Liverpool Discussion posts 2

17 Sep 2026 11:06:11
Really interesting article in The Athletic about Lucca Brughamans and what makes him so special.

Some excerpts below (all from an article written by Matt Pyzdrowski for The Athletic):

"This is not a signing of a finished product. It is a bet on what Brughmans can become"

"His physical profile is similar." [to Courtois] ".but the way he moves and solves problems in goal give him a skill set that is distinctly his own."

"He is incredibly quick for his size, but the more interesting quality is his flexibility. There is a looseness to the way he moves that allows him to manipulate his long limbs rather than fight against them. He can change his body shape quickly, get his hands down, and orientate himself around the ball in a way that is not typical for a 'keeper of his size. That is what makes his shot-stopping so intriguing."

"When his positioning is good, Brughmans does not need to make a spectacular save because his body is already taking away so much of the target. Shots hit close to him can disappear into his chest, legs or feet, while his frame becomes part of the save. His agility allows him to make the explosive movements that you would normally associate with a smaller 'keeper, while his frame gives him the natural coverage of a much bigger one.

That combination is rare."

The article also goes on to highlight the similarities with Alisson in terms of his distribution - "He can find a striker's body, allowing them to secure the ball and either turn or lay it off to an advancing team-mate, and can also go wider, to find wingers running beyond the opposition's back line." - but he also has a great arm - "Brughmans can throw the ball a long way, and do so accurately enough to initiate attacks before the other team has had time to reset."

Just like Alisson.

There's a lot of development to go and he will make mistakes, but what he needs most of all is more experience, which is the reason for the loan back as he is first choice now. He will need to find the balance between strengthening his body for the physical demands of the EPL, whilst not losing the speed, loose-limbedness, and dynamism which means he can get down to the low shots as well as a much shorter keeper.

Really exciting prospect, so pleased we did the deal and looking forward to seeing if he can fill the biggest of GK gloves!

17 Sep 2026 12:26:54
Some coup if he turns out that good and given his age could be with us for 15 plus years

Future looks good if we have Ndiaye, Ndukwe, Nyoni, Leoni and Jacquet.

17 Sep 2026 14:04:03
I actually thought that ndiaye looked very very good in preseason just like ndukwe did so i'm surprised he's not been involved with the 1st team a little bit more. Certainly got a good future with us hopefully.

17 Sep 2026 08:48:49
Could a solution at RB be moving McConnell. He's 6 ft 2, great physically and has good positional sense. Good passer and young. Perhaps not going to get into the midfield with the options we have.

17 Sep 2026 09:49:20
I said this at the start of the summer, to me it would be worth trying. Midfielders often make decent fbs.

17 Sep 2026 10:25:11
Good shout that, well worth a try. Good size and aggression to him. Decent on ball as well.

17 Sep 2026 10:47:11
Worth a try I suppose.

17 Sep 2026 13:07:01
No way McConell is 6'2; more like 5'10 or 5'11 at the most.

In need of a makeshift rb, I would rather play Dom as we know he can really do a job there.

17 Sep 2026 16:26:27
Kameron my mistake he's 175cm. So similar to Bradley.

17 Sep 2026 21:42:46
Bradley is taller: good 6 feet at least.

16 Sep 2026 22:37:11
Course Arsenal got Fleetwood,
Chelsea at home for us then, bring it on.

16 Sep 2026 23:55:51
If Arsenal had not got Fleetwood, they would have drawn Fleetwood Mack instead.

One wonders whether Florian will play and Frimpong. Another low block team, I don't often endorse what Paul Merson says on Sky, but I agree with his recent comments that teams who play three at the back do so because they can't defend properly. You can say Conte with Chelsea won the PL with the same system 3-4-3, however they are the only team who have won one only PL with a back three, the PL was started circa 34 years ago, or a 2.94% chance of PL success ever again, though being a cup tie anything can happen.

17 Sep 2026 00:42:00
Anything can happen in Amy match - stats can be made to support whatever you want to make them say.

17 Sep 2026 06:45:09
Are you alluding to some sort of conspiracy wrt the draw Rum Lad?

16 Sep 2026 22:39:55
Apologies to my fellow reds for my wording last night i did not mean to offend and take it back I go somewhat irked by comments on Rio. I do not profess to be better than any other and apologies if it came over that way. I am old enough to hold my hands up when wrong. All opinions welcome as it should be.

Peace BK.

16 Sep 2026 23:13:51
You have not offended me, post whatever you want it's a free country, don't worry about others, they won't worry about you.

you'll only get ulcers if you worry, "cest la vie" is my motto.

17 Sep 2026 08:35:45
I thought it was 'shaken not stirred' bond?

17 Sep 2026 12:34:26
Do not worry about what you posted we are in a fight to save free speech Bekind from this despot government so fill your boots buddy.

16 Sep 2026 16:44:53
Thoughts on the midfield balance last night albeit against a poor spurs side I felt that having the two kids and Macca actually worked better than having Wirtz playing the 10.

Its tough to see how we get Wirtz and Isak to work although Isak does seem to be getting more involved as games go by and obviously new manager and tactics to adjust to.

