Liverpool Discussion posts 5

15 Jun 2026 12:21:02
Being told we could have free run at Barcola as Arsenal could be going all in on Morgan Rogers.

15 Jun 2026 15:15:49
We should challenge Arsenal for Roger's....
If it means leaving Barcola, then so be it.

15 Jun 2026 15:48:05
Rogers is more of a number 10 than a winger and we seem well stocked on that front.

15 Jun 2026 16:18:24
Arsenal don't really play a system which suits pacey wingers. They move forward gradually as a unit and then smother the opposition with a really high and aggressive press. You often see Saliba and Gabriel 10-20 yards inside the opposition half, moving the ball around where most teams would have their midfielders stationed. Then they just try and bully the ball over the line with that relentless pressure and cheap free kicks/corners.

That's why Martinelli, Trossard, Madueke and Saka suffer so much in terms of their open play goal/assist returns. The system they play is just not conducive to getting the best out of fast wingers. Last season, for example, Saka got 12 goal contributions, Trossard got 12, Madueke got 4, and Martinelli got 5. That is absolutely shocking for a title winning team.

We were miles off Arsenal in the league and our system had its own flaws in terms of optimising our wide forwards, but ours still put up similar numbers in a team that was massively underperforming. Last season, Salah got 14 goal contributions, Gakpo got 12, Wirtz got 8 and Rio got 3. Staggeringly similar (probably slightly better) when you consider we scraped 5th and they walked 1st.



Now, here's the reason I think this is relevant. Arsenal will be playing more of the same next season as, from their perspective, it worked and they're Champions. On the flip side, we will be changing head coach to a manager who got the most out of his wide forwards. Tavernier got 11 goal involvements despite being a bang average player. Semenyo got 13 in half a season and Rayan got 7 in half a season; had they been there a full year that could easily have been 26 for Semenyo and 14 for Rayan. And that's for a Bournemouth team that many had tipped for relegation at the start of the season, who don't dominate the ball and have no right to be anywhere near European qualification. So Barcola makes much more sense for us, as Iraola will get the best out of him. If he goes to Arsenal, he'll just get lost in the mire of Arteta-ball like Saka and Martinelli have, despite once looking very promising and capable of 20 goals a season apiece. Rogers would suit them much better, as he's a bully and a bit of a bulldozer who will only add to that smothering technique.

Barcola feels like an Iraola/Liverpool player, and Rogers feels like an Arteta/Arsenal player. I think these two deals will happen.

15 Jun 2026 16:34:31
If Arsenal want to sign Rodgers I'd be happy to take Nwaneri off their hands. He's already had to go on loan to get minutes and that would only push him further down the pecking order.

16 Jun 2026 16:17:25
Personally don't want BB, MR or EN. Don't see how any of those work for Iraola or in place of what we already have at the club.

16 Jun 2026 16:53:39
BeKind, I've changed my mind anyway, mate. I've been thinking about how natural Wirtz looked at LW for Germany in that free role (same as what Kvaratskhelia has for PSG) and upon reflection, I just can't see the point in Barcola.

If he wants to leave PSG because he hates being rotated, I don't see his situation being any different for us with Wirtz and most likely Diomande to compete with for a starting berth.

24 hours is a long time in my head during a transfer window.

15 Jun 2026 01:53:45
Regardless of who we bring in for next season, Wirtz being in the first team is going to continue causing us issues, people suggesting he should be played on the left. No strength, no speed and no backtracking engine, I’m sure that’s going to work out well.

We may as well hold up a sign at the beginning of the match stating ‘attack our left’, I think for the next couple of years at least, he is going to be left in the team based purely on his price tag. He will continue to show ‘glimpses’ and that’s what it will ever be. Unless we get some monsters in midfield, he is going to be the main reason we do not challenge for anything as long as he is a first teamer.



Ironically the ‘generational’ talent was the most anonymous player on the field yesterday.

As for Diomande, just like Wirtz and Nunez, never excited me, along with Nunez probably the only player where his YouTube highlights don't even excite me, reminds me of Traore from Wolves. Diomande is a Fulham player, who maybe gets a move to Tottenham in 2 years. Nowhere near 100m, couldn’t and won’t ever be able to lace Mane's boots, never mind replicating him in any way.

15 Jun 2026 05:38:20
Bet you're fun at parties.

15 Jun 2026 07:12:58
When he passes and moves, he looks better. Occasionally he holds onto it too long, like Curtis, and slows the play down. Be good to see him play inside forward and central. He's no winger.

15 Jun 2026 06:59:39
I've genuinely never seen anyone be as clueless about anything as you mate

{Ed078's Note - I said during the season that I'm not worried about Wirtz. I'm confident he'll continue to improve and prove his doubters wrong.

15 Jun 2026 09:41:46
I didn't watch the Ivory Coast game, but every report I read says Diomande terrorised Ecuador, especially Hincapie.

15 Jun 2026 10:08:30
All our players are crap. All the players we're linked with are crap. Iraola is crap. F$G are crap. The pies in the stadium are crap. Relegation next season.

I am very intelligent.

15 Jun 2026 10:46:15
That was a tough read, very... insightful.

15 Jun 2026 11:26:22
You're delusional. Wirtz was fantastic in that 7-1 and created more shooting opportunities than anyone else on the pitch. He was coming deep and linking the play, often being the man to play the first line breaking pass to initiate and attack as well as often being the one to play the final killer pass. There was also a moment where Sane tried a backheel in his own half and got it completely wrong, setting the Curacao winger free down the down wing. Who was there making a lung bursting recovery run to bale Sane out? Wirtz. So to say he won't run back is just a bare faced lie.

His work rate is incredible, his vision is incredible and his football IQ is already world class. He orchestrated everything that was good about Germany in that game, and you could see his team mates constantly trying to get the ball to him because they knew he'd make things happen. For sure he needs to show this against better opposition throughout the tournament, and next season for Liverpool, but the guys 23 years old. Let him cook and stop being so bloody negative.

15 Jun 2026 12:18:44
Clueless.

15 Jun 2026 13:59:23
Wirtz is a brilliant young player. He can see a pass before players around him even think about it. I believe he'll improve even more with Iraola's tactics, but the players around him need to be really switched on too.

15 Jun 2026 15:16:54
The problem, though, MK, is that Wirtz didn't assist and score all 7 goals.... Maybe then he'd be appreciated, even if it's just a little bit of appreciation.

15 Jun 2026 15:54:42
It'd be 'only Curacao' if he had JLC.

15 Jun 2026 18:49:25
True dat, SR.

15 Jun 2026 19:44:37
One of Bob's other quotes "Maybe Pep Lijnders was the real mastermind behind us after all." With words of wisdom like that, I will take your thoughts on Wirtz and Diomande with a pinch of salt.

15 Jun 2026 21:12:43
Surely he is not a Liverpool fan and just dropping a post to see what reaction he can get.
Most posts, people will agree, people will disagree, but I would say this post is the first one no one agrees with.

14 Jun 2026 14:01:21
My dad plays tennis at the same club as Jurgen Klopp in Majorca and he has heard Klopp wants to be next England manager.

14 Jun 2026 15:20:59
Serving up an ace rumour... Love it.

14 Jun 2026 15:27:21
That would get the deuces flowing...

14 Jun 2026 20:17:43
I would Love that to happen.

14 Jun 2026 21:12:16
The deuces might be flowing @Myrtle, but I'm in no doubt that Klopp would give England the advantage.

14 Jun 2026 22:18:21
SK,
Let it be true.

15 Jun 2026 12:42:42
That would be a nice return.

13 Jun 2026 15:23:15
What about few want away players to fill squad.
Rashford for LW Option.
B. Silva for RW / AM cover.
J. Stones CB cover.

Stiller/ Baleba DM.
Diomande RW.
Guiterreda RB/ CB.
Or Kayode RB.

Total 6 or 7 incoming to beef up squad with quality and experience.

13 Jun 2026 17:33:44
First 3 absolutely not. Diomende, Baleba and Kayode would be very good business.

13 Jun 2026 18:38:40
I'd actually take John Stones. Top defender and much needed experience. Also homegrown.

As for Rashford and Bernardo, absolutely not. Pair of rats.

13 Jun 2026 19:07:44
Stones has played 36 Premier League games in the last 3 seasons, at 32, and the switch back to high energy football would be a disaster.

13 Jun 2026 21:36:37
What MK said, sums it up perfectly.

13 Jun 2026 23:44:38
You forgot about Darwin.

14 Jun 2026 01:10:25
Rather crap in my hands and clap than us sign Rashford, Silva or Stones.

14 Jun 2026 02:54:01
Bhave.

14 Jun 2026 10:49:32
Victor. That's a good one. And I'd have to agree.

14 Jun 2026 13:07:34
I like Stones, it's just the injuries. I've said in another thread to get rid of Gomez, so I can hardly get behind getting someone even more injury prone in.

14 Jun 2026 21:35:47
Other than United prejudices, why is Rashford a rat?

14 Jun 2026 21:57:13
Because Quo Vadis, he constantly downs tools when he decides he's not getting everything his own way. He's on massive wages and can't even be bothered to show up to training and team meetings on time which saw him dropped more than once. He'd rather mess about parting with his mates or doing publicity stunts like arguing with politicians, than actually put in some effort to justifying his huge salary.

He's just comes off as really arrogant. He acts like everyone owes him something. The clip of him "pressing" against Luton a few years ago is an absolute disgrace. Go watch it and tell me he's anything other than a lazy prick. Ross Barkley literally gently jogs past him without a challenge.

15 Jun 2026 08:03:56
That makes Rashford sound lazy. It doesn't make him sound like a rat, MK.

15 Jun 2026 10:16:50
Technically being United through and through makes Rashford a rat by default. The fact he's lazy, a virtue signaller and over rated too are separate matters.

15 Jun 2026 12:45:18
Other than United prejudices?

16 Jun 2026 11:51:07
Rashford is an average footballer with a bad attitude, poor work rate, and a sense of entitlement. Hasn't he been spotted out at nightclubs before games on a few occasions? Wouldn't take him on a free.

16 Jun 2026 12:16:08
Honestly, if I were him I'd have downed tools as well. He came through at 18. Utd have been dire for that whole time - despite him being one of their most consistent (best) players, and then Amorim comes in, gives him a public spanking, and basically forces him out.



I think this just comes down to him being a Utd player. Clearly the boot wouldn't fit in reality, but if he were a random foreigner, people would be all over the idea of him at LW for us. He just needs to feel the love. Many players do.

12 Jun 2026 05:47:44
Mexico vs South Africa.

Ref takes centre stage.not the 1st time for this ref either I believe.

South Acrica were poor though.Mexico didn't really have to get out of 1st gear.

12 Jun 2026 07:51:24
Maybe - but that first red card was pretty obvious. They shouldn't be complaining about that one - would be better to concentrate on trying to fix their comical defending and their toothless attack.

12 Jun 2026 09:38:51
1st was warranted... but that's it.

Imagine playing 3 centre backs and yet a midfielder somehow ends up as the last man.

12 Jun 2026 21:15:13
First red card was fair.
Second red card was also fair - it was a slap.
Third red card was a bad call - foul and yellow, but it wasn't a goal scoring opportunity, so definitely not a red.

13 Jun 2026 15:37:52
The first one, you could see the Mexican player blatantly kept his legs lifted up unnaturally, so he would entangle himself with the SA player. He only got it because it was last man, and he went down in the box.

The slap was obviously a red, as you can't go around slapping people in the chops and expect anything else. The 3rd was yellow at best, and I don't think he was last man despite the commentators towing the line and saying it was.

11 Jun 2026 22:33:36
Lots of players to watch and keep an eye on this World Cup. A lot of my list has been linked to us.
Ivory Coast:
Yan Diomande
B. Toure
Ousmane Diomande

Senegal:
L. Camara
Mbaye
Diao

Morocco:
Bouaddi
El Khannouss
Saibari

Argentina:
Nico Paz
Valentin Barco

Austria:
Paul Wanner

Croatia:
Vuskovic
P. Sucic

DR Congo:
Mukau

Algeria:
Anis Hadj Moussa
Maza

Colombia:
Richard Rios

Belgium:
Seys
Fernandez-Pardo

Bosnia:
Muharemovic
Alajbegovic

Norway:
Andreas Schjelderup

Sweden:
Svensson

Switzerland:
Johan Manzambi

Turkey:
Yildiz
Can Uzun

France:
Akliouche
Lacriox
Barcola
Zaire Emery
Risser

Germany:
Schlotterbeck
Brown
Stiller

Portugal:
Diogo Costa
Inacio
Trincao
Conceicao
Ramos.

12 Jun 2026 08:54:00
Argentina:
Valentin Barcode
A perfect fit for Newcastle Utd, I think.

12 Jun 2026 22:14:17
Morocco is apparently a really good team at the moment, with some highly rated individuals, but Portugal and France have got the most depth.

11 Jun 2026 14:23:10
Diomande now prefers LFC to PSG but a deal remains unlikely this week due to World Cup participation.

13 Jun 2026 09:08:26
Hope they have tied up potential contracts in advance. If they have great games, the hype and price can go up.

11 Jun 2026 03:50:58
Looked at the squad depth from the title season compared to last season to see if we were that short.
24/25. 25/26
Alisson
Kelleher-Mama
Jaros- Woodman
Davies

CBS:
Konate
Virg
Gomez
Quansah-Leoni

Lbs:
Robbo
Tsimikas-Kerkez

RBS:
Taa-Frimpong
Bradley
Mabaya-Ramsay

Mids:-
Gravenberch
Dom
Endo
Jones
Nyoni
Morton
McConnell-Bajcetic
Elliot-Wirtz
Macca

Fwds:
Salah
Diaz- Rio
Chiesa
Nunez- Isak
Jota- Ekitike
Gakpo
Danns

Just one midfielder less this season, which was Morton.

Rio took Diaz spot, so we didn't buy no one. More injuries this season. 3 pressing forwards replaced by three that don't. Replacing Salah is nearly done in Diomande. Jaquet replaced Konate. So only need to replace Macca and Jones if they leave. Keep Elliot imo.

11 Jun 2026 06:45:40
I would say we also need a RB.

11 Jun 2026 07:37:59
And another forward, Ekitike, is out for the season, and Isak needs his game time managed, so a forward who can play across the front 3 is a must have.

11 Jun 2026 08:12:25
Yes, a RB now is priority for me after Diomande.

11 Jun 2026 09:19:35
Rio did not replace Diaz.

11 Jun 2026 09:25:42
Faith, the club did want Rio to get chances, so didn't sign a replacement, hence Rio taking over the Diaz.

11 Jun 2026 10:21:17
Injuries were an issue, the lack of fitness was an issue, the tragedy in the summer was an issue but the bigger issue was the change in style.

Moving Grav from the 6, and playing a rotating midfield 3, the back line sitting deeper, defending set pieces deeper, the attackers not busting a gut to win the ball back.

I don't subscribe to this 'forwards who don't press' thing. Any forward can press if the manager is strong enough to force it, and tactically aware enough to know how to coach the team to do it.

I'm not sure if Slot wanted them to press high or not because sometimes we did and sometimes we didn't. The team certainly wasn't set up to press, so even when the forwards tried to press they did it on their own.

We started the season with a better squad than the title winning season and injuries, tragedies depleted it but ultimately the tactics were flawed and didn't get the best from the available players.

11 Jun 2026 13:00:38
Directly comparing depth based on just numbers from this season to last season really doesn't mean anything. We've always lacked a bit in quality from the bench, to be honest. We need a LW, RW, DM, RB, and preferably a senior CB. Also need a striker if Gakpo goes, but I imagine he'll stay and rotate with Isak.

11 Jun 2026 18:49:26
Rio hasn't replaced Diaz. He is a good prospect who will get games, but won't be a regular yet.

09 Jun 2026 19:28:33
Eichorn's release clause ends on the 15th June. Due to Brexit, we can't sign him now. Hertha's under-19s coach has moved to Leverkusen, who wanted him permanently. If we get a deal done it won't be activated until next summer, similar to the Jaquet deal.

Hertha could then loan him to Leverkusen for a season. His agency and camp want 8m with his release clause being the same amount. At the end of the day, if he's not signed by Tuesday, then it doesn't happen.

10 Jun 2026 13:57:41
Just confirmed he is gone to Leverkusen! ?

10 Jun 2026 14:48:51
The likes of Leverkusen don't want him on loan for a season; they want to buy and develop him. And he's not going to want to stay in the 2nd division when he's garnered so much interest. Better off just accepting that Hertha will sell him, and ensuring his agent negotiates with the new club to secure a preferential release clause. It's not ideal, but that way we bypass the Brexit block, keep everyone happy, and he gets experience in a division closer in quality to the Prem before making the jump.

12 Jun 2026 23:55:50
KP - "We can't sign him now" - You're right, rules prohibit us from signing him until he's 18, the 15 June date is meaningless for us.