Liverpool FC Team Talk, Gossip, Rumours 2024/25

Heard an interesting comment on a podcast comparing how Diaz plays LW compared to Mane, they said that Diaz doesn’t make the same amount of central runs as Mane used to, and that probably makes it easier for defenders to stay closer to Salah on the other side. I do wonder if Diaz is a better option against teams that will push forward and leave space behind

I don't think the way Diaz plays is a massive concern. Diaz is a different player to Mane alright but he was by far our best player in the first half against Fulham and could easily have been involved in 2 goals. The Salah and space problem actually starts further back in our play. When our midfield can't get on the ball and work space to get our full backs marauding down the line it forces Salah to drop deeper and come in to try get on the ball. This makes life much easier for the left full back marking him as he now has his midfielders close by to close out the space and if Salah does get away the opposition has time to recover with bodies as he's so far from goal. What Salah needs is Trent and Hendo passing their way around the opposition press, this allows to him to pull wide and isolate his man and the opposition midfielders are distracted by Trent and Hendo continuing with their runs so they cant double up on him. Liverpool and Salah struggled badly in that first half because Trent and Hendo could barley get on the ball such was the pressure from the Fulham midfield and when they did get on the ball they gave it back nearly straight away with some sloppy passes...It's one of the few chinks with Klopp's set-up, it's brilliant and unstoppable when in full flow but one player not up to scratch on a particular day can undermine the whole process....Unfortunately against Fulham with had 7/8 players not near the level required!

I agree with nearly everything you said but................

Diaz has been brilliant and gave us a right lift since he came in , just one thing s i think we have been saying " could easily have been involved in 2 goals " a bit to often, He needs to just get it done now, get that goal or get that assist, he's some what like the polar opposite of Jota at the minute , Jota plays some poor stuff then bang its goal ,

Not being over critical of Diaz as I think it will come

I get what you're a saying but I think Diaz is set for big things with us. He reminds me a bit of Suarez in his first season or 2, capable of the sublime but Suarez finishing really on got going towards the end of the 11/12 season and then we all know what happened the next 2 years of his Liverpool career but prior to that he was as likely to hit the keeper as he was score after doing all the hard work. I'm not saying Diaz is the next Suarez or anything but they do have that similarity.

Ya I felt the same looking at the match Saturday, it was very frustrating as Diaz had the beating of him man all day and all we could give him was scraps! Robbo and Thiago were non existent with support down that side and Diaz was chasing over hit lost causes all day and even at that he still managed to draw 4 free's, somehow work himself into position to get a shot away that hit the woodwork and had a goal stroke out....

Highest top speed in the first round of PL Games goes to Nunez at 36.53 km/h

Saw that people thought Spearing would start for us due to this injury crisis....

What are they smoking over there?

Sums it up...

Back page of the portuguese paper this evening

Liverpool prepare ?

I see €45m that wouldn't be a bad price.

A lot of people definitely rate him, I'm sure there is a welcome to Liverpool compilation already on YouTube :

Because of course there is...

He's the best player to ever play the game as far as I'm concerned...

Better than Pele and Messi combined

And of course I know zero about the Portuguese league...

🤣

A lot saying Pep is a huge admirer of him and has publicly said how good he was so apparently more a chance now he could go to City if Bernardo is off....

🙄

Just on this, it's changed to an under 21 league this year with 5 overage players allowed to play to cover the transition.

When he first got minutes as a 17 year old, it was in midfield. He also played on the right of the diamond midfield for a few games in the 2017/18 season - Clyne/Gomez were the fullback options at the time.

I don’t see the point.

I don't really have a problem with that pen - think most of us would be asking for it if it was our player in attack. Ultimately if you stick a leg out across a player in the box and don't get the ball at all, you're asking for trouble. Any contact at all (which their definitely was) is very likely to lead to a pen.

Elliott to sign a new contract extension.

Stefan Bajcetic has signed a new contract extension.

I feel like ive fallen into the trap of only posting when I've something negative to say recently... nonetheless...I'm not really as sold on Elliott as other are.

I'm the opposite, I think Elliot has been fantastic for us. I feel like some people are expecting Elliot to be next coming of Gerrard such is expectations. And he may have that in him but what people have to realise his role is a much more restricted, conservative than the all action attacking midfielder that he could be. Klopp doesn't expect or allow for that from his midfield trio, his role is to the basics but do them very very well...that is harass the opposition when not on the ball and get it back s quickly as possible, create space for the front 3 and Trent's on his side with short, quick movements and passes. It's a highly disciplined role that not many 19 years can do because they still have that immature glory streak in them (look at Jones at times).

Lads it was a stonewall penalty i don't know why there's so much chatter about it. VD messed up and even moreso when you consider trent was back there too. Fulham deserved the point (maybe even more) Liverpool played terribly for most of the game. We go again.

ps have we signed a midfielder yet? 😉

Great having an actual fan in the team though to be fair...

Do they have to bring in another HG player, or just have a panel of 24? If I read it right, it's a max of 17 non HG players per squad, is that correct, in a 25 man squad. Is it also correct that Scots are not classed as homegrown?