Blood Red: The Liverpool FC Podcast

Jurgen Klopp may be down to the bare bones but Neil Fitzmaurice can name one of his strongest squads yet for the latest edition of his superb Poetry in Motion podcast.
Our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce - this one, not this one - is on board along with debutante Caoimhe O'Neill and with Dan Kay, who makes a welcome return to the panel.
And they swiftly get stuck into the idea that, after the draws with Leicester and West Ham allowed Manchester City to go back to the top of the table on goal difference, the wheels are coming off at Anfield.
There is no doubt that Klopp's side have not been at their brilliant best since the turn of the year. However, there are mitigating circumstances for that, particularly the injury problems in defence.
But James insists the question shouldn't be why Liverpool allowed Nathaniel Clyne allowed to leave.
The quartet also pay tribute to the one constant in the heart of the Reds' backline, debate Roberto Firmino's form, give their backing to Naby Keita, and discuss just how big a boost having Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back fit will be - off the field, as well as on it.
Talk then turns to a huge month for the club - starting with this Saturday's visit of Bournemouth to Anfield - and our second Blood Red Live event in Liverpool City Centre next Wednesday (February 13).
Just five tickets remain. They cost £5 and include a free drink - and you can get yours by clicking HERE. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce is fresh back from the London Stadium and he joins host Joe Rimmer, Paul Gorst and Caoimhe O'Neill for the first Blood Red podcast of the week.
James looks back on what he believes was the worst performance of table-topping Liverpool's season so far and, given the 1-1 draw at West Ham followed another at home to Leicester, he wonders whether it is time to be concerned.
Gorsty was concerned by Roberto Firmino's display against the Hammers and believes it highlighted the paucity of attacking options at Jurgen Klopp's disposal.
The Liverpool manager is certainly short of bodies at the back and Joe attempts to get to the bottom of the 'problem' in defence.
Is it because certain players aren't good enough? Who in particular has been badly missed? And why was Nathaniel Clyne allowed to leave?
James answers that latter question and whether he is still worried by Naby Keita.
But, with the Reds still three points clear at the top, is everyone being too negative? Caoimhe thinks so.
Spirits will certainly be lifted if Everton do their neighbours a favour and beat Manchester City at Goodison on Wednesday.
But do the panel think the Blues can do that?
The silence is deafening... For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce is fresh back from the London Stadium and he joins host Joe Rimmer, Paul Gorst and Caoimhe O'Neill for the first Blood Red podcast of the week.
James looks back on what he believes was the worst performance of table-topping Liverpool's season so far and, given the 1-1 draw at West Ham followed another at home to Leicester, he wonders whether it is time to be concerned.
Gorsty was concerned by Roberto Firmino's display against the Hammers and believes it highlighted the paucity of attacking options at Jurgen Klopp's disposal.
The Liverpool manager is certainly short of bodies at the back and Joe attempts to get to the bottom of the 'problem' in defence.
Is it because certain players aren't good enough? Who in particular has been badly missed? And why was Nathaniel Clyne allowed to leave?
James answers that latter question and whether he is still worried by Naby Keita.
But, with the Reds still three points clear at the top, is everyone being too negative? Caoimhe thinks so.
Spirits will certainly be lifted if Everton do their neighbours a favour and beat Manchester City at Goodison on Wednesday.
But do the panel think the Blues can do that?
The silence is deafening... For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

If the first signs of nerves among the supporters were on display in last Wednesday's 1-1 home draw with Leicester City, then the disposition of Liveroool fans desperate to see their club land a first league title since 1990 will hardly have improved by what they witnessed on Monday night.
The Reds, once more, were not at their best versus West Ham United, and while a second successive 1-1 draw did extend their lead at the top to three points, Manchester City will take over at the summit with victory over a woefully out-of-form Everton side on Wednesday night.
But this podcast concentrates on what happened at the London Stadium.
James Pearce, our Liverpool FC correspondent, gets us under way with his verdict on what he describes as a ‘desperately frustrating night'.
You’ll then get the chance to listen to every single word of Jurgen Klopp’s post-match press conference.
And then we hand the show over to you, starting with the thoughts of regular contributors Matt Addison, Peter Lally and Nathan Davidson, before host Paul Wheelock reads out some of the comments left by Koppites on our Blood Red Facebook page.
And then we’ll go back to the callers with four more Reds - Sam Planche, Matt Whitty, Owen Thomas and Mark Baker - phoning in. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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If the first signs of nerves among the supporters were on display in last Wednesday's 1-1 home draw with Leicester City, then the disposition of Liveroool fans desperate to see their club land a first league title since 1990 will hardly have improved by what they witnessed on Monday night.
The Reds, once more, were not at their best versus West Ham United, and while a second successive 1-1 draw did extend their lead at the top to three points, Manchester City will take over at the summit with victory over a woefully out-of-form Everton side on Wednesday night.
But this podcast concentrates on what happened at the London Stadium.
James Pearce, our Liverpool FC correspondent, gets us under way with his verdict on what he describes as a ‘desperately frustrating night'.
You’ll then get the chance to listen to every single word of Jurgen Klopp’s post-match press conference.
And then we hand the show over to you, starting with the thoughts of regular contributors Matt Addison, Peter Lally and Nathan Davidson, before host Paul Wheelock reads out some of the comments left by Koppites on our Blood Red Facebook page.
And then we’ll go back to the callers with four more Reds - Sam Planche, Matt Whitty, Owen Thomas and Mark Baker - phoning in. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

It's back to business for Liverpool tonight as they travel to the capital to take on West Ham United.
And there will be pressure on Jurgen Klopp's side to deliver the goods at the London Stadium after their lead at the top was cut to two points following Manchester City's win over Arsenal.
But, judging by West Ham's recent form, and judging by the recent history between the teams, you would back the Reds to get the job done.
The Hammers were well beaten at Wolves in the week, have lost each of their last three matches, have major injury problems, and have conceded four goals in each of their last four games with Liverpool.
That said, they have shown already this season they can beat and be a match for the top six and, in the likes of Felipe Anderson, they boast players who could pose a problem to Klopp's injury-hit defence.
But surely the Reds will have too much?
To find out, Paul Wheelock speaks to Sam Inkersole, who covers West Ham for the Football.London website.
They talk the Hammers' progress since their opening day beating at Anfield, their Marko Arnautovic saga, the one player they are missing more than any other, the aforementioned Anderson, and what the atmosphere at the new ground is like nowadays and what it could be like tonight.
Enjoy - and we'll be back after the match with the Post-Game podcast. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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It's back to business for Liverpool tonight as they travel to the capital to take on West Ham United.
And there will be pressure on Jurgen Klopp's side to deliver the goods at the London Stadium after their lead at the top was cut to two points following Manchester City's win over Arsenal.
But, judging by West Ham's recent form, and judging by the recent history between the teams, you would back the Reds to get the job done.
The Hammers were well beaten at Wolves in the week, have lost each of their last three matches, have major injury problems, and have conceded four goals in each of their last four games with Liverpool.
That said, they have shown already this season they can beat and be a match for the top six and, in the likes of Felipe Anderson, they boast players who could pose a problem to Klopp's injury-hit defence.
But surely the Reds will have too much?
To find out, Paul Wheelock speaks to Sam Inkersole, who covers West Ham for the Football.London website.
They talk the Hammers' progress since their opening day beating at Anfield, their Marko Arnautovic saga, the one player they are missing more than any other, the aforementioned Anderson, and what the atmosphere at the new ground is like nowadays and what it could be like tonight.
Enjoy - and we'll be back after the match with the Post-Game podcast. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The View from the Kop Liverpool fans' podcast is back and, with the Reds having every chance of winning the club's first league title since 1990, the mood should be buoyant.
But the midweek home draw with Leicester City has created some questions that season-ticket holders Paul Philbin and Matt Addison, along with long-time fellow Koppite Neil Macdonald, attempt to answer on our latest show, which is hosted by Paul Wheelock.
There were mitigating circumstances for the result with Leicester, which let's remember, was the first time that Liverpool have dropped points to a team outside of the top five this season.
One of which was injury and suspension, which leads Neil to wonder whether Jurgen Klopp has missed a trick in not adding to his squad during the January transfer window. Philbo and Matt disagree, but all three question the departure of one player from the club.
Another big talking point on Wednesday night was the atmosphere inside the ground. Philbo, who follows the Reds home and away, has particularly strong views, Matt tries to explain why it was so nervy, while Neil remembers whether the same tension existed when the club challenged for top spot season in, season out.
After the podcast was recorded, Tottenham Hotspur closed the gap on Liverpool to four points. Are they the biggest challengers? Particularly if, as Philbo believes, Manchester City drop further points in what looks set to be a big week in the title race?
The panel also talk Xherdan Shaqiri, Naby Keita and Klopp's best midfield line-up before the podcast ends with a look to the future and, unlike last month, what could be a busy summer in the transfer market. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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The View from the Kop Liverpool fans' podcast is back and, with the Reds having every chance of winning the club's first league title since 1990, the mood should be buoyant.
But the midweek home draw with Leicester City has created some questions that season-ticket holders Paul Philbin and Matt Addison, along with long-time fellow Koppite Neil Macdonald, attempt to answer on our latest show, which is hosted by Paul Wheelock.
There were mitigating circumstances for the result with Leicester, which let's remember, was the first time that Liverpool have dropped points to a team outside of the top five this season.
One of which was injury and suspension, which leads Neil to wonder whether Jurgen Klopp has missed a trick in not adding to his squad during the January transfer window. Philbo and Matt disagree, but all three question the departure of one player from the club.
Another big talking point on Wednesday night was the atmosphere inside the ground. Philbo, who follows the Reds home and away, has particularly strong views, Matt tries to explain why it was so nervy, while Neil remembers whether the same tension existed when the club challenged for top spot season in, season out.
After the podcast was recorded, Tottenham Hotspur closed the gap on Liverpool to four points. Are they the biggest challengers? Particularly if, as Philbo believes, Manchester City drop further points in what looks set to be a big week in the title race?
The panel also talk Xherdan Shaqiri, Naby Keita and Klopp's best midfield line-up before the podcast ends with a look to the future and, unlike last month, what could be a busy summer in the transfer market. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The Allez Les Rouges podcast is back, and after their winter break, regular guests Ste Monaghan, Kieth Culvin and John Nicolson join host Peter Hooton to reflect on a squandered opportunity for Liverpool.
Or should that be a step closer to the club’s first title since 1990?
That’s the talking point that kicks off the latest episode as the panel discuss the 1-1 draw with Leicester City on Wednesday night.
There was no doubting it was one of Liverpool’s poorest performances of an incredible season so far, but could you not see it coming given the way they played in their previous match versus Crystal Palace?
Peter and Co ask that question while also wondering whether the national focus on Mohamed Salah in recent weeks is giving the officials pre-conceived notions about the Reds’ top-scorer and his team-mates. As off-colour as Jurgen Klopp’s side were against Leicester, there is no question they were on the end of some bad decisions.
But were Liverpool helped by their own crowd in midweek? The lads don’t think they were and explain why.
They also wonder about the true strength of Klopp’s squad now that the injuries have started to pile up, and long for the return of one player in particular, before they turn their focus to Monday’s match at West Ham United. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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