Agree 100%. If we have to give him up to get Barcola, that's tough.

2nd half looks familiar…all Como with possession and attack.

Our midfield is wide open a lot.

I think this is going to be the biggest work in progress for this team early on. Maintaining energy, shape etc. playing this style is going to be hard and take some time.

Some of the passing by the midfield this half though has been shocking to say the least.

Bringing on Nyoni is the right call here, and something I think we're going to see a lot this year to get better grasps of games.

Getting completely worked and picked apart in the 2nd half. Can't get or keep the ball….but haven't conceded yet so that's an improvement at least. Don't think we have a single shot

Woof. Well the fun begins for real next week. I personally have very low expectations (and that was before an ugly but meaningless preseason that doesn't really mean anything ) and feel this is going to be a very tough year. I just hope we gel and improve as the year goes on. Afraid our lacking areas and no depth with 4 competitions is going to be brutal though.

Fortunately, after Arsenal most of the PL is facing the same with new mgrs, etc

I'm actually encouraged about what our peak is after that game. Jacquet and Araujo both looked the part, so maybe VVD can catch a break this season. The attack also looks really good even without Barcola. However, our lack of a No. 6 who can distribute the ball across the field and our lack of depth/fitness to really play Iraola's style right now is real concern. Feels like we need another legit body in midfield at least.

I think this could be a year where we put all of the eggs in the champions league basket.

I can see a reality where we play Jacquet as a DM with VVD and Araujo behind him.

The CDM market is always a tough one and he might be better than anything else we could end up with at the end of this window. He played as a midfielder before being switched to a CB by Rennes. You can definitely see that in his background based upon the quality he shows passing and carrying the ball.

I didn't even watch yesterday since I don't trust myself not to overreact to a friendly.

I am now of the mind that we are going to add a good winger and that's probably it and I'm ok with it. I believe in Iraola and think as the scheme will work perfectly fine with the players we have.

I think my biggest concern headed into the season beyond injuries is leadership and mentality. Do we have the players that can maintain their edge for 90 minutes? Are we going to wilt in the second half of games again like we did last year? Who in the locker room is setting the tone when things are hard and keeping everyone focused? Virgil can't do it all on his own and needs some vocal enforcers who can back him up. I'm not sure those guys are really there anymore.

Really great points and perspective. I also think this is something to question and keep a close eye on. We all knew Slot sucked and had lost the locker room, and didn't have the stones to grab hold of the locker room like Klopp did. But I questioned where the player leadership was all of last year. Managers can only get you so far in a sport with no stoppages etc. We need someone besides VVD to step up and be a vocal leader on the field. I think that is Szobozslai, but it has been a little rocky at times with him. The other guys could be Isak and Araujo. Gakpo as well if he stays.

I don't know if we're going to fall-off quite like last year in second halves. Maybe physically due to Iraola's style, but I don't foresee conceding within two minutes after we score quite like we did last year.

https://www.thisisanfield.com/2026/08/liverpool-agree-5-year-contract-with-ibrahim-mbaye/

Not surprising and really doesn't mean much unless PSG agrees to sell him.

I think this is pretty big still. I know we're all frustrated, because heck I am also frustrated, but big club to club deals just seem to take longer than others. Sure occasionally you have your quick and easy deals, but PSG are giants of the sport along with Liverpool, and they don't have to do a damn thing in theory.

Another aspect of this that doesn't get talked about enough imo is that the transfer window closes AFTER the season starts. I think this causes some anxiety amongst all fans because the games begin to matter yet you might not have a full squad yet. On a side note, I have always thought this absolutely ridiculous and I'm not sure why they still do it.

At least with this report we know Liverpool are still 100% working on the team behind the scenes and remain in the forefront.

Speaking of the beginning of the season, what is everyone's predictions for champion, top four or five and bottom three?

Winners: Arsenal (simply because the continuity in the squad right now and at head coach)

1. Arsenal (yuck)
2. Man United (yuckier)
3. Liverpool
4. Man City (moving on from the best coach maybe ever is going to be harder than they want or realize)
5. Chelsea (they can only be dog crap forever, and I think they finally have a competent coach again)

I don't think it's going to be a surprising year. This year more than most feels like it'll be chalk. With coaching changes at Newcastle, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth I just do not see any of them overcoming that, and Aston Villa hit the squad reset button (though they will be a tough out week in and week out). Spurs, Brighton and Fulham are the teams I could see pushing the top 5 above for a spot.

Relegated: Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Hull City.

Hull because they are Hull; Nottingham Forest because they are a train wreck mess and lost Elliott; and Leeds because I just don't see it with them.

Jones official to Inter.

Arsenal reportedly have agreed a 51M GBP transfer for Ezri Konsa. This has to be a move just to prevent someone else from getting him, right?

In defense, Arsenal (when everyone is healthy) can now call upon:
- William Saliba
- Mosquera
- Ben White
- Hincapie
- Gabriel
- Timber
- Calafiori
- Ezri Konsa

Apart from Mosquera, they all start for their national teams. That is some serious pedigree.

Meanwhile Liverpool have:
- Joe "Made of Glass" Gomez
- VvD
- Jacquet
- Milos "Bam Bam" Kerkez
- Conor "Allergic to Gravity" Bradley
- Giovanni Leoni
- Tsimkas
- Frimpong
- Araujo
- Calvin Ramsay

Sucks to lose Jones, but its clear he didn't want to stay at LFC any longer. There are officially no scousers left in the team, which feels wrong. That said, its not right to hold a player back if they dont want to be in your team any longer. Based upon a few snippets of his personality, it appears he fancies himself a fashionista...so his move to Milan is likely motivated by his desire to further his image in that realm. He is going to be real salty when he still doesn't start, the Italian public is unimpressed with his style and not a single person can understand him.

I can easily see him back at Liverpool at some point in his career. He didn't really leave by burning bridges and he will likely accept a lower squad role in a few years.

Transfer window closes in 11 days and there is still too much to do. Need to get at least one winger in the door, possibly a midfielder and somehow get rid of Chiesa and Endo's dead bodies.

I think it was less about letting someone else grab him, and more that Saliba could be out till December and they do not trust Mosquera to start premier league games, so they wanted better coverage.

I would take Jacquet, Leoni, and Araujo over Mosquera, Hincapie and Calafiori if asked to play CB. Calafiori and Hincapie are better outside backs imo.

I think Liverpool are seriously targeting a double move for Barcola and Mbaye. While they'd technically be separate transfers, PSG could easily use leverage to package thembasically saying, "If you want both, it's 175M total." Beyond that, I don't see us bringing in another midfielder.

Top 5:

1. Liverpool (Why the hell not. We're gonna sign Barcola, Mbaye, and a midfielder.)
2. Arsenal
3. Chelsea
4. Man City
5. Man U

The Athletic just reported that Liverpool had a 50 million pound bid rejected by Brighton for Yankuba Minteh (RW). It does not specify when the bid was made, but it does say that Minteh would approve the move if the Clubs could come to a fee agreement.

Minteh is a tough one. He is an out and out left footed right winger, but his time at Brighton has been very up and down. He possesses all of the skills to be legitimately one of the best wingers in the world, but injuries and inconsistencies have plagued him.

No clue if they will increase their bid. 50M seems about right for him right now. Maybe 60, but I don't think Brighton would sell at the moment.

1. Arsenal - 90
2. Liverpool - 80
3. United - 79
4. City - 70
5. Chelsea - 68

Arsenal is playing for a triple or quadruple. They are going for it and have spent over $1B to do it. There depth is incredible. Konsa is cover at CB and can play RB. Their back line is quite injury prone too. I hate their style of play and Arteta is insufferable, but they have more depth than anyone in the league by far. Sadly, I think they win the league easily.

Completely agree with their depth in the back and in midfield. It will carry them across the line. They are so deep I almost do not see the point of it. Up front I actually think they are quite thin and lack really elite talent. Saka can be, but is injury prone and hasn't been elite in two years. Havertz is solid but also injury prone. Tzolis I like but is he really elite? The rest are a giant bag of meh that we already know about.

He is also injured at this very moment.

I still like him more than Mbaye though. Watching film of Mbaye is a bit underwhelming at times. He has great moments, but often times he simply doesn't work hard enough or lacks the skill necessary. I understand he is still very young, but at this point he wouldn't start over Rio, Munoz, or Gakpo if they were healthy and fit.

Minteh on the other hand absolutely works his butt off on the field and would be a great rotational option with the 3 listed above.....I'm just worried he can't stay healthy.

Second bid rejected by Brighton for Minteh, for 60 million pounds. At least they're trying. Going to take minimum 65 minimum or maybe 65 + 5. Just get it done and don't look back. Next summer you won't have to buy any wingers anymore.

Ornstein said he think Barcola and Minteh was at a 2/3 in terms of confidence. Only downside was cost for both.

Everton have done a great job rebuilding their squad. They could challenge for a European spot this year. Palace on the other hand has fallen off hard. Putting them on relegation watch.

Spurs look completely toothless out there. Raise that Gakpo price to a 120 million....

Welp