Wirtz talks ongoing, Pep no.2 to Man City & Walk On awards
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But there is a solution. A new proposal before Congress would close this loophole and ensure these foreign investors pay taxes, just like the actual plaintiffs have to.

It's a common sense move that discourages frivolous and abusive lawsuits and redirects resources back into American jobs, innovation, and growth. Only President Trump and congressional Republicans can deliver this win for America and hold these foreign investors accountable. Contact your lawmakers today and demand they take a stand to end foreign-funded litigation abuse. The Athletic FC Podcast Network. ♪

All right, Reds, Sonny Evans here with Walk On, your Liverpool podcast from The Athletic. I'm here with James Pearce and Simon Hughes. Well, Liverpool's transfer business is heating up, one down and more to come. We'll talk about that and plenty more. But first, let's have your three words.

Si, three words, it's the summer. You've got something good for us. Not on other podcasts. No, that's a joke, that's a joke. I am very enthusiastic about this, don't worry. Free spending Liverpool, there you go. Oh, okay. He's actually taught a parric, can you believe that? Yeah, it is, it is. James. That's the matter.

Oh, oh, oh, a pun, a pun. You can see why it's a writer and a headline writer. Leave it to the subs, James. Leave it to the subs. Well, that's what James and Cy think. Here's what you're saying. Phil Kilmer, silly season begins. I'll agree with that. Benny Clark, Summer of Silence, Eva Magasi, boss summer ahead.

And Kenny Skinner, James' weekend banter. What goes on tour stays on tour. To join our community of listeners on Facebook, just search Walk On Podcast and join the group.

Go on, James, just tell us the story then. Go on. What do you mean? There were no stories. Well, there was. You just went for like just a bit of rest and relaxation. That was just a weekend away. Another non-holiday then? Not a holiday. Three nights is not a holiday. Oh, yeah, yeah. So basically you go all over the world.

for these trips and they're not work related and yet they're not holidays we understand

But apparently, you were hanging with Jude Bellingham? Well, I think that would be stretching it. But yeah, I did go and see Calvin Harris at Ushuaia in Ibiza on Friday night. And then it was only the following day on his Instagram that I realised he could only have been about three or four paces to my left. But I should add that within those three or four paces would have been

a sizable rope and some security because he was in he was in the posh bit and you're telling me you weren't in the vip section i don't believe that and by the way did you bellingham try and persuade you to become the athletics real madrid writer no you you know that's just not not possible no the um i'm on a long-term contract we've heard that before we have we have

Before we move on with today's podcast, we just wanted to reflect on the incident at last week's title parade. At the time of recording, 109 people were left with injuries, four of whom remain in hospital. And our thoughts at Walk On go out to them, and we hope they make a full recovery. Before we start with Liverpool, did you just watch the Champions League final, ladies?

Sigh. Yeah, I saw bits of it. I didn't watch the whole thing, mainly because the results seemed so inevitable quite early, really. I'm that sort of football watcher these days. But yeah, I mean, PSG... Football writer doesn't watch football. Well, yeah, I mean, I don't really... Not really your cup of tea, is it, football? No, I don't really write that much about football these days. It's more around the football that I write about. But it's...

Yeah, I mean, a lot of my mates, Liverpool supporters are like, well, at least, you know, we got beat by the champions. But I mean, I just saw Inter and it was so painful watching them. I felt embarrassed for them. It did remind me of Istanbul, only without the recovery. The golfing class was that vast. And each of the goals, they made the interplayers just look really old. I know it is quite an old team.

But the goalkeeper going down so easily, you know, he's like a... Maybe I've used this description before, but it was like watching an ageing slip fielder just trying to get down, but couldn't. It's quite sad. So...

Yeah, I mean... For those who are listening abroad... I was going to say, a lot of people won't have a clue what you're going on about. That's a cricket illusion. Yeah. So when the ball... I'll just describe what happens. So the bowler comes running up, the batsman sort of edges it and the sliv field is just to the right and...

His knees just can't get him down to pick up the ball, even though it's not going that fast past him and it goes out for a boundary. If that makes any sense to any, particularly, I suppose, American listeners who might not be familiar with the rules. Frankly, I'm not entirely sure it makes sense to me.

