Liverpool banter 5

16 Aug 2026 15:36:15
30 minutes in... So, isn't too early to write City off for the season?

All that money and this is the squad that they have put together????

16 Aug 2026 16:19:34
I remember Guadiola.

16 Aug 2026 16:42:23
Maresca is just not a good manager. If Pep couldn't get that team to win, I doubt Maresca can.

{Ed025's Note - he will be gone by Christmas imo Taurus..

16 Aug 2026 16:48:26
I'm with Taurus on this, I can't see what Maresca has done to warrant getting that job. I'm happy though, as he'll take them backwards, hopefully.

Only reason I can see they chose him is because he looks like Pep, so it wasn't a big change. 😂

16 Aug 2026 17:06:27
Maresca sacked by Christmas. He's useless.

16 Aug 2026 17:46:20
I'm with you Ed025 and FC8

16 Aug 2026 17:55:25
They have a very good squad but their manager is not going to cut it. I agree with ED25 he'll be out the door come Santy.

16 Aug 2026 23:27:36
I'm staggered that they let Rodri go and even more so at the reported price. I assume that he wanted to leave? Paying £115m for Anderson (good player that he is) and selling Rodri for a reported £65m seems, to me, that the valuations are the wrong way round.

Rodri's still got, at least, 2 or 3 seasons at the top of the pile. The most surprising transfer in a while and judging by the game against Arsenal, something Citeh may already be starting to regret.

16 Aug 2026 15:19:52
I don’t think there’s a player I hate more than Grab-riel at Arsenal mad overrated and a proper wet wipe.

16 Aug 2026 15:36:25
It's a disgrace how we blinked and let Arsenal go past us in quality.

We should've been poised for when Pep left Man City, and we simply blew it, standing still in transfer windows and letting the age of the squad creep up.

16 Aug 2026 15:38:33
Same here, SJ... One of those times when the word "hate" is not strong enough to describe my feelings for that $#%@.

16 Aug 2026 15:44:44
Hate is too strong a word for a person you don't know. You really need to wise up.

16 Aug 2026 15:46:18
He gets away with so much "good" defending, pushing, pulling, throwing himself to the ground, definitely should have been sent off a few times last year.
And I know our own big Virg gets plenty of the benefit of the doubt to be fair.

16 Aug 2026 16:04:29
I can't stand the screams and chest bumps whenever he makes a challenge or block, which is his job after all.

16 Aug 2026 16:06:02
Life must be shite for you to hate someone you don't know! It's only a game, lads! Or boys. 😂😉

16 Aug 2026 16:19:02
It's definitely not only a game.

16 Aug 2026 16:34:18
It literally is War Machine! It's exactly what it is!

16 Aug 2026 16:38:07
Arteta gives them a Curly Wurly every time they do something right, like win a corner, or win a free kick or a throw in. The defenders not only get a Curly Wurly, but they also get a Chomp off Arteta.

16 Aug 2026 17:18:28
Why are we talking about Arsenal? It's a Liverpool page, and they are not at fault for Slot destroying a league winning team. Then the transfer mogul Hughes sitting on his hands whilst teams overtake us.

16 Aug 2026 17:48:08
100% WD40. 👍

16 Aug 2026 23:30:03
Spot on @TIR, a case of a word losing it's meaning.

16 Aug 2026 14:50:57
Could Samuele Ricci be a potential DM signing? Any thoughts on him? Seems like he could be available for a reasonable fee. I am thinking squad player that could be developed.

16 Aug 2026 16:43:25
If he brings his sister Christina to the games, sure!

16 Aug 2026 17:15:04
I'd rather buy Shane Richie /victorvaughan.

16 Aug 2026 14:49:10
Tom Little on YouTube. 10 players to replace Curtis Jones does a go9d break down with visuals stats heat maps etc. Personally I’d take Manu Kone: covers space well, is quick, over 6ft. Has had muscle impact injuries as a result of tackles with bite only out for 1-2 games at a time, and has played with the other French players in our squad U21.

At 50 m Euro value for money was rated highly by Kloopo French national coach and Patrick Vera.

16 Aug 2026 17:05:03
I don't think Jones is as bad as some make out, but I doubt it would take 10 players to replace him.

16 Aug 2026 14:48:39
LFC.tv commentator John Bradley, who I think is fantastic, made a boo boo today as the sides were coming out. He says strong side Arne Slot has sent out today. 😀 Let's hope we don't play like his side did last year. Have a great Sunday everyone YNWA

16 Aug 2026 16:06:27
I think he has had some kind of health scare. He has lost a lot of weight and is slurring some words during his commentary.

16 Aug 2026 17:53:40
Hopefully, he's just watching what he eats and cutting back on the Devil Carbs. 🙏

16 Aug 2026 13:26:14
With the Gakpo to Spurs rumours gathering pace, who does everyone see as cover for Isak? In the current squad, Gakpo seemed the most likely with Ekitike injured.

16 Aug 2026 14:12:36
I don't think we are selling Gackpo. If we were, there would have been a bid. But Tottenham haven't made an actual bid.
They are cozying up to Savinho by doing a fraud transaction to save 115 FC.

16 Aug 2026 14:12:48
Wirtz as a false 9, maybe.

Perhaps posters who followed Iraola at Bournemouth can give insight into whether he ever used a false 9 there over the years.

16 Aug 2026 14:56:36
Baba black sheep. Heard from a good source that Gakpo is on his way to Spurs. Whether or not he is involved later might give a clue.

16 Aug 2026 15:01:31
I would say (in no particular order) Wirtz, Koumas, Barcola, Mbaye, Munoz.

Before someone says "we haven't bought 2 of them yet", I'm not expecting Gakpo to go until we have the 2 players in.

VG confirmed this (in his view) on a thread a couple of days ago...

16 Aug 2026 16:29:00
Only way Gakpo moves to the Spuds is if we bring in Barcola.

16 Aug 2026 11:48:54
Watching the game and Elliott has bulked up a lot, some might say to much, looks like he’s playing Sunday league.

16 Aug 2026 12:46:19
We look very good off the ball. But zero quality with the ball.

16 Aug 2026 12:47:04
His Villa stint did him no favours.

The structure of the loan we set up with Villa did him no favours.

He looks absolutely right for a Sunday morning match - just in the wrong side...

16 Aug 2026 13:06:48
I thought we were giving Jan Molby a run out.

16 Aug 2026 13:23:44
Bulked up is a very kind way to say "the only man who actually managed to win a prize on McDonalds Monopoly".

16 Aug 2026 13:34:15
Mo Salah isn't around to tell him to put that slice of bread back.

In all seriousness though, the fitness coaches will have been working with him since he returned. Perhaps he's just built that way?

16 Aug 2026 13:36:12
Yeah, I spotted that a couple weeks ago myself, Fatwallet, it's a sign of a lack of discipline and weak mentality, he's starting to look like prime (rib) Luke Shaw.

16 Aug 2026 13:44:41
I don’t think there was anything wrong with the structure of the loan to Villa. It was a great opportunity for him.

How were we to know how amateurish Villa were going to act?

End of the day, though, if he was good enough they would’ve had no issues playing him all season and triggering the obligation to buy.

They’ve obviously taken a look at him and thought he’s not worth buying, and based on his last 2 or 3 years they are absolutely right.

Love the lad, but he’s nowhere near good enough, I’m afraid.

16 Aug 2026 13:54:43
Agree, Beckers, mate.

But surely they would have been more amateurish though if they played him and ended up paying for a player their manager didn’t want.

They finished above Liverpool and won a European trophy without him. Emery has worked wonders over there and didn’t fam y Elliot.



That’s 3 managers and counting now that don’t see him as a first team PL starter, possibly 4 in a few months.

Ball and hard work is very much in Elliot’s court now. His career is in his hands and the longer he chooses to hang around as a squad player there’s less of that career he might have.

16 Aug 2026 14:05:53
I made the comment weeks ago comparing Ronaldo and Rooney. Ronaldo got everything out of his talent and Rooney could have been one of the all time greats if looked after himself.

Fair play, Elliott hasn't had the best of times, but turning up to preseason like an 80's player questions if he has the discipline and mentality to play for Liverpool.

There is a second opportunity to prove yourself, and I think, personally, he has let himself down and needs to be sold.

{Ed025's Note - lets not put Ronaldo or Rooney in the same sentence as Elliot Janmo, Billy Bunter yes...but not those 2 mate..

16 Aug 2026 14:14:07
Getting fat is called getting bulked up these days or am I missing something? Couldn't run 5 yards that fat lad.
He is rooney without the output.

16 Aug 2026 14:27:14
I agree, JK. The point I was making is that there was nothing wrong with the structure of the loan. I would hope both Villa and LFC agreed to the loan thinking there was a high likelihood of him fulfilling the 10 games and signing for Villa permanently.

If Villa have signed him on loan thinking they didn't want him permanently, then they should never have agreed to the obligation to buy after 10 games.

That's where my amateurish comment stemmed from.

As it is, it looks like Emery just didn't fancy him and so didn't want to sign him permanently and unfortunately that's on Harvey. The opportunity was there for him to move on in his career and he blew it.

16 Aug 2026 14:32:31
I'd say Rooney is one of the all time greats, Janmo. Certainly for United and England.

16 Aug 2026 14:34:16
Agree with Rio on this. 10 games is nothing, everyone went in eyes open. Harvey just didn't do enough to convince Villa. He's more Championship level, probably, or maybe Germany or another country with a slower league.

16 Aug 2026 15:09:41
He is on weightgain 5000, Beefcake, Beefcake!!

16 Aug 2026 15:25:16
Beckers, I get you mate and fully agree.

From a good Villa supporting mate of mine, he told me that Elliot was brought in by the supporting director behind Emery's back, and Emery wanted Paqueta. Pretty sure the director left a few days after the Elliot deal.

16 Aug 2026 15:51:52
Feel a bit sorry for Elliot, but he has gone backwards. He should look to play abroad in a slower league.

16 Aug 2026 16:19:35
It was Elliott's choice to go to Villa when there were loan options on the continent available. Anyone with a modicum of common sense could see he would not fit in the way Villa play and wasn't likely to get many chances. As it is, he should have got himself in the gym, worked on his fitness, strength and speed, but instead appears to have over familiarised himself with the menu at McDonald's; KFC & Dominons pizza.

It's unprofessional and shows a poor attitude.

16 Aug 2026 16:31:53
Ha ha, I think that Elliot has gone thru that full menu,
but VV, your spot on.

16 Aug 2026 14:44:37
Certainly not ED025 I'm not comparing Elliott to Ronaldo or Rooney.

The point I was trying to make Rooney was in my opinion had more talent than Ronaldo. If had spent less time in my Nans and at Maccies he would have been one of the all time greats.

No looking after yourself makes a massive difference even at Elliotts level.

16 Aug 2026 18:43:30
I remember you saying that, Cheney, but I didn't think it was that bad.

16 Aug 2026 11:36:19
Anyone else watching the behind closed doors match on right now? Very high pressing from what is essentially our second team.

16 Aug 2026 11:50:06
Did I miss something? I've been staring at closed doors all morning.

16 Aug 2026 12:04:12
Yeah, it's very noticeable how high we are pressing! This will suit our players so much better, not only the forwards but defence as well. Como having to go direct a lot to avoid the press, and that should really suit VVD! I'm expecting to see him back to his very best.

Just backed him for player of the year, those long balls and 1v1 situations are meat and drink to him. This has been a hard watch tho. Munoz with some nice moments, Nyoni looking good again, and Macca with some nice passes. Ramsey has surprised me with his defending.

16 Aug 2026 12:08:13
Nothing impressive so far to be honest. Basically what we already suspected - aside from our starters, the rest of the squad is not good enough.

Munoz and Trey are the exceptions so far.

16 Aug 2026 12:10:38
The camera angle is killing me, but it's definitely noticeable, the increase in energy output AI expects from his team, Como not getting much time to think.

16 Aug 2026 12:12:08
Who is captain?

16 Aug 2026 12:20:58
Even game so far, I would say. With both teams struggling to make any serious impact in the final thirds. It's surprising how poor Mamardshvili is with his feet. Always looks awkward and rushed.

16 Aug 2026 12:21:54
Tsimikas is Captain.

16 Aug 2026 12:22:38
It's tough to say the squad isn't good enough based on this game with a lot of the second, third and even fourth string playing.

You hope that you'll only have to call on the second, third or fourth string players occasionally, and not too many of them at a time. Put Ramsey at RB with a full starting 10 players around him, and he'd look a lot better than when he has Endo and Chambers at CB and Elliott in front of him, for example.



I really don't think the squad is as thin as some seem to believe. Yes, there's a drop off in quality from first choice to squad players, but that's why they are squad players. As long as we don't have to play too many of them at once we have numerous players who can do a decent job in every position.

The one position I worry about is the keeper. If Marma has to play too much this season, it will be a problem.

16 Aug 2026 12:25:26
Tsimikas, I think, Taurus. Munoz has been direct and positive, Trey controlled, finding passes between the lines, Mc'Connell is pressing very well.

16 Aug 2026 12:29:04
I deffo agree with Brown Jesus about the camera angle. Victor with some nice moments though.

16 Aug 2026 12:29:26
Correct about Mamardshvili. If the opposition force him to kick it long, they know they are guaranteed to win back possession of the ball.

16 Aug 2026 12:37:17
I don't understand how you guys are watching it if it is behind closed doors?

16 Aug 2026 12:47:51
On LFC TV, Todd.

16 Aug 2026 12:50:21
We're all here, Man of Todd. Looking over fence.

Only you not showed up.

16 Aug 2026 12:51:33
Not one of these players, apart from Munoz, Nyoni and, unfortunately, Mamadashvili, will get anywhere near the first team this season.

16 Aug 2026 12:53:01
Man of Todd, it's on LFC TV.

16 Aug 2026 13:33:02
You've forgotten about Mac Allister and Tsimikas who are definitely in the first team (the squad of 25). And I think Koumas will make it too.

16 Aug 2026 13:38:45
MOT, you can purchase Allred Video for £43 pounds for a year, like I have, less than a pound a week till next June. Exactly the same features as the LFC Channel, it's only the name that's different. Thank Sky for that, the reasons are, financially, obviously Sky want to charge you circa £12 a month for exactly the same content as Allred, which is circa less than four pounds a month.



The dodgy boxes meant that pundits were getting Sky, TNT etc and the LFC Channel for buttons, so the Allred channel was brought out, so LFC didn't miss out on fans wanting to watch the LFC Channel (Subscription needed for Sky etc).

16 Aug 2026 14:10:14
So with Koumas, Munoz and Chiesa playing in this one, who is playing at RW this evening? I am assuming Rio is on the left, Wirtz as 10 and Gakpo is not risked.

16 Aug 2026 14:14:09
I guess Gakpo on the left and Rio on the right.

16 Aug 2026 14:15:46
Probably Gakpo left, Wirtz central behind Isak, Rio right.

16 Aug 2026 14:51:30
Surely you want the 6pm team to be the team against Newcastle to work as a unit. If Gakpo is leaving, you would play him in the earlier game, or not at all. Unless talks are not as advanced as thought (the deal is done but not actually done!!), or the thought is the RW starter against Newcastle will be Our Brad.

16 Aug 2026 15:30:16
Jojo65, please use the correct Fornax scale when commenting on whether a deal is done. 👍

16 Aug 2026 10:58:06
Work for Amazon in acquisitions and unfortunately I have nothing good to report.

Football is already leaving fans behind, as was witnessed in the WC, and now Liverpool, probably the last stand for fans in a club that is still for the people in epl, has been eroded with the corporate money.



FSG have done well and run this club well as a sporting institution but now we are en route to becoming a corporate.

5 years in, you won't recognise this club. My club. It's unfortunate.

Hopefully the leadership is handled by Amit and not Mr Bezos and definitely not by that Facebook lad.

16 Aug 2026 11:17:40
I don't get the feeling that anyone, other than FSG, is happy with the current 30% sale of shares and likely future complete ownership by this particular consortium.
I will also say that Amit is known for not doing that great of a job at QPR. Their fans have said he's a nice guy, but hadn't made very good footballing decisions.


The one thing I'm clinging to is that no one wants their investment to be worth less, so we'll probably remain competitive whilst they own us, but the money will likely have to be self generated.

16 Aug 2026 11:37:32
Where did you purchase the crystal ball from, chaps. 🙈 🥴

Truth be known, who knows what the club will look like in 5 years. imo the fans are the club, mate, and as long as we stick together, we will be fine. Without the likes of sos, FSG tried to make us more corporate, so to speak, so as long as the fans stay united, whatever good/ bad decisions the club makes, the fans will keep the traditions and integrity of the club at its core, thinking to remember what has been built before us and what needs to be built for the future.

16 Aug 2026 11:48:03
I’m not confident. My gut feeling is that Amit wants it but can’t afford it, so called on his mates (who have no real interest) to back him. I don’t see a scenario where Amazon and FB hang around? Couple of years they be gone once Amit is settled.

16 Aug 2026 12:04:44
Amusing you think Liverpool was the last stand for the people 😂😂 it's a business and always has been.

16 Aug 2026 12:05:15
Yet another brand new account, apparently with "insider info".

Hmm, I call Bs. 🤔

16 Aug 2026 12:25:40
The press are riding on Bezos' name because he's newsworthy. If it was someone else, they wouldn't have had a mention. Amazon will have nothing to do with Liverpool and neither will Bezos in reality. K5 are the ones who have invested in Liverpool. Bryan Baum heads it up and he's the one who has a seat on the board.

Bezos is simply a client of K5, of which there are many. It's just that Bezos is clickworthy as a household name. He may take a vague interest, but in reality we're just one of an extremely long list of companies he has his billions tied up in.

16 Aug 2026 12:15:35
How does working at Amazon give you any insight into how a consortium led by Amit Bhatia will run a football club?

16 Aug 2026 13:30:41
It would be much worse if it was a typical institutional private equity investor coming in. They are the types that gut companies for maximum bottom line.

I don't believe Bhatia, Bezos and Saverin will act like traditional PE here. Reading between the lines, they all have different things they would bring to the table that align with where football strategies may go next - namely infrastructure, streaming and social/digital experience.

I think that bodes well that these guys are not coming in to strip its soul out for a few billion dollars, but rather pioneer in new areas/products.

16 Aug 2026 13:32:31
I think Bezos's interest is in working out an angle for selling Amazon Prime subscriptions. With a representative on the LFC board, he gets a tie in the door of the Premier League itself.

16 Aug 2026 14:01:42
Yeah, I agree. I've heard that Amazon are really struggling worldwide and I hope Liverpool Football Club bumps up their sales.

16 Aug 2026 15:04:27
Amazon ain't struggling, but they want to reposition the streaming side of the business. Prime lacks the big franchise anchor series that Netflix and Disney get, but they see that live sports differentiates them and sports fans are less likely to switch to other services compared to movie fans.


Also, Amazon in the USA has reached saturation. It's as big as it can get. So growth is in Europe and Asia, where the Premier League is the most watched league by a long way. Tie that to an Amazon subscription, link it to free delivery of almost everything. Now you have global growth.

16 Aug 2026 15:29:26
Why don't Amazon just sponsor the Premier League and name it the Amazon Premier League.

Part owning a team and trying to access more streaming rights would surely be bordering on conflict of interest. Whereas, if they sponsored the full lot, it's a cake walk.