Topic: The PL run-in

[Hazell]

I think the rules should be if the season gets curtailed, then whoever is top on Christmas Day wins the league.

[Paul1611]

Me neither. It wouldn't be that simple either. Right now we could offer very good chances to play for an ambitious player, but with Gomez and VVD back the competition is incredible. I don't think we would pay huge money and wages for a player that could be 3rd or 4th option in 6 months, nor would top players want that role. Some of the names mentioned are completely unrealistic IMO.

The best solution would probably be an experienced older player looking for an adventure. Like Klavan but a bit better.

With our midfield options getting back to full quotas, fab can continue in defence with Joel and Rhys/Nat until the return of VVD and Gomez.  I’ll be very surprised if we purchased anyone, a short term loan for an experienced cb maybe.  What does another cb purchase say to the younger guys coming through?

[ThePeetmix]

With our midfield options getting back to full quotas, fab can continue in defence with Joel and Rhys/Nat until the return of VVD and Gomez.  I’ll be very surprised if we purchased anyone, a short term loan for an experienced cb maybe.  What does another cb purchase say to the younger guys coming through?

They only way we buy a CB for the first team is if someone we want is available for the right price. If not, we'll wait until the summer. It's how we've always done it.

[Stevo79]

I’d be absolutely amazed if we didn’t at least have an interest in a few cb’s. We have one senior centre back left and he is incredibly injury prone. Fab has also been superb but surely an experienced option that isn’t Williams or Phillips (despite what they’ve shown) is needed for the final four or five months

[DangerScouse]

They only way we buy a CB for the first team is if someone we want is available for the right price. If not, we'll wait until the summer. It's how we've always done it.

We've never been in a situation like we are now though with 2 of our 3 centre halves out for the season and the other hugely unreliable injury wise. Adding a centre half increases our options both there and in midfield and also gives us some greater flexibility to rotate and rest players. In such a hectic season and with us having a great chance to secure more silverware, i find it very difficult to think we won't get someone in.

As things stood in the summer i think we took a calculated gamble not to sign a replacement for Lovren. If we were to wind back the clock, we most certainly would have given what has since transpired.

[El Lobo]

In a roundabout way it might make it easier to sell a new contract to Gini too. If the plan is to use Fabinho exclusively as a CB it surely means even more game time for Gini

[Dull Tools]

They only way we buy a CB for the first team is if someone we want is available for the right price. If not, we'll wait until the summer. It's how we've always done it.

Someone like Alaba would make sense too who can play centre mid and centre back and can take over the utility role Milner has been doing. I

Unless they are very confident in Rhys Williams I think we need someone as Matip can only play once a week.

When we are playing Champions League and Premier League every week towards the end of the season we will need someone as it will be a massive step up for Williams. A seasoned pro who only has a couple of years left could be a good option as he is likely to get games next season too.

[lamonti]

I don't think we'll sign a CB at this stage. It'd signed and delivered on Jan 1 if we were going to.

[macmanamanaman]

I also think the "will the football season for sure continue" risk will be a factor in financial decisions. 
I reckon we ll make do with the squad we have, patched up with youth team players in emergencies

[StevoHimself]

Thought this might be of interest to people (and wasn't really sure where else to put it).

Liverpool have 12 players on The Guardian's list of the 100 best footballers of 2020. It's the most amount of players we've ever had in one of their lists, and I thought I'd include our rankings from previous seasons as a sort of illustration of our heightened position in the world of football. The most interesting comparison is perhaps with last year. In 2019, we had less players in the Top 100 but more in the Top 20, and it's also worth noting that Thiago was included on this year's list largely for his contributions to Bayern Munich.

2020 (12):
73 – Georginio Wijnaldum
63 – Diogo Jota
51 – Fabinho
43 – Roberto Firmino
34 – Andrew Robertson
33 – Jordan Henderson
26 – Alisson
18 – Trent Alexander-Arnold
17 - Thiago Alcântara
10 – Virgil van Dijk
8 – Mohamed Salah
5 – Sadio Mane

2019 (10):
74 – Jordan Henderson
43 – Georginio Wijnaldum
34 – Fabinho
23 – Andrew Robertson
17 – Trent Alexander-Arnold
11 – Roberto Firmino
9 – Alisson
5 – Mohamed Salah
3 – Sadio Mane
2 – Virgil van Dijk

2018 (6):
82 – James Milner
43 – Alisson
24 – Virgil van Dijk
23 – Roberto Firmino
19 – Sadio Mane
5 – Mohamed Salah

2017 (3):
36 – Sadio Mane
24 – Phillipe Coutinho
22 – Mohamed Salah

2016 (3):
76 – Roberto Firmino
69 – Sadio Mane
28 – Phillipe Coutinho

2015 (1):
46 – Phillipe Coutinho

2014 (3):
80 – Steven Gerrard
52 – Raheem Sterling
51 – Daniel Sturridge

2013 (1):
9 – Luis Suarez

2012 (1):
21 – Luis Suarez

Apologies for any mistakes.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Gini should be ranked higher

[DangerScouse]

So should Thiago.

[wemmick]

Robertson at 34? Me bollocks. Top 20 easy.

[actwithoutwords]

Merry Christmas lads. Top of the tree again...

[T.Mills]

Robertson at 34? Me bollocks. Top 20 easy.

I find it incredible that everyone outside of Liverpool rates TAA higher that Robbo. Proof that most of these list are more of a popularity contest.

