12 Mar 2021 17:12:43
Probably an unpopular opinion but I actually like Kabak and Phillips. Reminds me of when we had Carragher and Skrtel around 2010-2012. Old school defenders. Maybe a bit too rough around the edges at times, and not at all pretty defensively. But they're both the sort who will let the ball hit them square on the nose as long as it stopped it going in the net.

I genuinely think that if we finish this season strong they both deserve a squad place next season but that's a big "if". I hate seeing people writing them off though. Already wanting 1 of them or both out the club to make room for the perennially injured Konate or Kounde who looked dire the other night against Dortmund giving away a god awful penalty.

I'm not saying Phildini and Kabaresi are the greatest players ever, but I do love their passion.

12 Mar 2021 17:18:58
I think Skrtel would‘be ducked, mate.

12 Mar 2021 17:24:08
Phillips should definitely stay as 4th choice CB next summer. Considering the lack of funds, it's either Kabak permanently or a new CB which we originally wanted in January (Caleta-Car/ Botman/ Carmo) .
Personally I don't think Kabak is ready for LFC, and we are better off getting a slightly more experienced player to play along side VVD (Gomez imo will take a while to get back to his best) .

12 Mar 2021 17:49:02
Will VVD not take a while to get back to his best aswell?

{Ed077's Note - most probably. Very few players hit the ground running after returning from an ACL injury. I can't think of anyone off the top of my head.}

12 Mar 2021 18:00:28
I'm with IB, to a degree, here.

I would like Phillips to stay. He meets HG rules and isn't he also club trained? According to Wiki he joined us in 2016 when he was either 18 or 19 and has been with us ever since. When he went to Stuttgart he was already 21/ 22 so hopefully he did the requisite 36 months by the age of 21.

Kabak, so far, hasn't shoed me anything special. He's solid, but not more than that yet. I would rather have someone, especially if they are not HG or CT, who can push for a starting place rather than just as a solid backup.

12 Mar 2021 18:32:16
Think VVD is ahead in his recovery and will get a full preseason under his belt to be in a better shape to play closer to his highest level unlike Gomez.
Also, VVD is an absolute tank so he WILL BE READY.
I'm leaning towards Bremer being the CB partner for VVD. He is supposed to be more defensively solid compared to our other CB targets and probably a little cheaper too.
VVD and new CB (first choice), Gomez, Phillips and Matip (if no one offers a decent price) as cover will do just fine for next season.
Klopp probably does not fancy Davies anyways, so he will leave.

12 Mar 2021 18:34:50
Not a lover of his Jimmy Choos then Zed? 😊.

12 Mar 2021 19:41:49
Kabak’s shoes are a disgrace 🤬.

{Ed0666's Note - I can bet my right pinky finger Eds 077 & Eds 001 have no idea what jimmy Choos are.

12 Mar 2021 21:30:05
I would have no issue keeping Phillips, would I spend actual money on Kabak though? Probably not, he’s got a dozen games to make a case but I suspect someone else will be bought.

I think a big factor is Phillips and Kabak have the luxury of having probably the worlds best keeper behind them, probably the worlds best full backs beside them and probably the worlds best DM ahead of them in Fabinho.

12 Mar 2021 21:01:57
You're right there, Ed0666, they probably think that Jimmy was friends with Thomas The Choo Choo ;-)

{Ed0666's Note - Please take it from me they don’t know what friends are.

12 Mar 2021 22:18:42
Klopp is looking for a first XI starter, which might be Kabak.
I don’t see Liverpool being able to sell Matip, so that could be our 4 there.
Phillips has done ok so far, to the extent that there’s probably equity in his sale now.
He’s allegedly on good money, which doesn’t make sense for a 4th choice centre back, so I can see him being sold.
If Kabak is returned to Germany, we need a CB that can start, and that’s not Phillips. But funds from his sale would help find one.

{Ed0666's Note - I’m not sure I buy i to the notion that a club won’t pay money for Matip. You’re telling me someone won’t take a 10 million pound punt on him? Philips done ok? I would say that’s a little harsh mate because he’s been better than that every time he’s played and I would bet money on him being kept on past the summer, in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if we got rid of Matip and kept Philips. Klopp wanted Carlos as the starting Centre back a year ago and that hasn’t changed we will still be looking for a defender who can be a starter.

