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20 Oct 2026 08:28:56
Hi all
With Florian starting to hit some form what are your thoughts about a song for him? Well known that the singing from the stands gives the lads a little extra. Last couple of games he has been great and I hope he continues to improve, song for me would be:
Florian Wirtz is on fire!
Your defence is terrified!
Florian Wirtz is on fire!
Na na na na na na na na!
I have doubted him in the past but really hope he makes it with us, fantastic little player.
1
20 Oct 2026 09:16:27
Which form is it he is hitting.
A decent performance against LASK?
1
20 Oct 2026 09:47:57
You missed the Brentford game? He was decent there too and even had an assist, I know shocker 😅.
20 Oct 2026 08:02:13
I know highly unlikely, but does anyone think that vvd has a battle to keep his place when Bradley (who frees up Araujo) and Leoni are back?
0
20 Oct 2026 08:09:42
JB12, no.
4
20 Oct 2026 08:16:07
Not this season but maybe next. I doubt we will see much of those two this season and no point rushing them back.
And might work out to be good timing for all, with Virgil into his last year of his contract and 36. So he might be getting less playing time but still there to help the youngest come along.
0
20 Oct 2026 08:21:15
No. Walks into the team.
0
20 Oct 2026 08:25:18
Ai decided to continue with Vvd as club and match day captain. He will continue to be one of the first names on the team sheet this season in my opinion as line ups to date confirm.
Sadly Looking how long and serious the injuries were I think Bradley and Leoni are the ones who face a battle this season to get a place.
0
20 Oct 2026 09:42:29
Not a chance in hell. Also, a big reason both Araujo and Jacquet are playing so well is because of VVD's presence and calmness that is felt throughout the whole backline. Ali, as well is such a calming influence.
Again, not a chance in hell.
0
20 Oct 2026 09:56:05
Maybe VVD is playing so much better than last season because of Jacquet and Araujo beside him?
20 Oct 2026 01:14:25
Ed025
I see you are already a big admirer of JJ
I think he has been our best signing so far, although I see Barcola getting better with time, smooth, great at reading the game, great tackler.
What you think? Already better than Branthwaite and Tarkowski 🤣.
0
{Ed025's Note - i think JJ a very good player Hughesy, was very disappointed with the cheating against Brentford though i must admit, he has a long way to go to be better than Jarrad and Tarks though mate even though Jarrads injury record is a big worry for me, im reserving judgement on Barcola..
2
20 Oct 2026 08:37:49
“Long way to be better than Jarrod and Tarks”😂😂
3
20 Oct 2026 09:43:07
Flo, I thought he was going to mention David Unsworth for a second there.
I have 2 tickets for the Villa Real game (1 adult, 1 junior) main stand. I can't go due to work travel now.
I'm happy to give free to a forum member who wants to go with their kid - would rather see them used than go to waste or get resold by club as hospitality.
First to DM me can have them.
Must be via friend and family transfer though - I don't want my account suspended.
Red 81.
19
19 Oct 2026 18:51:53
Great gesture Red 81 👏.
13
19 Oct 2026 20:54:20
I'll have them 🙋🏻♂️
I've already got a ticket, but I won't have to sit next to My Kids 🤣
Only joking, nice thing to do bro.
7
19 Oct 2026 21:00:37
What a lovely gesture! If my lad wasn't away with school for half term (and we lived a LOT closer to Anfield) I would be snapping your hand off!
6
20 Oct 2026 06:31:15
Read this last night and tried to make it work. Unfortunately I have work commitments that won't allow me to attend. Very kind and generous offer though, thanks.
1
20 Oct 2026 07:34:38
That is sound, fair play! No takers yet?
1
20 Oct 2026 09:45:30
OP for a second there when I read "Villa Real game", I thought it was a Villa (Aston Villa) v Real Madrid, lol.
Nice gesture, man. I will be at my local watching the game, tho.
19 Oct 2026 14:16:19
So ed025, how do you feel about the ref in your game vs Chelsea? Sounds like Chelsea should've been playing with 9 men? The standards are so bad in the PL something has to be done soon imo.
1
{Ed025's Note - i was not over concerned myself ASB even though the standard of refereeing is pretty poor on the whole mate, the tackle by Rodgers on Garner was pretty bad imo and it was touch and go whether it was a red or not, but to be fair we got what we deserved from the game which was nothing..
6
19 Oct 2026 15:53:01
Wait til the European league starts and they all get left behind. Can't wait.
2
19 Oct 2026 15:55:11
I thought that was a good old fashioned 50/50 Ed. Both players fully commited and Its something the game lacks these days - I thought the ref handled that incident pretty well.
Agree on the fact that Chelsea were good value for the win though mate.
0
{Ed025's Note - Rodgers was a bit late and a bit high BR but its a contact sport and you cant be calling for sendings off all the time mate, there are enough silly sendings off and simulation as it is...are you listening Jeremy Jaquet.. :)
4
19 Oct 2026 18:41:30
Love a bit of old fashioned honesty Ed025. We can blame refs all day long but we have to look at our own team too when it's just not good enough. Also hate to see players trying to get others sent off. Not part of the game I want. Someone experienced head needs to have a quiet word with JJ.
In a strange way playing against 10 is usually harder for us (they just defend in a low block then) so I thought it would be a disadvantage.
Last season I don't think we would have broken them down so there's a positive there.
1
{Ed025's Note - i will always say if a team plays well and will congratulate them JB, but it also works the other way mate and if a team plays rubbish i will tell them that as well even if its my own team..
2
19 Oct 2026 19:38:14
Thats not really fair Ed025 the Brentford player did actually headbut JJ, but the referees are so rubbish that if he hadnt gone down they probably wouldn't have sent him off, and he did deserve to go.
2
{Ed025's Note - thats your opinion Langland, but im a part time forensic detective mate and having looked at the evidence JJ never had a bloody nose or a cut lip or any swelling to the facial features, this leads me to believe he was playing the old soldier and basically cheating, he went down as though he had been shot actually which leads me to the conclusion that if he fails to make it as a footballer then the acting fraternity would welcome him with open arms..
3
19 Oct 2026 20:23:40
I thought Rodgers got to the ball first but was also. Agree on Jacquet tho👍. I thought Luke Shaw was a pansy the way he went down last week. Embarrassing the way these players act 🙄.
2
20 Oct 2026 00:47:19
Langland makes a good point. If VAR aren't going to notify refs about incidences they miss then the players have to egg it up to get noticed. Kicking a player in the shins in the penalty box is unlikely to result in a penalty unless he goes to ground.
3
20 Oct 2026 07:07:53
Head butting someone in any other walk of life would likely come with a prison sentence due to it likely causing significant facial damage.
Professional football would have it appear that there is a huge head butting problem within the game.
Truth be told it's a slight coming together head push that causes no damage (someone name the last player subbed off with a facial injury from it) that is however against the football laws and is deemed a foul and red card.
But all players do go down like they've been shot by an elephant gun.
0
20 Oct 2026 07:41:05
It was a red in my view ;he goes to headbutt him, but dies a terrible job(&needs to work on it) but it's still violent conduct so has to go.
0
20 Oct 2026 09:48:36
Why are we arguing this point, exactly? It was a headbutt based on the rules which are very clear and straightforward.
Not a coming together. Not incidental contact. No nothing.
It was a headbutt and a red card every single day and twice on Sundays.
Despite his ability or capability currently to press, do you see this changing under AI? Do you feel he has that within him or not?
Added, given like the last few matches how clinical he is in front of goal given half a chance, do the rest of the team bear the brunt so to speak just for him to get goals?
Thanks
Jp.
2
{Ed001's Note - are you talking about Isak? If so, he has to change, you can't carry players in the Premier League. It not just ups the work the others have to do, but increases the risk of them picking up injuries. He is capable of doing it, he is an intelligent player. I think the issue would be his fitness issues will probably mean he would only be able to play that way once a week, so we will need an option for the extra games. Which is needed anyway, as he can't stay fit.
Personally, much as I think he is a fantastic player, I think we need to look to replace him and move him on in the summer. He simply can't stay fit.}
13
19 Oct 2026 11:32:44
Starting to agree, Ed, the Brentford game showed why in a nutshell. Excellent vision and execution for his goal, I thought it was genuinely top drawer, but he doesn't work enough and hasn't shown any signs of increasing that.
