Match Thread: Liverpool v Crystal Palace

[miller0863]

As big a problem as so many players coming and going is the new formation is leaving us too open.

Wirtz is almost completely attack minded, leaving two to man midfield, that is not helping us defend

[Kev0909]

As big a problem as so many players coming and going is the new formation is leaving us too open.

Wirtz is almost completely attack minded, leaving two to man midfield, that is not helping us defend

Don't have a proper DM either really

Hasn't helped we've missed grav & maca surely more solid in the middle with both of them, Szobs not exactly defense minded counting on Grav & Maca to play every game and stay fit... like the attack and CB's good that, 4 days till first game.

[miller0863]

Better than yesterday maybe but we conceded too many goals in pre season too.

[teesred]

You really are dumb and not getting it, Rio in place of Diaz? great that.

One of them gets injured then what?

Can't be bothered with repeating myself about numbers, I said about chiesa - EXACTLY you can't count him as a body so that leaves 3 SENIOR ATTACKERS CURRENTLY

How is that a net gain? Diaz>Rio Ekitkite can't say he's better than jota yet....

Isak's not here, even if he was right now he's the only upgrade in that attack for sure, and a big one but we've still only got 4 players into 3 positions... long season you know, look at the midfield last season, burned out.

Or maybe the management looked at the situation and decided Diaz was worth sacrificing when we have a few players who can cover that left side?
Regardless of the fact Rio is a young kid the manager has put him in the first team squad, if he's good enough he's old enough. Wirtz is also part of that attack.
We've added quality to an attack that was dependant on Salah for most of the season, I'm not seeing how we've not upgraded even if Isak doesn't sign and if he doesn't somebody else will be brought in.
There's three weeks almost left if the transfer window, it's a bit early to be pouring piss on the season.

[jozza800]

You really are dumb and not getting it, Rio in place of Diaz? great that.

One of them gets injured then what?

Can't be bothered with repeating myself about numbers, I said about chiesa - EXACTLY you can't count him as a body so that leaves 3 SENIOR ATTACKERS CURRENTLY

How is that a net gain? Diaz>Rio Ekitkite can't say he's better than jota yet....

Isak's not here, even if he was right now he's the only upgrade in that attack for sure, and a big one but we've still only got 4 players into 3 positions... long season you know, look at the midfield last season, burned out.

Haha, have you just called me dumb? Sorry Kev, I'm not the one who can barely string two coherent sentences together!

You dont half moan on.

[Steveo]

Kev gets worked up but he cares about the team and the apparent problems we seem to be facing despite the blistering summer narrative. You tried to suggest Rio can sit in for Diaz and we are in better shape

Jozza - that’s ridiculous mate.. Is it possible… yes potentially but the kid really doesn’t need that type of pressure - he is 16 FFS. If we even try to use him to that degree we are mentalists not mentality monsters.

I’m the one who told you all about Rio - some suggested I was jumping the gun… I’ve seen him first hand for Chelsea many times - oh and he is absolute magic… but he is still a boy and not a very big one either. You must be on the wind up suggesting he can replicate Luis this season.

[miller0863]

I thought you were jumping the gun to be fair, having watched him in the youth side.

It’s only in this pre season that I fully appreciated his full potential.

[Steveo]

Yep and you are right but I do worry he will be put in too soon. Has ruined so many potentially great players. He need to be nurtured - a rare gem of a player

[jozza800]

Come on, was that really what I was saying?

Should we get Isak (still a big if tbf) then we'll have a better set of forwards this season than we did last season.

We've replaced Kelleher
We've replaced Trent
We've upgraded on Robbo
We've upgraded on Szobo
We've upgraded on Diogo

If we get Isak we'll have upgraded on Nunez

We still need a center half.

Wirtz is the wild card that will allow us to 'get away' with not having 6 forwards.

[Steveo]

Fair enough but I guess when it’s seen listed as you did it - reads like we should expect Rio to eclipse Luis this season. Be great if he did but being realistic there is little to no chance of that happening

[Steveo]

Playing devils advocate…

We also have no replacement for Quansah - who despite being short at the top level was much needed to stand in… we have an older Virgil - an older Salah - Konate who - has never impressed me too much likely to walk in May (could question his commitment)…. I don’t see where we have upgraded on Diogo???? please explain. - and we have lost our second most potent threat in Diaz.

We have replaced Trent with a more attacking minded player who looks as likely to be targeted the other way. We have upgraded our left back position and added - at huge cost - Wirtz - who looks pure class - but as yet a little low on tangible end product.. As for Kelleher - yes we have added Marmadashvili… Looks a
good deal but time will tell.

How are we stronger than this time last year

[teesred]

I personally think by the end of the window another forward and centre back will be added. I'm certain of it but not who they'll be obviously.
If it's Isak and Guehi I don't think anyone can say we aren't stronger. It'd be a much better looking squad overall.
Still light in midfield but we were never getting everything we wanted.
If those two mentioned come in it's hard to argue that we've had a better window at any point.

[Steveo]

I would say almost everyone would agree provided we get a top class striker - and that’s not just another forward. Again we need a top class CB - not just another CB

This is the point. It all looks great until you actually look at what we have lost and we have lost a lot 2 summers running.

[jozza800]

Playing devils advocate…

We also have no replacement for Quansah - who despite being short at the top level was much needed to stand in… we have an older Virgil - an older Salah - Konate who - has never impressed me too much likely to walk in May (could question his commitment)…. I don’t see where we have upgraded on Diogo???? please explain. - and we have lost our second most potent threat in Diaz.

We have replaced Trent with a more attacking minded player who looks as likely to be targeted the other way. We have upgraded our left back position and added - at huge cost - Wirtz - who looks pure class - but as yet a little low on tangible end product.. As for Kelleher - yes we have added Marmadashvili… Looks a
good deal but time will tell.

How are we stronger than this time last year

Like any transfer, you just never know. But I can only base opinions on from what I have seen from previous seasons and this pre season.

Marmadashvelli looks more than an adequate replacement for Kelleher.

Frimpong may be more offensive but he's also far more dynamic and has the speed and desire to recover in situations.

Kerkez was arguably the best left back in the country and looks like a ready made replacement for Robbo.

Wirtz had 25+ goal contributions last season, which if he gets anywhere near that this season he'll have massively eclipsed all of our midfielders.

Ekitike will hopefully improve on Diogo by simply being fit more often. Although raw, it looks like he gets into good positions.

However, as both yourself and Tees have said, if we don't bring top end players both at the back and up top then no, we probably won't be as strong as last season.

[jozza800]

Again, it obviously hinges on us signing Isak but I'd wager that

Salah
Isak
Gakpo
Ekitike
Chiesa
Rio

Would score more goals than

Salah
Nunez
Diaz
Gakpo
Jota
Chiesa

Especially when you add Wirtz into the mix!

I think we'll be far more potent this season.