Liverpool banter 7

30 Jan 2026 06:33:18
I'd love to see Klopp come back as some type of sporting director, transfer committee role or something.

Maybe Edwards and Hughes to leave in the summer (Edwards was supposed to be doing the multi club thing and there's been no news on that, owners haven't backed Hughes/ slot in this window so in my opinion they don't trust them to spend wisely)

Something like

Klopp - Sporting director
Alonso - Manager
Thiago - Assistant
Milner - Coach

I have no info or anything just stating what I would like to see (or something similar)

30 Jan 2026 07:18:34
Sentimentality doesn't work in business.

30 Jan 2026 07:46:50
Am not saying it wouldn't work but Klopp, Milner and Thiago have never done them jobs before so that would be a big gamble and if we did have Klopp as a sporting director then Xabi wouldn't be a manager he'd be head coach.

30 Jan 2026 07:52:22
Has Milner even done his coaching badges yet? Thought he was still playing at Brighton. As nice as this would be for nostalgia, id prefer we just get the best people for each position regardless of their previous affiliation with Liverpool. I'm sure Xabi, if we get him, worked with a whole lot of talented coaches in Spain and Germany.

30 Jan 2026 08:15:58
I don't get the Klopp for SD a lot of the time he choice of player was not good and he stuck by them too much.
He also proved he did not really like working with a SD as he wanted all the power so am guessing he would be the same with the manager.


If we are getting Alonso we need a SD that is going to support him and they need to be singing off the same hymn sheet.
As for the back room staff am not sure about Thiago has he work much with Alonso and would he not want the same guys he has worked with before.

30 Jan 2026 08:41:24
Apparently Milner is in the process of working towards his Uefa coaching badges.

30 Jan 2026 08:51:37
Well that is dream scenario for us Liverpool fans.
We are looking at years and decades of domination with that setup so obviously we won't do that😂.

30 Jan 2026 10:17:16
Alonso will bring his own choice staff. And rightly so. The club need to appoint an experienced and respected Football director or whatever to replace Hughes, Edwards or both. Only then will we progress in a proper manner.

30 Jan 2026 10:37:55
Edwards and Hughes have just been part of Liverpool becoming the highest earning premier league club for the first time in their history and 5th highest professional club.

Does anyone honestly believe FSG will get rid of Edwards and Hughes on that.

The onfield issues we are dealing with is and always has been laid at the managers door.

30 Jan 2026 11:47:12
Spot on, Man. of. todd. Klopp is part of our illustrious history. I propose we leave his legacy where it is.

Rather than for him to come back, things go bad and a decent part of his legacy goes up in smoke. Just my take.

30 Jan 2026 06:30:39
Assuming we make it to the Champions League next season (looking like 5th place would do it), how much transfer activity do people expect in the Summer?

And to support this 'great gamble', are we to assume plans are already underway?

Outs?
Slot
Mo
Macca?
Robbo
Ibou
Endo
Chiesa
Gakpo?

That's another substantial transfer window, potentially bigger than the last.

Huge gamble by the club but incredibly interesting and important times, let's hope we start with a win Saturday evening - massive game, as is every league game from now on.

30 Jan 2026 07:49:58
Add Gomez to leave as well. Part of the problem this season was intergrating lots of new players but this summer could be even worse.

30 Jan 2026 08:19:11
Out of them Pompey I would like Chiesa to stay and get more game time under Alonso if he is manager.
Love the guys commitment when he comes on and you can see he loves playing for the club and if Alonso gets him fitter am sure he can be a great part of the squad.

30 Jan 2026 08:46:48
Ok, adding Gomez, Tsimikas and Harvey?
And that's not even addressing RB…

This Summer's going to be a massive project - Hughes (and Alonso? ) should be up to their eyeballs in planning at this point.

Plus I'd expect 2 plans given our form, 1 in the hope we make CL qualification and a contingency plan in case we don't.

Outs?
Slot
Mo
Macca?
Robbo
Ibou?
Endo
Chiesa
Gakpo?
Gomez
Elliot
Tsimikas

Anyone for anymore? 😂.

29 Jan 2026 22:39:58
Any plans to bring Luca Stephenson back at all with the injuries currently, although a big step up, he played well in pre season and has been great when I've seen him play for Dundee united.

30 Jan 2026 06:26:09
With you there, albeit based on his preseason - decent option at both CB and CDM 👍.

29 Jan 2026 22:31:08
James Pearce is a interesting Journalist. I read a article of his which went full on the issues created in the summer, gaps not being sorted and just overall the mess created. Very much like a FSG figure had given him the go ahead to print it. He then wrote another article on the support and backing Slot has.

Where Joyce and Ornstein have been very quiet. Its almost like James is used to murky the waters, I definitely expect Slot to go. I just don't no if he's wanting to get fired to get his pay out and sob story firing in a years time.

29 Jan 2026 23:02:52
Am I the only one not buying into the 'major gaps were left in the squad over the summer' narrative?

Not getting Guehi was a mistake and most of thought so at the time. And it became an even bigger one when Konate's form fell off a cliff and Leoni got injured. But other than that, everyone thought we were going into the season in good shape squad wise. Opposition fans and the media were calling it a perfect summer transfer window. I still think we have a good squad everywhere but center back and maybe right back. And the latter only because it's two young players struggling to stitch 6 games together without getting injured.

No one at the club can be clairvoyant and correctly predict multiple first team players' form collapsing. And imo that is at least partly due to tactics.

The mistake is seemingly making no effort to fix things this month.

29 Jan 2026 23:03:16
Im sure Arne would prefer to leave by mutual consent or otherwise by being sacked. I can't remember the last PL manager to quit a team and forfeit his contract.

29 Jan 2026 23:27:58
Maybe Stevie Coppell Darwins.

He was Man City manager for about 3 weeks I think and he quit. Very odd.

30 Jan 2026 00:33:22
I agree SR.

Virgil and Konate are a league winning CB partnership and they were backed up by Gomez and Quansah last season.

Most thought Quansah wasn't good enough and he was replaced by Leoni so I don't see an issue.

How were the club to know that Leoni would get a season ending injury in his first game and Konate would lose form so dramatically?

Frimpong was injury free last season and he's had 3 injuries in 5 months this season. Again how could that possibly be foretold?

It seems a lot are moaning about us not replacing Diaz but he was a CF last season and we bought 2 top CF and a player who was largely thought of as the best attacking mid in the world who is still only 22.

We had 2 quality players in every position at the start of the season but so many previously reliable starters have just not performed. That has to land at the managers door, he was given the tools but he's failed to use them properly.

And what's this obsession with Hughes and Edwards? They've just given us the best transfer window in 30 years and just because the manager can't utilise the embarrassment of riches he has at his disposal people want them sacked? They don't even know what Hughes and Edwards jobs are or what their remit is but the team isn't winning enough so sack them all?

We've even got one poster who decided to nickname Hughes The Silver Tongued Charlatan. On what basis? Do you really know him that well to start casting these aspersions? And do you not want the bloke who negotiates transfers to be silver tongued?

It really baffles me. Results don't go our way and fans will look for someone, anyone to blame.

30 Jan 2026 02:21:15
Red_Alfie28 - Many people have felt that way about Pearce for quite some time. The general consensus is that he essentially writes what he's told to.

- Something Red - I'd say so mate, I wouldn't say there's many who'd side with you. I do agree that the poor performances are mostly down to a poor choice of tactics. But at the same time, even tough we have plenty of talent, the squad lacks balance. Mo has never had competition for his place and with his legs clearly having been gone for a coupe of years now, not bringing in a successor/ understudy was always going to be a recipe for disaster. No replacement for Diaz, who was the only bit of tenacity we had in the side. We never replaced Matip. We brought in Frimpong for Trent, seemingly, but as of yet it's not been too clear what the actual intent was there, he's certainly not a like for like replacement. If he's going to spend a lot of time at RM/ RW then he's not exactly Trent's direct successor. With Bradley being known for his inability to stay fit at such a young age coupled with Frimpongs injury concerns we're seriously compromised at RB. We are also majorly lacking in an enforcer in the midfield. Nobody in that team is physically dominant in the centre of the park. I also don't see a clear and obvious nomination for the captains armband which is worrying. Hopefully Dom is capable of stepping into that role.

So by my count; RW, LW, CDM, CB, RB are all positions we currently need filled with reliable first team quality. And that's before even considering the likely outgoing's next Summer.

30 Jan 2026 06:46:14
Diaz started 14 games in the PL and only 1 in the CL as a CF. All the other games he started in his traditional LW position. He certainly wasn't a CF all season and only started there when Slot eventually gave up on the options he had.

30 Jan 2026 07:09:47
Sean, Hughes is criticised for his scattergun approach in the market. The fans aren't stupid, they may go hyperbolic at times, but they aren't stupid. We need a CB, it's impacting the club on the pitch and he hasn't delivered. That's a dereliction of duty.

30 Jan 2026 08:05:37
Agree Irish Diaz was very good on the left and at centre forward last season.

Personally I think we miss his ball carrying abilities. He wanted to leave though as the club didn't think he was worth the pay rise he wanted.

30 Jan 2026 08:34:24
Didn't Chelsea claim Maresca quit.

30 Jan 2026 10:57:15
That's right Irish, his first game as a CF was in the CL against Leverkusen in November if I remember rightly.

From then on he was employed largely as a false 9 either from the start or changed mid game because Slot lost faith in Nunez and Jota was injured following the assault at Fulham. Even when Jota came back he preferred Diaz in that role.

I agree with people that we miss his tenacity and ball carrying ability but he was desperate to go (and it wasn't about money) and we definitely replaced him in the squad. Wirtz, Ekitike and Isak more than replaces Nunez, Jota and Diaz with a much younger, more talented if somewhat different profile of player.

It's then up to the manager to make the necessary adjustments to get the best out of the new players. You can't just play different players the same way you played the old players even if they are a similar profile. Every player will be different.

30 Jan 2026 12:52:33
How do you know it wasn't about money Beckers or is your opinion final.

29 Jan 2026 22:20:50
Hey, hope everyone is well.

The Qarabag game was a cracking game for many reasons.

Did anyone take note that they had a few talented players? Played well in the first 20 mins.

Can we raise interest in Montiel, please? Looks talented.

29 Jan 2026 22:14:35
Eds, what can be read into the lack of transfer activity (so far, at least) this January?

{Ed001's Note - only that there is a lack of trust in Slot.}

29 Jan 2026 22:50:21
A lack of trust in Slot by potential signings ed001?
Because surely the club would still look to bring in much needed reinforcements even with a new manager on the horizon? Even if we stick with Slot he's going to struggle with no defenders, likewise Slots replacement.

{Ed001's Note - no, by the club. They should bring in players anyway, they are gambling heavily on the belief that the squad has enough to get a top 5 spot.}

29 Jan 2026 23:08:33
Madness. Anyone can see we are a couple of defenders short. If VVD gets injured it could cost multimillions in lost revenue. Neither Xabi or Enrique are improving this team without defensive reinforcements and, despite his failings, Slot has been hung out to dry if he is supposed to finish this season with a paper thin defence.

30 Jan 2026 08:07:43
Darwin agree Slot is between a rock and a hard place now with no reinforcements this window and he has been let down.

But also he put himself in this position as the 5 league wins in 4 months previously isn't down to this window or the current paper thin defence.

On a positive though that open top bus is still a possibility come May.

29 Jan 2026 18:24:39
Hi Ed001,

When you have a chance, could you please do a player profile on John Barnes? It would great to hear your thoughts on how Barnes would compare to the so called 'greats' of today. Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - added him to the list mate. By the time I get that far down it, his grandkids will have retired!}

29 Jan 2026 18:55:42
Lol, thanks Ed001.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate.}

29 Jan 2026 19:03:43
Simple answer KPee, John Barnes was better than every single winger currently playing the game right now and I won't hear anything to the contrary, there isn't one who comes remotely close to how good he was at his peak, strength, pace, close control, superb eye for a pass, could score from anywhere and would glide past players like they weren't there, you couldn't knock him off the ball either as he was stronger than most defenders and midfielders.

29 Jan 2026 19:11:18
In his prime it would have been right up there with the best players around.
In my opinion he was definitely a level above Salah and Mane and playing on today's pitches he would have been even better.
Watching him Beardsley and Houghton was some of the best football I've ever seen.


If teams were being tricky to score past the team would just constantly give to Digger and he would unlock that low block.
Absolutely incredible player just a shame he got that bad injury that took his pace away.

29 Jan 2026 19:26:23
Barnes was an amazing player, closest I've seen to him is Mane.

29 Jan 2026 19:20:26
Ed001 I would say that if he had not got that injury as he was 28 at the time in his peak we would have definitely won a couple of the early premier leagues because he was so good he would have given us the edge because he was by far the best player in the league.

{Ed001's Note - hard to argue with that. Barnes was truly special.}

29 Jan 2026 19:51:19
Did you see him on the Stick to football podcast? What an interesting, intelligent and humble guy he is.

29 Jan 2026 19:51:47
Imagine maradona and best on today's pitches 🤩.

29 Jan 2026 20:23:14
A joy to watch. Left foot, right foot, good in the air, quick, strong and a v good finisher. If in his prime now would be best player in the league no problem.

29 Jan 2026 20:26:08
Beast of a player.

29 Jan 2026 20:54:26
Barnes is my footballing hero. I love to hear him speak, now, more than any other player past or present.

29 Jan 2026 21:27:47
Kenny's team from 86 onwards was the best footballing team I've ever seen and Barnes was the catylist and focal point of that side.
I'll always stick by what I believe and if we were able to play in the European cup in those years we could well of won a couple more. Only AC Milan came close to us.

29 Jan 2026 21:30:42
Barnes is my all time favourite player. Always good to hear what fellow reds think of him.

29 Jan 2026 21:45:38
Barnes and R9 were next level at their peak. Imagine Messi crossed with CR7. Beast players.

29 Jan 2026 21:53:53
Barnes was magic. I think what sometimes gets forgotten behind the flair, was the explosive Power he had. 💪🏻 excellent.

29 Jan 2026 22:14:19
When Barnes scored against Brazil in the Maracana the Brazil players said he should be Brazilian, that's how good the man was.

29 Jan 2026 22:22:44
That will be one of ED001 easiest profiles. he was just a superstar, who would get in any team, past or present in any league in the world. that is how good he was.

29 Jan 2026 22:26:29
Been watching liverpool for over 60 years, so I can go back as Tommy Lawrence the flying Pig, so I have seen so many great wingers and John Barnes was by far the best.
King Kenny is also my favourite all time Best Player.

30 Jan 2026 01:24:38
Agree with all the comments but just to add, tactically and technically he was way ahead of his time. Played in an era of long ball and dangerous tackling but preached possession based football.
Phenomenal player but also football intelligence and skill ahead of his time.

30 Jan 2026 02:35:19
Barnes was an absolute monster. An immensely talented player, could put it in the net from anywhere with either foot. Skill, power, pace and an absolutely fantastic footling mind. It was a real shame about the injuries, he had to completely change his style.

29 Jan 2026 17:21:44
Great news that Klopp is back, although its only for the legends game alongside dalglish, rush and aldo, looking forward to it 🔴

And will slot go today 🤔 waiting on breaking news 🫢.

29 Jan 2026 19:38:04
Barnes is probably the reason I love football. Well, him and Gazza!

29 Jan 2026 20:14:34
Some rumours around here that Stevie might end up on the next managers coaching team. Makes sense from some perspectives, but I personally see it as a distraction.

30 Jan 2026 07:13:01
Well he was a youth coach prior and he wasn't a distraction. Let's just see how it pans out as I know Xabi has a preferred team.

29 Jan 2026
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, Alonso in Town

Click picture for larger image

29 Jan 2026 17:32:28
The eye in the sky!

29 Jan 2026 16:33:25
Lewis Steele tweet. That was a bizarre presser. They've won 6-0 but I've walked out the room with a sense of negativity. Someone somewhere has clearly wound up Arne Slot, ".

29 Jan 2026 18:10:36
Slot was his usual naively honest self until some guy asked him about Xabi.

That was disgraceful question to ask.

Since then Slot has been like this and I'm here for it

If you're going to go down, go down swinging lad.

29 Jan 2026 18:27:48
I agree faith, I think from that Alonso question he has come out swinging as u say and I like to see it. Shows a bit of fight which himself and team have been lacking for most of the season.

29 Jan 2026 20:44:12
If he'd of come out swinging in September he wouldn't be getting these questions.

29 Jan 2026 16:12:00
Let's talk about something that doesn't require a stress ball.

Can we take a moment to appreciate Ekiteke?

The lad looks mustard. Sharp, dangerous, and properly exciting every time he touches the ball.

29 Jan 2026 16:21:41
I said to my barber before a ball was kicked he'd have 30 g/ a. I should have put money on it. He has the potential to be one of the French greats.

29 Jan 2026 18:43:00
Another one I got wrong. I was worried about his finishing.
The lads been magnificent. Hugo is Boss.

29 Jan 2026 19:27:22
Ekitike is everything Nunez wasn't let's be honest.

29 Jan 2026 20:34:31
As soon as Virgil played the ball up field you knew that it was 'on'. He inspires confidence that something is going to happen. He is savvy too - a simple little ball, well timed, ball to Wirtz and we are two up. He's (well the two of them) are going to be great players for us for years to come.

29 Jan 2026 20:46:29
I got it wrong about him too,
@ hessleredtom wasn't isak the Nunez replacement?

29 Jan 2026 16:07:59
***INJURY UPDATE***

The kit man will be out for the next few months and the tea lady's season is over. The club feel there is no need for additions as the players can wash their own strips and bring a flask. There is also the option of Endo stepping in to these roles if this does not work.
Talk of endo covering for the coach driver is wide of the mark as it is believed Gomez can drive a minibus when he returns. Plenty of options still.

29 Jan 2026 17:04:35
Slot, as head coach has volunteered to be the coach driver, he's often been heard muttings about driving a PSV or something.

29 Jan 2026 18:49:33
Well Slot is still in charge of which direction the coach goes in. The bus can do 75mph comfortably, but Slot has put a governor on it so that it can't go faster than 55. It's decent on the open road when there's no traffic, but any sort of congestion and the wheels are susceptible to falling off.