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

While I agree with the sentiment of your post as in mistakes will happen etc. This was more than a mistake imo, this was a player show boating in his own box because he didn't give the opposition the respect they deserve. It's the same reason he didn't celebrate his goal, he felt above this game and that is an attitude that does need to be addressed as soon as possible.

I wouldn't look for insta punishing a mistake but playing like the game is beneath you is unacceptable. And for me Dom's attitude has been close to impeccable since he arrived but that was sheer arrogance to even attempt that in his own box and it should be stamped out asap.

Naby Keita says hello

I agree.

If anything the acti9n to take is keep them on the field and make them bust their bollox to make up for their mistake for the rest of the game.

If you dont see them doing that then hook them

I've said this consistently, there is no Ola E for lads of 15 or 16 8n adult pro football. None. It's tantamount to child abuse IMHO, and plain wrong - just because those 6 year Olds were able to clean the chimneys in the cotton mills doesn't meant that was correct and it was changed. I might be over egging it a bit with that comparison, but it's not far off. These kids can be manipulated and their bodies are not fully developed. Managers are there short term, and by and large don't give two fvcks as to what's in the lads interests.

It's wrong.

4 well taken goals but that aside, that was another pedestrian performance of mostly sterile possession, and yet every time Cleary got the ball we looked vulnerable. This brand of football is horrendous to watch, bar the odd moment of individual magic.

In more encouraging news though; Wirtz, Ekitike, Frimpong, and even Kerkez are all steadily improving imo.

100% agree.

We aren't helping ourselves

Before moving to Newcastle at 18 Milner had played nearly 50 games for Leeds in two seasons (18 in his breakthrough), although he wasn't a starter much of that time. Throughout his career though he tended not to play every single game, as he was never the no.1 starter on a team just an integral part of a rotation strategy. He did play in the majority of games most seasons though.

In addition he was always super fit, if memory serves he used to win the pre-season fitness test at Liverpool most of the time. He also retired slightly young from international duty, giving him much need time off and recovery. I think the combination of having a higher than average fitness, but never being required to completely run himself into the ground enabled him to stave off injuries, and maintain a healthy body all this time.

He clearly had a really good head for managing his own fitness & diet decision etc. By doing so it would seem he has given himself 5 or 6 additional seasons of playing time at the top level, as well as performing on elite teams for longer (with maximum wages) than many others full senior careers (13 seasons at Liverpool & City) including winning multiple premier leagues, and a champions league, FA cups etc.

Milner to me represents exactly the type of career a not necessarily world class, but talented, level-headed and dedicated player should aspire to have, and it is in the interest of the clubs, and the player to try and balance their workload to achieve it. I'm fully supportive of how Slot and LFC are managing the likes of Ngumoha.

Utterly bonkers. Shows a complete lack of ambition for this season and a lack of faith in what was being built last Summer. We already needed a new CB in order to be more confident of a top 4 finish and to make a proper run at the CL. But we're now down a starting CB and RB. It's bonkers. We'll be lucky to hold on to 4th. We'll probably make the last 16 of the CL but will be promptly knocked out.

FSG have already financially written off this season, and are comfortable enough with getting top 4 (which still should be very much on the cards) as well as a decent run in the champions league (which in any season requires a decent amount of luck).

They are already making youth deals for the future in the hopes that one or two will pan out for the senior team, and in the next 6 months they will assess those purchases, and target new players in critical areas. They never really buy numerous areas at once, and our CB struggles have been there all through Klopp's management and tbh we have never had a solid CB pairing through their whole period of ownership imo.

The only thing that makes sense is that they see backup defenders as not worth the value to purchase vs backup attackers who can bring something different off the bench. It's also why we have seen them move back midfielders into defence when players get injured (Milner, Szobo, Endo etc.). Personally it seems like business decisions from the club, and not on the manager imo. Having said that it seems to have worked out ok for them for the most part.

That they can move on if they needed? Easier said that done,presume any player we get in now as a stop gap would be getting an increase in wages from what they were on at their former club. What if that player doesn't want to move on. Whatever fee we pay for them and wages they take up can't be used to go towards our first choice player.

The only thing I don't understand is why they don't just get a stop gap CB on loan

Someone like Axel Disai from Chelsea or Bella-Kotchap from Southampton who have PL experience but arent playing for their clubs but are full France / Germany internationals so aren't kids

Deal until the summer, train with some players they'll know from international duty, no expectation to play but will maybe get on in a cup game and at minimum on the bench every game just in case

I get the overall thinking to wait until the summer, but we've loaned players before and already have 2 defenders with season ending injuries so it seems sensible and low risk compared to either paying over the odds for someone you don't want or holding out until the summer only to have another injury after the window closes