Liverpool Banter

09 Jun 2026 22:14:36
Hey anybody worried about huge costs involved for diamonde? I know its none of our business but if PSG were left gawking i don't really see that much worth in him.

I mean its 100M+++ salaries and agents fees for a kid with one good season. He is still a kid, i mean could be a great footballer but he won't be mature around money. Its a very risky bet.

09 Jun 2026 22:40:30
I'd rather we didn't

If we do commit somewhere around 80-100mil, then that's around 400mil on 4 players and one ain't playing until well into 2027.

I find it highly unlikely we would see a G/A return in those four players to match what we paid for, but perhaps it's just more important that the team is functioning to a high level irrespective of those kinds of stats.

09 Jun 2026 23:01:22
It's a big risk, no doubt about it.

09 Jun 2026 23:09:45
I don't care how much he costs as long as it doesn't hinder the other work we need to do in the transfer market.

09 Jun 2026 23:14:20
PSG already have Doue, Kvara, Dembele and Barcola, so you can see why they might not see the need to spend big on another wide forward, especially if it's just to replace Barcola, who doesn't play every game.

We only have Rio, our need is far greater than theirs, so I think for us it's worth spending the money on the very best talents that are available.

The fact that teams like PSG and Bayern are interested in him tells me he's worth it even if they don't want to spend the money. They would if their need was as great as ours.

09 Jun 2026 23:15:58
We wouldn't buy if we couldn't do it. Sometimes you have to take risks! We didn't sign Cristiano Ronaldo back in the day because we thought he was too much money. Not every transfer is going to work out, but when we have to fill a huge void that Mo has left, we need someone like Diamonde.

09 Jun 2026 23:42:18
The cost is huge, as Leipzig really don't want to sell. Imagine if we told Bayern 85m for Rio and they said ok. Their fans would say the same.

09 Jun 2026 23:49:35
We're turning into Utd, buying the most expensive players (or overpaying).

09 Jun 2026 18:00:56
Slow day.... Is Kerkez injured?

09 Jun 2026 13:59:11
MK, totally agree Scott and Elliott are different profiles. But I’m not so sure that we’ll see a dedicated 6 with two more box to box midfielders in front.

It seems to me that at their best Bournemouth played with Kroupi as a second striker or very advanced 10, with two mobile CMs behind? And that being at a more dominant team that would be the likely setup for most games?

I agree that Wirtz is not suited to a pure CM role in the Prem - it’s also a waste of his talents, but he is an elite level presser and bulked up significantly this season.

Physically he is not that different to Alex Scott, so I don’t see why he can’t play in that more advanced role and thrive. I honestly think Slot just didn’t know how to use him or create a system for him to be successful on the ball.

I also think in a 2 CM setup where one may be responsible for holding slightly more (like Tyler Adams did) Grav could be perfect for that.

So a 2 of Grav and Szobo with Wirtz as the advanced 10 seems solid to me. Then move on Macca and bring in another mobile CM.

09 Jun 2026 14:35:43
Hi Xavi, at Bournemouth, they played with two no.6's and a no.10 ahead. I don't think Iraola will do this at Liverpool though because we have a lot more possession due to the higher quality players in the team. Playing with 2 DM's is fine if you're expecting to have 40-45% possession, but we're more likely to have 55-60% possession most weeks. So I think Iraola will adopt something similar to what Klopp did with two no.8's and a no.6 behind them.

I might be totally wrong, but I don't think our fanbase will be happy if we start playing with 2 DM's.

It will be really interesting to see what happens with Gravenberch. There might be pressure from above to utilise him given his huge salary. But I'm really struggling to see where he fits in as a starter. Pressing and being physically on the front foot is not something he's good at.

09 Jun 2026 15:50:42
Totally on point about not playing two DMs. I should clarify that what I mean is I think we will predominantly have one CM drop deeper when in possession, with the other two playing higher, but then out of possession it's more man to man or two CMs with one (Wirtz) pressing higher.



But what do I know, I couldn't even reply to a post correctly!

Whatever happens, I certainly agree we need at least one more CM.

09 Jun 2026 17:18:28
With how our defence has been, I would say we are in more need of playing 2 6's than Bournemouth were...
Besides, there are different types of number 6. Yes, the position is widely seen as a destroyer who passes the ball to more technically able players.

But Alonso was a 6, so is Rodri. Many 6's become deep lying playmakers with outstanding vision and passing ability. Every bit as important for us as a destroyer and b2B midfielder in my opinion. I'd have a couple of those everyday.

09 Jun 2026 12:57:26
Wondering if Iraola is a high intensity press type of manager who will lead the press next season? None of our entire front 3 when fit - Isak, Ekitike and Gakpo - are natural pressers. For all Ekitike's achievements this year I think he jogs into the final yards of the press (he also needs to work on his heading but he's young) and the other two are worse. Not sure that can be coached into players or at least into so many of them.

Mane and Firmino were naturally aggressive players - Salah learned it in the press - but not convinced we have anybody that can do this consistently. Szobo could but full press needs all going together and he needs to be in midfield really with his athleticism. Not sure we signed the right type of player in the last window for that. Sorry to be so negative but it's a concern for me.

09 Jun 2026 13:41:38
I think Gakpo is a good presser and Ekitike should be too. Interesting to see if Isak can do it also. He could be frightening if he can and get fit.

It was very hard to press in the Slot system. Spaces were too big. I expect all of a sudden, many players will look like better pressers.

09 Jun 2026 13:43:35
With Robbo going, this reminds me of his one man press against City all those years ago! That was just awesome!

09 Jun 2026 13:51:44
The key is coaching the team to press as a unit, otherwise it's just a waste of energy. You lay traps and press when the circumstances are right. Watch any game from last season and see how most teams waited until Konate was on the ball to press us as a unit.

09 Jun 2026 13:58:58
Eki has shown no signs of doing much pressing.

09 Jun 2026 13:59:49
Gakpo is capable of pressing, he's not Mane level, but he's capable, at the same time, he doesn't offer enough from the left to be a starter for me. Fully agree on Isak and Ekitike. The good thing is, if we bring in 2 pacey wingers, they can apply some extra pressure to somewhat alleviate Isak/Ekitike.

{Ed077's Note - it is very hard to carry 1 player in a pressing setup.

09 Jun 2026 14:18:01
The pressing under Klopp was immense. Everyone knew the triggers and, more often than not, we'd force a turnover. Last year you had players pressing on their own, which, as Shipley says, is a waste of energy, and just creates huge gaps.
The other thing is the counter attack. Under Klopp, we'd win the ball high up and, within 3 passes, it'd either be a chance or a goal.

Everyone knew where to go. Even if Slot's half assed press worked, the players had no clue where to go. I lost count of how many times counter attacks just fell apart because of a poor pass, players getting in each other's way, or just not knowing where to run.

09 Jun 2026 14:35:31
This is just my opinion, but there's no such thing as a "natural presser". Pressing is a team effort and needs to be coached. We were ineffective in the press last season because we didn't work on it in the training ground.

And that's on Slot, not the players. Iraola would demand much more from the players and I'm sure that most, if not all of them, would be receptive towards his methods.

09 Jun 2026 16:48:34
I'd agree with that 100%, Drac. Any player can be coached to press, you just need a manager and coaches who can coach it properly.

No point just telling someone he needs to press, as without the rest of the team reacting to it, the press is worse than useless.

We had a low defensive line, and attackers trying to press (very half heartedly), which just left the midfield so big we couldn't get near people.

I'm sure the attackers were pressing so half heartedly, because in the back of their minds they were aware of the space they were leaving in behind them.

It has to be done as a unit. The team needs to all move up together to close off the out ball. If you give the defender an out ball, they'll just play around the press, and they are straight at the back 4.

09 Jun 2026 14:25:42
it's not ideal Ed I completely agree, but if we are going to re-deploy an intense press, I think the setup will have to make intelligent allowances for Isak & Ekitike, in one way or another. Naturally, some pressers are more intense than others, some are more measured, I'm not saying they should be let off their duties altogether, but they can operate at a reduced intensity so long as they're intelligent in their positioning, you can still offer an intense press without a flat out srint at every turn.

{Ed077's Note - if CR7, Messi and MBAPPE weren't good enough to be "carried" in a pressing system, I doubt anyone else can make it work

09 Jun 2026 22:17:27
What kind of pro footballer is incapable of pressing?

Only one with a pathetic attitude.

They will press, don't worry about that.

09 Jun 2026 10:11:25
Folks! While the chaos of the World Cup is going on.

I have not 1 little worry about Liverpool and that’s how light the squad is.

I just hope we don’t use 90% of whatever money Liverpool have on 1 player.

My opinion is we need volume and that’s with the likes of Nyoni and Rio added.

I genuinely don’t care about 1 big marquee signing. I just think the new manager needs help from that get go and I mean by Options!!

Keeping my fingers crossed

09 Jun 2026 10:50:09
We have plenty of money for multiple signings.

09 Jun 2026 10:52:49
While I agree there are a few positions in the squad that need improvement, signing quantity instead of quality is never a good idea. For me, that's what held us back during Rafa's time at the club.
Sign the best players you can in the urgent positions needed, and use the academy to fill in the gaps.

09 Jun 2026 10:59:37
The money is there to spend. We just knocked £18 mil a year off the wage bill with just one player. And besides, we need to be buying quality all over the pitch. Buying chaff does not win you trophies.

My main concern is lack of British players coming in, or even local lads pushing through and joining the first team. If Jones goes, who else have we got who's scouse? Danns, and he's never available.

09 Jun 2026 12:05:24
I agree - I just meant quality, but a number of them without massive transfer fees.

09 Jun 2026 12:17:34
I would say we need 6 players this summer on the basis we keep Marma and Cody.

I suspect, though, the club will listen to offers for those two, and if something suitable comes in, we would need a couple more in on top of the 6.

This is not counting the youngsters that we are chasing such as Eichorn, Motsi, Banjaqui etc.

09 Jun 2026 12:21:57
Quantity over quality is never the answer.

09 Jun 2026 13:19:07
PostKlopp - "massive transfer fees" - I'm not worried about that, it's getting the right players into the squad.

I know we are probably violently agreeing, other than, I don't think you need to obsess about transfer fees. 1) The fees reported in clickbait tabloids are wrong usually, they're pushing a narrative, and 2) We are still in a very strong position financially.

09 Jun 2026 14:21:19
We must also use the academy. Plenty of players should be given a chance to prove themselves up to the challenge.