Liverpool banter 10

25 Mar 2026
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25 Mar 2026 21:32:47
ED 001, what are your thoughts on Mo leaving? I know he is nearing the end but I feel like it would have been best to stay another year with so much change at the club.

{Ed001's Note - he wants to play every minute of every game, I think it is best he left to find somewhere he can get that.}

25 Mar 2026 22:24:37
I haven't said anything about Salah yet cos I'm kind of p'd off about it to be honest.

I've been pretty consistent in my view that if you can criticise the form of nearly every individual player in the team, then maybe the players aren't the problem. That goes for basically all of them with the possible exception of Konate, who doesn't seem to know what a football is (yes, even Mac Allister. I get he gets knocked over by a stiff breeze, but we previously mitigated that by not playing him as the 6).

For Salah specifically, if you have a player's output in terms of goals and assists gets cut by more than half from the previous season, I'm inclined to look at the tactics, and not assume the player has catastrophically declined in ability and physicality.



I get he had to go some time, but considering how well he looks after himself, I think if Slot hadn't lost his marbles tactically this season, he'd still be putting up good enough numbers. And I definitely think he still has the ability to play, and play regularly, at this level. As it is, he's our third highest scorer behind Szoboszlai and Ekitike, and I believe has the most assists? Not exactly horrifying stats for someone who's apparently been awful.

It's not as extreme as Gerrard and Rodgers, but I think he's been handled badly by Slot, and things really could've been different.

25 Mar 2026 22:35:15
That. 👆

25 Mar 2026 22:37:55
Something Red, spot on.

25 Mar 2026 22:48:56
Bit of a conspiracy theory here from me, but I wonder if the negotiations with a new manager have included this?

I wonder if they want to start afresh, maybe a different formation, maybe Salah wouldn't fit into that plan, and keeping him as a sub would cause too much dressing room drama?

It seems a bit of a coincidence that Werner is over, the new manager rumours have ramped up and this has happened.



I've no doubt Werner's agreement was required to progress a decision of this cost/magnitude.

25 Mar 2026 23:08:34
SomethingRed, the third highest goalscorer is admirable at Salah's age, but the stats miss the fact that he has been one of our worst performers this season. You can argue that the tactics haven't suited him, but that doesn't explain his inability to make simple passes or come close to beating his man. He has been largely anonymous and spooned goalscoring chances when, in the past, he's buried them.

Salah's own high standards have highlighted how badly he has dropped off this season and the time is right for him to move on.

It reminds me of Gerrard's final season when the ability was still there but the sharpness had dulled a little, and, in the Premier League, even half a second of uncertainty gets punished.

Mo Salah, thanks for your service. Forever a legend.

26 Mar 2026 02:39:57
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 gets the best out of him

{Ed001's Note - I very much doubt the option to walk away would be available to him in the summer.}

26 Mar 2026 06:57:08
Agree, Something Red.

26 Mar 2026 07:33:30
3rd highest goal scorer, and most assists - and yet some say that he is one of the worst performers because he can't dribble past a player????

What am I missing?

26 Mar 2026 09:17:16
Fully agree, SR esp. that second to last paragraph.

26 Mar 2026 09:46:47
Spot on, SR! And Ron too!

26 Mar 2026 09:48:12
JLC, you are missing that he has performed as bad as the much-maligned Gakpo, who everyone wants sold. Stats mean whatever you want them to mean, but anyone with half a clue can see that Salah has either been anonymous or borderline atrocious this season.
It says a lot about him as a player that he still bags a few goals whilst having a poor season.

26 Mar 2026 13:39:39
And, I would again point out that Gakpo wasn't a bad player last year. And, he's still in his 20s, so you can't say it's age catching up with him.

Are we absolutely sure it's Salah and Gakpo being bad and not the management of them lads?

26 Mar 2026 15:32:06
Whatever it is, SR, it's damn contagious because they've all been s*** mate.

I reckon it's a new strain of Hepa-Tactics A....

