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Monday Review - Reds dominate City
22 Plays20 days ago
It's the Monday Review show as Jesse Sarwar and Connor Norcott review all the action from another vital win for the Reds over rivals Manchester City.
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Transcript
Game Review: Liverpool vs Arsenal & Man City
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm your host Jesse Sarwar. It's the Monday Review Show. We've just watched the Reds go 9 points clear of second place Arsenal and 11 points clear of fifth place Manchester City.
00:00:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
after another pulsating game at Anfield with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah securing all three points for Liverpool in a huge 2-0 win in the Premier League. I've got Conor Norcott joining us today. Conor, massive smile from you.
00:00:46
Connor
yeah you know what's so funny about about this is the first smile i've had all day it's been a it's been a day of misery and hangovers in the in the corner household today but you know what that results kind of cured me i feel well up for this jesse i really do have you been
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
past so It's always a cute, yeah, and we look at what a fantastic day, what a great performance. The build-up has been just so huge. You know, after the week that we've had, know, the build-up to the Realm of Dred game in the Champions League.
00:01:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the performance that we put in against the European champions was just just out of this world. And what I think it just gave us such a great platform going into this game, even though, you know, we we suffered a couple of injuries coming into this game.
00:01:28
Connor
Yeah.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I just think that that Madrid game really gave us such a great platform to go into this game with just even more confidence that weve than we've already had.
00:01:40
Connor
Yeah, completely. And it was one of those when we were talking, I think it might have been in the build up to the Southampton game. We were talking about, you know, out of the three coming up games, Southampton, Real Madrid, Man City, which is the most important and we kind of all came to the agreement that it doesn't really matter.
00:01:56
Connor
It's just about winning. It's just about momentum. And I think the Southampton game felt massive because it was such a comeback. The Real Madrid game felt like okay they were that they had a few injuries but so did Liverpool and and we just we outclassed them on the night we were and we were incredible and it felt like you kind of put that demon to rest and then you have Man City coming to Anfield trying to claw back some of that point deficit and and Liverpool just stepped up another gear.
Lineup Surprises and Key Players
00:02:21
Connor
I thought I was really interested to see how Trent would play today after coming back from being being out injured for a few games.
00:02:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:02:28
Connor
I thought he was fan fantastic defensively just so good and like in that kind of right half space as a quarterback he's just like nobody's nobody's better than him at it in world football he's so good and you know what it was just a kind of we'll get into like some of the details of the game a bit later but it just felt like such an important win and I i think the performance wasn't amazing but the win itself was outstanding so you know give us a league table we'll be top of it
00:02:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Absolutely. And you know you mentioned Trent, who probably had to come in maybe a bit earlier than we would have liked because of the injury to Connor Bradley. So Liverpool lined up with Keleher in goal, a back four of Trent at right back,
00:03:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Robertson at left back and then Gomez coming in for the Ingent Carnate to partner Van Dyck. Midfield, a very familiar midfield of Gravenberg, McAllister, Subodlai getting the nod ahead of Curtis Jones, who was absolutely outstanding in midweek. And then a a front three of Salah Diaz and Gackpo. What did any surprises in that lineup? I know we spoke we spoke about lineups on the on the Friday episode.
00:03:42
Connor
Yeah, well, i think I think we both, correct me if I'm wrong here, but we both predicted Nunes to start.
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:48
Connor
And I just thought with that back line of city that's been shambolic, shall we say, in the last few, in the last month at least, I thought Nunes would just cause them all kinds of problems. But he went with Luis Diaz through the middle and I thought he was phenomenal.
00:04:01
Connor
His energy I don't know how the hell he does it. He was phenomenal. I thought Cody Gackpo was great. I just, in terms of selection wise, I was a little bit surprised to see Curtis Jones not play, but I think having to buzz lie in there from the start, his just the power he has and in midfield, running at players and winning the ball back and he's constantly a pest. Man, so you just couldn't live with him. And I thought you you saw that win.
00:04:26
Connor
How many times did Rico Lewis give the ball away? Did Bernarda Silva make a sloppy pass? And who was there to pick it up so far? So, you know, it was
Exploiting Defensive Weaknesses
00:04:34
Connor
one of those, I think every single Liverpool player on the pitch, you you can help that hold their head up high today.
00:04:40
Connor
They were phenomenal to a man. So yeah, massive, massive, massive win.
00:04:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, we'll we'll we'll go through kind of, you know, player ratings a bit later on in the episode, but I'm just going to say it now. I think that's a Boslai.
00:04:53
Connor
Mm hmm.
00:04:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it was his best game that I've seen in a Liverpool shirt so far.
00:04:57
Connor
He just looked like, it ah it's going to keep coming up through the season because he was so important to us, but it was such a clop midfielder performance. It was very like Jeannie Wine-Aldham, like everywhere, kept the ball really well, moved the ball really well, made the right decisions.
00:05:14
Connor
uh, knew when to press, knew who to press specifically. Uh, maybe like two or three little fouls that were just like perfect. You know what I mean? They're not quite a yellow, but they're just really important. I thought of the midfield. He was the, he was the standout for sure. Definitely.
00:05:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he was great. I mean, talking of lineups and surprises, Edison was dropped from the Man City starting 11.
00:05:36
Connor
Yeah.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
What did you think of that call?
00:05:39
Connor
Well, I saw the, we kind of laughed about the final result, didn't we, on the Friday show? And ah the Edison was woeful. like Even against Spurs, he had quite a few slip-ups.
00:05:51
Connor
But I think if you look at that city backline, you know Kyle Walker's still playing. And he's he's a player that i've i ah ah you know I do not like at all. I cannot stand them.
00:06:03
Connor
But you you have to feel a little bit sorry for him.
00:06:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Don't mince your words. Don't mince your words, Connor.
00:06:05
Connor
Yeah, come on, i come on.
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's what you really think.
00:06:08
Connor
But he's a player that like, and everyone's talking about him that, you know, he is he kind of past it? Is he in this the twilight of his career? And he keeps getting fed to the lions. And like, you know, we've we've kind of talked as well of that Cody Gackpo seems quicker this year.
00:06:22
Connor
He just, he was so dominant against that, against Kyle Walker. I think even when Kyle Walker won some of the jewels, it just looked like he won it, but like, you know, did he really? And and I just think even when Liverpool would always go long as well, that that switch from Trent or Gomez played quite a few long balls diagonals up to Gackpo. And he was just so good in the air and held off Walker. So it felt like the kind of performance where the, you know, the the players from City that have been that have been, you know, the ones that are kind of in the headlines, it felt like they were exposed a lot today.
00:06:59
Connor
And I actually thought Ortega had quite a good game. He's not a bad goalkeeper, but what was he doing for that that penalty he gave away? Like, ah ah yeah it was just silly, so silly.
00:07:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
even Even the first one, you know, again, we' you know we'll we'll go we'll go into a bit more detail about, so you know, the goals.
00:07:13
Connor
Mm hmm.
00:07:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I thought i thought he'd he could have done better with the first one. It's interesting that what you mentioned about Karl Walker and how it just seems like, you know, he's being fed to the lions. And I think it's so interesting, you know, we see this happen so often with not just
Subozlai's Impact and Midfield Dynamics
00:07:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
footballers, but any kind of elite sportsman, a sportsperson. Once there is a perception,
00:07:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
that they are, that they can be got at, whether it's a professional footballer, whether it's a boxer, you know, they've just taken one too many blows.
00:07:52
Connor
Yeah.
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there just comes a point where there is that perception and then everyone goes for them. And so they might not be as bad as everyone says they are, but because there's this overload now that we're just constantly going down that left now, invariably, you know, statistically, you're going to make more mistakes then.
00:08:04
Connor
Yeah.
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you also mentioned about Klopp. how the Szoboszlai performance was was very reminiscent of a Klopp midfielder performance. Connor, I thought that first 20 minutes, I thought, is that Jurgen Klopp on the bench again?
00:08:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because we were just, you know, from the get-go, it was just going for the jugular and it was so good to see.
00:08:24
Connor
Yeah. Yeah. And it's, it's not what we're used to seeing as well. It felt very much like, you know, we saw how Liverpool approached the Real Madrid get another massive game this week. And it felt like they, even though, you know, they were clearly really up for it. I thought Liverpool were phenomenal in that game, but it still felt like there was another gear to go. And then I think they really turned it up against man. That first 20 minutes, I thought that Liverpool could have been three nil up, four nil up.
00:08:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Should have been 3or 4 up, yeah.
00:09:00
Connor
Yeah, that the the big one for me was that Van Dijk header, the second header. The first one that goes off the post, the second one, he's completely free. And you just think like, oh my God, is it going to be one of those days?
00:09:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it be one of those days, yeah?
00:09:12
Connor
And you know I speak about it all the time, but like I've got a group chat with with my mates back home and they're all immediately like, oh, is this where, is it going this way? You know what I mean? is it is it gonna yeah How many times have you seen it?
00:09:23
Connor
So it felt like one of those where I don't know. Maybe a side without the kind of characters that this this team has wouldn't have you know wouldn't have won that game. But I thought the control of the game and the way that slots side now is able to like keep teams at an arm's length, even when they're dominating the ball, I think is just so it's so impressive. So you kind of saw that second half too, didn't you?
00:09:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, look that first 20 minutes, I think Gary Neville called it a nil-nil battering.
00:09:59
Connor
Yeah, he did. Just before the first goal, yeah.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And and and and yeah it was absolutely spot on. and And you do wonder whether, was it slot saying to the to the players, look, these guys can be can be got at.
00:10:13
Connor
Yeah.
00:10:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
If we score against them early, you know they will fold. or is it something that Jamie Carragher mentioned a few weeks back where you know you can have all the tactics but once you get onto that pitch sometimes Anfield just gets hold of you and it doesn't matter what the manager said about keeping it tight or let's not go too gung-ho
00:10:30
Connor
Yeah.
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, you can get caught
Electric Atmosphere at Anfield
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
up in that emotion. And, you know, as you mentioned, Van Dyke, you know, heads onto the post, and then a minute later, Gatco puts away, you know, Mo Salah assists, sweeping move, great ball from Trent to Salah. Salah then, and again, ah defensively, I just think in years gone by,
00:10:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
would a Kanjay have been a bit more proactive in going out to Salah to closing down? He was jogging back.
00:11:05
Connor
Mhm.
00:11:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then Walker, you know, he's he's asleep at the far post. And I think Ortega, I think he should do better to at least get closer to that Salah cross because when you look think at look at it, it's actually in the six yard box.
00:11:22
Connor
Yeah.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
um um But again, you know, Salah comes up with the goods and Gatpo puts it away.
00:11:27
Connor
Yeah, that I thought it was, as soon as Salah gets there, because you you kind of saw, I think maybe in the first three minutes, he had a chance where he comes on, collect obviously cuts in on his left foot and tries that to to play the ball into the left, left winger into Gackborough.
00:11:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:43
Connor
And it doesn't quite work out and you think, oh, he does that at least once, twice a game. but this one there was there was a bit more guile on it and it was just like inch perfect but it's one of those where you do think against a better defense a team that are maybe more up for it a team that enjoy it look like they enjoy defending that one might not have happened but I don't know I think that's just kind of where City are and they they To me, they've always been a team that you can get at, you can rattle them.
00:12:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:11
Connor
And and especially Liverpool, especially at Anfield, their heads just go sometimes.
00:12:17
Connor
And I don't think enough teams have done that, but I think when Liverpool do it, they just crumble.
00:12:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:21
Connor
And you kind of saw that from Pep, I think, during the game as well. like his his I mean, it's it's going to be the meme of the thing the six times, but like, you know, there's all every single time Pep's Man City team come to Anfield,
00:12:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Was that 60 feet? He was he's referring to now.
00:12:35
Connor
Well, I think it was, yeah, or six European Cups for Liverpool, maybe, I don't know.
00:12:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
and seven taps
00:12:39
Connor
but But yeah, it was just one of those.
00:12:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
maybe yeah yeah
00:12:41
Connor
And that first goal, I thought, was just so important. And I think it kind of sets the tone because you can have all of the, you know, the Klopp-esque rock and roll football, heavy metal football, whatever you want to call it.
00:12:53
Connor
it doesn't matter if you if you don't score. And thankfully, we managed to put one of them away. But some of the chances that we missed, yeah.
00:12:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, maybe. Massive chances. But I think the one thing that I really do love about this slot team is that you know we had chance after chance, and we were really going for the jugular.
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we get one goal. We don't get the second. But there isn't this kind of panic. There isn't this kind of dropping at the of of the shoulders and, oh, god, you know you know it's going to be one of those one of those evenings.
00:13:17
Connor
Yeah.
00:13:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
You see the team just really calm, really relaxed, yeah just keeping hold of the ball. And ah you know around about a half hour mark, the game kind of settles into that.
00:13:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
even contest that we we kind of expect between the two teams in the second half. I mean, what are you thinking about at that stage of the game at halftime? Are you worried that we've missed too many chances?
00:13:52
Connor
I wasn't worried but I like you said around the 30 minute mark it becomes an even contest again but Liverpool are 1-0 up and I think it's it's it's something it's kind of like it's not a you know the expression it's not a bug it's a feature it's part of this this slot you know slots approach to to how you set the teams up in these big games were very comfortable given the opposition the ball but I think there's still enough of the
00:14:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:14:17
Connor
I don't know, the kind of possession dominant style that Pep has, and that it it almost became a bit comfy for them. I i mean, there's still one nail down, but they're vet like once they're on the ball, I feel like there they might not be at their best, but there are a few teams in world football who are as good at keeping the ball and and moving players out of position. And yeah, you kind of saw them growing into a little bit. But again, they did they had one shot in the first half and it was a tame one from Rico Lewis around 40 minutes. so like it's It's the ability to keep them at arm's length, almost give them the ball, but then Liverpool are still be able to keep that shape and we look so solid as well. which i i mean I love Joe Gomez, I'm so glad he's he's getting he's getting minutes now and I thought he was phenomenal at that.
00:15:02
Connor
He's like, I think what Kanate does best is he he's kind of the aggressive defender in the in the two.
00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:08
Connor
He steps out quite a lot. I thought Gomez did that really well. And I'm quite glad because I was a bit worried that with Trent coming back in, Kanate's main strength I think as well is also that he covers that right side so well.
00:15:21
Connor
Now I'd say he didn't have that many opportunities But I think when Trump was a little bit further forward you saw Gomez so comfortable there It looked like he was playing with a lot of confidence, too And I just think that must be throughout the whole squad because you know when the subs come on later on the game I thought they were phenomenal from the start.
00:15:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:36
Connor
They were great. You know we've talked about Andy Robertson who' who's not maybe having the best Start to a season at the minute gave away two penalties before this game, and I thought he you know I
00:15:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think i so he's playing himself back into form though.
00:15:48
Connor
i thought I thought he just approached the game like he would normally and and I thought he got on with it and he was really good actually.
00:15:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:52
Connor
so But yeah if we can cut back a little bit.
00:15:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:15:56
Connor
You asked about what I made of the city line up and some of the changes they had.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:01
Connor
I thought it was really strange to not start one of Grealish or Daku or Savino to brine on the bench.
00:16:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
bri I thought.
00:16:08
Connor
I know something's going on there.
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:10
Connor
Again, we we spoke about it too though. hes He's a player who raises his game higher than it normally should be able to go and failed.
00:16:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:17
Connor
So it it felt strange, but, but yeah.
00:16:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I agree. and And I thought the second half. so They couldn't have been any worse, right? So I think City did come out and they improved and they made it more of an even contest.
Salah's Penalty and Leadership
00:16:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But on I think it was around about 56, 57 minutes. Mo has a gill-edged chance.
00:16:37
Connor
Oh,
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he's he's one-on-one and you know, you just bet your house on it and he skies it.
00:16:44
Connor
Yeah, I'm sure we've seen it before though.
00:16:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got to say at that stage, I have to say, I started to get worried.
00:16:47
Connor
We have seen it before.
00:16:51
Connor
Yes, I am. In fact, I know that because we were texting in the chat being like, what's going on here? you know The sweat was starting and it wasn't just last night's booze, Jesse. ah ah it was yeah so It was one of those where you think like, oh no, is it going to be one of those days?
00:17:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:05
Connor
And we spoke about it too, what what a result would mean for City at Anfield today. you know If they if they they come away with the draw after being outclassed, if they managed to come away with a win, it would be huge for them.
00:17:16
Connor
so It was just about keeping the head, you know, keeping the ball moving. And, and of course Liverpool get a penalty because we've got so many attacking threats that can just cause so many problems and no.
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's talk about this penalty.
00:17:28
Connor
so Well.
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's talk about this penalty because you know penalties have been a it's been a hot topic, obviously with Mo missing it in in midweek.
00:17:35
Connor
Yeah.
00:17:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you know from previous podcasts that as much as I love Salah, and I do, and I want him to stay, out I'm convinced that he'll sign a new contract, and I want him to sign a new contract.
00:17:46
Connor
Mm-hmm.
00:17:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am not convinced that he is a good penalty taker. And what what you give me your thoughts. Tell me about, of course it was a stone wall penalty, right?
00:18:03
Connor
Oh, of of course it was, but like it's so typical.
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Eunice does well, actually. Eunice does well to actually make that as well with his tenacity.
00:18:09
Connor
Yeah, I agree. Yeah.
00:18:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But tell me about Mo's penalty.
00:18:13
Connor
Well, what what I find so funny is, of course, it comes from them giving the ball away. get Well, us winning the ball back, but like it's really, really, really poor from them.
00:18:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:23
Connor
And Mo steps up. and But what got me was, so there's a big there's a big massive kickoff. Of course, there is a delay and in MoTeC independently. And ah quite a lot of clubs do this thing where, I don't know, maybe McAllister will take the ball, eventually the ref will get everyone outside the thing, and then Salah will take it and take the penalty.
00:18:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:40
Connor
Salah's just there doing keep-you-ups before it. And you thought, okay, he might have missed against Real Madrid, but this guy does not lack confidence. And I think that's what makes me comfortable with him taking penalties, even when it's a bit nervy sometimes.
00:18:55
Connor
But thankfully, I must have been maybe 10 seconds behind you on on how I was watching it on Sky because you said, get in. And I thought, fuck thank God. So, yeah.
00:19:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, let me tell you why I thought, I thought that this is the best penalty I've ever seen Mo take for Liverpool.
00:19:05
Connor
Wow.
00:19:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'll tell you why. My criticism of Salah being the penalty taker is not that he doesn't have the temperament, you know, you can do the keep you up before the game.
00:19:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep. He's confident, super confident. There's no one more confident than Salah in any situation when it comes to football. My issue with him is his technique in how he how he takes his penalties. If you look at a lot of the penalties that he takes, and including the one that he missed in midweek, when he strikes the ball both his feet are off the ground. Meaning he's he's taking a run up and he's absolutely welling the ball. Fine, no problem. But his head is down, both feet are off the ground.
00:19:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's there's not that much control in the sense that a James Milner or a Steven Gerrard would always find that side netting, meaning that irrespective of whether the goalkeeper dives the right way, you're not getting it.
00:20:12
Connor
Yeah.
00:20:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is the first time I've seen Mo take a penalty where both his feet, his standing foot is on the ground. He's not flying in the air. And he doesn't welly it.
00:20:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
He side foots it into the sidenating.
00:20:26
Connor
Yeah.
00:20:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Keeper guesses the right way. He guesses the right way, but he can't get it.
00:20:32
Connor
Yeah.
00:20:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And ah ah that's my only criticism that's been leveled at Salah. And if he carries on taking penalties like that, you know what, mate? All day long, the penalties are yours.
00:20:41
Connor
yeah He's one of those players now, though, isn't he? where like even if he's having a game where he's not the most involved he has moments you know he just has moments and he yeah and you know i don't know if you saw this he has now equalled the record for that for getting a goal and assist in the same game he's on 36 games now he's shared with ro with Wayne Rooney so
00:20:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:06
Connor
If there was any doubt by the way that he is the best player like he is so comfortably better than anyone in the league Anyone and I think it is you you said the word temperament earlier. I think that's it. It's his approach is so He's so sure of himself.
00:21:20
Connor
It's like he's kind of hit that form now where he knows, he knows what he can do. He's added new strings to his bow. He's still like ruthless in front of goal when he needs to be. He's the biggest big game player in the Premier League by a mile.
00:21:34
Connor
And he's our player. What, I mean, not to talk about contract stuff, but like, it could not be any clearer.
00:21:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:40
Connor
Just renew, just Liverpool, do whatever you can do. And he, I thought he was so good.
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just renew it. Just renew it.
00:21:44
Connor
Yeah.
00:21:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was a great point. That really sealed the victory for Liverpool once it went to 2-0.
00:21:48
Connor
Yeah.
Defensive Strengths and Clean Sheet
00:21:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because City for all their kind of improvements in that second half, the one thing that they just didn't have was that cutting edge up front.
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Liverpool shut them down. And what I really, really loved was we're talking stoppage time and van dyke and then Nunez are getting blocks and penalty entries like high fiving and you could see the determination to keep a clean sheet and I just think that when you've got that in the team when you've got that running through the squad because as you said Nunez came on as a sub but when you've got that mentality that desire running through the squad
00:22:00
Connor
Yeah.
00:22:07
Connor
Yeah. yeah yeah Mm-hmm.
00:22:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know that can really take you far. So we're going to talk about player ratings just as soon as we come back from a very short break.
Player Performances and Ratings
00:23:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, welcome back. Let's so get into some player ratings. We'll start with Kelleher. Kelleher didn't have much to do, but he did have one big moment to step into. After Virgil van Dalkar, he had an absolutely fantastic game. He was a great performance, great captain's performance. He was a constant threat in set pieces.
00:23:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
but he just had this meltdown and all of a sudden de Bruyne is through but Kelleher does what Alison does so well which is in those one-on-one situations he's had nothing to do but he steps in and he saves us yeah
00:23:50
Connor
Yeah, just completely smothers the opportunity. And again, like you talk about players who are just in the zone at the minute. Kevin Keller is just like, he's just a man reborn and I'm going to be gutted when he goes this summer.
00:24:04
Connor
It feels like the writing's on the wall that he's, he's going to be leaving us, but it is because you know what?
00:24:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the real shame.
00:24:10
Connor
He is this, he is the second best keeper in the league. He's phenomenal. He's so good.
00:24:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've said it, I've got dogs abuse from another podcast where I said, Kelleher is hands down the best number two in the world.
00:24:18
Connor
Yeah, I know.
00:24:27
Connor
Yeah.
00:24:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Name me another one. Name me another one who gets even good.
00:24:28
Connor
Yeah.
00:24:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ortega's Man City's number two, conceded two.
00:24:32
Connor
Yeah.
00:24:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know
00:24:34
Connor
Yeah.
00:24:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's he's He's such a good goalkeeper. I'm torn because he does deserve to be a number one somewhere, but he's just not going to get ahead of Alison.
00:24:46
Connor
No.
00:24:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
What would you give him out of 10? I'm going to give him an eight. He didn't have much to do, but he did it.
00:24:48
Connor
Hi.
00:24:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was really good.
00:24:51
Connor
Yeah, I think I would have given him a seven. but because of that moment, give him an eight, I thought his distribution was fantastic too. So yeah.
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, you're right. I think in terms of back four, I'm going... ah ah Robertson, I thought he had a really good solid game. I'm giving him an eight. Trent, I thought coming back, first game back,
00:25:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he got about 60, 65 minutes was it before he got subbed, which I think was the right move.
00:25:17
Connor
Yeah.
