Blood Red: The Liverpool FC Podcast

So here we go. The start of a week that could end with Liverpool winning the Premier League and qualifying for their second straight Champions League final. Admittedly, the latter is more unlikely, given the Reds must overturn a 3-0 deficit in their semi-final second leg with Barcelona at Anfield on Tuesday. And their hopes have been hit further by the news that both Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino will be ruled out of the match, which was confirmed by Jurgen Klopp at his pre-match press conference on Monday afternoon. With that in mind, Klopp was asked how he was going to approach the last-four decider, as well as how much attention he will pay to Manchester City's crucial clash at home to Leicester City on Monday night, which if they drop points in, will leave Liverpool with one hand on the Premier League title. But most of the talk concerns Barcelona, the possible inspiration the Reds can take from Roma, and just what exactly Klopp said to Lionel Messi on the Camp Nou pitch at the end of the first leg. And, as is customary with Champions League press conferences, the Liverpool manager was followed by one of his players, Trent-Alexander Arnold, who was a fan in stands when Klopp's side produced a stunning European comeback to beat Borussia Dortmund three years ago. The 20-year-old right-back is asked whether the Reds can repeat that performance on Tuesday night, his friendly rivalry with Andy Robertson, the prospect of facing Messi, and courtesy of a question from our own James Pearce, what it will be like to go up against his former team-mate Philippe Coutinho. Enjoy - and we'll be back in the morning with the Blood Red podcast. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You should know the drill by now - our first Blood Red podcast of the week arrives on a Monday. But this is no ordinary week and this is no ordinary season - one look at the Premier League table is testament to that. It is a table topped by Liverpool after their latest last-gasp victory, 3-2 at Rafa Benitez's Newcastle United on Saturday night. Divock Origi's late winner sparked wild celebrations in the travelling Kop housed up in the Gods at St James' Park and in the Reds fan base worldwide. But that will be eclipsed if Leicester City, and a certain Brendan Rodgers, can do Liverpool a huge favour and take points off second-placed Manchester City. Therefore, rather than put out Blood Red on Monday afternoon, only for it to be almost automatically dated, we have recorded a day earlier to look back on the win over Newcastle and look ahead to Leicester's trip to the Etihad. Ian Doyle was on reporting duty for the ECHO on Tyneside and so hands over his hosting duties to Sean Bradbury, who had a very good reason for not watching all of the game. They are joined by Connor Dunn, who was able to watch the game thanks to a very understanding girlfriend. And what a game it was, and one which Ian believes demonstrated the one thing the Reds definitely have over City, despite all their riches and depths of talent. Ian also expresses his admiration for a Newcastle player he reckons could do a job for Liverpool while Connor questions what must be going through City manager's Pep Guardiola's head. The panel debate what the future holds for Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri, who set up the Belgian's winner, rubbish the theory that the Reds are lucky, wonder whether Jurgen Klopp should rest players for the Champions League semi-final second leg v Barcelona (we'll be doing a Blood Red on the day of that match), and give reason for optimism regarding Leicester's chances against City. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How is the heart rate? Settled down now? Wow, this Liverpool just don't know when to quit. On the back of what happened in midweek at Barcelona, and after Mohamed Salah was stretchered off to (potentially) join Roberto Firmino on the sidelines, they could so easily have dropped points and effectively handed the Premier League title to Manchester City. But instead they dug in and, thanks to a goal from super-sub Divock Origi that could be even more important than his derby winner in December, they secured a vital 3-2 victory at Rafa Benitez's spirited Newcastle United side. It was a victory that moved Jurgen Klopp's relentless Reds back to the top of the table going into the final week of this incredible campaign. And to reflect on it, we have a bumper Post-Game podcast for you. It starts, as always, with the definitive verdict of our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce, includes every word of Klopp's press conference after the match, including fitness updates on Salah and Firmino, and also features seven of our regular callers into the show as well as a load more made-up - if emotionally drained - Liverpool fans in the form of the messages they have been leaving on our Blood Red podcast Facebook group page. Click HERE to join. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the 10th episode of Analysing Anfield - and the first where the team have to dissect a defeat for Liverpool. After a tough and unjust 3-0 defeat in Barcelona, host Kristian Walsh is joined by Josh Williams as they look back at what went wrong - but also, as Josh is keen to point out, what went right. The decisions to start Joe Gomez and Gini Wijnaldum are looked into, while the impact of Naby Keita's injury - and what happens next - is also touched upon. There is also a few moments dedicated to the genius of Lionel Messi, and how the Reds could pull off the not-so-impossible if they keep him quiet on Tuesday. There is also a preview to the crucial clash with Newcastle, and how risk and reward could play a role against Rafael Benitez. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A bit deflated by how it ended in Barcelona? Worried that Manchester City are not going to drop points in their final two games? Well, if you do need perking up then skip to the 40-minute mark of the latest Poetry in Motion podcast and let host Neil Fitzmaurice and his guests Connor Dunn and Caoimhe O'Neill remind you that this is a season to remember for Liverpool - no matter what happens on Tuesday and even if City do win out. But there's plenty to get stuck into before then as Fitzy, who is fresh back from Barca, wonders just how Liverpool find themselves 3-0 down going into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final. Connor reckons a series of little things contributed to the Reds' downfall, with Caoimhe arguing that Jurgen Klopp's side could well have been too nice in the face of the dark arts mastered by Barcelona, and similarly used by Real Madrid in last year's final. Luis Suarez's goal celebration and Lionel Messi's brilliance are also discussed as is Klopp's decision to start Joe Gomez at right-back - and what it would have left Trent Alexander-Arnold thinking. So can Liverpool stage one of the great European comebacks? Our panel reckon history suggests they can and call on the supporters to make it intimidating for Barca in most the respectful way possible. Talk then turns to Saturday's Premier League clash at Rafa Benitez's Newcastle. In the wake of Naby Keita's season-ending injury, and Roberto Firmino's knock, Fitzy questions what line-up Klopp will go with. Could it be time to throw Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain into the fray? Could the fit-again midfielder be the sting in the tail for Barca and City that Fitzy believes will come? We'll find out soon enough - but for now enjoy this brilliant pod. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jurgen Klopp's press conference at Melwood this morning starts with some bad news - over the injury sustained to Naby Keita in the Nou Camp. The Liverpool boss is also coy over Roberto Firmino's chances of starting the crucial Premier League clash at Newcastle United on Saturday night. But don't be kidded that Klopp is in anyway feeling downbeat. Yes, his side have a mountain to climb if they are to overcome a three-goal against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final second leg at Anfield on Tuesday. But it's clear Liverpool have already got over their first-leg disappointment and are now fully focused on the trip to St James Park to take on Rafa Benitez's boys - which if they win, of course, will take them back to the top of the Premier League with one game to play and pile the pressure back on Manchester City. To definitely win the league, City will have to finish on 98 points, and Klopp is asked whether that is going to be standard for every season from now on. He's also quizzed on the Reds' resilience and mood inside the dressing room, as well as the return of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gini Wijnaldum's role against Barca in midweek. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before flying back to England, our Liverpool FC reporting team of James Pearce and Ian Doyle recorded their third Blood Red podcast of the week from Barcelona, this time from the city's airport. The mood is mixed - and understandably so. The Reds have given themselves a mountain to climb by losing their Champions League semi-final first leg 3-0 but as James explains, there was much to admire about the brave, bold performance produced by Jurgen Klopp's side at Camp Nou. Sadly, the one thing lacking was a finishing touch, which is something you could not accuse Lionel Messi of not having. James and Ian wonder how you can stop the Barcelona genius and, as much as the result pained them, what a privilege it was to watch Messi at the peak of his powers. But did Liverpool and Klopp help themselves with the formation, selection and timing of substitutions? James and Ian discuss Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Gini Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino before outlining why no Red can complain about Luis Suarez's antics. The duo also debate the display of Barca's other Anfield old boy, Philippe Coutinho, and why his withdrawal was such a big turning point, before talk turns to the second leg, Liverpool's chance of a comeback, and the huge match on Saturday in the race for the Premier League title. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So how do you begin to describe that? In many ways there was nothing wrong with the performance and anyone who watched the game would surely agree Liverpool did not deserve to be beaten 3-0. But at the same time the final scoreline could have been greater had Barcelona made the most of their counter-attacks late on. Prior to that the La Liga champions had been ruthless, and particularly the otherworldly Lionel Messi, which was in contrast to the Reds, who failed to take at least one of the numerous opportunities that came their way. It leaves Jurgen Klopp's side with a mountain to climb in next Tuesday's second leg at Anfield if they are to make Madrid and the final. But this podcast concentrates on what happened at the Camp Nou as we get the definitive verdict on the action from our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce, before we hear Liverpool manager Klopp's post-match press conference, and then get the thoughts of six Reds fans who have phoned in. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Excited? Nervous? Both? We're just hours away from the Champions League semi-final first leg between Barcelona and Liverpool at Camp Nou and, to get you in the mood, Ian Doyle and James Pearce have recorded their second Blood Red podcast of the week from sunny Spain. And they are joined a man whose voice will be familiar to our listeners... Neil Jones, formerly of the ECHO, but now the Liverpool FC correspondent for Goal. Ian and James kick us off by reviewing Jurgen Klopp's 'perfect' performance at the press match conference the night before, which also featured Sadio Mane. Mane, like this Liverpool team, look born to play on this stage and, at the old home of one his heroes, Ronaldinho, Mane is tipped by Neil to rise to the big occasion, The statistics back that claim up and James believe the Senegalese striker is the embodiment of the 'opportunity, not pressure' message Klopp has been putting across. So relaxed was Mane at the presser, he even entertained questions about those Real Madrid links, which are fanciful to say the least. But one player who did choose to leave Liverpool is Philippe Coutinho and both he and fellow former Red, Luis Suarez, are discussed here, which include some great anecdotes about the latter, which should leave supporters in no doubt about his motivation tonight. One player who is certainly motivated to bring the Champions League back to Barcelona is Lionel Messi, and the panel discuss the midfield needed to negate the great man's influence. With Mane, Mohamed Salah and hopefully Roberto Firmino to contend with, Barca have a lot on their plate themselves, and there are reports that they may play a more conservative right-back than Nelson Semedo. But should Liverpool do the same and bring Joe Gomez in for Trent Alexander-Arnold? The lads have their say on that before giving their score predictions. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It goes to show the season that Liverpool are enjoying that the Champions League has almost been an afterthought at times during this incredible campaign. But while the thrilling race for the Premier League is very much alive, the focus tonight will solely be on European football’s top club competition and a semi-final first-leg showdown with Barcelona. The bad news is Lionel Messi appears hell-bent on bringing the Champions League back to Barca and if he is at his magical best, there may be little Liverpool can do. The fact that Ernesto Valverde has been able to rest key players, like Messi, and still wrap up an eighth La Liga title in 11 years, doesn’t help the Reds either. Neither does the force of nature that is Luis Suarez or the improved form of another Liverpool old boy, Philippe Coutinho. But as the guest of this podcast explains, for all their undoubted strengths, Barcelona are not without their weaknesses. And Sam Marsden, who covers the La Liga champions for ESPN, believes the Reds could be the team to exploit them. Valverde is aware of that, too, and Sam reveals the Barca boss has actually been taking tips from one of his predecessors in how to halt Jurgen Klopp’s Red Machine – a certain Pep Guardiola. There’s loads more to get stuck into before Sam heads off to report on the press conferences that took place at Barcelona’s training ground on Tuesday night. It’s a bit noisy at the start, but it soon settles down, which is exactly what Liverpool will be hoping to do at Camp Nou on Wednesday. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices