Liverpool banter 7

09 Apr 2026 16:13:35
I think there's a few stinkers within the squad. I don't like quite a few mentalities.
The amount of rubbish slot is taking is actually ridiculous at this stage. We all agree it's best if he moves on but I've watched slot for months yell on the sidelines press and press faster etc and some of them are doing it, others half-hearted.
You can say he's to blame but I think there's a few rotten eggs hidden in the squad.
On what we need. There's several key positions.

There is no justification for Virg being here next season. He's another Salah situation. Buy if we need to buy more centre backs. He's not a leader and regardless of how bad Konate is, it doesn't justify keeping Virg.
This has been a disgraceful season for many, many reasons and there should be a massive reset in the summer and major reshuffle.
We need the right players in which I'm doubtful and we need the right personalities.

09 Apr 2026 16:43:59
Really don't get the slatings Virgil is getting lately. Yes, he's been poor, as they all have been, but he's not suddenly become a poor defender over night.

The whole team are off it, and personally I think it's important we don't lose all the standard setters at once. I look at the Chelsea scenario, signing loads of talented youngsters but no leaders to guide them. Jacquet and Leoni could have no better mentor, really.

The trouble with Virg is because of the lack of alternatives, he's had to play nearly every game... when at his age he needs a bit more of a rest from time to time.

Still a very strong defender, and in my opinion a strong leader. Crazy how we talk about loyalty as fans, and can see some of the abuse the likes of Salah and Van Dijk have received by so called fans of late.

Whatever about some of the rest of the lads re desire and representing the club, in my generation there's only been a handful of people who've represented the club as well as both Virg and Mo over the past years.

Anyway, rant over. Yes we need to remove our over reliance on him, but we should be helping him share the load. Think we need to be careful what we wish for... could be a lot worse without him, both on and off the pitch.

Also, final note, you'd imagine the likes of Leoni and Jacquet were delighted with the chance to learn from one of the best that's done in the past decade or so.

YNWA!

09 Apr 2026 17:12:59
VVD is getting judged on his sky high standards, yes he hasn't been at his best this year but he's still by far our best defender. You can feel sympathy for Slot if you want, but it's his tactics n style of play that he has implemented that has wrecked our season.

{Ed001's Note - he hasn't been though, Gomez has been miles better than him when he has played. Virgil looks lost.}

09 Apr 2026 17:26:45
I didn't agree with him coming out and saying we give up (v City), but maybe that's his way of outing what's going on behind the scenes.

09 Apr 2026 17:39:39
It's gotten so bad I wouldn't be bothered if we sold every single one of them. But then that begs the question, is it just all the manager?

Suppose we'll never know coz he'll never get sacked. ?

09 Apr 2026 17:51:31
Vvd bashing is mostly because he is a very bad leader to have when the team is down. Obviously, he is a level below his usual standards, but he just has not been anything close to a leader on the pitch. No authority, shoulders always dropping, and looks flat and gassed.

09 Apr 2026 17:59:07
Great post Blameitontraore, I have been guilty of being harsh on Vvd but I guess it's because he has been so good last load of years. This is the same with Salah. Their motivation last season was a new contract. I think it's fair to say their motivation this year hasn't been as high, and Slot doesn't look like a motivator. Also, these senior pros will have worked with some great managers, will maybe know that Slot is out of his depths, and maybe subconsciously have dropped their efforts a bit.

He is a great defender but is working under a s*** coach in a poorly coached side. He is 34, and doesn't get rested so this downturn was inevitable. The recruitment team failed to address key areas in favour for unfit strikers, and the coach for me, is the biggest problem.

09 Apr 2026 18:15:06
I think you meant to say "The amount of rubbish Slot is talking".

09 Apr 2026 18:19:57
Virgil has been immense, but he is well past his best now. I would sell him and get someone else in the summer.

09 Apr 2026 18:32:12
The 3 CB's yesterday looked like it was sprung on them, there was no positional stability, everyone was trying to be over everywhere and essentially covering nothing, it was like watching children.

I still stand by the defence not being that bad, it's more a lack of a proper DM and piss poor coaching.

09 Apr 2026 18:36:59
I think people underestimate how poor a player can look under a crap coach. In the summer, our transfer window and squad were being spoken about like we would walk the league and now it seems they are all crap and should be sold??

Don't get me wrong, the players have been performing poorly but are the conditions right for them to succeed? They look poorly trained, very unfit and our system is a mess.

Take last night, 3 CBs up against PSG's forward line which doesn't have a proper no 9 to mark, our defence man marking the likes of Dembele who was dropping deep and dragging our CBs all over the field, honestly clueless tactics! How in God's name can Virg or any of our other defenders properly defend when set up to fail.

09 Apr 2026 19:21:16
Amazing how every older player in our squad is suddenly past their best. It's rubbish and Slot's abysmal approach has been the root cause. If you think these players from elite to crap overnight, you're deluded.

09 Apr 2026 19:26:50
Also, re leadership, I think a lot is made of the captain's armband, real leaders don't need an armband to be a leader. Virg was a leader long before he wore the armband. I remember being in the stands for his debut at home to Everton, and he was already organising the defence from day 1. (And scored the winner.)

The problem is we've lost a lot of other leaders over the years, the Hendersons, the Milners, Robbo to a certain degree, as he's been more out than in on the pitch at least.

Also, the phrase you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink comes to mind... Virgil has been visibly frustrated with some of his teammates, maybe himself too, but again, as mentioned above, he's set ridiculous standards... same with Mo, who's stats are, I believe, better than wonderboy Saka even though he's had a horrendous season...



Anyway, again I think we all agree none of it's been good enough, but I think stripping away all the senior members of the dressing room at once would be a massive mistake in my opinion. Just saw Robbo's interview too, a huge loss behind the scenes too.

Hopefully, there's a few who've been around them long enough to carry the torch, if and when we finally put Arne out of his misery.

Thanks for the title, Arne, and he's handled himself with great dignity. I'll never forget some of his interviews dealing with the unprecedented tragedy, but it's clear it's best for all parties if we part ways as soon as possible before the damage becomes irreparable.

09 Apr 2026 19:36:06
Terrible squad management by the hires up, lads who rely on place fall of a cliff fast, Alexis Sanchez and Rio Ferdinand being two examples, Salah and Vvd should have been replaced long before now.

09 Apr 2026 19:41:50
ED001 gomez has hardly played, VVD plays every minute with Konate beside him plus a new left back who is struggling aswel, he still the best defender we've got.still got at least a year for us.but i'd take the captaincy off him though

{Ed001's Note - he is done, his legs have clearly gone and his attitude stinks.}

09 Apr 2026 20:06:53
Agree 100% Ed, people need to wake up and smell the coffee the hire ups have completely fd everything up we're in a bit of a mess here and it could get worse if we don't make the right choices this summer

09 Apr 2026 16:01:21
Maybe the reason Alonso hasn't joined Liverpool is because in his termination agreement with Madrid there was a clause he couldn't manage in the CL this season in case the team he would manage might end up playing Madrid and Alonso would have an unfair advantage.


So if Madrid are knocked out or Liverpool knocked out then that might opened the door for Alonso to join right away.

09 Apr 2026 16:17:31
Nonsense. So if Alonso didn't agree to it, he wouldn't have been sacked? ?

09 Apr 2026 16:36:37
No, Lord-nukem, Madrid could put Alonso on gardening leave, mate, in which he cannot do anything until they release him from contract.

09 Apr 2026 18:03:06
But he wasn't put on gardening leave. He was sacked.

09 Apr 2026 14:21:48
Reds, what does everyone think about the Spirit Of Shankly and Spion Kop decision to protest about ticket price increase, no flags or banners affecting the atmosphere when we really need it?

09 Apr 2026 15:35:47
Poor timing from all involved. Bad in the way that the club decided to raise prices at a time when we are absolutely shocking, whilst simultaneously handing out bumper contracts to average players. Then, from the supporter group perspective, bad timing in protesting at a time which may very well impact our performances on the pitch, if it couldn't get any worse.

I'm pretty sure the same thing happened a few seasons back before a return leg of the Champions League, which we then lost (although I stand to be corrected on that, memory is not what it used to be).

09 Apr 2026 15:41:06
There's not been any protests at the ground this season, and performances have been s****.

If we're s**** again on Saturday it's not because fans are protesting over ticket prices.

09 Apr 2026 15:46:48
Personally, I have nothing against the protests, and the supporter groups shouldn't be receiving flack for the unfortunate timing, as it's entirely the club's fault, seriously, they couldn't wait just 8 more weeks to bump prices?

What do you want the supporters to do? Wait until the summer to protest, when there's nobody at the club, or wait nearly 5 months until the first game in August when the price hikes have been generally accepted and the outrage is no longer on anyone's mind?

The supporters groups really have no choice but to act now.

The entirety of the blame has to fall on the club for the poor timing.

09 Apr 2026 15:53:13
What JK23 said.

09 Apr 2026 15:57:59
Yeah, I think we should only do protests when it is convenient for the club.

09 Apr 2026 16:02:11
Protesting over ticket prices? If you don't want to pay the money (small increase), don't go, someone else will pay the money and go! I travel over from Northern Ireland, and it costs about £500 for me to get to a match! The only cheap thing about the match is the ticket in!

09 Apr 2026 16:12:29
Very well said, JK.

09 Apr 2026 16:31:52
I know I'll get some hate for this, but it is what it is, and I'm allowed to have my say on this matter as much as the people who I know will strongly disagree, as is their right, of course.

I was at the Sunderland game back in February 2016 when the fans walked out around the 77th minute to the tune "enough is enough, you greedy b******, enough is enough". Whilst it had the desired impact, we were winning 2-0 at that stage, and ended up drawing 2-2. Those of us who stayed started to sing You'll Never Walk Alone, but it just wasn't enough. The Kop was pretty much empty, and the team notably dipped. It does affect the players on the pitch, and at a time when the club is seriously struggling to achieve crucial Champions League qualification, which could literally set us back years financially, so to me it feels like a deliberate power move to try and hit the club in the pocket more as an act of revenge for the increases.

Inflation is a part of life, so I'm really not sure what the issue is with the newly proposed increases. They're not actually even raising the prices in real terms.

They're loosely aligning them with inflation, but still capping it well below actual inflation anyway. It'll apparently cost the season ticket holders an extra £21-27 next season. Less than £1.50 per game. With all that's going on the world, our fans want to complain about less than £30 a year? Many football fans, for some baffling reason to me, hate the idea of their club trying to cover rising operating costs. They actively want their club to make a loss if it means they can have an extra 8 pints across the calendar year.

Liverpool, by the way, have frozen ticket prices in 8 of the last 10 years. This despite the fact that Anfield matchday expenses have risen by 85% since 2016. I just do not understand the protesting at all. I say all this as someone who has spent £665 on 3 tickets this season, by the way, so I know how expensive it is, but going to the football is a luxury, not a human right.

Anyway, fire away with the abuse! I expect nothing less for siding with the club over the fans haha.

09 Apr 2026 16:39:48
I completely agree with every word of that, MK. Either pay the money and go support the team, or stay at home, would be my opinion! Less than £1.50 per game is hardly something to cry about when you consider the cost of living.

These are the same fans who will want us spending 100s of millions on new players in the summer. We have the highest wage bill in the league as well!

09 Apr 2026 16:44:59
I agree, MK. I think there should be dissent, but against the style of football and lethargy of the overpaid players.

09 Apr 2026 16:48:16
People siding with millionaires and billionaires over the common working person. Tells you all you need to know about society these days. Ticket prices have risen 800% since 1990.

09 Apr 2026 16:59:50
I'm not siding with anyone. If people can't afford an extra £1.50 to go to a game, I think they would be better off saving their money and not bother going! I'd rather EasyJet don't bump up their prices for me to get there, lol. When we are away from home, you can fly to and from Liverpool for less than £100.

If we're at home, the flights I need to get cost over £300. These days I need to get the boat, but it's up to me to either go and pay the money to travel or just sit in the house!

09 Apr 2026 17:25:55
I can afford to go, and I can afford the increase, but I defend the right of those that want to protest.

I was at the game you mention, MK. I didn't walk out either.

If having the protest has the desired effect of keeping prices down, for those who are less fortunate, well, fair play.

