MP Red - Liverpool F.C. A Liverpool-related, football podcast.

A return to the booth for Simon, so Justin sits this one out; a few games to look at and Simon turns the microscope on a few potential banana skins. And who is carrying puppyfat? Simon has noticed. And he's making a list. Respect for the Belgina champions but onwards and upwards into Europe. What to make of the defeat of Manchester United? Simon picks out a Man Of the Match. Guess who? That's before he turns his eye on new signing Riera and some qualified support for Hicks and Gillett? Michael Henderson with a gloomy piece about the take over of Manchester City. This will knock on through the game he fears. And not for the better. And Mourinho, a trend setter in a way for which he'd probably prefer not to be remembered. The Panel considers the plight of Spurs and Newcastle primarily while also looking at Liverpool's off field problems. And Liverpool so close to being either or both of these clubs. And the pefect cockney impersonation? Well, yes……And Scouse Paul takes us off to Amsterdam in 2003 for a trip that includes 1st Aid stations, beer, more beer, weed, wheelchairs and the European gay Pride parade. And that's only Part I. Part II in the next episode. The feedback sees Conor and Conor and Simon discuss Finnan and Agger. And someone wants to pay us for the podcast. Huh? And a discussion of Benitez's position at Liverpool to finish. MP Red – if ever you think it can't surpass itself, you need another beer!

Justin maintains his position in the hot seat and there's a quick run through about 54 pre-season friendlies. And then a dour performance in Belgium. It's been a while so we haven't really discussed the Robbie Keane transfer. Justin and Conor like. Less impressed with the Barry fiasco, especially as Hicks and Gillett have made an appearance. And how the British Home Office has the boys looking ruefully at Riise. Lots of love for Xabi, but Barry might have to wait for his Christmas card. The Panel gets down to the nitty gritty of who will or won't do what during the season. Arsenal a dark horse and respect for the Chelsea and no-one's writing off Man United. Yet. Conor forces everyone to nail their colors to the mast, even Justin who tries to avoid some questions. Anyway picks for the League and Europe and a discussion about whom Liverpool have to beat to win. Jay Mwamba is somewhat unimpressed by the recent transfer activity and thinks Robbie Keane has made a mistake. Arsene Wenger an engineer and financier? Well…..kind of. Scouse Paul doesn't travel too far this time out – just to his garden and the paper shop. Garden gnomes! If you can believe it. And it is relevant, surprisingly. Justin has a fan, but the two Conors are afraid to let him meet her in the Feedback. Might be bad for the image of MP Red. And the return of an old friend – Niall the Chelsea fan and he has a rant. And what a beauty. A tiny bit of sympathy for him. Tiny. MP Red – the only thing standing between you and ruination, perdition and insanity!

Things are slow around Merseyside. Conor and Justin sitting around ready to discuss the weather. A pre-season friendly or two but how much faith to put in these games? A few moves on the transfer market. Crouch? Smaller when he jumps? Gone. And not necessarily a bad thing. But he will be missed. Testing Justin to untangle the Gordian Knot of Barry, Alonso, Juventus and Arsenal. Does he have it in him as an analyst? And then there's the Keane and Manchester United house of cards. And a last chance to unload the Spanish galleons? The Panel looks across the league and tries to read the various tea-leaves. No real blockbusters yet. How far up Wenger's sleeves are the aces? And who's indulging in schadenfreude - big word - about which Man. United player? What about Liverpool? Is Robbie Keane the missing piece? And will Drogba be part of the equation next season? Antonio Volpe Pasini looks at the upcoming Serie A season and reckons there are only four teams and tow outsiders in the mix. But he does put his money on one very emphatically. A bet-your-house-emphatically. Scouse Paul takes us off to London again. This time in the back of a white van. That was only stopped once by the police. But did he have the winner in the Grand National? All will be explained. And poor Diarmuid comes to us in the feedback looking to solve the Man. United/Ronaldo problem. We might need to increase our sympathy quotient. Then again maybe not. MP Red - when you have the best day of your life, it'll be an MP Red day, right?

A midsummer's podcast to quench the thirst and tide us over for a while. If you sit in the analyst's chair, you will leave New York. That is the prophecy and once again it comes to pass. Dave is out, so we have a new analyst, but he's not unknown, not if you have being paying attention that is. So what news in the off-season? Not much really - the Euros have even kept the transfer market quiet, but there is a good bye to John Arne Riise and will Xabi follow him to Italy? Villa tell Liverpool to keep their mitts off Bentley if they want Barry. Confused? Sammy Lee returns, bringing a Scouse heartbeat back to the club. The ownership saga rambles on like a runaway stagecoach and two cowboys fighting for control of the horses. Another investor? Maybe and maybe he will not be DIC. Benayoun fixing his bike for a one-way journey? Pennant out, but Milner in? And that's an improvement? Dion Fanning with a scathing look at the antics of Chelsea, Kenyon, Abramovich and Ronaldo. The Panel looks back at the glory that was Austria and Switzerland. A lot of love for Spain and Turkey and Russia, not so much for Germany, Italy, France and Greece. A changing of the guard? Marcos Senna - the man who won it for Spain. Scouse Paul takes us to London in the early 80s where he spied his 16-year-old brother with a pair of stilettos after a game. In public. Wearing a Liverpool shirt. You have to listen to this one. And then there's the feedback. Conor (the good one) quite taken with a lady vet who took the time to write. There have been stranger obsessions on MP Red, we think. A good discussion on how much it would take to pry Torres from Anfield compared to Ronaldo from Salford. Babel with a rare blood ailment? Conor, the bad one, (and now medical expert) fills us in. Seriously, a lady vet, if you can believe it. MP Red - when your house is on fire and you can grab only one thing, you just know what it has to be.

We're back! After an enforced medical absence MP Red returns to cap off the season. What medical condition? Not a good one. Simon has left us again for the summer and is Dave about to follow him out? And if so, why? Anyway, we've reviewed every Liverpool game this season and we're not about to stop now, even if we're a little late. A quick look back at European exit in Stamford Bridge and then guess what? Transfers, transfers and more of them. Riise gone for £5M! Can you believe it? Deggen in, Dossena following him? Alonso out? And why doesn't Rafa like Crouch? An interesting rumor on that from inside Anfield. Ribery and Podolski in? Shurely shome mishtake and a different type of Panel Discussion contemplates the end of the season. No denying United's dominance, but what bright spots for Liverpool? Benitez is responsible for what exactly? Was 2007-08 a successful season for Liverpool? Chelsea? Arsenal? Michael Henderson with an evisceration of Chelsea's pretensions, though he is marginally kinder to United. Just about. Scouse Paul paid £18 for a bit of carrot and a salad in Geneva in 1984 and he's still moaning about it. Rome. '84. By car. 3 people. A 2 man tent. Write your own ending. A Feedback section that starts off with a comparison of who was sicker. Conor, Dave and the good Conor discuss the usual. The Icelandic Women's U-21 football side. Voting. Freestyle milking in Ballinrobe. Biohazards. Great names for cities. All the stuff you'd expect in a Feedback section about Liverpool. MP Red - It raises the dead and causes suicide. And that's on a bad day!

Simon's out, Dave's in. Is the difference noticeable? Trying to keep up with all these games and rumors - who is or isn't going to or from Aston Villa? What about these end of season games? And European Cup Semi-finals? Dirk Kuyt the highest scorer in Europe? Really? Chelsea get their tactics wrong at Anfield? The ownership saga rumbles on and on and on and on and.......But what work by Benitez is 5 short months. The kingmaker around L4 these days? And guess what? Politicians jumping on the bandwagon. That's all that was missing. The Panel looks at what Liverpool can learn from United, Chelsea and Arsenal, all of whom have won the league more recently than Liverpool. There's the financial aspect and the black arts aspect. Anything else? And how far away are Liverpool from bridging those gaps? Antonio Volpe Pasini in A Kick In The Grass with a view of English football from an Italian perspective. Much respect surprisingly. And a large degree of envy. Scouse Paul takes us to Middlesborough in 1977, the land of baggy pants, apparently. And 6 foot mountain men who like to hammer hell out of Scousers for a laugh. Funny, he doesn't remember too much of Dalglish's Liverpool debut. And your feedback. Dave has gauntlets to pick up, exchange rates to be made and sheep? to be counted in Ballinrobe, Ireland. And Conor considers the herpes of all results. And somehow this all makes sense. Seriously. MP Red - not quite as painful as plastic surgery, and it'll make you more interesting anyway.

After battling some very nasty studio gremlins, #33 is here, albeit later than we wanted. Dave takes the hot seat this time around, and there's an exacting analysis of the Arsenal quarter-final victory. And what this? Our analyst hasn't heard of one player and only knows another from Championship Manager? Hmmm.......Harry Kewell refuses to leave the North West, but Dave has a solution. And another week of the Liverpool soap opera in the boardroom. Getting tedious, isn't it? The Panel is back with a serious sit down and look at the Champions League. How the semi-finalists got there, who'll make the final and are these the golden days of English football? 3 teams in the semis might suggest that, but then again Italy had that a few years ago also. In place of A Kick In The Grass, a moving tribute to the 96 via Stephen F Kelly. Scouse Paul takes us back to May of '76 for a League Championship and, umm, a streaker on the M6. And in the Feedback - a call for the MP Red crew to take over from whom? You just won't believe this one, or maybe you will. MP Red - there are easier ways to save your soul from perdition and build your character.

The second part of the Ian Callaghan interview where he looks back on the St. Etienne game, Phil Neal, Liverpool's first and second European cup triumphs and life after football. Not to be missed. Simon sits out the news so Dave takes his place. Dave has given up the ciggies. Dave is grouchy. An examination of the whys and why nots of the Old Trafford debacle and very little love for any of the players. Stevie G, a captain? About as much as Steve Bennett is a referee. No excuses for Mascherano and why do Liverpool pick the Man U game to have its worst game of the season? Deco to Liverpool? Scouse Paul returns for his Part II also with an hilarious tale of the invasion of a small Alpine village by hordes of starving and thirsty Liverpool fans. He never did get the name. Clive Toye tells a tale of how he used to run the Cosmos for two owners who had 50% each. Interesting tales from a veritable clown palace. The Cosmos were Turkish? Who knew? Not Clive anyway. And how does this apply to Anfield? Well, the Liverpool Oilers are one suggestion! The feedback booth gets cantankerous - Dave needs his ciggies, Conor (the good one) is annoyed and Conor (the not good one) is almost left speechless. No, really! MP Red - it's a blessing of nature and a technological marvel.

Ian Callaghan, the man who has played more games for Liverpool than any other player, who joined Liverpool before Shankly and left after him, who saw the rise of Liverpool from a very ordinary 2nd Division side to kings of Europe, joins the crew in the both. First up, he sits in with Conor and Simon looking at all the Liverpool news and rumors. Would he have liked to be crossing the ball for Torres? Le Tallec a spent force? Steven Gerrard, yes, Cally rates him, but hear why. And a bit of sympathy for his old team mate, Kevin Keegan. The player who changed Liverpool FC? Well, we have a replacement for A Kick In The Grass and it's a very special remembrance of how great Ian Callaghan was, and what he meant to one person and an entire city. The first part of a two parter of an in-depth interview. Hear his story about his debut for Liverpool on £10 pounds a week! And what's the difference between Shankly and Paisley? Ian has his opinions. Playing in the 1966 World Cup, hear some of the stories behind the scenes. And it was Alf then, but always Mr. Shankly. Why? Scouse Paul takes us on his first trip outside England, to Rome in 1977, to see Ian & Co. lift the European Cup. And your feedback. After a long day we didn't get a rant from Simon, but we tried. MP Red - puts hair on your chest, shapes your eyebrows and generally increases your attractiveness.

Simon returns after an absence but where was MP Red for the last week? Simon sets his sights on some players. Riise? Finnan? Maybe. And who is the star of stage, screen and animal enclosure? Has Carragher become slow? And how did Liverpool lose to Barnsley? Benitez out? The Panel sees a seat for Dave and it looks at the apparent disconnect between European and domestic success. The black arts. What are they and who practices them and why don't Liverpool? And refs - are they really bought off? Maybe, but you'd be surprised to hear where. Chelsea and Liverpool with the wrong managers? And Middlesboro indicative of English European success? Dion Fanning with a scathing look at fair weather fans, biased journalists and pundits and some statistics with which you just can't argue. But he's really angry. Scouse Paul travels to Monaco or was it Italy? And how do you end up in an abandoned hospital with messages written on your face? The Feedback section sees a subdued Simon rant - not as good as his others, but a rant nonetheless. We've missed those. MP Red - a thing of beauty that will only increase your intelligence.

Dave and Conor sit down and manage to find a lot of stuff to talk about that doesn't involve finances, take-overs or feuds. Though they do discuss all them also. Where's George Gillett, by the way? Liverpool stuck in a rut of draws and poor results. Why? The Panel looks at transfer policies. Arsenal seem to do well, but it doesn't transfer into as much success as Manchester United. Who has the better policy then? How do Liverpool and Benitez match up? The best buy of recent years? Jay Mwamba sets his stall out very firmly with a look at the African Cup of Nations and who he expects in the final. Not much love for South Africa and rightly so. Scouse Paul takes a serious trip this time out and stays close to home with a trip to The Sandon. Who and what exactly are the Sons of Shankly? And as ever, the Feedback. Searching for a lost love again for a former analyst? And the good Conor gets a promotion. Kind of. MP Red - the only bastion of wonder in this very sane world.

The first episode of 2008 and it starts with a bang. A look back at all the games over the Christmas and New Year's period and it finds Dave in a reflective mood. Contemplative even. The disgrace of the season? Well, according to Conor, yes. Which game? And Liverpool to get another forward? Transfer rumors would indicate yes, maybe. The Panel rips into the problems of Hicks and Gillett with some very interesting results. Some love for Rick Parry believe it or not, but not much. And not much respect for Jurgen Klinsmann. Guess then how much Hicks and Gillett receive? And is this slow motion war of attrition the most badly managed PR campaign? Maybe, and it's not the Liverpool way. Dave in love with calling people 'numpties'. How many numpties can you fit on a podcast, anyway? Michael Henderson has a bit of a laugh when considering the notion that, um, Newcastle are a, um, big club. And a discussion in the Feedback which solves the problems of English football. (Ahem!) MP Red, it's all that's needed to protect you from the wind and the rain!

The Christmas and New Year episode. Dave returns for the last episode of the year and there's some gnashing of teeth and head scratching when looking at the Reading and Man U results. And 32 million for Sissoko? Seriously? Dave wants Mascherano. He says so 27 times. And how does Henry the VIII get into a Liverpool podcast? The Panel has a look at what's happened so far and what the New Year holds in store. The year of the fired manager. But is the whole season becoming déjà-vu. Nothing new under heaven is the story. One of the big four to win, but which one? What's the biggest disappointment and surprise so far? Kate sits in for an end of year Heroes And Zeroes where she picks the most useless and the best. Clive Toye is very distressed with what is happening to the game and fears for the English game, as opposed to the game in England. Confused? Some good feedback where all the secrets of podcasting are revealed and the good Conor's interest in American manhunks is explained. MP Red, better than any Christmas present, and you know it!

Another change in the analyst's chair - it's getting like being a drummer in Spinal Tap. A look at how and why Liverpool have being taking care of most comers these days. And the continued presence of Harry Kewell? A glut of goals, the team's playing well, so what could possibly go wrong? The Panel sits down to discuss the major problems surrounding Rafael Benitez' communication problems with Tom Hicks and George Gillett. A stunning rumor about Rick Parry which, if true, means much more trouble on Merseyside. So, should Benitez shut up or speak out? Jay Mwamba considers the problems of hosting the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and has some surprising insights. Did you hear about the Liverpool fan who went to an FA Cup match but slept on a pub floor during the game? Scouse Paul explains. And the Feedback with the 3 Cs - Conor, Connie and Conor. MP Red, so certain of its own goodness.

Work drags Simon away, so Dave is back in the big chair again. But will he be at the Christmas party? 0-0 at Blackburn and 8-0 against Besiktas. Is there a connection? What to make of the return of a certain Australian? Who's on the Hicks and Gillett Christmas card lists? Dave's paycheck ends up on the Internet? The Panel looks at managers, good, bad and indifferent. Allardyce not doing so well at Newcastle? What about Ferguson? And how does Benitez match up with them? Shankly, Paisley, Fagan, Dalglish and errr, Souness? Maybe that was the reason? Dion Fanning puts the Benitez critics in their place with a look at things called facts. No Kate in the Feedback due to a lost voice, but Wiggles does make an unwelcome (and last?) return. MP Red, not that there's anything wrong with that!