Liverpool Discussions

14 Jan 2026 14:48:09
I am still miffed about the offside goal of last night. Not just the incident, or the commentators and pundits acting like it's the worst decision ever. But the sheer time it took to get to a decision. I understand that the semi automated offside system broke. However, did it need 5 mins of zooming in by pixel to find Haalands boot? Common sense tells you he is offside unless he miraculously cuts himself in half. Offsides should be like goal line technology where it is black and white. Yes, short term, we would lose goals but long term players would get used to it and realise the need to push out. I'd suggest some loophole where if a player is clearly out of interfering l. e. by the corner flag due to injury then you wouldn't call offside. However, allowing refs any leeway clearly backfires. We all love the sport, and watching a video with no accompanying audio doesn't help fans at home never mind those that go. Football needs to remember its main purpose is to entertain and you will never get 100% accuracy.

All fans wanted was the hand of god goals or the mistaken red cards to disappear. We don't need forensic analysis. In last nights scenario there is no possible way to say how Thiaw would react, so it's a flip of the coin. The issue there is, that the linesman is told to keep his flag down in tight decisions. So usually they'd stick to the refs decision, but with the way the law is written there is no decision to fall back on. Clear and obvious then falls by the wayside. Once a ref is told it's subjective, another issue forms, as soon as they are told it's subjective, the ref has already been influenced to side with them. They are not calling you over if there is no 'grey'. In an ideal world, I would keep VAR for offsides if the rule was black and white and a review system. 1 a team per half. 3 in a booth who all vote, if they don't agree you go with the Refs decision similar to Umpires decision in cricket.

14 Jan 2026 15:29:28
I don't think there is any controversy about that decision last night. He's clearly offside and he's clearly interfering with play. He's got hold of the defender on the line for gods sake. The only frustration is how long it took VAR to make what was a very basic decision but at least they eventually got it right.

{Ed025's Note - but if that was given against Liverpool Sean you would be screaming blue murder mate, you lot want goals given if you are a yard offside and every tackle against you a sending off, most teams are the same i suppose but the reds fans really do take the biscuit..

14 Jan 2026 07:48:08
Am I the only one not bothered about missing out on Semenyo or possibly Guehi?

{Ed078's Note - slightly more bothered about Guehi.

14 Jan 2026 08:46:19
With Guehi he's more of a need than a want.

14 Jan 2026 10:18:59
If you can't see that Semenyo would instantly improve our attack then it's up to you, Brisbane, but the fac t is he's better than all of our available wingers and it's not even close (no one can sanely argue otherwise).

14 Jan 2026 10:36:37
Better than Salah?

14 Jan 2026 13:40:42
One and a half decent seasons suddenly makes you better than Mo Salah. Wow.

14 Jan 2026 13:59:21
Going on this season alone, Semenyo has been better than Salah and it's not even close.

14 Jan 2026 14:22:59
Going on this season alone Harvey Barnes has been much better than Salah. It's not a high bar. That doesn't mean that anyone in their right mind would say Harvey Barnes is a better player than Mo Salah. You were lauding City for their signing of Marmoush last season Salah and pining after him but now they want rid of him.

That shows how quickly a player's form and stature can change. Salah has done it for nigh on 10 years.

14 Jan 2026 15:00:36
One things for sure - he would have improved us no end - pace, power and brilliant work-rate. For me he gives City an edge in the title race and he would have given us a massive boost in getting CL (something I still think we'll do but it won't be an easy run in ) I also think Mo coming back will also give us a boost - he's still a focal point for us and if he's got some form behind him we could be a FA cup or CL dark horse.

14 Jan 2026 15:21:37
Agree with you, 100%, Salah.

14 Jan 2026 16:52:11
Still wouldn't be surprised in the slightest to see Salah finish the season with more goals than Semenyo.

14 Jan 2026 00:30:35
My wife left the house just before kick-off and offered a kindness that proved entirely misplaced. "It's only Barnsley, she said, at least you'll enjoy this one. " She returned after the final whistle, saw the score, smiled, "4-1, that's more like it. " She couldn't have been more wrong. I'm getting told how much of a negative "wet wipe" I'm becoming on here, but I just say it as I see, I don't know any other way. This was a miserable watch if you care about Liverpool beyond the raw arithmetic of goals. Entertaining for neutrals, uplifting for Barnsley, but for anyone invested in what this side is supposed to be, it was another evening of sterile control and emotional vacancy. The goals were all excellent, strikes of technique and clarity, but they arrived as isolated acts of brilliance rather than the product of pressure, tempo, or conviction. Once again, Liverpool dominated the ball and once again did very little with it that felt purposeful or repeatable. This is what possession has become under Slot: slow, stagnant, endlessly recycled, stripped of threat. Gakpo has drifted into becoming the emblem of it all. I hate singling him out, especially playing out of position, but he now represents everything that drains the life from this team: ponderous touches, safe decisions, no fire, no urgency, no sense of demanding the game.

SlotBall in human form. Chiesa looks exactly like a player who has been frozen out and then blamed for the cold. He is off the pace, short of confidence, and visibly disconnected. That did not happen in a vacuum. This is what happens when a footballer is treated as an afterthought and then judged as if nothing preceded it. Nyoni's situation borders on farce. He travels the country to warm benches and is tossed five minutes against a League One side as if that counts as development. That is not management; it's neglect dressed up as patience. Ramsey does not play at all, even with a season-ending injury at right back. Instead, we're told it's a problem while a possible solution sits unused. Szoboszlai is shoved there, hates it, and everyone pretends this makes sense. Chiesa, Ramsey, and Endo all occupy non-homegrown squad places, and the manager has no appetite to use any of them. That is not a coincidence; it's a planning failure. If that does not alarm you, nothing will. Four goals, progression, and a deepening sense that Liverpool are sleepwalking through their own season. The scoreline flatters, the performance deceives, and enjoyment has quietly left the building. Burnley next, wonder how Parker sets them up.

14 Jan 2026 05:07:18
Agree with your sentiments AW. It isn't enjoyable watching us now 3vwn though the results say otherwise. However, I don't see Slot being sacked anytime soon now because of the results. If he wasn't sacked for losing 9 games in, then he won't be sacked for the unbeaten run we are on now. That's the reality of it despite how much people want him gone. The best we can hope for is that we are in a CL spot at the end of the season, the club does a review, and we let him go after that.

Barring a huge collapse, I don't think we would let him go before the. But just wanted to ask too, you mentioned that "I'm getting told how much of a negative "wet wipe" I'm becoming on here" but your account is new with only two posts so far. So what was your previous account that you used before this?

14 Jan 2026 13:53:18
That is the most biased view I have ever seen AW and I didn't even read all of it. You talk about Chiesa as if he was prime Messi before we bought him and Slot has destroyed him from the inside out. Nothing could be further from the truth. Juve couldn't wait to get shot of him because he was injury prone and ineffective. Then when he's ineffective for us it's all Slot's fault? Come on man, it's much more likely that he's just not at the required level which is why Slot is so reluctant to play him. What makes you think Ramsey is good enough? And Endo just coming back from a month out injured should just be chucked back in? I'm not happy with Slot this season but some of the flack he's taking is just ridiculous.

People are making stuff up just so they can have a pop at him, we are at a stage where he literally can't do anything right in some people's eyes. I'm not against replacing Slot by the way but let's be fair to the guy. He put out a strong side to win the game and he did just that. It's not the first time in our history or any other big club's history that a lower league team has raised their game and caused problems and it won't be the last. We were a bit sloppy and complacent at times but ultimately got the job done. Just stop with all the negativity and Slot bashing it's really getting hard to read now.

14 Jan 2026 15:24:16
Couldn't have put it better myself, Sean.

14 Jan 2026 00:30:10
Any update as to what's happening in regards contracts. Robbo 2026 Konate 2026 Rhys Williams 2026 Alisson 2027 Virg 2027 Gomez 2027 Jones 2027 Endo 2027 Bajectic 2027 Salah 2027.

14 Jan 2026 14:17:58
Jones has had preliminary discussions about a new contract, extension talks between him and the club won't take long. This is his club as he reminded me recently 😂.

14 Jan 2026 15:27:12
I'd be surprised if Rhys Williams gets offered a 5 year extension. I'm reliably informed the Rose and Crown are after a centre back for their second team, if he's willing to fight for his place.

13 Jan 2026 21:47:13
Samenyo already banging them in for Citeh. Early days I know but I think he would have been ideal for us. Pace, Physical, Powerful and proven in the Premier League and scores goals and provides assists.

