2 Oct 2014

Mega-Deal: BR wants to sign £34m Argentina star who's 'open to a move'. Better than Markovic?

Liverpool are reportedly considering a January move for Benfica winger Eduardo Salvio, who is also being chased by a host of other clubs, including Manchester United, AC Milan, and Monaco.

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola:

* Liverpool scouts are keeping tabs on Salvio, a 24-year old Argentina international.

* Milan are allegedly ahead of both LFC and Man Utd in the race for the player's signature.

When asked recently about Salvio's future, his agent, Agustin Jimenez, told reporters:

"After a big season it is normal that significant clubs will be interested. Now the decision is in the hands of Benfica. Salvio is content at the club but he is open to the possibility of a move."

Some info about Salvio:

* Last summer, Benfica slapped a £34m price tag on the Argentinian.

* 6 major trophies to his name so far
* 2x Europa League winner with Atletico.
* Holds the record for most Europa League apps (38)
* Often compared to Man City striker Sergio Aguero.
* Predominantly plays as a right winger.
* 2013-14: Missed 6 months of the season with a knee injury.

* 5 apps for the Argentina national team.
* 28 goals/21 assists in 121 apps for Benfica.
* 10 goals/5 assists in 69 apps for Atletico Madrid.
* Career Total: 52 goals/31 assists in 235 apps.
* Goal/Assist every 2.8 games

Salvio seems to have a lot of potential, but if Liverpool are going to spend £34m on an attacking player, it had better be someone with better creative stats than this. A winger's primary role is to create and score goals, and Salvio's assist-record is one every 7.5 games, which is not the greatest.

Plus, like Coutinho, Sterling, and Markovic, he's quite a small player, and the LFC is already stacked with players who are easily pushed off the ball. Perhaps it's time to shake things up a bit and get a physically imposing winger/attacker for a change?

Author:


70 comments:

  1. I do not know why Liverpool never snapped this fellow up when on loan in Portugal straight swap for Markovic who is not good.

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  2. Because he's not all that good, especially for the price? I do like your criticism of Markovic though, extremely creative. Tell me, if you sign a 'not good' player for £20m, how do you expect to straight swap him for someone allegedly worth £34m? Come on man, at least put some thought in. Salvio is an ok player, I'd say he's like a slight upgrade on Fabio, but not for that kind of money. Agree with JK, if we are going to sign an attacking mid/winger/forward type player, they have to be better than Sterling, Lallana and Couto, and offer something a bit more.

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  3. We already have a ultra creative, fast and direct winger.He's built like a tank, works hard and fits perfectly in our system... Jordan Ibe.
    Forget these overpriced attackers who are blind scouts have their black glasses on.Cut Jordan Ibe's Derby loan short.He can develop in our side like Sterling did.

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  4. Ibe is a massive talent, like Raheem on roids, and I think he’d be ready to step into the 1st team. He wouldn’t be an undisputed starter or someone to immediately build the team around, but it could open up the possibility of a high energy counter attacking 4-3-3 with Hendo-Allen-Lallana feeding Ibe-Sturridge-Sterling. Could work?

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  5. A classic case of a Manager with his head up his own backside, too clever by half. His new tactic of leaving the best player out is madness.

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  6. Frankly,I`m at a loss as to who would even want to join this `soft` Liverpool team in Jan.We are regressing,not progressing....last season`s supposed progress is now a fast fading memory.BR has gone and done a `Tottenham`with the last trnsfar window.Unless there is a huge and quick reversal in players form(hell,some of them,you know who,did`nt even show any pride and guts fighting for the Liverpool shirt),thenit`s 1 season in the CL and forget even mentioning top 4.Totally unacceptable status of affairs at the moment !!!!!

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  7. I have no doubts it would work and we'd go flying up the table.Unfortunately it won't happen because there are players who Brendan Rodgers start even if form doesn't warrant them being in the team.
    Bringing Jordan Ibe back early from a loan would be like admitting more costly mistakes were made in the transfer market.
    I think this season will be a rollercoaster ride.Our rivals for the last top four spot are garbage too.Hopefully Sturridge comes in and Fabreeze's our forward line.
    Our attacking options next season with Divock Origi and Jordan Ibe will fit much better than the players we currently have.

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  8. Well my desciption describes a player who is lightweight cannot pass for the love of god and cannot score is no damn good.
    If you think anyone is going to pay 34 million for Salvio your in dreamland and need a reality check everyone knows Portuguese clubs slap huge prices on players and rarely get anywhere near the price.

