SixCrazyMinutes - Liverpool FC Fans Forum

Tonight
20;00 Leeds vs Forest

Saturday
12:30
Man U vs Spurs

15:00
Fulham vs Everton
Burnley vs West Ham
Arsenal vs Sunderland
Wolves vs Chelsea
Bournemouth vs Villa

17:30
Newcastle vs Brentford

Sunday
14:00
Brighton vs Crystal Palace

Shamelessly stole the title from the amazing @King Binny !

A thread to capture our thinking on who we will get to cover Right Back in the Summer (or not!)

@dee Start a City match thread?

Been thinking about this for a while - that basically 2 of our best players occupy the same position naturally. I think most would agree on here that the natural thing to ordinarily do would be to play Wirtz behind Ekitike and then have 2 great wingers/wide forwards on either side of them.

But . . . there's a Szobo-sized complication that makes that impossible. It seems pretty clear that Slot prefers a 4-2-3-1 and doesn;t seem like he'll change that. It also seems pretty clear Szobo's future isn't in the deeper "2" but the more advanced "3".

So what does the long term look like with these 2? There's the chance a new manager comes in and has to work this out. Is it just a case of Szobo fits in where needed - which seems a bit unfair on one of our best players.

The options are basically this:

Play Wirtz on the left in a roaming left role, with Szobo at central number 10
Play them both centrally in hybrid 8/10 roles in a 4-1-4-1
Play Wirtz centrally and Szobo out right, once Salah leaves
Move Szobo to the deeper "2"
Play them both at number 10 centrally in a 3-4-2-1

What do we think?

View: https://youtu.be/TcyocnsMlcg?si=QsH4q5m2BMEFUMYZ

Looks like a clear vote of confience from the club, precisely and deliberately timed after the most convincing performance of the season. Arne will stay at least till the end of the season.

Placeholder title. Here are some Gemini created summaries for the signings we have made in last 6 months:

Giovanni Leoni (19)​

• Overview: A highly technical, 6’5” Italian defender signed from Parma for approximately £29.4m in August 2025.
• Games Played: He has made 34 senior appearances to date (30 in league football across Serie A, Serie B, and Serie C, plus 4 in domestic cups). For Liverpool, he has made 1 senior appearance (a 2-1 win against Southampton in the League Cup).
• International Level: He has represented Italy at U18 and U20 levels. He is widely tipped to be a future pillar of the senior Azzurri defense.
• Quotes: Legendary coach Arrigo Sacchi remarked: "Talent knows no age... Leoni has demonstrated the qualities needed to go far." His former coach Roberto Baronio noted, "He’s a very smart guy... he can read the opponent’s intentions."

Mor Talla Ndiaye (18)​

• Overview: A Senegalese "left-footed specialist" signed in January 2026 from Amitié FC to bolster the U21 ranks.
• Games Played: While his exact senior club tally in Senegal is undisclosed, he has been a regular for the Liverpool U21s since his January arrival.
• International Level: He has represented Senegal at the U17 and U18 levels. He played a key role in helping Senegal reach the knockout stages of the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup.
• Quotes: Described by scouts as a "rare left-footed specialist" in the heart of defense, with recruitment staff highlighting his composure during the U17 World Cup.

Noah Adekoya (19)​

• Overview: A Scouse defender who returned to his boyhood club as a free agent in January 2026 after developing at Burnley.
• Games Played: He has primarily played at the U18 and U21 levels, accruing a "handful" of appearances for Burnley’s U21s before captaining their U18 side to a league title.
• International Level: He has not yet represented a national team at the youth or senior level, though he is eligible for England.
• Quotes: Burnley Academy Manager Chris Casper praised his "leadership qualities" and "impressive physical profile," noting his impact as a captain at the youth level.

