After a difficult start to the 2022-23 season, Liverpool's players have the distraction of international football before a busy October.
The Reds have won just two of their first six Premier League games to sit outside the top four, some way adrift of last season's champions Manchester City. Their final game before the break brought some relief, with Joel Matip delivering a late winner against Ajax in the Champions League, but there's still work to be done.
International duty forms just part of the discussion with less than a week to go until the league meeting with Brighton. Here are the latest news lines from Merseyside.
Jota among the goals for Portugal
Liverpool star Diogo Jota was on the scoresheet for Portugal as they crushed the Czech Republic in the UEFA Nations League. The 25-year-old scored his country's fourth goal, with Diogo Dalot hitting a brace and Dalot's Man Utd teammate Bruno Fernandes also on target.
The 4-0 victory in Prague puts Fernando Santos' team in a prime position to reach the Nations League finals. They host Spain in Braga on Tuesday with only a point needed to top their group, after La Roja were beaten at home by Switzerland.
It was Jota's first goal of the season, after a spell on the sidelines through injury. He has played just three times for Liverpool this term, with his first start coming against Ajax.
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Bellingham's price tag
Jude Bellingham could be available for less than the nine-figure price previously quoted, as long as any suitor pays Borussia Dortmund's asking price in one lump sum. England midfielder Bellingham has been linked with the Reds for some time, though a number of other Premier League clubs have shown an interest.
It had earlier been reported that it could take as much as £150m to land the teenager, who joined Dortmund from Birmingham City in 2020. However, according to The Sun, a single £83m payment could be enough.
While Liverpool remain in the mix, Manchester City reportedly consider themselves to be the front-runners. The Premier League holders, who currently sit second in the table, signed Bellingham's former Dortmund colleagues Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji over the summer.
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Lawrenson's Liverpool prediction
Mark Lawrenson predicted a remarkable 159 games without defeat for Liverpool before leaving his post at the BBC. The pundit, who played for the Reds more than 300 times during his career, has been consistent in his faith in his former club.
The ex-Ireland international has left the BBC after a long association, including Match of the Day spots and written columns. Over that time, he was regularly tasked with predicting Premier League results, and the sight of a Liverpool loss was rare to see.
He last predicted a loss for Liverpool back in 2016, as they took on West Bromwich Albion early on in Jurgen Klopp's tenure. That one ended in a draw, for those wondering.
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