Liverpool FC Team Talk, Gossip, Rumours 2024/25

Just on this narrative that Liverpool are "lucky" this season that Man City and Arsenal have fallen away compared to the last 2 years.

Liverpool have 79 points after 33 games. Last season City had 76 after 33 games and 79 the year before.

And all this whinging from Arsenal supporters about suspensions and injuries derailing this season for them,last season they had 74 points after 33 games,the year before they had 75.

Couldn't agree more. And we have achieved this without any other team breathing down our neck forcing us to be close to perfect like city had with us and Arsenal and everyone (players and managers involved) always said that the fierce competition between city and Liverpool, for example, drove both teams to reach those insane points totals they both in recent seasons.

If we won our last 5 games we would hit 94 points when the highest total ever accumulated is 100 and that is without any other team near us focusing our efforts shall we say. I'm sure we would have squeezed out an extra few points here or there along the way, especially since the turn of the year, if we really needed to. So yes we need to strengthen the squad and even the first team a bit over the summer but anyone belittling this team's achievement of winning the league this year is obviously just on a wind up or hasn't a clue.

And finally anyone using the points total of the league champions as a barometer of the overall standard of the league is also on a wind up or just very bitter imo. PSG get around 100 points every year in the french league so I guess the french league is a better standard than the prem then using that standard. If anything I would argue the exact opposite actually. Throw peak city under Pep and Liverpool under Klopp into a league full of teams of the standard of Leicester city this season and they'd both break 100 points easily but in this example we know the league standard is terrible and not excellent. If the standard of the league is high in general you should expect lower points totals for the winners of that league, not higher (relatively to itself and not other leagues).

It's not given FSG credit in hindsight.

One of the most important things FSG did after Klopp made his decision in November 23 was to agressively pursue Michael Edwards to come back and offer him the position that he wanted in the club. Then to lock down Richard Hughes who had history with Edwards.

FSG put the trust in these two to identify the right manager to keep the Klopp 2.0 squad together. Not only did he keep them together but he rearranged to pieces to get the jigsaw to fit, e.g. Klopp didn't seem to see what Slot saw in Gravenberch being able to play as a number 6 or that Gakpo's most affective position is on the left. Slot also was able to get more out of Jones this season.

With a new manager most Liverpool fans expected top 4 and a run in a cup would have been a good season.

From the start of the season Slot and Liverpool were being constantly doubted. First ten games, were not challenging enough, lets see them get through the next 10. Got through those. Well, December is going to be the real test. Got through those.

I'm sure Slot already knows what he wants to do with the squad for next season and I believe he will be backed.

Against Leicester there was a moment shortly after Jota was introduced that highlighted the issue with the press with the current personnel in the front line. Salah pressed the defender in possession from the right and the ball was moved along the back line. Jota could have been a pincer from the centre but instead just dropped back. Salah ended up in the position that Jota had originally occupied and Jota walked over to take up Salah's position on the right.

Jota seemed more concerned with keeping the team shape rather than applying any pressure to the defender with the ball. For a player that was only a few minutes on the pitch his contribution in that instance was disgraceful.

In the press conference last week Slot said that he expects the player in the #9 position to work their ar$e off and be a pressing machine. On more than one occasion he has called Nunez out in his post match comments for not working hard enough during his substitute appearances so I have difficulty understanding why Jota gets a pass.

Slot said he wanted to see what he had to work with and with the European Cup and the Copa America both last summer he had to wait until late July before he had the whole squad back.

We did try for Zubimendi, met his buy out clause and offered him a good contract but he chose to stay. The club can't be faulted for that.

I was excited to sign Chiesa as a squad player and I am disappointed that he hasn't got more game time. With Nunez and Jota in particular not really being effective in the last 9 to 10 games I would have hoped he could have been tried in the center forward role. He has the energy to press and he has game intelligence.

Apart from not renewing Matip's contract which given his injury history is understandable, nobody from the squad wanted to leave last summer with Klopp leaving. We also did not need to sell anyone.

2 seasons ago when Caicedo's entourage encouraged Liverpool to bid for him we were going to meet the 115 million asking price.

We were also will to pay 60 million for Lavia.

If the right player is available we have the money but we are not a club that operates like Chelsea or Man City.

I think many are overestimating the amount of money available,,Salah and vvd will be on big salaries, the club hasn't been showing big profits when spending little on the transfer market, obviously there will be some activity,we need three signings at a minimum, should have premier League prize money, better sponsorship /shop sales due to winning and less capital investment this year but clickbait mbappe type stories trigger me.

I think we will see offers of players in part exchange to reduce fees.

For example last summer, the deal in principle with Newcastle was reported as Gomez plus £25m for Gordon. Had that transfer been completed it would have facilitated the part exchange deal for Alvarez with Diaz going the other way. Gomez and Matip had played a combined total of more than 4,000 minutes last season. Gomez accounted for about 75% of the total, his departure would have vastly improved the chance of signing Yoro. If things had fallen kindly then three positions would have been sorted for an outlay of around £100m.

Taggy's and The Sandon already sold out

Looks like there's ticketed fanzones in Hanger 34 and Arts Club but I'd prefer to be nearer the ground

Anybody got plans?

Weak squad? Who is is saying that?

It needs a few additions for sure but it's a title winning squad.

If it was weak Liverpool wouldn't be cruising to the title.

Bloody hell, didn't even think of trying to book for pre-match drinks, thanks for the heads up

It's 4D chess.

We say our squad is shite, then cruise to a title.

Everyone agrees some players are required

Current squad weak though? It's definitely the first I've heard or read that 😂

Good point 🤣

Yeah, going to the game but also looking for a good screen as we've got three tickets between four of us 😬🤣

Looks like Hotel Anfield isn't ticketed, so we'll probably just head there

A good few links with Dean Huijsen today. 50 million euro release clause so we should be able to manage that. One minor issue really is the what is Konate going to do? He might be tempted by PSG. Would be better to keep him and sign Huijsen for sure.

technically it’s out of our hands. Arsenal lose any game before we play them (or draw x 2), it’s over 🙂 A great stress-free position to be in with 5 to play.

never unclench