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West Ham v Liverpool Preview
23 Plays11 days ago
It's a post-Christmas preview show as a vey croaky sounding Jesse Sarwar brings you the latest news ahead of this big game against West Ham on Sunday.
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Transcript
Liverpool's Festive Victory and Premier League Lead
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm your host, Jesse Sawa. We are talking West Ham versus Liverpool today as we take a look ahead to this Sunday's 5.15pm kick-off UK time. That's 12.15pm Eastern Standard Time.
00:00:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Liverpool have enjoyed this festive period so far with a vital 3-1 win at home to Leicester. We did go behind quite early in the game, um but showed resilience, patience, and eventually the class came through and Liverpool overpowered Leicester. I don't think there was any great surprise in that, but it was still good to see the team um coming back after an early setback.
Premier League Standings Update
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So Liverpool going top of the league um or remaining top of the league in fact extending their lead at the top and that was after Chelsea suffered a shock defeat at home against West London rivals Fulham Arsenal did manage to secure a 1-0 win over strugglers Ipswich which means that the top of the Premier League table looks like this Liverpool are top of the league on 42 points. Arsenal are in second place now, six points behind on 36 points. And Chelsea moved down to third now on 35 points after that defeat, seven points behind Liverpool, Nottingham Forest. I mean, what can you say about them? They've they've had an absolutely fantastic season and they are in fourth place now.
00:02:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um on 34 points, I should say, eight points behind Liverpool. Now that is um bearing in mind that Liverpool have got a game in hand. So a six point lead over Arsenal, seven point lead over Chelsea with a game in hand.
Upcoming Matches and Pressure on Arsenal and Chelsea
00:02:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if you look at the upcoming fixtures now over the next few days, um Liverpool obviously are playing playing a 5.15 game against West Ham. um That's on Sunday. And then on Monday, Chelsea will travel to Ipswich, who narrowly lost against Arsenal. And you would expect Chelsea to you know put that game to bed quite easily.
00:02:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you just never know in football and particularly after a defeat it's a real test now for Chelsea who've been on a great run and have put themselves right in the thick of that title race. How do they respond now?
00:03:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's ah still a relatively young and inexperienced team, but they lost against Fulham. And the big question mark now over this team is how do they respond to that defeat? Can they come back and win? Or is this going to be a blip? And is this something that Liverpool can really, really take advantage of and and you know really push ahead in that in that fight for the title?
00:03:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interestingly, um Arsenal don't have their game until ah Wednesday, the 1st of January and that's a way to Brentford. Brentford have been up and down this season but it's never a it's never an easy place to go and Arsenal have historically struggled at Brentford. This is going to be an evening kickoff, it's going to be under the lights And they're going to have, and this is providing, obviously, if Liverpool can get past West Ham, if they can get three points and extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points, West Ham are going to, I beg your pardon, Arsenal are going to have to sit on that for a good few days um before they play. And the pressure will really be on them to win that game because I think if
00:04:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
If they don't win that game and Liverpool stay seven to nine points, then I think it really, really does put the pressure both on Arsenal and Chelsea in the fight for this ah Premier League. ah So Liverpool will be going um into ah this game against West Ham in really good form from the last six games they've won four and drawn two.
Liverpool's Defensive Concerns
00:05:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
The two ah draws coming against Newcastle away 3-3 and home against Fulham but that was followed up with a an exciting win at Tottenham 6-3 and um the win that we've already mentioned 3-1 at home against Leicester.
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd say that the only thing that Liverpool really need to be concerned about is the fact that we are beginning to concede goals. So, you know, ah the Manchester City game was the last time that we kept a clean sheet. ah We conceded three at Newcastle. We conceded two at home against Fulham, albeit with 10 men, but still it's two goals conceded. We conceded three away at Tottenham.
00:05:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
and then we conceded that early goal against Leicester. So we are leaking goals and I guess I suppose the argument is does it really matter if you're getting the three points? I think it does matter because I think sometime sooner or later you concede and you're just not going to come back. It's going to be one of those days where you're going to start hitting the post, hitting the bar, you know, ah shots off the line and you know strikers just not firing.
00:06:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think it is important that Liverpool get back to being a team that are difficult, not just to beat, but to score a goal against. And West Ham are that kind of team where, you know, you could struggle. um The London Stadium is a place where under the lights, some of the bigger teams can struggle that, you know, the fans do really get up for that kind of game.
00:06:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think this is going to be a test for Liverpool um and I think it's going to be really, really important that they go into this game really determined not to concede a goal.
West Ham's Improved Form
00:07:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of West Ham's form,
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
um recently. It has picked up. I think there was a lot of talk about Lopategi and whether he was the right man for West Ham. ah They had a heavy defeat. If you look at their form in the last six games, a heavy defeat to Arsenal. They lost 5-2. And then I think the really worrying defeat for West Ham was when they lost against Leicester. Leicester who are struggling in the Premier League. And I think that was a really, really damaging defeat for West Ham.
00:07:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
but they followed that up with a ah morale boosting win against Wolves 2-1 and then a couple of draws against Bournemouth and Brighton which you have to say are are pretty decent results given the kind of form that both Brighton and Bournemouth are in. These are ah teams that so you know ah are doing really well and they are um they are above um you know they are above ah West Ham in the league so I thought those were fairly positive results for West Ham and then they had a win against Southampton which it was 1-0
00:08:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um maybe that's not too much to write home about, if you're a West Ham fan, but three points are three points. And it's something they can certainly but build upon. So that's ah two wins and two draws in the last four games. And, you know, that they'll be really, really up for this game. And so ah we're going to go to a very quick break. And after that, we'll look at some of the predicted team lineups for Liverpool.
00:09:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, welcome back. Let's have a look at a
Liverpool's Squad Considerations
00:09:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
predicted team lineup for Liverpool. Arnie Slott not really um having any ah major news in terms of injuries, ah players missing out. um Dominic Sir Bosley, who's been outstanding recently, at particularly against Spurs, he picked up a booking against Leicester, which I think was really harsh, by the way, a terrible decision by the referee.
00:09:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it means that he is now suspended for this game. And ah some of the injury updates, Ibrahima Kanate and kind of Bradley in particular in that back line, still not expected back yet. um It's going to take probably a ah few more weeks for those two to come back.
00:10:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
So in terms of a predicted lineup, I'd say that Alison will continue in goal as he has done since his return from injury. Kelleher really, um I guess, restricted to domestic cup competitions like the League Cup and the FA Cup, which will be um um entering soon.
00:10:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
A back four lineup, I think Trent will continue right back and I think Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk will continue in the heart of that defence. Gomez has been just sensational, I think he's been absolutely brilliant um since he's ah covered for Canate.
00:10:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
and has really kind of reestablished that kind of legendary partnership really that you had with van Van Dyke, which was so successful for Liverpool when we won the Premier League, won the Champions League. He was an absolutely vital component of that back four. And um so it's really good to see him back, um back in form and back in his favoured position, which is at centre back.
00:11:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'd say the only probably question mark in terms of ah team selection in that back line is left back. Robertson, I thought, has been really good in the last few games. And I think he's really kind of silenced some of the critics who I think very, very prematurely thought that maybe this is the beginning of the end for Robertson after a a couple of shaky performances but we're just living in that age where if a player is having not necessarily a bad run but they're just they're not ah they're not putting out eight or nine out of ten performances they're just coming out with kind of six six out of ten performances
00:11:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
and it's very very quick people are very quick to jump on those players particularly if they are 30 and above and to kind of suggest that well that's it it's finished they're over that's the beginning of the end and i just don't see that with robinson And I think that over the last few games he's really kind of, I thought he's been outstanding. He's kept things really simple and he's such an experienced player that I think he's ah he's a vital part of this team and a vital part of the squad. He's part of Liverpool's
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
um leadership ah team on on the pitch and so I think he's a really really important part of that team but he has played consistently over the last few games ah because Costas Simicas has been injured.
00:12:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Simicast has come back now he's been making ah substitute appearances so it's going to be interesting to see whether Simicast starts or whether he continues ah this kind of return to match fitness by giving maybe Robertson 60 minutes and then Costas comes in as a sub to you know to give Robertson a break as well.
00:13:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that's probably the only question mark for that back four. In midfield, um as I mentioned, Sir Boslai is not available. He's out suspended after picking up another yellow card. So I think Gravenberg and McAllister remain in that kind of double double pivot in the heart of Liverpool's midfield.
00:13:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then the question part question mark is, does Curtis Jones start or does Harvey Elliott start in that third midfield position?
00:13:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that Jones will probably get the nod, but I do expect Elliot to feature at some point in this game because he's again, he's a really, really important part of that Liverpool midfield and it's really important that he gets himself back up to match fitness after you know a long-term injury. He was out for a good couple of months.
00:14:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as we approach this second half of the season where there are going to be just so many games in the Premier League, the Champions League knockout stages are not too far away. We've got a League Cup semi-final against Spurs coming up and then the start of the FA Cup in January as well. So lots and lots of games and and people like Harvey Elliott, Costas Simicaz, they really need to be ready and match fit ah for that run of games.
00:14:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
The front three, um
Salah's Form and Attack Strategy
00:14:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah you just can't look beyond Muhammad Salah to start. He's in such imperious form that he's just undroppable. Not that you would be dropped, but you can't even think about resting him.
00:14:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And so I think Celar starts in terms of the other two forward positions. I think that's quite interesting. You know, Gackpo did start in midweek. um I think Nunez may well start in this game, but I i would put him out left.
00:15:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
and start Diogo Jota up front. I think Jota needs minutes, he needs games where he's starting and I think a game against West Ham away, I think it's one of those games that he could be quite suited for, he's very direct um in his attacking and his clinical with his finishes and so I think when were when you're away from home you may not get as many chances as you do when you're at home. And so I think you do need someone like Jota to partner Salah up front. And I think if we've got those two really, really clinical strikers up front, um I think that gives us a really, really good chance um of getting the three points that we need. um We're going to go for a very quick ba break and then we'll come back for a predicted score.
00:16:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, so what are we looking at in terms of a predicted score? I would hope that we don't concede, um but I do think that West Ham are one of those danger teams um that I think are really going to be up for this game under the lights. I think the crowd are going to be really up for this game.
00:17:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they've got a player in Jared Bowen that I really, really like. He's he's a player that I've wanted at Liverpool for a long time. I think he's ah it's just a really, really good Premier League player and I think he's very underrated. I do think that they might score um and it might be something that Liverpool might have to come back from to to win this game, but I do think that we'll win the game. I do think that we'll get the three points, but I think it's going to be potentially an uncomfortable night for us at the London state stadium. So I'm going to predict a 2-1 win for Liverpool, which, um you know, I'll take that. It's three points.
00:17:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Before we go, that there has been a couple
Critical Contract Talks for Liverpool's Future
00:17:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
of um updates or some rumors flying around in terms of the contract ah the contract situations with three of our best players. ah Lots of news doing the rounds that Mohammed Salah has been offered the new contract.
00:18:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is the contract in terms of the contract length that he's been looking for, which is three years. And, um you know, watch this space. um All of the rumours, all of the pointers are that Sir Lye's going to stay. And it looks like the same for Virgil van Dyck. Trent Alexander Arnold, on on the other hand, it looks like he is Real Madrid bound.
00:18:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
if that's, if you're going to take what the internet rumors are saying, ah that Liverpool just haven't been able to persuade Trent, that Anfield is the place for him in terms of his future. And quite frankly, I think that a homegrown play, I think, um if he was going to stay, I think he would assign the contract by now.
00:19:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, um, I'm sure there's going to be plenty you of twists and turns both in the title race and in these ongoing contract negotiations. But it, you know, we do have to be reminded that as of January the 1st.
00:19:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
all three of those players, Mohammed Salah, Captain Virgil van Dyck and Trent Alexander Arnold are free to sign new contracts with teams outside of the Premier League. So that's ah it's a huge, huge position for the club to be in. And for those three players, um it's something that really needs to be sorted out by the club.
00:19:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um because it does have the potential to derail what has been a fantastic season so far and that would be just such a huge shame if events off the field affected Liverpool's performance on it.
00:20:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, that's all for today. For today, you've been listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. Give us a follow so that you get the very latest content when it drops. Follow us on social media at GSP and Liverpool. You can email us at GSP and Daily Liverpool at gmail ah.com.
00:20:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Join us again tomorrow as we will do a review of the West Ham game. I do apologize for the croaky voice um suffering from one of those post-Christmas winter bugs. ah So thank you for bearing with me. Until then, thank you for listening.