Liverpool banter 4

11 Oct 2025 07:29:04
I always remember Klopp used to give almost hald a season to new signings to train and bed in with new team surrounding and tactics. e. g. Fab, Robbo.
I think we ideally would have liked to do same now. but the amount we spent on the new players meant the expecatiations was they will hit the ground running.

11 Oct 2025 10:06:12
Not sure that the cost of the plater makes him match fit, it’s more a case that Frimpong, Kerkez, Wirtz, Ekitike and now Isak are all getting regular game time and 5 new starters (half a team) can’t all be expected to gel and be up to speed on what Slot wants. It was a really good effort to not play well and win their first 7 competitive matches. They’ll do ok.

11 Oct 2025 10:14:27
Don’t think he gave half a season to Sadio Mane or Salah. Mane was bought from Southampton similar to Kerkez and Isak and he was terrific. Got us into the CL all by himself.
Fabinho and Robertson were the only two players that took time to settle to my memory. The rest showed instant impact.

11 Oct 2025 10:15:17
Exactly BHAV. I think some here are being very drastic with their calls for major formation changes etc.

I think the issues are much more minimal than the need for major changes. minimal changes can make a big difference. None of this is a shocker with the new players and first team coach. I know the club won't panic and give it time. We should also.

11 Oct 2025 11:20:28
I think only Fabinho, Robbo and Endo fall into that category mate. The rest of Klopps successful signings more or less went straight in.

I don’t believe though that any of them went into a side that had 40%-50% of new outfield players so I think that’s more of a factor.

11 Oct 2025 11:57:35
I think the criticism is on a broader scale. Rather than pinpoint a certain player, it’s more Why are we so slow and passing it around the back creating Zero chances?

11 Oct 2025 12:15:24
I think it’s more tactical. Slow build up making us easy to play against.

11 Oct 2025 12:29:31
If you're only slotting one or two players into an established system with established patterns of play and understanding between players then it makes sense that it's easier to accomplish, a moment's hesitation makes a massive difference at the top level, especially in situations that require split second decisions or instinctive execution, like in transition, which requires you to play the ball into a space that you know your team mate will be in.

The quality of our players is such that we can win games or create moments of inspiration even when we are disjointed and the chemistry between individual players is still forming, like isak's layoff for Cody or Flo's for Salah, but I'm sure things are progressing fast.

11 Oct 2025 12:53:04
We have changed a lot of the patterns from last season.
We are trying to inbed new players, and new patterns and it looks sloppy atm.
I said at the start if the season that if we were in around the top after 8-10 games, I thought we'd go on and win it again.

11 Oct 2025 14:07:45
I do think people just remember the likes of Robbo and Fabinho and their brain tells them that Klopp always eased players in.

In actual fact he did nothing of the sort. Virgil, Matip, Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita, Nunez, Mane, Salah, Macca, Szob, Ali, Jota off the top of my head all went straight into the first team.

You could argue he held Konate back but we bought him as a young centre back with the idea of developing him.

With the latest crop I don’t think there is a way to hold them all back as they have all been signed to replace first team players who have left. For example, if we still had Diaz and Elliot and the Jota tragedy hadn’t happened then there would be no need to throw Wirtz, Ekitike and Isak in straight away. As it is we need them up to speed so they have to play as much as possible.

We just need to stop overthinking it and be patient. It’ll come.

11 Oct 2025 15:39:03
However you cut it, we're in a mini-transition.

Klopp's fullbacks were the key playmakers in the team for the last 7 years. We now have total change there. The new guys need time to settle.

Trent's ability to pick out a team mate anywhere on the pitch was a superpower. We have to change our game to accommodate his loss.

MacAllister was our best midfielder last season, and he's not even turned up yet. He clearly needs to find his fitness and form ASAP.

Our whole game last season was about getting Mo more of the ball so he can do what he's great at doing. Trent, Virg and Darwin were Mo's biggest suppliers. We are not getting Mo enough of the ball. Hopefully we recognise and change that quickly. Mo did get a lot more of the ball in the second half of the Chelsea game - even if his decision making was off.

For some reason we have changed Gravy's game again. In his interview he said that this season he's being given more license to go forward. I assume this is to avoid the fact that the opposition figured out Gravy's role in our build up in the second half of last season. Whatever the plan is here, it needs refining.

Isak, Ekitike and Wirtz are new. They are too good to not settle down and perform.

Lastly, and I know some will not like it, but Cody's ceiling is there on show now Lucho has gone. I don't think he's in bad form. I just think this is broadly is level. A good bench option, but probably not the answer for the left wing. The promise we have made to Rio better be worth it.

