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Post Match Reaction! 1-0 Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby!
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Join Adarsh Ramchurn, Tom Goward and Jesse Sarwar, as they review the Merseyside Derby win in the Premier League. A goal from Diogo Jota means that the Reds are 13pts away from the Premier League Title.
We talk shocking refereeing, style of play, the importance of Jota back on the scoresheet and more in this post match reaction!
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Transcript
Match Review: Liverpool vs Everton
00:00:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm Adarsh Framchin and we are reviewing Liverpool beating Everton 1-0 at Anfield as we return from the international break.
00:01:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Goal from Diogo Jota broke the deadlock and gave Liverpool three points, which means we are 13 points away from that Premier League title. On today's post-match, I'm joined by Jesse, who was at Anfield. Jesse, how are you doing?
00:01:13
Jesse
I'm good, Ash. Very good. Especially after, you know, getting the three points. You know, that's that's what I travelled for and that's what, you know, I'm coming back with three points.
00:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nice. We're looking forward to hearing your perspective from Anfield. we're also joined by Tom. Tom, how's it going?
00:01:29
Tom Goward
Yeah, probably echo ah ah ah Jesse's words, but I'm still a bit annoyed about one or two things, and especially that referee, referee which I'm sure we'll get into shortly.
00:01:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I feel like there's a lot to to unpack in today's ah episode. But we're going to start with the team selection. Jesse, going to start with you. What was your first reaction? Because mines were my reaction was, he's got joking, right?
00:01:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Surely he can't be picking the same front three, the same midfield and pretty much the same defence that lost that cup final against Newcastle. But what were your thoughts? Jones at right back obviously was the probably standout news from the starting
00:02:06
Jesse
Yeah, I guess the surprise was Jones at right back. And, you know, I was surprised that Kelleher got the nod. But I suppose, you know, with concussion protocols ah being quite, you know, yeah a lot stricter now, which is a good thing.
00:02:25
Jesse
um i was I was surprised to see that Alisson hadn't made the cut. But... You're right with the front three. ah You know, I think i think there there is a bit of a concern and maybe this is probably just one of the the only criticisms that you could level against Arnest
Team Choices and Concussion Protocols
00:02:44
Jesse
Slott. Bearing in mind, we've only lost one Premier League game all season. Bearing mind that were yeah we should win the Premier League now.
00:02:51
Jesse
is that I don't think he shows enough faith in, you know, some of the, you know, the the the kind of fringe players, the likes of um Harvey Elliott, you know, Chiesa, who I thought might have, might have you know, started, you know,
00:03:08
Jesse
I mean, I've kind of predicted that, or I wanted Nunes to start, but maybe out wide on the left, just to kind of change it up a bit and and use his pace and physicality on the flanks as opposed as opposed to down the middle.
00:03:25
Jesse
um But yeah, you know, he he went with um players that he obviously does trust. And I suppose we've got the three points.
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, that's what that's all that matters. ah Tom, did you have any opinions on the starting XI when you first received it? No.
00:03:42
Tom Goward
Well, obviously, as you guys know, I love Curtis Jones. So to see him ah um him starting right back was with a shocker.
00:03:46
Jesse
ah
00:03:49
Tom Goward
But I have to say him and I thought Robertson, who probably I've stated a bit too much this season, played very well today. um ah thought the first couple of sort of 10, 15 minutes, they started going down the left a little bit Everton. And I thought this might be the... But and then I feel like After then, they didn't really do much. I thought Jones was solid. He sort of moved into midfield a bit as well, didn't he, at times?
00:04:11
Tom Goward
Sort of went for three at the back and that sort of inverted role. um So, yeah, again, Kelleher, I mean, it's no issue. um Obviously, there's... Alisson's not 100%. And, yeah, the front three... I mean, Jota got the goal, so it's hard to slate it, but...
00:04:29
Tom Goward
like you said, after the final and just fancy something fresh, you know, give, give Chiesa, not, not that you take Salah out obviously, but maybe change it around hot during the game, you know, start Diaz up top again or um like, why is Gapho not playing? I know he's been out injured, but you know, he's played international football. So why is he not starting?
00:04:48
Tom Goward
I just, yeah, like Jesse said, he he doesn't like, he's got a lot of faith in some of the players and, yeah Why is Javier Leic not coming on at all tonight? 75 minutes plus before he made the first substitution after an international break.
00:05:02
Tom Goward
like We've been quite good with injuries this year, but that didn't sit too well with me.
00:05:02
Jesse
Mm-hmm.
00:05:06
Tom Goward
oh I know we won the game, but it's a bit, why is he leaving it that late after an international break to make changes? I'm also bringing on he sort of makes the same changes every time.
00:05:18
Tom Goward
Like Nunes comes on, you know, Gapos come on, Endo comes You know, especially when Endo comes on, you know, it sort shores up the game.
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:05:24
Tom Goward
But like the fact that Harvey Elliott doesn't even get a chance tonight in the derby is just beyond me. I don't know what... I don't know what slot's got against him or vice versa.
00:05:35
Tom Goward
But it's a shame, really. It's almost like we might win the league and then you might start playing him. it's It's one of them. But no, I was happy with the team and happy with the performance as well.
00:05:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I think I can echo definitely those those thoughts on Elliott Chiesa. I thought Chiesa, I actually did think he would start. know it's probably, looking back, probably a silly prediction to make. But um yeah, I think he he went with the same front three and obviously he kind of trusts that front three quite a lot
VAR Controversy: Tarkovsky Challenge
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
recently.
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
um wanted to get into the main talking point of that first half because Tom, we were talking about offline. Jesse, we were talking about that Tarkovsky challenge. I mean, what was your view from Anfield? What was everyone saying around you? Because the first time I saw it, it was a clear red card.
00:06:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:18
Jesse
Yeah, um I mean, as as soon as as soon as we saw it, and we all screamed, well, can't tell you what we screamed, but, um you know, to to you know to to um abbreviate, you know, we we said, that is a red card.
00:06:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:06:34
Jesse
That's that's a straight red card. It was, you know, and I just couldn't understand um how the referee, one, didn't see it. If we could see it from the stands, why could he not see that that was a red card?
00:06:49
Jesse
um And what I wanted to ask you guys, because obviously, you know, you've got the kind of, you know, the the TV angles, you know, was that decision referred to VAR?
00:07:00
Jesse
You know, did VAR ask the referee to to check it or, you know, what what what was the process?
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah It did go to VAR. um Tom, ill let you comment on this. It did go to VAR, but it was very quick, wasn't it?
00:07:12
Tom Goward
Honestly, you wouldn't have known it gone to VAR. Like, they sort of... They show the... Sky showed their replay, like, what, twice? Then they did a VAR, so it goes like that white and purple border.
00:07:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
that
00:07:23
Tom Goward
And they showed it, like, once, maybe twice. Didn't freeze it. They don't freeze-frame it, do they? And then... And then... That was it. It was sort of like goal kick. And like the ref's got to at least go to the monitor. like At least go and have a look at it for yourself. like He's in a good position, right? And I think Duncan Ferguson's still at half-time in the Sky's studio.
00:07:43
Tom Goward
It's his first time refereeing at Anfield, right? So big game as well, to be your first game. Might have been a bit nervous, whatever. i Didn't want to get... Like, that's fine. Like, all right, you had a good position, you should probably...
00:07:54
Tom Goward
But that's what VAR's for. You've got Paul Tierney. So yeah you've had two pairs of eyes both look at that go, that's not a red card. Like, that's the worrying thing. Like, the referee's not seen it in real time or Tarkovsky sort blocking the angle, whatever. Like, fine.
00:08:10
Tom Goward
But you've got to send him over and look it on the screen at Leap. And even then, if he doesn't give it, you'd still be questioned. But you go, well, at least he's seen it again in, like, not slow motion, but, you know, from the other angle that we all saw.
00:08:22
Tom Goward
And he just didn't even do that. and And the fact that two sets of eyes have looked at that challenge and gone, no, that's not a red card. is is I mean, I don't know how... it's like They're making it so hard for themselves to like them and people defend them. like Tomorrow, no doubt, Dermot Gallagher will be on Sky Sports News in the morning doing Ref Watch, trying to justify why that is or isn't a red card. Yeah.
00:08:49
Tom Goward
it's beyond me. And then like Jota complains that he hasn't been given a free kick and gets a yellow card as well. So those two things are the same outcome. it It's ridiculous. It's absolutely ridiculous. 100%.
00:09:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's just
00:09:00
Jesse
Yeah, Paul Tierney, I really genuinely think he's genuinely one of the worst referees.
00:09:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
00:09:08
Tom Goward
hundred cent
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:09:08
Jesse
um whether Whether it's VAR, whether it's on the pitch, he's just one of the worst referees.
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:09:13
Jesse
and the And the list of bad referees is very long now in the Premier League and it's getting longer um you know by the day. And he's he's definitely
Player Safety and Referee Criticism
00:09:22
Jesse
one of the worst. So, yeah, i from from the stands...
00:09:25
Jesse
And it's interesting to hear that because we we just thought that it hadn't been referred because, you know, the decision was just made so quickly. um And I think it's quite telling that if Duncan Ferguson says that it's a red card, then he knows a thing or two about red cards.
00:09:42
Tom Goward
Mm-hmm.
00:09:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, exactly.
00:09:46
Tom Goward
And so can I just so can i just say, like Jesse's in the stadium.
00:09:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Even then.
00:09:50
Tom Goward
They obviously don't show you the footage. i see like They don't show the footage on the screen.
00:09:55
Jesse
No, that's right.
00:09:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've never seen that yeah
00:09:55
Tom Goward
like If Anfield had seen that, that place would have absolutely gone ballistic.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
one
00:10:00
Tom Goward
like it like Honestly, if they'd shown the angle that you saw on the TV and they sort of they slowed it down a bit and they and they freeze it, I mean, if McAllister's foot's planted, it snaps in half.
00:10:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
that. Yeah.
00:10:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's ah It's a leg breaker.
00:10:12
Tom Goward
like
00:10:12
Jesse
Yeah.
00:10:13
Tom Goward
It's gone.
00:10:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:13
Tom Goward
Yeah, and that's not even exaggerating. as a liverpool like As a football fan, it annoys me to see that that's not a red card because like you know you get people like Declan Rice who kick the ball away and get two yellows or whatever it was, or a red card, and and you know you've seen lesser tackles get red cards.
00:10:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. good. yeah
00:10:30
Tom Goward
I just, without upstanding bias, but that is the most blatant red card of the season and they've not even given it and that's such a worrying thing going forward for the Premier League and referees in this country.
00:10:43
Jesse
Well, it's not the first time it's happened against Liverpool. You know, we all we all remember the Virgil van Dijk tackle by Pickford.
00:10:46
Tom Goward
no
00:10:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
against Everton as well.
00:10:51
Jesse
And, you know, it it just seems it just seems bizarre that, you know, there's there's a lot of talk, and rightly so, about player safety, about player welfare.
00:11:03
Jesse
and And yet you have decisions like this where, you know, ah a player's leg can be broken. A player's, you know, I don't want to make too much of this, but, you know... ah A tackle that goes horribly wrong, you know, it it can it can wreck someone's career.
00:11:20
Jesse
and And for that not to be ah seen by the VA or acted upon, because they've they've clearly seen it, but for them not to act upon that, it's just it's just a dereliction of duty. It really is.
00:11:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and I mean, of all players for to commit the foul was Tarkovsky. And we were just talking offline, Jesse, that if he had somehow had an impact on this game in terms of what happened last time at Goodison, I could have didnt ah think I would have lost it.
00:11:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I've read a stat as well. i don't know if you saw it, um Tom, but Tarkovsky's never got a red card Premier League, which I find, would well, today should have been the day.
00:11:53
Tom Goward
Yeah, that was Yeah. 100%. 100%.
00:11:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:11:56
Tom Goward
yeah
00:11:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jesse, I advise when you get home, please don't, well, you probably will have a look at it, the tackle, but it is a horrible tackle.
00:12:02
Jesse
Yeah, um I think I'm going to go to sleep first. I'll go to sleep first and and then and then see it tomorrow.
00:12:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
a
00:12:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, the irony is with when ah just moving on from the tackle, Everton score an offside goal. And I think it took longer for VAR to review that than it did for them to review Tarkovsky's tackle, Tom.
00:12:20
Tom Goward
hundred percent um' was
00:12:21
Jesse
How close was that VAR?
00:12:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah submit
00:12:23
Jesse
Because we we couldn't see um across the line from where we were.
00:12:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it wasn't. yeah I don't know why it took so long. it was I think his arm was above, well, head of the ahead of the line anyway. Tom, know if you had it.
00:12:36
Jesse
Brian.
00:12:37
Tom Goward
Yeah, initially, literally straight away, I thought, oh. And then they go to like the closer angle and a bit more the side you go, OK, it's not as obvious, but it needed looking at.
00:12:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
didn't need to.
00:12:48
Tom Goward
But then i'm watching I'm listening to David Moyes at the end and he thinks that that should have been the goal.
00:12:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
it didn't need
00:12:53
Tom Goward
I mean, the fact that he won the cheek to complain about the decision, he has no right. I know his team's just lost, but... Like, the offside one, at least they sort of... I know we had one against us for the Spurs game, what, last year, whenever that was.
00:13:08
Tom Goward
But they pretty much get them 90...
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Most of the time.
00:13:11
Tom Goward
Most of the time, they normally get the offside ones right with the lines and stuff. It's the tackles and the red cards and the handballs when they get wrong. So, i mean, I can't get the tackle out of my head. I just can't get over the fact that two pairs of eyes have looked at it and still not think that's a red card. It's beyond me.
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, yeah, same. I think that that is, like you said, Tom, off it's the worst. it's the It's the most blatant red card the season and it's the worst tackle of the season that I've seen so far. And yeah, it was not given a red card.
00:13:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, VAR at the centre of drama. But other than that, in the first half, there wasn't too much attacking action from Liverpool Jesse. Really didn't didn't create that much many chances. and And in fact, I think Everton probably had the better chances.
00:13:52
Jesse
Yeah, I think that, you know, when when the game started, I thought that we started brightly. in The first kind of five, ten minutes, you could see that, you know, the the intent was there. You know, there there was a lot of endeavour.
00:14:05
Jesse
You know, there was a desire to really kind of, you know, ah get on the front foot and really attack Everton. um But it just... I think for most of the first half, it looked like a post-international break match.
00:14:22
Jesse
You know, the you know the the the players have been, you know, away from each other for, you know, just over two weeks. And they've come back and it was a bit disjointed. It was, you know, there there wasn't much...
00:14:36
Jesse
rhythm between, you know, particularly between like the midfield and, you know, the the kind of attacking third. And so it kind of left... I know that there was a lot of criticism towards the likes of Jota.
00:14:49
Jesse
um You know, and obviously this is before he scored the goal. um But in his defence, I would say that the service wasn't wasn't great.
00:15:00
Jesse
and um And that has been the case, I think, for the last... You know, last few weeks where, you know, he's come under a lot of criticism and and rightly so to to a certain certain extent. He has been off form since his injury. He hasn't really come back firing on on all cylinders.
00:15:16
Jesse
But I do think that creatively <unk>ve we've kind of been lacking in the last, um you know, kind of few weeks. And obviously, you've you've seen that manifested in in the last few results.
00:15:29
Jesse
So, yeah, that first half was ah was a bit and was a bit kind of disjointed. It was bit disappointing. um And I really do think that one of the things that Arnie Slott has got to address next season...
00:15:44
Jesse
you know next season And and that that is the kind of tempo of play.
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:15:49
Jesse
And I know that, you know, he likes ah more of a possession-based style of football. But I think sometimes, you know, you've really just got to, you've really got attack the game and be a lot more aggressive in in how you go forward.
00:16:07
Jesse
um There were just too many times where we we we got a bit of a momentum between the defence and the midfield and we're we're going forward. And then all of a sudden we get into Everton's, you know, we get into that final third and I know they're playing a low block, but then, you know, ah a Gravenberg or Curtis Jones will or check back and pass the ball back to McAllister or pass the ball back to Van Dijk.
00:16:31
Jesse
And then the momentum's lost. And I think that was an issue that we had in the first half in particular.
00:16:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I couldn't agree more. I think we've just gone in that bit of a rhythm where we're just playing quite safe, I think, as well, and not wanting to take many risks or lose the ball or someone have like a crazy shot.
00:16:44
Jesse
Yeah.
00:16:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think the midfielders could do a lot more to be more creative, I think. think Sabozla was not really at his best today. Neither was McAllister, who I think are the two more creative midfielders that we have. So, yeah, and I'll definitely agree with that. Tom, did you have anything on that first-half performance?
00:17:05
Tom Goward
Yeah, I think Jesse's right. Like, under Klopp, where the crowd were getting up at moments today, like, you can hear them, and and you can, like, go forward with the ball.
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:13
Tom Goward
And I used to love where we were just constantly, you know, big games when the crowd were up, just attack, attack. And, like, you'd have Salah running in, you'd have Diaz, like, just constantly, like, running in at the defenders and the fallback And yeah, Jesse's right. You sort of get there and they go, oh, we don't know what to do with So they just just go back and start again. And like you start again until, and then you start again and then they start again.
00:17:35
Tom Goward
Like what you start, thinkre like keep going back to do what? To go back again. it doesn't make sense. And and then you and i don't know how you felt, Jesse, being, or how fans felt in the stadium, but I could see quite a few like behind going like, urging, like going like this, like trying to urge the ball forward.
00:17:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:48
Jesse
Yeah.
00:17:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:50
Tom Goward
And I don't know if it was sort of like a frustration around the stadium with it.
00:17:54
Jesse
Yeah, no, 100% there was. There was a lot of frustration um in those moments where you know you It looks like the the team are going to attack. and And they have started an attack, but then they'll kind of check back.
00:18:09
Jesse
um Or they won't shoot. And that is just a real...
00:18:13
Tom Goward
Hmm. Hmm.
00:18:14
Jesse
It is absolutely infuriating.
00:18:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:18:17
Jesse
And if you if you saw in that game, the the the couple of times that our players took a shot, I think Gravenberg twice, I think, You know, ah there was one where I think it got deflected and, you know, luckily it just fell into Pickford's hands.
00:18:33
Jesse
um But, you know, it just creates something. And I think that that is something, again, particularly when you're playing against a low block, particularly when, you know, the creativity is not there. You're not creating too many chances.
00:18:46
Jesse
You know, for crying out loud, we have got players that can absolutely hit a ball. We've got McAllister, we've got Sabozlai, we've got our attackers. You know, just take a shot because, you know, even if you don't score, you know, you can get a corner, you can get, you know, some kind of momentum, ah you know, some kind of spark, some kind of energy to players.
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
description.
00:19:09
Jesse
the crowd to lift the... To be fair, I thought, you know, from where we were anyway, I thought the crowd were really doing their bit to to kind of kind of inject some energy into the players.
00:19:21
Jesse
um But i I just think that they've got to be a bit more... front foot a bit more aggressive and just have some confidence in yourself in terms of taking a shot don't think that oh you know if this goes over the bar uh you know you know that that's it you know i i shouldn't shoot again no come on you guys are professional footballers without any question in training they are going to be pinging in shots from 30 35 yards all day long so you know just back yourselves take a shot
00:19:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I couldn't cant agree more. We're going to talk about the second half after this very short break.
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Amazing. So
Jota's Form and Season's Final Stretch
00:20:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah we go into the second half. I thought we stepped up the tempo a bit going into the second half. know we've kind of been a second half team this season. A couple of shots from Gravenberg, which I remember some corners. But Tom, we made the breakthrough from Diogo Jota finally breaking his duct and getting his first, I think his first goal since he's been back from injury or first goal in 11 games for Liverpool.
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
How important was that goal and how good was that goal?
00:21:03
Tom Goward
It was a classic vintage Jota goal, I think. I feel like we've seen a few of them where he's like bearing right down at the goal and he puts it in one way and the keeper dies the other. And um yeah, really good for him. I think he sort of needed that. I think he starts to go a few more games and, you you know, and then we start to play like Spurs-Chelsea and if he hasn't got a goal, you go, well, we haven't got many games left and he's struggling and and this might be his last, that might be his only goal for the rest of the season, but we don't know.
00:21:32
Tom Goward
um But yeah, really good from him. um Needed it for him as well. And yeah, it was it was well taken and well finished by him. And um yeah, I've got no complaints really. It was great goal.
00:21:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Jesse, how important was is that goal for Jota? Because, yeah, like Tom mentioned, we're going into the the crucial game, the crucial end of the season. We need, like, we've been critical of our attackers in recent weeks, but how important is it for someone like Jota to get back on the scoring sheet?
00:22:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, does he pick the perfect game to get back on the scoring sheet?
00:22:04
Jesse
Yeah, hugely important. and And Tom was spot on. It was a vintage Jota goal. You know, he's, ah you know, yeah he's he's he's he's a direct runner. And, you know, he goes one way, he goes the other. You know, he kind of, ah you know, sells a couple of defenders and, you know, puts the ball, ah you know, ah past the goalkeeper, you know, put puts it past, ah you know, dick um Pickford dives the wrong way.
00:22:29
Jesse
Yeah. And it was a classic Jota goal. And it's really needed. Obviously, it's needed for for us as you know, for the team.
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:22:38
Jesse
But for Jota, I think it's really important that he got... back on the on the score sheet because, as you said, you know it's been a while since he's scored. He hasn't been himself since his comeback from injury.
00:22:51
Jesse
And it's a shame because, you know, apart from Salah, he is our most accomplished finisher. You know, he's the one that if, don't know, if if if the league title was on the line, it's the 95th minute, you've you've got to choose one striker to be one-on-one with the keeper to win you the league.
00:23:10
Jesse
He's going to be the man, you know, along with Salah, he's going to be the man. And so it's really, really important that he scored. And, you know, look, we're we're in the home straight now.
00:23:22
Jesse
And, you know, if if he can if he can go on a run and just get, you know, three or four goals now in the next eight games, um i think I think that should be it. That should see us over the line.
00:23:36
Jesse
But it was a really good finish, a really good goal.
00:23:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, it definitely was. And I think Diaz played an incredible little flick in the build-up to the goal. Got got an assist as well, which we, you know, we're talking about goals and assists and Diaz got his assist. I thought Diaz was outstanding today, Tom. I thought he was really involved. i think he created the most chances in the game really lively and ah probably our biggest threat throughout the match. So, yeah, how important is that assist for Diaz as well?
00:24:02
Tom Goward
Yeah, again, good for him. It's all about confidence, right? and And I think Liverpool, for like you know we talk about the creativity and and the lack of it in sort of the midfield and a lot of our goals and this have come from either being created by or scored by Salah.
00:24:17
Tom Goward
you know when he's not on it, like he wasn't really today, um you sort of you turn to others and you go, right, dave they should be good enough to provide something else. And in a few games they haven't been. yeah And we've sort of said, oh, they're not good enough. Well, I have anyway.
00:24:32
Tom Goward
But I think for Diaz and Jota to both get a goal involvement today goes, all right, okay, you can sort of see, okay, Salah's not up for it. This is where our goals are going to come from. And they should be coming from those two. you know, if they're going to be starting and it was the same front three against the final and all three them really didn't do anything.
00:24:48
Tom Goward
And if that's because of but the PSG game or whatever, but um yeah, I thought Diaz was good. he's Diaz is good when he's running at players. I think when he sort of, there's a few times did a few skills and he was against...
00:25:01
Tom Goward
He was against the, you know, is it O'Brien, orien the the right back?
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brian, yeah.
00:25:05
Tom Goward
but I think he's a centre-back, isn't he, playing right back? So, you know, not natural, but a few times he tried to take him on and running at him. and And that's when Diaz has been good. ah When he joined us, that's what he was good at, at just running at the defences.
00:25:17
Tom Goward
And, you know, if he takes a shot and gets a corner or it's blocked, at least he's had a go, like, or puts a cross in.
00:25:22
Jesse
and
00:25:23
Tom Goward
And sometimes, like, Salah might be lurking in the back or whatever. So, yeah, I thought he would have been, he probably would have been my man in the match today.
00:25:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, thought he was brilliant. um Obviously, we kind of spoke about Salah being amazing this season, but he probably has been off it for the last few games, which he's entitled um to have. Jesse, I don't know what you thought of his performance today.
00:25:44
Jesse
Yeah, it was ah it was a quiet performance. You know, he he did get the ball a few times, um but, you know, it it it just it just wasn't a typical Salah performance.
00:25:58
Jesse
And, you know, look, as you said, you know, he's um he's entitled to have a few games played. where he's is not completely on it um And and this this was one of them.
00:26:12
Jesse
But I just think also, ah do think that the Trent... um factor has got to be taken into account.
Analyzing Salah's Performance
00:26:21
Jesse
The fact that ah Trent Alexander-Arnold or Connor Bradley are not playing down that right right flank and giving him the kind of service and support that he thrives on.
00:26:34
Jesse
um You know, I mean, Jones play you know had a good game today. you know He's not a right back. and And Kwanzaa's not a right back. um So, you know, those guys are you know and adequate in those positions. They'll they'll do a job.
00:26:47
Jesse
But in terms of going forward, I mean, Tom mentioned earlier that um Jones would, you know, he'd kind of invert into that midfield area. But there there weren't many instances where, you know, he'd get a through ball or ah a ball over the top the that Trent would provide or the kind of direct running that Connor Bradley um provides down that flank, which then opened up a bit of room for Salah to kind of ah go um you know, inwards into the penalty area. So I think, you know, we've we've got to kind of take that into account as well.
00:27:21
Jesse
and And maybe, look, you know that's something that but Liverpool are going to have to... And Arnest Slott is going to have to to look at long term because if if Trent, as it looks, if he is going to leave at the end of the season, and then we've got to look at how that is going to affect the relationship with Salah down that right flank.
00:27:43
Jesse
um you know Because it wasn't there today.
00:27:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah and Yeah, just on trend. I'm sure we'll be talking a lot more about him in the next few episodes. um But Tom, I wanted to get to you and your opinion on substitutions because I completely agree. I think we were talking offline and I mean, three substitutions. He took the 75th minute to make his first um sub on a slot, bringing on Nunes, brought Gakpo, I think around the 82nd minute and then Endo in the 90th minute.
00:28:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is something that I think is a reoccurring theme of slot. He doesn't like to tinker too much within the game um and he likes to bring on sort of the same substitutes. But did you have any opinion on the substitutions? I thought he could have brought on players like Elliot, like you said earlier, but I think he just seems to like Nunes and bringing him on as first substitution all the time.
00:28:31
Tom Goward
Yeah, I don't ah don't mind the sub. Well, actually, it's the minute I think he brought them on, like the 75th plus. like They've been away. They've been jetting all around the world and some have been to South America and whatever or Asia and all that places. And again, like obviously, it's one of those where we're 1-0 up. Do you push for a second or do you defend the 1-0?
00:28:52
Tom Goward
And like the two of the three substitutions are attackers. And it's like the midfield work, it's hard to say who works the hardest, but I would argue the midfield probably worked the hardest, especially Zaboslai.
00:29:04
Tom Goward
And it's like, I think I read he played every minute. I think he played every minute on international duties, Zaboslai, probably putting in the same work rate as well.
00:29:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:29:13
Tom Goward
And you sort of look to our bench and go, okay, you bring Endo on, but and then like Harvey Lick can play that sort of right attacking midfield position. you've got to Because we've been all right with injuries, but it will come back to buy him.
00:29:26
Tom Goward
like yeah We could be hit like an Arsenal or a team mean like a Spurs who have been just struck by injuries. And that could happen to us next season. We've seen it happen to us a few seasons ago when we're playing Fabinho and Henderson centre-back. That crazy season where we had so... ah That could come back to haunt us again. And it's worked so far. All right, we've picked up the odd injury.
00:29:51
Tom Goward
here and there, but the the best the main players have not been injured. Salah's not been out, Van Dijk's not been out, the midfield really haven't been out, Gravenberch hasn't missed a game.
00:30:02
Tom Goward
So it it's going all right for now, but it worries me that he leaves it that late after. you know Next week, yeah we play on Sunday, and then I think we play the following Sunday, and then the following Sunday, right? So we're playing every six, seven days.
00:30:18
Tom Goward
That's fine, then. If you leave it that long to make a sub, fine. They've had a few days off, but not after an international break. And, yeah, it just it just didn't sit right with me. but um and the yeah and And when we've praised his substitutions as well this season, like sometimes he's got it bang on and um made the changes at the right time. But today, ah you know we saw out the game. But, um yeah, he didn't he didn't get it right today.
00:30:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and I think that's kind of down to Everton not really offering much as well. So we kind of just saw the game out, Endo coming on.
00:30:46
Tom Goward
Yeah.
00:30:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, always feel safe when Endo comes on, but I think, yeah, could he could use those five substitutions. But yeah, probably often more than not this season chosen not to. But yeah, like you said, we're going to go into sort a game every every weekend, basically, from now on to the end of the season.
00:31:03
Tom Goward
Mm-hmm.
00:31:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. He does have that flexibility to probably make more subs if he wants to, but we'll see if he makes those changes. um Jesse, I know we've you know come towards the end of the the podcast, but just want to get your thoughts on what this means for Liverpool with eight
Title Race Significance
00:31:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
games left remaining. We've got Fulham on the weekend.
00:31:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
How important was today's win and how does that set us up for the remainder of the season?
00:31:27
Jesse
Yeah, it's another game ticked off, Adash. You know, ah as you as you said earlier, um eight games left to go. And, you know, that's just another game fewer for now for Arsenal to chase us down.
00:31:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:31:41
Jesse
um So, you know, it's um it's a massive win, not just because it was, you know, the Merseyside derby and everything that happened in that reverse fixture at Goodison.
00:31:53
Jesse
You know, it's it's off the back of a ah couple of, you know, ah poor results for us, ah particularly that kind of League Cup final. Yeah. And, you know, it's it's ah straight after an international break. So, you know, things can go wrong um after an international break.
00:32:11
Jesse
And, you know, we saw that in the first half, the rhythm wasn't there. So for us to, you know, to get over the line and get the win win is really, really important. And there were, you know, there were players who put in a real, you know, kind of real battling shift. I mean, McAllister,
00:32:28
Jesse
ah That guy, yeah every single game, he must just have you know bruises up and down his his legs every game because he just puts his body on the line every single game.
00:32:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:32:41
Jesse
And I think i think when you've got someone like him in the middle of the park, you're never going to be short of that kind of fight, that determination that you need, especially in these last...
00:32:52
Jesse
few games of the season so look Arsenal won yesterday um and you know put it over to us look you know what what are you guys going to do and we've responded in the only way that we have to respond now which is just get the win it's not about performances now yes we want to see the performances but you know we've just got to get the wins and i think you mentioned earlier Adash is it we just need 13 more points is that right
00:33:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 13 points from remaining games.
00:33:25
Jesse
I mean, you know, what what ah what an incentive now for the team. What an incentive. They've just got whittle down those points. And the closer we get to that that point's mark, you know, Arsenal, hopefully by the time they come to Anfield, you know, they're they're going to give us a guard of honour.
00:33:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and I'll be looking forward to that. Tom, any final thoughts?
00:33:46
Tom Goward
Yeah, I mean, 13 points does not... When you've got 70, or how many of you've got? 72 or whatever.
00:33:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah
00:33:53
Tom Goward
13 points is is not ah is not a lot. And what, four wins and a draw? And, you know, our three of our next four games, we play the bottom. We play 19th and 16th in the league. So, you know, in West Ham and Leicester. So, you know, it's looking...
00:34:08
Tom Goward
It's looking well. Tough game at the weekend, I think, with Fulham. But, you know, they've just knocked out the FA Cup at the weekend, lost to Arsenal last night. So they've got to play second in the week, first at the weekend. um Yeah, and then West Ham-Leicester. And then I think we've got Chelsea-Spurs, or Spurs-Chelsea. So, again, games you fancy us to win, but they're not easy games, right?
00:34:31
Tom Goward
And then, obviously, that Arsenal game, which which could be huge. mean, we might have won it by that point, or we might could win it on that game, which would be... I mean, what a situation that would be. But um like Jesse said, it's not about how we play now. It's just about getting the getting a result. um we We're out of all the other competitions. We haven't got to worry, as horrible as it is, we haven't got to worry about them. um You know, rest up, recover, play well and make sure that league is ours come in a couple of weeks.
00:34:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I know indeed. think we've got exciting few weeks ahead for a lot of us Liverpool fans. That is all for today on the Daily Liverpool Podcast, brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. We'll be back either tomorrow or Friday, reviewing the rest of the Everton match and also looking ahead to Fulham on the weekend.
00:35:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you everyone for listening.