Yeah, it's baffling that we largely played our normal system (with an extra DM) against a strong Real Madrid, but then changed it so much to play against a team that's barely limped into the top half of the French league.I don't think any of us would play a 5-3-2
with our best eleven hence why so many were perplexed at the shitshow tonight.
Do you know what is even more baffling?Yeah, it's baffling that we largely played our normal system (with an extra DM) against a strong Real Madrid, but then changed it so much to play against a team that's barely limped into the top half of the French league.
I actually missed the game, but I caught the highlights. I was shocked (absolutely shocked, honest) when Gary Lineker said they weren't being shown a replay of the foul incident. I couldn't even tell you if we were screwed over, because I didn't get to see it again. Which is probably evidence that they were busy screwing us over.P.s. VAR fucked us for their 2nd, but we gave UEFA the opportunity, and they gleefully took it. We are not winning this tournament, EVER!
Watching us against Real Madrid the other week, I thought defensively Casemiro is basically what Fernandinho was two or three years ago.Where is our combative edge in the middle of the pitch? Our drive and energy and leadership; someone to haul everyone's arse back up after we concede, and to smash the opponent's best players when they're gaining some control?
No such thing as a best 11. Those days are long gone.I think if you were to ask the fans and managers of Liverpool, Bayern, Madrid, PSG etc even the likes of Lyon and Liepzig, they would be able to tell you their best/strongest XI pretty consistently.
Us, I think we would have various combinations and I suppose that is the beauty of having a really strong squad and one of the reasons why over a space of two years we got 198 points in the PL.
But Liverpool in that same time span have won the PL and CL and finished runners up in both by virtually playing the same XI week in week out.
We go on about how crap our defence is after spending £325m on it but how many times have they all played as a back unit of 5 on a consistent basis? With Pep one game you could have a different CB partner, a midfielder next game, the next a different full back and then you could not play yourself the next game.
Tonight then through up another new challenge, with a different formation.
Is it not time to cement our best XI, play them in the biggest games, have the same formation and style of play and let the game be decided on individual player performances? If we cannot dictate the outcome of the game after all the money we have spent, when will we ever?
Based on what we got now and what is potentially to come, the best XI imo would be.
Ederson
Walker
New CB
Laporte
Ake
KDB
Rodri
Foden
Mahrez
Aguero
Sterling
If any of them are injured, need resting or out of form then the following replace them.
Stefan
Cancelo
Garcia
Stones
Mendy
Bernardo
Gundogan
New CM
Torres
Jesus
Braaf
Maybe it’s a simple way of looking at it but you know that if Liverpool need to win and everyone is available the you know what the team will be.
Lets me get this right, you think we need 9 signings this summer?Based on this season I think we should face this transfer market with everything we've got:
Ederson/ NEW GK (another sweeper keeper like Eddie, who's willing to only play in cup games for now but who can keep the brazilian on his toes)
Walker/ Cancelo (we're all set here, but should start to look for options next season)
UPAMECANO/ Stones / Harwood-Bellis (I'd rather spend 80M on Upamecano than 70M on Koulibaly, Stones would be a decent back-up)
Laporte/ Aké (all set here)
ALABA/ Mendy/ Zinchenko (Alaba is a must, Mendy is great when fit and Zinchenko is a great utility player that never causes trouble in the dressing room and can play in 3 or 4 different roles)
Rodri/ RUBEN NEVES / Tommy Doyle (Fernandinho should be moved either now or in January to Brazil, a De Jong-type DM should be signed; Kimmich would be perfect, but rather improbable)
De Bruyne/ THIAGO (Gundogan out, a new one is needed; I don't know if Aouar is the best option, I'd rather sign Thiago in the meantime)
Bernardo/ Foden (all set on left-footed CMs, David Silva is out as we know)
Mahrez / Sterling/ Torres / NEW WINGER (I have no clue who else we could sign, but it'd always be expensive: Sancho, Coman, Gnabry, Bailey...)
Aguero/ Jesus/ MBAPPÉ (Aguero should play his last season this year, Jesus is great in more ways than one, Mbappé is also a must; spend big on this kid, plus he can play on the wings)
We should spend big if needed, but not stupidly. I think we can all agree that players like van Dijk, Jorginho and De Jong (all of which we failed to sign) would've been quite useful this season.
I honestly hope Pep stays since the only other coach I could imagine replacing him is Naggelsman, who might be too unexperienced (outside of Germany) for us.
I think should, every three years, spend big money. Last two seasons we only signed Mahrez, Cancelo and Rodri and the aging squad is starting to show. Waiting until now to replace Bravo, Kompany, Fernandinho, David Silva and Aguero has proven to be a big mistake.