Liverpool's latest round-up includes an update on a key target

Avoiding back-to-back Premier League defeats will be Liverpool's sole mission this weekend. The Reds are coming off a 3-0 loss at home to Manchester City last week, but followed that up with a comprehensive 6-3 win over LASK in the Champions League.

As is the case most weeks in the top flight, there's rarely a fixture that doesn't come with many difficulties, and the Reds' Saturday afternoon clash against Brentford possesses just that. Keith Andrews' side sit fourth in the table and are one of just three teams that remain unbeaten in the opening six games of the season.

The match at the Gtech Community Stadium will provide another stern test for Andoni Iraola's Reds. The Spaniard is slowly approaching his first January transfer window at Liverpool, which could see him reunite with Bournemouth's Alex Scott following the latest update on the midfielder's future.

Meanwhile, Iraola has been told he'll follow in Arne Slot's footsteps this season by a former Reds star. Mirror Football delves into the latest stories coming out of Anfield...

Reds in 'driving seat' for Scott

Liverpool are reportedly leading the race to sign Scott in January, which would see the 23-year-old join forces with Iraola once again. News emerged earlier this week that Bournemouth are willing to sanction a sale for their prized asset, but would seek a bid of £100million for his services.

The Reds showed interest in the England star, who played under Iraola for the Cherries, this past summer. He was the subject of an intense pursuit from Chelsea, with Xabi Alonso's side tabling several offers for Scott, the highest bid being £68m.

However, the Mail reports that the Reds are now in the "driving seat" for Scott's signature. It remains to be seen whether Liverpool's hierarchy will trigger yet another £100m+ signing, given the midfielder has 20 months left on his contract.

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Iraola told he'll fail like Slot

A successful and realistic debut season for Iraola at Liverpool, for many fans, would be a top-four finish and a deep cup run. However, even that is a step too far to achieve, according to former Reds star Dietmar Hamann.

He claimed the Spaniard would fail to lead the club to the top four like Arne Slot last season. The ex-Germany international said: "Finishing in the top four for Liverpool this season will be a success, but I don’t see it happening," he said. "I don't see closing that 25-point gap with Arsenal from last year."

Hamann, 53, said his former side face too much competition in their fight for Champions League qualification. He added: "This season they've got a fight on their hands to finish in the top four.

"City and Arsenal are guaranteed if there is no points deduction this season, Chelsea doesn’t have European football, and you have the likes of Brighton and Brentford, who have made an impressive start. Then I expect Man United to turn things around at some stage, depending on what happens with the manager."

Hamann also took aim at Liverpool's spending over the past year, which has included over £300m spent just on Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola. The 2005 Champions League winner added: "Liverpool's only chance is Iraola getting a tune out of those players brought in last year but so far he hasn’t managed it.

"Granted, Liverpool are never the biggest spenders, but I believe in the summer after winning the title they thought if we spend now, we can dominate for the next four or five years. And in reality, other than [Hugo] Ekitike before his injury, none of those players have stepped up and performed. So they didn’t just overspend, they badly overspent."