Liverpool banter 4

13 Oct 2025 19:37:53
Anyone know why Bradley is out the NI squad tonight?

{Ed001's Note - suspended.}

13 Oct 2025 20:17:16
Ahh of course. 🤦🏻‍♂️ cheers Ed1.

13 Oct 2025 21:15:32
Not another yellow card #.

13 Oct 2025 21:30:33
Wirtz watch against Northern Ireland. Horrendous anonymous. Take your pick.

13 Oct 2025 22:27:09
Should have had the assist to win the game but Adayemi missed his one on one.

14 Oct 2025 02:08:11
tactical yellow card.

14 Oct 2025 03:03:35
From the highlights of wirtz in the game he didn't look horrendous to me.

14 Oct 2025 08:05:36
I don’t think Wirtz was anonymous at all. He worked hard and was the main instigator of most of the German attacks .

{Ed078's Note - I think he's been made a scapegoat. He has struggled to adjust to the physicality and pace of the PL, for now. But, he's also shown enough of his quality that I don't overly worry. Not sure if the stats I've seen are accurate, but seems like he's created plenty of chances, but they haven't been taken and he hasn't taken a couple of good chances either.

14 Oct 2025 11:23:11
Hey, Ed78. Don't be saying any of that. Didn't see the game so can't comment. I have said it and will keep saying it. Wirtz is not our issue and I ain't worried about him cos he keeps trying to do the right things and never sulks, never shirks responsibility. Our issues lie well elsewhere. As for the scapegoating, same ol' crap, different day.

{Ed078's Note - really not understanding your point Oli re "don't be saying any of that"?

14 Oct 2025 11:41:47
I agree @78. Was built up massively by lots of us (including me) but the lad (he’s only 22) needs time to adjust to the pace and physicality, which he will because he has the skills but then the rest of the squad have to learn to anticipate what he is capable of and what he is likely to do when he gets the ball.

14 Oct 2025 12:18:54
Most chances created in the PL this season I believe Ed078, just a case of getting that clock with his teammates.

13 Oct 2025 12:22:35


Robboslostlegs has written an article entitled, Liverpool Players Need Time After The Loss Of Diogo

13 Oct 2025 14:35:42
Great post mate.

13 Oct 2025 14:49:22
Really well put.

13 Oct 2025 15:53:28
Great post that Robbo mate!

13 Oct 2025 16:08:46
So you want Arne Slot to have THREE years just like amorim has had to build a PL team, when Arne was already left a PL winning team?

All the other areas of the PL winning team were vastly improved
yet the most important area that urgently required surgery the centre of the defence was only improved by an 18 year old Giovanni, not another good experienced defender.

Is this one of the reasons LFC failed to sign Guehi? as Glasner is in this morning's papers insisting "he never threatened to leave" over the potential sale of Guehi to LFC?

And his Chairman Parish had apparently agreed to the deal, I suggest Parish needs to go to his local Church and tell the truth, as LFC TV was preparing a welcoming video for Marc also.

Makes one think Parish has agreed a deal with another PL club, or the player wants to move elsewhere, that might explain our interest in German defender SH! teatheback? unless of course Henry is going to sign both as two is always greater than one.

13 Oct 2025 16:33:32
Great post, Robbo. No one can nor should dictate to anyone suffering from grief of any kind as to when their grieving period should be over. No way on this earth. I kn, ow people (family and friends) who still deal with the grief they suffered literally decades ago. Let alone footballers having to deal with their grief in real time and even worse, in the public eye.

I mean, the B'mouth game alone (with all the emotion in and around it) is a prime ex. of your players, staff and the whole club trying to support their team thru all the grief involved. Salah w.

13 Oct 2025 16:38:56
Pressed send too soon.

We saw Salah play out his grief at the end of the game. Imagine, the players and fans having to see that and only heaven knows what happened in the DR after that game. We should never, ever dismiss this as a reason (not the only one nor the biggest reason) . I never would.


Now having said all of that, we need to do what we can control and try to coach the players thru the season while at the same time putting them in the best psychological position to perform at their best for the most part. It is not an easy balance for sure but we got to try our best and keep trying to help the players and coaching staff help themselves.

13 Oct 2025 17:16:40
I can’t let the memory of jota be tarnished by some bad results. So everything that goes wrong this season is because of Diogo’s death? No, can’t blame crap tactics or performances on the loss of jota. You all need to stop it your creating excuses out of a tragedy it’s not nice it’s not true and it’s not fair to burden his memory with it.

{Ed025's Note - i happen to be with you John..

