Liverpool Banter 4

17 Aug 2026 15:19:16
Man City seeking Bouaddi and Enzo. We're miles away from Arsenal and City with what we have centrally. Miles away. Macca and Grab aren't it by a long way.

17 Aug 2026 15:42:18
Didn't we win the league with those to Ronnie?
Everyone had a very poor season last time under Slot.
So I don't understand all the 'doom & gloom' negativity.

17 Aug 2026 15:50:17
Is Man City midfield really "miles" better than ours?

Man City: Kovacic, Lewis, Anderson, Nico, Foden.

Liverpool: Macca, Szobozlai, Wirtz, Gravenberch, Jones.

Now, Rodri and Bernardo have left, I wouldn’t say there’s much in it, to be honest.

17 Aug 2026 15:45:36
PS: Enzo is a **** bag and Bouaddi, is very good, but to all intents & purposes, has only recently stopped being classed as a child.

17 Aug 2026 15:51:17
I for one am delighted we are not anything like 115fc.

17 Aug 2026 15:57:28
That was 15 months ago, that midfield started to show its shortcomings in the February of the season we won the league, and a combination of those individual shortcomings and complete tactical inadequacies on the part of Slot saw to last season. Not one of our midfielders is competent defensively nor has any physicality, just a bunch of weak, tackle shy soft lads who are easily bullied and played through. To simply say "bUt ThAt MiDfIeLd WoN tHe LeAgUe" is no better than the rubbish spouted before the 20/21 season that we didn't need to replace Lovren (when clearly a 4th choice centre back was needed) or before the 22/23 season when it was clear our midfield needed a refresh and we ended up signing the useless Arthur Melo in desperation, when idiots we're spouting rubbish like "we don't need to sign a midfielder".

It's very clear that we don't have any balance and it's even clearer that we don't have any competent defensively minded midfielders.

17 Aug 2026 16:13:07
Thanks for your most respected opinion, Victor.
I do think the midfield could do with new defensive unit, however, it remains that midfield did win the league.
Which, incidentally, is a statement of fact rather than an opinion.

17 Aug 2026 16:32:38
Well said, VV. Agreed fully. Our midfield requires a couple of top level players if we're to compete and win the big ones. Things change very quickly in football, and those who keep deflecting to the league winning scenario are not cognisant to our current players' shortcomings.

The club may not purchase 2 but they most certainly need to purchase one! We require a couple of proper battlers! That's my opinion anyway.

17 Aug 2026 16:51:42
I watched Arsenal City yesterday and if we are miles behind City we are in trouble because they looked awful. Very weak all over the pitch. Haaland does nothing but score, so it's like having 10 men for most of the game. As for their wide players, glad we missed out on Semenyo who looks half the player he was. Doko, another one that looks a lot better than he is, end product not really part of his game.

As for the midfield, now they are losing Rodri Silva, gone bang average, but hopefully they sign that useless dick from Chelsea for £120m. Only a friendly, but if you ask me, Jacquet and Araujo both look better than Guehi. So I could not disagree anymore. Arsenal, I think wants we finish our business there will not be a great deal in it.

17 Aug 2026 16:54:43
If Jones, Macca, Elliott and Endo go, we need to be signing two MF's if we want any serious hope of winning things.

17 Aug 2026 16:55:44
Shankly, I do think both yourself and the charming Viktor have gone off at some sort of tangent. At no point did I suggest that a new defensive midfielder was not needed.
I merely mentioned that both Mac Allister & Gravenberch were part of a midfield that won the league, when they were unfavourably compared to Bouaddi & Enzo.


I also think that Viktor quoting me thus: "bUt ThAt MiDfIeLd WoN tHe LeAgUe" is both disparaging and disrespectful.

17 Aug 2026 17:16:46
I don't believe that you need take any offence, Clay, regarding any posts here, be it VVs or mine or anyone else's. There just opinions after all. I just happen to agree with VV on what he has said about our midfield situation and I also agree with you regarding the requirements for a proper CM too in order to progress.

So we're all saying the same thing really after all. Keep smiling, keep her lit and enjoy the season ahead. 🥳

17 Aug 2026 17:53:55
We need 3 players, 2 of them need to be upgrades on Endo and Jones. We are stuffed without that in my opinion. If we got 3 in and somehow got Leoni, Bradley and Ekitike back relatively soon, then we would have a chance of really competing against the Gunners but it's a big wish list and the 3 injured players unlikely to be back soon enough.

🤷‍♂️

17 Aug 2026 18:39:27
@Shanks. 👍

17 Aug 2026 20:33:54
Who said that we didn't need a fourth centre half in 20/21 and that the midfield didn't need a refresh in 22/23, Vik?
Have you any names or examples, please, mate?

17 Aug 2026 13:21:49
Hi Ed001, with the sites very quiet this window, possible to do a player profile for Zion Suzuki?

Cheers

{Ed001's Note - the sites are far from quiet, they are the busiest they have ever been. But I will add him to the list.}

17 Aug 2026 13:46:35
I know Ed001, just teasing haha. Just two more week to go and we can all forget about transfers.

{Ed001's Note - oh sorry mate, I wasn't sure as I am not always editing Liverpool so not sure if it is just the rest have exploded while it has gone quieter!}

17 Aug 2026 13:40:39
Bro, it's literally the busiest time of the year for the Eds 🤣

17 Aug 2026 14:16:02
Keeping the art of sarcasm alive, Taurus, love it. It does seem to be the busiest I've seen it in recent years on these pages. I wonder, would it have been busier or quieter if Slot had stayed on.



Even if we don't make many additions in the last couple weeks, I'm still buzzing for the new season and keep on checking these pages a few times a day. Hope everyone feeling the same way.

17 Aug 2026 14:17:25
It was a good joke, Taurus, don't worry.

17 Aug 2026 14:46:06
All good Ed!

17 Aug 2026 11:28:03.
This will no doubt upset a few, but Rio is one for the future, not for now. He he has no awareness of what's going on around him. Whether he's attacking or going backwards, he constantly misses the easy pass to try and dribble his way though.
Have a look back at the last few warm up games and see how many times he lost the ball in the defensive area by trying to beat 3/4 men. He needs to get his head up.

People that have a go at Jones for slowing the ball down should watch him come to a stop before trying his tricks when a simple pass keeps us flowing. He's a young lad and will no doubt improve massively over the next few years, but currently we should be looking at sub roles and League Cup. Koumas did more yesterday in being involved and pressing etc., though his end product lacked.

17 Aug 2026 11:52:47
MattB,
At last someone who isn't blinded by the stepovers. Rio still has a hell of a lot to learn if he is to make it at Anfield. Defensive duties, end product, moving the ball on quickly, running in behind as a variation to wanting it to feet all the time.

Also, yesterday showed that it is on the left or nothing. He was invisible on the right wing and is definitely not an option there.

17 Aug 2026 11:54:21
It's a bit like when Ronaldo (I'm not comparing the two overall - before everyone bites my head off!) when he first went to Utd... too many stepovers without end product. That'll come with experience. Not sure if anyone in the team has had a word (assume someone will eventually), but he needs to keep things simple, and as you said, get his head up.

If he can learn to do that and bring out the tricks selectively, he'll be some player.

But I agree that he's one for the future. I wouldn't be averse to bringing him on late in the game, especially when we're leading.

17 Aug 2026 12:04:18
Why should it upset anyone? It's all out there for everyone to see. He's clearly not a starter. And I will add controversy by saying that the season under Slot has probably pushed him back simply because he's become the one-trick pony that Gakpo became last season. Run fast up the by-line, ignore the left back who has run past him, cut into the right, go past a player or two, and then shoot.

If your game becomes so predictable, opposing rightbacks will know exactly how to play you. And I won't mention his game as a right wing. This shouldn't matter because he's a LW, but Iraola-ball upfront requires more diversity and interchanging. Great potential, no doubt, but lots of work still to be done.

17 Aug 2026 12:05:21
It's a bit like when any half decent youngster makes a few appearances.
He's exciting but far from a regular 1st team player.
Ronaldo to Jordon Ibe. Who knows what path his career will take.

17 Aug 2026 12:06:08
Rio is clearly a great talent, and we were right to give him the chance in pre-season. But he has shown that he isn't quite ready yet. He's also definitely not a RW. He looks so much more comfortable on the LW.

I'd try to loan him out to a team in the Prem with some semblance of stability.

A team fighting for Europe or relegation is unlikely to trust him in key moments. A team like Brighton, Brentford, Leeds, Bournemouth, Newcastle or Sunderland would be perfect. I can't see any of them being sucked into relegation battles, and also they're unlikely to be realistically pushed into the top 7.

17 Aug 2026 12:08:25
He's an option for this season and will get game time. He's young and isn't the finished article, I think we all know that, but the only way he'll improve is if he plays.

He does hold onto the ball too long, but then so does Wirtz at times, Munoz did it too.



Rio is absolutely an option for the right side. I literally saw no difference in him playing on the right to when he plays on the left. He's young and plays in spurts. He goes missing just like he does on the left, but that will get better with age and experience.

17 Aug 2026 12:08:28
Rio will be 4th behind Barcola, Munoz, Mbiaye; 5th if Gakpo stays. That is where he is, and is best for him to get used sparingly.

17 Aug 2026 12:08:42
I don't think too many would argue that he still needs to improve. I think he will potentially start some PL games this season (I expect him to start at Newcastle), but once our summer business is concluded and everybody is up to speed, I think he will primarily be used from the bench. I think that Rio and Munoz coming on after an hour will be a massive handful for a lot of defences with their pace and directness as they start to tire.



He's got immense potential and is already a fan favourite, but he is still a kid and he needs to continue his development. I'm just glad that we now have somebody like Iraola there to help him.

17 Aug 2026 12:27:22
If somebody doesn't soon coach Rio to get his head up and move the ball rather than his continuous attempts to go by opponents, he could become a has-been at 18.
It was a novelty to have a young boy bring some excitement to the Slot team.

Now we are serious again and there will be no room for messing about just to please a young lad and the media.

17 Aug 2026 12:31:32
Well, yeah he's still a child. If anyone thinks he should be first choice in a Champions League team I'd be worried.
He's good enough for some substantial minutes and a few starts this season, but we really need reinforcements on the wings.

17 Aug 2026 12:31:35
He is right about where he should be for a kid whose talent is dribbling.

The awareness will come with age and experience through playing more.

Don't think people should be upset by this at all.

17 Aug 2026 12:45:26
Thanks, MattB, great points!

17 Aug 2026 12:56:49
I don't think there's any doubt about Rio's role this season. He certainly isn't going to be first choice on either wing. He's 17 and has played the equivalent of just 6 full PL games.

Koumas, although he's done well (for a young lad), looks equally inexperienced to me, and quite unaware of his surroundings at times.

17 Aug 2026 13:03:02
I have been saying this all summer. I think Rik is massively overhyped at present, though his potential is clear to see.

17 Aug 2026 13:05:22
He's clearly a huge talent but it's going to be a couple of years until he's ready for a regular starting spot. Hopefully he'll get more minutes than last season, as an impact player off the bench and playing cup games, but that should be all that's expected for now until he gradually rounds out the rest of his game.



As for the right/left argument, he's clearly more comfortable on the left and likes to come inside and get shots away to the far post, kind of like the 'Henry' finish. Looks less dangerous on the right.

17 Aug 2026 13:16:32
Everyone keeps saying how intense AI's football is and how hard it is physically on the wingers. After Gakpo departs, as I expect he will, I can see Barcola starting most games on the left with Rio to understudy, and Munoz and Mbaye to fight it out for the right wing spot. Rio will get plenty of games.

Let's not forget, Barcola is hardly used to playing full 90 mins and that's in the French league. He's going to be limping around after games, like Wirtz and Hugo were last year, for the first few months. I reckon the two wingers will be subbed in just about every game this season.

17 Aug 2026 13:21:13
I've said over and over that he isn't that good. Looks fancy but has very little end product.
I really don't see him making it at our level. This is my opinion.
And I know he's a kid.

17 Aug 2026 13:35:09
I'd loan him to a Championship side. That's about his level at the moment.

17 Aug 2026 13:48:56
Ah look I'd be the 1st to say he shouldn't be starting for a Champions League team where the fans demand trophies. But also, Rio is ahead of the curve of basically every winger in or on the periphery of the England squad at the moment. Even Saka. He's only a kid at the moment, but he is a very very good one.

17 Aug 2026 14:21:19
He's nowhere near as good as Saka, Gordon, Madueke or even Harvey Barnes at the minute.

17 Aug 2026 15:09:56
I'm the first to criticise English players (they're not as good as the media make out), but Rio is not better than Saka or any other English winger at the moment. But... he has immense potential and we need to cultivate it. If we do, then there's no reason he can't be better than Saka et al.

Mind you, the bar ain't that high if Claire Balding and Madookie are the competition.

The best players in the world play with their head up, constantly scanning the field. You can't do that counting every blade of grass and doing unnecessary stepovers - even if you manage to get a shot off.

17 Aug 2026 16:34:50
I don't know what you have been smoking over there, FM, if that's your take on RN. Better than Saka? Seriously?

17 Aug 2026 16:43:28
I didn't say that. That would be ridiculous. But he's miles ahead of where all of them were at his age. He just needs time. No one should be expecting miracles of him, but to say we don't have a big talent on our hands is silly imo. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him in the best couple of England squads.

17 Aug 2026 22:13:16
I'm not trying to split hairs FM and regardless of that, my opinion of RN and your opinion is totally different. I see nothing in him to suggest that he's destined for the top level. Nothing at all. He has potential obviously but other than that he's just another prospect.

I'd compare him to Jordan Ibe. Some people on here think he's the next Mane. I bet he may end up somewhere in-between if he has the correct attitude. That's my opinion on him anyway. ED01 suggested a loan might suit him best and I totally agree with that. Sorts the wheat from the chaff.

17 Aug 2026 10:55:18
Fab has reported that Getafe are looking to buy Bajcetic.

Only a year left, same as Elliot and with both them looking to be going this summer or for free next summer, Jones virtually already gone, surely we get one midfielder in?

I can see Nyoni as a 1st teamer now but we should be looking at one more.

17 Aug 2026 11:34:26
I think Nyoni takes Jones place; Elliot is essentially surplus to requirements anyway.

17 Aug 2026 11:45:24
The 2 DM/6&8/pivot, or whatever you want to call them, would be Grav, Szobo, Nyoni, Macca, Endo. That's 5 for 2 positions. That's enough bodies at any rate. Good enough? Time will tell.

17 Aug 2026 12:09:35
To be honest I'd keep Elliot unless a good offer comes in. Good squad player and capable of playing on the right.
Not sure I see a case of Nyoni taking Jones' space. If both stay, they will both play a part, squad players and it's up to them to push on to get games.

17 Aug 2026 12:11:06
If the rumours are true it's Gavi.

Hope Iraola develops Bacjetic and he signs a new deal. I think Elliot, Koumas and Jones are gone if we can find buyers.

17 Aug 2026 12:11:49
Has Iraola played Endo in midfield yet? The guy is a bit of a fan favourite, but has started 2 league games in 2 years.

Nyoni seems to have leap frogged Elliott & Endo, but it’s a huge ask to go from 21 league minutes a season to 2,000 minutes.

17 Aug 2026 12:43:35
Elliot would never get a good offer, because he simply ain't good enough. And if your other option is Mr Endo, then we can forget the league title and focus on "we saved wages" trophy and "net spend" trophy.

17 Aug 2026 13:52:05
Keep saying it. If two of our six midfielders are Trey and Endo this season, get ready for a long hard slog.

17 Aug 2026 14:47:08
Agreed, Florian. 👍

17 Aug 2026 15:26:02
Agreed, Florian.

17 Aug 2026 16:40:45
You're making sense with that one, FM, and you can add MacAllister to the list as well. At least Endo shows some bottle and commitment. MacAllister could learn a thing or two about that from him.

Now I don't believe that Endo is a good enough option for us if we're intent on having a squad to win the PL or CL, but at least the man has heart and shows that he cares.

17 Aug 2026 16:52:05
Can't pass a ball 5 yards though, Shanks, and his 2nd touch is nearly always a tackle. On top of that he's had something like 2 league starts in 2 years, and is now 33. I love the guy's heart, like everyone else. Salif Diao had heart as well though, doesn't mean he wasn't crap.

17 Aug 2026 22:18:32
You're scraping the barrel there, FM, with a Salif Diao comparison. Anyway, remember I actually do agree with you. On this one anyway!! 🫵🫵💥

17 Aug 2026 10:30:17
Few points noted from being at the match yesterday.

Midfield is a real worry. Bypassed multiple times all game with runners not picked up, even though team mates were pointing them out to be marked. I don't think a Grav - Dom - Wirtz midfield works. We need someone in front of the back 4 who possesses a great engine, is mobile, wins most of his duels and progresses the ball forward.

Defence looked solid even though exposed multiple times by the midfield. Jacquet and Araujo were composed, strong in the tackle and either next to VVD would make a great pairing. Frimpong and Kerkez were good defensively but offered very little going forward.

A midfielder protector as mentioned previously would create a formidable fortresses at the base of our side.

Rio is not the answer for the RW. At times he looked lost out there. Still needs a lot of work on his end product.

The energy of the team was a worry. The zip in our play was missing. Dare I say it but the dregs of Slotball were still present. Iraolo's football philosophy is going to take some time to implement. The players getting sufficiently fit will help this massively.

Hopefully, the transfers incoming will address the deficiencies in the side. A midfield monster is a must.

17 Aug 2026 11:05:58
Sadly, I don't think we're even looking for that type of midfielder, even though I agree that we absolutely need one.

We haven't been linked to destroyer-type midfielders at all, which is really odd to me. If it was up to me, I'd 100% sell Macca and get a CDM to take that non-HG spot.

17 Aug 2026 11:11:52
Gordy, it's pre-season of a World Cup-interrupted summer. Most of the lads haven't played a full match. Szobo is about the only 1st team player to be up to near full match fitness before this game. Not going to be a zip about our play for a while.

17 Aug 2026 12:44:41
Why do you need to sell Macca to sign a DM, @Gre? I am sure most top teams can have 4-5 very good players in their squad?

17 Aug 2026 14:19:39
Frimpong offered nothing going forward ???

Pretty sure it was Frimpong who set Gakpo up for the 1st.
I also thought Kerkez got forward a lot more than he has recently and put a few crosses into the boxes.
Not great crosses but you could defo see the future plan of making the fullbacks overlap as an option.

17 Aug 2026 14:35:38
@Bigh81,
I said very little, not nothing, which you've confirmed with your reply.

If Frimpong and Kerkez are our fullbacks going into the season, I'd expect better attacking output from both. It would help if they were actually given the ball when overlapping the winger. I'm looking at you, Mr Gakpo!

17 Aug 2026 10:06:23
When Iraola first signed, I remember an interview where he spoke about being brought up to play a style that resembled that amazing Spain team that won the World Cup and 2 Euros. They just compacted the midfield with ball playing skilful midfielders and didn’t really rely on wide play. If he does go down that route then we arnt a million miles off a decent starting 11. If the fitness can get back to where it was under Klopp then I see Grav going back in that 6 and doing a job but also with Nyoni as comp. With VVD, Jaquet and Araujo, we have a reliable defence and the sooner Leoni is back we’re even stronger. Fullback are a bit of a worry but we can only compare to a season where the players clearly were not happy with training and setup, have to have faith that Iraola can get the best out of Kerkez and Frimpong/Bradley.
I agree personally with a previous comment that Wirtz ends up being pushed forward to a point he could start ahead of Isak.

I don’t see the Spanish style (which surely we will be getting) suit Isak and we end up looking at that as a bad choice of signing. However if Barcola signs we could see him more central. So midfield is really where our dominance needs to pay off. Links to Barcola hopefully come off. So I think throughout we are solid enough to get half a season under AI and see what he can get from this lot. We all crave additions and instant success but I also think we have to be patient if we want the style to work and last. Having said that the bench is very weak so that needs bolstering haha! Anyway that’s just my thoughts. I do feel confident with what we have if we can just add Barcola for now. Shame Leoni and Ekitike army got to start that’s all.

17 Aug 2026 10:40:51
He has a more direct way of playing with strong wing play (hence our links with the PSG lads). Not a proponent of tiki-taka football.

17 Aug 2026 10:49:54
Good post that @Sobo. Makes a lot of sense to me.

17 Aug 2026 09:55:33
Araujo and Jacquet are both massive upgrades on Konate and Gomez. For the first time since he signed, I think we’d actually cope okay if we were without Virgil for a few months. It’s taken us long enough, but Virgil will finally have a partner as good as Matip.

17 Aug 2026 10:02:00
Fingers crossed, MK. I think, if we had a good competitive back up for left back that could see us through the season defensively, Kerkez looks the weaker link right now, which isn't what I expected when Iraola came.

17 Aug 2026 10:03:07
Yeah, hopefully, Jacquet can remain fit and get a good campaign under his belt. Leoni too.

Confirms thinking behind Araujo loan now rather than committing 10s of millions on a permanent deal for a defender this window.

17 Aug 2026 10:11:24
Agree with your comment, also nice to see Frimpong show what he can do next to a player with better game awareness - I just hope it wasn't a one off!

17 Aug 2026 10:11:25
How Tsmiskas is still at the club is beyond me. I am sure he too would be 'I love the city and club' stuffs, ain't it? The guy couldn't manage 10 meaningful games in Italy.

17 Aug 2026 10:12:30
I thought the same, and got me thinking. Is there a world where we extend Virgil's contract for another year or two if he's happy playing less? And he retires at Liverpool?

17 Aug 2026 10:16:35
The good thing is, Jacquet looks quality but I think Leoni is the better player of the two.

17 Aug 2026 10:33:52
Agreed, MK, although will need to prove himself over a few months first, but definitely good first impressions. Jacquet definitely very good yday, but only 45mins, and will have much tougher tests.

I don't think it'll be smooth sailing. We'll have some rocky periods, and the team will take time to get back to that fast paced high press style, so I just hope the fans remain positive and back the team.



Very excited for the season ahead, especially if we can add Barcola and Mbaye. Again, I'm one of the minority who don't mind us holding on to Macca, think he could surprise a few this year.

Keeper is my main worry now, unfortunately, with Ali's injury record. I'm still not convinced Mama is the one, but hard to get a top class keeper who's willing to play 2nd fiddle to Ali when he's fit.

17 Aug 2026 10:51:15
I see Harry has a new account now. ;)

17 Aug 2026 10:53:43
@MK, spot on - Jacquet just played like a genuine footballer, light years ahead of Konate, although it's early days, of course. Be even better when Leoni gets back - we'll basically have four very good CBs capable of being starters, and when Ndukwe gets back...

17 Aug 2026 11:17:44
I've probably missed this on here, but what's the status with Ndukwe? Will it be the whole season he can't play, or can he get a permit during the season?
With these young fast central defenders, can any of them play a 6 role? I suppose it's leaning towards a 3 at the back with wingbacks, but I always used to enjoy seeing Agger carry the ball forward.

VVD did it a bit a few seasons ago, but we haven't had that confident type of defender for a while. All the risk has gone out of the game, and it's just inviting teams to come on to us. The idea of outscoring the opponent was always my favourite. Attack from the back and defend from the front!! Wishful thinking, I suppose, haha.

17 Aug 2026 11:36:21
Don't see Araujo being signed permanently, unless he has an absolutely barnstorming season. Which I can't see happening, because I think on what I seen yesterday Jaquet will be starting ahead of him. With Leoni also, who I really rate, due back from injury.

This is no slight on him, as I think he played well when he came on yesterday, but he'll be 28 by next summer. Too old for us to usually fork out the bones of £50m for. Also Ndukwe will be due back from his loan next summer too.

17 Aug 2026 12:13:09
@sobo25, if Ndukwe gets the right loan move he could pick up enough points to get a work permit and come back to Liverpool in January.

17 Aug 2026 07:23:31
Encouraged by the new options in defence, not excluding Frimpong, but there’s still huge gaps in our midfield when our press is played through.

Maybe Wirtz needs to be considered as a forward and not one of the midfield 3? We’d sacrifice the width on one side but have room for a Chema Andres type DM as insurance.

Or, our press needs to be better and the chances created need a high conversion rate, because we will concede chances and teams know it.



Still don’t have anyone in midfield who looks odds on to win a 50/50, including headers… I appreciate the game has moved on but tackling and duel winning will always be required. The whole PSG midfield do it regularly, we don’t seem to have anyone who can do it without fouling.

17 Aug 2026 08:51:09
I rekon the answer will be our team press, keeping the gaps small and limiting losing the ball in dangerous spaces.

Big ask tho lol.

17 Aug 2026 09:01:16
I agree, @Faith, the team will be the ones to plug the gaps.

17 Aug 2026 09:05:41
It's just going to take some time for the team to get on the same wave length with the new system style of setup etc. You've just got to hope the quality will help us through the first few games and then things will click.



The first half, for a majority of these pre season games, has been really good pressing, good interchanging, and quick incisive passing. The second half has been underwhelming, which is a bit worrying.

17 Aug 2026 09:19:00
The press will continue to improve. It's already come on leaps and bounds from what it was. The fitness is still an issue. Yet again we dominated the first half but didn't have the legs to keep it up after the break. We did keep our shape whilst tiring much better than we have done in recent games though which was a big bonus.

2 clean sheets yesterday were the biggest positive for me.

There is still a way to go but you can see us improving in all aspects from game to game.

17 Aug 2026 09:28:01
I think, typically, there have been wholesale changes in the second half, which there weren't in the 2nd game yesterday - I think there were only the regulation 5 subs - which helped us at least keep a clean sheet.

I must admit, I am coming round to the 'Gakpo In' crowd, albeit it may be too late for the player and the club.

I'd like for him to at least give us an extra year, see how he does, and allow time for Ekitike to recover. And that's even if we get both Barcola and Mbaye.

17 Aug 2026 09:35:47
We are going into season 4 of Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, MacAllister and Endo. And we still cannot find a balanced two to hang our hat on.

17 Aug 2026 09:40:52
Endo seems to be 7th choice centre half at the moment.

17 Aug 2026 09:56:56
Even when we had the press down to a fine art with Mo, Mane, and Firmino (which is absolutely light years ahead of this version by the way), we had players like Henderson, Fabinho, Milner, or Wildnaldum shoring up the middle of the park.
We also had two fullbacks providing fantastic creativity.



This team is nowhere near that level or balance. I don't think we can recreate it, but I'd like to hope we can learn from it.

Our press is never going to be great with Isak in the team. He just hasn't got the ability to do it, but aside from that you still need more defensive nous in midfield.

17 Aug 2026 10:01:28
To be fair Fpf, the balance was fine until Wirtz was shoehorned into the midfield and Slot let Gravenberch's dad decide the tactics.

Macca and Grav sitting with Dom leading the press literally is a title winning combination. I still think we should go back to that, personally.

17 Aug 2026 10:06:14
To be fair, Overkill - it took a long time to get to that point. And even then, it's not like we were impenetrable through their peak years.

17 Aug 2026 10:06:19
A more mobile, quicker version of Endo would be great as an option, jk... a player who you just know the outcome once they commit.
A - wins the ball cleanly and passes.


B - takes out everything fairly, ball and opponent - stops the initial break but ball could go anywhere.
C - challenges unfairly - again stops the initial break but concedes a free kick.

17 Aug 2026 10:07:07
The only way Wirtz would ever work in a midfield 3 in England is if you have 2 DM’s behind him. We don’t even have one, never mind two (Sorry @Riss/BP).
If you are willing to play Wirtz as a LW, what is the whole point of chasing Bracola?
Talking about press? What if the opposition goes direct and long? VVD might win all the headers, but what about the second balls?
Our midfielders have no positional sense whatsoever.

17 Aug 2026 10:20:59
That was part of our defensive problem last season, teams just went long and bullied our CBs. At least in Araujo and Jacquet there's some muscle.

Agree with the time point on the press, whichever way you look at it, we need one more defensive minded CM.

17 Aug 2026 10:30:49
So, and I'm struggling to write it, are we saying Wirtz is the issue, MK?

I just don't think we've enough players who are willing to do the graft - or put their foot in when they do. There's doing it for show cos that's how the manager wants to play, then there's doing like you mean it...



It's an attitude more than ability, Klopp's teams had a hunger to succeed and believed in the approach.

Maybe this midfield can get there when they start seeing the results...but seriously, do any of our midfield win a 50/50 with Declan Rice, Bruno G, Enzo F or Elliot Anderson?

17 Aug 2026 11:06:12
I can't see how Dom and Wirtz fit in a side together as neither can tackle without pushing one or the other out wide,
But over the moon how Jaquet and Araujo looked in defence, we will have some ups and downs, but it will be a better season than last.

17 Aug 2026 11:09:50
I agree with MK. We changed a winning formula to accommodate Isak and Wirtz, and that has contributed to a lot of the problems we had last season, and the balance isn't right now.

Wirtz is the major part of it, it's a dilemma because they're good players. He's generally fit and in the team, Isak hasn't been, but neither has justified guaranteed inclusion in the team yet or their price tags.



At the moment, if we had a fully fit squad, and Barcola in, on form I'd play Szob in an advanced central role ahead of Wirtz and I'd probably even have Gakpo in ahead of Isak tbf. Barcola left, with a question mark over the right side. Probably Munoz gets in there, but we may start with Rio.

17 Aug 2026 11:43:53
Sorry, but the Macca-Grav-Szobo three was not as good as you think either, despite winning the league. That midfield stopped functioning once Gravy's little turn got found out by January. We limped over the line thanks to poor quality of the league.

Yes, that midfield trio won the league and should be celebrated but let's not overstate it.

That trio + Endo are going into their 4th season together and there's not really been any sign of them gelling into balanced midfield.

But sure, let's blame Wirtz for the fact that we don't have a single midfielder (bar a 4 season stop-gap, Wataru Endo) that wants to put a foot in, track runners or bring control to the game.

17 Aug 2026 12:14:39
A CDM would solve many issues for us, it's a mystery why the transfer people, Iraola and Slot before him didn't see it. We may then see a better Wirtz that's true as he could play with even more freedom.

Thing is though, even last season when we were poor he got plenty of the all in the right areas and was wasteful, and he was the same again yesterday.



There'll come a point when he has to be responsible for his own performances, rather than it being more about the failings of those around him. Let's hope he just improves and nails down the place.

17 Aug 2026 12:23:00
FPF, I'm not blaming Wirtz, as he would be absolutely fine playing as a no.10 ahead of 2 defensive midfielders. But we've shoehorned him into a midfield that was not set up right because we don't have defensive midfielders to cover for an orthodox no.10. Therefore, I think we would be better off playing Dom there because he presses and tracks back better. Meanwhile, Wirtz plays the role more like a 2nd striker. Wirtz is also better off the left, in my opinion, but it seems like we don't want that kind of player on the left.

I disagree entirely with the idea that the midfield of Macca, Grav and Don fell apart in the 2nd half of the title-winning season.

The whole team went on early holidays after the Carabao Cup final and PSG tie defeats. The league was wrapped up and Slot was happy to let the standards slip, so he could party in Ibiza. The whole club was lacking focus and all the players were lacking fitness.

Ultimately Iraola seems to want Wirtz as a no.10 and Dom as a no.8, so we just have to trust his coaching ability to make that work. My opinion on a functional 3 man midfield is you either play a no.6 with two no.8's or you play a no.10 ahead of two no.6's. I'm just an armchair manager though.

17 Aug 2026 12:35:39
I think Dom and Grav, as the double pivot, are fine.

But as above and in other threads, the more important point is the team press. Only a team full of N'Golo Kante's is going to cover every blade of grass once the press is beat.

17 Aug 2026 03:59:15
3 signings.
That’s my prediction, I think the club believes we are covered at RB and therefore I don’t see us signing one.
I think it’s Barcola, Mbaye and a CM.
No striker either. I think the club has decided to keep Gakpo based on playing him yesterday and he got MoM.

17 Aug 2026 08:38:18
Gakpo has to stay whilst we don't have Ekitike. Maybe when he returns, Gakpo could be allowed to leave, but he looks a different player under Iraola, although he looked like a man in his way out yesterday following his goal and assist. Hardly excited. Hopefully just because it was pre-season.

17 Aug 2026 10:08:27
The only way we are funding Bracola and Mbaye is if we sell Gakpo. We are a sell to buy club and haven’t sold one meaningful sale all Summer.

17 Aug 2026 10:58:54
@Wehabe noDMs, we're are you getting your information about the funds the club may, or may not have? Genuine question - what do you think the club can do in terms of transfer in against transfer out costs?