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Daily Liverpool - Man city 0-2 Liverpool! Reds Produce Etihad Masterclass!
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Liverpool came away with all three points in Sunday's PL clash at the home of the Champions. Adarsh Ramchurn and Karl Coppack join Jesse Sarwar to go through all the main talking points after this huge weekend in the race fro the PL title.
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network.
Liverpool vs Manchester City Victory
00:00:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Manchester City 0-Liverpool 2.
00:00:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Reds have come away with all three points.
00:00:23
Karl
Sorry, Jess, what was that scoreline again? Sorry, I missed that.
00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was Manchester City 0-Liverpool 2.
00:00:27
Karl
Nil.
00:00:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
0-Liverpool 2.
00:00:28
Karl
Did you say nil?
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
nil liverpool two
00:00:31
Karl
Right.
00:00:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's our mate, Karl Kopach. It means we are 11 points ahead of second place Arsenal. That's after the Gunners went down to a shock 1-0 defeat at the Emirates on Sunday to West Ham. And for Karl, I'm going to repeat that.
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal lost 1-0 against West Ham on Saturday. So we'll be going through all the big talking points. on what has been another significant weekend in the Premier League title running.
Premier League Weekend Highlights
00:01:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm joined by Adash Ramchurn.
00:01:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Adash, how are you, mate?
00:01:05
Adarsh
I'm buzzing. Great weekend. Arsenal losing, Liverpool winning. I don't think it was a shock, to be honest, this Arsenal losing. I actually predicted that on the weekend.
00:01:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, same, yeah, I agree.
00:01:13
Adarsh
But yeah, no, fantastic performance from the Reds. Nice, comfortable 2-0 win. And yeah, just happy days.
00:01:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Happy days. And someone I haven't podcasted with in quite a while, Mr Karl Kopach. How are you, Karl?
00:01:26
Karl
I've had a pretty good weekend, to be honest. Because it's not just that Arsenal lost. They all did. and The top six lot i think at tops top six lost, which is extraordinary.
00:01:33
Adarsh
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
00:01:37
Karl
I mean, i also want to come back to the fact that I was laughed at by Louis when I said Arsenal are none of our business. I'd like to double down on that because people are talking about we've won the league and it's February, everyone.
00:01:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:01:51
Karl
And those are realistic statements to say. I just thought today was exactly what we needed. it was like I've been thinking all day, well, since since the Arsenal game, I've been thinking, I was annoyed we didn't win the derby. I still think that that he blows the whistle.
00:02:06
Karl
He blows the whistle two minutes afterwards and shouldn't We should have won the derby. I was furious with the two number nines at some utter a Villa.
00:02:15
Adarsh
Thank
00:02:15
Karl
And then, I just think, you know, this is this is a hard game to go to. And Arsenal basically said, lads, we just want to give you 5% more inspiration. And ended up being 30% more inspiration.
00:02:27
Karl
And the thing for me is, it's not the fact that we've gone from an X lead to an XX lead or anything like that. It's the fact it's three more games that Arsenal should have got back on us. And those games have gone.
00:02:38
Karl
They can't replay those games. Yeah. And we need 90 points to win the title. This is over before 90 points. Arsenal just aren't good enough. And I get all the conspiracy theories and stuff like that. and I've always had a soft spot for Arsenal.
Arsenal's Challenges and Financial Review
00:02:51
Karl
don't mind them. I find them quite irritating now, obviously.
00:02:53
Karl
But what but the the thing for me is they've got money and they can buy a player. And and nickt Neil, who came on the show, you've interviewed, Jess. He made a brilliant point today when he said, Arsenal...
00:03:06
Karl
haven't bought Salah, they haven't even bought a Mane, they've never bought big for the front three ever, not someone who's going to deliver numbers like that and there are still problems with this Liverpool side, there's still major areas to address we don't have a number nine, today we didn't need one, which is one one hell of a way of addressing that problem we just don't play with one lads, we just play with two number tens instead the left back's still an issue but
00:03:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:30
Karl
My God, that was Arna Slott's finest hour today.
Liverpool's Strategy under Arna Slott
00:03:35
Karl
Everything he wanted to do, the way he squeezed the play, the way he played in groups of 10 minutes, which is, come on, come on, come at us.
00:03:41
Adarsh
Thank you.
00:03:42
Karl
Now we're going to win the game in these 10 minutes and now we're just to let you come at us again and now we're just going to take you off field when we want to and you can just have as many shots as you want. Have all the stats, you're not getting close, you're just not good enough.
00:03:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Adash, there's a lot of points i I'm going to pick up on. But before that, yeah, the scoreline being one, what kind of impact would that Arsenal defeat have had on Liverpool going into this City game?
00:04:01
Karl
The scoreline being one?
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I suppose, conversely, Arsenal have been dealt a double blow this weekend because obviously they've they've lost to West Ham. And then, you know, they're they're probably putting their eggs in that Etihad basket and hoping that City can do something.
00:04:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But even that didn't happen. So it's been a huge blow for Arsenal this this weekend in the way that it's been a massive up for Liverpool this weekend.
00:04:41
Karl
A Philip.
00:04:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:04:44
Karl
It's been a Philip for us.
00:04:45
Adarsh
look
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you, Cole.
00:04:46
Adarsh
Yeah,
Game Analysis: Liverpool's Tactics against City
00:04:46
Adarsh
no, i think... I think going after the Villa game, I think there was a little bit of, just a bit of hesitation, thinking, oh, maybe there's a little, don't know, difficult patch that Liverpool going through. we're not really playing the best football. But I think that Arsenal defeat yesterday just meant that there was not much pressure.
00:05:02
Adarsh
Not to say there was not much pressure on this game, but i think Liverpool could take this game. You could see how relaxed they were as they played that match. I think we got the two goals. There was no pressure to get a third. There was no real pressure on our goal anyway throughout the whole match. And I think...
00:05:15
Adarsh
You just saw throughout the performance, even Slott just looked really calm. It's the calmest I've ever seen in play. And this is Liverpool away at the Etihad. We haven't won there for, I think, a decade. So I think it just, that result did kind of, yeah if anything, it calmed Liverpool down.
00:05:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:29
Adarsh
And I think we actually played a game that we didn't really have to be at 100% win.
00:05:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Carl, bearing in mind that what happened against Villa midweek, Liverpool's starting line-up was the same. what were you Were you surprised? Were you encouraged to see basically no no number nine?
00:05:44
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:05:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as you mentioned before, two number tens in Sir Bosley and Curtis Jones.
00:05:56
Karl
I called it. if you If you look on the chat, I called it. And I love this and love this manager so much just because he's basically said £65 million manager
00:06:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't want to publicly admit that, though.
00:06:08
Karl
striker and he said the same thing to a the best finisher in the club I still think no not having that get out we will put Curtis Jones who's not centre forward and he'll play the nine role if he has to and they swapped it between them every now and then they're not number nines and they're going to do better than you so you don't get to do that here that's
00:06:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think that there was an element of that from from slot
00:06:30
Karl
that's That's what that read I read that as.
00:06:32
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:06:32
Karl
No, not having you. He's not played Harvey Elliott since Plymouth and he played, what, 40 seconds tonight. I like that about him. No, if you if you don't know understand the system or you can't deliver the system, you're not playing.
00:06:44
Karl
and that And that's just... the The thing I love about Arnazlott so much is if we would sat down with a blank piece of paper back in August and said, what's what's what's he going to do with these players?
00:06:55
Karl
We wouldn't have got any anywhere near this. And it looks like he's just won us a league.
00:06:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah
00:06:59
Karl
And it looks like he's just won a league in February. I mean, that's just... I love his... He's so switched on. He's so focused on on you know what makes the play and what makes his play. And just, again, I want to come back to with it. this The way he broke down the game was phenomenal today.
00:07:17
Karl
The way he broke down said, OK, they're going to have 15 minutes here. That's fine. We'll talk everyone back. and And, you know, we'll just use use Mo as the outball. Even like like Diaz was defending next to Robbo.
00:07:29
Karl
I mean, can we come to the Trent's doku thing at some point as well?
00:07:33
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, yes, yes.
00:07:33
Karl
because that's ri Because I saw people half-time having a go at Trent and I thought, you know you're not getting this. That's that's not the plan. it's it's it's It's so strange. I think, yeah, go going back to the to the number nines,
00:07:45
Karl
I love it. We found another way to win. And that's the best thing for a manager you can ever do. i found one thing that you can do. City didn't do that today. City didn't have it.
00:07:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, Adash, the game ended up on City with 66% possession and, you know, obviously 34 for us.
00:08:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't want to say this was a Mourinho performance, it but it it did, the quote sprung to mind where he said that, you can control the game without the ball.
00:08:17
Karl
Yeah.
00:08:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just thought that Liverpool did that. At no point did i fear, you know, when when City have got the ball for any period of time, there is that kind of building of a momentum. You just think there's this kind of air of inevitability that they're going to score.
00:08:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I never felt that at any stage. And I just thought that we were in complete control. And I think this game, and I i totally agree with what Kyle said, I think this game perfectly sums up the slot era in in comparison to Jurgen Klopp in terms of going to the Etihad and performing in the way that we did.
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think if you had to pick a game and said, look, this is Arnie's slot, this is Arnie's slot's Liverpool. I think this would be the kind of blueprint. But but what what did you think of that kind of, that kind of the the way that the possession stats ended up and and the general gameplay that we had taking it to Man City?
00:09:18
Adarsh
Yeah, no, i was saying to you offline, Jesse, that I'm not used to Liverpool sort of sitting back. I'm just, I always love us when we're going full forward, kind of like that Jurgen Klopp heavy metal football. But I think today it just shows that you can be successful in any form of football as long as you implement the tactics that the manager's given. And I think,
00:09:35
Adarsh
Karl makes a great point as well. I think for throughout that first 45 minutes in particular, there was points where we were playing on the counter-attack, we were sitting back deep, we were actually getting the game to City, dominating midfield. And I just thought it just refreshing because I think, I don't like really like Gary Neville, but he actually a good point in terms of saying like this Liverpool team can adapt during games and I think that's something that Slott's done really, really well with this Liverpool team.
00:09:57
Adarsh
And it means we can adjust to whatever the opposition is.
00:09:58
Karl
Thank
00:10:01
Adarsh
Because I think City are always going to have the ball, always have more of the ball, but With Haaland out injured and City not really firing, it made sense for them to just have all of the ball.
00:10:05
Karl
you.
00:10:09
Adarsh
We'll pip them on the counter-attack. They don't have the midfield energy that they used to have. They don't press with the same intensity. They don't play out from the back the same as they'd done a couple seasons ago. So I think all of that combined meant Slott had a master plan up his sleeve and...
00:10:23
Adarsh
I think as well, going into the second half with that 2-0 lead, we didn't have to really get a third. We could have got a third, but we controlled the game really well. And I think, yeah, it just shows how well Slott's done this season.
00:10:34
Adarsh
But in the big games, I've been really, really impressed with him.
00:10:36
Karl
He did something very interesting, I thought, which which completely different from Jurgen, where, as as I noticed it twice, when they got the ball, it wasn't quite a goal kick, but the keeper had it. And all our forward line dropped to the halfway line straight away.
00:10:50
Karl
With Klopp, they'd be standing on their toes.
00:10:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:53
Karl
And it was very case of, we're in the lead, we've got control of this, you've got to get through us and not going to do that. I think that wass the big the the biggest difference I spotted today. and you know and and And that's absolutely been drilled into them.
00:11:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:11:04
Karl
if you've if you've won If you've won the game already, it's all right to control and protect. That's fine.
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what exacerbated it for City was the fact that the overload in midfield with with Jones and Suboslay in there and then Diaz dropping back as well. You saw them, all they were doing was just recycling the ball and then trying to work it around principally Doku.
00:11:23
Karl
Yeah.
00:11:27
Karl
Yeah.
Impact of Haaland's Absence?
00:11:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Adash, you mentioned that Haaland didn't play. Did did he bottle it?
00:11:32
Adarsh
Maybe. I don't know. Probably. i think I mean, he missed the game in midweek against Real Madrid, but I think...
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, let's let let's not get Pep triggered like Carragher did. But, Carl, we take the lead on on around 13 minutes.
00:11:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's that man again, Salah. Great corner routine. Really good good to see us doing something other than lumping it in with an outswing.
00:11:55
Karl
But Virgin Naboo, yeah. Yeah, that that' the the usual thing. Yeah. And and and I know it's a deflection, but it's a hell of a finish. It's still a hell of a finish.
00:12:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:04
Karl
Because when I watched it, and it sort of because it was it was so fast, I thought it was McAllister, to be honest, just because of the area of the pitch. And my first thought was, what's he doing there?
00:12:16
Karl
Why is Mo Salah standing almost outside the box on a corner?
00:12:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:19
Karl
You'd expect him to be back stick ready to you know put it back in again if it goes over everyone. And yeah, I mean, that must be the training team. The tactics, lads, that must just be the
00:12:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:29
Karl
more as as as more almost as enjoyable as the win. Something we did yesterday's paid off against the four-time champions of England for for a bit.
Key Match Moments Analysis
00:12:39
Karl
until Until they're not the four-time champions.
00:12:42
Karl
not
00:12:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
we got one We got one warning on around about half hour mark when I was going to say Marmouche.
00:12:46
Karl
Hell of a finish.
00:12:48
Adarsh
Mm-hmm.
00:12:49
Karl
What a finish.
00:12:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's offside.
00:12:51
Karl
Yeah.
00:12:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, like you said, Adash, what a finish. And he was he was someone that I really wanted Liverpool to bring in because I just think that he can work across that front line really well. But I thought he had a good game.
00:13:07
Adarsh
Yeah, no, he was he was solid. i think I just think in terms of City setting up, they had those four attackers with Dokku, Savinho, Foden and Marmouche, but they all kind of played similar style.
00:13:17
Adarsh
and I think Liverpool kind of dealt with that. Well, you mentioned Haaland. If Haaland was playing, it would be probably a different proposition for the back four. But yeah, Marmouche, great finish. I actually tweeted and tweeted I messaged in the group saying that I was bit frustrated with how Liverpool were playing at that time because you were kind of letting City have too many chances. Not that not major chances, but kind of those half chances.
00:13:37
Adarsh
But then we made it 2-0, so I wasn't complaining. But I just think, yeah, Marmouche was definitely someone Liverpool could have got in. But, I mean, is he going to be as effective as Salah? I think Liverpool are going to probably sign other attacking players in the summer anyway. So, yeah.
