Liverpool Rumours Archive August 17 2017

17 Aug 2017 20:50:44
Seeing reports that Mane and Can are out of this weekends fixture due to knocks. Eds please tell me this is not true.

{Ed001's Note - I haven't heard one way or the other sorry.}

17 Aug 2017 21:04:20
As long as they're fit for Wednesday. If we can't beat Crystal Palace without them (Huddersfield thrashed them) then we really have problems!

17 Aug 2017 21:24:28
Huddersfield's result has no baring on how we'll do. Why do fans always go "oh so and so thrashed them so we will"?

17 Aug 2017 21:27:29
We have a big enough squad to cope. Grujic or Milner in for Can and then Origi, Sturridge or Solanke in for Mané. Still gives us a strong team. If we can't cope without them for a game it doesn't bode well for a season where we could (hopefully) be fighting in four different competitions!

17 Aug 2017 21:38:25
People tend to forget that Palace has won on the last three visits to Anfield.

17 Aug 2017 22:04:55
They'll be missing Zaha which is huge for them. I'd back us against anyone in our first home game of the season.

17 Aug 2017 22:48:14
The way De Boer sets his team up helps us. I think we'll win comfortably. Hope Stuzza starts and gets an early goal, hoping for him to really show up this season.

17 Aug 2017 23:25:04
If true, Kent in for Mane. Deserves his chance after pre season.

18 Aug 2017 03:11:08
I'd expect origi and Milner to come in. Already looking thin. I really hope we bring in some more quality. Not 100% convinced we will. If that was the plan it would've happened already wouldn't it? Are we still going to be sat here with mere hours to end of window expecting 3 quality signings?

18 Aug 2017 07:57:46
CP is our bogey team at home and De Boer will not definitely park the bus a bit cos he will not want to get thrashed like he did last week. It will not be an easy game and also, Benteke feels right at home at Anfield when on the opposing side.

18 Aug 2017 08:52:55
I don't get that squad is looking thin. Who could we possibly sign to replace Mane when he's injured? Someone of the same quality that's happy to sit on the bench to wait for an injury just isn't going to happen. We have a big enough forward line to juggle things around and still beat most teams.

18 Aug 2017 13:34:42
Confirmation off somebody would be good as I have mane in my fantasy lol.

18 Aug 2017 15:57:04
The squad is not thin, it's just not filled with enough quality. Still a lot of youngsters on the bench. We should have that quality that allows some of our first team (naming no names) to start on the bench.

20 Aug 2017 09:46:13
Those youngsters have been narrowed down over the past few seasons to those with a chance of being good enough. TAA we're seeing that potential with and Gomez was bought for that potential. People seem to think those lads will magically get experience and develop whilst sitting in the stands watching a series mid to late 20s imports play. There are plenty of players out there to buy but personally i'm not convinced those that would significantly improve things are firstly in big supply and secondly available to buy. The club now needs to do a better job with developing with what it has. There isn't a consistently top 4 standard keeper available to buy right now. We saw with Bravos and Hart last season that buying guys from bug clubs etc doesn't work out by default. Same with defenders, how many that will be consistently good enough to make LFC into title challengers are available to buy? Matip, Lovren, Gomez and Klavan may just have to be worked on and the midfield improved to cover across them.

Plus most on here would find something to moan abour. If you talk about Lloris people say the defence makes him look good, if ypu say to go for those defenders apparently they're all crap and no better than what is already here. Most who complain couldn't name genuinely viable targets they know would improve the squad to title winning level. So ultimately it is time for the coaches to be the target here and they do everything they can to sort this. There is no one shot solution out there.

17 Aug 2017 11:59:15
It was widely reported that we bid for Asensio in April- was he a possible Coutinho replacement. If so, it would indicate that the club were preparing for the future without Pipco.

{Ed002's Note - Real Madrid's Marco Asensio has been the subject of interest from Arsenal who were looking at one time to replace Sanchez with him, Liverpool who saw him as an option to Brandt, Monaco as part of any deal for Mbappe and Juventus amongst others. Interersted sides have been told he is not for sale and Real Madrid are unwilling to have discussions with clubs about the player although they could yet be tested by Barcelona looking to pay his release clause - in which case it would be down to the player to decide if he would be open to a move to Barcelona.}

17 Aug 2017 12:27:44
Not a chance he'll leave in my opinion. He's come a long way in a short space of time and is on the brink of being a regular in Real Madrid's starting XI.

17 Aug 2017 12:34:28
Not a realistic chance of getting him he is the next big thing already worth a place in there starting line up.

17 Aug 2017 13:12:34
He looks like he could be the next big thing in football, hope he gets enough game time at Madrid.

17 Aug 2017 18:45:34
He is the heir to Bale/ CR7 at Real. Good luck getting him.

17 Aug 2017 21:30:14
Maybe this has been explained but why would Real want to sell to their direct competition? Is Barcelona the only club willing or able to pay the release clause?

{Ed002's Note - The release clause is of no relevance to any other side.}

17 Aug 2017 01:30:34
Okay some bad news. Barcelona manager had just came out and said Dembele and Coutinho are close.

17 Aug 2017 04:23:50
It owuldn't exactly be a shock if Coutinho did leave mate this is not out of the blue.

17 Aug 2017 07:11:36
if it happens, it happens at this point. can also look at it this way - vvd and that kid from leipzig were "close" like 5 times each.

17 Aug 2017 07:25:35
He'd have to say something to appease the fans after the thumping they got last night!

17 Aug 2017 08:14:47
Don't believe the hype, OP. Barcelona are in decline as it stands right now and with the shalacking they received from Real (w/ o RM breaking a sweat, really), something needed to be done to calm the socios down as they are out for blood. I do know that Dembele is nearly done. As for Cou, FSG have stood their ground so we'll see what happens.

17 Aug 2017 08:40:33
I don't see why you'd want to keep him at the club personally, if he wants to move and its his dream, hardly going to be a good atmosphere around the club if you force him to stay. Should thank him for the service and keep it amiable!

17 Aug 2017 08:41:44
For the record, Gomes and Rakitic played last night and were utterly woeful. I would hope that brings to an end the idea that they would be acceptable in a swap.

17 Aug 2017 09:23:53
Didn't need to watch the game to know that Raki and Gomez are crap, Dennis. Barcelona wants rid for a reason.

17 Aug 2017 09:53:29
DeanW - because we cannot replace him at this point in time and he made the decision to try and force a move the day before the start of the season. The second part alone should mean he's forced to stay with us and shouldn't have too much issue with it - I know he's been interested in Barcelona for a while but the day before the season starting to come out with crap like 'problems with klopp for six months' and demanding a move is unacceptable.

17 Aug 2017 10:15:39
Take away all the issues with letting Coutinho go, not being able to replace him etc. I hope we stand our ground just so that somebody turns around to Barcelona and says no. They might not have tapped Coutinho up but they haven't shown Liverpool any respect in the way they've gone about trying to sign him. We have him on a 5 year deal, it's World Cup year, we don't need the money so keep a strong position and don't sell him. He won't sulk unless he wants to lose his place in the Brazil team. Before anyone says it either I don't condone how we've gone about trying to sign players either.

17 Aug 2017 10:23:16
He couldn't put a transfer request in before Barcelona had put an offer in, if what the Ed's have said is true its been on the cards for a year, and hardly surprising that a top class player is getting looked at by richer clubs! So that's management issues

He is a good player, but I don't believe scoring goals is our issue, so I personally don't see a huge requirement for "replacing" him. After all surely our defense is the worry right now! plus we have 2 weeks of the transfer market left, plenty of time to sign someone if we don't constantly dither around.

17 Aug 2017 12:40:13
I think we've already seen Barcelona will use all kinds of spin to try to appease their fans and get what they want including briefing the press and releasing false propaganda. I'd take it all with a pinch of salt until any official announcements are made. Either way just chill we'll be just fine.