Blood Red: The Liverpool FC Podcast

Just four days now till the big one, and before Dan Kay and Paul Philbin pack their things and head off on the journey to Madrid, the season-ticket holders join host Paul Wheelock for a View from the Kop fans’ podcast. Saturday’s showdown with Tottenham Hotspur will be Liverpool’s third European final in as many seasons under Jurgen Klopp and the club’s fourth Champions League showpiece in 14 years. But Dan argues that remarkable record should not be taken for granted and nor the mental strength and determination shown by the Reds to make it to the Wanda Metropolitano. There is also plenty of praise for Klopp who incredibly has still yet to lose a European tie as Liverpool manager. But with his team favourites for a final for the first time in his reign, does he need to win on Saturday? Dan and Philbo discuss that as well as whether it would actually be better if Harry Kane is declared fit to start for Spurs. Mohamed Salah will surely start for Liverpool and the host wonders whether it is written in the stars for the Egyptian King to steal the show given his cruel downfall in last year’s final. The guests, however, believe it could be another Reds forward who could prove to be the match-winner. Dan and Philbo also dismiss claims Joe Gomez should start over Joel Matip, praise the resurgence of captain Jordan Henderson, argue why Gini Wijnaldum should get the nod over James Milner, as well as giving UEFA and their ticket allocation a good kicking. Enjoy – and we’ll be back later with Analysing Anfield as our podcast build-up to the final continues. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Have a look at the Premier League table. Liverpool lost just once; Tottenham Hotspur 13 times. There was a 26-point difference between the teams. Surely, then, the Champions League final should be a foregone conclusion? That's the question that Neil Fitzmaurice asks regular sidekicks Joe Rimmer and Caoimhe O'Neill to kick-off a Poetry in Motion podcast that is a must-listen for all Reds fans before the massive match in Madrid. Closer inspection of the two games between the sides that took place earlier this season should also raise confidence among Koppites - as should the experience of last year's final and, as Joe argues, the fact that the pressure should really be on Tottenham. Fitzy wonders, then, that of all the Reds' near-misses in recent seasons, would defeat on Saturday night be the toughest to take? His guests agree, but rest assured the mood is firmly upbeat, especially when you consider Spurs' selection problems, and given the fact that Harry Kane may well have undermined his manager Mauricio Pochettino. Whoever Pochettino starts up front, they are likely to face Joel Matip, who along with James Milner, comes in for big praise. But even bigger praise is reserved for Fabinho, who signed for Liverpool a year ago today. Caoimhe can't bring herself to give a score prediction, but what about Joe or Fitzy? But what they can guarantee is a warm welcome and a good night at our latest Blood Live event, the details of which are discussed at the end of the pod and which can be viewed in full HERE. Here's hoping we're celebrating number six. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's media day at Melwood to kick start the build-up to Saturday's mouthwatering Champions League final against Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur. And before journalists got the chance to watch the Reds in training and put questions to members of the squad in a 'mixed zone', manager Jurgen Klopp and two of the players who have been key to the run to Madrid, Joel Matip and Gini Wijnaldum, sat down for a formal press conference. You can listen to that in full here - before we return later with Neil Fitzmaurice's Poetry in Motion podcast. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's getting close now. But before the build-up to Saturday's Champions League final really kicks in, we've taken the chance to step back and reflect for our latest podcast on the Blood Red channel - on how Jurgen Klopp's superb side have made it to Madrid. And who better to do that than our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce? He has been with the Reds every step of the way to the Wanda Metropolitano and he joins Paul Wheelock in the ECHO studio to tell the inside story of what, for the second season running, has been a campaign to remember in the number one club competition in European football. From Roberto Firmino's last-gasp winner versus Paris Saint-Germain, to the hell of Red Star Belgrade, and to the night that Alisson Becker underlined why he has made the crucial difference, James recounts how Liverpool made it through a very difficult group stage before putting Bayern Munich and Porto to the sword in the opening knock-out rounds. Understandably, a large part of the podcast is dedicated to the astonishing semi-final second-leg success over Barcelona, which James believes proved the power of Anfield is real and which he calls the greatest night of his eight-and-a-half-years reporting on the Reds. Which, of course, could be surpassed if Number Six is achieved this weekend. Fingers crossed - and enjoy! For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's a huge week for Liverpool. But for one current Reds player, his big match does not come at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday, but at Wembley on Monday. We're of course talking about Harry Wilson, who will look to round off a stunning season on-loan with Derby County by helping them to victory over Aston Villa in the Championship play-off final. The Wales international has scored 18 goals in all competitions for Frank Lampard's side - and that has led to calls from Liverpool fans calling for him to be given a chance at Anfield next season. On the flipside, Wilson's fantastic form at Pride Park has led him to being linked with £25m moves to a string of Premier League clubs. So what is the Reds' stance on a player who has been with the club he loves since he was a boy? To find out, Paul Wheelock speaks to our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce, who outlines why the Reds are in such a strong position and why the bar for academy players has never been so high. Paul then picks up the phone to Steve Nicholson, who has been reporting on Wilson's exploits in his position as football editor and chief football writer for the Derbyshire Telegraph and Derbyshire Live. Steve explains why the 22-year-old's goal tally is particularly impressive, the hidden edge to his game, his best position, and the influence of Derby boss Lampard. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

With the Champions League final just one week away, and what with it being May 25th, the date on which Liverpool won their first and fifth European Cups, your latest Allez Les Rouges podcast is a Euro special. Host Peter Hooton is joined by regulars, and veterans of many a successful European campaign, Ste Monaghan, John Nicolson and Kieth Culvin. But, before they preview the club's ninth European Cup final, they look back at some of their best memories of following the Reds around the continent, including their first final, their best opposition teams and players, and the best atmosphere. Talk then shifts to the massive match with Tottenham Hotspur, the three-week gap since the Premier League finale, Jurgen Klopp's midfield line-up, superstitions, as well as a heated debate on UEFA and their decision to allocate the Reds and Spurs just 16,000 tickets each - a significant number of which haven't gone to supporters who really should be in the Wanda Metropolitano. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

There are just eight days to go until the 2019 Champions League final. So are our Blood Red panel feeling nervous? Join host Joe Rimmer and guests Ian Doyle, Caoimhe O'Neill and Paul Gorst for an eventful podcast discussing all the latest Liverpool FC news. The panel ask whether Spurs' impressive showing at Anfield has been overblown, why Real Madrid are so upset with Tottenham and discuss the possible signing of a new teacher's pet at Liverpool. A discussion also breaks out over whether Liverpool's amazing 4-0 victory over Barcelona has been forgotten. Meanwhile, Caoimhe goes off on a tangent about life in Madrid, Ian's personal hygiene is discussed, Joe receives a text from a friendly gangster and Paul doesn't bother listening. There's also an update on Blood Red Live returning to Liverpool, as well as a special event in Dublin ahead of the final on June 1. Enjoy! For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

A club-record 97 Premier League points and a Champions League final to come – it’s been some season so far for Liverpool. From Jurgen Klopp’s incredible motivational and tactical powers, to the club’s razor-sharp recruitment, and the tight-bond in a squad packed full of world-class talent, the reasons for this campaign to remember are manifold. But another contributing factor is the vastly improved relationship between supporters and the club itself. One of the key strands of that has been the way that the Reds have bought into the thriving fan culture that surrounds the club. Central to that is BOSS Night, which was borne out of the magazine of the same name and will on Bank Holiday Monday hold its biggest event yet with a Madrid Send Off Party at Space by M&S Bank Arena. So ahead of the event, and the Champions League final with Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid, Paul Wheelock and Paul Philbin are joined by BOSS co-founder Dan Nicholson, and singer and musician Kieran Molyneux, who will be performing alongside Jamie Webster, Ben Burke and some very special guests on Monday night. We last had Dan and Jamie in before the start of the season, so we look back on what has been a memorable campaign both on and off the field, why Klopp’s squad are totally tuned into what’s going on in the fanbase, and just what the plans are for a Shevchenko Park-style party in Madrid. Click here to buy tickets for the Madrid Send Off Party. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Liverpool have answered almost every question asked of them this season - and now it is our turn to do the same. With 10 days to go until the Champions League final, Kristian Walsh and Josh Williams open up the floor to the listeners and answer their questions on the 2018/19 campaign - and what is still to come. The display of the defence and Virgil van Dijk's perfect partner is assessed, as is the question of whether Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson can continue to sustain their performances. Areas of underperformance and overperformance are also looked at, as the team look at what marginal gains the Reds can rely upon to maintain their rise both in the Premier League and Europe. Jurgen Klopp's tactics are assessed, and why he changed from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3, and no surprise, either, that transfers form a lot of questions as Liverpool's perfect transfer window is deliberated over Enjoy! For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Our podcast build-up to Madrid starts today with our first Blood Red of the week - and there's a lot for host Ian Doyle and guests James Pearce and Paul Gorst to get stuck into. Jurgen Klopp's side have jetted off to a warm-weather training camp in Marbella buoyed by a major injury boost, which James reveals before joining Ian and Paul in discussing the prolonged break between the final Premier League game of the season and the Champions League final in the Spanish capital - and just what it means for Liverpool and their opponents Tottenham Hotspur. Naby Keita has been named in the Reds' 26-man squad for Marbella so does that mean the midfielder has a chance of being fit to face Spurs? That leads to a debate about Klopp's midfield dilemma for the final, Tottenham's bigger selections headaches, and whether it would actually be better for Liverpool if Harry Kane recovers in time to play. Next up are comments made by Dejan Lovren, and what they say about the magic of Klopp's man-management, before talk turns to the the team who will not be appearing in Madrid on Saturday week - Manchester City. City may have won an unprecedented domestic treble but neither they nor their manager Pep Guardiola look too happy. Paul calls Guardiola's men the 'angriest' treble winners of all time while James explains why their annoyance toward the Reds could be about to get even greater. Oh, and he also rubbishes those Matthijs de Ligt rumours. It's one not to be missed. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's the first Blood Red podcast since the transfer window was flung wide open this week. Ian Doyle, Paul Gorst and Connor Dunn join host Sean Bradbury to take a look at what business the Reds should do this summer. Ian spoke to Jamie Carragher today and the Liverpool legend had his say on Philippe Coutinho returning to Anfield. The panel discuss that prospect, and also play fantasy football and each name two players they would like to see signed up. There is debate on the viral video of Man City players chanting about Liverpool after winning the league - and how it jars with the incredible title race between the two clubs this season. And the pod concludes with a look at which stars could be leaving L4 over the next few months. Enjoy! For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Liverpool may not be Premier League champions, but it was still a campaign to celebrate and be proud of. It was also a season for some deep thinking and analysis - and that's exactly what Kristian Walsh and Josh Williams do as they decipher Jurgen Klopp's 97-point haul. An overarching view of the season - what went right (a lot), what went wrong (not much) - is offered, while there is also an interesting look at where the Reds might be able to usurp Manchester City next season with yet more marginal gains. An interesting pressing trend is also discussed, as is the efforts of Sadio Mane, who could be one of the more complete strikers in Europe right now. There is also a look at how Klopp and his Liverpool side went so close, and what is needed next to push them over the line. A must-listen.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Liverpool could not have done much more to win the Premier League. But even though they were pipped at the post by Manchester City, Neil Fitzmaurice's latest Poetry in Motion podcast attempts to underline just what an incredible campaign it has been. There's disappointment, of course, not least because the Reds' remarkable' 97-point haul would have been enough to bring the title back to Anfield in 117 of the past 120 top-flight seasons. But Fitzy, alongside his regular guests Joe Rimmer and Dan Kay, explain why the positives firmly outweigh the negatives. And the great thing is, the season is not over yet, not with the little matter of a Champions League final to come. Jurgen Klopp's side booked their ticket to Madrid with the most astonishing of performances in their semi-final second-leg with Barcelona, and given this is the first Poetry in Motion recorded since then, our trio look back on what was one of the all-time great nights supporting Liverpool. Joe also believes it featured one of the club's all-time great goals, which Dan brilliantly describes as the Scousest strike of all time given it's magnificent mix of cheek and ingenuity. The future of the man who put the ball into the back of the net is also discussed, as is one of Reds boss Klopp's greatest assets, before talk turns to the player who had a miserable night on his return to Liverpool, Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian looks to be on his way out of Barcelona, for a significantly reduced fee, but would the Reds take him back? And, more pertinently, would Klopp take him back? And another brilliant edition rounds off with Fitzy, Joe and Dan looking back on the predictions they made at the start of the season.. Without giving the game away, they were not bad at all. Enjoy! For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

In the latest Blood Red podcast, regular host Ian Doyle is joined by full-time Liverpool correspondent - both home and away - James Pearce and ECHO regulars Paul Gorst and Connor Dunn to assess the end of the Premier League season. It wasn't meant to be for the Reds, who ended up a point short of champions Manchester City. James believes there is much to celebrate for Jurgen Klopp and realises that almost every player has had a significant role in a season that, of course, hasn't quite finished just yet. Connor wants to see some new faces at Anfield during the summer while Paul points to the return of phantom goals on the final day. Ian brings up a point that perhaps the rest of the Premier League should be grateful Liverpool turned what could have been a boring title race into a great one, and everyone discusses their player of the year. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The numbers are staggering. 30 wins from 38. Just one defeat. 21 clean sheets. 89 goals scored. But Liverpool finish their record-breaking season second behind Manchester City. The Reds held up their end of the bargain. They beat Wolves 2-0 to make it nine straight victories to end the league campaign. But City also held their nerve to win 4-1 at Brighton - and that was enough to ensure the title remained at the Etihad. However, the final Post-Game podcast of the Premier League campaign is anything but downbeat. And why would it? Not least with the little matter of a Champions League final to come. It's a podcast that starts as ever with our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce, continues with every word of Jurgen Klopp's after-match press conference, and also features six of our regular callers, plus many messages left on our Blood Red podcast Facebook page, which you can join HERE. Thanks for listening. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy