Liverpool Banter 3

09 Jan 2026 15:59:37
This is just my take on getting Guehi .

I think Pep is staying until his contract runs out (27) and I think he sees Guehi as a huge part of his re-build as he did with Semenyo - really good Prem proven players . I think he also thinks he can reel Arsenal in this campaign and getting Guehi now this month gives him a great chance as I still think Arsenal will blow up - they've done it before .

For us I think getting Guehi this month gets us CL football next season which for our outlay last summer and the clubs ambition either with transfers or attracting a new manager is imperative and a chance in the FA cup ( draw allowing ) .
CL is out of our grasp with how we're performing so I'll settle for a decent run last 16 perhaps

Im not saying he's world class but he improves us as of now, unless Hughes has anyone else up his sleeve that is?

A lot will disagree on this but be interesting to know your thoughts.

09 Jan 2026 16:12:58
I hope I am wrong, but I think it is a done deal that Geuhi is going to City.

09 Jan 2026 17:07:20
I'm still not 100 percent sure he is the right CB for us. He is not the tallest and there's a danger of simply being too small at corners etc.

He has a lot of good points that would make me happy to have him though and I do hope we get him but another I won't lose sleep over. We do however need a CB.

We have some serious players but Slot really needs to get them playing more like the second half against Arsenal and not the pathetic first half. can't wait for the next prem game to see if we start how we finished last game or go back to type this season. If I see passive again, I might have a heart attack.

09 Jan 2026 18:32:39
Well we are going to need atleast 2 in, 1 goes straight into team for konate, he should be gone end of season and I believe Gomez is out of contract at same time and should be released, leaving a aging vvd and Leoni, not good that, if someone says Gomez is a good squad player….

is that good enough reason to give him a new contract and signing on fee? Made of crisp anyway.

09 Jan 2026 15:06:34
Someone needs to ask Slot how easing up on training and playing a slower more controlled game has helped prevent injuries this season. Its working wonders by the look of it.

09 Jan 2026 15:18:09
Kimuraking, no matter what method of training we use, it wouldn't have prevented Bradley's injury. Unfortunately, and sadly, he's just prone to injuries.

09 Jan 2026 15:41:22
Blaming the manager for a probable ACL injury. A new low for you.

09 Jan 2026 15:41:49
Lack of fitness always leads to more injuries. That's Leoni, Isak x2, Ekitike, Wirtz, Jones x2, Gakpo, Bradley x2, Endo, Frimpong x2, Gomez and Alisson who've all suffered injuries now this season already. 15 different injuries to 11 different players. Thank god we're not over working anybody though, eh!

09 Jan 2026 15:42:28
Exactly Rome so why not have fit players that can last 90mins and freak injuries will still happen.

09 Jan 2026 15:46:13
Last year we were great with injuries, this year we're getting more. Luck of the draw it happens.

09 Jan 2026 16:15:11
Did you put money on the 6-1 result you predicted, kimuraking?

09 Jan 2026 16:28:09
It's a wonder we got away with it in the 80s when players were less fit and squad depth wasn't a thing. We were known for not overtraining especially towards the end of seasons.

09 Jan 2026 16:31:00
Longthing, our players did last 90 minutes.

09 Jan 2026 16:37:51
MK how many injuries do City have? Is their training wrong as well? Like Florian says, injuries happen to some players more than others. Alisson was picking up injuries under Klopp, as an example. What did Leoni's injury have to do with training methods? If you're an expert on sporting injuries, I apologise.

You want Slot out, I get it, but you don't have to continually conjure things up just to suit your narrative.

09 Jan 2026 16:39:53
What was Endo doing to get injured because he doesn't play and we don't train.

09 Jan 2026 16:40:26
Right back will be a problem area for us. You can just see it. We've got our 2 regulars, and yet halfway through the season we've had Szobo, Gomez and Jones there multiple times each

It's certainly not looking good.

09 Jan 2026 17:04:53
Injury's that we are seeing bar the ACLs are down to poor fitness. The ACLs for me though are freak injuries that while maybe caused at times by lack of fitness I think both ours this season were due to impacts instead of not being fit.

But I agree we are having more injuries as the players are not fit. Isak was either carrying and injury when we signed him or he was still unfit due to poor conditioning. The fitness team really need to be looked at as well as Slot and held to account.

09 Jan 2026 17:22:11
Isak's injury was not down to his lack of fitness.
And I thought Ekitike was being managed because he's not fully up to the rigours of the PL yet.

09 Jan 2026 21:50:22
Bradley, freak accident - nobody near him, awkward landing.
Isak, accident - broken ankle from contact in scoring
Gomez, requires careful management for ongoing issue
Ekitike, requires short term management for issue cauded by impact in contact sport.

Stick to your score predictions @Kim, it's obviously what you are best at.

09 Jan 2026 22:38:50
Add Leoni freak accident to that too.

09 Jan 2026 23:17:12
Maybe pre-season training affects fitness levels?

Just a thought….

09 Jan 2026 23:40:27
Look, there is lots of speculation but LFC just don't advertise who they want to sign. They are not like RM who seem to use Marca to publish their targets in the hope of unsettling the player,

LFC brought in some top tier players in the summer, they haven't all settled in, no debate there, but their quality is undeniable. We are already seeing that Eki/ Wirtz/ Frimpong and to a lesser degree Kerkez are improving. Isak was very unlucky he got injured scoring a goal laid on by Wirtz, if he hadn't, he probably would have kicked on. Isak is one of the best strikers earning a living right now and hopefully will be a star for the next few years.

This season has been crap so far for a variety of reasons and Slot deserves fair criticism, but it not many teams would have continued to play the way they did after replacing half the starting 11.


We have to hope that having spent so heavily on bringing in replacements who were absolutely needed up front, the Board will now focus much needed attention on the defensive unit.

So luck, there is 3 weeks left in the window, let's have faith, look at this season as a bedding in period for world class players additions. It wasn't that long ago that LFC needed a headed goal from the keeper to qualify for the CL soon after winning the PL and a new midfield was needed the year after losing the PL by a point and the CL final.

Some of the crap from so called supporters is stomach churning. The PL has changed, none of the teams are playing that counterattacking, flowing football we saw a few years ago. Arsenal and MC are grinding out results, I haven't seen one good game of football this season.

09 Jan 2026 14:47:22
Would of loved Martinelli to have done that in the early 80s too one of our players and to wonder how long it would of took Souness to find him on the pitch then at least for the first time he would have had a reason to roll around the floor.

09 Jan 2026 15:47:36
Am honestly amazed that none of our players didn't get a red card for smashing that martinelli all over the place. I know I would have.
On another note. Martinelli pushed him by the neck/ head and if you raise hands to someone face it's a red so no idea why he didn't get one.

09 Jan 2026 15:56:29
Or Steve McMahon!

09 Jan 2026 16:59:05
Souness would have broken his jaw. When the ref wasn't looking. Or absolutely clattered him next tackle.

09 Jan 2026 13:08:09
I know that the 0-0 yesterday wasn't the most exciting game and Liverpool were toothless up front but, at least for me, the performance overall was far better.

We've complained all season about a lack of defensive nous, yesterday I thought Arsenal had almost nothing but for one or two good runs in the first 20 minutes. Kerkez has been slandered all season, yet I don't see what he ever really does wrong. He offers genuinely good one on one defensive work (barring the occasional silly dive in) and offers so much down the left flank in terms of energy and drive. Gakpo really needs to be replaced, he is so poor with general link up that he hampers the whole attack down the left. I think he's a pretty competent player but is in a horrible run of form, and could do with some genuine competition.

I understand the frustration at a lack of clear cut chances, but once again we have a massive lack of firepower due to injuries and AFCON. The spaced in behind Arsenal's team was apparent, Frimpong found it constantly. There was just no focal point in the middle to also make those runs and get on the end of the crosses. I think with Isak or Ekitike in that side we really give Arsenal a run for their money.

The general fight and energy levels were much better, especially in the second half where Arsenal were seemingly devoid of confidence and were penned in. They are so poor in general play it is a wonder they are so far out in front in first place. Gyokeres is a shocking signing; Konate and Van Dijk won't come up against an easier opponent all season. They will win the league comfortably and yet have been one of Liverpool's easier opponents this year in the PL.

I think this Liverpool team should comfortably be able to get top 5 this season, but another injury to the backline could derail the season. If Bradley's injury is bad (suspected to be season ending), then Liverpool need to bring the summer plans forward and sign a defensive player. They can't afford to sit on their hands. If Chiesa is also sold to Juve they need a genuine quality forward option to replace who Slot trusts to be used.

Lets wish Bradley well in his recovery, I was very disappointed with Martinelli's reaction - thankfully he has apologised.

Lets get behind the lads for the upcoming fixtures.

09 Jan 2026 14:37:16
My fear is Gomez coming in to play right back, getting injured and us having to stick Dom in at right back for most of the rest of the season. Please let us buy at least another defender, preferably two.

09 Jan 2026 14:38:52
"Thankfully", he didn't really have a choice it was a such blatantly awful thing to have done.

09 Jan 2026 15:04:31
I agree Wassa, I just prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt as I choose to believe that surely someone isn't that much of a scumbag. An apology is better than nothing at all.

09 Jan 2026 15:12:48
Patrik, I too have the same worry. It would be ludicrous to not look to the market, Konate and Gomez are incredibly injury prone and will no doubt end up with an injury at some stage. We are light as it is in the squad anyway, another long term in Bradley with a risk of Gomez getting injured would compound the issue even further.

Whilst I don't want to look at Arsenal as a benchmark, their squad is incredibly deep (I don't think it's sustainable long term) . Realistically this Liverpool team could do with at least a CB coming in and potentially another attacker in January, but that won't happen.

Hopefully Bradley's injury is better than anticipated, although I don't hold out much hope sadly. If it truly is a season ender then it won't be until late this year/ next we see him, meaning we lose a starting fullback until this time next season. A signing only makes sense in that regard, and I'm sure Hughes and Edwards would see that.

09 Jan 2026 15:15:23
Martinelli is honestly just covering his own arse, it would be a PR disaster for him if he didn't come out to say anything. It's still shocking watching the incident again, dragging him off the pitch like that could have made a bad injury considerably worse.

