Liverpool Banter 2

12 Jun 2026 18:48:23
Alisson: "I'm 100%. Missing games for Liverpool was part of the plan to make sure I was ready for the World Cup."

I honestly don't know how to feel about that. Love Alisson, best keeper I have ever seen, but that quote just doesn't sit right with me. Hopefully a quote lost in translation, rather than a player skipping Liverpool matches for that of his national team.

12 Jun 2026 19:02:59
Hi Mango... Is that a snippet of a larger quote? As you say, hopefully lost in translation along the media pathway?. ✌

12 Jun 2026 19:21:46
I for one would never doubt Ali's commitment to us.

12 Jun 2026 19:40:34
I suspect it was just a case that he wasn't risked if he wasn't 100% fit.

12 Jun 2026 21:53:27
Mistranslation, probably done intentionally just for a bit of headline; the original quote was "'...part of the process..." not 'part of the plan'.

12 Jun 2026 22:10:06
He has missed 40 games over two seasons with injury. Who's to say if he stays for another year, he's not going to miss all of those.

13 Jun 2026 10:54:44
Mango, there's clearly some loss in translation or not reported with the right context. Like Keegans has said, he's missed 40 games in 2 years. It can't be that he's been preparing for the World Cup for 2 years? I have no doubts about the man's commitment. It would show in his performances, otherwise.

13 Jun 2026 11:00:15
Mango, can you provide us with the complete discussion where that quote was retrieved from? because one cannot just make quote the part we want to pick to make a point without knowing what was said before and after it. You know, context and all that.

12 Jun 2026 18:26:13
west Derby Wanderer I've I'd have Manu Kone as a dm playing double pivot 6 ft 1 boyhood Liverpool fan Roma need funds 50Euro transfermarket fast has high running stats in both German and Italian league was looked at under Kloppo but had a unfortunate injury a u21 euros I think has very good fwd pass stats and accuracy % most fouled player had Bellingham in his pocket when they met in German league not afraid to get stuck in mid 20s with our new coach could have a high ceiling and has played with Hugo in French national team currently at World Cup ahead of Carravinga

12 Jun 2026 23:34:14
50 euro Transfermarkt, damn Roma are really skint! Let's give them 48 euros over 3 seasons. 🔥🔥

13 Jun 2026 09:53:37
Tough read without some punctuation. 😅
I get what Bauldy is saying though.

13 Jun 2026 10:36:41
That entire paragraph was one sentence. I have no idea what was said or meant to be said. 🤔

12 Jun 2026 16:05:28
I've got them on my ones to watch at the World Cup, but alternatives for midfield are Johan Manzambi of Freiburg, Paul Wanner from PSV. Both young talented players. Also Richard Rios from Benfica. All great options for me. Let me know what you guys think.

12 Jun 2026 17:50:56
I'd like a seasoned DM, mid-20s who has 'presence', can break up opposition attacks and is comfortable on the ball and can pick a pass. Ideally someone who is used to playing a pressing game and is not injury prone.

I like the idea of a couple of youngsters but, having watched our back 4 be exposed first the last couple of seasons, I want someone who has played at the highest levels and can add solidity to the team straight away.



Not sure who it might be, I only really watch Liverpool but hopefully the club is looking for someone along the lines above.

12 Jun 2026 18:05:17
Moonona Stich would be a good DM match for your criteria, WDW.

12 Jun 2026 18:08:44
The title winning version of Gravenburch pretty much ticks all those boxes, Wdw, the way he covered beyond the defence and broke the lines with a drop of the shoulder was superb.

12 Jun 2026 18:09:07
Rios is 26 and fits your bill, Wdw.

12 Jun 2026 21:49:43
I agree, No 8. Wdw has just described Gravenberch to a tee.

It's just baffling that Slot didn't keep him in that position last season. He was a revelation in the title winning campaign.

12 Jun 2026 21:55:25
Gravenberch is dreadful. Whoever decided to give him a lucrative contract halfway through the season needs sacking, playing like he did when Klopp was there n he would've been out the door if Klopp had stayed.

12 Jun 2026 22:11:39
The balance isn't right in our midfield, individually, though, Grav and Szob are good players. We just need someone to complement their games. I don't think Macca is that player, and Grav needs to find more consistency. Someone like Fabinho would help bring it together.

13 Jun 2026 09:14:56
Overkill, which Fabinho version are you referring to? The one now, whose legs are gone and much older?

Or the one who was world class, 6/7 years ago?

13 Jun 2026 10:41:53
Well, if Iraola chooses to continue with his favored 4-2-3-1, Gravenberch will have to go back to playing more defensively next to an equally defensive midfielder. When you think of it, you wonder how Slot allowed Gravenberch to play more offensively last season, when the other midfielders (Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Wirtz) are better at it.

12 Jun 2026 15:33:28
We were linked with Inacio from Sporting for the last couple of summers. Is there still interest in him?
Still young at 24, so can develop further but also experienced enough to contribute immediately.
It's reported that he has a £55 million release clause.

12 Jun 2026 18:07:28
You would think that Iraola wants to go with a high-line with CBs who have recovery pace and very good heading ability. Inacio wouldn't be that.

12 Jun 2026 18:10:30
As ed2 pointed out a few years ago Portuguese buyouts have to be paid in full. So it would be £55m at once. For the same fee it would be best to get Schlotterbeck

12 Jun 2026 15:14:29
Picking up on another thread, does anyone have interest in Fabinho on a free?

I haven't followed him in the Saudi League so have no idea of his fitness, but he's 32, on a free, and he knows the mentality monster mentality.

As ED001 has said, we are building a very young squad - great as that's what Iraola needs - but we have lost a lot of experience with Hendo, Milner & Fabs a couple of years ago, and Salah and Robbo just now.

If you would favour, what would you pay as a salary? He was on £180k when he left us, and on c£230k in his last contract in Saudi.

Personally, I would bring him back on a free (if he was interested and fit) on a 2 year contract with an option of 1 year and pay him mid-£100ks so maybe £150k.

Another poster was right, we should use more of the free transfer market, especially to bring in older experienced heads.

For the same reason, I would be in favour of Darwin - the passion and terrier-ness will make space for others even if his finishing is no better!

Just as we shouldn't squad fill with lots of mediocre players who don't have a high ceiling and have no affinity for the club, we equally shouldn't rely entirely on our academy - it's a balancing act, probably skewed MORE towards academy prospects if we have the potential there who are ready, but there is always space for older heads when we have lost so many leaders in the past few seasons.

12 Jun 2026 15:39:12
Watched him against Egypt the other day, he played 20-25 minutes. Don't think he has the legs for the PL anymore, sadly.

12 Jun 2026 15:43:04
I love Fabinho as a player, but his legs are shot. He looked like he was running in treacle in his last season with us, and I don't think he'd fare much better now. I agree that we should utilise the free market more, but we should still be selective of the players we bring in.

Nunez is a good shout, but I don't see anyone else bringing in the same value as him.

12 Jun 2026 15:45:45
I love Fabinho but we broke him. He's absolutely what we need but the Fabinho of 6
years ago.

12 Jun 2026 15:50:37
The man ran himself into the ground for us - great player for us, but probably underrated given the strength of the squad and, for me anyway, a case of not realising what we had until he was gone.

12 Jun 2026 16:02:34
Legs are gone. We need the next Fabinho, not the washed up 32 year old Fabinho.

12 Jun 2026 16:27:51
I agree that his legs are gone, but to call him washed up is a bit harsh,
the man was brilliant for us in midfield, let's give him a bit more credit.

12 Jun 2026 16:46:10
I love Fabinho to pieces and was a truly world class who could defend, pass it, score and assist. Brilliant player.

However, if his legs were gone 3 years ago, what has happened to rejuvenate him, esp. since he is 3 years older? Serious question.

12 Jun 2026 16:47:11
Kop that, It's not disrespectful to say he's washed up, there is nothing left in the tank. It's just a matter of plain fact. He'd not be up to the Premier League right now. He was a fol class player, but he isn't any more.

12 Jun 2026 16:50:43
Yet another ex people want back.

12 Jun 2026 17:53:54
@Fat, did you take the opportunity to look at what has been written in this thread? If you did, virtually everybody, if not all, recognise that the lad has had his time.

12 Jun 2026 18:08:21
Did his legs grow back? Perhaps he is part-axolotl.

12 Jun 2026 13:30:42.
I see again this morning that we are being heavily linked with Adam Wharton, is there a possibility that we would sign him & Alex Scott or is it a case of one or the other?

12 Jun 2026 14:40:20
I'd imagine it'd be one or the other, but that depends on outgoings too. Regardless of what we think of the quality, our midfield is stacked, numbers wise. We'd need to make space before we sign more.

12 Jun 2026 14:58:49
£180m for both as quoted by their clubs. No chance we pay that.

12 Jun 2026 15:00:48
I could see both, they are very different players and profiles, so definitely both could be signed, but I think a lot of midfield will depend on Jones, Maca, Szob and even Elliot on if they are to be moved on or not. If none left, then there would be no chance 2 midfielders sign.

12 Jun 2026 15:02:47
They are very different kinds of players. Scott is obviously a great player, but with the sorts of players we already have, Szob, Grav, Macca and Jones, he shares characteristics with all of them.

If we could get Wharton and a more physical midfielder, possibly Camara (I don't think Sangare is a good enough footballer for what we require), then that would be good business if we sell Macca to make space.

12 Jun 2026 15:22:22
Here's the thing, lads, I actually don't think that Wharton is an Iraola type player.

12 Jun 2026 18:11:07
Scott doesn't offer us anything that Curtis, Gravy or Szobo can't. Wharton, on the other hand, gives you something different. But, as has been said here many times, Wharton can only come in if we also put a Camara or Sangare next to him.

12 Jun 2026 18:28:12
I'd like Scot myself. I think he's got real potential to be top player with us. His link play and drive is very good. Has an eye for goal too. I think he would bounce with Wirtz.



I'm not saying Wharton is poor, he just gets about his job in a different way, always on the cover, but don't think he's able to get 10 goals a season. Scot would.

12 Jun 2026 12:14:25
Slot has been followed out of Liverpool by assistants Sipke Hulshoff, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Ruben Peeters.

12 Jun 2026 12:30:44
That's called stalking, and Arne should get in touch with the local police.

12 Jun 2026 12:48:56
I'm sure Arne can tell the bouncers at the club in Ibiza not to let them in, Zed.

12 Jun 2026 13:01:19
All four of them will be off their chops in Ibiza for the summer!!

12 Jun 2026 14:05:16
So glad that the head of slacking Peeters has gone.

12 Jun 2026 14:50:29
Head of Slacking. 👏 😂

12 Jun 2026 14:52:22
Agreed, Kopcat. Too many fitness coaches are over-credentialed dorks, these days. Fitness for football means running and then running harder. Lots of rest days is great for powerlifting (where training hard only two days a week will make you bigger and stronger than training five), but football requires much more regular intense training.

12 Jun 2026 15:48:08
God help the fans of the next club they rock up at.

12 Jun 2026 16:48:08
OP, we already knew this, no?

13 Jun 2026 00:16:49
OliRed, no, it was expected, but it was only announced this morning.

12 Jun 2026 11:43:44
Ed1 what's your thoughts on Elliot? Does he get another chance under Iraola? Only one year left on his deal. I can see him staying and signing a new deal. Relatively low wages.

{Ed001's Note - I think he should get a chance to show what he can do. The talent is there.}

12 Jun 2026 12:29:49
Tbf, Elliott does seem like an able rotation player for Wirtz in the CAM position. Both have a similar profile, that also helps. I would not like to see either in the wide positions, as they are far too slow to get away from their opposition player/s.

Might push each other to get a higher number of goal contributions, because neither has done so yet in a Liverpool shirt consistently.

If you are the CAM, you really do need to offer more than what we have seen, so, far. Hopefully Iraola's style, speed of play and high energy will support that.

{Ed001's Note - he played his best for us in central midfield, deeper, and he could easily do that in Iraola's system. I think that is his future, he can do what Scott did.}

12 Jun 2026 12:30:20
I agree. Gives us another option on that right side, and we need a squad this year.

12 Jun 2026 13:00:34
Based on what we've seen of the manager, we're going to need capable players to come off the bench in games for 30 mins+ and strong rotation as it's going to be a long season with lots of running for these lads.

I'd keep Elliot to give us another option in midfield.

12 Jun 2026 13:54:41
Are you taking about Elliot Ed?

Does he have the legs to be one of the deeper mids in a 3 man set up?
Wirtz Elliot and Szob for example, does not fill me with confidence at all. We would get ran through imo.
Elliot as the 10 with 2 behind him I can buy into. I would keep for his hunger and energy, I think he's a decent player who will get better with Andoni's coaching. We definitely need a more athletic mid this summer though!

{Ed001's Note - they wouldn't get run through, so long as the defence doesn't drop off and leave spaces.}

12 Jun 2026 15:09:26
I would love for Elliot to get another chance with us. The idea of him being Salah's cover was always way off the mark. He's not the quickest, but he does cover ground and has the technical ability. Have him in Macca's position all day long. Great, HG cover for other positions. Plus a supporter. Why wouldn't we keep him?

12 Jun 2026 15:01:11
Ed001, it's such a shame that Elliot was shipped out last season. The season before, Klopp was using him as a CM rather than a CAM and though it was slow start, I felt he was growing into that role.

His attitude and spirit, as well as his running, I felt made up for his size. With his feisty-ness he did remind me a bit of a Mascherano-type player, with bite (not like Suarez's bite!).

I think he could do that job again, really looking forward to Iraola spending some time with him.

12 Jun 2026 15:19:55
I agree Ed, that's also why I think we will be bringing in only 2 or 3 new signings.

Iraola can get a tune out of the previously disregarded players.

