Liverpool FC Premier League Champions 25/26 - Talk /Gossip/Rumours

noodler · 11-03-2026 11:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124305446#Comment_124305446

Yeah, good numbers for a La Liga club going from relegation battles to mid table for sure.

Kelleher managed, over time, to show he could cope playing for a club at the top end of the PL, winnin honors and playing in the CL.

Getting slightly off topic here but he's only played 5 games for Liverpool this season and hasn't always impressed so my opinion is that we need to see more from him at this level imo.

~Rebel~ · 11-03-2026 11:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124305569#Comment_124305569

It's a factor because if you spend big on fees and wages, the expectation becomes higher than 5th. I think that's totally fine for this year - but I don't think they'd be content with 5th next year again.

jesuisjuste · 11-03-2026 11:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124305639#Comment_124305639

You see this is what I'm talking about though. They are looking at a long-term plan, probably a 5 year plan, and they will have markers set out, and expectations over that 5 years. And it would have started in Slots first season. The board are damn sure not so easy to give the credit to Klopp as the fans are, because it takes the credit away from them too, and overall I think 1st then top 5 is basically well within their expectations of his tenure so far.

They had zero spend in his first season, and net spend of 250 in his second or whatever. I imagine they would have anticipated this summer to be a check in on contract, and give him a new 3 year or 4 year if things were going well. If he is top 5 they will stick with him imo, and probably drop another net spend in the 50-100M range in summer.

The contract discussions will likely not begin until he starts next season, and if it is all going well, then they will give him a new contract by Christmas. If it is just the same as now, they will probably just stick with him to try get another top 5, and then when his contract runs out at the end of next season he'll "want to go spend time with his family".

BorneTobyWilde · 11-03-2026 11:54PM

We felt bad about our result, City, Spurs, Chelsea heading out, Arsenal too looked shaky, we could be only PL team left in next week, its not a lot to ask to score at Anfield and level it , and take it from there.

8-10 · 12-03-2026 08:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124305708#Comment_124305708

I can't see Arsenal going out at home. I also think it's unlikely for us to go out, but less sure of it than them.

The other 3 look like toast, but would be a massive boost if any turn it around. Hasn't been done since us v Barcelona I think? And that was nearly 7 years ago now

noodler · 12-03-2026 08:27AM

any risk to 5th cl place for PL?

ShamoBuc · 12-03-2026 08:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124305969#Comment_124305969

Doubt it, alot of credit in the bag.

8-10 · 12-03-2026 08:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124305969#Comment_124305969

Nope, it's in the bag

Girly Gal · 12-03-2026 09:24AM

If all English teams are knocked out, could the EPL lose the 5.th CL place. Only ourselves, Arsenal and Newcastle have a chance of going through, the rest are out. Barca wold be expected to get through at home. No guarantee that we'll turn it around. Arsenal look best placed and will likely go through, but, not impossible for Leverkusen to hold on and go through on penalties. Beating Gala might actually help secure that 5th CL place for the EPL, which I think is probably the highest we are likely to finish.

TitianGerm · 12-03-2026 09:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306048#Comment_124306048

About 6 posts on this already. As far as I'm aware the teams from Italy would have to basically win the CL, EL and Conference League while all the English teams went out

8-10 · 12-03-2026 09:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306073#Comment_124306073

It's not just Italy, Spain or Germany would also have to surpass England's total

It's impossible

Atalanta are the only Italian team left in the CL and they have to go away to Bayern and turn over 5 goal lead.

In the Europa League both Italian teams left are drawn against each other so can't both go through

Fiorentina should be one of the favourites for the conference league I guess

I might have a look at games remaining and tot up possibilities but I think even if mathematically possible it's not in anyway realistic

TitianGerm · 12-03-2026 09:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306096#Comment_124306096

Italy are the closest si it'd be even harder for the other countries to catch them.

Girly Gal · 12-03-2026 11:10AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306103#Comment_124306103

It's Germany and Spain that matter, Italy are not in the race. So if Leverkusen knock out Arsenal it could be very significant. Top 2 leagues get the extra place. England currently have substantial lead with Spain and Germany closest. As it stands Spanish sides look like to knock out 3 English sides, so the gap will close .England still likely to get the extra place, but, that could change if the EPL have another bad week next week, might be relying on teams in Europa League and conference league to seal that extra place.

TitianGerm · 12-03-2026 11:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306295#Comment_124306295

Italy are second.

8-10 · 12-03-2026 12:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306376#Comment_124306376

It's only the 25/26 season rating that counts. Not the overall total.

Italy are 4th

TitianGerm · 12-03-2026 12:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306466#Comment_124306466

I always thought it was running total. My mistake.

noodler · 12-03-2026 12:33PM

Christ ok so without knowing what points swing is exactly possible in the next two months, it does look a fairly unassailable gap

8-10 · 12-03-2026 12:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306528#Comment_124306528

I think you'd have to assume both Barcelona and Bayern get to the final of the CL, Stuttgart and Real Betis in the EL final and either Mainz or Rayo getting to conference league final with none of the English clubs going further

If that happens it's likely both Spain and Germany get the extra spot but there's a lot of ifs

dogbert27 · 12-03-2026 12:59PM

Slot seems to have some PTSD regarding the PSG game last season. Last nights result will only increase his worry considering the way we're playing.

PSG were wide open at the back at time and the speed from Neto caught them out.

Salah doesn't have that speed anymore. Having Frimpong and Rio on the wings for counter attacks would be the way to go

riddles · 12-03-2026 06:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124306598#Comment_124306598

If he puts out a team with Salah and Macca unable to perform effectively in what they are asked to do then thats on him.

Unable to score against a team that has conceded 1.91 average goals per game in CL , they have 4 cleans sheet 2 against us and 1 against Ajax and Trabszonspor. More damning stats to prove he's not up to the job.

~Rebel~ · 12-03-2026 06:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307517#Comment_124307517

Don't disagree about the broader point necessarily, but i'm not sure what you mean with the clean sheets thing? They've a lot more than 4 clean sheets… assumed you meant CL only, except you have Trabszonspor in there. They'd a clean sheet in the game before ours against Besiktas sure, and 2 more not long before against Rizespor and Kayserispor. And against Kasimpasa, Basaksahir, Kocaelispor, Alanyaspor etc etc.

And they've conceded 1.45 goals per game in the CL (16 goals in 11 games).

Again, not suggesting they're up to all that much, but we should at least be accurate in criticisms?

They're not a great side, but they're a decent home side… 1 home loss in 6 CL games so far, versus 4 away losses from 5.

riddles · 12-03-2026 08:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307574#Comment_124307574

Okay i credited them with one extra clean sheet two out of three clean sheets against us for a team that is pretty open is mediocre as is losing twice to them.

~Rebel~ · 12-03-2026 09:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307844#Comment_124307844

Tbh clean sheet record in Europe isn't really a stat to be bothering with. Like, just their league phase position is much more damning than their (quite good) clean sheet record… sure PSG only have 2 clean sheets all campaign. Bayern Munich have only 2 clean sheets all campaign. It doesn't mean much. (And conversely, we've got 4 clean sheets, but are obviously in much worse shape than both PSG and Bayern)

Galatasaray are what they are - a mediocre team who are much stronger at home than away.

I don't disagree with the larger points about our issues - christ knows we've got issues! - just that both stats provided were incorrect. We're bad enough with real metrics, without needing false ones 😅

riddles · 12-03-2026 09:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307927#Comment_124307927

When the clean are against Liverpool it tends to bother me anyway.

~Rebel~ · 12-03-2026 09:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307964#Comment_124307964

Which is of course a different issue than I was responding to (simply pointing out the use of 2 different incorrect stats).

They're a very different side away from home anyway, so I still expect us to go through. We're actually lucky enough they didn't score more than 1, as that would really have left us in the mire. Things need to turn around soon though and find a proper attacking threat, or PSG could really blow us away (if we do indeed get that far). Probably no harm to have the international break when we do - if we can squeeze past Gala and Spurs, and then even just get a draw against Brighton, the few days away to clear the heads might - with a bit of luck - help us do what we need to do in those last weeks to earn our spot in next years CL.

jesuisjuste · 12-03-2026 10:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307844#Comment_124307844

I'm not going to sing Gala's praises necessarily but given the performance of the English teams in this stage of the competition, and also the fact that in getting to this stage they have had a few decent results, losing to them 1-0 at home is not the end of the world. They beat Juve 5-2 at home in the last round.

It is imperative that we turn up at Anfield and get a solid win, but it's for sure not going to be straightforward. The defence will have to be impeccable really, which has been as rare as hen's teeth this season.

This season just feels like a long hard heavyweight fight.

riddles · 12-03-2026 10:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307976#Comment_124307976

They have a late yellow card Sanchez and a possible injury to the guy on the left who was troublesome which should tip the balance for us. That said unless Slot can find different tune fast the season will peter out in the next few weeks.