Ifeanyi Ndukwe (17)​

• Overview: A 6’6” Austrian powerhouse from Austria Vienna who will officially join Liverpool in the Summer of 2026.
• Games Played: He has made 8 senior appearances for Austria Vienna’s second team (Young Violets) in the Austrian 2. Liga and has been named on the bench for the senior Bundesliga side.
• International Level: He has 10 caps (1 goal) for Austria U17. He was a standout performer in the 2025 U17 World Cup, starting in the final against Portugal.
• Quotes: Often referred to as a "towering prospect," media reports in Austria have highlighted him as the standout defender of his generation following the U17 World Cup run.

Jérémy Jacquet (20)​

1. Overview: The most experienced of the group, signed via a £60m pre-agreement with Rennes on February 1, 2026 (joining this summer).
2. Games Played: He has made approximately 55 senior appearances (36 in Ligue 1 and 17 in Ligue 2). This season alone, he has 18 starts in Ligue 1 for Rennes
3. International Level: He is a consistent youth international, having represented France from U17 all the way to U21 level.
4. Quotes: He is regarded as "one of Ligue 1’s most promising talents." Sky Sports reported that he chose Liverpool specifically to avoid a "crowded roster" elsewhere, seeking a clear path to the first team.

I then asked for the same about Pinnington, Lucky & Nallo

Carter Pinnington (18)​

• Summary: A local defender from the Wirral who has been with the club since age seven. Known for his tactical adaptability, he can play as a center-back or in a holding-midfield role.
• Games Played: He has made over 60 appearances across the U18 and U21 levels. While he hasn't made his competitive senior debut yet, he was named on the senior bench for the first time in October 2025 during a League Cup tie against Crystal Palace.
• International Level: Pinnington is an England youth international, having represented his country at both the U17 and U18 levels.
• Quotes: Academy staff describe him as "comfortable on the ball" and "composed under pressure," specifically noting his "maturity beyond his years" when he broke into the U21 side as a schoolboy.

Amara Nallo (19)​

• Summary: A tall, left-footed center-half signed from West Ham’s academy in 2023. He has quickly become a standout leader within the youth ranks and a frequent participant in first-team training.
• Games Played: He has made 3 senior appearances for Liverpool (including a Champions League debut against PSV Eindhoven and a recent appearance against Qarabag in January 2026). At the youth level, he has played over 60 matches for the U18s and U21s.
• International Level: He is an active England youth international with approximately 9 caps across the U18, U19, and U20 age groups.
• Quotes: Nallo is often praised for his defensive focus; he has stated he "lives and breathes to defend" and is known for his "Van Dijk studies" to improve his game. Coaches view him as "another quality addition" to the club's defensive pipeline.

Wellity Lucky (20)​

• Summary: A physically imposing, right-footed defender born in Spain who has progressed steadily through the Liverpool youth system. He is currently a regular fixture in the U21 squad.
• Games Played: He has 1 senior appearance, making his debut as a substitute in the League Cup against Crystal Palace in October 2025. He has also been an unused substitute in 5 Premier League fixtures this season. He has recorded over 40 appearances at the U18 and U21 levels.
• International Level: He is an England youth international and has been involved in the national team setup at various age groups.
• Quotes: Often called an "academy gem" by local media, he is highly regarded by Arne Slot, who has included him in first-team training due to his "assured touch" and "strong sense of positioning."

Looks like next pre season & season we will be in the business of sending one or two on good loans and seeing which are ready to be a solid part of the first team squad.

FYI @Modo 😉

So the window is over, we leave January weaker than we started it.

It’s very tight between 4th and 10th - 6 points between 6 teams.

What do we think about chances of remaining a CL club next season?

Feels hard yards to me, probably a coin flip - which ironically is how every match feels.

Also one point for a different thread, our core 13 players are going to be knackered next season with no break in the summer.

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUNS9umDMpF/?igsh=MXRrZGp1cnJkejYxaA==

The first 15 of each half was shite but the rest was reasonably good

Hmmmm

No little quip as everything I could’ve said may have influenced votes.

Pick your top 3.

Alisson
Szoboszlai
Konate
Van Dijk
Kerkez
Gravenberch
Mac Allister
Wirtz (Endo)
Salah (Chiesa)
Ekitike (Jones)
Gakpo