Liverpool FC Team Talk, Gossip, Rumours 2024/25

He put a good shift in closing down in the first half. Didn't do a lot on the ball (but then none of our midfielders really did), faded in the second half a bit.

The hot take will be that he was either shyte or put in the best midfield performance seen at the club since peak Gerrard, but imo he was neither. He played alright, didn't set the world alight, but didn't let us down either. I was encouraged to see him work off the ball though.

Can't ask for anymore for first game of the season away from home. Midfield worked after all eh.

Now that's a solid start for the Champions elect.

Anyone else annoyed that the boxes aren’t aligned?

Oh it might sound harsh but again today Ox reaffirmed he just isn't good enough for us anymore and i really like the bloke.

Can't argue with the performance considering the team. It's a great start, and a clean sheet, which is important to VVD and Alisson ,

You started off positive but then back to normal fairly quickly.

Ox? Seriously? I thought he was utterly anonymous. We played our best football when Fabinho came on for him.

This. He really earned his corn. I hope I never see him and ox in a midfield 3 again though. Didn't work at all. Kieta can take the Gini role if he stays fit.

So much better with Fabinho on.

Keita looked disciplined and fit.

VVD at 70% was still strolling through that. The difference having a genuine top rate CB partnership back is astounding. Front foot defending. Towering headed clearances from long balls. Threatening at set pieces.

Salah is Salah. The fúcking king of this League.

Matip had a great game.

VVD is still getting up to speed. I believe he started today so that when we do come up against a tough opposition, he'll be ready. I've no doubt he can reach the same levels as before.

Yep, can’t really measure anything from one game and he’s far from his best, but even having his leadership available on the pitch makes everything a bit more straightforward.

he’s been given a new deal for a reason, I’m sure the team are confident that with regular game time he’ll be back to his best.

VVD needs games

Have to admit I agree he didn't look like Virg of old. But a player like him plays..and he will get better and better. There is no easy in...play every game. Only way to get match fit. He is that good..just we have forgotten

I thought they were a pretty good test for this point in the season. They didn't really flag effort-wise, other than maybe a little 5 minute spell where the game hit a lull around 80 minutes. They didn't trouble us too much, but our goals weren't the result of tearing them to shreds so much as clinical and opportunistic finishing.

I think we'll have much easier games this season, and 3-0 is actually quite a promising result.

VVD openly admitted after the game that he was shattered, and not up to speed at all.

Actually the next two games where both loses last season so it'll be nice to write them wrongs and already get points up on the corresponding fixtures from last season

Anyone got a gif of the Milner moment with Tsimakas? I don’t remember it during the game, but was watching trough a strong set of beer goggles so that explains it lol

Watching mo berate himself after fluffing the chance big virg set up for him shows his character,he's Relentless,never happy, exactly the type of professional you want in your team,but more importantly,he never stops,no sulking.

Hopefully we see the same front 3 start at home against Burnley. We need to give it a long run, and hopefully have the luxury of giving Firmino a chance to come on and fight for a place in the starting lineup of the next game, by giving him 15-20 mins. That's competition, that's a squad working as it should, always needing to fight, always needing to be at it. Too often in the past Firmino would play 16 games in a row, and know he'll play the next one also, regardless of what he does. Hopefully those days are gone, we have a competitive squad now, not just a competitive team.

He's headless as fcuk and would command a huge fee by Newcastle.

Perhaps but he has all the ability in the world and at 24 I reckon if you gave him a couple of seasons with a really good coach in a really good team you would see a world class player emerge. And he is just so exciting to watch.

If Davies is going on loan for the season then I think we will be keeping Phillips until January at least. It's early days for van Dijk and Gomez and having to rely on Matip for an extended period is what allowed the injury situation to snowball last season. Konate is going to need time to settle in and I doubt the team would be as confident if Klopp finds he is in a situation where Konate and Williams are the available pairing for a run of games.