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CROSSOVER THURSDAY: LIVERPOOL VS MANCHESTER CITY! Title Decider?
19 Plays25 days ago
Louie Easton, Tom Goward, Karl Koppack, Keelin McNamara. and Lewis Royle discuss the upcoming blockbuster fixture between Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday.
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Overview
00:00:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Liverpool and Manchester City crossover episode here on the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm Louis Easton today putting on my daily English Premier League hat to remove my Liverpool bias as the host of today. However,
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
a little bit biased. Maybe let's treat it as a David Coot situation. Meant to be neutral, but slightly leaning to one side. ah Joining me today are Lewis and Keelan from the Manchester City Daily Podcast. How are you doing, boys? You all right?
00:00:42
Lewis
Yeah, I'm the best is a best as I can be considering the circumstances over in Manchester anyway. Yeah, how are you?
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not a bad. ah see You've still got your city shirt on, so it does seem like you are ah what is known as a true Manchester City fan. Not many of those around. Keelan, how are you doing?
00:00:59
Keelin
Lewis I'm good mate thanks I'm not going to repeat the stuff we discussed in our episode last night but we were we're alive today and we showed up so we're making the best of it
Liverpool vs Real Madrid: Pre-Match Anticipation
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good for you, mate. And joining me from the Liverpool podcast, Tom Goward. How are you doing, mate?
00:01:15
Tom Goward
Yeah, I'm good. I think I'm better than the city boys here. Obviously we've got a big game tonight against Madrid, so maybe ask me in a few hours how I'm feeling, but all good so far.
00:01:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, just at a quick disclaimer. This is recorded at just before four o'clock in the afternoon on a Wednesday. So, well before the Liverpool versus ah Real Madrid game. So, we could talk about some players here that might be injured tonight. Carl, how are you doing?
00:01:39
Karl
I'm okay and as my own disclaimer I'd like to say that we're recording this after 5.30 in case my boss listens.
00:01:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alright, we won't mention...
00:01:47
Karl
rob
00:01:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
i shall like Shall I cut you from the title and the description then?
00:01:51
Karl
da now that's
00:01:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, so this is a huge fixture. It goes without saying, Liverpool versus Manchester City. um Obviously, the Manchester City boys might be a little bit nervous, you know, not in the best run of form at the moment.
Liverpool vs Manchester City Rivalry
00:02:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, when you think of this fixture, Keelan, I'll come to you first. What do you think of what sticks out to you in the history between Liverpool and Manchester City?
00:02:15
Keelin
Oh listen, it's a fixture I absolutely love, you know, obviously in sort of years gone by it hasn't been maybe the most competitive fixture but I think in the last few years it's a fixture that's come to define the Premier League in sort of the way that Liverpool Man United may be used to or Man United Arsenal. I do think in recent years this has been the catalyst fixture for a league and It's given us some of the best games of football that I think any of us have ever seen. It's given us one of the greatest managerial rivalries we've ever seen. You know, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, two managers who've pushed each other to such ridiculous heights of success that I think you might not see that standard ever again. And, you know, there's a lot of games to remember, a lot of controversial moments, but all in all, it's a brilliant, brilliant fixture. And it's one that I always circle on the calendar because you're going to get something spectacular either way.
00:03:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Is there any particular moment that sticks out to you from ah the history of this fixture though that you probably need to reminisce at the moment, respectfully?
00:03:20
Keelin
No, you're you're not wrong, to be fair. um I think from a Manchester City point of view, the one that sticks out for me is 2019, that massive, massive game at the Etihad that basically decided the Premier League title.
The Decisive 2019 Etihad Clash
00:03:33
Keelin
Obviously, we have John Stones' clearance, something like half a millimetre, prevents a goal that maybe Liverpool go on and win the game.
00:03:34
Lewis
I'll be actually doing that in the next session.
00:03:41
Keelin
You know, I think if Sergio Aguero's opening goal, like from an impossible angle, I remember the Eddie had rocking and then Leroy Sani scores that incredible winner and we go on to win that game and then that's really when the momentum swings. And like I said, there's a lot of games I remember, but that one's particularly fun for me.
00:04:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it was just an incredible match of football. I know that Liverpool were on the, I know Liverpool were on the losing side, but you just, yeah it was just nonstop start to finish and the interplay as well.
00:04:03
Keelin
Oh, it was brilliant.
00:04:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, I don't think we will, we have seen a match like it since Lewis, I'll come to you. Is there any particular moment that sticks out to you or are you with Keelan? Is that the first thing you think of?
00:04:24
Lewis
Yeah, that's definitely the first thing I think over that obviously Leroy sent a goal coming in from the left and then off the post. So obviously winners the league by one point was it 98 to 97 points, which is obviously a a ridiculous season. And I would have, I would have loved to, I would love to say that that's going to happen again this year. The two was raised between city and Liverpool, but obviously I don't think that based on recent form is going to go that way. You never know. It is Pep Guardiola. It is Manchester city, obviously four in a row. You never know what could happen.
00:04:54
Lewis
ah In terms of another memory, I do remember beating you 4-1 at Anfield in 2021 when Phil Foden scored that that nice team goal,
Manchester City's Triumph at Anfield 2021
00:05:03
Lewis
but apart from that, no, that is just the the main the main core memory I have of the fixture, definitely.
00:05:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah.
00:05:04
Karl
and And you can hear the bar rattle when about that 4-1 game.
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cole, I'll come to you now. you You want to get in the conversation, obviously? What was it you were just saying?
00:05:16
Karl
Foding in that game was ridiculous. Just ridiculous.
00:05:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he was just unbelievable.
00:05:22
Karl
His goal was incredible, absolutely incredible.
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, I- I-
00:05:24
Karl
I think we we don't talk about it because that season never existed because Everton beat us at Anfield, but they didn't beat us in front of a crowd, so it doesn't count. um So we we try and forget the whole COVID to post-co season,-COVID season.
00:05:37
Karl
We're quite keen on the COVID season.
00:05:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah we we we didn't mind that one.
00:05:39
Karl
but
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, God, that that should we just yeah, that didn't happen. ah Tom, I'll come to you as well. Now, is there a particular moment that sticks out um or something you'd like to say on the rivalry itself?
Champions League Memories: Liverpool vs Manchester City 2017-18
00:05:54
Tom Goward
Again, it sticks out, it was probably the Champions League game, I think it was 17-18. Salah scored, Mane was through, got fouled, or I say fouled, was brought down and Salah picked up the ball and just dinked over and went straight to the fans.
00:06:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:06:07
Tom Goward
like that game was That game sticks out, um but we've we've had some good games over the years. and um you know Like we said at the start, that it's two managers, two great managers have gone at it for the last six, seven years and some in some great games, both City playing well, Liverpool playing well, we've seen some draws as well. so um No, I like it. It's the game that makes me the most nervous when we play City in the season.
00:06:30
Karl
I've got something to say about about this game.
00:06:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I've made the point.
00:06:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Sorry, Carl, go on.
00:06:34
Karl
is I've taken my girlfriend to something like 10 games now, something like that, she can't remember anything at all. And I took her to the 1-0 at Anfield, the Allison to sell her goal.
00:06:45
Karl
And we're hanging on for about the last 10 minutes or something like that. I'll never forget she's got no interest at all, but she turned to me and said, how do you do this every week? My heart is all over the place. I said, well, it's not like that every week.
00:06:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh my word.
00:06:56
Karl
This isn't Bournemouth at home.
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Joao Cancelo's last ever match for Man City, I believe, as well, that one, and...
00:07:00
Keelin
Thank God.
00:07:00
Karl
yeah yeah
00:07:03
Karl
yeah
00:07:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really?
00:07:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow.
00:07:04
Keelin
Yeah.
00:07:04
Karl
but
00:07:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Anyway, so, we'll talk more about the sort of rivalry in a bit more depth now. I've made the point to before, this is my personal opinion, that in 2018-2019, when the City beat us by one point, I thought that those are the two best teams in the history of the Premier League, you know, invincibles, whatever, but to be separated by 1.98, 97, and Liverpool only lost once all season, and it was against Manchester City as well.
00:07:26
Karl
Yeah, yeah, yeah, fine.
00:07:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just, it's, it was really frustrating. um But I think it's fair to say for all of us, we care more about this fixture now than beating Manchester United. I don't see them in the picture at all.
00:07:46
Lewis
I definitely think that the the Liverpool Ravelries, it means more to me now, especially with United's horrid last decade or so. I mean, yeah, I do think that even this season, it still, it still means more. Now we play United in a couple of weeks and they'll be with Roman Amarin now and they'll be confident going into that game, especially if they win tonight in the Europa League or give them a boost with the first win under their new manager. But I mean,
00:08:11
Lewis
At the end of the day, they're not going to be challenging for the title this season. They're not in the Champions League. They're, to me, a smaller club than Liverpool and, yeah, i would I would much rather watch and I get a lot more nervous and excited to play Liverpool every time we do.
Liverpool's Surprising Performance This Season
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And ah just coming to you again on the Liverpool team of today, ah before this season, would you have expected all of this from Arnaslot, a new manager coming in and just taking it by storm?
00:08:41
Lewis
I mean, we saw it with Klopp, we saw how well Klopp adapted to the Premier League. I think Liverpool is obviously is quite a well-run club now. I do think that it's not a massive shock to me, but definitely not. I thought of this at the start of the season it would be a two-horse race between Arsenal and City again, ah like it has been for the last two years, and I thought it might have been Arsenal's year. I did.
00:09:01
Lewis
I did have them to to win it this year, in my opinion, if it wasn't going to be us. But I do think that, obviously now it's changed, you've only dropped, what is it, four points this season so far, and Arsenal are obviously behind us, and we still sit in seconds. So yeah, I definitely do think that it has shocked me how well you have started the season, but but fair play, honestly.
00:09:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Keelan, were you surprised?
00:09:27
Keelin
Yeah, I was massively surprised actually. And speaking of R9 Noisy Neighbours Man United, I actually think it's Arnaud's slot that got Eric Tinhag sacked because you see the job Arnaud's slot did coming into Liverpool immediately, an identity with the team, immediately a new way of playing, immediately there's a new philosophy that combines the old with the new. And I think what you saw with Man United especially was, their board looked at Liverpool and said, well hang on, we've got a bald Dutch manager, why isn't ours doing that? Why hasn't ours been able to do what he's done in a third of the time? And I actually think Arnaud's slot, what he's done with this Liverpool team was the last straw for Eric Tenhag.
00:10:11
Keelin
because Arnold Slott's done an incredible job and I will absolutely give you your credit. He's turned that team. They're such a new and evolved version, but they've built off of what made them so successful under Jurgen Klopp. They're there's still a devastating attacking team, but they're a devastating team with more control and more patience in the build-up.
00:10:31
Keelin
And that almost makes them more of a worry than the club version because the club version you knew you were just getting all out through balls and attack regardless. With this Liverpool team, they can actually build up now. They can pass out from the back. They have the ability to to actually control a game. And I think what you've done this season is absolutely magnificent and you deserve your credit because I think they've been very, very good. And I think they are now the favourites for the title.
00:11:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll
00:11:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, so we will dive into Manchester City. ah I thought they started the season quite well. um Lewis, I'll come to you. What is the difference between the Manchester City team we've seen in the last sort of four weeks?
Manchester City's Form and Rodri's Absence
00:11:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what was at the beginning of the season? Is it just Rodri?
