Liverpool Banter 3

19 Apr 2026 19:49:31
Is Right Back actually Jones's best position? He was the best player on the pitch today by a country mile, for either team. Fair play to him. He showed what it means to a Scouser to win the derby.

19 Apr 2026 20:04:26
I thought Jones was excellent today.

19 Apr 2026 20:10:10
Played very well today, but his position is midfield for me.

19 Apr 2026 20:12:40
I thought Gakpo was MOTM.

19 Apr 2026 20:15:18
He played well, but he dithers on the ball too much for him to be a regular right back. He’s not quick enough either. I think he’ll only ever be a back up player.

19 Apr 2026 20:17:44
No, I thought our right hand side looked weak all game, to be honest. Salah wasn't keeping possession very well there and Jones wasn't comfortable.

19 Apr 2026 20:20:03
Great ball from Gakpo for the first goal.

19 Apr 2026 20:23:30
Credit where credit is due. Curtis was excellent today.

19 Apr 2026 20:33:53
Excellent? Not for me. I thought CJ was very poor. He was getting bullied off the ball for the most part, not winning a majority of his duels, and was dallying on the ball way too much.

I know he is in the team to help with buildup and keep the ball, which is fine.

However, CJ was continuously getting caught on the ball, and, in some situations, when being double teamed, he still tried to dribble his way out rather than just clearing it, esp. when oprions weren't available. Just my opinion.

19 Apr 2026 20:34:53
He had a good game but he's not a right back imo.
It's a specialist position.

19 Apr 2026 21:23:20
He was far from excellent. He's not a right back and it shows, switches off too often, still dwells on the ball too much and plays stupid passes when wellying the ball away is needed. Still should be sold. Not good enough.

19 Apr 2026 21:23:40
I thought he was very good, he was under pressure for large parts of the game and dealt with it very well, was always an option for the pass and kept the ball moving.

19 Apr 2026 21:45:18
I thought Jones was shocking at running backwards in this game. Watch that second half again. Walking back constantly.

I thought he was out of gas, but then made a great run forward.

Some really good things for sure, but many really bad things in that game also.



And more bad than good, I would say, to be honest.

Was brilliant in that last few plays though so he gets a big plus for that.

19 Apr 2026 23:04:50
He was good in parts, but he's very inconsistent, today was a derby and he was the only scouser in a red shirt out there, so he's far more up for it than the rest of them. He had a point to prove. It won't b like that week in week out. My issue with him at RB is he's not physically strong enough, or at least he doesn't show it, he goes down too willingly.

He voluntarily goes to ground when he feels a touch, which I absolutely hate, I find it way too risky when you're that deep, especially when considering he likes a feint and a turn.

19 Apr 2026 23:50:06
I thought Jones was quite poor today. He was very weak when defending. He looked alright on the ball, but he could have played it quicker at times. But have to say that he wasn't helped by Konate at all. I lost count of the number of times he was put into trouble by Konate's passes and headers.

{Ed078's Note - I must have been watching a different game

20 Apr 2026 00:00:03
I genuinely might need to watch the game back, because all I remember was Jones being awful. I think elsewhere I said I was amazed he wasn't taken off sooner.
Obviously, others are seeing things I'm not. Fair play.

20 Apr 2026 00:20:59
Am I right in saying that Jones was the only Merseyside-born player on the pitch today?

He played great. Has there ever been the perfect performance from a player? Sometimes it feels like praise by default has to be underlined by pointing out the player's flaw(s) in a game.



It's sport. There will be duels won and lost in a game. Jones was out of position and handled himself well. He was very handy having a cool head on the ball in the backline.

20 Apr 2026 02:55:55
I was expecting this to morph into a 'why doesn't Slot play Ramsey' thread - a chance missed (so far) for the half empty fraternity. If he actually was reduced to walking back (which I really very much doubt), perhaps it was the weight of all the club's fans getting on his back.

20 Apr 2026 09:18:30
Jones is nowhere near the level of right back. For me he's nowhere near the level for any team chasing Champions League. He should be 5th choice midfielder or moved on. The only reason I'd keep him is HG.

Dilly dallies getting back too often, too many touches, too many poor touches, too often he gives away possession needlessly, passing range not great, tackling not great unless he's slide tackling, don't let 1 Merseyside derby fool you.

He's not the level, and at 25 now, never will be that level.

20 Apr 2026 10:46:14
Well, he's in the squad chasing Champions League, so that may suggest he's good enough to be in a squad chasing Champions League.

20 Apr 2026 12:54:48
Dejan Lovren was in a squad chasing Champions League. He wasn't good enough, let's not make silly comments.

{Ed001's Note - that's harsh on a Champions League winner.}

20 Apr 2026 13:46:34
Yeah, it's a bit of a circular argument.

It's like saying we're not good enough to earn Champions League. Until we do, then we are.

19 Apr 2026 19:35:15
Chelsea are away to Brighton on Tuesday this week. A loss means max points 60 or a draw 61 for them. So for me two wins and a draw from the next 5 gets us Champions League.

19 Apr 2026 19:55:31
That's Chelsea, there's more than one team chasing.

19 Apr 2026 20:05:27
Just win the next game. That should be our mindset.

Win.
Win.
Win.
Win.
Win.

If we do that, we will be okay. Earned the place ourselves.

One game per week. Plenty of time to prepare and be ready.

19 Apr 2026 20:33:54
Basically, it means we need to win a minimum of three games to be sure of 5th, which is 64 points. Palace and Brentford look most winnable, but if we can beat Chelsea then that should be enough. Villa and Utd games will be very tough, but hopefully we can get results there too.

So, let's say we end up on 66 points, it's nowhere near where we need to be, but at least CL will have been secured. One fan here trying to look on the bright side at the very least.

19 Apr 2026 20:34:50
Spot on, Kim & Keegan. Focus on the next game.

20 Apr 2026 10:47:36
Yup just the next game mentality.

Also, as much as people may not like to admit this, you can't win a league or earn top 4 by yourself. Unless you go 38-0, you are going to need other clubs to drop points in order for you to end up on top.

19 Apr 2026 19:29:52
Could this summer be the biggest manager merry go round we've ever seen?
Arsenal- surely if Arteta wins nothing they will change.
City- Pep could stay if they win the league. Go trophyless, he may leave.
Utd- Carrick could get the job but surely a bigger name would want it.


Villa- Emery could go if Villa don't win nothing. Taken them so far.
Liverpool- Slot potentially going.
Chelsea- Rosenior is out of his depth.
Bournemouth- Iraola leaving.
Fulham- Silva leaving.
Palace- Glasner leaving.
Newcastle- Howes taken them so far, so maybe moves on.

19 Apr 2026 19:48:12
Arteta, Pep, and Emery will stay as a minimum.

19 Apr 2026 19:51:03
This is why we need to snap up Alonso now cus I hate to see him at Arsenal or City (don't think he'll go Utd), and we stick with Slot!

19 Apr 2026 20:20:31
Arteta will stay. He will deliver Champions League.

19 Apr 2026 20:29:30
I just don't get the obsession with Alonso. One good season and he becomes a shoe in. Slot one good season and everyone wants him out. The next manager after Slot (I'm not convinced he will leave) will not be Alonso. If Slot goes this summer, it will be Iraola. If Slot stays, we will go all out for Enrique in 2027/28. My opinion only.

19 Apr 2026 20:36:01
Arteta? Champions League?

That's a bold claim.
I think I'd be shocked if he got past Bayern.

19 Apr 2026 20:37:02
Arteta is going nowhere and neither is Emery esp. if he makes that EL final and potentially wins it, as that is literally what Emery does.

As for Pep, I have no idea. Same with the likes of Howe. The others like Iraola and Glasner, they will go. As for Slot, wait and see.

19 Apr 2026 22:05:03
The Champions League is a Cup, not a Bottle.

19 Apr 2026 23:13:54
Jari, Iraola wants to go back to Spain. He's not coming to us.

19 Apr 2026 19:23:44
How do we fix Isak's involvement!

19 Apr 2026 19:52:32
He's simply building his fitness and game sharpness. He'll be fine next season, I'm sure of it. I'm just hoping he doesn't get injured at the World Cup.

19 Apr 2026 20:03:02
Get rid of Slot & get a manager who plays at a faster tempo, where the ball is fed into Isak quicker, both from midfield & the flanks.

19 Apr 2026 20:39:32
Exactly, RedJones. This ain't complicated. Fix his fitness and go from there. Cos even today, he was played thru on goal, and, were he fit and sharper, Isak would bury those two chances in the second half.

The fact that he was able to put himself about to get those chances was a small positive for me, personally.

19 Apr 2026 21:04:49
Play him as goalie. He's q tall.

20 Apr 2026 10:49:23
In order for the ball to come in faster from the flanks, we'd need more effective wingers.

He had an opportunity on goal today at the edge of the box, and I was surprised he didn't take a touch to shoot. Instead, he kept dribbling, then eventually lost the ball.

He has a long way to go.

19 Apr 2026 18:32:04
Things could be worse lads, imagine being on top for 9 months and completely bottling it!

19 Apr 2026 19:15:57
Imagine being us, Chewy, and our owners are gona stick with Slot and let him ruin our club. I know which team will finish higher next season if they stick with that clown.

19 Apr 2026 19:23:20
Tbh I'm really not fussed about the performance now at this stage - take the 3 points, hopefully scrape a CL spot & see what the summer brings us !
Just got a sneaky feeling that Arne stays if we do finish top 5 !!!!
Agree with Chewy - totally hilarious if the gooners finish empty handed !

19 Apr 2026 19:35:26
Hush now, Jimjim, let us bask in the glory of the bottle and enjoy it while we can.

19 Apr 2026 19:37:29
Yea, true Bristol, we can always revert to the kinda club we were when the only thing we had to cheer for was other clubs' failures, but I still kinda hope we can still be a club that cheers for our success, not others' losses.

19 Apr 2026 19:54:56
Completely agree, Jimjim, look closer to home, and if we were better we wouldn't have to revel in other teams losing and would be just celebrating our own achievements.

19 Apr 2026 20:31:12
If Slot stays, we will struggle the same way Spurs and Forest have. It will be as bad as Hodgeson. We will be around relegation all season.

19 Apr 2026 20:43:41
Agreed, Jimjim. In this season of all seasons, I am not interested in what other travails other teams are having, and as much as I am all for bantering other teams, let's not take the mick here and get carried away.

Misery does not love company all the time, imo.

We are a shambles of a club at this moment and we need to get our house in order, get real with the situation we are in, make the tough decisions and clean house.

19 Apr 2026 21:03:42
Spot on OliRed. 👍

19 Apr 2026 22:09:34
Bit of banter, lads, keep your knickers, will you.

19 Apr 2026 17:30:28
Did I hear fans singing for Xabi Alonso again?

19 Apr 2026 18:06:25
Has it been sung before, MightyR3ds? I must've missed it.

19 Apr 2026 18:17:59
Missed the game today due to work, great result, just wished Sunderland could have held on for the draw. How did the boy Woodman do when he came on, and will we have a fit keeper for the Palace game, if so, who?

19 Apr 2026 18:19:54
Thought it was sung at the FA Cup City game.

Also sang for Gerrard that game too, but assumed that was just the Gerrard song, as it does get dusted off now and then.

19 Apr 2026 18:30:12
@hunter64, Woodman is 29 years old. I also thought he was a young keeper.

19 Apr 2026 18:33:35
It was sung during the FA Cup game against City, videos all over social media of fans chanting for Xabi as they left the stadium too.

19 Apr 2026 18:35:48
Woodman looked like a 3rd choice keeper, Hunter. Can only hope Alisson is due back.

19 Apr 2026 18:49:10
Rome1977!.... Woodman looked absolutely fine. Did he look like a 3rd choice keeper when, after being on the pitch for just a handful of minutes, he calmly dealt with awful defending by, I think, Konate, who left a bouncing ball and Woodman headed the bouncing ball over the Everton attacker and passed a precise ball out to Robbo? Honestly, credit where it's due is needed at times.

19 Apr 2026 18:53:31
Woodman's distribution was good, just one dodgy moment with the missed punch. He doesn't look physically imposing enough, but let's hope Ali is close to fitness.

19 Apr 2026 19:05:21
Maybe I'm being harsh, Kimuraking. I can be. I do agree with Overkill, though, regards to his physicality.

19 Apr 2026 20:45:12
The kid, (at least I thought he was till someone posted his age), did no harm, and as a back up, that is all I ask for backup GKs.

19 Apr 2026 23:12:42
Woodman is a 3rd choice goalkeeper, but he did well. Alisson is not due back until the end of the month, so maybe fit for the Utd game. Georgi only had a flesh wound, looks like he just got tore up by the studs, few stitches, and he'll be right back to training, I'd imagine.

19 Apr 2026 17:27:36
Aside from the match today, which was a terrible performance and fantastic result. God, I really do hope Slot leaves. So, so bad.

I watched Diomande's whole game yesterday. Spectacular goal. Really exciting dribbler, but low energy off the ball.

He is still young, so could be thought, but it did make me pause. Did run into blind alleys a couple of times too. Potential is massive though, but needs to be right price.

19 Apr 2026 20:35:40
It was a derby game - more whinging about a great result.

19 Apr 2026 20:51:06
Davey, that was a terrible performance, in the long line of terrible performances we have seen this season. The tactics, the subs esp. were bonkers. We won that game despite the way we played and Slot's headcase subs rather than anything else.

As for Diomande, I planned to watch the game to have a good look at him but I forgot and missed it. Hopefully, I get another chance to see him. I did see his last goal and my goodness, what a finish and the kid packs a powerful shot on him, as well.

19 Apr 2026 16:50:25
Ed1 do u still rate ryan cheerkie lesser than "generational talent" wirtz?? I remember u saying he was no where near wirtz???

{Ed001's Note - no, I said he was similar in talent but Cherki was lazy.}

19 Apr 2026 17:37:39
You think if Wirtz was in that City team he wouldn't produce similar to KDB?

The quicker, more attacking that we play, the better he looks, and most others too.

Not sure any of our players suit walking slow football, which is why they all look like rubbish.. bar the odd game here and there... well I say game.. 30 or 40 minutes now and then.

19 Apr 2026 17:44:58
Wirtz's talent is not under question, he's an absolute baller. Sadly we've only seen a glimpse of that in about 7-8 games this season before he got his injury.

I think a lot is down to 2 things.

1) He needs to adapt to pace of English football.

2) He's playing with tactics which probably produce the slowest football in the league and doesn't give him a chance to shine.



Let's be honest though, it's been an extremely underwhelming signing so far and we'd be laughing our heads off if one of our rivals paid that price tag for that output.

Like I said, the talent is there so I'm desperate for him to show it!

19 Apr 2026 18:02:40
Couldn't agree more on that, Changingofthegvardiol.

19 Apr 2026 18:05:55
I hope his former manager will be able to unlock his talent next season.

On current showing, Cherki is the better buy (based purely on stats and performances, but that is how he is being played).

Even if Wirtz can show his full game next season, I'm not sure he's 4 times the player that Cherki is (comparative prices).



We do need to stop buying Newcastle strikers though! I hope Isak comes good next season, and can get up to fitness, but the Toon constantly fleece us!!

19 Apr 2026 17:49:00
I still don't know know, not gona judge any player this season as its boss who's to blame! But sure ed1 at start of season laughed at people on here stating cherkie being a fraction of wirtz price but claiming money will spent over cherkie as wirtz was the generational talent??? Still hope he is..but not looking like we got the better deal

{Ed001's Note - what? This is just gibberish. Cherki has great ability but is lazy and very loose in possession as he often tries to do too much. Put Wirtz in that team instead and he would have been brilliant, but instead he is working with Slot and has no movement to pick out. Wirtz must rue choosing us over Citeh.}

19 Apr 2026 18:20:00
Imagine telling Wirtz to adapt to the pace of the PL whilst playing for the slowest tactics...

19 Apr 2026 18:38:36
Agree with your post, Changingofthegvardiol. Needs massive improvement next season.

19 Apr 2026 18:42:40
Agreed Ed. Our off the ball movement is absolutely shocking. The one thing I find myself shouting at the telly more than anything on match day is "Will yous f@£k1&g move!" whilst staring in disbelief at a bunch of "elite professionals" glued to the spot. It infuriates me to no end. It's schoolboy basics. Slot's walk-pass-repeat is killing Wirtz's game.

{Ed001's Note - it reminds me of the quote Juve fans made about Ian Rush when he was with them, as it works for Wirtz. They said having him was like having a Ferrari with no engine. There were a number of times he was looking round for a pass today and lost the ball because there just wasn't anyone to pick out as no one gave him anything.}

19 Apr 2026 18:58:01
I'm tired of fans dumping on Wirtz and Isak, we bought two Rolls Royce and use them as Morris Minors. They'll be poor until we play to their style, the style which would suit the majority of the players, funnily enough. Slot has to go.

19 Apr 2026 18:57:56
Na you did laugh ed1 saying we had the generational talent. Anyway still hope your correct ed1 lol

{Ed001's Note - what's your point? Do you actually have anything of interest to add? I mean what is the point of your post?}

19 Apr 2026 19:37:15
Don't hurt him Ed! He's not worth it!

19 Apr 2026 19:40:07
Maybe not interesting ed1 just wanted to ask if u still stand by what u said back then? By the way i agree with most what you say slot out and all that. I blame him for everything and everyone's poor season. Just saying that city kid looks good and can only hope next season florian looks as good!

{Ed001's Note - OK.}

19 Apr 2026 19:52:32
My man ed1;)

19 Apr 2026 20:58:11
Rsanchez69, City wanted Wirtz as first choice for a reason. Cherki was their sloppy seconds even tho he is massively talented.

As the OP said, you put Wirtz in City's team and it's over, plain and simple. The kid sees things before they happen and since we have players walking around him rather than running under the manager's instructions, people don't notice as much.



For me re: Wirtz, the fact that he has been showing some good stuff overall even under horrendous tactics by this manager, shows how great of a talent he is.

The sky is the limit for him, provided we get the manager to get the best out of him and the other players.

19 Apr 2026 16:49:54
Is it time to start asking questions about Wirtz or is Slots' appalling tactics stifling his ability.

19 Apr 2026 17:30:10
Slot's appalling tactics.
Wirtz, 9/10 times, has to come deep to get the ball.
When he does get the ball in the final third, it has taken so long to get to him that he has 1-2 players on him straight away.



There's no space in the final third for him either, because our own players take this away from him.

Finally, it doesn't help he has no runners off him when he does get the ball.

19 Apr 2026 17:33:58
Blue in the face, lads: If there are loads of players whose performances you can question, maybe the problem isn't the players, but the manager.

19 Apr 2026 17:40:24
Told you already, SR... One day, hopefully, it will hit, mate.

19 Apr 2026 17:59:32
Don't think it helps playing with such one dimensional wingers, as they're all taking up the central space.

19 Apr 2026 18:44:42
Wirtz needs players around him who actually move. You can't create openings for a pack of statues. I can't get over the lack of movement in the final 3rd. It enrages me.

19 Apr 2026 20:20:18
My memory is shocking, so I possibly have this completely wrong. Haha.
But when we were chasing Wirtz, along with Bayern and City. On Wirtz's first convo with Slot, didn't he later say that he was completely sold on the idea to come due to Slot having a plan fully laid out on how he would fit in the team and how our style of play was perfect for him? If how I remember it is correct, I would love to have been a fly on the wall in the meeting to hear exactly what nonsense was said.