Liverpool banter 6

07 May 2026 09:59:37
Good morning all,
I have mixed feelings about Iraola, I believe he is an excellent manager but he has recently cited that his family are unable to settle in the UK. I have also read some reports he is looking to Spain for his next move.


I hope we are not falling into the same trap as we are with Slot, who wants to be with his family?
I have said before, Alonso is tailor made for us and I would hate to see him go to Chelsea.
Keep up the good work Ed's and thanks for a great forum.
Phil

07 May 2026 11:22:02
Livphil
The situation with Iraola could be different, I don't know.
1. His family seemingly did actually relocate with him to the UK when he took the Bournemouth job in the first place.
2. Spain is a 2-hour flight from the UK rather than a 45-minute one. It may not seem like much, but it is.
3. The Bilbao job has just been taken by the ex-Dortmund coach.

The only other opening this summer that could match Iraola's stock is Real Madrid, but that could easily derail his career.

I disagree that Alonso is made for Liverpool. I think Alonso is liked by Liverpool more than he likes Liverpool, but that is just a personal opinion. He made a disastrous choice going to Real Madrid despite advice not to.

07 May 2026 11:50:47
One thing I know for a fact about Iraola, if we get him, is the days of passing around at the back will be well and truly gone.

I've made my feelings very clear already. Iraola would be a fantastic choice. I'm getting prematurely excited here about him coming. Need to calm it down a bit. Probably won't happen because I want it too much.

07 May 2026 14:02:47
@Davey, As much as I want Xabi to be the manager (Enrique ain't happening, imo) cos he has won stuff and knows the journey that leads to glory, I absolutely love Iraola and the football he plays. B'mouth are one of my fav. teams in the PL to watch and that is thanks to him and his staff and of course, the players.



Most importantly, he has a way of getting the absolute best out of his players esp. the younger ones like Elie Kroupi Jnr. and several others. It will be very interesting to see what he can do with more funds, better players and on the big stage with a bigger club. If it is with LFC then, so be it.

07 May 2026 19:26:13
It's quite easy to start picking holes in each of the managers we are linked with.
Alonso - plays with 3 at the back and not a system we've played well. Didn't do so well at Madrid.
Hoeness - won a cup but only managed mid-table teams. Could he hack it in the EPL?
Iraola - can he deal with the pressures of having to win every week? His style of football creates lots of injuries.

Will his family want to move away?
Enrique - could he cope playing 60 high intensity games per season? Can he still do it without having the most money in the league?

However, every manager is a risk and there is no guarantee of success.
They are all fine managers and have had recent success. How can you expect to know how they'd cope without them actually doing the role?

07 May 2026 07:43:52
So I’m not one to pos rumours and that’s because I have no source, no inside leak and no connections to the game.

What I do have is a wild theory. Slot is gone end of the summer - what’s creating uncertainty is who is replacing him and I think Alonso was the natural fit until a certain Enrique said he’d be looking for a new challenge if he won the Champions League again.



Heard it here first (probably not).

07 May 2026 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Tomthumb1212 has posted a new article entitled, Rangers Left Paying for Bad Calls in Big Moments

07 May 2026 07:10:42
Well, after last night's performance from Olise it's a mahoosive no from me! Thought he was dog s***! Glad PSG won though because Arsenal might have had a chance against Bayern.

07 May 2026 07:34:25
You write someone off based on 1 performance? Hope you are not involved in scouting.

07 May 2026 07:38:28
I said no to Olise the other week, clear quality but a one trick pony. I think we need to get back to buying the next up and coming player who fits a profile and has a particular mindset.

I would love Bowen and Diomande in the forward positions, someone like Sadiki for dm/cm, and then we need a rb option. Sell Marma and Macca, and bless Elliott (he deserves a decent move).

07 May 2026 08:10:07
Olise is a superb player, his numbers are through the roof this year in terms of generating chances, taking shots, xg, take ons, everything. One problem is that he can only play one side (and a very specific way of playing that one side, mostly in the right half space like Mo last year), and has basically no defensive work rate to speak of. He would also cost a huge amount for whoever manages to convince him to leave Bayern in terms of wages.

Diomande is 19, is already statistically doing the business in his first season playing in a top 5 league, has massive room to improve and learn on the job, is frightening in one-on-one situations, has excellent work rate and is a willing presser and runner off the ball, and despite the fact that he tends to play as a right footed player on the right side, is pretty much unstoppable even when he likes to go on the outside with his dominant foot and beat his man for pace.

He is an absolute cutback merchant, it's his forte, which is clearly what we need.

