Thanks, @distancecovered.bsky.social. I've now got this twinge that the Summer of 2026 will be to CBs what 2023 was to our CMs. Total revolution. Read up and prepare for the carnage.

Finding a new centre-back for Liverpool on my Substack this week.

Hey, @distancecovered.bsky.social. You teasing data mofo. Gotta wait until Friday for you to put down the pie/charts to finish this? (distancecovered.substack.com/p/scouting-c...

I’d argue the same tbh. This is more about Kerkez actually getting to the byline again. Something we’ve barely witnessed all season.

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Thanks to @distancecovered.bsky.social, @bychrissmith.bsky.social, Chloe Bloxam, @adamlsmith.bsky.social and @andrewbeasleyfootball.com for giving their views on you-know-who to @sport.theguardian.com. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

With Cody out with an injury and Mo heading to AFCON (no matter what happens tomorrow), I agree with @distancecovered.bsky.social that we may see the diamond for a bit longer. At least until Cody and Mo are back and Liverpool maybe sign another winger in January. open.substack.com/pub/distance...

This sums up the weekend. open.substack.com/pub/distance...

Excellent piece from @distancecovered.bsky.social, who is one of the few LFC writers who actually writes well and hasn't let the internet completely rot his brain.

I’d prioritise rebalancing the squad first. Guehi and Semenyo would help. Then I’d weigh up whether Slot is still terrible at his job. If yes, liquidate.

Liverpool very good at 0-0 followed by a monumental head loss after conceding the opener from yet another set piece.

I recently subscribed to Josh Williams' @distancecovered.bsky.social newsletter/podcast and I got some gift months of subscription to give out, let me know if you are interested #LFC

This is great from @distancecovered.bsky.social and @htomufc.bsky.social, but it’s absolutely damning of either Slot or the recruitment team at Liverpool (or both). Not sure what the solution is, other than spending a small fortune in January (again). youtu.be/crQQtbQwLLw?...

This is why they invite me to parties.

I guested on the latest @distancecovered.bsky.social podcast - a Q&A special. Includes data on a potential Mac Allister fall off, height vs set pieces and Slot's player turnover with Feyenoord. Which LFC new boys have been good or bad? What's up with Salah? And who are my five favourite bands?

Given the amount of squad and starting XI churn I would have taken 15 points from 7 at the start of the season... I told @distancecovered.bsky.social that the start of the season was our "period of maximum vulnerability". Not sure I pictured this journey of getting to 15 from 7 tho....#lfc

I saw Josh make a brilliant point the other day about how in Klopp's system, all the players fit into it perfectly playing their natural games, whereas right now if you just set them all to natural it would be a complete shitshow. I think that's our issue right now.

Had another look at Liverpool against Palace last night. Enjoyed this moment in the first half. Funny bad.

Did Liverpool play well against Burnley? What’s up with Salah? Has Wirtz arrived yet? How good is Gravenberch? Should we worry about Atletico Madrid and Everton? @distancecovered.bsky.social and I discuss all this in his new podcast episode: distancecovered.substack.com/p/episode-08...

"I'd say he's very similar to Odegaard..." @distancecovered.bsky.social on new #avfc signing: Harvey Elliott.

Will Liverpool ever stop spending? Why is Richard Hughes willing to dedicate over £100m to Isak? Has FSG’s transfer policy changed? Could Isak play with Hugo Ekitike? Liverpool still need a new centre-back, right? @distancecovered.bsky.social and I get into all this in his latest podcast:

Very good this. It’s important during the frenzy of transfers to understand the potential risks, which there clearly are with Ekitike. Hopefully helps with tempering expectations.

This sums up my opinions. He’s not the finished article. He’s not a clinical number 9. But he’s young & offers much more to his game than a typical striker. He can link the attack & create chances. I don’t think he sets the world alight, but there’s a player in there. bsky.app/profile/dist...

Fair, balanced, assessment of the new kid on the block. Lots to sort out, but backing Slot to improve players has paid off massively so far. Let's hope that trend continues.

I like that! Saw Josh Williams @distancecovered.bsky.social mention shades of Nwankwo Kanu, and I loved that!

Honoured to be the guest on a Jota episode of @distancecovered.bsky.social's podcast. It's free to listen. Just to say, it's emotional. I get really choked up near the end, so bear that in mind. But it's also a celebration of the great player and better person he was. I'm grateful to have done it.

Few days in Naples.

I freaking love Josh. And yes I’d keep Nunez coz he would love to play with Wirtz

As we get closer to seeing him in red, this is as good a piece as any on the magician that is Florian Wirtz.

Lovely write up here, typical of Josh and his work. I’m really excited to see what Wirtz does in the Premier League.

“An artist, albeit one who gets really angry whenever somebody steals his brushes” Really excellent analysis by Josh on a seriously excellent talent - Florian Wirtz.

Frimpong isn’t Trent’s replacement. Wirtz is.

Great article on what Wirtz brings

"The only player in the final third counting the beat." What a fucking line.

If this doesn't get you excited from @distancecovered.bsky.social, I don't know what will.

You all are in for a treat. The thing that is absolutely mind blowing to me that was pointed out by Josh Williams with @distancecovered.bsky.social is the amount of touches he takes per game compared to, well, everyone. Recommend his piece on it as well.

Liverpool signing great players makes my job a lot easier.

Took a little dive into @distancecovered.bsky.social and really enjoyed this. No to the 9s? I'm sold.

Suitably worshipful and spot on tactically 👏👏👏

Liverpool signing great players makes my job a lot easier.

Just recorded the latest @distancecovered.bsky.social podcast, out later today. Josh and I had fun debating whether we'd like Liverpool to sign Isak or Wirtz in an ideal 'you get one ~£100m player' world...

Szobo playing as an eight tonight. C̶h̶e̶r̶k̶i̶ M̶a̶r̶m̶o̶u̶s̶h̶ Wirtz.

Top drawer assessment from Josh

The piece I’ve been avoiding. Not so bad in the end. Frimpong is nduja.

Making the most of the Florian Wirtz link while it’s still alive. distancecovered.substack.com

With Frimpomg looking likely, a fullback department of runners seems to follow how Slot said he was super impressed with the makeup of PSG

FB department consisting of nothing but runners

As @distancecovered.bsky.social wrote about the Arsenal game, we may have seen hints in it about the tactics in a post-Trent world. Having full backs bombing on the wings, with Mo dropping deeper in buildup and more passing coming from the two sixes, could be one aspect we see more.

Lovely snippet from @distancecovered.bsky.social of what we might be about to see next season. The best time to experiment is when the league is in the bag (with the caveat that I don't think Arsenal were as on it with their press as they have been at their best this season).