The quiet man - Liverpool's acquisition of Takumi Minamino
In the 56th-minute of Liverpool's 4-3 win over Red Bull Salzburg at Anfield, Hee-Chan Hwang exploited the space on the left. Hwang wrapped his foot around the ball and put in a cross which would find its way to Takumi Minamino. The 24-year-old had been calling for it, arms raised, as he raced towards Liverpool's penalty area. With the pass travelling probably 40 yards to reach him, Minamino still had plenty of work to do. He kept his eyes on …
Where Do Liverpool Most Need Strengthening?
Has there ever been a sensible Liverpool transfer window?
No. Well, there’s that sorted, do remember to follow me on Twitter, and stay tuned to any further luminary bits.
But that’s not enough, is it? Why, for example, if Liverpool have just won a Champions League final, and have already reported back to pre-season for a day or two, aren’t they already three signings into an emboldened, balls-to-the-wall transfer window?
Well, possibly because to catch their only direct competitors, they …
Why the Reds Should Go All Out for Exceptional Nicolas Pepe
There are very few times when a player jumps out at you to such a degree that he becomes magnetic.
During season 2017/18, it was clear that amidst Lille’s various struggles, including almost going bankrupt and staying up by the skin of their teeth, they at least had a pillar to tie their hopes to. It wasn’t an irregularity for teams around the lower echelons of the top five leagues; plenty have a single source of hope, deciding to build …
Why Signing Depay Rather Than Werner Makes More Sense
The transfer window has barely opened and rumours are already going into overdrive.
Those rumours surrounding potential incomings at Liverpool seem to surround a number of attacking players, namely Memphis Depay of Lyon and Timo Werner of Red Bull Leipzig.
There's no doubt that both would be solid additions to Liverpool's already deadly striking options, but both would add different dimensions as their styles of play are so different.
And it's for this reason that, I would argue, one is …
Liverpool's Fullback Creativity and Recruitment Targets – Part 2
In Part 1, we took a deep dive into profiling and analysing Liverpool’s fullback creativity and whether it is sustainable – you can read it here.
Here in Part 2, we’ll look at select recruitment targets who can meet our depth needs and tick boxes on the club’s philosophy, eye and analytics tests.
Tyrell Malacia (20 yo, Feyenoord, 1415 minutes, Highest valuation: £2.8 million)
Tyrell Malacia is a highly rated, Dutch, modern left-back for Feyenoord who has represented the Netherlands …
Out of Contract Porto Stars Would Energise Liverpool Midfield
Liverpool take on Porto next week in their Champions League second leg encounter at the Estádio do Dragão, but the match offers an extra degree of interest.
Porto midfielders, Yacine Brahimi and Héctor Herrera, are both out of contract this summer and could possibly be destined for Anfield next season.
Liverpool have missed the attacking midfield flair of Philippe Coutinho this season and have yet to replace the iconic playmaker. Goals have been hard to come by from midfield as …
Ajax Pair Could Help Liverpool’s Title Bid
The January transfer window is now open.
After Liverpool’s first defeat of the Premier League season to rivals Manchester City, it is possible that manager Jurgen Klopp could be tempted to dip into the transfer market.
Liverpool still hold a four-point lead at the top of the Premiership and whilst the current squad may have Klopp’s backing, it may be wise for the club to strengthen this month.
Having won all their December fixtures and enjoying a successful festive period, …
5 Realistic January Transfer Targets for Liverpool
Liverpool are on top of the Premier League.
Though there is little cause to remedy anything in this Liverpool side right now, they are in the midst of a tense, to-and-fro title challenge, and will face the German Goliath Bayern Munich in the first knockout phase of the Champions League in February.
For a variety of reasons, Michael Edwards and Jürgen Klopp have been reticent to delve into the January transfer market during their time at Liverpool, but if there …
Five Strikers That Would Suit Liverpool
It seems clear that Jürgen Klopp has a plan.
In the last six to twelve months, Liverpool have toyed with a 4-2-3-1 system – the kind that the German used at Dortmund regularly. With the midfield stagnating in the 4-3-3 and Liverpool’s dazzling forwards looking starved of creativity, it makes sense to withdraw Roberto Firmino to his favoured role as the #10 and look to play with a more traditional, clinical striker.
This striker would have to be able to …
Leon Bailey and that "Concrete Interest"
With the breaking news this morning that Bailey himself confirmed Liverpool have a “concrete interest” in him, I decided to follow on from my pieces on Fekir & Pulisic with a look at the Leverkusen star, Leon Bailey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfzKDAPd9VY
Above: Reliable Bundesliga journalist, Old Gregg, hinting at a move to Liverpool.
My mind wandered this morning to that exact moment I fell in love with him, as a player. I had seen him a few times, mostly in cameos or a …