Sam McGuire
@sammcguire90.bsky.social
I do words and analysis. Published: Opta Analyst, FotMob, Sporting Life, Optus Sport and more.
https://www.patreon.com/sammcguire
https://www.patreon.com/sammcguire
Kerkez picks up possession, beats his man on the outside and carries the ball forward. Nobody in red moves. No passing options for him. Nothing. A potential break is nullified by our own players.
November 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Kerkez picks up possession, beats his man on the outside and carries the ball forward. Nobody in red moves. No passing options for him. Nothing. A potential break is nullified by our own players.
We've seen absolutely nothing to suggest Arne Slot knows how to get the best out of the £400m worth of talent we signed and we're almost into December. That's a bigger concern than the results. There's nothing to point to poor performance being tied to transition.
November 27, 2025 at 9:10 AM
We've seen absolutely nothing to suggest Arne Slot knows how to get the best out of the £400m worth of talent we signed and we're almost into December. That's a bigger concern than the results. There's nothing to point to poor performance being tied to transition.
Alexander Isak has just seven shots across five Premier League appearances for Liverpool. The Reds have nullified one of the best finishers in Europe after spending a British record fee. www.sportinglife.com/football/new...
Alexander Isak isn’t a threat for Liverpool but it's through no fault of his own
Liverpool blanked for a second successive match in their 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
www.sportinglife.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Alexander Isak has just seven shots across five Premier League appearances for Liverpool. The Reds have nullified one of the best finishers in Europe after spending a British record fee. www.sportinglife.com/football/new...
Almost prematurely called time on shorts szn yesterday. Persisted and now I'm reaping the rewards today.
November 15, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Almost prematurely called time on shorts szn yesterday. Persisted and now I'm reaping the rewards today.
Howard Webb claiming Robbo impacted the keeper's line of vision 🥲
November 11, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Howard Webb claiming Robbo impacted the keeper's line of vision 🥲
Salah is a problem regardless of whether he's playing or not.
If you start winning when you have your ~£350k-per-week star player on the bench, it's an issue. An expensive one at that.
If you start winning when you have your ~£350k-per-week star player on the bench, it's an issue. An expensive one at that.
Finally, someone has called out the Dalai Lama. Oh and, a fundamental issue at the heart of Liverpool’s ongoing malaise.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Arne Slot’s big mistake at Liverpool this season? Failing to drop struggling Salah | Barney Ronay
Mohamed Salah has drifted from crucial to peripheral in big games, and Arne Slot’s decision to keep picking him is strange
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Salah is a problem regardless of whether he's playing or not.
If you start winning when you have your ~£350k-per-week star player on the bench, it's an issue. An expensive one at that.
If you start winning when you have your ~£350k-per-week star player on the bench, it's an issue. An expensive one at that.
Big piece here www.patreon.com/posts/143245...
November 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Big piece here www.patreon.com/posts/143245...
Defensively shambolic yesterday, yes, but Konate was fairly decent on the ball yesterday. Kept getting the ball to the forwards, completed 70% of his long passes and comfortably ranked first for progressive passing yards.
November 10, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Defensively shambolic yesterday, yes, but Konate was fairly decent on the ball yesterday. Kept getting the ball to the forwards, completed 70% of his long passes and comfortably ranked first for progressive passing yards.
Everything went City's way today but not bothering to put pressure on the ball is a risk
November 9, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Everything went City's way today but not bothering to put pressure on the ball is a risk
Double pivot propaganda www.patreon.com/posts/142900...
November 6, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Double pivot propaganda www.patreon.com/posts/142900...
Underrated part of the game last night was Conor Bradley deciding to show off his passing range. Even those that didn't find a teammate created favourable situations for us.
November 5, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Underrated part of the game last night was Conor Bradley deciding to show off his passing range. Even those that didn't find a teammate created favourable situations for us.
I will be taking no further questions at this time.
November 5, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I will be taking no further questions at this time.
Dominik Szoboszlai, right now, is the best midfielder in Europe. With and without the ball, he's the main man for this Liverpool team in transition. Words for @squawka.bsky.social. www.squawka.com/en/features/...
Dominik Szoboszlai analysis: Why Liverpool midfielder might be the best in the world
Florian Wirtz’s arrival for a then club-record £116million was supposed to bring an end to Dominik Szoboszlai’s time as a starter for Liverpool. That was the narrative heading into the new season anyw...
www.squawka.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Dominik Szoboszlai, right now, is the best midfielder in Europe. With and without the ball, he's the main man for this Liverpool team in transition. Words for @squawka.bsky.social. www.squawka.com/en/features/...
Building with a double pivot again and Liverpool all of a sudden look to be able to play football.
November 5, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Building with a double pivot again and Liverpool all of a sudden look to be able to play football.
Big fan of this.
Narrow and compact shape. Szoboszlai linking with Wirtz and Salah. Centre-backs ignoring each other in possession.
Narrow and compact shape. Szoboszlai linking with Wirtz and Salah. Centre-backs ignoring each other in possession.
November 5, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Big fan of this.
Narrow and compact shape. Szoboszlai linking with Wirtz and Salah. Centre-backs ignoring each other in possession.
Narrow and compact shape. Szoboszlai linking with Wirtz and Salah. Centre-backs ignoring each other in possession.
Wirtz on the left was everything I thought it'd be when he signed.
Created the most chances, completed all of his dribbles and put in a serious graft out of possession.
Created the most chances, completed all of his dribbles and put in a serious graft out of possession.
November 4, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Wirtz on the left was everything I thought it'd be when he signed.
Created the most chances, completed all of his dribbles and put in a serious graft out of possession.
Created the most chances, completed all of his dribbles and put in a serious graft out of possession.
Didn't outright play a double pivot on Saturday but had Macca and Szoboszlai taking turns to drop in alongside Gravenberch. Also much more compact as a team to help with the passing options and turnovers.
November 3, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Didn't outright play a double pivot on Saturday but had Macca and Szoboszlai taking turns to drop in alongside Gravenberch. Also much more compact as a team to help with the passing options and turnovers.
Mohamed Salah had his best game of the season with Florian Wirtz on the bench and Alexander Isak not in the Liverpool squad. Arne Slot needs to find a way to get the best out of them all. www.sportinglife.com/football/new...
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are giving Liverpool a £200million problem
Liverpool recorded their first Premier League win in a month on Saturday evening.
www.sportinglife.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Mohamed Salah had his best game of the season with Florian Wirtz on the bench and Alexander Isak not in the Liverpool squad. Arne Slot needs to find a way to get the best out of them all. www.sportinglife.com/football/new...
How do we fit Isak and Wirtz into this then without it impacting, well, everything? Wirtz physically can't do what Szoboszlai does and we don't want Isak as deep as Ekitike is.
November 2, 2025 at 11:08 AM
How do we fit Isak and Wirtz into this then without it impacting, well, everything? Wirtz physically can't do what Szoboszlai does and we don't want Isak as deep as Ekitike is.
Milos Kerkez doesn't even attempt this pass playing for Liverpool, yet here he is playing it against us last season. Actually played a few decent balls over the top in the game at Anfield last season.
October 29, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Milos Kerkez doesn't even attempt this pass playing for Liverpool, yet here he is playing it against us last season. Actually played a few decent balls over the top in the game at Anfield last season.
Mohamed Salah is having fewer shots and his chances are of lower value. The misses now matter more but the way he's being used is doing him no favours. Slot needs to fix that problem. www.sportinglife.com/football/new...
Why can't Liverpool get the best out of Mohamed Salah this season?
While a new contract for Mohamed Salah should’ve been a formality given his form last season, there was still some uncertainty over his future heading into the final few months of Liverpool’s title wi...
www.sportinglife.com
October 27, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Mohamed Salah is having fewer shots and his chances are of lower value. The misses now matter more but the way he's being used is doing him no favours. Slot needs to fix that problem. www.sportinglife.com/football/new...
Szoboszlai changing my life with some of these passes last night. Exactly what you want from your centre midfielder in games you'll have ~65% of the ball.
October 23, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Szoboszlai changing my life with some of these passes last night. Exactly what you want from your centre midfielder in games you'll have ~65% of the ball.