Liverpool Discussion posts 5

09 Aug 2026 22:59:48
Can anyone see us buying anyone more than a Salah replacement (Barcola). I'm really worried by our defence and think we need a first choice RB, LB and CB to partner VVD. Hope Ajauro helps. Not convinced either RB or LB is good enough to be first choice

09 Aug 2026 23:49:59
They're good enough, Tjury, don't worry.

We have VVD, Jaquet, Leoni, Gomez and Araujo. A partnership of any of those players should be good enough to beat most teams.

I really think Kerkez will have a good season this year.

He looks so determined and I love Bradley, he'll be our right back for years to come.

We might have to improvise for the first couple of months of the season whilst everyone gets fit and up to speed, but there's no need for panic.

10 Aug 2026 00:21:57
Never mind partnering VVD, he himself needs to get back to his best.
He's probably the best defender I have ever seen play in my 30 odd years of watching LFC, but time waits for no-one. He needs to find his feet again, but I am confident he can have one last stellar season.

10 Aug 2026 09:44:51
I agree, Westwood. I thought Virgil was the root cause of most of our issues last season.

He had a couple of lazy moments yesterday too that led to goals and allowed Monaco back into a game they were barely competing in.



Let's hope that's due to him only just coming back, because if he plays like he did last season it'll be a long, hard season again.

09 Aug 2026 22:43:46
Arunjo is a clever signing. Munoz looks good. Barcola and Mbaye look like getting over the line soon. But Djed Spence and Alex Scott should be on our list too. Scott is better and less injury prone than Wharton. Spence is just brilliant, and ridiculously cheap considering his brilliant WC! The lad was good enough for us after his Forest loan, heaven knows why we let him go to Spurs.

Reminded me of the first time I saw Robbo play for Hull.

10 Aug 2026 10:13:36
I think it will be either Barcola or Mbaye, and we may strengthen midfield, although I think Nyoni has surprised in preseason, and with Stephan B on his way back, I cannot see us spending £80 plus on a player we don't really need.

09 Aug 2026 20:03:28
I have a good friend whose relative is well connected somehow to the higher echelons of West Ham Utd.

Apparently Liverpool have been enquiring tentatively about Jarrod Bowen's availability.

It is understood that Bowen is committed to getting West Ham promoted back to the Premier League, but if a big club came in for him then it may turn his head and may want to leave.

My friend is saying this is not concrete that Bowen will leave or that Liverpool will come in with a firm bid; however, it seems to be (from what my friend's relative said) that Liverpool are keeping Bowen in mind in case their other preferred targets do not materialise.

Bowen's transfer fee has not been disclosed, but reckons it would probably be in the £35m to £40m region, including add-ons.

Also, not LFC related, but David Sullivan is proving to be a right stubborn pain in the backside. He has no wish to part with his shareholding, and the other directors look likely to be forced into a dysfunctional working atmosphere at the club for at least this season. Daniel Kretinsky wants to buy the others out and take full control but is unable to. Amanda Staveley also wants in, and it seems to be a huge mess behind the scenes.

09 Aug 2026 20:46:17
He has signed a new contract, it's over, Bowen remains a hammer!

09 Aug 2026 16:06:29
Is this ridiculous but I'm remembering back to the very first season of Klopp, where we'd be awesome in the first half and then pants in the second as Klopp tried to push players that either weren't used to it or weren't up to it into 90 mins of high-tempo?

09 Aug 2026 17:23:37
We're rubbish in the 2nd half because we essentially fielded a senior starting 11 and then threw on the fodder for the 2nd half.

09 Aug 2026 19:01:32
In the last two games, I think we played better football than at any point last season for 45 minutes, and then the worst football in the second 45min. For me that's progress.

09 Aug 2026 19:24:05
@Jari,
I agree. I'll take 45 minutes of good football as it's a 45 minute improvement on last year!

09 Aug 2026 21:04:04
You try to take the positives out of whatever sort of game, and hope the team are just getting the fitness up and learning how to play together. But honestly it's pre season, lose every game or beat beat PSG, Madrid, Bayern, 5 nil and look great.

The 1st day of the season is all that matters.
How soon that is and the fitness levels/sharpness of a lot of our senior players would be more of the concern I have. Though I guess a lot of clubs will be the same this season.

10 Aug 2026 01:21:19
Iraola said after the game we couldn't sustain the level. I don't know if he meant because of fitness or because of the quality of the reserves, but it seemed more like a fitness thing.

We all know the squad isn't the best, been like that for a long while, but fitness we can improve.

10 Aug 2026 07:28:24
I think it is a fitness thing, Overkill. This preseason has been poor prep for everyone because of the extended World Cup. There's not enough time for everyone to get up to speed with Iraola's way of playing because the majority of our first team were away. I am hopeful that it'll get better for us the longer the season goes on.



And that's also why Arsenal are in a strong position this season, since they're the only top team that does not have a new manager. Utd, Chelsea, and City all are adjusting to new managers in one way or another, whereas Arsenal can build from a position of strength. They are favourites to win the league imo.

10 Aug 2026 07:47:39
Momentum and confidence are key. As said, other than Arsenal and City, it's difficult to know where many teams are at including us. If we start well and build on that, top four could be doable, if we start slow it could be a grind.

09 Aug 2026 15:45:55
I know it’s been spoken about already but such a shame Ndukwe can’t get a work permit this season as the lad looks so ready to play a part within the squad and 1st team. Another impressive 45 vs Monaco.

Same for Koumas a very good showing and more so his awareness and willingness to track back when needed.

09 Aug 2026 17:50:50
DHFC could be another reason why Araujo was bought in on a loan. Barring fitness, one would hope Jacquet, Leoni and Ndukwe could be the future at cb.

09 Aug 2026 19:15:34
Loan could work out great if we can find the right one. He needs to find somewhere he will play week in, week out, and hopefully in a league that's as competitive as possible.

He does look a very exciting prospect though.

09 Aug 2026 21:08:51
He looks brilliant. Question for eds and all, why do we think he's being played so much preseason if he definitely can play no part for us?
Is it just to put him in the aul shop window to try get the best loan move, and because we literally have nobody else(fit/back atm)?

Theres no chance a work permit can be achieved. I have zero knowledge of how they work.they seem a strange aspect to be part of football. Almost as if its an actual job ?

09 Aug 2026 15:44:02
Don't need a new RB.Young Koumas covers the whole side on his own.Great workrate from the lad.

09 Aug 2026 20:06:59
Looked good, didn't he. Seems a lot quicker than I originally gave him credit for as well.

09 Aug 2026 13:38:47
No Jones in the Liverpool squad today, not even on the bench. Looks like his departure may very well be imminent.

Will be interesting to see if we go for Wharton now. Or, do we simply promote Nyoni, and focus our attention elsewhere. I have really liked Nyoni, so far this pre season, and Iraola clearly rates him. But, still feel we are lacking a necessary profile in midfielder, a more defensive minded option with the ability to press, bully and harass the opposition, and get us higher up the pitch with simple, quick passes.

09 Aug 2026 13:52:09
I think Nyoni replaces him, imo. If we move on Macca, then another comes in.

09 Aug 2026 14:00:47
Yeh, looking like Curtis will be moving on alright. For me, Nyoni should be replacing Endo, who should also be moved on. A new signing should be brought in to replace Jones.

09 Aug 2026 14:07:15
I don't see us getting Wharton in to replace Jones. He's only a squad player. Nyoni is the natural replacement. We'll move for Wharton if Macca is also going.

09 Aug 2026 14:19:42
Florian, Endo has one year left, so I'd just keep him in the squad for this season. Low wages, and he's happy to compete for his place, albeit not the highest quality.

09 Aug 2026 14:27:45
Yeah, I'm with you, KP.

Jones goes = promote Nyoni.
Macca goes = bring a new player in (Wharton? Scott?).
Endo - yep, we should keep him unless we get a crazy offer given low wages and 1 more season.

09 Aug 2026 15:27:29
Yeh I suppose Keegan. Gives his all in fairness. Just think he can be improved on, and we're always greedy aren't we? ?

09 Aug 2026 17:24:56
Wharton doesn't fix that gaping big hole in midfield. We've no balance in midfield, we've no physicality, and no defensive nous.

10 Aug 2026 12:28:38
You're right. Wharton doesn't have enough bite. I'd prefer Manu Kone, sell Macca.
Kone was preferred by the French coach and has previously played with our Hugo for 50 m Euro. He would b a good choice in a double pivot with Gravy, and against more threatening teams would plug the midfield.

He is used to covering wide spaces, 6 ft 1. His injury record, mostly muscle problems, only missed 1 /2 games as a result. Not scared of a tackle, he was the most fouled player in both Italy and Germany.

09 Aug 2026 12:26:07
Our new CB signings La Liga performance only:
22/23
12 games missed from injury
19 games at CB
3 games at RB

23/24
5 games missed from injury
22 games at CB
3 games at RB

24/25
17 games missed from injury
11 games CB
1 game RB

25/26
6 games missed from depression
19 games at CB
4 games at RB

Most injuries was hamstring and groin.

09 Aug 2026 18:07:01
So Szob played more games at RB than Araujo? Maybe Curtis has played more games at RB too, thought this guy was chosen coz he had a lot of RB experience? Easy now, it's just a question, as there's a multitude of posts saying he can cover RB, but not sure he's competent looking at those numbers?

09 Aug 2026 09:18:02
I have a bad feeling about Barcola, I’ve been told by someone in the gulf that is close to people around the sports world that we can’t afford the 150mil they want and there happy to keep him for another year or sell to Arsenal or Bayern.

09 Aug 2026 10:12:43
I've heard for around a week now that the deal is way off, and that money is the issue. PSG won't budge on the 150m euros and Liverpool don't want to pay that. The last bid was rejected, and the PSG new signings wasn't necessarily because Barcola was coming to us.

So, from what I'm hearing, I don't think this deal happens. I didn't even want to say anything because you get attacked for saying certain things on here.

09 Aug 2026 10:15:42
If we walk away and don't strengthen because 'we can't afford', I'd be fuming. We are LFC, so surely we can afford it if we want him.

09 Aug 2026 10:39:19
Maybe this is a value and affordability issue. He isn't worth the money PSG are asking for. We also can't afford to spend that type of money. We got burnt last year, so it's right to be more cautious even if we could pay it.

His stats are pretty good, but he's not nailed on to be a success, and he's another left winger when we need a right sided player more.

09 Aug 2026 16:41:27
Has Hughes written all across it?

10 Aug 2026 07:51:17
I thought Hughes was out of the picture, but he was at the game yesterday so still very much involved. It's been a strange preseason off and on the pitch.