Liverpool banter 5

05 Jun 2026 13:05:24
There are some great clips of Iraola's first interview as our new manager. He seems to be very aware of the scale of the task before him and seems excited for the challenge.
I get some good vibes from him. Hopefully success is back on the menu.

05 Jun 2026 15:41:47
Also nice to see a manager with a smile on his face, he comes across very well.

05 Jun 2026 13:04:05
Am I the only one that likes Gakpo?
I think he could really flourish under Iraola.
If he stays, I think a lot of you are going to be pleasantly surprised.

05 Jun 2026 14:05:10
I also don't get the Gakpo hate. Most players looked bad under Slot last season. I'd rather keep Gakpo than spend big on Barcola.

05 Jun 2026 14:07:09
I like Gakpo but I can't pretend that he didn't just have an awful season.

That said, I wouldn't sell any players based on performances from last season and I would give them all a second chance to show what they can do under Iraola.

05 Jun 2026 14:12:17
It's a tricky one, and an issue set up by ourselves by giving him such a bumper contract last year.

On his previous contract of £120k/week, I think he offers a lot, and provides cover and continuity whilst we integrate yet more players into the squad and while Hugo is injured and Rio continues to learn and develop.

However, by giving him £250k (rather than, say, £160k-ish), we have made a rod for our own back as other players like Dom, Konate (albeit I sense he had a plan anyway), etc. will want to earn the same wages.

On ability and familiarity with the team, I would keep him, at least until January, to see whether he can cope with the Iraola intensity.

It's not like he's old, he should be coming into his prime now, and although he had a stinker last season, so did almost everyone.

However, if a £50-£60m+ offer comes in, it may be worthwhile cashing in and picking up a talent in the 20-24 age group to help Rio and provide a decent service - Barcola could be one, but maybe Malick Fofana may be of interest again. We also have Wirtz, who can play off the left (and arguably excels there for his country).

05 Jun 2026 14:43:32
He excels there (LW for Germany) because it's more of a free role LW, he spends 70,
-80% of the time centrally, so a flying LB like Kerkez should help if Wirtz starts there for us next season.

05 Jun 2026 14:56:34
Not many had a good season, Shipley.

05 Jun 2026 14:58:50
I liked Gakpo, but this season he was horrible, but I think a lot of it was down to poor coaching as the whole team was horrible last season.

05 Jun 2026 15:46:33
That's exactly my point, @Irish. It can't be coincidence that so many performances dropped at the same time, hence the clean slate with Iraola this season.

05 Jun 2026 15:58:10
Gakpo is a good player. Poor season but good player. He'll be back.

05 Jun 2026 17:20:44
Everyone had a poor season. Rather keep Gakpo than go for Barcola personally, but on the condition that he plays Kerkez in more when he overlaps!

05 Jun 2026 12:38:39
Completely away from anything Liverpool. As Carra, Fields, Robbo seem to know a lot and get most if not all right.

I'm intrigued, do you know who this £150m non prem champs league young player is that Perez is promising to buy at Madrid if reelected?

Or, is it a ploy to just get back in the seat...

05 Jun 2026 13:17:45
I reckon it's 1 of the PSG boys.

05 Jun 2026 13:29:20
Kk, Vitinha or Neves.

05 Jun 2026 13:32:09
Sounded like it could be Musiala. I'd expect, at that fee, it'll be a Bayern or a PSG player.

05 Jun 2026 13:39:56
I'd love for us to sign Van Hecke from Brighton. Excellent defender.

05 Jun 2026 13:49:18
He said it's a striker, so imo it's Alvarez.

05 Jun 2026 13:53:42
I think it'll be Olise.

Vini Jr, Mbappe and Olise as a Galactico front 3 is the sort of stuff Madrid fans get off on. Even though that has absolutely zero work rate, and will leave Madrid short defensively.

05 Jun 2026 14:35:57
He said it was someone who drives forward from midfield into attack, and also said it definitely wasn't Olise.

I don't see PSG parting with anyone who would potentially cost that much, i.e. Kvart, Doue, Vitinha or Neves.

05 Jun 2026 14:59:04
Liver-La, I didn't think I would read the words Van Hecke and excellent defender in the same sentence.

05 Jun 2026 15:44:10
Mk, how will they be weaker defensively? They have just signed the French Hansen big Ibou.

05 Jun 2026 16:52:14
Fatwallet, Alright you don't have to convince me further!

05 Jun 2026 19:14:15
Liver La
Van Hecke is bang average. Tarkovski level.

05 Jun 2026 10:25:13
Hi. Something Iraola said in his interview with the WC and senior players away, it’s a great opportunity to work with the young academy and fringe players to assess and ready them for the season. Some other managers would see the WC as a negative. He sees the positive. This is a fundamental core concept way of thinking.
Reminds me of the shoe salesman who is sent to a country.

He phones his boss and says boss “you’re not going to believe this nobody is wearing any shoes what am I gonna do? it’s a disaster I can’t sell shoes to anybody! “
A second shoe salesman goes to the same country and phones his boss and says “ Hi boss you won’t believe this but nobody is wearing any shoes it’s great I can sell to Everybody!”
This could be the difference in mindset we need imo

05 Jun 2026 11:53:30
Sounds like something Arteta would say in a press conference. 😂

05 Jun 2026 12:34:13
More like one of Arteta's training exercises. 😆

05 Jun 2026 12:58:27
Navy Keith, 🤣 Arteta to a T mate.

05 Jun 2026 13:22:09
The third salesman opens a sock making factory as well.

05 Jun 2026 10:48:53
{Ed's Note - Seano_ has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool Squad Assessment and Summer Priorities

05 Jun 2026 12:22:26
Filling that CF position is going to be tough. With Isak's fitness, they should get some games, but then be limited to sub appearances when Hugo is back.
Hard to find someone willing to want to play that role, and we won't want to spend the sort of cash it'll take to bring a player better than we've already got.

05 Jun 2026 12:35:31
Nice read, Seano. I agree with probably 20+ of the player assessments you made. Only 4 things I'd differ with you on.

1. Selling Tsimikas. I see no point in that. He's a proven back up LB who's won the FA Cup, League Cup x2 and Premier League with us. As back-up he is fine.

2. Gravenberch and Jones being as un-athletic as Mac Allister. Jones and Grav aren't lightening fast, but they're nowhere near as slow or immobile as you've made out.

3. Gakpo lacking pace. He does not lack pace at all. I reckon over a 50 yard dash he's probably one of our quickest players.

He just looks slower because at 6ft4 he takes longer strides.


4. Wanting to sell Isak if we had another option. I just cannot see the logic in that. He's got bags of ability and also if we sold him we'd never recoup what we paid so it'd just be writing off a minimum of £50m. We need him to come good and I think as a goalscorer, Iraola will get the best out of him. He might not press very well, but he'll score goals.

Overall though, I enjoyed the read and found myself agreeing on most things.

05 Jun 2026 12:37:27
Bowen. Can cover the wing, but can play CF.

05 Jun 2026 12:53:41
Nice one, Seano. Broadly agree with what we need to do in the market.

The difficult part might be some big decisions on players some of us would want to keep (Szobo, Macca, Cody, even Nyoni) but need to sell to generate enough money to fund what is now a squad overhaul.

05 Jun 2026 13:06:13
Bowen? What the hell, am I reading here? We are not a retirement home. Rather keep Salah.

05 Jun 2026 13:13:47
Bowens is basically the same age Milner was when he signed. Not sure what your gripe is, RobRed. He'd be a very good signing. He can play RW and CF, which are two positions we look very light in right now.

05 Jun 2026 13:29:38
Centre back also a clear area of concern.
Need one more.
RB, RW and centre mid also urgently needed and I'd argue a back up left back too.

05 Jun 2026 13:45:59
Tsimikas with Beck/Chambers is enough cover at LB, agreed on the other positions.

06 Jun 2026 03:25:31
Cheers MK, my logic for those things we see differently is:

1) Tsimikas cannot challenge for a spot as first choice, Kerkez is a shoe in. Kerkez needs genuine competition to push him on to a higher level.

2) They’re certainly not as cumbersome as MacAllister, but I was thinking more about Iraola’s system, and the demands he placed on his midfielders within it. For that system they’re perhaps a bit slow.

3) Gakpo may be fast, but he doesn’t have that elite level acceleration. He is also a player who cannot take a man on.

I don’t think he offers enough threat in his position.

4) Isak’s talent isn’t my issue, it’s his fitness. I don’t think he will be able to keep up with the rigors of Iraola’s system. The off the ball work, the pressing, is incredibly important for it to work - if he cannot do that then he will undermine the system. I hope I am proven wrong, but I think he is a great player, but not great for us at this moment.

P.S. Bowen would be a shrewd signing in my opinion.

05 Jun 2026 09:12:07
Do you think we will get both Diomande and Barcola? Personally would be delighted if Gakpo went, think he's been a waste of getting young Rio into the team. But we are needing numbers.

05 Jun 2026 09:29:01
I think we will need Gakpo this season, he can cover lw and cf, and whilst he was shocking last year, he is a goal threat and a decent option.

05 Jun 2026 09:38:18
Gakpo is a good player, I think he will flourish under Iraloa!!

05 Jun 2026 10:48:36
I’ve seen Iraola spelled loads of different ways, Jay Dub, but that’s a new one and probably the best!

Rocky Iraloa! Love it.

05 Jun 2026 11:55:50
I think we need to be careful not to have too much upheaval again.

The benefit of Gakpo is he can cover wing and striker positions, which could be invaluable while Ekitike is injured.



Based on what I've read, those wide players are gonna be doing a hell of a lot of running, so having depth in wide areas to allow rotation, fresh substitutions, and covering injuries will be important.

05 Jun 2026 12:38:29
Navy mate, the horse has already bolted regarding the upheaval. The directors appear to have planned this massive transition.

05 Jun 2026 12:40:05
Gakpo needs to go, he's poor and lacks fight for me personally. Much better out there, if we get an offer, he should be sold.

05 Jun 2026 14:21:05
Pelican, I think you got it right. With Gordon flying in, and making a decision the 2 clowns couldn't make, has rocked the boat. It feels like they've realized their positions are in danger if they don't get the team back in the state and direction, they had probably promised, it would be in.

But it won't be easy for them because I don't see FSG giving them "carte blanche" (spending 400-500 Million last summer) so easily again.

05 Jun 2026 10:19:56
Ed78 has said that we are not getting both.

And I agree with Jay. Gakpo is a very good player when played to his strengths and we have evidence of that in the two seasons prior to the one just gone by.

Imo, I propose people not pay too much attention to whatever happened last season with majority of the players' performances because we have seen them play a lot better than last season esp. in the high press, high intensity system.

{Ed078's Note - I wouldn't read my words as gospel, just going off what others have stated. I can't see FSG spending that type of cash after last summer's spend, particularly with the lack of big money exits.

05 Jun 2026 09:00:12
Ed001 can I just say after 15 years of being on this site I finally listened to a podcast last week .I loved it and will be listening more. Also great to out a face to your name

{Ed001's Note - wow, really glad you enjoyed mate. Though after 15 years you should really have had more sense!}

05 Jun 2026 11:11:09
Does Bobby mispronounce every name on purpose? Biesla & Irola. 🤣

{Ed001's Note - Bobby? Do you mean Blobby? I mean I have heard Abid called that before but never Bobby.}

05 Jun 2026 10:19:39
Morning Ed1
Long time reader and I post now and again. But like man of todd I've not listened to any podcasts, where do I find them?
Thanks to you and all of the Eds for such amazing work.

{Ed001's Note - the link to the latest one should show up any time now.}

05 Jun 2026 10:21:00
I enjoyed it as well, Ed but you already know I love the pods, man. So informative and well, hilarious.

05 Jun 2026 11:51:00
I mean Abid aha. My memory isn't what it used to be with the years. I remember a few pods ago him getting confused with Areola and Iraola too. 🤣

{Ed001's Note - he is just not very bright, years in America have rotted his brain.}

05 Jun 2026 12:12:22
It's ok, Taurus. Abid is getting old and can't remember stuff he done an hour ago! I'm sure he thinks we are signing the pink bit around the nipple area!

05 Jun 2026 12:13:15
Abid is hilarious on the pod, btw.

05 Jun 2026 12:14:25
Ed001 I see loads people saying how long they have been using the site.
I actually have no idea how long I've been using it but how long has it been going.

{Ed001's Note - since 2001.}

05 Jun 2026 14:46:11
Which Ed is Abid? Is he Ed078?

{Ed001's Note - 666.}

05 Jun 2026 17:07:02
Abid from now on will be known as 'Bobby'. 😁

05 Jun 2026 14:44:13
Ed001, any idea when you stopped asking for posts to be signed by poster's usernames? It would help me figure out how long I have been here. Thanks. 🙏

{Ed033's Note - For people who don't know, The liverpool-rumours.co.uk site [created in 2010], was started as an offshoot from football-rumours.co.uk [created in 2001]. The sites moved to usernames in 2013.

05 Jun 2026 08:59:00
Ed1,
Hope all is well mate. I'm sure you're very happy now that Andoni is official. I remember you speaking very highly of him months ago!
Really excited myself, specially after his first interview yesterday. "Football is emotions". Sounds like he gets us. It's a big risk however, let's see if he can walk the walk now! Can't wait.
I had a few questions if you will entertain.
1. How do you think he will balance more games with us? Surely there will have to be days off etc.
2. Do you know much about the back room staff he's bringing with him. Elphick, de la torre?
3. Do you think we should bring in someone like Milner, Thiago who've been linked recently?
4. How long do you think it may take the players to adapt to his intensity? They've had it easy for A year!
5. What are you expecting from this season?

Thank you as always mate!

{Ed001's Note - 1. Rotation and use of subs.
2. Not a lot no. They did well at Bournemouth though.
3. Only if they are good at coaching. They should not be here just because they used to play for us.
4. Pre-season should be enough. It really depends on how much effort they put in. The more they put in, the more they will get out.
5. Just want to see us developing a more exciting play style and giving everything in every game.}

05 Jun 2026 09:25:56
To number 4, going off last season, he lost all the defence and keeper, bought new, and it looked like they had played together for years, so that's looking really positive for us next season.

05 Jun 2026 10:09:05
Cheers mate!

05 Jun 2026 10:40:33
They need to bring their South American scout with them, save us a bloody fortune.

05 Jun 2026 09:47:12
How do you think the truncated preseason will affect the squad and getting into the new boss' system ed? Probably never really a great time to change manager when it's a w/c year as the squad can't all come together early July and get time with the new guy? They'll be back in dribs and drabs I guess depending on how well each nation does

05 Jun 2026 11:47:54
WC year gives more opportunities to the academy players and fringe squad members who aren't internals or play for countries that will be out by the end of June.

05 Jun 2026 13:50:16
Of course it does Slot, but the majority of the starting XI are internationals. It's great for the youth and fringe players, without a doubt. It feels like it could take a while for the new tactics to be drilled into the main players.

Anyone know what the earliest time any players will be back from the WC, ie those who get knocked out at the group stage?

05 Jun 2026 08:44:04
Cafu, we know your hurting after Slot left, but you accepted that mediocracy just fine. Going to be a long season for you as a Man U fan watching LFC smash the competition again.

05 Jun 2026 09:00:42
@Klopp, is Cafu (or Harry) now a Utd fan? Wow, it's been quite a journey for him them after oscillating between Chelsea & City prior to being now possibly a Utd. fan. Such is life, I guess.

05 Jun 2026 10:16:50
Imagine Harry calling Iraola a loser with a loser mentality. I regret removing him from the ignore list. Shocking attitude.

05 Jun 2026 11:00:12
I am impressed how someone has remained dedicated to being a troll for 20 years on a niche Liverpool rumours site. I wish I had that dedication for something in life.

05 Jun 2026 14:34:48
One clear benefit for him is that his English has vastly improved. 😂