00:25:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought he was a seven because I thought defensively he was quite good. The only thing that I would be it may be being a bit overcritical, but i've I've seen this in a few games with Trent is that his short range passing is a bit careless sometimes.
00:25:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it puts us in in kind of real difficulty sometimes.
00:25:35
Connor
yeah
00:25:37
Connor
Yeah.
00:25:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
so I'm giving him a seven. Bandai come give him a nine. My man of the match, I know Mo got the man of the match. My man of the match is goat Joe Gomez.
00:25:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nine out of ten.
00:25:48
Connor
Wow.
00:25:49
Connor
Yeah.
00:25:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm going for Gomez. And the reason why I'm giving him man of the match. One, I thought he was just defensively outstanding. I thought he was clean. He was tidy.
00:26:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was there when he needed him to be. He was there covering Trent. I thought he handled Harland when he needed to. But I think the the one thing that I think people under Underestimate about about Gomez is that he's not a regular starter for Liverpool.
00:26:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he comes in. It's as if he's played 50 games in a row.
00:26:21
Connor
Yeah.
00:26:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
He doesn't get flustered. And I just thought he slotted in so well and really just brought a calmness and a sureness assuredness to that back four, which Van Dyke naturally does anyway.
00:26:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there was no drop off in performance. So I gave him the man of the match. I thought it was absolutely outstanding.
00:26:46
Connor
Yeah, I think I would agree with with all of your ratings there. i'll move My Man of the Match is difficult because I really, really wanted it to be Van Dyke because I thought i thought he actually is just...
00:26:58
Connor
I think Gary Neville said this and and now we've both given him credit on the podcast. I don't know how comfortable I feel with that, Jesse, but he said that he he's just the glue that keeps this team working.
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:09
Connor
He keeps everyone together. He's the reason why I think his presence along with Slott, that kind of calm, just get on with it, you know. I think he was just phenomenal, but that little head loss moment with De Bruyne might have dropped him down a bit for me.
00:27:24
Connor
I'd agree with all of your ratings, but I think my man of the match, if we're going to move on to the midfield, it has to be Dominic Subbar's life for me.
00:27:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:27:31
Connor
i I thought he was just, he just offered everything. you And he moved right about the midfield so much too, when Jones comes along, when Elliott comes on, he still played. And I just thought he was phenomenal. I'd give, I'd give to buzz line nine.
00:27:44
Connor
Um, Um, and I also, I think I'd also, yeah, well, I think McAllister and Graven birch both get eight for me.
00:27:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Same here.
00:27:51
Connor
I thought McAllister, he didn't have much to do today. I thought in the jewels, he was so impressive, but I also thought his ability to just like, keep the ball moving. And especially in in those like, you know, almost transition moments where Liverpool win the ball back and they might not be going straight for the attack, but they're moving up the pitch.
00:28:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:28:10
Connor
I just thought he. his ability to like move the whole team up with one simple pass is just phenomenal. And I thought Ryan Gravenberch, he's just, it's just what he does now. it's It's so, it's so silly that we bought this player and didn't think that we he was capable of this. And now look at him and he's just like, in the biggest games, ah ah like, like you mentioned, with Joe Gomez, not one ounce of fluster, just get on with it, you know? So yeah, I thought the midfield was phenomenal today.
00:28:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I thought, you know, when you look at Graven Burch, you look at the performances that he's putting in consistently now.
00:28:43
Connor
yeah
00:28:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
week in, week out, and against all kinds of opposition in the Champions League and the Premier League. I think you've got to give also a huge amount of credit to the manager.
00:28:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
and The reason I say that, just look at Manchester City. They lose Rodry. And I mean, what are you going to put one of your attacking midfielders now in that position and ask them to do that job?
00:29:09
Connor
Yeah.
00:29:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because that's what Slott did.
00:29:12
Connor
Yeah.
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
slots at a central attacking midfielder and said, you know what? You go into the into that pivot position and and you're going to be out your main anchor.
00:29:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's done it.
00:29:25
Connor
Yeah.
00:29:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's not just down to Gravenberg. Of course it is. He's got to produce the ah goods on the pitch. But slot has given him that belief slot has given him that direction slot has coached him in that position. And I just think, you know, what a fantastic bit of coaching and foresight, because he saved us probably 80 to 100 million pounds to get a player of that quality to perform at that level level consistently.
00:29:51
Connor
Yeah.
00:29:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the the other thing you mentioned about McAllister and it's absolutely true but I think they both do this so well which is these kind of short quick passes through the lines which which get the team moving forward And it's one of the criticisms that the but kind of traditional clock midfield have had, that they were very functional, they were very energetic, very physical, but Henderson would do a lot of sideways passes, you know, maybe passing back to the back four, whereas McAllister and Graverberg are always looking for that even if it's a five yard pass,
00:30:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
but it's a forward pass to get the ah ah team moving forward. So, yeah, I completely concur. And I've um've got the exact same ratings. Nine for Sir Bosleye was brilliant, and eight for both McAllister and Gravenberg. Moving up to the front three, I've gone for Salah and nine. I've given Gapco and Diaz eight. Again, I just think Salah, he just produces.
00:30:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just is a goal and assist another goal as again, you know, the, the stats that you've provided about, you know, Wayne Rooney, I mean, Wayne Rooney is one of the Premier League all time greats. And so large just doing this consistently.
00:31:12
Connor
Yeah.
00:31:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I thought Gackpo again was really, really effective. And Diaz, I don't know what kind of engine this guy has. I don't know what they're feeding him, but this guy, he's got the Louis Suarez about him in that respect.
00:31:25
Connor
Yeah.
00:31:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
He just keeps going and going and going.
00:31:29
Connor
Yeah, no matter what, I think, and against any kind of opponent, against any kind of defender or defense, whether he plays through the middle, whether he plays on the left, he's just is...
00:31:40
Connor
you kind of run out of words for a player like that even though I think end product wise he can be quite it fluctuates quite a lot lots of highs lots of lows you know but I do think if we're talking that front line it's almost boring now to keep talking about Salah because he's just he's one of one like he is and every it's every week it's every game that he has a performance like this that even when he I don't know, Mrs. Gil Ed's chances like that, or even when he maybe misses a penalty against Real Madrid, he still is like the most dangerous player on the pitch. And I think maybe that's why that kind of rediscovering form, like the he's kind of matching his statistics for that first season now when he came into the league. I think you're also seeing the space that's freeing up for people like Gagpo, for people like Giotto when he was playing, hopefully for people like Nunez, if he starts finding the back of the net.
00:32:34
Connor
Yeah, I would completely agree with those with those ratings. I know we don't do half ratings, but I thought I thought gakpo was 8.5 worthy.
00:32:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I get off.
00:32:40
Connor
He was just yeah, he was he was good. He was really good.
00:32:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's found new levels as well. And, you know, we're going to need these levels because, you know, the games just keep coming thick
Upcoming Challenges Against Newcastle
00:32:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
and fast. We've got Newcastle coming now for a midweek game. And we just keep saying the same thing that every game is so important because You don't want to kind of lose that momentum and and throw away that Man City performance and result by then not getting a result against Newcastle.
00:33:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know that we've got a a very healthy lead now over Man City, 11 points. Arsenal, they're at nine points. I mean, they've gone through their blip, but they've you can see now that they're starting to rediscover their form now.
00:33:24
Connor
Oh yeah.
00:33:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so you kind of think that now they're going to go on a run. And so Liverpool have got to really be wary about, you know, not slipping up because we're the only team now really that hasn't had a blip. but And every team has a blip at some stage in the season. And we've just got to a guard ourselves, especially with the December fixture list, you know, that that kind of Christmas, uh, fixture lists, which is always so intense, but it all starts again this midweek and, we'll be doing a preview show on that for Wednesday.
00:33:55
Connor
Mm hmm.
00:34:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that's all for today. You've been listening to the daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the global sports podcast network. Give us a follow so that you get the very latest content when it drops follow us on social media at GSP and Liverpool.
00:34:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can email us GSP and daily Liverpool at gmail.com. Join us again on Tuesday for our Tactics show. Until then, thank you for listening.