08 Jun 2019 16:43:43
Acc. to a reliable French journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi,
Both Bayern Munich and Liverpool are currently negotiating with Lille for Nicolas Pepe.
08 Jun 2019 17:17:07
IF Liverpool would sign Nicolas Pépé, I couldn’t imagine anything other than a 4-2-3-1 formation next year. Mané LW, Firmino AM, Pépé RW and Salah up top. No way either Mané or Salah is leaving, and no way Liverpool would spend 70-80m for a player to be rotational.
YNWA! 🔴.
08 Jun 2019 17:38:26
But that would mean that Hendo, Fabinho, Milner, Wijnaldum, Keita and Lallana and potentially Ox and Grujic would be fighting for 2 positions.
I know we've a lot of games, but not enough to keep 6 (or more) players happy playing for 2 positions.
08 Jun 2019 17:42:02
That means Salah is leaving then chaps if we are seriously tying to sign Pèpè! It’s a non starter as advised down the page by Ed002.
08 Jun 2019 18:02:30
Potato i can't see lallana staying even tho he has come out and said he will.
Ox will play but will need to get up to fitness again so will be a bit part for a while. We know how klopp works.
Keita would play the number 10 position so will rotate with Bobby if we change to 4231.
Grujic is going on loan but if adam l goes then wouldn't mind him staying.
We did really well last season was lucky with injuries and we need a strong bench as also a strong 11.
08 Jun 2019 18:16:37
I still don't think signing Pepe would mean us switching to a 4-2-3-1 predominantly. I think that Pepe could be signed as a rotation option for now if they expect Salah to leave in the near future.
It doesn't mean that he's leaving now, but I'd rather have a player up to speed and comfortable with how we play as his replacement when he does. It makes sense to sign his replacement now if we expect him to leave in the next 12 months.
08 Jun 2019 18:45:52
You can’t start salah mane bobby fifty games a season and compete on all fronts.
08 Jun 2019 18:49:02
Makes perfect sense. When a player has a history of actively trying to get a move elsewhere I would be disappointed if the club didn't ask to be kept in the loop on their possible first choice replacements. He would be one of only a small handful of players who may be available who could replace Mo, Ed2 named the others. This looks like advanced planning for this season in worst case or even for next (maybe like we did with Keita)
I'd take Mo over Pepe next season if he was willing to give us another year and wait for his dream move to warmer climates but if it's more of the same from his agent then let's find him a home and get Pepe in.
08 Jun 2019 17:06:19
Ed002 apologies if you've answered this before, but do you know if Pepe is seen as an alternative to Sane for Bayern or are they unrelated?
{Ed002's Note - They play in different positions - so it is entirely unrelated.}
09 Jun 2019 00:39:06
Can you not firmane? We've just won the champions league and finished 2nd in the Premier league 2 points from winning it doing just that. If kompany sliced that shot into the stand as he would've 9 times out of 10 we'd be league and champions league double winners doing just that. Don't tell me we can't, we can, we have, we may again.
09 Jun 2019 00:41:36
With regards to the comments that a 4-2-3-1 would limit midfielders game time, surely the formation would change depending on opposition and as such there would be plenty of game time to go around.
08 Jun 2019 23:10:32
Pepe won't be signing for liverpool unless he's a guatnted starter.
Put yourself in his shoes without the tintd glasses.
Id love him to sign but can't see it hapening.
09 Jun 2019 06:51:22
if we sign him would mean 1 of 4 players being rested like once every 3 games, and could still come on after an hour so would be like missing 1 hour off football every 3 games with rotation. seems ideal am sure there is enough football for all 4, what with the league champions league world club cup and the other 2 cups. Klopp seemed to keep his midfielders happy rotating them.
09 Jun 2019 08:00:22
Virgilfc_2018 - Salah will be a LFC player next year, if LFC had won the EPL instead of the ECL then he may have left to go to a side he thought capable of winning the one trophy he wanted. I think he will repay us with a 100% focus on the EPL because that's what the fans want. If we are to challenge on 4 fronts we need more fire power upfront, so being linked with Pepe is reasonable plus if he did sign he would not get any game time until mid season the same way Ox, Robbo and Fabs got introduced and he will then know our system, Klopp is very shrewd in getting players up to speed with our system before being unleashed. If Salah was to leave the year after then we would hope that Pepe could be promoted to fill that void rather than every club knowing how much money we have made from the Salah deal.
09 Jun 2019 08:07:08
I agree with Firmane on this one. I know Jurgen demands that each player is at their best all times but it is only human nature to tail off at some point in the season. Have we really got someone that the “front three†honestly fear their place for? I don’t think so. I think genuine competition for places is healthy and if the budget and player can found I think we should try. I don’t mean good substitutes or makeshift alternatives - proper competition that can be rotated.
09 Jun 2019 09:47:53
But we got knocked out early in the fa cup and league cups, games we rested the front three.
09 Jun 2019 11:30:44
Ladies and gentlemen, I would love us to go out and splash some serious dough. But let's not forget Origi has stepped up to the plate, and Brewster has seemingly been made promises. Origi before getting injured against Everton was playing some great stuff. Now he looks like he could be getting back to his best, any with a new deal maybe on the table he will need some game time. Unless someone makes a stupid offer for one of the front 3 I think we be using what we have. Any signings will be back up in other areas. And I honestly think FSG would spend if Klopp asked, but do we really need to? Cheers Chaps.
09 Jun 2019 12:02:24
We absolutely would be better off as a team with a quality player to add to the attacking options! I don’t think price matters it’s about the right fit. I couldn’t care if a player cost 3million of 100. If we are a better team as a result then we should sign them.
Our front three are fantastic but having a genuine contender can surely only be beneficial. It will push the current players and allow for another option to come off the bench if someone is off the pace or needs a rest.
Someone said further up that we have achieved this season and therefore don’t need someone. I have to disagree. Imagine if we had of had one or two quality players this season we may well have left city behind when we were so far in front.
Yes Origi has scored some really importantly goals and Shaq has contributed but we need a bit more than that to beat this city team.
09 Jun 2019 12:22:59
Can pepe play left wing as well?
{Ed002's Note - No
09 Jun 2019 12:25:35
hes salah replacement for next year. klopp likes to bed them in.
09 Jun 2019 12:58:39
So klopp goes to bed with every new signing 😲😲😲😲.
09 Jun 2019 13:25:13
As much as it would be great to have an extra attacker of his quality it’s not going to happen.
He’s never coming to be a squad option/ cover/ rotation option, plus you would risk upsetting one of our current top 3.
09 Jun 2019 11:54:42
If you're seriously moaning about going out of the micky mouse cups in a season we almost won the league and won the champions league and want to buy players just so we have a chance to attempt a treble or quadruple then fair enough your expectations and standards are higher than mine I'll take this season every season accepting that some seasons we will win nothing from it, sometimes we'll win the champions league from it, sometimes we'll win the league from it and sometimes, just sometimes, with a pinch of luck we'd get a league and champions league double. With no extra players needed as we proved this season. Fair enough tho if you want to buy more stars to add the minor cups as well.
09 Jun 2019 12:38:34
It's alright we will confuse him we will tell him that because we drive on the left not the right in England he'd be a left winger and it's confuse him so terribly he'd suddenly be capable of running on the opposite side of grass to he's used to and bobs your uncle.
09 Jun 2019 14:05:54
Thought we should go for someone can play on both sides.
{Ed002's Note - That is what the club has done.}
09 Jun 2019 14:23:26
Salah will not be leaving in this window. I doubt there is any team that will be able to afford him.
ED002 has mentioned that Madrid have laughed off Salah's demands. The have also just signed Hazard. If that is the case then one can expect Salah to be at Anfield for next season.
{Ed002's Note -
It is nothing to do with Hazard and they can more than afford him.}
09 Jun 2019 14:46:37
Do they still want to sing him ED002?
{Ed002's Note - Try searching - it is tedious to say the same things over and over again.}
09 Jun 2019 15:09:29
{Ed002's Note - That is what the club has done. }
I assume you are referring to Cornet? I prefer him to Pepe if I'm honest. He's got two feet for a start. Pepe' s right leg is for standing on.
{Ed002's Note - Yes.}
09 Jun 2019 16:06:50
Ed would it be fair too say going of your info, Salah would be a Madrid player if his high demands were met? I have read a lot of your info regarding Salah over last 18 months .
{Ed002's Note - I have explained repeatedly the situation with Barcelona, PSG, Juventus and Real Madrid - there is no point going over it yet again.}
09 Jun 2019 12:50:14
ed025 Origi scored some important goals for us last season. But anybody who thinks he is a long term answer for us are wearing the red tinted glasses again. He has been on loan all over the place in leagues no where near as competitive as the prem and did not make it. love to hear what ed025 thinks about Origi what we should do with him, I think we should sell him now because we will never get as much for him as we would now.
City lose one of there 3 look who comes in for them Jesus, Sane or mahrez. We have got rid of Sturridge now and Lallana and Origi need to follow if we won't to keep up with city.
we have a great team now but we need to improve the squad now while we are in a place of strength.
{Ed025's Note - for me he is an impact sub grino, he should never start a game as he is not good enough to replace any of the front three and i think you need to sign someone who can, if divock is happy to be a sub then liverpool may well keep him as he has made some telling contributions this season but im with you mate you cant stand still and have to strengthen..
09 Jun 2019 17:07:51
Origi has an incredibly rare habit of scoring late goals or coming off the bench to score. If he's happy to be a substitute, I'd give him a 5 year contract. Solsjkaer made a career out of it.
09 Jun 2019 16:41:51
ED002, was just confirming re Salah and sure you have previously mentioned it is unlikely that Salah will move this summer. His prefered destination is Madrid if I can recall but with them laughing off his demands it is unlikely to happen.
09 Jun 2019 18:23:23
It's the intention of Salah leaving which is a bit disappointing if true, surely if ed has some info regarding it u would think klopp an people inside the club do, anyways what will be will be, and it's nothing new too the club if anyone leaves or not .
09 Jun 2019 17:09:05
Ed002 not to complicate things but if we were to sign a forward cover (Cornet for example) would we still also be looking for a AM type player (Fekir as example) or not related?
{Ed002's Note - Perhaps - Shaqiri started well but had his little "problem" later in the season. Keita was a mistake and perhaps the club could improve with a replacement who would give a better return over a season than those two. AOC is also fit and will want game time.}
09 Jun 2019 17:22:30
Ed025, considering the options Everton have as strikers, I would be happy to have Origi starting for us than the options Everton have. Origi has now proven of recent showing that he is underated.
Think Klopp is working his magic to get him to the required level.
{Ed025's Note - i suppose its all about opinions max, but i have to tell you that if everton signed origi i would be gutted, he is as i have said a good option from the bench and a different kind of string to the liverpool bow, but as far as starting games goes hes at least 2 levels below the standard of mane, salah and bobby, everton are desperate for a forward mate but not that desperate that we would go for divock..i would hope..
10 Jun 2019 00:27:53
Some of these notions are silly. Why would we change our whole system to accommodate a new potential signing like pepe. When we reverted to 433 we hit our lethal potency again. Our 3 man midfield is crucial and bobby struggles badly at 10.
Mentions of our cup struggles, we lost to Chelsea and hazard magic in LC, then to a good wolves team in FA. 2 very tricky first round draws and our reserves did play poor in fa cup game. City had such a kind run to both finals and 2 or 3 softer opponents we could have progressed further. We will be stronger to compete this year no doubt but drastic changes aren't needed, subtle ones.
Ed2, you mention keita was a mistake! Is that a genuine strong feeling from within the club do you know? Yes he's been poor and not applied himself the best he could to settle in. But he did look much happier and integrated in the 4 or 5 games before his last injury and was performing. He's still early mid 20s and on a long contract, he's shown his ability is there. I'd have thought it's early yet to write him off, or has he been deemed already as a failure who's chance has passed?
{Ed002's Note - Keita had a year to learn English and he didn't, now a year after it ius marginal which give a WP issue. The club spent a very significant amount of money on him - including a pre-payment and he has hardl;y been a regular.}
09 Jun 2019 21:11:10
ed025 I know everton needs forwards but the reds fans that seem to think Origi has turned some kind of corner confuse me.
The goal against Everton was a freak goal but I think it was that game before it where he missed a golden opportunity before that goal. But the Barcelona game he played well. the final he was awful when he came on the pass to put Salah through I think as jermaine jenas Salah is through if he puts it anywhere but there and Salah is in. And I think you are being very kind to say he is only 2 levels below are front 3. And I don't think city drop that much when they bring players on. But if Brewster is anywhere near what they say he is he will be behind him to. And if Sturridge was not as bad as he was after the first few games he got Origi would not have got anywhere near the starting line up.
{Ed025's Note - i think your right grino, no doubt the red tinted brigade will disagree with us but thats fine because they are still on the crest of a wave after a great season and who can blame them?, but it was only a few months ago that everyone was saying liverpool need to get rid of him but now it seems hes the best thing since sliced bread, as i say its all about opinions mate..
10 Jun 2019 07:08:06
Ed02 I agree it's been a poor 1st season for him, but he's still young and with a long contract I'd imagine he will be expected to kick on this season and the language issue is poor on his behalf considering he had a year to prepare. I hope he can show a level of maturity because he's definately a talent. Is the language a consideration for WP? Never thought of that. Firmino also seems to have no grasp of fluent English after 4 years also and I remember coutinho also seemed weak despite long spell in England. Why doesn't bobby face similar scrutiny to what keita is receiving?
{Ed002's Note - You don't have to be fluent but Firmino has a Tier 5 WP mand Keita only has a Tier 2 WP.}
10 Jun 2019 10:48:03
Oh never realised WP was a possible issue for him, I know very little about how they work to be honest. Thanks.
{Ed002's Note - He has to pass a language exam by July sometime - although an extension has been requested.}
10 Jun 2019 11:19:58
Ed002 your fascinating glimpse into the work permit Tier ranking got me obsessively reading about it. A snippet: There's a big advantage gaining caps for Brazil (ranked 3rd) compared to Guinea (ranked 68th) . Coming from Leipzig (a CL club) for big money and big wages improved his rating, but that credit will fade next season. It'll help if he and Guinea have a good AFCON, but he'll have to make an impact in the Prem next season or we could have problems. UK work permits are for "elite football players who are internationally established at the highest level". And we can certainly classify Firmino in that bracket but not Naby, no way, not yet.
{Ed002's Note - It is now a points based system which he easily qualifies for - the language is the only issue.}
10 Jun 2019 11:37:08
Nice to learn new info like that, I didn't think any high profile player with international caps would ever have issues. Has it ever prevented well known players in the past or is their always a way clubs manage to work around it. ? I know we have a couple of youngsters currently not eligible at moment but I can't think of any other household names being stopped.
{Ed002's Note - There is no way for Liverpool to cheat in this case, sorry. There have been players who have lost their WPs areter a year when the T2 expires because they cannot deal with the language test.}
10 Jun 2019 12:45:19
Never knew the language required a test until today. Very negligent on the players behalf in that case. Thanks for insight.
{Ed002's Note - In amongst many other issues he never learned German when he was there.}
10 Jun 2019 14:51:49
As a native English speaker living in Greece, I know how daunting and exhausting it can be to learn the language while working full-time. But I also know how rewarding it is when you start. Here's hoping in his second year he focuses a bit and his English progresses. it does seem like he needs to grow up a bit though. He got his dream move to his dream club, now don't f it up Naby! It's only English!
{Ed002's Note - He has already had two years to learn.}
10 Jun 2019 08:11:56
Ed025 the problem with opinions is there like bum holes everyone has one 😂.
{Ed025's Note - very true giblet mate..
11 Jun 2019 00:26:32
Jurgen yeah he has no excuse, he doesn't work gruelling 12 hour days. Players have it too easy outside of football and too comfortable not having to lift a finger for what they want. So many stories of players getting caught out having others sit driving exams under their identity and players building up thousands in parking fines as even the simple things like a convenient parking spot they can throw ridiculous cash at without care. I always wondered how squads communicate daily without a mutual language. If hendo fabinho and keita play in midfield, none of them share a language it's odd
Would a manager like conte for example have needed a translater full time when coaching Chelsea?
Bale at Madrid showing zero interest in his team. He must be completely alienated from the other players every day training with never being able to understand any sort of banter for example. They probably rip the Mick out of him constantly without him having a clue. Poor from him as a pro to not have shown respect at the chance play for real Madrid during his peak years. I hope his career falls to death after his contract. Hoping keita will be let know of what is expected of him, seeing someone not bother to learn the local language would make you question their intentions of even staying around long term. I feel if mane wasn't here keita might not have even joined us. Other proper pros like Alonso, Lucas, Torres, reina i remember were quick to learn English. The likes of tevez and mascherano around the same time never made any efforts over the years. Things like a back 4 would need to be able to communicate without the need of thought. We have fluent speakers across the back which must help.
11 Jun 2019 08:00:31
Yeah Har mate, I can't argue with any of that. Alisson is a great example to all of them, English is really not easy for Brazilian Portuguese speakers, and actually usually not so difficult for West Africans or French speakers. So sure, I agree Naby could be making a lot more effort.
At the same time I do have sympathy for young players who find themselves transported from kicking a ball barefoot on the streets of Conakry (Guinea) into a life of celebrity and wealth in a foreign European country. It's not always easy and causes psychological issues that he seems to still be hiding from. Sadio had a few issues when he arrived and he was allowed and aided to overcome them with patience and an arm around the shoulder. I hopeful a year from now we'll be taking about a happier settled Naby and the most improved player (and English speaker) of the year.
{Ed001's Note - I don't know sorry, I haven't heard of anything today.}