Liverpool banter 5

23 Apr 2026 19:31:10
Checking in with the bookies regarding our manager situation. We have, starting with the most likely odds:

Alonso
Slot stays
Ireola
Hoennes, Enrique, Naglesmann

Beyond that we have Brendan Rodgers available at 50/1. 😉

23 Apr 2026 21:54:43
Safe bet Slot stays unfortunately.

23 Apr 2026 22:04:42
Clot goes Hip, Hip, Hooray

Iraola goes Real Madrid,

Enrique stays PSG per contract.

Alonso it is then? if the other also rans were not good enough for Nottingham Forest, spurs or chelsea then they are also not good enough for LFC.

FSG knows if the Clot stays on, pre-season tour revenues and next seasons revenues will fall drastically.

man United started the season as the laughing stock, wonder who rightly wears that crown now, job done Agent Clot!

24 Apr 2026 11:36:04
United have done well under Carrick, which is nothing to do with Slot (or Clot, if you are a 5 year old in the playground). We have been very poor to watch but, I'd be willing to wager that one of the club's major targets for this season is to qualify for next season's CL.

We are being helped with UEFA allowing 5 English teams into next season's CL but irrespective of the numbers of clubs allowed to qualify Slot will probably stumble over the finish line in one of the qualification spots and will meet one of his main KPIs.

23 Apr 2026 19:16:17
I don't know about anyone else but unless something definite happens I think the management chat needs parked!?

We will know soon enough!

Hopefully LFC get CL confirmed asap and we move on from a difficult season!

Should we just rip the bandage off completely by letting Mo, Robbo, Ali and Virgil leave this Summer?

23 Apr 2026 19:59:49
You are literally on a rumours site telling people to park their rumours chat. Okay, lad.

23 Apr 2026 20:06:29
Virgil is still our best and most reliable defender by far. Yes he has not had a great season but then who has. The midfield gives almost zero protection anyway. Also, he is as respected as they come and a huge leader. Selling him would be a very foolish decision in my opinion.

23 Apr 2026 20:07:47
It feels like the biggest issue at the minute especially after recent bits in the media. Potential players will always be talked about but the level of discontent with how we've been this season is gong to lead people to vent and ask for change.


We've been talking about a ball winning defensive midfielder for god knows how many years now, i'd still like us to sign one that's good enough to start.

23 Apr 2026 20:18:45
Yeah, @Slot. That was wild.

23 Apr 2026 20:19:46
No not at all mate LOL! As the last few days on here has shown football changes quickly!

It is the last week of April so if Slot is leaving we will know soon enough then we can speculate on next Manager. Until then there are 5 games to play!

If you know something definite then feel free to share lad no worries!

23 Apr 2026 21:13:02
Oh thanks, beneficent lord!

Well, I'm saving what I know for definite for the Liverpool Facts board, or maybe I'll post them on LFC Transfers 2028-29

23 Apr 2026 21:40:22
I agree, let's stop talking about management rumours, its too negative, let's stop talking about transfer rumours too, actually let's park all the rumours cause there's just too much negative energy right now, let's build ourselves a campfire instead and sing kumbi-f***ing-ya instead.

23 Apr 2026 22:32:22
Let's talk knitting patterns and top off the pow wow with who are favourite Spice Girl is, and whether you should put the milk first?

23 Apr 2026 23:41:20
@SSSS, the daily conversation about Slot has appeared multiple times every day for the past 9 months. It isn't a rumour - it is just a daily wind-up for obsessives.

Rumours are good fun - do you think the 'conversation' about Slot is good fun? We have established that most of us would like to see him replaced. I think we are up to the third or fourth poll on the same subject. What else is there to discuss about Slot?

24 Apr 2026 03:36:22
That's exactly my point @WestDerbyWandererIV thank you!

This is a great page with good information and contributors!

Slot may well be ok with leaving to be with his family after an emotionally draining season for himself and LFC but by the sounds of it all options are still open! I don't think LFC are sure yet because there is as much uncertainty around Hughes as there is Slot! If people still want to go around in circles then fair enough but nothing is going to happen until the season ends I personally I am just going to enjoy Mo and Robbo's last games in LFC shirts!

24 Apr 2026 07:09:25
Sporty

23 Apr 2026 18:08:16
I just hope whoever they bring in or if Slot remains, they give them the tools they need to implement their formation and tactics.
I see Hoeness plays an out and out holding defensive midfielder alongside Stiller, who is also his captain.
He likes a 4-2-3-1 and his teams to work hard in and out of possession.

23 Apr 2026 18:34:07
Molby, Slot did not even have the tools last season in terms of signing yet he created a variation of the Klopp system which ended up dominated the league, winning it at a canter. All credit to him and the players, btw.

Now he was given more money and way better tools than any LFC manager has had in one summer and suddenly doesn't know how to coach himself out of a paperbag because his system/tactics is ship and doesn't want to change for anyone or anything. That is a Slot issues, not a tools/formation issue IMO.

As for Hoeness, never seen Stuttgart play this season. Never heard of the guy either so can't comment.

23 Apr 2026 19:02:09
I agree Molby. This is the most important thing.

Going into this season trying to play 4/3/3 with a squad built for a 4/4/2 Diamond was horrendous.

No wingers, slow team, and trying to shoehorn midfielders into fullback positions. It was a disaster and Set up to fail from the off

23 Apr 2026 20:48:56
I am not defending Slot and he is very lucky not to have been sacked.
His teams in Holland were built around a solid back four with two fullbacks who could also play centre half and inverted into midfield.
A double pivot in midfield with one being a proper defensive midfielder.
A number 10 play maker.
Fast, hard working wingers who could get to the byline and cut the ball back and a hard working centre forward who could hold the ball up and link up play.


We now have hardly any of those features in our current squad.
Either Slot has abandoned the tactics that got him the job completely, which is then totally his own fault or he hasn't been given the signings that he needs to implement that formation.
There seems to be no coordination between the management and coach.

23 Apr 2026 21:41:40
Fat chance of that happening with Edwards and Hughes at the club

23 Apr 2026 22:52:48
We have a def midfielder (endo) and Slot ignored him until he got injured. We have a fast winger (Chiesa) and he is not being used either - he might not be the player he was but he offers something different.

So not sure we can totally blame the transfer committee for Slots failings.
And imo a great coach will change his tactics to suit the players he has.

24 Apr 2026 07:08:17
So dumping 3 100+ million players on the manager and asking the manger to make them fit in straight away and not signing a CB and winger that we desperately needed in January has nothing to do with it.

Its simple club was overwhelmed with emotion with DJ and then went for too much change too quick in the summer when only adding wirtz would have been fine with addition of a CB.

Season started with Too much change without any time to bed in players and find the best way strategy and formation. Season started well and then it all went haywire the moment we had our first RB injury to bradley.

Again i reiterate this season was planned badly by powers that be and they have to hold responsibility. Slot on his part tried best to soothe players with rest and holidays but that does not work in a demanding league like Premier League. Senior players had disagreements with manager over being overly casual and they questioned his authority which the manager had to put his foot down and bench players ending up disjointing the team.

This is not a season that we got right from the start so the effort to improve needs to be collective. Some big players will leave and we will be much better and fitter next season.

A new manager solves nothing in this moment.
Qualify for CL, win next 5 games and then plan next season collectively starting with getting right players.

24 Apr 2026 08:48:45
Chiesa is not fast nor is he fit enough.

Endo isn't the starting level CDM that people are talking about

24 Apr 2026 11:57:47
Endo is a good squad member who is useful as a sub coming on for the last 20 minutes to close a game down,

Chiesa seems like a decent bloke who is committed to doing his best. I was really, really pleased when we signed him for a modest sum.

Sadly he hasn't got back to anywhere near his pre-injury levels and his body doesn't seem able to get to the level required to play regularly in the PL.

He tries but he is just too lightweight for the demands of the PL. It's not anybody's fault and, I'd guess, it isn't for the want of trying but the lad will never reach PL standard, which is a real shame given what he could have done if he hadn't suffered the injury.

23 Apr 2026 17:13:39
Not a huge surprise, as I have said all along and still being told Slot will be in charge next season.

Seems that quite a few people are going back on what they said and utilising the line "things move quickly in football".

Also great to see all the Sebastian Hoeneß experts have come out. Even better all the ones saying they didn't want Alonso anyway.

Sit back, relax, see some new signings come in and let Slot do his job.

23 Apr 2026 17:29:25
Slots gone deal with it.

23 Apr 2026 17:30:52
Slot doing his job at Liverpool is what we are all afraid of unless you have enjoyed the style of football we try to play now

23 Apr 2026 17:40:19
I can't see it, he hasn't been offered a new deal and I can't see the club backing him on transfers if it's his last year

23 Apr 2026 17:41:28
Has anyone stopped him from doing his job? What about the rumours that he's homesick?

He's been caught out this season w set-pieces, long balls, lack of creativity w supposed world-class talent, low-blocks, we can't do basic defending, no pattern to our play, no fight in the players bar Dom, players aren't fit. I want to know who has stopped Slot doing his job and sack them. What will he be caught out by next year as the PL continues to evolve? Will he get the "memo" that he didn't get this last season and adjust accordingly?

Don't care if we sign top top talent. I can get the same golf clubs Rory has but doesn't mean I can hit them anything like him. He's got great players and can't motivate any of them or play to their strengths.

Slot has picked his path and I've never seen a manager more stubborn, arrogant, disconnected, clueless and lacking in personality. Hopefully he's on his way here shortly.

23 Apr 2026 18:11:38
six signings came last summer, and Clot did a great job?

Leicester fans said the same as you ten years ago after a Fluke PL win 5000-1 winners that season, they have since dropped out of the Premier, the Championship and are now in League One.

Chelsea are the current World Club Champions and have just sacked a manager after losing five straight games, Clot lost 9 out of 12 early doors, the worst run of results by any LFC manager in 73 years, it has taken the month of April to achieve 50 plus PL points. Deliberately picked an LFC team to get beat at Anfield, we are LFC we don't surrender any game before a ball has been even kicked.

As for Alonso he got sacked at RM because his results were not good enough, no PL club would ever touch Clot with a Barge Pole why should we? Alonso has a great CV played Clot twice, lost twice with a 5-0 aggregate score.

It's always quicker and easier to reach the bottom than the top, Leicester and Chelsea fans will tell you that also?

As for "John-nies" number six? they can also touch the "Bottom" as well! but not with a Barge Pole hopefully!

{Ed001's Note - Xabi wasn't sacked because of results, he had one of their highest ever win ratios, he was sacked because the players moaned to Perez about him making them work hard.}

23 Apr 2026 18:35:55
Yeah, a manager was sacked for 70% win ratio. Take the day off, mate.

23 Apr 2026 19:00:59
Jonny No6 is a real number two. The ITKs here do an amazing job. I don't know who you think you are to come talking trash.

23 Apr 2026 19:03:12
The club was in talks with Alonso, they've staled, nobody's gone back on their word or trying to use excuses, get off your high horse

23 Apr 2026 19:13:13
Defeat at Anfield in the UCL set off a run of only two victories in eight games, turning a five point lead over Barcelona into a four point deficit in the La Liga.

Though Alonso had a circa 70% success rate, Arbeloa best thus far 65% and the La Liga deficit now stands at nine points.

I can comfortably say however Alonso/Iraola/Enrique would be my choice over Clot, his success win rate so far 25-26 is circa 48%.
P33 16 W, 7D, 10 PL losses. 18 competitive games lost thus far.

Ten Hag won Two Major Trophies FA Cup/Carabao while at man United for circa 2 and a half seasons. So if Clot rightfully goes, his fellow countryman beats him by 50% for Major Trophies won.

LFC under Clot concede the first goal every three games 37/104, a 21% win rate when behind in a game.

Not even Clot can challenge his failures above.

{Ed001's Note - and thanks Mr Bond!}

23 Apr 2026 19:32:31
Didn't know La Liga is a tougher league than the Premier to win OR?

Only two teams realistically win La Liga like the Scottish Premier League, every blue moon a different winner.

Arne Clot had a 65% win rate at Feyernoord, when he won it he also finished second the season after, so what he built he could not sustain, he has a history of this one will suggest!

23 Apr 2026 20:24:11
Err, Mr. bond, was that for me? because if it was, I have no idea what you are referring to because I never made such a comparison nor mentioned the PL or SPL in my comment.

You are probably hearing voices that sound like me in your own head which is strange because you have no idea what I sound like.

23 Apr 2026 21:50:46
Mr. Bond, Wouldn't it be 100%? If Slots 1 trophy is 100% then Ten Hags 2 titles are 200%, beating slot by 100%. To use 50% in that context you would say Slot won 50% less trophies, not Ten Hag won 50% more. Easy mistake to make when you're typing a post whilst trying to escape from some supervillains secret lair.

24 Apr 2026 06:25:32
007 comparing Ten Hag's trophy wins at Man United to Slot's at Liverpool and saying it's 50% better is strange.
You'd rather win the carabao cup and fa cup over the Premier League?
Use of maths doesn't work in your comparison.


I like most want to see a managerial change but this isn't one of the reasons for me.
I want to see us playing a different style with higher tempo like we did under klopp. Slot's style is too safe and far less effective.

23 Apr 2026 16:48:30
Not much to say really. My highlight of the Derby Match was the sight of Missie Pickword sitting on his backside banging his hands on the floor like a sullen little toddler. Oh a joy to my eyes. 😀

23 Apr 2026 18:37:31
@Mea, did you see the part where Gator arms and Tarkowski looking whierdly at each other after the goal was scored like, "What da heck just happened"?

Priceless, mate.

23 Apr 2026 20:56:17
I think Pickford might have been looking for an explanation as to why Tarkowski was pulling on his shirt!

23 Apr 2026 16:32:29
Of the players who remain at the club who were core members of Klopp's peak years, Alisson is the only one who has not yet shown clear decline. Yes - his injury problems seem to have increased but his handling is still impeccable and he still makes saves where the striker is the clear favorite. Losing him before his contract ends, and for less than £20m, might hit harder than any of the others of Klopp's key men who have moved on/ are moving on.

I think pretty much regardless of who replaces Alisson, whether Mamardashvili or someone else coming in, we might be about to really understand what a truly outstanding goalkeeper he has been for us. I know that people often refer to Clemence as the best we've ever had. That was just before my time (I remember Clemence in his later years at Tottenham). In that pre-Premier League period, Southall is the keeper that always comes to mind as the stand out in my memory. In the Premier League, I think Schmeichel and Alisson are in a group of two as the best (never understood people putting Ederson and Alisson at the same level). Schmeichel and Alisson were/are both so good that they regularly made saves that they had no right to make and they indisputably won matches or held onto draws for the team. Alisson's contribution to what we've achieved since 2018 has been enormous. Not sure I'll ever see another Liverpool keeper as good.

23 Apr 2026 17:21:23
Petr Cech was a top keeper, before his injury.

{Ed025's Note - great keeper Rome..

23 Apr 2026 17:37:34
Galls me to say it but Schmeichel was the best keeper i have ever watched. Allisson runs him close though.

23 Apr 2026 17:43:25
Yeah, I would say prime Cech was up there in the same bracket as Schmeichel and Alisson, with Van Der Sar in the group immediately below them.

I would also argue that Pepe was in the '2nd tier' group too for a few years

23 Apr 2026 17:57:12
The real madrid keeper Courtois is a top top player he is up there with best.

23 Apr 2026 18:41:42
I would pick Ali ahead of them all only because of the extremely open system he played in under Klopp and was still magnificent for all those years.

Also, I think Ali would be even better than say Cech in that defensive system Cech played even tho, I rate Cech and Schmeichel very highly.

Not sure Cech or Schmeichel would survive in that open/high line system Ali played in in his prime. Just my opinion.

23 Apr 2026 19:15:50
Becker the greatest in my view. Along with Virgil, he turned a soft defence into a title-winning one. Apart from a good few months from Reina and Dudek, our goalkeepers had been awful since Clemence. Bruce was part of a successful team, but never top tier.

I reckon that Becker and Schmiechel the two key signings in the Premiership era.

23 Apr 2026 20:26:18
Indeed, Monstersouness. To me, Ali is way better than a lot of people think even tho, they rate him very highly already.

