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Bingo/songman, I think slot did contribute to us winning however a lot went for us too last year. Such as Man City playing poor, Salah having a blinder more than normal and no real threat post January. If the old Man City were chasing then no chance would we have won the league.
The team is now more Slots but I think he has lost the dressing room and the team are not playing for him anymore
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Six players Liverpool could sign in January to replace Mohamed Salah
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Has to be Semenyo. Can play either flank. Beast of a player. Adeyemi is quality but a bit of a bellend. I’ve always liked Jarod Bowen and would fit like a glove for me.
We have to get someone, plus a centre half (which should have happened in the summer during our seismic splurge).
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tee, I actually think Salah kinda forced Slot´s tactics last season, with the contract dispute and all that. We had to cater to him last season and rightly so but this dressing room feud might just be him being upset that he is not gonna be leading the attack like he has done.
We all wondered where Wirtz would fit our formation but this diamond with him behind the two strikers could work, there is no room for Salah in that formation basically unless he adapts his game and somehow I doubt that is gonna happen.
We also all wondered what we were gonna do with both Ekitike and Isak this summer and the diamond formation explains that.
Frimpong is also kinda tailor made to bombard up and down that right flank on his own, Bradley as well to a lesser extent but both can be useful, I love Joe but he got no end product at all. I don´t think I have ever seen a footballer with less of a end product.
I can see Slot persisting with this format and basically starve Salah out of football until he leaves the club.
It is obvious that we can not continue with the three forward system from last season, I reckon Wirtz is the perfect player to play backup to two central strikers. I also feel Gakpo is kinda wasted out there on the left usually, I feel like he should be a center forward.
So given that we continue to play this 442D formation, I can see Salah gone and a top target actually coming in but we should rule out the wingers. Bringing Elliott back for extra competition would be good, I think he could thrive in a 442D. Then we need a couple of defenders, Joe Gomez is leaving next summer, I reckon he only stayed to get 10 seasons at the club. He might even leave in January but I hope he gets the testimonial. The 442D transformation can also explain why Diaz left this summer, given that there was a plan after all. 😉
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Rob I have to say after the Inter game, I am intruiged cause if we continue with the diamond, we can forget about wingers this window. We can actually just drop the concept as we have everything we need for it to work, except one unhappy winger who is likely to be sold in a month or so.
Gakpo, Isak and Ekitike are very similar players in terms of style and everything, I would love to see Gakpo more central in a 442D, he likes to drift into that space on the left and run at the goal, just like Ekitike does. Then we have Isak occupying the space on the right, if we get one more central striker instead of a winger we got competition and everything again.
You and me had some discussions about where Wirtz would play, with the diamond we were just both wrong and that´s nothing new.
We wondered where the direction of the team would go, especially with Trent going and Wirtz coming over, someone needs to be that playmaker. We know Wirtz is a good player but he has not fitted into our formation until those 25-30 minutes against Inter basically. I think we played one more game with Isak and Ekitike up top.
I kinda think that right now it´s Salah being upset that the team is moving away from him towards Wirtz, basically their relationship is the same as the one between Salah and Mane except those two could be on the pitch together and make our tactics work.
Now with Wirtz taking over our play is going more central, I hope it happens sooner rather than later!
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Wirtz can easily fit into a 4231 you just need to give him space and conditions to operate in.
Slot has had the 2 midfielders bomb forward leaving a massive gap in the middle and cramping the edge of the opposions area. Combine this with a very static forward in Isak, or no space for speedy wide forwards to run into, and its no wonder he’s struggled.
Have the two midfielders occupy the middle with one making late runs into the box. Does my head in seeing everyone stand in a line along the edge of the penalty box.
I know his 0 goals 0 assists thing has become a bit of an online troll joke but I think everyone can see he is quality. He just needs a system that he can work in.
I still prefer the 442D however with what we have, but agree with Bingo buying a wide attacker makes no sense if we preserve with it. With Slot still in charge I don’t think we will.
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“Has to be Semenyo.”
Semenyo is the best option Rob. Bowen is a top player, but too old for the FSG player profile, as he’s 29 this month, as compared to Semenyo who’s 26 next month.
Diomande is a bit of a wild card, only 19, and in his first real senior season with Leipzig, but 7 goals and 2 assists in just 14 games is outstanding, considering his age.
All the other three players on the list, to me, are unsuitable, for various reasons.
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Elliot having a mare at Villa. If he plays 10 league games or more they have to buy him. He’s so far played 3 games with him seemingly unwanted. Shame for him and I actually believe had he stayed he’s one of those who could have made a big impact coming off the bench as he’s always been full of beans.
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Against Inter, Slot showed once more why he is an astute tactician, ditching his 4231 and playing four midfielders in diamond 41212 formation, with Mac Allister at the tip of the diamond, a bit surprising, but the correct decision as he played the other, more physical, faster midfielders behind him to do the hard running.
Of course, Slot’s hand was also forced on him, as both of our wingers, Salah and Gakpo, were unavailable, but he made the best out of a bad situation, and let’s hope that continues, starting on Saturday.
The diamond formation was perfect for the Inter game, because it was a tough game against a giant European club away from home, and we controlled the vast majority of the game.
But that does NOT mean that this diamond formation, using four midfielders, is suited for all games. For example, on Saturday, we are at home, so I’d deploy the same formation again, but more aggressively with Wirtz at the tip of the diamond – or even switching to a 4231, to confuse the opposition, with Wirtz and Ekitike on the wings.
In fact, if the power trio of Wirtz, Ekitike and Isak can truly click, who knows how far we can go.
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I’d sell Elliott in Jan to fund Semenyo, if he wants to join us.
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So far this season Slot is proving to be anything but an astute tactician. A win against a team that doesn’t play to our weaknesses like PL teams do doesn’t hide the fact he’s been outsmarted by the likes of Sean Dyche and Amorim.
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That 4231 is just not working at the moment and the sudden change of formation would fully explain Salah´s outburst, the change of formation would limit his game time severely. He would not even get to play the position he has played for us in the past 8 seasons, let´s face it, he does not have much time left at the top stage of football.
I kinda think he is just upset that he is not gonna lead the forward line anymore, that the change in tactics is something he saw happening and realised he was not gonna get the game time he wants.
Wirtz can fit into the 4231 but we are not playing to his strength with that formation, it makes much more sense to have him sitting behind two capable strikers, also if we persist with the 4231 we actually need two new wingers. We did not replace Diaz, Ekitike is a striker, I really hope we persist with this new formation.
Cause I can see it working like a treat, all our business in the summer window could be explained with the change of tactics and it changes the dynamics of this window as well. Salah will still fetch a nice fee, probably around 70-80 million, add to that his salary and bonuses and we can get any target we want.
So I kinda expect to see two defenders coming in, we would be in heaps of trouble next season if Van Dijk and Gomez will be our only senior defenders, Konate might leave. Gomez for that matter will probably leave as well. Yeah we got that new italian kid but he just a prospect, I´d be very happy if Guehi comes in but we need another one like van der Ven or Bastoni.
maybe I am just building a coping mechanism and trying to rationalize Salah leaving us, I just don´t see him throwing a temper tantrum unless he knows that his game time is gonna be limited. The only way I can see his gametime being limited is if we stop playing with wingers, cause no matter what he should be the first winger to be in the team but if we are going with another setup then there is no place for him in the lineup unless he wants to drop in the hole behind the two strikers but I just don´t see him adapting his game.
I think the foundation for our wingers went away when Trent left, we need his passing from the back, he is a bit unusual as a rightback but he was the perfect backup for Salah. Trent never been about running at defenders, like Frimpong is or Bradley. He likes to drop into space and get the ball moving and that was perfect for Salah who never likes to backtrack that much. He just likes to occupy that space furhter up on the right, when Trent got the ball the opposition were forced to press him as he could pin a ball to anywhere. That opened up space for Salah to work with… The numbers for Salah from last season are so different, he had made over 1800 touches on the ball last season at this point, its a meager 850 touches this time around.
I´m all in favor of a new approach! We don´t even have a left winger anymore!!! We need two wingers if we are gonna continue playing the 4231.
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Agree with you Bingo for most of it. But Slot like most managers is arrogant and likely won’t change unless absolutely necessary like now because of Salah and Gakpo’s situation. If we are getting Semenyo then I’d wager were back to to the 4231 for 99% of the time.
Salah or Gakpo can work ina 442D, you just have an asymmetrical strike pairing where one is wider than the other striker (Ekitike or Isak) who is more central. Just not both at the same time.
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I reckon Gakpo could potentially step up his game playing with another striker up top, let´s not forget that he used to play on the right wing and centrally as well for PSV, he should be more central in this system and he is capable of running at defenders.
The one problem with the diamond against Inter was chemistry between the two forwards, they did not complete a pass to each other for the whole game for example, I can only remember 2 occasions where they actually tried to play each other but those two instances were probably our best chances in the game.
Gakpo could also work on the right hand side, same with Ekitike, the lads just have to work up a understanding and Wirtz has to supply them. I also feel that Wirtz is better suited to sit in that hole than Szoboszlai but the good thing is that Mac Allister can also sit there, same thing with Elliott if he comes back.
I was reading up about some rumor about Wirtz and Salah not seeing eye to eye, we know for experience that he can be difficult to work with, the confrontations with Mane for example. When Mane won that international game against him, he was not allowed to mention it in front of Salah… I don´t wanna get into who is right and who is wrong, it´s not like Mane was easy to work with either as evident by his Bayern time.
Players are primadonna´s with huge ego´s, so is the managers but to me it sounds like the club is getting ready to sell Salah while he still holds transfer value, he already got his reward for winning the title last season. New contract, signing on fee and all that. He will get a better contract where ever he goes and probably continue to play until his forties. The fanbase would have revolted as well if he had not signed a new contract last season and the club protected his value so we can´t argue against that.
Hopefully he will get a farewell game at Anfield before he goes but at the moment I do not see a way for him to get back into the squad, first of Slot can´t back down, he will lose all authority and let Salah dictate his tactics.
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Slot is not much for giving players chances. So can’t see Chiesa staying or Elliott if he comes back.
Would like to add defensively. Schlotterbeck? Perhaps Guehi, but too short for my liking.
Another DM for Endo? But can’t change too much…As for Salah replacement, get Rodrygo on loan with option to buy.
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Only two fit CBs left, with Gomez injured, looks like we will be going into the market for a CB in January
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Mac, if I am reading the midfield right right now, then Jones is turning into another kind of player than I previously thought he would, he has become way more disciplined of late and is slowly turning his game into more of a holding midfielder. I love his progression in the team, I think he has outperformed all of our midfield players except one right now. Endo is out, he is not getting another chance except in a state of emergency at this point. I actually had forgotten he was still at the club a week ago. He is a bit like Gomez, quite the defender but very limited going forward. Right now I want Gomez out, I love him to bits but time has come. He needs to move for regular gametime in his position, we need to stop relying on him to cover every bit of the defense and even as a holding midfielder at times.
The rumor mill has been pretty quiet except Guehi who is probably a target for real, I think most of the rumors about any kind of forward are garbage as we will only buy if we sell and that all depends on Salah basically but I can see a surprise midfielder coming in, someone defensive.
After our latest fiascos trying to recruit a defensive midfielder in the past few seasons, I can honestly see the club keeping things wrapped up until the end. Or surprising us with a signing like Fabinho out of the blue! I don´t think anyone at the club wants to mess further with our forward line or any other position by selling anyone. Gomez will get his testimonial in the summer and move on, Endo will as well, maybe Salah will leave but I still doubt it.
I really want a testimonial match this summer, I can´t remember the last one, it´s been a while…
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Found this as quoted on X which was posted roughly half hour ago:
Marc Guéhi’s agent 🧳 is heading to Liverpool to meet @LFC
officials.The contract offer accepted last summer is set to be rejected, as Guéhi eyes a lucrative signing-on fee 💷 as a free agent this summer.
Liverpool must submit new terms to sign him in January.
The situation has changed dramatically.
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We get both him and Semenyo and I’d seriously be over the moon.
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