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  9. Ibes on loan for the season please stop dreaming go with real possibilities.

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  10. JK,

    Completely agree with this post! Many of us have pleaded to have a few proven players brought in not young "prospects". We have a ton of them already while Chelsea and Man U brought in top quality players. We seem like a younger version of Tottenham 2013 right now. By January, we may not be able to sign Lee Cattermole!

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  11. The sarcasm is getting a bit too much mate. Sure, Markovic was poor but making fun of him is not going to do anything.

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  12. Not another PENNY - B R has not got a clue without Suarez -all teams sussed Gerard role - NEW MANAGER ?- John Henry will be very nervous - but B R will not make top 4

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  13. The sarcasm has only just begun the unhappy Liverpool circus is in town for the season get used to it!

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  14. Gerard outbursrt after match proves B R lost dressing room as well - There should be one hell of a clear the air talks this morning and B R should listen and learn HOW TO DEFEND because he has not got a clue

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  15. Did you know that there is a new eye test without charts etc they ask you how good Markovic is if you answer ok you need glasses if you answer really good you are blind.

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  16. You don't tell me who do I follow and where do I go to :) Let's wait for BG to relegate us and keep on singing YNWA.

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  17. Knee jerk reactions are what's needed at this stage before rigamortis sets in !

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  18. Mr. Point Of View8:31 am, October 02, 2014

    BR is scare of his player !
    Look at balo playing this few game like sh it and he still praise him because of what???
    Gerrard is playing like shit in DM role but BR still using him bcoz he captain?
    After so many matches BR still cant find a best formation and position for Sterling?


    I accept the team injected lot new blood that why recent result is not what used to be BR style BUT most mgr will change tactical (to suit current player not last season) and not forcing those player keep using same way again and again (which most of our opponent predicted what we r doing)

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  19. What I don't understand is how we bang on about players wanting CL football and when they have it just don't turn up . In the words of our skipper the opposition wanted it more ........
    What more motivation do we need FFS ? It can't be just about the players as god knows we've spent enough on new ones ! Is BR & Co.ever going to be capable of sorting out our defence ? He's had enough time ....
    Even when we do manage to get a lead we are incapable of defending it .
    Can't see the owners giving BR any more money in Jan as they will look how well he has done with over 100 mill already . Unless a radical new approach to training / on field performance is undertaken the dream will be over by Christmas .... YNWA

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  20. For that price no thank you. We need a midfield enforcer and a creative mid.


    I don't know what has happened to Coutinho but I have not been impressed with his lack of impact and inconsistency.


    Salvio seems decent but not for that price.

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  21. Ibe has potential but he is not the player you are describing. Still very raw but I would like him to be given a chance next year.

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  22. Suarez's character was floored in many ways but as well has his brilliant footballing skills what he had in shed loads was PASSION . This was his legacy and unfortunately is sadly lacking in our team at the moment .

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  23. From 2nd place to relegation within a year is your expectations, you are funny!!
    I'm hoping for your sake you are not right, as it seems it could have a severe impact on your mental state......look after yourself!

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  24. I'm looking after myself very well. Ans yes, if BR continues managing same way without a defense in place and goalkeeper not even good for League 1, we soon will be bottom of the table. This year there will be no TOP 4 finish as expected and next year there will be no CL.


    Trying to insult me is not the point of the conversation. My mental health is in perfect state.

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  25. I knew Liverpool would struggle this season. Some people call me pessimist but come on!!! our team is complete sh!t compared to four other squads competing for top 4. We will need a miracle to finish in top 4 and qualifying from ECL group stages will all depend on luck now, we certainly aren't good enough to play in ECL.

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  26. To have a 19 year old as a key player in the squad, says a lot about Liverpool. What if Sterling and Sturridge gets injured at the same time? Are we ever going to score a goal then???

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  27. Need to buy couple of creative and defensive midfielders and a proven goal scoring winger like Pedro. But I am quite sure that we won't be able to buy anyone now. By January everyone will realize that Liverpool's last season was a fluke.

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  28. "He's not the player your describing" Everytime i watch him play i must see a different player to you.So he isn't quick and direct? He is not one of the most creative players we have on our books? He doesn't work hard or fit into Liverpool's system?
    My "he can develop in our side like Sterling did" line clearly suggests I think he's raw, not the finished article.
    FdotM please give me a brief break down of Jordan Ibe's positives, if my version is a fabrication.What have i said that isn't true?

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  29. 120m spend and our best chance of scoring is from a 19 year academy player...This really says a lot abt our team..BR needs to take a serious look at our players..

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  30. Since the day I watched markovic play for us until now, its been so difficult to me to understand why we signed him for, whats his qualities, just what on earth hes doing here? Hes making downing look world class that says it all I think. How much I would love to be in May already so we dont have to see this bullshite any longer. We are a... Cant find the right word.

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  31. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/spanish-midfielder-suso-set-miss-7869438#.VC0gkfln0Ng.twitter

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  32. he is injured mate - 2 months out and needs surgery

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  33. Winston Bogarde had a lot of european experience too. Hell, he even won the Champions League. Sometimes pure desire to prove oneself gets much better results than experience. Too much experience can also cripple a team's spirit

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  34. I disagree but accept I am in a minority. I liked some of his driving runs and quick passing though the final ball sometimes went astray. At least he had couple of shots even though they were a bit waywardbut the signs for me are good if given a bit of time .

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  35. Now SUSO injured - what a gang of Nancy boys we have playing for us - like little children - oh look Mummy - I got scratch - I wanna Cry ----.....

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  36. Agreed regardless of this guys future improvement the recruiting should have been about the now the poor recruiting will cost the club dearly.
    You can only rebuild with potential for so long this could cost BR his job i sincerely hope it doesn't.

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  37. I think the key to the problem in attack Liverpool are having this season is that Balotelli cannot play up front on his own. Balotelli is not going to beat a few men and then hammer in the goal like Suarez did. Balotelli needs somebody like Sturridge to pull defenders out of position to allow space for Balotelli to strike. Having somebody like Sturridge making the runs in behind the defense also creates more space down the middle for somebody like Sterling to carve through the middle and also get his shots away, you only have to look at the massive number of blocked shots we have seen this season to understand that we are not effective enough at moving defenders from their natural starting position.


    The defensive problems we are having i expect to be honest after alot of changes to the back four, any defense takes time to adjust to just a single new player let alone 3 new defenders playing in most games this year for LFC. Lovren and Skrtle need time to develop as a partnership to understand each others positioning so it becomes instinctive. Both CB's are currently working in the cognitive phase where they are still having to think about their team mates positions rather than the autonomy stage where they know with a fairly high degree of accuracy where their partner will be. This results in those vital reactions to situations being slowed down and allowing time to attackers to take advantage.


    As well as the defense Minoglet has also not covered himself in glory, his positioning has been very poor for many of the goals conceded and im unsure if this is again down to new personnel in front of him or a lack of confidence. Minoget seems to be struggling to make the decision on if he should rush out or stay on his line resulting in him doing neither effectively. He needs clear instructions on which way he should play, obviously there will need to be situations where the standard play will need deviation but these will be few and far between. The addition of Valdes may not improve Mingolet but actually send him into a further downward spiral due to confidence but if this is the case at least BR will have the option of dropping him until this can be improved.


    We also have alot of new players that are not fully versed in Bredan Rodgers philosophy and are still learning their roles in the team.


    All the above issues coupled with the fact that the midfield options we have, have been severely reduced due to injury.


    I have every confidence that Rodgers is the right man for the job and the man to take the club forward, however this season maybe a case of sitting tight and riding out the storm until as many of the above issues are addressed.

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  38. Oluwatoyin Akanle1:08 pm, October 02, 2014

    The game was disappointing, the first half seemed a shambles in the midfield and a Mario that can not control the ball while running, even Sterling messed up (could be due to a number of reasons, he could be felling the weight of expectations on his shoulder)

    I take it back, Sturridge is sorely missed. There was absolutely no bite upfront.

    Why didn't A Moreno play, he would have added a bit of life going on the attack, but Mario, Coutinho, Henderson and even Gerard looked tired.

    Why so much hype about Henderson's skills?

    I dream of a Shaqiri in one the wing, pairing with Sterling on the other wing, a Marco Reus in the midfield and a Costa like finisher

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  39. Who said anything about a toxic atmosphere?

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  40. BR must leave, period. Wasted over 100m and now the team looks a miserable shit, excastly like tottenham, just what I thought in the begining. Every manager should know that if you bring lots of new players in your squad it will ruin your whole team play you had before its a rule in football, you cant change your team heavily in just some months its so stupid. He goes and buys nine I think and the most we needed to kinda replace the suarez void he offloads him, Origi. Now wtf is that? Inter city milan all were interested to get rid of balotelli but rodgers loves him as a player and brings him here this is ridiculous scandalous. Suarez brought us here and now we look like we came from league 3. We had like over 20 years shit seasons coming and going, we had just one great last one, now we start all over again probably another 20. Feel for the fans, so unlucky and cruel.

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  41. It must be noted that Markovic has won a few top-flight titles in his pre-Liverpool career.

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  42. I know man, it's terrible. 6 games in to the season and we are 3 points off the top four, unacceptable, 3 points! How will we ever make that up?
    And to top it off, we have now lost one of our CL games! We only have 3 points out of 6! And there are only 12 more up for grabs. We may as well bow out of the CL now.
    I cant believe Rodgers still has a job.
    It's not like players can take time to bed in to a squad or anything? What the hell... I remember starting my new job, and I knew everything from the first day, I knew exactly what was expected of me, I knew exactly how to do it all, and I instantly gelled with everyone around me, it was like we were family.
    It's not like we just lost one of the best attacking players in the world or anything is it?!

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  43. But only slightly...

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  44. What a complete nancy. It's only surgery. Get on with it!

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  45. Look man this vision of yours wont help, being over optimistic closing eyes and make it like nothings happening wont help trust me. Not about points, or top 4 but about the philosophy and the system.

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  46. I agree... Furthermore, the whole point of this summer was how we are accumulating depth...


    Why aren't we using the depth that we've accumulated?


    There's no reason why players should have to play 3 games a week. None. The roster is deep enough to get by.

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  47. I agree. I've seen enough to know there's something there.
    Just need him to get a groove and more comfortable playing here.

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  48. Don't really see how Will is being 'over optimistic'. I see a healthy dose of realism in his comments, and a hesitancy to jump on the doom and gloom bandwagon.
    The philosophy is still there...it just isn't working and will take time to tweak. We all knew life after Suarez would start off bumpy. Give it time.

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  49. I don't have a 'vision', and I'm certainly not over optimistic. Last season we over performed by a long way. Then we lost arguably the 3rd best player in the world, and you expect that to not have an impact?
    Top 4 is the target, and I don't see why that isn't attainable.
    Like you said we have around 10 new players that have come in, it's going to take some of them a while to bed in, and get used to everything.

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  50. 'no bit upfront'.
    Always a fan of a good Suarez joke. Well done.

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  51. We've at last woken up and smelled the coffee !

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  52. Cant believe you said "were just three points off top 4". Of course its three because its early season, the matter is how much it will be in december, march,may? Btw how many points were off bottom, 4 is it? Is that alright? I just dont like people making things calm and soft and hoping for a big turn around, overnight. That just wont work. Id rather be realistic. If you think we will finish fourth.. Sorry mate but that doesnt look normal to me. Even if we finish what? We are already in cl, and doing what? Didnt rodgers gerrard and all the fans say we will go one better this season which means title winning?

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  53. Not sure he needs surgery. Even if one leg comes off he can still hop for goodness sake.

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  54. Jaimie, as much as I share your disdain for 'text-spk', this peach of a comment deserves an 'LOL'.

    I'll go purify myself now.

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  55. Kumaran Narayanan3:38 pm, October 02, 2014

    Rodgers wasted 100 million on below average players. He doesn't have a good record of buying good players.good young players were either sold or loaned out.FOR please sack him
    R

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  56. Yes Gerrard and Rodgers said that, but so did Mourinho and Costa, Wenger and Wellback, LVG and RVP. Plus City are not just gonna give it up. It is not easy. Gerrard game time should`ve been reduced, but dropping points and losing Can and Lallana made it impossible.Replacing Suarez is tough enough and when the striker you got is actually your 4th or 5th choice,will do wanders you will have a hard time.
    BUT. We have brought a hell of a full back on the left that will improve our team attack and defend, a very good right back with two full backs with enough quality waiting on the bench for smaller games(it is unfortunate thing both were/are injured, but still). We have 6 to 9 hugh quality midfielders that will make a very good midfield once bedding time and injuries are behind us. Upfront we have one of the top 3 strikers in the EPL(IF NOT THE BEST) that will make Balotelli better and a winger that will conquer the world.. All teams have bad streaks, if this is our only one we are still on time for the title race. If not, CL is still very much acheiveble. We have 4 not so tough games in the EPL coming with Daniel and Joe Allen coming back during those weeks, so keep the faith..

