Liverpool Discussions

26 Jul 2026 04:38:15
Hey I heard a rumour below that Hughes is leading the chase for Diaz.
Does that mean he has left Liverpool? Both Edwards and Hughes have left, so who is running the transfers for our club?

Sorry I haven't been keeping track. I tried RFTP but I see Edwards was fired, but no news on Hughes

26 Jul 2026 01:20:31
Mamardashvili - 6
Swept up well, feel like he could've been better with his kicking. No chance for either goal.

Frimpong - 5
Got too tight defending, and offered very little going forward. Unfortunate slip for their second.

Gomez - n/a
Injured just minutes into the game. Hopefully not too serious, but highlights his fragility. Worst part is he's invited grief for me as I defended him just hours earlier. Cheers Joe.

Ndiaye - 7
Ropey start especially with the ball, but then he really grew into it as the game went on. Maybe could've stepped out for their 1st goal but the midfield left him massively exposed.

Tsimikas - 7
Solid and error free. Made a few good forward runs.

McConnell - 3
Worst Liverpool player on the pitch. Gave it away cheap for the first goal and just never took control of the midfield. Hid from the ball when the CB's had it.

Jones - 5
Pretty average if I'm dead honest. Did nothing to help out McConnell.

Morrison - 8
Great goal and some lovely passes, especially one on the outside of his left foot to Frimpong.

Elliott - 7
Composure under pressure and good decision making. Well timed pass to assist Morrison.

Ngumoha - 4
Ran into traffic and didn't use the overlap when he should've. Poor from him and very disappointing.

Wright - 5
Isolated. Worked hard but was ineffective pressing on his own.

Woodman - 6
Very little to do, passing was good though.

Ramsay - 7
Very good when he came on. Pocketed a man who gave Frimpong some trouble and then got a lovely assist.

Ndukwe - 8
Pretty much faultless. Some great blocks, great headers, lovely passing range. Ended up doing nearly 85 minutes which was almost definitely not planned given he didn't even have shin pads on when Gomez went down!

Chambers - 6
Sunderland offered little threat by the time he came on. Tidy on the ball but not tested defensively.

Kerkez - 4
All over the place to be brutally honest. Gave away fouls, gave away possession etc.

Nyoni - 9
Best player who stepped on the pitch at any point for either team. Took complete control of the game on and off the ball.

Szoboszlai - 8
Great goal. Pressed like a man possessed. Lovely assist too. Oozes class.

Scanlon - 7
Looked good despite being out of position. Very direct and won a fair few corners with his approach play.

Koumas - 8.5
Superb to be honest. The only player who pressed harder than Szoboszlai, and got a very well deserved goal. Very close to Nyoni for man of the match.

Abe - 5
Looked like a rabbit in headlights but he is just a kid and he did his best.

Chiesa - 8
Great reverse pass for Koumas goal, lovely finish for his own goal, and part of the trio with Koumas and Szoboszlai who completely pegged Sunderland back in the 2nd half.

26 Jul 2026 01:06:15
Lewis Koumas and Trey Nyoni definitely ones to look out for, during this pre season camp. Both genuinely added something when they came on, admittedly against more inexperienced opposition than the first half. Trey, with his progressive passing, getting us further up the pitch, and his willingness to track and challenge physically. Koumas with his movement off the ball in behind the opposition defence, and his relentless press which forced so many mistakes.

I also thought McConnell looked really composed, and the only one out of him, Elliott and Jones that was actually contributing something positive. Always available for a pass, tracking runs, while Jones ran around like a headless chicken, trying to prove something, and Elliott looked like he had just finished his 5th burger and didn't want to move.



The less I say about Frimpong, the better, however.

The press was back, which was a great sight to see. Still not sure what the plan is with the midfield, as it was all over the place at times. But, no doubt, growing pains.

And I counted only seven times when Rio received the ball, slowly drew towards his man, sized him up and did 2-3 steps overs. So, simplifying his game, I guess. :P

Good run out though, and I look forward to seeing the intended product when our unavailable players return.

25 Jul 2026 22:48:27
Hi everyone,
First time posting.
Given Vini's movements away from RM, Diomande going to RM, Barcola (probably) staying at PSG, I believe that finishing the window with Rayan, Zabarnyi reinforcing the defence (I think he's a good player), maybe Wharton and one more versatile FW, would be acceptable.


The window is being quite challenging, on top of Liverpool and Hughes helping little towards next season's success.
And I continue to have high hopes that Bajcetic can have an impact again just like he did in his first season.

25 Jul 2026 21:46:04
At least one good piece of news has come from the Diomande saga.

Lfc not signing him.

I have to say I’m pleased. I don’t think he’s even in the top 10 left wingers in Europe so to pay all that money would have been crazy.

Thank you Madrid.

25 Jul 2026 22:00:39
Is he not a right winger? 😂

26 Jul 2026 00:01:32
He is mainly a right winger, yes.

25 Jul 2026 19:08:17
Vini Junior is the best player in the world when he wants to be.
Wonder what he'd be available for?

25 Jul 2026 19:38:41
Very high wangers and an altar to worship him.

25 Jul 2026 20:13:08
He's got a very high what, Clay?

25 Jul 2026 20:20:42
Oi Oi, we'll have none of that dirty talk around here, Clay!

25 Jul 2026 20:29:44
"Wangers."
That means lots of money thrown in his direction!
What did you think I meant, Gutter dwellers!
:-D

25 Jul 2026 21:34:31
He's not the best player in the world, at any time.

25 Jul 2026 15:09:43
I've accepted we aren't a serious club anymore, at least we're monitoring though right guys.

25 Jul 2026 17:06:59
Sounds like the biblical equivalent of rolling around in sack cloth and ashes. Woe is you!

25 Jul 2026 17:13:21
If we are going to get Biblical Clay, Iraola has been given 5 loaves and 2 fishes, and is expected to feed the 5000!

25 Jul 2026 18:21:35
In the same vein, Kingy, let's hope the club becomes Lazarus and is able, after years of paralysis, to "pick up thy bed and walk".
:-D

25 Jul 2026 18:54:24
Touche, Clay!

25 Jul 2026 19:17:39
Gosh Kingy, that was a "Road to Damascus moment!"
(Somebody stop me!)

25 Jul 2026 22:07:51
U guys, seriously need to chill. The window is open till end of August.

25 Jul 2026 14:25:48
Looking at the rumours of Diomande going to Madrid. I’m wondering if this is the first domino? Or would the first domino be a player getting sold by us? (Gakpo perhaps?) Carra, am I on the right track mate?

Either way, I agree with the people calling for 2-4 good signings rather than signing a brand new team.

There is still the spine of a league winning side.

25 Jul 2026 16:03:30
The summer of Domino's and smokescreens. 😂 Love it.

25 Jul 2026 20:25:17
Yes, Diomande is the first and most necessary domino to fall. Whether Gakpo decides to move on is pretty unrelated, really; he can choose to do that whenever he likes. We will still be waiting to see what happens with Diomande & Barcola as we are keen on securing at least one of them irrespective of Gakpo's decision.

I would expect things to heat up significantly over the next 10 days.

25 Jul 2026 12:05:40
Moving away from the winger talk, interested to hear people’s perspectives on midfield. In my opinion, it’s been glaringly obvious that we need a defensive midfielder since Fabinho left.

As good as Macca was in the first two years of his career with us, it’s difficult to know whether the injury he suffered at the end of 24/25 (in which he got surgery for - some say a hernia) means he is actually finished. Personally if a ~60m bid came in, I’m taking it and running.

As for the other options, Curtis has becoming a bit overrated I feel. Great squad player but not shown enough in high-intensity teams (Klopp) to show his body can handle it and not consistent enough for me to start.

Gravenberch is another hugely overrated player for me. Great 6 month period in 24/25 but aside from that he’s been hugely disappointing. He’s not a DM but I don’t really see where he fits tbh. That huge contract we gave him was a massive mistake. Then you have Endo (not good enough), Nyoni (too young) and Szobo, who I don’t trust in a double pivot.

I’m really concerned that if we don’t get a proper DM we will see the same issues we’ve seen last few years in midfield. Gaping holes, easily played through. We need someone with a bit of bite who can just sit and protect the backline. But, not sure who is out there who is attainable. Missing out on Caicedo was a huge mistake for me.

25 Jul 2026 13:40:33
Jones isn't a number 6 in a month of Sundays, poor concentration, doesn't read the game very well, no physicality and can't defend for toffee. Personally don't think Gravenberch fancies the position and sees himself as an 8. Endo is too old, Bajcetic is too fragile, and other than that the cupboard is bare.

Wharton certainly isn't the answer as he's not a defensive midfielder. Personally think we should have a look at Chema Andres at Stuttgart. Good footballer, strong as an ox, not the type to be physically dominated, has an air of a young Rodri about him, which is no bad thing, and won't break the bank.

25 Jul 2026 15:05:15
Looks a decent player him Victor. Only thing I'd say is he's not the quickest.

25 Jul 2026 15:52:04
I actually think Grav is a very good DM, but if he won't play the role then he needs to go. He's no Steven Gerrard. He lacks the quality to dictate where he plays! It looks like we're going to sign Wharton, so Grav is going to have to be a lot more disciplined next season.

If he won't do so, we'll continue to concede sloppy goals. I don't think Iraola is the sort of man you can dictate to though.

25 Jul 2026 16:24:15
The midfield is a disaster waiting to happen yet again. It reminds me a few years ago, 22/23, when even Klopp said we didn't need a midfielder and named out the players we had. Fabinho/Thiago/Henderson/Milner/Ox/Keita etc. It'll be the exact same with Mac/Endo/Szobo/Jones/Grav. If we try playing two of them together, we're in serious trouble, especially if it's with Wirtz as the 10.

25 Jul 2026 16:09:37
I agree on Grav, he was sensational in 24/25 but he's no Stevie.if he's not going to commit fully to his best position he can duck off.Genuine question MK why do you seem convinced we'll get Wharton.with no WC I would have thought if we were getting him he'd be here by now

25 Jul 2026 18:12:23
My main issue with the midfield is combining Grav with Wirtz, mainly because of what Grav does best. Grav does not pass, so he cannot play the deep-lying playmaker role (ala Rodri). Additionally, he lacks physicality, so he cannot be a destroyer. His best attribute is that he can hold the ball and face the pressure, for which he is excellent.

Therefore, Grav should play as one of a double six (without licensing to go up, despite what he likes), and have a destroyer at his side to patch his lack of physicality and a playmaker on the other side.

The issue we have is that we cannot play that way because we don't have the destroyer, and we have Wirtz whose best position is further on the pitch.

I could see why management wanted Wharton, but that hinges on the assumption that Grav could play better defensively, which I don't agree with.

25 Jul 2026 18:29:01
Florian, it just seems like the worst kept secret in football, mate. Wharton to Liverpool was the only transfer I came into the summer confident of. I believe it's only not done because Parish is a knob. I'm sure once Palace have a replacement they'll come to the table and we'll get the man we've wanted for many years now.

25 Jul 2026 20:44:51
After they won the league only to fall short due to the manager's tactics, I think everyone deserves a shot at redemption; anyone who wants to go can be replaced, anyone who doesn't up their game this year gets moved on next summer.

I think Grav deserves another shot, I'm not bothered about MacAllister, he was only ever decent for me, he had a few good moments the previous 2 seasons, but he goes missing all too often, and I have no time for the play acting. You want to win a free kick? Fine, go ahead, but don't be rolling around holding your face when you got hit on the shin.

If Iraola does well and the club is really serious about backing him and improving our depth to challenge on all fronts, I think Elliot and Jones will be moved on next summer, as much as I'd like to see them improve, I don't think they'll make that cut. Neither is anywhere near good enough to start, but being academy players, if we see the value in them purely as squad players they'll survive; if they think they're better than that, they'll have to go to lower level teams.



Yes, we're short a proper, physically dominant DM, but as I've said for a while now I don't see us signing one. Clearly the club is confident in Grav, we will find out this season if they're right. I can only see us moving for a proper DM if Grav's position changes or we move him on. He was tied down to a 280k pw contract in March, so that tells you exactly how the club feels about him. Let's see how he operates under Iraola.

Obviously, Endo will need replacing, but we have Nyoni coming through, maybe he will prove himself this year.

Where does Wirtz fit in? Again, it's a concerning question to have to ask for such a massive signing, 12 months later. Maybe in a midfield 3 where Grav is strictly DM and Dom plays a little more defensively to allow for Wirtz to roam in a hybrid 10 position? I don't know, but what I do know is he's not suited to the wing, certainly not in the Prem. Will be interesting to see how Iraola implements him. Maybe at LW on paper but drifting inside to a more left-central role? We will see.