Liverpool Banter 2

02 Sep 2026 17:58:40
Window closed, not what everyone wanted but we know the squad now. Our midfield looks a level below Man City and Arsenals but we still have quality and we will just have to outscore the teams we play. At least it won't be boring sideways passing!

Really hope Iraola gets them performing and proves to be our long term manager.

02 Sep 2026 18:29:36
I think everything for us now revolves around getting the press working at full tilt and effectively. Once that is in place, it will all click into gear for us.

I was speaking to a Newcastle fan today and he said Isak was excellent on the press before injuries. Kinda shocked me, as I didn't ever recall him pressing at speed. So perhaps it's still a fitness thing and about getting his confidence back.



If he can't regain it, we have to swap him out, even though he is a goalscorer. I think Gakpo could be great at leading the press.

The press is everything right now. We have to get it working and perfected. When we are regularly turning the ball over high up and covering the right spaces behind, the rest will fall into place.

02 Sep 2026 18:43:17
The press and the midfield balance… I don’t think too much is wrong. Both games were lost by poor positional play / defensive awareness. Players need to step up and develop an appetite for the hard yards and putting a foot in.

Too many players just want to play nice football and focus on the ball work… that is the problem, which is a mindset shift that will take time.

02 Sep 2026 19:13:20
Davey Sulls, if I was playing against our press, I would just drop long balls on our full backs, mainly Frimpong, and chase it down. Backing that up by then pressing our back 4.
Wouldn't be hard to do, mate.

02 Sep 2026 19:20:48
Arsenal have yet to concede a goal this season so far:
Man Cheaty Community Shield 3-0
Coventry 3-0 PL Home
Aston Villa 0-1 PL Away
LFC defence had its worst PL defensive record last year in the Premier: 53 goals conceded. Arsenal conceded 27 times; one more goal conceded and we would have doubled it.


Andoni doubled Arsenal with 54 goals conceded for the PL season 25-26. Bournemouth: W13,D18,L7. They scored 58 goals. GD=+4.
Attack is obviously the best form of defence for Andoni.
Strap yourselves in!

02 Sep 2026 19:52:08
Gegenpressing is dying not because teams stopped doing it but because sport science figured out that it burns players out by year 3.

Andoni is going to need all of the forwards inc Freddy Church as they will
be getting rinsed!

02 Sep 2026 20:07:55
Wouldn’t worry, Swamp. A lot of this lot will be gone in two.

02 Sep 2026 20:24:25
Great start on the positivity. We have only these players back them. I don't have the fortune to be in the stadium, so can everyone who is back the players as now is the time?

02 Sep 2026 20:25:16
If our back 4 weren't switching off, and a couple of cynical yellow cards in midfield, we'd be on 6 points today.

02 Sep 2026 20:43:43
Didn’t see Salah or Robbo burnt out by year 3.

03 Sep 2026 06:56:32
I don't mind boring wins. You can keep your 2-2 draws.
We could be boring and dominant in the 70s and 80s.
Goals and entertainment are for the other teams on a relaxing Sunday afternoon (as long as United, City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs are not winning).

03 Sep 2026 08:43:13
Think there will be big improvements over the next few games as players get more used to Ai's tactics and are fitter. Just trust the process and the team.

03 Sep 2026 09:44:21
I'm with Davey and @Man. It is now all about structure and balance, esp. in that defence/midfield combo. If we get that right, then the connection with the midfield and attack will also see some improvement.

Most importantly, there has to be a shift in mentality on this front and it will not be easy for Iraola to just flip a switch with these players, cos for the past 18 months or so, they have been playing in slow, easy mode with next to no running, discipline and structure, tactically.

They will need to grow a pair, be ready to do the hard yards and increase their concentration and focus levels to achieve better decision-making. If we get the majority of these things right, better days are not as far as we may think.

02 Sep 2026 17:38:40
"This is not the end of the world. It's one opportunity. For a player with his level of talent, I'm very confident he will soon have even better options and offers than the one he had yesterday."

Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro talking about them cancelling Camara's move to Chelsea. Note the phrase 'even better options'.

02 Sep 2026 18:27:06
Wonder if we have a deal for when stc has f***** off.
For January.

02 Sep 2026 18:44:27
What does STC mean? Everyone posts it, but I don't understand.

02 Sep 2026 19:05:00
Silver Tongued Charlatan was coined by The Fields (I think) based on interactions with Hughes that he's been told about by various contacts.

02 Sep 2026 19:41:57
Ah great, thanks Lofty. I feel like I have been missing out on an in joke. 😅

02 Sep 2026 18:51:03
Silver tongued charlatan- MOT.

Think one of the ITK's described him as that once and it stuck.

02 Sep 2026 20:25:23
I innocently thought it was Senior Transfer Committee!
D’oh!

03 Sep 2026 06:57:55
He might be a charlatan, but he's not the only one I know.

02 Sep 2026 16:48:45
One for E025 really

On about shambolic transfer windows you must be pretty underwhelmed at yours mate?!
I know you're not a fan of Moyes but he's been dealt a pretty shocking hand on this one!
Is he in for the long Haul Ed or will this make him think about his position there?

{Ed025's Note - im not his biggest fan BR and he only has the rest of this season on his contract mate, but he has been treated very shabbily and the rug has been pulled from under his feet so i do have sympathy for him, but who is going to replace him with this bunch of idiots in charge?, a top manager would not touch us with a barge pole...and who could blame them?..

02 Sep 2026 17:20:21
Would you take Howe, Ed, or are you not a fan?

{Ed025's Note - im a fan of Eddie BJ and him being an Evertonian would help, but if he struggled with the powers that be at Newcastle mate imagine what he would think of the shower of 5hite that run Everton?..

02 Sep 2026 18:04:06
Ed025, Jesus wanted to know if you'd take Howe as gaffer, not if you wanted a BJ. Good lord!

{Ed025's Note - im open to both MK.. :)

02 Sep 2026 18:46:37
I wonder how many times Ancelotti breathes a huge sigh of relief.

02 Sep 2026 18:21:31
Cheers for the reply Ed

I fear you'll have a painful ride this season mate

{Ed025's Note - me too BR..

02 Sep 2026 20:28:07
Ed025 - what's going on upstairs mate? Interested to understand what problems you're facing and if it's similar to piss poor management we've experienced since pre Christmas?

{Ed025's Note - its a lot worse than yours Ecogsi mate, i cant discuss it though mate as the Liverpool only police will be on my case..

02 Sep 2026 21:05:52
Please feel free to vent Ed025

{Ed025's Note - cheers Barry..

03 Sep 2026 02:23:44
I think we can allow one Everton thread 25. I did go over there for a quick read, but the mood is very blue. I had to leave as I started to feel ill after reading Anthony Martial's name a few times.

03 Sep 2026 06:59:57
Ed025 would take Rebecca Howe.
Cheers.

02 Sep 2026 15:00:12
Gravenberch slander is lazy analysis (just like the Isak slander concerning his few touches). We are talking about a box-to-box midfielder being paired with an attacking midfielder, namely Szoboszlai, in a double pivot. This is unlikely to work against any decent opposition. If there are midfield shortcomings, it's because midfielders such as Gravenberch are asked to fulfil unfamiliar roles that go against their natural impulses (example: asking a ball-carrying box-to-box midfielder to play the role of a destroyer).

One way to solve this problem would be to introduce Nyoni, and move Gravenberch or Szoboszlai out of the midfield pivot.

{Ed001's Note - didn't Gravenberch play exactly that role before his move to Bayern? He certainly isn't a box-to-box midfielder, which is the role he failed miserably at in Germany and initially with us, before being reborn as a holding mid. It was so unfamiliar that he won Prem's young player of the season playing there and was pivotal to our title win. The lazy analysis seems to be yours.}

02 Sep 2026 15:59:32
Gravenberch and all Liverpool's midfield got found out and exposed in the second half of Slot's first season.
Opposition teams initially targeted Trent and Konate and tried to hit us on the counter-attack.

They all then realized it was much easier to just run and drive directly through our midfield and onto our centre halves.


We have a squad of attack-minded midfielders, who don't like to tackle, don't like to head the ball and are not defensively minded.
Gravenberch was the biggest culprit.

02 Sep 2026 16:16:25
Gravenberch was good before his dad piped up and said he should get forward and score more goals.

02 Sep 2026 16:17:11
Maybe someone needs to either have a word with Grav and tell him to sit and stop shirking out of tackles or he gets replaced by Nyonyi to see if he does it better. 🤷‍♂️

02 Sep 2026 16:20:30
Gravenberch was also in the PFA team of the year as a DM, he also was used as a defensive partner for VVD last year, when Konate was subbed frequently. It will be interesting to see where he plays for a Jurgen German side in the next batch of Internationals (Flo as well).

Regarding Isak, Opta tells us he had only 13 touches of the ball in 90 mins. They are not an "Intuitive Principle" but Opta facts, like his passing accuracy at 63%, that's sloppiness or a careless attitude, his dribbling stat of 10% is horrendous, he's had 10 dribbles, and succeeded with one dribble (and that was probably a half time toilet), 14 apps last season, 3 goals, 1 assist, of course he was a permanent pick for Slot, as if Hugo had not been severely injured, he would be on the subs bench now, and he also bottled a penalty last week, he got away with murder with Slot, he won't get any days off with Andoni.

02 Sep 2026 16:23:57
I remember it well Molby, teams running through us at will on our way to 18 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses in the 26 games before we won the title against Spurs.

Seems like lazy analysis is catching.

02 Sep 2026 16:25:16
Grav has to revert back to the 6 role and the responsibility that comes with it. I don't really care what he wants to do going forward. His future at the club will certainly be at stake if he wants to be anything other than a 6.

He doesn't have the skill set for an 8 or 10.
Andoni can't be soft with some of these lads. None of them are superstars. Grav can be an excellent progressive 6.
Dom also has to improve as an 8.

02 Sep 2026 16:26:23
Double pivot, triple pivot a full pirouette — I don't care what way you want to describe their position, they're CMs, and if they can't understand "one goes, one stays," they need a kick up the arse, end of. It's no more complex than that.

02 Sep 2026 16:26:48
It'll be hard for Grav to play for Klopp's German side since he's Dutch. ;)

02 Sep 2026 16:37:21
Thanks Dracred,

As my old teacher often said, "Always check your work," Bond, but is it not a 50% success with reference to Flo? Although it is a job half done, I would confess.

02 Sep 2026 16:39:45
Like others have said it's simple. If Grav won’t do the job that needs to be done, the one he is actually good at, he will find himself out of the first 11. He didn’t do it last year; he got away with that because of the hatred for Slot. We're only two games in but so far he’s not doing it again this season.

I don’t mind him running with the ball but do it when you know your partner is behind you to offer protection if you lose it. Don't go off on little slaloms when you can clearly see both Dom and Wirtz ahead of you.

02 Sep 2026 16:40:26
007, he’s Dutch so not playing for Klopp's Germany.

02 Sep 2026 16:40:50
Professional footballers should be able to play any role or position on the pitch by the time they hit their 20s. It’s only football, not rocket science.

You’re only asking him to play the 6 rather than the 8 as well, something he can do, has already done to a high standard and should be doing now.

He’s either being instructed to go forward or he’s not listening to instructions to stay back. Either way it should be an easy fix for Grav.

02 Sep 2026 16:30:02
007 I will also be very interested to see where he plays in Jurgen's German side...
Seeing as he is Dutch.
But thanks for sticking up for him.
Too many on here slag off or players if they have a bad game.

02 Sep 2026 15:49:27
You can bring up Bayern Munich, and I can bring up Ajax and the Netherlands national team. Also, the role of a six in a three-man midfield differs from the role of a six in a double pivot.

02 Sep 2026 16:22:00
Agreed Ed001. The amount of people here with memories like goldfish is shocking. I wonder do half these posters watch football - they certainly don't understand it. Imagine writing something as daft as the OP and then talking about "lazy analysis". Face-palm worthy stuff.

02 Sep 2026 16:57:07
Riosstepover, I watch every game.
He doesn't tackle, doesn't win second balls, gets run past easily, doesn't win headers, doesn't pass very well and can't read the game defensively.
He does drop the shoulder and turn well with the ball, I will give you that.
He will definitely be nowhere near the team of the season this season the same as he wasn't last season.

02 Sep 2026 17:04:17
He’s the best drop the shoulder and turn weller in the world. 😂 Smooth as silk. It’s everything else that’s the problem.

02 Sep 2026 19:09:10
Pivot seems to be the latest buzzword.
Last season couldn't move for low blocks, thought I was in a game of Tekken.

02 Sep 2026 19:12:26
Exactly, Florian. The one thing he does really well and teams have sussed him out.

02 Sep 2026 19:43:04
I don’t think there was any player from Liverpool near the team of the season last term, not just Grav.

02 Sep 2026 20:08:57
Szoboszlai was. That's about it.

02 Sep 2026 21:00:33
That makes sense, Florian. 👍

02 Sep 2026 22:43:28
I disagree with most of that, Molby. I think it’s been more of a defence issue and in particular a VVD issue. It was telling that Szob and Iraola said after our first half on Saturday, we needed to be closer to the opposition (as in higher up the pitch) to get pressure on the ball.

If you watch that second half, VVD and Jacquet are pushed right on to the highest Forest player, which allowed us to condense the pitch which in turn allows us to get closer to the man in possession and win the ball back early.

Against Newcastle, we had VVD and Jacquet standing on the halfway line marking nobody when Osula picked up the ball halfway into his own half and had the space to run at them. If they’d been 10-15 yards higher, they could’ve tackled him immediately and got us back on the attack. As it was they backed off and Newcastle scored.

It doesn’t matter who you have in midfield if the gap between the defence and the midfield is as wide as we leave it.

Prime Makelele couldn’t patrol that space.

The CBs need to be much more front footed in their defending. Push right on to the last attacker and engage him in his own half, but VVD has been terrified to do it because he doesn’t want balls in behind that he has to chase.

The irony is if the CBs push up and be aggressive it means that we can condense the pitch and maintain pressure on the ball, which doesn’t allow the opposition to get their head up and pick a pass over the top. So by pushing up and leaving more space behind us we’ll find that we actually have to do less running.

Klopp’s teams did it and yes it meant that occasionally the opposition got in behind us but by and large the risk is worth the reward. It means you can win the ball high where our most talented players are and can do the damage.

02 Sep 2026 22:59:04
Gravenberch was a bit of a revelation when first moved to the 6, but he was at the base of a hard working midfield 3 that functioned as a unit. Now with Wirtz at 10 and a double pivot, we need another disciplined midfielder to sit alongside him, and I’m not sure at all that plays to Szoboszlai’s strengths? The problem is Szoboszlai is a big player for us and seems to be quite a prominent leader in the dressing room too, so very hard to drop.



It’s probably the biggest question for AI to solve IMO.

02 Sep 2026 14:54:00
McConnell and Tyoni. This is the greatest opportunity for them this season. I hope there's a Trent there in terms of taking the opportunity and showing their quality.
I hope at least one leaves a great impression this season. Both have the talent but they both need the confidence and to show it on the pitch.


Our lack of transfer activity in midfield is the greatest gift to both. I'd love nothing more than two academy lads to look like potential first team Liverpool players. McConnell is an extremely good player, very tidy. If he showed that on the pitch with some bite, it could be a great opportunity for him.

02 Sep 2026 15:45:26
Nyoni starting and sitting with Macca whilst keeping Wirtz and Szob fresh as 10s could unearth a weapon no one saw coming.

The idea of having Szob or Wirtz on the bench is, I agree, lunacy, but it solves the problem of them being in each other's space, a huge gap behind them and bringing a fresh one off the bench every game could certainly make us more balanced and threatening over 90 mins.

02 Sep 2026 16:26:39
I don't think Sob is a good 10 either. I'd want to put him and his energy on the right wing, slightly coming inside.

02 Sep 2026 16:29:44
Very much looking forward to seeing Nyoni kick on, he's clearly got the potential. Haven't really seen enough of McConell to make a similar statement, but yes, big opportunities there for the young lads this season, let's hope they make the most of it.

02 Sep 2026 16:45:21
Love nothing more than an academy kid taking his chance, Ron, so I’d love to see that too. I am disappointed we didn’t do the absolute minimum though and replace Jones.

02 Sep 2026 17:17:23
I said Szoboszlai should be wide right in his first season with us.
I can't see him being a "must start" in any position though. He's not dangerous enough to be a top wide right player, but it's more of a case of him doing a job there.


He could play as a ten but Wirtz is more creative if less athletic. Chelsea play with two quality tens but they play three at the back, and I can't see that happening, so it's wide right or covering Wirtz at ten, for me.

02 Sep 2026 17:41:47
I have said it a few times, Macconnell for rb. I expect Nyoni to be a midfield starter before the season's out.

02 Sep 2026 18:07:50
I don’t personally think McConnell has the potential to be a long term option for us. He seems to lack awareness of his surroundings. Top players have their heads on a swivel. I guess this is a coachable trait though.

I’m happy with McConnell as 6th choice in midfield though. You’re not going to get a good player to sign up to 5-10 domestic cup games.

02 Sep 2026 19:26:48
Does he even get 5-10 Cup games? Think he leaves in January when he’s hardly made a squad by then. Take Friday night for example. We’ve a few out injured but I still can’t see McConnell making the 20man squad.

02 Sep 2026 23:47:44
Wide right, alright Rigsby, wide right of the mark. We didn't just spend 140m on wingers to play Dom there instead.

02 Sep 2026 15:21:02
I think we will be ok. Ekitike, Bradley will be back in December and should be ready by Feb.
We just have to ensure we are in all competitions in Feb that's when the real season begins feb march april and may are the thick months

Leoni should be back soon and macca should be back to best soon also. I d test leoni and jacquet partnership in all cup games and CL games. They are future so we need to give them enough experience together.

Kerkez is a player iraola knows so he will hopefully become the player we bought. Tsimikas for cups and mid week games when kerkez needs the rest

Gravy will play 6 and we have nyoni to back him up

The only problem is frimpong - we can solve it by using araujo there. I really wished we signed a specialist RB but it seems coaches and managers are happy with frimpong somehow.

Also Ali - he has been not himself in first two games. Real ali saves 2 of those 4 goals we conceded.

Isak hasn't looked good but has scored a goal which should give him confidence- i don't have big hopes from him. He wasn't a good buy doesn't fit our style and we probably will be selling him in a season or two but with barcola and munoz i expect enough balls in box for him to get on.

Now huge hopes on our two bew signing barcola and Munoz to light it up for us. Munoz has shown what he can do and barcola is also a proven talent.

I really hope wirtz through now with barcola and munoz stretching defenses he should get enough space and time to work his magic and i have a feeling barcola wirtz and munoz will deliver instant magic. We won't really have to wait, i think these 3 players are made to play together.

Gackpo i am greatfull for the player and his camp being absolute professionals. A deal was there from city he could have acted out but decided to honor the club. He has been the best player and to be very honest i'd drop isak and start him
Gackpo wirtz barcola and munoz as our front four. All of them can rotate play in any position and cause havoc.

All in all i pray things just work out and iraolo goes and gets us no. 21 and no 7.
I don't know where szobo fits. Rotates with wirtz munoz off the bench or just solves RB for us. Either way I know he will be livid. I expect szobo to be the first player to throw a tantrum this season.

I really think macca will be back to his best under iraola. Same language and all.

My prediction is we finish top2 and semifinal of CL. And a cup

02 Sep 2026 16:18:21
I honestly think most people here are extremely optimistic about Hugo Ekitike's recovery time.

A ruptured Achilles is one of the worst injuries you can have in pro sports, and, for example, prime NBA athletes like Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson or Chauncey Billups spent a whole year or more on the sidelines.

Only Kobe Bryant was back after 8 months, and we all know he was made different.

I wouldn't expect Ekitike to be at full speed until March/April at the earliest...

02 Sep 2026 16:33:18
Kameron, very much agreed. It's a year-long recovery process. Tendons are notoriously problematic injuries and heal incredibly slowly. He might be back training in a more familiar capacity by Christmas, but I don't expect him to be anywhere near the starting 11. As soon as I heard it was Achilles I accepted we won't be seeing him back to his best until the 27/28 season

02 Sep 2026 16:37:01
I'm more concerned about whether he will ever get back to the same level again. I don't care if he is out for 18 months if it means he comes back ready. I just hope his career isn't severely hampered long term.

02 Sep 2026 16:49:43
We can only hope the auld medical scientists have found a way to cut some of that time off in the few years since the NBA lads suffered theirs, I suppose.

02 Sep 2026 16:51:03
I’d say that injury probably takes even longer than a year. You can probably play again after 10-12 months, but you’re still going to be miles off your best for several months after that. Especially someone like Ekitike. That injury is going to take away so much of what made him really great to begin with.
I can’t see him playing any meaningful minutes this season.

Just cameos.
It’s why I’m astonished we are going into this season with only Isak as a recognised striker. Someone who’s injury prone and also just coming back off a long lay off.
If he’s out, then you’re using Wirtz or Munez and effectively robbing Peter to pay Paul when you're taking them out of position to cover.

02 Sep 2026 17:30:09
OP, just a quick analysis of your post:

Should count = 5.
Hope count = 4.
Pray count = 1.

02 Sep 2026 18:49:25
Nah, been talking to physios. He will be fine. It's not going to be a problem with him at all. His recovery is on track and you will be surprised. Although club won't take any risks with him.

02 Sep 2026 14:23:15
Eds and Reds, do you think we'll see more from McConnell in that No. 6/8 position given how short we are in that position? Do you think Iraola will trust him enough? He's made the bench already this season if I remember correctly.

02 Sep 2026 13:45:15
Hi eds or fellow fans.

Do we know Hughes's leaving date? Has he gone today?
Who will take over dof?
Thanks

02 Sep 2026 13:40:21
It was easy to go from high intensity to a lower intensity. Slot reaped the benefits of it, the team got fewer injuries and football seemed intuitive at first and we seem to have tailed off towards the end of his first season.

Going from low intensity to higher will take a lot more work and will result in injuries as seen from Klopp's first couple seasons. It won’t be pretty at first but we will get there!

02 Sep 2026 13:57:41
I agree with your second paragraph, Waqas. It was the same thing when Klopp replaced BR. Remember that we were playing a variation of Slotball of passing for passing's sake, slow movement, and tiki-taka "Kill them with football" crap, which set the team back after the title challenging season of 13/14.

Look how long it took for Klopp to fully implement his high octane, high press football philosophy.

Almost 3 years. Hopefully it doesn't take that long for Iraola, cos football has changed since then and time is of the essence.

The only diff. here is that Klopp got majority of the players he wanted. Can't say that for Iraola, sadly.

02 Sep 2026 14:04:49
Klopp also got the players he wanted over a few windows, not all in the same one. And he did have the good doctor by his side throughout that period too. AI has barely been here three months and he has to work with Hughes who is also doubling up as the DOF for Al Hilal.

Imo I don't think it'd take him three years for results to improve, but I suspect it'd take him at least 6 months for things to click.

It did take him roughly that long too to get Bournemouth up and running again after losing 4 out of 5 of their backline last summer. The only saving grace he has now is that he has players who have played under Klopp so it should be faster for their bodies to get used to the high intensity again.

02 Sep 2026 14:23:56
Oli, Klopp would have killed to start out with the players Iraola has at his disposal right now; they're a league above what Klopp took over.

02 Sep 2026 14:25:12
Agree with both of you guys. Our squad was in a much worse shape when BR left and Klopp joined. These players are of higher quality; the transition should be faster. Frimpong reminds me of Albie Moreno. Great character, lots of pace, small and can’t defend!

We in today’s world don’t just have inflated transfer fees; the patience has gone the deflationary route!

02 Sep 2026 14:35:05
Agree with that, Chewy.

02 Sep 2026 14:35:50
Waqas, patience has been replaced with entitlement. In the last 7 years we’ve won 8 trophies and finished between 1st and 5th every season. These are the best years to be a Liverpool fan since the late 80’s. Unfortunately some fans think we have a divine right to win everything, every season.

We’ve spent nearly £700m in just over 12 months. Let’s leave the coaches to get the best out of all that talent, then revisit it in 6-12 months. Yes, it might take time. Just enjoy the ride man.

02 Sep 2026 14:52:25
Are Liverpool the best fans in the world or some of the most entitled?

I suppose when one decides to support a successful super club from behind a keyboard or stream over thousands of other clubs and ones on their doorstep, entitlement is definitely a significant factor.

All super club fans are entitled. It's just they get called plastic and LFC the greatest.

{Ed001's Note - that's not always why they end up supporting LFC. Your getting tedious and bigoted now about fans that are not locals. How do you know they are not choosing them because they have a friend that supports LFC or comes from Liverpool? Or family. Most of my friends that weren't into football at all are now Liverpool fans, simply because of me, not because the club is successful. They had no idea about any of that when they began following us. They were just looking out for us because of me. All this constant digs is tiresome now, so give it a rest please.}

02 Sep 2026 14:58:26
Correct, Chewy.

02 Sep 2026 15:09:04
It's the life of being a modern-day fan, MK. Chelsea have been an absolute circus for years, but now they've got Xabi, signed players left, right and center and won two games. Pundits are going to put them above us in any predictions for the year and our own fans are going to start believing they are a better run club with better prospects than our own. It's like we have a tendency to be pre-emptively dismissive of our club, imagining that we're a laughing stock if we don't hit the heights every year.

I myself am a bit ambivalent, because I think appointing Iraola was the bravest thing the hierarchy could have done.

He is the least cookie-cutter appointment among all the elite clubs in Europe and believes in brave football, rather than meek, risk-averse, shading-the-margins football, which is what all coaches at the highest level tend to be. At the same time, our squad is short of one or two players to truly deliver on his vision, and that shortage is quite needless. At the same time, you might argue that all the pieces can't be put together in one window. Yes, the summer window hasn't been great, but Jacquet and Munoz look absolutely fantastic signings for the long term and Barcola was the best winger on the market besides Diomande.

02 Sep 2026 15:09:39
If we are making comparisons to times gone by, I’m expecting this season to be similar to the 21/22 season.

We’d won the league in 19/20 and were overwhelming favourites going into 20/21 and started off really well. A few season-ending injuries later, and we were struggling for top 4. I believe we lost 6 games in a row at Anfield and literally looked like we’d never win again. We eventually managed to scrape 3rd.

Pundits and opposition fans wrote us off going into 21/22 but I was left thinking, hang on, we still have most of the title-winning team and there were mitigating circumstances to our poor form last season.

We ended up winning both domestic cups, were 1 point off City for the title and lost to Madrid in the CL final. The closest any team has ever come to winning the quadruple.

Now I don’t believe this team is capable of those feats but I don’t think they need to be. 80-85 points will put you in title contention and I think we are capable of that.



We have a relatively decent draw in the CL and as we saw last season with Arsenal, if you can win the league phase of the CL you can get a very easy run all the way to the final. Even our team of last season would’ve beaten Leverkusen, Sporting and Atletico over 2 legs with the second leg at Anfield.

The domestic cups will depend on how seriously Iraola wants to take them.

I understand that back in 21/22 we didn’t have the upheaval of a new manager and we still had Klopp but I do think last season was the perfect storm. I think that’s as bad as we can possibly get and I expect us to be much, much better this season.

We’ve had some issues in the first 2 games but we haven’t lost either of them. This team will improve week on week and I expect us to be flying by the second half of the season and make a push for the title. We just need to have a bit of patience.

02 Sep 2026 15:17:00
I live just under 11,000km away from Liverpool and I started supporting Liverpool after our 2005 UCL win. My dad was disappointed, though, since he is a Utd fan and was hoping that I'd join in his footsteps. Not sure why you think local fans are better than fans like me, just because they have the privilege of being born in the city and having easy access to watching live games.

I don't have that luxury, so here I am staying up until 3am or even foregoing sleep on some nights just so I can watch the team I love play live. But hey, I guess you can call me entitled just because I don't live in the city and watch us play at Anfield. ;)

02 Sep 2026 15:25:29
Drac, you’ve just absolutely shot me down there.

I hold my hands up and apologise.

02 Sep 2026 15:27:55
Waqas Under slot Gomez, Bradley, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Becker, Ekitike, Leoni, Chieza, Salha were all injured under Slot.

02 Sep 2026 15:10:41
Fair enough Ed001 👍

{Ed001's Note - thanks JK.}

02 Sep 2026 15:28:43
JK23, who are you to judge? If you've ever once thought the actions of the club, manager, or team were not satisfactory and that you expected more from Liverpool, are you not in a way acting entitled yourself? Wheter you were born on Anfield rd or not?

Fans aren't "entitled" just because they 'chose' to support Liverpool. 99% of Liverpool fans aren't from Liverpool, should we take them all away and see how the club gets on? You should appreciate the entire fanbase; without them the club wouldn't have the revenue to continue being successful.

Funnily enough, how you're acting now is the pure definition of entitled, the notion that Liverpool-based fans are 'the real fans' and somehow inherently above everyone else. The irony.

02 Sep 2026 15:48:47
Chewy, it’s an open opinions forum, agree or disagree as much as you want. Of course I’m entitled. I want all the teams I support to do well and win.

02 Sep 2026 16:22:54
I don't think it's entitlement to support one of the biggest clubs in the world with some of the highest revenues and wages and expect us to have the ambition to challenge on all fronts every year... that's just standards

There shouldn't be a world that exists where any of us are just hoping to finish top 4, and the way certain elements of our club are being run are simply unacceptable.



Iraola obviously deserves time to get the team playing his way. But it's perfectly reasonable to be upset with the squad "planning" that has left Iraola with more problems to add to what's already a difficult job.

02 Sep 2026 16:27:50
Used to annoy me so much when you get called a plastic fan because you don’t live in Liverpool. My Dad supported Liverpool, which is why I supported them. I have every kit ever since I was born & won nothing through my whole secondary school. People still said I was a glory hunter. You soon learn Liverpool is more than a club. It's a family.

02 Sep 2026 16:59:01
Pet hate for me too this whole "we're local we're better" lark, I must say. Cop on lads. It's only an elite club because of its 100s of millions of fans around the world.

02 Sep 2026 17:01:48
Funny you say Liverpool is more than a club, I had a friend getting into football around the time Bale left Spurs and he asked me who he should support and I told him Liverpool was a special club that you didn't really get to choose so he should support Spurs 😂 He eventually ended up supporting Liverpool but it still makes me chuckle whenever I think about.

02 Sep 2026 17:13:03
Entitlement isn’t a byproduct of the global outreach of the sport; it is, however, a byproduct of the social media. Hype and controversial opinions and hyperbole sell. @iwillbered, you are talking slots second season when the fitness levels were down in the mud.

