The Bigfooty Liverpool Thread - Champions of England

[Mr Meow]

We will have a fair idea after the Brighton game.

Having switched to something like a 4-4-2, there is no reason Salah couldn't play on the right of Ekitike up front, with Wirtz, Jones, Grav and Szob behind. Isak was livelier early yesterday but then drifted out of the game. Watching how Ekitike retains possession and drops deep to receive only highlights the things Isak is struggling at.

I don't mind the idea of the diamond, it's just that Isak still looks so rusty and we can't get him into the game.

I actually wouldn't be opposed to using Wirtz as a smaller 2nd striker. It might build his connection with Ekitike and it keeps him forward where he's more useful.

 

[The Punter]

I don't mind the idea of the diamond, it's just that Isak still looks so rusty and we can't get him into the game.

I actually wouldn't be opposed to using Wirtz as a smaller 2nd striker. It might build his connection with Ekitike and it keeps him forward where he's more useful.

We need players if Wirtz, Szob, Jones, Mac and Grav are all starting in the same team.

Looks like Harvey Elliott will be back at the club in a few weeks so that would help.

 

[Mr Meow]

We need players if Wirtz, Szob, Jones, Mac and Grav are all starting in the same team.

Looks like Harvey Elliott will be back at the club in a few weeks so that would help.

I get what you're saying. We can't exclusively use midfielders, even if some of them work well enough in a front 3. I'm only talking about pure on field optimisation based on form. Isak finding his best would help. Mo will be gone for a while even if he does decide to integrate back into the team. Gakpo is injured and everyone here hates him anyway. Chiesa only gets used as a sub.

 

[The Punter]

I get what you're saying. We can't exclusively use midfielders, even if some of them work well enough in a front 3. I'm only talking about pure on field optimisation based on form. Isak finding his best would help. Mo will be gone for a while even if he does decide to integrate back into the team. Gakpo is injured and everyone here hates him anyway. Chiesa only gets used as a sub.

What we do have working for us is a lightening of the schedule in the next few weeks: no midweek games until Christmas.

But playing Wirtz up front in a 4-4-2 this week gives us a bench of Marmardashvilli, Frimpong, (expected back this weekend right?), Robbo, Endo, Chiesa and Isak (with other youngsters to fill it out like Rio or Nyoni who won't get on). Bradley is suspended for this weekend's game.

 

[Zidane98]

What we do have working for us is a lightening of the schedule in the next few weeks: no midweek games until Christmas.

But playing Wirtz up front in a 4-4-2 this week gives us a bench of Marmardashvilli, Frimpong, (expected back this weekend right?), Robbo, Endo, Chiesa and Isak (with other youngsters to fill it out like Rio or Nyoni who won't get on). Bradley is suspended for this weekend's game.

That is annoying as it means Ibou cannot be dropped. I want to see Ibou made to fight for his place. That can only happen if Jogo gets a run at CB. Unfortunately he will be needed at RB as Bradley is unavailable and I don't see Frimpong starting immediately after so long out.


Just on Frimpong he's already had 3 hammy injuries already. Not encouraging for a 25 year old.

 

[Mr Meow]

What we do have working for us is a lightening of the schedule in the next few weeks: no midweek games until Christmas.

But playing Wirtz up front in a 4-4-2 this week gives us a bench of Marmardashvilli, Frimpong, (expected back this weekend right?), Robbo, Endo, Chiesa and Isak (with other youngsters to fill it out like Rio or Nyoni who won't get on). Bradley is suspended for this weekend's game.

I doubt it happens anyway, but in theory if we fielded

Wirtz-----Ekitike
--------Mac---------
Jones------Szobo
---------Grav--------
Kerkez-VVD-Konate-Gomez

You sub Ekitike for Isak, Robbo replaces Kerkez, maybe give Frimpong a run on the right flank, or Chiesa comes on for Mac or Wirtz?

Anyway I'm fine with Isak starting if it comes down to it. Wirtz in attack rather than midfield is something we should try a bit more though IMO. Whether now or later. Get him in and around the box.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

 

[kane249]

Whats the chances of Guehi leaving in this coming transfer window.
Crystal Palace are playing well.
Plus his there Captain?

Van Dijk was Southamptons captain when he left

 

[foxdog50]

Van Dijk was Southamptons captain when he left

True...
But Aston Villa are currently top 4 .
We desperately need him

 

[FreoRicci]

Alonso already on the outer?
Easily back him in for Slot. Real Madrid are a very arrogant fickle bunch

 

[SC_Power]

Alonso already on the outer?
Easily back him in for Slot. Real Madrid are a very arrogant fickle bunch

Anyone not named Zidane or Ancelotti isn’t gonna succeed long term there it seems.

