Our Squad

I don't understand why Firmino is behind on fitness levels. Coutinho was at Copa America with Brazil and came back to training at the exact same time. Benteke had even less preparation this summer than Firmino.

Don't call me James wrote:I don't understand why Firmino is behind on fitness levels. Coutinho was at Copa America with Brazil and came back to training at the exact same time. Benteke had even less preparation this summer than Firmino.

Probably because he is new in PL and yet to adapt (fully).

Ifty, he is talking about fitness and not adapting to the league !

Firmino's fitness should be fine, Rodgers is probably just introducing him slowly. With our lackluster attack in the first two games, I'd imagine Firmino will start very soon.

Rodg was just saving Firmino to be unleashed against Arsenal.

Helmer wrote:Ifty, he is talking about fitness and not adapting to the league !

What I meant was his physical fitness or more specifically toughness isn't enough for the rigors of PL. Then there's the issue of mental fitness to cope with the reality that here people likes the sheen more than the ball.

I prefer to introduce him slowly. It's better to have a physically and mentally fit Firmino for the insane streak of away games we have coming.

cujo wrote:Rodg was just saving Firmino to be unleashed against Arsenal.

Not at his present level mate .

There were so many occasions when neither Milner or Henderson dropped deep to help the ball out of defense. Skrtel and Lovren kept passing sideways until Mignolet had to hoof it up to Benteke (Thank *bleep* this way works now).

There were few instances where we were stretched unacceptably in the center, Skrtel pushing wide to cover Clyne's area when Clyne had gone to press, This lead to Milner going into CB for a few seconds. Coutinho might give a shit about dropping back in these occasions (No idea about Firmino atm).

Arsenal's game at Palace was the same, The midfielders are so dynamic and talented they receive the ball infront of the CB's rather play it wide. The amount of space and time Bournemouth had to turn and find a pass or run at the CB's would not go unpunished if it were Arsenal.

Im confident we'll be comfortably beaten if we play the same formation against Arsenal because they are set in a way to exploit midfield gaps rather than other dimensions and we fit right into their plan with a 4-2-3-1.

I think we could have a positive problem between Henderson, Milner and Can. I mean, when there are two spots available between them. I hoping to see all three of them to play together in midfield, too, but if I had to pick two of them, I could take any.

I dont know but after watching the first three games, I think Milner should always be there and Can should be used to give rest one of the other two midfielders.(Hendo and Milner)

First of all we should be playing 3 in the middle. But if we want to play 2 then it can't be Hendo-Milner. That partnership just doesn't work. It's way too out of wack. Can should start.

Can should play with one of Hendo/Milner imo. He provides balance that the other two just can't do by themselves.

ohh. I had considered Lucas as an automatic starter forgot to write that. He must play in tough away games at least.

Against smaller teams, I would play Allen instead of Can/Lucas as the deepest midfielder.

With Balotelli to Milan and hopefully Borini to leave as well, our squad looks something like this ATM


I think aside the thinness in the RB/RWB and may be CM area, we are pretty well covered.

Too much AMs/wingers/forwards

BusterLfc wrote:Too much AMs/wingers/forwards

Not really. We may have as many as 60+ games, all those options will keep the players fresh. Then there's the issue of injuries.

Why would we waste minutes on Allen, unless injuries force us, the guys dead wood right now.

iftikhar wrote:With Balotelli to Milan and hopefully Borini to leave as well, our squad looks something like this ATM

Mignolet
Bogdan
Third Choice!!!
Clyne-Skrtel-Lovren-Gomez
Gomez-Toure-Sakho-Moreno
??????- Ilori -Enrique
Lucas
Allen
Milner-Henderson
Emre
Firmino--------------Coutinho
Lallana--------------Ibe
Markovic-------------Origi
Bently
Sturridge
Ings

I think aside the thinness in the RB/RWB and may be CM area, we are pretty well covered.

It's not a knee-jerk or hyperbole. Is it too desperate or radical if adopt a back-line of: Clyne-Joe-Sakho-Moreno???

I wonder what would the sacking of Rodgers mean for the squad. Would the new manager have enough quality to implement his blue-print? Would the likes of Benteke and Firmino 'fit into' the philosophy of the new manager? Would the young players have a place in his plan???

Skrtel's wife.

lol wtf

I don't even recognise, apart from Sturridge, which of our players are in that photo.

I don't think that's Sturridge

Maybe it's Skrtel and his friends.

Assuming these are Liverpool lads, Skrtel the one far right. Sturridge is the guy in the center.

Firmino is the second guy on the left of Sturridge.

At the back, I have no clue who's the leftmost, Then its Allen and Lucas.

That's all i can think off, looking very photo-shopped though.

Coutinho is chucky on the left.
Firminho the joker.
Lucas at the back.
Rafa Benitez to his left?
Sturridge infront of Lucas.
Moreno in the front row with a black anon mask?
Skrtel next to the sexy devil.
Reina next to him?

Which of our present squad will have a long-term future under Klopp:

1. Mignolet: Overall he is very good and unless he has another putrid spell like last season, I don't see Klopp sacking him.
2. Bogdan: A very good back-up. I'm sure he will be kept.
3. Clyne: Still not his best but enough quality for a long-term future.
4. Moreno: He has rest of the season to improve and prove that he is worth a long-term future.
5. Enrique:  
6. Skrtel: Not really sure
7. Sakho: Showing all the right signs for being a long-term prospect.
8. Kolo: Leaving
9. Lovren:  
10. Lucas: He has done great since getting back into the team. But is that good enough for Klopp?
11. Allen: See Lovren
12. Henderson: Staying
13. Emre: Needs to improve massively but will most probably stay.
14. Milner: May stick around if he accepts a squad role (a pretty expensive one at that).
15. Lallana: Needs to bring consistency and end product to his game, otherwise he is a goner.
16. Firmino: Needs to pick-up real fast but will most probably stay.
17. Ibe: He has rest of the season to improve and prove that he is worth a long-term future.
18. Coutinho: Staying
19. Benteke: Staying
20. Sturridge: Staying
21. Ings: Showed all the right signs for being a long-term prospect.
22. Origi: Really, really not sure

Nice Ifti!

Mind if I weigh in, too?

- Mignolet: Good enough for the remainder of this season. His distribution is slow and poor, and he lacks the ability to organize the defense. I could see Klopp bringing in a replacement, but I doubt it will be this January (at least not starting regularly this season).
- Bogdan: Has surprised a lot of supporters. He’s good enough to fill in for short to moderate lengths of time, but not likely to be a serious contender for the #1 spot. Whether he stays depends on Mignolet’s willingness to remain on as a backup.
- Clyne: Personally think he’s one of the better all-round right backs in the league. RB sorted for the near future.
- Moreno: Has all the qualities to be a wonderful attacking left back. Needs to improve defensively, but it’s nothing uncommon for a young defender.
- Enrique: Unlikely to give up his modeling/instagram endeavors to play football again.
-Skrtel: Could be a solid back-up CB for us, but needs to be displaced from his starting spot.
- Sakho: In my opinion, our best defender. Needs to be the focal point of our defense when fit.
- Kolo: Likely to leave, especially if Skrtel and/or Lovren stays on as back-up.
- Lovren: An interesting case now that Sakho is sidelined. This must be his last chance in the squad. CAn’t see him overtaking Sakho as first choice, and I would prefer a younger CB as back-up, but he’s not without his merits as a back-up.
- Lucas: I could see him having a role in the squad going forward. Not as a regular first-XI player, but as a back-up and mentor. Fills a role at the moment as a DM that no one else in the squad can perform.
- Henderson: Captain and the best midfielder at the club, currently. Will be crucial when he returns.
- Emre: Will be a crucial player for us as he matures. Likely to be a long-term mainstay in the center of the park under Klopp and has all the tools to become whatever the club/Klopp wants him to become.
- Milner: Has a place in the squad as a hard-working, wide midfielder, but should go nowhere near CM, nor will he be likely to remain first choice once more dynamic wide options are brought in.
- Lallana: Has surprised me with his play under Klopp. Could have a back-up role, but lacks the quick decision making needed to be first choice for the new regime.
- Firmino: Will be crucial once fit and starting with regularity. Needs a goal/assist to really get going.
- Ibe: Has the potential to be exactly what we need in the wide areas. Needs to be allowed to develop outside of the shadow of Raheem Sterling.
- Coutinho: Simply essential.
- Benteke: Has seriously surprised me under Klopp. He performs some vital roles in Klopp’s system, and has the potential to form a nice partnership with Firmino and Coutinho up front. Had a stinker against CP, but has been making the most of limited service in his other appearances.
- Sturridge: Unplayable at times when fully fit, but that is becoming increasingly rare. Simply cannot be relied on to lead the line (fitness), but needs to be retained for his near-world class quality.
- Ings: Shame he was injured at the very start of Klopp’s tenure. Hard to see him displacing Benteke or Sturridge, but has value as another, more polished striking option.
- Origi: Many have been very critical of Origi, but we need to remember that he’s only 20. He’s approximately the same age as Jordon Ibe, but because he came from France, and is not a youth product, he’s held to a different standard. Needs time, but has immense, raw potential.