Blood Red: The Liverpool FC Podcast

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

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

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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

Liverpool have arrived in Barcelona and not long after touching down, manager Jurgen Klopp and on-fire forward Sadio Mane were in front of the world's media to preview Wednesday's massive Champions League semi-final first leg at Camp Nou. We start with Klopp's press conference in full, in which he was asked about Roberto Firmino's fitness, his supposed criticism of Barca's home ground, Reds old boy Philippe Coutinho, and whether Lionel Messi is football's greatest, among other things. Then you can hear every word that Mane had to say, including his thoughts on Coutinho, Firmino, Messi v Virgil van Dijk, those Real Madrid links, and his love of Barcelona legend Ronaldinho. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Liverpool have arrived in Barcelona and not long after touching down, manager Jurgen Klopp and on-fire forward Sadio Mane were in front of the world's media to preview Wednesday's massive Champions League semi-final first leg at Camp Nou. We start with Klopp's press conference in full, in which he was asked about Roberto Firmino's fitness, his supposed criticism of Barca's home ground, Reds old boy Philippe Coutinho, and whether Lionel Messi is football's greatest, among other things. Then you can hear every word that Mane had to say, including his thoughts on Coutinho, Firmino, Messi v Virgil van Dijk, those Real Madrid links, and his love of Barcelona legend Ronaldinho. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

We're at the end of April and Liverpool are very much in the running for an incredible double. Little wonder, then, that the mood is positively upbeat for your latest View from the Kop fans' podcast, featuring Paul Philbin and Matt Addison and hosted by Paul Wheelock. All eyes are on Wendesday's Champions League semi-final first leg in Barcelona, but the trio start by discussing the gripping race for the Premier League title. Are Philbo and Matt even watching City's matches? And can Brendan Rodgers do his former club a favour next Monday night? Speaking of Leicester, season-ticket holder Philbo was strong in his criticism of the Anfield crowd in the View from the Kop podcast recorded after the 1-1 draw with the Foxes earlier in the season. But he has noticed a marked difference since that nervy night, which should have a lot to with the Reds' astonishing unbeaten home league run, and the form of the newly-crowned PFA Player of the Year Virgil van Dijk, both of which are discussed here before talk turns to that Barcelona match. The La Liga champions may have Lionel Messi in their ranks but Matt and Philbo are confident. And why wouldn't they be given Klopp's magnificent record in Europe since taking over Liverpool? The Nou Camp clash, will of course, pit the Reds against their former stars Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho, and the panel have a go at comparing the former with the superb Mohamed Salah, and argue why Liverpool are better off without the latter. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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We're at the end of April and Liverpool are very much in the running for an incredible double. Little wonder, then, that the mood is positively upbeat for your latest View from the Kop fans' podcast, featuring Paul Philbin and Matt Addison and hosted by Paul Wheelock. All eyes are on Wendesday's Champions League semi-final first leg in Barcelona, but the trio start by discussing the gripping race for the Premier League title. Are Philbo and Matt even watching City's matches? And can Brendan Rodgers do his former club a favour next Monday night? Speaking of Leicester, season-ticket holder Philbo was strong in his criticism of the Anfield crowd in the View from the Kop podcast recorded after the 1-1 draw with the Foxes earlier in the season. But he has noticed a marked difference since that nervy night, which should have a lot to with the Reds' astonishing unbeaten home league run, and the form of the newly-crowned PFA Player of the Year Virgil van Dijk, both of which are discussed here before talk turns to that Barcelona match. The La Liga champions may have Lionel Messi in their ranks but Matt and Philbo are confident. And why wouldn't they be given Klopp's magnificent record in Europe since taking over Liverpool? The Nou Camp clash, will of course, pit the Reds against their former stars Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho, and the panel have a go at comparing the former with the superb Mohamed Salah, and argue why Liverpool are better off without the latter. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Our Liverpool FC reporting team of James Pearce and Ian Doyle have made their way to Barcelona, and on Monday afternoon, stationed themselves outside the Sagrada Familia to record a special Blood Red podcast, along with Andy Hunter, the Merseyside football correspondent for The Guardian and The Observer newspapers, to preview Wednesday's massive semi-final first leg at the Nou Camp. James starts the podcast with a big claim before Andy, who used to work for the Liverpool Daily Post, explains why the current Reds crop are better than the ones that won the club's last two European trophies. Whereas that latter success, and even the run to last season's Champions League final, came as a surprise, the panel are in no doubt that this Liverpool side are now at the elite level of European football and that they will hold no fear of Barcelona. That said they also agree that this is the Reds' biggest challenge yet, particularly as Barca's side contains Lionel Messi, not to mention Reds old boys Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho. James calls it the 'ultimate test' and, along with Ian and Andy, selects the midfield to deal with arguably the best player ever to grace the game. Another problem Jurgen Klopp has to solve is who replaces Roberto Firmino if the brilliant Brazilian is ruled out through injury. But the mood of the podcast is unashamedly positive - unsurprising given Klopp's European record as Reds manager and how he deals with pressure-cooker situations, which is discussed here - and one of excitement at what lies in store in one of the world's footballing cathedrals. If this doesn't get you fired-up for Wednesday, nothing will. Enjoy.
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Our Liverpool FC reporting team of James Pearce and Ian Doyle have made their way to Barcelona, and on Monday afternoon, stationed themselves outside the Sagrada Familia to record a special Blood Red podcast, along with Andy Hunter, the Merseyside football correspondent for The Guardian and The Observer newspapers, to preview Wednesday's massive semi-final first leg at the Nou Camp. James starts the podcast with a big claim before Andy, who used to work for the Liverpool Daily Post, explains why the current Reds crop are better than the ones that won the club's last two European trophies. Whereas that latter success, and even the run to last season's Champions League final, came as a surprise, the panel are in no doubt that this Liverpool side are now at the elite level of European football and that they will hold no fear of Barcelona. That said they also agree that this is the Reds' biggest challenge yet, particularly as Barca's side contains Lionel Messi, not to mention Reds old boys Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho. James calls it the 'ultimate test' and, along with Ian and Andy, selects the midfield to deal with arguably the best player ever to grace the game. Another problem Jurgen Klopp has to solve is who replaces Roberto Firmino if the brilliant Brazilian is ruled out through injury. But the mood of the podcast is unashamedly positive - unsurprising given Klopp's European record as Reds manager and how he deals with pressure-cooker situations, which is discussed here - and one of excitement at what lies in store in one of the world's footballing cathedrals. If this doesn't get you fired-up for Wednesday, nothing will. Enjoy.
  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Have you warmed up yet? It may have been unseasonally cold at Anfield on Friday night - it's almost May, for crying out loud - but Liverpool continued to prove hot stuff in the race for the Premier League title.
In a special mini-pod after the 5-0 triumph against Huddersfield Town, regular Blood Red host Ian Doyle is joined by ECHO regulars Paul Gorst, Sean Bradbury and Theo Squires to discuss another impressive victory.
There's praise for two-goal Mohamed Salah amid suggestions the Egyptian is being somewhat taken for granted, And Sadio Mane's heading ability is suitably honoured.
Collective love is shown for Liverpool's creative centre-backs, and the strength in depth means Jurgen Klopp might have an engine room problem to address before Barcelona in the Champions League in midweek.
Everyone is happy to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back but there's debate over what Roberto Firmino's injury mean for Daniel Sturridge in the short term.
Also includes mention of the weather because, well, how could it not? For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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