Blood Red: The Liverpool FC Podcast

Liverpool resume their Premier League title challenge this afternoon when they travel to Vicarage Road to take on Watford. Jurgen Klopp’s unbeaten side will be favourites to bring the three points back to Merseyside and kick off a very important week in the best possible fashion. After all, they are yet to drop a single point to a side currently sitting outside of the top six. But the guest of our Preview podcast makes it clear that Watford, who are seventh after their best ever start to a Premier League campaign, will be no pushovers. David Cameron Walker is the football editor at TalkSPORT as well as being a big fan of the Hornets. And he gives us the inside track on the men to watch out for in Javi Gracia’s side - including the player Reds legend Jan Molby would love to see at Anfield. You also hear from our own James Pearce, who was at Melwood on Friday afternoon for Klopp's press conference. Enjoy - and we'll be back this evening with the Post-Game podcast. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The international break is over! Rejoice! Kristian Walsh hosts the latest Blood Red podcast and is joined by James Pearce and Paul Gorst as they discuss Sadio Mane penning a new deal at Liverpool and how he's ultimately underrated by many. The midfield comes into question once more as Fabinho and Naby Keita are discussed, while the importance of the upcoming five-week period is assessed - starting with Watford this weekend. Also includes talk of how to stop Manchester City, and seeing Pep Guardiola in the bathroom mirror. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

In a Blood Red podcast special, Paul Gorst sits down with WWE wrestler and Liverpool supporter Zack Gibson to talk following the Reds and working for the world's biggest wrestling company. Liverpool-born Zack explains how his love of the Reds became incorporated into his act on WWE television on NXT, and reveals why he came up with the name of his painful submission finisher, the 'Shankly Gates'. There's also a lesser-known-move, the 'Phil Babb Suplex', which hilariously pays homage to an infamous incident involving the former Liverpool defender. Life on the road with NXT is discussed at length as Zack touches on his Maghull-based wrestling school, which aims to create the next generation of Scouse superstars in the squared circle. Zack also talks working as a top star in NXT UK and what it will be like when he returns 'home' to wrestle on the card at the Liverpool Olympia shows this weekend. For Liverpool-supporting wrestling fans, it's a must-listen Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's coming up to two weeks since the Redmen were last in action, but the latest Allez Les Rouges podcast, hosted by Peter Hooton, and featuring regular guests Kieth Culvin, Ste 'Mono' Monaghan and John Nicolson, has a lot to get off its chest. It starts on a positive - and the amazing efforts of Reds supporters and the LFC Foundation in raising £60,000 for Sean Cox, the fan who was left in a critical condition after being attacked outside Anfield before the Champions League semi-final first leg with Roma in April. 'Mono', Kieth and the Spirit of Shankly supporters' group welcomed Sean's brothers, Martin and Peter, to a special ceremony at Liverpool Town Hall on Saturday, and we hear from them on the podcast. It is an inspirational story of supporter solidarity. Sadly, the feelings of fans were not taken into consideration when the Premier League took the universally unpopular decision to hand a £5m golden handshake to outgoing chief executive Richard Scudamore. The lads believe the league, and its member 20 clubs, including Liverpool, have scored a massive 'own goal', and wonder what the fallout will be in the future, especially if there is a rise in ticket prices. They also discuss the impending introduction of VAR to the Premier League before talk turns to two Reds players who have been starring for their respective countries over the international break. Liverpool are back in action this weekend, at Watford, and looking at the fixtures, the panel have the feeling this could be a pivotal weekend in a title race in which the margins for error are smaller than ever. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

A true Liverpool great is the special guest of our latest podcast. John Toshack has been back in the city this week to promote his new book, Toshack's Way: My Journey Through Football. And the man who won three First Division titles, two UEFA Cups and an FA Cup at Anfield granted an audience to our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce. The duo talk Toshack's eight years on the Red half of Merseyside during the 1970s, from turning down Bobby Robson to his memorable first meeting with Bill Shankly at Liverpool Lime Street train station, and from how his first of 96 goals for the club made him an instant fan favourite to his legendary strike-partnership with Kevin Keegan. Toshack makes it clear throughout the podcast just how much of an influence Shankly, Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan had on his own management career, which saw him take Swansea City from the Fourth to the First Division in the space of four seasons and to winning the title with Real Madrid in Spain. The 69-year-old also reveals just how close he came to becoming Liverpool manager and the pain he felt at missing out on the job he seemed destined for. Toshack also gives his verdict on Jurgen Klopp and the current Reds cross, and the paramount importance of winning that first trophy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

International breaks give you the chance to reflect, but I don’t think you’ll find a single Liverpool supporter who would argue with the move Jurgen Klopp made in the summer when he signed Alisson Becker and ended any hope Loris Karius had of starting the season as the club’s number one. But questionable Instagram videos aside, it was still hard not to feel a degree of sympathy for Karius after his Champions League final nightmare carried over into pre-season. Now if reports have you believe, the start to his two-year loan spell with Besiktas in the Turkish Super Lig has continued on the same theme. So to find out whether that’s true or not, and to see if Karius will be returning to Anfield sooner than expected, Paul Wheelock speaks to Turkish football expert, Emre Sarigul. Emre is based in London, but he’s got close contacts with Turkey’s leading clubs, including Besiktas, and he gives the real story of the German goalkeeper’s time in Istanbul so far. It makes for interesting listening. Emre also provides the inside track on the chances of three more Liverpool players joining Karius in Turkey in January – and the role being played by a certain Damien Comolli. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

We turned the agenda over to you, our listeners, for the latest Blood Red podcast. Answering questions posed on Twitter and our new Facebook group page for all the podcasts we produce (click HERE to join), our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce joins Theo Squires and host Kristian Walsh for a special edition of our flagship show. From the situations surrounding Daniel Sturridge and Sadio Mane, and from Christian Pulisic, the January transfer window to Anfield redevelopment, the trio get through a whole host of topics in an enjoyable hour. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's the international break but that hasn't stopped our Blood Red team from sitting down and discussing all the latest from Anfield. The continued rise of Trent Alexander-Arnold continues after his first goal for England, with a discussion over whether he will eventually become the midfielder he was meant to be. There is also chat on Steven Gerrard's legacy, Richard Scudamore's £5million goodbye, the introduction of VAR and Jurgen Klopp's January transfer plans. Keep listening until the end for a special competition, too. You can follow our Blood Red Podcast Facebook page and leave your comments, ideas, questions and feedback HERE For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Liverpool are enjoying their joint best start to a Premier League season, and are just two points behind Manchester City, but universal acclaim for Jurgen Klopp's high-flying side is in short supply. So, for our latest View from the Kop podcast, Sean Bradbury, Paul Philbin and debutante Emilia Bona join host Paul Wheelock to question why that is the case. Is it pressure? Expectation? Or is it Klopp's change in tactics? That in turn leads to a discussion over the merits of - if not boring - less entertaining football v winning football. Or is the form of the players? Paul Philbin, for one, believes the fact that the Reds have yet to truly blow a team out of the water this season, unlike on countless occasions last season, could be down to the way that Roberto Firmino is being utilised. Firmino has scored just one goal in his last 11 games and just four in the 22 since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's serious injury. But is he being given a chance to score? And what kind of problem does the form of Xherdan Shaqiri cause both Firmino and Klopp? Liverpool's Champions League chances, and what priority they should give the competition they went so desperately close to winning last season, are then mulled over. And the podcast rounds off with a passionate debate about the decision of the 20 Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and their Merseyside rivals Everton, to hand a £5m farewell bonus to outgoing executive chairman Richard Scudamore. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce tracked down a member of the Reds' 2005 Champions League-winning squad for our latest podcast - and what a cracker it is. Antonio Nunez was back in Liverpool at the weekend for the first time since leaving Anfield soon after that unforgettable night in Istanbul - he travelled all the way from Spain by car - and our man caught up with the winger for a very interesting chat. Nunez explains what he's up to, now that he's hung up his boots, the different way he is planning to stay in football, and what it was like to appear alongside players he idolised at his boyhood club Real Madrid, like Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo, Raul and Roberto Carlos. Nunez swapped Madrid for Merseyside in the summer of 2004 when he became one of four Spanish signings made by new manager Rafa Benitez. What followed next was what Nunez calls the 'most beautiful season I lived' and, from those memorable Champions League nights at Anfield against Olympiakos, Juventus and Chelsea, to the final against AC Milan and how Benitez's calmness instigated THAT second-half comeback, he takes Reds fans on a wonderful trip down Memory Lane. Nunez also talks his unique place in Liverpool's history, why Steven Gerrard was the most 'complete player' he played with during his career, and what he makes of Jurgen Klopp's current crop. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Liverpool are just two points behind Manchester City at the top of the table after enjoying a record-equalling start to a Premier League campaign. But what makes the Reds’ form all the more impressive is the fact they are going toe to toe with a club that, over the past decade, has blown everyone else out of the water off the pitch. However, recent accusations have raised questions over Manchester City’s conduct, and whether they will, for the second time, fall foul of Financial Fair Play. There have also been allegations that City and Liverpool, along with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, have been involved in secret discussions about the creation of a European Super League. And that report was followed by ones suggesting that Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, were looking to sell the club for north of $2billion, which were swiftly denied. So for our latest podcast, we picked up the phone to Kieran Maguire, a lecturer in football finance at the University of Liverpool, to get his expert opinion. We first spoke to Kieran after the Champions League final in May to find out just how much the run to Kiev was worth to the Reds. That was an insightful listen – and so is this. 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 ECHO trio Kristian Walsh, Joe Rimmer and Paul Gorst to look back at the win over Fulham, whether there really was any controversy over the opening goal, discuss the Reds' changing formations, ponder the Premier League position to date and assess Naby Keita. Also includes a special section where we answer your questions - including one on the 'F' word... For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Liverpool needed a reaction after their disappointing Champions League defeat to Red Star - and they got one this afternoon as they beat basement boys Fulham 2-0 at Anfield thanks to goals either side of half-time from Mohamed Salah and Xherdan Shaqiri. The comfortable victory ensured the unbeaten Reds moved back to the top of the table, for a little while at least, and equalled their best ever start to a Premier League campaign. And, in our latest Post-Game podcast, we get the view from the press box, the stands and the dugout. The show kicks off with the thoughts of our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce before we hear from three Reds fans who have phoned in to give their verdict. And the podcast rounds off with the full audio from Jurgen Klopp's press conference. You will also hear what Liverpool supporters have been saying in our new Blood Red podcast Facebook group, which you can apply to join by clicking HERE. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

As disappointing as the defeat to Red Star in midweek was for Liverpool, it still has to be placed into context. After all, their Champions League destiny remains in their own hands, and should they win at home to Fulham on Sunday they would go back to the top of the Premier League, for a couple of hours at least. But positives are hard to come by for this weekend’s visitors Fulham. Last season’s Championship play-off winners are rock bottom after losing their last five league matches and, with many of their summer signings failing to perform, the pressure is building on manager Slavisa Jokanovic. So to get the inside track on the Cottagers for this Preview podcast, we speak to Ryan O’Donovan, who covers the club for the Football.London website. Ryan explains why the wheels have fallen off after a promising start, why Jokanovic should be safe whatever happens on Sunday, and why Liverpool appear to have dodged a bullet when it comes to the player who made a surprise switch to Craven Cottage in the summer. The second part of this podcast focuses on the Reds. We catch up with the ECHO’s Paul Gorst, who talks the fallout from the Red Star defeat, why Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita should start on Sunday, and why the game should give Jurgen Klopp’s side the chance to close the gap on Manchester City in more ways than one. We’ll be back after the after whistle with our Post-Game podcast. And if you’d like to get involved with the podcasts we produce, and tell us what you think we do well and what we can improve, then join our Blood Red Facebook group by clicking HERE. 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 along with ECHO duo Connor Dunn and Dan Kay to look back at the dismal defeat to Red Star Belgrade, ponder the success or otherwise of the season to date, assess the midfield options, talk about Trent Alexander-Arnold and remember the name of the Fulham manager. Also includes some incredible justification from Connor for a frankly bizarre call. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy