24 Jul 2019 18:06:06
Questions for ED001 if you have the time. I know you're a Liverpool fan too. Just your opinion

Is Klopp foolish to rely so heavy on 'The front 3' Salah/ Firmino/ Mané especially as all had a busy summer and apparently knackered already.
Or are the back up of Origi and unproven youth more then enough cover?

Should we expect or need a new starter quality player to come in, given the high we're on is this the best time?

Lastly,
Can you see another formation or style change again, mainly due to the front options to begin with. Similar to how last season changed from the previous super fast attack attack?

Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - foolish? No, what top team isn't reliant on certain players? Are Barca foolish to rely on Messi? What else can you do when you have players of that quality? Players don't want to join to be back up when they are of a similar quality, they won't play regularly enough to make it worth it.

There is not really anyone around to come in and take anyone's place, so we can't do much to be honest other than add cover.

The formation will be adjusted to suit the player's available, even when you have the same formation, the moment you put a different player in one position it will change because they play differently.}

1.) 24 Jul 2019
24 Jul 2019 18:38:56
There's only a handful of players around the world who can make this team better. It's no coincidence we've reached the Champions League final twice in two years. We are that good. This being said though the options from the bench are hit n miss. This is where we are weaker than City/ Juve for example. But I think our first 11 is better than anyone all day long and I expect us (without injury) to go close if not win it again.

2.) 24 Jul 2019
24 Jul 2019 18:49:47
It's funny how people phrase questions to suit their beliefs, "Foolish" eh? There's this bizarre notion amongst some fans that the club isn't spending because they simply don't want to spend or that they're not doing so because they're resting on their laurels.

If the right player is available the club will spend big, we saw that with Van Dijk and Alisson. If the right deal is available the club will also go for it e. g. Shaq. What the club won't do is spend money for the sake of it. Right now the deal or player isn't there. We're coming off a champions league winning season with all of our players at fantastic ages. They'll be natural improvement. As for the front three, Brewster, Origi, Shaq and the Ox all provide cover. Not to mention the possibility of a change in formation.

3.) 24 Jul 2019
24 Jul 2019 18:59:07
Thanks ED001. Yes I agree how other coaches rely on certain players and it’s common. But then coaches like Pep have high quality cover. Aguero/ Jesus Sterling/ Sane for example as he expects to win it all. Even at Barcelona since you mention Messi, it’s also about that they have Suarez Griezmann Coutinho Dembele and Malcolm into two other slots. What’s common is both teams are seen to be at the top and expect to win the lot.

Yes I’d expect style to adapt to players available or opponents like each season. But there was a dramatic imo change from last season to previous. We ground out results sat on leads and played mature like champions would, previously it was 4-0 up at half time either ending 5-1 or 4-4 (not matter of fact)
I think it caught many by surprise and wondered if we’d revert back to the quicker tempo but now knowing we can defend a lead.

Are our front three on a promise? I’m finding it difficult to believe the massive egos in football players like Pepe or Werner (examples as been heavy linked) don’t believe they can replace Firmino or Salah. Both we know are irreplaceable but they both went through droughts and bad patches. Isn’t that when the next superstar takes over?

{Ed001's Note - Pep did not buy Jesus or Sane as cover, he bought them to replace the aforementioned players and tried very hard to sell them. Now he is instead struggling to keep Jesus and Sane happy with Sane refusing a contract offer.

Again Barca went years without those players and brought them in as replacements, which has not worked out in Dembele or Malcom's case and they are trying to get rid of the flops. Coutinho is irrelevant he was brought in for a totally different role as a replacement for Iniesta, but is unable to play the role and so they want rid of him too.

Werner has no interest in moving to England, he wants to go to Bayern. Pepe would but paying that kind of sum for injury cover for Salah makes no sense, especially when the player is known to lack maturity and could be a problem if out of the team. You don't sign a player like that unless you are certain he is going to be first choice.}

4.) 24 Jul 2019
24 Jul 2019 19:37:06
Playing Devil’s Advocate here a bit, but if Klopp complains about the amount of football that players face is a solution not to have high quality rotation?
The amount of minutes that the front three completed last season was very high and you wonder that, at some point, it is inevitably going to catch up with them?

5.) 24 Jul 2019
24 Jul 2019 19:44:24
Thanks ED that makes perfect sense. Appreciate your answers.

And in reply to Eamonsf, a question normally has to give at least two options minimum, it’s not my belief that Klopp is foolish. He is the best coach no doubt.
I also think Origi is good, and trust the internal hype of Brewster. But I also know there is a well known belief in about standing still is like regression. A new face for a new buzz or competition can be refreshing. So I hear.

I think expecting the same players to go to a third CL final or eclipse last season points and repeat another title winning (in any other season) without injury or equivalent replacements will divide opinion.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome. If there was the right option available the club would move for them don't worry.}

6.) 24 Jul 2019
24 Jul 2019 19:57:49
You’re a gem as always ED. Appreciate your site and time.

{Ed001's Note - cheers Kristen.}

7.) 24 Jul 2019
24 Jul 2019 19:59:48
I seem to remember us beating Barcelona 4-0 without Firmino and Salah.

8.) 24 Jul 2019
24 Jul 2019 20:25:13
Ed would you not say Barcelona are foolish to rely on messi?

{Ed001's Note - what else can they do? Until they find someone to replace him.}

9.) 24 Jul 2019
24 Jul 2019 21:18:21
My god. That is all.

10.) 24 Jul 2019
24 Jul 2019 22:07:26
Sorry ed, i should have been more clear. they now have Griezmann who can win matches when messi doesn’t, Suarez. I guess they tried with Coutinho and dembele but hasn’t worked out. My point is it’s bad to rely on one player or a select few. We didn’t rely on any of the front three when we beat them in the semi, the team beat them. If someone stepped up from Barcelona and had a good game when messi didn’t show up, they wouldn’t have lost four nil.

{Ed001's Note - I get what you are saying but they have always tried to bring in players to fix that but none of them worked out.}

11.) 24 Jul 2019
24 Jul 2019 23:39:44
Fair play Kristen.

And I see what you're saying The Juicer but top players aren't interested in rotating. Sure the odd game maybe, but they want to be building up their stats. Look at Kane at Spur's, every time they try and bring in a player to rotate with him they end up getting no minutes as he insists on playing. Lewandoski has brought up the same issue at Bayern. City often rotate their stars but those same stars are now demanding out, over game time. The only reason City managed to bring in those players at all was because they were told they were replacements.

12.) 25 Jul 2019
24 Jul 2019 23:11:24
I think we’re slightly agreeing ed, it was just the comment you made ‘are Barcelona foolish to rely on messi’ to which I was thinking yes they are!

13.) 25 Jul 2019
25 Jul 2019 01:22:32
I know what the OP means about us changing our style a bit from two seasons ago to last. I think it is partly because we couldn't defend until we got trent, van djike and robertson in. And more so since alisson joined. We had to score three goals to feel comfortable. As lovren matip and clyne and moreno could ship 2 goals in 5 minutes, and did a lot.

Now we are a more complete team that doesn't have to destroy another teams tactics to win a game. We are good enough to implement our style on pretty much any match. So instead of the constant high press and counter attack, we can build from the back. Our midfield have cracked it, whoever plays, and the front three will score goals if you set them up.