25 Mar 2026 19:47:27
Ed001 when we lose to city in the fa cup and psg in the first leg of the champions league do you think they might finally grow a pair and try to save the very last part of the season or will part time slot keep going.

{Ed001's Note - if that were to happen, they would still be looking at a top 5 place.}

26 Mar 2026 06:57:51
Disgusting that the club are gambling on this season and essentially the future of the club to back that fraud.

26 Mar 2026 07:08:07
Remind me the last time a top club got rid of their manager with a handful of games to go in a season?

26 Mar 2026 09:22:31
@Frode, I had been saying it. The fact that these two clowns backed Slot in that Roundtable debacle, it meant that they literally didn't care if CL footie was not achieved because frankly, that was a more than logical outcome IF the manager didn't buck up his ideas in the PL. That much was clear with the way the results and perfs. were going, no?

But as many like ED01 had said, these are stats guys to the core and to them as long as we were in the CL places despite poor results, all was good.

How anyone can put their heads that far down in the sand (stats) and put our ambitions in jeopardy is beyond me. I guess this is what you get when you have mates running the show and no one is accountable to no one for anything, IMO.

25 Mar 2026 19:00:39
Some sick individual has been posting on Twitter that Kevin Keegan only has a few days to live - it's fake news, thankfully. He's actually responding well to treatment which bodes well.

25 Mar 2026 21:33:29
I don't know why people do it. They must be wrong in the head. I saw a King Kenny post a while back saying he had passed away and I fell for it. Some really bizarre people about these days.

{Ed025's Note - i do despair at people sometimes..

25 Mar 2026 22:52:12
Good to hear he's responding well, MM.

25 Mar 2026 22:21:35
Ed025, what did you think of Keegan as a player? He was the reason I became such a big football fan personally.

{Ed025's Note - i was a massive fan of him stone, i actually named my first son after him after sharing a cup of tea with him mate...true story..

26 Mar 2026 07:11:18
I'd love it if that was true Ed, love it!

26 Mar 2026 09:23:39
@Incredible like you, I don't know where these types of people come from. Really sad.

26 Mar 2026 10:14:29
KK was my hero as a kid, was on the Kop the day of his last game for us, always a special place for him, hope he gets over this terrible thing that has taken so many people too soon.

26 Mar 2026 10:50:40
would love to hear that story Ed. Maybe on the next podcast you could talk about that?

{Ed025's Note - i was working in Hawke st near Lime st station on the paving in the late 90,s stone, Kevin was walking along to get the train to London for the home internationals v Ireland mate and one of our gang asked him if he had time for a cuppa, he said yes and sat with us having a cup of tea for about 20 minutes and actually insisted he had a cup without a handle, we were talking about football and Liverpool in particular and he was asking us all about our families in this old minty caravan..it was surreal, he was very nice and seemed really down to earth and i was so impressed i named my first born after him..true story..

26 Mar 2026 14:47:35
Brilliant Ed. Makes me like him even more. Thanks for sharing.

{Ed025's Note - no problem mate..

25 Mar 2026 18:18:27
Ed025
Kelleher is better than Pickford all day long.
Did you rate Pickford against Arsenal last week did you?

{Ed025's Note - lay off the drugs Hughesy, Pickers is miles better than Kelleher mate, all goalies will make the odd mistake that goes with the territory..

25 Mar 2026 19:25:28
Ed025 the blue tint on your glasses is very strong at times.
I mean you still think Lucas Digne was a better left back than Robbo.
Pickford is far too erratic he is like Ramsdale always making the simplest of saves look like Gordon Banks save against Pele.

{Ed025's Note - come on Grino...credit where its due mate..

25 Mar 2026 20:34:59
I will accept Pickford is better than Kelleher, but Pickford isn't that great either.

{Ed025's Note - hes not perfect Tom...but he is very good mate..