00:13:51
Adarsh
And I feel Liverpool dealt with pretty much all the attackers really well. Doku, they kind of gave a bit too much space for, especially on that right-hand side. But he didn't really do anything anyway.
00:13:59
Karl
Give him the ball all day.
00:14:00
Adarsh
So, yeah, he did nothing.
00:14:01
Karl
You knock yourself out, mate.
00:14:02
Adarsh
He absolutely did nothing.
00:14:03
Karl
Come on. Come on. Beat him again. Come on.
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then, you know, Sir Bosley soon after that Marmouche disallowed goal, I think capped off a great performance, you know, with a really smart finish.
00:14:14
Adarsh
Mm-hm.
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought, you know, he kind of gave the keeper the eyes, Carl, left foot.
00:14:20
Karl
yeah
00:14:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But again, you know, good counter-attack. Trent to Mo. Mo does what he does, sets up Sir Bosley. And I do like what's developing between those two.
00:14:32
Karl
He had a shot this time. i
00:14:37
Karl
wonder if he's had a word as well. just thought have a word with him.
00:14:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 100%.
00:14:42
Karl
yeah it's it Yeah, it looks really good. to yeah And the interviewer is really nice as well. Did did you see that the difference in height between them?
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:48
Karl
Wow!
00:14:49
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:14:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:14:50
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:14:50
Karl
but so Because I thought Mo was quite big as well.
00:14:50
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:14:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's almost double the size.
00:14:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's
00:14:52
Adarsh
yeah
00:14:54
Karl
but Jesus Christ, he's like head and shoulders. And the fact he called him a kid, he's just a kid. Yeah. Yeah.
00:15:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
like his uncle was speaking to him. that Yeah, but, you know, look, City were reduced to pretty much... crossing at every opportunity, which was just meat and drink for Canati and Van Dijk.
00:15:11
Karl
Yeah. Yes.
00:15:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And at halftime, terms of coverage that we were watching, Roy Keane said that we were watching the new champions. And he described us as being brutally efficient, Adarsh.
00:15:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, I think that's a pretty fair description.
00:15:28
Adarsh
Yeah, I think that's, if anything, that's what we've been all season. We haven't needed to create many chances, but we've been clinical in front of goal. Obviously, it helps when Salah's having the season of his life. I mean, another goal and assist.
00:15:40
Adarsh
I think that's 11 games this season. He's got a goal and assist.
00:15:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
25 goals, 16 assists in the Premier League in 27 games.
00:15:49
Adarsh
It's ridiculous. And I think, do you know what? We're speaking about sort of the style of play and how we're playing a bit more defensive today. But when you've got a player like Salah up front, you can structure the whole team so that when you get a chance, you give it to Salah. He sets someone up, he scores a goal.
00:16:04
Adarsh
And then defensively, you can sit back, you can press Nelo block.
00:16:06
Karl
This is the pet.
00:16:08
Adarsh
I think it makes a big difference having... the team set up around Salah. And I think that's what Slott's done really, really well this season. We've been... And the most efficient person there is in world football is Mo Salah. So that's how Liverpool have been playing this season.
00:16:20
Adarsh
And yeah, brutally efficient is how I'd describe us.
00:16:21
Karl
And is his work rate coming back as well. i think when you talk about you know who is man of the match, it's a bit unfair to do man of the match if if you've literally got Superman in your team.
00:16:24
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:16:34
Karl
Because what the others are like, yeah, but you know look at him. you know He's... Yeah, yeah.
00:16:34
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:16:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
You sort of Sir Bozly's shoulders sink when when he was he was handed the man of the match.
00:16:38
Karl
he so
00:16:42
Adarsh
but
00:16:43
Karl
yeah yeah
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Give it to the fellow next you.
00:16:47
Karl
Yeah, because he's... But the the way... can Can I talk about the Trent thing, or you want to do that and a bit?
00:16:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I think let's let's go back go ahead because there has been a lot of chatter.
00:16:59
Karl
It's nonsense.
00:16:59
Adarsh
Mm-hmm.
00:17:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
About the number of times that Doku apparently beat Trent. And I think even Gary Neville, you know, kind of made a little kind sideswipe about, you know, Doku beating Trent 46 times and still ending up on the losing team.
00:17:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So what's what's your analysis of that, Carl?
00:17:16
Karl
Well, I mean, ive I was reading lots of criticism about how Trent was, you know, always playing really badly and, you know, he's been a bit sloppy and things like that. The way the system works, it this all started, I think, at Anfield when Doku comes on and he's really good against Trent in the same way that he's really, really good without actually doing anything with it.
00:17:33
Karl
And he drives me mad. know he reminds me of? He reminds me Milan-Baros for us.
00:17:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:17:39
Karl
Fantastic at running to the corner flag all the time.
00:17:39
Adarsh
Mm-hmm.
