Liverpool Banter

02 May 2024 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Dillinger has posted a new article entitled, POTENTIAL EPL SIGNINGS FOR LEEDS UNITED

01 May 2024 21:46:41
Greetings Ed001, Trust you are well. A question for you (and sorry if it puts you on the spot a bit) .

Mohammed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk. Sell this summer or extend for a year?

I have mixed feelings about both and actually can't decide.

Is it time to turn the page fully on our incredible trio of Salah, Firmino and Mane? I would say yes, for the sake of the remaining forwards on the team. Do you sell for the money? No, because 60-70 million doesn't guarantee you 20-25 goals per year, the way it used to.

I thought VVD had reached his plateau last year, but it turns out he was shaking off that lost year to injury and captaincy has raised his performances to a much higher playing level. So I would extend for another year. But then is it better to give a new head coach a clean slate to mold his team his way, starting off with the older players? Matip is leaving, and if VVD is sold, then you give Konate and Quansah a new partner on the left for the next foreseable 4-5 years? And let's not forget Gomez.

{Ed001's Note - depends on if we have replacements lined up. If so, sell. If not, then it is not an option. I would certainly expect us to be looking to phase them both out even if they stay.}

01 May 2024 23:45:37
Given it’s the last season of Mo’s current contract due you think that might have a bit more of an influence on any decision the club takes in his case?

Weighing up what his market value might be against the possible lack of a direct replacement? For me, I’d sell, but the club has been pretty conservative in letting players go in recent seasons, with the exception of Hendo and Fabs last year.

{Ed001's Note - yes, I expect contract situations will be taken into account in every case when it comes to deciding on players to sell.}

01 May 2024 23:46:15
I would sell Salah and keep VVD.

Virg still wants to be here, it doesn’t appear that Salah does, so let him go.

20-30 goals per season is what he HAS achieved, not necessarily what he WILL achieve next season.

02 May 2024 06:43:30
Sell Salah, keep VVD. VVD has off days, but when he is on it he's still one of the top 3 CB's in the league and wants to be here.
Salah is diminishing, replaceable and will still hold significant value.
Ed001 - lots of talk in the last few days about Salah wanting to stay and SA clubs not wanting to buy etc. do you reckon this is all posturing or do you think Salah will run his contract down?

{Ed001's Note - Salah has never been looking to move, he has always been happy in Liverpool, as is his family, and very settled. The reason why his agent goes round trying to get him ridiculous offers is because it is his job to explore potential offers and it would need to be a ludicrous offer for him to consider a move. This is not Salah chasing a move, it is his agent trying to get him one.

I can't say how he feels at this point in the season, but at the start of the season Salah felt he had plenty more left in the tank and was not interested in moving to a retirement league just yet. That might be being reconsidered though after the way his form died on him mid-season. I don't know though so can't say.}

02 May 2024 07:42:43
If a better player is available, replace the one you have.
Salah is contracted for another season. If we offer him an extension it should benefit both him and the club. He gets the security of another season and we can get a fee if he does go next summer.
I've just got a feeling that Salah wants to play football at the highest level for another season at least.

02 May 2024 08:45:01
I would keep Virgil because his high levels have returned this season, he plays every game, without him we look lost at the back, he's our captain and I feel as though he's got another few seasons in him. I would sell Salah if we get a big offer because it looks as though his powers are diminishing (might be too soon to say this confidently) we could use the money to buy a replacement but also because as we've seen salah is not one to sit on the bench or to accept not being the star and I feel this could cause the new manager some grief. The way he handled that scrap with Klopp makes me fear for the new guy.

02 May 2024 13:18:30
Van dyke has been great this season. Despite having more partners than a sheil rd brass. I doubt this would be a conversation if we managed to stay top of the league.

02 May 2024 15:18:24
Scouse john L8, I agree and having multiple partners has not helped him overall, as we are seeing now.

01 May 2024 15:07:23
Ed1 and fellow reds here, one month left for Klopp as our manager. I want to ask you Ed1, if you could pick one signing as the best signing under Klopp reign, who could it be?

For me its between Alisson, Van Dijk and Salah. But I'm going to go with Alisson. Because of how hard it is to find a world class goalkeeper compared to a winger or a CB. Also because of how he can single handedly saves us many times and just how good he actually is.

{Ed001's Note - I think I would have to go with the same choice. Also because it was the moment when he showed that he can be ruthless when needed. Klopp had been intending to give Karius the chance to redeem himself, but Karius arsed about with his LK1 'brand' rather than working to improve. So Klopp immediately went out and bought Alisson, just before everyone else jumped into the market for a keeper. It ended up causing a ripple effect which led to a panic buy of Kepa for a record fee for a keeper by Chelsea as they had missed out on Ali. So it also helped weaken a rival as Kepa was terrible.}

01 May 2024 17:31:44
Favourite Liverpool player of all time is Alisson. I don't think many people, including some of our own supporters, realise how good he is. Best goalie I've seen in my lifetime.

{Ed025's Note - hes a great keeper AW but for me Clemence was probably better if only for his longevity mate, im afraid he would struggle to get in the top 20 of all time great overall Liverpool players though, maybe you are quite young and dont remember the likes of Kenny, Souness, Rush, Keegan, Fowler, Hansen, Neale, Hunt, StJohn, Kennedy, Case, McDermott....and many many more i could mention....i tell you what make that top 50.. :)

01 May 2024 18:06:39
For me the best signing was 4th choice Mo Salah. Take away his agent trying to get him to Madrid since the day and hour he arrived and his odd little hissy fit but what an incredible player, that can’t be denied. So consistent over his time at Liverpool, even this season when he has shown signs of slowing down, still pops up with 20 odd goals. Sure there are right wingers but like Salah? Pure gold.

01 May 2024 18:25:46
You are not Live supporter Ed25. In your neutral view, who do you think is Klopp best signing?

{Ed025's Note - its between VVD, Alisson and Salah mfahmee, the thing is that i dont know how much input Klopp actually had mate..

01 May 2024 18:32:03
The hardest thing is football is scoring goals so it has to be one season wonder 4th choice Salah.

01 May 2024 18:56:19
Ed025 you left out your favourite there. Firmino.

{Ed025's Note - hes not in my top 20 Walkon, nice fella though but underwhelming as a footballer for me mate.. :)

01 May 2024 18:59:53
I d go Allison also but I think mane is also in the conversation. We immediately jumped in standards when he joined too.

01 May 2024 19:07:22
Matip has to be up there considering he was a free.

{Ed025's Note - if he was free...you were robbed Amorin.. :)

01 May 2024 19:22:47
Allison, Salah, VVD and Fabinho for me. All 4 of those equally. Ali, VVD and Fabinho gave us that solid platform for the rest to thrive. Great defences win titles. If you’re not solid at the back then you’re very very unlikely to win titles.

01 May 2024 20:08:53
Klopp had some input into VVD signing for Liverpool, they had a cosy up on the big dipper. VVD for me because he is the one we will miss the most. With Allison out and Mo not playing well we still ended up 3 points clear with 7 games to go.

01 May 2024 20:16:18
Alisson easy for me.
VVD and Salah not a million miles behind though.

01 May 2024 19:59:13
Im more the same age group as ED025, some amazing players over my lifetime. Sometimes forget just how good we have been. So hard to say best plater overall, but best keeper has to be Clemence. A keeper ahead of his time, Ali runs him a close second. Best Manager, PAISLEY always.

01 May 2024 20:36:26
Best keepers? Surely smeichal or van Der sar have to be up there also, bad spelling sorry.

01 May 2024 19:54:44
Ed025 you listed a load of great players there mate but no Barnes. Was that an oversight or do you not rate him?

{Ed025's Note - a bit of a brain fart im afraid Baz, right near the top of that list for me mate and one of the most skillful players i have ever seen mate..

01 May 2024 21:03:16
Alisson for me not only fantastic keeper but a humble lead by example kind of character in the dressing room and that for me is part of why Liverpool has had an amazing run since he arrived
The assist against United and the top corner finish in the dying minutes are bonuses but his ability with his hands make him one of my favourites.

01 May 2024 21:11:35
Mohammed Salah for me. Year in and year out, consistently was available to play, scored that minimum 20 goals a year, broke LFC records regularly and is just a serious professional always at work. Recent touchline hissy fit aside. Alisson and VVD are very serious contenders but just half a step behind Salah, for me.

01 May 2024 21:38:14
Vvd for me. the 1 player when he is out or not at his best we cannot make any attempt to replace.
Weve lost ali+ salah at different times threw the years but we got bye OK. When vvd out or plays below his best we allover the place defensively.

01 May 2024 22:45:35
Rodgers signed Firminho.
Any of the four of Alisson, VVD, Mane or Salah, for me.
Robertson has been outstanding value for what he cost, too.

01 May 2024 23:43:19
I’m with Digger - Virgil Van Dijk.

He’s what you call “a multiplier”. His presence improves all the players around him.
He gives more confidence to the fullbacks to roam forward. He allows the team to go full tilt on the high press. He gives confidence to all the other defenders and the goal keeper and is a calming influence.

We went from ”good team” to genuine challengers when we bought Virgil.

Salah is a brilliant player but Virgil made the difference to the team.

01 May 2024 23:53:03
Great shout about Robbo @Rigsby.

I’d go for Ali as the best ‘signing’ and Robbo as the ‘best value for money’ signing.

If you talk about the previous manger his best signing was Bobby and his best value for money signing (quite possibly in the club’s history) was Millie. Despite the fact Brendan was / is a self promoting tool he did have his moments.

02 May 2024 01:28:45
I mean does Salah even count as a Klopp signing? Yeah he signed off on it but he wanted Brandt and 2 others instead.

02 May 2024 07:56:42
Yes, Salah counts as a Klopp signing, fuser.

02 May 2024 08:00:58
This Salah is not Klopp signing is not much of a discussion is it? There is no way to know that if Brandt who Klopp want did come, he will not turn Brandt into a world class player. Plus Klopp have the final say on who we sign right, it mean that Salah will not happen if Klopp doesn't approve it.

02 May 2024 08:48:55
Another vote for Virgil.