Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back with another episode of Scouser Tommies, to discuss the latest goings-on with the Reds - from a Mersey perspective. This week’s show comes as Slot’s men book a place at Anfield South, and with the last Merseyside Derby at Woodison looming not too far in the distance.
It’s not been all that long since the last episode but a lot has happened since then, including the securing of the top spot in the Champions League mega league phase and the cementing of a comfy six-point cushion at the top of the Premier League - with a game in hand.
Most recent of all was the visit of Spurs, a goal up on aggregate, for the second leg of the League Cup semi-final. Jay and Jim discuss the demolition of a Spurs side that looked like it had accepted its fate before the game even kicked off.
A certain old song got a few more airings from the Kop, ‘re-released’ quite recently, and maybe there’s some significance to that, it certainly feels that way.
The only Tottenham player who looked up for it was the former Blue, Richarlison, who tried to give his all, because he’s Everton, isn’t he? As Jay and Jim discuss, there aren’t many ex-Blues who have taken the Everton imprint on board so strongly.
Much was said about Spurs injuries but Liverpool didn’t use a single player brought to the club by Arne Slot. There is only a single player brought to the club by Arne, of course, and he was an unused sub this time. Even that must have wound Spurs up, as Jay points out in the show. Yet this is all part of Slot’s revolution, with the changes implemented by him and his team ensuring Liverpool’s injury record is noticeably improved compared to recent seasons. As discussed on the show, the way they play, train and prepare for games has been tweaked to get the best out of each player.
By booking one trip to Anfield South - other people call it Wembley - Liverpool have handed Arne Slot a really early chance to pick up his first silverware for the Reds, although a certain side from the North East will be trying to make sure he doesn’t.
Will Liverpool get a second trip to the capital for a cup final? It’s unlikely to be Slot’s strongest eleven that turns out against Plymouth, but so far he’s shown he’s not the type to throw a load of kids in at the deep end either. Then again, Liverpool are about to embark on a tough run of league games in a packed February, so maybe he’ll be more cautious this time.
That tough run of games starts of course with a visit to the neighbours. It feels like a different proposition to what it would have been had the storm not caused the game to be called off last time.
Back then it was Dyche, now Moyes is back - and they’re on a run of three wins in a row, at least in the league. Could it be the toughest game so far for the Reds this side of Christmas?
There’s always something different about a derby, whatever is happening in the league to either side, but most Blues seem to be quietly lacking in any confidence about this one, at least when you chat to them on their own.
With the hype we’ve heard from Blues we fully expected the Everton side to be filled with a raft of new signings now they’ve got new owners, but they only brought one loan signing in, so maybe they’re not as flush as they thought.
Whatever happens, it’s going to be a reminder of many a game to remember, even if it’s not one itself.