12 Mar 2021 22:42:56
You’re an optimist if nothing else Ed0666, would you risk £10 million on Matip’s injury record?
Phillips’ sale could in effect pay for the purchase of Kabak.
Phillips has done great but he’s not a Liverpool player and he deserves to start elsewhere. His sale can be a win-win all round but I don’t see him staying with us.

{Ed0666's Note - honestly juicer if Philips plays to the standard he’s playing I really don’t see any reason to sell him he’s more useful to us than the fee we’d get for him. The question would be will he stay to be a 4th choice defender?

12 Mar 2021 18:11:34
Ed077 you got me wondering then mate so I’ve done a little research. These are all copy and pastes mind so I’m not taking credit.
Alan Shearer, who snapped his right ACL during his debut season at Blackburn Rovers after joining for a then-English transfer record £3.6m from Southampton.
Shearer made a remarkable recovery, however, by scoring 31 goals in only 40 matches the following season.

Van Nistelrooy ruptured the ACL in his right knee, scuppering his dream move to Old Trafford. The injury kept the prolific Dutchman out of action for a year, but Sir Alex Ferguson was undeterred, landing him for £19m the following summer.
That faith was certainly well placed as Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in 219 games.

Other named players were Roy Keane, Baggio, Del Piero, Xavi, Totti and Pires. And I suppose in recent times Ings.

{Ed077's Note - thanks JK. I am disappointed in myself that I forgot about RVN.}

13 Mar 2021 02:04:58
Juicer, Phillips is HG and club developed I believe. Matip is neither and is on much higher wages.
I think selling Matip will be the club's priority.

13 Mar 2021 07:41:25
Sure IB, I agree with you. But I’m just saying that it will prove extremely difficult to sell Matip, whereas Phillips may well attract good interest if he carries on playing well?
If he was sold for, say £10 - 15m, that’s Kabak’s fee almost met.
I’m quite liking Kabak, only 20, but he looks ok.
Put him next to VVD and he’d be even better.

{Ed077's Note - first tie Phillips down to a new deal and then start talking about any transfer fee from his sale I say.}

13 Mar 2021 08:27:20
I’d rather take £10m for Matip than £10m for Phillips. Phillips isn’t made of crisps for a start, as much as I like Matip, he’s a very good player, you can’t rely on him to be fit. I think Phillips has done more than enough to show he’s competent enough to play for us and more than enough to show he’s good enough to play in the PL. If Phillips was playing for Burnley they’d have a £40m price tag on him, he’s definitely at least as good as the likes of Tarkowski or Keane (in fact that’s slightly insulting to Phillips as I thinner he’s better than both) and you’ve seen how much they sold Keane for to Everton and how much they’ve quoted for tarkowski. I’m with you Ed, there’s definitely teams out there who’d take a punt on Matip at £10m.

13 Mar 2021 08:39:51
I want Phillips to stay. Phillips over Kabak all day long.
If u say Kabak will get better playing next to VVD, why wouldn't Phillips as well?

13 Mar 2021 09:44:32
Phillips is as different to VVD as chalk and cheese, got no chance of holding a line with him.
I don’t get all this gushing for Phillips, we’re all pleased that he hasn’t let anyone down but that’s as far as it should go?
He’s not a Klopp player, he’s not a natural fit to how the team wants to play, so take a fee for him and re-invest. Hopefully one of the younger players can move forward into the squad to replace him.
Phillips is ready to play not sit on Liverpool’s bench?

13 Mar 2021 09:51:03
Think i remember Ed001?saying Gomez's injury was usually a 4-6 month lay off! Yesterday was 4 months to the day since Joe's successful op so does anyone know if he's still on course for this kind of timeframe or if there's being any setback that could add time to his recovery?

13 Mar 2021 11:21:28
If we could get a bidding war between Casualty and Holby city for Matip then we could break the transfer record for a sale.

13 Mar 2021 12:00:32
Ed077, Phillips agency said that the rumours of his contract ending this summer weren’t correct and the info on Transfermarkt was out of date, so I think he does have a longer contract beyond the summer. I think Ed002 was looking into it.

{Ed077's Note - Fair enough then}

13 Mar 2021 13:25:42
My view is that Phillips is like O’Shea or Wes Brown were for United. Not world class by any stretch, but good enough to play at the top level and always came in and did a good job when needed.