Liverpool 24-25: Going Dutch

[67YAZ]

The title feels appropriate given VVD, Gravenberch, Gakpo, Slot, and all the new coaches coming in with Arne. The red will have a bit of an oranje hue.

This past season didn’t end as we all dream back in January, but a trophy, Champions League, and bedding in key youngster is a very good season.

But there will be no resting on laurels - a full strategic refresh is underway with an all new front office and new manager lined up. There are lots of major questions to answer about the squad:

Is Mo on the decline or was he just worn down by AFCON plus the hamstring problem? Does he warrant an extension or a sale? Of the latter, what’s the minimum and can a Saudi club be enticed into a silly offer?

Extensions need to be worked out for VVD and Trent as they enter their last year. And then Robbo & Konate are up in 2026.

Another pure 6 seems a priority no matter what system Arne employs. Endō was fantastic, but his age and streaky passing mean an upgrade is necessary.

And what will Slot try to play? His favored 4-2-3-1 is an awkward fit for a squad that just rebuilt its midfield for a hard pressing 4-3-3. I do expect Slot to adjust to the strengths of the squad and players to adjust to Slot’s demands, but many many different moves seem possible.

fullback seems ripe for a new player or two given Robbo’s mileage (though he was great down the stretch) and Trent’s unique talents & limitations.

A depth CB behind Quansah, VVD, & Konate? Another heads up, 1v1 maestro in-cutting winger? A true 10, tho Elliott and Gakpo might each fancy a chance at the role?

This summer really could go in any number of directions. Never dull at Anfield.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

My wild ass guesses as a non-Liverpool supporter.

Edwards is too smart not to sell Salah to Saudi Arabia if a substantial offer comes in this summer. Statements about Liverpool planning around him and Saudi Arabia being happy to wait for next year are just posturing. I have no idea who the replacement would be but RW clearly goes to #1 on the transfer priority list if it happens.

I think Liverpool will go big on a left footed CB. VVD is great but the clock is ticking both age and contract wise, Konate still has not really shown the ability to play twice a week and hold up physically, and Quansah is talented but also very young and probably should be more of a rotation player.

My bet is that Trent will sign a new contract but he'll wait to see how he gets along with Slot and how the new manager intends to use him. There will be much media drama then he'll sign near the end of the window.

 

[67YAZ]

My wild ass guesses as a non-Liverpool supporter.

Edwards is too smart not to sell Salah to Saudi Arabia if a substantial offer comes in this summer. Statements about Liverpool planning around him and Saudi Arabia being happy to wait for next year are just posturing. I have no idea who the replacement would be but RW clearly goes to #1 on the transfer priority list if it happens.

I think Liverpool will go big on a left footed CB. VVD is great but the clock is ticking both age and contract wise, Konate still has not really shown the ability to place a week and hold up physically, and Quansah is talented but also very young and probably should be more of a rotation player.

My bet is that Trent will sign a new contract but he'll wait to see how he gets along with Slot and how the new manager intends to use him. There will be much media drama then he'll sign near the end of the window.

I could easily see all these scenarios playing out. I think Edwards & co will focus on putting out a top-4 quality squad for the start of the season - UCL qualification will be their standard, a title push would be a bonus in Slot’s first year.

So there will be a lot of complex calculations - if Mo goes, I think if makes VVD more likely to stay since they’ll want to retain their captain in the back & delay major CB changes until next summer. But if Mo stays, a new 1st choice left my CB becomes a priority…

It feels a bit like waiting for the first domino to fall, but we all know Edwards love to announce a surprise singing early in the window.

Very interesting Athletic piece on Slot’s hiring. He’ll be taking the title “head coach” not manager. It’s truly a new day.

 

[67YAZ]

Lovely interview with Joe Gomez, who is now the longest tenured Red. He's become such an amazing servant for the team and it has been wonderful to see him gain wider respect this yeat by stepping in to play a very credible leftback(!). He came in as a young transfer under Rodgers with the expectation that he'd become a core starter and bedrock CB. That didn't go to plan and things really seemed to go off the rails with Joe's dust up with Sterling at an England camp. Under Klopp, Joe always seemed to get injured just when his opportunities were opening up. But he's hasn't agitated for a move, hasn't bitched in public, has always answered the bell when called.

 

[pedro1918]

Liverpool 24/25 Fixtures

August

Saturday 17th, 12.30pm – Ipswich Town (A)

Saturday 24th, 3pm – Brentford (H)

Saturday 31st, 3pm – Manchester United (A)

September

Saturday 14th, 3pm – Nottingham Forest (H)

Saturday 21st, 3pm – Bournemouth (H)

Saturday 28th, 3pm – Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)

October

Saturday 5th, 3pm – Crystal Palace (A)

Saturday 19th, 3pm – Chelsea (H)

Saturday 26th, 3pm – Arsenal (A)

November

Saturday 2nd, 3pm – Brighton & Hove Albion (H)

Saturday 9th, 3pm – Aston Villa (H)

Saturday 3rd, 3pm – Southampton (A)

Saturday 30th, 3pm – Manchester City (H)

December

Wednesday 4th, 7.45pm – Newcastle United (A)

Saturday 7th, 3pm – Everton (A)

Saturday 14th, 3pm – Fulham (H)

Saturday 21st, 3pm – Tottenham Hotspur (A)

Thursday 26th, 3pm – Leicester City (H)

Sunday 29th, 3pm – West Ham United (A)

January

Saturday 4th, 3pm – Manchester United (H)

Tuesday 14th, 7.45pm – Nottingham Forest (A)

Saturday 18th, 3pm – Brentford (A)

Saturday 25th, 3pm – Ipswich Town (H)

February

Saturday 1st, 3pm – Bournemouth (A)

Saturday 15th, 3pm – Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

Saturday 22nd, 3pm – Manchester City (A)

Wednesday 26th, 8pm – Newcastle United (H)

March

Saturday 8th, 3pm – Southampton (H)

Saturday 15th, 3pm – Aston Villa (A)

April

Wednesday 2nd, 8pm – Everton (H)

Saturday 5th, 3pm – Fulham (A)

Saturday 12th, 3pm – West Ham United (H)

Saturday 19th, 3pm – Leicester City (A)

Saturday 26th, 3pm – Tottenham Hotspur (H)

May

Saturday 3rd, 3pm – Chelsea (A)

Saturday 10th, 3pm – Arsenal (H)

Sunday 18th, 3pm – Brighton & Hove Albion (A)

Sunday 25th, 4pm – Crystal Palace (H)

 

[67YAZ]

Opening at a newly promoted side again this season! Portman Road should be rocking.

It’s a really balanced schedule. There’s a week in October that will be Chelsea, UCL match, @Arsenal. But that’s just big boy stuff - the Gunners will also be coming off a midweek UCL match.

 

[Philip Jeff Frye]

Opening at a newly promoted side again this season! Portman Road should be rocking.

Ipswich open with Liverpool at home and the. Man City away. Welcome to the Premier League!

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Lots of stories today that Newcastle , desperate to balance their books before the PSR deadline tomorrow , offered Anthony Gordon to the Reds for an undisclosed sum and Qaunsah

This was supposedly rejected by Liverpool as they really like Qaunsah and have no pressing need for a LW.

Gordon’s a good player and supposedly a boyhood Red - but he’s also a total dickhead. Bullet dodged .

And in a practical sense, if they offloaded Qaunsah they’d be under massive pressure to bring in an expensive CB

 

[Blundatola]

Gordon is quite the opposite of a total dickhead, actually, and I really hope he stays.

 

[67YAZ]

Big news, Mo shaved his head!



Also, Mo & Endō are not in their respective nation’s Olympic squads. Very surprised that Mo didn’t push for this, but it’s good for Slot and the club to have everyone in training this summer.

 

[OCST]

Gordon at LFC would be something in the derby. The vitriol from the Everton support in the stands would move seismographs, like a Taylor Swift concert.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Gordon at LFC would be something in the derby. The vitriol from the Everton support in the stands would move seismographs, like a Taylor Swift concert.

Leaving out my personal dislike of Gordon, I don’t quite see what he would bring - he’d have Diaz, Gakpo and Nunez and Jota all ahead of him on the depth chart. If Diaz leaves (doesn’t look likely) then maybe - but I’d take Nico Williams over Gordon in a heartbeat. The Echo keeps pounding away at this every day despite any evidence that Newcastle wants to sell or Liverpool wants to buy. I guess, in the absence of real rumours they have nothing to talk about.

 

[pedro1918]

FSG in talks to buy Bordeaux.

Bordeaux were provisionally relegated to the third tier National 1 by French football's financial watchdog, the DNCG, on Tuesday after failing to provide guarantees for the 2024-25 season.

The club are appealing against the decision and now have two weeks to finalise a sale to allow them to remain in Ligue 2 next season.

