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Friday Forecast - Newcastle v Liverpool preview
0 Playsin 13 hours
The build up to Monday Night's PL clash at St James' Park starts here as Jesse Sarwar runs the rule over both teams ahead of this big PL game.
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Transcript
Preview: Liverpool vs Newcastle
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm Jesse Sawa. It is the Friday edition of the Daily Liverpool podcast. So today we're looking ahead to Monday night's Premier League trip to St. James's Park.
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
where the Reds will take on Newcastle United in what is set to be quite the clash with a certain Swedish striker adding more than a dash of spice to this game. It's a Monday night, 8pm kickoff. That's UK time.
00:01:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
3pm Eastern time. So the Reds have had a good 10 days to prepare for this game after their opening day of the season win against Bournemouth last Friday at Anfield.
Transfer Tensions: Isak Saga
00:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not sure that's a great thing, especially in the early stages of the season. You want to build that momentum. You want to get some rhythm in the team, fitness into your game.
00:01:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And 10-day break is... A 10-day break is what you're looking for over the Christmas period or the second half of the season. So that is something I think that...
00:02:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Liverpool will really need to be aware of. I guess more so specifically Arnie Slott really needs to make sure that his players are ready for what is sure to be a fiery encounter. It's an evening kickoff in St James's Park and with all that's but that that's going on between Liverpool and Newcastle over the on and off transfer of Alexander Isak, it's inevitably going to spill over onto the pitch.
00:02:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know You know that the crowd are going to be massively up for this game. So, you know Newcastle are going to be, yeah think they're going to be very strong in this game.
Midfield Challenges for Liverpool
00:02:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Their biggest strength is their midfield. And despite not having on the surface the best transfer window, they've done some business, know, but they've missed out on a lot of their targets.
00:03:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
which is one of the reasons why there is this kind of problem with Isak. I think that if i think that if Newcastle had managed to secure ah ah striker know a few weeks ago, then i think that Isak would already be a Liverpool player.
00:03:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And and and kind of Liverpool, I guess, were also involved in you know, Newcastle's failure to land a striker because we, you know, we hijacked the Eketike deal.
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's also kind of, you know, ramped up the temperature for this fixture as well. So they've got a ah big, you know, a good team. They've got a very, very good midfield.
Liverpool's Substitutions and Fitness Strategy
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we saw how and how an energized and combative Newcastle unit United midfield could really cause problems for a Liverpool midfield that wasn't really quite up to speed in that League Cup final last season and obviously Newcastle won.
00:04:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, we looked really leggy, you know, the number of games and. A fairly small kind of roster of players, particularly in that midfield area.
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, it really looked like it caught up with us during that game. So it may well be a problem that this time we just don't have enough minutes in the legs.
00:04:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you've got to say that i so I suppose that Newcastle will have the same problems as well. And and I guess that's why I mentioned that the 10 day break. after just the first game of the season, you know, it it could be something that Newcastle can try to exploit. And, you know, Eddie Howe, you will look at that and you will think that maybe it's something, an area that we can target.
00:04:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it is all about fine margins at this level. So, you know, Eddie Howe will be looking for those marginal gains for his team to capitalise on. But, you know talking of the midfield, I think on the plus side for for the Reds, we'll have Ryan Gravenberg back in contention for that midfield spot. And I think that he will go straight back in.
00:05:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think you can really see the difference now game when he's not there. Dominic Saboslay, who's come in for Gravenberg, has played next to McAllister.
00:05:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
He can do a job there. He can do a job in any midfield position. But I just think that he doesn't have the kind of composure on the ball that Gravenberg shows.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or that ability to turn a player deep in his own half and turn defence into attack. I think Sir Bosley's game is is much more all action.
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think he's more kind of effective in that. final third, you know, where he kind of breaks up play. He affects game games in terms of his pressing, but also how he supports the front line, particularly with Salah.
00:06:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so that's an area that I think Liverpool will really need to to be up on their game. And I think Graverberg coming back in, i think will be a huge plus point for us in that game.
00:06:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
and In the opening game last year last week, I should say, against Bournemouth, a lot of people and and myself included at the time were you know i was surprised when the boss took off both fullbacks so both uh milos kirkes and jeremy frimponk now kirkes was on a yellow card so ah ah guess that was understandable because you know he'd kind of thrown himself into A few kind of, wouldn't say reckless tackles, but but they were a bit rash.
00:07:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so you could see the the rationale behind slot taking Kerkhez off. You know, you don't want your new signing sent off in the first game of the season.
00:07:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that would have been a possibility, I think, you if it's if he'd stayed on. But the Frimpong substitution, that's the one that really raised eyebrows because it was, you know, because he was playing well and, you know, it was a decent performance and he didn't really show any signs of of fatigue or that he was tired.
00:07:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was after Frimpong went off that we conceded with an attack down that same flank. so So that one was a substitution that really caused a lot of chatter.
00:07:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
It does now appear that Frimpong was feeling his hamstring and, you know, was taken off as a precaution, which absolutely makes sense.
00:07:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
who would have thought, you know, Arnie Slott knew what he was doing. And again, what you don't want is your new signing at right back that's come in with all the hoo-ha, you know, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold to then miss the next two or three months with a hamstring tear.
00:08:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But what it does mean, though, is that we do have potentially an issue at right back because... If Frimpong was taken off with with a suspected hamstring issue, i think you've got to be really careful with that.
00:08:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you've got to be really careful with those speedsters. And Frimpong is one of those. He's lightning quick. And so I think if there's any doubt over his hamstring, just sit him out.
00:08:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think sit him out. We've got i Connor Bradley, I don't think is quite ready. He's had a few games that he's missed in in preseason as well.
00:08:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm not sure whether he's going to be ready for this game, but we would have Joe Gomez. who is a more than capable deputy at right back. He can fill in in any of those positions.
00:09:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's always done, I think, particularly well in those fullback positions. So I think if there's any doubt over f Frimpong in terms of his fitness, and in particular, if it is hamstring related,
00:09:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would say just sit him out, sit him out and play him for the next game because the next game is Arsenal. And so we just cannot afford to have major injuries for for any of our big players. And he is now a very, very important player in that right but right wing back or right full back position.
00:09:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that Joe Gomez says that there is a good argument to be made that he may start that game.
Flexibility in Tactics and Formations
00:09:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
The rest of the the team seems, I would say, fairly settled with no real kind of major injury concerns.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so really the the big news is that Ryan Gravenberg will be back for that game. And as I mentioned, I think, you know, we saw in that opening game against Bournemouth that, you know, we were a bit too open at times.
00:10:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, Bournemouth kind of cut through the middle of us sometimes a bit too easily. And with Newcastle being at home, as I said, the Geordies are going to be well up for this game.
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
We just can't afford to give the likes of Anthony Gordon you know space to run into. So with Gravenberg back, I'm hoping that that gives our back four that kind of extra but protection, that extra shield in front of them. Because he's the thing about Gravenberg, he's he's very good at sweeping up danger.
00:10:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
before it reaches our back four. So he's not ah he's not a particularly aggressive tackler. He's not like a, you know, he's he's not like a Rodri or anything like that. But I think he's positionally really intelligent and he just gets himself in the way of passes. He gets himself in the way of through balls.
00:11:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
He gets himself in the way of players in and around that kind of half space between the midfielder and the back four. And so I think him being there, I think should shore up our midfield and, know, by extension our back four.
00:11:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's, I think he's in position in possession as well that, know, I think he's really important because he gets the ball moving quickly and he gets the ball moving forward very quickly.
00:11:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And now that we've got the likes of Florian Vietz in front of him, you know, that's what we want to see. And that is what Vietz will want to see is the ball being fed to Vietz quickly and for him to go and do the kind of damage that we we hope that he can do in that final third.
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the midfield battle is going to be really important. And I think it's to really interesting to see how Slott sets his team up. know having Gravenberg and McAllister back in that double pivot, which Slott really seems to like, is really important for us. But I think you'll also need that energy, that pressing ability, that work rate that Sir Bosley gives you.
00:12:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i think he's the best. I think he's he's the best the team at doing that. And I would argue that he's probably one of the best in the Premier League team. at doing that in in terms of his energy.
00:12:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's pressing just constantly from minute one to 90. I don't think there's a fitter player in the in the Premier League. And so I think that, you know, it's it's an interesting question mark over the forward line because if we're to presume that slot does opt for that tried and trusted trio in midfield,
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
then you know how is that forward line going to shape up? Mohamed Salah is obviously a certain starter but I think then it gets interesting. Cody Gakpo has had a really good start to the season.
00:13:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he he was good at Wembley. He scored in the Premier League opener last week. And, you know, he really works well on that left flank. And you probably have to say that he's the first choice now for that left-sided forward position.
00:13:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now that Luis Diaz has left. But then you have Eketike who's come in, followed followed up his goal in the Community Shield with his first Premier League goal of the season as well against Bournemouth last week.
00:13:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So does Eketike play up front, you know, right down the middle? And if he does, where does that lead leave Vietz? Or does Slot opt for a more kind of midfield heavy formation with Vietz coming in, kind of operating in that kind of number 10 area?
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there are some decisions, I think, to be made. But you can see that Liverpool's transfer business It may not have increased our kind of overall numbers.
00:14:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
In fact, it's gone down. But I think tactically, I think it does give slot more flexibility to move players around and play, you know different formations, subtle tweaks here and there.
00:14:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that's that's the real interesting thing for me is the kind of tactical makeup and the tactical shape he sets the the team up in and and how that impacts the starting line-up.
00:15:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
As for the opposition, as for Newcastle, we've already mentioned their midfield as being a key area for Liverpool to combat. and And combat, I think, is the operative word. I think it is going to be a battle.
00:15:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Newcastle being criticised for their transfer business, this window. or or the lack of transfer business, but they do have jack Jacob Ramsey that has come in from Aston Villa and there's every chance that he could make his debut in this game.
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Joe Willock looks set to miss out with injury and there is some doubt over Jacob Murphy. with I think what could be an Achilles problem. And he was really impressive down that right flank last season.
00:15:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Scored some absolute crackers. And i think if he does play, he'll be another threat down that flank that Kerkhez, maybe Gakpovies if he's on that left flank as well.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
They'll really have to keep an eye on. OK, look, we're going to go for a very short break. And when we come back, we'll do a predicted lineup, score prediction, and we'll look at some of the latest transfer news involving the Reds.
Defensive Lineup and Player Fitness
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, welcome back. Let's get into some predictions. Let's start with the lineup. I think it's going to be as you were in goal. I think that Alison He's clearly our number one, has been for for years.
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Marmadashvili coming in and playing well during pre-season, I don't think is has changed that in any way. So, Alisson start in goal.
00:17:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
The question marks now are in defence... depending on Frimpong's injury status, I think if he's fit, he plays.
00:17:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think if there's any doubt, any doubt whatsoever with a hamstring injury, would certainly hope that Slott would just not play him and play Joe Gomez. So that's that's where we are if in terms of the right back position. I think it's all dependent on Frimpong's fitness status.
00:17:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
The other side on on left back, I think Kerkers will still start. He had an OK game against Bournemouth. But I just think that he needs a run of games.
00:17:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
There is a possibility, I think, that Slott could look at Robertson and think... You know, it's it's an evening kickoff. It's going to be a very hostile atmosphere. They're going to throw everything at us in that first 15, 20 minutes. Tackles are going to be flying in.
00:18:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
could we do with the experience of Robertson? You know, he he's quite feisty as well. you won't He won't kind of shy away from the physical side of that game.
00:18:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it is a possibility that Slott does go for Robertson because, you know, judging by that first game, You know, Kerkhez, he's just a younger version of Robertson. So, you know, he he was flying in for for quite a few tackles.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, whether whether that was more the kind of adrenaline of, you know, a home debut Anfield, his first game for Liverpool, and that he'll kind of settle down.
00:19:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, that that remains to be seen. But so I would still think that he'll start with Kerkis. But I think Robertson's, you know, a solid option. And that's the great thing about, I think, having Robertson and Kerkis there. You've got two similar kind of left backs, but in different stages of their career.
00:19:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Robertson gives you that experience. Kerkis gives you that, know, kind of youthful energy. Moving on to midfield, I think that Slott is going to, as I said, he's going to just stick to his tried and trust trusted trio, which is Gravenberg, McAllister and Sir Bosley, which means that up front is, I think the big question, you know, how does he arrange that forward line?
00:19:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, given that we we are... You know, we are a couple of players short up there. Obviously with, you know, the the the horrible situation with Diogo and with Luis Diaz leaving, with Darwin Nunes leaving. So, you know, that there there are a couple of spots there that we need filling, which, you know, is why we're going for Isak as well.
00:20:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'm going to go for um Salah, starting obviously on the right, Gakpo on the left. And I think he'll play Vietz. I think that he'll play Vietz maybe as those kind of two number tens with Vietz and Subozlai.
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So no kind of recognized out and out st striker. And I think he'll do that to maybe combat Newcastle's midfield to really kind of overrun them.
00:20:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, it' it's not like we don't have goals in that forward line because we don't have an out and out number nine. You know, Salah, Gakpo, you know, they're all in goal scoring form.
00:20:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, Vietz can score as well. So... That's what I think that he'll do. I think he'll he'll set up maybe in in the in a similar way to how he set up last season away at Manchester City, where I think it was Sir Bosley and Curtis Jones who played the kind of two advanced number 10 roles.
00:21:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And obviously, you know, we all know how that worked. That worked out really well for us. So that's a possibility. I think that's how we will shape up in terms of a score prediction.
00:21:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm hoping that defensively we're going to be better and I'm hoping that we're going to be better because We weren't great against Bournemouth and we weren't great against Crystal Palace. And I think part of that is because, you know, half of this back four is new.
00:21:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, you've you've got Van Dijk and Kanate, but then you've got two new fullbacks in Kerkers and Frimpong. And so you would hope that.
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, the more games that we play, you know, the the more work that the back four do together, that understanding grows, that, the you know, the relationships grow between each side of the defence. So, you Kanate with Frimpong, Van Dijk with Kerkhez.
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Although judging by Kanate's performance against Bournemouth, which was just an absolute horror show, You know, you've you've got a young Italian now, Leone, who's come in from Parma.
00:22:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think he's coming to so just sit on the bench. I think he's he's there to put pressure on the likes of Canate, who is in the final year of his contract, to say, look, you know, if you don't buck up your ideas, you're going to be on the bench.
00:22:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's a good thing. And so, but ah but I don't think Anate can be any worse, really. He just can't be any worse than he was last week. So I'm hoping that there'll be an improvement defensively, but I still think that we'll concede just because of, you know,
00:23:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Newcastle being so up for this game, it's going to be a really hostile atmosphere. And I think that Newcastle will have their moments. You know, it doesn't matter how well you play. The opposition always going to have moments. They're going to have a 10, 15 minutes spell.
00:23:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that they'll do that. And I think that they'll score. But I think that we will come out 2-1 winners. That's what I'm hoping anyway.
Transfer Rumors and Squad Depth
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, let's move on to some other news before we wrap up today's episode. Former red Don Hutchinson now, who's a who's a pundit.
00:23:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's called on Liverpool to to go for Atletico Madrid number nine, Julian Alvarez instead of Isaac.
00:24:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's an interesting shout. I really like Alvarez and I think that he's ah he's and ah ah he's a top player. I think he's really, really, he's got so much to his game.
00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think he'd link up really well with the likes of Salah. I think he'd link up really well with players like Florian Vietz because he's kind of on that same wavelength, really kind of intelligent forward player, intelligent with his movement and finding space.
00:24:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're probably getting for a lot less than the 150 million or so that Newcastle are looking for for Alexander Isaac.
00:24:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But in truth, I just can't see that kind of deal happening with a club like Atletico Madrid so late in the window.
00:24:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, that they'd they'd have to get ah ah replacement in. And I just don't see don't see that happening. Harvey Elliott appears is RB Leipzig's top target to replace Chelsea-bound Xavi.
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
it Simons or is it Simmons? I think it's Savvy Simons now reports are suggesting that Elliot has already agreed personal terms with RB and I guess they're just waiting for those kind of dominoes to fall into place with the Simons deal to you know to complete before leaving Anfield which will be a great shame I think you know he's He's a really talented player and you can see how much he loves the club.
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
know, he's it's it's grown up as a Liverpool supporter. His dad's a Liverpool supporter. And he's still very young. He's 22 years old But I think it will be a good move for him because I don't want someone like Harvey Elliott just sat on the bench and just not getting any game time, getting, you know, one minute of stoppage time at the end of a game or something.
00:26:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just don't think that's fair on him. And I think that he's got, he's just got a lot more to offer, but I just don't think he can break through ahead of the likes of Gravenberg.
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
McAllister, Sir Bosley, and now Florian Wirtz as well. And even Curtis Jones is probably higher up the pecking order than than he is. So I think at 22 years old, I think that that the stage of his career that he he's at, the experience that he's already had with Liverpool, winning the Premier League, playing in Champions League games, winning the cup competitions,
00:26:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that he'll absolutely thrive in the Bundesliga. And who knows when he's 25 years old and he's the finished article, you know, he he may be available to come back. And so I hope that we insert some kind of buyback clause.
00:27:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
think that would make sense because I really do think that he's a player that can go up another another level. Right. And that is that. No exact news as yet. We'll be on here, of course, if it does break.
00:27:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And so that's it.
Crossover Episode Announcement
00:27:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's all for today. You've been listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. We will be back on Monday as we continue our build up to what is slowly becoming a bit of a grudge game against Newcastle United.
00:27:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Monday's episode is going to be a special crossover episode where the Daily Liverpool podcast team will go head to head with the Daily Newcastle podcast team today.
00:27:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Boo. We're all getting our Alexander Isaac t-shirts ready for that one. So please support the show by following us wherever you get your podcasts.
00:27:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until next time, thank you for listening.