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Post Match Reaction: Liverpool 2-1 Lille
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Join Adarsh Ramchurn and Michael Lake as they discuss the Reds winning 2-1 against French side Lille.
Goals from Salah and Elliott helped the Reds overcome Lille, as we made it 7/7 in the Champions League.
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Transcript
Liverpool Triumphs Over Lille with a 2-1 Victory
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm Adarsh Ramchand and it's the postme post reaction show and we are discussing Liverpool beating Lil 2-1 at Anfield. I butchered that beginning but it doesn't matter. Liverpool got the job done at Anfield.
Key Goals by Salah and Elliott: Ensuring the Win
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Goals from Salah and Elliott made sure that we made it 7 out of 7 wins in the Champions League this season. To react to the match I'm joined by Michael. Michael, how are you feeling after that match?
00:00:36
Michael
Yeah, i'm ah I'm feeling good. It so it was a very yeah felt routine, but maybe it wasn't as routine as it should be. um I'm looking forward to having a post match reaction with you.
00:00:49
Michael
and We're just gonna, I forgot some good stuff to talk about, I'm sure.
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah.
00:00:53
Michael
I'm sure we can think of something.
00:00:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I like what you did there, the reaction and that's going to be the new one now, isn't it? um But yeah, talking about the match, obviously Liverpool going into this game, if we won, we would have qualified for the last 16.
Barcelona's Close Contest: Impact on Group Standings
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought just before we got on the call that we had had secured top place in the league phase, but Barcelona have just scored a last minute winner and they've won 5-4, so they're only three points behind us.
00:01:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But anyway, enough about them. Talking about the game, how did you make off the first half? Because we set up with So Boslai, Gravenberg and Jones in midfield. Jones playing in a much more deeper role as well.
00:01:27
Michael
Mm-hm.
00:01:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Inuit, Yaz and Salah up front. Kwanzaa in our centre back. Bradley coming in and Semenkas, obviously Van Dijk and Alisson. So what did you make of the starting 11th?
00:01:38
Michael
I mean, it was a, it was a strong team and it was, to be fair, as I said, uh, yesterday, I mean, it was pretty, pretty, rote it's like, it it was what four rotations for four players in.
00:01:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
14th.
00:01:49
Michael
I mean, that is normally how slot seems to approach games. It's usually a sort of limited rotation, but still a rotation. Um, called it yesterday that Quonsa
Analyzing Liverpool's Lineup Choices and Player Rotations
00:02:00
Michael
and Bradley would start said Jones had come in from a Callister said Nunes would start.
00:02:03
Michael
So.
00:02:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
pretty accurate from you.
00:02:06
Michael
pretty accurate from me. um But I think like this was this was as strong of a rotated team as we needed to put out. I think like any weaker in terms of like not starting the likes of Graham Burch or not starting the likes of Diaz.
00:02:22
Michael
maybe Kiesa from the start might have been good, but um not starting Grand Birch in particular or Subozlight, I think maybe would have been kind of taking the Mickey a little bit and not taking it as seriously as we should have. Because I mean, as you said, if this game, if results so elsewhere had gone well for us um or differently, it would have been it would have meant that we would have won the league outright tonight and with one game left, um which would have meant that the PSV game could have been a bit of a write off.
00:02:52
Michael
um I mean, we still only need a draw in the next game. So maybe looking forward to that, it might be a bit more rotated next time. But this time, I think I prefer Jones in that deeper role than than at the attacking mid.
00:03:04
Michael
I think Swazlight and Elliott both press a lot better. They press the back line um and they kind of stop block those passing lanes better than Jones and they pass the ball quicker.
00:03:15
Michael
I think Jones sometimes does stand on the ball and in that deeper role, he can stand on the ball because he gets a little bit more time.
00:03:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Yeah.
00:03:21
Michael
um And then like ah the playing Diaz out on the left, whenever he's ah whatever he' on the left-hand side, he seems to just be everywhere. like yeah he He covers everywhere. with the The amount of times he was running back, or like on the right-hand side, making a tackle, or making a left back, making a tackle, or striker, he was everywhere. i quite I like him at ah left striker, but obviously he's been playing in the middle at the moment because of Gack Pose form.
00:03:47
Michael
um But yeah, I think it was a it was a solid team to put out. And I think the subs at halftime kind of showed that it was a rotated team to be rotated within the game.
00:04:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, it was smart from slot, I think, to before the game, going into the game, knowing that he was going to make those changes, which all we'll obviously come on to when we discuss about the second half.
00:04:00
Michael
So yeah.
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But talking about the first half, first half an hour or so, kind of sort of pedestrian style. We were keeping the ball quite well, I thought. But little weren't creating that many chances. They were kind of a little bit of a threat going forward at some point, but not not really threatening Allison.
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we kept the ball really well for the first half an hour. And then, obviously, Salah gets the goal. um I mean brilliant, brilliant goal, brilliant finish. Great ball from Jones who I actually thought before he came off at halftime was actually really really impressive in that deep lying position. I thought he made the right pass and that I mean
Salah's Milestone: 50th European Goal for Liverpool
00:04:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
that pass for Salah's goal was was absolutely brilliant and an incredible incredible finish to open the scoring.
00:04:46
Michael
Yeah. I mean, it seemed like there was a bit of a game plan of like, as soon as we win the ball in sort of the just into our half zone, don't know if you if there's an actual name for that, but, um, in that sort of area, we look up and there will be runners. Um, because the amount of times we just played first time passes to Diaz on the left or to Salah making that inward run into the center. It was just, we just kept playing it and it was very marginally not, not happening.
00:05:14
Michael
And then one time it did happen with Jones placing it and getting the weight perfect because any anymore it's going to the keeper any less and the defenders covering it. Um, like, I think like once he, once that came off, I just needed Salah to have a bit of composure. And I think before then we were speaking enough before the pod that like maybe in the first half, he was a little bit rash with his passes. His passes were going all over the place. He was a bit, bit heavy handed with them. Um, and it was good that when it came to goal scoring,
00:05:44
Michael
um He just kind of reverted to his normal self and was able to curl that and get it over the keeper quite easily, um which was really good to see. and And as you said, Jones played well for that pass. And I think all those passes, you could really see what we were trying to do with their high line and the spaces opening up for for runners and behind.
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's funny because we had the tactics Tuesday yesterday and we didn't really need to discuss sort of little um sort of playing style, but they do actually commit a lot of men forward when they go forward. And I think you're right. It was definitely a tactical plan to play those sort of long passes over the top, even when we switched it quite a few times as well. I thought that was, that was definitely something that we did a lot in the first half and also in the second half, especially when they went down to 10 men. But just on sale, I mean, he's finishing 50th goal for Liverpool in In Europe he's outright top score off a Liverpool in Europe. I mean it's it's incredible It's all like every week we're discussing a new record with him and it's I know we were discussing earlier saying he doesn't really sometimes Doesn't really play well in games, but he's always gonna leave his mark on a match pretty much whether it's a goal assist or so another amazing contribution, isn't it?
00:06:50
Michael
Yeah I mean Salah is one of those players that like ah he could keep going he's what is he what is he 32 now like he's he he's a little bit you'd say coming towards the end but I mean he the way he's going the physical physicality physique he has
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
32
00:07:06
Michael
he could carry on playing for a number of years now and I think it would be a bit of a disservice to give him to any other club and I think he's far too good to go to Saudi already um like maybe last season when we got that 200 million bid I think maybe some people were saying just take the money and run but I think he's shown that he is more valuable than that and until until we find like players who can step up and at least cover some of the goals I think like if Alexa Kiezer or one of the other lads can step up and score those sort of 15 goals a season between them or 25 goals a season between them. um I think salad we need to hold on to Salah and obviously the contracts come up when when whenever you talk about how good Salah is.
00:07:50
Michael
um i'm like yeah the car the the he He does go missing sometimes in games, but ultimately Salah is that guy. He is the guy who who will just ah over open up a game in an instant. He only needs one chance. He's ah he's a he's a killer from the from the spot. um And I think like he does go he does go missing in games, which is which is so weird to say for so for someone who was saying is like the Ballon d'Or,
00:08:18
Michael
He's from Runner for the Ballon d'Or at this moment in time. I mean, Vanishes Junior will probably cry if if if he doesn't win it again, even though he doesn't do anything in a season. um And statistically, he's nowhere near it. um But I think, like, the Real Madrid would kick off if Salah won it, but he would be the most deserving winner in the last few years. And I think, like, the quotes from, like, Eto and stuff like that about, like, ah he hasn't won it because he's African, like,
00:08:46
Michael
that could there could be some like Europeans and and South Americans they get more sort of plaudits and get more more people concentrating on them just because
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:57
Michael
like they They've got the bigger the bigger international teams and that's what they do it on. ah they do They base it on that. um But I think Salah, the way he's going, he can drop ah drop a stinker of a game, get drop a five out of 10, and then suddenly he pops up with a goal or two. And that's just how he is this season. I think he's just, he seems to be more relaxed with not having to be the main guy doing everything all at once. He just wants to be in the right place at the right time and finish like finish that chance.
00:09:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and by his standards, he kind of went through a little bit of a gold draw. I know it's only two games, but by his high standards, he's obviously been scoring pretty much in every game. But I think for him, even players like Salah, when they go a game or two without scoring, it's obviously going to have an impact.
00:09:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's good to see him back in the goals and obviously finish. I thought the finish was outstanding looking at the one angle. He just went to the top, top left hand, top right hand corner um of the goal, which yeah, was just brilliant.
00:09:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I love the celebration that little pit side of the pitch where he just sits on the, on the advertising board and does his, his little celebration. That's going to be iconic um for seasons to come.
00:10:02
Michael
Yeah, yeah i would say I was saying with the to my family I was watching the game, with those like if you're in the Anfield road end, on that sort of if as you're facing in the goal, the left hand side of the goal, you are like eschewing to get a a new like wallpaper or
00:10:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:10:20
Michael
like or or profile picture because Salah is going to sit in front of you most games and you're going to get a great picture with him.
00:10:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:27
Michael
Same with the the cop end, if you're on that sort of left-hand side of the goal because he bends it in and then always runs to that left-hand side, you're goingnna get you're going to get a profile picture there and you can see one guy sprint over to the side of him and be like, yeah, try and get on camera with him.
00:10:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, chinese I think so.
00:10:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that was brilliant.
00:10:43
Michael
um But yeah, it's pretty cool that he always seems to just do it.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:10:49
Michael
no more words, just do it.
00:10:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, an absolute local legend. Another player I want to
Curtis Jones: Stellar Performance and Injury Concerns
00:10:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
touch on in the first half, obviously, ah at the beginning of the second half, I had to come off with, I think, an injury, but not too sure how serious it is as Curtis Jones. I think a lot of us were love us were talking before the game. We were unsure whether he would play in the number 10 position, which Not just us in the group chat, but a lot of local fans aren't really comfortable with him playing in that number 10 or if he was going to play deeper. And I don't know about you, Michael, but today, in that first half in particular, epitomize why he's so good in that deeper line position because
00:11:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
He obviously got the assist for the goal, played the pass early, but I just think he can play the game at his own tempo. I actually think when we're playing the Champions League, he's actually better suited for playing in the number sort of not one of the number eight, number six positions because Champions League football is a lot more slower paced. There's not like the intensity compared to the Premier League. And then he's going to have more time on the ball. It's more technical as well on the Champions League. So I think it actually suits his game a lot more. But what did you make of his sort of first high performance? I thought it was really, really, really good.
00:11:52
Michael
Yeah, i thought I thought it was good as well. I think I've preferred him since that ah that game where he first played this season for McAllister when he came in and did that late run and kind of scored. I can't actually remember who it was against, but I just remember vividly him scoring.
