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Girona 0 – 1 Liverpool – POST MATCH REACTION: IMPRESSIVE UCL CAMPAIGN CONTINUES
10 Plays11 days ago
Adarsh Ramchurn joins Tom Goward post match following Liverpool's 1-0 win over Girona in the Champions League. In the first part, we discuss the match and talk about things that went well in the game as well as things that didn't go so well. In part two, we talk about Liverpool going all the way in the competition.
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Transcript
Introduction and Match Overview
00:00:10
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, Tom Garrett, and Liverpool keep their impressive winning form going in the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Girona. I'm joined by Adash. Adash, your thoughts on the game?
00:00:25
Adarsh
No, I mean, it's a good result, but not the most entertaining game. I think you can agree with that. I think the most important thing was the three points. And yeah, back to winning ways after that draw midweek last week. So yeah, just um I'll say I'm satisfied with the result.
00:00:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's First things first then, let's talk
Was the Penalty Justified?
00:00:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
about the penalty. Did you think it was a penalty or do you think it was slightly a bit too harsh?
00:00:45
Adarsh
i think I think it is a penalty. I think I can see, to be fair, I can see both sides. um The fact that Van Der Beek basically accidentally steps on Diaz's foot and obviously a shoe comes off and then he's kind of already sort of committed to the shot, Diaz.
00:00:59
Adarsh
um I think it is a penalty. I think if anywhere on the pitch, if someone's boot comes off, I think it's a foul and it's a free kick. So I think if it's in the box, that doesn't sort of change. And I think, I would have given that as a penalty. The thing is at first, I didn't see it was a penalty, but then when it went to VAR, I thought, yeah, it had to be a penalty.
00:01:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'll see now that's four penalties in our last five games, you know, one against Southampton Madrid City, i not against Newcastle and then tonight.
Liverpool's Penalty Luck or Skill?
00:01:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are we lucky or we, you know, is it the threat of our wingers and forwards that are causing the defenders problems?
00:01:33
Adarsh
I don't really know, to be honest. i think yeah i was I was just talking to my brother, actually, after the game. like We keep getting penalties um recently. I don't ah think it's a combination of maybe a bit of pressure from the ah opposition opposition opposition team. We seem to be sort of maintaining our tax very well. Even in this game, we didn't look as threatening, but that period after the second half, we kind of sort of stepped up a bit. So I think it's a combination of that. and i think I mean, yeah, players like Diaz, Gackpo, Salah, when you get them in the box and they're running at defenders or about to take a shot, it's always a risk for the opposition team. So I think it's a combination of ah things, but hopefully hopefully that continues, because and and hopefully you continue converting them, because obviously, again, Thoreau Madrid, Salah missed his penalty, but he that's a very rare occasion.
Darwin Nunez's Performance Concerns
00:02:16
Adarsh
So hopefully you continue getting them and continue scoring them.
00:02:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And look, we're blessed with many attackers, ah great attackers in our team. But one sort of ah standing out for not good things at the moment, in in my opinion, is Darwin Nunez. Again tonight, not impressive for me at all. What do you think is going wrong with him at the moment? Because everyone else seems to be performing so well with Liverpool. And he just seems to be the only one that's not quite up to speed with the Liverpool team.
00:02:40
Adarsh
Yeah, it's just frustrating really, I think. He just he just scratches the head of many Liverpool fans and I think the fact that you can't really say it's not his first season in the Premier League anymore, it's not his first season playing at such a competitive level, as such a big team. So the excuses are kind of fading away. I think he's got to start maturing his game and being a bit more decisive.
00:03:02
Adarsh
it's It's really hard because I think he has so much potential for me and there's moments he he provides Liverpool fans of absolute brilliance, like that goal against Bournemouth earlier in the season, just cutting in, hitting on his left foot. He's got so much energy that he brings to the team, even like last season, the two goals away at Newcastle. He he has the attributes, it's just that consistency that I think really frustrates Liverpool fans and I think It's the energy he brings to the team versus his composure. I think he needs to improve that composure because it's all good having that energy, that excitement, but he's kind of like a lost puppy that's just super excited, but just can't be clinical. And um I don't even think it's just him from an
Will Jota's Return Boost Nunez?
00:03:41
Adarsh
attacking point of view. I think sometimes looking at the all-round game, he kind of tries to do too much and sort of loses the ball in silly situations or mishits a pass or mishits a shot. So it's kind of,
00:03:52
Adarsh
When is that time going to come? I'm not sure, but he just continues to frustrate um me as a local fan. I'm sure lots of other people. um I think also the fact that he is playing more games, more minutes. I think Jota's injury and Kie's are being out. He probably wouldn't ask have featured as much as he should, but hopefully with those players coming back, he kind of, I wouldn't say go back on the bench, but kind of have that sort of needed kick up the backside and hopefully start to get back to form. But I don't know what you think about his form.
00:04:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, yeah I was just going to say to you, do you think because Jota's not been around at the moment, he sort of feels like, well, this place is mine anyway, regardless on how I perform. Not that he should think about performing bad, but maybe he needs Jota back in and sort of needs that competition, healthy competition.
00:04:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And then he thinks, right, I need to fight for my place now when he knows sort of that Jota's injured at the moment. Gackpo's on the left now, seems to be paying good there. So yeah, I don't know if it's the case of that or he just sort of, because I see some of the videos online and in training and his finishing looks unbelievable with both feet.
00:04:54
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so I don't know if it's the pressure of playing a game or what it is, but I keep mentioning every week, I feel like I start to lose my patience a little bit with with him every more, little bit more, sorry.
00:05:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
but um But yeah, hopefully we look we all love him. mean Like you mentioned there, he's worked great as well, he's good. um on On just changing then to Gerona, how impressed were you, how they
Girona's Defensive Setup
00:05:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
set up tonight? I thought they were really good. I'm lucky from their point of view to probably concede a penalty, but what were your thoughts about them tonight?
00:05:23
Adarsh
Yeah, I thought tactically they were very astute, and I think the manager, I don't know the manager's name of Drona, but I think he set them up really, really well, because we've kind of had to work really hard for that result. um we We were talking yesterday in the preview about sort of predictions 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, and it was anything but that we had to sort of work for that goal. Even that penalty, like I said earlier, you could argue it's not really, it could be it could have not been given as a penalty as well.
00:05:48
Adarsh
So no, I think tactically they all set up really well. I think also a lot of sort of ex-Premier League players with Dan Jumurv and the Beak, Daily Blind. So they've got that sort of mixed with experience and then some really exciting players. I think that Winga, Asperilla, I think his name is.
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah yeah
00:06:02
Adarsh
I think it was really exciting, um very dynamic um and caused our back four problems and I think he had that shot that Alison say brilliantly as well um if I'm not mistaken.
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:13
Adarsh
I think yeah i think they really set up to hurt us on the counter-attack and they kind of were willing to sort of soak up pressure and just so of yeah go on the counter-attack against us and I think that's
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mmm,
00:06:24
Adarsh
we saw against Newcastle, that's obviously sort of maybe a slight weak point recently in recent weeks.
00:06:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:06:30
Adarsh
Southampton did that brilliantly. They scored a ah goal on the counter-attack against us as well. So that's a sort of, a sort of chink in the armour that I'm starting to see over the last few weeks. Maybe that's slight fatigue, lots of fixtures, maybe teams thussing out how on a slot sets up as sets up as well.
00:06:44
Adarsh
But I thought Girona executed that really well. It was just their final ball and the final end product that kind of led them down in the end.
Impact of Rest Period on Performance
00:06:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely. And no disrespect to them, but did you expect to see more from Liverpool tonight considering they had five or six days off? You know, we had the game cancelled at the weekend against Everton. um Obviously a big game, every game's a big game, but you know, another tough game against Fulham at the weekend. Did you expect to see more from a Liverpool side who maybe had a rest at the weekend?
00:07:10
Adarsh
um I wasn't actually sure, to be honest, because I think it was like, Rest, in my opinion, can be two can be twofold. It can either be really good or actually detrimental. And I think initially, before the game, I'm glad Slot went with a strong team because we need to get that Riven back in the team. And maybe you could have argued, if we had if he had played Everton on the weekend, I would have said Rest Van Dyke, Rest Gravenberg, Rest Salah. But because we didn't, it was a good opportunity to play them.
00:07:37
Adarsh
um And I think that little sort of break, I know you say, I know it's not the biggest break. It's just a postponed match. But I think that just provided a little bit of extra preparation for a game like this. And maybe it was kind of just a bit of, I don't want to say um rustiness, but I just think we just took a while to sort of get used to the game. And you saw Gerona, they obviously played on the weekend. They looked a little bit sharper in that first half.
00:07:59
Adarsh
So ah that's probably what I would say, um but I think it was good that we went with a strong team and obviously gave minutes to really important players as well, like Alison coming back from injury, Harvey Elia great to see him back in the squad as well. I thought we made a good little cameo and it's just good seeing him back on the pitch in general. So I think that's probably what Slott was thinking um in terms of going with a strong team and if If we had played Everton at the weekend, I think we would have probably turned up to this game with a bit more rhythm and maybe have won it more convincingly. But I think because of that, that's probably why I was only one now.
00:08:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely. um I was thinking during the game, like, we we seem to struggle when we've come back from international breaks. I think the forest loss was after for an international break and um the game the other week after the newton in November break.
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Oh my God, I can't remember who, Southampton, yeah.
00:08:49
Adarsh
Southampton.
00:08:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we just about beat them. And then today we've had six days off, six days rest and they didn't look, do you think this Liverpool team actually need to be playing every like three or four days to sort of keep the rhythm going and keep that sort of pressing high tense football that we've been playing this season?
00:09:07
Adarsh
I think so. I think it's because if you go back to sort of our days on the clock, we're just used to sort of playing heavy metal football, full throttle, every game take it by the scruff of the neck. And I think maybe it's it's probably a like legacy factor that's probably impacting this squad. And that's probably something Arnaud Slott's going to be. I know he's made a brilliant start, but as the season goes on and as he sort of stamps his authority more on the squad that he's going to shape, I think we'll start to see that issue sort of being eradicated.
00:09:35
Adarsh
um I do think as well it is kind of one of those games like midweek, early kickoff in the Champions League, Girona away. i think I think it's a thing, it's a combination of the rest but also the opposition. I think Liverpool, when it comes to the big games like Real Madrid, Light City, like Chelsea, like Arsenal away, we kind of do step it up and we we know because it's a big game but I think when you've got the lights of Forest coming to Anfield, Southampton away. When we're expected to win, I think it's so so something to do with psychological influences as well. And I think that's something, again, slot's going to have to sort of, especially if we're going to go all the way in every competition, which I know we'll probably talk about in the next section. But it's definitely something that I think is a little concerned, combined with a big break that comes probably from an international break or Spelman in the fixture.
00:10:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and before we get on to part two and take a quick break, we'll get on about you know our involvement
Alison's Impactful Return
00:10:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
in the rest of the competition. But a quick word on Alison, how good was it to see him back after, but believe it was 11 games, out it's good to see him back wasn't it on the pitch?
00:10:33
Adarsh
Yeah, brilliant seeing back. I think as much as I love Keleha, there is a definite difference in standard, like those big saves that he made in that first half, even towards, I think he made one towards the end of the match. I can't remember, but I just think he does have that presence in goal that maybe actually for comparing the two goalkeepers, Keleha is a great goalkeeper, but he doesn't have the presence that Alison does. If you're one on one against Alison,
00:10:59
Adarsh
You're scared. If it if it's still her, you might have a chance.
00:11:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:01
Adarsh
that's That's probably how I see it. And I think it's just great to see him back. I think this was this was a good game to bring him back actually, now that I saw reflected on it. It wasn't too intense. It was ah tra a Champions League game that where there wasn't too much pressure on Liverpool winning, yeah even though it's great that we won.
00:11:16
Adarsh
If we had lost, people weren't going to say, oh, this is the end of Liverpool. We're in a great position in the Champions League anyway. So I think it was a good game and he he had a great game. I think a couple of his distribution at times was a bit off, but hopefully that comes with basically back being back in the team from here from here on out.
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely. We're going to take a quick break now and then in part two we're going to talk about can we go all the way and win the Champions League.
Can Liverpool Win the Champions League?
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, welcome back to then. So Adash, we'll talk about you know our our involvement in the Champions League. We're top of the table. That doesn't obviously seem mean we're going to win it after eight games. But we look good in the Champions League. we've always that you know We've always been good in the Champions League. Can we do you it and go all the way and win the whole thing?
00:12:32
Adarsh
I mean, it's so hard to say at this moment in time, but I think if there was another team in Europe playing as well as we were, I would say we then maybe there's not, but I think we are the inform team in Europe, um not just in terms of performances, but results. From a results point of view, we're just reeling off wins. We just move on to the next the next game, next win. I think and until another team can do that,
00:12:55
Adarsh
Um, then I would say that we're still the favorites. The only thing that I don't know what you think about this, right? But just when it comes to the Champions League, sometimes form just goes out the window. We've seen in the past, it's not always the best team in Europe when that wins the Champions League. We're a prime case of that. We won it in 2005 with probably the worst squad in the whole competition. So it's just, it's just one of those like, can we just maintain those levels and ensure that we don't have any banana skins or you know when it comes to a game that we're expected to win not sort of I think a prime example actually is last season against Atalanta I know Atalanta have gone on to do incredible things and win the Europa League but that was a game we kind of expected to win and we lost 3-0 so we have to ensure that that doesn't happen again this season but if we can maintain those levels I don't see why we can't go all the way
00:13:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think you're right. I think if there was other teams sort of up there, you know, you expect your Madrid's and your city's to sort of be up there and performing well in the competition and they're not. And so, you know, regardless if we're top the table or not, I would still fancy us, um you know, even for a second or third, but every game is tough. um The good thing is, is, you know, if we qualify top eight, we get the second legs at home. Will that be a massive advantage, especially for Liverpool? Everyone knows how tough it is to come to Anfield. No one want to come to Anfield on a on the second leg. will that Will that be a good advantage regardless if you finish top or not?
Importance of Anfield in Knockout Stages
00:14:18
Adarsh
I think so. I definitely think. like I always enjoy the second leg being at Anfield. I think it adds something to the fixture. I mean, another prime case was Barcelona in the semi-final in 2019. I mean, I don't think we were win that game if we're not at home. um So I think it will have a massive a massive advantage. I think we've also got to recognise that the first leg, if we've got, I don't know who it would be, but teams from 8 to 16, if it's going to be, or 24, sorry,
00:14:46
Adarsh
um that are going to be home in the first leg. We've just got to make sure we do a professional jobs, kind of similar to what we've done tonight. um i think I think we win this Champions League at Anfield, if that makes sense. I think our home form has been incredible against Leverkusen, outstanding, Real Madrid, brilliant.
00:15:02
Adarsh
um was the other one. Bologna, that was a comfortable victory. So I think that's where we win this competition as long as we can be professional going away from home. But it is going to be tough. I think there's teams like Real Madrid, there's teams like Man City. I know in the league they're not doing well but maybe they look at this Champions League and they say look we we're not gonna they might do what other teams like Liverpool and Chelsea have done in the past and kind of when they're not played well and the in the Premier League go for the Champions League that could be something that City probably look at and if you think about it they're probably more suited to the Champions League in terms of their squads they're not playing with the most intensity but they if they can give everything to the Champions League they'll be a proper force so they're still they're they're probably the two teams that um
00:15:45
Adarsh
fearing the most. I think Inter Milan have had a great start to the Champions League as well. They're still unbeaten from what I understand so they would probably be the teams that I would be fearful of but if we can, um like I said, we I think we win the Champions League based on our own form.
00:15:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. What sort of message does it send out that, you know, six games in, let's not get carried away, it's still two two games to go. But what sort of message, scored 13, conceded one goal. um What sort of message does that send to Real Madrid, who Ancelotti said, no matter what, they'll still be in the final. And, you know, we've beaten them, but not just Madrid, just any team in the Champions League, you know, that's the best of the best out of the whole Europe. What message does that give to the rest of them?
00:16:25
Adarsh
I mean, it's definitely a message of fear. I think teams will dread coming to Anfield. And like I said, they've seen what we've done. We can produce that results, especially when it comes to knockout stages. Anfield is electric. um So I think that's definitely going to be ah something that we'll probably send out to the rest of Europe. I don't think it's just that the fact that we're top of the league. I think it's the way we're top of the league. We've played Real Madrid. We've played David Kuzin. We've gone away to the San Siro.
00:16:52
Adarsh
the first day of the Champions League of 1-3-1. We've gone away to Leipzig which is not an easy place to go. I think before a ball was kicked in the Champions League people were saying we've got the hardest run and we've won every single game. So it's it's it's more to do with the way we're winning rather than actually just being top. We could we could be top with four wins and two draws or something like that. So I think it's It's a great statement in terms of how we're doing it. We're keeping clean sheets. We're not giving teams a chance. And we're scoring an abundance of goals, obviously, apart from tonight. um So I think that's probably the way the main the main message. like If you're going to beat Liverpool, you've got to do it. You've got to be on your and on your on your A game. And you've got to take those chances that Girona obviously didn't do tonight.
00:17:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
Champions League vs Premier League Preference
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
definitely. i do As a Liverpool fan, do you think, what would you rather win? that This is a question that I feel like we were asked a few years ago, would you rather win the Champions League or the Premier League this season? Or both? I mean, both are obviously ideal, but if you could win one or the other, which one would you rather win?
00:17:52
Adarsh
That is so tough. I think, i do you know what more makes that question hard is because I'm taking into account the current position we are in, in both the Premier League and the Champions League. So I feel like what's worse, giving up the Premier League lead that we have at the moment, or the Champions League. I think I think purely because the Champions League, just because you finish first, doesn't guarantee that you win the competition. I feel like because of the knockout stages, anything literally anything can happen. We can play against Prime Real Madrid in the knockout stages because that's what they're capable of doing. So i would I would go for the league. And I think the position we find ourselves in the league, City not being at it, Arsenal not being at it, Chelsea being relatively new to a title race, I would go for the Premier League. I don't know what you think.
00:18:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would go Premier League. I think the way we won the Premier League a few years ago, you know, people go, ah, it doesn't count. It was the COVID league, whatever. Obviously, it does count. But I think to do it then properly, not properly, but but because you know We racked up a lot of points before we went into lockdown, but ah to do it so no one could keep saying, oh, you haven't done it properly.
00:18:57
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:19:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But and then again, I feel like the Champions League we won could have been a better final. I feel like both titles we could have won in better ways. um but i would It's tough because you know you can either be the kings of England or you can be the kings of Europe.
00:19:16
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
um so it's I'm on the fence at the moment, but do you think we're getting ahead of ourselves a little bit? Because at the start of the season, we've been happy to get top four in the league and you know maybe qualify for the knockouts of the Champions League. And we're top of both leagues, we're playing unbelievable football. Are we getting ahead of ourselves or do you think we have the right to be talking about us winning both or one or the other?
00:19:38
Adarsh
A tough one. I don't think we... ah i think I think it's fair enough to talk about going for the for those trophies because if any other team was in our position, I think they'll probably be the same. I think you know i think it's sort of the narrative. If Citi are in this position, then we're talking ah they're talking about winning a treble. So I think... Oh, and we've been in this position in past seasons and there's been talk of the quadruple which would be crazy to even happen.
00:20:03
Adarsh
I don't even know what I'll do with myself with that day after.
00:20:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:20:07
Adarsh
I don't think I'm...
Confidence in Winning Major Competitions
00:20:08
Adarsh
I don't know what's gonna happen. and But I just think...
00:20:12
Adarsh
we we I don't think we are getting too ahead of ourselves. I think there is... The main concern I think is the December fixtures in January. I think when you come out of that and you're still in that position, then I think that's that's when the the real season starts, if you like to say it like that.
00:20:27
Adarsh
And I think obviously there's the running which has a massive impact on every outcome of the season.
00:20:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm, mm, mm.
00:20:31
Adarsh
and I mean last season we won the Carabao Cup but and then it was that week in April we played Atalanta, we played McMan United in the league, we played them in the cup well around that small period and our season capitulated so I think whilst it's good to get ahead of ourselves we've got to remember that there's still a long, long way to go.
00:20:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think you're right about the, you know, December, January fixtures. they' They're always tough every season, regardless of the team, but we sort of had a mini test. You know, we had those runner fixtures that included Leverkus and Madrid City, all of them, and we passed that test with flying colours. So um now this is the big test for a longer period, and and let's see if we can do it. But I'm i'm fully confident that we can um We can go on to win either one and hopefully both and some great nights out will be had if we do do that But that's all for today.
00:21:14
Adarsh
Hopefully both.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you for joining us. You've been listening to the daily liberal podcast brought to you by the global sports podcast network Thank you a dash for joining me once again and Make sure you follow the show to get the latest content when it drops and follow us on all our social media at GSP and Liverpool You can also email us at GSP and daily Liverpool at gmail dot.com.
00:21:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll see you again tomorrow. Thank you for listening