Liverpool banter 2

14 Dec 2025 00:06:07
Would love to hear the thoughts of any fans lucky enough to have been at Anfield today. On the radio, it felt like the atmosphere was back. Loudest support at a 3pm kick-off in a long while.

Maybe, Slot’s Liverpool needed some adversity to get their mojo back?

Is Kerkez now bedded in? From Sutton’s commentary, it sounds so.

14 Dec 2025 03:30:28
Kerkez has been getting better with each passing game. Same as Wirtz too. They both had poor starts to their career with us, especially Kerkez, but I think they have turned it around. Always nice to see players not give up and run themselves into the ground for the team.

14 Dec 2025 03:31:59
Great defensive performance from kerkez, he might not be perfect defensively and it might not be his favourite part of the game but he has so much desire. Dove in and messed up once or twice in the first half but the rest of the game, against one of the most dangerous one on one wingers in the league he was just superb.

I wish we could see him take defenders on on the other end and get crosses in more but until that happens if he can keep putting in performances like he has against minteh and madueke that would be brilliant.

14 Dec 2025 07:36:41
I was at the game Monster and I can say it was far from the atmosphere being great. The loudest moments came from chances created in the second half where it roused the fans for a moment. Still a lot of nervous tension as we allowed Brighton to get in a few times. Brighton fans were fairly quiet compared to other fans.

14 Dec 2025 08:33:53
I don't think kerkez was ever as bad as he has been made out out to be. He's struggled at times but I wouldn't say he has been awful.
Played v well yesterday and at inter. Will be good player for us I've no doubt.

14 Dec 2025 08:40:35
I second what Frode said.

14 Dec 2025 09:40:56
It’s tentative steps at the moment. Nothing free flowing or confident yet, hopefully that’ll come in the new year if we continue to pick up wins and draws. Kerkez is playing better, as is Konate and VVD. Grav is also better and Curtis seems to be adding something to the balance of the team and playing well. Ekitike form is great, could do with a few more goals from midfield or set pieces.

If we do keep going like this, and add a few in Jan I can see a much better second half of the season. I still think getting Guehi out in Jan is going to be tricky as Palace are flying high, Semenyo is done I believe. I’m guessing we’ll bring in a right back or maybe another centre back option as the second January buy.

14 Dec 2025 09:40:57
Had it on 5 live - Sutton sprouting his usual hatred towards us -

With Kerkez People tend to forget that Robbo wasn’t a shoe in first team starter and people have crucified Kerkez who’s come into a shockingly bad performing defence - I think he’ll come good for us given time and he’s still a kid .
Good result yesterday given the amount of minutes they’ve played lately and I’ll. give Slott a fair bit of credit as well - he’s not out of the woods yet but the blokes had to operate under massive pressure .
Arsenal lucky yesterday and I’ll maintain what I said a month or so ago - if we go into the new year 6/ 7/ 8 points behind with some form behind us they won’t want to be looking over there shoulder at us or City going into the run in.

14 Dec 2025 09:58:29
City will probably win it Bristol, but we’re in with a top 4 shout. Arsenal have had a bad run of injuries again, which may well do for them. They’re still winning but they’ve started to stutter and will also start to feel the pressure. If Villa buy in Jan it’s going to be a battle for the top places, and if Palace keep Guehi they’ll keep taking points off all teams and should make top six.

Chelsea are the unknown, if they get it back together that could be a problem for us, if not we could creep in there.

14 Dec 2025 10:01:04
I never really saw it before when folks on here were suggesting it, but seeing ekitike power past defenders last night running on to a through ball or pushing the ball between defenders himself to sprint through the gap, I definitely saw shades of Nando in the way he charges at goal, some of his dribbling is very henry-esque too.

He's not near the level of those two yet, he can be pretty hit or miss with his decision making and his finishing still, but two goals and seven shots against decent opposition when he has still to hit his peak is pretty scary. That first finish was so good, just an instinctive whack, great improvisation, a millisecond later and the ball would have been nicked off him by or blocked by the incoming defender.

14 Dec 2025 10:05:27
I was there mate, given the circumstances the atmosphere was decent, supportive of the whole team and manager. Kerkez did very well and looked like the player we hoped we were getting. Gravenberch was the main concern I’ve been saying til I’m blue in the face he’s not a 6 and needs to be released to take the ball on the half turn more towards the final third, every Brighton scare was down to runs off the back of our midfielders, get Wharton in and push Grave on.

