Liverpool banter 9

04 Nov 2025 00:26:56
What I enjoyed the most about last match besides the more obvious things about the form of individual players (mo looking like one of the best players in the world again, macca looking closer to his usual self)

Macca celebrating winning a foul after the corner where onana threw him to the floor

Dom engaging in multiple occasions of rubbishhousery and gamesmanship, like he was taking a page out of robbo's playbook

Ekitike's furious and cathartic celebration after his offside goal

The drive to win and close out a game that we saw time and time again last year, even at one up we looked completely in control, two up and you knew it was curtains, we could allow villa to have the ball in our third, not surrender dangerous chances and then get on our bikes to counter with relative ease

To the folks on here saying slot had lost the dressing room, this was definitive proof that you were mistaken.

And Dom ...what a brilliant player. He has all the technical qualities you would want from a top player but more importantly all the intangible ones too. Motm by a country mile.

04 Nov 2025 01:18:26
Thinking about Dom, he received a lot of criticism last season and the season before that he was inconsistent, didn't have enough "output", I hate that phrase by the way lol

I can see Wirtz having a similar trajectory in our team. There's no rush other than expectations.

04 Nov 2025 07:43:31
People getting too excited after the last game…. Let’s be real, we scored because they made mistakes. Real and city are going to be a much tougher tests so if we can get through these unscathed then I might think there is some light at the end of the tunnel. However, at the moment I’m still not convinced.

04 Nov 2025 09:18:09
They made mistakes but this was because of our strategic high press. We created multiple chances because of the press, did you miss those? If we struggled going forward all game and created nothing besides those two goals then you might have a valid point.

04 Nov 2025 09:34:52
Faith, my guess is it's hard for Dom to have consistent output in the final third when he's running full pelt across the pitch all game, he's commented on this before. That he somehow manages to produce quality and workrate from first minute to 90th now is actually insane. The trivela that he hit to Salah in the 80th or so minute was nuts, as were his max effort sprints in the closing stages of the game.

By the same token wirtz having to chase the game so often or drop deep and drive forward to get us up the field means he might be a bit gassed when he gets the ball in the final third in the same phase of play.

04 Nov 2025 09:55:35
"Let’s be real, we scored because they made mistakes. ".

@Chaosengine, and other teams didn't score because we made mistakes under pressure or do things only go one way for you? Btw, that was like the 3rd time they had coughed up the ball against our press so it wasn't like a one off occurrence now, was it?

In addition, we created chances without them passing us the ball either, we defended their long balls and set-pieces and took our chances when they came while shutting them out bar the shot by Rodgers against the post in the first 5 mins, the only dangerous attempt they had.

But let's ignore all the above and just boil down our win to "Well, Villa made mistakes" or my fav, "Villa played into our hands", as if that is the first time Villa have tried to pass the ball out the back.

04 Nov 2025 11:34:46
Ok, would it be preferable to say 'the way Villa play played into our hands'? 😑

Villa did make mistakes and it wasn't all down to our press. Martinez had time on the ball before passing it to Salah for the first goal. He wasn't pressed into the mistake. Villa also played through the press a few times early in the game.

I agree with Chaosengine. Madrid and City will have more quality than Villa and we are not the Klopp side that won the League and CL in terms of a controlled press and being defensively sound.

04 Nov 2025 12:34:29
I’m actually a bit concerned about Ekitike’s attitude. There was the stupid celebration against Southampton where he should’ve just pointed to Chiesa and ran straight to him but decided to promote himself instead and now against Villa the aggressive celebration. It looks to me that he’s annoyed at being dropped and is making it all about him.

I hate players celebrating with aggression like that it’s all very petulant and Richarlison to me. I’d much rather a player smile and run to the crowd and his team mates. Scoring a goal is a happy time why would you not smile?

That being said I’m hoping it’s just because of the situation we found ourselves in and he was just saying ‘have that’. We don’t need a player causing issues because he doesn’t play every minute of every game. He’s at one of the biggest clubs in the world it comes with the territory.

04 Nov 2025 13:02:06
We may not be the Klopp side that won the League and CL in terms of a controlled press and being defensively sound but we are the Slot side thay won the League last season in terms of a controlled press and being defensively sound. And we did see hints of that returning when we played against AV.

04 Nov 2025 15:52:24
I wouldn't disagree with you, Dracred.
I will add that we were more solid in midfield and pressed better under Klopp. I was saying, maybe pointlessly, that we haven't suddenly become the title winning side of Klopp.

Or Slot, for that matter.
Where you are right is about it being 'a hint' of returning to last season.
Madrid and City also have more quality than Villa and might be able to pass through us more easily.

05 Nov 2025 01:17:36
We made Real Madrid look average.

Shame we can’t play them in the group stage next season Bradley was going for the treble - Mbappe 2024, Vinicius 2025 and Bellingham 2026.

06 Nov 2025 00:26:39
we scored because of their mistakes? well, I have a great post about this, regarding luck lol

Patrik - Dom is awesome aye. I remember saying in his first season that he has all the tools to excel in a Liverpool midfield. just needed time to adapt and learn from him mistakes,

Lol I feel like I sound like a broken record when talking about the club and our players lol TIME!

03 Nov 2025 22:31:26
Question to Ed 01.
What are your thoughts on all this wrestling from corners and long throws. It seems impossible to police. Would it help by not letting players into the 6 yard box till the ball is kicked or released.


Also why wasn't Onana sent off for the hand around MacAlisters neck. I thought it was a clear directive no hands to face/ neck. I know he went down like a sack of sh#t but there was clear intent to the face area?

{Ed001's Note - it is easy to police, the refs just need to start showing yellow cards, it would soon stop. The officials are just too weak.

I don't know why Onana wasn't sent off, it was a clear red card and a yellow to Macca for simulation too.}

04 Nov 2025 02:33:25
Agreed with the simulation yellow Ed but they hardly give them and usually only when a player is not touched. More yellows would def help.

As for set pieces into the box, there's always been jostling but now it's getting ridiculous with the falling down both with attackers and defenders. Refs fall for it every game sadly. No pun intended.

{Ed001's Note - I would always have post-game simulation cards handed out - the officials can't always see it live but there is no excuse for them not to go over the games afterwards. Then it would make players think twice before doing it, after they pick up a few bans for simulation with the possibility of Macca having 6 game bans for every one appearance he makes!}

04 Nov 2025 09:58:32
Ed01, Rodri was rightfully sent off a couple of years ago for doing the same thing to Gibbs-White of Forrest. But hey, expecting a rank incompetent ref like Atwell who btw, seemed to not know that you can restart a game while a player is off the pitch getting treatment to the point that VVD had to tell him that, is literally wishing upon a star.

04 Nov 2025 12:57:13
That 6 yard box should have been brought in years ago. Players not allowed in it until corner or throw is taken. Such an obvious change that won't cause any fuss.

03 Nov 2025 22:35:51
Hi Ed's and everyone else

Trying to educate my nephew about the European cup existing before the champions league and our record in the competition and it got me thinking of the best eleven we could put out of all the players who have played in a European cup or Champions league final -my eleven is

Clemence - just edging it from Allison
Neal
Hanson
VVD
Robbo
Salah
Gerrard
Sourness
R Kennedy
Kenny
Rush .

Obviously missed out on other greats but that's my eleven.

03 Nov 2025 23:26:44
Can't argue with that.

04 Nov 2025 00:03:19
Barney rubble over Robbo, just for the 2 winning goals.

04 Nov 2025 01:28:59
Clemence

Neal Hansen Van Dijk Nicol


Hughes Souness Gerrard

Dalglish

Keegan Rush.

04 Nov 2025 11:31:44
Was going to say you missed Barnes out but he never played in it because of the European ban, or have I got that wrong.

04 Nov 2025 11:49:01
Barnes never played in a Euro final for us but just wondering how many more European cups we might have won with Kenny’s great sides from 86 - 90? Probably only AC Milan as a better side in those years?

04 Nov 2025 16:20:27
Bristol red . id have to have Barney Rubble instead of robbo. he scored the winning goal in two finals.

04 Nov 2025 18:14:45
Stromsgodset - True but Robbo was a better player / LB -
I feel guilty enough not fitting Keegan in!

03 Nov 2025 20:53:19
I know I was being a tad facetious about LUCK, but also can't help but think that you really need a healthy dose of it to fall your way and it's actually ok to acknowledge that.

When you have a string of bad results / performances, it can feel like nothing falls your way. Gakpo striking the post 2/ 3 times vs manU, bouncing ball off Gomez straight to Sarr, referees somehow miss foul on Gakpo, VVD foul ended up being centimeters on the line etc there will be more like this

And then the ball finally breaks our way vs Villa and we have Rogers hit the post, Villa don't capitalize on a couple counters when they break our press, then we strike thanks to their keeper assist.

In amongst all the noise about system, players in and out of form, which are all valid points btw - we do need a healthy dose of luck and I am totally here for it!

03 Nov 2025 21:06:41
Thing is @ Faith - all the things that you mention as ‘luck’ could equally argue that they were less than good / poor play. All the players could a should have done better in the individual situations. You could argue that citing good, and especially bad, luck is just deflecting.

03 Nov 2025 23:35:50
There is definitely some degree of lucked involved but I stand by my previous assertions that winners make their own luck. Like for our first goal, it was the pressing of Gakpo that caused Martinez to misplace the pass to Salah. There was some degree of luck involved but it would not have been made possible if not for the hardworking of our players.

We challenged for every second ball and gave the AV players no space. That forced the errors for us. Similarly, in our previous games, we didn't work hard enough so it seemed like luck was against us.

04 Nov 2025 00:19:57
Klopp would say that hehas benefitted from a lot of luck each time they are successful. Actually not that he would say that, he did say that in his recent appearance on Diary of a CEO.

I think it's totally ok to acknowledge the grey area that is filled by luck :)

04 Nov 2025 09:29:47
100% drac, not to mention it was superb technique and concentration from mo to slot it away first time, who knows what would have happened if he tried to take another touch. We created multiple chances from our press, Dom was clear through on goal and should have scored prior to that, that was a higher percentage chance than Mo's in my opinion.

As for luck and klopp, the first thing that comes to mind is kompany's volley flying into the top bin against Leicester in 2019, 99% of the time that is going high and wide.

04 Nov 2025 10:02:40
PB, anyone that thinks that was an easy finish from Mo with his right (weaker) foot needs to go what the goal again and this time, from behind Mo himself.

As for luck for the most part, work harder and the luck will come esp. since some define luck as "When preparation meets opportunity". If you are always fully prepared then, the lucy situations will be recognised quicker for you to take advantage when they come. Cos you are that prepared. For the most part, I emphasize. Just my opinion.

03 Nov 2025 17:55:03
Ed001, how you feeling about tomorrow vs Real? Confident or a bit nervy?

I’m honestly not sure how to feel about this one. Real Madrid are in good form. They were good vs Barcelona and exploited their high line pretty well.

It’s a strange time to be a Liverpool fan right now. The Aston Villa win helped a bit, but IMO Villa were poor, and we didn’t exactly dominate. Long balls and throws have been haunting us this season, but fortunately Villa aren’t a side that could exploit that weakness. In fact, them playing out from the back basically played into our hands.

There were flashes, but I don’t know if that game showed a resurgence or just papered over some cracks (like Frankfurt away) .

One big worry is how we handle the press. Every time a team has gone man-for-man or pressed high this season, we’ve looked shaky. Under Alonso, Real have been pressing and counter-pressing really well. If they do that again at Anfield, I fear we might struggle to play out or keep shape.

I expect Slot to stick with the same XI as vs Villa, maybe Kirkez in for Robbo (fitness) . He’s clearly taking no risks with rotation. Given how reluctant he was to use subs (bar Wirtz) even when we were 2–0 up vs Villa, I can’t see many changes.

As pumped as I was during and after the Villa game, now that the dust’s settled, I think it might be a tough night. Even if we don’t win, I just want to see fight, control, and a proper performance. Don’t want Villa to be a one-off and us back to looking lost again.

Big night tomorrow, but confidence feels low. Hopefully we can shake off the ghosts and continue what might be a real resurgence.

YNWA!

{Ed001's Note - I am never confident mate. Fingers crossed though.}

03 Nov 2025 19:20:40
I thought our confidence showed second half, we were show boating on the ball and looked very comfortable.

03 Nov 2025 20:27:24
TRK, totally get you, mate.

Honestly, even I was baffled by Slot not making any subs. When we're losing, he throws in Cheisa, Rio, Gomez, everything but the kitchen sink

And now we're winning comfortably and he won’t even sub Gakpo (who was poor) or anyone for that matter, even in injury time, just to run down the clock. Strange!

Maybe, like you said, he didn’t want to take any risk whatsoever

Anyway, looking forward to tomorrow.

03 Nov 2025 20:33:14
I personally think that we are happier against teams like Real than we are against the likes of Brentford. I think it will be a good game and maybe end in a draw.

03 Nov 2025 22:26:00
Waiting for young Mr Bradley to re-introduce himself to Mbappe 👍.

03 Nov 2025 22:53:34
I think we will give them a decent game, it will be tight but I think we will still lose 1-2 maybe.

03 Nov 2025 22:56:15
I can’t help feeling Madrid will have our number. We have been predictable all season, and although the win against Villa was a great result, it didn’t really feel like we had turned a corner.

03 Nov 2025 23:38:09
Madrid seemed to be much better coached under Alonso than they did under Ancellotti. So it will be a much tougher game this time around compared to last season. A win would be nice but a draw wouldn't be a bad result either.

A lot depends on Slot as well and how he sets the team up. If he's doing the horseshoe bs again, then it's show that he didn't learn anything from the past month or so.

04 Nov 2025 00:17:01
I’ll never bet against Liverpool, but I think we will play into there hands trying to slow it down and keep control. We’ve got to run them ragged, I’d have Robbo over kerkez experience needed here.

Maybe mix it up up top drop gakpo play Ekitike Wirtz and Mo let them 3 and szob run riot. I feel they will score, probably a couple got no confidence in the keeper.

04 Nov 2025 00:21:06
It's Madrid at anfield, we will turn up. I think wirtz and kerkez will probably start, I have a feeling slot was saving them for this game.

04 Nov 2025 00:24:19
I can see Slot sticking with the same starting XI for the next two matches heading into the international break.

Which kinda has me a little worried, cos I feel like with his personality, he would go completely the other way from tinkering and then just rely on 12-13 players again lol

But algoods, this is an important week and I think getting the machine back functioning is the priority.

04 Nov 2025 02:36:54
Last season Slot played the same 11 more or less for the first couple months of the season. Memory serves we didn't use a lot of subs either. I think he's going safe here and the same 11 from Saturday.

04 Nov 2025 07:10:13
2-1 liverpool
I came to this conclusion after work with a glass of Adelaide's finest red.
It could also be 3-1 so please go easy on me if its by 2 or 3
Can't wait as usual European night at Anfield always brilliant, so passionate so loud and a large part of why I love this club so much.
Enjoy all.

03 Nov 2025
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, Not posted for a while but felt the timing was spot on

Click picture for larger image