Liverpool banter 5

03 Sep 2026 19:36:58
Ed001

Thanks for all your hard work over summer

There is obviously a lot of noise about transfers and the squad at the moment etc, but I'd be interested to hear how you are feeling generally about the season and our chances overall.

I'm still hopeful of a good season - the football should be better than last years at the very least!

Thanks

{Ed001's Note - I am very excited about the season and watching the team develop under Iraola.}

03 Sep 2026 20:10:23
As am I Ed 💪🏻 although it's time to get a win now. Friday night has to be a win.

1 win in the first 3 games isn't too much to expect Isit?

03 Sep 2026 20:41:14
When Klopp first took over as manager in 2015, we drew our first three games and won the fourth, which, funnily enough, was against Bournemouth. When the message is that the team is in transition, this is what to expect. Forget how much players cost us and expectations of how they should or shouldn't perform. Give it time, Reds, and great things will happen.

{Ed025's Note - i think playing Ipswich away tomorrow will be ideal for you FM, i think you will beat them easily and kick start your season mate, confidence will be up and you will progress from there..

03 Sep 2026 21:09:43
Ed001 I'm actually getting a good vibe from Andoni in the same way I felt about Klopp. My only concern is the very short contract he's on

{Ed001's Note - I think he was the best option. I am not worried about the short contract as it means he has to earn a new one.}

03 Sep 2026 21:43:17
Let's face it, the transfer window wasn't great, at the very least we were too indecisive and we could have done with a few more bodies through the door.

Having said that, it doesn't diminish my excitement for the season ahead as I'm looking forward to how Andoni gets the current crop of players playing his brand of football and seeing some of the youngsters given a chance.

03 Sep 2026 22:22:55
Coulred, the 2-year contract was Andoni's idea and he explained it well, so nothing to worry about.

03 Sep 2026 22:08:55
Ed25 coming in with the commentators curse

{Ed025's Note - im not you know Faith..

03 Sep 2026 23:32:27
Lol 25, well, can you stop talking us up cos it's not delivered us a win yet!!

{Ed025's Note -im just warming up Faith, 4-0 to the reds tonight mate...you heard it here first.. :)

04 Sep 2026 00:04:40
Hey @25, whilst we are on the topic of how teams will go this season, I see Everton are on the trail of the free agent Jamie Vardy. My question is - does it count as a football related topic 😀😉

{Ed025's Note - probably not this season WDW, but dont worry about us mate we will be owned by Elon Musk next season and be able too afford as many £100m flops as you lot mate.. :)

04 Sep 2026 09:02:44
IMO it will be a mixed bag the first 10 games. Then we will kick on and see a full on AI team.

03 Sep 2026 18:51:11
Eds 001 what r your thoughts on sboz at right back. Short term fix? Longterm to make space for Wirtz or r we trying to make square pegs fit in round holes.

{Ed001's Note - might be a good place for him to learn a bit about positional discipline and tactical awareness.}

03 Sep 2026 22:10:38
Iraola can build on what Slot started with Jones/Dom last season.
lol.
On a serious note, I’d rather we persist with Frimpong and give him the chance to get better as well as the defense as a unit gets better.

Dom is never playing there long term.

{Ed666's Note - have we got a choice with regards to Frimpong mate? Because Rio & Cody can’t play that position..Slob & Frimpong for me on the right side till January

03 Sep 2026 23:35:51
Triple6 - yeah not really aye although, did you listen to the pre-match presser? Iraola was talking positively about Dom's attitude to do what's needed for the team. Could lend to the idea that Iraola is heading in that direction.

For me, as I've said, I think our issue is connection more than individuals. I don't blame Frimpong for either of the goals we conceded vs Forest. And it'd have been interesting to see the foot race had Frimpong had a 10 yard head start vs Elanga lol

I'd lean towards Dom at RB if it was going to be a long term position change or something for the season.

And the other reason is that it means Macca is likely slotting into the midfield and I'm not sure he is ready for that double pivot role with Grav!

You know what we should do triple6 - as soon as Gomez is fit, we should put him or Araujo at RB and give whoever is at RW real protection.

{Ed666's Note - You make some salient points mate. I’m also just realizing with the addition of Barcola passages of play and the style of our football will improve and mature. I think Wirtz and Barcola on the left will dovetail well create chances and hopefully we’ll win some football matches. Because of this the right side may not be such of an issue so Araujo, Gomez, Gakpo, Frimpong and Slob can do a job there until Bradley gets fit or we reinforce in January whichever comes first. On reflection I’m a lot more confident of our situation than I was at on 11pm Tuesday night (BST). Let’s keep our fingers crossed we can stay within 6 points of the leaders in January and then strengthen in the next transfer window and who knows what happens then? I’m trying to be glass half full

04 Sep 2026 00:43:55
Frimpong on the bench for when we're desperate. Szob and Araujo for me.

04 Sep 2026 03:34:41
Stick Dom at RB for another season and watch him pish for a move next summer.

04 Sep 2026 06:56:12
He’ll be captain next summer.

04 Sep 2026 08:33:22
I'm sorry, but my assessment of the RHS of our team is more withering than the optimistic people here. I enter each season with the hope of competing for and hopefully winning the league and the Champions League. To achieve those goals, the club requires a team and manager who are able to compete with the other big boys who also harbour the same ambition. Any weaknesses in our team will be acutely exploited by the opposition. European managers, Premier League managers, even Carrick, will see the void on our RHS and also in the CM. They will hammer upon it until it gives, which it will, due to the fact that we actually do not have a RB or RW skilled or fit enough to play at this high level. That's a damning indictment on the club. To enter the season without either is leaving the team, manager and supporters starting on the back foot and hoping we can somehow stay in touch with the leaders to try and address these glaring gaps in January 27.

Whatever way you look at it, that's just not good enough for a club of our level. We should always play our best players in their best positions. Sobozolai at RB is out of position, but unfortunately he's now the only player we have capable of playing RB, but at the expense of an already weak midfield. Iraola will improve the team but he's not going to turn water into wine. Anyone who thinks he can solve the problems we have with the players at his disposal is not being realistic whatsoever. We needed 5 top level players. We got 1. We're hopeful but LFC should be more than just hopeful. That's my take on it all anyway and perhaps I'll end up eating my words come next May but I doubt it. Anyway, onwards to Ipswich and victory!! Hopefully.

04 Sep 2026 08:32:24
Strange way of putting in a transfer request chewy.
Is it bladder dependant?

04 Sep 2026 08:45:32
Very good points from both Ed's and several others. The only way you can play Szobo, Macca, Grav and Wirtz in the same team is for Szobo to play RB and tuck into midfield for the overload to help with build up.

Cos with his passing ability from deep, he is the only thing anywhere close to Trent in build up because Frimpong ain't the one to do that. And he has actual end product due to his acurracy at delivery, another thing Frimpong does not possess.

And I agree with Ed666 that with Wirtz and Barcola on that left half space, that could be a gateway into hurting teams. Really exciting times but let us remember that it is going to be a slow burn and things will get

04 Sep 2026 10:28:08
Flash, 🤣 not your typical form of notifying the higher-ups of your wishes, but that's what happens when you're fed up with being played out of position for the best part of 2 seasons.

04 Sep 2026 10:54:29
I think you’re being overly pessimistic there, Shankly.

Munoz did very well on the right and scored a great goal. Cody made a great assist from the right side in the same game.

The more these players play there, the better they will get. We also have to remember that we have played with inverted wide forwards instead of wingers for the last 10 years. We will be playing in a different way moving forward, so Cody and Munoz are actually better suited to the right side than they are the left, being right footed.

We are now asking our wingers to stay wide, get in behind and put balls across the box, so being right footed on the right is more suited to that.

Generally though we have 4 very good wingers who can actually play both sides depending on what we need.



I also expect Frimpong and Kerkez to get better as they get used to the system along with everyone else.

The glaring issue is midfield balance, but I saw improvements in the second half against Forest so there’s no reason to think that won’t improve further. I don’t think it’s just down to the midfield anyway; it’s more the CBs defending on the front foot rather than backing off.

It was noticeable in the second half against Forest: Virgil and Jacquet were pushed right up, so when the ball breaks into midfield (like it did for Newcastle's first goal) they are closer to the play so can engage in the opposition’s half rather than retreating to the edge of their own box.

This is the biggest thing we need to get right in my opinion, and everything else will follow.

04 Sep 2026 13:04:40
Time will tell, Rio. Enjoy the match tonight!

03 Sep 2026 18:05:29
Vitor Matos has got Swansea currently top of the Championship. Looks a great, promising manager and one to keep an eye on in the future.

Saw a video of him in the changing room after their recent win and he appears to be a good man as well.

03 Sep 2026 18:45:17
There was a touch of David Brent about his inspirational
speech. Let’s send some loanees there.

03 Sep 2026 18:04:24
Apparently Szobo has been training RB all week. Not sure if that’s where he is going to play most games now. Me personally, I don’t think that’s too much of a bad thing. Last game when he went RB he actually played better than when he was in midfield, but at the same time it is embarrassing that we have to do that.

What’s the general opinion on that if Szobo actually may become a nailed on RB?

03 Sep 2026 18:37:25
Last season he actually played better than when he was in midfield a lot of the time. He’s very good at RB considering he’s never done it. Seems so many think it’s a good idea, it seems mad to think everyone was losing their minds over it last year. 🤔

03 Sep 2026 18:46:23
He has an engine and good longer-range passing. I think he makes an excellent RB in this system and could go some way to replacing Trent.

03 Sep 2026 18:57:39
I’m for it, solves multiple issues in the midfield and gives us a reliable delivery option from the right.

03 Sep 2026 19:01:05
If he's going to play midfield, I would rather he was used in a midfield 3 in a box to box role. I don't think he suits the deeper role next to Gravenberch, and I don't think he's better than Wirtz as a 10, so I think RB is a good use of his talents unless we plan on switching back to a 4-3-3.

03 Sep 2026 19:27:40
He's not great at defending and was caught out many times before positionally at right back.
He should be tried on the right wing but because Frimpong offers nothing going forward, we've another manager sticking sob at right back. Now we've two available first team midfielders. Unbelievable.

03 Sep 2026 19:30:25
Like has been said on here, the pelters Slot got for playing Szob at RB were off the scale. As it is, he is the best RB in the squad. If that's where he starts tomorrow, that's fine by me.

03 Sep 2026 19:38:51
I'm also perfectly happy with seeing Dom start at RB if that's what our highly paid coach thinks is the best option. I'm fine because I know these elite coaches know an awful lot about football. Lots more than the casual armchair fan. 😂

03 Sep 2026 20:33:27
Absolutely scandalous that the sporting director leaves our coach in a position where Szob is literally our best option at RB, can’t believe for 1 second that AI hasn’t asked for a starting RB.

03 Sep 2026 21:09:35
Iraola has already said that Bradley will be our RB moving forward.

03 Sep 2026 21:12:34
Why would you be embarrassed that a player contracted to Liverpool could be playing in a different position, RedHorizon?

That makes no sense mate.

I don’t think Szob should play RB but at the end of the day he is a Liverpool player and has to play wherever the manager wants him to and I’m not embarrassed about that at all.



In fact I don’t think I’ve ever, in my 49 years of life, been embarrassed to be a Liverpool fan. It’s great being a Liverpool fan. We don’t win every trophy, every year but in my lifetime I’ve seen us lift more than our fair share.

03 Sep 2026 21:48:21
Well said Rio.

03 Sep 2026 22:12:44
I’d say he’d look to leave if we tried to turn him into an RB.

{Ed666's Note - I think he’ll accept the role till January until we buy a dedicated RB. If we don’t buy one in January I agree he’ll want out.

03 Sep 2026 23:07:02
So let him get out, when they ask a player playing for Liverpool what their favourite position is, the answer should always be: on the field, wherever I can help the team the most.

04 Sep 2026 00:47:42
Tell him he’s the new Trent. He's going to be the best rb in the world. I’m sure he’ll stay.

04 Sep 2026 03:06:39
What I am concerned about is does this mean AI thinks Szoboszlai cannot be coached to do his job in midfield? Or that it buys him time to bed Wirtz in and mould the team around him?

04 Sep 2026 03:34:22
This will end in tears.

04 Sep 2026 06:14:23
@rio Well mainly because Szobo is not a RB, mate. 😅 We had the opportunity to buy a natural RB and we failed to do so. It's nothing about me being embarrassed to be a Liverpool fan. It's like saying you are happy for Virgil to play upfront then because he is a contracted Liverpool player. That makes no sense.

04 Sep 2026 08:52:29
@swampdonkey, my sentiments exactly. Now I don't want Szobo at RB at all, but at this point esp. till Bradley comes back and gets his legs back, we need someone to play the RB role the way Iraola wants to play it for now.

Now there are other things we can do like coach up Frimpong or play Araujo at RB (don't want that cos that leaves us short at CB), however for me, this is the correct option for now.

And it gives us an opportunity to get all our good mid's on the pitch at the same time.

03 Sep 2026 17:34:42
We now know the squad going forward, a hectic schedule awaits, Ipswich tomorrow (really looking forward to the game), followed by 3 games in 6 days.

I might be in the minority but I’ve liked a lot of what we’ve produced in the 2 games so far, we’ve tried to win from the off in both. However, all 4 goals conceded were poor from the team, but we have a great coach / manager who I have utmost faith in.

