Liverpool banter 5

16 Jun 2026 01:26:12
Any truth in Indy saying we want Nwaneri from Arsenal? Think the kid has high potential to be a great player so would be nice to take one from them.

16 Jun 2026 09:26:13
It's Indy. He probably reads this forum for info - I suggested yesterday that it would be a good idea to put in a cheeky bid if Arsenal were after Morgan Rogers, as it would push Nwaneri even further down the pecking order.

16 Jun 2026 11:01:27
Nwaneri did nothing of note on his loan at Marseille, started brightly, then crashed, hardly promising signs, though he did look a decent player at Arsenal. Granted Marseille were a bit of a bin fire this year.

16 Jun 2026 15:50:13
Would he offer much more than Elliott?

He's 4 years younger and quicker, (I think), so maybe there's an argument there as squad player if Elliott was being sold, but there wouldn't be a need for both of them.

Not the worst option if the price was right and Iraola thought he could get him to perform.

Could cover for Wirtz and the RW when rotation is needed.

Showed a lot of promise at some point, not sure what happened. Although, Arteta sucks, so it wouldn't surprise me if he shot his confidence.

Maybe.

15 Jun 2026 20:42:14
Robbo
If it's a case of numbers for Diomande, let him know 66 is available.

15 Jun 2026 21:49:26
Rent free.

15 Jun 2026 20:02:58
Has there ever been a less successful player who was more popular than Darwin?

Maybe Igor, because the Anfield crowd loved him.

15 Jun 2026 20:32:06
Nevada
40 goals in 143 appearances, quite a few of them not full games, is not what I would call unsuccessful. But his main assets were occupying defenders to create space for others, and his pressing, which made the midfield not look so wide open. We haven't replaced what he offered.

15 Jun 2026 20:20:04
Eric Meijer?

15 Jun 2026 20:58:08
Titi Camara?

15 Jun 2026 21:15:58
ArneSlop. The crowd loved Eric Meijer, the lad ran his nuts off. The Anfield faithful love a tryer.

15 Jun 2026 21:23:48
Darwin causes defences headaches, he is just chaos and no-one likes playing against someone that causes that. Big yes from me if we got him on a free. If it doesn't work, sell him on.

15 Jun 2026 22:50:12
Thiago? He was constantly injured, but was, and still is, highly regarded.

15 Jun 2026 23:12:16
Smicer, Camara, Sissoko, Meijer, Biscan, Klavan arguably fall into the same 'cult hero' bracket, possibly even Lucas, although he was often derided.

16 Jun 2026 06:19:10
Any defence would be ecstatic to be facing a player who missed as many chances and ran offside as often as Nunez did.

16 Jun 2026 06:23:12
Do any of the ITK's or Ed's know if this is likely then because quite a few are pining after Darwin on here.

Iraola must know a baller when he sees one. Or is it a case that he's desperate to work with him and bloody Hughes and Edwards won't put in a big free transfer bid.

16 Jun 2026 07:34:47
Evanilson was a key player for Iraola. He is far from a good finisher himself, and if I'm going to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure there are many things Evanilson can do that Nunez can't at the same or a higher level. As a backup forward, I think you really could do much worse than Darwin.

16 Jun 2026 07:47:59
Lofty, Sissoko at his peak was actually a superb player, as was Lucas, who was at one point one of the first names on the Brazil national team sheet.

16 Jun 2026 08:34:07
I miss Nunez. Last year we wanted pace due to the boring horse shoe style. If this is true, and he is available, we would be negligent if we missed out.

I understand his shortcomings and offsides yada yada. However, his endeavour got him into those positions ... to get caught offside to miss one on ones. No defenders are ever comfortable playing against players they cannot predict.

Darwin is chaos in droves. He had my out of my seat so many times. Admittedly, I sat down exasperated most of the time. But, I for one, would love the lad back. You never know, our new coach could be just the guy to turn this headless chicken into what we thought we got 4 years ago. Older, wiser, calmer.
Come on, what's the risk?

16 Jun 2026 09:52:38
Does Nunez still have chaos in droves even though he's older, wiser and calmer?
I haven't seen him play for ages, so has he changed?
What I can't get away from is that, at 26 years old, he had his contract in the Saudi league terminated after less than a season, after his club paid over £50m for him.


I could be wrong about him, but he wasn't very good when I watched him play for us, and he seems even less in demand now than he did then.

16 Jun 2026 10:20:15
El Hadj Diouf? ?

16 Jun 2026 11:18:02
Fabio Aurelio!!

16 Jun 2026 11:31:26
Nunez was part of a pl winning team. Ok, a bit part player, but he had his game-winning moments, so you can't say he was a total flop.

16 Jun 2026 15:14:05
Patrick, but he was less successful, the injury basically did for him, which was a shame.

Lucas used to get pelters from online fans. I remember being on the Team Talk forums, having a right old barney over Lucas with one guy who was almost exclusively negative.

15 Jun 2026 19:03:09
The Nunez links feel a little like pining for an ex who was great in bed but absolutely did your head in.

He struggled under pressure and is all brawn with little brain. He barely learned a word of English - something that isn't mentioned but he clearly struggled to communicate and take on tactical instructions.

However. with a Spanish speaking coach, a high pressing style that can suit him and as a short term contract on a free. I guess I could get back into that bed one more time.

15 Jun 2026 19:34:17
The way I see it, is we judged him against his status in the squad. If you cost £85m and were signed to be the main man, wearing the number 9 shirt, then the expectations are higher from the club and the fans.

However, we sold him for such a wedge that he damn near recouped most of what we paid. So to now get him back for free everything changes this time around. He is no longer the £85m main man.

He's no longer Liverpool's number 9, with pressure to replicate Torres, Rush, Fowler, Firmino, Liddell, St John etc.

He'd effectively be the new Origi, Babel, Maxi, Minamino, Shaqiri, Kuyt etc. A loveable cult hero squad player who has no huge price tag to pay back and will occasionally score important goals for us. It's perfect for him. He loves us. We love him. Bring him home.

15 Jun 2026 19:55:49
MK, not sure on the whole love in for Nunez, didn't he down tools to force through a move, and then pretty much fail to tear it up in Saudi?

Also, personally, I wouldn't list him as a cult hero because he didn't actually do anything? People seem to have forgotten how absolutely shocking he actually was as a footballer.

15 Jun 2026 20:14:56
Completely agree, MK, context is everything! We brought Chiesa in as cover, and the lad has done nothing of note, but has a banger of a tune and is loved by the fans. Nunez came in for a big fee and was supposed to put Haaland, if he is happy to come in and be a utility man in attack and doesn't cost a fortune in wages and signing on fee, then it's hard to argue with the signing.

Not 100% this rumour has legs, but I can see the logic for sure.

15 Jun 2026 20:19:09
Stuie, I get what you're saying but hasn't the whole team basically downed tools under Arne Slot, he mismanaged the squad so badly, he's made quite a few players want to leave, which definitely wasn't the case 18 or so months ago.

It was poor attitude to being used poorly and I think now on reflection, I can sympathise with him a little more. The move was definitely necessary, and this wouldn't even be a conversation if Ekitike and Isak weren't injury prone players that showed any level of consistency last season. They didn't, Isak is still yet to show any signs coming good for us whilst being injured for long spells and Ekitike, whilst impressive at times, is injured until the end of the year.



Are we then to rely on injury prone Isak that hasn't shown anything in a red shirt yet? Or, god forbid, Gakpo who is trash through the middle? Or do we shell out another £40mill on a back up striker who probably has the same stats if not worse than Nunez in the PL? I think it's a no brainer in terms of the transfer itself from a business stand point, so long as it's not us using that as an excuse not to bring in 2 wide forwards.

For arguments sake: Isak, Ekitike, Nunez, Rio, Diamonde and one of Bowen or Barcola

That's a very strong attack if you ask me, much better than what we started this past season with. Chiesa, Gakpo and Salah off the books.

15 Jun 2026 20:32:19
Scored some important goals in a league winning season, that's enough to make him a cult hero for me.

15 Jun 2026 20:56:06
Cult hero full stop.

15 Jun 2026 20:57:13
He is on a free transfer for a reason.

15 Jun 2026 22:01:11
MK, yes, the transfer makes sense from a business point of view: getting a player familiar with the city, club etc to act as cover, but I feel like there are a fair few rose tinted glasses on here at the min.

The Nunez I remember watching just ran around like a bit of a headless chicken, and just didn't seem to improve at all.

Maybe it was the weight of the expectation, who knows.

And to answer some of the others, I think Chiesa is a bit of a tongue in cheek cult hero because he just can't seem to get a game, whereas Nunez was just a bit rubbish.

15 Jun 2026 23:18:06
Nunez back heel goal v Madrid. He wasn't crap, he just never scored when expected. Unlucky, with a good few hitting woodwork or keeper saving. I'd rather watch him than what I had to endure last season.

16 Jun 2026 04:41:45
I don't think Nunez downed tools to force a move. If anything, he let his head droop a bit when he came on as a sub in one game. In hindsight, and given newer context from last season, I would be more inclined to blame that on Slot's poor man management skills than on Nunez's attitude, especially since that was very uncharacteristic of him.



I agree with MK that on a free transfer, it is a no brainer to bring him in, especially since we have other areas of the squad we need to prioritise. Nunez can cover both CF and LW and that's huge for us. Granted, I don't think he'd come back to us purely because of Edwards' ego.

16 Jun 2026 07:03:40
He was ineffective against Saudi last night, as said we are remembering what we remember through red tinted glasses. He's not good enough, bombed in the Saudi league for God's sake.

It's getting embarrassing people wanting this, Salah to stay, regretting Robbo going even though most said his legs have gone.


Quansah resigned, Kella bought back.
Can't we just move on and see who we get in who hasn't played for us before, let Andoni look at what he has.

16 Jun 2026 07:38:31
Now Darwin appearing to down tools in a game is Slot's fault too? Slot was perfectly right in publicly saying Darwin had to try harder off the ball in those two games.

Darwin is an emotional and a temperamental player. He would be difficult for anybody to manage. Let's hope that if he comes back to us somebody can help him with that side of the game.

16 Jun 2026 08:00:40
Klopp also dropped Nunez, so we can't just blame Slot and create the context for him not performing in his last season.
If he's available on a free and a relatively low salary, then someone else might offer him the chance to start regularly and a longer contract.


I hope they do, because he's not good enough for us and we don't need to fill the squad with cult heroes.

16 Jun 2026 10:28:38
Name me a better player we could get for free.

16 Jun 2026 12:27:11
Westwood666, that is the question no one or even any of Darwin's detractors wants to answer.

16 Jun 2026 15:38:27
I don't know who is available on free transfers, Westwood. Is the obsession with Nunez because he is free, then? Sorry, I don't get it. We got rid of him once, so what's changed?

Oh, I've thought of a player.
Mo Salah is available on a free, I would think.

16 Jun 2026 23:02:24
Slot got rid of him because he didn't fit the style of play, which was fair enough given Slot's status at the time. So what's changed is Slot isn't here anymore.
All I'm saying is, I don't think he is anywhere near, literally not even close, to the very poor player he is being made out to be.
Everyone says about his 40 goals in over 100 appearances, but many of those were sub appearances. His minutes per goal for large parts of his final season with Slot were actually pretty good.
But his main quality for me, other than the one game where he didn't look bothered (again being made out like he properly downed tools when he didn't), is that he never gave up, always harassing, always disrupting and pulling defenders all over the place.

I'd have given my left arm to watch a bit of that after last season's bore off.
He's rapid, strong, he's a target in the box, can play left and through the middle, he knows the club, he's freely available, most fans like him (there's a reason the fans in the stadium sing his name), and there's no risk. If it doesn't work out under a more attacking transitional approach, where he excelled before coming to us, then he can sell him again for more profit once Ekitike is back partway through next season.
So no, I'm not obsessed with the bloke. I simply see literally no downside to giving him another opportunity as second choice striker behind Isak while Eki is out.

15 Jun 2026 18:06:46
With the Nunez links coming in, I took a look at how long an Achilles rupture takes to heal. Says online for high intensity sports 9-12 months. So we won't really see Ekitike until 2027 at the earliest.

