David Lynch ep 34

Hello and welcome to the next episode of All Things Liverpool. I'm Lewis Nolan, a reporter for Sportsmail, and I'm delighted to say that I'm joined by David Lynch once again to talk about All Things Liverpool.

Brighton

Lewis

Unfortunately, David, we're going to talk about Liverpool loss because Liverpool lost 3-2 against Brighton on Monday, and Liverpool did take the lead twice, first through Harvey Elliott after brilliant work from Sobheslai, Salah and Bradley, who was just fantastic in the build-up to the goal.

Brighton respond to level the score, and then Sobheslai's cross in the first half somehow goes in, but then in the second half, Brighton scored twice to eventually win the game. And I wouldn't say personally that it was an undeserved result, but I do want to focus on one player in particular, because Harvey Elliott, he managed to get a goal, managed to get an assist, but his comments after the game suggested that he would do what's best for his career, and I wondered whether we might be seeing the last of him in a Liverpool shirt?

David

Yeah, it feels a little bit like that. I mean, it's a notable kind of shift in tone from, I know he spoke to the Echo a few weeks back and kind of, you know, sounded like someone who wanted to stay and fight, and it's just very, very sort of interesting that things kind of seem to have shifted with him slightly.

I wonder whether there's been a conversation behind the scenes and a kind of realisation that the opportunities maybe still aren't going to be there next season, particularly with the business that Liverpool do. So, it does look a little likely, or it feels a little likely after reading those quotes that maybe he'll move on. And I think that's sad, by the way, if he does.

I mean, it makes sense for Liverpool in that they haven't used him enough this season. For him, at the age he is now, probably best to go out and play. But, you know, he obviously loves playing for Liverpool.

It's the club he's supported all his life. And, you know, for so much of his time here, you thought he's going to be here for the next 10, 15 years. And then the change of manager, you know, it just isn't quite the right tactical fit for what he wants.

And all of a sudden, it's all in doubt. So, I think that is quite sad. But, you know, like I said, he does have to, and like he said, I guess, you know, he does have to look after his own career and another season on the bench, a key time for the kind of kicking on in his development is probably not going to do him any good.

And as for Liverpool, you know, they've got other options that they want to bring in, other options they currently prefer to use. And maybe they just can't give Harvey Elliot the time he needs on the pitch to fulfil his potential completely. So, it does seem to be heading towards an exit.

But I do think, you know, Liverpool will be asking for a sizeable fee because I think they'll know just how good he is. He might not fit into this team, but he's an unbelievable young footballer. So, he won't be coming cheap and he won't be giving them away, that's for sure.

Lewis

It's a shame because he is a Liverpool fan and he is extremely talented because you can see whenever he's on the ball. But Harvey Elliot, he hasn't been a regular starter this season. And speaking of starters, Slott made a number of changes against Brighton where you might not have expected certain players to play.

So, for instance, you had Federico Chiesa up front, you had Gerald Quanzo in the back line. And I'm wondering whether alongside Harvey Elliot, perhaps there's a contingent of players that started against Brighton that maybe we might not see in the Liverpool shirt again.

David

Yeah, wouldn't be surprising.

I think Chiesa in particular, I mean, I saw the quotes from the breakout, the embargoed section of the press conference ahead of this game, where Arne Slott had kind of suggested that Chiesa might have a future at Liverpool. And I have to be honest, I don't really believe him on that front. You know, it's just very, very difficult to see how he is still at Liverpool next season because, you know, from his perspective, he can't want another season like this where he's completely on the sidelines.

I mean, he's been fit for a long time and he's still not been playing. He can't get in on the left. He can't get in on the right.

And then he makes his first Premier League start finally yesterday. But that's through the central role where we know Liverpool are going to look to strengthen this summer. So, you know, he's not going to want that, is he? And I just think it's quite clear that Slott doesn't fancy him ahead of his other options.

And, you know, he's just not someone who's going to get in. And you look at his performance yesterday and you can maybe see why. I don't want to be too harsh because he's lacking in rhythm.

