Liverpool latest: Darwin Nunez eyed for Premier League return as FSG back down
Liverpool news is landing thick and fast as the Premier League heads down the home straight, with just matches against Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford remaining
Darwin Nunez could be set for a return to the Premier League(Image: Nicolò Campo, LightRocket via Getty Images)
Liverpool are preparing to take on Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday as they aim to nail down Champions League qualification. Yet several developments away from the pitch have dominated the build-up.
Arne Slot has been unable to retain the league title he secured in his debut campaign just 12 months earlier, though the possibility of competing in Europe’s top club competition for 2026/27 offers some consolation. Currently, the Reds occupy fourth spot in the table with 58 points accumulated.
However, a top-five finish is far from assured as Liverpool approach their closing three fixtures against Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford. That’s because the latter pair, alongside Bournemouth and Brighton, could overtake the Reds if they win all their remaining matches while Liverpool falter.
READ MORE: Liverpool presented with transfer opportunity as ‘unhappy’ Barcelona ready to U-turnREAD MORE: Danny Murphy says Liverpool signing hasn’t worked and wants him replaced with Newcastle star
While pressure mounts on the pitch as Slot’s team enters the final straight, several significant developments have unfolded off it. Here, the ECHO looks at the key stories…
Darwin Nunez poised for Premier League comeback
Darwin Nunez has agreed to leave Al-Hilal less than 12 months after completing his switch to the Saudi Arabian club. The Uruguayan forward represented Liverpool between 2022 and 2025 but largely struggled to justify his £64million transfer fee. Consequently, Liverpool decided to cut their losses and offloaded him to the Saudi Pro League for approximately £46m last summer.
Yet Nunez’s spell in the Middle East has been anything but straightforward. Despite an encouraging start, he was ruthlessly deregistered from the squad following Karim Benzema’s arrival in January, as Al-Hilal sought to adhere to foreign player regulations.
FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated LFC Facebook page
These rules dictate that only eight foreign players born before 2003 are permitted to feature in their 25-man squads. Having failed to make an appearance for the club since February, Nunez has allegedly reached an arrangement with Al-Hilal that will enable him to depart at the end of the campaign.
He could become an attractive free agent at 26 should his contract be terminated. While a return to Liverpool is nowhere near the table, several Premier League clubs have expressed interest in Nunez given his predicament.
Newcastle United and Chelsea are understood to be tracking his situation. They could also encounter fierce competition from Juventus in Serie A, who may be preparing for a new era without Dusan Vlahovic.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
Alexander Isak could spearhead the line for Liverpool, meanwhile, when the new campaign kicks off. The Swedish forward has struggled with fitness issues since joining the club, having only recently returned from a leg fracture.
Not yet at his peak, it will be intriguing to observe how he fares in 2026/27 with a complete pre-season programme behind him and ample opportunity to demonstrate his worth in the absence of the injured Hugo Ekitike.
FSG reverse decision after fan protests
Liverpool’s owners have abandoned proposals to raise ticket prices over the next three seasons following widespread demonstrations from supporters. Recent matches at Anfield have witnessed banners and placards displayed by fans throughout the stadium, alongside chants directed at Fenway Sports Group.
The club had previously announced intentions for fixed ticket price rises extending to 2030, triggering outrage amongst the fanbase. The club also argued that inflation and rising operational expenses required addressing, though the resistance from supporter groups proved substantial.
Officials have subsequently conducted discussions with these supporter groups before executing a partial reversal of their stance. Rather than increasing ticket prices across the next three seasons, the club has chosen to raise general admission by three per cent next year while freezing prices for the two season after.
Liverpool announced in a statement: “The club and Supporters Board will use the certainty of these seasons to seek longer-term alternative solutions across the game and explore commercial ideas with the Supporters Board in an attempt to avoid future ticket price increases and address issues around affordability and accessibility for future generations.
“LFC believes that, without wider progress on alternative solutions, future inflationary increases may still be required, including season 2028/29, and will continue to engage with its supporters. Both the club and the Supporters Board are committed to exploring a longer-term solution that works in the interests of all.
“The club also remains committed to managing its cost challenges responsibly, giving advance notice to supporters and certainty to its own financial planning to remain competitive at the highest levels of football.”
The Spirit of Shankly supporters’ group issued their own response, writing: “We understand disappointment at next season’s increase in ticket prices will remain for some, but there will be none the season after and we want to assure fans we will continue talks with the club and do our best to find other ways to prevent future rises.
“Our matchday culture has also been top of the agenda recently and again, SOS, as part of the Supporters’ Board, will work to protect it. We would like to thank those at LFC who have listened to us and engaged with us, not all club hierarchies would have done the same. And we look forward to working with them to find future paths that benefit all.
“We also want to thank you for backing us, for helping with handing out leaflets, for protesting and making sure your voices were heard. We could not have reached this point without you.”
