03 Aug 2016 09:47:30
Wow! Where has all the negativity come from? A loss to Roma in a pre season friendly, seriously?

Maybe look at the positives folks because I am really optimistic about this season.


We have jurgen Klopp as our manager, who the majority of us have wanted for years. He has picked our new signings and had plenty of time to decide who was not good enough acted swiftly and ruthlessly and got rid.

He has taken lovren Sakho and Can to another level. Ojo is a serious talent.

We still have firmino Sturridge and coutinho who I believe would get into any team in the premier league. Add to that a new keeper that everyone craved.

1.) 03 Aug 2016
03 Aug 2016 10:05:19
Agreed but I think everyone is concerned about the fullbacks, especially left back.

2.) 03 Aug 2016
03 Aug 2016 10:11:00
The defensive issues that dogged us last season are still with us and now seem likely to remain unresolved. Those issues were one of the fundamental reasons we finished 8th last season instead of higher. It is hard to be optimistic when the area we need to strengthen is so obvious yet the club fails to act.

3.) 03 Aug 2016
03 Aug 2016 10:53:10
We have acted on the defensive issues. Skrtel is gone, matip and klavan have come in. Migs in now no.2 to karius.

Obviously a left back is needed, we have tried to sign 2 but obviously felt they were over priced. Still along way to go in the transfer window.

4.) 03 Aug 2016
03 Aug 2016 11:09:27
Agree Eamon, I personally am happy with Clyne at RB.

While we clearly have issues at LB with a lack of an experienced specialist, playing Milner or Gomez there for a few months and addressing the problem in Jan (assuming all else fails) isn't the end of the world either.

At CB I'm perfectly happy with Lovren and Sakho given how they performed towards the end of last season, and Matip and Klavan are very credible competition too.

Bear in mind we finished the Roma game with Wisdom and Stewart playing there, I do not see how the result is relevant to predicting our season.

5.) 03 Aug 2016
03 Aug 2016 13:12:52
One of our down falls last season was a lot of possession but no end product/ cutting edge. I think that we have addressed that with Mane, a fit (hopefully) Sturridge, an ever improving Origi and a fit again Henderson. Yes the same defensive frailties exist potentially, but by the time Moreno has vacated left back and we get hit on the break or Migs has a clanger we should be out of sight!

Sorry if that's a little too positive an outlook for some, Ron I'm sure you're with me though 😄.

6.) 03 Aug 2016
03 Aug 2016 13:39:37
Zimbo, Gomez (a CB) and Milner (a midfielder) are not LB`s and will be found out and eaten alive by other teams so that is not a solution. That is a bandaid that will get ripped off and the bleeding will start again. We need a true LB, not converted or part time LB`s, period. The issues could have been solved had we just paid the paltry 10m for Chilwell who was keen to come. Even if we didn`t want to pay the money, we should have had other options on deck BUT seemingly, that is not the case. Now we are stuck with potentially NO left backs worthy of the name (Milner, Gomez and the liability in chief Moreno, are not true LB`s) yet we want to challenge for honors vs teams who actuay HAVE true LB`s. Let me know if that makes sense to you because it doesn`t to me and many others.

7.) 03 Aug 2016
03 Aug 2016 13:59:55
I hear you Higgins mate 😎

My outlook at the moment is this:
1) I'm not judging anything based on pre-season friendlies.
2) Look at the improvements Klopp made in the 7-8 months during last season. He didn't sign anyone (Caulker doesn't count 😉) yet we played with more purpose and improved our defensive lapses at set pieces. Players who were ready for the scrap heap under the previous regime suddenly became MOM performers - Lucas and Sakho. Smith was on his way out but signed a new contract.
New players have come through - Ojo, Brannagan and Stewart. I can't think of one player who has gone backwards since Klopp arrived and the mood at Anfield and around Melwood has improved immeasurably.

All this achieved during one of our worst fixture congestions. Now Klopp has had them in pre-season he will continue to make great improvements. Just because we haven't signed 11 new players doesn't mean we still have the same problems as last year. Improved coaching will bear fruit.

Keep believing lads 😎.

8.) 03 Aug 2016
03 Aug 2016 14:52:53
How on earth do you know that the same defensive problems remain? The problem area is left back, we have strengthened our central defenders. Matip is very experienced, quick, athletic and a good tackler. Klavan a captain for his country, reliable and a leader (fans already likening him to Skrtel, he's played a couple of games) Right back we have Clyne, who's reliable and consistent on the whole. Agreed, our cover is Randall who doesn't look ready but he can only get better if given game time. Are you basing this on a friendly against Roma? I'm convinced Liverpool will bring in a left back, although they will probably have to pay a large fee. Maybe they are waiting to sell Benteke before dipping into the market again. YNWA.

9.) 03 Aug 2016
03 Aug 2016 14:57:41
With any luck Klopp will have realised that there was a gaping hole in midfield that Roma ran through at will and does something about that.

10.) 03 Aug 2016
03 Aug 2016 15:09:34
Wiselfc I hopevthe only similarity klavan has with skrtel is his bald head.

11.) 03 Aug 2016
03 Aug 2016 15:24:50
Good call Eamon! I think he will surprise a few once he gets used to Liverpool's style and the pace of the English game. I still have not seen Matip play in a red shirt, although I watched him play for Schalke several times. There are not many quick, assured CB's in the premiership, I think he'll fit in well.