Liverpool banter 4

03 Dec 2025 11:08:57
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 13 - Quick Round Up

03 Dec 2025 11:24:54
Said after we played Everton that Grealish would fall off and Moyes wouldn't make his move permanent. But he scored last night, so I'm sure he'll trade off that for another 2 months.

03 Dec 2025 12:03:34
Nice read, Ed01. Regarding Glasner, I have never rated him. His tactics only seem to look good vs teams that play an open style of play and leave gaps behind cos they want to attack which allows his tactics to work on the counter.

As soon as Palace play a team that does none of the above or do it in a very measured way with no space to exploit in behind, Palace are pretty ordinary hence, their last results look poor. Seen people wanting him to replace Slot. Pls, keep that awful manager well-away from my club.

Re: Paqueta, it was even our players who were dragging him back while the WH players just sat back and let him get the business. I'm "betting" here that the club and his team mates are fed up with him.

Lastly with our game, Macca like you, was doing my head in with his pathetic antics. Also defensively, he just seems to loiter about rather than being decisive and aggressive in stopping the danger. Saw this vs Forrest for their second goal where he just went in there and didn't put a foot in.

{Ed001's Note - thanks Oli.}

03 Dec 2025 13:03:13
Thanks ed. Was really hoping Mac would cut the diving out but it seems to be getting worse if anything.

03 Dec 2025 14:22:22
OliRed that second goal had me furious. He read it, got there to actually do something and his attempt to do so was half hearted. I guess it’s part of the issue with the type of training they’re doing, low impact creates low energy intensity.

03 Dec 2025 16:32:47
Like these round ups Ed001.the Sunderland v Bournemouth game was the best iv seen this season . West Ham better buck their ideas or they'll be in the relegation zone . one of the worst West Ham teams iv seen for a while . going to be a lot harder for Liverpool today but hopefully we get the 3pts n start believing in ourselves again.

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate.}

03 Dec 2025 18:14:10
Thank goodness, BERGENRED. I thought I was going crazy when I noticed it. Macca on that goal was just loitering and did sweet nothing despite diagnosing the play and being there to put the challenge in and cut it out. He just went in there all lackadaisical, did nothing and they scored. Had me fuming, mate.

You're prolly right about the type of training we are doing cos our approach now seems to lack any form of aggressiveness and decisiveness hence, we get bullied or allow ourselves to get bullied in such phases.

03 Dec 2025 09:29:16
Does anybody know if anything has changed with the Semenyo situation? I know Victor was very confident about it yesterday but a few reports today seem to suggest that City are now favourites to sign him.

03 Dec 2025 10:59:40
I saw it said that City have to move players on first.

03 Dec 2025 12:06:31
Shipley, we're going to have to be patient for this one, IMO cos there are going to be a lot of moving parts to this. Also, remember that City still have Savinho who they may need to move in order to find space for Semenyo who is prolly coming in to start immediately, as with us.

03 Dec 2025 16:05:53
The Semenyo Situation sounds like a Netflix political thriller.

03 Dec 2025 08:19:40
Ed001 is it true that Slot lives in Manchester? If so why?

{Ed001's Note - yes mate, he lives in Hale so that he can be nearer the airport to go back to Holland during the week.}

03 Dec 2025 08:45:12
I only just found that out recently and I honestly thought that it was a joke. That's a sign of somebody not very committed. Like how can you get the feel of a club if you don't even live in the area 🤷‍♂️.

03 Dec 2025 08:58:41
Needs must, Barry. I'm sure you would agree, family come first. Personally, I couldn't care less. How many of the players actually live in Liverpool.

03 Dec 2025 09:12:37
I couldn't either Rome, bloke has to see his family. Nobody would put their job before their family in fairness.

03 Dec 2025 09:23:44
we really digging to find something else to moan at Slot about? is Robbo not committed for living in Wimslow? embarrassing.

03 Dec 2025 09:31:18
Flying back to the Netherlands during the week ed? I thought that was only during international breaks.

{Ed001's Note - nope. He stays there so he can go home as often as possible.}

03 Dec 2025 09:49:46
He can live on the moon for all I care, as long as we are wining games of football.

03 Dec 2025 09:56:34
Kloppers you find it ok that Slot lives in Manchester I actually don't and please don't call me or my questions embarrassing again.

03 Dec 2025 10:04:38
Again, could align with Carra saying Slot is not long term. Certainly doesn't sound sustainable over many years, whether it's family doesn't want to relocate or Slot doesn't want to leave home?

03 Dec 2025 10:18:20
Once the bloke leaves the training ground he's entitled to do what he wants, if he wants to put all that travelling on himself to see his family during his private life that's his right. Not every wife and kids are willing to uproot to another country.

03 Dec 2025 10:35:29
Must only be an hour and a half or so, pretty straight forward really depending on where his home is in the Netherlands.

03 Dec 2025 10:47:36
It’s not digging him out to state the obvious we need someone committed to the cause not if I get time. Maybe it’s not the job for him if he wants to live in Holland fair enough.

03 Dec 2025 10:53:39
Hope he’s not turning into the Dutch Alan Partridge, living in a travel lodge.

03 Dec 2025 10:56:57
If only Liverpool had an airport.

03 Dec 2025 10:25:13
Ed001, do you believe this will be the reason he leaves due to being homesick?

{Ed001's Note - I think he will end up losing his job due to not being committed enough to it. It is hard to focus when you miss your family. I don't understand why he doesn't live in Liverpool and fly from JLA though, at least then he would get to know the vibe of the city properly. Even better, get his family over.}

03 Dec 2025 12:13:38
Cut the guy some slack. Slot didn't have his family with him for majority of last season always coming home to an emty house except during int'l break. I didn't say that. He did in an interview last season. Was committment a problem last season then? Or are we just manufacturing outrage for no reason? Serious question, btw.

I lived far away from my immediate fam (in another thousands of miles away) for years and it was tough and really hard so I can emathize with Slot on this point.

IMO, Family is very important and I'm happy he has a chance to go see them, as often as possible esp. now with the issues he and the team has on the pitch. A great family support system is key and very important on life. Just my take.

{Ed001's Note - so move them over then. Or live in Liverpool at the very least. You are just making excuses. The players see a man buggering off to Holland all the time and then we wonder why they look half-arsed. They are following his example. Don't take a job if you are not going to do it properly, especially not on his salary.}

03 Dec 2025 12:14:12
H'ON THE BARRY! . 💥💥💥💥.

03 Dec 2025 12:17:19
Family first and always.
I don’t care where he lives, if he turns up for work on time every day and puts in 100%, that’s all that matters.

03 Dec 2025 12:29:55
I think quite a few players live out that way, it’s more Cheshire than Manchester in reality but technically falls within GM. I guess amongst other things for him it’s easier and more anonymous to fly from Manchester as there are more flights to Amsterdam than from Liverpool.

Let’s be honest though you can live in Liverpool area and be at Manchester Airport in 30-40 mins so I don’t think it’s necessary unless you’re flying everyday. It was said he was offered places in Freshfield, South Liverpool, and Wirral where most other players and staff live but he declined.

It doesn’t really matter if someone chooses to live elsewhere, but there’s always the optics when things aren’t going well about a connection with the place. For those who remember Stan Colymore, a slightly more extreme example, was that player who was a record buy but spent a lot of time on the M6, and never seemed settled. There’s been others too since then, it does give an impression of someone passing through.

People really liked Rafa and Jurgen because of their connections with the area, and the work their families did for local charities, even though they lived in very exclusive enclaves in Caldy and Freshfield. They were just thought of as extensions of Liverpool and people appreciated that. Houllier lived by Sefton Park if I remember rightly so it does mean something, even if the days of being truly local are well gone.

03 Dec 2025 12:52:57
I repeat, I don't care where he lives. Nobody mentioned this last season. His kids are in the last years of school, and last year they were doing exams and he obviously wouldn't have wanted to disrupt that. Maybe they want to stay in the Netherlands (shock, horror) . Absolute tosh to blame this on players not performing. We won the kin league for gawd sake.

03 Dec 2025 13:02:17
Or what Barry? your digging someone out for not living in Liverpool he lives 30 minutes away. you do realize a lot of the squad live that way and only a few live in Formby.

03 Dec 2025 13:09:28
Travelling during the international breaks makes sense to me but I don't think it's sustainable in the long term to be doing it during the week.

03 Dec 2025 13:21:45
His family mustnt want to move which is understandable, doesn't he have a couple of teenagers? And everyone buggers off somewhere after the work on the training ground is done, just with Slot its sometimes on a very short flight to Holland. Just out of curiousity how many times a week are we talking about?

03 Dec 2025 13:24:41
No need to be so petulant Kloppers. I would never and have never called anyone embarrassing on this site. You're just being an ass for the sake of it.

03 Dec 2025 13:36:47
In answer to the question do many live locally, the answer is yes many of them do. Coaches and back room staff do as well, you see them about and their children are in local schools around where I live.

It obviously shifts over time but over recent teams Matip, Firminho, Kuyt, Reina, Leiva, Skrtel, Alonso, Sterling for example all lived around Woolton, Cressington, Allerton and Mossley Hill areas for some of their time with the club. One of the directors had a place in Woolton village for a bit, before going back to the US, one of the directors has a place in West Derby for match days and weekends, but lives in Scotland during the week.

In the Brendan and Jurgen era lots including them lived in Blundellsands, Freshfield or Formby and still do, with a couple in Wirral and Ormskirk.

Some of the British players have always chosen to live a bit further out for whatever reason.

03 Dec 2025 13:37:52
Yep half arsed.

03 Dec 2025 14:25:53
🥳🥳🥳. I love it when there are fireworks on here; even for the most inconsequential thing. If fans want to have a say on where their team's manager lives, then fine. And if fans want their manager to be with their family, that's fine too. But can't we talk about it without getting all personal and twisting undergarments? 😁😁😁.

03 Dec 2025 15:04:43
You can’t even get from our house to the axa in 30 mins.

Ordinarily everyone would agree family before work but being a football manager is not an ordinary job. We know when the boss is not around our effort goes down a bit. I think he will lose his job in the summer he doesn’t seem bothered so why should we.

03 Dec 2025 15:36:14
💥💥💥🥳🥳🥳😘😘🤣🤣🤣 H'ON THE LOUTH! I'M WITH BARRY! 😘😘🚀🚀🛸🛸.

03 Dec 2025 16:15:41
@Barry questioning someone’s commitment for the (apparent) crime of living 30 miles away from where he works is blowing things way, way out of proportion. If you read a bit more about it - which was publicised when Sot first took up the post, the family made the decision that his wife and children would stay in Holland as the children were approaching a critical time in their schooling.

It was . Is an expedient solution and wasn’t an issue until this week when some people found out (during which intervening period Slot won the PL) .

03 Dec 2025 16:38:30
I think any Liverpool manager should be living in the Merseyside area at the very least . also think the players should aswel. remember people moaning about Stan Collymore because he refused to move from his hometown ( Stone i think it was ) . you've got to be committed and show it . imagine all the Manchester players n managers Living in Merseyside.

03 Dec 2025 16:43:41
Here was me thinking he slept in the goalmouth between games.

03 Dec 2025 18:18:49
Ed01, Im not making excuses for Slot on this point. Far from it. Nor have I said the reason he has been failing is due to him not having his fam with him. At no point did or have I ever said that.

All I did was state that family is very important and if he has to take time of to go see his fam then, that should be his right provided this is baked in with the system he works under, agreed by the club. If it is not then, that is another matter.

Now if he is indeed having commitment issues to LFC due to him missing his fam way too much then by all means, he should resign and sort such stuff out in private. Just my opinion.

03 Dec 2025 23:40:06
Tbf if he does live in Hale that’s basically the posh part of Speke. Not technically classed as Liverpool but you can cross a road and be in Speke which is very much Liverpool and next to the airport.

02 Dec 2025 22:56:37
Roy Evans. Loved the guy. I think we were margins away from his team becoming a dominant force alongside United. The dreadful loss in the FA Cup final burst the balloon, and all belief in his system was gone.
But when Souness was blowing up the club, every fan and pundit seemed to be calling out for Roy to take over - and he did a pretty good job with us.


So, my question is: why did he never get a job at a top club again?
Did his sacking break him, or did he have obvious flaws that idiots like me could not spot?

02 Dec 2025 23:25:09
Fairly sure Ed001 said the sacking broke him. The nature of it was pretty effing brutal to be honest. "Oh yeah Roy, we got this great French bloke to come in and replace Ronnie Moran. Except he's not going to replace Ronnie Moran as your assistant, he's coming in as 'joint manager'. Isn't that a great idea? Now he's going to repeatedly undermine you in the most petty ways possible, but he is joint manager so he's not actually overruling you. Actually would you mind reading between the lines and sodding off cos I'm David Moores and I'm too spineless to actually sack you? "

I find it hard to really judge how good or bad he was. We played good football and despite Houllier's "we need 5 years" nonsense, we were probably only 3 signings away from being challengers. I'd nearly go as far as to say a keeper of Ali's calibre might've done it. We'd probably at least made the CL places in 96/ 97.

That being said, he struggled to buy a decent center back or goalkeeper. Some of that was down to the structure above him being piss, but at the same time he gave James way too many chances and spent the guts of a year trying to wrangle a work permit for Friedel instead of moving on to another target. And when the club did spend money, and big money for the time, on a CB, we bought Phil Babb.

03 Dec 2025 00:02:07
I’m 50 years old, Roy Evan’s is one of my favourite managers. Greame Souness gets some underserved stick in my opinion, he took over am ageing team who are well past their sell by date and tried to make some changes that were needed.

Fair enough the wrong ones but who ever came I. Was going to fail because of the success we’d had. A bit like moyes taking over from ferguson.

03 Dec 2025 00:23:19
He did have quite a few flaws as a manager, and although we played good football generally we weren’t as good defensively as we were going forwards from what I can remember. Spice boys tag was difficult to shift, probably correctly.

Why did he never manage top level elsewhere, probably because he was such a one club man and he was either typecast or didn’t really have the heart to do it. He popped up occasionally as a pundit and as a manager afterwards but it just didn’t seem to suit him. He was a humble guy.

03 Dec 2025 01:00:55
Wasn't Evans more of a coach than a manager? I heard that he was too close to the players and maybe not enough of a disciplinarian. And United had SAF keeping his players in check, at the time.

03 Dec 2025 01:16:11
Great read rhat, something red, I can't remember much from that period but you must be right!

03 Dec 2025 01:45:04
That was it Rigsby. A few local lads mixed in with players like Ruddock, and the era that it was socially, so he had his hands full. Very knowledgeable coach and decent man, but he was up against Fergie and that Man Utd team.

03 Dec 2025 02:00:17
Sound lad Roy Evans, proper Scouser and a member of the group of best football minds that you could find in any boot room in the world in the history of the game. Dreadfully undervalued when pushed out by the club but kept his dignity and deserves respect from all of us.

{Ed001's Note - lovely guy was Roy, so nice, but Moores shat on him from a great height. Then he ended up working with Swindon Town and Wales afterwards. Waste of one of the great coaches of all time.}

03 Dec 2025 02:24:39
He did 2 major things wrong in my eyes, 1. playing 3 at the back, moving away from the traditional Liverpool method never made sense and 2. He didn't crack down on the players. We were the spice boys under him.

{Ed001's Note - Moores wouldn't let him crack down, he would constantly undermine him as he thought he was mates with the players. When they got fines, Moores would cancel them etc. He would be in the dressing room at matches etc as well interfering. Even told him there was no money for a defender and then handed him Collymoore instead.}

03 Dec 2025 07:02:30
If roy Evans hadve had schemical in goal, who we should've had during souness era, instead of james I've no doubt he would've won at least 1 league.

03 Dec 2025 07:24:16
Roy Evans had us playing some nice attacking football, he was too nice of a man to compete with certain players but then the hierarchy decided that we needed a joint manager except it wasnt a joint manager really. he ended up playing 2nd fiddle . one of the worst decisions ever . ruined him.

03 Dec 2025 10:01:18
I don’t agree with the one keeper away from winning the league. We weren’t consistent enough under Evans and whilst the football was nice, it wasn’t clinical enough at points. The back four was decent but far from great.

03 Dec 2025 11:01:17
We made some horrendous mistakes back then. Not breaking the bank for Roy Keane, to me was the natural heir to Souness felt like a huge error, signing a visibly washed up Paul Ince (who was absolutely awful), the whole joint manager thing.

Could go on for days on it. Actually makes me appreciate that FSG are competent and quietly in the background.

David Moores ran the place like a social club, not a football club. Roy Evans is a good man and a good coach who was let down by an imbecile of an owner.

03 Dec 2025 12:18:29
Really decent man, Roy was despite all the horrible things Moores did to him. Still has no bad word to say about Moores, his woes as LFC managers etc. Kept his dignity and honor intact. A true gent, IMO.

As for the whole "joint manager" stuff, I remember that vividly. As soon as that got announced, I knew he was gone cos I had heard of the position of "assistant coach", never heard of "joint manager". That looked/ sounded spooky from the off.

03 Dec 2025 12:31:14
Doubt you’ll hear a bad word against him.
Lovely fella, great coach, good manager.

Easy to look back with hindsight and say he should have had more discipline. We played great football always competed. Had a great time as a fan under Roy.

03 Dec 2025 09:34:41
Seeing as PegLeg has let the cat out of the bag on birthdays I may as well roll with it, I'm 58, well, next week I will be, if God allows! (I don't mean Fowler btw! ) . Roy Evans is one of my favourite people that ever walked through the gates of LFC.

To say he was poorly treated would be a mega massive understatement. Anyway, I Can't wait to see ED25s numerical advantage. 🥳🤣😘🤣.

{Ed025's Note - im only a young looking 67 SG, enjoying my retirement and playing a lot of golf mate (badly), i agree on Roy though...always came across as a very nice guy..

03 Dec 2025 13:43:31
VV Ince was a good enough player at the time but he was in love with himself. Not what we needed from the captain when we were coming up short. The highlights of us beating Arsenal 4-0 at the end of 97/ 98 when they'd already won the league are on YouTube. Ince scored twice (I think) and celebrates like he's won the bloody World Cup single handedly. You're expecting that guy to drive you on when things are down? Nah.

I think Evans made Macca the captain ahead of the following season, but I could be wrong.

03 Dec 2025 15:40:18
I'd say you enjoy the golf alright ED25! Especially the 19th! 💥💥🤣🥳🍻🍺🍺🍹!

{Ed025's Note - its my favourite hole SG and where im at my best mate.. :)

03 Dec 2025 16:52:31
Roy was mr Liverpool, should have been brought back to the club in some capacity after GH was moved on. Treated like Cnut if you ask me.

03 Dec 2025 17:27:56
It’s really great to see all these positive posts about Roy. I thought him a pretty brave coach: I think the first to play 3 at the back in England? Or maybe John Gregory’s Villa were first?
John Scales was a good cb signing, Phil Babb less so (an early lesson in the dangers of signing a player on the back of a good World Cup) .
Playing Rob Jones as left wing back, and John Barnes as DM were bold moves.

Fowler and Macca never quite the same after he left.
Always felt it was a mistake to bin him, when what we actually needed was a proper sporting director handling transfers.

He should have had the backing to ship out the Souness signings of James and Ruddock (who single handedly let us be monstered in a European game, after which Roy said you can’t win in Europe if you defend like that) .

02 Dec 2025 22:46:29
Question for the Eds, Carra, Fields, etc: what names and positions will we be looking at for the upcoming Jan and summer windows? Any names we may not have heard yet?

Cheers lads.

03 Dec 2025 00:37:27
Just look online and type Liverpool transfers or go on Liverpool transfermarkt and look at rumours.

02 Dec 2025 22:14:29
Anyone still fancy Iraola?

A week in football is a long time and it is still a funny old game!

02 Dec 2025 23:29:08
A week? They haven't won a game in five weeks.

03 Dec 2025 00:03:31
Bournemouth in free fall for a while. Doesn’t make him a bad coach necessarily, they do sell most of their top players each year and it must be difficult to sustain. It raises questions though due to the number of goals they concede, which was exactly what was being levelled at Arne before the West Ham game.

Do they keep doing the same thing despite all of the losses?

03 Dec 2025 00:08:45
Bournemouth had five shots in the match. Boring, dare I say turgid football tonight, too.

03 Dec 2025 01:46:22
Did he spend 450million in the summer though?

03 Dec 2025 02:05:17
Go on, I’ll take the bait. No he didn’t spend 450m in the summer, but neither did Slot, so your question is, at the very, very least, ‘misguided’.

03 Dec 2025 02:15:47
Bournemouth much like Brighton play some good stuff but both are streaky sides. I wish we didn't have this manager bollox going on and Slot would just pull his tactical thumb out and keep it out.

03 Dec 2025 04:05:38
Give it a rest sloth.

03 Dec 2025 05:45:33
At least, they aren't struggling to score goals after spending over £250m on their attack. Their defensive frailties is understandable as they lost Dean Huijsen and Zabarnyi in one window. What do you expect?

03 Dec 2025 08:36:52
Bournemouth also had four of their back five sold the past summer. That would have impacted any team tbh. And despite that, they only have lost one game less than us and have only conceded one goal more.

03 Dec 2025 09:18:41
Still though, we only care about results! Slots been getting crucified on here for 2 months. Obviously he has more financial backing but he's also the guy who took us from 3rd to Champs while making a profit the summer before. Still got slaughtered by his own fans.

03 Dec 2025 12:20:34
I didn't realise B'mouth were trying to go back to back this season.

03 Dec 2025 13:03:00
All teams go through difficult spells, I think we’ve had ours.
We’re 9 points behind, 2 thirds of the season to go.

02 Dec 2025 19:08:21
Scott mctominay voted seria a player of the season. The lad seems to represent something a lot of fans and people in general like to see.
A humble hardworking lad, he was seen as surplus in a struggling big club, moved to Italy and thrived.

Never complained and loves live at a place where he's appreciated and getting the best out 9f him.
He's very representative of anyone leaving an environment where they're not appreciated and thriving in the right one. You love to see it.

02 Dec 2025 20:01:06
Are you trying to tell us you're leaving this site? Because let me tell you something I'd be all for that.

02 Dec 2025 21:32:09
TB2 😂.

02 Dec 2025 21:40:59
I love to see what, exactly?

02 Dec 2025 21:41:43
@thunderbird 😂😂 post of the day mate.

03 Dec 2025 01:03:58
I reckon they'll be changing the name of the Diego Armando Maradona stadium before too long.

03 Dec 2025 02:18:13
Ouch TB 🤣. Batman Ten Hagrid wanted rid of Maguire and McTom at a time when they were the only two putting in the effort. Happy for the lad.

02 Dec 2025 20:14:44
Another one man utd let go LOL.

02 Dec 2025 19:06:05
Thoughts with the families and survivors today.

I’m sorry for everything you have been put through for 36 long years. I’m sorry that justice will not be done for your loved ones and friends. I’m sorry for all the rubbish that people still come out with to this day. And i am in awe of your dignity and courage in dealing with all of that.

Never forgotten. JFT97.

{Ed001's Note - well said mate.}

02 Dec 2025 21:41:31
YNWA!

03 Dec 2025 07:53:23
👏👏👏👏what a disgrace this was 280 million spent and nothing gets done because they are retired, absolute sh#t show.

03 Dec 2025 20:26:18
Thank you mate as a survivor it still irks me that the police who lied have been able to live their lives with their families while our families still are mourn their loved ones.
The South Yorkshire will have a black cloud over them forever.

YNWA.

02 Dec 2025 19:07:35
When we went one up this is where we are most dangerous to ourselves we start fannying around passing the ball sideways and backwards then lose the ball and we are then under pressure.

This is what is killing us in nearly every game the best form of defence is attack which we did under Jurgen now Arne has to start doing this other wise we will be beaten more than we win and having watched Sunderland they are no mugs and they no how to dive for free kicks .

YNWA.

02 Dec 2025 19:29:53
We’ve barely gone 1-0 up this season.
Also can we have add an asterisk anytime people reference Klopp. The asterisk can be a reminder that whatever analogy or comparison you’re using is from Klopp’s peak teams and best seasons not the multiple seasons and strings of games we weren’t at our best.

02 Dec 2025 19:47:06
I've seen us defend a one nil under Klopp and attack with a one nil under Slot.
Lazy thinking, albey.

02 Dec 2025 19:52:05
Every game we have gone one up this season we have won.

02 Dec 2025 20:17:48
Let’s see tomorrow. We’re more than capable of winning the game, and maybe another clean sheet. With City winning tonight all of a sudden Arsenal may feel some pressure, injuries and pressure this early in the season could lead to them dropping more points than expected. If we win things start to get more interesting for top four.

02 Dec 2025 21:01:45
I think Klopp would feel real sadness if he read the disrespect for slot on these pages recently.

02 Dec 2025 21:42:54
Try again, @albeydered. Seems your overall point just got royally debunked.

02 Dec 2025 21:50:40
Yet, we are the only team in the Premier league this season not to have dropped points when winning.

03 Dec 2025 00:11:36
We haven’t drawn a game which is really odd this far into a season. Not sure what it says about us other than maybe we’re an all or nothing type team. Hopefully that carries on against Sunderland in a positive sense. Bizarrely because Brighton play Villa if we win tonight we’ll be fifth, and then Arsenal play Villa so we could easily be fourth on Saturday.

03 Dec 2025 02:08:22
@TB, dangerous times though, very dangerous 😉.

03 Dec 2025 02:23:25
Ironically Villa have won 8 of their last 9 games in the PL losing only to us. They can def get something at home to Arsenal this weekend.

03 Dec 2025 12:22:42
If they don't beat Arsenal outright, @Red Flyer.

03 Dec 2025 20:31:44
I bow to your football knowledge Rigsby . Have you Played a lot of football my friend . I will update my lazy thinking and try to do better in future . YNWA.

02 Dec 2025 12:47:45
Slot speaking very positively about Mo in his press conference.
Hoping to god that Arne has learned at least one lesson in the last few dreadful weeks, and keeps Mo on the bench tomorrow.
Sunderland will be so physical, we need 10 hard working outfield players. Cannot afford any passengers!
If we somehow fight, deal with the intensity of Sunderland tomorrow and get a win.

I may actually start to believe we can somehow claw our way out of this.
It will be a far more accurate representation of where we’re at compared to Sunday however, and I’m still not convinced.
It’s the hope that kills you as they say.

02 Dec 2025 13:30:43
Sunderland is a critical game in Slot’s and the team’s future.

02 Dec 2025 13:56:10
With our current lack of control in games, starting Mo is a gamble.

If the boys are up for it he could be great but it’s more likely we’ll have sporadic control and be up against it for extended periods. In those moments having Mo is like playing with 10 men and for me is simply not worth the risk.

It may also lift the likes of Wirtz and Isak to know the faith that’s been shown to them over the old guard.

02 Dec 2025 14:01:26
Pretty sure he said Mo was rested at the weekend with Sunderland in mind.

02 Dec 2025 14:09:52
I think that if Isak isn't starting, starting Mo is perfectly fine. My problem is having Isak and Mo in the same team, at this point it doesn't work. I feel like we can only afford to have one player in a starting eleven who doesn't need to put in as much effort off the ball as everybody else.

02 Dec 2025 13:19:35
Mo should start. He will have a point to prove to slot and he will occupy their fullbacks thinking which creates space elsewhere. Opposition managers still respect salah and his impact so we should do the same.

Salah ain't lost it he's just out of form.

02 Dec 2025 13:20:36
My 11 would be

Beckers
Joe konate virgil robbo

Gravy
Dom Jones

Salah Isak Wirtz.

02 Dec 2025 15:01:05
Definitely not ….
Salah ekitike gakpo.

02 Dec 2025 14:26:59
Alisson
Gomez Konate Virgil Robertson

Gravenberch Endo
Szobo

Wirtz
Ekitike Isak.

02 Dec 2025 15:40:33
I would prefer to keep same team as Sunday but have to keep inmind we have 3 games in 6 days this week. also considering we have isak+ wirtz only coming back from injuries, gomez hardly be fit for 3 games in 6 days either I'd go for 2mo nite:
Ali gomez konate vvd robbo. Grav jones wirtz.
Salah isak szobo.

02 Dec 2025 17:14:31
Isak will start given he scored and was taken off after 70 mins. Slot said he can't play 3 games for 90 minutes but intimated he can play a part in all 3 games. I agree with PB, it's too risky going back to playing Salah and Isak in same team as they don't have the intensity we need right now.

Add Wirtz to that who should play as he had a good game and I think it's even more unlikely Salah starts the game. Prob come on if we need a goal. If Slot starts Isak, Salah and Wirtz and we lose, he's probably cooked his goose.

02 Dec 2025 18:28:21
Bigger worry is Gomez, he certainly can’t play all the games coming up and we don’t have any other options.

02 Dec 2025 18:00:31
I totally agree that Salah and Isak can't both start and I'd personally ad Maca to that list and say no two of those three should be on the pitch at the same time. I don't see how Isak gets in the team ahead of a fit Ekitike ever personally, but I'd start Salah, Ekitike, and wirtz.

02 Dec 2025 19:01:07
Bradley might be back for the weekend.

02 Dec 2025 19:12:14
Have always loved Gomez. If only he could break his bad luck with injuries.
He played a huge role in Klopp’s title. What is striking is how all of Virgil’s partners have had exceptional periods, and then dreadful runs of form.

Matip, Gomez, Quansah, and Konate have all had dire times.
Testament to Virgil’s greatness that, while he has sometimes not been his usual 10/ 10, he has been pretty much perfect over so many years.

02 Dec 2025 19:55:37
Unfortunately with Jo he’s just not built for 20 plus games a season. He had a few great seasons performance wise, so he’s got it in him, but the most we could probably expect is 10/ 15 games. Joel Matip type profile, but maybe not as good as Joel. Good squad player when fit.

02 Dec 2025 20:32:16
I think Gomez has had an injection recently in his knee, so I would guess he will certainly have to manage how much he plays.

02 Dec 2025 21:28:53
............

{Ed025's Note - listen mate if all you can post is slagging off your own players and manager then i would rather you not post..

02 Dec 2025 21:46:36
Might be onto something there, PB. re: Isak and Salah. Isak and Salah are two players who don't (Isak shouldn't) track back so when outta possession, we will be one or two players short esp. on the right with Salah not tracking back.

02 Dec 2025 23:14:45
Bravo, Ed25 - there are only so many angry, negative posts one can take. Worth saying, though: your willingness to see the best in people is what makes this forum tick. You support Everton, but you are always so funny and generous in your responses. It’s a rare quality. And so hugely appreciated.

{Ed025's Note - this is supposed to be an enjoyable forum MS and while im an advocate of having different views on players and managers we cant let it descend into just slagging people off at every opportunity mate...cheers..

03 Dec 2025 00:18:24
I think we'll see a lot of Salah and Isak playing together. They're too good not to.

03 Dec 2025 02:12:30
Back to the match v Sunderland - if every one is fit enough, why not play the same team that beat West z ham? We actually looked like we all knew the plan and played like a team. chopping and changing can’t do much for continuity and team morale.

03 Dec 2025 02:28:27
I don't see why Salah can't play with Isak. Mo just has to get his passing boots on and take off those Blue Circle ones he's been wearing this season.

I'll get a game before Endo. This isn't the game for him. Sunderland love a good dive and the last thing we need is him flying in.

03 Dec 2025 07:37:36
Because the game isn't just about scoring goals, red flyer, we also have to press and defend off the ball, and having two non-pressing forwards is proving to be terrible for us.

03 Dec 2025 12:24:22
"Ed025's Note - listen mate if all you can post is slagging off your own players and manager then i would rather you not post. "


Trust me Ed25, he will NOT take the hint. Why? Cos he can't read the room.

{Ed025's Note - he will have to Oli or he will be removed mate..

02 Dec 2025 10:52:01
Its been confirmed Salah will depart for AFCON on the 15th December.

So the question is, do we keep him on the bench or do we start him?

Personally I would keep him on the bench. This will allow for a more cohesive unit in his absence. We need to plan for that and be in the right position to be able to keep trying to turn the corner. Obviously, him coming off the bench in games as well could have a big impact.

I ain't being disrespectful before anyone chimes in with that.

02 Dec 2025 11:28:14
I won't be upset either way as long as Salah gets replaced when he is ineffective rather than just keeping him on the pitch and hoping he does something. I'd personally be ok with bringing Salah in and replacing Macca with Dom in midfield. The problem is I don't see anybody in the squad who will tear it up at RW in Salah's absence. Playing Dom there made us far more solid defensively but he didn't offer a huge threat going forward.

Chiesa deserves a chance but I don't think that RW is his best position by a long shot. Wirtz is happy to drift over to the right so could he start there? I think that if Semenyo comes in then he starts at RW. Until then it's up for grabs by anybody (including Mo until he flies off) .

02 Dec 2025 11:34:02
I agree with that fully The Fields. Bench and impact sub. Let the team develop without him as part of the starting 11 for a bit until his return. It'll do it the world of good. IMO.

02 Dec 2025 11:34:06
I'm with you, Thefields. It won't please him, we all know that, but it should've been done weeks, if not months, ago.

02 Dec 2025 11:56:50
Yer I agree.

02 Dec 2025 12:01:46
He needs to stay on the bench, he’s going to be gone for weeks, I’m just waiting for him to spit his dummy out.

02 Dec 2025 12:15:18
Totally agree, has to stay on bench for time being. Maybe bring him on in second half against tired legs and make an impact that way.

02 Dec 2025 12:20:58
You're not being disrespectful you're just calling it as it is. For what it's worth I'd keep him on the bench.

02 Dec 2025 12:37:18
I agree, id expect some rotation from what Slot has said today, maybe give Chiesa a start for 60 mins or so then bring mo on.
In the past when he has come on with the arse on he generally does well.

02 Dec 2025 12:38:29
Pick the strongest 11. At this point in time, Salah drops out due to his bad form. Could start in a cup game perhaps.

02 Dec 2025 12:54:37
If it ain't broke, don't fix/ tinker with it, personally. Szobo playing on that right side gave Gomez licence to push up in attack while with Gakpo on the left, allowed Kerkez to alxo push up in attack, when required.

That provided the balance we needed for the whole team. We need to do what is working for the time being until it no longer works and then, change from there. To this end, Salah needs to hold bech/ come on before going to AFCON. The team comes first.

02 Dec 2025 13:12:15
Pick who's most ready for the game. They are coming thick and fast so Mo is definitely going to start some between now and when he heads off to the AFCON. I've no problem with that either, a refreshed Salah with something to prove is a dangerous animal.

02 Dec 2025 15:07:10
Going by what we've all seen so far from Slot, Salah will be starting. The only reason Slot benched Salah against WH is the fact that we play 4 games in 10 days.

Aside from WH's relatively poor quality, we won the game not because of Salah's absence but more due to our midfield (Gravenberch, Szoboszlai and Wirtz - the less said about Mac Allister the better) controlling the area well and linking up better than usual with the forwards.

02 Dec 2025 17:54:31
Is it just me or is Dec 15th super early for AFCON duty? I thought he usually doesn't leave until Jan?

02 Dec 2025 19:58:25
Seems early. It’s easier said than done to keep Mo on the bench as he’s such an icon, even though that’s probably the right thing to do. My guess is he’ll play tomorrow as it’s the path of least resistance for Arne, he can always take him off at half time if it’s not going well.

03 Dec 2025 02:29:32
AFCON is 3 weeks earlier this time around Snugs.

02 Dec 2025 08:35:37
Interesting read online about Alonso and his situation. Appears it's abit of his fault and the players. Important game this wednesday for him against Bilbao. Some players unhappy with his tactics and decisions. Take a read online yourselves.

02 Dec 2025 09:20:35
What a tease! You could at least elaborate on your second sentence or failing that give a slight clue as to which corner of the internet the article can be found!

02 Dec 2025 09:30:08
Which article is it, Keegan Perm? There are loads of Commentaries and articles on him so I'm not sure which one you're referring to.

02 Dec 2025 10:33:31
I just typed Alonso Madrid and read a few articles whether that's the The Athletic or Reports from Spain. Just seems like lots of different things are going on. What we can assume from Carras post is that if Madrid pull the plug we will go for him.

02 Dec 2025 12:35:05
I like to keep an eye on what goes on around the higher profile leagues in Europe and just from keeping tabs on Madrid and the line ups he has chosen since he has been there probably tells us everything we need to know.
Rodrygo hardly gets a look in, players such as Mastuono and Guler are key in Alonso’s ideas for moving Real forward and even when those two have been unavailable Brahim Diaz has played ahead of Rodrygo so we can assume he is unhappy.
M’bappe has flourished and is the main man in attack but whilst he looks happy I think this has put Vinicius’ nose out of joint and he has made no secret of his displeasure at being subbed off towards the end of games.
Camavinga is another player who Alonso has used somewhat sparingly in his time there and being a player that Ancelotti would even play at left back to keep him in the team I think it is safe to assume that he will be unhappy too.


Add to that what Ed 001 says about the fact that Xabi wants his players to work hard and build fitness and the majority of that Madrid squad are used to Ancelotti who is notoriously easy on his players and we can all see the same drama playing out that we have witnessed many times before with other groups of players and managers.
Madrid have stuttered somewhat since they beat Barce and more hints of player unrest keep surfacing.
I like Xabi and want to see him succeed but he would have been well aware of the risks of taking that job.

02 Dec 2025 14:20:00
To be fair Mastantuono and Guler are two cracking players to build the future of your team around.