09 Apr 2026 17:32:47
MKS n DW2. Well, with that flippant attitude, the tickets will be even more in the future. SOS are demonstrating for the fans, but you are sticking up for the Man.

09 Apr 2026 17:45:50
All good opinions, but I suppose 50 thousand plus match going fans on Sat will determine if match going fans are majority against the ticket rise or happy with it.

I just hope the planned protest didn't affect last night's and Saturday's City performance, as I know how precious these players can be.

09 Apr 2026 17:46:23
I'm not sticking up for the man! I'm just saying I would pay an extra £1.50 for a ticket! Of course ticket prices will rise again in the future, just like everything else does. Minimum wage is increasing all the time, so is everything else we buy, so obviously ticket prices will as well. The price of a pint increases every year as well.

I'd rather see the fans at the game support the team, now more than ever! It feels like a lot of fans want us to lose these days just because they expect us to. I've wanted Slot gone for a long time, but it looks like he's here until at least the summer, so we should just try to get behind the team.

09 Apr 2026 18:26:39
Agreed, Arnie, looks like the fans will be footing the bill for missing out on Champions League. Ever since they took over, FSG have somehow brainwashed the Liverpool fanbase into caring more about net spend than anything else. I've never heard a group of supporters talk so much about net spend.

I've never been able to wrap my head around the "Yeah we came 2nd, but we spent half as much as you" argument. Why are people concerned with saving money? All it does is line the pockets of the filthy rich.

09 Apr 2026 18:29:34
MK already made basically all the points I wanted to.

If anyone planning to protest wants to sell their ticket with a modest markup instead, please let me know.

09 Apr 2026 18:48:36
They'd struggle to protest if they sold their ticket.

09 Apr 2026 18:58:15
Out of all of that, I'm just more interested in where MK is buying 8 pints for £30. ?

09 Apr 2026 19:52:54
DW2, it's ok saying it's £1.50, the tickets have shot through the roof over the years. A lot of fans, locals n nationally, can't get there like they used to. Now, if you want even more day trippers to start going the games, then don't protest, but if you find your ticket going to corporate fans who are willing to pay £200 odd quit for a ticket, then that's the slope we will be on.

I, for one, I'm happy that there is going to be some sort of protest.

09 Apr 2026 13:38:52
{Ed's Note - LFC-S MANGO has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool Feel Unbalanced and Short of Answers

09 Apr 2026 14:19:44
Ya think, Mango?

09 Apr 2026 14:48:42
Normally, I'd disagree with a response like that one from OliRed. However, I think after last night we have now genuinely reached the point where there is no point analysing this Liverpool side anymore until Slot is gone. We all know all the problems and have discussed and debated them over and over again. It's a waste of breath/keystrokes.

I've never felt this down about a Liverpool team in my lifetime. 3 more defeats (a very real possibility) will make this statistically the worst season for Liverpool this century in terms of the sheer number of games we've lost.

Houllier, Benitez, Hodgson, Dalglish, Rodgers, Klopp etc. None of them lost 20 games in a single season. Slot's currently on 17 defeats this season with 8 games left.

There's just nothing left to analyse. We're cooked, and I've lost all interest in even discussing what we're doing wrong on the pitch until the blatant issue in the dugout is rectified.

09 Apr 2026 14:58:01
Yep, MK. Fully checked out at the moment.

09 Apr 2026 15:01:41
I haven't even read the article yet, but from the title, I can pretty much tell I'm going to agree with everything.

09 Apr 2026 15:08:58
I did not watch us play either Man City or PSG. You can call me out of that if you wish, but I cannot accept watching a manager who will not accept responsibility, blames every team for playing the wrong way against us, and clear to see the players have no respect or interest in playing for him.


The club and owners are on a different planet if they cannot see it. Clearly, the owners should know by now after so long in 'soccer' how this club runs and operates.

09 Apr 2026 15:29:24
Read and mostly agree there. We can't do all that in one window, but doing half would improve us a lot.

Need to start making the right steps.

We all want to win the league next season, but it's really about building towards that again now.

Starting with getting this team working hard and the right way and then adding a couple of those missing pieces you talk about.