23 Apr 2026 20:59:55
I think Ali is the best, but I also think it's wrong to say he hasn't shown signs of decline. Think most of this season he's been injured or coming back from an injury, and he's looked pretty rusty any time he's played as the season has gone on.

Don't want him to leave, a fit Ali is still the best in the world, but he's not been top class this season.

24 Apr 2026 00:09:37
Iker Casillas, Oliver Kahn, Buffon.

Shay Given was a good goalkeeper for a number of years, not the best but he was solid and dependable.

23 Apr 2026 15:15:30
Not sure if it's been discussed before as I couldnt find anything with the search function, but with uncertainty regarding Alonso, and some saying Hoeness is of interest.
Can't say ive ever watched Stuttgart play, how would folks describe his style of play etc and how he likes to set up his team?

23 Apr 2026 16:23:53
Edo01 described him as the closest style to prime Klopp, so pretty mouth watering

23 Apr 2026 16:38:15
If that's true I would definitely not be opposed to bringing heavy metal football back to our club

23 Apr 2026 18:26:29
Hoeness style is apparently the same Klopp . Didn't we get told that about slot?? 😂

23 Apr 2026 19:06:33
It'd be genuinely interesting for Ed001 to expand on that description because I suppose we all see different things in "prime Klopp".

I see intensity of the press, speed in transition, rapid wingers and a creative, intelligent number 9.

Can't say I see that from Stuttgart really but they play in a different league so it's hard to compare.

{Ed001's Note - the first two I was referring to, not so much the latter pair. I think of Klopp's main features, at prime level, were the press and attacking transitions. You can do that numerous ways, it doesn't need wingers or a creative, intelligent number 9.}

23 Apr 2026 20:20:34
Thanks Ed001 👍

{Ed001's Note - very welcome Ronald.}

23 Apr 2026 15:09:49
Ed001, according to the ITKs it's looking like Hoeness is the most likely candidate for the summer. I'll admit I don't know much about him other than he manages stuttgart.

Do you think he would be a good fit? Is his playing style an upgrade on slot etc?

{Ed001's Note - he is very similar to the style of play Klopp used before joining us, so should suit us down to the ground.}

23 Apr 2026 16:39:14
I must have typed out my question at the same time as this post so apologies ed for not double checking newer posts

23 Apr 2026 18:48:17
With huge clear out expected will the DOF buy players to suit Hoeness's game. If yes, does it mean that Hoeness will have say in transfers? How will Izak fit in?

23 Apr 2026 14:47:05
With all this stuff going on around about the manager.

I would be interested to see whether ed01 would be interested in doing a tactical review and comparison of the managers of interest we are looking into.

I could imagine it would be a great write up but I also am aware it would take a bit of research and time to cover it. But we ask anyway as can only say no.

But it would be an analysis and comparison of the following -

Alonso
Hoeness
Enrique
Iraola

I think it could be an interesting read to see how the 4 compare, playing style, setup and how they work.

I know a lot of us say we know a fair bit but as actual comparison or breakdown I think would be really interesting to see.

This is also open to members to input their own write ups as well. Be cool to see what everyone thinks and how we all see these managers.

{Ed001's Note - Zeddicus already asked for this, so I am already working on an article on it.}

23 Apr 2026 15:40:19
Amazing! Thank you Ed

23 Apr 2026 16:44:06
Great minds think alike SI09!

23 Apr 2026 16:44:32
Although I asked Ed001 to include Slot in the list too, just to get his blood boiling!

23 Apr 2026 17:05:37
Ed1. great work my man

23 Apr 2026 18:42:59
I like that, Zed. That will definitely fire Ed01 up.

23 Apr 2026 21:15:58
I'm looking forward to this one. Good man ED01. It'll make interesting reading.

23 Apr 2026 22:20:32
Ed001, mate, if I could a further nuance, could you compare how each manager suits our key players? We're not Chelsea so we're not going to replace everyone, key players like Virg, Dom, Wirtz etc so it would be interesting to consider how each style works with our core.

Thanks you!

{Ed001's Note - yes mate, that's good as the hardest part comparing managers is what to compare. You have easy options for players but managers is difficult.}