09 Jan 2023 10:07:09
Hi Eds,

It's looking more and more likely Liverpool aren't going to bring in a midfielder in January. I'm just wondering if that's how you're seeing it?

I looked to see if you answered but everyone seems to be asking specific names, I'm not arsed about names, just if the feeling is that we will try and hold on until the summer or whether you believe we will try and dip into the January market.

{Ed002's Note - If the right player is available at the right price, then something can be done.}

1.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 11:00:07
Ok, Thanks Ed.

2.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 11:18:04
It will be interesting to see if Brighton and us have a different posture after the game on the 14th, re Calcedo.

{Ed002's Note - Why would that game change anything? Liverpool have not made any approach to Brighton for the player.}

3.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 11:22:12
I am still confident we try to do something. Based on no evidence whatsoever.

{Ed002's Note - I would agree.}

4.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 11:34:15
I hope you're right FlyPelicanFly, I want to believe that because its so obvious its needed, surely we can't overlook it.

5.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 12:03:43
Eds002 are there the right players at the right price currently in the market? If you wouldn’t mind digging out the crystal ball ?.

{Ed002's Note - Yes, I think so. Amrabat is available at the right price and he should be the first choice for Liverpool. Musah may be available - another club will test the waters. McKinnie is available, but I am far from convined in the player. Elmas might be available but there is a complication. I am surprised no effort has been made for Houssem Aouar - very cheap as he is out of contract in the summer, a starter and still only 24.}

6.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 12:15:56
Gunn10 - me too. It's difficult to watch right now.

But, we have to get it right on the pitch too. We need to find a way to become more compact and more aggressive ASAP. We need to find some motivation to keep clean sheets and protect the back four.

We only have one midweek game in the month of January which means a lot of time at the AXA to work on things. We have pretty much all of our midfielders fit now.

Lijnders said in his book that "training is our transfer" (vomit) . Let's see evidence of that.

7.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 12:32:13
Ed002, i like Aouar, i'd take him over any of them other names.

{Ed002's Note - He is still young and has a far better return of goals and assists than any of the Liverpool midfield players. Injuries have never been a major issue and he is affable and well liked.}

8.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 13:10:20
I hope we sign Aouar purely so we can sing Technotronic - Pump Up The Jam in the stands

"Aouar a place to stay"

I'll show myself out.

9.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 13:06:29
Can you put in a good word to the club Ed and point Aouar out ?.

10.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 13:24:47
They're are right players Ed002 but not "the" right players. Big difference. Well at least in out managers head.

11.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 13:38:45
I’m not really sold on any of those players listed.

But beggars can’t be choosers, as long as they can run, pass and not get injured all the time they’d probably be an upgrade on our current crop in the middle.

The pipe dream of Caicedo looks to be unlikely, although he undoubtedly would completely transform that midfield.

I live in hope that those at the top aren’t as naive to think Liverpool don’t need to sign a midfielder. At least numerous journalists have now backtracked on the idea that Liverpool won’t be bringing in new players.

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool have made no approach to Brighton about Caicedo.}

12.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 13:47:29
What are we doing? ??‍♂️ I said it months ago and got rinsed on here, But we Was and still Are, a complete MESS!
Getting outplayed by wolves reserves at home, c'mon reds just sort the midfield it’s a joke.

13.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 13:47:35
Whilst we haven’t approached Brighton are you aware of any convos with the agent?

An easier thing to ask would be have Liverpool spoken to any club with an interest in signing a player (other than PSV for Gakpo)?

I just find it baffling that it’s clearly been identified as an area of improvement and yet nothing has been done about it. It’s especially bizarre given we signed a forward, probably further stretching the available resources.

{Ed002's Note - Moises Caicedo (DM/CM) Arsenal have enquired after his availability and been told he is not for sale. Prior interest of Manchester United, dating back before he joined Brighton, remains. Liverpool have not made any approach to Brighton although they may have an interest in taking the player. West Ham and Chelsea have an interest and with Graham Potter, Paul Winstanley, Bruno Salter and Kyle Macauley all having made the move whilst the futures of Kante and Jorginho are unclear, Chelsea must be considered a very viable option. A representative of the player says Brighton will demand a very significant fee.}

14.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 13:49:50
Chelsea will no doubt come on for Caicedo now unless they after Enzo.

15.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 13:58:38
Musah is one on my list. He has the legs. Can play both the old conservative Gini role, as he did during the World Cup, but also pretty effective playing the forward thinking right sided role as he can carry the ball and run and run. Would also count as Home Grown I think.

I suspect Arsenal would like him back.

{Ed002's Note - Yunus Musah (CM) Valencia have no intention of selling the ex-Arsenal youngster and are not comfortable with his agent talking to clubs in England and Italy including Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Inter. His agent has told clubs an offer of€50M would change Valencias mind over a January sale. Inter are interested and Liverpool may be as well, but he would not be first choice for them. }

16.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 14:03:27
I've never been fsg in or out or any of that rubbish, but I'm honestly perplexed about the first signing we made wasn't a midfielder. We are a shambles in that dept. I liked the way we were run for a long time . But sometimes as owners you've got to put your hands in your pockets and back the manager . It's not like your not going to make a killing when you sell it. If they can't or won't do that now hopefully they sell up quick and let someone in who will.

17.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 13:07:21
Ed’s what do you think of our formation at the moment with the players we have and the severe lack of legs and ability to close down quickly and press in groups like We used to. What would you think of 4-2-3-1 enabling us to press higher and squeeze the pitch with 2 holding midfielders so that Fabs isn’t so isolated? Maybe also help with Elliott and Carvalho in the number 10 role as right now like you have said Elliott has too much grass to cover and it’s clearly effecting his game. Could the current crop of midfielders sit in next to fabs if we don’t sign anyone this transfer window or do you think the change of formation would have an adverse effect on current player’s attributes? Something has to change.

{Ed001's Note - formation is irrelevant if the tactics are the same as they are.}

18.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 14:30:30
@ Port Red - They backed the manager to sign £100m worth of forwards this season. With potentially nearly £30m worth of possible add ons.

You can blame FSG for not having enough money if you want. But you can't blame them for money not being spent in the right place. That's on the people doing the recruitment.

19.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 14:49:32
Elmas and Aouar are good players from what little i've seen of them in the Champions League.

Musah and Amrabat looked great at the World Cup also. Hard to judge on International football though.

Not convinced about McKennie. Seems a bit limited to me.

20.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 14:59:58
Worry I have with Amrabat is that he played in a counter-attacking system for Morocco. With us he'd play further up the pitch and spend more time on the ball. So it's not really clear if he'd work for us as well as he did for Morocco.

Also his best position appears to be the same as Fabinho's. Are we writing Fabs off after 6 months of poor form which is not entirely his fault?

21.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 15:31:53
@something red, we also sold 50m worth so let's not make out it was a massive outlay, any top 4 club would be actively trying to sort an area that a blind man can see is completely broken and getting walked through every game. Our owners are billionaires, let's stop this crap of whether they have the money or not. What's the loss to the club for missing out on top 4? 70-80m? You wouldn't see any top club acting like this, you either spend big and help the situation or do nothing and look at a massive loss. And it will, chances of top 4 with that midfield is miniscule.

22.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 15:55:45
You said you were perplexed why our first signing wasn't a midfielder. Talk to whomever decided to buy two forwards about that, not FSG.

As I said, you can criticse for them not for not putting up enough money if you want, but priortising Nunez and Gapko over a midfielder is the choice of whomever's in charge of recruitment. Not the owners. Regardless of whether or not Stevie Wonder and Geordi La Forge could see what's wrong with our midfield.

23.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 16:18:09
Port Red - Sorry but all this “ we sold £50m worth of players so the layout isn’t there “ is total tosh

1. Did Klopp get the money to invest? Yes
2. Players need to be moved on for a number of reasons, free up space for the non home grown quota, space in the squad
3. It’s not just liverpool that are selling players, Chelsea, City all clearing the decks when they need to!

24.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 16:39:58
Nunez was needed to replace mane as he wanted out. but gapko wasn't in my opinion. Carvalho could of gone over that side until jota or Diaz returned. Not knocking gakpo because he'll be a good player for sure.
They spent hardly anything in summer fsg compared to majority of other prem clubs with sales outbound.
Keeping milly for another year and not getting rid of ox and keita should of shown us where we stood midfield wise. As for the last ditch loan of Arthur. complete waste of money. can't make excuses for fsg. done lots of good work for the club with the stadium and training ground but as for investment into team. useless. just lucky that klopp agreed to come in and work for them.

25.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 17:16:14
Nunez was manes replacement so that was totally understandable. Gapko has me scratching my head and makes little sense to me. So I agree with you there, but as ed02 pointed out if the right player is available at the right price is laughable, penny pinching again, sometimes like will Ali and vvd you have to overpay but if it secures top 4 it pays for itself . Utd always improved a winning team under fergie, city add to theirs, Chelsea before this mess aswell, we won a league and cl and our squad is alarmingly worse now. I'm not looking for hundreds of millions every window, but sometimes, like now a little more is needed without it having it be the right price . Save the club from massive losses cause it won't come from their pocket that's foe sure.

26.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 14:37:16
Also what is the situation with Aouar? Very highly rated and was linked with ourselves, Chelsea, Arsenal and several other clubs for a £50m+ transfer in the past couple of years and nothing happened. And now he's out of contract in 6 months.

Any particular reason, anyone know?

I personally haven't seen him play, but it's just surprising to see such an apparently highly rated player drop off like that without a major injury anything.

{Ed002's Note - Houssem Aouar (CM) Out of contract in the summer. OL will look to extend but the player wants a new challenge. Milan, Roma, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis and Sevilla have a declared interest and will seek a pre-contract. Roma will make a very good offer to the player but Milan may be a more attractive option. A January move is just possible. I would have expected interest from England but there is none right now.}

27.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 18:10:44
Drogie what did I say that was tosh exactly, went spent roughly 100m on players and sold roughly 50m, that's a 50m out lay over 2 windows so far. That's a fact not tosh, of coarse we need to sell players if we're bringing players in, but as ed02 said earlier we've a few slots open at the minute. Midfield is complete shambles at the minute and needs serious investment, doesn't have to be all this window but where do you think that investment comes from if we're down 70 or 80m from no cl? Certainly not from our poor billionaire owners .

28.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 18:10:44
Drogie what did I say that was tosh exactly, went spent roughly 100m on players and sold roughly 50m, that's a 50m out lay over 2 windows so far. That's a fact not tosh, of coarse we need to sell players if we're bringing players in, but as ed02 said earlier we've a few slots open at the minute. Midfield is complete shambles at the minute and needs serious investment, doesn't have to be all this window but where do you think that investment comes from if we're down 70 or 80m from no cl? Certainly not from our poor billionaire owners .

29.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 20:20:11
Port Red - read my post again, in particular, was Klopp given the money to spend, regardless who’s been sold

All this “ outlay “ crap.

30.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 20:44:21
The key phrase here is “the right price” which is probably no more than fifty quid. FSG are far too skinflint to actually open the wallet properly. It’ll be a loan and/ or the midfield equivalent of Ben Davies, while they put out story’s about saving their money for Bellingham which inevitably lead to nothing.

31.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 21:16:36
First time poster so hello everyone :)
I feel the problem we have is a mixture of not having enough money for the signings we really need and also the fact that Klopp has never built a second team. He seems to be great at taking over a club that's struggling and changing the squad as they are not his players however, he seems to struggle with selling players he himself brings in. This or the club is ko good at offloading players for the right price as Keita and Ox could have gone for a decent price at the right time.

32.) 09 Jan 2023
09 Jan 2023 22:25:48
Yep VVVV, just like when we signed Davies, we didn't spend actual money on a first team defender in the following summer.

Oh no wait, that's not right.

33.) 10 Jan 2023
10 Jan 2023 11:02:32
Greetings Ed002 Happy new year. When you say Musah would not be first choice for Liverpool who would be?
I've read Klopp has the Klipperties for Musah but that may not be true. Thanks a lot!

{Ed002's Note - My understanding is that Amrabat would be first choice.}