Liverpool FC Team Talk, Gossip, Rumours 2024/25

Origi was out of contract after the Champions League final - we wouldn’t have made a penny if he left then. If whatever we get when we sell him is more than his wages over the last 2 years, we’re up.

I must have been watching a different Phillips to most or I'm less sentimental. He was solid to good, nothing more nothing less, he did a fine job. He's 5th choice and if push came to it and we're playing a big game I'd bet Klopp would prefer push Fabinho to CB 

I'd go as far as saying that Philips was genuinely heroic last season for Liverpool. We were in a really sticky situation in defence, and he didn't have the benefit of playing alongside a world class, arguably best in the world player like Van Dijk, as the others did.

Gomez, before his injury, was playing poorly in my opinion. Philips has been better than him.

I don't neccesarily think we should sell Gomez, but neither should we sell Philips.

Are Gomez or Matip significantly faster than Philips? Is their distribution much better? Are they better in the air?

Philips deserves to stay if he wants, and I dont think we would get a lot for him anyway, maybe €10M? We wouldnt get a lot less than that in January, or potentially next summer.

Gomez was/is one of the fastest players at the club. It's his best attribute. Matip I'd only give the edge to in speed over Phillips. Both better with the ball, Matip significantly better. Phillips is better in the air than Gomez but not better than Matip.

There's a significant difference in Gomez and Matip's ability vs Phillips. I didn't think this was a question

Is Elliot going to take the 'Shaq' role in the squad, attacking mid instead of wide man?

Gomez is much much much faster than Philips. Gomez is amongst the fastest CB's around, Philips is amongst the slowest. And that's what it comes down to really - it doesn't matter that Philips wins everything in the air, because he's too slow to play the way Klopp wants to play. Matip is a much better defender than both Gomez and Philips, but is firmly 3rd because he doesn't have Gomez' pace - and that's with having much better broad reading of the game than Philips too.

I'm sure Philips would continue to be very solid in a team that is set up to take care of his weaknesses, but I doubt Klopp has much interest in continuing to play like that. With Konate brought in, and Gomez and Virg back, we'll go back to playing higher up the pitch, with the fullbacks starting positions much further forward.

To be honest, I'm sure he'll want to take advantage of the spotlight he's gotten, and will move on... it's not like he's some Liverpool born and bred lad or something. He came to help improve his footballing career, and leaving now is his best possible chance to maximise his potential.

Ben Davies not even on the bench.

That's about his level, good move for him if it comes together.

Poor effort from Ox there after Keita put him through. Went across the goal, when it seemed like there was a gaping hole right in front of him on the near post to just smash it straight into.

Decent enough half of football, as far as preseason goes.

Naby the best player on the pitch so far. Tsimikas the other standout, after being great the other day too.

Konate really is an incredible presence. Will take him a bit of time to form relationships I'm sure, but he has the lot, and very calm on the ball.

Changing the whole team for the second half....

I've never bought that nonsense argument. He's had brilliant performances. He has no blame for the Real game. His first game back after an injury against a wily midfield. Klopp messed that up completely. When he's fit his pressing was the best in the league.

You'll have to give me specifics.

(Fwiw I'd get rid based on his injuries, but can't deny his best is brilliant)

I don't like to be down on our players, but he spent 42 minutes strolling around the pitch against Madrid. Didn't try a leg, on or off the ball. Sprinted maybe 3 times. In a Champions League Quarter Final. If that lack of energy was just down to fitness, he wouldn't have been cleared to play by the medical staff. It was attitude, mate.

His best game for us was probably his first one. And he was good at Palace last season. That's pretty much all I can think of where he delivered consistently over a whole game, never mind 2 or 3 in a row. The rest of the time, you see some flashes of skill for a couple of minutes and then he disappears out of the game for the next 15 minutes. You want specifics on poor games? Try 90% of his Liverpool appearances.

And I really don't understand where Naby great pressing myth comes from. I do not see him press effectively ever.

I desperately want him to prove me wrong and make me eat my words, but he's been here 3 years and has never delivered. I'll need more than 45 minutes of a friendly to convince me that he'll do otherwise.

Got a giggle from this.

Of the top 4 only United and us have strengthened? We did our one signing so far a month a go, United this week. No one else has done diddly worth mentioning.

We had none of our first team CBs for most the season and still finished 3rd, 5 points behind United. The guts of our team are all back in pre season, our rivals are a week behind in prep if anything. They should be worried.

I know it sounds a bit mad but my first thought when I heard the story about Henderson's contract negotiations and the rumor about us being interested in a West Ham player was that if Rice is Henderson's replacement in the England line-up then why couldn't he be his successor at Liverpool.

If there's interest in him from Edwards, I think that the club might move for this summer when potential rivals are distracted. Man City are focused on Grealish and Kane, Chelsea are looking at Haaland, Kane and Lukaku, Man Utd just dropped the bulk of their transfer budget on Sancho.

Last season we lost Van Dijk, Gomez, Matip, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago and Jota. If you took the equivalent players out of any other club's squad they would also struggle, that's before you consider the fact that Klopp likes to work with a core of around 18 players. If we are unfortunate enough to lose 7 players through injury then we will struggle again, however if we aren't unfortunate and the squad of players perform to their previous level then we will be the team to beat in the league.

A replacement for Wijnaldum in midfield and another option for the forward line will make Liverpool a dangerous proposition for any team in the league.

Deal done for Wilson to Fulham £12m he is flying back to England now to finish the deal.

Good price for him.

These sales need to lead to signings.

Interesting

He was all for joining Barca on a free on there original money and then when they said he would have to take only 50% of the first offer he up sticks and took PSG offer.

All about the money now for Gini and I can't blame him for that. However he and no player will ever say publicly that they are moving just for the money.