Liverpool banter 7

14 Feb 2026 13:33:43
Seems to me some people think Slot has been told he is not in charge next season, and in my opinion this couldn't be right for a number of reasons, firstly why would Liverpool tell him that now when he could win the CL, unlikely but not impossible, and you are sacking a manager who won the PL and next season won the CL, how would the optics of that work out. Secondly suppose you meet Alonso and can't or won't meet his demands and you have told your existing manager he is out of a job.

Thirdly if you told him he will be sacked in the summer and another attractive job comes up that suits Slot what's to stop him walking away and leaving us in the lurch with no manager at all and having to look for an interim manager.
It may well be that Slot's agent has approached Liverpool to extend his contract and got a very lukewarm response and that has left Slot thinking I might be sacked in the summer if not sooner but rhat would be him putting 2 and 2 together.

14 Feb 2026 14:10:07
Who knows. Maybe it's nonsense, but maybe the club wants Alonso, and maybe Slot misses the Netherlands. Maybe an agreement has been reached to leave in the summer that suits all parties, and everybody involved is professional enough to get on with it.

14 Feb 2026 14:34:03
Do people really think that a young manager who has already won the Eredivisie and the Premier League is just going to toddle off home and see out the rest of his career in Rotterdam.

He probably won't ever manage in Holland again. He will have no shortage of big club job offers when he does leave LFC. So the returning to Holland thing doesn't really add up.

14 Feb 2026 15:31:48
Florian Gakpo, do you know his family situation? No. The fact he charts flights home at any chance he can get highlights his mindset, particularly when he should be showing a vested interest in our academy system.

14 Feb 2026 15:49:48
How do you know he doesn't, Frode? I'd imagine he's well aware of any kid that is even remotely near being ready for our first team. The likes of Nallo, Morrison, Nyoni, and Rio are training regularly with the first team, and the likes of 15 year old Josh Abe have been called up too.

What do you want, half the players in training to be u18s and u21's? The bloke goes home to see his family, what's strange? It still gives no indication he's willing to sacrifice his career; otherwise he would have never taken the job in the first place.

14 Feb 2026 15:59:34
Nobody seems to think that perhaps the parting of the ways in the summer is a mutual decision? Slot is 2 years into a 3 year contract. He doesn't have his family with him in this country by choice, and look what a long-term stint in charge did to Klopp; he looked on his last legs.

It's a World Cup year, which usually means a fair manager churn after the tournament. His stock is still pretty high everywhere, apart from within our fanbase. Maybe it's been mutually decided that 2 years is enough.

14 Feb 2026 16:08:14
Maybe LFC have incentivised Slot financially, depending on qualifying for CL. An agreement could be in place for Slot to leave, but if he manages CL qualification, there's an extra few million in his pocket. Surely not out of the realm of possibilities.

14 Feb 2026 16:19:22
Florian, do you walk around Anfield on home match days trying to force your opinion on everyone, or just on the internet?

14 Feb 2026 16:31:01
All I did was post a few facts, JK. ??

14 Feb 2026 16:37:49
@JK23, God forbid someone offers an opinion that's different from yours.

14 Feb 2026 16:39:38
I'll take that as a no then. ?

14 Feb 2026 16:52:44
Tbh, I can see both sides of the argument, but the fact is nobody really knows what the endgame is apart from Slot, Hughes & Edwards ( & the FSG big wigs ). For me, do I think Alonso is nailed on like a lot of people are saying - no way is he! If he was, there would be far more concrete evidence swirling around than just the limited rumours we are hearing & if he was that keen himself to come & manage us, like he's said, I think the change would have happened by now - we'd have made it worth his while financially to come now if the board were that adamant Slot wasn't their man. Not backing Slot in the January market could be seen as a sign they've made their mind up about him and that he'll go in the summer, but the doubt that Alonso won't come might make them hesitate about getting rid of Arne, as the pool of managerial talent isn't great elsewhere.

ATM we have a decent chance in the CL, a chance as good as anyone in the FA Cup, and I've a feeling we'll nick a top 4/5 spot! The situation won't change until we either get knocked out of the CL last 16 or mathematically cannot get CL qualification & that could be right up until the last couple of games. I'm not saying I want Slot to stay, in fact I feel a change is needed, but as of now I'm backing him because as of now he's the best we've got. I don't buy into this "going home to see his family all the time" either; it worked for him last season.

14 Feb 2026 16:53:58
Cheers, Boydy. ?

14 Feb 2026 16:58:43
Florian, I take that first comment back, mate. I've fired from the hip out of frustration whilst at my boy's football. Let personal feelings cloud my judgment on that one. ??‍♂️ ?

14 Feb 2026 17:24:07
Careful, Florian, don't be like Trump. The only facts were that Slot has won the league in both Holland and England, along with the youngsters' training. The rest is conjecture/opinion, which is OK; this is a banter site after all, but maybe it is better not to state rumour or opinion as fact.

14 Feb 2026 17:54:59
You're OK, JK. ?

14 Feb 2026 19:30:27
I read in the tea leaves that Slot is getting a fondue set, a telephone table, a cuddly toy, and a fun-sized Mars bar for every position he goes up with us. Win the Championship League, and it's a speedboat and a Blankety Blank chequebook and pen.

14 Feb 2026 19:58:23
Surely him not being in charge next season would become apparent when his agent pushes for a new contract and clubs are like, 'nah mate'? So, it's probably accepted in these circumstances that honesty is the best option, no?

14 Feb 2026 23:56:37
Can anyone provide any actual evidence that Slot flies home every week?

14 Feb 2026 23:58:53
Honestly, there is zero chance Slot has been told he won't be here next season. These guys have plenty of money. Any of them being told this would see them walk away immediately, imo. I get our latest set of ITKs have told us this, but that doesn't make it a fact.

15 Feb 2026 00:33:39
Why would he walk away? Do the clubs fire them when they hand in their notice? If his agent has approached the club regarding extending his contract, then he is more deluded than Slot.

15 Feb 2026 09:56:26
Slot will be Spurs manager next season.

15 Feb 2026 11:44:00
Reds, this is how big businesses do their recruiting and dismissing; it is called head hunting. The manager of one large business is failing, so the directors look around for a replacement. While they are looking, they bring in the manager and discuss with him that they want him to continue until the end of the tax year, and that he will be paid severance pay.

They then interview the new candidate, offer him the new position, and ask him to start work in the new tax year. As football is run as a business, I would suspect this is how LFC would deal with the situation; they have to keep shareholders and sponsors happy. YNWA.

15 Feb 2026 12:39:14
The dynamic of a dressing room falls apart, though, Albey, if they know a manager's leaving. Remember, even United fell off a bit when they thought Fergie was leaving back in the day, before he eventually ended up staying.

14 Feb 2026 11:56:42
Seeing people comparing past lfc managers got me thinking how Slot has done compared to his rivals on some key points
Premier League wins since Slot took over
LFC 37 WINS
CITY 37 WINS
Arsenal 37 WINS
CHELSEA 32 WINS
MAN United 23 WINS
Premier League goals since Slot took over
LFC 127 goals
CITY 126 goals
Arsenal 119 goals
CHELSEA 111 goals
MAN United 91 goals
Net Spend since Slot took over
LFC €258M
CITY €330M
Arsenal €330M
CHELSEA €50M
MAN United €330M
All in all the facts are Slot has done a good job.

