09 Nov 2016 09:44:07
I know with the African cup of nations we will be missing mane for about a month or so but I really think loosing matip for that period would have been more devastating to us. mane has settled in really well and would love not to loose any if them but I think matip is different class. I don't wanna say we got him on a free as I don't know what agent fees sign on fees or wages he be on but quite frankly I couldn't give 2 hoots. it was considerably less than total fees city spent on stones and United did on bailey angry arsenal did on mustafi. I know which of them 4 I would be pickin in my team.

1.) 09 Nov 2016
09 Nov 2016 10:00:00
point is, our attack is alright, we have people to cover Mane whilst he's away. Matip however is arguably the best defender we have so if it'd of been him going yes, it'd of been a big loss. thankfully he's staying.

2.) 09 Nov 2016
09 Nov 2016 10:12:20
Yea great post mate could not agree more. Mane can be replaced by divok or danny. Two brilliant players in my opinion. Hopefully lucas and lovren can hold the fort in that time!

3.) 09 Nov 2016
09 Nov 2016 10:40:32
Mane can be replaced but his level cannot be matched at this stage anyway!

4.) 09 Nov 2016
09 Nov 2016 11:13:00
Guys,

Matip if I recall what the Eds have said previously, Matip is not going.

Could any of the Eds kindly confirm?

cheers.

{Ed002's Note - I don't know if anything is finalised but he has rejected the opportunity to play for Cameroon for a while.}

5.) 09 Nov 2016
09 Nov 2016 13:48:20
Matip has definitely said that he is not going to ACON.

He wants ti stay put and make the best of the chance he has been given to play for one of Europe's top clubs.

i ddon't know the state or quality of the Cameroon team but this decision definitely benefits us.

6.) 09 Nov 2016
09 Nov 2016 15:03:19
I actually feel Mane is a bigger miss than we might think.
We have quality that can come in but it's not the same quality that Mane brings. His pace alone does so much for Coutihno and Firmino.

The little pockets defenders leave to compensate for his acceleration allows both of them more space, when coupled with their technique, allows incredible opportunities for them in key areas.

For instance, look at the one game where we had no Mane. A 2-0 loss to Burnley. That Liverpool team set a record for the highest possession in game while losing.

They kept it so tight at the back and made us look restricted.

I do realise we will have off days at the front and so this one off result can't be solely based on having no Mane. I believe we have games against Man Utd and Chelsea while he's away at AFCON. I would much prefer a side with Mane in but I have faith our team can cope for a couple games without him, especially with how well they are playing.

Pretty sure Matip has confirmed a while ago he will not be joining Cameroon - which is a nice bonus.

7.) 09 Nov 2016
09 Nov 2016 15:15:59
thank you Ed02

incidentally what tea are you drinking now that Trump is in power?
Wow and just wow!

{Ed002's Note - I like your English Breakfast Tea. I need to get back in to the habit of fruit teas in the afternoons.}

8.) 09 Nov 2016
09 Nov 2016 18:29:39
I trust that Klopp has already planned for Mane`s absence (which doesn`t mean he will sign anyone as that makes no sense at all) . We have Studge and Origi who can deputise for at least four games and I`m sure Klopp will reshape the team to get the best of it again. I`m not worried. And Matip has already said he`s no longer interested in playing for Cameroon anymore, at least for now.

9.) 09 Nov 2016
09 Nov 2016 19:51:24
Sturrudge has proved he is dreadful on the wings. Playing him out in the wings is as similar to Walcott occupying the flanks.

10.) 09 Nov 2016
09 Nov 2016 20:10:20
4-4-2 diamond while Mane is away. DS and RF up top, PC behind. Will be lethal.

11.) 09 Nov 2016
09 Nov 2016 20:43:59
My point exactly, Andy and we have evidence that this formation works. See EFL Cup vs Spurs and EFL Cup vs Saints last season.

12.) 09 Nov 2016
09 Nov 2016 21:14:26
Klopp doesn't play diamond. I expect a winger to come in January. We are going for the title this season.

13.) 10 Nov 2016
10 Nov 2016 09:50:12
Harry, the last thing we need to do is buy another winger, why? that'd be spending money for spending moneys sake, it'd just be stupid.

I keep seeing you talk about us needing to sign this player and that player in January but we don't need to bring anybody in. We have more than enough quality in the first team to cover Mane's absense. So we go and buy a winger because Mane is out for a month? then what? then the new wingers on the bench at best, we need to give the youngsters a chance, not go and sign more players. If anything we need to offload a couple.

14.) 10 Nov 2016
10 Nov 2016 13:33:06
Harry, you are wrong again. Klopp played a diamond 4-4-2 vs Spurs in the EFL Cup with Studge and Origi up top, vs Saints last season in the EFL Cup with Studge and Origi, and in the second half vs Dortmund with Studge and Origi, all resounding victories so again, you are wrong. What you expect is your opinion and nothing more and I expect that you will be disappointed. Nobody will come in as a month-long stop gap for Mane as that logically makes no sense, as LFC16 mentioned. If someone does come in, it will be someone for the long term and in Jan, those players are not readily available. But I`m sure you`ll be here ranting if we don`t sign anyone because of course, all you talk about is signings with no idea where they will fit in or how they are better than those we already have.