Slot has the grey matter in that glorious shiny head of his to get it right.

11 Oct 2025 18:22:43
Keita was eased in over 5 years.

12 Oct 2025 00:08:10
Stuie. Definite truth about that. Either that or he eased himself out over 5 years.

12 Oct 2025 02:38:47
Until Isak is fully fit, Ekitike should be starting. He's clearly the best option right now. Szobozlai should be taking Maccas midfield spot and let Wirtz do his thing.

12 Oct 2025 13:32:56
"Got us into the CL all by himself. ".

False. Sadio did nothing of the sort in his first season and we weren't even in Europe in the 16/ 17 season.

Secondly, Sadio did not lead us to any of the CL finals we made under Klopp "all by himself". Sorry, that didn't happen. It was a team effort including the fans who hureled their lungs out roaring the team on in the home second leg vs Barca. Just saying.

13 Oct 2025 16:08:34
People will have forgotten but Firmino his first 6 months albeit some under Rodgers was really awful. Things will click.

11 Oct 2025 07:05:03
Hello ed1 hope u well. I read reports that ekitike played in a front 2 for france last nite along with mbappe. Do u think eventually we will go with ekitike and isak as a 2 up top? Wirtz playing behind them, use your full backs as your width which with current full backs we have probably suits them.
Obviously that would be leaving salah out which I don't think is going to happen soon but will at some point.
France where playing Azerbaijan so no comparison to a tough premier league game but I would think having watched ekitike 1st few games for us and having watched isak for a long time they too good not to be playing once both 100% fit.

{Ed001's Note - not while we only have 2 strikers are we going to play both up top regularly.}

12 Oct 2025 13:16:42
Could gakpo, chiesa and even mo play as back up ed1?
The 4 4 3 isn't working anymore, the loss of trent passing at rb have obviously stunted our build from the back method. The loss of Diaz on lw is worse. Would a 4132 system not suit us currently? Or a 4222 even. Either way we need to mix things up a bit.

{Ed001's Note - the system is not the issue, it is the way we are playing that causes the problems.}

11 Oct 2025 03:38:21
Ed001
Just out of interest, what do you make of Livramento at Newcastle as a RB. I think he is a really good player, would have been a better fit than Frimpong for me. I still worry that Bradley is not good enough and in fact, not premier league standard so I think this is an area the club may revisit next summer?

{Ed001's Note - too many injuries. He has had a fair few serious ones already, which is likely to lead to more in the future.}

11 Oct 2025 18:03:08
That’s a shame, he is good on his day.

12 Oct 2025 13:33:44
I like him, personally.

10 Oct 2025 18:15:26
For those needing a football fix there are some international games involving our lot tonight, hopefully a few good performances and no injuries!

10 Oct 2025 20:17:21
Bradley playing on the right of the four in Northern Ireland’s 3-4-3 and is looking good.

10 Oct 2025 20:31:58
Bradley watch!
Playing for NI in his usual wing back position, bombing forward at every given opportunity and doing really well, aggressive as ever . All the good play from his side his side Tracking back when necessary but hasn’t been under too much pressure.

10 Oct 2025 21:40:42
Isak captain for Sweden, playing a full game by the looks of it.

11 Oct 2025 09:31:27
Bradley also got booked, meaning he will miss the next international. Has a habit of picking up cards.

11 Oct 2025 10:12:11
Last PL season there were 8 of our squad received more bookings. Bradley had 4, with the winner being the bloke who ‘caused havoc’ on 8. I got 5he figures from FOTMOB.

11 Oct 2025 10:14:18
Well he probably will benefit from missing the next game in terms of his Liverpool fitness.

11 Oct 2025 12:22:58
Stuie
To be fair to Bradley it was his only “bad” tackle and it wasn’t even that bad. The ref was quite harsh on him considering 30 seconds before a Slovakia player done the exact same thing and nothing happened. He was very unlucky.

11 Oct 2025 13:41:19
Yeah Irish, I read it was probably a harsh yellow. Think it's a high risk of the way he plays, full on and full blooded in the tackle.
WDW, he already has 3 yellows in 5 games this season.

12 Oct 2025 03:22:26
Motm performance apparently from Conor, a win against slovakia, who aren't a bad team, hopefully gives him some confidence.

14 Oct 2025 12:05:17
@Stuie, that’s impressive - looks like he wants the Darwin Award this season 😉.

10 Oct 2025 14:16:48
Who thinks a Crystal Palace raid for Guehi (on a free) Lacroix say £35m and Wharton £65m makes sense.
Maybe we would have to pay more for Maxence Lacroix but I rate him, and bringing those three in at the same time makes loads of sense to me.
That’s our next summer window right there and gives us a tremendous team and balance.

10 Oct 2025 14:26:48
I'd rather we paid £15-£20m for Guehi in the Jan window, plus possibly another CB too at the same time - possibly Lacroix but I doubt Palace would want to lose 2 CBs in Jan.

With YLFP out for another 12-14ms and Konate's form suffering at the moment, I would reintroduce Joe in the next game alongside VVD.

10 Oct 2025 14:39:18
Who thinks. I'm guessing not Crystal Palace.

10 Oct 2025 15:07:46
Palace are the new Southampton!

10 Oct 2025 15:22:35
Yes, Hughes, I'm sure Palace will be over the moon with that.

10 Oct 2025 17:40:13
Except Palace would want £100 mill for Wharton. Lacroix would be a cracking signing. Giving me Saliba Vibes.

10 Oct 2025 20:04:00
Can’t see Liverpool getting those 2 players for £100 million.

10 Oct 2025 21:54:49
Probably easier to just support Crystal Palace @OP.

12 Oct 2025 13:34:35
Yeah, that's not going to happen any time soon, sorry.

10 Oct 2025 08:54:09
Are we missing some local favour in our squad. we are short on english players let alone Scoucers.
At best we can field Jones, Gomez and Ngumoha. But none are 1st team players.

Its like Arsenal under later part of wenger.

I think our next few incomings can be inclined towards english players.

M. Guehi
A. Wharthon or E. Anderson
J. Ramsay

I think not many fwds can improve our options.

10 Oct 2025 11:32:47
Ramsey doesn't improve us in any way either. Anderson and Wharton are the standouts. Guehi I expect will be a Liverpool player next season anyway.

10 Oct 2025 11:57:37
Agree with @TheKompany. We are struggling to fit in Wirtz and you would want us to add another CAM? Wharton would be a terrific signing but I fully expect him to end up at City / Real. We should have signed him this summer.
Guehi will have a host of suitors to choose from!

10 Oct 2025 12:00:44
Might be an unpopular opinion but I genuinely don’t believe being a scouser or English changes anything.

Trent and Jones are scousers but they never ever get or got praised for their stand out passion to the cause.

Last ones really were Stevie and Cara but Stevie was world class so his ability carried him and Carra’s passion did carry him but it was at a time where his competition to play wasn’t great.

10 Oct 2025 14:13:03
Wharton replacing Endo and Jones in the squad improves our team your a fool if you think differently.

10 Oct 2025 15:12:50
But Wharton would be a fool to join Liverpool to only take the minutes Endo and Jones get. And we would be fools to pay the money it would take to get Wharton just for him to warm the bench.

You need squad players like Jones and Endo and by definition they are not as good as first choice players but are happy to be paid less and sit on the bench most of the season and give their all when called upon.

We can’t pay £100m plus just to cover Gravenberch.

10 Oct 2025 17:42:50
Why would Wharton sit on the bench @Robbo. He starts alongside Gravenberch in the holding role. It’s that simple. Gravenberch and Wharton similar players 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣That’s like saying Mousa Dembele and Michel Carrick are similar players.
If any, Wharton would bench McAllister and Sozboszlai.

10 Oct 2025 19:50:45
Wharton would be a replacement for Macca in my book, we're Macca to want to go to Real which has been talked about a few times.

10 Oct 2025 20:11:43
Agreed Westwood and a better fit to partner Grav than Macca.

11 Oct 2025 00:14:32
Harry at what point did anyone say Grav and Wharton are similar players? Grav is head and shoulders above him in every aspect of the game.

I was responding to Hughes’s post about Wharton taking the roles of Endo and Jones. I thought that much would be obvious as I actually mentioned Endo and Jones and Hughes’s post was the post previous to mine.

Grow up mate, seriously. You always have to act like other teams players are far superior to ours, until we sign them and then all of a sudden they are crap. Bore off you are nothing but an imbecilic troll.

11 Oct 2025 01:04:57
Why are you engaging with the Manchester City fan?

11 Oct 2025 08:29:29
Wharton would not replace Dom.

11 Oct 2025 12:13:47
Welcome to 2025 where apparently you can’t engage with rival fans.

11 Oct 2025 13:40:21
Ramsey moved to Newcastle we should sign Gueh, Wharton, Anderson and Rogers.