He can play any position along the front 3 and is something different and what we need to break down teams that defend deep. I have a feeling we are going to regret this one 😩 but hope I'm proven wrong.

14 Jan 2026 09:39:31
I don't think you'll be proven wrong at all. As a matter of fact i think Semenyo wins City the league this season!

13 Jan 2026 16:46:25
In recent times it seems we are leaning towards making no signings, in this window, which is strange considering there is definitely a need for reinforcements. Maybe this is a sign Hughes will be getting replaced and he is not trusted to spend anymore money. We have made some really good signings but the squad lacks balance.

13 Jan 2026 18:55:07
I'm not sure KD7. I agree the squad lacks balance but I also think it was always going to take more than one summer window to complete the rebuild from Klopp's ageing squad to a new era. The winter window is notoriously difficult we should not just buy players because we need reinforcements. We need to target the right players and if they're not available now we need to wait. Yes it might mean we don't finish where we all wanted to this season but it will give us more chance of long term success.

That is one major thing we learned under Klopp. He was always willing to wait for the right man and built a formidable team over 3 years. The summer window was amazing but we are not there yet. It might take another couple of summers until we have everyone in place but when we do I think we'll take some stopping.

13 Jan 2026 18:58:02
In fairness we had 2 RB's,4 CB's,2 LB's,7 MF options,3 senior players and Rio as wing options and 2 CF's. Now you could say it was risky to rely on certain players because of their injury history or whether some players are good enough but as far as numbers go we were covered.

Probably a bit light on the wings but Salah never misses a game so that should have been fine. And like you said we made some really good signings.

13 Jan 2026 22:26:43
City doing their rebuild over three / four windows, and are close to conclusion but still not the team they were despite continuity with Pep. They're getting back up to a good level though. If you think of our contract expiries and ageing players, as well as a system change, I'd expect another three windows including this one as we're not getting much done in Jan by the look of it.

For a full compliment we need two first choice CBs, a RB, a LW and a CDM, maybe a keeper or two. That's at least six new players. Outgoings maybe only three or four at most that would raise much money, maybe Macca, Gakpo, Mo, the reserve keeper.

14 Jan 2026 01:01:45
If we sell Mo who plays rw? But you lost me when you said we need a rb. Frimpong was bought for rb and odd cover of Mo if needed not a rw.

14 Jan 2026 05:12:45
City aren't exactly doing a rebuild though. They are just splashing the cash over and over again. They bought Marmoush to replace Mahrez last January and they now have bought Semenyo to replace Marmoush. Their system is more throwing money at things and see what sticks. None of the players they bought last year to "solidify their position in the league" are starting now and I think Victor Reis has even left the club on loan to one of their sister clubs.

Marmoush has been replaced and Khusanov is sat in the bench, waiting for City to buy another CB to replace him. Nico Ginzalez is at least a squad option for them though so at least they got that right.

14 Jan 2026 06:36:09
Frimpong isn't a RB John. Connor is unlikely to play more than 20 games a season. City are rebuilding, it may look haphazard but that's exactly what they're doing.

14 Jan 2026 06:54:14
I think if we miss out on Guehi it will be comparable to losing out on Pallister back in the day to Man Utd. We have clearly missed the boat on Semenyo so I hope. common sense prevails.

13 Jan 2026 16:33:30
Maybe I am being petty, but I hate how Slot handled Sobos backheel discussion during the post match interview. Bransely's manager label it as disrespectful and Slot more or less agress with him. In hindsight it was a stupid move, however there was no passing option. He could have cleared the ball. I believe that backhell was for van dijk, which would have been good move, and only move to comfortably retain the ball.

Last week he was quick to defend Martinelli, and now he treat sobo like it. I am not against criticizing sobo, but that could have been done behind the door- especially in a situation when opposition labels his as disrespectful. That's a rubbish man management.

13 Jan 2026 18:18:56
Personally I think if he was trying to do a backheel in his own 6 yard box it was totally disrespectful and unprofessional, he would not have done that in a Premier League game.

13 Jan 2026 18:59:01
I think he was very kind to Dom.

13 Jan 2026 19:08:04
I disagree with all of that whoareyou96. Szob just needed to keep running in the direction he was facing and he could've passed it to Frimpong or cleared it up the line. The backheel was not on, whether it was for the keeper or VVD it was a ridiculously risky move. Szob had looked complacent all game, not even celebrating a worldy like it was a training match. I don't care what Barnsley's manager thought about it and I don't know why he would have an issue. The only way they could've got anything from the game is if we were disrespectful and complacent. Lower league teams count on it in these games. If the premier league team is on it and switched on they would batter a league one team every single time, it wouldn't even be exciting.

Slot handled it very well, he was obviously annoyed because he would've been telling the players about the dangers of complacency all week and then one of his players did that. He must've been fuming but rather than slate Szob on TV he kept it in house like he absolutely should. This is just another example of someone finding a way to have a go at Slot. If he'd criticised Szob, you'd have said he was wrong and it was poor man management, if he'd backed him, you'd have said he's rewarding complacency. He did exactly the right thing in saying nothing and dealing with it privately.

13 Jan 2026 19:08:11
Slot has a habit of throwing his players under the bus. I remember him saying something about Frimpong too and others. Perhaps he should admit to his own failings from time to time. If my Boss threw me under a boss then I know I wouldn't want to run through a wall for them.

{Ed025's Note - that would depend if the boss was male or female for me KP.. :)

13 Jan 2026 19:11:19
Slot was spot on with what he said. Szobo could have kept the ball and dribbled out or passed it out to the right side. What he chose to do was the kind of idiotic thing you would expect from players like Antony or Richarlison.

13 Jan 2026 19:19:55
@ED025 ;-)

13 Jan 2026 21:18:11
If you listen to the Barnsley boss' interview he says he wasn't happy with it and Dom wouldn't have done it in the league or champs (names a number of clubs) The reporter is the one who throws the word disrespectful in, which he then agrees to.

The word wouldn't have been mentioned if it wasn't for the reporter creating the line and narrative. A lapse of judgement which everyone is prone to in life. Dom puts it behind him and moves on.

14 Jan 2026 01:06:05
A lapse of judgement? If konate had done it imagine the uproar on here? He was trying to be a smart arse imo giving it the big one.

13 Jan 2026 13:29:20
Nice to see Conor Hourihane having a dig at Dom for being 'disrespectful'.

Hourihane would've never done anything like that when he played of course. Mainly cos he was too lazy to track back in the first place.

13 Jan 2026 16:03:48
'Disrespectful' is berating the 4th official to the point where the ref needs to come and book you.

13 Jan 2026 12:59:21
Just seen a German reporter saying candidate to take over Real Madrid.
What would happen then who would win that battle the players or manager because if they did not like Alonso work ethic how would they deal with Klopps.

13 Jan 2026 12:22:44
I think a key consideration on when/ if to pull the trigger on Slot is who might be available in the summer if we hold our guns.

Alonso is an interesting one that has come up earlier than expected.

However, if there's an indication that an elite manager could be obtainable at the end of the season (Enrique eg). Wouldn't it be wise to explore those options.

After this season, we don't want any more turmoil and need to get this next appointment absolutely right if Slot is to go.

13 Jan 2026 11:40:09
Morning Eds and anyone else.

With the summer being a possible manager merry-go-round what is your opinion on Eddie How's Managerial abilities?

Do you think he could do a job with a stellar club and does there seem to be a time in the near future when he wants to be at a club with the chance to spend some £ without the constraints he has now?
Or is he nailed on for England after the WC?

He seems a really good man manager and seems to be able to get players to invest in his way of playing?

This might of been brought up before so apologies if so

Thanks.

{Ed025's Note - i like him you know Bristol, i would love him at Everton because not only is he an Evertonian but i like his style of football as well mate, but as you say i think his future may be the next England Manager role..

13 Jan 2026 12:06:41
Thanks Ed 👍

What about with a Steller club though mate 😉.

{Ed025's Note - you cheeky sod.. :)

13 Jan 2026 11:28:13
Is there anything in the rumour linking us with a move for Bergvall from Spurs?

{Ed025's Note - i wouldn,t think so Kie, but only for one specific factor mate..hes absolutely crap..

13 Jan 2026 14:04:22
Are we sure he's crap? He's playing at Spurs and that would make anyone look bad right now.

{Ed025's Note - take my word for it Kie...im very seldom wrong mate.. :)