25 Mar 2026 20:44:56
Hessel, I find it hard to judge, to be fair, because this season is Kelleher's first season as a number 1, but from what I've seen, I think he has had a good season. I don't remember any bad matches for him.

25 Mar 2026 20:34:01
Ed025 am just not a fan of Pickford I find him far to rash. I feel while you have been struggling for a most of his time at Everton that sort of makes him look better than he is because he has been busy most of the time.

The very best keepers don't have a lot to do and then they pull of the saves out of the blue but as I said earlier Ed he is to erratic to be that I feel the best keepers can make the defence in front of them feel calm.

{Ed025's Note - he is a match winner Grino, yes he will have the odd wobble but the top 20 saves of the season all include him mate..

25 Mar 2026 21:20:48
Both are not bad, but only one has Red Blood.

{Ed025's Note - and one is world class Peter.. :)

25 Mar 2026 21:35:18
T-Rex better than Kelleher? That's a bold statement right there.

{Ed025's Note - yet a totally true one..

25 Mar 2026 21:25:32
I think Pickford is a terrible keeper. Just my opinion. No dig at you ED25. I'd have Karius before him and that's saying something.

{Ed025's Note - hes Englands No1 for a reason SG...hes the best in the land mate..

25 Mar 2026 22:11:17
Pickford is a good keeper. Would he get into a title challenging team? Probably not. However, the Karius shout must be a wind up.

Kelleher, on the other hand, is a much closer call, and, now that he is playing regularly, will probably go on to have a similar career to Little Arms. I mean, he already has more trophies ;).

{Ed025's Note - but would he get in a side challenging for a CL spot...breaking news...hes already in one.. :)

25 Mar 2026 22:41:13
If only he had average sized arms.

25 Mar 2026 22:51:47
Both JP and CK are suspect under crosses.

25 Mar 2026 23:18:27
To be fair, Pickford is probably in the Top 15 goalkeepers to have played the 2025-26 season ever.

26 Mar 2026 09:54:02
Very much WY. but JP is still horrendous ED25. Just because Tuchel has him in goal doesn't make him good.

{Ed025's Note - its not just Tuchel SG, every England manager wanted him in, and thats because hes world class my friend..

26 Mar 2026 10:14:16
Ain't no shifting you ED25! And I mean your opinion, not as in a good Fri night!

{Ed025's Note - im very set in my ways SG, and being right all the time does not help me one little bit mate.. :)

26 Mar 2026 23:50:53
World class is a stretch.

{Ed001's Note - depends on what kind of deluded world you live in, if you think Prickford is class of any kind! He makes a simple save and we get told it is the best save of all time, when it was the kind of save a Premier League level keeper should make in their sleep. He made one the other day, he was already moving the same way and the ball was hit right at where he was going, but the commentators were having orgasms about it being a great save. It was not even a good save. But he turns round and celebrates it like he had to reverse direction and fling himself full length to get to it. It is embarrassing to watch such dross being worshipped and held up like a top class keeper. Neville Southall must get so annoyed watching this hero worship of someone not fit to lace his boots.}

25 Mar 2026 18:17:08
Amidst all the messages about Mo (all fully deserved), a thought for a hero of a different era, as I've just seen the sad news that John Toshack has been diagnosed with dementia.

I hope he gets the care he deserves.

All the best Tosh.

25 Mar 2026 18:28:48
Tosh the Bosh was my hero when I was a kid. Doesn't get mentioned in the same way as Rushie and God, but he was a titan who left it all out on the pitch.

We need players like that in every side. Saw him in the mid 70s and he was like a bull, bosh bashing away. Pride in that la.

25 Mar 2026 18:32:04
I second that, Tuzza. One of the best managers we never had.

25 Mar 2026 18:44:50
Crazy how Toshack never got offered the job for Liverpool, managed Real Madrid twice and a host of other clubs, when I was a kid, an older fella who lived by me, had two dogs called Toshack n Keegan, obviously one was tall n the other small n curly.

25 Mar 2026 18:50:14
KK & Tosh up top were brilliant together - telepathic understanding.

Keegan, for me, was undoubtedly a world class player, but Tosh done such a lot of hard graft for him.

25 Mar 2026 19:36:29
If I remember right, Strom, Tosh believed he should've succeeded Paisley. I'm sure you remember him wearing a Liverpool shirt when he was manager of Swansea after Shankly died, when we played Swansea at home. We will never know how good he would've been as our manager, though things didn't turn out too bad under Joe, then King Kenny.

25 Mar 2026 22:42:20
Rome, yea you're right, he was expecting the job after Paisley, it looked all set up for him... Yeah, not bad was Joe n the King for us, were they.

25 Mar 2026 23:20:46
Toshack was still a great manager when we opted for Souness, if my memory serves me right. The nineties could have been so different.

26 Mar 2026 09:56:11
Absolutely, Darwin and Rome. Should have been our manager instead of Souness.

26 Mar 2026 10:19:00
Souness bashing again, always ignore the circumstances around that time.

26 Mar 2026 21:26:58
Apologies to offend you, sp62, however, I actually was around at that time, and at that time I had the opinion that Souness was not a good manager nor should he have been the LFC manager. Certainly he's one of my all time Liverpool first 11 as a player.

As a manager he wasn't very good. That's not bashing. That's just fact. Toshack was my personal choice. He had the better attributes than Souness. Unfortunately no one will know one way or the other whether he'd have fared any better or not.

25 Mar 2026 15:08:03
Ed. See them player profiles you do
Fancy putting Salah at the top of the list for all of us?

{Ed001's Note - good idea.}

25 Mar 2026 17:36:08
Oh brilliant, great shout. Looking forward to this one Ed001. Hope you are keeping well Ed001 mate.

I must say this is the most disinterested I've ever been in watching us play. The joy and pure emotion we had under Jurgen has just been sapped out of the team, it's incredibly disheartening.

{Ed001's Note - it is a difficult watch now.}

25 Mar 2026 20:18:30
Ed 001 I'd love if you'd take a look at yan diomande (spelling may be wrong) n give us your opinion on him please

{Ed001's Note - ok mate.}

25 Mar 2026 21:39:04
Thanks a million, pal.

25 Mar 2026 13:48:47
So the club it seems happy to let both Robertson and Salah walk for free (allowing thrw player to choose)

So any one else thinking this time next year VvD and Alison will be the last of the Klopp signings out the door. (main ones, not the last window he had)

I think I'm most worried about Alison. I know he can't go on forever. But surely we keep him til he's old and with a walking stick?!

We can't go back to rubbish Gks.



Dudek was good for a year. Reina was good but let's face it the defence he had in front him helped. Then we went through some very dark years. And the ray of sunshine that is Alison arrived.

Great Gks seem to be in very short supply. Perhaps I'm too blinkered. But just don't see anything out there.

25 Mar 2026 14:41:18
I can see VVD and Alisson going on a free next year (albeit I can see an extension to VVD depending on how the newer CBs settle in).

Although it's not the way I do it on CM or FIFA, but it's the right way to deal with long standing servants.

I agree on the GK issue. Let's see what the next couple of windows bring...

25 Mar 2026 14:47:46
You're right, there's not too many great options out there, anybody really worth considering is too old or tied down, in all cases, we're lookin at a downgrade. Ali has been plagued with injuries, can't see him pulling a Buffon, I wouldn't be expecting him to hang around too long. He seems like the type of bloke that's happy to walk away when he feels he can't give 100% any more.

I don't know if the club views Georgi as a possible successor, but his lack of footballing ability does worry me, decent shotstopper and could improve with gametime, but I think he lacks in confidence and that affects his decision making. He's nothing on Ali, it would be a considerable step down.

25 Mar 2026 15:25:44
I don't think VVD is going anywhere anytime soon. He has probably lost a bit of pace, but his fitness is still impeccable. With a more defensively minded midfield, he can play for another 3-4 years easily. Also, his impact in the dressing room is huge. Every one of the videos the club puts out on YT, all the players call him the leader.

Also, it is good to continue to have some title winning know how in the team. As for Ali, unfortunately I think he leaves at the end of his contract. His fitness is continuously declining and as a result he seems to have lost a bit of explosiveness. Definitely the best GK I have seen though.

25 Mar 2026 15:28:38
VVD is just as bad as Konate this season. I definitely would not extend his contract. I would still want to keep Ali though. If Ali goes, bring back Kelleher.

25 Mar 2026 16:16:56
Me neither, @Red_in_hk. Vvd can stay and play out his contract, and then he gets the legendary sending off he deserves, and ciao, ciao.

25 Mar 2026 16:17:54
I think the club has invested in 3 decent keepers in Mamardashvili, Jaros and Pecsi. The hope has to be that with one more season from Alisson, one of these 3 can step up to be more than just decent.

If you look around Europe, looking for a top quality keeper, it is so few and far between. Raya, Alisson, Neuer, Oblak, Courtois, Martinez, Maignan, Sommer etc are all top keepers, but they're also all 30-39 years old. Neuer and Alisson can't even stay fit anymore.



I think Donarumma is massively overrated too, by the way. He's only 27 years old but I just don't rate him. The one advantage is that everybody is going to struggle with finding a top keeper in this next generation because they're just so few and far between.

Big things are expected of Pecsi though. He was previously nominated for the Golden Boy award which is good going for a goalkeeper. Maybe he can be our ace in the hole?

{Ed025's Note - if only you could find a Jordan Pickford like keeper MK, but they only come along every Preston Guild im afraid mate.. :)

25 Mar 2026 16:27:21
I fully expect Ali and Virg to leave next summer.

Both are legends, but as the op says, I think the club will complete the transition to the next generation of Liverpool team. Both are, unfortunately, beyond their peak and (certainly in Virg's case) on big wages.

Both will be extremely difficult to replace, but I think Ali will be the hardest.

25 Mar 2026 16:40:22
Khelleher for me.

25 Mar 2026 16:57:06
Yes, Jones, should have kept Kelleher, but if wanted to be number '1' you can't blame him for moving.

25 Mar 2026 17:18:41
To be honest, the whole team has been crap this season, and the fitness is appalling, so for a lot of players I'd be keen to see how they get on next season. Of course, there are a few (Konate and Mac, for example) who I'd drive to Madrid if they let me.

25 Mar 2026 17:40:44
I thought a Pickford type goalkeeper went extinct millions of years ago Ed025?
He only exists today because he broke free from the Ignen lab on that island.

{Ed025's Note - he gets a lot of stick CR but hes a fine keeper mate, 100 clean sheets in the prem is not to be sniffed at..Alisson can only dream of that..

25 Mar 2026 17:47:29
I can see Virg here after Alli. The club has a 1 year with Alli to next year, wouldn't surprise me if he's only here next season because he's contractually obliged to be. No inside info on it, just the feeling I get with Alli these days, like his heart's not in it and he'd rather be back in Brazil.

With Virg, just get him a decent partner who's head is actually on the pitch and an un-injury prone RB and he'll be fine.

25 Mar 2026 17:52:05
Trent left basically on a free, now Mo, Robbo, and apparently VVD and Alisson to leave for free. Add Konate as well to the list, possibly.

That's some serious amount of money to simply give up...

Yes, it's a great gesture, and they deserve to go on their own terms, but so many in such a small amount of time is quite a hit... although some nice savings on wages as well.

{Ed025's Note - do they really deserve to go on their own terms JLC?, these guys are paid millions and i think letting them go for free is criminal, their signing on fee when they join another club for free should really be going to the parent club i think mate, its a business not a charity..

25 Mar 2026 17:56:15
Think you're wrong there Ed. I think Alisson had reached 100 clean sheets at some stage last season.

{Ed025's Note - oh right then i must be mistaken mate..sorry..

25 Mar 2026 18:21:51
Ah no worries Ed. I'm normally wrong 99% of the time Mate. Well so my missus keeps telling me anyway.

25 Mar 2026 18:31:59
They're some great lads, but I'd play some youth and let them mess up together. Sticking with Virg is a bit weird. I don't think he plays great for an Anfield legend and top defender. Get Leoni and Javkef in, and let them learn with Ali.

25 Mar 2026 18:32:16
100 clean sheets and at least twice as many goals. 🤣🤣

{Ed025's Note - come on Irish give Englands No1 the credit he deserves mate, one if not THE best in the world at the moment..

25 Mar 2026 18:57:08
Pickford, the best in the world hahahaha because he made that one save.

25 Mar 2026 19:07:44
Alisson 100 clean sheets in 250 in Premier League. 137 in all competitions and no karate kicks.
Pickford 98 in 355 in Premier League. 100 in non-league and cup games and one karate kick.

25 Mar 2026 19:13:10
Ed25 you been out in the sun too long?!

You rate Pickford over AB? !

Yeh he's a decent keeper but come on. Behave

If AB was English. he'd be between the sticks. not Pickford.

OR let's put a different spin on it. if Pickford was Brazilian. AB would still be #1

{Ed025's Note - i think Alisson is (or maybe WAS) a great keeper MR, unfortunately he seems to be a bit of a crock these days mate and his kicking game seems to have gone downhill faster than a fat kid on a slide, thats all im saying..

25 Mar 2026 19:28:40
Edd25 but Ali can polish his trophies prickford can polish three for a bob

{Ed025's Note - hes been a great keeper Albey and i have always said he was the best in the world mate...but now hes a dried up old prune im afraid.. :)

25 Mar 2026 21:01:40
I think ed025 is bored and trying to get a rise out of you all. No way he's being serious here.

{Ed025's Note - im not you know mate..i am very serious..

26 Mar 2026 09:57:50
Life is better when ED25 is about. 🥳💥🥰

{Ed025's Note - cheers mate.. :)

25 Mar 2026 13:21:25
Who should be on penalty duty once Salah leaves next season?
It's Szobo for me.

25 Mar 2026 13:35:06
I would imagine Isak, if and when fit. Szob is an excellent penalty taker, but I'd always like my main goalscorer to be taking the penos.

25 Mar 2026 13:35:09
Omg. I was just thinking that this morning.

Not sure about that. You gotta think Isak or Ekitike, whichever is on the pitch.

25 Mar 2026 13:37:00
Definitely not Curtis.

25 Mar 2026 13:37:35
Szobo makes sense, but I guess it depends who we recruit and how well they do in training.

25 Mar 2026 13:57:30
Dom all day, no question, maybe Isak in time, but right now Dom.

25 Mar 2026 14:05:24
Szobo took the pens when Salah was at AFCON. He only missed one vs Burnley, btw.

25 Mar 2026 14:07:36
I've said on here, before, I've never been confident with Mo taking pens. No one was ever going to take them off him, though!

Isak or Szob will do for me.

25 Mar 2026 14:20:37
How many he take, Oli? Be Isak for me.

25 Mar 2026 14:25:39
Same here, Rome, for someone so good his penalties were terrible.

25 Mar 2026 14:55:39
Konate? 😂

25 Mar 2026 15:00:34
Has to be Joe Gomez surely?!

25 Mar 2026 16:30:31
Whoever happens to be the best penalty taker. Who knows, it might turn out to be somebody that we sign in the summer!

25 Mar 2026 18:25:06
Forgot Isak played for us, to be honest, Robbie, but that's a good shout.

25 Mar 2026 19:13:15
If you are going to take penalties, you will miss some. Shearer holds EPL record for penalties scored, 56. Also holds record for most missed, 11.

25 Mar 2026 19:45:30
Le Tissier scored 47/48. Not bad.