01 Mar 2021 13:40:40
Ed001 wanted your thoughts please on if you think Philips has a chance of staying and becoming 3rd or 4th choice back up option for next season? I know Klopp prefers all others before him but he seems our best option right now. Aggressive in the air, ok at passing and doesn't seem slow.

Also your thoughts on Jones. I remember you saying he was not always disciplined enough but he certainly seems good going in both directions and has a good engines as well as a creative edge to some others we have. When everyone is fit does he get in you think and do you think he has imposed his sprouts game?

{Ed001's Note - it is up to Phillips to perform when called upon. The only way to make himself the option is to prove himself to Klopp and he is certainly doing enough right now to give himself a chance. With money being tight, this is the moment for him to step up and save the club a few millions. It would certainly be in the club's interests if he could make himself the back up option.

I think Jones is going from strength to strength. One of the things I have noted down in my notes for the match reviews is how disciplined he has been lately. It is noticeable that he is doing more defensive work than the nominal defensive midfielder in the team. Right now he gets a place on merit. He was probably the best player on the pitch for us yesterday to be fair to the lad. Jones was everywhere. At only 20 years old, there is still a lot of room for growth in his game as well.

I am afraid to ask what his sprouts game is????} Become a Patron!

01 Mar 2021 14:15:02
I'm not convinced by either Phillips or Kabak and I think Fabinho will go back in defence when he's fit because I don't Klopp trusts them either. I bet Chelsea, RBL and Arsenal would all fancy having a crack at Phillips and Kabak.

01 Mar 2021 14:30:12
Not going to lie, Rigsby I feel you on that. As for CJ, he has been a true revelation for us. Overall, he has outplayed Naby and Gini over the past few month and even tho I think Klopp may not have been keen on playing this much in his first season BUT by golly, has he taken all this in stride and made the most of his opportunities.

As Ed said, he is in the team on merit and hopefully, he can keep getting better and better. Klopp may have unearthed a true gem here, just like he id with TAA.

01 Mar 2021 14:59:35
I said the exact thing to my lad yesterday. Commenting on how Jones is having to be more disciplined on how our midfield is set up which ironically came from us discussing how few chances Jones has had of late. Having to play a role outside what he would normally do will only hold him in good nick for the future.

01 Mar 2021 14:51:44
If I may have a go at "sprouts game" - I do believe his parents sent him to a youth football camp in Brussels in his early teens and the coaches there were impressed enough to say he would go very far (t) .

01 Mar 2021 15:37:23
Given that Chelsea are likely to start with Giroud up front I’d rather we went with Kabak and Phillips as they’re both well suited to the more agricultural approach, our midfield needs someone more defensively minded in it to protect our defence and keeper so Fabinho would be wasted in defence, where his physical presence and tactical nous will be critical. The only question is who plays alongside him. I think it has to be Wijnaldum for work rate and Jones on merit as he looked to get into the box and was an attacking threat from midfield, certainly that was the best I’ve seen him play.

01 Mar 2021 16:37:37
Zed, I live in Brussels and Sprouts are delicious.

01 Mar 2021 18:13:54
6Times in midfield, I would go with Fab if fit and Milner along with Jones cos Gini looks shattered right now and Fab is a true DM while a game like this has Gini written all over it, IMO.

02 Mar 2021 00:45:45
We have to get Fabs back in midfield. Everton’s first goal was a prime example of the problems caused by him being taken out of the midfield.
Firstly Thiago losing the ball with a ridiculous cushioned header in his own defensive third, then letting James run off him, control the ball from shoulder height, look up and play a pass in behind without a single Liverpool player anywhere near him.
I heard people blame Kabak but he was woefully exposed and couldn’t do anything to stop it. Had he tried to block that pass then the ball would’ve just been played the other side of him a Richarlison is in anyway.
Fabs gives us that defensive mind in there to get close to James so the pass can never be made in the first place.
It’s a no brainer for me.