The Liverpool Thread

[Theatre of Dreams83]

Gave me proper Madrid/Villa flashbacks — when Arne Slot binned the slow, “ponderous” stuff, went a bit more direct and we actually looked like the team from the first half of last season.

Then after the Villa game he went straight back to the slow build-up, so I’m praying he’s learned it this time. So made up for Ibou he has been horrific this season but he is still a human being and that last goal and the performance was magnificant. So made up for him.

It helped Newcastle were more open than a whores legs. Absolute naive stuff.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

Man is it good to wake up with a sore head for the right reasons on a Sunday once more.

Yesterdays admin-

Title Defence Countdown:
11 wins down/ 14 to go. (Adjusted from pre-season target of 27 wins.).
39 points down/ 42 to go. (Adjusted from pre-season target of 89 points.).

Current unbeaten home PL run:
P 6 W 3 D 3 F 10 A 4 CS: 2
1 Straight Win.

You thought it was emotional before the KO when McDowall brought both sets of supporters together, as one, in collective hope for a living legend of both clubs now facing the ultimate fight. Kevin Keegan. Shankly’s best.

But then the end comes …..

An end that just adds to the mystique and magic of Anfield. An end were, as magically seems to happen at times at the arl’ place, Anfield decides it’s time for one of our own, who’s been much maligned, and who’s suffered greatly recently, in a season of loss and suffering, to have his moment and feel exactly what we’re all about at this club. In this City. Love. Not least when it comes to standing together for our own. A scruffy as all heck magic moment. But when it comes, the outpouring of love for Ibou is a special moment to be caught up in. The collective outpouring of love and caring for this thing of ours we talk about often. But that so often gets forgotten by many. Standing together, collectively, as one, through the hard times and pulling everyone through. Ibou felt that love in spades in the 93rd minute. From his adoring public and teammates alike. And when Alisson, another one of ours who’s felt that collective love, knowing Ibou’s personal pain more than anyone, tipped up hugging him the other end of the pitch, you were gone.

Care and love for this thing of ours. Something many should remember through the hard times before the bile and abuse flows. We built this club on the collective. And we stick together as one against everyone on the outside. It’s the Liverpudlian way.

The end caps off another brilliant night at the arl’ place this week. If smiles were back on everyone’s faces Wednesday, they were lighting up the way home in the rain last night with L’pool’s superb display after a slow start. Newcastle have the best of the opening 20 or so. But just as you think the Reds are gaining control, they break with a goal that should never have been allowed to happen. From a who should NEVER have been on the pitch. But who was down to the complete incompetence of the single worst official, among a litany of all time bad officials, Simon Hooper. Who is SO unfit he can’t even keep up with play to make the right judgement call! How Gordon stayed on after ragging a lad to the ground by the neck, then going out to do Alisson like he tried to do van Dijk up there, learning nottin’ from that, is solely down to Hoopers continued ineptitude. But stay on he did. And he finishes superbly to just add that natural doubt back into you in the league this season. Against the run of play at this point too. But the Reds are slowly regaining their confidence and metal. And they fight back. The best player currently in the whole league for me, Wirtz, who is getting better and better with each passing game, whilst still having LEVELS to go to the player I watched regularly at Leverkusen, which is scary as for the rest of the PL, dances through and sets up a man who just embodies Scouse swagger and not giving a flying F to what anyone says about us. From inside or outside the fanbase. Ekitike decides we are winning this game. And everyone follows suit. The quick second goal, as much as Newcastles defending was as porous and open as L’pool’s for the blue ’s goal, is the mark of a top, top player playing with absolute arrogant swag knowing he’s a cut above the opposition. And he’s going to show it and not give a F! Proper Scouse hero him the way he carries himself. And when Isak’s had a proper pre-season and is up to speed alongside him ……

The second half, L’pool just step up another gear and blitz them. Every player is a 7 at least. So, so many standouts. Wirtz adding another superb goal, the only place he could put it, to add to his growing, imperious dominance. Ekitike just taking the absolute P by this point beating lads for fun. Big Dom everywhere as always. Kerkez adding to his last 10/15 game spell of superb form. Even Mo, whilst off it, is still crucial in holding width and taking players to him to create space for others. We are standing tall physically and getting stronger at the back. Konate superb before his game defining moment at the end. And my personal MOTM. Another much maligned player. Gakpo. Who interchanged superbly with Ekitke all night and suddenly morphed into an actual winger who went directly at, and skimmed his man, time after time. Best game Cody’s had all season and then some.

Just a superb, all around team performance. Which had the managers song return at home after being missing in 2026. Which was as pleasing as anything else on the night. With very positive shout outs toward him from many the end when he came over with his boys to applaud us.

Man alive we’ve needed a feel good week like this. And after all the pain he’s been through recently, not least Ibou.

Everyone smiling again. Feel g the collective love. The way it should be.

Roll on City.

Up the Champion Reds!

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017869313219121411

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

Let’s pray Romano is more clued in than his chancing B/S on Dumfries and Jones Friday.

Not a bad signing by any stretch being he can comfortably play both right full, CH and DM.

Dutch national squad regular. And somone the manager knows well and totally trusts being his most used player at Feyenoord.

Interesting to see what the price would be if it’s not a loan? But it would be a typically savvy and smart Edwards move regardless.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017917799780294990

 

[dilakh2]

Let’s pray Romano is more clued in than his chancing B/S on Dumfries and Jones Friday.

Not a bad signing by any stretch being he can comfortably play both right full, CH and DM.

Dutch national squad regular. And somone the manager knows well and totally trusts being his most used player at Feyenoord.

Interesting to see what the price would be if it’s not a loan? But it would be a typically savvy and smart Edwards move regardless.

Minus the last part, but yes he was his captain at Feyenoord and I was suprised we didnt bring him in the first summer round as Slot clearly trusts him. More defensive minded and not that good enough on the ball to play DM but we desperately need a body in who can cover fullback and Centre half at a good enough level and he fits the bill.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

Elliott on for Villa earlier.

3 more games u til the obligation to buy kicks-in.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

A week is a LONG time in football.

After Bournemouth, the reactionary among our number were cry A and having hissy fits about mid-table and having to have a playoff in Europe …..

Fast forward a week, and two superb performances/ wins, and we’ve qualified as Europes third best, avoiding the play-off and securing crucial home advantage second through the quarters at least. And finished the PL weekend a mere 8 points outside of second. With a massive home game at a wild Anfield next up against said team in second which can cut the gap to 2 games.

The moral of the story is have some faith in the team you (pertain) to support! Football is as unpredictable a sport as you can get and NOTHING is ever lost so long as points are still on the board.

Happy days.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2018086135046492531

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

I need to watch Rennes games as I know nottin’ about this lad. But regardless, brilliant news to start boxing the CH group.

You’d imagine they are looking at he and Leoni being the next dominant CH partnership.

Massively high on Leoni personally BTW given my love of Italian footie. I’d say he’s the Virgil succession plan. This kid the Konate one. He’s shown great leadership his embryonic career to date. They are massive on him in Italy being the next 10-year captain of the Azzuri. And the fact he’s been called up already speaks volumes.

If the French youth International is anything like Leoni’s projection we are laughing.

Massive pity on Sunderland scuppering an agreed deal with all other parties earlier. But this is a real strong end to the window.

Kudos Hughes and Edwards. By no means the window it needed to be. But a super end to it.

Hopefully more to come before 7 PM tomorrow.

 

[dilakh2]

Still feel for Slot as what does CH no matter how talented help him now and in the upcoming months to finish the season strong. Either **** or get off the pot, back the manager if you want to keep him long term by giving him the tools he needs for the squad now.

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

I need to watch Rennes games as I know nottin’ about this lad. But regardless, brilliant news to start boxing the CH group.

You’d imagine they are looking at he and Leoni being the next dominant CH partnership.

Massively high on Leoni personally BTW given my love of Italian footie. I’d say he’s the Virgil succession plan. This kid the Konate one. He’s shown great leadership his embryonic career to date. They are massive on him in Italy being the next 10-year captain of the Azzuri. And the fact he’s been called up already speaks volumes.

If the French youth International is anything like Leoni’s projection we are laughing.

Massive pity on Sunderland scuppering an agreed deal with all other parties earlier. But this is a real strong end to the window.

Kudos Hughes and Edwards. By no means the window it needed to be. But a super end to it.

Hopefully more to come before 7 PM tomorrow.

Very good talented proper tackling CB. Not great with the ball at his feet. But not awful. Will have to watch it in the prem as he likes to dive off his feet and is prone to getting carded.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

Very good talented proper tackling CB. Not great with the ball at his feet. But not awful. Will have to watch it in the prem as he likes to dive off his feet and is prone to getting carded.

I don’t mind you mate,

But after the absolute nonsense you came out with about Madrid earlier this season, I’ll swerve evals from you ta.

 

[dilakh2]

In other news we've nabbed the director of academy of a decade from PSG. Good move for once.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

Well nobody can say we haven’t addressed the future of the CH group this window:

• Jeremy Jacquet (20)
• Ifeanyi Ndukwe (17)
• Mor Talla Ndiaye (18)
• Noah Adekoya (19)

Throw in the best young defender from the country that specialises in top defenders like NO other, Leoni (19), and there’s a great chance you are set with 3 or 4 of those for a decade or so.

Proper shame Sunderland scuppered the deal. But kudos Hughes and Edwards. Real strong end to the window that with Jacquet.

That makes the summer and a tip drawer DM/ winger that much easier.

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

I bet most of them won’t even have a career at Liverpool

 

[dilakh2]

I bet most of them won’t even have a career at Liverpool

Its the nature of the beast of pro football at a higher level. All you can do is hedge your bets and one of them comes good. This all shouldve been done window by window, as we knew father time will eventually come for Virgil and Salah rather than scrambling. We still need two senior CBs in the summer as Konate is most likely off and like I said Virgil needs replacing. It would be unfair on this young french lad and Leoni as talented as he looked coming back from ACL to be the next pairing. This aint FM. Schlotterback or Bastoni would be my choice as they are the standouts who can perhaps be prised away, especially the former.

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

You don’t need two at all. Big Virg is good for another year. If Konate stays sound. If not, you could add one.

After you’ve added say a Wharton and Diomande, the outlay on a Bastoni or the like would be, as you alluded to, FM overkill.

 

[dilakh2]

You don’t need two at all. Big Virg is good for another year. If Konate stays sound. If not, you could add one.

After you’ve added say a Wharton and Diomande, the outlay on a Bastoni or the like would be, as you alluded to, FM overkill.

I think Virg downfall this season has been overstated. Hes been poor dont get me wrong but the whole team has an we desperately need a reset come summer regardless of who is manager that will heavily help. The comments making it out like he is a geriatric on the pitch are just noise. If it were up to me id give him an extension to lead the next young group of CBs we have alongside him. Konate has to go, lovely lad and will be missed, but you were right, and he just hasn't stepped up without Virgil holding his hand.

The reason I say we need a senior CB is you cant rely on Leoni, Gomez and this young french lad to partner Virgil. Get someone like Schlotterback in who can take over the leadership role after playing alongside Virgil and hopefully one of the young lads steps up to partner him.

Wharton, I would avoid not because he is a bad player, far from that but he is just another slow midfielder in the Macca vibe that we dont need. We need someone physical in that midfielder role as we get overrun so easily and are incrediby easy to bully. It's one of the main weaknesses of Slot since hes arrived here that he doesn't realise that. If Dominik doesn't play in there, we are so easy to cut through. Macca has gone the way of Fab hes legs are gone this season. I dont know what it is, but apart from one or two games genieunly looks finished.

Lastly, what's your opinion on Ali this season? He has gone from god-like to looking like a human for once. Even then im not kidding, he is so far ahead of the rest of his peers that he is the one im scared the club will look at his injury history and let him run out his contract. You know who im not convinced by? The big Georgian im sorry, this might sound harsh but I think hes absolute pony. You know who he reminds me of? A worse version of De Gea, except he was one of the best shot stoppers, but rubbish at every thing else, and the big Georgian is a decent shot stopper but just as rubbish at everything else. I had to Google and see how tall he was because he cant claim anything, and he just cant pass, so it makes no sense to build up with him. Until there's a young keeper out there with potential to take over Id say beg Ali to stay and keep renewing. Even if he inevitably falls off, he is so far ahead of the rest of the pack that he will be world-class.

 

[Theatre of Dreams83]

Liverpool FC

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We have reached an agreement for the transfer of Jeremy Jacquet from Stade Rennais, with the defender set to join the club ahead of the 2026-27 season, subject to a work permit and international clearance