Scouser

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back for another episode of Scouser Tommies, in the week that Liverpool admitted they'd sold tickets for seats that don't exist, with the club admitting the Anfield Road upper tier won't even be ready this year, let alone in time for the derby. It was also the week that saw England’s football officials prove they aren’t just bad in Liverpool games, but of course ensuring they are still bad in Liverpool games. It's not all about stands and referees and there's plenty more Reds stuff up for discussion, even if the proper footy has dried up now thanks to the international break.

In an unplanned and unexpected episode, Jim Boardman and Jay Reid had to get together to discuss the new depths the PGMOL had somehow managed to plunge. As Jay and Jim tried to work out exactly where to start with this episode, the self-governing band of incompetents were probably back at base sharing celebratory PowerPoints of all the records they’d smashed in one game - that’s if they weren’t hurriedly tidying up some audio files, soon to be lost. Where to start? Should it be the red card for a tackle that it was clear the player didn’t even think was a yellow? Or the VAR, despite clearly deciding yellow was red, getting the ref to go the screen to have a look instead of making the call himself? Or the fact the VAR ensured the screen was paused on an incriminating moment that really didn’t tell the true story? Only providing a slow motion replay, from only one angle? The ref not asking for more angles, at normal speed, before excitedly waving his red card? That’s just one incident covered in this episode. Others include, and this list is far from exhaustive: - The VAR not sure of the difference between an allowed or disallowed goal. Has he ever watched a game? - Conflicting stories of whether or not lines were drawn - PGMOL issuing a statement - but no apology - PGMOL saying a full investigation will take place. But blaming it on human error anyway. - PGMOL apparently letting the bit about the VAR thinking it was a goal leak out, rather than say it on the record - PGMOL giving their blessing to three of the officials working in the UAE 48 hours before, only arriving back the day before - Jota getting a red when his first yellow was for watching someone fall over their own feet - Salah getting booked for being fouled in the box. - Opposition players let off for clearly and obviously waving imaginary yellow cards - Liverpool set to be fined because of the number of bookings the nine men got - The Reds releasing a statement calling for transparency - Some in the media imagining some part of that statement where it called for a replay - Liverpool deciding to appeal Curtis Jones’ red card - Turncoat Gary Neville swivelling back to his usual stance, claiming Liverpool’s words were ‘aggressive’ - Omid Djalili (not from Liverpool, despite some reports) stepping in to talk sense in response to Neville’s lack of it - The Reds asking for the audio of the conversations between the officials - A performance to be proud of from those Reds who played against the PGMOL It’s the game everyone’s talking about - except for those running the game or the competition it was part of.

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back to discuss yet more 3-1 wins as the Reds won their fourth game in a row by that scoreline. That game, against Leicester, followed the win over West Ham a few days before, the only one of the four where Klopp’s side didn’t need to come from a game behind. On this week’s show: Two home wins - West Ham and Leicester Who does Dominik Szoboszlai remind us of? Local lad Curtis Jones right-back and captain for the night - at home Do we know our best midfield three - and is Jones in it? Can we save money on defensive cover by allowing Quansah more game time? New investment at the club - but nothing like the way it was billed almost a year ago A look ahead to the trip to Tottenham - is this ‘new Spurs’ really that new? Europa League’s return including the Mac Allister show More fun from across the park, where it’s getting very bouncy all of a sudden

With the games now coming thick and fast once more, Jim Boardman and Jay Reid got together to discuss everything going on with the Reds for the latest episode of Scouser Tommies, including a couple of 3-1 wins and the upcoming visit of one old enemy - but is he as old as he looks? Freshest in the mind was the win over LASK in the Europa League, the first LFC match in the competition for what seems like ages. A much-changed Reds side were sent out and went a goal down, but, despite what some commentators seemed to be suggesting, it wasn’t the end of the club’s European chances for the season. The night, like the right-hand-side of the Reds starting line-up, was still young and Klopp’s side would be back at Speke airport before midnight with a 3-1 win in the bag. It was important for Klopp to make those changes for that game and not just to give some rest to the players maybe more likely to be considered as first choice. Those that started all benefited from the minutes that Liverpool being in this competition can give them. “In the midfield, with Endo, Gravenberch and Elliott, they’ve got to play,” Jay said, adding: “Endo, fresh into the club, he does need game time and to get those legs moving. There were a couple of times where he looked a bit slow and sloppy in possession, but you’ve got to caveat that with he’s not really played a lot since he’s been here.” 21-year-old Gravenberch signed just before the deadline and, having avoided international duty to sort himself out with a car and a place to stay, as well as getting up to speed with how things are done at his new club, he was rewarded with a start. He admitted in interviews after the game that there were sloppy moments, but allowing for that, and it being his first start for the Reds after so little game time at Bayern, Jay was impressed: “He went off with, hopefully, cramp in the second half and that’s probably a sign of his lack of football in recent months, but there were positives to take. He’s forward thinking, he covers the ground effortlessly for a lad who’s 6 foot 3, so there are positives there.” Stefan Bajetic had his first start since a lengthy injury spell but was played at right-back with Trent still out. After a quick shudder from remembering who might have been filling in at right-back, had he not gone to Brighton, Jim thought that although it was an unfamiliar position for Bajetic it’s one he could work out at, given time: “It was a strange one I thought to play Stefan there,” Jim said, “it being his first game back, but at the same time he’s got the ability to play the role. He’s got the skills, he’s got the speed, just maybe hasn’t got the experience. It seems a shame not to get use out of this young lad. We’ve got a lot of games and with the midfield being so heavily stacked up with names now, is this going to be his route to getting a game for us now?” As well as talking through the LASK game, there was the game of two halves against Wolves last weekend to look back on and plenty of interesting observations from both fixtures. As discussed in the podcast, these games shed light on how Mo Salah is far too good to be moving to a certain oil-backed league, reminded us why Luis Diaz’s absence was more of an issue last season than Sadio Mane’s departure and just how much youth there is in this Liverpool squad, as we rebuild for the future without - hopefully - falling too far off the pace in the process. Next up is two home games, the EFL Cup visit of Leicester to follow the visit of West Ham, which as well as coming with a free team talk courtesy of one slightly mouthy opposition player, and no doubt seeing the return of shouts of “A cat! A cat, a cat a cat a cat!”, sees David Moyes back in the city. “You do know,” Jay points out, “David Moyes is only 36. He managed Everton, it wears on the face.” “He was born the day they last won a trophy wasn’t he?” Jim wondered. As always, there is plenty to laugh about thanks to that lot from across the park, and not just the thought of the man who personified everything that earned them the nickname of ‘the bitters’. They don’t need him to be funny, as a scroll down the league table - it's a long scroll - will tell you.

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back and so is proper footy now that joyous international break is over. Liverpool have submitted their League and European squads for this half of the season, showing where the thread is bare, but maybe not quite worth the outcry over at least one position. The Reds are on the road for the next two, Wolves first, then it’s back to Europe and a trip into the unknown, but it’s not like it’s the first time. As always, there’s plenty to smile about with that lot from across the park as they keep finding new ways to just keep being them.

In this week’s episode Jim Boardman and Jay Reid have plenty to discuss, including the wins at Newcastle and at home to Villa, another red card, the end of the transfer window and finally some words from the ex-skipper on his move to his new club. The defence is already looking threadbare, can we last until the new year - and will any more players be leaving before then? At least the midfield is looking strong, with at least one standout performer, and there’s plenty of competition up front, where everyone looks hungry to score. And of course, even when there is isn’t much need to be cheered up, there’s always that lot from across the park to bring more smiles to more faces - just not their own.

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back to talk all things LFC from Liverpool. Last week they questioned the wisdom of allowing Liverpool games to be officiated by those from areas not exactly known for their fondness for Scousers, so it doesn’t take much imagination to work out what happened next. Yet despite PGMOL’s best efforts, it was the Reds, not that red, winning the day, but not without the now customary scary moments. So how does that set things up for the trip to St James’s Park? There’s plenty more up for discussion, as always, including updates on the delayed reopening of the Anny Road and disbelief at which top flight club charges the most for its cheapest ticket. You’ll never guess.

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back for another episode from Liverpool about the city’s best club. There’s a new signing to talk about, with Wataru Endo welcomed to Anfield, days after the two that got away for a lot more money. Was it also a case of two points that got away in the game against Chelsea? The new Anfield Road stand looks set for further delay, bringing to mind the issues that beset a huge project in the city not that long ago, meanwhile the club have brought in stricter baggage allowances for the new season, although not all bags are equal.