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Liverpool v Man Utd Preview
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It's the big one! Liverpool play host to arch enemies Man Utd as the Reds look to mainatin their lead at the top of the PL>
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Transcript
Game Preview
00:00:09
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 is the Friday forecast and we're looking ahead to Sunday's big game against arch rivals Manchester United. It's a 4.30pm kickoff yeah UK time that is 11.30am Eastern Standard Time, a nice early kickoff for our listeners stateside.
Current Standings and Form
00:00:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's take a look at the form guide going into this game and we'll start with Liverpool. The Reds are sitting pretty at the top of the league on 45 points after 18 games. Their last six games have yielded four wins and two draws, scoring 21 goals and conceding nine. That's 14 points from the last 18. Manchester United on the other hand,
00:01:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well it makes for a pretty grim reading if you're a United fan and if you are a United fan you know really sort yourself out and also you know what are you doing listening to a Liverpool FC podcast. They're in 14th place in the Premier League and sit just seven points above Ipswich who are in the relegation zone.
00:01:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of their form, well it gets even worse. They're in 19th place in terms of form for the last six Premier League games, just above Southampton who are rock bottom of the Premier League. From their last six fixtures, they've won one game and lost five. That sole win coming against Manchester City, would you believe it?
00:01:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
almost showing how bad City have been of late that they could lose to a United team that have lost to Arsenal, I guess understandably, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle in that six game run. They've scored just four goals and conceded 13 in that run.
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So United are going into this game off the back of a pretty woeful performance at home against Newcastle losing 2-0 when in all honesty the game could have finished 5-6 if Newcastle hadn't taken their foot off the gas.
Liverpool's Recent Performance Highlight
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Contrast that to Liverpool, who tore what West Ham to shreds at the London Stadium in their last Premier League outing, winning that game 5-0. And again, it could have been much, much more. But for some wasteful finishing, a bit harsh to say when you've won 5-0. And some good goalkeeping from Ariola in the Hammers' goal.
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it looks like this has to be three points for Liverpool, but a word of caution. This is the biggest fixture in English football, in world football, and Manchester United did show against Man City.
00:03:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
that they they can still hurt teams. Now, admittedly, Manchester City is not the city that we've become accustomed to over the last few seasons. They are on their own pretty wretched run. But United are one of those teams. And I think it's actually ah ah a really bad trait for a top team. Or top club, I should say that they can turn up to big games, maybe when all the odds are stacked against them, maybe pull off something of an upset.
00:03:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
that part of United, the part that turns up when they feel like it, make them as bad as they are on most weeks, but make them dangerous as well for opponents who maybe drop their guard.
Tactical Discussion and Strategies
00:03:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think Liverpool can't take this game lightly they They can't be complacent and give you give United any kind of encouragement because they do have players on the counter that can do damage. Ahmad is one of those players, he's probably been United's best player.
00:04:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Someone who, apart from his skill, has shown the kind of desire, application, hard work that Reuben Amorim will need if he's going to achieve anything with this United team. United, I think, will be focused on not conceding, to trying to stay in the game. I think they'll want to take this game to half time with a with a clean sheet. Don't concede.
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
The hope will be that the longer the game goes without Liverpool scoring, the more desperate Liverpool get, maybe leaving room for United to hit them on the counter, which they have done in seasons gone by. The context in which this can feasibly happen is that at the moment, Liverpool are six points ahead of second-placed Arsenal.
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
We also have a game in hand. The way that the fixtures have fallen this weekend, Liverpool are playing the late game on Sunday and Arsenal will be playing the day before on Saturday away at Brighton. A tricky fixture but an opportunity for the Gunners to get within three points of Liverpool, albeit Liverpool will then have two games in hand.
00:05:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
but it's the points tally that builds pressure and Liverpool going into this game against United with Arsenal potentially just three points behind them will be a test of the team's nerve especially if as United will be hoping for the game is goldless going into the second half.
00:05:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that is the factor that could potentially give United some calls for, if not optimism, but hope that the overall context of the title race could create those. Nervy conditions where United may be able to get something out of this game.
00:06:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Otherwise all things being equal Liverpool really should be making short work of this United team. All around the pitch you see opportunities for Liverpool to completely dominate the opposition. The midfield as in most games will be a key factor in how this game is won and lost.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
If that trusted duo of Ryan Gravenberg and Alexis McAllister are able to get a foothold in midfield, dominate possession, dictate the tempo of the game, this could be fatal for Manchester United because if Liverpool do control that midfield area, they will have a launch pad to mount attack after attack and you just cannot see how any one of Liverpool's attackers who the majority ah of them are in form, whether it's Mohammed Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Cody Gackpo. You just can't see how they're not going to get on the score sheet. Salah in particular, you have to say, will be chomping at the bit to get this game started. He's on fire this season. In 18 Premier League games, he's netted 17 times and provided 13 assists. Absolutely incredible.
00:07:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
and he gives United absolute nightmares. He scored more goals, 12, and provided more assists, 6, against United than any other player in Premier League history. And you'd have to back Salah to add to that goal tally on Sunday against a United defence that looks so fragile.
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the key for me will be to score early. I think if Liverpool can register in the first half, I think this could get really ugly for United and something of a repeat of the 7-0 mauling that 10 Hogs United suffered in 2023 could genuinely be on the cards. Okay, it's time for a short break and we'll be back after this message.
00:08:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, welcome back.
Managerial Challenges
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Ruben Amorim leads his United team into this game at Anfield against liverpool Liverpool for the first time as United manager since he took over after the sacking of Eric Tenharg at the end of October.
00:09:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's had a torrid time since becoming a United manager. They've slumped to their third successive home defeat against Newcastle midweek. Losing 2-0, he's effectively put Marcus Rashford on the transfer list. Since Amram took over in mid-November, only Southampton have lost more games in all competitions. United lost six games in December.
00:09:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely shocking and obviously as a Liverpool fan really funny as well. And there there will be an interesting dynamic I think in the Anfield dugout on Sunday. A real kind of sliding doors moment because last season when Jurgen Klopp announced his impending departure from Liverpool, Reuben Amorim was a name constantly linked with the Liverpool job.
00:10:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now I like Emery, I think he's a really good young coach. I was actually quite excited at the prospect of him taking over at Anfield. I think he's tactically brave, I think he's charismatic, he's got a big personality and you need that kind of charisma.
00:10:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
You need some kind of gravitas when you walk into a dressing room at Anfield or Old Trafford or any other big club. You need a big presence because otherwise the job can swallow you whole. Ten Haag, Ollie Gunnar Solskjaer, David Moyes will all be able to testify to that. But I think it's also interesting and illustrative of the way that both clubs are run.
00:10:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
that Liverpool, whilst really liking Amorim, thought that his 3-4-3 style of play would be too radical a change, too radical a departure from the Klopp style for a team used to winning with a 4-3-3 or yeah a variation of 4-3-3, like a 4-2-3-1.
00:11:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that has been borne out in the way that both managers have performed so far this season. Slots transition into the job at Anfield has been seamless and the tactical changes that he's made and that he's introduced has represented more evolution than revolution.
00:11:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, admittedly, Slott has enjoyed a better base to start from than Amorim. I think it was a huge error on United's part to stick with Tenharg at the end of last season. He clearly didn't have the backing of the board.
00:11:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Ineos dithered and now they've put Amorim in who who's a radical departure from Tenharg's setup and they're expecting him to implement this kind of radical tactical change midway through the season with players that he's not signed and that are clearly not suited to his way of playing football.
00:12:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it I think it will take a few transfer windows for Amorim to get the players he needs, to get United playing in the way that he wants. Whether he gets the time to do so remains to be seen, given that youe the United manager has gone on record as saying that they are in a relegation fight after that 2-0 defeat at home against you Newcastle in midweek.
00:12:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, I'm not sure if that's true, although their form is absolutely relegation form. And it has to be said that if all the reports are to be believed, there's no money available to spend in January, which does make you wonder where United will turn the corner this season if they're going to stick with the same players. OK, it's time for another break. And when we come back, we'll discuss a predicted team team lineup and a score prediction.
Fitness Concerns and Lineup
00:13:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Liverpool's main concerns around fitness are in that back line. With Joe Gomez, unfortunately joining Ibrahima Kanate and Conor Bradley on that injured list after pulling his hamstring in last week's demolition of West Ham. That said, Kanate and Bradley are back in training and Kanate at least could feature against United in some way although I'd be surprised if Slott put him straight into the starting lineup. I could see him on the bench, which means I'd expect Alison to stay in goal, a back four of Trent, Kwanzaa, Van Dijk and Simicas. I think Kwanzaa is going to be, I think it's a test for him because
00:14:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
You may remember last season when Liverpool, you know, they were flying they were fighting for trophies and all fronts. And it was that FA Cup game against Manchester United, funnily enough, at Old Trafford, where Kwanzaa makes an error around the the kind of centre of the pitch, loses the ball, goes straight to Bruno Fernandez and Fernandez from distance, know, chips the keeper. and And that kind of
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
that kind of led Liverpool on earth a really tricky run and you know things kind of petered out for Liverpool in terms of their quest for more trophies to add to the the league cup that they had won earlier in that season and he hasn't had a great start to the season he was He was substituted in the first league game of the season. He had an appearance in the League Cup against Southampton, which, again, was a little bit shaky. But I think a lot has been made of some of the troubles that he's had. I think he's still a very, very good young centre back. And I think next to Van Dijk, that's the key. I think if he's next to Van Dijk, I think he should be fine.
00:15:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So do expect him to start alongside Van Dyke, Trent at right back while Conor Bradley is out. And Simakas looks like he's he's back from injury. He did appear a substitute against West Ham.
00:16:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that he'll start. I think Robertson's been starting quite a few games recently and I think this is an opportunity for that left back position to be rotated. You know, get Simakas back into the starting lineup and really compete with Robertson for that left back spot.
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
In midfield, that duo of Ryan Gravenberg and Alexis McAllister pretty much picked themselves. But it's that third spot in midfield, I think that that's going to be the really interesting one. Dominic Subosly.
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
missed out on the West Ham game due to suspension he picks up a yellow card against Leicester in the previous game so he's up against an informed Curtis Jones jones for that starting spot Jones scored against West Ham at the weekend So he's been on really good form. Harvey Elliott is now back and he's, you know, he's collecting minutes. He's getting more minutes under his belt. So I think he's in contention, but I expect slot to pick Sir Boslai for this game.
Match Prediction
00:17:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Even though Jones is really be pushing to start against United, but I think Sir Boslai for he's his energy
00:17:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
know his work rate and his goal threat from midfield I think could be a real problem for United. The front three I think is again very interesting because all of the informed players you know are so adaptable so interchangeable Salah will naturally start on the left uh both Cody Gappo and Luis Diaz have been in sparkling form But I expect Yogo Jota to be given a starting spot centrally in that front line. And Luis Diaz to revert to his more kind of familiar wide role out on the left. But I do expect both Gapo and Darwin Nunez to feature at some point in this game coming on as a substitute.
00:18:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So a score prediction, this is scary, but I'm going to be got bold and say that Liverpool will score early in the first half. And if we do that, this United team is, it's just too spineless, too weak to come back from that. So I'm expecting a convincing three nil win for the Reds.
00:18:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can tell us your thoughts on Sunday's game, send us your comments, your score predictions, email us your thoughts or even a voice note and we'll play the best one in our next episode. And that's all for today. You've been listening to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast.
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
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Engagement and Feedback
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
When it drops, follow us on social media at GSP and Liverpool. You can email us GSP and daily Liverpool at gmail.com. Join us again on Monday for our review show, where hopefully we'll be talking about that convincing win over United that I just predicted until then. Thank you for listening.