Liverpool Banter 4

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.

12 Apr 2026 13:21:40
If Villa win the Europa League and finish top 5 does it go down to the 6th team for Champions League next season?

12 Apr 2026 13:53:22
No, I don't think so, mate.

Only takes effect if the club wins the competition (CL or Europa) and misses out on the league places.

Therefore the club that wins it qualifies and so do the teams in the league positions.

12 Apr 2026 14:42:35
Jk, I've just looked it up because they like to make things more complicated. If Villa finish 4th or higher, it will likely go to, say, Rangers if they win the league, but if they finish 5th, as that is an extra place, then that moves down to the 6th placed team. Same if we win the Champions League.

12 Apr 2026 12:56:23
I’m not in the know and will never claim to be.
But my thoughts recently with the departures of Mo and Robertson, Slot is here for another season.

Both players have either been subbed, not started big games but in Robertson's case always plays well when he starts.
Would they be starters under a new manager, would we get or could we get another year out of both.
Possibly but they know game time will be even more limited next year as we stick with Slot.



Also I rated Alonso when he played, gutted when we tried to replace him with Gareth Barry the did replace him with Aquilani but did he not turn down our approach before or did he just rule himself out of any move before joining Madrid.

Because we complain if someone says no, or asks to leave why are we now lauded him as this new saviour.

12 Apr 2026 13:36:11
Surprised Salah's gone if he knows the managers leaving.

12 Apr 2026 13:42:06
Alonso stayed at Leverkusen, mate, when we were replacing Klopp.

When he left Leverkusen for Real, Slot had already been in situs for a year.

12 Apr 2026 13:44:26
Sweetcorn, the way I understand it, Alonso wanted to stay at Leverkusen another season. We then employed Slot.

Then Alonso joined Real Madrid, beginning of this season, even though he had a 70% win ratio. I believe player power, mainly asking certain players to work hard defensively, forced him out.

12 Apr 2026 17:54:25
As you know, Florian, his dig earlier in the same was aimed at the manager's minions Hughes and Edwards too.

12 Apr 2026 12:34:07
Any idea eds of how young Chambers is getting on at Charlton? Is he still held in high regard by the club? Seems to start every game at wingback, usually plays about an hour. don't know whether he constantly comes off because he's just been poor (although surely he wouldn't keep starting) or whether they are been careful with him after the injuries.

Suppose its tough covering that whole side all game too. Just asking because obviously with Robbo leaving he could be an option for us. Pretty sure Alonso tried to sign him at one point too.

{Ed001's Note - I haven't been able to keep up with how he is getting on sorry.}

12 Apr 2026 12:23:27
Vital 3 points. A better performance definitely. 1st half sloppy, 2nd half and against a full flowing PSG we will be punished time after time. This win, like many we've had this season, only papers over the huge cracks within this team and keeps Slot's execution on hold till at least the end of the season.

12 Apr 2026 13:31:31
Agreed, we do lack any modicum of consistency. Can't for the life of me see us blocking out PSG, which means we would need at least 4 goals to go thru. Big ask, never gonna happen. 😏

12 Apr 2026 13:48:11
3-1 would put us in ET and a shoot out, Rover.

We wouldn't "need" 4 goals, but we got them against Barca in the CL.

12 Apr 2026 14:00:36
Correct, Ron. Away goals have gone now.

I'll be honest, it's gonna be a task stopping PSG scoring. They were absolutely class last week with their speed of movement and ball play.

Yes, we won yesterday, but we need to be at our absolute best to go through on Tuesday night.

12 Apr 2026 17:11:00
Ron, you're talking about a Liverpool team that had a phenomenal 97 point season and won the Champions League only to follow it up with a Premier League title on 99 points. A team that was known for their phenomenal mentality and relentless work rate...

2 things the current squad simply do not possess.

And that's just 2 factors from a whole laundry list that Slot's set-up is missing.

12 Apr 2026 17:26:06
Aye, Ron. That would be fun, watching this team blowing out their arse after 70 minutes and trying to take PSG into extra time. 🤣

12 Apr 2026 12:10:35
I know not too many will agree with me, but I felt we benefited from Gakpo playing up top yesterday. I thought he was poor on the ball, but I thought he was excellent off it. His pressing and workrate really helped us, particularly in 1st half, and something that we've lacked for most of this season.

12 Apr 2026 12:58:22
Agreed. Wasn't great, but put in a shift. A big difference to Ekitike's half hearted token jog press.

12 Apr 2026 13:33:19
I agree, he had a very good game, all in all. Could very well have scored with the chance he skewed wide and the ball that Frimpong crossed into him. If the ball had been slightly higher, enough for him to head it, it was almost a certain goal.

12 Apr 2026 13:44:51
Landed right in his midsection. Too high for his knee or foot, and too low for his head.

I thought he could have been slightly more clever with the shot that was blocked.

The defender read it well, and if he had chosen to roll it to the side of him, Isak would have had a 4 yard tap in.

Agreed, though, that he showed some good energy out of possession.

12 Apr 2026 11:57:46
I guess the French F.A. look after their teams. PSG 2 games in 10 days. LFC 4 games in 10 days.

12 Apr 2026 12:45:09
I don't think it matters how often we play, Robby.

12 Apr 2026 12:51:33
Aside from PSG, the French League is not a serious league - they need to do everything they can to maximize PSG's chances of winning as it benefits their coefficient, something other French teams will not be particularly upset about.
The Premier League, on the other hand, simply won't get away with favouring one team over another as the league is very competitive.

The PL's strength definitely hinders its club's chances in Europe, but the other leagues generate chump change in comparison because nobody much cares.

12 Apr 2026 12:59:21
Slightly moved goal posts there, mate.

PSG also played their cup game on the Friday, so it's PSG 3 games in 12 days and Liverpool 4 games in 11 days.

12 Apr 2026 14:28:37
PSG will come in to the game cold.
We will come in after a 2-0 home win with Salah scoring and young Rio tearing it up.

12 Apr 2026 15:27:09
Only for Slot to bench them, Ron. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

12 Apr 2026 11:30:04.
Salah and Robbo have confirmed they are leaving but there's a few others who will be out of contract come the summer or in 2027.
2026:-
Woodman
Rhys Williams
Konate (perhaps re-signing)

2027:-
Calvin Ramsay
Joe Gomez
VVD
Wataro Endo
Bajcetic
Curtis Jones

Do we keep any of those?
Jones and Bajcetic would count as home-grown so if moved on would count as pure profit.

12 Apr 2026 12:46:56
It's important we tie Rhys Williams down. That's it, just tie him down.

{Ed001's Note - he can afford to pay someone to cut the ropes unfortunately. He seems to spend most of his life jetting off around the world in a private jet.}

12 Apr 2026 13:03:42
I'd give Jones a new contract, decent squad player. If we could get any sort of fee for Bajcetic, Endo and Ramsay this summer, then I think we should.
Gomez for me stays until his contract is up as versatile cover (when fit).

12 Apr 2026 13:26:52
Is that right, Ed? Unkinbelievable! The phrase stole a living applies to him. I'm struggling to think of a more useless player who's earnt so much money. I'm being serious. He couldn't cut it at Kidderminster or Morecambe. It's not his fault he's useless, and equally it's not his fault someone saw fit to pay him a ridiculous wage. Get rid ASAP.

{Ed001's Note - Edwards gave him a beautiful contract for him. His Instagram is regularly him jetting off via private jet that he hires via some concierge service, so it won't even be a cheap deal.}

12 Apr 2026 08:17:13
Keegan’s Perm.

I see it as below. It’s gonna be real tight. Ultimately, I think we are marginally better than Chelsea and will finish 5th

Liverpool-
Everton away - Draw
Palace home - Win
Utd away - Loss
Chelsea home - Win
Villa away - Draw
Brentford home - Draw
9 Points

Utd:-
Leeds home - Win
Chelsea away - Draw
Brentford home - Draw
Liverpool home - Win
Sunderland away - Win
Forest home - Win
Brighton away - Loss
14 Points

Villa:-
Forest away - Draw
Sunderland home - Win
Fulham away - Draw
Spurs home - Win
Burnley away - Win
Liverpool home - Draw
City away - Loss
11 Points

Chelsea:-
City home - Loss
Utd home - Draw
Brighton away - Loss
Forest home - Win
Liverpool away - Loss
Spurs home - Win
Sunderland away - Draw
8 Points

The Premier League is dire right now though, it’s extremely poor.

12 Apr 2026 08:36:35
If we could win our 3 home games, which includes beating Chelsea, I think that would clinch 5th. Unless Chelsea won today and got a lift out of it, I don't really see them winning too many either.

Don't see us getting too many points in our away games. Think Everton+ Utd be licking their lips at playing us now. Villa, maybe if still in Europa at that stage, might be doable to pick up something there.

12 Apr 2026 09:09:18
Final League table never lies. You finish where you deserve to finish.

If we finish outside of the CL places then the manager and players will have no one to blame but themselves.

12 Apr 2026 09:14:02
I don't feel confident with many of our games, to be honest.
There's some tricky ones there.
Liverpool has always managed to raise their game when we have really needed to in the past, but that's always been inspired by an inspiring manager.

I know Slot gets pelters already, and I do feel a bit harsh saying it, but the man's about as dull and uninspiring as you can get. So it's up to the players and the fans to get this one over the line.

12 Apr 2026 10:15:57
Last year we would expect to win all those except maybe draws against Chelsea and Utd.

12 Apr 2026 10:22:01
Fully agree, JK.

12 Apr 2026 10:29:27
I think we'll scrape fifth. There'll be a lot of pressure on the derby, because of that I think we'll get a point. Man Utd away also a high pressure fixture that the club can't afford to lose. Nothing to do with CL, more to do with pride.

12 Apr 2026 10:39:16
We'll win all 6 of those games.

12 Apr 2026 11:25:45
Is that one of Ron's cryptic sarcasm points? Either way, that ain't happening.

12 Apr 2026 11:48:23
This season, there is no predicting any of those results, for any of those teams.

12 Apr 2026 12:03:00
Ron, you need to look at odds, mate, for winning those 6 games and going through to CL semi. I'd imagine they'd be huge.

Get some money on it.

12 Apr 2026 12:06:39
I was looking at the stats and Villa have massively overperformed their xG since their terrible start. They aren't a particularly creative team to begin with and have scored a lot of low percentage chances from outside the box (Morgan Rogers on his insane hot streak comes to mind).

Their middling form of late (though, to be fair, they have also had some injuries) shows that it might all be catching up to them now.

12 Apr 2026 12:11:50
H'on the Ron! 🧨💥