SME

Why wouldnt we have played him? He made 28 appearances the seaon before and even though Slot didnt think he was first choice was he really less of a squad option than Chiesa? It also meant that he missed most of the season without playing reducing his marketability as we've seen this season.

We messed up not bringing him back from the loan for the sake of saving a couple of million.

He probably thought he was sending his first bid from his Al Hilal email but didnt realise he was using his LFC one.

He was much more disciplined in the role in 24/25. It felt that Slot indulged him last year to alow him to move forward more resulting in the loss of shape in midfield so often.

Youth expenditure didn't use to count for FFP in the old rules. Not sure if that is still the case now?

Munoz forgotten about already

Players who have been at the WC will be due time off won't they?

I dont see how Wirtz fits into the two pacy wingers scenario - unless its more a 4-4-1-1 and he plays behing Isak and the wide players are more wide midfielders then forwards, but which still risks the central 2 midfielders getting out numbered I could see him in a Klopp style 4-3-1-2 where he plays a deeper Firmino role and Isak and Ekitike are a more central Salah and Mane with width coming from the full backs while the midfielders provide the cover but we dont seem to be linked with players for that

It's Edwards with the Altrincham office isn't it?

Hughes still lives in Bournemouth as well apparently. Reports at the Chelsea game made a point of saying he was in attendence, which suggests he often isn't. As mentioned our unholy trinity of Edwards, Huges and Slot don't seem to have any affinity for the club at all never mind the city, as was the case with Hodgson and I'd say Rogers as well. Whereas Houllier, Benitez and Klopp definitely did.

Or in September?

Where did you get that from? Think the actual quote is ""There might not be a need to trade a lot if you don't need to bring a lot of players in. " as he was talking about transfer activity. But then that goes against earlier comments about being in transition and lots of work to do, maybe laying the groundwork of having no money to spend due to not being in CL?

So you're saying it's like a breakfast ball?

The Athletic article quoted by the AnfieldSector tweet above says they might: "Part of the plan post-Salah is that Liverpool will have the option of playing a 4-2-2-2 formation with Alexander Isak and Ekitike paired together up front, with Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai operating in front of two deeper-lying midfielders. One of the priorities is to get Isak, Ekitike and Wirtz in the same team regularly. Remarkably, they have played just 88 minutes of football together all season. Isak, currently recovering from a broken leg, is expected to be fit to play some part in the Champions League tie against PSG."

Luke Chambers just gone on loan to Charlton

Last season

This is for this season (despite the misleading header) up to gameweek18

He wouldn't have played any of them anyway .........

Only Spain is later - 11pm - the others are the same as England.

Apparently Isak wasn't invited to the Newcastle players family barbecue this morning which was why he only turned up at the training ground this afternoon. Seems to be a regular get together that Howe uses to build team spirit.

According to the latest accounts we refinanced the existing credit facility in September to provide £350m for "general corporate purposes including working capital and letters of credit" so we should be able to cover his buy out clause if we wanted to.

Isn't he likely to still be out injured for a while? Maybe this news has come out now as he's going to miss the rest of the season?

It's FA Cup weekend after the internationals so will get some rest before playing midweek. Arsenal play Fulham on the Tuesday after Fulham play on the Saturday.

I'd put Mo central and move Dom right to support Trent

Home in the first leg if we get through to last 8