Liverpool Banter 4

14 May 2026 12:05:14
If Slot stays, I can already hear the "Is this a library" chants from the visiting supporters at Anfield next season.

14 May 2026 12:42:48
To be fair, Stone, it's been song for years, even when Klopp was there.

14 May 2026 13:29:26
I think we might have booing at the first home game of the season which is very depressing.

14 May 2026 13:58:53
I'd be amazed if that were to happen, Jimjim. Unless we lose 6-0 to Everton.

14 May 2026 15:16:30
Why would anyone be booing at the 1st home game of a new season?

14 May 2026 16:03:02
Because we want rid of Slot and we feel nothing is going to change while he's in charge, because he thinks he's doing a great job! Add to that, we're going to miss out on Alonso and other worthy replacements, then I feel, if our first game of the season is akin to what we witnessed this season, then there's every chance there could be boos, especially if we lost.

14 May 2026 16:24:43
The atmosphere is terrible compared to years ago, a lot of tourist n day trippers go the games now, all busy taking selfies, the local fans who could get the tickets at one time are being edged out.

14 May 2026 17:05:16
I'm not sure people will boo at the first game of the season cos fans are fans. They will enter the new season with new hope, energy etc. Even tho, as Jimjim said, majority of them want Slot gone.

However, if the team starts playing the same crap we have endured this season, don't be surprised if the boo birds are out early on.

Personally, I hope it doesn't happen cos I hope Slot is shown the door so those fans can have real hope, excitement, energy etc. with a new manager.

14 May 2026 17:07:39
I think it's a bit simplistic to blame it all on day trippers.

According to stats:

- Season tickets: ~60% of the stadium
- General admission (members' sales): ~35%
- Corporate / hospitality: ~20%

Of that corporate, 11% of them are corporate season ticket holders, and 7% are "day trippers".

I'm sure there's probably slightly more than that, but nowhere enough to be blamed for a lack of atmosphere.

I think football gives you far less "get out of your seat moments" nowadays, which probably doesn't help.

{Ed001's Note - how does that work? Where do the extra 15% sit?}

14 May 2026 18:58:33
Maybe they sit in the away end Ed?
When you have 115% of home fans then you can't fit any away fans in

14 May 2026 19:40:43
That adds up to 115% of fans. 🤔

14 May 2026 12:03:13
Slot confirms he wants to stay... yet still no contract extension talk.

All Smoke and mirrors.

14 May 2026 13:22:51
He still has one season left though. So, maybe what he means is that he'll stay for next season and leave afterwards.

14 May 2026 17:07:25
Dracred, that won't happen. There is no way you will get a player to sign for you if the manager is only gonna be there for one season. Would you sign such a deal at a new job if the boss who recruited you is prolly gonna leave the year after? I wouldn't.



Hence, It's either Slots gets the extension which the fans will be livid by or he is let go. Just the way I see it.

14 May 2026 12:02:24
Whilst the journalists are reporting Slot is staying, they're also flagging the restlessness from the fans and desire for Alonso to replace Slot.

Surely the club are well aware of this and don't have their head in the sand?

The analytics team must realise the issues can't be solved by two wingers and a number 6.

14 May 2026 12:33:56
Hogan and FSG haven't said anything yet other than Henry isn't happy with the performances, and they will see things aren't right.

14 May 2026 17:10:20
Toon, you said it right there. They say he will stay, yet they add caveats. That's something me or you could say, cos, well, the caveats (fan unhappiness, poor results, even worse play etc.) are real.



This means these journos are hedging their bets cos they know Slot could be sacked regardless of whatever they say regarding him staying now. In the end? No one really knows what will happen when the season ends.

14 May 2026 11:46:29
Quite frustrating how this is all happening and could easily put a negative on our ITK’s on here. I for one won’t be judging any of them whatever the outcome as clearly it’s up in the air until this Champ League spot is confirmed. There also must be a lot more going on in the dressing room which is having a big impact.
The football has been dire, that’s easy for anyone to see, and this can’t carry on. But why does anyone feel that a short (all be it very good) period for Xabi gives him the credentials to control a dressing room of players that we now set ourselves up with.

Players being labelled as up there with the best in their positions. I for one would rather see Xabi do something special elsewhere before committing to us and potentially ruining his status with our club.
I’d much rather see an older figure with a demand for respect and hard work in charge. Glasner maybe? Or Simeone? Fire into these boys and rejuvenate them. Our squad isn’t a million miles off, we’re just energyless and no real connection. Really shows how much Jurgen did for this club.

14 May 2026 12:05:23
The players have performed badly too, which Slot is getting a lot of the blame.

With Klopp we'd have rather replaced the whole team than change him, whereas with Slot that's certainly not the case.

I don't really see the Madrid time as a huge negative, because look how they've been since he left.

But here XA comes in day 1, loved by the fans.

14 May 2026 12:13:24
Glasner or Simeone? No thanks.

14 May 2026 12:32:02
You really think Glasner or Simeone would be a better appointment than Xabi? Xabi is one of the greatest midfielders of the last few decades who has won everything, and won a title with a team that had never won the title before. Why would Glasner command more respect? He hasn't won anything and doesn't have a pedigree for anything besides counter-attacking football.

Simeone doesn't even speak English. If it's true that Xabi is desperate for the Liverpool job, it would be a dream appointment.

14 May 2026 12:35:41
Glasner? Simeone? Alonso had a better win % with a team that didn't like him or his methods.

14 May 2026 13:18:17
Didn't Glasner win the FA Cup and is in a European final this season? I can't stand the guy, and would want him nowhere near our club, that's for sure, but he has won stuff.

14 May 2026 13:24:36
Isn't his European final the Conference League? Even Chelsea won that competition with their third team. I'd be more surprised if they don't win it tbh.

14 May 2026 17:11:52
Glasner? Have people seen his team play? Xabi all day long.

14 May 2026 11:22:14
I think what's annoying for at least me, I'm sure a lot of you too. Is it feels like now or never for XA, if he goes Chelsea and is a success they aren't letting him go.

If it doesn't work, we aren't going to want him. I know all appointments are a risk, but the stars have aligned for now to be the best time to give it a go.

It will get the fans on board, and if it doesn't work at least something was attempted. If Slot stays (which I think is probably the case), I hope he turns it around.

But as we've been slowly getting worse it feels like for just over a year now, I have little confidence he can.

14 May 2026 10:12:28
Well looking and listening to slots press conference and the plans for next season he's going no were fast so it's such a shame we have to go through this dire football again next season guys. 😢

14 May 2026 11:27:00
It'll be getting very toxic then.

14 May 2026 11:28:28
Jesus, if you're out there, please can we get one of Xabi, Iraola or Enrique.

14 May 2026 11:29:49
Anfield needs to find its voice then, to leave the owners with the correct impression of what the fans think of Slot and the performances this season.

If by some miracle Slot is still manager next season, there needs to be a fundamental shift in the way we play, train, etc., and this needs to be on display from minute one of the first league game.

14 May 2026 11:42:05
There's a point of no return with managers where everyone intuitively knows how it's going to end even if they refuse to admit it, like with Rodgers, Ten Hag, Solskjaer. Slot passed that point a long time ago. They're just delaying the inevitable at this point.

14 May 2026 11:43:49
Even if he is staying (I still think he's off btw), that would make a mockery of John Henry's comment about settling for mediocracy. Keeping Slot, after this train wreck of a season, getting dumped out of all competitions by "inferior" opposition, and leaving it until the 11th hour to secure Champions League football (and there's still a chance we may stuff that up as well), would be seen as a monumental failure.

The guy is in Holland more than the training field, the players are clearly not playing for him, and the fans are turning. I don't think Henry is that stupid to reward that, with another season and even more financial outlay.

14 May 2026 11:54:26
TIB - Great photo btw.

I hope they sack him, but why have they come out so strongly that he's staying? I know they can't say he's leaving, but even saying they will perform a review at the end of the season.

I think he needs to go, even with all these "circumstances", if we were terrible at the start and started to play better, even if the results didn't improve, I think a lot of us would understand.



But we've just got worse as the season has gone on. Or maybe they think we're better than pre Christmas because that was a disaster.

I hope they sack him, but I think it's wishful thinking.

14 May 2026 12:11:40
The thing is, Arken, have they come out and said that he is staying? I would say they haven't said anything of the sort. There is a narrative in the media that he's staying, but that's not come directly from the owners. I think FSG are quite shrewd, and keep their cards close to their chest. Even reading what Slot has said is very vague and open to interpretation.

Personally, I think they (FSG) know exactly what they plan to do, and are awaiting various things to fall into place before actually coming out with it.

Every other bit of noise is just speculation.

Logically speaking, and taking all things into account, I do not see a long term future for Slot at the club. This season is a failure, and if Slot stays, then Henry's words are meaningless.

14 May 2026 12:47:19
PSG and Man City are hardly inferior opposition in fairness. No shame going out of cups to either of them sides.

14 May 2026 13:01:23
There is a reason the word inferior was in quotes Florian. Here's one for you then.Plymouth.

Surely even a staunch Slot fanboy such as yourself can see the performances have simply not been good enough.

14 May 2026 13:28:10
Plymouth was last season, Bulk. Hasn't counted on these boards since last September.

14 May 2026 14:28:50
It counts to me, Florian. The performances have been utter pants since before then.

14 May 2026 15:22:52
Not true. We'd won 29 outa 37 games up to that point in all comps. Losing only 3. Re-writing history again.

14 May 2026 10:04:49
To qualify for the CL in this season is not a massive ask, even United can do it. That is a season to make changes with the manager and those above him. Just because you avoid complete disaster should not guarantee you your job.

We have played poorly in all our cup matches with no trophies and our PL form has been miserable losing a shocking number of games we should never have lost.
As many previous managers have found out, you are only as good as your last match.

14 May 2026 11:28:23
Thing is, always, we have to win at least one of our last two games, and after the insipid performances in the last two matches, it is very plausible that we lose out if other teams around us win.

14 May 2026 12:00:38
Happy to not get Champions League if it means Slot buggers off tbh.

14 May 2026 12:41:36
Can't agree with that at all, Nukem, I think the club needs the draw of the CL to get the players we need. We certainly don't need the slog of Thursday night football having to fly all over the continent to play on dodgy pitches.

14 May 2026 12:53:14
Ah, yeh, miss out on Champs League as most of the last survivors of our great Klopp team (Mo, Robbo and maybe Alli) move on from the club this summer bringing in little to no money.

See how that goes for us. We could still find ourselves playing on a Thursday in 5 years' time. We need the prestige of the Champions League and the money it brings in.

14 May 2026 14:34:56
Liverpool earned approx. £85 million from the UCL in the 2024/2025 season. PSG earned £125 million. That's not exactly pocket change. And non-participation would be felt heavily by both the club and the fans. Be careful what you wish for.

14 May 2026 09:48:56
This presser is the most direct Slot has been on his future so far.

Certainly doesn't sound like a man who was told he was essentially working his notice several months ago.

14 May 2026 10:04:19
Disappointing isn't it.

14 May 2026 10:28:58
I would say it's called saving face. If he is going then he's not going to throw his toys out in a presser. His bonuses probably mean he needs us to qualify for the CL. In my humble opinion, if he were staying, there wouldn't be any noise and they would be talking up a new deal for him. He has one year left and no one is talking about that.

All the signs point to him leaving, whether by "mutual consent" or he is "sacked", etc etc. It's just semantics at the end of the day. He'll more than likely go back to the Netherlands. He never invested his time and family in the city, so it speaks volumes to me. Thanks for No 20, Arne.

14 May 2026 10:34:16
Just getting more and more disconnected from the fans by the day. I think it's time for massive changes personally.

14 May 2026 10:36:00
Jimble, I forget who said this a few weeks ago, but it was completely true - if he knows he's likely or definitely on the way out, whether by getting sacked or mutual consent as he's unhappy here, then he is putting in an Oscar worthy acting performance in every press conference.



People know better than me whether the family issues are true, so I won't dispute that, but there is just zero evidence whatsoever beyond what a few people have posted on here that he is leaving in the summer. Or even that it's being considered.

14 May 2026 10:36:15
I thought he was going to say 'they're moving me on and Xabi or Iraola will take over next season'. Don't they always speak the facts at pressers?

14 May 2026 11:21:31
Slot is staying.

14 May 2026 11:22:31
The idea that he was working a notice was clearly nonsense from the get-go. Nothing more than Chinese whispers. The club was always going to wait until the moment they officially let him go to inform him. You don't sack a manager for not being good enough, but then keep him around for another 6 months to continue working the job he's been deemed unfit to carry out.

You won't get anything from trying to analyse pressers. Football clubs like control, and the key to control is compartmentalisation.

Ensuring people only know what they need to know is how you plug leaks, something we know the club is very wary of at the moment. If the call hasn't been made yet, then Slot knows sfa. Up until the moment the official decision has actually been made, the club will continue to get its ducks in a row behind closed doors in preparation for either scenario. Hence, the number of conflicting rumours.

14 May 2026 17:18:39
If CL is not secured (and it isn't), then, why would they come out to say he is gone? It makes no sense.

If Slot was staying, yet no official announcement? No contract extension news? Even journos say he is staying, yet they hedge their bets saying things like "Things can change" or "the unrest in the fan base could be important", etc.

Don't believe what Slot says or these journos.

Wait and see when the season ends.

14 May 2026 09:19:44
Ed, All,

Could there be any chance that we've not appointed anyone yet or sacked Slot because we might be waiting for Enrique!? (I know I know, I'm deluded!)

Just thought it could possibility. If he wins back to back Champions Leagues he may well decide to move on.Or is he definitely going to City/Barca?

Interested to know your thoughts Ed? He's the only one I'd have over Alonso/Iraola or Hoeness!

{Ed001's Note - much as I would love him, I very much doubt there is any chance of that being the reason.}

14 May 2026 10:41:21
Damn my delusional mind! Oh well, thanks anyway Ed!

Let us hope we make the right call in the summer.It could be a monumental shift in what we're capable of if it's done correctly!

I still don't know why there's so much being said about him staying and him planning another year when he clearly misses home and there's so much hard work needing to be on the training ground and with our player's general fitness levels! I can't see that changing with him there! :-(