Stick a new engine in the car and watch it go next season!
We are having a bad season and we are well off the pace. There are issues all over, but get the engine room right and things will pick up quickly.
I can’t be too bothered with sticking the boot into tonight’s performance, they did what they could. Fabinho and Milner against probably the best midfield on the planet? It was only going to end one way.
The main positives were Alisson, who is so good. Probably the best in the world, and if not him, then perhaps the fella at the other end of the pitch tonight? Anyway, well done Alisson. Hang in there you Jesus loving, steak munching handsome bloke, and Klopp will get the team right, in front of you!
I also saw a positive in Darwin’s threat and endeavor. He was dangerous and had some great moments. As the game wore on he got a bit isolated on the left, but even at that point I would not have subbed him, but instead would have found a way to shuffle the pack and move him to the middle.
Top four in the league has not gone, even if it feels like it after Bournemouth.
We have been so shite this season that we are now down to the league and nothing else, so if we treat it as a series of finals, with rest and prep in between, we might yet go on that run that has proved elusive all season long. The next three games will tell us a lot more.
Priority acquisitions in summer are:
Midfielder
Midfielder
Central defender
And that’s if outgoings go as anticipated. How high up the food chain we shop remains to be seen, but I’d like to see us shop at all levels of the market, as in the past, both splashing the cash on big players, and also stretching the cash with canny purchases who prove to be great value.
Incoming in summer can go further than that, but we will have to see what the budget is before we get too silly and name six expensive players to buy.
Final comment for me will be on Mo Salah.
Giving him his new deal was the right move. He had us over a barrel and could have left on a Bosman. He has not been worth the money since the bumper new deal was awarded, and while he will still score and offer a threat moving forward, he is not what he was, and I would accept a sale for Mo, if the circumstances aligned and it was seemly.
In other words, we would not agitate and force it, as that would be silly as he is a good player and a club legend. And yet… if it found us, say PSG offered a reasonable price, and Mo decided he liked it, I doubt we would fight tooth and nail to keep him. It might be best for both parties.
My viewpoint is nuanced, and I’m not pushing Mo out the door, but if it opened for him, and all parties could live with it, I could see a sale.
Bellingham
Kone
Gvardiol/N’Dicka or in between, depending on budget.
Kudus or Diaby if Mo ends up leaving.
Let the new team emerge. It’s on the way and we will be fine!