MORE on 2008/9 with Neil Atkinson and Mike Nevin, joined this time by Steve Graves and Gareth Roberts. The meat of the season and the peak of the madness is reached. They were crazy days back then and this foursome pick the barely healed scabs.
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Liverpool’s Famous Kop & Man City | The Anfield Wrap
Liverpool face a Manchester City side this weekend, a game which would grab the attention of the nation regardless, with City having been found guilty of cheating by the Premier League facing a side that ran them so close on various occasions, the eyes of the nation will be glued to a fixture that promises a powder keg of an atmosphere – but with so many questions hanging over Manchester City, should this fixture even be played at all and what can we expect when the side found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges levelled at them roll in to Anfield?
To discuss all the above, Neil Atkinson is joined by John Gibbons and also Brian Reade to talk not just about the weekend’s clash, but also his new book ‘The Kop’ which explores how and why the Kop became the globally-renowned stand it is today.
Also on the show, Neil chats to Charles and Andrew Hendy of ‘The Mary Wallopers’ to talk about their James Skelly produced new album ‘Paddywhackery’.
To find out more about the LFC Foundation’s Social Action Challenge, click here.
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5 October 2026
5 October 2026
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This was the point where I started to loathe the football press pack in this country. Sad thing is that they’re all still out there plying their trade while better men have moved on.
Man, the current behavior of a contingent of our support is almost an exact parallel to what we’re reminiscing here. I can’t handle it!
Easily the best Liverpool side of the past 25 years. They were phenomenal.
Been loving all three parts of this guys, so much so, I really am desperate for Part 4 ( though a little sad that it means the end of this wonderful little section.
I was/am staunchly pro Rafa I suppose and its nice to hear that although i was hundreds of miles south & west of you (I moved from Cardiff to Dublin during this time), there were guys going through the same as me. Having to defend Rafa in the office, in the pub, from randoms. Your right to say that somehow the media managed to whip up a hatred for Benitez that I think has not been seen before or since in British football. The only parallel strangely is the stance the media and those in New Labour have for Corbyn at the minute. I think Brendan has not had half the shite Rafa got not only from our own fanbase but the media too.
Still this has been a magnificent ride down memory lane as we had a fabulous side, a great manager and it was the year I got married too! ( thankfully I wasn’t boo’d at the aisle though I suspect Rafa would’ve been!!) Great job TAW
Only Torres attracted the same level of vitriol and ridicule from all and sundry, but this time it united rather than divided the support as he became the Aunt Sally to be pelted for all previous woes, while the truly culpable crept away, or joined in the hounding; a gleeful pursuit that at a certain point seemed to have taken on the dimensions of a national sport amongst press and pundits, with fans in the rear guard – almost as if they had tasted blood and were high on it. Hope he and Rafa do well this season in sunny Spain (though dislike RM), but can’t see teams getting much joy out of the current Barcelona side (Athletic was surely a blip) if they continue as they left off.
Sian it seems you are me but with a lovely Welsh name to boot. Can’t disagree with any of that!
I meant to say as well regards the Rafa hate, its still there, just look at the BBC and their reporting of Rafa being hired by Madrid and their consequent digs each time they report something Real related. It’s mad. comment sections of the Guardian or other broadsheets are full still of the FSW epithet ffs.
Seriously, what did he ever do to them?
It’s equally curious given the non stop Mourinho love in – I often wonder that as they started around the same time in England journo’s just went with the one that lived in London ( and made them feel like they were the special one’s) Still bonkers
Well – I had no idea it got that bad. I do remember there was something weird going with Ferguson and a coterie of managers. And I was uncomfortable with some of the press – but I didn’t realise so many fans appeared to let it go to their head.