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Spurs 1-0 Liverpool - advantage Spurs in Carabao Semi Final
0 Playsin 4 hours
It's a post-mortem episode as Jesse Sarwar is joined by a pensive Adarsh Ramchurn and a furious Tom Goward. Sparks are flying after a rare defeat fro the Reds.
GSPN's The Daily Tottenham Podcast host Joe Forrester calls in to stick the boot in but then doesn't quite now how to deal with that rare thing called victory.
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Transcript
Liverpool's Carabao Cup Challenge
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. Liverpool have it all to do if we are going to make it to the Carabao Cup Final after going down 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in this first leg semi-final tie.
Podcast Guests Introduction
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm joined by Adash Ramchun today. Adash, how are you mate?
00:00:36
Adarsh
bit gutted. I mean, it's not the worst result in the world and we didn't play our best, but if you had to pick a game to lose in this busy January, I'd probably pick this one. That's the only sort of optimistic view I can i can give on tonight's result.
00:00:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the only positive spin. And Tom Goward, who but we've got a WhatsApp chat group for the Daily Liverpool, and Tom very, very quickly at the final whistle whistle said, I'll be on the pod.
Liverpool vs Tottenham: Worst Game of the Season?
00:01:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
It looks like you're fuming, Tom.
00:01:06
Tom Goward
Well, I've sort of calmed down now because it's been about half an hour, but yeah, I was fearing that the full-time whistle, that's that's the worst game of the season so far by and live a Liverpool point of view. and I'm sure we'll get into that in a minute, but not a happy man tonight in my household.
00:01:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, you said it's it's been about half an hour, 27 minutes of those are sorting out my mic. So um apologies for the AirPod quality sound. All right, so let's let's get into this post-mortem, I suppose.
Analysis of Liverpool's Lineup and Strategy
00:01:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll start off with the lineup, because I've got to say, I was surprised at how strong the lineup was. Arnie Slott obviously wants to win this competition.
00:01:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Adosh, were you surprised that he didn't ring the changes for this one?
00:01:51
Adarsh
I think so. I think especially on the back of the result against United, I think I was expecting at least a few changes. I think he only made Kwanza and Bradley in defence and Timikas as well. But I fought that front six and Jota actually. did So he did kind of ring the changes, but I thought he would have a freshened up that midfield in particular. I know Sobers lies out, but I mean, I don't know what Javier has to do to start a game. I mean, it's it's getting a bit ridiculous ridiculous in my opinion, because I think when you need a player to sort of bring a spark to a game,
00:02:21
Adarsh
He's also fully fit, he's been fit for a long time now and I think he needs to be given this opportunity especially when players like Jones aren't performing. So I think that my main, I wasn't like, I wasn't confused in terms of he made those changes, like the four changes we mentioned, but I think the midfield really, I was surprised at how strong he went and the lack of Harvey Elliot really confused me as well.
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom, yeah let's let's so obviously we'll we'll but talk about them the the game itself, but Adarsh has mentioned Harvey Elliott. Curtis Jones, he had another, you know, and an iffy performance. I don't personally think that he's suited in that kind of more advanced midfield role. I think that he's he's someone that you can rotate that kind of double pivot, the Macalester and Gravenberg. If you want to give one of them a rest, like a Macalester or a Gravenberg,
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
You stick Jones in that double pivot because I think his game is suited to that. And Harvey Elliott is just, I think he's brilliant in that kind of final third. but Were you surprised that Jones started and and Elliott didn't come on at all?
00:03:27
Tom Goward
Yeah, like you said, the really strong line-up, and I know we've got the FA Cup game at the weekend, and we're going to see a lot of changes for that anyway. But, yeah, just a strange one. After some of the performances at the weekend, you know, the two full-backs didn't play great, so we changed them today, and probably Jones was the other weak one as well.
00:03:45
Tom Goward
And, yeah, Harvey, I don't know what Harvey, like you said, a dark I don't know what Harvey Elliott's got to do to start a
00:03:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:03:49
Tom Goward
I mean, I had him down as my young player of the season before the season started. Obviously, that injury didn't help. but It's, it's, I'm a bit disappointed really. And I start like the, the management of the weekend to not bring Trent off earlier and then sort of the management again tonight to not recognize that maybe Jones just needs a break. You know, he's played a lot of games, the Bosleye has been out. he's probably playing more games than expected. So just like recognizing he needs that break. yeah. And yet again, he did nothing tonight and was quite frustrating to watch really.
Defensive Struggles and Injury Concerns
00:04:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think the first 20 minutes of this game, it was, you know, we were very unsettled in defence, you know, Simicast making some really loose passes. I mean, I think he played a really, really shocking ball into Van Dyke in and around the penalty area, will which really put the team, you know, under pressure. And then we had that long delay. I think Bent and Cole went down, which looked quite worrying. know, Stretcher had to come on.
00:04:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, both sets of players urging the, you know, the physios to come on, which I know it's a separate point. Obviously we, we, we wish him well, but it it just goes to show that players know when a, when it's a serious, uh, injury and and the stretch of me to come on as opposed to a lot of the time wasting, you see, I mean, did you see the incident? I, I, I thought that was more his arm and shoulder as opposed to his neck, which hopefully it's not.
00:05:14
Adarsh
Yeah, no, I actually didn't see it either. And I think the fact that it was his neck makes a lot of sense because you need to be very sort of delicate in that situation.
00:05:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:22
Adarsh
But I think from what I've heard, he's sort of conscious now. So that's good news.
00:05:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. mean, Spurs, you've got to say they they played well, Tom, really pressing Liverpool well. Liverpool, you know, pretty poor in possession, you know, taking those unnecessary risks at the back in midfield. I mentioned that the Simicast pass and then Spurs have got a new keeper in goal.
00:05:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just think, did Liverpool miss a trick by not testing him more? Gappo took a shot, think in the first, i you and he almost spilled it. The keeper almost spilled it. And I think it's just surprising that Liverpool didn't take some kind of cue from that, and that may be testing more from you know shots from from distance.
Missed Opportunities Against Spurs
00:06:06
Tom Goward
Yeah, if you there's one player if you want to test the keeper at Salah and he was non-existent in the game today and I mean the whole front forward really, Jota really didn't do anything, Gappo didn't have, like you said, he did have that shot that he spilled, that was probably one of the best chances but even the substitutes when he brought Diaz and Nunez on, yeah just didn't really, continuing how
00:06:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:27
Tom Goward
attacking we've been this season how good we've been at scoring goals it's like we didn't even get like just one goal to the fact that it was a brand new keeper on his debut looked a bit nervous especially with that save but and they made some good saves as well credit to him today but we sort of made the last four days we've made two struggling big six sides look really good at football and that's the frustrating thing to it you know a struggling man united side and a struggling spur side this season both in the bottom half of the Premier League table and they've they've turned up and played good football against us and that's the frustrating that's why I'm frustrated tonight because you sort of put the united game behind you it's one of those things but
00:07:06
Tom Goward
to come in tonight from a team that we beat 17 days ago, 6-3, at the same ground. Yeah, that's that's why I'm frustrated tonight is the fact that we've made them, you know, we've given them their first win in what, five games, four games. Yeah, I just annoyed really.
00:07:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Adash, Kwanzaa goes off injured in the first half. know Endo comes on at centre back. Obviously, it could have been Kanate, but it's clear that Slott is thinking Gomez is out, no Kwanzaa now. It only leaves Van Dijk and Kanate as our first choice centre backs. One more injury in that area,
00:07:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And now our season our season is potentially potentially over.
00:07:54
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:07:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean surely the club has got a
Transfer Market Inaction
00:07:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
move in the transfer market. Most reports have been suggesting that Liverpool are not planning any buys this window. But surely that's got to change now.
00:08:07
Adarsh
I hope so, but I just don't think it will, just knowing FSU, which is frustrating. I think if Liverpool wanted to sort solve, was it was also saying two birds with one stone, they'll go for like a left-footed centre back and maybe that can sort of source solve the left-back situation, which we've got Robertson, and then obviously the more pressing issue, which is cover at centre back. That's what I would do if I were Liverpool, but I don't think we will.
00:08:30
Adarsh
Having said that, I thought Endo came on and was brilliant at the centre-back position. actually, it's quite ironic because when Canati came back into centre-back and Endo moved into midfield, I actually thought we got weaker. So, I mean, I think Endo will probably be the cover from that position. I know it's not ideal having sort of two-fit centre-backs and a CDM playing in the back four. So, yeah, that was a concern and I hope Kaunza's injury isn't too serious.
00:08:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
sure that's Surely that's not sustainable, Tom. You know, in terms of us going in for a title challenge, know, trying to go deep into the Champions League. We're talking about a couple of seasons ago when we had that terrible injury crisis in in the heart of our defence, and then you had Henderson and Wijnaldum going in the centre back. Surely you can't have someone like Endo, who I'm not faulting his effort, his commitment, his desire. That guy played anywhere. If you said, look, you know what, you've got a playing goal, he will do it. And you know what, he'll give a six out of 10 performance, just because of his sheer determination. But you can't be having someone like Endo as a centre back for the second half of the season, the business end of the season, if something were to happen to Canate, which, let's face it, Canate doesn't have the best injury record
00:09:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he he does break down. And I'm not talking about impact injuries. I'm talking about muscular injuries. ah ah But do you do you agree with Adash?
Unresolved Contracts Impact
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it just not going to happen with the FSG, this this window?
00:10:07
Tom Goward
It's a tough one, because I think before the game tonight, they would have said no, and now I think after the game tonight, their minds might change. I hope their minds would change. I don't think they want to panic buy. I don't think we want to go and get a Quebec or someone like that.
00:10:21
Tom Goward
but i think i think they would have they they've been it's not like we haven't not needed a centre back do you know what i mean and so they would there'd be options they would know who to sort of get it depends if i can get them now or have to wait till summer but there is no way that we can challenge for the title and these cups and the champions league with a potentially a cdm playing centre back and we're talking about canata getting injured if van dyke gets injured which is which is unlikely but if possible you're then playing canata and endo
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:51
Tom Goward
centre back and then you go right that that's not that's not doable and especially with the worries of Robertson and and Trent as well defensively this season that that will not last and if if that happens if we don't buy a centre back and then one of them gets injured again and three of them are out there's I'm sorry but I think we lose the league or something like that something bad happens I reckon after that
00:11:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
The frustrating thing is that literally we are saying this every single transfer window. I think the last, if I'm not mistaken, the last defender we signed was Canate.
00:11:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Was it not?
00:11:27
Adarsh
Yeah, nothing.
00:11:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
2021.
00:11:28
Adarsh
Yeah. That's great.
00:11:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because ah ah obviously Trent has come through the academy. Bradley has come through the ranks. Robertson we signed ages ago. Simakas,
00:11:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sure we signed Simicast either, you know, around the same time as Canata, right?
00:11:48
Tom Goward
Bye.
00:11:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then if you look at those, like Gomez has been with us, he's our longest serving player. Kwanzaa has come through the ranks. Van Dyke has been with us, you know, for for years.
00:12:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's just beggars belief that we we are in this situation where four or five years goes by. That's like 10 transfer windows and we don't sign a single defender.
00:12:13
Adarsh
is is this a bad Is this a bad time to mention Elon Musk?
00:12:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
it
00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
he da it You know what? I literally don't know what to think about this. you know I'm just thinking, you know what? Do I want Elon Musk to come in and know buy great players but then ban me from the stadium?
00:12:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know it's it's just
00:12:38
Tom Goward
Can I just say, this can I just say that the the fact that
00:12:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
i just said
00:12:43
Tom Goward
if we'd spent loads of money in the summer I'd be like right okay maybe there's not money to spend in January we spent nine million pound eight million pounds on a player that tonight actually should probably have come on I think Salah wasn't getting a sniff and I think maybe they should have changed it up he's quick enough we haven't seen enough of him it might have been a good chance for him to prove something tonight and and I've calmed down again and now it just like hearing that, that like our last defender was Kanate, it's just like the defence is one of the most important things in a football team if not the most important and the fact that they've put so little money and effort into thinking about buying centre backs this season and they wouldn't want us to change for the league and the Champions League, it will soon fall off.
00:13:26
Tom Goward
If they don't sign someone it will soon fall off, I guarantee.
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if you think about it, I know this has turned into some kind of transfer market rant, but it is January, right? So it it does make sense. But if you think about it, it wasn't long ago that we bid 115 odd million pounds for Kaiseido, and then 50 or 60 million pounds for Labia.
00:13:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Where's that money?
00:13:47
Adarsh
Hmm. That's a very good point.
00:13:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right?
00:13:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not as if that's being reinvested into the squad. And we bid, how much how much did we bid for Zivamendi? Was it around about 50, right? Right.
00:13:49
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:13:55
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:13:56
Tom Goward
55 for for that.
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's that's ah That's over £200 billion there. So where is that money to to reinvest in in the in in the squad?
00:14:06
Adarsh
Yeah, thats that's a good point. And also, if you think about Van Dyke being out of contract, I mean, well I'm not going to think if he's going to leave, but then will little is that that's my concern.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:14:16
Adarsh
is Will Leopold act then or is it'll be too late by then. So yeah, I'm surprised as well. Jesse, you're reading out that the last Defender Canal tape we signed in 2021. It's been what, four years now.
00:14:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the the only caveat to that is just need to find out where when did we far when did we sign Simicast?
00:14:37
Adarsh
I think it was in the think the summer we bought Jotun Tiago after we won the league, 2020.
00:14:43
Tom Goward
Yeah, because you put, yeah, yeah, 2020.
00:14:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
2020, right.
00:14:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Canate 2021 is the last defender. And I literally cannot think of another Forget top Premier League team. I can't think of another Premier League team that's not signed a defender in something like 10 transfer windows. It's just staggering. its It really is. So yeah but they there you go. let's Let's get back to the game.
00:14:45
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:15:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Solanke does score and it's it's given offside, isn't it? The first one. really, really close margin. For me, I think that's ah that should be a goal. just just as as a If I'm looking at that as a neutral, and obviously we you know we we'll talk about VAR, but I think the benefit of the doubt should go to the attacking team because how how can you really show that that is millimeters offside because the pixelation of the video footage
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
surely means that you've got to give the benefit of the doubt. But I mean, that's a separate topic. Adash, what did you think of this
Impact of New VAR Protocols
00:15:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
new VAR protocol? I felt like I was watching like a rugby league game, you know, the referee announcing. that He really looked like he was building up to that. You know, he was like, you know, move move away, players. I'm going to make a big announcement. And it was like something that he could have just put up on the screen.
00:16:10
Adarsh
Yeah, to be fair to the referee who made history today, I think that's the first time that's ever happened in men's football. But yeah, I mean, yeah you first of all, I thought the VAR, yeah, you're right, because the VAR quality, I know this is the first time the Carabao Cup are using it in the semi-finals, but you can tell because it was, yeah, pretty poor quality.
00:16:29
Adarsh
I mean, I i wanted it offside, obviously, because I thought we weren't playing well, and I'm kind kind of glad, because the 2-0 is a lot of work for us to do at Anfield, so I'm not complaining.
00:16:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom, I want to ask you about our form, you know, in in this kind of recent few weeks.
Mid-Season Form Dip for Liverpool?
00:16:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everyone, you know, we all keep thinking or you'll hear people from outside thinking, well, look you know, Liverpool haven't had a blip yet. Right. And that's going to be the real test. I'm just wondering, are we in the middle of our blip?
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
This was most of our first team. Recently, we've <unk>ve drawn against Fulham, conceding two. We've drawn at Newcastle, conceding three. We've drawn at home against United, conceding two. A terrible United team. Conceded three against Spurs in that 6-3 win. And now we lose 1-0. Can't score against a team that does not Keep clean sheets. Is this our blip?
00:17:36
Tom Goward
Yeah, and when you put it like that, when you say all that, yeah, I think what's happened is from August, end of August to the start of December, live everything's gone Liverpool's way, right? Other teams around have dropped points, they've been playing well, putting in good performances. Suddenly, the three contracts are getting sort of spoken about. There's now potentially a centre back injury crisis, potentially, you know, if one more gets, you know, you've just mentioned that, we just spoke about that. And suddenly, things that are sort of happening around Liverpool are now ah ah essentially reflecting the performance on the pitch. You know, January and December are busy periods, let's not forget that, but they're busy for everyone. you want to be in all competitions, you're sort of a victim of your own success there. But yeah, I would say when you when you say that, like it's conceding the three to Spurs the weekend tonight, like it's definitely
00:18:28
Tom Goward
yeah the only The only good thing is our blip is not as bad as like a city blip. you know We still managed to rescue a point against United. We conceded three against Spurs but we won. Tonight we still got a second leg. So it's not a massive blip, it's not a total failure yet.
00:18:45
Tom Goward
but it's it's worrying times and then the fact that we've got okay we've got quite an easy fa cup game a weekend but then we got forest who are flying and then and now i'm more worried for that after tonight's game then i'm more worried for this game than i was when we played city and realm of dread i'll be honest
00:19:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, that's that's that you could look at it either. You could look at it both ways, right, Adosh, in terms of if we are in a blip. Obviously, that's a concern. But as as Tom mentioned, it's if if you're going through a bad patch, but you're still managing to pick up points, you're still not losing your your you're trying you're salvaging a point here and there, I suppose that's something to hang your hat on, isn't it?
00:19:30
Adarsh
Yeah, I think so. And I agree with Tom, I think, I mean, I mentioned at the beginning of the podcast, like if you were to pick a game in this sort of long run in January to lose tight, you'll probably be either one of those Champions League games or this one. So I think Yeah, it's not it's not too much of a concern. And I think the fact that we've got the second leg, I think the fact we'll be at Anfield, the crowd will be up for it. That's obviously a ah benefit for us.
Canate's Defensive Mistake
00:19:51
Adarsh
But I am concerned about towards the defense. And I mean, if we're going to touch on the goal that we conceded, I thought Carnate should have done a lot better dealing with Salanke. And I feel like a lot of the mistakes are not around Van Dijk. Van Dijk is the one that's sort of marshalling that defense. It's the other players around him, which is
00:20:07
Adarsh
It's an even bigger concern because if you lose Van Dijk you've got who's going to sort of command that back four. Obviously I think Bergval should have been sent off but that's a separate issue. I think you've got to deal with that long ball over the top and it was just poor defending and I think it just took one moment in that game to really decide the match.
00:20:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, Tom, let's let's talk about that goal. Bergdahl scores. Obviously, there's there is going to be that debate as to whether he should still be on the pitch after that challenge on Simakas. But Solanke, you know, I mean, he physically does well. And Canate kind of doesn't read the kind of momentum shift. He kind of goes too far, which just allows Solanke too much room to lay it off.
00:20:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
it Again, is is that Conarte just kind of getting his himself back into match fitness after six weeks off?
00:21:03
Tom Goward
Yeah, and no, because he played well at the weekend. You know, he played a full 90 minutes and played well at the weekend.
00:21:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:09
Tom Goward
And if that's Solanke against Endo, you sort of expect Solanke to win that battle, but you cannot, you cannot, you cannot lose that battle to Solanke. No
00:21:20
Tom Goward
And it just looks too easy. And and I feel bad for Van Dijk because he sort of feels like he's playing at times all four positions and there's one of him and he's out of a job and in the summer at this rate.
00:21:31
Tom Goward
You know, he's he hasn't got, you know, he's out of a contract. So I feel bad for him because he sort of, I feel like he's just sort of common guys, like step it up a bit. You know, I'm doing my bit here and, and like Adarsha at the start, Kanata came on and I thought we actually got worse when, when Endo moved back into midfield and Kanata came on, but maybe that was just a shift that Spurs started playing better, but, it's a great finish and, and like I said, maybe he should be on or off. I don't know how the referee hasn't brought that back and given him a and a yellow.
00:22:03
Tom Goward
regardless if his first yellow is a yellow or not, that's that would be a yellow any other time. So just because he's already on one, how's it not? But anyway, we're not going to talk about that. It's a good finish from him and the defense have got to do better there.
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And you mentioned Van Dyke. I think it was early in the second half where, Alison, you know, he has one of these, he has one of these, at least one a season where he has some, one, some kind of brain freeze or, or he thinks that he's kind of, I don't know, Rivaldo or something. And, and he just does too much. But, you know, what, what a block by van Dyke when, when Alison is in no man's land. and I, you know, what, what I, I think,
00:22:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
this last couple of weeks, these last two games, particularly against United and then you know against Spurs, it's really shown out of those three players who are out of contract, which player is the most valuable to us in terms of what would be our drop off if one of these three players is out of the team. So if Salah is out of the team, is it a blow?
00:23:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
100%, it's a blow. But I think that between Diaz, Jota, Gatpo, I was going to say Nunez, but you know, ill I'll just say it just for, you know, just for effect. But between them, I think they'd score goals. And then at right back, you know, Connor Bradley, more than able replacement. But if Van Dyke was is missing out that back four, Adash, you just think that this you know, this team could be in free fall. That's how important he is. And that's how good he is.
00:23:48
Adarsh
and And to be fair, he's been unbelievable this season. I think he's his performances, the level, the standard, it just shows like he's performing at a level that probably no other centre back in the world is performing at, regardless of who plays alongside him, whether it's Kwanzaa, Gomez, Canate. I think It just shows how important he is to Liverpool, obviously the club captain as well. he's a I think
Contracts Affecting Performance?
00:24:08
Adarsh
he's got at least two or three years at the top top level to continue and I feel like Liverpool got to offer that contract not just to the other two but particularly to Van Dijk. Just on what you mentioned about Salah and Trent, it is a concern about all of this noise and
00:24:23
Adarsh
I don't know if you mentioned what Salah tweeted to Jamie Carragher the other day like there is a few signs of things going on in and around Liverpool that outside noise media stuff that's actually starting to have a bit of an impact and you could say that it's not you could say that slot will will come out and say it's not but I think it is because where this blip is come at the time where this conversation's really started to happen.
00:24:46
Adarsh
And I think that's that's a concern for me because I think we' they were talking on Sky Sports like this could derail our season. This is a really important month for us and it's the wrong time for all of this stuff to be happening really.
00:24:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I said on on yesterday's podcast that for me, ah ah our season is the contract situation. And ultimately the responsibility lies at the door of FSG, Tom, because you are the guys who have allowed this situation to get to this point where, you know, two years ago, you could have sorted out Trent's contract.
00:25:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And I think two years ago, if you offered him the contract, I think he signed it. And it's the same with Salah and it's the same with Van Dyck, but with with those two, that they've got such a strict policy with players over 30 years old that they are prepared to run it down and to to see you know how how far they can take it in terms of Is their form going to drop off? Are they going to fall off a cliff? And then we're left with a player who's passed his sell by date and know we've given him a three-year contract. But one, I just don't see that happening with these two players. And secondly, even if something were to happen in terms of Salah signs a contract and then you know he becomes rubbish tomorrow, well, you know what? There's a club in Saudi.
00:26:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
that will quite happily pay £150 million pounds for him if he's got two years left on his contract. I just don't see any downsizing the contracts early so that we don't get to this point.
00:26:31
Tom Goward
how they've let it happen is beyond me. You know, they might have thought, they might have started this sort of talks last year and then Clop and Ozzy's leaving and they might have gone, okay, we'll wait and see the new manager come in.
00:26:42
Tom Goward
So they've waited and they've seen through pre-season. But you sort of get to like October and November and you go, right, we're doing well, we'll sign. and that And then like Salah comes out and he goes, we're not even close.
00:26:53
Tom Goward
And it's like, how can you not even be close?
00:26:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:55
Tom Goward
Like, then just i'm so I'm so beyond about how, and you just mentioned about the 200 million that was up for SEV, use a little bit of that money to pay their wages.
00:27:08
Tom Goward
you know like If you're not gonna spend it in a transfer market, you're gonna buy a goalkeeper who
00:27:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:27:14
Tom Goward
we may or may not need and spy a winger for nine million. Use some of that rest of that money that you're going to bid on Quesado to pay them the money that they want for another two or three years, especially Salomon van Dyck. And I agree, the Trent one, because because he was young, you know what is he now, 25, 26?
00:27:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Trent, I think it's 26 now.
00:27:33
Tom Goward
I mean, 26, so two years ago, it was 24, so you would offer him a contract for five years, it would have taken it, and you're gonna go on, the other two, you go, all right, when their contract runs out, they're gonna be over 30, so we'll wait on those ones, which is understandable.
00:27:34
Adarsh
Yeah.
00:27:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Easily.
00:27:46
Tom Goward
But the fact that they've let two guys over 30, and the guy that's come through the academy and and loves Liverpool, leave their contracts out, and then suddenly, Real Madrid come in, rightfully so, or wants to come in from a trend, and then he drops the stinker like he did on Sunday,
00:28:02
Tom Goward
that cannot be a coincidence that that these contracts have been spoken about in the media and Alright, Sal has still done alright, you know, he's done what I say. Alright, he's been phenomenal this season regardless of the talk But the only one that hasn't really been played out is Van Dyke and yet he just is turning up every week You know, no one's asking him questions about it.
00:28:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:22
Tom Goward
He's not talking about it. He was phenomenal again today and it's It's the cloud that's looming over Liverpool at the moment on what could be such a successful season for us. And all of it's been taken away at the moment by these three hogging the contract talks in the media.
00:28:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just think that now surely FSG have to act now if they're not going to spend money in the transfer window. You know, this is the way now to give the the team, the squad, the club a lift while we're going through a little bit of a sticky patch. Okay.
Hope for Anfield Turnaround
00:28:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Get these contracts sorted. And it is like guys, you know, we've got three or four months left in this season. We've got Mo, we've got Mike. And I think even if we just signed those two up and the Trent one rumbles on, I think we can handle that. I don't think we can handle all three rumbling.
00:29:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
where do you Where do you see now this tie, where one nil down in the Carabao Cup, semi-final, you know, leg, anfield, a dash, thinks at about in a month's time. So there's plenty of time for this to kind of change in terms of the form and fortunes of both teams. A Liverpool can turn this around, right?
00:29:46
Adarsh
Yeah, no, I think that's the positive I think you take from this game is that one, it's half time in the tie and two, it's only one nil. And I think going to Anfield, I think Tottenham will be happy that they've got the win, but they know they've still got a job to do. And they they know that that's the Liverpool that's not going to be turning up at Anfield, we hope, obviously, because anything can happen. But I think Yeah, we got to take the the positives in terms of some of those performances. I think Van Dyke, McAllister again was impressive. Gravenberg in patches was really good as well. And like you said, a month is a long time in football. So maybe this time next month, we're in much better form. We've picked up our form, obviously could go the other way as well, but you know me, I'm forever the optimist. So hopefully hopefully for the second leg, I think we can put on a performance and yeah, we'll see what happens.
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom, your thoughts on you know the Carabao Cup tie as it stands?
00:30:37
Tom Goward
Well, it's obviously that he wants to win it. Judging by the team he put out tonight, you know, if you sort of put a younger team out, a lesser team out, you sort of go, well, is he that bothered or is he confident for the second leg? But he obviously is very bothered about winning it, judging by the team tonight. so Yeah, it's Anfield, you know, we're famous for this stuff. But like you say, it's a month away. It's not like it's next week, it's a month away. And a lot can happen. We could get worse, they could get even better or whatever. It could have just been a blip tonight or whatever. But I'm confident. You know, hopefully we'll have Sir Bosleye back and there's hopefully there's no more injury. But again, it's a month, there could be injuries in that time. So
00:31:17
Tom Goward
It all just depends really but I'm confident Liverpool would do it and even if it was just a 2-0 on the night and a 2-1 and you go to the final and hopefully play Newcastle and get the job done there.
00:31:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
pull view We're going to get a Spurs view on this result.
Spurs' Victory Perspective
00:31:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And this is Joe Forrester from GSPN's daily Tottenham podcast to have a very rare gloat at our expense. Let's take a listen.
00:32:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:35:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well done, Joe. We'll let you have that one. Don't worry, we're going to get our voice notes ready for that but that return leg that you can play on the the Daily Tottenham podcast. But Tom, no no surprise that Joe thought that it it was never a yellow card or and never a red card.
00:35:48
Tom Goward
Yeah, that's fine. I agree, it was never a yellow card, but the ref's giving it, it so it is a yellow card. So just because the first one wasn't a yellow card doesn't mean the second one that should have been isn't. And I'm embarrassed that he said Solanke was their best player tonight. Like, this is a guy we let go for our own club of years ago. And even if he was or wasn't, i can't really I couldn't even know who their best player was tonight, really. But the defense, probably the whole back line was pretty good. But, yeah.
00:36:16
Tom Goward
whatever like i said it's a very it's a rare win for them and no no
00:36:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's really, that's that's really triggered, Tom. I don't think he's going to get any guest spots on the yeah Daily Tottenham Podcast, but all right, we're going to go to a very quick break and then we'll do some player ratings.
00:36:57
Adarsh
Thank you.
Liverpool Player Ratings
00:37:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, OK, let's get into some player ratings. Let's start with the keeper, Alison. Tom, what do you think of Alison's ah ah performance? I mean, he had that, you know, one ropey moment where, you know, we could have conceded, but Van Dyke saved us. But what do you think of his overall performance?
00:37:28
Tom Goward
not his best tonight. I think I'll probably give him a five. the yeah The one where he nearly lost it and not even that, like some of his passes just like leaving it last minute and then just kicking it straight left to van Dijk and like just like what are you doing?
00:37:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:37:42
Tom Goward
Like why would you pass it? Why would you hold on to it? and And also the goal, it was a good finish and I don't want to be critical but he sort of didn't, he only just went down didn't he? He didn't move towards it. I need to sit again properly but he didn't really... I know it came in quick and it was a good finish so I don't want to be too critical but we've seen him make outrageous saves so that's why he probably can be a bit more critical because he's probably pulled them off but but for the for the nearly giving the goal away and his passing tonight I'll give him a five.
00:38:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
dosh
00:38:13
Adarsh
Yeah, I thought Alison was, yeah, very frustrating actually. I thought, yeah, that that mistake obviously for Bergval tackling him and then just his overall performance. I don't think he's actually been in great form since he's been back in goal. I don't think he's, yeah, he's just been a bit lackluster and hopefully he can pick his form back up like the rest of the team.
00:38:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Okay, let's go through that back four then. Let's let's start with the the fullbacks, Connor Bradley and Simakas Tom.
00:38:44
Tom Goward
I'll give Bradley a 6. I thought did alright tonight. There's a few chances but the few things he did sort of slightly wrong but he's coming back to full match fitness so I'll let him off. And I'll give Simakass a 5 tonight just not nowhere near it tonight crossing wasn't good enough gave that ball away at the start like you mentioned there was that one cross tonight where he was sort of just coming to the byline and all he had to do the player was sliding in so he's on the floor and he still kicks out his leg and i'm like
00:39:15
Tom Goward
like, come on, you've got to get it off the floor. Like you he's on the floor sliding in and you still can't. So he was again, very frustrating performances tonight and he was one of them. So yeah, I'll give Sima Casa five and Bradley a six.
00:39:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
dash forbacks.
00:39:30
Adarsh
Yeah. And I'd agree with those ratings. I think Bradley, he has his moments where he could be a bit slow on the ball, but I think one of his best attributes is just driving with the ball. And he he made a couple of runs with the ball in the Spurs half, which was really, really good. great Just great to see him back in like fitness, well fully fit and playing again. So yeah, six from me. And then Simicast was, I was going to say four because I just thought, I just thought he just does nothing. There's no, at least with Robertson, there's energy going down that left hand side. And yeah, maybe he's, he gives away, he's he's not the best defensively, but he offers something. Simicast doesn't offer anything. And I think I was just frustrated again with Tom, like some of his crosses into the box were just really poor. So yeah, four for me.
00:40:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, is so when I look at that left back position, I think it's a bit of a worry because I think we're we're so used to having Robertson, you know, by far the first choice.
00:40:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But now that gap between Simicast and Robertson has closed, not because Simicast has got better, but that Robertson has kind of declined a little bit. And so, you know, for me, I think really we need to get rid of Simicast. I know that sounds harsh, but you get rid of Simicast and you get a top quality left back that competes with Robertson. Because Robertson is good enough to play, but probably not every, you know, every game, every two or three days.
00:40:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, let's go to the the centre backs. I mean, for me, Van Dyke was man of the match. For us, in terms of our our players, I thought he was our best player. But then you had Kwanzaa and Kanate. So out of those those three players, Tom, what are you what are you giving them in terms of Markout 10?
00:41:16
Tom Goward
i'll give I'll give Van Dyke a 9 because it's Van Dyke and he's incredible and like I said, I feel sorry for him at the moment. He seems to be doing everyone's jobs and doing them well. that when alison Even if when Alison's messing up, he's still cleaning up his mistake. so and yeah Well it's Van Dyke. So I'll give him a 9 and then Kwanza it's hard because obviously he came off injured. thought Endo Endo did really well.
00:41:41
Tom Goward
I didn't think he put a foot wrong tonight.
00:41:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:41:44
Tom Goward
You know, sort of dropped back and it was weird sort of looking at how tall Van Dyke is and then seeing Endo next to him and how small he is. So I'll probably give Endo an eight actually because he works hard like you said and he dropped back into the defensive role and was good, didn't put a foot wrong.
00:42:02
Tom Goward
And then Kanate coming on, I'll give him a three because ultimately I think he's at fault for the goal there.
00:42:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tough, Adash.
00:42:13
Adarsh
Thank you. Yeah, Kwanza probably a 5 just because yeah he got off injured, didn't really play much. Endo, I just echo Tom, I thought he was brilliant. I think the fact that you can you can you said it earlier, you can just put him in any position and he'll do a job, minimum 6, 7 out of 10. I think is just he's such a good asset to have in the squad. and Well, we'll see what happens with Kwanza and his injury, but I'm not. I'm hoping Endo doesn't have to fill in. I sent him back too often, but if he does, i'm I'm quite confident he can do a good job there, even if it's in the short term. So I give him an 8 out of 10. And then, yeah, I think Kanata was... Generally, I think we lost the game when Kanata came on. And that's purely in two ways. One, because he made the mistake, but two, I think if you're going for a game, you put an attacking substitution on, not a defensive one. And I think
00:42:58
Adarsh
I don't know if that swung any momentum or had an impact, but I just thought Kanata coming on really detriment to the team. So I'll give him a three as well.
00:43:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, we're going to wrap up the episode soon, so I'm going to ask Tom to rate the midfielders and the dash to rate the forwards. Tom, your view on Gravenberg and McAllister Jones.
00:43:20
Tom Goward
I'll give Grand Burch and Macassa six. I didn't think they did anything wrong, but they didn't do anything amazing or good. Yeah, they were sort of there. The only thing I didn't like was the passing kept going back today.
00:43:31
Tom Goward
The amount of passes that were going round the back.
00:43:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:43:33
Tom Goward
it's so boring to watch tonight, some of them. And McAllister has been so creative for us and we've spoken about it on here before about how well he is with those balls in behind and stuff like that. And there was just none of that really tonight. I'll give Jones, I'll give Jones a four. I know it's been harsh again, but but did he's been so well this, he's done so well this season. And you know, he's, it's not like this is his first time in and around the first team. He's been in the first team for years now.
00:44:01
Tom Goward
and so just the holding onto the ball and just the passing backwards. And there's no there's no attacking a creative threat from him at all. It's just like he's trying to get his pass meter up and he's just going, oh, I'll just lay that off to you there.
00:44:15
Tom Goward
I'll just lay that off to you there. And it's so it's so boring to watch. I'm sorry, but tonight's game was so boring to watch on those three. So, and yeah, I didn't think I'd say this, but.
00:44:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thomas Pullen, Thomas Pullen, no punches today. He's literally.
00:44:31
Tom Goward
I know. i know I feel like I've been a bit too harsh because of how well we've done this season, but we can be harsh because of how well we've done. So, yeah, Jones for four.
00:44:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, Adarsh, let's ah let's go to the forward line. Salah Jota Gackpo, starters.
00:44:49
Adarsh
do you know what none of them really did anything and i feel i'm not just picking the easy ones here but i feel like all of them could have got a four or five because now none of them did anything of value really only one i could say maybe gakpo i'm surprised actually came off earlier but No, I just didn't think we did anything.
00:45:05
Adarsh
Salah was probably his poorest game in a very, very long time, which, to be fair, I think you said you can come with a bit of slack because he's been so good this season. So he's an easy title to have ah a bad game, to be fair to him.
00:45:17
Adarsh
But Jota, a bit surprised, actually, with Jota. I thought he would take his opportunity.
00:45:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he was a bit flat, wasn't he?
00:45:22
Adarsh
yeah Yeah, he's not really been in the team that March. And with Diaz and Gackpo probably being the first choice front three, I thought Jota would have made like a statement today.
00:45:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:45:30
Adarsh
but probably he's still working his way back up to fitness and probably slot took him off early just to to protect him as well so yeah attack didn't really do anything i think nunez and dias probably fours and fives as well purely because they didn't really do much nunez had two chances we were talking offline um um jesse about the nunez chance where he just flicks his um um his heel at it and tom was like yeah he didn't really mean that so i thought it was good i thought he actually meant it but and he did yeah i thought
00:45:56
Tom Goward
There's no way.
00:45:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:45:57
Tom Goward
There's no way he meant that.
00:45:58
Adarsh
yeah
00:45:59
Tom Goward
There's no way he meant that.
00:45:59
Adarsh
yeah
00:46:00
Tom Goward
I'm sorry. I'm not buying it from him.
00:46:00
Adarsh
He looked like he just tucked himself up the ball, but I don't know.
00:46:02
Tom Goward
I'm not buying it from him.
00:46:03
Adarsh
Yeah, yeah he's not.
00:46:04
Tom Goward
It could have gone anyway. It's just lucky that went towards the goal.
00:46:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Listen, Adash, Tommy's not giving anything tonight, okay?
00:46:09
Adarsh
he's not and I'll try to find another positive one.
00:46:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, you know, it's just not happening. It's not happening.
00:46:12
Adarsh
yeah
00:46:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
so Tom, what what about Trent when he came on? What what you what do you think of his performance today?
00:46:18
Tom Goward
I think he was better. I think he was better. What did he have, 20 minutes, half an hour? I think he did better. There were some good balls in behind.
00:46:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:46:24
Tom Goward
He played one into Nunes, actually. I thought, okay, that's more like it from him.
00:46:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:46:30
Tom Goward
Didn't really get beat like he did at all. Didn't give the ball away much, so better from him tonight. I think maybe have given him that sort of rest you know not starting him tonight maybe more made him think okay my place is up for grabs at the moment if i do stay or go so no better from him uh but not good from everyone else
00:46:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, OK, well, that's that's the end of today's episode. We'll we'll see what happens in ah second leg of the Carabao Cup. That's that's all for today. So give us a follow on your preferred podcast platform so that you get the very latest content when it drops. You can follow us on social media at GSP in Liverpool. Email us at GSP in daily Liverpool at Gmail dot com. And you can also get in contact with Tom Gowerd.
00:47:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's the yeah the head of the Curtis Jones fan club as well, so any kind of correspondence ah ah related to Curtis Jones and get in getting contact with with Tom. Join us again tomorrow when we'll be previewing Saturday's f FA Cup third round tie against Atkinson Stanley and we'll have a special guest representing the Stanley as well. Until then, thank you for listening.