The Isak Saga

[CCTV]

He's just far too negative. He may well win a title or two over the next few years but guaranteed the Arse would already have a couple in the bag had Klopp been in charge (of Arsenal just to clarify...).

Of Pep, Arne & Arteta only Arteta is possibly getting sacked this season.

If they dont win the PL or CL this year their fans will have had enough and Arteta will be gone.

Klopp should have won a few more titles here tbh !!

[Steveo]

[Crimson Dynasty]

As we stand now, it’s Arsenal v City while we battle to hold on to fourth. Desperately need a CB and at least one striker, maybe 2.

And we still need a 6, we’ve seen how open we are without Gravenberch. No way should he start any more games with Wirtz as the third midfielder when Gravenberch is missing

You really think we're that bad and that far behind City and Arsenal?
Liverpool fans really love to live in doom and gloom.

You'd be forgiven for thinking we'd just won a title in the past season.

While one game is nothing to go by, and things are bound to change as the season goes forward, going by the first game, Arsenal looked the same team as a last year, but with the much needed striker they wanted up front struggling to fit into a team that already has a particular way or playing and I imagine it will take him some time to bed into the Premier League as it's a much more different beast from the Portuguese league he came from.

As for the rest of the team, we saw the same team with that same reliance on a set-piece goal (largely on the generosity of the opposition goalie's blunder), and which for the rest of the game consipired to make Manchester United look like a prime La Liga team (granted, they're also much improved this season) - but certainly not the dominant performance many expected from a team that's suppoed to be hungry after missing out on the title in a year they were pegged by many to finally win it thanks to City's decline last season.

And speaking of them (City), they DO actually look much improved over last season; and maybe it's the new Reindeer games lad they have running things in the middle of the park, or the return to health of Halaand.

But of note from that game, they started out strongly and faded badly in the second half after they had built up their large lead, and also for large portions of the game Haaland was largely invisible and unimposing upfront when he wasn't getting service - which alludes to the possibility of some of the same struggles they had last season might crop back up this season. Though, they still have Rodri to come back, so that may change things.
I actually see them as the bigger threat to our title defence over Arsenal but mostly thanks to and given Pep's experience and tactical nous as a winner over Arteta's weaknesses and foibles in the same.

As for us, yes, deffensively we do need that reinforcement at the CB, but how is that any different from how it was last season when we won the title.
We've essentially swapped out Quansah - whom many here were not fans of - for Giovanni, so the jury is still out on that exchange until we actually see the latter play in a game. Gomez is back, but how long he'll last before any possible injury remains to be seen, all of which for me adds up to the notion that Guehi being (or should be) our highest priority signing for the rest of this window and not so much Isak.

Both FB's have changed, and again, based on the first game, both need some time to integrate (better) into the team - more so Kerkez - but I peg his struggles in the Bournemouth game to nerves from playing your former team and teammates, and I imagine his performances will improve. But having Conor back (and hopefully healthy) should be a big boost. I love Frimpong's energy and enthusiasm and he seems to be developing a fast understanding with Mo which should really be helpful going forward. His durability in games might still be a question mark (leading to his substitution by Slot) but again, it might be another case of needing time to get used to the Premier league's pace and intensity level.

Up front is where there could be (some) issues.
Assuming we're swapping Darwin for Ekitike, I personally feel this as being something of an upgrade. Hugo seems to be a bit more clinical and links up really well with both Cody and Wirtz, but the loss of Jota and the departure of Diaz, means we are indeed short until they bring in someone else - even if they elevate Rio to the first team (...which I hope they do).

And I think we will see a different midfield on Monday when Grav gets back from his suspension.
Szobo did a decent job holding the fort, but between the preseason and that first game, he was far too sloppy and careless with the ball at critical times for my liking. It won't surprise me that he ends up being Slot's fourth choice midfielder after Wirtz, Macca and Grav this season. Wirtz also needs some time, but him I'm least worried about as he's shown enough signs why he was the club's priority signing for the summer in terms of how important he'll be for us not just this season but going foward beyond that.


I strongly believe if we fix our defensive issues (both in terms of tactics and personel shortfalls) we are actually a stronger team this season than the one that won last season.
And we need to be as the challenge is tougher this season.

[miller0863]

We are really short of numbers not quality. Best 11 we are a match for anyone but one CF just one LW and one RWF plus Chiesa?? Come on that’s not enough to win the League.

34 year old Virgil, plus injury prone Gomez and Konate, the latter running down his contract. That enough??

[Kev0909]

We are really short of numbers not quality. Best 11 we are a match for anyone but one CF just one LW and one RWF plus Chiesa?? Come on that’s not enough to win the League.

34 year old Virgil, plus injury prone Gomez and Konate, the latter running down his contract. That enough??

Not sure how anyone can say new signings apart from Wirtz who hasn't replaced anyone really.. are better yet either, one game gone.

And we look even more dodgy at the back without "over the hill" robbo, and "I can't defend" Trent

And no Ekitike, is not better than Diaz,Nunez,Jota combined.

but Not to worry we're going to have endo running up and down the wings

meanwhile arsenal now have 9 players for 3 forward places, at least 6 of them are good, same with midfield and defense good options.

[Crimson Dynasty]

We are really short of numbers not quality. Best 11 we are a match for anyone but one CF just one LW and one RWF plus Chiesa?? Come on that’s not enough to win the League.

34 year old Virgil, plus injury prone Gomez and Konate, the latter running down his contract. That enough??

I agreed with you that we need a new CB - which is why I said that Guehi should be our priority signing right now and not Isak.

But at the same time, having that extra depth up front wouldn't be a bad thing - especially having lost 3 CF's (counting Diaz as a center forward as that's where he played the majority of last season), while essentially only having two now (Ekitike and Chiesa.

But even lacking those possible new additions, I don't believe we're as bad as fourth best title favourites likely to be challenging instead for a place in the Champions' League rather than the title itself.

City and Arsenal are each just as vulnerable, and a critical injury away from a failed title challenge themselves this season.

Of course, people on this board love talking down the team regardless of who the personel are.
Wanted Darwin gone because he couldn't find the back of the net and as soon as they get their wish and we get Ekitike, suddenly Ekitike's (already) shit.

And pretending like we were better defensiviely last year with Trent in our backline when his flank has been the flank we've conceded the most goals scored against from, us spanning all the way back to the last years of Klopp, - while he was also the one player, not just in the team but in the league writ large, who was beaten more times than anyone else in one-on-one's......is......well,.....something.

But we all now know that 'Local Hero' had eyes for Madrid for several years and his fanclub are still having a hard time coping with that fact.

Not our problem anymore as far as I'm concerned.

[Ravo19]

Hmm,what news will we wake up to tomorrow?

[Insidious]

Hmm,what news will we wake up to tomorrow?

This would be great -

Hope the fast-spreading rumour that Isak is already done and it will be announced this week (£135m) holds some accuracy.

Would be nice to have that whole affair put to bed either way.

Better still if it comes with a win.

Tonight is going to be difficult.

[Kev0909]

Another failed bid, this time for Larsen 50m

[RedMagic]

Apparently Larsen cost £20m and only permanently signed for the club in July.