00:17:42
Karl
You know, he could keep the ball all day, but it never went anywhere ever. So, obviously, Doku's not been playing for everything, you know, all the time this season. But I think he plays against Trent he thinks, I'm just going to get change out of Trent. And the way we worked it is, they he was always the outball.
00:17:58
Karl
so And that's football. Trent's a very, very good fullback. And this lad's really good as well. So Mo just dropped in. And then we pushed up one of the tens just to sort of you know keep a bit of space.
00:18:09
Karl
He wasn't having a bad game. He was having a hard game. because he's all right, that bloke.
00:18:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:18:14
Karl
So I think it's a bit harsh just to say, think there's a lot of down people. I mean, I've had a great trend loads this season, but you know I don't think he do it there, to be honest, because I think he's the system they played, they targeted him, they isolated him all the time, they were trying to switch the ball. so If you watch the first this first half hour of the City, all they could do was switch the ball to to the left-hand side, whenever they were.
00:18:33
Karl
We're getting one by one, one on one, and we might get a runner through. And Liverpool... And Arnest Lott just said, all right, we'll just pull Canati over. Canati was pretty much there all the time anyway. And if that's we'll bring Mo back if we need to.
00:18:46
Karl
It's a tactical thing. He didn't have a bad first half. That was the problem that needed to be solved. And we're very good at solving things in the game.
Second Half: Liverpool's Composure and Control
00:18:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Adarsh, I think the the one thing that really impressed me, because I think sometimes you've you've seen it with a lot of teams. they They'll go into halftime with a 2-0 lead. And, you know, particularly when you're playing away from home, the home team comes out and they're really going to give it a go.
00:19:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it just didn't, nothing seemed to change or phase Liverpool. they They just kept doing what they were doing. And as Karl said, like They almost played in these kind of mini phases of of the game where, you know, he had the ball and Liverpool were quite happy for them to have the ball.
00:19:25
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:19:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But when we did counter, it it I thought it was quite, it was really ruthless. And I mean, you know, Curtis Jones scores. Unfortunately, you know, I think it was Sir Bosley was offside.
00:19:41
Adarsh
So what's Lyle said, yeah.
00:19:41
Karl
Yeah.
00:19:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But again, i just thought that second half performance was really impressive, bearing in mind that we were 2-0 up and we just didn't seem to get complacent.
00:19:52
Adarsh
Yeah, and I think if you look at the chances that we actually had in the second half, we didn't have that many, but there were probably more goal-scoring opportunities than City created in the whole of the second half.
00:19:56
Karl
Yeah.
00:20:00
Adarsh
I mean, can remember Diaz going having that shot, Edison saved. Obviously, the offside goal, Salah having one from outside the box. and We probably looked more threatening than City, and they had all of the ball in the second half.
00:20:10
Karl
yeah
00:20:11
Adarsh
So, I think that kind of shows how well we set up. And I think that midfield four, I think... we We tested it against Villa and didn't quite work because I think Villa had kind of a similar setup in terms of their midfield as well.
00:20:25
Adarsh
So we kind of tried to match them. City, we outnumbered them today. And I feel like Jones and Sabozlai playing that sort of two tens. They could get up forward, but they can also come back. Also with Diaz and Salah. actually thought Diaz played really well without without attacking as well as he could.
00:20:35
Karl
He was. Thanks.
00:20:39
Adarsh
I thought defensively he put in a proper shift and that's one thing you can ever fault Luis Diaz on. No matter his output, he always puts in in a shift. I thought he was brilliant going forward, but also coming back and supporting Robertson, who kind of struggled to a little bit towards the end of the game.
00:20:54
Adarsh
But I thought we managed the game really well, and I think that midfield for me was was the highlight. And Sabozlai, yeah, I feel like every game he just gets better and better. Specifically when it comes to goals and assists, he's obviously got a goal and assist today as well.
00:21:07
Adarsh
So yeah, really impressed with him.
00:21:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and manage it, we did, and slot, you know, you brought on a couple of subs. Simicast came on for Robertson, you know, who I thought had a decent game.
00:21:16
Karl
Very good.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
and know Endo came on and just did what Endo does.
00:21:20
Adarsh
killed his name.
00:21:21
Karl
Kicked people.
00:21:21
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:21:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean yeah just You know, absolutely, yeah.
00:21:23
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:21:24
Karl
yeah can Can I tell you my favourite moment of the game? Goals are aside.
00:21:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:29
Karl
It was the offside goal where Curtis celebrates runs and he and he does this to the crowd. you Get up, get up, get up, get up. And he gets wiped out and he does the same thing anyway. Because it doesn't bloody matter.
00:21:40
Karl
Because we're still going to win this. God, I love that. that was it Because your record goes down. we what it through And they came at us for maybe 45 seconds and Gary never got that excited about it.
00:21:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah
00:21:49
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:21:50
Karl
But like, it oh, you know, could have been 2-1.
00:21:51
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:21:52
Karl
It could have been 3-0. It could have been 2-1. Yeah, then did then he didn't show up often. I love that. I think that that's really, really speaks to his attitude. I think that's fantastic. but Look, what we're winning here. look this is about Yeah, OK, it didn't go in. We think wed we didn't the score.
00:22:04
Karl
But don't drop your heads. This is amazing what we're doing here. but fun that
00:22:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
absolutely.
00:22:09
Adarsh
kind of
00:22:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:22:09
Karl
but Speaking of the afternoon, I was going to just about to say, sorry, I looked that bit in with about 10 minutes to go where Lucho was sort of in the centre circle and he had the ball.
00:22:10
Adarsh
Can I say mine?
00:22:18
Karl
No one that may and around him.
00:22:19
Adarsh
Yeah, no one around them.
00:22:20
Karl
And he tried to run through six lads. Yeah,
00:22:25
Adarsh
It was class. It was absolutely class. I was going to say my favourite moment during the game was actually in the first half when I think it was Doku who put it across and Kanate just wiped it and then went to the crowd and just gave it the big ins and I thought that was my favourite moment.
00:22:35
Karl
yeah. Yeah, nice.
00:22:37
Adarsh
like
00:22:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he was monumental.
00:22:38
Karl
Nice.
00:22:39
Adarsh
Unbelievable.
00:22:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was monumental.
00:22:40
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:22:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, yeah, so the game ended I'm
00:22:43
Karl
Sorry, what? What was the score?
00:22:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah i'm going to put it in the in the show notes, Carl.
00:22:48
Karl
okay
00:22:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
i am
00:22:49
Karl
I'm an old man.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, it's a huge, huge win for for Liverpool and, you know, potentially for this title race.
Player Performances and Ratings
00:22:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we're going to come back in in just a minute after this advert.
00:22:59
Adarsh
Mm-hmm.
00:23:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll talk about some player ratings.
00:23:01
Karl
I've got some stats as well for you.
00:23:23
Karl
and
00:23:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, let's do some player ratings. Let's start with the with the keeper. Adash, pretty routine performance for Alisson.
00:23:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really didn't have much do, apart from maybe a couple of crosses that he...
00:23:53
Karl
Thank
00:23:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he kind of punched.
00:23:55
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:23:56
Adarsh
Do
00:23:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I remember the yeah i think the first few minutes of the game, I think he elected to so punch a cross and he got a bit of a volley from from Virgil.
00:24:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then about 30 seconds later, it was a more difficult cross that came in and he just he grabs it with both hands.
00:24:13
Adarsh
you know what? think... I mean, Alisson didn't have that much to do today, but I thought just the way he just takes everything and makes it so easy. Like some of those shots from outside the box... I think the Marmucho one in the first half, he just catches it like it's nothing.
00:24:26
Adarsh
Yeah. I mean, he didn't really have much to do, so I'm going to give him a seven out of 10. I thought the moment when it was like kind of like a back pass, it wasn't a back pass, but where he just plucked out of the air, thought, yeah, it's just...
00:24:37
Karl
yeah I was going to say, his best save is against Simikas.
00:24:38
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:24:40
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:24:42
Karl
Lovely shot by Simikas. Really nice.
00:24:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so this is going back a while, but Allison reminds me in in those instances where he makes things look easy. He reminds me of Ray Clements because Ray Clements had had that ability to, particularly when when there's a shot outside the area and it's,
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's low and the keeper's got to come down and and just put his body in front of the ball. You know, you've seen so many times that a ball will kind of, you know, just kind of wriggle under the goalkeeper.
00:25:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Ray Clements was, he was a a very understated goalkeeper. And Allison's like that. He just does things really, really well. Back four.
00:25:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought Canate was an absolute monster in the centre of defence. you know Van Dijk again, i thought was brilliant. I'm giving Canate a nine. I'm giving Van Dijk an eight.
00:25:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought Robertson had a really, really good game.
00:25:42
Karl
Yeah. No.
00:25:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought that... so you know i think he started to tire in the second half. And again, you know well done just to Arnish Slott for spotting that and you know making a change immediately.
00:25:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm giving Trent a seven. I don't think he had a bad game.
00:25:59
Karl
and
00:26:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just thought that, as Carl mentioned, you know if if you if you've got a Manchester City team, even if it's not...
00:26:04
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:26:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
firing on all synod cylinders at home and they're just pretty much exclusively attacking down that left-hand side, then, yeah, you are going to get beaten now and again.
00:26:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Carl, give us your your ratings for that back four.
00:26:25
Karl
I would say Canarte and Virgil 9, just because Virgil just makes me con, which is like, yeah, yeah he' he he's like some sort of tranquiliser to my heart when I see him play.
00:26:37
Karl
I thought the full-backs were just excellent. I really did. And I can see why... Sorry, I was just getting a WhatsApp message which has totally thrown me.
00:26:47
Karl
Yeah, I can see what you know why you know people have been criticising the fallback there, but i just thought they were great today. thought they were really good. I absolutely love the moment where Guardiola claimed that Robbo had elbowed someone in the face.
