Liverpool banter 9

11 May 2026 15:09:47.
The club has released the first images of the "Forever 20" Jota memorial set to be placed on 97 avenue.

I like the fact that in addition to the number 20, the lyrics to his song and the heart to represent his celebration, it also features a number 30 in memory of Andre Silva.

11 May 2026 14:18:59
Ed001 you better have 3 profiles for the candidates finished so you can drop the appropriate one just after the big reveal 😉

{Ed001's Note - if I do that, you know they will appoint someone completely left field that hasn't even been mentioned!}

11 May 2026 14:53:21
Very true Ed001 👍

11 May 2026 15:15:02
It's all in your hands ed. Do two profiles and the one you skip will be picked.

11 May 2026 15:46:29
Yes don't curse it please Ed haha

11 May 2026 16:07:29
Writing those profiles will get in the way of the Slot profile you're desperate to do Ed001!

11 May 2026 13:20:31
Hi Ed1

Hope your well fella

I know you will do manager profile as soon as one gets announced (I'm confident it will).

In it. are you able to include how you think they will likely utilise Isak and Wirtz. I am convinced that these 2 are worth building something around for at least 5 years.but both Iraola and Alonso seem to use their main 9 men differently (more Bobby like). no idea on Hoeness but if he bases his game on early Klopp, it points to a Bobby 9 role again. Isak is a pure finisher. I don't think trying to be a Bobby is what he is about.

Keep safe and thx!

{Ed001's Note - ok mate.}

11 May 2026 14:19:53
Great query, MR3. Well thought! Can't wait for the answer!

11 May 2026 14:15:46
If you're out there Ed1 just give the match review a miss this week fella, they're always a great read but it's not worth you kicking the tele in having to watch that rubbish again, don't do it to yourself haha.

11 May 2026 17:22:53
Best way to utilise Isak is to sell him. And, are we forgetting Ekitike?

11 May 2026 10:16:54.
Never really heard Anfield like it was Saturday. Well since the dark days of Roy we don't speak of.

That being said, is there anyway for a new member to get a brief summary of who might be coming in the summer?

Thank you for the great work on the site.

11 May 2026 11:01:58
Alonso was nailed on but then wasn't because talks broke down but is coming again but he also might not.

Hoeness has been considered but isn't being considered but again he would jump at the chance, so is now being considered again.

Iraola could be a contender but is also off to Chelsea and Palace.

Slot is staying, but also leaving, but wants to stay even though he hasn't settled and misses his family who are in Holland.

Honestly the ITK's do a great job sharing what they know/have been told and the Ed's are spectacular. The information just changes day by day and that is likely because the information being fed to people changes like the wind.

Enjoy it for what it is, rumours. Don't be an arse to people sharing a rumour and enjoy the ride.

11 May 2026 11:10:00
Reading between the lines from ITK's on here and in the media, it seems like we want a midfielder and the main target is Wharton. It also seems we want 2 wingers and the main targets are Barcola and Diomande.

Obviously, just because they're our main targets (allegedly) doesn't mean we'll actually sign them! For a start, that would be a significant outlay when you also factor in that Jacquet is already agreed in principal for £60m.

I'd guess Barcola will be £80m at least. Diomande might even be as high as £100m and Wharton will be at least £60m. Expecting close to £300m to be spent on 4 players seems like a huge ask after the summer we had last year.

11 May 2026 11:16:16
Like I mentioned last week - been needing Anfield to get involved and show fans displeasure at Slot and the team to ensure this doesn't continue. Hopefully, that is the final nail in the coffin if they were hoping for him to stay.

Genuinely turned the game off at half time for the first time in my life due to how boring we are to watch.

11 May 2026 11:31:06
Hopefully, people can prove me wrong but I really don't like what I see of Diomande. Never looks in control of the ball or his own feet, and I can't see that dribbling style working against competent defenders. He reminds me of Nicholas Pepe. Also, only a year older than Rio and age is the excuse for never using him.

11 May 2026 11:31:24
Well RedQ, you seem to have covered all the basis. The only thing I can conclude from all of that is that we will all have to be a bit more patient and when the time comes (cos it will), we will no more and make better assessments of all the situations a lot better. And not a moment before.

As for the Anfield crowd on the weekend, I think they have signalled to the club and Slot that there is no going back next season. They already did that away at City in the FA Cup but it seems "certain" people weren't listening. They have loudly demonstrated that they ain't having this manager and his pathetic tactics come next season.



The fact that they were yelling at the players to get the ball up the pitch and go for the game, essentially telling them to ignore the manager and his crap tactics and get moving, is all the proof I needed.

Like I said in a thread on the weekend, cos the toxicity Slot has brought to this club has permeated all over the club from the players to the fanbase, I dare the club to try and sell the idea of keeping this manager to this same fanbase. Interesting times, indeed.

11 May 2026 11:32:15
If we believe the strongest rumours, two midfielders (Wharton +1), two wide players (one of Barcola or Diomande +1), and, albeit less strength in the rumours, a new right back (no standout names yet).



If Alisson does leave, we will probably need a new goalkeeper too. Risser and Costa have been mentioned.

There are also some kids we seem to be interested in - Palestra, Banjaqui, Vuskovic, M.Mane, Yirenki etc.

11 May 2026 11:34:48
I think one of Barcola and Diomande may be signed and not both. And we may sign another less exp winger like Bowen / B.Toure.
Gapko and Chiesa may leave to offset some of the cost addition to Salah.

Wharthon and Stiller/ Baleba will be my choice for Midfield. Expecting Endo and one of Macca/ Jones to move on, recouping some mo ney.


Them 2, Slobo, Grav, Nyoni and Witrz will be MF.

Guiterda would be my utility player choice replacing Gomez, helping CM, RB and CB cover.

Tsimi back to replace Robbo.

Ali and VVD to stay.

6 incoming to replace 6 outgoings.

Get Isak fit and firing and we have a competetive squad.

Don't trust Slot to improve them and win anything though.

11 May 2026 11:35:08
The problem now is due to the cowardice or incompetence above the manager. A rot has set into the squad. Slot's bare minimum approach to management has brought the worst out of certain players, Virgil being a prime example.

A laziness has infected the team, and it's not just on a match day.

A new manager with any standards is going to demand more from these players, extra training and less days off isn't going to be popular with players wanting an easy ride.

11 May 2026 11:37:57
Brilliant RedQ. 😂 👏

11 May 2026 12:43:14
I fully agree with you, AAR91. Esp. if you consider Mo's quotes about standards and all that in his interview, really worrying times, indeed.

11 May 2026 14:08:05
AAR91@OliRed: I 100% agree with both of your posts.

Let us all hope that the new manager will have total control of all such matters, both the fitness and the discipline have been appalling all season, not to mention the mentality.

If Alonso is that man, let us learn from Real Madrid's mistake and not interfere with him as he tries to install a completely new way of doing things.



The players get paid an absolute fortune to not be able to do the basics right.

If the club want to increase ticket prices, the least the fans deserve is a fit side that plays football worth the price increase.

11 May 2026 14:45:43
Bhav_red, how is Bowen, 29, who's been in the Prem for 6 years, less experienced than a 19-year-old Diomande in his breakout season or Barcola who's 23 and only ever played in France?

11 May 2026 15:22:24
Expensive and not experienced, @Chewy.

11 May 2026 17:31:55
I believe the sidemen will be Diomande and Fofana. Just an opinion of course but I'd be happy with them.

10 May 2026 23:56:20
If anyone is interested you can watch Iraola training sessions and tactics on YouTube. Alonso and Hoeness on there as well. All three are going to be elite. I'd be very happy with any of them. If Iraola comes in I'd hope he can bring in Scott and if Hoeness comes in then Stiller and their lb Mittelstadt.

He's 29, but would be a great option at lb as very flexible and tactically astute from watching breakdown videos. Alonso would also be a draw for top players. My only snag with Iraola is he may want to return home for his family and Hoeness is the nephew of the Bayern Hoeness so may want to manage them at some point.

11 May 2026 07:07:49
I've seen David Attenborough kick a sloth up a hill faster than we run with the ball. We should get him in as head coach.

11 May 2026 07:24:04
Kemi wouldn't tolerate this dog egg play. Woeful and slow football.

11 May 2026 07:29:50
Attenborough/sloth...... Love it!!! 🤣

11 May 2026 07:32:51
Alonso may also have the pull of Bayern Munich too due to his history with them. I doubt he'll be going back to Madrid again, but possibly Barca could come calling.
Not really something to worry about anyway. If they are wanted by other teams, it's likely to mean they are doing very well with us and winning things.

11 May 2026 07:54:24
I think Alonso has a bigger connection with us than Bayern, so I would not see him leaving us for them.
In fact, I would be pretty surprised if things went well that he was not here for 10+years.

11 May 2026 08:03:02
If we were worried about managers leaving before they get here, we are in trouble.


May as well appoint Gerrard as he wouldn't want to go elsewhere ...

11 May 2026 08:07:13
Totally agree, grino. Met Xabi a few times with his family, funnily enough, both times on Hope St. Top bloke and actually took a few mins to talk to me and the lads. He's my pick. He will bring back the discipline and intensity. 👍🏻

11 May 2026 10:06:45
If anyone wants to watch Slot's, they are also on YouTube, titled "how to fake being a coach, the ultimate guide to having as many days off as possible". His second channel is "more fun watching paint dry in slow motion".

11 May 2026 10:28:34
I tried to watch a Slot version of the Iraola video, but his out of office was switched on.

11 May 2026 10:30:16
LiverpoolFC 8 - indeed, and Dave Attenborough is 100 years old.

11 May 2026 10:49:52
Was it a 2-toed sloth or a 3-toed sloth?
2-toed probably easier to kick uphill.

11 May 2026 10:51:57
Iraola, Xabi and Hoeness are all early 40s. They're hardly going to be managing at the club for 10+ years.

So, the high likelihood is that they would leave for another (/bigger) opportunity at some point.


Hopefully, after doing great things with us.

11 May 2026 11:33:57
@Retire, why would you need online clips for Slot's training sessions?

a) We don't train and he's not even there when he decides to actually train these lads.

b) All you have to do is catch a game on a weekend and it is all there in full display. As in, nothing.

11 May 2026 11:40:45
Xabi Alonso is the no-brainer. Aside from having won a Champions League playing for Liverpool FC in the Premier League era, there is enough evidence he knows how to use Florian Wirtz, our huge investment. He knows what the Anfield crowd can deliver. He's worked under Rafa, Mourinho, Guardiola, and Ancelotti.

Lastly, he, along with our former boss, Jurgen Klopp, is the only manager to have toppled Bayern Munich in recent Bundesliga history, with an Invincible league season no less.

Not sure why we have all these doubts about him?

11 May 2026 12:15:46
Alonso is the most likely to be around for ten years due to his connection to the club.
Hoeness could also follow in Klopp's footsteps - don't forget the magic factor once the poetry is back in motion and slothball has been banished back to the dark waters of Holland.

11 May 2026 12:25:00
Feyenoord's training clips when Slot was there were pretty impressive. Their football was pretty good.

11 May 2026 12:45:34
I fully agree with you, Pelican, and I've been saying these same things about Xabi for months. His time at RM is, to me, just a red dot in a sea of green dots.

Either way, it's just an opinion, so hopefully, we get him.

11 May 2026 13:24:16
I think we can get 6+ years out of Xabi easily. Can't see him leaving us for Bayern, he has a longer, richer history with us, and he only went there because it was the tail end of his career. Whoever mentioned Barca must have forgotten who Xabi played for...

He will eventually go back to Real if he is successful, but not anytime soon; maybe during the next squad cycle if things align, and he'll take the Spanish job one day, but again that's further down the line.

11 May 2026 14:17:27
Issues with Alonso - style of play (bit slow for PL) and problems getting players to stay on board with him (at Madrid) and never managed in the PL.

11 May 2026 14:32:06
Ron stop flogging that horse mate

11 May 2026 15:18:51
Ron, none of what you said is a thing and I will explain.

A) Problems getting players on board - Again, at RM, if that toxic RM changing room will get rid of the manager, if and whenever they want. Oh, and Xabi wasn't fired for poor results either, something you conveniently forget each time.



False.

B) Style of play too slow? - Clearly, you never watched Leverkusen play under him.

False, again.

Like @Chewy said, that horse has been dead. None of the reasons you don't want Xabi, do not exist in actual reality. Let it go.

11 May 2026 16:39:01
I have watched Leverkusen play but never in the Premier League - which is my point. You missed that last one.
Easier to play his way when you have time on the ball and space. Just ask Wirtz for validation.

Did he get players on board at RM?

Answer: No.

So, therefore, no matter what excuses you make, it is not a false statement that I made.



You're only fooling yourself by making excuses for him. You're not fooling me.
A good manager will be able to motivate the players and will have authority over the dressing room. I know you don't like it, but it's a fact.

11 May 2026 17:30:08
Talking of flogging dead horses, and yet for the millionth time this season we have a thread that exists purely just to bash Liverpool's current manager.
Liverpool have been pretty dreadful this season, considering they are defending champions and spent a shed load of money over the summer, we get it.
Come the summer there will be a change, that has been obvious for a long time, but heaven forbid you display a little patience.
You talk of Xabi being here for 10 years? The first sign of trouble and you’ll be throwing your toys out the pram yet again, slagging him off and demanding a new manager because you can't seem to function properly as a human unless your football team is bringing home the bling.


I know there’ll be a load of vitriolic responses to my post, and I couldn't care less.
I know I don't speak for everyone on here, but this was a place to come in order to escape the endless entitlement and reactionary b***** that dominates mainstream football pages. Not anymore.

11 May 2026 19:23:01
"A good manager will be able to motivate the players and will have authority over the dressing room. I know you don't like it, but it's a fact."

You must be projecting here, mate because none of what you have posted are facts. So tell me, does this apply to "bad managers" like Capello (twice), Rafa, & Carlo (his first sacking)?

I propose to do more research because you are drowning in your own rhetoric.

If Alonso couldn't motivate the players at RM, how did he get them to a 70% (71.4%) to be exact win rate before the players turned on him and ran to their Daddy Perez to get rid because heaven forbid, he makes them run more?


Also what tha football does the whole "Never seen Leverkusen play in the PL" crap mean? Absolutely nothing and that does not remove from the great job Xabi did there, work that led him to be in the running for the LFC job after Klopp left, as well as the RM job.

If anything, you are the one making excuses and making up narratives to support your point of not wanting him. As I have said before, if you don't want Alonso, there are actual arguments to make.

Till this day, you have none because all you have been doing is make up crap despite being debunked by the Ed's and history (see above), to make Xabi look bad. You just re-posted them again, which proves my point.

10 May 2026 22:18:53
Alright ed001 what's your view on Fabregas as a coach, done well with Como, don't really see much or watch the Italian 🇮🇹 league like the old days on channel 4

{Ed001's Note - I don't watch Italian football sorry. I doubt he is worth considering anyway, he is a shareholder there at Como.}

10 May 2026 22:36:38
On another note, why are we 💩!!!!!!!!!!!

10 May 2026 23:21:11
Tactically brilliant, apparently. Check out his goal kick routine of him putting every player in the opponents half and leaving only his centre backs and playing short, creating gaps and panic in the other team.

11 May 2026 11:34:48
Queen, isn't that just "kicking it long"?

10 May 2026 21:31:08
The mindset of these current players is flawed. I walked out at City away. Our end gave nothing but relentless support and they still gave up and capitulated, again! There’s f*** all to get behind, the players need to perform and they have to be set up to f****** win!!

Said it over and over again, our fans will back them even when they’re losing, if they’re giving their all.

These lads aren’t. All stems from the top.

10 May 2026 22:06:46
Well said mate, couldn't agree more. Effort is a minimum at our great club. We've loved many players and teams who might not have been the best but gave their all in a red shirt. Unfortunately we have a team that looks like they are ready for their holidays. Disgusting.

10 May 2026 23:00:07
Remember Marcel Desailly saying after a few months playing in England, he said if you don't play well but you give everything the fans here will applaud you off the pitch. This team gives us nothing to applaud yet complain if we don't give them unwavering support.

10 May 2026 23:18:56
There's some players in that squad who have the nerve to question the support and at sometimes throughout the season, blame the fans.

I said last week, I wouldn't care one single bit if any of these lot were sold in summer.

11 May 2026 11:42:50
@Strom, as the @Elspriggso said, it all stems from the top. For me, when the players hear how much the manager moans, chats crap and tries to convince you that what you heard and saw with your own eyes (all 4 of them if you're me) in a game, is actually what did not happen, what do you expect the players to do? I won't be holding the manager to a lower standard than the players. That's not what I do, I'm sorry.



When they don't see the manager taking responsibility and accountability for his own miserable failings, why would people think the players would do that? I don't expect it. Even at people's job, you go in and do your best and work hard. But when your manager acts like Slot does, then the employees will tune him out, do the barest minimum and keep it moving. This is no diff, imo.

10 May 2026 19:47:45
Here is what's going on at LFC ad per collections of rumours in X, reddit and other footy sites—.

Slot is gone
Alison is also gone
Konate is gone
Salah is gone
Robbo is gone
Endo is gone
Chiesa is gone
Vvd is possibly gone (US offer has to materialise, he has ambitions for Hollywood)
Curtis is also looking gone
Gomez should be gone
Gravenberch wants to leave cuz he isnt being praised for s***ting in middle of the park.
Wirtz does not like Carra saying he is useless so unfollowed him on socials like a little scared brat.


Macca wants to stay but his hair don't
Szobo is evaluating and ovulating
Isak photo of knee has physios fighting - some saying that's peak African knee evolution some saying his career is over as he can't run fast now
Ekitike injury is not as bad as was presumed,
Bradley might not play football again with another setback in recovery ( he is not training yet as per X).

Did I miss anyone?


Oh yes Gackpo - he is in bed with his lady he keeps cutting in from right and missing the goal.

10 May 2026 20:54:25
What's Rio up to?

10 May 2026 21:47:27
Heard he's dancing on the sand, Ron.

10 May 2026 22:14:21
Just like that river twisting through the dusty land?

10 May 2026 19:03:53
I'm genuinely of the belief the likes of Gary Neville should be banned from making such potentially influential comments during VAR checks. "This is massive for refereeing in this country, I think it's a foul."

Don't tell me that didn't get in their heads.

We know these referees are jobsworths. It's not the first time I've seen a blatantly incorrect call go the same way Gary Neville suggests either.

10 May 2026 19:22:44
I don't think the VAR staff get Neville in their feed tbh.

10 May 2026 19:25:42
Vary Neville.

10 May 2026 19:25:48
You think the VAR is watching Sky Sports? 😂

10 May 2026 19:30:25
No one wants Arsenal not to win the league more than me, but as soon as I see the reply, I knew that goal was being disallowed in today's game.

10 May 2026 19:32:02
Are you really trying to suggest that Neville's commentary is being piped into the (video) referees' earpieces?! Pipe down now, will you.

10 May 2026 19:46:44
I do have to say I wonder why Neville makes big comments like that while we are waiting on a VAR decision. Always does it for a team he wants to win, could name a good few, but most recent is Sesko handball against us.

10 May 2026 19:50:10
I don't think the VAR team are watching Sky Sports while they are working, but I do sometimes wonder whether they are watching the game.

Today was not one of those days.

Why did the Man City we came up against never capitulate on the run in?

10 May 2026 19:49:25
I million percent believe Neville the rat influences these games! Million percent stockley park has another monitor with the game on! If they make a call and the rat is pushing it it eases the backlash and burden!
Many times this season I've heard him go "ooohhh this is nasty that's a red or that's a penalty" after it been given he will go back and say maybe it wasn't the right call! Watch how his commentary partner doesn't go the Neville route!
Neville's influencing them! Arsenal are barging and mauling keepers
All season and only today it's a problem!
Fk Neville and var both utter rubbish!!

10 May 2026 20:23:31
I wish we could go back to just having goal line technology and no VAR. VAR itself isn't the problem, it's simply the video replay, but the incompetent people within the Premier League, given the adjuticating roles - the officiatting in the Premier League is exttremely low at all levels!

Just get rid!

10 May 2026 20:38:07
There is no way that goal is getting given after seeing that replay, imo. OP, I can't stand Neville any more than you or the next guy does, but it seems you have gone a bit too far here, imo.

10 May 2026 20:37:28
Gary Neville needs legging off tv altogether the champagne socialist who hates the working class and cosies up to the likes of Qatar and Davos, unbearable bloke and he always has been a wrongun

10 May 2026 20:51:10
Bang on OliRed, you can't expect to get away with literally holding on to the keeper's arms. I'm surprised there's so many on here whinging about it. I hate Arsenal as much as the next football fan, but you'd have to be blind not to call that a foul. And anybody who thinks VAR even has access to commentary has a screw loose.

10 May 2026 20:51:32
There are a couple of issues I can see with disallowing that goal.

Firstly, Arsenal have made a title challenge out of fouling at set pieces, so if that's a foul then they wouldn't be where they are. For me, what goes around comes around.

Secondly, there were at least 2 Arsenal players fouling at the set piece, yet they only penalise the West Ham foul? Declan Rice and Saliba had their arms wrapped around West Ham players, hauling them to the floor like they do at every set piece.

So yeah, disallow the goal but give a penalty. Otherwise, just let them all go like you have all season.

It's a complete joke if you ask me.

10 May 2026 21:31:30
The bro thinks VAR are sat home on the couch watching like us with a few extra buttons to push.

10 May 2026 21:37:38
Today brings up a huge problem though. You can understand people's anger with Arsenal getting that decision when they've benefited from pushing, blocking and pulling these last few years.

We are the only league that allows it. There needs to be a reset next year. I preferred d days when you couldnt breathe on a goalie. At least less teams were just playing for setpieces back then.

10 May 2026 22:16:23
You will never have consistency until you take human interpretation out of the process.

Don't know why AI isn't checking VAR, unless it's to maintain PGMOL's workload.

10 May 2026 22:31:01
"Good process lads"

If that one sentence doesn't show the unprofessional 'canteen culture' at PGMOL nothing does. I'd sack the lot and start again.

10 May 2026 23:02:58
Gary Neville is Sky's right hand man, he even got that Fanalysis on Sky, he needs kicking off all commentary on matches.

10 May 2026 23:03:29
Ron, using AI is like working with an extremely ignorant 7 year old who just happens to be faster than you with a keyboard but has a tendency to completely fabricate things at will. It's borderline retarded. Definitely not capable of refereeing sports.

11 May 2026 00:28:51
Doesn't that also describe PGMOL, Chewy, lmao.

11 May 2026 01:12:01
Except it's consistent and it gets better after every incident.

That extremely ignorant 7 year old that learns exponentially quicker than humans can.

11 May 2026 01:35:55
This issue here wasn’t if it was a foul or not. It’s that, if the circumstances were flipped, Arsenal would be given that goal. These fouls on the GK and during set pieces have been given in favour of Arsenal for a few seasons now. That is the major frustration with this.

I will say that I have also noticed what some may perceive as influencing going on, we don’t know what happens behind the scenes, but I do know the referees are dodgy as sin and have been for a very long time.

A lot of champions have benefited from it, including us at times, and, on the receiving end (Man City), it’s like the FA assist potential champions, and it works out 9/10 times. Refs in Europe are probably the same. That’s the conspiracy theorist in me. I just think it’s quite obvious at times.

11 May 2026 02:55:26
Do you use AI, Ron?

11 May 2026 07:26:18
Poo-tache is the worst kind of lefty. Stinking up the place in his personal jet. Do what I say and not what I do!