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Daily Liverpool - Merseyside Derby Preview!
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It's derby day as Liverpool play host to local rivals Everton. After the tumultuous events of Goodison Park, the Reds will be determined to put the Toffees firmly in their place. Jesse Sarwar goes through all the main talking points ahed of this huge game.
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction & Merseyside Derby Preview
00:01:20
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 Sarwar. It is Wildcard Wednesday and we are previewing Wednesday night's Merseyside derby at Anfield. So we'll be taking a look at the form guide going into this into this game. Obviously look at the predicted lineup as well as a score prediction all the and all the points.
00:01:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
talking points going into this really, really big game for Liverpool. So Premier League football returns after the last international break of the season. And, you know, we return with a big one.
00:01:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the Merseyside Derby. It's a Wednesday night kickoff, 8pm UK time, that's 3pm Eastern Standard Time. And as I said, look, this is a massive game. Merseyside, Derby aside, I think everything that went on in the reverse fixture at Goodison, I think has just upped the ante. I really can't remember a time in recent memory when where I've really, really, really wanted to beat Everton and really beat them well.
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And apart from anything else, it's the start of the home stretch. This is now the business end of the season, nine games to go. And think it's just a good time to remind ourselves where we are and what we're looking to achieve this season.
00:02:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, we come back into this campaign, Premier League campaign, top of the league. Let's not forget that. 12 points clear of second-placed Arsenal with, as I said, nine games left to go. And, you know, there's been a lot of outside noise and talking points surrounding Liverpool's last couple of games in different cup competitions.
Liverpool's Recent Performance Analysis
00:03:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
whether that's the Champions League exit at the hands of PSG or the League Cup final defeat against Newcastle. You know, those those games...
00:03:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Newcastle one, look, we we deserve to lose that game and Newcastle, you know, they thoroughly deserve to win that. So there's there's really nothing more to say on that. They were just better than us on the day.
00:03:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think the PSG one, they played us off the park in the first game. I think the Anfield leg was, it was touch and go. And that's why it went to penalties. And once it gets to penalties, well, you know, it's anyone's game.
00:03:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there's been a lot of talk about a drop-off and I just don't buy it. You know, the focus now is on the Premier League. There's a job to finish. And that job starts on Wednesday night against the worst team in Liverpool.
00:04:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as I said, I think it's a time to remind ourselves what... what we're looking to achieve this season, what we can achieve this season. The Premier League title is up for grabs and it's our title to win or lose.
00:04:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've just really now we've got to show up both on and off the pitch and get this title race done and dusted. And I've got no doubts that Anfield is going to turn up.
00:04:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to be at the game on Wednesday night and I can tell you we want to beat the blue noses. Yeah, I was going to say blue noses, nothing else.
00:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think, look, this is the game where we need to put this lot firmly back in their place. They had their trophy win. their 2-2 draw at home, which is the most that they will celebrate this season.
00:05:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're never going to celebrate anything else. And what they will have to watch, though, is is is a trophy parade
Significance & History of the Merseyside Derby
00:05:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
at the end of the season in in Liverpool, and it's not going to be from the blue half.
00:05:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that game, I think, really colours the... this Merseyside Derby. As I said, it was one of the most heated controversial games, I think, in in recent years between the two teams and the way that it ended, Arnie Slott being red carded, Curtis Jones being involved in a you know scuffle with you know two or three Everton players right in front of those Liverpool fans.
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And just the whole atmosphere around that game was really charged. Obviously, it was the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park before they go to their new stadium.
00:06:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so there was, and and you know, you got to remember, it was, I think they scored what in the 99th or 100th minute in what should have been five added minutes. So there was a lot going on in that game.
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think Everton hoped or thought that that was going to derail our Premier League title charge.
00:06:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it just hasn't materialised. And if anything, we've extended our lead at the top of the table. So I don't think that they really got anything out of that game other than kind of bragging rights. If you can call again, you can call a draw bragging rights.
00:07:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, that's Everton's level. That's, you know, that that's where they are. That's what they have to celebrate, our draws. And...
00:07:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, i think that that this guy this game, I think they'll be using the Newcastle performance in that League Cup final as a blueprint.
00:07:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think they'll they're as good as Newcastle. I don't think that they can i don't think they can execute a plan offensively that Newcastle did against us in that League Cup final.
Everton's Tactical Approach
00:07:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Work rate aside, any any team can put in a shift, any team can outwork another team. And so Everton are capable of doing what Newcastle did in terms of work rate, whether they can press as effectively as Newcastle remains to be seen and whether they can exploit offensive opportunities as well as Newcastle did.
00:08:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, i I don't think so. What they will be relying on is set pieces. And, you know, you can expect plenty of set piece routines, but much in the way that Newcastle exploited, you know in that League Cup final with Dan Burns.
00:08:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so we're we're really going to have to be switched on defensively. Meaning don't put Alexis McAllister or Harvey Elliott or, you know, anyone that's kind of for four feet three up against their centre-backs.
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if we do that, then I think we've we've got a chance to defend those set-pieces. but I really think that this Liverpool team, they'll have the bit between the their teeth. They're going to be obviously aware of all the noise around the club after those cup exits.
00:09:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
They would have seen, you know, the social media reaction. They would have seen the pundits and and opposition fans saying that, you know, the wheels are coming off. And i just think that,
00:09:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
This team will come back determined. They may not be refreshed physically because obviously they've been travelling all around the world with their respective national teams, you know, playing for their national teams.
00:09:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So maybe not physically refreshed, but I think maybe mentally I think just getting away from the intensity of a Premier League title charge, just going away, going to a different environment, different set of players, different manager and and playing football matches, you know, just in a completely different context.
00:10:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
It can only have, I think, a kind of positive effect in terms of this is almost like a reset. They come back.
00:10:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
They know there's nine games left to go.
Liverpool's Motivation & Title Ambitions
00:10:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, the finish line is in sight. Nine games to go, nine games to glory, nine games for league title number 20.
00:10:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah What an incentive. Manchester United fans are going to hate that. But, you know, they're just go to have to suck it up. You know, 20 league titles. That is the target. That is the target for this team.
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, what a price to reach for after all the noise about those cup defeats. I mean, normally it's so it's the other way around. Teams normally slip up in the league and you know they fall away in in a and a title race and you know the title race is gone.
00:10:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you know you try and console yourselves with a cup run or a cup win. The way Guardiola reacted to the cup win over Bournemouth at the weekend because the title was gone.
00:11:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so that's all you've got left is an FA Cup or or a League Cup. you know Whereas for us, you know the quote-unquote, the consolation for Liverpool is the Premier League title.
00:11:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you know some of these players, the likes of Salah, Van Dijk, Alisson, Robertson, they want and they need another Premier League title.
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because you know who knows if you know they're going to be around long enough to get another shot. We know that you know, Salah and Van Dijk, you know, we know all about their contract situation, but, you know Alison and Robertson are are going to be in a similar situation this time next year because they'll be entering the last 12 months of their contract.
00:11:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think they all will be so determined to to wrap up this Premier League title. and and And some of the players that have joined us, you know, more recently in in the last couple of seasons, Alexis McAllister for one.
00:12:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
World Cup winner desperately wants one of the big club prizes to go hand in hand with, you know, the ultimate international prize.
00:12:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And nobody will deserve it more than McAllister, who has He's left every ounce of sweat on that pitch every single game. And we we're going to have to be just as intense, just as physical in this game.
00:12:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, we're going to need to start fast and the intensity needs to be there. Everton are going to do what Everton do, that they will make it into, they'll try to turn it into a battle, try to slow slow the game down, you know, make it a very kind of itty bitty game, fouls and lots of stoppages and, you know, making it about winning those second balls.
00:13:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, we've just got to make sure that we're the ones who who dictate the game. We dictate the possession, which, you know, I expect us to do that at Anfield. You know, we're at home and, you know, we've just got better players who can keep the ball better.
00:13:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we've got to make sure that we don't give away stupid free kicks. You know, opportunities for them to pump the ball long into our print penalty area.
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're going to need to be clinical up front. We need to take our chances, which I think it really means that Arnie Slott is a big decision to make. up front There's been a lot of talk about our strikers, I think in recent weeks, particularly the likes of Darwin Nunes, Diogo Jota, even Luis Diaz.
00:13:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that there are question marks over... quite a few of those players, those three in particular, I'd say, probably in that order as well.
00:14:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whereas obviously Salah has been outstanding this season. And I think Gakpo has had a really good season. It's been unfortunate that he's been out the last couple of weeks and, you know, Chiesa, we just haven't seen enough of him to really make a judgment call on on Chiesa, but certainly Nunes and Jota and Diaz.
Defensive Strategies for the Derby
00:14:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that possibly these last nine games, I think may well determine if some of these forwards or all three of them are going to have a future at the club next season.
00:14:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So in terms of a, let's have a look at a predicted lineup for the Reds.
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alison Becker in goal. Now he did come home early from international duty. The Brazil versus Columbia game. had to come off with a head injury. so you know, concussion protocols meant that he he came off and then, you know, he just flew back to Liverpool immediately.
00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he is having a late fitness test. Arnie Slott has confirmed in the press conference that he's going to have a fitness test ahead of this game.
00:15:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would expect him to play. I think i think that unless there there is any kind of obviously doubt at all over a head injury, then you know you can't take chances. But I'd be surprised if he if he doesn't make the game.
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I do expect Alisson to start. The big question, I guess, and it's not really even a question because I don't think we've really got the options at right back. I think the big kind of situation that we've got in in that back four is at right back because Trent Alexander-Arnold...
00:15:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
is injured and so too is Conor Bradley. Now, Conor Bradley, there's no chance that Trent's going to be available. They're saying that he should be back for May and that's that's interesting, you know, given all the kind of story, stories surrounding Trent with this kind of proposed move to Real Madrid and it's all done and dusted.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if that is the case and we're looking at a May return, you know, there's every possibility that, you know, he's already played his last game for for Liverpool. But that aside, in terms of just this game against Everton, Trent's not available. Connor Bradley, he's having a late fitness test on his slots confirmed.
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now he has been training on his own to get him back up to speed, which suggests that his injury is over.
00:16:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
but that's That's what i I would take from that, that he's and he's no longer injured. It's just whether he's going to be fit enough to either start or to take a seat on the bench.
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Either way, it probably means that General Kwanzaa He's going to start right back. And i mean, it's not ideal, but I think bearing in mind that we're going to be at home, I would expect Liverpool will have the majority of possession, which means that that back four is not going to be as under pressure as they would have been at Goodison Park.
00:17:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
That said, you know David Moyes will undoubtedly look at that back four, ask himself, OK, what is the weak link? And you'd have to say that Kwanzaa would be that weak link, not in the sense that he's the worst player. It's just that right back is not his preferred position. He's a centre back.
00:17:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so, you know, I think I would expect Everton to target that area. But Kwanzaa to play at left back. The centre backs, you know, there doesn't seem to be any injury concerns over Kanate and Van Dijk. And those two are are our first choice centre backs. So I expect those two to start.
00:18:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
The other question is left back. Andy Robertson did play obviously for for Scotland. I just think that this game though is, it's a game that you've got to play Robertson for his experience. You know, he's, he's experienced all the Merse side derbies and,
00:18:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And against Everton, it is more of a blood and thunder kind of game. And so I think that suits Robertson. And I just think that he's and he's come into form, you know, in these last couple of months, question marks over his form this season, particularly the kind of early and middle part of the season.
00:19:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think in the last you know four to six weeks, he's shown more of the kind of form that we're we're used to. And so for for that reason, his form, his experience and his aggression, i would want in this game as opposed to Simakas, who, you know, he's he's done OK, but I think he's dropped off in the last, in this second half of the season.
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I would go for for Robertson at left back. Midfield, I think that Arnie Slott is going go for his tried and trusted. So that's Gravenberg.
00:19:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
He did, Gravenberg did withdraw from the Dutch squad over this international break. But Arnie Slott said that he is okay, that he will have a fitness test, but it just from from how Arnie Slott kind of framed this this kind of talk of Gravenberg and his injury, it just sounds like he probably had a little and niggle or a concern. He's come home.
00:20:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's fine. He's going to have a late fitness test, a kind of, you a tick in the box. And i I fully expect Gravenberg to start And fully expect Alexis McAllister to be right next to him in that midfield.
00:20:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, another another player who's just tried and tested. He is a clear Arnie slot first choice. And, you know, unless there's some kind of injury concern we we just don't know about, then Alexis McAllister will start, as will Dominic Sabozlai.
Offensive Options & Player Focus
00:20:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And and he's I think he's going to be a really important player in this game with his work rate, with his energy, his physicality. And he's just kind of, he's box to box covering.
00:21:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I expect those three to to line up for us in midfield. And I think up front is, I think that's also, I think the big question mark in terms of team selection, other than Salah.
00:21:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Salah starts at the other two positions, I think is, I think it's going to be really interesting to see what Arnie Slott does, you know, and, you know, where his thinking is on our forward options.
00:21:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, you've got Diogo Jota, who since his return from injury, it just has it just hasn't worked for him. He's normally so reliable in terms of his he's finishing, but he's just not getting...
00:21:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know whether it's entirely down to him because there have been a few games where the service just wasn't there for him. And so he couldn't affect the game.
00:22:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there were other performances as well where, you know, every time he just touched the ball because, you know, it just bobbled off his shin or, you know, his finishing but was wayward, which again, it's really surprising because...
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Along with Mohamed Salah, I think Diogo Jota is our most accomplished finisher. He's our most reliable finisher. And so for him to really be out of sorts, I think has really kind of affected him.
00:22:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Our attacking prowess, you know, we've looked a bit blunted up front. And if Salah's not scoring, then it doesn't look like we are going to score. And it's unfair to have that on Mo, that he's got to be the one that produces it, you know, week in, week out.
00:22:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Some of the other guys have got to step up as well. So i think Jota has struggled. Nunes, you know, we we we know his struggles this season.
00:23:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he's played well in patches and and in parts and he does affect the game. I'll i'll give him that ahead of Jota. even when Nunes is not necessarily playing well in the sense that you might have missed a sitter or,
00:23:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, he's got a chance to put someone through and he just doesn't get the weight of the pass right. But he does affect the game. He does create havoc with opposition defences and and open up chances.
00:23:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so if that's the case, I'm just wondering whether Nunes does start. But I wouldn't start him up front in that number nine position. I'd really consider starting him wide left, which brings us to Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo.
00:23:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gakpo, you know, I think has played really well overall this season. But again, since coming back from injury, I think he's really struggled. He was...
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
way off the pace against PSG in that second leg and he was way off the pace in the League Cup final against Newcastle whether he has had whether that time off now has meant that he's got his his fitness back up i don't I don't know if you can do that in training you need match fitness to really get yourself up and running so I don't know whether Ramersi side derby is game for slot to see whether Gakpo has got his fitness back.
00:24:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it it needs someone who is fast, energetic and direct. So that leaves us with Luis Diaz or Darwin Nunes.
00:24:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Diaz, you know, I spoke about this in the podcast last week when we we assessed that the overall kind of strength of the squad over the international over the international break.
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Luis Diaz has kind of reverted back to type. He's he gone back to the Luis Diaz, which... we find frustrating in the sense that, you know, he dazzles us.
00:25:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
He excites us. He goes on these mazy runs that really nobody else in the Premier League does well as Diaz. as d But whereas in the first kind of quarter of the season, he was scoring goals and he was assisting, you know, there was an end product.
00:25:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's now gone back to the Luis Diaz of last season and the season before that, which is great run, amazing run. He'll, you know, work his socks off. He'll win the ball back and he'll,
00:25:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
attack you know the the opposition flank you'll go around three players and then nothing you know he he won't get decent ball into you know one of his strike partners or you know he's he'll fluff his lines in front of goal and so the end product there isn't as it should be at the moment.
00:26:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm just thinking, you know, is this the game where you put Nunes out wide, which maybe subconsciously takes the pressure off of him in terms of the the goal scoring.
00:26:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
If he's out wide, maybe he thinks, okay, well, it's not on me. The pressure is not all all on me to score the goals. I just need to, you know,
00:26:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I create havoc. I need to create chances. I need get in behind the defense, use my pace, use my physicality. And, you know, Salah and whoever plays up top, you know, they're going to carry the bulk of the responsibility in terms of putting the ball into the back of the net.
00:26:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that's something that slot should consider. I would play Nunes out wide because I think this is the kind of game that he gets fired up for, maybe too fired up. That's something we will consider as well.
00:27:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And having said all of that about Diego Jota,
00:27:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would probably still start with Jota, knowing that if if he doesn't perform, then you know we can switch Nunes centrally and then you know bring on Diaz or even play Diaz centrally.
00:27:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that's who I would go for. I'd go for Salah and Nunes out wide and then Diego Jota up front.
Predictions for the Derby
00:27:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But either way, I'm really, really looking forward to this game and I'm really, really confident in terms of a score prediction.
00:27:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Liverpool are going to be really, really determined to right the wrong of that Goodison Park draw and all the kind of noise that went around after that game.
00:27:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, that the kind of over the top celebrations of Everton. And so I'm confident that Liverpool are really going to, they're going to teach Everton a lesson.
00:28:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So um'm I'm going to go for a confident 4-0 win for Liverpool at home. But we shall see. We will see. This is, I think, the last midweek game of this title running.
00:28:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And after that, I think it's just weekend games, which, does it suit us, you know, in terms of rest, in terms of energy? Arsenal are going to be playing in the Champions League.
00:28:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
For how much longer? I don't know, bearing in mind that they've got Real Madrid. So I'd expect them to be out of that competition very soon. They've got, Pikaio Saka is back from injury, whether that's going be enough for them to put together a you know string of results that so try and put pressure on us.
00:28:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
They have got Fulham Tuesday night. So we'll see what happens with that and and whether we've extended our lead or whether they have closed the gap on us.
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that is all for today. Don't forget to follow us on your preferred podcast platform so that you get the very latest content. When it drops, follow us on social media at GSPN and Liverpool.
00:29:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can email us at gspndailyliverpool at gmail.com. Join us again tomorrow for our immediate post-match podcast of the Merseyside Derby.
00:29:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until next time, thank you for listening.
00:29:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
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