20 Dec 2023 22:15:14
My god. If only Jones was selected in Gravenberch's spot last Sunday. There would have been no out from the back and I'm utterly convinced we would have gotten an early goal and won comfortably.

Anyway. What's done is done. We move on. A Jones/ Soboslai midfield is something else. When we were clicking at the start of the season it was mostly down to them. That's the first choice. Mac Allaister is first reserve for both positions.

I thought Endo was great today and I think that's my first midfield with Arnold at RB. It's a tough call as I thought Arnold was great in DM but I like Endo. DM is the hardest call right now but I'd like to see more games of the midfield that started today so that will be Arnold at RB.

Elliott will be our RW when Salah is at AFCON. Liked what he brought today. When he plays with two other pacy forwards, he is a real threat in that position. He just needs runners to make space for him. Something Klopp took away on Sunday when bringing him on. Sorry to keep coming back to that game but I'm so mad at Klopp.

However we now have the blueprint for the rest of the season. It HAS to be obvious to Klopp now. Jones/ Soboslai is the answer and I don't want to see Gravenberch starting until he radically changes his game. He needs Robertson/ Fabinho style integration.

Looks like Nunez is going to be sub against Arsenal. That will be a mistake aswell. We need to stretch Arsenal and Nunez will push them the other way. Diaz and Gakpo come short all the time. Salah has lost a yard and if we play inverted RB again he will be at the half way line. Think Klopp is heading for another mistake there. I could play Gakpo in the game after but we definitely should start Nunez against Arsenal as they won't be able to squeeze up on us. Or start Gakpo with Nunez on the left again but Nunez has to play against Arsenal.

1.) 20 Dec 2023
20 Dec 2023 22:50:30
We struggle against a low block davey we always have it takes us a while and some individual brilliance to beat it at times . Ie Utd

But totally agree with jones . Gravenberch is an unreal talent but he will be a great player but for now I’m happy for him to be a sub and slowly integrate as you say .

Also I think Nunez should start but I do feel gakpo could help us control the middle more against Arsenal and I suspect klopp will opt for more control and bring Nunez on with 20/ 30 to go but I agree I’d love us to just have a good go from the off against them.

2.) 20 Dec 2023
20 Dec 2023 23:22:12
I'm sure I read on here the other day that we were going to fall apart against West Ham, our season was going to implode and we were going to finish mid table as a result.
Jones was magnificent tonight, astonishing to believe this time last season folks on here were writing him off.
Gravenberch is going to take a little time to properly find his feet, absolutely no doubting he's got the makings of a top quality player.
And I felt gutted for Nunez hitting the post tonight too, a goal would have done his confidence a world of good.

3.) 20 Dec 2023
20 Dec 2023 23:25:27
I don't think Gravenberch is an unreal talent. He is far less talented than Paul Pogba and if his thought is to play with similar effort to Paul Pogba then he will have to go sharpish.

He presses 50 percent of the time. When he does press he fouls half the time. He is literally a nightmare player for Klopps system. There's always an out from the press when he plays.

He has some nice touches but they almost always end in nothing. Until he learns to tackle and put in maximum effort, I'd only play him for ten or so minutes in suitable games to keep his resale up.

Honestly, I'd just prefer to get a DM beast and sell him. We got rid of Keita and bought another one in my eyes. Sorry lads, I'd forgive a lot but lack of effort is just too annoying. And he should be chomping at the bit. Get rid I say.

And Nunez really needs to start. Arsenal will come at us. We need to keep their backline guessing or they ll be too comfortable trying to squeeze us up the pitch. Nunez makes them second guess their game plan. And you want them second guessing from the start when the atmosphere is at its hottest.

4.) 20 Dec 2023
20 Dec 2023 23:27:26
Also our best scoring chances come from turnovers. That's why I think we would have won against United with Jones. Better, more dangerous turnovers. That's how Klopps style beats low blocks.

5.) 21 Dec 2023
21 Dec 2023 01:23:39
I’m not having you writing Gravenberch off after 2 and a half months Davey. That’s just not right.

For me he has the best first touch in a congested midfield situation that I’ve seen in ages. It’s almost Zidane like at times the way he just manipulates the ball on the turn to find space.

I do agree that his work off the ball needs some attention as does his end product but he’s a young kid who’s just had his confidence shattered at Bayern. Plus I think Klopp’s teams are very hard to play for, particularly the off the ball pressing style. It takes time to learn as we’ve seen with other, way more experienced players than him.

Give him time I have a really good feeling about him.

6.) 21 Dec 2023
21 Dec 2023 02:54:24
I'm with Beckers on this, Davey. I'm not for writing off players after half a season. He did look good when he first came in but he does need to work a lot more when he's off the ball. I'm hopeful that it'll come with time, especially since everyone else in the team is putting in that level of effort. It'll rub off on him eventually.

7.) 21 Dec 2023
21 Dec 2023 02:59:51
Why is everyone so obsessed with DM now? Our best and most successful midfield was milner, Hendo and Gini - none are DM but all worked hard and pressed together.

We don't need a DM the midfield just needs to move and press as a unit, jd argue gravenberch is a pretty good Gini replacement with a similar skillset just needs to learn the role and integrate, Gini took a while to adapt as well.

8.) 21 Dec 2023
21 Dec 2023 04:35:35
Our best and most successful midfield was milner, Hendo and Gin

Fabinho says hold my beer Nevada.

9.) 21 Dec 2023
21 Dec 2023 05:53:31
Milner, Henderson and Wijnaldum was our best midfield? What? It's really not prudent to start smoking whatever you're smoking, before the weekend has started. ?.

10.) 21 Dec 2023
21 Dec 2023 07:23:59
I can't stand him lads.

On one hand he is young so he can learn but on the other youth usually brings youthful exuberance.

I love our squad because name me other player that doesn't give maximum effort in the pitch. I can't think of one.

Nunez and Gakpo get criticised lately. I love them both and have faith they will succeed because they run themselves into the ground.

Endo has work to do on certain aspects of his game but I love him because he is pouring swear and running himself into the ground for the team.

Salah sprints and sprints and sprints.

Diaz is getting criticized lately but watch him closing people down.

I know Kostas is flying now and rightfully getting the praise but I honestly had faith right from the off as he runs himself into the ground.

Mac Allaister runs himself into the ground.

There's literally no one else in the team not giving his absolute all.

Like I said on another post, everyone needs to buy in and work hard for Klopps press to work. This guy is a pure passenger in that regard. I absolutely hate his work ethic. I can forgive any talent short comings as they can be overcome with work ethic and training. Particularly in Klopp system. Klopp just really has to stop starting him.

11.) 21 Dec 2023
21 Dec 2023 07:50:37
Not going to lie I’ve not ever had the impression Grav only puts half hearted effort in and I’ve not seen anyone else say it on hear or around the stadium on match day.

It was only a month ago that Mac was the midfield problem and now it’s Grav. Im going to try and watch grav more closely next time he plays.

12.) 21 Dec 2023
21 Dec 2023 08:43:31
As for Gravenberch, I think @Davey is going a bit OTT here on Grav. "I just can't stand him"? Really, after 3 months or so at LFC? Come on, man. You're doing too much here, IMO. The kid needs work just like Darwin and a lot of our younger players need to continue to improve. Grav is talented and is still raw and keep in mind, he just turned 21. Have some patience is all I'm saying.

13.) 21 Dec 2023
21 Dec 2023 09:30:15
I like what Curtis brings to the midfield and would have him starting games, fitness permitting of course, I think since the back end of last season he has really shown he deserves to be part of this team.

14.) 21 Dec 2023
21 Dec 2023 09:46:19
To be fair Curtis Jones previous couple of games for Liverpool were pretty dire.

15.) 21 Dec 2023
21 Dec 2023 10:34:12
One thing I noticed about Grav is that when we have the ball, he is by far the least mobile player off the ball. That makes it harder for our Center backs and DM and LB to find an open pass. Agree with Davey on effort, but I won’t write him off yet. Let’s give him time and an off season to fully find himself in our system. Fabinho took half a season as well.

16.) 21 Dec 2023
21 Dec 2023 11:36:07
I should have said I can't start him starting games Oli. That's what I meant. What came out was OTT.

He can definitely learn. Every human can.

And he does have ability. Definitely enough to be a top player if he worked as hard as the other players in the team.

I just need him to be given full Robertson/ Fabinho treatment.

Very little starts until he gets it. He just costs us too much in team performance right now to start him. Sub appearances will suit me fine.