00:11:56
Lewis
I think obviously, Roger is a massive impact on our team. He's the spine of our team. He's the solidarity that keeps us, keeps us flowing, keeps us running in midfield. We all know that he's the best player in the world and he was obviously going to be a massive mess. And it was, it was really sad to see him get injured, but I think we did start the season. Well, we are still second in the league. People, people don't realize that obviously base off our our terrible form, it sort of goes amiss. But I think that it's just that it's a massive confidence thing. I think once the the press, the media, the fans start getting down and then it makes the players also feel down, lose confidence. And I just don't think we play with we play with that freedom anymore as obviously we started the season off very confident
00:12:43
Lewis
for four titles in a row why wouldn't you be but i think now it's sort of ah a negative momentum thing that we we just need to get out of and i don't know i don't know why i don't know what it is it's obviously we've had a lot of injuries as the season has gone on as well as Roger, which has had a massive impact. but just yeah For me, it's it's the morale and the confidence thing, because everyone there is playing playing for Manchester City for a reason, and just one injured player is no excuse to now be unbeaten in six, to not win a game in six. or
00:13:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Carl, I'll come to you as well. ah Have you been watching much of Manchester City this season and what do you think their main problem is? Do you think it's that sort of space between the midfield and the defence? Is it the decision making? What do you see as the issue?
00:13:31
Karl
I think i think it's a lot of it's been sort of chop and change, Foden was out for a while when I didn't ah don't really know why but he started the season I thought pretty well then he disappeared from it, Grealish is being injured um and i' got the feeling list um I might be completely wrong but I've got the feeling that Bernard is slowly being eked out a bit um so I think it's been a bit sort of all over Covino, I've done a few see him as a success yet alongside Harland but I think it's been a little bit of sort of chop and I think the biggest difference has been um a problem we had about three years ago when suddenly all your players are over 30. And they've all seem to have gone over 30 in about the same week. It's weird. It's like even even John stones. I'm convinced this stone 19 is like, you know, 31 or something like that. And I think there's been an element ah of that. the The problem with like a
00:14:20
Karl
And a dynasty side, which is a dynasty club, which with City R at the moment, is getting your next team together, which is why, I mean, I say this with biting my tongue as much as possible, which is why Ferguson was a genius because he could get rid of his 94 and 96 team and build a 99 team and then win it again with his worst ever Man United side. And I think that's a very, very difficult thing to do if, you know, if you've got a ah group of players who have just won everything over such a long sustained period,
00:14:48
Karl
that they all get old at the same time you think suddenly we're going to have to replace six or seven players and then yes they've got the money to do that and they've certainly got the manager who can do it but I think you are going to get a spell where suddenly the wheels fall off even just a little bit and I think the city, um I agree with Lewis, they're second in the league they're the only team I'm scared of um and it's it's it's a crisis because it's Man City where for everybody else this is an average season, speak to Evan for God's sake, Evan's goal of the month contender for November is October You know, it's it's it's that bad. ah do They're all down about it. which I completely understand that. We lost six in a row in the season that we should never be spoken about. um And we lost to Bentley at home, for God's sake. But I just think these things happen, to be honest. I think it's a general sort of, oh God, what happened? It's terrible when you go onto a pitch and think for the first time in maybe four years, what happens if we lose? What happens if they get a goal back and it's 3-1? We've got 10 minutes to go and they're really running and that's something about this bad record. And then, you know,
00:15:49
Karl
the whole house of straw burns to the ground slowly in front of them. I think City are going to be OK. I think City are going to come at us really, really hard because they've got to. And I think Liverpool are still imperfect. I think it's a fantastic, I'm not complaining about a thing. There's still major problems wrong with that first 11 for me. But that's to be expected because it's a new side. We've done really, really well. The attitude's been great.
00:16:15
Karl
But we've been bloody awful at times as well. I thought we were bloody awful against, well, definitely against Southampton. I think this game is going to be a bit closer. I think we win it. I think the atmosphere wins it more than anything else. But I also sort of think the first goal might win it too. It's a great. But and um'm um I'm not buying all this city. Are you going to get top four? No. If they can win 27 games on a row, they can do that. They're capable of doing that. So long way to go, yeah.
00:16:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Keelan, I'll come to you now as well, obviously the lack of rogeri, and you didn't really reinforce in the number six position, ah you know, selling Calvin Phillips to Ipswich as well. I know that he he's not got the same quality, but, you know, re-signing Gunduan, that felt a bit sentimental. His legs seem to have gone playing Kovacic in the number six, and I think in January, that is the area of focus for reinforcement. There's been talk about getting our target, Zubamendian,
00:17:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think that could change the season or do you think a win against Liverpool even could change the fortune for Manchester City?
00:17:16
Keelin
Yeah, I mean my opinion is I don't think a win against Liverpool changes anything. I mean it would be great obviously but it doesn't address the problems that we have and Karl made a brilliant point of explaining this. What's happened is the spine of our team has not been replaced and the problem we have now is this isn't just replacing the spine, this is open heart surgery we need to do in this team.
Critique of Manchester City's Transfers and Management
00:17:40
Keelin
because every important position is completely unoccupied by people good enough to do it. I mean, Yasuko Vardial, who I am but a big fan of, has had two howlers straight in a row. He's been responsible directly for four goals and two games and that's the side that the best player in the league currently is playing on.
00:18:00
Keelin
and that's the player he's gonna have to face on Sunday and that worries me very very much but as far as Rodri and all the rest goes we just I actually said this last night in our episode one of the few things I will repeat and what's happened is we have gotten slow in Oregon whilst everybody else has improved and gotten better maybe except for Man United but Liverpool have gotten better, Arsenal have gotten better, Chelsea have gotten a lot better and we did not think to replace and we got too cold or we got too sort of sentimental and sort of you know like buying Mateo Kovacic, that's 30 million pounds that could have gone towards a number six if Rodri got injured, re-signing Ilkay Gundogan you know when he's 34 years old I mean
00:18:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:47
Keelin
There's been some really, really bad decision-making and it's probably what's cost Cheeky Bagheeristan his job as director of football because he is overseeing two terrible years of transfer recruitment and wasted money that's of no use to this team. Calvin Phillips not even worth putting on the pitch at this moment. Kovacic, I don't rate him enough for the city team. Gundogan, and the beat goes on. I mean, Mateus Nuna is £50 million pounds and he he's not good at anything.
00:19:16
Keelin
This is all money that could have addressed problems that we actually have and now we have no real defence to face any of the teams in the league or in Europe and all we can pray for, a bit like Dunkirk, is that we can survive until January until we can get somebody because right now we are praying that the ref doesn't stop the fight until January.
00:19:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
A bit like Dunkirk.
00:19:39
Lewis
Thank you.
00:19:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, okay. ah But there are some, there are some positives to take out of Manchester City. You know, they scored three goals and this new position for Phil Phon.
00:19:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
People forget that he was really good in that number 10 role, Keelan. Is this something you'd like to see more of?
00:19:55
Keelin
Yeah. Yeah, definitely. I think Phil Phon, he's a natural number 10, you know. I know he plays out in the Wing a lot. He's even played as a false 9. But he is a 10 and he's a very, very good number 10. And I think especially as much as this breaks my soul to say it, as old as Kevin De Bruyne is getting and eventually he is going to leave.
00:20:20
Keelin
Phil Fulton might be the only error that we have to Kevin De Bruyne's position because he's very good. He's brilliant at dropping in the half spaces in between lines, receiving the ball, playing one-touch football. And he can actually he's one of our few midfielders who can actually shoot as well, which is always nice to have. So Phil Fulton's definitely been forgotten about, but he is a very, very good number 10. And at least until De Bruyne gets back to full form, Fulton's the number 10 that I need to see in that team.
00:20:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not Bernardo Silva.
00:20:52
Keelin
I like Bernardo Silva, but he's not effective enough as a 10. I like Bernardo Silva as a controlling number 8. Like Foden, he's useless out in the wing. that He's got no attacking threat. He doesn't have the speed to play in the wing. He is effective in the middle, controlling the tempo, picking up the ball, picking the passes in between the line.
00:21:12
Keelin
If you're gonna play Bernardo Silva effectively, you've gotta play him just behind Foden in the 8. He's a good 10, but he's not as good as Foden, who is a good 10.
00:21:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alright, that's all we have time for in this part as you find out what software we use to record here at GSPM.
00:21:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So obviously Liverpool playing tonight against Real Madrid. By the time this podcast goes out, everyone will know the score. And what a win that was for Liverpool, eh? Anyway, ah so ah the form that liver the form that Liverpool have been in, ah recent that could age terribly, couldn't it?
00:22:07
Karl
I thought the A12 was great.
00:22:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
The form that Liverpool have been in recently ah is incredible, ah you know, before this goes out.
00:22:16
Lewis
So.
00:22:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
All the wins that we have, only only not winning two matches in the Premier League, one of them against Arsenal, one against Nottingham Forest, two brilliant sides this season.
Liverpool's Current Form and Match Strategies
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is the next massive ah test for Liverpool in the Premier League, and this is the one that everyone marks on their calendars.
00:22:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah before the season started. Everything does point to towards Liverpool um winning ah this match if you look at recent form. But starting matches is something that we've still struggled against. We struggled against Southampton. um You know, some pretty awful decision making in our own penalty area from Robertson and Canata. Do you think that's our weak point, Tom?
00:23:02
Tom Goward
Little bit, I think i think we this season we've definitely been the better team in the second half. We've sort of seen out some first half performances, if i even if they've been near and there at half time. um And then obviously like Southampton and the weekend was a good example where we didn't play well and get Caught out by essentially at the moment the worst team in the league um so yeah, it's definitely a weak point that needs to be addressed because when we do play the likes of City and Arsenal and Chelsea at the moment are flying they it will catch us out um even if I know we've already played like Arsenal and I know it's a draw but um you know later in the season if we still got these problems come sort of March April time then um Yeah, it could it could be a problem 100%
00:23:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, there's always problems with Manchester City's scoring threats. You know, Erling Haaland, the numbers, even in this season, ah two last nights against Feyenoord, it's just been a revelation and he just continuously seems to score.
00:24:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But our interesting point, I think, going into this match is the team that we choose. Do we play Soboslai? Does he start? Karl, do you think we start Soboslai?
00:24:14
Karl
no
00:24:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, why not?
00:24:17
Karl
No, I think it's like Macalester instead. I think... um but My problem is is always the same as with Zobba's light. I think he's great if you just need someone to run around a lot. If you need a thinker, you go with Jones Macalester and grab a birch. um i think he I think he comes on. I think he comes on if we need to sort He's not a starter for me. He's just not. He's too haphazard.
00:24:41
Karl
um No, I don't think so. i think Again, I talk about it all the time, it's decision making is poor. Great goal, great goal on Sunday obviously, but and he's great at that, but um no, and he's not a starter in this game for me. Jones is better.
00:24:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who do you play at Leftback, do you think?
00:24:58
Karl
I don't know if you got a choice, because Simon Castle's injured.
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
always I must have missed that, I'm sorry.
00:25:03
Karl
Yeah.
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:25:04
Karl
Yeah, you got injured in the warm-up on so on Sunday. I don't know if it's just a better take, better and better not try this, but I think Robbo plays the next two games.
00:25:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
so But if given the option of having Simakas, would you play him over Robertson at the moment?
00:25:19
Karl
I want to be honest, no. I think I've been saying for for a while that I've probably played Real Madrid. Well, I would ah play Robbo all the time against the big teams, definitely. Yeah, just Real Madrid, not the big teams. Now, I've always played Robbo always, just because I...
00:25:40
Karl
he's nasty and sometimes you've got to be a bit nasty and yes or no I mean I don't think it was a penalty on um on Sunday I don't think he's as bad as people making out to I think some of his decision making has been a bit bad but he's also like playing like twice a week for the past seven years so I think he just needed a bit of a rest he's also Scotland's captain which doesn't help because he's not going to get rested as he's for Scotland
00:26:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Score for Scotland into the international break as well, a last minute winner against Poland.
00:26:02
Karl
ah
00:26:05
Karl
Yeah. Yeah. um You play Robbo, I think. and I don't mind Kostas at all. I mean, he's not good as Kostas, Robbo, because not many are, but um I've got no problem with Kostas playing. at all but i think you go up on
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Lewis and Keeling, i'll come I'll come to you two now. um From what you've been seeing of Liverpool this season, are there any players that have particularly surprised you? Lewis, I'll come to you first.
Unexpected Liverpool Standouts
00:26:32
Lewis
Yeah, for me, I think Ryan Granberg from Midfield has definitely surprised me, especially In regards to the start he had at Liverpool, I think that this season he's he's really showing how good he is and and there's obviously a reason why you signed him. I've always been a massive fan of McAllister, even at Brighton, watching him in the World Cup for Argentina, I absolutely adore him. And and I'm jealous not to have him at City at the minute to be fair, think I think he'd be a ah great asset to our team. But for me, yeah ah the main danger, and I can't believe the longevity is still carried on into this season,
00:27:06
Lewis
um ahead of the weekend he's obviously Mo Salah and I know there's been doubt as he's been talking to him of late of of him leaving at the end of the season or or when his contract runs out but I do think that especially because of the amount of times we're constantly getting capitalized on the wings that on the weekend I'm very I'm very scared to face him and I think like Keeling mentioned Vadio's form has took a little dip and I think that Salah's Obviously he keeps scoring most weeks, I think that's definitely going to be a worry for us. yeah
00:27:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Keelan, who surprised you from our team this season?
00:27:40
Keelin
I'm gonna go for a pick that might actually surprise you in terms of who I think is surprising, but I'll go with it anyway. and I think Ryan Gravenberch briefly has been brilliant, especially as a number six. I think he's been outstanding. He's so good at picking up danger and really adding legs to that Liverpool midfield. I think he's been outstanding. I think Alexis McAllister, like Lewis said, I think he's been brilliant, especially slightly higher up the pitch. I think he's made a lot of difference and I think he's a really, really good player.
00:28:10
Keelin
My surprise is actually Luis Diaz and I'm going to tell you why.
00:28:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:28:14
Keelin
I know he's not surprising and that he's good, we all know he's really good but I just think this season he's almost found a different level of good and that last year he was really really good but this year he is so dangerous, he is so so good and he what he's almost doing is
00:28:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:31
Keelin
He's almost playing sort of like a Jack Graylish but more effectively in that he's playing almost on the touchline but he's got an in-behind threat and he's almost like a much better version of what we have in our wings at the moment in that he's playing out wide and he's stretching the defense and then he's crashing right through it every time he gets the ball and because he's so clinical he's picking up positions where he can just tear opponents to pieces and he's getting the ball out wide, he's getting in behind every opportunity he can get, he's too quick to be caught and then he's got the finishing of a number nine to really take his chances.
00:29:07
Keelin
So whilst a lot of your players have been brilliant, which don't surprise me, I would say Luis Diaz has evolved sensationally this year.
00:29:08
Lewis
So.
00:29:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm glad you mentioned Lewis Diaz, because we did have this debate a few weeks ago, who starts over Gackpo and Diaz, because Gackpo has been absolutely incredible as well this season. You know, he's really, ah especially in that Brighton match, he was player of the Carabao Cup round. ah That's a thing, by the way.
00:29:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:29:35
Keelin
since
00:29:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
he
00:29:37
Karl
What an accolade.
00:29:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:29:37
Keelin
We could do with one of them at the moment.
