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Daily Liverpool - FA Cup Preview and Weekly Review
23 Plays21 days ago
Jesse Sarwar look ahead at this weekends FA Cup game away at Plymouth Argyle as well as a look back at what has been another good week of football for the Reds.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Daily Liverpool Podcast
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. We're now on YouTube, so as well as finding us on your preferred podcast platform, you can see our pretty faces on YouTube. So just go to the Global Sports Podcast Network YouTube page and you'll find all manner of Daily Liverpool content.
Liverpool's Victory Over Spurs
00:00:35
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Well, it's been another very good week for the Reds. Last night we brushed Spurs aside to reach the Lee Cup final again, a chance to retain that trophy that we won last year.
00:00:51
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and the Reds will be playing Newcastle in the final which I mean it should be a ah ah cracking game Newcastle are just they're just one of those teams that we seem to have this history of just really really good games 3-3 this season at St James There's already been so many four threes in the past, so really looking forward to that game.
Newcastle's Alexander Isak: Future Prospects
00:01:15
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And, you know, to be fair to Newcastle, I think they deserve that win over Arsenal. They played really well. And Alexander Isak, water player, water striker.
00:01:29
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I think even when he misses, he makes it look so good. think it was Newcastle's first goal. Murphy, I think it was, who scored. I mean, he's having a terrific season as well. But that was after Isak hit the post with a really you know fantastic left foot strike, curls it around the goalkeeper.
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
He takes it early. takes He always takes his shots early, which I really like about him. And he was really unlucky not to score, the ball goes out and Murphy tucks it away. But he's a top-top striker. I'm just wondering how long Newcastle can hold on to him for, because At some point, if he carries on performing like this, then the big boys will come calling. And does that include us? you know Can you imagine Isak up there with the likes of Salah, with Diaz, Gackpo, Jota? I mean, dear me, what a lineup that would be.
00:02:32
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I think the only question mark over Isaac is his fitness record and when you know when we've got the likes of Diogo Jota who is you know he's a fantastic finisher but there's that question mark over his fitness, you know do we then spend I don't know how much it's going to cost. I don't, I can't see it being less than a hundred million pounds to get Isaac in when his injury record is not great either.
Concerns for Spurs After Liverpool Match
00:03:02
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but, you know, we'll see, that's going to be a question for the summer, but, on Thursday night, it was Gackpo who once again was the star of the show and he really loves this competition. Carabao cup.
00:03:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought we absolutely schooled Spurs and I have to say that I was surprised at how comfortable that game was. I thought Spurs, you know, they've had a rotten season so far. Very, very unlucky with injuries, huge injury list, inconsistent form, post-cog glue under increased pressure.
00:03:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I thought they will surely show up for this game and and at least give Liverpool a run for their money. Give them a fight, but nothing, absolutely nothing. And I have to say that I think that was a worrying performance if you're a Spurs fan. Just the lack of fight and and intensity, I think really, really surprised me. And so.
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, that's another competition that's not available now for Posto Koglu to win. And, you know, he did famously say at the start of the season that this is the season that he'll win something. He always wins something in his in his second season. So that now leaves the FA Cup and it leaves the Europa League by no means easy. But you'd have to say that if Tottenham were to go far in the Europa League or even win the Europa League. That's a European trophy. It's any trophy for for Spurs and it's Champions League football. But that seems like a long, long way off for Spurs after that performance
Key Performances: Van Dyck and Curtis Jones
00:04:50
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on Thursday night. But as for for Liverpool, I thought we were outstanding right throughout the team.
00:04:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought Kelleher had a routine game, Connor Bradley continues to impress and quite frankly with every game that he plays I just feel more and more comfortable with the Trent contract situation because we have absolutely no worries in that position. I thought he was at stout outstanding as was the rest of that back four Andy Robertson I thought had another very very good game and you know we should mention that because it does feel like
00:05:36
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you know from certain quarters certain sections that there's this uh almost glee to almost highlight his below below ah par performances this season and he has had those this season but i don't think he gets enough praise for the games where he's done well I'm so really pleased to see Robbo playing playing to the level that we've, you know, we've come accustomed to over the over the seasons that he's been with us. Canate and van Dyck once again absolute rocks in the centre of that defence and van Dyck, I mean what can you say about this
00:06:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
this defender, he's just on a different level, I think to everyone else, scores a goal reminiscent of the one that he scored in the League Cup final last season against Chelsea. And he just never looked in any trouble the way that he marshalled that back four again, as he's done throughout the whole season. And I think that With Van Dyck, I think, with every game that goes by, you just see how important he is to this team and that from those three players that have and these contract negotiations that are rumbling on, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Van Dyck, Van Dyck is the most important player for Liverpool Football Club. but
00:07:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
just don't think there's any doubt in that. I know that Salah is phenomenal and the numbers that he's putting up is phenomenal but I think that the drop off for Liverpool if Van Dyke leaves I think is something that we would struggle to deal with because I just don't see anyone out there certainly not currently in our squad can come in and do what he does.
00:07:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
not just on a on a defensive level, but his presence as captain and you know his stature, hiss his aura is something that just can't be replicated by any other defender in this squad and I think you'd be hard-pressed to even buy that.
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I thought that he was he was brilliant. Midfield was the main engine room again. Ryan Gravenberg as he's done all season just, you know, setting that tempo. Curtis Jones came in for Alexis McAllister.
00:08:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I thought he did really well. I thought he played very well. It was good to see that his passing was a little more crisp than he and normally does and that's something that he is regularly criticised for and that is holding on to the ball just that bit too long.
00:08:38
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But I thought against Spurs, know, he, you know, he moved the ball quickly. And I don't know whether that was because Spurs. you know, just weren't pressing and weren't intense enough in that press. But I thought he had a good game. And certainly his counter pressing, I thought was really, really good. He won the ball back on a number of occasions. And I think one of the goals, maybe even the first goal was as a result of Curtis Jones.
00:09:08
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winning the ball back in midfield and, you know, supplying it to Salah, who then assists Cody Gatpo.
Rising Stars: Dominic Sir Boslai and Salah's Strategy
00:09:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as for the other midfielder, Dominic Sir Boslai, I mean, he's just getting better and better. He's turning into the complete midfielder. He's pressing, he's energy, he's positional discipline.
00:09:33
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the The options that he offers to Gravenberg and to McAllister and to the other forward players, he's always available, he's contributing goals and assists now. And against Spurs, even at 90 minutes, we were in stoppage time, we were 4-0 up, the game is over.
00:09:57
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And yet he is he's busting a lung pressing that Spurs back line when they were in possession. And I just thought what a player what an example to the younger members of that squad showing them the kind of standards that you have to meet if you're going to get a look in in this team. The forwards I thought were again very good. I thought actually Muhammad Salah I thought had one of his quieter games But then he gets a call and an assist, which I suppose constitutes a quiet game for Salah these days. And it was good to see him score the penalty in a really, what's the word I'm looking for? He put it he put it away really comfortably.
00:10:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
there There has been this tendency for Salah sometimes to just put his head down and just hit the ball as as hard as he can, which has meant that he's missed some penalties in the past.
00:11:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
but so I've noticed that after the penalty that he missed, I think it was against Real Madrid actually this season in the Champions League, he started to place the penalties more, keep his head up and place the penalty and yesterday was was one of those pens penalties, ah ah sorry Thursday night I should say, was one of those penalties where even if the goalkeeper goes the right way, he's not saving that. So, you know, a routine performance for Salah, a golden assist, Gappo I thought was excellent. As I said, he loves this competition.
00:11:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, he's fast become a first choice on that left hand side. and And Diaz is the player that's rotated, often played centrally. Excellent performance. And ah similarly, an excellent performance by Darwin Nunes.
00:11:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think if ever there was a ah ah game that summed up the importance of Nunes to this team, I think it was against Spurs. His work rate, his desire to win the ball back and set up counterattacks, his defensive work, his defensive work at set pieces, the amount of headed clearances he made in that game, ah ah probably up there with Virgil van Dyck,
00:12:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So a really good performance from Nunez. Jota came on for a run out as well, you know, helping him to find some match sharpness after that layoff. So the team is looking good. I think the squad is looking very healthy. Only Trent Alexander Arnold is out injured. But by all accounts, it doesn't sound like a serious injury. It's not a hamstring. I think it was a ah ah tweak of the thigh muscle. And he may even be in contention.
00:13:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
for the most I Derby on Wednesday night although I would argue that I would play Connor Bradley I would play Connor Bradley in that game even if Trent was available I just think that Connor Bradley you know he likes he seems to really enjoy the physical aspect of defending He's always going in for these crunching tackles and I think that Goodison on Wednesday night is going to be that kind of atmosphere where it's going to be blood and thunder.
00:13:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that, I think even if Trent is fit, I think slot will probably play, Connor Bradley. And I think that would be the right move. So he's really the only, question mark in terms of fitness. Joe Gomez is back in training. So he'll be available soon to swell those defensive ranks as well. And I think that that is a, I think it's a huge bonus for us this season.
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's something that we have suffered in previous its seasons, even last season when we were again fighting on all four fronts.
Liverpool's Squad Depth and Aspirations
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I remember Mohammed Salah coming back from the African cup and he was injured.
00:14:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
came back too soon, got injured again. And, you know, we just have had injuries that just hampered that momentum last season. And I think the fact that we've got a fit and healthy squad as we approach the business end of the season can only be a positive for us and probably the single biggest factor in us winning some major silverware this season.
00:14:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal at the moment are probably our only realistic threat in the Premier League and it's going to be interesting to see how they respond to being knocked out by Newcastle in the Carabao Cup midweek. I mean, apart from the performance, because I thought that Newcastle deserved that game and I think that they They, I think, out fought Arsenal as well. But it's another trophy that passes them by. And I suppose you can look at it two ways. Certainly, Arsenal will try to look at it in in that way. Is it a positive that they can now focus on the Premier League and the Champions League?
00:15:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or does it ramp up the pressure? Because the big two competitions are now the only ones that they can win. So I think it will be interesting to see how they react to this defeat. Because, you know, they've got a big month of fixtures coming up in February. And, you know, the league title could, it could be won or lost this season looking at the fixtures.
Zencastr's Role in Podcast Production
00:16:12
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But here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. And Zencaster came out the clear winner with 4K video recording from our phone and AI editing that automatically removes umms, ahs, you know, and 22 other speech patterns. Zencaster makes it super easy to start podcasts That sounds great, so if you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:16:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, the Bournemouth win a week ago, it seems like seems like a long time ago now, but that was such a big win. And it's it's this kind of momentum that is really, I think, carrying this team. I think if we were to have dropped points against Bournemouth, I think the whole scenario around the Premier League title race And the season itself is completely different. Arsenal would close the gap, and they'd close the gap with a resounding win over Manchester City. And I know that this is not the Man City that we've come to, certainly not love, but so come to expect.
00:17:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
but it's still Manchester City and Manchester City have had a hold over Arsenal so for Arsenal to have beaten them and to really convincecingly convincingly beaten them and closed the gap to within four points or three points depending on how many points we we could have dropped at Bournemouth I think that win was just really crucial for us in terms of giving us that breathing space.
Upcoming Challenges: Merseyside Derby and FA Cup
00:18:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we are coming up to what will be, as I've mentioned, a critical phase of the season in this Premier League title race.
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And next Wednesday is the Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park. I mean, what a game that promises to be. And this is the game in hand. This is what we've had in our back pocket for what feels like half a season. But it's now crunch time. There will be no more games in hand after this.
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we have to go to Goodison Park and we have to go and win this game. Win it and I think think it may just deliver a knockout blow to Arsenal. I really do because as well as giving us a nine point lead at this stage of the season, I think the body blow that would be to Arsenal I think it would be maybe too much for them to recover from because before that, before that game in hand takes place on Wednesday, Arsenal have always had the opportunity to get within three points of us.
00:19:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that would be three points with a game in hand. And even with a game in hand, three points is three points. You know, it, I think it would give the chasing team a huge lift and, and confidence that this title race is on and it's doable.
00:19:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think once you get to nine points, I think then it could start to eat away Arsenal's confidence because then there is absolutely no margin for error. They would have to win probably every single game and every drop point after that would just be, you know, another blow.
00:20:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
to their confidence, another blow to their title hopes. So a big, big week coming up. But before then, we've got the FA Cup fourth round tie away at Plymouth Argyle. Plymouth are bottom of the championship table. So they're not in a good place, but they have just changed managers and had a big win against West Brom last weekend.
00:20:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they will have a bit of a spring in their step for this game after that win and also that kind of new manager bounce. And you can never really predict how these cup games are going to turn out. The crowd, the conditions will play a huge part. And maybe if the home team can stay in the game for 30 minutes or yeah or take it up to half time.
00:21:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it could become an uncomfortable afternoon for Liverpool. But you have to say, obviously, we will go in as favourite as we should win this game, whatever team we put out.
00:21:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
that is the big question here. You know, it's an FA Cup game. We want to win it. We're in all competitions. But surely that midweek game against Everton is the priority. And I'm just thinking that Slott may well play a side similar to the one that he put out against PSV in that final Champions League game.
00:21:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now the pitch at Argyle is not going to be the kind of carpet-like turf the players are used to playing at Anfield and other Premier League grounds. So that could always increase the risk of injury and I hope that slot really rings the changes for this game.
00:22:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we've got the depth to do that so I hope and I expect to see Callaher playing goal and maybe a back four of Connor Bradley, Gomez, if he is fit, I think if he's fit, injury free, he's obviously not going to be match fit, but I think if he's injury free, I think, I think he should play Gomez, and Quanta, with, uh, Simic has at left back, and maybe take off Gomez after, you know, 60 minutes.
00:22:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Midfield I'd go for Endo, I'd give Tyler Morton a run out and Harvey Elliott also, the guy needs minutes and I think he'd be good for these cup games.
00:23:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And up front, I think that's where we are. I think strongest in terms of our quality and our depth. So Kiesa has been getting minutes recently. I would hope and expect him to play on that right hand side in place of Muhammad Salah who should sit this one out.
00:23:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I still go for Darwin Nunez and maybe take him off after about 60 minutes and give Jotra another run out for half an hour and probably Lewis Diaz given that Gackpo played on Thursday night. In terms of a score prediction,
00:23:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, a tricky one. I can't look past a Liverpool win. Anything else would be a real upset. So I'm predicting a 4-0 win for Liverpool in this game. And let's hope that that that materialises.
00:24:00
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00:24:33
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Okay, that is all for today. Give us a follow on your preferred podcast platform so that you get the very latest content when it drops. We are now on YouTube, so check us out on the Global Sports Podcast Network YouTube page. Follow us on social media at GSP and Liverpool. You can email us at GSP and Daily Liverpool at gmail dot com Join us again on Monday as we review the FA Cup game against Plymouth. Until next time, thank you for listening.