Liverpool banter 5

11 Dec 2025 14:00:49
If there is even the slightest chance of Enrique, he has got to be the top choice. Experience, clear philosophy, not afraid to make big decisions, can assault an opposing player if required.

My prediction if Alonso is appointed, barely any change, we go from title contenders, back to scrambling for CL. He looked like the same lost manager last night as Slot has looked in most of his games this season.

The barrel is pretty empty, but Alonso isn’t even close to being the best of a bad bunch. He’s a Villas Boas.

11 Dec 2025 14:36:45
Context is necessary when assessing Alonso's situation.
I'm not going to repeat myself though, I've said the same thing many times on this board, as have many others.
Enrique has had massive financial backing and a sound transfer structure that has finally begun to pay dividends after making countless disastrous mistakes.

Who's to say that Xabi wouldn't have had the same success at a club like PSG given time?

11 Dec 2025 14:21:35
Your user name is so apt.

11 Dec 2025 14:45:55
Alonso and Slots situation are very different, as are the two respective clubs, if you can't see that Le Pong then maybe a trip to specsavers is in need.

11 Dec 2025 14:57:19
Not true. Alonso likes to press and play the ball quicker. His players haven't exactly bought into it. You're always going to struggle with no midfielder to knit everything together and 2 attackers who don't want to work as hard as xabi wants. Xabi has pissed about too much with rotation though and some selections have been to their detriment.


Like I said, I wouldn't be the most confident but I would expect him to do well. He's less massive personalites to deal with here but virg and salah going forward are a problem. You can't have people stinking out the dressing room when they're eventual dropped who were big players. That's were he's really struggled in Madrid.

11 Dec 2025 16:48:08
I don’t remember Villas Boas ever winning the German league🤔.

11 Dec 2025 13:26:38
Gerrard would put salah straight back in and persist with salah even if he continued to shoot blanks. That's a problem. Salah for me should be sold in January if seymenho joins.
Gerrard would i expect, pick the team up, but our team is fragile atm. They're half unfit and to suddenly change the tempo now they'll burn out in 3 months and look like isak lol.


I wouldn't be soo opposed to Gerrard but slot could be holding this just about together. Yes he's to blame for a lot of it, but I'm wary thinking another man is going to revolutionise the team straight away. Seymenyo and geuhi could though drastically help turn things around. We need a cb in January. It's a must.

11 Dec 2025 13:42:55
As opposed to Arne who's persisting with Wirtz, Isak and Gakpo despite them shooting blanks? That's the problem when your team is in poor form generally. Scapegoating a player doesn't really work.

11 Dec 2025 14:35:28
YAWN, i though you were never going to post again "Harry". Such predictable gibberish.

11 Dec 2025 14:36:53
Good post, Barry.

Even Robo acknowledged that, many times, Mo single-handedly CARRIED the team.

It's no secret that Slot's man management is dire.

Mane said in an interview with Rio Ferdinand that he was angry at Klopp and didn't shake hands with him because he was benched in one match. Klopp CALLED him the next day and sorted the issue.

I mean, take Mo out of the picture last season and we don't win anything. Take Slot out, and we still have a very good chance.

11 Dec 2025 14:47:52
What do you mean it’s no secret Slots man management is dire? Who do you know?

11 Dec 2025 14:48:19
The boring troll continues to bore and troll, seriously, do you have that low self esteem that this is a valid past time for you?
Perhaps you and Maze from the United page should organise a Christmas party for yourselves, that is unless you are the same person of course.

11 Dec 2025 14:48:30
Maybe you didn't read that entire post or you've selective reading red? I mentioned seymenyo, who directly replaces gakpo. I mentioned isak in reference to unfitness, we've all acknowledged he shouldn't be playing but the mo salah fans are easily triggered when his name is mentioned now because of the victim narrative. I support Liverpool fc not disposables players who all eventually move on.
I also mentioned salah in regards to Gerrard because Gerrard was asked previously would he drop salah when he was shocking and he said "no".

This was before salah was dropped and we had a bunch of triggly puff fans.
As for gakpo BTW, I said in September it was a serious mistake he's been moved into a basically first teamer because of his position. But apparently there was a lot of support back then because of the young lads potential coming under him.
Try not to smash the buttons lads when you see salahs name mentioned.

11 Dec 2025 14:54:23
So you're saying that any manager could have won the title last year, I take it? I guess you're in the same camp as those who say that any manager could get the current squad to win the title, and it's just Slot who's messed it all up.

Amazing what a run of bad results can do to our heads.

11 Dec 2025 15:02:31
Disposable players? You called yourself Liverpool FC supporters and you call the players playing for the club as "disposable players"?

{Ed025's Note - i think he meant transient employees Mfahmee...which they are mate..

11 Dec 2025 15:19:22
“i support Liverpool FC” course you do, in that oh so modern way of only coming on here to complain and spout a load of drivel when Liverpool lose.

11 Dec 2025 17:35:10
Ah so Batman IS Harry! Knew he couldn't stay away.

The lack of facts now makes a lot of sense - for example, where is it written that Semenyo replaces Gakpo?

He is one of the most two footed players in the prem - he dribbles mostly with his left for example - so I would say he is actually a Salah replacement who can play across the front line.

11 Dec 2025 21:51:57
Is Batman Harry. sort of makes sense now . ever heard the saying less is more, constantly just writing any old rubbish isn't good yano.

11 Dec 2025 13:17:38
My opinion on the post match interviews.

Robertson - sounded like he was backing mo

Virgil - neutral but said he had no problem with mo

Slot - sounded like he was saying it's him or me

My view is that as manager you have to be the bigger man and instigate a sit down and see if anything can be recovered from the situation.

A good manager (whether in a factory, office or sports team ) has a job to get the best out of the people they are managing. Making sure they have the resources to do their job to the best of their ability. If there's an issue, it's their job to figure out a solution.

Regarding the comments about how much money salah gets paid, I think that's irrelevant, it's not like he's on 400k and the rest of them are on 25k a year, he is paid for his value to the club/company as is anyone in any company.

Yeah he didn't go about it the right way and no-one is bigger than the company/club, but personally I have no problem with people speaking up if they feel they are not being treated right. The conversation between slot and mo should have happened earlier and been sorted.

I blame slot for letting it get to this level and his refusal to speak to mo, unless mo comes cap in hand was embarrassing as a manager. Klopp managed people first, footballers second. This would not have happened under klopp. I think Salah has burnt his bridges and we won't see him again in a Liverpool shirt, but I think he took the bullet for the dressing room as slot needs to go.

For everyone saying slot won us the title last season, I would ask, how many goals and assists did slot make last year. The team won the title and slot was part of that team as was heitinga and Salah.

11 Dec 2025 13:41:41
Your right, Mo being am a£$€ is all Arne's fault.

11 Dec 2025 13:49:33
But it did happen under Klopp, Salah threw a strop on the touchline!

11 Dec 2025 14:45:29
Salah threw a strop on the touchline and it was immediately settled there and then. Both Klopp and Salah moved on. Besides this is bigger than just Salah being benched tbh. The club went behind his back to try and get rid of him. It's not just Slot that needs to talk to Mo. Edwards and Hughes had a hand in it too.

{Ed025's Note - how do you know the club went behind his back to get rid of him mate?

11 Dec 2025 15:10:15
Didn't Ed1 explain that the club is trying to manoeuvre Salah out of the club? And knowing him and how reliable he is, I will trust his words.

{Ed025's Note - read the top of the page..TRANSFER RUMOURS, im not saying that its not true just that i dont know Mfahmee...and i suggest Nobody outside the inner sanctum of Salah and Edwards really do, things can get lost in translation and both sides in this will have their own agenda mate, anyway sorry i have to go, i have 4 famished green martians in my dining room waiting on a sausage casserole..

11 Dec 2025 15:12:26
(Replied under the wrong thread earlier. )

Good post, Barry.

It’s no secret that Slot’s man-management has been poor.

Mane once said in an interview with Rio Ferdinand that he was so angry about being benched he didn’t even shake Klopp’s hand, and Klopp called him the next day to clear the air. That’s proper man-management.

Even Robbo has acknowledged that, many times, Mo practically carried the team.

Take Mo out of the picture last season and we don’t win anything. Take Slot out and we still probably have a very good chance.

11 Dec 2025 16:45:56
Proper leadership from slot now would be asking Mo to apologise behind closed doors to his team mates. Not to apologise for speaking out but for airing it in public. This shouldn’t be a power play between slot and salah and nothing should be shared with the media. It should be as simple as “we’ve discussed it, we’re moving forward and mo is available for selection”.

11 Dec 2025 16:47:57
You’re reading an awful lot into those interviews, Barry.
Slob, VVD, Robbo and Jones all handled their interviews so well, saying the situation was unfortunate, while making it clear they all love Mo.
Slot has not once criticised Mo in public, and kept his cards close to his chest in the interview.
I think Mo would have had his outburst no matter who the manager was. Look at his public row with Klopp on the only occasion he was a sub.
This was always going to happen the first time he was benched for more than 1 game, and his form since March has really not been great at all.
I can only judge things on the evidence available to me, and it is thus: Mo has been given a great new contract, has started every game for Slot until last week - and then said some pretty outrageous clearly thought out things to the press.

Some of the greats - of which he is one - handle things differently when age catches up, and adjust their expectations accordingly. John Barnes did this by turning himself into a holding midfielder when he knew he no longer had the pace to play wing.

Mo sadly has followed Ronaldo’s example.

All of the following are true: Slot won a title in his first season, Slot is not doing so well this season, Mo is a legend, but Mo currently isn’t the Mo of old, needed to be dropped, and has let himself down with prima donna behaviour.

None of it is ideal, but the key for me is that we continue to support Slot and our team - as shown by our incredible away fans in Milan.

11 Dec 2025 17:15:20
Think it was Salah that tried to turn it into a powerplay Ecogsi.

11 Dec 2025 20:42:02
100% agree but it needs dealing with properly so it doesn’t hang over the club like a dark cloud. Slot needs maintain control and show the players and especially salah that the club comes first.

11 Dec 2025 12:36:53
It wouldn't be great timing for slot to be let go with the salah saga. If slot is let go, the club should also be looking to let salah go for a reasonable fee in January. That's a clean start for everyone including the fans.
If alonso is to be our manager I'm not convinced tbh. I've watched every Madrid game but certainly he hasn't been helped by big egos not putting in a shift and a proper midfielder.
Alonso I do think would do better here but the timings terrible.

He's going from the stress of Madrid straight into another big job without having the time to reflect.
I also wouldn't have big expectations this season. Our midfield is a problem. We need two top midfielders in the summer. Wharton is worth his weight in gold dust and Anderson should be a top priority. When/ if alonso gets the midfield right, I expect us to be truly frightening.

11 Dec 2025 13:11:54
Did Salah do another interview where he told all the boys and girls that the tooth fairy isn't real? Or is everyone talking about his interview after the Leeds game?

Because that one was kind of mild, and hardly worth the witch hunt of a club legend.

11 Dec 2025 13:20:57
If we were to sign those two Batman would you have both in the starting 11? And if so who would be your starting 3 CM's?

11 Dec 2025 13:35:02
A Liverpool supporter that watches every Real Madrid game? If Real Madrid were playing down the bottom of my garden, I’d draw the curtains.

11 Dec 2025 14:12:38
Some of us love football and watch as much as we can to be fair lad.

11 Dec 2025 14:44:01
Where do you find the time to watch every Madrid game?

11 Dec 2025 14:49:27
He isn't a Liverpool supporter, this is well established by now.

11 Dec 2025 14:51:49
Yes thunder. I watch a lot of football. I previously mentioned I was interested in seeing how alonso, bellingham and trent would get on, especially in regards to England. I like my football.
Florian. Dream would be Anderson, Wharton and sobsolsi.

Gravenberch can fight it out with Anderson and Wharton for a place. Or vise versa. Macca is hopefully Madrid bound. Good money and he's not suited for us unless he's carried.

11 Dec 2025 17:19:57
Not for me, Grav would have to be in there.

12 Dec 2025 05:11:22
A Liverpool fan but still can't spell Szoboszlai correctly. At least just use the short form "Szob" or "Szobo" if you can't. Sobsolsi is just a poor attempt mate.

{Ed078's Note - nit picky at all Dracred?

11 Dec 2025 11:55:32
Would love it if Ed033 could create a poll.

Who thinks having Harvey Elliot back in the Liverpool squad from January would improve our chances of a better 2nd half to the season?

{Ed033's Note -


Harvey Elliot poll

11 Dec 2025 12:10:31
I voted no on the poll but not because it's a reflection of Elliott's ability. I think he would be a great back-up to Wirtz since we are finally playing with a Cam and that, I think, is Elliott's best position. The issue for me is Slot. Elliott has clearly fallen out of favour with him and, like Chiesa, I don't think he would be given the opportunity to show what he can really do for us.

At best he'd be limited to a few minutes at the end of matches. So I don't think him coming back would galvanise us or improve us.

11 Dec 2025 12:25:08
I love Elliot but everyone has been bitching about the lack of bite in our midfield and he wouldn't make that any better sadly. On the RW however may be good for him. Also doesn't solve our lack of pace either.

11 Dec 2025 12:29:46
At least we would be able to fill a few more subs seats unlike on Tuesday 🤣.

11 Dec 2025 12:34:31
True Drac he would only get a few minutes at the end of games if lucky. This isn't because Slot has fallen out with him. Its for the same reason Emery hasn't played him. its because he is not good enough to be starting. Unfortunately Lfc cannot start 15 players so everyones favourites get a run out.

11 Dec 2025 12:34:46
Drac, I never wanted to Elliott to leave BUT understood why he had to. If there is a way for him back, I would welcome it. He is diff. to Wirtz and that is not a bad thing.

When he used to play on the right to spell Salah for whatever reason, he was more of a wide playmaker than a wide forward and played the role the the best he could esp. in that LC final at Wembley when we embarrassed those Chelsea frauds.

He can also play in CM but was more like an 8 rather than a Wirtz like no. 10 and did well there sometimes too. Whether he would improve us or not ( esp. after going almost a year w/ o playing) is not even on the table cos first off, he needs to be playing footie, full stop.

11 Dec 2025 12:37:33
For me it depends who we sign in January, a decent squad player who might arrive back with a point to prove.
Could he end up at Bournemouth if we get Semenyo?

11 Dec 2025 12:40:47
Maybe alonso might rate him? Elliots best chance is playing in salahs position. Off the right / joining in midfield. If salah goes in January, maybe the lad will be given more minutes. With seymenyo coming in I can't imagine elliot challenging wirtz for the 10 jersey.

He could be a great squad player and reevaluate his career in the summer. Aston villa has proven an awful move for him.

11 Dec 2025 12:41:37
Thanks folks. My view is reflected in some of the posts - he would fill a sub berth and with a lot more first team experience than, say, Nyoni.

With the absence of Salah (permanently? ) he could be rotation for Szob or (fingers crossed) Semenyo.

I know Slot hasn't played him, but neither is Emery any more as they don't want to trigger the clause.

I'm sure he'd rather be on the bench at the club he supports than not even make the squad at another club.

11 Dec 2025 12:51:19
Harvey would track back and work hard. Also in this newer diamond or 2-3-1 mid/ front line may be better for his game also.

11 Dec 2025 14:39:32
Zed, do you recall even one instance where Elliott subbed for Salah on the right wing and made a noticeable positive impact, because I don't? He doesn't have the speed for it nor the technique (my opinion) . Best suited for an advanced midfield role and we don't have a shortage of players there.

11 Dec 2025 14:44:15
The answer is quite clearly no. He hardly played under Slot last season and he can’t make much of a difference from the bench. That’s the reality.

11 Dec 2025 14:45:29
In a diamond as a right sided midfielder/ inside 10 he would actually be very good, I think.

11 Dec 2025 15:04:35
During the summer for England he was outstanding. He played really well in the old inside right position. It gave him scope to run onto the ball and break defensive lines. Instead of holding a wide position.
I honestly thought slot had a selection problem between him a Freddie. with all the incomings it passed him by. Gutted for the kid. The 8 role would have given him and us another option. Mr Slot is a hard man to please.

YNWA.

11 Dec 2025 17:38:42
ArAy, not how we were set up, you're right. He mainly covered the Salah role in a 433 against lower tier opposition in the cups.

However, the fact that Salah hasn't kicked on this season and the last few games shows a transition to a new way of playing that isn't entirely dependent on Salah's pace.

In the new setup, yeah, I could see Harvey playing effectively in the (new) Salah role that Szob has been so effective in the last few games.

11 Dec 2025 18:15:31
I'd definitely have him back. Great squad player who can offer cover in multiple positions (CAM, RW, CM) in specific situations especially if we persist with the midfield diamond which simultaneously uses almost all our mids.

BUT with slot still here the truth is that wouldn't make much more sense for Elliot than it would to stay at Villa: he would hardly get played because Slot has shown last year he rarely picks him and his selection this year is even worse.

11 Dec 2025 11:00:20
Morning . Just a general question re Alonso. First, one of my favourite players and thought what he did at BL was amazing.

However, I'm a little unsure now why he is still so wanted and we are so desperate to have him (in fan base anyway) .

It almost seems ignored, he a former player and icon (same at RM) has failed to the point of getting sacked (talk of) and his style at BL wasn't like ours. It was great btw.

Im just asking why its such a shoe in and everyone super excited. No one seems to compare that he went from a smaller club to a massive one and isn't cutting it (remind of anyone) Fallen out with big names apparently (remind of anyone) . Rumours of losing dressing room and can't maybe manage big egos (remind of anyone) I just would be interested how these aren't being discussed? Curious others thoughts.

{Ed025's Note - all fair points mate..

11 Dec 2025 11:19:28
It's like we are so keen to replace Slot and we are aware top level are looking at alternatives. So is Slot following Carras news (thanks) .

Its like we are thinking like we are picking up Alonso from BL after that amazing season (Again not mentioned much he rejected us for Madrid to happen) and we're just dismissing his Madrid job without consideration.

I'm sure he is the best out there and maybe a massive success if he comes in. Hope so I'm a huge fan. Maybe just me overthinking and wary of another situation like we have currently.

11 Dec 2025 11:36:03
Cant exactly say Slot hasn't cut it when he's premier league champion.

11 Dec 2025 11:38:15
The grass is always greener. Slot has overseen a dreadful run, and he is the first to admit that it started with the PSG loss.
I want to see if he has the tools to overcome the first downturn in his managerial career, as he does have serious credit in the bank, winning the title at a canter in his first season.


In awfully difficult circumstances, he and our players have shown a huge amount of dignity over the past week. I always find him smart, likeable and witty when interviewed - which makes some of the personal dislike of him on here hard to fathom.

11 Dec 2025 11:43:11
Kloppiche,
There are a few of us who are less emotional about it and more analytical.

Alonso did well in Germany
Gerrard broke Celtics domination at Rangers.

It doesn’t mean they’re going to be great in the premier league.
Personally, I think Iraola is less of a risk - he has a track record in the premier league although he is still a risk at a bigger club.

All managerial appointments are risks, but some are more risky than others.

11 Dec 2025 12:41:58
Monstersouness, the PSG loss has nothing to do with it. They won fair and square and that's it. We looked tired and knackered in the final months of last season and Slot said he should have rotated more earlier in the season. His words.

The run we are on right now is all on him, end of story hence, we are looking to replace him. It's that simple.

I do think @Ron is right to a point. As much as his BL record is awesome, we can't just dismiss his struggles at RM even tho, they are known felons when it comes to chewing up top and project managers like Alonso and spitting them out. Can't ignore that part either.

It will be up to the board and Alonso to see if it will be a good fit should this scenario arise. The pro's and cons are out there and have to be navigated properly. And who says Xabi wants to come to us anytime soon, anyway?

11 Dec 2025 13:18:09
I am not sure what you are disagreeing with here Oli? In his interview this week, Slot acknowledged that we have been struggling for form since the PSG and Forest away games, and he hadn’t yet found a tactical solution.
I don’t see such honesty as a negative, but each to their own.


I am not convinced the club is actively looking to replace him - yet. I am sure they are doing due diligence and sounding out candidates in case Slot can’t turn things around by xmas.

11 Dec 2025 13:47:16
I believe the issue at Real is not Xabi's inability, but more so a lack of awareness in regards to the situation. Real is full of ego's. Xabi is very hands on, a great coach but maybe not a great manager of the big player persona's. In a club where the players have the power, that's kind of a recipe for disaster. Managers who lean heavy into the tactical side of things or try to overly assert themselves and their style don't tend to do too well at Real, whereas great man management seems to bring the best out of the big personalities. Think Benitez v Zidane. Ddespite Xabi's inexperience at big clubs his tactical adaptability could be exactly what we need right now. We are a team that lacks identity. Even though Slot has stuck with the same structure and approach all season, we are full of inconsistency and imbalance. He has been far too slow to make changes, he seems to lack the situational awareness to adapt his style in order to bring out the best in the players he has. It took 4 months to try a formation that fans have been calling for since August. Xabi is still young, he want's to put his stamp on things, and define his position with a certain approach. Where this doesn't suit the big ego's at Real, I think given our current situation it could be exactly what we need at Anfield, he is intelligent and tactically adaptive which I believe makes him an ideal candidate for a squad rich in talent but held back by a system that fails to maximize their potential.

People argue that Xabi hasn't got the experience at big clubs but arguably, neither has Slot. Sure, Feyenoord are a massive team with a rich history in Netherlands but compared to Liverpool. Feyenoord is a national giant, no doubt, and well respected in Europe, but Liverpool is a global institution. I would also argue that what Xabi did at Leverkusen was more impressive than what Slot did at Feyenoord.

11 Dec 2025 14:48:46
Why are you comparing what Xabi did at Leverkusen with what Slot did at Feyenoord? Didn't Slot win the premier league with Liverpool?

11 Dec 2025 09:28:56
With Emery openly admitting they won’t be signing Elliott after his loan and the fact that he’s already played for both of us this season meaning he can’t play for anyone else, surely we recall him in January as he’s better off in our squad maybe getting minutes than in theirs definitely not getting any minutes!

11 Dec 2025 09:49:17
You think Slot is going to give him minutes?

11 Dec 2025 10:13:46
Got minutes last year JLC.

11 Dec 2025 10:14:38
That rule doesn’t include loan deals.
The only rule with loan deals is exceeding a quota.

11 Dec 2025 12:37:29
And yet still decided to send him on loan Florian, says everything that I need to know.

Elliot will just become another Gomez / Endo / Chiesa / Rio.
Sitting on the bench waiting for a mini crisis before actually being an opportunity.

11 Dec 2025 12:43:03
Yeah, Elliott did Florian. After the league was won.

Even Chiesa got a start in that time. Means nothing, personally.

11 Dec 2025 13:28:30
Think Slot seen that as a sale JLC all day long, as did nearly everyone in the game. And it was the right decision because he wanted to start and wasnt going to. It was also meant to bring in funds towards the transfers. Now in the meantime Aston Villa have screwed Harvey out if a season of his career.

Would you have had us keep Elliott last summer JLC? When he wanted to go and wouldn't have been playing? But hey, if it can be used as another stick to beat the manager with n all.

11 Dec 2025 17:07:16
Wow Florian. what's your problem mate?

Just saying he won't get game time. not really a stick to beat the manager with, but if you say so.

11 Dec 2025 17:31:00
Must have been your wording JLC, bit dramatic. "elliott will become just another Gomez, Chiesa, Endo or Rio". You mean a squad member like?

11 Dec 2025 18:24:57
Florian, if you see pointing out the fact that those players haven't gotten an minutes this year as an attack on Slot, that is you doing the attacking. Seems like your projecting.

11 Dec 2025 09:07:30
Genuine question here. I think its pretty obvious that i support Slot and would like to see him come through this spell, something im hoping were seeing now with this little unbeaten run. After lastnights result it is now 2 wins from 8 games for Alonso who seems to be the dream Slot replacement. I love Xabi myself and wouldn't be against him coming in if Slot goes (which is totally contradictory to the rest of my post) as a player for us he was terrific on and off the pitch. But he is getting slaughtered in Spain for the EXACT same reasons slot has. An abysmal run, terrible tactics and poor relations with the players. Now i know we'll say that's Real's players are pampered just as we said about Spur's with Frank and Utd's for the last decade but ours aren't? I know a lot of the goodwill towards Alonso is from his time as a player but that was a generation ago.

In their time as Managers Slot and Alonso's careers are pretty comparable. Slot maybe holds an advantage with his Premier League triumph. I don't think i've ever seen a team want their manager gone to bring in a manager who is going through as tough a time or maybe even tougher, to replace him. So at last to my question, why apart from Alonso's history as a player and maybe a dislike for Slot do so many of us want him to come in for Slot when his own job is hanging by a thread for having an equaly terrible run of results.

11 Dec 2025 09:19:27
Good post, Florian.

11 Dec 2025 09:41:00
Was thinking exactly the same thing myself, personally I don't see Slot leaving this season, I think he will turn this around, the win against Inter was a step in the right direction, a win at home to Brighton on Saturday will build more momentum.

11 Dec 2025 09:45:59
For me, Florian, the difference is that they are each getting pilloried by their supporters for the exact opposite style. We, who are used to heavy metal geggenpressen are seeing a worrying drop off in energy levels towards the end of matches. Ed001 has relayed that the fitness training that Klopp seemed to be so keen on has been reduced in order to preserve energy for later in the season. However, that does mean that our energy levels are dipping early.

On the flip side, Xabi is putting the team through their paces to increase fitness levels, which is contrary to the more laid back, skills based RM of previous seasons.

Surely a swap can be engineered?!

11 Dec 2025 09:59:32
Spot on Zed.

A swap between the managers and then a LFC vs RM final. OH we can but dream.

11 Dec 2025 10:15:54
I'd like Iraola to replace Slot in preference to Alonso. In saying that I'd prefer Alonso than Slot if Iraola was not an option. Not because I bear any bad tidings towards Slot it's because I think he has lost his way at LFC and he cannot regain it and persisting with Slot will bring us deeper into the mire. Our football is atrocious!

11 Dec 2025 10:21:18
Zeddicus - Exactly this.

This limp, euro-trash style which Slot is trying to implement smacks of ego and his mono-vision for how he wants his team to play is not suited to the hustle of this league.

Besides that, Alonso speaks sense, he is an intelligent man and he is able to relate to and connect with the players as Jurgen did, which is essential.

Slot has quickly come unstuck . Alonso could be our manager for a decade.

11 Dec 2025 10:23:24
Are we used to heavy metal? i havnt seen it in years. Certainly didn't win tbe league with it.

11 Dec 2025 10:44:39
How does Alonso speak sense? how do you know he is an intelligent man? Is he connecting with the madrid players? A lot of this just seems that we like him from a playing days and he is not Arne Slot.

11 Dec 2025 10:48:08
We did win the league with it FM. And the European cup too.

11 Dec 2025 11:12:50
Just a point of note. We played Alonso when he was at Leverkusen, then this season at Madrid. Hammered Leverkusen, beat Madrid. Just saying.

11 Dec 2025 11:38:12
Yeh. years ago Shanks, We havnt played that way since the 21/ 22 season.

11 Dec 2025 12:07:34
For instance who out of the 20 odd senior players now at the club have played real Jurgen in your face heavy metal ball? Alli, Ibou, Virg, Robbo and Mo? A handful left and i would say all them them apart from Ibou would struggle to play that way at this stage of their career.

To everyone else in the squad, they would have never experienced it.

11 Dec 2025 12:14:28
So nobody thinks Alonso's issues are with the RM prima Donna's which they have a lot of.

11 Dec 2025 12:38:24
Another point of note Rome, Palace beat us 3 times this season. Glasner must be far superior than Slot.

11 Dec 2025 12:39:44
Im sure some of the issues are with Prima Donna's McGoveb, just as every Man U post fergie manager has, same as Frank at Spurs etc but i laugh when its apparently only Lfc where there's no Prima Donna's and its all the managers fault.

11 Dec 2025 12:45:38
Mcgoveb, I think it does due to precedent so can't rule that out.


"This limp, euro-trash style which Slot is trying to implement smacks of ego and his mono-vision for how he wants his team to play is not suited to the hustle of this league. "


Now I don't know about the "euro-trash" stuff means BUT I agree with your overall sentiment.

11 Dec 2025 13:17:33
Ibou never played Klopp's heavy metal football though. He came after that. The only ones in the team have would be Alli, Vvd, Gomez, Robbo and Salah. Maybe Jones too but I think he hadn't broke into the first team then.

11 Dec 2025 13:32:04
Crazy that with all the hustle of this league that that very same limp euro trash style has won it 5 years on the trot.

11 Dec 2025 13:48:04
Sorry Drac you may be right. I was sure Ibou played vs Real in the 2022 season and we changed at the start of the 22/ 23 season. Was it not that season we drew away to Fulham 1st day and it was clear Hendo/ fabs legs had gone and Trent nd Robbo's roles had changed?

11 Dec 2025 13:58:28
FM, not splitting hairs but you did suggest that HMF didn't work and my response was it did. That really was the only point I was making and I get what you say about the players but it isn't the players that dictate playing style. Slots football is horrendous! With the jewelry at his disposal he should be doing much much better.

Nobody could watch this rubbish and think we're on the up. I'm firmly in the out camp. And the sooner the better. It's hard to actually comprehend the mess with the club currently. Brighter days await regardless!

11 Dec 2025 14:23:35
Good result and decent performance (Chivu clearly didn't prepare by watching any of our defeats, much like Emery didn't with Villa) versus Inter.

I don't see anything new or adaptive. We are still slow in closing down, don't win tackles until the opposition arrive in the box, the press is completely pointless and have no repeatable attacking patterns.

Add to that the lack of interest in sparking the Anfield crowd into life, I don't see what has changed.

We resemble a late-stage Wenger team.

ps A reminder that if you play >25% of your passes long against us, you beat us.

11 Dec 2025 14:40:33
Thatt's the way I look at it as well, Shankly. Good things are coming, under Slot? no chance but in the future we'll be back to our best. We have a team full of quality, the problem is the manager.

11 Dec 2025 15:40:56
You and I are on the same page Salah. The remainder of December will be interesting.

11 Dec 2025 16:43:34
Touché Mfahmee2.

11 Dec 2025 18:05:52
The team has quality players no doubt but we are weak in certain areas. The full backs are definitely a weakness as is cb. In addition we lack pace and physicality, a lot needs improving.

11 Dec 2025 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - OptimistPesimistt has posted a new article entitled, Daniel Farke Is Still The Right Man For Leeds United

11 Dec 2025 06:18:52
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but do wonder if Alonso thinks he should’ve been our next coach after Klopp instead of that poisonous toxic club that is Real Madrid but now I get the feeling he may be damaged goods. Think if he gets the sack from Real he needs a break to reevaluate. Like to know ed001 thoughts.

{Ed078's Note - I think Xabi is strong enough to move on if needed, without any "damage". Ed001 may well have more informed opinions.

11 Dec 2025 07:27:20
If Alonso had no connection to Liverpool, there’s no way fans would be excited at taking him as a Manager. A manager who has failed in 15 games at Real Madrid and couldn’t control the dressing room.

I thought we had issues in the dressing room. If he doesn’t have the personality to deal with their players and can’t win games he should with their team why does everyone think he could do it at Liverpool.

11 Dec 2025 07:33:04
On the other hand it might be a welcome relief. Who knows how he's feeling, what the club's are planning and how things will turn out.
I think he did the right think staying in Germany an extra year.

11 Dec 2025 07:57:01
Because Liverpool don't have the poisonous dressing room culture and sense of entitlement of Real Madrid. Ancelotti himself said that he didn't try to do much coaching at Real Madrid, he had a very hands-off approach. Xabi is trying to coach the team, and it's a long term project that will alienate some players used to having certain privileges and other players, often unexpected, coming to the fore and shining. Guler and Carreras have been superb under him, and he looks to be bringing Gonzalo Garcia through the ranks slowly.

Every time Perez has been convinced to hire a 'project' manager who will coach the team and drill a certain philosophy into them, they abort the project halfway through once players start to kick up a fuss and results don't go their way. It's going that way again, which is par for the course for Madrid, I don't think it's a stain on Xabi's resume necessarily though, it took quite a bit of courage for him to take the job knowing what was at stake.

11 Dec 2025 08:13:51
It sounds like the players have turned on him or are making life difficult, he has tried to instill professionalism and structure and the players do like it. From what I understand or have read is that player were allowed to go on holidays during the first half of the season under previous managers and Alonso has put a stop to that.

Players have been going over his head to Perez and that has made things extremely difficult, basically undermining him.

I don't judge any manager that fails at real madrid as it isn't run like any other team in the world.

11 Dec 2025 08:16:56
Also, like PB says, Ancelotti said there wasnt much coaching happening. He had said that they would work on tactics in the week and then the players wouldn't bother to use them in the game.

11 Dec 2025 08:27:01
I’m not sold on Alonso but how has he failed in 15 games at Madrid? That’s just daft.

11 Dec 2025 08:48:28
Exactly, PB. That RM dressing room has destroyed the reputation of many a top manager so saying that Xabi "failed" to control such a toxic dressing room hence, to say he is suddenly a poor manager is just ludicrous stuff. If that DR has destroyed other top managers then, what chance does a project manager like Alonso have esp. when trying to instill discipline and professionalism into the team? Yeah, none at all.

If people don't want Xabi here then, that's fine but using the extreme situations that like that of RM whose DR ate Ancelotti up and spat him out TWICE despite winning lots of pots with them btw, is not a valid argument to make. There are other arguments BUT this ain't one of them, IMO.

Oh and should he come to us (not sure he will), he has a certain Florian Wirtz to work with which can only be good for both parties and the team, IMO.

11 Dec 2025 08:49:43
Didn't he win 13 out of the first 14 games or something? Reading what's coming out of Spain, it seems it's more to do with the players not getting on board with his ideas as he is trying to increase fitness, running etc and sounds like they can't be bothered!

11 Dec 2025 09:12:36
Real are 4 pts off Barcelona and currently sitting in 2nd place.
I’d hardly call that failing in your first 15 games.

11 Dec 2025 09:55:45
Real Madrid - Last 15 games, won 8, lost 3, drawn 4 - failed.
What do you call a star player coming out and attacking the manager and club then which we’ve all seen v some rumours of dressing room unrest no one actually knows about in Madrid.
Some people on here just have a vendetta against Slot. The guy who took us higher than Utd in main trophies.

I honestly thought this site was the best discussion site over last few years but now post Ed02 it resembles other social media sites with lots of BS from people ITK all contradicting each other and people taking that as gospel if it feeds their view and jumping on bandwagons. The actual discussion has gone.

11 Dec 2025 10:24:53
His side are second in La Liga, four points adrift of Barca, and the 15-time winners are in the Champions League top-eight on goal difference.

Alonso would bring the cohesion, intensity and trianing regieme that we need and which is required for the prem. He gets the league.

PB's points are spot on.

11 Dec 2025 11:45:56
I thought PaddyB was being ironic saying we don’t have a poisonous dressing room culture and sense of entitlement.

We’re not on the scale of RM, but the dressing room seems pretty poisonous at the moment, our fans are turning on a title winning manager after 14 games and ask Newcastle if we’re seen as entitled.

11 Dec 2025 12:13:17
Rojack how does Alonso get the Premier League and stuie we won our first 6 games this season. People can look for differences in Slots and Alonso's situation all they want but the reality is there are none. And this is from a Xabi Alonso fan.

11 Dec 2025 12:48:00
More wins than losses now means a manager has failed? Yeah, got it.

11 Dec 2025 13:28:03
Nice one Oli as you really don’t get much.

11 Dec 2025 13:38:24
Slot also has more wins than losses. Just saying.

11 Dec 2025 15:54:26
Just to clarify my opinion and in part, a return of serve to WM73; I have zero vendetta v AS. None whatsoever. I just don't believe he's the correct person in charge of first team affairs anymore. To come from the position of champions to where we are now just cannot be acceptable to anyone, or perhaps it can.

But it isn't for me. There may be many mitigating factors for this but ultimately it's his can to carry and he should have the nous to preempt and contain or control the issues at hand. He doesn't have it. Any manager capable of managing Liverpool NEEDS to have it. Or else the results are plain to see for one and all.

10 Dec 2025 23:43:04
Bild are reporting that Salah has an issue with Wirtz as he’s being touted as the future of Liverpool.

I’m not saying I believe this but you can see what Salah’s outburst has caused. These rumours won’t stop until he’s gone.

11 Dec 2025 00:31:53
Thought you was sick of talking about Salah.

11 Dec 2025 00:35:58
Bild is just Germany's bog standard rag no need to ever share what they say here.

11 Dec 2025 00:44:35
loving all the rumours lol

this is one that doesn't pass the sniff test for me.

As deluded as Mo has been recently, surely even he knows he isn't the future of this club.

11 Dec 2025 01:06:31
Bild is generally unreliable.

11 Dec 2025 02:02:16
Lol, Stroms - you beat me to it mate.

11 Dec 2025 03:53:42
Sean, just yesterday you said you were sick of talking about Salah. Yet here you are, blabbing about him again. You already forgot about what you said yesterday? It's not even 24 hours yet.

11 Dec 2025 07:33:04
I’m declaring Friday as Alonso Day and everybody has to make stuff up about him rather than the Egyptian fella. It’ll make a nice change. Or perhaps, God forbid, we can even discuss the Brighton game?

11 Dec 2025 07:34:52
Is Sean Dundee not a fan of Mo Salah?

Professional jealousy is ugly.

11 Dec 2025 08:41:49
Nice one WDW! I second that motion!

11 Dec 2025 08:50:27
@Sean, quoting stuff from German rags is fine as this is a rumours page. Just don't get mad when people dismiss it.

Oh and that rumour is something anyone on the planet can make up under the circumstances.

11 Dec 2025 08:51:00
Salah. I think Sean Dundee secretly loves him but can't admit it ha.

11 Dec 2025 08:52:52
A good Alonso story to have a look at is the Peter Crouch podcast and the hotel receptionist.

11 Dec 2025 15:56:09
Are Bild not Bayerns megaphone? Or am I mixing it up with Marca and RM?

10 Dec 2025 21:57:07
Real Madrid lost. next couple of days, weeks should be interesting.

10 Dec 2025 22:21:40
They looked terrible, on a par with us.

10 Dec 2025 22:43:45
Quick let’s get their manager 😆.

10 Dec 2025 23:02:55
why would want a failure at the club.

10 Dec 2025 23:03:24
Hahaha, certainly feels like that Ron.

Yeah Scouse, it wasn't a great performance at all but I'm clutching on hope these days. Truth be told, I'm not even sure where my hope is being channeled as it's been such an indifferent season.

10 Dec 2025 23:10:46
Just seen Alonso outside the chippy. He said he misses the Rain and is thinking about renting a terrace in Bootle 👀.

{Ed078's Note - nonsense, he's more a Walton lover. Too much chance of bumping into Carragher in Bootle

10 Dec 2025 23:15:00
I'm with you Ron. not sure its the right choice if all is as reported!

10 Dec 2025 23:23:35
Was a great game though.

11 Dec 2025 04:11:49
Lol Faith, Real Madrid has win more and lose less matches than Liverpool this season. Wouldn't that make Slot a failure as well?

11 Dec 2025 07:27:02
Doku was superb, it was an exciting fast game, and enjoyable football watch.

11 Dec 2025 08:51:30
Ed078, and we wouldn't want that now, would we?

11 Dec 2025 22:41:33
mfahmee2 - If either are sacked before Christmas then they will have failed. Although one won a league title at first "big" club.