 

[67YAZ]

Liverpool sign a Chelsea academy product, reportedly breaking the club wage ceiling for youth players to do it. I think this is part of a larger pivot to investing in English homegrown youth as continental youth can’t be signed anymore.

From reports, it’s also the 3rd academy product leaving Chelsea and getting signed by the big EPL clubs. I wonder how this plays out - is Chelsea aggressive signings of 18-22 year olds blocking academy products & driving them elsewhere? Or are these academy players. Or quite up to standard & Chelsea will be getting solidarity payments on kids they were never going to play anyway?

View: https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/1811018063648624729?s=46&t=GfuLFvTYcOxcFiCZjyIYZw

 

[OCST]

Hasn’t Chelsea always stockpiled kids, just as a thing to do?

 

[SocrManiac]

Watched all the clips this morning… Darwin is certainly facing some sort of lengthy ban, no?

 

[67YAZ]

Watched all the clips this morning… Darwin is certainly facing some sort of lengthy ban, no?

Is CONEMBOL the one doing the discipline? I suspect they might go easy given it was players’ families involved and 3 of the highest profile Uruguay players were in the stands.

I’m half convinced/hoping FSG are buying Bordeaux so Darwin has a loan destination.

 

[veritas]

From reports, it’s also the 3rd academy product leaving Chelsea and getting signed by the big EPL clubs. I wonder how this plays out - is Chelsea aggressive signings of 18-22 year olds blocking academy products & driving them elsewhere? Or are these academy players. Or quite up to standard & Chelsea will be getting solidarity payments on kids they were never going to play anyway?

They are massively underwater with the profit and sustainability rules, they need to get out of the red or they'll be facing points deductions. Selling academy players is 100% profit for accounting purposes, selling players previously bought is mostly canceling out the amortization of the initial transfer fee.

It is why Chelsea, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Forest have all been trading homegrown players. Which is just kicking the can down the road but helps them this year.

 

[67YAZ]

Hasn’t Chelsea always stockpiled kids, just as a thing to do?

It’s striking that Chelsea are losing 3 England youth internationals at once and Liverpool is willing to break its youth wage structure for Ngumoha. The other two appear to be singing with ManU and City. That's a lot of quality to lose.

 

[67YAZ]

They are massively underwater with the profit and sustainability rules, they need to get out of the red or they'll be facing points deductions. Selling academy players is 100% profit for accounting purposes, selling players previously bought is mostly canceling out the amortization of the initial transfer fee.

It is why Chelsea, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Forest have all been trading homegrown players. Which is just kicking the can down the road but helps them this year.

But these aren’t sales. They are academy products signing new contracts with other clubs. Chelsea gets a solidarity payment from the new club and (I believe) a cut of a future transfer under certain conditions. But losing these players isn’t moving the PSR calculation significantly. If anything, Chelsea lose the ability to transfer them as youth players in a year or two, which would generate the profits you mentioned.

 

[CPT Neuron]

Nunez behaves in an immature and childish fashion, completely losing his self-control. There are really 2 mitigating factors, in my eyes. First, they went after his family in one way, shape, or form, and second, the fan came out swinging at him. Security either didn't know or didn't care - or were frankly incompetent, all of which are possibilities.

 

[SocrManiac]

Nunez behaves in an immature and childish fashion, completely losing his self-control. There are really 2 mitigating factors, in my eyes. First, they went after his family in one way, shape, or form, and second, the fan came out swinging at him. Security either didn't know or didn't care - or were frankly incompetent, all of which are possibilities.

I don’t know if it matters, but his family had already escaped. He apparently didn’t know.

Everybody involved failed. Everybody. The punishments have to be stupidly harsh and lessons learned before we try this again in 2026.

Cleaning up behavior on the pitch would help. As players escalate, fans escalate. Match management has been horrific. Use VAR to punish simulation. Make it about the damn game, not the game within the game. Copa completely lost the plot and it’s been hard to watch.

 

[SocrManiac]

Assuming Nunez has to sit in timeout for awhile to think about what he’s done…

Even before all this, we’ve seen some fantastic things out of Luis Diaz playing a more central role with Gakpo operating off the left wing. I wouldn’t be at all opposed to seeing the boys try it together. I don’t think Gakpo’s play relied much on how Memphis was working in the middle and would work fine with a guy like Diaz in that spot.

One way or another, the xG and actual goals gap should shrink a bit (while the xG likely goes down as well).

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Assuming Nunez has to sit in timeout for awhile to think about what he’s done…

Even before all this, we’ve seen some fantastic things out of Luis Diaz playing a more central role with Gakpo operating off the left wing. I wouldn’t be at all opposed to seeing the boys try it together. I don’t think Gakpo’s play relied much on how Memphis was working in the middle and would work fine with a guy like Diaz in that spot.

One way or another, the xG and actual goals gap should shrink a bit (while the xG likely goes down as well).

Wouldn’t any Nunez discipline be confined to Conmebol?

the perfect storm of a cauldron of a game, the result, out of control rabid fans , a threat to his family and overwhelmed security should not result in any discipline beyond a fine IMO.

Regardless - they still have 5 forwards to fit into 3 positions. Gakpo/Diaz on the left , Jota/Nunez through the middle and Salah on the right.

On the other hand … it’s possible Slot adopts a 4-2-3-1 which Salah as the lone striker

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

Wouldn’t any Nunez discipline be confined to Conmebol?

the perfect storm of a cauldron of a game, the result, out of control rabid fans , a threat to his family and overwhelmed security should not result in any discipline beyond a fine IMO.

This is insane. Nunez family was well out of harms way when he went on the offensive against the fans. He was looking for revenge, not protecting anyone. He literally pushed over a uniformed police officer to get to the Colombian fans.

I am not sure how this would possibly effect him at the club levels unless FIFA gives him a suspension similar to Suarez a few years ago, when he was banned from all football activities for one of his biting incidents.

 

[SocrManiac]

This is insane. Nunez family was well out of harms way when he went on the offensive against the fans. He was looking for revenge, not protecting anyone. He literally pushed over a uniformed police officer to get to the Colombian fans.

I am not sure how this would possibly effect him at the club levels unless FIFA gives him a suspension similar to Suarez a few years ago, when he was banned from all football activities for one of his biting incidents.

He threw a fucking chair after things had started settling down and got really, really lucky he missed. I fully expect this to exceed Suarez’s discipline. FIFA can’t stand by.

There are failures absolutely everywhere. It’s comical how horrifically this was handled by all involved. As much as stadium security must be improved, a huge part of the problem is what’s happening between the lines and under the lights. Thuggish behavior is tolerated and even celebrated. When the emotions on the field boil over the spectators are rarely far behind.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

He threw a fucking chair after things had started settling down and got really, really lucky he missed. I fully expect this to exceed Suarez’s discipline. FIFA can’t stand by.

There are failures absolutely everywhere. It’s comical how horrifically this was handled by all involved. As much as stadium security must be improved, a huge part of the problem is what’s happening between the lines and under the lights. Thuggish behavior is tolerated and even celebrated. When the emotions on the field boil over the spectators are rarely far behind.

Luck? His entire career is defined by misses!

 

[SocrManiac]

Luck? His entire career is defined by misses!

Fuck. Walked right across and into that one.

 

[67YAZ]

FSG pull out from Bordeaux negotiations. It appears that FSG got a look under the hood and decided the stadium costs (purchasing it from the state and then renovating) plus uncertainty about the next media rights contracts made the club a risky investment.

 

[Nick Kaufman]

FSG pull out from Bordeaux negotiations. It appears that FSG got a look under the hood and decided the stadium costs (purchasing it from the state and then renovating) plus uncertainty about the next media rights contracts made the club a risky investment.

What is there to renovate? The stadium was built in 2016 and it's beautiful. I guess they want to do an expansion or add more suits and concessions.

 

[67YAZ]

What is there to renovate? The stadium was built in 2016 and it's beautiful. I guess they want to do an expansion or add more suits and concessions.

Digging in more, I see that the club doesn’t own its training facilities, and that’s what FSG would look to renovate. But a sticking point with the stadium is a significant amount of back rent is owed. FSG weren’t certain how negotiations over the stadium, training grounds, and back rent would go. Buying the club would have been cheap, but the other costs were unknown and they seemingly soured on the value of French broadcast rights.

 

[67YAZ]

Found this chart to be eye opening.

CBs don't cover the same amount of ground as others, but Big Virg going over 5K minutes at age 32-33 is a lot. A LOT. And it doesn't look like the Dutch are going to rotate him at all through WC qualifying - he's their defensive rock, too. The Reds really need a fully healthy season from Konate to give VVD rest.

Macca and Diaz are both prime age, but 4K+ minutes each in their very demanding roles deserves attention.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Found this chart to be eye opening.

CBs don't cover the same amount of ground as others, but Big Virg going over 5K minutes at age 32-33 is a lot. A LOT. And it doesn't look like the Dutch are going to rotate him at all through WC qualifying - he's their defensive rock, too. The Reds really need a fully healthy season from Konate to give VVD rest.

Macca and Diaz are both prime age, but 4K+ minutes each in their very demanding roles deserves attention.

View attachment 85834

guessing Salah would have been right up there as well except he missed out on the ACN

 

[Pesky Pole]

Anyone else headed to the Linc later for tonight's game against Arsenal? Taking my 15 year old son and probably headed to Fado downtown first (parking there to avoid the hour long exit wait). Looks like Jota might be back in the lineup for this one but Curtis Jones is injured.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

So - I’ve scored tickets to two matches at Anfield in September (the Forrest and Bournemouth games) so will be going on a two week trip to the UK.

Any tips on getting around in Liverpool and sites to see ? I’m taking the train up from London.

Currently I have the two games and the Tate Gallery on the agenda. I’ll be in Liverpool for 4-5 days. Seems to be lots of museums (Beatles included)

 

[CPT Neuron]

We were there not too long ago. We stayed about 2 or 2-1/2 miles away from Anfield and actually walked back from Anfield to the hotel, the Delta. The hotel was great. It was just a couple blocks away from a small central area in Liverpool that I cannot recall the name of. There were a ton of small museums, a bunch of great polyps, and the usual to her strap shops in the area. We had a great time walking around this area. There are a slew of different tors to be taken that we did not get a chance to take advantage of as we were only there for a day and a half. We ate at a restaurant/pub, Ma Egerton's over by the fitters that was absolutely amazing. I am jealous that you are catching to games!

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

We were there not too long ago. We stayed about 2 or 2-1/2 miles away from Anfield and actually walked back from Anfield to the hotel, the Delta. The hotel was great. It was just a couple blocks away from a small central area in Liverpool that I cannot recall the name of. There were a ton of small museums, a bunch of great polyps, and the usual to her strap shops in the area. We had a great time walking around this area. There are a slew of different tors to be taken that we did not get a chance to take advantage of as we were only there for a day and a half. We ate at a restaurant/pub, Ma Egerton's over by the fitters that was absolutely amazing. I am jealous that you are catching to games!

Thanks ! Will check that area out. Don’t know where I’ll be staying yet.

 

[OCST]

We went to an Everton game last year. Stayed at the Holiday Inn, across the street from Liverpool Lime Street, the main rail station. The hotel itself was a half star nicer than an American Holiday Inn, so not super fantastic but the location was ideal, right in the middle of town, and the staff very friendly. We would go back. SFiC stayed there on my tip when he went to Anfield and liked it iirc.

The one Beatles thing that requires advavnce attention is the tour of the Lennon and McCartney boyhood homes, which are maintained as the equivalent of national parks. Tours are few per day and small in size so must be booked well in advance but are supposedly excellent.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Second OCST's recommendation for the Holiday Inn. If you're taking the train from London it's right across the street from Lime Street Station, super easy. It's very convenient for going anywhere in the City Center, and a 15-20 minute walk to the waterfront. On game day it's easy to grab a bus out to Anfield from close by.

Even though you're going to 2 games, it's worth going back to take the tour on a non-game day. Plenty of great photo opportunities I went the day after attending the game against Forest last October, then took a walk in Stanley Park, just so I could stand in the middle and see both Anfield and Goodison from the same spot.

Plenty of touristy stuff to do, but try to leave some time to explore, have a pint, and talk to the locals. It's a cool place and the people are very friendly.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Thanks to all for the suggestions!

I still haven’t decided on the week between games — going to rent a car - maybe up to Scotland - where I have been many, many times or down to Devon/Cornwall or just to Wales. Probably up to Edinburgh and through the highlands

 

[lostjumper]

I know it's a pre-season friendly that means nothing, but Liverpool look really good tonight. Sarah is looking fast tonight, beating several ManU players on and off the ball.

 

[swiftaw]

I know it's a pre-season friendly that means nothing, but Liverpool look really good tonight. Sarah is looking fast tonight, beating several ManU players on and off the ball.

Some of the attacking movement has been spectacular. I also think that Slot’s system will be better at defeating the low block than Klopp’s

 

[OCST]

Second OCST's recommendation for the Holiday Inn. If you're taking the train from London it's right across the street from Lime Street Station, super easy. It's very convenient for going anywhere in the City Center, and a 15-20 minute walk to the waterfront. On game day it's easy to grab a bus out to Anfield from close by.

Even though you're going to 2 games, it's worth going back to take the tour on a non-game day. Plenty of great photo opportunities I went the day after attending the game against Forest last October, then took a walk in Stanley Park, just so I could stand in the middle and see both Anfield and Goodison from the same spot.

Plenty of touristy stuff to do, but try to leave some time to explore, have a pint, and talk to the locals. It's a cool place and the people are very friendly.

+1 on SF’s last paragraph here. Liverpool is a tough town and parts of it are shockingly poor, but/and the people are hugely proud of their city and are salt of the earth (and almost always very funny- you have to have a sharp wit here). Tgr best American comparison is Baltimore, also a port city and working man’s town. So get out and just talk to people.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

+1 on SF’s last paragraph here. Liverpool is a tough town and parts of it are shockingly poor, but/and the people are hugely proud of their city and are salt of the earth (and almost always very funny- you have to have a sharp wit here). Tgr best American comparison is Baltimore, also a port city and working man’s town. So get out and just talk to people.

I can taste the pints already ! Thanks.

 

[67YAZ]

Carvalho to Brentford for £20m + £7.5m in possible add ons & 17.5% sell on clause. Liverpool brought him in for £6m. Good business hopefully he finds his footing with Brentford. We’ll always have that winner gains Newcastle!

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Carvalho to Brentford for £20m + £7.5m in possible add ons & 17.5% sell on clause. Liverpool brought him in for £6m. Good business hopefully he finds his footing with Brentford. We’ll always have that winner gains Newcastle!

And Fulham get %20 of the profit on that deal - so at least £3m (they paid £5m for him according to The Athletic)

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

So what do we think the outcome of the great Zubi watch will be? The last reporting available (Fab) indicated the player was mulling it over - Real Sociedad has offered him improved terms but cannot match what Liverpool is offering.

The player has to know that this is his shot at the big time and it’s unlikely to happen again. On the other hand there’s the pull of the home town team. Maybe his wife has been checking out the English weather.

Supposedly Liverpool have given him this weekend and then will move on.

Id say it’s 70/30 in favour of the Liverpool move.

 

[rguilmar]

So what do we think the outcome of the great Zubi watch will be? The last reporting available (Fab) indicated the player was mulling it over - Real Sociedad has offered him improved terms but cannot match what Liverpool is offering.

The player has to know that this is his shot at the big time and it’s unlikely to happen again. On the other hand there’s the pull of the home town team. Maybe his wife has been checking out the English weather.

Supposedly Liverpool have given him this weekend and then will move on.

Id say it’s 70/30 in favour of the Liverpool move.

I’m more 70/30 in Real Sociedad’s favor because he hasn’t left yet. I do think he seriously considered it but is having second thoughts because of a lot of those factors you mentioned. He unsurprisingly has a strong network of family and friends in San Sebastián that I doubt he wants to leave. He likes life there, from the comforts of home to running up Monte Urgull (I’ve seen Liverpool sources saying that, but he was running up the mountain in the La Liga series on Netflix so that could be the real source).

The weather in the Basque Country is pretty cold and wet, but the city being on the ocean is very picturesque, and the beaches are amazing when the sun does shine.

Last summer Barcelona and Arsenal were trying to get him, this season Liverpool. He’s one of the best 5 or so DMs in the world, so barring injury suitors will be there in the future. The question is if he has any actual desire to leave. I know I’ve said this before, but Basques often times don’t want to go anywhere. I’m not a Sociedad fan, though they are among 20 or so Spanish teams I root for often (rivals Athletic Club are on that list too), but that club has a special draw among the people there, and the players who come up through their cantera have a strong connection to the club and city.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

Watching the Sevilla friendly this morning (LFCTV) … pretty much the starting 11 … up 3-0 pretty much on merit with some wonderful goals from Jota and Diaz.

Have to say the goal kicks are heart attack inducing. It may work (the third goal was a perfect example of it working) but the risk/reward seems extreme.

 

[67YAZ]

Watching the Sevilla friendly this morning (LFCTV) … pretty much the starting 11 … up 3-0 pretty much on merit with some wonderful goals from Jota and Diaz.

Have to say the goal kicks are heart attack inducing. It may work (the third goal was a perfect example of it working) but the risk/reward seems extreme.

they have looked sharp in preseason.

and they are definitely giving up several goals that will cause me to throw something at the TV. That’s a feature of Slot’s style.