There is no attack now the main players have gone off, not holding the ball up front anymore. Good job it is only a friendly!
Minamino wnet off and nobody noticed. Salah and mane go off and it just goes downhill. They look quite ready for the off which is positive. Jota and robertson look like they are close enough that a couple weeks will top them up. Imo the midfield showed who was missing so I have to think we could do with that extra senior player in midfield. Need henderson, thaigo and fabinho fit all season. Really do.
Can’t read too much into pre season. Always weird results that generally mean nothing. Great to hear vvd and Gomez got game time. Huge positive that. Be nice if Salah got in scoresheet at some point but hopefully when it matters he will.
Tsimikas, robbo, milner yes. Mane and salah looked good and sharp as well. Minamino did his usual yard off the pace never putting a foot in thing. There's a few who look less sharp for sure or at least less willing to run about.
Any thoughts on Virgil? For me it was just nice seeing him in the shirt again. He looked a bit tentative but after a season out, to be expected. Fully fit would have stopped that goal but hey, baby steps.
Think it will be a while before he is starting for us again. Same for Gomez, but depending how the others start he may struggle to get in the team. Until Matip is injured
While he looked reasonably fit in pics and training he looked way off the poise and athletism. He took it handy but it's only 25mins as a starter. I would say he will be well off the pace and gasping for quite a few games. On a brighter note Joe gomez was back to his best by giving away silly frees that were unnecessary and getting booked
Wouldn’t surprise me if we started with Matip and konate against Norwich. Haven’t seen the game but sounds like vvd and gomez still way off the pace which is to be expected after so long out.
Personally, and this is just my opinion which I am sure a lot will disagree with, I think konate needs a lot of work. At this point even in his current shape vvd is the better defender. I think konate will improve only with work, I think he is carrying bulk he doesn't need in the upper body.
Alisson Becker, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino will begin pre-season training on Sunday. I have not heard about thaigo but he must be back. Then finally our mate hendo who will be back shortly as well. They are in evian. Full squad and 2 weeks to kick off.
Thiago has an injury, so when he is soon to be joined by Keita and Chamberlain, we will definitely need another midfielder