Liverpool banter 4

16 Jun 2026 10:57:35
Ed025 we need your banter to lighten the mood her mate.
Few questions for ya:

- where do ya see Liverpool finishing next season
- where do ya see Everton finishing
- who is your ideal signings for the blue side
- who would you like to see as manager

{Ed025's Note - i think Liverpool will finish in the top 3 EIRE but the recruitment will decide how high i expect mate, Everton will finish roughly where they finished this one around 13th, we are desperate for a Right Back and a Striker and a few more players but im not holding my breath, i would personally take MrBean over Moyes and he is the main problem for me, he plays to not lose rather than win and we play a lot of hoofball which is not very easy on the eye, if you pinned me down for a name i would think Fabian Hurzeler would be a good shout..

16 Jun 2026 18:48:58
Would you fancy Eddie Howe Ed if it went pear shaped for him at Newcastle?
Looks a good fit imo & he'll bring a better brand of football?

{Ed025's Note - yeah BR i would take him all day mate...and hes an Evertonian as well..

16 Jun 2026 19:27:31
Getting pinned down is a fantasy of mine as well Ed shame I haven't found a lass who's up to the task (yet)

{Ed025's Note - good luck with your search MB..

16 Jun 2026 23:08:20
I'm 41 and optimistic Ed throw in a bit of delusion as well

{Ed025's Note - im 68 and an Evertonian MB...i feel your pain mate.. :)

16 Jun 2026 17:51:54
Hi Ed's. What do you see happening to Stefan Bajcetic? Didn't realise that he's still only 21. Do you think he will get a fair go under Iraola? Or do you think he will head out on loan again. It seems like we've had him for years. I personally would like for him to be given an opportunity.
Thanks for all your work guys!

{Ed001's Note - I expect Iraola to have a look at him and then a decision will be made. His fitness means it is probably not going to be possible to send him out on loan until January, as they will want to monitor him closely. It would make a loan difficult.}

16 Jun 2026 18:01:59
Thanks for the reply. What's wrong with his fitness? Think I have missed something. Seen some videos of him a couple of days ago doing some training.

{Ed001's Note - he is coming back from a long term injury, his fitness will be nowhere near the levels it needs to be. It can take a good year to really get back to anything like full fitness, if ever.}

16 Jun 2026 19:10:52
Eds1 you say it will take a good year does that mean he's just tyred

{Ed001's Note - that made me groan.}

16 Jun 2026 20:00:05
Superb.

16 Jun 2026 20:47:09
It takes time, Acered, when he's tyred, no Kwikfix.

16 Jun 2026 23:23:40
Jesus! Wheely wheely bad....

17 Jun 2026 00:18:28
Bajcetic has let himself down.
Maybe he couldn't handle the pressure, but he's been taking the psi.

16 Jun 2026 16:21:52
Hugo's target is to play on Boxing Day according to LEquipe.

16 Jun 2026 19:16:53
@BeKind I highly doubt that, esp. with the type of injury he had, which normally take up to 9 or even 12 months for full recovery. I do admire his optimism.

17 Jun 2026 00:20:56
He's playing Widow Twanky at the Empire on Boxing Day.

16 Jun 2026 15:17:11
Well fixtures released on Friday, my bet Bournemouth away 1st game.

16 Jun 2026 15:52:49
Would make most sense for the random generator (which never is) to give us Iraola's old team, but have a sneaky suspicion we will get either City, Arsenal, or United to give him a big test for the first game.

16 Jun 2026 16:05:45
Three out of Arsenal, Man U, Man Cheat, Villa and Chelsea away from home in the first six fixtures.

16 Jun 2026 16:10:44
Blue noses in Oct and Feb.

16 Jun 2026 16:18:06
Oh and the second rate Manc team (these days) around xmas/new year.

16 Jun 2026 16:33:21
Nah, I don't see an LFC v Arsenal or LFC v City as the first game of the season. The 5th game? I can defo see that.

16 Jun 2026 16:38:12
I'll go Brentford at home.

16 Jun 2026 16:46:09
Away to one of the newly promoted teams.

16 Jun 2026 16:06:56
Everton away for a quick easy 3 points!

Only joking Ed025, i hope you are well my friend!

{Ed025's Note - unless we get our fingers out in this window you are probably right KK. I’m good thanks mate..

16 Jun 2026 16:57:55
I'll go for one of the promotion teams away first the first game.

16 Jun 2026 17:21:39
Home to Forest.

16 Jun 2026 17:42:25
Leeds at home.

16 Jun 2026 17:56:20
Coventry away.

16 Jun 2026 18:14:00
Does it matter? We play the other 19 clubs twice, whatever happens.

16 Jun 2026 18:19:54
Nope. Doesn't matter a jot.

16 Jun 2026 18:23:59
It'll be Chelsea as per.

16 Jun 2026 18:31:19
Arsenal away.

16 Jun 2026 18:34:19
Thanks for clearing that up WDW.

16 Jun 2026 21:21:31
I will go Hull City at home.

16 Jun 2026 14:50:14
Underwhelmed by our potential signings.
Barcola is dross and I mean dross. I'd be delighted for Arsenal to get him. Doesn't press, his attitude is that of jogging at best. His end product doesn't exist and he doesn't finish well. He's a truly shocking potential signing and I can't believe we're really considering him.
Wharton is a fantastic player but underwhelming if Sob and Grav are alongside him. We needed a top 6 or Grav to become a decent 6 again. We should be looking to sign 2 top midfielders this summer Reguardless of what Jones does. Grav and Macca arnt it.


Diamonde is a very good player but raw.
Nunez, it didn't work out so why are we even considering it? Financial?? Where was the cost saving when handing out extravagant contracts to squad players?
Why are Edwards and Hughes still here btw?
Iriola has a mountain to climb with this squad. Klopp was a better coach and needed the right players in for us to compete for the major trophies.
The team needs pace, physicality and athleticism. I do not expect the two clowns to address that Attall. Barcola is another Hughes player. Major issues remain in top positions at the club.

16 Jun 2026 16:01:19
Verbal diarrhea.

16 Jun 2026 16:03:50
Once Hughes leaves for Saudi, put your application in to replace him.

16 Jun 2026 16:04:21
Hey Ron,

I don't think we are in for BB despite the noise. I can see us getting Diomede, then perhaps a wild card winger or a bargain older one if Bowen, for example, is cheap.

Nunez on a free is a squad player option, and for nothing makes perfect sense. He could play early League Cup and FA Cup, European dead rubbers, or on paper easy games. Gives Isak a rest and waits on Hugo to return.

He was around 1 in 3 goals per game, to be fair to him during his time with us, and there is no doubt he causes chaos.

I don't want or rate Wharton. I would like to see a ball winner come into the middle of the Vieira mould.



I am hugely looking forward to what Iraola can do with the young lads, as he is proven to give them a chance and can also develop them, so we have lots who could benefit from him as manager -

Pecsi
Jaros
Nyoni
Bajcetic
McConnell
Ngumoha
Lucky
Nallo
Ndiaye
Scanlon
Morrison
Stephenson
Danns
Figeroa
Gordon
Koumas
Sonni-Lambie
Wright
Abe

So much potential there to develop and give a chance, obviously not all will make it for various reasons but there is nothing better than a young academy lad making the grade.

16 Jun 2026 16:08:01
Never seen someone rage bait themselves before - congrats.

16 Jun 2026 16:34:49
Ron Funk, since we have signed literally nobody, I am curious to know which signings have we made that you are underwhelmed by?

16 Jun 2026 17:00:16
Moaning for the sake of moaning.

16 Jun 2026 17:44:51
I think Koumas will be sold this window.

16 Jun 2026 18:01:40
Potential signings, OliRed.

16 Jun 2026 18:16:09
Don't know about moaning for the sake of moaning - seems more like fishing to me.

16 Jun 2026 19:19:34
Rigsby, whatever. The question still stands, potential or not.

17 Jun 2026 00:26:50
OliRed, the OP said what potential signings were underwhelming them.
Barcola, Wharton, Diamonde and Nunez.
I get your point, though. I don't get underwhelmed by potential signings and/or rumours either.

16 Jun 2026 14:47:56
Afternoon Chaps / Chapettes,

First post here but get bits of info here and there as I’m tight with a member of the kitchen staff at LFC.

Been told that LFC are planning a revamp of the kitchen units after a number of hygiene issues affecting the productivity in the kitchen. LFC kept it under wraps but basically spent a vast amount on industrial strength washing up liquid during the season to mitigate for the poor dishwashing performance - when you hear journalists talk about “mitigating circumstances”, this is seen as one of the bigger ones affecting the overall culture at the club.



Rumours are a big contract with Bosch on the horizon, so something to get excited about in the meantime. LFC want to give Iraola the best chance of success next season and this is seen as almost more key than the back room staff they’re planning to bring in.

Ta.
Caroline.

16 Jun 2026 15:51:23
That's how to get a smile, getting ready to clean the new silver wear that will be coming.

16 Jun 2026 15:51:37
I know Bosch very well. We went for a few pints and got absolutely pyrolytic...

16 Jun 2026 16:45:29
Love it! Keep em coming!

Also, I tip my cap to Willo!

16 Jun 2026 18:51:13
I can confirm we are looking to offer a contract to Bosch. My source is his dad Bish.

16 Jun 2026 11:47:17
So do you guys think LFC will sign anyone other than 1 high fee winger?

I’m thinking they may just allow Iraola to just assess what he has and run with that as I assume Bradley will be back at some point.


Chiesa may stay.
Rio may play more.

I personally think we are way short of a title competing squad but what’s your thoughts on how u think Liverpool will play it?

16 Jun 2026 12:33:52
I think we will sign a RB, CM, RW and possibly a free Nunez. Any more for me would depend on who leaves.

16 Jun 2026 12:40:12
I think we only have a maximum budget to spend of £92,345,780, regardless of sales, so you're right, we should be Very, very careful who we spend it on.

I know this as I follow a Twatter account that claims to be the club's CFO. I fully believe them.

16 Jun 2026 12:41:18
Chiesa's style may suit Iraola, but his body may have other ideas. At this point I'd rather his place went to a young player.

16 Jun 2026 12:55:21
I think incomings will depend massively on outgoings tbh. If Gakpo leaves, we might go for Barcola; if Macca leaves, we might go for Wharton or Scott; if Vvd leaves, we might go for Schlotterback, etc.
Other than a winger, the only other signing I think might happen would be a versatile forward, to cover for Ekitike's injury.

16 Jun 2026 14:08:38
If we are to challenge for the League and Champions League, we need at least 6 incomings - RB, CB, DM, CM, LW, RW.

If we actually use Gomez, Chiesa, Endo, Rio, Nyoni, Lucky, Nallo, McConnell, Bajcetic, Morrison, Wright, Danns, Ndiaye (the new left-footed CB kiddie) and one of Beck/Scanlon/Chambers, then perhaps we can get by, but it would be a miracle to challenge for big trophies with them.

16 Jun 2026 14:27:33
Do we need all those players, Fly, + replacements for potentially Gakpo & Macca? Or would those 6 do, in your opinion?

16 Jun 2026 14:29:56
2 wingers and a RB for sure. Maybe Darwin on a free. A CB if we can secure for the right price, a midfielder if MacAllister or Jones leave, a forward if Gakpo leaves.

16 Jun 2026 14:31:37
I have no idea how it will play out.
But we need to add two attackers, two midfielders, a CB and a RB.

16 Jun 2026 15:05:21
As some have said, we need at least 4/5 players in defence (RB & CB), midfield (1 or 2) and attack (a winger and CF should Gakpo stay), while any additional signings will depend on who goes.



Also, we have young players like Elliott, MacConnel etc. who can step up, cos they have already played first team footie a lot (esp. Elliott) under Klopp. We will have to see.

16 Jun 2026 15:11:04
The current team + 1 winger can't challenge on 4 different competitions, which is the expectation on a club like LFC. Heck, the current team would struggle to challenge just for the title with the current injuries and lack of cover for some positions.

I expect at least 3 signings if no one leaves, but likely more.



We need to replace Salah. We need 1 extra forward to cover Ekitike's injury and Isak's rotation. We need a RB. We have desperately needed a DM for a while, and from what I've seen of Iraola, he'll want one... maybe not a specialist DM, but a more combative CM than we currently have in the squad.

16 Jun 2026 16:46:34
What we need depends on who leaves. Salah, Robbo and Konate leaving has been officially announced. Robbo can be replaced with Tsimikas, and Konate has been replaced by Jacquet. Therefore the current priority is a RW to replace Salah (Diomande). After that we currently only actually need a RB and a CF due to the Bradley and Ekitike long term injuries. So RW, RB and CF are the bare minimums.

However, Jones to Inter seems like it's only a matter of time, as well as Mac Allister reportedly seeking a move away from the club. If both sales happen, you can add a CM and a DM to the list. Van Dijk could be a shock departure too, in my opinion. I was already half expecting him to move to Turkey or the MLS, but now the rumours of Schlotterbeck are heating up, I think this might have legs. So we could be in need of another CB as well.

Away from that though, I think everyone else who'd actually need replacing will stay. Mamardashvili, Endo and Chiesa might leave, but I don't even think they'd need replacing.

You could literally just give more minutes to Pecsi, Nyoni and Rio. I also think Gakpo will leave, but whilst a signing like Barcola will be tempting, I think Wirtz will play a free role starting from the LW next season. It's his best position by far, drifting around freely and linking up with a more positionally rigid AM. Watching Wirtz play LW and link up with Musiala in AM the other day just confirmed that for me. Also, if we sign Diomande, then PSG might not even be prepared to sell Barcola.

One other thing I'd say on the topic of AMs, is don't rule out Elliott staying for next season. He's very similar in profile to Justin Kluivert, and Iraola had him absolutely flying at Bournemouth before his injury. I also think Gomez and Woodman will stay. These 3 would be useful homegrown squad players.

So I'd predict RW, RB, CB, CF, CM and DM. Diomande, Palestra, Schlotterbeck, Nunez, Scott and Bouaddi would be my picks. ?

16 Jun 2026 18:22:36
ArneSlotsBarber, If we want to win one of the big trophies, or at least go close then yes, I think we need 6 signings:

RB - Gomez, Bradley and Frimpong cannot be relied upon. Ramsey would need a miracle to rescue his Liverpool career.

CB - Gomez cannot be relied upon. Virgil is 35. Leoni and Jacquet are very young and untested in the Premier League. We'll need another to be able to protect Virgil.

DM - We have needed to replace Fabinho for 4 years now. Endo does not have the legs to play for Iraola. Bajcetic would need a miracle to take this opportunity.

McConnell has also had a fair bit of time out with injury. I am not convinced Gravenberch is a long term solution for DM either.

CM - With both Macca and Curtis potentially leaving, we would need one more in here - even if Nyoni is to be given more time. If they both stay, then you could file this one under unnecessary.

RW - Mo needs to be replaced even if Chiesa and Harvey stay.

LW - If Gakpo stays then you can file this one under unnecessary too.

So perhaps 4 positions are a MUST and 2 more positions are dependent on outgoings.

16 Jun 2026 11:21:04
Re Darwin Nunez: The best bits like the 2 goals against Newcastle
The audacious back heal against Rm.
The defensive contributions.
The goal keeper press that led to a goal.
The hard tackles and chaos.
The gravity that attracted defenders leaving space for others.


Despite the misses, he kept trying.
The unlucky bits hitting the woodwork 4 times in one match!
Hitting the woodwork 14 times!
The bad bits: the offsides and missed chances. I’d argue that even these bad bits got you off your seat imo.

16 Jun 2026 13:09:47
The best bit is he had passion and brotherhood with his teammates.
Everyone loved Nunez from coach till ball boys. You don't get a following like that, being a useless player. He had charisma and he could run and defend.

Sometimes that is all you need. We have Nunez, Isak and Salah is a good front three. With Rio and Eliott filing in gaps and subs.
I don't think is the right window to go big. Buy essentials - RM.

16 Jun 2026 13:10:02
RB I meant.

16 Jun 2026 13:13:10
If he can sort his fitness out without pulling his hammy's for 6 months then he's worth a punt. Last night, however, showed how off it he is at this point in time, as he was woefully slow and laboured.

16 Jun 2026 13:26:35
On a free, Nunez coming back is a no-brainer. He's too frustratingly wasteful to be a starter, but his good qualities are so well-suited to the Premier League. I wrote him off in his 3rd season as not good enough, but in our current guise he'd be a good addition.

16 Jun 2026 13:41:34
Salah isn't our player anymore and hopefully Nunez doesn't come back, it's 2026 not 2023.

16 Jun 2026 14:19:01
The 2 late goals against Brentford when we looked certain to drop points. The last minute winner against Forest when we looked certain to drop points.

These are pivotal moments in a title race when a draw could've killed our momentum but Nunez popped up with late winners that kept us going all the way to the title.



He wasn't perfect, but he certainly wasn't a flop and was sad to see him leave. People are so focused on what he didn't do that they completely ignore what he did do.

16 Jun 2026 15:09:32
Rios, I will always believe that Darwin's brace at Brentford broke Arsenal that season and they never recovered. We may have won the league with Darwin But we wouldn't have won the league without him and that Brentford result.

@Avitohyes, whatever we may think of Darwin, what we cannot deny is Darwin's fitness levels.

For the way he plays, you would think he has hamstring/muscle issues. He does not. He is as fit as a horse. If availability is the best ability then, Darwin fits the bill completely.

16 Jun 2026 15:17:33
He'd need to be signed early in the window and get a proper preseason, as he doesn't look fit or confident.

I think he'll need to work very hard on his confidence after a rough spell in Saudi, and also very little football his last season with LFC.



He's not the same Nunez we love. He would need a lot of work. I'm not convinced he'd be able to offer more than Chiesa in his current state, but I'll embrace the chaos if he comes!

16 Jun 2026 15:19:25
"We wouldn't have won the league without him and that Brentford result"

Well that's enough internet for me today.

16 Jun 2026 17:08:21
I will correct myself as I think the Forest winner was from the season before. In the title winning season it was Jota's (RIP) header that got us a draw at Forest.

Nevertheless, it does highlight that Nunez did score some important goals.

He was also infuriating at times, I get that, but he was far from a flop.

16 Jun 2026 19:32:09
Nunez got hooked at halftime against Saudi Arabia, I can't grasp why people want him back.

16 Jun 2026 19:51:26
Title-winning season, Darwin scored a winner in 1 game out of 38, which was against Brentford.

In the other 3 league games he scored in, we would still have won without his goals.

16 Jun 2026 09:56:57
Seems crazy that Tunisia have sacked their head coach Lamouchi following the side's 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening World Cup game.

16 Jun 2026 12:40:05
Apparently he'd only been in charge for 5 games and lost 4 of them.

Probably something else going on there, though. A lot of complaints about his son being around the team too much despite not having any formal role in the set up?

16 Jun 2026 15:12:18
Mcgoveb, you wanna know a story? Sabri Lamouchi, before the 1998 WC in France, was called up to play for Tunisia in that same WC. He rejected them to play for France in that WC. The squad is announced and Lamouchi doesn't make the cut.

Never plays for France again.

Near 30 years later, Lamouchi is Tunisia manager and now gets sacked during a WC. Swings and round-abouts, man.

16 Jun 2026 15:30:33
I think someone like Harry Redknapp's told you that, Oli.

Back then, if you had one cap (friendly or competitive), you were cap tied to the country you got it from. Lamouchi had caps for France going back to 1996, so there was no way he could've played for Tunisia in 1998, and he would've known as much.



Tim Cahill was cap tied to Samoa for a while cos he'd played for their U19s, before they changed the rules so he could play for Australia sometime after 2000.

16 Jun 2026 16:52:30
SR, I know Lamouchi had played for France in 1996, and now I see I got my years wrong. However, my point was that Lamouchi rejected Tunisia in order to play for France. Only for him to not get picked by them for the WC, whereas he could have played for Tunisia and made the WC in 1998. That part is a fact. So it is kinda poetic justice that he gets sacked coaching the country of his origin at a WC.

Also, a certain Zinedine Zidane declined to play for Algeria (in 1993) when they called him up to give him a better chance of playing for France, as he was uncapped like Lamouchi as well? Zizou would make his debut vs the Czech Rep.

in 1994 after France failed to qualify for USA '94, just like England.

Mate, I lived in France for several years during that time and there are tons of stories like Lamouchi's I can tell you about. How much time do you have? Lol.

And, lastly, I don't know, and have never spoken to Harry Redknapp, and long may that continue.