I’ve bitten the bullet and we start the season afresh.
Who knows how this will play out.
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Put in a professional performance. It’s been a while.
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I gave you a thumbs up so you wouldn’t think I’m coming onto you. You had better watch yourself around those other two.
Now, just to make sure I don’t get flagged for going off topic … I think it will be an excellent game, same side as the friendly on Sunday, and we have to play like we did in the first half. The midfield has to rebound, thankfully we will have Grav back for the next PL game.
Yeah Matty, that’s telling you. Where’s the farkin’ AEST timezone stuff; the details of our last 10 meetings; the weather and wind direction and the tip for best pie? Professional performance next time. If we don’t win this I’ll be holding you responsible
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Also I’m worried about that lineup and unsure how good ‘Next’ are. We clearly need to sign at least 11 new players…
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Hopefully Alexis back in the starting 11. No gravy due to suspension.
They’ve got no defence at all as they’ve sold everyone from last season. Should tear them apart. Just need to defend better than we did on Sunday. Should be a fun opener
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They did look really poor in that summer season tournament. I know it means nothing but I am slightly concerned about the season ahead for them.
Then again everyone and their dog wants to beat us.
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I want to see a pattern of play starting to emerge. Wirtz on the ball a lot, linking well with Ekitike and everyone for that matter. Fullbacks up and down the flanks, but I’d like to see a bit more cohesion when there is a need to defend.
It’s a shame Grav is suspended. We need to take care of the ball in midfield better than we did against Palace.
I expect some sublime stuff mixed in with some early season rustiness as the red machine starts to whir up. All in all we really should have too much for Bournemouth, with two very tough tests to come after that before the break.
3-1 to Liverpool.
Ekitike. Wirtz. Salah.
Evanilson for them.
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Yay! Real football again. Although, it’s a bit weird having it on a Friday night if it’s not in Birkenhead. Anyone fancy going to Stairways afterwards?
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MacAllister to start, Jones or Szoboszlai with Wirtz. No other big decisions. How much we miss Gravenberch is evident in that statement alone.
Talks of additions to the squad will have to be shelved. I think a big indicator will be if Rio is on the bench. And if Gakpo or Ekitike are taken off, is he the option Slot uses? Its ok to talk him up pre season, but if he is the talent we think/hope he is, then he gets PL minutes.
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Don’t want a repeat of Szoboszlai as one of the two double-pivots. We lost so many balls which created counter-attacks and simply didn’t have enough control in the heart of the pitch.
I know it’s a tricky situation now with Gravenberch suspended and Mac not being 100%. Hopefully Mac can either start and give us an hour or come off the bench.
Since the situation in midfield is such, I’d consider going with a double-pivot partnership of Jones and Mac, Szobo #10 and Wirtz in the inside left channel, dropping Gakpo on the day.
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Why drop Gakpo? Surely Wirtz and Szoboszlai or Jones further forward with MacAllister at 6 makes more sense. Champions playing at Anfield, do we need a double pivot?
Edit
Gravenberch is a massive loss at the moment. Maybe we don’t trust anyone else as a stand alone 6. Bacjetic might be the nearest player we have to that level.
Big start to season a relagation 6 pointer and all that jazz.
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Because Gakpo doesn’t have to start every game.
Because we mostly play in a double-pivot structure (it doesn’t really matter if we play at home against whoever) and in the cases we don’t, I certainly don’t want Mac as the single #6 in the state he’s in at the moment (it could be Jones though and it will be).
I didn’t like our midfield with Szobo in one of the two deeper positions. Perhaps he will improve with more experience there, but now I’d like us to pick the best side to win against Bournemouth on the day, nothing else.
I would take a tight 1-0 win at the moment
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I’ll just remind everyone that we are favourites for the league title.
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Ali
Frim Ibou Virg Kerk
Mac Szob
Salah Wirtz↔Eki
Isak
3 up at the 70min mark and then throw on Rio/Trey please.
I’m not suggesting Gakpo plays every game, but I think with Kerkez relatively new to the structure, then he starts.
Your notion of mostly playing double pivot intrigues me.
Firstly, I see a more fluid structure anyway, I don’t think we fit into a double or single pivot model.
And I cannot believe I’m getting into this discussion.
When Gravenberch plays, he is the deepest lying midfielder. Without him, we currently make do. My view is MacAllister is best equipped to play that role. And yes, at home we should be looking to attack a weakened Bournemouth. Hence Jones ir Szoboszlai pushed further forward with Wirtz.
There is no indication that Wirtz is going to play wider left thus far.
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This triggered a half thought. In the match with Palace, we pretty much played as you depict with regards to the right (Wirtz–Eki). We tried a whole bunch of intricate one touch stuff on that flank and relatively less so on Salah’s flank.
I occurred to me that Salah is still being left out left. We are constantly looking to create situations where he is 1-on-1 with the opposition full-back at the edge of the area… Same tactic as was under Klopp to a large extent. I wonder if there will be any change/evolution on that tactic.