What kind of era will Edwards' exit usher in?published at 17:07 BST 10 July
17:07 BST 10 July
Josh Sexton Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
So Michael Edwards leaves Liverpool for the second time, but this time around he leaves having not necessarily fulfilled his rumoured remit.
During his first stint at the club, certain sections of the support were jokingly suggesting that a statue should be built in his honour, such were the sheer number of transfer hits he helped to bring to the club.
Indeed, Jurgen Klopp even credits Edwards with having convinced him to sign Mo Salah when the former Liverpool manager preferred other targets for his team.
Having left last time under something of a cloud of uncertainty and rumours of power struggles between his fellow suits and the giant German in the dugout, he leaves now having been initially hired by Fenway Sports Group to help them step into the world of multi-club ownership.
Many fans have been opposed to the club getting involved in those murky, interest-conflicting waters, so the sight of Edwards leaving having not achieved that may actually bring relief to some that perhaps that idea has been scrapped.
While Edwards was involved in the hiring of Arne Slot and Richard Hughes, leading to a Premier League title in their first season, it's hard not to believe this second era had promised much more.
Ultimately, though, that promise may now only be realised by the manager he hired as one of his final acts in office, and so he leaves under another partial cloud.
Whereas last time could be seen as the beginning of the end for Klopp, Edwards' leaving this time around signals the start of a new and hopefully fruitful, single-club ownership chapter at Anfield.
Gareth: Since he came on board he has wasted money trying to make Liverpool 'Galacticos' - spending big on players that don't fit the system. Throwing the toys out the cot because Fenway did not buy a second club is a stain on his reputation. In summary, first time appointment left as a success, second time around leaves as a failure.
Andy: What can you say? We did brilliantly during Edwards' time at the club! Many plus points along the way, and a few sticky moments, but who is ever spotless in that respect? He can leave a very proud man and with the supporters' genuine thanks.
James: A disappointing and underwhelming second spell.
Dan: Quite a significant change at the club now he's gone - he's undoubtedly a driver of the success the club has had since FSG took over. It has felt over the past few years like there is less focus on what made Liverpool so savvy in recent years though, maybe because Edwards' role was to develop a multi-club model. I'm glad that has seemingly been ditched.
Fraser: Honestly, I don't know why he was brought back anyway. He wasn't needed as CEO of football. More concerned about Richard Hughes and the sporting director role. We need someone long term and to provide some stability behind the scenes and full backing for Iraola.
Fran: To be fair, he only returned to fry bigger fish, but the sea ended up being empty. I hope the patchy recruitment of 25-26 isn't what he's remembered for.
Liverpool 'disappointed' by Edwards departurepublished at 15:15 BST 10 July
15:15 BST 10 July
Image source, Getty Images
Fenway Sports Group President Mike Gordon says the club are "naturally disappointed" to see Michael Edwards leave his role as CEO of Football.
Edwards spent more than 15 years at Anfield across two spells, where the club enjoyed success on the pitch.
"Michael has made an extraordinary contribution to Liverpool Football Club and Fenway Sports Group throughout his time with our organization," Gordon said.
"When Michael returned in 2024, he did so at a pivotal moment for Liverpool, embracing a broader leadership role across our football interests in the process. Throughout both periods he has consistently demonstrated exceptional judgement, integrity and an unwavering commitment to building a strong football organisation for the long term.
"His return to the organization saw Liverpool successfully navigate a significant period of transition before securing the club's historic 20th English league title, an achievement to which Michael made an important contribution.
"While we are naturally disappointed to see him leave, we will always be grateful for everything he has given.
"On behalf of John Henry, Tom Werner and everyone at Fenway Sports Group, I would like to thank Michael for his outstanding service, friendship and leadership, and wish him and his family every success and happiness in the future."
Edwards to leave Liverpool - send your viewspublished at 14:52 BST 10 July
14:52 BST 10 July
The Michael Edwards era at Liverpool is about to end.
After more than 15 years working for owners Fenway Sports Group, Edwards will leave before the Reds' pre-season.
"Edwards' departure marks the culmination of a planned transition following the completion of key strategic priorities," a Fenway Sports statement read.
He says the club is in a "strong position" so how do you feel about his exit?
Edwards famously oversaw landmark transfers during the Jurgen Klopp years, so do you think he will be missed and does he have a legacy to be proud of?
Edwards to leave Liverpoolpublished at 14:52 BST 10 July
14:52 BST 10 July
Image source, Getty Images
Michael Edwards is to leave his role as Fenway Sports Group CEO of Football, ending 15 years of association with Liverpool across two spells.
