Memphis

We've been OK over the last 20 minutes but to me, it just seems that Liverpool have taken themselves down a few levels rather than us elevating our game. They seem very content to expel minimal energy to get through this match and we look similar. I think they've got many levels more to find whereas I'm not so sure we have much more to offer tonight.

Feels like we've lulled them into not really giving a shit. Rope a dope.

Our older players all seem to have aged 5 years in the last month. Pope, Wilson, Schar, Burn all way off it.

Normally I don't mind these TNT commentators but they're annoying the piss out of me tonight. Wanking themselves raw each and every time Liverpool do anything remotely decent.

A drop off of unbelievable proportions. We surely cannot keep playing him.

Pope stamping his mark on the action already

What the fuck happened to Pope?? Didn't he used to be a decent keeper?

Now THIS is the Paul Mitchell I know

This interview on Sky is brilliant. He's such a great talker and you can see how calm he is and how much sense he makes.

Said it in the match thread but absolutely spot fucking on from Eddie. He's just perfect for us. I get annoyed with a few of his decisions here and there but he fucking showed me and everyone else again just how good he is. Players love playing for him and improve under him, he understands our club and his even-keeled nature helps so much when we can get a little manic as a club and a fanbase. I love the man.

What a fucking performance over the two legs. Absolutely awesome. Howe got it fucking spot fucking on.

Amazing highlight reel of his time here

I think that's fair but it's a distinction without a difference. We're only capable of truly improving our squad by signing players of a pretty high level, and they're always going to be unavailable or too expensive for our lack of "headroom" in January imo.

Feels like a lot of people are just living in a state of denial about how the PSR situation is unfolding. It's definitely frustrating and it's completely anti-competitive but the irritation has to remain with the Premier League for this asinine set of rules designed to keep the top teams at the top. Throw all the vitriol their way, they deserve all of it. The truth is that there doesn't really exist a viable incoming transfer that can be done within our severely restricted set of circumstances. I can only assume Howe will have known all of that and will have to accept it in the short term. If not, there is a bigger communication issue than we know. The only way forward is to continue making incremental progress in squad building until we are able to have a major increase in revenues - new stadium, perhaps - or until there are needed changes in PSR. I hope it's the latter but it's probably going to be the former. We can complain all we want but the reality is what it is.

Phenomenal bit of business by itself but within the larger context of keeping a level of competitive squad depth it's concerning. I suppose you have to do a deal like this if it presents itself. Feels like we're missing a few chapters of the book though. Hope we start to see them soon. As of now it's all a bit irritating to see outgoings and no incomings.