- 3 years ago
A long version of the LiverpoolWorld Q&A.
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00:00 So, Will, are Liverpool simply making a mistake, you feel, selling Fabinho and Jordan Henderson?
00:05 Obviously, we've touched on their midfield over the last season.
00:08 It did need big additions, big help in there, and it was really lacking.
00:12 And now two big names leaving the door this summer.
00:17 Yeah, it's looking that way, isn't it?
00:18 Both are subject of interest from Saudi Arabia.
00:21 They have been the real disruptors, haven't they, in the transfer market this summer.
00:25 It's a difficult one because both players at times have had the Liverpool future questioned.
00:32 Fabinho, certainly last season, maybe a lot of people thought his legs had completely given up on him.
00:39 He was one of the players who dropped markedly, along with him, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk.
00:48 They were the main three who you look at and think, "What's happened to them? What's going on here?"
00:53 But before that, he was one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.
00:57 But some people, you can't turn down £40 million for a player who you sign for £43, £44 million, and he's coming up to £30.
01:06 Henderson, on the other hand, £33 million now, £12 million a year, looks decent business for Liverpool.
01:14 But just as you say, is it unwise for Liverpool to be selling them now?
01:19 Because, as you say, Liverpool brought in two new midfielders, McAllister and Sopperslide.
01:26 But traditionally, Jürgen Klopp's irons have taken a little bit of time to fit into the system, really, to fit into what he demands.
01:34 And you can't expect two new midfielders to hit the ground running.
01:39 You need someone anchoring the midfield.
01:41 Are Liverpool going to have that?
01:43 And then they're going to have to bring someone in, and whoever comes in is going to have to learn that remit.
01:48 So, it's not ideal.
01:51 I think if it was at the start of the transfer window, before the Pools return to pre-season, Jürgen Klopp would be a lot more comfortable.
01:58 But the money that's on offer, I don't think you can turn it down.
02:01 And Jürgen Klopp said many a times, if there's players who don't want to be at the football club, who want to leave, then they can go.
02:07 I think the only example they've held out was Philippe Coutinho in the summer of 2017.
02:16 And then eventually they sold him to Barcelona for a mammoth deal, which he couldn't turn down.
02:21 So, Jürgen Klopp's obviously said, if you want to go, fine, we'll get what we want for you, but we don't want to keep anyone around.
02:27 But it's not ideal at the time, and certainly, because Klopp likes all of his signs to be there, or the vast majority of them, for the first day of pre-season.
02:36 Yeah, and obviously, you mentioned they're probably going to need a new name.
02:40 If those two are to leave, who do you think would be best suited in terms of that midfield, defensive midfield position for Liverpool?
02:49 It's a difficult one, isn't it? Because obviously, Romuald Laby has been linked with Liverpool throughout the summer and really highly regarded.
02:58 But he's probably not experienced enough to come into the team and do it straight away.
03:03 He played 29, he made 29 Premier League appearances, I think, for Southampton last season.
03:08 Well, that's not a lot of Premier League experience, to be honest with you, whatsoever, for what Jürgen Klopp will be wanting from his defensive midfield.
03:16 And then you're looking at players like Chepta Kore, Crystal Pallas has now been linked.
03:23 He's had one season in the Premier League, and Pallas paid probably £18 million for him last summer, and now the value of him reportedly is £70 million.
03:32 That's a big, big hike in his valuation for one season in the Premier League as well.
03:38 The lads have fallen, Pal and I, well, fallen on it to part with him as well, because they've been fairly steadfast not allowing Mitrovic to leave.
03:46 So they might be the same with him.
03:48 And, you know, Ryan Gravenberch at Bayern Munich, is he an out-and-out defensive midfielder?
03:55 And then obviously Calvin Phillips as well, Manchester City, which you look at and think after one disappointing season at Man City, is he the right fit for Liverpool?
04:04 So Jürgen Klopp and Sporting Director Jorg Schmack, I'm sure they've got a couple of aces up the sleeve.
04:10 Obviously, Söder Slöy, that deal came out of nowhere, didn't it?
04:14 So maybe it might be a player who isn't mentioned who arrives, but certainly Liverpool need to get someone in with experience, whether that's with experience and La Vida.
04:23 But it's difficult to see both deals happening, to be honest with you, just for the money that it might cost them.
04:30 Yeah, and you mentioned Calvin Phillips there.
04:32 Just a quick one on him.
04:33 Given the rivalry between City and Liverpool over the last few years, would they really sort of look to have him?
04:39 Obviously, Pep even said he was unfit halfway through the season, not many minutes, quite a poor signing really at the end of the day for Man City.
04:47 What do you think about that whole sort of situation there?
04:49 Would he sort of fit in in Klopp's side?
04:52 I think if you look at a couple of the aces on that lead side, maybe he would have.
04:55 Obviously, that first season, back in the Premier League, he was one of the top players in the lead team.
05:02 He would have suited Liverpool's style.
05:04 Obviously, he was playing a real intense brand of football under Marcelo Bielsa, and he would have fitted into Jadon Klopp's plans.
05:13 But as you say, it's a risk after that year at Manchester City.
05:18 Obviously, he's had his problems.
05:20 Would Liverpool want to give Manchester City any sort of cash given the rivalry that they've had between them?
05:25 Liverpool, in the past few years, they haven't really bought off any of the real rivals.
05:33 I think maybe you have to go back to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal, potentially, a couple of years ago, for 2017, I think that was.
05:41 But maybe I might be wrong, but I don't think there are many examples of Liverpool giving the rivals,
05:47 the top four rivals, any sort of funds.
05:51 As you say, the rivalry between Manchester City on the pitch and off the pitch has obviously been a bit back and forth,
05:56 with support and allocations accepted and claims of xenophobia and things like that last season.
06:05 Would Liverpool want to give Pep Guardiola's side £40 million and maybe go and get someone else in?
06:12 I don't really think that they would, to be honest with you.
06:14 So, you're probably looking at maybe someone from the Premier League outside of the top six or someone from Farran Shaw, who might come in.
06:24 Will, obviously, Dele Alli came in and did the overlap interview, quite a damning interview, really.
06:28 But looking at the Everton side of it, moving forward, he said he is in mentally the best position he's been in in a long time.
06:36 Do you think he can maybe try and get back to his best this season at Everton?
06:40 I think first and foremost, I think everyone agrees, Dele Alli getting back to his best in terms of off the pitch, in terms of mental health-wise.
06:50 Everton have given real support, he says, and he's really grateful for that.
06:53 And as you say, letting him go to America, et cetera, and get himself right, and to come out and say what he did, I think everyone's commended his bravery.
07:01 But then you've got to look at the on the pitch stuff as well.
07:04 Things do turn like that. Football, unfortunately, it is a bit of a brutal business as well,
07:08 especially when you're Everton, when you've been battling relegation for two years and you look at the financial implications that the relegation would have and the position they find themselves in.
07:21 The problem with Dele Alli is if you play seven more times for Everton, they've got to pay top 10 million pounds.
07:27 10 million pounds might not sound a lot in this modern day, but given Everton's financial situation,
07:32 that's a significant sum of cash for Everton to give someone a chance who might not, he just might not reach the height that he once did again.
07:44 And it's a gamble for Everton, personally.
07:48 I, as much as we'd all like to see Dele Alli back to his old self, if he could get back to those levels, he would be an incredible asset for Everton.
07:57 But it's a risk.
08:00 Where does he fit in? You could say, inside the system, he could be the perfect player to play off the striker, off Dominic Calvert-Lewin, making those runs into the box like we used to see.
08:11 But as you say, is he prepared to put the real draft and work he's in, the Chauhan's age, full demands?
08:19 If he is, then great. Brilliant.
08:21 But sometimes even having those desire and fitness levels might not be enough because he might not be able to just get his spark back.
08:28 And it might just unfortunately be that Everton have got to go their separate ways.
08:32 So it's really, really intriguing what happens with him.
08:35 Obviously, he's had that hip injury and he had surgery towards the back end of last season.
08:39 And, you know, coming back from that now, as we speak, Everton play Wigan tomorrow and then Trammier as well, at under 21.
08:48 So I go to Trammier. Will he be involved in any of those games?
08:51 It'll be interesting to see if he is, to be honest with you, or whether he's involved in a new league, the other friendlies this summer.
08:56 But yeah, I just think first and foremost, get himself right off the pitch and then maybe Evan can talk about what might happen on the pitch towards the end of August, maybe.
09:05 And if not, then there's still time for maybe for him to get a move away.
09:08 Yeah, and just on transfer news at Everton, obviously, Arnab, Dan Juma,
09:14 obviously, we spoke in January quite a lot about how close he was to joining Everton.
09:19 And then it seemed that Spurs sort of snubbed that transfer very last minute.
09:23 I mean, possibly linked with a move back to Everton again,
09:28 will fans be able to forgive the situation in January?
09:31 Because that was quite a whirlwind and obviously a really bad time for Everton fans as well.
09:36 Yeah, I think Everton fans certainly thought they had the last laugh, obviously,
09:42 staying up and Dan Juma not playing, not featuring at all, really, for Tottenham.
09:47 Obviously, if he'd have joined Everton, he would have been playing significantly.
09:50 And maybe he might have put himself in the shop window for a better move this summer.
09:55 But it's careers stalls and he's gone back to Everton, maybe with the tail between his legs slightly.
10:03 But yeah, there still will be some fans who are a little bit annoyed by what happens.
10:10 But Everton are in position to pick and choose the players that come in at the minute,
10:15 especially someone of his quality.
10:17 So we know he has got quality.
10:18 We've seen that, you know, Bournemouth and Villareal, he helped them get to the Champions League semi-final.
10:24 And he was linked to a few clubs, I think Liverpool were linked to him and a couple of others.
10:29 And obviously his career last season didn't go, didn't happen for whatever reason.
10:35 But as you say, for a player of his proven quality,
10:39 I don't think Everton can turn their noses up.
10:41 Adam, coming back, all right, there will be a little bit of frustration.
10:44 But I'm sure if he starts the season, you know, scores four goals in as many games,
10:50 then that will soon be forgotten.
10:52 But yeah, look, Everton fans know he needs to be having signs.
10:55 And look, you can't pass up a player of his quality.
11:01 And on the transfer window for Everton,
11:03 just how many more signings do they need to make in this window in preparation for the new season?
11:09 Yeah, it's interesting, obviously.
11:10 Ashley Young coming in and Dan Doomer looks like it's going to happen.
11:14 So you're probably looking at, Edmondson, a back-up striker,
11:18 Don McAlbert-Lewin, definitely.
11:19 Someone of a similar ilk, to be honest with you.
11:22 Someone who can be a bit of a focal point,
11:24 because we know it didn't work with Neil Mopé last season.
11:28 If Mopé's a part, then you're probably looking at getting a third striker in as well.
11:34 In terms of the wise options at the minute,
11:36 obviously you've got Dwight McNeil, Damari Gray, Dan Doomer,
11:39 Alex O'Walby can play there, Ashley Young can play there.
11:42 So it's looking a bit better.
11:44 Depends on what happens with Damari Gray.
11:46 If he goes and you get another,
11:47 Dijs might want another in anyway,
11:49 because he might have plans for Ashley Young to be featured at left-back.
11:54 And then, as sentiment field, I think they need...
11:57 It's a difficult one in sentiment field,
11:58 because they might not be a regular starter,
12:01 because Tom Davies has left,
12:03 and Everton have some new contracts,
12:05 probably thinking if we can get him to provide cover, then that's ideal.
12:10 But the players that Everton have got in the middle of midfield at the minute,
12:15 Amadou Ounane, Joseph Garnaguet, Abdelhaid Koury,
12:19 and James Garner, who finished the season superbly,
12:21 that's four fairly strong midfielders that you've got in there.
12:25 So maybe looking at a younger player maybe to come in,
12:29 potentially you can provide a little bit of competition,
12:32 or maybe someone who's just lost his way a little bit,
12:34 who maybe is looking to get the career on track.
12:36 And I personally think as well they need another centre-half.
12:41 James Tarkowski's the other presence in there,
12:46 but who partners him as things stand, it's pretty unclear.
12:50 Michael Keane was given a chance last season at the expense of Konokozi.
12:55 Mixed reviews personally for me.
12:58 Ben Godfrey's had a couple of iffy seasons.
13:02 Maybe he's better in the back three as well.
13:04 He suits a back three rather than a back four that Sean Dyche plays.
13:08 Mason Cole, you would think, if a suitable offer comes in,
13:12 will be to partner the club.
13:15 Barely featured in the past two seasons, Jarrod Bramford coming back from PSV.
13:19 Is he ready for the Premier League, or do Everton need to develop him slowly,
13:22 give him games here and there?
13:24 And get a centre-back as well.
13:26 So maybe looking at...
13:28 It depends on departures as well, but you could see another,
13:31 obviously, if Mo Payle's to leave,
13:33 you'd probably maybe look at another fourth signing to come in, potentially.
13:38 Maybe even another back-up goalkeeper,
13:40 depends on what to do, Joe Virginia.
13:42 But it could be a busy end of summer for Everton.
13:45 Yeah, and finally on Everton and their pre-season,
13:49 what is Sean Dyche's biggest challenge going into the pre-season?
13:53 What has he got to change or get right going into the season now?
13:57 I think his biggest challenge, to be honest, is recruitment.
14:00 Scoring goals, of course.
14:02 Everton didn't score enough goals last season,
14:04 but they didn't have enough attackers to score the goals.
14:07 And getting the players in will be his biggest challenge,
14:11 because we know the financial situation Everton are in.
14:15 It's difficult to go up and buy players that maybe are working in the loan market,
14:20 free transfer market,
14:22 whether they can sell here and there to raise some funds.
14:25 I think Everton have got to be quite astute about it.
14:29 I think Ian Wall, the assistant manager,
14:32 said you live and die by recruitment,
14:35 and if Everton don't recruit,
14:36 then they're going to be in another battle again.
14:40 I think no-one's expecting Everton to be top 10 team next season,
14:44 no-one's saying that,
14:45 but just to be away from the relegation battle,
14:48 just to come to those final games of the season with a dead rubber,
14:50 I think absolutely everyone would take that at the minute.
14:53 But yeah, recruitment for me is the biggest challenge for him.
14:57 He got it right on the pitch last season,
14:59 in a short time at the club we've seen that.
15:01 I think Everton finished 15th under,
15:03 just during his time only,
15:05 which is, for what he inherited,
15:08 a really decent effort he made of it.
15:10 So yeah, definitely his recruitment is going to be his biggest challenge
15:13 from now until the end of August.
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