Trent Alexander-Arnold

[Doc_Piptorious]

Loads of options now which is great - out of the lot of them, Jones is the one for me. He sets the press and expectations better than all of them.

I don't think we have a best 3 now - depends on opposition I guess.

What an incredible summer though for recruitment.

And not a mention of Thiago either

Most important midfielder for us since the final third of last season imo.

He is the one that is both the control and release valves for so much. At times plays like a mix of Wijnaldum and Thiago as he does an awful lot of the simple but crucial things both did and that swivel of the hips/shoulder thing he does after receiving a ball in a tight space is straight out of the Thiago playbook.


If all our midfield options are fit and all on form, Jones is the one that is first on the teamsheet for me.


Mad that he is only 22 (23 this month). If he gets another 18 months or so injury free to get a bit more seasoned, he might well become the most important player in the team in terms of what he brings to the unit.


Think I compared him to a young Goretzka a year or two ago on EST and whilst he is probably a couple years behind where Goretzka was at 22, I still think he is going to be that level of a midfielder and be just as much of an all rounder as the German.

[rudedog]

Only way I can see us accommodating Trent in midfield is if we move Mo to the middle and play Dom on the right of the front 3.

Otherwise we would need to drop Dom to fit Trent in and that’s not happening (assuming Jones and Endo are the other two in MF)

This adjustment would also mean less game time for Gakpo/Jota/Diaz/Nunez

I can’t see it to be honest, I think Klopp sees Trent in the hybrid role as a way of getting as many attacking players on the pitch as possible - yes there are times when Trent won’t be the best defensive option but I think Klopp isn’t too bothered as the rewards are far greater.

[Buzzo]

Agreed, the entire point of the Hybrid role that you get an extra body in midfield, therefor becoming a more potent attacking force.

We have the best defensive record and GD in the League so clearly the shift is working.

Sometimes we can look over run (more last season than this tbh) but mainly we look comfortable and when we are under the pump Trent performs more as a trad RB. Even yesterday when we were stretched everyone seemed to know their job, and this does not eradicate a player being beaten, or a foul being committed.

It is transitions that must be challenging, if we lose possession and Trent is out of position for a counter then the remainder of the team needs to know where to cover. We seem to be sorting out those particular challenges also and again you only have to look at our season so far as evidence. Doing this with a new midfield really does show of how incredible Klopp and the coaching team are.

[Angryred]

Agreed, the entire point of the Hybrid role that you get an extra body in midfield, therefor becoming a more potent attacking force.

We have the best defensive record and GD in the League so clearly the shift is working.

Sometimes we can look over run (more last season than this tbh) but mainly we look comfortable and when we are under the pump Trent performs more as a trad RB. Even yesterday when we were stretched everyone seemed to know their job, and this does not eradicate a player being beaten, or a foul being committed.

It is transitions that must be challenging, if we lose possession and Trent is out of position for a counter then the remainder of the team needs to know where to cover. We seem to be sorting out those particular challenges also and again you only have to look at our season so far as evidence. Doing this with a new midfield really does show of how incredible Klopp and the coaching team are.

Aye, yet we have so-called experts & TV pundits saying that TAA is wasted as a full-back just because a brainless England manager says he's better at midfield than full-back...Klopp knows better so that's good enough for me!

[RedReet]

Agreed, the entire point of the Hybrid role that you get an extra body in midfield, therefor becoming a more potent attacking force.

We have the best defensive record and GD in the League so clearly the shift is working.

Sometimes we can look over run (more last season than this tbh) but mainly we look comfortable and when we are under the pump Trent performs more as a trad RB. Even yesterday when we were stretched everyone seemed to know their job, and this does not eradicate a player being beaten, or a foul being committed.

It is transitions that must be challenging, if we lose possession and Trent is out of position for a counter then the remainder of the team needs to know where to cover. We seem to be sorting out those particular challenges also and again you only have to look at our season so far as evidence. Doing this with a new midfield really does show of how incredible Klopp and the coaching team are.

Did anyone else have a panic, or even notice, deep into 2nd half, Quansah carries the ball forward towards Arsenal's box?Ahead of him is Gomez, but then he loses possession meaning our LB and LCB are now ahead of play. Arsenal carry forward and there is Trent covering LB/LCB.

It was nothing special and can't even remember if he had to do any defending in the end, but just shows there are other benefits to his free role and also he is willing and intelligent enough to defend when necessary.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Did anyone else have a panic, or even notice, deep into 2nd half, Quansah carries the ball forward towards Arsenal's box?Ahead of him is Gomez, but then he loses possession meaning our LB and LCB are now ahead of play. Arsenal carry forward and there is Trent covering LB/LCB.

It was nothing special and can't even remember if he had to do any defending in the end, but just shows there are other benefits to his free role and also he is willing and intelligent enough to defend when necessary.

Do remember that phase of play and Ibou was there roaring at TAA and one of the midfielders, think it might have been Gravenberch, to get into the covering positions that they ended up in.


In the replay you can see Ibou shouting and pointing at them where to go, and they then went there to form a line that had TAA on the far left of it, the midfielder in the centre and Ibou on the right side of that line.

So was good all round team play going on by all involved.

Ibou for noticing where the spaces were, and for organising who went where, and the two guys who went there for reacting to the call and doing what they were told.


Who did impress a lot last night with his tracking back and harrying of players in our own half was Nunez. Did a hell of a lot of it. Gave away a free or two in doing so along with that header for corner but he kept getting back to give us an extra body in defence.

[RedReet]

Do remember that phase of play and Ibou was there roaring at TAA and one of the midfielders, think it might have been Gravenberch, to get into the covering positions that they ended up in.


In the replay you can see Ibou shouting and pointing at them where to go, and they then went there to form a line that had TAA on the far left of it, the midfielder in the centre and Ibou on the right side of that line.

So was good all round team play going on by all involved.

Ibou for noticing where the spaces were, and for organising who went where, and the two guys who went there for reacting to the call and doing what they were told.


Who did impress a lot last night with his tracking back and harrying of players in our own half was Nunez. Did a hell of a lot of it. Gave away a free or two in doing so along with that header for corner but he kept getting back to give us an extra body in defence.

Ha, I didn't even pick up on the fact that we needed a midfielder there too, but of course we did.

Total football

Ibou

Was very encouraging from Nunez, like you say. I thought he looked a bit tired at times and didn't have his usual blistering pace, but he kept going until the end.

[Angryred]

Ha, I didn't even pick up on the fact that we needed a midfielder there too, but of course we did.

Total football

Ibou

Was very encouraging from Nunez, like you say. I thought he looked a bit tired at times and didn't have his usual blistering pace, but he kept going until the end.

His performance yesterday deserved a goal!

[frank the tank]

Lots of competition in midfield now mind, Jones is looking really good too. Endo isn't a long term solution but I think we'd have to spend a fortune to replace him right now

Assuming he continues his form when he's back from the Asian Cup, and Bradley/Gomez take the RB slot; what is our best midfield?

TAA Endo Szoboszlai ?

MacAllister, Jones, Gravenberch, Elliot

That's 4x very high quality players not starting

The fact that Dom can play #10 or right wing means that we will have loads options going forward as Mo slows. (Super Slow Mo)

The squad we have, even a diamond formation doesn't look a bad idea tbh as all of our front forward players can peel off wide really effectively

[Doc_Piptorious]

The fact that Dom can play #10 or right wing means that we will have loads options going forward as Mo slows. (Super Slow Mo)

The squad we have, even a diamond formation doesn't look a bad idea tbh as all of our front forward players can peel off wide really effectively

Think with maybe one or two additions over the coming transfer windows that a 343 with your diamond in the centre would be interesting to see.

[Shaggy]

****ing nightmare

[ame]https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1744711560994398506[/ame]

[danperkins]

****ing nightmare

https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1744711560994398506

Ffs typical just when he's starting to really kick in. IMO we have to dip into the market and get a defender in.

[Pablo]

Ffs typical just when he's starting to really kick in. IMO we have to dip into the market and get a defender in.

An absolute necessity. We are paper thin in defence right now.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Good as he has been the past month or so, I do think that centrally at least we have plenty of cover at the moment.

Play a midfield trio of Jones, Endo and one of Szobo/Mac with Szobo or Mac allowed off the leash more than they have been.


Or go with a midfield of Jones, Endo and Mac with Szobo playing at RM.


Rotate Gravenberch, Elliot etc in when and where needed.


Just a pity we do not have Robertson or Tsimi back as then we could put Gomez in a more traditional RB role.


Think the only player in the team, if he were out for a while, that would cause me to be really worried about our results is Alisson.


When we have a lot of fit players we have pretty good cover in most other positions.

[Scratch]

I don't think we will be buying anyone, the club have a lot of faith in Bradley so I would expect him to deputise until Robbo or Tsimi return and Gomez can switch to RB. We only have a few games in Jan before we get our LB contingent back.