23 Aug 2026 21:31:02
Liverpool have now conceded more goals via fast breaks in all competitions than any other Premier League team since the start of last season - nine.
23 Aug 2026 21:48:46
Partially Coz we're the slowest team of all time.
23 Aug 2026 21:49:47
Only 9?
Seriously, I'm shocked at that number. I'd have guessed double.
23 Aug 2026 23:33:55
We are very poor on opposition transition breaks.
Virgil is cheating due to pace concerns and rarely engages someone running at him the way he used to.
Jacquet is new and getting wires crossed here and there.
Frimpong needs to be more aware.
And Kerkez is probably the dumbest player I ever saw defending transitions. Possibly ever. Mental runs to absolutely nowhere. He seems intent on pointing, almost begging someone else to engage, while he runs into absolute no mans land.
He is fine one on one with a player wide, but if there is a multi player break on with decisions to make, he freaks out.
I think Jacquet and Frimpong can be coached to form a partnership.
I think Van Dijk can be protected by a good DM commanding the space he leaves in front of him cheating. Van Dijk still has a lot of leadership/value elsewhere in the air and such.
And I think we need a new left back. I'll give Kerkez the season though to see if he can improve.
We need a DM now though.
24 Aug 2026 04:39:58
@Davey,
We absolutely murdered Slot for Gravenberch / Szoboszlai vacating their bums and charging higher up and claimed this is "Coachable".
Not sure why all of a sudden you need a DM now.
24 Aug 2026 06:53:04
I somewhat agree, Life. I maintain we were going nowhere under Slot.
But Hughes has built a very unbalanced squad. Slot did have a bad hand.
I do strongly believe in Iraola coaching and to find a solution over time. It will be hard, though. Lots of expensive, highly paid and talented individuals that don't seem to compliment each other that well.
I have a load of thoughts on how we might get them to work better but it's not so easy.
Some thoughts I had in the past have already been tried and failed. It's not easy to be a coach. The theory of an idea does not always play out on the pitch.
I think we do need certain players in the market, though, to give us the best chance.
But yesterday, there was some good stuff too. Good moments. And tactically, I could see a blueprint forming. It was an ok start. And we didn't lose.
24 Aug 2026 07:18:37
Klopp didn't win anything until we spent EUR50m on Fabinho. You can't simply coach things like game-reading, positioning and discipline into a player. Name me an English club that has won major trophies without a proper CDM.
And let's be honest - Gravenberch is massively overrated. How often do Bayern sell a player for less than EUR40m?
24 Aug 2026 07:29:08
Sorry, Dave, but I think Vvd is a poor captain. On his mistakes, he just passes the blame, just shouting and pointing. He's definitely no Hendo.
24 Aug 2026 07:36:33
We won the PL title in 2025 without one, Pie.
24 Aug 2026 07:49:15
I agree with FatWallet. Looking back at last season's shambolic performances that nearly cost us the UCL spot, Vvd was too complacent. Rubbed off on Konate. Heck, I would be complacent and couldn't care less since I'm doing all the heavy lifting, yet I'm getting all the blame.
2nd goal Vvd could have run interference or closed the ball carrier down. Blocking passing lanes and shooting paths. But instead, he dropped deeper and deeper, like he's worried that his record of having people beat him would make him human.
There was a time when the ball fell a few meters in front of him and he could've just taken the ball. Instead, you can see him pointing and ordering others to pick it up. Mind you, he was the closest to the ball.
The least amount of distance covered in a match and he looks totally spent at minute 70. Would rather have 2 functioning, passionate CBs and Vvd as the DM to ping passes and bark orders. But he'll be the laziest DM in world football, not covering much grass.