Liverpool banter 6

22 Jul 2026 05:51:20
Am I the only one who sees AI's comments about keeping Ali and Macca as evidence both will be sold?

22 Jul 2026 07:03:11
Lol, Esfr. I can see Macca being sold, but who do you replace Alisson with, should you suffer a brain fart and sell off? I think Alisson is nailed on to stay for at least a season more, but I hope not for Macca.

22 Jul 2026 07:28:07
I'd say Macca be sold if get a good fee, but can't see Ali being sold now. If Mamar had've impressed last season I'd guess Ali would've went this summer, but we've too much to do as it stands without looking a no.1 as well.

His experience will be vital for us as well, considering we've lost lot of experienced players recently. Injuries the killer with Ali. Other than that, u would be hoping he would get new contract.

22 Jul 2026 08:08:27
No, we have enough business to do without having to sell and replace our keepers. Plus, Ali is one of our elder statesmen, we can't afford to lose too much more experience.

22 Jul 2026 08:37:53
LFC triggered Beckers 12-month contract extension in March 2026 till the end of the 2026-2027 season, when he goes for no transfer fee.

He is 34 on 02 October 2026. Another tough one for Andoni and FSG. Will they want to cash in, though the fee will not be a true high valuation, but as Shanks often said a GK is only as good as the defence/team that is in front of him!

Marmadashvili needs to improve using his feet, as Andoni prefers playing out from the back when applicable.

22 Jul 2026 08:47:27
Marmadashvilli is not a very good goalkeeper and more importantly is not good enough to play for LFC. Either one of the reserves steps up, or we need to buy the best available next summer.

22 Jul 2026 08:50:02
Liverpool aren't going to trigger Beckers 1 year extension only to sell him for a fee. It's not their style, especially for players that have given good, loyal service. He will go on a free next season.

22 Jul 2026 09:03:40
Every time I read a post about AI, I keep thinking that's no way to run a football club.

Handing over the reins to Anthropic just doesn't sit right!

22 Jul 2026 09:16:16
Keep Becker until his arms drop off.

22 Jul 2026 09:26:53
SirBob79, Same!!!! Every time I read a sentence with Al I think... Wait... what's AI got to do with it...

22 Jul 2026 10:00:24
Why would we sell Ali? Macca, I can see why, but Ali?

I don't get the logic of this post, really.

22 Jul 2026 10:13:30
Being a Liverpool fan, especially during the 1990s, often requires a healthy dose of paranoia!

22 Jul 2026 11:19:10
I doubt very much we've triggered his extension just to sell him. What we'd get for him now as he approaches 35 with just 1 year left on his contract would be nowhere near as valuable as keeping him on for another year until we can find his successor, 'cause it's not Giorgi.

22 Jul 2026 11:52:19
I'm more worried about whether he'll sign for a couple more years.
Yes, he's had injury issues, but I'd like him to stay for longer and think he's got more time at the top before he can move on to Turkey, Brazil, etc.


Hopefully, Iraola will make a good impression on him, and Ali will sign up before December. Last thing we need is other clubs offering silly money in wages whilst we are negotiating with him.

22 Jul 2026 13:06:23
And even that hasn't stopped Pickford, Ron K.

21 Jul 2026 22:09:33
I would love to hear from Eds or any poster eho follows the academy about what youngin might step up and make a surprise slot on the senior team. Heard great things about Abe, Keiran, and Ndyia (? Spelling).

22 Jul 2026 01:15:36
Everyone on the tour are the closest. Let's see if any of them take their chance in a big way.

22 Jul 2026 01:39:32
Tor Ndaiye didn't go on the tour. No idea why.

22 Jul 2026 04:44:14
Ndaiye - visa issues. Top prospect.

22 Jul 2026 08:44:37
Not ITK or anywhere near it.

A good friend of mine's son plays for another academy, however, when they came up against Liverpool Academy, he came away raving about how good Sonni-Lambie was.



This was the beginning of last year, mind, but I have kept an eye out for his name since. Glad to see he is away on tour. He is my pick to break through with no other justification or supporting evidence.

22 Jul 2026 10:30:19
I'm very interested to see how Will Wright goes this season, given his bad injury, plus I have high hopes for McConnell. I'm not convinced by Kieran or Trent.

22 Jul 2026 13:02:01
Phil, are you referring to Trent Kone-Doherty who left the club permanently in February?

21 Jul 2026 21:32:54
After KK’s very sad passing I’ve been looking at Ballon d’Or winners...

I’ve never realised before that Pele and Maradona never even made it in to the top 3 ever. That is an abomination to me. 2 of the greatest players ever to play the game and they never made the top 3?

21 Jul 2026 21:55:38
Think it was a European award at that time....like Micheal Owens? ✌

21 Jul 2026 21:59:12
Just recently, I read about a coach or manager who had voted for Salah in the Ballon D'Or. When they checked later, they saw someone had changed their vote to Messi. Of course, when they asked for clarification, there was no response.

This tells you all you need to know about how these individual prices are being run.

21 Jul 2026 22:02:16
Cheers, Laddie, you are indeed correct.
I feel less outraged now, I can get some sleep tonight. 😂

21 Jul 2026 22:11:01
The award was only for European-born players up until 1995, when it was changed to any player at a European club. It became a global award in 2007. George Weah was the first non-European player to win it.

21 Jul 2026 23:07:08
Also, Pele never played for a European club. He surprisingly only played 92 times for Brazil, with 77 goals, winning three World Cups, scoring 12 goals across the 14 World Cup games he played in. The first, when he was just 17.

Plus, over 1,000 goals for his clubs.

His stats are over and above what anyone else has achieved - and given the heavy lead ball, mad tackling, and dreadful pitches of his era - his stats are beyond extraordinary.



Messi was some player, but Pele was on a different level - and never needed a team of bruisers to carry him through a tournament.

My top of all time would be: Pele, Cruyff, Zidane, Souness, Hansen, Kenny, Keegan, Robbo, and then Messi.

21 Jul 2026 23:16:06
You obviously left off Maradona on purpose as the list above is for mere mortals whereas Maradona was a god amongst men in the football sense.

21 Jul 2026 23:45:10
And you forgot the Best.

21 Jul 2026 23:48:15
This the same Pele who included goals from training and friendlies. :P

22 Jul 2026 03:16:38
I don't get the love for Maradona.

Unbelievable talent, sure. But talent isn't what makes you great, it's just a part of what makes you great. Maradona only filled the talent part, everything else was missing.

Aside from him being a cheater, a drug cheat and a general despot on the field, he was also a despicable person off the field.

22 Jul 2026 06:25:44
Hsf, you've clearly never watched him play. When you have, come back mate. Simply the best.

22 Jul 2026 07:09:57
Marco Van Basten is often forgotten, absolute beast of a striker.

22 Jul 2026 08:00:57
Maradonna played on crap pitches, no referee protection, hatchet men and still was absolutely class, Messi couldn't have coped with that, the goat.

22 Jul 2026 08:57:03
You can't compare eras. We probably saw DM only during some WC tournaments and a bit of Serie A on C4. Now it's wall to wall football coverage, and we can watch Messi eating his breakfast on our phone if we wish. So it's easy to be swallowed up by that, and it's easy to forget about the past.

Maradona was the best of his time. Messi the best of this. The best, or my favorite, football player I have ever seen in my opinion is Zidane. So neither of the above.

22 Jul 2026 09:27:45
@Monster, countries tended to play less international matches per season back in the 69's. LFCS_MANGO, did you ever see Pele play?

22 Jul 2026 09:35:46
You can't have a list of the best players in the past 60 years or so that doesn't include the Belfast Boy. Naturally, right footed but trained himself to use his left footy to such effect that most people thought he was left footed, and he used to train on his own, teaching himself to head the ball. He suspended a ball from the ceiling just an inch or so higher than he could reach and kept going until he could head the ball properly, and then raised the rope a little bit more and went through the same process.

Despite the 5th Beatle tag he has a great work ethic. If teams wanted to play football he would outplay them, if they wanted to 'get stuck in' he gave as good as he got.

22 Jul 2026 09:39:45
I forgot to add, my dad thought Duncan Edwards was a far better player than Best. Pretty odd that my dad watched Liverpool from the end of the late 1940s until he passed away 15 years ago, and I have supported the club since the early 1960s (although my memories start in the mid 60s and our individual favourites both played for United - different times in those days I guess).

22 Jul 2026 10:02:06
Same with me, WDW, my dad used to rave about Duncan Edwards.
Pele said Best was the best, and Pele should know more than most.
Maradona also cited Best as an inspiration.

22 Jul 2026 10:06:19
The Fifth Element, George Weah, had such a monumental individual season that France Football had to change the rule to allow him to win it in that 94/95 season, cos not a soul came close to him. And the fact that he was playing for a prime PSG team with the likes of Rai and David Ginola also helped.



So if the likes of Messi, R9, R10 or Salah, Mane etc. won or had a chance of winning this great award, they have "Mister George" to thank for that. A true Hero and Legend.

22 Jul 2026 10:18:44
Personally, I don't think any of them should be considered in the conversation for best 'player of all time'. Could they tackle, switch the play, control the pace of the game, take out 3 players with a pinpoint pass, track back, get their head on the ball, work hard for the team and defend, take free kicks, corners, cross etc etc?
These are all legitimate and important parts of the game that sadly get widely overlooked for the glamour of the goal scoring, which I know is important, but it's nothing without everything I just said above.

Greatest forwards of all time, yeah sure, but players? Not for me.
For me, best players of all time needs to inherently be your b2b midfield generals who grabbed games by the scruff and could do everything those chaps could and more.
I know I'm biased, but for me, I have never seen a more complete football player operating at world class levels in almost every discipline than Gerrard. I am sure there are other out there that have been like him over the years but I've not seen them.

22 Jul 2026 10:31:08
I'll raise you one Zizou Westwood. Different Class.

22 Jul 2026 10:33:26
I agree with wdw. Charlton thought Edward's was better than Pele which is saying something. Could play pretty much anywhere and do the job.

22 Jul 2026 11:20:15
It's always been Maradona for me, partly because he didn't play in great teams, but he won a World Cup and the Scudetto twice with teams which wouldn't compete without him.

22 Jul 2026 11:23:37
Pele good, Maradonna great, Georgie Best.

22 Jul 2026 11:59:29
After watching Messi's behaviour during the recent final, he's off my list. Maybe gamesmanship for him, but downright cheating for me. The man has won so much but he still has to resort to cheating. Greed and avarice.

22 Jul 2026 15:43:01
If R9 had not been injured so badly, he would have been the greatest. I'm a child of Maradona's age, really, but Ronaldo 94-99 was the greatest peak I've seen against arguably the greatest defenders in four different leagues.

21 Jul 2026 14:55:48
I'm a member of the local TRF (green laning) and I go up and down Keegan's hill regularly. Didn't know why it was called Keegan's hill until today.

Keegan’s. The name will live on with North Wales TRF
Byway 403/77/30 on the Mold route has been known as Keegan’s for many years.
Turning off the A541 Mold Denbigh road signposted Cilcain, look ahead at the large white property in the elevated position.

This was the home of Kevin Keegan from 1971 to 1977. He was often seen commuting during his time at Liverpool FC, also walking his dogs in the local area
There are two ways to access the Byway, the tarmac road below the property or the next right turn passing Hilltop house to Siamber Wen, both will take you to the main climb up to the Moel Llys-y-coed lane which can then be ridden in either direction
RIP Kevin.

21 Jul 2026 17:49:34
Green laning eh? What do you ride ashy?

21 Jul 2026 18:30:54
@FlashTheRed, A Beta 300 T2. Good fun.

21 Jul 2026 13:52:35
Not Liverpool related, but I do remember his name coming up on these boards when Bobby left.

Jhon Duran, about to join his 7th club at the age of 22.

I mean WTF? He looked really good to Villa, but he's just chasing the dollar.

21 Jul 2026 13:59:49
His attitude stinks, mate! He wasn't even in Colombia's squad at the World Cup, which tells you they don't even care he can score goals when he is a disruptive figure.

21 Jul 2026 15:50:05
I don't know much about these guys, but in general, I do think we need to be a bit more open minded and fair about these kids who are being pulled in so many directions by family, friends, advisors, agents, clubs, and third parties.

It seems to be getting worse year on year.

21 Jul 2026 18:05:47
He'll be happy with all the signings on bonuses he's had and will continue to get.
Some players are there for the money and not to be the best they can be.
However, I would imagine he'll leave a huge legacy for his entire wider family for hundreds of years with the money he makes.

21 Jul 2026 19:25:32
The moment he came on against us at Anfield in the 23/24 season, I knew he was a gonna be a problem due to his attitude in that game that nearly got him sent off with his constant outbursts. So, him joining his 7th club at age 22 is not surprising. In fact, it kinda tracks.

22 Jul 2026 09:50:39
Without mentioning roles/names, someone I know who works at Villa warned me a couple years back about his attitude and behaviour.

He described him as a child with far too much money and fame, and hinted he was a bad egg around the training ground.

I think some of the senior stars were not very happy with him either.

Hardly surprising the way his career has gone.

21 Jul 2026 13:13:26
Rest In Peace Kevin Keegan. A legend in every sense of the word. If some of our players last season had half your determination we'd be in a different place.

21 Jul 2026 12:41:54
Just been reading an article on the Mirror Sport:

"Under Premier League regulations, though, without offloading players or omitting someone from their squad list, Liverpool can only make one further senior signing before hitting the maximum permitted 17 non-homegrown players allowed within their 25-man squad."

Is this going to scupper some plans for reinforcements, without moving some players on?

21 Jul 2026 12:53:04
Have a search on here for "HG" Shark, as this has been discussed almost every day for the last few weeks.

21 Jul 2026 13:10:54
Clueless as usual

21 Jul 2026 13:41:23
Those lists always forget to exclude under 21s and all sorts of other things. I bet Jacquet and Leoni are on there. Without reading, I'm also sure we'll sell or loan some of the names on there.

21 Jul 2026 13:55:42
If they can't offload someone, they can always choose to not register said person. This is a non-issue. Always has been and always will be.

21 Jul 2026 13:57:49
Important bit is to remember the difference between EPL and UCL U21s. EPL, you just need to be under 21 years old on 1 Jan 2026, UCL, you also need to have been at the club 2 years. So Leoni, Diomande (if we get him), etc., won't qualify as U21 for the UCL and will need to take up a HG berth.

I'd suggest we'd leave Ekitike out of the group stage UCL squad, and then bring him back in Jan for the knockouts (depending on if we make it and his recovery).

21 Jul 2026 15:49:56
Jacquet and Leoni have to be included in the 17 non-homegrown contingent as I understand it, but for the Champions League only. You only qualify for the UEFA B list if you're under 21 and have been at the club permanently for 2 consecutive years after the age of 15. Otherwise you must be included in the 25 man senior list.

However, the Premier League has a much more relaxed view, and you do not have to list anyone in your 25 man squad who is under 21, regardless of how long they've been at the club.



So, ironically, last season Rio Ngumoha had to be listed in the 25 man squad in the Champions League, but this season coming he'll now qualify for the B list, despite being older!

The rules are quite confusing at times.

21 Jul 2026 16:26:09
They are that, MK! Yep, Jacquet and Leoni are classed as non-HG for UCL, but HG for EPL.

Rio has been here 2 years now, so gets onto List B.

Jacquet will never qualify as List B for UCL, as by the time he's been here 2 years, he will be overage.

21 Jul 2026 17:55:02
Try making sense of that lot after a few lunchtime scoops.

21 Jul 2026 12:20:26
When my dad starting taking me the match in the Anny Rd End, Keegan was the man/superstar at LFC, the Toshack Keegan combo fantastic, (my next door neighbour had 2 dogs, a big n little one who he called Tosh n Keegan.) When he left I was devo'd. Afterwards I watched him win European player of the year with Hamburg. He was still the man for England, a workaholic on the pitch who was a fantastic player who I loved watching, n it seemed, even though I never spoke to him because you could do in them days, not like now, that he seemed a really nice man.

I even had a curly head like him but mine wasn't permed ha, gutted that so many of my heroes are passing on to the next football match in the sky.

21 Jul 2026 14:58:27
Love the story about the dogs!
Sticking with that theme, Keegan said something along the lines of he was a mongrel that got into Crufts. Such a humble, down to earth bloke.

21 Jul 2026 11:48:40.
Morning all.
Squad now in USA preparing for first pre-season against Sunderland on Saturday. Looking forward to it. Good crop of academy lads in the squad with some World Cup players to join later.
On Sky Sports it said
Initial Liverpool squad for USA tour:
Gomez, Endo, Jacquet, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Bradley, Chiesa, Leoni, Jones, Elliott, Tsimikas, Ekitike, Mamardashvili, Woodman, Frimpong, Abe, Nyoni, Bajcetic, Chambers, Ramsay, Scanlon, McConnell, Jaros, Koumas, Morrison, Ngumoha, W.

Wright, Hall, Sonni-Lambie, Ndukwe, Davies.

Hoping to see Bajcetic come through this year, he's had a rough time with injuries the past few seasons, maybe this is his season.

On new players, Vlahovic of Juventus and Jadon Sancho, both only 26 and free agents.
Would there be any interest from our side?

21 Jul 2026 13:10:59
Sancho? Really? Bottom of the barrel stuff.

21 Jul 2026 14:06:07
Neither Vlahovic nor Sancho are worth it. Both have reached their true ceiling. Better to take a risk on the 19-20 year olds.

21 Jul 2026 14:10:49
Jayden Sancho?!!!! If Carlsberg did useless players, he would be the mega star of their ad campaign.

21 Jul 2026 19:26:55
Sancho? Really? Sorry, I ain't that desperate.

21 Jul 2026 20:52:55
A poncho is more useful than sancho, at least one does its job well