Match Thread: Liverpool v Arsenal

[CCTV]

The stuff of champions

0 goals conceded from set pieces, 0 goals conceded from individual errors, and a first clean sheet of the PL season.

Taken 9 points from our opening 3 games, we took 5 points from these corresponding fixtures last year, and from only +1gd better off this year. Conceding 1 goal less.

An incredible start to the season as we head into the international break.

Get in

[justme]

what is it with man-15th fans? I was posting some place about welcome to Anfield Isak. England's most successful club..
some of their fans seem to think the premier league is not the same as the old first division, in their minds they have 13 PL and we have 2.

[Insidious]

What about trying Wirtz on the left? Szob back in the 3.. Don't think he deserves to be dropped..

We might see Wirtz on the left at some stage and then drift in, doing some Coutinho-esque work. Though with Gakpo out there and us not wanting to block opportunities for Ngumoha I suspect it would be a sparsely used option - who knows though?

Given that it's likely Salah's penultimate season, I'd like us to try a diamond at some point if Isak arrives - even if it's something we don't deploy for a full 90 minutes right away, with a view to possibly utilising it when he is at AFCON.

.....................Gravenberch

.....Szoboszlai............Mac Allister

........................Wirtz

................Isak...........Ekitike

Gakpo and Chiesa would be perfectly capable of featuring in that narrow front two set-up as subs or rotation, full-backs can provide width, Szoboszlai is positioned to cover if Frimpong bombs past him and Wirtz plus one of the strikers can drop in if we have a lead so we can monopolise possession in midfield.

Wouldn't use it for every match or every scenario, but could see merits to it.

[JockStrap]

🤡🤡 3 wins from 3 games clowns 🤡🤡

Not at our best but who cares. We're winning which is all that matters. Isak will slot into this team beautifully.

[justme]

Ok its back. do not put bread crumbs out, it will follow.

[sydenham red]

We might see Wirtz on the left at some stage and then drift in, doing some Coutinho-esque work. Though with Gakpo out there and us not wanting to block opportunities for Ngumoha I suspect it would be a sparsely used option - who knows though?

Given that it's likely Salah's penultimate season, I'd like us to try a diamond at some point if Isak arrives - even if it's something we don't deploy for a full 90 minutes right away, with a view to possibly utilising it when he is at AFCON.

.....................Gravenberch

.....Szoboszlai............Mac Allister

........................Wirtz

................Isak...........Ekitike

Gakpo and Chiesa would be perfectly capable of featuring in that narrow front two set-up as subs or rotation, full-backs can provide width, Szoboszlai is positioned to cover if Frimpong bombs past him and Wirtz plus one of the strikers can drop in if we have a lead so we can monopolise possession in midfield.

Wouldn't use it for every match or every scenario, but could see merits to it.

We now have wirtz,salah,rio,chiesa ,isak,etitike and gakpo vying for the 3 or 4 fwd starting positions. Loads of permutations there for starters and subs. Plenty of game time there for all as we hunt for the quad!!!!!

[Steveo]

We now have wirtz,salah,rio,chiesa ,isak,etitike and gakpo vying for the 3 or 4 fwd starting positions. Loads of permutations there for starters and subs. Plenty of game time there for all as we hunt for the quad!!!!!

We do... defending the title will be more than adequate for me.

[Insidious]

Plenty of game time there for all as we hunt for the quad!!!!!

Yes lad, absolutely love it!!!!

In all seriousness though, I think Sarah's target is a good measure. Upon extending for that 2-year spell we have now started, he said that getting one of each of the Premier League and the Champion's League would be his dream - so theoretically we would enter 27/28 season with a 7th lift of Big Ears and be out in front with our 21st League title.

I'd absolutely take that, though I do think we are setting up a squad capable of challenging for the League and Champion's League simultaneously season-in, season-out which is really exciting.

An attempt at a Quad empties a side. We have seen it. If we make our best efforts at the League and Champion's League whilst not taking the Domestic Cups terribly seriously I'd be content enough. Something like getting 1st and a Champion's League semi-final or 2nd and a Champion's League win would represent a really good season.

Who bloody knows what's possible mind - especially with an optimistic fanbase and a strong squad?!?!

[Red October]

We might see Wirtz on the left at some stage and then drift in, doing some Coutinho-esque work. Though with Gakpo out there and us not wanting to block opportunities for Ngumoha I suspect it would be a sparsely used option - who knows though?

Given that it's likely Salah's penultimate season, I'd like us to try a diamond at some point if Isak arrives - even if it's something we don't deploy for a full 90 minutes right away, with a view to possibly utilising it when he is at AFCON.

.....................Gravenberch

.....Szoboszlai............Mac Allister

........................Wirtz

................Isak...........Ekitike

Gakpo and Chiesa would be perfectly capable of featuring in that narrow front two set-up as subs or rotation, full-backs can provide width, Szoboszlai is positioned to cover if Frimpong bombs past him and Wirtz plus one of the strikers can drop in if we have a lead so we can monopolise possession in midfield.

Wouldn't use it for every match or every scenario, but could see merits to it.

It's a good problem to have but it'll be interesting to see how Slot wants to set up the first team. Will he dare to drop Mo? You would think something like the above would be our strongest in terms of defensive setup as you've got the 3 boys who were pretty solid in there. Then Wirtz can drop in as well when out of possession. Looking forward to seeing how Slot deals with it.

[pob]

We do... defending the title will be more than adequate for me.

This. Getting #21 is all that matters.

[Insidious]

It's a good problem to have but it'll be interesting to see how Slot wants to set up the first team. Will he dare to drop Mo?

I don't think we drop a £400k-per-week player with his goals and assists record.

What we might do is mix our formation/line-up up a bit when he is at AFCON and then it maybe takes a couple of games for him to work back in purely because the side is doing so well - hypothetical of course.

The only other way I could see dropping Mo being remotely considered is towards the end of the season if we had an agreement for a sale to Saudi or something, to accelerate our adjustment to a post-Mo Liverpool a year early. However I honestly think he sees out his contract.

[sydenham red]

It's a good problem to have but it'll be interesting to see how Slot wants to set up the first team. Will he dare to drop Mo? You would think something like the above would be our strongest in terms of defensive setup as you've got the 3 boys who were pretty solid in there. Then Wirtz can drop in as well when out of possession. Looking forward to seeing how Slot deals with it.

Mo is now very droppable with the options we have, including utility men frimpong and even szobo to even go in there and do a job. I get the feeling if we win big this yr we might even sell Mo while there's value in him. Is he on a 2 or 3yr deal?

[jozza800]

Whilst he did have a shocker yesterday, he still has a goal and an assist in his first 3 league games.

Talk of dropping him is comical.

[sydenham red]

Theres comes a time when the legs or the mind loses that little bit, not saying its happening to him right now but its happened to many regulars. Fabinho, hendo, robbo eg - we could all see it. Playing deeper even by 5yds has never suited him, maybe he can adapt and maybe he cant. But for him to start on the bench or come off after an hour shouldn't be unthinkable or comical.

[CCTV]

Theres comes a time when the legs or the mind loses that little bit, not saying its happening to him right now but its happened to many regulars. Fabinho, hendo, robbo eg - we could all see it. Playing deeper even by 5yds has never suited him, maybe he can adapt and maybe he cant. But for him to start on the bench or come off after an hour shouldn't be unthinkable or comical.

Agreed. Nothing like getting dropped to jolt the mind & body.
Doubt hes fallen off that much since last season physically, bit he is fannying around a bit and that makes me think it's mindset.