Liverpool banter 6

07 Aug 2026 15:37:15
@Ugbes - Regards Infantino and FIFA - when crooks make the rules, there are no rules. Simple.

07 Aug 2026 17:24:07
You make deep sense @Salmino.

07 Aug 2026 17:46:01
What made me laugh, was that it was reported that Argentina came out and backed Inscamtino for the role. I mean, lol, I wonder why that would be.

07 Aug 2026 14:33:41
Can we go looking for the next Rodri instead of wasting most of this window on Barcola. I could care less if we sign or don't sign Barcola. He's not making a huge difference to the team.


We've the weakest midfield in the top 6 as it stands. There's Sobosli who's a guaranteed starter, and honestly the rest could fight it out for the other spots. There's little difference in quality.

07 Aug 2026 16:24:33
Sobosli, is that our new right back?

07 Aug 2026 16:38:32
The midfield we currently have won the league, it's not the weakest midfield in the top 6. Midfield is the least of our worries right now.

07 Aug 2026 16:54:24
Absolutely, Fifth Element. I honestly don't know what people have been watching.

07 Aug 2026 17:04:07
Fifth Element basically skipped the whole season and the last 3 months of the winning season.
Also, forgets players' age and doesn't play at their best.
It's like, just forget that we got battered this last year and we're lucky to be top 5.

07 Aug 2026 17:08:17
I'm even more worried. If the rumours of Gakpo, Mcallister, Elliot, Jones and Chiesa wanting out or being surplus to requirements, then we need serious incomings. Add the injuries to Ekitike, Bradley and Gomez's injury record to that, and I'm worried we've been so quiet in the window.

07 Aug 2026 17:14:31
I also skipped over Spurs finishing 17th last season and signing a midfielder that got relegated and one whose fans were happy to see the back of.
I also skipped over Manchester United only finishing in the top 5 because they were out of every other competition.
I also skipped over Chelsea, who finished 10th, 5 places behind Liverpool.


Also, what about their ages? Szoboszlai is 25, Gravenberch 24, Mac Allister 27, all either at or coming into their prime footballing ages.
We have far more glaring issues to address. Signing a midfielder is like changing your car's tires when it has no engine.

07 Aug 2026 17:30:37
If Barcola makes the right adjustments, he does have the ability to make a massive difference to our team. His speed and skill are a huge add to the attack.

With some added composure in front of goal and good application to defensive work, he could be a superstar.

Hopefully, Iraola can add the final pieces to his game, as well as the added maturity that sometimes comes with age.

07 Aug 2026 18:09:47
Nuance, eh?

We have an imbalanced midfield mix. Our only DM, bought in as a stop gap three years ago, can't run and made one Premier League start last season.

Saying that midfield won the league does not change that fact that it is imbalanced.



And if anyone wants to bring up the purple patch of 3 months that Gravenberch had as a DM from Aug to Nov 2024, I will be out on the front lawn waiting for you.

07 Aug 2026 18:10:09
Not many next Rodri's out there.

07 Aug 2026 18:17:48
Midfield players so far have cornered the PL market:
Rogers AM, £117 million Villa to Chelsea Buns! 7 year contract?
Anderson £116 mill to the Filth/Cheats.
Tonali £93 million Newcastle to Spuds,
Fernandes £85 million West Ham to Spuds.
Santos = Chelsea reserves to Man Utd circa £50 million. Take that 50 away from Rogers fee, and it reduces the £117 to £67 mill for Rogers. If we get rid of Jones and Mac Allister, we will be in the market also for badly needed midfielders with the above war chest. It seems a Pressing problem! Excuse the pun?

Guimares yet to move £85 million, has LFC/Cheats stopped that one?
So far it's midfield players with the highest PL transfer.



Rodri going to Barca according to the morning papers, £70 million. Pray to God he does. Guardiola failed totally to replace KDB. Maresca has no chance of replacing Rodri like for like.
Maresca got the sack from Chelsea last season after losing 6 PL games on the bounce. He's a dead man walking! Haaland to PSG a strong rumour in Paris?

It looks like Arsenal again, sadly, unless the FSG Cavalry arrives before the summer window closes?

07 Aug 2026 18:23:20
FlyPelicanFly, no one is saying our midfield is perfect, but it is the least of our problems right now.
Nuance, eh?

07 Aug 2026 18:29:14
Forgot to add:

This coming season will be remembered for 9 new managers at PL clubs, Arteta longest serving at circa 5 and a half years?

Arne Slot, a Coach who has won the PL and is unemployed, not among the Nine, one wonders why?

07 Aug 2026 18:54:26
Fifth Element, I would argue it's a priority.
Our midfield was bypassed at will, we had no clear CDM since Grav decided that wasn't for him. I would say the lack of any meaningful midfield, bar szob, was at the root of our issues.


Our vacant CB positions are clearly the other big issue, then probably the RB position. If you're going to use a youth player, I'd rather it was on the wing than at CB.

07 Aug 2026 18:58:57
The argument that "this midfield won the league" is as stupid as it gets, firstly that was over 15 months ago and isn't relevant, other sides have not only caught up, but they've passed us by. It's almost the same as the imbeciles round these parts who said we didn't need to replace Lovren before the 20/21 season or the same ones who said we didn't need to bring in fresh legs in midfield before 22/23, who were wrong then and are wrong now,

Secondly, that group of midfielders is the lazuest, softest, weakest, tackle shy group of pansies around. They were bullied almost every game last season and there's no reason to think it'll be any different this season. None of Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, or Jones fancy getting their boots dirty or sticking the boot in and they're not the kind of midfielders who can out technique the opposition either as they don't have the skill or brains. They're the worst of all worlds.

We've never adequately replaced Fabinho and it'll be a problem again this season.

Like it or not, centre midfield is one of the most important parts of the pitch and ours is not fit for purpose. Most, if not all teams fancy playing against us because they're neither a threat going forward and they offer no defensive nous or fight.

07 Aug 2026 19:18:05
No offence, Ron, but posts like this make me laugh.
It's like saying give me the 6 numbers (or whatever) so that I can win the lottery.
Rodri is a good player.
But quality players like that are not in abundance and if any similar ones are around, could we even get them.


Yes we'd all like a few signings, but for me, I'm just looking forward to see over the season, what Iraola can do.

07 Aug 2026 20:40:06
Defence starts from the front, and if they aren't set up properly then the actual defenders or midfielders have no chance. The fact that we weren't set up properly last year was a bigger issue than any particular player or position. I very much doubt that Grav decided a particular position "wasn't for him", DeanW, he would have played where he was instructed to.

07 Aug 2026 11:41:35
Shock Horror Headline that the Argentine Football Association have pledged their support Gianni Infantino.
Argentina and Mexico have gone against the status quo amid increasing calls for Infantino to resign after his failed plans to launch the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise.

07 Aug 2026 13:10:58
I am not familiar with the rules, but I thought the respective associations would vote as a block.

07 Aug 2026 13:35:21
Well, Infantino said there would be a penalty for all the nations who don't support him. Those penalties will be given to Argentina.

07 Aug 2026 13:40:18
Class Chicken Staff.

07 Aug 2026 14:19:36
Apparently, Motsepe, the failed CAF president, has pledged his allegiance to Infantino. I have no idea what has happened to modern society.

07 Aug 2026 14:25:18
Well done, Chicken. Super hilarious.

As for Infantino, the guy is even more shameless in his corruption than Blatter was, and that's saying a lot.

07 Aug 2026 14:46:29
I hope UEFA stick to their guns and force the head crook out.
But, it needs governance after that, or another slimeball gets in and the cycle begins again.

07 Aug 2026 15:22:06
Hey Ugbes,

I am from South Africa.... Motsepe's country of birth as well... I know exactly why he is supporting Infantino.

I actually said he would on the pages initially...

