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Scouser Spirit: Boardman and Reid Reflect on Liverpool’s Triumph and Trent’s Departure

Champions of England and Champions of Character

Liverpool’s recent triumph has stirred more than just celebratory scenes—it’s been a moment of deep pride for Reds around the world. On the Scouser Tommies podcast from Anfield Index, hosts Jim Boardman and Jay Reid captured the essence of what it means to be a Red in 2025. “Liverpool are the champions of England. We won the league,” Jim opened, adding, “I can’t get that image out of my head…Virgil just… looking up at the trophy with absolute glee.”

Jay, who had a remarkable week—title win, parade, and wedding—said of the celebrations, “The songs were red… win the league on Sunday, parade on Monday, married on Friday.” He joked about planning his anniversary around the Champions League final: “Your first anniversary of your wedding… it’s usually marked by paper… so a plane ticket to Budapest and a match ticket… how does that work?”

Trent’s Real Madrid Move: Betrayal or Bold Step?

A major talking point was Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid. The tone was scathing. “He’s gone from being potentially one of the big names in the Liverpool museum… to a footnote in the history of Real Madrid,” said Jim. Jay echoed the disappointment: “He’s literally going to become the next Michael Owen in terms of status at Liverpool and Real Madrid.”

Jay compared Trent’s exit with Owen’s, noting, “Michael Owen’s career at Real Madrid will not be… a whole section of the Santiago Bernabéu Museum.” He added, “He’s got to go a hell of a long way if he’s going to create a legacy that he was on his way to creating at Liverpool.”

Trent’s motivations were heavily criticised. Jim remarked, “He had two pretty decent choices… but I can’t help but think he’s going to be wondering a lot more about what he’s done.” Jay didn’t pull punches: “He’s not even known as Alexander-Arnold anymore… he’s had to change his name… he’s probably a little bit embarrassed.”

Photo: IMAGO

New Era Under Slot and Transfer Confidence

Turning to the future, the hosts showed strong optimism under manager Arne Slot. “We’ve been putting our hands in our pockets,” said Jim. The acquisition of Jeremie Frimpong was met with enthusiasm: “It sounds like a bargain,” and Jay observed, “He’s exciting and explosive… whether we’ll see him at right back all the time I don’t know.”

The imminent signing of Florian Wirtz was a highlight. Jay described the buzz in Germany: “Vertz was the most popular name… not Musiala, not Müller… Vertz was the one.” Jim drew comparisons to Torres: “We’ve not signed a player with such a persona and excitement around them since Fernando Torres.”

Both hosts agreed that FSG’s financial moves had been smart. “We’ve had a few years where we’ve not spent money… now it’s exciting when you’re the champions and you go and do this,” said Jay.

Scouse Solidarity and City Pride

The podcast wasn’t just about football. It celebrated Liverpool’s character. Jim shared, “There were people online offering… bedrooms, food, warm clothing… lifts to different parts of the Northwest,” in response to poor parade logistics. Jay added, “That makes you proud to be a Scouser… proud to be from Liverpool… proud to be a Liverpool fan.”

The pair poked fun at the Real Madrid-bound full-back with a viral jab from Liverpool Airport: “He even flew from Manchester,” quoting their infamous tweet. “The whole shenanigans and story around Trent… he couldn’t even fly out of Liverpool Airport,” Jay said, to which Jim laughed, “That tells you all you need to know.”

Looking Ahead

Jay summed up the moment: “We’re the champions… and we’re signing one of the best players in Europe.” Jim closed with, “Let’s just enjoy every single minute of it.”

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