Premier League Injuries has him at October 2026, but I am sure the club won't rush him. Bradley also isn't due back until Jan 2027, so we need a RB as soon as the Diomande deal is done.

15 Jun 2026 18:46:13
Indeed, Keegan. I have seen NFL players get this injury, and not only does it take up to a year (or longer, depending on the gravity/seriousness) to come back to the pitch, you are simply not the same player anymore for the most part, so Eki may have that hill to climb over.

So if we are looking at Darwin (or a player like that on a free) cos we don't wanna spend precious funds on a back up striker cos we have a lot more holes we need to fill than, that may be the viable option esp.

since the likes of Will Wright (too young and severely inexperienced) and Jayden Danns (injured for almost a year now) are not options now.

15 Jun 2026 19:14:04
Keegan, I was under the impression Conor was aiming to be back fr Sep/Oct, where did you read Bradley wasn't back until '27 mate?

Agreed, RB is imperative, and there's absolutely no chance Ekitike is back for October.

15 Jun 2026 19:24:11
Going into next season, would people be happy with the following attacking options, Gakpo, Isak, Rio, Wirtz, Ekitike (Jan 2027 return), Diomande and Darwin? I'm assuming Chiesa will leave. Whilst I see the sense in bringing Darwin back, I still think we would be light of option. Ekitike is essentially written off for all next season, Isak is returning from a serious injury and Rio is very young and physically not ready to be a mainstay in the team. With Iraola's style of football, intensity and much bigger fixture schedule, our squad needs numbers! Not a massive fan of Gakpo, but there is no way we should be considering a sale this summer.




Our priorities need to be

RW- Diomande
CF cover - Darwin
LW or fluid forward who can cover both sides
DM/CM - Bouaddi/Baleba/Camara/Sangare
RB- Kayode/Vanderson
CB- Schlotterbeck (eventual Virg successor)

If we sell more players such as Macca and Jones then these would also need to be replaced.

15 Jun 2026 19:49:53
Chewy, a website called Premier League Injuries. Has all the clubs, who's out and estimated time back. Bradley was Sept/October I believe until his recent setback. The return date, I feel, is when we expect them back to full fitness and in the squad.

15 Jun 2026 21:53:09
I'm expecting to see a fit and firing Ekitike ready for the 2027/28 season. Anything before that is a welcome bonus.

15 Jun 2026 23:14:27
I'd be considering not registering either of them until January, as even if they come back early, we shouldn't be pushing them too hard to get back.

15 Jun 2026 17:20:56
What does everyone think of these hydration breaks? I saw VVD's comments on this and I totally agree with him. If referees are making all kinds of calls over 90 minutes, why can't they make a call just before a game starts? Use readings on current temperature and humidity levels and follow prescribed norms. Decide to have the breaks or not. It can't be that difficult.

As they are now, they're a supreme annoyance to both the viewing fans and probably to the players too. They break the flow of the game, and the rhythm of the players too. World Cups have always been played in summers. Did they just discover high temeperatures?

15 Jun 2026 17:41:05
Absolute joke.

15 Jun 2026 17:42:18
As Klopp said, they are just an opportunity for TV to show more ads.

15 Jun 2026 17:43:49
I think it's a good thing, however making it into a timeout team talk is a bit too Americanised for me, especially when restarts have been delayed for adverts. I'd rather water be handed out onto the pitch by someone neutral, quick drink and back on with the game.

15 Jun 2026 17:43:41
Americans can't go 45 minutes without being told they need to buy something.

15 Jun 2026 17:53:40
The notion that a professional athlete can't go more than 20 minutes without a drink is beyond ridiculous. The fact that they get 3 whole minutes, which is the perfect amount of time to run a handful of ads, is just a blatant slap in the face. Next we'll have players doing live ad reads in the middle of the game.

What good about it, No.8?

15 Jun 2026 17:59:28
Re-hydration, Chewy, I agree it's handled poorly, but a quick drink isn't a bad thing.

15 Jun 2026 18:11:11
Absolutely correct about the commercials.

They wanted this for the '94 World Cup and it was rejected as a ludicrous idea by FIFA back then. This time around, I don't think Infantino needed much convincing.

These days so much of the game is about money.

15 Jun 2026 18:15:35
I agree, it completely upsets the flow of the game. Most of the time, it takes a team ten minutes to find their feet and get into it. Then ten minutes later, you've got a water break.

Football used to have no subs.

Then that changed to one, then three, then convid came along and they were given five. Now you need a break every 20 minutes, and get sent off if you pull someone's hair. I mean, honestly.

15 Jun 2026 18:22:14
No. 8, it defeats the purpose of what the sport is supposed to stand for. On the one hand, they are going after time wasting, targetting throw-ins, GK time wasting, player substitutions, and what not.

Ostensibly to speed up the game. And then they put in these 3 minute breaks, as if it's risking these athletes' lives. How about pauses during heavy rain? They could catch pneumonia.

15 Jun 2026 18:31:18
I think what I've said has come across wrong. A drink of water in hot, humid conditions = good. Stopping for a 3 minute commercial break and team talk = bad.

15 Jun 2026 18:39:40
It's all down to Infantino, he's the most corrupt bloke in football, needs investigating.

15 Jun 2026 18:45:29
It's just the American adverts money making scheme in disguise....

I'm pretty sure soon enough we'll hear of the stories about how expensive it's going to be to air an advert in the WC Final...apparently, the Super Bowl is known for being the most expensive when it comes to adverts during the breaks...I fully expect USA to milk it in the final as well.



Just a load of BS with Infantino happily bending over for his mate Trump and his cronies.

15 Jun 2026 18:46:47
When the US had the WC in 1994, they proposed splitting the game into 4 quarters to introduce more add breaks. I guess this time around they offered more money.

If at all, hydration breaks should be conditions (temp) based. Not every game.

15 Jun 2026 18:48:43
I don't have an issue with it cos this is being done with player health in mind. It may be poorly executed. But it is a very good thing, imo.

Btw, this process has existed on and off for 25 years esp. during preseason friendlies, hence, this is not that strange.

15 Jun 2026 18:49:59
It's not about cooling. It's about grabbing more money from advertising.

15 Jun 2026 19:03:12
To be honest, I don't mind it and much prefer this "break in play" than the constant rolling around time wasting that usually disrupts a game.
The refs seem to have a grip on all the nonsense stuff in the WC so far. I'm far more happy with that and can only hope the PL introduce some of those measures this coming season.

15 Jun 2026 19:08:40
A cooling break in an indoor stadium where it's 20 degrees isn't because of player health, it's for money. I'm fine with breaks if it's hot, 30+, but not every game. It should be on a game by game basis.

15 Jun 2026 19:19:23
The Americans wanted quarters for ads. They got quarters (water breaks).

We now have terms like quarter back used for players who can hit a long pass.

We are obsessed with stats and key interventions.

Video replays slow the game down without adding much value.

We are owned by US billionaires.

Like it or not, the IS influence is real and there is no turning back.

15 Jun 2026 19:26:50
No. 8, I'm struggling to comprehend the 'necessary rehydration' claims. Have we not been playing football for hundreds of years with just the one break at 45 minutes? Isn't there usually plenty of opportune moments for thirsty players to have a quick sip with all the 'injuries' that happen? Even if it's a must on hot days, 3 minutes? 5 seconds for a throw in, 8 seconds for a goal kick, 10 seconds to make a sub, but 3 whole minutes for a sup of water?! ? Pretty sure the water is the one that actually takes the least amount of time out of all the above.

15 Jun 2026 19:46:00
I was in Lake Placid in 1980 when the Winter Olympics were on. The Ice Hockey final was between USA and Russia. It was the equivalent of England in a World Cup final over here. I was watching the game on television, not really interested, but was aware of the importance of the game to the locals.

Anyway, the game was going on and they just cut to an advert. I couldn't believe it, but the locals never even batted an eyelid. When it cut back to the game, the commentator casually remarked that, while we were away, the US had scored.

We weren't away at all. We were still there. It was them who took the game away from us. If that had happened with a Liverpool game, I would have been apoplectic with rage.

I can well understand Infantini not having the balls to stand up to Trump, but we must never let that sort of thing in here, plus adverts on the grass like you see in rugby and cricket.

The more the USA get involved in 'soccer' (another pet hate), the more they will try to contaminate our beautiful game with rule changes, adverts etc.

15 Jun 2026 20:28:16
I've not been on the pitch, chewy, where these games are being held, but if we take our cynical caps off it can't be a bad thing to get some water to the players, as I keep saying, I think the 3 minute break is too much, a blatant cash grab essentialy breaking the game into quarters (cynical cap back on).

For me, just keep the players on the pitch, send a neutral on with 22 bottles, have a minute, then crack on.

15 Jun 2026 21:58:01
Last World Cup they had breaks at the referee's discretion and guidance from whoever the medical people were.

Qatar is a lot hotter than America, Canada and Mexico.

The only answer is that this is America.

15 Jun 2026 23:07:42
I think it is down to a lack of concentration span in America.

Or, more seriously, perhaps it's FIFA picking up the revenue from advertising brought in for the 'time outs' during the matches?

15 Jun 2026 23:17:27
Favourite memories of 94 were Houghton scoring against Italy and Aldo and Big Jack having a full on barney with the officials vs Mexico.

15 Jun 2026 17:18:23
The rumour of Nunez coming back on a free seems to be a fairly good deal for all involved.
He could provide cover for Ekitike being out for so long and could rotate with Isak to not put him at risk of injury, the caveat being that when both are fit he would be third choice striker and could go long periods without games.


If he is happy with that situation, that gives us three centre forwards and can hopefully keep Isak fit.

15 Jun 2026 18:24:36
Just suppose he signs and bangs in a load of goals, would he still be third choice?

15 Jun 2026 18:50:40
Gaga3 & Snoots, 3rd choice behind who? Cos Eki ain't seeing the pitch for another 9 months to a year with that dreadful injury he sadly picked up.

15 Jun 2026 23:09:39
@Oli, I'd have Isak, Eki in a wheelchair if necessary and the Chaos Maker a distant 3rd.

15 Jun 2026 16:58:00
Who are we buying tonight lads? Anyone worth keeping an eye on?

15 Jun 2026 17:24:30
After having bought Bouaddi and Summerville, I'm already sure I will want to buy Pedri.

15 Jun 2026 17:32:11
Mo playing for Egypt, before his return to Anfield.

15 Jun 2026 18:46:03
The keeper from Cabo Verde.

15 Jun 2026 18:51:21
Is that Isak guy still available, Willo?

15 Jun 2026 19:44:29
Watching the game. This Lamine Yamal kid looks pretty good. But he's too young, I reckon.

JLC, wasn't he? No wild and crazy saves, but every single time he was in the right position to be at the end of the ball's path. Very well trained GK.

15 Jun 2026 20:59:19
No, Oli, he's been snapped up by the greatest club in the world!

15 Jun 2026 15:10:19
A thought experiment.

Alexis MacAllister in a swap (or similar fees) for Real Madrid's Dean Huijsen.

Cody Gakpo in a swap (or similar fees) for Tottenham's Mohammed Kudus.

15 Jun 2026 16:41:56
Why would RM swap Huijsen for Macca?

Gakpo is better than Kudos.

15 Jun 2026 17:01:19
Hujsen, yes. Kudus absolutely not. Tore his hamstring back in January and missed half of the season, apparently he's suffered a setback during his recovery too. No chance.

15 Jun 2026 16:58:36
Would you rather fight a horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses?

15 Jun 2026 17:17:25
Real have renewed Rudiger and signed up Konate, and are looking at Schlotterbeck. They have Militao and Asencio too. Huijsen might find himself down the pecking order at Madrid under Mourinho, who likes to use the veterans.



As for Kudus, I know he had an injury but didn't realise it was that bad. Just reading that he could require surgery on his QT. In which chase, scratch that.

I recall the nerds wanting Kudus when Klopp chose Gakpo in 2023.

15 Jun 2026 17:17:59
No swaps, just cash.

15 Jun 2026 18:14:31
Mourinho won't tolerate a softy, rollover Macca & Trent for that matter.

{Ed001's Note - he encourages his players to dive.}

15 Jun 2026 18:52:13
Pelican, you mean the same Kudus who hasn't played a game for the past 6/7 months?