Liverpool Rumours Mobile

23 Sep 2026 17:17:50
I always thought the rumours about Mbappe coming to LFC was nonsense.
Just read this Sk
Mbappe said: "I had to take a decision. And yes, I was close to Liverpool. My mum was a big fan of Jurgen Klopp and the favourite destination for my mum was Liverpool. She wanted me to go there.

"She went there (for) the first step of the negotiations. She went to the city, the stadium, she met the people. She was like, 'It's a wonderful club, everybody's so kind, it's a family club, a big club'.

"She went to Anfield and fell in love with it. She watched a few games alone, to feel the atmosphere, because she wanted to imagine me in this stadium.

He added: "I remember we were on the plane and we were turning around and around in the air while he (Klopp) was explaining his project.

"I said, 'You don't need to convince me. You're Jurgen Klopp, it's Liverpool, a great club, so of course if I'm here, I have some interest. But I have other things, other projects, that are also good'.

"It's a funny story. But in the end, I took the decision to go to PSG because for me, born and raised in Paris, there was no better feeling than to show I could be a star in my hometown."

23 Sep 2026 18:54:44
Yeah in 2016 before he went to PSG. I have a sneaking suspicion that he may wear red for a season or two before he retires.

23 Sep 2026 19:36:43
His mother is wise beyond her years.

23 Sep 2026 19:58:39
Sentiments aside. lets hope not! I can't see how it could work in any way shape or form! ✌✌.

23 Sep 2026 21:44:27
Clearly wasn't nonsense though, he went with his heart which was fair enough the fact we were in the game was testament to JK and FSG pulling out the stops.

Whether we see it in hindsight as a dodged bullet is open to opinion, but we were in the discussion so proving, as has been shown since, that we are eating from the top table and not looking for scraps.

23 Sep 2026 13:56:19
Hi Eds

I've just finished a kick about in the garden with my 4 year old - I recorded it all and seen that I won 127 duels, 86 dribbles and scored 48 goals before he started crying and went back in the house.

Given our midfield is so atrocious and people seem to be obsessed with stats I wanted to ask if the club b are looking at me and I need to give my puma kings a bit of a polish.

I think my stats are mustard and I once scored a penalty for St Francis under 13's at Hartlepool's Victoria ground when I was 11 so no problems playing in front of big crowds.

{Ed025's Note - bring your boots for the next game CH...you are in instead of Wirtz mate.. :)

23 Sep 2026 16:52:55
Will be great signing Ed, he's also homegrown.

23 Sep 2026 17:39:32
Nowhere near enough dribbles at 4! Up the napping.

23 Sep 2026 18:45:58
How far did he run in km?

23 Sep 2026 19:38:23
Does your son have any Spanish blood? Because that's poor for four thanks mick miller 😁.

23 Sep 2026 20:43:01
My Dad told me that Mick Miller joke tonight, Avitohyes.
He was a decent footballer in his time, I believe; Mick not my Dad. A goalkeeper. I think he played for Port Vale.

23 Sep 2026 20:48:27
Cheers Ed - they say imitation is the highest form of flattery so here goes

Hmmmmmm 😉.

{Ed025's Note - love it CH..

23 Sep 2026 00:31:48
@Kloppers According to football critic Italy Manu Kone played 43 times DM 6 CM 1 AM. so as I said imo he would be a upgrade to Gravy based on current form. Interesting Roma went on to loose their 2 goal advantage that he had scored in the first half after he was subbed off after 60 mins.
If you check his injury records most are impact muscle related as a direct result of tackles.

Something our midfield is light on. Kone has always been a tackle happy DM at U21 for France in Germany and in Italy. Camara has no proven track record yet. Kone also has a above 90% pass accuracy and averages a higher ground coverage per game than Macca.
I think he would balance out Wirtz and Slobi with the added advantage he has played with Hugo ( soon Jaquet) Barcola and Olise.

23 Sep 2026 08:53:35
I think we should move for both players and pair them together.
Then let Szoboszlai and Wirtz fight it out for the 10 role and let them both cover the wide forward roles.
And Szoboszlai could also give cover to the 8 and right back.
We are so short in depth anyway.

23 Sep 2026 08:54:36
He's not a bad player, a good one tbh but his injury record is rough and everyone keeps saying we need a destroyer at 6 he isn't that he will just be another Grav who can fill in at 6 fine but he'll just do the same job not bring another skillset.

23 Sep 2026 09:25:54
Kloppers, not sure the injury record is a thing anymore because many on here were (and are still) clamouring for us to sing a currently injured player in Minteh from Brighton.

23 Sep 2026 09:45:21
We don't need a destroyer and AI doesn't want one. He wants a player who can tackle, track, progress the ball through the lines, can spot the movement of Wirtz and Isak and has energy. There names are Nyoni and Scott.

23 Sep 2026 15:20:32
I think we look solid at the moment to be honest. I know he isn't adored by many on this site, myself included in the medium-to-long term, but if we get this Macca for the rest of the season and get a decent fee in the summer I'd be over the moon. He has done well and looks a lot fitter in my opinion.

22 Sep 2026 20:11:22
Julian Ward is set to become the new sporting director at Liverpool.

22 Sep 2026 21:11:08
What happened to the Brentford lad?

22 Sep 2026 22:32:37
The young lad from Brentford?

22 Sep 2026 22:46:09
Apparently it could be another as well as Ward.

22 Sep 2026 23:07:06
Hope we keep Pedro Marques.

22 Sep 2026 23:51:08
YLFB here we go again! 👌.

22 Sep 2026 22:16:48
Is he the one who crapped his kex after 6 months taking over from Edwards when klopp was here?

22 Sep 2026 21:19:09
If true I don't think Ed001 will be too ecstatic with the Ward appointment lad's.

23 Sep 2026 00:18:15
Ed1 is probably having a nightmare right now. This is just a lazy appointment. I bet he will quit the job just like he did the last time.

23 Sep 2026 08:22:36
Michael Edwards to Julian Ward to Jorg Schmadtke to Richard Hughes via Michael Edwards and back to Julian Ward. Should have been an outside appointment to get a fresh input, but we've gone the lazy, cheap and nasty, jobs for the boys route.

He wasn't particularly good at his job the last time and couldn't handle it. I'd imagine as soon as any take over of ownership is done he'd get binned off for someone competent.

23 Sep 2026 08:38:27
Ward was in post when Gakpo, Mac Allister, Diaz & Nunez arrived.
But then on the other end of the spectrum was Arthur Melo.
Oh well, we all have good days and bad..

23 Sep 2026 09:26:44
Still hiring their mates, I see. Clearly, no lessons have been learned by FSG.

Sad.

23 Sep 2026 09:37:38
He might or might not do a fantastic job but regardless I think VV has it right. Once the new consortium is in they'll appoint their own man. Whether they will be better or worse than Ward is anyone's guess.

23 Sep 2026 09:50:53
Revisionism is a wonderful thing.

23 Sep 2026 09:52:55
The new investors are already in charge of the day to day decisions given they will become sole owners in the next 18 months. Watch this space. They will not leave Ward in charge.

23 Sep 2026 10:02:58
This feels like a temp appointment, someone who can cover between now and the time the takeover or ownership goes through.

No point hiring an outside hire if the new ownership decide to go another direction in 12 months time.

23 Sep 2026 12:12:06
I said I would have liked Julian Ward to step into the role when Hughes was first being linked to Saudi, 12 months ago.

If we can't get Luis Campos, I think Julian Ward and hopefully the highly-rated Pedro Marques continuing as his sidekick would be worth a try for now while the ownership transitions.

I wouldn't be too harsh on Ward's first stint. Klopp is always going to be too strong for any sporting director - look at how many names we interviewed and couldn't attract in his final years at the club.

Macca talked about Ward glowingly in his signing. Ward negotiated Mo Salah's last two deals. I hear Ward was instrumental in convincing Josh Abe to stay at the club. He's been the Head Scout for the Portugal FA, can speak Portuguese and has turned down sporting director jobs at Man United and Ajax. So he's definitely not a bum.

In theory, he has a pretty straightforward job to do now. The gaps in the squad are obvious and adequately filling them would massively move the floor and ceiling for this new team given the talent we already have. We just need some sensible recruitment from here.

23 Sep 2026 12:12:11
Do we know why he stepped down before?

Klopp is a legend and he put the club back where it belongs but he was so loyal and close with his players that it did make it difficult to refresh the squad. When Klopp left we had an aging squad that was full of quality but it needed a major overhaul to bring some younger faces and rebuild for the future.

With a coach now having less say over transfers maybe Ward will be more comfortable in the role?

23 Sep 2026 12:49:35
Shipley - I don't think there's anything official but the rumours were that he left for the same reason Edwards did ie Ljinders and Kornmayer's influence over Klopp was greater than that of the sporting director, resulting in a power imbalance.

You could make the argument that Ward should have been stronger, which is fair, but who stands a chance when it comes to Klopp and Ljinders? Very few.

24 Sep 2026 00:06:21
Who hired him, OliRed?

22 Sep 2026 18:19:15
Next year i can bet we will make a move for mbappe. 100%.
He will fall out with mourinho and madrid. It's written in the stars.
We will offload - vvd, gravy, isak, wirtz and gakpo and get it done.

mbappe and olise.

22 Sep 2026 18:55:40
More than that. Gackpo will be replaced by Desire Duopoly! YNWA

YNWA

UP THE ALLEZ.

22 Sep 2026 18:56:16
I'm going to call BS, but fair play on creativity.

22 Sep 2026 19:06:44
Don't not assume his sauces.

22 Sep 2026 19:13:22
Someone has definitely been on the sauce.

22 Sep 2026 20:00:20
Put the bet on mate 😂👍.

22 Sep 2026 20:10:11
I'm suffering withdrawls. Man City next up. Time for Isak to do the Brobby (never-mind the ego from Madrid). Plus one from Gakkers. 4-2 final score.

22 Sep 2026 20:22:21
I'm sorry but as a player he's fantastic but my god I can't keep listening to him campaign for the ballon d'Or. so self entitled it's unreal. Shame, I don't recall Messi or Ronaldo trying to rally the troops and having to tell people you're the best in the world.

If you have to tell people. there's a problem. Unbelievable player but there's a reason psg were a better side after he left!

22 Sep 2026 20:47:32
Last - Hopefully the right Mbappe i. e. not Kylian!

22 Sep 2026 23:25:47
It's not been pretty, but were tied for 4th with zero loss, and 2nd on GA in the league. Everyone knew this would be a project with the new manager.

22 Sep 2026 23:48:27
mbappe jr plays on right- might actually be a good option.

22 Sep 2026 21:48:31
Think lastfanofslot might be in Ibiza with Arne smashing some Gary Ablett's coming out with that one.

23 Sep 2026 09:31:29
"I'm sorry but as a player he's fantastic but my god I can't keep listening to him campaign for the Ballon d'Or. so self entitled it's unreal".

Clearly, you do not know how the Balon d'Or has been operating for years now.

Dembele won the award for doing the exact same thing Mbappe is doing now. And others are doing the same, as well directly or via intermediaries in the media.

And pls, let's not act like CR7 & Messi did not have people in the media making their cases for them during that fake/manufactured rivalry (imo). The award used to be very prestigious. Now, it is just a population contest in public.

Sad state of affairs for once, truly prestigious award, imo.

23 Sep 2026 09:55:48
He'll be 28 next year. We don't buy players who are 28. I have it on great authority, having read it on this very forum that buying anybody 28 or older is just a waster of money. "It's a well known fact by those who know it well", just ask Pooley and O'Malley 😉.

22 Sep 2026 10:43:43
Manu Kone banged 2 goals against inter in first half he is the DM we need imo better fit than Camara. and a upgrade on Gravy.

22 Sep 2026 11:06:46
he's not a DM. he's a deep lying CM Cristante plays DM for Inter.

22 Sep 2026 11:18:34
Lamine Camara is the player that scales. Kone has a chequered injury history and is not as good on the ball as Camara.

22 Sep 2026 12:54:18
The midfield is messy alright. I still think a deep lying playmaker/passer is more important than a bruiser. Our build up with Dom and Grav is too slow and neither seem to have the IQ for DM either.

I won't make this about Flo but i advise to watch some of his off the ball movements, Grav and Dom either don't see them or can't execute. Both are very good players but they struggle to set a tempo and to punch the ball between the lines.

Wharton solves a huge issue in midfield. He would speed up attacks and light up the transitions and help with low blocks but he also weakens us off the ball, as if we need that. Although with AI pushing us up the pitch and making the gaps smaller he might be ok.

In an ideal world you pair Wharton and Sadiki in midfield behind Flo and you have a combination of everything. Dom goes right back.

But will the club spend 200 mil on the midfield when they just gave out bumper deals to Grav and Dom. In fariness Nyoni might do the Wharton job. i'd love to know AIs honest thoughts on the whole midfield situation.

22 Sep 2026 13:46:50
That's fair. I think a destroyer is important in a pressing system, but our buildup has been poor.
Don't know why we gave Grav a deal.

Hot take: could we sell Szobozlai. Arguably one of the best midfielders in the world in his style. Then we get 2 players who fit the system better?

22 Sep 2026 15:48:14
Nyoni has more to offer than Wharton in my view but I agree Dom and Grav are Wirtz blind.

22 Sep 2026 16:18:00
If you're going to correct people, at least get it right Kloppers. Cristante plays for Roma, not Inter.

22 Sep 2026 17:52:16
Sadiki is the midfielder we need.
Cracker of a player.
Camara would be the DM.

22 Sep 2026 18:47:02
If Sunderland fall off a cliff in terms of form they may be open to selling Sadiki in January.


I doubt either of those things will happen though.

22 Sep 2026 18:50:00
Apparently Iraola doesn't want Wharton, so let's see who he see's as the right fit.

22 Sep 2026 19:09:06
Im candid about Camara.

23 Sep 2026 01:11:05
I agree Under the Bed. It feels like we are trying to shoehorn Szob into the team atm, suggesting that he play at RW or RB. Imo it should eb an either or situation between him and Wirtz and if either don't like sitting on the bench, then we sell them and get in a proper CM and/or RW. I'm leaning more towards selling Szob atm.

23 Sep 2026 09:34:04
Drac if creativity is what you want then, Szobo is not your guy as he has no creative bone in his body.

So I don't know which battle is there to be fought btw one player who has bags of ability and creativity but struggling to show it for diverse reasons vs. one that has no creativity to his game at all.

Just saying, mate.