13 Oct 2025 18:20:01
I agree John. It wasn’t mentioned when we won our first 5 games. I actually find it quite disrespectful really.

13 Oct 2025 18:50:01
The Jota tragedy will be effecting everyone involved with our Club. It was truly awful

It does not affect us passing the ball around at the back for massive chunks of each game, creating no chances.

I don’t care if we Draw/ Lose. But it has to be in the right way. Galatasaray and Chelsea was not. It wasn’t acceptable.

13 Oct 2025 18:52:42
Don't see anyone mentioning 3 years but you 007.

Project a bit harder, I have a presentation in work next week that I can run on you.

13 Oct 2025 18:56:37
Coming from someone who has lost close friends and family i think it is unfair to speculate either way. Although we watch them every week these people in personal terms are strangers to us and unless they choose to publicly share how they are feeling/ coping with Diogo's loss we will never know, we should probably leave it at that and support the team the best we can.

13 Oct 2025 19:19:52
Anyone who says Jota’s death is not affecting the players or is in poor taste needs to give themselves a stern talking to. After working for a hospice (as a volunteer) for 16 years, grief affects everyone differently. No two deaths are alike and no two peoples way of mourning likewise.

The poor taste is suggesting something different. Own it. Face up to it. Grief is real and you are no less of a man for owning it. Most of my squaddie friends who ran away from it ended up on the end of a rope.

13 Oct 2025 19:38:16
Ernest 👏.

13 Oct 2025 20:37:32
Thanks for the responses. I think some of you are missing the point I was trying to make entirely but that’s fine I’m not trying to tell anyone what they should think.

I guess for some it’s win at all costs, which is fine I guess but just not the way I think.

13 Oct 2025 22:25:55
Good post Robbo.

13 Oct 2025 23:53:11
I think it is an excellent post. A reminder there are people behind the stats. I think the beautiful chanting every 20 mins must take their wind every time. I never want it to stop ever. But with everything so fresh, i cannot imagine how much it must cut getting a reminder of your loss when you are trying to dig in and play your game. Its not an excuse- it doesn’t need to be an excuse- but his tragic passing is 100% is having an effect on the lads. To say it is insulting to his memory is probably missing the point of the magnitude of grief they are enduring. We all adore the club- we live and die by the results but some things just occur that cannot be explained- cannot be argued on a forum. I’ve had devastating grief and fallen apart from it. Ten years on it still affects me. I’m so proud of the lads. I hope they find a way forward and find a way to find form.

14 Oct 2025 02:25:12
thing is tho, how do we measure it's impact?

Was it an impact in the first 7 games we won, many of which were last gasp winners?

Or is it an impact that we can speak to only when results don't go our way?

Grief and trauma reveal itself in different ways to different people.

I think it is appropriate that we recognize that and acknowledge it will be a factor that the coaches and players will be managing in different ways and at different points throughout this season and maybe even beyond.

14 Oct 2025 03:03:15
I knew this excuse would come out as soon as we got some bad results. Obviously there will be grieving by some of the squad, but these are also professionals who have the worlds best psychologists and support in the world at their disposal.

Also currently half the first team had no real relationship with Jota including two of the world’s most expensive players. Barring VVD, Szobo and Allison, the whole squad and management has been pretty abysmal. We can and should question the 90 minutes of football they get payed ludicrous amounts for without having to resort to essentially nonsense excuses for them like this.

The truth is the team has been pretty horrific since the end of last season and ‘Slots team’ now looks even worse than that. We have payed world class money for one player who looks nothing more than a squad player and a striker who needs to show some actual hunger and drive now he’s got his big money move.


We are all waiting for something to ‘click’ and so far Slot is starting to drown trying to find that click. A draw on Sunday which is looking most likely and we go from title challengers to fighting for Top 4.

14 Oct 2025 04:25:41
Great post, Robbo. And I think many people have missed the point you are trying to make. We're not solely saying that the poor results are because of the passing of Jota, just that his passing has an impact on the players now.

Grief is an extremely complicated thing, hence why there we professionals who specialise specifically in grief work. I don't think we can measure the impact of grief on results though and we definitely can't say that it only has an impact when things are going poorly. Whether we win or lose, we have to acknowledge that Jota's passing is something that the players and staff are continually dealing with.

14 Oct 2025 06:38:37
Well I’m just hoping that opposing fans don’t start whistling really loudly or we could really be in trouble.

14 Oct 2025 07:33:57
No one is missing any point. Why not blame the loss of trent, tsimi, Nunez, Diaz, kellerher etc on the crap form? That must be affecting the players too.

14 Oct 2025 00:18:53
Some of us did mention before the season started that it would have an effect on the players, forget the 1st five games.
The players are human and they’re young. They feel invincible at that age, fitter than most, richer than most, the world at their feet. Most will never have experienced real loss, certainly not the death of a friend, before this.

No-one is “making excuses”, why would we want or need to do that? Whether they play well or get good results none of us really influence it in any meaningful way. So why would we need to “make excuses”?

It’s just unrealistic to think these lads are not affected by it. Elite sport is often decided by mental strength and when the squad suffers collective loss then their competitive edge is depleted.

Rather than “excuse” any player I simply believe they need our support more than ever. They are “walking through a storm”. So please, let’s temper some of our vitriol and give them time to deal with it before we get the pitch forks out.

Ed025 excepted because well he’s a bluenose and he has to get his kicks somehow.

{Ed025's Note - how very feckin dare you Ron i thought you were better than that, it has nothing to do with rivalry you arrogant prick, cant you just get over that you are not playing well instead of looking for excuses as to why you are not playing teams off the park?, you are just guessing that the passing of Diogo has anything to do with your form and its disingenuous to be making assumptions like that, typical rather than surprising though..

14 Oct 2025 08:16:53
Great post, Robbo. And I think many people have missed the point you are trying to make
Well the article headline says “Players need time to move on”. No one is missing any point.
I couldn’t have agreed more with Ed025 and Bob.

14 Oct 2025 08:59:29
Come on, Scousejohn. I can't believe you equated the loss of someone through death to players signing for different teams. Those are vastly different things.

People overlook that Jota's death was sudden and unexpected as well. For crying out loud, some of them attended his wedding literal weeks before he passed on. It's not something that people can just get over because they get paid ludicrous amounts of money or have access to sports psychologists.

And Harry, I suggest you read the article instead of just looking at the title and assuming you know what is written in it. No one is making any excuses for the players playing poorly but based on the replies here, I think people underestimate the impact grief has on people.

14 Oct 2025 10:01:56
I kind of got the responses I would expect from some posters who just live for losses so they say everyone is crap and we should’ve signed a CB and Wharton.

My main point wasn’t even about grief although that is a part of it and I certainly wasn’t trying to blame poor results on Diogo Jota. Anyone who said that is so wide of the mark I’d have to question their intelligence.

My main point was the effects it’s had on preparation for the season with the preseason plan basically being ripped up and then the coaches and sports science dept having to manage workloads based on what the players feel they are able to do both physically and mentally. This means the team has started the season undercooked. At this level that makes a huge difference.

Some players will still be suffering mentally with the grief and some won’t be suffering so much I’m sure but all will be suffering physically because of the disruption to their preparations in preseason. That’s nobody’s fault it’s just how it is and it’s something that Slot has had to try to manage whilst still winning football matches.

Like I said I’m not trying to tell anyone how to think so if you just want to trash the team and manager for starting slowly then go ahead. I just think there’s more to it than that.

14 Oct 2025 10:13:13
Some staggering responses in here trying to deny grief and the effect losing a close friend has on people. No wonder male suicide rates are so high with takes like this being so common. Judging by this thread, 50% of blokes just don’t have a clue. We haven’t played well all season and you are allowed to analyse the performances, but we do still have to appreciate their is a mitigating factor, not only about the grief, but also how much it disrupted the pre-season preparations. Robbo made a lot of great points about how it delayed pre-season and created a daunting atmosphere. He wasn’t just playing on the grief aspect. Which is still a huge aspect in its own right by the way.

I’m actually disappointed in many of these responses. Not angry, because if people are ignorant of mental health, that’s not their fault. I’m just disappointed in how we’ve failed as a society to teach empathy and understanding.

14 Oct 2025 11:58:34
We are straying into political correctness here. Diogo Jota’s death was a tragic event - he was far too young to die, but he did. Over the years I have had many family and friends pass away, some of them before their time too. it always causes grief but you have to get over it. Hopefully the club are working with all staff and players on their mental welfare, not only for this tragic death but on an ongoing basis to help them with various mental challenges - not least the tragic death but also the constant stress of playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world.

All that said, when the players are training or they pull the shirt on, on matchday, their focus is on giving the best performance they can for the club and the fans and, yes, for Diogo too. It’s what they are paid to do after all and they always have the option of putting their hand up if they are not in the right frame of mind to give their best.

14 Oct 2025 12:46:08
Not here to debate whether the loss is or isn't impacting individual performances.

However, after 3 tough away games, we are back at Anfield on Sunday. The boys need us to be at our best. Anfield awaits!

14 Oct 2025 15:22:06
Bob le ponge, honestly I feel like that is a massively insensitive post on your part. So they have the world's best psychologists, so what? Adriano fell apart as a player after his father died, and was never the same player again. Of course people jumped on him saying he was a waster who came from the favelas, made it big and no longer felt like he needed to try, made fun of him for getting fat, etc.

I'm not at all saying that Jota passing has had a massive effect on our season, I really wouldn't know either way, even though I don't think anybody can dispute that it did have an effect on our preseason preparations, which are crucial for a team like ours, with as many new signings as we have. I do think, however, that it is deeply insensitive to say that it is simply an excuse and that it should have no bearing on how we think about this season or the players.

I can't believe that some of us are writing posts that amount to saying 'so somebody died, people die every day, boo hoo hoo, you're paid millions to kick a ball around so get on with it, I actually work a real job and I need entertainment so don't you dare fail me, a paying fan'. Surely we're better than that as a fanbase.

14 Oct 2025 15:32:13
And not really related, but for you to pile on the players without asking whether the tactical tweaks Slot has made are optimal for them to perform or, in Isak's case, whether he is even match fit yet, is quite consistent with the tenor of the rest of your post. Slot will fix the issues, Isak will get fitter and fitter, Flo and Isak will develop an understanding, it will happen in time. I'm hoping it happens sooner rather than later so I don't have to see fans on here parroting the major talking points from their favorite pundits every day anymore.

14 Oct 2025 16:18:39
Personally i think the posters (you know who you are) who questioned Jota's professionalism for so many years should resist the urge to use his name in vain for thumbs ups on the internet.

14 Oct 2025 19:55:13
Come on Ed025, that was a bit of banter and I’m surprised you took it any other way. I’ve nothing against bluenoses, my sister was one.

I’ve said all season we’re not playing well and I’m amazed by the results. Feel free to search.

{Ed025's Note - you made it seem that because i am an Evertonian it means i dont take the effect of Jota,s death seriously Ron..and im not having that..

13 Oct 2025 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - WhyAreYouSoGoodBrian has posted a new article entitled, Glasgow Rangers Missed The Moment With Steven Gerrard

12 Oct 2025 17:56:39
Seen every international game to check on our players. Its just a matter of time before we click. I know these international games are wiff waff but we have some special players and it will work out in maybe next 4-5 games.

12 Oct 2025 18:55:28
Hi Akira good to hear from you mate. What’s your opinion on our difficult start. Too much tinkering or expected given the whole heap of changes?

12 Oct 2025 19:04:30
Robbo was pants for Scotland, his legs have gone.

12 Oct 2025 20:10:13
Jamie Car Rager

Reference Roobbo claimed in his Sky analysis that the winning goal for chelsea reserves was because of three Robbo mistakes.

When the ball was lost by LFC to Chelsea, he was ten yards further forward than his winger Gakpo, when they frame freezed the lost LFC ball possession.

Had he been ten yards behind winger Gakpo, Jamie Car Rager claims he would have been ten yards closer to winger Estevao who scored the winning goal, Car Rager also showed the chelsea winger unmarked on his own in the build up to the winning goal.

When the winning cross was played, Jamie Car Rager again freezed the frame, and instead of looking at the crossed winning ball, Robbo can be seen quite clearly with his head between his knees not looking at the cross for the winning goal.

Last season TAA was the LFC Vice Captain, this season it is Robbo what a strange and most baffling choice when he is not a guaranteed starter for the first eleven, and his contract finishes next June 2026, surely the VC role should have gone to a player who is guaranteed to stay beyond 2026.

Bill Shankly was once asked the question who is your Captain for the season, typically Bill replied " I always want eleven Captains in my Teams"

As Bill often said: "I can only point them in the right direction, I do not kick a ball for them, the players have to find the solutions on the pitch themselves"

Graeme Souness when he was FIRST making his debut for LFC said to Sir Bob Paisley with five minutes to go before the kick off, "what do you want me to do during the game, Boss"

Sir Bob replied "I have just broken the British Transfer Record in signing you, and you're asking me how to play Football"!

YNWA 97 and 20.

12 Oct 2025 20:24:12
Older than me LFC fans will be posting no doubt Sir Kenny Dalglish cost more than Souness at circa £440,000 a year before the Souness transfer, but Sir Kennys transfer was between an English club and a Scottish club, Souness was a record between two English clubs at the time?

Sozzes for raining on someone's parade?

13 Oct 2025 04:09:41
I think most of it has to do with loss of Jota. And its pretty evident that a lack of good pre season means many players are lacking match fitness.
These pre season friendlies to Asia USA etc do more harm than good to players but are a easy money hack. Pre season far away after the emotional feelings should have been avoided. But such is the game

Then slot has not been able to identify his midfield and full backs and that just means no fluidity in play.
We have played 3RB in 8 odd games (due to injuries) and we don't know which LB is better. Other than gravy no midfielder has worked. There is no position for wirtz and in accommodating wirtz we have a bit of pace and one touch passing.
And finally Konate. Oh we have been carrying that lad this season and he is heavy. can't read can't pass can't tackle and positionally he has been inept since we bought him. I can't believe how he gets to the wrong side of an attacker every damn time! Only thing good about him was his heading and he has been awful at that too this season. His new contract offer is mind boggling and we should not offer that amount of money for such bad performances. Unfortunately we don't have an option to drop him and VVD has def lost a yard or two so we will have to see out this season. Id drop him and start gomez.

13 Oct 2025 10:45:45
Akira . I couldn't watch one international game never mind a few of them, . glutton for punishment for you .

13 Oct 2025 11:04:00
I also wondered whether the intensity of pre-season training was compromised by the Jota tragedy. We shall see in time I guess.

Hopefully the break away from AXA will allow them to reset and what better game to return to - Man Utd at Anfield! Cannot wait!

14 Oct 2025 20:52:46
Of course the intensity was compromised Fly. It’s a really delicate situation and they can’t say ‘what do you mean you’re upset? Drop and give me 20!’

I think the slow start to the season is a necessity due to a lack of preseason. We are trying to slow games down and play in bursts, score a couple and then see the games out with slow possession.

People saying why can’t Slot see it’s not working don’t have access to the information he has on the general fitness of his squad. The susceptibility to injury if not fully fit is high so he’s having to manage players through the first part of the season.

He’s not an idiot. He’s not going to change tactics to something that’s not working. We had 3 games in a row where we went 2 goals up and completely stepped off the gas, is he really going to do that 3 times in a row if it’s not absolutely necessary? There’s more to football than just sending everyone out to run through walls. We have a long season ahead and we need to keep as many players on the pitch as possible.

12 Oct 2025 12:24:28
I was gutted when Coutinho left because I had seen him and Mo play together and it was a sight to behold. Obviously in this situation now Wirtz is our Coutinho and can surely gel with Mo and Isak surely this has to be inevitable.

12 Oct 2025 19:10:56
Did Philipe have to be sold surely are very rich owner could have bought VVD and Becker from his 6 Billion fortune (Forbes) that would of strengthened the team with three staying and one having to leave weakened it on the other hand?

A lot of conjecture regarding who is the best between Wharton and Baleba ( my choice) wouldn't it be a whole lot better with the two of them signed than just one of them Mr John W. Henry?

12 Oct 2025 19:50:19
Come on man give it a break, you know it doesn't work like that.
Newcastles owners are worth circa £500 billion bit can't just go out and buy every man and his dog that can kick a football well.

12 Oct 2025 20:33:33
Coutinho wanted to leave and didn’t want to play for us anymore inventing a back injury until he got his move.

Just because we have very rich owners doesn’t mean we can’t ignore PSR.

We need defenders before we buy a midfielder.

13 Oct 2025 00:25:02
Coutinho didn't have to leave but he wanted to, even to the point of refusing to play for us. Everything else is just irrelevant after that.

11 Oct 2025 23:44:17
Hey Ed001,

Any chance of the pod coming back once you're less busy?

Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - yes mate, it was only on hiatus because of that cable getting cut in the sea, which left my internet really spotty and constantly cutting out. We would have been back now, but it is the international break and not a lot to discuss regards the Prem. Hopefully do one this week to build up to the weekend games.}

12 Oct 2025 13:19:07
Looking forward to it, Ed. I will really try to get on it cos I've missed the last two.

12 Oct 2025 13:48:13
Cheers Ed001, looking forward to it.

{Ed001's Note - thanks mate, they are good fun to do.}

12 Oct 2025 16:06:18
The pods are on YouTube, Oli. If you miss them on here, you can always catch them there. The account name is "Football Rumours" or you can just search up "Sharkopod" if it doesn't show up.

12 Oct 2025 22:50:26
Awesome, Drac. Will check them out when I have nothing to do. Like during the rest of this int'l break, lol.