Andoni Iraola, head coach of Liverpool. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola, head coach of Liverpool. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
It is back to Premier League action for Liverpool this Sunday after the weekend visit of Villarreal in the Champions League, where the Reds' 4-3 victory made it seven wins from their last nine.
To keep up that good form they'll have to get the better of an impressive Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend, with the Seagulls arriving sitting third in the Premier League table and having scored a staggering 23 goals in their seven league games this season.
Andoni Iraola will be wary of Liverpool's opposition then, and the Reds head coach is set to discuss Brighton and the fitness of Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz, who both missed the Villarreal game, when he faces the press from 1.30pm.
Paul Gorst will be in attendance, and he'll provide live updates from the press conference here.
Make sure you never miss the latest Everton news and opinion by makingLiverpool Echo one of your Google preferred sources.
That's your lot
And that's all from the open section of Andoni Iraola's press conference.
We'll have breakout stories from it soon.
Paul Gorst, meanwile, is now speaking to the Reds boss in the embargoed section. Stories from that will follow from 10.30pm this evening.
Iraola on Gravenberch
I think if you asked me where is his position he suits best, I think he is a No8 but he can do a job at 6 and he won the league there. He can do a job at right-back like the other day. At No10 he can do a job. He played as a centre-back at certain moments, so he is very valuable because he is versatile. At this time you need help in other positions and he can help. We have lost Frimpong and Bradley."
Szoboszlai update
No Dominik Szoboszlai for this weekend.
He is training alone but not ready for Sunday.
Iraola on Mac Allister
I think he is another leader that we have with his experience. He has been involved in top level games, won things club and country. After two or three weeks when he returned, with us he was in great form and performing consistently well. He is in a place where he is consistent."
Iraola on his forwards
We cannot allow ourselves to play 70 or 80%. I prefer to bring them off to them give their all because we need to play for us. I would like to play 70% and win games but it is not possible."
Iraola on Ngumoha
I think every player has to focus on performances, improve what they can. The outside noise affects but we have to try and not be, do your job, improve what you can and don't be too affected by what you hear, praise or criticism. That is the most important thing in the end."
Iraola on young players
They are all supporting each other, they praise each other and when they see someone start in the CL or PL, they feel it and they feel they are close to being there. That is good for them and the ones in the second team. Koumas leaning from Isak..."They have to use all the help from the players, the coaches. They have take it in and learn from that and we have some experienced players, so they look at what they are doing in training."
I know this is club is very special, the thing is when you arrive, especially a place like this, you need a lot of goals and you need to earn the right to feel these things inside. Wins like the other day help me a lot personally."
Iraola on Anfield record
I want to win games, home and away. Wherever you can get the points. The games have been high level games, we won them and had good performances v Atletico, Spurs and Villarreal."
Iraola on Brighton
They are doing incredibly well and deserve all the praise they are getting. Well coached, very good in every phase, one of the best teams with good quality. We have to be at our very best. I see my team in a good place."Probably not too different a game v Villarreal, they control the phases, good technically, so we will see this. Maybe not a 0-0 where nothing happens, both teams will try to control the game."
Iraola on Ngumoha
Not with Rio, with everyone, it's about feeling how they are. We change the team because we play every 3/4 days. Sometimes players are tired and have to decide if they need more rest or we use more fresh legs. It will be the same in the coming games, we continue. "I think overall the players are answering the questions well. No, Rio is not tired. I want them for all the games. But also in the forward positions, normally I sub the wingers and strikers, most of the time they don't finish the game, so it's about giving all you have. Most of the time we change those positions."
Iraola on Barcola and Munoz
Bradley has trained today as normal. No problem, sometimes we just have to you know, with the workloads but he is fine. Victor has a knock, he could finish the Brentford game but he is dealing with some pain. Too early v Villarreal, difficult for tomorrow but I really don't know."
Not long now
Iraola should be with us in approximately six minutes, and he's usually pretty punctual.
Injuries
Of course Iraola will be in place to deliver an update on Bradley Barcola, who trained alone on Thursday and Victor Munoz, who missed training all together with a knee issue.
There's also the status of Dominik Szoboszlai to consider too.
Jeremie Frimpong will be absent, however.
Rio Ngumoha to start?
So should Rio Ngumoha start on Sunday? Peter Crouch thinks so.
The ex-Reds forward told Paddy Power:
"He is undroppable. He’s Liverpool’s best player at the moment.
“It’s got to the point where he has to be starting games.
“The fact he can play off the right is a big plus. It means you can get a [Cody] Gakpo or [Bradley] Barcola into the game as well.
“He was fantastic against Villarreal, and the crowd really took to him.
“He’s not going to get you the goals that Mo Salah got obviously, but creative-wise he could consistently create chances from that right-hand side."
Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha vies for possession with Villarreal's Alberto Moleiro during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD3 match.
(Image: Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Afternoon
Good afternoon and welcome to the AXA Training Centre where we will shortly be hearing from Andoni Iraola ahead of Sunday's visit from Brighton.
This will be the second of four home games for the Reds but they face three of the top four in that time with Arsenal to come at the back end of next week after a visit from Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.
It's a busy old time to be following the Reds but you won't miss anything with us.
Shall we then?
Plenty to discuss
So what will be on the agenda for Iraola today then?
Injury news on Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz
Liverpool's fine form after seven wins from nine
Brighton's free-scoring start to the season
Rio Ngumoha
And much more
Hello
Welcome along.
If you're looking for Andoni Iraola previewing Liverpool's clash with Brighton and Hove Albion then you're in the right place.
The Liverpool head coach will be with us from 1.30pm.