Threads containing Ed001's recent posts.
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20 Jan 2026
20 Jan 2026 10:19:10
On needing a CB now I definitely agree, but again people are acting like it's the end of the world because we didn't get Guehi. Perhaps we were banking on the £35M we now won't get from Villa for Elliot? there's still over a week left of the window either way.
If as is suggested we still don't reinforce the defence with Konate's departure in mind, then I will criticise. Until then, I will just hope beyond hope Alonso arrives sooner rather than later.
{Ed001's Note - but we needed one in the summer, not the end of January. It is insane to leave it.}
20 Jan 2026
20 Jan 2026 09:58:46
While I'm very much in the boat of Slot has to go before the start of next season, I find this infatuation with Alonso a little odd tbh. Beyond the fact he was an ex Liverpool player and he had some great success at Leverkusen, genuinely not sure why everyone thinks he's the answer for us?
The main issues Liverpool have right now are out of possession. The press is almost non existent and the structure when we lose the ball is a mess, Alonso is not going to fix that, he's a strong possession based coach, similar to what we already have in Slot. We should be focusing on a coach with a strong OOP philosophy who can bring that fight and hunger for winning the ball back quickly and aggressively.
So, I'd be very surprised if we went for Alonso next. I have a feeling we're more likely to target Nagelsmann after the WC. We know Edwards has been a big admirer of his for a while now.
{Ed001's Note - have you never watched an Alonso team? His teams press, which is the problem he had at Madrid as the players refused to put in the effort required by a press.}
20 Jan 2026
20 Jan 2026 09:22:44
Hi Ed, Yes I was referring to the winger Fofana as an alternative to Semenyo.
Fair enough on the deal potential for Jan 1st and I agree we probably should have got it done, but we didn't. None of us know the reasons why but you assume there must be reasons for not, hence my statement on value.
Again I am not defending Hughes etc I just don't understand why people are so upset that we have lost out on Semenyo, whilst also acknowledging our slow drab style doesn't suit a fast paced game, so what difference would it make?
Likewise their seems to be a lot of people upset that we have lost out on Guehi, when in the summer a lot of people didn't rate him, you included Ed001. But now he's gone elsewhere it's a disaster? Yes we need a CB but it didn't NEED to be Guehi. A ball playing defender with a 50% aerial duel success rate in a League moving more towards aerial set plays is not necessarily a good thing at a top club IMO.
All I'm saying is it's not as bad as all that and a change of manager should be the priority. What if strengthening the squad now actually assisted Slot on keeping his job and we lose our on Alonso? People would really be upset then wouldn't they! ? Their are better options than Guehi and Semenyo out there in my opinion and I believe the club could attain them. I'm just trying to offer an alternative POV, some positivity to what is becoming an overly negative forum in my opinion.
{Ed001's Note - we could have signed Fofana in summer but never then either. The fact we have no space for players who are not homegrown doesn't help with signings like Fofana etc, whereas Guehi and Semenyo can slot straight into a HG slot. If there are better options than those two, then we should have signed them, or at least the centre-back option you refer to. We need one now, not in summer.}
20 Jan 2026
20 Jan 2026 09:22:44
Hi Ed, Yes I was referring to the winger Fofana as an alternative to Semenyo.
Fair enough on the deal potential for Jan 1st and I agree we probably should have got it done, but we didn't. None of us know the reasons why but you assume there must be reasons for not, hence my statement on value.
Again I am not defending Hughes etc I just don't understand why people are so upset that we have lost out on Semenyo, whilst also acknowledging our slow drab style doesn't suit a fast paced game, so what difference would it make?
Likewise their seems to be a lot of people upset that we have lost out on Guehi, when in the summer a lot of people didn't rate him, you included Ed001. But now he's gone elsewhere it's a disaster? Yes we need a CB but it didn't NEED to be Guehi. A ball playing defender with a 50% aerial duel success rate in a League moving more towards aerial set plays is not necessarily a good thing at a top club IMO.
All I'm saying is it's not as bad as all that and a change of manager should be the priority. What if strengthening the squad now actually assisted Slot on keeping his job and we lose our on Alonso? People would really be upset then wouldn't they! ? Their are better options than Guehi and Semenyo out there in my opinion and I believe the club could attain them. I'm just trying to offer an alternative POV, some positivity to what is becoming an overly negative forum in my opinion.
{Ed001's Note - we could have signed Fofana in summer but never then either. The fact we have no space for players who are not homegrown doesn't help with signings like Fofana etc, whereas Guehi and Semenyo can slot straight into a HG slot. If there are better options than those two, then we should have signed them, or at least the centre-back option you refer to. We need one now, not in summer.}
20 Jan 2026
20 Jan 2026 06:21:06
Clearly they didn't think it was good value. Someone did an analysis on here recently on the overall cost, including wages, of what City are paying Palace and Marc compared to what we offered in the summer and it was overall approx £10M (allegedly) more expensive now than it was 6 months ago. We are not City. We have always looked for value. There was no way the club, operating how it has since FSG took over, was going to pay more for Guehi now then what accepted 6 months ago. It's not practical and I personally think that is a positive not a negative. I don't think we would have gone for him at all if he wasn't near the end of his contract.
Look, what are people upset about? That Guehi went to a competitor so we feel like we've missed out? Same with Semenyo? What difference would Semenyo make with our current style of play? Was Guehi going to replace VVD on the left side of the CB pairing so we're still stuck with Konate starting? Neither are world beaters. Very good players yes but there will be others we could get instead. Fofana looks great and is waiting on us and Schlotterback looks very promising as just two examples of recently linked potential alternatives.
I know it's annoying when we think something new and exciting is coming, especially given the drab lack of excitement offered recently, but don't let that jealousy of City's money pull factor blind you. We are still LFC and I have plenty of faith we can and will bring in great players to strengthen where needed.
I am also in no way defending Slot, Hughes or anyone at the club. We obviously need a CB or 3, I'm just saying it didn't need to be Guehi. a lot of people in the summer didn't even want him because of his aerial deficiencies. So we missed out. Fine, we'll go get someone better.
{Ed001's Note - for starters, that analysis was wrong as the deal we had agreed with Guehi, which he was happy with, was nothing like the same wages he is getting from City. We could have had the deal done before City even hit their injury crisis and came in for him. It would have cost us less than in the summer as Palace's asking price had dropped.
Secondly, Guehi is right-footed and can play on the right side to replace Konate. And who on earth is this Fofana you are talking about? The Fofana that waited on us to bid in the summer is Malick - a winger, not a defender. If you are referring to Wes Fofana, the Chelsea defender, he is a headless chicken with injury problems, he looks anything but great.}
19 Jan 2026
19 Jan 2026 20:21:35
Ed001 if things did change now one thing in our favour would be last 6 weeks of the season our players should not be exhausted so we could have a good finish to the season.
With saying that and Slot looks certain to go you would think he would just push them now and try to get something out of the season before he goes.
Am sure if we got up to the levels we where at from the beginning of last season we could have a real push for the champions league as I really don't think there is anyone to be scared of drawing if we sort ourselves out.
19 Jan 2026
19 Jan 2026 19:41:32
Is it the same fitness coaching team previous to arne arrival or have they changed?
Very odd if its the same staff that the levels drop so much, are they being overruled in how they would like to do they're job or have they too became sloppy and negligent of the required standard. all very strange.
{Ed001's Note - they are mostly the same ones and they would constantly argue with Klopp and said he trained the players too hard.}
19 Jan 2026 17:08:40
Question for Ed001 if you're about mate.
It's been acknowledged (and is fairly obvious) that the team's fitness levels are pretty poor this season compared to seasons gone by. If (and this is purely hypothetical, no idea what's actually going to happen) the coaching team were replaced at this stage of the season, how long would you expect it to take to get the team up to fitness levels where you could expect them to play a full game at the same intensity without looking knackered after 60 minutes? Taking into account that, with european progression into at least the playoffs still likely, there won't be a huge amount of time on the training ground for the next couple of months with games coming thick and fast.
Just curious as to whether this is something that could be fixed quite quickly, or is whoever is in charge going to have to limp home because of how badly wrong we appear to have gotten our fitness training this season?
Thanks to you and the other Eds for your continued awesome work.
{Ed001's Note - it would be a gradual improvement thoughout the squad. Hard to give a timeline without having full knowledge of the level of fitness they are at right now. Plus it would vary from player to player. Overall though, you would expect them to be there well before the end of the season. Playing games isn't a hindrance, as you can just ask them to go harder in matches and push themselves to gain fitness that way as well as in training.}
19 Jan 2026 19:41:32
Is it the same fitness coaching team previous to arne arrival or have they changed?
Very odd if its the same staff that the levels drop so much, are they being overruled in how they would like to do they're job or have they too became sloppy and negligent of the required standard. all very strange.
{Ed001's Note - they are mostly the same ones and they would constantly argue with Klopp and said he trained the players too hard.}
19 Jan 2026 20:21:35
Ed001 if things did change now one thing in our favour would be last 6 weeks of the season our players should not be exhausted so we could have a good finish to the season.
With saying that and Slot looks certain to go you would think he would just push them now and try to get something out of the season before he goes.
Am sure if we got up to the levels we where at from the beginning of last season we could have a real push for the champions league as I really don't think there is anyone to be scared of drawing if we sort ourselves out.
19 Jan 2026 20:36:02
Sounds like Klopp was right!
19 Jan 2026 21:43:38
Remember what he said at the start "it's far more important what people think about you when you leave". My God did we realise how true that was going to be. He will go down as the only manager to win a league when he wasn't actually the manager anymore.
20 Jan 2026 09:04:21
@Galway; I assume you are referring to Slots success last year? I've heard and read this line of thinking previously and totally disagree with it. In 2025 Slot won it. His team won it. His fellow coaches and crew won it. The Anfield crowd won it. The away supporters won it. It isn't a conspiracy to say so.
Jurgen won it in 2020. 5 seasons previous. Those are the facts. And you know if AS and others had kept their wits about them, they could have won it again this season. He deserves his credit where credit is due and I for one will certainly give him and all the others associated with it, just that.
19 Jan 2026 17:08:40
Question for Ed001 if you're about mate.
It's been acknowledged (and is fairly obvious) that the team's fitness levels are pretty poor this season compared to seasons gone by. If (and this is purely hypothetical, no idea what's actually going to happen) the coaching team were replaced at this stage of the season, how long would you expect it to take to get the team up to fitness levels where you could expect them to play a full game at the same intensity without looking knackered after 60 minutes? Taking into account that, with european progression into at least the playoffs still likely, there won't be a huge amount of time on the training ground for the next couple of months with games coming thick and fast.
Just curious as to whether this is something that could be fixed quite quickly, or is whoever is in charge going to have to limp home because of how badly wrong we appear to have gotten our fitness training this season?
Thanks to you and the other Eds for your continued awesome work.
{Ed001's Note - it would be a gradual improvement thoughout the squad. Hard to give a timeline without having full knowledge of the level of fitness they are at right now. Plus it would vary from player to player. Overall though, you would expect them to be there well before the end of the season. Playing games isn't a hindrance, as you can just ask them to go harder in matches and push themselves to gain fitness that way as well as in training.}
19 Jan 2026 19:41:32
Is it the same fitness coaching team previous to arne arrival or have they changed?
Very odd if its the same staff that the levels drop so much, are they being overruled in how they would like to do they're job or have they too became sloppy and negligent of the required standard. all very strange.
{Ed001's Note - they are mostly the same ones and they would constantly argue with Klopp and said he trained the players too hard.}
19 Jan 2026 20:21:35
Ed001 if things did change now one thing in our favour would be last 6 weeks of the season our players should not be exhausted so we could have a good finish to the season.
With saying that and Slot looks certain to go you would think he would just push them now and try to get something out of the season before he goes.
Am sure if we got up to the levels we where at from the beginning of last season we could have a real push for the champions league as I really don't think there is anyone to be scared of drawing if we sort ourselves out.
19 Jan 2026 20:36:02
Sounds like Klopp was right!
19 Jan 2026 21:43:38
Remember what he said at the start "it's far more important what people think about you when you leave". My God did we realise how true that was going to be. He will go down as the only manager to win a league when he wasn't actually the manager anymore.
20 Jan 2026 09:04:21
@Galway; I assume you are referring to Slots success last year? I've heard and read this line of thinking previously and totally disagree with it. In 2025 Slot won it. His team won it. His fellow coaches and crew won it. The Anfield crowd won it. The away supporters won it. It isn't a conspiracy to say so.
Jurgen won it in 2020. 5 seasons previous. Those are the facts. And you know if AS and others had kept their wits about them, they could have won it again this season. He deserves his credit where credit is due and I for one will certainly give him and all the others associated with it, just that.
19 Jan 2026
19 Jan 2026 15:39:20
As ed001 said, we could have sorted the Guehi signing for 1 Jan, so there is something we could have done.
19 Jan 2026
19 Jan 2026 13:27:35
ED001, very true, the Villa n Madrid game was our best this season, you'd think he would have stuck with that formula.
19 Jan 2026 11:29:09
Hi Ed001, or the ITKs.
Why hasn't Curtis been renewed till now? He is the only long-term member of the club whose contact is out in 2027. While there are doubts over his place as a starter, in my opinion he is an excellent squad player to have. At the very least, even if a new manager wants to move him on, we would be much better equipped to get a fee.
Personally, I want him to stay.
It just reeks of the Trent situation again, and its alarming we have let another possible long-term player reach the final 18 months of their contract.
{Ed001's Note - I expect it to be done soon, the club just left it late again.}
19 Jan 2026 12:59:12
Cause they assume its a given, all easy peasy and no work required.
19 Jan 2026 13:24:58
No, he was offered a contract. He wants whatever money he wants. However I wouldn't be held to ransom in order to keep an average player.
19 Jan 2026 14:48:25
Funny you mention trent Koparmy. I was taking the p. out of CJ at a family thing recently. Asking how is Spanish was getting on, so he could go an join his mate. I won't repeat the language he used but he basically said this is my club, I ain't going nowhere ?.
Maverick, you're talking balls. I know personally that ain't the case.
As Kloppiche says, the club see it as being easy peasy because he doesn't want to leave and nor does he won't to be a top earner.
19 Jan 2026 15:49:24
Thanks Ed, and TF. If you could put a word in his ear TF, and ask CJ to expedite the talks it would be good for my heart lol.
19 Jan 2026 11:29:09
Hi Ed001, or the ITKs.
Why hasn't Curtis been renewed till now? He is the only long-term member of the club whose contact is out in 2027. While there are doubts over his place as a starter, in my opinion he is an excellent squad player to have. At the very least, even if a new manager wants to move him on, we would be much better equipped to get a fee.
Personally, I want him to stay.
It just reeks of the Trent situation again, and its alarming we have let another possible long-term player reach the final 18 months of their contract.
{Ed001's Note - I expect it to be done soon, the club just left it late again.}
19 Jan 2026 12:59:12
Cause they assume its a given, all easy peasy and no work required.
19 Jan 2026 13:24:58
No, he was offered a contract. He wants whatever money he wants. However I wouldn't be held to ransom in order to keep an average player.
19 Jan 2026 14:48:25
Funny you mention trent Koparmy. I was taking the p. out of CJ at a family thing recently. Asking how is Spanish was getting on, so he could go an join his mate. I won't repeat the language he used but he basically said this is my club, I ain't going nowhere ?.
Maverick, you're talking balls. I know personally that ain't the case.
As Kloppiche says, the club see it as being easy peasy because he doesn't want to leave and nor does he won't to be a top earner.
19 Jan 2026 15:49:24
Thanks Ed, and TF. If you could put a word in his ear TF, and ask CJ to expedite the talks it would be good for my heart lol.
19 Jan 2026
19 Jan 2026 11:55:17
Where do you start with what went wrong?
1. I guess the first place to start actually isn't Slot's fault. The tragic loss of Diogo Jota. There is no way to measure the impact this has had on Slot and the players. Mentally, it must be so hard to go into that dressing room every week and see his shirt hanging up. Then the fans every week immortalising him on the 20th minute. It's all very thoughtful and a beautiful tribute, but the players aren't being allowed to move on from the grief because their are reminders all over the place for them.
2. Tearing up a winning formula. I keep seeing people say Salah is done and maybe his legs are going, but the team was built around him. Hard working forwards like Nunez and Diaz who allowed Salah to be let off of his defensive work. The new forwards aren't in that mould. Couple that with Gravenberch suddenly being told he can play box to box and it's left a gaping hole in the heart of our team, and our best player pushed too wide where he is totally ineffective.
3. Stripping out the British/ Scouse core. We had several British players in the squad who despite not being key players (Trent aside) were still local lads or huge Liverpool fans. Elliott, Quansah, Morton etc. You don't have to motivate players like this even when they're not playing, because they love the club so much they'll come in a bleed for the badge anyway. We lost 4 huge Liverpool fans from our squad in the summer, ultimately. You can't overstate the importance of local lads in the team. They're a great way for the dressing room to connect with how the fans truly feel.
4. Heitinga leaving. Heitinga was allegedly the link between Slot and the players, and all of the players massively respected him. His tactical influence couldn't be measured whilst he was here, but it can be seen now he is not. Van Bronkhorst has us playing this stupid horseshoe passing tactic that got him canned at Rangers. It's boring and ineffective. Slot's put his faith in the wrong assistant. I can call where the next pass is going 9 times out of 10 before the player has even taken their first touch. Bradley to Konate, Konate to Virgil, Virgil to Kerkez; then back across the defence we go.
5. Fitness. For whatever reason our players just do not look fit. Ed001 seems to think this is down to the training methods and 've no reason to doubt him. So that sits squarely on Slot's shoulders. He is the head coach so he is the one who takes the blame if our players are not training with enough intensity to be match fit. We have players still cramping up in January. How can you not be fully fit by January?
6. Squad/ academy utilisation. I'm sick to the back teeth of Slot putting players out of position in a desperate ploy to avoid using someone outside of his "inner circle". When was the last time Dom started back to back games in midfield? He's played more at RW and RB than he has in CM and he's one of our better midfielders. Why can't Endo buy a game in DM? Why is Ramsay being told publicly that he's a worse RB than out of position CM's? It's not about whether the squad players are good enough, it's about keeping your star players in their best positions so you don't make 2 positions weaker. Slot just doesn't get it. You can't have several weak links in the Premier League because you've shuffled your core players around, but you can get away with having a kid in his natural position showing some youthful exuberance as a trade off for the odd mistake.
It's a disaster of our own making. Other than the Jota tragedy, pretty much all of these issues could've been easily avoided and most of them could be reversed within a month given that it's the winter transfer window.
19 Jan 2026
19 Jan 2026 11:50:38
Hi Ed001 - Thought you would mention about the first half penalty.
There was nothing in it and Gapko went down like a feather.
If it was given against us, many of us would have take the ref to the cleaners.
{Ed001's Note - I just completely forgot sorry. I agree, it was meant to be included in the bit about players going down easily.}
19 Jan 2026
19 Jan 2026 11:50:38
Hi Ed001 - Thought you would mention about the first half penalty.
There was nothing in it and Gapko went down like a feather.
If it was given against us, many of us would have take the ref to the cleaners.
{Ed001's Note - I just completely forgot sorry. I agree, it was meant to be included in the bit about players going down easily.}
19 Jan 2026
19 Jan 2026 10:53:22
ED001.spot on with the review. I wanted Slot gone during them heavy defeats n that terrible run of 9 losses from 12 games, when was it for you when you thought, this can't go on.
{Ed001's Note - after the Villa and Madrid games, when he saw how to have success but decided to revert back to this terrible football again. That just said to me that he is too stubborn to see what is in front of his face and will just carry on doing what he thinks regardless.}
19 Jan 2026
19 Jan 2026 10:41:36
Vinicius and Salah can't be further apart. Salah works hard and takes care of himself and his fitness. Vini whined when Alonso tried to make him work harder for the team.
Ed001 already told us that Salah's problem with Slot and Hughes was that they tried to sell him behind his back. It was nothing to do with Salah's attitude, unlike Vini.
19 Jan 2026
19 Jan 2026 10:39:59
Thanks ED001, once again you've hit the nail on the head with everything! If I am not mistaken there had been boos heard in a couple of our previous games also.
It's pure ignorance that Slot and his team have not listened to what the fans want.
Earlier in the season you had an excuse with poor performances with the bedding in of new players, but when there has been no improvement at all and then senior players are speaking out it speaks volumes.
19 Jan 2026
19 Jan 2026 10:53:22
ED001.spot on with the review. I wanted Slot gone during them heavy defeats n that terrible run of 9 losses from 12 games, when was it for you when you thought, this can't go on.
{Ed001's Note - after the Villa and Madrid games, when he saw how to have success but decided to revert back to this terrible football again. That just said to me that he is too stubborn to see what is in front of his face and will just carry on doing what he thinks regardless.}
19 Jan 2026
19 Jan 2026 10:20:57
Thanks for the review Ed. I agree with all that you wrote. We have the players to be playing much better and be much higher up the table. This season does feel like a wasted opportunity seeing how all the teams around us seem to be faltering.
{Ed001's Note - that's the most annoying thing, this is a missed chance. It is not so much that we are not winning, it is that we are not even challenging with a squad that is so much better than results suggest.}