00:26:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it was nowhere near it.
00:26:58
Karl
somebody name it He's near it. He's put his hand on his face, admittedly, but only because he can't see where his face is.
00:27:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:04
Karl
He's put his hand behind him to hold the player off. And he's doing elbowing gestures with che just the referee.
00:27:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:09
Karl
Mate, you're on telly.
00:27:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Sort yourself out. Dash back for what was the doors and doors.
00:27:15
Adarsh
Yeah, I mean, would agree.
00:27:16
Karl
Not each.
00:27:17
Adarsh
Yeah, 9-inch.
00:27:18
Karl
Yeah.
00:27:18
Adarsh
9-inch. Let's do a 9-inch.
00:27:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, then let's let's move on to a quite a packed midfield then. Let's start with with the duo Gravenberg McAllister, Carl.
00:27:30
Karl
both Both quiet, but both but both and incredibly effective. I've been calling all week that Gravenberg needs... He's going have to have a day when Endo's going to have to play there instead because he can't keep doing it.
00:27:37
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:27:40
Karl
And I thought they were both quite quiet today, but all they had to do was basically stand in front of the back four that's all they did. And that's how we won the game. So, yeah, I thought they were both great. I thought McAllister went quite quiet after his injury when he basically got knocked out for the offside goal.
00:27:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:54
Karl
But... but Just solid eights. not Nothing wrong with what they did at all. they but they didn't They weren't spectacular today because they wouldn't need to be.
00:28:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Adash, same for you.
00:28:07
Adarsh
Yeah, I'll say eight. I think as well, we're kind of so used to seeing Gravenberg McAllister sort of dominate midfield in terms of getting on the ball. But I think you really saw just the role they have to play in terms of just sitting in front of the back four, like Carl said.
00:28:21
Adarsh
it says It's easier to said than done. It's actually really impressive what they did in terms of being that screen. And yeah, I'll give them eight. But they didn't have to do much in terms of on the ball. I thought off the ball is what basing my rating on.
00:28:33
Karl
but as Well, everyone was off the because didn't get the ball.
00:28:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:28:36
Karl
Yeah.
00:28:36
Adarsh
Pretty much, yeah.
00:28:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:28:37
Adarsh
umlthough I'm telling them exclusively that midfield too because they we always kind of seem to rate them when they're on the ball doing anything.
00:28:41
Karl
Yeah,
00:28:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know if at the end of the, when the final whistle went and, you know, there are players celebrating and then the camera moves to Sir Bosley and he's face down on the floor.
00:28:56
Karl
he's exhausted.
00:28:57
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:28:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's literally just face down on the floor. He's completely given it his all as he, as he does every game. I just thought he was absolutely, he was, he was brilliant. and Nine out of 10 for me, I thought he was, he was, you know,
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
alongside mo probably you know a man of the match performance
00:29:16
Karl
Yeah, yeah, just... he's He's taken... He's ironed out some of the wrinkles in his game. His decision-making is better. I wish he'd shoot sometimes when he doesn't.
00:29:27
Karl
But, the I mean, Mo said he's a kid, and, like, you know, the the things he's coming up with, he's going to be at this club for a long time. And... I've always thought that we don't really know what his what his best position is because if you would have told me, well, I went to that Villa game early on, on his home debut, went to that when he scored, and if you'd said to me that he's a sort of half 10, half 9 man and if his sole job is to just leg it after everyone, I would have thought that's not his job.
00:29:56
Karl
His job is to pick passes. And the change in him has just been extraordinary.
00:30:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's coaching.
00:30:03
Karl
That's exactly it. it's and And coaching is is seeing something that in a player that no one else can see and thinking, do you know what? Have you thought about doing this? When are you going to do it now? Gravenberch is another example of that obviously.
00:30:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. What about some of the other boys, Adash? jones Jones, Diaz and Salah.
00:30:24
Adarsh
Yeah, I mean, Jones and Diaz, I thought, kind of had similar games in terms of their off-the-ball efforts. Probably going to give Diaz a slightly higher rating purely because I just thought he was everywhere on that left-hand side.
00:30:36
Adarsh
probably an 8 or a 9 for Diaz. Jones, again, quite quiet, not as effective on the ball, but I don't think he needed to be. I think he came off probably like 70th minute.
00:30:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:48
Adarsh
So, yeah, I mean, i think he'll probably feature against Newcastle. So, yeah, not not the greatest game, not the worst game. I wish you that goal counted, but yeah, I'd probably say a six or seven for Jones.
00:30:59
Adarsh
And then Salah's probably 10. ten I mean, it just take, forget the goal and assist. I thought his all-round game was incredible, holding off defenders. There was a point where he had, i think i was on the touchline, he chipped past Guardiola and just kept running.
00:31:14
Adarsh
He's just taking his game to another level. And without him, i think I saw stat, without him, without his goals and assists, I think leoppo will be 13th in the Premier League.
