Blood Red: The Liverpool FC Podcast

Two days before the Merseyside derby, illness and unavailability has ravaged the ECHO's sportsdesk. That means just Paul Wheelock was able to join Neil Fitzmaurice on the latest Poetry in Motion podcast - and even he is battling a severe case of man flu.But worry not, Fitzy is in fine form, and as anyone who read his tweets during and after the Champions League defeat at Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, he has a lot to get off his chest.It's not an over-reaction on his part to what was another disappointing European awayday - for some time he's wondered when Liverpool will begin to play with the same verve they did in the second half of last season.The Reds are undoubtedly now better in defence - the arrival of Alisson Becker and the rapid development of Joe Gomez, aligned with the influence of Virgil van Dijk, has made sure of that - but why are they struggling to fire truly in the final third?Is it tactics? Is it form? Is it the failing of existing players or the ones who came in during the summer?Fitzy and Paul try to find answers to those questions while all the time placing Liverpool's 'problems' in the context of their lofty position in the Premier League table.It is a position they will look to improve upon this weekend with victory over neighbours Everton.And Fitzy and Paul ask whether the derby is the right game for Naby Keita and Fabinho to be thrown into - and whether it could be the perfect one for the Reds to rediscover their spark. 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 along with ECHO duo Joe Rimmer and Theo Squires to pick the bones out of the latest Champions League disappointment, assess what went wrong, debate the antics of Neymar and Paris Saint-Germain, ponder another famous Anfield European night and look ahead to the small matter of the Merseyside derby. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So it will all come down to Napoli at Anfield on December 11.Beat Carlo Ancelotti's side 1-0 or by two clear goals and Liverpool will definitely take their place in the Champions League knock-out stages.But they will have to improve on the performance they produced in the first half of their 2-1 defeat at Paris-Saint Germain.A James Milner penalty on the stroke of half-time gave the Reds a lifeline.But it was one they could not grasp as they suffered a third straight away defeat in the group stages of the Champions League for the first time.The Post-Game podcast kicks off, as ever, with the definitive match verdict from our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce.You will then hear the highlights from what was a very interesting Jurgen Klopp press conference.And the podcast rounds off with the thoughts of six Liverpool fans who have phoned into the show to have their say. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Not long to go now, Reds.Liverpool are in Champions League action at the Parc des Princes tonight, taking on the superstars of Paris Saint-Germain.But going into what is a mouthwatering match between two of the best strikeforces in world football, it is PSG who are under the most pressure.And to explain why, Paul Wheelock picks up the phone to our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce, who is in the French capital to cover this evening’s game for the ECHO.James believes it has the making of an absolutely fascinating fixture.But he was also interested by the mood of the respective managers, Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, at last night’s press conference.James, in particular, was taken by the comments Tuchel made about the Reds’ ‘team spirit’ and the comments made by Klopp on which side has more riding on the outcome of the match.Our man in the know at Anfield also talks the revitalised Mohamed Salah and Klopp’s possible line-up for an encounter that has all the makings of a classic.Enjoy the match – and we’ll be back after it 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

So who's ready for round two?Liverpool's thrilling and richly deserved 3-2 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in September kicked off the Champions League in style and remains one of the best matches of the season so far.But the return clash in the French capital on Wednesday night is an even bigger game given both teams' chances of qualifying for the knockout stages hang in the balance.So to preview the Parc de Princes encounter, and to get an update on the fitness of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and to discover what PSG learned from their Anfield reverse, Paul Wheelock speaks to French football expert Rich Allen.Rich, a writer and podcaster for Get French Football News and French Football Weekly, also gives us a fascinating insight into Ligue 1, what the Parisians' all-out domination means for the division, and why it consistently produces some of the best young players in Europe.One of which has been linked with Liverpool, and Rich gives us the lowdown on the player in question, and who just so happens to be a team-mate of a certain of Nabil Fekir.We also get Rich's opinion of Fabinho's form for the Reds since his summer switch from Monaco and those early-exit rumours, the latest of which has seen the midfielder linked with the team Jurgen Klopp's side will attempt to beat on Wednesday and seal their place in the Champions League last-16.Enjoy. 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 ECHO duo Kristian Walsh and Paul Gorst to look back at the win over Watford, debate Roberto Firmino's revival, consider Mohamed Salah's worth, enter (once again) the great Jordan Henderson debate and ponder how best to approach Paris Saint-Germain.Also includes some potty-mouthery from Kristian in the absence of Joe Rimmer. And an absolutely dreadful impersonation of James Pearce. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Liverpool are not going away.Manchester City may have won again to maintain their narrow lead at the top.But the Reds are also unbeaten and remain just two points behind in second after they triumphed 3-0 at Watford and made it the club’s best ever start to a Premier League season.It is no surprise, then, that the Post-Game podcast is a happy one.As ever, it starts with the considered thoughts of our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce.You will then hear highlights from Reds boss Jurgen Klopp’s post-match press conference, including his verdict on the victory, the record start, and the injury to Joe Gomez.Then we hand the show over to you, with nine Liverpool fans phoning in to give their opinion on what they witnessed at Vicarage Road.Debutant Matt Addison kicks us off, and then you’ll hear from Alex Watt, Simon Donnelly, Matt Whitty, Ross Strachan, Sam Planche, Nathan Davidson, Peter Lally, and Owen from the Kop On! podcast, who gives us an on-the-whistle piece at the end of the first and second halves. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a big afternoon for Liverpool's Under-23s today as they make the short trip across Stanley Park to take on Everton in the mini-derby.And it's the Premier League 2 clash, and the fallout to the U23s' 7-0 humbling by Villarreal, that takes centre stage in our latest Academy Show.Host Paul Wheelock is joined by our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce to preview the Goodison Park affair and examine why Neil Critchley's side are not hitting the same heights as they did last season.As good as Villarreal were in Wednesday's Premier League International Cup encounter, the U23s were not helped by a string of players being unavailable.But the young Reds should be much stronger against table-topping Everton and James discusses the three players in particular who will be out to impress Jurgen Klopp given that, sooner rather than later, there could be spots in the first-team squad open for them.Our man in the know at Anfield also updates us on the progress of talented midfielder Curtis Jones as well as previewing the in-form U18s UEFA Youth League showdown at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices