Liverpool Banter 4

31 Aug 2026 18:13:34
Gakpo staying is good news. This was like an Andy Carroll / Carlton Cole level of panic buying with the options we were exploring!

31 Aug 2026 18:09:10
Gakpo is stays lads, meaning Sarr is not happening. I am much relieved. I hope we sign a CM/CDM in whatever time is left. @RobboLFC give us some good news to end this transfer window on a good note.

31 Aug 2026 18:57:00
Must admit, not sure I see the hype around Gakpo staying, he's average and is on a far higher salary than that dictates.
He didn't play bad last year because of Slot, he played bad as he's massively one dimensional, and never improved or adapted his game. Unlikely we can get 90 mill next year.

31 Aug 2026 19:03:57
Robbo gave us some news, he said Sarr should get done. It wasn't the news people wanted to hear.

31 Aug 2026 19:18:09
DeanW, I'm hoping we can revisit selling Gakpo and signing Minteh in January. I agree, he doesn't justify his salary.

31 Aug 2026 19:20:58
If we can get Sarr for a decent fee and sell Gakpo for £85m, I think that would be good business. Sarr can cover Isak (we have no Isak cover), and also be another option for rw.

31 Aug 2026 19:21:40
In isolation, selling Gakpo, I don't think is a huge deal, but if the options to replace are Sarr and a long term injured Minteh, I think it's better to keep him and try to buy a longer term solution rw.

Not ideal either way, really.

31 Aug 2026 19:22:31
So, you're wanting to sell Gakpo with all the things you say you know, for certain.
Add even more money, to buy someone you know nothing about.
With only hope that it might be better, and cheaper wages!

31 Aug 2026 19:30:04
Mks, I hope not. Minteh is levels below Cody as a player and has way less endproduct than even Darwin had with us, let alone Gakpo and Diaz.

31 Aug 2026 19:31:39
Not mad at Gakpo staying. In an ideal world, we go for a CDM and a RB, but that doesn't look like happening.

In this instance I am glad we didn't settle for Sarr just for the sake of it or Minteh, who is injured.

We also can't just go out and buy another CF because Ekitike is injured till Jan, because he and Isak are our long term CFs. Midfield and RB surely could be upgraded?

31 Aug 2026 19:46:59
Oli, Minteh would give us more balance, though, in terms of both width on both sides and defensive contributions. He's 5 years younger than Gakpo too.

31 Aug 2026 20:07:36
He is our most prolific goal scorer as things stand. It would have been absolute madness to sell him.

31 Aug 2026 20:09:16
Well yeah, it's unlikely anyone gets a higher wage unless they're the best in the world, as for some reason we gave Gakpo nearly Salah-level wage.

And I think most reasonable wingers could get Gakpo-level stats in our team, didn't he have the worst stats of any winger in the league last year (in certain stats).

31 Aug 2026 18:01:20
Can we not just sign Williams back? He was excellent again against us on either side of the fullback also.

{Ed001's Note - he was so good Gakpo got acres of space every time he got the ball to put in a cross, including for his assist. I love Neco, but he is nowhere near good enough.}

31 Aug 2026 19:09:00
I'd rather play Szoboszlai at right back than sign Neco. Kayode should be the target next year.

31 Aug 2026 18:57:05
Agree with ed1 despite Gerrard doing his best to tap him up in live tv

31 Aug 2026 19:00:13
He's better than that cliwn Frimpong Ed001. What have you made of transfer window Ed001 if it was to finish like it is now. And do you think Fsg will be bought out in full by the new consortium.

{Ed001's Note - Frimpong is not that bad.

31 Aug 2026 19:29:30
Agree Ed1. He has some postive attributes such as athleticism but is very underdeveloped technically. What I don't know is how coachable he is. Needs to work on his positioning and crossing and confidence. Having Munoz in front of him will be a big help given his work rate

31 Aug 2026 19:30:18
Thanks ed1 sick of the abuse players are getting

31 Aug 2026 19:36:07
Indeed, Ed01. This is how nostalgia tricks people, imo. I think people are just being a bit OTT and are just happy to re-sign the likes of Trent and Neco because Frimpong isn't performing right now, same players they couldn't wait to see the back of at the time esp. Neco.

The guy was getting cooked by Gakpo at will even tho, Gakpo was pretty inconsistent in his end product. The way he cooked Neco for the first goakl to Isak was a situation of Neco diving in stupidly and Gakpo rolled him, cooked Murillo and Osak scored.

As for you saying he left acres of space to Gakpo, there was a play where Kerkez spread the ball out to the right and Neco was nowhere to be found, something Frimpong gets berated for. Had Ndoye not tracked him all the way, Gakpo prolly gets a cross in and we take the lead at 2-1.

31 Aug 2026 19:44:12
Frimpong is awful. Maybe ok at going forward, when he eventually makes a pass, but the guy can't defend, constantly leaves us exposed.

Tackles Won: 0.97 per 90 (55% success rate).

Ball Recoveries: 3.27 per 90, which is significantly lower than the Premier League full-back average of ~5.5 to 6.0.



Defensive Third Touches: 22% of his total match actions occur in his own half, compared to a league average of nearly 45-50% for standard right-backs.

31 Aug 2026 19:54:38
I'm sorry but Frimpong is that bad. A very poor purchase.

31 Aug 2026 17:58:53
Big fee for the Goalie coming in next year. Wonder why it was so big? Is he better than Pesci? No mention of the fee for the young striker?

31 Aug 2026 21:04:37
He’s 6ft 7, that’s why it’s a big fee!

31 Aug 2026 17:53:26
Relieved that Gakpo is staying. To replace Gakpo with Sarr would have been criminal and it was time we saw sense. We'll never get an £80 million bid like that again for him, but considering how limited we are in offensive positions, I much prefer this outcome. Gakpo still has a few years left on his contract, and I can see us selling him down the line for a lesser fee. I could even see Gakpo leaving in Jan, if we go for Rayan in that same month.

I imagine we'll see a lot more of Munoz on the right, Barcola on the left and Gakpo covering both sides. Gakpo can also cover for Isak, when he gets injured.

Disappointed with the window, but relieved that Hughes will no longer be at the club soon. He was a friend hire and nothing more. Edwards got his mate a job, and then Hughes threw money around like a fat kid in a candy shop. No thought for squad planning, no thought for balance, just spend big and neglect the same positions for far too long.

Hopefully Iraola can work his magic. I do think Top 4 has to be the aim. I can't see us challenging a trophy either, as we simply do not have the depth needed to cover so many competitions. As long as we can observe better football, and a plan at work, then I have no issues with that. Aiming low, but feel it is realistic.

31 Aug 2026 19:32:34
Agree, Mango, although I don't think the window has been that bad. All our signings look good and fit with what Iraola wants. If we got a DM, then I think it will have been a pretty good window.

31 Aug 2026 19:39:00
Mango, are we that limited? Cos, with Barcola and Rio on the left with Vic and Cody (both can play both sides) on the right, that's enough cover for both flanks, is it not?

Don't understand that part, personally.

31 Aug 2026 20:10:32
Sadly, Frimpong is that bad, he's just not a full back, he can't defend, and has no instinct for it at all. Even Trent, who was amazing going forward, was an average defender, but it seems Frimpong is never a top attacker, or an average defender.

31 Aug 2026 17:39:26
Having seen the players Liverpool were contemplating replacing Cody with, I am glad LFC have grown a pair, meaning Cody stays!

31 Aug 2026 17:36:44
We needed a RB, RW, DM, CF for this window, known this since January.

We got none of them targets. Absolute farce.

31 Aug 2026 17:56:52
Waaah, I hate Santa!

31 Aug 2026 17:57:07
You mean like Munoz at RW? Not sure that a CF/DM was ever on the cards, esp. since Iraola does not play with one.

And for CF? I don't think there was any indication of a CF ever being on the cards.

RB? I do agree.

Just saying.

31 Aug 2026 18:00:35
But but but... We got another left winger.

We are like Michael Foot's Labour. And just as effective.

Woo-ha. We will outscore the opposition. As they get tired running back to the centre circle after running the ball into the net unchallenged, we'll score an equaliser!

31 Aug 2026 18:03:03
We bought 2 LW. 😅

31 Aug 2026 18:16:54
Rw Barcola, Munoz, or did I imagine that!
To be fair, it has been poor planning by all involved. On the plus side we have Iraola who I am very excited to see what he can do with this team. Only time will tell.

Keep believing.

31 Aug 2026 18:20:59
It's been the same for years under FSG, never buying what was needed. How many times have we seen them let the club down. Sooner they're gone the better.

31 Aug 2026 18:24:50
LB is vital.

31 Aug 2026 18:50:51
You decided we need that, presumably? RW makes sense, sure. Salah left. RB, DM and CF, not one player has left except Ramsay and Bajcetic, who haven't kicked a ball for us in about 4 or 5 years.

We needed a CB because we screwed up the signing of Guehi last summer, and we needed to replace Salah, Robertson, Konate and Jones, who left this summer. All of those things were achieved via incoming players, except replacing Jones. Munoz and Barcola can both play RW, Tsimikas replaces Robbo, Araujo replaces Konate, Jacquet fills the Guehi gap.

By the way, of our fans said Jones was awful anyway, so let's hope they were correct and it's no loss given the emergence of Nyoni. It seems to me as though not replacing Jones with an incoming player was deliberate because of Nyoni, as Iraola name dropped Nyoni when asked who'd surprised and really impressed him.



This is just a very dramatic and plainly untruthful post. You've projected your own desires as a factual need. If you don't like Frimpong/Bradley (RB), Gravenberch/Endo (DM) or Isak/Ekitike (CF) that's on you and entirely your prerogative. You may even be proven correct, so I'm not criticising your opinion, just how you've presented it for maximum dramatic effect. The club's transfer policy isn't 'satisfy Fowler_9'. At no point all summer were we seriously linked by a reliable source with any players in any of those positions (RB, DM or CF). So the club's recruitment experts obviously disagree with you that they were what we needed.

Time to support the players/coaches at the club and quit this toxic modern day obsession with 'winning the transfer window'.

31 Aug 2026 18:58:34
Are people really at the point where they're saying AI doesn't play with a CM?

Just 4 defenders, 5 wingers and a forward.

31 Aug 2026 19:12:13
Dickie, I think you're spouting tosh on purpose now. You keep getting the same replies to your repetitive guff.

31 Aug 2026 19:41:55
Dean, I never mentioned CM cos the OP didn't mention that either.

31 Aug 2026 17:31:11
Coutinho, gini, bissouma, alaba, zaha, sancho, bennacer, carvajal all free agents
Deal to be made there somewhere?

31 Aug 2026 17:45:54
Yeah, but hopefully not us.

31 Aug 2026 17:47:54
Coutinho - career finished
Gini - career finished
Bissouma - career never started
Alaba - career finished
Zaha - career finished
Sancho - Bundesliga stat padder
Bennacer - career never started
Carvajal - career finished

God, I'm starting to sound like Viktor.

31 Aug 2026 17:51:35
Give me strength.

31 Aug 2026 17:57:41
They are free agents for a reason, @Last.

31 Aug 2026 18:01:08
Do any of them play left wing?

And/or are they a teenage goalkeeper?

31 Aug 2026 18:02:12
Carvajal for sure.

31 Aug 2026 18:02:27
Depends on whether you want to foot the wage bill for dross.

31 Aug 2026 18:13:18
We could take Cou-Tea-nho for the kitchen.

31 Aug 2026 18:20:17
I'd say you're pretty spot on tho, MK.

31 Aug 2026 18:44:43
Saved me saying MK.

31 Aug 2026 18:47:32
Carvajal for a year couldn't be any worse than our current right back.

31 Aug 2026 19:47:06
Hello, nah it would. We may need a new rb. That doesn't mean I want a semi-retired replacement in Carvajal.

Same goes for Alaba replacing Kerkez. Just saying.

@MKS, you said it a lot better than I could. Bravo, sir.

31 Aug 2026 17:14:57
Gakpo stays, according to Romano. £85m bid by City rejected due to difficulty finding a replacement.

I think it makes sense to be honest, neither Sarr or Minteh were particularly inspiring choices and Gakpo has been our best attacker playing on the right in the first couple of games.

I expect that will be all for this rotten transfer window.

31 Aug 2026 17:36:52
Sounds good to me. No problem at all keeping Gakpo. Always a good option.

31 Aug 2026 17:37:30
Rotten transfer window? Jacquet - £60m, Barcola - £123m, Munoz - £34m, Araujo - Loan. Yeah, it's a real stinker. Let's have some perspective, please.

31 Aug 2026 17:37:35
Harvey on loan to Valencia.

31 Aug 2026 17:40:21
It's for the best.

Gakpo is simply better than Sarr, Minteh etc.

31 Aug 2026 17:42:50
Yeah, it's the best option between the horrible options we have.

Now, not signing a CDM or a RB in this window has been the worst idea from the club.

31 Aug 2026 17:57:06
Well, further perspective... We needed 6 players, not 4. We have no natural rw or dm. We have lost Salah, Robbo, Kanate, Jones. The usual suspects are still injured. I would say we've made some good signings, but neglected to sign players for key positions and left AI well short for the season. Unless we make some further signings, not a great window at all.

31 Aug 2026 17:59:30
"Gakpo stays, according to Romano. £85m bid by City rejected due to difficulty finding a replacement."

That was always on the cards, and as long as we don't get the bang average and injured Minteh (9 goals in 66 Brighton games) won't be coming here, I'm good.

31 Aug 2026 18:01:40
Gakpo is not a better fit than Minteh. You are sleeping on the lad, he would
transform
this side and there is a reason he is Andonis first
pick
.
He absolutely
needs hard working wingers, in and out of possession, Gakpo is not that.


Even Sarr would
add more than Gakpo does to tue the overall way the team plays, and will
be needed at CF when Isak gets injured.

31 Aug 2026 18:06:47
Yes, as long as we just attack down the left, then we should be fine. 👌

31 Aug 2026 19:52:46
Swamp, I've seen a lot of Minteh, on the contrary. In addition, how will a guy who has scored 9 goals in 66 games for BHA transform our team where we have players like much-villified Darwin who, in one season, outscored him while the guy he would have replaced has scored a decent amount of goals that literally helped us to trophies, including a PL title?

Also, if you are talking about transforming our team, the likes of VVD, Ali, Fab, Robbo, Trent and the Sadio Mane that people keep comparing Minteh to, really transformed our team.



Minteh would do no such thing, esp. with him being injured for the next several weeks and no one knows how he will come back from a damaged ankle. Just saying.

31 Aug 2026 22:37:09
@redreaper, 2 of the 4 players you refer to were not first team players, and Konate was much vilified on here, rightly so most of the time. Only player I’d have given another 12 months from your list was Salah.

There are no perfect teams in the PL, they all have flaws.

I’d have liked us to get a proper RB but I think the issues in midfield can be fixed by players actually listening to the manager, not by spending another gazillion £££s.