Relight The Ring Of Fire

August 21, 2026

The signings the fans wanted and expected/demanded haven’t materialised and the rumoured signings remain just rumours. Andoni Iraola has done his first pre-match press conference as Liverpool supremo, so I watched and listened to every word.  It was somewhat refreshing to hear him say “We’re in a good place” and there was no catalogue of injuries to lay before the gathering. That made a change.

I don’t worry about the players we haven’t signed because from my point of view they don’t exist.  As the manager indicated, we go with what we’ve got. I accept there are still three players in rehab, Bradley, Leoni and Ekitike but I believe we’ve got a decent group of players even allowing for the pending departure of Curtis Jones.  Accepting it was only a friendly watching the back four last Sunday was heartening, especially Jérémy Jacquet in the first half and Ronald Araújo in the second half. Other players, including Frimpong, Wirtz and Gakpo all looked like the players we want them to look like, and the team seemed to be enjoying themselves. Isak looked fit and raring to go and looked a bit more like the player he was when he played against us for Newcastle.

Talking of Newcastle, that’s where it all starts again on Sunday afternoon. Like at Anfield, the ‘Under New Management’ signs are up and although they’ve signed players, they’ve lost three of their main men. Before the start it will be emotional as both sets of fans pay homage to Kevin Keegan but once the game starts, I’m sure they will vent their fury on Isak. The layout at St James’s Park means the home team have all the advantages supporter wise as our fans will be stuck so far back if it’s a clear day, they should be able to see Middlesbrough. They’ll give it their best shot though, they usually do. I want to see the team and the support relight the Ring of Fire and if they do, they can start to erase the memories of last season right from the off.

JJP