As his first season covering Liverpool FC as a beat journalist reaches its halfway point, Mo Stewart gives his experience from behind the scenes so far.

It’s been quite the year for all of us of a red persuasion; 2024 started and ended with handsome victories to leave Liverpool top of the Premier League, but in between there were some seismic changes.

As changes go, it’s hard to top getting a new head coach, but on a personal level life feels just as different for me as it does for Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot.

At 43 years old I am in the position I have dreamed of since realising as a nine-year-old that I wouldn’t make it as a player.

I’m an independent journalist working in and around my favourite team, able to ask Slot and his players questions and analyse their answers for a hungry global fanbase.

As this year ends, it feels like the perfect time to take stock of what I’ve learned in the last three-and-a-half months as a beat reporter at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby, and the press room and radio gantry at Anfield.

In the style of my press conference reviews, I have three top takeaways to deliver.

1. The man at the top controls the atmosphere

Over his nine-year tenure, it was no surprise that such a gregarious personality as Klopp would have full control over his domain.

More surprising is that Slot has been able to have a similar influence so soon afterwards, with a much more understated hand on the tiller.

From my first days as a new face in the building, it has been noticeable how relaxed and friendly the atmosphere has been. The groundsmen, receptionists, security guards, press officers, youth players and coaches are all singing from the same hymn sheet, without cynicism or suspicion.

For a team fighting for the top honours, where every draw is a disaster, it would be easy for Slot to feel tense and confrontational.

His appointment hadn’t convinced everyone, and coupled with a summer transfer window considered at best underwhelming and at worst negligent, plenty across the football world were gleefully expecting the Dutchman to fall flat on his face.

To see him before, after and during his press duties, you would never know it. A smile and a laugh have never been far away, and have diffused many potentially awkward situations.

Results have offered Slot an extended honeymoon period, but there has been plenty that could have left him frustrated.

There have been the constant references to Klopp; the random incompetence of refereeing decisions; the sheer volume of demands on his time; and yes, those weekly questions about the contracts of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

And yet, week after week, all enquiries are met with grace and understanding. It’s truly impressive to witness.

2. Everyone has to work together

The most surprising element I’ve witnessed is the extent to which everyone recognises the need to work together.

People who from the outside appear to be working at crossed purposes, or in competition, are actually invested in making sure all parts of the machine are moving smoothly.

The LFC press team – who I suspect would prefer not to be named – deserves a large part of the credit here. Whether they’re poachers turned gamekeepers, or just experienced enough to have seen it all, they understand when to allow us a bit of rope and when to pull it tight.

(The spread provided to journalists before a pre-Christmas press conference at the AXA)

They’re all extremely approachable, only liable to lose their temper if you leave empty coffee cups lying around!

As journalists, it’s important to build a working relationship of mutual respect with the press team and the boss, but with a new man in the chair comes a feeling-out process – pushing the boundaries to see how they react to uncomfortable lines of questioning.

The manner in which the contract questions have turned into a running joke on and off camera is a credit to them all.

If the worst should happen and any of the trio don’t extend their stay, the tone may change. However, there’s no doubt that the respect will remain.

Respect is also how I’d describe my relationship with my peers in the pack.

Although it helps that I’ve worked with the likes of Paul Gorst, David Lynch and Beth Lindop in my time at The Anfield Wrap and as part of the Echo group at Liverpool.com, some traditional journalists have been dismissive of fan media and the evolution of the industry it has caused.

Within the Liverpool beat, I have been warmly welcomed. It’s been a thrill to be able to converse with people whose work I’ve absorbed and admired for years, like Paul Joyce, Juliette Ferrington and Andy Hunter.

The conversations I’ve had, and those that I’ve overheard, have been an invaluable part of my education.

3. The best question is the one that gets the best answer

Building a rapport with Slot has been by far the most enjoyable part of the proceedings.

To see a smile stretch across his face as I unfurl my often overlong questions is thrilling, and for him to give such detailed answers has made my job so much easier.

The most important job of a journalist is to get interesting information from your subject, and Liverpool’s head coach has been a fountain of fascinating knowledge from the moment he arrived.

My reputation as a ‘stats nerd’ has caused no end of amusement amongst my friends and family, but I take it as an appreciation that my questions are always about football, as opposed to the extracurriculars.

I take advantage of the freedom I have to ask whatever I like, with no producers demanding headline-grabbing quotes.

All managers want to talk about football, and I will continue to give Slot that opportunity.

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The hardest part has been to make sure I don’t get caught up in any ideas of a burgeoning bromance, and stick to the plan.

I have changed my mind over a question plenty of times because I could easily predict the answer. My internal self-assessment is always ‘does this question make me look good, or does it get a good response?’.

There’s no doubt it helps my career if people know who I am, but I am not, and never should be, the story.

Thank you all for engaging with my work, and helping me on my journey as a journalist. Here’s to bigger and better experiences in 2025, and perhaps a trophy parade or two.

• You can follow Mo Stewart on X, @The_Mighty_Mojo, and tune into his YouTube channel here.

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Liverpool have received a boost regarding their interest in Martin Zubimendi, while there has been more reports of an upped Trent Alexander-Arnold bid.

Today’s Main LFC Headline

Zubimendi was the Reds’ primary transfer target last summer, only for him to stay put at Real Sociedad.

Thankfully, failing to sign him has been a blessing for Liverpool, with Ryan Gravenberch exceptional in a deeper midfield role.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Guillem Balague has provided a fresh update on Zubimendi’s future, admitting that the Spaniard is now “ready to leave” Sociedad.

“I was told everything was done with Liverpool but he decided personally not to leave. Now three months into the season he is ready to go,” Balague said.

“When Man City want a replacement for Rodri, that is the guy to look for. Barca would like him but don’t have the money and he is ready to leave now.”

It would be typical of Man City to now snap him up as a Rodri replacement, but do Liverpool even need him anyway?

Read more here

Today’s Liverpool FC News

• Real Madrid have now upped their bid for Alexander-Arnold to £15 million, but Liverpool are refusing to budge this month. Don’t do it, Trent! (Cadena SER)

• Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has refused to be drawn on the club’s pursuit of Alexander-Arnold, saying it is “not sensible” to speak about it

More from This Is Anfield

Sam Millne, Patrick Allen and Abigail Rudkin have discussed Madrid’s offer for Trent and what could happen next:

“I’d be gutted to see him go.

“He’s been at the club since he was a young boy so to see him not want to stay loyal to us and end his career like Steven Gerrard is disappointing, but I understand if he wants a new challenge.

“Plus he’s good friends with Jude Bellingham and might want to see what life in Spain is like! It’ll be a shame, however, and I don’t think the fans will remember him as fondly.”

Elsewhere in the football world today

• Gary Neville admits he has “no idea” how United will approach Sunday’s clash with Liverpool, describing Anfield as an “unforgiving place to go.” You love to see it! (Sky Sports)

• West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen is facing approximately six weeks out with a fractured foot suffered against the Reds last weekend (Sky Sports News)

• Aston Villa have reportedly opened talks with Borussia Dortmund over the signing of winger Donyell Malen. He’s been linked with Liverpool in the past (David Ornstein, The Athletic)

• Everton‘s first match at their new Bramley Moore Dock stadium will take place next month, with 10,000 fans invited to a test event (Chris Bascombe, The Telegraph)

Liverpool FC: On this day

On this day in 2015, Steven Gerrard announced that he would leave Liverpool at the end of the 2014/15 season, bringing an end to 17 years in the first team.

It was a sad day, not least for a generation of fans who had grown up idolising the legendary midfielder.

Gerrard would end up with a total of 710 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 186 goals and widely being considered the best player in the club’s history, alongside Kenny Dalglish.

Also on this day in 2013, the Reds signed Daniel Sturridge for £12 million from Chelsea, which ended up being a bargain.

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Martin Zubimendi is reportedly “ready to leave” Real Sociedad now, just five months after turning down Liverpool, which could spark a revived bid in January.

Zubimendi could be back on the agenda for Liverpool this month with claims the midfielder is now decided on leaving Real Sociedad.

This comes the transfer window after his dramatic U-turn on a move to Merseyside, with the Reds’ interest in a deal never abating despite their frustration.

BBC Sport‘s Guillem Balague, a prominent Spanish journalist based in the UK, has provided an update on Zubimendi’s status on Thursday.

“I was told everything was done with Liverpool but he decided personally not to leave. Now three months into the season he is ready to go,” Balague explained.

“When Manchester City want a replacement for Rodri, that is the guy to look for.

“Barca would like him but don’t have the money and he is ready to leave now.”

Balague did, however, cast doubt on Liverpool returning for a player they were prepared to sign for £51 million in August, but that appeared more speculative than concrete information.

The suggestion Zubimendi is “ready to leave now” is certainly intriguing, as journalists on Merseyside have reported the club retain their interest.

In September, reporter David Lynch told Anfield Agenda: “If the player’s ready at that point [in January] to make the move and feels like ‘I made a mistake in staying’, I don’t think Liverpool would rule that out at all.”

The Athletic‘s David Ornstein added in October that “the admiration continues,” while Lynch explained to This Is Anfield that “nothing has changed since the summer” with regards Liverpool’s interest.

“If Liverpool do get the nod, 100 percent they’ll be back in for him,” Lynch, whose work can be found on Substack, concluded.

It is also worth nothing that Man City sources have ruled out a move for Zubimendi.

Speaking in December, Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe insisted he was not expecting “any scares” when it comes to Zubimendi this month, but admitted his £51 million release clause offered “little peace.”

“There is little peace of mind regarding the clause, but in all this time Martin himself has shown that the player’s will is above the clause,” Olabe told Estadio Deportivo.

“And up to today we have already seen his behaviour. I do not foresee that we will have any scares in winter.”

Real Sociedad are currently eighth in LaLiga with Zubimendi starting 20 of his 21 appearances in all competitions so far this season.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are clear at the top of both the Premier League and Champions League with only Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah clocking more minutes on the pitch than Ryan Gravenberch.

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Liverpool are yet to officially appoint a specialist set-piece coach after posting a job advert over the summer, and it transpires that they missed their No. 1 target.

Back in May, it emerged that Liverpool were seeking to follow the likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea in appointing their own specialist set-piece coach.

A job advert was posted on the club’s official channels as well as LinkedIn, only for their search to be paused in September, with first-team development coach Aaron Briggs filling the role.

That comes after Liverpool failed to land their priority target in Feyenoord’s Etienne Reijnen, who was at one point believed to be close to a move to Merseyside.

When Liverpool appeared set to land Reijnen, it was unclear exactly which role he would take up on Arne Slot‘s staff, but it would in fact have involved leading set-pieces.

Speaking to Algemeen Dagblad last month, the Liverpool head coach highlighted the role of his former colleague.

“Etienne Reijnen is still at Feyenoord and I recently read that Brian Priske (Slot’s successor) was full of praise for him,” Slot said.

“The set-pieces are a strength at Feyenoord and Reijnen still takes care of them.”

Feyenoord have scored the fourth-most set-piece goals so far in this season’s Eredivisie with eight, which would be joint-second in the Premier League and considerably more than Liverpool who have the second-fewest with two.

Reijnen’s proposed switch fell through due to work permit issues, with the 37-year-old instead remaining in his position as analyst and technical advisor for the Dutch club, but Liverpool could revive their interest in the future.

That would explain their decision to park any search for a specialist and rely on Briggs to fill the role for the time being.

Briggs’ duties within Slot’s staff are wide-ranging, including leading training sessions and bridging the first team and academy squads, and his time is understandably divided.

That makes it likely that Liverpool will eventually appoint a new set-piece coach and that could come if Reijnen is eventually eligible for a UK work permit.

The club faced so no such issue in acquiring a work permit for Slot and support staff such as Sipke Hulshoff, Ruben Peeters and Roderick van der Ham, who all moved to Anfield from Feyenoord.

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