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S1 E35 Crossover with Liverpool
13 Plays1 month ago
Our very own Dan sits down with our friends at GSPN Liverpool to talk about our weekend trip to Anfield.
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Transcript
Introduction and Game Preview
00:00:07
Speaker
sports podcast network Hello and welcome to today's episode of the Daily Liberal Podcast, brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm Adarsh Ramchand and on today's episode we are joined by a special guest from the Daily Villa Podcast, as we preview another mouth-routing gamer, Anfield, as Emery's side come as visitors on Saturday.
00:00:27
Speaker
In today's episode, we'll be diving into a preview of the game, looking at both teams' current form, how both managers were set up, and some of the key players and battles on the pitch, as well as some score predictions at the end. To help us analyze this all, I'm joined by Liverpool regular Michael Lake. Michael, how's it going?
00:00:42
Speaker
Yeah, I'm all good. Buzzing from the Levacuzzan game. It was good seeing Alonzo back, seeing him having a run around the city. But we had to prove that we made the right choice getting slot, didn't we? So yeah, it was really good having that and looking forward to the Villa game now. Yeah, I know. Delighted with that result. Still buzzing like you, Michael. Because probably I'll tell you, I've been our performance of the season so far. But from the Villa side, we've got Dan
Villa's Recent Struggles and Defensive Concerns
00:01:08
Speaker
joining us. Dan, how's everything?
00:01:10
Speaker
um I'm not so buzzing from our Champions League go, as you may imagine. um I'm absolutely petrified of potentially Saturday night. But, you know, let's keep the faith. We're not quite there yet. Maybe Emery's got a plan that he's going to enact in the next two days to bring us back to some sort of life.
00:01:31
Speaker
Yeah, no, I mean, apart from the last two games actually getting into sort of Villa's current form, I don't think Villa have been very impressive this season. um I'm sure Michael would agree as well. I think Emery's done an amazing job since he's been back in the Premier League. um But obviously we've had a bit of a blip with that Tottenham result last weekend and then obviously that controversial um decision in the Champions League. I don't know how to get too much into it, Dan, because I know we might press a few buttons, but yeah how do you keep it overall after the last two games?
00:01:57
Speaker
Our season has started off relatively well. The thing that has been a major concern is that our defence has looked slightly ropy. We always seem to have given teams a 1-0 head start before we start doing anything, um which we quite clearly did against Bruges, properly handed it to them. um so Intensity feels like it isn't where it should be knowing our current squad, but considering where we were chapped not too long ago, i'm I'm just enjoying the ride. Yeah, no, definitely. I mean, not it was not too long ago that you had Liverpool legend Steven Gerald as your manager. It didn't end obviously as well for you guys. but Sorry, it was just a little bit thick there for a moment.
00:02:46
Speaker
But obviously with Emery in charge, you guys are sort of on the right path. Michael, what have you made of Villa, actually, this season? Because obviously, with Emery, they've got Champions League football. It seems like they're not slowing down. Obviously, they've had a little bump in the road, but they're still really impressive. So what have you made of them?
00:03:00
Speaker
Yeah, I think i think um Villa last season were incredible and were like the surprise package. Obviously getting fourth is amazing. um I think this season, obviously you had the you had the conference league last year, wasn't it? that was That was a European competition, but I think the Champions League is maybe a little bit of a step up. um I mean, Villa have history and like they're getting back into the Champions League after so long is such a big big deal that I think maybe yeah You could point to that as being why maybe this season hasn't been quite as as good. I mean there's obviously some players like Olly Watkins isn't quite firing on all cylinders and I think maybe Kevin Duran is a little bit over performing at the moment just because he's got um absolutely loves a ah thunderbolt um from the from outside the box um and that's kind of getting you out of games at some points but I think once
00:03:52
Speaker
Once those two come back to where they should be, I think you'll be like flying again.
Villa's New Players and Tactical Analysis
00:03:57
Speaker
yeah As you were saying about the defence, last time you kept a clean sheet, was i mean it was against Bologna, but i mean it's Bologna. In the prem, it was against United, but again, it's United. so i mean like they um I think I think you've done well. I think I'm i'm liking the look of some of your new players. um I mean, Morgan Rogers, you had him for half a season, but I think he's starting to show his proper, proper ability. And I'm gonna do an honor was a great signing. I mean, you made Everton weaker and you got a, got a massive, massive guy in the midfield who can do everything.
00:04:33
Speaker
um So I think i think i'm I'm like in the look of Villa and I think like um you can as long as once you like sort of tweak yourself and get get yourselves back into the routine and Ollie Watkin starts scoring again, I think you'll be fine. like i' I think this is just that this last three three games against Palace Tottenham and Bruges have just been a little bit of a blip I think.
00:04:52
Speaker
because I think before that Bournemouth are flying anyway so get ah to get a draw against them is actually quite a good result after what they did to Arsenal and City. So i think I think it's just a ah short period and I think once you play Crystal Palace again I think you'll be back on top.
00:05:07
Speaker
i I think you're absolutely right. I think I'm not one of these Aston Villa fans on social media that has called for Emery to have a look at himself or anything like that. I think wea've we've been absolutely tremendous. I think we should build the statue for him now, quite frankly. you know And i'm I'm quite happy to lay that first brick.
00:05:28
Speaker
um Morgan Rogers, quite frankly, is an absolute steal and i'm I'm quite upset he hasn't been called up for England on this occasion. It's not necessarily ble blowing his trumpet too much, but what a player he is going to be if he carries on the way he is.
00:05:45
Speaker
And if Duran realised that the ball could bounce off his backside and go in, it would still be a goal, which, you know, it could have another four. um So, you know, it's early days. we the The season isn't done yet. And, you know, we're all just keeping the faith that will We'll get to the weekend and I don't know, we'll put forward a passenger. Who knows? That's definitely an optimistic. You never know though, you never know with Liverpool.
Liverpool's Tactical Strengths and Improvements
00:06:15
Speaker
Sometimes we have that occasional blip-up. Speaking of Liverpool, Dan, I wanted to get your opinion of Liverpool's start to the season. Obviously we've been in great form, top of the Champions League. It's hard for a lot of the Liverpool fans not to get carried away. But Arna Slott's done an absolutely amazing job since he's come through the doors at Liverpool replacing Jurgen.
00:06:33
Speaker
I want to get your what your opinion of what you've fought local so far this season. I've been incredibly impressed. Slott seems to have just taken over and carried on where Klopp left off, really. He's embraced certain Klopp elements um of the management of the team. He looks a little bit more pragmatic than when Klopp was there, which can only be a good thing for you guys, shoring up um the back end.
00:07:02
Speaker
um i I've been so impressed, though, with Liverpool's intensity to games. um I mean, we're going to talk about it a little bit later on with um the tactics and systems that you guys enforce, but you guys just seem to steam roller teams. If you go one nil behind, you go, OK, well, that's that's enough playing now. Well, we'll actually start. And that's quite a petrifying force.
00:07:29
Speaker
um But when you say, um you know, it's hard for Liverpool fans to not dream. Dream while it's all still there, Chuck. You might as well believe you're going to go and win it all. um I've still decided we're qualifying by the Champions League by winning the thing. So, you know, you've you've got to believe.
00:07:48
Speaker
That is very true. I mean, it it is, yeah, like it still is early days, but definitely it's been an incredible start, Michael. um I know you mentioned earlier, we're still buzzing off that Leverkusen win, what a win it was. Probably, like I said, performance of the season so far from a local point of view. How do you see like our current form? Obviously, there was some sort of doubts before, like the Brighton game, we weren't sort of blazing teams or kind of in games, quite tight games, but that Leverkusen result really puts us in great confidence ahead of Miller on the weekend.
00:08:16
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, like, I mean, there wasn't, I mean, the only game I can think of before, uh, the lay because in game that we actually like blew a team away was the West Ham game and in the, uh, EFL cup. Cause that was a, what a five one win. And the rest of all being like two ones, two nails, one nail, two twos by one goal margins. Um, I mean, like.
00:08:38
Speaker
we've been we I remember we did the crossover with um but the Chelsea guys and and we were saying that this run is going to be our hardest run so far because at that point we still had leave ah leave Leipzig, Arsenal, Brighton, twice, Leverkusen and we've come out with it with where one draw and the rest wins. like we've We've done really well to to get through that and I think being able to, ah what i what I was saying off the off before we started recording was I think watching Slott, I've been so impressed with the fact that at half time it feels like he doesn't just shout at them and says try harder, like maybe clop did, it seems like he actually does tactical tweaks or he
00:09:17
Speaker
he tells a player maybe just drop a little bit get a bit that bit more space and it it seems to work itself out because it seems like every time we have a bit of a mediocre first half against Chelsea against Brighton against Arsenal um but we then come out and then we say and then we change it and we suddenly start scoring, we win the games, we we put we actually put the other teams under the kosh, like well against Leipzig we came out and scored four in the second half. um That is really impressive and that is something that I've really taken away from watching him over the last few games. um Yeah, ah I think it's really good.
00:09:53
Speaker
Yeah, no, definitely. lot is It is exciting to see that we're sort of starting to develop that more attacking football that we were kind of so, so interested to see slot sort of employee when he became local manager, very like you mentioned.
00:10:06
Speaker
um But enough on sort of the two teams and therefore in this part two of the episode we're going to talk about systems, tactics and how both teams will line up on Saturday. Do you have a story that the world needs to hear? Have you struggled with reaching new audiences who are engaged with your story? Well, it might be time for you to start a podcast. Let me tell you about a platform we use here at Global Sports Podcast Network. Zencaster makes it easy to start a high quality podcast built for growth from day one.
00:10:33
Speaker
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00:10:50
Speaker
do you have a story that the world Fantastic. So, um like I said before the break, we're going to talk about tactics, systems, and how both teams will line
Speculations on Villa's Tactical Approach
00:10:58
Speaker
up. um Starting with Villa Dan, one of the key things that I've noticed um from Villa is that you kind of set up with those two sort of number 10s with what you mentioned, Morgan Rogers and then Jacob Ramsey, um sort of like playing in a number 10 pocket behind Ollie Watkins. Do you think Emery will set up similar or do you think because of the last few results, he might sort of take some changes, take some few risks, sort of change the team lineup?
00:11:23
Speaker
Well, I'm hoping Emery is going to try and dominate midfield for this game. Having watched a couple of Liverpool games that with with total respect, you seem to have a front six.
00:11:36
Speaker
and then your defence and hopefully if Villa can dominate that midfield we might find a little bit of joy. I noticed certainly in your Champions League match while your midfield, I think it was McAllister that seemed to drop back leaving quite a big gap in that first half that could be exploited obviously Schlock pushed him up in the second which totally closed that space. I'm i'm hoping we can exploit Something like that and playing with potentially a little bit of a lower block um You know to make you guys play through us or around us rather than going over the top you guys have such pace the That that petrifies me. I think if we get caught Too far up the pitch we we are in for some trouble with the intensity you guys have I think we're we're potentially gonna struggle to um
00:12:34
Speaker
to play against that, especially if you look at the last couple of games, we've looked really leggy all of a sudden. And your your pace in your forward line certainly worries me. So I think he's going to, Emory's going to go for a very short midfield. I think we're going to obviously see a lot of Nala and Tealemans. I suspect we're going to see McGinn playing out um wide, potentially not having Bailey start and then Ramsey over on the other side.
00:13:03
Speaker
um Bailey just seems to be a ah shadow of himself at the moment, which is really detrimental to the way we play. But I don't see us taking a lot of risks for this game. I think we're aiming to come through it unscathed.
00:13:22
Speaker
Yeah, I know, definitely. I think it's is interesting in terms of how Emery all set up, and you mentioned that midfield. I think, I've personally been really, really impressed with Tealman since he's joined for last week. He's added a bit of flair and creativity to that midfield, whilst like his range of passing is it's been it has been excellent.
00:13:38
Speaker
Speaking of the midfield, Michael, obviously, Curtis Jones has been excellent in the last few games in Liverpool, playing in that sort of deeper position next to Gravenberg. I mean, you see that in the field battles on Saturday, because you've got the physical presence of Anana versus Gravenberg, and that'll be an interesting battle. And then you've also got sort of Tealumens and Jones, kind of, it's quite similar profiles in midfield, if you like to say. So how would you see that battle score?
00:13:59
Speaker
Yeah, well, I'd probably compare tea lemons and Macalester probably a little bit more in terms of their like ah body. To be fair, if you put tea lemons and onane next to graven birch and Macalester, they are basically the same midfield. Probably the quality is slightly better in the Liverpool one.
00:14:15
Speaker
just because obviously McAllister's a World Cup winner, Graham Burch has played for Bayern, Ajax, all of them. But still, there's nothing on Thielemans and Onana. I think like against teams that kind of have a little bit more of a packed midfield, we seem to be playing a bit more of a 4-3-3 as opposed to our of normal 4-2-3-1, especially when Jones is ah is in that attacking midfield role, which has been going quite well.
00:14:42
Speaker
Um, I mean, he's actually had some output on like Saza by, um, but I think it it depends cause it seems like in the last few games slot has had more flexibility in terms of what he wants to do into with his midfield, like.
00:14:58
Speaker
whether he wants Jones to drop back more or Sotheby to push up more. So I think it will it will be ah an adaption in the game. And I think because you guys play that sort of 4-4-1-1 sort of formation, it might be that, as you said, it was a midfield battle. We want to win that midfield battle. So he might play Jones as that attack in mid.
00:15:19
Speaker
because that that three seems to be playing quite well. um And I think I wasn't a particular fan of Jones playing in that attack in midfield. And initially I preferred Sotheby up there, even if he wasn't sort of making the same, it wasn't doing the job as well as maybe um in terms of like goals and assists. But I did prefer how Sotheby did that job. But I think in a game where it's a two-man midfield versus a two-man midfield,
00:15:46
Speaker
I think having a having a Curtis Jones playing in that and just kind of overloading because as I said very similar for like type to midfield if it's just a 2v2 if you bring in Curtis Jones I think he can definitely shake that up and and overload that midfield. Yeah, it definitely seems like there's going to be a lot of um creative talent on Saturday because you mentioned the Jones, McAllister, obviously the Winglers, Diaz-Gacpa, whoever plays from a little point of view and then from Villa's point of view, you've got Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Jacob Ramsey, Leon Bailey, if he comes off the bench or whatever, if he's not. It seems like it's going to be sort of a really really tough game for the defenses, Dan. Speaking of defense, obviously Villa haven't been as solid
00:16:30
Speaker
And you mentioned that high line. Do you think memory will look to tweak that?
Defensive Challenges and Adjustments for Villa
00:16:34
Speaker
Do you think that's something that, from the point of view, if you see any changes be paid? Well, I think at the moment we're in a, I don't want to say a little bit of a squad crisis, but let's say it's a mini one. Villa seem to to lose a little bit of their shape and their chemistry when Matti Cash isn't there. And with, I mean, Konza, I think, um is one of the better defenders in the Premier League, but he is not a right back. It was proven to me um on Wednesday that he's not a right back. But Emery seems to have a real um
00:17:13
Speaker
I'm not sure if it's a trust issue with Costa, our young Serbian um right back. He's only he's done started one game and that was in the FL Cup, and I don't think he's going to let him have his second um full cup against Liverpool. um He seems to stick with what he knows, so I can see us lining up mean fairly similar.
00:17:38
Speaker
um to the Bruges game, maybe not Ming's and putting power in there, um because he gives us that attacking emphasis from defence. He's the chap that brings it forward and gives us that extra body in midfield when we have the ball. um So I don't see him very reinventing the wheel, really.
00:18:01
Speaker
Yeah, I know. ah Just a word on Tyrone Mings is actually really good to see him back, because obviously he had that sort of AC, which took him out for a long period of time. um Obviously, he was involved in that controversial incident, but hopefully, but I don't think many Villa fans have been on his back, because it's just good to see him back playing. Michael, from a little point of view, do you think we can exploit that ah Villa defence? Obviously, not been as solid as recent seasons, and obviously, from an attacking point of view, our players are ungrateful. Yeah, I mean, um so do you...
00:18:28
Speaker
Dan, do you think he'll play Matson or do you think he'll play Denier just because I think, I think Salah will get a both of them, but I think maybe Matson is a little bit quicker and maybe is a little bit, ah but does seem a little bit more lightweight than Denier, so I don't know what your opinion on that would be. um But i think I think if we play, if you play concert right back, I think we're in a party situation, a party situation.
00:18:54
Speaker
a situation where we played Arsenal and they had Thomas Partey at right back whereby maybe if we play DRs on that right hand side he gets a little bit bullied if we're playing the same sort of way. um I think obviously if we if you guys are wanting to sit back more and we are getting more time to run at defenders I think that is a better scenario for us. But if you guys are pushing up and we're hitting it long, I think you guys are going to have a lot more. ah ah lot A lot of cons is going to have a good day, basically. But I think if obviously Dias had an amazing game against Leverkusen through the center. So I think there's definitely a case for playing Gackpo up against Konza. And that is more of a much more physical sort of contest. And that'll be really interesting on that.
00:19:37
Speaker
on that right-hand side, um on the Villa right-hand side, our left-hand side. And then I do think that Salim could have a very good game, just because both your, either you you play Digné, who's a little bit more, he's very attacking, but it feels a little bit older, slower, like rusty. um When it comes, like, when I think of, I think if you're gonna play one of them, you have to play Mattson just because he's got more energy. You'd think that even if he does miss a tackle, he can get back.
00:20:07
Speaker
um But I still backsell it every day of the week against him. like He was amazing for Dortmund. I think he's been decent for you guys. I ah can't i can't say I've seen much of him. um But i think I think the wings are going to be the most the most key in this game.
00:20:24
Speaker
um and i think if If you guys sit back, we've got players who can probe from deep. If you come on the tackles, we've got players who can run in behind. So i think I think your defense is going to have a ah long day on on Saturday.
00:20:38
Speaker
I have to agree. um I personally would go for Matson. His level of intensity um I think is is what we're going to have to aim for. I mean, there's this wonderful moment, the the one wonderful moment against Bruges where he did lose the ball.
00:20:59
Speaker
but went in with this beautiful sliding tackle. Unfortunately, it was about two yards wide of the actual player in the ball. But showing that level of intensity to get the ball back and to rectify the mistake is what the whole team is going to have to be. So I think it's a good shout with Matt. I mean, I'm I'm not going to lie, not to blow your own trumpets really, but I think you've got so many threats from so many areas on the pitch that the Villa team are going to have to have the game of their lives. Yeah, you're going to have to turn around the form that you're currently on very quickly if you're going to have any sort of chance.
00:21:44
Speaker
Yeah, no, it's going to be an interesting game on Saturday, I think.
Predictions and Final Thoughts
00:21:48
Speaker
Intensity is going to be the key word, if whichever team plays with that intensity. And obviously, with Liverpool being out for the end, I don't know what to say about that. But it should be an interesting game. We're going to talk about our score predictions for the game after this very short break.
00:22:03
Speaker
The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasts with dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football and a daily Premier League wrap-up broadcast in five different languages. It's your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcast. The Global Sports ah Brilliant. So, in terms of score predictions, Dan, I'm going to come to you. Do you think Filla can get a result on Saturday with John Duran come off the bench to win it for you guys? What do you think is going to happen?
00:22:37
Speaker
Well, maya when Craig and I lasted a podcast together, um we sort of said that if we could come away with four points from these two games, so Bruges and Liverpool, we would be over the moon. And um that doesn't leave us with too much chance, does it? I'm not suggesting we're going to come and beat you guys at Anfield. Seems to be that you guys are very, very strong there at the moment and have been for a while.
00:23:08
Speaker
If you listen to the Daily Villa podcast, I am the optimistic one. I'm the only one that thought we were going to go and do anything against Bayern Munich. um But this game really does have me quite worried. um If we can get a 1-1, bearing in mind our current form, I will be overjoyed. Absolutely overjoyed. But if I was putting money on it, I think we're going to be showing a bit of a lesson in intensity. I think you've caught us a moment where we look a bit fragile, a bit leggy, and I think you could put three past us with no reply. But as I say, I am the optimistic one. So let's call it, let's say we're going to draw one, one. but That's fair. i pretty I like the optimistic fans that come on the crossovers because last week we had towards it, Jamie from Brighton and I said, oh
00:24:01
Speaker
And you know what, for a lot of that game, it was 1-0. It was quite quite quite an accurate prediction from at least 70% of the match. um Michael, what do you think is going to be the score on Saturday?
00:24:11
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I mean, Villa in Liverpool is always a ah fairly tasty game. There have been some very big score lines. I mean, the the ones I can think of are actually ones that are Villa beat Liverpool, like the 7-2 and the 5-0, all in the same, I think I was in the same season, it wasn't it? So like, we i since then, it's been very much more Liverpool than Villa. And I think we've we've And over the last like, what, seven, um just got I've just got the scores in front of me. Over the last eight, nine, 10, in the last 10 games, we've got there's been three clean sheets. um So I think there's going to be goals in this game.
00:24:53
Speaker
i think um i i do say I don't want to get a ahead of ourselves because we we always seem to have a bit of a dodgy first half and then we tweak it and then we come out amazing.
00:25:04
Speaker
So I think it's probably gonna be like first half, it's probably might actually be, it'll be nil, nil or one nil to Villa or one, one. And then second half, I think we'll come out firing and probably like three, one. um i I think when once the players kind of get their instructions after slots had a bit of time to analyze the game, I think we can we always come out better and we always ah come out with a plan. So I think i think it will be ah a fairly comfortable game in the end, but maybe not for the first half.
00:25:33
Speaker
Yeah, no, definite it could be yeah we don't know what's going to happen, obviously. But um from my point of view, what do I think? I do you think, yeah, because ah at the moment, apart from obviously, labour cruising, we haven't really kept that many clean sheets recently. And I do you think Bill are a threat, especially on the counter attack with those creative players. I definitely think your score I'm going to go 2-1. I think it might be similar to the writing game. We might have to come from behind. And maybe Anfield will play a factor. it like on saturday as mode So maybe the nostalgia, the nighttime Anfield vibe might help us with the line.
00:26:06
Speaker
But that's my prediction. We've heard from Michael, you heard from Dan. Dan, thank you so much for coming on today's crossover of the Daily Local Podcast. Make sure to check out Daily Villa from Global Sports Podcast Network as well. That is all for today. Join us tomorrow for Friday forecast as the Daily Local team look ahead for the game against Villa on Saturday in a bit more detail. But from all of us at Daily Local and Daily Villa, we can't wait for the game. It's goodbye and we'll see you all soon. Every club
00:26:37
Speaker
The Global Sports Podcast Network.