12 Jun 2026 15:49:12
I'm sorry Zed, but where did you get the idea that Elliot has bite? He has zero bite, that is his main problem and why we finished 5th when Klopp had him playing in midfield.

He's very willing and has talent on the ball, but he can't tackle. He closes people down, and they just shove him off the ball and run through him.

Having him in midfield left us woefully exposed down that side.

That's not to say he can't learn, everyone can be coached to be better at anything, but comparing him to Mascherano and saying he has bite is the complete opposite of what he is.

12 Jun 2026 17:03:31
Westwood, like you, I am a big fan of Elliott and have been from the jump, and nothing has changed for me, no matter how pathetic his treatment was from Slot and the club.

I think he will kill it with us in CM cos he can press, works hard, and can strike a ball, cos we saw him do all these things under Klopp. I see no issues with him under Iraola, who plays the same system or similar to that of Klopp.



I will say that I liked the way he covered for Salah, cos as he is not a winger with pace, he played the role like a wide 8 or wide 10 who could combine with others, could cross the ball well, and could cut in and shoot. I love the kid and hope he gives it a full go in preseason.

12 Jun 2026 17:11:12
100% agree with Ron and Ed 👍

12 Jun 2026 18:40:40
It was only 12 months ago that Elliot ripped it to bits in the U21 World Cup. He was outstanding. He played deep and got loads of joy coming onto the ball with everything in front of him. His passing and links led to most of the shots on goal.

Hated what happens to the kid. AR could really get a tune out of him. Didn't know he only has a year left. Poor show all round. Slot was wrong sending him on loan. Perhaps he didn't fit the horseshoe formation.

12 Jun 2026 07:54:47
Eds,

Do you have any idea why the noise around Angelo Stiller has faded? Last summer he was rumoured to Utd, Liverpool and Real Madrid.still had a fairly decent season and seems like the kind of midfielder a lot of teams need.

Good in defensive duels, temposetter and a good passer

{Ed001's Note - no idea mate sorry.}

12 Jun 2026 10:13:03
He would have been an ideal signing and, if we had moved for Hoeness instead of Iraola, I think we would have got Stiller as well. I still hope we go for him, as he is the profile of a midfielder we desperately need.

Then again, as long as we get a more combative CM, rather than another slow moving progressor of the ball, I think it will be better for it, and at least provide better balance in midfield.

Camara and Sangara were looked at, but I believe the latter is in talks with United now. We should be all over Camara, but we seem solely focused on Diomande, for now. That, and the World Cup, will likely cause delays, as no player will want to talk moves, while they are still in that competition. I doubt Federations can ban it, but it would be highly frowned upon by players, staff and fans alike.

12 Jun 2026 11:32:00
I think we move for a midfielder only when we know if Jones really wants Togo. If Jones, Macca and Elliot stay, then maybe no need for a midfielder just yet. Rw and RB are the two main priorities imo.

12 Jun 2026 11:50:28
Stiller is not a combative CM and is a slower progressor of the ball. Or am I watching a different player somehow? He needs protection from a more physical, athletic ball winner.

12 Jun 2026 12:02:10
@Keegan, we have not come close to replacing Fabs, who was the ball winner / breaker upperer of opposition attacks, for the rest of the team to be the hung-ho heavy metal players.

Perhaps that's too simplistic, but Fabs was the shield for the defence and freed up the other mids / front three to counter attack at pace.



We still need someone like that and we'll be all the better for bringing someone of the same type for the coming season.

12 Jun 2026 12:09:10
The thing is that Fab, besides being an incredibly mobile shield for the back 4, was also an incredible footballer who could pass the ball accurately and also fizz it through the lines even if he saw the pass was on. He was a unicorn player, we'd do well to find somebody who has even half the overall ability that he had.

12 Jun 2026 12:09:55
I don't get why Jones switching allegiance to Togo has any bearing on who we buy?

Does he have roots in Togo? Is there a qualification period?

12 Jun 2026 12:11:36
Jones and Macca definitely need to go, I'd probably keep Elliott if any of them. Macca was so bad last season, doesn't deserve his place and Jones is an enigma and still waiting for him to actually kick on despite being nearly 26.

12 Jun 2026 12:20:24
Zed, you haven't heard of dual citizenship? 😜

12 Jun 2026 12:50:24
I wasn't aware that Jones now has plans to move to the Togo Premier League. It's an interesting development, mate.

12 Jun 2026 17:11:31
PB & WDW, I fully agree with your assessments of Fab. Fab was called the Lighthouse or the Dyson for a reason by Klopp.

And yes, we do need a player like him. Not sure who that is cos such players are very rare these days.

12 Jun 2026 18:48:09
Agree, OliRed.

The lighthouse was the best way to describe Fabs.

Could score a goal too. What a find he was.