Liverpool Banter Archive January 03 2018

03 Jan 2018 21:24:41
I have to say lad's Klaven has been very solid the last 3/ 4 game's.

03 Jan 2018 21:43:33
I agree, maybe a little longer, although not too difficult he has been our best centre back in recent times and would be my choice to partner VVD. Although until this recent upturn he was awful imo and I can’t help but think he will revert back to type soon.

03 Jan 2018 22:20:57
OP, Klavan has been brilliant for way more games than that mate. He is not the most elegant nor does he have pace BUT what he lacks in these areas, is a fighting spirit, bravery, no-nonsense attitude as well as solid aerial ability and decent passing ability out of the back. Take a bow, Raggy!

03 Jan 2018 22:24:13
I don't think vvd will play on Friday think klopp will resist that, maybe go for klavan an lovren or lovren an matip.

03 Jan 2018 23:06:46
Please no matip. Klavan and lovren all the way until Virgil is ready.

04 Jan 2018 00:07:38
Klavan may not be the best centre back in the world but he certainly isn't as combustable under pressure as lovren nor is he as lazy and weak as matip. His main problems are that he is slow and has come into the toughest league in the world at 30+ after playing for defensive teams his whole career. With van dijks pace and leadership alongside him and a decent keeper behind him i think we'd see a lot more consistency. Fingers crossed the alisson rumours are true!

04 Jan 2018 00:34:53
Klavan has certainly stepped up.

04 Jan 2018 01:44:21
Klavan got beaten for pace a couple of times and made a couple of mistakes early on, but since he’s settled in and we’ve adapted the system to prevent our CBs getting quite so exposed he has been very very reliable. I would be very happy to see VVD and Klavan becoming our first choice pairing given his willingness to take on physical strikers, the way he attacks the ball in the air, and he’s also a really decent ball player when playing out from the back.

04 Jan 2018 09:42:25
I agree klaven has been decent lately and should partner vvd when he's ready but I think klopp will go with dejan unfortunately.

04 Jan 2018 09:54:25
Klopp won't play VVD and Klavan together. Has no one noticed that both play on the left of a back 2? It will be VVD and LOvren/ Matip.

03 Jan 2018 20:43:58
Lots of people sugestin FSG only bought Vvd and Keita because they expect to get their money back threw the sale of Coutinho. Would like to hear Your view on this ed. Thx.

{Ed002's Note - The club need to work within the FFP regulations and the owners cannot spend money the club doesn’t earn.}

03 Jan 2018 21:18:48
I’ve saw no people suggest that bar man united fans.

03 Jan 2018 21:31:48
So You aren't denying it ed?

03 Jan 2018 21:46:06
Obviously that's true.

Where else are they going to get upwards of £150m?

What's wrong with that?

03 Jan 2018 21:58:44
Booboy stop being a boo boy.

04 Jan 2018 00:09:22
Its reality but i don't mind. Barcelona are paying over the odds three-fold for coutinho, it allows us to go out and get the best players available in the positions we need, something that even with our long history of expensive player sales we have not really managed to do.

03 Jan 2018 23:29:04
Ok ed so what does the club must do to stay within fair play? What is exactly the difference between for ecample Liveepool and Man City?

{Ed002's Note - I am not going to explain FFP again.}

03 Jan 2018 20:33:08
Any chance the club try to get ahead of Couthinho sale and try to get a replacement ahead? We seen what happened after Bale, Suarez, Neymar sales, prices double or triple for the players. Also, any chance Klopp will finally buy a holding player? Henderson is only healthy for half a season and Can will leave in the summer. Who would Ed suggest would be a good fit?

03 Jan 2018 20:50:35
Neither Can nor Henderson are holding midfielders but imo should be replaced by one. Neither of those 2 or Wini offers enough going forward, if we replaced one with say Ndidi (my dream realistic choice) I think it would improve us no end by helping protect the back 4 and not really losing a whole lot of creativity.

03 Jan 2018 21:02:32
It's not as simple as that. If we buy Lemar from Monaco for €90 million, and we do it before we sell Coutinho to Barca, They still know he's a replacement, and they still know we're getting a wedge of cash from Barca.

03 Jan 2018 21:48:10
Is Ndidi really the dream? 😂

A realistic sensible option, yes. Not the dream choice though surely lol.

04 Jan 2018 08:21:35
navy, I think it's about balance. Ndidi would bring a natural defensive eye to the midfield that Hendo and Can don't really have. they can play defensively but they are naturally box to box midfielders. Ndidi would just slot in and he has talent on the ball to fit in to how we play there, it would then free up the likes of Can and Hendo Ox etc to play more box to box and therefore in their natural positions. not a dream individual signing in terms of star quality, but could be an integral and much under-rated piece that we do need.

04 Jan 2018 15:44:35
Ndidi your dream choice? You need to get out more.

2017 Top 50 new posts table

2017 Top 50 replies table

03 Jan 2018 20:08:39
Bloody hell Ed I didn't think I was that happy in my marriage😁.

03 Jan 2018 20:08:58
Man I need to step up my game.

03 Jan 2018 20:26:27
Quite happy with my scores, been a pleasure interacting with the vast majority of you :)
Happy New Year to you all!

03 Jan 2018 20:30:40
Ed, you should add a note tallying up Harry under all the usernames, and he leads both then!

{Ed033's Note - Most of Harry's posts are deleted. If the server added up all of Harry's sent in posts and replies instead of the posts/replies that made it onto the site, it would probably break the server.

03 Jan 2018 21:51:35
I always finish second. It's the key to a happy marriage.

03 Jan 2018 22:36:55
Haha love it, im so lagging behind on the new posts, think i will get right on that. Really shows we really love this site though.

03 Jan 2018 22:49:13
Maybe some of you need to go for quality rather than quantity?

03 Jan 2018 22:53:50
Wow this is class! Never expected this. But I am in a relegation battle.

03 Jan 2018 23:08:13
How do you all find time to send so many replies?

03 Jan 2018 23:32:25
Wow. I wonder how many of those was me crushing on Studge.

03 Jan 2018 23:43:44
Can’t believe I’m in the top 15 for replies, spend far too much time on here 😂.

03 Jan 2018 23:50:08
im o sad i did not make that list. i have been following this site for ages and could not cut in. Am i transfer listed now?

{Ed001's Note - you've never made it out of the ressies mate.... ;-)

03 Jan 2018 23:59:05
2161 😎.

04 Jan 2018 01:35:14
Wow, this is so cool! And you cracked me up with the Harry joke, and the finishing second link to marital bliss!
You guys are simply the best!
Thanks Ed033 and all the eds. I mean, you didn't have to do this, but you're always thinking of making this site better and better. Thanks to Eds 01 and 02 for all your football knowledge and your patience with us!

04 Jan 2018 15:43:53
Is that why some of mine don't go through Ed33 mate lol.

{Ed033's Note - A tip is to not say negative stuff about Ed002 or not talk about Ed002.

03 Jan 2018 19:17:30
Do we have a game yet.? 😪.

03 Jan 2018 18:57:26
Apologies if asked previously. If Sanchez was a. Available and b. Would leave London, would Liverpool ever be interested? He appears awfully glum these days at Arsenal. Have Liverpool ever watched his situation in any detail?

{Ed002's Note - There is no interest.}

03 Jan 2018 19:05:47
Selling one sulking moaner we don't need for another sulking moaner we do not need? Genius. Why is everyone so obsessed with sanchez on here when we've scored 77 goals in half a season but have serious problems in midfield and defence? Never ever going to happen and i honestly don't want it to.

03 Jan 2018 19:37:14
I wouldn't call couts a sulking moaner, he's been professional and got on with his job.

04 Jan 2018 06:44:05
Sanchez clearly will leave London since he's been touted round everywhere.

03 Jan 2018 18:40:16
Are there any english/ british talent looked at now? Or are vi happy with what we got in terms of TAA, Gomez, Woodburn, Brewster and so on? Anyone ITK?

03 Jan 2018 18:49:05
Not ITK but I'd assume we're looking at a range of young British talent that we feel has the potential to make it to the first team and is within reach all the time, Sessegnon is one that comes to mind who I'm sure we have our eye on.

03 Jan 2018 19:32:47
I usually think to be first team in the future, they need to play at a young age - it's great Gomez and taa are getting time, Woodburn has had some jsut needs to beef up a bit for me! Ejaria, what's happened to anyone know?

03 Jan 2018 17:52:01
Hi Ed's. Apologies if this is a silly question, but curious. If a player was to retire from football but then come out of retirement, would he still be bound by the contact he was in prior to his retirement? It would be utterly unprofessional but could a player escape a club that way? Thanks in advance for your reply.

{Ed002's Note - You mean retire half way through his contract? Then his registration stays with the club.}

03 Jan 2018 18:50:57
Ah, so if he was to return to the game he'd have to fulfill his contract bar any special agreement with the club to cancel it?

{Ed002's Note - Are looking for more ways for Liverpool to attempt to cheat or what?}

03 Jan 2018 19:34:27
This is not to do with trying to break the rules but just a curiosity - I assumed if a player retired his contract would be terminated?

{Ed002's Note - it is not to do with the contract.}

03 Jan 2018 20:33:43
Sorry Lil Phil, you can't retire on us and go to Barcelona for free fella - your friends in Spain got to pay that price I'm afraid, nice try though.
£160 million straight cash no add ons if you're offering Barca, thanks!

03 Jan 2018 20:27:26
Thanks for the response.

03 Jan 2018 22:45:19
Petticoat showing there Ed. He clearly meant the player pulling one on the club, not vice versa.

04 Jan 2018 06:45:57
Shouldn't be any different to Allardyce and the money paid to Palace.

03 Jan 2018 17:04:07
Hello eds and other users just wondering on your thoughts for replacements (though you can't replace) for couts seen a lot of that Samuel saiz for leeds this season and looks a player what are your thoughts and do you think it would be worth the gamble?
Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - We have dealt at length with potential replacements. I know nothing of the Leeds player.}

03 Jan 2018 17:35:13
What ever happened to our interest in Luan or was that just paper talk. I have not been following him so don't know if his form has continued or dipped. Having watched a little of him last year he could certainly be a very good player but i suspect a work permit would be an issue.

03 Jan 2018 18:28:13
I think Ed said he had complex third party ownership arrangements and that would make things complicated. Or something like that.

03 Jan 2018
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, The club doesn't revolve around Coutinho... just a reminder.

03 Jan 2018 16:31:15
I get what you mean mate, and i saw your post yesterday as well.

However, this is a rumours site. If you don't want to read speculation about players leaving and who could replace them, you're probably in the wrong place 😂 I'm sure people will discuss the game on Friday, but right now there is no game on, but there is a transfer window open!

