03 Sep 2025 09:57:58
Reds, looking ahead to the Burnley game, i doubt if Isak will be match fit. I was at Anfield on Sunday, not the greatest performance but found a way to win. Looking ahead, when Isak is fit, some hard choices for the boss to make. I honestly feel we are to light in midfield, just my opinion, when Bradley and Frimpong are fit, id like to see Dom back in midfield, with Macca and Gravy. Wirtz in 10 with 2 forwards or on the left of 3 with Salah and Isak when fit. Harsh on Hugo after such a great start, but usage of the squad will be very important.
03 Sep 2025 10:22:22
Isak will get some game time with Sweden now so hopefully it will help a bit, he'll probably feature off the bench the 1st 3-4 games to build up his fitness and sharpness.
03 Sep 2025 10:44:44
Isak will have to earn his place in the team, if Ekitike keeps playing well then he starts unless there is a change of formation. I think to start with we will see Ekitike for 70ish mins before bringing on Isak.
The good thing is we now have plenty of depth in the squad.
03 Sep 2025 11:27:04
The way I see it Ekitike, Gakpo and Isak should all play 2/ 3 starts. And in the 1/ 3 they don't start, they come on.
Form will dictate who starts the big games.
I see no issue whatsoever with keeping the three happy and fit on that basis.
The bigger problem is Arsenals
For their front three they need to keep Havetz, Eze, Gyokeres, Nwaneiri, Madueke, Saka and martinelli happy.
All these will want to be starters. Martinelli and Nwaneiri I don't see getting many starts at all. They will hope they can get them to accept the situation.
The loser of the Gyokeres/ Havertz battle will allow Gyokeres a chance to stake a claim but if it doesn't work out fully, I can see Havertz getting the minutes.
Eze and Saka clear starters. They should be happy with that. madueke off to bright start but no matters how well he plays, he is almost certainly going to be sub soon enough.
Literally think we are in the perfect position with options up top. Chiesa played so little last season, he ll be happy with more sub appearances and impact. He ll get the cup games as usual too. Think he accepts it.
Ngoumha is a kid. Any games he gets will be a huge bonus. Reason I didn't mention max dowman in Arsenal options. He is just a kid so lack of first team minutes should not be a problem for either at this stage however Ngoumha will probably have more opportunities at minutes.
My point is, not in the least but worried about keeping our players happy with game time.
The only person in our squad that I could see becoming unhappy with minutes is Bradley. He looks in a tough spot.
For arsenal, I could name about 8/ 9 I could see expecting more minutes than they are going to get.
Unless Arteta becomes the ultimate rotater. Which doesn't work well for consistency.
Where Arteta does have the advantage is dealing with injuries. He has such a massive squad that it's almost impossible to have an injury crisis.
I'm not digging the quality of Arsenal players by the way. I think they have a squad full of elite players. I just think it's too big.
And I get a laugh when I listen to their fans say "how will Liverpool keep all their players happy? "
To that I would say, they have the far bigger problem in that regard.
03 Sep 2025 11:40:25
I can honestly see a change of formation coming to play Isak and ekitike up front, but not sure where that leaves salah.
03 Sep 2025 12:44:28
@Ernest Millar, I agree with you on Ekitike. He needs to keep playing to keep his momentum going and we need to make sure that Isak is fully fit before getting his debut. We are in good health right now and don't need to sush hi, IMO.
03 Sep 2025 13:20:15
If you look at the fixture list the games come thick and fast after the international break. I think we will stick to 433, but Slot will use plenty of rotation. Both Isak and Ekitike will get a lot of game time. For me this is not an issue but a positive, we have 4 genuinely quality forward players, plus great impact subs like Chiesa and Rio…. and of course if needs be Wirtz could be a left forward. Our frontline is loaded! Can’t wait to see how this season pans out.
03 Sep 2025 13:23:15
Atmosphere v Arsenal seemed poor Stevie, was that the reality?
03 Sep 2025 14:02:14
When i was watching Frankfurt to see Marmoush when we were Linked to him Ekitike played as a LAM (left playmaker) and was very good due to his good dribbling and flair. He's much more unpredictable as a LW than Gakpo f. eks. Plenty of gametime to go around. Watching some of Isak's highlights, there is this one assist vs Everton, oh my lord, pure filth, should've been sent off for doing stuff like that on the pitch. ?.
03 Sep 2025 14:22:03
Agree with everything you have said Davey.
03 Sep 2025 15:03:35
Salah should be rested for certain games as well. If not we will inevitably see the usual drop off after Christmas. I think we are going to rotate all players a lot more, with the exception being VVD and maybe Ali.
03 Sep 2025 15:18:12
Magico, I agree. I think Arne is preparing for life without Mo and over the next season or so will see us go to a 4-1-2-1-2
Alisson/ marmadashvilli
Bradley/ frimpong
Konate
Van Dijk
Kerkez
Gravenberch
MacAllister
Szobo
Wirtz
Ekitike/ gakpo
Isak
With the full backs providing width rather than ‘inverting’ and wirtz almost having a free role in the 10 behind the strikers.
03 Sep 2025 15:23:04
Slot is proving to be one of the most flexible managers tactically that I've ever seen. I think the players/ formation will be solely dictated on how he expects to beat the next team, and subs dictated by how he tweaks the team mid-game. I doubt he will plan ahead how he rotates - except potentially swapping players out for rest/ injury prevention.
03 Sep 2025 15:51:02
I fancy 1-2-1-1-1-4 will be the go to, failing that 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 as a plan b.
03 Sep 2025 15:55:47
Actually I’ve been a bit harsh on AB there as he’s as much an outfield player as the defence, so add another 1 onto my plan b line up for balance!
03 Sep 2025 16:06:00
Even forgot Trossard there Salah. They'll have a tonne of players not making the squad even.
I think it could prove a problem although they have a few out now so it's working for them.
You never know. Good man management, happy training atmosphere. Maybe Arteta can make them all happy to just be around.
Maybe we get injuries and we wish we had a few more. Difficult to predict. You always need a little luck too in a league season.
But the worry I don't have, is keeping our forwards happy. There's loads of game time for them to share around.
03 Sep 2025 16:59:44
Markp08, the atmosphere reflected the game. Arsenal fans chuffed everyone off by nicking the Chiesa song and adapting it for Eze. After we scored it was electric and the Jota song was sang at the final whistle, which could be way for the rest of the season. To any Gooners reading, make your own kin songs up!
03 Sep 2025 20:31:51
Wirtz was sold the move based on Slot's vision playing him as a 10, and that vision is not going to be shelved after a few games.
This is a big shift in formationm, as we do loose a MF, although Florian covers even more ground than Dom most of the time .
This leaves LW for rotation and Isak and Hugo for CF . Mo is nailed on for RW, obviously.
04 Sep 2025 00:25:46
Forgot Jesus too!