Blood Red: The Liverpool FC Podcast

It's Friday, which means one thing... it's the Blood Red podcast.
And joining host Joe Rimmer and Paul Gorst on the latest episode is our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce, who kicks off the pod by giving an update on the walking wounded.
Unless Joel Matip makes an unlikely recovery, there's every chance the Reds will have to line-up with a midfielder alongside Virgil van Dijk against Brighton. But which one? Had it not been for a late injury, James reveals the heart of Klopp's defence at Wolves would have contained two midfielders.
A player dropping into the backline could give an opportunity for Naby Keita the chance to shine at the Amex. But does he deserve it? And does Klopp trust him to do the job?
Gorsty, James and, in particular, Joe are worried about a player so much was expected of.
But Keita can take heart from Andy Robertson, who used last season's corresponding fixture with Brighton to kick-start a remarkable year that has seen him develop into one of the best left-backs in Europe.
There's a lot of respect for Liverpool's opponents on Saturday, and their forever-young manager, before talk turns to Klopp's frontline and the difficulties he has in getting his own Gabriel Jesus.
And, of course, the usual line-up and score predictions.
Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Something a little different for you, Reds fans.
Our main Blood Red show will be with you later today (Friday), as usual, but in the meantime we're giving you the chance to listen to every word Jurgen Klopp had to say in his press conference to preview the trip to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Liverpool manager gave an injury update and talked Virgil van Dijk, who looks set to be his sole fit senior centre-back on Saturday, as well as Fabinho, who looks set to partner the Dutchman in the heart of the defence.
Klopp also addressed claims his table-topping team now have the advantage in the title race, after exiting the FA Cup, explained what the trio of youngsters who impressed in the defeat at Wolves have to do next, and made clear the immediate future of one of those players.
As well as giving his opinion on the team standing in the Reds' way of opening up a seven-point lead at the summit. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Something a little different for you, Reds fans.
Our main Blood Red show will be with you later today (Friday), as usual, but in the meantime we're giving you the chance to listen to every word Jurgen Klopp had to say in his press conference to preview the trip to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Liverpool manager gave an injury update and talked Virgil van Dijk, who looks set to be his sole fit senior centre-back on Saturday, as well as Fabinho, who looks set to partner the Dutchman in the heart of the defence.
Klopp also addressed claims his table-topping team now have the advantage in the title race, after exiting the FA Cup, explained what the trio of youngsters who impressed in the defeat at Wolves have to do next, and made clear the immediate future of one of those players.
As well as giving his opinion on the team standing in the Reds' way of opening up a seven-point lead at the summit. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

So Liverpool have started the New Year with back-to-back defeats.
But given Jurgen Klopp’s side still have a four-point lead at the top, and given the FA Cup was at the bottom of the priority list, our first View from the Kop podcast of 2019 focuses very much on the positives, which there are a lot.
That much is made clear by regular guest Paul Philbin, who describes the feeling in the fan base after leaving the Etihad last Thursday.
Philbo is joined by fellow Reds Matt Addison, Sean Bradbury and Neil Macdonald and they discuss the defeat to Manchester City and the ‘rivalry’ between the clubs, as well the remarkable run of wins leading up to the table-topping clash, and the fixture-list quirk that could well help Liverpool see off Pep Guardiola’s men.
With it being January, a lot of talk centres round the transfer window, and while Klopp has played down the chances of boosting his squad this month, did anyone see Fabinho coming, and did anyone see Alisson coming when it did?
That leads the panel to wonder whether Klopp and Michael Edwards have another surprise up their sleeve. If they o, one of the guests would love Liverpool to go after a player who is seemingly set to leave the other team in the title race, as well as another defensive recruit, while there are also calls for a new striker, which in turns lead to a discussion over Daniel Sturridge’s form and future.
It’s well documented that January is not always the best time to do business but Sean explains why the opposite could be true for Klopp. It’s also argued that history, and the fact that two of the Reds’ deadly front three are set for long summers once again, should also have an influence over whether the Liverpool manager sticks or twists.
But buy or not, Liverpool remain in a great position, and the panel are asked whether they think this is a better squad than the ones that went so close in 2009 and 2014.
It’s a good listen. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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So Liverpool have started the New Year with back-to-back defeats.
But given Jurgen Klopp’s side still have a four-point lead at the top, and given the FA Cup was at the bottom of the priority list, our first View from the Kop podcast of 2019 focuses very much on the positives, which there are a lot.
That much is made clear by regular guest Paul Philbin, who describes the feeling in the fan base after leaving the Etihad last Thursday.
Philbo is joined by fellow Reds Matt Addison, Sean Bradbury and Neil Macdonald and they discuss the defeat to Manchester City and the ‘rivalry’ between the clubs, as well the remarkable run of wins leading up to the table-topping clash, and the fixture-list quirk that could well help Liverpool see off Pep Guardiola’s men.
With it being January, a lot of talk centres round the transfer window, and while Klopp has played down the chances of boosting his squad this month, did anyone see Fabinho coming, and did anyone see Alisson coming when it did?
That leads the panel to wonder whether Klopp and Michael Edwards have another surprise up their sleeve. If they o, one of the guests would love Liverpool to go after a player who is seemingly set to leave the other team in the title race, as well as another defensive recruit, while there are also calls for a new striker, which in turns lead to a discussion over Daniel Sturridge’s form and future.
It’s well documented that January is not always the best time to do business but Sean explains why the opposite could be true for Klopp. It’s also argued that history, and the fact that two of the Reds’ deadly front three are set for long summers once again, should also have an influence over whether the Liverpool manager sticks or twists.
But buy or not, Liverpool remain in a great position, and the panel are asked whether they think this is a better squad than the ones that went so close in 2009 and 2014.
It’s a good listen. Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Neil Fitzmaurice is back with his first Poetry in Motion podcast of 2019, and he's joined by regular guests Dan Kay and Joe Rimmer, who returns from his one-pod ban after swearing on last Friday's Blood Red, and in turn getting the show banned from the Middle East. True story.
The Reds have started the year with back-to-back defeats but the mood is positively upbeat with Dan arguing the loss that mattered - at Manchester City - could actually work in Jurgen Klopp side's favour.
But the panel do wonder whether the midfield Klopp selected against City will be used again, particularly given the display Fabinho produced off the bench.
Fitzy also doubts whether Pep Guardiola's team have it in them to play the same way again while Joe is confident the cool, clinical side Klopp has constructed will simply dust themselves off and get back to winning ways at Brighton on Saturday.
Liverpool were unable to do that earlier this week when a second-string XI exited the FA Cup at Wolves.
Fitzy was far from happy, particularly with the performance of one senior star, whereas Joe is more relaxed about the affair. Except when it comes to Alan Shearer.
The trio then tear strips off Neil Warnock following his latest barb at the Reds, debate the possibility of signing a new centre-back, before giving their predictions for the trip to the Amex. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Neil Fitzmaurice is back with his first Poetry in Motion podcast of 2019, and he's joined by regular guests Dan Kay and Joe Rimmer, who returns from his one-pod ban after swearing on last Friday's Blood Red, and in turn getting the show banned from the Middle East. True story.
The Reds have started the year with back-to-back defeats but the mood is positively upbeat with Dan arguing the loss that mattered - at Manchester City - could actually work in Jurgen Klopp side's favour.
But the panel do wonder whether the midfield Klopp selected against City will be used again, particularly given the display Fabinho produced off the bench.
Fitzy also doubts whether Pep Guardiola's team have it in them to play the same way again while Joe is confident the cool, clinical side Klopp has constructed will simply dust themselves off and get back to winning ways at Brighton on Saturday.
Liverpool were unable to do that earlier this week when a second-string XI exited the FA Cup at Wolves.
Fitzy was far from happy, particularly with the performance of one senior star, whereas Joe is more relaxed about the affair. Except when it comes to Alan Shearer.
The trio then tear strips off Neil Warnock following his latest barb at the Reds, debate the possibility of signing a new centre-back, before giving their predictions for the trip to the Amex. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Nearly 24 hours after a second-string Liverpool side suffered an FA Cup exit at Premier League rivals Wolves, James Pearce joins Theo Squires and debut host Connor Dunn for the first of two Blood Red podcasts this week.
James was at Molineux for the ECHO and he analyses what, bar from the performances of the youngsters, was a disappointing night all round.
Injury was added to insult when Dejan Lovren limped off early on to leave Jurgen Klopp facing a big centre-back problem going into this weekend's trip to Brighton.
So will Reds boss Klopp go into the market for defensive cover? Or does the answer lie in-house?
The panel discuss that, and also look at the bigger picture, with James asking whether Reds fans would prefer to win the FA Cup and miss out on a first league title since 1990 or sacrifice the cup in an attempt to land the Holy Grail?
The form of Naby Keita is also debated before the trio talk team selection for Brighton.
Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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Nearly 24 hours after a second-string Liverpool side suffered an FA Cup exit at Premier League rivals Wolves, James Pearce joins Theo Squires and debut host Connor Dunn for the first of two Blood Red podcasts this week.
James was at Molineux for the ECHO and he analyses what, bar from the performances of the youngsters, was a disappointing night all round.
Injury was added to insult when Dejan Lovren limped off early on to leave Jurgen Klopp facing a big centre-back problem going into this weekend's trip to Brighton.
So will Reds boss Klopp go into the market for defensive cover? Or does the answer lie in-house?
The panel discuss that, and also look at the bigger picture, with James asking whether Reds fans would prefer to win the FA Cup and miss out on a first league title since 1990 or sacrifice the cup in an attempt to land the Holy Grail?
The form of Naby Keita is also debated before the trio talk team selection for Brighton.
Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

A chance of a first trophy under Jurgen Klopp gone or bigger fish to fry?
That's the debate that rages on the Post-Game podcast after Liverpool went down 2-1 at Wolves to exit the FA Cup before the fifth round for the fourth successive season under Jurgen Klopp.
With his side sitting four points clear at the top of the league, the Reds boss made nine changes to the team that started Thursday’s 2-1 loss at title rivals Manchester City.
One of those changes, the Merseyside derby hero Divock Origi, who has been linked with a move to Molineux, brought Liverpool level after Raul Jiminez opened the scoring.
But a superb strike from Ruben Neves, who has been linked with a move to Anfield, ensured that the Reds’ hope of glory this season now rest in the Premier League and the Champions League.
But was Klopp right to prioritise those competitions?
Our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce has his say before we hear from the seven Reds fans who have phoned into the show – Graham Agg, Nathan Davidson, Ross Strachan, Matt Addison, Matt Whitty, Sam Planche and Simon Donnelly.
And sandwiched between that is every word Klopp had to say in his post-match press conference, including his reaction to the injury to Dejan Lovren that led to 16-year-old Ki-Jana Hoever making an impressive debut. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

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