Liverpool banter 9

13 Jun 2026 21:33:01
Manu Kone linked to Arsenal. Shame. I’d liked to have seen him play for us. NewsNow reporting Khephren Thurman linked to use as a replacement for Jones.

13 Jun 2026 23:44:54
Thuram and Wharton for Jones and Macca would be pretty good business imo.

14 Jun 2026 07:31:10
Kone and Wharton, or in fact Kone and Bouaddi, would be good business.

14 Jun 2026 09:15:58
I've liked Kone for a while. When he played in Germany, I wanted us to sign him, Thuram too when he was in France. Hopefully we can get things right this summer and make a real challenge next season.

13 Jun 2026 14:33:59
Ed001 was we not interested in Luka Vuskovic from spurs seems like Brighton and looking to sign him.
Seems very promising team of the year in Germany only 19.
Don't know why spurs would sell him to sign Heck who looks bang average every time I see him.

{Ed001's Note - de Zerbi is not one for developing youth.}

13 Jun 2026 13:35:11
Have just read that Gakpo has asked to leave. Could this be the reason why we are being heavily linked with both Barcola and Diomande?

I’d definitely accept this trade off.

13 Jun 2026 14:34:39
No, it's the other way around, he's asked to leave because we're linked with them. ?

No idea if he's actually made the request. As it stands, I'm expecting him to play backup for Isak until Ekitike's fit. Unless he does go, can't imagine it though; he won't get anywhere near the wages he's on elsewhere after this season's performance; he'd be off his rocker to look for a move now, he's on upwards of £250k+ until 2030.

Some shrewd negotiator that Hughes fella is.

13 Jun 2026 15:40:26
The acid test is where you read this.

A number of clickbait sites have had this news for a few days (do a search of "Gakpo" and you'll find the earlier posts).

This could just be a random rumour started a week or so ago that all of the sites/stories are referencing.

I'm with you, I would be delighted with Barcola and Diomande for Salah and Gakpo.

Would set us up nicely. Depending on the cost of Bowen, I could see that too as Chiesa is likely to go.

So we're not blocking Rio from getting more minutes next season as it would be 3 first teamers in and 3 first teamers out.

13 Jun 2026 15:56:30
I'll be honest, I like Gakpo. Slot did not utilise him very well, however I can see that he can easily be upgraded too.
We lack pace on the wings and both Barcola and Diomande would give us that, with Rio being the sub...
Don't think we need Bowen, and doubt he would want to move to be sat on the bench if we signed the other 2.


This team is missing some steel in midfield and pace on the wings... We need to get the signings right for whatever system Iraola wants to play.

13 Jun 2026 16:05:56
Exactly, Zed. These are clickbait media bites, which Gakpo's camp has never addressed, even tho I don't expect his camp to respond, esp. during a WC.

What Gakpo offers (or offered before Slot rendered him useless) is efficiency in front of goal. Whatever it is you may think of him aesthetically (which is strange cos anyone who knew him knows he is not a dribbler or 1 v 1 demon), he scores and assists, end of.

I think he can still do bits with us should he go back to the way he was being deployed, esp. if you have adequate comp., as that brought the best out of him with Diaz at the club.

I do disagree with bringing in Barcola. He is not at the level and is not even better than Gakpo. I will not allow the decrepit rubbish Slot put these players thru as a means to judge them, cos they were great before last season's nonsense.

13 Jun 2026 16:33:18
I could've sworn that Slot was in charge of these players when we won the league. That was obviously all down to the players.

13 Jun 2026 16:45:23
Bayern were in for Gakpo, and they’re a half decent team, so if rumours were correct in Jan, they were willing to pay north of 70 mill. I doubt they would have offered him minimum wage.

Had an awful season last season compared to previous seasons (along with 95% of every other LFC player), but 27 goals and 13 assists in his last 2 seasons in what’s regarded as the toughest league in the world isn’t too shabby.

13 Jun 2026 17:10:48
Don't do it, Rome. Resist. ?

13 Jun 2026 17:25:59
I can't help it, Florian!! I should get out in the garden. Some posts just reel me in, so I have to bite.

13 Jun 2026 20:04:53
@Rome,
No one said anything about Slot not winning the league, but he predominantly used a lot of similar tactics to Klopp in that year.
As soon as he changed the system/tactics to Slotball, funny how so many of the same players declined.

13 Jun 2026 21:07:16
@Olired, how can you say Barcola is not at the level with Gakpo? You being serious?? Gakpo is nowhere near the level of Barcola, Gakpo is a one trick pony, he should never have played as many games this season, it's only because he's Slot's love child, Rio outperformed him so many times but never got a chance.

13 Jun 2026 21:29:20
Barcola is a lot better than Gakpo.
Barcola is a very good player.

13 Jun 2026 21:41:35
Barcola is hyped up. I've seen him play about 10 times, n he has done nothing. Fast as F, but not much else.

13 Jun 2026 22:44:48
I agree @Strom, he is playing occasionally for a team in a country that is miles better than anybody else and his job is fairly easy in that context. That said, he doesn't stand out.

I think his being seen as what we need might not be the case imo.

13 Jun 2026 22:49:52
Gakpo can be a decent player when he knows he's not a guaranteed starter and has competition.

13 Jun 2026 23:19:24
Wdw, exactly.

14 Jun 2026 07:03:21
Just a guess, but I imagine that if Gakpo was playing for a top team in France, his numbers would be even more impressive than his Prem numbers, which are already very respectable for a wide attacker. People saying Barcola is levels above Gakpo, can you say for certain that he would produce the same output as Gakpo over his Liverpool career?

13 Jun 2026 11:21:45
See some rumors about Branthwaite and some big clubs looking at him.
Weren't we interested in him a while back.or was it just banter talk with Ed25?

{Ed025's Note - hes a very good player JLC but i dont think the bigger clubs will be looking at him due to his injury record mate..

13 Jun 2026 13:52:45
Everton's version of Joe Gomez or Conor Bradley.

13 Jun 2026 15:05:17
Would take Garner tho.

13 Jun 2026 15:57:28
Seems like they are asking for around £70m for an injury prone defender... not worth the risk.

13 Jun 2026 16:07:12
I was going to say the same thing, Ed25. THose long term injuries are becoming a problem and Everton won't ever sell him on a cut price deal due to them. They're going to want top dollar, ijuries be damned.

{Ed025's Note - it’s a shame for the lad Oli but availability is prime asset for any player and that will be his downfall mate..

13 Jun 2026 17:15:18
Garner is at his level. His best attribute is he gets the finger out. I can remember when that used to be a basic essential, now you get lauded for it.

13 Jun 2026 22:46:42
Spot on, @25. Shame for the lad as he looked like he had bags of potential a couple of years back.

13 Jun 2026 01:19:38
Hi folks, haven't been posting regularly in the past season but this site remains buzzing

The loss of Ed02 remains hard as his personality and being a real ITK is sorely missed. A few like carra, Robbo, fields, have stepped up, and it's nice to see the return of ST after what must have been a difficult season in life. And try as Guy might, but it seems s/he is either an imposter or just a great wind up ?

Some familiar posters like Olired, Davey, MK, Salah are still around, but it seems leekuanyew, harry (or maybe I can't recognise his new name) is gone?

Seeing less of ed25 but hoping he is well as his 'stay away from drugs', 'rose tinted', glasshouses and stones' will never get old

Finally, regardless of who we sign, I am confident we did win a few silverware this coming season. Reason is simple - whenever I loved our kits (and I do like both the home and away ones last season), we do poorly. The new kit in the coming season is not to my liking but I guess that's the price of us achieving the quadruple.

Have a good summer or World Cup whichever is to your liking. And I certainly hope under Iraola, we'll have some good years of intense, high octane, attacking football once again.

{Ed025's Note - great to see you back SG, i hope you are well mate..

13 Jun 2026 12:53:59
Leek got permanently banned, I believe, for saying something pretty bad about Jota, if I remember correctly.

13 Jun 2026 13:37:50
I think Leek is back under another name, still spouting BS, but claiming they're not Leek.

13 Jun 2026 13:43:57
And Harry is still Harry. Still here, always changing names but getting caught the moment he opens his mouth on here.

13 Jun 2026 14:21:04
All good here as well, brother. ?

13 Jun 2026 14:40:09
Yeah, Leek was banned for making light of Jota's passing, but he still trolls on here under a BTS name.

Harry ran a poll and said he'd leave permanently if everyone voted for it. People did, and he left. But he's still back occasionally under different names. ;)

But, glad to have you back posting again, sgynwa. :)

13 Jun 2026 14:53:39
Welcome back, sgynwa. Hope all is well, mate.

13 Jun 2026 15:52:14
Good to see you here again, sgynwa!! Don't be a stranger.

13 Jun 2026 16:08:04
Welcome back, man. Hope all is well with you, Sgnwa.

13 Jun 2026 16:42:38
Glad to have you back Mr "cat on keyboard user name" ?

Harry's latest alias is Cafu but I've blocked him so not sure if he is still posting.

I think BTS Leek has been blocked as well.

We have a few new ones too!

Really miss Ed002 as I'm sure loads of people (not least the other Eds) do too.

13 Jun 2026 17:32:47
Good to hear from you, mate.

13 Jun 2026 18:37:17
Great to have you back, Sgynwa!

13 Jun 2026 03:17:56
Has anyone watched Szobo when he plays for Hungary? It seems that more often than not he plays off the left in a 4231 with Kerkez behind him. Haven't personally watched them, so would love some insight.

I'm not suggesting this is a long term option, but would it be the end of the world if we fixed our midfield and made do with Szobo on the wing for a season until Rio gets more minutes or a better option becomes available (Like Yildiz if Juve miss Champions League football again).

13 Jun 2026 07:40:57
That's the same position Wirtz plays for Germany. A left sided 10 with freedom.

13 Jun 2026 08:57:27
I watched him against Ireland recently and he had a free role. Played Number 10 but popped up everywhere. He was class that night. He still was only the second best player on the pitch though, after Troy Parrot.

13 Jun 2026 09:06:32
Exactly, Hellohello. Szobo has the freedom of the whole of Budapest when he plays for Hungary. He does not have a specific position in midfield, in attack and in defence. I wouldn't pay too much attention to where on the pitch he occupies for his country. He is literally everywhere.

13 Jun 2026 09:43:25
Before Szob signed for us he played on the right. Personally, if you're going to play one of Flo or Szob on left I would prefer Flo left and Szob 10.

13 Jun 2026 13:14:52
In a funny way, Wirtz needs the freedom to roam & create as much as Dom needs the freedom to press, use his athleticsm to get around. I wonder if there's a way to give them a free role to almost cover each other. Both can cover ground and both can attack.

13 Jun 2026 13:25:12
Szobo is a conundrum that the directors and coaches are going to have to solve this summer given his contract situation.

13 Jun 2026 16:10:28
My sentiments exactly, funky061. This whole Wirtz on the left stuff is just ridiculous. We saw him play on the left under Slot last season and he was horrible, cos that is not his position even if you put him in the false 9 or on the right.

None of this gets the best out of him. He should be as you say, in the no. 10 with freedom to roam and create, combine and wreak havoc. Seriously, I don't get it.

14 Jun 2026 08:06:31
More reason to not sign Darwin then. We can't have Nunez causing chaos and Wirtz wreaking havoc on the same pitch.

Recipe for global disaster there and not fair on other teams.

13 Jun 2026 03:08:21
Not a rumour as such but watching the USA game and I think Christian Pulisic always comes across very sharp and tidy. I’m nearly sure his contract could be coming to an end and would be a great player to add squad depth, and on his day he’s a very good player. Plenty of experience and still only 27.

13 Jun 2026 07:34:40
Always injured. No thanks.

13 Jun 2026 07:36:16
Injury prone, flatters to deceive, wrong end of his career.

13 Jun 2026 08:59:51
Christian pulled a sickie.

13 Jun 2026 09:07:29
He plays his best for his country cos he has the freedom to do so as he is their best player by a mile. He is also severely injury-prone. Hard pass.

13 Jun 2026 10:07:24
He's not that good and he's 27. He would struggle in the Premier League now imo.

13 Jun 2026 10:16:09
Hard pass.

13 Jun 2026 10:30:43
No thanks. Not good enough, frequently injured and unable to stick with any particular team for too long.

13 Jun 2026 13:33:19
Brilliant RobbyRoll.

13 Jun 2026 17:20:41
I like Pulisic. Without the injuries, I'd take him, but, alas, he's made out of glass.

13 Jun 2026 17:38:42
Makes Darren Anderton and Jack Wiltshire look healthy.

12 Jun 2026 23:04:16
I hope this does not come across as being totally insensitive. I’m just curious if clubs insure players against career ending injury or death? After all they are a multi million pound asset.

13 Jun 2026 02:00:01
Yes, players are insured by clubs.

12 Jun 2026 21:25:35
I personally would bypass the crazy high transfer fee in Diomande.

Let PSG buy him.
And then go for Kang in Lee.

Can play multiple positions far far cheaper and I think would be a monster on either flank.

12 Jun 2026 21:46:15
I think we shouldn't worry about the money and trust the club to spend what they can afford.

If they feel Diomande is a better option than Kang in Lee (which he clearly is), and they feel the club can afford him, then they should go and get him.

FSG have been accused of penny pinching since they arrived, and now they are loosening the purse strings, they're getting criticised for spending too much.



From my point of view, giving up on Diomande and signing Kang in Lee instead would be very underwhelming and would show a lack of real ambition.

12 Jun 2026 21:46:32
We're trying to replace Salah here, not Chiesa.

12 Jun 2026 22:07:02
Diomande will be generational imo. Yes, he's expensive, but don't forget the fee is amortised over a max 5 years.

12 Jun 2026 22:54:57
Post loop, is it on a 3 day rotation that you post the same post? And then wait for people to point out that you are mistaken.

And then 3 days later, reset and start again?

Asking for a friend.

12 Jun 2026 22:59:38
Money is not something fans should unduly worry about. Getting the right players and the coach to get a tune out of them is what matters. We have to trust that FSG can do the math.

12 Jun 2026 23:57:11
Postklopp,
Yes, let PSG take the star player and go for a player who can't get in their team. That would bridge the gap between us and them - not! Why are you so worried about the money? Are they raiding your bank account? I'm sure the hierarchy at the club know what we can afford and what is needed.

12 Jun 2026 23:59:34
12 goals in 80 games in Ligue 1, but he’d be a monster in the Premier League? Hilarious.

13 Jun 2026 03:41:41
To be fair here, Kang In Lee would be a good addition, but not for the RW. He is a decent player.
Diomande is our preferred, and we should go all out to get the best in class.

13 Jun 2026 07:41:23
Why do people worry about money that's not theirs. We are one of the biggest clubs in the world, and we have very good accountants that will tell us that it's ok to spend an amount of money.

If we sign Diomande for 100mill and it works out great, then fantastic. If we sign him and he's a flop, then so be it. Life goes on, why stress about it.

13 Jun 2026 09:09:16
Postklopp, if not wanting to pay the Diomande fee is your issue, then what makes you think PSG will not fleece us for Kang Lee, exactly?

13 Jun 2026 14:13:37
Can I ask if anybody got a bill from the club when they bought Wirtz or Isak? Did anybody get asked to make a weekly contribution to Mo's salary last season?

Obviously everyone has the right to an opinion, even if the opinion isn't right, but dismissing players for costing too much or wanting too much for a salary is irrelevant.

The club worked (maybe still does?) on the idea of what they think is the right player at the right price. We can disagree with the club, but I don't see FSG losing sleep over it, seeing as the asset they bought has appreciated from £ 300m to somewhere between £ 3 and 4 billion.

13 Jun 2026 16:12:43
Spot on, WDW. Also to add to that, the market is what it is, so if you want the club to get boss players, they will have to pay the same high fees you don't want them to pay. You're gonna have to roll with it.