Liverpool banter 3

20 Oct 2025 18:10:48


PatrikBurgher has written an article entitled, I'm Confident That Arne Slot Can Turn Liverpool FC Around

21 Oct 2025 07:15:52
I agree mate, one of the biggest problems has been persisting with a half-fit MacAllister in midfield, should be Szoboszlai and Grav as the two

Play Frimpong and Kerkez, will rotate obviously at times for Robbo and Bradley, but let them two give the width we lack - I do believe Salah and Frimpong can be very good together and Frimpong does put some lovely balls into the box tbf

Isak just not match fit either, like MacAllister, bring him on for the last 20-30 mins a match and let him build up that sharpness

Konate has been a liability this season, shame TYLFP got injured we may have seen more of him but surely you would have started Gomez a game or two - not sure what's going on there

Salah also woefully out of form though I do think having Frimpong provide the width would get more out of Salah but what else does Chiesa have to do to get a start? Salah's form will return but use Chiesa to help.

20 Oct 2025
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, The Horseshoe

Click picture for larger image

20 Oct 2025 18:12:38
That gaping big hole in the middle is a shocker.

20 Oct 2025 18:30:56
This is absolutely crazy. They must have thought something while coming up and with strategy. May be they were expecting Macca to be flash.

20 Oct 2025 18:56:55
The hole in itself is not the problem the problem is that our players on the edge of it ie macca, Dom and grav aren’t then showing for the ball and receiving it. We’re the worst team I’ve seen play out from the back in quite a while. It used to be because konate would get left to have the ball by the opposition and he was shocking on it but in the last couple of games he’s been better at it. Our players don’t currently trust each other to receive the ball with a man at their back and keep it so they’re playing too deliberately. Then you have players like salah who doesn’t seem to understand having controlled, settled possession of the ball and often hopefully turns the ball round corners hoping someone else can link onto where ever his “pass” goes. We were obviously trying to occupy their back 5 with numbers in between them but they blocked the center and we couldn’t play through due to lack of quality and good movement. Then we played wide to Bradley and kerkez two players out of form and low on confidence and they were then pressed from the center block leading them to often pass backwards or to salah who lost it or gakpo who was wasteful of the chances he got but looked the most likely of our attackers.

20 Oct 2025 19:14:52
Completely Champions
We’ve gone from having Fab, Hendo and Gini rotating to get into the ball from CB or FB to naturally no options to play out from the back
Which- given the quality we have in midfield- I think can’t be anything other than being asked to do something other than being the obvious option to receive a pass.

20 Oct 2025 19:15:31
What's the point wanting ball playing defenders if there's no midfield to pass to? Shocking approach to the game in my admittedly limited and amateur opinion.

20 Oct 2025 20:48:56
FlyPelicanFly, I saw a shot of the same doughnut in midfield live (and that's not eventhe one you provided) and could not believe what my eayes were seeing.

Seriously, who on this earth thinks this is a good idea? I've heard of galaxy-brain and all that but this is freaking ridiculous.

20 Oct 2025 21:45:40
Surely someone has just taken a snapshot of a moment when there was no one in the centre circle. We don’t play like that! That’s been manufactured to suit a narrative.

If I remember rightly Grav is constantly in the centre circle to receive the ball from the back 4.

I’m going to watch out for it though.

21 Oct 2025 01:47:38
You are correct robbo, grav was constantly there to receive, but his midfield friends were by then in another postal code all the way up the field in the trenches of the low block.

21 Oct 2025 09:54:13
I'm no coach but that set up just looks cracked to me! No wonder we're failing badly. If they're planning on giving this time to work we're fairly well fff'd for this season. If there's one positive then perhaps and hopefully Sunday will have put paid to the end of this!

20 Oct 2025 17:09:49
Hello fellow reds,
Been reading a lot of the comments on here an just wanted give my take. Its not slots fault the players are not performing or finishing, yesterday we hit the woodwork 3 times, isak 1 on 1, salah 1 on 1, there was also a pass on, our final ball has been terrible last few games, I mean is that really slots fault? What i do think he needs look at is the fullbacks, they're strength is bombing forward an overlapping an putting in crosses, which we only really seen frimpong do. Kerkez strength is not to stay back, remember him at bournemouth last year, looks a complete different player this year as im guessing he has been asked to curb his attacking instincts. I see why he is playing szobo there but he is not a right back, slot needs just play Bradley or frimpong and let them play they're natural game. Our midfield should be a trio based on fitness and performance, mcallister is not up to speed, maybe need jones in or wirtz an play 2 mids in a double pivot live gravy an szobo. Also what I don't like is the slow play, why are we constantly playing back when we should be going forward an putting the opponent under pressure! So the above is on slots as im guessing their his tactics.
The players have not become bad overnight, give it time and keep the faith, Im my opinion salah, wirtz, isak an ekitike should be starting to build chemistry an teamwork.
I know its ifs an buts, but from all our losses we deserved to lose to palace, the rest based on chances we should have won, but we didn't and we move on. I think slot has done enough to warrant some trust and time to get it right.

20 Oct 2025 17:33:05
We probably didn't get a huge amount of luck yesterday - but with the players we have we shouldn't need luck against that UTD side. You can also flip it - we were very lucky to pick up 15/ 15 from our first five games that so easily could have been 7 or 8 points for my money. That midfield set up yesterday was one of the weirdest things I've seen which meant in the 1st half we were outnumbered in midfield against a team who get outnumbered in midfield every week!

20 Oct 2025 19:18:28
You always need luck Thomo. If you look at the game we’ve hit the post 3 times and each time there were more LFC players there for the rebound the Man U players but it just fell to them every time.

Mbeumo hit a shot at the end and it ricochets straight to Fernandes. Could’ve gone anywhere.

Mike Oliver looked straight at Macca on the floor holding his head and decided not to stop the game. On another day the ref does the right thing and they don’t score.

Szob takes a quick free kick and Dorgu sticks his leg out to block it from 4 yards away. The free kick should be retaken and Dorgu booked but Oliver plays on and gives us a throw in our own defensive third which ultimately leads to them winning a corner which leads to the goal.

In those incidents we all know we could and should’ve done better, it’s no excuse but when luck is on your side they fall the other way and we win the game with ease.

Utd were extremely lucky to win the game and we were unlucky to lose it but them’s the breaks. That’s football, you have to take your chances so that luck doesn’t matter and we didn’t do that so we allowed the lucky breaks Utd got to be decisive.

20 Oct 2025 19:42:13
I am with Robboslegs, unless you are good enough to beat every team that you play 5-0 (like City were a couple of years ago, then you need an amount of good luck to win games, and you need a huge amount of good luck to win a lot of games (like we had in the first five games.


I do believe that with the players that we now have, we can beat teams 5-0 when they all gel, until then keep fingers crossed guys.
YNWA.

20 Oct 2025 19:54:36
I'm surprised how little has been made of the fact the ref claims to have not seen it was a head injury, despite the fact he's looking straight at it and even after he's on the floor the ball is right by mccalister and the ref is still looking in the direction, even the build up for the second goal maguire takes an arm to the face the ref sees it and waves play on.


Two penalty shouts not much made of them either on vvd for shirts pulls, when heading the ball on corners, which has all of a sudden stopped being given.

20 Oct 2025 20:51:00
You can't get lucky if you are first of all, not helping yourself. We are not helping ourselves in any way so don't expect any luck to come your way when you need it.

In fact, bad luck will befall you, first. Our first goal is the biggest example, IMO.

20 Oct 2025 15:40:02
Ed001
What exactly is the point of voiding the midfield circle when in possession? Why are they pushing Macca that far up?

{Ed001's Note - to push the opposition back and give space for someone to hit a killer ball, unfortunately you need Trent for that to work and we don't have him.}

20 Oct 2025 16:42:49
I'd like to see us use a diamond next game
Mama
Bradley konate vvd kerkez
Endo
Sob Jones
Wirtz
Isak ekitike
Use the full backs for with and have endo there for protection at the back.

20 Oct 2025 16:52:54
I agree Gmil.

If we’re point blank refusing to use Chiesa, hell bent on playing the out of form players, then I see no other option than to change shape.

Something has to change, it HAS to, we can’t keep doing the same thing or we’ll lose every single game until he’s eventually Sacked.

20 Oct 2025 19:12:13
We used Chiesa yesterday.
And I'll ask again, when was the last time Chiesa played 90 minutes? Does anyone know?
It happens a lot when we have a bad result or run of bad results that people want those not playing in the team. If they're not playing or playing a full game then they can't be to blame but would the outcome be any different?
Maybe it would but I've seen enough of the likes of Jones, Chiesa and Endo to know that they are not guaranteed starters.

Salah has been terrible this season but I wouldn't be dropping him for Chiesa.
Not yet anyway.

20 Oct 2025 19:19:07
Ed001- if we push the opposition back that killer pass is almost impossible
Need to rotate the ball quickly around the back and then hit the pass - after drawing opponents out

This is why I just don’t get out current way of playing - it’s like we are in between styles and failing at it.

{Ed001's Note - I don't like it mate, it leaves us so open to a counter as well.}

20 Oct 2025 21:01:09
Rigsby, that's the wrong question here. He hasn't played 90 mins cos Slot won't pick him to start cos he is trying to play under-performing players into form, which is killing us. That's a fact. Chiesa and Jones (Endo is diff. cos he has played less this season) playing and is performing when they come on hence, why people are saying he deserves to start to see what he can do from the off.

You say we don't know if the result will be diff. if he and Jones start BUT we will never know unless they start right? So give them a go and see what can happen.

And nobody is saying he is the saviour cos no one's is coming to save us here. I just think we need a spark/ jolt of new energy to jump start the team cos they are really down. So why not start them both?