I agree with the threat in behind. Hopefully Mr. Isak can help with that in the final few games
.

09 Apr 2026 15:44:40
@Bazzinga, if you don't wanna watch this ship show of a team under the pathetic management of this manager and choose to take care of yourself and find happiness elsewhere then, all power to you, man.

@Davey, that was what I did re: the title of the article hence, my response cos I didn't read it either. Didn't need to. The title said it all.

@MKS, what you out here doing? I thought we were bros, lol. Seriously tho, what is left for me to see that I have not seen from the team under this manager this season? Nothing has changed hence, I still fail to understand this whole "After the City and PSG game, I have come to the conclusion that Slot has to..." just popping up from many fin the fan base, all of a sudden including the crash out from the Gibbons fellow from the Anfield Wrap.

I don't get it.

I mean, (not to you MKS here), what have people been watching all season? The same crap we served up at City and in Paris, that's what. Yet suddenly, these last 2 games are what suddenly turned the tide? Really? Again, I don't get it, MKS.

09 Apr 2026 17:29:30
It looks like Konate is staying as progress on his contract has recently surfaced.
For me, definite leavers are Salah, Robertson, Elliot and Endo. Probables are Tsimikas, Gakpo, Van Dijk and Jones.

I think Chiesa would do well in a more direct front team like Klopp's, so depending on who the next coach is, keep him as I hope we go back to that play.



Wide options have to be Alikouche, Diomande and Fofana. We aren't getting Olise, no chance. Midfield, ideally, do everything to convince Anderson to choose us over City and Chelsea.

Not exhaustive but just some.

09 Apr 2026 18:56:16
That's a really good thread to read that.

09 Apr 2026 13:34:49
An interim manager probably wouldn't say anything about us "not being likely to score" and "damage limitation".

If an interim does succeed, then brilliant, doesn't mean you have to give him a contract at the end. These are business people, surely a backbone could be assembled between them?

09 Apr 2026 14:04:00
I think Gerrard mentioned on the overlap recently that he wouldn't be opposed to working "with" a manager depending on who it was...



I wonder what the possibility of him coming in short term (to steady the ship and get some energy, fight and belief back) fully in the knowledge that Alonso will come in as head coach at the end of the season with Stevie as his assistant?

09 Apr 2026 14:22:16
Xabi will have his own assistant, and whole coaching team, to bring with him. I would be surprised if he wanted or is willing to accept Stevie on his team.

09 Apr 2026 14:28:38
Was literally going to say the same thing. Have seen it mentioned that Gerrard could be his assistant manager, but who says Alonso would want this?

09 Apr 2026 15:02:29
Xabi has huge respect for Stevie, I would be surprised if he wouldn't consider having him on board in some way, but, as you say, he would have preference for his own team, so I don't think the assistant role would be open and I don't see Stevie accepting a lesser position.

09 Apr 2026 13:25:09
A scared manager and an equally scared team. What has it come to? A team feared across Europe playing like that.

Get rid of! Today.

09 Apr 2026 14:22:18
If the manager is scared and is a coward in the way he sets up his team, anyone thinking the players wouldn't eventually become scared of their own shadows is on cloud delulu land, as the young people say.

09 Apr 2026 13:25:48
Long time reader, first time poster. Liverpool fan since a kid in the 80’s. I can’t remember a time when we’re this bad. We were not even competitive today. Lucky we weren’t spanked 5 or 6 nil. Slot has to go immediately! How is he still there while the degradation is so extreme?

09 Apr 2026 13:51:22
How do you not remember looking like children bs Real Madrid at home? Real Madrid showed mercy out of pity for us that day.

09 Apr 2026 14:23:40
Faith, are you talking about the 3-1 with BR in the CL 14/15?

Or the 5-2 under Klopp in 22/23? Seriously, I can't tell.

09 Apr 2026 15:46:35
Liverpool lost 3-0 to Real in 14/15.

Perhaps YouTube showed a different game.

09 Apr 2026 17:15:29
So you think this worse than the Hodgson era? We were on brink of administration then and the team was awful. No CL football and down the bottom end of league. Our better players leaving left right and centre I.e Mascherano, Torres.

If you think this is worse than then you are delusional

09 Apr 2026 21:11:32
Oli, well, yeah, 2 examples where it's been dire in recent years.

09 Apr 2026
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, Hill-Dick Stad

Click picture for larger image

09 Apr 2026 15:38:48
Seems more fun to be an Everton fan at the moment, if we are all honest.

09 Apr 2026 12:20:38
Ed's and anyone

What is your opinion of how FSG have handled or not handled the situation we are in?
I mean Henry, Werner and Hogan

For me they've been good owners, re built the most iconic ground in the country, state if the art training facilities and invested in the squad with high quality players at top whack when needed.

When they came in they never gave Roy a second chance - replaced him with Kenny who actually had a really good finish to the season but totally ruthless the next even with a league cup and FA cup final appearance.
Brendan ousted as soon as the signs were there that he'd lost the dressing room.
Klopp enough said!

What I'm struggling with is they're not exactly inexperienced at running a club of this stature and have form for making the right call so surely they could of seen like all of us ( nearly all of us ) the downward spiral of the squad and club and the toxic nature that's festered.

09 Apr 2026 14:32:19
Something I've been saying for years that many don't agree with, but has been proven true in my eyes this season; FSG's number 1 objective is making money. They're not here to make us a dominant force, they're not concerned with returning Liverpool to the glory days, their goal is ROI, they want to see continued revenue growth, merch sales, TV deals etc... They know that staying relevant in the top 4/5 and an odd trophy here or there helps to keep those numbers trending in the right direction, but their focus is not to become a dominant force like we used to be back in the day.

People have argued with me over this, but the proof is in the pudding. We have to sell a player to buy a player; up until this season we'd spent less than 1/3rd of what the likes of Utd and City have over the last 10 years, outside of the 2 big windows we had, we were averaging a net spend of about 30 million per season. I'm not saying you have to spend the most money to create the best team or to win titles, nor do I want to be a team accused of buying titles. I'm just saying that the spending habits of the club under FSG show their true nature in my opinion.



The current season could have been saved months ago, a new manager and a couple of January transfers could have kept us legitimately competing across the 2/3 big competitions, but the club's refusal to act has us fighting a losing battle for 5th. I think the fact that we invested heavily in the summer, and actually ended up going backwards, was one of, if not the main factor for the club's decision not to bring in a new manager or players 4/5 months ago. Personally I believe they weren't willing to lose anymore money on a season they already considered a write-off.

They haven't been bad owners, they have done well by the club, there's no denying that, but the lack of action this season is unacceptable to me, and very telling of their stance. I understand they're an investment group, and that will always be their main focus, but it's times like these you need an owner with a bit of passion, somebody who can really understand the situation and put the needs of the club first.

09 Apr 2026 14:50:14
Chewy, let's not dog on the owners, mate. They have taken us from administration to European and League Champions. This is purely on Edward's, Hughes, and Slot. FSG employ them, and they are in position to deliver the minimum expectations. All three will be gone in the summer. If not, then vent against the owners, as it will be on them. What I would say is, at every juncture, they have acted with the best interests of the club.

When they have got it wrong, they have at least come out and offered an apology and vowed to put it right. They have invested millions across the stadium, training complex, and player investment. Let's reserve judgement until the season is finished, but I am not convinced they are the number one problem in this mess.

09 Apr 2026 16:02:48
Definitely didn't dog on the owners, Charlie. I politely presented a fair argument, and I clearly gave them credit for what they have done for the club. You can't say this is purely on Edwards and Hughes. They do not have final say over decisions like managerial appointments, and where execs are seen to fall short, the owners must step in. That's their responsibility, and they haven't upheld it.



I don't need to reserve judgement until the season is finished. I've had this opinion for years, like I said before, they have done well by the club and I give them credit where it's due, but there's no doubt they lack the depth of passion for the game that the people have. That's what built this club, and that's what we're missing right now.

09 Apr 2026 16:16:37
They've generally been very good on the business side, and we would have a lot more silverware if it wasn't for other clubs playing outside the rules. Slight criticism is the area around Anfield could have been redeveloped more, with more partnership working. But that's not all on the club and the city council and other agencies have been very slow to act.