18 Sep 2025 08:15:38
Hello Ed001, thinking about RyanG and his massive effect on the team, what can you say about him and the difference between Klopp and Slot use of him.
Also what do you think about Isak's display, personally I felt he appeared desperate to score, and he needs to settle down.
We are winning the Quad.
{Ed001's Note - Slot has just used him in the way he was playing before his move to Bayern. I am not sure if he had decided to do that anyway or he if he was forced to do so after we failed to get Zubimendi, but it is clear we got lucky by that failure in business. Zubimendi is nowhere near as good. Gravenberch was used more like an attacking midfielder by Klopp, which doesn't suit him as much as he gets less time on the ball in the final third.
Isak was fine, he just struggled to keep up with the pace. Some of his touches were excellent - though not as aesthetically pleasing as Wirtz's first touch, which is absolutely beautiful, made me have to reach for the tissues a few times last night! Isak showed good movement and he led the press really well. He just tired out after 30 minutes.}
18 Sep 2025 09:10:01
I was really impressed with how Isak received that wirtz pass, rolled a defender and got a shot off in almost one movement…. that ability to fashion a shot out of nothing will prove valuable was he is up to speed.
{Ed001's Note - he is going to be great I think.}
18 Sep 2025 09:22:13
Watching the ball stick to Isak like glue when he received it on the edge of the box had me reaching for the socks. After years of watching things bobble off Nunez for three years, I felt was a real treat.
If this is how good he is after no preseason or competitive football for 4 Months. He is going to be a special player for us.
18 Sep 2025 10:12:26
Just watching game last nite I was thinking on how key grav is to us now, almost at vvd level of importance imo.
He also developing physical side to his game more and more, he shouldered atli player out of way no bother to him.
18 Sep 2025 10:21:01
I know they were only fleeting moments but I think Isak and Wirtz showed a real chemistry last night. I think they are both going to bring the best out of each other. I'm really excited about the prospect of it.
18 Sep 2025 10:56:03
Ed01, I was going to say the same thing about Wirtz's performance last night. Some of the things he was doing with the football at his feet was absolutely insane. His first touch at times were as sublime as Bobbie's or Thiago's back in their day at LFC, IMO. His vision and decision making is very good. Just needs the team to be on his wave length.
Actually, there was one time where he receives the ball in midfield, spins the Atleti guy and was away. Most impressively, he looked like he was going to get caught by his man for pace BUT he just started to pull away which tells me he is deceptively fast esp. with the ball.
My goodness, that kid is special. I have NO worries about him, whatsoever.
{Ed001's Note - I think he defo looks more suited to playing with Isak, as Ekitike does tend to take up the same positions a bit too much.}
18 Sep 2025 11:21:06
Please, someone. send me some tissues. or socks. anything really.!
18 Sep 2025 11:29:05
I thought Wirtz was on a different level last night. His touch and vision is world class.
Watching the game and in particular watching Wirtz you can see he’s already 2 or 3 steps ahead of everyone else akin to King Kenny. Some of his passes look like bad passes but they not, he’s fizzing a ball into a space where if his team mate anticipates it will take defenders out of the game.
We just need everyone else to get up to speed and wow we are in for a treat! Isak struck up a nice relationship with him already, the quality just oozes out of those 2 guys!
Exciting times ahead!
18 Sep 2025 12:41:01
Ed, I agree. If Eki-Techy is going to play in the 9, he nees to stay up there and roam thru the actual forward line and not drop dep cos he is crowding out Wirtz and the rest of the midfield esp. in transition.
@Robbo, I agree with your comment on Wirtz, as well. It reminded me of Bobbie early on where he would do something and then pass it into a space with nobody on the run or lose the ball and people would complain. Whereas like you said with Wirtz, it is more about his team mates not seeing what he was seeing and reacting to it cos his instincts are 3 moves ahead of theirs.
We just need to keep improving and with Isak? Yeah, it's going to be long for the rivals.