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04 May 2024 20:01:57
Ed, might you be kind enough to share what defensive midfielders we may be considering this summer?
Seems to be a position there’s not an awful lot of options out there for right now.
{Ed002's Note - Something like tis I would think:
Alan Varela (DM) Barcelona may offer a profit to Porto and a player in exchange. An option for Manchester City to replace Phillips, but not first choice. Liverpool may provide an option but they opted for Endo and have Bajcetic as an emerging youngster.. Porto has no interest in selling the player who only joined them in the summer of 2023. If someone offered his buy out clause in a single payment, the player will be consulted. Will likely stay where he is for now.
Archie Gray (DM/CM/RB) Leeds kiddie having an excellent season in the Championship and showing versatility. Will not be for sale but Leeds have noted Crystal Palace have enquired. Scouts from Manchester United, Liverpool and Spurs have attended games but it would be a waste of the player wth neither club looking to utilise him in the first team with all having preferred options. Not any more than a kick on th Gonads for BajBajaceyic for Liverpool.
Andre Trindade (DM) Not an option for Liverpool any longer.
Kalvin Phillips (DM) Not an option for Liverpool any longer.
Ezequiel Fernandez (DM) Not an option for Liverpool anymore.
Joao Palhinha (DM/CM) Only moved 18 months ago and Fulham will not look to sell unless a huge offer is made and the player asks for a move. All interest except that of Bayern Munich, Arsenal and possibly Newcastle will have gone with the signing of a new contract although Manchester United and Liverpool have had a will respected ex PL and high-end independent scout watch the player on their behalf - although both have other targets. Fulham will still look to replacements as they fear the player could have his head turned by Bayern Munich or Arsenal, who see him as an option to Trindade, who Fulham are also keen on.
Martin Zubimendi (CM/DM) No longer an option for Liverpool.
Morten Frendrup (CM/DM) Versatile midfield player that Juventus are keen to sign. Noted by Spurs when scouting Radu Dragusin. Would be an alternate to Thuram or Manu Kone for Liverpool and they did have a well respected exPL player and high-end scout at the game against Inter at the end of December - so perhaps something might come of that. Crystal Palace and West Ham have sent scouts. Genoa have no interest in selling.
Manu Kouadio Kone (CM/DM) Prior interest of Milan has gone. Newcastle did approach Borussia Muenchegladbach but they will resist a sale although Newcastle remain keen. RBL were keen to add Kone to replace Laimer but that interest, like the interest of Bayern Munich has not gone away and they may make a move as early as January. Juventus and Liverpool may have a continuing interest but he will not be first choice for either. Napoli offer a wildcard option.
Khephren Thuram (DM/CM) Nice felt they were messed around by clubs last summer and then the player picked up an injury. Interest of Spurs and, in particular, Juventus remains but Liverpool will look to other options. Interest of Newcastle will likely of fallen away. If interest further grows his price will rise and the club would sell given the emergence of Alexis Beka Beka regardless of impressive youngster Reda Belahyane being sold to Verona. Nice do not want to sell and again a move to OLd Trafford will not be welcomed by the Nice supporters. Real Madrid have him on a list of potential additions given they are facing midfield departures in the summer - and I would not rule them, or indeed Manchester City, out. Player wants PSG but they have no interest at this time - but his representative is pushing PSG as well as Real Madrid and will encourage the player to wait and see what happens.
Assan Ouedraogo (CM/DM) Much is expected of the kiddie and Schalke will try and fend off interest from Chelsea and Bayern Munich who want to take him at 18 in the summer and have both spoken with his club. The Manchester clbs may offer an option. Schalke has also said that they are aware that an "agent" representing the underage player has been approached by someone representing Liverpool and that they have written to the club asking for this to stop. That will discount Liverpool. Brighton and Milan have sent scouts.}
1.) 04 May 2024 21:57:46
Think we can rule out Dragusin as he’s gone to Spurs and that tax dodger Ratcliffe isn’t going to sign off on Thuram joining us.
Obv overjoyed that Kalvin Phillips is off the menu.
2.) 04 May 2024 21:15:26
Wow nice one, Ed. Seems like a dearth of good options in this position at the moment. Still think we missed a trick with Moscardo in January.
3.) 04 May 2024 23:07:31
VV, careful with that overjoy :)
Varela seems like best of those options. Though he’s more of deep lying playmaker which half of the posters here feel is going to be the future role of Trent.
Not sure we’ll ever go for Kone or Thuram given the opportunity has been there for a couple of years now.
With Edwards back the chance of signing a 28yo Palhinha seems remote.
Gray looks interesting. Similar in style to Moscardo.
Ouedraogo is really young even if he is 6’4 already!
I’ve not seen us linked with Gourna-Douath or Baleba.
4.) 04 May 2024 23:21:20
Ideally the DM solution comes from within. It will be interesting to see how Bajcetic develops.
Was Gravenberch not originally brought in as a versatile DM/ CM? It seems he has been designated as a box to box 8 but I think he has all the attributes to be a very good 6 and played in a double pivot for Ajax.
Do we know if this is under consideration?
5.) 04 May 2024 23:37:04
Gravenberch isn’t and never will be a defensive midfielder. That’s about as daft a suggestion as I’ve ever heard. As much as I like Bajcetic, he’s spent an entire season out injured, it feels a huge risk for the season to gamble on a player who has had such injury issues,
6.) 05 May 2024 04:15:52
That’s a list of defensive midfielders we can’t or won’t be buying ?.
7.) 05 May 2024 07:17:04
We have Endo, Bajcetic, Possibly Trent, McConnell who looked decent when given a chance, and Macca can cover. Not a priority for me until we see how the new boss sets up. We bought 4 new midfielders last summer, how many do we need? VVD and Salah cover/ successors priority for me.
8.) 05 May 2024 07:53:23
Viktor. You have mis-interpreted Ed2’s reply. Dragusin is a centre back. Ed was not saying he is a DM option. You seem quick to judge others and yet your message shows an absence of football knowledge.
9.) 05 May 2024 08:43:08
I’m with you Westwood. I cannot fathom how we can all sit here and say Endo was a bargain and is arguably signing of the season, then in the same breath say we need a DM. Our season collapsed when Jones and Szobo came back into the midfield in place of Endo and Gravenberch/ Elliott.
Jones and Szobo both came through academies as wide men and it shows in their positioning, and Macca isn’t a lone 6, although he is very good in a double pivot. Jones and Szobo go too high and too wide and it leaves massive holes for Macca to try and fill. Endo built up a brilliant partnership with Macca and I think it was a mistake to start tinkering with a set up that was working. Replacing Endo is so far down my list of priorities. Our best CB this season is a 21 year old fresh out of League 1, our left back options haven’t been fit all season, our best box to box midfielders aside from Macca are all u21’s, we’ve got a RW who looks like he’s playing not to get injured and kill his last pay day, and strikers who can’t stay fit/ finish their dinner. I’d not be going anywhere near a DM until we’ve sorted the CB, LB, CM and RW situation.
10.) 05 May 2024 07:33:51
Top info as always Ed!
You eluded to it a few times in your answer, as someone not being “first choice”
Who would you think Liverpool see as main option for this position?
Thanks as always.
{Ed002's Note - First choice would be to add the very versatile Teun Koopmeiners who can play AM, CM or DM and utilise what they already have.}
11.) 05 May 2024 09:29:37
Endo is just not good enough as has been proven in the run in. He’s now a target for the opposition - Palace did it twice. He’s also shown his lack of recovery pace when the games are stretched.
Bajcetic has been injured all season. Making positional gambles was a big factor in Klopp’s failures.
Having one specialist DM in your 25 man squad is not too much to ask no matter how you choose to play.
12.) 05 May 2024 10:15:18
Vv bajetic has had a year out with growing pains as he’s basically growing in to his man body pretty’s sure Gerrard had something similar. I’m not comparing bajetic to Gerrard either .
Slot looks to play with a double pivot at the base of the midfield i would argue we need find a partnership in their as I see mac allister better as the play maker further forward . I’d love for us to sign a proper defensive midfielder or should I rephrase that as a competent midfielder that can tackle and partner him with Trent .
13.) 05 May 2024 10:20:08
Thanks Ed!
Don’t know much about Koopmeiners but really feel we need a destroyer DM who’s mobile and athletic. Something we really lack at the club as good as Endo is and Bajetic will be.
Would love Varella from that list!
14.) 05 May 2024 12:05:03
Our season seemed to collapse from the Utd Fa cup game where we went out.
We then went on to draw with Utd, lose to Palace, Atalanta and Everton and draw with West Ham.
Of those 6 games Endo started 5 of them
Not really sure our collapse was down to him being replaced.
15.) 05 May 2024 12:40:00
Endo is fine in a compact formation with the two midfield partners nearby. But we don’t play that way and it looks like it isn’t the way the new coach wants to play.
16.) 05 May 2024 13:09:24
@MK I agree Endo has been good for us this year and at time has been exceptional (eg against Man City in the 2-2).
However I do agree with JK that the results and performances were poor following the United fa cup game actually (not correlated to when he was dropped)
You’re right though that Szob and Jones weren’t playing well. I thought Jones looked miles off the pace in midfield and shouldn’t have been playing at all whereas I think Szob should have been further forward.
17.) 05 May 2024 13:12:06
Ed002 has previously said that a DM is a position we are looking at. The club wouldn't be doing so if Endo is the answer.
18.) 05 May 2024 20:29:40
Koopmeiners definitely improves our midfield in my opinion, I’d be happy with him, a centre back and a forward depending on departures.
07 Nov 2023 18:46:10
Reports suggesting our interest in Andre Trindade has cooled and that Fulham is the frontrunners.
There's no suggestion as to where our attention has turned, if at all.
1.) 08 Nov 2023 10:32:23
We can have Palhinha off them then. Great ball winner. Good on the ball and a bit of a goal threat in the air too.
{Ed002's Note - He is of no interest to Liverpool.}
2.) 08 Nov 2023 12:16:05
Seems a surprise unless the plan is to rely on Endo unit Bajcetic is fit, as none of the others is a top class number 6. Personally I thought he was ideal, so a real shame.
{Ed002's Note - The situation has been made a little complicated with Andre but Liverpool can still strike a deal, but as you know there is interest from elsewhere. There remain other DM options for the club. Perhaps looking again at the more versatile Thuram might be an idea.}
3.) 08 Nov 2023 13:40:39
Do you think we will add a dm in January eds? Surprised but does look like Andre is heading to Fulham, no idea why he'd want to go fulham mind.
{Ed002's Note - There are other clubs interested in him including Fulham if they were to lose Palhinha, but they are not the only interested side. As I said there is a further complication but Liverpool will be able to try and get something done. Else they could look to the other targets they have identified.}
4.) 08 Nov 2023 15:34:03
What about the player. Is Andre favoring joining a particular club at this point?
{Ed002's Note - I really have no idea. He will have to look at his opportunites, will he be a starter, what the contract offer is etc..}
5.) 08 Nov 2023 16:06:27
Ed’s will be able to confirm, I’ve read/ heard Arsenal are looking at Andre too,
Tbh, I like the look of him (Andre), he can use 2 feet, he looks nippy across the park, I’ve seen him slot in at left back cos Flume did an injury rejig, I’ve seen him spray passes 40+ m with both feet, he also plays short to keep the team moving.
On attacking corners he generally last man, must be the quickest in Flume mind you some of them pushing 40. Andre from what little I’ve seen also communicates well with players around him too.
{Ed002's Note - Yes Arsenal are an interested side and Edu has been complimented. He can use both feet, else he would fall over.}
6.) 08 Nov 2023 16:17:51
Thanks Ed! Still interesting to hear what you've heard/ read.
7.) 08 Nov 2023 19:46:36
TY Ed002, lol on the sarcasm.
8.) 08 Nov 2023 22:44:28
I won’t ask what the further complication is….
9.) 08 Nov 2023 23:47:05
i thought i read somewhere about possible 3rd party ownership of the player which would need resolving first.
10.) 09 Nov 2023 08:47:59
Andre will be a LFC by the end of January and the defense will be attended to in the summer with a couple of signings.
11.) 09 Nov 2023 16:57:10
Quansah is possibly better than anyone you could sign across Europe. How lucky are we! maybe a right sided CB may be needed next season.
26 May 2023 21:31:24
Ed002, in your opinion, have our transfer plans/ targets changed drastically since the turn of the year or would you say they are broadly the same.
Wondering whether we’re at risk of a scattergun period like that of the Rodgers era or getting back on track to well thought out business.
{Ed002's Note - They will always be massaged a little, but that is true of every club, but I am not aware of radical changes.}
1.) 26 May 2023 22:38:50
Cheers, Ed. Appreciate it.
2.) 27 May 2023 09:02:36
New rumour is Bellingham fee is 86 mill to Real.
Surely that’s within our range.
3.) 27 May 2023 09:19:26
JK the fee probably is, but all the other values, wages agents, jurgen tapping up tax and possibly how dortmund wanted it paid meant a deal wasn’t feasible.
We all would of loved him at Liverpool, but we are not in a position to add one player to a great midfield, we have an aging midfield and need 2 or 3 to get it back to where we need it and we couldn’t stretch that far.
4.) 27 May 2023 09:19:42
The Klopp tax is real.
Plus, the club have already reverse ferreted now. They’ve put in the hard PR yards to remind us of how we can’t afford nice things. Would they undo all of that?
We do things differently. Say it enough times and it becomes a badge of honour.
5.) 27 May 2023 09:54:41
I wouldn’t be suprised to see us make a late low ball bid for Bellingham so the club can be like look we tried but we can’t compete with real and the likes of .
Nothing surprises me with our club anymore so Il just wait and see what happens.
The 1 bit of solace I’ve got is I don’t think it’s hard to improve our midfield at all so whoever comes in should be an upgrade .
Bellingham is obviously the no1 I’d love but can’t cry over something we haven’t got .
Mac allister looks really promising . And I think he would flourish at our gaff
Mount I’m on the fence here with him as their is a player their but I think we are in need of a different style player over him .
Ugarte looks like the klopp had ballsed that up
Thuram looks like others are ahead of us but I’d be pushing them out the way to get this lad (politely mind)
I’ve got a feeling we will end up signing koopmeiners
Il be honest not really seen much of him but what I have seen I’d be a little underwhelmed .
Hoping for a proper left field signing like fabinho that not been spoken about and comes in and tears it up ??????????.
6.) 27 May 2023 10:34:23
Jk23 mate depends on payment structure. If Dortmund want single payment upfront then we don't have any chance.
Our biggest problem have been not having money in the bank despite doing really well financially on the paper.
Most of our signings have come by spreading payment structure 3-5 windows except 1-2 which has really hamstrung us compare to our rivals.
FSG have done unbelievable job of balancing the books and Klopp overachieving and being our most successful manager in last 3 decades which says a lot how special he is.
But now with todd boehly spending like there's no tomorrow, arsenal City UTD even spurs and Newcastle spending more then us have really changed the scenario for us coz neither we have any assets left to supliment our transfers which has been our bedrock under FSG.
Think this transfer window will make more things clear for us which direction will be heading especially when massive rebuilding is needed.
7.) 27 May 2023 10:53:19
I just hope now the stadium and training facilities are complete this year the increased revenue along with trimming the oversized squad (saving on wages) we can add a new 50/ 60 mill player when needed without it harming us financially and try keep ourselves ahead of the curve rather than always trying to play catch up .
No one knows the budget other than the owners and the club and I’d imagine the more we sell the more we can buy
.
But we have a wealth of youngsters that need loaning out or given chances also some of which are going to be to be top class professionals
Clubs not in as bad a shape as people make out .
We just need a little refinement in certain areas and also some quality brought in and promote some youngsters to pad the squad out and we are good to go . It’s then over to the manager and coaching staff to get the best out of what we’ve got .
Big year next year I can feel it.
8.) 27 May 2023 12:02:18
I don’t think anyone feels that the club is unhealthy.
What rankles is we do not act with ambition when the opportunity is there to. And the club have convinced us all that it’s ok to be that way.
9.) 27 May 2023 12:41:34
Don’t we still owe money to the owners on the stadium expansion loan?
{Ed002's Note - Yes.}
10.) 27 May 2023 13:52:48
Fly
When you say ambition do you mean spend more money I don’t see that just spending more than a rival guarantees anything it helps il grant you that but look at Spurs for example they have spent a fortune compared to us and let’s be honest without Kane and sons goals their mid to low league .
Not saying you were on about money either mate just I see lots on here that just want to spend a fortune . I just want us to win I couldn’t care less what we spent I just want us to be the best we can be and I know spending does help that but so does many more aspects of the game aswell.
11.) 27 May 2023 15:17:04
Hello ed2 hope u well. On above question from jk23 as regards loan on stadium, I had ast similar question a while back about loan and you said loan was from a credit facility fsg have. Did u mean we taking loan directly from fsg or from a lending company/ bank that fsg have a working relationship with?
Thanks for your time.
{Ed002's Note - There are loans from the owners and from banks that Liverpool owe.}
12.) 27 May 2023 18:22:39
Dhfc - we have clear needs - a new midfield and to derisk Gomez/ Matip injury records.
I’d expect a club that wants to be successful and features in the top three of the revenue league to be able to recruit in top tier players in the positions needed.
We might not be able to spend like PSG, City and Real but we can compete with the rest.
This embarrassing poverty dance we do is just, well, embarrassing.
13.) 27 May 2023 23:21:57
kopforever, City might spend, but the amounts of money they generate from internal sales for players who've played minimally for them, if at all (Lavia, Bazunu making 2 senior appearence between them) means their net spend won't be horrific, we're replacing 2 highly important squad players (Milner and Bobby) which will raise our summer expenditure (likely £60-100m which is part of the midfield revamp), and it's been mentioned here that we've priced our fringe players too high to generate much in the way of funds, so I don't know where the summer funds are coming from if we're still in a 'sell to buy' model.
14.) 27 May 2023 23:47:26
@FPF - how do you ‘derisk …. Injury records’? Have to say that’s the best way of saying sign someone that I’ve seen since the last transfer window.
15.) 28 May 2023 08:58:16
Digger the annul accounts release in Feb this year stated we owe FSG 71 mill still (down from 110) and other lenders 88 mill.
Which on the grand scheme of things makes me feel a lot better about my debt with my mortgage and car finance.
16.) 28 May 2023 09:11:02
Fly
Totally agree on needing them positions and agree about the poverty cries from the club but also the club have been upgrading their infrastructure aswell and as much as I hate to say it the yanks are doing ok by us in some ways With the stadium and training facilities. Now I just hope we can trim the squad down and get rid of loads of fringe players we need to be ruthless this summer .
Nat Phillips
Rhys Williams
Matip
Kelleher
Pitaluga
Tsimikas
Could easily fetch 50 mill in transfers on top of the wages saved say another 10-15 million for the season and we could easily replace them players with youngsters from within the club .
Maybe this is why jorg has been brought in.
17.) 28 May 2023 09:55:31
The interpretation of the annual accounts is not quite correct. The club owns $71.4mil to FSG (intercompan loan) and $88mil via the holding companies bank facility ($200mil available and matures in 2025).
The bank facility was amortised by $40mil in 2022 (the balance was $128mil in 2021), one would assume this will be cleared by the end of next season all things being equal (I am not sure if further funds are required to complete the stadium expansion)
Importantly, it seems the $71.4mil intercompany loan has not been paid down (i. e. the club has not yet paid this back) nor is any interest being charged on this facility. One can assume the club will pay back this facility once the interest bearing bank loans are extinguished.
The club actually generated $110mil in free cashflow in 2022 and $80mil when increase/ decrease of debtors and creditors is netted out, prior to player registration purchases and sales.
18.) 28 May 2023 10:43:25
If we generated £110m cashflow why can’t we buy Bellingham?
Sorry couldn’t help it.
Being serious, great explanation / insight Peeps. Thanks for that ?.
19.) 28 May 2023 11:26:27
Dhfc - we do need to be better at selling. Problem is that we’ve left ourselves with little to sell and now little choice but to invest in a market that has been distorted by Chelsea’s actions in January. Players like Kone Thuram Lavia Ugarte are twice the price now.
It was the Neymar to Barcelona move that last distorted the market this way.
With Newcastle reaching Champions League ahead of schedule and United possibly getting their hands on Gulf State money - there’s a good chance the top end of the market will only head in one direction.
The other owners can see this happening and have already moved to multi-club ownership.
FSG need to rubbish or get off the pot.
20.) 28 May 2023 12:02:30
@WDW2 remember this relates to financial year 22 (the picture may look different now) and is also before the $40mil debt repayment plus any amounts owing for player registrations which may have been spread over a number of years (again I am assuming this is how the accounts are prepared, standards may differ as compared to here in Australia)
Also apologies for my use of ‘$’ instead of ‘£’ - force of habit being an Aussie.
03 Jan 2023 12:39:02
Ed, it looks like more and more Premier League clubs are going straight to source in South America now due to the changes in requirements post-Brexit.
Do you know if Liverpool plan to exploit this? Apart from Joao Gomes, we've not really been linked with anyone in South America from recollection.
{Ed002's Note - Not more than they already do with the South American scouts they have.}
1.) 03 Jan 2023 12:50:17
Apart from Allan (didnt work out) and Arroyo (still out on loan I believe), has the scouting network in SA yielded any value?
{Ed002's Note - Yes but likely not in a way you will understand.}
2.) 03 Jan 2023 13:01:28
Ouch.
3.) 03 Jan 2023 16:25:40
In an afternoon full of unrest. Both Ed2’s answer and Fly Pelican’s response made me chuckle. Probably way more than it should have.
4.) 03 Jan 2023 17:09:27
I’ve spent the afternoon in deep shame after that burn :)
Back to work tomorrow.
5.) 03 Jan 2023 17:27:57
Put some cream on it, Fly. You'll be fine!
6.) 03 Jan 2023 17:59:34
You might have been in shame by that burn, but it’s heated my house and cooked my dinner.
7.) 03 Jan 2023 20:05:10
Ed002 has an arsenal of 50 megatonne replies at his disposal. He is a nuclear deterrent. The cold war dragged on for years because the USSR knew he was in San Francisco and they daren't cross the USA whilst they had a Rodeo Clown capable of dropping bombs via Editors notes on any part of the globe from the comfort of his own home, without warning. If we'd had him during WW2 Hitler would've surrendered in 1940. Sadly all we had back then was a middle aged Ed025 who drank so much you could've stuffed a lit rag in his mouth and thrown him like a molotov.
8.) 03 Jan 2023 21:34:12
hope you're alright mate.
9.) 03 Jan 2023 22:05:44
I wonder if we could train a chatbot with Ed002 ripostes? How far do the archives go back?
10.) 03 Jan 2023 23:28:38
We did raid South America back in the day Sebastian leto, lucas leiva and Mark gonzalez may as well have shopped in Luxembourg.
30 Oct 2022 13:39:57
Ed, do you anticipate that we will try to do any business in January? Also how do you anticipate the World Cup to have any influence on the business done in this January window? Ie less, more, same.
{Ed002's Note - If a suitable player is available and the fitness of Arthur Melo may need to be considered. The WC should not make much difference with some clubs having already agreed transfers.}
1.) 30 Oct 2022 14:54:09
Cheers Ed. Hopefully we do something as we desperately need fresh legs in midfield.
2.) 30 Oct 2022 19:29:44
Arthur has been a bit of a waste of a wage TBH. Think we need to cut our losses on that deal and send him back to Juventus. Looked a decent player previously but I don’t feel like it’s going to work out so may as well call it off now (if we can) .
{Ed025's Note - I think he’s on loan for the season Johnny..
3.) 31 Oct 2022 07:18:49
Did the recruiting team and coaches know how much out of shape Arthur was in? He had not been playing for a considerable time, and it was well known. Surprising that they went ahead if they knew and how stringent our physical exams are.
4.) 31 Oct 2022 07:31:57
Surely we can still cancel the deal though Ed025 if it’s not working out? Not sure how that type of contract works TBH.
{Ed001's Note - it would mean paying a fee to end it, which is pointless. You may as well just keep him and let him recover as it would cost the same. If we want players to show us loyalty, we have to treat those we have with respect and honour our end of the deals. We are not Barca-scum, we have a reputation built up over our entire history of looking after our players. It is part of what entices players to join.}
FlyPelicanFly's banter posts with other poster's replies to FlyPelicanFly's banter posts
15 Mar 2025 12:35:34
Back to Anfield South tomorrow. A chance to win our 11th League Cup and first Liverpool trophy for Arne Slot.
Really gutted for Trent. He missed last season's final through injury too. With Bradley out too, we have a bit of a dilemma. Quansah was excellent when he came on the other night but it's a whole different ball game to starting a game that we are expected to dominate possession in.
Other big decision is whether we go with Jota or Darwin at no9.
Or maybe Slot goes with the Curtis Szobo double-10 approach like he did at Villa and City.
1.) 15 Mar 2025 13:35:08
I reckon he'll go with quansah at rb and probably jota up front. Personally, I'd go with Darwin as a starter ahead of jota. It will be a very tight close game, unlike the Anfield match. Wouldn't rule out penos to decide it. Obviously and clearly want us to win but it's the league I really want. Anything else is a bonus. Win the league first and foremost.
2.) 15 Mar 2025 13:46:15
If Gakpo is fit to start I wouldn’t be surprised to see Diaz start in the centre.
It’s going to be a tight game to start so think Darwin off the bench would make sense.
3.) 15 Mar 2025 15:02:19
It’s got to be Nunez up front. I’ve seen nothing from Jota the last few games!
4.) 15 Mar 2025 15:30:09
Pelican, there's no dilema for me. Quansah has played RB already this season and literally played his best game at RB vs PSG where on another day, he scores and we play Villa in the quarters in the CL.
Quansah is the guy and Slot will get him ready to play and devise a strategy to give him all the protection he needs, like he has done with Trent or Bradley this season. It's time to cut loose and go for it. As for the midfield, it's going to be a coin flip and in attack? The same esp. when it comes to Darwin or Jota starting.
5.) 15 Mar 2025 17:04:05
Quansah and Darwin for me.
6.) 15 Mar 2025 19:36:08
Another big decision. Kelleher or Allison.
7.) 15 Mar 2025 20:59:41
I think Quansah will start but have a sneaky feeling it might be Gakpo up top with Jota coming on 60 minute mark.
8.) 15 Mar 2025 21:03:05
I don't rate quansah, he might be able to do a job, but he;s a CB and he's not even been playing, and RB includes a lot of running in our system.
9.) 15 Mar 2025 22:05:40
Think it will be
Allison
Robertson
Van Dijk
Konate
Quansah or possibly Endo.
McAllister
Szoboszlai
Gravenberch
Salah
Nunez
Diaz.
10.) 15 Mar 2025 22:50:15
I’ll be there ?? hopefully it’s better than Anfield Tuesday. It was tough to take.
11.) 16 Mar 2025 02:53:31
KK10 that is a really negative view, put our best 11 out and on this occasion Quansah is one of the 11 and go and lift the trophy!
We are Liverpool FC and we want more!
Liverpool 2-1 for me, I’m going to the final with my boy and I hope it’s another special day.
12.) 16 Mar 2025 07:43:24
Newcastle not having Gordon being able to attack that RB position is a massive bonus for us.
13.) 16 Mar 2025 07:50:38
Leave Jots on the bench for me. He has been rather ineffective the last few games since injury and I like him as a goal threat from the bench.
Working today so gutted I won't be able to watch but Liverpools best results this season have come when i've not watched so maybe for the best!
{Ed025's Note - if the work gets in the way of your footy Semi....pack the work in i say mate.. :)
14.) 16 Mar 2025 08:14:58
I'd be keeping midfield legs on the bench for the second half and potentially extra time. the only changes I'd make would be Nunez for jota and then obvs Quansah at RB.
I would hope we play conservatively with Quansah at RB and basically allow Robbo to play more free up and the down the left flank.
15.) 16 Mar 2025 08:22:46
I'd go with ali, quansah konate vvd robbo. Grav mac szobo. Salah diaz gakpo. Front 3 the tricky part, jota bang out of form, don't think nunez could handle pressure of starting after Tuesday night, gakpo looked way off fit Tuesday but hopefully Got good 3-4 days training which hopefully has brought him on.
16.) 16 Mar 2025 09:46:26
I bet Gakpo starts and Jota comes on as a sub after an hour or so.
17.) 16 Mar 2025 13:14:58
Agreed digger apart from Diaz. I'd rather have Nunez on though you do make a good point, I just see Diaz doing nothing at least we see effort with Nunez most of the time.
FlyPelicanFly's rumour replies
18 Apr 2025 11:55:22
I don't really see what he adds to the midfield mix if I am honest. He's a bit like poor man's Macca.
17 Apr 2025 12:36:49
He's our number four!
Calm as you like from here, guys.
16 Apr 2025 10:39:50
I think it's a case of we HAVE to get Huisen. I do think they were disappointed that Yoro chose the money at United and that they won't want to miss out on this young'un with Virgil's succession planning in progress.
Let's see if Dickie can do it!
14 Apr 2025 12:43:05
Yeah I think he's probably checked out knowing he's not getting any more starts this season and that he's almost certainly off in the summer.
To be fair to him, he's only started 3 games in the second half of this season - Accrington, Spurs (Carabao) and Southampton. Pretty clear Slot prefers Jota to him.
11 Apr 2025 11:30:53
Florian, I hear your argument and don't disagree with you.
However, don't rule out something like that happening.
FlyPelicanFly's banter replies
18 Apr 2025 11:53:13
I get the impression Konate loves it at the club and it's just a case of getting the deal done.
I think if he wanted to move to PSG in a couple of years time, I am sure PSG would be willing to pay a fee and we would let him move on. I might be wrong, but I don't get the impression that PSG are like Real or Barcelona in that they actively encourage players to run down their deals.
If he doesn't sign, then I would probably look at Diomande at Porto to replace Konate's physical attributes.
18 Apr 2025 11:48:00
Cherki has all the talent in the world. So fun to watch.
If do we move for him, it is because we think we can work with him and his mentality.
I think the difficulty would be that unless Cherki can adapt to pressing systems, he could never play in the same team as Salah, who is given license to press less.
18 Apr 2025 11:43:05
Not sure about the Strasbourg or Ajax ones, but I like the look of Martim Fernandes at Porto. A really good passer, can invert into midfield or go wide and use his left foot too. The sample size is really small but the nerds were impressed with his numbers.
Julian Ward has a good relationship with Porto.
Givairo Read looks really promising too. Very quick and direct. He marked Rafael Leao out of the game they had with AC Milan. Not sure about his ability to invert or if Slot wants that profile.
The two Brasilians, Vanderson and Wesley might also be on the radar.
18 Apr 2025 11:29:46
It's most likely that Szobo gets picked because Salah and Trent need compensating for. There's also an argument that because we don't play with a defensive midfielder, we need his recovery runs.
If we had a more orthodox right back and a defensive midfielder, perhaps someone like Harvey Elliott or another more creative player could be accommodated in the starting line-up.
It will be interesting to see what Slot wants to change in midfield.
16 Apr 2025 16:26:09
I dragged my boss along to the game. Lifted him up and put his head through the ceiling when we won the shootout. Ooops.