Liverpool FC Premier League Champions 25/26 - Talk /Gossip/Rumours

noodler · 26-08-2025 08:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755208#Comment_123755208

I wish we can ban "i actually foretold this and people said i was crazy" posts.

Way too common these days.

Dr Robert · 26-08-2025 08:59AM

I'd have no problem hooking Wirtz. He's our poorest performing midfielder at the moment. The team would be much better balanced too.

Either drop him or drop one of our front three.

Osmosis Jones · 26-08-2025 09:01AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755149#Comment_123755149

Let's hope now that the Newcastle game is in the past we can get working on the Isak deal again, then come Friday get Guehi too.

noodler · 26-08-2025 09:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755218#Comment_123755218

There's a call to be made for Arsenal to be sure. On the other hand it is an home fixture.

No shame in bringing him on for the last half hour.

Appletart Upsetter · 26-08-2025 09:07AM

I wonder if English football is going back to it's roots a little.

Set pieces are becoming more and more important. Arsenal are leading the way but Newcastle last night used them to keep Liverpool under immense pressure.

Tiki taka is out, "put em under pressure" is back!

McDermotX · 26-08-2025 09:11AM

Grav 🤣

Appletart Upsetter · 26-08-2025 09:17AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755208#Comment_123755208

I'm sure Wirtz will be fine, he needs to adjust to the pace of things more than anything. But there are enough glimpses of quality to persist with him. He was no worse than Salah really.

I actually thought Kerkez was okay last night, aside from the pathetic defending for the Bruno goal.

As I said previously, it wasn't really a game of football. It was helter skelter, long throws, set pieces, pumping the ball up the field. Newcastle can play like this but it's not sustainable for them and they'll finish no higher than 5th. Especially when the CL starts back up.

eigrod · 26-08-2025 09:23AM

i love this stat

https://twitter.com/dominicking_dm/status/1960255961420956054?s=46

AndyBoBandy · 26-08-2025 09:25AM

Don't post in here a lot, but just popping in to say;

Mornin' Reds…

We were sh1t and we still won…

Mentality Monsters.

I just hope Newcastle play with that same intensity when the other big clubs go there..

McFly85 · 26-08-2025 09:27AM

An incredible amount of impatience with our new players here.

Wirtz has had 2 games in a new league with a new team and without our preferred players available, but he should be dropped now?

Kerkez still has to settle in but there’s been a couple of comments about him being a total disaster and Robbo needs to come back in. I love Robbo but last season he was the weak link in defence, he can’t do 90 mins at full tilt anymore.

Seriously, it’s 2 games in. 2 games with 6 points I might add, which only 3 teams have done. With the amount of change in personnel there was always going to be a bedding in period while the players and manager get used to eachother.

We still have players to come back, and players to come in. Maybe give the lads a little time to actually work together?

Osmosis Jones · 26-08-2025 09:29AM

As poor as Salah was he still put the ball on a plate for Jones to score and put in the cross to Szobo/Rio for the goal.

Imo it's easy to understand why he doesn't get hooked even when playing poorly, especially when we don't have all that much attacking talent on the bench to replace him.

Rossi7 · 26-08-2025 09:46AM

I'd say after last night, that 5 million we were short for Guéhi has now doubled. Konate is all over the parish, doesn't know if he's coming or going.

Osmosis Jones · 26-08-2025 09:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123754838#Comment_123754838

I'm a little miffed they spent all game showing us Shearer in the crowd but they never cut to him after the Rio winner

noodler · 26-08-2025 09:53AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755309#Comment_123755309

Robbo was mixed last year but he looks quite a bit faster than Kerkez from what I have seen and is alot stronger.

Robbo dived in a bit too much last season but Kerkez seems even more prone to it.

I saw very little of Kerkez live last season but i do wonder if was getting plaudits based on his work in the opposite half which we haven't had a chance to see yet.

I don't think it is writing him off to consider Robbo for the Arsenal game - just a recognition of the opponent and giving Kerkez some breathing space.

Lord Trollington · 26-08-2025 09:56AM

Delighted with the result - the performance however was no where near acceptable. Salah, Writz, Kerkez & Konate all well below par contributed to this. Very hard to perform to the levels we did the last number of years with so many new signings and people finding their feet. We're only 2 games in to the season and have won both games but the signs are alarming in relation to some players form and some players ability to integrate.

We need a new CB, winger and striker before the window closes. We brought in Chiesa, Ngumoha, Elliot and Endo from the bench. Compare this with previous years where we had a mixture of Gakpo, Diaz, Nunez, Jota, Jones to come in to change games - we are threadbare for real improvements from the bench at the moment. I feel we've been left extremely short on this aspect.

I don't understand so many pundits back us to win the league again this season due to above. I think it's going to take some time for some players to have a real impact.

In the short term, Salah's form is worrying but I fully expect him to slowly gain that.

Arsenal on Sunday will tell a lot.

Osmosis Jones · 26-08-2025 09:57AM

On the good side of things Ekitike has been fantastic so far, a goal in every game and some very good interplay and use of his size.

Been a couple moments when he's gotten the ball on the turn and taken too long to release it, but he's making all the right plays and those moments will only get sharper as he becomes more accustomed to his teammates.

Ottoman_1000 · 26-08-2025 10:01AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755309#Comment_123755309

I don't think many are saying Wirtz should be dropped. More highlighting a concern that the system we're playing to accommodate him isn't sustainable.

I believe he'll end up in the front 3 somewhere soon. Most likely on the left. Playing 2 midfielders banked by 2 attacking full backs with 4 forward players ahead again is not going to work!!

I think in a few weeks, we'll see Grav, MaC and Dom in the middle. With Wirtz on the left with Ekitike, Salah. Another option would be Ekitike and Salah up top as an almost traditional front 2, with Wirtz behind them.

For the time being, I think we just enjoy the chaotic, gung ho games as they are. Hopefully we keep on the right side of the results, and the chaos decreases as we find our shape.

TitianGerm · 26-08-2025 10:03AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755405#Comment_123755405

When he's gone off as well the ball is just not sticking up there and it's putting more pressure on us.

J Mysterio · 26-08-2025 10:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755405#Comment_123755405

In his interview last week, he mentioned the big differences to the Bundesliga where physicality and time on the ball. He's adapting very well so far, and will get better.

Wirtz has to catch up in both respects, he hasn't been very good in our league matches so far. Best performance to date was I think the first half of the Community Shield, but he has quite obviously struggled since, both with the physicality and lack of time on the ball, giving it away frequently.

8-10 · 26-08-2025 10:10AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755405#Comment_123755405

Took him a while to realise that it wasn't the right game to be trying first time flicks around the corner or backheels and instead try to hold it up, but he'll learn from that. It reminded me a bit of when Alisson joined and he did those flicks in his second game (Brighton was it?) at home and then he got caught out against Leicester away soon after and Klopp said OK that's it, this isn't Italy, cut it out now

I don't think he needs to cut it out, but like Alisson I think it was more of just getting to understand when to try the riskier moves and when to not.

mayordenis · 26-08-2025 10:11AM

I'm not too worried about Konate, unfortunately he often has these performances, normally it's when he's coming back from an injury but coming back from any break he looks a bit like this.

Still agree that Guehi would be the most important signing, bench is looking outrageously thin. We can't be looking to really offload anyone else, at most 1 sale IF we sign 2.

Ultimately, 6 points, doesn't fully paper over the cracks of course, but any sort of result next week and it goes down as a very good start.

Bandana boy · 26-08-2025 10:13AM

You can know thar Wirtz is the future , but also accept he is not ready for the physicality of some of the midfield battles in the premiership.

I can get with playing him through this into form to an extent but not against the likes of Newcastle away.

I would 100% drop him from that position for Sunday , now does he replacer Gakpo on the left is a different question , but if we go against that Arsenal Midfield as light as we were last night they will eat us up.

ledwithhedwith · 26-08-2025 10:18AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755208#Comment_123755208

You are nuts haha

Osmosis Jones · 26-08-2025 10:19AM

I still think long term Wirtz will play in front of a midfield trio and not as part of one, we just haven't had the personnel to allow it yet. Best comparison I've got for him is Coutinho, who was also said to be a midfielder but all his best games came on the left wing.

The Arsenal game will be the first time Grav/Mac/Szobo will all be available, and hopefully we have a RB so all 3 can be in midfield.

McFly85 · 26-08-2025 10:19AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755416#Comment_123755416

It’s much to soon to say whether a system is sustainable or not after 2 games though, especially when we haven’t had all of our players available and we’re likely going to have more additions to the squad this week.

I can’t see Wirtz going to the left of the front 3 - we have Gakpo who’s more suited to the position for a start, and we might still have Isak coming in. But also, that just sounds like going back to last years formation which I don’t think Slot wants to do.

Once we have our transfer business done and are around 10 games in I think we’ll have a clear picture as to what’s working and what isn’t.

marklazarcovic · 26-08-2025 10:19AM

Not worried about our new signings at all , bedding in will happen, remember we are champions,they have joined champions,it will take them some time to up their game to champions level but they will I believe.

And despite all their intensity,all they're fouling,play acting,hustle and bustle,we beat them on every important score in the game, possession,shots on target,final score...in their back yard under their most volatile crowd...

Delighted...credit due.

Konate is a major major liability this season for whatever reason

Hon the reds,and two fingers to Bruno g 🤪🤪🤪

jones · 26-08-2025 10:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755416#Comment_123755416

This is my feeling on Wirtz. I think there's an element of him getting "up to speed" but i think the main issue is the new system doesn't suit the team. We basically have 4 forwards when Wirtz is in midfield (would we expect Salah to play in midfield for an extreme example?) Its one of the reasons we are so easily played through in the first two games. We need 3 actual midfielders in the centre.

For Arsenal next week reverting to Grav, Mac and Dom in midfield, Wirtz on the left (harsh on Gakpo but good to have options) and Ekitike and Salah in the centre and right respectfully and i think we'll get a better picture of where we are at.

TitianGerm · 26-08-2025 10:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755456#Comment_123755456

The Arsenal midfield that were no great shakes against Uniteds two of Bruno and Casamerio?

Wirtz should be well able to manage himself against Zubamendi. Our three of Szobozlai, Gravenbach and Writz would probably be the bigger and stronger three against Rice, Zubamendi and Odengaard.

McFly85 · 26-08-2025 10:24AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123755392#Comment_123755392

Defo wouldn’t have an issue with Robbo coming in based on his experience alone - but I’d have doubts about his pace.

Last season he was caught multiple times, and this was a team that didn’t require him to bomb up and down the wings. I’m not so sure he’s so much more solid than allowing Kerkez more experience in the role he’s going to be our long term choice for.

awec · 26-08-2025 10:24AM

A general improvement across the board is really needed for Arsenal, it's not like any one part of the team was exemplary last night. But they do tend to turn it on for the big games, so I'm not massively worried.

We do really need to get those last few signings over the line this week though.

Liverpool FC Premier League Champions 25/26 - Talk /Gossip/Rumours

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