[Longwood NY]

There is zero chance we don't seriously look around for a CB in Jan. I can't see Jurgen satisfied with an 18 game PL run in and the business end of the CL with one Matip back strain away from Fabinho and Williams as our first choice CB pairing

[deano2727]

No way Robbo is that low. Best full back in the world. I wouldn't even say it's that close either. World-class at defending and going forward.

[BigCDump]

What makes these lists shit for me is that Gerrard only ever registered in it once, and that at number 80. Blimey.

[disgraced cake]

The Children were singing ... we were top at Christmas time

Merry Christmas reds 

[Larse]

I love the fact that a lot of teams chasing us and top 4 play each other in the coming days:
Villa - United
Everton - City
Chelsea - Villa
Wolves - Spurs
Wolves - United
Chelsea - City

All while we play the likes of west brom and newcastle.

[Crosby Nick]

I’m more convinced than ever that City are our only serious threat as long as we don’t collapse. Finish above then and I’m sure we’ll win it.

[PeterTheRed ...]

Just relax and enjoy the ride. We are top of the table, and we are about to have back on the team one of the top 5 players in the World this year.

[PeterTheRed ...]

I don't think we'll sign a CB at this stage. It'd signed and delivered on Jan 1 if we were going to.

There are still 5 days until January 1st ...

[Bobinhood]

Just relax and enjoy the ride. We are top of the table, and we are about to have back on the team one of the top 5 players in the World this year.

If he can shift the rookie local lad    Not a walkover......they might have to share.....hahaha

i love thats kinda true 

[Son of Spion]

We're gonna win the league, we're gonna win the league, we're gonna win, win, win, win, win the league, we're gonna win the league... 

Fuck the rest!

[MonsLibpool]

I’m more convinced than ever that City are our only serious threat as long as we don’t collapse. Finish above then and I’m sure we’ll win it.

City is the only team I see as a threat especially if they can get Agüero fit and firing. The rest IMO aren't that good, they look better than they are because our(is and City) levels dropped.

Smashing West Brom today will be another big statement. I prefer a hammering because we'll be able to conserve energy and because of the psychological effect on our rivals.

[Lethul]

I’m more convinced than ever that City are our only serious threat as long as we don’t collapse. Finish above then and I’m sure we’ll win it.

Im mainly surprised people have been of any other opinion. City and us are still a league above the rest regardless of what the pundits would like us to believe.

[Crosby Nick]

Im mainly surprised people have been of any other opinion. City and us are still a league above the rest regardless of what the pundits would like us to believe.

That game in hand means they’ve always looked in a slightly fade position, especially when it’s been so tight. They’ll suddenly get to second and loads more will start noticing them.

Do they play Everton next? In theory an Everton win is the best result then (although I’d be happy with a draw!).

[JackWard33]

Interested in hearing from the lads who think we can compete for the title without buying a CB
It’s just not going to be possible .... be shocked if we don’t buy

[farawayred]

Interested in hearing from the lads who think we can compete for the title without buying a CB
It’s just not going to be possible .... be shocked if we don’t buy

I'd be shocked too if we don't by a CB, We desperately need one. But I wouldn't rule out being shocked at the end of the window.

[Simplexity]

We seem to have let in that terrible habit of dropping points to relegation fodder. Brighton, Fulham and WBA now, all of the awful, awful sides with literally nothing about them.

[Suareznumber7]

Interested in hearing from the lads who think we can compete for the title without buying a CB
It’s just not going to be possible .... be shocked if we don’t buy

Absolutely crucial for us to bring in a CB

[RyanBabel19]

We've been spoilt in the last couple of years and days like today show it a great deal.

[Stockholm Syndrome]

Best to treat it one game at a time and not imagine any dropped points as a crucial blow against out chances as everyone is dropping points.

[deano2727]

That Matip injury probably forces us into spending next month. At least it should do.

[bornandbRED]

Inexperience will cost you. The kids and Jones in particular have done fantastically, but errors like today will creep in over the space of a season when you have lads in the side who have only done 20 games in their career. Thiago comes straight back in once fit, and hopefully Ox can give us a different dynamic.

Wholly concerning that a trend of dropping points to shite teams like Fulham, WBA and Brighton is appearing. That needs to be arrested if we’re to win this thing. I was confident we’d pull away during this period - the next two are massive now. Two tough away games. Again - hopefully Thiago is a big difference maker there.

Interested in hearing from the lads who think we can compete for the title without buying a CB
It’s just not going to be possible .... be shocked if we don’t buy

We’re top - that’s competing?

Unfortunately think there’s little chance we sign a starting CB, so let’s all hope it’s nothing serious for Matip. Williams and Phillips are far too slow for this level and the thought of them vs the likes of Rashford and Martial doesn’t exactly fill me confidence. At best I think it’ll be another Klavan type.

[Nick110581]

That Matip injury probably forces us into spending next month. At least it should do.

We need another CB even if he’s fit.

[Caligula?]

I just don't see how we don't get another CB in during January. We're one Fabinho injury away from playing Williams and Phillips at CB who have a combined Premier League appearances of about 4. There's no way in hell we win the title if that happens. Matip will be back but it's only a question of when and not if he gets injured again. It'd be madness not to sign someone.

[OOS]

Interested in hearing from the lads who think we can compete for the title without buying a CB
It’s just not going to be possible .... be shocked if we don’t buy

I reckon we can, don't know about the Champions League. I just want number 20.

[Clint Eastwood]

Williams and Phillips should be proud of the role they’ve played, and they’ve earned to continue playing a role. I am in the ‘buy a CB in January’ club though. Williams didn’t do anything wrong tonight, but Matip can’t stay fit.