Liverpool Discussion posts 3

30 Nov 2025 11:54:00
Salah on the bench today.

29 Nov 2025 06:54:34
‘I don’t even have five defenders’: Slot rules out tactical shift to halt Liverpool’s slide"

Check slots latest soundbites - talking about not having the squad or the time to implement change.
Dead man walking.

29 Nov 2025 12:28:03
450 million spent, and you are complaining about limited options. What happened to Grav and Endo can play centre back, we have defensive options? He was beating that drum at the beginning of the season, ignoring everyone's concerns that we were light at centre back again. Yet, now, he doesn't have enough?

The number of excuses he has come up with for this season is honestly embarrassing. Complained about set pieces (Then we proceed to pretty much only score from set pieces), boasts that Liverpool have the most open play chances while falling down the league table, complains about teams not playing the way he wants them too against us and instead adapting, complains about fixture congestion, and then admits he doesn't have a solution to how teams like to play against us. And, let's not forget, picking the same players that let him down game after game, and rewarding them with chance after chance.

The collapse has been completely unexpected. I expected a shaky start, due to integration of new players, and teams having more time to sus out our style, but never to this degree. Shambolic, to say the least.

29 Nov 2025 13:32:33
Delusional.

29 Nov 2025 13:47:39
He's got to say something rather than throw every under performing player and himself under the bus. The excuses are becoming tiring though.

29 Nov 2025 16:16:43
But you don't need 5 defenders. because he's actually got many versatile players, which is what a squad is about

I have no sympathy. purely because he is just stubborn and can't see that he's preferred style is not working.

29 Nov 2025 17:41:11
I don’t listen to him talk good or bad I don’t find him interesting, sad really I wish he could be great for us. I don’t want him sacked as a told you so. I’d rather he wiped our eyes and said told you.

Hopefully it starts tmorra I fancy mo to score tomorrow he’s looked better the last couple of games. I’m going to put £5 on him to get a hat trick. Split it with my charity’s.

29 Nov 2025 21:20:33
Is it possible that some of our players have got one eye on the World Cup, and are not giving 100% for fear of injury and missing out
Just a thought …. Because there’s a few who’s form has dipped noticeably, and they’ll be playing for their International teams in the World Cup .

29 Nov 2025 22:12:31
Versatile players? Like putting Szoboszlai and Gravenberch into the back 4?

29 Nov 2025 23:14:33
Liver_la, if that’s the case why isn’t it affecting any other club?

30 Nov 2025 09:08:43
Basically he’s tweaked a winning formula in terms of set up and intensity, not because it wasn’t working but because he wanted to put a different identity on the team. That hasn’t worked.

Second the fitness and running stats, we’re getting out worked and out fought virtually every week, and often by lesser teams where we previously would have picked up points we’ve lost.

Third is that a number of absolutely key players in Ali, Mo, Konate, and Grav have either been injured or had a huge drop off in form at the same time, and we haven’t had a fit right back for a lot of games. When you start with that foundation with 25% of your team it’s a big problem, and particularly when you don’t have adequate replacements for any of them.

The third big problem area is partly caused by the first two.

30 Nov 2025 10:20:28
He’s a liar. So far this season defenders currently fit who have been in a senior match day squad include:
Ramsay, Konate, Gomez, Virgil, Lucky, Nallo, Robertson, Kerkez.

That’s 8 defenders. He has the numbers to try something different, he just is not a Liverpool manager. He doesn’t get the club. We have always given youth a chance to step up. Slot lacks the courage to give young players a fair crack. He will only play them all at the same time in the league cup when he is trying to throw games.

Absolutely no reason why Lucky or Ramsay don’t deserve a chance. Nallo looks way off it to be fair. We also have Alvin Ayman and Carter Pinnington who have looked very good for the u21’s this season but not got anywhere near the bench during this crisis.

Klopp would already be playing Ramsay.

30 Nov 2025 15:22:38
Klopp took until after Jan to start playing Phillips and Williams regularly in the season after we won the title when we lost all our CBs. And that too after all our midfielders who could play there and our two Jan CB signings got injured. So I don't think Klopp would have played Ramsey already. He'd most likely be playing either Gomez or Jones there.

30 Nov 2025 15:34:45
MK I would love to see Ramsay given a crack. Our best player against Palace in the cup. And amazingly he's a RB in arguably our most problem child position.

30 Nov 2025 17:51:32
Its ok giving youh a chance but we don't have any youth defenders being anywhere near being able to come in and do a job. Do people actually watch the youth teams?

30 Nov 2025 20:48:40
Flo not sure you're including Ramsay as "youth" but he was very good against Palace. For me he should have been next in line for a start w CB and JF being out. Played w a swagger and plenty of confidence in a team totally lacking both.

01 Dec 2025 20:28:11
I remember Klopp sticking with Henderson, Milner, Fabinho and Wijnaldum when they were struggling.

28 Nov 2025 21:52:46
Sign of madness when you keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome!

Simple.

28 Nov 2025 22:12:42
Webster's Dictionary will be adding more synonyms here soon enough.

28 Nov 2025 22:32:52
Well it worked last season.

28 Nov 2025 09:47:32
So R. Madrid will not be pursuing Konate because of his inept displays of late. He's also finished at Liverpool.

28 Nov 2025 12:37:36
Let's hope he starts playing like a player who is trying to earn a new contract rather than one that presumes clubs will be interested.

28 Nov 2025 17:25:46
I wouldn't give him one at this point Ernest. If this is playing for a contract (I'd call it something else. ) then I'd hate to see him not having to play for one. Barry let's hope you're the latest itk.

28 Nov 2025 17:39:29
Best thing would be him and Slot and Curtis Jones out the door ASAP.

28 Nov 2025 20:43:30
I'm sooo over him.

28 Nov 2025 22:13:08
Like tooooootally WDY.

29 Nov 2025 17:52:39
I'd send him packing in the morning if I could, with the form he's in we'd be better off playing his Nan at CB.

28 Nov 2025 07:56:59
Something off field got me thinking and that is Slot not having his family close by. If I am not mistaken they are back in Holland. When things get tough we always seek our families response whether that's for comfort or advice.

It may of not played a role in his decision making but being able to go home to your wife and kids is so much better than an empty house. What's everyone's thoughts? Am I just overthinking the situation.

28 Nov 2025 09:28:52
I think you're over thinking this. His family being away didn't stop him from winning the league last season. He's just stubborn to change what isn't working.

28 Nov 2025 09:48:59
It probably is a factor but it shouldn't be too much of a problem. The world is a small place nowadays and you could pretty much commute from the Netherlands if you really wanted to.

28 Nov 2025 10:37:03
Overthinking, unless anyone knows the man personally then it's also guessing.

Last year was fine and who knows how often they visit.

The problems as outlined on many posts here are the football, intensity, tactics and training.

28 Nov 2025 11:12:56
I am if the opinion that if work isn’t great but you’re family life is good- you can get through

If your work isn’t going well, and family isn’t going well (or are around to offer perspective and support) that’s a really tough gig

One in which many people in a performance-based industry would not find a way through.

28 Nov 2025 17:40:24
He's caught whatever Brendan Rodgers had at Liverpool.

29 Nov 2025 11:31:27
There’s something something wife away making the bald man cry etc etc.

29 Nov 2025 17:54:05
This is a forum for football.

27 Nov 2025 22:29:06
Why is Iraola being knocked on here, "can he work at a huge club", " can he deal with superstars".
Slot came in with no PL experience, what superstars did he manage, never been at a huge club, plus almost no one except Ed002 knew of him, and he did well in his first season.


We've all seen how well Iraola has done on limited budget in PL with his best players sold off every year, and he stills gets results.

28 Nov 2025 04:56:40
Iraola is being linked because of Hughes and maybe the reason why we got Kerkez and speculation the offer for Diaz was used to fund Isak off the back of Hughes rubber stamping it because Diaz did not ask for a move.

Hughes pay any price attitude has caused some issues and any player linked get looked at, 2 duds for example Frimpong and Kerkez would never be in a Klopp team let alone be at the club.

28 Nov 2025 10:24:09
What nonsense @Fbart.

Iraola is being linked because like Glasner and Alonso they are excellent managers who have achieved great things with their clubs. Diaz and his dad had being trying to engineer a move for years and Kerkez was the left-back in the PL team of the season (i. e. he was objectively voted as the best left-back in the Premiere League last season) .

Anyway, in response to the actual question being asked, I think that people just fear change. I think that it is the general concensus that Slot needs to be replaced but as Iraola has never managed a club of Liverpools size people are slightly nervous that he may not be able to manage huge players like Virg and Mo. Alonso is having troubles with the egos at Madrid so it is not unreasonable to ask the question. The fact is though that any change comes with a level of risk and it is up to the club to identify and mitigate that risk as much as possible. If the club choose to go with Iraola then I trust that they will have asked these questions and are happy with the answers.

28 Nov 2025 13:21:09
Alonso isn't dealing with egos at Real Madrid. He's dealing with whiny cry babies who don't want to put in any sort of effort. It's a good thing that he's not bowing down to them and giving in to their demands. He's dealing with the egos the right way.

27 Nov 2025 18:18:39
Hi ed001

Appreciate all your work on the site and insightful replies.

What 11 would you go with against West ham?

{Ed001's Note - the problem is that the lack of fitness reduces the options, but we have to do something different. Firstly, if Alisson is back, which he should be as he was just sick, then he has to play.

It doesn't matter if Gomez is not at it, he can't be any worse than Konate has been, so I would put him in alongside VVD. Ramsay at right-back, because Frimpong and Bradley are still missing. Kerkez at left-back. But both full-backs I would give freedom to and sit Endo in front. He is not ideal, but he is a warrior who gives the fight that we are lacking and frees up Szoboszlai and Gravenberch to roam. Wirtz faces a late fitness test, so I wouldn't consider him to start.

Up front we have very few choices, but Isak is nowhere near fitness, so it is Ekitike if fit. If not then I would play Chiesa there. We need energy and aggression which Chiesa brings like Endo, so if Ekitike is fit I would put Chiesa on the left. Salah has been showing signs of coming back to form, so he starts again, but I would want to see more from him tracking back.}

27 Nov 2025 19:43:42
Nice response. I have pretty much the same team but would play Robertson instead of kerkez. As you say it's hard to pick a front 3 you never know who's fit and available. How fortunate we were to have salah bobby and mane for about 5 seasons without too much injury and rotation.


Poor old endo never gets a look in like chiesa.
Worth playing them both and Gomez. We are both probably way wrong with that 11 and will pretty much be the side against PSV with Allison back in.

{Ed001's Note - pretty much. I don't expect Slot to change much.}

27 Nov 2025 21:03:41
I'd go: Ali. Ramsey gomez vvd kerkez. Endo grav szobo. Chiesa isak Ekitike.

28 Nov 2025 01:04:00
Ed1, your entire post is spot on. How Slot has never really wanted to play Endo is beyond me -every time the lad plays, he gives 100% without fail. That’s exactly what we’re crying out for right now.

Same story with Chiesa, it just feels like Slot has his favourites, and no matter how well others perform, he simply won’t give them a run. Last season it did my head in. By the end of it I wasn’t as bothered because we won the league, but throughout the year those players absolutely deserved more chances.

I wasn’t keen on us signing Chiesa, but judging by what we’ve seen from him, not starting him now is just baffling. We need players who are desperate to fight for their place. I’d also be starting Gomez over Konate every day of the week - how he’s still getting starts is honestly mind boggling. On current form he’s been flat out dreadful. He wouldn’t get into any side in the league, and the sooner he’s moved on, the better.

Young Rio should be getting more chances as well. He’s not ready to start every game, but give the kid minutes, at least he’ll put the effort in, which is more than you can say for most of the squad right now. The team needs an energy injection, and under Slot they’re just not getting it. It's just the same old every single game and it's infuriating.

28 Nov 2025 12:17:55
Who does Endo start ahead of though? i like Endo too but let's not start making out his 2nd touch isn't a tackle nearly everytime he gets the ball. i actually think Slot would have moved him on in the summer but Endo was intent on staying.

He has to regret that now and wouldn't be surprised to see him gone in January. Slot does not rate him.

28 Nov 2025 15:28:06
I think Gomez at RB and Endo at CB might be the answer.

28 Nov 2025 17:28:48
Slot complains about burnout and injuries yet he doesn't use his squad. Give Ramsay a start. The worst thing that could happen is we lose. West Ham have hit a bit of form so the omens are not good.

28 Nov 2025 20:36:08
Surely with Isak they could arrange some behind closed doors matches to get him sharper or match fit. Nothing quite matches the intensity of the premier league, but neither does pre season, and that doesn’t stop players hitting peak form quite quickly after September. Makes you wonder if his injury recovery is worse than reported.

It may be that it’s tactics and suitability to our system as well as fitness. Even at 90% a top player like him should be scoring more goals.

I won’t even start on the defence. They’ve all got mistakes in them, including Gomez, which is a real problem when there’s no depth to make changes. Arsenals defensive squad is so much better than ours it’s embarrassing. We’ve always run light there, including throughout Jurgens time, and had lots of options going forwards.

28 Nov 2025 22:15:03
Well Hugo he's tried to play Isak into fitness with zero regard to actually get the best out of the player. Same story with so many of our players unfortunately. Slot is looking more out of his depth than the titanic.

28 Nov 2025 22:18:27
Hugo, Slot could google how to get the best out of Isak and learn a thing or three.

29 Nov 2025 10:04:10
Florian, I’d start Endo over Mac Allister or Jones at this point. Those two are passengers when they’re on the pitch.

27 Nov 2025 15:52:17
Slot is clearly on borrowed time. If I were him I would throw my coaches under the bus and bring Heitinga back in, or Gerrard. What's the worst that could happen? We could lose a few more games? That's going to happen anyway. He should at least try something.

29 Nov 2025 17:58:03
The coaches can't make Slot change his deluded and stubborn choices when it comes to tactics and squad selection so it would make no difference.

27 Nov 2025 15:26:28
Alonso as manager doesn’t appeal to me, I don’t see anything in him that you look at and think he’s got something extra/ special etc. I think he’d go the same way as Slot minus the title win. Villas Boas vibes.

Although he looks a little on the downward spiral, I think Simeone would be a very interesting appointment if a change of team galvanises him back into the absolute outrageous troll he has been for Athletico in the past. Conte would do well here too I think. Enrique may also want a new challenge in the PL after this season, he would be the one I would be looking at if available.

Hansi Flick is just Ange with better teams. Klopp is just a desperate disaster waiting to happen. Nagelsmann is just another Villas Boas. I can see them allowing Slot the season then going for Iraola when his contract is up next summer, or an interim if Slot continues in his quicksand.

27 Nov 2025 15:50:01
Why would you want anything to do with the negative style of Simeone?

27 Nov 2025 16:21:43
I think that Simeone's negative anti-football approach would tip most of us over the edge.

27 Nov 2025 18:35:33
! . Just no
2. Definitely not the type of manager FSG or anybody at LFC are interested in.
3. His. English is so basic.

27 Nov 2025 13:26:20
There's soo many factors you could talk about. We all know them but can we ask ourselves who left it all on the pitch last night? There was only one for me, sobosli. I don't consider "lack of fitness" an excuse when I've watched us look continually pathetic in efforts to press, CHALLENGE and exert ones physicality.
Gakpo you could maybe say put in a really hard shift but take slot, and every other excuse away.
There's currently a few players waiting for bumper contracts and only one currently deserves it.

Our future captain. I'd have a top manager come in and assess the squad before offering others huge contracts. Alonso could be the one in regards to that as he's trying to set high standards and doesn't care who you are.
One good season should not guarantee players getting huge contracts. It hasn't turned out well atall for us this season.

27 Nov 2025 18:37:39
Which "top manager" is going to come in and assess the side without being offered big money?! Top managers don't work for free. And in case you didn't notice teres none available.

27 Nov 2025 12:11:38
Plain to see Heitinga was the brains of the operation last season. We're seeing the real Slot now. Not a very good manager.

27 Nov 2025 12:57:57
You just going to post this every half an hour?

27 Nov 2025 14:31:13
Didn't he just get the sack at Ajax?

27 Nov 2025 10:38:39
Hi Folks!

LFC currently don’t have the personnel to play his preferred system but I like Oliver Glasner!

Richard Hughes obviously rates Andoni Iraola!

Klopp would be the utopian choice with my heart but would Micheal Edwards sanction it?

Difficult times but YNWA.

27 Nov 2025 11:58:02
For me it would be:

1. Alonso
2. Iraola
3. Interim solution until the summer

Whatever you think of Glasner as a manager, based on what I have heard about him as a person, I would not want him at the club. I adore Klopp but can see it causing other problems and possibly tarnishing memories.

27 Nov 2025 19:59:28
What have you about Glasner as a person, I'm curios.