Liverpool banter 7

11 Oct 2026 18:34:20
I really don't like this team. I really, really don't like this team.

Fairweather players. They need the perfect circumstances to operate, everything to go in their favour. Yet, when the going gets tough, and a situation calls for fighters, it is completely absent. They didn't up their levels, as a result of what happened, didn't use Grav's unfair dismissal as a means to fire each other up. They just accepted it and rolled over.

I understand the balance in the team is wrong, due to poor recruitment and squad balancing over the years, but an individual's own determination has to take affect. Maybe I am unfair, recalling how Mane, Salah, Hendo, Milner, etc, fought tooth and nail through adversity. But, with this lot, I already know they'll give up.

For me, the manager is the right man for the job. But these players will see him out of it, soon enough.

11 Oct 2026 18:55:19
We've only lost one game so that's a bit harsh.
We played a team that is a lot better than ours and we were holding our own until the sending off. The capitulation after their first goal was hard to watch though.


The squad is unbalanced and there are a couple of gaping holes in the the team at fullback but we won't be playing City* every week.

11 Oct 2026 18:57:54
Surely that's the captains job to get the players up for the fight?

11 Oct 2026 19:10:46
We were up for the fight. That wasn't the problem. We were, after the sending off, outplayed, not out-fought.

11 Oct 2026 19:11:15
ah c'mon fatwallet. He's a captain not a magician.

11 Oct 2026 19:12:55
Our collapse was almost a perfect storm, sending off happened and before we could even sub on Nyoni we were 1-0 down. City were smart and attacked our weakest area which was RB, first Araujo was on an early yellow and then Frimpong who can't defend. Hard defeat to swallow because we were well and truly in that fight up to the sending off.

3 starters also out didn't help! On a positive there were a few good performances in there today with Munoz, Kerkez, Koumas, Jacquet and Grav all playing well. Only real negative up to sending off was Barcola for me who seemed lost, Wirtz wasn't amazing but wasn't half as bad as some people are making out.

11 Oct 2026 19:16:31
I don't believe we've bought well atall in certain areas including a new player at over 120 million. I. Made my feelings clear before.
However, this team still has a season to judge. The red card changed the game. It also showed what I also stated we lack. Real characters when backs are against the wall.

{Ed025's Note - spot on Ron..

11 Oct 2026 19:19:42
Not won at Anfield in the league for 6 months

It's not good enough, yes we were cheated by the Ref again, but there's cowards in this squad.

11 Oct 2026 20:17:20
We were literally the better side by every statistic until the red card.

I get we're not the finished article yet but heaping doom on the squad at the moment makes little sense with a new manager etc. the key issue today was a referee clearly on a pay roll and in 10 years time I'll be proven right.

11 Oct 2026 20:36:41
Cowards is a strong way to put it LiverpoolFC8,
There just seems to be players who don't know each other s capabilities and therefore playing within themselves.

There doesn't seem to be allowances for settling into a team anymore. Whether it's a money thing or just so much social media information flying about.

I would say once Gravenberch went off we looked lost and no matter how much VVD shouts from the back we needed someone in the midfield to grab the game by the scruff. I think it was unfair to throw Nyoni in there we needed experience and our bench was found wanting.

11 Oct 2026 20:37:53
Are you counting the months when the World Cup was on and there were no PL matches because the season had finished?

11 Oct 2026 20:47:58
If you're going to say there's cowards in the team then at least name them! The biggest coward I seen today was the ref.

11 Oct 2026 21:06:05
Dow-ney. i think you need a visit to Specsavers my friend. The holes are obvious to see.

11 Oct 2026 21:29:59
Our winless streak of matches at Anfield in the league is a symptom of a mentality problem as well as a quality issue. It used to be the foundation of our success, now it's looking like the shirt is too heavy for quite a few of our players.

11 Oct 2026 21:54:42
WDW, was going to say the same thing re: the timeline.

Cowards? Nah, I din't see any of that. We were up for it from off and even upped the tempo in the second half where Grav was like poison to them.

If anyone was a coward, it was the ref who was already out of control from his first whistle.

{Ed666's Note - I agree mate in the circumstances of having 3 starters out that was a great effort. In fact had we had our full compliment of players we’d have crushed them and got 3 points

11 Oct 2026 22:09:05
I wouldn't call the ref a coward, going against 60, 000 screaming Lpool supporters. He was many things, but not a coward.

12 Oct 2026 00:17:51
All right, I'll call Wirtz a coward for bottling the challenge with Anderson and staying down after.

11 Oct 2026 18:33:56
In for a long long season gents.

11 Oct 2026 18:46:08
Awk sick of this doom and gloom, we lost to the current league leaders who have been accused of cheating and evident today the wealth of talent they have on the pitch and on the bench, we are missing 3 starters and haven't got our groove yet under a new manager

We played well until the red card which can and can't be argued for but clear Gravenberch has no sense to make a stupid tackle on a yellow, we will come good and will find the rhythm

No need to panic.

11 Oct 2026 18:49:50
Give over. We're only 1 point off a Conference League qualification place.

11 Oct 2026 19:18:28
Last coupla weeks a few injuries. Missing four or five starters then a harsh red. Things just went against us. Me personally I think City will win the league this year. We did ok but squad-wise it's hard when we're missing so many of our better players.

Like the way we tried to play though, pressed them. we will get there but it will be a bumpy ride. Thats why I've said all along I would take 4th or 5th.

11 Oct 2026 20:30:58

We had 500m + worth of players on the pitch but play like derby county. I dont buy the argument city can spend whatever they want so they win.

We have spent an awful amount on average players over two windows straight now.



I know the red card was wrong decision but they both were dumb fouls to begin with. Gravy should have done better on both situations.



This was at anfield. The first 55 minutes wee were s**** and had no impact. Toothless and no desire to press.



Cant blame iraola just of yet but things have to change pretty damn soon. If this squad cant be motivated playing against a club that has history of cheating the beautiful game and it didnt boil their blood through their veins it never will.

11 Oct 2026 21:57:19
@Last, put the OTT/hyperbolic schtick in the bin, mate because your post is full of contradictions.

11 Oct 2026 22:11:50
@lastfanofslot. Ekitike, Jacquet, Araujo and Munoz at the worst, show a lot of promise. Isak is looking better, Barcola has played less than six games and Wirtz is seemingly the right player at the wrong time and place so far. Frimpong could do a job on the turnstiles.

11 Oct 2026 22:15:34
Play like derby county? Honestly a few seasons of being crap might not be so bad, we'd get rid of the plastics and casuals.

11 Oct 2026 18:05:59
Liverpool are toothless sadly.

11 Oct 2026 18:46:25
It might be why we are linked with Gilberto Molar.
I would have liked to see Wirtz baring his nashers in that challenge with Anderson though. He embarrassingly waved a leg instead. He was very disappointing once again.

11 Oct 2026 18:55:32
Wasting money on ridiculous players.

11 Oct 2026 19:17:17
Rigsby. Yes I saw that. Threw a toe out half arsed. He will be gone in the summer. I would put money on Liverpool shifting him to Munich.

11 Oct 2026 19:13:44
Wirtz, where shall I begin? Are you sitting comfortably? Once upon a time there was a German who was a complete and utter waste of effing money.

{Ed025's Note - and possibly a French one Rome..

11 Oct 2026 19:22:18
Don't think ye'll see Wirtz going into a 50/50 in all his time in England Rigsby. Which if he keeps going the way he is will be at an end by next summer when he goes to Bayern on the cheap.

{Ed025's Note - take the £5m and run i say FM..

11 Oct 2026 19:35:26
Ed025. The French man will probably feature in my next book. I'm speaking to my publisher.

Hope you're well, my friend.

{Ed025's Note - im good thanks Rome, just back from Scotland playing golf courses that were well to hard for a hacker like me mate..

11 Oct 2026 19:55:46
The fresh air will have done you good, Ed, plus all the walking. Not forgetting the odd wee dram, if that's a drink of your choice.

{Ed025's Note - the fresh air was 35 MPH Rome and felt much more and i lost 14 balls over the 2 days, but i did drown my sorrows in the bar mate..

11 Oct 2026 17:59:47
Thats a terrible decision by the ref, he couldn't wait to get the card out. And Fernandez made the booking gesture and didn't get booked himself, where as i'm sure one of players did in the first half. Shocking awful referee has ruined the game.

They are cheats, disgusting cheats. This team is built on lies. Their smug manager will be gave it loads in the press conference, saying we are going to get away with it on appeal. They should be out the league now, not it 2 years when the appeal is done. They are getting away what it for sure and they know it.

11 Oct 2026 18:08:24
Massively need investigating.

11 Oct 2026 18:11:10
They're not getting away with it - the other top clubs are absolutely furious with both the Premier League and Man City about the situation. If the appeal fails, as it will, City are facing a long, difficult period away from the bright lights.
We lost today because the team simply isn't good enough yet.

I have been the biggest backer of Wirtz, but he looks an expensive mistake (I still hold out), the midfield remains totally unreliable, Araujo has been great but got utterly grilled against the first good winger he faced, and we have no attackers. The situation is pathetic.

11 Oct 2026 18:14:34
PGMOL making sure they cash in their last few cheques before city go into administration. Smart.

11 Oct 2026 18:15:46
They have been investigated. The problem is it's business as usual. It absolutely needs halted as I said before. It's ludicrous to think this city team could lift trophies again this season.

11 Oct 2026 18:17:59
2nd was a yellow, first wasn;t close.

Realistically they were more likely to score, we have no threat going forward.

{Ed025's Note - i agree Dean..

11 Oct 2026 18:26:19
Good summing up Lowe, spot on analysis. I'd add Barcola to the list of transfer mistakes, he just doesn't look a player at all.

11 Oct 2026 18:27:38
Funny that one ref is already sidelined because of an investigation and they managed to get another corrupt one in this game. The PL is rapidly becoming a horror show.

11 Oct 2026 18:32:24
They'll be in administration soon enough so we can all laugh. Arsenal about to get a million new fans though.

11 Oct 2026 18:38:51
Two soft yellows and we were good for a point before that.
City will get away with it because money talks.

11 Oct 2026 18:44:50
When are we going to address the elephant in the room. If slot was managing then Barcolas performances would be load at his doorstep like Wirtz's were.

Both Wirtz and Barcola look like players who have zero confidence and are playing for a manager who apparently improves everyone through coaching.

Definitely not saying it's Ai's fault. The elephant in the room currently is Wirtz and Barcola.

11 Oct 2026 19:10:13
When you look at Haaland you see a machine who produces time after time, a winner. When I look at Isak, even when he's on the pitch, I see a guy who can finish but he looks fragile physically.

I'd say the same about Wirtz and Barcola, they have talent but they're weak. Neither has end product, and particularly Wirtz looks weak mentality wise.

We have been bailed out this season with goals and assists by Gakpo, Szob and Isak. Obviously without those three we'd struggle against City, but the manner of defeat is the measure of the rest of the squad. These are games you need to draw if a win is unrealistic.

11 Oct 2026 19:13:09
I'll hold out on Barcola because he has just joined so it'll be unfair to have a judgment on him right now. but nobody here in their right mind can tell me with confidence that wirtz helps this team! Brilliant player for Germany not for Liverpool.

11 Oct 2026 19:20:10
JK, I keep saying it, everything will be alright because nearly everyone on here said it was all down to Slot. No it kin wasn't and unfortunately I'm being proved right.

12 Oct 2026 00:24:24
Can you imagine the stick Slot would have got for bringing on Chiesa and Gomez at the end?
And how overweight is Chiesa? Big round chops and a bay window under his shirt.
It must be down to his comfort eating because Slot wouldn't pick him.

{Ed666's Note - we have atrocious squad depth. I’ll never forgive Richard Hughes for this. The new manager cannot play his style of football properly because he hasn’t got the personnel. That is the most shocking thing about this whole scenario. What’s the point of hitting AI? I hope Ward can do better! To be fair it’s literally impossible to do any worse..

11 Oct 2026 17:58:23
Bit of a reality check of where we're at sadly.

11 Oct 2026 18:08:40
Don't think anyone thinks this is a great LFC side. But the injuries couldn't have come for a worse game. A game that even with the weakened side was in the balance until Grav gets a harsh red.

11 Oct 2026 18:11:52
Worrying looking at the table, we're not close to where we need to be.

11 Oct 2026 18:12:26
We were well in the game until that atrocious ref gave the softest red I've ever seen. We are missing 3 of our starting 11, and still missing 2 more who would be pushing to start. Against a full strength City team, what do you mean bit of a reality check? It was an even game till the ref decided to cash in.

11 Oct 2026 18:33:42
Been saying it for quite a few years now, given the extent of the corruption from the cheats owners, there surely has to be a case for refereeing corruption too? It's just so obvious when you look at the bias of the decision making, the PGMOL jollies out to Qatar etc, the awful decisions (even with VAR). There are certain referees who you just know are going to give everything against us, it's the same names making the same dodgy decisions all of the time funny how the PGMOL have changed their name too, good timing?

The yellow cards today were awful, not a good look given what's going on IMO.

{Ed025's Note - its not just Liverpool who get bad decisions given against them mate, you have to give up on this persecution complex you have..

11 Oct 2026 18:56:57
Yeah the first yellow was way too soft let alone the 2nd. Oh well onwards and hopefully upwards.

11 Oct 2026 19:25:48
We're a point off fifth which is where we NEED to be. The start of Iraola's reign was always going to be the hardest. We will only get better under him.

12 Oct 2026 05:28:45
@Ed025 Persecution complex? It couldn't be any more obvious what's going on! If you think that we're just hard done by you need to wake up and smell the coffee, it's been going on for years .

{Ed025's Note - thats what im saying IR...its not just you, you are making out that everyone has a vendetta with Liverpool, we all get bad decisions now and then...but most of us dont keep harping on about it every minute of every friggin day mate..

12 Oct 2026 12:31:36
@Ed025 You a city fan perchance? I've only ever made 3 posts on this forum, so I've not exactly been harping on about it have I.

There is a clear bias of refereeing in the league, irrespective of which team is affected, but then we have been one of the biggest challengers for the last few years so it's unsurprising that we would be affected.

Writing this stuff off as nonsense and trying to gaslight people isn't going to make this any less obvious than it is. Like I said in my OP, given the scale of the corruption from city and the very obvious state of refereeing in the league, it's nig hard to put 2 + 2 together is it.

{Ed025's Note - im certainly not a City supporter IR and think the club have been deplorable over the years and hope and expect them to get exactly what they deserve mate, what im not is a whingebag who has a persecution complex and thinks everybody hates my club...i hope that clears things up for you..

12 Oct 2026 13:29:37
Ed025 seems like you're projecting quite a lot there mate making critical statements like that from the comfort of your keyboard.

If I'm not mistakenI believe that's what a lot of the city fans were saying, that everyone was whinging they were not guilty etc

Seems like a clear case of deflection to me when people start making things personal and making comments about people instead of upholding a worthy discussion about the implications of the PGMOL referees being corrupted.

@Ed001 I think some of @Ed025's comments might be a little personal do you not think, for someone who is supposed to be upholding forum standards?

{Ed025's Note - there is nothing personal here IR, you have your views and i am sharing mine with you mate, the difference is i dont make excuses for when players dont perform and i also dont believe that there is a vendetta against Liverpool from referees and other clubs, im not saying that there is not corruption in the game because we all know that where there is large amounts of money you will always find that, if you are not happy with my assessments then you have a couple of options, either skip past them and ignore them or you can just leave...it really doesnt matter to me which you choose...but this guy is not for turning im afraid..

11 Oct 2026 17:54:48
Referees need investigating. That's just fact.

11 Oct 2026 17:56:44
It's wild just how often city are the beneficiary of very questionable refereeing decisions in title rival games.

{Ed025's Note - i have news for you Nevada...you are not one of City,s title rivals mate.. :)

11 Oct 2026 17:58:19
2 incredibly soft yellows.

{Ed025's Note - especially the first one OK, but lets be honest you should be used to playing with 10 men now since Wirtz signed mate..

11 Oct 2026 18:02:29
This game came a few weeks too early for us. City will get their just desserts before time. The disparity in quality between us and them today must simply never be allowed to happen again.

11 Oct 2026 18:03:00
Been saying on here since the Guilty verdict.

The refs need investigating, it's Bias Corruption.

11 Oct 2026 18:14:01
If those 2 yellow cards got Grav are now the standard for the league then we should never see a game finish 11v11. Minimal contact on both, in comparison City players getting away with gesturing for yellow cards while Araujo get done for the exact same thing. Zero consistency and a very competitive game ruined by refs!

11 Oct 2026 18:16:35
It's genuinely ridiculous. I do not believe they've cheated financially for so long with no punishment, referees have been doing games mid season in UAE and they're not on the take.

Odd most of the Premier League referees are from the greater Manchester area yet support non league teams.

It benefitted Fergie, it benefits city.

12 Oct 2026 01:46:20
I mean when have you seen two softer yellows leading to a red? Referee was dying to do it. It's strange how City always seem to get the rub of the green.

11 Oct 2026 11:29:39
Apparently, no Dom and Mac Alister today not spotted at team hotel according to Liverpool sauce.

11 Oct 2026 13:37:53
Macca was already at the team hotel, so likely in squad. Not sure about Sobz.

11 Oct 2026 14:07:42
all comes from a video where the two weren't spotted at the otel this morning, lots of other payers weren't seen in the video, some arrived separately and at different times.

11 Oct 2026 14:10:34
Dom is out unfortunately. Carra on sly sports confirmed it. Wirtz, barcola and minor or koumas up front i suppose.

11 Oct 2026 14:13:32
I know we have injuries but I hope we don't resort to playing minors up front. I think they might struggle with the physicality of the pl.

11 Oct 2026 14:34:21
Did Carra say it? Not good. I feel like shock absentees happens us more than other teams.

11 Oct 2026 14:48:37
@kingkev have you got a link to see this? I'm hearing too many conflicting stuff.

11 Oct 2026 15:27:58
Just saw the BBC line up, all there in the stands.

11 Oct 2026 15:52:01
@redhorizon carra said it while being interviewed pitch side on sky sports.
Big loss without dom but excited to see koumas and munoz start.

11 Oct 2026 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - OptimumShots has posted a new article entitled, Who Are the Two Mystery Groups Interested in Buying Everton?

11 Oct 2026 17:55:33
Dumb and dumber?

10 Oct 2026 20:41:43
Isak in the squad tomorrow. Looks like he'll play some part.

10 Oct 2026 20:56:16
Where did you see this?

10 Oct 2026 22:39:24
probably twitter, facebook, instagram, nothing on the LFC Channel.