Blood Red: The Liverpool FC Podcast

With Liverpool away in Dubai, and without a game to preview until the visit of Leicester City to Anfield a week on Wednesday, we picked the phone back up to Ahmad Yousef, an Egyptian football expert and editor of the King Fut.com website, who is close to the Mohamed Salah camp. When we last had Ahmad on, in October, there were plenty of people outside of the red half of Merseyside questioning Salah, after he had, by his incredibly high standards, a slow start to the season. But he has certainly answered his critics since, and his two goals against Crystal Palace on Saturday made him the outright top scorer in the Premier League, and also meant he has reached 50 Premier League goals faster than any other player. But after the match a lot of the focus was on his alleged ‘diving’ - and he’s also had fans talking tonight with a rather cryptic post on Twitter. Some say it’s to do with his rocky relationship with the Egyptian FA, which will come into question again later this year after Egypt won the right to host the Africa Cup of Nations. Luckily for Liverpool, for the first time the tournament takes place in the summer, and not January, but that will mean Mo playing a full year of football for the second year running, which could well have an impact on Jurgen Klopp's summer transfer plans.But can you even buy a back-up? Host Paul Wheelock speaks to Ahmad about all that, the title race, Salah's future ambitions, plus much more. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

He may have fired Liverpool to another win, and in the process raced to 50 Premier League goals in ridiculously fast fashion, but rather than his incredible scoring feats, the focus was on Mohamed Salah's alleged 'diving' following the 4-3 victory over Crystal Palace. So did Salah blot his copybook on Saturday? Or was he right to go down having been denied clear-cut penalties in the past? And what constitutes 'diving' these days anyway? It's one of the big talking points of the latest Blood Red podcast, hosted by Ian Doyle and featuring our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce as well as Joe Rimmer and Theo Squires. The quartet also discuss the reactions of Virgil van Dijk and Roy Hodgson to the Palace success and ask what are your favourite 4-3 wins for Liverpool. James Milner's sending off late has added to Jurgen Klopp's right-back problems. So should the Reds boss now turn to Rafa Camacho? James also talks the training camp in Dubai, Pep Lijnders and Zeljko Buvac before making an early dart, leaving Ian, Joe and Theo to defend Jordan Henderson and wonder when Liverpool will see the real Naby Keita. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Recovered yet? As James Pearce brilliantly said in his written verdict for the ECHO, ‘much more of this and Liverpool will have to start issuing Valium with the match tickets’. Well, we hear more from James in what is a bumper and jubilant Post-Game podcast after the Reds edged out Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace 4-3 at a nervy Anfield to move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League. And what did Jurgen Klopp make of it all? Well, you can hear every word the Reds boss had to say in his post-match press conference, after James kicks us off. And then we hand over to the 10 Liverpool fans who phoned into the show – Simon Donnelly, Sam Planche, Matt Addison, Ross Strachan, Owen Thomas, Nathan Davidson, Alex Watt, Matt Whitty, Peter Lally and Mark Baker. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It’s not just Liverpool’s first team who are enjoying a fabulous season. The Under-18s also top the table after they started the New Year in exactly the same fashion they finished the old one. Barry Lewtas’ excellent young side won 1-0 at home to Sunderland to make it five wins on the spin and set themselves up perfectly for Monday’s (January 21) FA Youth Cup tie with Accrington Stanley in St Helens. And it’s the U18s who dominate our latest Academy Show, hosted by Paul Wheelock and featuring our Post-Game and View from the Kop contributor Matt Addison, who is a regular down in Kirby. They talk the win over Sunderland, the players who stood out and the exciting young winger who settled the contest. You will then hear Reds boss Lewtas’ post-match verdict in full, which also includes his thoughts on Ki-Jana Hoever, who started the year by making a seriously impressive senior debut at the age of just 16 in the FA Cup tie versus Wolves before coming back down to earth with an incredibly harsh sending off in the U23s’ 1-1 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion. Paul and Matt discuss that match, the Premier League Cup clash at home to West Brom today (January 20), before talk turns to Rafa Camacho, who also played against Wolves and was then on target for the U23s against Brighton, and Harry Wilson, whose season on-loan in the Championship with Frank Lampard’s Derby County continues to go from strength to strength. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

In the latest Blood Red podcast, Liverpool reporter and regular host Ian Doyle is joined by full-time Liverpool correspondent - both home and away - James Pearce and ECHO duo Joe Rimmer and Paul Gorst to discuss the last few days of all things Anfield. Top of the agenda is the latest fitness news coming out of Liverpool and what it all actually means - and whether it is something of concern. Harry Wilson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rhian Brewster and Brexit all get a mention, while Joe gets on his high horse again, Roy Hodgson is also discussed. Sorry about that. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Jurgen Klopp sat down in front of the media on Friday afternoon to preview Saturday's visit of Crystal Palace to Anfield - and you can listen to it in full here. He delivered injury updates on Gini Wijnaldum, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, Joe Gomez, Rhian Brewster and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as well as reacting to the news that Andy Robertson has signed a new long-term contract with the club. He also talked what the Reds plan to do with their 11-day break after the clash with 'proper team' Palace and gave his verdict on the departure of his good friend David Wagner from Huddersfield Town and, inevitably, 'Spygate'. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

With the regular Allez Les Rouges guests being sent on warm-weather training, host Peter Hooton is joined by not one, but two Liverpool-supporting managers who are working wonders in the Football League. Accrington Stanley’s John Coleman has been on the podcast before, but it’s a debut for his League One managerial rival, Blackpool’s Terry McPhillips. The big Reds join Peter in discussing the 1-0 win at Brighton that ensured Jurgen Klopp’s side maintained their four-point lead at the summit. There is a lot of praise for Virgil van Dijk, including his ‘wow’ moment of an outstanding season so far, and for Alisson Becker, who Peter argues is the best Liverpool goalkeeper since Bruce Grobbelaar, who Terry used to train with when he was on his boyhood club’s books as a youngster. There is also plaudits for the match-winner against Brighton, Mohamed Salah, and particularly Sadio Mane, before Terry discusses the time Blackburn Rovers, where he was assistant manager, went to Anfield and recorded a deserved 0-0 draw in the FA Cup. Liverpool won the quarter-final replay at Ewood Park 1-0 and it is the man whose goal separated the sides that night that John would love to see back in a Red shirt. He also names what could be a more realistic transfer target for January, and Terry agrees it is a position that needs strengthening this month. The difference in mentality between the current Reds crop and the Brendan Rodgers side of 2013-14 is discussed as is the visit of Crystal Palace and return of Roy Hodgson to Anfield this weekend, which includes a brilliant tale from John about the time the ex-England manager took a team to Accrington. And there is also time to fit in the relationship between supporters and clubs, which in turn leads to talk of the difficult situation Terry and his Blackpool players find themselves in. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

In the latest Blood Red podcast, Liverpool reporter and regular host Ian Doyle is joined by full-time Liverpool correspondent - both home and away - James Pearce, the ECHO's Paul Gorst and special guest Norwegian author Ragnhild Lund Ansnes to discuss the last few days of all things Anfield. Top of the agenda is the win over Brighton, what it means and whether it's all a conspiracy. There's also chat about if Tottenham are now out of the Premier League title race and whether Alisson Becker is better than David De Gea and Liverpool's best goalkeeper since Bruce Grobbelaar. Ragnhild also discusses her book with Bruce, and a very special forthcoming event. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Crisis? What crisis? Liverpool bounced back from those back-to-back defeats to start the New Year with a 1-0 win at Brighton that leaves Manchester City back in exactly the same position they found themselves 10 days ago – seven points behind and with the pressure all on them. Mohamed Salah got the winner from the penalty spot to move level at the top of the Premier League scoring charts and fire the table-topping Reds to a 16th victory from 16 against sides outside of the top five. But a lot of praise on the Post-Game podcast is reserved for the partly patched-up defence that earned a 13th clean sheet of the campaign. And it’s a podcast that starts with the definitive verdict on the afternoon’s action from our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce. You will then hear from the five Reds fans who have phoned into the show to deliver their thoughts – Sam Planche, Matt Whitty, Owen Thomas, Matt Addison and Peter Lally. And the podcast rounds off with every word Jurgen Klopp had to say in his press conference after the match. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Liverpool may have seen their unbeaten start come to an end in their first Premier League game of the New Year. But you would think they will return to winning ways today and re-establish their seven-point lead at the top over Manchester City. After all, they’ve yet to drop a point this season against a team from outside the top six, and their victories over Brighton & Hove Albion last season could not have been more comprehensive. But the Seagulls have improved since then, which was evident in their narrow 1-0 defeat at Anfield back in August. However, can they actually become the first side outside of City, Arsenal and Chelsea to take points off Jurgen Klopp’s side? We find out from Brian Owen, who covers the club for The Argus newspaper, before we hear from our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce after he attended Klopp’s press conference. Enjoy - and we’ll be back later today with the Post-Game podcast. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's Friday, which means one thing... it's the Blood Red podcast. And joining host Joe Rimmer and Paul Gorst on the latest episode is our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce, who kicks off the pod by giving an update on the walking wounded. Unless Joel Matip makes an unlikely recovery, there's every chance the Reds will have to line-up with a midfielder alongside Virgil van Dijk against Brighton. But which one? Had it not been for a late injury, James reveals the heart of Klopp's defence at Wolves would have contained two midfielders. A player dropping into the backline could give an opportunity for Naby Keita the chance to shine at the Amex. But does he deserve it? And does Klopp trust him to do the job? Gorsty, James and, in particular, Joe are worried about a player so much was expected of. But Keita can take heart from Andy Robertson, who used last season's corresponding fixture with Brighton to kick-start a remarkable year that has seen him develop into one of the best left-backs in Europe. There's a lot of respect for Liverpool's opponents on Saturday, and their forever-young manager, before talk turns to Klopp's frontline and the difficulties he has in getting his own Gabriel Jesus. And, of course, the usual line-up and score predictions. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Something a little different for you, Reds fans. Our main Blood Red show will be with you later today (Friday), as usual, but in the meantime we're giving you the chance to listen to every word Jurgen Klopp had to say in his press conference to preview the trip to Brighton & Hove Albion. The Liverpool manager gave an injury update and talked Virgil van Dijk, who looks set to be his sole fit senior centre-back on Saturday, as well as Fabinho, who looks set to partner the Dutchman in the heart of the defence. Klopp also addressed claims his table-topping team now have the advantage in the title race, after exiting the FA Cup, explained what the trio of youngsters who impressed in the defeat at Wolves have to do next, and made clear the immediate future of one of those players. As well as giving his opinion on the team standing in the Reds' way of opening up a seven-point lead at the summit. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

So Liverpool have started the New Year with back-to-back defeats. But given Jurgen Klopp’s side still have a four-point lead at the top, and given the FA Cup was at the bottom of the priority list, our first View from the Kop podcast of 2019 focuses very much on the positives, which there are a lot. That much is made clear by regular guest Paul Philbin, who describes the feeling in the fan base after leaving the Etihad last Thursday. Philbo is joined by fellow Reds Matt Addison, Sean Bradbury and Neil Macdonald and they discuss the defeat to Manchester City and the ‘rivalry’ between the clubs, as well the remarkable run of wins leading up to the table-topping clash, and the fixture-list quirk that could well help Liverpool see off Pep Guardiola’s men. With it being January, a lot of talk centres round the transfer window, and while Klopp has played down the chances of boosting his squad this month, did anyone see Fabinho coming, and did anyone see Alisson coming when it did? That leads the panel to wonder whether Klopp and Michael Edwards have another surprise up their sleeve. If they o, one of the guests would love Liverpool to go after a player who is seemingly set to leave the other team in the title race, as well as another defensive recruit, while there are also calls for a new striker, which in turns lead to a discussion over Daniel Sturridge’s form and future. It’s well documented that January is not always the best time to do business but Sean explains why the opposite could be true for Klopp. It’s also argued that history, and the fact that two of the Reds’ deadly front three are set for long summers once again, should also have an influence over whether the Liverpool manager sticks or twists. But buy or not, Liverpool remain in a great position, and the panel are asked whether they think this is a better squad than the ones that went so close in 2009 and 2014. It’s a good listen. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Neil Fitzmaurice is back with his first Poetry in Motion podcast of 2019, and he's joined by regular guests Dan Kay and Joe Rimmer, who returns from his one-pod ban after swearing on last Friday's Blood Red, and in turn getting the show banned from the Middle East. True story. The Reds have started the year with back-to-back defeats but the mood is positively upbeat with Dan arguing the loss that mattered - at Manchester City - could actually work in Jurgen Klopp side's favour. But the panel do wonder whether the midfield Klopp selected against City will be used again, particularly given the display Fabinho produced off the bench. Fitzy also doubts whether Pep Guardiola's team have it in them to play the same way again while Joe is confident the cool, clinical side Klopp has constructed will simply dust themselves off and get back to winning ways at Brighton on Saturday. Liverpool were unable to do that earlier this week when a second-string XI exited the FA Cup at Wolves. Fitzy was far from happy, particularly with the performance of one senior star, whereas Joe is more relaxed about the affair. Except when it comes to Alan Shearer. The trio then tear strips off Neil Warnock following his latest barb at the Reds, debate the possibility of signing a new centre-back, before giving their predictions for the trip to the Amex. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Nearly 24 hours after a second-string Liverpool side suffered an FA Cup exit at Premier League rivals Wolves, James Pearce joins Theo Squires and debut host Connor Dunn for the first of two Blood Red podcasts this week. James was at Molineux for the ECHO and he analyses what, bar from the performances of the youngsters, was a disappointing night all round. Injury was added to insult when Dejan Lovren limped off early on to leave Jurgen Klopp facing a big centre-back problem going into this weekend's trip to Brighton. So will Reds boss Klopp go into the market for defensive cover? Or does the answer lie in-house? The panel discuss that, and also look at the bigger picture, with James asking whether Reds fans would prefer to win the FA Cup and miss out on a first league title since 1990 or sacrifice the cup in an attempt to land the Holy Grail? The form of Naby Keita is also debated before the trio talk team selection for Brighton. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy