Liverpool banter 8

24 Jul 2026 17:25:36
I am reasonably calm and patient on the transfer front and really looking forward to see what Iraola brings tactically and getting the best out of players.
What really concerns me is our total lack of a physical, mobile midfielder.


Seeing all our competitors for the top 4 strengthen their midfields with such players is a big worry.
Control the midfield and everything else is easier.
We were over run in midfield in virtually every game last season.
It needs strengthening.

24 Jul 2026 19:40:40
Try to remember that Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Endo, Elliott, Gravenberch, McConnell and Bajcetic were all utilised in midfield whilst Klopp was the manager. If they're aggressive and mobile enough for a Klopp midfield, maybe the players weren't the problem last season? I think a lot of why our midfielders looked so immobile and soft was quite simply down to Slot's tactics and coaching.

24 Jul 2026 20:12:52
Agreed, MK, Slot would have made prime 70's Brazil look awful.

24 Jul 2026 20:25:51
MK, I almost always agree with your intelligent posts, but this time I must disagree.

The idea that Slot, after winning us a very rare title, was solely responsible for our malaise last season is for the birds. We need to temper our expectations: we are likely to struggle an awful lot first half of the season.



It took Jurgen considerable time to make us contenders, and we need to be patient with AI. I just fear that the expectation that he will turn an underperforming squad into worldies will lead to disappointment.

We will lose many games early on, and we will have to be patient while AI gets his ideas across.

24 Jul 2026 20:28:49
Dom is a mobile, aggressive midfielder. Not sure he needs replacing?

I think Wharton would be an upgrade on Mac - but I suspect Mac will try a bit harder when it's not a World Cup year.

24 Jul 2026 20:50:55
I disagree, MonsterSounness, I think it's far more reasonable to believe Slot's change in tactics was the reason we were poor than it is to believe that 9 of the starting XI who won the league the year before all suddenly were not good enough anymore.

But it's all about opinions, and you're fully entitled to disagree!

24 Jul 2026 20:55:22
Dom is mobile, but certainly not aggressive. A true mobile defensive midfielder alongside Dom is my ideal double pivot.
Gravenberch and Mac Allister are just not up to it for me. Each would be ok alongside a proper 6.
A proper 6 brings the best out of Dom, Mac Allister and Gravenberch.

24 Jul 2026 21:22:20
I agree, MolbysMagic. For me that type of midfielder is exactly what we are missing and should be no.1 on our list. It would make a massive difference to this team. A younger version of Bruno Guimaraes is what we need imo.
Rb, experienced cb and a winger definitely needed as well.

24 Jul 2026 21:31:55
Vinicius Jr is a freebie next summer 2027.

AI to take Real Madrid players for nothing, the new LFC trend, starting with Carvajal for nothing, does not currently have a club?

24 Jul 2026 21:39:53
I don't want Dom anywhere near the midfield 2. Not because he can't do it, but because it is a complete waste. He's a goal scorer and a pressing machine. To me, it's crazy not to put him somewhere in the 3 men behind Isak. He's purpose built for that 2nd attacking line in the 4-2-3-1 and could play any of the 3 positions to a world class standard in my opinion.



We already have Gravenberch and Mac Allister to sit, which is a proven title winning combination. There is no need to shackle Dom. If Mac Allister leaves, we should replace him. Wharton seems most likely, though I'd pick Camara. Either way, I don't want Dom there and I hope Iraola agrees!

24 Jul 2026 21:47:23
MolbysMagic, just to clarify, are you calm or concerned and worried? :)

24 Jul 2026 22:01:54
None of our midfielders are remotely aggressive, bunch of soft lads, the lot of them. Easily dominated and no fight in them.

24 Jul 2026 22:13:44
See, this is why I think Wirtz was a vanity buy. Dom, for me, would be better than him as the most advanced midfielder, and I don't like Wirtz on the wing for us. I don't care what he did coming in off the left in Germany. The same people that say how good he was are the same saying we shouldn't get carried away from what Diomande has done in Germany because the defending is brutal.

We should have put the money elsewhere. Or else I don't mind putting Wirtz in the 10 because he's decent there, and I do think Dom can play in the 2 and do it well, that or putting Dom on the right of a 3.

24 Jul 2026 22:40:17
VV, totally agree. I feel Dom is our best No 10 and most advanced midfielder leading the press.
Florian Musiala, totally agree also. I would go with Dom as the No 10 leading the press, Gravenberch with a proper No 6 as the double pivot.
FPL all 3. If we signed a proper No 6, I would be very happy!

24 Jul 2026 22:46:52
Wirtz is a bit of an enigma, I was really looking forward to seeing what he can do last season but he was hugely disappointing, but I'm hoping a lot of it was down to Slot's slow footballing tactics. But he has a lot to prove this season.

24 Jul 2026 23:09:17
Even though a no 6 is the top of my wish list, I think we need to forget about it, sadly.

We seem to be linked with deep lying playmakers instead, which is a shame in my opinion, but as long as Iraola gets who he wants, then so be it.

25 Jul 2026 00:25:15
I think it's hilarious when people try to defend Slot and blame our midfield when the only thing that changed between the title-winning season and the shambles that just took place was Slot's tactics.

25 Jul 2026 01:03:00
I have a horrible feeling that Wirtz is this era's Smicer - a player lauded as the next Zidane, but just too lightweight to seize control of a game.

I really hope I am wrong.

25 Jul 2026 03:58:34
Isn't Carvahal celebrating his 50th birthday later this year?

25 Jul 2026 08:17:27
Ok - I'll get my tin hat and body armour ready as I'm going to post an unpopular one...

Dom,

For me he is not disciplined enough to play as one of the 2 in our midfield. And I also don't think he's a pressing genius.

Many of the times I watched, he does run an awful lot, but I don't always think that's effective.
I have seen quite a few games where, in effect, he's chafing the ball from full back to CB to CB. Now, it might look good as he's putting effort in, but it wrecks the shape behind him.

Go and press the ball vertically, and if you don't win it, drop back into shape. Going side to side simply opens up passing lanes, and if you're chasing the ball, you're leaving the team exposed with huge gaps to fill.

That exposes Mac and Grav a lot. Now, obviously not just down to Dom, as when he was forced to play RB we still had those issues, but it needs addressing moving forward.

25 Jul 2026 08:26:59
The only difference between last season and the title winning season wasn't Slot's tactics.
We played most of last session with two new fullbacks.
Salah lost form and it was the first season he wasn't our leading goal scorer (or joint leading goal scorer).
We had two new centre forwards who spent a lot of the season unavailable.


Wirtz was added for big money and was disappointing, on the whole.

Slot has to shoulder a lot of the blame with his tactics and unwillingness and inability to change things when it was clear they weren't working, but his tactics were not the only reason for the drop off last season.

25 Jul 2026 10:13:54
Is Dom the replacement for Salah?
He has pace, stamina, delivery. I think when he signed I may have touted him as a long term Salah replacement. Obviously no-one "replaces" Salah, but someone will need to play there.



Dom, Wirtz and another (Ekitike, Munoz, Gakpo, Rio, Elliott) rotating positionally behind Isak?

Grav and Mac A behind them.

For me, without any more signings, this is our best setup in front of the defenders.

25 Jul 2026 10:15:38
Good post, Rigsby.

25 Jul 2026 11:17:35
Rigsby, I was specifically talking about our midfield mate.

25 Jul 2026 14:03:00
Oh, sorry, Chewy.
To be honest, I didn't like the midfield when we won the League. I actually said several times that we couldn't win the League with that midfield. Before we won the League.
It was far worse last season, but I still wouldn't put it all down to Slot.

For example, if Grav was given more freedom to get forward, he should still realise that he had to sit at times.
We were poorer in every department last season, and the midfield was just one part of that.

25 Jul 2026 15:37:16
Wrong, Rigsby, a professional footballer should not be able to still do what he was doing before while also trying to improve on another area of his game. They are simple footballers not rocket scientists.

24 Jul 2026 16:55:04
Good afternoon guys,
I bumped into a mate of mine today who is heavily involved in youth football set ups both in UK and in the States, soccer schools etc.
We got talking about the whole Slot debacle and he was telling me that he had been told by a few colleagues (scouts etc) that the unrest at Anfield around Slot started in the March of the title winning season.

Many players started to turn against Slot due to bad man-management etc…. He didn’t go as far as saying that the players downed tools last season but apparently Anfield wasn’t a nice place to be….

Just thought I'd share this with you guys! It’s not often that I get info like this and I couldn’t wait to share with ya’s

24 Jul 2026 18:48:35
Makes perfect sense; those with a keen eye have been criticising Slot since right around February.

24 Jul 2026 20:49:57
Wouldn't surprise me this, didn't come out that Slot never watched any of the youth teams and basically blank it all.

24 Jul 2026 21:48:46
Slot was absolutely shocking for us after his first 6 months. He has set the expectation and belief levels so unbelievably low that some people are writing off half the players in the squad and starting XI. It's staggering how much of a negative impact a bad coach can have on the perception the fans have of the players. You've got to be pretty spectacularly bad to make Alisson, Frimpong, Virgil, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Salah and Isak all look dreadfully bad. They've all been in Bundesliga or Premier League TOTY's.

The only one I'd let him off on is Frimpong, as he really doesn't look suited to a back 4 in the Premier League. There is absolutely no excuse why the rest of them were made to look so poor, though.

Iraola has got to re-do Klopp's greatest achievement now; turning doubters into believers. I thought the fans were feeling positive after the Iraola appointment, but apparently 3 weeks without a transfer is enough to derail it all, which shows how fragile the belief is right now.

24 Jul 2026 21:56:36
He's not our manager anymore. He won the league, he had a crap season & now he's gone.

Get over it and move on.......

24 Jul 2026 22:28:36
I appreciate the hate, but I don't get how Slot made Alli, Frimpong and Isak look dreadfully bad. I think all three injuries and subsequent lack of fitness or rhythm played a massive part in that. And I don't think Szoboszlai and Kerkez were bad at all. The other four had poor seasons by their standards. Wirtz, in fairness, was getting used to the league under huge pressure, but to put the kind of performances Salah, Macca and Grav put in directly down to Slot is just wishful thinking for me.

I actually hope you're right though, and Slot walking out the door was like Thanos clicking his fingers and all these players that are still here have terrific seasons. We'd need very little signings then too.

24 Jul 2026 22:52:29
A keen eye Chewy? Stevie wonder could see things weren't right

25 Jul 2026 00:27:26
I'm talking about February of last year, Areola. A huge % of fans were still supporting Slot in February of this year.

25 Jul 2026 04:01:14
@Chewy, not according to the first poll about Slot that was around about Feb or March.

25 Jul 2026 08:12:53
Huge percentage?! Slot was as popular this Feb as Gary Glitter at a nativity play!

25 Jul 2026 08:37:00
How did Slot make Isak and Salah look bad?
Isak arrived unfit and broke his ankle before Christmas.
Slot's tactics didn't help Salah, but he's not the same player.
I'd add Wirtz as well.

Slot failed to get the best out of him, but he also let himself down with a lot of his performances. Or maybe he just downed tools because of conflict with the head coach, in which case he let the fans down too.

24 Jul 2026 16:49:54
What is everyone's honest expectation for this season?? Can we win the league this year or not??

When Slot won, that season we had 5 set forwards. Diaz, Salah, Jota (RIP), Gakpo and Nunez all were really effective.

Last year, we lost jota. Didn't replace Diaz. Salah declined. Nunez left.

This year, Isak has yet to settle. Majority wants to sell Gakpo. Chiesa is not settled properly. Rio is a kid. Ekitike was performing well but he isn't available. Munoz will take time to settle. And any other new forward has not been bought early enough to get enough pre-season

I thing due to our forward line, we will struggle this season and may not be in Top 3 let alone winning the league.

So, will top 4 be a realistic target for this year or should we be lenient with AI if we do not get champions league this season.

24 Jul 2026 18:24:53
With the squad the way it is at the moment, no, I do not think we can win the league this year. Top 5 and maybe a Cup. Quarter finals of the Champions League, I'd settle for that.

24 Jul 2026 18:37:29
I just can't wait to see a different brand of football. Add the mooted signings into that and we'll have a much better season. As for winning the league, I don't see it, but if Andoni gets time to build, I have full belief in the way he plays.

24 Jul 2026 18:40:26
Unless we bring in at least 3/4 new players, I don't see us winning the league. I find it hard to see us even qualifying for the Champions League, to be honest. Arsenal and City are clearly better than us, and we saw last season with United that having no European football can be a real benefit. I see Chelsea under Alonso, with no European football doing a United and finishing third.

As it stands, I see us battling it out with Spurs, United and Villa for 4th and 5th, which is unacceptable in my opinion. The club should be at least attempting to win the league or Champions League. That's not on Iraola, though, but on those above him.

24 Jul 2026 18:48:53
Nebeel, let's not get carried away here, and remember history. Going into the season Slot won No. 20, you could count with both your fingers and toes how many LFC fans were saying with chest that we were gonna win the league. More may have said we could challenge if...

It was Slot himself who said it was after smoking Utd away that he thought we had a good chance of challenging. Then, as the results started to come, he and the guys decided to go for it.



Now I say all that to say that I would just relax and not take the season we won as some kind of measuring stick, cos even we didn't win, we could win, esp. after Klopp had left. So, let's not make comparisons with that season, cos the rules and conditions have changed drastically.

So like Ecogsi, I'm just here for the vibes to see what Doni can do with this team and go from there.

24 Jul 2026 18:54:54
Tbh, I'm not concerned with challenging, I want to see a comfortable top four finish and really solid cup runs in at least 2 competitions, I'm talking qtr/semi finals minimum. I don't really care which one; I just want to see that Iraola, with his style and this squad, can handle that busy schedule and then we build from there.

24 Jul 2026 18:57:20
Think there will be a massive improvement, clearly stuff weren't right there last season, good players fell off a cliff, optimistic we get to see some good football again, fingers crossed. 🙏

24 Jul 2026 18:59:08
I don't think you can put Nunez and effective in the same sentence. But I would say challenging for a cup title and finishing in the top four would be a good season.

24 Jul 2026 19:51:14
Expecting exciting football but top 5 finish. It's going to take time for the players to get fit enough to play the Iraola way, so I think we will have a better second half than first half of the season.

24 Jul 2026 20:01:13
For me, we already have a good side in Iraola's 4-2-3-1. This side will easily finish top 3 now we have a competent head coach, with or without signings. Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Virgil, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Isak.

I hate the defeatist attitude of some of our fans. None of those players became bad overnight. Jacquet, Isak, and Kerkez are the only 3 there who haven't won a league title. Yes, I think we can improve a few positions, but that's a bloody good team still.

Personally, I'd like to replace Frimpong, Macca, and Gakpo with Kounde, Camara, and Barcola. Kounde improves us at RB and offers CB cover given we have Leoni just back from a knee injury. Camara adds a different profile to our midfield, and Barcola injects some much needed pace into the attack.

In terms of squad players, we are fine as far as I'm concerned.

I mean our 2nd XI would probably finish top 8. Mamardashvili; Bradley, Gomez, Leoni, Tsimikas; Endo, Jones; Rio, Elliott, Munoz; Ekitike.

Chiesa and Woodman seem keen to stick around as well, and it doesn't hurt to have experienced and good characters in the dressing room.

It's the first XI that I want to upgrade. I hate signing squad players. You should always focus on improving your best XI because they're the ones who will start 40-60 games a season. Slot was just a muppet who never rotated unless he changed the whole XI in one go for a Cup Game. It made our squad players look a lot worse than they actually are. No team of relative strangers, all lacking match fitness/sharpness, can just rock up 3 or 4 times a season and pull a performance out the bag every time.

Make 3 more good signings to improve our best XI and, for me, we'll challenge for the title.

{Ed025's Note - i usually agree with a lot of what you say MK, but that 2nd XI would not finish top 8 in the championship mate..

24 Jul 2026 20:35:24
Top 5. This season will be a process. Slightly alarmed that Bournemouth conceded more from set pieces than us.

We need to be patient with the new guy.

My money is on Chelsea for the title. No European games, with good signings.

24 Jul 2026 20:37:04
Ed025, I have to say, I agree with you. We'd be playing with 9 men most of the season, due to Bradley and Gomez being made of crisps.

{Ed025's Note - and Chiesa and Endo would be at the pensioners bingo twice a week Rome.. :)

24 Jul 2026 20:55:40
Ed025, I stand by it. Slot made them all look terrible by only ever playing them in a team with 9-11 changes. I'd have no problem with any one of that 2nd XI coming into the team for 5 games to cover an injury. With Klopp at the helm, we won the Carabao Cup with a weaker XI than that.

{Ed025's Note - they might do a job in the odd game MK but over a season would be found out mate, Ekitike would do well i suppose but the rest of them are mediocre at very best..

24 Jul 2026 22:36:12
I think the first 11 listed would have a battle to finish in the Champions League places, to be honest. It could be 4 places after all, and I definitely see Arsenal, City and Chelsea finishing above that team this season. Then there's Spurs and Utd. For me, if we don't improve the first 11 from that listed, we will be nowhere near the title.

24 Jul 2026 22:39:14
After Slot's first season, anything is possible, so don't write us off.

Citeh have lost Pep and look like they're losing Rodri.
Arsenal were terrible last season, and they're in for a shock this season without Saliba.
Manu have Carrick as manager. 😂
Chelsea have too many players to have a settled squad.

And we've got Iraola.

24 Jul 2026 21:58:51
Ed025, I think Bradley, Leoni, Jones, Rio and Elliott are all solid top 5-8 players. Ekitike is a top 1-4 level player. The rest are probably top 9-14 level mid-table players. Munoz I can't comment on as I've never seen him play, but being in the Spain squad at 22 indicates a level of competence.

None of them are anything close to Championship level though and you know that mate, c'mon. For me the main problem with our squad players has been underutilising them. We leave them to decay and lose fitness/sharpness then throw them all in at once in January when the FA Cup and League cup hot up. Then act shocked when an XI that's never lined up together before and is barely fit can't cope with an aggressive underdog playing like it's their cup final. Slot's got a lot to answer for. He's trashed the reputations of our players.

I have faith anyway. I'm happy for people to disagree with me, and I won't be letting the negativity drag me down. 25 players don't go to sh*t over the space of 12 months. One head coach can though. I predict we finish top 3rd and win a cup this coming season and we are not going to be signing 11 more players, because our squad depth is far from mediocre.

{Ed025's Note - i fancy you for top 3 as well MK, your first choice players are very good and i expect more to come, but i think you are over-egging the fringe players you have mate, Leoni nobody has seen him play..could be anything, Jones...will always be Jones unfortunately, Elliot could not break into a weak Villa side for a reason...hes just not very good mate, I happen to like Rio and Ekitike, but the rest of them are tramps..

24 Jul 2026 22:49:33
We've barely seen Leoni. He played 60 minutes against a Championship side. He's 19 and coming off a serious injury. It's taken Rodri nearly a year to get back to his best after the same injury. If he's anything other than 4th choice this season, then we have problems.

24 Jul 2026 22:56:21
Top 6 or 7, just down to the fact that Hughes won't get the players in, we obviously need. Doesn't make sense him seeing out this window when he's obviously going. Ai will suffer because of him.

24 Jul 2026 23:14:49
I think aim for top 4 and leave it at that. Anything extra will be a bonus for me.

I just want Iraola to turn around the culture into a healthy one again and instill hard work into the players and a passion for the crest. Then focus on the title on his 2nd season.

24 Jul 2026 23:19:10
Let's hope not, Areola. At the moment our only senior RW has started one league game in two years and the only actual true right back is still months away from playing. We need another CB as well, at least.

25 Jul 2026 02:05:55
Elliott not breaking into the Villa side had nothing to do with his footballing ability and everything to do with a manager who never wanted him. It was an easy out for them since the obligation to buy was based on the number of games played.

25 Jul 2026 04:13:56
I'd say top 3 is realistic. The people I know in Italy speak highly of Leoni, but I've never seen him play, and as a sports psychologist, I've never seen a group of players (Italians) struggle so badly with homesickness, so I'm always skeptical.

Jacquet will surprise a lot of people, I think he's ready for first team now.

25 Jul 2026 08:49:26
I'm interested to see what Iraola with some of the squad players.
Most of MK's second eleven are unproven or simply not good enough.
As usual, I'm happy to be wrong though.

25 Jul 2026 10:28:55
We can be optimistic and realistic at the same time. Leoni and Jaquet look like two good young CBs, but the other side of that is the only other CB at the club at the moment, besides Van Dijk, who has played one minute of Premier League football, is Joe Gomez? Let that sink in. Then our one right back is months away from playing, and his backup is a RB/RW hybrid who hasn’t nearly convinced or managed to stay fit for any length of time. Our wingers consist of a 17 year old gem, Munoz who looks decent, Gakpo who is decent but no world beater, and Chiesa who has started one league game in 24 months.

Our top scoring forward is out till the Spring, and it remains to be seen if our other CF, our record signing, can stay fit for any length of time. On the plus side, it looks like our pre season will be better this year and we won’t have as many new first team squad options being new to the club as we had last year. We will play good football and be entertained, but I see results going a bit like Jurgen first season. Enjoy the ride reds.

25 Jul 2026 12:37:21
I agree, MK, if we sign 3 first team players, which should be 2 wingers and 1 centre back to play alongside VVD, then yes we can fight for the title.

Like u, I am fine with midfield, but the attack needs players and Gakpo needs to be retained too.

24 Jul 2026 14:32:23
Hi Ed1

Hope you are well fella.

Have I missed something or was there not talk of an ex player joining the coaching staff?

We all went crazy for milner and Thiago. and then nothing happened. I guess now preseason is up and running there will be no more staff additions.

Thanks for any insight (if any)

{Ed001's Note - there was talk of it, but I don't remember it being from anyone presenting it as info, rather than just their opinion.}

24 Jul 2026 15:30:38
There appeared to be reliable interest in Thiago, but him not having the coaching badges may have presented visa issues. He cited the lack of coaching badges in an interview recently.

24 Jul 2026 22:31:11
Still hoping for Milly to be honest.

24 Jul 2026 23:16:39
I'd take Milly as coach, or if not possible, can he still play RB? :)

24 Jul 2026 13:56:46
For right back, I wonder whether we will try bring Daniel Banjaqui (18) in this summer or in the next window. The Benfica kid is really highly rated, likened to a right-sided Nuno Mendes. Small sample size, but our development guy Pedro Marquez worked with him at Benfica and it is reported he loves this kid. It's not solve our issue right now, but they may take a long term view. Plus he's already a unit.

If Real Madrid's interest in Macca is real, I wonder if there's an opportunity to revisit the Dean Huijsen file. For me, he's the ideal Virgil successor given his height, position and progressive passing at LCB. With Konate, Rudiger, Militao, Acensio and Mourinho reportedly wanting Schlotterbeck, it is not an impossibility.

If Macca does leave, I would be looking to bring in Lamine Camara. I know he didn't light up the World Cup but he was being played out of position in the few minutes he played.

He's not a specialist no6, but his defensive numbers are excellent.

Although I expect Curtis to stay now, if he does leave, then Wharton makes a lot of sense and would bring a new dimension to our midfield. It seems like we have had a long running interest in him since his Blackburn days.

While the Barcola and Diomande stuff is rumbling on, I wonder whether the club might also revisit Dario Osorio, a right winger plying his trade in the Danish league. He's not a world beater but would offer us a great cover option on the RW whilst we play the Game of Thrones with PSG. He's left footed, quick, links up well and has a decent shot on him.

And whilst we are in Denmark, Caleb Yirenki would be a great pickup to replace Endo.

Summary: Banjaqui, Huijsen, Camara, Wharton (if Curtis goes), Yirenki, Osorio and one of Barcola/Diomande.

24 Jul 2026 14:18:09
I personally don't think we'll do that much business, mate. That's 7 more major signings on top of the 2 already made (9 total). Personally, I really hope we sign Barcola, Camara and Kounde. That would take our total to 5 signings with an outlay of approximately £300m.

24 Jul 2026 14:30:40
More of a thought experiment than a wishlist, MK, mate.

We cannot deny that we need a RB, CB, DM, RW and another forward on top of the Munoz and Jacquet signings. That's 7 players, like it or not.

Banjaqui, Yirenki and Osorio are the types of risks we may have to take, given we cannot afford to extract the likes of Minteh, Rayan, Diomande, etc., out of teams like Brighton, Bournemouth and RBL, and we will no longer be pursuing MCO.

24 Jul 2026 15:26:02
FPF, decent thoughts, mate, here's some alternative ones:

RB/CB - I don't believe we need both roles this summer. We DO need someone who can play RB, but I would expect Jacquet to be VVDs regular partner. Beyond this season, Leoni should get to full fitness in the coming weeks/months and I can see a partnership growing between Leoni and Jacquet. We've also recruited some apparently spectacular youth options aged between 17-18 in our academy so hopefully they are the future. Here and now, I could see Gomez as our RB/CB floater, but we know his availability isn't great. Someone mentioned Ordonez on here a couple of days ago, and at a price of around €40m he could be a shrewd buy to cover both roles. Alternatively, we could see the more advanced of the youth prospects stepping up. Longer term I can see Frimpong being sold (if AI can't find a role for him) and a more specialist RB being recruitted.

So, possibly 1 recruit as a CB/RB hybrid.

DM - I'm not sure on this role at all. I have yet to see how AI sets us up, but I can see a scenario where he plays a DLP alongside Gravy rather than a destroyer. Right now, assuming AI plays with 2 midfielders set deeper plus a 10, we have Endo (injured but recovering), Szob, Gravy, Macca, Jones, Nyoni, Bajcetic (could this be his year?!) and McConnell for those 2 roles. For the 10 role we have Wirtz with Elliot as his deputy (again, I'm assuming) with Szob as an alternative. So I really can't see anyone coming into midfield without a leaver. I CAN see Macca leaving, but I would expect it to be Wharton or Scott coming in. I have a sneaky feeling that Bajcetic might finally start breaking through this season, which would be awesome as he qualifies as HG and CT for both EPL and UCL. His injury recovery has been significantly during Slot's 2 year reign and we know Slot's approach to fitness.

I can see both Diomande and Barcola coming in, with Gakpo leaving for (probably) Germany.

Barcola & Rio vying for LW, Diomande and Chiesa vying for RW, Munoz providing cover across the frontline like Diogo used to. Then we have Isak up front, with Ekitike probably returning towards the end of the season.

Further depth can come from Wright and Koumas (depending on whether they impress the Gaffer).

We also have Frimpong and Szob as alternate RWs if needed (again, not first choice, but could do a job in case of an injury crisis), and Wirtz could cover on the LW side. At a stretch (again, in case of an injury crisis) we could also have Kerkez pushing up with Tsimikas behind, or we could play narrower with more bodies in midfield and use the FBs for width.

So, I can see 1 defensive recruit (Ordonez) and 2 attacking players (Yan & Brad) without sales of first team players.

Similar to Adam, but not quite the same.

As a further side note, I watched an AI (not Iraola!) generated YT vid a bit earlier which analysed how AI likes to play (especially compared to Slot) and asserted that Chiesa may be a good fit for that.

Finally, looking at the most injury prone of our outfield players that I have name checked above, Chiesa missed 3 games last season and 14 the season before (albeit in 24/25, it was the injury we signed him with that took a while to heal), and Joe missed 8 games last season, and 26 the season before.

TL;DR - you missed a cracking post, go back & read it!

24 Jul 2026 17:05:48
Cheers, Zed.

I have made no secret of my wish to sign Joel Ordonez. Would be happy with that signing, though I wonder if a right sided CB/RB is the right long term play with the investment in Jacquet. Hence why I suggested Huijsen, who is a true LCB.

I would say Wharton and Scott are very different profiles, so can't see an either/or situation there. Also, I think Scott offers us nothing more than Szobo, Grav and Curtis do.

Bajcetic - who is that? I won't hold my breath on him.

McConnell will get another loan. And Trey might end up at Swansea for a season.

Both Barcola and Diomande would be very surprising to me. Although we did it with Isak and Hugo last summer. So nothing is impossible.

I don't see the point in Endo. He just can't get about the pitch, rendering him useless for Iraola-ball. He's a great lad, but honestly it's time for him to move on. And I expect Chiesa will leave if a suitable offer comes in and we secure our winger targets.

24 Jul 2026 18:17:57
As an aside, Di Geertruida did badly at Sunderland last season?

He was one who I thought was a shoe-in last summer for us, and still represents someone who can do a job all along the back line and is almost half the price of Ordonez.



On paper he looks like a decent utility defender who has a far, far less serious injury history than our other utility defender - Gomez.

24 Jul 2026 18:42:02
No sign of a right back incoming, that surprises me with Bradley's injury. I don't see Frimpong as the long term answer at right back although this different style of football may help him.

24 Jul 2026 13:17:25
Really not a fan of Chelsea but I have to admire how quickly they identify a transfer target, agree a deal and sign the player! It's something they have done well for many years. I do feel that we (Liverpool) can often dither about in comparison.

24 Jul 2026 13:30:12
In fairness, Chelsea aren't competing against and also trying to get players out of the current double Champions League winners.

24 Jul 2026 13:32:06
As frustrating as it is, they have just gone and got their business done.

They have signed Palestra (RB), Lacroix (CB), Quenda (RW) and Rodgers (LW) - positions where we have gaps.

24 Jul 2026 13:43:37
Obviously things might change now under Alonso, but over the last 3-4 years Chelsea's transfer business is not worthy of your admiration. They've been foolish, bordering on incompetent with their dealings.

Even this summer, they've rushed out to sign Quenda and Emegha, who I've never even heard of.

24 Jul 2026 14:01:00
Exactly, MKS. No one has ever accused Chelsea of doing good business, and over the last 4 years, they are nowhere near our level when it comes to smart and savvy recruitment. And of the players mentioned, I rate Rodgers very highly from jump. That's it. Lacroix? Anyone can look good playing in a very defensive system.

Even Sakho looked good there.

And a lot of the young players they sign, like the ones you mentioned, I'm not even sure Google has a picture of them, so again, what am I admiring them for again in terms of recruitment, exactly?

24 Jul 2026 14:02:10
MK, just to be pedantic, they didn't rush to sign Quenda. They had an agreement in principle on Quenda well over a year ago (March 2025).

24 Jul 2026 14:19:15
Their business looks more sensible this year, as does their managerial appointment. They already had the semblance of a good team,

I'd be surprised if they weren't challenging for top four next season. Most posters on here must think they'll be a real threat as well given that virtually everyone rates Alonso.

24 Jul 2026 14:31:57
Top 4 is definitely on for Chelsea, easily. If they sort out the goalkeeper, they might even be an outside bet for more.

24 Jul 2026 15:25:03
Rogers is an excellent player and will only get better playing on a higher stage, he works really hard off the ball and that's always a plus, and he's one of the biggest threats from distance in the prem. He is hardly a left winger, though? I'm wondering how he's going to play with Cole Palmer, though Alonso did use two 10s for a while at Leverkusen. Quenda could be great in time. He could equally be terrible in the prem.

Lacroix is very good, can't knock that purchase.

The real question is how they managed to get Garnacho off the books and sneak in an obligation to buy in there too. It's nuts to me how Chelsea buy clear duds but almost always manage to offload them when they don't need them anymore. I bet they'll get somebody in the prem to buy Mudryk when he's no longer banned.

24 Jul 2026 15:33:55
It's the scattergun approach to buying players - hoping some work out - PB, like Adam said, it may change under Alonso, esp as he appears to have more control over transfers, but let's wait and see.

On balance, I prefer our approach. We don't often buy duds (Keitas notwithstanding!) and you can see the gaps they are filling.



It's always tricky when you get managerial change, as even with a DoF or SD model, different coaches will still have slightly different ideas. That's why I hope for some stable success under AI.

24 Jul 2026 16:01:34
No rush on Quenda. Sorted a long time. Impressed with Chelsea's window. Another who'll make top 5.

24 Jul 2026 16:09:46
@Patrick, just so you understand, I can knock who or whatever I want, lol. Seriously tho, I am always weary of signing CBs who play in a defensive system, cos we don't play a defensive system, and if such CBs are left exposed in the system we play, there is a good chance they struggle. Not saying Lacroix would, but that is just a fear, so I choose to stay well clear of them.

I do agree with you that how Chelsea get their duds off the books for pretty good fees is off the charts, cos I wouldn't touch any of them.

On the other side, Edwards got credit for selling our unwanted players for decent to high fees as well. Esp. to B'mouth, but then again, Eddie Howe (his BFF) was there so that tracks.

Zed, I agree as well. Even the duds we sign become duds mainly due to their own issues (see Naby) than anything else for the most part. Also, signing 70 players and about 10/15 panning out at best is nothing to admire. In fact, it just shows you have no idea what you're doing.

24 Jul 2026 16:45:25
Chelsea have had this scattergun approach to buying long before Todd Boehly and his gang showed up. Remember the years before where they always had 40 + players on loan every season, under Abramovich? The only difference to me is that there was some method and some reason to the amounts being paid under Abramovich.

That's all gone out the window under Boehly. Who pays 100 million + for a Morgan Rogers?

24 Jul 2026 18:28:08
I completely disagree, Florian and FPF. They've 100% rushed to sign him and I don't think you're being pedantic, I think you've just misinterpreted what I mean when I say "rushed". Just because they rushed months ago doesn't mean they haven't gone out and signed him far too early in his career. He's 19 years old with 11 goals in 95 career games, and they've paid a reported £40m for him. It's irrelevant how long they have had a deal in place, the simple fact is they've signed another player who does not look ready for Premier League football, for a huge amount of money.

Chelsea keep doing this, rushing out to sign u21's before anybody else. I'm sure they think they're doing great, because they're getting in before the rest. In my opinion, though, that's only because nobody else wants to fast track the unproven kids with over inflated transfer fees that they're signing. They're rushing these kids' careers. Hato, for example, would've been so much better off spending another 2-3 years in Holland playing regularly. Lavia the same, should've stayed at Southampton another 2-3 years.

Estevao is another who should've gone to a team like Brighton or Bournemouth first for regular football. Gittens too. Chelsea are rushing these kids into the top end of the game, so they end up in squad roles during a period of their careers when they need regular football. As a result, they're all flopping. They're not getting the minutes they need to develop and fulfil their potential.

It's a stupid policy. I will pretty much guarantee you that Quenda never makes it at Chelsea. He just joins the back of the queue of the long list of teenagers they're signed prematurely for crazy money. It's exactly why I'm hoping we walk away from Diomande at the prices being quoted. We've already taken a punt on Munoz with seemingly no plan on how to get him the minutes he needs to develop. For me, you sign one or two project player for the forward line; Rio and Munoz being ours. You don't need to have Quenda, Gittens, Estevao, George and Delap. Where are they all getting the game time to actually progress? Baffling.

24 Jul 2026 18:57:33
MK, you might need a word with the LFC recruitment team then.

24 Jul 2026 20:11:15
They're all at it in the Premier League, FPF. They keep buying young players and then not ensuring there is a path for their development, which dooms them to be expensive flops. Our fans are begging for another CB signing to start with Virgil, and that would pretty much guarantee that at least one of Jacquet or Leoni end up on the scrap heap, leaving us well out of pocket.

When will these clubs learn that talented young players only fulfil their potential if you're brave enough to play them? Either trust them fully or leave them where they are.

24 Jul 2026 22:41:30
I think Rogers has hit his ceiling at Villa. He's going to struggle.

25 Jul 2026 04:06:24
@OP, it would be all the more praise worthy if they didn't keep getting massive penalties for straying outside of financial rules.

24 Jul 2026 13:15:04
So Djimi T reckons only bad news over the w/e, SHughes reckons no good news for about a fortnight.

Think I'll go on holiday for a Rumours detox.

24 Jul 2026 13:32:54
The bad news is no news, obviously!

24 Jul 2026 11:44:49
See Klopp has officially been unveiled as Germany head coach. Good luck Boss!

24 Jul 2026 12:29:06
Also said he won't be taking another manager's role after the Germany boss, if that ever comes to an end.
Glad he has gone into international management, would kill most of us fans if he went to another club manager's position.

24 Jul 2026 12:36:26
@Bazzinga, Instead, we are born-again Germans.

24 Jul 2026 13:32:09
Fair play to Klopp regarding his comments about the media.
"If you behave badly and don't leave my family in peace then I'll be gone, I'll just turn away," Klopp said.

"I know there are other countries where national team coaches are treated even worse.

"I love this job but I am always ready to call it quits if need be."

24 Jul 2026 13:50:52
What an absolute legend. Wish him the very best of luck there. Still miss him terribly not being at LFC.

24 Jul 2026 14:01:42
Ned, just on my way out now to purchaee. My retro 1990 World Cup Germany home shirt. Ha ha.

24 Jul 2026 14:03:30
Absolute, boss of a man. The tone has been set, people. "You mess with my fam, you mess with me. You screw up, I'm outta here."

All the best, Norbert. You absolute legend of a man.

24 Jul 2026 15:34:58
You are now the Paranormal One, Herr Klopp.

I hope Germany does better going forward, but I'll always be holding on for a 'ghost' goal for England to seal the deal!

24 Jul 2026 16:47:37
He will turn that German team around, because that's what he does, wherever he goes.

25 Jul 2026 04:08:37
I'd wager Jurgen will win a trophy ahead of Tommy and Jude and the gang.

24 Jul 2026 11:13:18
Thanks for everyone sticking up for myself and other posters.

Just for those newbies, I would just like to point out that I broke the news that the Guehi deal had collapsed back in August, Pep was stepping down in September, and Edwards was leaving earlier this year. Not only that, but I’ve also been able to confirm things alongside the likes of Carra, TheFields and others when they’ve passed on new information.

I pass on what I get told. Things change, and especially this year with everything that was happening behind the scenes, incompetence unfortunately derailed a lot of things throughout last season.

The reality is I don’t really have anyone at the club anymore, which as a fan is a shame. Any information I get regarding Liverpool now comes from people external to the club rather than from within, so naturally there’s a greater chance that things don’t progress or circumstances change before they reach the club-to-club stage.



I just enjoy sharing what I hear anonymously because it’s not really something I can discuss with people I know, other than those who tell me. It’s the sort of thing I’m proud of, especially now that I’ve expanded my pool of people.

I'm not gonna lead anyone on a wild goose-chase, be clickbaity or anything like that - just pass on information, answer what I can and engage in what has been a very fun community. I did have another account on this from years ago, but once I started getting information, I wanted a fun alter-ego.

I’ve got a couple of friends working with clubs across Europe now, so my golf-related networking last year has been paying off. Who knows I may buddy up with even more - need to improve my handicap first.

Diddly out.

24 Jul 2026 12:32:34
Cheers Ned, keep the news coming.

24 Jul 2026 13:01:50
Cheers Ned, Share, share and share again.

Good luck with the golf. I'm still trying and failing to break 90! :-(

24 Jul 2026 13:31:17
No need to explain yourself, Ned. Any updates are appreciated.

24 Jul 2026 13:34:00
Go ed, Ned.

Keep them coming.

24 Jul 2026 14:03:04
Spot on, Ned, but you don't need to explain yourself to anyone, mate.

24 Jul 2026 14:29:25
Springfield's finest is always welcome to post what he likes, I mean, you wouldn't like to upset Iron Man, would you?

24 Jul 2026 15:36:11
I'm a long time reader who only on occasions will post, and recently there are more and more people who come on now just to mock or wait for information given to fail so they can discredit someone. The people who stick their necks out and go against what is out in the papers or Internet suffer most from it.
The ones who copy and paste (no issue or problems with that) are not so much. Then, in the next moment, they are asking the ones who get mocked for any scrap of information again.
It does make for tedious reading at times, and also a lot of scrolling past the negativity.

I don't mind reading different opinions as long as it's respectful and constructive criticism, but the mockery and lack of respect makes it feel like being in school all over again.
I like to read through other teams' pages, also see what's going on, and in most cases there's not a lot of information getting passed on, so people should be thankful for the amount we get on this page, as it won't be the same without it.

24 Jul 2026 15:36:01
We appreciate your work, but disagree with your attire, stupid sexy Flanders.

Keep on keeping on, neighbourino

24 Jul 2026 16:45:27
Class as always, Ned.

Diddly out.

24 Jul 2026 18:08:29
Cheers, Ned! We're lucky to have you, mate!

24 Jul 2026 18:45:46
@ned, thanks for sharing the info you get. Intrigued to know not who you get your info from but what sort of level are they? Players, employees, board level, agents 🤔