Blood Red: The Liverpool FC Podcast

A huge chasm now exists between English football’s most successful clubs and it was exposed in all its glory at Anfield on Sunday as Liverpool swept aside sorry Manchester United.It took the Reds back to the top of the Premier League and it proved to be the final straw for the beleaguered United board as they sacked Jose Mourinho.But hours before Jose was handed his P45, Paul Wheelock caught up with the Daily Mirror’s David Maddock for our latest Verdict podcast.David is the Mirror’s Northern Football Correspondent and, having covered Liverpool since the 1990-91 season, he is well placed to comment on the Reds.And he assesses the win over United, the gulf in class between the clubs, and the difference between Jurgen Klopp and his now departed managerial rival.David also takes a broader look at Klopp’s influence, including how he has seemingly solved a midfield problem in the unexpected form of Fabinho, how he has evolved his tactics, and what he reckons is the Liverpool manager’s true genius.But will Klopp break with tradition and stay at Anfield longer than the seven years he remained with Mainz and Borussia Dortmund? David gives his opinion on that and whether he thinks this is the Reds team best-equipped to win the title since 1990.The January transfer window and the Champions League draw with Bayern Munich are also discussed before the podcast rounds off with what David – and Robbie Fowler – believe has been a key shift in the championship race with Manchester City. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Joe Rimmer to look back on the win over Manchester United, discuss the impact of the Reds' substitutions, ponder how Jurgen Klopp is the future and Jose Mourinho is the past, laud Fabinho and Roberto Firmino, and be a little bit excited about the Champions League pairing with Bayern Munich.Contains a brief interlude on the merits of Philip Schofield and the unfortunate incident involving Ian's transport. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

19 points.That’s just how big a gap exists between table-topping and unbeaten Liverpool and their fallen rivals Manchester United all the way down in sixth.But more importantly is the one-point lead the relentless Reds hold over the Manchester team that plays in sky blue.Yes, Jurgen Klopp’s side moved back to the summit and back above Manchester City after super-sub Xherdan Shaqiri scored twice to seal a richly deserved 3-1 victory over United at Anfield this evening.Little wonder, then, it is another very happy Post-Game podcast, featuring our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce, every word Klopp said in his press conference, and six Reds fans who phoned into the show.Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everton could not do Liverpool a favour.Their 3-1 loss at Manchester City means Jurgen Klopp’s unbeaten side need to beat Manchester United on Sunday to go back to the top of the Premier League.Given the fact a remarkable 16 points separates the sides in the table, against other team you would back the Reds to get the job done in front of their own supporters.But Liverpool have failed to beat United in the league since March 2014 and the Old Trafford outfit are the only side Klopp has yet to take three points from since taking over at Anfield.However, there is no question which of the two clubs is the one on the up.And to preview the massive match, and to examine why there is a growing chasm between the clubs, Paul Wheelock speaks to the Daily Mirror’s David Anderson.We then go to our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce after he attended Reds boss Klopp’s press conference on Friday.And you will also hear Jose Mourinho’s press conference in full, which includes his latest dig at his opposite number. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One topic dominates the latest Blood Red podcast.Recorded early to allow the ECHO sportsdesk to hit the town for their Christmas do, one topic dominates.No, it’s not our favourite Christmas songs, although that does get a mention at the start; it is, of course, the visit of Manchester United to Anfield on Sunday.Table-topping Liverpool will be favourites after their record-breaking, unbeaten start to the Premier League season.But the Reds do have major injury concerns in defence and, with the news that Trent Alexander-Arnold has joined Joe Gomez and Joel Matip on the sidelines, James Pearce, Connor Dunn, Theo Squires and host Joe Rimmer discuss how the back four will line-up against United, and whether Jurgen Klopp needs to make a Steven Caulker-style addition in January.The lads also discus Jose Mourinho’s latest dig at his opposite number and why his words just won’t wash.Mourinho does, of course, have history of spoiling Liverpool’s party and United are unbeaten in the last eight league meetings between the sides.But there is no doubt the balance of power between the eternal rivals has shifted and James provides what he believes is the biggest reason why.The panel’s favourite victories over United are then recalled before predictions and preferred line-ups are revealed.Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What a December it’s been so far for Liverpool.The most dramatic of Merseyside derby wins, a gritty comeback at Burnley, a four-goal thrashing of Bournemouth that took the Reds to the top of the Premier League, and then a terrific performance to beat Napoli and secure their place in the Champions League knock-out stages.What a time, then, to reintroduce the View from the Kop podcast to the Blood Red mix.Hosted by Paul Wheelock, and featuring Paul Philbin, Caoimhe O'Neill, Matt Addison and fellow debutant George Xanthis, an Australian Koppite who is based in America, the panel get stuck into the big talking points from Anfield.There is yet more praise for Virgil van Dijk after his towering display against Napoli but he is already up there with the very best Reds centre-backs? And, if not, what does he need to do?The Dutchman’s influence is only going to grow stronger now that Joel Matip has joined Joe Gomez on the sidelines and we ask should Jurgen Klopp enter the transfer market next month? And if not for a defender, a player further up the field?All of a sudden there are fewer complaints about the midfield but Philbo has strong views on Jordan Henderson, which leads to an interesting debate on the long-term future of the Liverpool captain.If anyone needed reminding that Klopp knows exactly what he’s doing, it came against Napoli as his much-debated line-up did the business.The panel discuss the German’s evolution during his time on the red half of Merseyside before talk turns to Mohamed Salah’s goal celebrations, or lack of.And, of course, Sunday’s visit of bitter-rivals Manchester United is previewed, including a spot-on description of Jose Mourinho, before Philbo, Caoimhe, Matt and George give us their personal highlights of 2018 watching the relentless Reds. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No surprise that the Blood Red team are in very high spirits after another famous Anfield night in Europe. Host Kristian Walsh is joined by James Pearce and Caoimhe O'Neill to reflect on the night the Reds showed the true measure of their maturity, with the much-maligned midfield being central to that. The team also discuss Virgil van Dijk's impact - and how Dries Mertens regretted THOSE comments about the atmosphere - as well as Mohamed Salah's lightbulb moment and the aura Alisson Becker brings. There is also a story about Martin Skrtel and the mixed zone which you won't want to miss - not to mention several plugs for one of Blood Red's favourite haunts on a night on the town. Sort of.Enjoy! For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Top of the Premier League – and now through to the last 16 of the Champions League to boot.What a 10 days it has been for Liverpool.And to reflect on the 1-0 win over Napoli on Tuesday night that secured their place in the knockout stages of the competition they came so desperately close to winning last season, we get the view from the pressbox, the dugout and the stands in our Post-Game podcast.The podcast kicks-off with the verdict of our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce and continues with audio highlights from Reds boss Jurgen Klopp’s press conference.We then hand the show over to Liverpool supporters. Seven phone-in to give their views on yet another memorable night at Anfield while host Paul Wheelock also reads out comments left on our Blood Red podcast group page on Facebook, which you can join HERE. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Liverpool climbed to the top of the Premier League at the weekend after they swept aside Bournemouth to continue their unbeaten, record-breaking start.But now the Reds’ focus switches to the Champions League and their must-win final Group C game at home to Napoli.Jurgen Klopp’s team will guarantee their place in the knock-out stages by winning 1-0 or by two clear goals at Anfield this evening.And, given the club’s rich history on nights like these, you would not bet against them.But, as the main guest of this Preview podcast makes clear, Napoli are not going to be a pushover.They just need a point to qualify, and their 1-0 win over Liverpool in Naples in October kick-started a 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions.So to get the inside track on Carlo Ancelotti’s side, and the state of play in Serie A, Paul Wheelock speaks to Italian football writer Chloe Beresford.You also hear from our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce, who gives the reaction from last night’s press conferences involving Klopp and Ancelotti.Enjoy – and we’ll be back after the match with our Post-Game podcast. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The hunter has become the hunted.Yes, Liverpool top the Premier League at long last after they brushed aside Bournemouth and Manchester City suffered their first defeat of the campaign.And in our first Blood Red podcast of the week, James Pearce joins Connor Dunn and host Joe Rimmer in reflecting on what hopefully could be a momentous weekend in the title race.James and Connor were both at the Vitality Stadium for the ECHO and they hail a number of Reds players while Joe picks out one who our Liverpool FC correspondent believes will be crucial, both on and off the field, as the club attempts to win its first league title since 1990.Jurgen Klopp’s ‘unpredictability’ is praised as is the options he now has at his disposal in the centre of the park given the emergence of Fabinho and Naby Keita.Talk then turns to Tuesday’s Champions League shoot-out at Anfield with Napoli and the tactical conundrum facing Reds boss Klopp.Joe Gomez’s new contract is discussed, with James making a claim that underlines just what a huge impact the young defender has made at Liverpool, while the lads also give their backing to Raheem Sterling after the former Reds winger was subject to alleged racist abuse while playing for City in their loss to Chelsea. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices