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Episode 123 - Forecast Friday
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On a weekend where we say good bye to Goodison Park and Jamie Vardy, Mikey and Louie look to cast an eye over all things Premier League.
They discuss the Europa league final ahead of the Spurs and Man United clash.
The Heat is rising in battle for Europe, with all teams chasing champions league football favourites to win this weekend, could we be looking at one of the most exciting last day fixtures of all time?
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:00:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and a very warm welcome to the new and welcoming forecast Friday for you here on the Daily English Premier League podcast brought to you by GSPN.
00:00:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am joined today by the one and only Liverpool legend, Liverpool lover, it is Louis Eaton everybody.
00:01:06
Louie Easton
Eastern, thank you very much.
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
it Sorry pal, if only.
00:01:10
Louie Easton
you may it was It was the disrespect thrown in there after congratulating me for being a Liverpool
FA Cup Final Discussion: Man City vs Crystal Palace
00:01:16
Louie Easton
legend. Thank you very much for that warm welcome.
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:01:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's a Friday where we look ahead at record-breaking weekends. We have got the biggest domestic trophy in the Premier League season up for grabs between Manchester City and Crystal Palace.
00:01:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the FA Cup final, which we'll be covering in detail very shortly. We have Europa League finalists in place on Friday night. And we will be touching on both of those seats teams and the place and the challenges that throw us into the European top spot.
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who will clinch that desired position at the end of this Premier League season remains unknown. But hopefully, Louis will help us, guide us to an understanding of who might grab those or clinch those last places.
00:02:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's dive into it, Louis.
00:02:07
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:02:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
um This weekend obviously brings us a fantastic opportunity of watching Crystal Palace hopefully beating Man City in the FA Cup final.
00:02:19
Louie Easton
yeah
00:02:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And what a weekend for it it. It's set to be fantastic weather. It's a day for both fans to get out. Man City fans will be definitely used to this situation.
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Crystal Palace fans will definitely not. Where do you feel that this game is going to win? I have got a little stat about Crystal Palace where I think that might what might benefit them. But I do know that set pieces this year stand out for Crystal Palace as a team as one of the most converted in in the Premier League.
00:02:51
Louie Easton
It's a very difficult game to predict in terms of what's going to happen because ah we saw in the Aston Villa semifinal for Crystal Palace that some of their goals were just class attacks.
00:03:06
Louie Easton
um Ebrey Aze was on fire and um it kind of depends on how Manchester City defend against him. Are they going to have two players on
Crystal Palace vs Man City: Strategies and Predictions
00:03:15
Louie Easton
him? ah the entire game.
00:03:17
Louie Easton
um Where will Jean-Philippe Mateta fit into the 90 minutes? it's um It'll be interesting to see. Let's just say that. um And for Crystal Palace, it's such a big occasion as well. So you can expect these players to be running a lot more in this ah FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
00:03:38
Louie Easton
um It's a much bigger pitch than the one at Selhurst Park. It's just little differences like that that make the occasion ah a lot greater. But what I will say for Manchester City, they've been here before.
00:03:51
Louie Easton
Pep Guardiola has been here before. I think he said on record that this is his favourite competition. um So you can expect Manchester City to really set up well ah for this one.
00:04:02
Louie Easton
What their formation will be, what their starting XI will be, we're yet to see. Obviously, Man City obsessed with rotation. I can't wait for it, Mikey. I can't wait for it. As a South Londoner myself, I am so excited to see this.
00:04:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and obviously Guardiola is going to set up to dominate the possession, i would assume, and Crystal Palace will be playing on the counter. And I touched on it a minute ago, and you've got...
00:04:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Incredible players with a fantastic delivery at Crystal Palace. They're joint top of ah converting set pieces, excluding penalties this season.
00:04:32
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:04:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Joint with Nottingham Forest and Arsenal. Eleven of those goals have come from corners. And Palace have also scored four four free kicks and one throw-in.
00:04:44
Louie Easton
Yeah. Yeah.
00:04:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got Wharton, Eze and Hughes all providing quality deliveries. And... it's It's obviously a record that will not surprise Guardiola.
00:04:53
Louie Easton
yeah
00:04:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
and as like Obviously, Crystal Palace scored from corners against City in both league games this season. in a world It's something that Man City will have to manage.
00:05:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I think there will be no lack of Man City going forward, but they're going to have to try and control, as you say, this this which is obviously a huge plus for Crystal Palace going into the game.
00:05:20
Louie Easton
yeah Yeah, absolutely. And it will be ah probably quite a direct play from ah Crystal Palace. They like to play quite directly, um even though they do have three centre backs. Don't let that fool you, because you see players like Ismail Assar, who's got seven goals this season in the Premier League, believe it or not.
00:05:40
Louie Easton
And five assists. He loves to be direct. He is so, so quick as well. And when you have quick wingers like that sprinting at you, they're very hard to defend against, especially as Melisar is a player that likes to dribble as well.
00:05:53
Louie Easton
One thing I will say about Walton, however, he didn't play in the last match. They had a midfield of Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes, both Terrific players, as you mentioned, ah like to get a nice delivery. And Will Hughes is just one of those players that have been at Crystal Palace for a long, long time, knows the club inside out and has almost been quite underrated in his time there um because he's been consistently one of their best midfielders for years in different squads.
00:06:18
Louie Easton
um So he's quite versatile. But this is definitely going to be the biggest match of his career so far as well.
00:06:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and i just on tactically how they set up, naturally, Palace set up with a 3-4-2-1, which keeps them quite narrow. And if you remember the equaliser by Rico Lewis um in in the in the home fixture for Crystal Palace, it was exploited because City played ah wide with wing-backs and it it it drew out the full-backs' position
00:06:43
Louie Easton
Mm-hmm.
00:06:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
for ah Crystal Palace, which I think exploited them. And as you've already alluded to, Wembley is such a bigger pitch. And if City can exploit the wings at Wembley, it might put Crystal Palace in an uncomfortable position defensively.
00:07:07
Louie Easton
Yeah, but but then you've got such great defenders in that Crystal Palace side. i mean, Chris Richards, what a what a season he's having. I think fans of football, especially our American viewers, will know that Chris Richards has been one of these prospects for quite a while.
00:07:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:07:24
Louie Easton
He was decent for, I think it was Wolfsburg he was with. ah in ah Germany before he went to Palace. It might have been a different club. I could be wrong. ah But we're starting to see um the best of him come out now because he's a very quick centre-back as well. He's able to track back.
00:07:40
Louie Easton
But occupying Erling Haaland... does require a very compact defence. And I think that's where having three centre-backs covering Dean Henderson will come to advantage for Crystal
Premier League Match Previews: Villa vs Spurs, Man United Struggles
00:07:56
Louie Easton
Palace. um I'm just... i'm i'm I'm so excited as a South Londoner for this match. I can't tell you. that This is... yeah i don't want to go too far off topics from tactics, but honestly, living in South London, you really feel...
00:08:11
Louie Easton
um that this is its like the community coming together because this is the biggest club by some distance in South London. um And driving through South London, you're seeing all of the Crystal Palace Eagles flags back up, driving through Croydon near where they where they play.
00:08:31
Louie Easton
it's It's like 2016 again. Obviously, that's a final you'll remember as a Manchester United fan because they played against you and lost in that final. Third time lucky maybe for Crystal Palace.
00:08:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, fingers crossed. I mean, I really hope so. I think just the last one to touch on before we move on from this final is the role that Kevin De Bruyne might play on on Saturday.
00:08:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah There's like heavy links that he's he's going out of the club. Well, we know he's going out of the club, but we don't know where his career is going to go into land.
00:08:58
Louie Easton
Yeah. Yeah.
00:09:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's been discussion about Napoli. There's been a lot of talk about where he might be going. and There's a good chance that he'll play just behind in that number 10 role, which I actually think is his most effective nowadays because he's we're not they're not relying on his his engine in the middle of the pitch.
00:09:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's most effective, I think, in those positions because hes his delivery and weight of pass is just phenomenal. it's ah There's a chance he'll have Omar Mimouche in front of him or Haaland. i ah For someone like that, I think it's very hard for Crystal Palace to set up and and stop ah his is his impression. How do you think he will he will ah affect Saturday's fixture?
00:09:44
Louie Easton
Well, ah I just think if De Bruyne gets the ball on the edge of the box, it's always a threat. No matter where he's playing, no matter what part of his career he is, when you've got someone who can deliver a ball into the box or hit a ball that hard, you always have to keep an eye on him. And they just can't afford to give him too much space ah in midfield or in that channel just outside of the box. Even...
00:10:12
Louie Easton
Even this season, um yes, he hasn't been too prolific. Only four goals in the Premier League. But when you have someone with that amount of class, I mean, you're talking an all-time great in the Premier League.
00:10:25
Louie Easton
You don't need to worry about form because you can trust someone like De Bruyne, a captain, someone who has been through everything with Manchester City. You just cannot give him space at all um because he can affect games. and Well, I'll be interested to see if he plays the full 90. I personally can't see. it I can see him coming off in the 60th minute, but um definitely one to keep an eye out on. The one I'm interested to see is Phil Foden. If he can come alive in this sort of atmosphere and turn that bad fortune around at a time where his club need him most.
00:11:03
Louie Easton
This is their only chance at a trophy this season, Manchester City.
00:11:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and as Erling Haaland's come out and said, this week, well, this game is is pivotal to their season from being an absolute disaster. um Both teams coming in off interesting results as well, just to to wrap up this section.
00:11:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Crystal Palace obviously had... Both teams had one eye on this fixture going into the last Premier League game. Crystal Palace managed to beat Spurs away from home with two goals to nil. um Whereas there was a shock nil-nil for Man City against bottom of the league, Southampton.
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And... maybe Maybe it was looking after players and thinking about how they should be. ah But here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we consider looking after EU. And that's why we chose Bionique.
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, make sure you do check out Bionique. And we are going to dive into the Friday games and a touch on at the Europa League final. First, I'm going to come to you, Louis. and We've got Villa against Spurs and Spurs are plagued with injuries to really influential players ah that will be heavily missed if they aren't fit for Wednesday's final.
00:12:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're playing Villa, who are in a fighting chance of getting Champions League football next year, providing they get the right results going their way over the next two games.
00:13:09
Louie Easton
Yeah, um I think this is a very, very good time for them to play against the Spurs as well. um They have two 1-0 victories in a row, Aston Villa. So i think i think this is another game for Onana to really come alive against a Spurs midfield that is lacking in depth, to say the least. We've just heard Kulishevsky's going to be out, not just for this match, but also for the Europa League final.
00:13:38
Louie Easton
alongside James Madison, alongside Lucas Bergvau. And when you look at that Villa midfield, you just can't see anything apart from an Aston Villa win.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah and Yeah, I mean, Villa are coming into this game of wins against teams in and around that area, like tough games, Bournemouth away from home and then they played Fulham and they've managed to keep clean sheets.
00:14:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Prior to that, they lost to the FA Cup finalists, ah Palace and City, respectively, but then defeated Newcastle, who were, again, have had a fantastic storm towards the end of the season, and putting themselves well within reach of Champions League football.
00:14:14
Louie Easton
Kuleshevsky.
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do agree with you. I think it comes at a very great opportunity for ah great time and an opportunity for Aston Villa to play Spurs. And you can't help look past the fact that there are so many injuries and Spurs will be heavily rely heavily relying on Wednesday be the success.
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Kuliski is a... for me. i have say it again for me
00:14:42
Louie Easton
kulasevsky
00:14:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you. His injury a phenomenal player for them this season is going to put a huge doubt on on the the Wednesday fixture and make life for Man United, I think, a little bit easier, the fact that he's not playing.
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's just jump on the onto the United and Chelsea game and quickly. Chelsea again. well within reach of getting Champions League football. Joint with Man City on points.
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've got a chance to jump above them and Newcastle, respectively, if results go their way. They're playing against a Man United art who will definitely be weakened, if that's such a thing at the minute for Man United.
00:15:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh
00:15:23
Louie Easton
Thank you.
00:15:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, and One thing I wanted to mention about this was something that's come out of of Man United about ah the staff and how how they are supporting staff ah for the for the Europa final. and It's saying that the the club won't pay for extended staff members to attend Bilbao Wednesday.
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Ruben Amarin has actually funded that for them and two members of the family to attend and stay over. Which... in two ways, is is fantastic by him.
00:15:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
But what what a shambles this club is. mean, I have alluded to it on the pod before, but the The magnitude of of ah financially of not winning this European Cup is devastating.
00:16:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sponsorships, there's there's just it's dramatic to what what will affect the club if they don't win on Wednesday.
00:16:18
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:16:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just a shambles. It must be quite nice as a Liverpool fan looking in on Man United at the minute.
00:16:26
Louie Easton
You'll know because I'm for the staff to not be allowed to go. That's not nice in for any club. um And i mean, I enjoy everything on the pitch. ah Absolutely love seeing Manchester United right by the relegation zone. However, I think when they're firing dinner ladies, think putting wage cuts on stewards and not inviting extended staff to major cup finals.
00:16:53
Louie Easton
um I think that's, I just don't, I don't like that at all because these are people who shouldn't be suffering for the club. They're working and, you know,
00:17:06
Louie Easton
football is a working class sport historically as well this is the game of the people um there's no class in this but it just seems like we're moving further and further away from that um for greed and for negligence in my opinion as well um but If you want to speak about the game, I'm more than happy to do that because i one thing that I will say about Amarim, as annoyed as I am for him rejecting Liverpool and going to Manchester United halfway through the season after saying that he'd stay at Sporting, just hypocrisy.
00:17:44
Louie Easton
um I'm very impressed with his character to lend a hand to those extended staff members and I was very impressed with his reaction to the loss against West Ham United last week.
00:17:56
Louie Easton
2-0 defeat at home. He was very upset with his team and he doesn't want to focus solely on the Europa League Cup final. He also wants to involve the Premier League in his thinking, um regardless of the fact that they won't, they can't win anything or qualify for Europe this season.
Europa League Final Anticipation
00:18:18
Louie Easton
um I'm amazed that he loves taking every game as an individual game rather than thinking um contextually about it.
00:18:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and as a final, I mean, it it promises to be probably probably, I mean, this is coming from a United fan, one of the worst finals or your Europa League finals for a very, very long time.
00:18:41
Louie Easton
and the
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Two very underwhelming sides. And I actually haven't looked up the stats on this, but I can imagine, well, I can't imagine that there's ever been a final that consists of two teams that finish in lower positions than these two.
00:18:54
Louie Easton
yeah it's it's a so astounding, absolutely astounding. um But I think you look at it from a negative side, I see it as a very positive thing, especially for English football, because everyone says that this is a very boring Premier League season and, um you know,
00:19:14
Louie Easton
As a Liverpool fan, everyone's telling us that we had it easy. ever ah But, you know, for two English clubs who are vastly underperforming to reach the Europa League final...
00:19:26
Louie Easton
is absolutely fantastic. And you can't take credit away from Manchester United getting to this final. And the fashion in which they got there was unlike anything I've seen from Manchester United since probably 1999. And it's um and i and and it's great.
00:19:44
Louie Easton
um I'm obviously rooting heavily for Spurs. We'll talk about that later. But I think this is very, very contested.
00:19:57
Louie Easton
So such a competitive final for two clubs that heavily rely on this final to get anything out of this season at all.
Premier League Final Day Excitement
00:20:04
Louie Easton
That's how I look at it.
00:20:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I do agree with you. And it remains to be seen, I guess, really. We are going to find out. i mean, Villa have got a chance and Chelsea both to put pressure on They could remain on the same points if they both win, which they're expected to do this weekend or tomorrow, tonight, as this comes out tomorrow today on Friday.
00:20:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So they both could go into the final weekend on 66 points. a And it just makes for a really exciting last day.
00:20:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Fans in the crowd, looking at the phones, hearing results and goals going. i can imagine that next weekend is going to be a really exciting finish for a lot of these teams in and around the Champions League European spots.
00:20:43
Louie Easton
Thank you.
Everton vs Southampton Women's Match at Goodison Park
00:20:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
um We here at the Global Sports Podcast Network choose Zencastr our as our podcasting platform and here's why.
00:21:21
Louie Easton
Thank you.
00:21:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Check it out. We have got so many podcasts that go out on a daily basis, including every team in the Premier League, teams that are coming up, Champions League football, fantasy football, women's football, the absolute lot.
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And talking of women's football... We are going to go to our first game on Sunday afternoon, which is Everton against Southampton.
00:21:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
A hell of a drive or journey for the Southampton fans who are coming in off a 0-0 draw, as we've just said, against Man City. And as I've mentioned, women's football is getting a push in the right direction.
00:22:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Louis, I'm not going to take over what you've told me about this.
00:22:09
Louie Easton
Yeah. Yeah.
00:22:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Talk to us about Goodison Park.
00:22:14
Louie Easton
I think it takes the sting out of it because we were all worried about the future of Goodison Park after this weekend. um It will still be an incredibly emotional day for Everton fans.
00:22:25
Louie Easton
ah Pain, an absolute pain in the neck for Southampton fans to get up for a 12 o'clock kickoff. um It's a long, long way ah from Hampshire to Merseyside. But...
00:22:37
Louie Easton
it's It's fantastic fair women's football. um A real boost ah to have such an iconic football venue in the WSL.
00:22:48
Louie Easton
And hopefully this is the first of many ah stadiums that will be given to the WSL. I mean, Liverpool women still play their home matches in St Helens or Warrington or somewhere in that area.
00:23:02
Louie Easton
Not in Liverpool is the point. um I think Brighton women play in Crawley and Crystal Palace women play in Sutton. So that the hope it's a massive step forward for women's football. And I just hope that there will be games where they can fill that. Because can you imagine seeing imagine 10 years ago, Sean told you that Everton women will host football.
00:23:27
Louie Easton
A game at Goodison Park filled with fans, sold out. It's a brilliant step forward ah for women's football and hopefully the first of many.
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. And it's ah it's an important thing to commemorate Goodison Park as a whole and and the longevity. And as you've said, the away day for Southampton fans is a huge one, but I can imagine they will have sold pretty much all of their allocated tickets purely because the last game away day in the Premier League for their fans.
00:23:54
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:23:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I should imagine that should be a very emotional affair for both at home and away fans, but especially Everton fans. ah Moving on to the 2.15 kick-off, we've got West Ham coming in off a, I would say, surprise win Old Trafford, but it's not. um They won 2-0 against United quite comfortably.
00:24:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we've got Nottingham Forest, who have had an outstanding season. They've had um on-field dispute between owner and manager.
00:24:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I had a little rant about this um on Sunday.
00:24:32
Louie Easton
yeah
00:24:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
i just I think a lot of perspective has been lost. and i also think it's okay to be upset by it, but there's a way ah to manage that situation. And it wasn't managed well. I think that's very and unfair on... and on the Nottingham Forest manager.
00:24:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And also, they've done phenomenally well. European football is guaranteed next
Nottingham Forest and Brentford's European Aspirations
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
season. That that is that is a massive, massive plus for for every everyone involved with Nottingham Forest.
00:25:00
Louie Easton
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:25:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what an exciting campaign that will be for them next season. Regardless of whether it's Champions League football, Europa League football, it doesn't really matter. um how do you How do you forecast that game going?
00:25:16
Louie Easton
It seems like a win for Forrest written all over it. I still just, I know they won last week in a somewhat surprising fashion, but it it's a shambles whenever you actually watch West Ham play. I mean, look, they had some pretty decent performers. I thought Aaron Wan-Bissaka was particularly ah good for West Ham last week.
00:25:39
Louie Easton
um Forrest, however, hitting a little bit of a rough patch. and They haven't won in four. um They had a draw last week with Leicester, albeit a derby, so Leicester were probably being a bit more ah energetic in their midfield and that sort of thing. But this is an absolute must win for Forest if they still want to push for a Champions League spot.
00:26:03
Louie Easton
And I think that motivation that they'll get from that incentive is enough to probably push for a victory at the London Stadium. um and just coming on to your point about uh evangelos marinakis going onto the pitch at the end did you see he was holding an iphone 7 in his hand he's a billionaire owner he doesn't care what phone he has just it's just ah absolutely insane um that that was the most that that was the biggest takeaway from that but um
00:26:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's nice.
00:26:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:26:38
Louie Easton
ah ah One thing I will say, though, as well for Nottingham Forest is some absolutely fantastic news ah that Taiwo Awoniyi has been resuscitated after his induced coma ah earlier this week, um which is great news off the pitch. And we wish him well and hope that he gets a full recovery after that horrific injury that we saw.
00:27:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, without doubt. And just just on what we've said there, if if we've said that Nottingham Forest, and Chelsea and Villa will win, it leaves Man City as the other team within this talking point and Arsenal.
00:27:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah We will touch on Arsenal later. Newcastle as well fall into this category. ah Palace and City will catch up their fixtures on Tuesday night against Wolves and Bournemouth. The guys will pick up that during the week.
00:27:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
and However, we're going to look forward now to Brentford against Fulham. Fulham and Brentford both playing ah for the chance of European football. Now there's a lot of things that have to happen in order for these guys to fall into the category. We were trying to work it out before that the maths here is it is it a little bit tricky but it requires um the fact that Newcastle have already won the League Cup. Did we clarify that?
00:27:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
opens up another spot for the Conference League, which then means that any of these teams, Brentford, Brighton, Bournemouth, Fulham, would have a chance of of getting it. where i'm I'm saying Palace aren't, but I mean, if we're including Fulham, why not include Palace as well?
00:28:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah It's not mathematically possible.
00:28:14
Louie Easton
I wouldn't include Palace.
00:28:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they can't do it. ah But ah Palace, no, sorry, Fulham at an outside chance. and Yeah, they play each other and they're both coming into it with interest Interesting ah results going into the game. What what are you thinking, Louis?
00:28:30
Louie Easton
um This is for the Brentford one.
00:28:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Brentford-Fulham.
00:28:33
Louie Easton
Well, I just... look Look at this. Fulham have lost four of their last five.
00:28:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:40
Louie Easton
Brentford have won their last four.
00:28:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:28:42
Louie Easton
I think that kind of says it all, doesn't it? I mean, other than the jeopardy of this being a derby, um I can't see a world in which Fulham does anything here.
00:28:53
Louie Easton
um So, and plus Brentford are at home and we've all spoken about how good Brentford are at home. It's their favourite place to play. Yeah.
00:29:03
Louie Easton
ah So i think that kind of just concludes my prediction, to be honest. I know it's not very interesting or detailed one, but um but I just can't see a world in which Fulham leave with anything, especially with the fact that Brentford are the poll sitters for that ah conference league spot, assuming that Manchester City beats Crystal Palace.
00:29:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. and And looking at the games that you're talking about, yeah Brentford have won the last ah four games and they've drawn the last two before that. And the the the size of the teams that they've played, bar Ipswich, where Man United, i mean, equally as bad, ah Forest,
00:29:43
Louie Easton
hmm
00:29:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brighton, Arsenal and Chelsea. you know Drawing away at Arsenal and drawing Chelsea at home, these are big results from Brentford and yeah I completely agree with you. i
Jamie Vardy's Emotional Leicester Farewell
00:29:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
think they will only bolster their chances of maintaining that spot in 8th place um from that game.
00:30:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, Let's move on to, whatt I mean, we barely need to speak about this. It's not very interesting apart from one fact. We've got Leicester against Ipswich and coming out of Leicester, the main headline is that it will be Jamie Vardy's last game at the club.
00:30:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as you said, he wanted to give him an elation of of home support as his last game.
00:30:23
Louie Easton
It's a bit of an emotional weekend, isn't it? Because you've got Vardy leaving and you've got Everton leaving Goodison Park. So
00:30:35
Louie Easton
i suppose it can be a little bit interesting if you want to look at who finishes 18th and who finishes 19th, because 18th and 19th are facing each other in this game equal on points.
00:30:46
Louie Easton
um But, yeah, very emotional day for Jamie Vardy indeed, the captain of the club. He's got eight goals this season um with a, for use of less exaggeration, underperforming Leicester City squads this season.
00:31:04
Louie Easton
But if you look at his records in the Premier League, you know, most goals on the trot out of any player in the Premier League ever during that incredible historic 2015-16 season where they won the league Jamie Vardy is a hero of Leicester he's probably the best player that Leicester City have ever had he's definitely well worth the conversation So it will be a very emotional day. He stuck with Leicester.
00:31:35
Louie Easton
I remember a couple of years after he won the league with Leicester, there were talks of him going to Arsenal. And, you know, he didn't ever have to stay at Leicester because he had so much control over his career and he had every right to be playing for a better club.
00:31:51
Louie Easton
But he stuck with them. And he is a true footballing personality off the pitch as well.
00:31:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:32:00
Louie Easton
He loves giving it to the away fans and smashing corner flags, all of that sort of thing. ah he is He's a legend of the Premier League, um and it will be sad to see him go, but I think it is probably the right time for him to be leaving. 38 years old and a great career behind him.
00:32:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. I completely agree. And what a legacy he'll leave, especially as you've alluded to, that Premier League winning team. And he was such a ah key factor in that in that process.
00:32:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, an absolute legend of of the Premier League in in his own right, really, for for personality alone.
00:32:38
Louie Easton
Yeah. Yeah. It's also going to be his 500th appearance for Leicester. So that's that it does make sense.
00:32:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow.
00:32:48
Louie Easton
Hmm.
00:32:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's done perfectly. um
Arsenal's Top-Five Finish Prospects
00:32:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are going to wrap up Sunday's fixtures with a quite incredible situation.
00:32:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal are not quite over the line in Champions League terms just yet.
00:33:06
Louie Easton
Mmm, my word.
00:33:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
One win in six Premier League matches has left Arsenal needing one more point to guarantee a top five finish. They've got Southampton next week, but this weekend, ah in form, firing Newcastle United.
00:33:18
Louie Easton
Mm-hmm.
00:33:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
and and to If Arsenal somehow don't make Champions League football, it will be an absolute travesty.
00:33:38
Louie Easton
Oh, it would be fantastic, though, wouldn't it, Mikey? Oh, that would be so good. i'm I'm amazed. If Newcastle win this game, they will leapfrog Arsenal in points as well.
00:33:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Crazy.
00:33:51
Louie Easton
who would have Who would have thought that this could be possible? I mean, yeah and they could also... I know, because Manchester City won't be playing in the Premier League ah this weekend. and But... but um because Because if you remember the season that we just mentioned when Leicester won the Premier League, Arsenal fans were all taking the mick out of Spurs for finishing third in a two-horse race.
00:34:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
the
00:34:19
Louie Easton
This is what will probably happen to Arsenal. I would like to see them lose to Newcastle. Absolutely. um ah this is the This is what happens when you put all of your energy into the Champions League and don't leave any for the Premier League.
00:34:35
Louie Easton
That is the only logical explanation I could have for Arsenal having such a poor run of matches ah recently.
00:34:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, interesting though.
00:34:44
Louie Easton
and they they weren't they weren't going to win the Champions League, in my opinion. And that's not a biased opinion. I just think when you've got the quality of Inter, Barcelona and PSG, a PSG side that looked unbelievable that they were facing over two legs,
00:35:01
Louie Easton
one in the first leg going down to them and then having to go to their stadium to get anything out of it. I think that's when they should have put a bit more energy into the Premier League, but they just failed to do that.
00:35:12
Louie Easton
And now they're reaping the consequences for it. And now they're facing a very informed Newcastle. um And it it just doesn't look very good for them at the moment.
00:35:24
Louie Easton
One thing I will say ah ah for us, for for Newcastle is... um they They have got some vulnerabilities. i mean, we saw recently they got thumped by Aston Villa away from home, but that's another very informed side. So Arsenal need to find something now. um We were all saying, well, the reason they're not doing as well is because at different points of the season, they didn't have Saka. They didn't have Odegaard. Now they have both.
00:35:52
Louie Easton
And they're just not playing that well. um So but loads and loads of questions for Mikel Arteta if they don't finish second.
00:36:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, swings and roundabouts is definitely a term that would be used to describe Arsenal because bad form and hitting at the wrong time is exactly what's happened. ah They are winless in the last four home matches in all competitions and they've lost the last two in a row. um Newcastle, as you've said, can jump in front of them this weekend and go into the last game of the season with a chance to match The Kevin Keegan's entertaining side challenging for the title in 96-97.
00:36:31
Louie Easton
Um,
00:36:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's set up to be a phenomenal last weekend in the Premier League if the results go the way that we predict them to go in this forecast.
00:36:40
Louie Easton
ah
00:36:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think we've we've covered pretty much all games. I did want to just touch on ah your guys playing on Monday night, which will probably be done in more detail. But yeah, they play Brighton, who are still within that chance of getting ah Conference League football.
Liverpool's Form and Salah's Record-breaking Opportunity
00:37:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Joint points with Brentford, playing Liverpool at a time where you've described them off the air as as being slightly lacking in in form on the pitch.
00:37:14
Louie Easton
Yeah, we don't we don't mind though, do we?
00:37:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:37:19
Louie Easton
it's so It's interesting this because if you've kept an eye on social media of what the Liverpool players have been doing this week, aside from all of the fuss of Trent being booed and you know whether he deserves that or not,
00:37:34
Louie Easton
Liverpool players are over in Dubai at the moment, and Arna Slott not only hasn't gone with them, but he's got his own gone on his own little holiday to the Balearic Islands, where he is staying in a wonderful villa at Ocean Club.
00:37:51
Louie Easton
Partying on, ah he had some cheerleading girls holding up signs saying champions. DJs, alcohol was consumed, a pool had been swam in, and this was all a couple of days after drawing with Arsenal.
00:38:07
Louie Easton
yeah ah it's It's absolutely bizarre um that they're doing this mid-season. But as Liverpool fans who have already had the title wrapped up and we've got our 20th, we don't really mind it.
00:38:20
Louie Easton
And, you know, we could get thumped 5-0 by Brighton in this game and, you know, it would help Brighton in their qualification. um But at the moment, the most exciting stuff for Liverpool fans is what's happening off the pitch and you know these pursuits of players.
00:38:35
Louie Easton
We've seen Florian Vert's name mentioned a couple of times. Now, that is a player that I would kill to have at Liverpool. Also got Jeremy Frimpong, who could be the permanent replacement of Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back, or at least in rotation with Connor Bradley, who's looking incredible.
00:38:52
Louie Easton
I'm very happy. I'm very relaxed at this time as a Liverpool fan. um I just don't want to lose ah both of our matches by a large margin. That would put a little bit of a dampener on the season.
00:39:07
Louie Easton
But I'm sure that will all be forgotten on the 26th of May in the streets of Liverpool during that bus parade, which is projecting two million people to be there.
00:39:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:39:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Amazing. And another just one to finish on, and it quite interesting to get your your opinion on, is ah the fact that Salah is going to be playing, in if he plays, his 300th game for ah Liverpool.
00:39:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he has a chance to have one of the best seasons of all time in an individual campaign for himself, as breaking the record with the most goal involvements,
00:39:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
of 47 at the minute, currently held by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer. and All he needs is two more and Brighton are one of his favourite teams to play against.
00:39:56
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:39:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
15 assists and 10 goals against Brighton over his time. and
00:40:00
Louie Easton
Unbelievable.
00:40:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Herzl, as we know, likes to play a formidably attacking game. i think if Salah plays, it'll give chances and there's there's a chance definitely that Salah could do not only get his 300th game, ah but also become an all-time record setter in the Premier League.
00:40:20
Louie Easton
Yeah.
Podcast Conclusion
00:40:21
Louie Easton
Yeah, Brighton are a difficult side to play against, especially for Liverpool. um It was weird earlier this season. I still remember that game at Anfield where I think was Klajic for, no, what's his name? The Turkish fullback for Brighton.
00:40:38
Louie Easton
um Well, it was him that scored ah the first goal and Liverpool looked very off boil um in that first half. And then the second half, it was the usual of Anfield roaring and then two goals in two minutes. Salah scoring an absolutely incredible goal in that game.
00:40:55
Louie Easton
um But this time it's at Brighton. It's a long, long, long way from ah Liverpool to Brighton. as well. But it's a Monday night kickoff and that will give the Brighton fans ah a bit of a boost, you know, having the champions come to town, roaring under the lights of the Amex and...
00:41:16
Louie Easton
Salah, you just rely on in these sorts of games when you need someone to open up the defense in a bit of an equal game. He can be the difference and you just can't put it past him. I know that his form recently hasn't been as exceptional as his form has ah for certainly the first three quarters of the season.
00:41:39
Louie Easton
But you just don't put it past Salah. Plus, he takes penalties. So um that's ah that's another factor there.
00:41:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:41:46
Louie Easton
There are many factors in which ah you have to consider when you want Salah to provide either a goal or an assist. And you said he's just two off. He's got 120 minutes to do it.
00:41:57
Louie Easton
why Why not? so And we've got Brighton and Palace as our last two games.
00:41:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
absolutely
00:42:03
Louie Easton
That's a nice one, isn't it?
00:42:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Yeah, very much so. And it what a way to to forecast a weekend of incredible football. The weekend at where we say goodbye to Goodison Park, goodbye to Jamie Vardy we get prepared to see what the heck is in order for the final weekend of the Premier League.
00:42:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
All will be revealed by Tuesday night and then next Sunday we will find out the conclusion of the 2021 I'm playing the
00:42:38
Louie Easton
it What a ring.
00:42:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
luria has been an absolute privilege but what the chances good night god bless thanks for coming it's a goodby for me
00:42:49
Louie Easton
And it's Christmas. It's Christmas on GSPN once again.
00:42:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
honest to guys
00:42:54
Louie Easton
Cheers, Mikey.
00:42:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
umm playing the out show