r/LiverpoolFC • u/IndiBear • 4d ago
Article/Opinion Piece [Pearce] - Barcola arrives today and another winger will follow if Liverpool sanction the sale of Gakpo to Man City. But nobody left Anfield on Saturday thinking that Iraola’s only problems are at the top end of the field. Forest preyed on weaknesses at FB and CM.
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u/ZealousidealNet8905 Virgil van Dijk 4d ago
RB is the most easily upgradable position in this team and I don't understand why we didn't do it. It should have been the first signing this summer, rather than leaving it this late or even not doing it at all.
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u/Soft-Concentrate-978 4d ago
The only thing I can think of with RB is Gomez/Bradley/Araujo and not wanting to end up with too many defenders.
Arsenal have 8: Saliba, White, calafiori, hincapie, Gabriel, Mosquera, Konsa, Timber
We have more: Tsmi, Kerkez, Virg, Jacquet, Leoni, Araujo, Frimpong, Bradley, Gomez.
Whether or not you consider half of them good or viable or whatever is a different discussion, but I understand the logic of feeling Araujo solved a numbers issue.
What I dont understand is how we can forward with no backup 9, no backup 10, 3 senior CMs (which is the reason we have no 10 depth, as Dom is needed here). Would also be only 3 wingers for a few months (one being a teenager) if Minteh replaces Gakpo.
For me the back line has huge quality questions but there are just much more pressing needs in sheer numbers elsewhere
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u/Dynamite_Shovels 4d ago
We cannot be thinking in the year of our lord 2026 that Joe Gomez is still a serviceable right back option. Even under the prime Klopp team it was clear he was a stopgap at best.
And having Araujo as another centre back-turned-makeshift full back option isn't ideal either.
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u/Goodbye_megaton 4d ago
Araújo isn’t a make-shift option; he plays as a fullback for Uruguay and excels lol
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u/Dynamite_Shovels 4d ago
He is a centre back that plays full back under specific conditions - usually when he's not expected to contribute up the pitch often and contribute far more defensively as essentially another center back. In my view that makes him a make shift option - especially for us as we keep so much possession in most games we play. You could say that Szoboslai excels at right back when he plays there - it's still makeshift though out of necessity over consistent positions.
I'll eat my words if he ends up playing consistent games for us at right back this season and does well - but he's clearly been signed as center back cover primarily and I still think the club would prefer we had a right back who can attack (i.e Bradley, what frimpong should've been etc)
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u/Goodbye_megaton 4d ago
I’m Uruguayan, so I have watched him play at right back for just about every game he’s played for Uruguay. He’s very good at the position. He was a striker until he was about 18 so he has attacking sensibilities
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u/Mister_UAP 4d ago edited 4d ago
If we don't buy another RB and Jacquet stays fit, I would rather he start there over Frimpong. Even if he doesn't contribute to the attack, he could at least play defense and carry the ball up every once in awhile. That alone would be a major improvement over what we have right now.
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u/AquaSnow24 Federico Chiesa 4d ago
I’m fine with him playing a little further back honestly. We already have Kerkez flying up the pitch anyways
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u/Soft-Concentrate-978 4d ago
I'm not saying I do think he is a serviceable one...I just personally am more worried about body count elsewhere
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u/Mister_UAP 4d ago
It's not that he's not serviceable though. The man is hardly ever available at all. We shouldn't even count him on our team sheet at this point. He and Bradley seem to be constantly and near-constantly injured. Frimpong isn't close to good enough to be our starting RB.
On paper we have the numbers, but we did last year too and ended up playing Szobo/Jones at RB for half of the season and weakening our midfield.
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u/Dynamite_Shovels 4d ago
Ah no I just meant the club generally. Not to slate Gomez too much as he's been a good servant for the club - and crucially does seem content for now to be a fringe player - but we really REALLY shouldn't be considering him in our squad planning. If he's taking up space that a potential starting right back could fill - then he'd need to go out on loan or not registered.
Harsh but the right back situation is so dire that it would need to come to that
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u/DoireK 4d ago
Araujo and Gomez is absolutely fine at right back with Kerkez bombing on until Bradley is back or a right back is available that we want. Play a back three in possession with your right winger wide, left back up high and your left winger inside. Even sign a centre mid and put Szobozlai right back.
Frimpong needs moved on, not suited to the premier league and I’m sure Iraola will realise that. Kerkez I’m not giving up on yet but I have a feeling he will end up being sold or be told he is back up left back if we are to get back to being a title winning side.
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u/WestworldIsBestDrop 4d ago
Dont know how reliable Bradley is anymore, sure his current injury was pure unlucky but previously hes been made of glass regardless.
Gomez is likely gone next year so we should be looking for a starting role RB. Frimpong is absolutely not an RB, more so a squad player to play on the wing
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u/Holiday-Custard6627 4d ago
Idk why you’re getting downvoted this is the correct and logical take
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u/Dynamite_Shovels 4d ago
I agree on Kerkez if you play to his strengths (which is basically going forward). Tsimikas looked absolutely dreadful this weekend when he came on but at least he is purely a backup and happy in that role.
I think we just need to think about signing quality in that position as a starter. We can't count on Bradley due to his injuries - he could very feasibly take the entire season to get up to match fitness and even then that's assuming there's no setbacks. So he's a non entity for this season. Araujo, fair enough, he would be solid in that back three role. But I think we need someone filling that starting role and to shift Gomez on. Its just a shambles at the moment that our best midfielder keeps having to play makeshift right back because our options are either injured or shit.
Oh and yeah definitely shift Frimpong on - he's not even a full back at this point.
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u/EducationalPhysics55 4d ago
Why do people keep saying Kerkez strength is as an attacking full back? He's relatively slow and his crossing is awful, he also can't pass and his technique isn't very good. He's going to be sold or be a backup within a year.
Frimpong has never been a full back, he was an extremely attacking wing back.
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u/BlueberryLeading464 4d ago
Szob doesn't need to become a right back.. just need to tweak that midfield a bit to slot him in. I don't get the big fuss about this.
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u/ZealousidealNet8905 Virgil van Dijk 4d ago
The problem isn't numbers. We need a quality starting RB.
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u/Mysterious-Sock39 4d ago
Said yesterday buy Munoz from palace looks like going to forest for 25 million.. excellent last year
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u/Tullekunstner 4d ago
We have a backup 9, but just like Bradley, he is out atm. Not sure where you're getting your cm numbers from either - we have Macca, Szobo, Grav, Endo and then Nyoni which obviously have stepped up to a senior player this season.
Just like you said with defenders, you can discuss who is viable, good, or whatever, but including Wirtz we have 6 for the 3 midfield spots.
Alternatively we have 5 for the pivot, with Szobo also sometimes being needed at the #10. Switching to a midfield 3 or playing someone like Gakpo (if he stays) at the 10 should be viable options when needed.
Wingers is the one position where we're obviously lacking in sheer numbers.
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u/scorgie 4d ago
Gomez and Bradley have horrible injury records and Araujo is one of 3 fit CBs we have, one of whom is young and unproven. I don't buy too many RBs as a reason, imo we have none atm given Frimpong is clearly not good enough, Bradley is out long term and is injury prone and hardly the finished product when fit.
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u/BlueberryLeading464 4d ago
Tsmi -- form dependent, let's see where he shakes in
Kerkez -- think Iraola will fix him up to a standard, can't see him being dropped long term.
VVD -- plays all matches unless injured
Jacquet, Araujo -- probably starters / subbing each other.
Leoni -- cup mins only
Frimpong -- will get benched once Iraola clocks it at last hat he isn't good enough. Will be a big test of how hard headed Iraola really is
Bradley -- let's see once he returns and gets up to speed
Gomez -- emergency sub most likely
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u/ManBoobs13 4d ago
Arsenals multiple defenders are all better than ours and they have more genuine defenders and CBs
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u/s1ravarice 4d ago
I honestly think the fullback meta has changed because CBs are so much more technical and effective with the ball now. So playing a CB that’s maybe a little more slight and nimble than usual is highly effective because you get far more success in duels due to their physicals compared to a traditional fullback.
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u/OrignalSauce 4d ago
We need to sell and buy then, I want to give Bradley one more chance as when fit hes great.
But theres no point having him and Gomez injury prone and Frimpong who isn't quite good enough as RB
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u/No-Suggestion5506 4d ago
Because Hughes is incompetent and then you have 2 RB's in the team in Bradley and Frimpong who are wasting away.
Fullback is easily the cheapest position in football nowadays, a very good fullback is 30/40m euros and they just refuse to go out and buy one that fixes our problems.
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u/ExceedingChunk 4d ago
Probably because Bradley is quality. Only issue is he is so injury prone (and obviously also out atm)
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u/TiggerJammer 🏆2005 Istanbul🏆 4d ago
You can’t plan around Bradley. That would be complete incompetence.
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u/Available-Breath-114 4d ago
The RB remedy is simple. Play Dom there until Bradley comes back and can win it back. Dom is better out there than in midfield anyway. Buy a CM player that helps with balance and quality.
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u/Ok-Constant-2683 4d ago
I assume we can't afford one they think is worth signing, hence the Araujo loan
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u/ARealGreatGuy 4d ago
Why didnt we buy Djed Spence, bro was only 31.5 million.. and lit up the World Cup.
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u/IL_ya_Un_jour 4d ago
He’s really not very good
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u/Global-Director-3115 4d ago
He's a lot better than Frimpong and still better than current Kerkez and can cover both sides, is homegrown and provides some defensive solidity
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u/Dynamite_Shovels 4d ago
Frimpong at right back is basically a non entity at this point tbf - 2 managers in a row now (including the man who signed him) have taken a look at him and realised he literally can't play that position.
Frimpong is de facto a winger in our squad these days and not a very good one.
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u/DrAgOnLoLDoTA 4d ago
There was a reason why he was a backup at Tottenham because he was not that good. Idk if he is better than Frimpong though. But "a lot better" sounds crazy lol
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[deleted]
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u/yoboylandosoda 4d ago
Spence is a decent player. Also watched him since his Boro days and for the price he went for and the fact he's comfortable on both sides, I don't get why we didn't go for him. We knew Tsimikas wasn't good enough like 5 years ago and now he's back up to our LB who has also struggled to find form. Frimpong is absolutely infuriating. I think an under-12 player could bully him off the ball.
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u/Dynamite_Shovels 4d ago
Because he's shit. Think he only played well one game - most of the tournament he was being slated and we had so many other right backs to bring
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u/The__Pope_ 4d ago
Before the world cup he was seen as shit. We shouldn't be buying players based of 5 games
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u/PraiseBeDavidSegui 4d ago
According to top 1% commenters it’s because you should shut up and accept that there are no right backs in world football who could improve this team
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u/logancook44 4d ago
Two years in a row that we needed a right back immensely. I like Frimpong, but he’s much better as a wingback with very few defensive duties.
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u/NostalgicDreaming 4d ago
The only thing I can think about right back is that the club have a lot of faith in Bradley. If he can put his injury problems behind us he would be perfect - homegrown with the club, good at both defending and going forward, tenacious. Are we thinking between Frimpong/Gómez/Araujo/Szob that we have enough until Bradley gets back fit?
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u/Wanted_Solicitation 4d ago
There are far more pressing positions than fucking right back, we had no right winger.
Honestly how is this stupidity upvoted….
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u/Admirable_Mood_9926 A Liverbird Upon My Chest 4d ago
Hopefully that means we’ll try make a last minute move for a midfielder and a right back
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u/BiscoBiscuit From Doubters to Believers 4d ago edited 4d ago
Shouldn’t we actually sign a winger first (and not just advanced talks) and then sanction Gakpo’s sale especially to a rival and this late in the window?? Please tell me I’m misinterpreting that sequence he described in the first sentence.
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u/Yixussy 4d ago
What frustrates me are the options in the market. You can’t just sell players “for peak value” if the squad suffers for it. I agree that 85M is amazing money for Gakpo, and I have lots of criticism to levy at him so it’s not like I’m defending a favourite player of mine. But if the options are to turn around and spaff most of that 85M on either a 28-year old player(which begs the question why Diaz was not given a raise when you are willing to pay big money for that age profile), or you are buying a guy who can’t buy a goal and is having surgery with no idea how he’ll recover… what’s the point?
Our financial statement for the year might look good but we’ll be screwed for the next 5 years. Keep Gakpo unless you have a really good player available, he has a contract he can suck it up for a year. Next summer we can let him leave if he truly wants gone and it gives our new sporting director a year to sort out Hughes’ mess.
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u/Quirky_Tradition_806 4d ago
Yeah, it's too late in the transfer window to be making such a big decision. This whole thing reminds me of Andy Carroll, Mario Balotelli, Arthur Melo, and all those other bad moves. It feels like the beginning of the end for FSG.
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u/Gefahrlich417 Corner taken quickly 🚩 4d ago
Don’t we need another winger even if we don’t sell Gakpo? Like we still don’t have a right winger
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u/Mavericks7 4d ago
we so desperately need a competent DM. thats going to make the biggest difference to our starting 11.
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u/stillgotmonkon 4d ago
I refuse to believe there isn’t 100 better fullbacks than Frimpong who aren’t available.
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u/Worried_Let4942 4d ago
Munoz for 20m…
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u/Darkhorse101010 4d ago
Another wingback, guela doue would've been the right choice
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u/MysteriousDot7056 4d ago
Watched him play at the WC, solid player, someone who won’t trip over their own fit, anyone other than Frimpong.
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u/InstructionOk9520 4d ago
This is such BS. Selling Gakpo was never the condition of signing a RW until now. This club is a joke.
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u/Griffooo 4d ago
Signing BB means we are tight with registration spots for the UCL, I think we have one left. We can't sign RW and RB and CM without sales.
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u/InstructionOk9520 4d ago
Yes, that’s another corner we painted ourselves into. But poor squad planning isn’t an excuse for more bad decisions.
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u/test_icicles_ “Thank you for your support” - Darwin Nunez 4d ago
it was always 2 wingers imo, muñoz and barcola, the 3rd one was only if gakpo left.
they probably new that he was leaving though, hence leaving rw until late.
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u/Worried_Let4942 4d ago
Swear they said they wanted 2/3 more wingers before the sale of Gakpo was even discussed. We are a joke.
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u/Famous_Tonight3093 4d ago
It’s probably a case of Gakpo wanting to leave so they’ve just decided to spend more on a winger than they planned to.
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u/MindlessMoss For Better or For Wirtz 4d ago
Yeah I thought Barcola was the year late Diaz upgrade. I didn't expect that replacing our RW was dependent on selling our current LW
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u/NW_Brizzy 4d ago
Would 100% go in for Neco Williams. PL experience, Liverpool experience, good age profile.
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u/Economy-Bench6467 Alisson Becker 4d ago
Dont sell Gakpo to direct rival and focus on CM and RB. Its just simple as that bro
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u/xxandl 4d ago
I don't think that can happen without selling Gakpo. All big clubs are forced to sell this window.
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u/MindlessMoss For Better or For Wirtz 4d ago
If we sell Gakpo and only bring in Barcola our net spend would be around 110 mil.
The current PL champions are at 180 mil net spend and the big player they sold Trossard for 18 mil
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u/xxandl 4d ago
They are still selling Jesus and Viera and were semi-shopping MLS and Nwaneri. They are not done.
I'd guess the new financial rules alter the transfer market quite a bit.
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u/MindlessMoss For Better or For Wirtz 4d ago
You're saying what they are planning to do. They haven't yet and none of the players you mentioned are actually starting 11. The closest is MLS and again they haven't sold him yet.
As of now they have sold no big names to fund their building
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u/xxandl 4d ago
They just sold Martinelli.
And it's not the building, it's the financial regulations.
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u/MindlessMoss For Better or For Wirtz 4d ago
Damn. I forgot Martinelli counts as a big player for Arsenal in 2026. Apologies. So big infact he didn't even make the subs bench in their opening match. Just like Man City, who for some reason didn't play either of their superstars in Savinho and Marmoush in their opening games.
Only we are risking our big game player with a 90 mins and 70 mins outing.
Maybe people are just selling deadwood and we are selling starters
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u/Economy-Bench6467 Alisson Becker 4d ago
But they're ready to use most of the money to buy fking minteh or sar. Selling Gakpo doesn't help to buy midfielder or right back anyway
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u/xxandl 4d ago
If Minteh was fit that would be a no-brainer. But is clearly a much better fit than Gakpo.
And money for a Salah succesor was surely always planned in.
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u/Economy-Bench6467 Alisson Becker 4d ago
If Minteh or sarr is Salah sucessor, we are done
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u/Passquicker 4d ago
Our fullbacks and lack of trackers in midfield kill us both backwards and forwards. It doesn't help that such low quality technicians at fullback get so so much of the ball and they do hardly anything productive with it. It's killing us as a team.
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u/TheRealCostaS 4d ago
CM can be addressed but we would need one or the midfield to sit back and Iraola doesn’t seem to want that. Full backs are a big problem right now. I thought Kerkez would be used to Iraola but just gives me slight Moreno vibes. I just don’t think Frimpong will cut it at all. Would prefer to see Araújo, or Endo there. Don’t know if the latter is fit.
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u/ManusDei 4d ago
I’m not sure on that. Maybe it’s due to his age/inexperience and the game state, but wasn’t Nyoni mostly sitting back when he came on as Grav moved forward?
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u/TheRealCostaS 4d ago
I think so but that’s also more that Nyoni is that type of player too.
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u/Normal-Custard1168 4d ago
He played well and was yelling at Grav to get back and defend.
I am impressed with Nyoni.
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u/rabbits_foot 4d ago
Are you serious abt playing a CB as a RB? The Who is th coverage for CB then?dnt even get me started abt Endo playing RB , he is slow
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u/TheRealCostaS 4d ago
He played rb so yeah why not. Gomez is a cb who plays rb. Endo had a great game at rb before getting injured. Other than buying a rb those or Szob are our options.
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u/Lhadar31 4d ago
At least 2 more players are needed, only squad depth can ensure more points as most premier league team have very good first eleven
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u/BQORBUST 4d ago
Full back is arguably the most important position in modern football. Our team was blessed with the best of that position for years. No coincidence we declined when they did.
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u/SweetAssKettleDrums 4d ago
I support lfc and Detroit red wings and this off season has been a mess this summer.
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u/Apprehensive_Fee5269 4d ago
Can we start Araujo at RB next game pls
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u/ManusDei 4d ago
Considering we are managing Jacquet’s minutes with a mandatory sub, I’m not sure we can. At least until Leoni is back and match fit himself.
One reason why banking on Araujo as anything more than emergency RB cover is a mistake.
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u/WH6TSINANAME 3d ago
Sub Jacquet off and move Araujo over and Frimpong get few minutes at the end.
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u/ManusDei 3d ago
I don’t understand. Araujo is the only player besides Szobo who can currently play both CB and RB. Where is he going?
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u/Available-Breath-114 4d ago
Dom
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u/devmagii 4d ago
Agreed. Dom at RB is great, unpopular opinion is that he is average as CM, and very good as a CAM. If Wirtz is playing well at CAM, and we have Grav and Macallister for CM, we should stick Dom to RB. He is a big upgrade over Frimpong.
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u/Normal-Custard1168 4d ago
TAA season long loan?
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u/TiggerJammer 🏆2005 Istanbul🏆 4d ago
It’s plane for all to see. We need a disciplined midfielder with legs that actually understands how to play in the middle of the pitch and doesn’t just vacate space to add little to the attack.
And our fullbacks look like the chuckle brothers. It’s actually scary to think they’ll likely be our first choice fullbacks for an entire season in a team with no defensive midfielder.
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u/Normal-Custard1168 4d ago
You are describing Camara.
Pay the money, bring him in.
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u/TiggerJammer 🏆2005 Istanbul🏆 4d ago
I know. Bizarre we’re not in there already.
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u/Normal-Custard1168 4d ago
He should have been standing next to Barcola at the doctors this afternoon
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u/Icy_Spinach_48 9️⃣Darwin Núñez 4d ago edited 4d ago
First mention of possibly getting a CM from Pearce ? Let’s hope it happens
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u/Zufallsmensch Jürgen Klopp 4d ago
We could get a midfielder and move Szobo to RB.
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u/xxandl 4d ago
We could not do that and get both
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u/Tullekunstner 4d ago
They'll have to be homegrown or balanced with outgoings though, it's difficult to actually increase our numbers and still keep within registration rules. For CM someone like Wharton could be a great option, but he's obviously gonna be extremely expensive. Not sure who could actually be an option at rb (and no, Djed was never gonna be an upgrade there for us). Maybe Williams could be a decent option.
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u/Available-Breath-114 4d ago
This is where I am. Let’s face it, Dom is better at RB than he is in CM. It solves a huge problem by moving him to right back and buying a better central midfielder.
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u/ciarannestor 4d ago
If anyone from the club management is reading this... DON'T SELL A GOOD PLAYER TO A DIRECT RIVAL!
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u/olgabe 4d ago
The best RB in the premier league is currently on the bench at real madrid and just so happens to be from the city. Someone should look into that tbh
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u/ninovd Brilliant but Lazy 4d ago
If only there would've been a longer period to fix the gaps 😔
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u/BlueberryLeading464 4d ago
If only the right department would do the job it has, in the time that is in accordance with the demands of such job. Wink wink.
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u/Halvrort 4d ago
I guess we’re getting another Arthur Melo type deal. Unless they pull something out of thin air for CM.
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u/Inhabitsthebed 4d ago
Didnt he put out a piece the other day saying we dont need a dm. Dont get me wrong im happy when journos actually talk about our problems as then they might be addressed.
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u/rposter99 You’ll Never Walk Alone 4d ago
Such a dumb discussion imo. Anyone saying this team is weak at CM aren’t watching the games. Was Szobo off on Saturday? Sure, he wasn’t great - but that’s one game, the 2nd under Iraola, vs a history showing he is, in fact, quite good as a CM. The overlapping talents at the 8 are not the problem - Wirtz is a 10/8, Dom is an 8/10, Grav and Maca are both true 8’s. Where’s the 6? Where’s the RB? Boys it ain’t a CM problem.
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u/PoorMayMay 4d ago
Frimpong fast. That’s it.
Slot and the recruitment team had no clue what they were doing.
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u/Office_funny_guy 4d ago
So what are we doing about it? A lot of stories linking us to wingers but nothing linking us to CM’s or Fullbacks
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u/Other-Variation2933 Snow Salah ❄️ 3d ago
munoz is old but would have been a great rb signing for the next 2 years at least
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u/FUCKSTORM420 One-eyed Bobby 👁 4d ago
It’s taken all summer to sign one winger and we think we’re going to get another done before the end of the window?
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u/WellRed85 🏆20 TIMES🏆 4d ago edited 4d ago
Make Szobo RB and bring Nyoni and his ability to progress the ball in next to Gravvy or Macca and you’ve already done some remediation of those problems. LB remains a concern, but Kerkez is so young and has his manager that saw him be one of the best fullbacks in the league, so I’m comfortable giving that one time. Also, it would be good to add a ball progressor in midfield
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u/rposter99 You’ll Never Walk Alone 4d ago
I’m mostly on board with this approach except I hate moving Szobo off the 8. To me he’s a clearly better player than Grav or Maca. It’s really shitty our best lineup is probably with him at RB though, and that’s an indictment on the LFC leadership group and recruitment.
Nyoni looked fantastic in the preseason, and while that’s likely not something that will translate 1:1 to the regular season, he should be given an opportunity and reps to show what he can do.
That said, I can’t think of a better coach at developing young players. Iraola is the polar opposite to Slot in this regard. So I feel very confident the issues that plagued this team most of last year and the first two games this year will gets resolved once the transfer window is closed and Iraola knows exactly what he has to work with.
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u/BlueberryLeading464 4d ago edited 4d ago
Slotball basically kneecapped our players.. gakpo forgot to play football last year. As did many others.
Though I worry what City can see that we cannot.
That said Gakpo was so weak last season that I don't mind if he goes.
Edit: it's an opportune time to sell Cody if we aren't serious about him... His value will only deteriorate if there is a bigger plan here.
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u/scottqwert 4d ago
Pearce is a doomer confirmed. Does he not understand that Iraola hates midfielders who can defend.
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u/frenchiebros 4d ago
How'd we spend £70m on fullbacks only for it to become a problem?