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  57. How is it not 'normal' to finish in the top four. There are still 32 bloody games with 96 bloody points up for grabs. How come you were not saying this last season after we lost to Hull? We are in CL and actively taking part in it. I do not see what else we are doing. How do you know the title is lost? The truth is nobody does. That is the beauty of being a fan. You do not know what will happen next so chill out and relax.

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  58. Kumaran Narayanan3:44 pm, October 02, 2014

    He has to justify paying shit money for markovic who i think is never gonna fit in

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  59. Sorry is a Liverpool fans site.. looks more like a Chelsea or Man Utd fan site to me, after all they are famous of slagging off their teams and managers after a couple of poor games.

    Rumour has it that Liverpool fans are the best in the world and support their team..

    Guess that its just a rumour

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  60. It seems we have regressed to stage one of BR's tenure. However at that point we DID have Luis Suarez in the side. The introduction of Sturridge gave us the chemistry that Suarez shared with Diego Forlan for Uruguay, nippy interchange combined with a high level of competition between the two to be Liverpools number one. To be fair to both of them, neither looked as good if the other wasn't on the field. They both made space for each other and forced teams to defend deep. Mario, Borini and Lambert do not have the ability to occupy an entire back four and keep them alert. With that said the opposition are now comfortable to push up to the halfway line because they know we cannot hurt them in behind or when our striker drops of deep. Our lack of threat up top means the opposition are now controlling the midfield because they are no longer left with the question: Do we defend deep or high? they all defend a high line now and leave us redundant in midfield the way Houllier teams and to an extent Benitez teams used to.

    The lack of an effective attack has meant we will naturally do more defending. If we take the analogy of a boxer, the victor will usually be the one who controls the center of the ring and makes his opponent do all the running on the outside. Why is the less dominant boxer on the outside? because the dominant boxer never concedes ground as he has the jab, power punches and speed of thought to own the ring. Due to our toothless attack our midfield are there primarily for defensive purposes. Balo refuses to run in behind as does Lambert. Borini should be starting every game at the moment if we persist on playing one up top mainly because he at least gives the opposition something to think about. It only takes one run from Borini to break the offside trap and to have him bearing in on goal for the opposition to think 'that could happen again' and then they drop of and concede the midfield to us.

    This all seems so basic..........

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  61. couple of games? lo!

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  62. According to Daily Star, we have agreed to sign Benzema for 38.8mn.

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  63. ohhh ok then :)

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  64. WOW! Yet another nobody for mega money??? Yes please !!!

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  65. forming your view on the entire liverpool faithful based on the views of a bunch of moaners on some website you visit.. yeah that so not knee-jerk of you

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  66. A special message for all the moaners:

    When you walk through a storm, hold your head
    ...as low as possible and slag off both the manager and the team. That is, after all, the Chelsea...er Arsenal...er Liverpool way, isn't it?

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  67. And being ultra negative is helpful is it? Will is not being over optimistic he's just not completely over reacting to a shaky start to the season.
    To sack Rodgers now and start all over again with someone else just because we haven't had the best of starts and are badly missing our injured main striker would be plain moronic

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  68. Worse display of the season by far and we're regressing. Same old problems as 1.5 years ago - can't pass, can't defend, can't retain possession, and lost the art of scoring.

    At most I can blame BR for the £100m spend and not playing a style of football to suit the players available to him.

    Other than that it's the players at fault - so please let's get everything in proportion. I'm not the biggest BR fan - BUT blame for last night should be laid squarely at the players lethargy, incompetence and lack of application.

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  69. Damn straight it's a crisis! It took us five years to get back fo the Champions League and the way things stand now, we will have to wait another five. And there is only one person responsible, Brendan Rodgers. He deserves a lot of credit for getting us there but that doesn't mean he is beyond criticism. His transfer dealings have been shocking throughout his career with us and this summer he failed to do the three things he needed to do. Bring in a decent goalkeeper, bring in a DM and bring in a proper replacement for Suarez. In stead he bought a lot of Europa League and Premier League quality players to make his squad bigger. People argue we really need those now because we have so many injuries but that never caused us any problems last year. Injuries is what gave Jon Flanagan his chance and I doubt anyone can say we regret that. The one thing he did right was bring in a left back and I believe he got a good player for a good price there. But other than that, he failed miserably and unless we go on an impressive winning streak right now, which I doubt we will, I think we'll be out of the Champions League by Christmas and out of the running for a top four place at around the same time. And years to come. You cannot sell one of the best players on the planet and not replace him like for like.

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