Don't be so surprised by it, mate... the surprise would have been if he went against Infantino.

07 Aug 2026 15:41:19
Infantino is an absolute villain, but it doesn't matter who is in charge of FIFA. FIFA has so much money to essentially bribe small football associations whose vote counts as much as the very biggest that corruption is an inevitability.

My theory is that the recent ridiculous episode wasn't even originally his idea, rather, it came from elsewhere and he stupidly went along with it until it was too late. The whole thing stank of American influence.

07 Aug 2026 15:48:23
Sepp Blatter also relied on CAF for support, or rather, CAF were loyal to Blatter.

Oh, how we love a crooked leader.

07 Aug 2026 15:44:07
Motsepe is part of the money grabbing kleptocracy that is running South Africa.

07 Aug 2026 11:24:16
Bradley Barcola to Liverpool is a Done deal. #LFC

Liverpool and PSG reached an agreement for the transfer of Barcola for a value around €128m.

Player sign a 5-years contract with option to extend for 6-years.

07 Aug 2026 13:05:07
Not quite, you have copied and pasted almost verbatim from a Yahoo! Sport article which quotes from DaveOCKOP.

Not quite done yet (read DaveOCKOP's article for his disclaimers), but should be soon, as the ITKs mentioned.

07 Aug 2026 13:36:17
I believe this is from that dubious Dave Ockop Twitter account that had a random bloke wearing a lanyard at Anfield as his profile picture for about 10 years.

07 Aug 2026 13:42:04
Zeddicus, so what if he did, it's posting information that they've seen.


Respect the posters.

07 Aug 2026 13:48:47
Fat Wallet, how was Zeddicus disrespectful?
He was simply stating that it is not quite done yet as per the article the poster quoted.
He wasn't rude or personal, and just gave his opinion in response. Perfectly respectful post.

07 Aug 2026 14:16:25
Most of the posts from the recent past, claiming Barcola was done, also cited that an official announcement would come later. For various reasons. Now if the readers want to be selective about what they retain from reading, the posters can't do much about it.

07 Aug 2026 14:16:46
Is this Fatwallet fella ok?

07 Aug 2026 14:26:13
Fatwallet, you're my guy, but seriously, is everything alright?

07 Aug 2026 15:12:51
FatWallet, as others have said, I just corrected, respectfully, Bhav's comments, as they could be misleading.

Life would be made so much easier if folks (like me, as I also KFA), who are just quoting or copying and pasting from t'internet, would actually state a source like "I read on DaveOCKOP's website (when I got past the 487 ads) that it looks like..." etc.



It's just more honest, rather than using ITK speak. It's definitely useful for folks who aren't scouring every clickbait site every few minutes (as I seem to be doing right now!) to see the details posted here, but misleading to not also offer a source, or, worst of all, try to make out that you are ITK.

The source is the source of your posts being hot sauce!

07 Aug 2026 15:50:48
Agreed, Zeddicus.

07 Aug 2026 17:57:49
I'm alright, folks, just it has been more toxic on here lately, more than I've ever known, and I've been on here since it was just a rumours page. Zeddicus, I know you have been on ages, so I'm not having a go.

07 Aug 2026 18:05:34
Just going to leave it now, just trying to get some toxicity off the feeds.

07 Aug 2026 18:13:23
I know what you mean, FatWallet, I usually step away during school holidays, but this window, with a new manager and a coterie of reliable ITKs, I just can't help coming here several times a day!

07 Aug 2026 18:23:46
I normally wouldn't post and have only just started, but you know how it is, cheers, Zeddicus.

06 Aug 2026 22:59:22
Liverpool very, very rarely announce a new signing on the weekend, so if not tomorrow you will be waiting until Monday at the earliest.

07 Aug 2026 06:58:53
1jj, I have it on very good authority (a thread below on this very site) that we are going to announce not just one, but two, signings before the weekend.

07 Aug 2026 07:14:02
Exactly, WDW. If it doesn't happen today (Friday UK), then not going to happen for a few days.

Hard to keep up with all the ITKs these days (especially the new ones who have suddenly appeared since schools have broken up for summer...).

07 Aug 2026 08:28:53
Well, WDW. I most certainly am looking forward to that, should it be the case.

07 Aug 2026 08:41:16
Flash, these are posters who come here and post rumours not itfks.
It's a rumour site for God's sake, and labelling them that is old and not really funny.

Respect the posters.

07 Aug 2026 09:06:49
Who's Flash?

The kids are always annoying, especially now with AI to get their ITK voice perfected.

07 Aug 2026 09:48:59
Barcola/Mbaye double deal to be announced later today then?

07 Aug 2026 10:21:36
Announce on Sunday at Anfield by bringing both players out to an ovation.

07 Aug 2026 10:34:26
@Fatwallet, would you say respect should be earned or do you just respect everybody you meet or interact with? By the way, Flash hasn't contributed to this thread yet.

07 Aug 2026 10:34:34
Technically, Sunday at Anfield will be Monday in Aus/NZ, and some of Saturday could be Friday in North America.

So, I think we're covered for most of the weekend, lads.

07 Aug 2026 11:12:45
Me too, WDW. Flash isn't here. Prolly a post that was meant for another thread, that found it's way to this thread, I reckon.

07 Aug 2026 11:26:49
I respect posters who earn it, Fatwallet. Guys who regularly slag the club, staff, and players get zero respect from me.
The only observation I've made was a tongue in cheek one regarding the rise in numbers of guys posting like ITKs.
You don't like that?
Tough.

07 Aug 2026 13:47:32
I'm not saying that, people should be able to post on here with information and not get ridiculed or called out and called you know f*** all


Respect the posters.

07 Aug 2026 14:51:39
Would you care to point out to me where I've done any of that, Fatwallet?
You realise the irony of it is that you trying to label me with something I haven't said or done is disrespectful?
I'll respect who I choose, thanks, and defer to nobody.

07 Aug 2026 18:04:32
I have no respect for people who slag the club off.

06 Aug 2026 22:23:01
Getting a bit worried about the huge holes all over the squad as the season gets closer. Remember 20/21 the CB situation was a disaster waiting to happen and 22/23 the midfield was the same and how both seasons went now Both are the case. Barcola and Mbaye if we get them looks very good for the wide positions but surely we aren't going into the season expecting 2 of Szob/Grav/Mac/Jones to play together in the pivot? It doesn't work especially if Wirtz will be ahead of them.

The CB situation is even worse and there's no cover for Isak!! We need to get Iraola the tools to be successful he won't be a miracle worker.

07 Aug 2026 00:01:35
There are not huge holes in the squad. The midfield is the same one that won the league. We've got numerous players who can play the forward positions, and when everyone is fit (which won't be too long), we have multiple players who can play all across the back 4.

We all know that pretty much all of them massively underperformed last season, but that doesn't make them bad players.

I'm constantly being told how Iraola is a great manager and is brilliant at improving players, yet in the same breath that he needs more/better players. If he's that good, he'll be able to get a tune out of what he has.

No team is perfect. No team has a squad capable of winning every game. The trick is, and what the best managers do is, find a way to keep collecting points.



That can be like prime City, when you just have better players than everyone else so you can outplay most teams, or like Arsenal where they stifle games so they can control and choreograph the finer details.

It really doesn't matter which way you do it, you just need to find a way. As it stands, we have a better squad than all but 3 or 4 clubs in the league so if Iraola is that good he should be able to beat most teams. Then he just needs to find a way to get points against the better teams and we are golden.

I do think we will sign players. In fact I'm sure of it, but the current situation is nowhere near as bleak as some people are trying to make out.

{Ed025's Note - love the attitude mate..

07 Aug 2026 00:30:00
Arguably, this season's defensive depth is worse than that 2020/21 season.

At least we had three senior first team defenders plus Nat Phillips and academy kid Rhys Williams, to start the season.

This season we're two senior first team defenders plus couple new, unproven and unfit kids plus the actual academy kids.

Numbers-wise we have enough, but we can also see the 'what if' scenario and how destructive to the season that may be if it played out.



We've often walked this line, especially in defense. And I don't know why we keep doing it, other than in theory, we have the roster spots filled, and so the recruiting team don't prioritize it as highly.

Actually, we did try to sign Guehi, so perhaps the fact that we have 'bodies' makes the team think we have more grace period to find the perfect solution for that position.

07 Aug 2026 03:15:08
Please tell me who it is that can cover Isak when he is injured or tired or his body breaks down?
It's not Danns. There is no other striker and Ekitike will be struggling to regain full fitness and sharpness the entire season.
Marmoush would be the logical buy for me.

07 Aug 2026 05:19:15
We have one fit right back who is really a wing back, one fit senior centre back who is 35, one fit striker who can't play 3 games a week and no right winger.
The current situation is extremely bleak.

07 Aug 2026 06:52:13
Who are these multiple players who can play across the back four?

How many injuries do you need to regularly see that it's not realistic.

07 Aug 2026 07:00:36
Time to break out the Valium, methinks.

07 Aug 2026 07:41:10
I'd wager that Riostepover also thinks having Rio will win us the league. Wake up you buffoon. No holes? No brain more like it.

07 Aug 2026 08:34:05
We have some holes in the squad. That is not breaking news. But I don't think we have as many holes as the OP is saying as that is a bit OTT, imo.

For me, we need 4 players to come in, including, and essentially, a CB/RB hybrid, a midfielder, a backup striker, and just maybe another wide player, even if Barcola signs, which, by our sources, is near completion.



The good thing is that, bar the backup CF (this is why Gakpo needs to stay, imo), the other 3 holes are being addressed, so let's wait and see what happens here, esp. with 3 weeks left in the window before going all doom and gloom, cos that seems to be the norm on here of late.

07 Aug 2026 09:09:00
No, Oli, I really don't think we do have holes in the squad. Let alone gaping holes like the OP said.

We have areas that could be improved, sure. But then name me a team in the world that doesn't.

It seems that people won't be happy until we have world class players in every position including the bench.

Even then they'd moan that we paid too much for them, we didn't sign them quickly enough, Hughes got it wrong blah, blah, blah.

It's painful to read.

07 Aug 2026 10:04:06
Wasn't 2 of them 3 first team CBs, Matip and Gomez? And the 4th was Nat Phillips? I'd rather go with this season's options, thanks. And I still expect another CB signing, hopefully meaning Joe leaves the club.

07 Aug 2026 10:05:36
Squad can't be that bad. Should have walked the league last year. 😂

07 Aug 2026 10:30:22
@Shughes, don't be so pessimistic. We got Chiesa as back up!!

07 Aug 2026 10:43:46
If we bought Zabarnyi, Kounde, Wharton, Barcola and Mbaye, the squad would still need improving. There are areas of the squad that are weaker than others, but that is always the case for all teams. Stop panicking, we'll be ok. In fact I think AI will have us in the title race this season, irrespective of the current misgivings.

07 Aug 2026 11:19:58
@Rios, To a point, I agree that we don't really have that many holes and the whole "we have gaping holes" schstick is just OTT stuff we can both ignore.

Indeed, I am not a perfectionist and realise that every team has areas and plyers they can always improve on, but simply can't, all in one go. Hence, my 4 players option has a lot more to do with improving on the first 11. So to me, thoise 4 players in those 4 areas will not just improve our first 11, but also help with depth, imo.



As for the other stuff you said, I agree completely. Seems the more hyperbolic they sound, the more posters think their points are valid. The whole "hair on fire" crap is not my thing either, hence I tend to not participate in such threads as much as possible.

It's as you said, "It's painful to read".

07 Aug 2026 11:30:48
I actually wouldn't be surprised to see a window like that, WDW.

07 Aug 2026 12:29:49
I must admit I'm surprised. People would be happy going into a season with:
CB's of:
VD - 35
Gomez - Never available
Leoni - Returning from a horrible injury
Jacquet - might be injured, just returning

and RB's of:
Bradley - sad history of injuries and currently out
Frimpong - Really poor season and looks poor defensively
The youth?

For nearly 50 games? Surely that is not acceptable.

07 Aug 2026 13:16:48
The window closes on 1 September. I trust a lot will be sorted by then.

Don't worry. Everyting coowol.

07 Aug 2026 13:39:03
I don't think we need to spend another half a billion and play fantasy football to win the title. Arsenal won the league with a brick player upfront and it seems they'll be trying to do the same again this season.

City are losing their most important player and have hired an Italian Arne Slot. The 99 points era is well and truly over. Couple of additions, and we will be right up there, I'm sure.

07 Aug 2026 15:51:58
Does that mean Maresca is gonna win it in his first season like Arne?

07 Aug 2026 17:06:09
I mean, Arsenal won playing terrible football, so yeah City could win.
Also helps when you have some cover for your starters.

06 Aug 2026 21:46:22
Any reason why people are saying there will be something announced tomorrow?

As every day goes by the intensity grows. 😂

Ken.

06 Aug 2026 21:53:25
We've got 1 signing tomorrow, 2 signings tomorrow, something breaking tomorrow (I reckon a vase), and 2 signings next week.

My ghast is waiting to the flabbered.

3.5 weeks and counting before the schools go back. ⏱️

06 Aug 2026 22:11:15
I rode into town on my horse Friday stayed in the town for 2 days and left on Friday, how did I do it?

Ken

06 Aug 2026 22:14:00
Who knows how the ITKs get their info King.

I know Carra had Hughes locked up in a shed in his back garden. I believe he used all sorts of techniques to extract his info.

VG has big Henry on speed dial. He usually gets those lips flapping by feeding him all kinds of beverages.

Robbo uses the ninja approach. Usually hiding out in lfc offices, private planes eavesdropping on important conversations.

Fields charms all the wives of key figures at Liverpool and gets his information that way.

But the rest I haven't a clue how they get their info.

06 Aug 2026 23:43:26
On your horse, Friday.

07 Aug 2026 06:05:08
My guess is the people making those claims are either:

a) chancing a guess based on Akliouche now being completed for PSG

b) attention seeking

c) a wind up merchant

4) all of the above.

07 Aug 2026 06:53:09
My guess is a). Pure clairvoyant stuff.

07 Aug 2026 07:15:14
You have a suspicious way of looking at people on a rumours site, @Changing.

07 Aug 2026 08:31:05
You missed option 5) Harry's many sock puppet accounts.

07 Aug 2026 10:46:27
@OP, As that nice young man, Pink Floyd, put it 'Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way'... just a bit of the old desperation showing at the moment.

07 Aug 2026 13:05:00
"Pink isn't well, he stayed back at the hotel".......

06 Aug 2026 19:58:23
If Barcola is done, we must want to get him in soon as the season starts in 2 weeks. Surely now it’s best for both parties and the player to get it done.

06 Aug 2026 20:55:13
It's not done.

06 Aug 2026 21:28:31
Done or not, he can't start pre season until Monday as every player is required to have 3 weeks off. As long as it is official by Sunday night, it will make no difference.

06 Aug 2026 21:41:26
We'll find out tomorrow.

06 Aug 2026 23:46:02
He's still on holidays, so wouldn't come in now even if announced anyway.

07 Aug 2026 08:36:17
Indeed, ShipleyKopite. Even if we got him 2 weeks ago, he still would not have been able to train as he would still be on holidays.

06 Aug 2026 19:13:06
Akliouche is now officially a PSG player. Maybe this is the trigger to Barcola deal go on.

06 Aug 2026 20:48:22
Well, we'll soon find out.