Liverpool banter 5

01 Dec 2025 23:38:51
Anyone know what's going on with Bajcetic. According to Premier League Injuries he's not injured although Transfermarkt has him injured. Surely an option for us in the second half of the season or moved on if not good enough.

02 Dec 2025 09:14:26
He won’t get a game for us fit or not.

02 Dec 2025 09:27:56
He's back training but he will need to be carefully managed and eased in over time. He was out for 6 months so he won't be rushed. He will stay with the U21s until fully fit and as they have no more games until next year they ere hoping to arrange some friendlies that Bajetic could potentially play in this month.

He's widely regarded as having the ability to succeed but not necessarily the attitude.

02 Dec 2025 10:57:42
I assume the plan is to find him a loan in January. However, his fitness schedule might mean that could come too soon for him.

If he stays with the squad of the rest of the season, I wouldn't expect to him to be in contention for first team selection until February regardless. Unless of course he turns into a demon on the training field and forces opportunities - something that has been doubted about him already.

02 Dec 2025 10:59:51
He'd have worked out by now if he was suitable for us. His future lies elsewhere.

02 Dec 2025 12:48:19
Personally, I think given our shortcomings in the middle of the park, I think it would bd foolish not to give him a chance when he’s got his fitness back. I’d far rather see him at number 6 than either of Jones or Mac Allister.

02 Dec 2025 19:12:34
Vik, or anyone, what have you seen of Bajcetic that you'd prefer to see him as a six instead than Mac or Jones?
Is it a case of he couldn't do any worse? If it is, I can assure you that he could.

02 Dec 2025 19:24:10
It’s quite obvious the manager has his favourites despite how badly players perform. Reminds me of Sunday League when the managers son plays week in week out.

02 Dec 2025 21:15:39
Bajcetic had about 10 decent games for us few seasons ago . people can't expect him to be part of our plans, he's older n wiser n still not getting a look in . not sure if he's been injured but wouldn't count on him.

{Ed025's Note - certainly older Strom...i dont know about wiser mate..

01 Dec 2025 21:39:54
Hi Ed’s, just interested to know what style of football we could expect under say Alonso if he was to join at some point in the longer term. Would it be much different to slot/ klopp and are we reaching a bit to think he would be an upgrade on slot? I would love to see him coach us one day I’m just not sure how good he really is? Where do you think slot has gone wrong this year as there have been so many games where I genuinely can’t believe what I am seeing.

{Ed001's Note - impossible to say, he will try a few things to see what works, so it might not be what you would expect.}

02 Dec 2025 11:18:01
You know I'd take Iraola ahead of him. I may be totally wrong but think he's the real deal. Pardon the pun.

01 Dec 2025 22:25:45
Ngin, I only seen your post mate. I'd like us to go back to high intensity, high pressing football. Maybe the odd game, a change of approach but the ball and movement has to be far quicker and sharper.
The dross style of football we're playing regresses players touch and finishing. Wirtz fired in a great ball to gakpo against West ham and gakpos touch was terrible.

Lost opportunity but I've seen it too many times to many players. Their body's becoming too comfortable to a slower ball so they're slower to adjust to far quicker balls.
I want more bite, physicality and heart shown by every player that's chosen mate. But under a new manager, I want that in a prime klopp system.

02 Dec 2025 06:55:49
What you're saying is just that you want Klopp or Klopp football back. If we don't play as full throttle as you like but continue to win games, is there a problem with that? Gakpo having a loose first touch for one ball is also Slot's fault, I think I've heard it all now.

so all the times that Gakpo killed the ball dead in that game is because the balls were slow and dross, how about the layoff he got from Wirtz to set up Isak, was that slow or fast?

02 Dec 2025 09:38:49
I agree that we need to speed up our play and press better but you also need to remember that Klopp recognised that his rock 'n' roll football and full on gegenpress was not sustainable over a full season in the PL and even he slowed things down a little to save the players.

I suspect that the sweet spot is somewhere in between the 2.

As for the poor first touch - it is more likely to be down to confidence having been on such a poor run. A few wins and a bit of a feel good factor will see players naturally improve. At the moment it's just about digging deep and getting the results in any way possible so that the confidence starts to return and there is a solid foundation to build on.

02 Dec 2025 13:02:01
@Shipley, I think the sweet spot is the way we played last season. For ex. when we lose the ball we would rather drop into a defensive, compact shell as soon as possible which helped us become more difficult to penetrate.

In other times when we lost the ball, we would press and try to get it back and if it didn't work and the oppo. was on the counter, we would still double back into a compact shell.

Also, we would play an up-tempo game at pace in the press when required and then, let the oppo. have the ball (hence, resting on the ball) when required. So for me, last season's tactical mix as a whole, was the sweet spot. Whatchu think, man?

01 Dec 2025 21:16:08
I don't get the alonso hype by the club, as I believe Carra.
I watch the Madrid games to see how bellingham and trent are faring especially under alonso. Some of the lowest end teams are out battling and out smarting alonsos men in midfield.
Alonsos selections, rotation and subs hasn't been paying off as a whole. They look crap and madrids fans and media are relaying that same message. So why is he a dream for Edwards and Hughes?
He doesn't know how to get the best out of some outstanding players.

Yes they miss modric and kross but that's no excuse to what's happening. It's mechanical and being found out.
I actually thought the club would pray slot has some sort of decent turn around and season but look to Enrique in the summer.
Sorry alonso isn't the man for me. What has he done to warrant becoming our future manager?

01 Dec 2025 23:32:59
Plus at Leverkusen and now Madrid it's the 352 system which we didn't want Amorim for.

{Ed001's Note - he has played a back four as well at Madrid and before going to Leverkusen.}

01 Dec 2025 23:41:37
Won bayern Leverkusen their first ever league title.

I sometimes look at our squad and think a 352 or 361 would work very well. Almost seems built for that Leverkusen style Alonso played. I know others are against the 3 at the back idea but I almost think sometimes the squad dictate the formation. Getting the players in positions that suit them best and I think looking at our squad, 352 or 361 would work nicely. Especially with a coach like Alonso that knows how to play attacking football with it.

We do need some more CBs though. That will be needed.

02 Dec 2025 00:08:52
The issue with Madrid are the players, not the manager. They're throwing a tantrum because Alonso is getting them to work hard, come to training on time and put in effort. They're a bunch of babies who have been mollycoddled by Ancellotti for far too long.

02 Dec 2025 06:58:57
Madrid often looked crap under Ancelotti as well, it's just that they have good enough players to bail them out and playing Bellingham as a striker paid off big time, it's the same story with Madrid every year.

When you go into that team it's not just about tactics, there's the media circus and all the nonsense around player privilege, Alonso had to put a stop to all the players' friends and relatives attending their training sessions and hanging out in the locker rooms. The fact that he's trying to put a foot down and trying to work out a more cohesive structure with defined responsibilities for each player off the ball is itself worthy of attention.

02 Dec 2025 08:20:45
First league title in Germany thing is not as impressive as Ranieri winning the premier league in his first season with bottom feeding Leicester.

Sometimes weird things happen in first seasons - see Slot.

02 Dec 2025 09:24:49
The real issue with Real Madrid is that they are a horrible club run for the benefit of a group of egos who see themselves above the game and everybody associated with it. I honestly can’t see why anybody would want to watch them or have anything to do with them.

02 Dec 2025 13:04:32
Ed01, Alonso played a back 4 against us at Anfield a couple of weeks ago for starters.

Also as I have not been on here for a while (due to bereavement), are we looking at Alonso as a possible replacement for Slot at all? Cheers, man.

{Ed001's Note - he is the preferred choice to replace Slot if they decide he is to go, but as far as I am aware, Slot is not going anywhere just yet.}

02 Dec 2025 21:48:32
Thanks, Ed.

01 Dec 2025 19:41:02
This is not a rumour or inside information. I've already posted the info I know about our current predicament.

I was looking at some of the managers who's contracts expire in the summer. I've seen both Iraola and Glasner mentioned a bit, even Silva got a mention. One I've not seen mentioned is Dider Deschamps. I don't watch international footy, other than the world cup but I know he did well at Monaco, Juve and Marseille prior to taking over as France manager. Which has spanned 13 years and a world cup win, I think he is one of only 3 to win a world cup as a player and manager.

He's been out of club management a long time but has good pedigree.

If he was an option, would you take him of we were to cut ties with Slot in the summer?

01 Dec 2025 19:48:59
No. Would take iraola over him.

01 Dec 2025 19:49:03
His managerial career at club was fairly unremarkable. I don’t think he’d handle the demands of club management.

01 Dec 2025 20:32:02
He;s a great water carrier though.

01 Dec 2025 21:13:35
The Fields, certainly a tad left field that one!, I wouldn't actually chance him, Would you?

01 Dec 2025 23:12:47
Not for me and, for what it's worth, I think France have actually underperformed under his management. With their talent pool they should be winning absolutely everything in my opinion. An embarrassment of riches all over the pitch, sacre bleu!

01 Dec 2025 23:29:22
I don’t think it’s a good choice tbh to long out of regular management. but say to unremarkable is mental he’s won wherever he’s gone. he only left Juve due to the ownership being morons.

02 Dec 2025 01:29:15
Isn't he known for turgid and boring football?

02 Dec 2025 06:39:52
Iraola for me.

02 Dec 2025 08:59:51
Iraola plus Areola on the pitch roller with the Rola Cola.

02 Dec 2025 10:45:53
Shanklys Ghost. Honestly, I like him as a manager but have concerns about the fact he has been out of club management for a long time. He would need time to adjust, something I don't think he would be afford by some fans.

02 Dec 2025 10:59:23
Alonso would be a long term, legacy manager. I could see him staying as long as Klopp or longer.
Whatever is happening at Madrid is mostly related to entitled players being forced into changes which have affected some of the creature comforts the players have had.
The game is changing - talent alone is not enough.

02 Dec 2025 13:06:21
@Fields, Deschamps? If good footie is what you are looking for then, Deschamps is the last guy anyone should be looking at. Hard pass.

01 Dec 2025 20:36:06
Ed001 I got a bit of stick yesterday for saying I hope we lose. Looking at the big picture am still not sold on Arsenal don’t think they we lose too many games but I see them drawing a lot of games as they are nowhere near the side the media would love them to be. If we beat them at there ground it’s 6 points so that with 24 games is nothing but I stand by my comments yesterday’s and under slot we are looking awful with without being bias
I think by far the best team in the league we could easily wrap up a 20 game winning streak.


The stick that Wirtz has got has been ridiculous if people watching us can’t see his quality then they don’t know what they are looking at to add to that Ekitike and Isak we have so many goals it is unreal.
I never want us to lose Ed even when the game started yesterday but when am not watching and can take all emotion out of it I feel so is drastically needed to not waste a full season.

01 Dec 2025 19:44:08
You should have gotten a lot of stick for saying you hope we lose.

01 Dec 2025 20:48:56
In 60 odd years supporting the club I can’t ever remember a match when I’d hope we lose.

01 Dec 2025 22:23:42
If us losing meant Man Utd won the league, i would hope we slip up. I can’t think of any other scenario where i would want us to lose a game.

02 Dec 2025 01:45:33
Well, Grino, I’m with you completely and I don't care about getting told how bad of a supporter I am because of an opinion on the internet lol.

You took some stick for saying it but you were spot on. I was hoping for a loss as well because all that result did was delay the inevitable. Some people genuinely think we’re back after beating a dreadful WH side? come on.

Credit to the lads for grinding out the win, I’m very happy for the three points, but I still want this whole Slot saga wrapped up. The sooner he goes the sooner we can actually move forward. Under him we’re nowhere near the team we should be. We’re capable of so much more than scraping the odd win every now and then.

And as for Rome saying you’re “not a supporter” for thinking this way? Utter nonsense. Ignore that clownery, mate. You are a supporter, one who actually wants the best for the club instead of pretending everything’s fine. Your reasons are completely fair, no matter what anyone says.

I’m in full agreement with you. I was hoping for a loss as well and I stand by it 100%.

02 Dec 2025 02:33:40
Saying you hope we lose and also calling yourself a supporter, the irony. That’s literally the opposite of being a supporter. You have one job and you can’t even do that.

02 Dec 2025 05:47:37
To clarify then, whilst Slot is in charge you want the team to lose so he gets the sack? Watching on Sunday and a bit disappointed when we scored? Sorry lads but that's not support.
We don't know how the next few games will go, if badly then im sure he'll get the chop if things go well then who knows.


I personally think his time is up but wanting us to lose to get a change a bit quicker is ridiculous. What if he ends up proving us all wrong?

02 Dec 2025 06:29:57
I can’t think of too many Liverpool fans that want their team to win under any circumstances. That’s pretty bad and goes against everything that a fan is meant to be in my opinion.

02 Dec 2025 07:01:55
Care to clarify your meaning, the irish rover? I want my team to win every game.

Slot's days might be numbered, but I think the West Ham game started to show us what a Liverpool team post-Salah is going to look like, and that's what many of us have wanted to see, the Liverpool of the future. I'm not saying that Salah's time is up, I'm sure he still has a lot to contribute to this team and he is for me possibly the greatest Liverpool player I have seen in my lifetime, but his role in the team needs to change and he needs to get used to it. Slot made the big call for this game, give him some credit at least.

02 Dec 2025 09:33:40
@Grino, @Salah, you are correct in saying that it’s inevitable that Slot will leave. Of course he will unless he can pull off the trick of living forever. It’s inevitable that all managers and players will leave all clubs in the future, as an example.

The thing that I believe you are missing is that each game should be judged on its merits. Fans go to / watch matches because they support the team and want the team to play the best it can every game. That didn’t change for me from the 1990’s until our next Lwague Championship success. i should add that I don’t think Slot is our long term solution but even so I’d still want the team he picks to win every game they play.

02 Dec 2025 10:35:55
You’ve lost me Patrik.

{Ed025's Note - read your post back Irish, i think you got the words lose and win mixed up mate..

02 Dec 2025 11:07:01
Jesus 😂. That puts a whole new look on it!

{Ed025's Note - we all make mistakes mate...well except me.. :)

02 Dec 2025 13:09:57
"Ed001 I got a bit of stick yesterday for saying I hope we lose. "


Sorry, you lost me immediately after that waffle. As bad as it got with Roy and BR, I never wanted us to lose.

Pathetic.

02 Dec 2025 17:59:54
Salah, you telling us what is best for the club is not necessarily what is best for the club. And an opposing opinion is clownery and should be ignored, should it?
That's some ego you've got there, lad.
I remember the summer of '24 and you were unhappy with the squad and our transfer window but we easily won the League.
This summer you were made up with the squad and transfer window and we are struggling.

You said that we would win the League again.
You want us to lose but are very happy with that three points and gave credit to Slot for us winning the League but want this saga wrapped up?
Keep changing your mind and wanting us to lose because your reasons are 'completely fair'.
I think 😂.

01 Dec 2025 19:04:47
Further to Carra's post about Slot's future, at what stage have those higher up decided to give up on him? The club's execs would have heralded him last year when the title was bagged. Where and when have they felt they've backed the wrong horse?

01 Dec 2025 19:50:02
Probably after losing 9 out of 12 games and not changing a thing.

01 Dec 2025 20:49:44
The son of Negativewalter?

01 Dec 2025 21:43:10
In fairness @slothsnotgotwhat that's a very funny response.

02 Dec 2025 03:32:16
Anyone get the feeling Sloth is Harry who promised to leave and not come back?

02 Dec 2025 09:32:45
I don't know if they have given up on him, Carra's latest post on Slot was a lot less definite than the original imo.

Not saying I don't think frank conversations have been held between Slot and Co, but we've gone from "set to leave, club looking for a replacement, arne informed" to "still likely to leave, club will move for alonso if available".

02 Dec 2025 13:14:31
The heirarchy will not be doing anything hasty regardless of how much people want them to. King Kenny was always going to walk after the way he handled the Suarez saga (per, the late Ed02) in that season despite him playing two finals and winning one of them with no CL footie.

Also, they could have fired BR way earlier and still didn't do it. As soon as they found the guy they wanted to replace him (Klopp), he got his walking papaers even before his final game at Everton, if Im not mistaken.

Now things may change and they sack him soon BUT not before the suits at the club think it is time. It's the way it is, based on precedent.

01 Dec 2025 19:39:03
Ed001 do you think Gomez could play on Wednesday? He made a difference IMO as Konate had a pass if needed. Was very surprised he played a full game! Would be good to see him get 60-70 mins.

Sunderland will be a much harder challenge as they simply don't have respect for anybody. Really been impressive this season. Shocked me with their effort. Granite looks great for them.

YNWA.

{Ed001's Note - he should be able to.}

01 Dec 2025 19:21:06
Eds,

When do the players find out who is playing in the first 11 for the next game? Is it the same for each game.

Also, when a player is dropped, do they get a call from Slot or an explanation. Would someone like Mo get treated differenly to say someone like Kerkez.

{Ed001's Note - the timing depends, you can't always know until the last minute, but managers like to work with their chosen team ahead of the game if possible.}

01 Dec 2025 19:34:48
Sunderland h
Leeds a
Brighton h
Spurs a
Wolves h
Leeds h
Fulham a

That's the fixtures before we face Arsenal away. 21 points Available. Titles done but top 4 is a must and all these games can be won. Sunderland and I'd say Fulham the two toughest. 17/ 18 points is what I hope we can get.

01 Dec 2025 19:12:04
I don't consider the title gone, not yet anyway. I'll admit it looks extremely unlikely given what we've seen so far but 9 points behind with 25 games to play isn't insurmountable.

All we can do is win our next game, if we can keep doing that, build some confidence and get a couple of reinforcements in January who know where we'll end up come the end of the season.

01 Dec 2025 19:52:03
Title is gone, long gone. Top 4 will be a massive task with Slot still at the wheel.

01 Dec 2025 20:52:12
All that really matters is the game against Sunderland and winning the three points. Everybody else doesn’t matter.

01 Dec 2025 22:52:05
Title may be gone, but although Arsenal have been the best team so far and have a good squad I think City or Chelsea may still have a chance.

As for top four, given our run of fixtures and Jan window coming up, I would have thought we could just as easily do it as miss out. Sunderland and Leeds fixtures are very winnable, focus on those games and take it from there.

01 Dec 2025 23:55:11
Top 4 is all im looking at . it will take us about 5 games to get the confidence back, that's if we play well n win them all, but who is to say that'll happen.

02 Dec 2025 13:16:59
One game at a time. No point forecasting what is dead and what is still alive. We put ourselves in this position.

And if the players and manager's have any sense, they shouldn't even be looking at the table right now.

01 Dec 2025 19:09:51
I’ve been an avid reader of this site for years and only in the past few months plucked up the courage to start posting some of my own opinions.

The huge, huge majority on here are unbelievably knowledgeable football fans as regards tactics etc and their in-depth knowledge of this brilliant club - my knowledge comes from following the club as a young lad and that was a long time ago and seeing the great times and the not so great times .

I’ll readily admit I’ve been hugely critical of Slot and I’ve had and still have big doubts if he can turn this around . If he doesn’t in the next few weeks I think the board will act which will no doubt please a few on here - if they don’t “get rid” then it means he’s most likely turned the corner and I for one will be chuffed to bits for the bloke, unlike a few on these sites that will happily see the team
Lose a few games so a thoroughly decent bloke gets the boot!


In the years of Klopp being in charge we had some pretty ropey periods of form and one resulting in failure to get into the champions league, you could also argue that Klopps teams never won anything near the trophies they should have won with the sides they had - 1 more title and 1 more champions league should of been in the cabinet imo!

I remember in 75 when Paisley took Over from Shanks -he was unproven and that season wasn’t great - 2nd or 3rd I think and Derby won it - it was 76 onwards when it was trophies galore - Paisley took over from a force of nature much like Slott has done from Klopp- if Slott gets us a champions league spot this season with a transitional team then I’d take that from him!

This years league will have a lot more twists and turns inc those for City ( who aren’t great ) and Chelsea ( who aren’t great ) and Arsenal who will still go through a bad run .

Beat Sunderland on Weds with some pivotal fixtures this week and the league opens up again!

Just my opinion before I get jumped on 😂.

01 Dec 2025 19:02:44
The huge, huge majority of unbelievably knowledgeable posters mustn't post very often, then, Bristol 😂.
And never worry about getting jumped on, mate!

01 Dec 2025 19:57:22
I don't think anyone here wanted him to get the boot at the start of this season.
When you see the way the team has been playing and the way in which Slot has them playing and obviously it hasn't worked and he's failed to change anything.
Also the way he's treated some players on the bench is disgusting.


Rodgers git sacked for less. Don't think there's any coming back for Slot and it's been all his own doing. Time for him to go . Thanks for the league last year but it's been all backwards since after spending 450 million.

01 Dec 2025 20:55:53
@Sloth, I think it’s obvious that you want Slot sacked. It seems equally obvious that the club are giving him time to fix things. Why isn’t that the end of the story? Until LFC change their position it seems pointless to keep saying the same thing every time you post.

01 Dec 2025 22:33:51
What is this nonsense about Rodgers getting sacked for less! He had a whole entire poor season followed by an appalling start to the next one after replacing Suarez with Rickie Lambert and Balotelli.

02 Dec 2025 01:44:19
That's not going to stop him berating Edwards and Hughes every chance he gets, WDW, he's positively obsessed and is convinced that slot is the antichrist.

02 Dec 2025 09:36:32
I know but I felt I should at least try. It can’t be doing the fella’s state of mind much good.

02 Dec 2025 13:23:07
"Rodgers git sacked for less. ".

Is this a sick joke, @Sloth? Seriously, you must have been asleep during BR's time here. The guy could/ should have been sacked literaly 8 months before he eventually got the boot.

Also, did BR win a league title like Slot did? Mate, go give your head a wobble.

Also, I propose you go back into history and rewatch that period (14/ 15 to early 15/ 16) again cos that statement above is patently false.

01 Dec 2025 16:00:33
Good result. Solid and unspectacular performance.

Gomez at right back is exactly what was needed. It made us much more solid to have 3 natural CB's on the pitch. He protected Konate so much better. Even put in a couple of good crosses.

Isak looks much better with Dom and Wirtz both behind him. Can see he's not quite sharp though as he could've had a couple of tap ins if he'd been quicker across the defenders.

Wirtz was absolutely sensational, he ran the show. Kerkez benefitted from the better structure too. However, Mac Allister and Konate are still miles off it. It felt like they could cost us a goal at any moment.

Fair play to Slot actually doing something brave at long last. It may still be too late to save his job unfortunately for him, but maybe he's finally learning.

01 Dec 2025 15:28:08
Call it the pessimist inside me, Wirtz was good, yet far from sensational. Nothing against the lad, i want to see him succeed. Gomez trying to dribble in the opposing third cracked me up haha.

Our build up was still slow, and it's going to cost us against better or proactive teams as it has been throughout the season. Good finish from Isak. The win will definitely take some pressure off our new signings.

01 Dec 2025 15:33:52
Konate looks better than he has done but Macca is still way off and unable to find a teammate with a simple pass. He should have been sat next to Salah. Overall though a much better performance and a step in the right direction.

01 Dec 2025 15:34:12
@Mk - Agree. If memory serves right, I think Wirtz and Isak linked very well againt Athletico Madrid! as well which got me really excited.

01 Dec 2025 18:19:16
Who would have thought

Change some things around

Different results 🤷🏻‍♂️.