Liverpool banter 9

07 Oct 2025 23:10:23


007 has written an article entitled, Was Heitinga / Slot the Secret?

07 Oct 2025 23:26:37
Has Slot his brain now.

08 Oct 2025 01:17:43
This whole article reads like a fever dream.

But I would agree that Heitinga leaving and GVB coming in has an impact and is one of the contributing factor. I wouldn't go so far as to suggest that Heitinga is the brains behind everything and that Slot is just a figurehead though.

08 Oct 2025 03:38:46
*Has Slot lost his brain now?
:D.

08 Oct 2025 05:15:12
Well, After mocking Sharpy continuously over his articles on UTD, it’s our time to do the same. #Karma.

08 Oct 2025 09:11:36
Pretty sure Sharpys hijacked a few accounts on here.

08 Oct 2025 09:31:02
Yeah @Faith, cos clearly Klopp lost his ability to think for himself as soon as his "Brain" left his body. And what happened after Buvac left? We actually got better and started winning big.

Man, take a day off, @007.


@Drac, I don't buy into any of that cos it is something we can't prove until maybe Ed01 provides info on it, for ex. Till then, it's just white noise and pointless conspiracy, something Im not surprised about under this climate of conspiracy theories.

For me, Slot is in charge and any of his assistants have the power/ influence he allows them to have. Same goes for Klopp. Not the other way around.

08 Oct 2025 10:52:38
Is Sharpy code for secret agent Shappy?

08 Oct 2025 11:06:50
@Oli, I'm not saying that it's a definite reason. Just saying that it is a probable one. GVB is a different person with different ideas than Heitinga and he would have some input as to tactics, similar to how Heitinga did. So it wouldn't be out of the norm to suggest that he would have an impact, regardless of how small it is, on our play this season.

Maybe I didn't make it clear too but I think the reason why we are playing poorly is a mixture of many things. From the changes to the system, the different players, the lowered intensity of trainings, the loss of Jota, to the changes in the backroom staff. All of this would play a part, be it a protective or contributing factor. It's nearly impossible to pinpoint where the exact issue is since all the factors above are interconnected in one way or another.

08 Oct 2025 11:46:01
Im not going to bother me hole reading his nonsense, I know for sure it’s going to be in capital letters, rubbishing our players ie CON-ate, I’ve a feeling his either very young or very old and not really a true Liverpool supporter, I suppose it’s bad enough posting about them.

08 Oct 2025 12:54:50
OliRed, you don't buy into something until Ed001 tells you what to think?
Yeah, we already know.

08 Oct 2025 17:58:41
not sure whose idea it was to start the game really slow and boring, we don't score playing like that, do fans actually like that slow start, I much prefer to move the ball much faster, keeping the other team on the back foot,

08 Oct 2025 18:45:43
Lads, has it come to this looking for a scapegoat to blame for our poor performances?
Arne will sort it out he just has to stop tinkering with the team but i have full confidence in him and the team
a bit of patience is all we need right now lads and girls
YNWA.

07 Oct 2025 14:45:10
2 weeks of pundit social media bashing and criticising Liverpool till the

"Must win" Manchester United game.

07 Oct 2025 15:18:46
It would be unthinkable to lose to Man U in the next game. That would be the ultimate kick in the balls right now.

07 Oct 2025 16:39:13
No game is must win in October no matter how much it might feel like it is or how much the pundits tell you it is.

We will have to tread our own path this season and what will be will be. I think the Jota tragedy has obviously affected the players more than we expected and particularly affected their preseason preparations because they don’t look fit.

Slot is getting pelters for playing players in their wrong positions but I really do believe he’s trying to manage minutes and prevent injuries whilst getting results at the same time.

Once we do get everyone up to speed though we will be frightening. I honestly can’t remember us having a more talented squad than we have right now.

07 Oct 2025 17:10:54
So according to you @Robbo even if we lose to UTD at home “it’s still all right” lol. We are still in the right track and all the players would eventually get up to the speed.

07 Oct 2025 17:28:57
Losing at home to **** is absolutely not alright. Its not Slot out territory but it would start murmurs.

07 Oct 2025 17:34:05
Absolutely Wirtz. Why what would you do if we lose at home to Utd? Give up?

We’d be a possible 4 points behind Arsenal with 30 games to go and I simply can’t see a world where this team doesn’t click and put a run together.

We have 4 players that 3 months ago would’ve been anyone’s shoe in players in a world 11. VVD, Wirtz, Isak and Salah. We are the current champions and have improved the squad dramatically since last season. Now suddenly because we lost a few games they’re all rubbish and the walls are caving in? Please. Get a grip.

07 Oct 2025 18:05:53
It’s not alright at all but it definitely could happen and I’m ready for it if it does.
I remember the 80’s where we’d regularly lose to Man U and then go on to win the league. The opposite was true in the 90’s.

It’s one game in a 38 game season. It’s important but I’d happily lose it every season if we’re the ones competing for and winning honours.

If it happens then I’m ready for it, we have no Devine right to win any game, it has to be earned.

07 Oct 2025 18:11:58
Robbo, 3 months ago Salah wouldn't have been in my World XI 3 months ago. I've said on here, he was lousy the last few months of the season.

If we lose against Utd, I'll be there at the Villa game, but don't kid yourself that everything will be rosy, because it will underline that we're in trouble, especially losing to that lot.

07 Oct 2025 18:21:16
Losing to Utd at home under the circumstances won't be anywhere near a good look. The fans base will be peeved off, for real and the typical backlash would be at defcon 2. However, losing a game is always possible regardless of however you feel about it.

That being said, should we even get a draw, it will still be a huge problem so let's just focus on trying to get the win and play like it. The sense of urgency has to be at a high level.

07 Oct 2025 19:30:57
Just to add, if we did lose that will end the United run of not winning 2 games under Amorim and that guy will get his haircut!

Let's hope the run doesn't end with us!

07 Oct 2025 19:09:08
Said before and will say again, I don't mind losing, so long as we leave it all on the pitch. Attack the box, if they sit deep then get wide and cross it in, put the defence under pressure, play two up top, anything, just mix it up a bit. I agree with Robbo that this squad is perhaps one of the strongest in terms of talent I have ever seen for LFC, but trying to play through the centre all the time isn't always going to work no matter how good your squad is. We saw against Galatasary that you don't need world beating defenders to sit deep, soak up pressure and leave very little central openings even for a top opposition, so get wide and look for the cross or cut back! I don't agree with playing midfielders in defence, but at least it shows Slot is adaptable. This patch is a challenge he has to show he can overcome and I am sure one way or another he will find a solution.

07 Oct 2025 19:13:23
It may not be a literal end of the world if we don't win. In that sense it isn't a "must win". But we really do need to win come on now.

07 Oct 2025 19:43:33
I agree with a lot of what you say Robbo but R77 is also correct IMO. things aren't rosy. it isn't the quality of the playing and coaching staff being doubted but it's the methodology that's an issue and how we're going about resolving it (. like how ED1 describes it yesterday. ) Whatever way you cut it, playing good football and getting the results has to happen soon or else there will be growing discontent throughout. I'm disappointed by their start but, in being honest, I'm also not surprised. I am surprised though by the current tactics or whatever they are, we're all over the shop on the pitch. It'll sort soon I'd say. Too many knowledgeable people there for otherwise.

07 Oct 2025 19:57:03
And when do you expect us to pick up @Robbo? We have blown a 5 point lead over Arsenal and would be 4 behind them if we lose to UTD which would be a 9 point shift and you say “it’s all right”. I am sorry but there is absolutely no POSITIVITY in that stat.

07 Oct 2025 20:05:30
Agree not must wins but to win the league all games are need to wins.

Appreciate you can’t win them all but 3 points in October are still the same worth as 3 points in April at the business end of the season.

You can’t win the league in the first few months but you can certainly be out of the title race in them.

However we’re not as we’re 1 point off the top. Despite it only being a run of 3 defeats for a club of our magnitude that’s almost mini crisis territory.

A good performance and win against Utd and the last 3 results will be a thing of the past. Failure to win will put pressure on the squad as it’ll be 4 games without a win.

Doesn’t sound crazy bad but can’t remember the last time that happened to us.

07 Oct 2025 20:34:32
Blown a 5 point lead 😂 It’s October!

07 Oct 2025 21:21:52
Ok Rome I’ll take Salah out of the world 11 just for you but I’d already forgotten to put Ali in there so it’s still 4 ;-)

Look, I’m just as disappointed as anyone else after our recent run but I just think that people get stuck in a moment in time and get sucked in by all of the negativity the media peddle. It’s always all or nothing. When we sign Wirtz and Isak we are going unbeaten all season, then we lose a couple of games in injury time and everything is wrong, Slot should be sacked and Arsenal will run away with it.

I say stay off social media it messes with your head.

Look at the team, man for man. We are stacked with quality players. I agree that we haven’t been anywhere near our potential so far this season but how long do you think that will continue? Are we just going to keep doing the same thing and lose every game in injury time from now on? Of course not.

This poor run (if you can call losing 2 tough premier league away games in injury time a poor run) could go on for another 2 or 3 games. We could spank Utd 5-0 and it’s all forgotten, that’s the ridiculous knee jerk nature of football fans and especially the media today.

I’m excited about what this squad can achieve and losing a couple of games deep in stoppage time doesn’t change anything for me. This squad is capable of great things and I fully expect it to happen. When it does happen you’ll all be singing their praises and saying how great it is to be a Liverpool fan, YNWA and all that. Until we lose a couple of games again and you want everyone sacked.

Thats football fandom these days but I don’t want any part of it.

07 Oct 2025 21:58:39
Robbo, I was wondering where Alisson was! You are however spot on about knee jerk reactions from some people, and things either being black or white. Despite being a miserable old sod, I am confident given the quality of players we have, we will turn things around. All the best, mate.

07 Oct 2025 23:28:45
Just me but I’m more interested in seeing us take positive steps in our chemistry, play style etc

If we play like we have for the season so far and win, is that good?

Good for the table but don’t think that would change the narrative around the team.

08 Oct 2025 00:55:22
If we play like we have all season and win enough games to win the league then yes Faith that’s a good thing. It means we’ve found a winning formula.

However I think we have too many creative players who will want to be making things happen and enjoying their football for us to be happy playing the way we have been for too long.

I honestly don’t think it’s all through choice it’s been more about necessity after having a shortened preseason due to the mourning period. Which is still going on by the way.

That and players coming back injured, Isak having no preseason etc. etc. Slot has a good record of keeping players available and I think it’s because he doesn’t take stupid risks with fitness. Sending a half baked team out at full throttle early in the season could come back to bite us badly.

Wirtz has struggled and if I’m honest has been very disappointing but it’s so early in his Liverpool career it would be ridiculous to write him off yet. He was thrust into a situation in preseason which must’ve been so difficult for him. He didn’t play with Jota, I’m not even sure if he knew him so to be a new player, in a new team, in a new country then suddenly everyone around you is mourning a colleague it’s got to throw you a bit. He’s only 22 years old we can’t expect miracles from day one given the circumstances. The same goes for Kerkez and Frimpong. These guys have never experienced playing for a club the size of Liverpool before and the media attention and expectation it brings but with the extra attention because of the tragedy in the summer it will take them time to settle.

The performances and results will improve, Wirtz will improve, Macca, Kerkez, Frimpong, Bradley, Isak, Ekitike, Rio will all improve. This is a great squad we just need to stick with it. In the meantime we will win most games anyway because of the quality we have but we can’t turn on everyone if we have a few blips.

08 Oct 2025 03:36:12
I don't actually think wirtz has been that bad, sure he hasn't been the transcendent talent we saw at Bayer, but that entire system was built around him and with players he had developed a telepathic understanding with over time. He is still very much that player, he's going to be world class for us, you can see flashes of it already even with all the mitigating factors he's had to deal with.

08 Oct 2025 03:51:48
Robbos - that's a different question tho to what we're talking about.

08 Oct 2025 05:18:42
So if we lose to UTD in two weeks time it also means Slot hasn’t learned a lesson @Robbo? Why don’t think he would learn in November or December for that matter? It’s hilarious that you are setting a decent example of celebrating while losing! This UTD team has worse defense and midfield than ours!

08 Oct 2025 07:11:32
We blew a three point lead in August after we beat Bournemouth on a Friday night.

08 Oct 2025 08:09:16
"us" and "we". You're fooling nobody pal. Not one true Liverpool fan would create an account called 'Wirtz 007'. You're a pathetic troll. Go back to the Man United/ Arsenal page.

08 Oct 2025 08:52:49
Tbh, at this point, I want Liverpool to win just so that Harry would crawl back under the rock that he came from ;)

In all honesty though, we are on a wretched run of 3 losses on the bounce now and the Utd game coming up is going to be tough. In any normal circumstance, I wouldn't be surprised if we lost to them but now, it is important for us to win, not only for bragging rights but to also "fix" our form. I wouldn't call it a disaster since it's still early in the season and there's still plenty of time to turn things around but losing four on the bounce is going to be much harder to recover from.

08 Oct 2025 09:04:38
No Wirtz if we lose to Utd it means we lose to Utd and we move on to the next game. You’re talking like I’ve said I’d love us to lose against Utd or something. I’m just saying it’s not must win and all is not lost if we did lose. Although I don’t think we will anyway.

If we lose 3-0 to Utd and then lose the next 3 games on the spin too then we can start to talk about a crisis.

You can always lose isolated games it could be a red card or a poor decision or just a poor performance. It doesn’t spell disaster, especially this early in the season.

08 Oct 2025 09:14:43
I agree that it’s not the end of the world losing a 5 point lead in October but I reckon if Arsenal had done the exact same my money is on some LFC posters saying they’d blown a 5 point lead and Arteta would be getting pelters.

08 Oct 2025 09:40:54
I think from the point of view that losing 4 games on the bounce is not good, then United becomes at least a game we must not lose, if only to stop it becoming a 5 game losing streak. If winning becomes a habit, then so does losing. I’d ask at what point people think it does become an issue, 4 games? 5 games? 10 games? Like JK said, although titles aren’t won in September and October, you can end up out of a title race during the October/ November period, as we have experienced on many occasions. So three points and a clean sheet feels like stabilisation at this point.

08 Oct 2025 09:48:49
The last time we lost three games in a row was the season we came fifth and klopp loaned Arthur Melo after finally realising that our midfield was in serious trouble, city destroyed us 4-1 at the etihad, klopp said we were lucky it was only four and we were crushed by real a few days before at the bernabeu I think. That period was a hundred times grimmer than our situation now.

08 Oct 2025 13:13:06
Wirtz 007 - sad excuse of a troll not a Liverpool fan, no fan would make that account.

08 Oct 2025 14:19:29
Logically a lot that has been said in this thread makes sense, but losing to this united team at anfield would be pretty unacceptable, they are a poor team. That being said, as soft as they are I'm pretty sure they lead the premier league in xG.

08 Oct 2025 14:56:51
Sounds like there are reds who have no confidence in our team and manager "if we get beat by man utd" all ifs and buts.
As our former manager Jurgen Klopp told us all to believe and look what happened .

BELIEVE REDS BELIEVE YNWA.

08 Oct 2025 18:08:34
slot needs to sort out his defence, we have 3 out of 4 defenders who are going thru a rough patch, we are conceding goals nearly every game, stop them goals, and we will get back on track,

07 Oct 2025 14:32:43
After the Gakpo goal against Chelsea the team played with the intensity we love to watch. High pressing and high tempo passing when in possession. Sadly it only lasted about ten minutes. I don't like these slow first half in particular as we seem to always then need to chase the game in the second half which adds extra pressure and creates mistakes.

07 Oct 2025 18:23:32
Then maybe we should go back to actually pressing from the off effectively like we did last season rather do all that in the second half down a goal and then, after we score? Nothing as the same thing happened at Palace in the second half.

07 Oct 2025 19:13:03
Personally I have found Slots teams have always tended to play slower first half and ramp up as the game goes on. I actually thought it was a genuine tactic I saw it so much last year. Worked well (obviously) when you do manage to get a goal up and then swamp the opposition later in the game when they are tired from chasing the ball all game.
Doesn't seem to be working this year though through a combination of poor possession play, lack of creativity, playing almost entirely centrally, lacking the switching passes that we have lost now Trent has gone, and being leaky as hell at the back. So yeah, I agree, if it's not working anymore, change it up!

08 Oct 2025 09:39:25
On the other hand Westwood666, we all saw games where Slot went full Klopp and played with intensity, high tempo and high press from start to finish. Just check out the RM and City games at home. We suffocated both teams. This tells me that Slot knew when to go full Klopp ball and whent to dial it down which is damn smart of him.


Now it seems he is trying to cut back on that this early to save energy (along with rotating the players) BUT it's not working when you are poor in possession, can't progress the ball and you are restricting your FB's from overlapping, leaving them isolated. And if you are in poor form and playing players out of position hence, you don't have a settled 11.

So how about we get a settled team, go full court press, try to get a goal and then rest on the ball. And if we don't get the goal, we still relax and then we press at the right trigger and go again. That could be a solution, no?

08 Oct 2025 12:58:58
OliRed, didn't we go two up against Bournemouth and Newcastle only to get pegged back to two all?

07 Oct 2025 13:58:57
Massive big up to all the red fans who raised a mahoosive 225 big ones for Diogo's grass roots initiative, love it ♥️.

07 Oct 2025 12:31:34
Personally thin it's a change of formation we need to be doing, we have to adapt to the players we have, our fullbacks aren't Trent, Kerkez is not an inverted fullback, he is getting ruined, he is an attacking out wide fullback, same with Frimpong/ Bradly, Wirtz is a guy to play behind a front 2, Ekiteke and Isak, Slot can then his preferred mid 3 of Grav, Szlob and Macca in, Salah is starting to break our attacks down and just isn't working out wide, he and Gakpo can both play as a front 2 also, Chiesa as well, if we want width, let our fullbacks use their greatest strength and provide it.

07 Oct 2025 15:18:53
Plausible but I think we should stay the course with what we are doing.

We need to play with a bit more urgency and the right times while also defending better.

Time will tell. I still think it will all be fine in the end. Growing pains.

07 Oct 2025 17:30:04
trust in Slot. Winning the league is a luxury and something to be ecstatic about when it happens, don't turn it into a necessity or you will kill the joy in supporting this wonderful team.

07 Oct 2025 18:26:18
Davey, I trust the manager. I may moan about his over-tinkering and playing players out of position that leads to nowhere BUT the thought of quitting on him is laughable not even in my thinking.

Like you, it is early days and teething issues were going to happen, fact. I just want him to not make them worse by the things he is doing. I hope he changes for the better and goes from there.

07 Oct 2025 18:47:03
OliRed, you trust the manager that you accused of 'literal insanity' after the Chelsea game?
How can you trust someone that is making things worse by the things he is doing?

07 Oct 2025 19:16:27
100 agree OP. I would love to see us play with an old school front two and attacking full backs providing the width but sadly 4231 seems to be the standard formation at the moment the world over, but hey we're not managers. I am sure Slot will figure it out.

08 Oct 2025 09:49:44
Rigsby, that part was for you who continuing to believe that Grav playing at CB to "progressing the ball" is more important than playing a true CB at CB just cos he could again, "progress the ball". You supporting that is what I meant as literal insanity. And even if I accused him of literal insanity, what do you call doing the same things and expecting a different result? I'll let you chew on that. Take your time, btw.

As for trusting Slot, of course, I do, of course. I still believe he can and will change course (put his ego to the side) and get us going again even tho, what he is doing is doing my head in. That being said, we were all here hoping Klopp would change the "slow possession" footie nonsense he was doing and frankly, he didn't till he left. We can always hope.

08 Oct 2025 13:07:30
OliRed, I never said it was more important to play Gravenberch at centre half to progress the ball. Once again, you are making things up. I told you why I believed Slot did it. Gomez was on the bench but Gravenberch went to centre half.
The decision was nothing to do with me so you accused Slot of 'literal insanity' and I see you've repeated in the post above.
I'm not surprised streaming Liverpool games is doing your head in when the last two managers have been literally insane or playing slow possession footie nonsense.
I'd stop buying the 'merch' if I were you.

07 Oct 2025 10:02:21
REDS, it seems to me, just my thoughts, that Kerkez is getting some unfair criticism . Last season at Bournmouth, he was a overlapping left back, pace and aggression. Crossing for forwards and going for goal. Im not seeing much of that. The players fault? or the Head Coach and the instructions he gives!

07 Oct 2025 12:34:20
I’m not worried about any of the new signings or the teams performances.
I know it’ll come good and Kerkez is already looking better.

07 Oct 2025 12:40:07
Our problem is trying to force players into roles they aren't best suited for, we need to go to a 4-3-1-2, let our fullbacks use their greatest strength which is providing pace and width down the flanks, not being inverted, they are getting let down there, we need to let Isak and Ekiteke form a proper old school partnership, our main ST goes out wide to much, stay in the middle and stay close to each and move around, Wirtz just behind them pulling all the strings, he is a ridiculously brilliant technical player, he needs to be played at his best position, we can a narrow workman mid 3 of grav, macca and szob.

07 Oct 2025 13:56:32
Ron, your comment is the only one worth reading - completely agree. Not concerned one bit.

07 Oct 2025 14:05:18
What exactly is Kerkez doing wrong? In the games I've watched he's kept the likes of Semenyo, Madueke and Neto quiet. All of Galatasaray's joy came down the other side. All of Palace's joy came from set pieces. Chelsea scored from that side after Robertson came on. Semenyo scored twice after Robertson came on.

Kerkez had one silly moment vs Burnley when he dived and then Burnley started trying to get him sent off so Slot reacted sensibly. Generally speaking, we're conceding goals from set pieces, or players running straight through the heart of the team. Kerkez hasn't been great going forward, but he's hardly been playing badly or costing us goals.

Seems to me like the team is struggling to gel and some of the established players are way off the pace, but people are just throwing mud at the new signings because they're the more obvious change point; regardless of whether they are actually the problem.

The let downs this season have been 3 fold in my opinion.
1) Mac Allister is not at his best yet after injury and we're suffering in midfield as a result.
2) Konate has been awful so far and is becoming a liability both defensively and in possession.
3) Salah is not playing well at all but we're still trying to pass to him at every opportunity.


I don't know how we fix these issues because Slot is smarter than me and hasn't managed to yet. But the issues are very clear when you watch us play. Konate keeps giving the ball away and losing duels, Macca is getting run over in midfield and losing duels, and Salah is missing chances like they're going out of fashion and losing duels.

If you have 3 players in the team who repeatedly lose their 1v1 battles, then gaps start appearing all over the pitch and you get punished. When those same players are also contributing very little in possession, you have to ask why they're still playing.

07 Oct 2025 14:16:24
Ron, so is Wirtz, IMO.

07 Oct 2025 19:18:03
Kerkez is an easy target. He's done mostly fine in a vastly underperforming team right now. It'll come good.

Wow, Robbo's ceaseless positivity is rubbing off on me!

07 Oct 2025 21:22:56
MK, I would add that Bradley has been shocking and Slot doesn't like Frimpong at RB. Or Gomez at RB/ CB.