Liverpool Banter 2

18 Feb 2026 17:49:42
Sent to soon. king Kenny and Keegan. That team would truly be something.


Premier League team Ali, Robbo, Trent, VvD, Hyypia, Gerrard, Alonso, Milner, Fowler, Mo and Mane.

Someolaywrs overlap eras like Barnes and Rush but they go pre Prem as that was their peak. Be interesting to see Man Citys best pre Premier team compete with their best Premier team.

18 Feb 2026 19:27:20
Milner was a squad player, how can he be in the best Prem team?

18 Feb 2026 21:37:34
I feel Henderson has to be in there over Milner.

18 Feb 2026 22:00:48
I would actually pick Fabinho over Hendo, and Hendo over Milner, despite the respect I have for Milner.

18 Feb 2026 22:51:37
Agree with both, Zed. Fabinho and Henderson were key players.

19 Feb 2026 09:58:02
We don't win it all w/o both Hendo and Fab. Not in a million years.

19 Feb 2026 11:25:11
Mine pl team would be. Ali Trent Hypia Vvd Robbo Hendo Fabinho Gerrard Mane Firmino Salah Subs Reina Carra Finnan Alonso Milner Garcia Fowler.

{Ed025's Note - i presume you are quite young MOT?, a least half of them dont get in the best Liverpool sides that i have seen mate..

19 Feb 2026 11:48:30
I'm similar, Tod. If I was to pick my favourite team purely from players who I've seen play live I'd have to go with: Alisson Trent, Virgil, Agger, Robbo Hendo, Szoboszlai Salah, Gerrard, Mane Torres My 7 super subs, in case I need a goal, would be Hyypia, Riise, Milner, Kuyt, Jota, Firmino and Origi. Hyypia is for if we've got a late corner.

Riise is for if we have a free kick more suited to a lefty. Milner is if we need nerves of steel on a deciding penalty. Kuyt is if it's against United or Everton. Jota is if it's against Spurs or Arsenal. Firmino is if it's against Man City. Origi is if it's a Champions League semi or final. Milner is also my back-up keeper, seeing as he's a swiss army knife.

19 Feb 2026 12:06:50
MKS, you have to add Origi if it comes to Everton as well. Ed25 would be crushed if you didn't.

18 Feb 2026 18:13:55
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 26 - Quick Round Up

18 Feb 2026 16:50:38
Ed1,
Saw some links again to Morgan Rogers again today.
Hypothetical question, as I don't think we'll sign him.
Do you rate him?
I think I remember previously you spoke positively of him.
I think he's exactly what we need.

Love him as a player, but his best position is central, where we have Wirtz. Would like to see him as a LW for us but he's probably not good enough there for what we want to achieve.

{Ed001's Note - he is very good in the centre, but I would prefer either Dom or Wirtz playing there, so don't see a need for him.}

18 Feb 2026 17:49:27
We will do anything in our quest not to buy a centre back.

18 Feb 2026 19:07:41
Jeremy Jacquet.

18 Feb 2026 19:25:35
At the moment we have 5 senior CB's on our books.

18 Feb 2026 20:07:56
We bought Leoni last summer, and Jacques is already signed for the coming summer. We've brought in three young lads (or was it four) who are regarded as very good prospects. That's five or six CBs signed within 12 months.

19 Feb 2026 09:58:55
Ed, I don't see a need for MR either BUT I would take him and figure it out later because that kid is awesome.

19 Feb 2026 11:31:48
We need another, more mobile and defensive midfielder, centre back and a wide forward. The last thing we need is an attacking No. 10. Wirtz, Dom, Macca and even Jones can play there. For squad balance, Rogers would be a total waste of money.

18 Feb 2026
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled,

Click picture for larger image

18 Feb 2026 13:08:58
For us older generation, football started a long time before 1992. An all-time top league division would probably see Liverpool at the top.

18 Feb 2026 13:40:21
What did we do before '92 when football was invented?

18 Feb 2026 13:52:30
I posted the all-time table after I saw this. We are nearly 200 ahead of Arsenal; Everton is 3rd and United 4th, 600 pts behind us. Football started before 1992.

18 Feb 2026 13:53:07
Good question, @Hoof?

18 Feb 2026 15:54:42
That is something I'd never post, especially since it's only the Premier League and United are at the top of it. Post it to their page; I'm sure they'll be delighted, but football existed long before 92.

18 Feb 2026 16:06:49
Unfortunately, points mean very little unless they come with titles. I am not really sure how the league titles won table would look in its entirety.

18 Feb 2026 16:08:35
Well said, Salah.

18 Feb 2026 16:47:59
I'll be sure to check in with you first, Salah, before sharing something others might find interesting. 👍

18 Feb 2026 17:27:29
Stop bullying each other, lads.

18 Feb 2026 18:26:58
We are the most successful club in England by cups and titles, not including the Charity Shield. End of.

18 Feb 2026 20:18:52
The era of football as a business. The first Football League was set up in 1888/89, so it has been in existence for 138 years. The PL incarnation of the league has been around since 1992 - 34 years. So, if you think of the lifespan of the Football League as a football match - 90 minutes - the PL can be viewed as approximately the last 20 minutes or thereabouts.

So basically, the PL stats are interesting, but are nowhere near the full picture.

18 Feb 2026 21:23:13
I can't stand this "Prem Era" nonsense. The top tier is the top tier.

18 Feb 2026 21:57:11
Can I get all my money and memories back from pre-1992 from all the games I attended, if they didn't matter.

19 Feb 2026 06:50:02
Division 1, 2, 3 and 4. The Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two. The second set looks and sounds like they were made up by someone who couldn't be arsed about what the leagues were called. I suppose it must have had something to do with sponsorship, naming rights - everything does these days.

19 Feb 2026 10:02:03
Indeed, 1jj. United fans can use stats or whatever era suits them to create whatever "carve-outs" they like to make them feel all warm and fuzzy. The facts are what you say they are. They can read that and weep, but I know they won't.

19 Feb 2026 10:26:38
There is a website, Football Rates, which appears to be up to date, as Arsenal have now played one more game than Liverpool. I believe they use actual points gained rather than 3 points for all games won.

18 Feb 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, What United Should Look For in the Next Manager

18 Feb 2026 10:27:17
A simple copy and paste is all that's needed here, really. Just remove all references to ETH and Amorim, and you're good to go.

18 Feb 2026 16:29:56
Historic clubs... Aren't all clubs historic, even those formed in the 1990s?

18 Feb 2026 16:58:59
Exactly Cooler, including Man City who were formed in 2008. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

18 Feb 2026 20:19:44
A miracle worker?

19 Feb 2026 10:04:03
@Heighway, we can also include PSG in that because they are only a few years older than me.

18 Feb 2026 04:55:17
Ed001
What your thoughts on Nico Williams for our left side. Decent player every time I have watched him, skilful, can score too.
Not sure about his pace, but not watched enough of him I guess.
Would Bilbao be willing to sell?

{Ed001's Note - there are much better options out there. He has had a poor season as well, added to the obscene price they would want, just not worth it when there are players like Diomande and Fofana out there.}

18 Feb 2026 07:31:42.
Ok, thanks, mate.With Fofana, I have not seen him play, but I searched and he is not a regular starter at Lyon and has had injury issues too this season. What makes him a good option on the left? Diomande looks very good, although still very young.

{Ed001's Note - well he is a better option for starters because he wants to join, whereas Williams has no interest in a move and would be only moving because Athletic want him to go.}

18 Feb 2026 08:24:29
Obscene price, and he would want crazy wages too. He's on GBP200k a week at Bilbao. When Arsenal sniffed around him, he apparently quoted them at around GBP300k per week, a lot of money for very little end product. Diomande & Fofana are both better options, as they actually want to join. He wants to stay in Spain by all accounts anyway.

18 Feb 2026 08:47:41
I think you said it was 400k a week this time last year, @Vik. We gang on for a couple of years. He'll be down to 100k.

18 Feb 2026 09:18:50
Bilbao are banned from signing anyone at the moment, I believe, which is amusing; they only sign Basque players, but I doubt they'll sell anybody while the ban is in place.

18 Feb 2026 09:49:48
Kloppers, I just read that the transfer ban has been overturned, so they would be free to sign players this summer. But you're right, they still have the self-imposed rule of only signing Basque players, so I'm not sure the transfer ban would be that effective.

18 Feb 2026 09:57:39
For the few times I saw Williams play, I couldn't see anything good about him. Overrated imo.

18 Feb 2026 10:15:32
Shankly, overrated doesn't even begin to describe this geezer. Wouldn't touch him if Bilbao paid us to take him off their hands.

18 Feb 2026 12:01:18
Spanish Madueke. Looks dangerous, very little end product.

18 Feb 2026 13:55:26
Livered, Spanish Madueke got me weak, man. Remember, if it looks dangerous from afar, it often ends up being far from dangerous, lol. Madueke and Williams, in a nutshell.

18 Feb 2026 15:32:41
I expect he'll eventually end up at Barca. That seems to be the only place he is interested in leaving Bilbao for.

18 Feb 2026 16:24:24
Not seen loads of him, so I'm probably wrong to have an opinion, but from what I have seen, he never impressed me.

18 Feb 2026 19:31:37
Fair enough on Nico Williams, guys, but Fofana is a hard pass from me, not what we need. He might support the Reds, but so do I, and you wouldn't want me on the LW. My injury record is also not good.

19 Feb 2026 00:45:26
I would rather we get Neco Williams back from Forest, tbh. He always seems lively and knows about the LFC way.

17 Feb 2026 15:21:45
Klopp to united 😂😂😂 I've more chance of a threesome with Bela Shah and Hayley McQueen!

17 Feb 2026 16:20:51
Today's rumours I've seen suggest Macca is going to United, and the three players they're willing to throw in to sweeten the deal.

17 Feb 2026 16:21:56
Rebel, United and Chelsea are allowed to try, right?

17 Feb 2026 19:15:25
Which 3 players?

17 Feb 2026 21:07:18
There isn't one United player worth having. Dogmuck, the lot of them.

17 Feb 2026 21:14:22
It said Mainoo, Ugarte, then introduced a paywall to find the third.As there's absolutely no one decent they'd be willing to offer, I didn't bother.

18 Feb 2026 00:15:48
I'd have Mainoo, Cunha, and Mbuemo from them, tbh.

18 Feb 2026 01:29:15
Not sure we need any of them. Wouldn't want Macca leaving anyway. Cheers.

18 Feb 2026 08:25:56
Mainoo is woeful, Drac. He's a hopeless midfielder; he can't defend and has no positional sense.

18 Feb 2026 09:53:49
I'd have to disagree, Vik. I think he has tonnes of potential. He's not a defensive midfielder, but I think he'd make a great b2b midfielder. He is only 21 this year, too, so still fairly young, and he can definitely improve further. At the very least, I think he'd be an upgrade on Macca, and maybe Jones too.

18 Feb 2026 10:17:23
I'd have Cunha because I wanted him at LFC. That's it. Mainoo? Nah, we already have Macca. Also, he, like Macca, doesn't have the legs to play in a mobile midfield.

18 Feb 2026 10:48:52
Strange how the opinion of Macca has changed for some. 05 Apr 2024 15:44:06 Just saw a stat that Mac10 is the first LFC player to score or assist in six consecutive games in all comps, since, you guessed it, Steven Gerrard. Now I have said on multiple occasions that I would have paid 80m for him throughout the season because he was that good at Brighton.

I hereby change my mind. Now, I would have paid 100m for him if I knew he would be anywhere near this good. Why? There is nothing that guy can't do. He is a true modern midfielder, imo. Bravo, sir!

18 Feb 2026 11:29:15
Macca is a very good player with lots of technical ability, and he is quite tenacious too. His form for this season has been poor; he has looked half a yard off the pace for most of it. He has also spent half the season play-acting and diving. Macca is a very good player and was my standout in the Argentina WC win, but for me he needs to stop diving and just knuckle down.

He is not in the same class as Gerrard; Gerrard literally did have it all, and his only real weakness was his tactical ill-discipline. I think this was due to not being coached well enough and to his being a big fish in a small pond. Macca's weakness is his lack of pace, positional sense and his play-acting!

18 Feb 2026 12:36:35
JK, Let me guess. 🤔🤔🤣🤣🤣

18 Feb 2026 13:39:45
You know it's a day ending with a Y when JK is either talking about Oli or Chiesa's wages.

18 Feb 2026 15:35:18
You know it's a day ending with a Y when TB comes on all triggered. 8 days a week for you, TB.

18 Feb 2026 16:32:16
That's a deep cut, JK. I admire your commitment to the bit!

18 Feb 2026 16:54:49
Maybe just stop bullying people, JK. Oli clearly wants nothing to do with you.

18 Feb 2026 17:16:04
Pulling the bullying card. 🤦‍♂️

18 Feb 2026 17:33:21
I thought Mac Allister was a great signing for under GBP 40m in today's market. World Cup winner, PL experience. The truth is, he's under-delivered on his footballing CV, but he's probably lived up to that price tag.

18 Feb 2026 17:42:18
Ron, I thought Macca was good last season, but has been extremely underwhelming this season. I think he played his part in delivering the club a league title, so that won't look too bad on a footballing CV.

18 Feb 2026 18:08:59
Tbh, Drac, whenever I've seen Mainoo, I've always been underwhelmed. I really don't see the hype. No positional sense, makes a lot of misplaced passes, and doesn't have a terrific work rate. Nothing of a footballer, as far as I'm concerned, and a Manc too. As for Mac Allister, he's been a good signing, but I think his legs are going, so time to move on. Great signing for the money we paid, and we will easily make a profit on him.

As for his CV, a league title in Argentina, one in England, a Copa America, and a World Cup is one that most footballers can only dream of. I stand by my view that Mac Allister and Jones should both be moved on, as they can both be improved upon. Thanks for your efforts, but football is a ruthless game.

18 Feb 2026 18:13:39
JK, Macca and Gerrard should never be seen in the same sentence ever again. Underwhelming is 1 word for him this season, and a very, very kind word for it, mate.

18 Feb 2026 18:22:59
Magico, the 'Macca and Gerrard' comment was not mine; it was a copy and paste from a previous comment that I apparently used to bully someone on a banter site. And yeah, I agree.

He's been pretty awful this season compared to last, but there are not many (maybe only Szob) who are having a better individual season for us this season than they did last season.

18 Feb 2026 21:49:24
What I mean is he has under-delivered for LFC, considering his "footballing CV".

19 Feb 2026 00:49:50
Prior to this season, where he seems to be on cruise control and not really doing anything other than going for his 1st acting Oscar, Mac has been overall a big success for us, esp at his price. Should his poor form continue for too much longer, though, I wouldn't be against him moving on, no matter where, as long as we get a good price.

17 Feb 2026 09:26:55
Hey Ed01 how on earth can you think Gakpo was better than Diaz last season? I expected better from you mate.

{Ed001's Note - because he was. This rewriting of history to make out Diaz was something special is ridiculous and embarrassing. He was a massive downgrade on Mane.}

17 Feb 2026 09:52:13
Personally, I thought the fierce comp. btw both players for the left wing spot brought the best out of both of them, which only enhanced us as a team. We now see how a lack of healthy comp. on that side has taken the toll on Cody and the whole team. As for who was better, Gakpo had better production stats-wise (which is his strength, really), but I think since Diaz wanted to go and let everyone know it for a couple of years, we let him go and stuck with the one, Gakpo, who wanted to stay.

Just my opinion. And, I concur. Diaz ain't Sadio. Neither is Gakpo. He is levels above both of them.

17 Feb 2026 10:28:42
Diaz massively lacked end product in the Premier League for us. He was consistently outscored by Gakpo, who also got more assists in general. What we do miss is Diaz's ball-carrying ability and pressing from the front. In terms of goals, though, he'd be performing no better than Gakpo this season if he'd stayed. Going to Bayern Munich and looking good alongside Harry Kane (who is a world-class striker who occupies 2 or 3 defenders and makes everyone around him look better) against generally quite weak opposition is warping people's memories.

Also, Diaz wanted to go. It was not a case of us choosing Gakpo over him; Diaz spent months, if not years, manufacturing an exit, using his father as a public mouthpiece.

17 Feb 2026 10:41:35
I have to say, I haven't missed Diaz. I agree with @MK - most of the time his end delivery (or lack of it) was way below PL standard.

17 Feb 2026 10:55:35
Imagine how many defenders Kane occupied when he could actually run faster than 5mph. No wonder Jarell is pulling up trees over there.

17 Feb 2026 11:12:47
Ed001, Gakpo and Diaz were both a massive downgrade on Mane. Mane was like a mix of both of them on the pitch at the same time: Gakpo's end product and Diaz's work rate. I do feel Diaz's work rate up there is definitely missed, and even though his end product was hit and miss, that endeavour did help with creativity.

17 Feb 2026 11:59:19
I agree with MK. I think we miss Diaz's pace, pressing, and ability to take a player on, but his output was below what it should be. Gakpo has also had a decent output. The problem is he is one-dimensional in his playing style, but he is always good for 15-20 goals a season, which for a wide forward is a decent return.

17 Feb 2026 12:07:04
Diaz's end product, whether final pass or goal, was poor. BL is slower than the PL, so Diaz's output is good, coupled with it being a poorer league in quality versus the PL. Mane was a quality player we had not had in years, in my opinion.

17 Feb 2026 12:14:42
I know Gakpo seems to be the new Jones-like whipping boy here, but Ed1 is right again. I liked Diaz, but he definitely was not the Messiah, and Gakpo was very good last year.

17 Feb 2026 13:11:16
Last season, Diaz scored more league goals than Gakpo; the season before that, they scored the same number of league goals. Over the same time period, Diaz had more assists than Gakpo.

I'm not sure where this fantasy that Gakpo was more productive in the league than Diaz is coming from, but it clearly isn't true. Yes, Diaz was a downgrade on Mane, but Gakpo is a downgrade on Diaz.

{Ed025's Note - i would agree with that Thunderbird..

17 Feb 2026 13:31:41
But we are talking about the LW position, Thunderbird. Last season, Diaz played through the middle most of the time, from Leverkusen onwards. The season before, Klopp was experimenting with Gakpo in midfield. I think both players have their attributes, and I loved Diaz's willingness to defend.

Gakpo is not as intense as Diaz, but he knows where the goal is and is a much more natural goal scorer. He anticipates where the ball will drop, like good strikers do. Not as flashy as Diaz, perhaps, but if you look back at some of his goals and assists, he's a very good player, and his numbers speak for themselves.

17 Feb 2026 14:00:49
Diaz outscored Gakpo 13 to 10 in the Premier League, with Gakpo edging it 18 to 17 in all comps. Superb seasons from both players for me. Even this season, Gakpo, in a poor season, probably won't be far off 15 in all comps.

17 Feb 2026 14:04:32
Play both of them together and they still wouldn't be a Mane replacement.

17 Feb 2026 14:08:23
Personal opinion, but I'd have Gakpo and Diaz every day of the week over Darwin at LW or CF in their time here.

17 Feb 2026 14:09:49
Ed1 and MK, I agree fully. I was delighted to see the back of Diaz, and at the time most people weren't bothered he left. Fast forward to this season, and he was some sort of incredible player? Come off it. He had the odd moment of quality, and that's about as far as it goes.

17 Feb 2026 14:15:18
Diaz, Jota and Nunez all had speed, played very direct. We should've replaced Diaz. Massive mistake. Gakpo was better when he had competition for LW. (But I agree both are a monstrous downgrade on Sadio Mane.)

17 Feb 2026 14:42:53
Gakpo scored and assisted more overall than Diaz last year, and was first choice LW for that reason. Don't quote league-only stats just to suit a narrative. Diaz played through the middle because Slot didn't like our other options there, so it stands to reason had we a striker last year Slot like Diaz wouldn't have even been a starter. I have no problem with Gakpo whatsoever, and do not understand why so many on here do.

Diaz was good, but he wanted out. Gakpo wants to stay. There's another thread live on this site right now going on about how important that is, but apparently not as soon as someone takes up the mantle of whipping boy. No bother, it'll revert back to Jones, or Szob, or Macca, or whoever in a few weeks' time.

17 Feb 2026 14:45:02
Mks, my sentiments exactly. Just to add, Diaz is playing in the best team in a weaker league, and pulling up trees, so I wouldn't compare him to Gakpo right now, who, btw, this same Bayern team were ready to pay big dough for until they essentially "settled" for Diaz. Just a reminder.

17 Feb 2026 15:02:42
Thunderbird, in that last season Diaz played as a striker in most of his appearances, so it's a moot point when comparing them as wingers. You've compared with far too basic metrics as well, because you've not factored in position played or minutes played within statements. I ran the numbers due to your opinion, though, because I don't like being dismissive unless I can back myself up factually, and those numbers were incredibly close. As per Transfermarkt, for Liverpool as a Left Winger, Luis Diaz got 23 goals and 16 assists in 83 appearances (5476 minutes). A goal every 238 minutes, an assist every 342 minutes. As per Transfermarkt, for Liverpool as a Left Winger, Cody Gakpo got 15 goals and 11 assists in 58 appearances (3649 minutes). A goal every 243 minutes, an assist every 331 minutes. Gakpo only marginally shades it when considering both goal and assist output from the left wing, and it really surprises me just how close it is, to be fair.

It always felt like Gakpo was a more reliable source for a goal coming off the left, but Diaz actually had the better minutes-per-goal ratio. Ultimately, it seems like the facts would suggest we're both wrong and that their outputs were effectively the same, more or less, if you take the measurement across their entire spells at the club. If you expand to all competitions, Gakpo got 28 goals in 84 games as a Left Winger, and Luis Diaz got 31 goals in 125 games as a Left Winger. So clearly Gakpo was a far more consistent goalscorer in all competitions from the Left Wing. I've evidently made the incorrect assumption that this translated into the Premier League games as well, for which I apologise. Although I reject the notion it is a fantasy. My fantasies strictly involve Sydney Sweeney and Ana de Armas.

17 Feb 2026 15:22:33
Diaz was always fit, always worked hard, pressed like a madman, covered his left back, and was ready to fight with everything he had. He didn't disappear in difficult games, like others. That game at Goodison in Klopp's final season was a great example of what Diaz is all about.

He was the only player in red fighting that day. His problem was that he was not Sadio Mane. Nobody is. Had he been 26 rather than 28, I think he would have got another deal and stayed with us.

17 Feb 2026 15:37:17
Let's be fair, Diaz was an incredible player, full of fight. He could carry the ball the length of the pitch while getting kicked all game. He was also deceptively good in the air, and was the best dribbler we had. He lacked end product, yes, but he had elite qualities as an attacking player.

He was no Mane, but Mane is one of the most complete wide attackers the Premier League has ever seen. That being said, in terms of pure goal threat, Gakpo is probably the superior and more efficient player.

17 Feb 2026 16:14:31
Diaz, last season, Transfermarkt says he played: Left wing 33 times Right wing 2 times Centre forward 15 times I also don't like the fact he wanted out of Liverpool to get more money. He could have at least said he was moving to Germany to grow the sport, like others did for Saudi.

17 Feb 2026 16:25:34
"More efficient player". This is my point, PB. Whatever one may think of Gakpo as a player, his ability is his biggest strength. I loved Diaz as a player as well for the qualities he had, and I think both players brought the best out of each other.

However, one wanted to go at all costs, so we let Diaz go and kept Gakpo, who was, to your point, more efficient.

17 Feb 2026 16:40:29
I have no problem with the fact that Gakpo is better in the League Cup than Diaz. 9 goals for Gakpo versus 2 for Diaz prove that. I just think it's important to acknowledge that this reflects Gakpo's level.

If Gakpo is starting, week in, week out, you are probably going to finish 4th or 5th. If Diaz is starting, week in, week out, you are probably going to challenge for a league title.

17 Feb 2026 17:32:23
How'd you work that one out, Thunderbird. Diaz was all flair, with limited end product. He could barely finish a sentence.

17 Feb 2026 18:22:50
Gakpo looked better as the other option. People got frustrated with Diaz and overrated Gakpo. He was only ever a decent squad player who did well in a good squad. Diaz offered more.

17 Feb 2026 18:44:51
For the reasons I said above, Frode, Diaz had more goals and assists in the Premier League in the last 2 seasons than Gakpo did.

17 Feb 2026 18:47:54
I disagree. Gakpo is not even close to Diaz as a player. What does Gakpo even try to do? Diaz's end product was not small because he tried things Cody could only dream of. He went past players on both sides, and through them too. I can tell you exactly what Cody is going to do before he does it. I could do that with Diaz. He had me off my seat much more than anybody but Mo last year. He occupied two to three defenders every time he got the ball. Now the RB shows Cody inside, puts pressure on him, and waits for either another defender to step in and make him lose possession.

Then nine times out of ten his shot is weak. Not many defenders found Diaz easy to defend? They did not have a clue. He took space that others would not dream of. To imply he was not good by comparing him to Mane is just not fair. I know Edd001 hates the way he treated the club and his dad too, but it is not rewriting history; we have missed him massively this season. It is nothing to do with competition for places either. Gakpo is just not good enough. When I found out he is on 250 pounds a week I was astounded. The quicker he is gone the better imo.

17 Feb 2026 19:34:16
Agree with Salah. Diaz wanted out, and his end product wasn't amazing. It's funny how fans want a player to go, then hail them as amazing when they're gone.

17 Feb 2026 23:52:54
Sydney Sweeney and Ana de Armas? Oh, MK, seems like we are sharing the same fantasies.

18 Feb 2026 00:24:55
Diaz - flashes of brilliance, purple patches. Gakpo - consistent, predictable. That's how I saw it between those 2.

18 Feb 2026 01:36:13
Gakpo is too predictable. A good player, but I'm sure we can get better as first choice.

18 Feb 2026 02:50:15
Gakpo was good last season, but fell off a cliff this season. He also rightfully won the LW slot over Diaz last season and was way more consistent than Diaz. Diaz had better numbers because he played most games as a CF last season, and only then because both Nunez and Jota were out injured, iirc. It's hard to judge our players on this season, imo, because they are all playing poorly, bar Szob. I've always maintained that if the whole squad is playing poorly, then the blame lies with the coaches, and that is what I still think is happening.

I also think that Gakpo has been playing better recently too, when we have reverted to a faster pace of play, similar to how Salah and the team look better as well. imo, Gakpo has been unfairly used as a scapegoat of sorts by fans, and we are all waiting for him to make one mistake or do one cut in before we jump on his back. I don't think he is as bad as we are making him out to be.

18 Feb 2026 05:45:40
Luis Diaz did not play the majority of games as striker in his last season at the club

I like both players for their own reasons and think they benefitted from having each other in the squad. Relatively speaking, you could rely on one of them to turn up.

Now it just seems like Gakpo can play like gestapo and he'll get a start the next game

With regards to Diaz, I think we miss his tenacity, competitiveness and flair. We don't have anyone in the current squad who plays like him. And given all the talk about how slow and boring we are, a little drop of Diaz in there would spice things up a bit.

Plus he's at a good age and stage of his career to help a team chasing titles

18 Feb 2026 06:43:48
Diaz definitely did not start ahead of Darwin last season because of injury. Nunez missed one league game through illness or injury. And he definitely did not play most games at CF. Fifteen of fifty games is not most.

18 Feb 2026 08:54:32
Is this the same Diaz that everybody slagged off for wanting to leave the club for two years or so? Didn't everybody think he wanted to go to Barcelona and thought we'd be better off without him?

18 Feb 2026 10:05:20
JK23, I don't know where you got 15 out of 50 given we only play 38 league games! Diaz started 28 league games last season. 14 of them were at CF, 13 were at LW, and 1 was at LM. Again, stats as per Transfermarkt. Maybe my choice of wording ("most") was misleading, but the reality is that when he started in the Premier League last season, factually speaking, 50% of the time he started as the CF. Hence, I don't like the simplistic statement that Diaz scored more league goals last year, and therefore has a better output than Gakpo as a LW. Gakpo did not start a single league game at CF last season, so it's just not a fair comparison.

Diaz was a far more effective CF than LW, though, in my opinion, and I wanted him to stay and play as the CF longer term. My thought process was perfectly encapsulated by Diaz's performances last year in the Champions League when it really mattered. Diaz started 6 CL games on the LW and got 0 goals and 0 assists. He started 1 game at CF vs Leverkusen and he scored 3 goals in that one game. I liked Diaz, and I wish he'd chosen to stay, but I still don't think he is a better LW than Gakpo. I do concede that their output is significantly closer than I initially thought, though.

18 Feb 2026 10:18:13
"Most" isn't misleading, it's just wrong. It just seemed like you were making a strong point based on Diaz mostly playing at CF. Sorry, MK, it's just not what happened. But, all good, it's not that deep.

18 Feb 2026 10:29:50
Mk, 15 out of 50 games in total across the 4 comps. Diaz played 36 league games last season. Not sure why we would only count the games he starts? As far as the comparison of Diaz and Gakpo, I wasn't debating that, mate. I like both players.

I'd have been more than happy to see us keep Diaz as well as Gakpo. Also the Lm start was against West Ham at home, where we def played 433. Not sure why Transfermarkt have him as Lm, because Salah has def never played Rm.

18 Feb 2026 12:06:44
JK23, I don't trust any of the major stat sites when they list the position played for a substitute appearance, because I've seen them all get it wrong so many times. When players come on as a substitute, it's usually when formation and tactical changes are being made left, right and centre. Some substitutes even end up playing 2 or 3 different positions in a 20-minute cameo. It's just quite unreliable, so when I'm looking at smaller data sets, such as an isolated season in one competition, I tend to remove those possible anomalies. Whereas if I'm looking at it across multiple seasons, it's not worth the hassle! We were talking about the output in the Premier League, so the games outside of that competition weren't relevant to the topic of discussion, in my opinion, but that makes sense how you ended up with 50 games played now! I also like both players.

I just didn't like Diaz as a winger. I think you could count on both hands the number of times he put in a good cross, whereas Gakpo actually can cross it, he just has shocking decision making and always opts to shoot. Both are/were massive downgrades on Mane, unfortunately. I hope we sign Mateus Mane and Yan Diomande to inject some proper pace and directness into the attack.

18 Feb 2026 13:46:30
Do you really think that, last season, a Liverpool striker got more chances than a winger? Most of the games I watched, we created almost nothing for the striker.

18 Feb 2026 14:51:53
Mks, Mateus Mane from Wolves? Are you sure?

18 Feb 2026 15:11:38
I really like him, Oli. I'm not yet sure where he'll end up settling in terms of his best position, but he can play AM, CM, CF, LW, and RW. A really exciting talent, and exactly the sort of direct and powerful ball carrier that we lack since losing Diaz and Jota. Sometimes you want a player who just runs straight at the heart of the opposition.

Gakpo and Salah typically love hugging the touchline and then cutting inside when they get to the edge of the box. Diaz and Jota would normally just run diagonally straight at goal, even if they had to bundle through a challenge and it looked a bit messy. It commits players and creates pockets of space for others. Mateus Mane has that same quality.

19 Feb 2026 00:54:45
I would have loved us to keep Diaz this season had he been willing to stay. I think the chaos he brought, opposing defenders not knowing where he was going or if he would have a worldie in him, is exactly what gave Mo more freedom on the right to do his thing.

When the opposition are wary of two players on the wings, they leave more space, and I think with him, Ekitike and Mo up front, opposing defenses would have had nightmares rather than Gakpo's more predictable style.

19 Feb 2026 06:59:25
@Grinch, I thought Darwin was the one that caused chaos?

17 Feb 2026 08:09:05
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Sunderland v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

17 Feb 2026 08:51:28
Nice one. 🙏 Thank you.

17 Feb 2026 09:59:37
Good read, Ed. Pls regarding Salah, do you think that with the more attacking style we seem to have reverted to (hopefully, that continues) has helped him get more touches and openings in that right side inside/half space that has been his bread and butter since he arrived?

Cos it seems to me that with overlaps and esp. with Szobo back in midfield (like the Brighton game) has helped loosen the double teams he gets hence, getting more 1 v 1's out in space. Cheers in advance, man.

{Ed001's Note - yes, as I have been saying all season, his problem is that he gets the ball too late and they can constantly double and triple team him. The last 2 games, he got the ball one on one and has looked like himself again. We just need to move the ball forward more quickly.}

17 Feb 2026 11:05:57
Slot learning and adapting Ed1??!!?

{Ed001's Note - let's hope so!}

17 Feb 2026 11:38:27
People on here keep saying that Salah's legs have gone, but I've been really impressed with his pace the last few games. He's outrun the opposition fullback a few times. He's lost the explosive acceleration to beat a man from a standing start, but play him a ball early to run onto, and he is still scaring fullbacks.

{Ed025's Note - he played well in the last game SK...but thats it, one swallow does not make a summer mate..

17 Feb 2026 13:32:48
Ed25, I know he is still well off his best. I was just pointing out that once up to speed he was still able to outpace his opposite man, and that getting the ball forward quicker suits him. I know, as soon as we are back passing the ball monotonously sideways, we will not get anything from him - because he has lost that explosive acceleration.

{Ed025's Note - he was really good second half of the last game SK against a very open defence, maybe he is back to his best mate but i wouldn,t be putting any money on it myself..

17 Feb 2026 14:09:02
I think tactics have hindered him. Even if his legs had gone, he wouldn't look half as crap as he's been made to.

{Ed025's Note - tactics are a problem John, but its not an excuse for not being able to beat a man, pass with your right foot or losing the ball constantly mate..

17 Feb 2026 14:30:20
Even last season, when it was confirmed that Trent was leaving, I said that Salah would be the one to suffer most. He would always find Salah early before he was double or triple marked. In the first half of this season, I watched Salah making runs in behind, but the ball just never came. Trent was massively underrated by many of his own supporters. As well as feeding Salah, he could beat the press with a quick ball into midfield that would set us on the break. He always set the tempo and knew how to quicken it up.

Not like now, where we play around with it at the back or hoof it anywhere. I would go as far as to say that we would be challenging for the title if Trent was still here. Imagine Wirtz getting the ball early while in space. I know the haters would say he made his bed and should lie in it, but I would have him back in a heartbeat to drive the new rebuild. Bradley and Frimpong are just nowhere near the same level. If we could welcome Ian Rush back after he made a mistake going to Italy, we could do it for Trent.

17 Feb 2026 14:52:33
Ed25, Salah has always been prone to losing the ball for donkeys, so not sure that part is relevant. Also, Mo is not some great dribbler or 1 v 1 demon since he has been with us. That is not his strength, unlike Sadio Mane, who was a great dribbler. That is why both were worked so well, because they are different. Salah has always been known for his insane output; hence, the burden was on the manager to devise ways of getting him the ball and getting him open for him to do numbers.

Slot did the same thing last season by creating a way to do all these things for Salah, the same cooking he had been doing under Klopp, with 4 Golden Boots to boot. The issue here is that Slot abandoned all of that and replaced it with his pathetic tactics that stifled the team, not just Salah, something we both agree with. Even Cody has suffered because he did not look this bad last season playing the system we played.

{Ed025's Note - i have said the tactics employed by Slot does not suit a lot of the players Oli, but if you cant see the downturn in Mo,s overall game mate then im afraid you are not looking, im talking about basic stuff like ball retention, misplaced passes and shooting that makes Darwin Nunez look like Pele, hes been a great player for many years but like all good things it comes to an end and i see him as a squad player now who,s playing time should be limited, but thats just my opinion of course..

17 Feb 2026 15:37:27
I thought Rush never wanted to leave Liverpool, and that the club needed money? That's a pretty different case with Trent, even if I agree with you that he is a glaring miss who has not been properly replaced in the team.

17 Feb 2026 16:17:07
Blooming hell, are we still blaming Slot for Salah's drop in form?

{Ed025's Note - i think a lot of them are starting a go-fund-me page for him Rome.. :)

17 Feb 2026 16:41:04
Ed25, I never said that I don't see Salah's downturn. In fact, I thought we should have sold him after 23/24 because I thought he had lost a step, so I know you ain't telling me that I have not seen his downturn, because it was already clear to me from 2/3 seasons ago. The problem is that all the things you mentioned are more palpable to see due to the tactics. Are Mo's legs gone? Mate, are there gators in swamps down there in the Florida Keys? Also, you think Salah's legs hadn't been going last season already in comparison to prev. seasons? Of course they had; however, Slot was able to hide these gaps by providing him with tactics that would help him get open w/o him using his pace.

Slot messed up because he wanted Salah hugging the touch line, isolated with no help from a midfielder, no overlap (cos the rb is inverting), and the slow progression of the football, all the things that help the opposition double/triple up on him rather than free him and get him open. Proof? In 21/22, Klopp tried the same tactics by moving the ball slowly and have Salah hug the touch line, and it failed then, and this was when Mo was even younger. Suddenly, Slot has changed things of late and Salah is playing better. Hmmm, what changed? I have no idea.

{Ed025's Note - would you keep him for another year Oli?..

17 Feb 2026 17:01:39
I'd blame Slot for Salah's downturn. Look at what Salah did in our title-winning team last season. Fast forward about 5 months or so. You don't lose what he has in that period of time without it being a change of circumstance to trigger and continue that.

Agreed, all players obviously have a poor patch, lack of form, confidence, etc., but in this instance Slot's tactical change and inability to recognize the errors created by it are the main drivers here. imo, only, of course.

17 Feb 2026 16:39:07
I don't know why I respond to such guff, Ed025. Slot is to blame for many things, but Salah's form dropping off a cliff is down to Salah.

He played well on Saturday, that was down to himself. Those games, sadly, are becoming few and far between. It happens to all the greats, like you say. But, please, stop blaming Slot!

{Ed001's Note - sorry Rome, but it is you talking guff.}

17 Feb 2026 18:48:07
Ed01, let's agree to disagree.

{Ed001's Note - ok, if you like.}

17 Feb 2026 19:02:20
@Ed25, I would keep him for another year without hesitation. Play the right style of football to suit his skills, and he's still one of the best forwards in the PL and Europe. He's proven that beyond all reasonable doubt since the day he joined. He hasn't lost a leg in the last 6 months! He's just restricted by who is directing him.

{Ed025's Note - i certainly cant argue with his past SG, he will go down in history as a Liverpool great and deservedly so, its what the future holds thats the burning question mate?, is he past his best now and would it be best to move him on to get money for him while you can?, is it really Slot,s style of play thats effecting him or is it father time finally calling time on his glittering career?, lots of questions and i certainly dont know the answer my friend..

17 Feb 2026 19:06:06
Even though Mo has lost a bit of pace, he's still faster than most. If the ball is delivered in the right way, he's more than capable. I feel it is touch and confidence that have slipped more so than pace. I feel he's been almost over-eager trying to bring teammates into play on occasions this season. Time and again he's forced play too early, played passes too quickly, taken shots when not balanced, or used his left foot instead of having a swing with his right.

The last couple of games show me he's trying to adapt more to the team instead of expecting the team to adapt to him. I also think he should be coming off after 70 mins now; playing the 90 is not working.

17 Feb 2026 20:05:06
If Alonso is in, as I believe he is, then Salah will indeed benefit. Father Time hasn't caught that man yet at all! He's probably the fittest player at the club, and I cannot remember a time that he was injured for any period, with the single exception due to that spanner Ramos! He still has goals to offer, and I hope he goes out with a bang next season, netting a 25 goal haul.

To include a hat trick in the Docklands. 🤣 🤣 💥 💥

{Ed025's Note - he could well play against us at the theatre of miracles SG, he could even score i suppose but it would be disallowed if it came off his zimmer frame mate.. :)

17 Feb 2026 20:07:03
Agreed, Christy. Play the man for 60-70 and rotate him regularly. There's more left in the tank for him and us!

17 Feb 2026 22:10:21
I love Mo, but I would cash in during the summer!

17 Feb 2026 22:51:33
Mad how people can't see the correlation between our slow football and Salah's form. Only 7 months ago, he carried this team to the title. I'm sure if Slot played the same way, Salah would be leading the goal-scoring chart.

Now his confidence has hit a low, but in the last few games he looks like he has found a bit of confidence. Let's hope it continues and it takes us to the top 4 at the end of the season.

18 Feb 2026 00:27:26
Let's be honest, Strom - he had a mediocre 2025. His brilliant form in Slot's first 4 months was what really pushed us on to the title. We built up a good lead, but he dropped off once the contract was signed, I'm afraid.

{Ed001's Note - are you for real? He scored 12 goals last season in 2025 in the Premier League alone and added 5 more assists. People are rewriting history again. 12 goals and 5 assists is the kind of total players like Saka would love to get in a season, let alone in just the second half of it!}

18 Feb 2026 01:41:12
Slot's tactics have affected several players this season, but that's just one reason. I think Salah can still contribute a lot, just not as much. We need to play quickly, and players will play better; that's what they are good at and are used to.

17 Feb 2026 20:49:16
LOL ED25! 💥🤣

17 Feb 2026 20:52:35
@ED25; is it difficult to get tickets to Everton home games?? I'd be actually like to go to a game there!

{Ed025's Note - very difficult SG, i have only been there once and i have to say the match day experience is excellent mate..

18 Feb 2026 09:09:10
Ed001 is correct about those goal numbers. I looked again at the goals. 20 Premier League games, Jan - May 2025. 12 goals (7 open play, 5 pens). I guess I got his contract extension date all wrong in my head.

He signed it on 10-11th April 2025. Jan - 11/4 2025: 13 PL games, 10 goals (5, 5 pens). April 12-May 29 2025: 7 PL games, 2 goals (0 pens). He was certainly very productive in Feb 2025.

18 Feb 2026 22:02:55
We agree, Ron.

19 Feb 2026 07:06:01
It'll be interesting to see how Mo, and all other Muslim players for that matter, cope now that Ramadan has started. He's been showing signs of finding some form, but Ramadan has been something of a trial for him in the past.

17 Feb 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Loveawaydays2 has posted a new article entitled, Leeds and the Run-In: Can We Reach 40 Points?

17 Feb 2026 07:01:53
For any Eds or people who may have seen him play. How good was Terry McDermott? Every time I watch a best Liverpool goals compilation, he looks like he was amazing.

{Ed078's Note - Terry was class, but also a bit of a beast. A box to box mid, bit of a maestro before it was a thing. Scored around 80 goals I think. That chip against Everton still lives long in the memory.

17 Feb 2026 07:33:14
He was a cracking player, a Kirkby lad too. 👍

17 Feb 2026 09:04:30
Terry Mc was a class act. He had energy to burn. Look on YouTube at his goal in the first European Cup win, or his headed goal against Spurs in the 7-0 or 7-1 win. Terry was part of a very special midfield at LFC. He could strike a football; all his goals seemed spectacular.

In today's football, he would be worth millions. We could do with him today. Aston Villa have a lad, Morgan Rogers, who is quite similar to Terry in his game, a box to box player. YNWA.

17 Feb 2026 09:28:59
Terry Mc would eat Morgan Rogers for breakfast.

{Ed025's Note - i think so too SG..

17 Feb 2026 09:38:21
Terry Mac was a fantastic player in a great Paisley team.

17 Feb 2026 10:45:34
Well said, @Stevie, great player in a great team. I've mentioned his goal against Spurs - the length of the pitch counter-attack from the Spurs corner - which combined great skill and massive effort, and is my favourite Liverpool goal. Excellent, unsung player for us.

17 Feb 2026 11:18:13
A fantastic player, full of energy and skill in a fantastic midfield.

17 Feb 2026 11:38:19
Scored my favourite ever goal. The volley v Spurs at the Lane. Top top player.

17 Feb 2026 14:12:59
Don't think he scored a crap goal. I can only remember worldies.

17 Feb 2026 19:15:33
Terry Mac was amazing. I was at the game where he chipped the Everton goalie for goal of the season. It was shown at the beginning of Match of the Day the following season. He wasn't bad at head tennis either. He and Keegan were unbeaten in training for years.

Even after they were long retired at Newcastle, they used to beat all comers. A total gent off the pitch, absolute raskle on it. He could leave a foot in when it called for it. Class in abundance.

17 Feb 2026 19:50:49
That 7 nil v Spurs was the first match I ever went to.
McDermott's cross for Kennedy and then the header - the build up was also fantastic - was incredible.

Better than that though, was his goal v Spurs in 1980 (goal of the season). I remember trying to replicate it playing Subbuteo on the bedroom floor of mate's house in Leasowe.

Here it is.Terry Mac's, not my Subbuteo attempt.

16 Feb 2026 22:41:10
For those interested the official Liverpool site are taking votes here for the greatest 100 players in our history.


Everyone gets to select 25 players.

16 Feb 2026 23:07:16
I remember when I was a lot younger, they did this before. I believe it was called 100 Players Who Shook the Kop, and they announced each player one day at a time after the voting. King Kenny won, if memory serves me right.

16 Feb 2026 23:59:55
King Kenny will win again. That's why he's called King Kenny.

17 Feb 2026 06:47:37
Ramsey or Darwin to clean up, followed by Nat Phillips.

17 Feb 2026 07:09:02
Rhys Williams.

17 Feb 2026 07:19:07
Slot chose Gakpo and Mac.

17 Feb 2026 08:42:51
Weird, it won't let me choose only Divock Origi.

{Ed078's Note - Being older than most, I've seen Dalglish play, as well as being humiliated by him when he came home early and I'm snogging his babysitter on his couch, and as such, I put him up there with the best I've seen. John Barnes for flair and grace, Fowler for pure impudent finishing, Souness for the monster he was, Beardsley for his joyful genius (contentious), Gerard for how he lifted and drove a team of his lessers, Bobby for his talent and generosity.

17 Feb 2026 09:07:04
I picked: Alisson Becker, Tommy Smith, Andy Robertson, Virgil Van Dijk, Alan Hansen, Mo Salah, Graeme Souness, Ian Rush, Kevin Keegan, Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, Ray Houghton, John Aldridge, Kenny Dalglish, Ray Clemence, Phil Thompson, John Barnes, Bobby Firmino, Billy Liddell, Roger Hunt, Ron Yeats, Ian Callaghan, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson and Ronnie Whelan.

I'm quite clearly far too young to have accurately voted the top 25, as there's some blatant recency bias there! Even those I picked from the older generations I realised, afterwards, I was biased towards those I've met at legends events! How'd I forget Phil Neal, though? That's unforgivable. He grew up around the corner from where I grew up and is our most decorated player in history.

17 Feb 2026 09:31:13
Could not argue with any of those giants, Ed78. Great story about the babysitter, too!!. 💥🤣

{Ed078's Note - I forgot to mention Keegan.

17 Feb 2026 09:49:20
Joey G all day long. Oh, wait.

17 Feb 2026 11:47:21
I too am old enough to have seen the King play and Keegan before him. But, unfortunately, I never got to snog Kenny's babysitter. ED078, legend.

{Ed078's Note - I crapped myself when they came home early. Still gives me the shivvers.

17 Feb 2026 12:12:42
I had a tough moment: Clem or Alisson? I included both in the end. There were 3 players before my time that had to go in (Liddell, Cally and Hunt), the rest was tough. So many great players left out.

Massively weighted in the 70s and 80s. No room for Xabi (Molby got the nod for me). Post 80s, I have Fowler, Bobby, Stevie G, Mane, Salah, Suarez and Virgil (as well as Becker).

19 Feb 2026 07:19:37
Clem, Ali, Phil Neal, Ron Yeats, Alan Hansen, VVD, Sami Hyypia, Gerry Byrne, Stevie G, Souey, Ronnie Whelan, Ray Kennedy, Cally, Steve Heighway, Digger, Sir Roger, Kevin Keegan, King Kenny, Rushie, God, Torres, Suarez, Salah, Sadio and Bobby.

{Ed025's Note - no Fowler?..

19 Feb 2026 09:32:50
In the list as 'God' @25. 😉

{Ed025's Note - sorry mate i missed that, one of my favourites..