No other manager has more Premier League wins, Lfc are the top scorers in the Premier League in his time here and all while only Chelsea of the teams above have a lower Net Spend. And let's not forget No.20.

14 Feb 2026 12:28:01
He did a very good job last season. If you run those numbers again, since pre-season, it will show why people are currently disappointed.

14 Feb 2026 12:35:32
But Slot is on a downward trajectory. And not many people are enjoying the football.

14 Feb 2026 12:41:40
All in all, the facts are he's done little this season, FM.

14 Feb 2026 12:42:34
In any situation, stats are stats. You can view them as you wish, and derive the result to suit your point. But they do not ever tell the whole story.

14 Feb 2026 12:43:14
But that's like saying, if you ran the numbers after the first 7 games of the season, everyone would have been beyond ecstatic. These are the facts of Slot's reign as a whole. It's everyone's right to either like or dislike Arne, support or not support him, but when looking at these facts, it's hard to understand why he's so despised among his own fanbase.

So many teams would be delighted with the job he's done so far.

14 Feb 2026 12:56:20
Ah, c'mon Shankly, you can derive the result to suit your point on ridiculous stats like assists or "high quality chances", and guff like that. These are wins and goals scored (for a man with such a poor brand of football, by the way), while having a lesser net spend than his rivals as well.

14 Feb 2026 12:58:41
You don't even need to go back to pre-season. The calendar year, Feb 25 to Feb 26, has been dire. Let's not forget, in the last 20 games he has a worse record than Hodgson. I bet if Hodgson had this squad, he wouldn't be shy about getting better results.

14 Feb 2026 13:02:18
We're tracking as a 67-point team over an entire calendar year. We are essentially a 5th/6th-place team. At what stage does the bright start (Aug-Dec 24) to his Liverpool coaching career become the exception?

14 Feb 2026 13:02:55
The league season is played over 38 games. Last season has nothing to do with this season's league. As it stands, we are the 6th best team in England. Florian, I'm starting to wonder if you're Slot's agent or even Slot himself.

14 Feb 2026 13:04:14
Another great stat for Slot is that, at Liverpool, he has the highest win percentage in the CL of any manager ever. However, on the other side of the coin, the furthest he's been with Liverpool in the competition to date is the last-16 round.

14 Feb 2026 13:12:47
Come on, mighty, no one can be worse than Hodgson, can they?

14 Feb 2026 13:15:03
We were the only team to lay a glove on them, JK. Ok, lads. Should have known even facts like I listed wouldn't be good enough. ?

14 Feb 2026 13:23:08
Your optimism regarding Slot is admirable, Florian. However, the style of play, the results, the league position, the apparent lack of fitness of the squad, the early League Cup exit, the embarrassing home defeats, the public slating of players that don't deserve it, and the stubbornness to continue in the same vein despite it not working, have left many wanting a change. Add to that the talent already in the squad, plus the need for a few more faces, and many want a new manager with fresh ideas to make the most of what we have and those yet to sign.

We could look at Klopp's bad run, but he had a lot more credit in the bank than Arne, and there was always the belief of a turnaround. If you have that same belief in Slot, then again I take my hat off to you. I would be as happy as you if we win the next 10 on the bounce, but unfortunately I don't see it happening.

14 Feb 2026 13:24:25
Only team to lay a glove on who? Since when have 64 games over 2 separate seasons counted towards a single league campaign?

14 Feb 2026 13:34:10
It does make you think, why change what was working so well from his first season? The players must have wondered what was going on in preseason fitness and tactics-wise. I do think losing JH has had a big impact on the team as well.

14 Feb 2026 13:34:22
PSG. They strolled past everyone else.

14 Feb 2026 14:14:26
Well, that's not entirely true, Florian. They did not find Aston Villa easy either. I watched the games against Villa, and they gave them a proper scare too. As for the comparisons with Hodgson, as much as I think Slot may not be the man to lead us going forward, unlike Hodgson, Slot has said on multiple occasions that he thinks the football has not been good enough, and that his aspiration is to have us playing the best football on the biggest stage. He has said that the criticism of the style of play from the fans hurts him, because he can see why fans might think that, and that he agrees with them to a point.

He insists at every opportunity that Liverpool are one of the best and biggest teams in the world, and that they should play the best football. Maybe his plan has not worked out the way he thought it would. Maybe it still will not, even if given time and the circumstances are favourable with getting the players he needs and injuries, etc., but at least he knows what he is supposed to be doing in this job and what the aim is, for himself and for the fans. You could never say that about the likes of Hodgson.

14 Feb 2026 14:36:12
Think it was 5-1 on aggregate at one stage, PB, then PSG started taking some serious liberties. And with Arsenal it was 3-0 on agg until Arsenal got a late consolation. The final was a procession.

14 Feb 2026 15:04:56
Give over the nonsense. A season is decided over 9 months, not 2 years. Worst run of form in 70 years, lost 9 in 12, 45% win rate for the season, worst set piece record in the league, top 5 lowest club goal differences all time, top 5 worst title defences of all time, complete refusal to adapt his highly ineffective tactics, a glaringly apparent inability to motivate the players, and a barrage of absolutely delusional comments in every presser.

14 Feb 2026 15:09:32
@Florian, that's just not true. If you are referring to the first 7 PL games, we lost the 6th and 7th. We also somehow lost away to Gala in between. So, no one was or would have been ecstatic. Also, anyone who actually watches us or goes to the match could see we have been garbage since Feb last year. This isn't a 'this season' problem.

I have not heard or seen anyone 'despise' Slot. Far from it. More baseless comments. And, yes, lesser teams would be fine with the last 12 months of pretty much consistent rubbish. We shouldn't be, and a scrappy win at Sunderland doesn't change a thing imo. This nonsense shows exactly how far our standards have dropped.

14 Feb 2026 15:20:31
No, Runcorn, first 7 all comps. Won them all.

14 Feb 2026 15:26:24
Net spend is a bit of a duck egg, really. That's for the accountant. What does matter is how much has been spent on new players.

14 Feb 2026 15:26:32
I'd class someone who calls him a 'bald moron' or an 'imbecile' as someone who despises him, in fairness. I'd also class someone who can't see the good, even when presented with facts, as despising him, because their minds are just made up no matter what you show them. Also, why do people keep saying a season's 9 months, not 2 years? I never mentioned this season; I simply posted his body of work at the club.

It's undeniably comparable to any other manager in the league, a league that has Pep Guardiola among its coaches. Dislike him if you want, but facts are facts.

14 Feb 2026 15:34:14
Florian Gakpo, we were all at the celebrations last season, and he got his just rewards and his reams of plaudits. We're in this season. Now run those numbers again, and you'll see a side that, for large portions, is demonstrating relegation form. If I want to live off past glory, I'll chart back to when we had a better manager.

14 Feb 2026 15:46:47
Pep still has his team in the title race; we're just about hanging on to the top five. Despite last season's stats propping up this year's, it's what's happening on the pitch that people are most concerned about. Best to revisit this at the end of May.

14 Feb 2026 15:52:22
All the facts, stats, net spend figures, etc. in the world cannot take away from the situation whereby we should have progressed from last season and not regressed as we have. I agree with you on some aspects, though FM and I, for one, would never describe Slot as an imbecile or anything like it that others may do.

He did great in winning 20. Absolutely, and I viewed him as our new long-term manager. He has made a total balls of it since then, unfortunately.

14 Feb 2026 15:54:39
Does it matter how many players also left Irish? Or are we left with a bench full of kids every week because we strengthened on top of what we already had, like Arsenal? Retaining their best players. We lost as many as we signed to a squad that had majorly over achieved to win the league the season before.

14 Feb 2026 16:07:19
Lol, what I do love here is how much FM is trying to stick to his guns. Fair play, mate, I know you love your new little statistics, but it means absolutely nothing. ?

14 Feb 2026 16:25:55
How did the team overachieve? What is your basis for this, and do you think they should have won?

14 Feb 2026 16:27:11
Of course it matters who left. Most fans would suggest we improved on the players we replaced. Do you think differently?

14 Feb 2026 16:37:02
Well, we were 3rd favourites behind City and Arsenal at 7/1 Irish, and the bookies rarely get it wrong. A lot of people in the game had us struggling for top 4, in fact, if my memory serves me, after Jurgen left. It certainly wasn't the feeling on here that we had a chance of winning the league.

14 Feb 2026 17:04:10
Didn't we lose to Palace in the season curtain-opener, the Charity Shield?

14 Feb 2026 17:08:57
Can't believe you're quoting what the bookies say. ? It makes absolutely no difference. The facts are that the best team over 38 games wins the League. It's very difficult to over achieve over such a long period of time. We faltered over the last month and a bit in the previous campaign under Klopp. That had me knowing we had a League-winning team.

14 Feb 2026 16:29:35
I wish this site had a Facebook style button I could push to just not show certain posters anymore.

{Ed033's Note - If you go to the My Profile page, you can add up to 5 usernames to ignore their posts on the main pages on here.

14 Feb 2026 17:58:19
I know, Chicago, that JK fella is an awful annoyance.

14 Feb 2026 18:06:26
Well, we lost our best winger, who orchestrated the press, Irish, and a right-back who had "changed the game" and left to win his Ballon d'Or. We gained a couple of top players in Wirtz and Ekitike, although it took up until recently to see the best of Wirtz. We haven't had the real Isak yet, so he hasn't really been an improvement on Darwin, although when fit he will be an infinitely better player.

Same can be said of Frimpong and Leoni. So, while I think in the long term we will be stronger for last summer's window when everyone's fit (three of them have spent most of the season on the sidelines), up until this point it hasn't left us much stronger than last year.

14 Feb 2026 18:08:35
If you ever get to a game, Florian, let me know and I'll get the beers in and bring my ear plugs.

14 Feb 2026 19:54:31
You are basing your view on what you know now, Florian. Injuries happen. Was Isak a better option than Nunez at the start of the season? Was Leoni a better option than Quansah, and was Kerkez a better option than Robbo? Sure, we lost 2 really good players, but we improved in 5 positions when the new season started.

14 Feb 2026 20:00:03
Can we stop this? He's been poor. We won the league, and fair play to all involved, but if we're honest, football on a global level is at a generational low point in terms of quality, with last season being only marginally higher. Klopp would have 100% won last season, and I don't doubt he would have us top this season.

14 Feb 2026 20:55:34
Florian Musiala, you argue for Slot using two years' worth of data in a sport where you're only as good as your last game. That's like arguing Rodgers never should have been sacked after he got us 2nd place in '14. Mourinho should have never been sacked after winning the League in '15.

I could go on, but I won't. Since you like stats, I'll give you some that are actually relevant. See if you can spot the similarities, and please, I would genuinely love to hear your opinion on them. Rodgers' last 38 games: 17W-10D-11L. Slot's last 38 games: 19W-9D-10L.

14 Feb 2026 22:25:10
I can only have one opinion, in fairness, Chewy: the bloke who oversaw our worst run in 70 years could have easily been sacked. I was surprised he wasn't, but I didn't want him sacked as I thought he'd earned some backing after No.20. Since then we've had to tighten up, it's been a bit of a slog at times, but after tonight's win it's now 2 defeats in 19 games.

It's 4 wins in 5, and we are getting there. That terrible run is now nearly 3 months ago (the PSV game was the 26th November), and I think we should be starting to get behind the manager and the team. We started the season in 4 comps, we still have a chance in 2. Let's stop moaning like babies and support the team.

14 Feb 2026 10:24:51
On Calvin Ramsey, i've probably been as guilthy of knocking him as others have of overhyping him because of a dislike of Slot. If the lad gets the nod tonight, as much as i don't think he's the answer i hope he proves me wrong. Was highly rated when we signed him, if the gets the nod i hope he shows why.

14 Feb 2026 10:43:08
Overhyped because of a dislike of Slot? Some gymnastics there.

14 Feb 2026 11:14:51
Well, people certainly wouldn't want him playing as much, let me put it that way, Barnesy. Is there not a bit of truth in that?

14 Feb 2026 11:47:29
Florian, Not saying I rate Ramsey or not because the kid simply hasn't played enough for me to judge him as a player, hence, I won't go that far as to knock him as a player, something you have done with very little evidence, I suspect. pls, correct me, btw. Also, other people believe he should play (not because they dislike Slot per se nor overrate him) because we are out of rbs, and as an rb, he knows the position more than Curtis Jones would playing there. Is that not a valid opinion? We saw Klopp play mids as cbs and it didn't work, so he had to go get actual cbs from the academy to play (cos they know the position better), and that helped us make 3rd in the lockdown season.

That is proof, is it not? Respectfully, I do not think that a dislike for Slot (not the man but the actual manager) suddenly equates to Ramsey, who has played very few minutes (let alone actual games) for LFC since 2022 being overrated. That's not a thing.

14 Feb 2026 11:51:20
I think the point with Ramsay is not that he's the long-term answer, but that surely it's better to have an actual RB there, so that our best player can play in his proper position and help our dysfunctional midfield.

14 Feb 2026 12:16:36
It depends, livered, on whether we're still a better team without our best player playing in his best position than having Ramsey at RB. I haven't really knocked him too badly, Oli, and I suppose I'd challenge anyone to tell me what in Ramsey's career so far suggests he should be near LFC's first team.

Look, as I said, if he gets the nod I hope he knocks it out of the park. We're all L'pool fans after all.

14 Feb 2026 12:17:00
He's been at the club since June 2022, so over 3 and a half years. He's also 22 years old, so not a kid. He's had plenty of time with both Klopp and Slot to prove that he is ready for a (regular) start. Perhaps, at this stage of his career, he just isn't good enough.

14 Feb 2026 13:05:14
Phillips and Williams were never good enough. But, as centre backs, they still outperformed the midfielders shoehorned in that position. Henderson and Fabs were far better players. Question for you, FM. If Allison and Marma got injured, and Slot picked Iask to go in goal because he is tall, and left Woodman on the bench, would you still find it fair?

14 Feb 2026 13:06:39
Oli, considering you were such a big Feyenoord follower when Slot joined, and confessed you never missed a Leverkusen game prior to Wirtz joining, I'm utterly gobsmacked you never watched Ramsey on your YouTube highlights.

14 Feb 2026 13:25:22
He's registered as a right back in our squad, using up a precious non-homegrown place. He's fit enough to sit on our bench. He could have been sent out on loan, but he wasn't. He could be replaced in the squad by a right back in the academy, but he wasn't. I know logic is in short supply, these guys, but it's logical to suggest he would get a go, given the other two right backs in our squad are injured.

That is how you use your squad, and how the squad is designed. If it is true that Slot thinks he is crap, promote a right back from the academy. Or, if it is that he is just not fit or robust enough to get first team minutes, say that instead of telling us that everyone and anyone, including the canteen ladies, are ahead of him in the pecking. All normal stuff.

14 Feb 2026 13:40:24
Klopp had an issue with CBs a few seasons ago and compounded it by playing Fab and Hendo there, causing midfield problems. I'd play Ramsay and ask him to keep it simple, no mistakes, and a 6 or 7 out of 10. Do not weaken the midfield and rotation options by playing Curtis or Dom there.

14 Feb 2026 14:10:46
That's a bit silly now, Mighty. Both Curtis and Dom have played well there. If Slot thinks that's the better option for the coupla weeks until Frimpong is back, then we have to suck it up. It's worth remembering that 99% of the people on here have never seen Ramsey play 90 mins besides Palace, whereas our multi-title-winning manager sees him every day.

14 Feb 2026 16:05:20
Ramsay couldn't get a game for Wigan & Kilmamrock, guys. He is not the answer! Unless the question is who is a League 2 level player some fans are up in arms about for some silly reason?

14 Feb 2026 20:01:50
I don't rate him, but he's a right back, and we're playing anyone but the right back at right back.

15 Feb 2026 00:44:17
Our multi-title-winning manager can't see further than the end of his nose.

15 Feb 2026 10:23:06
Not a problem, Florian. I was only responding directly to what you posted. Very good conversation. Cheers, man.

14 Feb 2026 07:11:53
Our managers since the dominant 80s, what order would everyone rank them? Not including Kenny's second stint or temporary cover.
Mine in brackets

Graeme Sounness (7)
Roy Evans (5)
Gerard Houillier (4)
Rafa Benitez (2)
Roy Hodgson (8)
Brendan Rodgers (6)
Jurgen Klopp (1)
Arne Slot (3)

I'll always have rose tinted glasses for the Roy Evans era. Rafa gets second for that night in Istanbul. Houilliers treble for me lands just below Slots Premier League.

14 Feb 2026 08:21:31
Klopp Rafa (Slot won the league, Rafa won the CL, and I have no doubt he cared about Liverpool more than Slot does.) Slot Houllier (Evans a better coach, Houllier won things). Evans Rodgers Souness Hodgson.

14 Feb 2026 08:29:20
Jurgen Arne Rafa Houllier Evans Hodgson Rodgers Souness.

14 Feb 2026 09:13:45
Same as EM's list, but swap Souness for Roy purely on the FA Cup win.

14 Feb 2026 09:33:30
Jurgen Slot Rafa Houllier Evans Souness Rodgers Hodgson.

14 Feb 2026 09:42:59
Jurgen Slot Rafa Houllier Evans Rodgers Souness Hodgson.

14 Feb 2026 10:07:09
Klopp Evans Rafa Slot Houllier Souness Rodgers Hodgson.

14 Feb 2026 10:17:33
All I know is I cringe thinking about how we compared Slot to Paisley last season. ?

14 Feb 2026 10:26:49
Klopp, Rafa, Slot (league win), Houllier, Rodgers, Souness and Hodgson, but Hodgson had the worst team by far.

14 Feb 2026 10:28:39
I will always look back fondly on the Evans era. I remember the day we signed Stan Collymore, thinking that's it, the league is ours. Oh well. Klopp Evans Slot Rafa Houllier Rodgers Souness Hodgson.

14 Feb 2026 10:58:48
Klopp Rafa Slot Evans Bit of a gap. Souness Hodgson Houllier Rodgers Gonna seem harsh on them, but Rodgers and Houllier were totally rubbish, imo. Rodgers had the best owners we've had in 30 years, but was an arrogant t*** who thought he was the best manager in the world, and only got anywhere near the league title because of Suarez. Either side of that season, we were 6th and 7th. The two managers we had since him both won major trophies - Champions League & Premier League. He didn't win anything. Houllier took over a team that was 4th, 3rd, 4th, 3rd in the league the previous 4 seasons, gutted and rebuilt it at huge expense for the time, and, arguably, was in the process of rebuilding it again when he was sacked because he fell out with half his players once Patrice Burges left. For that, his league record was 7th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 5th, 4th. Congrats, you've spent loads of money to improve on the league finish once. Hyypia, Henchoz and a decent keeper would've achieved at least the same outcome, imo.

A UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup to show for it was nowhere near enough. He coached Heskey & Owen to be the most one-dimensional versions of themselves they could be. The football was awful and got worse year on year, and the team he left Rafa wasn't even half as good as the one he inherited from Evans. The only attacking players he left worth talking about were Gerrard and Kewell, the latter of whom was about to start his sicknote era. By comparison, Souness screwed lots of things up, but at least he had something of an excuse in the sense that he had to refresh an ageing team. Refresh, though, not completely rip it up like he did. Hodgson hadn't a pot to piss in, and had an unfit Joe Cole foisted on him by Purslow, in a desperate bid to try and cosplay as a club that wasn't in serious trouble. As well as the only decent wedge of cash being spent on Raul Meireles, a very average player who the fans made far too big a deal out of, imo.

14 Feb 2026 11:00:33
Houllier has to be higher, he changed the club like Wenger did for Arsenal.

14 Feb 2026 11:05:43
Mine is Klopp, Rafa + Evans, Houllier + Slot, Souness (see note below), Hodgson (bottom because he must have known, through experience, that that style of football did not and would not fit at LFC, as with whoever appointed him). Souness, did it go wrong due to his expectations of the players? Was he demanding the same of them as he gave as a player to the team? At the time, I wanted Souness gone, but I heard him talk about players on a video, and I changed my stance a bit.

14 Feb 2026 11:14:10
From best to worst. 1. Klopp 2. Benitez 3. Slot 4. Houllier 5. Dalglish 6. Bodgers 7. Souness 8. Hodgson (by far the worst Manager we've had in my 45 years).

14 Feb 2026 11:15:24
That run where Meireles was scoring a world class volley every week was pretty crazy, though, Something Red, that was pretty fun, kind of like when Maxi Rodriguez went on an insane scoring tear for a few games out of nowhere. Rodgers not winning the league that year was probably the greatest blessing in hindsight. Of course, I'd rather the team won everything available whenever we can, but if he had won that we might not have got Klopp. Besides not being able to set up a defense, and making everything about him all the time, he was a really poor judge of players in the transfer market. Joe Allen was okay as a squad player, but the other picks that he made himself without Ian Graham and the analytics team's recommendation were just abysmal. He repeatedly insisted that we buy Benteke, for example, when the transfer team expressly advised against it.

Was Balotelli a Rodgers choice? I wouldn't find it outlandish if that were the case. My list would probably beKloppSlotRafaEvansHoullierSouness RodgersHodgson Sorry, Hodgson has to be at the absolute bottom. He is the only Liverpool manager I have ever seen in my lifetime who has told us fans that we need to be realistic every week, and defending poor performances against midtable teams by suggesting that we belonged there too. Even if that was the case, objectively speaking, no Liverpool manager should ever say something like that. He then proceeded to buy players that were fitting of a midtable team. Poulsen, Jovanovic, and Konchesky are three of the worst players I have ever seen play for us, and Joe Cole was one of the slowest and most unfit.

14 Feb 2026 13:15:40
Mine is Klopp Everyone else in the distance. In no particular order. - Rafa won us the CL in his first season, then not a lot afterwards, and the football was boring. Slot won us the league in his first season, and if he stays, then not a lot afterwards, and the football was boring. Houllier: the football was boring.

Rodgers and Souness were both arrogant, and it showed in what they won. Evans: good football, but we were a has-been team under him, never really challenging. - Klopp turned a has-been team into one of the best and most exciting teams in the world. Not seen since Kenny Fagen, Bob, and Shanks.

14 Feb 2026 13:37:26
Klopp Slot Rafa Houllier Evans Rodgers Hodgson Souness.

14 Feb 2026 14:39:14
Klopp, Rafa, Slot, Evans / Houllier, Souness, Rodgers, Hodgson. Yet again, people forget Souness was the only manager who had a UEFA rule imposed while manager. Only 4 non-English players were allowed, he had to sell players he didn't want to and sign English players. Still won the FA Cup.

14 Feb 2026 17:38:49
People also forget that Hodgson was the only manager who literally didn't have a pot to pee in. Granted, he spent his 1 million pounds badly on Konchesky. ??

14 Feb 2026 00:06:48
Starting to get the feeling that Konate might sign.

14 Feb 2026 06:36:58
God help us then. He is poor.

14 Feb 2026 07:06:58
Had a terrible season, but the last few performances have shown what he can do. I'd be all for Konate signing on, as I feel the less changes we have to make to the squad again this year, the better. And, to be honest, there's not exactly a lot of CBs out there we can realistically get who are better (when he's on it) than Ibou. I see us being linked to VDV, and you'd be talking about 100m for a player with horrific hamstrings who just isn't as good as Ibou in my opinion.

That would leave us with Virg, Ibou, Joe, Leoni and Jaquet for next summer. I've said loadsa times we should've moved Gomez on, but with one year left there's no point now. Keep him around for squad depth, and let him go on a free in 2027.

14 Feb 2026 07:10:32
Personally, I hope he does sign. We have quite a bit of work to do this summer signings-wise again, and if we keep Konate at least that's 1 less we need to buy. He has had a very poor season, but that possibly could be due to his father's health, who sadly passed away recently. VVD still has another season in him at the top, imo, and we've got the 2 young lads hopefully ready to go at the start of next season, so we definitely need somebody with experience in mid-20s in cb position.

VVD, Konate, Leoni, Jaquet + a utility defender who can cover all across the backline. Gomez is ideal but never fit to string any sort of period together, available fitness-wise, so I think he needs to be replaced. If Konate's form doesn't improve next season, at least we could sell for a fee, and u would get a decent fee as well. I also think a top-class defensive-minded no.6 solves a lot of our defensive problems and would leave our cbs less exposed.

14 Feb 2026 07:29:55
I think the signing of Jaquet was a proactive measure to deal with the loss of Konate. Don't forget we already have Leoni, and I think they both play in Konate's spot. I don't see us spending nearly 70m on Jaquet only to understudy Konate. For me, we really should get rid.

14 Feb 2026 07:47:37
I have seen lots of excuses on here for our poor season, be it fitness, Slot, grieving, etc. Crazy how the grieving one is never used in defence of Konate.

14 Feb 2026 08:24:37
I agree, JK23. I've been one of his biggest critics on here. But, over the last few games, he's been back to the player we bought. He's a beast of a man who goes to ground too much, but credit to him for his performance.

Who knows what he's going through in his head. Good luck to him. I hope he does sign. It will give Leone time to recover, and Jack to settle in. Then we could get a fee. Best all round. YNWA.

14 Feb 2026 08:35:15
Personally, I don't think anyone has much of a clue, really, be it new contracts, clubs wanting certain players, personal lives, etc., and on the back of that they talk nonsense. Yeah, he's been crap, but who hasn't this season? He's not on his own, that's for sure. If he signs, then hopefully he has competition; that's the important bit for me.

14 Feb 2026 08:38:32
Konate has all the tools to be a very good centre-back. For whatever reason, he seems to have misplaced them for most of the season. I hope he gets back to the required levels and signs a new deal, but I'm not sure if he will, or if he would want to be a squad player rather than first choice.

14 Feb 2026 08:49:28
If he signs, it is only because he'll be getting a crazy wage, given his previous wage demands. I'm not sure, with his inconsistent performances, he'd be worth the 150k to 250k a week he'd want, knowing our wage bill is already very high. I personally think Jacket was signed as his replacement, and we'll sign another defender in the summer.

14 Feb 2026 09:30:57
I feel mixed. He has been awful this season, but with Jota and his dad, I do wonder if his personal life has been part of this. On current form, he needs to go, and I have always thought he is hit and miss. However, we need signings, and we have two young cbs to bleed through.

It would make sense to extend his contract and protect his market value. It is then up to him whether he steps up; if he doesn't, and the youngsters play to their potential, then we can move Ibou on.

14 Feb 2026 10:29:33
Konate has been the worst player for us this year, and a lot of players have been poor, so that shows how bad he's been. He has had two very good games lately, but too little, too late.

14 Feb 2026 11:19:50
We know what he can be, but his lack of consistency across his entire time here is the worry. Forget two games, or even the entire season; overall, he's just too unreliable. He could be a rock, or he could do some random brain fade and gift a goal.

Nothing against him, he's ok, but I'd love an upgrade. The pickings are slim at the moment, so I wouldn't mind a team friendly shortish contract.

14 Feb 2026 11:24:46
If the choice is between, say, keeping Konate and signing Upamecano on a free, I'd take keeping Konate every day of the week. On form, he is a very high-level player, it's just that he has been off colour for much of this season, and now we have an intimation of just why that might have been.

If we let Gomez go, which is likely, we'd have to get another center half anyway. If we let Konate go too, we'd have to get two. That would be leaving us with too much to do if we also need to get a full back, another midfielder and a winger to replace Mo.

14 Feb 2026 11:34:20
You've hit the nail on the head, Ron. However, I wouldn't give him any sniff of a contract. He's a liability and an accident waiting to happen. There's plenty of better CBs available in world football as replacements.

14 Feb 2026 11:51:39
"If the choice is between, say, keeping Konate and signing Upamecano on a free, I'd take keeping Konate every day of the week." This. As for Konate, there is a chance he could be kept if, indeed, the club do not see a CB who can come in and do it right away as a replacement for a starter in Konate. That is very possible.

And let us not take for granted his father being ill and eventually passing, either. If we can apply Jota's loss to the players performing badly, we can apply that to Konate, essentially twofold, due to him losing his friend and battling the idea of his father being ill and eventually passing away. Just saying.

15 Feb 2026 10:38:20
I've criticised Konate before, like a lot of fans, but we don't know how long his dad was ill, how that affected Ibou, and then his dad's passing. I, like a lot of people, have lost a parent after a long illness, and Ibou looks like he's been released from that stress and worry, which is emotionally draining.

Maybe he won't sign again. But sometimes we don't know everything that's going on in players' lives.

15 Feb 2026 10:43:53
RE: cb. I can see the point in keeping Konate and us signing another cb like Guehi, mid-20s and experienced, to go with Jacquet and Leoni, in readiness for VVD leaving. Planning in advance needs to be better.

13 Feb 2026 22:13:43
Good to see Isak doing stepping up his training today doing some ball work.
Hopefully we might see him back in march.

13 Feb 2026 22:28:46
Can't see him being back in March whatsoever.

13 Feb 2026 22:33:28
It'll be nice to see him back and firing for the big games in May (and the CL final).

13 Feb 2026 22:56:48
He'll do sweet FA until next season. Hopefully he'll prove his worth then.

13 Feb 2026 23:54:42
Back for the business end. Gonna prove his worth in sum big games come end of season.

14 Feb 2026 00:35:51
Cisse-esque return perhaps.

14 Feb 2026 06:57:24
A crocked forward returns late on in a season where a home grown star toddled off to Real Madrid for a cut price fee? I wonder when that's happened before. ?

14 Feb 2026 07:58:43
CL final? Why has he won the ITV phone-in? An all-expenses-paid trip to watch the CL final. It's the only way he's going.

14 Feb 2026 10:17:56
Isak most likely will be back in the squad after the international break in March/April.

14 Feb 2026 11:52:45
He should not play if he is not fully cleared to play whenever that may be. As long as that happens, I'm fine with him playing.

13 Feb 2026 18:56:49
Remember the 20/ 21 season? When Pickford had a moment and forgot he was playing football and instead entered what appeared to be a Kung Fu championship and launched himself at VVD with zero repercussions.

For months we had hendo and Fabinho playing centre-back. It didn't work and we struggled. Then an actual defender called Nat Phillips came along who wasn't Maldini but he could tackle, head a ball and pass to someone in red.

Then boom suddenly there was stability! Hendo and Fabs back in their positions. We got Champions League.

This whole right-back situation feels similar. Surely we can find another lad who can run, tackle, defend and pass to someone in red and get slobs back in the places he can affect the game more. Try it in the FA Cup game.

13 Feb 2026 19:09:01
I agree with you, Statto. I am gutted that Ramsey, Soboz, Endo and CJ are the preferred options for Slot. I thought he played well against Palace. He didn't put a foot wrong. We have an injury crisis at RB, and Slot refuses to use him. I am sure CJ will get the nod in the next fixture.

13 Feb 2026 19:18:02
Zlatan still has nightmares about that Nat Phillips Cruyff turn.

{Ed025's Note - that is why Zlatan is a multi millionaire and Nat is struggling to get in the WBA team.. :)

13 Feb 2026 19:53:39
Did we not win with Endo and Gomez there, though, on Wednesday? Ramsey has never played a Premier League game, so I'm not sure why the pitchforks are out for him to be starting. I don't think, until Slot threw him under the bus at that press conference, anyone was vying for Ramsey to be starting games.

We've had midfielders at right back on and off all season, including the opening game when Endo came on there, and there was no Ramsey talk then.

13 Feb 2026 21:12:03
Ramsay has had loans at Wigan, Bolton, Preston, and Kilmarnock, and couldn't break into the side at any of them. What makes people think he's good enough to play for Liverpool? Slot got slaughtered last season for going weak at Plymouth. Why should he risk it again, when Ramsay would probably be up against Mitoma?

13 Feb 2026 21:44:29
Whatever West Brom think, Nat Phillips proved his worth for all time in those dozen or so games. Almost all of those WBA players will never appear in Euro competitions. Nat did. He was very good for us. I don't think Ramsay will ever get to that level.

13 Feb 2026 22:23:08
Having seen Ramsay play for years, from his youth to breaking into the Aberdeen team and being Scotland's best young player, it's not ability that has held him back, it's been down to injuries. How many loans actually work out for a player? We don't know the terms or agreement in place when he went, and, again, most were cancelled due to injury. While he won't make it at Liverpool now, he still, as an RB, should be given the chance to show what he can do, if nothing else to get some value back and sell him so he can try resurrecting his career.

The way Slot has publicly slated Ramsay is a disgrace. He deserved a chance, if nothing else, but Slot's "trust" issues are very much to blame for him not getting one. Ramsay would, and still could be, PL level. It's easy to slate a guy none of you have ever actually seen play, but hey, that's why we're all sitting here instead of being paid millions to play football.

13 Feb 2026 22:27:08
Nat Phillips is also a multimillionaire after we gave him a 5-year GBP60k-a-week contract, Ed25.

{Ed025's Note - more fool you then BR.. :)

13 Feb 2026 22:29:22
Good point, JK, I don't think anyone would be mentioning Ramsey at all. The false outrage is priceless.

13 Feb 2026 22:41:29
I tend to agree with the sentiment of this post. We have very few players, and if Ramsay plays RB at a 6 or 7 (oh, how I hate that trend) out of 10, and thus allows Dom to influence games further forward, I'm all for it.

13 Feb 2026 22:44:11
Where have we slated him, Slottheboard? And, amazingly, I have seen him play, mate. I've seen him against Palace. He had an ok game, mate, in the 0-3 defeat. I remember leaving the ground utterly pissed off that we, as a team, were awful.

I can't remember thinking he was awful, but right back was a standout. And, I'd bet money, no one on here said it after the 0-3 defeat either.

13 Feb 2026 22:53:40
Just to add, I'd have zero issue seeing Ramsay playing there. Truth be told, I didn't want Endo there on Wed or Szob in the past, but they have. I also want Slot out, but I'm not going to beat him with a stick for not giving a PL debut to a youngster when we're already struggling all over the pitch.

13 Feb 2026 22:58:41
Agreed, JK.

13 Feb 2026 23:52:14
How did we start the season with Bradley as our only right back? I reckon Frimpong is a wing back. We really need to bring in a proper, solid right back who will also work well with Salah or his replacement. Then Szob can really stay in midfield, his best position. This no right back does my head in.

14 Feb 2026 01:49:59
No RB cover? Blame Hughes. No CB cover? Blame Hughes. No DCM? Blame Hughes. Slot doesn't buy players, but we all know damn well who does (and mostly overpays). That being said, Slot does/doesn't pick them on match day.

14 Feb 2026 02:56:06
Totally agree. I don't know who has influence over the decision to play Nat and Rhys as CBs, but I remember screaming for that on here with others. The strength of the team is in the midfield, and it just seems wacky to weaken the midfield to try and patch together the defense. So, today I totally agree.

I would much rather play a "weaker" RB at RB and then maintain the strength of the midfield. Also, I just think it sends the right message to the youngsters at the club, too. Otherwise, what is the point in having them if we're not going to use them in times like this?

14 Feb 2026 08:01:07
St Etienne, I'll blame both Hughes and Slot, as the latter knew the score when he signed. Slot should be playing more of the squad, and his stubborn reliance on a few players, combined with tactical ineptitude, makes him fair game.

14 Feb 2026 11:56:36
Spot on, Statto. A natural RB will always be a better option than a midfielder playing there, esp. when it comes to positioning for offsides, body shape in certain defensive 1 v 1 situations, etc., all the things a midfielder lacks.

14 Feb 2026 14:51:50
Stephenson, anyone?

13 Feb 2026 13:30:11
Ed001 what is your thoughts mate on trying Dom as an 8 alongside Grav with Grav as a 6.
I know Dom is not the best tackler, but I do think with their athleticism it would go some way to fixing the gaping holes in our midfield.

{Ed001's Note - that would be how I would prefer us to play. I think that would be our best pairing.}

13 Feb 2026 15:02:22
Ed001 what's your thoughts on Gravenberch he confuses me sometimes he looks pure world class receives the ball in the 6 position with two players round him does some mental turn loses them both and away he goes. Then he struggles all game to complete a 5 yard pass with no one on him.

{Ed001's Note - he is good in the deeper role, because of that ability to turn out of trouble. But he needs to work on his passing, desperately needs to learn to pass.}

13 Feb 2026 16:51:24
Yeah, if he could pass, Ed, he would be an outstanding player. The short passes should be no problem for him, Ed, because you can see how composed he is, the way he turns out of trouble with multiple players round him.

Long passes you would be able to work on, as most of the time deep players do have more time. But the worry is that he does give away simple passes way too often.

13 Feb 2026 16:52:40
Grav needs to keep passing simple, to avoid the trickier pass from the options of available players. Also, he needs to not take an extra touch to dribble more forward. If he kept it simple, with the turn into space and a simple pass forward at a quicker pace, his game would improve. imo.

13 Feb 2026 19:09:48
I think he's a class footballer, but his positional sense is very poor. He is constantly in the wrong place when we are out of possession. I think you'd really see the best of him with a real tough tackling No. 7 next to him.

13 Feb 2026 19:25:45
Not sure what a number 7 means nowadays, but to me it means Kevin Keegan, King Kenny, Peter Beardsley. Definitely not a tough tackling midfielder.

13 Feb 2026 20:35:20
If a midfielder can't pass the ball with at least 90% accurately then he's not a footballer.

13 Feb 2026 21:51:51
Only 5 midfielders have a passing accuracy of 90% or more this season. So by Shankly's criteria only Curtis Jones, Tom Cairney, Moises Caicedo, Sander Berge, and Lewis Miley are footballers.

13 Feb 2026 21:59:48
Pretty certain most midfielders won't have a 90% pass rate.

13 Feb 2026 22:32:17
They should, not as if they are trying 60 yard pings like Stevie was constantly landing on people's feet. Most of the passes they do are as simple as they come.

14 Feb 2026 02:56:52
imo, next year's strongest midfield combo will be Grav and Dom, with Wirtz ahead of them.

13 Feb 2026 22:03:47
I think he needs to add tackling, heading and positional sense to that too Ed

14 Feb 2026 07:10:27
That's our best combo at the moment, Faith. Altho I reckon we'll sign competition for Grav in the summer, so he'd better wake up and actually put in the odd tackle or he'll find himself getting splinters on his arse.

14 Feb 2026 10:40:48
Think it was Roy Keane who was describing himself, he said I win the ball n pass it to someone either 10 or 20 yards n I was good at doing that. You'd be surprised at how many footballers can't do that.

14 Feb 2026 11:59:34
Good shout there, Faith. Had we not had rb issues, and with Slot also looking for ways to play Dom at rb even with rbs available, that should be the starting trio in midfield, esp. with Grav sitting a lot more than he is doing now. Macca? The less said, the better.

16 Feb 2026 22:34:18
Florian, I agree, mate. But don't see that Slot agrees. :D I posted here that my prediction at the start of the season was that, over the course of this year, Wirtz would establish himself so that, by the 2026/27 season, Macca would be gone and it would be Wirtz, well established as the CAM and allowing Dom to play in his preferred and much more impactful position of 8.

What I didn't expect was Macca to turn into McDonalds overnight and really disrupt our rhythm and, in turn, Wirtz's transition into the team.

13 Feb 2026 12:46:07
Barcola is a much better player than Matheus Mane.
Kerkez and Mane on our left side would be equal to two headless chickens on the same flank?
Barcola is doable means another big summer of investment from FSG but that's also very possible.

13 Feb 2026 13:03:31
We are talking telephone numbers, better spent elsewhere or on several positions.

13 Feb 2026 13:26:37
Not convinced on Barcola for the money he'd cost.

13 Feb 2026 14:54:48
I personally think any winger we sign needs to have some real pace about them. I can't recall Barcola being particularly quick; he is more a ball-into-feet, dribble-type of player. We need someone to stretch the opposition when needed and be an outlet in behind, using their pace to disrupt the opposition. Pace is paramount. Having watched Gakpo and Salah this season, the lack of pace has been a very real Achilles heel.

It would also help Wirtz, who operates so much better with pacy players ahead of him. More often than not, Wirtz does not play the offensive pass because of a lack of movement ahead. Eki is the only real player willing to run in behind, and Wirtz instead keeps the ball moving, waiting for his next opportunity, rinse and repeat more often than not.

13 Feb 2026 14:15:20
I would rather sign Mane than Barcola personally.

I just think Mane would go on to be a superstar for us, whereas my gut says Barcola would flop. He's a young French player who's playing for his local team and the best team in his homeland. Every possible move for him except probably Real Madrid would be seen by him as a backwards step, even if he wouldn't outwardly admit that. You have to have the right mentality to be able to take a backwards step and not let it dent your motivation. I don't know much about him personally but he comes across as a bit of a fragile ego. I may be way off the mark with that though.

Mane on the other hand would be making the move of a lifetime if he left Wolves to come to us. Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal or United are the four dream clubs for most young English players and I'd hazard a guess that courtesy of his namesake, Sadio, Mateus Mane might well have already imagined himself at Liverpool one day.

I guess what I'm saying is I think Mane will give everything to succeed for us but I'd be worried about how Barcola will react to being perceived as surplus to requirements at PSG. On paper Barcola is clearly the better player right now and I'd just be talking rubbish if I tried to deny that. I just don't think it's the right move for us. Who would've guessed that Daniel Sturridge and Phillipe Coutinho would be better for us than Fernando Morientes and Jari Litmanen? Mane just feels like a Liverpool signing. Barcola doesn't, to me.

13 Feb 2026 15:39:08
I've seen quite a bit of Mane, he's athletic and has plenty of energy, but that's as far as I'd go right now. He's not as good as some are making him out to be, but he is only a young lad, and for a young lad he is promising.

Personally, I don't see the point. I think it'd be a big gamble, depending on the price tag, which I assume would be on the higher end. I wouldn't want Barcola either, I agree with Mango.

13 Feb 2026 16:33:23
Well, the posters banging the drum for Nunez all season have just had a great fillip. He has been axed from the Saudi squad he just joined at Al-Hilal. Benzema is his more than adequate replacement, and, perhaps most pleasingly, his replacement is also More Salad, who has 4 PL goals this season and six assists from 18 apps. Not hard to see who has not been pulling his weight. Regarding Diaz having to seek higher wages by going to Bayern, and Cody Gak-poor all season, you would have thought Slot, instead of offering a two-year contract for More Salad at circa 50 million, would have been more cautious, knowing full well he would be playing the AFCON and will do his utmost to avoid injury ahead of the World Cup, with a half a billion deal with a Saudi league club potentially pending. (Also, if he goes this summer, LFC will have to pay his remaining contract for next year at circa 25 million).

Diaz could have played RW all season, and Salah should have been sold last summer for 100 million, with part of his wages going towards Diaz staying. A top, top-notch manager would have spotted this in the making last summer. I note from reading Alex Ferguson's book that he had a "concrete agreement" in place to join Spurs in 1986, but he reneged for Man United instead. History tells me personally that Spurs would be absolute fools to not offer their current job to Amorim, and LFC, sadly, would be ideal for him. Can I also leave the Alonso bandwagoners and advocates with this thought: Alonso has already turned LFC down once for the RM job, hence Slot getting the nod at the time. That tells me Amorim is ideal for LFC next season, hopefully!

13 Feb 2026 16:44:46
I don't think any of us saw how drastic a tail off we'd see in Salah's form. Not even Mystic Meg.

13 Feb 2026 16:54:36
Salah was on a free last summer.

13 Feb 2026 16:54:42
007, how many have you had today?

13 Feb 2026 17:13:24
Gotta feel a bit for Darwin. He went from an 85 mill transfer gamble to no European club willing to take a gamble at 50 mill in the summer. The fact that he's only lasted 5 months in Saudi leaves him at a career crossroads. How much will a club need to pay to take the next gamble on him, I wonder.

13 Feb 2026 18:54:12
We could have had prime Messi, Suarez and Neymar, 007, and Slot's abysmal tactics would have made them look redundant. This pining after Diaz is comedy gold. He's better than Gakpo, but let's not pretend he was mostly flair with intermittent end products.

13 Feb 2026 22:37:52
Pretty sure prime Messi, Suarez, and Neymar would be just fine under Slot, Frode.

13 Feb 2026 23:01:36
Slot would play Messi in goal, Neymar at RB, and leave Suarez on the bench.

14 Feb 2026 00:02:03
On second thoughts, they'd probably struggle for game time ahead of Gakpo, Chiesa, Rio, and this season's Salah. It is up there with the best squads we've ever had, after all.

14 Feb 2026 02:58:36
Not saying Barcola is the guy, but he's already at PSG and doing his thing. So, personally, I'd like us to be unearthing the next Barcola, so to speak. These massive transfer fees are such a high risk with no increased guarantee of any positive outcome.

14 Feb 2026 08:02:32
Florian, would they? They wouldn't get the ball, because we'd play it around the back for an hour. I actually think Florian is Gakpo.

14 Feb 2026 12:02:11
Florian, I agree. I don't rate Barcola, esp. with the fee PSG would want. Nope, I'll pass. As for Mane, he is just a kid doing well in a dead team, hence just playing with no pressure. I seem to remember a certain Stefan Bajcetic doing the exact same thing with us in that dreadful 22/23 season.

We know what has happened since, hence I would be wary of making such signings under such circumstances.

13 Feb 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 25 - Quick Round Up

13 Feb 2026 04:15:40
We have given them 6 points. Taken 5 away from Arsenal. We gave away kelleher who took 2 from Arsenal. Gave them guehi, gifted them semenyo ( who is doing his best salah inpression for them)
We have done everything we possibly can for city to win the title and when they do there are some players i want as payment and thanks next season. ?.

13 Feb 2026 09:38:02
Jurgen's master plan - he sent them the book writer. I can see it all now. City to win the PL. Slot to get the old heave-ho, and Jurgen to be back in a blaze of glory for 26/27. On a slightly more serious note, it's nice to see Arteta showing signs of his usual end of season meltdown - nice to see him start the ball rolling with his post match comments about blocking out outside noise.

Let the games begin.

13 Feb 2026 09:49:20
I see what you did there, Cafu. Nice one, mate.

13 Feb 2026 10:35:49
It's not just his tar hair that melts as the weather gets better.

12 Feb 2026 19:11:08
Hi guys. Can we go back to last season and I'd like to know what everyone's favourite memory was. I'm not saying this because of who scored or just to annoy Ed25 but mine was Diogo with the derby winner.

12 Feb 2026 19:56:36
Seeing the fans celebrating outside Anfield. First time in my lifetime, and it was really special to see.

12 Feb 2026 20:10:54
Whole of the 2nd half against Spurs. Just pure euphoria, plus what followed.

12 Feb 2026 20:21:16
Nunez at Brentford. That's when I knew.

12 Feb 2026 21:11:15
Celebration for Macca's goal v Spurs in the game to seal the title.

12 Feb 2026 22:20:36
Good one, Faith. I'd be interested to know the decibels when the ball hit the net.

12 Feb 2026 23:27:23
Rome, I read somewhere that the movement in the stadium when that goal was scored was recorded as seismic activity. The earth literally moved!

12 Feb 2026 23:50:08
When Macca's goal v Spurs went in, I've never heard Anfield like it. What a moment, and celebrated with my son. Special.

13 Feb 2026 00:23:23
When Macca's goal went in, it caused a local earthquake, no s***.

13 Feb 2026 03:01:01
Toying with Manchester United whilst 3-0 up at Old Trafford.

13 Feb 2026 06:45:07
Like a cat with a mouse, Thunderbird. ?

13 Feb 2026 07:02:37
2nd half v Spurs, when it was just pure euphoria, whiskey never tasted as nice as it did in the 30 mins of that game! The win against Brentford late on was massive. From memory, both Arsenal + City dropped points that weekend. Psychologically, I think that weekend was the real big 1.

13 Feb 2026 07:17:41
I'll sometimes watch the Tottenham MoTD highlights back after we've played badly, just to cheer me up!

13 Feb 2026 08:12:26
I'm just watching the end of match scenes on YouTube. I can't watch it without it bringing tears to my eyes. "One Kiss," "Freed from Desire," followed by "YNWA." I cherished every minute when I was there. It will come again. Have belief.

13 Feb 2026 09:56:46
LFC08, I remember very clearly that I collapsed to the ground in relief when Darwizzy tucked in that first goal at Brentford. Now, for me, it was our away fans celebrating our title win after we clinched it vs Spurs.

The songs, the celebration, the vibes, etc.? Just pure euphoria. @Willo_the_wisp, like you, I still have the MOTD highlights vs Spurs on my box. They are not getting deleted. Like ever.

13 Feb 2026 11:14:00
Darwin vs Brentford was the moment you felt it could really happen. Jota's winner vs Everton. Spurs at home was just the most amazing party! Alisson and Virgil's relief will live long in the memory.

13 Feb 2026 13:23:47
Why were our away fans at Spurs when we clinched the title at Anfield against them, Oli?