02 Sep 2026 17:30:13
Here's my take on the "plastic fan" debate.

Back in the late '60s, early '70s I was a West Brom season ticket holder. I think I had one for 3 seasons. I remember going to the League Cup Final in 1969, when Albion lost. A young family member, who was in the party I went with, cried his eyes out all the way back. I, on the other hand, couldn't give a flying fish. This, looking back, was a sign that I wasn't really in love with the club.

Roll forward to the 1971 Cup Final, and it was always the done thing to support a side. I chose Liverpool. Over the years that followed I was always taken in by highlights of Liverpool night matches and the atmosphere of the Kop. I remember watching tele with my Mom and us both being intoxicated with the noise and colour, and I thought I want to experience that when I'm old enough. That I did. I started catching the train up, when you didn't need a ticket, and have been going ever since.

I fully appreciate, and have said many times on here, that I am lucky to have access to tickets for all home games, and also fortunate that I can afford to go.
However, in recent years I've started to think that I miss out on going up the Albion with my lifelong mates. Some might say, well start doing that. To fall out of love with Liverpool would be like leaving my wife of 39 years and going with another woman! It's never going to happen.
Where JK may have been coming from with his post (he doesn't need me to speak up for him) is the fans who follow Liverpool because of our success, never go to games, but they have a club right on their doorstep. Where I live, I love to see young kids, in the park, with West Brom shirts on, knowing they will be going to games rather than wearing Liverpool shirts, and chances are they'll never get to go to a game.

I'm sorry for the rambling post. I doubt if many folk got to the end of it.

02 Sep 2026 17:35:53
John Barnes is the reason why so many non-white Brits born in the 70s and 80s are Liverpool fans.

02 Sep 2026 17:03:47
JK23, your comments are embarrassing. You're making the people of Liverpool appear small-minded and backward - and I take that personally. Thankfully most scousers are more open-minded.

I'm Irish. The Irish pretty much built Liverpool. They built the docks, the roads, the canals. Three-quarters of the city claim Irish heritage.

Maybe you should be asking my permission to support Liverpool? (I'm being a little facetious here, obviously - for the fun)

Seriously though. LFC has proud socialist roots drawn from major figures in its history. Scots famously played a major role in building the club, and I don't think Shankly or Bob Paisley would be too impressed at your attitude.

Shankly looked at football - and the world - through the lens of socialism and collective effort. If a fan gave their loyalty and hard-earned money to support the team, they were part of that community.
That was his code.

He routinely answered letters from fans from all over, even paying for tickets out of his own pocket without ever questioning where the supporters were from.

Maybe you should pick up a book and educate yourself about the club you seem to claim ownership of. It belongs to the people. Not you.

Players from all over the world have played for LFC - helping us to success "as part of our team" and inspiring children from far-off continents to follow us. and if that somehow makes you angry, maybe you should seek professional help.

Or support Chelsea. They'd love your attitude. A perfect fit.

02 Sep 2026 17:48:48
FPF, non-white Brits could've supported the Albion due to the "Three Degrees", and do.

John Barnes is my all-time hero, by the way.

02 Sep 2026 17:54:08
Lassic, cheers for the history lesson mate.

Apologies I triggered you so much.

02 Sep 2026 18:29:02
Amazing how many people jump on when an ED makes a point.

02 Sep 2026 18:54:27
If I may correct myself, it was the 1970 League Cup Final. The vast majority on here weren't even born.

02 Sep 2026 19:06:41
Lassic, you mention Shankly. I reckon he would've had more time for people who supported their local club, no matter how small, and in doing so contributed to the local community, in pubs, cafes and shops.

As my post above states, I include myself in that, an out of towner.

02 Sep 2026 19:11:40
I doubt it, Rome. By the sounds, Lassic’s ancestors built Shankly’s house, street and probably his Lego sets.

02 Sep 2026 20:00:48
Liverpool's 1st manager comes from 10mins up the road from me and his house is still partially standing on 1 of my relation's land.
Probably makes me a better fan than a scouser.... 😂😂😂

02 Sep 2026 22:26:17
It’s a totally different paradigm now compared to when my dad decreed I would be a Liverpool fan like him.

Back in the good old days, fans and the club were more unified, clubs depending on their fans.

Now billionaire corporations buy our clubs and they don’t really give 2 shiny ones about us; they’re protecting their asset.



Being a fan these days is just totally different.
There’s never been a definition of a good fan or a scale of level of fandom.