If there's any chance that Trent is going to put another performance like that in, then just cut your losses and move him on. Absolutely abysmal.

Probably, but I suppose if you win the league and the champions league it's hard to deny him more influence. And it was probably more of a boiling frog situation, rather than flicking a switch.

I think you'll probably find that's Klopp's ever increasing power-creep pushed out successive Sporting Directors. And when Klopp was at his most powerful, essentially a US-style GM, failed to get any of these 3 contracts sorted. It's no surprise Edwards came back as soon as Klopp left...

Happy new year mate - love everything you do on Anfield Index!

As repulsive as we all find Trump, we still have to try and gain whatever leverage we can, to get whatever we can from the relationship.

And, as you say, Mandelson is likely best placed to do that.

I'm not sure i was ever convinced he'd be a Liverpool starter. He came in when the team was struggling, and he was a breath of fresh air.

Not the same thing as being genuinely good enough.

Dream land.

I'm more worried about everyone looking absolutely knackered

Agreed - a lot

I'd like to know how many of the 360 minutes he actually played in those 4 games...

My gut tells me that Edwards, Hughes et al. will see him as an sellable asset that could fetch a good fee in the summer. And I wouldn't be against that, I don't think his physical attributes fit this Slot setup at all.

But the subtlety of Mark Rylance's performance is absolutely mesmerising. For what we lose in physicality, I think we gain in cerebralism.

Have you seen Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall? It's one of the most subtle performances I've ever seen. And I've watched Guiness in both Smiley's People and Tinker Tailor.

I'd go Van Dijk and Salah.

Trent is obviously world class, but he's still just a right back, and right back is an easier position to fill than the other two.