Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back for another look at all things LFC from Liverpool. With the last international break of 2025 finally over, this week’s show sees the hosts trying to make sense of more “Jekyll and Hyde” form from the Reds, and looking ahead to a fixture that could - but shouldn’t - be difficult.
The difference in performance and attitude between the Real Madrid game and the Manchester City game was stark, and the lack of club football since has allowed the humiliation to drag on. As Jay points out, Liverpool were simply too “timid” against City, giving up too easily. As Jim says, it’s highly frustrating to see that so soon after a classic European night - and performance - against Madrid just days earlier.
For Jim, the key now is not so much to forget about the league title, but just to get back to taking every game as it comes, with an eye on ensuring Champions League football next season at the very least. As bad as the season has been, as Jay explains, the “crazy” league table means that for all the bad form, the Reds are still only four points off second-placed City and eight off the top. With the festive season on the horizon, there’s a chance Slot’s side could sneak its way back up the table and close those gaps.
To do that, though, they have to overcome the side that for a long spell last season was the only one to beat them. Losing at home to Nottingham Forest felt awful at the time, but Forest’s form over that season, and their push into European places, suggested it wasn’t quite as bad a defeat as it seemed. The Forest side visiting Anfield this time are in a very different place: second from bottom and in serious danger of relegation. But now they’ve got the man who inspired the carrying of dogs overhead, the multiple saviour from relegation for Everton: Sean Dyche.
Nobody is looking forward to the brand of football likely to be served up by the former Burnley boss’s new charges, but the hosts are not at all happy with the way the Liverpool manager has been talking about these types of games - specifically how difficult they are - usually after a defeat. They are often awful games to watch, and not just because you see your own side perform so poorly in them. However, as Jay explains, it’s not for us to tell anyone else how they are allowed to play. The Reds have to be better at handling this type of game, because it isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
At least some of the Liverpool players have had time to win some matches, albeit on international duty with their countries. One that stood out was Reds vice-captain Andy Robertson. His interview after the match with the King’s daughter (Kelly Dalglish) made it clear just how hard these players were hit by the death of teammate and friend Diogo Jota. It won’t just be Robbo struggling, and as Jay points out, it’s easy for us all watching from the sidelines to forget that those boys in the famous Red shirt are just people like the rest of us. Jim says the club can’t expect Arne Slot alone to work on getting the players through this; grief is neither easy nor simple. They need help, and the club has to make sure it’s providing the best support it possibly can.
Also this week, we look at the announcement from the club about “100% searches” for all fans, but as Jay points out, big changes are needed for this to work. His recent experience of being at the ground and ready to go in 45 minutes before kick-off, only to miss the start and ten minutes of the game, suggests the club is a long way short of being up to standard. The hosts have some simple ideas on how to fix it. No rocket science required.
Rounding off this episode was a quick word for what we used to call “the man in the middle” but nowadays call “the centre of attention.” There’s certainly a name to remember on VAR this weekend…
