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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW - LIVERPOOL v EINTRACHT FRANKFURT
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The Reds travel to Germany to play Frankfurt in the CL as Arne Slot looks to get the Reds back to winning ways. Jesse looks ahead to this game, the form guide for both teams and the selection dilemma facing Slot in what has become his first real test as Liverpool manager.
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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.
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Transcript
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
Introduction and Context
00:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast
Champions League Challenges
00:01:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Network. It is Wednesday the 22nd of October and it is Champions League night.
00:01:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Reds are travelling to Germany to play against Eintracht Frankfurt um to get away from, I suppose, the misery of the Premier League.
00:01:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But I suppose the Champions League has been a little bit miserable for us as well because we lost that last game against Galatasaray. So, yeah, not a good time for the Reds at the moment.
00:02:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But we will go into the preview of that game and have a look at Frankfurt, see what we're up against. ah Some other news that um we'll touch on before then.
Klopp's Interview Insights
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jurgen Klopp, great timing.
00:02:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
um An interview with the Stephen Bartlett podcast. I think it's a diary of a CEO. Huge podcast. um Interviewed Jurgen Klopp.
00:02:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Two hours, I think two, two and a half hours. um i mean, fascinating to listen to the man. Another reminder of just, you know, how charismatic um a manager he was for Liverpool. And, um you know, he he was a manager that... so It was just generational.
00:02:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah He was in that Bill Shankly mould, completely rejuvenated ah Liverpool Football Club, awoke a sleeping giant, as it were. And, you know, we're we're living the, you know, the fruits of that Jurgen Klopp revival.
00:03:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But a really interesting interview. I'd ah recommend listening to that. um And I mentioned that there was interesting timing. I'm sure that's not down to Jurgen Klopp.
00:03:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm sure um it's not down to, you know, the Stephen Bartlett podcast that they predicted this kind of slump in Liverpool's fortunes.
00:03:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But, you know, he is asked amongst other things, you know, they speak about his background and You know, what kind of made Jurgen Klopp the kind of character that he is, the values that he has, his personality.
00:03:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
All that was really, really interesting. I think the big headlines, though, are about the the kind of potential return to Liverpool Football Club. Now... you know I don't want to be as as some of the other outlets out there.
Slott's Challenges at Liverpool
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, he was asked the question, you know to would you return or is it possible that in the future that you could return to Liverpool Football Club?
00:04:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And look, he's made it very clear in multiple interviews that he is very, very happy with his decision. He's very, very happy with the kind of lifestyle balance that he's got, ah the job that he's got and the fact that he can see his um his family.
00:04:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I don't think there's any chance that he is looking to return to management anytime soon. But he was asked that, look, is is it a possibility possibility in the future? And, you know, he has said that he wouldn't manage another English club in the Premier League. So that means if he does come back, it's only to Liverpool Football Club.
00:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I guess that it's made the headlines purely because of the fact that, you know, we are in the kind of slump that we are. And there are some, I suppose, question marks for the first time around the new manager, Arnie Slott.
00:05:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
who had a ah fantastic debut season, Premier League winner, ah couldn't have got any better. But now is the time where there is ah first real test of, you know, of his um his leadership at Liverpool and see whether he can get the club out of this kind of mini slump.
00:05:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And let's just hope it doesn't turn into a huge slump. And so I guess that's why the focus is on this interview. And I'm sure that Jurgen Klopp was probably kind of bracing himself for the timing of this release.
00:05:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But I don't think that it kind of puts any more pressure on Arniss Slott. I think that he's quite a level-headed guy. And I think that the outside noise, I don't think is going to really affect him or the players.
00:06:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I do think that it's a reminder for Liverpool supporters that you know he this was a manager that we we never wanted to leave. He wasn't hounded out of the club. you know he's He's one of those rare managers that just left of his own accord and left on on ah on a high with a team...
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
built for success and and that was proved in the in the very next season where but we then we win the league. But so yeah good to see Jurgen Klopp looking um fresh, looking healthy.
00:06:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And look, you know i i I'm happy with Arnish Slott being our manager. But if in two, three, four years time, maybe five year five years time, whatever it is, if there's any possibility that Jurgen Klopp would come back, I think most Liverpool supporters would, you know, would welcome him back with open arms.
00:07:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whether Jurgen Klopp would come back, I think it's easier said than done You know, going back for a second time, you know, it's very rare that kind of works out.
00:07:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But, you know, the temptation will be there, i think, on both sides to kind of recreate those glory days. And maybe, maybe, given that, you know, Liverpool are in a much better um state financially, you know,
00:07:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know Maybe that would then um make Jurgen Klopp think, well, you know what, maybe now I can do this properly and not on a on a shoestring budget and not having to sell players first in order to buy those Alison Beckers and Virgil van Dijks.
00:07:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But look, we'll we'll see what happens.
Commercial Developments
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Other news, um Liverpool are looking at potentially i a new shirt sponsor.
00:08:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um The current deal with Standard Chartered, I think, is coming to its end. It's worth around £50 million pounds a season, which is a great um and it's a great deal for Liverpool.
00:08:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Liverpool are now confident of hitting the £70 million deal mark, I should say, which would eclipse Manchester United's £60 million pounds sponch di to sponsorship deal with Snapdragon.
00:08:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And this would be a ah Premier League record. Now, it could be Standard Chartered renew their association with with the Reds. um it It appears that they they are very keen to do that.
00:08:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think Liverpool will be out in that market looking to get the very, very best deal that it possibly can. and And why not? You know, the club is is flying. We've got increased attendances.
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anfield is is um fuller than it's ever been and but because of the stadium redevelopment and the increased capacity. um The fewing viewing figures as are as healthy as they've always been.
00:09:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
success on on the pitch just you know it brings more eyes onto that Liverpool um FC shirt. And so it will command a a bigger premium.
00:09:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think if Liverpool and FSG can get another shirt sponsor, whether that's effort standard chartered or whether it's another organisation, and to just maximise that commercial value,
00:09:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You know, all well and good. It just means that the club are are going to be even healthier moving forward and able to compete in the transfer market as they have shown, um you know, this this previous transfer transfer window.
Match Preview: Liverpool vs Frankfurt
00:10:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, let's look ahead then to ah Wednesday night's Champions League game for Liverpool. As I said, they travel to Germany to play Eintracht Frankfurt.
00:10:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's an 8pm kickoff UK time. That is 3pm Eastern time for our listeners in the States. Eintracht Frankfurt, they are currently sitting seventh in the Bundesliga with 10 points.
00:10:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And that's three points fewer than this time last season. And last season is why they are in the Champions League. They um achieved their highest ever finish, a third place finish.
00:10:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, um you know, this is a team that has done really, really well. And their manager, young manager, Dino Tottmoller, is um really well thought of in Germany and and across Europe.
00:11:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so I think they're quite an exciting team. um They are conceding goals, but they are scoring as well. So I think this game could be quite interesting because we we both seem to be...
00:11:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
coming into this game in kind of similar form, just um a bit all over the place. I mean, if we look at Frankfurt's last six games, ah they've won two, they've drawn one and they've lost three.
00:11:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um They've conceded 17, but they've scored 15. And so, you know, bearing in mind that we've just, I think, just forgotten how to defend.
00:11:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we do have firepower up front. We are creating chances. um this could be This could be a really, really entertaining game. I'm not sure I'm looking for an entertaining game.
00:12:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would quite happily take 1-0 win. when um But this game does have goals written all
Team Selection Dilemmas
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
over it. And so i think the team selection is going to be, again, really kind of crucial for Arnie Slott.
00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, the games are coming every two and three days. And so i think he really does need to start rotating this squad. And I think one of the biggest criticisms that has been laid at the manager's feet is his...
00:12:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
his kind of, whether it's inability or his unwillingness to kind of change certain players. So let's have a look at some of the team news that has has come out um ah thus far.
00:12:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alison Becker is still injured, so there's no chance that he's going to turn out for this game. um I think it's still going to be a few weeks. It was a hand hamstring injury, so...
00:12:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would suspect that it's going to be after the next international break that we will see the return of Alison Becker. I don't think that Arnie Slott and ah the sports science team will want to risk Alison Becker unnecessarily. We've got Marmad Ashfali, good young goalkeeper, and I just don't see any value in um rushing the big Brazilian back.
00:13:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Alison's still out injured. Wataru Endo did train and so he'll be back in contention.
00:13:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alexis McAllister was also seen in training, minus that kind of weird headgear. So, you know, he he's in contention ah for a midfield spot. Although quite the question really for me is whether he should be playing at all, given his form.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, that will depend, I guess, largely on the fact that Ryan Gravenberg was absent from training. um He limped off in that game against Manchester United at the weekend.
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I suppose that kind of push Puts more pressure on slot two play McAllister, even though he's clearly out form and needs a rest.
00:14:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's go through a predicted lineup. um I think the goalkeeping spot, I think that's sorted. Marmadashvili is going to be in goal. But I think there's question marks all over the pitch now.
00:14:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of the back four, um I really think that he's got to start playing, um you know, whether it's Connor Bradley, whether it's Jeremy Frimpong.
00:14:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think there's got to be a little bit of consistency in terms of the team selections now, just so that these players who have come in, the new players that have come in, they can build some kind of relationship um with each other.
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to go for Jeremy f Frimpong starting at right back. I think that given that Connor Bradley, his form is a little bit up and down, Frimpong has got lots of experience playing in the Bundesliga. He was at Bayer Leverkusen last season.
00:15:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so i think that his selection would be ah valuable one for us. I think him playing at right back, I think makes sense. On the other side, ah the left back position, I just think we've got to bring Robertson back.
00:15:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Whether it's in this game or whether it's the Brentford game, he's got to play one of these two games. And i would just, to be honest with you, I would play Robertson both games. I'd play him...
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
in the Champions League game um against Frankfurt and I would play him away at Brentford on the weekend. I don't think that Slott will do that. And so if that's the case, so i would just give this spot to to Robertson.
00:16:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
um We just need to get a bit of stability in that back line. and And that is one thing that Robertson will give you. In terms of the centre-backs...
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think there's um it's time that Arnie Slott starts to utilise his squad, I think, a lot earlier than he's doing.
00:16:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
He did this last season and look, it was it worked out very well in the sense that we won the Premier League and we won it fairly early. And, you know, he kept pretty much the same team um all the way to around about kind of February, March. And then we started to run out of legs.
00:16:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think that now, given what happened last season and ah given that we cannot afford injuries in certain um areas of the pitch, namely centre back,
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think he's got to play Joe Gomez. Joe game Gomez is fit and he's available. And I just don't understand why he is persisting with Ibrahim Kanate.
00:17:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Given that Kanate, his form has been really up and down. He played very well at the weekend, but he's been very up and down. He has had a few injury niggles already and we haven't even hit November.
00:17:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so that should make a manager think, well, look, I can't keep going to the the same well. I can't keep asking the same players to perform every two or three days.
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then they break down. And then you just throw in these play these reserve players or the backup players cold, and then they break down. So I think you've just got to keep the the machine oiled. You've got to keep these players in some kind of rhythm. And I think this game is a great opportunity to give the likes of Joe Gomez a run out so that if and when he is needed, if Canate...
00:18:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
breaks down with an injury, if God forbid Van Dijk goes down with with an injury, then Joe Gomez has already got minutes under his belt. Then you're not just throwing him into these matches cold and and expecting them to perform straight away. So I really do think Joe Gomez needs to come in.
00:18:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I can't see Van Dijk being dropped. The captain, or think he's just too important. So that would be my back four. Van Dijk and Gomez, Frimpong at right back and Andy Robertson at left back.
00:18:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Moving into the midfield, and I think, again, we've got lots of question marks here. The Ryan Gravenberg situation um sorts itself out. So he looks like he's not going to be in contention. So he's out.
00:19:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think, again, if there's any doubt over his fitness, don't risk it. We have got midfield options and, you know, we we don't need to risk arguably our most influential midfielder.
00:19:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah for this game at this stage of the competition competition and at this stage of the season. and So Gravenberg is out and which leaves the question mark over Alexis McAllister.
00:19:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
who I mean, leave aside the fact that he got a head injury at the weekend. He trained and so it means that he's available and he's in he's in the conversation for selection.
00:19:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think... It's been clear all season that McAllister just is not up to speed at the moment. he's He's missed it the the pre oh a chunk of the pre-season and he just looks flat-footed. He just doesn't look up to speed. And so as risky at it as it is, bearing in mind that Gravenberg is not playing,
00:20:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
um ah I think that he should sit this one out. I don't think Slott will do this. I think that Slott, given that Granberg is not playing, I don't think Slott is going to feel comfortable with both of those players not being in midfield and Endo just coming back for an injury. So I get that.
00:20:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think that there's enough there in Wataru Endo, which gives you that a bit more of a kind of defensive solidity.
00:20:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Someone who's not going to be too gung-ho in terms of going forward. His first instinct is to protect that back line and, you know, to kind of snuff out dangers.
00:20:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
and counter attacks and I think we're at the stage of our season now in terms of our form and the slumping form that I think that we probably need Endo now more than we've ever needed him because since he's been here We haven't been in this situation where we've lost four games on the bounce.
00:21:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so I think that Endo would be a sensible um selection away from home. Let's not do anything stupid. Let's not go out guns blazing.
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's just try and keep a clean sheet, knowing that we've got the players up front to create chances. So I would give that midfield spot to Wotaro Endo.
00:21:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And next to him, I would give it to Curtis Jones. I think Curtis Jones this season has shown that I think he deserves more game time than he's got.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I cannot see why, given our recent form, why he hasn't been selected more. um I mean, for me, I thought that he was, he should have been selected for the for the weekend game.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he wasn't. And so now we've got two games in the next um you know three days. I think he's got to play one of them and I would play him in this one. I think Endo and Jones.
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Endo is a very experienced player. He's the Japanese national captain. And Curtis Jones is now very experienced ah Liverpool player, both in the Premier League and the Champions League.
00:22:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
The responsibility of playing in an away fixture in the Champions el League will not faze him um one bit. And I just think that he's he's in good form. And so right now, given how we are playing, we need players who are in good form and he's one of them. So I hope that the manager picks Curtis Jones, which means that the other slot...
00:22:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Verts is up there, you know, Florian Verts will tick a lot lot of boxes. You know, he's going back to the Bundesliga. um Maybe the pace of this game in Europe will kind of suit him more in terms of helping him to adjust to ah life at Liverpool.
00:23:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think that a Jones-Endo-Vietz midfield, i I just don't think that that's something that the manager would go for. I think he'll go for the tried and trusted, and that is Dominic Saboslay.
00:23:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that would be a good midfield for us to go um ah to Frankfurt and to and to try and get a result. So that's my midfield, Curtis Jones, Wattara-Endo and Dominic Saboslay, which now brings us...
00:23:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
To the forward lineup, which again, um you know, lots of question marks there. Does Salah play? Is he going to be dropped? Is it Eketiko or is it Isaac? Is it Gakpo or Vietz or...
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah There's lots of other players that we could ah we could bring into the fray. um Federico Chiesa. That's who I was dilly-dallying over.
00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I can't believe I forgot Federico Chiesa's name. um But he's up there ah to be selected as well. Let's go to Mohamed Salah. Let's start there, because most of the speculation, most of the conversation has been around whether or not it's time to pull him out of the team.
00:24:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it's a fair question. I don't think there's any player um that plays for a top club like Liverpool Football Club um is undroppable.
00:24:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
No player is undroppable, especially given his form. He's not producing the kind of gold and the numbers that he has produced over the years, even last season.
00:25:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And his form is just wretched at the moment. It really is. And so to do you play him? duke Do you keep faith with him?
00:25:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or do you just say, look, we're going to take you out the firing line? I would suspect... that in the next couple of games, I would hope that the manager does make a brave decision.
00:25:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think in this game, I think away from home in the Champions League, I think it's okay to to stick with Salah, but I really do want to see Federico Chiesa given an opportunity.
00:25:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
um What I don't want to see is Chiesa given this game and then Salah gets the ah the Brentford game in the Premier League because that is just as important, maybe more important given where we are at the moment.
00:25:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would give this game to Mohamed Salah. um And I think he knows the situation as well. I think he knows that he's out of form. I think he knows that he's got to produce.
00:26:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you just hope that someone of his experience is not going to be phased by that pressure and that expectation. And if anything... you hope that it brings the best out of him and that he can go to Frankfurt, you know, pull out a great performance and just help us get back on track.
00:26:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I do think that it's time now for... It's not about him being dropped. It's it's about him being rotated more. Just as in the same way that I think Joe Gomez has been, i think, hugely unlucky and and and really, quite frankly, i think he's been treated terribly not to being given more minutes, not to be rotated more.
00:26:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
um given Canate's form this season. I think the same can be said of Mohamed Salah and Federico Chiesa because Federico Chiesa's form this season has been very, very good. He's been one of our bright sparks, but he just hasn't been given the opportunity.
00:27:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Mohamed Salah, who has had, like I said, you know, a wretched time this season, um he continues to get that spot. And I just don't think that's fair on Chiesa.
00:27:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'm sticking with Salah for this game.
Debate: Salah's Position
00:27:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I think that Ekotike has probably got a play. And I would play Vietz.
00:27:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would play Vietz. um And I would put him in that front three. I would put him out, whether it's wide left or wide right. yeah Put him in those positions. Don't put him in that number 10 position where...
00:27:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's kind of swamped in midfield. He doesn't have the time. He's surrounded by, um you know, opposition players. I think putting him out um in those more kind of attacking positions, I think just gives him an opportunity to get at defenders quicker and and be more impactful in the penalty area, in and and around that penalty area, and hopefully just be more effective.
00:28:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's my um predicted lineup. Marmadash, Vliengold, Frimpong, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson is the back four. Jones, Endo, Sabozlai's midfield and Salah, Ekotike and Vietz.
00:28:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So let's let's see how we go with
Conclusion and Farewell
00:28:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
that. In terms of a predicted score, I really don't know if I should even do this. um
00:28:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I would I be happy with 1-0 away win 100%. At this stage, I would even take a draw. And I'm not talking about a heavy score score draw. I don't want to see 3-3. I think we need to keep, if not a clean sheet, we've got to keep it down to just one goal. So 0-0 or a 1-1 I would take.
00:29:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, it looks unlikely given the form of both teams scoring and conceding goals. And so... I just don't know what to predict with this one.
00:29:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
um'm I'm going to tell you what I hope, which is a a nice, comfortable 2-0 win. I don't think that's going to happen. I think it might be a 1-1. But at this stage, again, I i would take a 1-1. I'll take a point um and just let's let's draw a line under this kind of losing streak and and just get back on track.
00:29:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, let's leave it there. um That is all for today. You've been listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast ah brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts.
00:30:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll be back tomorrow for the post-match game against Frankfurt. And then we'll start our build-up to the weekend's game against Brentford.
00:30:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until then, until then ah thanks for listening.