Edwards arrived at Anfield for his second stint at the club in March 2024, where he oversaw the hiring of a new manager and a change in the club's leadership structure.
Originally joining the club in 2011, Edwards worked his way up to become sporting director, a role which he held from 2016 to 2022.
He was involved in landmark signings such as Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson. He also won praise from fans for high-priced sales of players such as Rhian Brewster, Jordon Ibe and Philippe Coutinho.
On returning to the club for a second spell, Edwards hoped to help FSG adopt a multi-club model but interest in acquiring other teams never led to a purchase. FSG's said Edwards' departure "marks the culmination of a planned transition following the completion of key strategic priorities".
"It has been a privilege to return to Fenway Sports Group and Liverpool Football Club at such an important moment," Edwards said. "I leave believing Liverpool is in a strong position, with outstanding people, a clear direction and the foundations in place for continued success.
"When I returned, I was excited not only by the opportunity to help guide Liverpool through an important period of transition, but also by the chance to help shape FSG's wider football ambitions. While that broader project ultimately evolved differently to how we had originally envisaged, I am proud of the work our team undertook in presenting ownership with a broad range of thoughtful and well-developed options for the future."
Will your club sign any World Cup breakout stars?published at 12:00 BST 10 July
12:00 BST 10 July
Image source, Getty Images
Plenty of players have made names for themselves at this World Cup, from goalkeepers like Cape Verde's Vozinha and Paraguay's Orlando Gill to New Zealand midfielder Elijah Just.
But though they might not have been familiar to fans, the extent of modern scouting means clubs all over the world will already have known about many of them – so how have their heroics at the tournament affected their standing in the game, and their value in the transfer market?
More than the Score's Mani Djazmi is joined Ben Littlemore from Transfermarkt, one of the world's foremost football databases. Lutz Pfannenstiel, sporting director at Aberdeen, also shares his footballing knowledge in today's episode.
Gossip: Reds could loan Bouaddi back to Lille if they sign himpublished at 07:53 BST 10 July
07:53 BST 10 July
Liverpool and Arsenal are both reluctantly prepared to loan Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi back to Lille if they can sign him this summer, as the French club want to keep the 18-year-old for one more season. (Football Insider, external)
What are the expectations for Iraola?published at 17:25 BST 9 July
17:25 BST 9 July
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter
Several submissions into our Liverpool Ask Me Anything form have been about the expectations of Andoni Iraola in his first season at Anfield.
Well, similar to the first campaign under Arne Slot after he had replacced Jurgen Klopp, no-one expects Iraola to win the Premier League straight away. What Slot achieved by winning the title deserves plenty of credit, even if a parting of ways made the most sense by the end of his tenure.
For Iraola, the key will be to play a brand of football that Anfield can get behind while ensuring Liverpool pick up results along the way.
Given the importance of Champions League football financially, that will be the bare minimum.
Long term, the ambition is most certainly to win the Premier League again, but as long as the Reds have an impressive campaign and you can see a semblance of identity, this will be a good start for Iraola.
Going far in the cup competitions will certainly help too for a club that is never far from silverware.
Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.
We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.
In the latest episode of BBC Radio Merseyside's Liverpool A to Z, we have reached the letter I.
Paul Salt, Mike Hughes and Chris Coughlin discuss Liverpool striker Alexander Isak and former Reds' captain, Paul Ince, in the A-Z of Merseyside Sport.
Coughlin said on Isak: "It's been an interesting one for Alexander Isak. He showed during the World Cup his quality, goal against Tunisia, but a fair few assists as well.
"I think for a lot of Liverpool fans, if they were talking about who they would want to have come in as that forward, Isak would probably have been at the top of the list.
"He needed to start getting his Liverpool career up and running to an extent that was really pressurised. And he didn't do it last season. We've hinted at that there's lots and lots of reasons why he didn't. We know Isak is a player with a lot of ability. We know he's showed at the top level. We've seen it at the World Cup."
Click play below to hear more about Alexander Isak or listen on BBC Sounds here
The 15-year-old set to go on Reds' pre-season tourpublished at 15:09 BST 8 July
15:09 BST 8 July
Aadam Patel Liverpool reporter
Image source, Instagram: @joshua.abe9
Teenage forward Josh Abe is set to join the Liverpool squad on their pre-season tour to the USA this summer.
Abe turns 16 three days before Andoni Iraola's side head out to the States and the right winger, who is primarily left footed, has also been given a first-team squad number (40) for the 2026-27 season.
Last month, Abe committed his future to Liverpool despite interest from Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, signing scholarship terms with a pre-contract agreement in place for a three-year professional deal to start when he turns 17 next summer.
Born in Warrington, he joined the club's pre-academy at the age of four and became the youngest player to play for Liverpool in the Uefa Youth League last season.
Abe also trained with the first team on occasions under Arne Slot and is expected to carry on training frequently with the seniors after pre-season.
'A lot of gaps in the squad' - are Reds finding transfers 'difficult'?published at 12:24 BST 8 July
12:24 BST 8 July
Image source, Getty Images
Journalist and The Late Challenge podcast's, Mo Stewart, says a "difficult market" is impacting Liverpool's transfer business so far this summer.
The Reds have brought in Spain winger Victor Munoz and completed a deal for defender Jeremy Jacquet which was agreed in February.
However, with Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson already departing, uncertainty over the futures of Alisson and Federico Chiesa, and a long-term injury to Hugo Ekitike, missing out on key target Yan Diomande has left the club with still lots to do in the window.
"There are problems with the market," Stewart told BBC Radio Merseyside.
"There is a lack of options and the price you are going to have to pay for even a half decent talent is another reason clubs are reluctant to dive in right now. It's a difficult market.
"It's a strange situation for Liverpool because we all know they have a lot to do and there are a lot of players in that current squad with question marks over them.
"Even aside from that there are a lot of gaps in the squad. The attack is already looking quite thin.
"We have to remember the World Cup does make things more difficult, particularly now at the business end."
What does the next month look like for Iraola?published at 10:43 BST 8 July
10:43 BST 8 July
Aadam Patel Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
After the in-person introductions, one of the first things that will happen will be the individual assessments for the players on their return before the hard work begins.
The key focus will be playing a front-foot and aggressive style of football and there will inevitably be changes, with a revamped backroom staff, in terms of how things work. Andoni Iraola will be joined by Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper - who were with him at Bournemouth - as his first-team coaches.
If their time at Bournemouth is anything to go by, there will be intense running in the early days and the Spaniard is known to play an active part in drills.
He often referees in mini-training games and for any Liverpool fans wanting to get an early taste, there is an insightful clip on Bournemouth's YouTube channel, , externalin which Iraola is wearing a microphone during a training session in Marbella.
"Get really aggressive. Get used to this, because we will do this every week…" is one of many lines that stands out, in a clip where his enthusiasm and passion is clear to see.
"Andoni likes to take all of the sessions and be in the thick of it as opposed to leaving it to others," a Bournemouth source told BBC Sport last month.
Pablo de la Torre, who will join Iraola as an assistant coach, has worked with him previously in Cyprus, at Rayo Vallecano and at Bournemouth. The Spaniard is trusted by Iraola and will play a major role in ensuring that the Liverpool players are physically ready for playing the brand of football for which he is known.
Last month, De La Torre told Spanish publication AS, external: "He (Iraola) is incredibly intelligent, leads by example, and has a rare emotional stability in such a visceral sport. From day one, you sense he's different - his ability to read the game and its needs is almost unique. He filters information so players can digest it easily and apply it every week."
New to both of them, though, will be the challenge of dealing with midweek Champions League matches alongside Premier League games.
"The key is building a game model and team identity where players truly believe in the coach's idea," added De La Torre.
Mac Allister's Argentina edge past Salah's Egypt in World Cup epicpublished at 08:41 BST 8 July
08:41 BST 8 July
Image source, Getty Images
Alexis Mac Allister's Argentina were given an almighty scare before delivering a scarcely believable second-half comeback to break Mohamed Salah and Egypt's hearts and reach the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
The reigning world champions had looked set for a shock exit against the Pharaohs, who led 2-0 with 11 minutes to go, before three late goals turned the game around amid huge controversy.
Enzo Fernandez's headed winner came on the counter-attack just moments after Egypt felt they had been denied a penalty for a trip on Salah, to the fury of many on their bench.
Now former Liverpool team-mates Salah and Mac Allister - who won the Premier League together in 2025 - embraced at full-time after the epic tie in Atlanta.
One of Andoni Iraola's early tasks as Liverpool boss will be to hold off interest from Old Trafford and Europe to sign 17-year-old Mexican international midfielder Gilberto Mora, who plays his domestic football for Club Tijuana. (Teamtalk), external
Bring Stones in but ignore Barcola? Free agents and who to avoidpublished at 18:26 BST 6 July
18:26 BST 6 July
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on which free agents Liverpool could target this summer and whether there is one player the Reds are linked with but you hope they never sign.