 

[Cooldude]

Real is a club full of Gastons, they want a Le Fou for manager that'll pander to their ego, not a Belle like Xabi

 

[gaskin]

From what I have understood Xabi is too much of a coach when the players want a manager.

 

[RossFC]

 

[CFC_JP]

I get what you're saying. We can't exclusively use midfielders, even if some of them work well enough in a front 3. I'm only talking about pure on field optimisation based on form. Isak finding his best would help. Mo will be gone for a while even if he does decide to integrate back into the team. Gakpo is injured and everyone here hates him anyway. Chiesa only gets used as a sub.

I like Gakpo.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Kiss and make up meeting supposedly just occurred between Mo, Slot, Edwards and Hughes
Hopefully went well

Edit - apologies this is just unconfirmed twitter posts at this stage. My bad

 

[jod23]

Elitike needs to learn to pass

This... a lot of this.

 

[RossFC]

Kiss and make up meeting supposedly just occurred between Mo, Slot, Edwards and Hughes
Hopefully went well

Who reported this?

 

[QuietB]

I get what you're saying. We can't exclusively use midfielders, even if some of them work well enough in a front 3. I'm only talking about pure on field optimisation based on form. Isak finding his best would help. Mo will be gone for a while even if he does decide to integrate back into the team. Gakpo is injured and everyone here hates him anyway. Chiesa only gets used as a sub.

MO’s post today - no Liverpool kit, pretty certain that is not the Liverpool gym, not sure he is coming back

 

[jod23]

Predicted side vs Brighton

------Chiesa-Ekitike
-----------Wirtz
-----Jones-Grav-Dom
Robbo-VVD-Konate-Gomez
----------Alisson

Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Kerkez, Frimpong, Nyoni, Mac Allister, Salah, Ngumoha, Isak

Lol, in no world does Slot ever start Chiesa.

If Slot was showing Chiesa how to drive he wouldnt even let Chiesa start the car.

If Chiesa was in a race, Slot wouldnt start the race.

If Chiesa was hungry and dinner was ready, Slot wouldnt let him start eating.

You get what im saying haha.

 

[RossFC]

Lol, in no world does Slot ever start Chiesa.

If Slot was showing Chiesa how to drive he wouldnt even let Chiesa start the car.

If Chiesa was in a race, Slot wouldnt start the race.

If Chiesa was hungry and dinner was ready, Slot wouldnt let him start eating.

You get what im saying haha.

There is a chance for Salah to be up top with Ekitike due to Chiesa being on Slots shitlist, and Isak being awful.

But Salah himself needs to turn his form around, if he's on a sharp decline then we'd probs have to sell.

 

[jod23]

Don't agree with this at all. Ronaldo was well and truly past it when he went back to United.

Salah just won premier league player of the year, the golden boot and the playmaker award only last season equalling the most ever goal+assists in one year.

You can fall off quick but I don't agree he's still not one of our best players.

Yeah all this moving on from Mo and he's suddenly shit now is bullshit IMO. Has he been at his best this season? No. But literally nobody in the squad outside of Dom and Ali can say they've been any good this season so he's not alone.

Plus losing TAA and a new shape, way of playing has not helped Mo at all.

Again he isnt the problem as to why we've been garbage this season.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Who reported this?

Hmmm... nowhere reputable now that I've gone back to check

 

[jod23]

Bradley was really lively when he came on

I waver between thinking he'll be our first choice RB for a decade and thinking he's not quite at the elite level, a perfect back up/squad player but too much of a downgrade on TAA.

After this morning the pendulum swings back towards the former.

He's a yellow waiting to happen though, every time he's on the pitch. Even that header he contested he jumped into the bloke knee up, like it was a ruck contest. Needs to be a bit smarter.

I like that he's a walking yellow. We dont have enough blokes who are just ready to smash someone. So little physicality in the team at times this season.

 

[QuietB]

Yeah all this moving on from Mo and he's suddenly shit now is bullshit IMO. Has he been at his best this season? No. But literally nobody in the squad outside of Dom and Ali can say they've been any good this season so he's not alone.

Plus losing TAA and a new shape, way of playing has not helped Mo at all.

Again he isnt the problem as to why we've been garbage this season.

I think using Wirtz as a mid/forward between the lines with Ekitike left of him and Mo right of him can work. No central no. 9 gets Mo off the touchline.

I think Slot is getting closer to making this work.

Wirtz has to be supported by three other mids. It is not that he does not defend, he does, but he plays too far forward to support a double pivot of Mac and Grav or whoever.

And on top of that Szo must be on field and must be in the midfield.

So it essentially becomes a 4-4-2 with Wirtz (or Jones as we saw against Milan, or Szo) playing a very forward 10 role (although Jones and Szo are more all action).

We still have not seen this formation although we are getting very close.