Scouser

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.

Two more games and two more Liverpool FC victories for Jim Boardman and Jay Reid to look back on in this week’s episode, one in the derby and one in the Carabao Cup. Referees get a mention, not just because of the traffic warden element of the officiating at Anfield, but of course because we’ve just played the neighbours, with their forensic knowledge of the laws of the game and an endless archive of memories of every “bad” refereeing decision from their 30 barren trophyless years and beyond. Jim and Jay predicted last week that Pierluigi Collina’s biggest fans would have a list of complaints about the officials in the derby, and they didn’t let us down. Complaining about a yellow for a player who has managed four bookings in six games, as if he’s some kind of angel, and welling up about the injury time that came to an end with Liverpool in the middle of a good attacking move that maybe could have seen the game finish 3-1. Great distraction techniques as always – Moyesey is definitely back. As for the football, the bit most of us tend to enjoy most about a Premier League game: was it a barely-scraped win the way some observers are making out, or was it more about efficiency from Arne Slot’s revamped side? Three games in six days, as Jay explains, gives the players little to no time to be fully ready for a game with the intensity of a derby, especially when the game time shifts to lunchtime. Does it matter if we win a game by a single goal, one that, despite the goal conceded, saw very little work for Ali in the Reds’ goal? Was it still three points? There is plenty of praise to dish out from Jay and Jim for many of the players involved, particularly the performances of the full-backs. After another couple of days off for the players, it was time for the Carabao Cup match against Southampton, with a host of changes to both give some of the most-used players a rest and to get minutes into the legs of those who are not quite first-choice. Sadly, the headlines have been all about Ekitike’s late red card, and although he’s only got himself to blame for taking his shirt off after scoring – even if he did have another layer on underneath – is it one of football’s most pointless rules? Jay and Jim debate the "fun police" nature of refereeing and the way officials seem to live for moments like that. That might be what’s grabbed the attention of supposedly neutral observers, but there was much more positive to talk about after this game, with some standout performances from the squad. Jim and Jay wonder if this was the moment we got to see the real Federico Chiesa; he’s clearly far fitter than when Liverpool first signed him and showed a lot of what made him so highly valued not all that long ago. A first goal for Isak, who is clearly not yet at the levels of fitness he needs to be after his awkward summer, means all those ‘hasn’t scored yet’ stats can go away. He’s off the mark. Jay and Jim were full of praise too for young defender Giovanni Leoni, as were many in the ground for his debut. Whilst being careful not to get carried away based on one performance in a League Cup game against lower league opposition, comparisons have been made to some Reds defenders of old. He had the look of a proper Liverpool defender and his confidence belied his age. Sadly, though, his debut ended early with an injury that saw him stretchered off after some lengthy efforts to stabilise him pitchside, and early rumours of the extent of the injury point to him not playing again this season. This makes the weekend clash with Crystal Palace a touch more interesting, because, as Jay and Jim discuss, the awful news for Leoni might just push Liverpool to do what’s needed to ensure defender Marc Guéhi sees the New Year in on Merseyside.

The Reds are flying high thanks to more mad last‑minute winners, and hosts Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back to natter about it all in a new episode of Scouser Tommies. After a little breather thanks to the international break, proper footie’s back and there’s plenty to discuss with maximum points, in the end, from the trip to Burnley and that rollercoaster against Atletico. And of course, the derby is next. The first game back after the internationals saw Liverpool make the journey to Turf Moor where it’s almost as if Sean Dyche never left. Jay and Jim wonder how you can even get into football as a kid if that’s what you’ve got to look forward to every week, but their fans seemed happy enough with it. Somehow. And they were a lot less happy when Mo stepped up and put that late penalty away. Not the prettiest of games, but three points is three points, and no one’s moaning. Midweek at Anfield was another story: back under the floodlights on a European night, it’s hard to explain just how different those games feel. And with Slot’s Red men two up in no time against Simeone’s Atleti, it looked like it was going to be one of the extra special European nights. But Liverpool seem to have no plans to make it easy for themselves this season and some sloppy play gave the visitors hope - and two goals. But, before anyone could write it off as a night to forget, Big Virg rose like the giant he is, fending off a lot of holding before smashing home a bullet header in stoppage time. Now it was a European night to remember. Simeone’s antics all night were eye-catching enough - Jay pointing out he was on the pitch more than many of the players - but then he exploded when he saw Liverpool’s winner go in. Says a lot that he was about to be so made up with a draw, but he took his anger out on Liverpool fans behind the dugouts who, as far as we can tell, were just being fans and shouting stuff fans shout. Nothing as sinister as maybe some coverage tried to make out. Not that Simeone’s actions on the touchline were anything to really complain about, who wants a manager that isn’t passionate? Some of his staff seemed a lot worse anyway, as many a phone video has shown. A debut for Alexander Isak showed some promise, we know he’s not ready yet after his extended summer break, but there were signs already that Liverpool’s new No.7 and No.9 will be forging a partnership that brings back memories for Reds of a certain age. Florian Wirtz has had some stick for not hitting the ground running the way the previous incumbent of that shirt did, but as with Isak we all know the quality is there and it’s only a matter of time before we see it in all its glory. And after all, as Jay points out, they didn’t set their own transfer fees. Next up, it’s one of those games where you’ve got to set an alarm on a Saturday, thanks to TNT, as Everton arrive for the derby when everyone will still be rubbing the sleep out of their eyes. As Jay and Jim point out, dragging everyone up so early takes some of the edge out of a game, whoever you’re playing, and that even applies to this fixture. What kind of Everton will turn up? With Dyche long gone could they actually play some footie instead of parking ten men on the six‑yard line, roughhousing through a game, and trying to steal soft free kicks? With signings like Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall maybe they’ll come to play, but it’s still David Moyes. The Reds need to keep it tight, stay professional, avoid giving the referee (one who was once ‘banned’ from doing Liverpool games) any excuses to flash his cards and nullify the essence of this fixture. All while knowing that with all that firepower we’ve got the chances will come. Derby belly will be kicking in soon enough, but with five played and five won, late show or not, this could be a derby to keep Reds smiling for a long time.

With such a hectic start to the campaign, and that mad transfer window, Scouser Tommies hosts Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are almost ready to welcome the international break. Almost. On this week’s episode they look back at the record-breaking spending spree, the “messy” signing of Alexander Isak and the strange end to the Marc Guehi near-signing, as well as looking back all of a couple of days at the win over Arsenal and that free-kick. It’s a window Liverpool fans have never seen the likes of before, and probably won’t again, with Florien Wirtz a club record until Newcastle finally managed to do some of their own business to allow Isak to escape his imprisonment. Is that what the black and white stripes on the shirt mean? The final day brought a fitting end to a summer of spending, and despite missing out on one new centre-back Jay and Jim are more than happy with the “9.5 out of 10” window. Plenty of praise goes out to the club for the shrewd business, which has strengthened the squad while maintaining a healthy balance sheet. With the transfers sorted, the focus shifts to the pitch and the gritty 1-0 victory over Arsenal at Anfield. Jim and Jay dissect the match, from Arsenal's "agricultural" first-half tactics to Arne Slot's crucial half-time adjustments that turned the game Liverpool’s way. There was a disallowed goal and much relief that Arne thinks Ibrahima Konaté’s injury was just cramp, but the big talking point, of course, is the winner. Dominik Szoboszlai's sensational free-kick, more beautiful every time you see it, from any of the many angles available, was destined to be the winner. As that international break gets underway, it’s maybe a rest for the manager and all those involved in the transfer business, but Jay and Jim point out that it’s not a break for everyone, and that brings the nerves that come with sending key players off to do their duty for their countries. It might do Isak good, to actually play a game of football, but maybe just let Mac Allister do a ten minute cameo please? There’s a packed schedule on the horizon, and so the hope is for safe returns all around. Jay and Jim look ahead briefly to that next run of fixtures, which starts with a trip to Burnley, who are hard to separate mentally from Sean Dyche, then it’s a Champions League clash against Atlético Madrid, and a certain Merseyside derby against another former Dyche side in Everton. That Champions League game was part of a draw that has thrown up some familiar foes, like Real Madrid at home for the second year running, only this time with a one-time Anfield hero in their ranks. There are also some exciting away days to come. A quick glance at the table suggests the Isak tactics didn’t really help his former club, but what’s got into the neighbours, up there in the Champions League places? Well it is only three games in, but Liverpool clear at the top, on a maximum of nine points, is good a start as any team could ask for, and that’s from not playing well!

After another mad Monday night at St James's Park, Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back to dissect that dramatic 3-2 win for the Reds over Newcastle United. The duo dive straight into the chaos that unfolded in the North East, where the Geordies tried their best to create a hostile atmosphere with their "get into them" banners and owner-led social media wind-ups. Did it all backfire spectacularly when young Rio Ngumoha broke their hearts with the winner in his Premier League debut? They don’t hold back on Newcastle's behaviour throughout the summer during this whole Isak saga, culminating in what we saw on Monday. From booing Ekitike every time he touched the ball to their owners and management letting fans think they’re the hard-done-by party in all this, the attempts at faking some long-standing bitter rivalry to get everyone up for the challenge was laughable by the end. Jay and Jim explore how being a one-club city might be doing Newcastle no favours, suggesting they're living in a bit of an echo chamber without the reality checks - with heaps of sarcasm usually thrown in - that come from having proper local rivals. Meanwhile, they dissect Simon Hooper's referee performance (did chest-cam put him off?) and that inevitable Anthony Gordon red card that had been brewing all night. Looking ahead, there's the small matter of Arsenal coming to Anfield this weekend, with another ref who’s made a name for himself, Chris Kavanagh, in the middle - and the lads have plenty to say about that particular appointment. They also touch on the neighbours' new stadium down by the river (drink every time you hear ‘down by the river’) and some of the teething problems Everton are having with their fancy new gaff. As always with Scouser Tommies, it’s passionate, funny, and unapologetically red. The perfect listen for any Liverpool fan still buzzing from that last-minute winner and already looking ahead to the next battle.

Proper football is back and so are Jim Boardman and Jay Reid with a new episode of Scouser Tommies from Liverpool. As always there is plenty to discuss where Premier League Champions Liverpool are concerned, and the all-too-brief leaders of the Anfield Index Fantasy Premier League are ready to chat all about it. The Reds kicked off the new season with some Friday-night footy, chosen by TV to be the curtain-raiser, and after a long summer waiting to see the Champions in action again it was always going to be a special, under-the-floodlights Anfield occasion. It was also the first league game since the tragic loss of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, and Anfield couldn’t have done more to pay tribute. As Jay points out, it wasn’t only Liverpool supporters – Bournemouth fans also rose to applaud on 20 minutes, also unveiling a special banner in honour of the brothers. That respect was seen across the country. As Jim notes, there were impeccably observed silences all around the league – even at Old Trafford – with Chelsea players also making a point of showing their recognition. As the lads explain, it’s all too easy to confuse passion for your club with hatred for others, often stoked by both mainstream and social media. But just about every club had players affected by the devastating loss of Diogo and André, and it was genuinely heartening to see so much solidarity in football. As for the game itself, it was a competitive Anfield debut for four of Liverpool’s new signings, Ekitike, Wirtz and two new full backs, Frimpong and Kerkes. It’s clearly early days for all four of the new boys, but it’s hard not to be excited at what they will bring. As Jay points out, they might have been told about how intense this league is, but Friday night was their first chance to really feel it and it was clear that they wouldn’t all last the course and Slot was cautious in how long he kept them all on the pitch. Jay and Jim discuss all four goals, and the celebrations, but it wasn’t all one-way traffic. Ekitike scored his first Anfield league goal, Cody Gakpo gave Liverpool some breathing space with the second, and it looked like the job was going to be done with ease. Not the case - Bournemouth got a couple, thanks to Semenya, and two points could very easily have been dropped. Whilst half of that defence is new, and the other half is still getting back off its holidays, as Jim points out there is still clearly some work for the Reds’ boss to do in terms of how his players defend as a team, and how much risk they take in attack when already ahead in a game. Sadly there was one person at Anfield who, for now we have to say allegedly, was not on the same page as the rest of us as he reportedly hurled racial abuse at Semenya. For Jim and Jay it is simply shocking that anyone thinks it is okay to come to a game at Anfield and act in that way, and that the strongest action has to be taken against anyone caught abusing a player - or anyone else - in this way at the match. In the end Liverpool came away with all three points, Mo Salah picking up more records as he rounded off the scoring with the fourth, the Egyptian King staying on the pitch and emotionally applauding the Kop after full time. Mo’s goal was really just the safety net for the win that Chiesa’s goal had pretty much guaranteed. He’s a player who has had little opportunity to show Reds fans what he can do, but who they’ve taken to their hearts from the off. For him to rescue the points for Liverpool on Friday was special, and if this season ends in another title that will be one of the moments that made it possible. Jay says it’s been a while since Anfield was lifted like that, but the finish itself reminded him of one from one very special player not too long ago. Chiesa’s goal meant Anfield burst into a loud rendition of his song, one that first started to be heard in away concourses earlier in the year, one that had become louder and louder as the season drew to a close. By the time of the parade around Liverpool with the Premier League trophy, it was one of the loudest songs being sung. It’s a song the player has acknowledged his gratitude for, one that has been mentioned on TV before this season, one that is a celebration of a player that Reds fans have taken to heart the way Liverpool fans often take players to heart who aren’t first in the pecking order. Cult heroes and all that. There has been some opposition voiced about that song - and a couple of lines in particular - this week. Yet, as Jay and Jim discuss, the opposition seems very sudden, completely out of the blue and, although everyone is entitled to an opinion, has completely missed the true sentiment behind it. The same song could be sung, with just a change of club and city, if Liverpool bag a certain striker before the window is out, for the exact same reasons Chiesa’s was created. Meanwhile, across the park, and then across the city to the docks, it’s not been as good a start as they’d hoped. New stadium, new (old) manager, new signings, new owner, but have the old neighbours changed what they needed to change most of all?