Liverpool Banter 3

12 Apr 2026 20:03:35
To the Eds: can we assume that FSG will want to sort out the upper management of the club first BEFORE any decisions are made on Slot? And surely no players will be purchased until a new manager is in place?

{Ed001's Note - you can assume anything you want, that is up to you mate.}

12 Apr 2026 20:28:16
The assumption there, Galway, is if there's anything to sort.

12 Apr 2026 21:05:41
I can't see either Edwards or Hughes being sacked. If either leaves, it will be by their own choice for me.

12 Apr 2026 23:46:27
that's the ed1 version of ed2's "rtp"
lol

12 Apr 2026 23:54:53
Haha. That's a good one, Ed01

12 Apr 2026 19:10:46
Oscar Mingueza the RB Carra mentioned before at Celta Vigo. Can play RB, CB and RM. Still hasn't renewed his contract so is a freebie in June. Arsenal and City have joined the race. A no brainer for me and gives us money to spend elsewhere. If Alonso does come in, hopefully he will be a pull.

13 Apr 2026 10:23:06
Is he any good, Keegans, or simply appealing because he's free?

I've watched a total of zero minutes of Celta Vigo.

13 Apr 2026 16:44:23
Gregarious, he could be a good option cos he is free, tho.

12 Apr 2026 19:06:55
The following is results from my search on Transfermarkt at wingers using the clubs under 26 rule. The site's highly rated players and, for me, realistic targets.

Yan Diomande 19 Leipzig
Bazoumana Traore 20 Hoffenheim
Said El Mala 19 Koln
Alberto Moleiro 22 Villarreal
Kenan Yildiz 20 Juventus
Anthony Gordon 25 Newcastle
Bradley Barcola 23 PSG
Kevin Schade 24 Brentford
Malick Fofana 21 Lyon
Christos Tzolis 24 Club Brugge
Mika Godts 20 Ajax
Rayan 19 Bournemouth
Minteh 21 Brighton

Personally I'd be after two wingers and moving on Chiesa with Salah.

12 Apr 2026 19:32:43
I reckon Traore or Minteh. Probably would have been Diomande until they slapped a massive fee on him.

12 Apr 2026 21:02:37
Diomande & Traore all day long for me, but we could easily use Ekitike & Rio down the left, as I see Isak as our main striker next season.

12 Apr 2026 23:47:33
All great names on paper. No idea their personality, how they'd fit with the city / club.

Hopefully the people paid to do that job are all over it.

13 Apr 2026 03:38:36
We pay big fees if it's the right player...

13 Apr 2026 07:56:51
Barcola is way better than any of the other names on that list, but unrealistic, I fear.
Therefore, for me, we should try for Diomande purely for his pace and the fact he supports the club.
Gakpo and Rio are just fine on the left in rotation and under the guidance of a new manager.

13 Apr 2026 16:45:04
Minteh is nowhere near good enuff.

12 Apr 2026 18:27:19
Citeh doing us a favour this afternoon. CL qualification is in our own hands so let's hope we don't mess it up. Everyone fit would be a good starting point for next season, not to mention an actual plan.

12 Apr 2026 18:34:04
It's making the missing out on Guehi and Semenyo look incredibly daft though.

But hopefully now we will see CL qualification over the line, lucked out that everyone around us has been woeful though.

12 Apr 2026 18:43:35
City looking like the best team in the league at the moment. Chelsea flatter to deceive, they've got some talent but are obviously very inconsistent. Remind me of us a bit, and, talking of coaches out of their depth, Rosenior looks like he's really struggling.

12 Apr 2026 18:44:36
Chelsea play Utd next week as well, so a win in the derby is a must, so we end up 7 points clear if Utd win. Could go 4th if we win and Sunderland beat Villa.

12 Apr 2026 18:48:01
If we win our three home games, Chelsea would now need to win all of their other five fixtures to finish above us.

12 Apr 2026 19:24:09
City are going to win the league and, to be honest, I have no sympathy for Arsenal because their manager is arrogance personified.

Liverpool need 5 wins out of 6 to be certain.

12 Apr 2026 19:34:44
If one of the wins is Chelsea, Ron, we probably only need three wins and a draw.

12 Apr 2026 21:41:47
If the suits had got their finger out, we could have had the City front three and one of the defenders playing for us, but now they look good to win the Premier League.

12 Apr 2026 23:48:00
Arsenal and City lucked out that we've been so woeful aye.

13 Apr 2026 16:46:58
"Citeh doing us a favour this afternoon".

Sorry, but you do know that City are trying to win a title and could not be arsed about whatever the football we're trying to achieve, esp. after smoking us out of the FA Cup in pathetic fashion last week, right?

12 Apr 2026 18:03:31
The decision not to sign Semenyo and Guehi is looking like a shrewd move by the board. Well done. For all the money City have, at least they still give it a go when the chips are down now it looks like a 2-horse race.

12 Apr 2026 18:19:00
We were never going to pay £300k a week for a CB.

{Ed001's Note - we didn't need to.}

12 Apr 2026 18:34:33
Guehi was a big miss for us, he seems like the type of character we're missing as well as being a solid player.

12 Apr 2026 19:39:08
Not really bothered about missing out on them, would have liked Semenyo more than Guehi.

12 Apr 2026 20:03:45
Southern Red, we wouldn't have needed to get anywhere close to £300k per week for Guehi if we had made our move 1/1/26. He wanted to come, as did Semenyo.

13 Apr 2026 16:48:01
Exactly, Ed. Money was not the issue. Or do people think that Guehi did a medical without personal terms being agreed in the summer? Jeez.

12 Apr 2026 17:35:18
Alright, I am fully prepared to be assassinated, considering my view is paramount to treason by some sections, but I am going to come out and say it. (Looks around franticly)

I thought Gakpo put in an all round great performance as ST yesterday.

(Proceeds to turn, collect his coat, and sprint away and out of sight).

12 Apr 2026 18:04:37
Agree with you, Mango. He has it in his locker. Just need to see more every week.

12 Apr 2026 18:10:09
I have always liked Gakpo.

Yes, he has had a poor season, but so have most of our 1st team.

Hopefully Alonso will know where to play him instead here, there and everywhere.

12 Apr 2026 18:28:44
Interesting topic, Mango...

Gakpo was our top goalscorer last season behind Mo, if memory serves me correctly.

I honestly feel like he was good last season because he had competition. This season, Rio wasn't really given the opportunities, so Gakpo coasted through the season until now.



Isak is back, everyone calling for Rio to get more game time. Maybe Gakpo has pulled his socks up, who knows? But there is a player there, so, let's hope he does put the effort in from now on.

12 Apr 2026 18:35:08
Done well, Gakpo. If whoever starts up top Tuesday puts dat shift in, we might have half a chance.

12 Apr 2026 18:36:36
I thought his end product was poor yesterday, but he definitely worked hard. He looks like a confidence player, and it's probably low right now. He seemed better last few seasons, rotating with Diaz.

12 Apr 2026 18:49:59
Always a good player, deservedly kept Diaz out of a LW starting position and a solid option in many positions. The hate he has been getting has been wildly undeserved in a misfiring team imo.

12 Apr 2026 19:43:13
I disagree regarding Gakpo yesterday. He failed to get any of the four shots he took on target, including two efforts that were blocked, subsequently showcasing his wasteful nature in the final third.

Gakpo also missed a big chance in front of goal, whilst being caught offside twice by the opposition, unable to get himself into the right areas.

Plus only being able to register a measly tally of just 28 touches of the ball and boasting only ten passes all evening.

12 Apr 2026 20:45:00
Gakpo played a big role on both our goals.

12 Apr 2026 21:05:46
He played a role in setting up Salah, that was about the only thing he did well all game. I don't recall him being involved in the first goal.

12 Apr 2026 23:49:41
Gakpo is a good player. He played well yesterday.

That was the first time in a long time that it felt like we had a threatening front 3 which allowed Wirtz to float about.

Slot must have got his tactics right.

13 Apr 2026 16:53:17
@Mango on the real, I have never had issues with Gakpo since the day he arrived till the moment I write this even tho, he can always get better. The issue I have is how this manager has decided to use him this season and completely ruin him.

How is it that Gakpo, who had two decent to good to very good seasons in the past 2 years, with being efficient in the final 3rd with G/A, suddenly does not know how to play football this season, sunning on quicksand and can't shoot straight, his biggest asset? And, since this has been the case for multiple players then, it cannot be Gakpo's fault.

The fault is elsewhere, imo.

12 Apr 2026 15:47:16
Ed001
Is Nordi Mukiele a decent option for right back in your opinion.
Seems to have had a great season for Sunderland?

{Ed001's Note - I like him, can play centre back as well but much better at right back. I would take him, yes, though I would want to check his injury history first.}

12 Apr 2026 17:55:25
I thought we should've gone for Kayode last summer instead of Frimpong. But because of Bradley injury record, I would still look at him this summer for an upgrade at RB. He can also play LB if needed, so 2 position covered.

Might be a MOTD fever, but are you fan of Kroupi Ed1?

{Ed001's Note - he is very inconsistent, so I would leave him for now to develop and keep an eye on. I love Kayode though.}

12 Apr 2026 18:46:58
Kayode or Mukiele then Ed001?

{Ed001's Note - could do with both really. Unless Bradley is ever going to stay fit.}

13 Apr 2026 16:54:24
Mukiele came through at RBL the same time Upamecano and Konate came through before he went to PSG. Very good player.

12 Apr 2026 15:16:48
Wins a win, by hook or crook we just have to get into top 5 and reboot next season.

Even being abg able counter attack and transition with pace will help our defence let alone attack....

Just hope we get strength and pace this summer.

12 Apr 2026 15:11:09
Just wondering what everyone’s most important area to strengthen in the summer? If you could sign one player only, who and why?
My choice would be Elliot Anderson. I think he would be key to protecting the back line, and I’d hope he would replace Mac in midfield.

12 Apr 2026 15:50:31
The Head Coach !!!!

12 Apr 2026 15:50:59
The most important area that we need to upgrade on is the manager.

12 Apr 2026 16:12:08
If only one player, Yan Diomande. We need pace and trickery out wide. He has that. Plus, he plays right side.

But, we need a little more, obviously.

12 Apr 2026 16:26:07
Midfielder with a brain.

12 Apr 2026 16:27:01
If Xabi comes in, he will probably be flexible with his system, but to enable him to possibly play 3 at the back, I'd say another CB option, unless we are thinking Kostas is the answer, a LB & depending on Bradley prognosis, a RB & a ball winning DM.

12 Apr 2026 16:34:26
Definitely a proper Number 6.

12 Apr 2026 16:51:36
@Molby, if that's the magic, then a manager/coach who plays a no. 6 rather than a 1-2 wall for the full backs... which has cost us more goals conceded than even.

12 Apr 2026 17:02:33
We are crying out for wide men at the moment.

12 Apr 2026 17:12:46
We need a RB, a real partner for Virg. A mobile MF not averse to a tackle and 2 wingers. And that's just the first 11. We also need a backup LB if we're not promoting youth, and whichever CF we play to put in a shift. Apart from that, we're grand.

12 Apr 2026 17:16:24
Centre mid would make everything tick.

12 Apr 2026 17:53:37
The manager, of course. But, player wise, I think Olise is top class, I'd be going all out for him, although I don't think he solves all of our issues.

12 Apr 2026 18:34:44
Right wing seems to be the obvious choice, once Salah is gone, we have pretty much a great big hole there.

12 Apr 2026 18:41:52
What's Olise's workrate like? Don't watch Bundesliga. Obviously seen him while in England, and a very classy player, but don't remember the other side of his game. He's obviously superb, but we also need players who make it hard for teams to get out.

12 Apr 2026 18:49:30
Elliott Anderson is not coming to Liverpool, forget it.
If we could only sign one player, I would ask for Olise to replace Salah.

12 Apr 2026 18:53:20
A tough midfielder or two for me regardless of manager, formation, and tactics. Our midfield has gone from a bunch of simple but hardest working players in the country to a bunch of skilful lightweights.

12 Apr 2026 19:01:43
A tough mother in midfield. Souness was a hero. Someone with that steel and determination. Joao Gomes looked like a good player against us.

I'd also like Sadiki, Diomande, Kayode and Murillo. Not much!

12 Apr 2026 21:01:48
He's lazy, Florian, very lazy.

12 Apr 2026 23:57:09
If we could make one move?

It'd be a RW

Priorities for the summer in order of most importance imo.

- RW
- CB situation - whether Konate extends or he leaves, and we bring in an experienced starter
- CDM
- LW / RW - pref
- CM box to box / creative type
- LB

Much will depend on outgoings too, but I hope we limit that this summer.



I would sell Macca and aim to bring in either of Anderson or Wharton. And then Joao Gomes to add to the group.

I think midfield group - Dom, Grav, Gomes, Anderson/Wharton, Nyoni and Jones would be solid.

13 Apr 2026 08:34:52
Definitely need two wingers, a CDM, a CB (if XA plays 3 at the back, we need 5 CBs, and I'm assuming Konate stays), a LB and a RB.

Yan Diomande
Karim Adeyemi
Murillo
Joao Gomes
Hugo Bueno (LB back up)
Arnau Martinez (RB back up).

13 Apr 2026 16:54:59
The manager. And go from there.