17 Aug 2026 00:43:37
Gakpo played today so he isn't on the cards for a transfer away...?
Is that the logic? :)
Anyways, I hope Gakpo stays. I think the attacking group is stronger with him in it especially with Ekitike likely not at his best until the 27/28 season.
It could all work out magically well, but put it this way - I'd much rather have Gakpo's experience in the squad than.
Very wary that our attacking group on the wings would be so light in experience including in the Prem and playing together.
Was looking at our first team and if Gakpo were to leave then it'd only be Harvey, Rio and Chiesa left on the wings (plus the real kid kids). Combined in their Liverpool careers, the average mins/game is 42.
Throw in Barcola and Mbaye then I'd be excited obviously by the prospect. Just very aware that they'll have more than their on-pitch performances to focus on.
17 Aug 2026 01:09:48
Obvs Munoz is there too, but hasn't played yet. He looks a baller tho, aye!?
17 Aug 2026 01:47:20
Exactly, Harvey and Chiesa should be moved, not Gakpo.
17 Aug 2026 02:14:07
Bang on, Chewy. Harvey and Chiesa should be long gone from the club.
I also wouldn't be adverse to selling Gakpo if it meant we signed a top CM or FW.
I would take Marmoush.
Munoz will be a sensation this season.
17 Aug 2026 03:18:32
Without Gakpo and while Ekitike is injured, who plays striker when Isak gets injured?
17 Aug 2026 03:27:15
I have been a huge advocate for Chiesa but he has been disappointing so far, including under Iraola. I maintain that all players, including him, should be given a clean slate, but it seems like even AI doesn't fancy him much despite having the entire pre-season with him. It's time to move him on.
Elliott is an enigma though. He clearly has the technical ability and the willingness to run through brick walls for us, but it just isn't clicking for him. I wouldn't be too adverse to keeping him around, but like Chiesa, he doesn't seem to be favoured much by Iraola, too.
Nyoni and Koumas have surpassed him imo and although I have a soft spot for him, it's time he is moved on as well.
Gakpo should stay. He has looked much better under Iraola and is looking far more dangerous. He also finally uses his left more too, which makes me think that him constantly cutting back inside is how Slot wanted him to play. I think he deserves to stay with us even if Barcola and Mbaye comes in. But like all players, if he wants to go then he can go.
17 Aug 2026 03:40:59
Jones should look at Elliot and then out his head down and work his ar*e off in training to win a spot in the team here.
Elliot is an example of a kid who most likely would have had a better career as a squad player rather than pursuing being a regular starter at a lower club (or bigger club I guess).
For every Harry Wilson there are many many many more Harvey Elliots.
Chiesa is toast, unfortunately. Love the guy, his personality and attitude. Top top top in those areas. But his conditioning is just so bad for a first team player that we need to be able to compete.
17 Aug 2026 03:41:33
I would sell Gakpo so long as we brought in a striker to cover Ekitike. If Isak gets injured, we're up s*** creek without a paddle, or a boat, and our feet tied together.
17 Aug 2026 04:54:29
Marmoush is absolutely bang average. He was average before Frankfurt and he's been average after Frankfurt. He had a golden spell of about 18 months.
17 Aug 2026 06:03:03
Would Barcola cover Isak? Apparently he was a striker right throughout his youth, only moving to the wing when he was 17.
17 Aug 2026 06:13:22
FastDog, not sure mate, but didn't Jamie Carragher play striker through his youth football?
:D
{Ed078's Note - he did. He battered me in a Liverpool school boys semi.
17 Aug 2026 08:06:25
The only wing Elliot has been on are chicken wings and a lot of them. He needs to be sold for his own good.
As Tony Hawke says, Elliot has taken what would Jan Molby do literally and eat.
17 Aug 2026 08:11:18
Think Gakpo wants to go, so like what’s being said a new 9 should be brought in not adverse to Marmoush.
17 Aug 2026 08:14:53
In the last 3 seasons Gakpo is the 11th best player in the PL league for combined goals and assists and 10th for goals scored.
Personally I think he's massively underrated, including in price.
Yes, he can be frustrating to watch, but goals win games.
17 Aug 2026 08:22:04
I think the biggest annoyance I have with Elliot is he seems to have a bad attitude or unwillingness to learn and grow as he believes his own hype.
Yesterday, during the first friendly, he was put on at RW and kept drifting inside and dropping back to get the ball, and we then had no outlet on the right, and Iraola was telling him to stay in position but he continued to come back in instead of following his coach's directions.
I just feel that's been him at Liverpool to a tee, doing what he wanted position wise unless he had Salah ahead of him keeping him right, but he was out in the dark until AI came in and he should be busting a gut to listen to him and follow him to show he should still be here.
17 Aug 2026 09:37:27
I agree, CE. I can't comment on positioning, as I don't know what instructions he was given by Iraola, but what I do know is that he had 1 good season under Klopp in '23 with an impressive assist rate, but never came close to replicating that sort of form. He was sharp, quick, had good link-up play and was notably slimmer.
He's been steadily gaining weight since then, but looks to have put on a substantial amount in the last 12 months. It's a sign of a lack of discipline and a weak mindset; if he spent less time in the hairdressers and Maccy D's, he might get more game time, but not at Liverpool. Time to move him on.
17 Aug 2026 10:54:01
Elliott is not a technical player... He's best played further forward to link midfield and the forward players, and he's substandard at that as well. Simply not good enough at this level, along with Chiesa (never recovered from injury), Endo (too old), Tsimikas (can't defend), Koumas (too raw), etc.
It's okay having sentiment, but not to the detriment of the team. We need reliable backups for four competitions.
{Ed001's Note - sorry but Elliott is technical, it is physicality he lacks, not technicality.}
17 Aug 2026 11:48:45
Fair enough, Ed001. Maybe I was generalising and basing my opinion on where Iraola put him in earlier pre-season games. He kept running deep to receive the ball and either lost it when pressed or played it backwards or sideways. Even in transition, he wasn't able to advance the ball and play it simple.
In that particular scenario, to me, he's not good enough technically to shield it, turn and pass. Where do you think his best position is when fit? I agree that in Wirtz's position, when he's facing goal, he has the ability to play the final pass and shoot (esp in transition), but he's just not intricate enough in those tight spaces where there's less space.
I don't see him as a forward either, no pace (didn't he have this in his youth at Fulham? ), physicality (as you pointed out), and inability to take on a man.
{Ed001's Note - he can't shield it because he lacks the physical strength to hold off opponents, not because he is not technical. He keeps running deep because he is lacking confidence and that is why he plays the way he is facing.}
17 Aug 2026 12:38:02
Harvey also doesn't have the first step to turn a defender and beat him with pace to create space.
I think last season has ruined Harvey.
Totally projection here, but I really wish he stayed last season and continued to improve here at the club.
{Ed025's Note - he could do a job Faith...serving burgers at McDonalds.. :)
17 Aug 2026 08:57:25
Ed78 he battered you with a semi?! ???
{Ed078's Note - I walked into that one.