Definitely soft, but that's 100% a foul in every area of the pitch and he limits his ability to get to the ball after the header. Go finish this one out.

agree. karma from the galatasaray pen. which I believe was called against Szobo.

Is this what it feels like to be on this side of VAR?

Agree 100%. I said in a previous post that this problem lies at Slot and above. Poorly constructed team overall, and the Isak deal was so unnecessary and so unlike Liverpool. Along with being such a bad fit. Maybe it will turn out ok somehow, but Ekitike is better in every facet and the wasted money that could have been spent on other needed players like you said, and it can't be said enough.

I am not ready to give up on Frimpong or Kerkez by any means, but the smaller size in the back concerns me (and my one problem with Guehi...but he is so great (if utilized properly) that's ok). And CP wasn't letting him go this year, so not sure what else could be done there. Leoni going down really sucked too.

I haven't given up on Frimpong. I was really excited by his signing and I think he was signed as the heir to Mo, not TAA. Hopefully he will get right soon. His speed could really transform our attack. I think he could be a great pairing with Connor on the right side. Both would be very interchangeable.

Kerkez we have seen plenty of...and he is an idiot. Hopefully he can learn from Robbo, but he always seems to do the dumbest thing possible.

I really wanted us to sign Fofana when we were chasing Isak. I think it would have added something we really needed.

That was a great team win.

Szobo will get the MOTM and rightfully deserved it, but CuJo was incredible today. 99% passes completed and ran further than anyone on the team.

I thought that formation had some promise, especially when Connor got in the game. Without Gakpo and Mo the attack felt less predictable. We struggled at times to figure out how to play, but that comes when you make changes.

I'd like to see the same starting lineup vs Brighton this weekend.

*wrong emoji*

I'll second everything that's been said. Really solid team win. Not flashy, not necessarily smooth, but they were locked in defensively a little more like a cohesive unit a times.

I think some of that can be contributed to not having Salah there and then also some to playing a diamond in midfield. Let's call a spade a spade, we don't have out and out wingers or enough pace in this team to play a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 right now, so the diamond, while giving up width, gave us the ability to contest almost every ball in midfield and have the extra man there to control/receive the ball. Only difference is Wirtz needs to be the guy behind the strikers. That's what he's made for. Gomez is also not the ideal fit at RB either but it is what it is right now.

We absolutely need to see it again this weekend, and Gakpo can play up top as well. So that gives you three guys for two spots. An interesting conversation exists for if we see the team improve a bit playing like this, do we try to buy two more CBs in January and go full bore into a 3-4-12? Because I think we're pretty close to being a perfect fit for that.

I've been reading a lot over the last few days about the Mo Salah situation from various former players, journalists, and pundits. I agree with some, disagree with others. And that's all fine & dandy, it's good to have differing views in a debate/discussion.

However, Jamie Carragher seems to have this real vendetta against Salah. To the point it is quite irritating. He criticizes him at every possible opportunity. He claims to love him and knows he is a club legend, but belittles Egypt and AFCON. Full disclosure, I've never really liked him so I may be going in a little to harsh on him. But I think he is an annoying loudmouth who is quite full of himself. Which I guess makes for a good pundit, but he just comes off to me as not a good person. I know everyone who doesn't like him brings up "the spitting incident" ad nauseum but I think that is a good snapshot of who he is when he thinks the cameras are not on. He comes off to me as someone who thinks he is better than he actually is. This isn't really relevant to the current criticism of him but in terms of Liverpool defenders, I don't think he cracks the top 10. (For the record, give me Emlyn Hughes, Ron Yeats, Tommy Smith, Mark Lawrenson, Phil Thompson, Alan Hansen, Sami Hyypia, Daniel Agger, Joel Matip, and VvD 8 days a week over him). Mohamed Salah, on the other hand, is a top 5 all-time Liverpool player (For the record, I think Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard, Ian Rush, Mo Salah, and John Barnes make up that list.)

He (and the rest of the pundits) are free to say whatever he likes. But him tweeting that he has never wanted Liverpool to get a win more than last night. And then rubbing everyone's noses in it with a "Get in!" is a step too far for me. I don't agree with how Salah went about his frustration [see previous post], but I also don't agree with Carragher's behavior. If we are going to call out players when they perform poorly, we should hold the former players making public comments to a similar standard when they act poorly as well.

Just my two cents. Had a few mins at work and wanted to see what everyone else here thinks of him and this situation.

If Xabi Alonso were to get sacked by Madrid (which is crazy), do we think Liverpool would get involved in trying to bring him in? I don't think it's any secret that Liverpool wanted Xabi and he was their first choice.

Slot met with Mo today. They had, what appears to be, a positive conversation. They are bringing him back to the squad. The situation is in no way "handled", but Slot specifically made the choice to bring Mo back because its best for the team.

I've expressed my displeasure at Slot a few times this year, but I think it would be great if it worked out for him here. He is a very likeable character and handles most situations really well. In an interview last week Allison went out of his way to point out that the team still believes in Slot's "knowledge". I think the players really respect his understanding of the game and believe in him. The next few weeks are critical. If he can get us in a good run of form it will completely reshape the narrative around him.

I think it would go a long way with the fans to go back to the diamond in midfield with two strikers up top, and would show that Slot understands what our deficiencies are and that he would rather sacrifice some offensive umph for being much more solid defensively.

Salah back on squad as a sub. Bradley suspended due to yellows, so Gomez in his place. No available backup/sub for back 4 except Robo.

Let's do this

Here's the whole squad for anyone interested. I would guess they're going to use Wirtz next to Ekitike and go back to the diamond in midfield. I'd love to see Wirtz behind the two strikers but I don't think we have enough truly fit guys.

I'm hearing we should sell Isak?

Ekitike!!

Should have never got him

That was a heinous attempt at a clearance and save haha

This game screams counter attack but we just cannot do it.

Brighton aren't letting anyone deep pass the ball forward. Everything is wide.

And out goes Gomez per usual.

Gomez out would be killer. Been brilliant and no backup

Unreal. I love Joe but my god go out and get two CBs in two weeks.

Salah coming in

Man Ekitike can really run when he's going full bore.

Best we have looked in a while imo. Just can't
get that 2nd goal yet

Agreed. Wirtz looks better and better and better. I truly believe if we get a few legit wingers who can consistently get in behind the back line, that we'll see him at his best. I think he wants to do things we just don't have the guys to do right now.

Also, the decision to drop Jones into the 6 alongside Gravvy has been a game changer. He's probably our best player with the ball at his feet to control a game. That also allows Gravvy, Szbo and Maca to get up field more often. I don't personally love Mac Allister that high up the pitch physically but it does take advantage of his skill more.

Need that 2nd goal, Brighton knocking on the door more and more

Watching us try to counter makes me so sad.

Can't counter worth a crap

Ekitike !!

If Szo is out….

Bringing in Isak. Would be good to see him part of the counter.

Ekitike is gassed.

I know this; I will never not give credit to Kerkez for being an absolute mfing dawg.

Curtis is also FILTHY

Y'all see Salah just now at the end of the match?

Last one to leave the field, clapping the fans in appreciation, wry smile on his face.

Last game for Salah in a Liverpool shirt?

Another great team win. Slot has definitely found something lately with our formation. He is playing all of our midfielders, which maximizes the talent on the field and provides a great bit of balance.

A nice reintroduction for Mo back into the squad, but there is a chance that was his last Liverpool game of his career. If we get a good bid for Mo over the winter, we have to take it. Today, provided a great example of why. Mo had many moments where a younger version would have outraced the opposition and scored/created a chance. Today he got out run down the pitch by VVD...

He just doesn't have those jets anymore that made him a real dangerous player. Prime Mo Salah used to absolutely terrorize defenders with his pace. He could defend deep and still rocket down the wing win possession switched. As he lost a step, he defended less but his ability was still good enough to carry us last year. Sadly, father time is undefeated. He has lost too much pace to be a starter in a top squad in the EPL. His passing is still top level, but without the pace he is just a role player. He's going to be gone for a while for AFCON and when he returns he will likely be gassed from international duty. I think now is the time to sell.

As Mo fades, Hugo rises. He was special today.