Who would you buy?

[Dave-D]

While I don't think Kompany has been anything like as key for them in recent years - he's been injured so often they had to learn to mostly play without him - I think going into the season with only three senior CBs (two of which, Stones and Otamendi, are hardly top-drawer either) looks like the sort of thing that could potentially derail a season.

Mendy also isn’t expected to be fit for the start of the season so they either play Angelino or Laporte at LB meaning a CB pairing of Stones and Otamendi could well start the season.

 

[Kopstar]

Mendy also isn’t expected to be fit for the start of the season so they either play Angelino or Laporte at LB meaning a CB pairing of Stones and Otamendi could well start the season.

Zinchenko?

 

[Dave-D]

Zinchenko?

Is he now seen as a LB by City. I thought he was like Delph used at LB but not actually a LB

 

[Kopstar]

Is he now seen as a LB by City. I thought he was like Delph used at LB but not actually a LB

I'm not sure but I thought he played a lot of games for them there and did pretty well?

 

[Limiescouse]

While I don't think Kompany has been anything like as key for them in recent years - he's been injured so often they had to learn to mostly play without him - I think going into the season with only three senior CBs (two of which, Stones and Otamendi, are hardly top-drawer either) looks like the sort of thing that could potentially derail a season.

I would ave said the same thing this time last year, or even at Christmas. But if you look at the last 3 months of the season I think that shows how important he continued to be for them. When it got to business time, their 50 million quid CB was not favoured and the gaffer came back in. And not only was he sensational in the pivotal game against, he also scored possibly the most important goal of the season. He exit is a MASSIVE hole for them to fill.

 

[KillerBeeLFC]

While I don't think Kompany has been anything like as key for them in recent years - he's been injured so often they had to learn to mostly play without him - I think going into the season with only three senior CBs (two of which, Stones and Otamendi, are hardly top-drawer either) looks like the sort of thing that could potentially derail a season.

Yea he has been out a lot but he was no doubt a big presence at the club. Seemed to always come straight back in when fit which maybe indicates they feel they're weaker without him.
It'll be interesting to see how they do.

Don't understand why they weren't in for De Ligt

Haven't you heard Pep crying poverty? Quite funny really

 

[OLDIE]

This has to be the big question of the preseason - Who WILL we buy?

We all know the names linked - so today I will pick 1 player for the 4 positions that most of us think need strengthening.

Goalie

I would tell Migs that he stays - like it or not. Klopp though will probably tell him to leave. So who would I replace him with?

We need a number 2 keeper that has experience of playing in the Premier League, a keeper that wont cost much in wages or transfer fee; a keeper that the squad will accept as a decent option if Alisson get hurt or banned.

Burnley have a good couple of keepers and I would go for Tom Heaton as Migs replacement.

Left Back

This is a tricky one, who the fuck will want to play as a second fiddle player to Robertson ? The player will need to be exceptionally good to avoid a massive drop off; the player will cost a fortune (relatively speaking for a reserve) and will only get game time in the FA & League Cups.

I wouldn't bring anyone in - We have a number of players that can do a job at left back and alternative systems whereby the left back is actually a left midfielder/winger.

Attacking Midfielder

I am worried that Ox may spend more time out hurt than available. I am not sure that Coutinho would be the best option for us. We have moved on since he left and he has moved backwards. I would bring in an experienced player that we were linked to many years ago - scores goals and can dominate long periods of a match. He will be expensive but his game will suit us. The player wants to leave his club and is more than likely available, I am not sure whether Spurs would sell him to us? Christian Erikson would be my choice.

Forward

There is only 1 player that has been linked with us that I would go for.

Timo Werner - He can play in all of the front 3 positions and scores a regular amount of goals. His work rate is exceptional and he is good enough to "threaten" the front 3 for their starting place.

 

[SithBaare]

This has to be the big question of the preseason - Who WILL we buy?

We all know the names linked - so today I will pick 1 player for the 4 positions that most of us think need strengthening.

Goalie

I would tell Migs that he stays - like it or not. Klopp though will probably tell him to leave. So who would I replace him with?

We need a number 2 keeper that has experience of playing in the Premier League, a keeper that wont cost much in wages or transfer fee; a keeper that the squad will accept as a decent option if Alisson get hurt or banned.

Burnley have a good couple of keepers and I would go for Tom Heaton as Migs replacement.

Left Back

This is a tricky one, who the fuck will want to play as a second fiddle player to Robertson ? The player will need to be exceptionally good to avoid a massive drop off; the player will cost a fortune (relatively speaking for a reserve) and will only get game time in the FA & League Cups.

I wouldn't bring anyone in - We have a number of players that can do a job at left back and alternative systems whereby the left back is actually a left midfielder/winger.

Attacking Midfielder

I am worried that Ox may spend more time out hurt than available. I am not sure that Coutinho would be the best option for us. We have moved on since he left and he has moved backwards. I would bring in an experienced player that we were linked to many years ago - scores goals and can dominate long periods of a match. He will be expensive but his game will suit us. The player wants to leave his club and is more than likely available, I am not sure whether Spurs would sell him to us? Christian Erikson would be my choice.

Forward

There is only 1 player that has been linked with us that I would go for.

Timo Werner - He can play in all of the front 3 positions and scores a regular amount of goals. His work rate is exceptional and he is good enough to "threaten" the front 3 for their starting place.

Overoptimistic Changes
1. Reina as a backup GK, Perfect means for him to wind up his career.
2. Ryan Sessegnon as a Left sided Defender/Midfielder
3. Kai Havertz as competition for the three fwds with origi and brewster in the mix as well

Realistic Ones
1. Mignolet to stay on failing with one of the free agents as a third choice (I see Michael Vorm is available) with one of the younger guys , Kelleher/Atherton being second choice. Allison isn't gonna miss much matches and am. Good decision made on Grabara to be getting game time with Huddersfield.
2. Agree that Liverpool have to promote someone from within as no one is going to be coming here to play second fiddle to Andy. Not ones which FSG would be interested in spending the cash with anyway.
3. No one. Stick with the guys we have.

 

[Hope in your heart]

Not sure, but I seem to remember our boys delivering Barcelona the kind of thumping that they may not recover from, and I’m sure that Firmino and Salah weren’t playing.

Thought that myself too. Let's not forget that Shaqiri and Origi were a full part of the team which dismantled Barca that night. For some weird reason, they aren't part of our squad depht for next season according to some, and that's before taking Brewster and maybe Wilson into the equation...

Edit: and Ox, and Lallana if he can stay fit this time.

 

[Anfield rd Dreamer]

People do realise we only played one game all of last season with two out of our front 3 missing right? I know the Barca result was an amazing, perfect, performance. But people can't seriously expect that level? We had far more disappointing games when one of the three were missing or when two or all three played looking tired and jaded. It was an amazing night but it was unique. If that was really what happened every time we sat out two of our front 3 then we should be doing it practically every game.

 

[Sweeting]

People do realise we only played one game all of last season with two out of our front 3 missing right? I know the Barca result was an amazing, perfect, performance. But people can't seriously expect that level? We had far more disappointing games when one of the three were missing or when two or all three played looking tired and jaded. It was an amazing night but it was unique. If that was really what happened every time we sat out two of our front 3 then we should be doing it practically every game.

I don't remember many disappointing games at all last season to be honest.

 

[ILLOK]

We had far more disappointing games when one of the three were missing or when two or all three played looking tired and jaded.

Everton, United, Red Star.

That's about it, really.

The rest of the time we were sound - PSG, Porto, Barca, Spurs. Burnley away (started with none of them), Newcastle away, Wolves, Watford, Huddersfield x2,

 

[Anfield rd Dreamer]

We went through a period from 03/01/19 against City till 24/02/19 against United when in 9 games we only scored more than once in 2 of them. Our attack looked tired and overplayed. We lost our only defeat in the league, drew in the champions league and went out the cup. In the 7 league games we dropped 9 points. In my eyes how tired we were over that period is what was the only thing that could have been in our power to effect and give us the league. Such a small margin but if our attack had of been fresher and given us that one extra goal in one of those draws we'd be sitting with a Premier League title to go with our Champions League title.

For instance on a game we could have won but two of our front 3 were out of form;

How Liverpool rated in frustrating draw with West Ham

Ian Doyle runs the rule over Liverpool's performance after the Reds drop two points against the Hammers

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

West Ham 1-1 Liverpool: Player Ratings

A poor night at the office

www.thisisanfield.com

Or when all three had a bad day;

How Liverpool rated in frustrating draw with Man United

Jurgen Klopp's side squander the chance to take all three points at Old Trafford after a frustrating 0-0 draw

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

Man United 0-0 Liverpool: Player Ratings

Not a good afternoon for the forwards.

www.thisisanfield.com

We want our attack at its spectacular best consistently then these three top talents need resting so they can be 100% when they take the field. Other teams can't cope with them when they do. But despite their good form with injuries they are only human. They never seem to get summers off and we literally play them into the ground every season. We will end up seeing repeats of what happened with Owen and Torres if we aren't careful.

Good BBC article:

Liverpool & Man City: Could Reds' attacking absences derail Premier League bid?

Liverpool are preparing for the new season without their entire first-choice front line, so could it cost them given the title race is again expected to be settled by small margins?

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[cynicaloldgit]

... if our attack had of been fresher and given us that one extra goal in one of those draws the officials had done their jobs properly and awarded us a penalty against Leicester and sent off Kompany at the Emptihad, we'd be sitting with a Premier League title to go with our Champions League title.

FIFY

 

[Anfield rd Dreamer]

FIFY

Never going to be in our control. Whether it's a level playing field or not is for another thread. When considering "who would you buy" need to look at the situation we are in and what it would take to win in the situation we are in.

 

[cynicaloldgit]

Never going to be in our control. Whether it's a level playing field or not is for another thread. When considering "who would you buy" need to look at the situation we are in and what it would take to win in the situation we are in.

The “situation we are in” is that we have the best team in the country, and quite possibly Europe. Nobody can stand still, however, and we need to strengthen in terms of depth.

 

[Jimmyscase]

People do realise we only played one game all of last season with two out of our front 3 missing right? I know the Barca result was an amazing, perfect, performance. But people can't seriously expect that level? We had far more disappointing games when one of the three were missing or when two or all three played looking tired and jaded. It was an amazing night but it was unique. If that was really what happened every time we sat out two of our front 3 then we should be doing it practically every game.

I think the Barça game was a one-off like you. What happened worked via Barça's over-confident approach to defending against a second-string attack and the reverse psychology of having nothing to lose but plenty to prove in Div and Shaq's case.

 

[Anfield rd Dreamer]

The “situation we are in” is that we have the best team in the country, and quite possibly Europe. Nobody can stand still, however, and we need to strengthen in terms of depth.

I just want our attacking depth and left back depth to be as good as our depth at GK, CB, RB and CM. I don't understand why it rubs so many up the wrong way. Oh well.

 

[Jimmyscase]

I just want our attacking depth and left back depth to be as good as our depth at GK, CB, RB and CM. I don't understand why it rubs so many up the wrong way. Oh well.

I've kept out of these lack of summer signings debates because I still expect something is lined up with a lot of other deals having to happen first. If nothing comes off though, I reserve the right to be disappointed and a little concerned.

 

[Anfield rd Dreamer]

I think the Barça game was a one-off like you. What happened worked via Barça's over-confident approach to defending against a second-string attack and the reverse psychology of having nothing to lose but plenty to prove in Div and Shaq's case.

It was an unbelievable achievement. Up there with our very best achievements in Europe, a club with some of the best European pedigree on the planet. I just don't think we can rely on that. Origi has scored some important goals but his team link up play is second rate. He doesn't link up right and doesn't mesh well with our attacking play. Think that's why he has been left on the left wing a few times. He can stay out there and just run in a direct manner and cause a bit of mayhem. Maybe Klopp can get more out of him next season but its not like he is new for Klopp. Klopp has tried and given up on him before.

 

[Dutch]

Don't understand why they weren't in for De Ligt

Guardiola does not do business with Raiola.

 

[Zinedine Biscan]

Guardiola does not do business with Raiola.

Sound policy, tbf.

