Liverpool Discussions

18 Aug 2026 21:31:19
Evening all…

As I said earlier, Barcola done at around £95m. It looks like Liverpool could be holding back the announcement because they want to unveil the Barcola + Mbaye double together.

Jones is still definitely going, in my opinion, but I’m still unsure on Gakpo. There’s clearly interest from Spurs, but I’m not convinced enough yet that the deal is definitely happening.

I’m still very interested in Lamine Camara too. That’s one I’d keep a very close eye on because I still think Liverpool could make a move there.

Then there’s the defender situation. I think this is where we could potentially see something interesting late in the window.

Rather than just looking at the usual names, I want to look at possible hijacks and players who could become available suddenly.

One name I can see us looking at is Raul Asencio at Real Madrid. There has been genuine Liverpool interest reported, Madrid have previously been open to him leaving, and today’s reporting says there have been no concrete offers for him. That doesn’t mean Liverpool are negotiating for him, but it is exactly the sort of situation I’d keep an eye on if we’re looking for a late defensive opportunity. (Madrid Universal)

Asencio is one I’d add to that shortlist. 👀

Cheers me dears.

18 Aug 2026 23:37:15
Asencio is a CB and we are stacked there. All these non homegrown players linked mean a few exits are needed. Endo, Chiesa and Gakpo mean three spaces. Araujo and Barcola take up two spots.

18 Aug 2026 23:43:53
Wouldn't want Raul Asencio anywhere near the club after what he did. Absolutely vile creature.

19 Aug 2026 00:04:30
What did he do Vik

19 Aug 2026 00:07:18
So, PSG went from £145m to £95m. That's some shrewd negotiating right there.

19 Aug 2026 00:41:05
Pdfile apparently, sharing kid stuff apparently Chewy, new part owner Bazos might like him then but f*** him and Madrid they can stay vile together haha.

19 Aug 2026 00:51:36
Sounds like waffle to me.

19 Aug 2026 02:19:14
Why would Liverpool be holding back the announcement? We literally have our first league game in 4 days.

19 Aug 2026 02:20:33
Leonshunt, I suggest you actually read the details of the case.

19 Aug 2026 00:39:20
1. Barcola will be considerably more than £95m
2. We are not delaying the announcement, utter nonsense
3. What you've said about Jones and Gakpo is just repeating what others have said
4. We've scouted Camara, nothing more
5. We won't be signing another defender
6. We won't be looking at Raul Asencio as we're not in the habit of signing players about to stand trial for sharing a child sex abuse video

All in all another truly impressive collection of garbage, regurgitation and ludicrous guesses 😂

18 Aug 2026 20:49:36
Why have LFC chased Bradley Barcola the majority of this Summer to play Left Wing when Mo Salah has not been positionally replaced on the right?

Are FSG going to do below the bare minimum again this Summer with a view to selling completely to 1892 next Summer?

Why would Gakpo stay if Barcola signs, given how lopsided LFC are with left-sided attackers? LFC are going into the season with a worse squad than last season in which they just about made CL!

Venting post full of closed questions granted!

18 Aug 2026 21:06:40
I know it's a blatant problem but... Have you looked at the rw market? Who would you sign? The best available was a kid with one season in the Bundesliga, with a ridiculous price tag, a group of gangsters as agents, and we still had to compete with Madrid and PSG for him.

That's how bad that market is.

Barcola is the best available option. Even though he will mostly play lw.

18 Aug 2026 21:18:42
Mane was signed as a RW. We then bought Salah and moved Mane to the left.

That didn't work out too badly did it?

Too many FIFA managers about these days who think a player can only play one position.

18 Aug 2026 22:59:06
Are we chasing Barcola for the left wing?

Who knows what way we will play.

We've had a few pre season friendlies, with most of the squad only involved in the last game or 2.

Also, who remembers the days of right footed players also playing on the right side?
We played with Salah on the right every game, because he was that good! The team was built to get the best out of him in his best position, and we had players to do that.


It doesn't mean we won't find another way of playing. And, we have to, because we will never find another Salah.

19 Aug 2026 00:09:53
Obviously the goal is to get the best winger currently available, irrespective of their preferred side. In case you didn't notice, the market for RW's is absolutely abysmal at the moment. Nothing we can do about it.

18 Aug 2026 19:11:48
Liverpool only signing Barcola and keeping Gakpo.

18 Aug 2026 19:54:59
Well, 14 days till the summer transfer window closes? Means we will either be:

As strong as an Ox?

Or as strong as a "Fortnight" which everybody knows is two weeks!

18 Aug 2026 20:16:50
So we're going into the season with 4 LW and 0 RW?

18 Aug 2026 20:59:23
No, 4 wingers, Shipley. RW or LW is irrelevant, and players will play both. It's actually not that difficult if they are coached to do it.

18 Aug 2026 21:20:21
Even with wingers swapping sides, Rio, we need a right winger for balance. Munoz, Rio, and Barcola can all play RW, but none of them are as good at RW as they are at LW. The whole point of wingers swapping sides is to offer something different and give the defence something to think about.

If you are playing 2 LW, getting them to swap sides does not have the same effect.

19 Aug 2026 00:45:05
Going by fans, LFC will soon be taking right sided players for trials in Stanly Park the Saturday before kickoff. A helicopter got us Andy Carrol at 11.59 pm. Once we can do miracles again, haha, we are LFC not Prescott Cables.

18 Aug 2026 14:08:59
If top 4 is the goal and aim then count me out. We're one of the biggest clubs in World football and have the highest wage bill in the league.
I'm extremely frustrated at what's currently going on but will wait until the windows closed before saying what I really think.
If the window closed tomorrow, I'd say it's been a disgraceful window. Disgraceful would be justified.
The French lad we're getting robbed on, is not the difference between top 4 and first.
Our midfield needs significant improvement.

Gravs wages should not be a justification to play him or assume he's a top player. Macca doesn't have the legs or quality for us not to be overrun and outwitted.
I'm constantly awaiting midfield activity. I'll be livid if the same 3 are our same choices going forward this season. Wharton id welcome but we need a proper Keane type player in there.
I'm also calling it now too. If that midfield does not get reinforcements, the manager will be under serious pressure because we will lose games regularly.

18 Aug 2026 14:49:38
I can't agree with any of that, Ron. We already have a squad capable of winning the league if they are trained correctly, and correct tactics are implemented.

The obvious positions that needed to be addressed were CB and wingers after losing Konate and Mo, and we've addressed the CBs now, having VVD, Gomez, Jacquet, Leoni and Araujo to cover 2 positions. Gomez and Araujo can also cover Frimpong at RB until Bradley returns.

We are obviously working on wingers with Barcola and Mbaye/Rayan, which will give us some much needed pace in the team and create space for Wirtz and Isak in the centre.

Grav was the best 6 in the league 2 seasons ago. All we need to do is play him there. Dom is one of the best 8s in the world, and Macca plays for an international team that's been in the last 2 World Cup Finals, winning one of them.



Nyoni, Endo and even McConnell can come in and do a job if needed, but, like any team, we will need luck with injuries. If Grav is out for a few games, then Nyoni can cover adequately, but if we get Grav, Szob and Macca out long term, we'll struggle. That's the same with all teams; you can't have a bench full of players who are just as good as first teamers, it's just not how it works.

As long as we get the wingers in, the only position I worry about is the keeper. Ali has to stay fit, as Marma is not someone I'd trust to play too many games.

The squad should be ready to go by the end of the window, but injuries can always derail any team, so we will need a bit of luck. You simply can't protect yourself against every eventuality.

18 Aug 2026 14:53:08
The manager hasn't been adequately supported, so he's got a free hit.

18 Aug 2026 14:58:53
Been saying for months, forget about a proper DM, not happening. Grav is our man in the eyes of the club, it's clear as da. It's dumbfounding that people are still expecting things to change even though the club has clearly made their decision. Best you can hope for is an upgrade on Macca or Jones.

Grav's wages are not his justification, his new contract and wages show only that the club has faith in his ability based on the 24/25 season, that they believe he was subject to the same slump everyone experienced under Slot and will bounce back.

The sooner you accept that and get over it, the happier you'll be.

On Barcola, firstly, we can't control the market, it's hyperinflated, nothing we can do. Also, Barcola hit 42 goal contributions in 24/25, name me one other winger who's actually available who's hit those numbers at a top-tier club. Winning 3 league titles and 2 UCL's along the way. I'll wait.

18 Aug 2026 15:03:28
Disgraceful seems a bit hyperbolic to me, mate. 🤣

- We lost Konate, and replaced with Jacquet.
- We lost Robbo, and replaced with Tsimikas.
- We signed Munoz as extra depth at LW/CF.
- We signed Araujo as extra depth at RB/CB.
- We lost Salah, and we'll replace him with Barcola.

I'm just not seeing how that can be considered a disgrace.

If Gakpo and/or Jones go, I'm sure there is a plan for that too, but right now, they're still Liverpool players.



The summer before we won the league in 19/20, we signed Van den Berg for 1.9m and Adrian for Free.

The summer before we won the league in 24/25, we signed Chiesa for 12m.

The last two title wins were after quiet summers, and this has been anything but quiet, with 3 already through the door and probably a new Premier League record signing about to follow them.

Every time we go 7 days without a new signing, this happens. People start crying and turn into doomsayers.

18 Aug 2026 15:08:04
Because of CL qualification, and the money gained from it, a lot of fans now think top 5 is the aim.

There's probably a dose of realism in there, tbf, as we've only won the league a couple of times in several decades, but with the Jurgen legacy and our resources we should be aiming to be very competitive in the league at the moment, with a top three finish at least.

A couple of wins off top spot would be acceptable given the loss of some key players this summer, but further capitulation like last season and accepting a distant fourth or fifth place finish shouldn't be the aspiration.

I'm frustrated with this and the Jan window, and agree with Ron's points on the midfield. I'd add the fullbacks and right wing to that.

If you think about where Chelsea, Man Utd and even Villa and perhaps Tottenham have been, or come from, they shouldn't be in the conversation or competition with us for top three.

Their rebuilds or transitions shouldn't have been easier than ours, they shouldn't go past us.

City and Arsenal, fair enough, their resources, quality level and squads are well established, which is why I don't think necessarily the realistic aim can be to win the league. Although I'd love us to be challenging.

All that said, I hope Iraola gets assessed fairly. The early part of the season has a lot of winnable games, so we should start well, but it could get tougher around October/November and the squad will be tested. Be interesting to see fan reaction then, also likes of Hughes and Edwards will be long gone so Iraola will be last man standing.

18 Aug 2026 16:04:19
The goal will always be to win the league, but you have to be realistic, and look at how far off it we were last season. We were scrambling around to get 5th. To close that gap to Arsenal and City will not be easy, but we should be expecting to get 3rd, whilst trying to achieve the goal of getting 1st, with the absolute minimum being Champions League qualification.

18 Aug 2026 16:07:24
As long as we have a better season than last, I'm happy. Any improvement on that is just that an improvement. I think we have been ruined with how good the football was we played under Klopp, but let's be realistic.

I know we won things, but we won one title under him, so probably under achieved. And half that team have now left. Let's give Iraola a chance to make his mark before writing the season off.

18 Aug 2026 16:45:54
For me, Arsenal and City finish ahead of us because of their better squads. Chelsea too, I think, might top us as they've no European distraction and a great manager. For me, we have an 11 that, if we are lucky with injuries, could put a run together and challenge. But apart from three or four max after that 11, our squad just isn't at the level of those other sides.

