THE SQUAD: The Defence

Lets continue building from the back.. As we get into the nitty gritty of the outfield players you can see we have pretty much two options for every position. Which is cool considering the players that have left. Again keep in mind the level of games this season minus Champions League football.. How good will some of these younger players be with all the experience coming their way..

Where better to start than at right back as this is the key to the season in many peoples eyes.. With all the outgoing midfielders which is near enough all of them Trent surely has to start in there now.. Its a no brainer and there is a £100 million player right there.. We'll save that for the next instalment.. So who takes his place..

RIGHT BACK - Joe Gomez

Again a no brainer. Sometimes vulnerable centrally he looks at ease at right back.. Its time to strengthen up this position as it was constantly targeted last season and this is solved in one belated move..

Blessed with pace and an engine the workload is nothing to Joe. He is solid defensively in this role and his delivery is very good too when in attack. Obviously not the same threat as Trent but you'd substitute solidity for Trents flair which we arent even losing as he focuses on things further up the pitch..

Back Up & Academy Graduate - Conor Bradley

With Calvin Ramsay out on loan for the season at Preston the returning Conor Bradley comes back from his loan at Bolton with rave reviews..He has already featured for the first team a few times notably the League Cup game against Norwich..

During his loan he played over 50 games and scored 7 goals.. winning the EFL Trophy. Narrowly missing out on promotion as well as bringing back Player & Players Player of the Year awards.. He will feature in pre season friendlies so a valuable chance to impress..

LEFT BACK - Andy Robbo

A position we never really worry about as the tough tackling no nonsense Scot is a firm fans favourite.. Who actually has more Premier League assists than Trent.. That really is something..

So consistent defensively goals rarely come down his side.. If there is something to work on it's his shooting.. He gets in great positions but that left foot wand of an assist machine gets a little erratic.. Take cover if you're sat behind the goal..

Joking aside.. Hard and low at the keepers feet Robbo and your goal tally rockets bro.. A proper character in the dressing room as witnessed on the Inside Series you just love this guy..

Kostas Tsimikas

From the tough tackling Scot to the tough tackling Greek.. Very similar players.. We were a little worried he may leave this summer but he's full of smiles in training, and with all these cup games on offer he should rack up plenty of games this season..

He never lets us down either.. One part of his game that seems to have dipped are his assists and deliveries from out wide.. That could well be down to a continuous run of games.. An excellent back up if not more of a rotational option for Robbo..

Academy Graduate - Luke Chambers

This could equally have gone to Owen Beck who is a very exciting prospect. He has gone out on loan to Dundee for the season. Luke who featured on the Thailand & Singapore tour is of similar class and spent time on loan at Kilmarnock in 2023..

So like the keepers the academy are producing plenty of quality options from the youth set up.

CENTRAL DEFENCE

This is where we are a bit in limbo to an extent as we are unsure of Klopps tactics for the new season but we are stacked with quality again.. Lets base things on that 2 players for every position and go with a 433.

Virgil Van Dijk

An absolute colossus as Shanks would say.. He's come in for some criticism of late none more so than internationally which must have hurt.. To come back how he did from serious injury like Joe Gomez is astounding.. ACL injuries are 2 years minimum in recovery.

Last season he was not exposed as such.. More constantly funked over by a poor set up.. We lost count how many times it was Virg & Konate facing a 5 on 2.. With poor Ali bailing us out more than 200 times too.. This is another thing that has to change this time around..

No worries at all with Virg.

Ibou Konate

Alongside Virg is the beast that is Ibou.. Again in a more organised set up these two are frightening.. He is still pretty young yet hit the ground running when he signed and hasn't looked back..

Quick, Strong, Cool on the ball and scores goals. He is a threat in attack like Virg as well as solid in defence.. Not too many weaknesses. Clean sheets are vital this Premier League campaign and this set up is solid..

Back Up - Jo-El Matip 

Nat Phillips

Like Tsimikas he could well have left this summer and still may well do. Yet with the UEFA Cup in play he could get a nice run of games and after the heroics he and Rhys Williams pulled off its surprising he hasn't featured more..

He is excellent back up and never looks out of place. No one I repeat no one beats him in the air ask Harry Kane..

Academy Graduates - Jarell Quansah 

He has been at the club all his life pretty much signing as a 5 year old.. He captained the FA Cup Youth team that narrowly missed out on winning the trophy.. He has featured on the bench for the first team and has had a loan spell at Bristol Rovers..

With all the talk of Billy Kometio he went some what under the radar but he is a very cool customer and a very exciting prospect.. Billy is too of course.. Quansah has travelled with the squad to Germany and should feature at some point..

Are more defensive signings required..

With Trent hopefully moving into midfield and Joe moving over there is a vacancy so to speak.. If Hendo & Thiago follow Fabinho out the door then everyone will seek 3 replacements in midfield.. Yet two in defence could be a cheaper and more obvious move.

A left footed option would make plenty of sense if we stick with last seasons tactics or go with the 433.. A right back could also be a shout which would free up Joe as back up to the CB's. Two holding midfield types and we should be set.. Thats where we will look at next..

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