Liverpool news: Wirtz and Barcola fire, Szoboszlai worry, and the Van Dijk succession plan

Liverpool left Selhurst Park with a 3-1 win and, more interestingly, with a midfield that looks nothing like last season's. Alexis Mac Allister was the story of the afternoon, turning in the kind of performance that had observers pointing at two specific moments as evidence of what has changed under Andoni Iraola.

The Argentine is in good early-season form and has become the hub of a side that presses higher and asks more of its central players. Alisson Becker drew praise of his own, described as stunning on a day when Palace carried a genuine threat.

The numbers back up the eye test: three goals, three points, and a fourth straight match in which Liverpool's midfield dictated the terms. Iraola has not had long, but the shape of his team is already visible.

Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo all started at Selhurst Park and all contributed to the 3-1 scoreline, which is roughly what you would expect from a forward line assembled at that kind of cost.

Wirtz and Barcola in particular sent a warning to the rest of the division about what this attack can become. Iraola, though, was not satisfied, and said as much: there is far more required from that group than three goals against Palace. The manager's point is a fair one.

Liverpool's forwards created in bursts rather than in waves, and better opponents will punish the quiet spells. Dean Henderson, who picked the ball out of his net three times, said the defeat was tough to take but conceded Liverpool deserved it.

Iraola now has a fortnight to work on the movement and combinations before the fixtures stack up again.

Dominik Szoboszlai came off injured in the win at Crystal Palace, and Andoni Iraola was careful with his wording afterwards. The Liverpool head coach hinted that a decision now has to be made on the midfielder, calling it the last thing the squad needs at this point in the calendar.

Szoboszlai has been central to the way Iraola wants to play, and losing him would force a reshuffle with Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones all affected by the knock-on.

The timing is awkward in both directions: an international break means games are coming, but also means players scatter and injuries get managed elsewhere. Expect an update before the squad regroups.

Virgil van Dijk is in the final 12 months of his contract at Liverpool, which makes any transfer story about a centre-back worth reading properly. Reports claim the club are prepared to move for Luka Vuskovic, a €100m-rated defender, as a long-term replacement.

The captain remains the reference point for everything Iraola does defensively, alongside Joe Gomez, Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni and Ronald Araujo in a squad that is unusually deep there.

Whether the club actually spend that money in January or next summer is another matter, but the succession planning has clearly started. Van Dijk's situation will define the next two windows more than any other single contract.

Rio Ngumoha has made his position on his future known amid fresh interest from Bayern Munich, and the message from the teenager's side is reassuring for Liverpool.

The 18-year-old winger is highly rated at the club and the pathway under Iraola is real, with minutes available in a front line that already rotates heavily.

Separately, the Reds are reported to be targeting a goalkeeper, which raises the obvious question about Alisson Becker's long-term place despite his outstanding form. Giorgi Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman and Vitezslav Jaros are all on the books, so any addition would signal a genuine restructure rather than insurance.

None of this is urgent in November, but the direction of travel is worth tracking.

Emile Heskey believes Trey Nyoni's rapid development could spare Liverpool a nine-figure outlay in midfield, solving two problems at once.

The 19-year-old has been getting real minutes under Iraola, and the former striker's argument is that the club would otherwise be shopping for exactly the profile Nyoni already offers.

It is a persuasive case on the evidence so far, and it fits a broader pattern: Ngumoha, Jayden Danns, Lewis Koumas and James McConnell are all being asked to prove the academy can carry part of the load. The counter-argument is that a title-chasing side cannot rely on teenagers in March and April.

Heskey's point stands either way, though: the money saved on a midfielder is money available for the centre-back and goalkeeper the club is already being linked with.