Jones suspension should be considered served. We await the Slot decision.

Oh, that's right...thanks. My bad...not sure why I thought that.

Slot dragged Nunez a bit for his performance yesterday. He claimed he wasn't upset due to missing his chances, but rather how his work rate dipped after he missed chances. For me it's clear that the work rate has dropped throughout most of the team. Trent, Mo, Nunez, Jones and Jota all look to be moving slower or jogging more than earlier in the campaign. Szobo, Gravy and Macca still give great efforts, but they also look a touch slower and could use a bit of a break. I definitely think Slot needs to play Elliot more for Szobo. He is a real special talent and I'm surprised he doesn't play him. Endo should also be getting more minutes. He should be taking more of Macca and Gravy's minutes at the end of games. Elliot and Endo are quality players that should absolutely be trusted in more.

To me, this shows a clear weakness in Slots managing style. If he was managing in the dutch league, with only domestic aspirations, he could run his core players all day long without issue. He needs to adjust slightly if he wants to win multiple trophies at liverpool. He is happy to use subs to protect often injured players, but he neglects the impact of fatigue on long term performance of durable players. He needs to be subbing that midfield trio more often to keep them fresh. We have really good depth, he just needs to trust it.

I agree on all fronts. I also believe that Slot really tries to avoid having any two of Mac Allister, Elliott or Endo on field at one time because of their stature and so on. I don't necessarily agree with it, at least as far as Elliott is concerned, but I think this is what he does. I too would find a way to get Elliott more minutes, especially right behind whoever is up front. He is so gifted in the final third, and tbh why not just play Szbo as a true false 9 sometimes and let Elliott slot in behind him. It would allow you to get another great passer on the field to get the ball to Salah and Gakpo.

PSG huh?

I'm not scared, but more annoyed that Arsenal get PSV and we get one of the biggest spending teams on the planet. In fairness Arsenal did get Madrid or Atletico in the second round.

Definitely got the tougher side of the bracket as Barcelona got Benfica and then winner of Dortmund-Lille.

I think we can beat PSG and handle whoever in the QF (Brugge-Villa). We should get to at least the SF imo.

Tksymm7 said:

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I'm not scared, but more annoyed that Arsenal get PSV and we get one of the biggest spending teams on the planet. In fairness Arsenal did get Madrid or Atletico in the second round.

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Crazy how the draws always play out to get big matches in each round...almost like it's rigged

jeffk said:

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PSG huh?

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Bring it! Glad we're facing a good team because it's just simply more exciting.

Yeah, they're dangerous but also very beatable.

All the English clubs are in the same half of the draw as well. PSG doesn't overly concern me, but they will be tough matches. PSG - Southampton - PSG. If Slot wants to rotate, that Southampton fixture is your best chance. The league is priority, but I agree, like Klopp he doesn't like to rotate. I think it's more of an indication that he doesn't rate several guys on this team. He's going to have to trust them to make it through. It goes back to lack of depth...beyond the first 13 or so the drop off is significant. Depth isn't depth if it's not quality. City can plonk down $200MM in January, but we can't (won't). The PL calendar is ridiculous.

gougler08 said:

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Tksymm7 said:

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I'm not scared, but more annoyed that Arsenal get PSV and we get one of the biggest spending teams on the planet. In fairness Arsenal did get Madrid or Atletico in the second round.

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Crazy how the draws always play out to get big matches in each round...almost like it's rigged

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This year's is as seeded as it's ever been. It was a 50/50 between Liverpool and Barca as to who got PSG. Both Liverpool/Barca were supposed to get a relatively easy draw under this new format but the problem is that PSG underperformed in the group so they fell to a seed that doesn't reflect their quality.

I've always felt the best (and most entertaining) solution would be to let teams pick their opponents in seeded order. It would truly reward the higher seeds if they had an option to pick their first round match ups instead of being held hostage to this incredibly unpredictable format. I also think it would be great theatre to watch teams publicly pick who they wanted to play. It would definitely spice up some narratives.

This is my favorite option too. You could also place certain restrictions to a team's choices, i.e. can't pick from same country or teams you played in league phase. To me, it's a shame that Bayern and Leverkusen and both Madrids are meeting in the knockouts.

I agree that I think it's more of an indication that Slot just doesn't rate some of those guys highly (Elliott, Endo, Chiesa). You cannot tell me Harvey Elliott couldn't help this team, at least in spurts, yet we never see him in a meaningful game. It is what it is at this point, and I am sure we'll see some decent squad turnover this summer as Slot now knows the guys he likes and doesn't like. I just hope that we get deals done with Salah and VVD so we can continue to be successful while we do transition to the next group under Slot.

That being said, I don't envy being a team like Liverpool, because we can go on and on and on about depth and needing more quality depth etc., but what good player is coming to Liverpool to be good quality depth? Maybe a CB, LB, or winger because we have aging stars there that most likely only have two years or so left, but we aren't getting a good established midfielder to come play fourth or fifth fiddle. We aren't' going to get an Anthony Gordon to come play every other game behind Gakpo and Salah etc. At least I don't think so, but I could be wrong.

Tksymm7 said:

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I agree that I think it's more of an indication that Slot just doesn't rate some of those guys highly (Elliott, Endo, Chiesa). You cannot tell me Harvey Elliott couldn't help this team, at least in spurts, yet we never see him in a meaningful game. It is what it is at this point, and I am sure we'll see some decent squad turnover this summer as Slot now knows the guys he likes and doesn't like. I just hope that we get deals done with Salah and VVD so we can continue to be successful while we do transition to the next group under Slot.

That being said, I don't envy being a team like Liverpool, because we can go on and on and on about depth and needing more quality depth etc., but what good player is coming to Liverpool to be good quality depth? Maybe a CB, LB, or winger because we have aging stars there that most likely only have two years or so left, but we aren't getting a good established midfielder to come play fourth or fifth fiddle. We aren't' going to get an Anthony Gordon to come play every other game behind Gakpo and Salah etc. At least I don't think so, but I could be wrong.

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I agree on Elliott 100% by the way. Slot doesn't rate him but I do…and if that doesn't change we should sell him and go buy someone else.

The only way to get depth when at the top of the table is to bring in guys that are talented enough to start and grow internal competition. Look at City and even Chelsea…players come to them all the time with no guarantee of PT. Push the front line by bringing in guys like Gordon or Isak. Bring in more midfielders and let the cream rise to the top. It's the only way.

Oh yeah, also sell players that our skipper doesn't rate so that we can buy ones he does! That's the most frustrating thing about this club.

I don't mind how we've done business the last two or three years, or the lack there of, considering all of the moving parts at the club. I also don't agree with how Chelsea have done business, however, with that being said, this is a massive summer for this club.

Klopp is obviously gone, and we only have remnants of a bygone era (VVD, Salah and Trent who's leaving), so it's time for this club to step up and spend 150+ million in a transfer window. And more than anything I think this club needs another rising superstar (or two). I love Konate, Gravenberch, Szbo, and Gakpo, they are world class players in their own right, but none of them are truly world class like what we've had with VVD, Salah and peak Mane. I think this team needs another player of that ilk (obviously they don't have to be all-timers like VVD and Salah), but getting a player like Florian Wirtz, Jude Bellingham (sigh), Ademola Lookman, Jeremie Frimpong or Gyokores. Guys who are superstars on the world stage right now and who can come here and be that same guy.

ETA: I refuse to believe that Newcastle will sell Isak, let along to anyone in the EPL, let alone to Liverpool. I'll also put some respect on Szbo and Gravenberch. I think they can be that elite elite level, but it'll take more time.

Hammers!

8 pt lead with 12 to play.

I always liked Jarrod Bowen

10 more wins needed!

I think we have a healthy enough GD that 9 wins and a draw over the last 12 games should just about do it

Pep says Haaland is doubtful with an injury...translation: He will 100% be in the starting line up.