Liverpool banter 9

14 Sep 2026 06:13:00
Also on point of dropping wirtz or gravy or dom.
Drop isak man. He is the problem because he is static in the centre.

Play front three of barcola wirtz and gackpo behind three man midfield of macca gravy and szobo see how fluent, threatening and amazing we become suddenly.

The problem is Isak always will be - at the moment we have 4 great players like world class level players looking ordinary trying to fit in and play for one average at best - one good season striker.

14 Sep 2026 06:53:37
Or Drop Wirtz and play a 3 men midfield with Bracola, Isak and Munoz up front?

14 Sep 2026 07:31:07
I'd go with Gackpo, Gravy and Bracola. I assume they play for the academy?

14 Sep 2026 08:09:41
Drop Isak? He is our only striker and has been looking much sharper, he needs to start.

I like Wirtz, but in terms of balance I do wonder whether playing Dom as the 10 with both Macca and Nyoni as the pivots would give us the best balance overall.

14 Sep 2026 08:39:38
Isak has been much more mobile than he was last season, he is hardly the biggest of our problems. Whatever he is doing now, he is being instructed to do. At Newcastle he was consistently dropping very deep to get involved in the build up and then run in behind. Bit ridiculous to suggest he is anywhere near being an 'average' striker.

14 Sep 2026 08:46:40
@Man, Dom cannot play as a 10 unless you want to see a no. 10 with no creative ability, no eye for the key/killer pass or the so called "pre-assist", very little ability on the ball in tight spaces. If that is what you are looking for then by all means, bench your creative spark in the final third and start playing one who lacks any of the tools I mentioned above. Good luck finding Isak or any of our forwards, btw.

And I think people are being fooled with the 'But, but we won the league with Szobo in the 10". That is patently false because Szobo never played in 10 the way Wirtz plays it now. He was our most advanced mid. behind the striker and creatively, we had Trent and Macca behind him and he just helped the striker (Jota/Darwin/Diaz) and covered ground with his engine in behind. They (Macca and Trent) did most of the creative stuff.

Trent ain't here anymore and Macca is creative (from deep) which actually helps us get the ball to Wirtz in those spaces where he can do his thing with the movement our forwards now posses with the way they can get in behind the defence.

Until we get a like Macca (with legs and athleticism) in that deep position, we will have to persevere but trust me, Szobo is not in answer in the no. 10.

As for 4dropping Isak at this point like the other poster mentioned, I'll just let that go over my head because it is not work a response, imo.

14 Sep 2026 09:02:51
100% agree with you Patrik Burgher,

A striker has to be fed, he was fed twice by Gakpo at Ipswich two goals, two balls on a plate, you only need to look at Haaland he can only tap them in from the six yard box.

As for an average striker Haaland would not have scored any of those two goals, particularly the second one, because he's a donkey he's only a goal hanger, put him in the Coventry team and see how many goals he would score, no service no goals, same with Isak he has to have a supply line.

14 Sep 2026 09:12:04
Lots of Isaks goals for Newcastle came from relatively static positions in and around the six yard box. On the end of crosses, set pieces, short passes.

He didn't score the majority of his goals by running onto the ball with dynamic power finishes, although he did get a few like that and they're the ones we'll remember like against us.
He's a good finisher as he showed at Ipswich, but his all round game isn't that of a £100m player.

I remember we were strongly after Joao Pedro when he was at Brighton, he wasn't the sexy buy but he was probably the sensible buy. Sliding door moment when we persevered with the Isak chase instead, probably would have been much better off with Pedro.

It's a similar story with Wirtz, we were after Rogers and also Anthony Gordon for a while. Arguably Rogers would have been better than Wirtz, and Gordon would have offered more as well, albeit a different type of player.

14 Sep 2026 10:13:59
I thought Wirtz needed runners ahead of him.

Surely putting him at Centre forward reduces that. Maybe he is the answer to our full back issues. Most of the team will be running ahead of him then.

14 Sep 2026 10:56:59
When will folk stop making excuses for Wirtz? I'm desperate for him to step up and succeed, but up till now he hasn't. I'd try Szoboszlai in the advanced role, he can't do any worse than Wirtz. Or even try Mac Allister there. Wirtz shouldn't be undroppable and under Iraola I'm sure he won't be.

14 Sep 2026 11:06:10
When was the last time we had a #9 like Isak? that kind of #9 that comes to life around the box, predator inside it.

14 Sep 2026 11:48:10
The last one that was a success in terms of goals Faith, that I can remember, was Aldridge.
We've had other forwards who were basically just box players, but can't think of any that were up to scratch. He had Barnes, Beardsley and Houghton servicing who are light years ahead of Barcola, Wirtz and Munoz tbh. Fowler was primarily a box player as well, but had a much more rounded game than Isak or Aldridge.

Most of the real goal scoring centre forward successes since like Suarez and Torres were very mobile dynamic forwards, who also scored a lot of goals. They didn't rely on service in the same way, but there were players like Steven Gerrard or Alonso around who could supply killer passes.

We've now also got right footed left sided players who don't often beat the fullback and whip in crosses like Barnes would have done, they cut in by which time the defence is set. The fullbacks don't deliver quality either. Aldridge probably would have struggled a bit for goals in this team, or wouldn't have been as prolific.

14 Sep 2026 12:21:31
I'm with you on that Rome, but at the same time he hasn't been as disastrous as some have been suggesting, so I can see both sides. At certain times he coughs up the ball in a very promising position under no pressure when a simple through ball (which is entirely in his wheelhouse, we know he has the quality to execute) would have us through on goal.

I understand the argument that he requires space to operate and to exploit and that intelligent use of space working in combinations with players is his superpower. He is less effective when space is completely denied in a frozen block, but sometimes even in moments in transition this season he has been found wanting when the time arrives to deliver the killer pass or make the clutch decision.

At the same time, if not for bad finishing from recipients this year he would already have had at least two, if not three assists in four games, and small margins meant he was denied that goal he was assisted from Frimpong. He should have done better with at least one clear chance as well, so if he had at least one goal and two or three assists (on top of the one he has) in four games, that's a pretty decent return that we wouldn't be complaining about. His work rate has also been absolutely top, and his movement has been uniformly excellent for the most part (maybe a bit less excellent last game).

So it's a bit of a conundrum. You could make the case he has been underwhelming, but there are other parts of the job that he's done pretty well, without racking up the stats that a number 10 is judged upon.

14 Sep 2026 12:29:43
Id like to see Wirtz in the false position, with a solid MF 3 behind him, which may well happen once Isak gets injured.
Wirtz is already working more than anyone else on the pitch and slowly building into that role anyway.

{Ed025's Note - hmmm..

14 Sep 2026 14:32:54
@Thin, we already tried that last season away at BHA and it was a disaster. Also, who is going to get him the ball to create and facilitate as say, Bobbie did?

Cos Szobo can't pass in advanced areas and right now, Grav can't even control a ball without losing it. Macca? he is at the base hence, can't do that either. Oh, and where does that leave Isak?

For me, you play Wirtz in the no. 10 and figure out how we can create a way(s) to get him the ball in advanced spaces in the final third.

Thankfully, that is what Doni seems to be working on.

14 Sep 2026 19:54:41
There is some excellent discussion here, lads. I've enjoyed reading your posts.

I heard Neil from TAW saying that if Dom S is your best player, we've got a problem, which was very evident last season.

Perhaps I was spoiled by peak Jürgen's Reds, which was the greatest LFC team I've ever seen, and I grew up watching Rush and co. when Kenny was player-manager.

Our title-winning side under Slot was one of the worst for many years, and this side, which has been built by different hands with different visions, just feels off.

I'm confident that Andoni will make us exciting again, but he will want a different profile of player from Edwards, who has half-built a side in his own vision. That vision feels somewhat of a misfit for Andoni's style.

I don't think Andoni would have gone for Isak or Barcola. Wirtz, maybe, because he came packaged as the generational footballer, a potential next Messi. I don't think he'd have bought Frimpong, Dom or Grav.

JJ, RA and Muñoz look like a great fit, as does Minteh, but the midfield may need a complete rebuild.

Grav is one of the most overrated players in the world after half a good season. Dom S is, at best, a utility man who can do a lot of running around and has a good set piece in him, but beyond that, I'm not seeing a world-class player.

I can't see Andoni going for Wharton, who smacks of an Edwards buy. Perhaps Camara and Scott are more his type.

The plus side to all of this is that we'll soon be in the monopoly-money league, where failed £100m players no longer matter quite so much.

I remain hopeful that Wirtz will come good, but I'd guess that two out of the three £100m players will be deemed failures when all is said and done.

The DOF issue is a big area of contention for me, unless said DOF has some standing in the game and was a player or manager of note. I feel that Edwards' vision was a fantasy, for this league at least, based too heavily on stats rather than on the way someone like Jürgen would assess and choose players.

14 Sep 2026 21:33:56
Great post that Duke, very insightful stuff.

13 Sep 2026 20:07:41
Hello ed1 hope u well. I see milner has started coaching at lfc academy to get his badges. Do u know when he does get his badges would he be 1 we looking to get into senior set up? I remember when ai appointed a lot of talk that he wanted an ex lfc player in his set up but that has never materialised.

I do feel milner would be excellent addition into club, type of character we missing on the field.

{Ed001's Note - I have no idea, he already has the badges he would need to do that anyway, he has everything except the pro license which is only required for management really. Which probably means that is the direction he is looking at anyway, rather than going into coaching.}

13 Sep 2026 23:00:30
I've said to other fan's that this is going to be a season of more downs than ups unfortunately. I still believe that we have the right coach in place but it's going to take time and a lot of patience from us.

13 Sep 2026 23:31:15
Been saying since well before we sacked Slot, that we have as much chance this season of being up and down with a new manager than we do with keeping Slot.

There are obvious flaws as well as Iraola learning as well. Will be interesting to see how he learns on the job! Another game will be arriving quick fast and in a hurry and as much as we need to rotate, the pressure will start build if the results don't match the performances.

In saying that, the fulham performance was not very good hahaa.

13 Sep 2026 23:32:36
There's no real expectations to win anything this season. So let's just watch the team grow and evolve into something special game by game.
This team will be very good once it all clicks, the players become fit again and once we have addressed some of the gaps in the winter and summer transfer windows.

14 Sep 2026 00:46:40
There has to be expectation to win something, half a billion last summer and a further 160 ish million on wingers and a possible 100+ million on defenders this summer even though I think most of it was wasted there has to be expectations.

14 Sep 2026 05:58:51
Mad to think that there is three above 100 million players on the pitch for us most weekends and still it's going to be a struggle to finish top 4.
I.

14 Sep 2026 06:11:31
Can't be deliberately getting knocked out of any cups like last year that's for sure

Got to beats spurs at home.

14 Sep 2026 06:15:31
Wirtz is shocking bad, lightweight and every time I watch him, uninspiring.

14 Sep 2026 06:35:40
Is there less expectation on Man City to win anything this season as well? Six new signings, new manager etc?

14 Sep 2026 06:37:14
I'm with you, LFC8. We need to go strong against Spurs and not chuck the towel in like we did last year.

14 Sep 2026 06:58:27
Well you have answered your own question there @irish. They bought 6 new players while we didn't fill all our gaps.

14 Sep 2026 07:52:48
It shouldn't take such a length of time to integrate a couple of players, one of which is a £100m superstar.

On the coaching and tactical front quite a few of this team have worked in a high press before, possibly Isak being the most notable exception. So what's their excuse really. The likes of Kerkez should be lapping up working with Iraola.

Stop managing expectations down so much guys, you're doing a disservice to the club and fan base. We should have beaten Forest and Fulham end of story.

There'll be another bunch of excuses next year when Alisson leaves and Grav, Kerkez and Connor are replaced, and then VVD. New sporting director, maybe Iraola the year after when his contract expires. Before you know it were in the trophy wilderness for half a decade or more hoping for top 5.

I'm not expecting us to win the league necessarily but with our outlay on players anything other than third is a failure, and maybe a cup win.

14 Sep 2026 08:25:56
Given that the league has to be a priority and we have a paper thin squad in terms of actual quality, the cups will likely need to be sacrificing as we don't have a squad capable of competing on 4 fronts. We're struggling to draw against relegation fodder at home, so I'd forget about winning anything.

14 Sep 2026 09:08:39
City signed 3 mobile physical midfielders in the window and the 2 that played yesterday were outstanding.
Played the majority of the game with 10 men and covered nearly every blade of grass, winning headers, tackles and playing lots of passes.
Exactly what we are missing.

14 Sep 2026 09:31:52
That's our current reality Vik perhaps.

I suppose my point, and it would have been the same last season, is why accept it as a time of change. Maybe we have no choice but I think the mentality of the club is wrong, and the players and even some fans to a degree aren't hungry enough. Salah said as much last season about the club.

If Jurgen was in charge of this bunch of players there's no way fans would be accepting of two consecutive draws at home against Forest and Fulham, neither would a Henderson or Milner type player and neither of them was a £100m player. And Jurgen wouldn't accept it either.

Sports teams are generally always in flux to some degree, we've only bought two starters in Barcola and Jacquet, so what's the big issue.
We know there have been big transfer fails, but aside from that the team we put out should have beaten both of those teams. The fact we didn't look like doing so tells you the mentality is wrong.

Why have we got three £100m plus players who offer very little each week, but play each week. As Niger red said at least one of them should look special each game, maybe all three tbf, but they don't. It's very early for Barcola, but he doesn't look anything special yet. The other two flit in and out of matches. We have one of the worst good chance creation rates in the league, last season we averaged less than two goals per game.

We can't sack them all off, that's why coaches always go first as it's easier, but at some point the mentality of these players needs to be called out.

14 Sep 2026 11:24:54
Indeed, Molby. And we said it last season that this is the league the PL has become as in, athleticism and Mobility esp. in midfied and the teams that can cope like City and Arsenal (esp. the later) are going to be there or thereabouts come May. Both teams recognised this. Ours didn't.

Ex. with Odegaard, they have a wall in Rice and Bruno/Skelly behind him.

With Cherki at City, that have a wall in Anderson/O'Reilly or even Enzo behind him covering ground.

With us, we have Wirtz with a "wall" of Szob, Grav and Macca.

Let me know which one of these things is not like the other(s)?

Now, we are in a diff. position esp. with a new manager and an inadequate squad that can't allow him to potentially compete.

Sadly, we're going to struggle a bit more. It is what it is.

14 Sep 2026 12:06:11
Did someone say 3-4-3?

Araujo - Jauquet - VVD
Dom - Nyoni - Macca - Grav
Munoz - Gakpo - Barcola.

14 Sep 2026 12:11:31
That's all true Oli, especially when you're playing better teams you really need the shield. All successful teams across time have had it.

What's the reason though why we played so poorly, and didn't deserve to beat Forest or Fulham at home. Both very poor teams. Numerous examples last season as well.

Even in darker days pre Jurgen when we had average teams with no real big transfers incoming we'd win these games at home. This season and last we haven't despite huge transfer outlay. Something else is missing from this team.

14 Sep 2026 14:56:13
Clearview, i feel your pain. Now for me, I think we have improved in terms of our intensity, pressing and ability to actually create chances, none of which we were doing last season. All 5 games we have played this season would have been losses last season.

To your point of the start of Klopp's tenure, these games happened as well so let's not be too clever here, my friend. WBA, Southampton (Mane scored their leveller), etc. and even then, we had Klopp who could work wonders due to his charisma, personality and ability to motivate players to go even further than they thought. And besides, that was a diff. time.

What we have now is that we have very good players here but esp. in midfield because the defence (bar the LB's for now) and attack are pretty good) is where we have issues because the balance is not right.

That is where our issue lies now.

Like I said multiple times before, it's going to be a slow burn this season and these types of games are going to happen.

That happened under Klopp as well.

14 Sep 2026 16:58:46
I agree on the improved defence except left back Oli, and increasing workrate.

I'm not feeling it yet with the attack I've got to say, but accept we need to bed in Barcola then we should see something better.

I'm thinking it's 4231, with Barcola left side, but the other three places are up for grabs medium term. The only reason Isaks in at the moment is because Ekitike is injured, the jury is very much out on Wirtz, and the right side could be Gakpo, Munoz or another. I'd imagine we'll buy a right sided player in Jan, probably Minteh.

Isaks a good finisher, but as others have said his movement isn't always the best. The quick quality supply from Gakpo at Ipswich made a difference.

13 Sep 2026 21:18:21
Very poor team performance yesterday, but I didn't think Wirtz was the main problem. He did make a few loose passes, and should have done better with the one opening he got and shot wide, but as a creator he was not being passed the ball soon enough at transition, something we did much better vs Atlético, so Fulham could get fully set defensively and then when he received it there was too often zero movement ahead of him.

For me our front 3 has been too static and too linear, just stood in line with the opposition defense. It was a problem all last season, players too often wanting it in to feet rather than looking to pull the defense around and create spaces for each other. There is movement coming from Szobo pushing on, but this is counterproductive as it leaves gaps behind and creates congestion if the front 3 don't move also.

