Scouser

In this final Scouser Tommies episode of 2025, Jim Boardman and Jay Reid look back not just at the last week of Liverpool action but at a record-breaking roller-coaster of a calendar year, with the highs of that title win starting to feel like a lifetime ago when the Reds went through a slump they looked incapable of getting out of. There’s also a look ahead, not just to the busy festive period but to the year in front of us. Two wins, with two clean sheets, is more like we’d expect from the Reds, and although it doesn’t yet make up for that terrible streak, as Jay points out, there are some shoots of optimism. The results are better, the performances have improved, but perhaps most importantly there has finally been a tactical shift from the boss that gets the best out of the squad he has at his disposal. The optimism is tempered with caution, because whilst the new tactics have been fruitful, it’s only a matter of time before these are sussed out too by opposition bosses. For Jim, it is vital that Slot reacts if and when that does happen, because during that slump Liverpool weren’t just regularly beaten, they were regularly hammered. Jay is delighted to see Milos Kerkez finally being deployed in a way that we saw him play before he arrived at Anfield, something he’s asked for all season on this show. Similarly, on the opposite flank, Joe Gomez was allowed to play like a full-back - getting an assist too - rather than as a converted centre-back. Back-to-basics defending and better positional discipline have made a difference, and as Jay points out, so has the freedom and discipline of Jones, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai and Mac Allister to rotate in midfield while ensuring defensive gaps were filled. Playing the best players in their best positions can also be a huge help to a side that’s struggling. Jim notes that Hugo Ekitiké looks like an "edge-of-the-seat" player, the kind you know will put chances away. The two braces in two successive games are just a part of what he’s offering up front. Isak might be the record signing and might need games to get fit, but, as Jay points out, it won’t have done Hugo’s confidence a lot of good to be dropped for a player who, despite the price tag, is nowhere near ready to be a first-choice Reds striker. His time will come, that much seems certain, but maybe it will come sooner if he’s partnered with the confident and in-form Frenchman. As we look ahead to a busy festive period - and to 2026 itself - Jay and Jim wonder what the new year might bring. Will the centre-backs get some cover, some competition, maybe even an eventual successor to Virgil? Arne Slot seems safe for now, and the current form is encouraging, but will he still be in his job by the start of the new season? Expectations at Anfield remain high, but there’s a lot of work to be done to live up to them, regardless of what happened last season. The festive period offers a good chance to make inroads towards meeting those demands. Four games that Liverpool should be able to get at least 10 points from, all in the league as the Champions League has its winter break. One game at a time and all that, but get these four games right and the next one, against Arsenal, may have a very different feel to it than might have been expected a couple of weeks ago. The first of those four is against Tottenham, a fixture that has had its fair share of goals over the years. The away fixture last term saw Slot’s side concede three, but unlike this season they managed to come away with all three points, bagging six of their own. The home fixture was, of course, memorable for reasons beyond that one match itself and the six goals it featured, because it was the one that finally clinched the title for the Reds. As always, there’s time to chuckle at the mentality of the old neighbours, who just can’t break out of type.

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back with a new episode of Scouser Tommies on Anfield Index, to discuss a week when nothing happened at Liverpool FC. Except, of course, the media storm that erupted after Mohamed Salah dropped a bombshell in the mixed zone following that disappointing 3-3 draw against Leeds. It's clear that the discussion is no longer just about the pitch, but the dugout, but as far as the games are concerned there are two to discuss. That chaotic 3-3 draw at Elland Road and the crucial, morale-boosting 1-0 Champions League win in Milan against Inter. Jay aptly describes the victory as a "Rafa Benitez-esque, European-away performance", a rare positive in an otherwise awful spell of form. A win very few of us were expecting, a draw most of us could see coming once injury time started, and a conversation that should have been had behind closed doors instead of feeding the hungry and generally nasty media. The good, the bad and the ugly in a matter of days. As Jim argues, Salah’s feeling of being unfairly singled out may stem from the fact that his benching was the only major change Arne Slot made during the awful run of form. This podcast has consistently questioned why Slot is failing to make tactical tweaks and sticking with underperforming players. Salah was one of those mentioned over the course of this disappointing season too, but he certainly wasn’t the only one. The run has been so bad that Liverpool have run out of room for errors now in the league. It seems to have taken Mo's outburst (what Steven Gerrard called the emotional 'head loss' and said he himself can relate to) to get the head coach to finally use the full-backs for width and pair two of the summer's new strikers on the same pitch AT THE SAME TIME! Jay suggests this new, more natural system, which worked so well against Inter Milan, is what the club has been "crying out for all season". Ironically, this system could be key to getting more out of Salah, although he’s only around for one more game now - if selected - before he disappears for AFCON until the new year. The media machine has wasted no time in weaponizing the situation, creating a "hero and villain" narrative and, in the eyes of the hosts, attempting to casually cancel arguably the club's greatest modern forward. They do it because the algorithm tells them to, not because it helps anyone at the club. Fans care about their club, and as such fans have to avoid getting dragged into this world of toxic extremes. The outrage, as it almost always does, completely overlooks the more nuanced, real-life reaction from the players Mo shares the dressing room with. As Jim and Jay stress, the response from teammates like Alisson Becker, Andy Robertson, and Virgil van Dijk, all of whom spoke of Salah as a friend, is far more telling than the "hastily cut-together rehash" at least one outlet put out to try and make it sound like his teammates had turned on him. Despite the drama, the focus must shift back to winning. The Inter Milan performance showed "green shoots of a potential change in shape", proving that invention is possible. The next few weeks leading into the new year are deemed absolutely crucial by the hosts. Despite Liverpool currently boasting a mid-table goal difference of zero in the league, Jim and Jay emphasize the urgent need to quietly rack up the wins, to discretely climb the table, and if for nothing more than a bit of peace on earth over Christmas, get back above the noisy neighbours before the stockings go up. The solution, the hosts conclude, is simple: stop letting outside noise dictate the narrative, iron out the differences behind closed doors, work together, and for everyone at Liverpool FC to put the football first.

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back for another episode of Scouser Tommies and it’s one of those times where it’s not comfortable to talk about Liverpool FC, but Liverpool FC is something that really needs talking about. Four points in two games doesn’t sound like the end of the world, but given the opposition and the awful run it followed it wasn’t exactly world-saving stuff from the Reds. All the worries that were there through the three defeats in a row with 10 goals against are still there. That’s one of the biggest worries for Jay and Jim - there isn’t a sign of a single tweak to make things better, let alone the raft of changes Arne Slot needs to make to get his side back up to the top. At times like this it is impossible not to make comparisons to dark days from the past, and as Jay explains, for David Brent to be getting a mention on a podcast is a very bad sign, but to have the ghost of Hodgson past even crossing our minds right now it’s clear we are in a bad place. The football is dire, the press conference comments are getting more and more delusional, hope is fading fast. Square pegs in round holes, and some of them glued in and unable to be budged no matter how useless they become. Confidence ebbing away, and players with a clear determination to make things better being left out in the cold. The manager’s comments on Harvey Elliott, one of those players you could never fault for desire, are a worry in themselves. As Jim and Jay explain, Liverpool is not like other clubs when it comes to changing manager, or head coach if that’s what you’ve called him. It’s not a decision to be taken lightly, it should never be a knee-jerk reaction, must never be allowed to get to the point of banners calling for his head or chants telling him where to go. It has to be for the good of the club. But the longer this goes on, the worse it gets for the club, the nearer we get to the kind of banners and chants no Liverpool fan should want to see or hear. This podcast is not taking this situation lightly, but action is needed soon. Liverpool are only within touching distance of the top four because of other people messing up. They won’t mess up forever, a decision needs to be taken, and fast. As Roy Hodgson himself once said, "It's like turning a big ship around. It takes time." He was right, but of course he didn’t know how to slow it down, let alone stop it and turn it around. Does this one? It seems not, and the longer it takes to bring someone in the worse it will get. If the long term target will take time to acquire then, as discussed by Jim and Jay, maybe it’s time to look at someone to fill in for the meantime, someone who can at least find the anchor.

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back for another episode of Scouser Tommies on Anfield Index, though under a cloud as dark and miserable as the Merseyside night they are recording on. Following a humiliating run of three defeats - conceding ten goals in the process against City, Forest, and PSV - the hosts attempt to dissect exactly how an "acorn of doubt" has so quickly grown into a forest of problems for Arne Slot’s Liverpool. The atmosphere at Anfield has turned, not with boos, but with apathy and disappointment, as Jim notes the mass exodus of fans as early as the 75th minute - a sight so rarely seen in even the most miserable seasons of decades past. The goodwill from Slot’s title win is evaporating fast, and the question is no longer about bad luck, but whether the manager has run his course. As Jay explains, the tactics have become "rinse and repeat," with the manager seemingly throwing things at the wall to see what sticks, only to find the wall is in as bad a shape as the defence. The hosts are baffled by the personnel choices, specifically the stubborn refusal to use recognised defenders. With Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson watching from the bench, while midfielders are shoehorned into that leaking backline, the confusion is palpable. Jay highlights the plight of Dominik Szoboszlai - the one player showing genuine passion and "doing his best Steven Gerrard impression” - constantly being wasted at right-back. Meanwhile, new signings look lost, playing to instructions that seem to strip them of their natural game. Jim argues that this has escalated to an FSG-level crisis. The failure to sign a centre-back to challenge the established order, despite spending money elsewhere, has come home to roost. Jay says that with the team playing narrow, uninventive football and lacking the bite or "nastiness" required to arrest the slide, the fear is that the club is sleepwalking out of Champions League contention. As both Jim and Jay point out, fans want to know where the passion is, but the boss seems too “HR-friendly" to show any. There is no sign of passion, no evidence of anger at one capitulation after another. The teacups are safe in that Reds dressing room, as are the same underperforming players who now know their starting place is assured regardless of form. Jim notes the fire in Steven Gerrard’s voice during his TV work covering the latest game, and whatever might be said about his coaching experience he’s got plenty of the attributes missing from that dressing room right now. If the boss won’t change, is it time the club made the change, before the season is completely lost? As Jay insists, Liverpool FC have to be in the Champions League, and that is looking increasingly unlikely for next season if nothing happens to fix this mess. With what should be a pretty straightforward run of games now looking daunting - with West Ham, Sunderland, Leeds, Inter, Brighton and Spurs on the horizon - the confidence that the Reds can turn this around is at rock bottom. Things have got so bad we can’t even laugh at our old neighbours.

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…

Another week, another pair of defeats and no sign of it coming to an end any time soon. On this week’s Scouser Tommies Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are frustrated with what is fast becoming a serious crisis. Five months after parading the Premier League trophy around the streets of Liverpool, why are Arne Slot and his players making it look like it never happened? Defeats against Brentford and Palace, six goals conceded across the two games, out of the cup, 7th in the league, Anfield miserable and not just because of the biblical rain swirling down onto the pitch. Was it right to play the kids in the League Cup, to guarantee going out and leave some room in the calendar for rest? Or was this the one time to go big so early in this competition, stop the slide? Playing the kids made it easier to come up with an excuse, but is it time to stop sharing excuses and start coming up with answers? There isn’t just one big problem with Liverpool right now, It’s a multitude of smaller ones and so many of them feel avoidable. And so many have responsibility for that, even if all eyes are on the one man who has to try and explain all these defeats to fans through the media. Words can be powerful and the hosts are worried about how much damage some words, unintentionally, might just be doing. One example of those problems the hosts point to is just how much the Reds are missing their last No.7 - his enthusiasm, his determination, his ability to get fans on their feet as he fights for a win. Where is the fight now? And where is the plan? The current No.7 is a different kind of player, expected to play a very different role, but has anyone worked out what that is? That No.7 shirt is huge at this club, worn by arguably the greatest man in Liverpool FC history; a player, a manager, a part of the very fabric of this club. Kenny Dalglish of course, who has a movie coming out next week all about his life and especially his time at Anfield. The movie shows The King’s ability to balance self belief and confidence with his humility and trademark humour, and gives viewers a real insight into the philosophy that this club is rooted in. The hosts discuss how much the current incumbent of one of the biggest jobs in world football, and his charges, could learn from the great man and his career. Watching the movie would be a good start, but maybe they could do with some one on ones. The hosts aren’t saying Arne should go and get coaching hints from The King, or that players should get lessons in how to defend set pieces from him, but there is so much the great man could talk to them about that might just inspire them, might just help him, might just see them through the most pressure some of them have ever been under. And there are other legends who could offer insight that isn’t in the coaching manuals. Also in this week’s episode Jim and Jay look at the idea of using a back three - as seen in the League Cup - and look at the options for who could make up that three if it was transferred to the big games. What might it bring, what would it take away, would there be potential to give decent service to the front men the club now has? Would it give the Reds the stability needed to get out of this rut? Huge games lie in front of the Champions now, starting with Aston Villa and followed in rapid succession by Real Madrid and then Manchester City, before another international break arrives to interrupt it all. Do Liverpool need tweaks or upheaval, and what might a credible “stop the bleeding” plan actually look like? As always, no matter how bad it gets for us, our old mates from down by the river always manage to find a way to cheer us up. Not that they mean to.

Finally! After weeks wondering where the next win was coming from, Jim Boardman and Jay Reid finally get to talk positives, celebrating the Reds clicking back into gear, at least for one night. Recent form had Reds everywhere dreading another defeat and trying to fathom exactly where it was all going wrong. While one result doesn’t mean everything’s sorted, Liverpool’s performance offered Arne Slot and his side a few clear pointers on what to do differently. On this week’s Scouser Tommies, Jim and Jay compare the last two outings, from the frustration of that defeat against Manchester United to the turnaround that led to not just a win, but a five-goal statement win. The hosts dig into what changed: tweaks to tactics, tireless work in midfield, and standout displays from Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, and local lad Curtis Jones. You don’t need to be a local to be a Red—Jay and Jim will be the first to tell you—but perhaps only a local truly feels the sting of losing in a city where the neighbours pounce on every opportunity to have a go at you after a loss.Not that even this awful run, the worst in many a memory, was enough for the Blues to claim the high ground. No matter how rough it gets, that lot finds a way to make everything feel a bit less bad! As always there’s sharp football analysis and the usual dose of Scouse wit. Referee drama - as predicted last week - and Mo Salah’s patchy form come under the microscope, but the focus is on footballing basics: winning the midfield, keeping things simple, and playing with pride. With Brentford away looming, can Liverpool turn this long-awaited win into a genuine spark for a strong run? That league table doesn’t look quite so bad now…

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid return for another episode of Scouser Tommies, reflecting on the international break and previewing the massive return to action: a home clash against Manchester United. The break has hopefully given everyone, fans, players and the coaching staff, time to maybe reflect on those three straight defeats going into it,, but the focus shifts to how the Reds should bounce back. As always with an international break we wait to see how much damage has been done by the countries lending our players, with Konaté and Gravenberch amongst those spending time in the treatment room. With Mac Allister needlessly playing 90 minutes in friendlies far from home, there are definite worries about player fitness heading into what is a crucial seven-game run before, yes, yet another international break. At least Alexander Izak got some minutes as he continues his belated pre-season. Jim and Jay get into the debate surrounding summer signings like Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz. Critics are queuing up to claim they are being “misused at Anfield” when compared to their roles for their national teams, but the hosts believe the issue is tactical and not a need for panic. Jay highlights that Kirkez's infield positioning is stifling his "flying fullback" ability and simple tactical tweaks - like a dedicated defensive midfielder to cover the centre-backs - would allow him and others to thrive out wide, as they did at their previous clubs. It’s not just on the left flank where this tweak might make all the difference, with both Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley being used on the other side of the pitch in ways that maybe don’t allow us to see them at their best. The hosts also discuss how this is possible without waiting for the transfer window to open. Looking ahead to Sunday's fixture, Jay and Jim stress this is the priority game of the season's early run. A match that’s always big is even bigger. They urge manager Arne Slot to disregard his conservative tendencies and implement an aggressive, attack-minded setup from the start. With United expected to line up with three center-backs and probably happy to leave with a 0-0 draw, Liverpool must go for the attack, isolate United's defenders in 1v1 battles, and overpower their midfield to secure not just a win, but a statement performance.sending a message to the league the slump was only a blip. The players won’t be the only ones under the spotlight - Anfield has a job to do too. A late kick-off gives every Red time to get fully fired up, and the ground needs to be electric from the first whistle. And as always, when local rivals provide comic relief, Jim and Jay can’t resist. The duo have a laugh at Everton’s latest thin-skinned response to Lee Dixon’s comments - proving that when it comes to complaining, the Blues are still world-class.

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid return for another episode of Scouser Tommies, reflecting on a less than wanted shift in Liverpool’s early-season fortune. One goal wins have turned into one goal defeats, is it time to panic? The "efficient" wins that took the Reds to the top of the table came largely through late goals and narrow margins, which we all accepted because we were on the right side of it. Now the scales seem to have tipped completely the other way. But given they weren’t tipped too far our way before this run, will it really take much to bring them back?. The discussion centres on Liverpool's issues with both tactics and players, and a number of compounding factors: integrating new players, adopting a more complicated style of play with a "natural number 10," and injuries and circumstances that have seen constant rotation, especially at right-back. As Jay points out, this has created a defensive domino effect where opposition teams easily target the fullbacks, and with the tendency for those players to drift infield the vulnerabilities it brings. Add to this the times we see central midfielders all pushing forward at once, with no natural defensive anchor to "mind the shop", it seems trouble isn’t ever going to be far away. As discussed, the team is leaving itself "a little bit too open and a bit vulnerable," and may need to revert to the "basics" of a solid, traditional back four, at least for a while. When talking about full backs there comes a question that isn’t so easy to answer. Has Mohamed Salah’s new role of not being so involved defensively become a problem of its own? Does it leave Arne with some serious rethinking to do? Jim asks if the Egyptian King is becoming a luxury the team can no longer afford, noting that his apparent agreement with the boss to preserve his longevity by doing less helping out at the back puts too much of a burden on the right-back and midfield to cover for him. Jay Reid agrees, calling it a 'luxury tax' the team can’t afford to pay without the returns we saw last season. They debate if Salah should be dropped for the sake of team balance, though the ultimate conclusion is that Slot needs to implement tactical tweaks that acknowledge and compensate for Salah’s role, rather than taking him out of the starting lineup entirely. At least for now. Whilst much of the discussion revolves around Liverpool’s inability to find the net enough times to win a game, the worries at the back that have been hanging over the club since long before Slot arrived once again come to mind. The hosts criticize the club's failure in the transfer market to secure a much-needed back-up centre-back to allow the manager to rotate his best defenders, maybe avoiding some of the injury worries of previous campaigns. The situation is made worse by the long-term injury to young Leoni and the worries about the fitness of both Ibou and Joe Gomez, all of which leaves Liverpool dangerously short of quality options for two positions. Again. Jay argues the club needs to get over its perceived snobbery and sign a simple, "nuts and bolts" defender - citing Ragnar Klavan as the historic example of a player who can come in, do the basic job of heading and kicking, and allow key players like Van Dijk and Konaté to be rested and rotated. Tough a week as it’s been, it’s not just looking at the league table and remembering we are actually second, one point off top, that cheers us up. That, of course, is because there is always Everton. We do have sympathy with them for the ridiculous prices of food at their new home down by the docks, and the lack of infrastructure to get to and from it, but maybe just accepting that ketchup is meant to be Red and that it won’t kill you, would keep the prices down a little bit at least. As for the rat...

After two miserable losses on the bounce for Liverpool, Jim Boardman and Jay Reid try to keep spirits up on this week’s Scouser Tommies. They share their views on where things have gone wrong for the Reds since opening up that five point gap at the top of the Premier League, also remembering they are actually still top of the table! For Jay and Jim it’s not so much one major flaw that needs fixing as perhaps a list of smaller problems where tweaks, and maybe some patience, are required. For Jay there’s a question mark about whether the sides Slot is putting out have enough leaders, and identifies at least one spot in the side where that might make a difference. Listen in as the duo discuss their thoughts on what’s changed between this season and last, the defeats coming after a run of wins that some are describing as lucky. For Jim one major flaw isn’t so much about conceding goals, it’s more about being unable to create enough quality chances for what is on paper a mouthwatering array of attacking options. Attention turns to the weekend’s Chelsea clash, a chance to stop this blip turning into something more before yet another international break. A win would restore so much confidence in the camp, and Jim and Jay both urge a return to basics this weekend before using that international break to dig deep and study the details of Liverpool’s recent difficulties. If anyone at the club tunes in they’ll hear views on everything from selection dilemmas at right-back to the challenge of getting the best out of Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo, not to mention the new boys. It’s a search for answers along with honest reflections on the midfield shuffle and how small tweaks, not wholesale changes, could help Liverpool get back to winning ways. As bad as it might seem right now to be at the top of the Premier League table, and still on course to finish in the all important top 24 of the Champions League mad League phase, as has been pointed out on the show many a time, there’s always a way to help cheer up. Because there’s always Everton.