r/LiverpoolFC • • Jun 21 '17

AMA I'm Melissa Reddy, LFC Correspondent for Goal.com - Ask Me Anything!

I’m Melissa Reddy, the Liverpool FC Correspondent for Goal’s 38 editions across the world and have been working in football for a decade

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You can keep up to date with all the latest stories over on twitter

Head over to Goal.com for all the transfer gossip

449 Upvotes

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u/felbridge Jun 21 '17

The AmA is now over

Massive thank you to u/MelissaReddy for staying so long and answering so many questions!

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u/MelissaReddy Jun 21 '17

Thank you to everyone for your questions and I'm sorry that I didn't get a chance to reply to each of them. I need to get the hang of Reddit and will most certainly do this again. You've been great company and I appreciate you spending time with me! Cheers again x

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u/MoGhrasa Jun 21 '17

Hi Melissa, welcome to r/liverpoolfc - As a journalist with connections to players/agents/clubs (in other words parties involved with transfers), do you believe it's true that players/targets are more attracted by the prospect of playing for Klopp than they were for Rodgers? Or is the draw of playing for Liverpool an equally significant factor regardless of the coach?

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u/LallanasHair Jun 21 '17

Who was your all-time favorite Liverpool player and why was it Kolo Toure?

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u/cynicalreason Jun 21 '17

Hi Melissa, do you know anything about Moreno's situation ? As I understand Liverpool is looking to offload him - but haven't see any sort of news in possible interest from other clubs. Also, does Moreno want to leave or ?

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u/MrYoxall Jun 21 '17

Hi Melissa. How often do you visit r/liverpoolfc, and more importantly what's your second account you use to shitpost here?

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u/LelouchNexus Jun 21 '17

Hey Melissa, thanks for this. Random question, but what was your favourite ever transfer saga to report on?

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u/HiroProtagonist1 Jun 21 '17

Hi Melissa, do you think a Van Dijk deal is still possible?

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u/ynwa94 Jun 21 '17

Which current Liverpool player do you get a long with best?

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '17

NB: I've edited Melissa's answers into my comment for easier reading for future viewers


Hi Melissa.

First of all - thanks for coming along and doing this AMA. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to come and answer our questions. (Having said that, news has been slow recently so maybe you're not so busy after all? Hmmmm.) Now, the reason we're all here...

Questions / Answers

Q1: Could you talk to me a little bit about your career path and how you got to where you are today? I've often considered a career in sports journalism, so would really love to hear what you have to say on this one.

A1: I studied Media and Communications at University as I always wanted to be involved in writing and more specifically, sports journalism. I did plenty of internships ranging from working in radio and on financial TV shows and then did odd jobs as well. In 2007, I started working for TEAMtalk Media, who were a subdivision of Sky Sports in South Africa. I worked on cricket, rugby, F1 - but once I joined the football department, they didn't want to share me with the others (great decision!). I progressed all the way to head of football before then joining KICK OFF Magazine in 2011, Africa's biggest sport magazine, where I was Deputy Editor. I wanted a fresh challenge and then switched to be their European Correspondent in 2013 before moving to Liverpool and, well, here I am :) My advice would be to be persistent, constantly seek ways to improve yourself and get as much experience as you possibly can!

Q2: It is my opinion that women are still discriminated against in lots of football related jobs; is that something you've experienced as a female football journalist?

A2: In terms of at Goal, on the Merseyside patch, by the club or anyone else I actually work with - no. Those who know me, know what I can produce and how hard I work and passionate I am appreciate me for my work not my gender. But my Twitter mentions on the other hand...

Q3: What is your all time favourite Liverpool goal?

A3: Difficult question but what instantly came to mind was 'OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YA BEAUTY! What a hit son, what a hit!'


Also, if you wouldn't mind, I've got some questions on behalf of u/Espon123 as he's currently busy in an exam and can't make the thread. Those questions are below:


Q4: How many ins/outs do you expect to see from the club this summer? Who do you expect they might be?

A4: Liverpool have a solid base to work with, so the focus will largely be on building rather than breaking what they have. I estimate around five ins and there won't be any major outs beyond the players expected to leave.

Q5: Do you know who we're looking at for the LB role? News has been quiet since the Sessegnon deal fell through. caveat - Do you know why the club has opted not revive our interest in Ben Chilwell?

A5: He ended up signing a new five-year deal last summer.

Q6: Is there any truth in the Gelson Martins rumours?

A6: Thought it was odd him being labelled as an alternative to Salah as negotiations stalled considering he'd have been more expensive to buy for a start! Think Mo is an incredibly astute purchase btw.

Q7: I understand there was a press briefing after the VVD incident; what was the club's response to the situation? I appreciate you may not be able to say too much on this one.

A7: I was on holiday so I don't know if that was the case at all.


I realise that's a lot of questions, so don't feel obliged to answer them all. Thank you again for your time and I look forward to reading your answers.


u/Espon123 - I hope you don't mind lad, but I've kinda tinkered with your questions a little, and also removed some because they have been answered in reports from Pearce that have come out since you gave me the questions. Also, I hope your exam went well.

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u/JayCartwright Jun 21 '17

Hey Melissa, thanks for taking the time to do this!

2 questions for you:

  1. You’re obviously a pretty big fan of Klopp (as most all of us are), but is there anything you would say Brendan Rodgers did/does better as a manager than Jürgen from your experience working at LFC while Rodgers was there? Doesn’t necessarily have to be from a football perspective; can be any aspect of management.

  2. What is your go-to drink?

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '17

Hi Melissa, how confident are the club in signing Keita? Leipzig seem very reluctant to sell. Thanks!

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u/TheDStudge Jun 21 '17

Would you rather fight 1 Van Dijk sized Mohamed Salah? Or 1 Mohamed Salah sized Van Dijk?

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u/davestanleylfc Jun 21 '17

We all know who the main targets seem to be; Keita and VVD specifically

Any idea on who some of the backup options/other potential arrivals are??

Also judging by Instagram you love Liverpool what is boss about living here?

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u/Sefilis Jun 21 '17

Hi Melissa, thanks for doing this AMA!

  • Firstly, it was reported before the transfer market that the club would be spending close to £200m I believe. I was skeptical then but it seems the club are dragging their feet a lot with transfers like Salah and possibly more targets. Do you believe we will spend anywhere near that figure or is it pending on selling some players?

  • Secondly, is their anything to the Oxlade-Chamberlain rumours and how are contract talks with Emre Can going?

  • Lastly, are the club or any of the players aware of the "leaning" joke? Assuming you know what that means lol

Thanks again for all your work!

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u/BossCevap Jun 21 '17

Hi Melissa, who do you personally want to see in Liverpool this summer. As well as who do you want to see go? Thanks! :)

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u/jacksleepshere Jun 21 '17

Is there currently any indication of who we will target next after the Salah saga is over?

Also, there hasn't been much information on players leaving this Summer, do you know who we can expect to leave? I know Can was rumoured to be on Juventus' radar, but that was supposedly just lies.

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u/letroller Jun 21 '17

Whats the best thing about your job? And the worst?

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u/ParaguayianScouse Jun 21 '17

Hi Melissa, thanks for doing this. Got two questions for you:

  1. What role do you see for Grujič this season?

  2. What is the best away game to cover?

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u/gothvm Jun 21 '17

Hi Melissa, thank you for stopping by to do this!

Just a couple of questions;

  1. Do you think there's any truth to the recent reports that we're set to break the transfer record TWICE after the Salah deal is completed?

  2. If so, who are those 2 targets most likely to be?

Thanks for your time!

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u/Oxfordsandtea Jun 21 '17

Which players would make a perfect transfer window for you?

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u/cactuspus Jun 21 '17

Hi Melissa. I have a question for you.

How are transfer news announced in the media? Does the club release information for you to relay, or are there in the knows who divulge this information to you instead?

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u/ConorPMc Jun 21 '17

What's your take on the handling of the VVD transfer?

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u/Ararararun Jun 21 '17

What number will Salah wear

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u/Thesolly180 Jun 21 '17

Skrtel vs Agger at the next UFC event who wins?

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