Liverpool Thread - Premier League Champions* 2019/20 (Part 2)

It will cost 5m quid to bring him back early and he's no quick fix. His numbers are decent at the moment but not world beating. We need to get the best of what we have and I think that would mean changing their system so that Ballo has a partner up front and I'd go with Borini over Lambert. Maybe something like this set up defensively. When on attack, Sterling drops left or right with Henderson doing the same and Lallana through the middle.

Leaves room for Coutinho, Lucas and Can to come in as needed.

                                          Mingolet (I still believe he need replacing as well)

        Manquillo        Lovren          Sakho         Moreno

                                           Gerrard 

                           Lallana                     Henderson

                                            Sterling

                                    Borini    Balotelli

That's the great thing about an international break, the optimism rises again! Not sure I'm ready to be hurt again!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2834954/Divock-Origi-staying-Lille-striker-rules-Liverpool-January.html 

We finally had an intl break that worked in our favour, last ones have tripped us up. 

Fingers crossed we can go on a January-esque run of wins again!

Hasn't he scored 2 goals in the French league this season? That is not decent.

Still more league goals than Sturridge, Borini, Balotelli, Lambert and Suarez combined. Decent effort that hahaha merrrrrrrr. 

Less than Lord Bendtner mind!!

I have to say I like some of Origi's play for Belgium in the last few months though. If you have to pay 5m on either the 1st or 31st of Jan then no harm in waiting until the latter date? 

Hello again, looking forward to a quick nap and then some great sport, must win tonight, will have both the F1 and football streaming. Can't wait.

P.S. This is probably not the place to ask, but what's up with the LFCSCNZ stuff, I'm confused to what has been happening over the last few months. I'm a lifetime member too, haha

Arsenal and Liverpool; the recurring rabbles.

We are nowhere near as bad as this lot.

How did Markovic get on this morning?

The rumour mill in full flight.

Depending on who you believe...

• Rodgers to be replaced by Jurgen Klopp
• Rodgers to be replaced by Frank de Boer
• Paddy Power have slashed odds of him being sacked from 20/1 to 8/1

The only positive is that apart from Chelski, most other teams are also struggling for true consistency so if we can pick up points we're just a likely to see others drop some points - but at the moment hard to see where our next point is coming from.

What would you do right now Liverpool fans?

• Total re-jig of the line-up and formation?
• Get rid of Rodgers?
• Give him time and have faith?

Suarez is of course an obvious loss but we were very good without him last season so Sturridge is just as bad a loss.

Edit: I'm not sure where I sit right now. I still think Rodgers is the man for the job but I think he got too far ahead of himself last season. He needs to ask for help as he is still a young, developing manager. Would love to someone like Rafa come in as a Director of Football to support him but won't happen while Napoli still want him.

What with Jr not doing so well and me being really really pissed off , it's taken me a while to find time to have a think.That performance against Palace was  utter crap. No fight , no balls and a seeming lack of giving a shark. What the fudge was Jones doing laughing on the bench? Tosser.

I think this season is gone . Dunno where the goals  are coming from , nor do I know who will create them I'd leave Origi where he is ; I don't think he's the answer anyway and he may be better off playing rather than being messed around like BR is doing at the moment.

Gerrard needs a rest. His decline is painfully obvious ; he never has had the discipline to be a defensively minded midfielder anyway. I'm not sure he has the legs anymore to be an attacking mid either. Regardless , IMO , he doesn't warrant a place in the starting XI on form ( mind you , that could be said for most of them). Lucas for Gerrard. Put Sterling as little more forward , play Lallana ( BR paid heaps for him so bloody play him). DRop LOvren , play Toure ( no other choice). Get Coutinho more involved ( needs a ball winner along side , for me that Hendo at the moment). PLay Borini , tell Balotelli to fudge off and never come back. Given that the U19's beat Real Madrid 2 weeks ago , I'd look at some of them ( I'm thinking Rossiter mainly). They may be hungry for it and at least give a shark. Not this current loads of crap masqerading as pro footballers.

Is Rodgers the right man- not sure. I don't think they'll sack him yet and maybe he needs a bit more time BUT he has spent a shark load of $ on a load of shark. Oh , what I would do is get rid of this transfer committee . Some of the decisions have been really woeful. 

Geez I'm angry

Read the Liverpool gossip site, one of the people who is in the know (Tenuous I know) said that Frank De Boer is definitely being lined up....think he is currently at Ajax.  The owners think that Brendan makes his mind up about players to quickly (ie Suso) and shows favouritism to others ie Ballotelli.

Will be interesting to see how the next few games go, especially the big one tomorrow vs Ludogrets

I would agree on that - he bought Borini in and then dumped him so quickly yet her persists with the likes of Johnson, Mingolet and Skrtel who have been terrible. Why he let Agger go is beyond me! He was a proper leader and organiser in defence. 

And I have Agger printe don my Liverpool shirt.....bought just after he got his YNMA tattoo! Stupid Rodgers, cost me $18 in Thai quality goods

Thai rip off?!?! You are the sole reason we can't afford nice things. 

So he's basically the Anti-Wenger, who gives most players too much time?

This is absolutely brilliant. If a Liverpool fan was a commentator:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=7543959912639...

Here's hoping the boys put in a performance in the morning. A win would be nice.

Toure the saviour and four centre mids!

Brendan Rodgers..."our season starts tonight". So that's his strategy!

Ludogorets 1-0 Liverpool - Dani Abalo

FFS Mignolet , what an absolute donkey.

1-1 , Lambert. Who'd a thunk it , Lambert 2 in 2 games??

On another note , regardless of whether Rodgers stays in charge , given his awful transfer record , would you trust him with any more coin? might be moot though , we're donkey deep in it with FFP rulings and probably need to sell before we buy.

Loved it , funniest thing I've seen for a very long time. Jr was in hysterics as well ( the best part). CHeers for posting it.

We'll need to sell plenty, Gerrard will need to take a pay cut and we have Sterling's wages to think about upping. Johnson off the books makes sense for us in January but he won't move until his contract ends as he is on a good whack.

Who would have thought when we rejoined the Champs league we would be hanging on for dear life in Bulgaria. Come on boys

Oh FFS.

I know I'm meant to support my team and the players regardless, but GLENNIS JOHNSON?! He's just such a waste of space.

After a coffee......I guess the formula for champs league would have been the same even if we won.....win at home vs Basle?

Yup, win at home and I'd like to see the team shaken up for that game. European nights at Anfield can make the player.

For me, the team HAS to change. I want to see...

• Jones in goal so Mingolet knows he's not guaranteed a spot.
• Moreno and Manquillo at the back on the left and right.
• Toure and Sahko in the middle (if he's fit by then)
• Lucas, Hendo and Lallana in the middle
• Lambert up top with Coutinho left and Sterling right.

EDIT: It's been very quiet from FSG in the wake of recent run of form. Anyone heard any mutterings?

I've just realise dour strategy.......go into the Europa League and defeat Everton in the final. Masterstroke

Brilliant! We will hunt them down, whatever it takes!

A ground out result. Actually the perfect outcome as we showed an ability to win rather than draw a tight one. Win ugly is how Man Yoo won the title 2 seasons ago - make the best of the team you have and the form they are in (not suggesting we are challenging by the way).

The goal from Johnson was immensely brave, went into that knowing the players and the boots were flying. Still not a fan of his, still think he should go ASAP, but credit where credit is due.

Kolo is proving to be a great addition back into the team with Lucas in front and would like to see them both start again and Gerrard was incisive off the bench and possibly a pre-cursor to what the remainder of his career may look like. Game on, game off.

New contract for Gerrard.....ideally he would see out his career with us.....maybe on slighlty less money.

I would imagine any contract will be year on year now and will include some kind of integration into coaching or management at the club. Gerrard is a legend, probably the greatest Liverpool player ever based on his commitment, ability and passion BUT...and there is a but...he is on massive money and will be playing less and less. Freeing some of his wages up for others will help the club, especially around the FFP they have to be mindful of and are currently over.

Any wage decrease would likely reflect the level of his on field involvement int he next 12 months (common sense), but that contract is bound to have some other brilliant clauses tying Gerrard to LFC one way or another until he no longer wants to be there or wants an overseas swansong. I wouldn't begrudge him a move to MLS or...Phoenix (hilarious).

And....it looks like the club isn't bending over to keep Johnson happy....or him desperate to stay.

"I want to play for a club that wants me," said the 30-year-old. "I am not going to go crawling to anybody.

"The club know where I am and they know the situation. There were minor talks at the end of last season but nothing I could accept or reject."

Asked if he was surprised Liverpool had not made more effort to extend his contract, Johnson added: "I have not really thought of it like that.

"Whether it is football or business, I don't really worry about things I can't control. All I can do is try to keep doing my job every weekend.

"Whatever will unfold will unfold."

He'll be off to Roma - they will take him on and match his wage demands for some reason. Not sure if they watch Premiership or CL Football.

Partner up with Cashley Cole and dominate Italy!

Johnson is probably one of our longer serving players. Joined in 2009. From the top of my head maybe Lucas, Skrtel and Gerrard been with us that long. It is a little sad to see people rise and fall so quickly. Life in pro football I guess.