Liverpool Discussion posts 5

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.

26 Jul 2026 22:08:42
@chewysuarez7, I disagree completely on your perspective on Macca / Grav. Seems to be so much revisionism on Macca; he was our best midfielder for his first two years at the club and arguably top 2-3 in Prem in that time too. Grav has had good moments for sure, but the idea of him is far better than the reality.

Too often lacks intensity in games, jumps out of tackles and aerial duels. He's got fancy footwork, but his passing map is shocking for a midfielder. 6 months out of 3 years is the exception not the rule. Appreciate your contribution to the discussion though!

25 Jul 2026 11:41:12
I have monitored this page for years and have enjoyed getting great information, from the Ed's and especially Ed02, Macca and then the current true ITK's Carra, Robbo, Fields, VG, Ned etc. But recently the amount of abuse they get I'm worried we will lose this insight, I'm also getting bored with new names appearing and posting in a way that suggest they are ITK. It's getting too much

Everyone should be free to post positive rumours and I wouldn't want to deter anyone from posting but please keep it real and let's be thankful that we have some real ITK's who are currently happy to share such great info.

Also thanks to Ed01 for putting up with so much nonsense.

YNWA

25 Jul 2026 11:34:31
Anyone else looking forward to seeing Bajcetic playing for us again. He was immense a couple of years ago, and hopefully with age and maturity, he can become a prominent part of our team again. He's quick, mobile and good range of passing. More to come from him I think and a possibility of him ousting macca's place. Maybe he'll look at Victor Munoz, a World Cup winning teenager and realise that with more application to training and focus and determination and more luck with injuries, that he could have been a WC winner by now too.

I think he oozes potential, class, and a combative style of midfielder that we need. I really want him to succeed with us this season and with a Spanish manager who seems to rate him, unlike Slot, then maybe Stefan could really be our midfield maestro this season.

{Ed025's Note - hmmmm..

25 Jul 2026 11:53:15
When are people gonna give this one up! Lol we've not seen him for years! He's got a bad attitude and always injured! Move on.

25 Jul 2026 13:41:08
Munoz is not a teenager.

25 Jul 2026 15:06:09
It's the hope that kills ye with that lad. ?

25 Jul 2026 11:32:29
I know the media keep talking about Minteh

But would anyone be happy with Mitouma instead?

I think he's a really good player, if we want anyone from Brighton I'd go for him (40m)? or him and Baleba (if price isn't more than 60m).

25 Jul 2026 11:37:40
Mitoma, I think, is injury prone. We shooo up d be signing better quality than those too.

25 Jul 2026 10:36:04
Could Rodrygo be an option if Diomonde goes to Real Madrid?

We were linked with him last year and can play both sides.

25 Jul 2026 11:48:20
Injured, isn't he?

25 Jul 2026 08:31:10
Interest in people's thoughts for RW if we miss out on Barcola and Diomande.

I always thought Bouzamana Toure was good value and someone who could be moulded to what we needed but that ship sailed.

I think Ibrahim Mbaye is maybe someone we could consider and I like him at the right price. Very young so potentially lots of room to grow and be moulded by Iraola.



Rayan obviously is good but in my opinion far too expensive. Worth checking out maybe.

Interested to see what names others have out there for RW. Don't have to be linked. More interested on who you think would be a good option.

Don't want people saying there's nobody. Interested in people's ideas first.

25 Jul 2026 09:33:59
If we miss out on Barcola and Diomande, I'd prefer to sign a left footed RW and then play Wirtz in a free role off the left, with Dom in the no.10 role.

My first choice for RW would probably be Pedro Neto. I think in terms of balance, we need someone with genuinely blistering pace. Isak needs more service. Wirtz is great at creating in a free role off the left, and Neto is superb at beating his man and getting crosses into the box.



Alternatives I'd consider are Yankuba Minteh, Francisco Conceicao, Savinho and Mohammed Kudus. They're all a similar profile to Neto. In my opinion, getting the balance right is more important than a big name. But we don't seem to be interested in any of the players I've listed other than Minteh.

25 Jul 2026 10:08:51
This will go one of 2 ways. If we miss out on the targets reported, we'll buy a player that no one has mentioned out of the blue, or we will accept that there is no player worth buying and wait till next summer.

25 Jul 2026 11:31:38
For me, it has to be Rayan if we miss out on other targets.

25 Jul 2026 11:36:29
I'm not sold on Neto. He will be more expensive than his worth in my opinion.

All the players you list, though, sound very plausible though. All would need to take a good step forward under Iraola.

I'm starting to like Munoz out there.

25 Jul 2026 12:28:50
I'm just not having Rayan. He's only played about 1250 minutes of football at a decent level. If he's the choice, then I'd rather play Rio RW. He's played about 750 minutes. They're at a pretty similar level, far as I'm concerned.

We should be looking at someone slightly older in my opinion. 22-26 years old is the ideal age to sign a winger. Young enough to get 5-8 years out of them, but old enough that they've earned their stripes.



Neto is a ball carrying and take-on machine. We need a winger like that. Rayan is more of a runner off the ball from what little I've seen. We need someone who can take it on the half turn and drag us up the pitch. Minteh, Kudus, Savinho and Conceicao are all of the same ilk.

25 Jul 2026 15:07:56
Good point on Rio and Rayan. Has shown nothing to suggest he's better than Rio for me.

25 Jul 2026 16:27:39
Conceicao is good. If we got him and Rayan and sold Chiesa, then the forward line is starting to look good.

26 Jul 2026 09:27:30
Rayan is a lot better than Rio at this point in their careers.
I'm going to trust the manager either way.

24 Jul 2026 22:26:09
Hey Ed,

Would it be possible to be added to the Live chat?

I just realised I forgot to ask when I made my new account, as I managed to lose my previous email address which was connected to my old account on here.

{Ed033's Note - LFCS_MANGO added

25 Jul 2026 08:50:09
Eds, please can you add me too?

{Ed033's Note - Ned Flanders added

25 Jul 2026 18:40:55
Hi Ed, long time reader but not much of a poster until now. Just joined with a username etc. and would love to be added to the live chat too. Thanks.

{Ed033's Note - Hi Stevie17, can you make a bunch of posts/replies first please?

24 Jul 2026 22:42:02
Mika Godts, anyone?

Honestly, considering the options available to us, I would much rather a genuine project, than an overly expensive outlay on a player that is far from the finished article. When you spend 100+ million, you do expect a certain standard and degree of certainty. And, for me, Barcola just has far too many question marks. We do need pace, however, and he certainly provides that.

In general, the market for wingers is honestly appalling, and shows the overall regression in football when it comes to creativity, individualism, etc. Every player seems to be some form of a system player, lacking the necessary skillset or identity to stand out from the crowd. Whether through their training, mindset, I don't know, but so many players just seem identical to the other.

I'm probably making no sense. But, I really do hope we approach our winger situation with a little more care and consideration. Splashing 100+ million on an iffy player just doesn't sit right with me.

But, I guess we forced ourselves in this position by releasing Salah a year early, without a contingency in place. Now, we are floundering and searching for solutions.

Having said all this, I am incredibly excited to see what Iraola can bring to the table. He has proven himself able to produce sufficient quality with limited resources, and an ability to develop players beyond what many thought they were capable of. The intensity will also mark a welcome return.

Call me naive, but I do believe he will spring a few surprises in terms of player trust. I am a romantic, and fully fall prey to the redemption story, or unexpected emergence of talent. I can see Elliott, Baj, McConnell, Leoni becoming a genuine option for this team. Not starters, but trusted members of the squad this season.

Like I said, naive, but for the first time in a long while, I am actually looking forward to watching Liverpool play.

24 Jul 2026 23:09:22
We're going to have to take a risk on whoever comes in as the market is so poor, regardless of the price! Cheers, Mango.

25 Jul 2026 00:14:33
I've been advocating for Godts for a while. Would love to see if he could adapt to the Prem. Fast, quick feet, loves to take on his man, but can also get the head up and deliver, bit of an all-round package. Still a bit raw, being just 21, but showing great promise, and now would be a great time to bring him in and iron out any kinks in his game before he develops bad habits.

He can be a bit predictable at times, but his ability to shift direction at speed is excellent. His vision is decent and he's quite a good finisher. Quality young player with a seemingly high ceiling. He could be had for half the price we've been quoted elsewhere.

25 Jul 2026 10:41:21
Thought we wanted to stay away from Eredivisie players. Looks decent in fairness though.

24 Jul 2026 22:39:28
Looks like Madrid are in for Diomande. Hoping this doesn't block Barcola. Who we signing guys? First post by the way! Ynwa