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Daily Liverpool - Spurs Preview
5 Plays2 hours ago
Liverpool need just 1 point to be crowned champions of England for the 20th time. Jesse Sarwar looks ahead to this weekends pivotal game and takes on the main talking points.
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Transcript
Liverpool's Title Chase
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. It's the Friday forecast show. So today we are looking ahead to the weekend's Premier League game against Spurs.
00:00:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a game where we just need one point to secure our 20th top flight title. That's because Arsenal slipped up once again at home, managing 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
00:00:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know that so the players were apparently gathered together you know in preparation preparation should Palace have beaten Arsenal on Wednesday night. They could have obviously celebrated the title win together, just like they did the past.
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
when I think the last time we won it, I think it was City playing against Chelsea. And yeah you've seen all those kind of scenes where the players are kind of counting down the seconds until the final whistle.
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think in some ways, I'm glad that Palace didn't beat
Arnie Slott's Impact at Liverpool
00:01:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal. Look, it's if you're going to win the title, it doesn't matter how you win it. But I think most of us would want us to... clinched the title Anfield.
00:01:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, that's the incentive for the players and for the fans that show up on Sunday. Let's get the job done against Spurs and put this title race to bed.
00:01:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's look ahead to the weekend's game. It's a Sunday 4.30pm kickoff UK time. That's 11.30am Eastern eastern time Arnie Slott, I mean, he's all set to win the Premier League in his first season at Anfield.
00:01:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
His first season in English football, first season in the Premier League. And he'll also become the first Dutchman to win the Premier League title as well. So, I mean, it's been an absolutely remarkable first season for Slott.
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
The way that he's come in the way that he's managed this team, the way that he's conducted himself. You know, it was always going to be a huge, huge task to come in after legendary figure like Jurgen Klopp.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he didn't spend, you he didn't spend pretty much any money at all in the summer. know we we bought Chiesa for 12 million, but we might as well not have signed anyone, given that he's hardly played.
00:02:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, he of course, he inherited a very, very good team, but he inherited the contract situation as well. You know, the the contract situation that was swirling around Salah, Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
00:02:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, I just remember throughout the whole season, that there was this kind of narrative. And and to be fair, it it I think it had some legs that those contract situations could have derailed Liverpool's Premier lead premier League bid at any time.
00:03:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know yeah I remember that when we were doing really well in November and December and people were thinking, well, is this a title challenge? And there was that kind of countdown to January because that would be the moment that any of those players or all three of those players could have signed a pre-contract agreement with any foreign club.
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, given that there was all the noise around Real Madrid with Trent and the Saudi Pro League around Salah, that was a real possibility.
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it could have derailed things. But I think just the way that Slott has handled the media, the way that he's handled that situation, I think, again, is is an enormous credit for him.
00:03:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's really interesting. i've I've mentioned this on the podcast before. And as we inch closer to Liverpool clinching that Premier League title, look, you know, this is football. I don't expect rival supporters and I don't expect, you know, pundits in the media who who are not Liverpool supporters to be over the moon that Liverpool have won.
00:04:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not saying that. But come on, you know, be reasonable. that this the The narrative that's kind of shifted from one month to another.
00:04:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
i remember last season when Klopp announced that he'd be leaving England The narrative was, well, you know, Liverpool are going to drop like a stone now. You know, you just wait until Jurgen leaves and we'll see the real Liverpool.
00:04:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what's happened? Slot has come in. He hasn't changed anything. He hasn't bought any new players. And it's, you know, it's as you were.
00:04:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, Slot has done a great dot job. He's done really well. And now the narrative has changed to, well, what did you expect? What did you expect? Because he's inherited a great squad from Jurgen Klopp. So which one is it?
00:05:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, was it all down to Jurgen Klopp? And so once Jurgen Klopp leaves, Liverpool are going to fall off a cliff. you know Or is it that some you know Arnie Slott is a fantastic manager? You can't have it both ways.
00:05:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think you have to give Slott massive credit.
Slott's Strategic Management
00:05:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's going to be the manager of the year without any question. But I think you have to give the club huge credit as well for for having faith in someone that is relatively untested.
00:05:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's come from the dutch league and you know it's not one of the major leagues and you know i think that was a brave move from the club and it was it was having a huge faith in in arnie slot and trust in him but also a huge trust in the recruitment process that led to slot being identified as the number one target, because for a long time he wasn't he wasn't. He wasn't the number one choice for Liverpool fans. He wasn't the number one choice in the media.
00:06:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
We know that Xabi Alonso, was the kind of odds-on favourite, if you like, to be the new Liverpool manager as soon as Klopp announced that he was leaving.
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you can see why he was, you know, he's a fan favourite at Liverpool. He played for the club. He won the Champions League in in the most spectacular fashion, you know, for Liverpool scoring and in that final at Istanbul.
00:06:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, he's been... one of the most decorated players in in modern football history with Liverpool and Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. So, you know, he's won everything as as a player and at international level as well with with Spain.
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then he goes into management he and he just does a fantastic job at Bayer Leverkusen. So you can understand why he would be the kind of favourite to take over.
00:07:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it was, I think Liverpool, looking back, kind of knew very early on that Alonso was not going to leave Leverkusen after just one season.
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so attention then turns to Ruben Amorim, who was also widely tipped. And I know it sounds really funny now, but some would say, you know, had more of that kind of that presence, that aura, that personality, you know, to take on a big job like the one at Liverpool and that made him one of the front run runners.
00:07:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, obviously, in hindsight, we can say that, thank God we didn't get Amarin. But i do do think Amarin is still a very, very good manager. And I think that he can be a good manager. i just think that he's walked into an absolute mess at Manchester United. And I think he's just got too much to do.
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And maybe that was, I think, one of the things... that went against Ameren coming into Liverpool was that it was too much of a radical tactical departure from the Jurgen Klopp era if we got Ameren in.
00:08:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whereas I think we can all see that, yes, Liverpool are a slightly different beast under Arnie Slott than they were under Jurgen Klopp, but, you know, that I think there's a smoother transition between those two kind of styles.
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, but look, the the club, they used their tried and tested recruitment methodology. They used their metrics to do to judge the best candidate. And for them, Arnie Slott was the man. So, you know, that that's a a huge credit to the club for bringing him in I know that before that, when when we brought in Jurgen Klopp, everyone said that, well, you know, signing Klopp was a no-brainer.
00:09:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I do remember at the time there was there were a lot of people who wanted Carlo Ancelotti because he represented something, maybe lesser risk than Jurgen Klopp at the time.
00:09:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I just think in in hind you know it's is's very easy to kind of come out with these kind of narratives that it was it was easy to hire Klopp and you know it's easy to take it over from Klopp. Everything is just so easy.
00:09:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Slott has inherited Klopp's team. There's no doubt about that. But I think that we can all see that he's moulded it and developed it into a different team. And I think that we we are still in the early stages of that evolution and and that we're going to see that the evolution continue under Slott in the next couple of seasons.
00:10:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, we're still a devastating team on the counter. We still press aggressively in those higher positions, the counter pressing. But maybe there's, you know, we're a little bit more measured in possession.
00:10:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
We don't tend to, wouldn't say that we panicked. under Klopp if we were like 1-0 down or it was 1-1 and it was kind of 60-65 minutes but you did get this feeling that we were just throwing the kitchen sink from minute one and and that that is not a criticism that really isn't I i absolutely loved it and i I wouldn't mind Liverpool going back to that But it's just an observation that so we we almost kind of break a match down into kind of segments. You'll see Liverpool attack for 10 or 15 minutes and and really go at the opposition and then they'll slow the game down and keep possession.
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And maybe that's why we've been able to play with a relatively small squad of regular players this season. You know, kind of 13, 14, 15 players and some of the other players that just haven't had look in. And I guess that would be the only criticism for Arnie Slott this season. And when I say criticism, it's not a criticism criticism that...
00:11:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ultimately, he's he's a Premier League winner. And so you can't you can't criticise him in the sense that he's got this wrong. but But I do think that that is something that he's going to have to look at next season.
00:11:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because i I don't think that playing in this way with such a small group of regular players... I don't think that's
Liverpool vs. Spurs: Title Decider?
00:11:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
sustainable. And it's certainly not sustainable if you want to fight on on all fronts, which are Liverpool should be doing and will be doing. And i I guess a lot of that is going to be dependent on the kind of transfer business that we do in the summer.
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think if we do have a busy transfer window, if we do bring in three, four players that are kind of first team ready, then I think that you will see more kind of squad rotation for next season. And, you know, talking of next season, and if we kind of turn our attention to Spurs, will Ange Postacogli be at Tottenham next season?
00:12:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the big question because the big Aussie, and you know he's he's the big Aussie that everyone loved at the start of the season, but he's become a really grumpy Aussie as the scene as a season has gone on.
00:12:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he's endured a pretty torrid season, even by Spurs standards. It's been a horrendous season. I think that if I'm not mistaken, I think that they've now lost 18 times in the Premier League, which I think is some kind of record.
00:13:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I'm pretty sure it's some kind of record. But the really funny thing is, is that, it could still end with a trophy, a European trophy, no less, for Spurs. And, you know, qualification for for next season's Champions League, if they, you know, if they'd go on and win the Europa League. And Ruben Amarum, we've been talking about Ruben Amarum, is pretty much in the same boat at Manchester United.
00:13:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Terrible season. Can't wait for this season to be over. But as we approach the last few games of the season, there is a chance at European silverware and Champions League qualification. So i think it's shaping up to be a really interesting end of the season for those two clubs.
00:13:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I suppose the big question is, how will Postacoglu's team selection for Sunday be affected by that semi-final first leg that Spurs will play the following Thursday?
00:14:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's that kind of age-old conundrum facing a manager at this stage the stage of the season is, do you rest players? do you rest players now and then risk them losing their rhythm or do you keep that rhythm but risk an injury?
00:14:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, surely Spurs rest players. I mean, what what kind of rhythm do they have in the Premier League that they're going to lose that kind of rhythm? They've had no rhythm. The only rhythm that they've got is that they've lost 18 games, which is a remarkable achievement.
00:14:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, they've had a horrific injury record this season. So I would expect Spurs to make a significant number of changes and keep players fresh for those Europa League games because...
00:14:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's face it, those those games are season-defining games for Postacoglu and for Spurs. i mean, his job is on the line. you know He did famously say at the start of the season, he's actually it's in the second season that he you know he wins a trophy and he's he's on course to do that.
00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. But look, I mean, even even if they didn't have anything to play for in Europe, their form in the Premier League is just so poor.
00:15:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm looking at the last six games. They have won one. one They've lost four and they have drawn one, scoring eight goals and conceding 12.
00:15:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, and they've just been in just terrible, terrible form. Liverpool's form, in contrast, in the last six games is that we've won five and we've won, sorry, we've won five and lost one. Obviously that away defeat against Fulham. So say it's all on us.
00:15:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's all on Liverpool to just go out and win this game. Spurs are there for the taking. I just really can't think of a team that is more don't I really don't want lay into Spurs that much, but you know I just can't think of a team that is more spineless than than Spurs at the moment.
00:16:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Most other teams, I think, would want to at least, they'd want to come to Anfield and play the role of kind of party pooper. You know, just rock up at Anfield and say, you know what?
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
You might win the league. But it's not going to be against us and it's not going to be today. And I just can't see these Spurs players coming to Anfield with that attitude.
Predicted Lineups Discussion
00:16:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the attitude has got to come from us. It's got to come from the players and it's got to come from the crowd. And I expect them to. i I'd really expect... to a party atmosphere at Anfield and an atmosphere that carries I think the team to the Premier League title so these next few games until the end of the season may give us a hint as to which players will stay at Anfield and which players will be moved on Now, we're going to come back and we're going to talk predicted lineups for Sunday.
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But before we do that, just a quick word from our sponsors.
00:18:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, OK, welcome back. Let's get into a predicted line-up for Sunday's game. In goal, I'm expecting Alison Becker. I think we've probably seen the last of Kelleher, which is a real shame, but I do think that... I don't think that he's going to play any more between now and the end of the season. I think the talking points are going to be in that back four.
00:18:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
and specifically in those those two kind of fullback areas. Trent Alexander-Arnold is back fit and, you know, he showed that when he scored against Leicester last weekend.
00:19:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, huge celebration and everyone has kind of got their own interpretations about what that celebration means. Is it a celebration of...
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, I'm off, thank you very much. Or is it a celebration, you know, that says, look, I'm still here and I'm staying. You know, everyone has got their own opinion on that.
00:19:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think that it's interesting that, I think Jamie Carragher mentioned that if Trent Alexander-Arnold has not committed his future to Liverpool, then Connor Bradley should get the nod between now and the end of the season.
00:19:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's an interesting talking point because, you know, you you can you can have the opinion that he's done a lot for the club. He's been at the club for 20 years.
00:19:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
His entire life he's been at Liverpool Football Club. And he deserves a send-off. You know, he deserves to to play at Anfield consistently. And for the crowd to give him send off that is fitting for a homegrown player that's been there his whole career and has won every single honour that you can possibly win at club level with Liverpool Football Club.
00:20:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or there's the the kind of really hard nosed. Well, look, you know what? you haven't You haven't committed to Liverpool Football Club, so, you know, you're not playing.
00:20:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
This isn't a Trent Alexander Arnold fan club. This is Liverpool Football Club. You play for Liverpool. Liverpool doesn't play for you. And I guess it just depends on what side of the fence you sit on. I kind of, I do do think that Trent, I don't like this idea of of him being booed.
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't agree with, I don't agree with this kind of, you know, the online criticism that he's had, that he's he's a snake and he's a traitor and blah, blah, blah. I think that's just ridiculous. As I said, he's been here long enough And I think him, just like any other person, has the right to explore different things in life. I mean, you know he's a young guy. He's he's experienced all with Liverpool.
00:21:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why should he not play on the continent? Why should he not go to Spain and and experience a different lifestyle? yeah A footballer's career is very, very short. you know He's 26 now.
00:21:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's in the peak of his career. And yes, I know we would love to him for him to be at Liverpool during those peak years, but he's given us enough. So I don't agree with this narrative that he should be criticised. If he's going, no problem, Liverpool will survive.
00:22:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's whether... It's whether he now sits on the bench for the next few games and that, you know, Connor Bradley, he's given the shirt and say, look, you know, show us what you got.
00:22:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
we We know that you're good, but, you know, you you don't you don't have the pressure of being the number one yet. So, you know, go out and show us what you got. I kind of tend to fall in between that. I think that, I think there is i think Carragher had a valid point.
00:22:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do think that there is a valid argument to be made that Bradley should start. But i I think that slot will take the kind of middle road there. I think that, I think Bradley may start again because Trent is coming back soon.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of fitness, you know what, I'm going to i'm going to change my mind mid-sentence and say that I think that Trent is going to start. I think Trent is going to start because I think Arnie Slott will recognise that this could be his last significant game at Anfield.
00:23:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that if Liverpool do win the title, I think that you know Trent would want to start that game. And then maybe the next few games, Bradley gets... So that's one talking point is right back. And then the other one is the left back position where you know it's a straight battle between Robertson and Simicas.
00:23:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it leads into that summer re reshuffle or you know that that summer shakeup. Because I think there is almost a consensus that Liverpool do need to strengthen in that left-back position.
00:23:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's almost... Well, really, who's going to be that second left back? Is it going to be Robertson or is it going to be Simicast? My thinking is it should be Robertson.
00:23:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that we should keep him. He's got another year left on his contract. I can't see Liverpool extending that beyond next season. So I think it just makes sense that we keep Robertson until the end of of his contract,
00:24:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
and let him bed in the new left back and show him, you know, what it means to be a Liverpool fullback. And, you know, Simicass is younger, we'll probably get a better fee for him.
00:24:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that Slott will start with Robertson at home. And then the midfield, I think, pretty much picks itself with Gravenberg, McAllister and Saboslai.
00:24:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And again, really, it's that kind of the forward positions. I think Salah will play. And i think it looks like Nunes is done. I don't think Slott is going to pick Nunes anymore between now and the end of the season.
00:24:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you played Diaz down the centre in the last game. And I can see Jota getting a run out against Spurs alongside Diaz.
00:25:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But again, you know the the the forward line is also an area that I just think that Liverpool fans are looking at and thinking... yeah What are we going to do with this forward line?
00:25:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know is are Are these team selections any indicator in terms of what's going to happen at the end of the season? And and some of the rumours that are going around, I'll i'll just go go through a couple of rumours that are doing the rounds on the wires as we head head towards the end of the season.
00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Trent Alexander-Arnold hasn't yet officially signed for Real Madrid. Some reports are suggesting that the fact that there is uncertainty over the managerial position at Real Madrid is causing a bit of hesitation. There's obviously, I think there's a or a perceived wisdom that Carlo Ancelotti is, you know, he's going to be heading out the exit door at the end of the season.
00:26:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that this uncertainty as to who that manager is going to be is causing uncertainty in the Trent Alexander-Arnold camp. I don't really buy that because I think there's always uncertainty.
00:26:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
over Real Madrid managers, they come and go. And it does look like Xabi Alonso you know, kind of odds on favourite to become Real Madrid manager.
00:26:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if that's the case, well, you've got and a Liverpool legend and you're a Liverpool legend. And i think it just makes it so much easier. So I don't really think that that's... I don't really think that that's a huge issue. i think that I think Trent wants to get this season out of the way.
00:26:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
At the very least, seal the Premier League title. Get that Premier League title done and dusted. And then, you know, we'll probably see the resolution of this transfer saga again.
00:26:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of other players, players Dean Housen at Bournemouth is wanted by both Arsenal and Chelsea. The centre-back, obviously, he's been linked with Liverpool alongside Kerkhez, also at Bournemouth.
00:27:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would just say, look, if Housen chooses Chelsea over Liverpool... You know what?
00:27:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can have him. And even with Arsenal, look, we're Premier League champions. We're Premier League, we're champions of England. And just look at the recent history in terms of who's been winning titles, whether that's domestically or in Europe.
00:27:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's Liverpool. you know, it's not Arsenal and certainly not Chelsea. And, you know, we've got Chelsea coming up and we've got Arsenal coming up in the next few weeks. And I think if we beat Chelsea, that could really affect their Champions League chances.
Closing Remarks & Social Media
00:27:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I don't know if a player like Dean Hooson would want to go to Chelsea if they're not competing in the Champions League.
00:28:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we'll see. 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.
00:28:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Join us again on Monday for the post-match review, hopefully when we're celebrating title number 20. Until next time, thank you for listening.