 

[Jimmyscase]

It was an unbelievable achievement. Up there with our very best achievements in Europe, a club with some of the best European pedigree on the planet. I just don't think we can rely on that. Origi has scored some important goals but his team link up play is second rate. He doesn't link up right and doesn't mesh well with our attacking play. Think that's why he has been left on the left wing a few times. He can stay out there and just run in a direct manner and cause a bit of mayhem. Maybe Klopp can get more out of him next season but its not like he is new for Klopp. Klopp has tried and given up on him before.

Klopp wants a fringe player who knows where the goalposts are and can hold up play get a free-kick or two in the last five minutes when we're leading by a single goal. He may have found him. If he expects more from Origi now, it really is a 50:50 call on whether he gets it.
What he doesn't need is a 'fan favourite' or club emblem playing more than he should.

 

[Zinedine Biscan]

It was an unbelievable achievement. Up there with our very best achievements in Europe, a club with some of the best European pedigree on the planet. I just don't think we can rely on that. Origi has scored some important goals but his team link up play is second rate. He doesn't link up right and doesn't mesh well with our attacking play. Think that's why he has been left on the left wing a few times. He can stay out there and just run in a direct manner and cause a bit of mayhem. Maybe Klopp can get more out of him next season but its not like he is new for Klopp. Klopp has tried and given up on him before.

I think this piece on the BBC is timely given your point of view in this thread:

Liverpool & Man City: Could Reds' attacking absences derail Premier League bid?

Liverpool are preparing for the new season without their entire first-choice front line, so could it cost them given the title race is again expected to be settled by small margins?

www.bbc.co.uk

And that's before we consider we'll be playing a bunch more games this season (possibly 10 or more above what we played last season). I think there's definitely scope for bringing in a Fekir or Pepe (for example) without worrying about upsetting squad balance or they'd be playing too few games.

A big concern is that, given how Klopp likes to slowly bed in players, the ship has probably already sailed given our most immediate problem is the availability of our front three - Mane most of all - in light of their summer commitments. I think we're just going to have to hope the like of Brewster, Wilson and Origi are ready to step up.

I would say, though, they could easily write a similar piece on the fact City look like going into the season with only 3 senior CBs available, which is just as likely to cost them as our arguably thin attack is to cost us.

 

[ILLOK]

We went through a period from 03/01/19 against City till 24/02/19 against United when in 9 games we only scored more than once in 2 of them. Our attack looked tired and overplayed.

Sure, because that suits your argument. In reality there is little basis for such a statement.

In that time period we had numerous long breaks. 7 days between Brighton and Palace. 11 days between Palace and Leicester. 10 days between Bournemouth and Munich. It was actually one of the times in the season where we had long breaks between matches.

We even had time for a trip to Dubai ffs

What actually happened is we had a dip, as is normal for every team. Numerous players came down with illnesses if you remember correctly. Klopp hadn't quite settled on a midfield combo. Numerous injuries at centre back. Trent got injured.

It was a combination of things all coming at once. What it wasn't was too many games for our front 3 to handle.

 

[redfanman]

We went through a period from 03/01/19 against City till 24/02/19 against United when in 9 games we only scored more than once in 2 of them. Our attack looked tired and overplayed. We lost our only defeat in the league, drew in the champions league and went out the cup. In the 7 league games we dropped 9 points. In my eyes how tired we were over that period is what was the only thing that could have been in our power to effect and give us the league. Such a small margin but if our attack had of been fresher and given us that one extra goal in one of those draws we'd be sitting with a Premier League title to go with our Champions League title.

For instance on a game we could have won but two of our front 3 were out of form;

How Liverpool rated in frustrating draw with West Ham

Ian Doyle runs the rule over Liverpool's performance after the Reds drop two points against the Hammers

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

West Ham 1-1 Liverpool: Player Ratings

A poor night at the office

www.thisisanfield.com

Or when all three had a bad day;

How Liverpool rated in frustrating draw with Man United

Jurgen Klopp's side squander the chance to take all three points at Old Trafford after a frustrating 0-0 draw

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

Man United 0-0 Liverpool: Player Ratings

Not a good afternoon for the forwards.

www.thisisanfield.com

We want our attack at its spectacular best consistently then these three top talents need resting so they can be 100% when they take the field. Other teams can't cope with them when they do. But despite their good form with injuries they are only human. They never seem to get summers off and we literally play them into the ground every season. We will end up seeing repeats of what happened with Owen and Torres if we aren't careful.

Good BBC article:

Liverpool & Man City: Could Reds' attacking absences derail Premier League bid?

Liverpool are preparing for the new season without their entire first-choice front line, so could it cost them given the title race is again expected to be settled by small margins?

www.bbc.co.uk

From what i remember, our major problem during that period was not so much with the attack being tired but more to do with a number of defensive options being out either injured, or down with flu (including Trent) and suspended (Milner).

We had 7 league games during that period, a league cup game and CL game against one of the favourites for the tie. The league cup game we played a second string who had never played together because that was all that was available - against a good Wolves side that beat much stronger that season - and they almost held their own.

We played quite defensively against Bayern and Utd, as did they, so that team orders probably played a greater role here.

It can also be argued that any tiredness was as much from the training camp Klopp took the players on midseason as it was fatigue from the amount of football being played.

 

[redfanman]

I think this piece on the BBC is timely given your point of view in this thread:

Liverpool & Man City: Could Reds' attacking absences derail Premier League bid?

Liverpool are preparing for the new season without their entire first-choice front line, so could it cost them given the title race is again expected to be settled by small margins?

www.bbc.co.uk

And that's before we consider we'll be playing a bunch more games this season (possibly 10 or more above what we played last season). I think there's definitely scope for bringing in a Fekir or Pepe (for example) without worrying about upsetting squad balance or they'd be playing too few games.

A big concern is that, given how Klopp likes to slowly bed in players, the ship has probably already sailed given our most immediate problem is the availability of our front three - Mane most of all - in light of their summer commitments. I think we're just going to have to hope the like of Brewster, Wilson and Origi are ready to step up.

I would say, though, they could easily write a similar piece on the fact City look like going into the season with only 3 senior CBs available, which is just as likely to cost them as our arguably thin attack is to cost us.

The long bedding in isnt really an issue - because you can plan to use any new signings towards the second half of the season, giving more rest towards that part of the season.

Is there a mid season break this year, or is that next season?

 

[Herb]

While I don't think Kompany has been anything like as key for them in recent years - he's been injured so often they had to learn to mostly play without him - I think going into the season with only three senior CBs (two of which, Stones and Otamendi, are hardly top-drawer either) looks like the sort of thing that could potentially derail a season.

I’m sure I’ve read that they plan on using Fernandinho in that position when needed, could also use Walker on the right of a three if they go for that formation again. To be honest against most teams in this league they’ll be able to get away Fernandinho back there and his passing out from an even deeper position will be better than any of the CBs they currently have.

 

[eng.amohd]

I am not one to have really high hopes of youngsters in the short term, but I am pretty certain Brewster and Wilson will have a very good impact this season, just like how Trent had last season.
Regarding LB, I think we are forgetting that in addition to Milner and Larouci, we have Gomez and Hoever that can play there too, with Matip, Gomez, Lovren and Sepp rotating besides Virgil.
My biggest concern is a Mane type winger. As I see it, Brewster and Origi could replace Bobby, Wilson for Salah, but we don't have the Mane type winger.

 

[Zinedine Biscan]

The long bedding in isnt really an issue - because you can plan to use any new signings towards the second half of the season, giving more rest towards that part of the season.

Is there a mid season break this year, or is that next season?

It's this season (Feb). My point though was that the point we know for certain we'll need the attacking cover is right at the start of the season - Mane's only now heading off on holiday, probably three weeks, and could miss a bunch of matches before he's back up to speed, while Salah and Firmino aren't a lot further ahead in terms of preparation - which means even if we were to sign someone now it's unlikely they'd be a realistic option for that opening period.

If we were concerned about our cover for that period I think we'd have made a more concerted effort to bring someone in weeks ago, and by extension if Klopp is happy with the current options covering that spell then he's most likely happy with them being cover for the season as a whole. Which makes me think it's unlikely we will bring in anyone.

I'm not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand we'll obviously be fine for the most part, on the other the margin of error for winning the title now is so slim then, hand on heart, I can't say that won't prove to be the difference between finishing first and not.