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Wildcard Wednesday - From Klopp to Slot. Evolution of Champions?
25 Plays1 year ago
It's Wildcard Wednesday and that means anything can happen on this epsiode! Jesse Sarwar and Adarsh Ramchurn look back at the squad that Klopp inherited vs the squad that Slot inherited. Will the Dutchman take Liverpool to similar heights and how will this team evolve under his leadership?
Part 1 - The team that Klopp inherited. Did Mignolet get punched in the face?
Part 2 - Klopp's team of Champions.
Part 3 - The team that Slot inherits. Szoboszlai's small feet story and Jesse's daughter calling from school to be picked up. Pandemonium.
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Transcript
Introduction to Wild Card Wednesday
00:00:10
officialgspn
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. It is Wild Card Wednesday.
Klopp's Farewell and Transition to Slott's Management
00:00:25
officialgspn
That was Jurgen Klopp on his farewell speech at Anfield last season, waving goodbye to the cop and giving his blessing and support to the new man at the helm, Arnie Slott. Slott has overseen what thus far looks like a seamless transition, no mean feat given the doom merchants in the media, predicting a slumber Anfield reminiscent of the one suffered by that club down the Eastlanks Road, post-Fergie.
00:00:49
officialgspn
But Slott, impressive off the field as much as his team has been on the field, has been at pains to stress the positive legacy that has been left behind by Klopp and that Slott has inherited. So in
Comparing Klopp's Inherited Squad to Slott's Current Squad
00:01:01
officialgspn
today's episode, we're going to take a look at the squad that Jurgen Klopp inherited when he took over Anfield back in 2016 and compare that to the one Slott has inherited and maybe ask what kind of ceiling there is for Slott to achieve.
00:01:16
officialgspn
To talk about that and much more, we're joined by a daily live regular Mr. Adash Ramchun. How are you doing Adash?
00:01:23
Adarsh
Yeah, no, all very good. Yeah, like I said, I think I was very emotional hearing Klopp's voice ringing around on a slot's name. But yeah, no, I'm looking forward to this episode. It's a bit fun. usually talk about the they the daily Liverpool stuff with obviously Liverpool playing week in week out. But yeah, it's a bit of fun today. So I'm looking forward to it.
00:01:40
officialgspn
Well, that's what Y. Carl Wednesday is for, something something different. So in part one, we'll take a look at the squad that Jürgen Klopp inherited. Part two, we'll talk about how Klopp transformed that original squad into one that conquered England, all of Europe and the world. And part three, we'll assess the squad squad that Klopp has inherited and look ahead to what changes he may make to this squad in the seasons to come.
00:02:05
officialgspn
Right,
In-depth Analysis of Klopp's Inherited Squad
00:02:06
officialgspn
so let's go back to 2016. Brendan Rodgers has been sacked following a poor start to the 2014-15 season. A 1-1 draw against Everton being his last game in charge. Klopp comes in, we're sitting in 10th, and this is the team that he has inherited. Let's look at the starting 11 he picks for his first gaming charge, and that's a way to Spurs, which ends in a 0-0 draw.
00:02:34
officialgspn
Josh, this is the starting 11. Mini Lane goal. Kline, Skirtle, Sacco, Moreno as a back four. Lucas Lever in midfield alongside Lallana and Emre Chan. And then a front three of Coutinho, Milner and Origi.
00:03:03
Adarsh
Interesting.
00:03:05
officialgspn
let's Let's start with Minhale. What did you think of Minhale? I'll let you go first and I'll tell you what I thought of Minhale.
00:03:14
Adarsh
Yeah, where to where to start. Do you know what actually, oh I was watching some of, I was watching a few clips of like, of clock time in Liverpool.
00:03:16
officialgspn
makes
00:03:24
Adarsh
And I always think Minhale was around for Liverpool for a longer time than he was. It was only like a couple, like three, four, five seasons. And yeah, he just never filled me with confidence as a goalkeeper. there's There's many like controversial moments he's had where he spilt the ball in the goal.
00:03:37
Adarsh
I can think of that Shaka goal against Arsenal where he just shot it straight at him. and he spilled it in the goal. He wasn't the best with the ball at his feet. i I don't know if you remember, do you remember there was a time where he held the ball, it was a new Europa League match and he held the ball for like a good minute or so and we gave away like an indirect free kick.
00:03:50
officialgspn
and
00:03:53
officialgspn
Oh, yeah.
00:03:53
Adarsh
It was just one of the, it was just one of those keepers where he just did not fill you with confidence. I think a decent shop stopper but not a keeper that's going to win you Premier League and Champions League. Obviously like we've got with Alison right now so yeah never filled me with confidence and Yeah, I mean he's's he's gone on to do whatever he's gone on to in his career, but yeah, it's not a Liverpool level goalkeeper.
00:04:15
officialgspn
For me, by far the worst goalkeeper that I can remember.
00:04:21
Adarsh
Really? Or about Carrios?
00:04:24
officialgspn
No, I think worse. I'll tell you why. Karius, technically he was a better goalkeeper than Minhale. The thing that does for Carius is that his whole time at Liverpool and his whole career is going to be painted by what happened in the Champions League final.
00:04:42
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:04:44
officialgspn
It was a massive error and just on a human level, you've you've got to feel for anyone that goes through that. It it was it was it was so bad. But generally, as a goalkeeper, he was better than Minhale. Minhale was an absolute disaster. Absolute disaster. I remember when when when we first signed him, because I was devastated that Pepperina Because Pepper Rainer was a phenomenal goalkeeper, a modern day goalkeeper, really good with his feet.
00:05:12
Adarsh
soology
00:05:15
officialgspn
His distribution was absolutely brilliant. You know, we talked about Alison Chisela. There were loads of times where Rainer, you know, would find Torres with these kind of long, you know, sweeping balls, brilliant goalkeeper.
00:05:26
Adarsh
Yeah, that's true, yeah.
00:05:31
officialgspn
And then I remember Minhale coming in and, you know, when I first saw him, I thought, you know, he, he looks like a bit of a bruiser, you know, he's got like a boxer's nose, you know, really kind of smashed in nose. And I thought maybe this guy's got something about him.
00:05:48
officialgspn
But after a couple of games, I soon realized why he's got that kind of nose.
00:05:54
officialgspn
Cause he's clearly, he's throughout his career, he's clearly been punched directly in the face by a series of managers and defensive partners who just got so hacked off with his, his goalkeeping shenanigans that that's what they did to him.
00:06:12
officialgspn
What do you think Adash? Do you, do you think my, my theory yeah my spirit will hold up?
00:06:16
Adarsh
I can't comment on the nose. I thought you were going to say because of like, him being so not dominant in the box and like attacking like snowballing him or like punching him yeah he had no presence he had no presence he was he was a keeper that like
00:06:23
officialgspn
it was ter yeah He had no presence. He had no presence.
00:06:31
Adarsh
He kind of reminds me of, what's that goalkeeper at Leeds? Melier? He's kind of like like like, doesn't have like a presence in goal and just seems very, yeah, like he can be bullied.
00:06:36
officialgspn
yeah i
00:06:42
Adarsh
And like yeah with keepers like Hallison, and um even like the the goalie we signed, man, but that's really like, you can see they've got a bit of a presence about them. And it gives you a bit of confidence, but with Minhale, I never had that.
00:06:54
Adarsh
There was never a game where you didn't feel like he was going to make a mistake or have an influence on the game in a bad way.
00:07:00
officialgspn
yeah And what what that did, I think, is it made our, the the the defenders that were in front of him, who we'll come on to in a minute, who won't who weren't the best admittedly, but it made them look worse because the the worst thing for a centre back pairing is if they don't know what their goalkeeper is going to do.
00:07:12
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:07:21
officialgspn
You know, if if their goalkeeper gives you the heebie-jeebies, then it it it doesn't take a lot for something calamitous to happen. And I think that's that's the the thing that I remember about Minilay is that he didn't inspire any confidence in his teammates.
00:07:39
officialgspn
shot stopping. Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of goalkeepers who are good shot stoppers, even Jordan Pickford, who I think is the most overrated goalkeeper in history. I think he's England's worst ever goalkeeper.
00:07:51
officialgspn
And but you know what, he comes out with a few, you know, match of the day kind of for the camera saves and everyone thinks he's a great goalkeeper.
00:07:58
Adarsh
but the camera mistakes yeah
00:08:00
officialgspn
But he causes absolute havoc with his back four, because they he's erratic, they don't know what he's going to do.
00:08:06
Adarsh
Yeah, it's like, I think it was top number the season when he like came out with the ball and then Son just like pinched the ball off him.
00:08:06
officialgspn
So
00:08:13
Adarsh
So yeah, no I agree.
00:08:15
officialgspn
So that was Minhale, absolute disaster. And then we've got a back four of Skirtle, Sacco, Klein and Moreno. Now Skirtle wasn't too bad, especially when he was with Daniel Aga.
00:08:29
Adarsh
yeah yeah
00:08:31
officialgspn
with Sacco, he had two, two left feet.
00:08:34
Adarsh
i think
00:08:37
officialgspn
Sacco.
00:08:39
Adarsh
that was that that was that obviously the big moment in which he left is because he had a falling out with clop and caused some disruption on pre on tour yeah yeah and i think clop just had enough of like his antics and he kind of was a bit of that character even in the way he defended i thought sako was never really comfortable on the ball he looked very like
00:08:46
officialgspn
on tour, on tour the US, I think he came back late or something.
00:08:59
officialgspn
Yeah, two left feet, two left feet.
00:08:59
Adarsh
I don't know, every time we got the ball. Yeah, two left two laff feet. Every time we got the ball, just you didn't know what he was going to... He didn't look comfortable playing out from the back, which is obviously like the modern way of of playing now. Skirtle on the other hand has just been a great... He was a great servant for Liverpool, but he was just coming towards the end of it of his time, really. It was nothing to do with him and his performance. We just needed some fresh defenders, really.
00:09:18
officialgspn
And then got Nathaniel Klein. It was not bad. He was a decent right back, a decent right back. And then yeah on the other side, you had Moreno, who I remember when he first arrived at Liverpool, I thought that he could be a real player because he had a great left foot on him. And he was really kind of attacking. But defensively, he was just all over the place.
00:09:39
Adarsh
yeah defensively marina would let you down particularly like i think i think it wasn't more his it was more his like decision making in the game as well like where to be he would never track his man if he had a pacy skillful winger i had no confidence that he would win any of his duels and I think he was, he was signing made on the Rogers. So it was kind of one of those where um made loads of signings on the Rogers, which I don't know if we'll touch on, but I just thought that he was just one of those signings, just they looked a mess and he, he wasn't really fit for Liverpool. Klein on the other hand, I think he was kind of unlucky in a way because one, he had loads of injuries and he was just always injury prone, but two, he. Well, it wouldn't talk about modern day Liverpool, Trent Alexander on or coming in and just absolutely.
00:10:21
Adarsh
you know, taking his spot and demonstrating what an amazing talent he is. So he kind of, he kind of was a bit unlucky. He was, I think he was a decent player for Liverpool, but obviously he didn't have that longevity given those reasons that I said.
00:10:34
officialgspn
Yeah, you're right. I think Klein was a ah ah good fallback for his time.
00:10:39
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:10:40
officialgspn
But when Trent came along, it almost it was almost like a ah ah generational thing. It's like, that was the old style right back.
00:10:45
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:10:48
officialgspn
And now this is what a right back will do in the modern game. you're right, I think he was decent, but he he was never going to get a look in once Trent came onto the scene. And then we've got a midfield three of Lucas Lever, Emre Chan and Adam Lallana. Lucas, I remember, he got a bit of flack, but you know what, I've got a real soft spot for him.
00:11:10
Adarsh
Same. Yeah.
00:11:10
officialgspn
Because I think this guy, you know, he might not have been the best player in the world, but he could never fought his commitment.
00:11:16
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:11:18
officialgspn
And I'll always remember that shot that he took from distance where, where clock just, just fell about laughing on the bench, which I just thought was just, it was just so funny. But he was, I thought he was a really, he was a good player for us.
00:11:29
officialgspn
I think he's one of those, he's one of those cult favorites for the cop.
00:11:33
Adarsh
yeah
00:11:35
officialgspn
Emre Chan, you know, I think we had a lot of hopes for him and and he didn't stay even though Klopp tried to persuade him to stay and then Lallana was one of those players where he really thrived on the Klopp because of the style of play.
00:11:52
Adarsh
Yeah, no, I think, I think with, so touch back on Lucas, I think, yeah, he was, he
Klopp's Transformation of Liverpool's Squad
00:11:56
Adarsh
was, yeah, a very much, uh, a cop favorite. Always, he was always gave his all. He wasn't the best player. Like he, he, he had his moments as well, but ah yeah, like you, you like I said, Jesse, you can never fault his commitment.
00:12:08
Adarsh
With Chan, I thought early days in underclop he was brilliant. I think he really adapted to the club style of play, his ability to carry the ball out from midfield, drive past defenders.
00:12:19
Adarsh
I thought he was really like combative and like probably an ideal club midfielder, but for some reason or another things just didn't work out. He didn't want to stay at Liverpool.
00:12:27
officialgspn
He let his contract run down, didn't he?
00:12:27
Adarsh
Stewart?
00:12:29
officialgspn
His contract ran down and then he, I think he went to Juventus.
00:12:29
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:12:33
Adarsh
Yeah, but though I don't think there was any,
Impact of Key Players in Klopp's Successful Squad
00:12:34
Adarsh
from his, I don't know, I might be wrong, but I didn't i didn't get an impression that he wanted to stay at Liverpool. I don't know invite about you.
00:12:39
officialgspn
Yeah, no. and and And I think it's one of those group of players that left just before we took off. So the likes of Coutinho, the likes of Emre Chan, you know, they they you know they they just didn't stay with Klopp to see it through. And I'm i'm sure they regret that.
00:12:59
officialgspn
But I thought that he he was a player that i thought it was a good player and I thought he'd stick around. And then you look at that you look you look at that front three of Coutinho, Milner and Origi. And again, milner ah yeah you know no one will say a bad word about James Milner because you know he Where did he not play for Liverpool?
00:13:26
officialgspn
Left back, right back, midfield, front three as we're was we talking here.
00:13:29
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:13:31
officialgspn
Great servant of the club, but he's not a right he's he's not anywhere near that forward line.
00:13:38
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:13:39
officialgspn
Coutinho, what a talent, but wasted talent, I think.
00:13:42
Adarsh
Well. Yeah, now he he was incredible. I think had so much potential. And I think underclop in sort of the early days and maybe later seasons, he kind of invert into playing in that like number 10 midfield position where he was absolutely devastating. But like you said, Jesse, he just didn't, yeah obviously when Barstow only came calling, he felt he needed to to have that experience. And it actually turned out to be, from his point of view, not the career decision that, you know, thrived and make made him the best player in the world that he kind of wanted to be.