He's not sharp at the moment. But obviously, he's not playing for a reason. It's to do with what's being seen on the training ground.

And I'm guessing it's pretty similar to what we saw last night, which is kind of he takes one shot, 12 touches, five passes, I think it is. And he loses seven out of eight duels, which is an awful lot. So it's just not working out for him really, is it? And I think, you know, Liverpool will probably be able to get a decent feed to send him back to Italy.

For him, it would make sense to go back there and get his move. And, you know, at the end of the day, he's going to leave with the best wishes of everyone because I know he's very well liked behind the scenes. And no one's questioned his professionalism at any point this season.

But it's sometimes moves just don't work out. And I think this is in that category, despite what Arnaud Slott said. I think there's going to be a market for him this summer.

I think Liverpool will engage with that.

Lewis

And with Gerold Kwanzaa, I've seen that he's been linked with Premier League clubs, with Bundesliga clubs. I personally think he's very talented.

I just think perhaps he's come into the wrong environment at Liverpool, where Konart is ahead of him, Van Dijk's ahead of him, and he might need playing time. Is a move away the best for his career? And would that necessarily be a permanent move away from Liverpool?

David

Yeah, that's a tough one to say at the moment. There's definitely interest in there in him, which gives Liverpool a bit of a decision to make.

And that, you know, it's my understanding that the player himself would quite like to maybe make that move if there's something there. I think, you know, he wouldn't be totally against it, I'll put it that way, rather than maybe he's necessarily pushing for a move, because he is a character who does want to play, you know, believes in his own ability and knows he's good enough to play elsewhere, still at a very, very high level, if not quite at Liverpool's level at the moment. And, you know, again, it's just one of those that you kind of thought last season, back end of last season, you're like, this kid is going to be a Liverpool centre-half for a long time.

Maybe not the first choice next season, but that he will be in and around it this year and have a good season. And, you know, he has played some games and he's done OK sometimes. But I just think the lack of rhythm, again, is killing him.

And, you know, when he comes in, he just doesn't look as sharp. And he's had some good games, but he's had some bad games in there as well and a few notable errors. So, you know, if you've got that combination of factors that Liverpool could bank profit on him and his pure profit in PSR terms, you know, he's not way high up the manager's plans.

Therefore, they would be willing to make the sale. And there is interest. That's a combination of factors that put you towards a sale, really.

I think the only thing that I would say, and this goes to Harvey Elliott as well, really, a lot depends on what they're able to do in terms of sign-ins. You know, it makes no sense to let Kwanzaa go if you don't have a replacement. It makes no sense to let Harvey Elliott go if you don't have someone who can fulfil his role in the squad.

And there is also, I think, a kind of critical mass of exits that they maybe will wish to avoid. You know, you start getting kind of six, seven, eight exits of players who've picked up significant minutes this season. It starts to become a bit too much in terms of turnover.

So, you know, I think all these things are throwing in. It's why it's kind of hard to offer certainty at the moment about who exactly will go. But I think there are a lot of them.

You know, it's easier to name who's not on the market this summer, really.

Lewis

Well, we'll keep an eye on it because it's going to be a busy summer irrespective of who leaves and who comes in.

Frimpong

Lewis

But speaking of incomings, we all expect that Jeremy Frimpong will probably be the first signing of the season.

Is he someone that we can expect to be announced in the coming week? Or is it something that will come, say, immediately after the final Crystal Palace game?

David

Yeah, so it's my understanding he's been in England over the last kind of 48 hours or so putting the finishing touches to a move. So I wouldn't be shocked if maybe we're even here today. I think maybe it was kind of a desire to avoid announcing a signing on the game day for Liverpool.

But yeah, I wouldn't rule out that he'd be announced either today or tomorrow, really. So just have to kind of keep an eye on that. There's no reason for Liverpool to delay.

Leverkusen's season is over. They can trigger that release clause now. So, you know, maybe we could see it in the build-up to the weekend.

We'll kind of have to see in terms of that. But it is, you know, by all accounts, the move is very close now. So that could be the signing of the summer wrapped up.

And I think that gives you an insight into how proactive Liverpool want to be and the fact that they want to get the business done early so that the manager can, you know, have something he was completely denied last summer, which was a full pre-season with his squad.

Lewis

Yeah, I remember Fabinho's transfer announcement always sticks my mind because he was announced right after the Champions League final. But the earlier, the better for Slot, because as you said, he was denied the full pre-season with his squad.

So we'll keep an eye on that. I did want to ask you about what the situation will look at right in the future, because reports have suggested that Conor Bradley will be first choice, which isn't a bad move considering how talented he is. But can Slot really juggle that? Because Frimpong is older than Bradley and he himself is an incredibly talented footballer.

And it seems, doesn't, does it feel like a bit of a waste to potentially have someone entering their prime, waiting on the sidelines while Conor Bradley plays more games than him right back?

David

Yeah, this is the interesting part of it, really. I wonder whether the thinking with Bradley is he needed something, didn't he, as a kind of fail-safe if his injury problems persist. And if he has ups and downs, which is natural for a very young player, which is what he is, sometimes you're going to need to take him out of the firing line.

And that, for me, really was kind of why I was a little bit sceptical about the idea of Frimpong signing, because he does seem a little high profile to come in and be a backup. And also Conor Bradley is way too good to be backup to anybody else as well. So you kind of have that competing element.

I do wonder with Frimpong whether kind of you really do see him as that backup winger as well on the right-hand side, kind of, you know, that was what Chiesa was supposed to be to Salah this season. Maybe Frimpong can be that and see slightly more minutes than Chiesa did this year. And so the fact he can back up a couple of positions, maybe even play it left-back from time to time if necessary, maybe that gives you options to do that.

Because to have him come in solely as a backup right-back, it doesn't really make sense. As you say, he's a very good player, well known through Europe and would obviously want to play fairly frequently. So, yeah, maybe the fact he is a little bit versatile is kind of what makes sense there.

And that will still allow Conor Bradley to be that first choice right-back.

Lewis

Yeah, I suppose with Salah going to AFCON and maybe slowing down towards the end of seasons now that he's getting a little bit older, maybe it's not the worst idea in the world to bring in Frimpong and potentially rest Salah for certain games of the season. But, I mean, he's not a bad option to have in the squad, put it that way.

Kerkez

Lewis

But he's not the only addition in defense, it seems like, because lots of reports have suggested that Liverpool are advancing on a deal for Milos Kocas of Bournemouth. And I think stylistically, he's a brilliant Andy Robertson successor if Slott wants someone who's very similar to Robertson. And, you know, because he's got that type of up and down energy in him.

How happy would you be with his signing? Because I know you've mentioned Ait Nori before, do you think that he's the best left-back candidate out there?

David

I would say Ait Nori is slightly further ahead of Kocas in terms of his development. So, you know, I think in terms of if you were judging the two signings out and out, maybe Ait Nori would be the best signer. But we don't know about the kind of conditions of the both deals, what would be expected in terms of wages, you know, how much Bournemouth and Wolves would be expecting respectively to sell those players.

And also, you know, Liverpool have a really good idea of who's the better stylistic fit. I mean, physically, what Kocas can do in terms of getting up and down in his pace, he is better than Ait Nori in that regard, definitely. And I think if you've got that physical base, it kind of maybe chimes with what the recruitment staff said a few years ago in terms of looking for kind of standout physical traits sometimes or standout traits in terms of your footballing quality.

And if you've got those, then the rest can kind of fall into place with good coaching. So I think the one question mark I'd slightly have over Kocas at the minute is in terms of attacking output. But, you know, these things, Liverpool are very, very good at predicting these things and sort of, you know, judging whether you put him in an environment where he's got better forwards around him and you can put him in position more to put crosses in, that suddenly that end product comes.

