14 May 2026 09:30:33
Not ITK but reading between the lines on Arne's presser, it seemed if he gets Champions League he stays, if not, he goes.
Not an earth shattering review, but maybe that’s why they’re procrastinating on Xavi etc, to see how the last two games pan out?
14 May 2026 09:45:50
Xavi isn't even being considered!
14 May 2026 09:53:18
I think he'll probably stay, unless these next 2 games go really bad. 1 point probably seals top 5, as I can't see Bournemouth winning both games.
I hope not though, I hope we do go for XA. I know the journalists will say what the club tells them to say, but there's just so many so sure he's staying.
14 May 2026 10:24:56
Honestly not trying to sound all high and mighty but atm my only interest is us securing Champions League. The manager stuff will come after.
We should be fine but Bournemouth are on a run, and we've tricky games.
What do ye reckon? Will Villa rest a couple? They won't play a B team, but guys like Rodgers have a lot of minutes in the legs. I was hoping this game was a day closer (an early low atmosphere Saturday would have been nice) to the Europa League final, but with our luck it's on a Friday night (under the lights atmosphere), and they've time to recover.
I think Onana could be out though, who's a big player for them and capable of bullying the likes of Macca and Wirtz.
Bournemouth do have a city, but it's 3 days after the final against Chelsea and again under the lights. I can actually see Bournemouth doing them.
14 May 2026 10:56:39
Villa will go full strength. They are below us in the table.
14 May 2026 11:18:43
Florian, most likely Villa won't be full strength as they have the Europa League final on Wednesday night, and may use our game to either try a slightly different tactic or give their big players less minutes, rest them before their more important game, as winning that will get them UCL anyway.
14 May 2026 11:26:22
If they're giving Slot another season it's just going to end up the same way as it did with Rodgers. Have a look at all of the non penalty goals we've conceded this year and it's almost all down his tactics and how he sets the team up.
Too much space for opponents to run into in midfield, far too passive out of possession (our movement out of possession is almost like watching a bunch of traffic cones wearing football shirts), a complete inability to track runners from midfield, a complete inability to deal with teams on counter attacks, poor defensive set ups on set pieces, general lack of fitness in the squad.
All of it matters within Slot's remit. No amount of signings are going to put that right, and if there is any truth that our only midfield signing is Wharton, then it's just more of the same as he's very poor defensively and painfully slow too.
If Slot somehow clings on and he's still here at the start of next season, that will be three or four written off until we can actually get a good manager in. Because there sure as hell won't be any available in October or November.
14 May 2026 11:27:50
People need to stop attempting to read between the lines. You are not gonna get any bombshell truths at a routine press conference. These guys are all media-trained, and will always give non-answers to any questions, like if he will be in charge next season, and will Ali still be at the club.
He basically said that he thinks that he is staying, but that it is not really up to him. This means nothing. You could choose to read that as any of the following:
1. He is staying and will be in charge next season.
2. In his opinion he is doing a good job so will obviously remain in charge.
This does not mean that the club agree with his assessment.
3. He is subtly letting the club know that he won't step down, and if the club want rid, they will need to sack him.
4. He has no intention of staying beyond the summer, but he is not gonna suddenly make headlines just because a random journo asked him.
Just wait it out for a few weeks and you will likely get an answer. You aren't gonna get it from pre-match press conferences.
I also think we will draw at Villa and City will beat Bournemouth on Tuesday.
14 May 2026 11:33:11
We'll probably only secure CL because the other potential CL teams drop points...
14 May 2026 11:34:02
I agree, Shipley, as I said in another post; You won't get anything from trying to analyse pressers. Football clubs like control, and the key to control is compartmentalisation. Ensuring people only know what they need to know is how you plug leaks, something we know the club is very wary of at the moment.
If the call hasn't been made yet, then Slot knows sfa. Up until the moment the official decision has actually been made, the club will continue to get its ducks in a row behind closed doors in preparation for either scenario. Hence, the number of conflicting rumours.
14 May 2026 11:34:56
Guillem Balague, not sure on his reliability, is suggesting Alonso might take more time out and wait for the inevitable Slot sacking early next season. It seems Alonso really wants the job. Personally, I think he should get it in the summer, but it's up to Mick and Dick, I suppose.
14 May 2026 11:41:25
It's about time we started acting like a big club. Whether or not Arne gets Champions League or not, he should be gone. This is not acceptable. We shouldn't be hoping to secure Europe, we should be challenging for titles, not hoping for Europe as our aim.
14 May 2026 11:46:50
At the moment, Villa are the nearest team to Bournemouth Chicken. The match has been moved to Friday for the very reason that they have more time to recuperate and therefore can play a stronger team. They certainly won't be banking on winning the Europa final.
14 May 2026 12:00:41
Agreed, Dhfc, top 5 is not the merit by which a club of our stature should be judging a manager when the football and performances have been so poor.
14 May 2026 12:27:37
Agree that we won't get much out of pressers, however, think Slot would be a lot more bullish if he was definitely staying. We keep hearing about this end of season review, so hopefully that is where he will go.
The club have always encouraged chat about false transfers etc in the past as a smoke screen.
I'm going to believe that this is what is happening now with all this Slot staying stuff. He has lost the fans and they must see this.
14 May 2026 12:31:35
It's a huge global business, you can take it to the bank when I say, if behind the scenes he's been told he's not being kept on, or even if that conversation hasn't been had yet, he will be instructed to say nothing in public and it would be a dismissable offence if he does so.
14 May 2026 12:32:42
Not reading between the lines, and instead reading the actual lines, Slot literally confirmed he's involved with talks about the plan for next season and players they're trying to sign.
Either this guy is the greatest actor of all time, or the ITK's on here are absolute chancers. In 2 weeks time we'll know which!
14 May 2026 12:38:33
@Florian, They certainly banked on the Europa League semi-final game, and fielded a very weak team against Spurs.
I'd be surprised if Villa went full strength against us, with one of the biggest games in their recent history around the corner.
14 May 2026 13:02:26
@JLC, that made me laugh out loud - thank you.
Of course other teams in the league drop points. I suspect they may be doing it on purpose as part of a dastardly evil plot to keep Slot as our head coach next season.
Or, taking our tin foil hats off, perhaps another way of looking at it is that we will qualify because we have more points than other clubs.
Controversial, I know, and I apologise sincerely for introducing a bit of positivity, I'll try and stop doing it.
14 May 2026 13:06:17
They were 8 points ahead of 6th with 12 points to play for Gvardiol ahead of the Spurs game. Since then they've dropped 5 points out of 6 while Bournemouth have won their last 2. Villa should be ok, but unlike us, who are home on the last day, they have an away game to a City side still in title contention, so I imagine they go full strength.
Would have been better for us if this game was after the Bournemouth v City one, obviously.
14 May 2026 13:16:07
It's almost as if it's a tough league, WDW.
14 May 2026 13:22:57
A tough league that he won last season, Florian, when are these excuses going to stop?
14 May 2026 13:35:09
Excuses from me, Klopp, where? My post is literally in responce to someone calling another poster out for making excuses for how we will actually qualify for the Champions League. I apologise wholeheartedly for not looking for ways to undermine when we actually do achieve something. Oh to be a football fan these days.
14 May 2026 13:35:26
It's a sad state of affairs if we need Villa to field a weakened squad to have a chance to beat them. We have been dreadful all season and if coming fifth is something to celebrate then I am not a Liverpool fan.
14 May 2026 14:03:12
Personally I have adjusted targets for the remainder of the season, 1.) beat Villa 2.) play Gomez up front last game, lump it up to him for 90min, and if he scores have a parade to celebrate his first pro goal.
Re the manager situation, I find it hard to comprehend some journo's stating post press conf, that the Slot question has been answered, he will be manager next year, based on his responses...
"I have every reason to believe I will be manager next season"
"I am under contract for a year so will be here"
How many times have you heard a player/manager say that and be sacked/leave within a week.
Slot is not going to say he is leaving with a year left on his contract.
The club are not going to sack him with two games left and create a rather awkward situation in the last game at home.
The fact he is involved in transfer conversations is no surprise, he is head coach until he's not, and as such the best placed to advise on the pros and cons of the squad and potential incomings until he's not.
Nothing will happen until the season ends, we know that the question of how best to move forward is split at board level. One side will win the argument and we will know. Whether it's Slot, Xabi, Iraola... (hopefully Xabi, for multiple reasons, for me it's a no brainer).
But a football "journalist" asking that question at a presser with 2 games of the season left with CL qualification yet confirmed is a waste of a question.
Taking the answer he got as "definitive" evidence Slot is staying, he should not really be a football journalist.
We will know one way or the other within two weeks I'd imagine.
14 May 2026 14:58:17
I'm struggling to understand just how short-sighted the higher-ups are.
The whole if we get Champions League he stays narrative, we won the league last season and now with just 2 games left! The question is still if?
The fact that the Champions League qualification has not been tied up for weeks should say enough about how inept this manager is.
The clubs become such a farce in such a short period of time.
14 May 2026 15:35:44
Inbeta, is the supposition that we need Villa to field a weakened squad to beat them premised upon anything other than our own pessimism? They didn't exactly present a sizeable challenge when we beat them earlier in the year (granted we actually had some forwards healthy back then, and didn't have to field Frimpong, Ngumoha, and Gakpo as our front three).
I'm not saying that we will get the three points, but imagining that if they're up for it we'll get absolutely skinned is not an opinion I can really stand behind.
14 May 2026 16:14:30
Redweston, it happens. Only 12 short months ago Arteta at Arsenal and indeed Pep at Man City, who was the defending champion and had spent EUR250m on improving that title winning side, were still sweating over Champions League qualification with 2 games to go.
14 May 2026 16:14:45
Patrick, we couldn't beat Spurs who were on a six game losing streak with a manager who was at best, incompetent. We couldn't beat a Chelsea side who also had a six game losing streak and are currently being managed by a PE teacher. We even lost to Amorim's United side. We haven't won at home against any of the promoted sides this season, we've conceded the same number of goals as Rodgers did in 14/15, we're one of the worst side at defending see pieces in the Premier League, we're rubbish in possession and even worse out of it, we're second best all over the pitch almost every game (even Chelsea out ran us at the weekend).
There's every reason to think we'll not get any points out of the game and none to think otherwise.
14 May 2026 16:49:45
Well today's is he going or staying is in full flight.
I suggest the fans tell the higher than Slot ppl, via X, at the games and other social media ways, if he is truly (As) not wanted now, then fan power is the way imo.
Interesting point to factor in, next season, the beginning at least could be difficult due to the WC, factor injuries, holidays due to sides going deep into the tournament thus fragmented return to training of players.
A new voice could overcome the above as most will be playing for futures or team selection.
If he is to go, I'm in the now do it, not, as pointed out, burn up the first 10 games (25%) of the season to then decide, oops there's no good managers about.
As fans we have the right to suggest/demand change, as it's fan money and attendance that gives this wonderful club its aura.
14 May 2026 17:01:07
What do we have, a referendum every season from the members club. Managers given one yr contracts.
Are you not entertained!
14 May 2026 17:38:26
Viktor, sure, but we still beat Villa easily earlier in the season, and we're still 4th in the league. I'm not sure how all the stuff you listed means that us losing is a foregone conclusion?
14 May 2026 17:51:26
Agree vv. we've been absolutely pathetic in all honesty. Worst midfield in the league I'd say. So easy to walk through, dare I say, without Szob this season we'd be around mid table. Only midfielder worth keeping for me.
14 May 2026 18:19:46
Most recently, we couldn't beat far more inferior teams to Villa at home, Patrick, we also struggle away from home. We are weak and pathetic in midfield, we're not as fit as our opponents, we barely create half chances, we let opponents have multiple attempts at goal as well as run through midfield, we're the second worst at defending set pieces, there isn't one situation we're competent at defending, and we struggle to score.
You tell me the reasons we might win, other than "we beat them over 6 months ago", as there's no logical reason to think we'd win based on all available facts.
14 May 2026 18:39:04
Are we above or below Villa in the league after 36 games?
14 May 2026 18:50:30
Must say when we beat them last time I thought they were awful and we had 1 of our best games of the season. Surely they can't be that bad again unless they do play a weakened team.
14 May 2026 19:05:42
We're on equal points, Florian, so don't go making out that we're way out in front, it's entirely dishonest and disingenuous to suggest that being ahead on goal difference makes us miles better. We spunked £450m to compete with Aston Villa for a place in the also rans. Absolutely marvellous.
14 May 2026 19:30:08
Didn't say miles better, certainly didn't say miles worse either. We are ahead after 36 games, so we've been better. What money we spent is of no consequence. And if we only finish ahead of Villa on goal difference, we will still have been better than them.
14 May 2026 19:37:44
VV, marvellouls in deed. But I tell ya what? The levels of intellectual dishonesty & disingenuousness Florian and his ilk (whoever they are) will go to defend the season this manager has had, is off the charts.
Salah was right (not that I needed him to say it). The standards are really beginning to drop and like a rock, for that matter because had we had a season like this under Klopp after we won the title under the exact same curcumstances and money spent, many of us (including Slot's acolytes now) would never have accepted it. because I know I wouldn't have either.
14 May 2026 20:01:47
WDW, not everything has to be twisted into a positive. It's entirely possible to be in a particular position because the competition has dropped points. It's strange that you can't just accept that, given it's a hard fact.
Patrik, if you call being absolutely gifted 1 goal and the 2nd only going in due to a wicked deflection after Villa almost went 2-0 up early on, beating them easily, that's your choice, mate.
14 May 2026 21:09:08
Not trying to defend the season. A poster was saying "there's no reason to think we'll win" and sometimes it's just as simple as being browned off reading such whiny, entitled negative dross.
14 May 2026 21:35:33
I don't think you need to read between the lines.
He said it's not his decision, he has a contract and they're talking about next season.
I don't think that is unreasonable whilst upper management are considering options for next season without discussing with Slot.
14 May 2026 23:36:56
I still don't get this craze of clinging on to a lost league in anticipation of finishing in the top four, but I might be old fashioned. You enter a race to win, and anything other isn't good enough. It does help if you're still in a domestic cup, but it's embarrassing how competing for 4th is a league within a league.
Season is over, in my opinion, once the title is out of grasp and you're bitch slapped out of every cup. Sure, it's not the same every second week at Anfield, but ultimately it's still another game of footie. Roll up your sleeves and await next season to go again.
15 May 2026 04:35:00
Jeez, this is hard work.
@Chewy, you are right in that we are above teams that have lost points. I'm sorry I thought that was just obvious.
If you re-read what I wrote, I didn't say that we have played well to achieve the points we have accrued.
What I think I probably didn't explain was that we have lost points too, but not as many as the clubs below us. If we'd been capable of playing worse, and / or the teams below us had played better and won more points, they would probably be above us in the League.
But, here's the thing, with 2 out of 38 games left, they didn't play better and they aren't above us. I have to say, I'm positive that is the case, as I've just looked at the PL table, so, once again, apologies for the positivity and don't let it interfere with you seven eights of the glass being empty - it's your view and you are entitled to it.
15 May 2026 10:35:48
Arsenal will only win the league because teams below them dropped more points.
It's kinda how it works.
15 May 2026 17:18:27
Being 'better' depends on what that 'better' is gauged against. Football, for me, anyway, is not just gauged on collecting points, scoring or leaking goals. There's much more to it than that. If there wasn't, it'd be quite uninteresting and boring.
Ourselves and Villa are on a par if you only consider those factors; however, Villa supporters and club are having a much more enjoyable season than us. Based on that, I'd suggest that they are 'better' off than us currently.
16 May 2026 04:19:54
Apologies @Shankly's, you are correct, within the context of this thread the term 'better' can mean any number of things,
From my perspective, I was mainly referring to teams playing to their full potential. We certainly haven't played to our full potential - nowhere near it, in fact, but equally there are teams below us who are nowhere near playing to their potential, Chelsea, Newcastle and Spurs perhaps, whereas other teams have exceeded expectations by a fair distance - Everton, Sunderland, Bournemouth perhaps.