The Good, The Bad & The Ugly – 2024/25 Gameweek #28
No surprise against the Magpies as money is set aside maintain the ride. Could the Reds actually fall, because the wiring is on the wall. In the fantasy league, we increase the lead.
The Good
The Good this week must only be the rudimentary 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Goals from an in-form Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were sufficient for Liverpool to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.
This game was almost too easy for Liverpool, a task that was made all the more easy with Newcastle losing their star striker Alexander Isak to injury. The visitors gave an impression of a team that were resigned to losing the game before even setting foot onto the hallowed Anfield turf.
The (Not) Bad
Reports this week that Liverpool are set to splash the cash in the transfer window this summer with the potential departures of Mo Salah, Virgil van Dyke and Trent Alexander-Arnold looming large over the squad.
This should come as music to the ears of most Reds fans, with question marks hanging over a number of first team players’ futures.
The writing is on the wall for Liverpool with Ibrahima Konaté about to enter the last year of his contract without any sign of penning a new deal, and rumours abound of interest from Paris San Germain.
Luis Diaz is also the subject of transfer speculation and in addition, the left back position needs to be strengthened as Andy Robertson seems a shadow of his former self. In attack, Darwin Nunez appears to be falling out of favour with manager Arne Slot.
The Ugly
Notwithstanding reports that money is available, there are clear signs that certain parts of the team need to be shored up if the expected success this season is to be continued.
The first and arguably most important area is the defence. With Trent Alexander-Arnold likely to depart to Real Madrid, there needs to be back up for his air-apparent Conor Bradley.
In addition, Andy Robertson is now unrecognisable to the lad that joined from relegated Hull City in 2017. Injuries and a dip in form have seen the 30 year-old struggle to have his usual influence in the team.
Kostas Tsimikas is clearly no long term solution. While dependable and reliable, he doesn’t have the influence that Robertson enjoyed in his prime.
Another area is at centre back. It has been well documented that Virgil Van Dijk is approaching the end of his contract and hasn’t agreed a new one as yet. It’s seems quite likely that the captain will pen a new deal.
In the background Ibrahima Konaté has been running down his contract – which enters the final year in the summer and doesn’t appear to be in a hurry to sign a new one – especially as rumours are beginning to surface of interest from Paris St. Germain, his home town club.
The midfield is largely in good shape a further back up player to join Tyler Morton would be welcome. It’s further up the field where things are looking more unsettled.
Mo Salah we know about, although it’s my belief that he’ll sign for another couple of years.
Rumours were that Luis Diaz had attracted interest from a couple of Spanish clubs and it would be interesting to see how that develops. I am among a growing number of fans who seem unconvinced by Darwin Nuñez.
A reported Jürgen Klopp buy that demonstrates the need for a multi-lateral approach to transfers. A point further evidenced by his claimed lack of conviction with Mo Salah
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