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18 Sep 2026 06:23:39
Ed 666, what would you say our best starting 11 is at this point?
For me, Dom is the best RB currently available (just ahead of Ronald) with Jacquet at CB (again, just ahead of Ronald).
On current form, Macca starts, and Trey's positioning following a good preseason makes a strong case.
Gakpo's form can't be overlooked at LW, while Isak is starting to look more interested.
RW is tricky - BB or Munoz. Currently I'd say Munoz edges it due to his physicality and pressing.
{Ed666's Note - Same team but I’d have BB instead of Gakpo on the left. That’s nothing personal against Cody as he’s having a good season so far but BB offers guile, pace and ironically he presses like a madman. We need BB match fit and the only way to do that is give him game time.
12
18 Sep 2026 15:10:31
Not many people on here are going to agree with you on Dom at RB Pompey. The lanterns and pitchforks were out last season when that happened.
5
18 Sep 2026 15:27:08
Florian, that was before we saw him in a two man midfield, now I'd play him at right back all day long.
9
18 Sep 2026 16:34:24
I agree that Szobo is our best RB currently, and at the moment, I think RB is his best position.
I also hated him getting played at RB last year, but I'll admit I was wrong and that that was one decision Slot got right.
4
18 Sep 2026 16:38:30
Yeah, hard pass on Dom at RB, complete waste of his abilities. Araujo has done very well, Dom's not better than big Ron at defending. No chance.
5
18 Sep 2026 16:42:42
We get the best out of Dom when he"s played as a 10. Just need to work out what to do with Wirtz.
I'd drop the generational talent. Time to give Nyomi a try.
12
18 Sep 2026 17:23:23
At the moment I'd go with the same team as Rome.
5
18 Sep 2026 17:41:05
Araujo is the best option at right back. You're hamstringing Dom putting him there and asking the midfield to be more overrun than it already is when Macca flops.
Id prefer us moving to an almost 3 at back in posession and pushing whichever lb we have further up (How i wish we'd offered Robbo an extension)
Ideally just keep Araujo and Kerkez away from crossing. We are just gifting posession back. I'd rather us recycle and try and go through the middle again and wait until subs come on before crossing or wasting Dom out wide in defense.
Why would anyone change the right back when LFC have just had back to back clean sheets in the Premier League, after having only one previous clean sheet in the last 13 competitive games of Mr Arne Slot. We have just had a season full of square pegs in round holes!
You would also not have seen the "goal of the season" against Spurs, with ye RB in his own half, or the equaliser against Atletico Madrid.
If it ain't broke, don't try and fix it? (injuries permitting only, Ignore-ance is Bliss? )
4
18 Sep 2026 17:48:02
Slot got blamed for everything last year including playing dom and Curtis at right back when they were correct decisions. Slot got the midfield spot on with the players we had in 24/25 but couldn't get it right with Wirtz in the team and tried pretty much everything. Hopefully AI can solve the puzzle.
1
18 Sep 2026 17:48:45
If we playing in a final today I'd go with same team as Rome.
6
18 Sep 2026 17:49:29
Trying to think of a line up really shows how unbalanced this squad actually is
Ali
Ronald VVD Jaq Kerkez
Nyoni Mac
Szobo Wirtz Gakpo
Isak.
1
18 Sep 2026 17:49:29
Szoboszlai played attacking midfield the year we won the league. The consensus was he wasn't good enough there and we needed to upgrade. I don't think moving him from one position where he isn't very good to another position where he isn't very good is the solution.
1
18 Sep 2026 18:00:37
I'm with Rome on this one, Szob in the 10 ahead of Wirtz who can come on and rotate either on the LW or 10 position as needed. BB and Gakpo rotating the wings with Rio and Munoz as back up wingers. RB has to be Araujo who has looked solid and gives our RW a bit more licence to attack.
I think our biggest issue has been accommodating Wirtz with Dom and Macca, our game against Spurs showed how much better our midfield can be when we have 3 players with more industry and fight. Disappointed that we spend so much on Wirtz to cause ourselves a headache but it is what it is and if we want results we need balance to our team. Also not a bad thing having a strong bench on an AI team who likes to make changes.
5
18 Sep 2026 18:02:50
No Barcola LiverpoolFC8?
1
18 Sep 2026 18:34:58
Everyone saying Dom in the 10 is failing to notice that Dom is most effective when he's arriving to the game or driving forward; Wirtz thrives better between the lines and in tight spaces due to his superior off-the-ball movement. Dom's best used as a CM with freedom to make those forward runs.
3
18 Sep 2026 18:35:55
Wirtz will start on Sunday and have an awesome game.
5
18 Sep 2026 18:38:21
Six competitive games unbeaten, and still not happy? I give up, just give up?
YNWA Andoni.
2
18 Sep 2026 18:40:02
I'm quite certain in my opinion AI isn't going to consistently start Nyoni at centre mid in the near future (next 10 PL & CL games).
If that is the case then what does that say about AI. Is he right and the fans are wrong or can he not see what's in front of him?
0
18 Sep 2026 18:40:08
Not yet Florian. Probably be a different story in a few weeks when he's up to Fitness though my mate.
1
18 Sep 2026 18:42:18
I hope you're right, Red-Will. He's due one.
3
18 Sep 2026 19:07:35
JK, I agree with you, I can't see Nyomi starting anytime soon. Just like I can't see Wirtz being dropped anytime soon.
1
18 Sep 2026 19:18:05
I thought Nyoni was excellent in midweek and by the pattern of the post most think he should start ahead of Grav and I agree.
2
18 Sep 2026 19:25:47
Please forgive me. NyoNi.
1
18 Sep 2026 20:42:51
Is the proposal to play Szoboszlai at RB based on the fact that he cannot tackle and needs more space to make the right pass to play CM? But surely these are equally transferable skills required to be a RB, albeit not as frequently?
1
18 Sep 2026 21:23:37
Another way of looking at it: we're all trying to solve the soft middle which I think we agree is currently worth trying with Nyoni and Macca.
That leaves Dom and Wirtz competing for the 10 position ahead of them.
So, it's drop Wirtz and play Dom in the 10 - or, play them both and drop someone else.
The someone else is going to be either the RW or RB - change either of those 2 and play Dom instead and you accommodate them both.
I liked Chewys comment about Wirtz being better between the lines with Dom better driving forward. But, would Dom be better (and more involved) at RW or RB?
It also depends how risk averse you're feeling, because I'd also agree that Araujo is probably safer defensively.
1
18 Sep 2026 21:46:28
Allison
Dom Jaq VVD Gomez
Trey Mac
Barcola Wirtz Gakpo
Isak
That's my team Dom could play like Trent did in his last season with Klopp pushing in midfield.
I can't drop Gakpo his been our best player this season he is also so much better from the left and from what I've Barcola could play just as effective from both sides and would give good service to Isak.
For me at this time Munoz would be a better impact player late on with his pace.
0
{Ed666's Note - £660 million British pounds spent in the last two seasons and that’s the best we can conjure up.
I don't trust Isak to press fully right now. Might come. There are some signs in some games of improvement but it's got a ways to go.
I like Grav but he is bang out of form for quite some time.
I don't hate on Frimpong but Araujo pips him right now.
I think that front four will score goals and it will press like crazy with Dom up top. i'd like to see if it can work. Bit out there putting Dom as ST but you know. Firmino was a AM.
0
18 Sep 2026 23:37:27
The back four have looked reasonably solid, particularly the right side. Araujo gets a start at RB because he has played well there so far, amd he is actually a defender. AI seems to want Araujo arcRB, Wirtz in the middle of the '3l and Isak up top.
Szob and Macca don't work as the '2'. I'd move Szob to the right of the 3 and have Trey and Macca as the 2. The least disruption to the team and a more trustworthy '2' in front if the defence and a bit more licence for Szob to get forwards.
0
19 Sep 2026 03:31:39
Spot on StEtienneAmen, my thoughts exactly. The solution comply dosnt lie in playing people out of position, far too many people on her eplaying football manager.
Nyoni also is not the answer, he's not ready to be starting week in week out. The answer is that Dom and Grav need a right kick up the arse, Grav was excellent in th 6 previously, he needs to pull his head out of the clouds and knuckle down. Likewise, Dom needs to put as much effort into tracking back and tackling as he does pouting in the mirror.
The manager has a major role to play too, I think both of those things happening is down to the Iraola and how much pressure he's willing to put on these lads, I don't see it being anymore complex than some old-school hairdryer treatment and fines for every time they get caught out not pulling their weight. This stuff isn't difficult; we're talking about a little positional awareness and some effort here, it's not complex. If they can't do it, I'd be concerned about Iraolas man management skills, tbh.
18 Sep 2026 13:14:19
See we're being linked with Lee Dykes for the vacant sporting director role.
Currently at Brentford, but in a different capacity I think
Ed1, do you know anything about him mate?
From the outside looking in, could be smart as Brentford are a very well run club!
The thought of Julian Ward makes me shiver.
1
{Ed001's Note - I don't mate sorry.}
0
18 Sep 2026 16:51:39
Bournemouth were, and are, a well run club when we took on Richard Hughes. We then proceeded to slag him off for 2 years.
3
18 Sep 2026 20:28:19
'cause dickie boy is useless, hence why he's off to 'Al-Kebab'.
1
18 Sep 2026 20:44:23
I would lift up the bonnet Rome and see who was in the engine room that Hughes took the credit for because I cannot believe a charlatan has only become one since he joined Liverpool.
18 Sep 2026 14:20:46
U sometimes think that Sunday league players know how to play football better than these paid pros.
1
18 Sep 2026 13:09:20
Great review Ed001. Fully with you on Wirtz, his movement is great and you can see he is just ahead of the rest and they are letting him down by offering nothing.
On Rio, he stated his biggest idol is Neymar and I think that really shows at times with how he plays. Hoping he can sort that out since he's young. Maybe a loan to a championship team or struggling Premier League team would help?
4
18 Sep 2026 13:54:08
Thanks for the review Ed. Must have been hard to watch that game again.
1
18 Sep 2026 14:57:49
Thanks for the review, Ed01. I was a bit scared to ask you to do this one. It was a such a horrible watch. I just hope Wirtz and Barcola develop a bit of understanding soon. I love players who work hard - Wirtz definitely does that and sooner rather than later it will pay off as he has a lot of skill.
4
18 Sep 2026 15:11:48
My God ye wouldn't want him ending up like that Brazilian icon Neymar.
0
18 Sep 2026 16:52:12
Love the musical statues without the music bit Ed001.
2
{Ed001's Note - thank you kimos.}
2
18 Sep 2026 17:11:25
Welcome mate. Great stuff.
0
18 Sep 2026 21:18:12
Nice review Ed, appreciate it.
18 Sep 2026 11:08:26
No tactical expert but wonder what people think of a 3-diamond-3 set up to get our best players on the pitch in their preferred positions.
Back 3: VVD, JJ & Arajoa.
Diamond: Nyoni holding; Mac and Dom as box to box 8s; Wirtz at the top.
Front 3: Isak leading with 2 fast wide men (Barcola, Gakpo, Munoz, Rio.)
0
18 Sep 2026 11:38:24
We would be so weak down the flanks imo. Opposition wingers would have a field day against that team.
1
18 Sep 2026 11:47:38
You'd be asking the wingers to go far out wide and hug the touchline for width which would hamper them, since they're all better at coming in.
A back 3 would only work if we deployed wingbacks for width.
1
18 Sep 2026 12:22:16
Most teams in the Premier League currently set up in a 4-4-2 shape, which is a particularly effective shape against what you are suggesting. They can double up quite naturally with, and if both "strikers" in that set up are good with their feet they can build a box midfielder that completely engulfs ours.
I personally would like to see us set up in more of a 3-2-4-1 in possession, with Ronald, Virg and Jeremy staying back. Szoboszlai/Gravenberch with Macca/Trey as the double pivot. Kerkez supporting Barcola (LW) with wide left runs, with Flo in the 10 and Gakpo/Munoz out right.
0
18 Sep 2026 12:34:27
If we struggle to defend with 4 defenders on the pitch why would we change to 3? And with wingers who have notoriously poor defensive work rate/abilities? Recipe for disaster.
1
18 Sep 2026 12:50:57
Yes, but. stronger and better balanced in midfield which should then help us both defensively and offensively. Dom to drop back into RB if needed in defence?
1
18 Sep 2026 13:02:26
I'm with Chewy.
4
18 Sep 2026 15:02:23
It's not purely about numbers, it's about qualities. I don't think anyone would disagree that Araujo is a better defender than Frimpong (I hope). Having 3 allows flexibility, E. g., one can step into midfield areas to put in aggressive challenges - either directly winning the ball back or forcing a mistake/retreat from the opponent. Jacquet could do this very well imo.
0
18 Sep 2026 16:43:59
Fornax, so if we have 3 defenders on the pitch, with wingers who are terrible at defending and don't track back, then Jaquet steps up into midfield, we'll have 2 at the back. Where's the logic here? How does that improve us when we're already struggling with 4?
0
18 Sep 2026 19:58:00
You will see a lot of teams playing in this structure, particularly while a team is in possession. In fact we often used this shape en route to winning the Title in Slots first season.
The starting formation morphs regularly throughout the match, dictated by the current phase of play and also the game state more generally. The example I gave could easily begin as a 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-1-1 or 4-1-4-1 (Guardiola ™️). You will see it if you stop following the ball for a little while during the game, or as I stole from Ed001 many moons ago, rewatching the full game the next day without the emotion.
Believe it or not, by some modern football standards the system I proposed is actually quite conservative. It is generally accepted that a 3-2 rest defence is actually pretty solid.
18 Sep 2026 10:23:31
Congrats to young Rio making the England squad. The only LFC player in there. Hopefully Trey can force his way in during the season.
5
18 Sep 2026 10:30:52
Congrats to the lad, just hope for his sake it doesn't all go to his head given his age.
Lots of potential, and plenty of room to grow. Hope he doesn't get complacent and keeps pushing to get better.
18 Sep 2026 01:00:52
Hi Reds,
Anyone know anything about Kostas being replaced by someone more competitive? I think we've been linked with Tyrick Mitchell from Palace, who from what I've seen is pretty decent and on his final year in his contract.
I really like Kostas but his performances so far have been pretty scratchy and unimpressive. I much prefer Kerkez, despite his limitations, starting, with someone matching his position competing.
1
{Ed666's Note - Mitchell is a baller I’d be happy for him to replace Kerkez let alone Tsimi
7
18 Sep 2026 05:38:33
Anything can happen in Amy match - stats can be made to support whatever you want to make them say.
1
18 Sep 2026 06:41:16
He should have been shipped ages ago. Unfortunatley the club wouldn't spend big on back ups at full backs positions like chelsea, city or Arsenal. He couldn't even start 5 meaningful games back in italy.
2
18 Sep 2026 06:57:40
Never been lucky enough to be in Amy match.
2
18 Sep 2026 07:23:12
Tsimikas is Championship level at best.
Kerkez is not much better.
We have a glaring need for a highly competitive addition at LB
Same applies for RB, Frimpong is a joke defender, Araujo is doing a pretty good job but something tells me the club won't pay his fee to sign him permanently
Bradley is a nice lad, and I wish he could consistently play well but he can't, and his injury record is next level bad.
2
18 Sep 2026 09:20:37
With all due respect Mitchell is not anywhere near the level required even as a backup. Extremely limited player.
2
18 Sep 2026 10:26:10
Any time I've seen Palace play he's been a good player. My opinion anyway. What are his limitations dilly2 seeing as you obviously have knowledge of his abilities?
0
18 Sep 2026 10:32:26
Very limited, Dilly2.
1
18 Sep 2026 13:27:36
I'd soon both Mitchells to be fullbacks.
Phil and Grant. The famous red shirt on over their leather jackets would only add to their intimidatory qualities.
2
18 Sep 2026 08:17:01
Ed666 I was very disappointed Luke chambers never got any minutes the other night he looked good in preseason he can't be any worse than Kostas.
Ed have you seen anything or heard much about Lewis John-Charles young academy right back I see a right up about him hopefully we might have an in house right back for the future.
0
{Ed666's Note - no mate I don’t know anything about the academy player you mention but I’m sure others will. I’m not sure how close chambers is because will he be risked in a CL or Prem game? I don’t think he plays in the Caraboa Cup against Chelsea? Maybe if we get a lowly team in the FA Cup in the first couple of rounds?
17 Sep 2026 18:46:04
Klopp once again showing what a rare kind of human he is. I think he is perhaps the best thing to have happened to all sport in the modern era - a guy, who has very clear moral boundaries, without putting his hat upon the fashionable canards of the day.
We were so damn lucky to have him.
18
17 Sep 2026 18:56:51
I thought his hat looked very fashionable.
2
17 Sep 2026 20:08:52
Jurgen may again show his love for LFC by being our new talent spotter for the best Germany has to offer, and of course players from the different countries Germany faces. He hates Bayern and Kompany who invariably end up with Germany's best, an even greater motivation, as they did beat his Dortmund in a UCL Wembley Final versus Bayern.
Jurgen's first formation and the players selected will be interesting?
1
17 Sep 2026 20:42:05
He was enjoying his time at Bayern with Kompany when doing the rounds at clubs in Germany watching their training.
1
17 Sep 2026 22:45:12
@007, given Klopp is such an alround good guy do you really think he hates Kompany and Bayern Munich? Could he not be wise enough to see the person and the football club for what they are - another decent human being and a sports club?
8
18 Sep 2026 07:09:57
I don't think Klopp hates Bayern or Kompany.
In the same way he didn't hate Man City or Pep. He respected Pep massively as a coach and as a competitor.
He's a professional who has worked at the very top of his craft and is now the manager of the German national team - he doesn't hate the most successful Germany club team or its manager.
0
18 Sep 2026 09:35:20
Klopp doesn't hate anyone. He may dislike how people talk or act but hate? Nah, that ain't him, i'm sorry.
Klopp is so secure in his body and mind, has so much grace and empathy for his fellow man that it is impossible to project on him what others may think is hate towards he/she/them.
17 Sep 2026 17:50:32
Thanks for this Ed01. The Liverpool vs Fulham is one of the worst games in recent memory. We never created anything! It was incredible how bad it was.
2
17 Sep 2026 18:43:46
Andoni has to make big calls for the betterment of the team. Dom scoring a goal won't detract from how woeful he can be with the ball, constantly losing possession.
Grav looks he's not andonis type of player and I don't blame him. We're bare in the middle. Hopefully nyoni can help in there until at least January.
I hope ed666 is correct if this season isn't great concerning the squad. The squads bloated with some very poor player's.
The club had no Intention this summer of signing a midfielder so we need a top sd that will listen to andoni who will no doubt come to realise we need two midfielders to go straight in.
2
17 Sep 2026 22:47:24
Interesting little fictitious universe you are building there @Ron, eagerly awaiting the next installment.
5
18 Sep 2026 06:43:31
"Grav looks he's not andonis type of player and I don't blame him"
Really. so who do you blame instead? He was hailed as the second coming of Makalele over here.
1
18 Sep 2026 08:31:26
Loosely interpreted as "why won't the club do as I say? ".
2
18 Sep 2026 09:36:29
Flash, there are a lot of that going around this forum right now.
2
18 Sep 2026 22:09:55
Since the game began fans have always thought they know what's best for the club. I've had the problem for 60years.
The difference these days is that the current generation don't seem to have any fun playing make believe. They are too busy finding fault and then just dying to apportion blame, even though, at least away from the x-box, their opinion isn't worth a shiny shi# in the context of what the club decides to do.
{Ed666's Note - Same team but I’d have BB instead of Gakpo on the left. That’s nothing personal against Cody as he’s having a good season so far but BB offers guile, pace and ironically he presses like a madman. We need BB match fit and the only way to do that is give him game time.
{Ed001's Note - I don't mate sorry.}
