Robbie Fowler has questioned when one Liverpool favourite is going to become the ‘finished article’.

Jurgen Klopp is currently in the process of rebuilding his squad in order to compete on all fronts once again after our dismal campaign last time out.

The German’s squad is full of talented individuals, but many of those players still have their best years ahead of them, one of those being Darwin Nunez.

The 25-year-old was signed from Benfica last summer and netted 14 times across all competitions, but after he failed to covert a number of big chances against Manchester City on Saturday ex-Red Fowler appears concerned by the fact we’re still waiting to see the best of the Uruguay international.

He wrote about Nunez in The Mirror (via The Boot Room): “Without wishing to sound overly critical, I think it is a viable question to ask: how long do you allow a player to develop from raw and promising, into the finished article.  

“I ask because that’s all I heard throughout the game at the Etihad…Liverpool could surpass Manchester City when Jurgen Klopp converts Darwin Nunez’s rawness into the finished article. For me though, it should be IF, not when. How long do you give him?

“He arrived at Anfield almost 18 months ago now, and yet we are still talking about this potential, this ‘exciting rawness’. But you can’t go through your entire career being raw, can you?”

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The majority of Liverpool supporters have remained patient with Nunez and believe he will soon be firing on all cylinders.

He has improved significantly since last term and the hope is that he will soon prove to supporters why Klopp and Co. splashed £64m on his services last year.

He’s full of pace and energy and has excellent movement, but at times lacks composure in front of goals and can appear rather erratic.

There is concern that there are certain aspects of the Uruguayan’s game that need improvement but cannot be coached, like his first touch, but we have full faith in the ex-Almeria strike to prove his critics wrong and become a vital player for the Reds moving forward.

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Robbie Fowler enjoyed a strong start to life as a manager in the second tier of Saudi Arabian football but his contract was mysteriously terminated and now the former forward has spoken publicly for the first time.

Taking to his X account, the Scouser wrote: ‘Disappointed with how it ended but can’t thank this fella enough, totally on board with our project from the very first minute. Hopefully I can speak more when the time is right’.

It seems pretty clear that the 48-year-old isn’t best pleased to have lost his job at Al-Qadsiah and it’s still quite a sore subject for him.

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With the former Manchester City man sitting in second place in the league, it had been far from disastrous for him in the middle east.

However, the decision was made after just four months in charge that the man who has experiencing coaching Thai side Muangthong United, Australian outfit Brisbane Roar and Indian club East Bengal – wasn’t the right fit any more.

Despite claims of a mutual agreement to end the contract, it seems that the club have left this saga a lot happier than their former gaffer.

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It’ll be a case of dusting himself down and looking for whatever opportunity next feels right for our former No.9, who has already shown he’s not afraid to travel far and wide for work.

We can only look forward to when the ‘Toxteth Terror’ does have the chance to speak about what really happened.

You can view Fowler’s comments via his X account:

Thanks for the gift Andre, it was a pleasure
Disappointed with how it ended but can’t thank this fella enough, totally on board with our project from the very first minute. Hopefully I can speak more when the time is right. pic.twitter.com/dsNEfYTaCJ

— Robbie Fowler (@Robbie9Fowler) November 6, 2023

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Robbie Fowler surprisingly named Unai Emery as a potential Jurgen Klopp successor.

The Spaniard has taken Aston Villa to new heights in recent years following the unsuccessful stint of former Villans boss Steven Gerrard.

“The biggest compliment I can pay Unai Emery is that I think he is one of the few managers who would be up to the challenge of replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool,” the ex-Red told the Mirror.

We’d have some serious reservations over such an avenue of action being taken at Anfield, however, as and when our German tactician opts to call time on his L4 career.

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Fowler did get one thing right

With all due respect to one of the greatest footballers in the annals of Anfield history, the idea is a terrible one.

Emery does boast some serious European pedigree when it comes to the Europa League. That said, his spells at PSG and Arsenal hardly inspire a great deal of confidence in his ability to lead the biggest clubs on the continent.

Certainly, no job comes bigger than that on the red half of Merseyside!

As such, we can confidently say that Fowler did get one thing right: there are indeed only a ‘few’ managers in world football who could be considered. Emery shouldn’t be one of them.

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Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has been sacked from his managerial position at Al-Qadsiyah despite his side currently occupying second-place in the Saudi second division.

This update comes courtesy of sports broadcaster Ben Jacobs on X (formerly Twitter), with the outfit in question having enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season (six wins and two draws), not to mention the most robust defence in the league with only three goals conceded thus far.

Robbie Fowler has been sacked by Saudi second division side Al-Qadsiyah after four months despite being unbeaten in the league.

Fowler has been replaced by ex-Sevilla and Marseille manager Michel.

 “The club appreciates the coach’s efforts and professionalism.” pic.twitter.com/pKq8lSdenO

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) October 27, 2023

The Scouser has enjoyed a handful of coaching roles since 2011, notably becoming player/manager for Muangthong United before picking up the reins at Brisbane Roar and East Bengal, and finally pivoting towards the Middle East.

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It’s a decision that’s sure to have many a football fan across the globe scratching their heads in confusion and wondering what on earth could have possibly gotten into decision-makers at the club.

By all accounts, it’s an absolutely terrific start to a league season, which begs the question as to whether there was a significant breakdown in the relationship between chiefs at Al-Qadsiyah and Fowler.

Whatever the reason, it seems the Saudi second division has lost a talented coach.

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Robbie Fowler has said he ‘wouldn’t mind’ seeing one current Premier League manager taking over from Jurgen Klopp whenever the German leaves Liverpool.

The 56-year-old’s contract at Anfield runs until 2026, so unless things go majorly awry between now and then, he’ll still have plenty more time on Merseyside.

Still, that hasn’t stopped some pundits from discussing who may be an ideal candidate for the unenviable task of succeeding him when he eventually leaves the LFC dugout.

In his latest column for the Sunday Mirror (30/7; page 74), Fowler sang the praises of one of Klopp’s current Premier League peers and championed him as a viable name to consider as the German’s successor.

The Anfield legend wrote: “I’ve always liked Unai Emery, who took over at Villa Park in October. I know he didn’t do that well at Arsenal, although, under him, they did reach the Europa League final where they lost to Chelsea.

“What he didn’t deserve was to be mocked at times at the Emirates for struggling to make himself understood with his less-than-perfect English. That was completely unfair and the wrong perception of a man who, I have thought for some time, is a top, top manager.

“So much so that when, at one stage last season, there was some talk of Jurgen Klopp possibly leaving Liverpool, I’m thinking to myself I wouldn’t mind Emery as the next Liverpool boss. I can’t pay a bigger compliment to him than that.”

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When looking at the impact Emery has made at Aston Villa, you can see why Fowler has talked him up as someone he ‘wouldn’t mind’ taking over from Klopp.

The Midlands club were teetering dangerously close to the relegation zone when the Spaniard replaced Steven Gerrard last October, but a return of 49 points and 15 wins from 25 Premier League matches (Transfermarkt) saw them finish the season in seventh, duly qualifying for the Europa Conference League.

The 51-year-old has a formidable CV when it comes to continental silverware, too, winning the Europa League four times as a manager and also reaching the final of that tournament with Arsenal in 2019.

Furthermore, Emery can lay claim to a Premier League record of his Villa outfit scoring in their first 20 matches following his appointment (talkSPORT), so his teams can certainly make an impact in the final third of the pitch.

His stock is quite high at the moment, as Fowler rightly acknowledges, but with Klopp set to be in the Liverpool job for three more years, hopefully we won’t need to seriously start considering his successor for some time yet.

Let’s enjoy the German while we have him – how many other clubs in England, Europe and worldwide must be looking enviously at us when they look at what he’s produced at Anfield…

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Watching through our Liverpool-tinted glasses at the Saudi Pro League, it’s easy for us to be critical of anyone’s decision to make the move to the middle east for a pay day but Robbie Fowler has spoken out in defence of Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson.

Writing for The Mirror, the manager of fellow Saudi club Al-Qadsiah and former Red said: ‘Let’s get one thing clear though. I’m not going to condemn Jordan, Steven Gerrard or anyone else who has gone to work in Saudi Arabia, or is thinking of doing so…

‘Obviously I know Jordan well and I grew up with Stevie… In the end, I think a lot of it boils down to people just slagging off footballers earning big money because they are footballers. It’s almost as if people from a certain background are not entitled to use their talent to earn big money’.

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There’s many ways to take this whole debate but it’s quite hard to get a balanced argument on the issue from a man who is currently being paid to work in the same country he’s defending.

The Scouser claims in the article that his decision is purely football motivated and that the former Rangers and Aston Villa boss is doing the same thing, which we can’t fully rule out.

However, it’s near impossible to imagine that any of the three men in question would have considered a move to Saudi Arabia if there wasn’t a huge pay day on offer.

Again though, as is said above, if you can get paid well for your work then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to.

The whole issue boils down to the human rights laws in the country and whether being part of a sports washing operation to cover these multitude of sins is something you want to be associated with.

When the ethos of our club is so closely aligned with inclusion and socialist views, to see our current captain and two club legends succumb to the money on offer is and would be quite upsetting to see.

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Liverpool fans are looking outward at who the next signing could be this summer but comments from one former Red seems to suggest that the answer could already be in our dressing room, someone that every club would want to sign.

Writing for The Mirror, Robbie Fowler said: ‘If Trent Alexander-Arnold was put on the transfer list by Liverpool tomorrow, every top club in Europe would want to sign him. Pep Guardiola would love him at Manchester City.

‘Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich exactly the same’.

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It’s clear then that the former Red has a lot for admiration for Trent Alexander-Arnold and this is testament to the high regard in which our No.66 is held within the footballing world – with his exceptional technical ability, vision, and attacking prowess, being key attributes that would be in high demand among the continent’s elite clubs.

For us fans, the prospect of losing the now right-back is undoubtedly a concerning one but the legendary Scouser’s comments also raise intriguing questions about the player’s future at Anfield – could Jurgen Klopp potentially deploy him in a midfield role next season, or is the inverted full-back position the best fit for his current development?

The mention of Guardiola’s admiration for the 24-year-old adds an interesting twist to this faux speculation, as our ongoing pursuit of a new midfield signing this summer may actually lead to the ideal solution lying already within our own ranks.

The former striker’s remarks suggest that the academy graduate could possess all the qualities and potential to excel in the heart of the pitch, saving us millions in the process.

While the prospect of acquiring exciting talents like Jude Bellingham may capture the imagination of supporters, Fowler’s words remind us that the club already possesses a gem in our own squad.

Whether he remains in his familiar right-back role or explores new avenues in midfield, his talent and versatility make him an invaluable asset for the Reds.

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Robbie Fowler believes ‘every top club in Europe would want to sign’ Trent Alexander-Arnold if Liverpool were to put him on the transfer list and has explained that our No. 66 doesn’t need ‘reinvent himself’ in order to break into Gareth Southgate’s England team.

The Scouser has received huge praise in recent weeks after being deployed in a midfield role for both club and country and ex-Red Fowler has compared the Academy graduate’s ability to Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne and England legend David Beckham.

The 24-year-old has often been criticised for his defensive ability and many therefore believe that it makes sense for him to be operating slightly further up the pitch in the middle of the park where there is less of a focus on him defensively.

“Trent doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel!” Fowler wrote in his column for The Mirror (via Liverpool Echo).