I would drop wirtz for a few games even just to see if gets a response from the player himself.

No doubt he has ability we just don't seem to be finding it.

16 Sep 2026 17:43:30
Was the balance better because Wirtz was not in the team or was it because Macca and Trey are actually passers with some positional sense?

16 Sep 2026 18:49:03
We were playing against a team that's barely escaped relegation 2 years running and has yet to score a single league goal, I wouldn't take too much away from it.

16 Sep 2026 20:11:49
Costus Tsimikas and Wirtz sitting in the stands were dropped by Andoni deliberately, like Florian was the very first substitution in the Andoni Premier League era at Newcastle after one hour ( that was deliberate also, to make a statement? ) It got a response from Florian who was MOM versus Forest, and ran the most of any LFC player at over 12 km.

Last night showed Florian the following list of suitors for the partner to Isak, Alexis (MOM as number 10), Koumas, Dom, Gravy, Gakpo, Barcola and Hugo when fit for both positions CF/AM, they are now the options Andoni has created. Andoni has put his cards on the table?
Florian will start versus Bournemouth. Costus will be superseded by Chambers and Joe Gomez who started his career at Charlton as a Left Back, that will be an all centre half defence possibly in some games. Costus will also become a sacrificial lamb for squad number eligibility in the coming winter window also possibly? He was that bad even Slot sent him out on loan last year? he made 6 Serie A starts all season, that was his third loan deal during his career, Greek Scouser more like Greek Pudding?

17 Sep 2026 00:43:09
Spot on @FPF.

16 Sep 2026 11:56:10
I think the midfield balance last night was better without Wirtz, is that tactical or the player I don't know but he needs to click in quick as he has just not being used or found his role yet in our side.

16 Sep 2026 13:03:40
Unfortunately for the usual starters the trio of McConnell, Nyoni and Mac Allister was the best our midfield has looked all season.

It went to crap once Gravenberch and Szoboszlai came onto the field and Spurs took complete control of the territory and the momentum. I was in the Kop for the game and the universal groans every time Gravenberch had the ball summed it up entirely. Szoboszlai was also stinking the place out but at least he launched a worldly into the top corner.

I also think it massively helped having Koumas up top. He was doing all the pressing Isak doesn't do and he was also giving people an option making good runs and pulling defenders around. Isak wants to be concerned. As much as he may be the better finisher, Koumas made us a better team.

The major disappointment from those who started the game was Rio. I know he forced the first goal, but his all round play both offensively and defensively was awful.

16 Sep 2026 14:14:07
I personally think it was the inclusion of Nyoni rather than the omission of Wirtz that benefitted us. Nyoni has the discipline to stay back and doesn't get caught out up field like when Grav and Szobo came on.

16 Sep 2026 16:31:37
Easy to test the theory - give Macca and Trey an opportunity to play more games together and see what the impact on Flo is.

16 Sep 2026 16:54:41
Agree MK and SK i agree on that also I think he was very good and needs more time I would personally go Trey Mc and Szob as the 3 in the next game.

16 Sep 2026 22:29:41
Being saying it for quite a while. A midfield 3 including Dom and Flo does not, and will not work.
I've actually changed my mind slightly on it
It may work with Trey in there.

{Ed666's Note - Trey is the key for every one of the midfield combos to work and I’m not being dramatic to support my narrative/theory. Maybe even time for Endo to get a few games

16 Sep 2026 05:58:07
Lots of posts on Rio. I don't think its all fair but someone said below he needs a couple of loans. While i agree he does we absolutely are shambles on loaning players. (Eliott) case study and many others. I can't even recall tue last player we sent out on loan and he came back and made it to first team

I think iraola is doing it right - play him FA cup, EFL and minutes off the bench against mid small opponents in CL/ epl

Rio on his part needs to show his mettle. Then end of year we have to make the decision. If an important offer comes for him and he doesn't show up in the chances given to him - i guess we have to be ruthless. L

To be honest I already kinda have given up on the club hiring much needed players anymore. Pretty sure next windows will be same where we will spend the entire window negotiating for olise and probably land him and then whole season will be spent figuring out how to play wirtz olise barcola and szobo in the same team!! While we still don't sign a RB LB and DM.

16 Sep 2026 07:29:05
Erm Lewis Koumas? Connor Bradley?

16 Sep 2026 09:50:57
Depends on what you mean by first team. If you mean starting 11 then I can't think of any bar Bradley who did that. But if you're referring to the first team squad, then we have had McConnell, Chambers, and Koumas who are in the squad from this season alone.

16 Sep 2026 14:27:18
To be fair if we signed Olise, just put him rw and move Szob to rb.
Doesn't fix cm though.

17 Sep 2026 13:11:27
Add Manu Kone to Olise as Endo Gravy replacement move on Fede maybe to Roma.

15 Sep 2026 19:54:26
Can I get approved for live match chat please.

{Ed033's Note - Chrisymate + Magico1234 added.

15 Sep 2026 15:58:27
With the obvious weaknesses in the team

Do you think the manager will ever play a 433 and leave out wirtz??

15 Sep 2026 18:13:00
Wouldn't that mean we play 423?