Sibierski

No hall? Burn back to LB Be better Tino LB. Rather have Murphy at RB if it meant Burn stays LCB.

If he’s in squad today, I’d expect 20-30 off the bench and he’ll start midweek so Wolte gets a rest ahead of the Derby.

A Hall / Tino type for that young CB. Achemapong is one I’ve wanted for ages, his new deal may make it an issue, but who knows with Chelsea. But that type, then another Thaiw age bracket.

This is the most painful bit, Rio is so cardboard.

We have to sell and sign two CBs. One who’s young just broke out in their first pro season, another an established player. Then when burn likely is off in 2027, we sign another young CB. Can’t keep Botman in case he’s still injured next season and you are then needing to play like a 19 yr old more.

Think issue I have (and maybe others too) him as the competition for Joelinton was the wrong decision, just like Elanga for RW. It was more players of the same (runners) and still no technical players. We had Willock already (admittedly had a poor 24 months) who could offer what Ramsey will. Instead we spent big on Ramsey, probably can get £12m for Willock at some point, then it’s another £40m+ on a CM. £80m to move the needle a little isn’t sensible squad building. We love to defend all our deals, but unless we nail some seriously good buys moving forward, we’re going to have a squad that’s close to £700m soon and it be a bit meh. Loveable, but :/ for what they can do in terms of closing the gap.

Leazes is most logical if the city back it, because it not only edges the stadium a bit further out, but it provides scope to add commercial space where Gallowgate sites currently so for the city, there’s more shops / eateries that side of city centre for all the student accommodation.

I’m going to believe that the condition VVD signed a new deal was that Liverpool had to sign Isak for this

We need to do what Dortmund did to us other season, you don’t keep crossing into the box for CBs to deal with, you keep cutting it back to edge of box, between the lines and have your CMs take the shots.

Derby game will be more of a cup final than it should be. Famous last words, but we should be 1 point behind them going into it, 2 at worse if they draw at City. We win, then go above him as their players go off to AFCON. They could implode and go on a multiple game run without a run, whilst we keep winning games and by the time FA Cup comes round, we could be like 10+ clear, them out of the cup, us in it still and the narrative / mood is 180 to what it is currently. Huge sliding doors moment for both. We lose, it will be unbearable and will give them even more confidence to ride the period during AFCON.

Still pisses me off them signing him after they signed Etitike, because at that point he was not needed at all. But because they had agreed with Isak early in summer they would sign him, they doubled down because they didn’t want to risk not signing him and burning bridges, just for him to then join say Chelsea / Man Utd / Arsenal next summer (or stay us as we close the gap). It’s PSR back to the beginning, because Liverpool can sell him for £70m to some other club next summer and happily write off £50m.

I don’t think he gets a run again for Liverpool after this. He was so bad, you have to give Etitike the nod moving forward or you risk him kicking off. It’s all well and good having two strikers, but if you can’t manage both, it’s going to be a serious problem for Slot and for the next manager, unless one is moved on quickly.

We need to go on a run up to we play Villa, talking like 20-22 points from next 8 games. Otherwise that will be that IMO. We won’t chase down UCL if we are going deep in the cups.

Wow. What a chance that was. Should be finishing that.

The dark arts here. Oh how I’ve missed this.

Hopefully we can get to another league cup final to rectify it.

Sunderland have been better with the ball then we have largely this season, depressing stuff

Sunderland getting European football

In fairness we had a field day against them with 10 men, but then went gung-ho for winner and got sucker punched

Like all of our defeats bar Arsenal.

Sliding doors moment us signing Ramsey from Villa. They've kicked on, he's stuck on our bench

They remind me of us 22/23 in how compact they are between the lines and always putting pressure on players.

They'll play just like they are tonight. Deep, compact and no need to engage high up, but when ball is won push up.

Sunderland are going to dick us based on current performances to date

Xhaka / Sidiki on yellows, wonder if they get booked tonight so it's cleared to play us and they just miss game at Man City.