Match Thread: Chelsea v Liverpool

[teesred]

that's what I mean not exactly been a good watch apart from Everton, we've scraped every game due to some moments, was hoping things would get better, but now look those moments aren't happening and everything is getting worse.

Really is similar to watching man utd last season, team has no idea how they should be playing, just luckily we've got more players with individual moments.

I mean what the fuck is isak doing going to LW most of the game not to go into another 100 things

I said that to my pal earlier. It does look like Utd from last season.
A group of very good players doesn't necessarily make a team.

[eggy81]

Alisson saves both goals I thought my man Gravenberch was as much to blame for their winner or more, I could see the ball coming to Cucerella, so Grav should I don’t think it comes across if Konate’s there or Geav’s switched on

Shit happen we move on all the focus on the next game abs getting the win v Frankfurt

Robbo ran back and then stopped and actually put his hands on his knees as the through ball was played on the left. That split second was fatal.

[ianlfc]

I feel sorry for Chiesa watching Mo get a game in front of him at the minute.

[Ravo19]

Salah struggled with the death of jota and hasnt got going this season.
Ive never thought gapko was the right fit for liverpool.
Eritikie has faded with arrival of isak.
On positive note i feel that once wirtz clicks the attack will kick on.
Still looks like we need to do more in transfer market next summer.

[justme]

I will lay my cards on the table.. I'd be surprised if Wirtz is here come next summer. Just don't think hes quick enough or physically strong enough for this league.. he always wants to much time. Also if Saudi come in for Salah he will be gone as well.

[jr81]

I will lay my cards on the table.. I'd be surprised if Wirtz is here come next summer. Just don't think hes quick enough or physically strong enough for this league.. he always wants to much time. Also if Saudi come in for Salah he will be gone as well.

That would be us wouldn't it. Finally spend the cash and ends up being wasted. Out of all the signings wirtz was the one we could have done without and signed a cb and cdm instead.

In saying that, King Kenny is impressed by him so far and thinks he will be top drawer. So I'm still hoping he proves it. He is only 22 as well.

[Steveo]

Wirtz will surely be here next season. Would have to stink the place out to a huge degree for him to be moved on that fast. He will improve I have little doubt, the question is - how much?

[justme]

That would be us wouldn't it. Finally spend the cash and ends up being wasted. Out of all the signings wirtz was the one we could have done without and signed a cb and cdm instead.

In saying that, King Kenny is impressed by him so far and thinks he will be top drawer. So I'm still hoping he proves it. He is only 22 as well.

Don't think the money will be wasted..we can get most of it back from Bayern. they'll happily take him (imo). Just my opinion of course i hope he comes good..

[teesred]

I will lay my cards on the table.. I'd be surprised if Wirtz is here come next summer. Just don't think hes quick enough or physically strong enough for this league.. he always wants to much time. Also if Saudi come in for Salah he will be gone as well.

I think a lot of fans may think the same. It's worth remembering that there's been a few players who've struggled initially and now are much better. Gravenberch being a prime example.
Wirtz is lightweight and slow at times. I said on the thread dedicated to him I'll be surprised if he's a success here but hope to be wrong. He might be better on the right side of the attack?
Salah is obviously going through a really lean and unproductive spell. Maybe he's on a fast decline? The loss of Jota possibly a big factor? Who knows but players of that quality often more than not bounce back.
Nobody aside from Virgil,Alisson, Szobo and Grav have been great. Ekitike too I should add.
Everybody else has struggled to adapt or are just bang out of form. It won't last though so asking as we stay around that top three we'll come back. I hope/think.

[jr81]

Don't think the money will be wasted..we can get most of it back from Bayern. they'll happily take him (imo). Just my opinion of course i hope he comes good..

Bayern won't pay anywhere near what we did.

But as the others have said above, I'd expect him to improve and be here next season. He is 22,he is a long term signing.

I'm still of the opinion that the team in background expected pain this season with all the changes with a view to having a strong team for the long term.

[Steveo]

Bayern won't pay anywhere near what we did.

But as the others have said above, I'd expect him to improve and be here next season. He is 22,he is a long term signing.

I'm still of the opinion that the team in background expected pain this season with all the changes with a view to having a strong team for the long term.

The last bit could make sense and backs up my own feelings that last season - despite Klopp leaving behind a strong 11 - 13 players we were well short as a squad…. but got away with some fortune. Arsenal’s repeated injuries and Man City falling off a cliff all at the same time as us with virtually no injuries at all across our strongest lineup - same 11 played almost every game.

That’s so rare and why 84 points hasn’t been enough for more than a decade.

IF what you say is true then we have been smart. On paper we have spent good money on what look to be very good technicians. Wirtz looked top class last season - Kerkez too - ditto Ekitike & Isak.

Maybe it is a little short term pain for long term gain. Hope so

[jr81]

The last bit could make sense and backs up my own feelings that last season - despite Klopp leaving behind a strong 11 - 13 players we were well short as a squad…. but got away with some fortune. Arsenal’s repeated injuries and Man City falling off a cliff all at the same time as us with virtually no injuries at all across our strongest lineup - same 11 played almost every game.

That’s so rare and why 84 points hasn’t been enough for more than a decade.

IF what you say is true then we have been smart. On paper we have spent good money on what look to be very good technicians. Wirtz looked top class last season - Kerkez too - ditto Ekitike & Isak.

Maybe it is a little short term pain for long term gain. Hope so

It's just my thinking. Because I don't want to belive they looked at the squad and though, yes, this is it. They must know we lack at CB and cm. I'm hoping we can put in a strong challenge but unfortunatly I think it's arsenals year. They have kept a consistency in their team and added depth to the squad.

I saying all of that, I don't think slot is helping himself with some of his decisions.
Constantly changing the right back position. Gakpo as a constant at the left side. Mó getting a free pass. Totally ignoring chiesa when he at least shows fight and quality when he gets on the pitch. Adjusting the positioning of grav which seems to be leaving us open to counters.

[CCTV]

The last bit could make sense and backs up my own feelings that last season - despite Klopp leaving behind a strong 11 - 13 players we were well short as a squad…. but got away with some fortune. Arsenal’s repeated injuries and Man City falling off a cliff all at the same time as us with virtually no injuries at all across our strongest lineup - same 11 played almost every game.

That’s so rare and why 84 points hasn’t been enough for more than a decade.

IF what you say is true then we have been smart. On paper we have spent good money on what look to be very good technicians. Wirtz looked top class last season - Kerkez too - ditto Ekitike & Isak.

Maybe it is a little short term pain for long term gain. Hope so

After 34 games in 2024/25 Cituae had 61 points & Arsenal 67 & LFC 82.

After 34 games in 2023/24 Cituae had 79 points & Arsenal 77 & LFC 74.

After 34 games in 2022/33 Cituae had 82 points & Arsenal 78 & LFC 59.

After 34 games in 2021/22 Cituae had 83 points & Arsenal 63 & LFC 82.

After 34 games in 2020/21 Cituae had 80 points & Arsenal 49 & LFC 57.

After 34 games, Slots LFC had comparable points with every other Premier league winners above, namely Cituae.
Klopp could have won in 2021/2022, needed to beat citaue. And in 2023/2024 that could have been anyone of the 3 in fairness in what was a var crazy season. Arteta/Saka might have won it in 2022/23.

The idea our final points total is down to the quality of last seasons team and squad is bollix.
We were on the beach quite literally in Ibiza celebrating, and dropped 10 points out of 12 in our last 4. Out of the CL & FA cup....

The improvement for Slot this year compared with last year, is that he has more 1st team players he will use more readily.
That's not a major dig at the players moved out, but a fact on Slots readiness to use those players.

In the 1st team its Trent out of his best 11 & Diaz too.
With their replacements being....
Frimpong (barely seen at right back yet)
&
Isak (barely seen at centre forward yet)

We have Kerkez in and Robbo still here, so stronger at left back.

We have Leoni in for Quansah, a 3rd/4th choice centreback swap. Sadly Leoni is out for the season.

We have Wirtz a 1st teamer in for Elliott, a lesser spotted player.

We have Ekitike in for Nunez, a lesser spotted player.

Jota has passed away. RIP.

Nyoni to a lesser degree & Rio to a larger degree seem to be highly rated youths in Slots opinion.

The same issues fans have with Slots squad this year exist as last year.
Fans want a CB/Guehi, 6/Zubi2.0 & a LWF/Diaz.

But Slots got more 1st teamers than last year.
And the ambitions of the club in the summer was to get a collection of players together to do special things.

Fifteen 1st teamers at Slots disposal.

Alisson

VVD Frimpong Konate Robbo Kerkez

Grav Sobozla Maca Wirtz Jones

Salah Isak Ekitike Gakpo

All fit, 11 starters and 4 substitutes off the bench.

7 Back ups from...

Giorgi, Bradley, Gomez, Endo, Nyoni, Chiesa & Rio

A 22 man squad with 2 kids included.
More likely a 21man squad with 1 kid included.

Elliott was unreal per minute last season for goals and assists, but didn't get many minutes.
Jota & Nunez both left LFC 3rd & 2nd to Salah for Goals & Assists per minute. Both per 112 minutes, and Darwin just shading it.
Both trailed Jones significantly for PL minutes last season.

(Chiesa currently is ahead of Salah at LFC, Chiesa per 77.4 minutes, Salah per 92 minutes. But Chiesa has had very few minutes at LFC.
4 goals & 4 assists in 619 minutes)

The ambitions of the club, require we are on it at the end of the season. Performances so far suggest we've not peaked yet. Salah wants a balloon door, the club want one for him and the era. The only way to guarantee that is winning the PL & CL.

Over to Slot & Co to figure it out.

[Kev0909]

Salah and baBoon Doors????? No chance if he was going to win it, he'd have won it already VVD has best chance when we won champions league

take a miracle to win the champions league like 2005 even then salah is not nailed on for it

if the miracle somehow, right now it is a miracle.... double... Isak and wirtz probably would have a big part to play.... maybe isak for the baboon doors

wouldn't even think about that, I'd think about getting through to the knock-outs and staying in the top 4 right now

Off subject is this the first international break that's done us in a favour? think we've needed it for once, can't remember the last one that was positive for us but I'm actually glad.

[redebreck]

Hi, does anyone else think the refereeing was a bit dodgy on Saturday?
I can remember at least two occasions when Chelsea players should have had yellow cards but didn't.
Zubimendi was one, when he took out one of our players with a high tackle.
Wonder if PGMOL are going back to their old habits.