Agree. Unfortunately he looks all world compared to Tsimikas though

And you see why Elliott never played at AV.

Uninspiring preseason so far. We will see how the transfer window closes, but hard to see much more than top 5 in this squad right now.

Also no Jones today. Seems like the writing is on the wall

I think the first halves have been good and encouraging, especially from a pressing and attack point of view, and the defense has looked disjointed and shaky but still gotten the job done. Second halves have been an abomination, but I get it. They have been playing essentially U-21s in second halves with some senior guys mixed in and it looks like they have never played together.

Jones also feels as good as gone. They're just trying to squeeze Inter out of an extra 5M. The midfield does worry me a bit with just how out of shape and poor Harvey Elliott has looked. Because he doesn't belong anywhere near a Premier League pitch at the moment. I don't think we're buying a midfielder this summer, but going into the winter and next summer its probably priority No. 1 so long as they can sort the Barcola situation out.

I am also hoping the Djed Spence noise gets louder and louder because I am not sure I am seeing it with Kerkez. At least Frimpong can give you plus level play moving forward, and Bradley can do a bit of everything when healthy. But Kerkez looks lost and uninterested right now.

ETA: I am also a little concerned we don't have a real No. 6 outside of Nyoni. I just do not think a starting midfield with Gravenberch and Szbo is good enough defensively against top teams (I think both players are No. 8s). Offensively with the ball its elite, but without it I have concerns.

At this point, I think it will be amazing to be top 6. WC year with a new coach along with so many roster issues is so tough. Said before that this is at least a 2 year rebuild and that was assuming being successful in the transfer markets. Right now, that is not happening. Barcola and Mbaye seeming less likely by the day. But perhaps we get those guys, get healthy and gel by Jan and we might have a little something cooking.

For now though, just too many issues. Our back 4 situation is absolutely shambolic. It's flat bad at every spot minus VVD and he is fading fast it seems.

Our midfield is potentially Ok...but as mentioned they are a defensive liability. We get run through too much and give up tons of space (some of that is obviously due to our style of play now). Jones is good as gone, and while he is not great, he was solid depth at least.

Up front....think we might have something with Isak and Wirtz. If Gakpo can keep his WC form going, we might have at least a little something from one winger position. Rio obviously can be a bright spot and Iraola is trying him on the right side too. Other than that, it's bad up front...especially with Isak being made of glass.

Overall, there just isn't enough depth on this squad to compete in 4 competitions. And we just aren't built for the PL. We are just too small in too many positions for the physicality of that league.

They have to close on Barcola. Simple as that. If they miss on him you can hang it up for this year. Getting a dynamic winger was priority No. 1 this summer, and if they cannot do that it's over. I still think Barcola is likely, but it is annoying this is dragging out again. I don't put it all on Liverpool, though. I am sure PSG are also dragging their feet because why not, they are PSG and are essentially untouchable.

The defense is shambolic right now. No doubt about it. But I also do not know what they will look like come game 1 or even game 20. There's just so many questions back there, both good and bad. What is Jacquet is as good as advertised? What if Araujo clicks with Iraola's style of play not playing a suicide high line and in a new league? What if Leoni really is Maldini reincarnate (kidding lol)? On the flip side, what if this is the year VVD falls off a freaking cliff or gets injured? What if Araujo is like every other loan player we've signed the past decade? What if Bradley is just not the same player post ACL (don't know what is ceiling is anyways before injury)? Just so many questions in defense, both good and bad.

Maybe now that LFC gonna get some of that Bezos' money, they can finally close on Barcola.

They have so much money idk why they take so long. They need to money whip people sometimes.

I generally feel like a 110 million is a money whip for Barcola. PSG wants to be money blasted and it's outside the realms of sane business. Baracola basically splits time with another player, is being replaced and they want a British transfer record for his services. It's clear PSG think they found a sucker to exploit. LFC needed to have moved on weeks ago instead of getting price gouged on a single player. We are basically holding ourselves hostage for PSGs benefit.

I'm looking forward to life after Hughes and Edwards. They were sold as data driven decision makers, but they behave more like a kid playing fantasy football.

Hughes and Edwards can't get gone quick enough.

With that said idk who else Liverpool would go over after that has big time experience, has superstar qualities, and wants to get out. We tried Diomande and quickly moved off that one after his agent began shenanigans behind the scenes. And say what you want about Barcola, but I think he's a guy who has been CRIMINALLY undervalued and underutilized at PSG due to the players that they have and have had. He started most of the games for France this summer after Doue load a massive egg, and I think PSG are making a massive mistake letting him go when you consider Dembele is entering his 30's, Doue hasn't fully clicked and is more of a cut back midfield winger than an out and out go get it guy, but I digress.

Now, for the value; is he really worth 120 million? Absolutely not. No one besides Mbappe, Halaand and a few others are worth anywhere near those numbers. But unfortunately the EPL is flush with cash, more than any other league, and I believe its teams pay a premium for players because of it. Let alone this is a big club to big club transfer so its going go naturally be more evenly weighted.

120 seems like something that LFC could pay....PSG is asking for 150.

I'm hoping for 110 +10. I'm just worried PSG will just let us dangle and until the window closes without any reinforcement.

Completely agree; paying 145M+ would be terrible business. Liverpool publicly stating they won't go that high is smart leverage. That said, we shouldn't put all our eggs in one basket until deadline day and end up empty-handed. We ought to sign a promising young winger like Mbaye, Minteh, or Geovany Quenda now while continuing to work on Barcola in the background. Even if the Barcola deal falls through, having added Muñoz and another target (plus keeping Gakpo) leaves us with solid depth up front alongside Rio, Chiesa, Isak, and Koumas.

If anyone is interested, The Anfield Wrap did a good analytical break down of some preseason Iraola stuff (the use of Wirtz and Isak in particular), followed by an in depth/analytical view of Araujo and Barcola.

Araujo is essentially a higher upside version of Ibou Konate, with a legit ability to play RB. They also suggested that early in the year against bigger opponents, they could play VVD, Jacquet, and Araujo as a pseudo back three (still defensively a 4-2-3-1) to provide that extra level of defensive attention to detail and aerial prowess.

Barcola's advanced numbers are elite as well, and I suggest giving it a listen if you are skeptical of him as a player. He's a guy who makes things happen A LOT outside of just G/As, which are increasingly an outdated statistic for the upper tier of football.

Apparently Gakpo to Tottenham is gaining steam. We better absolutely fleece those clowns. I'm tired of paying too dollar for players and then sell our own players for reasonable amounts. Cody just signed a long term deal, no reason we shouldn't get 80 million+.

It's also quite amusing that he will reunite with Robbo where he can continue to ignore his overlapping runs.

Arsenal is sniffing around at Quansah. Don't really feel any regret about the player, but very jealous of their squad depth.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/14/jeff-bezos-group-buys-stake-liverpool-fc.html

Bezos and company official secure 30 ish percent interest. Feels like FSG are one foot out the door.

Now that PSG has pretty much revamped their entire backup forward group, and there's been reports that Barcola isn't happy at PSG anymore, I would expect this deal to get done pretty quick. Liverpool are going to send another official bid I would assume that is around 115-120 plus add ons.

Cover your eyes Man City fans

I haven't really followed much, but what is City's post Rodri plan? Kovacic and Nico Gonzalez are not it.

Arsenal may run away with the league this year, but at least things look very fuzzy after that.

If LVP would stop dicking about with Barcola and get him in, I think we would have a shout for the beat starting attack in the EPL, which I think Iraola could do wonders with.

Let's see if we can put two halves together versus Como.

Arsenal definitely set up to run away with the PL title.

Munoz looked great in first scrimmage. Has great pace and pushes the ball up and attacks immediately.

Jacquet with his first minutes in 2nd game. Nice first touch to start

Jacquet looking elite to start

Arsenal looked good, but Man City looked like absolute garbage. The drop off between Pep and Enzo is going to be jarring.

Beautiful goal setup and finish by Gakpo. Looks completely different than last year (attack and Gakpo)

Add another 10 million to his transfer price.....or just leave him in the squad...

Isak just pulled up a little bit lame. Hope it's nothing.

For the love of all things Holy in this world. Please no.

He's fine.

Jacquet really looking good

Jacquet with a goal from a nice assist from gakpo from vvd

AG@RICE said:

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Add another 10 million to his transfer price.....or just leave him in the squad...

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And Gakpo with an assist. Add $5mm on top of that.

Gakpo was our best attacker in that half by a mile.

Really uncomfortable about selling him this close to the start of the season. It will also vastly improve the attack of a rival, which I'm not too keen on. The price will need to be staggering to justify moving him.

Take Jacquet off the field and put him in bubble wrap. He looks as advertised.