Official Liverpool FC Thread @ The Phins

Conor Bradley was soo friggin good today. I do recall seeing him a couple of summers ago, in the preseason. I thought he had skill then, but not to this degree. All facets of his game have improved since then and he's only 20 years old. TAA is going to have a tough time getting his RB position back. I think Bradley should start vs Arsenal, Gomez as well. Pretty much the same team that shredded Chelsea today. But I imagine Klopp will rotate 3/4 players for Sunday.

 

agree on all fronts. One game at a time of course. This FA Cup matchup, we have to play a bunch of U21's. It just is what it is. I just hope we play Kelleher again and we might have a chance, the way he played today. Adrian... no.

I just couldn't believe how we mostly dominated the extra 30 minutes considering how things were looking at the end of the 90. Chelsea were in the ascendency. And Poch says after the game, maybe his players were looking ahead to penalties thinking they had the advantage there. OMG. How is he still employed?

Thought McConnell and Clark and Danns brought that energy that we needed in the 30. I went back and watched it again. It was Clark's shot that was blocked that created the corner and ultimate goal for Van Dijk. They are all heroes today.

I'm going to be so sad to see Klopp go. I just don't want to think about it right now. I mean I know it's looking likely that Alonso will be the new manager, but nobody is Klopp.

 

Massive to get Michael Edwards back, now as CEO, with Hughes from Bournemouth likely to be the Sporting Director. Edwards bringing in so many of our great stars going back to 2016 ish, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino, Virgil Van Dyk, Alisson, the list goes on and on. I can't help but think there must have been some kind of rift between him and Klopp that led to him leaving back in 2022. And now he's been convinced to come back with Klopp leaving after this season. Whatever that was about, doesn't really matter in the end now does it? Hopefully with this power team in place on and off the pitch, we can convince Xabi Alonso to join us.

 

hard one to take that... should have won it earlier in the 2nd half. Giving away two leads. And against them. Not good. Only silver line is that less games to play on the run in now with the league. Of course we have the Europa league as well, but winning the premier league is the perfect way to send Klopp off. We shall see, time will only tell. I won't even talk about which players were to blame today, not time for that at all.

 

Pathetic to see the Klopp era end this way... with a loss to Everton, just inexcusable. I had feared the announcement in late January that Klopp was leaving could derail the team. Looks like that was in whole or in part, an ingredient in this season's collapse. And that's exactly what it was. Losing at home to CP... and now to hated Everton, is a collapse for me. Just a real shame to see it end this way. And we may never know how or what lead up to him making this decision or even why he chose January to announce it. He said he made the decision back in late November, told the board then... but didn't tell the players for another 8 to 10 weeks. Something strange going on behind the scenes...

Sure, he says he is tired... but a part of me can't accept that. I'm not calling him a liar. But you just can't do that to your team in the middle of the season when you are fighting in THREE competitions.

"Yeah guys, I know you are fighting your arses off to win, and you can't be tired... but me? no no, I'm tired, I'm leaving when this is all said and done." Sorry. But you just can't do that to your team. You can't expect that to have nothing but a long term negative effect. The short term reaction was fantastic, mind you. But with a third of the season left... it can only get you so far... fighting on pure energy for your manager.

What's next, well more on that later... looks like it's going to be Slot taking over, the dutchman. And I'm not too thrilled with that. I'd rather a PL manager actually... RDZ would have been a good choice. He knows the competition. And that's huge. But the three main candidates... Alonso then Amorim, now Slot, all from outside the PL. Not sure I understand that if I'm being honest. Sure, it worked for Klopp, but that took some years... this current squad doesn't have the time for that... unless we are rebuilding? which frankly, might not be a bad idea at this point.

 

Melissa Reddy reporting that Slot over Amorim is the choice because he's a better fit to the style and infrastructure that LFC currently have in place. That Amorim would want to implement three at the back and that would mean a change in playing philosophy as well as needing to bring in different players at the senior level. I'd also venture to guess that the academy style that we currently have is more in line with what Klopp has built over the last what 8 or 9 years? And that Slot's style falls more in line with Klopp's. Certainly, the longer a culture is in place (because of Klopp), the harder it is to implement a different play style.

I'm not sure how I feel about that. From a resource allocation stand point, it makes sense to keep things trending in the same direction. So we won't see a "rebuild." which takes time to implement... and more of a retooling. But we still need several new players infused into the squad at each level of the team (forwards / mf's / defenders). You can't fill all the gaps with academy players. You'll be hoping you can fill some... but you still have to go outside the club anyway. So it always comes down to money and the willingness of the board to spend.

People who always complain about FSG not spending enough forget how much they spent for Alisson and VVD. And how much they were willing to spend for Caicedo last summer. If the right player is there, they will spend for that player. The trouble has been identifying that big piece that completes the team and turns us into perennial contenders. Hopefully, with Edwards and et al coming in (back), we will be able to do that again. Time will tell.

 

Watching these summer tourneys... Copa and Euro... so many LFC players involved with their nation teams...

Gakpo
Nunez
Diaz
Mac Allister
Virgil Van Dyk
Trent Alexander Arnold
Alisson

That's seven players that have had primary roles for their teams in successful fashion. Jota has been good in a sub role... Others haven't faired so well... Robertson, Szobo,.. and others that haven't barely played, Gomez, Gravenberch, Konate, Quansah (didn't make the final cut),

That's 14 players. Very impressive.

 

After failing on Zubimendi, this is quickly turning into a disappointing transfer window. With a new manager and front office, you'd have thought they'd be eager to make their mark. But no signings whatsoever is frustrating. And the big name players will be frustrated by it as well as Virgil (for one) has signalled new signings are needed immediately. Instead this is turning into a season of assessment. And a waste of time for the players in the final years of their contracts (VVD, Trent and Salah). We should sell them now, to be honest. Better to cash in early than to cash in late (when their contracts are up and you can't sell, there won't be any cashing in).

Like I said, frustrating. Top 4 will be a challenge given our busy CL schedule and lack of true depth. Certainly the league is lost before we've even played a game. Pretty annoyed at the moment.

 

I had to go back and read my thoughts coming into this season before i posted again. I am so happy to be wrong about what my expectations would be. After not adding beyond Chiesa and the Georgia GK (who isn't playing for us this season anyway), I just didn't expect us to challenge. Boy was I wrong. We are first in BOTH the EPL and UCL. It's actually insane. Now City and Real Madrid weren't in form this week, but I could care less LFC are the most in form team in Europe at the moment.

Now, why are we playing so well? It's a mix of things. It's a new / fresh message from Slot and his staff. I think Klopp's message had gotten a little stale. You saw that in Fabinho/Hendo's last season with us, the 22/23 season, before last season. I said at the time that it was so hard for a team to continually respond to the same manager, especially a Klopp who is just so demanding in the play style.

Now, don't get me wrong, Slot has changed things as well. The double pivot 6 (mostly) with Macca playing next to Gravenberch has been a big reason why Gravenberch has thrived. There are other things too leading to his improvement from last season. He's seemingly bulked up and is healthy. Playing with incredible confidence. His pivot turns a big product of that. His size is what we have lacked since Fabinho was at his peak. You can just impose yourself on the game with loose ball collection and physicality. And then you've got a fourth "forward" playing just behind the 9 position, mostly filled with Szobo but also Jones or Macca. You've also got the full backs playing much more controlled and less and less exposed to breaks. It seems like there's always four or five players getting back and defending when there's a break. Control is the key word. And it really saves EVERYONE's legs. All 10 outfield players are enjoying this level of control and not being so exhausted in moments of the game. VVD and Konate seem fresher too.

Add in Kelleher's mastery (he had a huge save today on KDB). Even with Alisson being hurt. It hasn't been a drop off at all and he might have a hard time getting back to being the true #1 at the moment.

I was also way wrong on the 3 expiring contracts, VVD, TAA and Mo... I said we should have sold all three this past transfer window. So this is why I'm just a fan and not anything higher up in the club All three are playing well and revitalized. I don't know what the future holds with these three, we just need to enjoy what we have at the moment and take time to realize how special this team can be THIS season. A massive lead in the EPL. I would possibly say the only thing that can stop this team is injuries but we've already been dealing with them. And now we are getting some players back.

One game at a time though. Enjoy it one game at a time!

 

of course, after I post all that they come out and play their worst half of the season (first half at Newcastle). Still had a chance to win 3-2 but the late error by Kelleher costs them the victory and have to settle for a draw. Amazing game from a neutral perspective... and I would have been well thrilled to win 3-2. lots of games left... one game at a time...

 

I am absolutely furious about how that game ended today. Referee added on too much time out of nowhere... supposed to be 5 minutes minimum, he then added on an extra 2 minutes (when the injury that occured took only a minute)... of course we have only ourselves to blame for not dealing with a bouncing ball in the box. If it comes down to these 2 points lost at the end of the season, that will be a real gut punch. It shouldn't of course. We've been the best team in the premier league. Just have to close it out.

 

Yea, I mean ideally we'd want to be on the opposite half of Madrid (given the form they are in now). I can remember the 18/19 season. That was the year we lost the league to City by 1 point (we lost only one EPL game that year). That was probably the best team we've had in this stretch (the Klopp era and now under Slot). Most of our best players then were in the prime of their careers. Everything was just clicking. We didn't do very well in the Group Stage. We could have gone out (finished 2nd) after going just 3 wins and 3 losses. But then came the Barcelona game, THAT Barcelona game. And I can recall that I didn't care who we played, we were going to win. Barcelona weren't at their best, they were past their prime. And the rest is history. We were actually grouped with PSG.

Anyway, now that the league appears to have been won (not done yet, but this weekend was a huge turning point, has to be)... I look at the UCL and think, it shouldn't matter who we play (again). You have to eventually play the best to be the best. I'm more bothered by the fact that we won the "league phase" but would have to play home then away in the Quarterfinals assuming we get that far. What is the point of finishing the league as high as we did? You should have the away/home advantage in these playoff legs if you finished higher in the league... no lucky lotto ball should take that away from you.

 

Yeah Alisson Becker with the greatest keeper performance for LFC I have ever seen. To not give up a goal there at PSG is insane... probably should have given up at least 3. And then for Harvey Elliott to get the late one is a true smash and grab. Credit to PSG, they played lights out and dominated possession after the first 5 minutes. LFC just couldn't get out of their own half. Turning the ball over at every fast break opportunity. Only had 2 shots on goal. Insanely dominated and to win 1-0 is not telling the true story. But Alisson is him... and that's it. His injuries lately have had me thinking about the next phase at the position. What does the future hold with Kelleher and Mamardashvili? I was assuming one would be the #1 and the other would be #2... But I don't think we can move on from Alisson at this stage now. Not now. Not after that performance. Pay him whatever he wants. He's too good to let go. And I guess Kelleher is the odd man out that we'll sell.

My favorite save was in the second half. it's at 7:20 of this highlight video. He hangs in midair and hinges to outstretch and get both hands on the ball and knock it wide. These PSG players must have thought they'd scored on a half dozen shots today. Unreal

 

Tough way to go out, but we didn't deserve it, not after that extra 30 minutes. The warts are there, the summer is crucial. For a team that likely wins the league, a lot of changes need to be made.

 

I think the LFC/PSG and RM/AM matchups could have been semifinals. The only team that would have an argument is Barca.