00:31:21
Karl
but
00:31:22
Adarsh
So, yeah, I mean, that alone is crazy.
00:31:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it is it is incredible, that the the fact that he's he's moved up gears at this age. I think it's testament to his, you know, the way that he's kept himself fit, the way that he just doesn't miss games, his hunger, his desire.
00:31:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can see with every performance, you can see, Carl, with every interview, it's the
Liverpool's Upcoming Matches & Expectations
00:31:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Premier League. He just wants this Premier League.
00:31:48
Karl
Yeah. when he When he used to say he wants the Champions League and now he wants this and I think he wants next year's too.
00:31:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
He wants Champions League.
00:31:55
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:31:56
Karl
I really do.
00:31:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hey, why not?
00:31:58
Karl
I'd say in terms of writing, I'd say Curtis 8 for the performance, 12 for the celebration and out of 10, I'd say Mo 115.
00:31:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why not?
00:32:09
Karl
Yeah.
00:32:12
Adarsh
Oh, I like that number.
00:32:12
Karl
yeah
00:32:13
Adarsh
Cool.
00:32:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, especially at City.
00:32:14
Karl
yeah
00:32:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's that's says that's a good one.
00:32:16
Karl
You haven't asked me for my stats
00:32:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go ahead, Carl, give us your stats.
00:32:21
Karl
Liverpool are 20 points clear ahead of Manchester City. And Manchester City fourth in the league.
00:32:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
is Is that your groundbreaking Optistat?
00:32:31
Karl
Yeah, I've got one. I said this on Blue Sky and someone said, now do United. I've got a brilliant one for United. United are 34 points behind Liverpool.
00:32:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:41
Karl
And Man United haven't reached 34 points yet.
00:32:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well...
00:32:46
Karl
It's February.
00:32:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's that that's That's the relevant stat.
00:32:50
Karl
Yeah. It's going to get worse.
00:32:52
Adarsh
and
00:32:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's February. It's going to get worse. And look, we've we've got Newcastle coming up midweek who scraped a 4-3 against Forrest.
00:33:01
Karl
Great game. Great game.
00:33:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it was a great game.
00:33:04
Karl
Loads of mistakes.
00:33:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Forrest came back. Lots of mistakes. You know, that they're they're a good team. They've got a good threat going forward. But, you know, with this weekend, how it's gone, Adash, you know, it's at home, Anfield.
00:33:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
we've We've got to be confident in this game now. And bearing in mind that Arsenal are going to be going away to Nottingham Forest, it could be another huge step towards Premier League.
00:33:31
Adarsh
Yeah, I think it's a good game in terms of Liverpool staying focused because I think if we had a game that's probably on paper more winnable, I think we kind of maybe go back to sort some of those bad habits that we've seen in some of the games this season. But think Newcastle at home sorry will be switched on.
00:33:46
Adarsh
I think was good that the attacking players, apart from Salah and Diaz, all had a game off. Gakpo's probably going to come back into the starting XI. I hope he does. Jota may be featured as well. So I think we kept some of those attacking players fresh for Newcastle.
00:34:01
Adarsh
it's important I think it's really important we win that game just to put further daylight between us and Arsenal. And yeah, like you said, they've got Nottingham Forest away, which I think if Forest win, they'll go level one points of Arsenal, which tells me everything.
00:34:12
Karl
Yep, they will. but my but but Mike made a good point when Mike he said if we'd written down the fixtures of where we want Arsenal to play on Wednesday night, that would be it.
00:34:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would be the one.
00:34:23
Karl
Yeah. that's That's a horrible place to go overnight.
00:34:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would be the one. Absolutely.
00:34:27
Adarsh
It's true.
00:34:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
For a night game.
00:34:28
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:34:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And, Carl, you talk about the likes of Gravenberg not getting a rest. Well, after that midweek game, we don't have a game at the weekend.
00:34:36
Karl
We've got one league game in March. One.
00:34:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
He won the league game in March and then it's it's back to the Champions League next week against PSG away first.
00:34:40
Adarsh
one
00:34:40
Karl
Yeah.
00:34:41
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:34:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Quick, quick thought about the Champions League then. What did you make of that draw?
00:34:54
Karl
going to beat them anyway.
00:34:56
Adarsh
big fan of that draw. I feel like you need to get those big teams out. So the best way to do that is beating them.
00:35:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
There you There you go. You heard it here first. That is all for today. Give us a follow on your preferred po podcast platform so that you get the very latest content when it drops.
Podcast Closing Remarks
00:35:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are now on YouTube, so check us out on the Global Sports Podcast Network YouTube page, and you can see Carl kind of, like you know, very languid in the background, just arm up in the air and everything.
00:35:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Follow us on social media at GSPNLiverpool. You can email us at gspnliverpool at gmail.com.
00:35:29
Adarsh
Thank you.
00:35:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Join us again tomorrow for our tactics show from myself, Adash, and Carl. Thank you for listening.