Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
LIVERPOOL V MAN UTD PREVIEW
0 Playsin 9 hours
It's the big one! Liverpool host bitter rivals Man Utd with the Reds looking to get back to winning ways after back to back defeats in the PL. Jesse is joined by Irby to discuss all the main talking points, a predicted line up and a score prediction.
Bioniq - Don't settle for off-the-shelf solutions made for ANY body. Get what's right for YOU. Right now.
We’ve spent years analyzing blood markers to develop our patented algorithm, enabling us to create a 100% personalized supplement to support your health by optimizing your micronutrient status.
Follow the link and Use code GSPN2025 for 40% of your first month’s subscription.
Zencastr
Built for quality - Designed for growth
A new era for creation is here.
The only complete audio + video platform to get best-in-class recording, intuitive editing, AI-powered growth features, and top-tier distribution tools — all in one place.
Get started for free!
We highly recommend it!
Global Sports Podcast Network - Creating the world’s first network of 30-minute daily podcasts for the world’s biggest sporting export, the English Premier League.
Recommended
Transcript
Premier League Anticipation
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. It is the Friday forecast and we are looking ahead to the return of Premier League action this week this weekend. I've got my usual partner in crime, resident coach Irby White. Irby, how are you? How are things stateside?
00:01:12
Irby White
Yeah, I'm ready to go. wow I tell you what, this international break has felt like an eternity, like like longer than than May to August waiting for the Prem to return. i don't know what it is with the three matches we lost in a row, but it's I'm ready. I just need if that feel-good win, especially against who we're up against someday, so I'm good.
Liverpool Players in International Break
00:01:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and it and and you're right. it kind of The fact that we went into this international break off the back of three straight defeats, two in the Premier League, it just made that international break just that much longer.
00:01:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the players that all own you know have been away on duty... You know, it seems like most of them have had fairly decent international breaks.
00:01:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
McAllister scored twice for Argentina, who are qualified. Sobosla scored for Hungary in their 2-2 draw against Portugal. Mohamed Salah scored twice for Egypt.
00:02:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
They have secured their qualification for for the World Cup. So few of our players have you know had pretty decent international breaks. yeah're you're You're going to hope that this is going to now be you know transferred into the Premier League now because it wasn't ideal going into that break off the back of those defeats.
00:02:29
Irby White
and I have to slip it in there. Senegal, Sadio Mane, happy to see them qualified too.
00:02:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:35
Irby White
Yeah, it's especially these early international breaks, you know just the three that you have in the first nine weeks of the season, it feels like it's very stop and go, can slow momentum, can slow your momentum if you're doing it at another team at the top. you know and That's why you see the table.
00:02:55
Irby White
fluctuating early on because I feel like teams aren't, it's just very stop and go. And so now I'm hoping that, yeah, we can kick on, especially we talked about it. I think I mentioned it on the last episode of what three losses would feel like going into the break. And it it sucked to be honest as a supporter, but we're ready to get back to it.
00:03:15
Irby White
And now players like Isak, McAllister, hopefully they've got a little bit more fitness in them too. They can kick on. You know, it's not just them that need to kick on, but, you know, I'm hoping just its it's time now. It's time. You know, we haven't quite been ourselves since the start of the season. And now I'm just hoping that, you know, the whole staff has gotten together.
00:03:37
Irby White
figured out a few things, made a few adjustments that they're prepared to implement in training. And we can just hopefully leading into this November international break and just ride a wave and go from there.
Sweden's World Cup Woes
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, you mentioned Isak. Sweden are all but out of the World Cup now. and Barring a miraculous set of results, I think they're pretty much out. And I've just seen this stat and I'm um'm just right stunned by this. But John Dole Thomason, who's the manager who's been sacked, he actually becomes the first Swedish manager in their entire history to be sacked.
00:04:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Never sacked a manager.
00:04:20
Irby White
And they're consistent. they They seem to be a consistent team at the World Cup and at at the at the Euros and especially in a 48 World Cup or 48 team World Cup year for them to be on the brink of elimination and all be all out.
00:04:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:32
Irby White
It's just it's shocking with the quality that they do have. You know, they're not one of the top five, ten nations in the world.
00:04:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:38
Irby White
They do have the players that can at least get you to a World Cup and maybe even get you results in the group stage, maybe even out of it.
00:04:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:46
Irby White
So that's surprising.
00:04:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, obviously, Thomas and the manager has taken the fall, but there's been plenty of criticism for Alexander Isak. A lot of Swedish fans, a lot of their pundits are saying that his his decision to effectively go on strike in the summer was...
00:05:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
has meant that he's had no pre-season and his performances that he's shown for both club and country, you know, that this is a result of of him not not training during the summer. And it's hard to kind of argue against that, you know, and and I suppose...
00:05:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
The argument is, is that could he have done it a different way? Could he have said, he could have put his foot down and said, look, I want to go. I'm leaving. And he could, you know, he could be public about it, but then still train and still go on preseason so that, so that he is ready to make that move. Once he comes to Liverpool, he's just ready to go.
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
do do you think that that, that was maybe mistake in hindsight?
00:05:51
Irby White
Yeah, and I think I can kind of pivot to American sports. And if a player is on strike with a contract or wanting a trade or a move in general, you know, football, that even though it's a team sport, if you're a quarterback, if you're a wide receiver, you can still get those repetitions in. If you're a basketball player, you can play pickup and you can you can do all these things. in In football, it's a little bit different. You can do your individual training, especially as a striker, but you're you're not getting the the kind of fitness. And so I think in football,
00:06:21
Irby White
European football, and because I'm saying American football too. it's It's very different. you i mean weve You see it at all levels of the game how what you lose in two to three weeks, I've heard Gary Neville say it on multiple podcasts from the end of a season in May and then you're starting in preseason, what you lose in just two weeks alone. It's it's staggering. and so There's definitely, and we've talked about with McAllister too, just the fitness issue and and getting kind of back up to speed. It's been an issue for Isak. It's been an issue for McAllister. And to an extent, yeah, you have to. He's he's the hundred and what, 20 pound man, second leading goal score in the Prem last year. And so I think there are expectations from the Swedish perspective that he needs to be the one to to fire them to international tournaments and lead them as far as he can. and If he's not performing, the rest of the team could struggle.
00:07:16
Irby White
But to defend Isak, not just he's a Liverpool player, There's 10 other players on the pitch. There's plenty of other forwards that they have, maybe not of the quality of ESAC, but it shouldn't just be all put on one player.
00:07:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:30
Irby White
You know, you've had a long campaign to to qualify for the World Cup, and if you're leaving it this late, it can't just be pinned down to one player.
00:07:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I agree. But I think from what I've read from in terms of their reaction, it's that they see him as being by far their best player.
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's like head and shoulders above everyone else. and so And then when you're playing in that kind of striker's position, you you know you are at the kind of cutting edge.
00:07:52
Irby White
Clearly, yeah.
00:07:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
you're that You're the difference maker, right? You're the guy that's going to score the gold. So... I kind of see where they're they're coming from, but it's like you go from one end of the kind of fitness spectrum to the other, and then you look at Mohamed Salah, who's you know who's scoring for Egypt. egypt He's now done in terms of qualification
Mohamed Salah's Busy Schedule
00:08:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
for the World Cup, which I think is great news for us in the sense that hopefully...
00:08:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
they're They're a bit easy on him now going into 2026, but he's going to be playing AFCON in so two major international tournaments he's looking at, which is AFCON in you know December, January, and then the World Cup in the summer. So you know you you' you're wondering what kind of effect this is going to have on Mohamed Salah that that's like 33, approaching 34.
00:08:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a big ask.
00:08:50
Irby White
And on the one hand, they're qualified, they're through. You would hope from a Liverpool's perspective that you know he's got AFCON and and just after the new year and that maybe you're hopeful as, you know, in Arna Slott's perspective, hey, can we can we not let him go into the next international break?
00:09:09
Irby White
But at the same time, that's their last international break before AFCON from Egypt's perspective.
00:09:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:09:15
Irby White
And so... You just have to hope that, one, he stays healthy when he goes to the November one, and then, two, it's just he can kind of put his full focus on Liverpool Football Club until until January when he's going to have to be the main man for Egypt. and so He's got a lot of football to play.
00:09:32
Irby White
you know We've talked about it. I think there was one a couple of years ago with Pedri was really under the microscope of Euros, World Cup, Olympics, right?
00:09:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:09:42
Irby White
Playing every game with Barcelona, playing every game with Spain, just nonstop, and it led to an injury, and he was 18. Now Sal is going to be 34 by then. Who knows what the effect will be on him? But from our perspective as a club, we need to hope for the best with him and that he can – take a little bit of pressure off himself.
00:10:00
Irby White
He can look ahead for the next three, four months and try to get Liverpool in as best of the position as possible in the league, in the Champions League, in the Cups for when he does come back from AFCON that he can just pick up where he left off.
00:10:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's a strange one with Mo this season, I think, with with AFCON, because you know he hasn't had the best start. And normally we think, oh God, AFCON is just going to you know wreck his season. But in a strange way, you just think that...
00:10:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, it maybe it will be a good thing for him if he goes to AFCON and he wins it. He's got to win it, right? And then he comes back and he's like, right, you know, he's raring to go. AFCON's done.
00:10:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, I'm African champion. Let's go and do the Premier League. Let's go to do the Champions League. So you just hope that there's that momentum there for, you know, for him when he comes back for the rest of the season. But so the other big news this week in terms of the club was that so this week, you know, also marked 15 years of FSG ownership of of Liverpool.
FSG's 15-Year Liverpool Journey
00:11:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And...
00:11:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, was it interesting to kind of look back on, you know, on that kind of, you know, the ownership period of of when they came in. You know, I remember when when we got taken over, there was a lot of suspicion because...
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Back then, there there weren't as many American owners of Premier League clubs as we have today. And for us, as Liverpool fans, we'd experienced firsthand the absolute kind of chaos of Hicks and Gillette.
00:11:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, we've seen the horror show that is Manchester United. And we were a bit nervous about another group of... American owners, and this time, they're they're basically, they're kind of investors. They're you know they're they're going to hedge fund guys. And you think, oh, God, you know you know what's their kind of, yeah what are they looking to get out of this? But overall, you have to say that in terms of where we were, we were on the brink of administration.
00:12:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's That's how close it came. We were on the brink of administration. These guys have come in. And you've got to say that there's there's not a lot that you can throw at their door in terms of in terms of negatives.
00:12:19
Irby White
Yeah, and I'm 29 years old now, so 15 years ago, would have been 14. That's kind of around the time where I've been following sports my whole life, but at a kind of the perspective of how important ownership is from a sporting perspective for a team, for a club, kind of came to me around that time. And so it was around the time that Hicks and Gillette were, you know,
00:12:42
Irby White
almost ran the club into the ground and I kind of made myself educated on that and all that stuff. And when FSG came in, it kind of, I mean, it was a breath of fresh air because of, you know, effectively they saved the club.
00:12:56
Irby White
There have been instances, you know, with the Club World Cup and then the ticket prices i'm sure you can speak about that a little bit more from your side pond better than I can because you know ticketing here in the US is very much, it's a whole different thing compared to compar to over there.
00:13:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:13:10
Irby White
And so those were definitely two blemishes I would say on their record. From my perspective as well, it was always in transfer windows where I was never expecting what we did this summer that was never the expectation and just kind of like We need to spend 200 million plus on net spend, whatever, every year.
00:13:29
Irby White
It was more of just can we get that one more? You know, the season we went after we won the league, got Tiago and Diogo Jota.
00:13:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. yeah
00:13:36
Irby White
I was like, can you get a center back? And we waited and we saw what happened. It was just there's always been a couple summers where it's like, yes, OK, just one more, just one more. and it always irritated me and then we'd go a summer without really signing anybody like last summer i was extremely irritated because we just new manager give him a player or two i understand you know you you don't want to spend you've seen what manchester united have done and chelsea and all the spend and then manager turnover spend manager your turnovers you're stuck with a pool of players for the next manager that they don't want and so from that perspective i understood it but it was always just
00:14:12
Irby White
you you know, one more, one more to just give us that full squad. But in terms of the stadium, you know, I'm hoping I can finally get to the stadium in the next 18 months. but would love to see, you know, all the renovations, everything that they've done with that. it's But they they've had, you know, blemishes, like I said, with those other things. But just it's been a 15-year process. It hasn't been an overnight process, and we've seen that. And and we're it feels like we're finally seeing the stability. But now that, you know,
00:14:42
Irby White
I see other clubs and other pundits and all that stuff talking about. We are kind of the staple, you know, the structure of the club from top to bottom is as close to perfect as you can get.
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:14:52
Irby White
And I think that clubs a model after that, but they want to do it in 18 months or less. And so what we've built, it's, you know, it gives you comfort as a fan knowing that even if anything goes wrong, it's just, you know, in terms of just what's going on on the field right now, just, i I know the club is in a position to be stable for the next 10 to 15 years, as long as they're around, they're doing things in the background that we don't see. It's just, it's, it's good to, it's just, it gives you a good sense of comfort knowing that the club's in a good place, knowing there are multiple clubs all over the world, but in England that are, you know, fighting for their lives, you know, year in, year out. And so we're, we're really fortunate to have the owners we do.
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I couldn't agree more. I think that, you know, the key word there, stability, is is massive in in sports, in elite sports, you know, because what you want is you want your manager and the team on the pitch just to be focused on the football on the pitch.
00:15:42
Irby White
yeah
00:15:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
You don't want them worried about the ownership. You don't want them worried about... Some kind of, you know, but some crazy owner who's just like doing really kind of unpredictable things.
00:16:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that's one of the things that, you know, FSU brought is is a real kind of stability to the club. And it's it's funny to say this because they are, you know, they're overseas owners.
00:16:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But for me, looking at a long perspective, they're very old school owners in in a modern context, if you know what i mean, in the sense that you don't hear from them much, which the irony is, is when I was growing up,
00:16:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
No one wanted to hear from the club owner. It was like, almost like, just shut up. Okay. Just, it was this kind of saying and in English football, which is look, you Brian k Clough, I think said it, he's got, you know legendary Nottingham forest manager.
00:16:37
Irby White
Yeah.
00:16:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
He just said, look, the owner is there just to sign the checks. I don't want to hear anything from him in but in
FSG's Ownership Style
00:16:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
public. Just sign the checks. And there was very much that kind of feeling in English football is that we don't want know who the owner is.
00:16:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
We really don't want to. We don't care about it. Just make sure that the club is run well. And it's funny that in this kind of modern kind of social media rage, it's almost kind of flipped on its head because then you hear fans saying, oh, you know, we never hear from the owner.
00:17:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know Nobody hears from the owner. He's got a engage with the fans. But you know FSG are kind of, we're just going to build the platform. okay we We're not going to be talking much in public. We're going build a platform and in the background.
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
and then you, the manager and the players, you go out and perform as best you can. And I think, as you said, they've they've made a few missteps, which I'm going to be really generous and say, I think that it's down to more of a kind of a cultural misunderstanding as opposed to anything inherently kind of untoward.
00:17:45
Irby White
Yes.
00:17:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that, as you said, the culture of ticket pricing in England is is kind of different. And even things like, you know, the kind of European Super League, which I think in an American context would be like, well, it's really exciting. Like, you know, whereas I think in England, it's where if you if you give if you give any England English football fan a choice between watching them play their bitterest English rival,
00:18:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
or to play the kind of European super elites every week. No, I want to go, I want to beat Manchester United. You know, that that's that's what we're we're here for. and And so I guess I'll give them a pass on that because everything else, even down to the stadium, I mean, I put out an episode the other day about FSG's 15 year ownership.
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think the stadium one was the biggest one for me. And I think what they also did with the Boston Red Sox, because I think there was a lot of talk about, is it Fenway Park?
00:18:52
Irby White
Yeah, Fenway Park, it's as it's as similar to Anfield as you'll get it kind of in in Major League Baseball.
00:18:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fenway Park. Yeah.
00:18:57
Irby White
100%,
00:18:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. It's not like this huge, you know, there there are bigger stadiums. There are more kind of, you know, modern kind of sports complexes.
00:19:01
Irby White
yes.
00:19:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. But, you know, the, the feeling was that, that the owners like John w Henry, et cetera, they came to Anfield and said, no, we can't get rid of this stadium. You know, we've got to build on it because it is, it's such a, it's such a advantage for us. So why give that up? And so I think,
00:19:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
that shows you that these are kind of serious sports owners. They're not just in it for the money. they they are They want to win. And so all these kind of Critics that I hear are saying that, oh, they just want to increase the value of the club. i like, yeah, but that just means that we're going to win, right? if if If the value of our club is going up, that means we're doing something right. That means we're winning.
00:19:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Our value is not going to go up if we haven't won Champions Leagues or Premier Leagues, right? So and one kind of follows the other. so But i'm I'm interested to hear what your view is in in the US in terms of what is the view of FSG kind of in general as as owners, you know, they they famously took the Boston Red Sox to a World Series win after, i don't know how many years, 80 years or something.
00:20:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they own Pittsburgh as well in the NHL. So are they seen as good owners, as kind of reputable owners?
00:20:23
Irby White
Yeah, and they, i think there're they're not mentioned as much with the Red Sox as they are with Liverpool, I would just say in overall media, but when when the Red Sox are winning, or when they won their first World Series in, I believe, 86 years in 2004, I think they took over in 2002 from the Red Sox, was they knew what they were getting into.
00:20:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really?
00:20:46
Irby White
it They knew it was a sleeping giant, and overall, I mean, since I think 2004, 2011, 14, maybe, think they've won four World Series titles, maybe three since they've been the owners, but they're talked about, you know, occasionally they get brought up because i think they have a stake in the Patriots too, uh, as just their, what they do in the background.
00:21:09
Irby White
They're not flashy. They're doing so a lot of stuff in the background, but they've,
00:21:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:15
Irby White
rewake reawaken a sleeping giant in the Boston Red Sox. Liverpool FC kind of gets talked about occasionally in the American media, but this is usually when they're talking about baseball in the playoffs or NFL or occasionally the NBA, they'll get brought up. But they they're considered, yes, great owners.
00:21:32
Irby White
and they And in the American media, they're not really given their credit for Liverpool. It's more of the Red Sox, like I think they're considered as kind of what we've talked about in England, how with the structure and the stability of the club, they're they're kind of put on a pedestal a little bit of this is what it it's like to be a top owner and what you want to replicate if you are coming into ownership in America.
00:21:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. No, they' they've they've they've had a very, very good 15-year period. And let's hope that continues. Okay. We're going to go for a short break. And when we come back, we'll start previewing the weekend's game against Manchester United.
00:22:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Louis Easton is just so much better doing the Zencast round than me.
00:22:51
Irby White
I was thinking, I was going to make a comment.
00:22:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
i Yeah, 100%.
00:22:53
Irby White
Well done.
00:22:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just like, I'm sure Zencast will get a spike in terms of people signing up when when
Liverpool vs. Manchester United Preview
00:23:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
he does it. But it's so all right, we're we're back in Premier League action this weekend against...
00:23:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bitter rivals, Manchester United. They're the visitors Anfield. It's a Sunday game, 4.30pm UK time kickoff and that's 11.30am Eastern time.
00:23:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm pretty down with my US s times now.
00:23:20
Irby White
Yep.
00:23:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, good. ahby It's Manchester United, game of the season, you know as far as I'm concerned. But again, with the form and the results of the last three games, two back-to-back defeats in the Premier League, one in the Champions League.
00:23:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it was a bigger it was a big game before that run. Now it's become even bigger now.
00:23:41
Irby White
It's a big game in terms of, yeah, just where we stand on the table. But it just historically, it feels like in my lifetime, Liverpool Manchester United have never both been both competing for the league, both competing for European, well, maybe for European trophies, but consistently and not the rivalry of Liverpool-Man City. Like, we're the teams going for it.
00:24:01
Irby White
You know, one's always up, one's always down, at least in the league.
00:24:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. yeah
00:24:04
Irby White
And so you talk about league form there. It's... One thing I've learned from this match is it doesn't matter where either team sits in the standings. You know, when Manchester United was the dominant team, they'd come to Anfield and we'd be up for it a lot of the times.
00:24:17
Irby White
And in recent years, I mean, how many zero zeros did we have under Jurgen Klopp in those games when we were the clear? team to beat, whether it was going to Old Trafford or coming to Anfield. And so it's the one, it's one of the games like Everton where form, I feel it can go out the window.
00:24:33
Irby White
And so I believe Manchester United has won their last two matches in the Pren.
00:24:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:37
Irby White
Is that correct? And so, so they're coming in, maybe hoping they've turned the page with, with Amarim a little bit while we're riding three game streak without a, without a victory.
00:24:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:24:46
Irby White
And so I'm just, form will go out the window. It's going to be emotional. I'm, I'm, Maybe I'm just a little bit old school romantic. I'm just hoping it has a little bit of needle and nastiness about it. It's become a little bit more, don't want to say friendly, but I feel like the players are are a little bit more friendly with each other now than they used to be, but especially pregame and post-match. But it's, I mean, what a game to potentially bounce back, right? Beating your your rival back at Anfield. It's just...
00:25:17
Irby White
most historic rival bitter rival just What a time to go and do it, right? It's the one game that kind of, i'm you know, as a coach, as a player, and even as a supporter, I'm very, I feel level-headed and calm. It's the one game that kind of takes me back to as a player where i like i'm and if I'm watching on my couch. I'm just, I'm screaming at the, I'm really getting emotional. I'm screaming at the TV, you know.
00:25:42
Irby White
Steven Gerrard's red card 40 seconds into his final match.
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh,
00:25:46
Irby White
that But that's that is mean like, there's moments in the game where I'm just like, I want to two foot someone as a supporter. And I know I can't, but it's the one game that just gets me. i i just see red for 90 minutes and I'm like, okay, what just happened?
00:25:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:26:00
Irby White
I have to go back and watch. And so it's, yeah, I'm up for it more than anything right now, especially after this break and the form we're in. And so, let's just i want to just take it to them.
00:26:11
Irby White
it and I would love nothing more. I know there's a lot.
00:26:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Yeah, no.
00:26:18
Irby White
But i get emotional I get very emotional about this one, especially with all my so many friends and so many people I've known over the years.
00:26:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
hundred
00:26:24
Irby White
you know I grew up... I got so much crap going growing up being a Liverpool supporter when Manchester United was at the top. And so...
00:26:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:33
Irby White
the amount of times I would get just the amount of stick I would get in school.
00:26:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's payback time now. Yeah.
00:26:38
Irby White
And now being on the, you know, being on the end of where we are now on the success we have, I can give it back to him a little bit, but it's the one game where it's just, it really gets me going.
00:26:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah It is. it's it's It's the big one. And I do think that this one is, you know, it does have its own kind of storyline. this this you know This particular fixture and and where the clubs are coming into this game.
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, you know, we're the defending Premier League champions. United are still kind of struggling. They're still kind of trying to find their way under Ruben Amorim. But as you said, the form always goes out the window when it comes to these big games. It's just like a one-off game.
00:27:20
Irby White
Mm-hmm.
00:27:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And at the end of the day, those Manchester United players are very, very good players. Bruno Fernandes is a very, very good player. They've got very good players in that team and in that squad.
00:27:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so the other point that you made, which which is a really fair point as well, is that Sometimes when you have really good teams and they've got to go out and play football, like Manchester United have got to do most weeks if they're playing against Brighton or if they're playing against Sunderland,
00:27:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But when you have a really good team who might not be performing well, with but the players, player for player, very good. And the coach just says, right, we're just not going to lose this game today.
00:28:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay And as you mentioned, we had that in the Klopp area a few times where we were streets ahead of Manchester United. But there were a few nil-nil games because you've got 10 high quality professional footballers.
00:28:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who have just been told, don't come out of your half and just, you know, just sit there. And that's really hard to break down.
Manchester United's Potential Tactics
00:28:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I can see, you know, United playing really kind of deep game and trying to catch us on a counter attack because...
00:28:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know Our kind of perceived weakness, if you like, or the areas that you know we' we've got to improve on are those fullback areas. you know and And that's been highlighted by the fact that there hasn't really been a consistent you know kind of selection in those areas. it's sometimes Sometimes it's Frimpong, sometimes it's Conor Bradley, and and the left back position is swapped between Kirkes and Robertson.
00:29:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So is is do you think that's an area that that United are going to try and exploit? You know, you've got Ahmad on one side who's really quick, you know, to try and just get behind Liverpool in those four back areas.
00:29:15
Irby White
you you I mean, you took the words right out of my mouth, you know, i just from a tactical perspective. I think that's exactly what they're going to do. And they're going to sit back, maybe behind the ball, at the back line will be maybe be five. And then when our outside backs, you know, are going forward, that is going to be the area they target. And when they can win the ball high up in a dangerous area, whether we've turned it over on our own by a silly pass or forcing something or over dribbled, I think they're going to try to jump and play play the channels because like you said, Diallo's got pace.
00:29:49
Irby White
Dorgue has pace, maybe not the final ball quality, but he's got pace. And Buemo's a dangerous player. And so they have the players that can yes definitely punish us on the counter attack, especially if we're if we're bombing forward with two outside backs, no matter where the ball is.
00:30:05
Irby White
No matter where the ball is, if if one's inverting, you know that would be my my approach. you know I don't think Slott's going ask me, but I'd be hopeful that just slightly, just at least from the start, you know if we sit back with our center backs and maybe the opposite outside back kind of just stays home or tucks in and inverts a little bit,
00:30:24
Irby White
to to to stop those counterattacks. And so that's going to be their approach, you would you would think, right? They're not going to come in and play. I can't see a world where they come into Anfield and say, yep, we're going to try to play our 3-4-3 system. We're going try to play on the front foot and in your half and try to break you down. Because if they do that, I think we will punish them.
00:30:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Hmm.
00:30:45
Irby White
I'm hopeful that's happening.
00:30:46
Irby White
But I think Amaran, as maybe stubborn he as he is with his system and maybe not willing to change. I still think he'll be in that system, in that structure, but just bringing the block back and trying to hit us on the counter attack.
00:30:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
the
00:30:59
Irby White
And because I think, you I think he's smart enough to know if I try to go in and play there and play with them toe to toe, they'll get in behind 40 times and maybe score three or four.
00:31:10
Irby White
And so, yeah, I think and don't want to it's going to a frustrating game. I think it's, but we'll we'll, we'll know in the first five minutes, right. How it's going to be.
00:31:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:17
Irby White
as are we goingnna have 75% possession, 11 guys in their half, and then we lose the ball, are we going to have to be making those 30, 40-yard recovery runs?
00:31:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I mean, last season, Amorim, you know, he he brought this United team to Anfield and it was widely expected that, you know, we would absolutely hammer them. Ended up in a really entertaining 2-2 draw. And in truth, United could have and probably should have won it at the death. But, you know, thankfully for us, the chance failed to Harry Maguire.
00:31:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But do you think both managers are going to be looking at this game in in a... Not necessarily tactically, but in in a similar way in the sense that this is a real opportunity, you know, because if you get a win in this fixture.
00:32:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
<unk> It's a massive fixture. It's the last game of of the weekend. It's the kind of, you know, flagship kind of fixture of the Premier League. You get this win and then use it as a platform to kick on. For Liverpool to get back on track and, you know, start defending that Premier League title.
00:32:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And for United to kind of think, OK, we've taken a real huge step forward now.
00:32:27
Irby White
Yeah, I think the narrative for both teams in all three scenarios, win, lose, draw for Liverpool or for United. you know I think a win for Liverpool and a loss for United, it's just the win. Okay, Liverpool, they're going to start building from this. And United, same issues, talking about Amarim.
00:32:44
Irby White
A loss for us, a win for United will be three wins for United in the in a row, four win four losses for us. And the conversation becomes... I mean, I don't know. I don't want even think about where the conversation goes on a fourth loss and a draw.
00:32:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:58
Irby White
I think both teams will just, yeah, something they can build off as well. And so it's an important, it's it's a massive game for both teams, just based on where both teams sit right now and the form they're in and where we sit in the table and how we've both started the season.
00:33:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:33:15
Irby White
Pressure on Amaranth. maybe a little external pressure on slot, maybe not internally from the club, but yeah, I just, I think about what a time I go back to what a time to, to, to pick up three points and to maybe start a new, new run of form.
00:33:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:33:33
Irby White
It's just, what a better way to do it. What a better way to do it. And, and reversely, if, you know, if you, if you, if you draw, you know, If we're winning, if we set the tone and we allow a late goal draw or a loss, yeah, I just i don't know where we would go from there.
00:33:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah think a defeat is...
00:33:51
Irby White
Yeah, i'm trying i I need to put that out of my head because that's that's not the way I should think. i need to think about a victory.
00:33:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, a defeat I think is unthinkable. I think a a draw... We don't want to draw, but I think that at least you could take something out of it off the back of two straight Premier League defeats.
00:34:09
Irby White
What we've been through. Mm-hmm.
00:34:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
You could say, all right we've come back and now we've got a point, right? And then let's let's build on that, a defeat. And I think, you know, alarm bells will start ringing. But the other thing that is interesting is that, you know, we've we've had a few kind of fixtures already this season where we're playing first.
00:34:31
Irby White
Yeah.
00:34:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. And so, you know, we've got an opportunity now then to kind of extend the lead or, you know, whatever. And we've and we've slipped up a couple of times with that.
Psychological Impact of Early Season
00:34:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, Arsenal and City are both playing on Saturday.
00:34:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's an opportunity in the case of Arsenal to pull four points clear and for City to go a point ahead. And even the other teams that are in and around Spurs, Bournemouth, they're playing before us as well.
00:35:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
We could be in sixth place before we kick off against United. Now, I know that, look, it's still early. we you know We're seven games in. But you know that there is that kind of psychology, right? That Arsenal will be going into this game thinking, right, if if we if we want to be serious Premier League contenders, it's moments like this where we have to make it count.
00:35:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we're already a point ahead. Let's go four points ahead and put the pressure on Liverpool. So there is that dynamic for for Liverpool to deal with as well. The last game of the of the weekend... There could be four points behind Arsenal.
00:35:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
That just ramps up a little bit that pressure that we've got to win this game.
00:35:42
Irby White
Yeah, it's funny you said that because I pulled up Arsenal's fixtures right before you brought that up.
00:35:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, really?
00:35:46
Irby White
And I'm glad also glad that you mentioned City because feel like the narrative has been it's Arsenal, it's Arsenal, it's Arsenal.
00:35:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no.
00:35:52
Irby White
And that it's a it City had a down year.
00:35:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
City is there as well. Come on.
00:35:55
Irby White
They had a down year. We had a great year. We won the title under Klopp. But... City he had a down year as well. They're allowed to have one down year and they're they've got Pep Guardiola as their manager.
00:36:05
Irby White
He's won six league titles. And so he knows, I think he knows from from the perspective that Arsenal think they can be four points clear just from City's perspective.
00:36:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:36:14
Irby White
If they can be a couple of points clear of us, it's always hard to catch them. and And for Arsenal... it's been four It's been three and a half, three seasons, but now it's on season four of how they really want to push on and win the league. And if if they want to do it, Fulham's sitting in 14th place. And it's just that that needs to be a match.
00:36:34
Irby White
London-Derby, we're going to go in, we're going set the tone, we're going to win 2-3-0, whatever. And then we're going sit back and watch on Sunday, watch Liverpool hopefully drop points from their their end, from their perspective.
00:36:46
Irby White
So for us, we're the Premier League champions.
00:36:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:36:51
Irby White
We've been through... plenty of title races in our time come up short a couple times, but I don't know. I don't think it'll that'll, that'll affect us as maybe as much as it would an arsenal, you know, a team that hasn't really won the league, especially under, under Arteta.
00:37:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:37:06
Irby White
And so I don't think it'll, I don't think it'll be big thing that we think about It,
00:37:12
Irby White
trying to put this into put this into words, but I think that we have the mental fortitude to sit back and even if we are four points at kickoff and think, no big deal, it's only seven games.
00:37:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I
00:37:24
Irby White
This is our eighth game of the season.
00:37:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
i agree.
00:37:26
Irby White
Nothing to worry about, but let's go and do our jobs and turn this thing around and not worry about other results.
00:37:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, 100%. I totally agree that. I think that we do have more kind of mental resilience. And we've just got, obviously, we've got players who have been there and done it.
00:37:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, not just last season, but the likes of Alisson, you know, Van Dijk and Robertson and and Mo. They've won the biggest prizes with Liverpool. McAllister has won a a World Cup.
00:37:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, so we've got players in that dressing room that know that seven games in, eight games in, Four points behind. it's It's not the end of the world by any means. However, I think the flip side to that is that Arsenal don't have that mental resilience yet.
00:38:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not proven. And so for them, I think if they don't take advantage of that early fixture, if if they, let's say, they they they lose or they only get a draw, and and instead of being four points ahead of Liverpool, they're only two points ahead of Liverpool, and and we win our game, I think that is...
00:38:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But psychologically, it's more devastating for Arsenal because it's just another thing to chip away at them, you know, to say, you guys are just, you're just never going to get there.
00:38:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're just always going fall at the at the last hurdle.
00:38:45
Irby White
Yeah.
00:38:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'm just looking at their fixtures now. They've got their way to Fulham, which, I mean, historically, it's not an easy place to go for Arsenal.
00:39:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've got Atletico Madrid. I'm just looking at October going into November. They've got... away to Fulham, which is their next next fixture, and then home to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
00:39:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a Tuesday. The weekend after is home to Crystal Palace. Not easy. They've got cup game midweek. And then they've got Burnley away before they go into the Champions League again. And they've got Sunderland away.
00:39:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then the North London derby, which is towards the end of November. if you look at Man City's fixtures, they're at home to Everton this weekend.
00:39:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've got Villarreal in the Champions League, away to Aston Villa next weekend, midweek cup game. And then they've got Bournemouth at home.
00:39:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
not Not that easy. And then Dortmund in the Champions League and then home to Liverpool, which is towards the end of November. So, You know, that there's there's some really kind of, you know, tasty fixtures there.
00:40:04
Irby White
Yeah.
00:40:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And and it's I don't think it's going to be kind of plain sailing for for any team now.
00:40:10
Irby White
No.
00:40:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think the Premier League is so so competitive that I think the points are going to be dropped here and there, whether it's defeats or draws.
00:40:16
Irby White
Yeah.
00:40:18
Irby White
Yeah. I mean, the quality of the league is just, it's so much different than it was. I mean, pre-COVID, I mean,
00:40:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:40:25
Irby White
I don't want to say who would have thought a team like Bournemouth or Forest would be where they are, just the players they have.
00:40:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:40:30
Irby White
But it's just, you know, we'd look back maybe 2019 and beyond and say, we're going to Bournemouth or Bournemouth are coming to us or Forest or Brighton and say, yeah, those are three points.
00:40:40
Irby White
Those are three points.
00:40:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:40:41
Irby White
Those are three points. And now it's just, obviously, you know, teams like City and Liverpool and Arsenal are definitely better teams than them. And, but yeah, you're not you're not sitting back and saying this is going to be an easy result and and then you're shocked if you if you don't win. It's just you know the players, they have the quality, they have the quality manager a lot of these teams have now.
00:41:01
Irby White
It's just, yeah, I mean, every game is, it's just, I mean, it's worth watching, especially as a neutral. I mean, all these, all the quality of players that are out there and, you you know, i remember the days of just sitting back and watching and just praying that City dropped points and Arsenal dropped points and just, you know,
00:41:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's true.
00:41:18
Irby White
it was it was it was an interesting thing back in the day where Brentford would get a point off of city and you were like, oh my gosh, yes. Now it's like, it's not an unusual thing.
00:41:29
Irby White
One thing I was going to ask you about just maybe just from an Arsenal perspective. And I'm, you know, if we've talked about them a lot on our, on the, on our podcasts, but more from just a, a local perspective, being a London team,
00:41:45
Irby White
All these London derbies, I know some mean more than the other.
00:41:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:41:49
Irby White
Do you think that's harder for London teams maybe to win the league because you have all of these matches that maybe have a little bit of, you know, nastiness and needle about that? You know, i know Tottenham Arsenal, Chelsea Arsenal. I know those are the big ones, but just...
00:42:05
Irby White
when Palace and Chelsea play, is it is it the same as like not a Liverpool Everton, but is it the same? Is it there that same kind of bad blood because there's just so many London-based teams or is it just, this is another match?
00:42:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, what you mean. No.
00:42:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. I think there are a lot of London teams.
00:42:20
Irby White
Of
00:42:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think the the ones that are, have got the historic rivalry is obviously Arsenal and Spurs, Spurs and Chelsea.
00:42:27
Irby White
course.
00:42:30
Irby White
Yep.
00:42:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Yeah. yeah Chelsea and West Ham, but even that is not really... There's there's such a a gulf in terms of the quality between them that you know that it it's not really that huge a kind of game.
00:42:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I would say overall, no. it's it's i don't think that's a factor in terms of whether a club from London can win the Premier League or not.
00:42:52
Irby White
yeah
00:42:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that Arsenal, I think if you look historically in the last few seasons, where they've dropped their points, it's you know it's it's not against Spurs. It's not in in the kind of London derby games.
00:43:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, no, I don't see it as as that. and And a lot of these teams have have got rivalries across the Premier League. And so i don't see that as a as as a huge issue.
00:43:22
Irby White
Oh
00:43:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so I think for Arsenal, it's really a mental problem up until the time that they actually get over the line.
00:43:26
Irby White
yeah.
00:43:29
Irby White
Yeah.
00:43:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
and and And then they can they can kick on and hopefully that never
Liverpool's Starting Lineup Speculations
00:43:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
happens. But... to let's let's Let's talk about a predict a predicted lineup because this is quite interesting.
00:43:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, Alisson is out, right? So, Mahmoud Ashley comes in. I've actually got no huge worries about him from what I've seen. I'm quite comfortable with him.
00:43:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, I'd rather have Alisson because he's the best goalkeeper in the world, but... you know Because he's not there, I'm i'm quite happy with Marmad Ashley being in goal. I think the real question is in that back line now, because you've got obviously Connor Bradley and Frimpong at right back, or Saboslay, depending on how he makes that midfield up.
00:44:07
Irby White
Yes.
00:44:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because if if there is a perceived weakness for Liverpool, If Arnie Slott is thinking, you know what, Amarim is going to be targeting that right back area. Is he going to say...
00:44:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I trust Sir Bosley the most in terms of a tactical game plan. And does he stick Sir Bosley there, freeing up Vietz for midfield? So you've got Gravenberg, McAllister, and then Vietz, so that you can you can kind of shoehorn all of those players into the team?
00:44:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or does he say, no, we're we're going to use Frimpong's pace and really go at Manchester United? So I'm really interested to hear, first firstly, what do what What's Slott going to do in terms of that back four line?
00:45:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
and given And given that Canate is a doubt.
00:45:05
Irby White
So,
00:45:08
Irby White
yeah, that's the thing. It's just the back line is definitely one, but I just, I think there's Marmodash, Billy, Van Dyke, Salva Sly, McAllister, Gravenbert, Salah.
00:45:19
Irby White
I think that's six players that were that are nailed on to start.
00:45:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:45:23
Irby White
I think those six, so it's I think the big question is, The back line is obviously the big one because i predicting that's going to be tough because you know Salva Slade's going to play. it's just, is he going play in midfield?
00:45:36
Irby White
Is he going to play it right back? And if he plays it right back, you know Verts is playing.
00:45:41
Irby White
I just wonder with Joe Gomez, see if Joe Gomez is the one that's playing, is he saying he's got maybe the recovery pace to cover that right side too?
00:45:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, I would go for for for Gomez.
00:45:49
Irby White
And maybe think,
00:45:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
If Canate's a doubt, I would not risk Canate because gets injured if he gets then we're down to Van Dijk and Gomez and Gomez doesn't have the best injury record.
00:45:55
Irby White
oh no no no not at all not at all
00:46:01
Irby White
Exactly.
00:46:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would start with Gomez.
00:46:02
Irby White
it's
00:46:05
Irby White
Yeah, I'd start with Gomez and just, I think tactically what I would do is Gomez and Solvesly right back because, you know, Gomez, he's got the pace to recover and cover that right side. We saw him do it for years under, under with Trent, I should say.
00:46:20
Irby White
But just maybe that stability in a back four of just knowing you've got Salva Sly who defensively he's going to be disciplined, do his job, can also offer that kind of inversion into midfield.
00:46:34
Irby White
Gomez, Van Dijk, I would go with Robertson for this game, I know.
00:46:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, same.
00:46:38
Irby White
I know the talk has always been these two new outside backs. And maybe we kind of eliminate that. Stigma is not the right word, but eliminate the conversation of, Yep, that's where they're going to get us, get at us, is on the flanks and on the counter of where you know you have that
00:46:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:46:56
Irby White
player in Andrew Robertson that's going to be, you know, he's going to understand when to go forward, when to not go forward, understand, you know, how to cut out counterattacks and be disciplined in that work here.
00:47:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:47:05
Irby White
Because it's just very much just I'm running into the channel every single time the ball breaks into our half.
00:47:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:47:10
Irby White
So the back four of Robertson, Van Dyke, Gomez and Solvus, for me, especially on a three game losing streak is just why not go for just more of a solid defense?
00:47:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:47:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:47:24
Irby White
And that's more my read my reasoning.
00:47:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:47:26
Irby White
And just, I think going into this podcast, I wouldn't have actually predicted that or said that, but just, so I think just talking it out with you, it makes the most sense right now to just maybe have the safest.
00:47:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:47:36
Irby White
And if you need a goal or if you're pushing and we have them, then you bring on one of Frimpong or Kirkez, you know, i feel bad for Connor Bradley, but there are matches coming quick in the Champions League and in the League Cups.
00:47:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:47:48
Irby White
So he'll get plenty of opportunities there.
00:47:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I totally agree. I think this is a game where you need you need experience and you need guys the manager completely trusts tactically.
00:48:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i think Gomez coming in, he's not going to be phased by playing Manchester United at home. And him being next to Van Dijk, you know, they've had a great partnership. And I think on the flanks, I think Robertson, i again, i agree, I would go for Robertson for his experience.
00:48:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And with Sir Bosley, I think he's so tactically switched on and he's got such an engine.
00:48:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
that even from right back, he'll be a threat with his passing range and, you know, his running ability.
00:48:31
Irby White
Yeah.
00:48:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think we're agreed on that back four. Yeah.
00:48:36
Irby White
And hey, you know what, though, real quick on Joe Gomez, what an opportunity for him, though, to one, prove himself and stake a claim.
00:48:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:48:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:48:44
Irby White
I know this is we're focusing on Liverpool, but in a in a World Cup year, we've seen Thomas Tuchel giving opportunities to a lot of new guys and bringing guys back. You know, Ruben Loftus-Cheek getting brought back in.
00:48:55
Irby White
Joe Gomez will see this as maybe the final opportunity to play at a World Cup. And so I hope he takes that opportunity, too, for the first time.
00:48:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:49:08
Irby White
i mean not my country but still on on Liverpool, but just for him, what an opportunity to to to to to be the number two alongside by Van Dijk and maybe get back into the England squad.
00:49:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:49:20
Irby White
and I think that'll just that'll give him an extra lift if he got that role.
00:49:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's a great shout. It's a great shout.
00:49:25
Irby White
Yeah.
00:49:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, i I've got to be honest, I, you know, wear my club hat. I didn't think of that kind of World Cup opportunity, but it's a huge factor this season. it You know, it is a World Cup year.
00:49:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if Gomez can perform and and stay fit, it's always his fitness. If he can stay fit, there's no reason why he can't stay in that team and let Canate fight for, you know, his position.
00:49:46
Irby White
Yes. Yep.
00:49:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's the the the back four. I guess it means that the midfield then kind of picks him, right?
00:49:54
Irby White
Picks itself.
00:49:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's Gravenberg, McAllister and Wietz. Again, the spotlight's going to be on him, but I do genuinely think that he is going to come good. I think there's just too much quality there.
00:50:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he has got it, but I just think that the Premier League and him coming into a team that is kind of, you know, in transition when it comes to personnel, I think has made it a bit more of a challenge for him.
00:50:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then I suppose, what are we talking about in terms of that front three? Because I'll tell you something, i'm i'd start I would start with Mo. I think he's he's had a lot of flack, but i i I think against Manchester United, he's got a great scoring record.
00:50:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would play Mohamed Salah. The question is now, Isaac or Ekotike? And then on the other side, you've got Gakpo, who did score for the Netherlands.
00:50:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'm telling you something, I would start Chiesa.
00:50:53
Irby White
Oh
00:50:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would start Chiesa. Did you hear about his international withdrawal?
00:50:58
Irby White
yeah.
00:50:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, he got called up by Gattuso. And Gattuso, don't know if you remember him as player. You don't want to mess with Gattuso.
00:51:05
Irby White
so Yeah. Yeah. No, not at all.
00:51:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And apparently Chiesa said, look, I want to stay and work on my fitness at Liverpool. This guy's attitude, I'm telling you, I just really... believe that he's and so but yeah and he's had a really good start to the season.
00:51:17
Irby White
So admirable.
00:51:20
Irby White
Yeah.
00:51:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I really think that a game like this at home, Manchester United, a massive game, I really think you could
Debate Over Liverpool's Front Three
00:51:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
unleash Chiesa from the beginning.
00:51:28
Irby White
yeah <unk> what a Yeah, what a shout, because if you do go for a workman-like midfield, I'm sorry, back line of Robertson and Salvesla and go Madison Van Dyke, first of all, I think that frees up Verts a little bit. And so I think that back line would actually free up space. for for verts to kind of go and do his thing and and just kind of play like in a playground situation like we've we're used to seeing him on us on his labor keys and highlight reels so i think that would benefit him and i think i think the same thing for kiesa too is if you have more of a back line and outside backs particularly that are more level level headed just tactically more disciplined i think that frees up kiesa and sala but kiesa to just go and play play with some freedom you know you'll have the space you won't you won't be
00:52:18
Irby White
we won't have that you know congestion and and you know We talked about previously about having to stretch teams, but there also just being too many players. like I feel like that frees up players like Wurtz and Chiesa to go and play with more freedom, especially against Manchester United, who we're predicting are going to sit back.
00:52:35
Irby White
i No hesitation, I'd go for Ekotike, though, at the nine. I think he's the one that's scoring the goals right now.
00:52:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:52:41
Irby White
He's in form. He's confident. He's he's fit. I think from the start, you have to go with him. It's hard to leave out your big, you know shiny new toy and ESAC record signing, but he's got to i mean he's going to earn it.
00:52:57
Irby White
right I don't think just the numbers, the transfer numbers have to dictate who starts at the nine.
00:52:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:53:03
Irby White
you know I think whoever's performing gets the shirt. And right now it's Ekotike. i mean What a start he's had.
00:53:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:53:10
Irby White
he just he's been the He's been the one signing so far that's really, truly hit the ground running. And so... I mean, I think he would feel hard done if he didn't get the nod. You know, I'm sure on 60, 65, 70 minutes, we will see one or the other swap for each other. But if he's the one that's getting those 30 to 25 minutes, that cameo, I feel like he'll he'll feel really hard done. It's just what else do I have to do what else do i have to do and so
00:53:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:53:36
Irby White
with no hesitation right now. And, you know, I love Isak and I know he's going to kick on, you know, I'm confident of that. But right now we need a result. We need three points. So I have no hesitation with shoes. You go and see at the nine for this match.
00:53:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the the the other positions, are you starting with Mo? Are you starting with...
00:53:54
Irby White
You've convinced me on Kia. So yeah most all 100% on the right I mean, i'm not I'm not worried about, you know, all the the stories and the narrative of him not scoring and all that stuff. I think the lack of not having, you know, he's got new guys around him in in all the, i mean, he's got a new guy to his left, Ian Eketike and Isak trying to, you know, build that bond and relationship.
00:54:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:54:15
Irby White
He's got a new yeah, there's no more, Trent Alexander-Arnold's not there and it just, you know,
00:54:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And more importantly, behind him in in the four-pack system.
00:54:21
Irby White
credits say assisted and made so much happen for moe you know that that that relationship.
00:54:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:54:26
Irby White
and so He's got to forge a new relationship with an outside back and we haven't really found him, that guy that's going to play there at the outside back with him for and you know the next hopefully 40, 45 games, whatever we would have left in the season if we made it to the final of everything.
00:54:41
Irby White
so He's got to build that relationship with someone. I'm sure that will come sooner rather than later, but he's Mo Salah, right? You know, I'm sure you saw the Chelsea versus Liverpool legends and all the talk about Hazard and all the stuff on Twitter.
00:54:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:54:58
Irby White
It's just, Aiden Hazard, come on, amazing player. But Salah's still doing it. And like at any at any time, yeah, Salah can go on a bit of a streak where not scoring and he could unleash havoc on anyone at any time.
00:55:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Still doing it.
00:55:13
Irby White
So,
00:55:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:55:15
Irby White
No, you're not dropping him.
00:55:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:55:17
Irby White
You're not dropping him.
00:55:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:55:17
Irby White
And like it's something radical or crazy has to happen for him to not be a right winger.
00:55:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think you've got to stick with him. Okay, I think we'll leave it there. Quick score prediction for the weekend?
00:55:28
Irby White
Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course.
00:55:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Liverpool. I'm going to go for a 2-0. I don't sound convinced myself, but I think it's more...
00:55:40
Irby White
I don't see how, like I mean, what a time it would be to to start keeping clean sheets.
00:55:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:55:44
Irby White
I think once we keep one or two, yeah, I just, I'm not trying to be too negative.
00:55:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I just don't want us to concede. Yeah.
00:55:49
Irby White
I think we will. I'm not going to say we'll do it first. I think we'll concede, but I think we'll, I think we'll get over the line in this one. And I don't think we'll leave it late either.
00:55:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hey, listen, i'll I'll take a 2-1.
00:55:58
Irby White
Yeah.
00:55:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so okay, that's that's all for today. You've been listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts.
00:56:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll be back to review the weekend's game where hopefully we'll be celebrating win against the old enemy and the Reds getting back on track in the Premier League. From myself and Irby, thank you for listening.