00:29:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:29:39
Karl
come
00:29:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
You'll never sing that. Anyway, so um the the the performance he had against Brighton, incredible, you know, his shot is lethal. He just hits it ridiculously hard and it's such a good problem to have of the two left wingers. And, you know, on the other side of the wing, it's only been Salah because Kiese has been injured the entire season. I was really looking forward to seeing him play.
00:30:14
Lewis
I think, uh, his definitely, is definitely one of the best in the world.
00:30:19
Lewis
It's, it's, it goes without saying, and I do think that, like I mentioned his longevity, his longevity, but also his consistency in a for me, he's never looked like.
00:30:29
Lewis
a hazard player in that regard, like he never looks like he's gonna produce, but then he always does. And it's just astounding. I remember a goal against City, um I think two or three years ago, where he's he's turned one player and then he sort of like kept it up and then took it to near the byline and shot a sha across the keeper. And I just think that, yeah, he's he's definitely ah in the argument for best player in the world. It it goes without saying, yeah, he's definitely up there.
00:30:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we do seem to have lost Keelan at the moment, so Lewis, for now you are the sole representative of Manchester City. um As we go into the final ah part as well, where we just talk about this fixture on the weekend, you know, do we have any predictions? um Lewis, I'll come to you first as the Man City representative.
00:31:22
Lewis
um I think, I would love to say that that we're going to go to Anfield and win, which i would ah I would have said in the last four or five years. But this weekend, I can't see it at all. I mean, if you just watch how we play, I mean, we scrape to 1-0 against Southampton. I know you found it quite tricky against them, but they came to the Etihad and we still found it hard. we We concede first a lot. And then once we do concede first, ah the momentum of the boys goes down, like I've mentioned. And I just think that We have now conceded two plus goals in the last six consecutive games for the first time in, I think, 61 years since 1963. User averaging 2.5 per game in the league this season, and I can't see that ah that record changing this weekend. I really can't, especially with your attacking threat, our injuries and our ultimate weakness in defence, which has always been a problem under Pep Guardiola.
00:32:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom, I'll come to you. What do you think will decide the match?
00:32:21
Tom Goward
uh the child and the Liverpool fan in me wants to go we're going to absolutely batter them uh six nil but obviously i'm more professional than that and it's Manchester City and you can never be too sure um obviously they have lost their last six but uh
00:32:33
Keelin
and T.
00:32:37
Tom Goward
but it's not the league's not we're only 12 games in you know they they can they can lose six games they can also then go and win six games um just like that so ah I would like to think Liverpool do it at home as well I think I'll mention the atmosphere will win a hundred percent and I will probably say yeah under lights I'll probably say three three one Liverpool
00:32:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
under lights as well.
00:33:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:33:01
Karl
And to be honest, we're in a good position because the worst thing that can happen is that the league table will look as exactly as it did two games ago because of what happened at the weekend.
Predictions for the Upcoming Liverpool vs Manchester City Match
00:33:11
Karl
So the worst thing that can happen is are we can have a five game lead in December against Man City, which isn't exactly the end of the world. I don't think we lose, to be honest, and I think that might be the priority um because that way it's still eight points. you. want to see arsenal as a threat I personally don't, but I think we don't lose. I think we win, but I think it's going to be quite hard. I think there's going to be a massive backlash from Man City. because
00:33:34
Karl
like you know it's the old um foremost temporary isn't it they're a hell of a side they're just a hell of a side who are mentally battered a bit at the moment and i think if you're on that sort of run i think you want to go to Anfield i think we can get we can get everything i mean you're not going to go to Sheffield United win one nil and think right we're back but if you're going with it at Anfield it does not get shortcut it shortcuts a return to form progress quite quickly so i think they're going to come forward but i also think that might be quite a good thing for us too we're all right without the ball these
00:34:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, that's all we have time for here on the Global Sports Podcast Network and the crossover episode between Liverpool and Manchester City ahead of this Sunday's four o'clock kickoff at Anfield. Thank you very much for listening. See you soon.