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Liverpool 2025-26 End of Season Wrap Up | thank u, next

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Annika, Stephanie, and Molly Anne wrap up the Liverpool Girlies podcast season, with one girlie reporting live from Liverpool! They discuss major off-the-pitch changes: Arne Slot leaving as manager, Ibou Konaté not renewing his contract, the appointment of Andoni Iraola as the next coach, and Andy Robertson moving to Tottenham. 

The trio then hand out superlatives from the 2025-26 season.

The Liverpool Girlies will be attending a few pre-season matches, we hope to see you there! 

Come hang out with us on socials!

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Check out our TLG Match Day play list!

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SPEAKER_01

Hey everyone, welcome back to the Liverpool Girlies Podcast, a place where we welcome anyone who loves to obsess over Liverpool FC. My name is Annika, and I'm here with Stephanie and Molly Anne. We're three friends who share a love of Liverpool and Dream of One Day having a cup of coffee at the Axit Training Center coffee bar. Hi, you guys. It is our end of season wrap-up episode. I'm so happy to talk to you guys, even though we're the off season. How are you both? And Stephanie, please tell us where you are.

SPEAKER_02

I am currently in Liverpool. I can see a view of the Liverbird building. I'm so happy to be here. I have been here for not even 48 hours and I leave tomorrow morning. So I had the weekend off and I was like, you know what? We're just gonna head over there. I went to Anfield yesterday. I got off the bus and immediately started crying happy tears. And guys, it's so dangerous being in the UK and being like anywhere on this side of the planet because every corner has Liverpool merchandise in the windows. And anytime I see Liverpool merchandise in the States, I like panic by because I'm like, there's barely anything here. I have to buy something, but here it's everywhere. It is so dangerous. It's bad. I am going to come home with a full suitcase of Liverpool merch just because it's bad. I am literally obsessed with this hoodie. It's like pride because you'll never walk alone with a pride flag, and it makes me really happy. I got some giveaway stuff for OLSC Seattle. So I'm so excited to be here. And to record our last episode of the season from Liverpool.

SPEAKER_01

One last club football moment, and then we can all turn our attention to where we want to turn our attention to, which is the World Cup. So for one last hour, let us talk to you about club football and then we'll move on.

SPEAKER_00

That and it's like one last time to talk about this season that we are also ready to move on from.

SPEAKER_01

So here we go. We're gonna go through the off-the-pitch things that happened since last time we talked because there's been a lot of big changes. The first announcement was that slot is no longer gonna be the coach for Liverpool. I'm trying to actually remember what was happening. I think I woke up. Oh, Stephanie, you broke the news to us. I woke up to the news. That's right. Please tell us about your experience learning this.

SPEAKER_02

I'm what, eight hours ahead of you guys right now? Being in this time zone, I hear about news and I have to in the morning and I have to sit with it by myself until you guys wake up. It happened last summer. It just happened again. I'm a tour guide and I had just like casually mentioned maybe to one guest at the beginning of our trip that I was a Liverpool fan. Didn't make a big deal about it. I'd like trying to be chill about it, even though it's like half of my personality. We're in Glasgow at lunch and we're sitting there, and all of a sudden, this man, one of my guests next to me, is on his phone and like the news notifications are up. And he shows me, he goes, The Liverpool coach, he's not the coach anymore. And I thought that he was joking. And I was like, no, that's like that's just whatever. It's not, it's not real, it's not real. And then I was like, okay, but is it real? So then I opened up Instagram and I saw it a minute after Liverpool had posted it on their Instagram. And I'm like, guys, I stop freaking out. Like, hold on, I cannot be your tour guide right now. I need to take care of my personal life. And I'm like sending screenshots, alert, alert, alert. So I just sit with that for a while. But then I taught all of my guests about Liverpool football, and they were asking me if I thought it was a good thing that my coach was just fired. And I explained to them how I felt about it. So it was great. Now they're all Liverpool fans, is what I'm convinced of.

SPEAKER_01

I remember waking up and being like, whoa, you know, obviously we've been talking around this for a long time. We knew it was a possibility. I really didn't know. I honestly, in the back of my head, I kind of thought this is and this doesn't necessarily make sense, but what I'd rationalized was like FSG agreed to not increase the prices like they had initially said. So I think that was the bone to the fans and slot staying. I guess I just in my head, I was thinking that's what they wanted. But once I saw the decision was made, I felt in my gut that it was the right decision.

SPEAKER_02

Um I felt you felt relieved and I was surprised.

SPEAKER_01

I was too, because I I really enjoyed slot. We've talked over the last year about what we've really liked about having him as our manager, and so I definitely wasn't someone who was like, get this guy away from me. But I was just, you know, I'm not making the decision. So when it came and I felt peaceful about it, that was kind of my initial take. What do you think, Molly An?

SPEAKER_00

I saw Steph's text. I think the most telling thing for me, and I'm I have never been slat out. I've always wanted to back him, I've always wanted him to have the chance to fix it, but like I kind of just didn't have an emotional reaction. And there has not been someone leave this club in the three seasons now. We've been supporters that they're an they've announced they've left, and I have not immediately been in tears. And I kind of just saw it and was like, okay. And then yeah, I think relief, Stephanie, was the same. I was just thankful to not live in the like swirl of Isla and so much tension. Yeah. And so you know, I if he had stayed, I would back him. I want him to be successful, but there was just a lot of relief of like, we have an answer and we can move forward. Like and we're not going into next season again with the like get him out of our club. I thought his letter that he wrote to the fans was like so classy, yeah, so kind. And I wish him the best. Like, I hope he finds another club to be successful at. But in that moment, I was just like, I'm glad we don't have to keep swirling around, slot interact, and we can we can just all move on.

SPEAKER_02

He came in at the literal perfect time because the emotion that Klopp brought was still very evident. And Arne is not an emotional man, but he was able to take that and then move a couple of things and not miss out on anything, not lose any of that passion. But with everything that happened last season, losing all the people that we did, new people coming in, Arne doesn't have that here, let me come and give you a hug, the way that everyone wants him to. And that's okay, but maybe it's not okay for the culture of this city and the culture of this club. And that is part of why I really love this club, is their passion and their how united they feel and how they want to feel seen and heard and loved. And that just didn't come from RA. And he was incredible, and I feel like he could have gotten there, but he was handed an impossible task last season. So I don't blame him at all. And like you said, Mollyhan, he's incredible, and I hope he does find a lot of really great success. I'm really sad for him, but I'm really happy for the fans because it was a majority of people are just saying they were really unsettled with him staying.

SPEAKER_01

This one really hurts for me. Ibu did not sign a new contract with Liverpool. We do not yet officially know where Ibu is heading, but we do know he will not be at Liverpool next year.

SPEAKER_02

Such a bummer.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Apart from maybe Dominic Silvosai had an incredible season. Kanate included in that. The season we won the league in the season before, like he was just so strong. And like I always felt so confident when Ibu was back there. So it feels it definitely feels like a loss. And then knowing our defensive line is very much. I mean, I think when you look across the the pitch as a pole, everybody's kind of in transition. But it just leaves a lot of holes where it's like, okay, is Leone coming in to step up and fill that spot? Like, do we bring somebody else in? What does that look like? It's really sad to not have Kanate and his statement in video just for him to like not even know that that was gonna be the way that it went out, and he's gonna make the best decision for him. Like, know your worth, know what you want. There is no shade in that, but I hate that it kind of all came after the end of the season, and we didn't get to like have that proper send-off, proper goodbye for him on his way out.

SPEAKER_01

I've loved watching him play for Liverpool. He has been absolutely one of my favorite players we've had. It is really sad. I'm excited to hear him on in the World Cup.

SPEAKER_02

I appreciate that vulnerability and that transparency in it because we've seen individuals not have transparency in the past, even when they did know. So that was really refreshing and really nice to hear. It also makes me even more bitter towards Real Madrid getting another one of our players on a free. Like, y'all are jerks, and I don't like you, and I'm glad you didn't get a trophy this season.

SPEAKER_01

I don't wish Canalante any suffering, but I do wish Real Madrid suffering.

SPEAKER_00

So I also thought it was really important some of the conversations he was having or he is having now in kind of the pre-season to the World Cup. And I'm talking about the depression he was going through last season and how much loss he went through, not only with Diogo, but with losing his father. I think when we talk about this sport, it's easy in moments to forget like the humanity that is happening and what these players are going through. And I just think it's so brave of him to open up that conversation. I'm so glad that he, you know, just felt comfortable to share. He experiences things that every single one of us experience. I just will always wish him the best.

SPEAKER_02

I'm glad that Ivo and Virgil and maybe Andy made a comment about it about how after they lost yoga, like they didn't football was the last thing that they wanted to do. Yeah. But the fact that Ibo was just like, you know, it is my job and I am paid to go and do a thing, and I didn't have a choice to not show up. I understand why they waited until the season was completed, but it also makes me really sad that they had to wait and they couldn't just even in the moment say, I don't want to do this. Like this is really, really difficult for us to show up. So I hope it is inspiring to others to open up and talk about it. And just the fact that Ibu was like, I didn't know who I could open up to about my dad being sick. And it just explains how he showed up on the pitch so much. Like so much. And I mean, really all season, all three of us were like, what's up with Ibu? Like he just proud of it. Yeah, it just this is not like him. But now it's like, okay, this all is making so much more sense. And it makes even sweeter his goal in his first game back after his dad passed. Yeah. I'm so happy that he got that.

SPEAKER_01

Uh on to exciting news. We have already found out who our coach is going to be next season. So we are very pleased to welcome into the Liverpool family. Help me out here. Adorney. Areola. Areola. Areola. I will get there. We talked a lot about who our next coach would be. We had mentioned maybe the job in option. He went to Chelsea. Seems like that was a no-go. And then Areola's name started flying around. And I got immediately pretty excited about it.

SPEAKER_00

When he announced he wasn't returning to Bournemouth, in the back of my mind, I was like, Spidey senses are saying he's coming to Liverpool. I honestly don't know a ton about him. I mean, I know he's been at Bournemouth for three seasons. Every season they've improved. He's done really great things there. He has a great track record of developing young talent. After watching his interviews and like his first day at the AXA, I really like him.

SPEAKER_02

He gets it. You can tell that he like cherishes the culture.

SPEAKER_00

Last night before I watched Ariola's like first kind of set of interviews, I was like, okay, I'm gonna pause for a brief second. I am gonna go back and watch Slot's first interview because I just want to have like a real leveling of like what was I thinking when I watched that first interview? Because I think it was easy for me to see clips on social media of Ariola and be like, oh, the energy that you know, and feel like I didn't feel that was slot, which wasn't true. I went back and watched the interview and I was like, he was so excited to be here. Like there was nothing in me watching those where I was like, oh, what is this guy doing? You know, so I needed that kind of like grounding. And then I didn't want to sit there and compare like point for point, like, well, slot said this, Irola said this, but I was like, I did need a moment of leveling of like okay, I was also excited for slot to come in. Yeah, and I'm still very excited for Iraola to come in. I think there were some great differences, like he seems very focused on like the culture of the club, the emotion of the club, the energy of the club. And I don't think that is who slot really is by nature, but slot was also coming off the heels of Jurgen Klopp. Like, what was he gonna do? Talk about fixing the culture of the club, you know, he was just really put in a bad position. Um, but I also think that's not really who he is. So anyway, all that to say, I needed to I had to ground myself before I watched his interviews. I watched both of them, watched his first day at Exa, and I just kept writing down, like, oh, he said this. Oh, I love this. Like I have like there's like bullets of little notes where I was like, okay, I'm excited, y'all.

SPEAKER_01

I'm excited. I just love the new energy. I mean, we talk about this all the time, but like, I'm like, okay, what is the vibe gonna be? Who's gonna connect with? How is it gonna change things up? Like, I moments like this, I like change. This is change that I can get excited about. What do you think, stuff?

SPEAKER_02

I'm excited. I appreciate his passion and his emotion. And I mean, the Premier League didn't know slot, and his siding was so it was just kept under wraps, like no one knew. And then all of a sudden, Liverpool announced it and it was out of the field, and it was someone that was completely different from Klopp, and we needed that, and he did such a great job. I'm excited for the fans, you know, like we hear all the time how people are feeling, and like people were really frustrated and they didn't feel seen. And now seeing that the management team is like listening and taking action, I think is really good. So excited to see what happens. And just how he talks about how it's gonna take time for things. He's like, My expectations are really low, and it's just gonna take time for things to get built up and for his style of football to be in it. I think people are gonna be really happy of him just saying, I like a lot of intensity because I that's a comment that I kept hearing from this last season, like the lack of intensity and just how laissez faire we were with the ball in the back, especially. I'm just glad that there's change, period, and that the decision is made and he gets time in the space before the guys come back. And we're gonna get to see him in New York City. And I mean, it's just like two years ago when we saw Slot's first couple of games in person. Um we just didn't know what to expect. Like, we get to see that live in person, boots on the ground. So that's really good. We saw him meet Debbie in the kitchen, and what what did he say? He was just like, Oh, this is I hear this is the place to be. Like, this is where this is this is the best spot. She's like, Yes, absolutely. So just seeing him being like friendly with her, and like just he gets it. I just think that he gets it. He's observed Liverpool, he was there to see Keys' last minute winner at Anfield, just like seeing the footage of him at Anfield at the beginning of this season, and like how he was just like amazed and just soaking it all in was just incredible. So it also was really hard. Just lately, lots of early season, last season videos have been popping up of just the atmosphere of Anfield at the beginning of this season and how like strong and excited and confident everyone was. I just missed that so much. Like so much. Whereas the end of games and the tail end of the season, it was just a bunch of booing. So I think he's gonna do good things.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I think that this change for like just camaraderie will be good, like of the fans.

SPEAKER_02

So I also want to make sure that we give him time to do what he needs to do.

SPEAKER_00

Maybe I would love if we won the Premier League next season, but maybe don't.

SPEAKER_01

Maybe maybe let's just have a normal level of expectation for a new manager and then slowly over time strengthen and peak later on.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I mean, but this is like this is a big step for him too. He's not played the number of games, he's not coached the number of games that he will at Liverpool. Like this next season, he's gonna add 15 to 20 matches to like the load of what he's ever coached before. So I think he will rise to that occasion. He very much like gives that. Like, I watched an interview with Simeon Yo talking about him, and he was like, We didn't have days off. Like we were not really thrilled in the beginning, but you could then you could see what he did over three seasons and the way everyone improved. He's gonna put in the work, it will never be a lack of effort or a lack of time spent training on the pitch. I I don't think every time it needs to be like we go and pull the Louis Enrique, right? Like it doesn't have to be the guy that's won the Champions League. Like, I love that we're giving somebody that's proven they can grow and be successful a chance to step up like to that next level.

SPEAKER_01

When I was looking back at his Wikipedia page, like seeing his coaching history, like he's not recently, but he has been sacked for the team underperforming as a manager. And I think that just like for me is like the reminder that it's like a career of anything else, where you grow and you figure out, oh, that didn't work. Okay, I'm trying this now, or you know, whatever's all the different circumstances that make it go down the way it does. So it also gives me hope. I'm like sure RNA slot will go off and have a successful career elsewhere and continue to do great things. It's just like finding someone at the right moment, the right time, the right connection. So we'll see if this is it.

SPEAKER_02

Hodge from the Men and Blazers. He seemed very excited about it, but one of the questions that he has is how Ariel is gonna handle the big personalities, the big egos in Anne Fields at Liverpool because he's never had players like that, like a locker room filled with guys with that much ego. So I think that's a really interesting point. So we'll see. I think he's gonna do well. I think he's a listener and he brings in his own style, but I don't think he's gonna shake it up too much. I can't wait to find out next month.

SPEAKER_01

That's crazy. I know. Okay, and then briefly before we move on to a wrap-up, Andy is officially gonna play for Tottenham next year.

SPEAKER_00

This wounded my heart. I forgot about this when our game had finished last day of the season. We were watching what Tottenham and Everton and West Ham and I don't know who they were playing. And I was like, Do I want Tottenham to get relegated? No. Do I enjoy them teetering at the bottom of the table? Yes. And then I remembered Andy Robertson was probably going to Tottenham. And I was like, no, no, no. I should have been fighting harder for Tottenham to get relegated. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Ryan, your coworker loves Tottenham. How does he feel about this? Is he very excited to have Andy Robertson?

SPEAKER_00

I sent him the when Andy filmed his little video, was like, hey guys, like excited to be here with you at Tottenham. I sent it and I said, take care of our boy. And he said, I hope he has good insurance policy because those ACLs will be gone in six months. And I was like, don't tell me that. If I have to watch Tottenham injure Andy Robertson, this man does not get injured. Do not tell me that. I'm sorry. The nerve of Tottenham to then turn around and be like, look at one of our own captaining Scotland in the World Cup. I was like, do not claim that man. He has not put on, he has not put on his stitch Tottenham gear. Do not.

SPEAKER_01

I was reading into his videos so much where he's like, hey.

SPEAKER_00

And I was like, he doesn't want to be there.

SPEAKER_01

Happy to be here. I was like, oh, his heart is in Liverpool. He can't stand this. I was like really he's like, obviously, I'm not in Glasgow, and I'm like, there's just a pitch behind you. We can't tell where you are. He's like, obviously, this isn't Glasgow.

SPEAKER_00

No, that's gonna sound I projected as well. I was like, oh, he doesn't like this team. Yeah, that's not Andy. That's not how he works. That's not his mentality.

SPEAKER_01

But that's I think it was in the second interview with Areola that he was like, I when he went to play for like New York, and he was like, it was an okay move, but like my heart wasn't in it. And I was like, that's exactly what Andy's doing right now. Like his heart's not in it, but he's going anyway.

SPEAKER_02

He needs a job, he needs to put food on his table.

SPEAKER_01

And I was like, hey, for Scotland, the country, like he needs to keep playing at a high level so he can be the best captain he can be. So it's really just like it's for Scotland. He's gonna do it. It's for Scotland. Um anyway. That those are all the things I've told myself to get to get the same terrible change.

SPEAKER_02

It's okay when he plays Liverpool, especially when he's at Anfield, he'll have his Liverpool kit underneath his Tottenham kit. Well, at the beginning of this season, we did a predictions episode, and we're gonna kind of do the opposite of that, and we're gonna do a little bit of a wrap up of that. So we have a handful of questions that each of us prepared. So, Annika, who is your signing of the season?

SPEAKER_01

Hugo Eka TK. I'm sure no one's that surprised. I love him being on our team, I love his energy. I did write Down a few little moments, good and bad, that were memorable for me with Hugo. I love the way that he shows up at the AXA and is friends with the staff there. I think that is really cool and is like the heart of Liverpool that I love so much. His Southampton shirt celebration was memorable. And I think a defining moment in his growth at the club of Liverpool. I was watching him today and I was laughing because it actually is pretty hilarious the way that Frimpong has to come up to him and be like, you idiot, what is wrong with you? But I did love that. And then most recently, his celebration where he was like thumbsidis. So we'll see when we see him back on the pitch. But he's young. I'm really excited to have him be part of Liverpool. Can't wait to see where he goes in the future.

SPEAKER_02

So glad I was working when he got injured because I couldn't really fully let it sit in that he was missing the World Cup. Because if I was fully present for that, I would have balled my eyes out. Mayan, here's your setting of the season.

SPEAKER_00

Well, I would say probably another non-surprise answer. It is Milas Kirkhez. My little baby boy. I love this man. My core from the moment I saw him at Bournemouth, literally going too hard in the paint from the minute he started playing. I said, that's my guy. That's the energy I love to see. I think he's grown so much this season. Just watching the way he came in, new signing. And I felt like he was like Dominic Sobo's eye's shadow. And I was like, we will never see Sobo alone because Milos can't go anywhere without him. But like he's I just feel like he's like grown in confidence of again, her as social, of who he is, and just like the way we've seen him show up for the club. I feel like he has bought into Liverpool. He loves like the club, and I love that. And I'm just always gonna be down for anybody that is so intense, too intense on the pitch. So give me more Milos. One of the things I'm most excited for with Ariola coming in is Milos having somebody that knows how to get the best out of him and will continue to develop him.

SPEAKER_02

Um I forgot they work together. Oh my gosh. Yeah, oh that's gonna be so good.

SPEAKER_00

I'm I'm thrilled. I'm thrilled. I love Milos. Give me five 500 more of them. 11.

SPEAKER_02

My personal signing of the season, Prince Leone. I was gonna say Hugo, but I was like, he's gonna get a shout out by Annika. But mine has to be Prince Leone. The way that he shows up on that back line, he has the potential to have the presence of Virgil van Dyke. We've said that before. It broke my heart to see him get injured. I cannot wait to see him come back. Um, but he was incredible. I'm excited to watch him grow and see his confidence go up. I do have two honorable mentions. One is Dominic Sobosai's budding man bun. We did see that be signed on for this season.

SPEAKER_01

And also on the dotted line.

SPEAKER_02

Yes. And also Baby Sobo. Baby Sobo also was signed on to the team this season. All right, Molly, and which was your match of the season?

SPEAKER_00

Okay, match in the season. We're going all the way back to the beginning, and then for just a little bit not born with. But my match of the season is Liverpool versus Newcastle at St. James Park. I think it was our second match. Second match of the season? It took place August 25th. So we were still pre-ESAC signing, and the tension going into that game was palpable of like what was gonna happen with Esak, who was he gonna stay and not play or play at Newcastle? Was he coming to Liverpool? Nobody knew. Yeah, and I just remember like I could feel that game like in the air, all the way in Seattle, Washington. It was so intense. And then in the hundredth minute, we have Rio and Gamoa's first goal when Sobol like it perfectly, pulls, like trusts Rio. Rio's there, just blasts it in. Like, oh my gosh. I like I'm getting chills, like a goosebumps now, just thinking about that moment. And we were just still living the high. Like, we didn't know it was still to come the rest of the season, but it was such a good match, like so intense, like such like a in your gut. Oh, like give it to me every week type of match.

SPEAKER_02

I believe it was after that match. You said, I never want to draw, I only ever want to win. I would love it to be 2-0, 2-2, and win at the last minute every single day. I'm pretty sure it's after that match that you said. And you know what?

SPEAKER_00

I stand by it. Okay. I know I never want to draw, and I do always want to win, and I always want it to be thrilling. I always want it to be thrilling. I know me. Are you kidding? If we had an ending like that every time somebody in the hundredth minute just blasted in, oh incredible. Yeah, incredible. We're getting an Oscar movie made out about that season.

SPEAKER_02

My personal match of the season is Connor Bradley UV Real Madrid. Epic, epic 2-0, no notes. Um, Trent's first time back at Anfield. It was just an incredible game. I mean, of course, I was nervous going into that game because of course it's Real Madrid. But the way that they showed up was incredible. Connor Bradley. Yeah, love. I don't know what possesses him when he plays Real Madrid, but I want it also.

SPEAKER_01

It is something else. I miss Connor Bradley so much.

SPEAKER_02

So much.

SPEAKER_01

Much. Annika, what's yours? Um my match this season was actually just in April. Okay. I selected Liverpool versus Crystal Palace because we played Crystal Palace four times this season, and we lost the first three. And I'll tell you, I was pretty pissed about it. And this season has sucked.

SPEAKER_02

We lost them four times because Markhey, you know.

SPEAKER_01

Truly. Um, so when I saw we're playing them again, I was like, I've had it up to here with this, and I'm afraid. And then, and then the potential that I saw in this game with Crystal Palace, Isak scored after being back from his broken leg. Andy scored a goal, which was like so special, and we got to celebrate him and have that big moment with him. Flo scored a goal, and Curtis did not get a goal, but that was one of Curtis's best performances all season. He was phenomenal that game. So I really got what I needed. We won 3-1. Um, I just like needed that pep to be like, yeah, okay, Crystal Palace, watch out still. And I had a little bit of a moment that game where I said, This is why you sign Isak. Okay. And I've had a journey with Isak this season. Um, haven't seen a lot of them. So he left me with a really good taste in my mouth from that game, and I'm excited to see where we go next season. So I think it felt like saying Syanora to this season, hello to next season. And it gave me everything I needed.

SPEAKER_02

Well, I'm so glad. Next up is on pitch moment of the season. My on-pitch moment, Rios Gold versus Newcastle, assisted by Mo and dummy by Sobo. I was like, okay, who are we playing against for that? And so I like looked it up on the internet and I watched it like three times. And then a couple hours later, I opened up Instagram and the Premier League Instagram had just posted it. So I was like, I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking about that incredible moment. Just like seeing having that be his first Premier League goal and it just seeing his excitement and energy at the end of that, like nothing can compare to that feeling. Yeah. It was so good. Annika, what about yours?

SPEAKER_01

We kind of briefly talked about this, but when I was thinking about it, I thought this was the moment that made me like tear up this season. And that was Kanate's goal against Newcastle after he came back from bereavement. And it was just one of those moments, the celebration, the way that all the boys held each other. That moment really sums up this season for me. I think grief was a huge thing. We've talked about grief a lot and seeing resiliency through grief, seeing you know, strength through that, like meant a lot to me. And that was a moment that I kept watching over and over again and stood out to me the most.

SPEAKER_00

Leah? Okay, well, mine's an on-pitch adjacent moment because it is a post-match interview that I think about often. And that is Curtis Jones' interview after our 4-1 lost to PSV. I don't I come back to this all the time. I to me it is so important because it's showing like the leaders that are going to be there as Mo, Andy, Virgil, Allie, like as that group starts to transition out, like it is the Curtis Jones, the Sobos, you know, Hugo, Kirkz. Like it, it's their time to step up. And just the like fire and intensity coming out of Curtis. That interview, I like I said, I love an intense player. I loved it. You know, it's I pulled up part of it, um, part of that interview, just in case anybody needs a bit of a refresh. It's a little long, so I'm not going into the whole thing. But he is out there and he's like, we gotta be a dog out there. We have to go and smash a one. And he said, That comes from me as well. I'm not saying that the other lads have to go out and do it because I'm in the exact same boat. The lads are looking at me as well and saying, Go on then, go smash someone. And I just like he was so fired up, and I was like, This is like if we're gonna see change, like this is where it has to come from. It can't come from just Lot, it can't come from just Virgil. Like, they all have to want it. And I think about that interview often. I love that.

SPEAKER_01

I loved his special honorable mention for this category is when Cody had to play with the boot in his hand.

unknown

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00

I forgot about that. That's a good one.

SPEAKER_01

That really also made me laugh when I was looking back. I was like, oh, that was a good moment.

SPEAKER_02

My honorable mentions are pitch adjacent. Um, the Tommy Hilfiger match arrival moment.

SPEAKER_01

Yes.

SPEAKER_02

So chic, so amazing. And then, of course, Dominic Sobasai's growing chemistry with basically every single person on the pitch. Like, there was one game where he like grabbed the back of Fermi's head and it looked like he was about to go in and kiss him. It's just he's just incredible. He has amazing chemistry with every single person on that pitch, if he chooses. Player of the season. Who's your player of the season?

SPEAKER_00

My player of the season is uh Virgil Van Dyke. Um, this man played every single minute of every single Premier League game. He had eight goals, he had three assists, 10 clean sheets, uh, 38 Premier League appearances, 12 Champions League, four FA Cup, 4,230 minutes that he played across all competitions. He's 34 years old and 34 plus because shout out, we got the same birthday, July 8th, so we're almost there. Almost he's almost to 35. Oldest player in the Premier League to play every minute. And he did that carrying like the captaincy of this team, carrying the grief of this team, carrying the tough performances of this team, and never made excuses, like always rose to the occasion. And yeah, I just I can't imagine what it was like to live this season as Virgil, and he showed up every single time. And then just watching him the last match after the last match of the season, like sitting there, having to watch the like last few of like his closest people leave with Mo and Andy, it was just like heartbreaking to watch that. Like to know like you're the one that has to stay behind and deal with like whatever is going on with this club. So we could never do it without Virgil any season, but what he did this last season, I think, is overlooked because we just expect a lot from him because he has a lot of capacity, so yeah, and dealing with his back line changing so much, yeah. Like he has Milos right beside him, who is so new. There's hardly ever a consistent right back on the other side. Kanate's going through now. We know, like, we know they're all going through a lot, but we now really know how much like Kanate was struggling this season. The midfield is changing every week. Like, there is just so much that he carried. And again, I think because he can do it, because he performs to such a high level, it's easy to overlook like what he contributed to this season.

SPEAKER_02

Absolutely. My player of the season, I have to choose between one of the two that I have. I think is going to be Hugo Agatike. He was incredible. Everyone was like, Isak's gonna be amazing. Like, everyone was looking at Isak, and um, yeah, I think everyone had such high expectations because of their dollar about that came in, and the way that Hugo just came in and transitioned so well into the style of play and so well into the culture, he blew me away. He grew a lot and he learned a lot, and just his essence was incredible, and he got to premiere with the France team, and I don't think we would have been as successful without Hugo this season. So he is my player of the season.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, he just like came in and understood what the c who the club is, and that is was really cool to see.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah, and I think just the style of play and he could fill in the holes in a way that like Florian couldn't, especially with how they were moving on the field. Um, he was just spectacular.

SPEAKER_01

He was a new like type of striker that we hadn't seen really on our team before, of tall and you know, like just that physically shows up on the pitch very differently. I call him the draft because sometimes he's like fallen over himself. But like it's fun to watch and it's so different from seeing Rio or Mo and he was so refreshing because he wasn't around last season, so the grief that he carried was not the same.

SPEAKER_02

And so seeing him on social media this season, 100 to no notes, like it was so refreshing to not have someone who wasn't there and we could kind of lean into for the vibes, you know, because we couldn't really do that with the rest of the guys because they were down bad. So no, his spam account on Instagram, one of the best out there. It's so good.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

So who's your flavor of the season?

SPEAKER_01

I mean, it's Dominic so I uh thanks if you left that for me. I appreciate it. Yes, I did. That was the one that's in my other one on my list. Because honestly, if someone else had picked it, I just would have said my answer is also Dom. When I was thinking back on the season, like most of my favorite moments involve Dom on the pitch. His my favorite goals for the season are his goals. His four free kicks are the most insane thing I've ever witnessed in my life. The I don't remember which one. I think it was the first one when I like was fully sprinting up and down our apartment because like I I could not even begin to process that he was capable of doing that. Like oh my gosh, he's incredible.

SPEAKER_02

And against Arsenal, I remember that very clearly.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, it was the Arsenal one. Okay. Like baffled. Baffled when he he did it against uh oh shoot. Which one was it? When he when they oh Marseille, when they weren't laying on the ground and underneath. Oh my gosh. Literally, I can't get enough of that kid. He's so great, his energy was awesome. I can't wait to see how he continues to grow and develop.

SPEAKER_02

Annika, what was your off-the-pitch moment of the season?

SPEAKER_01

Okay, I feel like this is kind of a deep cut. Um, but I selected from an interview that Chiesa gave at the beginning of the season when they were like, Okay, if I come over to your house, like what would you make me? He goes, Don't come to my house. Like, that's it. Don't come to my house. I just loved Chiesa when he had his like interview junket at the beginning of the season because he he scored that goal and everyone was like, Chiesa! So that interview makes me laugh, and I watch it when I want to feel happy.

SPEAKER_00

So good. And I believe you, you're telling the truth.

SPEAKER_02

Molly Ann wants yours.

SPEAKER_00

Um, so my off-the-pitch moment is the introduction of the headbands. We saw Dominic Sobosly, Amila's Kurtz, Jeremy From Pong, Alison Becker sporting classic Adidas headbands. And to me, that is like an I the iconic footballer's hairstyle, look, vibe, aura. And I want to see more of it for the next season. I'd like to continue to see the headband trend, but I'm so glad that it started.

SPEAKER_02

Me too. Okay, I have a couple of off-the-pitch moments. The first one that came to mind was Dominic comforting Mo on their last practice session at the AXA. And he goes, Are you sad? And it was just like, it was just like a really sweet, it was a really sweet moment. And we got some really good um AXA moments. Also, another shout out to the social media team. More coffee work content, please. Please. I'm sorry, it's the Mosala AXA training center coffee bar. Um, my honorable mentions are hearing that we're getting Simicass and Harvey back for next season. That was a great off-the-pitch moment. Um, our LFC TV appearances were also a great moment this season, personal. And then, of course, our little YNWA group with our new friends and just having our little group chat and yeah, just getting more involved. So those were really great for me.

SPEAKER_03

I love it.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. Young player of the season. My personal young player of the season is Amara Nalo because it's really impressive that you can start two separate games and very quickly get a red card in both of them. I don't blame him. I think it's honestly impressive. So want to give him a shout out. We didn't get the babies like we have in former seasons, which is why we've talked about this in the past. We really said anyone 23 and under, and of course, Giovanni is one of them. But Amara Nalo, dude, way to go. Good job. I'm honestly impressed. I hope to get to see him again on the pitch because he shows a lot of really great promise if he can get his emotions taken care of. But we need that pattern on the pitch.

SPEAKER_00

So I agree. Oh, sweet guy. Molly Antro's yours. Well, I think in the sake of spreading the wealth, uh, I'm gonna go trainione because I do, I have loved him. It's like a me, it's almost like a Milo since the moment I saw him. I love that little baby. Uh, but what I really loved getting to see this season was his friendship with Rio. And they just did so many great like little interviews together, or there were moments, there was a moment where like Mo scored an insane goal, and the two of them were like on the sidelines warming up together and getting to see their reaction. And I yeah, I just I love that they have each other because I can't imagine what it's like to be in their shoes playing with the players that they're you know in in and out of training with, and I just can't want to continue to see him grow and develop and and hopefully to get some more minutes um over this next season. So shout out to Trainione.

SPEAKER_01

You guys are just leaving me the golden easy answers here. I mean, Rio. Um obviously, like Wonder Kid, he just made his England debut. He's phenomenal. Cannot wait to watch him. He barely even counts as a young player to me because I'm like, he's just a member of our team. So Rio.

SPEAKER_02

Well he was only 17. That's crazy. What is something that y'all are excited about next season, Mali Ann?

SPEAKER_00

Okay, I have. Kind of a whole little list, and then I'll end with I think my peak number one. Um, I'm excited to have a healthy squad and no energy and injuries and everyone coming back full force. Uh, we have a new head coach, super excited for Areola. Um, very excited to play Coventry City, which I've alluded to, and we'll share in the next season my story and why I'm very excited for uh for that match. Um, but most importantly, I am excited for the return of Harvey Elliott and Costa Simicast. Get those boys back in Liverpool, get them to Anfield, get them to the AXU, Ireola, do not let them go anywhere. Keep those boys on the squad. They are the core of like what we love and need in this team. And get them back, get my skelcers back. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01

The way that we knew when they were we were like, uh-uh, mistake, mistake, no, don't do it, get them back. Like we've been saying this the whole year.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, get those. There's just so many moments, especially I think Harvey and what he can do as a sub. Like, I think he didn't play this season. That's gonna be a detriment to him. He needs minutes, but what he does as a sub and like how he can change the energy and the dynamics on the pitch is, I mean, insane. And so, yeah, get these, get these boys back to us. Do not let them go. Like, they are what we need, they are Liverpool. Thank you, thank you.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, I mean I wrote down basically the same things. I said, healthy players, okay? I want to see people with health and wealth, okay? And I wrote down civicass and Harvey. Those are the things that I'm like, all I want is to see those boys in Liverpool shirts. Like when we see that, well, yeah, they should both be at preseason. Yeah, it's gonna be waterworks. It's gonna be waterworks. I don't know what else to tell you. So I'm thrilled for that.

SPEAKER_02

I am most excited about the preseason American tour. Guys, I realized what the problem was with last season. None of us saw Liverpool live the entire season, and I think that was the downfall of the team.

SPEAKER_00

It was. So sorry, guys.

SPEAKER_02

Like, we're gonna work on it, we're gonna see them in preseason. Hopefully, we'll see them. I just literally walk around Anfield was so special. I don't even care that nothing was going on. I didn't even get to see the pitch, but like getting to walk around that area, going into the big store, just like being around people who loved the team was so special. And I cannot wait for the day that the three of us get to go to a match and maybe three of us get to go to a match at Anfield and maybe at the hop this season, hopefully. Um, so yes, I'm so excited to get to see them live with y'all. Like it's Wrexham. It'll be so fun.

SPEAKER_00

Same. Yeah, yeah. Incredible. Y'all, we did it. Thanks, one, to the both of you for doing this every week. It has been so much fun. And to everybody that's been listening and comments or chats with us, thank you. I mean, we kind of started this thinking it was just fun to talk to each other. And the fact that people listen is just kind of like really sweet. So thank you so much. We'll be, like we said, preseason, New York and Chicago. So if you're around, let us know. But with that, I think we called the 25-26 season an end. So any final words before we close it out?

SPEAKER_02

No, this has been so fun. I can't wait to do it again.

SPEAKER_01

Love podcasting with you guys. So yeah, this was really fun.

SPEAKER_00

Yay! Awesome. Well, that's all for the 25 26 Liverpool season. We'll be back in July with the start of the 26 27 preseason. But until then, you'll never walk alone.