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Daily Liverpool: Manchester City Crossover Special!
22 Plays9 days ago
Louie Easton joins the Daily Man City boys as they preview Sunday's showdown at the Etihad.
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Transcript
00:00:01
Speaker
Every club.
Introduction and Guest Welcoming
00:00:03
Speaker
Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. Hello and welcome back to episode 77 of the Daily Manchester City podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:00:15
Speaker
The only network giving you exclusive news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's and fantasy football, every club, every day. I'm Jules Jordan-Probott and I'm delighted to be joined by North Island's finest, Keelan McNamara.
00:00:29
Speaker
Hi Keelan. No one's ever said that but I appreciate it, Jules. It's great to be back. It's got to be a first for everything, right? And that's not all we're joined by, as we have a very special episode inbound looking ahead to this weekend's massive fixture, ah crossover with the lovely Louis Easton from the Daily Liverpool team. Oh, that is lovely.
00:00:49
Speaker
Look at these intros that we're getting today, Keelan. Thank you very much for having me. It's pleasure to be here. And yeah, big, big weekend ahead. Definitely.
Current Premier League Standings
00:00:58
Speaker
and two of the world's greatest clubs do battle on sunday <unk>ni slots league leader in liverpool traveled to the atihad for the latests installment of the premier league's greatest rivalry of the last decade manchester city versus liverpool positions both clubs find themselves a slightly different than the usual this year however of course pep guiola's side of endured what can only be described as a torrid campaign
00:01:20
Speaker
getting curb-stomped out of the Champions League in midweek to the Kings of Europa, Real Madrid. Mbappe, of course, stealing the show with a hat-trick there. you had You had a bit of a musical rendition for that, didn't you, Louis?
00:01:31
Speaker
ah ABC, it's easy as one, two, three. All right, that'll do. That'll do. Let's move on swiftly from that. Losing to Spurs in the Carabao Cup and now find themselves hanging on to fourth position in the Premier League.
00:01:45
Speaker
In an incredibly tight top half, City are just five points clear of ninth place Aston Villa. The same cannot be said for the Reds. Liverpool have been imperious this season, topping the Champions League group stage, comfortably through to the Carabao Cup final in around a month's time.
00:01:58
Speaker
And of course, sitting very pretty at the top of the Premier League. eight points ahead of perennial challenger's Arsenal, albeit having played a game more.
Historic Rivalry and Managerial Impact
00:02:06
Speaker
There have been so many iconic battles between these two juggernauts are the gate of the game over the past few years.
00:02:11
Speaker
The Champions League quarterfinal in 2018 and FA Cup semis in 2022, where Liverpool succeeded, with many of the vital Premier League clashes going the way of City, such as the Leroy Sane-inspired 5-0 2017, 4-1 winner Anfield in 2021,
00:02:24
Speaker
or the four one winner anfield in twenty twenty one or the crucial 2-1 win in 2019, with John Stones remarkably clearing it off the line to end Liverpool's unbeaten streak and ultimately pip the Reds to the title.
00:02:36
Speaker
So firstly, um will come to you Keelan. Just how special have these matches with Liverpool been over the years? Yeah, listen, I mean, the City-Liverpool fixture, I think, has really been the game to elevate the Premier League over the last five, six or so years. and Historically, it would have been Man United-Arsenal, United-Liverpool, Chelsea-Arsenal, those kind of games.
00:02:59
Speaker
But Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp really took up the mantle and they pushed each other to be exceptionally good. Maybe standards that we'll never see replicated ever again in the league.
00:03:11
Speaker
and Yeah, it's it's a very, very special fixture. It's one we've enjoyed a lot and one that we always look forward to. And funny enough, earlier in the season when the Liverpool boys were kind enough to host us, we spoke about how important the game was to us and how much it means to all of us.
00:03:26
Speaker
And I don't think that's ever going to change. It's always been a great game and hopefully we'll be able to enjoy it as a great game for many more years to come. and I'll ask you something similar, Louis. Could you describe the Pep-Clopp rivalry and how massive it was from your perspective?
Rivalry's Influence on English Football
00:03:42
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, the Pep-Clopp rivalry you will definitely live forever in all of our memories. it's just It was just unbelievable to watch every single time that... um those two teams faced off and you know that 2-1 loss that you mentioned with the John Stones goal line clearance I know as a Liverpool fan it obviously broke my heart at the end of the season ah with the one point separating the two teams but that match just epitomized how unbelievable that rivalry I mean it was the epitome of everything football should be
00:04:13
Speaker
you know, ta two tacticians, geniuses in Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, two of the Premier League's best managers in the last sort of 10, 15 years. And it was just riveting to watch every single time.
00:04:30
Speaker
And i don't think we'll see a rivalry like that for quite a long time. And it's crazy that that Liverpool team only ever won one Premier League title with Jurgen Klopp.
00:04:41
Speaker
But um when you have two gladiators like that facing off um twice a season, it's a real treat. And and the Champions League clashes as well.
00:04:54
Speaker
ah my Amazing. Yeah, Liverpool would have only only got away with one Premier League title in that era, any other era, and it would have undoubtedly been more. yeah this this like key you Like you said, Keelan, the standards of um both clubs was unprecedented. And not only that, the quality of the football was insane too, right?
00:05:15
Speaker
Oh yeah, was without a doubt. I mean, I've always said, you know, people talk about how great the City team was, but every Batman needs a Joker and every hero needs a villain and vice versa.
00:05:28
Speaker
And City would never have been as good as they were without Liverpool. And I like to think Liverpool wouldn't have been as great as they were without City. Every team needs another team to make them better.
00:05:39
Speaker
And I don't want to be overdramatic with it, but I think a piece of Pep left when Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool because yeah you can you can tell the relationship between the two and how much they enjoyed battling each other.
00:05:52
Speaker
you know ive I don't think I've ever seen two rival managers as friendly and jovial with each other as Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp were. even though they were the highest pressure games in the league every season for about four or five years. And I think that speaks to the respect and the admiration that ah certainly Guardiola and Klopp have each for each other. But I also think City and Liverpool fans have grown to have for each other. Obviously, Liverpool fans bricked our bus. I still haven't forgotten about that.
00:06:21
Speaker
But I do think there's a genuine respect there because... Both teams pushed each other to such rarefied air that I don't think any other team could have done that.
00:06:33
Speaker
And like Louis said, and he couldn't I couldn't have said it any better, I think it's a rivalry that will go down in the annals as one of the great rivalries. You know, Mourinho-Ferguson, Mourinho-Wenger, those type of rivalries.
00:06:47
Speaker
Guardiola-Clopp is very much towards the top of that list. yeah I also think they are the two greatest teams in Premier League history at the same time. um i mean, we've seen it.
00:06:58
Speaker
One point separating them on two separate occasions. That just doesn't happen in other eras. But it speaks levels about how... historic that time of football to be a fan of one of those two teams in the Premier League, like stressing out on the last day of the season like I did when Gundogan won you guys the league after being 2-0 down against Villa. it's just It's just unbelievable. um The only other example I can think of is the Aguero one in 2012. But other than that, it's in the Premier League era, at least there's not been anything quite like it
00:07:37
Speaker
And Manchester United, obviously with their 13 Premier League titles, never once had a points total that rivaled any of these ah like outrageous 98, 99, 100 that City and Liverpool kept churning out for a good couple of seasons because that was what it took.
00:07:53
Speaker
And we we're saying that the Premier League was obviously a much stronger product ah team-wide ah that in that era as well, with all the money that had come in over the previous decade or two.
00:08:03
Speaker
So, yeah, I think both the Liverpool side under Klopp and obviously City's four-peat side could rival any team in English football history, not just the Premier League.
00:08:15
Speaker
But of course, we're now in the Arnie Slott era, and despite recent draws ah recent tough draws away to Villa and Everton and the huge shock of exiting the FA Cup to Plymouth, this has inarguably been a better start to life than anyone could have expected with someone as influential as Jurgen Klopp leaving.
Liverpool's Season Under New Management
00:08:32
Speaker
What exactly has made you so good this season then, Louis? What has changed or improved? ah Well, I mean, Mo Salah this season has been almost like a rock and roll star for Liverpool fans. It's just...
00:08:44
Speaker
he's he's just gone levels beyond everything else. And the sort of cultural impact he's had on the football ah in the Premier League at the moment is ridiculous. I mean, he's just broken another one. It seems like every time he does something, it's another record broken.
00:09:00
Speaker
And now he's um going for that 20 goals, 20 assists thing that Henri did back in the day. He's already um got what was it 15 assists this season and 24 goals in the premier league but across all competitions 49 goals or assists and it's february that i mean that is just it's just unheard of um and the only player to get more goals and assists in a single season uh in this well sorry goals and assists in the match uh in across the season has been lionel messi so
00:09:39
Speaker
it's it's crazy ah what he's doing. um I mean, obviously, recent form hasn't been great. I just hope the title doesn't slow away from us. and We have to take the rest of the season little by little, and this Manchester City match is going to be pivotal to the rest of the season because this is the sort of game that you look at for a real confidence boost.
00:09:59
Speaker
um um You know, that draw against Villa... cost us dearly. ah The one against Everton as well, ah that Tarkovsky goal at the end, breaking our hearts, it's really demoralising, is that a word? Demotivating as a fan?
00:10:18
Speaker
um Because we've seen bottle jobs happen in recent seasons, I i don't want to become the next one. um But, you know, across the entire season, if you'd asked me, if you told me before the season that we'd be potentially five points clear if Arsenal win before we play you guys, um I would have bitten your hand off for it. it was it's It's crazy that he's done all of this in his first season and the sort of midfield transition we've had, Gravenberg,
00:10:50
Speaker
Who would have thought he'd have this good a season? McAllister's been ridiculously consistent. Soboslai, I know he had a difficult match last time out, but he's really been vital for us in that midfield. So I think really all it is is the midfield change. You know, just a couple of tinkers put Soboslai bit further forward.
00:11:08
Speaker
um we probably should have got zuba mendy but we've coped with that really well and a sort of defensive switch as well you know leaving more players back uh making robertson and trent into more traditional uh fullbacks um and suddenly we are a force to be reckoned with i can't believe we've done so well in the champions league group stage as well um yeah it's been a brilliant season Yeah, and um you you touched on Ryan Gravenberg there. And for me, that seems to be the biggest difference from this season to last season.
00:11:43
Speaker
He's one of only three players that have played every Premier League game for Liverpool this season, which shows how important he is under Arne Slott. um I said at the start of the season, I didn't think he'd have ah the pauser for that kind of position to dominate in the Premier League.
00:11:58
Speaker
And I was very wrong. but He is technically up there. Of course, physically, he's an absolute beast. And he is running the show. perhaps I just cannot believe the player that I'm seeing. He he looks as good as as good as anyone in the world in that position overnight, it seems.
00:12:15
Speaker
overnight it seems Yeah, it does seem in that way. um Whenever it's an open game, he just completely dictates the midfield. When it's a bit more of a compact defence or a team that likes to play out of the back and you know play this sort of cagey football, I think he struggles a little bit.
00:12:32
Speaker
But, you know, he has completely revolutionised our midfield. And to be here now and say we're not favourites is ludicrous. I mean, will Liverpool win the league? Definitely, maybe, but it's it's it's anything can happen at this point.
00:12:48
Speaker
And we're going to see that on Sunday. Was that a City reference? What was what a City reference? The Oasis album. had to be here now as well, didn't I? On that lovely Oasis note, we will take a short break.
00:13:08
Speaker
And when we come back, we'll delve more into the match itself.
00:13:13
Speaker
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00:13:32
Speaker
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00:13:42
Speaker
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Manchester City podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. We talked a bit about what this game has meant to both sides over the years and why Liverpool are so good this season.
00:13:57
Speaker
So I'll come to you now, Keelan. What do City have to do in the next few months and maybe possibly beyond to ensure they can compete with Liverpool and potentially Arsenal again next season and regain that Premier League crown?
Manchester City's Struggles and Needs
00:14:10
Speaker
Well, first of all, showing up would be a good start. and I mean, I'm not going to get into a rant about Real Madrid because that would take up the entirety of the episode and that's not what we're here for. But, I mean, they just have to start showing some more solidity. You know, they've completely slid away in the last couple of games. It's been really, really poor. You know, just no organisation whatsoever. They've completely imploded.
00:14:35
Speaker
And the midfield has no legs whatsoever. The midfield's half the world away from the from the forward line, isn't it? It is. It's literally half a world away. And City have very much been looking back in anger in the last few games. I know what happened.
00:14:53
Speaker
You know, they keep telling me to stop crying my heart out, but I can't. Oh, yeah. Yeah. and They write themselves now, don't they? It's just, you know, we used to play supersonic football and now we're just standing still almost.
00:15:07
Speaker
I mean, some might say roy has been... Standing still yeah like the importance of being idle. Little niche on that. No, no, no, I got it, I got it, I got it. Unfortunately, the midfield has been very, very idle indeed. But um no, just, I mean, to have any chance, I'm not even thinking about this weekend, but next season.
00:15:27
Speaker
i mean, I saw reports today that about seven or eight senior players are expected to leave in the summer. And it's the likes of Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Grealish, and the beat goes on from there.
00:15:39
Speaker
i mean, this team needs major open heart surgery. And I am serious. It needs major, major surgery. and you have to try and find players that are better than these players and who can replicate what these players have done at their peak, and that's not easy to do.
00:15:55
Speaker
I mean, how do you replace Kevin De Bruyne for a start? Because no midfielder in this team can play a through ball, for God's sake. No midfielder has the vision or the ability to play the pass that Kevin De Bruyne does.
00:16:07
Speaker
No midfielder is two-footed like Kevin De Bruyne is, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. I mean, John Stones is like an Alfa Romeo, as I compared him to Jacked, He's great when he when he works, but when he doesn't work, he's on the shelf most of the season.
00:16:22
Speaker
And, I mean, there's just too many problems to mention, you know? i don't know where we went so badly wrong, but, i mean, we are very, very far from the patrons, and it is a steep hill to climb.
00:16:36
Speaker
What's the situation with John Stones, by the way? Because didn't he go off injured? He did go off injured, yes. and To be honest, we don't know what's wrong, but it's probably out to the end of the season, knowing John Stones, because he doesn't know the meaning of a small injury. Yeah, that is true.
00:16:54
Speaker
Yeah, and the problem is just you know so much of our defence has been injured at the same time. We're relying on old legs in midfield, and Holland has really been the only reason we're still in the Champions League race.
00:17:07
Speaker
But the other problem I have as well is, and I'll hand this back over Jules in a second, especially against Real Madrid. I mean, the coaching was shocking. I mean, I don't know what the hell Pep was thinking.
00:17:21
Speaker
Like, Savino, your most dangerous wide player, is being played as a 10 through the middle. Omar Marmouche is being played out wide and Foden's being played as a false nine. i mean, yes, I can blame the players and I can blame them for giving up and being poor.
00:17:35
Speaker
Questions have to be asked of the coaching as well, because once again, blew it almost like a champagne supernova.
00:17:44
Speaker
Just had to get one one more in at the end there. I knew it was coming. ah Well, so how important is it for and City to bounce back from that heartbreak with ah with a statement performance here? It could really kind of change the perspective of this end of the season, Keelan.
00:18:00
Speaker
It could, definitely. um i mean, the title's been gone since the first half of the season, so don't even think of any hopes about that. But I think the ability to sort of dent Liverpool with any kind of win, I think, would be a statement that at least there is something to salvage. Yeah.
00:18:19
Speaker
you know i'm not I'm not getting my hopes up because this Liverpool team are very, very good all over the pitch. In fact, except for their absence of a proper number nine, I think Liverpool are better in every single area of the pitch than Silly, top to bottom.
00:18:34
Speaker
So, I mean, a statement win would be great, but I don't see where it comes from.
Liverpool's Strategy and Challenges
00:18:39
Speaker
And from a Liverpool perspective, what what are yours and the club's feelings going into this one? I imagine it's the most confident you've been coming to the Etihad in years.
00:18:48
Speaker
I mean, you could you could say that just because of the sort of blip that Manchester City have had all season. However, our recent form hasn't been great either. And, you know, the last time I can remember us beating Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium was what when we...
00:19:07
Speaker
when we won 4-1 in like Pellegrini days or something, something like that. Firmino's first goal was that match, or I think. but I mean, in the Premier League at least, I think that was the last time.
00:19:18
Speaker
um i i just i just i just don't see where this momentum could come from if we were to suddenly get the form back magically overnight because the way that we played against Destin Villa...
00:19:33
Speaker
We had absolutely no answer to the way that they were playing. with that is Because as soon as they beat our counter press, you know, they were causing proper problems for us. And, you know, in these slots, in slots first season, we've had a lot less of the ball.
00:19:48
Speaker
um And we sort of rely on taking our chances when we get them. And yeah, we did score two goals against Aston Villa. But... we had a lot more chances than that and you know one of our goals came from ah villa mistake at the back uh when jotter just had the ball passed to him so you know we need to take our chances a lot more and you know darwin nunez that miss i mean let's just say he'll definitely cast no shadow over jotter and diaz for that one um
00:20:20
Speaker
Some might say even cost us the match, but I i just i just think you know we spent all that money a number nine, and you said that you lack and that we lack a number nine. He is meant to be that number nine, ah but he hasn't been scoring, and we brought him in four goals that he hasn't been giving us.
00:20:36
Speaker
so you know what do you what What do we do with that? um Jota's only ah started two games since his injury and he has he didn't play the full 90 against Villa, so I'm assuming he'll probably start against Manchester City. and When he does play, he is unbelievable ah with his finishing. ah He's clinical, he really gets in defenders' faces, but he has got a bit of a mean streak in him. you know He's a bit...
00:21:06
Speaker
ah I don't want to say the S-house word on here, but he is one of them. And, you know, that dive, that dive against Wolves. I mean, what? what's but Why?
00:21:18
Speaker
what What was he doing? We could have scored and he dived. So, yeah, um I think we just need to be a bit more clinical in front of goal. Sobos Live really lacks that sort of goal scorer's instinct.
00:21:32
Speaker
um And we need to take more chances. But, you know it It will be a fantastic match because I think Arna Slott will not underestimate Manchester City, despite your recent form. And and you you destroyed Newcastle the other day.
00:21:47
Speaker
Let's not forget that. Omar Mahmouche scoring that hat-trick. He's definitely one to be worried about. Yeah, and we'll get on to Mahmouche and um his other Egyptian underling later on.
00:21:59
Speaker
yeah um So what are the ways you think you can hurt Manchester City then, Louis? um I think the midfield battle will be quite an interesting one just because I think we have more legs in midfield at the moment.
00:22:13
Speaker
um And, you know, if we can win that battle, we can really cause some problems. I just think, you know, we can definitely create chances. I think McAllister and Gravenberg are just...
00:22:27
Speaker
irreplaceable at the moment. and Their consistency every single game has been unbelievable. And, you know, McAllister especially, he won't be scared of the big occasion. He'll be throwing himself into tackles. And he scored last season. ah ah Was it last season or earlier this season, the penalty ah that he scored against Man City? ah So he he he loves the big occasion. He also scored against Real Madrid.
00:22:48
Speaker
I think our big miss will be Cody Gakpo because... He loves he loves ah the big occasion as well. He scored as well earlier in the season, both against Manchester City and Real Madrid.
00:22:59
Speaker
So he'll be a miss. I'd like to see Luis Diaz have a good game again because he hasn't scored a proper goal in about 10 games.
00:23:10
Speaker
He scored that weird one that came off his hip against Wolves. um i think the individual battles all over the pitch could be very interesting. um But I think it will just be the Salah factor because he he can he can hurt a team at any moment in the match.
00:23:30
Speaker
And, you know, if he gets a half chance, he'll make it into a full chance. That's how good he is the moment. He had a fantastic game against Aston Villa. um And I think he will be the big sort of catalyst in our attack when it comes to hurting Manchester City. He's done it loads of times before.
00:23:47
Speaker
Who's to say he can't do it again? Yeah, and any defence would probably feel that worry going up against him in the form he's in currently. Keelan, I won't ask you to predict the team because with Pep, no one can ever know truly. But how do you expect the great bold one to approach this game and to stop Salah?
00:24:06
Speaker
How? and How? How? yeah I mean, knowing Guardiola, there's every chance Ederson might start in midfield. Like you said, it depends on what Pep's smoking on that day. So we we literally don't know.
00:24:21
Speaker
If it was up to me, though, I have a pretty good idea of the way I'd line it up. um I think, ah I mean, John Stones is out until next season, probably. So you've kind of got to hope Ruben Diaz is better than that horror show against Real Madrid.
00:24:37
Speaker
Line him up with Kusinov. maybe in the middle, bring in Ake and Vardy all as the fullbacks. I'd maybe do something like that. But Louis made a great point. This is all about the midfield battle.
00:24:48
Speaker
And if Liverpool keep getting the ball to Salah, Salah is going to score and Salah is going to keep scoring.
Countering Mo Salah's Threat
00:24:54
Speaker
And we just aren't going to have an answer to it. It really is that simple. That being said, if City's midfield somehow actually starts working again, City can absolutely hurt Liverpool. The attacking players are there. Yeah.
00:25:08
Speaker
My problem is the supply line, because you have Ryan Gravenberg, who's been the best defensive midfielder in the league this season, probably. you have Alexis McAllister, who's probably in the team of the season as well.
00:25:19
Speaker
And then you've got Dominic Savoslai, who seems to enjoy playing against City as well. And Nico Gonzalez didn't fill me with the most confidence with his game against Madrid, so I don't think he can hold this midfielder together on his own.
00:25:32
Speaker
And I swear to God, I will fire Mateo Kovacic into the solar system if he starts another game. game, which he probably will. So I just i don't see it in my mind.
00:25:44
Speaker
i don't see where the City midfield outperforms Liverpool's midfield. I do think if you can get the ball out wide to Omar Marmouche and Savinho, I do think they can have Liverpool's fullbacks on toast because Savinho's brilliant at committing the fullback and getting past him.
00:26:01
Speaker
We've seen Omar Marmouche do it as well. And I think Trent... is very defensively susceptible, as we know. So I think Marmouche could have a very good game if he starts out wide.
00:26:13
Speaker
And obviously Erling Haaland can turn on a sixpence and make a half chance into a full chance. I'm just so worried about that Liverpool attack because... I don't even care who Liverpool start through the middle. I know Salah's probably going to cook Josco Vardial. And that's not on Vardial. Vardial's been really good this year.
00:26:32
Speaker
But this might be the most dangerous version of Mo Salah we've ever seen. And this Mo Salah beats any fullback on planet Earth. And Haaland might not even be fit for a Duster Worrying thing.
00:26:46
Speaker
Sorry, the thing is with Salah, though, it's not his dribbling that's the that's the worry for the fullback. Because, you know, he had he lost he loses the ball so often when he comes in off the right-hand side.
00:26:59
Speaker
But it's the positions he finds himself in to receive the ball. yeah So it's not necessarily just the fullback, but it's the centre-backs. They have to be switched on 100% of the time.
00:27:11
Speaker
If they're not, he'll punish them. So it's it you have to have the most experienced, ready players ah for going up against Mo Salah. We've seen it time and time again this season.
00:27:22
Speaker
he is just He just finds a way to score. It's something actually him and Diogo Jada both do really, really well. yeah They operate amazingly in between the lines and in those sort of half spaces.
00:27:36
Speaker
One minute they're there, the other minute they're not. And most defenders just cannot keep track of the movement. The movement is something different completely. And, you know, Louis just made a brilliant point there. If City's entire defense is not switched on, which probably isn't going to be,
00:27:54
Speaker
they're in so much trouble because Salah in previous seasons has gotten chances missed one, missed two. Salah's taken nearly every big chance he's had this season.
00:28:05
Speaker
And if you gift him a chance, he is going to put it away, be under no illusion. and um I'm assuming Dioguijara might start as well. He's literally as lethal. he was he was taken off um He was taken off against Aston Villa, so i do he will definitely play. Whether it he'll start or not, that's a different thing, but I else i just don't i don't see Darwin Nunez starting, especially since Arna Slott criticised Darwin Nunez's attitude after the match. He said he was two down after his miss, um and he's a ruthless manager. You know what Dutch managers are. like They're just absolutely ruthless, and they will...
00:28:44
Speaker
They will punish you for the smallest things. So I i do think Jota will probably be starting. I'd be surprised if he wasn't. And again, it's its hard to slot.
00:28:56
Speaker
I also think, weirdly, that this could be a game for James McAtee. like in terms of giving them the opportunity to come through the ranks and it does seem like if you come through the you don't think so? because i've i've seen him not going to start him He's not going to start him.
00:29:12
Speaker
He should. i won yeah he yeah d McAtee deserves a start sure but Pep hasn't trusted him in the big games. Pep's barely trusted him at all to be honest. that's crazy to me it just seems like the sort of game that is built for for the uh players to prove a point the ones with a chip on their shoulder to really come and try and make a difference it does it seems right it's probably the only position in the pitch city have still got lots of depth though so it's very difficult when you have just just spent big money on marmouche and phil foden's obviously not going to get dropped and savinho's been city's most consistent forward this season so
00:29:50
Speaker
It's just a case of where does he go? he's not he's not He's not got the defensive capabilities or the size to play in a pivot, in my opinion. and He has to be one of the forward guys. and um Yeah, he's just got lot the way. Not Bernardo Silva sort of position then.
00:30:06
Speaker
If it was me, sorry, if it was me, just to say this really quickly, if it was me, my midfield three is Nico, Foden and McAtee, because at least you have the energy and McAtee has a point to prove.
00:30:18
Speaker
And frankly, I don't care if it's Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Kovacic or whoever else you mentioned, all three of those players have been trashed this season. They have underperformed in every single game they have played.
00:30:30
Speaker
I would rather James McAtee goes out and underperforms and gets overrun because at least he will try and at least he gets the chance that he deserves. Every single other central midfielder has let the midfield down. McAtee deserves a shot at it.
00:30:44
Speaker
What about the ah the experience of De Bruyne? I know, obviously, he didn't play against Real Madrid. He was on the bench. But would you not consider him? i don't think he's fully fit. i don't think he's been fully i don' I don't think he's been fully fit, even since he's been back, to be honest. Every time he has an interview, he says how much pain he's in playing. And I think i think we're really coming to the end now. I think he's been forced...
00:31:04
Speaker
too quickly back a few times in a row over the last couple of years. and I think he's starting to catch up with him now, Keelan. Unfortunately, I think Jules is right because if this was even 80% De Bruyne, he's better than ah any other midfielder that's fit at the moment.
00:31:21
Speaker
The problem is, again, like Jules said, every single game De Bruyne plays now and it's so heartbreaking to watch. He's wincing. He looks like he's in pain and it looks like it's a real struggle for him to do what he normally does.
00:31:35
Speaker
And I mean, if he's fit 100%, you start him against Liverpool because he's a man for the big a occasion. But i'm I'm starting to get worried now about De Bruyne's health because every interview we see, it's like, I'm in pain. I'm playing through this. I'm playing through this.
00:31:51
Speaker
And you have to wonder what the real story is there because clearly something isn't right. yeah yeah it's a real shame because i he he makes it into my all-time premier league 11. oh yeah and obviously we're biased but i 100 agree with you no i i i as a as a as a neutral for other obviously gerrard gets in for me that's my bias but for me it's gerrard probably skulls and de bruyne the midfield three for me in the all-time premier league 11. they're just ah Just De Bruyne, if you look at his goal catalogue, it's just And just his everything. like yeah's just a father give you When he wants to defend, he's even good at that, you know, because he's big as well and he's got good reading of the game.
00:32:38
Speaker
Yeah, I wouldn't say he's the world's best tackler, but when he has duels, he's pretty good in them normally, or or he was when he was a bit younger and a bit fitter. But yeah, on the ball... He's unparalleled. and let's be Sorry, I know this isn't the episode we're doing, but Gerard would be an amazing box-to-box six with De Bruyne and Skulls as the eighth. That would be unreal. I can real imagine. That would just be ridiculous. ah Three different generations there as well.
00:33:04
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Right, I'll let people ruminate over the that gen intergenerational midfield while we go for another short ad break. And when we come back, we'll talk a bit more about both Egyptians and and how happy Louis would be if Liverpool did the double over City this year.
00:33:27
Speaker
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out as the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone, AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:33:57
Speaker
Hello and welcome back to the manchester Daily Manchester City podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. So we've analysed a lot about how we think the game is going to play out.
00:34:08
Speaker
Haven't had score predictions from either you yet, so let's kick off this third and final segment with that.
Score Predictions and Past Performances
00:34:13
Speaker
And then we'll go a bit more into who we think is going to win the game. So but I'll go to Keelan first because Louis looks in pain as I ask him that question.
00:34:21
Speaker
Keelan, you're going to back the boys. Yeah, I think this is a 3-1 Liverpool. That's how I see this going. and I just think the midfield battle is going to be way too much. And I think, I mean, obviously it's the easiest bet in the world. Salah is going to get at least one.
00:34:37
Speaker
um I think it's probably going to be Salah, Diogo Jada and then Ryan Grauvenbrecht, I think, gets a goal as well. Wow. Louis? I hate these so much. I'm a bit of a pessimist, so I prepare myself for disappointment, so therefore when it happens, I'm less upset.
00:34:58
Speaker
No wonder why you two are getting along so well. yeah To me, a draw is as good as a loss. So ah i'll I'll probably say 1-0 just because it's at the Etihad. I think if it's at Anfield, we win, but...
00:35:12
Speaker
Going to the Etihad is always... I mean, City fans wait for this match all season. So that will be a pretty boiling point atmosphere there. So I'm umm i'm going to say 1-0.
00:35:24
Speaker
Hopefully Seller gets another one so he can run away with that golden boot. and Yeah, and you were right. It was 2015, the last time Liverpool won a Premier League game at the Etihad, and that was under Manuel Pellegrini as well, which feels quite bizarre, right? But I think you've what you've won a few at Anfield in that time as well.
00:35:43
Speaker
Well, we won in the we won in the Champions League because the Oxlade-Chamberlain. that That was at Etihad, I think. yeah I could be wrong. yeah yeah yeah yeah i think you won both I think you won both legs in that tie.
00:35:57
Speaker
Yeah, that was crazy. What what a night. Jeez. We've obviously talked a bit about Mo Salah, but um you mentioned specifically about him chasing that Henri goals and assists total.
00:36:11
Speaker
he's yeah He's going for the... um all-time record goal contributions in the Premier League, at least in a 38-game season. He probably could do it in a 42-game season too. That record is Alan Shearer with 47.
00:36:24
Speaker
But in a 38-game season, it's 44, as you mentioned, Henri, with 24 goals and 20 assists in 2002-2003. But Erling Haaland, in his inaugural campaign, scored that record 36 goals and added eight assists as well, which a lot a lot lot and not a lot of people thought...
00:36:40
Speaker
He did. So he also is sharing that record. Do you expect him to surpass that? and And quickly, just how important is he to Liverpool Football Club, Louis? ah he is He's paramount to us. I think there are so many games you can look at across this season where you think, yes, sell us, one-ass that match.
00:36:59
Speaker
um Will he get that record? I don't know, because 12 games, I know it sounds like a lot, but for an assist in majority of those games, you're asking a lot. Goals, I mean, he gets them all the time. He gets almost a goal a match at this point.
00:37:13
Speaker
So he needs six. He needs six more goal contributions to break the record. Oh, six more goal contributions to break that record. i thought it was just going for assists for the end of, to to catch the 20. I mean, he could also break that all-time assist record too. yeah So he could he could get everything.
00:37:31
Speaker
That's shared, but with ah Henri and De Bruyne, I believe, the 20 assists in one season. So I don't think he'll do that. But for the goal contributions, I think he does. iss The form that he's on.
00:37:44
Speaker
And, you know, even when we don't win, he's still like with the Everton and Villa ones, he got a goal and an assist in both of those games. I don't think people realize how insane and ah his numbers have been for us this season. He is just paramount. you know, he's instrumental in every match that we play. He how he gives you that confidence that means...
00:38:07
Speaker
that you can go into each game thinking that you will win. he's yeah i think he deserves the Ballon d'Or. i think I'd like to know from you, actually, do you think he deserves the Ballon d'Or? um Well, it probably depends on what you end the season with, right? if Yeah, I suppose. If you win the Champions League, it's probably nailed on.
00:38:27
Speaker
But obviously, then you've got to look at the start of next season. um if he If he leaves the c club and goes elsewhere and doesn't play top, you know, he could... Saudi is what lot of people are talking. He's not going to win it if he goes there.
00:38:39
Speaker
But, yeah, to ah directly answer the question, he has been the best footballer in the world over the last 12 months, I think, yeah. Yeah. brilliant I second that by the way I do agree I think Sal has been untouchable and so Keelan we'll come to you now and City their own Egyptian king Omar Mamouche truly electrified the Premier League in his last game in the competition as you mentioned Louis he got that hat trick in the first half against Newcastle to devastating effect how vital is he going to be causing danger and creating opportunities this would undoubtedly be the perfect stage for him to truly arrive
00:39:15
Speaker
Well, if Haaland's fit and he stops taking all the set pieces and corners, then absolutely he can be
Omar Marmouche's Potential Impact
00:39:21
Speaker
a massive threat. and I think what we saw with Marmush, although it's a very small sample size, is when he has a number nine to play off of, he's unbelievably dangerous. You know, playing out sort of slightly in that left wing position.
00:39:36
Speaker
he he was yeah mean he He tore Newcastle apart single-handedly. I mean, we so we all saw that with our own eyes. I don't know what he'd be like as and um as the number nine as the focal point. I don't think he would be as good or as effective.
00:39:50
Speaker
But if, fingers crossed, Erling Haaland's fit, then I think Marmouche will be incredibly dangerous and difficult to stop. And especially if Trent starts on the right-hand side, i think Marmouche would have a very good game.
00:40:03
Speaker
Yeah, I think that that's the key. port both of things Yeah, and Bradley went off injured in the last game and Slott said he's 99.9% sure immediately after the match that he wouldn't be able to play against Manchester City or even Newcastle and that they have to assess him.
00:40:20
Speaker
So Trent's nailed on. And he's is being kind of rushed back as well from injury himself, isn't he? No, no, no. He's had time to be integrated back into the team um and he started against Villa.
00:40:33
Speaker
taken off at like 60 minutes in and he scored against filler as well so yeah and i thought he had a brilliant game to be honest defensively as well as an attack but you know it's a different challenge taking on uh omar mamush as we've seen ah from newcastle's experience Yeah, absolutely.
00:40:52
Speaker
So and I just want to ask you both this question. At this point of the campaign, what would constitute a good
Defining a Successful Season
00:41:00
Speaker
season? What would you both be happy with come June?
00:41:03
Speaker
And I'll start with you, Louis. Well, if you asked me this before the season, i would have said... not, but I'm not. I know, but I would have said ah top four Champions League quarterfinal and maybe one of the two Cups.
00:41:17
Speaker
At the moment, we're top of the league, five points clear, and it seems like it would be a bad season if we didn't win the league now, being this far clear with this many games to go. um i don't think it's a bad season in particular, but I think we have to win at least...
00:41:36
Speaker
one or or at least you know have it go to the final day or get to the semi-finals of the champions league and probably win the carabao cup now considering the fact that we are the better team than newcastle so i think what final day at least one of the semi-finals the champions league and win the carabao cup that for me is a good season and that's me being pessimistic obviously i want all three if ah Just before you answer the City perspective, Keelan, would it be a bottle for Liverpool not to win the Premier League at this ah at this point?
00:42:12
Speaker
Respectfully to Louis, yes, it would be yeah it would be. It would be as bad as any of the Arsenal bottles, in my opinion, as well. Mostly because of the advantage and mostly because, for God's sake, not Arsenal.
00:42:24
Speaker
yes that's what i'm thinking that's what's motivating me more about this league as well it's like yes it would be amazing if we've won it we've won it recently and that was an amazing feeling but god i do not want arsenal fans to have the last laugh ah that would just that the noise pollution on social media would be unbearable like i i respect liverpool as a football club so i can more than live with them winning the league but I cannot live with Arsenal winning it. I will not have that. Louis, you've helped us out before. We will we'll try and support you as well. Don't let North London win this. I do not. I do not.
00:43:00
Speaker
I really don't want that. you know and the fact The fact that they haven't really won anything under Arteta is reassuring at the moment. So if they won the Premier League for the first time since the Invincible, I don't i don't want to speak that into existence, but...
00:43:18
Speaker
We've done it now. We just need to pray it doesn't happen. i I love that the only thing that can bond Liverpool and City fans is a mutual hatred of Arsenal.
00:43:31
Speaker
And Keelan, I know I've asked you this before, but obviously football moves so fast and now City are out of the Champions League. that That was always the the shiny carrot that could have turned it all around.
00:43:43
Speaker
What does City need to do now for this to not be a complete, absolute travesty? i think... Winning the FA Cup and finishing third is an acceptable salvage from this season.
00:43:58
Speaker
Missing any of that is a disgrace, quite frankly, because you spend all this money in January, you don't plan for Rodri being injured, anything short of that, and the sword falls on your own head.
00:44:10
Speaker
If you can win the FA Cup and you can finish third and get Champions League football, that's acceptable to me, based on standards of our own club. if like If I could just chip in quickly, I just want to say that's absolutely achievable for Manchester City because here's a stat for you. Since Christmas, only Liverpool and Arsenal have won more points in the Premier League than Manchester City.
00:44:32
Speaker
In their eight games beforehand, City picked up only four points. So there's been some sort of shift since Christmas yeah in favour of Manchester City. And you know when you have when you if you can but put up a performance like you did against Newcastle, then I don't see why a team capable of doing that can't play in ch in the Champions League. that's I mean, you're more than good enough and you have got the momentum now, I think, especially since now you don't have to focus on European football. So you're on the same wavelength as Nottingham Forest.
00:45:03
Speaker
And um you can, well, I don't want to say you can underestimate Plymouth in the next round because we did that and we got punished by it. so But, you know, if as it stands, I think Manchester City can focus on the Premier League. And when you have distractions out of the way, I know Forest do as well. I know that some of the other clubs in that sort of region the Premier League do.
00:45:27
Speaker
But I just think i I almost think it's a failure if you don't get to the Champions League by even by the standards that you've put out this season. Oh, yeah. No, it would be, especially at this point where City still have it in their own hands.
00:45:42
Speaker
Like you say, um there's no European football as a distraction. I don't know if I'd use that word because City should always expect to be competing at the latter stages of every tournament with the with the wage bill and the quality in the team. It's me coping with the f FA Cup.
00:45:55
Speaker
ah Yeah. But yeah, and City absolutely, ah possibly one of the favourites for the FA Cup, you'd have to say, with you with you being defeated. And yeah, finishing top four, consolidating, big open heart surgery, like you said, Keelan.
00:46:12
Speaker
So, and yeah, and then go again next year. You can't win every year. Four in a row just took everything out of these players. The treble season already took everything out of these players.
00:46:24
Speaker
To squeeze one more year and get that English record of four titles in a row, I think that was clearly the straw that broke the camel's back. Yeah, was. And I think even there were sources within City that said they were surprised that they won the fourth in a row because they didn't think that team was capable of it.
00:46:43
Speaker
But I think the hangover from the travel winning team has properly hit now. And Louis, you'll remember this. Was it two seasons ago, maybe Klopp's second last season, whenever it was, and the midfield ran out of legs. Henderson, Fabinho and so on and so forth. yeah Yeah, Fabinho was awful that year.
00:47:02
Speaker
That's what's happened to us. We've had our hangover now. And Klopp performed a brilliant job of preparing the team for Arnaz slot. And now Guardiola faces that challenge this summer.
00:47:14
Speaker
I think a successful season for City is this. You win the FA Cup, you finish in the top three, Arsenal don't win the league, and then you can scrap the season and say, you know what, we move, we go on the next year.
00:47:28
Speaker
Because we'll always have the argument that Rodri was out. And with Rodri, a lot of those draws and losses do become wins. But I think when we get Rodri back, and if we can replace the players that are going to lose, we can kind of forgive the season we've had. But anything short of that is a failure.
00:47:46
Speaker
Yeah, I totally Would take getting to the final of the f FA Cup? No, you know yeah after would have to win do You have to win it, yeah. Finishing second isn't an option. It's win it or it's a failure.
00:47:58
Speaker
I was very annoyed when you lost it to Man United last season. ah How do you think we felt? Yeah, don't know. Yeah, this team still has too much quality in it to go trophy-less for the whole season. that that With one of the greatest managers, if not the greatest manager of all time as well.
00:48:15
Speaker
you can't You can't waste Pep's final years, although he's done a lot of it himself, of course. But you've got to you've got to be racking up the the silverware towards the end of what has been an extraordinary career.
00:48:28
Speaker
And yeah so I've got another interesting stats about this game. Actually, if you, and sorry, it's just, I've seen this and I think it really deserves the airtime. Liverpool have achieved the premier league double over the reigning champions six times previously. That's more than any other side in the competition's history.
00:48:44
Speaker
That's against Blackburn, Man United 0-1, 0-9, and Chelsea in 2010 and 11. Um,
00:48:50
Speaker
and chelsea in two thousand and ten and eleven um But yeah, obviously the Etihad factor is going to... How special would it be to win the Premier League and do the double over ah over the Champions Man City in the process?
00:49:05
Speaker
I mean, to be honest, I'd be happy if we won the league and and didn't do the... I just want the league at this point. But it would be extra special if we finally won at the Etihad for the first time in almost 10 years.
00:49:20
Speaker
We actually did the double over you in that season as well. um And that's the oh that's one of only two times we've done the double overview, the other being in 2005-06, one that most of your fans weren't probably weren't fans at that point. Or Bourne.
00:49:35
Speaker
Or Bourne, yeah, or Bourne. um But if we can win, I think I will have total confidence that we can win the league. ah But obviously the most important game ah that we still have to play in the Premier League ah left to go in this season is Arsenal.
00:49:53
Speaker
And that's towards the very latter stages of the season. So that will be almost like a cup final. and But this is probably the one that comes second, close second, definitely.
00:50:06
Speaker
And inversely, Keelan, know you've said Arsenal are obviously top of the hit list, but how how painful would it be to surrender the title the way that City have and then Liverpool do the double, which obviously hasn't been done for a large amount of years?
Reflection on Manchester City's Season
00:50:23
Speaker
It's a cruel question. To tell you the God's honest truth, as bad as this sounds, this whole season has been horrifying. you know Game after game after game, losing games you should be winning, putting in subpar performances.
00:50:38
Speaker
To tell you the truth, I don't really care about losing to a better team. You know, if Liverpool win, they win. They've been the best team in the league this season, and I have no problem saying that.
00:50:49
Speaker
What bothers me more is that City are this bad rather than how good Liverpool are. we It should be us and Liverpool competing for this league again. It shouldn't be Arsenal and Liverpool, or at the very least, it should be a three-horse race.
00:51:04
Speaker
The fact that we've let ourselves get in this position where we're talking about being embarrassed by having the double done over us, that's poor. And we should never be in this position again. the fact that we're debating how embarrassing it's going to be if Liverpool do at least double over us.
00:51:18
Speaker
We need to have a serious sit down at the end of the season and evaluate where this whole thing's gone wrong. And this arrogance can never be allowed to be repeated again.
00:51:30
Speaker
Definitely. And surely with Rodri back next season, and it will it will be a three-horse race, you'd imagine, because he can't keep his team with this quality down for too long.
00:51:41
Speaker
And that'll about do it for today's crossover episode. Make sure you stay tuned for all the coverage we'll be putting out covering this massive game and much more as the season starts to get into crunch time.
00:51:51
Speaker
Thank you to Louis from the Daily Liverpool team, and thanks to Keela McNamara as always too. and Thank you all so much for listening. I've been Jules Jordan-Probert. We've been the Daily Manchester City podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:52:04
Speaker
I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.
00:52:13
Speaker
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