Cody playing on the right side had a good game going forward, beat players and got crosses in, one resulting in Isak’s goal.

The manager spoke today about players connections etc. Forest's 1st goal came initially from their throw in near our corner flag, ball gets cleared upfield towards their keeper who’s nailed on to punt it long. As the ball makes its way up to him, Frimpong sprints 30 yards upfield to press the left back leaving Gapko to cover the eventual scorer who is stood in space right behind him, but Cody doesn’t switch on.

In fact, he has a power nap while the game goes on around him, leaving Ndoye unattended. 1-0 to Forest.

Pretty poor basic stuff from both Frimpong & Gapko, but it’s not rocket science so hopefully more time under Iraola’s guidance, we should quickly improve all over the pitch with these connections.

Hopefully we see some minutes from Monsieur Barcola tomorrow evening. The possibilities now to attack both wings, get to the byline, will definitely improve Isak’s mindset.

I think we may start the game with Munoz left wing, Gapko right, Isak & Wirtz, that’s a good looking front 4 which should be enough to put Ipswich to the sword 🤞

All in all I can’t wait for the game.


YNWA

03 Sep 2026 20:26:20
Agree sizemick, it’s going to get the players up to speed and then we should start to cut out these mistakes, hopefully.

04 Sep 2026 08:56:34
I agree as well with you, OP. The Gakpo/Frimpong mess-up is just a case of poor communication, which is mostly due to the current lack of structure in the team right now, early doors.

That is what Iraola is referring to and keeps talking about, which is actual fact.

The team just needs to keep working hard to get the structure, balance and comms right, cos we have some very good talent on the team esp. up front. We just have to stay the course and let Doni cook. Impatience will get nobody nowhere fast.

03 Sep 2026 16:36:29
Good to see Victor Maris running a mock with Swansea in the Championship.Big loss when he left.

03 Sep 2026 18:00:08
Is that the assistant manager? Vitor Matos is doing well as manager as well. Haha

03 Sep 2026 18:39:32
Darn Autospell. 😁 Thank god for the spelling police. 😉

03 Sep 2026 18:41:11
Wait until they come across the divide to Ashton Gate, Florian!
That’ll be the benchmark !!! 😉

03 Sep 2026 21:00:52
Sorry Flo, I couldn’t help myself.

03 Sep 2026 21:52:08
You been watching and commenting on Frasier, FM? Trying to work out how Matos became Maris. 😂

04 Sep 2026 08:57:12
Ah, I knew that name sounded familiar. Yeah, I'll be rooting for him and Swansea.

03 Sep 2026 16:14:05
I'm going to say it.

Isak doesn't work. We should not have bought him and we should sell him on at any opportunity.

Oh how I miss Bobby.

It's not that Isak is a bad player, he clearly isn't but he doesn't work in our system with team that all come and park the bus every week.



If we could wave a magic wand and change him out for any player regardless of situation and circumstance who would you opt for?

As per above, excusing his lack of desire to be in the UK, Alvarez would be more suited to our style.

03 Sep 2026 16:24:12
What CF does work against teams that park the bus in this league? Genuine question?

03 Sep 2026 16:29:56
It's a tough one, but I would say the quicker feet and interlinking players that can drop into the gaps between defence and midfield and draw players out of position.

Isak wants to play to either run in behind or around the 6-yard box, neither suits us as we can't cross a ball and we never have space in behind.

03 Sep 2026 16:36:54
We all miss Bobby BK.

03 Sep 2026 16:39:13
Had quick feet and linked play at Newcastle. Don't think there’s a forward in the league that doesn't struggle against parked buses. Even Haaland does sometimes. Quicker more direct wingers will be better for Isak this season.

03 Sep 2026 16:42:38
Gakpo through the middle for me.

03 Sep 2026 16:42:48
I think he’ll come good, BeKind. He’s had a difficult start to life at Liverpool. Iraola seems to get his forwards firing. A good chance he does with Isak too.

You can’t find Bobby Firmino’s anywhere these days. Just like you can’t find Mo Salah and Sadio Mane’s. Just keeping evolving with the game and talent supply.

03 Sep 2026 16:54:58
Kroupi.

Ta.

03 Sep 2026 17:10:56
This is quite premature in my opinion, given that he was nothing like fit when he started playing for us, before breaking his leg.

He spent what time he was available last season playing for a coach who seems to actively discourage running. It has been 2 games under Iraola, and suddenly it's never going to work, even with a goal last weekend?

All that said, if we could swap him for any player I would pick Alvarez, but that's not to say Isak won't fit into this system and do very well.

I'd also definitely take Isak for £125m ahead of Enzo Fernandez or Morgan Rogers at £115m. The market has gone nuts.

03 Sep 2026 17:18:21
Isak will score 20+ for us this season. (If he stays fit, of course)

03 Sep 2026 17:19:13
I’m still here boys. 🤣

03 Sep 2026 17:31:46
I still think it will click for Isak, but if we're playing fantasy football I think Joao Pedro would have been a great fit for us.

03 Sep 2026 17:48:32
Doesn’t suit our style. 🧐 What style?

We’ve played 2 games.

03 Sep 2026 17:53:42
Wasn’t the whole point of signing Wirtz to break down the low block? Manchester City play against just as many low blocks as Liverpool, and I don’t think anyone thinks Haaland has quick feet.

03 Sep 2026 18:26:07
I often find it prudent to write off a 125mil asset after 2 games in a new system.

Given the transfer window has now closed, is it unreasonable to ask that people assess suitability and progress of said new system after maybe a decent sample size of games? 10?

03 Sep 2026 18:41:48
Joao Pedro loves August. Don't fall into the trap. Starts r very season well then fades.

03 Sep 2026 18:57:43
Isak is one of the best finishers in Europe.
A good head coach will be able to set the team up to maximise his talents.

Andoni has had 2 games. Give him a chance.

03 Sep 2026 19:18:30
Aww, thank God, BB. 🙏

03 Sep 2026 20:07:33
I think Isak, with Wirtz just off him and 2 decent wingers either side, looks very good on paper.
I don’t think you can judge Isak and Wirtz based on last season. Slot didn’t know how to utilise either of them. There’s no point having Wirtz in your team if you have absolutely no movement on the wings, but now we do.

03 Sep 2026 20:28:39
Really hope he kicks on. He’s talented and in this system should thrive, but if he doesn’t then look to sell him next season.

03 Sep 2026 22:52:03
To clarify, not judging on two games. I'm judging on all of last season also, albeit with a different style of play; it still didn't click.

Haaland and City are a different ball game. Both the player and the playing style are different to Isak and LFC, so that's not a comparable for me.

04 Sep 2026 04:10:42
I called the stylistic mismatch the moment I heard we were in for Isak. If you watch all his goals for Newcastle, 90% of them require excellent service to a 'fox in the box' style front man who arrives in scoring positions and was very much the focal point of the attack, which is completely different to the way we've played the last 8 or 9 years. Keeping him fit also requires tempering his output so he does pretty much nothing between plays involving him.

Not really a Liverpool-style player at all, not in the way that we got used to under Klopp anyway. Taking nothing away from the lad, he's a world-class finisher, and his positioning is top drawer, but the concerns are legitimate. It was always going to require a big change in our style in order to get the most out of Isak. Hopefully Iraola won't be long about figuring it out.

04 Sep 2026 09:00:41
Anyone judging Isak and Wirtz based on last season esp. with all the context and crap show involved where next to nobody played well overall is just engaging in worthless scapegoating. I choose to ignore such stuff.

03 Sep 2026 12:11:15
"I'm happy with my four wingers".Kinda shows what Andoni thinks in regards to Chiesa.

03 Sep 2026 12:33:42
That would disappoint a few on this page. Chiesa was supposed to be our "strength in depth".

03 Sep 2026 12:42:18
Here's hoping he doesn't see him as a backup striker.

03 Sep 2026 12:51:54
I was going to say similar to Mr Jones, as Chiesa was playing CF a lot in pre-season. There is a good chance he’s seen more as cover for Isak whilst Ekitike is injured. Although Iraola did also talk up Gakpo’s ability to help them as a number 9.

Ultimately Chiesa has to prove his worth or his career is just going to fizzle out.

03 Sep 2026 13:04:03
I’m amazed he’s still here. Really am. We are paying millions this coming season to a guy that just won’t feature. I’d have him behind Koumas as well atm. Both on the wings and through the centre. If I had to choose I would play Danns and Wright ahead of Chiesa also.

03 Sep 2026 13:10:13
Don't be amazed he is still here, like those who say we should get rid of Endo and Kostas. You need a buyer. We can't sell them.

Happy to keep Endo anyway as there's no other DM. He was playing well when given the opportunity, especially before that recent injury.

03 Sep 2026 13:14:21
Chiesa is still here because he is on 150k a week and no team showing interest will give him anything close to that. I fully believe there were options for him and he didn't want to go. I read at the start of the window Chiesa wanted to stay and "fight for his place", but for me it's a money move: stay with us this season, get the much higher pay check, next summer leave on a free (probably to Italy) on much lower wages and a sign on fee.



Can't blame the guy, it's his prerogative to do so but giving him 150k was on us in the first place

03 Sep 2026 13:42:16
He may not be everyone’s cup of tea but he gives his all whenever he’s playing and in whatever position asked of him. If some of the others had his motivation we would be a lot more relaxed.

I don’t mind he’s still here; if he'd have left we wouldn’t have replaced him. Right now he can back up a few positions and is happy to do so.

03 Sep 2026 14:04:22
Nobody wants to buy him. He wouldn’t get his wages anywhere else. He gives his all. Happy to back up positions. Modern Liverpool. Paying people millions to train.

03 Sep 2026 14:30:30
@Eki, is Chiesa not injured? If that is the case, then of course, he is still here in addition to his crazy wages being a potential stumbling block.

This ain't rocket science.

03 Sep 2026 15:19:02
We are so slow to replace players who will rarely play for the 1st team, that's why our subs bench can be so weak.
These days it's not just the 1st eleven out on the pitch, sometimes it's the subs who can win the game.
Two top teams, City and Arsenal, they can bring on great subs. Guess who will come 1st and 2nd come May.

03 Sep 2026 15:32:12
Did he say wingers or fingers? I was wondering if we'd appointed Dr Spock!

03 Sep 2026 16:00:20
Who are the 4? What about Koumas?
Freddy Church will
Chip in with some late cameo goals
When his crisp
Like limbs hold up.

03 Sep 2026 16:04:30
Rome, I do mean to be pedantic and it's Mr Spock. Dr Spock was a children's doctor.
Iraola did say fingers but he was eating a Kit Kat.
Hope you are well, mate.

03 Sep 2026 16:15:30
Damn you, Rigsby! I've never watched Star Trek or Star Wars.

I'm good thank you, my friend. Off up the Lakes for the weekend with mates. Spot of mountain walking, fresh air and utter stupidity.

Hope you're well, mate.

03 Sep 2026 17:57:39
To Rigsby and Rome
I wonder if you’d be so smart trying to converse in Basque?

03 Sep 2026 18:45:47
Bauldy, give it a rest. Neither Rigsby or me were mocking Iraola. This is a banter site. It wasn't my best work, granted, but if all you've got to concern yourself with is having a pop at 2 old men exchanging banter, you're a fortunate man.

04 Sep 2026 08:37:50
Bauldy, Rome and I often converse in Basque.
I find they chafe a bit but Rome likes me in them and I like to keep the old man happy.

I'm ok, Rome, thanks. 👍
Enjoy your weekend, mate.

03 Sep 2026 11:33:42
🗣️ Andoni Iraola on right-back and midfield cover:

"Challenge in the squad now is we don't have Conor Bradley there at right-back. That's why I value Dom [Szoboszlai] at right-back as he can play there. Versatility in the player helps us go through the moments when we have injuries.

In midfield we have good numbers. Now it's a matter of getting the right calls from myself. I'm finding now the best combinations and we are going through a period now where we will play a lot of games and we'll have a chance to see the options we have and the combinations we have. It's a matter of coaching."

Gaffer seems pretty calm on the situation. Of course he wouldn't come out and say he feels like what he has isn't good enough even if he did feel that way, but at least he's saying the right things regardless.

I hope we see as little of Szoboszlai at RB as possible though. Bradley can't come back soon enough!

03 Sep 2026 12:40:31
I disagree, MK, I think Szoboszlai at RB is the ideal position for him to cover his weaknesses and show his strengths. He has excellent quality on the ball but serious positional indiscipline.

Very few wingers will outlast him as he has speed and stamina, and RB will give him the space he doesn’t get in midfield. It also “solves” the issue of Frimpong being nowhere near good enough.

03 Sep 2026 13:02:21
Lowe, I can’t agree with that at all, but it’s a subjective topic so I understand your viewpoint. I am a big believer in playing people in their best positions unless you’re desperate. Last season we robbed Peter (midfield) to pay Paul (right back) repeatedly. Neither Szoboszlai nor Jones really performed at RB and we ended up just looking short in midfield at times. The worst part was that Frimpong and Ramsay were fit for most of these games where Dom and Jones played right back.

No matter how average Frimpong and Ramsay are, retaining balance in the team should’ve been more important.

I can understand Dom playing RB to close games out if Frimpong needs a rest, but in terms of them actually starting there? That’s a no from me. I’m not averse to Araujo playing RB as that doesn’t weaken the team in other areas, seeing as he appears to be back-up to Jacquet at CB. But please, not another year of midfielders in defence. We can’t behave that desperately again!

03 Sep 2026 13:05:05
You need positional discipline to play RB.

03 Sep 2026 13:09:54
No, no, no, no!! Wasn’t it unanimous that Dom shan’t play at RB? That only a fool would play him there?

03 Sep 2026 13:15:42
Would you expect him to say something else?

03 Sep 2026 13:43:23
MK, as a general principle, I agree that you play players in their positions - clearly we saw that in 2020/21 when we improved just by playing Nat Phillips etc instead of Henderson there. In my opinion, Szoboszlai isn’t a very good central midfielder even if he is an excellent overall player, and that would be my rationale for moving him.

Would he take Bradley’s place? No. Frimpong? I think it’s worth a try.

03 Sep 2026 12:36:31
Cannot believe you advocating Szobo to play at RB, absolutely battered Slot with your posts for an entire year on playing him out of postion and taking the engine out from the midfield. My Fecking fowler. At least slot got it right about Frimpong not good enough as a RB.

03 Sep 2026 14:02:49
So hang on a minute I’m confused.

Slot was crucified for playing Dom at RB, and in my opinion rightly so. I understand doing it for a game or 2 if we literally don’t have anyone else, but he constantly did it when we needed a goal at the end of a game. Take a defender off, put an attacker on and move Dom to RB, and it never worked. Not once, yet he still did it every time. It was as if he was just so beleaguered by the end of the season, he used it as a comfort blanket.

Now Iraola has just done the same thing.

Are we saying Slot was actually right all along?

I bet Slot was laughing his head off in his Ibiza apartment when he saw Iraola put Dom at RB on Saturday. It kind of gives him justification for something he got absolutely hammered for, don't you think?

Please, Andoni, if you read these pages (which I’m sure you do because you’re a Liverpool fan now), please no more Dom at RB. Please.

I don’t care who you play there, but please not Dom. I’ve still got PTSD from watching that last season.

03 Sep 2026 14:14:51
I’m sure this won’t be a popular post, but just my opinion. Iraola is playing 2 6/8 hybrids and a 10/9 hybrid. Dom is an 8/10 hybrid. There’s no natural position for him in this formation. Imo he can play any of these 3 positions, but won’t get his best attributes out of them. Under Slot, in a 433, it made sense not to play Dom at RB, but under Iraola, in this formation, I’m not so sure.

I’d like to see him as an RB with freedom to roam for a few games and someone with more defensive awareness (Nyoni/Macca) in midfield for a few games. Szoboszlai and Munoz on the right. I like the idea of that.

03 Sep 2026 14:44:08
Dom's absolute best position really is as the number 10 leading the press. Maybe you don't get as much creativity from him as Wirtz, but that's the best way to harness his best traits while minimizing the risk of his weaknesses in terms of lack of positional awareness. He is an excellent 8 in most respects and can also play in the double pivot, but he needs an ideal partner that can sit.

Right now we don't have one, which is why the suggestion that he plays right back is not a terrible one. When we do end up buying one, then sure, playing in the double pivot would be where he should be, unless Wirtz isn't playing the 10.

03 Sep 2026 14:57:48
This is the absolutely crazy thing about our midfield. Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Nyoni and Wirtz's strength all get amplified playing alongside a proper physical, more defensive-minded midfielder.
Everyone can see it.
Madness.

03 Sep 2026 15:04:02
But then you're taking the mystical 'legs' out of MF. Grav and Macca aren't gonna cover the ground. No legs in MF has been one of the major gripes on here since last year.

03 Sep 2026 15:07:24
Szob should not play RB ever if he doesn't have positional discipline as suggested. He should either play in the middle, at 10, or at RW, the latter being where I think he should be personally.

03 Sep 2026 15:21:49
I think both things can be correct on this topic. Yes, Slot got slaughtered for playing Szobo RB and I did too and on a good day, I wouldn't want that either. And btw, he didn't sign a 5 year extension to play RB.

Now, that was then. This is now. And right now as @Lowel put it, Szobo lacks the defensive nous, awareness and decision-making in terms of his passing choices, to play the no. 8 the way we need him to play it. Grav is no better either right now.

The reality (this is also "now") is that Frimpong, who many of us wanted to get a chance this season, is massively struggling right now.

So what should Iraola do in the meantime cos, remember, he is there to find solutions to issues in the short/long term? Just keep things the same when they are not working? Of course not, and he won't do that, thankfully.

Therefore if Szobo has to play RB till things get better (not what we all want, of course) then, so be it. Again, both views can be correct at the same time here.