Although I am willing to see how it goes once Ekitike is back. If we can rotate Isak with him frequently (which I think was the plan) then maybe we will see him pressing more, as it seems almost like an instruction at the moment. Otherwise, surely Koumas would have started vs Brentford before hurrying Isak back on the pitch?
1
{Ed001's Note - you have to either start Isak or not play him, it is much more dangerous to bring an injury prone player on off the bench as they are never properly warmed up. While there are ways to mitigate that, and in general with changes in training, it is still a bigger risk than having him properly warmed up. So if he is fit, you really have to start him.}
8
19 Oct 2026 11:53:27
Who would you replace him with Ed001? Feels like slim pickings in terms of forwards that we can obtain these days. Would love Alvarez but I don't see him coming back to England.
0
{Ed001's Note - that is a good question. There are very few good goalscorers around at the moment. You have players like Brobbey, Thiago and Evanilson, but they are not the best in front of goal. Still, any one of them would be ideal to work with Koumas and bring him on as well.}
6
19 Oct 2026 11:55:52
Who would you look to replace him with, Ed001?
Or at the risk of jinxing anything, which forwards do you think are most suited to Iraola's system?
1
{Ed001's Note - the 3 I said above seem the closest, other than Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez.}
2
19 Oct 2026 12:17:36
It will be impossible to move him on ed001 without taking a hit in the transfer unless the saudis can bail us out. He's fitness issues were already there at Newcastle and its just carried over. Personally for me a 100million pound player has to be available all the time. that's the very least.
3
{Ed001's Note - yeah exactly, it is just too large a financial hit to take unless they are able to play pretty much every game.}
4
19 Oct 2026 13:01:34
If we're still on the over $100m vibe, perhaps we'd be better served putting that money into building a time machine so we can go back to just after we bought Ekitike and then give Hughes head a wobble.
2
19 Oct 2026 13:11:08
Thanks Ed for the reply.
Brobbey would be a fun player to have to watch.
2
19 Oct 2026 13:20:15
Ed, are there no other ways to at least increase a player's robustness and resistance to injury, i. e. weight training and adding extra mass to a player's frame?
Every time I watch Isak, I just can't help but think he looks like his legs could do with more work in the gym to improve mass and strength.
0
{Ed001's Note - mass can have the opposite effect, but it is possible to strengthen joints and ligaments, which make a huge difference. You would training similar ways to say Shaolin do, which would be beneficial in the long term as that does not weaken as quickly as muscle mass. That is why you see elderly martial artists still having speed and flexibility. Yoga is another way to get that strength. Isometrics too. All three types of training are very similar and can have a major effect on reducing injury.}
8
19 Oct 2026 13:43:59
If people think we struggle to score now it would be much worse if our striker was just a big brute who creates nothing and rarely troubles the keeper but "puts it about"
Man up top needs to score. Isak is doing that. Owen, Torres, Fowler were all fromtmen who did virtually no defensive work at all yet if any were in their prime right now everyone would take them because they do what strikers are supposed to do - score goals.
I know people will use rush as an example but the dude was a freak. With strikers you almost always either get a goal scorer OR a defensive forward. You rarely get both. Even Bobby struggled to score for long periods and he's probably the best all round forward of the modern age for Liverpool.
10
19 Oct 2026 13:59:45
When power-hungry, non-football people try to build a dream team, this is what can happen.
There is a reason Jürgen chose Darwin over Isak, for better or for worse.
Isak needs to be the focal point, with a team built around him. Wirtz needs pace and movement in front of him, and Isak can be statuesque.
He does score winning goals, though. But, like Haaland, he doesn't do a great deal more.
2
19 Oct 2026 14:02:51
Agree with Nevada for the 1st time ever. Isak is class and will hopefully stay fit and bang in 100s of goals for Liverpool in the years to come 🙏.
7
19 Oct 2026 13:33:08
Isak is going nowhere anytime soon due to the exact reason Ed mentioned as in, the financial hit. The issue here is that despite all the reservations we might have, Isak is going to be here. It is what it is.
And the fact that there are no adequate replacements out there (cos the ones Ed mentioned are simply not at the level of Isak in front of goal) just proves the point I made above.
We 're either going to be hopefully that Eki can comeback stronger and fit to play and rediscover himself. Or we get an option in to spell him to get him rested and fit to play.
But at the club heirarchy level as a financial topic, selling Isak is a non starter right now, imo.
1
19 Oct 2026 14:48:53
Well if it was me I'd cash out on Isak the minute the summer transfer window is open. A totally unreliable player. Take the hit now and go buy Lauturo Martinez like we should have done in the first place.
0
19 Oct 2026 14:58:05
He's scored 5 in 6 and we've decided we're selling him? :)
His pressing will become more effective when the whole team is more confident in pushing up.
His fitness was priced in before we bought him. Everyone knew his fitness needed to be managed.
We signed Hugo Ekitike to rotate with him.
11
19 Oct 2026 15:05:48
I actually think we will get back maybe not all we paid but certainly £100m+ on Isak. I think his fragility and bouts of unavailability would be lessened in one of the other European leagues, maybe with some 'swap type' deals with, for example, Atletico and Alvarez.
I do agree with an earlier comment that we need to stop firing 9 figures here there and everywhere to try to assemble the most impressive players whilst paying no heed to the overall team.
1
19 Oct 2026 17:04:35
I'm not as concerned about Isak as I originally was, think he has been ok this season and fitness will take time to develop fully. We are desperately unlucky that both him and Ekitike and now Gakpo have had injuries so rotation hasn't probably been as much as AI would have liked or envisaged.
I do think the pressing and game involvement has been piss poor but that has been team wide!
1
19 Oct 2026 18:09:30
Wouldn't swap Isak for Martinez. Never been impressed with him when seeing him against the big English sides.
1
19 Oct 2026 17:34:13
Wasnt necessarily referring to in-game rotation Ed, although I have to imagine it would come up occasionally - especially with Ekitike working his way back to fitness. I do think, if we he does need to be moved on, we're going to have to accept a bit of a haircut although maybe not as much as before the summer just gone? Fees have gone a bit nuts.
Money no object Ed, is Alvarez the one?
0
{Ed001's Note - yes.
0
19 Oct 2026 19:01:58
He'd suit us down to the ground FM. He's reliable, fit and strong. He's a very good forward. We should have moved hard for him instead of Isak but that's just my opinion.
1
19 Oct 2026 20:05:22
Josh King at Fulham could be a good option. Especially if we can get Ekitike fit.
1
19 Oct 2026 20:29:30
What's your impression on our overall pressing game at present? On tv live it can look ok when we hunt in packs but I was watching back some highlights of our last games at a wider angle and it was a bit more worrying. There was countless times when our front four would press high but then our defensive line appeared very deep and actually dropping back quiet early leaving our midfield wide open, seemed to me that once u bypass our initial press we can be quiet a way off making an effective channel making it so easy to run directly at our midfield and back line.
Admittedly this isn't all the time but there was quite a few examples, kinda reminded me of the 7-2 Villa game in 2020. Early doors for AI but something we really need to work on.
0
19 Oct 2026 21:48:20
Isak's output has always been tailored. We knew this when we signed him. If you push him, he's going to get injured. Sure, there's a certain amount you can do for injury prevention, but we're talking about genetics here, it cannot be changed. Iraola is very aware of all the above, Isak is operating under instruction, it's not accidental. He may up the ante somewhat periodically, in the grand scheme of things, he's not long back from his injury, if you want Isak pressing he has to be tactical about it, he can't chase down every defender on the pitch like Koumas does, that's a disaster waiting to happen.
Generally speaking, his output will remain tailored, so get used to it. We brought him in because he's a clinical finisher, not because he's the next Mo Farah, despite the similar build.
2
19 Oct 2026 22:29:59
Just out of interest but did Salah do a lot of pressing because I can't remember it.
I think Isak is one of those rare players you can carry effectively because he's a goal scorer.
3
20 Oct 2026 08:32:30
Isak has missed one league game this season. Which is less than a lot of the squad
We could judge him on last season I suppose but if we did that for every player then we'd have a field day slating them.
0
20 Oct 2026 09:51:10
Shankly's, Isak is going nowhere for the reasons I mentioned. take the hit?
19 Oct 2026 10:02:28
I have been impressed with Barcola.
Yes, he does miss sitters sometimes but generally, I have liked what I have seen of him recently. Hope he continues to improve.
18
19 Oct 2026 10:32:31
He has good pace and movement, but I think he needs to work on his aggression for the Premier League.
The shooting is poor but Raheem Sterling made a career out of being good on the ball, movement and speed, despite having woeful kicking technique.
4
19 Oct 2026 10:34:10
I just wish he was a bit more aggressive but he is looking more of a threat now.
I do hope that the forward line starts to click as currently we are far too reliant on Isak for our goals, wouldn't be a problem if you can rely on his fitness.
3
19 Oct 2026 11:42:10
I know he fluffed his lines, but that break for his 1v1 took me back to seeing Salah and Mane breaking away from the defence.
He is still 24, so there is some polishing to do for sure, but I'm very excited to see him grow in this team.
6
19 Oct 2026 11:51:04
FWIW I think the way he effortlessly glides on the grass looks deceivingly like he's not playing with intensity. He was supporting his fullback and made quite a few challenges/turnovers if I recall. Kayode is lauded as a monster but you can't say he kept Barcola quiet given he could have had a hattrick on another day.
Can he do better? Yes. Hopefully he will know his team mates better and better and they will play passes for him to run onto.
7
19 Oct 2026 12:58:37
I got frustrated at the number of times Barcola ignored Kerkez on the overlap. I understand that it can be used as a decoy tactic but I don't think Kerkez got one pass out of it all game despite it often being a credible outlet.
0
19 Oct 2026 13:36:59
Barcola is simply not fit enuff yet due to the lack of preseason he had. It is that simple for me.
You cannot be aggressive and mentally sharp in such critical moments without being physically and fully fit and focused. One needs the other to thrive. On that final counter at Brentford, he just stopped which tells me he was gassed hence, mentally tired and as a result, out of ideas.
He needs to keep getting his fitness up to speed in subsequent games so he can have the mental strength and aggressive approach to take these chances.
1
19 Oct 2026 14:54:04
I think Barcola is lacking better decision making and more time in practice and games with his frontline partners. When he missed those sitters you could see there was some hesitation, even if it's just split second. With time, both the decision making and linking up will get better and better.
I remember with Mane, Firmino and Salah, it was said that each one knew where the other two were, at any given time in attack; they could play with each other with their eyes closed. I think that is achievable with our strike force after sufficient time.
2
19 Oct 2026 17:08:47
Have to agree with ArAy and others I was very frustrated watching Barcola in the last 2 games because I felt his decision making was way off, he had his man isolated on countless times with acres to run into and checked back or slowed down play rather than attacking the back line aggressively, think the early miss in the last game knocked the confidence and he really should have done better, positively he got into some great positions, was wasteful at times but a real threat and when it clicks you can see a real handful.
1
19 Oct 2026 18:58:26
Salah and Suarez missed sitters when they first joined - just saying.
2
19 Oct 2026 19:00:49
Such a strange and funny situation isn't it.?
Isak scores goals, currently 2nd in PL for most goals, but doesn't work hard enough and should go.
Wirtz works very hard but not appreciated by many. so must be sold
Barcola can't score sitters, but we must keep him
{Ed025's Note - i think JJ a very good player Hughesy, was very disappointed with the cheating against Brentford though i must admit, he has a long way to go to be better than Jarrad and Tarks though mate even though Jarrads injury record is a big worry for me, im reserving judgement on Barcola..
{Ed001's Note - are you talking about Isak? If so, he has to change, you can't carry players in the Premier League. It not just ups the work the others have to do, but increases the risk of them picking up injuries. He is capable of doing it, he is an intelligent player. I think the issue would be his fitness issues will probably mean he would only be able to play that way once a week, so we will need an option for the extra games. Which is needed anyway, as he can't stay fit.