Liverpool Banter 3

22 Jul 2026 10:54:14
On again, off again, on again, off again. The Diomande transfer is beginning to look like the relationship of Ross and Rachel from Friends.

Hope it gets sorted out soon one way or the other.

22 Jul 2026 11:31:31
I personally think the energy is wasted where a right back, another forward, a dm, a cb could be a better use of their time.

22 Jul 2026 11:46:05
"We were on a break!!!!"

22 Jul 2026 11:58:32
He looks a good player, but I do worry that even if he does sign, his agents will be ready to hawk him elsewhere soon after.

Would be good if we can sign the lad with some agreement that he drops his agency.

22 Jul 2026 12:12:24
We just won't Pivaaaaaaaaaaat away, it seems.

22 Jul 2026 13:29:43
Good one, FPF. Great episode. A lot of folk won't have the faintest idea what we're talking about! Beats talking about football, which I've never been keen on.

22 Jul 2026 15:03:34
Personally, I hope we don't sign him, if he is successful at Anfield, we'll probably get 2/3 years max out of him before he jumps ship. And if he's not, it will be an expensive mistake. I'd rather get a cheaper workhorse who can provide quality service to Isak whilst we develop Josh Abe, who will be looking to break into the squad over the next 12 months.

Sure, making him our go to is still a couple of years off, but a right footed winger to focus on excellent delivery for our 'very much in need of some assistance star striker' might be easier to find than a 'Salah replacement', could be the smarter option too.

(Yes, I know Diomande's right footd.)

22 Jul 2026 16:19:01
If he's successful after being signed for £100m then let's face it there's only two or three clubs on the planet that could realistically try to take him away. And if them clubs are willing to pay us double what we paid for him I would be ok with that.

I'd gladly enjoy the 2 or 3 great years and then let him fund our summer window in a few years time.

22 Jul 2026 10:39:36.
Watching Souness commenting on Rice, saying he is not a world class centre midfielder because he runs too much with the ball. Thinks instead he should take at most 2 touches and then progress the ball.

Have to say when I coach I prefer my cm to release it quickly to open up the play. But then again I’m nowhere near Arteta's level.

Still goes to show why footy is so good - so many different ways to play the game.

22 Jul 2026 11:33:43
I like listening to Souness and he does come out with good stuff.

My favourite from that specific interview was where he described what is wrong with modern football.

He states, back in the good old days, the forwards and mavericks used to have the most touches of the ball, and now centre forwards are getting less than 20 touches a game, and the players with the most touches are centre halves.

22 Jul 2026 12:11:21
I've never understood the love for Rice.
He reminds me of a poor version of Henderson.
Even if he does take only 2 touches, he still takes too long to move the ball, and 90% of the time it's a sideways pass.
Henderson was a fantastic captain, but was also limited on the ball, but head and shoulders above Rice.


Both worked really hard, but for some strange reason, Rice seems to get so much more praise than Henderson ever did by the media.

22 Jul 2026 12:28:20
I don't think Rice is a bad player, but he's nowhere near the level the media like to gas him up to be... Difficult to say how much is down to his ability or Arteta's negative tactics, though.



I don't think he is disciplined enough or a good enough tackler to be a 6, and he doesn't have the vision or passing range/quality to be a world class 8... Hendo clears him atm, but he's still young.

22 Jul 2026 12:39:20
I posed this question recently. Comparing him with a peak Henderson. Rice is excellent at his best. He's a level below "world class".

22 Jul 2026 13:00:11
There's nowt wrong with constructive criticism from Souness.
Souness was better than Rice, but Rice is better than Henderson.

22 Jul 2026 13:34:26
Souness is right, Rice isn't World Class, not in my book anyway. Very good player, no doubt about it. He's overrated by the gooners, in my opinion, but look, I'm sure they feel the same way about us and Henderson.

What Henderson may have lacked in ability, he more than made up for with his leadership. I'm not seeing that with Rice at the moment; maybe that will change with time and experience.

22 Jul 2026 14:04:07
Rice and Henderson both have the same amount of PL medals, and both equally failed to rally England enough over the line in regards to leadership.

I suppose the only people who could answer the question of who is a better leader are the ones who have played with both.

22 Jul 2026 14:16:39
Sadly for me, Souness' opinions are tainted by the lacklustre job he did managing us.

22 Jul 2026 14:56:14
Souness managed us in a very difficult period for a lot of reasons.

22 Jul 2026 10:01:14
Seeing all this takeover news taking centre stage, we'll probably get a transfer bomba today to divert the attention from it.

22 Jul 2026 11:41:14
Not sure I have heard 'takeover', I have heard minority investment, like we have already had a couple of times in the past few years.

22 Jul 2026 12:06:40
Not sure how true it is, but reports are specifying the rumored talks of investment are in LFC and not FSG.

22 Jul 2026 12:07:23
Zed, what becomes worrying is that if FSG cedes majority share and voice on the Board. 30% here, and 15% in the previous stake sale (plus other smaller shares), it can lead to a minority share for FSG. I'm not sure I want anyone else directing the ship: FSG have given us considerable stability for over 10 years, and I'm happy with that.

22 Jul 2026 12:11:18
*I'm talking about FSG's share in LFC (to clarify).

22 Jul 2026 12:17:39
I think ultimately this is a takeover, the start of it.
Bathia wouldn't step down from QPR a week ago if this didn't have legs, or be in contact with Bezos.

22 Jul 2026 12:24:36
Can you see Bezos coming in to be a minority share long term? The other interested party seem one to steer clear of.

It's nauseating sums of money though.

22 Jul 2026 13:26:43
BTW, a couple of the admittedly clickbait articles I have read suggest Bezos was approached to be part of the consortium who want to take a minority share, but he declined.

22 Jul 2026 14:22:54
FSG, the Mittal family, Bezos and Musk, worth a couple of bob between them.

22 Jul 2026 09:29:18
Apologies if this has been covered.

Anybody know anything about this Indian lad from QPR trying to buy 30%?

22 Jul 2026 09:56:52
See the rumours section.

22 Jul 2026 09:57:14
Try the rumours page, mate.

22 Jul 2026 10:31:15
Cheers, lads, had a look last night, but mustn't have scrolled down far enough.

22 Jul 2026 14:27:32
Look up the Mittal family on line. The 'Indian lad from QPR' is the son-in-law of Lakshmi Mittal who is apparently worth around $32 billion.

22 Jul 2026 09:19:29
Has anybody seen the new AC Milan away kit? It's very nice tbf but what's on the back is what's hilarious. The words "Dopo Istanbul c'e' Demote Athens". After Istanbul there is always Athens.

I mean it's been nearly 20 years lads. Talk of living rent free in somebody's head.

It's hardly our fault one of the best club teams of all time bottled it.

22 Jul 2026 09:29:54
That's brilliant! I love it.

22 Jul 2026 09:33:08
Is this real? If yea then they sure need to grow up a bit!

22 Jul 2026 09:58:56
Indeed, we clearly have built a 500 sq. foot villa in Milan's head. Who knew, right? We have gone on and achieved a whole lot since Athens including 3 CL finals (one Big Ears), 2 PL titles, and other pots while Milan are still trying to flex a CL trophy they won before Barack Obama was first elected POTUS.



Have at it, Milan fans. Sadly for you, you're the only ones on that hill.

22 Jul 2026 10:03:32
Everton's new away kit has the words sewn on the back - After 1995, there is always...........

22 Jul 2026 10:39:05
Everton's should read "there's always the other team in Merseyside". 😜

22 Jul 2026 10:50:44
If it's true then I love it! Healthy banter is always welcome in my opinion.

22 Jul 2026 11:16:33
Wow, hilarious and sad (for them). Not like an Italian to hold a grudge

22 Jul 2026 11:50:46
They should add a line:

"After Athens there is nothing but failure".

22 Jul 2026 13:05:14
They need to get over Istanbul (it did take me about a week though 😂).
We battered them for 8 minutes of the 120 played!

22 Jul 2026 14:29:07
Everton's shirts with NEC on it was the funniest.

22 Jul 2026 05:51:20
Am I the only one who sees AI's comments about keeping Ali and Macca as evidence both will be sold?

22 Jul 2026 07:03:11
Lol, Esfr. I can see Macca being sold, but who do you replace Alisson with, should you suffer a brain fart and sell off? I think Alisson is nailed on to stay for at least a season more, but I hope not for Macca.

22 Jul 2026 07:28:07
I'd say Macca be sold if get a good fee, but can't see Ali being sold now. If Mamar had've impressed last season I'd guess Ali would've went this summer, but we've too much to do as it stands without looking a no.1 as well.

His experience will be vital for us as well, considering we've lost lot of experienced players recently. Injuries the killer with Ali. Other than that, u would be hoping he would get new contract.

22 Jul 2026 08:08:27
No, we have enough business to do without having to sell and replace our keepers. Plus, Ali is one of our elder statesmen, we can't afford to lose too much more experience.

22 Jul 2026 08:37:53
LFC triggered Beckers 12-month contract extension in March 2026 till the end of the 2026-2027 season, when he goes for no transfer fee.

He is 34 on 02 October 2026. Another tough one for Andoni and FSG. Will they want to cash in, though the fee will not be a true high valuation, but as Shanks often said a GK is only as good as the defence/team that is in front of him!

Marmadashvili needs to improve using his feet, as Andoni prefers playing out from the back when applicable.

22 Jul 2026 08:47:27
Marmadashvilli is not a very good goalkeeper and more importantly is not good enough to play for LFC. Either one of the reserves steps up, or we need to buy the best available next summer.

22 Jul 2026 08:50:02
Liverpool aren't going to trigger Beckers 1 year extension only to sell him for a fee. It's not their style, especially for players that have given good, loyal service. He will go on a free next season.

22 Jul 2026 09:03:40
Every time I read a post about AI, I keep thinking that's no way to run a football club.

Handing over the reins to Anthropic just doesn't sit right!

22 Jul 2026 09:16:16
Keep Becker until his arms drop off.

22 Jul 2026 09:26:53
SirBob79, Same!!!! Every time I read a sentence with Al I think... Wait... what's AI got to do with it...

22 Jul 2026 10:00:24
Why would we sell Ali? Macca, I can see why, but Ali?

I don't get the logic of this post, really.

22 Jul 2026 10:13:30
Being a Liverpool fan, especially during the 1990s, often requires a healthy dose of paranoia!

22 Jul 2026 11:19:10
I doubt very much we've triggered his extension just to sell him. What we'd get for him now as he approaches 35 with just 1 year left on his contract would be nowhere near as valuable as keeping him on for another year until we can find his successor, 'cause it's not Giorgi.

22 Jul 2026 11:52:19
I'm more worried about whether he'll sign for a couple more years.
Yes, he's had injury issues, but I'd like him to stay for longer and think he's got more time at the top before he can move on to Turkey, Brazil, etc.


Hopefully, Iraola will make a good impression on him, and Ali will sign up before December. Last thing we need is other clubs offering silly money in wages whilst we are negotiating with him.

22 Jul 2026 13:06:23
And even that hasn't stopped Pickford, Ron K.

21 Jul 2026 22:09:33
I would love to hear from Eds or any poster eho follows the academy about what youngin might step up and make a surprise slot on the senior team. Heard great things about Abe, Keiran, and Ndyia (? Spelling).

22 Jul 2026 01:15:36
Everyone on the tour are the closest. Let's see if any of them take their chance in a big way.

22 Jul 2026 01:39:32
Tor Ndaiye didn't go on the tour. No idea why.

22 Jul 2026 04:44:14
Ndaiye - visa issues. Top prospect.

22 Jul 2026 08:44:37
Not ITK or anywhere near it.

A good friend of mine's son plays for another academy, however, when they came up against Liverpool Academy, he came away raving about how good Sonni-Lambie was.



This was the beginning of last year, mind, but I have kept an eye out for his name since. Glad to see he is away on tour. He is my pick to break through with no other justification or supporting evidence.

22 Jul 2026 10:30:19
I'm very interested to see how Will Wright goes this season, given his bad injury, plus I have high hopes for McConnell. I'm not convinced by Kieran or Trent.

22 Jul 2026 13:02:01
Phil, are you referring to Trent Kone-Doherty who left the club permanently in February?

21 Jul 2026 21:32:54
After KK’s very sad passing I’ve been looking at Ballon d’Or winners...

I’ve never realised before that Pele and Maradona never even made it in to the top 3 ever. That is an abomination to me. 2 of the greatest players ever to play the game and they never made the top 3?

21 Jul 2026 21:55:38
Think it was a European award at that time....like Micheal Owens? ✌

21 Jul 2026 21:59:12
Just recently, I read about a coach or manager who had voted for Salah in the Ballon D'Or. When they checked later, they saw someone had changed their vote to Messi. Of course, when they asked for clarification, there was no response.

This tells you all you need to know about how these individual prices are being run.

21 Jul 2026 22:02:16
Cheers, Laddie, you are indeed correct.
I feel less outraged now, I can get some sleep tonight. 😂

21 Jul 2026 22:11:01
The award was only for European-born players up until 1995, when it was changed to any player at a European club. It became a global award in 2007. George Weah was the first non-European player to win it.

21 Jul 2026 23:07:08
Also, Pele never played for a European club. He surprisingly only played 92 times for Brazil, with 77 goals, winning three World Cups, scoring 12 goals across the 14 World Cup games he played in. The first, when he was just 17.

Plus, over 1,000 goals for his clubs.

His stats are over and above what anyone else has achieved - and given the heavy lead ball, mad tackling, and dreadful pitches of his era - his stats are beyond extraordinary.



Messi was some player, but Pele was on a different level - and never needed a team of bruisers to carry him through a tournament.

My top of all time would be: Pele, Cruyff, Zidane, Souness, Hansen, Kenny, Keegan, Robbo, and then Messi.

21 Jul 2026 23:16:06
You obviously left off Maradona on purpose as the list above is for mere mortals whereas Maradona was a god amongst men in the football sense.

21 Jul 2026 23:45:10
And you forgot the Best.

21 Jul 2026 23:48:15
This the same Pele who included goals from training and friendlies. :P

22 Jul 2026 03:16:38
I don't get the love for Maradona.

Unbelievable talent, sure. But talent isn't what makes you great, it's just a part of what makes you great. Maradona only filled the talent part, everything else was missing.

Aside from him being a cheater, a drug cheat and a general despot on the field, he was also a despicable person off the field.

22 Jul 2026 06:25:44
Hsf, you've clearly never watched him play. When you have, come back mate. Simply the best.

22 Jul 2026 07:09:57
Marco Van Basten is often forgotten, absolute beast of a striker.

22 Jul 2026 08:00:57
Maradonna played on crap pitches, no referee protection, hatchet men and still was absolutely class, Messi couldn't have coped with that, the goat.

22 Jul 2026 08:57:03
You can't compare eras. We probably saw DM only during some WC tournaments and a bit of Serie A on C4. Now it's wall to wall football coverage, and we can watch Messi eating his breakfast on our phone if we wish. So it's easy to be swallowed up by that, and it's easy to forget about the past.

Maradona was the best of his time. Messi the best of this. The best, or my favorite, football player I have ever seen in my opinion is Zidane. So neither of the above.

22 Jul 2026 09:27:45
@Monster, countries tended to play less international matches per season back in the 69's. LFCS_MANGO, did you ever see Pele play?

22 Jul 2026 09:35:46
You can't have a list of the best players in the past 60 years or so that doesn't include the Belfast Boy. Naturally, right footed but trained himself to use his left footy to such effect that most people thought he was left footed, and he used to train on his own, teaching himself to head the ball. He suspended a ball from the ceiling just an inch or so higher than he could reach and kept going until he could head the ball properly, and then raised the rope a little bit more and went through the same process.

Despite the 5th Beatle tag he has a great work ethic. If teams wanted to play football he would outplay them, if they wanted to 'get stuck in' he gave as good as he got.

22 Jul 2026 09:39:45
I forgot to add, my dad thought Duncan Edwards was a far better player than Best. Pretty odd that my dad watched Liverpool from the end of the late 1940s until he passed away 15 years ago, and I have supported the club since the early 1960s (although my memories start in the mid 60s and our individual favourites both played for United - different times in those days I guess).

22 Jul 2026 10:02:06
Same with me, WDW, my dad used to rave about Duncan Edwards.
Pele said Best was the best, and Pele should know more than most.
Maradona also cited Best as an inspiration.

22 Jul 2026 10:06:19
The Fifth Element, George Weah, had such a monumental individual season that France Football had to change the rule to allow him to win it in that 94/95 season, cos not a soul came close to him. And the fact that he was playing for a prime PSG team with the likes of Rai and David Ginola also helped.



So if the likes of Messi, R9, R10 or Salah, Mane etc. won or had a chance of winning this great award, they have "Mister George" to thank for that. A true Hero and Legend.

22 Jul 2026 10:18:44
Personally, I don't think any of them should be considered in the conversation for best 'player of all time'. Could they tackle, switch the play, control the pace of the game, take out 3 players with a pinpoint pass, track back, get their head on the ball, work hard for the team and defend, take free kicks, corners, cross etc etc?
These are all legitimate and important parts of the game that sadly get widely overlooked for the glamour of the goal scoring, which I know is important, but it's nothing without everything I just said above.

Greatest forwards of all time, yeah sure, but players? Not for me.
For me, best players of all time needs to inherently be your b2b midfield generals who grabbed games by the scruff and could do everything those chaps could and more.
I know I'm biased, but for me, I have never seen a more complete football player operating at world class levels in almost every discipline than Gerrard. I am sure there are other out there that have been like him over the years but I've not seen them.

22 Jul 2026 10:31:08
I'll raise you one Zizou Westwood. Different Class.

22 Jul 2026 10:33:26
I agree with wdw. Charlton thought Edward's was better than Pele which is saying something. Could play pretty much anywhere and do the job.

22 Jul 2026 11:20:15
It's always been Maradona for me, partly because he didn't play in great teams, but he won a World Cup and the Scudetto twice with teams which wouldn't compete without him.

22 Jul 2026 11:23:37
Pele good, Maradonna great, Georgie Best.

22 Jul 2026 11:59:29
After watching Messi's behaviour during the recent final, he's off my list. Maybe gamesmanship for him, but downright cheating for me. The man has won so much but he still has to resort to cheating. Greed and avarice.

22 Jul 2026 15:43:01
If R9 had not been injured so badly, he would have been the greatest. I'm a child of Maradona's age, really, but Ronaldo 94-99 was the greatest peak I've seen against arguably the greatest defenders in four different leagues.

21 Jul 2026 14:55:48
I'm a member of the local TRF (green laning) and I go up and down Keegan's hill regularly. Didn't know why it was called Keegan's hill until today.

Keegan’s. The name will live on with North Wales TRF
Byway 403/77/30 on the Mold route has been known as Keegan’s for many years.
Turning off the A541 Mold Denbigh road signposted Cilcain, look ahead at the large white property in the elevated position.

This was the home of Kevin Keegan from 1971 to 1977. He was often seen commuting during his time at Liverpool FC, also walking his dogs in the local area
There are two ways to access the Byway, the tarmac road below the property or the next right turn passing Hilltop house to Siamber Wen, both will take you to the main climb up to the Moel Llys-y-coed lane which can then be ridden in either direction
RIP Kevin.

21 Jul 2026 17:49:34
Green laning eh? What do you ride ashy?

21 Jul 2026 18:30:54
@FlashTheRed, A Beta 300 T2. Good fun.