03 Sep 2026 15:33:15
Frimpong struggled last season at RB whenever Bradley was out too. And wasn’t Wirtz playing ahead of Dom and Grav last year whenever we had our best team available? Seems to me putting him at RB now would be pretty much identical to when he was out there last year.

03 Sep 2026 15:42:54
Slot was rightly criticised for playing Dom at RB. If Iraola also does so, he should be criticised too. Dom is a CM or an AM. At a push he could be a RW. He is nowhere near good enough defensively to play RB, though.

Frimpong might not be a great RB, but he at least defends the 1v1 situations to an average Premier League standard. Dom is clearly a front foot player though. He can power through challenges, he can press, he can run beyond players and he can score goals. As soon as he’s backing up towards his own goal and has to stand someone up, he gets found out. He has the wrong body shape/stance when defending 1v1, and that leaves him flat footed and relying on recovery pace after he’s beaten.

That’s fine in midfield when there are players behind you and you’ve got 30-40 yards to recover. At RB, though, if you get beaten, either a shot is going at goal or a cross is going into the box. There is nobody behind you, and it’s unlikely you’ll get back in.

Karma B and Flo Musiala are correct. Slot was absolutely battered for playing Dom at RB. He’s a last resort there in my opinion and whilst Bradley is injured, it makes sense that Dom might occasionally have to fill in to allow for tactical changes within a game. But I still do not want to see him start a single game at RB.

03 Sep 2026 15:53:51
You need a far higher degree of positional discipline to play in a pivot and Szoboszlai doesn’t have anywhere near the required level to play there, so Right Back suits a player who has a good engine and can run all day.

{Ed666's Note - I don’t even think it’s that much of a nuanced role Victor. I mean we’ve all played football how difficult can it be to stay back and keep your position when you sense danger or when you’ve made a forward run and you or the team have lost the ball to track back. It’s elementary stuff and these are meant to be proffesionals.

03 Sep 2026 15:30:00
this right position, please not Frimpong, he doesn't have a clue at right back, just find the right formation to get the best out of our midfield,
still can't believe that we didn't bring in a proper right back,
and a proper right winger,
feels like we don't have the right people in charge,
however, I do think that there will be a couple of changes come the winter transfer window, Minteh for one, and Macca going out and replaced with someone who can actually run and tackle.

03 Sep 2026 16:12:22
Frimpong has only played two games this season. He is struggling, so we want him replaced and that's giving him a chance?
And replace him with a player that is struggling in his more natural position? Hmmmm.

03 Sep 2026 16:32:51
People making out this playing in a pivot is rocket science. Should be a 30 second conversation between Andoni and the players to get across what he expects.

03 Sep 2026 17:29:14
Half of you plus szob have to realise doms best position is rb. Hes's a rb just like Trent was. People fought over putting him in midfield but like dom he was a useless prima donna there who just messed up the mf. We wanted a Trent replacement we got one in dom.

03 Sep 2026 18:28:57
Interested to know why people calling for Dom at RB weren’t piping up to defend Slot’s decision to play him there last season?

He got hammered for that on a weekly basis on these pages.

It is way too early to judge anyone in this new system yet.

04 Sep 2026 02:35:25
Trent wasn’t RB either. If Trent could defend a bit and had a bit more speed, he’d have been a proper RWB. Szob is basically the same sort of beast. He's not got the passing range of Trent but is a bit better at defending. Bradley is a better defender than either of them, but is also, at heart, an attacking RWB, and Frimpong is just someone who can run quickly.

I understand that people want an RB worth the name, but perhaps AI will settle on wingbacks.

Who knows, but if you roll forward 12-18 months, a 3 at the back: Jacquet - Ndukwe - Leoni is an interesting proposition with Kerkez and Bradley as wingbacks.

As an aside, check out Raul Asencio @ Vik. It sort of puts your seemingly unfounded foul mouth abuse on a public forum for what it was.

{Ed666's Note - I honestly don’t think Kerkez or Bradley will be Liverpool players this time next year mate.

04 Sep 2026 07:58:50
Iraola will be judged on results, not where players start.
If Slot had continued winning or playing attractive football, no-one would have given a flip where anyone played.

04 Sep 2026 09:05:39
Exactly, Ron. As a coach of any team in any sport, you are paid to win. Slot wasn't doing that and got sacked. Iraola will have to win to keep his job and if playing Szobo at RB in the short term is the solution for now, then so be it.



That does not mean Frimpong should be sold cos he can be coached into the position and maybe sitting and watching will do him good.