We have players in our squad the other top teams just wouldn't even entertain having around. It's why I've said all summer that if you offer me 4th now I would take it, or even 5th if England get the extra Champs League spot. Now, obviously, there's two weeks left of the window and if we did great business my opinion could change.

{Ed025's Note - City wont finish above you FM, they have lost their rudder in Pep mate and Maresca is not up to the task..

18 Aug 2026 17:29:41
Sensible post that, Florian. I may revise my third place aspiration down after all!

18 Aug 2026 17:47:10
The goal is to get better, we expect to qualify for CL along the way. We went ass backwards last season. You heard Iraola himself saying the players aren't match fit. We first have to regain what we lost before we can progress.

If you want to delude yourself with claims that we should be challenging for the title regardless, that's fine, but here in the real world, the rest of us recognise the amount of work that needs to be done before we can challenge.



Enjoy the next 9 months of disappointment!

18 Aug 2026 18:03:36
The summer transfer window ends two weeks from today. A lot of wheeling and dealing still to be done, hopefully? Who would have thought Leicester would win the PL after finishing 14th the season before, and 5000/1 to win it when they did, largely down to no UCL games.



Ferguson has the lowest points ever for PL trophy winners, 96/97 season at 75 points. Could that be enough next year? Fortress Anfield has to be our biggest improvement this year, if we are to be in the mix?

18 Aug 2026 18:27:59
I'm half with you, Ron. Don't care how bad we were coached into submission last season, we can turn that around by Christmas. I'm expecting a challenge, but maybe Andoni may lack a bit of experience when we get in amongst it. Also, I think we will be let down by the mf.

Grav (hopefully the Grav from the title winning season) and Dom must start, then Wirtz or Macca? Like a choice between dogsh*t and cowsh*t. I think we struggle for goals too. But I'm still believing we can challenge. The league has never been so wide open.

18 Aug 2026 21:09:52
"I'll not say what I really think until the window closes, but if the window closes tomorrow " continues to go off on one. 😅
Held off long on the promise of waiting til the window closes there.

I do love that so many people point out the glaring weaknesses of our squad of needing a cdm like Keane etc, who is this modern cdm that is available in today's market and who wouldn't cost 150m plus.


Same as the posts of we should just move on from Barcola, again move on to what player that has the quality, potential, and experience, and who is seemingly available and wants to come to us.

18 Aug 2026 21:10:09
So, Chewy, are you saying if we are not challenging for anything, you won't be disappointed?

That's the problem with some fans, they'd rather predict doom and gloom so at least they can say I told you so if it happens and save face with rival fans.

The rest of us who actually support the team rather than just saying we do will put our heads above the parapet and expect nothing else but the title and don't mind saying it.



Yes, we risk disappointment and banter from rival fans, but I'm a football fan so disappointment comes with the territory. You can't win everything every year.

It doesn't mean you should wave the white flag and concede defeat before the season has even started. Some of you need to have some backbone.

18 Aug 2026 21:32:26
I think people that have no backbone are the people that actually think we have a chance of winning the title but predict third or fourth to avoid leaving themselves open to disappointment, or, as you say, to save face with rival fans and their own. Me personally, when I think we have a realistic chance, will shoot it from the rooftop.

What I won't do though is say we'll win the title when I honestly don't think we've a chance of doing so, as what would be the point of that? Saying that, I wouldn't have given us a hope in hell of winning the league two years ago so who knows? Maybe Andoni will pull out another miracle.

19 Aug 2026 00:31:02
I think people need to be realistic in their expectations. It's a new manager with a new style of play, and I imagine he'll spend the vast majority of the first few months just getting the players fit.

I think these same people also forget that Klopp took 2 and a half seasons (that's 5 transfer windows) to get us anywhere near competitive in the league.



2015/16 we finished 8th (half season).
2016/17 we finished 4th.
2017/18 we finished 4th.

Expecting Iraola to deliver the Premier League trophy in his first season is naive.

19 Aug 2026 00:35:24
@klopdog, for DM fitting your criteria under 50 m Euro, can tackle, over 6 ft, can cover ground, was in French team, and was admired by Kloppo. Had minor injuries. Manu Kone, mid 20s, played before with some of our squad.
Replaces Macca or Jones. Possibly.

18 Aug 2026 13:52:31
Hi all,
12 days of the window to go.
I think if we started the season with the squad we have at the moment we would have a decent chance of being in the top 4.
As the weeks go on the lads will get into Iraola's style of play and we will start to play like only Liverpool can.
Munoz looks good and the new lads at the back look to be impressive. Also still some lads with injuries to return.
We have a couple of youngsters breaking through this season.
Koumas could get a few games this season. He seems a grafter always chasing down and running back. I would like to see Rio working a bit harder, chasing people down and helping at the back.

It would add to his game.
There will still be a few exits with fringe players and loan deals but I think the team is mainly intact, only Salah and Robbo going.
The ITK lads seem confident we are still in with a chance of bringing one or two new lads in so that would be a bonus on top.
Love reading through all the posts.
We all want what's best for our side, we just have different ideas.
Luckily we have Iraola to make the decisions for us and bail us all out.
Can't wait for the Newcastle game.

18 Aug 2026 21:24:38
I think Ekitike is a massive miss to our squad, especially with Isak neither being regularly fit or that good of a fit when he did play.
Ekitike is a player who wins a good team titles.
We really do need another top quality attacker right now. I really hope Barcola can get done.
I also feel we need to keep Gakpo.

I don't have the same worry as many have in midfield. We have some incredible talent in there. The team's defensive shape needs to improve massively though. Grav and Macca have shown before that they can play holding roles, and Szobo is more than capable too. Where Wirtz fits in is my concern there.
And I'm actually quite happy with the defence, especially our cb options now. 2 experienced, and two very promising young cbs.
Left back is fine, and I'm hoping Frimpong can get a run of games this season to actually play his position.

18 Aug 2026 22:33:29
I have to disagree with regards to Macca playing a holding role. His defensive awareness is severely lacking, and he doesn't have the mobility to make up for it. Just my opinion though. 👍

17 Aug 2026 22:36:45
Interested to hear everyone’s thoughts on midfield, who would you want? Who would they replace (assuming starting 11).

I know we need to do something as it was so weak last season. I think more legs out wide helps either way.

But whenever I think about who in the 3 gets replaced, Wirtz, Szob, Grav?

Grav didn’t have a great season, but season before he was, and he’s just signed a big contract, so he isn’t going to not start.

Szob best player last season, although he does end up leaving gaps, Wirtz isn’t going to not play.

I know we need more bite in there, just whenever I think about who I’m not sure. Either way is CJ does go we need a replacement.

18 Aug 2026 01:03:53
We have a title winning midfield. The personnel is not the problem.

We need to work on team structure so we can be closer together, which then allows players to get close to the opposition in possession.

The defence needs to be braver and hold a higher line for longer.

Virgil has got into the habit of dropping off as soon as we lose the ball, which just opens up the space between the midfield and defence. No amount of 'bite' in midfield will help that.

It's about relationships between players and their positions on the pitch.

18 Aug 2026 01:56:45
Sorry, Rio, but I don't think we have a winning midfield. At least not with us playing Grav and Wirtz together. Playing both makes the team lack structure, physicality, and protection to the defense, at least from my uneducated eyes.

18 Aug 2026 07:13:54
Is our midfield really that weak? We have starting of Slob, Wirtz and Macca. We then currently have Grav, Jones, Elliott, Endo and Nyoni. We cannot have a superstar for back up positions.

18 Aug 2026 07:31:00
I don't wanna be negative, but I genuinely don't think Wirtz will last in the team, it'll be Sob Mac & Grav, unless Wirtz is a completely different player to last year, of course.