00:12:08
Michael
um But like since that game, i've I've much preferred him in that deeper role. Obviously, when Sotheby and Elliot were injured, he had to kind of play in that 10 and it worked. But I think those sort of he's very intelligent with like the late runs he makes. And yeah as you said, he likes to stand on the ball a little bit. He likes to slow down the play ah to his level. And in those deeper in those deeper roles, he can just kind of stand on the ball turn and drive a little bit like how Gravenberg does um but obviously in a different way in terms of like ah Jones is wanting to get much higher up the pitch and he is a proper eight while Gravenberg is more of like a six eight kind of hybrid
00:12:50
Michael
um ah Jones is meant to be getting up and down and he really was doing that in the first half and I think you could you saw you could see when he got injured was when he kind of he did the splits and the other guy landed on his leg um you could kind of see him something tweaked there and he was holding his I thought he got punched in the balls initially because he was gripping his balls but um apparently he must have done his his groin but I think like the
00:12:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Hmm.
00:13:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:13:14
Michael
it's one of those things that hopefully it's not ah not a long injury and hopefully he just got taken off precaution wise or maybe he was coming off like in general um I don't think it probably I think probably if he hadn't got injured it would have been Sosa Bly and um and Grandbirch coming off as opposed to Jones and Grandbirch just because Elliott and McAllister coming on felt like a more more accurate replacement for those two um and those two had had been playing more games so it just kind of made more sense for that but I think it was a more I think they just made an adaption in the moment and
00:13:50
Michael
brought him off at half time and but like statistically Jones had a very good ah half I think well but he probably got an assist he made 88% of his passes created one chance got 0.2 expected assists so like he he was doing he did his job from those deeper roles because he's not meant to be in the like firing off shots all the time and he's not meant to be getting like fully stuck in with the with the high like really risky passes. He he played his played simple passes, he made 24 passes in the first half, 21 of them came off. He was being a bit safe in them but when he needed to he was able to kind of launch it and just and as you saw Salah getting in behind and scoring that goal was pretty much all down to him and his quick thinking, taking the ball off, grabbing Burch and just kind of hitting it first time.
00:14:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And just a word on, again, on Jones just before we go to a quick break, but I don't know about you, but I think like this season, we've been a bit critical of his performances when he does play in that um number 10 position, but when he plays deeper, he's obviously a lot more effective. But I think this season, he's adding a lot more goals and assists to his game as well.
00:14:56
Michael
Mm hmm.
00:14:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, he's got he got the assists today. I mean, I remember in the Champions League a few weeks ago and played Leverkusen, that ball went behind for Diaz. I think the goal you mentioned against Chelsea earlier on this season, Newcastle got the equalizer.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think he got an assist against Brighton as well. So he's definitely getting more involved in like goals and assists as well, which is like from a midfield point of view, obviously you want to be doing the basics, which is your defensive qualities, keeping the ball.
00:15:10
Michael
Mm hmm.
00:15:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's also what you do going forward that has a big impact, right?
00:15:22
Michael
Yeah, I think that think that is down to the system of slot, because like ah in a co-op system, there would be a hold midfielder and then two wider centimetres that would kind of go out to the wings and help the wingers and the fullbacks. So like they wouldn't be in that central area to actually get involved while under slot, because of the way the system is. There's the two holding midfielders, and then the attacker midfielder. The attacker midfielder is the one that goes out and helps the wingers, and the two holding midfielders say it's a bit more central.
00:15:51
Michael
So they're going to be more involved in that middle play to kind of make those assists, to kind of get in the box late, like make those runs and shoot from distance just because they're there to mop up.
00:16:02
Michael
or they're there to kind of be that extra man running behind, um which is like his suit in Jones, his suit in Elliott. Elliott gets such freedom when he comes in in that attacking mid spot. But yeah, I think like um getting the midfielders contributing more in terms of like goals and assists is like, it seems to be a bit of a feature of Slop just because of that system change where instead of them helping the wide men and being and kind of vacating that space in the middle,
00:16:28
Michael
um They are like central and they are pivotal in keeping the ball in the middle and like doing something with it and they just kind of get given that freedom to to do what they want really and it's working so I think we're doing well.
00:16:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. No, definitely. Definitely. i'm Just a shame that he obviously came off a half time with that injury, but hopefully it's not too serious.
00:16:46
Michael
Yeah.
00:16:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um We're going to be talking about the second half against Lille in the Champions League after this very short break.
00:17:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brilliant. So like I said, we're going to be talking about the second half in the second half of this podcast. um Go into half time at 1-0. We mentioned Jones and Gravenberg coming off, Mikasa and Elliott coming on. um I think beginning of the first half we had quite a few chances from set pieces. Simakas we were talking about offline about him putting in some great crosses from set pieces.
00:17:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kwanzaa could have scored, Makalasaa could have scored. And then Lille got down to 10 men. Mandy, I think is that how
Lille Reduced to 10 Men: Game Dynamics Shift
00:18:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
you say his name?
00:18:00
Michael
Yeah, Mandy.
00:18:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
He got the right back. The right back or left back? Right back or Lille got sent off.
00:18:03
Michael
Right back.
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think there was any complaint about that. I was clear second yellow.
00:18:08
Michael
No, he didn't even complain. It was, it was, he got a yellow in the first half, a descent. I can't remember. I think it was when we scored, he was like saying something to the ref about like, it was a foul from Simakas, which Simakas got the ball completely. So it it was a silly yellow to get to complain about that. um And then you could see the intent was to bring down Diaz. He was about 10 yards away from the ball.
00:18:34
Michael
He was behind him. Diaz was about to run and get him behind. He just chopped him down. And I think like there was literally no... like and He saw the yellow, saw the red, and was like, okay, well, um um've done ah I've stopped the potential goal. where We potentially... um Because they they were actually still 1-0 down then, which was interesting. So it wasn't even like he was like doing it to protect the got to protect the like the the score line. It was literally that... like he was just sending his team down to 10 men. It was a bit of a weird decision in my opinion, but obviously as soon as he got sent off, Leo go on and score for some reason. For some reason we we kind of switched off. Maybe it was because we were like, oh, we're playing against 10 men. Job's done. We'll pack up now and we'll we'll go home and and just kind of cruise to the end and then ah we just kind of switched off. Bradley got done around the corner, maybe could have took a step or two back because it it felt like he was like a bit in no man's land with the guy running behind him and the guy in front of him with the ball.
00:19:34
Michael
um Maybe that was the that was realistically the only thing that could have ah kind of gone better, seeing as like the first shot was blocked, the second shot was just a good finish. like it was It was unlucky that the deflection fell right to him.
00:19:48
Michael
um But yeah, like I think like it it was unfortunate. and I think just the players just switched off, which is like, it's one of those things.
00:19:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:57
Michael
And it was good that we were able to kind of fight back. Cause as you said, like that first half to start with before the red card, like we were on top and we were fully dominant.
00:20:07
Michael
It was probably almost dominant patch with no response. Like they didn't really have anything in that period. Um, and then the the red card and then obviously they scored. So it was a bit of a weird. weird little situation and it wasn't actually too long until we actually scored after that so yeah it wasn't wasn't the end of the world.
00:20:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, I think it was interesting because you had Michaela, Sir Elliot and Sir Bosley in midfield, um which is quite an attacking sort of midfield trio, if you were to say so, and didn't really have that sort of number six position.
00:20:33
Michael
yeah
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
McAllister was obviously playing a lot more deeper than the other two but they just felt that we needed that defensive protection and I think when they scored we didn't have that and Slott made the change to bring on Endo after that so I think that was what he noticed probably, they were just the probably the balance in Miffiel wasn't too right um but yeah you you're right it kind of comes ah against the run of play we kind of switched off um Jonathan David, I thought brilliant finish.
00:20:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's definitely got some
Elliott's First Champions League Goal at Anfield
00:21:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
qualities. I think in the first half as always, he was picking up the ball from quite deep and sort of driving as well. So definitely a player for a lot of Premier League clubs to be watching out for. um I think he's quite a good player.
00:21:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But like you said, Michael, he went to 1-1, they had the red cards and maybe we thought, okay, they might get
00:21:13
Michael
Mm hmm.
00:21:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
throw everything at us because they're down to their men, but we get the second goal. Harvey Elliott deflected shot. I think he was going in anyway regardless of the deflection, but the deflection helps it in. um Brilliant finish and it's great for him to get his first Champions League goal at Anfield.
00:21:33
Michael
Yeah, I mean, they yeah ah the the goal was, it was a little bit lucky. I mean, well, very lucky.
00:21:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
very look
00:21:39
Michael
ah It was he was kind of aiming for the far corner. Deflection took it perfectly into the other corner. Goalkeeper got flat-footed, so it was one of those things like, they they is a goal is a goal and we take them and I think like the good thing is like normally players for our players don't shoot from that position because we like to sort of recycle and kind of go for another another sort of cross which is normally what we do but I think Elliot just saw it coming onto his left foot like not much space, and like a bit of space in front of him just was like, Oh, I'll just whack it. Um, cause I think he's, he's, he's since being coming back, I think this is, he's starting to get more into his, more into his groove now. Uh, he's starting to get a little bit more confidence. He's pinging the ball around. He's moving around all the time. Um, and I think like he's just like that, that strike, he hit it well.
00:22:28
Michael
So like he deserved the goal. um And I think since after he came on at half time, he had a really, really good second half. um So I think he you deserved it. And I think it took a player like Elliott to just kind of grabed the grab the game and just absolutely batter it into the into the goal or at least batter it at the defender who then deflected it into the goal at least.
00:22:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah no ah think you may I think it's good to see him getting a full second half full 45 minutes for him to really showcase what he can do because I think because of injury and because of slots first season he's kind of obviously getting used to playing under him for like with the new manager as well because you forget I feel like I forget how old he is he's still 21 still who technically class you could technically class him as a young player but he's just played so many games for Liverpool got so much experience and
00:22:52
Michael
yeah
00:23:12
Michael
Yeah, it was crazy.
00:23:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
when he comes on, he always makes an impact. So I'm i'm just very happy to see him playing. I think ah think you're right when you say he plays in those little pockets in between Salah, Nunez and on that sort of right hand channel, but can also drift into the the middle of of the goal, especially when he hit that strike.
00:23:26
Michael
Mm hmm.
00:23:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just think he he's just such a useful player for Liverpool to have in the squad.
00:23:37
Michael
Yeah, I mean like the the links that we've been having with him, him going to Dortmund or Brighton, I think like he's probably, heard he seems to be have heard of heard those links because his celebration was kind of a all the talk but um I'm not going anywhere kind of, that was what I inferred from the from the celebration and I think that's a good thing to to hear.
00:23:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh yeah
00:23:58
Michael
i I said yesterday's Liverpool Live, he was in Kiev for the final. and when he was like, he must have been like 13 when that happened. But like, like he he, I can see him being here for many, many years.
00:24:11
Michael
And if he if he continues on the current trajectory, I think he will be a very, very good player.
00:24:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah.
00:24:17
Michael
And I think like, I don't think we should like, maybe I could see a loan for him, but he's a squad, he's a very, very good squad player, if not a player who can fight some of his life for that starting birth, um or
00:24:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:24:31
Michael
kind of cover on the right wing. We've obviously got Kieser now, but he's ah more of a so more of that sort of left footed right winger. But like a he's a player that we should definitely keep round. And I think if the if the likes of Dortmund and Brighton are coming knocking for your young players, I think you keep hold of them and actually give them game time um just because they've got such a good track record with developing youngsters and finding undervalued and wonder kids, basically.
