THE BETTER TWELVE - SCOUSER TOMMIES

Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back for another episode of Scouser Tommies. The festive season is over, so decorations are coming down and it’s time to get back to reality, but when the reality for Reds fans is being top of the table looking down on everyone else it’s not a bad way to start a new year. This week’s show looks back on the win over Newcastle, a 4-2 that felt so much better than those famous 4-3s, not because of the wider margin of victory but because of what it meant, how it was done and the noise that accompanied it. There was nothing lacklustre about the performance of the players or the twelfth man - which for Liverpool means the fans inside the ground. The three points increased the Reds lead at the top. For other clubs, certainly Liverpool’s opponents, the twelfth man seems to be the referee and it was no different against Newcastle. As is tradition for any remotely big Liverpool game, the PGMOL sent one of their Greater Manchester referees to officiate over this one, and it wasn’t long before Anthony Taylor joined his colleague Paul Tierney in getting his name sung by the Kop. On this week’s show: - A look back on Liverpool 4 Newcastle 2 - Darwin still needs to improve - but is he getting more stuff right than he gets credit for? - The atmosphere was back - and maybe there’s going to be some competition between the Kop and the Anny Road! - Liverpool’s injury troubles continue, Dom this time - does squad size play a part in that? - Talking of squad size, two key players are about to be absent to go and play for their countries. Endo has certainly become a key player. - Referees. Again. - Maybe Taylor got one controversial decision right. Maybe - but that just adds weight to the need for refs to explain those calls. - What’s the difference between questioning the ref for a decision and ganging up and surrounding him shouting the odds? Clue: one doesn’t seem to involve cards. - Another wet pitch - but because of the torrential rain rather than an opposition manager’s tears - Talking of which - a look ahead to Arsenal in the FA Cup - Play the kids, or a mix of youth and experience? - Is the League Cup more important than the FA Cup this season? - Liverpool. Top of the League. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices