Coach Ralph Soccer Connection

08/21/2026

THE LFC REBUILD 2026/27
A year ago, the Reds began the season as defending Premier League champions, buoyed by an uncharacteristic splurge in the transfer market. Many experts confidently declared Liverpool favourites, suggesting the title was already theirs. As we now know, things didn’t work out as expected. Before assessing the outlook for 2026/27, it’s worth briefly revisiting what went wrong. As an aside, we should note the true impact of the Diogo Jota tragedy on the team may never be fully understood.

THE ARNE SLOT EXPERIMENT
Two seasons, an EPL title and qualification for the Champions League in season #2. Slot’s time at Anfield was a success surely? Yes and no. One thing is certain: his time with Liverpool will look good on his CV. Credit where credit is due, he was at the helm as Liverpool won their 20th title. It’s no easy task to succeed a legend; Arne Slot won the respect of the squad and made one critical change to the LFC formula, moving Ryan Gravenberch into the #6 position. Season 2, however, did not carry that momentum. Looking at the 4 quarters of his reign closely:

* Quarter 1: 50 points - strong start
* Quarter 2: 34 points - title won
* Quarter 3: 19 points - 5 wins followed by 6 defeats in 7 games
* Quarter 4: 22 points - crawling to 5th place & the Champions League thanks to the 5th-place European Performance Spot. The Reds were fortunate.

Slot’s tenure remains perplexing. In his first season, his only flaw seemed to be a reluctance to rotate the squad. The following campaign saw him frequently appear out of his depth, as familiar weaknesses resurfaced and solutions were lacking. The stark difference between the two seasons made FSG’s decision to part ways with him unsurprising.

Media shock at Slot’s dismissal was misplaced. The dreaded vote of confidence Slot received was a classic football precursor to change. FSG green-lit significant investment in an already title-winning squad, and Liverpool regressed. As one pundit noted, the further the team moved from the Klopp era, the weaker they became. Slot inherited a squad primed for success while rivals stuttered. With all the changes season #2 brought, his shortcomings soon became apparent. The team entered a downward spiral he could not solve.

As a consequence, Slot’s successor is being handed a squad that has lost its mojo and direction, with key players and leaders leaving Anfield. It is not all on the Dutchman. Recruitment has left the squad with holes in several positions, with Director of Football Richard Hughes seemingly more focused on buying expensive stars and moving away from the recruitment style that underpinned previous success over the past decade.

ENTER ANDONI IRAOLA
Let’s be realistic: Liverpool are unlikely Premier League winners this season. To pre-empt comparisons with Slot’s debut title — success as a manager can be more nuanced than immediate silverware. Iraola inherits a squad, in my view, dismantled too hastily after their title win. The ponderous possession style of 2025/26 drained much of the team’s Klopp-era energy and identity. Iraola’s philosophy is similarly front-footed, and his challenge will be to restore those lost qualities. It will take time. A mixed bag of preseason results, featuring a top-heavy side of Academy youngsters, has left many fans of the social media generation beside themselves in despair. Conversely, an encouraging final game performance against Como 1907 has some believing “we can challenge for the title!” The reality is most likely somewhere in between.

THE SQUAD
As noted previously, there are holes. I’m against wholesale incomings. Last summer, too many potential starters were bought, meaning far too many changes to a title-winning side, with a manager itching to make them. Is it any wonder things went pear-shaped? This is how I see the squad after watching the 5 pre-season matches.

* Potential transfers: Ramsay, Jones, Elliott, Chiesa.
* Potential Loans: Davies, Chambers, Scanlan, Ndukwe, McConnell, Morrison.
* Injured: Jaros (GK), Bradley (RB), Gomez (D), Leonie (CB), Bajcetic (M), Danns (F), Ekitike (F).

This is the current squad with a top Academy prospect in brackets; AN.OTHER signifies a gap in the squad that I believe needs to be filled:

* Goalkeepers (3): Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman (Davies).
* Full-Backs (4): Frimpong, AN.OTHER, Kerkez, Tsimikas (Mabaya).
* Centre-Backs (4): Van Dijk, Jacquet, Araujo, AN.OTHER (Ndiaye).
* Midfielders (7): Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Nyoni, Endo, AN.OTHER, AN.OTHER (McConnell).
* Forwards (7): Isak, Wirtz, Munoz, Gakpo, Ngumoha, Koumas, AN.OTHER (Wright).

Accounting for injuries, there are five clear gaps in the squad — far too many for comfort. With Hughes apparently ready to spend big on Barcola and Mbaye, prioritisation is crucial. The Reds cannot bring in 5 or 6 new players, as some fans demand. Therefore, retaining players like Calvin Ramsay and Harvey Elliott until at least Christmas would provide valuable cover. Versatile options like Endo and Gomez (fitness permitting) could help plug holes. Is Florian Wirtz truly a midfielder? I don’t think so. Playing him there weakens the team. The team needs more solidity behind him. That is not to denigrate him, as Wirtz brings intangibles that can only help a top team.

If transfer rumours around Gakpo and Mac Allister are accurate, the club should sanction departures only if direct replacements arrive. The rumour mill suggests targets like Mbaye and Adam Wharton. These are major transfers and significant outlays as the transfer window rapidly closes. Beyond that, squad integration, as ever, will remain a challenge, especially with so many changes.

Liverpool’s squad is good but short-handed. Logically, can the Reds chase silverware on all 4 fronts? Again, it will come down to the manager making priorities. A primary task for Iraola is to get Wirtz and Isak functioning to their considerable potential. The signing of another “superstar”, like Bradley Barcola, may ease the pressure on them. In theory, this triumvirate could be a major spearhead to Liverpool’s revival. For my money, the major LFC weakness is the two projected full-back starters. Frimpong did look better against Como 1907, and Kerkez, who was in the EPL Team of the Season two years ago, was exciting under Iraola. However, I am not convinced by either defensively, and I believe they would fare better in a 3-5-2 setup. Let’s see if the manager can wave his magic wand with the two.

IRAOLA’S PERCEIVED STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
When appointed, the majority of Liverpool fans were excited by Iraola’s style of football and what he had accomplished at much smaller clubs. Needless to say, the “what has won brigade” were in evidence as well.

What are his strengths?
1). Both Bournemouth and, previously, Rayo Vallecano made steady progress under Iraola, reaching heights previously unaccustomed.
2). Players improved under his tutelage at Bournemouth, and whenever he lost key players, and there were many, he was able to come up with replacements and solutions.
3). Liverpool has a tradition of attacking football dating back to the days of Shankly and Paisley; Andoni Iraola’s teams play front-foot football.
4). From what I have seen and heard, Andoni is a resourceful coach. This was notably missing under his predecessor.

Conversely, these are the weaknesses which his critics continually address:
1). He has no experience coaching teams playing in European competitions.
2). His aggressive style will be hard to replicate over a series of competitive games. In his time on the south coast, Bournemouth played 31 fewer competitive games than Liverpool. Will this prove to be a significant stat?
3). Bournemouth had similar defensive weaknesses to Liverpool, though part of it was due to teams exploiting their aggressive style of play.
4). Like the current Liverpool squad, Bournemouth had frailties defending corners and free-kicks.

CONCLUSION
Logically, there has to be a bedding-in period for the manager because of the greater demands and expectations. Additionally, it's a fact that he will have to manage the team through a more involved schedule of games. Another factor was that the fanbase saw LFC legend Xabi Alonso as their favoured choice as manager. Chelsea snapped up Alonso. Should the Reds struggle and Chelsea improve, Iraola will come under extra pressure and scrutiny.

In the final analysis. I’m genuinely excited to see a return to more expansive, attacking football. Iraola’s approach to challenges, squad rotation, and restoring the club’s spirit after a difficult season will be fascinating to watch. My instinct is to give him time; he has every chance to succeed.

YNWA

Andoni Iraola has his hands full – replacing Mo Salah and restoring faith at Liverpool – and will hope big name investors bring stability not disharmony

08/20/2026

PREMIER LEAGUE FORECASTS 2026/27
EPL prediction time! For the first time in years, the new campaign feels more open than it has in a long while. To clarify, the league’s openness is primarily among the “Rich Six,” with only Aston Villa posing a serious challenge to their dominance at the top. Below Villa, the EPL remains closely contested, as last season demonstrated. Winning the title now requires a total in the 80-point range, a drop from the high 90’s of previous years. Notably, the points gap between 5th and 11th was just 8, highlighting not only increased competitiveness but relative parity.

Five of the Rich Six have new managers. Only defending champions Arsenal have Mikel Arteta, who was at the helm last season. This is how I see them going into 26/27:

ARSENAL: Can Arteta achieve what Wenger never managed and defend the title? On paper, yes. The Gunners enter as preseason favourites and are certain to contend. The real question is whether Arteta, having finally led his team to the top, will now adopt a more expressive, attacking style. While the Community Shield hinted at this possibility, I sense he’ll remain pragmatic in crunch time. It will stay that way until they can secure a go-to goalscorer like Julian Alvarez of Atletico. Overall, it’s hard to see the Gunners outside of the top three.

MAN CITY: With Pep Guardiola in charge, City would be clear favourites for me. The club has invested heavily in recent years to assemble a squad that looks both strong and balanced. As ever, I maintain that clubs facing financial investigations should freeze their transfer activity — a move that would surely accelerate resolutions. City will remain title contenders, but questions linger over whether Maresca is merely a placeholder until Luis Enrique becomes available. Despite a lacklustre Community Shield performance, City are likely to bounce back quickly, especially with Abu Dhabi resources at their disposal. The chequebook is rearing its ugly head!

MAN UNITED: Michael Carrick exceeded expectations by steering United to third place and a Champions League berth after the instability of the Ruben Amorim era. Last season, he benefited from focusing solely on Premier League fixtures, supported by a talented squad — especially in attack. Now, with a congested schedule and heightened expectations, the pressure intensifies. Will Carrick’s trajectory mirror Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s, another former United legend but inexperienced manager, or can he sustain progress? It promises to be a revealing campaign. I anticipate a top-six finish, though that may not fully satisfy the United faithful.

LIVERPOOL: A season of rebuilding appears inevitable. Despite the 25–26 title win and the impact of the Diogo Jota tragedy, the Arne Slot era ultimately proved disastrous. The squad Slot inherited steadily declined over his two-year tenure, and Liverpool only just secured fifth place — and a Champions League spot — despite significant transfer activity. Andoni Iraola's arrival brings renewed optimism for a return to attacking football. While the squad still needs strengthening, the outlook isn’t as dire as many fans fear. I expect Liverpool to claim a Champions League place and provide plenty of entertaining football along the way.

CHELSEA: Similarly, a rebuild in prospect. Xabi Alonso is in the position of Michael Carrick with no European football to contend with; can he take advantage of the extra time and build style and identity to a club that hasn’t had one consistently despite past successes? Alonso showed his worth as a coach in the Bundesliga, taking Bayern Leverkusen to the title despite the Bayern Munich juggernaut. He’s a coach, so his short reign at Real Madrid doesn’t come as a surprise. Real is a club for managers, not coaches. I believe Chelsea will be strong contenders for the top 4, possibly even more. However, in the background, how much will ownership disputes affect the team on the pitch?

TOTTENHAM: After two seasons in 17th, Spurs will be all out to re-establish their status in the Rich Six. We can expect fireworks under new manager Roberto De Zerbi on and off the field. Another club without European distractions, add in a serious spend in the transfer market this summer, and Tottenham has every possibility of moving up the table. The ingredients are in place for a top-6 finish. Can the manager supply the recipe to make it happen?

ASTON VILLA: Villa has a top manager in Unai Emery. Emery has lost three of his top players in Konsa, Rogers and Tielemans. After watching them fall narrowly to PSG in the Super Cup Final, even with a catalogue of regulars absent, Villa fans have much to be positive about. Emery is a very resourceful leader. The key question for clubs like Villa is whether they can cope in both the Premier League and Champions League at the same time. Still, I expect them to be in contention for a Champions League place.

NEWCASTLE: Newcastle has been positioned similarly to Villa the past few seasons but appears to have taken a step back with key players leaving, along with manager Eddie Howe. In theory, they should be less competitive, signing lower-profile players. Lower expectations might actually help new manager Matthias Jaissle, who has a reputation for getting the most out of his players even with limited resources. It will be interesting to see how the Geordies, both the players and the fans, will respond to this new change of direction.

Before dealing with the rest, I have to give a special word to our Merseyside rivals.
EVERTON: The Toffees were my dark horse tip last year. It was a tip that almost came off; if not for a dismal run at the end of the season, Everton would probably have European competition to look forward to this season. It’s a pivotal time for the club and David Moyes. Everton are settled into their new home, and while I feel Moyes is underrated as a manager, there is already a strong undercurrent among the fans that he’s taken the team as far as they can go. Moyes is in the final year of his contract, and if he hopes to extend his tenure as manager, he will need to be a bit more tactically daring, learning to trust some of the younger players on the roster. Everton has young talent: Branthwaite, Armstrong, Hackney, Dibbling and George to name but a few. Older, established players include Pickford, Garner and Dewsbury-Hall. That's a good mix. If N’Diaye stays, add the pace of new recruit Brannen Johnson, and Everton could surprise. The key is whether the manager will be bolder in his outlook. I would place Everton in the “Competitive Group”.

COMPETITIVE GROUP: Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Leeds, Nottingham Forest.
All these teams can beat/take points off the top teams but don’t have enough consistency to break into the top 6. Admittedly, there is always the possibility that one club can leap out of the pack to prove me wrong.

RELEGATION STRUGGLERS: Coventry, Hull City, Ipswich, Sunderland.
I’m afraid it’s back to the promoted teams potentially being on the path of a quick return to the Championship. Last season, Sunderland had a remarkable rise from Championship qualifiers via the play-offs to 7th and Europa League qualification. Accordingly, I think they may struggle under the pressure of raised expectations and the extra demands of European competition.

MY FORECASTS FOR 26/27.
I’m going to cop out on my forecasts until Christmas. It’s actually a breath of fresh air to be so uncertain after years of one club domination. Last year my forecast for the title was 1) Arsenal, 2) City and 3) Liverpool. This year I don’t know! Whilst logic says it should be Arsenal once more, I have a feeling it won’t be. What I would say is the top 6 will have the Rich Six in contention, along with Aston Villa.

As for a “Dark Horse”, I’m going to put 2 teams forward. First, Leeds are gradually improving their squad; the manager has toned down his ambitious football to match the squad's level, and they have some of the most passionate fans around to cheer them on. My second choice is Newcastle. Illogical, I know, but I just have a feeling that the reset of expectations might actually work in their favour.

I'll revisit all my forecasts in time.

We ask 26 BBC Sport football pundits to predict who will win the 2026-27 Premier League title, and which clubs will finish in the top four.

08/05/2026

THE STORY BEHIND “YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE”
A brilliant documentary revealing the story behind “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as it became a football anthem for Liverpool and, latterly, for Celtic. Originally, a tune from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical “Carousel”, it eventually became a #1 hit for the Merseybeat group Gerry & the Pacemakers in 1963. At the time, the Anfield Kop pioneered singing along to the hits of the day; “YNWA” became their anthem to greet the team entering the field and, as the years passed, to celebrate the Reds' greatest triumphs.

Its meaning resonated in the 2005 Champions League final as Liverpool found themselves 3 goals down at half-time to AC Milan. In defiance, the fans started singing “YNWA” at half-time, and the Reds pulled off one of the greatest all-time comebacks to clinch their fifth European title. It was a song that gave hope in the face of desperate odds. And so it proved. Similarly, after the Hillsborough tragedy, the song brought comfort and a connection to Celtic, who had also adopted “YNWA” as their anthem. The clubs joined together at Celtic Park to honour the 96 who died at Hillsborough. As a fan, it's difficult not to get emotional about “YNWA” when sung by the crowd, whether in circumstances of joy or tragedy.

“You’ll Never Walk Alone” is entwined in the ethos of Liverpool Football Club on and off the field. The only other English club that I can think of associated with a song in a comparable manner is West Ham and “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”.

A couple of asides that arise in the documentary. First, clips of the 1965 Inter Milan European Cup semi-final, the most memorable game I’ve ever attended. Second, I’m currently in Chile, and last week I was telling Paula about my first LFC hero, Ian St John, and the clap/cheer of the fans gave to recognise “The Saint”. It turns out it was adapted from fans in Chile when the 1962 World Cup was televised on the BBC.

Who knew?
YNWA!

How did a Broadway show tune from 1945 become the most iconic anthe...

08/03/2026

LIVERPOOL 2 LEEDS 4
After 2 preseason victories, the Reds slumped to defeat after leading 2-0 at half-time. The internet is in overdrive. Hysteria has set in!! However, for me, this was a great game for Andoni Iraola. He will take away a lot. One thing being overlooked as the fanbase goes through withdrawal is that Leeds, in both halves, fielded teams of experienced players. The Reds, in comparison, continued to play a liberal sprinkling of Academy players. In the first two games, the mix was 4 senior players to 7 Academy players. With the arrival of Wirtz and Isak, it flipped to 7 senior players starting with 4 Academy youngsters. Liverpool dominated the first half with the big names showing up well as the team left the pitch 2 goals to the good at the interval.

Wirtz, Isak, Ngumoha and the highly impressive Trey Nyoni left at the half. In response, Leeds brought on Harry Wilson, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin and Longstaff. Leeds now had players who could hold and possess the ball. Liverpool’s midfield three of Gravenberch, Jones and Szoboszlai struggled to match them, the latter being replaced eventually by Harvey Elliott. Up top, Koumas, Chiesa and Morrison weren’t in the game. Heading back to Merseyside, what might Adono Iraola be pencilling in on his notepad?

1). Potential big buys are on the way - who can we afford to lose to generate funds?
Curtis Jones - looks like he is already on the way out
Harvey Elliott - may join him if the Reds splash out on someone like Alex Scott
Kostas Tsmiskas - if Luke Chambers has done enough to suggest he can move up, might the Reds entertain selling Kostas?
Federico Chiesa - always rumoured to be on his way. With Isak’s injury record, it may be wise to keep him around unless …
Cody Gakpo, said to be in conversation with Tottenham. If sold, replacing him with a striker/backup to Isak would make sense. Plus Alexis Mac Allister - are the rumours true? If sold, he should bring in a good fee.

2). Academy players who could step up to the first team squad.
Trey Nyoni - a standout and a major factor why Jones could be leaving.
Luke Chambers - impressed throughout the American tour. On the verge of the first team squad.
James McConnell - close to the first team squad but might be crowded out — potential sale.
Calvin Ramsay - a potential sale but looks like a useful right back and the Reds are short-handed in that department.
Lewis Koumas - I believe he could contribute in a full-strength Liverpool team—also a potential sale.
Kieran Morrison - similar to Koumas but younger, with a loan being the best possible option.
Mor Talla Ndiaye - first-team squad, if only because of Liverpool’s lack of central defenders. Definite potential.
Callum Scanlon - did well but because of his age might be a potential sale.

3). Loans.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe - has to go on loan to be eligible for a work permit. Only 18, but already looks to be first team squad ready as 4th/5th option.
Will Wright - if Jayden Danns can get fit, send him out on loan.
Harvey Davies and Josh Sonni-Lambie - both are possible loans.

What will Iraola do? If it were left to me, I would bring back former Academy players like Neco Williams (RB) and Jarrell Quansah (CB). If Darwin Nunez were free, I’d bring him back too. He can do a job. Rather than chasing £100m superstars, I would favour someone similar to West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen. Bowen is a good player, team-orientated and versatile. It’s money well spent. I laugh when I hear that FSG want to buy players with a resale value. There has been a string of players from Emre Can onwards who have run down their contracts and left. This is a clue to a significant problem at Anfield, and it began during the past couple of years of the Klopp era - Sporting Director! YNWA

BBC Sport's Aadam Patel reports on the latest from the Liverpool tour of the United States.

07/31/2026

Every Friday - Morning Coffee (or Tea) on American Scouser.
This week, an overview of Liverpool’s first 2 games in the USA plus Curtis Jones! My thoughts plus Gally & Ryan.

The Friday Morning Coffee ☕ or Tea 🍵 Show is back and reckless as e...

07/30/2026

LIVERPOOL’S TRANSFER CONUNDRUM
It’s against the grain, but I’m the Liverpool fan who does not particularly salivate over who Liverpool could be signing each and every transfer window. Looking back at the past decade, Liverpool has prospered when it has brought in players who are on the way up rather than the so-called superstar. This summer, a significant effort was made to sign Yan Diomande, a so-called generational talent. Instead, Diomande plumped for wealthy European Champions PSG once they showed interest. However, in a further twist, PSG has been left in the dust when Real Madrid muscled in and flashed the cash. The teenager is now a “Galactico”. Yan Diomande would have been a good signing for the Reds? It doesn’t feel that way to me.

The fact is, while Liverpool FC is one of the world’s most iconic clubs, it doesn’t attract those kind of players. Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni are recent examples of heralded players that Liverpool has tried to woo. They were always likely to choose the Bernabeu instead. It doesn’t end there. Alexis Sanchez and Martin Zubamendi turned the Reds down and ended up at Arsenal. Liverpool thought they had Moises Caicedo, the kind of defensive midfielder that the Reds desperately needed, before he switched in a heartbeat to Chelsea. Chelsea, an unstable club with numerous talented players and a merry-go-round of managerial appointees, versus England’s most successful club with one of the greatest managers in Premier League history. Does that make sense? To compound the circumstances, the next day the Reds' next #6 choice, Romeo Lavia, also chose Todd Boehly and his madcap brigade.

No tears should be shed over these players. Owners FSG are regularly called to task for their relative stinginess in the transfer market, window after window. Still, it didn’t prevent the Reds from being the most successful English club of the period, behind only a moneybags club that stands accused of significant financial irregularities.

What has worked for Liverpool when they have delved into the transfer market? Consider Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Luis Suarez, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to name but a few. These were all top young players on an upwardly mobile trajectory. Everyman and their dog wasn’t chasing them. Think further back through LFC’s history to the recently departed Kevin Keegan, Alan Hansen, Ray Clemence and Ian Rush, to more recently Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Andy Robertson, the bargain buy!

Liverpool’s recruitment sang a different tune after winning the league in 24-25; Liverpool Football Club was going to make a statement, going BIG in the transfer market to the tune of £450 million. What was overlooked was that roughly half of that was recouped in player sales. In the process, a title-winning squad was dismantled too quickly. Too many came in and even more went the other way. The question I asked then, and one I would still like the answer to, is “why?” From the heights of 24-25 to the turbulence of 25-26, where does it leave the club under new manager Andoni Iraola?

To paraphrase what is out there on the internet … Liverpool needs to sign 6 or 7 more players this summer. When things were moving in the wrong direction last season, it was claimed there were too many newbies, which makes it difficult to integrate them into the squad. Do the same fans want history to repeat itself? It could be argued that after one disastrous season, Liverpool Football Club has gone from relative stability to a head-on full rebuild.

The million-dollar question, literally for most, is who will replace Mo Salah? The hundred-million-pound player is the answer to ease the pain of a legend’s departure. With Diomande in the rearview mirror, the flavour of the month is now Bradley Barcola, a bargain at £145 million!! Barcola is a good player, but is he truly worth that kind of money?

For me, the question should be: two £100 million players were bought last summer; shouldn’t cementing their roles under the new manager be the priority? Sign players who can help in that direction. Last year, I questioned the value of the Alexandre Isak signing due to his injury record. If he can stay fit for a period of time, he is dynamite. But can he?

Barcola doesn’t have that kind of history; it won’t stop him from getting crocked. There is always that possibility. Couldn’t £145 million be spent more wisely on several players to bolster the squad overall? Hasn’t the Marc Guehi lesson been learned when the preoccupation on Isak took the focus away from a position where the Reds needed help more?

In an ideal world, signing 3 players for the first team squad each summer would be perfect for my tastes. Liverpool has already forked out for two: Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz. For years, Liverpool has needed a bona fide defensive midfielder. However, it appears a new defensive midfielder is unlikely, as the Reds have more immediate need in 3 positions: Right Back, Central Defence and Right Wing. Let’s look at who LFC has on their books currently in each position.

1) RIGHT BACK.
Conor Bradley - talented but injury-prone. Out indefinitely.
Jeremie Frimpong - good player, but appears better suited to a wing-back role than right back.
Joe Gomez - regularly plays full-back on either side of the field if needed but is a central defender primarily. Injured!
Calvin Ramsay - signed as a teenager, played 2 games under Klopp before having a series of injuries. Bench warmer under Slott.

2) CENTRAL DEFENCE.
Virgil Van Dijk - past his peak but still a force. Liverpool would be in trouble if he were to pick up a serious injury.
Joe Gomez - an underrated defender but a sick note! Injured 7 minutes into the new season!
Jeremy Jacquet - highly-rated new signing but coming off a serious shoulder injury and literally being nursed into the season.
Giovanni Leoni - top-rated prospect recuperating from an ACL injury. When will he be game-ready?
Stefan Bajcetic - made the breakthrough under Klopp as a #6 but originally a centre-back. On the verge of a comeback after a series of injuries.
Wataru Endo - #6 who can also play the position. Severely underrated by the fanbase, currently recovering from an injury that kept him out of the World Cup.
Mor Talla Ndiaye - Starred in the U17 World Cup for Senegal. Looked impressive in the preseason games.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe - Standout in Austria team that reached U17 World Cup Final. See Ndiaye! His issue: needs another year before being eligible for a work permit.

3) RIGHT WING.
Federico Chiesa - talented international who's been hampered by injuries. Never given a reasonable run by Arne Slot. Will he stay?
Lewis Koumas - Welsh international who helped Hull City into the EPL last season. Has characteristics similar to players who excelled at Bournemouth under Iraola.
Kieran Morrison - talented Academy youngster who is already a Northern Ireland international.
Jeremie Frimpong - good player who can play the position in a pinch but would likely do better as an impact sub rather than a starter.

CONCLUSION.
Liverpool are in a pickle! The title-winning squad was dismantled too quickly. Was there a real plan on integrating last summer’s signings into the squad? The Jota tragedy obviously threw things askew, but it cannot mask that players were signed without a plan overall. For example, Frimpong is a good player who might play a part in an Iraola system. However, where does he fit comfortably in a team that plays with a back four? He was supposed to be Trent’s replacement.

Some would also say that the Reds are light at centre-forward with Isak’s injury record and with Hugo Ekitike out long-term. Chiesa or Koumas might be able to deputise, and there is talent in the Academy: Jayden Danns, Keyrol Figueroa, Josh Sonni-Lambie and Will Wright. Danns is the best bet currently but unfortunately keeps the injury theme going. The remaining 3 would need to be eased into first-team football.

As Andoni Irola rebuilds the squad, my preference is to see a return to signing up-and-coming players, with the best of the Academy starlets given more game time. Before any more signings are made, it would be huge if Endo, Bajcetic and Danns could return to the fray.

In my opinion, signing a central defender good enough to start is the priority. If the recruit can double up at full back, it's a bonus. By all means sign a right winger, but £145 million? Let’s get Wirtz and Isak firing first. Peak Mo Salah is not going to be replaced similarly to peak Steven Gerrard or Luis Suarez was in previous eras. Teams evolve in different ways with different personnel, and the system will be very different to the last campaign. We should expect Dominik Szoboszlai and, if he continues to flourish, Rio Ngumoha to become the new stars of the team.

In the meantime, can fans be a little more balanced with their wishes? Liverpool are unlikely to be in the title race next season. It is not 24-25, where the new manager had a squad that was talented, deep and ready to go. This is a rebuild. A central defender and a left winger have already been signed. A starting central defender and reasonably priced right winger should be added to the LFC wish list.

The Reds have a resourceful manager again. Allow him time to get his philosophies across and build team spirit. At the end of the 26-27 season, Iraola will be clear on how he needs to arrange his team and squad going forward. No more statement signings, please! Next time - how to put a squad together to compete in the Premier League and Europe.
YNWA

POSTSCRIPT: If it were left to me, I would bring back former Academy players like Neco Williams (RB) and Jarrell Quansah (CB). If Darwin Nunez were free, I’d bring him back too. He can do a job. Rather than all these £100m superstars, I would favour someone similar to West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen. Bowen is a good player, team-orientated and versatile. It’s money well spent. Sometimes I laugh when I hear that FSG want to buy players with a resale value. There has been a string of players from Emre Can on who have run down their contracts and left. This is a clue to a significant problem at Anfield, and it began in the past couple of years of the Klopp era - Sporting Director!

Richard Hughes is apparently on his way out, so what are FSG going to do about it? Bournemouth, Brentford and Brighton are lauded for their recruitment. When are some of the bigger clubs going to learn the lesson and follow their lead? The one signing I would make is Dougie Freedman. Who he? Crystal Palace Sporting Director 2017-2025, now out in Saudi. Why? Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Daniel Muñoz, Dean Henderson, Ismaila Sarr, Cheick Doucoure and Maxence Lacroix. That’s some serious recruitment and a factor in the success of unfashionable Palace over the past 18 months.