09 Jan 2026 15:50:35
Were worrying about Gomez breaking down injured before he's even in the team. This is why i've been saying he should have been sold 2 or 3 years ago. Been a nice likeable bloke should not get you a career at Liverpool if your incapable of staying fit.

09 Jan 2026 16:30:25
I think he can probably capably start a game here and there Florian, it's just he can't be expected to play week in week out anymore. Still a very capable player when called upon though.

09 Jan 2026 17:15:45
Easy to say sorry after the fact martineli should of walked i bet if it was a lfc player he would of walked and that was a 100% pen on Wirtz all day long . So we did not have a shot on target but we run them ragged in second half .


They never really troubled Ali in our goal .
5 points we have taken off them let's hope it helps man city catch them up . YNWA.

09 Jan 2026 20:40:25
Pretty sure Gomez is playing with regular injections in his knee. No way will see out the rest of the season at right back but I certainly don't want Szobo playing there either.

09 Jan 2026 20:52:05
Yeah sod Martinelli. Too much 'hold hands and be respectful' BS in football these days, a PR spin of an apology and everyone's clapping him.

The lads a known diver, Arsenal wasted time all game and then he acts like that. Should have been sent off.

I'll never wish injury on a player, but next time he goes down I won't bat an eyelid.

09 Jan 2026 21:57:39
I'm fairly sure we will line up against Martinelli again, if it was me I'd ensure that I'd have a plan to ensure he remembers the experience.

09 Jan 2026 13:06:00
You have to love Szobo, when sly asked him are you playing the new champions tonight?

"No we don't play the champions, they play the champions"

Have some of that!

09 Jan 2026 13:55:45
Szobo was unlucky not to score last night.

I reckon if he'd had another 32 shots at least one of them would have been on target and tested the keeper.

{Ed025's Note - if the goal was 80ft wide and 40ft high he may have hit the woodwork JK.. :)

09 Jan 2026 15:10:39
Talking of shots. Why didn't Frimpong not just pull the trigger when he was thru? Appreciate it was a slightly tight angle of a right footer but surely he has to put his boot thru the ball? Couldn't believe he cut it back to no one in particular 😏.

{Ed025's Note - im with you Irish..

09 Jan 2026 15:11:52
Super shout JK23 and beautiful reply from Ed25.

Made my day😀.

09 Jan 2026 15:17:42
Szobo needs to do more in and around the box for me. Goals being one, I can't fault his work rate and he's been our stand out performer this season but I'd like more. I'm with the Ed the goal needed to be 80ft tall haha.

09 Jan 2026 15:19:49
Agree, Irish. I was screaming at the tele.

09 Jan 2026 21:59:57
Ah, you do that too @Rome 😁😁.

09 Jan 2026 12:06:55
Ed001 after watching the game last night it just showed up even more what an awful job Slot has done this season.
For us to be that far behind that Arsenal team is totally unacceptable if anything we should have the league done already such a week league.
As for Arsenal I truly can't stand them players manager ex players and fans. If one incident could sum up a team under a manager then it was Martinelli last night for Arteta'a Arsenal.


They just remind me of Brentford under Frank players going over with the slightest touch to try to win a free kick to load the box as they just never look like scoring an opening goal without a set piece.
I can say hand on heart I would rather anyone even United winning the league over them hopefully Pep can get city on a run and do them on the last day of the season or even better Aston Villa.

09 Jan 2026 13:37:26
Aye, not having the League done in January is totally unacceptable.
If some of you were more realistic then you'd be a lot happier and that's coming from a miserable old goat like me.
Give it a try.

09 Jan 2026 13:59:45
United winning it over them, grino? Can't be having that mate lol never in a million years. I know what you mean though, can't stand them - I think City will end up snatching it and to be honest I hope they do. They've played the best football this season by far.

09 Jan 2026 14:22:27
The only team i want winning the Premiership less than Arsenal are Man u. Hopefully both teams implode before the seasons out.

09 Jan 2026 14:39:06
Another day, another 'we didn't perform well in the least and we're rubbish as usual, the opposition was just crap and didn't punish our incompetence' post.

09 Jan 2026 14:42:24
I'm with Grino on this.

Arteta is such a hateful guy I don't want to see him win a damn thing under any circumstances (and I've felt that for a long time) .

It would also legitimise everything he's turned Arsenal into.

09 Jan 2026 14:54:19
Gringo yes it is a week league and if the premier league don't do anything about it soon people will save their pennies and do something else . The football is boring having ten men behind the ball is killing the game awful to watch . Players cheating and diving holding their head so game is stopped and time wasting .

referees are so poor none them can make the right decision that the rule book states they don't no what a foul is they have not got a clue on this . Football is a beautiful game if played right but it is awful when it is played wrong and seriously needs looking in to by the FA, FIFA and UEFA .

09 Jan 2026 11:56:31
Just listening to Tim Sherwood he sounds like if we ever need someone to take over the youth development team he would be a good shout.
Sounds very passionate and working with youth players and getting them into and around the first team squad.

09 Jan 2026 13:41:49
Dim Sherwood? Tactics Tim? No thanks.

09 Jan 2026 14:16:13
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was Sherwood who gave Kane his big break at Spurs after multiple failed loan spells. He's got a very good reputation of developing young players, either way.

09 Jan 2026 14:24:16
I'm sure Sherwood was at Forest.

{Ed025's Note - nice one Robby..

09 Jan 2026 14:25:00
I actually was listening to that on sky today as well. As a manager of course absolutely not but to bash him as a coach is a bit harsh, could definitely see him working with young players.

Former captain of the premier league champions as well back in the day. Do I love Tim, absolutely not, would I have him anywhere near the first team no, but as a youth coach, could do a lot worse alright. Fancies himself a bit but then again so do most coaches. Seems likeable enough at times from interviews but hard to know for sure.

09 Jan 2026 14:34:03
I'm sure Sherwood only gave Kane his chance because they were having an injury crisis and he ad no other options .

09 Jan 2026 15:55:06
Chancer that Sherwood. Changes his opinion more than his underpants! Lives off the fact he gave "our Harry"his big chance. I think some on here would call him Brenda-y!

09 Jan 2026 09:35:28
Does anyone remember Gyokeres playing against us last night?
I just looked again at the line ups and I honestly was sat here stunned he played. can't remember a single thing he did, can't remember him playing at all.
Like I'm not even being funny, was he actually on the pitch? lol

Thought we did some good things last night, I reckon we had them scared. Certainly not at our best and we didn't go in for the kill but thought we bossed that second half. It's just a shame we didn't be a bit braver and go for a win. Kind of sums up our season though, overly cautious and not enough killer instinct. At least we moved the ball around a lot quicker in the second half at least.
But it's like getting the wrapper off a nice bar of chocolate and then not eating it.

I hope Bradley isn't out for too long but sadly I suspect he is. As mean as it's going to sound I reckon we need to look at the right back position now or in the summer. Bradley or Frimpong can't be relied upon as first team regulars sadly.

Martinelli is an absolute disgrace, he should face retrospective action there for me. There's no excuse to do that. I know he's a cheating, diving get himself but that doesn't mean everyone is, you never shove a player who's down.

That being said more does need to be done to stop playacting from players as well, it's cheating, ruining the game and embarrassing, I could slag off Arsenal for it but every team is guilty including us. (Hang your head in shame Macca) I can't see with the amount of time these players spend rolling round that VAR can't look at it, see it's blatant cheating and they get a yellow as soon as they decide to get back up.
The keepers get 7 seconds to release the ball, how about players get 7 seconds of amateur dramatics and then need to leave the field for 5 minutes of "treatment"
Something needs to be done anyway, it's embarrassing and bringing the sport into disrepute for me.

For Fowlers sake, football isn't half boring these days isn't it.

{Ed025's Note - im with you Mikey..

09 Jan 2026 10:08:21
Apparently he only touched the ball 7 times!

09 Jan 2026 10:08:54
Absolutely no knowledge or proof but to me it looked like serious ligament damage to the knee.

09 Jan 2026 10:41:16
Could say the same thing about Macca. I watched the game and followed the love chat and saw comments about Macca and genuinely didn't realise he was on the pitch.

Played some nice touches later in the second half to be fair.

09 Jan 2026 10:54:16
West Derby Wanderer IV - My thoughts exactly, you could see the way his leg twisted as he planted it, ACL/ MCL territory. He's probably out for the season. Hopefully it's not as bad as it looked. He did leave the stadium on crutches.

1985mikey1985 - Couldn't agree more about the play-acting, it only puts players with serious injuries at risk. Diving needs to be an automatic booking, with no discretion allowed from the ref. Automatic, end of. Do it twice, you're off. I don't care if they have to go to var for every dive and add 20 mins on to every match, if these handbags start getting sent off for diving it will soon stop.

09 Jan 2026 11:26:45
That's what I thought too when I saw that Wdw. It did look really bad and I'd expect him to be out for the rest of the season too. We definitely need a CB/ RB now. Preferably someone who can cover both positions.

09 Jan 2026 11:44:48
Watched the game again this morning. I thought it was a much improved performance. McAl did okay. Took up some good positions and made himself available. Clearly set up to contain which worked. Given the absences can understand why we lacked creativity. Massive shame about Bradley. definitely am ACL and therefore out for 12 months.

09 Jan 2026 11:53:15
It's the holding of the head, whenever the foul, or slightest touch, is neck down, that does me in too. They know the match will be stopped.

All this playacting has to stop.

09 Jan 2026 12:01:27
Actually thought Macca was very good last night. I get he's been poor this season as have a lot but don't get the hate. Seems like the modern way to judge a footballer is purely based on stats assists and goals and he's more of a knitter. People seem to have made a decision on players and then it's set in stone. He was tidy, kept the ball well when we needed to I thought. Im sure a lot of you see them live a lot more than me but I usually get over for 3/ 4 games a season as it's hard to get tickets from Ireland, so far i've been to Bournemouth and villa so been lucky this season and west ham next month but nearly every game I've been too over the past couple of years Macca has been superior in the flesh than he is on the TV. but again just my thoughts, has he been good enough this season, absolutely not, but I'd argue the majority fall into that bracket. Very similar to gravenberch who has been looking more like the Gravenberch from season 1 than last season but was better last night. Still don't like the fact he's been asked to drive forward more, I actually think that's affected Macca a lot as he clearly hasn't got the legs to do all the dirty work.

Any way just my two cents, first half hour I watched with head in hands, but lovely to see much improvement in second half. still would have liked us to turn the key a bit more but arsenal are a tough side to break down especially without a striker.

09 Jan 2026 13:17:12
Teams are obviously taking advantage of the head injury ruling. go down, hold your head and the game MUST be stopped.

OK, keep the rule, BUT, make an amendment to it.
Like in rugby, force the player to go for a concussion test.
That means the player could be off for at least 5 mins or so.

I reckon players will definitely stop this fake head injury thing. the problem comes in when its a real head injury.

09 Jan 2026 13:53:44
100 % blinding idea that.

09 Jan 2026 15:15:14
I thought Macca did rightly last night.

09 Jan 2026 16:40:44
Players could also use head injury assessments to get a break and then come back on fresher.
I watch a lot of rugby league and you'd be surprised at how many props get head knocks just before the twenty minutes mark.

A lot of props usually do twenty minute spells but a HIA doesn't count as a substitution so it can be seen as a free change.

09 Jan 2026 08:59:42
"I'm not saying we deserve to be right up there with Arsenal. Not at all, but I can safely and fairly say we deserved more. In a normal world we would have had six, eight, nine points more – I'm talking about the late goals we've conceded. " Arne Slot.

This growing tendency to shirk responsibility and deflect from possible blame, is really becoming annoying. Who's responsible for late game substitutions and late game tactics? Who's responsible for ensuring there's a bench capable of helping out when needed (why not an U21 instead of a second goalie? ) . Someone tell this guy to stand behind his players, so that they play for him. Wake up, Einstein.

09 Jan 2026 09:18:25
100% ArAy, if we'd play to actually win we'd have more points…. however we see then need to get 500 passes per game, sidewises and backwards mostly.

09 Jan 2026 09:23:34
ArAy1969, and this is the main reason I want him gone. Nothing is ever his fault and from that moment on (like it was with BR), I want him out of my club.

09 Jan 2026 09:25:57
His excuses have certainly become tiresome.

09 Jan 2026 09:38:42
We certainly should be right up there.
But we also certainly don't deserve to be.
We have been awful all season and much of last.
Not a single shot on target last night. Games and points are won with goals, not how many times you recycle possession.

09 Jan 2026 09:44:31
F*ck me, this seems to have turned into a bluenose/ manc site where all they do is moan. Yeah, bad patch, injuries, not much luck. Get a grip. Stop the pathetic whining and playing into the hands of those who would characterise us as moaning scousers. The team will come through this - where's your optimism gone?

09 Jan 2026 09:48:59
He should quit with the unbalanced nonsense.

09 Jan 2026 09:53:47
From what moment on, OliRed?
And I thought you were over him being here til next season, at least.
It doesn't sound like it.

It's boring to watch and I always prefer a more conservative way of playing but I'd sooner be unbeaten in ten than losing nine out of twelve.
Things might improve when we get some of our attacking players (Ekitike, Isak, Salah) back, too.

09 Jan 2026 09:55:48
"My club"? What constitutes "my club". I apologise if you're a shareholder.

09 Jan 2026 10:08:38
Slot can't moan about conceding late goals when we won with very late goals earlier in the season. Maybe if we defended better it wouldn't happen.

09 Jan 2026 10:10:11
My head is in my hands. We might improve? We equally might get worse by that logic.

What has Slot done this season to show that he is amenable to change? Nothing. After being so quick to spot a weakness and make a change for improvement, he has regressed.

Yes, we may be unbeaten but when we draw, we are more often than not dropping points to Arsenal.

As for his tendency to blame everyone but himself, he sounds more like a Tory MP than a Liverpool manager.

09 Jan 2026 10:11:07
I'm Spartacus and it's my club.

09 Jan 2026 10:18:06
I think we are where we deserve to be…. should we have performed to our potential we should be right on the coat tails of Arsenal and challenging for another title and not cut adrift. This is why we're all so annoyed, oh and because the football is about as exciting as watching paint dry!

09 Jan 2026 10:47:09
I know sometimes you don't want to interrupt the rhythm of a team but last night, with a squad that have been knackered lately, Slot was quite content to go the whole match without making a single sub.

Arsenal brought on all five.

Gomez, Chiesa and Rio could all have helped but he wasn't going to use them till he was forced to. That isn't normal.

09 Jan 2026 10:56:22
That's fair enough, StEtienneAmen.
Ekitike, Isak and Salah returning might make us worse and even less of an attacking threat. We just don't know and that's what makes sport so special.
It's the same with sacking Slot. It could make us even weaker and we don't know who would replace him anyway.
And you don't think Slot has changed anything this season? We were wide open, conceding loads of goals and lose nine out of twelve games.

He dropped one of the biggest - maybe biggest- names at the club, used an extra midfielder and we started to concede fewer goals and have been unbeaten since.
You might not like it but you can't say Slot hasn't changed anything.

09 Jan 2026 11:13:24
Fully agree, if anything we deserve less, we are very, very lucky to be sitting in 4th. It's been a poor season overall, in previous years we'd be sitting 7th with our current tally. The table's very tight, 2 bad results and we'll be fighting to stay top half.

