Liverpool Banter 3

14 Feb 2026 22:23:25
Watching the game v Brighton and i'm sure the fan dressed as the Seagull was in fact Ed025, we all know he is a secret red. Come on Ed confess.

{Ed025's Note - the only similarity to me and a Liverpool supporter strom is that i moan a lot and think im better than i really am mate.. :)

15 Feb 2026 01:03:01
Hahaha Ed025.

15 Feb 2026 09:11:04
I was watching highlights of the Villa game v Newcastle. One point I'd like to discuss is: I'm not a fan of Chris Kavanagh regarding the penalty incident with Lucas Digne. When he gave the free kick outside the box, the one to blame is the assistant referee; that was his job, yet he gets no blame.

Howard Webb needs to speak to him. Instead, I'd like to hear his spin on that. Let's see how he defends him, proving what a clown the man is.

15 Feb 2026 09:18:11
Wow, so quick, mate. Excellent. I speak as an Ex referee myself, who had to retire at the end of last season due to arthritis in both knees. Not that I was at that level, and I still enjoyed getting out of the house on a sat afternoon, and got less grief on the park than I did from the Mrs.

15 Feb 2026 08:36:46
Aren't we all like that Ed? As we get older, we moan a lot and think we are better than everybody.

{Ed025's Note - not Evertonians Mfahmee.. :)

15 Feb 2026 10:08:57
Ed25 following on from Strom's post, what would a Toffee Head look like, as a Neverton fan? Serious question, btw.

{Ed025's Note - Evertonians are born not manufactured Oli, we are a proud and loyal people who have been through the mill in recent times but the support of the fans has never wavered, we have the best away fans in the country as per a recent survey and thats why in the main Scousers are usually Blue..they have a bond with the city you see mate..

15 Feb 2026 16:39:38
Rubbish Ed0025. Some of Liverpools best fans spend up to 10 minutes looking for the YouTube highlights despite the fact they couldn't find Liverpool on a map of Liverpool it still makes them the self proclaimed best fans in the world.

14 Feb 2026
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, Slot vs Klopp Vs Rodgers

Click picture for larger image

14 Feb 2026 22:10:54.
Rodgers' last 38 games: 17W-10D-11L. Slot's last 38 games: 19W-9D-10L.

14 Feb 2026 22:12:25
Mmm. Slot inherited a ready-made team that went on to win the PL with ease. Klopp inherited chaos on all fronts, not just the squad. He completely turned around the trajectory of the club.

14 Feb 2026 22:14:24
Rodgers was a buffoon, and Klopp inherited an unbalanced team from a buffoon. Slot didn't. Comparison is irrelevant.

14 Feb 2026 22:14:49
Maybe someone should list the squad that all 3 managers had within their first 2 seasons in that timeframe.

14 Feb 2026 22:19:55
If Slot leaves, then Rogers in. The graph doesn't lie.

14 Feb 2026 22:29:25
I am aware that Gordon may not go down too well with most on this site. He seems an obvious choice to me. He is a red, and wants to play for us, so why not welcome him with open arms, especially if we can get shot of Gakpo. Mo seems to be on his way. Take the money and put it towards Anderson and/or Wharton.

{Ed025's Note - Gordon would fit in well Hunter, him and MacAllister could form a synchronized diving team that would rival Daley and Williams mate.. :)

14 Feb 2026 22:41:21
I've got my coat on. I'll be there in a bit. 😁🤣

14 Feb 2026 22:49:38
Diomande and Fofana are Reds.

15 Feb 2026 00:59:50
Hunter64, If he didn't literally try to break one of our players' legs every time we play him, I might be persuaded. Besides, even if we did go for him, Newcastle would charge mad money and drag it out all summer, Isak 2.0. Best to steer well clear of Newcastle for the foreseeable, I think.

15 Feb 2026 08:37:58
Maybe they will accept a straight swap for Isak?

15 Feb 2026 08:42:29
Klopp is the modern Shanks.

15 Feb 2026 08:43:44
I like Gakpo as a squad player. I also like Gordon, but he'd be very expensive, and, although a good addition, I'm not sure he's worth the money being touted.

15 Feb 2026 09:06:40
They'd want near 100m for him. I'd rather spunk that on Anderson.

15 Feb 2026 09:17:22
Pamela?

15 Feb 2026 10:05:43
Loni.

15 Feb 2026 10:11:12
I'm worried by the curvature of Slot's line. You can see from the graph that even though Klopp had amassed fewer points than Slot at this point in his career, the curvature of the line shows continuous improvement, which is the most important thing here.

In Slot, we see the opposite: as time goes on, his point accumulation is slowing. Getting points with a good team is one thing; being able to continuously improve your team is another. Slot could do the first, but he is struggling with the second.

15 Feb 2026 10:11:32
Indeed, Gregarious and @SR, talk about comparing apples to pineapples just because the word "apples" is included in both fruit names.

16 Feb 2026 07:07:12
@Gregarious, how come Klopp didn't win the league in his last season, yet it was the same squad that Slot won the title with the following season?

14 Feb 2026 20:02:03
Given my age, I wasn't alive during the Paisley era but was surprised to see he didn't win the FA cup during that successful period.

Any reason for this such as resting players at the time and not deeming it a priority or was it the case we had bad luck/ tough draws during that period?

14 Feb 2026 21:03:01
I think because we were winning the league most years under Paisley, we prioritised it, but the FA Cup back in the day held a lot more prestige than it does today, had full day TV coverage of it, so everyone fought to win it. We were unlucky a lot of times, though. Now it's only the 3rd biggest trophy to win.

14 Feb 2026 21:11:36
Nobody rested players back then, really. You played your strongest 11 most of the time, especially under Paisley. It was just the way football was, as in, you can't win everything. Like Paisley said, we had bad times too. One year, we came second.

14 Feb 2026 22:02:17
Bob was winning three European Cups, so he was not worried about the FA Cup, and in between he was also winning the league. YNWA.

14 Feb 2026 22:10:29
Was beaten in the final by United, wasn't he?

14 Feb 2026 22:11:01
Yes, as per Albey. Generally speaking, the FA Cup final was always sandwiched between the final league game and the European Cup final. The FA Cup ranked number 3 in priorities.

14 Feb 2026 22:53:41
Paisley was also busy winning the League Cup 81/82/83.

14 Feb 2026 22:57:14
Denied the treble by a United team that we had beaten a week or so earlier in the league.

15 Feb 2026 00:09:41
Jimmy Greenhof with the winner? Correct?

15 Feb 2026 00:22:50
Yes, SG. A few days later we won our first European Cup. Rome 1977.

15 Feb 2026 00:27:39
It really was a prestigious competition back then too.

15 Feb 2026 07:30:18
TV coverage would last almost all day, following the fans, with cameras on the team bus on their way to Wembley.It used to be a high point in the football calendar.

{Ed025's Note - it really was Willo..

15 Feb 2026 09:14:32
I always felt we were unlucky in the cup in the Paisley era, particularly the MU final, where it felt as though we expected to win and were caught out by a team playing out of its skin. My Dad also had a theory about playing at Wembley in white being hugely unlucky, having seen us lose there twice before.

Also, the European Cup was hugely different to the Champions League, so the team should have been fresher. That said, there were only 12 in the matchday squad in that era, which made big tactical changes impossible. Happy days all-round, though: then and now, on reflection.

15 Feb 2026 09:18:12
Did YouTube do extended highlights?

15 Feb 2026 10:13:19
Crazy, right, Bobcat? A guy that was so successful domestically and in Europe did not win at least one FA Cup. Well, I guess you can't have it all, can you?

15 Feb 2026 14:52:32
Still one of my favourite competitions. I've been lucky enough to hold the cup itself. People don't realise how many little dings and marks there are on it. Pure history.

14 Feb 2026 19:24:59
With it being FA cup, watched a few games and find myself wanting whoever cheats less to go on to win.
My biggest bugbear at the moment (and there's many) is players who fall to the floor (so dramatically) as soon as they feel a hand in their back. (everyone does it ).

14 Feb 2026 19:48:51
MacAllister is Hollywood at it!!

14 Feb 2026 20:55:25
They get away with it because referees are absolutely crap. One of the worst at Anfield tonight is Stuart Atwell.

14 Feb 2026 22:11:04
Yeh, he had a mare.

14 Feb 2026 15:49:53
Ah wasn't that hard
RODGERS RECORD

P166 W84 D40 L42 F290 A198

that's the comparison.

14 Feb 2026 15:45:54
So I thought I would check on this myself

Jan 25 onwards last season (all comps)

P29 W15 D6 L8 F55 A33

This season
P38 W20 D6 L12 F69 A49

to me that doesn't scream of a successful team. Did from January as we seem to agree we fell off after the PSG/ league cup final but thought I would do calender year as not to seem to biased!

Maybe if I get really bored. I may compare that to a certain mr Rodgers.

14 Feb 2026 16:22:23
Sometimes when I'm bored, I cover myself in Vaseline, lie on the grass, and pretend I'm a slug. Still better than comparing Slot to Rogers' records, mate.

14 Feb 2026 16:28:42
Beware, LFC8! Hedgehogs eat slugs.

14 Feb 2026 18:34:51
Rodgers' last 38 games: 17W-10D-11L. Slot's last 38 games: 19W-9D-10L. No slugs or hedgehogs were harmed during this process.

14 Feb 2026 21:05:44
We should be glad Rodgers never won the league, otherwise we wouldn't have got Klopp, silver lining n all that.

15 Feb 2026 10:14:55
Did BR win a title? No. Comparison over.

14 Feb 2026 13:33:43
Seems to me some people think Slot has been told he is not in charge next season, and in my opinion this couldn't be right for a number of reasons, firstly why would Liverpool tell him that now when he could win the CL, unlikely but not impossible, and you are sacking a manager who won the PL and next season won the CL, how would the optics of that work out. Secondly suppose you meet Alonso and can't or won't meet his demands and you have told your existing manager he is out of a job.

Thirdly if you told him he will be sacked in the summer and another attractive job comes up that suits Slot what's to stop him walking away and leaving us in the lurch with no manager at all and having to look for an interim manager.
It may well be that Slot's agent has approached Liverpool to extend his contract and got a very lukewarm response and that has left Slot thinking I might be sacked in the summer if not sooner but rhat would be him putting 2 and 2 together.

14 Feb 2026 14:10:07
Who knows. Maybe it's nonsense, but maybe the club wants Alonso, and maybe Slot misses the Netherlands. Maybe an agreement has been reached to leave in the summer that suits all parties, and everybody involved is professional enough to get on with it.

14 Feb 2026 14:34:03
Do people really think that a young manager who has already won the Eredivisie and the Premier League is just going to toddle off home and see out the rest of his career in Rotterdam.

He probably won't ever manage in Holland again. He will have no shortage of big club job offers when he does leave LFC. So the returning to Holland thing doesn't really add up.

14 Feb 2026 15:31:48
Florian Gakpo, do you know his family situation? No. The fact he charts flights home at any chance he can get highlights his mindset, particularly when he should be showing a vested interest in our academy system.

14 Feb 2026 15:49:48
How do you know he doesn't, Frode? I'd imagine he's well aware of any kid that is even remotely near being ready for our first team. The likes of Nallo, Morrison, Nyoni, and Rio are training regularly with the first team, and the likes of 15 year old Josh Abe have been called up too.

What do you want, half the players in training to be u18s and u21's? The bloke goes home to see his family, what's strange? It still gives no indication he's willing to sacrifice his career; otherwise he would have never taken the job in the first place.

14 Feb 2026 15:59:34
Nobody seems to think that perhaps the parting of the ways in the summer is a mutual decision? Slot is 2 years into a 3 year contract. He doesn't have his family with him in this country by choice, and look what a long-term stint in charge did to Klopp; he looked on his last legs.

It's a World Cup year, which usually means a fair manager churn after the tournament. His stock is still pretty high everywhere, apart from within our fanbase. Maybe it's been mutually decided that 2 years is enough.

14 Feb 2026 16:08:14
Maybe LFC have incentivised Slot financially, depending on qualifying for CL. An agreement could be in place for Slot to leave, but if he manages CL qualification, there's an extra few million in his pocket. Surely not out of the realm of possibilities.

14 Feb 2026 16:19:22
Florian, do you walk around Anfield on home match days trying to force your opinion on everyone, or just on the internet?

14 Feb 2026 16:31:01
All I did was post a few facts, JK. 😉😆

14 Feb 2026 16:37:49
@JK23, God forbid someone offers an opinion that's different from yours.

14 Feb 2026 16:39:38
I'll take that as a no then. 😉

14 Feb 2026 16:52:44
Tbh, I can see both sides of the argument, but the fact is nobody really knows what the endgame is apart from Slot, Hughes & Edwards ( & the FSG big wigs ). For me, do I think Alonso is nailed on like a lot of people are saying - no way is he! If he was, there would be far more concrete evidence swirling around than just the limited rumours we are hearing & if he was that keen himself to come & manage us, like he's said, I think the change would have happened by now - we'd have made it worth his while financially to come now if the board were that adamant Slot wasn't their man. Not backing Slot in the January market could be seen as a sign they've made their mind up about him and that he'll go in the summer, but the doubt that Alonso won't come might make them hesitate about getting rid of Arne, as the pool of managerial talent isn't great elsewhere.

ATM we have a decent chance in the CL, a chance as good as anyone in the FA Cup, and I've a feeling we'll nick a top 4/5 spot! The situation won't change until we either get knocked out of the CL last 16 or mathematically cannot get CL qualification & that could be right up until the last couple of games. I'm not saying I want Slot to stay, in fact I feel a change is needed, but as of now I'm backing him because as of now he's the best we've got. I don't buy into this "going home to see his family all the time" either; it worked for him last season.

14 Feb 2026 16:53:58
Cheers, Boydy. 👍

14 Feb 2026 16:58:43
Florian, I take that first comment back, mate. I've fired from the hip out of frustration whilst at my boy's football. Let personal feelings cloud my judgment on that one. 🤦🏻‍♂️ 🤝

14 Feb 2026 17:24:07
Careful, Florian, don't be like Trump. The only facts were that Slot has won the league in both Holland and England, along with the youngsters' training. The rest is conjecture/opinion, which is OK; this is a banter site after all, but maybe it is better not to state rumour or opinion as fact.

14 Feb 2026 17:54:59
You're OK, JK. 😁

14 Feb 2026 19:30:27
I read in the tea leaves that Slot is getting a fondue set, a telephone table, a cuddly toy, and a fun-sized Mars bar for every position he goes up with us. Win the Championship League, and it's a speedboat and a Blankety Blank chequebook and pen.

14 Feb 2026 19:58:23
Surely him not being in charge next season would become apparent when his agent pushes for a new contract and clubs are like, 'nah mate'? So, it's probably accepted in these circumstances that honesty is the best option, no?

14 Feb 2026 23:56:37
Can anyone provide any actual evidence that Slot flies home every week?

14 Feb 2026 23:58:53
Honestly, there is zero chance Slot has been told he won't be here next season. These guys have plenty of money. Any of them being told this would see them walk away immediately, imo. I get our latest set of ITKs have told us this, but that doesn't make it a fact.

15 Feb 2026 00:33:39
Why would he walk away? Do the clubs fire them when they hand in their notice? If his agent has approached the club regarding extending his contract, then he is more deluded than Slot.

15 Feb 2026 09:56:26
Slot will be Spurs manager next season.

15 Feb 2026 11:44:00
Reds, this is how big businesses do their recruiting and dismissing; it is called head hunting. The manager of one large business is failing, so the directors look around for a replacement. While they are looking, they bring in the manager and discuss with him that they want him to continue until the end of the tax year, and that he will be paid severance pay.

They then interview the new candidate, offer him the new position, and ask him to start work in the new tax year. As football is run as a business, I would suspect this is how LFC would deal with the situation; they have to keep shareholders and sponsors happy. YNWA.

15 Feb 2026 12:39:14
The dynamic of a dressing room falls apart, though, Albey, if they know a manager's leaving. Remember, even United fell off a bit when they thought Fergie was leaving back in the day, before he eventually ended up staying.

14 Feb 2026 11:56:42
Seeing people comparing past lfc managers got me thinking how Slot has done compared to his rivals on some key points
Premier League wins since Slot took over
LFC 37 WINS
CITY 37 WINS
Arsenal 37 WINS
CHELSEA 32 WINS
MAN United 23 WINS
Premier League goals since Slot took over
LFC 127 goals
CITY 126 goals
Arsenal 119 goals
CHELSEA 111 goals
MAN United 91 goals
Net Spend since Slot took over
LFC €258M
CITY €330M
Arsenal €330M
CHELSEA €50M
MAN United €330M
All in all the facts are Slot has done a good job.

No other manager has more Premier League wins, Lfc are the top scorers in the Premier League in his time here and all while only Chelsea of the teams above have a lower Net Spend. And let's not forget No.20.

14 Feb 2026 12:28:01
He did a very good job last season. If you run those numbers again, since pre-season, it will show why people are currently disappointed.

14 Feb 2026 12:35:32
But Slot is on a downward trajectory. And not many people are enjoying the football.

14 Feb 2026 12:41:40
All in all, the facts are he's done little this season, FM.

14 Feb 2026 12:42:34
In any situation, stats are stats. You can view them as you wish, and derive the result to suit your point. But they do not ever tell the whole story.

14 Feb 2026 12:43:14
But that's like saying, if you ran the numbers after the first 7 games of the season, everyone would have been beyond ecstatic. These are the facts of Slot's reign as a whole. It's everyone's right to either like or dislike Arne, support or not support him, but when looking at these facts, it's hard to understand why he's so despised among his own fanbase.

So many teams would be delighted with the job he's done so far.

14 Feb 2026 12:56:20
Ah, c'mon Shankly, you can derive the result to suit your point on ridiculous stats like assists or "high quality chances", and guff like that. These are wins and goals scored (for a man with such a poor brand of football, by the way), while having a lesser net spend than his rivals as well.

14 Feb 2026 12:58:41
You don't even need to go back to pre-season. The calendar year, Feb 25 to Feb 26, has been dire. Let's not forget, in the last 20 games he has a worse record than Hodgson. I bet if Hodgson had this squad, he wouldn't be shy about getting better results.

14 Feb 2026 13:02:18
We're tracking as a 67-point team over an entire calendar year. We are essentially a 5th/6th-place team. At what stage does the bright start (Aug-Dec 24) to his Liverpool coaching career become the exception?

14 Feb 2026 13:02:55
The league season is played over 38 games. Last season has nothing to do with this season's league. As it stands, we are the 6th best team in England. Florian, I'm starting to wonder if you're Slot's agent or even Slot himself.

14 Feb 2026 13:04:14
Another great stat for Slot is that, at Liverpool, he has the highest win percentage in the CL of any manager ever. However, on the other side of the coin, the furthest he's been with Liverpool in the competition to date is the last-16 round.

14 Feb 2026 13:12:47
Come on, mighty, no one can be worse than Hodgson, can they?

14 Feb 2026 13:15:03
We were the only team to lay a glove on them, JK. Ok, lads. Should have known even facts like I listed wouldn't be good enough. 😆

14 Feb 2026 13:23:08
Your optimism regarding Slot is admirable, Florian. However, the style of play, the results, the league position, the apparent lack of fitness of the squad, the early League Cup exit, the embarrassing home defeats, the public slating of players that don't deserve it, and the stubbornness to continue in the same vein despite it not working, have left many wanting a change. Add to that the talent already in the squad, plus the need for a few more faces, and many want a new manager with fresh ideas to make the most of what we have and those yet to sign.

We could look at Klopp's bad run, but he had a lot more credit in the bank than Arne, and there was always the belief of a turnaround. If you have that same belief in Slot, then again I take my hat off to you. I would be as happy as you if we win the next 10 on the bounce, but unfortunately I don't see it happening.

14 Feb 2026 13:24:25
Only team to lay a glove on who? Since when have 64 games over 2 separate seasons counted towards a single league campaign?

14 Feb 2026 13:34:10
It does make you think, why change what was working so well from his first season? The players must have wondered what was going on in preseason fitness and tactics-wise. I do think losing JH has had a big impact on the team as well.

14 Feb 2026 13:34:22
PSG. They strolled past everyone else.

14 Feb 2026 14:14:26
Well, that's not entirely true, Florian. They did not find Aston Villa easy either. I watched the games against Villa, and they gave them a proper scare too. As for the comparisons with Hodgson, as much as I think Slot may not be the man to lead us going forward, unlike Hodgson, Slot has said on multiple occasions that he thinks the football has not been good enough, and that his aspiration is to have us playing the best football on the biggest stage. He has said that the criticism of the style of play from the fans hurts him, because he can see why fans might think that, and that he agrees with them to a point.

He insists at every opportunity that Liverpool are one of the best and biggest teams in the world, and that they should play the best football. Maybe his plan has not worked out the way he thought it would. Maybe it still will not, even if given time and the circumstances are favourable with getting the players he needs and injuries, etc., but at least he knows what he is supposed to be doing in this job and what the aim is, for himself and for the fans. You could never say that about the likes of Hodgson.

14 Feb 2026 14:36:12
Think it was 5-1 on aggregate at one stage, PB, then PSG started taking some serious liberties. And with Arsenal it was 3-0 on agg until Arsenal got a late consolation. The final was a procession.

14 Feb 2026 15:04:56
Give over the nonsense. A season is decided over 9 months, not 2 years. Worst run of form in 70 years, lost 9 in 12, 45% win rate for the season, worst set piece record in the league, top 5 lowest club goal differences all time, top 5 worst title defences of all time, complete refusal to adapt his highly ineffective tactics, a glaringly apparent inability to motivate the players, and a barrage of absolutely delusional comments in every presser.

14 Feb 2026 15:09:32
@Florian, that's just not true. If you are referring to the first 7 PL games, we lost the 6th and 7th. We also somehow lost away to Gala in between. So, no one was or would have been ecstatic. Also, anyone who actually watches us or goes to the match could see we have been garbage since Feb last year. This isn't a 'this season' problem.

I have not heard or seen anyone 'despise' Slot. Far from it. More baseless comments. And, yes, lesser teams would be fine with the last 12 months of pretty much consistent rubbish. We shouldn't be, and a scrappy win at Sunderland doesn't change a thing imo. This nonsense shows exactly how far our standards have dropped.

14 Feb 2026 15:20:31
No, Runcorn, first 7 all comps. Won them all.

14 Feb 2026 15:26:24
Net spend is a bit of a duck egg, really. That's for the accountant. What does matter is how much has been spent on new players.

14 Feb 2026 15:26:32
I'd class someone who calls him a 'bald moron' or an 'imbecile' as someone who despises him, in fairness. I'd also class someone who can't see the good, even when presented with facts, as despising him, because their minds are just made up no matter what you show them. Also, why do people keep saying a season's 9 months, not 2 years? I never mentioned this season; I simply posted his body of work at the club.

It's undeniably comparable to any other manager in the league, a league that has Pep Guardiola among its coaches. Dislike him if you want, but facts are facts.

14 Feb 2026 15:34:14
Florian Gakpo, we were all at the celebrations last season, and he got his just rewards and his reams of plaudits. We're in this season. Now run those numbers again, and you'll see a side that, for large portions, is demonstrating relegation form. If I want to live off past glory, I'll chart back to when we had a better manager.

14 Feb 2026 15:46:47
Pep still has his team in the title race; we're just about hanging on to the top five. Despite last season's stats propping up this year's, it's what's happening on the pitch that people are most concerned about. Best to revisit this at the end of May.

14 Feb 2026 15:52:22
All the facts, stats, net spend figures, etc. in the world cannot take away from the situation whereby we should have progressed from last season and not regressed as we have. I agree with you on some aspects, though FM and I, for one, would never describe Slot as an imbecile or anything like it that others may do.

He did great in winning 20. Absolutely, and I viewed him as our new long-term manager. He has made a total balls of it since then, unfortunately.

14 Feb 2026 15:54:39
Does it matter how many players also left Irish? Or are we left with a bench full of kids every week because we strengthened on top of what we already had, like Arsenal? Retaining their best players. We lost as many as we signed to a squad that had majorly over achieved to win the league the season before.

14 Feb 2026 16:07:19
Lol, what I do love here is how much FM is trying to stick to his guns. Fair play, mate, I know you love your new little statistics, but it means absolutely nothing. 😂

14 Feb 2026 16:25:55
How did the team overachieve? What is your basis for this, and do you think they should have won?

14 Feb 2026 16:27:11
Of course it matters who left. Most fans would suggest we improved on the players we replaced. Do you think differently?

14 Feb 2026 16:37:02
Well, we were 3rd favourites behind City and Arsenal at 7/1 Irish, and the bookies rarely get it wrong. A lot of people in the game had us struggling for top 4, in fact, if my memory serves me, after Jurgen left. It certainly wasn't the feeling on here that we had a chance of winning the league.

14 Feb 2026 17:04:10
Didn't we lose to Palace in the season curtain-opener, the Charity Shield?

14 Feb 2026 17:08:57
Can't believe you're quoting what the bookies say. 🙄 It makes absolutely no difference. The facts are that the best team over 38 games wins the League. It's very difficult to over achieve over such a long period of time. We faltered over the last month and a bit in the previous campaign under Klopp. That had me knowing we had a League-winning team.

14 Feb 2026 16:29:35
I wish this site had a Facebook style button I could push to just not show certain posters anymore.

{Ed033's Note - If you go to the My Profile page, you can add up to 5 usernames to ignore their posts on the main pages on here.

14 Feb 2026 17:58:19
I know, Chicago, that JK fella is an awful annoyance.

14 Feb 2026 18:06:26
Well, we lost our best winger, who orchestrated the press, Irish, and a right-back who had "changed the game" and left to win his Ballon d'Or. We gained a couple of top players in Wirtz and Ekitike, although it took up until recently to see the best of Wirtz. We haven't had the real Isak yet, so he hasn't really been an improvement on Darwin, although when fit he will be an infinitely better player.

Same can be said of Frimpong and Leoni. So, while I think in the long term we will be stronger for last summer's window when everyone's fit (three of them have spent most of the season on the sidelines), up until this point it hasn't left us much stronger than last year.

14 Feb 2026 18:08:35
If you ever get to a game, Florian, let me know and I'll get the beers in and bring my ear plugs.

14 Feb 2026 19:54:31
You are basing your view on what you know now, Florian. Injuries happen. Was Isak a better option than Nunez at the start of the season? Was Leoni a better option than Quansah, and was Kerkez a better option than Robbo? Sure, we lost 2 really good players, but we improved in 5 positions when the new season started.

14 Feb 2026 20:00:03
Can we stop this? He's been poor. We won the league, and fair play to all involved, but if we're honest, football on a global level is at a generational low point in terms of quality, with last season being only marginally higher. Klopp would have 100% won last season, and I don't doubt he would have us top this season.

14 Feb 2026 20:55:34
Florian Musiala, you argue for Slot using two years' worth of data in a sport where you're only as good as your last game. That's like arguing Rodgers never should have been sacked after he got us 2nd place in '14. Mourinho should have never been sacked after winning the League in '15.

I could go on, but I won't. Since you like stats, I'll give you some that are actually relevant. See if you can spot the similarities, and please, I would genuinely love to hear your opinion on them. Rodgers' last 38 games: 17W-10D-11L. Slot's last 38 games: 19W-9D-10L.

14 Feb 2026 22:25:10
I can only have one opinion, in fairness, Chewy: the bloke who oversaw our worst run in 70 years could have easily been sacked. I was surprised he wasn't, but I didn't want him sacked as I thought he'd earned some backing after No.20. Since then we've had to tighten up, it's been a bit of a slog at times, but after tonight's win it's now 2 defeats in 19 games.

It's 4 wins in 5, and we are getting there. That terrible run is now nearly 3 months ago (the PSV game was the 26th November), and I think we should be starting to get behind the manager and the team. We started the season in 4 comps, we still have a chance in 2. Let's stop moaning like babies and support the team.

14 Feb 2026 10:24:51
On Calvin Ramsey, i've probably been as guilthy of knocking him as others have of overhyping him because of a dislike of Slot. If the lad gets the nod tonight, as much as i don't think he's the answer i hope he proves me wrong. Was highly rated when we signed him, if the gets the nod i hope he shows why.

14 Feb 2026 10:43:08
Overhyped because of a dislike of Slot? Some gymnastics there.

14 Feb 2026 11:14:51
Well, people certainly wouldn't want him playing as much, let me put it that way, Barnesy. Is there not a bit of truth in that?

14 Feb 2026 11:47:29
Florian, Not saying I rate Ramsey or not because the kid simply hasn't played enough for me to judge him as a player, hence, I won't go that far as to knock him as a player, something you have done with very little evidence, I suspect. pls, correct me, btw. Also, other people believe he should play (not because they dislike Slot per se nor overrate him) because we are out of rbs, and as an rb, he knows the position more than Curtis Jones would playing there. Is that not a valid opinion? We saw Klopp play mids as cbs and it didn't work, so he had to go get actual cbs from the academy to play (cos they know the position better), and that helped us make 3rd in the lockdown season.

That is proof, is it not? Respectfully, I do not think that a dislike for Slot (not the man but the actual manager) suddenly equates to Ramsey, who has played very few minutes (let alone actual games) for LFC since 2022 being overrated. That's not a thing.

14 Feb 2026 11:51:20
I think the point with Ramsay is not that he's the long-term answer, but that surely it's better to have an actual RB there, so that our best player can play in his proper position and help our dysfunctional midfield.

14 Feb 2026 12:16:36
It depends, livered, on whether we're still a better team without our best player playing in his best position than having Ramsey at RB. I haven't really knocked him too badly, Oli, and I suppose I'd challenge anyone to tell me what in Ramsey's career so far suggests he should be near LFC's first team.

Look, as I said, if he gets the nod I hope he knocks it out of the park. We're all L'pool fans after all.

14 Feb 2026 12:17:00
He's been at the club since June 2022, so over 3 and a half years. He's also 22 years old, so not a kid. He's had plenty of time with both Klopp and Slot to prove that he is ready for a (regular) start. Perhaps, at this stage of his career, he just isn't good enough.

14 Feb 2026 13:05:14
Phillips and Williams were never good enough. But, as centre backs, they still outperformed the midfielders shoehorned in that position. Henderson and Fabs were far better players. Question for you, FM. If Allison and Marma got injured, and Slot picked Iask to go in goal because he is tall, and left Woodman on the bench, would you still find it fair?

14 Feb 2026 13:06:39
Oli, considering you were such a big Feyenoord follower when Slot joined, and confessed you never missed a Leverkusen game prior to Wirtz joining, I'm utterly gobsmacked you never watched Ramsey on your YouTube highlights.

14 Feb 2026 13:25:22
He's registered as a right back in our squad, using up a precious non-homegrown place. He's fit enough to sit on our bench. He could have been sent out on loan, but he wasn't. He could be replaced in the squad by a right back in the academy, but he wasn't. I know logic is in short supply, these guys, but it's logical to suggest he would get a go, given the other two right backs in our squad are injured.

That is how you use your squad, and how the squad is designed. If it is true that Slot thinks he is crap, promote a right back from the academy. Or, if it is that he is just not fit or robust enough to get first team minutes, say that instead of telling us that everyone and anyone, including the canteen ladies, are ahead of him in the pecking. All normal stuff.

14 Feb 2026 13:40:24
Klopp had an issue with CBs a few seasons ago and compounded it by playing Fab and Hendo there, causing midfield problems. I'd play Ramsay and ask him to keep it simple, no mistakes, and a 6 or 7 out of 10. Do not weaken the midfield and rotation options by playing Curtis or Dom there.

14 Feb 2026 14:10:46
That's a bit silly now, Mighty. Both Curtis and Dom have played well there. If Slot thinks that's the better option for the coupla weeks until Frimpong is back, then we have to suck it up. It's worth remembering that 99% of the people on here have never seen Ramsey play 90 mins besides Palace, whereas our multi-title-winning manager sees him every day.

14 Feb 2026 16:05:20
Ramsay couldn't get a game for Wigan & Kilmamrock, guys. He is not the answer! Unless the question is who is a League 2 level player some fans are up in arms about for some silly reason?

14 Feb 2026 20:01:50
I don't rate him, but he's a right back, and we're playing anyone but the right back at right back.

15 Feb 2026 00:44:17
Our multi-title-winning manager can't see further than the end of his nose.

15 Feb 2026 10:23:06
Not a problem, Florian. I was only responding directly to what you posted. Very good conversation. Cheers, man.

14 Feb 2026 07:11:53
Our managers since the dominant 80s, what order would everyone rank them? Not including Kenny's second stint or temporary cover.
Mine in brackets

Graeme Sounness (7)
Roy Evans (5)
Gerard Houillier (4)
Rafa Benitez (2)
Roy Hodgson (8)
Brendan Rodgers (6)
Jurgen Klopp (1)
Arne Slot (3)

I'll always have rose tinted glasses for the Roy Evans era. Rafa gets second for that night in Istanbul. Houilliers treble for me lands just below Slots Premier League.

14 Feb 2026 08:21:31
Klopp Rafa (Slot won the league, Rafa won the CL, and I have no doubt he cared about Liverpool more than Slot does.) Slot Houllier (Evans a better coach, Houllier won things). Evans Rodgers Souness Hodgson.

14 Feb 2026 08:29:20
Jurgen Arne Rafa Houllier Evans Hodgson Rodgers Souness.

14 Feb 2026 09:13:45
Same as EM's list, but swap Souness for Roy purely on the FA Cup win.

14 Feb 2026 09:33:30
Jurgen Slot Rafa Houllier Evans Souness Rodgers Hodgson.

14 Feb 2026 09:42:59
Jurgen Slot Rafa Houllier Evans Rodgers Souness Hodgson.

14 Feb 2026 10:07:09
Klopp Evans Rafa Slot Houllier Souness Rodgers Hodgson.

14 Feb 2026 10:17:33
All I know is I cringe thinking about how we compared Slot to Paisley last season. 😂

14 Feb 2026 10:26:49
Klopp, Rafa, Slot (league win), Houllier, Rodgers, Souness and Hodgson, but Hodgson had the worst team by far.

14 Feb 2026 10:28:39
I will always look back fondly on the Evans era. I remember the day we signed Stan Collymore, thinking that's it, the league is ours. Oh well. Klopp Evans Slot Rafa Houllier Rodgers Souness Hodgson.

14 Feb 2026 10:58:48
Klopp Rafa Slot Evans Bit of a gap. Souness Hodgson Houllier Rodgers Gonna seem harsh on them, but Rodgers and Houllier were totally rubbish, imo. Rodgers had the best owners we've had in 30 years, but was an arrogant t*** who thought he was the best manager in the world, and only got anywhere near the league title because of Suarez. Either side of that season, we were 6th and 7th. The two managers we had since him both won major trophies - Champions League & Premier League. He didn't win anything. Houllier took over a team that was 4th, 3rd, 4th, 3rd in the league the previous 4 seasons, gutted and rebuilt it at huge expense for the time, and, arguably, was in the process of rebuilding it again when he was sacked because he fell out with half his players once Patrice Burges left. For that, his league record was 7th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 5th, 4th. Congrats, you've spent loads of money to improve on the league finish once. Hyypia, Henchoz and a decent keeper would've achieved at least the same outcome, imo.

A UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup to show for it was nowhere near enough. He coached Heskey & Owen to be the most one-dimensional versions of themselves they could be. The football was awful and got worse year on year, and the team he left Rafa wasn't even half as good as the one he inherited from Evans. The only attacking players he left worth talking about were Gerrard and Kewell, the latter of whom was about to start his sicknote era. By comparison, Souness screwed lots of things up, but at least he had something of an excuse in the sense that he had to refresh an ageing team. Refresh, though, not completely rip it up like he did. Hodgson hadn't a pot to piss in, and had an unfit Joe Cole foisted on him by Purslow, in a desperate bid to try and cosplay as a club that wasn't in serious trouble. As well as the only decent wedge of cash being spent on Raul Meireles, a very average player who the fans made far too big a deal out of, imo.

14 Feb 2026 11:00:33
Houllier has to be higher, he changed the club like Wenger did for Arsenal.

14 Feb 2026 11:05:43
Mine is Klopp, Rafa + Evans, Houllier + Slot, Souness (see note below), Hodgson (bottom because he must have known, through experience, that that style of football did not and would not fit at LFC, as with whoever appointed him). Souness, did it go wrong due to his expectations of the players? Was he demanding the same of them as he gave as a player to the team? At the time, I wanted Souness gone, but I heard him talk about players on a video, and I changed my stance a bit.

14 Feb 2026 11:14:10
From best to worst. 1. Klopp 2. Benitez 3. Slot 4. Houllier 5. Dalglish 6. Bodgers 7. Souness 8. Hodgson (by far the worst Manager we've had in my 45 years).

14 Feb 2026 11:15:24
That run where Meireles was scoring a world class volley every week was pretty crazy, though, Something Red, that was pretty fun, kind of like when Maxi Rodriguez went on an insane scoring tear for a few games out of nowhere. Rodgers not winning the league that year was probably the greatest blessing in hindsight. Of course, I'd rather the team won everything available whenever we can, but if he had won that we might not have got Klopp. Besides not being able to set up a defense, and making everything about him all the time, he was a really poor judge of players in the transfer market. Joe Allen was okay as a squad player, but the other picks that he made himself without Ian Graham and the analytics team's recommendation were just abysmal. He repeatedly insisted that we buy Benteke, for example, when the transfer team expressly advised against it.

Was Balotelli a Rodgers choice? I wouldn't find it outlandish if that were the case. My list would probably beKloppSlotRafaEvansHoullierSouness RodgersHodgson Sorry, Hodgson has to be at the absolute bottom. He is the only Liverpool manager I have ever seen in my lifetime who has told us fans that we need to be realistic every week, and defending poor performances against midtable teams by suggesting that we belonged there too. Even if that was the case, objectively speaking, no Liverpool manager should ever say something like that. He then proceeded to buy players that were fitting of a midtable team. Poulsen, Jovanovic, and Konchesky are three of the worst players I have ever seen play for us, and Joe Cole was one of the slowest and most unfit.

14 Feb 2026 13:15:40
Mine is Klopp Everyone else in the distance. In no particular order. - Rafa won us the CL in his first season, then not a lot afterwards, and the football was boring. Slot won us the league in his first season, and if he stays, then not a lot afterwards, and the football was boring. Houllier: the football was boring.

Rodgers and Souness were both arrogant, and it showed in what they won. Evans: good football, but we were a has-been team under him, never really challenging. - Klopp turned a has-been team into one of the best and most exciting teams in the world. Not seen since Kenny Fagen, Bob, and Shanks.

14 Feb 2026 13:37:26
Klopp Slot Rafa Houllier Evans Rodgers Hodgson Souness.

14 Feb 2026 14:39:14
Klopp, Rafa, Slot, Evans / Houllier, Souness, Rodgers, Hodgson. Yet again, people forget Souness was the only manager who had a UEFA rule imposed while manager. Only 4 non-English players were allowed, he had to sell players he didn't want to and sign English players. Still won the FA Cup.

14 Feb 2026 17:38:49
People also forget that Hodgson was the only manager who literally didn't have a pot to pee in. Granted, he spent his 1 million pounds badly on Konchesky. 🤣🤣

14 Feb 2026 00:06:48
Starting to get the feeling that Konate might sign.

14 Feb 2026 06:36:58
God help us then. He is poor.

14 Feb 2026 07:06:58
Had a terrible season, but the last few performances have shown what he can do. I'd be all for Konate signing on, as I feel the less changes we have to make to the squad again this year, the better. And, to be honest, there's not exactly a lot of CBs out there we can realistically get who are better (when he's on it) than Ibou. I see us being linked to VDV, and you'd be talking about 100m for a player with horrific hamstrings who just isn't as good as Ibou in my opinion.

That would leave us with Virg, Ibou, Joe, Leoni and Jaquet for next summer. I've said loadsa times we should've moved Gomez on, but with one year left there's no point now. Keep him around for squad depth, and let him go on a free in 2027.

14 Feb 2026 07:10:32
Personally, I hope he does sign. We have quite a bit of work to do this summer signings-wise again, and if we keep Konate at least that's 1 less we need to buy. He has had a very poor season, but that possibly could be due to his father's health, who sadly passed away recently. VVD still has another season in him at the top, imo, and we've got the 2 young lads hopefully ready to go at the start of next season, so we definitely need somebody with experience in mid-20s in cb position.

VVD, Konate, Leoni, Jaquet + a utility defender who can cover all across the backline. Gomez is ideal but never fit to string any sort of period together, available fitness-wise, so I think he needs to be replaced. If Konate's form doesn't improve next season, at least we could sell for a fee, and u would get a decent fee as well. I also think a top-class defensive-minded no.6 solves a lot of our defensive problems and would leave our cbs less exposed.

14 Feb 2026 07:29:55
I think the signing of Jaquet was a proactive measure to deal with the loss of Konate. Don't forget we already have Leoni, and I think they both play in Konate's spot. I don't see us spending nearly 70m on Jaquet only to understudy Konate. For me, we really should get rid.

14 Feb 2026 07:47:37
I have seen lots of excuses on here for our poor season, be it fitness, Slot, grieving, etc. Crazy how the grieving one is never used in defence of Konate.

14 Feb 2026 08:24:37
I agree, JK23. I've been one of his biggest critics on here. But, over the last few games, he's been back to the player we bought. He's a beast of a man who goes to ground too much, but credit to him for his performance.

Who knows what he's going through in his head. Good luck to him. I hope he does sign. It will give Leone time to recover, and Jack to settle in. Then we could get a fee. Best all round. YNWA.

14 Feb 2026 08:35:15
Personally, I don't think anyone has much of a clue, really, be it new contracts, clubs wanting certain players, personal lives, etc., and on the back of that they talk nonsense. Yeah, he's been crap, but who hasn't this season? He's not on his own, that's for sure. If he signs, then hopefully he has competition; that's the important bit for me.

14 Feb 2026 08:38:32
Konate has all the tools to be a very good centre-back. For whatever reason, he seems to have misplaced them for most of the season. I hope he gets back to the required levels and signs a new deal, but I'm not sure if he will, or if he would want to be a squad player rather than first choice.

14 Feb 2026 08:49:28
If he signs, it is only because he'll be getting a crazy wage, given his previous wage demands. I'm not sure, with his inconsistent performances, he'd be worth the 150k to 250k a week he'd want, knowing our wage bill is already very high. I personally think Jacket was signed as his replacement, and we'll sign another defender in the summer.

14 Feb 2026 09:30:57
I feel mixed. He has been awful this season, but with Jota and his dad, I do wonder if his personal life has been part of this. On current form, he needs to go, and I have always thought he is hit and miss. However, we need signings, and we have two young cbs to bleed through.

It would make sense to extend his contract and protect his market value. It is then up to him whether he steps up; if he doesn't, and the youngsters play to their potential, then we can move Ibou on.

14 Feb 2026 10:29:33
Konate has been the worst player for us this year, and a lot of players have been poor, so that shows how bad he's been. He has had two very good games lately, but too little, too late.

14 Feb 2026 11:19:50
We know what he can be, but his lack of consistency across his entire time here is the worry. Forget two games, or even the entire season; overall, he's just too unreliable. He could be a rock, or he could do some random brain fade and gift a goal.

Nothing against him, he's ok, but I'd love an upgrade. The pickings are slim at the moment, so I wouldn't mind a team friendly shortish contract.

14 Feb 2026 11:24:46
If the choice is between, say, keeping Konate and signing Upamecano on a free, I'd take keeping Konate every day of the week. On form, he is a very high-level player, it's just that he has been off colour for much of this season, and now we have an intimation of just why that might have been.

If we let Gomez go, which is likely, we'd have to get another center half anyway. If we let Konate go too, we'd have to get two. That would be leaving us with too much to do if we also need to get a full back, another midfielder and a winger to replace Mo.

14 Feb 2026 11:34:20
You've hit the nail on the head, Ron. However, I wouldn't give him any sniff of a contract. He's a liability and an accident waiting to happen. There's plenty of better CBs available in world football as replacements.

14 Feb 2026 11:51:39
"If the choice is between, say, keeping Konate and signing Upamecano on a free, I'd take keeping Konate every day of the week." This. As for Konate, there is a chance he could be kept if, indeed, the club do not see a CB who can come in and do it right away as a replacement for a starter in Konate. That is very possible.

And let us not take for granted his father being ill and eventually passing, either. If we can apply Jota's loss to the players performing badly, we can apply that to Konate, essentially twofold, due to him losing his friend and battling the idea of his father being ill and eventually passing away. Just saying.

15 Feb 2026 10:38:20
I've criticised Konate before, like a lot of fans, but we don't know how long his dad was ill, how that affected Ibou, and then his dad's passing. I, like a lot of people, have lost a parent after a long illness, and Ibou looks like he's been released from that stress and worry, which is emotionally draining.

Maybe he won't sign again. But sometimes we don't know everything that's going on in players' lives.

15 Feb 2026 10:43:53
RE: cb. I can see the point in keeping Konate and us signing another cb like Guehi, mid-20s and experienced, to go with Jacquet and Leoni, in readiness for VVD leaving. Planning in advance needs to be better.

13 Feb 2026 22:13:43
Good to see Isak doing stepping up his training today doing some ball work.
Hopefully we might see him back in march.

13 Feb 2026 22:28:46
Can't see him being back in March whatsoever.

13 Feb 2026 22:33:28
It'll be nice to see him back and firing for the big games in May (and the CL final).

13 Feb 2026 22:56:48
He'll do sweet FA until next season. Hopefully he'll prove his worth then.

13 Feb 2026 23:54:42
Back for the business end. Gonna prove his worth in sum big games come end of season.

14 Feb 2026 00:35:51
Cisse-esque return perhaps.

14 Feb 2026 06:57:24
A crocked forward returns late on in a season where a home grown star toddled off to Real Madrid for a cut price fee? I wonder when that's happened before. 🤔

14 Feb 2026 07:58:43
CL final? Why has he won the ITV phone-in? An all-expenses-paid trip to watch the CL final. It's the only way he's going.

14 Feb 2026 10:17:56
Isak most likely will be back in the squad after the international break in March/April.

14 Feb 2026 11:52:45
He should not play if he is not fully cleared to play whenever that may be. As long as that happens, I'm fine with him playing.