Liverpool Banter 2

09 Aug 2026 17:07:11
Another good 90 minute squad education for Andoni. If not previously, his voice will now be loud and clear in transfer discussions with the powers that be. It's obvious that several players need to be moved on, and a similar number will need to be purchased.

1st 30 minutes was just lovely to see, entertaining, intense, imaginative front foot football. Then somebody put a pin in the balloon; tiredness evidently caught up with a fair few. We still played ok ish for the remainder of the half, created a few more chances, but legs were getting fatigued and we started to allow Monaco areas to work in the last third.


A tired looking challenge by Virgil got them back in the game, and the way he defended their equaliser showed how far from fitness he is. That's a massive worry.

The young lad Ndukwe played fantastic. Hopefully he gets a good loan ready to push for a spot next season.
Koumas was very good up and back that right side. He looks fit and ready for a squad number.

I felt a bit sorry for Victor Munoz having to play the last half hour with all the changes, etc., but I liked the look of what I saw. He is rapid and can also get to the bye line and cross a ball.


YNWA

09 Aug 2026 18:14:16
Thanks, Mick.

09 Aug 2026 18:24:18
Virg has two full weeks now to get himself up to shape. The big man won't let us down.

09 Aug 2026 17:03:25
Thought Koumas and Ndukwe did well today. Enjoyed us pressing again, although left us a bit disjointed at times. Reminds me of early days under Klopp. Can see a few 4-3s this season whilst the team adapt to the new manager.

We obviously need some reinforcements, but at least it won’t be boring ala last season.

09 Aug 2026 17:56:03
I don't mind losing every week as long as we're playing exciting football... Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.

09 Aug 2026 18:14:39
Yeah, but it was very hard to watch...

09 Aug 2026 18:16:53
Koumas was poor, the guy was just after a Hollywood moment all game. Good work rate and tracking back etc, but he just sees his name in lights every time he gets the ball with sight of goal.

He was lucky to be platformed by the first teamers in the first half, and as soon as they went off he completely disappeared. Ndukwe was exceptional yet again.

09 Aug 2026 18:25:56
Champions05192025, Think you're being a bit harsh. Of course he is gonna perform better with better players?

09 Aug 2026 19:55:56
Also, likely that he's been told to have some confidence and take the shot on if it's there for him.

09 Aug 2026 16:50:46
1st pre season game I've seen, 1st half played well, I thought v lively going forward. Grav + all 4 for front players looked v good. 2nd half faded badly, could see us getting leggy shortly into 2nd half and last 20mins we ragged.

I'd guess we a team still in quite heavy training which left us so leggy so early in 2nd half.
Wouldn't get carried away win r lose in pre season but 1st half quite encouraging.

09 Aug 2026 17:12:10
Agree, Digger. Iraola expects a lot of energy and fitness and we simply don't have it at the moment. It won't be there until 6/8 games in and so, I think, we have to expect a mixed start. In his first season at Bournmouth, they failed to win any of the first 8 matches.

09 Aug 2026 17:15:05
I think LFC will reach a solid flow in the second half of the season. I can see that happening.

09 Aug 2026 17:18:13
To be fair, Jari, he came in during the season at Bournemouth, so it's hard to suddenly implement changes and get results.
That's what pre-season is for, so I hope he'll have a better start here.

09 Aug 2026 17:42:37
If I'm being honest. I don't think this squad will finish anywhere near City and Arsenal.

09 Aug 2026 17:44:49
Missed the game, but genuine question: sounds like we changed a lot of players in the second half and looked maybe poor. Did Monaco change a lot of players in the second half also, and were their second string better than ours?

09 Aug 2026 17:18:19
It seems AI has inherited last season's 2-0 lead curse, Leeds last week and today, pre-season is all about getting minutes into the legs.
Cheer up sir Bob never won one pre-season friendly in the summer of 76, got beat 5-1 away at Aston Villa in the league in November 76, and still won his first European cup and his usual league title in 1977, it's how you finish the season not start it?

Bit of good news 9 new Premier League managers this season the highest ever, Andoni's first 6 PL fixtures are:

new manager versus new manager....

09 Aug 2026 16:39:07
Once again today's game against Monaco highlighted what we probably all know - our first 11 to 13 players will hold their own against anyone, but the rest of the "squad" is severely lacking - lacking to the point I'll say they are simply not good enough.

09 Aug 2026 17:45:31
Agreed Guru.

09 Aug 2026 17:54:13
Yeap, Guru mate, outside of Mamardashvili, Nyoni, Rio and Kerkez that finished the game, the rest are simply not good enough. Add to that the relatively average performances from Tsimikas and Frimpong in the 1st half, and it just shows how light squad quality and depth is. Look, it's only a friendly, but if the likes of VVD, Dom or Isak get injured we are bang in trouble. Iraola has a lot of work to do, and he doesn't presently have the tools to do it.

We are at least 3 1st-team players short of where we need to be quality-wise, it's too much pressure and expectation for kids like Rio, Nyoni etc to be expected to solve. If we don't add quality to what we have we are gonna struggle big time this season. I hope I'm 100% wrong but there is nothing to show me in the preseason games so far that our squad is near good enough for a potentially 60+ game season.

09 Aug 2026 18:23:12
Mamardashvilli worries me. Alisson is a level above the other keepers. I hope Alisson stays injury free.

I would have Woodman in goal before Mamardashvilli.

09 Aug 2026 19:03:05
Yeap Spion Kop, mate, he's just an accident waiting to happen, distribution is poor at best! Woodman must be injured, didn't even make squad today. Jones must be on his way as didn't make squad either, or has he picked up a knock. 🤔🙄

09 Aug 2026 16:33:35
First half we look good till they scored near the end.
Then from there on we looked very weak. Squad looks paper thin.
But saying that, I don’t know why I watch friendly’s; they show very little and it’s very rare you see a good one.

09 Aug 2026 16:33:05
Some really scintillating football in the first half. Koumas really stood out for me. Gakpo was livelier than the usual of last year. A lot of the criticism of Frimpong is unwarranted.

Second half was the exact opposite. I know it's only a preseason game and bla bla. But we have a squad depth problem. Second game in a row where it looks like boys against men when the subs come in.

09 Aug 2026 16:22:41
It's going to be a long season. At least Iraola is angry about the result unlike the Dutch fraud.

09 Aug 2026 17:28:19
It's like someone who's remarried still banging on about their ex.

09 Aug 2026 17:47:34
Maybe some people are a little upset with the way Slots left the team, fitness-wise, and with second-string players and younger players getting minimum minutes under Slot? I think people are allowed to be concerned as fans, or do we just wipe last season from our minds?

09 Aug 2026 19:26:11
Mcgov, people should stop banging on about Slot. He's gone. Whatever we do now has nowt to do with him.

09 Aug 2026 19:54:51
Well yeh. That's usually how a new season starting works. God knows people forgot quick enough last year that Arne had delivered the title the season before. Whatever happens this season, good or bad, is on Ireola.

09 Aug 2026 20:08:49
Playing style and performance is on Iraola, I agree, but squad depth and playing staff is nothing to do with him. He’s only in the door a few months, the club and the higher ups have a lot to answer for in regards to recruitment and squad building of late. God knows they were quick enough to take credit for things in the past. I’m not sure we can be fixed in 1 window, I think it may take until next summer to properly mould this team.

Iraola can only work with the players at his disposal and currently I’d say Liverpool aren’t 5/6 players short of a complete squad. That can’t be put on Iraola or Slot to be fair. But at least Iraola's football is easier to watch. I know the team faded, but it’s pre season, we aren’t at peak fitness and are still
missing players.

We will be sound.

09 Aug 2026 20:37:53
Dhfc, I'm looking forward to watching us under Iraola, the change had to be made. However, there were plenty of posters on here who were saying that last season's squad was good enough to walk the league. I consistently said that that wasn't the case.

Putting aside the fact that Salah and Robertson have gone, they were both passed their sell by date, it was clear that the team and squad were in need of a refresh. I pray that I'm wrong, but there was no way that Iraola was ever going to come in and wave a wand, like a good many on here thought he would.

People may be tired of me saying it, but last season wasn't all down to Slot, as much as he had to go.

09 Aug 2026 16:22:39
Another case of a brilliant first half followed by an absolutely brutal second. At least Iraola's getting a very clear view of who his starting 11 will be.

09 Aug 2026 17:06:39
It's easy to see why we've pivoted the transfer policy to players like Araujo. The exits of Mo and Robbo have left us seriously short of leaders.

I'd thought Chiesa might find a fan in AI, but seemingly not. He and Harvey need to get some game time.

At this particular moment in time, it could be that Koumas has the nod over Fede, but that could still change. Nonetheless, I suspect a lot of late window exits as AI strives to get the balance of the squad right.

But we need leaders.

09 Aug 2026 17:22:01
Yeah, earlier in the window I was calling for us to bring in a couple of young diamonds in the rough due to the inflated market, but I think it's very apparent that what we really need at the moment is experience off the bench.

Tbh, Elliot doesn't do it for me. He never came across as the type of player who could become a starter for a club like Liverpool, nor does he have the ability to be an impact sub.

When it comes to Chiesa, sure, he puts the effort in, but he's just not the player he once was. He looks rusty every time he gets on the ball, in my opinion. If we look to build real depth, they will both be moved on by next summer.

09 Aug 2026 16:22:26
Don't think this is an overreaction and I understand we have some injuries but we need quality reinforcements badly.

09 Aug 2026 17:19:50
Weak and soft in midfield.

09 Aug 2026 17:37:40
I'll get my boots.