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Daily Liverpool - Champions of England!
18 Plays10 days ago
We are the Champions! The Reds have sealed title number 20 and Tom Goward joins Jesse Sarwar to bask in the glory of the PL title.
We'll run through all the main talking points, like Slot's impact in his first season, what this title win means to the senior players and debunking the ridiculous narrative that this is a poor PL.
We also ignore Spurs.
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Transcript
Liverpool Wins Premier League Title
00:00:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, Liverpool Football Club are champions of England. Welcome to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network in association with Zencast. I'm your host, Jesse Sawa. What a day, what a night.
00:00:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Liverpool have won the Premier League. We're champions of England for the time. time I'm joined by Tom Goward, looking little bit rough, I've got to say, today
00:01:04
Tom Goward
That's why the hat's on.
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
to discuss what's been an incredible day and an incredible season today. Going into this game, we just needed a point to seal the deal. And we did more than that.
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely smash smashing a pretty woeful Spurs team 5-1.
Impact of Title Win on Liverpool
00:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Goals from Luis Diaz, Alexis McAllister, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah. I think Tottenham even decided to score one as well against us and and for for us as well.
00:01:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, we've cruised to a win and the title. Tom, we'll we'll talk about the game a bit later. It's almost incidental, isn't it? But what does this title win mean for the manager, the players, the fans? I mean, the whole club.
00:01:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:53
Tom Goward
I don't think they would have expected this at the start of the season. I mean, they say, oh, they have to go and win the league, but let's be totally real. I don't think any of us thought this would be possible.
00:02:03
Tom Goward
You know, i think I think I was quite happy with us with a top four finish at the start of the season. And I'm sort of seeing clips online now of certain fans from other teams going, oh, predicted Liverpool sick, then Arnie who, and all that stuff. And I just think, why do you say stuff like that and on social media? But anyway...
00:02:21
Tom Goward
it'll mean everything. I think for his first season, I think the the sort of the expectations now high already. I mean, we knew that anyway, it's Liverpool Football Club, but he's sort of come in with a a decent squad that he took over from Jürgen and the others and and his has made them has just made them better, has just taken away that sort of emotion and all that stuff that comes around it. He's
Liverpool's Unexpected Success
00:02:45
Tom Goward
just simple.
00:02:46
Tom Goward
He's got them playing better football, I think, in terms of tactically. And and it has just worked. you know We've just won the league by 15 points with four games to go. And he has done a phenomenal job. and And yeah, can't but I just can't believe that we we've won the Premier League this season.
00:03:02
Tom Goward
When we won it five years ago, I thought I didn't know when our next one was going to be because... City were always there and, you know, we just sort of better city. And then we had sort the next season was a bit woeful, wasn't it? We had all the injuries and then we sort had a good season. And I just didn't know when we were next going to be close to challenging for the league, let alone winning it. So it's a miracle. It's a dream come true. And I'm so glad they had to do it in front of the fans yesterday as well.
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. and And coming back to those kind of pre-season predictions, when we started here at GSPN, we we had our pre-season. We started, obviously, at the start of last season or this season.
00:03:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was actually myself and Carl who said that we would, that we would we would challenge and we would win it.
00:03:51
Tom Goward
Right.
00:03:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the reason, you know, the reason i you know, myself and and I think even Carl said, was you know for the very reasons that it didn't work out for Manchester United and for for Arsenal when they replaced their big legendary managers.
Strategic Recruitment and Managerial Success
00:04:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just thought that the narrative was all wrong from the likes of Gary Neville, which is not uncommon when when it comes to talking about Liverpool. But, you know, everyone predicting this massive drop off and that getting a top four position would be seen as success.
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if you if you looked at those previous clubs, if you look at Manchester United, if you look at arsenal They didn't have a modern football structure to deal with a a managerial replacement.
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was just Ferguson saying, okay, I'm anointing David Moyes, you know, because he's Scottish as well. And, you know, there's there's no kind of forethought. There was no recruitment process. There was no modern recruitment process.
00:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
that the club goes through. And with Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp wasn't involved in the recruitment process. It was like, okay, you were a great manager, but you're you're a football manager.
00:05:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're not a recruiter. Okay. So, you know, and and and and he he was actually open about it as well. He's like, look, I've got nothing to do with the successor and I don't want anything to do with the successor in terms of naming a successor.
00:05:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because I think also that brings with it its own pressure. You know i think one of the reasons why David Moyes crumbled was that he was, you know, you saw that banner up the you know in Old Trafford, you know, the anointed one, right?
00:05:31
Tom Goward
Mm-hmm.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
he he was He was the one that was, that was Alex Ferguson, chose And so there was that massive pressure to live up to not just Ferguson's legacy, but the fact that Ferguson had chose you chosen you as the successor. Whereas Liverpool is a very, very different animal. It's a very modern football club in the sense that, okay, Jurgen Klopp, fantastic manager.
00:06:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've done your bit. You're going, no problem. We're going to give you a great send off. But we're goingnna we're we're the ones who are going to recruit your successor. And if you look at it, the fact that Arnie Slott, let's be honest, there's one thing that he was not on my radar at all, right?
00:06:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, before, you know, when Jurgen Klopp announced his departure, we were all, okay, Xabi Alonso, you know, he's a shoo-in, right? he's a He's an Anfield fan favourite. You know, he's won everything in the game as a player and he's done brilliant at Leverkusen.
00:06:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then when he doesn't, when you know, when it becomes clear that he's staying at Leverkusen, Then it's like Ruben Amarum. And then it's only later on.
00:06:52
Tom Goward
Thank God we didn't get him.
00:06:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But but it's only it's it's only afterwards that you know the news starts coming out that Arnie Slott is actually the one who Liverpool have been keeping an eye on all this time.
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just think that that speaks to a recruitment process. it's it's It's a classic Liverpool signing in the sense that it replicates almost what they do on the field, that no one saw this player.
00:07:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
No one thought, OK, we should go for this player. But Liverpool saw something in him
00:07:23
Tom Goward
Mm-hmm.
00:07:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
that he might not be the the media darling. He might not be Carlo
Future Challenges for Liverpool
00:07:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ancelotti or a Jose Mourinho, but he ticks all the boxes in terms of coming in and taking a very, very good existing set of players and then moulding them in in a way that is not exactly Jurgen Klopp football, but it's not a massive departure, which you see now at Old Trafford, where they're struggling with a manager that's come in that's gone from 4-3-3 to 3-4-3, whatever it is,
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
and they're really struggling so I think you've got to give really, really a lot of credit to the club for being quite brave and saying, right, this is the man and and and we're going for him. And and it's worked out fantastically.
00:08:12
Tom Goward
Yeah, and I like that Liverpool didn't just follow their hearts and go with someone that had played for Liverpool or had sort of an affiliation.
00:08:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:19
Tom Goward
You know, like they could have gone Javi Alonso, maybe Gerrard might have had shoe in, I doubt it. But you like they could have gone down that road and they went, no, like you said...
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It would have been an easy option, right?
00:08:29
Tom Goward
Yeah, exactly. And it would have got fans on side. And and I'll be honest, when they announced that Sop was coming in, I thought Dutch managers are not really done too well in the Premier League, right? If you just think of a few in the last 10 years or so, like Ten Hag, Van Gaal, Ronald Koeman, people like that.
00:08:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:08:46
Tom Goward
And you think... and And the fact that like he's the first Dutch manager to win the league and Van Dijk's the first Dutch, I mean, it's weird because up the Dutch have produced some great players, especially in the Premier League. So so that never that was a bit like, oh, then you think, well, maybe he's going to be the first person to sort of change that.
00:08:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:09:02
Tom Goward
And I mean, right from that game against Ipswich, that second half against Ipswich, which are the first game of season, and I was like, yeah, I like the football here. And you watch a bit of pre-season, but it's never the same, right? And do it in a proper game, a competitive game. and And we just, we literally kicked on from that second half onwards and that against Ipswich. We just hadn't stopped until the full-time whistle yesterday. And they should be so proud of those, like not just slotting the backroom staff, but the players as well. and And the people that appointed that as well. and And also we spent £9 million, pounds right, or £8 million pounds in the summer. Like...
00:09:34
Tom Goward
We've just won the league spending less than £10 million. pounds like and and then that's just yeah And that's just credit to show that like we had a good squad.
00:09:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's ridiculous, isn't it? Yeah.
00:09:42
Tom Goward
But I've also come on here and said i still think there's a few players that... need to leave and probably will leave in the summer. So, you know, we're not we're not perfect in that sense. but And and it but and then that even makes the point better that he's done it with maybe some players that are maybe not Premier League title winning players. you I mean? So it's just the credit across the whole board, from the fans to the players to the manager to stuff the staff, the board and all that, it's incredible.
00:10:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and and i've I've mentioned this on the podcast before because I just love how the narrative with opposition fans and and kind of media pundits kind of shifts as as they're they're constantly proved wrong.
00:10:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I remember when Jurgen Klopp was manager, Everyone was saying, oh, you know what? I can't wait till Jurgen Klopp leaves. and then And then you your you lot are just going to fall apart. you're gets goingnna You're going to fall off a cliff because Jurgen Klopp is, because you're not spending money.
00:10:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Jurgen Klopp is this genius. And he is, and and he was, absolutely, no doubt.
00:10:43
Tom Goward
Mm-hmm.
00:10:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he was this genius that once he leaves, you'll see Liverpool revert to type, that they are going to, you know, they're just going to completely drop off.
00:10:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But all of a sudden, Arnie Slott comes in, He does a fantastic job. We win the Premier League. Now the narrative has changed to, well, what did you expect?
00:11:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
He inherited a great squad of players, right? It's like, it makes me laugh. and And this Premier League is not a great Premier League, even though you've got two teams in the Europa League who could potentially, you know, Manchester United and Tottenham, who could go on and win that title. They're both in the semi-final.
00:11:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got Arsenal in the in the semi in the semi-finals of the Champions League. got Villa, you know, went really far. And, you know, but apparently this is a really kind of rubbish league.
00:11:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't remember who it was. I think it might be Martin Samuel who's written a really good piece in one of the newspapers. And he he kind of really clearly sets it out that that argument is just absolutely ridiculous, that this is not a strong Premier League.
00:11:51
Tom Goward
Yeah. yeah
00:11:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because you look at some of the teams... that have come up. When I say come up, I'm not talking about the, you know, from the the lower division, they've gone straight back down. But in terms of the teams that have developed, you know, the likes of Newcastle that are pushing, you know, for for Champions League positions, Aston Villa are, you know, a much, much stronger proposition. look Just look at their squad.
00:12:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's an It's an amazing squad of players that got Nottingham Forest, are looking like they're going to champion be a Champions League team next season. And even some of the so-called smaller teams, Palace, you Palace are in an FA Cup final now.
00:12:32
Tom Goward
And they're 12th in the league.
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, they're talking the league.
00:12:33
Tom Goward
They're 12th in the league. And yeah.
00:12:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly.
00:12:35
Tom Goward
Yeah.
00:12:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. And so the I would argue that this is an incredibly strong league. And if it isn't so strong, well, then why are Man City not challenging us? why Why are Arsenal, who was everyone's favourite for the title or this season, if it wasn't going to be Man City?
00:12:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, why are Arsenal... not you know not picking up the Premier League this season. So I just think that these arguments are, it's just sour
Smooth Transition to Arnie Slott
00:13:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
grapes. You know, we won the Premier League a few years back.
00:13:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, well that was a COVID covid season. Yeah, but, you know, we were 20-odd points ahead, you know, before, you know, everything went pear-shaped anyway.
00:13:08
Tom Goward
Mm-hmm. Yeah. yeah
00:13:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I don't think you're ever going to please some people. But, I mean, coming back to yeah to Arnie Slott, He's done a great job. hes I think what I really like about him is that he's he's been calm.
00:13:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's been collected. he really i think he took the sting out of the Klopp succession narrative because it he didn't make it about him. He didn't come in and say, that it's all about me.
00:13:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
He didn't make any big pronouncements. He did did it. I think he just he's a classic Liverpool manager in in the kind of old school way. He just said, look, you know what? We're just going to do our talking you know on the pitch.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And for a first season, and he's going to get his face on that flag on the cop alongside the likes of, you know, Shankly and Paisy and Dalgleish.
00:14:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's just, it is incredible that, you know, he's he's achieved what he's done this season. And, know, but you know We played that little clip at the beginning where Jurgen Klopp, he kind of sang that kind of song at the end of last season to kind of introduce Arnie Slott to the Anfield crowd, which was class.
00:14:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i think but I think that almost underlines the stability of the of the transition because it's been so smooth because Klopp almost demanded from that Anfield crowd to accept Arnie Slott in the way that he'd been accepted.
00:14:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Slott has been so respectful of Klopp's legacy, and but not just in the way that he spoke about the previous manager, but also in his style of play, the players that he put his trust in and the players that he developed.
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know Ryan Gravenberg is a Klopp signing, but he's developed him in an Arnie Slott way.
00:15:05
Tom Goward
Yeah. I mean, we could go, i could go into every player from yesterday that started about how well they've done this season and and the roles they've played. I mean, that midfield is just being, that's got to be the best midfield in the league, just if not the world this season by Mark.
00:15:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:20
Tom Goward
Like, and then and they back it up yesterday, just like government, but they could all just switched off and like Graham, but still putting in tackles.
00:15:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Easily.
00:15:27
Tom Goward
Yeah. McAllister scored that screamer again, like another screamer. Like, and, and, Just quickly on him, like 35 million, by the way, for a World Cup winner is is a bargain. I mean, that could be a whole other episode, but just, yeah.
00:15:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
hundred percent And I think it will be once season's over.
00:15:42
Tom Goward
Yeah, yeah, 100%. But just, I think what Klopp did, and I liked, is he just took that, there was no drama around him or the team, right? Like, not saying Klopp did bring that, but I feel like there's certain managers that not make it about them, but want the headlines or you know, say some like comments and and whatever.
00:16:01
Tom Goward
And, you know, I was at Angie's press conference on Friday at Spurs and he's always trying to say something that might grab journalists' attention, you know, like he was talking about cutting the stone and all this stuff and and just like slot.
00:16:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:14
Tom Goward
Like I never feel like I saw a clip go viral or slot in a press conference saying something bad or or not, you know, you know what I mean? He just says it how it is. He's, He dresses well.
00:16:25
Tom Goward
He's not... he's not He's none of those fist pumps after the end of the game, which I do miss from Klopp, but just sort of a quick clap and a thumbs up. Like, just so normal that he just...
00:16:36
Tom Goward
that it's just rubbed on. I think a few managers could take a few things from him and go, maybe I should start acting like that because that's just how successful...
00:16:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:44
Tom Goward
like you know You saw him shout, but you never see him lose it with anyone. or like He lost it with the refs a few times, but who can blame him?
00:16:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. know
00:16:50
Tom Goward
But, you know, like yeah, yeah.
00:16:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Rightfully so.
00:16:52
Tom Goward
But I just think i just think that... it's, yeah, like you say, his his face is going to be on in the cop now. and And like, there's still a few things where he won't be happy with. Like, I'm sure he won't be happy with losing to Plymouth in the FA Cup.
00:17:07
Tom Goward
And, you know, we did have a tough Champions League game against PSG, who I think are going to go on to win it anyway. So I wouldn't mind. I wouldn't mind that. But...
00:17:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:17:15
Tom Goward
But again, we didn't expect these things. Maybe we didn't expect to lose to Plymouth, but we didn't expect to be fighting for all four trophies. But we we sat here at Christmas going, we're top of the league and we're top of the Champions League table.
00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:17:25
Tom Goward
And it was like, we didn't expect that. So it's i don't want to be too harsh because obviously we just won the league, which is the hardest thing to do. But there will be things that he won't be totally happy with for this season. and But you go forward and maybe win one of those domestic cups next year. and And who says we can't win the league again next year? yeah
00:17:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, absolutely. And and I think that you make a good point in terms of some of the things that he might not be happy with. And one of the criticisms that's probably the only criticism that has been levelled against him is that he's really kind of focused on this kind of core of 13, 14, 15 players.
00:17:56
Tom Goward
you
00:18:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And whilst that might be able to win you, you know, a trophy, it's you're you're not going to be able to fight on all fronts, certainly not in the Premier League and in the Champions League with just a very, very small kind of core of players that you play literally week in, week out.
00:18:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that... I think that's partly because he probably just doesn't trust a lot of those kind of squad fringe
Player Reactions and Rivalries
00:18:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
players.
00:18:34
Tom Goward
Mm-hmm.
00:18:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm hoping that that is, you know, a message to the likes of Richard Hughes, you know, the likes of FSG that, look, if you want me to to get this team to perform on all fronts, or certainly at least Premier League and Champions League,
00:18:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I need more than 13, 14, 15 players. I need 17, 18, 19 top, top quality players that can come in and do a job so that the likes of McAllister, Gravenberg and Sabozlai don't play every single game. that Van Dijk doesn't play every single game and the same with Salah doesn't play every single game.
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
they There is that kind of, you know, that kind of comfortable rotation. where, you know, players are coming in and, you know, there's there's rhythm in in the legs of, like I said, 18, 19 players as as as opposed to kind of 13, 14, 15 players, which I don't think is sustainable long-term.
00:19:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I do expect, I'm hoping that Liverpool have, you know, quite a busy summer in time in terms of players coming in. But... I'll tell what I really, really am pleased about is some of our senior players that already won the Premier League.
00:19:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, the likes of Van Dijk, Alisson, Salah, you know, Robbo, Trent, even Joe Gomez. I know he hasn't played a lot this season, but they didn't get that... you know, that kind of Anfield celebration with the fans. And you just saw what it meant to some of those senior players. I mean, Alison, I mean, if you couldn't love the guy anymore, mean, he just like sunk to his knees and he's just literally in tears.
00:20:20
Tom Goward
Hmm.
00:20:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, you just think about the emotions that are going through someone like him, who's you know, who's who's been through the Jurgen Klopp years, you know, his first season with a new manager.
00:20:25
Tom Goward
Hmm.
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, they didn't, you know, the he's already won the Premier League, but they couldn't celebrate it. Yeah, he scored that goal in that COVID year. His father died. You know, he couldn't go to the funeral, all those kind of things. And I just think that it's almost like a cathartic moment for a lot of these players.
00:20:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I just thought it was brilliant. You know, Van Dijk was in tears when, you know, he gathered team in front of the Kop and they're singing, You Never Walk Alone. You know, it' just brilliant for those senior players.
00:21:00
Tom Goward
and what And what a club. We're just such a...
00:21:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:03
Tom Goward
but The build-up to it, like the like that's probably the best I've seen Anfield.
00:21:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:08
Tom Goward
We've been good. we've been They've been good. Anfield's been good on that European nights or big games, but...
00:21:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:13
Tom Goward
like that like Which other club would stand their players in front of their most famous end of the ground and sing that? and and And I also like that the fans didn't like run onto the pitch as well. like
00:21:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:24
Tom Goward
Just classy.
00:21:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good point.
00:21:26
Tom Goward
People go, oh, Liverpool are not. But I think we are. like We're always respectful when we do you know when it always comes to Hillsborough events and and Liverpool and Everton come together or or them whatever may happen in in in football games.
00:21:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:38
Tom Goward
Yeah. And I think we are a classy club. and And the fact that the the fans didn't want to run on, they could have all run on yesterday and ruined that moment, but they didn't.
00:21:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm kind of rude. but Yeah, you're right. Right.
00:21:48
Tom Goward
They let the players they let the players have their time.
00:21:51
Tom Goward
they sat They stood in front of a line in front of the cup and sung that. And I just think like that was, for them, like for us fans, it's cool. like We won a trophy and we have bragging rights over everyone. and But as a player, like the feeling must be something that no one ever else...
00:22:08
Tom Goward
ever experiences. I think like, you know, like you say, some of them have won it twice now.
00:22:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:12
Tom Goward
Like they're two-time, they're two-time Premier League winners. Like not many people can, and and they're not done yet, by the way. Like there's some of yeah,
00:22:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well done yet. and And that's in the era of Man City as well, Tom. It's in the era of that juggernaut. And yeah i've I've said loads of times before that, you know, that you you name it.
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal are never going to get 97 points and win the Premier League, let alone get 97 points and not win it.
00:22:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just not going to happen. And they're not going to get 94 points. and win the Premier League, let alone get it as as a runner-up, it's just not going to happen. And that's why i've i've always I've always gone against that narrative that Arsenal are the main challenger for City.
00:22:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are not. They never have been. You don't challenge by just being there, you know, in second place. Challenging for me is, you know, we win it and then you win it. Fine, they've won it more than then we have. Sorry, Man City have won it more than we have in lot in recent years.
00:23:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But my God, we have pushed them to the absolute limits where they've got to get 100 points to win the Premier League against us. And, you know, you look at all their players, even Bernardo Silva, all their players say, look, we look at Liverpool lands as our rival and not Arsenal.
00:23:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And that's been proven this season where Man City drop off and do Arsenal take advantage? No. You know, they've drawn something like 13 or 14 games this season.
00:23:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, so I just...
00:23:45
Tom Goward
And I just want to just want to just a moment for Arsenal fans. I mean, when you didn't think they could get more stupid and and you know delusional and all that stuff. I mean, I had them i had them in my pre-season predictions that we were talking about. I did have them to win the league because I thought...
00:24:01
Tom Goward
you can't finish second three years in a row. And like by God, they proved me right. like They finished second three years in a row. I mean, second... like I mean, it's not good enough, but they've qualified for Champions League. But all those Arsenal fans who...
00:24:18
Tom Goward
who even halfway through the season said, oh, Liverpool will fall off, we'll catch up. And I saw people predicting results and Liverpool would like draw to, I saw one guy said would draw to Leicester. And I mean, we nearly didn't win, but you know, like just, just things like that, where they just honestly thought they weren't going to finish second. they honest and And maybe City thought the same, like we saw this drop off from City and we and we don't know what's happening with their charges, but maybe they thought, well, this is a season Liverpool finally off our backs.
00:24:46
Tom Goward
We don't need to be a hundred percent.
00:24:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:48
Tom Goward
I don't know, I'm just assuming here, but they've not been 100% and Liverpool have still been there and they've gone and then they've fallen behind and they've gone, not we didn't expect this. So they might have thought they could take their foot off the gas slightly in terms of they didn't think Liverpool were doing as well because it's a new manager and all that stuff. and They clearly, like you said, don't rate Arsenal, so they didn't consider them.
00:25:10
Tom Goward
But I just think it's hilarious that Arsenal have finished second three years in a row and and And I think they've missed their chance. like I think they were going
Arsenal's Challenges and Emerging Competition
00:25:19
Tom Goward
to have it. It would have been...
00:25:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:25:20
Tom Goward
like This was their year, right?
00:25:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:21
Tom Goward
This was their year. City fell off. Liverpool had a new manager.
00:25:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:24
Tom Goward
This was their year to do it. And now think their chance has been and gone because Liverpool have just won the league in their first year, so they'll be around. City, I assume, will be back next season. They've just reached the final FA Cup for three years in a row, I think it is.
00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:37
Tom Goward
Three or four years in a row.
00:25:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:38
Tom Goward
So they'll be back next season. And then we're seeing these emerging teams. Newcastle third currently in the in the table. you know, we've got Villa, we've got but all these teams Forest, you know, like Forest at Champions League, that bring great money in for them, buy better even better players.
00:25:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Forest.
00:25:54
Tom Goward
You know, like why can't they do the same next season?
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:57
Tom Goward
And I think, you know, even that even the likes are sort of teams outside like Chelsea and, you Chelsea could do something next season.
00:26:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, telllsea Chelsea, you you can't write them up.
00:26:05
Tom Goward
No,
00:26:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can't say that they're not going to be competitive.
00:26:09
Tom Goward
no, no.
00:26:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
right I mean, there's every chance that they'll get rid of the manager and bring in a better manager. And, and you know, they they do have a talented, you know, bunch of players who are like locked into like 25-year contracts or something.
00:26:17
Tom Goward
Hmm.
00:26:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. But, so you know, that say you've got to look at them at the start of the season and think, OK, at the very least, they're going to be competitive. They're going to be pushing for that, you know, top four. It could be top five now. i mean, look you know, the way that the Premier League, how dominant it is now and how...
00:26:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
strong, which again, just makes a mockery of this argument that, you know, the Premier League is not what it used to be. Well, we've got five teams in in the Champions League now because it's so strong.
00:26:46
Tom Goward
So, yeah.
00:26:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, know, coming to your point about Arsenal missing their opportunity, that's exactly what I said in the pre-season podcast is that I think that they've missed their boat. And i that that's from last season.
00:26:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that you've, when you keep getting in finishing second, there comes a point you've got to deliver. And Liverpool were in that position a couple of years years back. When we won the Premier League, we were you know we would we were there, we were thereabouts.
00:27:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can't keep finishing second. And if you do, you've got to do something big. And Arsenal are going to have to do something big like we did, which is we missed out on the Premier League, but we went and won the Champions League.
00:27:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if they don't win the Champions League this season, I really do think that Arsenal are... I think they're the team that going to drop off because you're you're going to have a whole kind of section of players there that have been there for three, four, five years under Mikel Arteta and they're just not winning anything.
00:27:38
Tom Goward
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:27:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And sooner or later... people are going to have to start asking questions that how long can you keep finishing second? Because as you then said, other teams are coming up now.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's Future
00:28:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
The likes of Forest, the likes of Villa, Chelsea, Newcastle, they're all going to be pushing and that second place is not guaranteed.
00:28:08
Tom Goward
Yeah.
00:28:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got to go to you've got to go and win it
00:28:11
Tom Goward
yeah
00:28:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so I think it's going to be really interesting next season, you know, how these teams shape up, you know, I'm sure that Arsenal are going to try and get a striker, which is something that they, you know, they've been lacking for for a while now.
00:28:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so we're going to go to a very, very quick break. And there's a couple of things that i think we should talk about. One of them being Trent Alexander-Arnold. So a quick break.
00:29:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, welcome back. and we We spoke about some of the senior players, you know, the likes of Alisson and Van Dijk and, you know, what this title win means for them. Trent Alexander-Arnold, obviously, you know, all the news surrounding him, you know, with this proposed move, apparently, to to Real Madrid.
00:29:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
you You know, what what do you make of of this situation now? Because, I mean, you know, he was obviously pumped up, you know, winning the Premier League in front of his team. you know, hometown supporters, the crowd singing his name, you know, the only scouts were in the, in the team.
00:29:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
We just got to hack off Curtis Jones, isn't it? But, so you know, does this change anything, Tom? You know, does does this, does this change anything in terms of Trent thinking, God, how can I leave this?
00:30:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, or, or is it, is it, is it too far gone now for that?
00:30:15
Tom Goward
There's still a part of me thinks he might change his mind, but I just think... I think i remember a friend saying to me a long years and years ago, saying, you know probably when they were at their peak, that you never say no to Real Madrid.
00:30:26
Tom Goward
If Real Madrid come knocking, you don't say no. And that sort of stuck me, and you sort see players down the line leave, like Hazard and and players like that. and And the the thing that got me about Trent is... is yeah I had the radio on TalkSport and BBC Radio 5 and all them, and they and they've got fans ringing and going...
00:30:44
Tom Goward
you know, he's a traitor. I can never look at him the same. but And like, I don't, I don't agree with that. The thing I don't like is he's gone for free. That's a bit that doesn't sit well with me. And that's not on him. Right.
00:30:55
Tom Goward
Well, it maybe it is and it isn't, but I think, you know, you've got to look like we could have got like 70, 80 million for him.
00:30:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's not on you.
00:31:01
Tom Goward
Right. You know, and at least, yeah, at least.
00:31:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
At least, at least.
00:31:04
Tom Goward
Right. And, and that's the bit that I don't like is that we've let that player go for free. And he was like, he's, he's more valuable than Van Dijk and Salah just because of his age.
00:31:15
Tom Goward
right and
00:31:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, of course.
00:31:16
Tom Goward
And also the lack of good players in that position. right To have a player like Trent in a right-back position is rare in his quality. and So yeah yesterday I hope he thought, oh actually maybe I do quite like this. and and and And also with like the the manager uncertainty at Madrid, like is he going to Madrid because it's Madrid or is he going for the manager? Is he going because Drew Bellingham's there? like We don't know. But And just sort of with that and the fact of how he acted yesterday, I mean, even against Leicester, right?
00:31:46
Tom Goward
Like, what sort of message did you but did you get from him doing that celebration?
00:31:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:51
Tom Goward
Yeah.
00:31:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, it's an interesting one because you could just read it both ways, couldn't you? you can just you could It could be a player that, you know, it's like a really kind of cathartic experience. He's like letting all his emotion out and and basically saying goodbye to the fans that, look, you know, I've given it all, you know, in the in the time that I've been, know, my whole life, you know, 20 years I've been at this club but and I've given it absolutely everything.
00:32:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And this is the passion that I feel for this club, even if I leave. Or you could think, well, you know, you lot all think I'm leaving and I'm i'm right here.
00:32:23
Tom Goward
Mm-hmm.
00:32:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, I'm still producing the goods and that's what I'm going to do. But it's really interesting though, Tom, because, you know, in this kind of kind of social media age where everything's clipped up and every kind of word, you know, people kind of read into something. And don't know if you saw Cody Gapbo being interviewed post-match. He's obviously on the pitch.
00:32:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And this was with LFC TV. and they asked him about, you know, what, you know, what this means for next season, you know, and he says, and, you know, obviously he's like saying, look, you've got great, great manager, got great players.
00:32:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then he says, you know, Virgil has signed and, you know, Mo has signed, which is great for us. Hopefully Trent will be next. And everyone's like, Oh, really?
00:33:06
Tom Goward
Mm, yeah.
00:33:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
because i Because you're thinking, well, you know, the players must talk, right? And I'm not saying that players kind of give away kind of intimate details of the yeah contract negotiations, but players generally have a feel about, you know, what their colleague might be doing or what they might not be doing.
00:33:12
Tom Goward
Yeah.
00:33:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm just thinking that if if it was kind of cut and dried, that Trent is 100% leaving, it's all done and he's going to Real Madrid. I don't think his colleagues, his players will that would be think will be saying in public, hopefully he signs.
00:33:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
but but They'll probably just won't say anything, right?
00:33:41
Tom Goward
Mm-mm.
00:33:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So a lot of people have kind of read into that, that it might not be that he's staying. but it might not be this kind of cut and dried deal that we all think it is. And then there might be a glimmer, but like you said, it just, it just might be kind of wishful thinking. But I do think that,
00:34:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know I think if his agents have got... you know you know I would say that they're they're going to be the kind of super professional recruitment people.
00:34:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it might be his family members who who deal with his negotiation, probably.
Liverpool's Remaining Season Strategy
00:34:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
But i you know if I was in in their position you know as as a recruiter, you'd you'd say, right, enjoy this moment, celebrate, okay?
00:34:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But no decisions are going to be made now because you're too emotional, right? if if if If you decide now, it's going to be, yeah, I'll sign a 10-year contract Liverpool right now. Let this emotion go, give it a few days, enjoy it, celebrate it, and then play the next game.
00:34:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
because the next kind of four games are going to be really interesting for Liverpool. You know, we won the league and it's it's going to be a bit come down now. And I think that's when Trent sits down and they start deciding what what are we going to do now?
00:35:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so yeah, we we'll see what happens. But in terms of the the the next few games for the season, Tom, it's interesting for Liverpool, right? Because we've won the league now.
00:35:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think Arnie Slott will want to drive them on. I don't really don't think that he'd want to see kind of collapse where we've just kind of, you know, we're we're done now. You know, we're we're we're halfway to the beach.
00:35:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that, and I think it's important for Liverpool to finish as strongly as we can. I want us to get 90 plus points. and finish really strongly, if anything, just as a message to the rest of the league for next season that, look, yeah, you know what? We've won it, but we're not taking our foot off the pedal now.
00:35:50
Tom Goward
and wouldn't I wouldn't mind like two wins, a draw and a loss in the next four games. like I think you're right, you don't want to fall off. I also think it's quite good we're not going for a points record or trying to beat 98 points.
00:36:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:36:01
Tom Goward
and ninety but If you're going for that, you go right, you try and win your last four games. But I think the next four games are auditions for players who maybe not have played as much this year.
00:36:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:36:12
Tom Goward
I still think he puts a strong team out against Chelsea and Arsenal because they're good sides and I believe we've got Brighton and Palace as well, who again, all these are all good sides this season.
00:36:23
Tom Goward
But I think the likes of, let's see let's see what Chiesa can do from the start. Let's see what Harvey Elliott can do from the start. Like, give give those players, and you look right, course, give Kwanzaa, pair Kwanzaa up with Van Dijk or pair Kwanzaa up with even Kanata, give Van Dijk some rest. Like, he's played every minute of of every Premier League game this season.
00:36:42
Tom Goward
Like, If this is a future, like if Kanata is going to be around for the next four or five years, and Kwanzaa is as well, like pair them up and see how those two play together. You know, if Trent's going, then play Connor Bradley. Like, I just think, like Tyler Morton and players like that, like give Endo, like we know how good Endo is, but you mean? Just players that have played too much, give them a break and players that haven't played enough, give them a chance now to show in four games what they can do before you go away for a month and the manager's got, oh, I actually quite like Harvey for those four games.
00:37:15
Tom Goward
You know, not saying he doesn't now, but there's a reason why he's not playing him as much, right? And, and And then it so sits in his mind over the summer and they come back in pre-season. if like I say Harvey Elliott because I'm his biggest fan.
00:37:26
Tom Goward
i think I think he's...
00:37:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:37:27
Tom Goward
I just love him. But... yeah it comes back in the summers for pre-season and carries on that form and finds his way back into the team. Curtis Jones, like you know I might have not been his biggest fan this year, Curtis Jones, but he is silly he is still a great player.
00:37:43
Tom Goward
And when I do think about it and think you know he feels in a right back, he's played left wing, he's played central midfield, he's played attacking.
00:37:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:37:51
Tom Goward
The versatility is like having Joe Gomez, but across the whole pitch. like So there's players in there
00:37:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. It's important to have these players
00:37:57
Tom Goward
Yeah, and I think a few players will move on, and rightly so, and so we can bring in better and bigger players. But, yeah, I think the next four games will be interesting. If he keeps going, McAllister, Graven Burch and Zabozlai, then I'd be a bit like, I kind of want to see some new people.
00:38:13
Tom Goward
having Just because, but then it's out it's that balance of still trying to win the game. But, you know, you put them on the bench and if you're losing 1-0 or it's 0-0 after 60 minutes, you can bring Salah on or bring Van Dijk on if you need to shore it up, like,
00:38:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:38:27
Tom Goward
It would be interesting to see what he does, but I'm hoping we can see different players and will be something bit exciting.
00:38:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I hope so too. And i would I would expect him to make changes. But, you know, we'll see what happens in the next few days. That is all for today. Don't forget to follow us on your preferred podcast platform so that you get the very latest content when it drops. Follow us on social media at GSPN Liverpool.
00:38:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can email us at gspndailyliverpool at gmail.com. Until next time, from myself and Tom, thank you for listening.