Liverpool other posts 4

14 Feb 2026 15:19:31
If Alonso was to come to Liverpool do you think the problem may be the current structure of coach as opposed to manager seeing as his time at RM was hindered by this. Possible power struggle if Edwards involved.

14 Feb 2026 18:20:34
Well, the set-up won't be changing, so let's hope not if he does come.

14 Feb 2026 21:11:44
No. The head coach framework is the standard on the continent. It is something Alonso is very familiar with. Just how much control you're given can be negotiated per contract; some clubs will be willing to make certain allowances depending on how effective they think the prospective head coach will be and how much they value him. This framework is not the reason he failed at Real.

It is because of exactly how it's implemented. The chain of command is backwards in Madrid. Perez makes himself available to players, allowing them to go over the manager's head, and he supports them in their tantrums and tirades, which completely undermines the manager's authority. That's not how it works at most clubs, and certainly not how it works at Liverpool.

15 Feb 2026 12:19:42
Madrid is a cess pit, run by a bunch of players who are the worst, most toxic narcissists you can imagine, ring-led by former PSG director of football, Mbappe. Alonso never stood a chance as he wasn't prepared to massage their egos.

13 Feb 2026 22:06:09
Out of contract in the summer. Any worth making a move for?
Senesi Bournemouth
Mingueza Celta Vigo
John Stones Man City
Leon Goretska Bayern
Zeki Celik Roma
Julian Brandt Dortmund
Harry Wilson Fulham.

13 Feb 2026 22:25:36
Goretzka's a blast from the past. Remember really wanting him when he went to Bayern. How's he done there the last couple of years?

14 Feb 2026 11:35:28
Julian Brandt. He must be in his 50s by now.

14 Feb 2026 15:11:25
Senesi would be the only one for me, a good age for a cb but a bit slow. Depends on who ends up leaving.

13 Feb 2026 14:33:32
Hopefully with Slot going ? would any new potential coach be talking to the club about new players already lad's and Eds?

13 Feb 2026 15:40:35
I think a lot will depend on whether Hughes is off or not, Barry, mate.

13 Feb 2026 17:17:05
Salah Hughes has to go. Is he meant to be going to Saudi?

14 Feb 2026 09:37:47
I don't think Hughes is going anywhere, Barry.

14 Feb 2026 10:22:50
Personally, I don't understand why anyone would want Hughes gone. For the first time since the eighties, it felt like we could compete with the likes of Madrid, Bayern, Barca, City in the transfer market this summer. I understand it hasn't worked out how we would've all liked yet, but for me, I give credit to Hughes for shooting for the stars. We needed a complete revamp of our forward line, with Salah ageing, Mane and Bobby moved on, Darwin not scoring enough, the tragedy with Jota, and Diaz pushing for a move.

He went after the very best players to give us the very best chance of success. Wirtz and Isak literally could've chosen any team in world football to join, and they chose us. I know people say it was easy for him as they both wanted us, but why did they want us? If they'd spoken to him and not been impressed, they would've gone elsewhere, and they had their pick. I think some just want Slot gone and are annoyed that Hughes hasn't sacked him, so blindly want him gone too without knowing even 10% of the full story.

14 Feb 2026 11:12:30
Best of Class is the way our signings were being described last summer. I've never seen a summer where the top players were willing to join us like they were last summer.

14 Feb 2026 11:45:47
I certainly hope he is, Rome. I believe the upper management will make the changes at the end of the season. He's presided, with others, over what probably is the worst decline the club has experienced in such a short period of time. Those boys won't let this continue.

They can see the deterioration just like us, and they possess the inner knowledge that we don't. They'll review each and every position required to bring the club back on track. I fully believe that there's going to be big changes come May.

14 Feb 2026 12:37:03
How can we be in decline under Hughes's watch when no one has won more league games than us since he arrived?

14 Feb 2026 15:47:26
That stat doesn't fit in with people's narrative, FM.

14 Feb 2026 15:01:47
If you don't think we're in decline FM then you require serious counseling.

14 Feb 2026 16:08:04
In my opinion: we were PL champs by a clear margin, and probably could have won it by more. We possessed a good work ethic, and varied our style of play to suit the opposition. We played to our strengths. We then spent on top players to replace those leaving, and to further improve the first team. We then, for whatever reason, seemingly ignored all of the above, which had brought us success, and lost all momentum.

We are now trying to get into the top 5 to achieve CL qualification for next season. All other facts or stats, or whatever, cannot make up for this regression, or, as I prefer to call it, decline. Perhaps I'm wrong.

14 Feb 2026 18:21:44
We were in decline a few times under Jurgen so.

14 Feb 2026 19:15:37
At last, FM! The lightbulb moment. You have finally realized that the decline/downturn/regression/deterioration is real! Enjoy the match, FM. I love the aul' debates! And, you know what? I admire your conviction to your views, which you do put across very well indeed. We'll chat again, no doubt.

14 Feb 2026 22:09:11
Oh I enjoyed it, Shanks. ?

13 Feb 2026 10:44:16
I watched the last 10 minutes of the first half and all the second half of last nights Brentford / Arsenal game. Great game to watch and just got to say although I literally can't stand Arsenal, Rice has developed into a superb midfielder. Carries them on a lot of occasions.
Also Raya is the best keeper in the prem imo!

Just can't help feeling that they'll blow it again and you can see the tension is getting to Arteta?!

Thought Henderson put in another great shift and tbh with how our midfield has performed this season he could have done a job for us if his minutes had been managed?

13 Feb 2026 13:23:57
Yeah, agree with that, Bristol. Always thought we should've bought Rice when he was at West Ham, he'd suit us perfectly. I have to say I can't believe how good of a keeper Raya has developed into. Really, Arsenal should be winning the league comfortably this season, their squad is head and shoulders the best in the league.

Saliba, Havertz and Merino injured, and their bench was still: Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus, White, Califori and Lewis Skelly. Serious squad depth, that.

13 Feb 2026 14:26:29
I totally agree Digger. Weve proven even during such a turbulent season we can match them 11 v 11 but their dept is impressive and necessary in this era. Players hardly get a break with all the internationals now. Even watching football has become exhausting.

We seem to have a different mentality around dept here. The panic around Isak/Hugo went a little OTT imo. I think they can both get plenty of gametime. But i also understand having two belter 9s is a little extreme. But its always been the case around fans and Liverpool journos and pool pundits. The moment we got linked to Zubimendi or Wharton everyone panicked on what it means for Macca and Grav. It means they get a bloody break from time to time. Having 3 equal quality players for two positions is necessary.

For Left back alone Arsenal have Calafori, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly. Timber can play there.
Right back-Timber and White
Up top Gvokeres, Jesus, Havertz all likely consider themselves better or equal than the others.

They have their golden boy treasure whos in his prime and will many many prime years ahead of him and they splash the cash on Maudeke. And that was with Nwaneri coming through and looking promsing. On the left Martinelli Trossard Eze etc

I don't think we need to go that extreme but we've Mo at 33 turning 34 and still afraid to bring in compeition for him.
The Diaz/Gakpo rotation was so healthy last year.

13 Feb 2026 15:25:10
I think Arsenal are not that great the way people go on about them. Even as poor as we have been, we should still have beaten Leeds twice, Burnley, Sunderland, Man United and Forest at home. And Chelsea away with the team they had out. And, having still played as poorly as we have, we should be above Arsenal and have been totally crap.

For me, Arsenal will bottle it. Brentford should have won last night, their forward had 3 great chances but took too long on them. I think after they come back against us, City will get a boost and come strong and win the league.

13 Feb 2026 15:49:46
They have good players, Grino, but don't play good football. It is almost like us last season. We knew how to get the desired results despite playing s**** football, and we went on to win the league.

It's the same as this season with them. I'd like to see City snatch it from them, but I just can't see it. Fingers crossed, because I can't stand Arteta.

13 Feb 2026 17:58:55
Salah - I don't mind Arteta tbh. I know he divides opinion, & I can't stand his footballing philosophy, but he's the sort of character you want in our game - the sort of character you can enjoy hating!

13 Feb 2026 18:15:49
Arsenal are nothing like we were last season, Salah. We were fairly pragmatic, I suppose, compared to Klopp's earlier days, but we played decent football and created lots of chances. Arsenal create very little in open play, and would rather take a free kick or a corner than be clean through on goal. Their forwards are poor, and I think that could end up costing them the league. Gyokeres is bang average. Jesus is a tidy player, but not a great goal scorer, and Havertz is an attacking midfielder, not a striker. They have Martinelli and Trossard on the left, and Saka and Madueke on the right. Trossard has been the best of them this season, which says it all.

He's a decent player, but nowhere near top level. Then there's Eze, who had a decent start but has fallen off a cliff, and Odegaard, who I really like but can't stay fit. I think it was MK who said that if they win the league, it's more to do with their defensive players than their attacking players. They even rely heavily on their defenders for goals. They foul, grab, pull, and block at every opportunity, yet fall over at the slightest touch and claim they've been assaulted. It's tactics akin to Atletico when they broke up the Barca/Madrid dominance in Spain. It's awful to watch, but it can get the job done.

13 Feb 2026 18:40:42
Arsenal have a very good squad, there is no doubt about that, but they haven't got a winners' mentality. Their brand of football is piss poor and they rely heavily on corners and long throws. Personally, I think there needs to be a crackdown on this crowding and shoving of keepers and players who are under the ball when trying to defend. Some blatant fouls are going unpunished, leading to goals, which is just ugly. Not trying to overprotect the keepers, however, u can't have 5 players surrounding the keeper and making no effort to play the ball whilst barging anyone near into the keeper.

It is clear obstruction and wouldn't be allowed anywhere on the pitch. Maybe an unpopular viewpoint given City's 115 charges fiasco, but I'd rather they win the league over Arsenal, partly because I think Arteta and his buddy on the touchline are irritating as f***, but also because, as much as City may have breached fair play rules or whatever, they still, in my opinion, play football and compete. I'm not personally bothered by accounting rules, as if we had Arab owners we'd be crying out for spends, same as Newcastle are now; Chelsea did for a decade and United did too.

14 Feb 2026 06:48:12
Great post, Funky. We always seem to do that every summer, worry about how signing a player impacts another one's minutes. Isak and Ekitike are a case in point. Ekitike looks tired now, and we could really do with a fit Isak. A fit Isak, and as bad as we've been this season, I reckon we'd be 7 or 8 pts closer to the leaders.

Arsenal don't care about putting a player's nose out of joint. Young Nwaneri was meant to be the next Pele a year ago. What do Arsenal do? They make him 3rd-choice RW by signing Madueke and, God knows, what choice AM behind the likes of Odegaard, Eze, and Havertz, etc. Now the lads over in France.

13 Feb 2026 09:49:14
Seems to me a lot of people are talking about signing attacking players again this summer.
We had a lot of talk about Cleenex and tissues during and after last summers transfer window.
For me the biggest issues where not rectified and with the way the Prem is changing it has only made matters worse.
We have hardly any legs or physicality in the team.


It showed again against Sunderland. Our defenders were winning headers and tackles but every loose ball was then won by a Sunderland player.
We are losing 60/ 40s in our favour all the time.
Moving forwards the team needs to be built around Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Ekitike and Isak.
Get the players in who will complement their skills and strength.

13 Feb 2026 10:31:59
Getting Dom back in midfield for his legs is huge. And if he isn't there, i can't see how Jones is not in ahead of Macca. Gets around the pitch better and is great in the press.

13 Feb 2026 15:00:33
MolbysMagic, I think people are (rightly so) questioning our attack. If you were to map out our weakest players in our best 11 with everyone fit, the top four right now would probably be agreed on unanimously: 1. Mac Allister, 2. Gakpo, 3. Salah, 4. Konate. With Jacquet already signed to replace Ibou, it's not hard to see why attackers and midfielders are high on people's wish-lists. The need for further defensive options is still a fair concern, because Bradley and Frimpong have both struggled with injury and Robbo will leave. I just see this as less urgent, though, because ultimately we do still have two good RBs and we could easily bring Beck or Tsimikas back into the fold at LB, given Kerkez will be the first choice regardless.

We also have Stephenson absolutely flying on loan, who can play pretty much every position in defence. There are also concerns around Gomez and Leoni with their fitness, but ultimately I don't see either of these players leaving, and five senior CBs is just excessive. You can't stockpile CBs on the off chance someone pops an ACL. Therefore, with Jacquet done already, my next three top priorities would be Adam Wharton (Macca replacement), Yan Diomande (Salah replacement), and Mateus Mane (Gakpo replacement). After that I'd probably go for either Lutsharel Geertruida or Oscar Mingueza to provide utility cover across the whole back four. That would be the wise choice, given Gomez and Bradley are injury prone.

14 Feb 2026 06:53:54
We also have young Chambers on loan in the Championship at Charlton, who could be brought back into the fold at LB. Cracking young player who's been unlucky with injuries. Can cover at LCB too. Hate to say it because I really like Bradley and Frimpong, but I reckon we need an RB.

Can't be having another season like this one with the pair's injuries. As it is, Conor is not expected back until after Christmas.

13 Feb 2026 07:41:23
Just read article on The Athletic where Slot talks about how most teams change their style completely to play against LFC. It's an interesting piece, and gives broader context to how LFC play. What struck me is that most on here believe that Slot winning the PL last year was a formality. As if he just rolled out Klopp's team week in week out and won. It's crazy.

What if Slot is the SAME manager, but, teams setup differently, high performing players from last season fall off a cliff (eg Salah), energy / fatigue drops a few % (was it Macca who hasn't had a break in forever and will then play World Cup this summer) Front pressers in Diaz/ Nunez gone, Diogo : ( always worked hard and often turned a game. But no it's all Slot. Slot out.

13 Feb 2026 08:18:36
Well, if Arne Slot was half the manager he thinks he is, he would use his tactical nous to find a way to win against those teams. He hasn't so far this season.

13 Feb 2026 08:47:30
Do they completely change their style just for us, or for other teams as well? If its only for us, then I feel privileged!!

13 Feb 2026 09:13:48
Just tells me what we already knew. Everyone knows how to set up against us, and we have very limited answers to it.

13 Feb 2026 12:55:48
Every team gets "found out" eventually. You need to have alternative ways of playing to get around this.

12 Feb 2026 19:13:00
Oh and speaking of Ed25 sorry mate I haven't spoke to u in a bit but I think u should know that the coffee house in woolton village is under new bosses and on a week day is only 3 knicker a pint. Now for Woolton u can't whack that.

{Ed025's Note - hi Baz, yeah i went in there a couple of weeks ago mate, they have done it up but by the looks of it they only spent 28p.. :)

12 Feb 2026 18:31:46
is it me or does slot try 2 belittle what klopp done for us he keeps banging on about missing out on champions league under him i find it hard 2 listen to the man don't like calling names but I think he is a fraud sad 2 say but last 12 months have been a joke won league yes but enjoyment wise for me no don't enjoy watching us now sad and I have seen bad times before.

Post Deleted.

13 Feb 2026 00:22:52
I don't see it as belittling Klopp, but more of making excuses and deflecting away from his deficiencies this season. Imo, if he wanted to belittle Klopp, he would have started doing so last season. But, since he only started saying these things when he's under pressure, it seems more to me like he is trying to take pressure off from himself.

12 Feb 2026 16:17:25
Hi Eds, or any of the ITK's.

If Hughes does leave, who do you see or would like as a likely replacement?

13 Feb 2026 00:25:34
I think Txiki would be the best available option. Or Rangnick would be decent too. I'm not really aware of many other sporting directors since they mostly work behind the scenes, tbh.

13 Feb 2026 01:57:46
Here's my shortlist for sporting directors/DOF if Hughes were to go. Tiago Pinto Simon Francis Paul Mitchell Phil Giles Carlalberto Ludi Thiago Scuro Sebastian Schuppan Tim Steidten Monchi Dougie Freedman Devy Rigaux.

13 Feb 2026 06:32:35
Phil Mitchell would be great if you kept him away from hospitality.

12 Feb 2026 11:49:10
Question for ED025 really

What's your feelings about Dyche now he's had the bullet from Forrest and where his career goes from here?

Had a tough job at your mob Ed with the financial turmoil and might feel a bit irked he didn't get a bit longer especially with the new stadium and then
Joined a club with a basket case owner and probably done as well as possible given the mess he had to turn over from Ange.
Do you think He'll most likely have to go down to the championship to get his career back on track?

Thanks in advance mate.

{Ed025's Note - i think he will always be seen as a fireman BR, his style (if you can call it that) is very pragmatic and his teams are basically awful to watch, he will get other jobs i expect but probably in the lower leagues mate, Forrest have some good players but he sets them up wrong for me and is too safe even though they did have 35 attempts on goal yesterday, they are that bad that they only beat you 3-0 at Anfield and that tells you everything.. :)

12 Feb 2026 13:00:27
And we've only got one more point than Forest since the start of the New Year. Just goes to show how bad things are.

13 Feb 2026 00:26:45
Forest is a circus, tbf. I didn't think Dyche did too badly over there, but the owner is just batsh*t crazy.

12 Feb 2026 11:38:23
Some posts deleted with see Esd's notes below. No notes appear- anyone know what's going on?

12 Feb 2026 14:09:21
Without going into it, I would assume it is the post that went off topic by quite some way and into the realms of things which wasn't needing to be discussed on the site.

12 Feb 2026 03:54:50
Not to be that guy after a win, but what are we exactly trying to do in the midfield? Its so annoying now its literally like both gravy and macca are non existent on the pitch!

12 Feb 2026 08:42:25
Dont be that guy then. First team to win there all season.

12 Feb 2026 12:10:18
Balance still seems a bit off in midfield. Grav is great at taking the ball on the turn, breaking through lines, and recycling the ball, but dominating the midfield, covering ground, and protecting the defence is not his game. For such a big lad, he is strolled past quite easily. Macca is a conundrum.

At times, when he moves the ball quickly with short passes, he is great, and there is no doubt that he is tenacious. However, positionally, he is poor when it comes to defending, gets caught on the ball a lot, and I think is a confidence player, so when he makes a couple of stray passes, it really affects his game.

12 Feb 2026 17:07:03
Maybe if Slot had left Gravy in a 6 position and Macca in an 8, like last season, things wou seem a lot better. Plus, Macca had an op in the close season and didn't get much pre season.

12 Feb 2026 17:30:25
Have a read of my post on the match posts page, Cafu, and see if you agree. I've gone into loads of detail, but I'll give you a brief synopsis of my opinion. Basically, for me, I think it's because the team is too stretched. Mainly, the defence is too deep and the attackers too high, so it makes the midfield really big, which is what you want when in possession, but the opposite of what you want when out of possession.

It wouldn't matter who we had playing in there, the spaces are so big that it's impossible for them to put pressure on the ball. That's my take anyway.

12 Feb 2026 19:28:47
Varry Benison, spot on mate. I think when players age, they drop further back, and though I hate to say it, but VVD has started dropping further back. Nothing against VVD, age comes to us all. Still one of the best in Europe. YNWA.