00:14:28
officialgspn
I'm going to fault him a lot.
00:14:31
officialgspn
no i'm i'm it I'm not saying that um we didn't benefit from it. But um what I'm saying is that he didn't live in the right way.
00:14:37
Adarsh
yeah
00:14:41
officialgspn
He down tools.
00:14:42
Adarsh
Oh wait, okay.
00:14:43
officialgspn
He started sulking. He wasn't playing. know He had a back injury, a mystery back injury every time you know there was transfer speculation. And I just thought,
00:14:55
officialgspn
That's just not the right way to do it. If you want to go, fine, go.
00:14:57
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:14:58
officialgspn
You know, if you want to go, if, you know, Suarez left to Barcelona, but Suarez gave his all, you know, he,
00:15:04
Adarsh
Yeah, that's...
00:15:06
officialgspn
You know, he he bit players for us, you know, so buts but, you know, he could never fought for his commitment. It's Coutinho. What a talent he was. But like he said, it worked out for us because we sold him and we got Van Dyck and we got Alison. And that was, you know, that those were the two kind of, you know, final pieces in the in the jigsaw. And then you got the legend that is a regi.
00:15:34
Adarsh
Yeah. I mean, to to be fair, I thought there was a time in his little career where I thought he was going to come to an end and he just, it was that Everton goal that just really propelled him and like just made him the cult hero.
00:15:45
Adarsh
I mean, scoring gets scoing a last minute winner against Everton is already going to make you like hero status, but what he went on to do later on was just incredible.
00:15:52
officialgspn
so many, so many like stoppage time goals, late goals, crucial goals, you know, I mean, and and that's why I always think, you know, if if you if you're a if you're a squad player, you know, if if you're a player at a top team, and you know, you're not playing every week, maybe you're playing 20, 25 games a season.
00:15:55
Adarsh
Yeah. Iconic moments.
00:16:11
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:16:14
officialgspn
But if you're at a top club, those games are going to mean something. You know, they're they're going to be FA Cup semi-finals, they're going to be Champions League finals, they're going to be title run-ins, League Cup finals. Surely you'd you'd rather 25, 30 of those games than 50 games in in a meaningless Premier League, you know, mid-table team, where you're never going to do anything in the cups.
00:16:41
officialgspn
So I think, you know, Origi, I thought he know he had it he had a great career at Liverpool.
00:16:46
Adarsh
He he was definitely it was definitely a moments player as well. like and If you think about Origi, I can think of the top five moments easily.
00:16:49
officialgspn
Yeah, 100%. Newcastle,
00:16:53
Adarsh
off I can ring them off like FA Champions League semi-final, final, Everton, Newcastle away.
00:17:00
officialgspn
yeah, yeah.
00:17:01
Adarsh
That bicycle thing he did against Arsenal in the Cup.
00:17:01
officialgspn
and and and And they're not just a regi moments, that they are Liverpool moments, right?
00:17:03
Adarsh
like
00:17:07
officialgspn
they yeah they They are moments in the history of the club in in recent years.
00:17:07
Adarsh
yeah
00:17:12
officialgspn
So, you know, absolute bonafide legend. If you look at the rest of the squad though, we've got Firminio, Sturridge.
00:17:19
Adarsh
Oh, okay, yeah.
00:17:20
officialgspn
Sturridge, he was, I think a super, he was really talented. typical left-footed player, right? Just naturally gifted, fitness terrible.
00:17:31
Adarsh
Yeah, head online, yeah.
00:17:33
officialgspn
And then, Kolo Tori, Mr. Kolo Tori used to work part-time in a, I think, ah I think, ah a car car shop in Manchester, if if some stories are to be, you'll have to Google that, Adash.
00:17:47
Adarsh
I don't know about that, so yeah, I'll probably check that out.
00:17:49
officialgspn
Yeah. And then you got Lovren, Joe Gomes, a young Joe Gomes, John John ah Flanagan, Jose Enrique.
00:18:00
Adarsh
Wow, these things, yeah.
00:18:00
officialgspn
Henderson, Joe Allen, who Brendan Rodgers cursed by calling him the, he cursed him by calling him the Welsh Stavie, right?
00:18:09
Adarsh
Yeah, I remember that, that was...
00:18:10
officialgspn
Yeah. But that was the squad. That was the squad that Jurgen Klopp came into when he took over at Liverpool. And in part two, we'll look at how he transformed that squad right after this advert.
00:19:05
officialgspn
That was Connor Norcott's voice. I miss Connor, he's on a holiday. ah ah Right, there welcome back to the podcast part two. ah Let's look at Klopp's all conquering teams, the way he transformed that brendjan Brendan, Brendan Rodgers team and squad into the one that will, I mean, it will go down in as as a legendary team.
00:19:27
officialgspn
So out goes Minhalei. And wow, I mean, what an upgrade.
00:19:32
Adarsh
thegrade
00:19:32
officialgspn
Alison Becker.
00:19:33
Adarsh
like yeah I mean that is chalk and cheese.
00:19:34
officialgspn
What can you say?
00:19:36
Adarsh
I mean the fact that both of them were at Liverpool at the same time as well just because you got to see Minhale in the cup games whilst in Alison's first season and in and in that told me the difference between the keepers like you could see everything Alison done in terms of making you feel easier at the back.
00:19:54
Adarsh
he He obviously still has his moments but playing out from the back shot, stop in moment saves. I can remember that one against Napoli and in champions league. he just makes everything so easy.
00:20:05
Adarsh
And like, yeah, we are very, very lucky to have him. And for 60, 65 million pounds from rent, absolute bargain.
00:20:10
officialgspn
Bargain. Absolute bargain.
00:20:12
Adarsh
Here's an absolute bargain.
00:20:12
officialgspn
Yeah. know and and if if you look at, we were talking about presence.
00:20:18
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:20:19
officialgspn
and You know, that and he's a perfect example. If you look at Alison. He's not like a Pickford. You won't see him making these spectacular saves.
00:20:30
officialgspn
there There are certain saves that Alison does where he actually stays on his feet.
00:20:36
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:20:36
officialgspn
He'll jump up and he'll tip the ball over the bar, but he won't fall on the ground. He'll just land on his feet. Because you know what? That's the most efficient way. I don't need to dive around. Whereas a goalkeeper like Pickford, I'm sorry, I keep picking on Pickford.
00:20:50
Adarsh
I don't mind if I do it.
00:20:52
officialgspn
and I need to, I need to do it at least a couple of times a day.
00:20:52
Adarsh
but Yeah.
00:20:55
officialgspn
But someone like Pickford, even if the ball is hit straight at him and you just have to tip the ball over, he'll do like a somersault.
00:21:00
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:21:01
officialgspn
You know, or something spectacular or that looks spectacular, but it doesn't really fool anyone.
00:21:07
Adarsh
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:07
officialgspn
And what Alison does, he, I think he's an efficient goalkeeper, right? He, he, he makes it look simple, but, but it's not. And a lot of it is down to his positional sense.
00:21:16
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:21:20
officialgspn
The amount of times he does a one-on-one stop or people say, Oh, the ball just hit him. No, it didn't just hit him. I used to do circling hearts, red hearts.
00:21:31
officialgspn
It didn't just hit him. it's you know he he He was in the right position. He was in the right position at the right time.
00:21:38
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:21:40
officialgspn
and and And that's the difference.
00:21:42
Adarsh
Yeah, he had such a, I think he still has like the presence and that that authority as ah as a goalkeeper. And like, it just it just goes to show if you have a top quality quality goalkeeper goalkeeper ah behind your back four, you can go on you can go on to win many, many games because it is clean sheets that kind of win you titles and win you premierships and champions leagues. And Alison was obviously clearly you know, that upgrade that we needed.
00:22:06
Adarsh
speaking of Pickford though, my favorite Alison moment is when he mimics Pickford in that 2-0 win, uh, when he fell to the ground.
00:22:09
officialgspn
Oh, what a great color, Dash.
00:22:13
Adarsh
That is, that has got to be, of course, all the saves and everything, but I mean, that is just iconic, isn't it?
00:22:13
officialgspn
oh
00:22:17
officialgspn
That was so sweet. You're right. You know what?
00:22:19
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:22:19
officialgspn
that is That's the the one thing that I almost remember the most from that match. It was just brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
00:22:26
Adarsh
Absolutely close.
00:22:27
officialgspn
then let's let's move on to that back four then. And and these the the the team that I'm reading out now is the one that made the most appearances for Klopp.
00:22:40
officialgspn
So we've got Trent, Matip, Van Dyck, and Robertson. ayesha two cirtling heart red heart twoircling heart
00:22:52
officialgspn
Yeah, so Trent Mattip Van Dyke and Robertson. Mattip is the only one that's not there now. But I'd say that he's a really underrated I defender, issue but he really to suckling kind hot of, he helped progress Liverpool in terms of transitioning from defence into midfield because he would carry the ball way, way into midfield and he'd do it so well.
00:23:24
Adarsh
yeah he was he was kind of effortless in the way he sort of dribbled past defenders and and obviously make make it look easy but his six foot i think it was six foot three six foot four frame as well meant like from corners as you well he was a threat both defending and attacking i think i think matt if yeah i agree we got him on a free transfer from shalke i believe and you know he just yeah he was just one of those players that Again, a bit like Origi, a bit of a cult hero. he he's He's kind of remembered and fondly by a a lot of Liverpool fans. Obviously, had he again was kind of blighted by some and injuries as well, but yeah, a brilliant player and brilliant servant for Liverpool.
Slott's Inherited Squad and New Dynamics
00:24:00
officialgspn
And obviously, the the the rest of the defenses is there as it is now Trent Van Dyke Robertson. then if you look at the midfield, Milner remains, played a lot of games for for Liverpool. And then you've got Henderson, Winaldum and Fabinho. Fabinho was a really crucial buy for Liverpool.
00:24:21
Adarsh
Yeah I remember us signing him he kind of came out of the blue but definitely that ctm that we needed at the time. His first few seasons on the underclock as well really epitomised like that heavy metal football that we sort of positioned our style of play on.
00:24:38
Adarsh
but yeah, no, I have, I have fond memories of Fabinho. I think he was kind of that player in that Monaco team that, obviously got them successful and got them very far on the Champions League. I remember there was that big debate between Fabinho and Bakioko, Chelsea went for Bakioko. We got Fabinho and obviously got the better player in the end.
00:24:54
Adarsh
But yeah, he was it was definitely an on the ball as well. His quality, his range of passing was kind of a very underrated as well.
00:24:59
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:25:00
Adarsh
It's kind of a shame the way things ended up ended for him a little boy kind of he left last season and kind of just without anything really.
00:25:04
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:25:07
Adarsh
But I will remember him fondly. And I think yeah he was very much a crucial part of that local team.
00:25:13
officialgspn
No, I agree. I think that, you know, he he was a really crucial part of our development and our kind of, yeah, development into a really, really solid team.
00:25:27
officialgspn
ah A team that not just um um who wasn't just good at attacking and being this kind of heavy metal football team, but a team that could control matches as well.
00:25:38
officialgspn
And he was an integral part of that clock called him the Hoover didn't he?
00:25:42
Adarsh
Was it The Lighthouse?
00:25:42
officialgspn
He called him the Hoover.
00:25:43
Adarsh
Oh okay, I thought they were called in The Lighthouse. Or something, okay, yeah, probably The Lighthouse, I don't remember, but yeah.
00:25:50
officialgspn
Maybe you're calling both, you know, depending on what kind of mood he was in.
00:25:52
Adarsh
okay
00:25:54
officialgspn
You know, but then, you know, you had the likes of Winaldum as well.
00:25:57
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:25:58
officialgspn
Again, you know, I think you're right. I feel sorry for the likes of Fabinho, Henderson, Henderson, um because they kind of left, you know, they left to Saudi, right?
00:26:09
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:26:10
officialgspn
And so they didn't really get that kind of send off.
00:26:12
Adarsh
Hmm. That is to be honest.
00:26:14
officialgspn
and And yeah, 100% they deserved. And they just kind of slipped out of the club, which is, it's a shame. but so But Milner, you know, Milner stuck around for a lot, he was a massive part of the Klopp era. You know, so many times he covered at left back. he, you know, he wasn't, he wasn't the best fullback in the world. But he would, you know, he'd always do a job. And then we've got to talk about that front three at Arsh.
00:26:42
Adarsh
Oh man, yeah.
00:26:43
officialgspn
Salah, Mane, Firmina, Salah is the only one surviving. But, you know, what what a front three, one of the one of the greats, right?
00:26:52
Adarsh
i mean the each Each of the front three had their own uniqueness about them and just the magic that they could do in in any given game. I don't know about you, Jesse, but my favourite out of the three has always been Firmino.
00:27:05
Adarsh
I think what he can do, what he did in that time for Liverpool. We talk about like transitioning from the Brendan Rodgers era to the Klopp era. He was the player. He was the player that started the press, linked up the play, brought in Mane and Salah, dropped into midfield.
00:27:13
officialgspn
It was...
00:27:19
Adarsh
he did absolutely everything and there were there were some times where he had off games of course but i just think without him we could not have won the trophies that we have won i mean he scored crucial crucial goals as well he was my favorite and so skillful he could do the the little touches and flicks and tricks as yeah he was honestly very honored to have watched him at Liverpool he is yeah
00:27:22
officialgspn
It's probably the same.
00:27:39
officialgspn
Yeah, brilliant play. And and when when asked about what system we played, Klopp said that Bobby is the system.
00:27:40
Adarsh
but
00:27:48
officialgspn
And if you if you look at the appearances, I'm going to run through the appearances of of this ah of this ah team. Alison, 192 appearances is all under Klopp. Matip 150, a lot of that is down to injury. Van Dyke 180 appearances. Robertson 203. Trent 216. Winaldum 179.
00:28:15
officialgspn
Henderson 219. Milner 222. Marnay 196 appearances. Salah 238. Faminea 250.
00:28:27
Adarsh
Wow, that's great.
00:28:28
officialgspn
So he's got the most appearances under the Klopp reign.
00:28:29
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:28:31
officialgspn
And that just tells you everything, like you said, about the importance of Firminio to Klopp and the way that he played. So, yeah, I mean, the the way that he transformed that team into title winners, into European champions, absolutely phenomenal team.
00:28:53
officialgspn
So let's let's look at, let's move on to part three and look at the team that slot has inherited after CLOP. Alison is still there. Again, we've got a solid back three of Trent, Van Dyke and Robertson, and then Carnate is is the the kind of, i so I guess, the new edition.
00:29:19
officialgspn
I guess it makes you realize how long this kind of back five has been together and that Canate is really the that ah ah kind of newish sign in. Obviously Trent is still 26 years old, but Robertson is I think 30, Van Dyke is 33, Alison 32. So I'm sure there's there's obviously long-term planning going into refreshing that back five.
00:29:45
Adarsh
Yeah, I think so. And we've we've already seen that obviously with, remember that's really sort of looking to be, they're the a future local goalkeeper. I still think Alison has a number of seasons in him, but I think when we're talking about what slot wants to do with this squad, it's kind of building, and he's kind of mentioned it as well, it's building on what club's already built.
00:30:03
Adarsh
but adding a few tweaks and a few adjustments. And I think players like Canate, Gravenberg, Connor Norcott's favorite player. Every time I think of Gravenberg, I think of Connor, so. McAllister, Sobersly, even Gakpo, Diaz, those players, they they're the ones that are going to have the biggest imprint on the slot.
00:30:19
Adarsh
era because they're the ones who've got more to prove. But in terms of Kanata we've got, I mean was he 24-25 still? He's got years of experience still to gain and he's already got a lot of quality so yeah definitely think he can he can dominate and be that centre back piring.
00:30:28
officialgspn
Hmm.
00:30:34
Adarsh
Well he would probably be Van Dyke's replacement and we would probably be looking maybe maybe that's Kwanzaa or another centre back looking to fill in that position in the future.
00:30:43
officialgspn
And it looks like you mentioned the midfield, even though McAllister, Subozlai, Grammerberg, who are the mainstays of the midfield this season, they're all Klopp signings. But yeah I think you're right. I think that they they will be associated with the slot era, because You know, that that midfield was completely revamped last season, completely revamped. a lot of, you know, know, ah a lot of people, a lot of pundits were saying, oh, you know, Liverpool are going to it's going to take a long time for them to kind of get back into into the top four into challenging for the title, because they've got a completely new midfield. But they did well last season. And the way that slot has kind of
00:31:31
officialgspn
tinkered with that midfield and rejigged it and put players in positions that they weren't playing last season, obviously principally Gravenberg. I think you're right, is that midfield is going to be slots kind of slots era midfield, I think.
00:31:48
Adarsh
Yeah, and and we kind of touched on it. One of the great things of Klopp was... He didn't just rebuild Liverpool. He real he made Liverpool sustainable. So we've we've got a squad now, regardless of who the manager was, obviously his slot, but whoever came in was going to have an ah ah an easier job than he did. we're seeing that with players. He probably, like, for example, I think Klopp signed Gravenberg with his potential, but didn't really know how to really use him last season. He kind of was still figuring out his game. Obviously he didn't have that much time, game time at Bayern Munich as well. So it was kind of one of those where he can obviously see the potential.
00:32:21
Adarsh
but he's thinking the next manager's got a player here, but I don't have enough time to get the best out of him. And we're clearly seeing that this season with with slot, hes he's coached him into that number six position. He has honestly been an unbelievable player this season and probably our best player this season.
00:32:36
Adarsh
Players like Mikasa already sort of got that Premier League experience, but he's, yeah, no, I agree.
00:32:38
officialgspn
World class player for me. I think it's just a world class player.
00:32:42
Adarsh
He is a world-class player. He makes everything look easy. I can't believe we've gone for 35 million, and I can't believe he was he was playing at Brighton before.
00:32:47
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:32:49
Adarsh
No disrespect to Brighton, obviously, but like that level of quality player that we can sign. And top is right.
00:32:54
officialgspn
It is disrespect. Adash, it is.
00:32:56
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:32:57
officialgspn
Let's just call it what it is.
00:32:57
Adarsh
Oh, sorry.
00:32:58
officialgspn
We're disrespecting the Daily Daily Brighton team.
00:32:58
Adarsh
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I hope ah when we when we do meet with Brighton.
00:33:03
officialgspn
You're going to make a mental note of this for one of the crossover Thursdays, right?
00:33:05
Adarsh
Yeah. They are, they probably will. But then in terms of Slott, I think, yeah, he he's he's another player that kind of was bought for the future.
00:33:13
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:33:14
Adarsh
Klopp has obviously utilised him a lot last season, but yeah, what that's what i'm I really like about what Klopp's done and what Slott's obviously doing is trying to figure out what those players are ah ah good at, what they can how they can incorporate into his system and they're carrying that out really.
00:33:27
officialgspn
I've got a story about Sir Boslai. I don't know if you've heard this. When he was a kid. Adash has got this look on his face where when when he when he doesn't believe what I'm going to say, he has this look on his face.
00:33:37
Adarsh
let's Yeah.
00:33:40
officialgspn
But I promise you, Google is your friend. You can Google this.
00:33:43
Adarsh
Alright.
00:33:45
officialgspn
When he was a kid, his his dad was concerned that he was going to grow too big. right And his thing was that the smaller someone's feet, the better technical skills they have.
00:33:59
officialgspn
right So he he purposely gave so Sir Bosley shoes that were ill fitting too small for him, so that his feet wouldn't grow too big.
00:34:11
officialgspn
And so this guy is over so I think he's six foot one or six foot two. His his feet are size seven.
00:34:18
Adarsh
That's ridiculous.
00:34:19
officialgspn
It's ridiculous, right?
00:34:21
Adarsh
I did see, I didn't know his, I didn't, random fact, but I did kind of know his, he had smallest feet for some reason.
00:34:26
officialgspn
Yeah, this is dad's fault.
00:34:27
Adarsh
I don't, maybe I read the interview. That's crazy.
00:34:30
officialgspn
I know. and Apparently he thought he and even he says that the way he strikes the ball the way he pings the ball is is down to the feet is down to the fact that his feet aren't too big.
00:34:40
Adarsh
Damn.
00:34:41
officialgspn
There you go.
00:34:41
Adarsh
I could just think of Carl Koppach thinking of some inside joke around him having to walk the end.
00:34:44
officialgspn
Yeah, exactly. Exactly. and And
Slott's Front Three and Squad Depth
00:34:47
officialgspn
another useless fact from Sawa.
00:34:47
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:34:49
officialgspn
But they there you go let's let's go. Let's go to the front three. Salah is the only survivor from that legendary front three. But Jota has come in, who, again, probably our best finisher.
00:35:05
Adarsh
Hmm.
00:35:06
officialgspn
Diaz. And then if you look at the, we've said this before, you know, the squad that Slott has got now, from the forward positions, he's got Nunez Gappo and Kieza as the backups to Salar Jota Diaz, which is phenomenal. And then the rest of the squad, you got Kelleher in goal, got Connor Bradley at right back, Gomez Kwanza in the centre back positions,
00:35:35
officialgspn
I've got a question mark over Simakas because I don't think that he's good enough, which is probably Gomez is probably good. He will switch left back and centre back. But then Jones and Elliot, you know, I think are really really, I've got really good strong futures at Liverpool. But when you look at that squad, you actually realise that we're a bit light in midfield.
00:35:57
Adarsh
Yeah, I noticed that as well. And I think that's kind of, we saw in the summer, obviously the links to Zuber Mendi and other players, but I do think that's, if you're looking at slot on what he wants to do and how he's going to bring more players in and implement his philosophy at the club.
00:36:02
officialgspn
Yeah.
00:36:11
Adarsh
I think he's he's not going to sign many players, but he's going to sign the right players and the players that are going to, you know, we don't, I don't think we need too much. We just need probably a few players here and there. Obviously what happens in the transfer market is quite unpredictable.
00:36:24
Adarsh
So you don't, you never know, but The squad we've got is is decent for this season, but if we want to go far in competitions for seasons to come on the slot, that's where we're going to see like his real muscle in the market.
00:36:34
officialgspn
And do you think do you think that we'll see a different kind of player? So let's say in in midfield, whereas, you know, Klopp's, you know, first, you know, the champion teams, you know, you had kind of real workmen like midfielders like, you know, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner,
00:36:53
officialgspn
And now, you know, even though these are Klopp signings, but you've got but but he wasn't going to play Graven Burke as a holding number six. You've got Graven Burke, you've got McAllister, Sir Bosley, the fact that Graven Burke, I know he's probably in there more out of necessity than than design. But do do you think that that points to slot being more kind of, you know, ball possession friendly in in that midfield area?
00:37:22
Adarsh
Yeah, I think so. I think he wants those those more technical players that can play with one-two touch, play between the lines, through the lines as well. So I think that's obviously what we wanted to get in the transfer market. But I do think as well, on ah ah and um the flip side, is that his coaching, and we're already seeing this already, that some of the players, probably the younger players like Elliott, for example, who I was really excited to see on the slot, but has obviously had that injury.
00:37:47
Adarsh
I think you can see a lot of the younger players buy into that system as well because we saw under Klopp when the youngsters came on they were given so much energy motivation and they pressed for their lives because obviously that's what Klopp wanted them to do but I think we're going to see some of the younger players coming through in the academies of over the next few years that are going to be built in with that style of of football being able to you know play between the lines keep the ball I think as well we might see some changes in defence because obviously we'll want to play out from the back a lot more and we are doing decent at that so far this season but maybe Slott wants another centre back who can do that more effectively maybe a left back, Robertson's getting a bit older as well so they those are those are positions I think Slott would be looking at and like I said as well the players that are getting older that were already heroes on the clock they're going to need replacing sometime sooner and don't want to bring up the contract situations or Salah and Van Dijk but
00:38:24
officialgspn
Mm.
00:38:39
Adarsh
If they don't go to plan, that's where probably we'll see slot and how we handles that in the in the in the market.
00:38:45
officialgspn
Yeah,
Episode Conclusion and Next Episode Preview
00:38:45
officialgspn
that's going to have a massive impact on on our strategy for next season. But that's all for today. You've been listening to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. Join us again tomorrow for the crossover episode where the Daily Liverpool team go head to head with the Daily Crystal Palace team ahead of Saturday's early kickoff in the Premier League.
00:39:10
officialgspn
Don't forget to support the show. Give us a follow so that you can get the very latest content when it drops. Comment on social media and spread the word with your friends and family. Thank you for listening and we'll see you again tomorrow.