21 Sep 2026 12:29:37
To anyone saying szobo is not a number 10, you need to take another look. His shooting alone is a huge upgrade on wirtz who always seems to strike the ball so weakly. Szobo also presses like crazy which is exactly what iraola wants. After yesterday's performance I would not object to a sale of wirtz, even if we lose some money, if someone offers 100m we have to take it, he simply is not the player we believed he was.

Stick szobo at no.10 and buy an out and out midfielder with the wirtz money. The team would instantly be a lot better.

21 Sep 2026 12:53:24
Every single one of our midfielders require quality competition to give them a kick up the ring, yet we have nothing but hard working kids with potential. A manager who has the town halls to drop a big name player or expensive transfer who isn't performing deserves praise in my opinion, and that's exactly what is required here.

Also, it's not just about complacency as a larger array of covering players takes the pressure off.

21 Sep 2026 13:03:12
Szobo is a right sided midfielder. He can also do a good job on the left side too.

I don't think he has the awareness or subtlety to play centrally - whether that be in central midfield or no10.

Yes he's a running machine. And yes he's got a great dead ball strike.

Just for a few games, I would like to see Trey come alongside Macca in midfield, Dom play RW, with Barcola LW and see how this changes both Flo and Szobo's games.

Dropping Flo for Szobo won't make a difference in my opinion. The change is needed at the base of midfield.

21 Sep 2026 13:24:56
I just took another look at Dom, and yes, he is not a number 10. His jersey number is 8.

21 Sep 2026 13:40:35
Yes, great engine for pressing, but when he plays that high he tends to go missing, he's just not that creative when he's further forward, not in tight spaces or with his back to goal either, he's most involved when approaching from a little deeper, when he can see the game in front of him and make those forward runs. He could play the 10 of course, he's well capable, but he's just not a typically nimble 'light on your fight' and tricky in mtight spaces kind of player you like to see in the 10 these days, nor is he the kind of KDB visionary passer you would like. I think people have forgotten he's played AM for us before and his g/a rates weren't great, those numbers have risen significantly playing a little deeper, up 56% last season during a year the entire rest of the team badly struggled. I do agree if Wirtz can't perform, then selling him, buying a proper DM and putting Dom in a hybrid 8/10 would be the quickest fix.

Fly, Dom doesn't like playing on the wings, he said it himself, even when he played 'wide' for other teams he always drifted inside, which is where he does his best work, arriving to the play and making forward runs from a little deeper. I agree the root of the issue lies at the base of the midfield, we're too weak and lack the quality to quickly and creatively progress the ball. Disagree with Dom on the wing, yo can't drop Gakpo at te moment.

21 Sep 2026 14:36:15
Dom can't pass a ball, the last place he needs to play is as a number 10. Imagine him as a ten against a low block he would just slow the game down.

21 Sep 2026 14:47:26
Agree with FPF :

RW: Szobo
10: Wirtz
LW: Barcola

ST : Isak

Bring in an enforcer in midfield.

21 Sep 2026 14:07:27
I don't hi know Dom has the imagination or game awareness to play at 10. He certainly seems to lack imagination in recognising the effect his post-match gestures have on the fans who pay his wages. Perhaps he's not all that bright.

21 Sep 2026 15:28:40
I think yesterday was a bad day at the office for Wirtz. Worst of the season easily.

There's is absolutely a player there but he needs to start cleaning up his work. He can't keep missing five yard passing. That's just lack of concentration. It distracts from the good work he is doing like getting in the box on the Isak goal.

He needs to start knitting it all together. I'm convinced he can do it because he has all the tools but he needs to start doing it. Simple as that. Hopefully he can use the international break to reset.

The away game at West Ham last season. I wish he could re watch and start reproducing that. We get that Wirtz every game, we ll be doing just fine. But hard to argue with any detractors right now.

21 Sep 2026 15:31:55
Honestly, couldn't care less where Dom likes to play, chewy. The team balance and results are more important.
I am sure he would prefer RW over RB. :)

21 Sep 2026 15:46:05
Wasn't having Dom as a 10 the reason we decided to sign Wirtz?

21 Sep 2026 16:09:58
Fly, Putting a player on the wing who's not known for taking on his man, doesn't beat players 1 on 1, isn't tricky, doesn't posess explosive acceleration and is a poor passer of the ball would imbalance us further, especially if you want to use that player to replace Cody, who's been our best player this season would imbalance us even further.

Frankly, its a foolish idea at best.

21 Sep 2026 17:35:33
I'm sure Dom played on the wing on occasion for Leipzig and possibly Hungary.

21 Sep 2026 17:42:03
I would play Wirtz on the right, if I want to keep him in the team.
He simply is not doing a good job as a 10 and RW is the 1 position now still open.

The talk about dom not being creative, not being this and thatt to play a 10. I think it is not too wrong.
But at the same time, Wirtz show himself to be worse than the worst version of dom as a 10.

21 Sep 2026 17:57:10
Wirtz is 23. He'll get better, don't get this scapegoating. Think he's actually stronger in the duel than Dom, maybe we'll see him drop back at some point for more of a David / Bernardo Silva role.

However, Araujo right back and Dom right mid suddenly makes the team look really solid if Nyoni can do a job and step into CM.

{Ed025's Note - hmmmm..

21 Sep 2026 18:02:26
He would be better at lb than as a number 10 in this system.

21 Sep 2026 18:31:24
markp08, Kemlyncat spot on and the stats show it, he managed to increas his goal contributions by nearly 60% last season by playing a little deeper, and that was in a season where the whole team struggled, if we had a good season he probably would have doubled his tally from the previous year.

FORNAX 100% mate, people have such short memories; wasn't long ago people were complaining that Dom wasn't doing enough in the 10, and he wasn't.

21 Sep 2026 18:48:22
We need a CM that can protect our defence, organise around him and play people in.
That would give a stronger base to balance the midfield and attack. There would be more confidence running through the team to attack and to go and win games.

This is maybe why I'm a truck driver! 🤣🤣.

21 Sep 2026 19:23:52
I'm really unsure on all of this. We thought we were getting a double figures goals and assists player, and so far we haven't only not got that, we haven't had a hint that he might be capable of it in this country. I know people are saying others aren't making runs for him, or that when you try difficult things it sometimes doesn't work out, but I'm seeing him regularly misplace very simple passes to teammates at close range. Is his confidence gone? Is it the challenge of a foreign country? Will he explode into form once Iraola gets his ideas across? I remember he had a decent patch last year for about a month of goals and assists, can he replicate that over the course of a season?
Desperate for it to work out for him, but I'm starting to think this is a case of he's just not suited to our league and was made to look far better in a far weaker one.

I am hoping beyond hope that I am wrong. He needs to play or he'll definitely never come into form, but gun to head, if Bayern come in for him, right now I'd probably let him go.

21 Sep 2026 19:43:54
What about Szoboslai and how unsuited he is to playing in central midfield? He had given the ball away 81 times this season, can't tackle, can't track his man.

{Ed666's Note - sometime soon there’s gonna be a midfield 3 of slob, Macca, Nyoni..with gravy and Wirtz benched. Ironically I can see that working.

21 Sep 2026 19:56:44
The funny thing about Carragher is that he conveniently forgets to mention that he complained a lot about the lack of end product from the workmanlike midfield, in particular Szoboszlai, and he wanted an attacking midfielder. It reminds me of Neville begging Ten Hag to play a back three, only to constantly moan at Amorim for playing the same formation that he, Neville, wanted!

All that said with regards to Wirtz, he has a few problems. The first is that most would see him as a potential generational player, and such a player should always be the shining light even if his teammates or coach aren't necessarily up to speed; Wirtz hasn't been that consistently enough. The second problem is that football, especially at times in England, doesn't always have a comfortable relationship with No. 10s. Odegaard will go from being called one of the best 10s in the Premier League to his fans wanting him sold as happened often last season.

Another problem is that this isn't a well-assembled and balanced team. There's a reason why we have Arajuo playing at fullback, Gravenberch has been dropped, Szoboszlai is playing a deep midfield role, Macca is our best option at DM, and Gakpo is playing on the right. The less said about the LB, the better. There are too many square-ish pegs in round-ish holes. Yes, Wirtz should be better, but there is a lot going on with this team.

21 Sep 2026 20:11:30
I agree with that midfield atm Ed666. Chewy, what has last season got to do with now? We are playing a different system and style. Dom is actually a player who lacks technical ability.

21 Sep 2026 20:19:45
Ed666 - You could well be right, but i believe Andoni will want to prove that Wirtz can be a success in his side.

Minteh and another CM could balance the squad / work rate / grit with the other qualities that players such as Wirtz have.

{Ed666's Note - I think you’re right about AI giving Wirtz enough chances before he goes to plan B. Hopefully Wirtz has a reality check during the international break

22 Sep 2026 00:16:52
I'm not convinced at all on Wirtz. For me he contributes nothing in a game except the odd good pass. One of Hughes/Edwards ridiculous signings.

21 Sep 2026 23:10:07
Cannot believe so many of you are dropping Gakpo to accommodate Szoboszlai. TBH I stopped reading your posts after that point.

22 Sep 2026 08:05:25
on another note, PSG have introduced a SM/device ban on ALL of their youth players, and limited screen time to 1 hour a day.
Wirtz Issue looks like a concentration issue to me, and since he has less time on the ball than ever, he needs to focus.
I honestly think that this is an issue for many players these days.

A great manager like Jurgen would get the best out of a generational talent like Flo, but we are all so impatient these days. Thankfully there are people like Jurgen and Andoni around to see reason.

We were all made up that he signed for us ahead of any other side, so let's support him and see this through.

there is a reason that only 9/27 80m + players have been deemed a success, and perhaps why, if we sell flo and loose money, he'll kick on and be the worldy we all imagined he would at somewhere like barca, who are interested.

22 Sep 2026 08:19:55
Dom is not good at pressing. When he plays deep he goes chasing the ball Robbie Savage style vacating the midfield and opening us up to the counter attack. He never knows what's behind him which is why we get over run in midfield. Wirtz hasn't been playing well with the ball but his pressing stats and defending from the front have actually been decent.

I don't think Dom has the footballing iq in any of the three midfield slots. My view is he should play wide we'll the position doesn't require such intelligent understanding of his position.

22 Sep 2026 09:12:26
For me it's actually quite simple.

With the personnel we have and the pressing and way we are trying to play, we can't really play with a 10 regardless of who it may be.

We need a workhorse 3 in midfield like the Klopp years.

If everyone can learn how to press how AI wants etc then at that point they may want to experiment with a 10, but trying one at this moment is pure luxury and disrupts the midfield leaving holes.

22 Sep 2026 10:25:24
I love this discussion on Wirtz.

@Westwood, I like you gun to head approach, and I totally agree. Sell.
@white duke, a lot of what you said make sense, especially on the team. But I do not think Wirtz is not consistent as a generational talent, shining light. He simply is not. Yamal as an example, come across as an exceptional player. Haaland. Suarez. Even Countinho. And we haven't talked about legend like Salah.
@TheOne23, I am with you all the way.

22 Sep 2026 10:21:59
Lol wirtz is stronger than dom, you taking the piss? Theirs more strength in a dying man's last breath.

22 Sep 2026 12:15:30
Personally a big fan of FW.

Personal view is that right now most of our squad are not on his wavelength (in terms of football intelligence) and do not react as well as they could to the movement he makes from which you can see he has star quality. He thinks ahead of most and I still think it is just a matter of time before some of the squad "get" him and his game better. I'd like to see Nyoni behind him too as I think from his pre season performances he has shown a level of football intelligence in the deeper role and maybe just might suit the Wirtz style in front of him better than the hard working but not so intellectually astute characters of Macca and Grav. Experience and natural football brains are very different.

I think there is definitely a place for Dom and Wirtz together again a matter of time for me before they get better accustomed to each others game. All great teams need time to gel and, remember, the gelling started all over again with a new manager and different tactical nuance.

I think we would largely regret selling what I still expect to be a superstar if we did cash in on FW.

This is just my personal opinion of course.

{Ed025's Note - hmmmm..

22 Sep 2026 13:31:52
People keep talking about his 'wavelength' but my question is, what does that have to do with him losing the ball, not controlling the ball, not taking on a man, being slow, getting muscled off the ball, shooting at the wrong time and choosing the wrong pass?

I would imagine a player who is so advanced in his thinking would do somehting at some point in the game because, to say the entire midfield and front line never make the correct decision for him to accomodate in one whole seasons and 7 games so far is madness to me.

22 Sep 2026 15:28:30
markp08, nothing mate. Last season has absolutely nothing to do with this season, in fact, none of the previous seasons matter at all, not a single one of them. Great point mate, smashing stuff, don't know where we'd be without minds like yours, you absolutely knocked that one out of the park, well done!

23 Sep 2026 09:38:55
Markp08, exactly. Wirtz isn't pulling up trees I get it but the solution is not to put in a player who can't pass a ball, has no vision, no eye for the key pass in the final thrid. All of the things Dom simply cannot do.

23 Sep 2026 10:02:36
@OP, I took your suggestion and had another look at Dom playing as a 10. He really isn't you know.

There's likely 60 odd games this season. Grav, Macca, Trey, Dom, Wirtzy (#hit nickname but I thought I'd try it out - what is it about German names? ). They will all get their turn at being slagged off for not being perfect, just give it time.

21 Sep 2026 00:18:23
Hi Diddly Ho,

Hope you're all well. Quiet on my end of things with Liverpool as expected lately.

Ethan Mbappe is someone Liverpool have been following for a while (in the background) - I've been told that a move for the player could be on the cards in the next 12 months, whether that is to us or not - I can't say for sure.

PSG have asked about Camara, the door is closed to Chelsea. Not heard directly about LFC interest but there's plenty of smoke out there.

Diddly out.

21 Sep 2026 02:10:42
Interesting link- I think both Camara and Mbappe Jr are very good players and would fit the team well. However, when watching the game vs Bournemouth I think Nyoni is the best option and best of all he's within our system.

He looked calm and composed on and off the ball and provided stability that our midfield has previously lacked this season. I guess it depends on if the club sees fit to buy another mifielder.

21 Sep 2026 03:23:20
We just have to buy a midfielder or the Funkster will explode! 😉.

21 Sep 2026 03:37:04
Hi Ned,
Ta for that.
Heard anything about Aramburu and William Gomes for the right side? 🤨.

21 Sep 2026 07:12:13
Cheers Ned.

21 Sep 2026 07:33:15
I've heard Aramburu is made from girders.

Anyone no . I'll get my coat.

21 Sep 2026 08:36:03
You can have my thumbsup for that one, NoMoreBoom!

21 Sep 2026 08:44:59
Can't wait for all the clickbait sites with "Liverpool to sign Mbappe".

21 Sep 2026 10:00:41
Morning Ned thanks for the update I don't know anything about Mbappe but am guessing he will be like his older brother and isn't there mum a pain in the arse so I hope we keep well clear.

21 Sep 2026 11:36:02
Take a bow son, take a bow no more boom.

20 Sep 2026 20:36:26
Not Wirtz bashing and i hope he comes good buuuut

If he was to go in the summer who do we think we can get in as part of a swap deal for him??

The obvious is Olise but was wondering what other options people would like??

20 Sep 2026 20:44:29
You don't have to replace like for like. Could move Szob up to 10 and invest in a proper midfielder.
I still have hope for Wirtz, but today was a stinker for him!

{Ed666's Note - you have to persevere with Wirtz for the foreseeable and hope he comes good if not sell in the summer. What gives you the impression slob will do a better job in that position than Wirtz?

20 Sep 2026 20:48:01
Szob isn't a 10. He has no idea what to do in the final third.

20 Sep 2026 20:50:01
He has had more stinkers than good games, or even half decent games. He gets treated like royalty because of his price tag but he has been a massive disappointment and I think people need to take their tinted spectacles off. He is a £100m+ player who cannot complete a pass, cannot tackle, and most importantly, does not score or assist.

I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't want away at end of the season. It looks pretty clear from his performances that he hasn't settled and probably isn't going to. I remember waiting and waiting and waiting for Baros to settle and he never did. But even baros scored the odd goal.

{Ed666's Note - and Baros won a CL 🤣

20 Sep 2026 21:11:54
I hope he comes good & we get to see the Wirtz that plays internationally or for Leverkusen. We might actually see him perform better in CL that high paced PL.
If we get to the end of the season & he's not delivering then there's a conversation to have especially if Bayern are interested & Olise is available possibility.
AI plays with a 10, but I'm not sure that Dom is that player as we were bemoaning the lack of creativity during the championship season.


Regardless of who plays the 10 there needs to be a reworking of the midfield pivot. To keep it needs to be one of Macca/Dom with a more natural holding midfielder, or if Macca departs then Wharton could be a replacement. With stability in front of the defence that would allow your 10 to be able to be freer to push forward & influence the game.

20 Sep 2026 21:12:55
Perhaps Klopp can help fix him as well.

{Ed666's Note - That’s a great shout. 3 weeks with Klopp and he’s gonna come back as primo Roberto baggio 🙏🏼

20 Sep 2026 21:22:42
I just don't think wirtz has the confidence/arrogance needed to play no.10. Ability there but plays so timidly, we can blame all around him all we like but he just hasn't been good enough nor near it since he signed.

I'd love for him to come good for us but I just can't see it. Probably likes of bayern would suit him where it a turkey shoot 8 games out of 10 in the bundesliga, get his confidence up and probably show the ability he has.

{Ed666's Note - confidence is transient tho no? Let’s not go full Jamie carragher just yet let’s give him till the end of the season

20 Sep 2026 21:26:19
Wirtz will have a blinder for Germany then return to the Prem where it'll be too much for him again. I doubt even Klopp can fix that unfortunately.

{Ed666's Note - I don’t think I can take 3 weeks of this shite

20 Sep 2026 22:04:13
He's going to be the difference maker for us this season. The more he plays with Isak and Barcola, the more the chemistry will build.

They've had half a dozen competitive games under a new manager with new coaches coming off a World Cup where they all played in different systems with different teammates.

The chemistry will not be there yet. It would be crazy to expect it to be. The international window will mix things up again unfortunately.
It will be gradual improvement then there'll be a game when it clicks and we'll look back and think why did we even doubt them.

20 Sep 2026 22:11:56
Irrespective of the Wirtz performance, I think an away win at a tough place like Bournemouth and a clean sheet is really good. Some good things to be positive about, and maybe some not so positive things. I really like this Jacquet boy and Araujo too. I do agree, the balance in midfield is not right. It kind of reminds me of an under 11 team when no one wants to do the dirty work and everyone bombs forward.

We look much more solid without Frimpong and Gravenberch in the team. I think there is a way back for Gravenberch if he is willing to work hard. But I can't see a way back for Frimpong. He's a liability that boy.

20 Sep 2026 22:38:11
Unfortunately Wirtz doesn't have a particular strong, disciplined or effective midfield behind him like David Silva or Kevin DeBruyne had the benefit of.

{Ed666's Note - this

20 Sep 2026 22:52:22
Logged on to to the same about Wirtz, hoping Klopp can manipulate some kind of miracle with him. Something just isn't clicking.

21 Sep 2026 00:01:07
He'll score 2 versus City and everything will be forgotten.

21 Sep 2026 00:40:34
Wirtz has been treated like a punching bag this season. Whether it's here or on social media, Liverpool fans have been slagging him nonstop. In what world has he been treated like royalty?

