Liverpool news: Darwin Nunez return on the cards as FSG make major U-turn

Liverpool news is coming in thick and fast as the Premier League reaches it's climax

Liverpool are set to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday as they look to secure Champions League qualification. But a number of moves off the pitch have taken precedent in the build-up.

Arne Slot has failed to defend the Premier League title he clinched in his maiden season just 12 months ago, with the prospect of playing in Europe's biggest footballing competition for 2026/27 softening the blow ever so slightly. As things stand, the Reds sit fourth in the league standings with 58 points to show for their efforts.

However, a top five finish is far from guaranteed as Liverpool head into their final three matches against Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford. That's because the latter two teams, as well as Bournemouth and Brighton, could leapfrog the Reds should they remain perfect from now until season's end and Liverpool slip up.

While there's a wealth of pressure on the pitch as Slot's side head down the home stretch, a number of moving parts have played out behind the scenes. Here, Mirror Football breaks them down...

Darwin Nunez return to Premier League on the cards

Darwin Nunez has agreed to leave Al-Hilal less than 12 months after making the move over to the Saudi Arabian side. The Uruguayan striker represented Liverpool between 2022 and 2025 but largely failed to live up to his £64million price tag.

As a result, Liverpool cut their losses and moved him on to the Saudi Pro League for around £46m last summer. However, Nunez's time in the Middle East has been far from plain sailing.

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Despite a bright start, he found himself brutally deregistered by the squad upon Karim Benzema's arrival in January, as Al-Hilal looked to comply with foreign player regulations. Such rules stipulate that only eight foreign players born before 2003 are allowed to be a part of their 25-man squads.

Having not played a game for the club since February, Nunez has reportedly struck an agreement with Al-Hilal which will allow him to leave at the end of the season. He could emerge as a lucrative free agent at 26 if his contract is terminated.

While a return to Liverpool is nowhere near the table, a number of Premier League outfits have shown an interest in Nunez as a result of his circumstances. Newcastle United and Chelsea are said to be monitoring his situation.

However, they could also face stiff competition from Juventus in the Serie A, who could be preparing for a new life without Dusan Vlahovic. Alexander Isak could lead the line for Liverpool, meanwhile, when the fresh season gets underway.

The Swedish striker has battled with injury since his arrival at Anfield, having recently recovered from a leg fracture. Not at his best, it will be interesting to see how he performs in 2026/27 with a full pre-season schedule under his belt and plenty of opportune to prove in the absence of a sidelined Hugo Ekitike.

FSG U-turn after supporter backlash

Liverpool owners have shelved plans to increase ticket prices for the next three seasons after a wave of protests from supporters. Recent games at Anfield have seen banners and placards presented by fans around the ground, as well as chants against Fenway Sports Group.

The club had previously revealed plans for fixed ticket price increases through to 2030, sparking a furore from their fanbase. The club also explained that inflation and a rise in operating costs needed to be covered, although the fightback from fan groups was significant.

Executives have since held talks with such fan groups before making a partial U-turn on their decision. Instead of raising ticket prices for the next three seasons, the club has opted to raise general admission by three per cent next year but will freeze prices for the two years that follow.

Liverpool said 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."

In response, the Spirit of Shankly fan group released their own statement, which read: "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."