Blood Red: The Liverpool FC Podcast

Crisis? What crisis? As bad as the defeat to Red Star was, Liverpool’s Champions League destiny remains in their own hands, and victory on Sunday over Fulham would move them back to the top of the Premier League table. But as Jurgen Klopp admitted himself in midweek, his side are struggling to find their mojo, and it’s against that backdrop that the latest Allez Les Rouges podcast is recorded. Host Peter Hooton is joined by Stephen Monaghan, who was at the Marakana, and by John Nicolson. They start by dissecting the Red Star reverse and questioning Jurgen Klopp’s decision to rotate his squad – particularly in defence. The lads reckon the changes explain why even the imperious Virgil van Dijk fell below his usual sky-high standards on what truly was a night to forget. Liverpool will look to bounce back on Sunday when basement boys Fulham visit Anfield and Peter and Co believe Klopp’s side need to take a leaf out of leaders Manchester City’s book. Victory over the Cottagers would help quell the ‘Twitter meltdown’ and set the Reds up for massive matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli. But even if they come through their current patchy spell, the question of whether Klopp should look to buy in January is asked. And another must-listen podcast ends on an upbeat note with an update on the brilliant fundraising efforts for injured Liverpool fan Sean Cox. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's the morning after the night before, and Neil Fitzmaurice is back with his Poetry in Motion podcast, joined by Joe Rimmer and Paul Wheelock. There's no getting away from it - Fitzy is getting a little bit concerned by his beloved Reds. They may still be unbeaten in the Premier League, and victory over Napoli in their final Champions League group game would almost certainly see them through to the knockout stages, but does the dismal defeat to Red Star raise bigger questions about Jurgen Klopp's squad? Fitzy is not having the argument that Liverpool are pacing themselves and wonders whether they have lost their fear factor. Joe and Paul try to put last night's loss into context but question whether Adam Lallana will ever regain the form that once made him one of Klopp's most trusted lieutenants. The midfield and their lack of tempo is a big talking point and the trio debate just how big a loss Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are and, whether it is only now, that we are seeing just what a huge difference Philippe Coutinho made to the team. The pressure the Reds are under to deliver this season is also discussed as is the visit of Fulham to Anfield on Sunday and why the match is tailor-made for one under-performing summer signing to impress. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

That was a bad, bad night at the office. But only time will tell just how damaging Liverpool’s desperately disappointing Champions League defeat to Red Star will be. What we do know is that it means Liverpool have slipped to second going into their final two group games, away to Paris-Saint Germain and at home to new leaders Napoli. And what we do know is that last season’s beaten finalists will need to improve significantly on the performance they produced in Belgrade this evening. That much is made clear by the guests of this podcast, which kicks off with the expert of our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce. You then hear from four Reds supporters, Ross Strachan, Sam Planche, Alex Watt and Mark Baker, who phone in to give their views on Adam Lallana, Trent Alexander-Arnold, the absence of Xherdan Shaqiri, Philippe Coutinho and much more else besides. And the podcast rounds off with audio from Jurgen Klopp’s press conference. Like everyone else, the Liverpool manager is not happy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Tonight is Liverpool’s first trip to Belgrade since October 1973 when they suffered the first of two defeats to Red Star to exit the European Cup. They proved to be a watershed moment for legendary manager Bill Shankly, who changed the club’s approach to European football after those nights. But while it’s unlikely the events of this evening will have such a profound effect on the course of Liverpool’s footballing history, it is a big match for Jurgen Klopp’s side. They top Group C after sweeping aside Red Star 4-0 at Anfield two weeks ago and, with Paris Saint-Germain taking on Napoli later on tonight, victory for Liverpool could see them move a big step closer to qualifying for the knockout stages. But will it be another procession against Red Star given the atmosphere awaiting them at the Marakana and given the 1991 European champions' record in front of their passionate supporters? To answer those questions, and many more, including Liverpool's decision to leave Xherdan Shaqiri at home, Paul Wheelock speaks to Belgrade-based sports journalist Nebojša Marković. Nebojša also talks Liverpool’s two Serbian players, Marko Grujic and Lazar Markovic, before you hear from our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce. James is over in Belgrade for the ECHO and, to round off this Preview podcast, he brings us all the big talking points from Klopp's pre-match press conference. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The unbeaten Liverpool machine rolls on. But 27 points from a possible 33 is only enough to place the Reds in third at the top of the Premier League after Saturday's 1-1 draw at Arsenal. Host Kristian Walsh is joined by Paul Gorst and the ECHO's Liverpool correspondent James Pearce - all the way from Belgrade - to pick the bones out of the Reds' pulsating point at the Emirates. On the agenda is Virgil van Dijk, Roberto Firmino and the midfield headache that continues to make itself known to Jurgen Klopp. Kristian asks if Van Dijk's career has been somewhat wasted up until his move to Anfield, while the trio muse on what's eating Firmino at present. Attention then turns to Champions League action as the Reds get set for a big clash with Serbian side Red Star Belgrade. A raucous atmosphere is expected in the Serbian capital but all three are predicting victory for Klopp's Reds. As ever, it's a must-listen. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Before jetting out to Belgrade in the morning, our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce speaks to Paul Wheelock for our latest Academy Show podcast. Most of the show focuses on the Reds' on-fire Under-18s side, who made it eight straight wins in Premier League competitions last Thursday with a thrilling, last-gasp mini, mini derby victory over Everton. So who are the players standing out for Barry Lewtas' side? And just how promising is the partnership between Paul Glatzel and Bobby Duncan (pictured)? James also pays tribute to the man tasked with filling Steven Gerrard's sizeable boots as well as looking ahead to the highly rated side's UEFA Youth League encounter with Red Star on Tuesday afternoon. While the first team were drawing 1-1 at Arsenal on Saturday to move - albeit temporarily - back to the top of the Premier League, Dominic Solanke was playing and scoring as the Under-23s returned to winning ways. So what next for Solanke? And why could his immediate future be dependent on Divock Origi? James answers those questions and also talks the new manager in charge of Liverpool FC Women. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

What a game that was. Yes, there was disappointment and frustration that Liverpool could not hold on for what would have been another statement victory. But the Reds more than played their part in an enthralling contest and, more importantly, the 1-1 draw with a revitalised Arsenal side means they moved back to the top of the Premier League and extended their unbeaten start to 11 matches. So, to look back on tonight's encounter, this podcast kicks off with the expert opinion of our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce. You will then hear from five Reds fans, Simon Donnelly, Matt Whitty, Nathan Davidson, Peter Lally and Mark Baker, who is a coach at a Championship club and who takes a tactical look at what happened at the Emirates And the podcast rounds off with audio from Jurgen Klopp’s press conference. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Looking forward to tonight's match at the Emirtates? I know we are! So to whet the appetite further for a game that always seem to guarantee goals and drama, we have produced a little pre-match podcast for you. It kicks off with host Paul Wheelock talking to the ECHO's sports audience editor Kristian Walsh. With Manchester City setting the bar so high, the Reds have to keep the pace with Pep Guardiola's relentless side, which they have certainly done so far this season. But how big a test will Arsenal provide? And how much of a surprise is it that the Gunners also find themselves in the title shake-up under new manager Unai Emery? Kristian answers those questions and also mulls over the selection posers Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp faces for tonight's game, which if his side win or draw, will see them go back to the top of the Premier League. You will then hear audio from Klopp's press conference, in which he talks the season so far, the threat posed by Arsenal, the latest injury news, and the different systems he is using. And the podcast ends with audio from Gunners boss Emery's presser. Enjoy, we'll be back after the match with our Post-Game show, and just to let you know, we've created a Facebook group for all the podcasts we produce under the Blood Red banner if you'd like to get involved. 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 Kristian Walsh and Connor Dunn to look ahead to the trip to Arsenal, consider Jurgen Klopp's midfield options, ponder what might be done in defence, assess Fabinho's progress, remember Unai Emery and Sevilla, and revel in a derby victory. Also includes a shock revelation from Kristian. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

We know Liverpool are the real deal. One look at the current Premier League table and the progress they have made under Jurgen Klopp, particularly in the calendar year, is testament to that. But what about Arsenal? They go into Saturday's tea-time showdown at the Emirates on the back of 12 wins from their last 13 unbeaten matches in all competitions. In what is Unai Emery's first season in charge, can they be considered genuine title challengers, too? So to get the inside track on Liverpool's next opponents we spoke to Football.London's Charles Watts, who covers Arsenal home and away. Charles gives a fascinating insight into the start of the post-Arsene Wenger era and explains why the prolific Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is giving Emery a problem despite scoring 17 goals in 23 league games for the Gunners - and why one position in particular could decide the clash with the Reds. And of course we also got Charles' take on those reports linking Aaron Ramsey with a free transfer move to Anfield. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

What’s great about Liverpool and Merseyside is that no matter who you support, whether Red or Blue, is that people stand together on the bigger, more important things than what happens out on the pitch. Yet another example of that is the special event taking place at the O2 Academy in the city centre on Friday night. Called Talk Tonight, it features some of the best bands and acts in Liverpool, and it’s been inspired by the death of big Liverpool supporters, Michael Woodburn and Neil ‘Yozza’ Hughes. 84 men take their own lives per week in the UK, and the event aims to help break the stigma of mental health and suicide – as well as raising money for two very worthy local causes. For the podcast, Paul Wheelock speaks to one of the organisers of the event, Chris Tyrrell, and then Scouse footballer Kevin Ellison. The 39-year-old Morecambe forward opened up about his own mental health issues in the summer. Back then we interviewed Kevin for a special podcast to talk about why he went public on his eight-year battle with depression. And we picked up the phone to the boyhood Liverpool fan again this week to talk about the reaction to his initial posts on Twitter – and the fact that more and more footballers are coming out and talking about mental health. You can buy Talk Tonight tickets from www.seetickets.com. They cost £22.50 and all proceeds will go to Paul’s Place and James’ Place. And if you need mental health and suicide support, the NHS has compiled a list of free helplines, the details for which can be obtained at www.nhs.uk/conditions/suicide/ For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Mark Walters believes Liverpool finally boast a team capable of bringing the “Holy Grail” back to Anfield. Title glory eluded the former Reds winger under both Graeme Souness and Roy Evans in the early 90s but he's confident the current crop can succeed where they failed. Walters expects Jurgen Klopp's side, who are only off top spot on goal difference, to push champions Manchester City all the way this season. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The Blood Red podcast is back and like Jurgen Klopp, we've rotated our squad. Out goes full-time Liverpool correspondent (both home and away) James Pearce and in comes Dan Kay and Theo Squires. Meanwhile, Reds reporter Ian Doyle is playing in an unfamiliar role, with Joe Rimmer taking up hosting duties to talk about the victory over Cardiff. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are discussed, with Joe asking whether a central role is seeing Liverpool get the best out of the Egyptian king. There's plenty of talk about Gini Wijnaldum and whether the Dutchman would get in other top six sides before the lads debate if Adam Lallana can get back to his best. The question of whether Klopp will trust Xherdan Shaqiri to start at Arsenal is asked, with mixed opinions on what to do with the Swiss winger. Theo then reveals that he's too young to listen to Take That before Ian ponders the whereabouts of Neil Warnock's eyebrows. It's a lively one. Enjoy.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's another bumper edition of Allez Les Rouges, with Liverpool season ticket holder and The Farm frontman Peter Hooton in his regular hosting seat. Joining him on this episode are Kop stalwarts Keith Culven and John Nicolson, as well as Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman. The team look back at the Red Star Belgrade victory and contemplate what constitutes the Reds' best back line - with a difference of opinion between them. The clashes with Cardiff and Arsenal are also assessed, while there is also a must-listen story about this weekend's referee Stuart Atwell and Roy Hodgson.  A superb listen, as always. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Liverpool ensured there was to be no unlucky 13 as they safely negotiated Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday night - and game No.14 of the season comes hot on the heels for Jurgen Klopp's side. Paul Gorst, James Pearce and host Kristian Walsh sat down to talk about that game - a visit from Neil Warnock's Cardiff - but not before our Liverpool reporter gives an in-depth insight into what he's done with his spare time this week. After James' critique of newly-released A Star Is Born, the chatter eventually turns to Saturday's game and our panel agree this represents a great chance to increase the pressure on Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. The issue of the Liverpool captaincy is discussed while Kristian reveals an surprise soft spot for Cardiff boss Warnock. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy