Saint Pete

Well in fairness we know at least 3 of those are not fully fit.

Anyone know why Yoshida is not getting picked? Fitness concerns after World Cup? If not for fitness reasons, I don’t get how anyone can think Stephens and Hoedt are a better bet in centre defence than Yoshida, very odd. The midfield boys are going to need to have a very good day to protect that defence, but feel we could be a threat going forward with this line up. Hopefully JWP can help get better service to Austin so may see more of him this week.

As long as he doesn't say "We are growing" after every defeat or "A draw is as good as a win", I'll be fine with Sparky's excuses.

Yep, McCarthy for me - without his saves in the earlier part of game, we'd have lost. Good performances later on from others, but McCarthy MoM for overall impact on result.

Yep, good post. I don't understand why some are so quick to write off the one striker we have who has a consistent goalscoring record throughout his career. If he gets decent service he will score, simple as that. You can criticise his fitness, but not his goalscoring ability which is better than any other striker at the club, no question. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yes, agree Everton will be a tougher proposition this time around. I just don't agree with some that 3 at the back is necessarily a total lost cause that should never be considered in any scenario from now on. It probably wasn't the best formation for Burnley at home but could be of use against teams with more attacking threats. Also, I don't think the change in formation was the only reason for our improvement in second half, it was also the changes in personnel, with more dynamic sharper players coming on. That said, at this point I would go with a 4231 for Everton as it allows us to carry the impetus of that last half hour into this game more easily. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Strange comment. Sounds like you want Ings to fail just so you can slag Hughes off again? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

We played with 3 at the back at Everton in May and were seconds away from getting a win. Just saying. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Austin will score. Strange that Yoshida is missing so assume he has an injury or is not considered fit enough yet? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Unbelievably good deal for Liverpool then for a player with Ings injury record. I would have been happy with a loan deal but this is clearly not a loan but a permanent 4 year deal, which is a MASSIVE risk for someone with so many serious injuries and so few appearances and goals in recent seasons. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Going nowhere kind of says it all for our strategy in last few seasons! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

With this left back merry go round, I reckon one of Targett or McQueen will go tomorrow and we will maybe sign a right back as cover for Cedric. Unfortunately I can't see us pulling off a deal for a striker at this stage unless we do manage to shift some others like Forster and Long. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

If we have to sell someone to free up a squad place for a new signing, personally I would rather let Targett go than JWP. Left back is a position that we are better covered in than midfield and don’t understand why Targett is suddenly seen by many as “must keep” on the strength of a couple of decent passes in a meaningless pre season game. I think we would also get better value for Targett at this point particularly if Fulham still interested.

Good to see the right footed cross for the first. So often you see players turning back onto their favoured foot when played on the “wrong” side.

You think we could get Sessegnon for £15m? Dream on! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yes, a resurgent Gabbi is what I am pinning a lot of hope on at the moment too! He certainly seems to look a lot happier and the noises coming out that he is definitely not looking for a move now are encouraging me that under Hughes we will see a lot better from him. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Oh really? Given that "fact", it's quite impressive that he's managed to get most of the teams he's managed into the top half of the premier league then, no? I get that many wouldn't have chosen Hughes in an ideal world, but surely we need to give him a chance and get behind him before writing him off so early FFS. Things could be worse, we could still be managed by Pellegrino (and be in the championship this season)! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

In our current squad position, can't help thinking that we would be best off selling Targett now, assuming we can get a decent offer. If Bertrand is staying for another season, Targett would be second choice anyway and Hughes has said that we need to move players out now in order to sign others. Ideally we would want to move on the likes of Forster Long Davis but reality is they are not marketable and difficult to shift for any financial gain given the contracts they are on. Whereas Targetts decent loan spell at Fulham makes him marketable right now and at least we are still covered well in left back position with Bertrand and McQueen. Nothing against him but would be best decision for the squad and put us in a better position to strengthen another area of the team where we are less well covered. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

It’s both. Yoshi has definitely got better but we don’t have any defender near the level of Toby, Van Dijk or Fonte (at his peak) now. Obviously we have to wait and see what level Vestergaard is at but fair to assume he will need some time to settle in the Prem.

Well, Hughes and coaching team certainly improved performances and commitment of the average set of demoralised players at the back end of last season. Or have we forgotten that already on the back of one defeat in a meaningless early pre-season friendly?

Still hoping the second part of that is wide of the mark and we have a better and less injury prone striker target in mind.

Hmmm, bit of a reality check that! Probably a good thing at this stage as reinforces the need for more quality to be brought in attack wise. Also a reminder to Hughes if he needed it that Hoedt and Stephens are not good enough as starters if we want to improve this season.

Don't you mean we've moved down and he's moved down?! We can hardly be too smug about the direction we've been heading in for past couple of seasons. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Personally, I think Origi would be a better signing than Ings. He looked promising when he first came on the scene at Liverpool and seem to remember him looking quite good for Belgium at that time as well. Seems to have gone off the boil since then, but if he was available for a decent price, could be one that we can develop as still only 23.

What you seem to have forgotten is that Forster was given another contract extension at the end of 16-17 season when he had been far from impressive and arguably when the rot was already setting in. It's this that most fans feel was bizarre and indeed said so at the time! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk