Blood Red: The Liverpool Fc Podcast

Best Liverpool player so far this season? Joe Gomez would have to be in with a shout, and his fine form was recognised by Gareth Southgate at the weekend when he chose the 21-year-old over Manchester City’s £50m man Kyle Walker to start for England against Spain at WembleyIt continued a remarkable rise for Gomez that started when he landed a deal with his local club Charlton Athletic – at the second attempt – and it is a rise that has been overseen by one of the men who knows him best, Steve Avory.Steve is the long-serving manager of Charlton’s highly successful academy and we spoke to him to get the inside track on the player he calls the ‘ultimate professional’.Steve tells a tale of a level-headed kid who is always able to meet the challenges put him front of him and who boasts the mental toughness to overcome any setback, including the cruciate ligament injury he sustained not long after signing for Liverpool and, more recently, the ankle problem that ruled him out of the Champions League final as well as

Your latest spin-off show to our main Blood Red podcast is a quick catch-up with ex-Liverpool striker Peter Crouch, who has been back in the city to promote his brilliant new book, How to be a Footballer.The former England international talks his Anfield career, how a night out with Jamie Carragher helped get it off the ground, and how he risked the wrath of Rafa Benitez, both then and now.He also explains why he dedicated the final chapter of the book to Steven Gerrard before engaging in a quickfire Q&A including which of his old Reds team-mates were the best to go on a night out with.He also talks the current Liverpool crop and their chances of winning the Premier League as well as giving his thoughts on their big match with another of his former clubs this Saturday.We’re hoping to get Peter in for a longer podcast in the near future, to look back fully on his excellent career, but for now... enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

In the latest Blood Red podcast, regular host and Liverpool reporter Ian Doyle is joined by ECHO duo Kristian Walsh and Paul Gorst along with special guest Caoimhe O'Neill to discuss the form of Brazil duo Fabinho and Firmino, decipher Djibril Cisse's interesting Istanbul tale, debate the impact of the new Main Stand and how it is attracting new fans, and start looking ahead to the weekend trip to Wembley to take on Tottenham Hotspur.Also includes brief discussion about which Liverpool player would be best to go for a pint with. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the dreaded international break now very much upon us, we tried something a little different in our latest View from the Kop podcast.Hosted by Paul Wheelock and featuring season-ticket holders Paul Philbin and Dan Kay, the trio kick off the show by going through each individual player who has started for Liverpool so far this season and rating their performances.Dan and Philbo are very much on the same page when it comes to some – Alisson Becker and Joe Gomez to name two – but surprisingly they have differing opinions when it comes to one key man.The big Reds are massive fans of Roberto Firmino but they also have contrasting thoughts on why the brilliant Brazilian hasn’t yet hit the heights he achieved so regularly last season.Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made his first change of the campaign at Leicester City last time out when captain Jordan Henderson replaced Naby Keita. But should Keita return for the trip to Tottenham Hotspur? And, if so, which midfielder misses out?As the next episode of this bi-mon

Is James Milner getting better with age? Well, the guest of this special Blood Red spin-off show certainly thinks so.Stephen Warnock is a friend and former Aston Villa team-mate of Milner’s and he offers a fascinating insight into the evergreen Liverpool midfielder's character and personality as well as explaining why he should be regarded as world class.Ex-Reds defender Warnock will line up alongside the 32-year-old in this weekend's Match for Cancer at Parkhead, every penny from which will be devoted to tackling the disease through the Celtic FC Foundation, the Stiliyan Petrov Foundation, and the James Milner Foundation.Warnock also played with Petrov at Villa and he speaks openly about the feeling in the dressing room at the time the Bulgarian received his shocking news and the amazing strength of character he has shown since.Former England left-back Warnock also gives his verdict on Liverpool’s flying start to the season, whether their priority should lie in the Premier League or Champions League, Andy Ro

In the latest Blood Red podcast, regular host and Liverpool reporter Ian Doyle is joined by ECHO triumvirate Paul Gorst, Dan Kay and the lesser-spotted Chris Beesley to pick the bones out of Neymar's comments about the Reds' Premier League hopes, the injury setback to Adam Lallana, Fabinho's progress, the new contract for Jordan Henderson and praise for the club over ticket prices.Also includes Dan killing off Kristian Walsh For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neil Fitzmaurice is back with his latest Poetry in Motion podcast and – once he’s allowed to get his words out – he is joined by the returning Dan Kay and debutant Paul Gorst.With Liverpool sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League with four wins from four, it’s all very positive at Anfield going into the international break, so Fitzy decides to play devil’s advocate and look at some of the areas in which Jurgen Klopp’s side can improve.The second-half showings, Alisson’s one mistake of an otherwise superb start to life between the posts, and the performance of the front three are all discussed, before it quickly becomes clear that even the negatives – if you can call them that – can be turned into positives, including the big difference in this Liverpool team this season.Before a ball had been kicked, Dan was gently mocked for suggesting Sadio Mane could finish as the Premier League’s top scorer, but that’s exactly what he’s on course to be after four goals in as many matches, and the trio debate why t

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Wright is the special guest on our latest Verdict podcast.We recorded a podcast with the Academy graduate earlier this summer looking back on his career.But our latest catch-up, at Wrexham AFC’s Racecourse Ground, was all about the current Reds crop and reviewing their season so far.Along with Liverpool’s summer spending, it’s a start that seems to have got under Jose Mourinho’s skin, but Wright has been delighted by the way that Jurgen Klopp has responded to the Manchester United manager’s barbs.He also discusses those comments from Neymar ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s visit to Anfield on Tuesday week and reveals whether words of opposition players and managers are really stuck up on the dressing room wall.Wright called for the Reds to buy a goalkeeper after Loris Karius’ Champions League final mistakes and, while Alisson Becker made an error of his own at Leicester City on Saturday, he feels the Brazilian has already removed doubts in the fan base and, crucially, in his te

We welcomed former Liverpool youngster and current Cardiff City defender Lee Peltier into the ECHO’s studio for our latest podcast.After a trip down Memory Lane with the show’s co-host Paul Gorst, Lee tells the tale of a brilliant career that at the age of 31, now sees him playing in the Premier League for the first time with the promoted Bluebirds.It is a career that started at Liverpool, and while he never appeared for his boyhood club in the top flight, the handful of appearances the Toxteth lad did make were eventful to say the least.From a seven-goal League Cup thriller on his surreal debut at Anfield to a Champions League bow in one of the most intimidating stadiums in Europe, Lee looks back on his 10 years with the Reds and explains what Rafa Benitez was like to work for and what it was like to appear alongside the likes of Robbie Fowler, Jamie Carragher and the best player he has seen, Steven Gerrard.His final appearance in a Liverpool shirt was unforgettable for the wrong reasons but the experience h

In the latest Blood Red podcast, regular host and Liverpool reporter Ian Doyle is joined by ECHO triumvirate Kristian Walsh, Connor Dunn and Dan Kay to look back at the win over Leicester City, debate the merits of Alisson Becker's footwork, salute Joe Gomez, warn Dejan Lovren and ponder the Reds midfield.Note: this was recorded before Liverpool announced Jordan Henderson's new contract, so it's not like we were completely ignoring it! For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Liverpool sitting top of the Premier League with four wins from four, Reds supporters can now sit back, relax and watch an Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers that they have more than a vested interest in.Sunday’s showdown represents Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard’s first experience of one of the biggest matches in world football since taking over the Ibrox hotseat in the summer.And, if any was needed, extra spice is added by the fact that the person in the opposite dugout will be Brendan Rodgers, Gerrard’s final manager at Liverpool and the man who has led Celtic to back-to-back domestic trebles.But, as the guest of our latest podcast explains, Gerrard’s arrival in Glasgow has transformed Rangers and, for the first time in years, Celtic can feel their rivals breathing down their neck.Jonny McFarlane works for the Daily Record, and produces and presents the Record Rangers and The Transfer Window podcasts, and he spoke to us on Friday after Rangers secured their place in the Europa League group sta

They were far from at their brilliant best but, for the first time since 1990, Liverpool have made it four straight wins to start a league season.The 2-1 victory at Leicester City also ensured Jurgen Klopp’s side maintained their position at the top of the Premier League table.But as the callers in to this Post-Game podcast make clear, the Reds will need to improve their performances if they are to stay out in front.The pod kicks off with the thoughts of five Liverpool supporters who have called into the show.You’ll then get the verdict of our full-time Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce before the podcast rounds off with audio highlights from Klopp’s press conference.The Reds boss delivers his thoughts on what turned out to be a hard-fought win and the mistake from Alisson Becker that gave Leicester hope after Roberto Firminio and Sadio Mane struck.Enjoy – and the Post-Game pod will be back after the big Tottenham Hotspur match after the international break. For information regarding your data privacy,

Liverpool today take their 100% winning record to Leicester City where they will attempt to make it four wins from four and maintain their position at the top of the Premier League table.And we have the full lowdown on the King Power Stadium clash in our Preview podcast.Our first guest on the show is our man in the know at Anfield, James Pearce, who explains why Jurgen Klopp has relished what will soon will be a rarity and why the clash could be the Reds’ toughest test yet despite the fact that nemesis Jamie Vardy is suspended.James also wonders whether it could be time to bring back the captain Jordan Henderson while also paying tribute to two players who many may not have had down as first-choice picks at the start of the season but who are currently two of the first names on the teamsheet.We then speak to James Sharpe, the Leicester City correspondent for the Leicester Mercury.He talks the Foxes’ start to the campaign, which is in contrast to how they ended last season, and why the loss of Riyad Mahrez to

In the latest Blood Red podcast, regular host and Liverpool reporter Ian Doyle is joined by full-time Liverpool correspondent - both home and away - James Pearce and ECHO hack Kristian Walsh to discuss the Champions League draw, ponder a similarly tricky Carabao Cup assignment, tackle the transfer deadline and look ahead to the trip to Leicester City.Includes Kristian momentarily turning into Ian. And then becoming James. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liverpool’s Champions League group stage opponents are the big talking points in the latest edition of the unmissable Allez Les Rouges podcast.Recorded straight after the Reds discovered they will go head to head with Paris St Germain, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade in Group C, host Peter Hooton and regular guests – and Kop season ticket holders – Kieth Culvin, John Nicolson and Ste Monaghan cast their eyes over the teams standing in the Reds’ way of progressing to the knock-out stages.There is no question that last season’s losing finalists could have been handed an easier draw but the lads explain why they are thrilled by it – and in particular the chance to lock horns with Red Star – and, like Jurgen Klopp, they are quick to remind everyone that no team will want to face Liverpool either.Peter believes this season represents a great opportunity to win the Premier League and wonders whether Reds boss Klopp should prioritise that over a tilt for a sixth European Cup.But, while all and present agree Liverpool n

Mohamed Salah could be crowned the UEFA Player of the Year at this evening’s Champions League group-stage draw.Should Salah see off Luka Modric and holder Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the crown, it would continue the Liverpool superstar's remarkable ascent.However, in the build up to the ceremony in Monaco, Salah has been embroiled in a war of words with the Egyptian FA.The dispute goes back further than this week – to before, and particularly during, this summer’s World Cup in Russia.After Egypt crashed out of the competition in ignominious fashion, we spoke to Ahmad Yousef for a special podcast to get the lowdown on a dispute that continues to rage on.Ahmad is an Egyptian football expert, and the editor at KingFut.com, who has followed the story closely, and in the podcast he tells a tale of bad luck, politics, poor planning, poor organisation and poor management.And from listening to it, it becomes clear that Salah was let down by the powers that be, and you cannot help but feel desperately disappointed for

Liverpool’s perfect start to the Premier League season has served only to increase the excitement and expectation surrounding Jurgen Klopp’s side.But is Reds boss Klopp right to strike a note of caution as he did after the win over Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend?Dominic King, the North West Football Reporter for the Daily Mail, and guest on our latest Verdict podcast, thinks so.But that does not stop him from pouring praise on Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and the man he hails as the ‘perfect Jurgen Klopp player’.In a wide-ranging podcast, hosted by Paul Wheelock, Simon Mignolet’s situation is also debated, as is the form of Joe Gomez, who is now getting his rewards after ‘sacrificing’ himself at the end of last season.Dominic also gives his take on why Klopp’s current midfield trio have started the season so well and why the hype is justified when it comes to Naby Keita.The former ECHO scribe also reckons Tottenham Hotspur are the real deal after their thorough dismantling of Manchester United on Monday ni

After a Bank Holiday break, the Blood Red podcast is back.Joe Rimmer is joined by Paul Gorst, Kristian Walsh and James Pearce to dissect the victory over Brighton and discuss what's next for Liverpool.The lads chat about Alisson's heart-in-mouth moment at Anfield, as well as the Brazilian's impact in general at Liverpool.There's a discussion on Joe Gomez's partnership with Virgil van Dijk and what it means for Dejan Lovren, and James Pearce reveals why he continues to be "amazed" by Gini Wijnaldum.Talk then turns to Michael Owen, who is back in the news after discussing his career on BT Sport, and the lads debate whether the former Liverpool striker should be forgiven by Reds fans.And finally, Kristian puts everyone to sleep with his forensic analysis of Liverpool's Champions League seeding - but if you can manage to stay awake you'll learn lots about what teams the Reds could face.Enjoy!  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f

The special guest on our latest podcast is Rotherham United footballer Jon Taylor.Like so many people from Merseyside, Jon comes from a family featuring both Liverpool and Everton fans.But unlike his brother and cousin, the Huyton lad chose the Reds – and that’s why he will be particularly fired up for Rotherham’s EFL Cup tie at Everton this week.After a trip down Memory Lane with co-host Paul Philbin, the podcast starts and ends with Jon talking about the Goodison Park encounter and, of course, he also shares his thoughts on the current Liverpool side led by Jurgen Klopp that top the early Premier League table.But what is most fascinating is the insight Jon gives into life as a professional footballer.He talks the experience of relegation and promotion, playing at Wembley in one of the biggest matches in domestic football, being a club record signing, and the heartbreak of being let go by his first professional club at 16 for being too small.The former Shrewsbury Town and Peterborough United winger also reve

Three games played, three wins, three clean sheets and nine points on board.Yes, Liverpool sit top of the table after they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 on Saturday evening to maintain their perfect start to the season.Mo Salah’s 29th goal in 29 appearances at Anfield was enough to settle a scrappy contest and ensure the Reds made the most of Manchester City’s slip-up at Wolves.And in this, our latest Post-Game podcast, we get the verdict from the stands, from the press box and from the dugout.We kick-off with the thoughts of five Liverpool supporters – Sam Planche, Ross Strachan, Alex Watt, Mark Baker and Simon Donnelly – who phoned into the show.We then hear from our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce.And we round off the podcast with audio highlights from Jurgen Klopp’s press conference, including what the Reds boss had to say on the impressive Joe Gomez and on the departing Loris Karius.Enjoy – and we’ll be back after the Leicester match next Saturday. For information regarding your data privacy,