Funny because I think Newcastle were close to bringing Ekitike a few years ago, before he went to PSG.
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I watched a compilation of his the other day after he had been mentioned here. He looks like a cross between Kanu and Crouch, those legs are as thin as toothpicks! Fantastic touch, though, he seems to be a decent finisher. Then again, those compilations can make anyone look awesome without context.
Still, it’s the kind of signing I think Liverpool will look to make in the summer, rather than spend exorbitant amounts on one or two players like Isak.
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Yesterday’s game is another evident of our two obvious holes in the squad: left back and center forward.
Robbo lost his man time after time, but a bigger problem is his shot passing is terrible. It’s easy to press him, then cut off our build-up in the left side.
Jota is a fan favorite, and many think his only downside is injuries, but I don’t think so. He is an amazing poacher, but his physicality is too weak to lead the line, while not being technique-gifted too. In counter-attack situations, he is useless because he couldn’t beat a center-back with strength or speed.
While our midfielders are not really aggressive and don’t have a ball winner, having one left back who is terrible with the ball and a center forward who can’t help them with duals lets our midfield be pressed more easily. This is not the first time we face this situation this season.
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Jota used to be an amazing header of the ball, with a decent leap as well, but I was surprised to see Slot instructing the back line to go long and left him fight against aerially dominant centre backs of PSG. I was more worried that Jota, alongside the entire front line, looked more lost with the ball at his feet than in the air.
When it comes to the first eleven, though, nothing I see from Diaz changes my opinion that this side needs an upgrade on him. It goes without saying when it comes to Robertson and Nunez, of course.
I was a bit disappointed to see that a very young PSG side could be so dominant against Liverpool all over the pitch. Yes, their investment levels are insane and their league competition is an afterthought to them but they looked so well drilled, aggressive and organised in pressing and comfortable in possession.
Maybe we will see something similar once Slot changes this side to his liking. Unless the players out on loan have a stomer for the rest of the season, I expect the club to make even four or five signings this summer.
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I agree that left back and centre forward need to be upgraded in the summer, and there will probably be other business too.
Let’s not forget that PSG were fast and strong all over the park, and they pressed well and harried us the second we had the ball.
It was a tough night. Only Darwin Nunez of our strikers had the physicality to get any sort of change out of them, and it led to the late winner for Elliott.
I’m expecting a big summer this year, and I would be looking for a left back (with Tsimikas moving on), a right back (if Trent goes as expected), a centre back (a loan for Quansah), a versatile midfielder (I think Elliott moves on) and a striker (with Nunez going)
That’s without Salah and Van Dijk leaving.
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Yeah, that’s about it - provided Gomez doesn’t decide to leave, in which case Quansah probably takes his spot in the side, while the club go after another centre back. It would be much less complicated if Trent wanted to stay but that’s another story and a lesson that club have to learn.
I dont see Quansah or Elliott going this summer. Plenty of pitential turnover in the squad without that happening.
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Quansah has found it hard this season, and I think the lad just needs to play.
With Elliott, Slot has been increasingly reluctant to use Harvey and I think it isn’t a matter of whether we want to keep him around the squad - I think it comes to what does he need at this point to further his career.
Given Elliott is such a huge Liverpool fan, he isnt going to want to leave without feeling like he gave it everything. I can see him wanting to give it another year.
Likewise Quansah will probably benefit from another pre season with our coaches and have already learned a lot from this season.
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I think many here will be surprised when they realize that Jota and Nunez have the same number of goals this season, despite playing similar minutes.
Diaz is wasteful and a terrible passer - maybe the worst passer on the team - but having an extra dribbler on the team is nice thing to have. I think he’s at least above Jota, Nunez, and Chiesa in peaking order so he should be safe for now.
Among Jota, Nunez, and Chiesa, Nunez might contribute the most, but he also has the most resale value. I expect at least 1-2 of them will leave.
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Every player has it’s strengths and weaknesses.
Jota is someone who has more things about him, good or bad, other than; he works hard, he’s a good finisher, his left foot is good and he’s a bit injury prone.
What are his weaknesses, regardless of form? Link up play is one of them. Our ex-scout also spoke about it a few days ago. Especially when he plays up top, that can be seen. I remember not being happy with his link up play against Inter in 21/22.
You can’t have it all, players like Gerrard (and Jota is no midfielder) are incredibly rare. If Jota or any other player had it all, he most probably wouldn’t have had the career path he’s had.
Last night showed to me that in some portion, going forward, we will need more technique, control and personality/courage (I’m saying mostly in possession) in this side. Some of our better players sometimes against top sides aren’t visible enough. Of course that the opponent has quality, was quality on the night, etc.
We don’t have to dramatize because games like these can happen. We can all look each other in eyes and say that last albeit winning no, that wasn’t a good performance. No, not even in the context if the plan was to play more defensive. Atletico was similar at Anfield in 2020. I’m pretty sure Simeone wasn’t satisfied with that, that was too much dancing on the dangerous line.
But I think that’s the way Slot will take us when he starts shaping our future even more.
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We need full backs that win their 1 v 1 duels, Robbo used to but Trent has always struggled.
The reasoning is that against City and PSG we had to drop deeper and deeper as Doku, Dembele and Kravatshelia, with space behind our fullbacks, go past Robbo and Trent too easily, as they have the change of pace and direction to leave them dead. So to counter that we drop deeper as a team to fill the spaces and use the byline to deny the pace side of the equation.
As Nikola said I would like to see if there is a better alternative to Diaz, I love his workrate and technique, but when he is 1 v 1 he slows down too much rather than committing the defender and being decisive in the dribble, something which Gakpo does better.
We also need a strong and pacy CF who can both hold the ball up and run in behind, I thought Kudus did this well against Arsenal, but unsure whether he is god enough aerially to win headers.
Add to that a CM to help Grav and CB that is excellent on the ball.
This would be my dream summer window, not sure it is realistic though 
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Isn’t Kudus a winger?
He didn’t play as one against Arsenal
So i guess he can do what he likes.
Misquoted ffs, ‘I am unsure whether he is god’ tut tut 
I really like Kudus. If he could play through the middle while we still have Mo, that would be ideal.
He’s an unusual player. Saw him play as a #10, part of a midfield 3 (but most offensive like Odegaard), RW and striker. I don’t think we’d look at him like a striker (not sure if we would at all). Most probably as a winger.
There’s too much doubt surrounding a number of the players’ future for it not to be a busy summer.
You run through each position on the pitch and every position has a question mark beside it.
GK - Will both Ali and Kelleher be here? What does this mean for Mama.
RB - Trent a step closer every day to leaving, Will Bradley be tasked with taking over as first choice? Does Arne see Bradley and Gomez (both currently injured) as sufficient enough options?
CB - The big 1 is whether Virg will stay, we’d all like to think so but the club may have (already planned) others ideas, PSG and Madrid rumoured to be interested in Konate. Confirmed himself he’s had renewal extensions…nothing signed/announced.
LB - Been linked with a few since last summer, this could be the first area we address. For me 1 of Robbo/Kostas have to go and I’m leaning more towards the guy who’s been flat for the last 18 months, Kostas has proven to be a handy back up who can still feature a fair amount.
MF - Can’t see any movement with the starting 3, very possible Endo and/or Harvey could be moved on to free up room for a player Arne will trust more in terms of starting games…the fact the first player we went for at the start of the Slot era was a DM tells me it’s a position he feels needs adding/improving.
RW - It’s not looking good at all for Chiesa unless there’s some hidden plan where we’ve assured him we’ll wait until he has a full pre-season first, and I’m note too sure what to make of the deafening silence with Mo but it’s not at all reassuring.
CF - All the talk has been on Darwin’s faults…yes he’s struggled badly this season and yes he’s the likelier of the 2 to leave but for me Jota has been equally disappointing. This season has showed me neither are suited to this system, major rejig needed.
LW - Lot to like about Diaz and I’ve always been a fan of his, but given his age…the time to contemplate whether we’d be better off cashing in is now.
The bare minimum this summer would be to renew the 3, sell Nunez and 1 of Robbo/Kostas and buy a replacement CF and LB. What does an adequate summer even look like if the dreaded happens? The results on the pitch have deflected away from the concerns we still have off it.
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