Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
International Break Almost Over!  image

International Break Almost Over!

Daily Liverpool
Avatar
0 Playsin 3 hours

Adarsh Ramchurn shares his thoughts on a long draining International Break as a Red, but how we can be optimistic going into the next round of fixtures!

You'll never walk alone.

--

Sponsors and Advertising

Bioniq - Don't settle for off-the-shelf solutions made for ANY body. Get what's right for YOU. Right now.

We’ve spent years analyzing blood markers to develop our patented algorithm, enabling us to create a 100% personalized supplement to support your health by optimizing your micronutrient status.

Follow the link and Use code GSPN2025 for 40% of your first month’s subscription.

www.bioniq.com/gspn2025

Zencastr

Built for quality - Designed for growth

A new era for creation is here.

The only complete audio + video platform to get best-in-class recording, intuitive editing, AI-powered growth features, and top-tier distribution tools — all in one place.

Get started for free!

We highly recommend it!

https://zencastr.com/?via=ken

Global Sports Podcast Network - Creating the world’s first network of 30-minute daily podcasts for the world’s biggest sporting export, the English Premier League.

For advertising and sponsorship details or to learn more about the scale and demographics of our audience – email Ken Davies, VP Business & Development at:

ken.davies@globalsportspodcastnetwork.com

www.globalsportspodcastnetwork.com

© Copyright | 2025 | Global Sports Podcast Network | All Rights Reserved 

Recommended
Transcript

Liverpool's Recent Struggles

00:00:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Adar Sramchen and it has been a long international break, hasn't it Reds? um Yeah, where do we even start obviously?
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Liverpool, before going into the international break, losing three games in a row to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea respectively. And Liverpool have the opportunity to bounce back with three points, hopefully against Manchester United Liverpool and the Reds return from international break.

Positive Outlook on International Break

00:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
In today's episode, i'm going to just touch on the Reds' performances, individual players that have shone throughout the international break, and maybe some momentum that Liverpool can bring it into the next round of games before the November international break um to really pick up um from performances which have been very much below par over recent weeks.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But I guess his international break came at a really good time um for not just the players, but for Arna Slott as well. I think um you're looking at a team, managers, players that just needed some time away just to really take their mind off what's been three really demoralising games.
00:02:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Losing, I mean, two of those games in the Premier League to last minute goals, which were really, really avoidable. um performances where the attack just doesn't look like it's fluid.
00:02:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
The midfield looks disjointed. There's spaces everywhere. The defense is not cohesive. And i mean, against Galatasaray, we looked very, very vulnerable. um So, yeah, we're looking to put that right. But there has been some promising signs from individual players um over the international break, which I'm going to touch on in today's episode. And I think definitely some signs that we can, you know,
00:02:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
as as far as a fan base, really used to galvanise. And I think probably one of those players who hasn't been hitting the heights of recent Weeks, probably since the start the season, is Mohamed Salah.
00:02:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, I mean, one if there's not going to be more motivating factors than getting your country to another World Cup, um yes, Egypt qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Salah spearheading as captain, getting a goal in a crucial game as well in the qualifiers.
00:03:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, I mean, that's going to be a motivating factor. um For Salah, hopefully we see his performance pick up. You know, he's that spearhead. He is the Egyptian king, as we all know and love him by... um But hopefully this can be the sign of better performances to come.
00:03:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's hard because, you know, Salah is getting to... I want to say he's getting to the end of his peak, but he's been performing at such a high level for so long and there was ultimately always going to be a slight drop-off in performance. I still believe he's going to get back to those levels. I still think he can get upwards of 20, 30 goals for us this season.
00:03:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we haven't seen the player that's getting involved, taking on shots, beating his man... looking like he's going to score in a game, regardless of if he's not having the best game. So, yeah, I mean, that that's something I'm quite optimistic about. and I think, I mean, his favourite opponent comes up, but he comes up against his favourite opponent on the weekend with Manchester United.
00:03:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, that's that's the game. I think if Liverpool going to bounce back, it's going to be a win against our rivals and it's going to be something that's going to propel us um over the next few few games and weeks to come. But,
00:04:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Salah's going to be really important. And with him getting Egypt over the line in qualifying for the World Cup, I think that's going to be hopefully a motivating factor for him because he's someone that he needs that that target, that goal, that adrenaline to really get his performances going. And hopefully that can be one of those those aspects.
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Other players to touch on in terms of international break and players that done

International Performances as a Boost

00:04:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
really well. um Not so much transferred that into their little perform, but Cody Yakpo, I mean, indeed intis in ah in the international, sorry, getting a couple of goals for the Netherlands as they've strengthened their position for qualifying for the World Cup.
00:04:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, I mean, he looks a completely different player when he puts on that but orange jersey for for for Holland. But I just hope we get to see Gakpo perform a bit more like that, take a few more shots, being less predictable.
00:04:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
um It has been difficult, I think, for him. I think one of the aspects that we kind of mentioned a lot on the podcast is the fact that he has had that left wing position nailed on. But if he can get a bit of rotation, a bit of competition from the likes of Virts, maybe Engel Moja as well, Ekotike potentially, we've already spoken about playing on that left-hand side, I think you're going to see a better Cody Gakpo. But yeah.
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just works for him at Holland. He is kind of like the main man when it comes to goals and assists and being the talisman for for the Dutch team. But can he bring that to to Liverpool? And I think as Liverpool fans, we know he's got the potential. He's got goals. he he's He's performed actually for throughout the majority of his Liverpool career at really, really high level.
00:05:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just this recent last few weeks where I think a few fans have been turning on him, expecting a bit more, expecting him to, you know, just show a bit better end product. And I know obviously he got the goal against Chelsea, but other than that, his performance was really, really below average. So really hoping for him to step up. And he's a player that's kind of shone throughout the international break for Liverpool as well.
00:05:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, I mean, alongside Gravenberg, Van Dijk and Vrimpong, the Dutch Liverpool contingent. those those are Those other three can really, you know, I mean, i would say of those three, Van Dijk and Gravenberg, I've been two of our best players this season. But yeah, for Gakpa, think it was important that he got some goals back, got some confidence back. um The team definitely, like I said earlier, needed a bit of a break.
00:06:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
So great to see him and the other Dutch lads perform really, really well. um And then another player i wanted to highlight in terms of the internationals was Andy Robertson, because... Scotland got two really important wins for their qualification for the World Cup, something that they haven't done in a very, very long time.
00:06:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Robertson being the spearhead, the talisman captain as well, put in a really, really good performance against Belarus. um Yeah, I think, I mean, there's obviously been performances of Kerkers, which haven't been great. Actually, in fact, speaking of left-backs, he's actually been quite solid for Hungary.
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But Robertson, I think, is someone who could definitely get some more game time with Kerkers having a few issues at left-back. And obviously the game's coming thick and fast after the international break.
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we need, in the times where it's tough for a team, you need your captains, you need your leaders. And I think Robertson's going to be that person who's going to, you know, really pick us up. provide stiff competition for Kerkers. And hopefully, I i mean, I'd like to see him start against Manchester United. I think he'd be my left-pack of choice.
00:07:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, it's it's just great to see like our players on international break, especially... given that we have got so many captains. I mean, I already spoke about Kyrgyz of Hungary, but obviously Sobos Lai, who's been probably one of our better players this season, captaining Hungary again in international break.
00:07:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
You just get see our players in a complete different environment, um culture within their respective international teams. So, I mean, that's a really, really big positive that think we can take forward into the games coming up.
00:07:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But um those are a couple of, ah Liverpool highlight players that want to to stand out um and mention who've had some good international breaks in particular. um Actually, one final one I've got just came to my head, actually.
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mamedash Vili for Georgia, saving a penalty. I mean, he is probably their best goalkeeper in history, you could say.

Goalkeeper Challenges at Liverpool

00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And obviously, with Alisson being out injured, he's going to have a big role in these next few round of games because, according to news, Alisson probably back off the...
00:08:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
November international break. So he's got big few games coming up. I mean, think you've got Real Madrid, you've got Man City, you've got Manchester United obviously coming up. Big, big football matches. And if we're going to get anything from those games, our goalkeeper's going to be on top.
00:08:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, none of those goals against Chelsea were necessarily his his fault. um And probably was our best player against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. So, yeah, look, I feel like we've you've got a really good number two.
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're going to see how good he is over these next three games. But... um Yeah, just refreshing, actually, to be off international break. And actually, didn't mention this when I when i first started um the podcast today. But in fact, I've actually been away for the last few weeks and I missed pretty much missed watching Liverpool's last three defeats purely because of my my sister getting married. I've been on brother duty um and haven't had a chance to really watch the game, which actually for me is kind of like a blessing. not had to sit through these painful, devastating defeats.
00:09:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
um recently but hopefully guys you know I'm back I'm watching the games now I've had my week off and ah yeah we're going be back to winning ways trust me here that that's my guarantee to you guys um ah shit I don't if I can guarantee that but I'm sure we'll get back to winning ways against Manchester United I'm very I'm quite confident I think the crowd will be up for it as well and don't want to talk too much about the game because I know we're going preview a lot of that um in the week in the week leading up to us returning back to to action but i I don't know about other Liverpool fans, but I think this is a blip.

Managerial Strategies and Defense Issues

00:09:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do think... I have complete faith in Slott. I think he's got he's going to work out the answers. And we spoke about a good international break for a couple of the players. But boy, there's did Arna Slott need this international break.
00:10:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just to recharge a bit, have a bit of a hiatus away from from football for a while. um And obviously our last game being October the 4th, we play Manchester United on October the 19th, I believe. So good 15 days away from you know match day action.
00:10:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it's a good opportunity for Liverpool to really like put together starting, nailed on, starting XI. That's going to, you know... i think Slotts have found it difficult to find his best XI, team that works. And also players who were absolutely brilliant for us last season, not hit the levels of last season.
00:10:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mentioned Salah already, but players like McAllister, who's been way below par. Kanate, I mean, feels like every episode of this day of Liverpool podcast this season, we've been criticising him. But I hope he can get back to his levels. I know he had a bit of an injury scare for France and he's he's come back.
00:10:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
But maybe this is an opportunity for Joe Gomez to really show what he's capable of in a Liverpool... Not in a Liverpool show, actually, because we know what he's capable of, but just a run of games where he can play you and get that centre-back partnership with Van Dijk ticking again.
00:11:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I think the right-back slot's an important one. Can he nail can we have a first-choice right-back? Because if you keep changing right-backs and you keep changing left-backs in season, it's going to... It's going to have an effect. And I think Bradley struggled in recent weeks. since We've not seen the Conor Bradley of ah last season, the Conor Bradley that first burst onto the scene in Liverpool shirt.
00:11:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would give Frimpong couple of games. And I think he's probably back to somewhat of his full match fitness. Give him a couple of runner games. I think he he he would be my starting right back and give Bradley, you know, he's been, Bradley's been involved for northern Northern Ireland for both international games as well.
00:11:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not sure if I could say the same about Frimpong, not because haven't watched the Netherlands yet. in much detail, but I would start for Impong as well. I think he he deserves a couple of games. Just getting some consistency in the starting XI, I think that's what Arna Slott's got to be doing over the next few days leading up to Manchester United at home.
00:12:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And then the attack. I mean, I think Isak should be somewhere back to the level that we expect. um To be fair, he has been playing quite well and obviously not been getting the goals, but I mean, got the assist against Chelsea, goal against Southampton, showed glimpses against Galatasaray, against Crystal Palace as well.
00:12:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But give him a run of games. Give him a run of games. He needs that run of games. And I think we are going start to see him, you know, banging in the goals for Liverpool. It's only a matter of time. Salah needs to be clicking. Verts needs to be clicking. which we'll come to vers in a second.
00:12:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if you get Alexander Isak starting games and firing, and Ekotike back to that form just before we got that red card, that hilarious red card, um we could you just win by no way stretched the imagination out of anything. It's so early in the season.
00:12:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've been seeing Arsenal fans celebrating the fact that they're top of the league after the October international break. This is the team we're up against in terms of mentality. And look, they are going to be a tough team to beat. I think um a lot of us Liverpool fans obviously banter Arsenal and the way they play, but ultimately they're top of the Premier League at this moment in time.
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they're going to be the team that we have to beat over the course of 38 games. So... Yeah, they're looking really strong defensively. Will they be able to maintain that for throughout the whole season? That's going to be very difficult.
00:13:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think a few teams will start to give them a few problems. and If I look at their fixtures over recent weeks, obviously Newcastle away was a tough one. But Newcastle haven't been like firing on all cylinders. West Ham at home, pretty standard game.
00:13:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
They obviously had Man City at home. They've had us away, Manchester United away. which I mean, Manchester United away isn't the toughest game now nowadays, you could say. So on paper, we've probably had the much harder start. I mean, Palace away, Chelsea away, tough games, Newcastle away, Arsenal at home, Bournemouth at home, some really, really tough games. And to be second in the league, you can look at it on the flip side and from a really positive angle.
00:13:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're second in the league. Players are still gelling in. Slot is definitely going to get it right with these with this group of players, this new group of players, you can say. um Wurz, like I mentioned, we're going to come to.
00:14:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we're going to start to see the floor in Wurz. um I'm optimistic over these next few games. He'll get his goal and he'll get his assist in in the next few games before the November international break. I'm sure. I'm very much sure about it.
00:14:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're seeing glimpses. I saw it for Germany. Yeah, creating chances, being the key ties man. I'm sure he'll get his goals um and assists in a little push-up.
00:14:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's only a matter of time. I'm trying to be the the optimistic, positive boost ahead of this um next round of games. But yeah, slot, in terms of, just to summarise, a couple of things he needs to sort out. The starting XI, who's going to be starting?
00:14:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Get a bit of consistency with the starting XI. Structure of the team, defensively. I mean, we've been all over the place recently. giving up too many chances to teams that probably, if they play against other teams, won't have that many chances.
00:15:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
So how do we rectify that? I mean, structure, shape, midfield balance, defensive balance, I think is going to be key decisions that slot makes. I think as well, i already mentioned the fullbacks, but with Isak, with Salah, sorry, being just not on it. And obviously we know that he gives so much going forward when he's on his game, but when he's not on his game,
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
defensively is a liability at times. How can Slot get the best, get that Salah back from last season, but build the team around to make sure that, you know, everyone's pulling in their way. And I think Isak and Eketike could be an interesting balance of getting them three with Salah.
00:15:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
into the team, um which is what I'd like to see, actually. I'd like to see them with Subozlai-Vertz and Gravenberg being the sort team that we line up. And maybe McAllister dropping out a bit.
00:15:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, it's going to be a hard, hard equation for Slott to solve. But if anyone can solve it, Arna Slott can. um So yeah, those are my thoughts coming into the the next round of games after the international break.
00:16:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But I'm looking forward to seeing this the Reds back in action. I know it's not been easy for us Reds. um Difficult last three games, but we're back

Pivotal Match Against Manchester United

00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
at Anfield. That should be a motivating factor. We had three tough away games.
00:16:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, Palace away, who before last week won an unbeaten streak. Galatasaray away in Turkey, never an easy game. And Stamford Bridge, which is a ground that we've had very little success over in the last few years.
00:16:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's always going to be difficult, but I'm confident Manchester United at home, that is the game. That is the game. When you win that game, you get your momentum back. And I'm sure i'm very optimistic we can get some momentum back if, actually, if we' when we win that game. Let's have some confidence.
00:16:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
When we win that game, we'll have the confidence back. um But that's all my thoughts um of today's episode of the Daily Leopold podcast. Thank you all for listening and stay tuned for more episodes throughout the week where we'll preview the Manchester United game um in a lot more detail. Thank you all for listening.