23 Jun 2025 15:38:35
With this whole forward situation and figuring out who we should go a sign.
Do you think Slot might be considering putting Salah up top?
With Wirtz now confirmed and guaranteed. People have been wondering how do we fit him in alongside Szob, Mac and Grav.
Well it could be that we continue exactly as we are with Grav and Mac in the middle, Szob on the right more, Wirtz in the middle and Diaz/ Gakpo fighting for the left side; then Salah up top, allowing him to run less etc.
We would have both Frimpong and Kerkez bombing down both sides providing the width. Allowing both Szob and I would assume Diaz to be a little more central because of that.
Wirtz sitting comfortably in the middle as the focal point.
But this is a way which gets everyone on the pitch and basically keeping our DNA and high energy engines all on the pitch.
23 Jun 2025 16:14:13
I don't see Slot changing Mo's position, just as I don't see Slot changing VVDs position to accommodate a left footed LCB (like Hato) into the starting lineup.
VVD and Salah are amongst the world's best in their positions, if not the best, so I would more likely see him moving someone else into the role to fill the gap (Danns? ) .
I think Hughes has other options, but is waiting to see if any of our preferred options are doable first. We're still 3 weeks from pre season and a further 3 weeks from the Charity Shield and a further 3 weeks from the close of the window, so we have time.
23 Jun 2025 16:21:20
No. Salah needs to be in the right half space finding runners in behind, not making those runs himself. We don't need him dropping deep and running endlessly to stretch the defence, we want him concentrating in the area where he can create for himself and for others.
I'm not sure where you got the idea that playing as a 9 would mean Salah has to run less, he is basically our right sided number 10 rather than a conventional winger, where we keep him in the zone where he is deadliest as much as we can.
23 Jun 2025 16:25:11
I’m not sure but one thing I do know is that I don’t want to lose Szob from the midfield.
People seem to always want players with brilliant technical ability in midfield but there’s really no substitute for endless energy and hard work which Szob gives us in spades.
He’s grossly undervalued by many Liverpool fans.
23 Jun 2025 16:30:22
Surely would make more sense to play wirtz upfront. He can drop deeper draw defenders out and link play for both mo and gakpo/ diaz to make runs in behind. With Kerkez and Frimpong there will also be plenty of width which also wirtz can link up. That is how I see it anyway.
23 Jun 2025 16:41:49
No, why put the worlds best RWF out of position.?
23 Jun 2025 16:54:21
I saw the in yt a good analysis.
Isak as LWF/ LCF
Salah as RWF/ RCF
Wirtz as LAM/ LW
Szobo as RAM/ RW
Maca as LCM/ LDM
Gravy as RCM/ RDM
Kerkez as LFB/ LWB
Frimpong as RFB/ RWB
Virgil as LCB
Konate as RCB
Alisson as GK.
23 Jun 2025 17:11:54
Wirtz best position for Leverkusen was as a left side AM in their 3-4-2-1 system. Frimpong was the RM/ RWB in that same system for most of his time there.
It’ll be interesting to see what the plan is next season because we’re also being heavily linked to Guehi who played mainly as a left CB in Palaces 3-4-3. Kerkez is also very attack minded and could probably be unleashed a bit more as a LM/ LWB with the freedom of a back 3, although he did very much play at LB last season in Bournemouths 4-2-3-1.
We won’t really get a good indicator of how Slot is planning to use all these new players until pre-season, but Wirtz seems to have been very impressed with the tactical plan presented for him. If you’re spending £116m on a 22 year old, it goes without saying you will build the team around him. Slot is well known for tweaking his tactics every season. He’s a very open minded coach with lots of new ideas.
23 Jun 2025 19:44:22
I don’t actually think Salah is a clinical finisher.
He’s a decent finisher, scores some absolute screamers, but he’s not clinical, he does miss the odd one or two. The fact is he creates so many chances he still consistently remains our top scorer. That’s as a left footed right winger. Keep him in that position, he scores a shed load.
Like I said the other day, IF (Ed025) we have to play someone out of position as a striker, for me it would be Cody Gakpo.
However, I’d sooner play Danns or even Koumas.
23 Jun 2025 21:13:56
I don't actually think Salah is a clinical finisher?
He's a decent finisher?
Sometimes "words don't do you justice"
23 Jun 2025 21:35:59
That's the part I don't get, @ShiningSlotsHead.
24 Jun 2025 00:48:23
I don't see the benefit of playing Mo through the middle and getting bulldozed by Premier League CBs.
Interesting comment about Mo not being a clinical finisher. I don't like to let these things go without looking at the numbers to help paint the picture.
PL Top 5 goal scorer
29 - Mo
23 - Isak
22 - Haaland
20 - Mbeumo
20 - Wood
Of that group
Shots on target %
53.00% - Mbeumo
52.90% - Haaland
49.20% - Wood
43.20% - Isak
41.30% - Mo
Shots on target per goal
1.60 - Wood
1.70 - Mbeumo
1.72 - Mo
1.78 - Isak
2.50 - Haaland
Overall, there could be some merit to the statement that Mo isn't clinical. This is in the context of the best strikers in the league. he is obviously clinical, but we're talking about the top tier finishers in the game
He has the lowest percentage of shots on target for every shot he takes but the different in the number of SOTs on target between him and the top of that stat is pretty negligible.
He has a higher volume of shots per 90, he's the only one with over 4 shots per 90. So that could help him, but really, at the end of the day what blows this debate out of the water is the 7 goals between him and second place lol.