So, you know, they know far, far more than I do about judging footballers and who's a good fit. So that would be the only question mark I'd have around him, you know, but he is so, so young, got a lot of experience already at the top level. So I'm sure, you know, he'd be a very good signing.

I haven't quite got any info at the moment on where the kind of club-to-club talks have started yet, but we know 100% Liverpool have sounded him out. They know what the deal would look like on the player side. And yeah, it's all about whether they move forward with that because he's definitely 100% one who's very high on the left-back shortlist.

So it wouldn't be a surprise if they're moving forward with that now.

Lewis

Yeah, he's definitely had an outstanding season at Bournemouth, I would say. But there was one thing that I saw, which is that his potential price could be something in the region of £45m.

I know that Liverpool are really good at getting good deals, but that does seem a bit pricey for a left-back. But then I was thinking perhaps there's something that we could do in terms of sending players to Bournemouth, because I know if you take, for instance, Kepa, his future at Bournemouth is far from certain and obviously Kelleher will be heading out the door. Is there something that Liverpool would do, something like that, to maybe lower the price or where it would be a more fathomable deal?

David

I think with those kind of things though, is that they don't like to link two deals in any way and to shave money off one to do the end of the day, they need to kind of help each other out in PSR terms.

Maybe there is some kind of agreement they can come to there, but I think ultimately why would Bournemouth budge on their asking price for a very good young player who, like I say, has got all that Premier League experience and in theory is only going to get better? It doesn't really make sense for them to give any ground on that, even if they have got that interest in Kelleher. I think for Liverpool, they are probably going to have to think of this. If you do go down the route of Kerkes and he is the one on the shortlist that they aggressively pursue, then you have got to kind of think of it, I guess, as £45 million to maybe sort out your left-back spot for the next sort of six, seven, eight years is not a bad deal at the end of the day.

I am sure with hindsight they would have paid an awful lot more for Robertson if they had been asked to, because it did just fix that position for so long. Pulling off a deal like that every summer is very, very difficult. Liverpool have made savings in other positions, haven't they? They did it with Gravenberg.

I mean, what is he worth now? Alexis McAllister, what is he worth now? Mo Salah. There are so many throughout the team that they bought for fees that did not reflect their worth in the slightest. If they have got to bite the bullet and maybe pay through the nose a little bit for a player who they really do think is the one, then I just think they should do it, to be honest.

Lewis

I mean, I guess if you look at how much someone, a team like Arsenal, has spent on the defence and how much Man City have spent on the defence, I guess £45 million in the context of things, in the context of challenge for titles, is not necessarily too much of an ask.

David

Well, you also look at how much Arsenal have spent on left-backs alone, which is the exact same position, and then all of a sudden kind of stumbled on Luis Skelly, who is very, very good and cost them absolutely nothing. Apparently, they are in the market for another left-back this summer, which I find remarkable.

So, yes, Liverpool's left-back spending, even if they do go for Kirkess, will pale into insignificance in comparison to that. So, they are not doing too badly.

Lewis

No, not at all.

Wirtz

Lewis

But I talked about prices, and I have to circle back to Bayer Leverkusen, because while Liverpool look certain to sign Jeremy Frimpong, the suggestions that Liverpool could go in for Florian Wurz just won't go away, and this is despite the potential price tag being in excess of £100 million. Obviously, the club have been known to spend big on players. You think of Darren Nunez, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson, and also the failed pursuit of Caicedo.

Is Wurz someone who Liverpool would be prepared to pay that price for, especially given how much they have to do in the summer?

David

Yes, that is very much my understanding, is that if there is any chance, and the situation, as far as I am aware, hasn't kind of moved since a couple of days ago, really, which was that Liverpool really like the player. They would be willing to pay for him. They do really, really want to add him to the team, but they still kind of believe that his preference might be to stay in Germany, whether that is Leverkusen for another year, or to go to Bayern Munich.

But if there is any indication whatsoever that he wants to come to the Premier League, they will be there, and they know what the deal would look like. They know it would be extremely expensive. But I have shown that tendency down the years to, if it is someone who they believe will be a game-changer, then they will absolutely pay it.

I think with his performances over the last few years, he has arguably shown that. Again, he is another one who is very young. There is a lot of years ahead of him, and he can get even better.

So, that is extremely exciting. So, it is just a wait and see at the moment. I know the reports keep coming out, and there is a lot of talk about this, but I do not think anyone can truly know what is in the player's head at the moment.

So, it is a case of waiting for that decision. Like I say, if he is to move to the Premier League, then Liverpool want to be there. It is interesting that if he does say that he wants the Premier League, it is going to be Liverpool, isn't it? Because City now, by all accounts, have pulled out of the race.

So, again, that is exciting for Liverpool. But Bayern Munich are still there, and we will just have to see. We cannot predict what the player is going to feel in this moment.

Lewis

I suppose it would be bad to figure out how he would fit into the team, even if we do not know that Liverpool will win the race for him. But let us just go along with that for a moment. Do you think that... Who would he compete with? Because I know there are suggestions from people that Soberslein needs more goals and assists, but obviously he got the goal last night.

So, who would he be competing with? Would he be competing for a number 10 position? Would he be playing on the left? Would he potentially be playing as a false nine? How would he fit into this Liverpool team?

David

Yes, very hard to predict, and not anything that anyone at Liverpool will speak to you about at the moment, given he is nowhere near to sign in or any knowledge that Liverpool will win the race yet. So, very, very tough to predict. I guess that versatility is something that massively appeals, just the fact that you can use him off the left and have Kirkess steaming on the outside of him sometimes.

You could use him in that attacking midfield role, particularly if you say you are at home at Anfield and you want to unpick someone and it is going to be a game where you are up against a low block. It is his best position as well, so obviously he will play an awful lot of time there if he does sign for Liverpool. But I do think that false nine would be appealing as well.

We have spoken about the fact that the centre-forward market is a bit wishy-washy at the moment. There are options there, but not anyone that you would go, yes, he is nailed on, he will definitely work. Jacarés, I am not sure he will do it in this league.

Maybe he will, maybe he won't. Sesko, Ekotike to me both have elements of rawness to the game, and when you are going from Darwin Nunes, you do not necessarily want to add that. Osserman, big question marks about how expensive that would be and whether he would be the right fit or whatever.

I think that false nine role, for me, at the end of the day, Liverpool do not necessarily need a centre-forward there, they just want an elite forward. We talked about it in the context of Ousmane Dembele, for example, playing there for PSG at the moment. It is just about getting quality on the pitch.

I guess him in the false nine would actually really allow you to do that and it would allow you to keep that energy and that nice mix that they have got in midfield at the moment. I see a lot about that that would work, but as I say, it is all kind of speculation at the moment because we will see if they win the race or not. He would be an exciting signing because of that.

You do not know where he is going to be. We know he is a brilliant player and he can play several positions, so it would be a sensible move if he could get it over the line.

Lewis

It is such a contrast to last summer when nothing was happening.

We are potentially talking about Florian Wurtz potentially signing for over £100 million. It is exciting. We will run with it for now.

Crystal Palace

Lewis

There is still one more game in the Premier League season left though and that is Liverpool against Crystal Palace on the weekend, which will be the game where Liverpool lift the Premier League trophy. Obviously, Crystal Palace are also FA Cup champions and I think Oliver Glasner has done a brilliant job with Crystal Palace, but I cannot help but feel that the game on the weekend could be really funny because both teams will be celebrating. What can we even expect to happen on the pitch? A high-scoring game, end-to-end, loss of rotation from both sides?

David

I do not think we are going to see the best possible version of both sides.

I think it is going to be absolutely chaos in the stands. Those Palace fans who get down there will be overjoyed, won't they, in celebrating their success that they had, which is fantastic to see, by the way, because I have got so much affection for Crystal Palace. I think they are a great club, great fans, great stadium, great team, great manager.

I really, really like them. The fan culture is brilliant, so it is great to see that. Other clubs winning these trophies is good as well.