{Ed666's Note - I really hope he can shut his critics up because he’s been the victim of slots tactics and some questionable recruitment playing alongside him. If we play to his strengths he’ll be ok

21 Sep 2026 01:12:52
Even when he has the ball in space he does nothing. Doesn't drive forward, doesn't beat a man or look to be expressive. Honestly one of his worst performances vs Bournemouth. Maybe a confidence thing but he hasn't shown me anything to even think he has the resilience or character to turn this around. Shadow of a player atm and the games don't get easier.

21 Sep 2026 02:18:53
Wirtz had a bad first half today but he still got all around the pitch, tracked back, and pressed. The whole team looked nervy because 1) Bournemouth pressed us relentlessly the first half and 2) its obvious that no one yet knows what people around them are going to do so everyone has to look up and read the field before making a pass. That will change as we develop attacking chemistry as a team. Once that happens I expect wirtz will start to shine.

He was definitely the worst of the pack, but everyone looked off it to me today (except Jacquet).

21 Sep 2026 05:46:37
When we signed coutinho everyone had the exact same complaints about him for about a year and a half. Too small. Too weak. Gets bullied. Doesn't assist or score enough.

And he cost £8m so it's not wirtz price tag which is the problem. It's a lack of patience.

6 months later and coutinho was scoring, assisting and generally being indispensable until he eventually left. And that was the benefit of having a year with klopp. Wirtz had a year with slot in a team that struggled against every man and his dog.

Let's not be quick to judge.

{Ed666's Note - it took coutinho 18 months to come good? I thought it was a lot less than that but I’ll take your word for it mate as my memory isn’t great

21 Sep 2026 06:46:49
Lets all wait and see what klopp does with Wirtz in the German national team. Hopefully Klopp will bring it out of him with the arm around the shoulder as he did many times at LFC bringing the best out them players that went on to win everything at our club.

21 Sep 2026 07:30:20
Firstly, got to say, Wirtz, yes, hasn't been great but I 100% agree there's an absolute fantastic player there, you can see it in his movement and how he's constantly looking what to do or where to be before the ball comes to him.

I will NOT listen to a single thing Carragher says anymore, most of his opinions probably aren't even his own, he's likely saying what Sky want him to say. Never thought I'd say this but I actually detest the guy now and have to mute him on commentary the same as Neville.

I think AI will crack it but I want to give him more time.

As for the person who said Coutinho took a year and a half to settle. Incorrect, he came in with Sturridge and hit the ground running and just got better and better.

I'm 100% behind Wirtz and every player until he's not a Liverpool player any longer.

{Ed025's Note - "there is none so blind as those who refuse to see"..

21 Sep 2026 07:16:34
I'd certainly give him to at least end of season ed666 to prove his worth, I'd love to see him click with us. At the same time he has to earn his spot like everybody else, we just can't keep starting him if he's as poor as he's been in his last few games.

{Ed666's Note - I’d be more worried about Kerkez who gives us zero creativity on the left zilch absolutely nothing

21 Sep 2026 10:03:40
Our midfield has no presence. Szobo and Macca simply cannot control the game. As a result our front 4 are all feeding on scraps and trying to make something out of a long balls played forward from our defence.

When Barcola or Wirtz got the ball on Sunday they were surrounded by 3 or 4 defenders. This should mean that there are at least 2 Liverpool players completely free and unmarked and yet there was never anybody making themselves available to give them an option.

21 Sep 2026 10:33:30
Defo don't think it took Coutinho 18 months to come good. More like 18 games? I think he had a few dodgy ones at the start then was amazing. Well that is what my memory remembers lol. Can't remember 18 months Of him being poor, unless it was when he was at Barca.

21 Sep 2026 11:11:17
In defence of Wirtz, he's having to figure out the movement patterns of Rio, Munoz, Isak and Barcola virtually from scratch and Gapko playing on the reverse. Last year he had Dom or Mac next to him, now they're a little behind where he is playing. It's a hard, hard ask what's being expected of him to advance the ball to 1 of 3 players advanced of him with 2 players around him and 4 further defenders in the lanes as well.
There's a player in there and he's trying to play forward (and at times this year he's done it well).


Barring JJ and maybe RA, no one dealt with the oppositions physicality and closing of playing lanes in the first half yesterday.
JC's constant griping doesn't help - the way he's happy to write off future possible mistakes by JJ (60M remember) vs wirtz having a bad half shows where he is - he gets paid by column inches and clicks and he's doing that job.

21 Sep 2026 12:33:17
Wirtz is class, the rest of the midfield apart from young Nyoni are cack at their jobs. Sort the midfield out and Wirtz will be on the road to turning into David Silva.

21 Sep 2026 13:04:37
No defence of wirtz. Call it for what it is. he's garbage for us. wouldn't miss him if he didn't play.

21 Sep 2026 15:01:27
A season of rubbish with Slotball and now he's had 7 competitive games with a new manager and new coaching staff.

I'm not writing him off yet, there's a reason Iraola selects him.

20 Sep 2026 20:56:12
Ed066 - let's be frank, Szob couldn't be worse than Wirtz in that role on current form. He's offering close to nothing.

{Ed666's Note - that’s being frank 🤣