I don’t have the time.
I’m grateful that you occasionally point out my spelling or grammatical errors. It makes me feel special.
Where I’m less fortunate is with the personal abuse I get. Ho hum.
1 Like
This one works too
1 Like
Between their respective ages and susceptibility to injury (and Klopp’s commendable reliance on youth), I’d be surprised if Liverpool did more than replace Wijnaldum, speaking strictly about 2021. On paper, that’s plenty of midfielders but I really don’t have much positive things to say about Keita’s and AOC’s prospects at Liverpool, even if I was ecstatic to see them both join Liverpool (and I honestly think Keita always plays from “reasonably well” to “great, that’s what I want to see” but he’s injured more often than not). Like you, I think Keita is closer than AOC to getting that new contract but only just.
Maybe I’m getting way ahead of myself but if Rhys continues progressing at the current rate, I doubt that Klopp will block his path by signing another CB. In the future, he might not be better than, say, third choice but at least he wouldn’t have to pay for him and give him time to settle. I’m more concerned about Van Dijk and Gomez, to be honest, as I think Matip has become a luxury player of sorts - great when he’s in the team but also injured very often.
I’m still not familiar with the current homegrown quota but I imagine it’s one of the reasons why AOC will get another year at Liverpool. However, I can see him being sold in 2022. when the world will hopefully be a more stable place and where Liverpool would be able to get decent money for him and then get a new midfielder (if I’m not mistaken, that’s also when Milner’s contract expires, so a midfielder will probably on club’s agenda). Also, I imagine Matip leaving then, too, maybe that’s when they will deliberate over a new centre back - unless Van Dijk’s and Gomez’ respective injuries prove too much for both.
1 Like
We won’t be able to accurately predict what will go on with the returns of Gomez and VvD for quite some time no matter how promising things may be looking.
They could still both be out for anywhere from 6-18 months depending on if they suffer unexpected set backs etc.!
I think it would be foolhardy to say the least to not bring a CB in.
Nat Phillips has done us and his career a great service but in reality he will almost certainly be off.
Williams has been great and can hopefully be a part of the squad going forward but a loan like Harvey is having next season wouldn’t be the end of the world.
Fabinho I love at CB but he or Klopp may want him back in midfield. Especially with the expected departure of Wijnaldum.
Looking at Matip how many years are we going to accept that while he is a great player when on the pitch we can’t rely on him?
If we bring a CB in this Jan then even if VvD and Gomes are back from injury there may not be an overload anyway. Phillips likely to leave, Fabinho possibly in midfield again, Williams possibly on loan, Matip leaving or spending significant time in the treatment room. Could easily lose any or all of them from the CB rotation question for next season.
Personally I would bring someone in to start working with Fabinho and Matip with Williams as cover and Phillips as emergency cover. When Phillips moves on in the summer hopefully Gomez or VvD are back to play themselves back up to form. If both are back Fabinho moves into midfield, Matip leaves or Williams goes on loan.
With Matip having injury issues, the fixture congestion this season and uncertainty regarding the rehabilitation of VvD and Gomez next season I don’t think 5 options are too much at all. Especially when one would likely be Williams who could go on loan next year for game time if needed.
4 Likes
I believe the decision about signing a CB in January depends on the combination of a few things until mid January
-
our results in the league and if we are able to built a gap between whoever is second.
-
injuries / fitness / health of Matip and Fabinho
-
Virgils progress in his reha.
After seeing the video posted by Virg I have high hopes that he might be back not later than matchday 28.
We’ll see what happens with Salah. If he goes, we need someone in. I doubt it would be Mbappe, but I’d expect someone more “serious” than Jota. Maybe we get involved for Sancho, who knows.
For now, I’d expect probably a Gini replacement, possibly still a new CB. We’ll look at the GK area and decide what’s best for Kelleher, with Adrian leaving.
Fabinho will probably sign an improved new deal before the end of this season, Hendo is probably easy to negotiate with because he’s our key midfielder and captain. But then Keita and Ox… that will be interesting to see, as part of that bunch of players who will have 2 years left next summer.
2 Likes
Nothing?
If Salah leaves, I’m just saying we’d react for sure. Jota had a good start, but I still can’t tell what’s his ceiling at this level after two months of good form.
I know we don’t usually go or get the Mbappes of this world and it doesn’t have to be him. We found and also helped improve players like Mane.
But in this situation we’re in, we might attract someone initially even better, or with a higher ceiling. That’s all.
3 Likes
If we could sign any english player I think I would go for Harvey Barnes. Not sure if we need him (could he replace Gini?) but he looked great whenever I saw him play.
Also like Mason Mount but he is a Chelski player.
Both are already quality and have the potential to be world class under the right manager (Klopp).
Personally I think we need to sign a top class centre back this January or in the summer.
Matip is top class, he was immense in the CL 4-0 versus Barce, and the final, but he just can’t be relied upon.
Gomez for me is not top class and is injury prone.
Williams at a minimum will be good enough to be the 4th option, he already is. But for me, having VVD coming back from a potentially career changing injury, and having only two other senior centre backs, both of whom are injury prone, plus a young guy with limited week in week out experience, means we need to do something in the next two windows.
Having Fabinho does impact it a bit, and gives us the option to hold off, but going from Feb-May with just Fabinho, Matip and Williams is risky.
I like Philips, but if Matip goes down for a long period, which is quite possible, you wouldn’t just want Fabinho, Williams and Philips as your options, if you’re competing for the PL and CL, and maybe FA Cup too.
Other than centre back, the only other issue to consider is whether we can carry Oxlade, Keita and Shaqiri, given that all three are injury prone.
Add into the mix that Origi delivers little, Milner is getting past being able to be used week in week out if necessary, and Gini might leave, for me we need to do something at centre back that at least means Fab can be pushed into midfield, so we can guarantee on having a rotatable midfield with enough options.
9 Likes
True, Salah might reconsider his future, though I hope he won’t. I think that Mbappe would be the only young forward who could eventually match his numbers at Liverpool, fitness permitting, but I don’t think for one second that he’d consider coming to Liverpool over Real Madrid. And even if he did, he’d get a third of wages Real Madrid would offer. I agree, Sancho would perhaps be a likelier option, though I think that Klopp would go for someone who is more of a forward than a playmaker (Elliott has so far looked like a “playmaker” to me, for example, but he’s still young enough to change).
I wonder who will be Wijnaldum’s replacement, I believe that particular player will set the tone for many new signings to come. A lot of Liverpool players are entering their peak years, club will surely start narrowing down the list of their long term replacements. I think only Zakaria and Bissouma have been linked so far but I could be missing someone. In ideal world, that replacement is Keita (and “the new guy” replaces Oxlade-Chamberlain and eventually Milner as well) but…
Every time I watch West Ham it’s Rice that stands out above the rest. He would our Fabinho 2.0 with the ability to play in midfield and a defensive option. Good leadership qualities, good off the ball, good with it.
He would also cost an absolute fortune though.
Don’t worry. We can use the Salah money on him.
1 Like
Same here, though I always think that he’d be a top class centre back for some reason. Probably a future signing for either Chelsea or Man United, though.
to be fair, its happened so often lately its getting just a little awkward to point it out…
that and the whole being sued angle…
1 Like
I like Rice, noticed him very early, before he made his debut I think in a YT clip. Something still bothers me with him though, not sure, I will not be convinced with this one until I see him prove it at the top level. He’ll have to be careful that another Dier (initially a CB who proved himself in midfield for a while before his level dropped not only in midfield but also returning in defence) doesn’t happen to him, although it might be a lazy comparison and just a different case.
1 Like
@AnfieldRdDreamer when a new signing seems imminent!
3 Likes
Quids in to join Utd before time I reckon… Good player but I think I’d prefer a specialist center back and midfielder (if Gini goes).
1 Like
Under this recruitment team and their success rate? Hell Yeah!
2 Likes
Dele Alli on the cheap like 20 million anyone?
1 Like
Rather put that twenty million towards Mbappé’s wages.
6 Likes