Liverpool banter 10

07 Oct 2026 19:01:00
Which one past player would fans choose that would improve or transform this team. Just one player that you'd think would make the greatest improvement to what we have.
I'll go with Alonso.

07 Oct 2026 19:07:38
Which Alonso?
Marcus Alonso? Too slow for Premier League.

07 Oct 2026 19:25:55
Prime Mo Salah.

07 Oct 2026 19:39:38
Souness.

07 Oct 2026 19:44:15
Yea Robbie prime Mo Salah 🤴🏻, will never ever so no to that!
Miss seeing him week in week out.

07 Oct 2026 19:52:48
Sorry Mr Funk, I misread the original post.

Didn't read "past" player.

So I'd go with Ian Rush. A bona fide goal machine. Who presses relentlessly.
I was tempted to go for The King but in this team I think a goal machine would transform it.

07 Oct 2026 20:37:43
Fabinho or Darwin Nunez - it's a coin toss.

07 Oct 2026 20:41:55
I thought Mo Salah but without midfield, I feel like Alonso improves the entire machine.

07 Oct 2026 20:57:48
Gerrard. It's not open to debate.

07 Oct 2026 22:25:17
I think the man needed now is a Souness or a McMahon. Sick and tired of reading about our "soft midfield" ever since Fabinho left.

07 Oct 2026 22:42:26
Mascherano.

07 Oct 2026 22:28:25
100% Gerrard. I agree Rome it's not even up for debate.

He'd massively improve any team in the Premier League and probably even Europe in today's game.

He might not have won the trophies of a Rush or Dalglish but he was a better player than both and I love both, especially Dalglish.

I really don't think Alonso is on the same planet as Gerrard.

07 Oct 2026 22:50:56
God would be unstoppable.

07 Oct 2026 23:42:07
Fabinho Fabinho Fabinho.

08 Oct 2026 02:16:27
The team would be an awful lot better with Fabinho playing behind he who must not be named according to @666 😉

There are loads of 'better' players than Fabs, but in the context of the current team he would be the best. No debate required 😉.

{Ed666's Note - ha ha..I would have gravy playing deeper and not let him go past the halfway line and everyone he does he gets docked 6 months wages and then our midfield would improve exponentially and then have King Kenny supplying the bullets to Isak and Barcola..Don’t forget Kenny was no slouch as a Villa scorer himself..and who better than the king to educate Florian?

08 Oct 2026 06:32:44
With our current team and the lack of some well needed grit in midfield it has to be fabinho if we had a proper hard 6 already then i'd say Gerrard or a prime Salah but its Fabs all day long for me its what the current team is crying out for big time.

{Ed666's Note - How are people looking past King Kenny Dalglish???

08 Oct 2026 07:00:51
Gerrard, the best midfielder I have ever seen play.
Suarez as a wildcard, unplayable and never injured.

{Ed666's Note - Dalglish would us win the premiership!

08 Oct 2026 08:17:17
In this team: Souness.
He could do what Fabinho did and pass like Gerrard.

08 Oct 2026 09:23:28
Gerrard or Suarez.

08 Oct 2026 10:03:19
Prime Mo Salah or Luis Suarez.

08 Oct 2026 10:34:08
Souness every day. Heart says the King, but head says prime Souness would boss the midfield and be captain and bust anyone who didn't meet the standards required.

08 Oct 2026 10:56:01
That's a big statement Rio to say that Gerrard was a better player than either Dalglish and Rush. I'm only assuming that you never saw them playing week in and out.

Gerrard was indeed a brilliant player and a certainty in our all time 11 but those other two boys were head and shoulders above everybody else to have played for LFC and there's zero debate about that!

08 Oct 2026 11:19:51
Can you all stop saying "and there can be no debate about it/that". Very clearly, there is.! 😁.

08 Oct 2026 12:25:36
That's debatable ArAy.

08 Oct 2026 12:31:12
Souness, by a mile. Either him or Effenberg. This team needs a midfield general that demands the best from their teammates, and backs it up with their own great performances.

08 Oct 2026 13:04:20
You won't get any argument on that @ArAy.

08 Oct 2026 13:25:48
For me Gerrard was brilliant, he carries us for years and he stood out in a team of decent players.

Kenny and Rush stood out in a team of great players, multiple championship winners, multiple European cup winners and those 2 stood out.

I'd pick Rushie because we create a lot of chances already and he would be banging them in for us.

08 Oct 2026 13:38:20
I say no debate, ArAy, because I'm a self opionated git!

08 Oct 2026 13:46:54
To be fair, Rio's meant Gerrard was a better player than both Paul Dalglish and Jennifer Rush.

08 Oct 2026 15:44:07
ArAy, there can be no debate about your comment.

08 Oct 2026 15:51:52
Effenberg? Effenberg??? Of all the players to have ever played professional football who picks Stefan Effenberg?

08 Oct 2026 16:11:08
Has to be Souness.

08 Oct 2026 16:38:11
I think for THIS TEAM, what is needed Souness would sort it out.

08 Oct 2026 16:51:14
Yes, Effenberg, the CL-winning captain of an excellent Bayern team? What a daft retort, Fifth Element.

08 Oct 2026 17:33:20
Any player from history, even non-Liverpool players?

I'd always choose Diego Maradona.

08 Oct 2026 07:21:27
But if we took in daglish ed666 we would have to leave out wirtz!😂.

{Ed666's Note - please see my answer above 🤣

08 Oct 2026 10:05:54
But ye couldn't play King Kenny Instead of Wirtz Ed. King Kenny's not the"profile"of player Florian needs around him to help him flourish.

{Ed666's Note - I knew this would happen 🤣🤣

09 Oct 2026 09:01:17
@ShanklysGhost are you discounting Billy Liddell or Elisha Scott?

I think you meant Kenny and Rushie were the best you have seen, which isn't the same as the best to ever play for LFC.

09 Oct 2026 09:33:02
I did see Rush and Dalglish play Shankly's I started going to games in 1983 and grew up with the number 7 on my back.

Dalglish is my all time hero, not just for the player he was but for the great man he is. He is the King, that's undisputed and will always be Liverpool's greatest ever because of what he achieved as a player and a manager and the way he supported the families and fans through Hillsborough.

Perhaps it's because it was different generations and football was very different in the 80's compared to the 2000's but I do believe on a football level Gerrard was a better player.

Dalglish had a great team around him but Gerrard never did and made it all happen pretty much on his own. He was freak of nature and we'll never see the likes of him again he's the best player the Premier League has ever seen. Only Henry comes close.

I still love Dalglish and Rush and both were great players but in my opinion Gerrard was a better player he just didn't have the opportunity to play in a great team.

07 Oct 2026 01:27:22
Andoni Iraola was spotted running the line on Sunday morning for his daughter's team.

Honestly, I don't think I have ever wanted to see a manager succeed more than this man.

07 Oct 2026 05:20:52
Isn't that just normal dad stuff?

07 Oct 2026 06:19:23
The number of people who do normal dad stuff is saddeningly low, especially those who have a small amount of time off from very high pressure jobs. The man has a couple of free saturdays, and that being how he chooses to spend one is very respectable.

{Ed666's Note - I’d be looking at the left backs that were playing. Either one would do a better job than our incumbent.

07 Oct 2026 06:54:08
Very disappointing. should be using his free time properly.
I'd much prefer to see my manager raving in ibiza for 3 weeks with ozempic Rooney.
Where's the game gone!?

07 Oct 2026 08:18:11
Didn't think Iraola did days off🤔.

07 Oct 2026 09:12:22
Flo, I see what you did there, lol. The only thing i'm going to say is that the int'l break have days of within it and they are for managers, as well.

Even for players who weren't selected by their national teams.

