Chris Bascombe
@chrisbascombe.bsky.social
Merseyside Football Reporter for Telegraph Media Group
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/c/cf-cj/chris-bascombe/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/c/cf-cj/chris-bascombe/
Interview with the King. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Sir Kenny Dalglish interview: I would struggle to be a player-manager today, but I am 74!
New film about Liverpool hero paints a portrait of someone who became more than a player and manager for a city grieving after Hillsborough
www.telegraph.co.uk
November 1, 2025 at 7:34 AM
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...
Liverpool have bought a better squad, Slot must now build a better team
Manager has much to ponder about his line-up and must work out which pawns fit where and decide which pieces he is willing to sacrifice
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 10:08 AM
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...
An interview with LFC legend Jan Molby.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Jan Molby interview: Jurgen Klopp would not have given me a second look
Exclusive: Liverpool legend, 62, on adapting to ‘tough’ English game, halcyon days at Anfield and why he grew up supporting Arsenal
www.telegraph.co.uk
October 4, 2025 at 6:42 AM
“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...
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...
‘Needless and stupid’: Arne Slot furious at Hugo Ekitike over Liverpool celebration red card
“The trouble with you is that your brains are in your feet,” Bill Shankly once famously informed a Liverpool trainee.
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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...
Bit of a leap from ‘becoming’ most influential’ & ‘no-one currently playing better’ to headline saying he’s the best… but we’re all old & wise enough to know how it works… here’s a Ryan Gravenberch love letter in any case. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Liverpool vs Everton result: Time to embrace Ryan Gravenberch as Premier League’s best midfielder
Let’s talk about Ryan Gravenberch, the cool head in an otherwise anxious Liverpool Merseyside derby win.
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 21, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Bit of a leap from ‘becoming’ most influential’ & ‘no-one currently playing better’ to headline saying he’s the best… but we’re all old & wise enough to know how it works… here’s a Ryan Gravenberch love letter in any case. 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...
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Rafael Benitez interview: I want to coach in England again
Exclusive: Spaniard recalls managing during a more austere era at Liverpool and explains why crossing the divide to Everton did not work out
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 20, 2025 at 5:58 AM
“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...
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Beto interview. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Liverpool fans say ‘Beto, you’re s--- and we’re going to batter you guys’. I love Scousers
Striker knows the outpouring of grief for his compatriot Diogo Jota that brought Reds and Blues together will be put on hold for the derby
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 19, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Beto interview. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Exclusive interview with Rafa. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Rafael Benítez interview: I want to coach in England again
Exclusive: Spaniard recalls managing during a more austere era at Liverpool and explains why crossing the divide to Everton did not work out
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 19, 2025 at 12:49 PM
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 Time’ has replaced Fergie Time as Liverpool show hunger to keep their title
Never leave a Liverpool match early.
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 14, 2025 at 6:26 PM
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.”
September 12, 2025 at 9:47 PM
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...
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...
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
“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...
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.
September 6, 2025 at 5:49 PM
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.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Jordan Pickford lined up for career-long Everton deal
Keeper could sign extension that would help cement England place for years to come; plus, where he ranks among club’s greatest No 1s
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 5, 2025 at 11:04 AM
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.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
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...
Liverpool are new galacticos after signing Alexander Isak
Club have revelled in an underdog mentality against wealthier rivals but that dynamic has just changed dramatically
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 2, 2025 at 8:46 AM
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
September 1, 2025 at 8:13 PM
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
September 1, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Transfer blog is ongoing for those counting down to 7pm, by the way. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Transfer deadline day live: Latest updates before window closes tonight
Transfer window shuts at 7pm (BST) today
www.telegraph.co.uk
September 1, 2025 at 2:34 PM
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. 😀
September 1, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Strong vibes that Alan Pardew still hasn't got over the 2006 FA Cup final. 😀
Report from Anfield. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Mikel Arteta cannot escape Anfield’s psychological grip
This was a golden opportunity to beat the champions, but Arsenal played with caution rather than ambition
www.telegraph.co.uk
August 31, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Report from Anfield. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Wonderful band. www.thetimes.com/culture/musi...
My band Saint Etienne are bowing out after 35 crazy years in pop — here’s why
Founder member Bob Stanley recalls the fun and friendship, highs and lows — from singing with Kylie to the dark side of Rolf Harris on Top of the Pops
www.thetimes.com
August 30, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Wonderful band. www.thetimes.com/culture/musi...
This week’s @23carra.bsky.social column on why the title race is ‘typical Arsenal’ versus a different, transitional LFC.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Gabriel, Saliba and Raya will define Arsenal’s title charge, not Gyokeres
Mikel Arteta has more strength in depth than rivals Liverpool and Man City, and may not need a radical tactical shift
www.telegraph.co.uk
August 30, 2025 at 6:17 AM
This week’s @23carra.bsky.social column on why the title race is ‘typical Arsenal’ versus a different, transitional LFC.
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Match report from Hill Dickinson. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Jack Grealish is the right man at the right time to kickstart Everton’s new era
Summer arrival proves his quality, setting up both goals as Everton christen new stadium with first victory of season
www.telegraph.co.uk
August 24, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Match report from Hill Dickinson. www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Jordan Pickford interview www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Jordan Pickford: My great mate Jack Grealish is going to light this place up
Interview: Everton goalkeeper says calibre of player club are adding to squad shows intent ahead of first game in new stadium
www.telegraph.co.uk
August 24, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Jordan Pickford interview www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...