Liverpool banter 5

07 Jun 2026 11:00:11
{Ed's Note - Davey Sulls has posted a new article entitled, Iraola Expectations and Liverpool Squad Priorities

07 Jun 2026 12:48:31
Minor correction. I do hope to win the league next season. I just don't expect it. 😃

07 Jun 2026 13:04:44
League's the lowest quality it's been in a generation, with the right signings, I'm quietly confident we could surprise a few people. Last season's purchases will be more accustomed, and I think they suit Iraola's style.

07 Jun 2026 13:25:41
Davey Woodmans out of contract, buddy. Be good for the club to give him a one year deal again.

07 Jun 2026 14:20:44
Nice one, Davey.

The fitness question will be about how far the base has dropped. It's been mentioned here over the years that a fitness base for high intensity can take multiple seasons to build up. I would hope our base is not that far gone and that a good pre-season can get us a decent leg of the way there.



In terms of keeping the likes of Gakpo etc around, I think the suits might think differently. They seem keen on an almost full turnover of Klopp's final group.

07 Jun 2026 17:34:57
Superb analysis there, Davey. Much appreciated!

If Iraola lets the dogs off the leash, I think so many players will benefit: Kerkez, Frimpong, Gakpo to name a few.

08 Jun 2026 07:33:42
Frimpong???? Sunday league player. If even.

07 Jun 2026 10:49:24
I reckon the Real Madrid 150 million bid Mr Perez is on about is Diomande.

07 Jun 2026 11:03:51
Isn't it about Olise?

07 Jun 2026 11:36:02
It's already been stated widely that it's Olise. Also why would they pay 150 for Diomande when he's available for around 100? Not sure overpaying for a young prospect (one who is not yet a galactico) is a good way to appeal to the Real fans when your rival is promising Haaland.

07 Jun 2026 11:39:21
When was the last time you paid 150% of a bill?

07 Jun 2026 11:49:55
KK or Olise.

07 Jun 2026 11:49:58
I read it was Kvaratschelia. Makes sense.

07 Jun 2026 12:58:20
Kvaratschelia, he's already denied it's Olise.

07 Jun 2026 14:22:04
Then Bayern can use that money when they sell Olise, to get Rio.

07 Jun 2026 20:15:00
I love the quality of the fantasists standing for election - 'When I win we will have (insert name here) and buy KK, Haaland, Olisse etc, etc, etc and they have their AI generated images and their unbridled sense of entitlement.

Basically, they just lie and make stuff up, and equally entitled idiots buy into it and actually believe them. I hope Perez is re-elected, he seems to be doing a bang up job in causing massive damage from within.

07 Jun 2026
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, Midfielders linked against Gravenberch from this season

Click picture for larger image

07 Jun 2026 10:44:22
Stats indicate Sangare would be the one to suit a deeper lying midfielder, him and Grav deep, Szob further forward, and Wirtz on the left seems a decent midfield set up.

07 Jun 2026 10:53:10
Superimpose Szob too on this, and then we can find the player who helps fill the chart the best. xD

07 Jun 2026 10:54:02
Yes, absolutely. I don't like going by stats, but "possession won" levels by Sangare are what we need in the middle.

07 Jun 2026 14:23:09
Wirtz should be nowhere near any flank, right or left. He should be where we signed him to be as in, in the no. 10 role.

07 Jun 2026 09:54:54
Excuse my ignorance, but if it's a case that Iraola wants to assess his current squad, will he not have to wait until everyone is back from the World Cup before decisions are made with regards to ins and outs? If that was the case, it would be late July before we'd make a move in the market, which doesn't leave much time to integrate new players into a new system.

Or do we think a list of targets are already at hand and are hopefully acquired by the time everyone is due back for training on the 7th (World Cup players still in the competition aside).

07 Jun 2026 10:19:59
I very much doubt we will wait until late July to start doing deals. If anything, at this point, the most important thing is to replace the players who have already left. We should only consider selling players who are desperate to leave, or if we get good offers for ones that we can replace and/or don't fit the system.

It makes sense for him to want to keep fringe players, maybe like Elliott, though, to see if he can work with them.

07 Jun 2026 10:23:45
We also need to consider selling injury prone players.

07 Jun 2026 10:24:49
@Not, why would he/we need to wait? Preseason starts whenever it starts, hence the assessment of players in general starts from that moment, if not before, depending on who is still available for the start of preseason.

Also, "Doni" can always go back and watch videos and games from last season or even the season before to get a good view of player performances when things were going well (title season) and when things weren't (last season). I don't see the issue personally.

Regarding players targeted, pretty sure the club had and continues to do its due diligence on players regardless of whether Slot was sacked or "Doni" got hired.

The wheels keep turning regardless.

For ex., Iraola wanted Diomande while at B'Mouth after a trial but the deal couldn't be done, I read on here. We are more than in for Diomande right now so whether Slot (who also wanted Diomande) is sacked or Iraola (who also wanted him at B'Mouth) is hired, nothing changed. Respectfully, I don't see the issue.

07 Jun 2026 10:53:30
Doesn't every new manager at every club say they are going to assess all players.

07 Jun 2026 10:58:05
He's been around in the league for 3 years, and played LFC at least twice a year. He's probably studied most LFC players before facing them. Not ideal to have many available after the World Cup, but it's not such an obstacle either.

07 Jun 2026 11:07:53
I don't think it's a case of him assessing main transfer targets etc. I think he's having a look at the fringe players and young lads to see who he wants in the first team and who he wants out on loan.

07 Jun 2026 11:15:47
My guess is that you're basing this post off the recent claim that the club would wait for Iraola to assess everyone before decisions were made on transfers, which is complete nonsense. First of all, the framework hasn't changed. Iraola was signed as a head coach, not a manager. Edwards still has all the power, and any talk of Iraola having power on transfers is purely PR. When it comes to potential outgoings, the players themselves will decide whether they want to leave or not.

I'm sure Iraola will want to speak to those he sees in his future plans asap, but the club will have already sounded out those who may leave, and ultimately it's the players' choice. Not to mention that the recruitment team would have been deciding on a shortlist of targets all season long, so yes, a list of targets is very much at hand and has been for some time.

07 Jun 2026 11:45:17
What's everyone's thoughts on Morgan Gibbs White, scores goals and assists, runs his heart out, and seems just what we need to drive this forward....

07 Jun 2026 11:57:13
Gibbs White does put up numbers in a struggling side, which is impressive in itself, and he's pretty versatile too. I wouldn't say no, but where does he fit in, who's place is he taking? I know Macca might be on his way, but we need a battle axe for the midfield, not another AM.

He would be a good replacement for Jones in a sense, but I can't see him making a move to play off the bench.

07 Jun 2026 12:32:57
Iraola said he's looking at everybody, esp the players who won't be at the World Cup because they'll be playing most of the pre-season games, but unlike Slot, who wouldn't hardly look at them, this manager will if they impress.

07 Jun 2026 14:01:03
Forrest quoted Man City 100 million £ last season, so he won't be cheap! (MGW)

07 Jun 2026 15:55:39
Appreciate everyone's response. I guess I'm just hopeful that Iraola will root out the dross that have been robbing a wage from the club over the last 18 months, and will be happy to tell the powers that be to wield the axe where needed, and they will get the suitable replacements in.

07 Jun 2026 09:50:49
There were some links to Diomandes international team mate B Toure not long ago. Does anyone know if we were/are genuinely interested in him?

Looks good from what I've seen (which admittedly isn't a lot) and could be more the type of signing we used to go for rather than the hyped 100 mill plus players. Gems that we can mould with less risk and price tag pressure.

07 Jun 2026 09:46:22
I watched the Anfield Wrap interview with Melissa Reddy on YouTube today on how FSG operate and how Irola was chosen ahead of Alonso. Worth a watch and Mel provides some great insights into how FSG operate.

07 Jun 2026 10:15:36
KC, I always liked Melissa Reddy when she was on Sky. She seemed like one of the only people on there to speak sense and know what she was on about.
Maybe that's why they got rid of her so we instead could listen to nonsense from Paul Merson and Clinton Morrison.

07 Jun 2026 14:02:59
When all the Journalists were supporting Slot and claiming he is here to stay, she was one of the very few that questioned Slot staying and the countless reasons he should be held accountable for this season.

07 Jun 2026 09:45:48
Great to see young Rio winning Man of the Match on his England debut at just 17. What an amazing achievement for the kid, especially when he's playing with a bunch of seasoned pros like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. And to think some people reckon we should sell him! 🤣

07 Jun 2026 10:04:20
I agree, I couldn't believe what I was reading on the site about people thinking we should sell Riot. Madness, the most promising young player coming through since Trent. Give him time and he could really develop into a top player.

07 Jun 2026 10:42:58
Some people are crazy, wanting to sell him, absolutely crazy.

07 Jun 2026 10:43:48
Rio has a very long way to go, but if he can put it all together then we've got some player on our hands.

I think Iraola is the perfect coach to help him get there.

07 Jun 2026 11:22:36
I agree, Changing, he's very raw and there's definitely holes in his game, but he has bag loads of potential and the confidence level is something you just can't train, especially at such a young age. You love to see it.

07 Jun 2026 11:46:36
Folks insisting that he's 'nothing special' forget that he's 17. His decision making, at times, is pretty suspect, and he's pretty much a non-factor off the ball, but I'd wager there aren't many wingers in the prem who would attempt the goal he scored at Fulham. Just hoping the lad keeps his head down and continues to improve. He made big strides this year.

07 Jun 2026 09:44:50
ᜰ
@markklfc
·
1h
Fan account
Virgil van Dijk on Jurgen Klopp's impact on his career:

🗣️ “Before Klopp, I was a good defender. A solid defender.

But Klopp didn't see me as what I was. He saw me as what I could become.

The moment I arrived at Liverpool, he gave me responsibility, trust and belief. Not just as a player, but as a leader.

He challenged me every day to be better, to demand more from myself and from everyone around me.

People see the trophies, the Champions League, the Premier League and the individual awards.

What they don't see are the conversations, the standards and the confidence he gave me behind the scenes.

Klopp never treated me like a £75 million signing. He treated me like the defender who could change Liverpool's future.



That belief changes everything for a player.

People say I became one of the best defenders of my generation at Liverpool.

The truth is that Klopp created an environment where I had no choice but to become one.

When people call me one of the greatest defenders the Premier League has ever seen, a huge part of that credit belongs to him.

Because great managers don't just improve players.

They make players believe they can become something bigger than they ever imagined.”

And that is what separates an average coach from a proper manager.

I believe Andoni will be much more like Klopp, and because his duties will be more focused, he will have more time and energy to improve more players.

07 Jun 2026 11:59:34
I remember in the early Klopp years, we used to count and discuss how Klopp had improved almost every player. Some became world class while others became the best they could be. It's not just VVD. For me, it's Alisson, Robertson, TAA, Henderson, Fabinho, Salah, Firmino and Mane. And some were just not interested - Keita.

08 Jun 2026 07:40:09
Agreed, ArAy. We were lucky to live through the JK era. Loved every second of it. Iconic manager. Iconic team. Iconic Anfield. The absolute highest of highs.

{Ed078's Note - every time I read his username, I hear my old man saying "aaaah, ehh!"

07 Jun 2026 09:04:04
Hoping someone can hear Reds.

I’m trying to buy tickets for the Monaco friendly for my Dad’s bday.

I have an all red account (which I’m signed into).

When you click on buy tickets it asks for more details (home address and mobile).

When I put those in it just says an account already exists.

I fecking know that, I’m logged in already!

It won’t let me go any further?

Am I missing something obvious? Happy to be shown how dense I’m being. Can someone help please?

07 Jun 2026 09:17:09
Changing must be an issue with your account as mine takes me straight to select area choose seat. Crazy how some tickets are £230 mind.

My recommend is go to contact us and live chat, mate. I've had issues in the past, and they resolve it really quick on there. Not sure if it's available on a Sunday though.

07 Jun 2026 10:47:05
Thanks JK23.

Have contacted the team through online form.

I've also learnt that I've been kicked off the season ticket waiting list after 25 years of patience! The club sent emails out forcing people to open a new all red account a few years ago with instructions to merge accounts.

I remember getting stuck in that loop back then and the result is I'll likely never get a season ticket now.

Gutted to say the least.

07 Jun 2026 12:43:20
COTG, about 8 years ago my brother who games most games was waiting for season tickets after 22 years n heard nothing, yet his friend got 2 n was only on the list for 15 odd years, he messaged them n got fobbed off but went to the ground n complained (a lot), they called him n offered him one but he argued he was down for 2 him n his boy (who is now 32 btw), eventually they relented n gave him 2.

If I was you I wouldn't let that get away with kicking you off the list n id just keep complaining.