The Weekly Debate – Discussion Thread w/c 7th November 2022

Real Madrid, Derby day, and Midfield Reinforcements? (EDIT: Plus FSG 'news')

So, Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Feels to me like it's their turn to suffer, and Liverpool will surely be in better shape in February. Thoughts on the draw?

They also seem to have done what Liverpool need to do and freshen up an ageing team – the Reds are in the process of doing the same (additions in the last 18 months of Ibrahima Konaté, Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez, in particular, but also Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay; plus the responsibility shown to teenage Harvey Elliott.)

And of course, no club would sack their manager immediately before facing Liverpool.

(Wait, Ralph Hasenhuttl is on the phone.)

So, early thoughts on the Southampton clash can be shared here before the match thread arrives later in the week.

Next, the team for the game against Derby? Use this as the match thread (until the actual one goes live) for that low-key game, where the kids, plus maybe players returning from injury, will surely play. But which ones?

For all the doom and gloom, Liverpool have just beaten Napoli 2-0 at home and Spurs 2-1 away, with Mo Salah and Darwin Núñez seriously heavily involved in the penalty-box action: fireworks in front of goal from the Salah/Núñez show. Ibrahima Konaté is back at the back, but the midfield still looks slow/tired/leggy, if not lacking in quality.

So, finally, the third talking point of this week’s thread: midfield solutions in January?

ADDITION! According to The Athletic:

“EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool have been put up for sale by Fenway Sports Group. Sale deck has been produced for interested parties. Goldman Sachs + Morgan Stanley assisting evaluation process. Unclear if deal gets done but FSG inviting offers.”

But:

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