marked the end of both his involvement in England’s pre-tournament camp and what has been a memorable breakthrough season.

That he was even part of the Three Lions’ preparations at the age of just 17 is testament to both the major steps he has taken this year at Liverpool, as well as how highly regarded he is within the national team setup.

But, while significant, these milestones are likely to be just the start for a player who spelled out the scale of his ambition with a brave move from Chelsea to Anfield that opened up this pathway two years ago.

And that his drive is paired with a rare talent means this will surely be the last major tournament Ngumoha watches from home for some time.

The teenager’s bid to ensure that is the case will begin in pre-season when, after a hard-earned rest, he will look to build on the 29 appearances and two goals he registered last term.

Some of Europe’s biggest clubs are known to have harboured hopes that this development might continue away from Merseyside, but they are set to be disappointed.

As was widely reported last week, Bayern Munich were keen to make a shock move for Ngumoha as they looked to bring yet another major English talent to the Bundesliga.

Unfortunately for the German champions, Liverpool had no intention of considering the departure of a player they view as the present and future of the club, and so there was no discussion to be had.

In fact, senior Anfield figures were known to be incensed by a story they felt amounted to little more than tapping up from a European rival.

And from the player’s perspective, while Bayern did make contact with his representatives in an attempt to lay the foundations for a move, claims that terms had been agreed between the two parties are understood to be entirely false.

The same goes for suggestions that the door to a departure might have been left ajar because of Ngumoha’s unhappiness with the minutes he picked up at Liverpool last season.

In reality, the teenager was fully appreciative of the careful handling he received from Arne Slot last term.

Evidence of the strong bond the two shared could be seen in the Dutchman reaching out to Ngumoha after his recent impressive senior England debut against New Zealand.

In that regard, Andoni Iraola has something to live up to, and it will be hoped the former Bournemouth coach can provide a similar platform for growth next term.

Of course, should that prove to be the case, then Liverpool are unlikely to be done fighting off suitors - or, indeed, rumours - while it is known that Ngumoha’s contract expires in 2028.

Thankfully, an opportunity to extend those terms opens up when the player turns 18 in August, and the Reds would be wise to capitalise immediately, as they did with Harvey Elliott at the same age.

Then, all focus can be on ensuring the winger delivers on the immense potential that has put him on the remarkable upward trajectory witnessed this season.

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That Liverpool agonised over the sacking of Arne Slot underlined the extent to which those in charge knew that the Dutchman wasn’t entirely to blame for last season’s problems.

As far as they were concerned, the woeful 2025-26 campaign owed just as much to a squad that will require serious remodelling in order to give Andoni Iraola the best possible chance of success.

And it is understood that one of the priorities of that upcoming reshuffle is right-back, a position that gave Slot a constant headache during his final months in charge.

Between the season-ending knee injury suffered by Conor Bradley during a goalless draw with Arsenal in January and Jeremie Frimpong’s constant muscle issues, the Reds were denied a consistent option in that position last term.

That meant duties on the right-hand side of defence being shared between Joe Gomez, Dominik Szoboszlai, Calvin Ramsay and Curtis Jones, with nobody truly nailing down a place.

Fortunately, senior Anfield figures insist they have learned lessons from that, and so will take steps to ensure their head coach does not face a similar scramble for solutions in any position next time around.

When it comes to right-back specifically, that will be made infinitely easier by the availability of Bradley, who is understood to be targeting a return to training shortly after the new season starts.

That said, Liverpool will take a cautious approach with the Northern Ireland international after such a lengthy lay-off, easing him back in in the hope of avoiding further setbacks.

And while that could lead to more minutes for Frimpong, he has always privately been billed as an opportunistic signing whose usefulness comes in being dipped in and out of the team in various positions.

As such, you sense there is no desire for him to be a regular starter for an extended period, as he might be should Bradley suffer any issues upon returning.

It is also acknowledged that Liverpool lack an obvious internal solution on the right in the mould of left-siders Owen Beck, Luke Chambers and Calum Scanlon, who have all picked up recent loan experience.

So, the Reds know they are going to have to dip in the market, even if quite what they will go for is not nailed down just yet.

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The feeling that Liverpool and Andoni Iraola are a match made in heaven is only strengthened by the fact that his appointment as head coach marks the end of a pursuit that began over a decade ago.

At that point, the Reds were keen to snap up Iraola the right-back, who had established himself as a standout in La Liga with Athletic Bilbao.

But a move never materialised, with the Basque preferring to instead spend the entirety of his career (bar a pre-retirement stint in New York) with the club that so proudly represents the region he calls home.

Still, Liverpool continued to watch on with admiration as Iraola took his first steps into coaching, and have been sufficiently impressed by stints at Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth to finally go and get their man.

That, it is understood, owes much to the Jurgen Klopp-like, aggressive style of play he espouses, an approach the Reds were determined to return to after losing their way somewhat under Arne Slot.

This commitment to a philosophy more inkeeping with modern Liverpool meant the former Spain international quickly rose to the top of a shortlist that also featured Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Lens’ Pierre Sage.

As such, he was the only candidate who entered into one-to-one talks, and is said to have significantly boosted his chances by making clear that Anfield was his “first, second and last choice”.

The contrast with his former teammate in youth football, Xabi Alonso, who was not quite as keen when the Reds came calling two years ago, could not be clearer.

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The most obvious indication that the Liverpool hierarchy were not entirely sold on Arne Slot came in the immediate aftermath of last season’s Premier League title win.

Fenway Sports Group had previously shown what it looked like when they possessed full faith in their manager, handing Jurgen Klopp an improved six-year contract less than 10 months after his appointment despite silverware having still to be secured.

Yet Slot, who had just delivered a long-awaited league title that could be celebrated in front of supporters, was - rather tellingly - allowed to go into the second year of a three-year deal after giving Anfield one of its most memorable days.

Of course, he had doubtless shown plenty to be encouraged by in those first 12 months, earning praise behind the scenes for bringing a calmer mood to the AXA Training Centre after an intense few years.

That was also reflected on the pitch in a more relaxed style of play that, early on at least, offered more control thanks to clever tweaks such as using Ryan Gravenberch in the holding role.

These changes led to the Reds winning 23 of their first 27 games in Slot’s debut season, proof that those in charge had done a pretty good job of finding an ideal plug-and-play successor for Klopp.

However, it is at that point that cracks started to appear, suggesting the Dutchman might in fact not be the ideal long-term fit.

Following the turn of the year, Slot oversaw 15 wins, six draws and eight defeats and, while the final four games of the season can perhaps be dismissed given the title was secured, there were obvious frailties on show.

Opponents seemed to have quickly worked out that being physical, going long, and denying any space with a deep defence meant Liverpool struggled badly.

That weakness was particularly pronounced in the League Cup final defeat to Newcastle, as well as the final trip to face Everton at Goodison Park.

There were also questions quietly being asked behind the scenes over whether an inability to compete as well late in the season owed anything to the manager’s approach to training.

When Liverpool were researching potential Klopp replacements, one of the most appealing aspects of Slot was his ability to keep players fit at Feyenoord, something he initially replicated at Anfield.

But it eventually emerged that this ‘superpower’ owed everything to training at a lower intensity, resulting in fewer muscle injuries but also players who could not cope with the rigours of a Premier League season.

Unsurprisingly, the players initially welcomed this, particularly in contrast to the regimented approach of former head of fitness and conditioning Andreas Kornmayer.

However, any decision that leads to more defeats and criticism won’t stay popular for long, and it is clear that the next head coach will train with greater intensity.

In this context, Slot’s complaints that his players could not compete across three games a week fell on deaf ears given it was his job to ensure that could be the case.

By way of mitigation, it was often suggested by supporters that the tragic passing of Diogo Jota had wrecked the most recent pre-season entirely, but that was always played down by those who had been close to the camps.

Instead, there was a feeling that key details were being ignored, not only relating to fitness but also set-pieces, which played a key role in damaging the first half of the season.

Of course, those above Slot also deserve their share of the blame for that, having handed Aaron Briggs the role before being forced to sack him.

But the head coach still needed to do more to prepare, and the fact that two goals were given away from throw-in situations in an April defeat to Manchester City showed that lessons weren’t being learned.

Elsewhere, academy staff were privately sharing frustration that Slot did not seem to be immersing himself in all things Liverpool, rarely paying attention to goings-on there.

And it could be argued that this attitude was reflected in the training schedule he implemented, frequent holidays, and the fact his family remained in the Netherlands.

Even if those criticisms could be considered unfair given Liverpool won the league in similar conditions, Slot did not seem to understand quite how important perceptions are at a club of this size.

As much could be seen from his constant references to Paris Saint-Germain - a great team, but still a relative minnow in European terms - and recently suggesting that reaching a Champions League quarter-final was a huge achievement.

That should never be the target for a club with six European Cups to their name and who had reached three finals in five years with Klopp at the helm.

And this feeling that the gravity of the job was being misunderstood was compounded by one of Slot’s staff being spotted laughing with friends on the Anfield pitch after a 1-1 draw with Tottenham in March - arguably the nadir of a woeful season.

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For Liverpool fans, the end of a disappointing season means all focus has immediately turned to a summer window they hope can transform the fortunes of Arne Slot’s first team.

But those behind the scenes at Anfield have to take a longer-term view of the pursuit of success, as recent activity has proved.

To that end, the Reds are closing in on a deal for Colombia U17 international Samuel Martinez, who will be able to officially join when he turns 18 in April of next year.

It is privately acknowledged that Liverpool have been weaker than many of their Premier League rivals in the South American youth market in recent years, a fact partly attributed to others’ involvement in multi-club operations.

But, even with plans to create such a setup having been shelved by Fenway Sports Group, the hope is to be more aggressive in recruiting from that part of the world going forward.

They are also keen to be equally front-footed closer to home, and are soon set to bolster their U18 ranks with the signing of long-term target Dara Jikiemi, whose contract at Celtic expires this summer.

Teenage striker Michael Mulholland, who once scored 256 goals in a single season of youth football, will also arrive from Northern Irish club Crusaders.

Meanwhile, Hertha Berlin midfielder Kennet Eichhorn may be added to the list at a later date, with the Reds among several clubs trying to strike a deal that would be activated when he turns 18.

Insiders explain that this shift in recruitment policy owes much to a change in Liverpool’s standing since FSG arrived as owners back in October 2010.

Early in their tenure, all available cash was being pointed at a first team that needed to be restored as a genuine force in European football in order to end its wait for Premier League and Champions League titles.

Now, the Reds have reestablished themselves at the top table, contributing to soaring revenues that can be ploughed into other areas - including capturing the biggest talents in world football.

As previously detailed here, that process is being overseen by the club’s director of global talent Matt Newberry.

He is also understood to be aided in some aspects by FSG’s director of football development, Pedro Marques, who previously played a key role in turning Benfica into a renowned developer of young footballers.

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Liverpool signed off a dismal season by securing Champions League football courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Brentford at an emotional Anfield.

On a day dominated by goodbyes for Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, the hosts saw Curtis Jones’ opener cancelled out as they earned a share of the spoils.

And this latest post-match podcast …

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Bournemouth’s draw with Manchester City on Tuesday evening means Liverpool’s place in next season’s Champions League is all but secured.

Only an improbably large goal difference swing on the Premier League’s final day could change things - though some might say that would be a fitting (and deserved) ending to this campaign for the Reds.

And that means that the club can start to make plans for what comes next, including in the dugout.

That the minimum aim of Champions League qualification has been achieved is only likely to strengthen Fenway Sports Group’s resolve regarding their desire to stick with Arne Slot.

That won’t be a popular decision, and not just in online spaces, with loyal, matchgoing fans having clearly lost patience of late.

It is also a risk given that it is not difficult to imagine things turning toxic at the first sign of a setback next season.

Still, this stance is effectively a declaration from Slot’s superiors that it is they who deserve the majority of the blame for this forgettable campaign.

As such, it is crucial that they fully correct their errors by ensuring that the Dutchman has no excuses available to him next time around.

Key to that will be a summer window that has to be flawless in completing a squad that, it eventually transpired, was left half-finished last year.

This season, Slot has frequently cited the inability of his new additions to cope with the intensity of a campaign comprising both Premier League and Champions League commitments.

If he is once again given signings that require a lengthy adaptation period, then making it past the November international break will be a challenge.

As for the positions that need tweaking, they are fairly obvious if this team’s many issues aren’t going to be solved by a change in tactics.

Woefully short in attack, Liverpool have run the rule over both Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola (among others) as they prepare to make additions in that area.

With Mohamed Salah set to be joined by Federico Chiesa in departing and Hugo Ekitike sidelined, the key here is for the Reds to ensure they end up with sufficient options for a gruelling campaign.

It is a similar story in midfield, where Curtis Jones looks set for an exit having been underused and underappreciated.

He could well be joined by Alexis Mac Allister, whose physical decline has played a major part in the team’s struggles and is likely irreversible, but doesn’t seem to have put off clubs in less demanding leagues.

Should both leave, then Liverpool must pick wisely from heavily scouted options such as Adam Wharton, Lamine Camara and Mamadou Sangare.

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Liverpool's pursuit of Champions League qualification could go to the final day of the season after they were thumped 4-2 by Aston Villa.

Arne Slot's side put in another woeful performance as they were deservedly beaten in Birmingham, collapsing entirely in the second half.

And this latest post-match podcast puts forward the ar…

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For Liverpool fans hoping to see a change in the dugout this summer, the fact the club continue to privately claim that Arne Slot’s job is safe rightly means little.

Ultimately, even if a sacking were planned, there would be no benefit to privately undermining your head coach when Champions League qualification is still to be secured.

Furthermore, football is littered with enough examples of the vote of confidence being swiftly followed by a dismissal to know that it would be foolish to read too much into Fenway Sports Group’s public position.

However, the bad news for the Slot sceptics is that there are other strong indicators that the club are prepared to follow through on their oft-briefed desire to back the Dutchman.

And chief among them is the lack of noise regarding the pursuit of an alternative head coach during a period that would be crucial to lining up any appointment.

This inaction is best exemplified by an apparent reluctance to get involved in the race for Xabi Alonso’s signature, despite the former midfielder now being courted by Premier League rivals Chelsea.

A former Anfield favourite, the Spaniard has long been considered by many supporters to be the ideal candidate should Liverpool make a change.

Yet even during Slot’s lowest moments, the club have never given off the impression that they themselves are as desperate to appoint him.

The Reds were keen to talk to Alonso when the process of replacing Jurgen Klopp began, but did not get the chance to do so after being quickly rebuffed in favour of another year at Bayer Leverkusen.

As such, it is impossible to know how highly he might have featured on any final shortlist, or whether that standing has shifted in the years since.

It is, of course, unlikely that a brief stint in the Real Madrid madhouse has harmed Alonso’s standing with recruitment staff, while claims that an alleged preference for a back three have put Liverpool off do not stand up to scrutiny given he has used different formations outside Germany.

However, what is clear is that the club do not view Alonso as the slam dunk appointment he is widely touted as, or they simply would not be allowing this opportunity to pass them by.

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Liverpool endured another forgettable afternoon as they were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Chelsea at Anfield.

And this latest setback was poorly received by home fans who seem to have reached breaking point during a difficult season.

As such, this latest post-match podcast discusses their reaction at full-time and throughou…

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If the midfield is truly the heart of a football team, then it is perhaps no surprise that Liverpool have faltered so badly in a season in which their centre has proven soft.

Too easily passed through, bullied in duels, and unable to consistently control matches; the Reds’ engine room is a far cry from the well-oiled machine that proved foundational to Premier League success 12 months ago.

And it is for that reason that this summer’s second stage of an ongoing squad rebuild will, in part, focus on that vital area of the pitch.

Having signed a new six-year contract in March, Ryan Gravenberch is set to remain a key figure in any new-look midfield.

Still, Arne Slot must consider how to get the 23-year-old back to his best having seen his numbers for tackles, interceptions and recoveries plummet amid a complication of his role this term.

More must also be expected of Florian Wirtz, who has only occasionally sparkled during a debut campaign that has only been made tougher by the countless issues around him.

Fortunately, there are no such concerns over the season’s star man Dominik Szoboszlai, beyond the fact that the Reds have yet to make a breakthrough in attempts to tie him down to a new deal.

However, any certainty over next year’s options starts and ends with that trio, with major changes possible elsewhere.

Contract talks with Curtis Jones are understood to have effectively ceased, and it is known that he was open to a January move to Inter Milan before his boyhood club shut the door.

The Reds would bank pure profit on the midfielder under the Premier League’s new squad cost ratio rules, but replacing the sort of versatile, committed and homegrown player that can be crucial to major silverware will not be easy.

There is no doubt that the 25-year-old’s desire for more minutes will be cited should he leave as expected but, unlike in the case of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure, Liverpool will not be entirely blameless when it comes to this latest loss of a hugely talented academy graduate.

Ultimately, they must ask whether Jones would have been quite so eager to leave had he not been so often unfairly kept out of the side by players whose form did not merit it this season.

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Liverpool suffered a 19th defeat of the season as they were beaten 3-2 by Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo had dragged the visitors back level from two goals down, but Kobbie Mainoo's late finish claimed the points.

And so this was another game that underlined both the positives and negative…

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After their team won the first ever Merseyside derby contested at the Hill Dickinson Stadium to take a major step towards Champions League qualification, Liverpool fans probably could not have imagined their Sunday getting much better.

But then Ibrahima Konate elected to make a rare stop in the mixed zone after the game in order to deliver a long-awaited update on his precarious contract situation.

Speaking to reporters, the Frenchman said: “There are many things people have said but for a long time we have spoken with the club and we are close to an agreement. I think everyone wished for that for as long as possible.

“For sure there is a big chance I’m here next season. This is what I always wanted. I’m waiting to sort the contract but when everything is sorted you will have to ask Richard (Hughes) what I said to him in September, November and he’s going to say something to make everyone quiet.”

After it was reported on these pages less than three weeks ago, this was official confirmation that a positive conclusion is finally in sight.

Of course there may, in fact, be some differing opinions on whether that is good news and, in being something of a microcosm of Konate’s season as a whole, Sunday’s game served to show why.

To steal an Arne Slot description of the defender, he was once again at the ‘scene of the crime’ for Everton’s equaliser; too slow and casual in closing down Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, allowing the midfielder time to cross for Beto to poke home.

As a centre-half, it is tricky to shake off the fact that you were involved in the concession of a goal.

But, while there was a lively debate among local reporters at full-time regarding how Konate had fared against Everton, should that one moment completely colour how his performance was viewed?

The fact is, with the Toffees targeting his side of the pitch, the 26-year-old made the second most defensive contributions (14) of any player - only trailing Curtis Jones’ frankly ridiculous 28.

And how many times did his front-footedness turn the hosts’ attempts to play off Beto or Thierno Barry into Liverpool possession?

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