Liverpool Banter 3

15 Apr 2026 13:16:46
After watching the Reds all season I would describe them as a mixed jigsaw puzzle. Some of the pieces don't fit into the puzzle, other pieces are put in the wrong positions, some pieces are damaged and can't be used and the jigsaw has been too difficult to complete so it needs given to someone who knows what they are doing.
YNWA JFT97

{Ed025's Note - and you go to pieces in the box Albey.. :)

15 Apr 2026 13:34:20
Don't forget all the missing pieces.

15 Apr 2026 13:35:04
There is just no composure. It goes hand in hand with confidence. Once a new manager comes in who can set up a team, I expect confidence and composure to grow within the squad.

15 Apr 2026 13:50:43
Wasn't that your lots lad Stuart Barlow back in the day @Ed025? 😜

{Ed025's Note - we have had a few of them Jonbonone..including the ones we have now mate....that may change on Sunday though mate.. :)

15 Apr 2026 15:06:08
Lol, great analogy. Not sure it's too difficult to complete tho, Albeyred. It just maybe requires a Krypton Factor above 10.

15 Apr 2026 20:07:52
Krypton Factor going back a few years there, Red-Flyer, mate, lol.

{Ed025's Note - i used to watch that just before...George & Mildred Albey.. :)

15 Apr 2026 12:55:25
So if the nature of Hugo's injury is as reported, we won't really see him at his best again until the start of the 27/28 season.

That has just added more work to do this summer, unless Jayden Danns or Will Wright make huge strides between now and the new season.

As it stands we are going into the new season with: Marmadashvilli, Frimpong, Jacquet, Virgil, Leoni, Kerkez, Gravenberch, McConnell, Nyoni, Rio, Gakpo and Isak.

With uncertainty around: Alisson, Woodman, Ibou, Gomez, Macca, Szobo, Endo, Curtis, Elliott and Chiesa.

And long-term injury concerns for: Hugo, Bradley and Jaros.

This is not normal is it?

15 Apr 2026 13:43:38
Danns has been plagued by injury this season. Wrights not on the level at the moment. No doubt, the forward line will need to be strengthened. It's going to have to be a busy transfer window whether FSG like it or not, otherwise scrapping for 5th will become a regular occurrence.

15 Apr 2026 17:47:12
Just give Wright a chance, can't be any worse.

{Ed025's Note - or as John & Yoko said..."give peace a chance".. :)

15 Apr 2026 12:37:49
April 15th 1989…
What started as a beautiful spring day, with excitement and nervousness - The FA Cup Semi Final!!
Sadly, later turning into horror & carnage.
Myself and friends were lucky, we got home to see and hug our loved ones that evening.

Unfortunately 97 brothers and sisters never had that opportunity again.
God Bless them all. x
Never forgotten, always in our hearts.
JFT 97. ❤️

15 Apr 2026 14:01:57
Well said MBR
I was lucky too, got pulled up to the upper tier off a small wall I managed to climb on. Unfortunately, I lost my good friend's little brother on the day, and the thoughts of that day are still with me 37 years later.
God bless all of the families, love to you all xx.

15 Apr 2026 14:20:48
sh55..
Much love to your good friend & God bless his little brother. Simply awful..
We were in 'that' pen, but managed to clamber over into the right side at about 245.
Much love to you, my friend.

15 Apr 2026 14:58:42
God bless you, shughes55.

15 Apr 2026 12:34:56
Our thoughts, prayers and alofa (love) to the lives lost, the families and friends who lost loved ones and whose lives were and remain impacted and to all those who continue to fight for justice for the 97.

Our eldest was born 2:35am, April 16 2014 New Zealand time. 25 years after, almost to the minute, the tragic events at Hillsborough started to unfold.

Our son carries the middle name Justice.

Over here, Justice is one of those banned names.

I wrote to the Department of Internal Affairs to get approval to use Justice as a middle name.