18 Aug 2026 08:01:57
"Wirtz isn't going to not play". Wouldn't take that for granted.

18 Aug 2026 09:24:02
@Dominican_fan, It is literally the midfield that won the league plus we added Wirtz. Would I like another quality deep midfielder - yes, but last season's problems in midfield were 99% tactical/fitness. Give them a chance to get fully up to speed in terms of fitness and the new system before you write them off.

18 Aug 2026 09:26:06
There is no way in this lovely city that Wirtz isn't starting. It'll be him, Szboszlai, and probably Macca, with Grav as interchange, tho I think that Grav should start over Macca.

18 Aug 2026 11:20:54
Firstly the "this midfield won the league" is no longer a relevant point as that was 15 months ago and started to look ropey in February 2025 and continued to get worse. It's no different to the idiots who tried to argue we didn't need midfield reinforcements before 22/23, wrong then and wrong now.

And yes Bazzinga, our midfield really is pathetically weak.

Look at the actual options rather than just counting names.

Jones is next to useless for me. He doesn't give you anything out of possession or defensively, isn't positionally disciplined, thick as two short planks and doesn't have any physical presence to protect the defence.

MacAllister is too weak and slow, he isn't the kind of player who can win physical battles in front of the back four, track runners or close off space.

Gravenberch clear doesn't relish the physical side of the game and has a tendency to switch off, lacks defensive nous.

Szoboszlai has a good engine but not the positional discipline, defensive ability or willingness to tackle to be trusted as a defensive midfielder in this setup.

Endo is 33 and well past his best. Should have been moved on.

Nyoni looks a very promising No.8, but he's certainly is not the answer to the defensive problems in midfield.

As for Elliott, McConnell and Bajcetic none of them have shown they're good enough to be relied upon at this level either.

So where exactly is this supposed defensive security coming from? Pick any two from that and it's the same outcome. Imagine blaming defenders for midfielders not offering any protection to them.

That's my problem with the "it's just structure" argument. And although structure matters to a degree, the structure can't manufacture the individual qualities or physicality that simply aren't present in the personnel.

We didn't look close to winning the champions league or the league under Klopp until we signed Fabinho, and Gravenberch only really looked ok for a period of arounf 6 months until he was sussed out and it became clear he didn't really fancy it.

You can make the distances between players better, but you can't make a slow player quicker, a weak player stronger, an undisciplined player positionally disciplined or turn a No.10 into a defensive midfielder.

Not one of our midfield options is an obvious, top-level defensive midfielder. That's the elephant in the room.

And that's why I don't understand the idea that "no amount of bite in midfield will help". If anything, the complete lack of genuine defensive bite is precisely why the defence is being exposed, why it's always over run, why any team can either out play us or out muscle us easily. We're too soft, too weak, too nice.

18 Aug 2026 12:08:47
It'll be Szob, Wirtz and Gravy, with Macca as cover, I would imagine, if he's not offloaded. Ideally, we will sign a more defensively minded and capable destroyer, and from there it's up to the others to prove their worth.


The only midfielder that's a guaranteed starter for me is Szob. A decent DM might take Grav's spot, Grav could move to more B2B, and Szob play the 10 if Wirtz doesn't start performing.

18 Aug 2026 13:02:13
It's surprising how much of a debate there is around the first choice midfield point. VV is right, albeit a bit exaggerated for impact!

I wouldn't say we're pathetically weak, but we're not likely to win anything with the midfield we have unless they play very differently to the last fifteen months' evidence, including working much harder, providing defensive cover, winning more duels, and being much more effective and efficient in their all round play.

Positioning is only part of it.

Also, forget the Jones, Elliott and Endo dynamic. That's a complete red herring; none of them are at the level at all. Trey shows promise and maybe one for the future.

18 Aug 2026 13:21:10
Wharton & Camara as the double pivot for me.
Szobo on the right with Wirtz in the 10.

Szobo can also play 10 when Wirtz needs resting.

Nyoni and Gravy - can rotate in for Camara or Wharton depending on the game.

Macca should be sold.

Bajcetic sold. Endo contract terminated. McConnell loan or even sale.

Then be open to offers for Gravy next summer. While he has all the ingredients to be the best, I just don't think he has the hunger to be the very best.

18 Aug 2026 13:28:31
Endo still has a part to play for us, in my opinion. He's disregarded because Slot didn't fancy him, but he is a good player. He's only 33, but people act like he's 40. Casemiro, McGinn, Xhaka, Henderson and Bernardo were all key players last season in the Premier League at 31-36 years old.

By the way, Endo is the guy who dominated Enzo and Caicedo in a cup final, despite having Elliott and Clark/McConnell in midfield with him. He was Japan captain until he retired from international football last month.



I'm not expecting Endo to suddenly be first choice for us, but in my opinion, he can be a useful squad player still. He's a leader, a model professional, and an absolute warrior. He deserves far more respect than being lumped in with failed academy graduates. He could easily be our new James Milner for the next 3-4 years, now we have a manager who values work without the ball as much as they value work with it.

18 Aug 2026 14:01:30
It's 2026 and Endo can't run. Please.

18 Aug 2026 14:05:59
@Viktor,
Why is anyone who has a differing opinion to you, labelled as "idiots"?

18 Aug 2026 14:40:08
For my two-penneth, I believe that not having Konate in the back line will be a positive, not only for the midfield but also add more support to Frimpong. From their brief appearance over the weekend, both Jacquet & Aroujo gave us more solidity at the back than we've witnessed in a while.


I agree that it would be wise to replace Jones with a midfielder who is more defensively minded, who would be ably backed up by Endo. Endo's calmness on the ball and general level headedness remain invaluable imho.

18 Aug 2026 14:58:33
Positioning is the most important part of it. Overkill. You can't effectively press if the space is too big to cover, so you are made to look like you lack bite, because you can't get close to people.

This is elite level football in the most competitive league in the world. Every player you come up against can play if you give them the time and space to play.

We need to restrict that space so that we can prevent the opposition from playing, and our more talented players can get on the ball higher up the pitch.

We have better players than 99% of the league, but we need to get the structure right so we can get our better players on the ball in dangerous positions where they can hurt the opposition.

18 Aug 2026 16:33:43
Don't agree with you, Rio, positioning is just one facet of being a great midfielder. A player can be in the right position and still not affect a game. They may not have the right skill, passing ability, mobility, nous, physicality, vision, creativity to have the desired effect from that position.

Macca takes up good positions, but spends much of the time horizontal, so has little to no effect on play for us.

Endo takes up good positions but looks like he's running in treacle, and opposition players breeze past him like he's not there. Grav isn't great positionally but lacks desire and defensive nous. I won't get into Curtis and others, I'll lose the will.

18 Aug 2026 16:57:42
There's positivity, MK, and then there's just naivety. If Endo is still at this club in 3 or 4 years' time, we will be in a very dire state. He's hardly played in two years and is now 33. He was bought as a stop gap three summers ago and I can't believe he didn't move on last summer.

It's obvious, again, he will get few minutes this season. I would have thought he'd have liked to finish his career at a lower level, getting some actual game time.

18 Aug 2026 21:40:53
Just an opinion, let's not all lose it...
For me, Wirtz was and might be one of the biggest problems with our midfield if he continues to be part of a 3. We'd need 2 players who literally sit back and give attackers the ball to facilitate his lack of defensive effort/ability, and how often he loses the ball. Don't have a problem with attackers losing it btw, but he's not gonna win it back, like Salah, Mane, Bobby, Szobo, Ekitike

Macca was awful last season, but if he stays I'd be hoping he can go back to sitting along side Grav.

He mainly played ahead of our other midfielders last year, and looked like he'd no interest in defending.
I was his biggest critic last year, but would give him the benefit of the doubt. Don't know why, but I think the man struggled a lot last season, not just football wise.

17 Aug 2026 19:30:20
Pedro Neto quoted at £100 million by Chelsea. Didn't think we were in for him anyway, or wanted him at all, but that should rule anybody out from signing him. He's never worth that.

17 Aug 2026 20:33:37
He'll end up at a Saudi team in shady circumstances.

17 Aug 2026 23:24:21
We're in for his brother instead "Back of the Neto" .........

18 Aug 2026 09:48:45
Yeah, I read something about him going to Saudi but I can't imagine that even they would be willing to pay anywhere near that for him.

18 Aug 2026 10:58:04
007
Bacadda Neto.
There, fixed it for you!
:-)

18 Aug 2026 12:35:18
Banger song, N.e.t.t.o Netto is the player to go. (Go to anyone but LFC).

17 Aug 2026 17:08:34
Well, the first game of the season is approaching fast & it’s clear from pre-season games that we will be pressing higher up pitch than under Slot.
I’m sure it will take time to get all the players up to Iraola‘s tactics.
Hopefully more additions to the squad are added but I think one of Iraola‘s biggest tasks is getting the best out of Wirtz without compromising the team.
It’s clear that Wirtz is talented, as seen for Germany & Leverkusen, but he’s not really settled into a role or produced his best for LFC. With Barcola probably arriving, Wirtz will probably be employed in the #10 role - I’m sure he can play there, but he needs some defensive stability behind him, because all too often last season with Wirtz centrally we were far too easy to play through with no holding midfielder.

You’d say Wirtz is no slighter than other players Iraola had in that position at Bournemouth, but had a solid two behind him. If Jones is off I’m sure we all hope for a more defensive-minded midfielder is brought in - if not then Iraola will need to work on training pitch to ensure Macca, Dom & Grav take some more defensive responsibility.
Fingers crossed for a good season & improved viewing. 👍🏻

17 Aug 2026 19:22:13
Watching the game yesterday, I wouldn't say it was totally different to last season yet. I thought we were more aggressive in defence, but mainly due to personnel changes rather than tactics.



That said, I hope we get off to a flyer at Newcastle, there's never been a better time to play them, I don't think we need or can afford too much time to get settled, we should go for it from day 1.

17 Aug 2026 21:22:26
It wasn't totally different to last season? We played a totally different style of football. The only problem we seem to have is maintaining it for 2 halves, but that will come. Especially when there aren't as many subs.

18 Aug 2026 06:52:38
No, we weren't real.

There were some positive signs, and some good quicker interplay from front to back, but that was in moments in the first half generally. For the second 45 mins we were doing very little, which was the story of much of last season.

For much of the time the build up was still slow, and the press was disjointed. We didn't use the overlap much, for example.

I'm not saying the style won't be different, it will be in time.

We got glimpses of it.

I think there'll be games over the next few weeks when we'll drift back into old habits, either because some of the players are still here like Grav or Isak who just play a certain way and stroll about a lot, or until some of them get fitter.

Kerkez, for example, looked unfit to me, he was backwards and sideward for much of the game so the left side didn't flow as it should.

17 Aug 2026 14:05:11
Vicario going to Juventus on loan for the season. I imagine that will be a stop gap for them with Allison arriving next summer.

Hope we already trying to identify who will replace Alison as Mamardashvili isn’t the answer.

Will need to replace both of them next season anyway so think we should buy a young prospect and see how they get on.

17 Aug 2026 15:49:10
Who are the great goalkeepers out there now who could replace him, that are attainable. I didn't see any at the World Cup who you'd put in that category, possibly the best was the Norway keeper, but he's getting on. There'll be others who weren't there, but there just aren't that many great ones that we could get.

17 Aug 2026 17:00:56
I would go all in for Costa, but it appears he is happy at his childhood club in Porto.

But before that I would move heaven and earth to sign Ali to a new contract so that he only leaves us to go back home to Brazil.

17 Aug 2026 18:51:20
Alisson's biggest issue is his injuries. Nearly 40 games missed in the last two seasons.