Liverpool 2014/15 | WARNING: Contains strong amounts of Scouse nonsense

[Rafateria]

If you think you can improve on 2nd, without your star player, you're seriously deluded. However well last season opened up for you. I don't think it takes a genius to work out a season without any real cup distractions, and a season your main rivals have all changed manager (Chelsea, city, us and Everton) is a colossal advantage.
One you won't have this year

Show me one single post where I've said anything even remotely akin to your first sentence ? You're way off base and you are the one who is seriously deluded if you think I said that.

The 'managers' issue has been covered. It seems you consider it a weakness in your rivals but a strength for United. However, Mourinho weakened Chelsea ? Seriously ? Pochettino won the PL and Everton had their best season for years ! On the contrary to being a 'colossal advantage' you've destroyed your own argument.

As far as CL / FAC etc are concerned, the impact is over-stated and United fans are reeling this out like rote as one of the main reason for our potential uncompetitiveness in the PL this coming season, (and for United's increased strength), without having done any research. Whilst there are other factors that can and will affect the preparedness of the team (travel, 2 matches per week, preparation time etc.) the fitness of the players shouldn't be construed as being a key issue. You really need to look at squad depth and games played per player. As a club the PL teams in the CL played an average of ca. 10 games more than Liverpool last season. Allowing for a squad depth of around 25.

Now obviously some players in the squad will see more action than others (probably a core of the top 15-16 players) but having strong back-ups for all of the positions is key. Something similar to that which I've posted on here before (below) shows that for many less important games there is more than enough depth to cover and still rest senior players. Last season we obviously couldn't have coped but comparing the top 15-16 players across the Top 5 from 2013/14 shows that the key players actually only played ca. 5-6 games more than their Liverpool peers, the balance being taken up by squad players.

The squad as it stands (NB, for certain some players will be sold and others go out on loan, especially if other players come in, likely; Texeira, Suso, Ilori, Coates & Ibe) :

---------------------------------------- Ming
................................................(Jones)

Flanno ----------------------- Lovren ---------- Sakho ------------ Moreno (assumed)
(Johnson / Manquillo) (Skrtel/Toure) (Lovren/Agger) (Enrique / Flanno / Johnson)

Other CBs : Coates, Ilori and Kelly.

--------------------------------------- Gerrard
.......................................(Allen / Can / Lucas)

---------------- Henderson
............ (Can / Allen / Rossiter)

----------------------------------------------------- Coutinho
........................................(Lallana / Sterling / Markovic / Suso / Texeira)


---- Sterling ---------------------- Sturridge -------------------------- Lallana
(Markovic / Suso / Ibe) (Lambert / A.N.Other) (Sterling / Markovic / Coutinho / Ibe / Texeira)

Below were my calculations after 36 games of last season. The relevant point shown below is that if we are comparing Liverpool to United then our Top 15 players played only 6 games less than United's (who also played in the CL of course) mainly because of squad size (players who played 5 games or more, not actual squad size), we had only 21 players compared to United's 26.

On the issue of squad size and how that impacted on games played per player. If we look at the games of the players, with more than 5 games (starting or coming on as a sub), at the top teams in 2013/14 :

Liverpool : 21 players 25.6 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 29.9 games per player. (thru 41 + 2 PL games to go) (actually this average shows how injuries/bans to our 1st team players have also hit LFC throughout the season because you can assume squad rotation for any team playing in European competition yet the difference between average games played per player (Top 15) and the clubs potential total is the same as most teams below)
Man City : 23 players 33.0 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 41.5 games per player. (thru 55 + 2 PL games to go)
Chelsea : 23 players 33.3 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 42.6 games per player. (thru 55 + 1 PL game to go)
Man. Utd : 26 players 28.7 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 35.8 games per player. (thru 52 + 2 PL games to go)
Arsenal : 24 players 30.6 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 38.7 games per player. (thru 55 + 1 PL game to go)
Spurs : 26 players 27.2 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 33.7 games per player. (thru 53 + 1 PL game to go)
Everton : 22 players 29.0 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 37.8 games per player. (thru 43 + 1 PL game to go)

If we make an assumption for Liverpool games in 2014/15 : 38 PL + LC to semis (5) + FAC to semis (5) + CL to 1/8 (10). That is an extra 15 games @ 14 players per game = an extra 210 appearances. So 6 new players @ ave. 30 games per player + 6 squad players @ 5 games per player = 210 appearances.

So Liverpool need ca. 5-6 1st team level players and to populate the squad with the returning loanees and promoted reserve team players to cover the extra matches. So far we have 1 Out and 7 (almost 8) In.

 

[finneh]

So Liverpool need ca. 5-6 1st team level players and to populate the squad with the returning loanees and promoted reserve team players to cover the extra matches. So far we have 1 Out and 7 (almost 8) In.

The reason I think Liverpool will do poorly this season is that last season they had a strong first XI, but a very weak squad. This wasn't a problem as they could play their strongest 14/15 player's every single week due to a lack of cup fixtures. However now they have a weaker first team, but still don't have a particularly strong squad (albeit stronger than last term). They've gone from having a first XI that would scare any team in the League to having a first XI similar to Spurs post Bale (lots of good player's, no great player's).

One top draw signing like Cavani could change things massively, but until Liverpool make that signing I won't be particularly concerned (and I don't think they will). The fact that most Liverpool fans would snap your hands off if offered 4th now is testament to that fact that even they feel a battle for 4th is imminent.

Relying on Sturridge, Henderson, Sterling etc to stay fit and perform at least as well as they did in their best season ever would also be a big concern. As would bedding in the best part of 10 player's who weren't at Liverpool last season.

 

[Rafateria]

The reason I think Liverpool will do poorly this season is that last season they had a strong first XI, but a very weak squad. This wasn't a problem as they could play their strongest 14/15 player's every single week due to a lack of cup fixtures.

I don't think you read the figures I gave above, or at least maybe didn't notice that our Top 15 players (in terms of appearances) played an average of under 30 games each. They should easily be able to reach 38-40 games (as top players at other top clubs in the CL did) without affecting performances levels. Add in another 7-8 players and there is now plenty of quality squad depth.

However now they have a weaker first team, but still don't have a particularly strong squad (albeit stronger than last term). They've gone from having a first XI that would scare any team in the League to having a first XI similar to Spurs post Bale (lots of good player's, no great player's).

Nowhere even close to Spurs, our first eleven is far far stronger even without Suarez. The squad strength is a matter of personal opinion, I feel we have excellent squad depth all over the pitch .. bar Striker. Which I'm confident we'll address before the season kicks off.

One top draw signing like Cavani could change things massively, but until Liverpool make that signing I won't be particularly concerned (and I don't think they will).

Please no ! We don't want Cavani ! I don't believe we need a big name signing at all, we already have a bevy of very high quality players. We do need added strength up top and Bony (25 goals last season) would do for me (and maybe Ings too). There's actually rather a dearth of high quality strikers around but we just need finishers as we already have massive pace and creativity. Now if that top player was someone like Reus however ......

The fact that most Liverpool fans would snap your hands off if offered 4th now is testament to that fact that even they feel a battle for 4th is imminent.

Of course there is a battle for the Top 4 with (IMO) 5 teams involved so if you were to give me a guarantee we could then concentrate on the cups ! I don't think we will challenge this season so taking any Top 4 slot (prefer top 3) would be nice.

As would bedding in the best part of 10 player's who weren't at Liverpool last season.

This is always a question mark. However the fact that three came from Southampton will make their adjustment a little easier, as will the fact both Liverpool and Southampton played similar styles last season.

 

[finneh]

I don't think you read the figures I gave above, or at least maybe didn't notice that our Top 15 players (in terms of appearances) played an average of under 30 games each. They should easily be able to reach 38-40 games (as top players at other top clubs in the CL did) without affecting performances levels. Add in another 7-8 players and there is now plenty of quality squad depth.

I read the figures above, but to expect a player to play 30% more games in a season whilst keeping up the same performance level is very optimistic in my opinion. For example - I do not believe it is realistic to think that your strike force would have scored over 70 goals last season had they played another 10 games (mostly because I can't remember a PL strike force ever scoring that amount). Chelsea's top 15 player's for instance played over 40% more fixtures, to suggest that this did not have a detrimental effect on their performances would be wishful thinking.

Nowhere even close to Spurs, our first eleven is far far stronger even without Suarez. The squad strength is a matter of personal opinion, I feel we have excellent squad depth all over the pitch .. bar Striker. Which I'm confident we'll address before the season kicks off.

Spurs before selling their superstar finished 11 points ahead of Liverpool. To say that your first XI is far, far stronger is a push in my opinion. Unfortunately squad strength isn't just about numbers, it's about good players. You have several player's who will be in your squad, but in my opinion will be a significant downgrade on your first XI. You play Can/Lucas instead of Gerrard/Henderson... Massive downgrade. You play Toure/Coates instead of Agger/Lovren... Massive downgrade. You play Lambert instead of Sturridge... Massive downgrade. You have the numbers now, but in my opinion you'll still be using 14-15 player's every single game, as their backups aren't up to it.

Please no ! We don't want Cavani ! I don't believe we need a big name signing at all, we already have a bevy of very high quality players. We do need added strength up top and Bony (25 goals last season) would do for me (and maybe Ings too). There's actually rather a dearth of high quality strikers around but we just need finishers as we already have massive pace and creativity. Now if that top player was someone like Reus however ......

Again I disagree regarding your bevy of high quality players. Going into the season with Sturridge, Bony and Lambert would be quite amusing... It'd be Sturridge playing every single (meaningful) game and the others getting 10 minutes when you're losing/drawing or 3-0 up. To be honest the reliance on a young lad like Sterling this season is going to be interesting, he's being touted as the man to double his goal output and go from a promising youngster to a key player in a top 4 team within 12 months.

Of course there is a battle for the Top 4 with (IMO) 5 teams involved so if you were to give me a guarantee we could then concentrate on the cups ! I don't think we will challenge this season so taking any Top 4 slot (prefer top 3) would be nice.

This is always a question mark. However the fact that three came from Southampton will make their adjustment a little easier, as will the fact both Liverpool and Southampton played similar styles last season.

My point is that Liverpool fans realise that their team is weaker, hence going from finishing second and being in with a chance of the title to taking fourth. A 4th place finish and round of 16 in the CL would be a great season for Liverpool with their squad. The fear I have for Rodgers is he finishes 5th or 6th (which in my opinion is where his squad is in terms of ability) and firstly he will have no money to spend next season (given your financials) and secondly the fans/owners will start to get on his back, particularly after he spends £110+m. Last season could end up being his poison chalice, just like it did with Rafa.

 

[Rafateria]

@finneh
TBH it seems with you it is simply a case (as with many United fans) that you undervalue our team (basing virtually all of this assumption on the loss of Suarez, despite there being a host of examples - from United to Spurs - to show that this is not always to the detriment of the team, in fact there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. Just read through the past 10 pages of this thread), as most of you did last season too up until the last 2 months !

The second problem is that your answers are based on your wishful thinking rather than facts ! Just because you make the assumption doesn't make it reality.

Do the majority of Liverpool fans feel their team is weaker ? Attack yes, Midfield, Defence and Team no.

We beat Spurs 9-0 on aggregate last season. Clearly they are the better team !

Why bother giving an example of exchanging Toure/Coates for Agger/Lovren ? It's clearly not realistic. As I said above Coates will more than likely go out on loan and Agger will likely be sold. Our primary CBs will be Lovren, Sakho and Skrtel (perm any 2 from 3 for an excellent partnership) and likely Toure as our #4 CB. I'd compare that to any 4 x CB lineup in the PL.

Did City winning the league suffer with their top players playing 38 games ? Or Chelsea (3rd in PL by 4 pts, Semis of CL) ? You are making a weak assumption whereas the reality is the facts don't support your conclusion. 38 - 40 games is hardly excessive for a professional footballer, in fact most in the PL/lower leagues play far more ! The only reason out Top 15 players didn't play that many last season was due to a lack of European football and being knocked out of the FAC/LC early.

As for this comment

Going into the season with Sturridge, Bony and Lambert would be quite amusing

. I'm afraid it just demonstrates ignorance. You seem to value a big name player over someone who actually scored a hatful of goals, Sturridge (24 goals), Bony (25 goals) and Lambert (14 goals) last season. For comparative purposes : RvP (19), Rooney (18), Welbeck (10).

I always find it a very lazy comparison with Rafa in 2009/10 - there simply is no comparison as that was a time when we were owned by the Muppets (sold later in 2010 but only after they having strictly controlled our transfers in the Summer), sold our top players (Alonso, Hyypia) and bought in mostly mediocrity (Aquilani, Kyrgiakos, Johnson, Maxi and Sama) ending up with a net spend of only £8m !

 

[finneh]

@finneh
TBH it seems with you it is simply a case (as with many United fans) that you undervalue our team (basing virtually all of this assumption on the loss of Suarez, despite there being a host of examples - from United to Spurs - to show that this is not always to the detriment of the team, in fact there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. Just read through the past 10 pages of this thread), as most of you did last season too up until the last 2 months !

The second problem is that your answers are based on your wishful thinking rather than facts ! Just because you make the assumption doesn't make it reality.

Do the majority of Liverpool fans feel their team is weaker ? Attack yes, Midfield, Defence and Team no.

We beat Spurs 9-0 on aggregate last season. Clearly they are the better team !

Why bother giving an example of exchanging Toure/Coates for Agger/Lovren ? It's clearly not realistic. As I said above Coates will more than likely go out on loan and Agger will likely be sold. Our primary CBs will be Lovren, Sakho and Skrtel (perm any 2 from 3 for an excellent partnership) and likely Toure as our #4 CB. I'd compare that to any 4 x CB lineup in the PL.

Did City winning the league suffer with their top players playing 38 games ? Or Chelsea (3rd in PL by 4 pts, Semis of CL) ? You are making a weak assumption whereas the reality is the facts don't support your conclusion. 38 - 40 games is hardly excessive for a professional footballer, in fact most in the PL/lower leagues play far more ! The only reason out Top 15 players didn't play that many last season was due to a lack of European football and being knocked out of the FAC/LC early.

As for this comment . I'm afraid it just demonstrates ignorance. You seem to value a big name player over someone who actually scored a hatful of goals, Sturridge (24 goals), Bony (25 goals) and Lambert (14 goals) last season. For comparative purposes : RvP (19), Rooney (18), Welbeck (10).

I always find it a very lazy comparison with Rafa in 2009/10 - there simply is no comparison as that was a time when we were owned by the Muppets (sold later in 2010 but only after they having strictly controlled our transfers in the Summer), sold our top players (Alonso, Hyypia) and bought in mostly mediocrity (Aquilani, Kyrgiakos, Johnson, Maxi and Sama) ending up with a net spend of only £8m !

Your answers are also based on wishful thinking. Your belief that your team is now stronger is testament to that. Swapping Suarez for Lallana, Markovic, Lovren and Can and adding a few backup player's is not strengthening your team. It is arguable as to whether a single signing made so far actually improves your first XI (even without Suarez). Is Lallana better than Coutinho/Sterling? Is Lovren better than Agger? Is Can better than Henderson? Obviously Bony/Lambert aren't better than Sturridge. This means that your squad will be more suited to playing twice a week, but less suited to... Actually winning games.

Again Bony/Lambert had good seasons being the main men at their respective mid table clubs (29 goals in 71 PL games), but to argue they do anything other than strengthen the squad (rather than the first team) would be wishful thinking. They will be there to cover if Sturridge is injured, tired or performing poorly. I am unsure about your comparisons between Rooney/RVP and Bony/Lambert, there is obviously no comparison.

Chelsea, Arsenal and City player's did suffer by playing 30-40% more games than Liverpool. Looking at their results and performances, particularly in the last 3 months shows player's like Oscar, Hazard, Willian, Toure, Aguero, Negredo, Walcott, Ozil, Giroud, Ramsey etc putting in sub-par performances or picking up niggling injuries due to consistently playing 180-270 minutes in a week. Just by looking at how close Liverpool got to those teams (above Arsenal/Chelsea) whilst having a vastly inferior squad indicates that the playing field wasn't exactly level.

It'd be naive to think that Liverpool's lack of injuries and key first team player's not being out of form wasn't due to their rest period each week. Looking at the impact Europe has on clubs like Newcastle, Swansea, Spurs etc also backs up this point. Out of all the top 6 teams Liverpool go into the season with the most uncertainty in my opinion. If they get fourth Rodgers has done a phenomenal job.

 

[Rafateria]

Your answers are also based on wishful thinking.

No they are based on facts, not spurious comments made out of bias. How do you explain our win ratio of without Suarez ca. 65% and with ca. 48% ? As you obviously think we were a one-man team.

Swapping Suarez for Lallana, Markovic, Lovren and Can and adding a few backup player's is not strengthening your team.

Of course it's not. Strengthening the defence to try to save 10 goals (50 compared to the Top 4 ave. of 38-40) isn't strengthening, being able to bring on the likes of Markovic, Can, Lambert or Skrtel compared to last season's Aspas, Moses or Cisshoko from the bench or when players are out injured isn't strengthening either, and let's not even get into what happens after 70-75 mins when we start making substitutions. The team is now a squad and not a first XI if you can't (or more likely don't want to) see that then that is an issue you need to address yourself, being able to step back and look at the situation from a neutral perspective. Though you are obviously incapable it seems.

It is arguable as to whether a single signing made so far actually improves your first XI (even without Suarez). Is Lallana better than Coutinho/Sterling? Is Lovren better than Agger? Is Can better than Henderson? Obviously Bony/Lambert aren't better than Sturridge.

I've covered this above but just for emphasise it again exposes your ignorance of the players, and our formation, if you can even ask those questions because not only are some of them obviously improvements but others are not comparable so you shouldn't be matching them up !

Again Bony/Lambert had good seasons being the main men at their respective mid table clubs (29 goals in 71 PL games), but to argue they do anything other than strengthen the squad (rather than the first team) would be wishful thinking. They will be there to cover if Sturridge is injured, tired or performing poorly.

Mother of God ! Isn't that the whole point ?

I am unsure about your comparisons between Rooney/RVP and Bony/Lambert, there is obviously no comparison.

I'd have thought the comparison with your 3 strikers blindingly obvious - goals scored.

Chelsea, Arsenal and City player's did suffer by playing 30-40% more games than Liverpool. Looking at their results and performances, particularly in the last 3 months shows player's like Oscar, Hazard, Willian, Toure, Aguero, Negredo, Walcott, Ozil, Giroud, Ramsey etc putting in sub-par performances or picking up niggling injuries due to consistently playing 180-270 minutes in a week. Just by looking at how close Liverpool got to those teams (above Arsenal/Chelsea) whilst having a vastly inferior squad indicates that the playing field wasn't exactly level.

Chelsea (last 15 matches) : 10-2-3 (inc. wins over Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal, City and Everton) and reached CL Semis.
City : Won PL 10-3-2 (defeats were to Chelsea and Liverpool) Won LC, CL last 16 (lost to Barca), FAC semis.
Arsenal Won FAC and 8-3-4 (defeats to Everton, Liverpool and Chelsea but they won the last 5 games on the trot !).

Yep. You are right, poor results all over the place due to fatigue at the end of the season. Jeez man do your homework !

BTW if you want to compare injuries then do it properly (as I've said earlier virtually everything you say is based on supposition and conjecture rather than the facts), check out Physioroom who keep a list of the number of days lost to injury. Last season Arsenal had almost twice as many 'Player Injury Days' as Chelsea / Liverpool / United and Spurs who were all very similar. So obviously injuries was not a factor, as you wrongly stated. Again.

Finally (because this debate has really run it's course) if you can't see that the 2014/15 Liverpool team/squad of :

---------------------------------------- Ming
................................................(Jones)

Flanno ----------------------- Lovren ---------- Sakho ------------ Moreno (assumed)
(Johnson / Manquillo) ................(Skrtel/Toure) ...............(Enrique / Flanno / Johnson)

--------------------------------------- Gerrard
.......................................(Allen / Can / Lucas)

---------------- Henderson
............ (Can / Allen / Rossiter)

----------------------------------------------------- Coutinho
...................................................(Lallana / Sterling / Markovic)

---- Sterling ---------------------- Sturridge -------------------------- Lallana
(Markovic / Suso / Ibe) ......... (Lambert / A.N.Other)....(Sterling / Markovic / Coutinho / Ibe)

is not a better team and squad than the 2013/14 version (based on # of games played) of :

---------------------------------------- Ming
................................................(Jones)

Johnson ----------------------- Skrtel---------- Agger ------------ Flanno
(Flanno)................................ (Toure / Sakho) .................(Cisshoko)

--------------------------------------- Gerrard
................................................(Lucas)

---------------- Henderson
............... (Allen / Rossiter)

------------------------------------------- Coutinho
...............................................(Sterling /Texeira)

Sterling ---------------------- Sturridge -------------------------- Suarez
(Aspas).........................................................................(Moses)


then you really are beyond help.

 

[ShadesOfTomato]

Spurs before selling their superstar finished 11 points ahead of Liverpool.

And without him they only finished 3 points worse off last season...

Spurs' 'collapse' is overplayed.

 

[PickledRed]

Essentially, the beginning / middle / end of the majority of Liverpool squad analysis on here amounts to: You don't have Suarez anymore and everyone else is average.

This is obviously a staggeringly reductive way to look at the Liverpool squad. It speaks of a Football Manager mindset where stellar players are required to build a strong side. If you can't throw around the term 'world class' when looking at a squad it's apparently useless.

 

[Barney]

Cavani and Bony would both be poor signings for us. Cavani is a great player and Bony is decent, but they wouldn't fit in with how we play. I think someone like Aubameyang would be the perfect signing for us and that's the type of striker I'd hope we target.

 

[Barney]

@PREMIERLEAGUE: Goals from @D_Sturridge won more #BPL points than any other player in 2013/14. Read more: http://t.co/LEKfTgJFGjhttp://t.co/v1isS7p5TS

 

[Rafateria]

Cavani and Bony would both be poor signings for us. Cavani is a great player and Bony is decent, but they wouldn't fit in with how we play. I think someone like Aubameyang would be the perfect signing for us and that's the type of striker I'd hope we target.

Aubameyang is brilliant, however I really don't see that one happening, unfortunately.

 

[Barney]

Aubameyang is brilliant, however I really don't see that one happening, unfortunately.

I wasn't talking about signing him, but someone similar to him. I think we need someone who can play on the wing too, or we'll struggle to keep three strikers happy.

 

[redman5]

Liverpool fans love facts though. Here are the facts.

You didn't have nearly as many cup games as your rivals.
Your main rivals all had new managers (Chelsea, City, Everton, United)
You've lost the massive stand out star performer of last year

Those are facts.

Opinions would also be valid that you were lucky to get a lot of the penolas you did. Lucky Suarez didn't get sent off for that embarrassing dive when on a booking. Lucky that last min handball on the line by Skrtel wasn't spotted.
Cripes, it looked like it was fate how much stuff was going for you last year.

Obviously there's a good team and system under there somewhere, but I wouldn't be overcome with optimism seeing how Gerrard and Henderson combined in the world cup, or knowing Sturridge and not Suarez is now your key man up front.

However, as we clearly have our own problems, i'll leave it there

City, Chelsea, & Everton all improved significantly under their new managers.

2013 - City 78 pts - 2104 - 86 pts

2013 - Chelsea 75 pts - 2014 - 82 pts

2013 - Everton 63 pts - 2014 - 72 pts

I'm quite sure there's an intelligent, well-thought out basis to your reasoning. We'd love to hear it.

 

[Sandikan]

City, Chelsea, & Everton all improved significantly under their new managers.

2013 - City 78 pts - 2104 - 86 pts

2013 - Chelsea 75 pts - 2014 - 82 pts

2013 - Everton 63 pts - 2014 - 72 pts

I'm quite sure there's an intelligent, well-thought out basis to your reasoning. We'd love to hear it.

It'll certainly be interesting won't it.

My fear is that City and Chelsea will absolutely romp it. Arsenal will actually not falter at the end for once (more likely the start looking at their fixtures), and the rest of us will have one ugly arse battle for 4th.

 

[Barney]

Manquillo is apparently in Liverpool to finalise his move.

 

[ThanksBoss26]

Manquillo is apparently in Liverpool to finalise his move.

Is he considered 'one for the future' for you guys? The reason I ask is that I heard today on the radio that he's only played six top flight games so far in his career?

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Is he considered 'one for the future' for you guys? The reason I ask is that I heard today on the radio that he's only played six top flight games so far in his career?

Closer to 20 if you count cup games too, the 6 game figure is his league only starts though yeah (and doesn't include Atlético B team games either obviously). Which doesn't really answer your question, but anyway. I think he'll be eased in slowly this season, with his appearances depending on how quickly he settles in. Don't see him starting as our first choice though.

 

[Barney]

Gerrard, Henderson, Suso, Flanagan and Coutinho will all get new contracts according to the Telegraph and Echo.

 

[Invictus]

Gerrard, Henderson, Suso, Flanagan and Coutinho will all get new contracts according to the Telegraph and Echo.

When does Gerrard's current contract expire ?

 

[Barney]

When does Gerrard's current contract expire ?

End of this year.

 

[Invictus]

End of this year.

One more question. Is he part of your medium-longer term plans ?

 

[NoPace]

Manquillo is apparently in Liverpool to finalise his move.

Loan or buy?

 

[NoPace]

It'll certainly be interesting won't it.

My fear is that City and Chelsea will absolutely romp it. Arsenal will actually not falter at the end for once (more likely the start looking at their fixtures), and the rest of us will have one ugly arse battle for 4th.

I'm starting to think Chelsea will indeed romp it, but Citeh might fall back into the Arsenal, Liverpool and United pack of pretenders.

 

[Glanville95]

One more question. Is he part of your medium-longer term plans ?

Our midfield isn't that bad mate.

 

[Barney]

Loan or buy?

Two year loan with an option to buy.

 

[gasmanc]

It's all gone quiet over here.

 

[Invictus]

Our midfield isn't that bad mate.

 

[Rykker_4united]

How many times will we see "Gerrard (pen) '#" this season? My Guess: 14

 

[Santos J]

It's hardly as if it wasn't a penalty.

Anyway, we've not helped ourselves in the slightest but they've been good so far and set up well, Sterling's quality.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Missed the Milan game so not sure how he looked then but overall Lambert looks so out of place in this team. Obviously can't write a player off after pre-season but he just doesn't look like a good fit.

 

[Barney]

Quick thoughts on the game, before I head to bed:

First half we looked quality. Gerrard, Sterling and Coutinho all played quite well. We probably should have had another penalty. Our midfield was excellent at pressing. Lambert doesn't look like he'll have any effect against top teams. He runs himself into the ground and makes a few nices touches and passes, but he's too slow. We definitely need a better striker than him to back up Sturridge. In the second half we really were ok, had some decent spells. Mata's goal was unfortunate to concede. Our pressing noticeably dropped off in the second half, but picked up a bit again after the subs. We failed to take our chances throughout and the lack of a proper striker in the 2nd half was also noticable.

Some definite positives especially considering Lambert was the only new signing who played in the first half. If we get Sturridge back in there as well as the likes of Lovren, Lallana, Moreno and Manquillo, I'm confident we can do well.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Quick thoughts on the game, before I head to bed:

First half we looked quality. Gerrard, Sterling and Coutinho all played quite well. We probably should have had another penalty. Our midfield was excellent at pressing. Lambert doesn't look like he'll have any effect against top teams. He runs himself into the ground and makes a few nices touches and passes, but he's too slow. We definitely need a better striker than him to back up Sturridge. In the second half we really were ok, had some decent spells. Mata's goal was unfortunate to concede. Our pressing noticeably dropped off in the second half, but picked up a bit again after the subs. We failed to take our chances throughout and the lack of a proper striker in the 2nd half was also noticable.

Some definite positives especially considering Lambert was the only new signing who played in the first half. If we get Sturridge back in there as well as the likes of Lovren, Lallana, Moreno and Manquillo, I'm confident we can do well.

Yeah pretty much agree with that. Some positives and negatives from the game.

Again another anonymous display from Joe Allen though, and Mignolet's still as bad as ever at passing the ball. Sterling faded pretty early into the second half but still really think he's going to be our most important player this season, defenders panic against him.

 

[Barney]

Yeah pretty much agree with that. Some positives and negatives from the game.

Again another anonymous display from Joe Allen though, and Mignolet's still as bad as ever at passing the ball.

Harsh on Allen as he was very good vs Milan and also pressed well tonight. I can't wait not to have to watch Johnson.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Harsh on Allen as he was very good vs Milan and also pressed well tonight. I can't wait not to have to watch Johnson.

Aye Johnson was brutal (aside from one pass to Sterling). Did mention further up that I missed the Milan game though so wasn't really judging him on that, just think he's far too prone to invisible performances.

 

[sullydnl]

Thoughts:

1) Sterling will be/is a brilliant player.
2) Lambert will have to do more, even just to be a decent squad player there.
3) Their defence is still quite poor.
4) Johnson is their version of Ashley Young minus the miracle career resurrection. Awful.

 

[caid]

Quick thoughts on the game, before I head to bed:

First half we looked quality. Gerrard, Sterling and Coutinho all played quite well. We probably should have had another penalty. Our midfield was excellent at pressing. Lambert doesn't look like he'll have any effect against top teams. He runs himself into the ground and makes a few nices touches and passes, but he's too slow. We definitely need a better striker than him to back up Sturridge. In the second half we really were ok, had some decent spells. Mata's goal was unfortunate to concede. Our pressing noticeably dropped off in the second half, but picked up a bit again after the subs. We failed to take our chances throughout and the lack of a proper striker in the 2nd half was also noticable.

Some definite positives especially considering Lambert was the only new signing who played in the first half. If we get Sturridge back in there as well as the likes of Lovren, Lallana, Moreno and Manquillo, I'm confident we can do well.

Yeah i'd agree mostly.
Sterling was very good. Jones struggled with him all night. Coutinho had some lovely passes thrown in there.
Gerrard did a good job first half, i was surprised he was taken off. Thought your midfield looked pretty poor after him and allen went off.

Lambert wasn't great but you looked better with him on the pitch than off. Just messed up your shape or something a bit.

Shaky match from us with quite a few brainfarts and some pretty terrible performances but largely speaking it was another good step forward
and a vast improvement over pretty much anything last season. Happy with that performance, onwards and upwards.

 

[matherto]

They're still good in possession and Sterling is already a brilliant player but if Sturridge is having an off day they'll never score in a million years.

Be back to a few seasons ago where they just couldn't score and kept hitting the post despite battering teams all over the park.

 

[Sixpence]

All they've got is penalties, it got them close last time but won't be enough this season.

 

[Man of Leisure]

Gerrard, Henderson, Suso, Flanagan and Coutinho will all get new contracts according to the Telegraph and Echo.

Is Suso going out on loan again this year? Liverpool already have Coutinho, Lallana, and Sterling who all play as attacking midfielders.