Chris Bascombe

Liverpool look fitter and more resilient than last season, and no-one typifies the emerging character in the side more than Ronald ‘I’ll head the ball wherever it lands’ Araujo. chrisbascombe.substack.com/p/whisper-it...

Not everyone is ‘doing the Poznan’ & turning their backs on Man City. One National League North club would welcome them to the 6th tier... Many disillusioned PL fans have discovered a trip to Marine FC restores hope all is not lost for the game. www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2026/1...

Archer’s resignation from the London mayoral race after it was revealed he lied in court was the thing that got Paul Foot up from his sickbed and contributing again, having first started chronicling Archer’s lies and misdemeanours in 1969. From the Private Eye archive. Issue 992, December 1999.

substack.com/@chrisbascom...

Such a pleasure having a pint with (& interviewing) legendary ex-BBC broadcaster Ray Stubbs & hearing his many tales involving Diego Maradona, George Best, Bill Shankly, Gazza & the legendary Eagle Sunday League team. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Over to you Jurgen… substack.com/@chrisbascom...

A few years back, a PL executive boldly claimed ‘virtual season tickets’ were coming  - where you could be anywhere in world & feel you’re inside arena watching live match. Could this be part of next PL broadcast deal? telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/…

Michael Owen interview. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Should anyone require an experienced writer at LFC/EFC games this season, there are many good ones available… … and so am I. In addition to my Telegraph role, will be freelancing at weekends. Or not as the case may be. Happy new season everyone.

Exclusive interview with Micah Richards about Phil Collins, toxic social media, a planned ‘retirement’ date & why modern football punditry should be fun as well as informative. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Do you love tennis? Do you ever ask yourself, “I wonder how you win Wimbledon?” Do you want to read about anything other than the World Cup? Well today is your LUCKY day. www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2026/...

If you’re at a match, turn your bloody phones off & watch the game. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Spent the day in Dudley meeting coaches from the clubs where it all started for Bellingham & Rogers. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

From November 2025. This is what the new LFC manager needs to sort out straight away. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

An interview with ITV’s 1994 World Cup anchorman, Matt Lorenzo. It didn’t go well, but Jack Charlton brought much needed entertainment. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

If an Irishman & Scot penned an England World Cup anthem today, Farage and his acolytes would be FUMING... www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

England's 'forgotten' World Cup campaign... Chile, 1962. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

The ongoing mission to get a Scouser in the England Test cricket team for the first time since 1948. www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2026...

I’m currently writing Telegraph Sport’s Briefing on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, picking out my favourite articles and offering my thoughts on the biggest stories of the day. It’s FREE. www.telegraph.co.uk/customer/sec...

Interview with one of the most underrated LFC players of all time. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

It’s a sensitive topic for obvious reasons, but after a spate of recent incidents the question must be asked: is enough being done by football, and elite sport as a whole, to caution its stars about the risks of driving superfast, luxury, high-performance cars? www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Across English football’s 92 pro clubs, there have been 884 sackings since 2005 -an average of 42 a year. It’s a circus. This season, the cost of PL sackings alone is an estimated £47m. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

The legend Ian Rush on health, fresh perspectives on his career, the best centre-backs he faced and one of football’s greatest misquotes… www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

OUR SOCIETY IS RUN BY INSANE PEOPLE FOR INSANE OBJECTIVES I think they're all insane, you know, but I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that, you know? That's what's insane about it. I mean, don't you agree? #powertothepeople

654 & counting… www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

My column on the great American sportswriting tradition - and why the Washington Post's cull spells danger far beyond the ballpark. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

This is really just an excuse to post a clip of this splendid song by the eternal boy wonder Roddy Frame, who happens to be 62 today.

New on Always Liverpool | Andy Robertson's moment, both beautiful and devastating, told us everything about how Liverpool's players are still coping with the loss of their dear Diogo. We haven't afforded them enough grace.

So, so great tonight in Liverpool @thepainsofbeing.bsky.social . ‘Young Adult Friction’ alone should have made this band superstars. Check ‘em out indie kids (young & old)

Interview with the King. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

In October, 2005, Rafa Benitez explained how - despite indifferent results in first 8 games - his summer signings would elevate the European champions. A few tweaks later the side was vastly superior. It needed time to gel. Start of this season feels comparable. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

“When I first arrived here I could not catch my breath for the first 25 minutes of every match. It took me 18 months to show what I could do. Then it just clicked…” An interview with LFC legend Jan Molby. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Report from Anfield on the night Hugo Ekitike won the match & then unnecessarily made sure he was around to watch three days of the Ryder Cup instead of playing against Crystal Palace. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

“When you are analytical as a coach and winning, they say you have attention to detail and it is a good thing. When you are losing, they say, ‘Oh, here he goes again with his attention to detail. When will he stop?’” www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Beto interview. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Exclusive interview with Rafa. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Saw all the flags & thought it was still Last Night of the Proms when arrived in Burnley. The final chorus came from away end again. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Arne Slot on Alexander Isak: : “He is ONE of the best in the world, but for him to become THE best in the world… I think the best players in the world win trophies & that is what he needs to do and we need to do for him.”

“The most FSG summer ever.” The 12 month operation in which LFC assembled their dream team, and why the combined cost of Wirtz & Isak is just £51.25 million in year one. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

At least there is one decent international this weekend.

EFC want to make Jordan Pickford their number one for the rest of his prime years at the top. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

♥️♥️♥️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HzZ...

theliverpoolway.podbean.com/e/transfer-w...

All very exciting for LFC, but as @23carra.bsky.social recalls here, in summer of 1988 one of the great title winning sides brought Ian Rush back from Juventus (for a club record fee) & lost title to Arsenal. Plenty of knitting together still needed by Arne Slot. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

On the day Emile Heskey signed for LFC in a club record fee, managed to get an interview with him as he drove out of Melwood trying to work out how to use a posh new gadget called a sat-nav. Much simpler times.. #sighswistfully

#bigsummer #done 😜

Transfer blog is ongoing for those counting down to 7pm, by the way. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Strong vibes that Alan Pardew still hasn't got over the 2006 FA Cup final. 😀

Report from Anfield. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...

Wonderful band. www.thetimes.com/culture/musi...