07 Oct 2026 09:22:46
I know Oli. But this time is meant to be spent watching videos with Gomez and Ramsey. Oh wait 😁.

07 Oct 2026 09:37:51
Not all dads alvy I think there's been a big switch last 10ish years to have a more active involvement at home and not just leave it to the mums. saying that I do have some friends that get lifts lists for the young kids from the mums when they go out absolutely blows my mind they need direction to actually just look after there kids.

I have a high pressure job but absolutely refuse to work past 1730 and never work at weekends, that time is to spend with my son and wife same as the evenings.

07 Oct 2026 09:59:28
It is normal dad stuff.

It's nice to see the Head Coach of England's greatest football club doing normal Dad stuff.

07 Oct 2026 10:10:16
As long as it's not in Amsterdam😁.

07 Oct 2026 10:56:38
Must've been rough

I seen him at Amnesia closing party Saturday Night off his nut.

07 Oct 2026 13:02:01
I know it's tough, but someday you'll learn to let go, Florian. What happened to "the minute he's gone, I'll move on? ".

07 Oct 2026 13:14:27
Nice one, Flo. We may have had our disagreements last season but you're alright, mate.

Never lose your sense of humour, btw.

Peace and Love.

07 Oct 2026 13:57:47
Oh man, Oli. Are we seeing another "budding bromance"? Last season it was you and JK23. 😂.

07 Oct 2026 14:14:23
Apparently he flagged Darwin Nunez offside five times.
In the first half.

07 Oct 2026 14:53:06
Ah only a bit of craic Chewy. I love Andoni he'll do well. Loves me a chuckle at a bit of hypocrisy that's all 😁.

07 Oct 2026 14:57:01
I got roped in to kids footy, it gets a grip of you. ended up getting level 2 badges before I spewed it became a glorified baby sitter. Great days tho.

07 Oct 2026 15:27:45
Andoni Iraola was spotted in his house eating roast beef with yorkshire puddings.
What a guy!

07 Oct 2026 15:53:09
What your beef, ArAy1969?

Feeling a lil' bit left out, perhaps?

Okay, fine. Here's a hug.

07 Oct 2026 15:53:15
Just in case nobody noticed, this is all evidence of no Liverpool football since 2 weeks. It will reach fever pitch by Sunday. 😂.

07 Oct 2026 17:00:09
You say fever pitch ArAy but every time for bloody ages we've come back from international break and been crap.

07 Oct 2026 10:30:40
I thought Kerkez played well vs Bournemouth Ed666. Jury is still out for me and he can be upgraded on, but I think I'd like to give him till the end of the season (before i make my mind up on him) since he has shown signs of improving.

Either way, we do need a LB as it's good to have competition for the spot, but I think there are other positions which are of more priority. Right Wing being one of them since we don't even have one.

{Ed666's Note - how many times has Kerkez stood out to you mate? I was a massive fan of his at Bournemouth but we clearly got the Ali Baba/Temu version..is there mitigation for his poor form? Maybe you could argue Gakpo didn’t pass to him last season when he was overlapping but his defending hasn’t been exemplary at any point. We have no threat from him in an attacking sense, his crosses are abject and for me he’s just not an intelligent footballer. Robbo to Kerkez is a massive downgrade. Like you I’m willing to give him till the end of the season and hope AI can make him the player he was at Bournemouth.

07 Oct 2026 17:34:48
Doesn't sound like you are willing to give Kerkez till the end of the season to be honest.

07 Oct 2026 22:12:14
Oli, the hug is accepted, but it has to be timed to under 3 seconds. I don't want to interfere with your ongoing bromances. 😂.

07 Oct 2026 22:13:39
Kloppers, that's the God awful damned truth. 😩.

07 Oct 2026 19:04:35
Ed666 - Cool. I thought that i was the only one who thought Kerkez is way, way, way over rated. So many posters saying, "he did all right", "getting better". He's is not. He is our weak link.

Quite simply, he is not good enough in nearly every attribute. That's not a comment on the man, that's a comment on the player. And, "no", i don't think that he'll improve.

{Ed666's Note - I agree he’s been dogshit mate. So many people on Florian’s back for being ineffective but giving Kerkez a get out of jail card. I really hope he improves because him playing like Bournemouth Kerkez would only help supply to Isak which clearly means more goals..lets hope he makes us eat humble pie on Sunday..

08 Oct 2026 15:31:44
ArAy1969, 3 seconds? Nah, you're not that special.

06 Oct 2026 20:47:06
Been away, and only now seen some of the responses to my thoughts on how agents SHOULD work. I had a request to DM PitchtoScript poster - I have no idea how to engineer that, and give them direct advice?

I was also quite keen to connect with TheFields re his thoughts on investing in certain agencies.

Sorry for the boring post - just not sure how to privately connect with those two.

06 Oct 2026 19:20:44
Just read a brief story here on BBC about Pat and Dave Hughes in a hospice in St. Joseph in Sefton who recently celebrated their diamond anniversary, Pat a Red, and Dave a Blue! I immediately thought of our own Ed025 who's been brilliant in the pages over the years, except of course for when Everton play Liverpool!

Keep up the good work, Ed025! We love you here! YNWA.

06 Oct 2026 15:59:56
Jacquet, isak, gakpo and probably Alisson (flu) out of city game it seems.

Vvd has played every Netherland game as has szobo for Hungary.

We will be pretty knackered.

06 Oct 2026 20:51:45
Jacquet, Isak and Alisson will all play in my opinion.

06 Oct 2026 20:55:33
The Nations Nonsense League needs to be disbanded, absolute joke of a competition.

06 Oct 2026 22:58:39
Yeah and they should give the PL the flick too, 38 games and so many injuries .

07 Oct 2026 09:13:31
I agree, MKS. Gakpo on the other hand? I highly doubt it.

07 Oct 2026 10:00:02
The Flu is no joke.

07 Oct 2026 13:17:07
Faith, I fully agree on that esp. if it is a stomach flu.

Seriously, hoping he and the rest will be fine for the game even tho, Gakpo seems to be out.

07 Oct 2026 13:23:02
WDW, it's a complete and utter dogsh*t competition, the format makes about as much sense as a chocolate teapot, the whole thing is totally irrelevant and piles a huge amount of extra pressure on players to up performances with increased intensity and output, further contributing to risk of injuries.

There's been amassive increase in the number of players coming away with injuries during international breaks since the Nonsense League started.

07 Oct 2026 20:41:54
Agree with you @Chewy. I was looking at the Nations tables and have no idea about the qualifying for the finals whenever they are. Just another money spinner for whoever runs it - I assume UEFA but don't really know or care.

06 Oct 2026 17:28:48
UEFA waiting to stick the boot in now! Interesting times.

06 Oct 2026 17:49:15
And they should. if Citybwerencheating financially in the PL, it would have overflowed unto the Uefa comps as well.

07 Oct 2026 00:24:45
I thought Uefa did find City guilty of the same offences but couldn't do anything because it was time barred. I doubt the PL findings and verdict would change anything with Uefa too.

07 Oct 2026 15:51:17
Rebel, and i'm here for all of that, personally.

05 Oct 2026 20:33:23
Dear members, serious question please. What is the path forward/advice for young players like Cavan Sullivan (the top rated youth player in the U. S.) at Manc? Will they have legal precedent to asked to be released contracts? Cheers, YNWA.

05 Oct 2026 21:55:45
If I was a young player at City right now I'd be thinking I could get my opportunity really soon.

05 Oct 2026 22:05:31
Cavan Sullivan isn't a Manchester City player.

05 Oct 2026 23:21:03
@Fifth, Sullivan has a agreement to join City in 2027 fro Philadelphia. I'm just asking what educated opinions are here if he wanted to get out of that although early reports in the Athletic are he is still on track to join, we all know that could change.

{Ed666's Note - I think this is an unprecedented happening in British football and everything’s up in the air. Literally anything could happen and not even Rasputin in his prime could predict what’s going to happen. What I will say is say with a degree of certainty is that some of the city squad will probably be questioning their futures

06 Oct 2026 03:03:42
From an agent friend of mine -

In the event city are found guilty and the appeal fails all their players will find it legally permissable to break their contracts and leave for free without any penalties due an implied trust aspect of all contracts, that trust being both parties will not do something to damage the others agreement, trust or image. Contracts have been broken for far less.

{Ed666's Note - That’s a set of Bosmans on steroids! Imagine what Haaaland will get a week on a Bosman? Eye watering

06 Oct 2026 06:33:19
Are there any clubs who would be able to pay Haaland what he's earning now, much less more than that? We could still see an exodus of players leaving the club however.

There could be players who'd be willing to stay on too. As we saw with Juventus when they were relegated, they managed to go up the very next season due to the quality of players who stayed behind. But the loyalty Del Piero, Buffon, and Nedved showed back then isn't the kind of loyalty I'd expect the City players to show now.

06 Oct 2026 09:21:40
The difference with Juve is that there's a strong indication that the football league may not let City join if they're found guilty and expelled from the Premier League as they would consider the decision from the Premier League stands for them because they have similar rules. So City may have to start again in non league football. Can't see many staying for that.

06 Oct 2026 09:36:30
My prediction:

The charges will be upheld
City will negotiate with the PL over punishment in return for dropping further legal action.
All but a few players will play out their contracts.

06 Oct 2026 10:16:22
Fifteen PL clubs would have to vote for City to be expelled from the PL. There is a chance that that won't happen.
That's just the PL. The other seventy two teams in the EFL would also vote on whether to allow City to join it.
Would that happen?

06 Oct 2026 10:42:24
I believe the 15 PL clubs could vote to expel them but I don't think the EFL will automatically admit them.

I don't think that punishment will be considered simply because of City's owners connections.

It'll be a moderate points penalty every year for several years. It'll won't automatically relegate them.

06 Oct 2026 10:43:36
Really can't see City ending up in non-league because of all this. Big points deduction, but let's face it even with a 50 points deduction there's every chance City could stay up.

06 Oct 2026 11:45:43
I agree with Ron.
They will negotiate a points penalty that will see them relegated for one season. They will pay a fine which will be used to compensate the losses of other teams and cover the PL legal expenses ( probably in the region of £300m). Maybe some of the bosses will fail the fit and proper test and will be replaced.

06 Oct 2026 12:25:00
Fingers crossed Vik, but I don't think they will get the punishment they deserve.

06 Oct 2026 13:39:55
I think they should be expelled. If they don't like the rules they agreed to playing in the PL, then don't play in it. Just my opinion.

06 Oct 2026 13:53:49
Woah. All I can say is that this is all one ton (it's clearly not a can) full of worms.

The permutations are endless.

I'm actually wondering if the PL will consult the other teams in the EPL before handing out the decrees. I guess they don't have to and not obliged to, but it would be in the PL's interest to get past this scandal asap, and avoid as much blowback as possible afterwards. I would be curious to know what the teams that were most affected would say (if they are consulted). I suppose there is some honour amongst "thieves", but even then we are talking about millions here, not to mention the livelihoods that were changed as a result of the perpetual cheating.

06 Oct 2026 15:01:42
Not many things I would take from American sport but perhaps one would be tying the club contracts to the Governing Body. I. e. club breach of Premier League or FA rules is breach of employment contract, meaning the player can leave on a free.

Very similar rules in the NFL, NBA etc. Might also mean no further repeats of City's behaviour because it is far too much of a risk.

06 Oct 2026 09:43:28
Indeed, Ed666. This is the biggest scandal in football history (imo) and since there is no precedent for it at any level, this could go in any direction.

That being said if the PL does it's job (as they have been doing and credit to them) then, the punishment should be very, very severe and will serve as a deterrent to any club/owner who even begins to imagine how he/they can do this.

PL? Over to you.

{Ed666's Note - if City are found guilty by the independent appeal committee I expect them to fight tooth and nail so I doubt there will be any resolution anytime soon unless they take a plea. I think this saga will rumble on for a while yet.

06 Oct 2026 18:53:42
Cheers to all for the responses!

07 Oct 2026 08:04:24
Shouldn't the vote (if one is deemed as required) to expel City from the PL cover all the team who played in the PL in the years covered by the charges? Just a thought.

07 Oct 2026 08:20:06
What would be a very, very severe punishment?

07 Oct 2026 17:46:21
@Rigsby - all the other PL chairmen get to give the Man City Chairman Chinese burns.

07 Oct 2026 20:45:21
Steady @Ron, did you mean 'Oriental burns'? Racial stereotyping is a bit of a hot topic (😉) at the moment.

05 Oct 2026 16:04:25
I'm reading that both Isak & Gakpo will miss the City game - at least! Hope that doesn't put their form back. They have both made positive starts to the season.

05 Oct 2026 22:20:28
Where are you reading that? Gakpo will likely miss it, but everything I've read has said Isak should be fine.

06 Oct 2026 00:20:57
I hope you're right Fornax. I was reading an article about Ngumoha, and it was mentioned in that.

Looks like JJ will be missing too.

06 Oct 2026 09:44:36
KBL based on what I have read, Isak should be fine and he has been receiving treatment at Anfield for the past 10 days as he did not play the last two games for Sweden.

06 Oct 2026 11:58:09
Cheers Oli. That would be good news.

06 Oct 2026 14:41:37
No qualms, KBL. That would be good news indeed.

06 Oct 2026 15:03:43
Isak will be fine. Generally things don't come from Sweden in one piece but fortunately there was a few handy diagrams in the flat-pack so we've managed to put him together.

05 Oct 2026 20:48:41
Jacquet is injured today that's bad news for our next game.

05 Oct 2026 23:24:49
Hammy apparently. Those are usually multiple weeks. What a abomination this long, senseless, International window is so soon after the summer!

{Ed666's Note - from what I read it’s not a pull it’s just sore/tight so he maybe ok for the weekend? I think not starting for France was precautionary.

06 Oct 2026 09:46:36
Nah, he'll be fine. I saw the first France/Belgium game and while the interviews were happening on the pitch, I caught a glimpse of Jax limping in the background.

As Ed said, I think he will be okay as he didn't even play last night in the return leg.

06 Oct 2026 12:26:45
Agreed Kaiser, I think it's an absolute disgrace, and for a mickey mouse tournament too, it should be disbanded.

06 Oct 2026 14:43:07
Exactly, Chewy. These are glorified friendlies masquerading as some prestigious tournament.

06 Oct 2026 08:03:50
I hope so Ed666. I really dislike these international breaks so soon in to the new domestic season. There has just been the longest World Cup in history finishing not 12 weeks ago and now we have more games. No wonder top players are injured so often.

{Ed666's Note - JJ out for 3 weeks!!!

06 Oct 2026 17:51:44
Glad to hear others complaining about internationals. I really don't see the point of these ever. Let them practice a few weeks before a tournament once the season is over. None of these team show any chemistry or tactical cohesion that warrant multiple season interrupting breaks every year.

It's a complete waste of time and energy on behalf of everyone involved. Additionally, who even watches these? Seriously what is the point?

06 Oct 2026 18:55:41
@chewy, until the players and federations standup against this it will not end.

06 Oct 2026 18:58:27
Snuggle, I'm not anti International football. The Euro's and World Cup are still the most watched sporting events in the world (along with CL Final) and I like rooting for countries and good football. But this 3 week window non sense just after a long summer is just asinine!