Liverpool banter 10

07 Apr 2024 22:33:07
I know all hands will slag me off, but Mo is losing his legs. He is well off the pace of the game i know he scored a pen but other players could have taken it I love mo but father time catching up with him time to cash in i think onwards and up wards reds YNWA.

07 Apr 2024 23:37:33
I'm not disagreeing - he looks a yard off the pace at the moment. Could be age, could be any other reason too.

07 Apr 2024 23:38:53
Fair assessment Iwillbered. You have given an opinion without disrespecting the guy, which is fine. Salah is a legend and has been exceptional for us but I’m with you on this. Every player will decline at some stage of their career. Still a good player but the facts are he is not the same player he was some years back, which again is understandable. We saw the early signs of this a few years back. Now he has visibly lost some pace it has had an impact on the way he plays. On top of that it appears his link up play, in particular his passing level has dropped. And although he will still score he is not taking a lot of chances he used to finish with ease. Saudi Arabia are apparently looking to make a bid in the region of £150 million this summer. If true, there is no way Edwards is rejecting that. Some might not like to hear that but he is accepting that bid faster than you can blink. Great player and love the guy to bits, so I would never think of insulting him. But all good things come to an end, and this summer might be his.

If Amorim is coming then I see him bringing in an out and out striker. We create loads of chances so that clearly ain’t our problem. It’s finishing those chances which is killing us and might cost us the title. I also see him bringing in two centre backs and a left back. Three of the four positions I feel we need currently play for him. Viktor Gyökeres, Inacio and Diamonde. All three of them have release clauses which means if met in full, we don’t have to negotiate with Sporting. But importantly all of them understand the 3-4-3 system Amorim deploys. As for the left back I really like the look of Rayan Aït-Nouri.

Now, I don’t want Diaz sold but too many things pointing to him leaving. Media have been talking about a possible summer exit for a while now. Also Ed2 has said he could leave, not to mention his father’s interview (do a search on youtube) about his son wanting to play for a top European side, ideally a Spanish team. So I would have Núñez in the left inside forward position and Gyökeres who will finish chances when given as the centre striker and can rotate with Jota. Szobo rotating with Elliott can play as right inside forward with freedom and creativity which he will thrive in. Trent and Bradley will cover our right back position. Aït-Nouri and Robbo will cover the other flank. Wing backs in Amorim system keep wide and push up to form a front 5 with the 3 forwards in attacking play. Two man midfield at the base sees one as the deep lying play maker who joins in the attacks but can also create from deep when needs be. Mac Allister is tailor made for this role. He can rotate with Jones. The other two man midfielder is the DM. Bajcetic and Endo can rotate. That team would see us challenging for all major honours.

07 Apr 2024 23:55:55
I'm just as worried about his finishing as I am his pace. Stats only tell part of a story, but his XG the past few weeks must be huge.

08 Apr 2024 00:43:14
He lost them earlier this season. It was at the Fulham game I really noticed it.
Defenders were out-pacing him easily.

08 Apr 2024 00:52:06
I think Mo is building match sharpness after injuries.

08 Apr 2024 01:41:23
Salah has definitely lost pace, which is understandable given his age and injury concerns of late. And I do agree that while he is a legend at the club, his time with us may have sadly passed. I think now is a good time to sell him since he is at entering the last year of his contract.

Not sure who can replace him since there is no like for like replacement out there but I would be tempted to try Szobo at RW before dipping into the transfer market. I don't think we would buy and out-and-out goalscorer but a versatile forward seems to be who we are looking at. LCB is a priority in the summer though so we should get that sorted out first.

08 Apr 2024 01:44:56
Good post Alonso.

08 Apr 2024 03:32:15
You do know he is fasting so that will affect his performances? His sharpness will soon be back to lead the charge for the title.

08 Apr 2024 07:14:48
I personally think this is nonsense. Once again I disagree with everything you say Iwillbered.

08 Apr 2024 07:52:31
Ricky, I thought the same about his fasting.

08 Apr 2024 09:28:05
Salah was always going to lose some pace cos you may not know this, Father Time is undefeated for a reason so him getting outrun by younger players at Fulham or at Stevenage is NOT breaking news to anyone who anything about life in general. No new ground has been broken here, people.

That being said, he is getting back to finess after being out for a while and like Ricky said, the guy is fasting so it can NOT be easy for him playing at his best with those two mitigating circumstances. This ain't rocket science.

08 Apr 2024 09:29:53
All hands you have every right to disagree with me my friend i appreciate your opinion .
I would just like to point out one or two things one the premier league will find you out it is the most competive league in the world that is why ronaldo was so poor on his return to premier and why Messi did not play in the premier league . Secondly i am old enough to have seen over many years top player come to same position that Mo is finding himself in age in sport catches up with you mate. And as for ramadam i watched Arsenal the other night they have several players fasting did not affect their game mate . But as i said i respect your opinion allhands .

08 Apr 2024 10:40:21
Time has been catching up to salah for a year or so. He was getting outpaced by defenders last season too so it's not injury or Ramadan.

One of two things needed to happen in summer, replacing Salah or moving him into a traditional CF position as a poacher. You can't play on a wing when your pace has gone so usually the player gets moved closer to goal.

I think this is another example of klopp being too loyal. Personally I would have sold for the 150m (assuming the deal could be done) and replaced him. I'm surprised klopp didn't move him closer to goal. Perhaps have Nunez play on the wing instead, pace is 100% needed on wings even as inside forwards to stretch defences.

If klopp has any blind spots it's with his loyalty to players, bad as it sounds he's too human and lacks the ruthlessness that fergie and pep have of moving players on when they don't benefit the team the same.

08 Apr 2024 11:15:46
@iwillbered, please name the "several" Arsenal players that were fasting?

08 Apr 2024 11:29:42
Actually Iwillbered, that was me.

Your first line was, "I know all hands will slag me off"

Naturally being the attention seeking child that I am, I created an account called All Hands to slag you off.

08 Apr 2024 13:01:52
Salahs finished. till he scores a brace in his next game and goes on a goalscoring run! Seen it so many times over the last 7 years.

08 Apr 2024 16:28:00
Thing is Jude every time Salah goes to afcon it takes him 2 months to get back to normal, unfortunately we don't have two months to spare him, especially given he came back injured and lacking match sharpness, by the time he finds his feet again it will likely be too late.

08 Apr 2024 15:32:46
davy,
Nice one. Did you not watch the football last weekend and the weekend the games were stopped so certain players could have a drink because they were fasting? Sorry I ment to put Arsenal and Brighton players on fasting mate my mistake.

Also Mo will always score goals until he is 40 odd but for the position that Mo is playing for LFC he is struggling with his pace it kills me to say that maybe as someone stated move him into the middle maybe that may work but for how long?

I will hold up my hands if I am wrong and I hope i am wrong. It would be nothing better than seeing one of the best players ever to grace LFC.

08 Apr 2024 16:31:07
Thing is Jude every time Salah goes to afcon it takes him 2 months to get back to normal, unfortunately we don't have two months to spare him, especially given he came back injured and lacking match sharpness, by the time he finds his feet again it will likely be too late.

07 Apr 2024 19:29:04
I still. harbour idea of replacing Salah and Cody with Watkins and diaby.

07 Apr 2024 22:35:23
No thanks.

08 Apr 2024 00:47:09
Please divest yourself of these ideas.

08 Apr 2024 01:35:31
Good one mate.

08 Apr 2024 01:48:02
Watkins is clinical. amount of chances we create he would have buried a lot of them, he is 2nd top scorer in the league for a reason and would thrive with us. He also puts a hard shift in.

{Ed001's Note - he goes through long periods of being unable to hit the side of a barn mate. He is very hot and cold. Works hard and I do like him a lot, but he can be very wasteful too.}

08 Apr 2024 08:26:42
Draw a game and start replacing members of the squad.

08 Apr 2024 09:38:14
@bhav_reds said "Watkins was clinical". Now I know you don't watch Villa for sure. You also said, "he puts a shift in". Oh and Darwin is a lazy donkey? Are you for real? Watkins is a good player BUT he is just as wasteful as Haaland and Darwin (even tho Darwin is the better player, IMO) BUT if you are at Villa and you are English, nobody will care if you go 10 games w/ o scoring. Darwin gets battered cos he passed rather than shot even IF a goal came as a result for him passing it.

Watkins can hit the post 3 times and he will get rave reviews for his overall play cos well, English tax is a REAL thing. Heaven forbid, Darwin does that. It would be news for a week, which it was vs Chelsea. Darwin has more goals and assists in all comps. than Watkins YET Watkins is more clinical. Like I said, take the day off, man.

08 Apr 2024 16:36:54
That's true Oli but foreigner bias is also a real thing. Wijnaldum was no more talented than Henderson but yet everyone seems to remember Gini as some scintillating Zidane style footballer and remember hendo as just a hard working dude who did the basics well.

Watkins might go a few games without scoring but then mane did that, Salah is currently doing it - but Watkins is the highest scoring English player without being fed 20 chances per game like Salah is.

If you put prime Torres in this team or prime even prime Salah in this team we win 5-0 against United. It's how we can tell Salah is well past his best because he is missing chances that 3 years ago he would have buried. He's also getting outpaced by players who aren't even considered quick. The majority of salahs goals now are pens or box finishes, so we should play to his strengths and move him into the middle as a late Ronaldo style poacher.

08 Apr 2024 17:05:45
Nevada, I agree, bro BUT the Manes, Salahs and now Darwin used to get/ now get battered for it in the media whereas the likes of Watkins are left untouched and this is more prevalent when you play for England. As for Hendo, he was the target ever since Fergie got bitter and angry cos Hendo had the guts to reject him and join King Kenny at Liverpool and cos he was such a sore, pathetic loseer about it, he attacked Hendo in his book in the most despicable of ways and it got stuck on him. The Fergie part is a fact.

Also, you got to realise that Hendo got the armband from Gerrard and the anti Hendo fans along with the por-Gerrard fans did NOT think Hendo deserved it hence, he was targeted as well. This is just what I have observed over the years so there you go, mate.

07 Apr 2024 19:23:51
I think Arsenal will win title because of their defence. They are now closing down games and mostly keep a clean sheet.

With us we always allow opponents to score even sheffield did and we normally need 2 games minimum to win a match.

Arsenal can win 1 nil but they end up scoring more

Why we always have a bad pass, lapse of concentration is beyond me. we always allow opponents to feel they are in the game, and when are forwards mis fire as they are doing recently we loose points and matches.

Arsenal and Macs are more capable of a clean sheet then we are at the moment.

07 Apr 2024 22:06:26
I’ll be honest I’m desperate for us to win the league. More for Klopp than anything else. As a fan of course I want us to win the league but if we don’t I’ll still be at games next season and the season after and after that and so on 🤞

Sadly this is klopps last dance with us and from the 3 teams competition all are outstanding and it’s pretty hard to separate the 3.

Currently out of the 3 we are looking the least clinical though despite possibly creating more.

We still have 2 shots at trophies this year so hopefully that’s our bump in the road and city and arsenals are to come.

07 Apr 2024 22:31:23
So are we giving up now?

07 Apr 2024 22:32:56
Yep. Can't remember the last time we kept a clean sheet.

07 Apr 2024 22:39:13
Arsenal have been lucky with injuries this season. Their 2 main defenders, who are tremendous, have been fit all season with rice and other key players mainstays.

07 Apr 2024 22:40:52
we have the same clean sheets as City.

07 Apr 2024 23:59:51
Exactly, @Faith BUT it seems people are starting to throw in the towel on this thread whereas Arsenal are top ONLY on GD, not even on points. So much chest when things are going great BUT as soon as some adversity appears, they fold their tents and go home. Sad.

08 Apr 2024 03:24:46
It is disheartening for us to, for the third time this season, outplay yet fail to beat a pretty average United side. Our inability to kill off games, and to not convert draws into wins, has been a constant theme in previous title run ins, and looks like it will be critical again. It is not throwing in the towel, but being honest about what we are seeing. We are struggling to keep clean sheets, we are struggling to finish the glut of chances we create, we are not playing that well at what is a critical tine of the season. That is it. Can we still win the title? Yes. Will we? I wouldn’t bet on it.

08 Apr 2024 06:52:41
The mentality monsters were wallflowers in the 2nd half yesterday. Profligate in the 1st half. Again.

I really thought the players would learn from the FA Cup defeat. The small blessing is we didn’t lose this one but as VVD said, it feels like a loss.

Ramadan excuses for another poor performance from Salah, even though he lost half a yard since much earlier in the season. What is Szoboszlai’s excuse for passing when in a position to shoot and shooting when in a position to pass? Or Nunez ineffectiveness in front of goal against Utd, again. If we are relying on Jota up front, we are going to struggle.

One other thing why oh why does Robertson get into so many great scoring positions but has such a crap shot on him?

It’s squeaky bum time and we need a pinch hitter. We cannot rely on Macca every week. The question is do we have one.

08 Apr 2024 08:29:04
Who’s giving up Oli?

08 Apr 2024 09:41:05
JK clearly NOT you, based on your post, alright? So calm da heck down and don't get triggered. It cannot always be about you, bro. Have a coke and a smile.

08 Apr 2024 09:44:19
@StEtienneAmen, I agree with majority of what you have said. The buck-passing in the final third among the forwards is killing me. It's like NOBODY wants to take any responsibility at the crucial moment.

Did you see where Diaz was free to blast it past Onana and then he inexplicably squared it to Darwin who looked shocked as he was too wide hence, in no position to score and had to cross it back? That took the cake for me. I mean, what are we doing in training? Why all this over-passing in the final third on the counter? It's doing my head in, man.

08 Apr 2024 10:27:11
Haha Oli apologies for asking a question.

I hope you've not used all your internet data replying to me being so TRIGGERED.

You have 7 more free streams to go of your football tv show.

08 Apr 2024 10:46:17
Agree oli that was driving me bananas yesterday. So many times people were passing in good shooting opportunities or trying to dribble more and delaying shooting.

Mac was pretty much the only player in the team who made the correct decision every time, everyone else seemed nervous. United were also more crafty as the game went on, they constantly cut off passing lanes to van dijk to stop him receiving the ball and leaving it with quansah, we can call it lucky all we like but the fact is they forced us into playing the game they wanted to play.

It was like Duran Vs sugar ray Leonard 1 - it should have been Duran Vs Leonard 2.

08 Apr 2024 15:35:43
We never give up reds we keep going until it is impossible to win the league. Plenty more football to play, yet reds keep believing guys.

07 Apr 2024 18:34:58
Shouda, woulda, coulda. Pundits and commentators bleed on about how good a front players we have! 5 for 3 positions but in a nutshell none of them are good finishers at all. Maybe jota but he can’t stay fit. They simply get goals based on volume of chances made per game. None of them are clinical tho so at the business end of the season when the pressure is on they come up short! Absolutely knew that was going to happen today! The Man City steam train sets off from here.

07 Apr 2024 19:15:12
Just what we need another psychic.

07 Apr 2024 19:20:46
Been waiting on that train since xmas, its April.

07 Apr 2024 19:48:14
ridiculous post.

07 Apr 2024 22:32:44
You always knew we were one poor result away for these people crawl out from under the rock they hid under this whole time when things were going all our way.

07 Apr 2024 22:34:06
IMO our forwards and midfield players are much better players than those at Arsenal's. I'd stand by that even if we don't win the league this season.

Btw, after years of supporting Liverpool, when was the year that the club cruises easily to won any of the trophies? I couldn't remember a single one. I still have faith. Maybe one or two more trophies will come this season.

07 Apr 2024 22:41:49
maybe it's a reflection of how well the club is run that we can be equal top of the league and still have such a poor squad.

08 Apr 2024 00:01:43
@Faith, yep. We are so bad and some of our players need to go, the same ones who have got us to this point EVEN tho, not a soul in the fan base belived nor even said we would challenge for honors this season, let alone the title. Oh, how does the club succedd which so many things they get wrong?

08 Apr 2024 10:47:59
HaizenMSS 19/ 20 we cruised to an extremely easy title where we were so far ahead that even a dip in form at end of season saw us win with points to spare - that's also the only title we've won in decades.

08 Apr 2024 15:45:02
oil red,
How many trophies should we have won? Never mind what we won? As for wanting players to go you must understand football clubs have massive a turnover of players this how a football club is run mate. If they don't live up to their abilities, then you move them on and bring in players that will do what the ones did not reach the standards of whatever club they appeared for and may I say Liverpool FC have very high standards and the fans have to buddy.

07 Apr 2024 18:27:36
Feels like a loss today! You can’t batter a team and miss those chances like we did today it was always skid row! Advantage Arsenal now.

07 Apr 2024 19:22:49
A goal difference lead with Chelsea, utd nd Spurs to play🤔is it an advantage?

07 Apr 2024 20:56:49
They are playing better then us it’s not over till it’s over but the players will feel it after that game it’s costly when u miss them chances! Arsenal will hammer Chelsea and the time they play Utd the mancs will more or less found out their faith for the CL spots and play kids.

07 Apr 2024 22:35:17
This one is going to hurt, for real no matter how Jurgen and the players spin this. They know they threw that game away ALL on their own nand this is off of their own doing and their own doing alone.

Now that being said, NOTHING is done now and if GD is all Arenal have to brag about as an advantage then, let's see how they get out of the brutal schedule coming their way. Not all is lost. Not even close.

08 Apr 2024 03:27:44
It was a shocking error from Quansah too, they had done nothing up until that point and that gift galvanized them and turned the game. He didn’t even get his head up just blindly played a poor pass. Cannot make errors like that in games this big, and that seriously affected the entire result.

08 Apr 2024 06:54:59
Pretty sure we have Spurs too. And Everton away. I am also nervous about the Palace match as they always up their game against us.

07 Apr 2024 18:18:28
This isn't reactionary but what do we do with our forwards next season?

Hard to guess what system it will be considering we don't have much of an idea what manager is coming now alonso is out.

But we can probably guess Salah is gone, but what do we do with what's left?

Nunez - great player with some awful finishing
Gakpo - . won't say my honest opinion of him
Diaz - incredible dribbler but horrific finishing, basically a straight downgrade on what firmino used to be
Djota - Ups and down, inconsistent and clearly injury prone

Honestly have no idea what we end up with next year.

07 Apr 2024 18:59:38
This is going to sound critical but it’s not because I like him.

But is Nunez a great player?

I think he’s a player with a lot of potential but he also seems to be the player that is above any criticism.

07 Apr 2024 19:24:25
He was a great player before 3.30pm this afternoon, now he's sh! #e.

07 Apr 2024 20:08:39
Watch them all start coming back from injury now it’s too late. Ali, Jota, Trent etc. my finger will point in their direction for fault.

07 Apr 2024 20:26:32
Nunez has been shocking for weeks, a number 9 who can’t score. Salah has gone completely. if the Vaseline clown hadn’t dived 10 minutes before the penalty he would have missed it. Macca should be taking them. Both Nunez and Salah have let us down re a title challenge. We’re creating 20-30 attempts a game, they should be scoring much more. Jones and Gomez nor Gravenburch and Gakpo can get up to speed in those type of games quick enough to make an impact. Jones was doing his usual holding onto the ball for far too long. Joe has been awful for weeks now. Elliot was amazing and turned the game back in our favour. City will win all their games and the title. Klopp has done his best with the players at his disposal.

07 Apr 2024 22:10:17
Jude where in my post have I said he’s rubbish?

07 Apr 2024 21:27:38
You and I were on the chat earlier JC and Nunez certainly isn't beyond criticism on there. However, he's had 2 seasons with us now and I'm not convinced.

07 Apr 2024 21:28:50
I meant JK.

07 Apr 2024 22:37:19
Oh bless, WarMachine73, another one who piped up out of nowhere to start berrating players cos we did not win, whereas he was nowhere to be found all this time we were winning.

07 Apr 2024 23:26:53
Watching the game with friends n no one is convinced about Nunez . captain chaos says it all. works hard but very hit n miss .

08 Apr 2024 00:41:26
All depends on the new manager but I doubt he’ll have any loyalty to Nunez.

Love his passion, love his energy, he’s just technically average.

We need more quality up front.

07 Apr 2024 13:20:37
If things start going awry in a few hours do not fear I shall post a negative comment with half hour to go and we will win, it always happens, its like putting on my lucky socks.

As regard to the team today I just wonder weather we may see a couple of changes. United's back like is made of poppadoms at the moment. 4 senior CB out and they will be guarded by the ever reliable for a booking Casemiro . I really like what Curtis Jones has done this season in midfield, and in the last few games Zob, as amazing as he has been for us so far, has looked just a touch off his usual self. So a midfield 3 of Mac Endo and Jones would be a good shout for me. As far as a front 3, this may sound a little crazy but I think Elliott should start. I would bench Nunez and put Elliott up front with Mo and Luchio. Harvey is a bundle of energy and will absolutely dog that back line of theirs and he's always good for a few decent strikes on target . Defensively Robbo back at left back and I would go with Bradley over Gomez, who has been amazing this season, at RB but I feel this is a game where we just need to go and score a hatful and Bradley is more of a threat going foward. Its going to be a cracker for sure . I won't say we are going to win 1-6 but we may just.

{Ed025's Note - you need Nunez today KK, he could destroy them mate..

07 Apr 2024 13:39:24
The narrative that Arsenal can’t score goals and City only won titles when they’re not chasing isn’t exactly going according to the script.

Whilst this title chase might be great for the neutral irs probably not that way for us LFC fans especially as we don’t like to do anything easy.

As much as it’s in our hands I’d be far more comfortable if Arsenal and City now start dropping points.

But before that we have to Overcome an awful Utd side that unexplainably have beaten and held us to a draw this season.

I'd love us to put this one to bed inside the first 20 mins but the likelihood is we'll be on pins with 20 mins to go.

Time to set our marker in the sand and put the ball back in Arsenal and City's court.

07 Apr 2024 15:25:58
I’m with Ed025, Nunez can bully both their centre backs.

07 Apr 2024 17:29:13
Sadly the only chaos Nunez caused was for us. Salah missed a hatful and Diaz missed a few as well.

Can only blame ourselves for that result.

07 Apr 2024 17:37:05
Nunez back to his old finishing today
Really not sure whatt we do next season with our forwards. Pathetic finishing.

07 Apr 2024 18:19:08
Nunez did the lot. Worked really hard and then was really indecisive. His passing was really off too. I am really starting to miss Jota even more now. But even though I am depressed at the moment, the point could be quite vital in the end. But it is back to depending on others! A goal difference of 9 is too steep to cover over 7 games.

07 Apr 2024 20:50:19
I think the key word in there is indecisive. I noticed it in the Sheff Utd game. Until the subs came on, we didn’t seem decisive enough in the final 3rd - which meant we didn’t put them away and had to work very hard for what should have been a routine win.

Still, we are in with a big shout of the title with 7 games to go - after last season, i’d have taken that last August.

07 Apr 2024 22:40:22
We threw that game away collectively and all by our own selves. People scapegoating this or that player is pathetic. I could scapegoat Quansah for being too casual and relaxed BUT I won't do that cos he was guilty of every single thing our forwards esp. our reliable ones in Salah, Nunez and Diaz were guilty of. Hence, scapegoating is irrelevant to me. WE threw that game away, and not HE threw that game away.