Liverpool v Brentford (A) PL

[Fredo]

Matip and Keita/Henderson start and we don't lose. We have so many problems though it's hard to know where to start. We don't have the players to play the way we want to and that is down to recruitment.

Not down to recruitment as I’m sure we have a plan long term. The plan is probably to evolve that team over a few transfer windows. Come on, last year we could have won 4 trophies and few would have predicted we’d be 15 points adrift this season. We haven’t been able to perform consistently to the same level and that’s down to a few things we all know about.

[Fredo]

Its evident we need legs in that midfield as Hendo/Fab/Thiago's aren't workings quickly as they used too

Not just “legs”. We need players who can perform consistently at high intensity week in week out and to be fair, those we have have done that for 4/5 years, so it’s the end of a cycle. We’ll be back if we can keep Klopp interested.

[Subby]

****ing joke of a performance there, Jurgen too slow to change tactics

[Snigger]

Naby made a big difference - no way Elliott should start ahead of him

Navy’s just back from injury and not match fit yet.

[Buzzo]

Bellingham dream might have been on, but he's nailed on for real, a stable team that'll be in contention for trophies, we need a transition season or three.

I’m not so sure.

Not saying he is coming to us - but with the issues with racism at Real I’m not sure that will be where he ends up.

Based on nothing, I think we will sign him it feels very similar to when we signed VVD.

The issue we have is that I think Fabinho may also need upgraded.

[danperkins]

Not down to recruitment as I’m sure we have a plan long term. The plan is probably to evolve that team over a few transfer windows. Come on, last year we could have won 4 trophies and few would have predicted we’d be 15 points adrift this season. We haven’t been able to perform consistently to the same level and that’s down to a few things we all know about.

It is exactly down to recruitment Nigel. Everybody could spot where we needed to strengthen in the summer and even before then. We would have probably won all 4 last year but ran out of legs.

Look in the summer transfer threads, absolutely everyone was saying the same things. It was as clear as day what type of players we needed that we currently didn't have in the squad. That's not even going into the ageing and injury prone factors of certain players too.

Our system is brutal, it requires serious physical attributes. Hendo can't do it anymore, Milner cant do it, Fab has been off it for over a year and Gini is gone. We were too loyal and did not replace or react to the midfield deterioration and we are now here where we deserve to be.

Its as simple as that, any team that are physical and have pace give us a nightmare.

[kemm1]

It is exactly down to recruitment Nigel. Everybody could spot where we needed to strengthen in the summer and even before then. We would have probably won all 4 last year but ran our of legs.

Look in the summer transfer threads, absolutely everyone was saying the same things. It was as clear as day what type of players we needed that we currently didn't have in the squad. That's not even going into the ageing and injury prone factors of certain players too.

Our system is brutal, it requires serious physical attributes. Hendo can't do it anymore, Milner cant do it, Fab has been off it for over a year and Gini is gone. We were too loyal and did not replace or react to the midfield deterioration and we are now here where we deserve to be.

Its as simple as that, any team that are physical and have pace give us a nightmare.

Absolutely, 100% agreed. This wasn't just a summer of 2022 thing. The squad has deteriorated big time.

[Exiled_red]

Not down to recruitment as I’m sure we have a plan long term. The plan is probably to evolve that team over a few transfer windows. Come on, last year we could have won 4 trophies and few would have predicted we’d be 15 points adrift this season. We haven’t been able to perform consistently to the same level and that’s down to a few things we all know about.

I don't disagree that we have a plan, I'm not sure it is effective though. If you look at the midfield we have Milner, Henderson, Thiago all in their 30's, Fabinho, Keita and Ox who are (supposed to be in their prime) and Jones, Elliott, Bajcetic and Morton who are youngsters. We knew there would have come a point where the older players would have to have had their mins managed (it has been the case with Milner for years, the expected deterioration was part of the reason that Wijnaldum's contract wasn't renewed). The situation we should be in at the minute is that the likes of Fabinho Keita and Ox should be getting the bulk of the mins and Thiago/Henderson playing one game a week. With opportunities to bring the youngsters through. But it has been obvious for at least a couple of years that wasn't going to happen. We were supposedly looking to bring Tchouameni in but that didn't happen and we didn't bring in a plan B. We panicked and brought in Melo and that didn't work out. Bellingham seems to be the prime target but all the top clubs want him, what happens if we don't get him? Also for me 1 midfielder doesn't solve this.

Yes we had a great season last year and could have won 4 trophies, but it was still obvious then that the midfield wasn't in a good place, would we have predicted being so far off? No but it was really obvious that doing nothing in that area wasn't an option, but that's effectively what we've done.

[BootRoom]

With the upheaval in the recruitment dept. I'm not sure we have a plan, or how long-term it is if we do.

[Exiled_red]

I’m not so sure.

Not saying he is coming to us - but with the issues with racism at Real I’m not sure that will be where he ends up.

Based on nothing, I think we will sign him it feels very similar to when we signed VVD.

The issue we have is that I think Fabinho may also need upgraded.

Even if he comes in he does not solve our midfield issue, In all likelihood he would be playing alongside Fabinho and one of Henderson / Thiago all of whom will be a year older...

[Harv]

Pathetic effort really.

All those players need a good hard look at themselves. There's a big time lack of effort or passion out there. None of them look like they actually give a ****.

The Ox-gyen Thief getting his third straight start tells you the state of this team. Klopp refuses to put the guy out to pasture. Playing with 9 men on the field with him and Mo up front. Neither do anything for the majority of the game.

Elliott is getting hung out to dry having to play midfield. Not sure what Klopp sees. Its not his position, its a failed experiment, he should be up front on the left or right and play Mo through the middle and Nunez left. As he keeps trying and failing to play that midfield role, fans are going to start jumping on his back and you'll break the kid.

Not sure why Carvalho hasn't played a single minute through these games, yet Ox plays ever game (incredibly poorly)? Way to break a kids confidence there. Watching an absolute crock who is visibly scared to put his foot in or body on the line whilst you sit on the bench.

[Harv]

I’m not so sure.

Not saying he is coming to us - but with the issues with racism at Real I’m not sure that will be where he ends up.

Based on nothing, I think we will sign him it feels very similar to when we signed VVD.

The issue we have is that I think Fabinho may also need upgraded.

Which issues?

[Buzzo]

Which issues?

https://amp.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/31/real-madrids-vinicius-junior-accuses-la-liga-doing-nothing-about-racist-abuse

[Harv]

Thats Valladolid fans

[Harv]

I know there have been moments in the past with many Spanish teams.

But i'd be surprised if Madrid fans did anything recently. Most of the team is black