He's a big risk, given his age and experience, but at the same time you could say his age is a big reason to pay the big money. He could go on and become one of the best in the world in one or two years. He has also shown that he can play the other side if need be, and he's only making 15k a week at Leipzig, if the fee was large you could triple or quadruple his wages at Liverpool and it still wouldn't come close to what some of our starting 11 or even Chiesa are making.

07 May 2026 08:21:54
Olise would walk into our side. Top player. No chance of coming.

07 May 2026 08:24:31
Not for me, hard pass.

07 May 2026 08:37:36
I think he’s a very good player, but I want us to go back to 2 rapid wingers like when we had Salah & Mane. I haven’t seen Diomande play, so can’t vouch, but someone of the ilk please.

07 May 2026 09:05:34
Olise is a brilliant player, be perfect for us, also Im not saying get Harry Kane but that man knows where the net is, a supreme goalscorer.

07 May 2026 10:13:39
Just been announced Darwin being released by his Saudi super club on a free transfer.

Not often World class players are available on a free.

Should we bring him back?

07 May 2026 10:26:28
Scouse John, I'm much older, so a 'Soft' pass for me.

07 May 2026 10:32:21
JK, having got to know your posts over the last couple of years, I possibly detect just a touch of sarcasm!

07 May 2026 10:44:30
Not sure Olise was ever an option to begin with, personally.

07 May 2026 10:53:31
ManofTod, "We need to get back to buying the next up and coming player... I would love Bowen." 🤣

07 May 2026 11:17:40
Next up-and-coming star? Lewandowski.

07 May 2026 11:25:46
If we're looking at up and coming stars, why not give our very own Salah a shot? True that he has had a less than stellar season, but inconsistencies are part and parcel of blooding in young players ;).

07 May 2026 11:40:32
I'm sure Chelsea are interested in Nunez jk.

07 May 2026 11:52:14
Hahaha, Rome was a little bit in there, mate, but on a serious note, if he's on a free and Ekitike is out for a year, then it might not be a bad deal.

He has an affiliation with the club, and if wages are right, he'd be ideal in the squad.



Worst case scenario, it doesn't work and you sell him for 20 mill in a season or 2 and the 40 mill the club lost on selling him last season is reduced further and it's 100% profit on the books.

07 May 2026 13:01:19
This is the third post in recent days suggesting we get Nunez back. Things are pretty bad at the club but not that bad. I hear Nathaniel Clyne is still playing if we're short of a fullback.

07 May 2026 21:29:29
He would walk in to our side and he would walk about the pitch until it's passed to him.

Too lazy, not for me.

07 May 2026 23:00:40
Liverpool are missing what Nunez brought to the team. Energy, pressing, speed on the break, creating space for others, defensive work at corners. But, miss a few chances, and people forget about everything else. Incidentally, I've seen Ekitike miss quite a few sitters this season.

09 May 2026 03:34:23
@Kemlyn, Agree with you about what the team needs but Nunez isn't the man to act as the blueprint for the team. He is just a headless chicken who, once every 20 games or so, looks good for about 10 minutes. He couldn't make the grade when we were a good side.

07 May 2026 00:28:42
Maybe with the French league being a one team league and Enrique potentially winning back-to-back UCL titles, he’ll feel like there’s nothing left to prove in his current role and look for a new challenge. What better challenge than to take over a Liverpool team reeling from losing Klopp and propelling us to new heights? The man is a tactical genius and his teams play a brand of football that is hugely entertaining.

We can but hope. I’d watch that any day over boring, pedestrian Slot ball.

07 May 2026 06:47:13
Kvarshelia: "At PSG, if you don't run, you are on the bench."

Good mentality.

07 May 2026 07:08:54
That is one unbelievable team!

07 May 2026 07:28:19
If I could hand pick a manager then he would be my first choice.

Guess we'll have to see what happens at the end of the season.... My gut tells me he'll go to City to replace Pep, which will be rather annoying... Either that or I went a bit too heavy on the Jalapenos!

07 May 2026 07:30:18
Clutching at straws here with the attempts to get Enrique. Not even sure why he'd come with our awful set-up.

07 May 2026 10:18:18
I would love Enrique too. But he does seem pretty happy there, with what is a very young team. Seems most unlikely.

07 May 2026 10:47:00
Davey, sadly, that used to be here under Klopp and even Slot last season.

And then this season happened, where we lead the league in distance walked per 90, a stat I did not even know existed in all my years of following the sport.

As for Enrique, we can always hope. I'll believe it when it happens.

07 May 2026 10:55:56
He's only just built that side, he's now seeing the fruits of his labour, you don't jump ship at your peak. Also can't see him coming in under Edwards.

07 May 2026 14:06:13
Me neither, Chewy. Enrique has a big say in transfers at PSG, I read somewhere, cos that was why Chelsea didn't hire him a few years ago, cos as their fans say, their suits wanted a "Yes" man. Sounds familiar?

Edwards, esp., and Hughes have shown they are not able to handle that type of personality, imo.

09 May 2026 03:36:13
If FSG want to move the footballing side of the club to the next level in the next 5 years, Enrique has to be the manager at some point.

06 May 2026 22:57:25
Champions League final is going to be an interesting one isn’t it.
Football vs anti-football.

06 May 2026 23:22:59
Arsenal to do the big double. Who would have thought.

06 May 2026 23:27:36
Yeah. Pity we are an anti football team too. Hopefully not for much longer.

It was nice to see two teams try to score at every opportunity.

Olise was shocking today though. No aggression or fight at all. I think he is a fine player, but with our current group, it doesn't suit us to have a winger like him.



I've settled on getting Diomande and Toure. International buddies and blistering pace either side.

Iraola will make them pressers and lethal.

Positive thinking.

Kvarshelia is amazing.

06 May 2026 23:30:53
Not a chance in hell of Arsenal beating PSG. Not a chance.

It could get embarrassing for them.

06 May 2026 23:52:00
Their only chance is a shoot-out.

07 May 2026 00:01:21
Or an early sending off, Ron. Anything can happen in a one off game, but, all things being equal, PSG should batter them.

Plus, they have the advantage of pretty much sewing up their league already, so they can prepare just for this game.

07 May 2026 00:28:40
I think it is unfair to suggest Arsenal have no chance. They already beat them in the league phase. Their semifinal was also close last year. Obviously, I want PSG to win (since I can't the brand of football Arsenal play), but it could be much closer than people think.

07 May 2026 01:37:34
I'd be happy to see PSG wipe the floor with Arsenal. Hopefully Arteta puts his outthinking-himself head on for the final. If Arsenal try not to lose, PSG will hammer them, but, funnily enough, if Arsenal try to win and actually give attacking a go, PSG can defend and will hammer them on the counter attack.

I realise that Bayern and Madrid scored goals against them, but, in Bayern's case, they are a very good attacking side at the moment, and I'd say that even though they scored a fair few by attacking, both Bayern and RM came off second best.

07 May 2026 02:17:17
Thekoparmy, league phase means nothing in this competition. It's little more than a formality. Arsenal don't stand a chance; they'll hold out for a while with some hardball, but they won't be able to hold PSG off.

07 May 2026 03:09:29
If Arsenal get two free kicks and three corners, they could well do it.

07 May 2026 04:33:39
Hopefully PSG win then we can say we lost to the champions (again).
:D.

07 May 2026 06:03:22
Chelsea has no chance against PSG in paper in the Club World Cup but they won anyway. Anything is possible in a once off cup game, and Arsenal has a good a chance as any to win.

07 May 2026 06:57:11
PSG are not unstoppable. Arsenal very much can and I fear will beat them.

They won't be going toe to toe with them, that's for sure.

Arsenal will defend deep, keep it tight and take their chances from set pieces. Given that the PSG keeper is terrible, that's a pretty good strategy.

07 May 2026 07:24:35
Like a boxing match, Arsenal have a punchers chance.

If the game is played as a football game and the ref keeps control, then it should be PSG's match to lose. Arsenal will try and turn it into a battle and street fight.

If it goes that way then Arsenal have every chance.

PSG look like a team that doesn't get phased by any opposition or gamelan, though.

07 May 2026 07:34:13
People saying Arsenal have no chance. People said the same about Chelsea in the Club World Cup Final. One-off game, anything can happen. Too much sour grapes on here. They strengthened in the right areas and persisted with their approach. I wish we were fighting for a double instead of being led down the garden path by the three amigos.

07 May 2026 08:35:36
Absolutely comical, talking about sour grapes then bringing our own people into it.
Bitter hypocrisy much?

07 May 2026 09:09:06
Arsenal have a chance against PSG. Villa n Newcastle gave them a good game this season, we couldn't lay a glove on them because we are dreadful. I wanted Bayern to win last night, but I think Bayern would have beaten Arsenal easily.

07 May 2026 09:41:58
Arsenal will beat PSG, final score 3-2, lay your money down.

07 May 2026 10:53:52
Nah, ain't buying the whole "Arsenal don't have a chance" thingy. In a final, you always have a chance and even tho, PSG are better than them and play the better football, Arsenal have their qualities as well. And as others have said, never look at this PSG via the lens of the games they had with us. We are a shambles and a half, something Arsenal is not.

Now, what did impress me is how PSG, tho noted for this high octane, high press, fluid football they play, showed in the second half for the first time (for me, at least) that they can get stuck in, hold their shape, stay compact and just sit in and nullify the opponent.



That showed me another side of them that Arsenal are gonna have to deal with, cos if they take the lead, they can stink out the gaff and we all know Arsenal struggle mightily vs low to mid block teams.

07 May 2026 12:13:11
If Forest win the Europa as well, we could celebrate losing to both CL and Europa League winners.

Some bragging rights that would be.

06 May 2026 22:12:56
Have Arsenal modelled themselves on our culture or what? So f***n annoying.

06 May 2026 22:58:03
No I don't think they have.

06 May 2026 23:15:36
They copy us so much. 😂 It's very cringey. Thank god I don't support a team like them, we're blessed to be a great club.

07 May 2026 00:10:17
What makes you say that, Ron, I'm listening?

07 May 2026 00:15:30
I had this conversation with an Arsenal fan friend of mine. The way they've manufactured a song to sing at the start of games is cringy.

You'll Never Walk Alone was sung organically by the Anfield faithful and adopted as our anthem. It didn't need to be created, the passion was in the crowd, and they took that song and filled it with passion and meaning which pours onto the pitch every time it's sung.



North London Forever (cringy already) was manufactured to create atmosphere. Akin to Leicester with their plastic clappers.

It's quite pathetic really.

07 May 2026 08:18:19
Agree with Stock making up a song as an anthem is cringey, the plastic flags and singing allez allez, nothing original.

07 May 2026 10:55:07
Stock, or Chelsea with those pathetic plastic flags back in the day.

06 May 2026 20:49:26
Hey ed001 I want you opinion on a player I've watched a few times and think is very good and want to see if you agree. Llorente for athletico Madrid?? Is this where you tell me he's dog muck

{Ed001's Note - Marcos? Good player but 31 now.}

07 May 2026 10:56:14
I like Llorente. Plays every game I have watched him play with so much, determination, energy, skill and never stops running. One we could do with right now.

Ed01, were we not looking at him some time ago?

{Ed001's Note - yeah, we did look at him a few years ago.}

06 May 2026 20:37:20
Oh my word!!!!

30 mins into the 2nd Semi between PSG & Bayern, and what is the ref doing???

If Chelsea were robbed all those years ago against Barca, what would you call this ref's performance so far?

And people say there is no corruption...

06 May 2026 21:03:23
Blatant pen for handball, as was the handball not given to Nunes, he'd have been sent off 2nd yellow.

{Ed001's Note - it wasn't though. The ref just knows the rules better than you.}

06 May 2026 21:13:27
This proves PSG are far more than just an attacking side. Their defensive performance has been outstanding, constant pressure, relentless closing down, strong challenges, and every player fully committed to the hard work. It's no surprise they're favourites to win the UCL given they excel in every aspect of the game better than anyone else.

06 May 2026 21:34:42
You don't think that the 2 handballs should be penalised Ed?

Both times, both players had their arms in unnatural positions.

Also, VAR is supposed to intervene in both situations.

The 1st because it was a possible sending off by virtue of a 2nd yellow, and the 2nd handball is clear.to see that the players hand was in an unnatural position.

{Ed001's Note - the laws of the game are on the ref's side mate. It doesn't matter what I think it should be.}

06 May 2026 21:45:26
I think you need to apologize to the ref, JLC.

06 May 2026 21:47:57
Jlc, a penalty isn't awarded from a clearance from your own teammate, IFAB laws, ref got it spot on. The second one was given by the linesman, not the ref. Only at half time did they show the replay to show it didn't come off the Bayern lads arm.

06 May 2026 21:54:55
PSG have not been handed dodgy decisions to get to the final. They have a great manager who knows how to utilise his players with good tactics and coaching.

This nonsense that the ref is corrupt anytime an oil state club gets a decision is tiring. PSG are deserving of going to the final due to being the best team in their side of the draw.

06 May 2026 21:56:13
And VAR can only intervene in a straight red card situation, not second yellows leading to reds. You've had a mare here, Jlc.

06 May 2026 21:59:56
Great goal by Kane, another outstanding season for him.

06 May 2026 22:16:45
I thought the ref was really strong tonight. Not swayed by the crowd and the pressure at all. One of the best refereeing performances I've seen for a long time.

07 May 2026 08:17:05
Ok.... I'll admit, I was schooled today.

I still think there is a lot wrong with those 2 scenarios, as the outcomes are just not the right calls in my opinion.

It is what it is... the time will come when those decisions go against us... and we'll all be here bitching and moaning.

07 May 2026 10:59:32
JLC, all good, man. I think the ref got both decisions correct. The one on Mendes was an accident.

The other on Neves would never be a pen, based on the current rules, as the ball got fired into him by Zaire-Emery at such a speed that he was never gonna be able to avoid. Dem is the rules, man.