All the latest Liverpool news from Anfield as Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak hit the headlines once again
Liverpool will attempt to get their Premier League title defence back on track when they host Manchester United on Sunday. Following a strong start to the season, the Reds stumbled in the run-up to the international break, suffering back-to-back defeats to Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
Arne Slot will be hoping his mass contingent of internationals return to the club unscathed as preparations for the Anfield showdown move up a notch. It hasn’t been a dream international break for all of his players, with Alexander Isak enduring a nightmare with Sweden.
Elsewhere, Florian Wirtz has been defended amid his difficult start to his Liverpool career, with Mohamed Salah and The Beatles bizarrely dragged into the debate about his form…
Salah blamed for Wirtz woes
The German media are fighting Wirtz’s corner following an underwhelming start to his Liverpool career, even blaming Salah for some of his struggles.
Wirtz has had some restbite from the Premier League pressure cooker with Germany, who have been in World Cup qualifying action. That has led to concern being expressed for players who play their domestic football outside the country, like Wirtz, who hasn’t mustered a goal or assist since joining the Reds.
READ MORE: Liverpool star Florian Wirtz set daunting target before Arne Slot ‘leaves him out’READ MORE: Liverpool star makes Alexander Isak admission after star’s move – ‘A little unfortunate’
SportBILD has launched a passionate defence of the 22-year-old, insisting that if Salah had converted a “mega chance” against Chelsea, his record would look much better. The outlet suggested that his teammates were doing Wirtz few favours as he looks to justify his astronomical price tag, pointing out how many unconverted chances, like Salah’s at Chelsea, he has created so far.
SportBILD even suggest a bias against Wirtz from Manchester United legend pundits like Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney. Former Premier League striker Jan Ange Fjørtoft went one step further, bringing up The Beatles as he spoke up for Wirtz.
The Norwegian, who played in Germany for Eintracht Frankfurt , said: “The criticism is focused on Wirtz; he seems to be responsible for everything negative at Liverpool. The only thing missing is for him to be blamed for The Beatles not performing anymore!
“Of all the Premier League transfers like Gyökeres, Isak and the rest, I have the least concerns about Wirtz. His appointment is a project for five years and more.”
Isak stripped of captaincy
Isak’s international break with Sweden has descended from bad to worse. After playing just 18 minutes during September’s qualifiers, Isak started both home games against Switzerland and Kosovo, losing both, 2-0 and 1-0, respectively, to deliver a devastating blow to the Swedes’ qualification hopes.
Isak was handed the captaincy for the Switzerland game on Friday but after making little impact, he lost the armband to Victor Lindelof. Across the two games, in which Isak played a full part, he managed just two shots.
As well as a lack of service, it suggests the 26-year-old is still lacking sharpness following his drawn-out move from Newcastle. He said: “The responsibility lies with all of us, players included.
“We’ve been here a long time, I’ve been here a long time. I look at myself in the mirror. I demand more from myself first and foremost.”
By the time Sweden play again in November, they will have a new manager at the helm after Jon Dahl Tomasson was sacked following the defeat to Kosovo.
Sitting at the bottom of their group with just one point, Sweden are left relying on a potential backdoor entry to the World Cup via their Nations League ranking, which could land them a place in the play-offs.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.