Our rationale included the importance of Justice in our family, particularly in the work my wife and I have chosen in our respective fields to advocate for those without a voice, the most vulnerable in our community.

And how that linked with our passion for Liverpool FC and the story of the people of Liverpool who fought and continued to fight for Justice for their loved ones who lost their voice along with the lives on that tragic day.



DIA approved our request and so then our eldest was legally allowed to carry Justice as a middle name. And boy is he a Justice warrior.

Altho at the minute his justice is mainly for himself and seeking fair rewards and consequences for compared to his younger siblings lol.

Anyways, I share this story every year and have done since his birth. Not to pat ourselves on the back or to proclaim that we are doing anything amazing over here.

But rather to send a message to those of the city of Liverpool, that you and your story has resonated halfway across the world and that we are with you in thought, spirit and prayer as you continue to fight for JFT97.

Alofaaga tele i le aiga ma uō pele o le 97.
(Deepest love and condolences to the family and dear friends of the 97).

faith

{Ed025's Note - great post Faith, i really enjoyed reading that mate..

15 Apr 2026 17:50:10
Fantastic post, Faith. 👏👏👏👏👏

15 Apr 2026 19:25:51
Post of the year that, mate. Without a shadow of a doubt.

15 Apr 2026 19:39:32
Pure class that.

15 Apr 2026 12:27:42
Gratitude has its place in football, but it cannot be allowed to cloud judgement. Arne Slot had his moment, and he had his backing, but this season has stripped away any illusion of progress.

This talk of transition feels like a convenient shield. Transition to what, exactly? There is no clear identity here, no discernible pattern, no attacking thrust, no defensive assurance. Liverpool meander through games without purpose, a side neither evolving nor responding, simply existing in a fog of uncertainty.

The spin has already begun, both mainstream and patch journalists alike now softening the failure, dressing it up as part of a longer journey or a grand master plan.

But this isn’t growth, it’s regression. Calling it anything else insults the evidence laid bare week after week.

This isn’t a club built to accept mediocrity. The standards demand more, the history demands more, and the present reality falls well short.

Ahead of the Merseyside Derby, a decision should be made, a decision we already know won’t be. Why is sentiment still being allowed to linger?

Slot should go, and he should go now.

{Ed025's Note - good post that PK..

15 Apr 2026 14:23:08
100% agree PK. 👍

15 Apr 2026 07:26:15
Just my thoughts having been at Anfield last night, I don't want to come accross as negative however sitting there last night cold and soaked reality does really hit home with regards to our team.From 180 minutes of football we probably had a 20 minute spell of sustained pressure, but always with that knowledge that PSG could move up a gear or 2 if needed.
The gulf between the teams was huge, we are short of world class players (And i'm not being disrespectful to those who were world class in their prime) the team is not fit enough, good enough or managed/coached well enough.
The game is all about opinions, at the moment i'm not sure what our best team is as players seem to pick and choose when they want to put a shift in and show up and have a bit of a go, one positive is young Rio, a really talented and hungry kid that makes a difference every time he gets on the pitch.


For Ed25, you must be licking your lips ahead of the weekend, because forgetting form and recent results or even talent, based on the togetherness of the squad, players putting in a shift, fighting for each other, playing in correct positions and at least having some form of a system and playing for the manager, you should batter us!
Maybe I'm wrong but just my thoughts.

{Ed025's Note - i expect Sunday to be a very close one BB, i fancy a draw myself but one mistake from either team might produce a winner mate, none of us will want to lose this one and i think there will be quite a few yellow cards..

15 Apr 2026 12:29:44
I think Everton will stroll it. Mentally, Slot has destroyed the team and after last night I expect a couple of games of slow, sloppy buildup and panic at the back. CL qualification will come down to how bad Chelsea are over the final 6 games, we certainly won't be earning it on merit.

{Ed025's Note - the fans will demand you have a go on Sunday SK, both teams will be up for this one i can assure you mate..

15 Apr 2026 12:42:13
Good post, Boofs. It was a foul night in every way possible.

Shipley, wherever we finish, it will be on merit, be it 3rd down to 12th.

15 Apr 2026 12:49:25
Table doesn't lie at the end of the season. I really don't get the point Shipley is making.

15 Apr 2026 13:10:02
Faithinworks, Shipley's point is clear as day. If we make 5th, it will be because the teams around us have massively underperformed, not because we've battled it out and earned our stripes.

15 Apr 2026 12:19:31
I think it'd be an Everton win Ed025. First derby in the new stadium, the fans and the players would be well up for it. Plus Moyes would fire the players up even more. He knows what the derby means to the fans and I'd expect him to use it to make sure the players give their 110% throughout the entire game.

And I just can't see Slot doing the same. He'd set the players up to play slow side to side football as he usually does and we'd get blown away. That's how I see it playing out tbh.

{Ed025's Note - both teams will be up for this one Drac, its basically last chance saloon for them mate and i expect it to be quite feisty..

15 Apr 2026 13:21:07
Chewy, we've underperformed as well. It will just mean we haven't underperformed as much as them; whoever "them" may be.

I repeat, wherever you finish is where you deserve to be.

15 Apr 2026 13:51:50
Thanks for the newsflash, Rome. Something about a record not working...

But I'd completely disagree. The table is not always an accurate representation of how well a team has performed. We deserve to be mid table; we were extremely lucky with those first 5 wins and we didn't deserve them at all.

If it wasn't for a few individual player moments, in spite of absolutely woeful team performances, we wouldn't be within touching distance of 5th.

15 Apr 2026 14:12:40
Us and quite a few other teams are lucky that the model UEFA clearly doesn't ever believe enough is enough, and will continue to grow the CL to grow their bank balance.

In about 10 years' time, teams 18th in the PL will be getting relegated but still qualifying for the CL league phase the way it's going.

15 Apr 2026 14:31:58
I enjoy reading your posts, Chewy, but we disagree on this. All about opinion, mate.

15 Apr 2026 15:28:40
Adding a caveat, there aren't many good teams around us. I'd argue City are starting to look like a good side lately. As for merit, I don't agree that 1/4 of the PL qualifies for the CL.

15 Apr 2026 18:11:24
"If we finish below 5th, it's because we've underachieved all season. If we finish 5th or above, it's because every other team has underachieved, but we're still worse than them" is an odd opinion.

Nobody is thrilled with this season, but let's not throw out common sense and reasoning because you're angry.

15 Apr 2026 11:03:55
{Ed's Note - Navy Keith has posted a new article entitled, Slot's Approach Leaves Liverpool Looking Unclear

15 Apr 2026 13:11:34
Thank you Eds for posting and refining the grammar! 👍🏼

15 Apr 2026 10:43:10
On the game last night, at least we put some effort n fight in. Crowd was up for it. Mad team selection though, Mo played well against Fulham but was rested for a quarter fit Isak, 1st half, we gave that many simple passes straight to them, 2nd half, we had a go but no real quality from us. Always knew they'd score on a counter.

15 Apr 2026 11:31:49
Thought it was just the same old dross as usual, non-existent in midfield, second best all over the pitch, and only created half chances at best.

15 Apr 2026 12:04:01
The first half was infuriating. We couldn't get near them - probably the biggest gulf in class I have seen between a Liverpool side and another team on a European night at Anfield since I have been watching us.

Second half was a bit better, but the lack of cohesion and belief was all out there to see.

15 Apr 2026 12:18:00
I agree... we never got near them, but put more effort in 2nd half, maybe that was the crowd egging them on. I know Viktor rightly calls the midfield, but we do have the weakest midfield we've had for a long long time, Macallister slow n weak, Gravenberch is only good if he sits in front of the defence, Slob is good but the trio has zero cohesion, n then the back ups are Jones n Endo, that's the 1st thing we need to sort next season.

15 Apr 2026 12:34:18
I think the difference in the second half was we stopped giving them room and closed them right down, but you could see one good pass from them and they would open us up at the back, and it happened and we are 0-1 down, game over.

We had chances, but did not take them, poor finishing, great defending, and a keeper who saved everything thrown at him. Good luck to PSG. I hope they go on and win the cup.

{Ed025's Note - they are a very good side Albey, second half i thought Liverpool done quite well but the gulf in quality was plain to see mate, PSG are where you aspire to be but this reds side is nowhere near that im afraid..

15 Apr 2026 13:15:25
A fair few fans seem to be under the impression that last night was a decent effort, deluded by the fact that we applied pressure for 20 mins, for the other 70, we were absolutely useless. The first half was diabolical. We couldn't string 2 passes together, literally, absolutely shocking passing.

We came out stronger in the second half, but we were still ineffective. There was a boost in energy when Rio came on, but that was quelled soon after. PSG never got out of first gear. It was a comfortable victory for them.

15 Apr 2026 19:21:00
Exactly my point in my earlier post, Chewy!
It was a stroll in the park over both legs.

15 Apr 2026 20:21:27
Edd25 i fully agree with what you posted we are a mile behind PSG all over the pitch.
I was highlighting that in the second half we closed their space down and we can do something we have not done all season.
As for PSG i think they are by far the best in in Europe if not the world

{Ed025's Note - not only a great side Albey but superb to watch as well mate..

15 Apr 2026 09:32:57
Ed001 John Barnes ruptured his Achilles tendon and was never the same again what is the prognosis nowadays is it much better.
I think it's one of the hardest tendons to heal because of blood flow there is not as great as other tendons.

{Ed001's Note - he should be ok, things are much better now with regards to that.}

15 Apr 2026 10:04:59
Good memory u have, Grino. I had forgot about Barnes injury. You're right, he lost that burst of pace he had and developed into a central midfielder after that.

15 Apr 2026 10:10:22
That was about 40 years ago, and medicine has come a long way, thankfully.

15 Apr 2026 10:13:49
Achilles is physiologically hard to get over as you wonder if the other ankle will blow out. Let's hope he makes a full recovery.

15 Apr 2026 10:55:21
In the dark days, just after Arsenal's last championship, the cure was to submerge your foot in horse placenta.

15 Apr 2026 10:58:38
Yeah, recovery chances are good these days, but obviously not guaranteed.

I'm really gutted for Hugo, similar to Leoni. High hopes for a solid recovery, but there is always the chance that, at the least, there are some disruptions to their rehab. For sure we won't be seeing the best of Hugo until most likely the 2027/28 season.

But there are plenty of other athletes who have returned to or near their level prior to injury.

R9 in 2000 returned to win the 2002 World Cup and Golden Boot.



Beckham returned to European football, was it AC Milan or PSG at that time? And wasn't he mid-30s when he ruptured?

Cazorla had a longer period out of the game but returned to international level.

Dan Carter ruptured in 2014 then returned to win the Rugby World Cup in 2015. Yeyah, the All Blacks lol.

Kevin Durant took a full 18 months to return but has returned to his elite level.

Can be done, but maybe patience is the key. And a real shame him and the club. Mainly for him tho.

15 Apr 2026 11:10:05
Probably didn't help John was a bit on the chunky side.

15 Apr 2026 11:21:13
How dare you, Florian! John Barnes was not "chunky" he was just a well proportioned man bordering on curvaceous haha.

All the best to Hugo though, gutted for the young lad to miss the World Cup.

15 Apr 2026 11:58:48
He's certainly chunky now!! Still my hero.

{Ed025's Note - great player Rome..

15 Apr 2026 12:04:40
Speedy recovery, Hugo. Gutted for the lad.