I love my cricket and I'm still lost. Come on, Tony, you must have played cricket. Lots of the schools around by Scotty plays cricket, didn't he? Oh, yeah, yeah. All those green fields. There was so much grass around there and pavilions and pavilions, you know. You can see me dressing all white, can't you?

Yeah. Cucumber sandwiches at five. Exactly. Exactly. You know, you know what? Can I just make a, obviously I share a name with, with a cricket reporter and we both once used to write reports for the Telegraph and I once accidentally got paid his salary. Oh, brilliant. Yeah. I bet you were fuming because I bet you were on way more than it. Yeah.

The opposite was the case. I think that weekend he was in Bangalore or somewhere and I was sort of thinking, oh, I wonder whether he's now holed up in some youth hostel because he hasn't had his weight. There you go. Anyway, enough of cricket, James. Did you watch it? I mean, I had the right one, but I'll be honest with you, you know, because while in the game in Paris, you know,

PSG really could have done to us what they did to Inter and they were unlucky not to you think the margins are so small and those penalties they particularly the Nunes penalty you think about that and you think oh oh it was so close really

Yeah, I did. I did watch it. I missed. I actually missed the first 15 minutes because... Am I the only one who watched the Champions League final? I mean, am I? I'm blaming the captain of this boat. Am I the only one not on crazy pills here? I've done a day trip to the island of Formentera, which is a beautiful place. And it just took a lot longer than expected for the driver to get us back to...

back to Ibiza. So... But yeah, once we were back on dry land, I watched it and it was just an absolute demolition, wasn't it? I actually thought...

second half it might get worse than five because they actually missed a few absolute sitters thrown into the bargain PSG didn't they and the only thing that surprised I thought Inter might end up just losing the plot to such an extent that a couple of them would have been would have been sent off which would have been the kind of rub rubbing salt into those wounds but yeah I mean it was interesting because I was speaking to a few people before the game and about what to expect and I actually thought you know Inter's wealth of experience was

might actually you know help them in such a huge occasion because obviously you never really know with youth and you know young players who have thrown into that kind of the stature of an occasion like that for the first time how they're going to react but they were absolutely sensational and um yeah I think I wouldn't say it made me feel better about it you know the fact that I never really understand you know the satisfaction from being knocked out by the eventual winners but you

It definitely made me think how unlucky were Liverpool to run into PSG. At the time, they ran into them as well because Liverpool weren't in a great moment when you think back to that period. What was it? Kind of late February, early March and...

I just think that yeah you know obviously the the win in Paris massively flattered Liverpool but then you know if it just felt in that return leg didn't it like they completely used up all their good fortune because I think even of like you mentioned obviously it comes down to the penalties and Nunes and Jones missing but also there was that Kwanzaa header wasn't there that

that came back off the post. But I think the flag went up at the time, but it was clear from the VAR, well, clear from the replay that if it had gone to VAR, then it would have stood. So yeah, real fine margins. And yeah, I'm looking forward to, you know, Liverpool doing battle with PSG again next season, because I think there's probably a very good chance they'll run into each other again sometime soon. I'll be honest with you, I turned over and watched the Bob Dylan film

a complete unknown that's what I was doing my mum was just racing what did I actually do on Saturday and that's what I did it was good actually

Who was it? I'm not a massive Dillon. I mean, I do like Dillon, but I can't say I'm a massive fan. But, yeah, it's good. James, when you had that sit-down with Slott a couple of weeks ago, there was a fascinating section of that where he talks about the PSG home game as one of his favourite games of the season. And you know what my thought was? What's going on in your mind, aren't it? LAUGHTER

I think what was going on in his mind was just... Well, let's explain what he said first. Explain what he said first. What he said was... Because I think the reference point was I was asking him about the game at the Etihad in what was it, February? When, you know, obviously sprung a surprise by playing with like two number 10s, not a recognised striker. Liverpool didn't have much of the ball yet. Did

did an unbelievable job of keeping City at bay and and I said to him was that the kind of if you were looking back at a game that you regard as like you know the tactical side of things that a plan being carried out to perfection he said no it would actually be PSG at home because he said to do what we did to them at Anfield having been completely and utterly outplayed in Paris

just a week earlier he said that meant a great deal to him because he said you know it showed how much what they'd worked on in that week leading up to it had actually paid off see i can understand where he's coming from and obviously some people will be like well got knocked out so how can you be pretty proud of that but he's he's very much talking about the performance as a whole rather than the the actual outcome

As you've probably heard by now, we've teamed up with BetMGM this season. We'll be using BetMGM lines to make all of our picks, and we'll have special offers for our listeners each week. If you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code THEATHLETIC, and you'll get a one-year subscription to The Athletic, plus up to a $1,500 first bet offer on your first wager with BetMGM. Here's how it works.

Download the BetMGM app and sign up using bonus code THEATHLETIC. Make your first deposit of at least $10, place your first bet on any game, and claim your voucher for a one-year subscription to The Athletic.

See BetMGM.com for terms. U.S. promotional offers not available in D.C., Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Available in the U.S. Call 877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPE-NY 467-369 in New York. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP in Arizona, 1-800-327-5050 in Massachusetts, 1-800-BETS-OFF in Iowa, 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help in Michigan, 1-800-981-0023 in Puerto Rico. First bet offer for new customers only in partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino,

and hotel. Don't forget, if you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code THEATHLETIC and you'll get a one-year subscription to The Athletic, plus up to a $1,500 first bet offer on your first wager. Location, the lab. Quinton only has 24 hours to sell his car. Is that even possible? He goes to Carvana.com. What is this, a movie trailer? He ignores the doubters, enters his license plate. Wow, that's a great offer.

The car is sold, but will Carvana pick it up in time for... They'll literally pick it up tomorrow morning. Done with the dramatics? Car selling in record time. See?

Save your time. Go to Carvana.com and sell your car today. Pickup fees may apply. Did you know that foreign investors are quietly funding lawsuits in American courts through a practice called third-party litigation funding? Shadowy overseas funders are paying to sue American companies in our courts, and they don't pay a dime in U.S. taxes if there is an award or settlement.

They profit tax-free from our legal system, while U.S. companies are tied up in court and American families pay the price to the tune of $5,000 a year. But there is a solution. A new proposal before Congress would close this loophole and ensure these foreign investors pay taxes, just like the actual plaintiffs have to. It's a common-sense move that discourages frivolous and abusive lawsuits and redirects resources back into American jobs, infrequently.

innovation, and growth. Only President Trump and congressional Republicans can deliver this win for America and hold these foreign investors accountable. Contact your lawmakers today and demand they take a stand to end foreign-funded litigation abuse. ♪♪

Right, remember, we always want to hear from you. So check out the link in the description of the podcast to give us your feedback on the show, what content you've enjoyed most, and what you'd like us to do differently next season. Anyway, time now to talk about transfer business. And let's...

So we've got to hand this over, haven't we, to Bad News Pierce. I don't think there is any bad news at the moment, is there? I don't think there is, but, you know, if there is, you'll bring it to us, won't you? Probably the only bad news is you're off on another non-holiday for, oh, I don't know, a week or two? Three weeks. Three weeks. I've got another mini break in three weeks. Ah.

Oh, a new phrase, a mini-brie. A mini-brie. Comes up with his own language, doesn't he? Hmm. Should we talk about Florian Wirtz? Yeah, why not? So, yeah, I think it's fair to say that's the one that people are very excited about at

At the minute, as David Ornstein reported late last week, the second bid of around £109 million, I think that's inclusive of add-ons, went in, wasn't accepted, but those discussions between Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen over the Germany international are ongoing. And I sense a kind of expectation at both ends, really, that a compromise will be reached. I mean, I think it massively helps Liverpool, the fact that Wurz...

has made it clear to Leverkusen that he wants the move to Liverpool to happen. Of course, there was huge expectation that he'd be going to Bayern Munich. When we first reported the interest, people I'd spoken to said that it was about trying to ensure that Liverpool were at the front of the queue if he was prepared to move outside of Germany. And clearly, Liverpool have done a magnificent job of kind of selling the project to him

So yeah, it's going to be a club record fee. I think obviously there's still a bit of work to do in terms of the finer details, in terms of what amount is guaranteed and what amount is going to be add-ons. And obviously they have to be, from Leverkusen's perspective, realistic in terms of triggering those over the next,

three to four years. So yeah, I think it's a hugely exciting one because he is the kind of the gem of German football really. You know, he's just such an incredibly gifted player and, you know, I think when Arne Slott towards the back end of the season talked about wanting to add new weapons to his Liverpool team, he was talking about, you know, more pace, more creativity, more goals and

And I think Wurz will give you that. And he's also versatile because he can play out wide. Predominantly this season, he's played either as a number 10 or a false nine. And I just think he'll give slot opportunities

lot of options and I think he will give Liverpool another dimension. Yes, I mean, during the season everyone got a little bit excited about the thought of Alexander Izak and said, oh, well, it's a lot of money and he won't spend all that money. But looks like, I mean, it could be as much as 125 million for Wirtz. They obviously believe in this fella, don't they? It's an incredible amount of money. But, I mean, you look at his age, I think he's 22. Yeah.

Compared to Izak, he's 25, 26. So Liverpool are probably thinking, you know, if you're committing that amount of money on the player, you're obviously thinking he's going to do well. And if he does well, there's every chance in four or five years, you know, the club might end up selling him on to Real Madrid, for example. So there is... Can we get angry already? He's on his way. He's running down his contract, provided he doesn't run down his contract, of course.

So, yeah, I mean, there is a sense of logic around this. I mean, for me, it's potentially the most exciting eye-catching sign in Liverpool I've made possibly in my lifetime. You know, a player who...

Most of the big European clubs would take on, you know, if their economic and sporting needs permitted it, probably going to get them ahead of other clubs. You know, I know James mentioned Bayern Munich, Man City, there was talk about them.

The only question really is, well, there's two questions. Where does he play? I mean, I think there's been a lot of conversation this season about the need for a number nine, but I don't think Slott and increasingly other coaches see that. I mean, you only need to look at

PSG and the way they played. Dembele was a winger really before he signed for PSG. He's now playing as a false nine, a fast false nine, a winger playing in that area. So I suspect Liverpool are looking for a player who can bring other players into play around him and runners and he might fit that bill. I guess from his perspective, coming to Liverpool in a World Cup season in a new league and a new

and a team that's evolving. I suppose there's some risks attached to that, but for that amount of money, expecting them to come and have an impact straight away, really. Darwin Nunes was the previous signing and we're still waiting for that impact three years later. So yeah, it's going to be really interesting if they get him because I think it,

That will trigger potentially some more outgoings as well, I suspect. Nunes has been spoken about that the Diaz story isn't going away at the moment. There seems to be a lot of interest in him and I understand why because he's a very good player. But he's of an age and with his contract running in the direction that it is, this is just me speaking. This is not through conversations of our people. There might be some logic to selling him.

So yeah, it's going to be a busy summer. I think this is a summer that is different for Liverpool. I think the club certainly sees it as an opportunity. As champions, they got a lot of criticism last time they won the league for not really going strong enough and particularly after they won the Champions League as well, not really signing anyone. I think they realise this is a big opportunity for them to really build on the team that they've got and potentially sell some players as well for slightly bigger summers because they're champions.

When you're at a peak position, you can command slightly higher fees. It's a strange sort of quirk of the economic world, I suppose, you live in. Oh, James, round us up some of the transfer action going on because there's a bid accepted for Keller, obviously. He's going to Brentford.

Well, Carvalho, Sepp van der Berg, when did we become Brentford's, like, visa club? Yeah, I mean, there was a spell, wasn't there, where...

Quite a few players seem to go to Bournemouth from Liverpool. And then I think, so obviously, Van den Berghe worked out well for Brentford last season in terms of the impact he made. Carvalho less so. I just think it's a good move for Kelleher. I think we knew that he'd be off. It's no surprise that that's the kind of getting done so early in the window down to his last year. I think I've seen some people suggest that £18 million

for him isn't a good deal, but I'm not, I'm just not quite sure what people thought was realistically possible. I thought he might get 25. Yeah. I mean, I just think he's down to his last year. You also, you know,

everyone knew he was leaving and that, you know, with Mamadashvili coming in, that Liverpool would be offloading him. And I think also, and it wouldn't surprise me if there's an element of, if it's a move that Kelleher really wants and that's what Brentford are willing to pay, then after the service Kelleher has given Liverpool, that there is a little bit of goodwill being shown on his part to give him the move that

that he wants because I think he's merited that you know the last two summers before this one you know there's Keller who has been keen on the idea of you know kind of emerging from Alison's shadow and going to become a number one you know both of those times it didn't happen for numerous reasons so yeah I think he's the kind of

Guy Niekeleher where people have only got good things to say about him when he comes back with Brentford next season he is guaranteed one hell of an innovation and rightly so because of the the contribution he's made to some of the you know the greatest successes Liverpool have had in the modern era when you know it's it almost like completely goes under the radar doesn't it that Alisson missed I think 10 Premier League games this season just gone yet

we never really talked about Liverpool having to do without the best goalkeeper in world football because Keller has stepped in so well. So, yeah, it's been a crazy, crazy start to the summer, especially when you, you know, you factor in, obviously, the Frimpong deal being announced back end of last week as well. I think

I think that's a really good deal for Liverpool, makes sense on a whole load of levels, as we've spoken about previously with his versatility. You know, the fact that he classes as homegrown as well, you know, £30 million with his low release clause. I just think that's an absolute no-brainer. And then the hope is that Wurz will follow him. And I expect Milos Kirkez to become a Liverpool player as well. I think there's positive noises on that front.

Talks continuing. I know Liverpool were kind of reluctant to meet the £45m price tag that Bournemouth had stuck on the Hungary international. But again, we know that Kerkéz really wants to come to Liverpool. So that, I think, fuels the hope that a compromise will be reached on that fee as well. Yeah, I've heard you described it as the Hungary international as well.

Very good, sorry. Very good. Very good. Simon's proud by Petland is going to Manchester City. And we thought he was going to Norwich City at one point. Yeah, I didn't see that one coming, I've got to be honest. But then suddenly last week it was announced that Pep Guardiola had lanced three coaching staff. And I thought, that's pretty drastic, isn't it? You know, he's like, it reminded me a bit of like Brazilians.

Brendan Rodgers when suddenly he just got rid of quite a lot of his lieutenant. Well, he certainly got rid of his assistant, didn't he? To freshen things up. You know what? Pep Linders is a really good coach and I think he's a very talented assistant. He hasn't proven yet, obviously, whether he can become a manager because his two managerial spells haven't gone the way I suspect he would have wanted them to. But from his perspective, it gives him the opportunity to move back to the

So I can understand that. It just seems a bit weird that he's released a book with intensity and Liverpool plasters all over it. And then two years later, he's working for the main rivals. I think what it, again, it just shows that I think people who work within football, it's different, isn't it? So different from being a supporter, isn't it? Because I think people will go, how can you do that? But I think if you're a kind of football obsessive,

who like gets a huge buzz out of being out on the training pitch every day and helping to develop players. I think you've almost got to look at it from that perspective and think how many people can say they, you know, they work with Jurgen Klopp for, you know, what was it?

eight years or whatever and then go and work for Pep Guardiola arguably the two greatest managers of the modern era and so I think I can understand why obviously people will be like well how can he do that having been so closely aligned with Liverpool but it's an interesting one yeah I mean obviously we should say hasn't it's not announced yet I'm expecting it to to go through in the next

24 to 48 hours. But yeah, you know, Pep Linders had some talks with Norwich City over the vacancy there. That didn't materialise. Part of the reason as well was the fact that he's still actually effectively on garden leave from Salzburg because although, you know, he was sacked back in December, there's still been no kind of agreement over a severance package. So that's something that obviously now needs to be sorted out as a matter of urgency. But yeah, expecting him to be part of the city set up

at the Club World Cup and it's yeah it's certainly going to take some getting used to seeing him with the the City badge on his chest I think you just got to look at who's just left Liverpool to remind yourself of the world that people operate in I mean John Heitinger not so long ago was an Everton defender quite well liked by a lot of Evertonians well respected obviously joins the coaching staff of Liverpool and

Has a pretty significant role this season, you know, quite, you know, at the forefront of a lot of training sessions and has now gone to Ajax. So I can't blame him, really. What really interests me is, I wonder whether Pep has spoken to Jürgen Klopp about Pep number two's capabilities and whether Klopp gave him a glowing recommendation. I suppose that hasn't been a...

hasn't been revealed publicly that would be interesting if he has yeah I mean I'm sure I'm sure it'd be understandable if he did as well because at the end of the day he's worked with him and people who work with with people and people and people talk in football all the time oh yeah it's such a small world yeah even if you're you know from rival clubs people talk all the time I mean I never got the impression that Klopp and Guardiola's relationship was very well it was not it wasn't close it was just respectful at face level and

but surely you know if Pep Guardiola wants to do his diligence he will be speaking to people at Liverpool I mean let's remember there is some staff at Liverpool who came from Manchester City as well I think Lee Nobes was at City wasn't he and I think that he retained some sort of relationship with Guardiola because I remember there was a

talk about Guardiola he took the call didn't he after the Champions League was won in Madrid yeah exactly so maybe it's gone through that yeah and well you know I think for all the bedwetters you need to understand it's a small world a lot of these people have worked with each other various times or other members of staff

And, you know, one of the things about this job is sometimes you see a little bit of backstage stuff. And when big clubs play each other, it's amazing how many people from the staff see each other, hugging each other and talking before the game. And there's so much crossover. So I don't think it's an issue. Certainly not for me anyway.

As you've probably heard by now, we've teamed up with BetMGM this season. We'll be using BetMGM lines to make all of our picks, and we'll have special offers for our listeners each week. If you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code THEATHLETIC, and you'll get a one-year subscription to The Athletic, plus up to a $1,500 first bet offer on your first wager with BetMGM. Here's how it works.

Download the BetMGM app and sign up using bonus code THEATHLETIC. Make your first deposit of at least $10, place your first bet on any game, and claim your voucher for a one-year subscription to The Athletic.

See BetMGM.com for terms. U.S. promotional offers not available in D.C., Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Available in the U.S. Call 877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPE-NY 467-369 in New York. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP in Arizona, 1-800-327-5050 in Massachusetts, 1-800-BETS-OFF in Iowa, 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help in Michigan, 1-800-981-0023 in Puerto Rico. First bet offer for new customers only in partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino,

Don't forget, if you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code THEATHLETIC and you'll get a one-year subscription to The Athletic, plus up to a $1,500 first bet offer on your first wager.

1-800-Flowers takes the pressure off by helping you navigate life's important moments by making it simple to find the perfect gift. For more information, visit 1-800-Flowers.com.

From flowers and cookies to cake and chocolate, 1-800-Flowers helps guide you in finding the right gift to say how you feel. To learn more, visit 1-800-Flowers.com slash ACAST. That's 1-800-Flowers.com slash ACAST. Did you know that foreign investors are quietly funding lawsuits in American courts through a practice called third-party litigation funding? Shadowy overseas funders are paying to sue American companies in our courts.

and they don't pay a dime in U.S. taxes if there is an award or settlement.

They profit tax-free from our legal system, while U.S. companies are tied up in court and American families pay the price to the tune of $5,000 a year. But there is a solution. A new proposal before Congress would close this loophole and ensure these foreign investors pay taxes, just like the actual plaintiffs have to. It's a common-sense move that discourages frivolous and abusive lawsuits and redirects resources back into American jobs, infrequently.

innovation, and growth. Only President Trump and Congressional Republicans can deliver this win for America and hold these foreign investors accountable. Contact your lawmakers today and demand they take a stand to end foreign-funded litigation abuse. Well, to end the show, with it being the awards season, it's not really the awards season, but it's our awards season. We can make it any sort of season we like, can't we?

So we thought we'd dish out our gongs for the season. Well, five categories. Let's use up for what, shall we? The first award, and this is on pitch related, the Unexpected Contribution Award.

The nominees are Ryan Gravenberg for his role in the failed attempt to sign Martin Zubermendi, Darwin Nunes for scoring twice off the bench at Brentford, Vic Jarosz's 10-minute cameo in the 1-0 winner Palace in October. So out of those three chaps, who's the winner? Well, for me, it has to be Gravenberg because probably the most foolish thing I wrote all season was back in August when...

after Zubin Mendy didn't happen saying that if Liverpool don't sign a holding midfielder then they can't be realistic title contenders and that was clearly very wrong and that all that is down to Ryan Gravenberg because I didn't think he had it in him to do what he's done over the course of this season and you know I'd say for the first half of the season he was

absolutely magnificent there was a small drop off in the second half of the season which I think was linked to opponents becoming more wise to how influential he was and trying to nullify him but yeah for me you know after a season when Salah's taken all the gongs for his goals and assists I think Gravenbrook deserves it So

I agree. No further analysis required. Well, there's our winner. Our next award, feature of the season. The nominees are James Pearce's Culinary Adventures, Contract Weekly, which can't win. And all the plugs for Chasing Sala by Simon Hughes. You know that Simon's written a book. Oh, that's up for so many awards, and surely it must have won one of them, Si. It must have won one of them. No. No.

With a literary masterpiece like that, not win any of the awards. I think we can put that right. Simon deserves this award. What a kind act by James. Never expected that. Well, you know, I think the awards must go to Simon Hughes.

Oh, thank you very much. Well, for the plugs for Simon Hughes. You can dust off the acceptance speech that you haven't had to get out of your pocket so far. Although, I would say that next season I expect to be handing this award to the boo that's written about James eats Europe. So anyway, what have you got to say for that? Well, I did actually leave Guy an acceptance speech a couple of weeks ago. Obviously, that's not going to be used. Now I'm here.

But thank you for this non-existent award that I haven't received. Special. That's special. Spine tingling. I'm starting to like that, yeah.

Anyway, if Sars win the award, it's only fair James does too. And the next category is for the James Pearce moment of the season. Let's hear what we have to choose from. Well, we're almost in December. I haven't received any offer to stay yet in the club, so probably I'm more out than in. Keane's Steakhouse. Theodore Roosevelt used to go there for his steak. Babe Ruth.

Wow, in good company. And Liza Minnelli, all the big hitters. And yeah, that was by far and away the best meal I had. And what cut of meat did you have? Do you know what? I actually had the sirloin salad. One of the editors put James is back from his holidays. I was like, I had four days off. Two of them were bank holidays.

I think I've done something really stupid. Can you check with him that I think what's happened actually happened? And then he rings me back and fits a laughter saying, yeah, they couldn't really understand why at nine o'clock they saw you walking off the pitch next to them. But after then...

but you should have been on their pitch for the last hour. Where do you start with that? I mean, first of all, James hasn't died. It felt like he was speaking from beyond the grave in memorandum of James Pierce. Well, obviously the listeners can't see him, but frankly, it looks like he's speaking from beyond the grave. LAUGHTER

It just makes me, sometimes I shouldn't be allowed out of the house. Yeah, it's been said before. Where do you start with all that? I mean, I just love the way it cut from him talking about his steakhouse and his very defensive tone. It wasn't a holiday! And Theodore Roosevelt sat there, but I had a salad! Yeah.

Oh dear. I don't think it gets any more stupid than playing an hour's five-a-side with a bunch of strangers and ruining two matches at the same time. I'm in agreement with that. It's got to be the five-a-side. Yes, yes. The five-a-side was almost the essence of stupidity, wasn't it?

I'd like to think so, yeah. When you open the dictionary to the word stupidity, you see James in a bad football kit on AstroTurf. What was never established was in that sequence, in the five-a-side, obviously you didn't know a single player on that pitch, so what were you calling everybody? Mate. Mate, there must have been at some point during that game when you thought, I don't know a single person on this pitch.

Yeah, yeah, there was. Yeah. The thing is, I just thought there'd been like some like major rotation of playing stuff because I hadn't played in that game for about four or five months. Mate. Brilliant, brilliant.

Well, our next award is the Divock Origi Award, a walk-on super sub for stepping in when these two are not having holidays. They seem to not have a lot of holidays. And our nominees are Oliver Kaye, Greg Evans and Andy Jones. And the winner is, but can only be, the Andy Jones Chuckle Carnage.

Alright Reds, Andy here. Just want to say what an absolute honour and privilege it is to receive the Divock Origi Award. An absolute Liverpool legend. I've got some way to go before I can be considered a Warhol podcast legend I think. But I try and, just like Divock, contribute as much as I can in the minutes that I'm given. Nothing better than getting that text from half his use of guy. Can you be on the podcast at 9 o'clock the next morning?

Usually my brain's not functioning at that point of the day. Those of you who listen might agree that it's still not functioning, even if I try and wake myself up a little bit more. I want to thank Si for going on all his quote-unquote work trips. James for all those long weekends away that he goes and explores the culinary delights of cities and countries near and far. And Tony for putting it all together, of course, and making me feel great and comfortable every time I'm on the show.

Hopefully I won't win it next year though because that would mean A, I'll be on more podcasts, getting more appearances but also more holidays for James and Si which I'm sure they wouldn't be too unhappy about. Hopefully I'll be on a podcast soon so you'll have to listen to me then.

The problem is, if it's the Tivok Origi Award, does that mean we're going to ship him out? It was good of Guy to get Stephen Gerrard to accept that award for Andy, wasn't it? Now, we love Andy. And yes, whenever he's on, he adds something special to this podcast.

As do Greg Evans and Oli Kay. Yeah, not so much. LAUGHTER We're going to be honest about them. And neither of them listen to it, do they? You know what I mean? So they don't listen to us. So, you know, it's a message to you, Greg and Oli, step up your game next season. LAUGHTER

Pair of wasters. Anyway. And the next award is for you. The listeners. This is the real big one. The three words of the season. And let's hear them. Tim Mingle. Champions by May. Ian Miller. Grand Theft Paris. Joe Davis says, Adios, Trent Lahr. Marty Kitabunya. God of Gooners. Well, chaps, what do we think of that? I think I've got to give it to Tim Mingle.

Because if that's right, and I'm not doubting it, champions by May, and those words were uttered before the season had started, I'd take my hat off to him because I wouldn't have believed it that that was realistic before a ball was kicked this season. So yeah, I think for predicting such an unexpected triumph, he deserves it. I'm told he also topped the polls in Clairvoyant Weekly, Si.

Yes, Mystic Miggle. Well, Tim, we think you're a genius. And we've got one final award for the least delusional gooner and the greatest contribution to the Walk On podcast. And that's our producer, Guy, who keeps us all on the straight and narrow, more or less, and

trims down all our nonsense and make sure we don't say anything too stupid, which is really, really a huge achievement. So Guy, we'd like to give you this honour. Well, actually, you honour us with your presence. So thank you.

Thank you very much, Tony. I feel obliged to, for once, break the silence, but thank you. Well, he does, he does all the work, really, doesn't he? He does the heavy lifting on this podcast. I mean, because let's face it, we're just three lazy losers who would be in a talkie without the likes of Guy. This is getting very emotional, Tony. Come on.

Well, you know, I mean, you've got to give credit where credit's due. And let's face it, it's been a brilliant season. We've been on a journey. We have been on a journey. You've been on loads of journeys. And I'm for him. He's never off a journey.

I'm the only one who shows up every week. Are you away next week, James? Next weekend again? I seem to recall you saying you were off to Ibiza again at some point. Not three weeks. Ah, right. All right, okay. Calm down. Three weeks of graft before that. Yeah. Graft. Graft, he calls it.

you know, a hobnobbing in VIP sections with a Duke Bellingham. I bet you've put that down as an expense in work. You know, it's entertaining. Exactly. Exactly. I've got a confession to make. I'm going to be, I'm going to be in San Sebastian next week. Wow. Yeah. Next Wednesday to Friday. And that is a holiday, James. A

A two-night holiday. You're going to see those mountains there. Ah, Zubermenti. Kept Zubermenti away from Liverpool. Anyway, that's it from WalkOn. Yeah, Liverpool podcast brought to you by The Athletic. Thanks to James and Simon and you for listening. We'll be back later in the week. We'll catch you then. The Athletic FC Podcast Network.

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