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Daily Liverpool - Fulham Preview and Ref Rant!
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Liverpool travel to West London on Sunday to face Fulham. Jesse Sarwar brings you the main talking points as well as a look back at the Merseyside Derby and why Paul Tierney is fighting for the "Worst Ref in English Football" title.
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Transcript
Introduction and Game Preview
00:00:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm your host, Jesse Sawa. It's the Friday forecast show and we are previewing Sunday afternoon's Premier League game against Fulham.
00:01:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we'll do that preview in today's podcast. We'll do the usual predicted lineups and score prediction and where Fulham may prove to be a threat.
Merseyside Derby Recap
00:01:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I want to start with a brief look at midweek, at the midweek game, the Merseyside Derby, which we won one niil It was a huge win, a very, very important win, not just because it was a Merseyside Derby, not just because we wanted to put the blue half of Merseyside, you know, firmly back in their place after that, you know, dramatic 2-2 draw at Goodison Park earlier this season.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think coming back from a slightly extended international break, you know, could have gone either way. it could have... It could have meant that the players, you know, stew on those those kind of pre-international break results, albeit in different cup competitions.
00:02:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
and the The Champions League exit, the League Cup final defeat to Newcastle. Or, you know, it it just completely leaves their system. They go to their national teams and they just play those bad results out of their system. But there's always a risk that after an international break, if you go into an international break off the back of a bad result, it's just not great for that team.
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that you saw maybe a little a little bit of a hangover in that first half. I'd say more that the team have been away from each other for over two weeks and that kind of rhythm just wasn't there in that first half.
00:02:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I just think that the context of coming back...
League Standings and Key Matches
00:02:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal playing the night before and they played, funnily enough, against Fulham.
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they got their three points. Pakaio Saka comes back and and scores. You know, good to see Saka back. I know that, you know, we're we're talking about a rival team, but he's a, you know, he's a really good young player. And I think he's one of the, I think he's one of the kind of shining lights of the Premier League. And you don't want young players like that to be,
00:03:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
debilitated by injury and, you know, having a hamstring operation for explosive players, I think, it you know, it can prove to be really a real problem. so you know Fingers crossed, just from a just from a you know a human level, i you know'd I'd like to see Saka come back and come back at his best and that there's no kind of long-term effect of having you know a serious hamstring injury.
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the fact that he's coming back and, you know, he's coming back at a critical stage of the season. i think there is a concern the back of your mind that, you know, maybe he's coming back at too intense a part of the season. Maybe, you know, maybe he should have just...
00:04:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
seen out the rest of season and come back fit and firing next season. But Arsenal need him, you know, if they've got any chance of achieving something this season.
00:04:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I honestly think that they're probably looking more at the Champions League as opposed to the Premier League.
Liverpool's Core Strengths
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Saka's back. Arsenal have got their three points. So Liverpool went into the Merseyside derby, you know, with the lead cut to nine points.
00:04:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And look, yes, of course, that is still a very, very healthy lead. But I just know that if we had faltered in any way, if we had lost or dropped two points and come away with the draw,
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, the narrative will change. You know, Arsenal could see that as maybe a sign that Liverpool are having a wobble. Suddenly, Merseyside derby defeat or a draw then gets added into the wider context of Liverpool's last two results. Again, albeit not in the Premier League.
00:05:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, you know, it would have been something for Arsenal to hang their hopes on. So I thought that the players showed, you know great character, great resilience to fight, to find a way to win and fight against what could have been a very, very nervy second half.
00:05:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it is that resilience. It's that character that is going to get to help this team get over the line at this stage of the season. it's It's not going to be silky skills.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're not going to be blasting past teams. It's just about being professional and getting the job done. And maybe this is where an Arnie slot team is in its element, as opposed to a Jurgen Klopp team.
00:05:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, it's it's professional, it's efficient, it just gets the job done. There's no fuss. So, you know, I think it was a really, really important win and a really important three points.
Controversial Refereeing and VAR
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, I've got have a word about the refereeing. And, you know, it's a conversation that is had up and down the country. I'm i'm sure it's not just Liverpool supporters.
00:06:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the decision yesterday by the referee not to send off Tarkovsky... for a quite horrific tackle.
00:06:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just beyond any explanation. It really is. Now, Sam Barrett, he's he you know he's a young up-and-coming referee. He's highly rated.
00:06:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you know we want him to do well. He should be supported because we need strong referees. They get so much abuse, too much abuse.
00:06:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah ah in in this day and age. It really is it's so it's a it's an almost impossible job. But at the same time, questioning is not abuse. you know yeah We are allowed to question not just officials, but the processes that they follow.
00:07:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm not here necessarily to question Sam Barrett because There's always a possibility that for whatever reason, he didn't see the severity of the tackle.
00:07:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Someone's arm might have been in the way or, you know, a particular angle of a player's body may just give a different view to the referee on field. Although I have to say i was at the game.
00:07:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And from where we were on the stands, and I know that obviously supporters aren't you know necessarily the the the kind of fair arbiters of the game when it comes to decisions, but all of us went up and in unison that that is a straight red card.
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what we couldn't understand was the process. and And so in this instance, I am here to question the VAR, and that is Paul Tierney, a referee that Liverpool Football Club know only too well.
00:08:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
We all remember the sending off of Andrew Robertson away at Spurs a couple of seasons ago. And yet he let a carbon copy tackle in the same game by, of course, you know, St. Harry of Cain.
00:08:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
He only got a yellow card. And Jurgen Klopp said after the game, quote, I have no problems with referees, only players. you This was the same Paul Tierney who in 2021, Liverpool versus Manchester United, Liverpool versus Manchester United, the biggest game in English football, the biggest game in world football. Yes, it's the biggest game in world football.
00:09:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know people don't like to admit that. It's not Real Madrid, Barcelona. It's Liverpool versus Manchester United. Sadio Mane is through on goal, one-on-one with the keeper.
00:09:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's through one on got one with the goalkeeper and Paul Tierney blows for half time. he's He's got form. Now, even if you were to leave that aside, the point is that this is a VAR problem.
00:09:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
As I said, maybe the on-field referee didn't see it. But how can the VAR not deem that a red card? you know, or at the very least, worthy of an on-field referee by the, review by the referee.
00:09:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
How could Paul Tierney look at that decision, look at the footage and think, yeah, no, that's fine. The referee doesn't have to have a look at that.
00:09:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, that that is a 100% stonewall yellow card. Nothing to see here. It is scandalous. It really is. The tackle ticked every box possible for a red card.
00:10:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was dangerous. It was reckless. It was late. It was high. It endangered the opponent, the safety the opponent. it's It's just a small mercy that Alexis McAllister's foot was not planted.
00:10:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Otherwise, we are talking about a broken leg. We're having a very, very different conversation. We're talking about McAllister being in hospital. And for me, Paul Tierney is arguably the worst referee in the Premier League.
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
and and And that takes a lot of sailing because saying, because honestly, he's got a lot of competition for that dubious honour, because refereeing standards, I think, have dropped. I don't care about the metrics that the PGMOL come out with. Oh, they get 97% of the decisions right.
00:10:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
The refereeing standards, I think, are the worst in living memory. And I think honestly think that VAR has been a contributing factor in that drop because nobody wants to take responsibility.
00:11:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
The referee thinks, well, I'll just give a yellow card because if I've dropped a Klanga, well, then the VAR will step in and and tell me, look, ref, you need to have a look at that. And then we'll get we' get to the right decision.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
The VAR looks at the decision, think, well, he's made his decision. It's not a clear and obvious error. So, you know, we'll just leave it as it as it is. And it just means that nobody makes a decision.
00:11:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I just think that I really think that the PGMOL have to have to look at the processes for VAR.
00:11:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And ultimately, look, I'm not a fan of VAR. I was against it when it was brought in. Because all you're doing is you're you're taking a subjective decision, an on-field subjective decision, and adding and another layer of subjectivity, which is off-field.
00:12:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ultimately, these are all subjective views. But VAR was brought in for this reason, for this reason. It wasn't to officiate everything, every single decision. It wasn't re-referee matches every single decision.
00:12:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
it was to make sure that the really, really bad decisions, the terrible decisions, they are the ones that don't stand, that they are the ones that that get overturned.
00:12:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And surely in this age where, you know, player safety is, you know, so important and rightly so, we've got concussion protocols, you know, Alison Becker didn't play because of a con concussion protocol.
00:12:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that's a good thing.
00:12:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Surely, you know, dangerous tackles like that fall into that category, player a welfare. And how VAR cannot step in and say, look, he has and endangered the safety and welfare of a player.
00:13:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's got to go. It's a complete dereliction of duty. And Paul Tierney just shouldn't. He just shouldn't be refereeing in the top flight at all. But he should certainly not play any part between now and the end of the season.
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, OK, we are going to take a very short break and then we'll come back and return for the preview against
Fulham Game Strategy
00:13:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, welcome back. So the Reds are the visitors to Craven Cottage this Sunday to play Fulham. It's a 2pm kickoff UK time. That's a 10am start Eastern time, so nice and early for our friends stateside.
00:14:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fulham are going into this game off the back of a defeat by Arsenal on Tuesday night, 2-1. Their form, you know, from the last six games, they've played six, they've won three and lost three.
00:14:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
So really kind of half and half for Fulham, they've scored eight goals and they've conceded eight goals. So it's a real kind of 50-50 mixed bag in terms of their of their recent Premier League form.
00:14:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, we've got a good record against Fulham. We are unbeaten in our last six visits to Craven Cottage and have only lost one of the last 13 Premier League games, home or away, and that last defeat coming at Anfield in March 2021.
00:15:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
But i I do think that Fulham, you know, for me, they're one of my favourite teams of this season. And Marco Silva... you know come what may, you know obviously Arnest Slott is probably going to win manager of the season and probably rightly so.
00:15:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Although you know I'm not necessarily one of those that thinks that whoever wins the Premier League has automatically got to then be manager of the season. I think the context does matter. I think that in this case, and you know you can call me biased, but I do think that Arnie Slott's case to win manager of the season, if we do go on and and seal this Premier League title, I think that you know it would be the right decision to give it to Arnie Slott, given that this is his first season at Liverpool. It's his first season in English football.
00:15:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
and in in the Premier League. And, you know, he did it without spending any money. I know that Chiesa was brought in for 12 minutes, 12 million, that's peanuts, and he's hardly played. So he's just come in and, you know, he's just taken to the Premier League like a duck to water. So I do think that the case for Arnie Slott to be in pole position to win manager of the season, I think, I think he's the right one.
00:16:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Marco Silva... should definitely be nominated. He should be in contention for the manager of the season. I think that's really important because it's just a, I think it's a way of recognising the job that he's done, recognising the work that he's done to stabilise Fulham, to really make them into a team that is secure in the in the in the kind of top half of the division. I know they're sitting in 12th right now.
00:16:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But a team that will be fighting and regularly fighting for those European qualification spots. and And they are right in the thick of a battle for European football for qualification. And now that will be a fantastic achievement for a club the size of Fulham.
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I do expect this game to to be a difficult one. I think that Fulham will really try to expose Liverpool's right back position. Obviously, we don't know if Connor Bradley is going to be fit to play.
00:17:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd be surprised if he gets thrown straight in to an away Premier League fixture. So it could be Curtis Jones or a makeshift right back. And if that's the case, then I think that you'll see Fulham try to target that area.
00:17:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
They'll try to overlap overload that area with forward runs From there, left back Anthony Robinson, who was outstanding in the 2-2 draw at Anfield earlier in the season.
00:17:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, you know i think that Liverpool will try to obviously dominate the middle of the park in that crucial midfield area. And I guess the big question mark is really how the front players perform.
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can see that I think that there is... i don't know if it's a drop-off. I just think that in terms of performance, but i do think that Liverpool are starting to look a bit leggy.
00:18:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're starting to look a bit... not as energetic. And I think that's having an effect on the kind of potency of our attacking play.
00:18:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it was good to see Diego Jota on the score seat scoresh sheet in midweek. I thought it was really, really important that he scored. and it And the way that he scored, it was a typical Jota goal.
00:18:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
He has struggled since his return from from injury. And I think some of the criticism criticism for Jota has been A bit over the top. I think it has been a bit harsh.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
At the same time, I do understand the frustration that livepool Liverpool supporters do have because Jota, he does miss at least two months, you know,
00:19:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
four to six to eight weeks every season with injury. And normally he comes back from injury and he just hits the ground running and he's scoring goals. This time it's taken a real good while for him to get back on the score sheet.
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that was good to see. And I think that's really, it's really important for us as a team, bearing in mind that, you know, Mohamed Salah, again, midweek was fairly quiet.
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
He wasn't really that much of an attacking threat. And you he's gone three games now without scoring, which is a massive drought for as someone of Salah's calibre, and he'll be seething as well that he's not he's not firing at the moment. But at the same time, surely club the size of Liverpool, the calibre of our team, the fact that we're top of the league and we're in the home straight for the Premier League, we've got to have other players to step up and say, look, Mo, you know you've done your bit, you've you've put us in this position,
00:20:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, we're we're going to see it through now. And hopefully the fact that Jota has scored, that is something to look forward to in terms of an uptick in terms of his goal contribution between now and the end of the season.
00:20:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Luis Diaz, again, I thought he had a really good game, worked his socks off. He was always a threat. You know, he he got the assist for the goal as well. So if, you know, players like Jota Diaz, they can start to combine and contribute with goals and assists between now and the end of the season, then, you know, we, you know, we will see this title race through.
00:20:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's do a predicted lineup.
Lineup Predictions and Key Players
00:20:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, i got the Alison one wrong. I did predict that Alison would start for the Merseyside Derby, but, you know, concussion protocols were followed and it just remains to be seen whether those are still going to be in place come Sunday. I would be surprised.
00:21:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that Alison will probably be fit to resume. But, you know, I think the Merseyside Derby... on Wednesday night showed what enviable position we are in when it comes to that goalkeeping slot because none of us had any worries at all.
00:21:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
No concerns that Alisson wasn't playing and Kelleher was playing instead. And so if that is the case against Fulham, you know, so be it.
00:21:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if Alisson obviously is past fit, then he will start The big question is going to be at right back. Because obviously Trent Alexander-Arnold is still unfit, he's still injured.
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, he's not expected to return until May 2021. So, you know, that's just going to be a couple of games towards the end of the season.
00:22:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, is Connor Bradley, he I think he did have a late fitness test for the Everton game. Does that mean now that he, does he throw him in for an away fixture at Fulham?
00:22:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, with the likes of Anthony Robinson and, you know, bearing down the whole game, I just don't know. I'm not sure whether... a he's going to do that, whether Slott will do that, or whether he he just may maybe brings him on as as a sub, either at the start or the end, bring him on for 60 minutes and then bring him off.
00:22:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think that's the big question for Arnie Slott when it comes to that back four. I think Canante, obviously Van Dijk, obviously, you know, they are shoo-ins for that centre-back berth.
00:22:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then it really is whether Bradley is fit If he's not, I don't think that he will do the Curtis Jones experiment again at right back. Not that Curtis Jones didn't play well. thought he had a really good game, particularly in the second half.
00:23:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I just think that away from home with the kind of pace that Fulham have on that flank, I think it might be better to start with a defender, that being Kwanzaa.
00:23:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
It may take something away from us going forward, but I would expect us to have the majority of the possession anyway. So I would go for Kwanza at right back.
00:23:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kanate Van Dijk. Left back is another question. Yeah. Because between now and the end of the season, now that this midweek game has gone against Everton, we have no other games now midweek. It's just weekend, weekend, weekend until the end of the season.
00:23:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
It could well be now that Arnie Slott really doubles down on his lack of team rotation and just picks his strongest XI between now and the end of the season just to see this title through, just get over the line.
00:24:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so I would... in you know In other circumstances, I would have thought Simicast might get a look in. But I think that Andy Robertson, because he has returned to form, I think, over the last few months, and we are now in you know that home stretch.
00:24:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you know Robertson's been there. He's done it. He knows what it takes to win a Premier League matchup. So i would I would expect and I would hope actually that Robertson gets the nod and that he now plays every game between now and the end of the season.
00:24:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Midfield, I think it's going to be as you were, even though the likes of Gravenberg, McAllister, Sir Boslithe, he looks like they are running on fumes.
Score Predictions and Conclusion
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And McAllister is going to have, you know, quite a few bruises after that game against Everton and, you know, that, you know horror tackle by Tarkowski.
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know whether that is going factor in, in terms of team selection. Does Arnie Slott think, you know, he he may give McAllister a rest and put Curtis Jones next to Gravenberg to give him game time and to rest McAllister?
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
for the other games that are coming up. But I think if McAllister has no after effects effects from that Tarkovsky challenge, I expect Gravenberg, McAllister and Sir Bosley to start again and, you know, just to just to do what they've been doing, you know, between now and the end of the season.
00:25:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
The other question mark now is for that forward line. And I think that Salah, despite the fact that he yeah has been underperforming the last few games, he's gone off the boil a little bit, although I would, again, i would mitigate that by saying that the kind of instability at the right back position, I think has impacted on Salah as well.
00:26:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he's someone that has got this almost telepathic relationship with Trent Alexander-Arnold. And I think that that has been affected. And the fact that even,
00:26:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Even Conor Bradley's not playing. I think that kind of instability, you know, one week it's Trent, then it's Conor Bradley, then it's Kwanzaa, now Curtis Jones.
00:26:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that has impacted on Salah's form as well. Well, I do expect him to start. I do expect Jota to retain his position. I hope he does because I really do think momentum now is really important. He scored a goal now.
00:26:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, get him back on that pitch and let him, you know, just let him get a run of games where he's scoring. And the yeah the only other question, Mark, then is really on the left flank.
00:27:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought Diaz was really good. But I do think that Gakpo, you know, if if he can get his fitness up and running, then I think that, you know, that's going to be a good addition to our forward line.
00:27:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think the only way that he's going to do that is if he starts. There's no point bringing him on for 20 minutes. Let him start. If he does start to falter after 60 minutes, take him off. And you've got the likes of Diaz. You've got the likes of Chiesa and Nunes to come on as well. So I'm going for a Salah, Jota, Gakpo forward line.
00:27:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of a score prediction... I think this one could be quite close. I'm going to go for a 2-1 Liverpool win, but I'd quite happily take a 1-0. I'll take anything. As long as we get the three points, that's really the main main thing for this stage of the season.
00:27:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, that is all for today. Don't forget to follow us on your preferred podcast platform so that you get the very latest content when it drops. Follow us on social media at GSPN Liverpool. You can email us at gspndailyliverpool at gmail.com. Join us again on Monday for that post-match review.
00:28:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until next time, thank you for listening.