If we start seeing more movement and quicker forward passes in transition we will start to get the best of of Wirtz. He is also the hardest worker off the ball out of the front 4, but we are not pressing cohesively yet either.

Work in progress, but personally I don't think Wirtz is the issue.

14 Sep 2026 01:45:43
Very much agree on the 3 statues up front, Our off-the-ball movement is absolutely shocking, everyone's just hanging around waiting for a pass made of magic to arrive directly at their feet. It's infuriating to watch. Make a run, find some space, if you can't find any, at least you might create some, or cause a little confusion between defenders, allowing a teammate an extra yard or two. It's all so basic but I rarely see it. There's such a lack of creative off-the-ball movement it astounds me, they actually need a coach who specialises in just that.

Same goes for free kicks, no movement, no creativity, did we really sack the set piece coach last season because or has he just grown his hair out and started speaking with a Spanish accent?

14 Sep 2026 08:56:24
Chewy and Welsh, I fully agree at this point, anyone scapegoating player X or Y is just you know, scapegoating and crashing out on players they don't like. Wirtz the issue? Do a Carra and bench Wirtz and play Szobo in the no.&0. if you want to see our forwards not get the ball ever because he possesses none of what Wirtz possesses creatively then, go ahead. Carra did his job well by spreading rubbish and propping up Szobo, the same guy he said LFC could "upgrade on" and didn't rate at all as a no. 10.

For me, all I saw yesterday was a team of players not being able to control/pass a football 5 yards. Slack passing, no movement, poor decision-making up and down the shop. Fulham didn't even have to break a sweat as they just let us get into our own way and mopped up right behind us.

Fatigue? Maybe but that does not explain how the whole team just had no zip and purpose in their decision-making at the most basic things of football as to just control and pass the ball. The whole team? Sure a couple stood out but that's like being able to jump two feet high while the others didn't even jump at all.

Gotta do better.

14 Sep 2026 09:52:54
Oli
What's your opinion on Gravenberch and Szobo without scapegoating them of course?

14 Sep 2026 11:35:05
"What's your opinion on Gravenberch and Szobo without scapegoating them of course? "

I propose you read the comment properly. Don't worry, i'm guilty of this myself.

First off, I never even mentioned Grav anywhere in my comment.

I also said everyone was poor but that flew over your head, of course.

As for Szob, I was just parroting the nonsense from Carra in his hare-filled rant against Wirtz and giving an opinion what him playing in the no. 10 would lead to.

No one was scapegoated here, genius. Cheers.

14 Sep 2026 13:08:05
Irish Rover, hey're not doing the basics, they're meant to be top top footballers on 300k a week and they can't do the basics? Where's the scapegoating? If you look up and see the player you've been playing next to for the last 3 years make a run into the box, you don't abandon your duties to follow him like you're joined at the hip.

If the opposition wins the ball you SPRINT to get back, you don't jog, and you make sure you get a bloody tackle in instead of waiting for somebody else to do it. There's kids playing Sunday league for their local team up and down the country doing these tasks better than Grav and Dom right now, so again I ask where's the scapegoating?

14 Sep 2026 19:02:54
Chewy you've obviously missed the memo. Regardless of price tag and wages some of our players are not expected to do basics. Everything including player personal hygiene and tying boot laces is the coaching staffs responsibility. End of memo.

13 Sep 2026 20:25:54
There is a lot of support on here, rightly, of our younger players Nyoni & Rio.
(I loved Klopp interview after Nyoni's debut - giggling about how good he was).
It's a lot to expect of teenagers to be starting twice a week?

Name the undroppable teenager?
Lamal?
Rooney?
Owen?

There's not many?

13 Sep 2026 23:50:08
Lewis Miley has made himself unstoppable at the moment at Newcastle, pretty sure he's the same age or younger than Nyoni.

Young players need a chance, and then it's up to them.

14 Sep 2026 06:56:35
Top three teenagers in the EPL (based on minutes) played are Fabregas, Rooney and Fowler. Owen is further down the list at #5 or 6.

The list is sparse for modern day players.

14 Sep 2026 09:01:25
Rugby, this is Miley's 3rd season in the PL as he got his debut in 23/24 because Newcastle was ravaged with injuries at the time he has been able to take his chance because as you say, it is up to the youngsters to take their opportunities.

For me, Nyoni hasn't been able to get consistent mins. because we don't haven't had that type of crisis for the past 3 years and even last year when he should have gotten mins, the manager couldn't be arsed about him when we were clearly struggling in midfield. That's not Nyoni's fault.

The hope now is that Doni trusts him a lot more so we can see what he is really about. Not what we would like him to be like.

13 Sep 2026 19:51:30
{Ed's Note - HAJI has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool's Midfield Pivot Is Starving the Front Four

13 Sep 2026 20:00:47
Great read mate. Another reason why we need Wharton, receive the ball and picks his pass quickly, turning defence into attack.

13 Sep 2026 20:05:29
Iraola's philosophy revolves around wingers. Our only natural right sided winger - Federico Chiesa 😂🤷🏻‍♂️.

{Ed001's Note - he is also naturally left sided.}

13 Sep 2026 20:28:16
Sailor, the issue with Wharton is that just like Macca, he lacks athleticism and mobility in transition, the very thing many of us LFC fans, have been saying for the past couple of years.

13 Sep 2026 20:36:38
Nice article, pity we didn't move for Stiller before his ridiculously low buy out clause of 31 million pounds expired.

13 Sep 2026 20:48:57
For the price palace want for Wharton, we could buy these two and fix the midfield.

13 Sep 2026 20:51:41
Wharton is absolutely hopeless out of possession. He's as much of a dead weight as our current incumbents and fixes nothing.

13 Sep 2026 22:05:26
Hate to be that guy but are we finally starting to realise that Szobozlai isn't the world class footballer that he's been made out to be. The tactical/defensive discipline he should be showing in that midfield pivot just isn't there.

Is he on some kind of personal glory conquest, I've no idea but at this point he's adding nothing to the team and I can't even advocate putting him at right back as Araujo seem to be doing a good job there .

13 Sep 2026 22:17:24
HAJI summed up most things - the midfield has been weak and lacking for years, but the owners and their puppets have failed to admit and or recognise this - so we have been left with a toothless group which won't challenge or indulge in a fight. - Prima-donnas who want all the plaudits, but aren't willing to deserve them.

Iraola, in my opinion let himself down on Saturday, after 10 minutes it was obvious we were lacking in midfield, and Fulham were slicing us up. OK nothing changed, but I thought a manager worth his salts would be able to compromise, and change it at half-time, but no, he stuck with his preferred formation, which was obviously NOT working, and we suffered for it.

Midfield wins matches, our midfield in terms of squad is weak - blame Hughes for that (a complete failure and milker).but if Iraola is not going to be able to compromise, and modify formation then we will suffer.

13 Sep 2026 22:28:29
Scobozai is a Prima donna - will only go in for a challenge if it is 65/35 his way. He was abhorrent on Saturday, bitching and moaning about everything, even when the freekick was awarded in his favour - he's still living off the Arsenal free-kick - hello, that was last season - stand up, grow up and start playing please.

14 Sep 2026 05:57:06
Szobozlai has some world class attributes, but they do not add up to being a world class player, at least not in this system. I think a lot of players are still struggling to shake off the lethargy of Slot's style of football.

I do think we'll see gradual improvements, but I am not sure whether a Grav/Szobo double pivot will ever be the recipe for success.

14 Sep 2026 11:39:47
Well put, Seano. Neither are world class and with their attributes, they can get there. The question is do they want it because you got to want that stuff to be that stuff esp. since nothing is guarateed.

I like you, have been saying that this season is going to be a slow burn because frustrations like during Fulham and post Fulham are going to happen.

Having said that, we can see what the team needs esp. in that midfield and Szob and Grav right now, don't work. The good thing is that we see what does not work.

The task now is to find something that works at the base of that midfield because that is where our basic issues lie. Then we can go from there.

13 Sep 2026 18:53:56
Tuesdays game is at home so less travel. Personally the changes I'd make is move Dom to 10 and put Nyoni alongside Macca in the middle. Give Wirtz a rest. Not sure how fit Gakpo is so stick with Barcola and Munoz. Bring back in Kerkez.

So for me it's:-
Ali
Araujo
Jaquet
Virg
Kerkez
Nyoni
Macca
Dom
Munoz
Isak
Barcola.

13 Sep 2026 20:00:45
I'd go with more changes.
Mamar. Frimpong araujo gomez(if fit) Chambers/tsimaskas. Nyoni grav. Munoz macca rio. Koumas.

13 Sep 2026 20:01:06
Dom needs some time on the bench.

13 Sep 2026 20:35:43
Chambers has to be given a chance to see if he can push Kerkez or even take his place.
Would love to see Nyoni and McConnell get some game time with Mac just to see if any of them can partner him.

13 Sep 2026 20:43:19
Grino I was abit miffed seeing Chambers at lcb in pre season as he's a lb. To my shock he done really well. Would like to see him get minutes now rather than Tsimikas. Could save money on a lb next summer.

13 Sep 2026 22:06:11
@sailor Jerry - agreed.

14 Sep 2026 06:53:39
I would play
Marma
Frimpong Araujo/Jacquet (half each) Chambers or Endo Tsimikas or Chambers

Nyoni Macconnell or Grav
Koumas

Munoz Danns Gakpo.

14 Sep 2026 08:07:29
Chambers needs to be back up/challenge Kerkez
Simi should be just a cheerleader with Pom poms on the sidelines and a joker in the dressing room.

13 Sep 2026 18:31:45
Karma is a real bicth ain't she Bruno?

13 Sep 2026 19:23:13
Lol. love to see it.

13 Sep 2026 20:31:07
Bruno was clearly not in that much pain because he made sure had enough time to turn and show Oliver where Foden caught him before going down like a a cry baby.

And you just knew that United was going to screw this up, didn't you?

Love it.

13 Sep 2026 21:26:13
Michael Oliver is definitely on the City payroll, imo and that VAR decision was just ridiculous, that's the most worrying part of the game for me, that the officials are bought and paid for with oil money?

14 Sep 2026 06:44:41
After that sending off then City should demand their money back from him.😂😂.

14 Sep 2026 09:14:14
Now just to be clear, I think it was a red card because you simply cannot stick your studs at an oppo.'s "area" without being sent off.

That being said, I thought Bruno milked that to the fullest which was hilarious.

As for the offside goal and VAR, i'm going to need to take a course on the offside rule because i'm not sure anyone can tell you with a straight face what it is.

{Ed078's Note - Fernandes kicked him and leant in, it was almost impossible for Foden's legs not to be in that position and in the heat of the moment almost impossible for him to not push out like he did. I didn't see it as a kick, more a push out really. I can see how the ref gave it, but that's the problem when players try to get someone sent off, things have gone too far.

13 Sep 2026 17:43:14
I don't want to do an old man games gone post but that Foden decision is one of the reasons why officiating is so useless at the moment.

The rat fouls him, then he kicks him, and when Foden midly reacts he goes down like he's been shot.

Either send them both off or neither. Not really any difference in force used and they both kick the other. It was simply petulance made worse by a serial ****house.

13 Sep 2026 18:33:19
Massive bottle job performance from ManUtd.

Crowd dead, negative performance. Miles off the pace

Carrick will be under pressure now. Nobody is falling for Gary Neville trying to deviate the focus to the Goal, it was a bottle job performance at home against 10 men for the majority of the game.

13 Sep 2026 18:36:23
Have to agree, arguably more force in the Fernandes kick than Fodens. Never a red card, book both players and move on.

Having said that VAR made right on there error by overturning that offside goal awarding that City goal, how in gods name they could say that Fernandez wasn't impacting play from an offside position when he was a foot away from scoring with a diving header in the middle of the 6 yard box. Shocking all round from officials.

13 Sep 2026 18:40:47
Carricks doing a fine job.

13 Sep 2026 18:48:11
Elliott Anderson! Would rather have spent a hundred million plus on him than any of Wirtz, Isak and Barcola.
Look at our midfielders tackling and ball retrieval numbers. He puts them all to shame.
We will never see the best of Isak, Wirtz or any of the wingers, until the double pivot is sorted.

13 Sep 2026 18:52:35
And Andoni also.

13 Sep 2026 18:59:15
Yeah I agree molby, Anderson would've been the 1 I would've went big on. Not many players like him about anymore, can do bit of everything all to a top level.
Would transform us from a team from 3rd-6th to push on and compete for a title imo.

14 Sep 2026 08:10:31
These mistakes are costing teams potential points and just coming out and saying we're sorry we got it wrong is a pis* take.