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Tactics Tuesday: Forest Preview
16 Plays8 days ago
Join us on the Daily Liverpool podcast as Adarsh Ramchurn and Michael Lake discuss the big top-of-the-table clash at the City Ground, as the Reds travel to Nottingham to face in-form Nottingham Forest.
We talk about Academy players who shone on Saturday, Forest's impressive defensive, how the Reds can get a result and Slot's approach for the big game!
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Overview
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hi everyone and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm Adarsh Ramchand and it's Tactics Tuesday.
Liverpool vs. Nottingham Forest Preview
00:00:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're talking Nottingham Forest as Liverpool prepare to face Nottingham Forest at the city ground, hoping to get some revenge as we look to bounce back from a slightly patchy um bit of form as Liverpool return to Premier League action.
Hosts' Reunion and Liverpool's Past Form
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
To discuss everything around Tactics Tuesday, I'm joined by Michael Lake. Michael, I haven't spoken to you in a while, so how's everything going?
00:00:37
Michael
Yeah, it has been a while. I haven't been MIA from the podcast for a while. I need to shake off some of the cobwebs. I mean, I need to get a full 90 under my belt and then we can move and get some gain time. But yeah, I'm looking forward to talking about this. I think talking about a bit of that, a bit of the Academy.
00:00:55
Michael
and then also talk about getting revenge on Tottenham. So I'm looking forward to it.
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, 100%. Like Michael mentioned, it's actually been a while since me and him have been on the podcast together. And we were just talking offline. The last time we did a podcast was before Liverpool in their sort of sticky patch of form.
00:01:11
Michael
Yeah.
00:01:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And now we're back on a podcast. So hopefully we're the lucky charms that can bring Liverpool back to some decent form, which to be fair to our standards, our patch of form being not so good is kind of shows how good we are that it's only a couple of draws.
00:01:15
Michael
yeah
00:01:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're talking about being our form.
FA Cup Victory and Young Players' Performance
00:01:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But anyway, we had a big game on the weekend, Michael, which we're going to touch on first. Akriton Stanley won 4-0 at home in the FA Cup. A great opportunity for a lot of young players to shine. I want to get your thoughts on the on the game and overall and some of the youngsters that really stood out to you.
00:01:41
Michael
yeah Yeah, I mean, it i playing at Quinton Stanley and when we play ah Plymouth in the next round, I think like both of those games are chances for the Academy boys to stand out. I think players like Tyler Morton, who are basically first-teamers now, like they he got off a good run out. He didn't quite get a full 90, but still, he did well. Players like, I'm going to butcher the name.
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ang... Angamoa, Angamoa.
00:02:10
Michael
Ingamoah, that sounds better than what I said.
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Angamoa. so
00:02:14
Michael
Yeah. So he was, he was electric. Like he was, he was a crazy down that left hand side. Um, like, and then Jane Dan's coming on as well. He's always clinical.
00:02:24
Michael
Um, I, all all these are players that I was put, put him forward for for last time. We had a ah game where the academy boys could play and none of them really featured. So this time them featuring and doing well has made me feel like I'm a little bit vindicated.
00:02:40
Michael
I feel like i was I was preaching from the good from the same, I was just preaching good. but
00:02:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, no, it's like it's just impressive to see how well and how talented these youngsters are. I know it's crazy to sound like Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world.
00:02:51
Michael
who
00:02:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've got probably one of the best academies in the world. But when you see them coming up against opposition that two level, which is still a good level of football with all respect to Akerton Stanley, but some of them like Engamo is 16 years old, he should still be in school and he's absolutely te- you could see in the Accrington Stanley defenders they were terrified to get anywhere near him.
00:03:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So I was just so impressed with his performance in particular but I mean yeah let's actually let's touch on Engamo.
00:03:17
Michael
hmm yeah he was he was great I can see why Chelsea banned our scouts from their academy like I can see why they were annoyed letting him go because he was going to be one for the future like him and Ben Doak on of either the wing if we keep Ben Doak obviously but like both of them will be running fullbacks right ah running fullbacks
00:03:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
What did you make like you mentioned his electricity on that left hand side but how how good was he?
00:03:45
Michael
right because they're only a year apart or two years apart maybe um but yeah anger mower he's crazy like i've saw i saw an interview with him where he was saying that he could he can he has confidence that he will win the ballon d'or like he feasibly thinks he can win the ballon d'or and like that is crazy at 16 he has that got that much confidence and although it is at crimson stanley he has just shown that at 16 he can make grown men cry like he he was running at them he was
Role of Young Players in Liverpool's Future
00:04:15
Michael
creating space.
00:04:15
Michael
He was taking shots. He was playing balls out to Simicast. They had quite a good little connection. I thought Simicast also played well. I think Simicast has played well every single time he's played really.
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:27
Michael
um And I think like him and Robertson are going to have a good fight. I think we've got this year with all the Academy boys playing and all like the sort of backups playing well.
00:04:37
Michael
I think we've got a squad that are fighting each other. Like in a good way obviously, um like Simicast is fighting Robertson, Bradley is fighting Trent, like maybe centre back in right wing are the only places that are fully nailed on, but every other position maybe Grand Murch as well but every other position has people fighting for it and that is great because we've we've been able to rotate like this was a pretty heavily rotated team not as heavily rotated as I thought it would be but against Akrington like we we still had like Sosa by coming back but he he was obviously getting a bit of fitness
00:05:13
Michael
And it was good seeing like Elliott play and it's sad that Newness has been injured and it won't play in the forest game. But like all of the, all of those like, we were just able to play a whole new team and we were able to play really well. And I think like we might even see some of the young boys feature against like Leo or PSV casinos with basically through. like It might be good to see Jayden Danes come on for a little bit of time, especially if Nunez is out for a little bit longer than maybe we think. um like Getting those players sort of ticking over. I mean, I saw that Slott has no idea whether Danes will go out on loan or not. If he doesn't, I could see him getting a lot of game time this season because that striker positioning, he's always in the right place when it will.
00:05:55
Michael
at least at Anfield at the Cop End. He seems to be always always in the right place to just put a rebound home, um which is what you want and for a strike. And I hate to, I like Nunes, but I think Nunes guys it in that situation that Dan's put away. So, I mean, hope hopefully, like, hopefully the young lads can get more game time in the coming in the near future.
00:06:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that was a big feature of life on the clock. Like he would always give the youngsters, the Academy boys some game time, whether it was 15, 20 minutes or even start them in some cases. Obviously the prime example being Trent giving him his API or traffic, which is right now when you think about it, it's crazy, but.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean he was right back then and you can see the rewards, it's its paid off for Trent in particular. um You mentioned Jaden Downs, I thought even before, even take away the goal, his his build-up play in the lead-up to the goal was brilliant, just shrugging off defender playing a through ball to Kieso who could have scored as well.
00:06:52
Michael
Mm.
00:06:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is he like, you mentioned his finishing is, is lethal.
00:06:55
Michael
Mm.
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's got three goals in a hundred minutes for Liverpool, all at the cup ends. I know it's in the FA cup, but he, I was talking to Tom about this. He reminds me a little bit of Harry Kane in the term, in terms of his finishing is, is lethal.
00:07:07
Michael
Mm.
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
he His movement's brilliant. He's got, he's strong, physical, can hold up the plate. he's Probably got a bit more pace than Kane. Um, but he's got all the attributes and I don't want to like put a lot of weight on his shoulders, but are we, are we, are we getting a bit carried away with how good he's playing or are we allowed to be excited?
00:07:23
Michael
I think maybe he's he's played about two games and scored three goals. like It's a good ratio. um A long way to keep it up.
00:07:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And.
00:07:30
Michael
But like I think um he could definitely, if he's if he's got the mentality, and like he definitely has talent, and like he can definitely be a very, very good Premier League striker.
00:07:41
Michael
And I hope it's a good enough striker to play for Liverpool, because um having that academy spine, I i always always like to see and at least one academy player playing in the team. Obviously we've had Trent in for so long, but if Trent goes, we've got Curtis Jones, we've got James Dans, we've got players coming through who can kind of have that connection to the club. um And I always do like seeing that. So I think like he could be he could be lethal in the future. he all All he needs to do is kind of have a run out as a striker, because at the moment he kind of gets brought on and plays as a two with Nunes, but you can tell Nunes, he's been told, Nunes is the main guy just because he's
00:08:20
Michael
a first team player um but once he gets like because he he could be arrogant and he could be like no i'm i'm bigger than you i can i can bully you because he was bullying 40 year old men and they were crying and hurt and holding their knees like when when he was turning them.
00:08:36
Michael
So like he if he, because he could only get bigger, he's only still young. He's a few years younger than me.
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:42
Michael
like you Like if he still grows, he could be absolutely lethal. He could be like, he could pin a defender so easily. He could turn them. He's got pace, as you said, and he seems to strike the ball so well.
00:08:53
Michael
So I think the Harry Kane comparison is not unwarranted, but I think maybe we don't put that pressure on him yet. Maybe once we've seen him have a run out in the prem.
00:09:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:09:04
Michael
Like, if if Nunez does go, which some places have been linking him to, like, obviously, like, if we got a Geocorrize or something like that, like, some lethal, like, first team striker,
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
hundred
00:09:16
Michael
then obviously Dan's might have to go out on loan and stuff. But if he doesn't and we've got Jota, Dan's could be an adequate backup. Like he's a different player to Jota and like he kind of gives that like balance. And if Diaz is playing up front, you've got cover and you can kind of ease him in. But I think at the moment with Nunez up front, I think he's not going to get much game time. So I hope he kind of goes out on loan.
00:09:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah and and we were talking, actually it was Louis actually, I said Tom Elley, it was Louis who was speaking on the Monday review show, we were talking about he didn't really have a preseason because he got injured and he probably missed out on the opportunity to work more on the slot and get that game time in the preseason and maybe he probably would have had a better case and he's is we forget he's been out injured for three or four months and he's still getting back to full fitness and I mean he's got so much potential and i just for me out of all the academy players he's my favorite he's the one that excites me he's the one that's like because it's an old-fashioned strike and he just he just loves scoring and
00:10:02
Michael
Yeah.
00:10:11
Michael
Yeah.
00:10:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
i When he scores and he just celebrates in front of the cop, it's just such a beautiful feeling. I don't know about you, I just love it.
00:10:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I love seeing...
00:10:21
Michael
I mean, if he only ever scores in front of the cop, then like he's cut he's gonna have a good record, he can score every other game or something, or he's always celebrating.
00:10:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's gonna have a brilliant celebration. Yeah.
00:10:31
Michael
There's no no pictures of him celebrating anywhere else, just at the cop.
00:10:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
so Just like the cop with that knee slide. I'd love to see that.
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
um just before Just before we go to a break, I want to touch on one more academy player because I thought he kind of goes on the radar, but his performances every time I see him are just super, super, super impressive.
00:10:37
Michael
Yeah.
00:10:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um James McConnell, I mean, he put in a brilliant cameo when he came when he came on the other day against Atkinson.
00:10:51
Michael
Hmm.
00:10:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But every time I see him, he just looks so composed on the ball, makes the right decision. But he's also got a bit of guile and craft about him where he can drop a shoulder and play someone through.
00:11:02
Michael
Hmm.
00:11:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
and i think he's someone that's really impressed me i don't know about you michael
00:11:06
Michael
Yeah, I mean, because he's not he's not the big names, like, well, he doesn't get talked about as much as um I can't I can't remember how we pronounced his name noengar who ah and anger, anger,
00:11:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
thank over we're going to get you into out probably so
00:11:18
Michael
Engamower, Engamower, Engamower.
00:11:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:11:22
Michael
He's not as young as Engamower, he's not as like sort of, he doesn't catch your the eye like Jaden Dan's, he's not as sort of established in the first team as maybe Immortan or he's not as like just lanky and like you can spot him in the pitch like an
00:11:39
Michael
Nione, Nione, that's the one.
00:11:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:41
Michael
um My brain's too switched off today. and But McConnell, like he is underratedly just solid. like for I think he is only 18-19 as well. like He's on the ball, he he comes and plays.
00:11:53
Michael
He is that sort of more holding midfielder. like you could definitely see him and Grabenbert kind of swapping in and out because he also dropped a centre back at the end of a again against Aquintin when Endo went off like and he just like was solid like there was no mistakes he did did his job towards the end of the game and that was all he got was asked to do and I saw an interviewer's slot that like when they're training it's like the first team is if they play 11 and B11 the first team is kind of get first dibs of the spots and then the academy boys just fill in wherever
00:12:25
Michael
So if they don't have players, like say we only had two or three for fit centre backs, McConnell might have to drop in in training. And and like Slott was saying that he really likes that the academy boys don't complain.
00:12:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And.
00:12:37
Michael
They know that they're like still learning. They need to work on those different positions. and like There's different aspects of the game and they're they're just willing to do it and willing to put the graft into then get that opportunity to play in their position and do well in it and like it's like it's kind of like the Ajax model where They trained their strikers at goalkeeper.
00:12:57
Michael
So they understood the opposition Sort of positioning and mentality and stuff and they train the center backs of striker and they train their left wingers at fullback and stuff like that like and they gave them a well-rounded education in football.
00:13:11
Michael
I mean I don't think we're doing that deliberately in terms of like the squad isn't quite big enough to have a play v11 v11 without putting the academy boys in at some random position but I think like it it can only help them like I saw that he was the slot was talking about Dan's he plays like six sometimes in training just because like they they've got they've got attackers but not necessarily always have midfielders or centre backs so
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:35
Michael
it kind of works out that like they're just willing to do whatever they want and they're obviously good enough at it because even playing at those positions are still getting brought in to the first team. So it's it's pretty impressive.
00:13:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, it's it's it's very impressive. And I think that's the sort of education that the academy boys are are getting on the slot and obviously on the clock as well in clock's time. But I think it's just testament to how well the academy is done.
00:13:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I remember listening to an interview of, I think it was Alex Inglethorpe, the head of the academy, talking about how a lot of not just to do with the education on the pitch, but off the pitch as well.
00:14:02
Michael
Yeah.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And like sort of the you know, the standards are set, no sort of big cars. I think they've they've got an engine size limit on the cars and stuff.
00:14:15
Michael
Yeah, yeah.
00:14:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's something that I love about the academy is everyone's grounded. Everyone's got to work their way up and learn learn their trade if if you say so, if you say it like that. So yeah, no, it's just something I love about about the club.
00:14:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I did say this was
Nottingham Forest's Season Performance
00:14:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
the last thing I'm going to touch on, but you did say before about Kiesa and you wanted to give a quick word about Kiesa's goal because obviously he got his first goal for the club but on Sunday.
00:14:34
Michael
Oh yeah.
00:14:37
Michael
Yeah, I mean like he did look like ah the Chiesa that we potentially bought.
00:14:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:14:42
Michael
Like I think the injuries have been unfortunate and I think like if he had more time to get into it. I think he could be really good and could be an option to give Salah a rest, which is something that we haven't had in many years. like We've had like people playing out of position, but Kiesa looks like a right winger. He looks like he can control the game. He can push a full back-back. Every time he gets the ball, he's looking to either link up and play forward or he's looking to just run.
00:15:07
Michael
run at defenders and he's always popping up in space and I think like there's a reason he was going for a hundred million a few years ago um and I think it's just unfortunate that he hasn't been able to like stay at that standard and that's just down to injuries but last season he was pretty injury free and had like and got like double figures for goals and assists like he was I think people forget that he was underrated last season it was ah it was actually the season before that he was he was injury stricken and um And then sadly this season as well, but like it's just unfortunate and I think he will be really good and I'm looking forward to seeing more of him.
00:15:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and hopefully but potentially we can have him um playing a little bit or at least featuring against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, which is obviously the focus of the podcast. And we'll touch on more about Nottingham Forest after this very short break.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Amazing. So like I said before the break, we're going to talk about Nottingham Forest. Now, Michael, if you said before the season that this would be our biggest game of the season so far, you would have thought that we're in a relegation battle because of Nottingham Forest last season. But this season, Forest have been on fire. They are, I mean, six games unbeaten. Nuno's got them playing some of the best football they've probably seen in a long, long time. They're not in Forest fans.
00:16:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
How are you feeling about the game on Tuesday? Because such a like of of course like we've got the expectation that we want to win and probably, I don't want to say we should win, but there is a little bit of expectation because it's Liverpool Football Club. but But how are you feeling going into the game against Forrest on Tuesday?
00:16:58
Michael
Yeah, I mean, like I feel confident in the sense that we are a very good team, but then also this Forest team is just like something different. They've been so good defensively, that centre-back partnership of Murillo and Milinkovic.
00:17:14
Michael
I think that's how you say it.
00:17:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
in.
00:17:16
Michael
Milinkovic and Olaena on the right, and ah Nika Williams of recent, but also Alex Moreno on the left. like That sort of back line with Sells in goalkeeper, I think like that has been insanely good for them.
00:17:31
Michael
And that is pretty much the own like their attackers have been good, but like their defense has been the reason why they are currently joint the joint second. only on only third and goal difference because they've like been so solid.
00:17:45
Michael
like they have They've kept a clean sheet in the last sort of four games, I think it is, um five games, and they've only they've conceded three in the last seven.
00:17:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wait a minute.
00:17:53
Michael
So like they are very, very solid, and like they've beaten teams like Man United, Aston Villa, Brentford, Tottenham, Everton, Wolves, and Luton. um obviously the last one you can take that with a pinch of salt but the others are like Tottenham, Aston Villa and United as much as we can on United they're all still fairly big teams um so like the fact that Forest have been able to like control those games to such an extent where like they can just shut shut up shop and
00:18:24
Michael
and just score one goal, get through, kind of smash and grab, which is how they beat us last time. It
00:18:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Tactical Analysis for Upcoming Match
00:18:30
Michael
was a smash and grab.
00:18:31
Michael
So I think, like, as long as we're... I think also we've got to take context of the last time we played them in terms of, like, we were flying so high and we'd just come off the international break. And I don't think Sloc quite knew how to adapt to after an international break with this squad.
00:18:46
Michael
um So it was just they played us at a fortunate time, I think, for them. um But i think they will be real I think they will be really difficult I think they know how to play against us. um We are not in the best form. um We've just got to hope that Trent has a better game than he has been of recent um on that right hand side. Because when when he's on his day, he could unlock that um that forest defense. And we've I think we've just got to kind of play our game and control it and try not to get caught on the counter. I think it's going to be pretty much identical teams um until the last time we played. Maybe the only change will be Forrest's left back because it don't I think it'll probably would be Nico Williams as opposed to Alberta Moreno.
00:19:26
Michael
albert marina No, just Merino.
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was just thinking. Yeah.
00:19:31
Michael
But i think like I think this is a ah game where we can learn from our mistakes in the past and just be a lot more solid when it comes to like looking out for those counter-attacks.
00:19:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I think... I mean, it's kind of, they are kind of a scary proposition in terms of their talking about their attack and their midfield in particular, like going forward, they've been very dangerous. I mean, a lot of their goals do come on the counter attack with Anthony Alanga, Callum Hunter-Nadoy, Morgan Gibbs-White and obviously Chris Wood up front.
00:20:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So they definitely do pose a threat. um I've actually been really impressed with their midfield because they've rotated between Ryan Yates, el Elliot Anderson and Dominguez as well. I think they've got some really good options in there and a lot of them, but all three of them have energy, they're combative, they can make the right pass at the right time and give it to those more creative players. Where do you see the game? Where do you think we win this game? And obviously given the context of earlier in the season where they beat us on um the counter attack and Obviously kind of what you mentioned, the smash and grab. How do you see us getting something from this game? Because like I said earlier, this is this is a massive game for us. I think probably the biggest game of the season so far.
00:20:39
Michael
Yeah, I think like they're they're probably going to commit their full backs. They like to, like Aida gets up high, but they don't, they don't overcommit by any means. Like they've have their sit in midfielders who can cover. um But I think getting down on the sides, I think Salah and you probably will be Gackpo I reckon, just because like,
00:21:00
Michael
He's been playing so well. um But I think Salah and Gackpo are going to have a really, ah they need to stretch the play quite a lot, pin their full backs back. um And then if Sazibai is playing because he got a little a little bit of minutes under his belt, I think he needs to be pressing the back line with whoever starts up front.
00:21:20
Michael
um because as much as I like Jones, I don't i think he's more of a Macalester sort of rotation option as opposed to that attacker midfielder. Obviously when Sazibai's injured, that's a different thing, but I think Sazibai, he pushes the defense back while Jones kind of lets them come a little bit further forward, stops the middle, which is good in certain games, but I think Sazibai could be a massive game changer. Obviously he played in the in the last game, but um he Has become more of a integral part. He's kind of understanding his role more and I think like we've just got to count we've got got to play our way and I think like
00:22:00
Michael
I think Trent and Sotheby are going to be the the key parts for us, because how they play will affect whether they get where whether the forests get time in midfield or whether they get like comfortable pushing up more, because because Trent isn't pinging those balls over the top. i think I think we've just got to kind of adapt to the game and and slot will at half time.
00:22:24
Michael
It'll definitely do tweaks and stuff if it's not going well. But um I think I'm i'm quietly optimistic. um I mean, Forest got battered by City and City arn in the best form.
00:22:35
Michael
So it could go either way, really.
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Yeah, no, that's true. And they've had, obviously they've had a very good season in terms of their results and where they are in the league. But they, yeah, like you mentioned, they had the results against City Arsenal, they lost 3-0 as well.
00:22:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So it's definitely, and for I think Newcastle went to 9-1.
00:22:53
Michael
Newcastle 31, yeah.
00:22:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so I think there is, you can get results against them. as Like we are, obviously they're on a great run, six games undefeated, but it is going to be a challenge. But I think with, with Liverpool, we've got the players to hurt them.
00:23:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And talking about the players that can hurt them, Luis Diaz in particular, would you start him up front in, I mean, I know Nunes is out, but Jota's back um fully fit.
00:23:18
Michael
Yeah.
00:23:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So who, what what and you said Gackpo probably on the left, Salah on the right. What would you go for up front?
00:23:24
Michael
Well it is between Jota and Diaz isn't it at the moment. i think I think we need to be stretching them in behind because they're going to have some confidence coming into this. I think probably did I play Diaz but Jota coming on as like as like a lethal sort of finisher because Jota can also play and be behind like running behind but he is he likes to drop a little bit more so I think like in terms of, well, a too fair it depends on Forrest, play the game, approach the game, which we won't know until they play the game. But like if Forrest sit back, I'd maybe say Jota, if Forrest start playing and come a little bit further forward, I'd say Diaz. Just because of like their skill sets, I think Jota will be able to sort of control the play, keep keep possession. He was dropping back into like the left back position against that Grinton when he was wanting to get on the ball. like
00:24:14
Michael
He goes anyway. He's a bit like for me know to be fair. um But I think like in terms of if we need break speeds, I think probably DRS would be better. But um personally, I'd probably rather see Jota.
00:24:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I probably would agree in terms of, I think you all start DS, but I think I would like to see Jota play, purely because one, he needs a bit more game time too. In a game where I feel like, because of Boris' defensive record, you're going to have to take your chances and I mean, that's what cost us at Anfield earlier in the season. We actually had lots of chances in the first half. I'll say lots, but we had some good chances to score in the first half in particular. We just didn't take them. So I feel like a player like Jota, he doesn't need an invitation to score. I think that's why I would probably go with him up front.
00:25:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do see the logic behind Diaz starting. um In terms of Slott and how he approaches the game, given what happened earlier on the season, he kind of I think he made he made a big statement following that result at Anfield earlier on in the season where we lost 1-0. I think we went on a great one run after that and i mean only the other day we be lost after 24 games unbeaten.
00:25:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
what How do you think he approaches the game in terms of what's his mentality? Is he going to is he going to be like, look, this will happen last time? Don't let it happen again? Or is there how do you think he approaches it?
00:25:33
Michael
I think he needs to get the first team back ticking because we drove against United wasn't our best performance by any means, and like I think we probably should have won it. We should have kept hold of that game, could have lost it very easily. And we lost against Tottenham, obviously. Questionable whether Bergvel should have been on the pitch, but and it will like that's happened now. um But besides that, we've been playing well. I think it's just down to individual performances. i think i think we do I don't think he's changed anything in terms of like how we play. I think it's like the talk seems to be getting to Trent a little bit. like I think Salah and Van Dyke have the mentality of like
00:26:17
Michael
were professional like this is our this is a contract but like i'm playing for the team well it does seem a little bit i don't know whether i'm being harsh on trend but it seems like his head's turned a little bit um which is annoying to see um ah but and i think he just needs to kind of it would be better if he came out publicly and said i'll i'll decide at the end of the season because then he wouldn't have all the speculation all the all the eyes on him um but like i think i think he's I think he's gone. I think I'm more resigned to that now. um And if it starts affecting his game time, I think Bradley needs to be with needs to be playing more as much as Trent is good. um I think you've got to put your eggs in the basket that's going to be still at the club as opposed to a player who you're just kind of giving game time so that
00:27:04
Michael
ah Real Madrid can reap the benefits. um But I think if he's on his day and I think if if Robertson turns up and plays like he has been in the last few games, he's been actually solid over the last few games or Simicast plays one or two, i think I think we'll have a good shot. I think we'll i think we'll do do well and I think Slott will know how to approach it.
00:27:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:27
Michael
because he's he's played all these games before.
00:27:29
Michael
He's played all these teams before. He's done well. um He adapts very well. It's just down to the individual performances, really.
00:27:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and there's, ah we've already kind of mentioned it, but the big emphasis on this game is Forest are third in the league. day If
Importance of the Game for Liverpool
00:27:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
they win, they cut the the gap to three points, albeit we've got a game in hand. But if we win, Arsenal also play Tottenham in the North London Derby, I'm pretty sure, in the same game week.
00:27:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they play on the Wednesday. um We have the opportunity to go nine points ahead of Arsenal, am I right? And then before they play with a game in hand, and I think that would be massive if we could get that three points ahead of them playing.
00:28:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, I think we, yeah, it is, um
00:28:10
Michael
Yeah. butre We're currently six points ahead with a game in hand. If we win the game in hand, we go nine points ahead.
00:28:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah so Yeah, I mean, there's a lot on the line um in this game.
00:28:18
Michael
Yeah.
00:28:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So ah dont and I'm not going to ask you for your predictions, but I just want to ask what what's a good result for you in terms of obviously you want to go for the win, but would you be happy with the draw given Forest's form?
00:28:33
Michael
um i yeah i think um I think a win is kind of a must, really. I think we've got to go all out to get the win. um I think it's probably going to be some... It's either going to be a really cagey affair or a really open affair, um because like it seems like forests either don't concede or they concede three goals. So it'll be one of those two. And I think if we turn up on our day, we could definitely score three.
00:29:00
Michael
and But I think I would probably go for like a 2-1, I reckon. I reckon it's not going to be. I think both teams, they might score first and then we would hopefully turn it around. um But yeah, i think I think a win is a must because we've been drawing too many games recently. As much as I say that, we've drawn, we've won 14, drawn four, lost one in the league. And I'm complaining about us drawing too many. and But I think like against Forest, they're in a purple patch.
00:29:30
Michael
um But they have only scored 29 goals and they've conceded the same amount as us. So I think like if we can we can shut up shop and we can get something from this game.
00:29:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, indeed. And we'll definitely be hoping for that on Tuesday because it's a big game like we mentioned, but that's all for Tactics Tuesday. Thank
Closing Remarks and Future Episodes
00:29:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
you, Michael, for hopping on the podcast. It's great to have you back. um And yeah, stay tuned for the rest of the episodes of the Daily Liberal Podcast this week. We'll be bringing you the reaction post-match following the Forest Game on the Daily Liberal Podcast. But that's all for today. Thank you all for listening and we'll see you all soon.