Our LFC fan jury have their say on the first few weeks of the season after wins over Arsenal and Bournemouth
Joe Rimmer is the Liverpool ECHO's Head of Football, covering both Merseyside clubs - Liverpool FC and Everton. He joined the company in 2014 after a stint writing about MMA and became the host of the daily football live blogs before becoming an audience editor in 2018. He is a regular host on the Blood Red podcast.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot
Liverpool boss Arne Slot(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Liverpool made it two wins from two Premier League games when they beat Newcastle United 3-2 with a last-gasp goal at St James' Park on Monday evening. Rio Ngumoha was the hero as the champions kept their 100 percent record intact.
However, Arne Slot's side struggled throughout the 90 minutes against a fired up Newcastle and after conceding four goals in their opening two games, there are defensive concerns for the Liverpool head coach to address.
The Reds face Arsenal on Sunday in the biggest test of their title credentials so far, before the transfer window - and perhaps a certain summer transfer saga - comes to an end on Monday. Here's what our LFC jury make of it all:
James Noble (Worcestershire, @james_noble98)
Liverpool certainly haven’t been averse to drama in 2025/26’s early weeks. There’s been carelessness, yes, but there hasn’t half been character. Hopefully, one can be worked on, while the other is built on.
What a conclusion that was at Newcastle on Monday night. Rio Ngumoha’s historic winner was struck with such accuracy, such aplomb. Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitiké also each made their own towering contributions.
Elements of the St. James’ Park classic did strengthen the notion that improvements in defence and enhanced depth in attack will be necessary if we are to sustain a winning trajectory this season.
Alexander Isak was, of course, a conspicuous absentee for the Magpies, and LFC’s interest in him and Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guéhi appears ongoing, at time of writing, as Monday’s transfer deadline approaches. Recruitment isn’t every issue’s solution, but one, or both, would likely make the Reds’ better and more durable.
This week’s Carabao Cup and Champions League draws are a reminder of how the season’s intensity ratchets up once we’re beyond the upcoming international break.
First, of course, there’s Sunday’s Anfield meeting with Arsenal. The Gunners look set to be our sternest test so far – and potentially one of the sternest of the entire campaign. Keep honing those structures and forging that character and we’ll give ourselves strong foundations.
Andrew Cullen (Widnes, @brothersred5)
What a relief to pick up maximum points from our first two fixtures. It hasn’t been easy, though. There have been flashes of brilliance paired with some incompetence.
It was perhaps unrealistic to expect our defence to be synchronised before the start of the campaign because of the new look to the team. What has raised an eyebrow is Konate’s stuttering start. Although side by side with the best centre back in world football, Konate has looked brittle at the back.
If we are to be competitive on all fronts this season, it does feel like we need to bring another experienced Premier League centre back to provide options and competition. It’s not just the back line that is in the spotlight, of course.
The Isak saga continues to bubble and boil. For fan sanity, this saga needs a conclusion. During the Bournemouth match, it felt like we had limited options available to change the game, and this has been Liverpool’s strength over the past couple of seasons- a wealth of attacking options. Rio’s introduction to the world football stage was exhilarating as it was joyful.
There is a compelling case for him to be part of the picture this season. However, in the big games, the Premier League crunch matches, the big European ties, you need top experienced talent to tilt the match in your favour.
Hopefully we have managed to brush off the pre-season cobwebs because Arsenal will not be forgiving on Sunday.
Rhys Buchanan (Aigburth, @Rhys_Buchanan)
The Reds have made such hard work of their first two Premier League fixtures this season. It’s been exhilarating and the last gasp winners are what we’re all in it for, but wouldn’t it be nice to see a routine win soon?
Although there’s so much to be excited about in performances from Rio and Ekitike, I think our fixture on Monday night threw up more room for concern heading into Sunday's blockbuster clash against Arsenal.
That’s mainly down to our defensive vulnerability. With that being said, I was impressed with how Liverpool waited for their eventual moment and took it in the face of woeful refereeing and gamesmanship from Newcastle.
We all know that Arsenal have a similar bag of tricks and will be employing a few dark arts on the weekend. It will boil down to playing our own football and choosing those decisive moments.