Liverpool Banter

16 Apr 2024 12:46:32
It’s quite clear for a while now that Salah has fallen off a cliff with performances. I don’t think he will be with us next season. Looks ready to wind down now and get a nice payday in an easy league. Obviously will be a struggle to replace though.

16 Apr 2024 13:05:11
I think before his hamstring injury at AFCON he was playing some of his best football since his first season with us. However since he's come back he looks really jaded. Probably a combination of aging legs, the injury lay off and returning whilst he was fasting.

Whatever the case, I think it's the right time to sell. I'm getting the same vibes that Mane was giving off in his last season. Numbers are still there but the performance is slowly declining and the pace/ power looks to be dissipating.

16 Apr 2024 13:42:54
A fantastic player but I agree, the time has come for him to leave us. I think we've all come to terms with this. A Liverpool legend in my eyes but he's not been right for a while now. I kept thinking he'd improve and somehow save us but he hasn't and more than likely won't so it's time to get what we can. It'll be best for us and for him to move on.

Next couple of years are going to be interesting but it'll be no walk in the park, huge changes are coming. We are losing our manager, top goalscorer, probably Diaz and god knows who else. We will need to be patient even though we won't be lol. After recent results I'm welcoming it though, bring it all on. Time to move forward, we have youngsters ready to shine, use them! I hope the new manager sees what quality he's got in them.

16 Apr 2024 15:53:14
MK Scouser, I thought so as well. Let's be real here and not try to act all surprised. Salah is near 32 years old. You have to be living under a record to believe he would not lose a step or even two. That said, he had been playing some of his best footie at the start of the season as he was top 2 in goalscoring in the PL in the first 3 months or so.

It seems that hamstring injury and the setback he had after he came back vs Brentford (where he had a great game) has stifled him a lot. Was he rushed too soon? I don't know BUT he does not look fit at all.

The guy is a legend and an absolute role model for young players in terms of his mentality, desire and footballing lifestyle. The absolute poster boy of how to make a great career out of one where nobody thought you would not get anywhere near one. However, it may be time to let him go. It is what it is.

16 Apr 2024 16:34:54
If I was living under any record it would be Another brick in the wall by Pink Floyd.
Salah getting badlyoutpaced when put through on Sunday was shocking to me even though its clear he had lost half a yard before this season started since the return from injury he's lost about half a dozen yards. He also doesn't seem to want to press or track back atm which is making our best player a bit of a liability currently. Need Mo back and firing for the last games. If he does leave it will be a sad day but what a player he has been for us.

16 Apr 2024 16:52:26
As soon as KnickerBollox writes one of our players off you know he'll come good.
Salah might be completely out of touch right now due to various things, but writing him off as finished is just pure knee jerk, Knickerbollox style.

16 Apr 2024 17:44:34
The scout 007 has spoken, he's finished.

16 Apr 2024 17:56:17
Maybe if you got off your high horse Flash, you’d be able to see what the rest of us are seeing, which is a player in decline. Can’t be easy watching it all the way up there.

Mo has been and is an absolute legend, the standards he has set are absolutely world class and he’s easily one of the greatest we’ve ever seen at the club.

Regrettably though time waits for no one and once the pace has gone it’s gone for good. Better to sell now and get as much as we can than to wait a year and hope that things change, because they won’t, we’d also then be left to replace without funds to adequately do it. Difficult decisions have to be made.

Salah will be difficult and expensive to replace because at his peak he was unplayable, pace, skill, goals and assists. Players like that don’t come a dime a dozen and we’ll need to sign someone around the 24 year old age bracket who is as consistent as he was in Italy when we signed him (29 goals in 65 Serie A appearances over 2 and a half seasons for Fiorentina and Roma was exceptionally good), who also has the ability to get to the next level of their development and become a world class player.

16 Apr 2024 18:10:44
VV, Time will defeat us all. It's undefeated for a reason, man.

16 Apr 2024 19:53:56
Still think Salah can have a big say in how our season ends but for sure it's time to take the money this summer.

16 Apr 2024 22:06:15
Salah will now score 4 against Atalanta now you’ve all said he’s needs to go.

16 Apr 2024 22:29:20
Kloppers you must be living under a record!

Love that saying, I’m having it 👍.

16 Apr 2024 12:39:26
I don't know about anyone else, but I have a funny feeling that the Europa tie with Atalanta isn't over.

There's just something in the back of my mind that keeps telling me we can still get through, far fetched as that might seem.

I guess it's because there has to be some semblance of hope, otherwise no point in turning up.

We could be like a firework that didn't go off, and when you approach it, it explodes. Here's hoping we explode and don't implode.

16 Apr 2024 13:32:31
Keep it up KBL we need some unapologetically positive people right now.

16 Apr 2024 13:39:10
Anything can happen, but if we play the way we have been playing since the United defeat in the FA cup, we will lose another 3-0.

16 Apr 2024 13:46:50
Have the same feeling if we get back to our free flowing football. They won’t cope with us if we get anywhere close to our best.

16 Apr 2024 15:44:40
I have that weird sense that we don’t pick all our “first team” players and instead with let a few kids play.

Then they show us how it’s done.
Is Danns out injured or something. I’d like to see him given a go.

The way we’re playing - it’s completely finished. But with some brave big changes you never know.

16 Apr 2024 15:58:06
KBL we score in the first 15mins, anything can happen. We shall see.

16 Apr 2024 16:04:32
I agree with u Ron as regards danns I'm v surprised he hasn't got a run latel. I know he suffered concussion after forest game so he would've been ruled out for a while after that. but I would've thought in games of late he would've been worth a shot, in bits I've seen of him he looks what we need, cool and composed in front of goal.

16 Apr 2024 16:23:40
Start with:

Nunez on the left
Jota and Salah up top
Diaz on the right
442

Fully throttle in their face.

They have the ability to roll Atlanta over but they have to do something different and go at them.

16 Apr 2024 17:39:51
Ignoring the fact we start slowly, concede sloppy goals regularly, can’t put chances away and seem to be unable to keep a clean sheet to even the most feeble opponents, yeah, we’ve every chance.

16 Apr 2024 21:06:14
I desperately want us to win. Just see us losing 2 or 3 nil. I believe if we had played them earlier in the season we would be beating them relatively easy.
This game has unfortunately came too late for us in our season.

16 Apr 2024 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool v Crystal Palace - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

16 Apr 2024 08:51:11
Cheers Ed01. Interesting reading, as always. I don't agree that we were more intense when we had "the kids" playing. Im not sure what kids you are referring to in particular. We've been scraping out results for a long time and this falling off a cliff has been on the cards for ages. I'm just amazed that we've stayed in the running for as long as we have.

{Ed001's Note - Danns, Clark etc. How can you not agree when it was clear?}

16 Apr 2024 09:44:41
Ed001, I also think we've lacked intensity since more of the senior players returned. I thought Bradley, Quansah and Elliott were really driving us forward at times. Konate, Gomez, Szoboszlai and Salah are making us so weak down the right side of the pitch as they're just not at it. We do miss Clark, Danns and McConnell to a lesser extent (due to less game time) but I agree they were also really on it in the cup competitions.

We need to give those 6 young lads more game time again. Along with Jones to be fair, who looks fired up after returning from injury. Konate, Gomez, Szobo and Salah probably need to be dropped now in my opinion. It's probably not a lack of effort, but more form and fitness.

{Ed001's Note - I hate to say it but Salah really hasn't looked right all season. It is hard to see how he can keep his place.}

16 Apr 2024 09:54:05
Great review Ed001. I love Klopp and he basically got us out of the horrible downward trajectory we were on before he came.

However he's looking more burnt out these days and the reliance on Pep Ls tactics has been his biggest issue in recent times. I'm sceptical we will be as good without him but perhaps it is time for a refresh and maybe Amorims tactics can get the best out of Nunez?

I have to admit I'm very gutted we aren't getting Xabi Alonso for next season but I think he's doing the right thing for his own career and has a long time left as manager.

{Ed001's Note - it does look like it is time for a refresh, much as I hate the thought of Klopp leaving. He deserves to walk away on his own terms.}

16 Apr 2024 10:20:32
Great review as usual Ed1. Its concerning that both players and Klopp himself look mentally and physically exhausted. And at the worst possible moment in the season. I do agree that the return of injured players suddenly making us a worse team than when most of our players are out injured. Its baffling really. I got really mad when Trent come in and go straight to the middle when out wide is where we needed him. Its like early season when he keep drifting inside and we struggling to beat teams.

{Ed001's Note - it is what Trent has been trained and instructed to do, but it makes little sense to me when the way to beat compact defences is to use the width and draw them out or hit the byline and cross from there where they are as likely to knock the ball into the goal as an attacker.}

16 Apr 2024 10:45:23
How many games did Danns and Clark start together? I was at the Southampton game and the scoreline flattered us.

16 Apr 2024 11:01:09
Great read, Ed. You said it all, man. For a moment during the season there (and maybe due to the enthusiasm and energy of the kids) we were pressing teams high, causing mistakes and creating chances and scoring goals (even tho, the finishing needed more work) and all was going well. Not sure while we reverted to the slow-poke type possession footie that did not work and has never worked YET we kept doing it.

Also, I and many on here have been sick of this ability of our team to spot the oppo. a goal in the first 10 mins near all season. It seemed like EVERYONE could see this as a problem long term yet the staff either could not address it or could not be arsed. Well, the issue with that is that even tho, we were rescuing games, there is only so much water in that well cos when it dries up, this is what you get.

As for Klopp, he will leave us an absolute legend and transformational manage, I have no doubt. I hate to see it end this way however, in the last 18 months or so, he is responsible for what has happened here and has to take the L for now. Will he and the players turn things around? We are about to find that out, ASAP.

16 Apr 2024 11:24:26
Ed01 who would you play on the right wing for the remainder of the season? Elliott, Szobo, Diaz?

Salah has been completely ineffective since he returned from Afcon, as have others returning from injury. Really hope Jurgen switches things up from the tried and tested (line up-wise and tactic-wise) . Won't hold my breath though.

{Ed001's Note - Szobo or Elliott would go in for now anyway, that wouldn't mean they would stay there all season, just to take Salah out. He may just need that jolt to get him going again.}}

16 Apr 2024 11:40:43
I love Endo for what he brings in certain games Ed so would it not be wise to find someone that can bring all the elements to the holding midfield role.
I mean someone with more technical ability so they can receive the ball in tight spaces.
Endo does the simple things well but when under pressure, lacks the technical ability and awareness to deal with this.

{Ed001's Note - like who?}

16 Apr 2024 11:42:14
Ed, you mention a lot about the lack of high press, high intensity. Who would be the best manager to bring those specific qualities back?

{Ed001's Note - I have no idea off the top of my head.}

16 Apr 2024 11:53:26
Good read Ed001. IMO we've had a good look at Diaz now over the past few seasons and it's obvious that the end product isn't there in the numbers we need. He's one player we should move on and replace for 24/ 25.

16 Apr 2024 12:15:04
Regrettably I think time has caught up with Salah. I think we need to move him on in the summer along with Diaz and bring in two new quality younger wide players.

16 Apr 2024 12:18:29
Klopp and pep get talked about for the tactics but what about Peter Krawietz he’s must have a say in it as well. Have all three taken there eye off the ball.

16 Apr 2024 12:37:51
At half time I said take Konate off, Endo to centre half and TAA holding.
Salah off and either Szoboszlai or Elliott to replace him. The Bradley injury wouldn't have helped but it was even worse with Sunday's team.
We had Szob and an out of sorts Salah covering the right hand side and it wasn't enough.

I still want to see Szoboszlai further forward because I'm yet to be convinced by him as an out and out midfielder. The comparisons with Gerrard are fanciful, to say the least. I agree with the review about Diaz. He just doesn't do enough for me and the number of times he loses the ball and then commits a foul is infuriating.

16 Apr 2024 12:44:15
I wouldn't have a clue Ed. Is there anyone you can think of?
I mean Fabinho was brilliant here.
I notice we are trying to play the ball around teams for an example, like a stretchy elastic band. This is fine but then we need someone to pass and break the lines, someone on the half term who can receive in tight spaces. Players are also far too static in my opinion. I like to see players play a pass and follow it, set and go again. This has happened less and less in recent games.
Its a tough watch at the minute.

{Ed001's Note - I would play Trent there personally, when Bradley is fit.}

16 Apr 2024 12:48:12
One more thing I would add is the seemingly lack of urgency.

Correct me if I am wrong, but what I noticed during corners is that Konate and VVD would stroll up the pitch, when what we need is for the game to speed up. Palace are taking a minute every goal kick and throw in (earlier in season players are getting booked for taking 10 seconds, but seems the ref are totally ignorant of time wasting now. Hopeless)

Recall seeing VVD evening guesturing for Robbo to slow down/ wait for them to amber into the box at the start of the 2nd half when we were trailing.

{Ed001's Note - that was very frustrating. You would think they would bust a gut to get up and get on with it.}

16 Apr 2024 13:30:00
Yeah, perhaps. Defensively enough minded, I'm not sure but definitely has the ability when fizzing balls through the lines.
Time will tell. Cheers Ed.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome.}

16 Apr 2024 13:41:22
Quality over speed. I'm all for them taking a moment to ensure best execution of the set piece.

What if they rush it, screw it up and get hit with a goal on counter attack?

No, calm heads and clear thought. It takes a second to score a goal.

{Ed001's Note - so they can't jog forward to get in the box rather than stroll? Not sure how that would stop it being the right execution.}

16 Apr 2024 15:02:39
I don't want Trent anywhere near the holding midfield role, personally. We need him back marauding down the right, putting in crosses. Where that leaves Bradley, I'm not sure. Regards to Endo, he's served a purpose this season, but he gets caught on the ball far too often and he's not the future. Regards to who takes his place, I've no idea. However, we employ a team of scouts who I'm sure are working on it as we speak. There are thousands of footballers, across the world. I'm sure there's someone out there.

While I'm on a role, I agree with those who think Salah's time has come to go. He isn't half the player he used to be, sadly. Who we get to replace him? See answer above.

16 Apr 2024 15:04:15
Edd001 disagree with you on robbo. He made some great deliveries especially first half and seemed like our only outlet going forward. He delivered a great ball in which Diaz should have scored. Robbo also saved virgs slip clearing the ball of the line which i had hoped would have been the turning point. Second half i can't remember who was our best player to be honest because it was shocking to watch the same performance with a title to play for. Robbo could have fell off but he and allison stood out definitely for me.
On elliot, i couldn't agree more and was p. ed off seeing everyonelse come on and it took until the 82nd minute to put him on. An actual match winner for us . Just crazy on klopps part. For some reason i have thought klopp sees him elliot abut like minamino. It's a personality thing. I could be wrong but that's where maybe under the next manager elliot stops just appreciating being there and really shows he deserves to start ahead of others.

16 Apr 2024 18:27:40
Glad you made that comment about the byline Ed. As far as going forward goes, it is the one thing i absolutely cannot understand or abide by.

City score an unbelievable amount of goals by getting to the byline and cutting the ball back, something which we never ever do. It is clear the management don't instruct the players to do this, and that seemingly our forwards are either too incompetent or too poorly coached to do it.

I am not a tactical genius by any stretch but it appears to me that getting the ball to the byline quickly and cutting back before the opposition can prepare is the most reliable and easiest way for the top teams to score. I feel like this was something we tried to do at our peak but i can't remember the last goal of that kind we scored.

15 Apr 2024 20:21:41
I don't know about all you reds, but for me Klopp doing interviews about what he and his wife are going to do when he retires has in my opinion, meant him taken his eye off the ball. He has six more league games left and hopefully a uefa cup, that he has been well paid for. so let's hope he gets back to having his mind on these games and leave with the love and praise he deserves.

15 Apr 2024 20:43:04
The players as well.
I know there's a lot of talk about tactics and that's got some validity for sure.

But tactics don't count for anything when players aren't closing down, playing passes behind players, falling over at bad times and missing sitters.

That was my point in the match posts. Yes, the coach is responsible for some of this but the players own an awful lot of what is happening right now. They need to really wake up now.

15 Apr 2024 21:19:04
Iwillbeared, ever heard of multi-tasking or having multiple thoughts at the same time? Klopp was asked questions and he answered them. It's not like he brought up these topics on his own, did he? Pls, let's move on from these innuendos cos that's all this is, IMO.

IMO, these are red herring topics that have nothing to do with what has been happening for months this seasons in terms of how the team has been playing, our ability (or lack thereof) to stop spotting the opposition team a goal majority of the time and the inconsistencies in our finishing that have plagued us for the most part of the season. That's what I'm focused.

15 Apr 2024 21:39:16
I agree Klopp and the players should think about football and Liverpool football club 24/ 7. The fact that they even eat, sleep or go to the bathroom is a disgrace.

{Ed002's Note - Not going to the bathroom could be a disgrace.}

15 Apr 2024 23:14:55
It makes me laugh.

You people expect Klopp and the players to give you absolutely everything yet the first time the results don’t go the way you want you turn on them.

What happened to us all being in this together? Or does that only apply when we’re winning?

You’ll Never Walk Alone, unless you lose and then you can all just be sacked.

And they say football fans are fickle.

15 Apr 2024 23:57:20
Fact is there is only a few games left with big prizes up for grabs but when we play the way we have lately. The players should be running themselves into the ground not this lack lustre play . with open goals galore n bad defending, do you expect us to say oh its OK don't worry about it. we will all be here again supporting our team next year n year after . But let say how it is without being classed as a bad supporter.

16 Apr 2024 01:12:19
If I'm being asked on what am I going to do after work, and I said I want to grab a dinner and watch a movie with the missus, does that mean that I'm done with my current job?

16 Apr 2024 02:25:05
@Haizan - nobody in their right mind thinks anything at all except for their job.

@Iwillbe red - you need to get out more and get a few hobbies, mate. Perhaps if the manager had been able to spend a bit more time with his wife and on holidays he might have had the strength and desire to carry on a bit longer at Liverpool eh?

16 Apr 2024 05:44:07
What happened to us all being in it together when the match going fans were blamed last week for the Atalanta defeat?

16 Apr 2024 06:07:45
WDW I find the less time I spend with my wife the more energy I have.

16 Apr 2024 06:42:19
I hope you give all your energy to your employer and no energy to your personal life just as you expect Klopp and the Players to give all their energy to LFC.

It's about balance . WDW hits the nail on the head.

16 Apr 2024 06:51:46
The knives are out for Klopp. He’s gone from being the best manager we’ve had in 30 years to someone who gets picked apart by everything he says and does. Sad really.

16 Apr 2024 07:20:33
Irish I doubt Klopp will lose much sleep over it mate.

At a guess he’s probably a legend in 97.3% of LFC fans eyes but you can’t please everybody all of the time.

Once Klopp goes he will be missed. He’s made being a LFC fan an amazing experience over the years.

For that I’ll always be grateful to him.

16 Apr 2024 07:23:29
Awful post, nothing else to add.

16 Apr 2024 08:03:45
Ditto what burley said.

16 Apr 2024 09:06:03
JK I did call out the fans for what happened on Thursday and that’s exactly my point.

The fans are going to the game expecting the players to give everything on the pitch. They are expecting the club to push the finances to buy the best players yet in the current climate when everything now costs more they are not prepared to accept that they have to pay more for their ticket.

Not only that but they decide to stage what was basically a silent protest at a European quarter final yet they still expect the players to perform at their highest level.

If we are all in this together then we as fans have to appreciate the world we are living in and that the club’s expenditure will have increased just like everything else has. LFC is not in a bubble that remains unaffected by a global cost of living crisis.

16 Apr 2024 09:39:19
Amen to that @JK but at least I don’t have to worry about finding things to do when the missus is around.

16 Apr 2024 10:36:57
Beckers i was at the game last Thursday and it definitely wasn't silent. The atmosphere was bouncing before the game and slowly died down in line with the performance, but from what i recall the section in the Anfield Upper where i was sang up to probably Atlanta's third goal.

Perhaps your tv or stream volume was the problem.

In the past you've stated that we are the best fans in the world but I'm guessing what you meant was we have the best online / streaming fans in the world.

For the unhappy fans the easiest option to get flags into Anfield and improve the atmosphere i'd say would be to lead from the front and go to games themselves.

16 Apr 2024 12:09:53
"What happened to us all being in this together? Or does that only apply when we’re winning? "

@BP Yes, it only applies when we are winning for a lot of our fans and that is a fact.

However once the winning stops, these people go back to slandering and scapegoating their preferred targets du jour, the same ones they were bigging up when we were winning. Make it make sense. In fact, don't bother.

16 Apr 2024 13:14:49
WDW, usually because she already has a list of things to be done!

16 Apr 2024 12:54:26
Didn’t someone scapegoat the coaching staff in the post above.

There’s no us in following a football team on an illegal free stream.

16 Apr 2024 15:50:12
Guys, you know what the protest is about.

The fans are getting fleeced by the club and you expect them to just take it? If that happens the fleecing will get worse. If the protest affected the performance then good

If “we’re in it together” then don’t exploit your fans.
The protest is on the club, not the poor fans who shell out every game.