Scouser

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back with the latest on LFC from Liverpool, and with the realisation that the next time they do a Scouser Tommies, Jurgen Klopp will have had his last game as Reds boss and every bit of output about LFC will be entitled “Auf Wiedersehen”. Last time out Liverpool beat Spurs 4-2, a convincing win – if you ignore the last twenty minutes or so – and a maybe the last ‘normal’ game at Anfield for the ‘normal one’. It’s all pretty academic now, but Jay and Jim were glad to see a return to using the full width of the pitch as the boss went for a nostalgic approach, making the most of the two full backs who played such a huge role In the Reds success under Klopp. Whether Trent should start in midfield, nip there during games or stick out wide as a full-back is a worry for another manager now. With Klopp’s penultimate home game out of the way he’s now got his penultimate game overall to come next week against Villa. Technically Villa can still lose their place in the Champions League, but Liverpool can also technically still win the league so let’s be realistic – it’s not exactly going to be the hardest fought game of the season at Villa Park. In the press conference ahead of that game, Klopp spoke about his regrets over not playing Harvey Elliott more, praising him for his performances over the season, whether on the wing or right midfield, maybe sensing that the youngster is finally at that point now where he’s no longer to be thought of as a youngster. Something for the next boss to think about, and if LFC get Arne Slot as expected maybe young players will be given even more of a look in. The boss was also asked about the speculation about Darwin Nunez’s future, speculation he knew nothing about, a reminder once again not to believe everything you read, especially when other agendas might be at play. Klopp admitted he’s no longer involved in what happens to Reds players, but you know he’d know if something was planned. If Darwin was unhappy, it wouldn’t be helped by the blerts on social media who decided they could send him abuse in the comments, leaving him to delete all his recent posts relating to Liverpool FC. Abuse on social media is one thing, but you’d expect ex-players, working as pundits, to show a bit more respect to current players, rather than hurling abuse of a different kind, from the safety of retirement, acting like they believe players deliberately miss chances or misplace passes. After the Villa game the inevitable fixture will be here, Klopp’s very last match stood on the touchline as Liverpool manager, against Wolves at Anfield. Well, that’s if he doesn’t get a yellow card against Villa, because then he’d get a touchline ban. As Jim and Jay point out, the PGMOL have lined up a selection of their finest for that game, so maybe Klopp will have to watch from the Kop. Also coming up is a night with Klopp at the Echo Arena, or whatever it’s called these days. Upwards of £37 a ticket, with a 9,000 capacity, not to mention the sales of beer and merchandise, there’ll be a few quid coming out of the pockets of LFC fans that night, and as Jay and Jim discuss, it doesn’t really feel like it’s the right thing to do. Not yet. As always, there’s something from the neighbours to raise a smile.

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back as Liverpool’s Premier League season draws to a close and we get one game nearer to the end of the Jurgen Klopp era. Jurgen himself is clearly sensing the end is in sight, if his press conference ahead of the visit of Spurs was anything to go by. He’s not exactly kept his thoughts to himself these past few years about TNT/BT’s 12:30 Saturday kick-offs, but knowing he’s not got any more of them to face he was happy to really go to town on the broadcaster. As Jay and Jim point out, he’s saying the kind of things that anyone who really loves the game should be saying about those running it and should be saying once Klopp goes. The boss also had a great line for anyone who says TV should be able to mess teams about, because it’s TV’s money that allows them to have such great players. They’ve got it the wrong way round, said Klopp. If the assembled journalists at the press conferences were hoping for Klopp to say something about Mo Salah that their editors could turn into sensational headlines, they were to be disappointed. Klopp was never going to be as quick to criticise Mo as he was to criticise TNT, even if he had good reason to. Some Reds fans allowed themselves to be dragged into a battle that wasn’t there between Klopp and Mo but, as Jim and Jay say, what kind of manager and player would LFC have if there was no tension at that stage of a season that had promised so much? The Reds next game is against the team that benefitted from some of the worst refereeing in living memory in the reverse fixture, Spurs, so bad that PGMOL actually admitted to the errors. PGMOL wouldn’t want anyone to think they were abusing their monopoly by putting out officials unsuited for a fixture, especially not after what happened in the previous meeting, so they have sent a ref from Greater Manchester. As Jay and Jim say, maybe this game will be the one where Klopp gives the PGMOL a special send-off. This week: • Look back at West Ham away • Look ahead to Spurs at home • Klopp’s press conference • Huge point being made about TNT’s money • Full of fun, real sense he’s already packed his desk • Laughing about his latest meeting with the ref from that Spurs game • Doesn’t fancy the FIFA president job • Got an award from the PFA • Do people realise what he’s done for the English game? • Opportunity for people to build on what he’s started? • New home kit • Inspired by Rome ’84 – yet somehow not inspiring • If you’re going to do pinstripes… • New kit deal already rumoured • Nike making way for Adidas? • Could they use the other logo? • Ground move for LFC Women • Back in front of Red seats • Everton’s party over? • Klopp v Salah nothing like it was billed • Champions League football next season again!

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back and feeling a little bit bruised after an event that hasn’t happened since Paul Konchesky was the star of Roy Hodgson’s version of LFC. Meanwhile, as what has been an amazing ride under Jurgen Klopp stutters towards the end, it sounds like Liverpool have lined up his successor. There are mixed feelings from fans about Arne Slot as the next boss of Liverpool but as Jay and Jim discuss, all they have been hearing – from people who know Dutch football and know Liverpool – points to him being exactly who the Reds need. It certainly feels like there’s something to look forward to after a few weeks no Reds want to look back at. A rare derby defeat at Goodison Park has left the blue quarter of Liverpool parading around like they’ve won a trophy and the rest of us feeling like we’ve lost three. Everton invited their neighbours to their now traditional just-avoided-relegation party this year, and Liverpool brought gifts. The neighbours will say they ended the Reds’ title hopes, but Liverpool were already done. All good things must come to an end and in football they often end before they are mathematically impossible, so whilst at the time of recording there was still a theoretical chance of the title, the miracles required were way too far-fetched. Especially when one of them was for Liverpool to find their form again. So Klopp wasn’t to get his fairy-tale ending, but maybe now the pressure is off and the players he puts out could try and entertain us instead of everyone else. Next up is a trip to West Ham, and our old mate David Moyes, so the potential is definitely there for the nightmare to continue. Especially if we dwell too much on the fact that there is still a mathematical chance that Liverpool don’t qualify for the Champions League. It’s not the best of endings to the last season under the German, but it does still end with a trophy, and there is still time to settle some scores on the pitch.

It’s Derby week and In this week’s episode Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are getting ready for the fixture everyone in the city looks forward to with a mix of excitement and nerves. These games always mean far more than any other in a season, regardless of anything they might do to a league table, but this one has an added edge it’s not had in a while. For one thing, it’s going to be Jurgen Klopp’s last trip across the park before he leaves at the end of the season, and although it doesn’t look like being the last Merseyside Derby for everyone for a while, Everton will be desperate for a point just in case any outstanding Premier League points deduction decisions go against them. For Liverpool it’s essential they come away with three points to keep their outside hopes of the title alive, and as Jay and Jim discuss, they’re going to need the right players on the pitch to make that happen. Whether those players will still be able to stand on the pitch at the end is another matter altogether given some of the previous season’s Derby casualties. Also this week there was a chance to catch up on the games since the last Scouser Tommies, because while we were away from the airwaves the Reds had a blip to say the least. Defeats against Atalanta and Palace followed what felt like a defeat against the Mancs and it started to feel like the wheels had fallen off. A win against Fulham away at the weekend got Klopp’s men back on the right tracks though, and, as Jim and Jay discuss, all Liverpool can do now is win their own games and see where that’s got them to at the end of the season. Time is running out on Jurgen’s era and Jay and Jim want to enjoy every last bit of what’s left, because before we know it, that train will have stopped and we’ll have a new driver waiting to take over. As for who that next driver is, there has been some more speculation, Jim and Jay share their thoughts.

With another couple of Liverpool wins on the board since the last episode, Jim Boardman and Jay Reid have plenty to discuss about the top of the table Reds, also including news that ticket prices are going up, signing of the season Alexis Mac Allister and the upcoming trip to Old Trafford. The Argentine midfielder had a huge influence including an assist in the win over his old club Brighton, before shaking the Kop with arguably the goal of the season to put the Reds back in front against Sheffield United. But as Jay and Jim discuss, the assist and the goal were obviously standout moments, but he brings so much more than that – those early season worries about him being played out of position are long since forgotten, he excels wherever he plays. Up next is a trip to play one of the main enemies, and with Klopp being asked for his thoughts on the tragedy chanting that shamed Manchester United fans last time we went there – he had some advice on what all fans can do to stop this stain on the game – it remains to be seen if the broadcaster covering it will call it out if it happens again. They didn’t last time. With so much riding on it for Liverpool, and pride at stake for the other lot, it’s clear the hype for this trip to Old Trafford will be huge. Not that it needs to be, this game hypes itself, but as Jim and Jay point out, the Reds need to handle the occasion the right way, a way they know how. Just like they know how to react the right way if the ref decides to support his local team. This week: • LFC 2 Brighton 1 • LFC 3 Sheff Utd 1 • Top of the league • Alexis Mac Allister • Big number to wear • Big name to wear too! • So many players who’ve played a part in this frenetic campaign • Kelleher played as many games as Ali? • Coming back after conceding again • And again • Ticket price increases • Pros and cons • Understandable in some ways? • Is it down to LFC alone to fix the astronomical cost of being a fan? • Every time the prices go up more fans get pushed away • Talking of expensive, Everton still being Everton • Paying the price – literally - for always blaming the wrong people • Finances sound even worse than some experts predicted • Next up: a trip to Old Trafford • Will there be more tragedy chanting or will they show the class Klopp suggested they should? • Always a massive game regardless of the league table • Often a game that bears no resemblance to current form • How Liverpool should approach it – not complicated

The international break might have taken proper football away, but it’s not stopped Jim Boardman and Jay Reid from finding stuff to talk about for this week’s Scouser Tommies. Plenty to look forward to, as the League season gets back going again this Easter weekend after being so rudely interrupted, and for Liverpool it starts with the visit of Brighton. A huge game for the Reds, especially when you look at the fixture taking place after full-time at Anfield. Since the last episode there has been one game to forget, the FA Cup game down the East Lancs, but, as Jay and Jim say, as gutting as it felt at the time, that disappointment was more about who it was against than what the result really meant. For once the break might have done us a favour. With a certain sports ‘news’ channel seemingly putting something slightly less impressive than Coventry did the day before on a par with solving world hunger, it was best to avoid the papers and all national sports outlets for the week. Stick to the safety of your favourite LFC fan media. Especially when realising that those national outlets would soon be shelving their Manc love-in to fawn over everything Ingerland. Sadly, the evil Nike corporation did something so evil that, no matter how hard you tried to avoid it, sooner or later you were bound to hear about the UK’s national team (or so it always seems, fans of the other UK national sides must think). The outcry over the colour of a cross on the back of an overpriced shirt was quite bemusing to watch from the sides for anyone who cares like Jim, Jay and pretty much all of Liverpool do. Of course it’s all Nike’s fault, it’s not like England’s FA get any say in the shirts they make so much money from. Talking of money and blaming the wrong people, more progress was reported on the Everton takeover, although nothing exactly official which makes you wonder if anything is actually going to happen. The Premier League have (reportedly) said they are “minded to allow” the deal to go through, based on a number of conditions that effectively add up to demanding 777 put their money where their mouth is. Jay and Jim are kind of astounded at how long it’s all taken, at why 777 haven’t just got the deal done and taken Everton out of limbo if they’re good for the cash, at how much debt Everton are now in, at how that compares to what FSG paid to buy LFC not that long ago, and at how it’s all the Premier League’s fault. Only kind of astounded though, of course, this is Everton. This week: • Look ahead to LFC v Brighton • One game at a time but the start of an important run of games • Dangerous opponents, but surely we’ve learned that by now? • International break – how have Reds players fared? • How many will be coming back with new injuries? • Robbo is one, we await news of a scan, but are we as worried about him missing as we used to be? • Plenty of goals from Reds on their travels • Brief look back at the FA Cup exit • We’re over it now, but what can we learn from it? • Maybe get better at turning control and possession into goals? • The reaction to that game laughable, do they know it wasn’t the final? • The reaction to England’s shirt laughable, do they know it’s only a shirt that will soon be replaced by another? • Do the leaders of the main political parties have nothing more important to try and get fixed? • Everton’s takeover – what will happen if it doesn’t go through, and soon? • Would we miss them? • LFC Legends game – great to see Sven given such a memorable moment. • Could Liverpool do one more thing for him? • Premier League Hall of Fame – two ex-Reds nominated. • One an obvious pick for Reds fans, we’re not sure we could vote for the other • Maybe a mural means more anyway

In this week’s Scouser Tommies, there’s plenty for Jim Boardman and Jay Reid to talk about, with the Reds continuing their quest for silverware and loads going on behind the scenes to try and ensure there are more of these quests in the years to come. Since the last episode the Reds have fallen from the top of the Premier League table, but only on goal difference, a minor detail that seems to be getting forgotten in all the hype. There’s a big deficit of goals to make up if that is how the title ends up being decided, but as Klopp’s side showed in the Europa League, they certainly know where the goal is. Liverpool dropped a position because the game against Manchester City ended all square of course, and, although three points would have been nicer, as Jay and Jim discuss, it feels like City will feel the two dropped points more than the Reds. Given the injuries Liverpool have to contend with, and the unsurprisingly lenient refereeing the visitors got to benefit from, a point was a decent enough outcome. Even so, it was hard not to wonder what might have been, had the PGMOL guidelines on fouls and cards not been rewritten yet again without our knowledge. Maybe the best way to deal with playing against an extra man so often is to go out and win before they can have any influence on the game, exactly what another hybrid LFC team did against Sparta Prague in the Europa League. The line-up was perhaps stronger than many expected, given Liverpool’s 5-1 lead from the first leg, but as Jay points out, sports science may be playing a part in who gets picked and who doesn’t, a complete rest isn’t always what a player needs when working back to full fitness. The 11-2 aggregate win meant the post-match interviews were bound to include talk of quadruples, but Jim wonders if TNT Sport had to try so hard to push 20-year-old Conor Bradley into admitting that one would be quite nice. As Conor pointed out, Liverpool need to take one game at a time and see where that leads us, and the next game is in another competition. With one domestic trophy already in the bag, and with it being the only chance the opposition have got of winning anything this season, an already massive game seems to take on even more significance. The FA Cup quarter-final tie against Manchester United will also be a chance for a larger and no doubt louder traveling Kop than usual to make itself heard inside that dilapidated (their words) theatre of dreams (also their words!). And maybe it’s not us the authorities over there are really worried about. It was also the week where Michael Edwards was confirmed as taking on a new role as part of the overall FSG group, and he’s got plenty to do, not only overseeing a new director of football for the club but looking at FSG buying a sister club. It’s a concept not to everyone’s liking, but as Jay and Jim discuss, it has its plusses. This week: • LFC 1-1 v Man City • Another refereeing masterclass • More sarcasm • LFC 6-1 v Sparta • Maybe the goal difference in the league doesn’t have to be a worry • Europa League draw • Could have been a lot worse • One game at a time – but look at that possible final • A trip down the Lancs • Not the most welcoming city – to anyone • They had an M.Edwards as director – what’s else was he famous for? • International break ahead

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back to discuss all things LFC and that is a long list of things to discuss this week – hence the bumper episode! First of all there’s a look back at the last couple of games, the contrasts of three points courtesy of Darwin’s 99th winner against Forest, which itself was courtesy of Ally Mac’s sublime lofted pass, and that 5-1 win in Prague, a game that could have had any number of other scorelines. Those wins seem to have teed the Reds up nicely for the big one coming next, the visit of Manchester City to Anfield for what Sky will definitely bill as the title decider, before billing another game as the same thing a week later, regardless of the score. But it is a big game, of course, so has it arrived at just the right time for Klopp and his players? Off the field and Trent has certainly wound up the less famous of the two Manchester sides, after some of them homed in one sentence from a cover story and 12-page spread featuring the Liverpool vice-captain in Four Four Two. Between their mad outrage at what was basically a very simple truth from Trent, and their calls for extra protection for the team bus on its way to the ground, you started to wonder what’s in their heads. Us? Good times these might be for the Reds right now but as much as we all try hard not to think about it, Jurgen Klopp won’t be manager forever and the club need to make sure they’re ready to keep things going once he’s gone. News that Michael Edwards could be retuning definitely sounds interesting, and it all starts to conjure up happy memories from many years ago in LFC history. This week: • LFC 1-0 v Forest • Forest fans chanting • They should know better, and some do, but clearly not enough • The reaction to the late, late goal – away from the ground • The more you hate us the sweeter those moments get • LFC 5-1 v Sparta Prague • They know how to support their own team • A good night in Czechia, what a way to warm up for Sunday • Mac Allister – bargain of the summer? • Darwin making fools of people • Is rotation still a new concept for some on TV? • Michael Edwards back in a new role? • Richard Hughes part of the new setup? • What does it kind of remind us of? • City next – options for Klopp?\ • Trent didn’t need to try hard to get into City’s heads • It’s going to be loud

In this week’s episode of Scouser Tommies, Jim Boardman and Jay Reid have to talk about the kids, because thanks in no small part to them the Reds have another trophy to add to the honours list and a place in the quarter finals of another. Liverpool’s injury problems are probably the worst in a long time, but a string of Academy graduates have proven themselves to be worthy solutions to those problems. At Wembley for the final against Chelsea the boss was able to muster up almost a full side of recognised first team players, even if not all necessarily first choices, but the bench was decidedly youthful. A few days later he called more youngsters up for the visit of Southampton in the FA Cup, with little time to prepare properly, and they came away with a 3-0 win, goals all scored by players who even a week before had never played a first team game. Local lads Koumas - on his debut - and Danns, with two, got the headlines, but there were plenty more youngsters making sure the Reds got through, none of whom looked out of place or remotely out of their depth. On this week’s show: - We won the cup! - Never-ending injuries - The quality of the kids - The confidence of the kids - Klopp doesn’t need a chimp to motivate anyone - Which set of fans made most noise at Wembley? - Which set of fans had the best flags at Wembley? - The 12th man so important - LFC reveal annual financial news - One bad season can really hit a club in the pocket - Other ways to make up the shortfall - The neighbours celebrating - but still no trophy since Jayden Dann’s dad was a kid

Another week, another load of Reds stuff to talk about as Jim Boardman and Jay Reid return with the latest from Liverpool, including big wins and the League Cup final. Those wins were both 4-1, one away, one at home, and came despite Liverpool playing with one of the most depleted squads since that horrendous ‘Covid season’. If anything the Reds seem to be finding more strength in the adversity this time round. Maybe that’s why fans of other clubs are feigning surprise that Reds fans dare to even mention injuries, claiming their own clubs have had it much tougher. Must be nice living on their planet. Maybe they’re top of the league there. Anfield took its time to get going, as did the players. Sometimes it feels like the players are waiting for the fans to start, but the fans are waiting for the players, like some kind of confused etiquette at a posh meal. Thankfully someone was on hand to get everyone tucking in and after that the Reds - fans and players - didn’t look back. Luton’s manager suggested the noise had frightened his players. Jay thinks it was the best atmosphere of the season. It sent us into the cup final weekend top of the league, knowing we’ll still be there after the final, whatever anyone else does. After fist pumps for all four Anfield stands, Klopp now leads his players and many of those fans to a supposedly neutral venue, Wembley, down in that London, for that Milk Cup final. It might be more local to Chelsea fans than Kopites, but we have good reasons for calling it Anfield South, one of which is how there always seem to be more of us than them. If you’re one of them, don’t forget your voice - and don’t expect to arrive home with one! On this week’s show: - 4-1 - 4-1 - Not so many options on the bench - Running out of forwards - But not left backs - How would other clubs cope with so many missing? - Virgil’s determination - A proper captain - Referee’s unexpected influence - Klopp’s half-time talk - Conor taken off ready for Sunday - The European Draw - a local event? - Hoping for something nearer to home - New comedy show set in Liverpool - G’wed - Talking of comedy, the latest from the neighbours - Look ahead to Wembley - Which Chelsea will turn up? - We might need the youngsters - good they’ve been getting a taste of playing in front of huge, loud, crowds