14 Feb 2023 08:12:47
One swallow doesn't make a summer but it Looks like we have finally found our best mid 3. Hendo was pressing everywhere, Fab after a slow start was so much better getting his long legs in everywhere and Stefan provided extra defensive cover as well as pretty press resistant himself.

I also like Gakpo, Nunez and Salah as first two provide extra height for defensive set pieces plus Fabs tall as well.

Tough game away at Newcastle but if somehow we can win that then it's game on!

{Ed025's Note - but you were only playing everton 1jj.. :)

1.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 08:30:40
Newcastle are on one win in their last six, I think it's as good a time as any to play them.

2.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 08:57:19
That's what Everton were saying about us before last night's match SR.

3.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 09:05:45
Yes ED25 The same Everton that just beat table topping Arsenal the game before ? before last night I’d of taken a win Vs Grimsby U18s….

4.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 09:11:44
Hendo was superb so fair play to him; rest might've done him good. Less said about Fabinho the better, but it didn't matter as Hendo and Baj carried him and still bossed it. Nunez and Gakpo fantastic too. Trent and Robbo back to their best.

Overall very good. I don't remember Alisson making a meaningful save. We do need to improve defending set pieces though.

5.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 09:26:50
Do we have any other young prospects who are (almost) ready to play in midfield with Baj and Henderson?

{Ed001's Note - not really, maybe if the lads out on loan have learnt while away they might be possible next season, but right now probably not.}

6.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 09:40:34
Ed001, interested on what you think of Bacjetic so far.

There's always this honeymoon period for a youngster when they break into a team. Mistakes are forgiven and every good move is aplauded but I think this guy looks great. He is so tenacious, good speed, strong in the tackle, good touch, good passer. Plus I think having strong footballing family roots will also help. I think he will be a player for us. long term. What are your thoughts? Too early to judge properly?

{Ed001's Note - I think he has that X factor that a youngster needs. There is a good reason why Klopp decided to change his plans in the summer after seeing him. He is an outstanding young talent with the potential to be a key player. The only worry is that he might not see his long term future in England and if he reaches his potential might hanker for a Barca/Madrid move. If he doesn't reach his potential then it won't matter, but it does bear keeping in mind that he might not be someone we can build around in the long term.

In terms of attributes, he has them all, including a real coolness when it matters. That can make a huge difference, not just in terms of when in position to put the ball in the net, but also when defending. A rash player can leave you exposed by throwing himself in, he tends not to sell himself easily.}

7.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 09:42:29
Indeed, OP. We will see what happens come the next two games cos we have two absolute bangers vs Newcastle and RM coming up. As for Fab, he is still not out of the woods yet BUT it seemed like Klopp was sure to never leave him isolated and Baj was always next to him whenever we lost the ball.

I hope Fab comes back cos it seems he is really have a hard time on and off the pitch. It seems like he wants to do something BUT his body wouldn't let him do it.

@Ed25, your fans were giving it the big uns before the game about how Onana was going to run rough-wreck all over us. He is lucky he actually finished the game and your mob had NO hots on target except a pass to Allisson from Iwobi so they need to take the L and move on.

{Ed025's Note - I was not giving it large oli. I expected the result mate.

8.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 09:46:08
Second best PL performance of the season after the City home game. 10/ 10 for effort which is all you can ask for. Let's see if they can build on this.

Saturday evening at St James's will be raucous. And they are a lot better than Everton who were very very poor last night.

9.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 10:27:07
Be v interesting if we can go to Newcastle put in another good performance and win. I think we can look forward to rest of season if we do.

10.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 10:45:34
@Ed25, Oh, not you mate. I know for a fact that you were dreading this game from jump so no issues there, man. I just thought some of your fans (not all of course) need to know their place and stop hyping up a team that literally does NOT and can NOT score goals from open play.

And these people need to stop overhyping their manager who for all the hype he gets, has LOST 10 of his last 13 games vs Klopp for a 65% LOSS rate. There's levels to this coaching thing and they need to cool it down. Dyche has never been in Klopp's league, end of. The comparison needs to stop cos it's embarrassing when you actually check the numbers. Just saying.

{Ed025's Note - there is no comparison between klopp and dyche oli and to say there is well thats just foolish, dyche has joined a club in dire straits but i do believe he is the best man for the job in our situation mate, he has a very difficult job with this group of players to keep us up...but for now we live in hope..

11.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 10:47:11
@Ed01, I knew Baj was a baller the first time I saw him receive the ball in the preseason friendly vs RB Salzburg. With an opponent bearing down on him and the ball coming to him from the CB, he dropped a should, quick body swerve and sent the opposing player to the shops. Right there, I said to myself (and on this forum) that this kid has it. You know back in the day, you knew a baller from the moment he first touches the ball? yeah, me too. Oh, and he plays with his socks down over his shin pads, something Diego used to do way back. Again, old school baller right there, man.

Whether his long term future is here or not, I cannot say cos I can't even think that far. What I do know is that the kid has all the talent you need to be a top CM. Press resistant, technically sound, can tackle, a ball winner, passing range with both feet, great dribbler off the half turn etc. Hope he comes good for us.

12.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 10:48:13
The thing that most impresses me about Bajcetic is his press resistance. English academies generally don't tend to produce midfielders like this. He has that fantastic first touch and burst of acceleration that gets him past his tackler. It is absolutely vital to succeed at the top level, I think. I absolutely love the guy. And he comes across as so level headed too. Will save us millions of dollars in the market.
This was one of the reasons I was so excited about Curtis Jones initially. He also has this skill. However, things have not worked out for him for one reason or the another. I sincerely hope he can improve and become a valuable squad player at least. Always good to have home grown scousers in and around.

13.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 12:05:55
Ed1 do you think Bajcetic should be used as the lone 6 or one of the 8s primarily for the rest of this season i think that left sided 8 role really suited him. Fab still didn't look great i have to say but he looked less exposed.

{Ed001's Note - just depends on who else is fit, available and in form. I would vary it personally to help him with experience.}

14.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 12:47:18
Upto now he is bright spark of our season, and I just hope he keeps his head down and works hard. I think Klopp is the ideal manager to develop him and ensure he progresses well.

I’m very impressed at how he has gone from a centre back to now a midfield number six in the prem against men and then plays the eight role in same environment with ease. I think we have a gem on our hands.

I just hope or even wish we make top four and hopefully that will ensure Bellingham in the summer. If we can also bring in say Caicedo we would eventually have a midfield three of Bellingham, Bacjetic and Caicedo and all with a good ten years ahead of them.

15.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 14:40:38
Thekoparmy, watching him ^lay is like watching the great Portuguese midfielder Paolo Sousa play back in the 90's for Juve and Parma. Awesome player. You could NEVER get the ball off him and pressure or press him at your own peril. Absolute banger of a player.

The good thing in Baj is that he has the cerebral El Maestro Thiago training with him daily (except when he is injured, lol), one of the absolute best to ever do it. He can only grow from strength to strength. I love Curtis too and he is just as technically sound as anyone out there. Hope he can overcome his physical issues and realise his talent cos he like Baj, Carvalho and Elliott have it in spades, IMO.

16.) 14 Feb 2023
14 Feb 2023 16:47:44
Morton is out on loan for Blackburn start 23 of 29 games and made sub appearances in the other 6 getting some vital experience

Anyone been keep tabs on him?