Football fans don't have a lot of capacity to see past the here and now. What is there to discuss about the Everton game anyway? Tactics? Formations? We don't even know who is fit for the game yet. We'll know more after Klopp's pre-match presser and then people will start talking about the game. You're looking too far ahead buddy! We're all simple people, with small brains, who cannot focus on two things at once. Let us be! 😂.

03 Jan 2018 15:06:08
Silly season is in full flight! Whilst Phil is our best player, I don't think he's our most crucial (Firmino) or in-form (Salah) . I like the look of Lemar and wouldn't be against signing him but I do think he's very expensive. I wonder whether Nabil Fekir or Ante Coric would be more Coutinho-esque? Also, a path for Woodburn needs to be considered - he's got the talent.

03 Jan 2018 15:45:25
I like Fekir, but i don't want to sign him because i have a very young child who is going to hear his name and pronounce it incorrectly. Aside from that, he'd be a class replacement. Coric is not ready yet.

I'm more than happy with Lemar though. If we had Lemar creating down the left side of midfield, Chambo creating down the right the right side of midfield, Mane-Firmino-Salah up top, and Keita launching attacks from deep and mopping anything loose up, we'll be as good as City going forward. Anything Pep can do, Klopp can do better 😂 If Fernandinho, De Bruyne and Silva works, then I'm confident Keita, Lemar and Chamberlain will work too. As Lemar and Chamberlain are much better defensively than De Bruyne and Silva, and Keita despite being a B2B player like Fernandinho, is a better tackler. Plus Mane, Firmino and Salah are at least as good as Sterling, Jesus and Sane. Maybe better?

Pep has proven this season that the best way to defend is to petrify the opposition into staying in their own half. Teams start games against City already thinking about damage limitation. I say we set up so teams do the same against us.

03 Jan 2018 16:05:50
I don't disagree there. With the possibility of VVD (and maybe even Akanji) being able to start attacks from deep or carry the ball forward the need for a deep lying playmaker reduces. If we get a keeper that can kick a bit better than the ones we have today we'll also have an option to start attacks from deep that way too. But, I do think that we'd miss that bit of jaw dropping skill that Phil offers. You know that "WTF was that? " thing we see at the moment. I think a Fekir/ Coric could provide that touch of magic over and above a Lemar/ Ox.

03 Jan 2018 16:21:50
I'd say Lemar has a moment of magic in him to be fair. Some of the goals he scores are unreal.

04 Jan 2018 15:31:22
Totally agree, Adam. My boy's 5 and I'm not ready for him to be lauding Fekir just yet!

Lemar would be a great signing, and I like the look of that midfield/ front 3. We have players to come in to support too at the moment. I'd love to add Goretzka as an option from midfield, and I hope that Ojo's spell at Fulham means we can use him from the bench as support to Mane and Salah. I've a suspicion that TAA will be spending more time in the middle of the park in the next couple of seasons too.

Another CB (as I expect Joe toe make RB his own), and a GK and we'll be in a good position.

Sessegnon would be a great addition too, as he's more in the Moreno build (attacking) but has a far higher ceiling.

03 Jan 2018 13:58:50
It will be a huge loss to lose Coutinho but there's no point in keeping an unhappy player which can disrupt the rest of the Squad.

The obvious replacement to bring in is Lemar. He can play LW and CM just like Coutinho did and is talented enough to come in and make an impact straight away and is young to develop even more into a better player.

But Would love for us to Sign Goretzka though even though it looks like he's nailed on for Bayern. But a midfield of him and Keita would be unbelievable.

04 Jan 2018 15:32:48
Latest reports say Goretzka to Bayern is not done, in fact the Bild (same rag that reported that Bayern had an agreement ( are today reporting that we are favourites. That also seems unfounded, but there are quotes from Schalke saying they/ Goretzka haven't agreed anything and Goretzka's agent has also said that nothing has been decided yet.

So fingers crossed, as Lemar and Goretzka would be decent replacements for Couts and Can.

03 Jan 2018 13:48:37
Is there any truth in the rumour that Thomas Lemar has handed in a transfer request in order to join us? Daily Express are reporting it so don’t know if it is BS.

{Ed002's Note - No.}

03 Jan 2018 12:39:46
Like eds have said Klopp knew coutinho wouldn't stay from a while ago, my only gripe with coutinho is he hasn't been man enough to publicly say "id like to go to barca" isn't like it's United, I'd like him gone personally I understand the possible rebuild that may present but players who do not want to wear the shirt don't deserve our time. im so bored of fans acting like loyalty exists fans are the only loyal thing about football, I only hope we get decent replacement that's all I can ask. Thanks for the insight into the whole situation eds may I ask who you'd think. souod be good replacement.

{Ed001's Note - I would be happy with Lemar, always looks the part when I see him play.}

03 Jan 2018 13:46:32
Handing in a transfer request is a pretty good indication that he ‘manned up’ and stating his wish to leave.

03 Jan 2018 14:41:26
I like lemar but think pullusic or isco are better imo if any of those two became available.

03 Jan 2018 15:12:11
I too think couthinho needs to go. as for club selling best player and all that, we have sold better players that him over time so not a problem for me if you keep them they retire in the end anyway and as seen by Gerrard you keep them to long then they have a power that never helps managers maybe that's why Sir Alex never kept to many of the super stars apart from the 3 that he kept and I think there personalities where more like Carra's than Gerrards. As for Lemar ed I have not seen a lot of him so can he play in the deeper role that Couts has been playing or is he a front 3 player if he can play there he looks like he would bring even more pace to the team what can only be good for the team.

03 Jan 2018 15:13:36
Agree, and a dead ball specialist that can cover midfield and wing, makes a lot of sense.

03 Jan 2018 18:08:33
Fans are loyal until a player makes a bad pass, misses an open goal, has a sulky face (d. cisse) etc etc etc

Ye, just same as in july / august, would much prefer coutinho to much a public statement and be on with it.

03 Jan 2018 11:39:05
Ed01 id be I terested in your opinion and others too. Do you not think Firmino could not play no 10 and be the natural ‘replacement’ for Coutinho. I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t buy another quality player or two but I think he could do a job dropping back a bit and maybe add someone else up top ( like a Pulisic who could play across the front line) . What you think?

{Ed001's Note - I prefer Firmino up top, I think he is better there where he can harry the defence.}

03 Jan 2018 16:57:03
Totally agree with Ed on this, Firmino is a monster and causes all sorts of problems up top, I don't think you'd see the best of him sitting deeper.

{Ed001's Note - he has never been as effective anywhere but up top for us, I fail to see the need to move him when he has been competing hard with Salah to be our best player this season.}

03 Jan 2018 18:09:55
Yup definitely a #9. Also, we don't really play a formation that suits a #10. We'd have to change system or play firmino with the CMs as a box to box, and that would kill his game.

03 Jan 2018 11:32:11
The question is has the Club learned it's lesson. I see we're still selling our best players which is astonishing seen as this approach hasn't worked for the past 25 years.
But when we sold Suarez we broke up a really good team, then bought loads of £20m players over the pitch and wasted the lot. Dumped out of the Champions League and we've not got back in until now.
So then we do it again!
selling coutinho in my opinion is stupid in January, but it's happening anyway, but I hope we spend the £130m on an equally as good player. Time will tell.

03 Jan 2018 12:08:53
The difference is we have a top manager who replaces them with great players who want to be here.
This isn't Benitez buying Nunez ngog voronin. It's also not Roy buying Joe Cole, poulsen and konchesky. Like size Kenny buying Carrol downing Charlie adam. Or even Rodgers buying assaidi, borini or Joe allen. Klopp hasn't bought one bad player yet. He's worst would of been caulker, which he only got on a loan.
He is being backed by the board, and I also back him to get a replacement. We are actually getting people other clubs want 😂
Please step of the party bus phillipe, we got a journey to continue, !

03 Jan 2018 12:09:25
I agree mate. If we sell Coutinho and then replace him with Ceballos, Rafinha and Meyer i think we just make ourselves worse as a team. I'd sign one of the 3 above just to cover ourselves for the second half of the season (because Can might not be motivated, Gini is playing poorly, and Henderson might not play again this season in my opinion), but then we need to go put and splash out on a proper direct replacement. A player like Lemar, Asensio, Dybala, Insigne etc. You can't replace your third best player with somebody else's squad player.

03 Jan 2018 12:08:13
Some people really should get over it and he's not the best player, I am.

This situation is different to the Suarez one. We haven't gone and got a load of 20m players, in case you didn't see the recent news mate we went and signed VVD for 75m. We've also got Keita incoming who is top quality and that's just the beginning, I still think we'll get somebody else this window. Have we learnt our lesson? Yeah I think so.

03 Jan 2018 12:14:38
Last time was a mistake for all the reasons you mentioned, spreading it around too thin and changing our system completely while failing to identify a Suarez replacement.

We don’t rely on Coutinho nearly as much IMO, especially since we brought in Salah allowing Mane to cover LW, but agree it’s still important we spend on quality rather than spreading it around.

I suspect Klopp will get that though based on his recent track record bringing in the likes of Mane, Salah, VVD and Keita rather than spending on lots of medium cost players with ‘potential’.

03 Jan 2018 15:38:12
OP, so what do you want the club and Klopp to do then? Keep a player against his will and him screwing up the DR just to prove a pointless point that we are not a selling club? Pls, come off it, man. The club HAS indeed learnt it's lesson and has made sure that we have a top manager who is getting the best deal for Cou and looking to top players to fill the void. BR, KK, Woy and the others spent money on complete dross for the most part BUT that is not going to happen now, thankfully. We have a manager who is getting it done in the TW and getting players who reject better clubs to play for us. I don't see your point, mate.

03 Jan 2018 15:38:13
Spot on Benny baller.

03 Jan 2018 17:15:19
Twice in a week i agree with benny, what in sam hill is going on. Its not the same thing at all, coutinho is a very good player but definately not irreplaceable, i would however put salah in the irreplaceable category atm.

I don't know if it has escaped the op's attention but we splashed 40m on salah, 69m on Nobby and 75m on Van tranny. I would say the lesson is being heeded wouldn't you.

With regard to the cellabos, meyer stuff that mk was on about those players will not be replacements for coutinho they will be for the outgoing Can and possibly henderson if indeed we are even actually interested in them.

03 Jan 2018 18:11:41
I don't think the clubs strategy for 25 years has been to sell its best players has it? don't ya rekon we'd keep these guys if we could? Only so long you can keep someone who don't wanna be here.

03 Jan 2018 11:10:04
Sell Couthino for 130, buy Mahrez and Sanchez for a combined max 65, creativity problem solved with added squad depth.

haha, if ony football was this simple.

03 Jan 2018 11:24:07
Sanchez 300 000 a week wages.

03 Jan 2018 11:24:43
Sorry, but Mahrez is mediocre at best and Sanchez doesn’t want to join.

03 Jan 2018 11:34:58
How do you know the money hasn't already been spent on VVD and Keita?
I can see us failing to break down teams again without Phil. Should be getting shut of the likes of Sturridge taking up all the wages and never available to play, not selling our top players. It's a shame really we don't learn.

03 Jan 2018 11:36:29
Mahrez? really? Sanchez yes, but he won't want to join us. Mahrez god no. We have a creativity problem?

03 Jan 2018 11:50:28
Mahrez wouldn't get in ahead of Salah and his work rate is not enough to play in a 3 man midfield. Sanchez would be ideal as striker if Firmino filled Coutinho role.

03 Jan 2018 12:05:06
Mahrez was player of the year in the title winning season. He has skills and its a matter of coaching and motivation. Can be good for us.

If we try we may even be able to tempt sanchez. I'm sure mancity are not willing to pay 300,000 a week and nor should we.

In all seriousness Sanchez would be a good replacement for Couthino. Nothing is ever like for like.

03 Jan 2018 12:41:09
Liverpoolfc8, we were breaking teams down this season without Coutinho playing. He would be a big void to fill, but I think the creativity of Firmino would come to the fore once Coutinho leaves, and the same for lallana.

03 Jan 2018 12:44:48
Man City would have no problem paying him £300k a week pakred. You'd effectively be creating more problems than fixing by signing them two. That's 2 more front 3 players on top of the ones we already have. 2 that would demand to start. One being lazy and the other demanding trophies, it may sound good on paper but I imagine it to not work out as Rosy. Neither of them have coutinhos vision and creativity as well.

03 Jan 2018 10:23:38
Hi all

I think the 6 foot 4" lady is Alisson.

03 Jan 2018 10:41:39
Me too. Went browsing for some info about him yesterday, but found he was noted as 6' 3" on FIFA (I know) but afterwards at 6 4 on wikipedia. Fits the bill. Girly name, colleague of Coutinhos. Would love to see him at Liverpool, but I just don't aee us bringing in anpther keeper, before getting rid of Bogdan and one more (preferable Migs)

03 Jan 2018 11:12:47
We have 4 keepers already chaps. No way we are looking for another.

03 Jan 2018 11:27:28
It's the transfer window sell 1 or 2 people say nobody would want minolet that straight away tells you how bad he is.

03 Jan 2018 11:30:51
I think Mignolet has made it obvious that we do need another keeper, I think his days are numbered.

03 Jan 2018
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, It was going in why did you touch it.

03 Jan 2018 09:51:26
Good Morning Eds and guys Happy new year to all
Just been told by a friend that he read Coutinho is faking injury again and is just protecting himself from injury for his upcoming Barcelona move.
Surely this cannot be true again?
On another note Ed 001 would you consider Malcolm from Bordeaux as a potential coutinho replacement squad wise and would you say he would fit our team better then Lemar would?
Thanks as always and have a nice day.

{Ed001's Note - the club have announced he is injured, any fake injury would require their complicity as they would be able to check. I do think they are being careful to ensure he does not get actually injured though, rather than him faking injury.

I would take Malcolm all day long but he is no Couts replacement nor fit our team better than say Lemar. He is more of a winger/striker to replace someone like Sturridge or Origi, and provide cover for Salah and Mane (or even replace them).}

03 Jan 2018 10:17:57
Thank you for your reply mate and I can let my friend know he is wrong lol
Have a great day.

{Ed001's Note - it is one of those things, both club and player are keeping him out rather than just a player being an arse.}

03 Jan 2018 10:24:05
Ed01 suspicious how these injuries occur during transfer windows. As they say mate there's no smoke without fire.

{Ed001's Note - the club are complicit though mate, this is not him acting up is my point.}

03 Jan 2018 10:26:56
I think id take Draxler and Lemar as they can both similar roles to Coutinho and would improve the squad, or we drop Firmino deeper and buy a Striker.

03 Jan 2018 10:43:19
Ed01 totally understand what you're saying mate. Rather than the club being complicit could it just be a case of them not wanting to air their dirty laundry in public. Rather than risk his value they are keeping quiet until Barcelona meet their asking price.

{Ed001's Note - no, they are fully complicit.}

03 Jan 2018 08:57:06
Hi Ed001, I thought the club were improving on the transfer front. Klopp wanted 3 players in the summer and one way or another all 3 main targets are coming. The club has known for a long time PC is going so surely they have suitable players in mind to buy.

I agree that a central midfielder might be the area to look for a player. It would give the team balance, but one injury up front gives us big problems.

Do you trust the club to reinvest the whole PC money? I was hoping the VVD spend was from the summer budget especially since we spent nothing the previous year.

{Ed001's Note - I do not trust the club, they have a long way to go to prove they know what they are doing and the moronic comments from Gordon about needing to put ticket prices up to compete show just how far away they are from reality. If this is the stupidity that is running our club I fear for it. Ticket sales are an irrelevance in this day and age and he needs to wake up and get into the 21st century and realise you are better having a good atmosphere than high ticket prices.}

03 Jan 2018 09:02:23
Great reply that Ed01.

{Ed001's Note - I have been fuming over his comments for a while now!}

03 Jan 2018 10:11:37
Very well said Ed1, been thinking on the same lines as you mate. also welcome back! :)

{Ed001's Note - thank you mate, I would say it is good to be back but I would be lying, it is far too quiet here without the old folks around. I would almost go so far as to say I miss them. Almost.}

03 Jan 2018 10:23:16
I know what you mean mate I had the house full for just a few days with family visiting although it was hectic at times it was nice, when they went it was a little strange getting back to normality lol - Hope yourself and your family had a good couple of weeks mate :)

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate it was great, just too short a time. Hope it all went well for you over Crimbo too.}

03 Jan 2018 10:37:34
I thought things were improving and they had learn't leasons. Of course ticket sales bring in only a small percentage of revenue now. Also there are 1000 tickets on sale for each match on online sites, where do they get there tickets?

They might never learn. This is why I love this site you get told the truth.

03 Jan 2018 08:14:30
I was looking at our record at home compared to our away record and it is really eye opening.

We are 5th in the league in terms of our home record with 23 points from 11 games. 6 wins, 5 draws, and the best home defensive record in the league with just 4 conceded (no seriously! ) . Despite being 5th in the home form table though, we're also one of only two teams still unbeaten at home.

However, away from home we are actually the 2nd best team in the league with 21 points from 11 games. 6 wins, 3 draws, 2 defeats. 21 goals conceded. So less points per game, but better away from home relative to our rivals.

The reason why i say this is eye opening, is because people have regularly suggested that we should change the way we play away from home, yet only Manchester City have more points away from home than we do! So are we really bad away from home? Or has Klopp just broken the mould by trying to win every game home and away?

I was very surprised because what this is basically showing is that relative to the other teams in the league, we are actually doing well away from home, and average at home, despite conceding 17 less goals at Anfield.

I'm not suggesting we don't need new defenders by the way. We've drawn 8 games, mainly because of defensive errors. But what this has shown me, is that the goals we concede away from home are just a by-product of us trying to win every game against any opposition, and that lack of cautious approach away from home has actually won us more points than the likes of Man United and Chelsea (who perhaps concede less away from home due to playing more reservedly, but also win less because of it) .

Are we too harsh on our team at times this season? City are just an anomaly this this season, and in most normal seasons, 44 points at this stage would see you in the thick of the title race!

03 Jan 2018 08:46:46
Maybe you are coming around to my way of thinking MK. We have not scored enough home league goals. 5 draws at home is as many as you should have in a whole season if you want to challenge.

03 Jan 2018 09:02:30
Maybe the famoud anfield atmosphere has sucked all the goals dry!?

03 Jan 2018 09:08:37
Too harsh I would say the opposite. We have failed to win 10 games in the league out of 22 games. Ed002 always states the win percentage and it is in no way good enough. WE HAVE NOT WON ONE GAME ALL SEASON AGAINS'T QUALITY OPPOSITION.

City lost
Spurs lost
Man U draw
Chelsea Draw
Seville Draw twice.

Those are the hardest 6 games we have played this season and we have 4 points from 18. Things are improving slowly and our fixtures in the next 2 months have fallen nicely so we should to improve our win percentage in the league. 80 points is the minimum we need.

03 Jan 2018 09:18:29
I don't think that is the right way to describe it Mark. We have 21 goals at home. That is level with Chelsea and Spurs. The problem we've had at home is when we've conceded our goals.

We tend to get complacent at home when we're winning and have dropped points against Everton and Chelsea late on from winning positions. Both due to a lack of concentration from an individual.

I know it seems silly to blame the defence when they've only let in 4, but if we'd won those two games we'd have 27 points at home which would be the second best home record in the league.

At home, we tend to smash teams off the park most games. But on days where your attack struggles or the opposition defend well, you need to stay tight. Our draws at home include three 1-1 draws, and two 0-0 draws. Yet we've scored 18 goals in the 6 home victories at an average of 3 goals a game.

For me, even though statistically it might disprove my point, a lack of defensive concentration is still what has hurt us at home. You just can't legislate for Lovren giving the ref a chance to make a bad penalty decision, or Mignolet throwing a cross into his own net. Stats still need context. We've scored plenty and on paper we've been generally solid at the back, but when we are only winning by a goal, that is the time you have to stay focused. We don't. If you're going to lose focus and concede a soft goal, do it when you're 4-0 up against Arsenal or 7-0 up against Spartak. Not in a tight game against Chelsea or our local rivals!

The only home games where we've not done enough to win at home are Man Utd and West Brom. Even against Burnley at Anfield we deserved to win had it not been for another Mignolet error to put as a goal behind early on.

So i don't think it's as simple as saying we've lacked goals at home. Against defensive sides like Chelsea, Burnley and Everton you have to grind out those 1-0 wins. Man Utd and West Brom also turned up and parked the bus, and to be fair our attackers let us down at least in the West Brom game. I don't blame them for failing to break down a £700m parked bus though! So I'd say the defence has cost us 3 games at Anfield (Chelsea, Everton, Burnley) whilst the attack has only cost us 1 (West Brom) .

I agree with you that we could score more though. The same set of players has 29 goals away from home, and although teams will set up differently at Anfield, we should still have the quality to score a couple of goals in most games at home.

03 Jan 2018 09:21:36
It’s just the silly draws that have hurt us this season so far. and I agree it’s the home games as we dominated most of these, but the oppositions defensive setups (natural when coming to Anfield), a few missed chances and silly defensive lapses have cost us. Notably Westbrom, Everton, Burnley and Man Utd.

I think we’re in decent shape going into second half of the season with a fitter, more rotated squad than most, hopefully our front 3 can keep firing and our backline keep up their form, then Lallana returning and we can hopefully push on for second place.

03 Jan 2018 09:23:41
Faithworks - the atmosphere is terrible at the moment. I have been to a few games recently and we get out sung by the away fans. It should improve in the next few games though. A central midfielder who puts himself about, puts his foot in would improve the atmosphere.

The amount of day trippers at the match is growing all the time. It is selfie heaven. Instead of watching and supporting they are messing around all game on their phones.

{Ed001's Note - it is not only the day trippers that are the problem. There are as many regulars that are not singing or supporting as there are day trippers.}

03 Jan 2018 09:32:12
Mark, would you not say that Hoffenheim and Arsenal are quality opposition? Arsenal are still a top team despite one bad season in 20 years. And Hoffenheim are ahead of Dortmund in Germany and yet people are quite happy to laud it over Tottenham for beating them thanks to a plethora of terrible offside decisions.

Even Spartak are the Russian Champions who spanked Sevilla 4-1, then got spanked 7-0 by us. By your own admission, Sevilla are a quality team. So you can't then turn around and say the Spartak team who destroyed them are bad. That's 4 Champions league quality opposition who we have beaten.

We've also just beaten Leicester (Champions just 2 years ago) and Burnley (one of the hardest teams to beat this season) in 48 hours. Not CL quality, but probably in the next bracket just below that.

Ultimately, you're right in some respects as we've not beaten Spurs, City, Chelsea or Man Utd. However, Spurs and City still have to come to Anfield and Mourinho and Conte won't get away with parking the bus in front of their home crowds. They'll have to try and play us if they care at all about their dignity. So don't count your chickens just yet!

03 Jan 2018 10:14:42
As an infrequent day tripper, i can confirm that some are terrible for the atmosphere.

I've been to watch 4 games at Anfield and on those 4 occasions i have taken just ONE photo inside the ground. That was a single shot of Steven Gerrard during the warm up in a friendly against Bayer Leverkusen. The other 3 games (Besiktas, Man City and Sunderland) i was so absorbed in the atmosphere i forgot i had my phone with me. At the City game though i went with a couple of mates and they spent the whole game videoing free kicks, videoing YNWA before the game instead of singing, taking selfies with their back to the pitch etc.

It really annoyed me because i was there to support the team, but primarily to enjoy it in the moment and take everything in. I wanted to be a part of it all. I still get goose bumps when i think back to the Besiktas game where i was under the giant flag in the Kop. Why go to a game to film it on your phone? Just watch match of the day if you want to watch the game on a screen! The lad i went to the Besiktas game with still uses a keypad Nokia type phone though and taught me all the songs. He's a regular day tripper though who commutes 600 miles to watch at least 10 home games a season.

So whilst not all day trippers are bad, if you take me and my friends as a sample 2 out out of 4 day trippers are tourists rather than supporters. It's hard to be overly critical because the tourists who show up and spend £300 in the club shop before the game, buy a burger at half time etc are at least pouring significant money into the club. I can pretty much guarantee we pay more for our tickets per match than a season ticket holder as well (my 4 tickets were about £220 in total, for 2 league games, a Europa game and a friendly) . I just wish the tourists would get involved in the songs and put their phone away instead of trying to brag about where they are on social media. I have no photographic memories of my 3 competitive games, but I'll never forget any of them. But then I'm not even on Twitter so perhaps I'm just old fashioned. Even dogs use twitter nowadays 😂.

03 Jan 2018 10:24:57
I was bored last week and checked current form in the prem over 10 games, at the time we were 2nd or 3rd. The thing that surprised me was we had out scored city and conceded less than them yet 4draws and 6 wins vrs 10 wins, stats don’t lie but they never tell the whole truth.

03 Jan 2018 10:51:50
Took some pictures first time I went to Anfield. Went into the stadium as soon as it was open to do it without disrupting people. Sadly it's not just an Anfield or football thing though - people everywhere are so busy playing with their phones that they are missing their entire life. Any event, from a concert to a terrorist attack, is jammed with people playing with their phones. It's far less of a football issue than it is a social issue in general and I promise you, locals and regulars are just as bad as 'daytrippers'. We live in a world of onlookers and the only way individuals can combat it is to show them how much they are missing by not engaging.

Oh and if you see someone with words to songs up on their phone or printed song sheets, don't piss and moan about them on twitter. Remember, if they went to the effort of getting the words together to remind them, at least they probably intend on singing!

03 Jan 2018 11:16:12
Arsenal at home I would expect us to beat them, they are on a real downward spiral, we should have beaten them away. I would say this year we should finish 10 points ahead of them. Hoffenheim I don't think have ever been in the CL and don't have money and are punching above their weight. I would say Hoffenheim would finish 7th or 8th in prem league. BTW I think we will beat City as long as Mane is getting back to his best.

You are right about the expense, there were some Chinese people in front of me at a recent game and they spent a small fortune. Filmed most of the game.

03 Jan 2018 07:15:10
Morning Ed001

In your opinion mate do you think Coutinho will play for us again?

{Ed001's Note - no, in all likelihood he is done.}

03 Jan 2018 07:42:29
Ed1, my take on it is that we would make a summer time sale work if all parties are on board but that coutinho's willingness to wait a wee bit isn't there. And then we must determine that his input / buy-in would detroriate if we held firm like last summer, so best to agree a sale now? That about right?

{Ed001's Note - more that he is a whining little get and needs to go before he disrupts the team any further. Though I have no problem with him leaving, the club would be quick to get rid if they didn't want him, it is the way he is going about it I find abhorrent.}

03 Jan 2018 07:45:03
Ed01 if you were a betting man would you see a replacement brought in this month?

{Ed001's Note - I am not a betting man and the club tends to let me down so often I would not have faith in them to get one, though they are intending to replace him this month.}

03 Jan 2018 07:49:17
Ed hope it doesn’t drag on all January and we have replacement already in place.

03 Jan 2018 07:50:06
Thanks for that clear response Ed001. Is it a January departure for Coutinho do you believe Ed001? And do you understand if the club have advanced any approach for a replacement? Respect if you don't want to go into this detail Ed. Thanks in advance.

{Ed001's Note - yes. I fully expect him to go in Jan, it has been in preparation in the run up to the window with the club actively searching for the right replacement. However I am still catching up so not sure who is being moved for and if anyone is likely or been ruled out yet. Hopefully get some more info today to clear things up a bit.}

03 Jan 2018 07:53:55
Thanks Ed001, it’s going to be a long month.

{Ed001's Note - very.}

03 Jan 2018 07:55:57
Cheers ed. Its quite disappointing really, i was genuinwly surprised at his out put since coming back into the squad and was hoping to see him knuckle down suarez / ronaldo style for the rest of the campaign. Its a terrible time for us to be looking for a replacement and the timing suits Barcelona only here. You may have given your preferences already but i was thinking something a bit left field. Say someone like ndidi to allow the likes of can, gini, hendo, lallana, ox and co to play their natural box to box role. I think there is enough creativity in that group and would add some defensive energy / nous to the midfield which we've been sorely lacking imo.

{Ed001's Note - I would love us to sign Ndidi personally, but as well as a creative player.}

03 Jan 2018 08:01:58
Agreed about the creative player! Alli!? Will let the club figure out who the right player is, but hoping we use the money wisely and address key areas.

{Ed001's Note - I wouldn't see Alli as that player personally, he is not the most creative passer of the ball around. He is more about late bursts into the box to get on the end of someone else's creative pass.}

03 Jan 2018 08:06:06
Thanks for all the info Ed001. Is his departure dependant on getting a replacement in or will the club agree to sell him even if a suitable replacement cannot be secured in January do you understand? Thanks Ed.

{Ed001's Note - it is no longer dependent on a replacement, just about getting the best deal.}

03 Jan 2018 08:21:59
Dybala would be my first choice personally, he’s having a poor season but he’s very close to Coutinho, special talent in my opinion-I know it won’t happen, seems like a push for Lemar is Likely.

03 Jan 2018 08:33:39
No chance we could get Dybala unfortunately.
Ndidi would be great for us in the middle but it seems Klopp isn’t interested in a midfielder in that mould.
Most of the players mentioned on here are wingers or at least primarily used as wingers, someone like Lemar seems more versatile and young enough to adapt to Coutinhos position so he would be my choice, although I must admit I haven’t seen much of Monaco this season.

03 Jan 2018 08:48:23
Ed are we looking to get rafinha as part of the deal?

{Ed001's Note - more that Barca are looking to include him.}

03 Jan 2018 09:00:04
Is he any good ed and is he the type of player we need?

{Ed001's Note - not from what I have seen of him.}

03 Jan 2018 09:09:15
Honestly tho, this presents us an opportunity to bring in someone into that central midfield group that is better than what coutinho brings atm. I'be always thought he was an avg cm for us and this season no different and no surprise his best performances have come starting on the left either as wing of front 3 or as attacker behind front 2. We have keita who will ne doubt occupy one of the box to box roles. He offers far more in that position than coutinho imo, but we have to wait until next season. To me he is the direct coutinho replacement in terms of position keita will play.
Thatwill free up mane, salah and firmino. that's why i was suggesting a more subtle addition to the squad to bring balance. Ndidi again plus another creative attacking mid perhaps with flexibility to play in front 3 to would be useful. But I'm not sold that we need to bring in a like for like replacement this month. Crazy, I know.

03 Jan 2018 09:38:01
I agree faith we don't need and probably can't get a like for like replacement.
The PC money just needs to be spent on real quality, no matter what position. I would start looking in centre midfield.

03 Jan 2018 10:03:54
Stupid question ed I apologise but I might be watching swansea vs Liverpool on 22nd, you reckon Coutinho will still be around by then? I'd like to see him play before he goes lol.

{Ed001's Note - I don't expect him to play even if he is mate.}

03 Jan 2018 10:34:53
Sounds like we have seen his last game then 😐.

03 Jan 2018 10:36:10
Indeed, very good player, you mentioned you thought that Leicester signed a better player than Ndidi but got injured straight away, who was it again mate?

03 Jan 2018 11:30:50
Ah well As long as my boy Salah is there I'm happy!

03 Jan 2018 15:17:43
Hi Ed001. Sorry mate if I am jumping the gun🤔. You said above you were hoping to catch up and find out any updates today mate? Anything else on Lemar?

{Ed001's Note - not yet mate.}

03 Jan 2018 02:38:40
Is it suso? !

03 Jan 2018 01:05:53
Video on bundesliga.com of how schalke have been using two players we are linked with. Meyer and Goretzka.

Seems this year meyer has been holding more whilst goretzka taking up the attacking mid position.

goo.gl/X5cgk