Liverpool banter 8

09 Aug 2026 16:33:35
First half we look good till they scored near the end.
Then from there on we looked very weak. Squad looks paper thin.
But saying that, I don’t know why I watch friendly’s; they show very little and it’s very rare you see a good one.

09 Aug 2026 16:33:05
Some really scintillating football in the first half. Koumas really stood out for me. Gakpo was livelier than the usual of last year. A lot of the criticism of Frimpong is unwarranted.

Second half was the exact opposite. I know it's only a preseason game and bla bla. But we have a squad depth problem. Second game in a row where it looks like boys against men when the subs come in.

09 Aug 2026 16:22:41
It's going to be a long season. At least Iraola is angry about the result unlike the Dutch fraud.

09 Aug 2026 17:28:19
It's like someone who's remarried still banging on about their ex.

09 Aug 2026 17:47:34
Maybe some people are a little upset with the way Slots left the team, fitness-wise, and with second-string players and younger players getting minimum minutes under Slot? I think people are allowed to be concerned as fans, or do we just wipe last season from our minds?

09 Aug 2026 19:26:11
Mcgov, people should stop banging on about Slot. He's gone. Whatever we do now has nowt to do with him.

09 Aug 2026 19:54:51
Well yeh. That's usually how a new season starting works. God knows people forgot quick enough last year that Arne had delivered the title the season before. Whatever happens this season, good or bad, is on Ireola.

09 Aug 2026 20:08:49
Playing style and performance is on Iraola, I agree, but squad depth and playing staff is nothing to do with him. He’s only in the door a few months, the club and the higher ups have a lot to answer for in regards to recruitment and squad building of late. God knows they were quick enough to take credit for things in the past. I’m not sure we can be fixed in 1 window, I think it may take until next summer to properly mould this team.

Iraola can only work with the players at his disposal and currently I’d say Liverpool aren’t 5/6 players short of a complete squad. That can’t be put on Iraola or Slot to be fair. But at least Iraola's football is easier to watch. I know the team faded, but it’s pre season, we aren’t at peak fitness and are still
missing players.

We will be sound.

09 Aug 2026 20:37:53
Dhfc, I'm looking forward to watching us under Iraola, the change had to be made. However, there were plenty of posters on here who were saying that last season's squad was good enough to walk the league. I consistently said that that wasn't the case.

Putting aside the fact that Salah and Robertson have gone, they were both passed their sell by date, it was clear that the team and squad were in need of a refresh.

I pray that I'm wrong, but there was no way that Iraola was ever going to come in and wave a wand, like a good many on here thought he would.

People may be tired of me saying it, but last season wasn't all down to Slot, as much as he had to go.

09 Aug 2026 16:22:39
Another case of a brilliant first half followed by an absolutely brutal second. At least Iraola's getting a very clear view of who his starting 11 will be.

09 Aug 2026 17:06:39
It's easy to see why we've pivoted the transfer policy to players like Araujo. The exits of Mo and Robbo have left us seriously short of leaders.

I'd thought Chiesa might find a fan in AI, but seemingly not. He and Harvey need to get some game time.

At this particular moment in time, it could be that Koumas has the nod over Fede, but that could still change. Nonetheless, I suspect a lot of late window exits as AI strives to get the balance of the squad right.

But we need leaders.

09 Aug 2026 17:22:01
Yeah, earlier in the window I was calling for us to bring in a couple of young diamonds in the rough due to the inflated market, but I think it's very apparent that what we really need at the moment is experience off the bench.

Tbh, Elliot doesn't do it for me. He never came across as the type of player who could become a starter for a club like Liverpool, nor does he have the ability to be an impact sub.

When it comes to Chiesa, sure, he puts the effort in, but he's just not the player he once was. He looks rusty every time he gets on the ball, in my opinion. If we look to build real depth, they will both be moved on by next summer.

09 Aug 2026 16:22:26
Don't think this is an overreaction and I understand we have some injuries but we need quality reinforcements badly.

09 Aug 2026 17:19:50
Weak and soft in midfield.

09 Aug 2026 17:37:40
I'll get my boots.

09 Aug 2026 16:22:21
And again, the players who played in the 2nd half are more than likely to not be starters, with the exception I think of Kerkez, although he didn't cover himself in glory today.

Been said this entire window... our squad depth is seriously lacking.

09 Aug 2026 16:20:43
Unbelievably poor 2nd half performance, really disappointing and quite frankly worrying.

09 Aug 2026 16:20:08
Leaking too many goals.

09 Aug 2026 15:34:04
Ed001 what's your thoughts on left back this season.
Kerkez new start for him and first choice and hopefully back to the form he was before last season under Slot.
Tsimikas For me Ed nothing against him he is not good enough and if we are having players of his level surely they should be from the academy.

{Ed001's Note - he is good enough.