Hoping a New Thread may fix the posting issues.
Not necessarily. This will be the third time that the club have opened a dialogue with a view to him signing an extension. Previous attempts ended with reports that he wasn't interested so this could be the same again.
There are a number of contracts that expire in the next two years and I doubt very much that Diaz is the priority amongst them. It's more likely that the club want to sound him out one more time before making a decision on his future, they were unwilling to trade him to Man City last summer but Slot might have different ideas now. He has been a 1 goal in 3 games player for Slot this season and I think we'll need more than that in future to relieve the pressure on Salah.
Yeah, fair points. At least they're getting things sorted early so, if he doesn't extend, it should hopefully be a decent fee
A number of our supporters on here go quite hard on our strikers. Looking for perfection, when it’s not attainable. We clearly don’t have a Mane level striker to support Mo, but the overall depth of our strikeforce this yeaf was key to us winning the league.
Arsenal are our closest rivals to us this season, and they’re quite close to us re quality of defence and midfield. But we destroyed them when comparing our attack. Not just once each, but multiple times each, every one of Gakpo, Diaz, Jota and Nunez made the key contribution to win us the points. And what do points win? Prizes!!
No other team had anywhere near that level of firepower this year.
Not to mention poor Chiesa who hardly got a kick but would improve almost every other team in the league.
Samu from Porto could be interesting - he’s 6’ 4” only 20 - 24 goals in 40 games recent call up for Spain. Arsenal are interested seemingly.
I think Semanyo is terrific. Let's just buy Bournemouth
A throwback if you will, Welsh Xavi AKA Joe Allen retires from football today after Swanseas game this evening. What a fascinating time for the club that was.
Great player but my god that nickname was a curse. Can't believe he is only 35 as it seems so long ago he played for us.
Another throwback, a nice read about the Chelsea semifinal atmosphere in 2005
https://www.thisisanfield.com/2025/05/it-never-stopped-rocking-20-years-since-anfields-greatest-atmosphere/
I was there, in the Kop, and it was genuinely incredible. Towards the end I wanted the noise to stop, but also hoped it never would. It was so loud, so intense and it visibly rattled their players at times (Kezman I remember letting a ball go right under his foot as he tried to control it). I've been in some amazing atmospheres but that's the one I genuinely believe was responsible for the result
I was there too, it was incredible noise I remember I had to cover my ears it was that loud. I was in the Paddock that night.
Insane night. The game I wished I was at the most!
It feels weird being able to totally relax for a game. I still want us to go strong because I'd love to deny Chelsea CL football.
I'm certainly not looking for perfection from our forwards, but it is definitely an area of the team that can be improved upon. Slot changed the approach of the team so fewer shots yield more goals, that's a great feat in itself but from watching the games I don't think Jota and Nunez have suited the change in style.
2023/24 Premier League per 90 (Klopp):
Diaz Gakpo Jota Nunez Salah Shots 2.3 2.7 2.4 3.8 3.2 On Target 1.1 1.4 1.6 2.1 2 Off Target 1.2 1.4 0.8 1.8 1.3 Accuracy% 49.23 48.98 66.67 53.49 62.22 Blocked 1 1 0.9 1 0.9 Woodwork 0.2 0 0 0.4 0.1 Goals 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.5 0.5 Conversion% 12.31 16.33 33.33 12.79 20
2024/25 Premier League per 90 (Slot):
Diaz Gakpo Jota Nunez Salah Shots 1.8 2.3 2.7 2.4 2.9 On Target 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.8 Off Target 0.7 1.2 1.6 1.3 1.2 Accuracy% 61.36 51.22 40.62 46.15 59.79 Blocked 0.9 0.5 1.2 0.6 0.7 Woodwork 0.1 0.1 0.2 0 0.2 Goals 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 Conversion% 27.27 21.95 18.75 19.23 28.87
Ignoring penalties as they completely skew the numbers in Salah's favour, the stats support that observation. The improvement from Diaz has been most impressive, and perhaps if he did less mindless running with the ball he could surpass Salah.
Erling Haaland is a freak and has been the most efficient goal scorer the league has seen. His shot accuracy range for the past three seasons has been 56-67% with a conversion rate of 24-34%. The numbers for 2023/24 show that Jota was right there at peak Haaland level.
The numbers for some of the forward players that we have been linked with show that the club appear to be looking for a player that delivers similar numbers. Outside of talk in Glasgow, I'm not aware of any reported links with Daizen Maeda from Celtic but I've included him for comparison.
2024/25 Domestic Leagues per 90:
Alvarez Ekiteke Isak Maeda Sesko Shots 2.4 3.1 2.5 1.9 2 On Target 1.5 1.3 1.5 1.1 1.2 Off Target 0.9 1.8 1 0.8 0.8 Accuracy% 64.29 41.67 61.19 58.33 60.42 Blocked 0.5 0.8 0.9 0.3 0.7 Woodwork 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0 Goals 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.4 Conversion% 26.79 16.67 32.84 33.33 25
Apart from Ekiteke, they all meet the Accuracy% and Conversion% requirement.
Unfortunately Nottingham Forest began to run out of steam in March.
This was my only trip to a game in Anfield. I was in the main stand nearly on the goal line. What an atmosphere
Only trip? Wow, you picked a good one!
Arsenal dropping more points. Not that it's relevant now, but it still makes me chuckle
Who will Arteta blame for that?
Arsenal could finish 3rd in what’s been a 2 horse race.
Remember when Tottenham finished 3rd in a 2 horse race…same will happen with Arsenal this season, somehow they will only finish 3rd this season.
Given the remaining fixtures they could finish fourth in a supposed two horse race.
Who are the worst second place team ever?
We came 4th in a 2 horse race once, never forgave David James.
Spurs. They finished 3rd.
I sometimes wonder how David james would have gotten on today. Playing style he wouldn't have made it to a club like Liverpool but I'd also hope that sports psychology and openness about mental health may have assisted him too. He had lots of talent but was obviously dealing with issues that made him anxious and introverted in a dressing room and stadium stands dominant culture.
I wonder if sport psychologists today saw him growing up and thought to themselves they could help a person like that.
The biggest winning margin in the PL era is 19pts (City 17/18)
We could go 18 clear of we win tomorrow...
Arsenal and Chelsea have both finished second on 71 points. Ancelotti was sacked by Chelsea when they failed to retain the title in 2010/11. Arsenal pipped Tottenham to second place in 2015/16.
Can we carrry those into next year pretty please?!
B team tomorrow, or will we be going strongest possible .
I'm sure Salah wants that European Golden Boot
Say manager wants win as much games as possible and unlikely major changes. Reckon Salah will still start all remaining games.
Slot said team choices will now change and be more with a view to next season
But Mo will be playing, for sure
