The ECHO's weekly Q&A session assesses Manchester City's potential punishments and the possibility of January additions at Anfield
The potential of Liverpool re-signing Jarell Quansah is one of the questions this week
The potential of Liverpool re-signing Jarell Quansah is one of the questions this week
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Andoni Iraola will speak to the media on Friday afternoon ahead of Liverpool's return to Premier League action after three weeks away.
It is, of course, Manchester City who visit Anfield this weekend, fresh from the news that they have been found guilty by the Premier League's indenpdent commission on virtually all of the charges against them related to financial breaches.
It promises to be a red-hot Anfield atmosphere on the day and it will be fascinating to hear from the unbeaten Iraola in the build-up to that game as he provides an update on the fitness of several key players.
But before that, the ECHO has asked for all your questions and you delivered. Our Reds correspondent Paul Gorst answers them below. And if you'd like to submit questions for next week, you can do so HERE.
TonyM asks: Do you think we'll activate the clause for Jarell Quansah next summer?
Liverpool's Academy coaches always believed Jarell Quansah would eventually become a mainstay of the England setup.
Clearly, he has become a relatively important player for Thomas Tuchel since then and the decision to allow him to move to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025 was taken reluctantly by the key decision makers, who had watched him become a senior member of the squad under Jurgen Klopp and then Arne Slot.
That was why the club were determined to install an unusual buy-back clause that allowed them to bring the Warrington-born Quansah home either in the summer of 2026 or 2027. The clause is only active during a certain timeframe of the summer transfer window, however, and the fee is believed to be around £56m next year.
Terms have already been agreed and signed by Quansah, it's understood, so there won't be any issue that end if Liverpool seek to activate the clause next year. At what is a relatively modest sum by some modern standards, there's a lot of upside to bringing Quansah back if he kicks on even more at Leverkusen.
It could be a case of the funds set aside for Ronald Araujo's potential £47m permanent move from Barcelona could instead be used for Quansah's return but it is still early days in this season. Liverpool's need for a long-term centre-back depends heavily on Virgil van Dijk's future. He is out of contract next year as it stands.
Dom86 asks: How excited should we be about young Luca Eden in the academy?
Luca Eden has privately earned rave reviews by Academy staff in the last year or so but there is also an acceptance that too much pressure cannot be placed on his young shoulders just yet.
Football is littered with stories about the 'next big thing' who isn't able to make the grade as they try to mature in the pressure cooker of elite-level football, so Liverpool are obviously keen not to hype up the teenage midfielder too much as this fledgling stage of his career.
He is already in the record books, however, having become the youngest player to feature for the U18s when he was still just 14 last November. That gives you an idea of his talent, obviously, but also how ludicrously young he still is.
Last month, the Wirral teenager became the youngest player to feature in the Under-19s UEFA Youth League when he played against Atletico Madrid at the Kirkby Academy. He beat the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Rio Ngumoha to that record, so clearly he is someone to keep an eye on.
It is very early days though and I am always wary to talking up young players too much. He is one to hopefully enjoy watching develop over the next two or three seasons. There is no rush for Eden right now.
Red87 asks: Great news that Leoni's nearly back and Ekitike sounds like he's getting closer. But what's going on with Bradley? We really miss him.
People I spoke to at the time of Conor Bradley's injury against Arsenal in January were keen to stress it was not an ACL issue as such, but that any reporting around that should also not seek to downplay the problem.
At the time, there was vague hope that Bradley might have been able to feature for Northern Ireland if they made it to the World Cup but they failed to qualify and a long-term approach to his rehab has since been taken.
It's unclear if there was any setback along the way but it doesn't appear as though Bradley is nearing an imminent return with Andoni Iraola always keen to stress that the right-back remains a long-term absentee whenever asked.
Like I say, Giovanni Leoni's and Bradley's respective injuries were not identical but they were both serious knee injuries and the Italian has been sidelined for 13 months and is only now nearing a return to training this month.
Roughly estimating, Bradley has been out since January so unfortunately, his recovery phase might still require more time. He is in the Champions League squad at least, meaning Liverpool believe he has a shot of playing some part before January.
Ross asks: I think Iraola was left short and these injuries could prove it. Do you think we'll do any business in January?
It's probably too early to say if Liverpool will do any business in January. They were of course still assessing potential right-wing options before deciding to keep Cody Gakpo and there was talk of late interest in Lamine Camara at Monaco.
I believe they are at least one midfielder short in this squad and are light in the No.9 position until Hugo Ekitike returns to 100%, whenever that may be. The midfield issue is the one that concerns me most but a lot depends on Trey Nyoni's development. I'd be looking at the centre of the park for January if I was newly-appointed sporting director Julian Ward.
@TheRedReadLFC asks: Will the sanctions fit the crime at Man City? What are your thoughts on what the sanctions should be or will be?
There is no precedent for Manchester City's case so predicting an appropriate punishment is the impossible task. But let's give it a go anyway... Their nine-year "systematic" breaking of the rules, to quote Premier League CEO Richard Masters, means the punishment has to fit the crime. This cannot be a points deduction, a transfer ban, or a fine.
Demotion to the Championship, even with the inevitable fire-sale for their big names, is also too lenient a punishment for my money, given they would retain the framework of a super club that would absorb the sales and leave them well placed to return quickly and eventually challenge against in the Premier League.
In order for this to send an unequivocal message that cheating won't be tolerated, City needs to be sent to the bottom of the Football League pyramid at the very least.
League Two would allow the EFL the additional money from TV rights for at least three seasons and would significantly decelerate the City juggernaut.
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