Liverpool banter 10

13 Sep 2026 17:30:53
Oliver and VAR officials making life hard for their employers today.

To make that call, so quickly, in that situation, in that game, when VAR is there to review those types of decisions, just raises all kinds of questions.

13 Sep 2026 14:38:25
Yesterday was definitely our worst performance of the season. 🙈 That constant passing backwards and sideways was bringing back far too many memories of last season. 😩

BUT we got a point, and I'm still very confident AI will get it sorted. 😉🔴
You can't judge a new manager and a new project after a handful of games.

There will be good days, bad days and plenty to learn along the way. I'm still firmly in the "give him time" camp. Come October, I think we'll have a much better idea of where we're heading.

So keep the faith, Reds YNWA 👊🔴.

13 Sep 2026 15:47:14
That's because Szoboszlai will not give the ball early always wanting the killer ball so holds on to it then passes sideways or off the pitch.
But at least he scores a screamer or gets an assist every 4 games.


Him in midfield yesterday winning 1/9 duals think that was a header so not one ground dual.
Done think Milner or Henderson lost 8 duals in a month of games in the Premier League.

13 Sep 2026 16:49:29
Going against the grain here. i'd sell him for anything above 100mil. im fact i'd sell all the midfield.

13 Sep 2026 17:10:38
You would sell Szobo for anything over £100 million? Mustn't be that bad a player then 🤷‍♂️.

13 Sep 2026 17:14:28
100 million doesn't appear to buy anything special these days by the looks of it.

13 Sep 2026 18:29:57
£100m seems to buy very good, or very effective players. I'm thinking the likes of Anderson at City. No world beater, but a very effective player.

The absolute top drawer players are mainly at Madrid and PSG, with a sprinkling elsewhere like at City and Arsenal. Haaland would probably be closer to £200m, Rice would go for over £150m now.

13 Sep 2026 18:32:10
100 millon for a midfielder should get you a top player like Elliot Anderson. He looks a rolls royce of a player.

13 Sep 2026 20:34:59
Clearview, not sure Clesea's 100m signing of Romelu Lukaku falls into that category of "effective player".

13 Sep 2026 13:05:03
Dom and grav are very selfish players. They are both chasing headlines instead of playing as a team! I heard John Barnes speak recently about when he olayed he got most of the headlines but everyone in the team knew that no one was more important than anyone else.

People who sacrificed there game for the good of the team where just as important. until our current players learn this we will go nowhere! Football is a team game and they all need to work as part of the system.

13 Sep 2026 13:27:48
Dom plays like he's in the play ground. Plus he plays non contact football. Unfortunately he just can't play in a midfield two.

13 Sep 2026 15:09:55
I don't know if Dom and Grav are lazy or like headlines but what I do know is that they lack the ability to play together. They cannot tackle, can't pass, have very little defensive nous about them.

Now having said that, the whole team was poor from the off. They were slack in their passing, individual mistakes, no conviction in our play and couldn't complete a pass and constantly passing to the opposition.

My only ray of hope was and this will be unpopular, Isak. In the sense that, he was trying things he wouldn't have tried before like his first time shot which with a bit of luck, could have gone in in the first minute. He was taking players on and taking shots which tells me his confidence back.

Apart from that, this one belongs in the bin.

13 Sep 2026 15:29:00
Pair of them need to grow a set of balls and kop the f**k on, the part of their job that they're not doing is actually the least difficult; it requires no more than a bit of awareness and a little effort.

If one goes, one stays, and if somebody comes at you, you tackle the c**t, it's so simple you can find 15-year-olds all over the country executing it perfectly.

13 Sep 2026 18:39:11
I don't think they're lazy, they just cannot read the game well, they can run all day but they don't run smart, they vacate key passing lanes for the opposition.

This is why we need a Wharton next to macca/nyoni.

With hendo Fabinho we weren't throwing tackles in we were intercepting play and reading the game. Szobo isn't capable and sees himself as a Steven Gerrard without the ability (even though Stevie would make a challenge) gravenberch seems annoyed he's been asked to sit deeper.

Wharton next to macca or nyoni will work far better.

13 Sep 2026 13:01:41
It's my own opinion but I don't think Wirtz and Dom can work together in this formation, going forward, with Dom sitting in the pivot. Looking on Transfermarkt there has been the odd occasion it has worked though that being Wirtz and Dom on the wings in a 4231 or Wirtz as the 10 and Dom as the right winger. But still no Dom in the pivot.

Dom's best season was Slots first playing always as the main attacking midfielder.

A formation I could see them both thriving in would be the 3421 both being the 10s as they naturally drift to the right and left. Abit like Palmer and Rodgers.

So the options for Iraola imo are you either play one or the other as the 10 or you play Wirtz as the 10 and Dom as the right winger option.

13 Sep 2026 13:20:42
Wirtz, Szobo and Macca are all 10's.

Rio, Gakpo, Munoz, Barcola are all LW's

The balance of this squad is a mess.

13 Sep 2026 13:27:56
Who would you pick as your 10 LFC8 just curious.

13 Sep 2026 14:03:59
It's tough OK! because I genuinely believe this squad doesn't suit a 4/3/3 at all

But if forced into that formation, my team would be Nyoni and Mac in midfield. Wirtz in the 10. And Szobo on the right wing

Tough though pal. I just think since Grav's dad came out saying he needs to push forward and get goals/assists he's regressed massively. He's better sitting. If he can't do that I think Trey can.

13 Sep 2026 14:13:34
I'd go with that too LiverpoolFC8.

We didn't buy a RW in the summer, so why not put Dom there - whether he likes it or not?

Definitely time to give Trey a chance alongside Macca.

13 Sep 2026 14:33:34
I would play Szoboszlai right back it's the only time he looks any good playing like Trent did.
Wirtz 10 Gakpo left Barcola right
And Trey Mac in midfield.

13 Sep 2026 14:38:04
Macca can play the 8 it's just he lacks mobility. He's more productive with the ball than Szob & Grav from a passing perspective and I'd probably say even Wirtz currently although I'd say Wirtz is a far more creative overall player.

13 Sep 2026 15:13:56
If cretivity and passing to feed the forwards as closest to goal as possible is what you are looking for then, you are going to fail all the time by picking Szobo.

Hence, Wirtz is the no. 10, end of. Szobo should be in the 8 role knitting things in midfield with Macca at the base. This is because Macca (or even Niyoni) can play those penetrating passes thru the lines to get to Wirtz who can then create in the half spaces.

Where does that leave Grav? I have no idea because frankly, I have no idea wher ehe fits in because nothing is working for him.

13 Sep 2026 16:00:43
Few decades ago I would have plumped for Bo Derek as my 10, now maybe Penelope Cruz.

13 Sep 2026 17:11:12
Wirtz has taken over Firmino and Thiago in creating space and also the assist before the assist.

13 Sep 2026 11:53:55
I see James Pearce has the clubs back saying "the club didn't sign midfielders because they believed AI would get more out of them"

In truth they've left him hanging because the midfield options are not good enough!

13 Sep 2026 12:24:13
The club weren't the only ones. Lots of the fanbase thought so too. No doubts he'll get them performing better until he can get players in and out to suit his system better. Andoni's a manager he's not a miracle worker. Only Jurgen was that.

13 Sep 2026 12:29:11
It was a failure of Hughes not to move on the right players to make room for a new midfielder. Lamine Camara was there for the taking all summer and allegedly wants to play for us. In the end we only sold Jones which meant to replace him required a homegrown signing. There were no English midfielders other than Elliott Anderson who are remotely similar to Camara in terms of style and quality.

I do think we'll see Nyoni break into the team more and more as the season progresses, but I've said it before and I'll say it again, Szoboszlai is not an 8 and Wirtz is not a 10. Wirtz should be a false 9 or a left side attacking midfielder. Dom should quite clearly be the 10. If Iraola manages to coach them to perform with Dom as an 8 and Wirtz as a 10, he is a football genius.

Right now I honestly think Nyoni and Macca should be our sitting midfield 2. They'll both tackle or make a tactical foul. Dom and Grav seem to be happier letting people go past them, then chasing after them. Reactive, rather than proactive defending.

13 Sep 2026 12:35:54
It's only 5 games so not a big sample size but Ai has used

Nyoni 4% of minutes
Endo 0% of minutes
McDonnell 0% of minutes.

So currently it looks like Ai is trusting 4 players for 3 positions.

13 Sep 2026 12:36:37
We can't do anything now, we wasted another window

The best thing they can do is work hard to get the fitness levels back.

2 backward steps against Fulham, it looked like Arne Slots football. It was absolutely dreadful to watch for the majority.

13 Sep 2026 13:10:31
It's like telling a carpenter that he doesn't need a hammer because he should get more out of the saw we bought last year.

13 Sep 2026 13:12:47
After yesterday, I think it's clear our midfield 2 for big games will be Mac and Szob, Grav has played himself out of the team, and I'd have him behind Nyoni at the moment.

I expect (and hope) Nyoni will start midweek against spurs, hopefully he's ready to show he can be relied upon.

13 Sep 2026 13:09:45
Yep, we wait again for the next window to open and close having not fixed any issues.

A 10-year old LFC supporter could have done a better job than Richard Hughes did over 5 transfer windows.

13 Sep 2026 13:17:38
I do get frustrated when people say we couldn't sign midfielders without moving players on. This is a bullcrap excuse that no ambitious club would come up with.

The remaining obligation on Endo's contract is less than £3m. We could easily have told him to find another club at the start of the summer and if nothing came up by the last week of the window, pay him the £3m to become a free agent and find another club.

Chiesa's situation is different as his contractual obligation is a lot more due to this salary. But again, we could have told him to find another club at the start of the season like any other big club would do.

13 Sep 2026 13:20:28
Dom at both red bull clubs rarely played as the central midfielder. He was used mostly on the wings and as the attacking midfielder. It's like putting prime Gerrard in the middle.

13 Sep 2026 13:26:10
In fairness from them stats JK it looks like he's trusting 3 players for 3 positions. Although Nyoni may force his way in. Not having the homegrown issue. Endo or Chiesa could have been left out of the squad for all the good they are going to do this season.

No the club, along with a lot of fans thought we'd be grand with the SIX midfielders we have for the pivot.

13 Sep 2026 13:16:20
Blaming hughes is funny mk, this stuff happened long before hughes was here. Look at naby Keita, klopp had to put up with him for full contract length. If it was city he'd be gone new player in.

How on earth is anyone going to ever get rid of grav and sob on that money, that's why Mac isn't getting a contract so they can get rid but the sad reality he's the best of those 3 granted the bar is low.

13 Sep 2026 13:19:17
Reckon that trust won't last JK23.

13 Sep 2026 13:25:22
Unless you're wearing rose tinted specs and prone to bouts of toxic positivity, any reasonable person could see how weak and pathetically soft our group of midfielders are and how much we needed a midfielder who can defend and add some physicality.

Not good enough in possession and they arevworse out of it. It's not even October and we already look like we're in limp home mode.

Thing is, I highly doubt we'll enter the market for a midfielder in January too, with the usual line being punted out that there is no value in the market and the club feel we can get by with our current options. Yet another season written off.

13 Sep 2026 14:28:59
Why should Dom clearly be the 10 MK? Genuinely curious. The 10 role as I see it involves the ability to jink out of tight areas and play little intricate passes to the striker or wide forwards which I don't see Dom having. Dom has an engine, ability to charge forward, a good long shot and the ability to spray long balls.

Which to me would be an 8 if and its a big if he can learn how to win tackles and get some positional sense. Hoping Iraola can coach that into him.

13 Sep 2026 14:42:53
Fm, just from current minutes, Wirtz and Szob are way out in front with Grav and Macca similar.

From the last 2 games though I'd think Macca has forced his way in and Grav his way out.

Ok as above mate Grav is currently playing his way down the pecking order.

I can possibly see Grav, Nyoni and Endo starting Tuesday night.

Although saying that, Slot got pelters for Palace at home last season so maybe Ai is going to go strong.

13 Sep 2026 15:15:31
"After yesterday, I think it's clear our midfield 2 for big games will be Mac and Szob, Grav has played himself out of the team, and I'd have him behind Nyoni at the moment.".

This!

13 Sep 2026 16:44:29
The best 10 we've ever had in the Prem played like Dom, only a lot better. I didn't see Stevie jinking out of many tight areas but my jaysus he could belt a shot and slip his CF in. Both things Dom can manage.

13 Sep 2026 17:46:07
'Only a lot better' Florian. Indeed. If only Dom was a lot better he could play the number 10 role like Stevie did. Stevie actually could jink quite well. I haven't seen Dom slip his CF in much.

13 Sep 2026 18:42:54
The difference with Steven was that he did it all virtually every week. He could shoot, create, free kicks, he quite liked a tackle, physically dominant, and had amazing drive and determination. What a generation of midfielders that was across Europe.

13 Sep 2026 18:48:19
But Stevie had that brilliant Alonso-Masch pivot behind him Red. All important. Just look at how much it's affecting poor Florian at the moment😂.

13 Sep 2026 19:51:11
Florian comparing Szobo to Gerrard. Szobo isn't in the same galaxy as Gerrard. Szobo isn't in the same galaxy as Coutinho who was an infinitely better '10' than Szobo too. That's it's for Florian's Firecrackers this week.

13 Sep 2026 20:41:54
Seriously, these fake comparisons need to stop. If you think comparing Rice to Gerrard (or Souness) is ridiculous (which I do) then, the comparison btw Szobo to Gerrard is even more ludicrous.

13 Sep 2026 11:46:32
On dropping wirtz. It's not entirely on what he offers or lacks. He simply doesn't suit what we have available behind him.
You can't have two midfielders in the middle in the shape of Dom and grav or Dom and macca. It isn't enough. You need more legs for what we have available.
Wirtz doesn't have the Athleticism of a no 10 in Jude who can run back and out muscle/win the ball back. The workload then increases constantly through the middle and elsewhere.
You need two different types of sixes to play with a wirtz or really most tens now.

Youd need a rodri and a Wharton type.
Our 6 was supposed to be grav and I have no idea what's happening there. Say if he does improve and plays his role well, Dom's wreckless to support him. Positionally wants to just bomb forward and loses the ball for too much.
It's extremely telling by andoni that macca is now our 6.
Either the club buy two midfielders I moaned about for far too long eventually and in the form of two different types of sixes. Or, i cannot see a long term future for wirtz at the club.

13 Sep 2026 12:26:44
I think Gavi and Wharton would greatly improve our midfield. Maybe one of these comes in in January.

13 Sep 2026 12:19:58
The midfield and fullbacks are key to a modern PL team. That is where games are won and lost.

Frimpong Kerkez Gravy Szobo do not have the brains for it. None of them understand tempo or game state. Headless chickens.

It's too early to drop them all but more games like this then Nyoni Macca Chambers or even Gomez at left back might have to be starters.

13 Sep 2026 13:21:23
You simply cannot have a very attack minded midfielder in Dom sitting in the pivot. He has to be the attacking midfielder or on the wing.

13 Sep 2026 13:27:39
Give chambers a go midweek. See if he can take his chance. He cannot be a worse footballer than Tsimikas.

13 Sep 2026 15:21:46
Ron, people saying we should drop Wirtz seem to alwway never tell you who should play that creative no. 10 role with the ability he possesses. The answer is because there is no replacement in the team who can create as much and as well as he can when he is found in the right pockets of space he has the uncanny ability he has, end of.

To your other points, I agree r: midfield because Szobo and Grav cannot play in the no. 10 because they simply lack the tools to do so. And if you are going to build a wall behind Wirtz then again unlike Wirtz had Andrich and esp. Xhaka at Bayer, we have Szobo and Grav who can't pass the ball in buld up like Macca can and he is not mobile enuff in transition either. These are the issues we have now.

Now I could propose an Endo/Macca combo because in 23/24, that duo was very good because each knew their job but and were very effictive as a double pivot.

But that's not going to happen either, will it?

14 Sep 2026 00:59:29
How about trying something like this? To thicken up the midfield a bit. Avoid the slicing through our mid. Yes, three at the back, but also stopping the opposite attacks higher up the field. And keep speed on left and right sides. (But Andoni would probably laugh at me.;))

Alli

Araujo - Jacquet - VVD

Munoz - Nyoni - Macca - Wirtz

Szlobo - Barcola

Isak.

13 Sep 2026 11:10:58
The atmosphere yesterday was flat to say the least. The regulars need to shake themselves they are in a very privileged position.

13 Sep 2026 12:42:59
Iraola will start dropping them soon if they don't pick up their performances. He dropped Frimpong for Araujo pretty sharpish!

Iraola has spoken very highly of the likes of Chambers, Nyoni, McConnell and Koumas. If they have good games against Spurs on Tuesday, the regulars will have even more pressure heaped on them to perform. One thing you know you'll get from 18-21 year olds, is they'll run their hearts out and compete for everything. Something the likes of Gravenberch and Szoboszlai are not doing right now.

What I would say, is I hope our fans are patient. It took Iraola half a season to get his ideas across at Bournemouth and he wasn't starting with a team completely unfit during a World Cup year. At least we're not losing games. 2 wins and 3 draws so far isn't all that bad but clearly certain individuals need to be doing more.

13 Sep 2026 13:31:18
Frimpong a an easy drop though. Chambers, Nyoni and Koumas should start during the week. Lets hope they take their chance. if Trey does he should start next weekend for me and if chambers does also he should at least replace Tsimi as backup LB.

13 Sep 2026 13:31:32
My guess is that McConnell will play less than 90 minutes all season.

13 Sep 2026 15:01:57
Case of the chicken and the egg.

Is it the crowd's responsibility to get the players going or the players to perform to enthuse the crowd?

It's quite hard to create an atmosphere to slow sideward and backward football. Slot learnt that the hard way last season.

13 Sep 2026 11:09:32
Morning all

Just done some reflecting in yesterday and midweek.

It's clear to a lot of people that the squad is "unbalanced" and that we have some square pegs in round holes.

We look to have a midfield that is seemingly allergic to putting their foot in, and two full backs we are yet to be confident in.
Plus we have Virgil who played a ridiculous amount of minutes last season and who looked out on his feet yesterday.

To me, and I don't know how this would "land" with the fan base, with the pace we have up top and Wirtz looking a different player with time- the side would be less open, more compact and able to be more effective in possession if we played more of a counter attacking style.

Sitting deeper would help Virgil as he won't be covering as much ground and playing a high line, and the front 3 could have acres of space to run into.

It's a difficult ask as it's not AI's style but a decent coach is able to adapt the way they set up their teams.

13 Sep 2026 12:23:00
Iraola should not change his style after a few games.

If Szobo and Grav cannot play in a two, then we should give Trey his chance alongside Macca. It couldn't be worse.

13 Sep 2026 13:44:38
VVD needs to be rested he is mentally fatigued he is making basic mistakes his passing has been very poor the man needs some R&R we have run him into the ground. To get the best out of him we need to manage him right.

13 Sep 2026 16:49:01
He made a mess of one of his cross field bombs and hit one out for a throw in jury time yesterday. Apart from that I can remember too many other slip ups. Such high standards. Who plays CB and in turn RB if we rest him though?

13 Sep 2026 09:34:07
Whos the better defender ed1? Jaquet or yoro?

{Ed001's Note - bit early to judge either.