I think it is good for English football. I would say that about Newcastle as well, despite the fact that they defeated Liverpool in the League Cup. You do want this kind of threat from all clubs, really.

I think it is going to be one big celebration, really. In terms of what is on the pitch, it is very, very hard to predict. I had a friend who backed 3-3 in the game last night, so he had a good idea that maybe we are going to see something kind of similar to that.

Two teams who are not maybe throwing their bodies on the line to stop goals and are just kind of playing open football and having a crack at each other. We will have to see, but I think regardless of the scoreline, no matter which way it goes, I think both sets of fans are going to enjoy every minute of it, really. Then, obviously, what happens after the final whistle for Liverpool fans is going to be truly special.

Lewis

I almost feel bad about asking this because it is going to be a day of celebration for both sides, but would you be keeping a special eye on Adam Morton if he plays? Potentially an Anfield audition for him?

David

Yeah, it is an interesting one. I know he was liked by Liverpool when he was at Blackburn. They were kind of in the mix and kind of considering it before he moved to Crystal Palace.

Everything they will have seen of him since in the Crystal Palace shirt will not have put them off. My only thing around this is, I would have thought, I saw reports recently that said £60m, £70m would bring them to the table. I believe there may even be a gentleman's agreement between the player and Palace around that kind of figure.

That surprises me. I think he is worth a lot more, to be honest. If he is available for that, and Liverpool do definitely want to add him to that position, then what a signing he would be.

I think he is fantastic. I would like to think they would be kind of in the mix if the player was to come on the market. As I say, I know they have liked him a long time, but whether that turns into anything, we kind of will have to see.

It is always a pleasure to watch him play because he is absolutely fantastic.

Lewis

I completely agree. I would love to see him in a Liverpool shirt and £60m does seem quite fair or quite reasonable.

We will see what happens there. Moving on to what really matters and that is lifting the Premier League trophy at Anfield. This has been a day in the making for 35 years because we have not seen this at Anfield in front of a packed stadium because of coronavirus, obviously.

What will this day mean to the club and what will it mean to the fans because it has been so long since we have had this moment to celebrate in a stadium?

David

Yes, it is going to be special and emotional as well, I suspect. It is just kind of weird because it literally has been 35 years for a lot of people dreaming of this moment, really. I know personally, I thought about it a lot.

What would it be like walking up to Anfield on that sunny day and knowing that this is going to come and they are going to lift the title and the trophy is going up. Everyone is going to be there in party mode and enjoying it. Yes, it is kind of mad that it is actually finally happening now.

I think there is going to be a few tears shed in the stands but a lot of partying and enjoying it. Everybody should soak it up because they have had so many near misses, missing out by a point, missing out to Manchester United a few years back, missing out to City so many times. So many years where they have gone close and finished second.

It kind of felt like it was never going to come at one point and then obviously it did come and then it was awful because of COVID. Now, finally, you lose Jurgen Klopp and you just think the City juggernaut is going to keep rolling, Arsenal are there again, Liverpool are resetting under a new manager. I just did not think it was going to be this year and now it is here.

It has been brilliant as well because you have had four games to kind of soak it up and you saw the away end at Brighton last night. It was just superb. But the real cherry on the cake is going to be Sunday, isn't it? It makes it even better that Palace are going to be there, FA Cup winners, Community Shield kind of preview.

So the entire stadium is just going to be fully joyous. I just cannot wait to get in there really and see it. I hope the weather is good again because that always helps.

Then it is about after getting the work done and then get out and see mates and friends and stuff who have been on this journey as well, who have been waiting for this for three decades. So it is going to be absolutely special and I just cannot wait

Lewis

Personally, I think Crystal Palace should bring the FA Cup too and they can just go around and see both trophies.

David

Genuinely, yes. I agree. It is going to be a great award for Liverpool fans.

Lewis

So just enjoy the day. David, that is my final question. I leave you now with Liverpool being the most successful club in England.

Thank you, David.