06 Jan 2025 07:38:14
Final thoughts on this trent debacle.
Firstly he is one of our own and has won everything at the club so needs a bit more respect put on his name.
He's been with us from 6 years old and by the time he became a 1st team regular taking over from Clyne he had already renewed several contracts. Not one iota of media coverage or interference. No comments from ex players or pundits. Nothing.
Last contract renewal he had wasn't even debated or talked about by anybody. It was simply trent has extended business as usual.
Now at 26. Prime of his career and for the FIRST time in the career of what is still a young man everybody and his aunt is hyping up this contract situation. This is not something that he would have experienced before and so why would it not affect his performance. It's a brand new situation for a player who probably assumed the club would never put him in this position.
Has his head been turned. Yes. Don't even slate him for it because the shiny white light of real Madrid is alluring. Is it affecting his game. Well not really as we have seen trent have stinkers before.
If he does go bradders will take his place. Will he have stinkers. Yes. Every player has stinkers either has one off games or periods of poor form.
We need perspective my fellow posters. Hard to do when you're pi$$d (like I am and rightly so) that we ddint beat a poor form united team that finally played like they should against us. Nonetheless perspective is needed.
We are still on an amazing unbeaten run. We should and could have lost yesterday. And above all it wasn't trent vs united it was liverpool vs united. Win lose and draw and play crap as a team.
Lay off the lad. YNWA. Can we please live up to our mantra.
{Ed025's Note - great post that RS, kudos mate..
06 Jan 2025 08:23:34
Away to Forest will be interesting. I imagine Trent will be targeted by many sides.
06 Jan 2025 08:30:36
He can go and good luck to him. But he needs to decide NOW. We still need a top class RB then which will cost upwards £50 mill and I can’t see that happening. The club needs another rebuild.
06 Jan 2025 08:31:27
He has always been targeted. Can't target the left because big V mops up the messes robbo leaves behind most of the time.
06 Jan 2025 08:35:56
The reason his last contract wasn’t debated was because it was done in a timely manner. We hadn’t messed around and left it late (possibly too late now we’re at the point where he can freely talk to other teams), and yes Arnold has had games where he’s made mistakes, but yesterday was exceptionally bad. Even if you’re having a bad game against United, you should, particularly as a Liverpool born and bred player, never stop chasing, fight for every ball and give everything you’ve got, I saw none of that. Casually running back when losing the ball, letting runners go past him like he wasn’t interested (and I’m not suggesting he wasn’t interested, but that his mind was elsewhere and wasn’t on the game), no tackles made, no blocks, no interceptions, I feel sorry for Konate coming back in as it was like having to do the work of two men. To me it seems clear that he’s had his head turned by Madrid, I think until there’s clarity one way or another, Bradley has to start because we can’t carry a player who is so distracted that it affects the teams performance.
06 Jan 2025 08:36:52
Very well-thought out and well written post, RedScarface? Bravo, sir.
For me, the whole thing was a media circus from the off esp. after RM made the bid. Trent said he didn't want this playing out in public and kept his own part of the deal. RM made the bid to do exactly the opposite which if anyone remembers, is exactly what they do to force the hand of the player to go against his club. They did it in their galactico days with legends like Beckham, Zidane, R9 etc. so what hope dis Trent have to resist these tactics? After all, the guy in charge back then at RM, is in charge right now.
Like you said, he has had stinkers before and so has every single player that has played, is playing and will play for us. He has also played some great games for us even this season so what new ground has been broken here exactly? Also, several of our players had stinkers last night too including Slot who's decision making and subs were absolute head-scratchers for me, personally. Are we going to blame Trent for all these, as well?
At the end of the day, we have done well every time the poop. has presented itself, to punish our rivals whenever they drop points all season long. This is the first time we haven't done that and I know Utd are poor BUT they are always up for these games so it was on us to respond. We didn't and it hurts.
We're still top and no harm has been done to our title hopes at midseason so we push on.
06 Jan 2025 08:41:59
Disneyland, you say we need another rebuild? When I last looked at the table I could've swore we were 6 points clear with a game in hand.
06 Jan 2025 09:16:02
Probably the worst live performance I’ve seen from us since the Atalanta game.
Loads could be said but it’s already been said and also if you’re negative then you’re removed from the self proclaimed “best fans” in the world club.
Onto Wed night now where hopefully we see a big reaction from Slot and the players.
06 Jan 2025 09:18:42
Disneyland, even if a bid was accepted I doubt he would choose to move during the this transfer window, not only would he lose out a what is likely to be a huge signing on bonus but he would probably lose out on a loyalty bonus.
06 Jan 2025 09:20:09
I love Trent but I have to say for someone who wants 350k a week I would never expect them to drop a stinker like that and I certainly wouldn’t expect them to start walking when an attacking player cuts inside.
Do think Slot has to be held accountable though. Was clear Trent’s head and legs had gone and kept him on for far too long. Should have subbed him as soon as we took the lead. Chalked it up as a bad day that no one would have made a fuss about if we won and move on.
06 Jan 2025 09:27:07
The game in hand is away to Everton which we are not winning as it stands. So there goes the advantage.
Now onto the rebuild, do you wish to start next season with the same Robertson, (No Trent), No actual DM, 4 midfielders for 3 positions, An injury prone Gomez and injury prone Konate, 33 year old VVD spread across 65 games a season
What did I miss? Yes we need a rebuild
We need a RB
We need a LB
We need at least one CB
We also need atleast one Midfielder
We would also need to replace Nunez.
06 Jan 2025 09:30:18
Sorry I didn't get to meet up with you JK, I didn't get a ticket, which I was gutted about. There will be others, I'm sure, mate.
06 Jan 2025 09:30:47
Rome 1977, to a degree I agree with Disneyland, although I wouldn’t use the term rebuild, we are in the position we are in because we have mainly been able to use slots preferred starting 11, but vvd and salah if they do stay will only be with us for another 2 seasons so they will need replacing, Trent when he goes and I don’t think, Endo, jones and Elliot would be getting into any other team challenging for the league title and champions league, starting 11 is great but we are seriously lacking in real quality depth that’s needed to challenge on all fronts and that shows by slot consistently using the same starting 11 in games when it’s crying out for players to be rotated.
06 Jan 2025 09:46:14
Curtis Jones is an excellent player, he might not be consistently excellent game in game out but look at that performance against Chelsea and tell me that isn't a top class and criminally underrated footballer. He will always get stick whenever he has a bad performance but suggesting he shouldn't start for a title contender is just ridiculous. Maybe he isn't or shouldn't be the first name on the team sheet but he is unquestionably an elite rotation option to choose for certain games in certain midfield combinations (preferably not at the same time as Mac allister) .
06 Jan 2025 09:46:57
Oh and Elliott is going to have big moments for us second half of the season when he finds his feet. Preseason showed us glimpses of how slot is going to deploy him.
06 Jan 2025 09:59:58
My issue is he wasn't running, multiple times when the defence were caught you could see Robbo VVD and Konate sprinting to get back and prevent a goal and Trent was just ambling 15 yards behind. Yesterday he either was too tired/ injured to run or he just wasn't trying. I realise there is huge pressure and a spotlight on the guy right now, but if you're not going to put the effort in there is a young RB on the bench who certainly will.
06 Jan 2025 10:05:08
Rome no worries mate. The weather around Anfield didn’t make it a memorable one yesterday as clearly the only concern was clearing the path to the club shop and spent most of the day with freezing soaking wet feet which was followed by what I can only say was an extremely lacklustre display.
After a 16 hour day though I was just glad that we got the point because if Maguire scored that one at the end it would have been sickening.
06 Jan 2025 10:06:36
Patrick I hope you’re right mate but all evidence so far suggests that Elliot will be very much a late impact sub.
Last few games we’ve not had Szob and nothings really changed for Elliot in the pecking order or game time area. Similar with Endo as well.
06 Jan 2025 10:24:12
Elliott’s lack of pace / mobility and lack of physicality holds him back in terms of being a starter for us in centre mid, and his lack of pace also prevents him playing wide. I think he’d be a good fit somewhere like Fulham, not quite good enough for us although he’s more than capable of occasional moments of creativity and skill.
06 Jan 2025 10:32:23
I don’t give a toss about his wages or his contract.
Sort yourself out on the pitch. There’s no excuse for that performance, none whatsoever.
06 Jan 2025 11:17:35
Teams will target TAA, I'm sure.
That will be harder if we have the ball or we are pressing them well enough though and both could have been better yesterday.
We can also use TAA to make teams suffer. Teams are worried about him.
There are very few players that can do what he does with the ball. The first goal against Spurs away being just one example.
He was very poor yesterday but we didn't draw because of him. The team drew. I don't know why he was so poor but I'm not going to write him off.
He's not great defensively and he can seem too casual, at times, but that's him. He can also win us a game from full back.
He has his weaknesses but his strengths have him down as one of Slot's go-to players and we are in a fantastic position so far.
That's the bottom line, for me.
06 Jan 2025 11:33:53
As you say, players will all have stinkers - no bother with that, it happens everyone from game to game throughout their careers
Honestly thought though Slot should have subbed him earlier though - everyone could see he was struggling yet he played most of the match. Slot usually gets his subs spot on and doesn't wait like Klopp used to so that was a bit of a puzzle yesterday - but as you say man, the team is doing well. let's face it too, that's a game we played very poorly in and could, perhaps should, have lost. We still picked up a point so just got to keep going and look forward to the next match.
06 Jan 2025 12:29:59
I think we just have to accept he wants to go and wish him good luck. I’d do it now, the circus around him is already having an impact on the dressing room, you could see VVD was furious.
Personally I’d sign a LB in Jan, Bradley is fine, Gomez has been outstanding as cover, hope he’s not out too long. Robbo is shot to pieces, I love the guy but he’s done.
Need Szboz back to, you cannot play a formation where Mo is understandably given licence not to track back and have Jones running around like a headless chicken. Also in possession yesterday yet again he had first time passes on several occasions and chewed on the ball until he lost it, he isn’t good enough to start against the best sides, he’s another good back up however off the bench.
Nunez is clueless, he was breaking and had Jota to his left, he ran straight into traffic.
We can win the league with a quality LB signing as first choice and Robbo as a cameo for the last 10 mins of games where we are cruising.
If we get 7 out of 9 points from the next 3 tough league games then we will win the league, if we do not then it encourages Arsenal to keep going. I’d take a draw at Forest if we can beat Brentford and Ipswich and it is an IF as all 3 sides are in good form.
We cannot play Trent in any of those games, his heart isn’t in it so best to leave him out.
Good luck to him, he’s been a brilliant player for us but now it’s time for everyone to move on.
06 Jan 2025 12:32:40
Jk, Virgil could have won the game for us before slabhead had that chance too.
06 Jan 2025 13:05:34
Patrik that he could have. Just couldn’t get the power or direction behind the header that was needed. Amazingly If he hadn’t have been there it drops to Salah on the volley about 2 yards out.
06 Jan 2025 13:47:11
As bad as TAA was yesterday (amongst others), Slot needs to look within.
Poor game management from the sideline. TAA and Jones were subbed way too late, no tactical changes to make a difference in the second half from what I saw.
He seems the type to learn from his mistakes, and I expect a decent reaction over the next month.
PS - Courtesy of the media; Why is it that Liverpool always have a tricky fixture list in the next month?
06 Jan 2025 14:10:18
Patrik and JK, that right there tells you the type of margins we are dealing with here.
In spite of how poor of a game we had, we could have nicked it at that point in time and the chance for Maguire does not even happen cos we would have had had bodies back to protect the lead. That's wy we love the game, right?
06 Jan 2025 14:36:23
Jaydee, I respect your well written post. With regards to the here and now and our squad depth and lack of quality, regards to your examples of Endo, Jones and Elliott. I agree, none of those players are starting XI in any of the top sides and none of them are top draw. You can also add Tsimikas, Gomez, Quansah, Nunez to that list. However, our 18/ 19/ 20 sides wasn't blessed with quality squad depth. I include, Origi, Shaqiri, Milner and others. We were lucky those seasons with our best players staying fit. My point being, you don't necessarily need quality of depth (though it helps), it's more important to be lucky with injuries. If we can keep our best players fit for the next 5 months, I believe we will win the league.
06 Jan 2025 15:23:32
Rigsby, United weren’t worried about Arnold yesterday. They literally targeted him from the off and both their goals came from his flank with him switching off. Someone else on this page commented that he was usually 15 yards or so behind casually running back when Van Dijk, Konate and Robertson were sprinting back, that happened all game when United countered. There was one point when United were attacking that Gakpo had to cover right back position whilst Arnold was some 15/ 20 yards outside the penalty box casually ball watching. That’s without mentioning how many times he gave the ball away cheaply, failed to make any challenges or win any duels. If a player isn’t at it mentally, they’re a burden to the team, as harsh as that sounds, the hope of an occasional Hollywood ball or screamer simply isn’t worth compromising ourselves defensively. Until he’s decided whether he’s committing or not, he has to be given a more diminished role, Bradley, Quansah and Gomez (when he’s fit in a few weeks) are all capable of holding that position.
06 Jan 2025 15:36:07
It's a big 'if' though Rome that's why quality of depth is needed. Keeping all players for for the next 5 months is going to be near to impossible but we can dream mate, if all keep fit we're laughing.
06 Jan 2025 16:24:46
Of course United were worried about TAA yesterday, VV.
There's not a team in the PL that doesn't know what he can do. He's been doing it for years.
The point is, some are worried that our Achilles heel has been exposed. Yes, teams will have a go at him but teams will also know that he can put the ball on Diaz's head on the edge of the six yard box. They will know that he carved City wide open from the dreaded inverted position that lead to our first goal.
Teams will target him but they will also be worried about his ability to pick a pass better than anyone in the PL (given de Bruyne's recent problems) .
06 Jan 2025 18:56:32
Most people’s negative reactions to yesterdays game are understandable and valid because if we’d won we’d almost have been out of sight. The way other results went put things on a plate for us, it had echoes of the derby loss last season, and it seems like we choked.
Having got into this position, and with the collapse from city, we’ll probably never have a better chance of winning the league. We all react in different ways, it doesn’t matter what Everton or anyone else is doing, and how relatively well off we are and how lucky we should feel, we need to win the league this year. Greatness comes from winning from positions like this.
We’re probably all fearful of losing momentum and things conspiring against us (like the contract stuff) despite how well we’ve done so far, when it feels like one or two buys in key positions and some resolution to the contract business could help us get over the line. The next league game can’t come quick enough, it’s the best way to silence the doubters.