Blood Red: The Liverpool FC Podcast

What an afternoon it was at Anfield. And to reflect on the 2-0 victory over Chelsea, Ian Doyle, Paul Gorst, Caoimhe O'Neill and Sean Bradbury have recorded the first of this week's four (!) editions of the Blood Red podcast. And why not? With Liverpool very much in the running for a dream double, every game has to be taken on its own merits. But while the panel do preview the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Porto on Wednesday toward the end of the podcast, which includes the usual line-up and score predictions, the vast majority of the show is focused on the Reds' first home win over Chelsea in seven years. It was a win that took Jurgen Klopp's side back to the top of the Premier League and piled the pressure firmly on Manchester City. The panel wonder whether there is now a clear favourite in the title race and whether Mohamed Salah's sensational strike is both Liverpool's best and most important goal of the season. Jordan Henderson set up Sadio Mane to open the scoriing and our writers discuss why the Reds skipper looks so revitalised and the reasons behind Naby Keita's ever-improving form. They also talk Klopp's post-match press conference, and particularly those 'slip' comments. Was the Reds boss right? Has 2014 now been consigned to history? Have a listen to find out. It's well worth your time. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On another dramatic afternoon in this unprecedented, who-blinks-first race for the championship, Liverpool responded to seeing Manchester City win 3-1 at Crystal Palace by sweeping aside old foes Chelsea 2-0 at Anfield to go back top and move onto 85 points, which would have been enough to win nine previous Premier League titles. And to react to what was a superb victory, we have a bumper Post-Game podcast, which starts with the definitive verdict on the action from our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce, continues with the full audio from Jurgen Klopp's brilliant press conference after the match, and features nine buoyant Reds supporters who called into the show. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Much of the build-up to Sunday’s massive match has been dominated by talk of what happened when Liverpool welcomed Chelsea to Anfield the last time they were so close to winning the Premier League. But as Jurgen Klopp made clear at his press conference, this is a different time, and this is most definitely a different Liverpool. The Reds boss did, though, talk up Chelsea’s recent good form and the danger of Eden Hazard, which was fair enough, given Maurizio Sarri’s side have won four on the spin, inspired by their talismanic No 10. But at the same time it wasn’t too long ago that supporters were calling for Sarri’s head. So to find out exactly what’s going on at Stamford Bridge, and to see if Chelsea can repeat that devastating result of April 2014, Paul Wheelock speaks to Nizaar Kinsella, who covers the club day in, day out, for Goal.com. They also talk about the racist abuse suffered by Mohamed Salah at the hands of fans claiming to support his former club Chelsea, the future of the Liverpool-linked Callum Hudson-Odoi, and why this could be the worst time to face the brilliant Hazard – providing Sarri plays the Belgian in his correct position.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's hard to ignore the parallels between this weekend's crucial visit of Chelsea and the corresponding clash between the clubs almost exactly five years ago at the back end of the 2013-14 campaign. Everyone knows what happened that day - Steven Gerrard's slip, Jose Mourinho's antics - and it would be fair to say that game could be in the back of the mind of some Liverpool supporters come Sunday. But that won't be the case with Jurgen Klopp. The Reds boss made that abundantly clear at his pre-match press conference, and his words are one of the big talking points of the Blood Red podcast, hosted by Joe Rimmer and featuring James Pearce and Paul Gorst. Is Klopp right? And even if he is, are there lessons that still could be learned from that fateful afternoon? Both questions are answered before talk turns to Chelsea's and Eden Hazard's impressive record on the red half of Merseyside. But don't worry, the mood of the podcast picks up in the second half and by the end you will have every confidence the Premier League leaders will get the job done. There's also discussion about Klopp's response to the racist abuse suffered by Mohamed Salah, and just exactly how the defence and midfield will line-up against Chelsea.*This podcast was recorded before it was announced that Liverpool great Tommy Smith had passed away, aged 74. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jurgen Klopp was back in front of the media at Melwood on Friday afternoon. But sadly, the first question did not concern Sunday's massive match, but the racist chanting directed toward Mohamed Salah by what is claimed to be Chelsea supporters ahead of their side's Europa League match in Prague on Thursday night. The Liverpool manager speaks strongly and passionately on the subject before talk turns to football and the visit of Chelsea. Klopp is happy to talk about the current Chelsea team, but understandably, has no interest in going over what happened almost five years to that fateful day when the two teams met at Anfield. Klopp is also questioned on the dilemmas he has over Jordan Henderson, and at centre-back now that Joe Gomez is fit, while he lavishes praise on the Reds fanbase. He also gives a great answer when asked how do you defend against Eden Hazard, before the press conference rounds off with his thoughts on the form of Naby Keita. Enjoy - and we'll be back later 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

So this is the calm before the storm. Liverpool resume their Premier League title challenge on Sunday when they welcome Chelsea to Anfield in what could be a match that makes or breaks their chances of pipping Manchester City to top spot. But according to the latest Allez Les Rouges podcast panel, there is no need for concern. Host Peter Hooton is joined by Accrington Stanley manager – and big Red – John Coleman, regular guest Kieth Culvin and the ‘James Milner’ of our podcasts, Dan Kay, and all four are confident Jurgen Klopp’s side can get the job done. John, who knows a thing or too, believes that Liverpool are now in the ‘zone’ that all players and teams aspire to get into, which was best summed up by the nature of the win at Southampton. That game is discussed, as is the more straightforward Champions League quarter-final first-leg victory over Porto, as talk turns to a possible dream double, before it turns back to the showdown with Chelsea. In a quirk of fate, given what happened almost exactly five years ago, City travel to Crystal Palace immediately before the Reds host Maurizio Sarri’s side, and Dan for one, hopes a few ghosts will be exorcised. Also up for debate is the key role Joel Matip is playing – but not in defence – and whether Sunday could be the time for a change at full-back, before a must-listen podcast rounds off with details about the Sean Cox charity match.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's episode seven of Analysing Anfield after a busy week for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp. After a nail-biter on the South Coast, host Kristian Walsh and tactics expert Josh Williams look at what went right and wrong at Southampton - and why any criticism of the midfield that night should be put into context. Indeed, the midfield is a big focus on the show, with Jordan Henderson's new role and Naby Keita's old RB Leipzig form being discussed. The Guinean is hailed as a unique player, while there is a fair bit of love for Henderson's change of role. The win over Porto is also assessed as the pitfalls of the second leg are considered, while there is also a huge Eden Hazard warning ahead of Sunday's Anfield clash with Chelsea. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the morning after the night before and Ian Doyle, James Pearce and Theo Squires have overcome tiredness - and in our Liverpool FC correspondent's case, illness, despite his mid-season break - to record a mini Blood Red podcast to reflect on the 2-0 win over Porto. James believes the build-up to the match, and the match itself, underlines just how far the Reds have come under Jurgen Klopp while Ian and Theo agree the Portuguese champions were better than some pundits gave them credit for. But can Porto turn it around in the second leg? Our panel have their doubts, but they have no doubts about the improvement of Naby Keita, who set Liverpool on their way to victory with his second goal in as many matches. There's also words of praise for the captain, Jordan Henderson, and Roberto Firmino, while there is a discussion about whether Andy Robertson was missed, before James explain Klopp's rationale behind selecting Dejan Lovren. And, in a must-listen podcast, there's also VAR talk and whether Mohamed Salah got lucky. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is just no stopping Liverpool right now. While Jurgen Klopp's double-chasing side weren't at their brilliant best, they still managed to beat Porto 2-0 at Anfield on Tuesday in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg tie. James Pearce was there to report on the action for the ECHO and our Liverpool FC correspondent kicks off this podcast with his big-match verdict. Then we’ll hear every word of what Reds boss Klopp had to say in his press conference after the game. Before we get the view from the stands with messages left on our Blood Red Podcast Facebook page (click HERE to join) and the thoughts of four supporters who phoned into this show - Simon Donnelly, Sam Planche, Alex Watt and Mark Baker. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the greatest respect in the world to Porto, they were the team most Liverpool fans wanted in the last eight. But as Pep Lijnders has said on the eve of tonight's Champions League quarter-final first leg at Anfield, what happened between the sides last season does mean the the Portuguese champions will be out for revenge. And given Porto knocked Roma out of the last round, and were the most impressive team in the group stages, do the Reds have reason to be wary? To find out, Paul Wheelock speaks to Portuguese football expert Alex Goncalves, who is the creator of the TugaScout.com website. He gives us the inside track on Porto, their strengths, their weaknesses, and why like Liverpool with Andy Robertson, they could also be without their influential left-back, as well as two other big players. And Alex also gives hhis opinion on the Portuguese wonderkid who has been linked with the Reds – along with most of the leading clubs in Europe. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices