Liverpool FC Team Talk, Gossip, Rumours 2024/25

I see lots of Liverpool fans both online and IRL that fully believe they are the best positioned team to challenge City next season. Not a team in the middle of a rebuild.

And I can understand why -

• Improvements made in their weakest area, the midfield this summer. Get a new holding midfielder and it's completely rebuilt.
• The likes of Gkapo have replaced Firminho, Diaz replaced Mane. So good signs of squad rebuild overall already. These players have had time now to find their feet.
• Have the best keeper in the league
• A player who is nearly always in the race for the golden boot each season.
• 2nd best manager.
• Finished the season strong.
• Nunez has had a full year in the league and under Klopp -could be his breakout season
• If Klopp can work TAA into a system that hides his weaknesses and exposes his strengths you have a player of the year calibre player there.

When you look at it - it would be a major underachievement for Pool to go another season without challenging. It would actually have to raise major questions if they aren't back challenging. Not saying winning it because all clubs are chasing a cheat but Pool need to be close next season.

I don't see them as a team stuck in the middle of a rebuild at all. I see a team who has done a lot of that work.

I think a competent midfield will make a world of difference alright.

If Klopp can get them all working in a system that gets Trent into those half spaces between wide players and the midfield then Pool will be flying. Nunez playing off the left could have some dream service.

Wonder who gets vice captain? Would like to see Salah get it

A good captain should be able to refocus the team and dig his teammates out of a hole when they’re up against it. Virgil does not have that in him, he often goes the opposite way.

He’ll almost certainly get the armband, but Alisson, Robbo and Salah are better leaders IMO.

100%

Love him as a player, but I don't see him being a good captain

Not disagreeing with the point your making, but Milner joined after Gerrard left so couldn’t have been in the running to take over!

I've never liked the idea of goalies or forwards as captains.

I'd go for Robertson.

Van Dijk has captained the side lots over the last 3/4 years. A shoe in for the job.

Apparently Bayern are looking at Fabhino as well. Maybe they'll stick in a bid as well and we can ask for Kimmich 🤔

I don't know, Erik Ten Hag has been pretty impressive 😉😂

We all have eyes, we all watch matches and it doesn't take a genius to narrow down who would or would not be captain material. It's a light hearted enough discussion amidst the usual angst of the last year.

Milner - Jones was taking his spot late in season

OX - Elliott replaced him long ago

Keita - Bajcetic in team, played more games than him last season

Carvalho - Szoboszlai massive upgrade

Henderson ?

Fabinho ?

Mac Allister - luxury addition

Trent - A midfield star is born

What we need now is a younger Henderson/Milner, a runner , a forever optimistic type, and a new No6 . Henderson easy to replace, Fabinho not so much, we should go for Bruno Guimaraes, weaken Newcastle in the process.

Szoboszlai has replaced both Oxlade-Chamberlain and Keita.

Bajcetic & Alexander-Arnold have Henderson's #8 role covered.

Mac Allister will displace Thiago.

Fabinho's #6 role is the problem position to fill. At present the backup option is Tyler Morton.

We have 2 non-homegrown spots available when Fabinho completes his transfer and one of them is likely to be taken by a new defender.

Thiago's contract is up in June 2024. Mac Allister is his replacement, a signing that suggests that there may have been some forward planning behind the scenes.

Would be disappointed.

I think he has something to prove with us

The ever reliable news source that is Teamtalk was peddling a story yesterday that Thiago was concerned that his playing time would be reduced by the arrival of new signings Mac Allister and Szoboszlai. 🤣

..

League + One of the cups please. (Ideally Europa).

A good start can last a season, it did with Arsenal last season, they had no base to do what they did, but an easy start led to some belief and momentum and they continued to thrive

Henderson’s medical is done and dusted according to Pearce, just a case of doing the paperwork now.

I’d have him as our best captain since the 80s until a couple of weeks ago. Now his legacy is tainted forever.

Ideally he'd play the preseason games, and start to settle into the way we play, not likely now, out of next game

Who knows, maybe he's on a mission to turn Saudi .Judging by his latest workout video this could be the case

Ah in fairness the actual circumstances add a grimmer edge to it.

Given that it's Gerrard that's buying him, i've a fair idea they know exactly what they're getting. And that's a player who was always a far more offensive dynamic option than you give him credit for, and who still has the leadership to build a new team around, which is what they're doing. (not to mention that even a mid table PL player is tippity top tier in Saudi football terms).

And he may still have those beliefs, but he's entirely undermined all the good he had previously done by showing that rightous conviction only extends as far as the number of 0's someone's willing to lash onto your pay check.