20 Oct 2025 23:14:14
Slot wasn't playing these players back into form last season, was he, OliRed?
Chiesa started one League game last season. We'd already won the title, we lost the game and he was substituted.
Do you really think Chiesa is performing when he comes on? He was poor on Sunday.
I don't buy all this 'they couldn't do any worse' because they can. And I don't buy all this 'we'll never know until they start' either. I've watched Chiesa and Jones for a long time and I know what they can and can't do. And I know that Slot knows a lot more than me, too. Look at Chiesa and Jones's figures from last season.

I'll ask again: when was the last time Chiesa played 90 minutes? You don't want underperforming players to be picked but you want someone with hardly any form to be picked in the hope that they can suddenly improve on what they have done for the past few seasons.
Hope is all it is.

20 Oct 2025 14:12:29
Hi eds, have you seen klopps interview with Steven Bartlett (thediaryofaceo) based on klopp confirming that he could coach us again one day, do you think it's possible we could see a return say end of the season if slot is unable to turn things around? I'm very surprised he didn't rule it out as I thought he was done with management. Do you think he feels he still has some unfinished business at the club?

{Ed001's Note - I would be surprised, unless it is with the legends team.}

20 Oct 2025 17:27:36
Thanks ed1, would you want to see him
Come back?

{Ed001's Note - no, he had pretty much handed over the reins the last few years, need a manager to be all in, not half-arsed.}

20 Oct 2025 17:43:58
Think Klopp said it was possible because he was asked the question. but he stated he didn't miss the coaching, the media, the changing room . the standing in the rain for 2 hours. he's happy what he's doing . can't see him coming back to coach esp in England again.

20 Oct 2025 21:03:37
Like you Ed, I don't want him back. He did his thing and I love him for it. I want to remember him the way he was thru out his time with us.

The whole nostalgia and emotional stuff aren't things that move me. Not anymore.

20 Oct 2025 23:26:44
Even the slow possession footie nonsense you talk about, OliRed?

20 Oct 2025 13:19:28
Ed001 what is going on mate? I can't fathom decision making of late. Before the game even started I was asking why Isak is starting over Ekitike. Why have we been putting Szobo RB and Grav CB? Have you got any idea what Slot is trying to do or what the issue is?

{Ed001's Note - he is trying to get control of games, assuming opponents will mainly drop deep and hold the edge of their own box, like they did all last season. But they are not doing so, most of the reason they sat deep against us was Trent. So what ends up happening is that we play like we still have Trent, and emptying midfield so that he can drift in there and playmake, after the midfield have pushed onto the opposition backline, in an attempt to push them back. It is not working as we lack movement, there is no space to move as we have so many players strung in a line across the pitch.}

20 Oct 2025 16:28:06
Thanks for the response and your analysis. Feels concerning to me lately, can't remember the last game I actually enjoyed watching. Gotten very boring since the big German fella left. Slots subs etc baffle me more often than not lately.

{Ed001's Note - it is getting worrying because the changes he was making last season made a difference, this season they seem to make matters worse.}

20 Oct 2025 16:28:49
Thanks for the insight to that Ed001. I was wondering also why Slot is persisting with Szob moving into the RB whenever possible and I presume based on what you said is that he's hoping Szob can play that role of moving into CM from RB and filling that gap in midfield.

I'm still hoping that Slot can figure this out though because this tactic is obviously not working. I know people have said that Slot is stubborn and is persisting with a system that doesn't work but I think the converse is true, that he's tinkering and over-thinking things too much. I've been confused as to what we are doing each week since it seems slightly different each time, even though the result is the same - us being disjointed. He needs to go back to the basics and just play football simply, instead of trying all this complex and complicated tactics.

{Ed001's Note - simple is always best, then the players can have a bit of freedom to adapt during the game to the situation. If they have a complicated plan to follow, they are too busy thinking about it to react to what is actually happening.}

20 Oct 2025 17:57:27
Just feels like its showing that Slot is out of his depth. Surely he must have top tier analysts showing him how poorly the game plan is working. Yet he continues to persist?
Plus starting Mac and Salah right now seems criminal.

20 Oct 2025 18:25:27
Worryingly Dean I think that may have something to do with it but I hope not. It's been a while since I've done as much head scratching during football games. Agree Ed re subs making things worse at the moment. Salah shouldn't be getting a game lately and the refusal to drop him is worrying me also.

20 Oct 2025 18:39:26
Why is everyone so surprised this team is taking time to find its rhythm?
Everyone knew that a couple of new signings were needed, Darwin wasn't good enough, Jota was perennially injured, Robbo's decline was obvious, TAA and Kelleher were certain to leave, Diaz probably and an additional midfielder was necessary. That is at least half a starting outfield line up and reserve keeper for Ali who seems injury prone.

At the start of the season, when Arsenal signed a much needed striker, and Zubi (Jeez I wish he had signed for LFC) I thought Arsenal would win the PL this season, then LFC would dominate for a few yrs when the outstanding young talent bought have bedded in.

Slot is still trying to gel this bunch of outstanding players into an outstanding team. Champions League qualification this season, replace Salah and Virg next summer, the new players will have a season done, and we'll fly again.