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Crossover Thursday - Carabao Cup Final
18 Plays19 days ago
Adarsh and Iain from the Daily Newcastle Team are here to get you super hyped for Liverpool vs. Newcastle at Wembley! 🏟️ We'll break down how both teams are playing right now, what the biggest battles on the field will be, and even guess who's going to be in the starting lineups! Plus, we'll try to predict the final score! ⚽️
If you want to know everything about Newcastle, check out the Daily Newcastle podcast! This Sunday's game is gonna be awesome – who's gonna win the first trophy of the season? Tune in to find out! 🎙️🔴 #LFC #CarabaoCupFinal #Liverpool
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Transcript
00:00:02
Iain
Amen.
Introduction to the Daily Liverpool Podcast
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to today's episode of the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm Adarsh and it's crossover Thursday.
Carabao Cup Final Preview
00:00:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Today we're looking ahead to the Carabao Cup final this weekend as Liverpool take on Newcastle at Wembley.
00:00:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm delighted to say that I'm joined by Ian from the Daily Newcastle team. Ian, how's it going?
00:00:29
Iain
it's all going It's all going well, thank you for asking Adasha. We're just ah very excited about Sunday. Probably not really thinking about how the game's going to go, but just praying that we win somehow.
00:00:43
Iain
ah
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's going to be it's going to be a cagey affair, I think, on on Sunday. But we'll get into a lot about the game um in
Episode Structure Overview
00:00:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
today's episode. In part one, we're going to look at the form guide of both teams. In part two, we'll look at the key battles where the game would be won and lost.
00:00:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then in part three, a predicted lineup for both teams and also score predictions. I don't know how you are feeling about score predictions, Ian. This is probably one of the games of the season you probably don't want to predict, but we're have to do it anyway. So, um yeah, going into the form guide, I think...
Impact of Champions League Exit on Liverpool
00:01:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's start with Liverpool, obviously, because the big elephant in the room is that we're recording this the day after Liverpool have been knocked out of the Champions League by PSG on penalties. Obviously, I'm gutted. um Ian, I know we were just talking a bit before the recording today, but from a Newcastle point of view, how does that game impact you looking at Liverpool?
00:01:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think it brings an inspired Liverpool on Sunday or do you think they'll still be wounded?
00:01:37
Iain
I don't know, they look really down afterwards, ah understandably, because they played so much better in the second leg than they had done when they robbed Paris in Paris last week. um And ah and it must be it must be, given that the Premier League is probably already in the back pocket six weeks ago, it must be the main goal for the guys at Liverpool to have won that.
Injury Concerns and Fatigue Factors
00:02:01
Iain
and I don't know how they win the group stage and then end up with the toughest opponent in the round of 16. It seems a bit harsh that. I guess that's just the way the numbers worked. From our point of view, watching it last night, you know, we're delighted it went into extra time.
00:02:16
Iain
Try and exhaust all of those Liverpool players. I know Trent went off and he looks pretty doubtful sort of for the Cup final, which has got to be good news for us.
00:02:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:28
Iain
ah That'll mean there'll be a Three assists from Connor Bradley, of course. have But as it stands tonight, if Trent isn't playing, then we we think that's so evening up injuries because we've suffered with a few in the last last week and a half.
00:02:44
Iain
um Canarte went off looking pretty clocked as well. I don't know if you can update this on on how
Penalty Shootout Worries
00:02:50
Iain
that's looking. I just saw him go off very sheepishly.
00:02:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:02:55
Iain
um and that And if he's not alongside Van Dijk,
00:02:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:02:59
Iain
That all will be very encouraging for Alex Izak to be working some magic for us.
00:03:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:05
Iain
um
00:03:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Kanate Kanate was um I don't think it's too serious but I think we'll probably get an update in the next few days but yeah I think from a new cast point for you must have enjoyed that extra time we looked shattered towards the end of that um
00:03:06
Iain
That's probably it
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
that game. And also if you're looking at from a penalties point of view, if the, if the cup final goes to penalties, then maybe Liverpool need to definitely step up in that, in that regard. Um,
00:03:28
Iain
I mean, yeah we'd we'd have to hope that all of those fantastic players miss two penalties in a row, though, which is unlikely, because we wouldn't expect them to to all miss, will we, last night?
00:03:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, it's the pressure of penalties, isn't it? But I think from a Liverpool point of view, obviously, the cup final kind of comes, in a way, you can argue it comes at a good time and at a bad time. In a good time in terms of this is the perfect game to bounce back. You win, you win a trophy, first trophy of the season.
00:03:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you lose, it just puts a bit of a dampener on what's been a pretty tough week from a Liverpool point of view. But I'm i' the optimist, so I'm looking at this as an opportunity for us to bounce back. um But from the Newcastle point of view,
Newcastle's Current State and Key Player Absences
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
what...
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
what what's the mood going into this game? Because obviously we know what happened two years ago in the cup final against United, back at Wembley. it's big It's a lot of anticipation around around Newcastle in this cup final. So how do you think the mood's been recently?
00:04:20
Iain
Yeah, well, of the mood the mood in the last, well, since we were knocked out um knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton, ah obviously Gordon was sent off in that game, so he misses the ah final.
00:04:35
Iain
We learned a few days after that that Lewis Hall had to have an operation on his ankle. He's out for the the rest of the season. Sven Botman, who's just about been coming back for maybe four weeks is also having a little operation on his knee, probably not back until May.
00:04:52
Iain
So the mood through last week was increasingly desperate. and We had this really weird Premier League match after everybody that we're battling against to get into Champions League places had picked up points away at West Ham, which was a ah real banana skin given that we were these players short. and Our form This is a stat going back 20 years. We've played something like, I think it's 20 games before a cup final over the last 20 years. And we've won five of them now, including the West Ham one on on Monday.
00:05:33
Iain
So our form always dips when we've got something like this to look forward to. If we hadn't ground out that 1-0 win um on Monday against West Ham, what a terrible match to watch though. I mean,
00:05:48
Iain
God help any neutral who sat all the way through it. um But I think that's encouraging. A clean sheet, winning qui nasty, and as it were, ah without Gordon.
00:06:02
Iain
But some better performances from one or two of our key players who have been off it for the last three or four weeks. You might remember we went on a fantastic nine straight win run back down to early...
00:06:16
Iain
earth with a bump over the last few weeks with being brushed aside at Anna Field, hammered by Man City there. We're fortunate in that we were we we beat Nottingham Forest in between those. So effectively that's like drawing three games against those top teams.
00:06:36
Iain
um So we haven't damaged our Champions League and challenge. There's 10 games left, we're bang there. And I think that is key.
00:06:48
Iain
So for me, Cup Final is a bonus. It's going to be a fantastic day. I'm going to enjoy it, whatever happens. um And after last night's game, I think maybe one or two areas have leveled up a little bit because we just felt like the whole world was on us last week.
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i think i think its it's weird because going into... if Before the PSG game, from a Liverpool point of view, I'm going into this week really excited. I'm like, OK, this is an opportunity to really...
00:07:16
Iain
Thank
00:07:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a big week of our season. Get through to the Champions League last eight,
Midfield Battle: Strategies and Strengths
00:07:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
then the cup final. But it didn't happen like that, obviously, for Liverpool. And if anything, I've i've heard from a couple of fans in the Liverpool fan base. Now we're kind of worried on Sunday because...
00:07:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
you mentioned sort of Trent getting injured and that's a big player that we're going to be missing for the cup final. or He obviously missed last season's cup final as well at Wembley. And then, Canato potentially being a risk. And yeah, if if he's a risk for the game, Isak is going to have a lot less competition going forward um on Sunday. But,
00:07:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're right in terms of the injuries. And I think... I looked at that Newcastle team against West Ham and it's still a strong team um from my... You've still got the back four, looks solid. Liff Remento, I think, has done a really good job um since moving to left-back.
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:08:04
Iain
Well, I think ah think Hall did really well against Salah at your place.
00:08:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
he did.
00:08:09
Iain
I mean, he looked ridiculous. Some of the positions he had to get himself into, but he stopped him. and and We thought Liveramento playing on that side might...
00:08:20
Iain
might be okay because Livermanto being a a natural right footer, he's actually set up to put the tackles in every time Salah cuts in. That's still true, but what we noticed against West Ham is going forward, whereas Livermanto makes all of those lovely overlapping runs, but it's like Trippier playing for England on the wrong side.
00:08:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he'll. Hmm.
00:08:41
Iain
He's got to stop the ball and bring it back onto his right foot before he can play it. So it takes a massive... um A massive plus in our normal transition game because Hall overlapping with Gordon and then putting a cross straight in on his left foot is something that we use a lot.
00:08:58
Iain
That's not going to be available.
00:09:02
Iain
yeah Compensated on that side of the pitch, though, if you haven't got Trent playing his wonder balls. I heard him described as the best passer of the ball, best English passer of the ball in the Premier League.
00:09:14
Iain
And it can't be far off.
00:09:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and it's a big player we're going to miss on Sunday. But um I think there are obviously some players that coming back to fitness that are going to be available, particularly particularly from a Newcastle point of you think Joe Linton coming back as well makes a big difference. How do you see him?
00:09:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
i know this is kind of touching into what we'll touch in part two, but do you think Joe Linton will be operating as a midfielder or maybe on that left-hand side? Given more than being out.
00:09:37
Iain
Well, think Joe Linton will stay in midfield so he can drop back almost as a third centre-half at the corners because he's very good in the air in defensively and Willick could play left wing and he is dynamic going forward.
00:09:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:56
Iain
and But I think the first choice, and that's why he was picked to play against West Ham, is for Barnes just to step into his natural position and replace Gordon. Now, Barnes has been... I think it's fair to say, i he's come on off the bench and scored some good goals.
00:10:14
Iain
I think he scored only one less than Gordon has this year, but he's nowhere near the dynamic player that he is, that Gordon is. and That said... It was two Barnes efforts were the only two shots on target we had in the first half. And of course, he he played the assist for Guamara to score the winner against um and s West Ham. So a much less flashy player than Gordon.
00:10:38
Iain
But his numbers stack up. He is quite effective. I think he was picked and played through on Monday because that is Howe's preferred choice.
00:10:49
Iain
Barnes hasn't had a lot of football, so, you know, Hopefully the West Ham game will have given him a little bit, made him a little bit more sharp. If he'd flopped, and he was still talking about how disappointing he is, but that's because we're comparing him to what Gordon does on that side.
00:11:06
Iain
We'll be all right with Joe Linton keeping his left-sided midfield position and Willett going down the left, I think. So there's choices.
00:11:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:15
Iain
We're going to keep you guessing.
Pressing Styles and Game Impact
00:11:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. do you know what? To be fair, I'm actually, I'm um'm a big fan of Harvey Barnes in terms of what he's done at Leicester. And since going, I know since going to Newcastle, hasn't been as easy for him. But I think if I'm from a Liverpool point of view, if Harvey Barnes is starting on that left-hand side, it's more of a threat. And I think he's going to cause more problems and ask more questions for that Liverpool defence. Then if it's Joe Linton, he's probably more effective in the middle than Harvey Barnes. So I think, yeah, it's an interesting, interesting battle, but we're going to touch on key battles after this very short break.
00:12:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Amazing. So, like I said before the break, we're going to talk about some of the key battles that will be happening on Sunday.
00:12:23
Iain
you
00:12:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ian, I want to touch on the midfield battle first, because I think that's an interesting part of the pitch. We've got, well, I think Gravenberg, McAllister and Sobbslein will probably start um the game for Liverpool. Sobbslein have been absolutely incredible form recently.
00:12:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
probably against a midfield of Tonali, Guimaras and Joe Linton. um Maybe there might be a few changes here and there, but how do you see that midfield battle shaping up? Because it seems quite a combative midfield in both aspects, but that, in my opinion, is where they think the game's going to be won and lost.
00:12:57
Iain
I think it depends if if our guys turn up I think ah think if they're on form if you go back to the matches against Arsenal in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup if we have Jolinton, Gamarish and Tonali although they didn't all play in all of those games but they when they played they
Newcastle's Defensive Challenges
00:13:19
Iain
played really well if they're on form like that I think we'll win the midfield battle and if we can get the ball up to Azac however many times then who knows what will happen.
00:13:30
Iain
When we played two or three weeks ago at Anfield, Gumaris was way off it. I think Joe Linton was wasn't playing, was he? He was still injured.
00:13:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you, thank you, dear.
00:13:41
Iain
and and And I think that's why Liverpool seem to stroll to a 2-0 victory without getting out of third gear really. um
00:13:52
Iain
ah Our only chance is for the guys to win the midfield battle. I think we've got an ageing defence. He's saying it looks solid. It isn't. they'll give it They'll give chances up just by misplacing passes.
00:14:04
Iain
and Lewis Hall being missing puts Liveramento on the wrong side, brings Trippier, who is a fading star. He played really well against West Ham, but but hes he's far less reliable than he was.
00:14:19
Iain
Scha as well. the wrong side of 33. I think ah think he, well, he would be first name on the team sheet this time last year. Now, with he's a he's an accident waiting to happen. I heard somebody in the crowd saying that Sharon Byrne playing centre-half against Brighton was like watching them playing in a bomb scare.
00:14:42
Iain
To give you an idea of how jittery they look, and and I honestly don't think that you're from three will give them a moment's rest. So that that could be... All the good work in the midfield could easily be undone by one or two aberrations at the back from Newcastle.
00:14:59
Iain
I mean, we gave you that first goal after 10 minutes, really, when we played at your place. This is what I mean. There's so many games where we give up the first goal just almost to get started. and We managed not to do it against West Ham and ended up winning 1-0. So, yeah. But the midfield, for sure, is...
00:15:17
Iain
the key battle. If we turn up, it'll be close. And if we don't, I think we will will be well beaten.
00:15:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and I think when it comes to the cup final in particular, that first goal is always the most important. It sets the tone of the game. But I think from a Liverpool point of view, Sabozlai has been probably our standout midfielder over the last few weeks.
00:15:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
We were saying on the podcast on the Daily Liverpool show that um the day lipo show that Each of our midfielders has kind of had their own moment this season. It kind of started off being the Gravenberg show at the beginning of the season.
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then probably over the winter period, McAllister really stepped up. But now we're seeing Sabozlai really feel like getting into his groove. And obviously, like you mentioned, he opened the scoring in the game at Manfield. how do you Do you think he's going to be a big player from a Liverpool point of view? Because he just seems like he can run for days and days.
00:16:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Even at the end of that PSG game, he was i mean he came off with about 10, 15 minutes to go. But he gives everything to the Liverpool shirt.
00:16:16
Iain
he he certainly does um and me other Newcastle supporters perhaps we've tracked him before he moved
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:16:25
Iain
because he was going to come to Newcastle, apparently, for a long time, right up until the he signed for Liverpool. So I followed him with great interest since he started, because thinking he should be in a black and white shirt. Now, we've got Tonali instead as a midfielder, and and, you know, now he's playing, we're really happy with him.
00:16:45
Iain
um Yeah, he runs all day, doesn't he? And he's he's a good player. He's a very good player. But,
00:16:54
Iain
It's all down to whether Joe Linton gets onto him and stops him. Depends whether Guimaraes and McAllister fall out. I think we go back to the the match at St James's Park.
00:17:12
Iain
They were on it that night. McAllister didn't get anywhere near the ball and because the three midfielders ran that show for the first half. i mean, Liverpool came out in the second half and were and different beast, but you were hanging on at the end of the first half.
00:17:29
Iain
And and that it'll be like that, won't it? It'll go in fits and starts, but oh yeah, I don't think you'll see Shabushlai, if that's how you say his name, won't stop running, that's for sure.
00:17:42
Iain
But he's got such a good shot on him. I mean, everything seems to be going through him at the moment. and When Liverpool have kind of Maybe it's, i don't know if it's because you don't have to play as well anymore because you've got so far ahead in the Premier League. It does seem like Liverpool have gone off the boil a little bit, but not so, Brasla. He is stepping up.
00:18:01
Iain
His performance is is improving.
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, 100%. I think that's a very good, I think that's very fair point because we've kind of coasted the Premier League and no one's really challenged us when it comes to sort of those games. And I think from a little point of view, it's actually kind of, it's quite easy to say like, oh, we're not playing well, but we're still picking up points. And that's the most important thing when you're going for a title race or going far in any competition.
00:18:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:18:28
Iain
Yes, he does.
00:18:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, like you said, Sobber's Lie has been one of the players who's been consistent for throughout that period. Yeah. And it's good that you mentioned the game at St. James's because that day we looked really shaky at the back because of how well Newcastle pressed and the energy that you brought to that game. And if we're looking at front threes and how teams are going to set up and press, do you think it's a battle of the press as well? Because I think Isak sets the press really well for Newcastle.
00:18:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, Gordon has a big role in that, but he's going to be missing.
00:18:55
Iain
yes he does
00:18:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So how do you think both teams, because they'll have probably a similar style of approach to the game, high energy, high intensity, pressing. How do you see that battle in terms of the intensity?
00:19:11
Iain
Did Liverpool need to do it the whole game? Or did they just do it to show what they could do and then we stepped right back off it and that's why you could just pick your moments to score? I think we need to yeah we need to be on it.
00:19:23
Iain
We need to be bold. We need to go man for man. That might sound like suicide against Liverpool's excellent 11 men, but that is how that's how the press can work for you.
00:19:35
Iain
um And that intense press is our identity. has been ah We've been off it half the games this season.
00:19:46
Iain
um And I think Gordon being missing for us will be a big loss because I don't think Barnes offers the same sort of
Harvey Barnes vs Key Player Gordon
00:19:55
Iain
um pressing. that might be That might be why it could be Willock who starts because he will he will press.
00:20:04
Iain
and Whether it's effective or not is a different question. and But but butd he's he's more energetic and he'll get up and down quicker.
00:20:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and I think one...
00:20:14
Iain
It's just frightening to think about Liverpool pressing Schaar and Byrne. and I think our most technically gifted defender is definitely Lewis Hall. he He's got fantastic control, close control.
00:20:28
Iain
Tino's not far behind him.
00:20:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right.
00:20:30
Iain
But I'm just going to hope that Trippier's Experience means that he can marshal them so that they're able to get out of that. But expect more ah long balls, I think.
00:20:44
Iain
i The other thing which would make a big difference is whether it's Pope or Dubravka who gets picked playing goal. Because Dubravka is very good at the ball at his feet and picking out a pass to somebody, not just at the side of the box, but at chipping it over to somebody on the halfway line in a bit of space.
00:21:03
Iain
Pope can't do that. hope ah We don't even want him to try to do that. If Pope wellies it that goes out in the opposition half, then that is one of the better sorts of his distribution with his feet.
00:21:16
Iain
He's great at throwing the ball out. um So, yeah, so I think look at the look at which goalkeeper we have to determine how well we're going to cope with the press.
00:21:27
Iain
Because if it's Pope rolling the ball out Burns, and um It'll go backwards and forwards. And if you're all over us, then yeah, they they panic. They panic. It's scary to think of it.
00:21:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah It reminds me of um when, I think a few see was it a few seasons ago in the cup final that Pope got suspended for the cup final against United and then Dubravka was cup tied and it meant that Karius was in goal, right?
00:21:39
Iain
um
00:21:51
Iain
Yeah. Well, Dubravka was on the Man United bench.
00:21:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:54
Iain
Dubravka a winner's medal in that game.
00:21:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. that was it
00:21:57
Iain
And we had Karius in.
00:21:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, I mean, i can I can relate to how it's like to have Karius in goal. um But I think it's a good point you mentioned, man.
00:22:05
Iain
he only plate He only played twice. He played in the Cup final and he played one league game. It might have been away at Liverpool, was it? Or away at Man City. It was a really big game.
00:22:17
Iain
They were the only two matches he played. I thought he did all right, actually. Couldn't blame him for the goals. ah Horrible deflection to get Man U's second goal. I thought he did all right.
00:22:29
Iain
But there you go.
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:22:31
Iain
He was a good goalkeeper until that Champions League final.
00:22:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was. We have this debate. I think he's actually a decent goalkeeper, but he's just had the worst game of his life in the biggest the game.
00:22:40
Iain
He did.
00:22:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So think, yeah, it's always going to impact him.
00:22:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there's one more key battle that i want to touch on. And you kind of mentioned there's those long balls over the top.
00:22:44
Iain
Okay.
00:22:47
Iain
Okay.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's quite a mouthful in key battle, but Van Dijk against Isak. I mean, you mentioned before the before we started recording, Isak always seems to score against Liverpool and he always seems to give Van Dijk a tough game.
00:23:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think that's where... I personally think that's where the game is won and lost. If Van Dijk can handle Isak, I think Liverpool have a great chance. If Isak gets the better, Van Dijk, Newcastle have a great chance.
00:23:09
Iain
and one Well, who comes in instead of Canate if Canate is injured?
00:23:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kwanzaa has to come in, I think. But I'm hoping Canate is fit, but if not, Kwanzaa comes in and then right back. Bradley's still out injured, actually, so it might be Endo coming in or...
00:23:25
Iain
Oh, right.
00:23:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not really sure who else. Maybe Simakas has power pack.
00:23:30
Iain
See, that that might be... Sibikas has left usually, though, isn't he?
00:23:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i think I think we don't have cover the because Gomez is also out injured as well. So it might be a tricky one.
00:23:40
Iain
Yeah, yeah.
00:23:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not sure what we'll pick.
00:23:44
Iain
I think all of that will stack up as to as to how effective Isaac is against Van Dijk.
00:23:55
Iain
Even with Trent playing, you Gordon whizzing past Trent and putting a ball through for Isaac, who ended up getting fouled by Van Dijk when Van Dijk got a red card couple of years ago.
Key Individual Matchups
00:24:08
Iain
ah Last year, Last year, Isaac and Gordon combined for ah very good goal. And we ended losing 4-2 on that somehow.
00:24:19
Iain
It was 3-2 with four minutes to go, but um I don't know how. Dubravka made about 15 saves that night. Yeah, he does do very well. And our hopes are pinned on Isaac being able to do something for us. and And we we'll be looking for him, you know.
00:24:35
Iain
there's a There is a good connection between Guimaraš... Murphy, Izak, they kind of know where each other are without looking. And if you put Joe Linton and Willock together, because Willock's got a similar thing with Izak as well.
00:24:51
Iain
I don't know if you remember the the goal in the 6-1 against Tottenham, where Willock hit the ball with the outside of his foot around the back of the defender and Izak ran through to score.
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah, it plays out pretty good for me.
00:25:03
Iain
That was the fourth goal after 19 minutes. after nineteen minutes um Yeah, if the Liverpool defence is disrupted and there's nobody in it in right back, you might actually see Harvey Barnes do some damage down there.
00:25:20
Iain
I talked to the Liverpool boys about Barnes and they said that when he was a young lad, he used to go past people all of the time, but he but you could never score. got injured at Leicester, practised his shooting, suddenly became very good at shooting and and a lot of his goals are him cutting in and putting it into the top corner, um but never ever went past another defender once he'd come back.
00:25:46
Iain
And that's the Barnes who we've seen. He doesn't take anybody on. He'll cut in. and And, you know, as we saw when England played ah in the World Cup, when you don't have anybody who's properly a left winger playing on the left wing, you just dilute your attack. Everything's going to come down the right and it's very easy to defend against.
00:26:09
Iain
So, fingers crossed we won't fall into that trap. But, yeah, I think ah think that's where the... think Isaac has got a bit of an Indian sign on Van Dijk.
00:26:24
Iain
I mean, he breezed past him and scored a wonderful goal to open the scoring in that three three at at Newcastle earlier this year. and And if he does tend to score against Liverpool, so hopefully he'll get one and after about 10 minutes and that will settle us and we give you proper game.
00:26:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I think it's a number of key battles that are going to be interesting on Sunday, but um that's definitely one of them.
00:26:46
Iain
yeah
00:26:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
After the break, we're going to touch on score predictions and our predicted lineups.
00:27:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Amazing.
Expected Starting Lineups
00:27:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, going into predicted line-ups, I'm going to start with the Liverpool predicted line-up, and I think there'll be a few changes.
00:27:36
Iain
Thank you.
00:27:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I'm hoping there's going a few changes because of what happened midweek in Champions League, and I think a few players going to be affected by that, especially injuries. um I think Canante's going to be fit, so I'm going to go with Alisson in goal, which is quite harsh because Kelleher's usually our cup goalkeeper, and he's had a really good recent recent record at Wembley, but I think you've got go, Alisson.
00:28:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kwanzaa will probably fill in at right-back. Kanate and Van Dijk centre-backs, left-back. I'm going Robertson. Midfield, I think it's that McAllister-Gravenberg-Solversline midfield. They looked really tired against PSG, though, so that's my only concern.
00:28:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But do I think Slott will freshen it up? i'm not too sure. And then up front, this is where the big dilemma is. Because do you start Darwin Nunes? um I think you do. I think you start him. I think for cup final, he's going to be fired up.
00:28:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's going to bring that energy. um And Jot at the moment is not really cutting it. So I'm going to go jot um
00:28:34
Iain
Is it 20 odd games since he scored, Jotter?
00:28:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jossa, yeah, he's he's in... It's so weird because he's in such weird form. Like, there is... Because he's had a few injuries this season, so he he hasn't looked the same player, but he just looks like he's short of confidence, giving the ball away a lot recently as well, especially in that PSG game.
00:28:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um He just he looks really short confidence. So I think... And also, if we're talking about penalties, I'd rather bring on Jota for a penalty shootout than Darwin Nunes. So I'll start Nunes. think Diaz starts on the left-hand side and Salah, the main man on that right-hand side.
00:29:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Before we go into Newcastle team, Ian, what do you well do you think that's how Liverpool set up?
00:29:17
Iain
i I'd be surprised if Kanate is fit after the way he looked when he came off. But if he is, then that sounds... i mean, I don't know who you'd play right back because, as you said, if Trent's out and then Bradley's injured and Gomez is injured, um I don't know who else would fit in there because Conor is a centre-half, isn't he?
00:29:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's just in hall.
00:29:41
Iain
Yeah.
00:29:42
Iain
Yeah, well, that sounds but sounds reasonable.
00:29:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But...
00:29:45
Iain
I think... I think Kelleher might still play because he's an excellent goalkeeper. He hasn't done anything to let you down. And
00:29:55
Iain
but oh um mean he's not as he's no Alisson, that's for sure. but But, you know, why why would he change it? Seems a bit harsh.
00:30:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:03
Iain
Is Slott a harsh manager like that?
00:30:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think so. I think because Kelleher did play... Alisson played the first leg against Spurs um in the Carabao Cup, but then I think Kelleher came in for a second leg.
00:30:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a weird one. I think... I think Slott goes for Alisson purely because he's quite ruthless and I think he goes for the strongest team but possible. He's not someone who's changed a lot recently, so I think Alisson goes and...
00:30:25
Iain
Fair enough.
00:30:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd love see Kelleher in goal as well. I'd be happy with either. But I think he goes Alisson.
00:30:33
Iain
There's a lot of Newcastle fans secretly have Callagher on their shopping list in the summer, not James Trafford, because when Mamo Dashvili comes in, he's going to be third choice at Liverpool. He's not going to get a game, is he?
00:30:45
Iain
He's got to move on.
00:30:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he will, and this is a separate point, but I think he will look to stay in the Premier League if he does move on. And I think, to be honest, Newcastle comes from, I think it's the best choice for him.
00:30:52
Iain
Yeah.
00:30:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's going to get guaranteed first team football. He's a quality goalkeeper. And he seems like a player that would be adored by the the the Newcastle fan base. He just, it gives me that vibe that he would. um So if he does move on in the summer, I think Newcastle is a good choice.
00:31:09
Iain
Let's see. I wouldn't mind him.
00:31:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And maybe, eat maybe Isak comes in return.
00:31:11
Iain
I wouldn't mind him at all.
00:31:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
in x exceed Yeah, maybe maybe have to sort cho up chop up a few more million dollars, um probably like in the 50s, 60s, 70s, probably more than that.
00:31:16
Iain
Well, you'd have to send us about 15 Kellehers if you want, Isaac.
00:31:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But that that's a conversation for another day. Ian, what's your what's your predicted line-up for the Newcastle team?
00:31:33
Iain
Well... We have a clean bill of health from Monday night. Eddie said on his match preview on Friday that he'd play his strongest team because it's an important Premier League match. We had to win that. If we hadn't won that, we'd have been languishing in ninth, something like eight points off Nottingham Forest.
00:31:52
Iain
ah So i think he played his I think he played his best team on Monday, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was what he picked. We were surprised Pope got picked. To be honest, Dubravka's been in better form, um but Pope didn't do anything wrong on on the West Ham game.
00:32:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:10
Iain
So if it's Pope, ah
00:32:14
Iain
Trippier, Shah, Byrne and Leverimento with our Fab 3, Tonali, Guimara and Joe Linton in midfield. And I think Izak down the middle, Murphy on the right, pick themselves, probably Barnes, because as I say,
00:32:31
Iain
Eddie was fulsome in his praise of Barnes after the match. Um, because it was him who had his little flick and his little header and had shots on target, put the assist in for the goal.
00:32:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:32:43
Iain
I don't think we change it. That said, it was a rather, um, out of left field, three man, um, three center halves, back five that we picked both games against Arsenal. And that was super effective.
00:33:00
Iain
Um, Our record down at their place is almost as bad as our record at Anfield. But we won that first leg 2-0, playing 5-5-0 for the last half an hour, which was hilarious because Arsenal are really toothless up front, particularly now.
00:33:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
think idea.
00:33:18
Iain
and And I think Eddie just acknowledged that and said, well, we're just going to camp here 30 yards out. Let's see if he can score. And he had half an hour to do it and he couldn't. and He might do something like that, although...
00:33:31
Iain
I think the option to do that is personally is gone because Botman's injured.
00:33:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
india
00:33:37
Iain
Our LaSalle has been out and still out. So we'd have to bring Craft, Emil Craft in if we wanted to play three men at the back.
00:33:49
Iain
Couldn't posit. He tried. um Where was he tried this? I think he tried for about five minutes at the ah Man City game playing Kieran Trippier as a third centre-half with Murphy dropping back into wing-back.
00:34:08
Iain
But we got, I mean, we didn't touch the ball for the first five minutes and the mood just we were three down after half an hour.
00:34:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, going
00:34:15
Iain
So I don't think he'll play Trippier at centre-half, that's for sure. and i mean, it's boring, but he'll pick the same 11 to start that started against West Ham and we'll go 4-3-3 and we'll just, we'll try and take you on.
00:34:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah it's gonna be
00:34:30
Iain
to try and win win win the battles, win the duels.
00:34:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's going to be it's going to be an interesting game. Before we wrap up the podcast, we should do
Score Predictions
00:34:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
some score predictions. it wouldn't be it would it be fair to not do score predictions. I'm going to let you go first, Ian.
00:34:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going let you go first.
00:34:46
Iain
I thought you might.
00:34:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know it. pretty
00:34:48
Iain
I thought you might. You know, i don't know if you remember, um every single match I do a score prediction for, I pick Newcastle to win 3-1. and That's been coming in fairly regularly this year. so But could we win 3-1?
00:35:05
Iain
Could you see Isak scoring ah an early goal, Liverpool pressing hard, but Newcastle breaking away being two up at half-time, then defending again, then defending again, and Liverpool get one back, and they're pushing and they're pushing and they're pushing, but Wilson's on by then and breaks away and scores.
00:35:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was the dreamland for you guys.
00:35:25
Iain
that that We'll go for 3-1. Newcastle to win 3-1 in 90 minutes. Just got me fingers crossed we can get to penalties and then it's 50-50 chance. No, Newcastle to win three one is my prediction.
00:35:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bold, bold prediction. That's interesting.
00:35:38
Iain
I know, big odds. That will be big odds.
00:35:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Big odds, yeah...
00:35:41
Iain
Hopefully they'll come in.
00:35:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
big ah There's definitely big odds on that. um My experience of cup finals is that it's always a tight game. um but that I just think it's going to be... ah see it I either a 1-0 or a 1-1. And that's just because I know they're cagey.
00:35:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think it will be a 1-0 to Liverpool. I honestly don't... and that just This might sound pessimistic, but...
00:36:04
Iain
like you See, you're used to playing teams like Chelsea and Manchester City and you've not played Newcastle in a cup final before. Come on. look Well, not since you won 3-0 in 1974, was it?
00:36:19
Iain
See, that was easy. that was That was another Newcastle team that turned up and didn't play at Wembley.
00:36:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I don't know it's tough these cup finals I think it's cagey and I don't think I just think it's going to be a tight game and I think it will be think a mobile magic wins the game a bit like last season or just a corner set piece something like that I'm going to go with a 1-0 Liverpool win not sure who's going to score There might be someone rogue.
00:36:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe a Darwin Nunes. if he i mean it would be just sort It's the sort of game where he would he could just do it and he could just win the cup for us. That is the sort of um but yeah he is.
00:36:57
Iain
He does turn it on against Newcastle, that's for sure.
00:37:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
He has those teams where he just likes he just has a good record and hopefully he can bring the win from a lower point of view. Obviously, you're hoping for that 3-1 victory on Sunday.
00:37:08
Iain
Yeah, well, we're really hoping for 1-1 and penalties, because that's our best chance.
00:37:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Final season.
00:37:13
Iain
ah
00:37:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
kind If it goes to penalties, gosh, that is going to be a week of penalties for Liverpool. But um yeah, that is all for today's episode of the Daily Liverpool podcast. Thank you, Ian, from the Daily Newcastle podcast. Go check out the Daily Newcastle podcast after this.
00:37:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're going to be doing more preview ah previews for the game on Sunday, as will the Daily Liverpool team. um It's a big game on Sunday before the March international break. Who will win? We'll find out on Sunday. Thank you, Ian. And thank you, everyone, for listening.
00:37:42
Iain
Thank you very much.