“If Trent Alexander-Arnold was put on the transfer list by Liverpool tomorrow, every top club in Europe would want to sign him. Pep Guardiola would love him at Manchester City. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich exactly the same.

“That’s why I don’t buy into this theory that Trent has to reinvent himself if he is going to break into Gareth Southgate’s team. He excelled in midfield as England wiped the floor with Malta and North Macedonia in their two Euro qualifiers last week.

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“The big question now being asked by the pundits is whether he can do the business against some world-class opposition. But Alexander-Arnold is one of England’s best 11 footballers – whether he is operating as a full-back or a midfielder.

“He should be one of the first names on Southgate’s team sheet. The quality he provides on the ball more than outweighs the defensive deficiencies that have been used as a big stick to beat him with.

“The bottom line is that Alexander-Arnold gives England a creativity that they would otherwise be lacking.

“The quality and range of his passing is up there with Kevin De Bruyne. When it comes to set-pieces, he is the best England have produced since David Beckham.”

We really are fortunate to have Alexander-Arnold in our team.

After reinventing the full-back position in recent years with his world-class passing and crossing ability he’s now showcasing his ability in the middle of the park.

It’s no coincidence that when the boyhood Red was moved into his new role during the final 10 games of the campaign we remained unbeaten.

It’ll be interesting to see the plan that Jurgen Klopp has for Trent next term but as things stand there’s no experienced option in our squad that can deputise for the Scouser at right back if he is moved into a permanent midfield position.

#Ep76 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: Liverpool Transfer Committee Show!

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Robbie Fowler believes PSG ‘are nailed on’ to try and sign Mo Salah this summer.

The Liverpool star, who registered 30 goals and 16 assists this term (across all competitions), is now the only remaining figure from the Reds’ famous front three following the recent departure of Bobby Firmino.

There are no reports linking the Egyptian King with a move away from L4, especially given the fact that he only signed a new big-money deal at the club last summer, but ex-Red Fowler wouldn’t be surprised to see clubs coming in for our No. 11.

“For a few months now I’ve thought he could be a wanted man,” he told the Sunday Mirror (via The Boot Room).

“It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if both Madrid and PSG come in for him.

“In fact, the French club are nailed on in my opinion to try and buy him.”

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Despite a pretty dismal campaign for Liverpool Salah can still be happy with the numbers he produced.

Our failure to qualify for the Champions League and pick up more silverware means he’ll now be hungrier than ever to achieve success with his teammates next season.

PSG may be able to offer the former AS Roma man big wages, even more than his £350,000 a week at Anfield (Mirror), we can’t see him leaving Merseyside anytime soon.

He loves the club and that’s why we can’t wait to see him pick up more trophies in the coming years.

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Liverpool fans are already enjoying an exciting start to the summer and now another landmark event has taken place, with the club proudly declaring a new era has begun and thanking two former players in the process.

As reported on liverpoolfc.com: ‘The legendary elite facility, steeped in the glorious past of LFC, is set to create a whole new chapter for Liverpool FC Women’s first team and academy, as they will take the keys to Melwood for their new training base and Professional Game Academy’.

Liverpool FC’s managing director, Andy Hughes, said:“We would like to thank Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher for their work with Torus since we left the site in 2019”.

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When the men’s team left Melwood in 2019 and headed to the new complex in Kirkby that has hosted the Reds since the departure from its historic training home, the old venue has laid somewhat dormant.

As part of the use of the old site whilst its future was decided, both Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher’s charities and academies used the facility which meant that the sporting development heritage continued.

To see both club legends be personally thanked in their work is a great indication of how much the club means to them and that this landmark event wouldn’t have been possible without the two Scousers.

For the Women’s team to now have their own base is amazing and it’ll be exciting to see what the future holds for them, with further plans being submitted to local council soon.

The prospect of a purpose built stadium being used on Melwood Drive would be fantastic and ensure that not only would the women have their own space to finally call theirs but also that the history of the venue could live on.

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Robbie Fowler has tipped Darwin Nunez to become an important player for Liverpool but the ex-Red is ‘not sure’ the 23-year-old will reach the level that many of the Anfield faithful are expecting him to.

Since arriving from Benfica in the summer the Uruguay international has registered 15 goals and four assists (across all competitions) but he has divided opinion with his lack of composure in front of goal often letting him down.

“Up to now he is (too wasteful),” Fowler told Premier League Productions (via HITC). “I said before the show, he will be a player. He will be a handful and he will take chances. And he will score goals.

“But to the level Liverpool fans think he will score the goals? I am not sure we will see that.”

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It’s important to remember that it’s still early days in the pacy forward’s Liverpool career and once he experiences a full pre-season with Jurgen Klopp’s side and sharpens up his English we may then see him firing on all cylinders.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has insisted he’s ‘not worried’ about our No. 27 and tipped the former Almeria man to next season show exactly why Liverpool forked out an initial £64m on him in the summer.

He started yesterday’s 1-0 defeat of Brentford and once again showed off his impressive movement and lightening pace on numerous occasions but let himself down with his final product in front of goal.

His work rate and attitude is exceptional so if he can continue to put the graft in on the training pitch he’ll soon be reaping the rewards.

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Robbie Fowler has joked that he wishes Mo Salah would ‘p*** off’ after the Egyptian King equalled him on Liverpool’s all-time goalscoring chart.

Our No. 11 earned Jurgen Klopp’s side all three points against relegation threatened Nottingham Forest yesterday after netting his 183rd goal for the club.

Last month the forward replaced Fowlers as the club’s all-time Premier League goalscorer and on Monday night the former Chelsea and Roma man broke another of the Scouser’s records as he became the man to score the most left-footed goals in Premier League history (now 108).

“I wish this @MoSalah chap would p*** off.. I’ll have to get the boots back out if he carries on #keepgoingMo,” Fowler wrote on his Twitter page.

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Fowler would never have expected to see his records broken but he won’t mind too much after seeing the success the Egypt international has brought to the club ever since signing back in 2017.

He’s won every major trophy possible at Anfield and although the current campaign has been a disappointing one for the team it’s still proved to be a decent one for Salah personally.

He will now be hungry to extend his records and hopefully help Liverpool into the Champions League spots before the end of the season.

Check Fowler’s tweet below via @Robbie9Fowler on Twitter:

I wish this @MoSalah chap would piss off.. I'll have to get the boots back out if he carries on #keepgoingMo

— Robbie Fowler (@Robbie9Fowler) April 22, 2023

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The post ‘P*** off’ – Fowler sends Salah x-rated message as Liverpool man edges closer to yet another record appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Mo Salah joined Robbie Fowler on 183 goals for Liverpool to leave them in joint-sixth place in the club’s all-time scoring list this afternoon (as per @LFC on Twitter).

After a goalless first half against Nottingham Forest at Anfield, the second 45 minutes swung one way and then another.

Both of Diogo Jota’s goals were cancelled out, firstly by Neco Williams and then Morgan Gibbs-White, before the Egyptian put the Reds in front for a third time on 70 minutes.

Trent Alexander-Arnold curled a free kick from the right into the visitors’ penalty area, with Salah holding off Felipe at the far post to divert the ball into the net via the upright.

It was a goal which showcased our number 11’s instinctive poaching brilliance and shows why he’s now level with the legendary Fowler in Liverpool’s all-time scoring charts.

You can catch a clip of Jota’s second goal below from beinSPORTS’ coverage of the game, shared via @SAIFHD27 on Twitter:

قوووووول مووو صلاااح

via : @SAIFHD27#ليفربول_نوتينجهام #LIVNFO pic.twitter.com/w9atOY4RPY

— سيف يعووود من جديد (@odna27_10) April 22, 2023

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When you’re a fledgling striker seeking to make a name for yourself at Liverpool, there can be few better endorsements to have than one from Robbie Fowler.

The Toxteth native is one of the greatest marksmen in the club’s 131-year history, with his tally of 183 goals placing him sixth on the Reds’ all-time scoring list (lfchistory.net).

Having effortlessly made the transition from academy hopeful to first-team mainstay, the 48-year-old can certainly relate to the journey that Layton Stewart is hoping to take, and he’s given the youngster a glowing compliment.

In a quick word to Neil Jones of GOAL for an article on the Liverpool under-21 sharpshooter, Fowler cheerily remarked: “He doesn’t need my advice. He’s doing well enough on his own…”.

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Imagine what it must be like for the 20-year-old to hear a compliment like that from one of the most iconic strikers in Anfield history.

It’s praise that Stewart has earned, too, with the youngster excelling in the underage ranks. He’s notched 11 goals in 14 games at Premier League 2 level this season, also netting in the EFL Trophy and being given his senior Reds debut in the Carabao Cup tie against Derby last November (Transfermarkt).

The scale of his potential was highlighted by Liverpool academy director Alex Inglethorpe, who once told GOAL: “Do you want a name to look out for? Layton Stewart. He can be anything he wants to be.”

Fowler isn’t the only man to have worn the number 9 at Anfield and been captivated by the 20-year-old’s talent either – the academy gem revealed in an interview for GOAL that he’s become friendly with Bobby Firmino, who regularly sends him congratulatory messages on Instagram.

The sheer depth of quality in Jurgen Klopp’s forward line will make it difficult for the youngster to establish himself in the first team in the near future, but the impression he’s already made on legendary Reds strikers both past and present bodes very well for him at this juncture of his career.

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Robbie Fowler has lamented the dearth of goals from Liverpool’s midfielders this season, describing it as a ‘massive problem’ for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

While Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez and Bobby Firmino have all smashed double figures for the campaign (Transfermarkt), the men behind them on the pitch have been nowhere near as productive in front of goal.

The Toxteth native highlighted the issue in his latest column for The Mirror, writing: “What is Liverpool’s first choice midfield? Even after a shocking season, it’s probably Henderson-Thiago-Fabinho.

“Second question: how many goals have they scored between them? The answer is a big fat zero. Yep, you read that right. No goals from a midfield trio that so very nearly wrote history. In any competition. So far, they have made a combined 99 appearances so far, and not a single goal.

“It gets worse. In all those appearances, they have three assists between them, two for Henderson and one from Thiago. And that is where the disaster of this season stems from.”

Fowler continued: “Goals are a massive problem – despite Mo Salah having another inconsistent season. Nunez has done okayish, they’ve been without Diaz and Jota for long periods, and Gakpo, well, not great but he’s new.

“From midfield though, it’s nothing. Keita hasn’t scored either, neither has Jones or Milner; Oxlade-Chamberlain and Bajcetic have one apiece. That’s two goals from seven midfielders. Only Harvey Elliott has a half-respectable total.

“It’s the same with assists, seven from 11 midfielders used this season. Compare that to Manchester City, and you see the problem. 35 goals from midfield, 40 assists.”

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As one of the greatest goalscorers in Liverpool’s history, Fowler is extremely well placed to speak about that particular art, and his concerns about the lack of output from our current midfield are very much justified.

Elliott (five) and Fabio Carvalho (three) are our only midfielders with more than one goal in 2022/23 (Transfermarkt), and they both feature primarily in an advanced role or even as part of the front three.

It’s figures like those mentioned by the 48-year-old which highlight just why so many Reds fans are desperate for a potent number 10 to be brought into the team.

Philippe Coutinho performed that role masterfully during his time at Liverpool, netting 54 times for us in 201 appearances (Transfermarkt), but in truth we’ve lacked a genuinely reliable goalscoring attacking midfielder ever since his departure.

The men in the middle simply need to contribute more in the final third, starting with tonight’s trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United.

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