Liverpool banter 5

08 Dec 2025 13:52:48
Little look into Slots time at Feyenoord and it's interesting to note that when he won the title he played 433 defending yet the following season 433 attacking. Two attacking wingers completely different from what we have and a striker who was small and mobile. Abit like having two manes with a Suarez in the middle. Albeit less quality. Midfield was like he has it currently but if Macalister was in form. Defender wise both fullbacks could invert and one could play rcb aswell. His lcb Hancko could also play lb and move over.
Now this got me thinking about recruitment. Slot didn't want Salah not because he isn't good but the way he plays Salah just isn't that winger. Two wingers should of been sorted aswell. So end of last season to move into Slots system from Feyenoord we would of needed:-
RB who can play Cb- we signed a rwb
Lb who can invert- we signed a great player who can't do that.
Cb who can play lb- Guehi was the answer we didn't get it done.
Combative midfielder- having two attacking midfielders already we signed another.
Two wingers- none signed
Striker- two signed although Isak money should of brought two wingers.

Now Slot has got Chiesa who is an ideal winger for his system so no idea why he doesn't play and young Rio. Frimpong for me needs to be the rw with Bradley behind. Semenyo- Ekitike-Frimpong front three would be ideal. Lots of pace and tricks. Wirtz sat behind with dom-gravenberch sitting. Virg as rcb with Guehi lcb. That removes Gakpo, Salah and Konate who should be moved on.

08 Dec 2025 14:26:14
Thanks for the information KP. Also a good call formation wise.

08 Dec 2025 14:40:11
Keegan's, I agree and thanks for the Feyenoord info in addition to your points which I agree with.

For now, no one knows what Slot ball is like cos we know it wasn't the system of last season nor the shambles we are seeing. that much we do know esp. for those who watched Feyenoord when he was there. We don't even press anymore, something Slot did apparently at Feyenoord.

IMO and Ed01 graciously confirmed this to me in his response to one of my comments, this is Slot-ball. Whatever we are seeing now is the way he wants to play, which is dreadful.

Ed01 also said that the reason Slot is sticking to this system is cos they think if we keep the ball, the oppo. can't hurt us (which is the Dutch way brought up by Ajax, IMO) which is dumb cos clearly the oppo. can hurt you.

Also rather than look at the most important stat which is winning, they are looking at stats possession, shots conceded, shots on target/ on goal etc. which to me, makes no sense. Just my take.

08 Dec 2025 15:08:07
Problem with that KP is Isak won't want to sit on the bench.

08 Dec 2025 15:54:10
I think he should play 3-4-1-2 Isak and Hugo up front and Wirtz free role behind them. Dom covers right and Wirtz or next to Grav with licence to move forward.

08 Dec 2025 16:25:59
Kloppiche, how are we going to do any of that with only 3 CB's on the books and 1 in Gomez, the manager simply will never play, the other 1 is not on his game (VVD) and well, the less said about the "3rd" one, the better?

It's a numbers game at the end of the day, no?

08 Dec 2025 17:24:05
Are we only playing in form centre halves, then, OliRed? I've seen van Dijk, Gomez and Konate all play recently but you are asking how are we going to do it.
I remember you banging the Konate drum, as well, when I said he was a poor footballer, no?
You even told me that he was MotM in a CL final when I told you several times that it was actually Courtois that got the award.

08 Dec 2025 11:48:57
Slot vs Salah
For me the fundamental question is what is Slot trying to achieve. I don’t understand how he’s trying to play. Last year he did little to Klopps approach, bar making better tactical changes as games went on. This year it’s as though he’s got a different style of play in mind, we’ve lost Diogo and he’s got rid of Diaz and Nunez, and replaced them with Issk and Ekitike, we’ve sacrificed the press, intensity and speed for slow, measured, clinical build up and it’s not worked.

Last year Mo had 57 goals and assists. 57. And every year prior to that it’s been an incredible return. This year after 19 games he’s on 8. Wirtz after 19 has no goals and 4 assists. It isn’t just Mo. Whatever he’s doing isn’t working.

Mo shouldn’t have spoken publicly like he has. But if the coach isn’t speaking to him and if Mo doesn’t know what’s happening, then I get it. He’s coming at it from a player who wants the best for himself and a club he loves and doesn’t want to leave. If that’s the case, I’m with Mo.

Slot need to do a few things in my opinion.
1. Reintroduce the press and intensity. If there are players who can’t do that, even if they are new, they need to go.
2. Start playing with speed in attack as the primary approach. It’ll suit Mo, it’ll suit Wirtz and it (along with 1) will take pressure off the back 4.
3. Drop Konate. I don’t care what he’s saying about focus on the now, if we’ve learned nothing from Trent it’s that as soon as the decision is made, mistakes come in and quality drops. Play Joe Gomez, Endo and sign a replacement in Jan, or 3 at the back and an extra DM.
4. Communicate clearly to the fans what he’s trying to do, what style is he aiming for, what’s he asking of the players.
5. Speak to Mo. He’s a club legend and if he’s not to play, keep the communication open, don’t shut him out, he deserves better.

If he can’t communicate and recognise the problems, and change, then even with last years success, he has to go. Which will be a massive shame.

Oh and if Isak is made of crisps, accept the loss and keep him benched.

{Ed025's Note - i think you nailed it Swig with.."Mo wants the best for himself" ..

08 Dec 2025 12:36:50
This smells like a power move from above. Slot and Mo and pawns in the game.

Whilst they eat prawn sarnies in the orifice, the squad and manager are squabbling.

08 Dec 2025 12:41:12
I think it’s pretty clear how Slot wants to play.

Ed1 said players were recruited to play slots style in holland.

That’s wide wingers, inverted fullbacks, double pivot, dynamic attacking mid and a striker.

We have the pieces but not all, so a ways to go to get there.

08 Dec 2025 12:55:08
Faith - we have inverted fullbacks and players to play in a double pivot? I might have missed some signings then.

We do not have the profile of defenders, winger or midfielders Slot used in his system at Feyenoord.

Even worse, we signed more players eg Frimpong, Kerkez, that do not fit Slot's system.

And worse still, he's decided to let Gravy and Macca vacate their positions from the midfield to try and mimic the rotation that Enrique has in the PSG midfield.

It's a hot mess all round!

08 Dec 2025 13:15:56
You really don’t like Salah, do you, Ed25? Understandable, you’re an Everton fan first and foremost. I remember after the 23/ 24 season, Klopp’s final year. When Liverpool crashed out at the end of the season and didn’t win anything, he went on Twitter and posted:

“We know that trophies are what count, and we will do everything possible to make that happen next season. Our fans deserve it, and we will fight like hell. ”

And guess what happened the next season? We won the league, and Salah delivered one of the best individual seasons you’ll ever see.

But sure, Mo wants the best for himself, because nothing screams “self-interest” like dragging your club to a title. Makes perfect sense, yeah?

{Ed025's Note - i was actually a massive fan Mfahmee, not only because he was one of the best players on the planet but all the charitable things he done in Egypt like building hospitals etc mate, this has nothing to do with Everton and to be honest im insulted you think im that shallow, this is about doing the right thing by your club, teammates and showing loyalty, not only has he broken the code by going public but he made it all out HIM, how he should play because of what he has done in the past and how the club has thrown him under the bus, yes he has been great in the past but all that is is just yersterdays fish and chip wrappers, he has not played great for a good while now and deserved to be dropped, thats when he threw his toys out of the pram and not only insulted the club but the supporters as well by acting like a spoiled brat, hes a selfish egotistical twat ...and yes you heard me right..

08 Dec 2025 14:28:48
Honest as ever Ed025 👍.

{Ed025's Note - i have never been a shrinking violet Barry mate ..and dont intend to start now.. :)

08 Dec 2025 14:32:59
By the way, Ed25, before anything goes south or someone comes after me thinking I’m having a go at you, I just want to say I mean no harm at all. It’s just banter. You have your opinions, I have mine. Sometimes I agree with you, sometimes I don’t — and in this instance, I don’t. I do enjoy bantering with you because you’re an Everton fan and still manage to stay unbiased when it comes to Liverpool.

I appreciate you entertaining us Liverpool fans on a Liverpool page even though you support Everton. So yeah, no harm meant — it’s all just banter. And if I do say something wrong now or in the future, I apologize first.

{Ed025's Note - listen mate i dont have a problem with people having different views than me its all part of the banter process, no apology needed and i certainly dont hold grudges, we see things differently and thats fine by me..

08 Dec 2025 14:39:27
Afternoon Ed025. I agree with every word you've said, mate. Hope you're well.

{Ed025's Note - im good thanks Rome..and still as opinionated as ever mate, i hope i find you well too my friend..

08 Dec 2025 14:53:47
Faith Slot pressed in a 433 at Feyenoord. Last season, we pressed teams as well. So why do we no longer press the oppo. at all? Also, why do we play with a doughnut in midfield? Not sure Slot played that at Feyenoord cos it was Van Bronckhoorst who introduced that in this season, something that failed when he himself was at Rangers, btw.

Lastly, why did we sign FB's who can't invert like they were doing at Feyenoord, like @Pelican said? For me, Slot abandoned everything at Feyenoord or at LFC last season for reasons only he can tell us even tho,

Oh n btw, Ed01 said the players' leadership went to him to say this system does not work for them. He changed for the Villa and RM game cos the pressure was on. They did well and then vs City all of a sudden, he reverts back and we get smoked and have been getting smoked and embarrassed ever since. Essentially, Slot is saying top the players, "This is my way of playing and if you are not in then, there's the bench. Or the door".

Yet, Salah is the one who's only about himself but Slot isn't? Just my opinion.

08 Dec 2025 15:00:49
Spot on Ed25. Mo has just proven once again that he doesn’t care about the club or the fans. All he cares about is himself.

How can a footballer, any footballer go through his career expecting he’ll never get dropped no matter what he does? We’ve seen it with Salah before when Klopp dropped him and now here he is again, causing issues because he’s deservedly been dropped.

Get rid. Thanks for the memories but it’s time to go.

{Ed025's Note - I cant argue with that mate..

08 Dec 2025 15:25:50
Well with that logic Slots Premier League title win was in the past and is yesterday's fish n chips wrappers so he should also be banned with the catastrophic start to this season and let's be honest very poor end to last season. Sauce for the goose and all that Ed25?

{Ed025's Note - absolutely McG, i would not be surprised if he did go mate, he has not done what was expected of him and being the manager he carries the can..

08 Dec 2025 15:53:49
Don't be so disingenuous Ed25. We all want what's best for ourselves.

{Ed025's Note - some maybe mate but not all, what you already have will be a factor i expect..

08 Dec 2025 15:56:18
Meant binned not banned.

08 Dec 2025 16:35:50
some disgusting disrespectful ''fans'' here i see just talking out their arse like usual, i swear it has something to do with being Egyptian. pathetic bunch honestly. Salah deserves some more respect you *****.

{Ed025's Note - why would you think it has anything to do with his ethnicity ASB?..

08 Dec 2025 16:43:53
Glad we cleared that up, Ed. I must say, if I were really a spoiled brat and a selfish, egotistical twat, I wouldn’t bother doing charitable things like building hospitals, schools, and so on, or helping people in one way or another. I’d just spend my money on a big house that looks like an old castle, preferably one with a football field on the side, and a ton of sports cars.

Maybe somewhere in Scotland, because people tell me the weather there is nice in the summer. And at that point, the only thing I’d be donating is noise complaints from my neighbors.

{Ed025's Note - i have applauded his charitable work in a previous post Mfahmee but that has nothing to do with his behaviour on this score mate..this is purely a footballing issue..

08 Dec 2025 17:32:15
We haven't been getting smoked and embarrassed since the Villa and Madrid games. That's not true.
We have beaten West Ham and drew with Sunderland and Leeds.
You can't just make things up to suit your narrative, OliRed.

08 Dec 2025 20:47:07
Rigsby, you not being able to keep up with facts doesn't mean the other person is making things up.

Since the Villa and RM games, we have been humiliated as in, smoked City, Forrest and PSV (both at Anfield) while being embarrassed by Sunderland and Leeds.

Oh, you think a draw vs Sun. (should have been even worse had Chiesa not saved the day) and Leeds (bottled a 2 goal lead and bottled a 2-0 lead) were good results? Really? Wow, then clearly have very diff. standards. Stick to yours and I'll stick to mine.

The only team that didn't smoke nor embarrass us is WH cos they were too crap to even try. That's it. Had they tried like Sunderland and Leeds did, we don't win that game either, IMO.

So tell me, which of these facts did I make up to suit my narrative when Google is a good friend of mine and yours?

08 Dec 2025 20:55:01
Fly / Oli _ i'm just saying what ed1 had said about the recruitment strategy.

If we take that as read, then my assumption is that there has been a disconnect between the recruitment team bringing in players to achieve the goal of playing the way Slot played in Holland.

But! putting that aside, this is the squad we have and it may take time to build towards that playing style. It's not a million miles away from what we did last year, but I think we've made it more difficult with the types of players we've bought and still have to buy.

08 Dec 2025 21:38:38
OliRed, we haven't been getting smoked and embarrassed 'ever since' we beat Villa and Madrid. We have won and drawn games. That is not getting smoked even if it embarrassed you and you laughed when Leeds equalised for the second time.
The win and two draws are facts. Getting smoked and embarrassed are not.


I'll tell you something else that you made up. That West Ham didn't try against us and that we wouldn't have beaten them had they done so.
You have no way of knowing that and you just made it up. You could try Googling some evidence to support your 'take' but you'd be wasting your time.

08 Dec 2025 11:33:53
Moving on from the Salah saga I looked at Inter Milan and they are doing very well. Last 6 games in Serie A it's 5 wins 1 loss, scored 13 conceded 2. Chivu has them playing a 352 flat which carries on the style from Inzaghi.

Slots faced this system at Leeds, Palace, Utd and in Europe against Leverkusen last year. DiMarco running at Bradley and Martinez small trickery twisting Virg and Ibou is battles to watch for.

08 Dec 2025 11:42:08
I'll be watching it behind the couch and with my eyes closed then Keegans Perm. I think those battles can only end one way the way we are playing now.

08 Dec 2025 11:47:35
You don't need trickery to twist Virg and Ibou, just slowly jog toward them with the ball. Ibou will either miss the ball and let you jog past him or unnecessarily bring you down for a penalty. Virg will back off and give you acres of space before either turning his back or holding out a lazy leg and deflecting the ball into the net.

08 Dec 2025 12:15:42
Difficult to be interested in the game when we have a civil war inside the club - and fanbase it seems.

Inter are challenging top of Serie A scoring a shed load of goals. We struggle to cross the half way line and can't keep clean sheets. Match made in heaven.

08 Dec 2025 12:41:54
Another match, another opportunity to hope and dream.

08 Dec 2025 13:46:33
We have hope in Slot. That conquers a helluva lot.

08 Dec 2025 14:56:32
Drac, I watched the Leeds game with NO hope of us winning at all. Even when we scored 2 goals, I didn't believe we would win. At 3-2? I knew we still had one more screw-up in us. At 3-3, I laughed.

As for tmrw, I expect nothing. It is up to the manager and players to change my attitude. Why? Their consistently wretched performances got me here.

08 Dec 2025 15:45:07
Anyone willing to punt that Inter don't come out of it with a victory?

08 Dec 2025 16:06:52
No hope at 2 nil Oli? i was 100% confident the game was over. Then Ibou done a"konate". Would and should have been a routine win.

08 Dec 2025 17:35:35
I'm sure changing your defeatist attitude is the manager and players" main priority, OliRed.
They prolly don't want you laughing when he concede a goal, my guy.

08 Dec 2025 20:55:23
Florian Musiala, I knew it wasn't cos as soon as Leeds started making the changes and started pressing us while we made changes and started defending deep (something we have NEVBER been good at) and with the way we have been wilting under pressure overall with set pieces, there was only going to be one outcome even tho, I wanted to be wrong and wanted us to win. The team inspires NO confidence at all so the outcome is the same.


@Rigsby, defeatist attitude? Barking up the wrong tree, mate. Not arsed about any of that crap. And if you think Im going to wast my mental health on a manager and team doing the same things expecting the same results then just to show I have a winners' mentality then, you are off your meds like this manager is.

When things change, my attitude will change. Not before.

08 Dec 2025 09:49:10
We have two enormous issues, Hughes and Edwards clearly renewed Salah knowing they could still recoup their outlay from the Saudi league if Salah flopped (as he has), what they didn’t bank on was Salah exposing their get your money back plan. The second is Slot is clueless and deserves to die on the Gakpo hill that he continually stands on. Diaz is twice the player, to prefer Gakpo over him shows a ridiculous bias and the same goes for Robbo and Kerkez, he doesn’t want Robbo so he persists with Kerkez despite Kerkez being clueless.

It is also clear that VVD uses every opportunity to blame Kerkez on the pitch, displaying public exasperation with him in every game. I think Slot has made it clear he’s over seeing a changing of the guard and the old guard are fighting him … VVD, Salah, Robbo, Alisson and probably Macca as well. It’s a total shambles.

08 Dec 2025 10:34:31
As supporters of the club, I assume we'd be happy that Hughes and Edwards managed it that way, if indeed that is the case. They secured a two year extension for Salah which is what every Liverpool supporter wanted based on his performances last year, whilst potentially also retaining the option to sell him during the first 12 months of that 2 year extension if his form fell off a cliff, as it has.

I'm sure they're not getting everything right behind the scenes but I don't see an obvious route to blaming Hughes and Edwards for the current situation, at least not in terms of how they've managed transfers in and out. They secured the extensions for two out of three big players who were out of contract (and reality appeared to be that there was no way Trent was ever going to stay), they sold, for good money, most of the players who most of the supporters had on their "Out" lists, and they brought in new players that had most fans and journalists quoting "if Carlsberg did transfer windows". All fans were cock-a-hoop with us getting Isak, Wirtz and Kerkez and pretty happy with also bringing in Ekitike as (so we thought at the time) back up to Isak. Personally the only concerns I had were Frimpong who I was never convinced by, and the fact that we didn't bring in another senior centre-half.

08 Dec 2025 10:43:02
But Diaz wanted to go. Him and his dad had been pushing for a move for ages. The issue would be not replacing Diaz because Rio isn’t ready or not giving Chiesa a chance.

08 Dec 2025 10:49:39
When you hear hooves, don't always think zebras.

08 Dec 2025 10:49:53
By all accounts, Diaz has been agitating for a move / pay rise since he arrived, although you are dead right about him being 3 x the player Cody is.

Edwards/ Hughes/ senior pros/ yes men / no men - the inevitable power struggles that occur amongst most groups of humans., Peterson calls it climbing the dominance hierarchy pyramid, and suggests that it is the norm for our species and most others.

Edwards is ultimately in charge, whoever comes and goes.

08 Dec 2025 10:51:58
I'm almost at the point where team selection is irrelevant cos the tactics don't work. So selection based hills that Slot us dying on sort of don't matter.

Gakpo scored 18 goals last season. That's absolutely fine as output for an LW at this level. It's not his fault he's being told to play really slow tempo footie and hope to bore the opposition into falling asleep this season.

08 Dec 2025 10:54:28
Diaz was 29 looking for a big contract, knowing how the club works and the huge price Bayern were willing to pay we were never going to give him what he wanted. Gakpo had a good season last year, is 3 years younger and to all appearances was on an upward trajectory. I think he still has a lot to offer, but he needs somebody to rotate with.

Also calling Kerkez clueless is incredibly harsh, he is 22 years old, at the beginning of his Liverpool career, playing in a system and role he is unfamiliar with and which don't utilise his strengths (though he has been getting the ball on the overlap lately and showing more of what he can possibly do) . Has Robbo played better than Kerkez in the games he's been on? I would venture to say that he most certainly has not.

08 Dec 2025 11:27:14
Mr Brightside you’re probably right. This is an old versus new power struggle, a transition problem. Change is one of the hardest things to get right in any business or relationship, and in elite sport it’s obviously really tough. Probably no surprise that Utd, Arsenal and now us are struggling after our iconic leaders left, hopefully our struggles don’t go on much beyond this season.

Arne probably isn’t the best change leader in terms of personality, but maybe as someone else said he’s the cold clinical interim one who’ll transition out the old and essentially take the blame before the longer term solution comes in.

Or maybe that’s giving the directors too much credit, and they genuinely think we’re playing some good stuff and have been unlucky, and our tactics are fine.

I’m talking myself into the Something Red school of thought. That’s why these forums are great, everyone’s perspective is interesting. Agree with Pat on Kerkez also.

08 Dec 2025 11:45:51
I think people forget how frustrating Diaz was at LW last season. Gakpo rightfully took his spot from Diaz and forced Diaz to play CF, and only then because we had injuries to Nunez and Jota. Although, I think Diaz would suit Slot's tactics better this season since he is a left footed winger who loves to play wider on the wing.

Gakpo needs to play further infield and closer to goal to have more of an impact, like how he did last season.

08 Dec 2025 12:32:50
While I have no idea what is going on, but we spent a lot of effort to make us the destination club, an environment that players wanted to thrive in and where the club, players and fans are all in it together as one.

The Saudi sales have been convenient in fixing some bad decisions from the past. However, it looks like we are now going beyond that and now pricing them into our own footballing model.

We need to be careful on how this might effect our culture as it is the senior stars that contribute as much to the culture as the coaching and technical staff do.

08 Dec 2025 12:42:10
Diaz gave us an out that we no longer have (and miss) he was a battler, and could create something from nothing.
Gakpo is one dimensional, and despite his goals, a Mane like player over there would serve us much better in my opinion.

08 Dec 2025 12:43:15
Weren’t Hughes and co getting stick for allowing Trent to leave for free? What was it? Bad management or something like that.

Now it’s sw kind of ploy?

lol can’t make this stuff up man.

08 Dec 2025 12:55:30
We did replace Diaz Longthing he was a CF last season and was Slot’s preferred choice even when Darwin and Diogo were fit.

You simply can’t blame Edward’s and Hughes for any of this they have literally gone out and got best in class in every position they were asked to fill. They lost out on Guehi but they had got the deal done and it was Palace who pulled the plug. By all accounts though the player still wants to come and will likely be signed in January.

This is still an ongoing process though as we transition from VVD, Robbo, Salah etc to a new team. If Edward’s and Hughes continue in the same vain as they did in the summer when replacing VVD and bolstering the midfield we’ll have some team.

It was always going to be a tricky process as we try to build a new squad and none of us expected it to go this badly wrong but I’m completely calm about the whole situation because I know, with the players we have and with the ambition shown in the summer this will come good and we’ll be a force across Europe. We just need to get through this period of transition.

I don’t think the long term manager will be Slot as he’s shown his shortcomings this season but I also don’t think we should sack him without a worthy successor. Once again we should show the same ambition and go and get the absolute best manager available rather than jumping at Iraola or Glasner because they’re attainable now.

This rebuild has to be done with the long term interests of the club in mind not just the next 6 months and so far I can’t fault Hughes’s transfer business even if it has pushed Salah’s nose out of joint. He’s not the future so he needs to step aside and allow the new crop to come through.

08 Dec 2025 13:16:27
To go from Champions to a mid-table team in transition would make a lot of sense if we were like say Mourinho's Inter team with a load of older players. But we were not an old team.

Dropping out of the CL places is unacceptable as is losing at home to the worst United side in decades, 0-3 to Forest and 1-4 to PSV.

And if you zoom out a bit, the results in the calendar year are history making - not in a good way.

Slot has to go. And Hughes has to take half of the blame for it. The squad was left badly unbalanced and misaligned to Slot's tactics.

08 Dec 2025 13:44:26
In what world is Diaz a left footed Winger? Jesus christ its like some of you have never watched us play ever.

08 Dec 2025 14:09:35
All the people saying Gakpo scored goals last season are the same ones that wanted “keep Salah at all costs” when their overall contributions to the team dissipate when they aren’t scoring. The pair of them lose or waste goalscoring opportunities more than any other forwards in the league. I said Kerkez is clueless but to be fair to him every single time he overlaps Gakpo he is either ignored or Gakpo hits it out of play. No wonder he’s not getting any crosses in. Slot seems to have Gakpo one of the first on the team sheet and that’s BS, probably one of the reasons why Salah said what he said. Anyone that goes the games every week or watches us on tv can see Gakpo stinks the place out, he still starts the next game.

Chiesa has been treated appallingly as well. Ekitike is our best attacker but knows when Isak is fit Slot will always pick Isak over him and flat refuses to play them together. I’m in the Slot and Salah out camp. If and when Guehi comes in, VVD can go as well. We require open heart surgery now, we lost 8 players from the squad that won the league last season, a new playing style with more intensity and running is also needed. Every team we play covers more ground than us, that is unacceptable. Rant over ….

08 Dec 2025 15:00:18
"I'm almost at the point where team selection is irrelevant cos the tactics don't work. "

My sentiments exactly.

@ArneSlotsBarber, in the world where Diaz being a left footer does not exist.

08 Dec 2025 16:08:26
Aplarently Slot wanted Diaz to stay but was overruled by Hughes.

08 Dec 2025 20:58:17
Florian, that happens all the time. Klopp wanted Milner to stay and was also overruled hence, he went to Brighton.

Also, Diaz had been agitating for a move for 2 years prior so he was always going to go regardless of what Slot thought. We all knew that, as well.

08 Dec 2025 09:36:30
It seems like the club has spoken. The amount of hit pieces being released by the club-fed journalists over the last 2 days is crazy. I said in a previous post that I didn’t agree with salah airing his anger publicly but this really is an ugly end to his career here.
One comment I didn’t agree with however, is that Liverpool have backed Slot and will not sack him just because a player wants him out.

That’s all well and good, but I thought they would have sacked him due to the fact we’ve lost 9 of the last 15 games and the performances seem to be getting worse rather than better!

08 Dec 2025 09:52:57
The Paul Joyce article was a particular big hit piece from a usually very fair and neutral journalist, well as fair and neutral as they can be I suppose.

Mo obviously went full nuclear with his comments and should cop it a little but the club have dirt on their hands as well with this calculated, multiple hit piece media attack we see today.

Absolute shambles and terribly handled by all imo.

08 Dec 2025 10:32:43
Most in the media are against what Mo said. They’re more dispassionate and coming from the principle that no one is bigger than the club and they’re right. Some of his words came across as being too entitled and for example saying that he didn’t need to fight for his position every day sends out the wrong message to other players. Those are the bits that probably mean he’s played his last game for us, we’ll find out when the Inter squad gets announced.

The breakdown in communication bits, and the support of others in the dressing room, are the areas that worry me more from the club point of view. If those aspects are true then we do have a bigger issue that isn’t going to get solved by just moving on Mo.

Every loss now or poor performance is going to be attributed to Arne and a breakdown with some of the squad. Short of going on a fairly long run of wins nothing much is going to overcome this and rebuild Arne’s respect. It looks like more players will need to go over the next six months and probably Arne as well.

We couldn’t have a much tougher new start than tomorrow.

08 Dec 2025 10:44:40
Wouldn’t surprise me at all. Didn’t Joyce come out with an article having a pop at Klopp while praising Edwards and Hughes a few weeks after Klopp left the job? After everything Klopp has done for the club and the city, you’d assume the article would be about how he helped make Liverpool a football giant again.

But of course not, Edwards’ payroll must come with a handbook on how to twist yourself into journalistic pretzels for your monthly bonus.

08 Dec 2025 12:13:45
From should LFC fire or keep Slot the discussion switched (for the moment) should we keep Mo or sell him in January. Paradoxically Salah's self-built drama is giving Slot extra time to sort things out. And time influence in football is very unpredictable for worse or better.

08 Dec 2025 13:45:31
Nonsense, slot just sucks and needs sanking, Salah did NOTHING wrong in my opinion. If you diagree go drink some sea water, its great.

08 Dec 2025 15:08:17
ArneSlotsBarber, it seems the club thinks and is trying to project Slot as the victim here. They are gravely off their rockers. Seriously, if they think that there are any winners here btw Salah and Slot in this shambles then, they are off their meds.

Slot has been a disaster this season hence, why many wanted him gone when the crap started hitting the fan and many more since (incl. me) . Salah popping smoke should not relieve Slot of any freaking responsibility here.

In fact IMO, Slot is responsible for all our woes as he abandoned all his principles from Feyenoord and from last season to play a system that the players themselves told him they don't like yet he keeps playing it regardless.

The hit pieces will come and go and I hear all that BUT to me, there is a lot perculating in the background and this has exposed Slot as a coward cos IMO, he is hiding behind Salah's poor form and benching which is why Salah prolly was sick of it esp. with other players stinking out the gaff.

08 Dec 2025 07:58:01
If Slot does leave (and it's certainly looking like the walls are crumbling around him and the club may be left with no choice but to sack him) - do the Ed's or ITK posters on here like Carra, Robbo, VG, TheFields, think Simone Inzaghi may be looked at as a long term replacement? I understand Alonso is looking the preferred option but surely they will have other options too.


He looks like a guy whose preferred system and tactics together with the ability to get the best out of players, would be suited for our squad of players.

{Ed001's Note - he is certainly on the list of options. I personally would not have him anywhere near it as his footie is not much different from what we have been watching.}

08 Dec 2025 09:29:12
Who would be your top preferences Ed001?

{Ed001's Note - Iraola. I loved Xabi the player and he looks to have the makings of a top coach, but he would need a break after Madrid and some time to assess what went wrong before taking another job. I have to say the options are very limited. The only other punt really worth looking at that I can think of, would be Hoeness.}

08 Dec 2025 09:36:20
I wouldn't want him either, Ed.

08 Dec 2025 09:55:03
Ed, would it be worth it to put an interim manager for the rest of the season? Let everything stabilise for a bit, and take a look at either Enrique or Flick at the end of the season? Whether either would be interested in the job. I think Enrique is, as of right now the best manager in football.

{Ed001's Note - I am not convinced Enrique would want to leave right now. Otherwise he would be the first choice for sure. Superb man manager and decent guy too by all accounts.}

08 Dec 2025 09:55:05
Still think there is more of a chance Slot gets through this than changing course and taking a punt.

08 Dec 2025 09:16:09
What have you heard?

08 Dec 2025 12:28:54
I’m surprised we haven’t had the rafa shouts yet or am I still stuck in 2013?

08 Dec 2025 11:23:53
Fingers crossed we get him then Ed! The last manager you said you didn't think we'd get was Klopp and we all know how that turned out ;)

{Ed001's Note - fair point. Klopp was my dream choice as well, like Enrique, so fingers crossed lightning does strike twice.}

08 Dec 2025 15:17:41
Did Mo Salah have the unofficial backing of his teammates. 🤔🤔?

They certainly seem happy and supportive with the latest training photos.

I wonder. 🤔

Things are never quite as simple as they seem.

The.

08 Dec 2025 08:35:50
Just come across a piece by Rooney saying Mo’s in danger of ruining his legacy!
Little Porker’s got a nerve when I remember how he tried to throw Fergie under the bus years ago.

08 Dec 2025 08:56:10
Good point, well made, Bristol. I agree with what he said, but, as you say, it is tinged with hypocrisy.

Hope you enjoyed Padstow.

08 Dec 2025 08:58:14
That clown John Terry also jumping on the bandwagon, another classy human.

08 Dec 2025 09:04:46
What did the Old Age Pensioner lover do?

{Ed001's Note - your gran probably.}

08 Dec 2025 09:11:45
😂That’s more like it lads!

It’s only a game after all.

08 Dec 2025 09:15:16
Seems be an absolute flood of articles from all over the media, both legit publications and media personalities, slaughtering Mo while also really reinforcing the fact the hierarchy at the club fully back and support slot.

All this seems to be taking away from the disgraceful football and tactics employed by Slot at the moment as the main reason for our abysmal season so far.

Stunning how easy Media can divert attention, of course taking into account MO’s attack on slot.

08 Dec 2025 09:39:10
Michael Owen was on TV talking the same crap. Clearly, self awareness is not a strong suit for both the bitter and the traitor.

Also, the line "Those living in glass houses. " has never been proven right.

08 Dec 2025 09:50:01
Ed1 top banter 😁😂😂.

08 Dec 2025 09:56:24
The media wouldn’t have anything else to talk about if Mo didn’t open his mouth.

There has been and is plenty of talk about Slot’s tactics. There is no media driven conspiracy here.

08 Dec 2025 08:27:58
Three things,
If that's VVD backing Mo then this storm isn't passing anytime soon and I wonder how many more voices we'll hear?
The media seem to be doing a great job of painting Mo as the villain, should he have kept quiet under normal circumstances? No doubt, but is anybody even considering that one of our most senior players might have felt the need to speak out if its a mess behind the scenes, granted it sounds very me me me but we clearly have big problems and nobody should let Slot off the hook when it comes to this poor run of results.


And also it seems strange that the club have made no official statement on this yet, are they really going to wait till Slots press conference for the Inter game and let him be the first to speak? A man they don't want to have full control? It all seems more than a bit off to me.

08 Dec 2025 08:56:15
What kind of official statement do you expect the club to make at this moment in time? All the things that they can say (eg. Backing slot, backing Salah, etc) will need time to decide and they definitely won't be saying anything until they have.

They're definitely doing something behind the scenes though and discussing this thoroughly and them not putting out a statement is not an indication of non-action.

08 Dec 2025 09:48:05
Rum Lad, I agree with you. For Salah to have spoken out the way he did and in the area (the mixed zone) where he did it, is telling for me. Sure, he said a lot of things projecting them on himself BUT you cannot just say, "Oh, he is only out for himself".

There are way deeper issues going on and with Ed01 saying the leadership team (incl. Mo) went to Slot to tell him that they don't like these tactics and that things should change (Per Ed01) and after Villa and RM, Slot goes back on his word, plays the same dislikeable tactics and we have been getting embarrassed ever since. Clearly, all that is Mo's fault and he is the only one getting dropped from games whereas others are stinking up the joint and none of them get dropped nor benched for even a half?

We may not like how he did things BUT I think for him to do that, there are way deeper issues withing the management of the team and we know whose fault that is. Hint: It's not Mo.

08 Dec 2025 09:57:43
Why does the club need to make a statement?

This is childish drama that the adults they’re paying at the club can sort out.

FSG will be thinking beyond this period and hopefully are considering their decisions with the long term in mind.

08 Dec 2025 11:55:26
Definitely Oli, there's a lot more than we think going off in the background and clearly players aren't happy with a lot of things,
For those bringing up the club making a statement, the club have been embarrassed in public, Its all over the media and its all looking a big mess, In my own opinion this is when the club should come out and calm the fanbase and shut up the media, not sit silently doing absolutely nothing.


I don't care if they're busy in the background, ever since Mo's outburst its been nothing but that on every channel and it needs handling correctly our end.

08 Dec 2025 07:37:34
How much business can we realistically expect in Jan? Sorry, lots of questions and fishing for some positivity 😂

Incoming
DEF - Looks likely we’ll go back for Guehi but has the price now increased? With Leoni back next season, I assume one CB is all we can expect. Maybe more business in the Summer…

MID - needs fresh options and a proper leader but is it possible in Jan? Rumours Atalanta’s Ederson could be available at £50M but does he fit the spec?

ATTACK - strong rumours on Semenyo; question: would he be an option for both wings? If yes, I assume he’s played the left side with Kerkez before - could really boost that left side…

Outgoing
Salah? - Frimpong could be back this weekend so there’s another option (with Semenyo? ) for RW…and at RB. How I’d love to see Frimpong show some pace, play well and get a couple of assists on Saturday.

Konate? - would think it unlikely and would need a replacement. Probably too much business too soon but I wouldn’t be against it IF we can get Guehi + another.


Hold tight everyone. In a months time our starting lineup could be:

Alison
Frimpong. Guehi. Virg Kerkez
Dom. Ederson Grav
Wirtz. Hugo. Semenyo.

{Ed001's Note - why would Guehi's price increase when he is out of contract in the summer?}

08 Dec 2025 07:19:29
Semenyo can play all across the front line.

08 Dec 2025 07:30:33
Chuck more money at it. I seriously don’t know if another £250m would fix this mess mate.

08 Dec 2025 08:38:57
Ed01 - few things were on my mind with Guehi’s value…
Glasner’s previous stance
Palace on target for their best season ever
They know we’re desperate!

{Ed001's Note - it doesn't matter, they are still not going to be able to increase the price.}

08 Dec 2025 07:42:56
Only by giving Enrique a quarter of a billion as a golden hello?

08 Dec 2025 09:48:52
LiverpoolFC8, I'd rather give that money to a new manager, personally.

08 Dec 2025 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Tedster has posted a new article entitled, Everton Player Ratings v Nottingham Forest

07 Dec 2025 23:38:49
As I mentioned last week from looking online at a few articles that Salahs reps had been in conversation with Saudi/ Galatasary back in October. Perhaps even back then he was happy to move on.

Think the club would want rid in January now and with Semenyo likely coming in his place will be taken. Same with Konate I'd be starting Gomez or Endo over him just a liability and needs moving on.

08 Dec 2025 00:52:52
Spot on KP, Semenyo is a good option, would prefer Olise but I imagine he would not leave Bayern for Liverpool in this current mess
Gomez all day over Konate who has consistently been erratic for the reds but this season he is next level poor. We need Guehi in or another as VVD is suffering a huge form dip too.

08 Dec 2025 01:19:59
Cant see Semenyo choosing us over city if they decide to move for him, especially given the current state of affairs.

In regards to Galatasaray, the first publication I can find is from Turkiye Today, not exactly a credible source for breaking football news. They don't cite a particular source or even name a journalist as the writer of the article and it seems to stem from a couple of social media posts where the possibility of an approach was suggested but with no actual source or evidence of credibility. These same rumours seem to have been regurgitated in the last few days, stemming from an article on fichaje. net, agaain, not exactly a credible source. The story went from a social media post claiming Galatasaray to approach Salah to articles claiming Salah might me open to a move, to more articles claiming Salah was already approached by Galatasaray directly after the game against Liverpool, all within 24hrs and with no sources cited.

Is it possible they've made contact? Sure. Are there any credible reports or rumours out there at the moment? Not that I can tell. Will Galatasaray be willing to outbid a team from the kebab league? Unlikely. Would Mo prioritise a move to Europe over Saudi money? Very possibly.

One things for sure, Januarys going to be very interesting.

08 Dec 2025 09:49:43
@Keegans, that may explain the interest in Semenyo.

07 Dec 2025 23:30:31
Salah won us the title last season with his goals. I’m glad he did the interview. We now know why the team has been underperforming. Edwards needs to get rid of Hughes who is clearly out of his depth at Liverpool and Slot needs to go.

Imo, Slot is an arrogant person and probably has no people skills. The longer this continues the worse it will get. The cat is out if the bag now and something has to happen and if it doesn’t we have big problems ahead.

07 Dec 2025 23:40:16
Can you elaborate on why Hughes needs to go and is out of his depth please? I really don’t understand that point of view so I’m interested in why people say that.

08 Dec 2025 00:03:36
I’d also like to know why you think Slot is arrogant and lacks people skills?

08 Dec 2025 00:13:58
The same Hughes who was respected at Bournemouth comes to us gives us our best window in years and is mentioned by other clubs how respectful he is but now needs Togo. Iam sure he has spoken to our manager about the issues and is potentially bringing in Guehi and Semenyos.

08 Dec 2025 00:49:44
Nagelsmann won nothing until he went to Bayern. And let’s be honest, it’s expected that they win, so that’s not much of an achievement. Arguably his track record isn’t better than Alonso’s.

Alonso broke their monopoly, that is not to be taken lightly.

08 Dec 2025 00:58:34
Me Too SD?
Hughes secured us some world class talent in the summer, Slot had managed to completely draw their confidence from them other than Ekitike who is a great lad.
This is on Slot and nothing to do with Hughes, he has eff all input on team selection, I don’t buy that for one minute.


I don’t like the head coach nonsense, I would like the club to get someone who is the manager of players, personalities, egos, and a team ethos.
Klopp was sensational, had his flaws too, but the current batch of managers don’t excite me, Enrique would be the only one.

08 Dec 2025 04:25:31
Exactly Viktor. People knocking Alonso for only winning the league and jot being able to do it again the following season are being extremely harsh. Before Leverkusen won, Bayern won the title 11 times in a row. The last time they lost the title was to Klopp's Dortmund team in 2011/ 2012. And Alonso did it with Leverkusen who had never challenged for the title. The highest they have finished was second, in the 2010/ 2011 season. And he was almost unbeaten across all competitions that season too, losing only to Atalanta in the Europa League final. He was one game away from completing the treble while going completely unbeaten. That only happens in Football Manager saves imo.

Alonso is now struggling with the egos of RM players who are allergic to hard work after being mollycoddled and pampered by Ancellotti. They may struggle now but I honestly believe that if RM were to stick with him, they'd be very successful.

08 Dec 2025 07:21:03
It is not he best window if he signs players the manager doesn’t want or who don’t suit a system. Doesn’t matter how good a player is, they always need to fit the style of the team. That is why so many signings with Klopp were good, we had a clear style and player profile.

08 Dec 2025 08:50:00
I’m sorry to harp on about klopp but I judge players on if he would sign them? players pushing the train no riding it. I don’t think isak frimpong are that type of player. He had the chance (so some fans say) to sign isak but went for Nunez. They was signed as the finished articles isak will never mould into our team we will have to mould the team around him that’s where Hughes has shown his naivety to me.

Look at what we are and add to it rather than try and change it. Simple. I think he’s just giving it the big one.

08 Dec 2025 09:25:32
I wholeheartedly disagree with that ScouseJohn. In fact I could not disagree more.

We have had years of having a RW score all our goals and a RB be our most creative player. Hughes has been tasked with replacing Salah’s goals and replacing Trent’s creativity. They are both unicorns so it’s impossible to go like for like so the style was always going to have to change. He went out and got the best available striker and the best available creative midfield player in the world. Players who could’ve signed for anyone and he managed to persuade them to sign for us.

If he does the same when he turns his attention to the defence then we are in business. He did get Guehi to agree to join too and one of the hottest young CB in the world in Leoni.

Hughes has been incredible. Better than I actually thought was possible in fact.

{Ed001's Note - how did he persuade them? Both made it known they wanted to join us before he moved for them. Same with Guehi. None of those took persuading, they were all choosing us anyway. The only thing Hughes did was pay the bloody asking price, without being able to negotiate a lower fee, despite all the players only wanting to join us! That is not incredible, unless you mean incredibly bad.}

08 Dec 2025 09:52:22
Good question, @Sean. Seems people like to slam Hughes when it suits them. Then, hail him when it suits them. And then, slam him again when it suits them. Sounds like that profession people say they hate: A Politician.

Sorry, I don't trust people whose opinions are made off the direction of the wind.

08 Dec 2025 10:48:35
If your on about me oli I’ve never hailed him.
Sean, I half agree with Salah scoring most of the goals but disagree with the best available striker shout. I think that’s Ekitike? Young hungry mobile skilful, I’m not digging out isak just thinks it’s a luxury we didn’t need and who will upset the kilter just a bit of the big I am from Hughes for me.

08 Dec 2025 15:12:50
Scouse john L8 if that is true then clearly, that was not directed to you.