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, speaking of wonder kids, actually, I wanted to have a word on Leo, because I thought one of the things that they they do really, really well is they recruit young players and they sell them for crazy amounts of money. I mean, some case studies of Ed and Hazard, they had even recently Carlos Beliba used to play for them.
00:25:14
Michael
Yeah.
00:25:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And now Lenny Euro, they sold in the summer. I mean, they've got loads of other examples of players that they've had in the academy. I think Abadu and Ana as well was that little, so they've got like a really good system of young players.
00:25:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I thought, I thought that midfielder Macau, I think his name was, I thought he was really impressive.
00:25:29
Michael
Yeah. Yeah.
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they have another, like a couple of other like sort of tricky wingers that came on towards the end of the second half that kind of did honestly cause us a problem, but definitely meant that we had to sort of protect our 2-1 lead rather than go try and kill the game with the third.
00:25:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But in the end, it wasn't too troublesome for Liverpool was it?
00:25:46
Michael
Yeah, I mean, they have they have like a good core of the team. He's quite young, like that Haroldson, who played the whole game at Attack of Mid, he's 21, he's Icelandic. There's Mukayo, he's 20.
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Macau, I think his name is.
00:26:01
Michael
There's Chevrolet, who's 23, but for a goalkeeper, that's very, very young.
00:26:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
The goalkeeper, yeah.
00:26:06
Michael
He had a very good game. And then they brought on Boudy, Boudy. bodi bay
00:26:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
vo
00:26:14
Michael
um who who i think I think they said he was 17 in the coverage. like they like they All these players are like ah good players who, if they carry on playing, they get a little bit of game time under their belt at Lille. They could all go for like however much. Oh no, and I went for 30 million. I could see Macau going for similar. if the The performance he put in today, if he' if he's like that all the time, like I can really see him ah kind of continue in that form and going to, if he was going to move to the prem, go into like a Brighton or go into a Brentford or even an Everton if they're still a Premier League team, um like those sort like those sort of teams. And I think like, yeah, they as you said, they their academy and their sort of recruitment structure is very good. And that that's how they've got bargains like Jonathan David, they've got
00:27:08
Michael
As you said, Eden Hazard in the past, they've had the Labour, who they've sold for lot big money. like so all All these players, are that's how they keep sustaining themselves. and like They've become one of the most established teams in League Gun for a reason. um They won the league in 2011, they won it in 2021. They are a proper established League Gun team, and maybe we didn't give them the full respect when we when we were talking about them ah previously, but I think like they they They covered themselves in glory.
00:27:38
Michael
they did They weren't a bad team at all. And they like they gave a good fight and they actually played their way, which is more respectable than some teams like Arsenal who don't actually play football and just kind of try and play set pieces.
00:27:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah um like
00:27:51
Michael
um But like they they actually came and played football, which was really good to see. And it is quite cool. i I always like seeing like young players get proper chances, um like that Haroldson who came from, he went from Copenhagen.
00:28:05
Michael
i remember like hearing about him, I'm a football manager.
00:28:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah classic football manager and also we were speaking about former leo players and we didn't mention diva karigi which is
00:28:15
Michael
Of course, yeah.
00:28:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
James from both of us. We should ah hold our hands in James. But anyways, yeah, they'll definitely cover themselves in glory.
00:28:20
Michael
The best.
00:28:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
A 2-1 win for Liverpool though. We are top of the Champions League group. Seven wins out of seven.
Liverpool's Unbeaten Champions League Campaign
00:28:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
21 points. Obviously next week we play PSV in the final group stage game.
00:28:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nothing on the line for us really apart from top spot. I mean, it's pretty incredible to be in this position anyway, Michael, but what do you make of sort of how we look at this Champions League campaign?
00:28:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, like I said, one more game to go, but it's definitely been a memorable group stage league phase, if you would like to call it that.
00:28:51
Michael
Yeah, yeah, of course. I mean, like this is a, this is the first time this leagueak league stage has been brought in. It's a little bit different because by now, um I mean.
00:29:03
Michael
with like a few games left of the of the old system, we would be rotating the team and playing the kids. like It's slightly different because you can't like automatically qualify. I mean, we've automatically got top eight. That is for sure. And we've automatically got one of the top two spots. So the only thing that we're playing for is top, top spot. So we could win this league, the Premier League, and the Champions League this season. So we can have three three trophies.
00:29:29
Michael
even though one of them might be made up. ah But it could could still be on. We've conceded two goals this whole like calendar yeah not calendar year for this whole season in the Champions League, which is very impressive compared to like some of our Premier League performances where we've been a little bit more leaky. um ah But I think like the the game against PSV, there isn't as you said there isn't much on it.
00:29:54
Michael
um like we've got Barcelona chasing us but I think we could potentially rotate like slots played PSV before he understands them like I back him to do more tactically than having to play all the big boys maybe give Salah a rest I mean we've got Plymouth our guy all coming up at some point so that will be another game to rest maybe Salah um But I think we've got to take in this campaign where potentially we might go to the final of every competition we're in. I mean, it looks like it. Obviously, we've got to beat Tottenham coming up and we've got to get past ah Plymouth and we've got to get out of the state of group stages of this competition. um But like we've got to take our chances to rotate and to like kind of find little areas of rest that we can that we can. And we've already won seven games like
00:30:42
Michael
all we need to do is draw to get the top uh top spot so i can really see us like it depends it depends if slot wants to kind of make a full-on statement and be like we are a out of a unbeaten start at the champions league yeah we are the best team in the world come at us um and with like Barcelona being our only real competition as we were saying yesterday like and they're scraping past Benfica like the I can really see us like intimidating people and like not just because of the Anfield factor but even when people are playing at home against us in the next stages I think like we could really do a job on people which would be really which would be ah like like it would be it would would'd do a job on them psychologically psychologically um more than we already do um but I think it's been such a good campaign already and we can just keep on rolling now.
00:31:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, indeed. I think it's definitely been a memorable Champions League campaign. I think Slott would want to go 8-4-8, like you said. I think he would want to send that statement, especially being his last Champions League game in the group stage, being back in Holland. I think he would want to make a statement. Also, players like Cody Gackbow, former PSV players, would want to... I'm pretty sure he would want to play that game. Gackbow obviously didn't feature today. um It's actually quite good. at Some players in didn't get on the pitch, which was... I thought Conate having an arrest, Gackbow having an arrest was really good, because I'm sure they'll come in against Ipswich.
00:32:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that is a brilliant performance from Liverpool to one victory in the Champions League against Lille. And we made it seven out of seven wins in the Champions League. We obviously got Ipswich on the weekends. Quick little word, how do you think this impacts Liverpool before, as we go back into the Premier League?
00:32:19
Michael
I think these last two games have probably affected us. like the This is the best two results that we needed to kind of get back in our swing in the swing of things because our last few performances have been a little bit lackluster. like they've basically been i mean like if if you If you take out Atkinson, we've drawn to Forrest, we've lost to Tottenham in the last sort of few games, but since Brentford and now Lille, these have been two dominant performances as well. I think like we can only build on this, playing Ipswich and then playing PSV. We keep just kept kicking on and trying to get as many and as many good games under our belt because it did feel like we were starting to stagnate a little bit. um But I'm glad that we're we're starting to kick on a little bit. And I think our next big test is probably Bournemouth and then obviously Tottenham after that. So we'll be interested and see what happens in those games.
00:33:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, only two more games left of January, and we know how big January is um when it comes to determining the outcome of the season at the end of the season.
00:33:21
Michael
Mm hmm.
00:33:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But we'll talk about Champions League again next week as we travel to Einhoven to play PSV, as the Reds will try to make it eight out of eight in the Champions League. Thank you, Michael, for joining me on today's podcast.
00:33:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Join us tomorrow for Crossover Thursday, where we'll be discussing the Ipswich game with the daily Ipswich team. as they travel to Anfield to face us in the Premier League. And yes, thank you everyone for listening. Enjoy your evening.