14 Dec 2025 10:21:21
Wharton and Zubimendi seem like the preferred profile of player for us, although not very mobile they occupy the pockets of space and dictate play. That would allow Macca to be let go, which would probably suit us at the end of the season. Wharton looks good when he’s got the runners wide of him, if we get Semenyo that would probably work quite nicely.

14 Dec 2025 11:35:30
Wharton will be the new Jan Molby, minus the excess baggage. It will be hard to improve on Peak Alexis, who really is one of the best at what he does when on form.

14 Dec 2025 11:41:45
PB you comments about seeing shades of Nando in Ekitike is down to the goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero, who was here when Torres played for us. Valero was more than a GK coach. Torres credits Valero with improving his finishing. His numbers increased significantly after Valero was appointed.

14 Dec 2025 14:07:02
Digger10, that was it. Kerkez has always been a good player. The reason he struggled is cos he was being asked to do things like inverting to help create, something he is simply not able to do.

He is doing better now cos he is being asked to do things he actually can do and go from there. Hopefully, he can go on and keep improving and form a good relationship with Robbo cos remeber, Kerkez is only 21.

14 Dec 2025 16:01:55
Atmosphere was okish .1st hal was a bit quiet i thought . but i think everyone is still nervous that we will mess up . keep the clean sheets n the confidence should come back . Kerkez done ok nothing special, still think he is being asked to play inside instead of what he's good at like getting down the line n crossing it .

but he played better maybe because Gakpo never played, they don't seem to have any understanding.

13 Dec 2025 22:24:53
Great result today. a lot like Leeds much in control although hough some nervy times and luck was with us. Spurs away next. One game at a time. Let's get to January see what players we can bring in. Two points off top four. Hopefully English sides do well in Europe getting us 5 places again.

13 Dec 2025 23:01:52
Just looked and England is top of the rankings so top 5 gets Champions league again.

14 Dec 2025 00:42:55
Ah it'll be top 5 alright. We just need to get into them spots as quick as possible. If and once we do that we just work on catchin the next team ahead of us and so on and so on.

14 Dec 2025 14:08:37
Florian, we just keep running up the wins and we will get there. Just look at where Villa are now compared to before. Winning 9 outta 10 will do that.

13 Dec 2025 22:00:30
Much better today. Two goal Ekitike on it again. If Isak gets up and running we have a potent attack for sure. Really annoying that Arsenal win with 2 Wolves own goals but that's what championship winning team do, play rubbish by win. Liverpool need to keep it going now .

13 Dec 2025 22:23:46
Gutted for Wolves, absolutely no luck.

13 Dec 2025 22:44:13
Konate was kinda bossy today. He played very well. Jones made some risky decisions but it resulted in no mistakes fortunately for him. I wish we would go after teams a little more and not invite pressure on us so much.

Macallsiter is either lightweight or deserves an Oscar. He is so frustrating. I thought this was one of Doms quieter games but he still played well.

14 Dec 2025 11:37:45
Isak = Hughes Benteke equivalent.
Just don't see him being anymore than an average player for LFC.

7/ 28 buys over 80 deemed a success. 1/ 3 of our expensive buys likely to flop, and we can already tell that it won't be Eki or Flo.

13 Dec 2025 21:16:36
Ed001 I thought we looked a lot better going forward, still loads of room for improvement going forward but a lot better.
But defensively Ed I thought we where very lucky to keep a clean sheet I can’t understand how even when we have a lot of players back it seems so easy for team to get through I would not even put it down to individual mistakes today so is it players not understanding the tactics or is it just the tactics.


I would like to say loved Chiesa again when he came on hope he gets a run of games soon much better than Mac rolling around the floor for 65 minutes of the game.

14 Dec 2025 00:35:58
Midfield and attack is starting to look a bit more like it did last year, controlled and effective without blowing teams away, but the defence man. Very lucky not to concede today. We look so open, but a wins a win. Let's hope we keep this mini run going!

14 Dec 2025 14:11:55
Westwood, agree esp. in defensive transitions. Massive issues there with the way we drop off all the way to the edge of our own box and allowing the oppo. to get comfortable with NO press. Brighton could have scored 2 today.

On the other hand, we could have sored 4/ 5 so there's that. The win will do wonders for the boys going into a full week of training and on to the Spurs game.

13 Dec 2025 18:21:51
How strange under Klopp we had so many 12.30 kick offs after playing in champions league and Arsenal's game has been moved to 20.00 kick off because they played in the champions league. you can see who the Premier League want to win the league. YNWA.

13 Dec 2025 18:41:37
Million percent mate. Not that we’re a threat this season mind 😂.

13 Dec 2025 19:12:14
We played on Tuesday night and Arsenal played on Wednesday night mate. So going by that theory the PL are favouring us more.

13 Dec 2025 19:26:20
They changed the rule (I think last season) so teams could not play 12:30 on Saturday after a Wednesday CL game. They then started scheduling us for 12:30 kickoffs after Wednesday League Cup games instead.

13 Dec 2025 20:59:16
We played Everton at 12:30 Saturday after playing atletico on the Wednesday. Rules don’t apply to us 😂.

13 Dec 2025 21:09:10
If am not mistaken it’s if you have an away fixture on the Wednesday you can’t play the 12:30 game Saturday.

13 Dec 2025 21:10:36
Is it if you're away from home in the CL?

14 Dec 2025 00:18:16
It’s because we are box office. Nice problem to have.

14 Dec 2025 19:23:57
No we played on a wed many times and were given the 12.30 kick off and i am not talking about this week irish rover how many times did klopp kick off about this on TNT sports?

13 Dec 2025 17:19:32
Even with a win, a clean sheet, positive performances, and rising up the table, people still moaning. After 9 loses in 12 matches, I'll take any positive I can get. Unbeaten in 5 matches, so far, and I can tell it is pissing people off.

End of the day, when Liverpool win, I am happy. So, may we keep winning for the short and long term.

13 Dec 2025 17:31:06
The problem is we can be so much better my friend.

13 Dec 2025 17:31:07
Yep, another 3 pts with a clean sheet. Slowly coming out of our terrible run. Fair play to the players and manager today. Ekitike and Jones top class.

13 Dec 2025 17:37:33
Not a lot wrong with that at all today, we looked like a team, fitter, sharper and organised. Brighton had a couple of decent chances but we could have also scored more. Gomez injured again is the biggest negative.

13 Dec 2025 17:42:42
I think the performances improve as the confidence comes back to the players.

13 Dec 2025 17:44:57
After a midweek away European game in Italy that was a decent game today.

Ekitike looked very sharp 👌🏻.

13 Dec 2025 17:45:31
Reminded me of our games at the start of the season, good going forward but fragile at the back, hope Gomez not out for too long and here’s hoping a centre half is already done for January.

13 Dec 2025 18:08:11
A few things to salute today:

- The home support. Rome has said how the amazing away support in Milan was not isolated: on the radio, it was the first time in a year or so that our home crowd made their presence felt. It feels like the hardcore have taken hold of the narrative, and they want Slot to succeed.

- Team grit. It’s insane that we have had 4 games in 10 days, but we dug this one out. Again, it seems clear that this team plays for its manager.

- Mo. He had his best game since March. If he does choose to leave, at least he does so in a good light.

- Manager: Slot has never previously had to deal with bad form. This spell has almost shattered him (film fans might get the reference), but if he turns this round…. then he is the guy for us.

13 Dec 2025 18:08:39
Good result and some good individual performances. Much more solid which was always the best way to get out of the slump in form. Arne should be applauded as well for changing things tactically, and he’s also making better substitutions. Seems like confidence is building all around.

13 Dec 2025 18:32:14
Even if you’re “so much better” you can only win 3 points.

13 Dec 2025 18:33:39
I still think we can do this. How were PSG looking a year ago? Two clean sheets. We will kick on.

13 Dec 2025 18:42:16
Do you mean win the league monster. Not sure about that, but top four is definitely back on. Tough to call though unless Villa start to lose form. Hopefully a run in the champions league as well, not sure how PSG are doing this year but I’m guessing they’ll be favourites again.

13 Dec 2025 18:47:04
Just concentrate on hopefully getting into them top 5 places for now Monster and then build from there.

13 Dec 2025 18:51:35
@MANGO, I agree with @Coulred. We can/ could be so much better. That's just a fact and echoed by lots of people and even in the Ed's last podcast, they agreed on this point. We played a lot quicker and the press was there in stages. The same issues like allowing opponents to come on to us which creates anxious moments or being really wasteful with poor dec. making in attack esp. in the sec. half, is still there. That's all Im saying.

Now, we had some great phases and patterns of play for sure and the positives are there BUT we can marry this formation/ system along with playing a lot better in offensive phases esp. regarding making more effective decisions in the final third.

Salah looked rejuvenated cos when he came on, that's when we really started to play better in the fist half with quick interchanges and com bos with Wirtz and Szobo. This is kinda the way we were playing last season on the right side with Trent instead of Gomez who btw, is killing it right now. Good victory. Good performance. Lots to work on. We move on.

13 Dec 2025 19:15:45
The clean sheets are massive at the minute considering the amount of goals we’ve been shipping. Get that sorted and I think it will actually help our offensive play also. Great result today 👌.

13 Dec 2025 19:33:39
King Kenny always used to say - focus on winning the next game and at the end of the season we’ll add up all the points.

A lot can happen over 10 months.

13 Dec 2025 19:55:32
Yes, I do think we can win the lot. For the past few weeks, we have been like PSG a year ago. A young team, with no identity - and then it all clicks.

Let’s monster them. If I am wrong, then monster me.
MS.

13 Dec 2025 20:58:14
An excellent 3 points, is that our bad run over and done with? time will tell but I really hope so. Now we can at least be a little more positive, things are looking quite different to how they were a week ago.

13 Dec 2025 21:13:53
Bigger picture Ron.

13 Dec 2025 22:05:44
Salah, if we go on a winning run of 5 or 6 games then maybe we can rest easy a little more. Our team, especially the defensive side is so fragile right now that it will take a fair amount of positive results to put the nightmare of the last few months to the back of their minds.


It’s been a positive week but we had that against Villa and Madrid, so for me it’s a small step in the right direction but that’s it in my opinion.

13 Dec 2025 22:10:22
Mango . you think its pizzing people off because we've not lost for 5 games . it was pizzing people off when we were getting hammered every game n losing badly . every single Liverpool fan wants us to win every single game.

13 Dec 2025 22:56:10
Agree with everything you said there The Irish Rover! We still look very frail defensively. Need to improve quite a bit I think.

14 Dec 2025 02:54:52
I also agree, Irish.

14 Dec 2025 14:14:02
I agree, we are way too vulnerable in defence. That needs to be caught out ASAP.

13 Dec 2025 17:15:33
Ekitike.

This guy is going to be a superstar. He has the talent, the desire, and what about this for a quote: “When you play for Liverpool, you just have to win games. ”

Total dude.

13 Dec 2025 17:50:09
Yeh. really surprised and impressed by him. A lovely touch, needs to hit the target more though.

13 Dec 2025 18:43:15
Pity slot couldn't see how good he is all season instead of playing isak who has been nothing short of shocking when he's started him in front of Ekitike. Good win but slot still needs to go.

13 Dec 2025 18:54:20
Monster, I think "Eki" still needs to improve his decision making in offensive stages and know when to play a team mate thru along with the right pass

Cos for me, there were weveral ocassions where he should have passed to the right guy and picked the wrong one or picked the right guy BUT bad execution. Stll doing grat but areas to improve, IMO.

Now if you want to know how great that goal was, watch it again. The more you watch it, the better it gets. Top finish, indeed.

13 Dec 2025 20:09:29
@Whatsup, give it a rest. We are building momentum, shame you can’t enjoy it.

13 Dec 2025 20:55:46
Don't like the truth wdw?

14 Dec 2025 00:51:20
Whatsup. Seriously? We just won 2-0, and you still want the manager replaced (by who exactly? ) . Let’s not turn our backs on only the 2nd manager in 35 years to win us a title.

We are in the middle of a rebuild. Slot seems to be turning things around after a ghastly period - if he gets us through it, then he is clearly made of strong stuff.

13 Dec 2025 11:46:02
Hopefully a good performance and result today! Can't shake the feeling that someone's going to take a walloping soon from us so hopefully today!

13 Dec 2025 12:00:08
Don’t think we are going to wallop anyone at the moment personally I’d settle for a very boring 1 nil to Liverpool obviously.

13 Dec 2025 12:26:47
I’d settle for another clean sheet first and foremost.

13 Dec 2025 13:35:02
Well the way we having been playing boring is definitely a guarantee lol 🤣.

13 Dec 2025 13:39:59
I can see where RebeLFC is coming from. With so much talent in this squad sooner or later (hopefully sooner) everything is going to click. Cannot believe the negativity around the Summer transfer window when just about everyone was blown away by the purchases. I am an optimist so will back our squad to come good.

13 Dec 2025 14:30:57
@RebeLFC and where is that walloping going to come from? We had a chance to you know, wallop Leeds 3/ 4-0 and still managed to screw that up royally with dumb subs and poor tactics like retreating into our shell rather than going for the jugular.

Hey, I hope we beat Brighton for real BUT it will be a tough game cos that Mitome, Welbeck and Minteh attack with Rutter behind them, is going to be a handful for any defence, let alone one as leaky and error-prone as ours.

13 Dec 2025 10:15:08
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new podcast entitled, Ed1 and Ed666 Allez 5 Podcast 38min

13 Dec 2025 15:04:44
Very informative, Ed01 esp. re: the Salah saga. Also pls, is that the former Ed who used to do the podcast with you a few years ago along with the Australian guy who had to wake up st diabolical times just to join in? It sounds very much like him. Pls, my regards to him cos I also like his takes even the, I may not agree with all of them. Always sounded very nice and kind.

And the other gentleman addressed my issues directly. Why did the club go behind Salah's back and start listening to offers w/ o him knowing about it? Why did the club not wait till August and them have a chat with him and his team and hash it all out? The man said there is no communication with the club nor manager and everyone just ignored all that just cos he spoke out? For me, that gave the club cover in the media and that needed to be addressed. Just my issue with the whole situation.

As for the tactics, I agree that the way we are playing attacking wise is very troubling. We were playing with wingers hugging the touch line at first with the fullbacks underlapping which shackle Salah esp. as he has been very productive cos he plays closer to goal with fullback overlapping. The same happened last season all our wide men scored goals with Slah leading the charge.

We are not doing this nor pressing consistently anymore and with the diamond, it did not look good vs Inter offensively. Cheers, man.

{Ed001's Note - yes that is Ed666 back on the pods, it is great to have him back.}

14 Dec 2025 01:33:16
Did Rob ever get over his addiction to dogging so that he could join and record the pod with you Ed001?

{Ed001's Note - unfortunately he is busy dogging as we speak.}

13 Dec 2025 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Weejoe has posted a new article entitled, Celtic's Decline Was Years in the Making

13 Dec 2025 12:29:18
I thought some Liverpool fans came across as entitled but you guys take the biscuit.

13 Dec 2025 17:41:47
I thought they were in crisis but I took a look at the Scottish PL table and they are only a point behind the leaders with a game in hand. That made me laugh a bit.

14 Dec 2025 07:32:19
They are a medium size fish in a very small pond.

13 Dec 2025 06:45:15
Morning all

Question for ed1 if you got time.

A lot has been written this last week or so saying the diamond formation has been welcomed by most of the players and especially the new signings as it suits their style of play. Would you prefer this and why? Will it lead to better performances?

I'm clueless when it comes to formations, so is this a good thing, if not, why not.

Ta, up the reds.

{Ed001's Note - it will work sometimes, it offers little width and crowds everyone in the centre, allowing opposition teams the freedom of the flank, so I don't see it as ideal in the Prem or for the long term. It is quite flexible though, if the team drill in it relentlessly, so they understand when one of the strikers has to drop deeper to allow the midfield to go wider defensively. Like most formations, it is not really the most important thing, not like style of play ie aggressive, fast pressing or slow, deep-lying packed defending. Also, being able to play it well often matters more than the actual formation.}

13 Dec 2025 07:38:45
cheers ed. Here's to a thumping win.

{Ed001's Note - fingers crossed mate.}

13 Dec 2025 09:45:31
can see Mo playing in this system alongside Ekitike or Isak. same as Wirtz.

13 Dec 2025 09:55:01
I think most importantly it suits the squad. I feel like at the minute, we don’t have enough to play 433

Especially when you factor in Slot doesn’t want to use Chiesa, Endo and Rio

Feels like we’ve nothing on the bench at times.

13 Dec 2025 10:02:27
There's no point playing 4-3-3 if we play it with inverted fullbacks. it doesn't suit the players we've bought.

13 Dec 2025 11:02:23
Ed, I agree with you formations are irrelevant and this since even Klopp was here cos in-game, you can flip formations a few times to keep the oppo. guessing or to react to what the oppo. does in real time.

Now like you, my only fear here is that in the PL esp. vs low blocks (cos that is what we struggle with for the most part, crowding the middle will suit the oppo. rather than us esp. if they play 5 across the backline.

Hence to me, the diamond is fine IF the FB's are allowed to participate in providing width and quality from wide positions as this will allow gaps to open thru the half spaces in the oppo. defence to get space to attack. What do you think? Cheers.

{Ed001's Note - you do need the full backs to get forward, otherwise there is no width, but even then you need them given help by a forward drifting out wide or the midfield. It just seems to be more about shoehorning our best players into the side, rather than a set up that suits the team as a whole.}

13 Dec 2025 12:41:37
An astute football fan friend. Believes Slot will be at Anfield until the end of the season. Possibly longer. 😱😱

Brendan Rogers 2.0.

13 Dec 2025 13:46:08
Don't understand 'we can't play 433'. What system did we play against RM? Fairly sure it was 433.

13 Dec 2025 19:33:39
Thanks, Ed01. The shoehorning of players is the issue. Playing a system like that is always going to be a problem if shoehorning players is the goal.

13 Dec 2025 23:00:46
Unpopular opinion for sure but the problem is we went out and bought 2 strikers, a playmaking attacking mid and 2 full backs who look more like wing backs. So bar the centre backs, which we already know we are short on anyway, we have all the elements to play a back 3/ 5. At the Euros Hungary and Scotland both played a back 5, as do Northern Ireland, Frimpong last season at Leverkusen.

Not that im a massive fan of the idea because nobody ever wins anything with a back 3, and its another tactical change, but Agbadou and Guehi are both playing in a back 3 right now. Pair them with Virgil who has the quality to adapt, all 3 are 2 footed and more than capable. It gets Ekitike and Isak on the field together, or Ekitike and Salah who both have a tendency to drift out to the left and right respectively. Wirtz tucked in behind in his best position. Szobo and Grav double pivot, i think Jones would also thrive in this system. and most of all it allows the fullbacks more license to roam forward and overlap and provide width without compromising the defence.

12 Dec 2025 20:24:57
Maybe I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but it strikes me that all of the following can be true at the same time:
- Mo is a legend;
- Mo let himself down this past week, not in the heat of a moment but in a premeditated outburst, followed up by his passive aggressive instagram post;
- Slot won us our 2nd title in 35 years at the 1st time of asking
- Slot has struggled since March to find a solution to teams having worked us out;
- Jurgen was a great manager, but his post title teams were not quite the same
- Both Jurgen and Slot had dire seasons. It doesn’t make them bad people, or hopeless managers. Any great movie director or musician has a fair few disasters - it’s part of being human, and more so exaggerated when artists (which I would say managers are) are so willing to take risks under the public glare.
- While Mo’s acts over the past week can be condemned, I would follow the Catholic principle of condemning the sin, and never the man/ woman.

What am I saying here? I have no idea, other than that these things are not binary. People are complicated, and ultimately we need to remember that Slot and Mo are both decent chaps, who are free to make choices we may not like.

12 Dec 2025 21:13:44
Monstersouness, I think your knife is sharp enough, mate.

12 Dec 2025 22:22:48
Well Monster . it wasnt sharp when you said Trent was a better player than Gerrard.

12 Dec 2025 22:28:30
Good post mate 👏.

13 Dec 2025 00:19:41
MS well said.

The sharpest tool can be brittle, needs a lot of maintenance and often gets put away because it's "too nice" to use. U just need to be "sharp enough, durable, trusted and used every day. " Anyway, that's what Chat GPT thinks!

13 Dec 2025 01:21:46
Not the bluntest one either monster.