Liverpool banter 9

26 Mar 2026 15:05:48
ED 001, do you think salah can still play at this top level in the Premier League. He is a player on the decline naturally but I would have thought that the way he looks after himself could help him elongate his spell. I know it's difficult to find one answer to this but what is your opinion on why his form this season has been this poor.

His drop off seems almost impossible to explain as he is not even receiving the ball in the same scenarios as last season.

{Ed001's Note - his sharpness has dropped off, hence the loose touches etc, but he is still very capable at the top level in the right set up.}

26 Mar 2026 15:59:54
If I was him, I'd go to Saudi now. He has nothing left to prove at the top level, so take the crazy money while it's available. He will be 34 by the time he starts playing at a new club, which is old for a winger.

26 Mar 2026 16:58:07
I would play Salah in the middle, up front. He is still quick and not expected to cover much ground. He knows how to put the ball in the net.
Keep him at a reasonable salary and he rotates with Ekitike.

{Ed025's Note - i suspect you are not a football manager mate.. :)

26 Mar 2026 17:44:40
Judging by the name,
He's just the Kit-man.

{Ed025's Note - nice one mate..

26 Mar 2026 21:19:43
Babbity, Salah isn't interested in Saudi.

26 Mar 2026 13:51:50
PSG are cheating again.

I hope Liverpool say sth about this because I don’t think taking the high road works here
The squad is depleted enough as it is
We need serious help.
So any small advantage is worth it.

26 Mar 2026 14:15:14
How is it cheating? PSG asked their national football federation if they could postpone the game. And their football federation agreed. That is not cheating, that is wholly sensible. The question should be why will the Premier League not be as accommodating to the English teams.

26 Mar 2026 14:29:16
They wouldn't have asked to have it moved if they weren't concerned about playing us over two legs.

Isak is back in the squad for the PSG games too.

I can't wait.

26 Mar 2026 14:32:05
PSG had Lens in the cancelled game, who are 2nd in Ligue 1, I bet they're not very happy about it. Now Lens have 10 days without a game & a heavy fixture list to finish the season.



You can't call it cheating, but imo it isn't on the right side of the moral line. However it is the French FA's call & they've made it, so who am I to tell them what is right & wrong.

26 Mar 2026 14:52:10
Their owner sits on the board of the French Federation - it was always going to be postponed....

26 Mar 2026 15:12:11
The Premier League will not be as accommodating because they don't call the shots. The TV companies do.

26 Mar 2026 15:22:32
Concerned about playing us?

They did the same thing against Chelsea... I think it's more of hoping for the same outcome as opposed to being concerned about playing us.

I personally don't think it's fair, given that it clearly gives them an advantage, and yes, UEFA should do something about it.



I remember a time when no league could play league games on a night where CL games were being played... So UEFA used to have some say about leagues could do, but I think since COVID, that specific rule was changed.

26 Mar 2026 16:22:12
The PSG chairman abstained from the vote. The Lens chairman agreed to the postponement. Another excuse for a whine? When did we become like this?

Surely, your anger should be directed at the EPL for not supporting English efforts in Europe?

26 Mar 2026 20:10:30
Hardly cheating. Bit of an unfair advantage for them, but it seems they have a process and a willingness in their league to have this flexibility upon request.

Whereas in England it feels like the various competitions are in competition with each other lol.

26 Mar 2026 21:08:25
Since when did Lens agree? Not sure this statement is agreement: "While expressing its disagreement with the unanimous decision of the LFP board of directors to postpone the match against Paris St-Germain, RC Lens acknowledges it responsibly and reaffirms its determination to pursue its sporting objectives."

26 Mar 2026 12:57:25
Isak,
I see no genuine pages online saying he wants to leave but the rumours are there.
Personally I'm hoping it is just that, rumours.
Thoughts? A different discussion to Mo and Slot on a Thursday afternoon ;)

26 Mar 2026 14:18:43
He's done nothing this season, due to his awful fitness level when brought, and his long term injury. We won't miss what we never had. If Barca or whoever want him, they can have him for what we paid, plus a little more. Not fussed either way if he stays or goes.

26 Mar 2026 14:33:30
I can't wait to see Isak at full tilt in a Liverpool shirt next season.

26 Mar 2026 15:17:12
A fit firing Isak with Wirtz providing the bullets.

Where do I sign?

Has the potential to be record breaking imo.

26 Mar 2026 15:21:11
I wouldn't be bothered if he left. Let's get used to not being able to count on him.

26 Mar 2026 15:23:46
And who exactly is going to pay that sort of money given that he has been injured and so unfit?

I hope we don't sell him as he is going to be immense for us.

26 Mar 2026 15:59:28
Barcelona's not buying Isak, not a hope! Blokes gonna get 40 goals for us next season.

26 Mar 2026 16:55:08
I wouldn't be surprised if his agent is doing a little window shopping. The club's a shambles right now, he thought he was making a move to a more stable club, a dominant side, but we're a complete mess, he thought he was going to win trophies and currently there's no chance of that, with another rebuild season in the works, it's entirely possible that we may not become serious title contenders for another season or two.

If he's thinking along those lines, why wouldn't he consider a move, especially if the likes of Barca were interested.

Not saying I believe the rumours at all, just rationalising the possibility, I don't know where the story originated and only saw it in passing on Football365, which is a dog s*** site, they will literally print anything, so if that's the source the story is complete and utter nonsense.

26 Mar 2026 18:31:29
Maybe they forgot to finish the sentence. He wants to leave the rehab room.

26 Mar 2026 19:44:00
John, you're writing him off already. Ludicrous given his world class ability. Peak Messi, Suarez and Neymar would be crap under Slot.

26 Mar 2026 20:12:49
No idea about the rumours, but well before he got injured, I made the call that we should sell one of him or Ekitike.

That has nothing to do with his value or anything. It's to do with the idea that him and Ekitike are competing pieces, not complimentary.



I just struggle to see how we will fit them both together to play enough minutes where they will return G/As to the value of the $200-odd million we paid for.

26 Mar 2026 21:24:39
Kimuraking.tdeh, and who was responsible for playing Isak when every man and his dog knew he didn't have a preseason hence, he would be off the pace from the off and susceptible to injury low or high impact ones at that? Man, give over.

And no, we will not be selling Isak this season nor the next either, IMO. This season is a write of hence, he will have a full preseason under a new manager (perhaps) and then, we can make a full judgement of him provided we have the right players around him in a suitable setup, IMO.

Again, chill out.

27 Mar 2026 01:01:30
Oli, do you rekon a new manager would play a system where Ekitike and Isak can thrive together?

26 Mar 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - BlueNose1878 has posted a new article entitled, Everton Still Need a New Starting Centre-Back

26 Mar 2026 00:17:04
ED 001, I know you have answered part of the question but I wanted to get your thoughts on whether or not Salah should have at least waited to see the managerial change before making a decision, yes I get that he wants to play every game but surely that can't be the only factor.

Hypothetically could he not have played a role under say Alonso next year in a style that is suited to him.

{Ed001's Note - I doubt the option would have been there then to do this.}

26 Mar 2026 06:14:11
What if there are no plans for a managerial change?

26 Mar 2026 06:55:20
Then the end is here.

26 Mar 2026 07:27:15
Imagine if Slot were to stay...

Gakpo, Macca, Grav, Konate, VVD, Alison would get improved contracts.

Hugo, Jones, Robbo, Chiesa, Gomez, Ramsey would most likely leave with Salah.

Szobo would be our new RB.


Grav would replace Hugo as our number 9.

We'd buy a new RB to challenge Szobo for the spot.
Rio would go on loan, along with Nyoni.

Then Slot would have a further 450m to buy his own players?

That seems possible? 🫣🫣🫣🫣

26 Mar 2026 09:05:47
Regretfully I'd stop watching this assgas and just follow the results. Dire football.

26 Mar 2026 09:13:56
I knew Salah wouldn't stay the moment the whole Salah outburst happened and the fact (cos no one from the club has denied it till this day) that they wanted to sell him in Jan.

As soon as that happened, I knew something had broken. When you acknowledge that in addition to his form this season (part of it is on him and the other part is on the manager's tactics), no one should be surprised about this news.



As to when Mo should have announced it, there is Never a good time hence, not bothered.

26 Mar 2026 10:52:58
I'd rather just know now. Now he can be given the send off he deserves over the next coupla months. And, knowing him, he'll be determined to go out on as big a high as possible.

26 Mar 2026 11:15:27
My theory is the new manager wants it dealt with before they officially take over.

No new manager wants to be the one to let Salah go, and no new manager wants to be in a position where they have to drop Salah and deal with the dressing room drama.

Werner has come over. Had final discussions with new manager, this is a condition of his appointment and Werner has had to deal with such a huge financial decision.

I'm certain it was a condition of a new manager, Salah would announce he's leaving before new manager is appointed.

New manager can start the rebuild afresh.

That's my reading of it.

26 Mar 2026 11:32:34
That's exactly how I see it, Ron. Been telling my customers that for months. Alonso doesn't want to come in and be the one to have to drop Salah. Hopefully, Alonso is thinking he can come in now, in the break, now it's been dealt with.

26 Mar 2026 12:21:11
Ron, Letstalk, are you lads really trying to suggest that the new (completely unconfirmed) manager has a say over the club's contract negotiations with current players, and the decisions they make over what to do about the situation between the current manager and one of the greatest players to ever play for the club? Even when it was already looking like Mo was gonna leave long before Xabi even got the sack from Real?

.

26 Mar 2026 12:26:58
Agree with you both. New Manager, not Head Coach, to come in with new tactics and formation and not have to deal with the problems of dropping Salah.

26 Mar 2026 12:29:53
I hope your theory is sound, Ron. Maybe Werner came over to try to persuade Salah to see out his contract. Who knows?

Letstalkabout6baby - I don't see a new manager coming in during the break.

26 Mar 2026 12:34:07
And if Salah had decided he didn't want to go?

26 Mar 2026 13:04:33
If that's the case, FM, then he would have to be happy to sit on the bench for a season and lose some condition. He gets paid the same either way, better to leave and get a new club.

26 Mar 2026 13:28:12
Scrutiny would be huge though, Ron, especially if the manager didn't get off to the best of starts. You're talking about a player on £480k a week. 3rd highest scorer in our history, who a lot of people think has only struggled this season because of the manager, and that he would once again thrive under a new guy.

26 Mar 2026 13:47:05
I think people are reading way too much into Salah leaving. Salah has looked like he wanted out for months now. He's leaving because he wants to go, and the club have no issue with that because he's pushing 35 and massively underperforming. It's mutual.

He wants out asap and doesn't need the hassle of lengthy contract negotiations come the summer, he'd rather get it done with sooner rather than later and give himself time to settle in wherever he's going, the club obviously aren't bothered by this given the fact that his age and massive drop in form this season means he'll be worth sweet f all come June, not to mention the fact that they save £20 million on wages by letting him walk.

So they essentially have their transfer fee. Nobody outside of Saudi would have been willing to pay more than that, and let's be honest, he's not moving his family to a country involved in a war right now.

Throw in the fact that he's one of the greatest players to ever play for the club and you have more than enough reasons for this to play out exactly as it did. We all saw this coming months ago, we all predicted it, no idea why people are overcomplicating it now that it's actually happening.

26 Mar 2026 14:10:10
I did mention he wanted to leave last summer on a free but ended up signing a new contract because of all the noise around El Rato.

26 Mar 2026 15:26:18
Must have been a hard decision, Thefields, to get 400k a week...

26 Mar 2026 16:36:52
Helped cushion the blow whilst he floated through a season, JLC. 😂

26 Mar 2026 17:10:18
You use the term floated quite lightly there, TheFields. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

25 Mar 2026
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, This tells you everything about football today in the PL.

Click picture for larger image

25 Mar 2026 23:37:19
That suggests that Liverpool are not the only team mindlessly passing the ball around the defence.

26 Mar 2026 07:29:25
Do these stats take into account the pass from the defender to the goalie from a goal kick????

That alone would put VVD at the top of the list.

26 Mar 2026 10:54:07
And Rice does be as deep as a CB half the time he's on the ball.

26 Mar 2026 11:35:44
That really is sad to see. 🤦🏻‍♂️

26 Mar 2026 12:23:03
I remember seeing the same thing last season, depressing stuff but not surprising unfortunately.

25 Mar 2026
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled,

Click picture for larger image

25 Mar 2026 23:35:05
Incredible.

26 Mar 2026 00:41:08
Now that is cool.

26 Mar 2026 07:53:37
Incredible. However, most goals in a 38 game season should be Holland with 34 goals, if I am correct.

26 Mar 2026 09:14:57
Astounding.

26 Mar 2026 09:41:20
Love it.

26 Mar 2026 10:54:06
The man was insane and still underrated.

How lucky were we to experience the Mane, Firmino, Salah trio.

Best football I've watched in my lifetime was watching those three with a hard working supporting cast and a forward thinking coach.

We complain about how it is now. We complain about having that Liverpool team in a peak Man City period, but all complaints aside,

My God, did we have it good.



Salah is a true Liverpool legend. And you can say he flirted with other clubs, but at the end of the day he gave all his absolute peak years to Liverpool. Superstar!!

25 Mar 2026 22:32:18
So, Jurgen Klopp is back as coach at Anfield at the weekend for the LFC Legends game.

I wonder how many of our current coaches and football directors will attend that match?

To be a fly on the wall!

26 Mar 2026 03:39:40
Jurgen as the Head of Football is the way the club should go.
Not the multi-club approach that now seems to have lost its appeal, but more an inter-club relations thing, Red Bull, Dortmund as examples.
Jurgen would also provide countless streams of knowledge about the recruitment needs of the club (noted he got some transfers wrong too but they wouldn’t be solely his choices).


Jurgen would automatically instill belief in those around him and in the board of directors that the club can now adapt and start a phase 3.0, if you like, with Xabi at the helm and leading the team on the pitch and having a big say in the players he wants.

26 Mar 2026 09:15:32
Gonna be watching the for sure.

26 Mar 2026 12:43:04
shughes55, One possible issue there. What happens when the next manager underperforms and the fans start calling for the Head of Football to take over? Could create a lot of internal tension. I could see it happening down the line, maybe, when the memory of Klopp's achievements aren't so fresh in the minds of the fans, and he somehow gets sick of the weather in Mallorca, but could right now be too soon? Obviously, he's well capable of the role, and I would love to see him back in any capacity, but what effect does the fans chanting the Head of Football's name every week have on a manager under pressure? Could we possibly be shooting ourselves in the foot? I agree it could work now with the right manager.

Xabi would work, they're both intelligent, know the club well, share some managerial similarities and, importantly, both revered by the fans, but I don't think Klopp's coming back any time soon, bar the odd charity match. Say, for instance, Slot stayed on and Klopp replaces Hughes or Edwards, do you see that working?

25 Mar 2026
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled,

Click picture for larger image