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**Official** English Football Season 2023/24

Skipper Pup

U19 Vice-Captain
you may have a point about Gomez, but TAA's future is clearly not right-back.
Who knows tbh. Bradley at RB is certainly an option moving forward, I'm just not convinced TAA is the type of CDM that Klopp wants.

That only really leaves the two 8's, which I think TAA could definitely do but doesn't feel like something we will rush to make happen. Szoboslai, Jones, Elliott are all young enough to be long term options and who knows what becomes of Gravenberch. I tend to think Mac Allister is a long term 8 too.
 

wpdavid

Hall of Fame Member
Cooper would be a great choice for them. Also worth noting that Potter was at that game, he's probably in contention. Carrick has future caretaker Man Utd coach written all over him.
That's interesting about Potter. At the end of last season, I said that I'd happily see him in charge at Selhurst Park, and I really don't gaf about the Palace/Brighton rivalry.
 

Skipper Pup

U19 Vice-Captain
Yeah why the hell would he want the closest thing to KdB that exists.
The old saying goes 'if it ain't broke why try fix it' applies here.
He's the most unique RB in the world and he happens to be extremely effective playing the hybrid role, he is getting exposed less defensively too. Even when he's not in the side Gomez has been playing the exact same role, just from the left. Some people were keen to bring up how many times Doku dribbled past TAA in the City game when he was playing DM, that will only become more common if he's there permanently without protection.

In terms of legacy, TAA doesn't gain much from moving into midfield imo. He's already well on his way to being one of the best RBs ever, he won't get enough time to be in that conversation if he's a midfielder. Compare him to someone like Kimmich who was a RB converted to DM at 19/20yo, has won everything, played 200+ games and still isn't in those all time conversations.

As a side note, it is interesting how this team is transforming and how the DM role is changing in Klopp's mind. Fabinho was obviously a very different profile of player to anything we have now, and before that Sven Bender at Dortmund was a converted CB who ended up a DM. Both those guys were 6foot+ defensive-minded, combative machines, they fit the mould of the archetypal midfield destroyer, akin to Partey/Rodri/Casemiro types.

While Macca is doing a fantastic job, most seem to still think LFC need to sign a DM and I've read around the place rival fans thinking that is where LFC are weakest. In reality, Klopp has stated on a few occasions that he prefers a strong ball player, someone that is in the right spaces defensively but also is press resistant, can move the ball quickly and knit transitions together. Endo and Macca are exactly that. It's probably the reason they took the risk on Thiago and why he was dropped into DM for a while there, unfortunately that didn't pay off with his injury issues.

Right now it's hard to see how TAA in midfield works with LFC's current 433 formation and squad options. He's far more likely to be one of the 8's imo. I haven't seen the positional awareness or tackling ability to convince me he can replicate what Endo and Macca do. Arguably, if he was the solution he would already be there because Bradley is quite clearly ready and Gomez is very capable at RB.

If he were to move into midfield I see more of Pirlo in his game, than say KDB. Just as you wouldn't see KDB or Pirlo as a lone DM (KDB had Yaya while Pirlo had Gattuso/Marchisio), I think if TAA is to move there it will still be with a defensive-minded option next to him and it probably will accompany a formational change.

All that change just for the sake of moving a very effective world class RB into another position and potentially having to find another RB... I say leave him where he is.
 
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anil1405

International Captain
just when Leverkusen believed they were safe from Alonso leaving after Ancelotti’s extension this happens lol
I'm all for Xabi to Liverpool but would prefer him having few more years of experience under his belt before making the switch to Anfield.
 

Skipper Pup

U19 Vice-Captain
So unbelievably devastated.

I somewhat thought this was inevitable the season after we won the league, that January when Klopp lost his mother he looked absolutely spent in press conferences. I've never seen him that low. It was pretty evident that he was fed up with FSG and frustrated about VVD, Gomez and Matip being out with no cover. We survived that season and of course everyone remembers the Alisson goal and the emotions after that.

He signed a contract extension in 2022 after the cup double, 10min away from winning the league and an all time GK performance away from winning the quad. He was looking himself again.

Last season once the side starting to fall away he looked absolutely spent again. Many rival fans were questioning the 7th season myth, even LFC fans were wondering if he had what it would take to rebuild this side. I think he wanted out then but likely he felt some responsibility and guilt for the state in which he would leave the club and knew he had more work to do first.

Then came this window just gone and some new additions to the squad. To announce this right now is heart-breaking, both he and the squad were looking re-energized and the rebuild only a window or two away from being complete. For me personally, the biggest blow is Pep Ljinders leaving with him - I genuinely believed he would be Klopp's successor.

Also concerningly, we're still yet to extend the contracts of Virgil, Mo, Trent or Alisson as this news drops. I doubt we lose them all but it's definitely likely a couple go knowing that the chances of silverware without Klopp are significantly reduced. For the squad this loss will be difficult to comprehend.

No doubt the whole truth will come out in due course but my gut feel on this is FSG have played a huge part in both the timing and decision. For years Klopp has protected their frugalness and overachieved with what little funds he's been given (relative to who he's competing with). Klopp speaking out about the Caicedo deal before that imploded was a red flag given it was so out of character. They have given him the bare minimum and he's knowingly had to operate within tight financial constraints his entire tenure.

This news has rocked the foundations of the club and it's going to take a while to process, I hope internally those wheels are already in motion.

Talking about who succeeds him is a conversation for another day. For now we have to win as much as we can this season and ensure he gets a send off fit for an all time legendary manager.
 
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Aidan11

International Vice-Captain
Unsavoury scenes at West Brom as play was held up in their FA Cup match with Wolves when fighting broke out in the stands.
 

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