Here are some of your comments:
Hamshanks: I'd happily take John Stones at Liverpool. One thing that was learned from last season was that the squad was too small. And with the new manager's physical demands, a lot of muscle injuries will ensue. Stones is an experienced head who would help the younger players.
Samers: Dusan Vlahovic would be a good addition as we need a short-term striker until Hugo Ekitike comes back. Jadon Sancho would be good as well. I would sign both on one-year deals with an option of an extra year.
Jack: From the list of World Cup free agents, there are two I'd want at Liverpool - John Stones or David Alaba - but neither is realistic. Obviously, the one we'd all want to rejoin is Mo Salah, but that ain't happening either. As for a player who Liverpool have been linked to but I wouldn't want to join, I'd say Bradley Barcola, not because of the player we'd be getting - because I'd love to see him here - but because of the asking price. PSG have overpriced him and I don't want Liverpool spending another £100m on a player after Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, who have both struggled.
Ian: Gideon Mensah has had a decent World Cup with Ghana up and was part of the defence that kept a clean sheet against England. Stones has winning experience. Seeing as though we've felt defender light for a while, it'd be good to have more.
Jacqui: The one player I wouldn't touch with a barge pole is Jarrod Bowen. Not up to the Liverpool standard. I would love to see Darwin Nunez back at Anfield. He didn't stand a chance under Arne Slot.
Ben: Yves Bissouma would be worth a shot, as a sub. I am worried about Barcola. Can he cope with the physicality of the Premier League?
Paul: Our defence is still ridiculously threadbare. We need to spend all this transfer window war chest on a world-class back four, plus ensure adequate cover. Regarding free transfers, the two Ghanaian defenders look obvious candidates, especially with both being under 30. Even if they amount to nothing more than squad players, they would provide depth.
Dean: Stones would be an excellent addition. Even though he might not get a lot of game time, he would be invaluable. We have lost a lot of senior players and his experience would benefit the two young centre-halves, Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, as well as the rest of the squad. Also, I don't think Andoni Iraola would go far wrong in adding James Milner to his coaching staff.
You're the scout! Which World Cup players do you want at your club?published at 12:32 BST 6 July
12:32 BST 6 July
Image source, Getty Images
We're now well into the knockout rounds of the biggest World Cup ever and we want to know who has grabbed your attention - especially with the summer transfer window open since 15 June.
Which player has raised your eyebrows? Who has exceeded your expectations? Has there been a player you had no knowledge of consistently impress you?
Ultimately, who would you realistically like to see lining up for your team in the Premier League next season?
This is your opportunity to show off your talent-spotting skills - the floor (pitch) is yours...
And there's more - the BBC has launched live match updates so you can see the score directly on your lock screen through the full 90 minutes and beyond.
This means you can keep track of every game wherever you are - whether you're on the move, at work, or away from a TV. With live match updates on your lock screen, the score is always just a glance away.
This feature will also extend into the 2026-27 Premier League season, so you're never out of the loop.
'I'd love to see Elliott stay at Liverpool'published at 09:57 BST 6 July
09:57 BST 6 July
Image source, Getty Images
Liverpool fan Iain Christie says he would "love to see" Harvey Elliott stay at Anfield after the 23-year-old returned from a nightmare season on loan at Aston Villa, making just nine appearances in all competitions.
Elliott joined Villa on loan on deadline day last year with Villa holding an obligation to buy in a deal worth £35m if he made 10 Premier League appearances.
Elliott made just four - starting once - with boss Unai Emery saying he decided in November not to make the move permanent.
"I'm delighted," Christie said on the midfielder's return.
"I thought the deal to get rid of him was crazy in the first place. The amount of times last season where Florian Wirtz was injured and we were moving players from different positions into that number 10 role.
"Those players aren't the same sort of number 10 as Wirtz - but Elliott is.
"I think it was just that Slot didn't fancy him. But now, I'd hate to see him go anywhere else. I'd love for him to show up to pre-season and be told he is Wirtz's understudy so he can come in without the system changing.
"He's had the experience of going somewhere else and being stuck in the reserves for the whole season so unless a club comes in with a really good deal for him I'd love to see him stay at Liverpool.
"He's at the perfect age, let's play him and see what he can do. If you were looking to replace him on the open market, a player who has played that many club games and under-21 internationals to play in this system, you'd be talking about spending £70 or £80m to buy him.
