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Reds Hammer West Ham 5-0!
21 Plays9 days ago
It's Away 5 0 as Liverpool see out 2024 as top dogs in the PL. Jesse Sarwar, Adarsh Ramchurn and Tom Goward go through all the major talking points and player ratings.
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Transcript
Liverpool's Dominant Victory
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm your host Jesse Sawa. It's the Monday review show and Liverpool hammered West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday night.
00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
In what could have been a difficult night in East London for the Premier League leaders, the Reds made short work of a West Ham team simply outclassed.
Guest Introductions
00:00:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going to go through all of the action and analysis as well as and as some player ratings. Joining me today to talk about all of that and much more is Adash Ramchun. How are you doing, Adash?
00:00:47
Adarsh
Yeah, no, very good. Very good way to
Liverpool's Premier League Lead
00:00:49
Adarsh
end the year. Brilliant performance. And I like your little pun you did there when you said we hammered them.
00:00:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I didn't notice. I didn't notice.
00:00:53
Adarsh
oh
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know what you're talking about, mate. I don't know what you're talking about.
00:00:55
Adarsh
yeah
00:00:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And and Tom Goward. How's it going, Tom?
00:00:59
Tom Goward
Yeah, all good. Just echoing Adash's words there. what ah what what What a season we're having so far and what a year it's been for Liverpool.
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, long night continue. All right, let's get into Sunday evening's game at the London Stadium. Liverpool running out 5-0 winners against West Ham to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points ahead of second place. Nottingham Forest, would you believe it? Liverpool lined up as follows.
00:01:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alison Becker in goal, back four of Trent, Gomez, Van Dijk and Robertson, a midfield three of Gravenberg, McAllister and Curtis Jones and up top, Mohamed Salah, Diaz and Gackpo.
High-Intensity Strategy
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, the Reds came into this game off the back of a ah ah Thursday night's 3-1 win at home against Leicester.
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
We started really well again. It's good to see Liverpool making these fast starts right from the off Adash.
00:01:58
Adarsh
Yeah, I know. Brilliant. We had those sort of two chances in sort the first 10 minutes.
00:02:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:02:03
Adarsh
Salah should have scored when he was through on goal. And then I think the other one was Gackpo. We missed a header. But yeah, we we just seemed to be starting these games with great intensity. Obviously, the Leicester game was a bit like off the run of the play.
00:02:16
Adarsh
But no, we've been we've been looking really good recently. Last three away games, scoring loads of goals. And yeah, it just took a while to get that first goal. But once we got the first goal, we were we were clinical. And that first half was just a brilliant performance.
00:02:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you mentioned that the miss, was it a miss by Salah? I've heard, I think people have been a bit harsh. A lot of people saying that it was a poor finish, but don't you think it was a good say by Ariula?
00:02:39
Adarsh
Oh yeah yeah, it was a good save. I think it's one of those where I think the keeper actually had a really good game, but it just comes off losing five nil. But yeah, it's usually one, nine times out of 10, he does finish that. And I think with the standards he's been setting this season, maybe people can call it a miss, but it always was a good save from, from the keeper.
Challenges at the London Stadium
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it could have been, Tom, it could have been a trick tricky game, this one, you know, the London Stadium, West Ham, under the lights, you know, they do tend to raise themselves for the big teams. But again, you know, I've just been really impressed with the way that Liverpool started, even though we weren't a door behind against Leicester.
00:03:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
that kind of intensity that Adash has mentioned, it really looks like slot has got into the team over the last kind of few weeks to really drive home that message that look from the get go, you've got to go for the jugular.
00:03:29
Tom Goward
Yeah, it sounds stupid now, but before the game, I wasn't 100% confident with, especially like the Leicester game. I know we won, but we didn't play great.
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And
00:03:37
Tom Goward
I know the conditions weren't great and whatever, but Boxing Day, but it just feel like this result's been coming for the last few weeks. You know, we played well against Spurs, but conceded three goals and probably flatter them a little bit with a score.
00:03:49
Tom Goward
I know it was 6-3, but like they weren't great and they still managed to score three and conceded to Leicester early on. And then so today I feel like it's a proper lie. been working up to it and 5-0 clean sheet which Alison hasn't kept one since coming back from injury which is good and then like five really good goals as well and could have been so much more as well I said I had so many chances today but they're the first yeah it easily easily had a hat trick but the fast starts are good this is what I like
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
It could have had a trick.
00:04:11
Adarsh
Bye.
Luis Diaz's Central Role
00:04:15
Tom Goward
I think I read today actually that Salah's goals this season, he's only scored one in the first half of Super 4 today. So, which is interesting, I think out of his 19 goals before today, one was in the first half and the rest in the second half.
00:04:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:27
Tom Goward
So, good to see him getting a first half goal as well to go along with it but the fast starts.
00:04:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah I mean we looked solid except I mean in those kind of early minutes kind of almost reminiscent to well I guess against Leicester we were kind of caught napping it was a kind of a nothing attack that just led to a goal then about kind of five minutes into the game Andy Robertson is kind of caught napping in possession but You know, luckily nothing comes of it. And then, you know, Liverpool just carry on threatening the West Ham goal. We get two or three corners very early on. As you mentioned, Adash Gappo nearly gets on the end of a Salah cross.
00:05:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And it's around about your half hour mark that Diaz opens Liverpool's account with a clinical finish. And it was a really clinical finish. And I've said this before, every time Diaz plays in that central position, Adash, and then gets a chance and just buries it, it just makes me think of Darwin Nunes. I know that sounds really harsh, but it's just a ah ah really reassuring feeling to have someone from that front line playing centrally who when a chance comes their way they just bury it.
00:05:47
Adarsh
Yeah, no, I think this season, Luis Diaz, his conversion rate, his ability to score, be clinical has really improved this season. And like like you said, I really like him in that central role. I feel like when when him and Gackpo play, well, Diaz through the middle, Gackpo on the left, they so They both, Diaz obviously tends to move towards the left whilst being in the middle, which creates a lot of space for Salah to move infield and obviously brings out the defenders alongside him as well. So I think his movement in the middle is really good. And I feel feel like with that goal, he brought the ball from, I think Trent played the pass into him and then he just drives, got a little lucky deflection and finished it really nicely. But I just really like him in that position. I think
00:06:26
Adarsh
going forward that's our first choice front free at least for the next few games I think it's so fluid it's got goals I mean all three of them scored in the first half so yeah I mean Diaz has been exceptional and I think if you can get the opportunity to give Nunez a game I think that's I see Nunez coming in against probably less opposition and you play that front free when you've got a a tricky away game or a really big opposition at home so yeah Diaz has been exceptional and what a finish
00:06:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
What a finish, yeah. And Tom, it's interesting, isn't it, that that at the start of the season, you had kind of, let's say Diaz, probably the number one in terms of that left wide position, and then kind of Gatpo as you know someone who would come in for substitute appearances or maybe a Carabao Cup. But now it's like those two are not even vying for the first choice position, but they're both playing.
00:07:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
and slotters managed to kind of get both of them into that front three and just really getting the best out of them.
00:07:19
Tom Goward
Yeah.
00:07:26
Tom Goward
Yeah, and that's what's nice is that the fluidity, you know, between the two of them and like, Jota's been out injured and we're so reintroducing him and then he comes on and gets a goal as well today. So it's like, even if one of those two are not performing, Jota's on a bench and, you know, we can talk about New Year's another time, but I i do like deers down there, down there ah ah down the middle. I think last season,
00:07:48
Tom Goward
when he joined us in the first season, he was so good at just running at like the right back or the right centre back, just running at them and just getting into the box and that's what he was good at. And then last season, the end of yeah that last season he wasn't he wasn't doing that as much, you sort of get the ball stop, play back or play across or whatever.
00:08:04
Tom Goward
and then this year it's sort of he started doing it again but down the forward road he's so quick and so he doesn't need to do it as much but he gets in behind and that run today where Gackpo scored, Salah was offside and he left it and he just got there clear ahead of anyone else and he was on the wrong side as well, right he was on the right.
00:08:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:23
Tom Goward
And then, yeah, so it's nice that they can all sort of change around.
00:08:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:26
Tom Goward
I noticed in the first half, Gapo and Diaz were changing. One of them was left, one of them was, and then they were, and like, it's just going to cause problems for any team in the world, because they're just not going to be able to deal with that.
00:08:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I thought that in the first half, I thought the way that we nullified that West Ham front three, because when you look at it, they've got a pretty good front three.
West Ham's Minimal Threat
00:08:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
know, Pakatar, you've got Bowen and Kuduz. Kuduz actually hit the post, I think it was around about 37th hit the post, but I think that was probably the only time West Ham threatened us in that first half.
Defensive Concerns and Injuries
00:09:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
but kind of disaster strikes really for Joe Gomez around about the same time you know the kind of half hour mark 30 30 35 minutes he's been in such good form Adash had to go off without 15 minutes of the first half left to play looked like a hamstring injury by the way that he was you know clutching the back of his thigh which is a It's a huge blow, know, bearing in mind that, you know, Kanata is already out and we're not really sure how long it's going to take for him to to get back to fitness and then match fitness. is this is this a Is this a worry for Liverpool now in terms of, you know, the number of games are coming up in all competitions that we're, you know, Conor Bradley still out, know, Kostas Simekas is coming back to match fitness.
00:09:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
you does Does January look like a month where we might dip into the transfer window for defensive reinforcements? I mean, and I think that we should. But do you think Liverpool will? Or do you think that they'll look at what we've got? Kwanzaa came in now and looked fairly assured next to Van Dijk. Do you think that they're just going to go with what we've got?
00:10:14
Adarsh
think so. Although there has been talk of Liverpool targeting at centre-back and I think probably they they will wait till the summer to address that position because whilst Gomez has been exceptional at centre-back, he can operate across all positions in in the back four and it's always good to have those other options. Canate coming back from injury. Kwanza still kind of learning his trade. I mean, he actually played really well when he came on but yeah, I do hope that Gomez's injury isn't too serious because like you said, he's been absolutely exceptional.
00:10:42
Adarsh
I think I think some of the games are kind of caught up with him and think if we had Kanate or Konsa probably at his peak form it would have been a good opportunity to sort of rotate him a bit more but he yeah he has played a lot of games in this sort of busy festive period and maybe it's just it caught up with him and so yeah I just hope the injury is not too serious because one he's been playing absolutely well and two we've obviously quite short in that position.
00:10:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:11:02
Adarsh
It seems like the injuries are all in the defensive area of the pitch for Liverpool and that's a bit of a concern.
00:11:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:11:08
Adarsh
I would like to see Liverpool go in the transport transfer market but I don't know who would be available and who is sort of the right option at this moment in time and I think with Canata should be back fairly soon so that means I don't think we will.
00:11:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Gomez is almost like a victim of his versatility, you know, coming back to what you've just said, right? He can play, he's been covering Conor Bradley and Trent at right back. He covered Robertson and Simicast at left back when they were injured. Canate goes out and then he covers it at
Offensive Brilliance
00:11:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
centre back. So I think it's just the accumulation of games over the last, you know, kind of four to six weeks.
00:11:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Looks like it's taken its toll, but Tom, you know, with around about kind of five, six minutes left of the first half, Gackpo, that man again, you know, he's coming up with the goals now, makes it 2-0. Really intelligent play by Mohamed Salah on the right hand side, not to kind of touch the ball when he was in an offside position, ah ah leaves it for Diaz.
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, you know, great turn in the box and sent sets up Gankpo to make it too.
00:12:16
Tom Goward
they're Just making it look so easy, like it's such an easy goal, McAllister just picks the ball up and I think Jamie Redknapp alluded to it at half-tight, I think it was him, said about how that ball at the moment is the ball to play in football, just over the top, you take out all the defenders, you know there's no one near it, and he just plays that ball over the top, Diaz gets onto it, first time to Salah,
00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:37
Tom Goward
if salamenta or didn't mean it, whatever, it's still a good bit of skill. And then just lays it off the gap and it's just such an easy goal to score and it just makes it look so easy. And I think that's what we're doing this year when the slot is making these goals so simple and look so simple. I know it was a goal a few months ago, I can't remember, it was between. It went from Alison to Graham Burch into Nunes or Diaz, and then they finished it. And it's just gone from like goalkeeper to forward like that. And it just makes it look so simple.
00:13:07
Tom Goward
Yeah, I love it. I absolutely love it.
00:13:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, it's it's almost reminiscent of that, you know, great front three legendary front three of Marnie Salah and for menia where it was just like bang, bang, bang, goal. And, you know, just a ah couple of minutes later, Salah, you know, makes it three nil with again, you know, it's just that kind of finished way, it just makes it look so easy, just kind of passing it into into into the corner of the goal. And that Adash really, for me, I thought the third goal got goes in, it's game over now.
00:13:44
Adarsh
Yeah, 100%. I think West Ham are kind of playing out from the, they're playing out from the back end, obviously not, you know, that press from Liverpool high press. I think it was was really telling as well. it's It's almost half time, but seeing Jones going to press, I think it was Solaire who lost lost the ball.
00:13:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:58
Adarsh
I think that's something again, like we mentioned in slot he is it's not an opportunity just because it's close to halftime to give up the energy and give up the press. And I think Perfect opportunity to go in half time, kill the game, 3-0.
00:14:09
Adarsh
Salah, brilliant finish. It reminded me of that finish against United, actually, when we when we went against Al Trafford.
00:14:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was, yes, it was all crafted.
00:14:15
Adarsh
Yeah, very, very similar.
00:14:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was 100%.
00:14:16
Adarsh
And yeah, I mean, in a similar circumstance, it's all pretty much killed the game off.
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was the one.
00:14:21
Adarsh
And yeah, I mean, I mean, we're going to talk about his numbers, I'm sure.
00:14:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
There we go.
00:14:25
Adarsh
But what is it? 17 goals, 12, 13 assists, something like that. It's absolutely ridiculous.
00:14:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just losing count now, just losing count.
00:14:31
Adarsh
Yeah. Yeah.
00:14:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it was good to see, Tom, first half, all of our front three getting on the on the score sheet. And again, ah ah you know, i'll go back to that previous front three under Klopp, which led us to the Premier League, led us to the Champions League.
00:14:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Omens are good, aren't they?
00:14:51
Tom Goward
Yeah, definitely. I think, I think if you're any team in the world at the moment, I know we've beaten City and Madrid already this season, but you're just looking at that front three and going, Oh God, like, well, like there's no stopping them. I remember the years ago when Pep, they did that a documentary of City and Pep said to his assistants, he was worried about the front three of Mane for me. i sat And now it sort of feels similar again. Like if I'm any manager, I'm going, Oh, like,
00:15:19
Tom Goward
but we're worried. And then like, if one of them's injured, Jota comes on and then you're just like, it doesn't even get any worse, like any, yeah, any worse for any other team. So I'm really liking it. And it's good, for good, confident, boost for all three of them to get on the got goal score sheet as well. And obviously, we'll talk about saddle, I'm sure in a bit. But you know, another two assists in the golf game again today is just He's just out of this world.
00:15:39
Tom Goward
He's one of the best players I've ever seen for Liverpool ever. Like he's unbelievable what he does.
00:15:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:45
Tom Goward
And like even like Leicester, he didn't really do anything and then just like pops up with a goal. And then today was involved way more. And like you said, could have had a hat trick as well, but so he'll probably be angry himself for that.
00:15:56
Tom Goward
But yeah, it's really good to see.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no doubt. But that first half, I mean, it just looked like when that third goal went in, it just looked like West Ham wilted. If they hadn't even done that before, when the second goal in went in, certainly when the third goal went in, half time, it just looked like they were already beaten. And then the second half We just come out and just do what we were doing in the in the first half. Trent scores around about 53 minutes, makes it 4-0, deflected shot. Tom, he did an interesting goal celebration. Tell us about the goal celebration celebration and and then I want your thoughts and Adash's thoughts as well, and then I'll come in on it as well.
00:16:41
Tom Goward
Well, I sort of ah ah sort of celebrate the go as you do. and As you see him, he's sort of gone like, he's done like a little like talking to his ear, hasn't he? So as he's gone and I've gone, whoa, whoa, whoa, like that, like, whoa, what's he done that for?
00:16:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know i think most must but but Yeah.
00:16:52
Tom Goward
it and And then you check Twitter and everyone's like, Trent's done this celebration. So I don't, I mean, maybe because all the talk of the contract, you know, is he going to Real Madrid?
00:17:03
Tom Goward
It could be The talk's correct, all the talk's incorrect, we don't know, that only he knows, but he said a few weeks ago, didn't he, that his contract extensions had never been paid out in public and this one won't either, so maybe he's just sick of you media reporting stuff that's not true. So there's a few options, but I'm hoping it's it's all the talk's false and he's signing the contract, but who knows, only he knows what he meant by that.
00:17:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Dash, what what did you think of that goal celebration?
00:17:29
Adarsh
Yeah, I mean, yeah, pretty similar to Tom. I was like, whoa, what's he doing? northe or What's that celebration? i think I think it's in relation to the media talk, and I think there was reports, obviously, of him oh almost agreeing a deal with Real Madrid and Marco reporting it.
00:17:44
Adarsh
I think it's think that's what the celebrations are about.
00:17:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:17:46
Adarsh
I think that's the talk on nonsense. maybe Maybe it's true, maybe it's not, we don't know, but I feel like that was what he was addressing. and Yeah, I don't know. It was a weird one, because when he scored as well, I know we were already 3-4-0 up at that time, but he just it didn't seem like the fans were as celebrated.
00:18:02
Adarsh
When he did that, he was celebrating as much. I don't know about you guys, but I felt it was a weird celebration.
00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I just thought, listen, if you want the talking to stop, just sign the contract, mate.
00:18:11
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:18:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sign the contract and all of the talk will will will die down.
Record-Breaking Salah
00:18:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Slott makes makes some ah changes shortly after that. Gatpo, Gravenbert coming off.
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they're both on four yellow cards. So, you know, we we've been hit with suspensions quite ah quite a bit with yellow cards. So, Gatpo goes off, Gravenbert goes off, Endo and Jota.
00:18:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
comes on and then again, you know ah ah Tom, alluding to what you said earlier, a Josh, Jota comes on, does what Jota does, you know ah puts away puts away really good a good finish, but what a run by Salah to set him up.
00:18:52
Adarsh
Yeah, I mean, it was two it was Twinkle Toes. It was it was amazing. it was just I mean i was oh thought he was going to release the ball sooner, but he just the thing with Salah, he knows when to release the ball at the perfect time. for
00:19:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, nine times out of 10 he doesn't release the ball.
00:19:04
Adarsh
Yeah, that that is also true.
00:19:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, Adash, come on.
00:19:06
Adarsh
i And also I thought he was going to go, when he was dribbling, I thought, okay, he's not going to pass the jotter. He's going to want the goal. But because of how many chances he had in the game and obviously, I mean, for him, one goal, he's never happy with one goal, but it just shows the the level that this season in particular, he's not just caring about the goals.
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:21
Adarsh
He he wants those assists as well. I mean, the numbers are ridiculous. He's all around play as well. I mean, just driving that West Ham defence were terrified of him today. I mean, they gave him so much space.
00:19:31
Adarsh
And then just for him to release the ball into the path of Jota, good for Jota to get back on the goal score scoring sheet as well, because, you know, we never know what's going to be happening with injuries. And obviously, Jota, I think in the next few weeks, we'll probably be starting a few more games as well.
00:19:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:45
Adarsh
So it's good for him to get back on on the scoring sheet.
00:19:47
Adarsh
And yeah, i just love, just love when I hear that Diogo Jota chant on the TV.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, brilliant. And I thought i think Mo had to set him up for that one, because I think it was a few minutes earlier where Salah cut inside and Jota was completely free. And, you know, Mo goes for goal and the look on Jota's face, his hands on his hips, he was just like, you know, God, he was just he wasn't happy. So I'm glad that he got set up. And I'm glad that he got on the score sheet as well. So, you know, four of our out of, you know, four of our strikers, our attackers, all got on on the the score sheet. And we've looked, you know, we've mentioned Salah, 20 goals for the season, Tom. I mean, it's just unbelievable. 20 plus goals in all of his eight seasons.
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just that the records are just tumbling. I'm going to read out another one from Opta. They said that today is the eighth Premier League game this season in which Mohammed Saleh has registered both a goal and an assist. A new seasonal record by any player in the competition's history. Sensational, that's what that's what they said. We're witnessing, I think we're witnessing greatness in real time. And I honestly think Tom that it's only going to be in years to come when people realize how special a player is.
00:21:14
Tom Goward
it It's messy-esque. This is what Messi was like you know during his prime. He scored all those goals and there was a stat the other day about 10 goals and assists before Christmas and the only other play in history to do it was Messi and now Salah.
00:21:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:31
Tom Goward
He's up there with, arguably for me, the best player ever in football. you know obviously we can have a debate all day but so to be watching it you know live to see it what he's doing and it just feels like every weekend or every week there's a new record he's broken there's a new something he's done there's a new club record there's a new Premier League record there's new English record like anything he just seems to be breaking records and and then I read Twitter and people still think Hazard's better it's like it's crazy like it's or Saka or whatever like I know Saka's younger so maybe not compared but
00:21:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, thank you.
00:22:03
Tom Goward
Like people just cannot comprehend how good he is. I think people need to sit down and and when he retires, put a compilation of all these goals and assists and the record, the list of the records he's broken and and he's still going.
00:22:17
Tom Goward
Like hopefully he signs his contract and he can still do another three years.
00:22:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
32 years old is still going.
00:22:21
Tom Goward
Yeah.
00:22:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 32 years old.
00:22:22
Tom Goward
Yeah. Yeah.
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
How many of those elite players that are on those all-time lists are putting up the numbers at 32? If you look at that all-time Premier League list, I think Thierry Henry, has he gone past him yet?
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think he has, has he?
00:22:37
Adarsh
Being is one one away from that.
00:22:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's in his sights, right?
00:22:39
Tom Goward
Yeah. yeah
00:22:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Thierry Henry was not doing that at 32. I think Thierry Henry was in the MLS at 32, right? So it's just incredible what he's doing.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I honestly think that, I think there's most, there's a lot of people out there just don't want to admit how good how good he is, know, for for whatever reason. But I want to mention one player from West Ham, Mohammed Khadous, because I thought he was West Ham's biggest threat going forward.
Transfer Speculations
00:23:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I liked him when he was, I think it was Ajax, wasn't he? I think he'd be ideal for our forward line. He can play pretty much anywhere across that front line. And I just think he's a natural fit.
00:23:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
for Liverpool. don't know what you guys think. What do you think Adarsh? I mean, I'm not i'm not saying replacing Salah, but let's say if we were to get rid of Nunes, instead of getting an out and out number nine, why don't we just have all of these interchangeable forwards, like Diaz now, Diaz, you know, a couple of years ago, yeah i if you'd said to me, he's going to be playing center forward for Liverpool, I'd be thinking, Oh, God, we're in trouble. But if if you if you look at all three, all of our attackers now, they can play in any of those positions. What do you think of Caduce, a Liverpool?
00:24:06
Adarsh
Yeah I mean today he was pretty impressive when when West Ham had opportunities he was he was a threat obviously hit the post as well I think he hit the bar with a header as well I think he's he's got all the attributes to sort of play in that sort of whether it's up front or on the left I think he'll be a good option I think I've heard Arsenal have been linked to him as well because of the soccer injury um obviously they need to reinforce in that position from their perspective. So yeah, I think you'll be a great fit. I think there are other options that probably Liverpool would be looking at. And I think they the there's a talk of like the Premier League and like Liverpool don't usually target players in the Premier League from like
00:24:40
Adarsh
an attacking position unless it's like a player that's up and coming and Kudos has already kind of pretty much established so I'm not sure if we would go for him but he is a great player and but him for him, for his point of view, apart from him and Bowen I think West Ham going forward were pretty, pretty really bad basically. I thought they were so poor in midfield, Paqueta are such a, it might have been really overrated player, I don't see why, what's what's the hype around him and yeah. Kudos I think, ah I think I can see my top six club but I don't know if it'll be us.
00:25:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Top six club, maybe Arsenal, right? if if you If he wants to finish runners up every season, then then maybe Arsenal is a good look fit for him. But all right, we're going to go for a very short break. And after that, we'll do some player ratings.
00:25:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Let's get into some player ratings. let's start with Alison. Didn't really have much to do apart from maybe, you know, collecting crosses when you need to needed to.
00:26:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, uh, you know, the, the odd clearance, but, I'm just giving him a, a kind of ah of ah a bog standard seven.
Player Ratings
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:19
Adarsh
Yeah, no, I gave him seven. Didn't have much to do. Didn't really need to do anything. So, yeah, seven.
00:26:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Happy with that, Tom.
00:26:26
Tom Goward
Yeah yeah, sevens all round for that I think.
00:26:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, let's look at our back four then. I thought Trent was actually, I thought he was very good. I thought he was very solid in defence. could argue that maybe he didn't have that much to do. I just thought that in terms of his concentration, his positional play, his distribution was better than it has been recently. It's something that I kind of have criticized him for recently, not his long passes, but he's kind of short, short pass distribution recently, of it's kind of almost like he's not been concentrating. But you know, and he got a goal as well. So I'm i'm giving him an eight out of 10. What about yourself, Adash?
00:27:08
Adarsh
Yeah, no, I've given him an eight as well. I thought he made two really good passes in the game, which really stood out to me. The one in the first half where he played Salah through on goal, kind of like cut across the pass. I thought that was a brilliant pass. And then the one in the second half where Salah basically touched in here over the bar.
00:27:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:24
Adarsh
However, yeah, his passing is always going to be brilliant. He got a goal. Didn't have to do that much defensively. So yeah, I'll give him an eight.
00:27:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Tom.
00:27:32
Tom Goward
I feel like we're all going to have sort of similar ratings today. i I'll go, I was torn maybe seven and a half just to change it up a little bit, but no, no, no.
00:27:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is Angel. Would I do half some on the daily live comment?
00:27:42
Tom Goward
So I'll go, I'd have to go for an eight. Like he got the goal, a clean sheet, more could you ask from him really?
00:27:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
What did you ask for? I'm giving eights for both Gomez and Van der, even though Gomez, you know, he only lasted half an hour. So I can i only judge him on that half hour.
00:27:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I thought, you know, again, he was very solid. So was Van Dyke. Van Dyke, I've noticed in the last few games where where we're kind of attacking and where're we're pressing.
00:28:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
He almost stays forward sometimes. He did that against Leicester. And he he got a shot off against West Ham. I don't know if you saw that, where it was always like Diaz and Van Dyke almost swapped positions.
00:28:20
Tom Goward
Yeah.
00:28:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Diaz sets up van Dyck, cuts inside brilliantly, and you you know ah produces a save from Ariola. But so I thought those two were were were really good. And Kwanzaa, to be fair, he's had a lot of criticism this season. I think some of it has been unfair. I thought he looked quite comfortable when he came on next to van Dyck, Adarsh.
00:28:46
Adarsh
Yeah, no, I thought in that first half in particular where there was where we didn't get the goal until like half an hour. I thought van Dyck was, was really, really good winning those balls. Cause West Ham are trying to get in behind, I think quite a few times. So I thought he was outstanding, particularly in that first half an hour. yeah, obviously could have, could have also got a goal, but yeah, I think I'll give, I've given him an eight and go as an eight.
00:29:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Solid performance. What about you, Tom?
00:29:09
Tom Goward
Yeah, I felt a bit sorry for Gomez. I think he had a quite an event before 37 minutes, you know, injury. And then he didn't get the corner that should have been a corner. Then he gave away the corner that wasn't a corner.
00:29:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:19
Tom Goward
I felt a bit bad for it. Luckily, neither came of, you know, didn't come of it from the corner. But yeah, eight's all round. that Maybe Gomez is seven just because he didn't play, you know, no three, no four of his own, but maybe because he didn't play the whole game or at least a half.
00:29:32
Tom Goward
But Kwanzaa was really good. you know There was a criticism when he came off at halftime against Ipswich for the first game of the season. It was a bit like, oh, this wasn't the Kwanzaa we saw last season, but he's been given a few chances now, and today was probably his best game yet this season. So I'm happy for him.
00:29:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and and it's good to hint for him to get those minutes bearing in mind that he might have to play against Manchester United. Moving on to midfield, I thought, again, solid, Graven Burke, you know, seven out of ten, I'm going to give Curtis Jones seven out of ten, standout for me in midfield was McAllister.
00:30:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought, you know, he's he's just got that perfect balance of his kind of passing ability, setting the tempo, the press and the way you get stuck in these kind of combative nature, you know, just he's so brave with the ball and also in his tackle. So I'm giving him an eight out of 10 to dash.
00:30:26
Adarsh
give him a curse at night and I thought it was unbelievable.
00:30:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:30:28
Adarsh
I think he's going quietly going about his business this season, but he's increasingly effective to assist against Leicester. The other day, today, he just had to to be controlled in midfield. I thought he was outstanding.
00:30:40
Adarsh
He offered something different in midfield as well. he he's got What I've noticed, when he passes the ball, he passes with an intensity and he speeds up the play. He's just such an all-round player. He's been brilliant this season.
00:30:50
Adarsh
I've given him a nine because I think A lot of players have been given the limelight this season. I don't think Michaelis has been given enough credit for how well he's been. So from a personal point of view, I've given him a nine, given Gravenburger seven, purely because he came off early, bearing in mind his yellow card suspension sort of thing. And then Jones, I gave him an eight. I thought he was really good in that first half as well, winning the ball back for Salah's third goal, but all round great performance from him as well.
00:31:16
Tom Goward
I'm going to give Graham Burch and Jones an eight each because they've both got an assist, I think as well. They give him credit for that and Graham Burch managed to not get booked, but double bonus points to him.
00:31:29
Tom Goward
And then obviously came off and then yeah, Ekarena Dash again, I was giving him a cast or a nine. Like he just, the work he does it is unbelievable. He's for the price we paid for him.
00:31:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah.
00:31:40
Tom Goward
He's unbelievable. And I feel like there's still so much more yet to see of him we we need to see of him. So, yeah, I'll give Jones and Grabber a tenet and Macasta a nine.
00:31:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right. They're moving up to the ah ah front three. I mean, I'm, you know, they, they were, they were all great. I thought Gackpo Diaz eight out of 10. I can't give anyone a 10 out of 10 until you know, the end of the season and it's the last game of the season and and someone does something, you know, Szilard does something stupid and wins the Premier League or the Champions League in the final. But yeah I'm going to give him a nine out of 10, but only because I'm not going to give him a 10 out of 10.
00:32:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
He could have had four or five goals. If it weren't for great goalkeeping, maybe some you know finishing that was a a little bit awry, but all round I just thought, what a player, what a performance, Adash.
00:32:33
Adarsh
Yeah, no, I've got the exact same ratings. I think, yeah, that front three, all we're going to get top top marks for purely because they were all on the score sheet, but Salah gets the extra nine just because of those two assists. I thought that, that last assist in particular was was pretty special. So yeah, I've got a nine for Salah, eight for Dia, and eight for Gecko.
00:32:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Right. So, uh, man of the match, uh, I'm giving to, uh, Salah. I'm sure that both of you, unless you're going to go from McAllister, either of you two, is it, is it, is is it, um, Salah as man of the match.
00:33:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
We don't have anything to give Mo.
00:33:06
Tom Goward
I'll give it, I'll give it, well I was gonna rate Salah his shirt number, 11 out of 10, but ah I'll give, I'll give it to Salah. How can you not, like how can you not, like it just produces everywhere.
00:33:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're not exactly. We're top of the Premier League now. We're on 45 points. Nottingham Forest who, I mean, that that they're just in unbelievable form. they have They've won their last five games and they are now up to second, 37 points.
00:33:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it almost makes that one nil defeat against them almost kind of, you know, you can stomach it now that it wasn't a terrible team that we lost to. And then you've got Arsenal in third on 36 points, nine points behind us. Chelsea now have moved down to fourth, 35 points. Obviously, we've got that game in hand on Forest.
00:34:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal, ah Chelsea are playing tomorrow and Arsenal playing New Year's Day. I'm going to very quickly just run through January's fixtures. we got past West Ham. Sunday, the 5th of January.
January Fixture Challenges
00:34:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
In fact, let me count how many Premier League got. One, two, three, four. Four Premier League games.
00:34:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then we've got one to two Champions League games, an FA Cup and a Carabao Cup game. So here's our Premier League games. In fact, here's all of the fixtures for January. We've got Manchester United on the 5th of January.
00:34:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
8th of January away to Tottenham in the in the League Cup semi-final and then Saturday home to Akron Stanley the FA Cup. Tuesday 14th of January big one away to Nottingham Forest.
00:34:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Saturday 18th January away to Brentford and then we've got two back-to-back no actually it's not back-to-back well Champions League game at home against Leal on the 21st January 25th of January home to Ipswich and then away to PSV in the Champions League I'm looking at those fixtures, bearing in mind we've got PSV, we've got Leal, and we've got Spurs in an Akron, Akron, Akron Stanley guard in the, in the cup games.
00:35:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
do How much rotation does he put the kids in in the FA Cup? Does he put the kids in in some of those games to save ourselves for those huge Premier League? I know Manchester United are an absolute shower at the moment and long may that continue, all right? But it is Manchester United and this is going to be there that their Cup Final, their Champions, their World Cup Final all rolled into one.
00:36:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
and for because they they would love nothing more than to dent our title hopes. So I'm just thinking that is you know is slot going to heavily rotate or is he still going to you know put out strong teams every game, Adash?
00:36:21
Adarsh
think I think the two Champions League games and the FA Cup a third round against Akrington Stanley, I think those will be the games he plays.
00:36:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
You said that better than but than I did, by the way.
00:36:28
Adarsh
Evo, we can...
00:36:32
Adarsh
Akrington Stanley and um and the two Champions League games, like I was saying, I think those would be the games you would probably arrest some of the key players. I don't see like the core of the team, Van Dyke, Salah, Alisson featuring in those games.
00:36:46
Adarsh
I think those are good games to bring in. other players that need more minutes coming back from injury or some of the youngsters, I think that those are good opportunities. I think that week we have Forest and Brentford is pretty pretty big, I think. It sounds crazy because I mean, for us, given how well they've done this season, that's definitely our hardest game of of January.
00:37:04
Adarsh
Brentford away is always a tough game. I feel like they give, they've got really good home record as well this season.
00:37:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:37:08
Adarsh
So I think that week is going to be a very pivotal week. If we can get through that, I'm not too fazed about January. Usually in the past, it's been a month, which has been quite killer for Liverpool. But I feel like with players coming back from injury, youngsters getting opportunities in those type of competitions, I think that's what slot will do.
00:37:24
Adarsh
And I think hopefully we should get through it in a pretty good position.
00:37:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom, thoughts?
00:37:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, I think Tom is as is was a star.