Cute kid. Bless him.
To be fair, what we know for sure on transfers is he badly wanted Dahoud the summer but after letting Xhaka go to Arsenal, Monchengladbach wouldn't sell for fear of being too light. And this January, we met the fee for Draxler, but couldn't match PSG on salary (not sure why as I don't see how he'd fit into our side at all but I'm not Klopp), and returned for both Brandt and Pulisic but neither BVB nor Leverkusen were prepared to sell at any price until the summer with no chance to replace for the rest of this season. So it's not like he's not been trying to strengthen in the areas. (And that's just the guys we defo know about.).
I don't think anyone expects either Lucas or Kev Stewart to be here after this year. And if Can doesn't play ball over his deal, he'll have to be moved on this summer too. We're light Marko Grujić and the still not fully match fit Sheyi Ojo through injury. I have little doubt both would of gotten good game time the past few months funk had they been fit enough. So you've what, Mané and Ojo as genuine quality wide threats. Henderson and what should be Can for me whilst he's here over Lucas who can no longer play the position in our definition of the 6/ DMP role. With anyone from Lallana/ Wijnaldum/ Can/ Phil ahead/ more advanced along with the young Ejaria and Woodburn who both impress the heck out of me and I see as having big roles to play in the squad for a good few years to come.
We add to that with 2 or 3 top quality players, and some of those starting then become real good quality depth, we're doing sound the summer.
But as regards the here and now, we still have a glorious chance to end the title wait. It's gutting to be out of both cups after this horrendous past week, but now that's past, it's time to focus on the task at hand. Outside of any unforeseen injury's, we're as good a first XI as anyone for the last 16 games of this season now everyones healthy again as we showed when everyone was fit up until the late autumn. 16 games with no cup distractions. Where we can focus everything on the main goal. With Klopp finally having full, uninterrupted weeks on the training park to prepare for the upcoming game. And with the major bonus of a 16 day break, which will be like a mini mid-winter break for ourselves, coming up after the next three games down to missing an FA Cup weekend. Oh yeah, and everyone else having Europe starting up again save for Chelsea who are still going for the Cup. And L'pool having everyone to come to us and the most favourable run-in of anyone with a balance of home games in our favour.
If we beat them Tuesday, I firmly believe the league title is still on.
But we HAVE to beat them. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Players AND fans have to be up for these 16 games and have to give EVERYTHING we have with NOTHING left on the pitch or in the stands.
16 games. 16 Cup Finals to know you've left nothing to try end the drought. That's not too much to ask is it?
Up the Down but FAR from Out Reds!