Hopefully Slot's just saying this nonsense for the sake of the media and doesn't actually believe it, he can't be that dim, can he?!

09 Jan 2026 11:54:37
The league in general is getting worse…less talent, hardly any kids coming through, too many foreign coaches bringing different styles which are rubbish. Boring football. Var and corruption. Hoping the game comes back to be enjoyable.

09 Jan 2026 15:03:15
I think once you watch 10 illegal streaming highlights of a club anywhere in the world you get a 'My Club' badge and can announce it officially to anyone who will listen.

09 Jan 2026 22:03:44
That made me laugh out loud @JK - thank you, first real laugh on here for quite a while 😁👍.

09 Jan 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 20 - Quick Round Up

09 Jan 2026 04:25:08
Ed001
Other than the glaring need for a CB (2 for me) would you say the team lacks energy or drive from the wide positions or a combative midfielder the most?
I honestly think the team misses Diaz more than anything he was a constant threat, sometimes bsllsed up too, but he was an energy we lack badly.


Coupled with Mo having a stinker of a season so far, it feels like we lack cutting edge from the flanks?
What's your thoughts? I would love to see Olise or Barcola join we need someone exciting as it's all very lethargic at the moment though I thought we were really good 2nd half last night.

{Ed001's Note - we have two very good attacking wing-backs that have spent most of the season shackled in defence that can give us some energy and drive out wide. We do not have bite in the midfield. It says a lot that a player as weak as Zubimendi was able to give them a battle. That guy makes a wet paper bag look tough.}

09 Jan 2026 07:07:07
I'm not convinced Slot wants to play with conventional wingers going forward, I suspect that might be why we didn't go for Semenyo. Of course Slot might not be here next season, but Kerkez and Frimpong providing the width as full backs looks to be the future.

09 Jan 2026 08:08:52
I thought we won the midfield battle comfortably Ed. Zubi and Rice were just getting frustrated in the second half because they couldn't get the ball off us.

Macca was much better, Grav was much better and Szob was his usual Duracell bunny.

Grav and Macca weren't back to last season's levels but given how poor they've been for the last 3 months it was a big step in the right direction.

I do think some fans have gone so far down the Slot Out route that they can't just give credit where it's due.

{Ed001's Note - no, you are just so deluded you see things that don't happen. Mac Allister was so much better I never realised he was on the pitch until he went down feigning injury towards the end of the first half. We were awful in the first half when Arsenal took the game to us, but in the second half they just sat back and we offered and created nothing. All very well passing the ball around, but the idea of the game is to put the ball between the white sticks and win, not play out a bore draw with neither team having the bottle to go for the win. Waste of an evening watching that.

As for the snide dig at the end, stop that, I am sick of these petty little childish digs because you can't handle someone having a different opinion from you. It is that kind of prickish behaviour that really ruins any chance of a decent discussion.}

09 Jan 2026 08:26:35
I agree, PB. SLot simply won't play that way. It is what it is. For me, we played the way we always play esp. with no CF's (even tho, Chiesa could have played there cos he can play there) . With Arsenal? They did a bit in the first 20 mins and put us under pressure which was expected. However, they seemed to run out of ideas from then, on.

In the second half, Arsenal sat back hoping we would pass it around, make a mistake and pounce hence, they stopped pressing us. We handled that well and Arsenal seemed to run outta gas and looked tired. We were almost no threat to them overall and that is frustrating BUT we got a result so hats off to the players and Slot.

{Ed025's Note - you know you harp on about about teams parking the bus and the low block against you Oli...how do you feel about Liverpool in that first half mate?, you parked more buses than Arriva so im interested in your view on that..

09 Jan 2026 08:37:28
Sorry but it was an abysmal game and we were pretty poor but shows how poor the premier league is this season if Arsenal can win title with ease. If Slot had anything about him not only would we be challenging but we would comfortably win the premier league and this is the problem.

Poor fitness poor tactics and Slot has doubled down on these mistakes. Only my opinion but it's pretty glaring.

{Ed025's Note - and these are 2 of the top 4 sides in the country Coul, it was pathetic mate and they are kidding the public..

09 Jan 2026 08:40:48
A lot of Arsenals best play goes through Saka, no surprise with that as he's a good player. Once we nullified that better second half it was easier together hold of the game. The final ball has been lacking most of the season, and was again last night, but obviously without Ekitike it made things harder to convert anything.

I thought we defended well, and although it wasn't exciting to watch I took something out of seeing improvement in that side of our play, better performances from Kerkez, Konate, and VVD.

Zubimendi doesn't look anything special in any of the games I've watched tbh, including last night.

09 Jan 2026 08:51:21
Ed, it's very obvious that the midfield lack bite. But, is it just me that feel like the team as a whole is just soft? The opposition could just bullied and shove our players and nobody will do anything about it.

{Ed001's Note - yes, we are very soft. It is frustrating to see us get bullied, despite having some big guys who should be able to put themselves about.}

09 Jan 2026 09:04:13
Agree with Oli. Hats off to Slot and the players for a solid performance, though not exactly pretty to watch, I agree.

And I agree with Sean's last paragraph, so I expect a torrent of abuse as well!

09 Jan 2026 09:11:32
All in all a poor game from us, no attacking options. Gakpo should be a sub at best. Frimpong on 2 occasions should have gone on to shoot atleast. Chiesa should have been brought on for last 10 minimum. Too negative, just like arsenal played against us at home. Macca was woeful barring 1 piece of skill where actually took on 3 players and was brought down. This is slots tactics? Poor, playing for a draw or a lucky draw 1 nil is Crap.


As for arsenal, huffed and puffed for 25 mins then disappeared. Bradley hitting crossbar made them sit back, Get it though, a point for them is a good result, even though they should have beat us really. A point when you're going for title against a top team is a good result. A point for us isn't for me sorry, pathetic boring system. Sooner lose and play for a win with attacking football myself. As for martinelli what the heck man.

{Ed025's Note - spot on for me Magico..

09 Jan 2026 09:31:08
"We were almost no threat to them overall and that is frustrating. "


Ed25, did you miss this part? Obvioulsy. Also, when have I ever harped or complained about teams parking the bus against us? You are aware that I have NO issues with teams playing this way and used to criticise Klopp whenever he complained about it, right? You must have mistaken me for the manager who complains about that all the time we don't win. Teams play the way they play and it is our job to figure it out.

Also, you think I was happy about the way we played in the first half or even in the whole game with NO shots on target? I have been the one slamming the manager for being scared of his own shadow all season to let our players play on the front foot yet you come on here asking if I was happy with the first half?

Again, you must have me mistaken for the manager.

{Ed025's Note - you have certainly complained about the "low block" in the past Oli, maybe you have forgotten mate due to your resentment of the manager?. i do agree that it is awful to watch though even though you actually played better than Arsenal last night..

09 Jan 2026 09:35:28
Disagree Magico. I don't buy that "rather lose and play attacking football". It was not a poor game from us. It wasn't exciting, for sure, but we defended well, which made a change.

I enjoy our banter on chat, when I'm not at the game. We never agree with one another, but that's what makes the chat enjoyable.

09 Jan 2026 09:44:38
Last night, first half was " we aren't conceding". Second half was better . But we are going from a low base saying that.

09 Jan 2026 10:08:15
Ed25, I never did that. That is not true. Resentment for the manager? Mate, I used to hate it when Klopp complained about it. Why would I complain about something that I criticised our great manager in the PL era for complaining about? If Klopp could get it then, Slot ain't getting a pass at any point from me.

You've had a 'mare here, mate.

Let it go.

{Ed025's Note - come clean Oli...you know you want to mate.. :)

09 Jan 2026 10:18:44
I find it very odd that we play a team who are 6 points clear at the top of the PL, at there place were they have only dropped points once this season (to Citeh) and all the fans can come up with are pages and pages of criticism about why (in their opinion) we aren't any good.

Considering the Oracle predicted a 6 - 1 loss I think it's fair to say that the team exceeded the miserable expectations of the nay-sayers. And yes, I accept that we are still not playing well but without our three best attackers we are a little hamstrung up front.

09 Jan 2026 10:47:08
WDWIV, I agree with you 100%.

09 Jan 2026 11:27:43
I don't know, I think Macca played quite well? Is it just me? At least he didn't look like he was a liability and a hindrance to the team like he has on certain occasions this year. I thought Grav was really good too.

I wouldn't go as far as some folks on here calling that a great performance but we have to remember that most people on here were saying we were going to get smashed and Arsenal would want to make an example of us after City dropped points. We didn't concede on a set piece, we gave them nothing in terms of big chances, and if we weren't so disjointed in attack (and we have been pretty much all season) and Frimpong delivered one or two better balls when he had the chance, we would have won that game. We do everything decently well until we get to the final third usually.

I think the players didn't disgrace themselves out there, they could leave the pitch with some pride. One could say it was a weak and conservative performance but from another angle it could be said that we had the mettle to weather the first 20-25 mins, forced our way into the game gradually and eventually imposed ourselves enough to boss it for periods of the game.

09 Jan 2026 11:46:12
I agree WDW I just don't understand what people expect.

We have been awful at times this season so to go away to Arsenal and be as comfortable as we were is a huge step forward and should give us confidence going into the second half of the season.

Ed1 I wasn't having a snide dig I genuinely think that is the case. There's been so much noise about Slot needing to go I think it's hard for some people to admit that we actually did ok.

I've said myself that Slot should go, especially after the PSV game but I'm not so arrogant that I can't admit that we actually played ok last night and he is showing signs of getting us set up better defensively at least. that's not a dig at you or anyone else it's just how I see it and I welcome your views if you think I'm wrong which is what having a decent discussion is all about isn't it?

09 Jan 2026 12:03:43
I take your point wdw and Rome…. i get we played well in the defensive department of the game, and why haven't we been doing that all season I have no idea, however you don't win games playing this way normally. reminiscent of Burnley against us.

, if we'd of had thrown Rio, Chiesa and even jones for Macca on mate I'm more likely to change my mind, and we could of won that game. In hindsight 4 points off arsenal in a season is great. But I'll never change my mind on slots woeful tactics sorry.

09 Jan 2026 14:01:04
May i ask a question to all the liverpool fans who think that was a good performance.

Title winning team, added half a billion to it, over 97 minutes did not register a single shot on target an entire game, and call it a good performance?

09 Jan 2026 14:47:39
You could use that argument every game we don't win and say the same thing, you wouldn't even need to actually watch the game or any of the games before or after it. It's easy, I see the talksport graphics and other such memes on social media every day.

09 Jan 2026 14:47:47
I thought it was a good performance, dio1989. Not exceptional but good.
Arsenal are the form team playing at home where they don't let in goals, riding the confidence of being top of the table. They had a full squad to choose from and thus played their strongest eleven.
We had lost 3 first team forwards and are trying to build momentum after a dire loss of form in November.
Arsenal too spent an absolute stack over summer and only registered 2 shots on target all game.


On paper we should have gotten spanked (by as much as 6 goals according to some on here) but our defence held strong and were arguably the better team over all. A goal and a win would have been nice but with 3 missing goalscorers (the leagues 2 highest scorers last season and our top scorer this season), a draw away from home was a decent result.

09 Jan 2026 16:32:37
Dio, we did not add half a billion to a title winning team. We lost players and had to replace them.

Arsenal have added £300m of players to a side that's finished 2nd for the last 3 seasons without losing anyone and it showed with the strength of their bench compared to ours. Strictly speaking they should walk the league this season.

09 Jan 2026 16:57:28
dio1989, that wasn't a title winning team, last night.
TAA, Robbo, Diaz, Salah would have all most likely have started last season. With maybe Elliott, Nunez and Jota featuring from the bench. I'm not sure about Jones.
And when you talk about adding half a billion's worth of talent, you conveniently forget about the £200m+ of talent that left in the summer.

09 Jan 2026 16:58:20
We never had an out ball, we could of literally just gave Frimpong the ball an he would of gone past Skelly every time, he had him, lack of players in the box, that first half we lined up 5-5-0, Wirtz is a different level player, it's clear to see, he has nothing in front of him to pass to or play through, we need a manager who plays front foot, movement based, in behind the last line style, we have wasted this new squad we have this season, played right and without the side / backwards passing we would be in a much better position.

Slot has turned stubborn, he clearly see's his style isn't up to it, like Amorim it has become his downfall, I hope we get a forward thinking coach in asap and let's this talented squad off the leash, we could upset a few in the CL if we are smart and brave enough.

09 Jan 2026 22:18:24
@Dio, of course you can ask.

Of the roughly 430m we spent, roughly 230m was unavailable through injury (Isak, Ekitike and Leoni) . You also failed to mention that our opponents, top of the PL had a greater net spend than us in the summer transfer window.

You could also add that our strike force consists primarily of Ekitike, Isak and Salah, none of who, were available.

As has also been said, there were a number of players in the title winning squad that left, so saying we added half a billion to a title winning squad isn't quite true

I'm not sure how many times people have said this but, once more, we are not playing well, and we are not meeting fans expectations (which is quite a different thing) .

Hope this helps?

08 Jan 2026 23:58:45
I think most posters won't want to use the new 'ignore function' available on here now. But if you don't want to see another posters posts and replies, then you can go to the My Profile page, scroll down and enter the exact username (s) that you want to 'ignore' in the textbox - one username per line and tap the Submit button. If the username(s) stay in the textbox, then the usernames will be 'ignored'.

This doesn't effect anyone else and if you're not logged in then all posts and replies are shown. Max 5 usernames can be 'ignored'.

09 Jan 2026 00:15:03
We're going to need more than 5 options to cover all of Harry and Leek's multiple personalities, Ed033 😂😂

Seriously though, good idea. I'm going to put Zeddicus first as I talk a load of bs most of the time 👍.

{Ed033's Note - Harry stopped posting didn't he? Not sure about Leek.

It's to hide regular posters' posts and replies that other logged in people/posters don't want to see when they read the main pages on here.

09 Jan 2026 01:43:26
Great idea.

09 Jan 2026 02:48:43
This is an excellent addition to the site Ed33. On current users, I won't be adding anyone to the ignore list but probably most certainly will pretty soon. Last season I could've added a few!

09 Jan 2026 05:01:59
I have a different view and most probably won't be adding anyone to the ignore list. At the end of the day, this site thrives on differing opinions and I wouldn't want to be in an echo chamber where I am only surrounded by those who only share the same views I do.

The Eds do a fantastic job moderating this site already so posts that are derogatory don't get through at all anyway.

09 Jan 2026 07:13:44
Aye, it's not for me. I like to read all types of post no matter how bizarre. Agree on the Eds Drac 👍.

09 Jan 2026 08:09:07
Could this be the end of the drama between JK23 and Oli?!? Say it isn't so!

09 Jan 2026 08:27:19
Thanks, Ed033. I'll be needing that.

09 Jan 2026 08:50:43
Can we add eds to the list? That 25 one is bit of hard work ;-)

{Ed025's Note - you can deffo add me SSH mate.. :)

09 Jan 2026 09:04:10
Thanks Ed33

Great idea and functionality.

{Ed033's Note - It does hide Eds posts and replies, but it doesn't hide Eds notes.

09 Jan 2026 10:51:11
This was created with me in mind wasn't it Ed033. 😄.

{Ed033's Note - How did you guess? 😄.

09 Jan 2026 18:22:59
I'll be on Oli's ignore list alongside going to games.