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Monday Review - Liverpool 2-2 Fulham
17 Plays5 days ago
It's the Monday Review as Jesse Sarwar takes you through all the main talking points of Liverpool's dramatic 2-2 draw at Anfield on Saturday.
Part 1 - Match highlights and talking points
Part 2 - Player ratings
Part 3 - PL round-up and PL table
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Overview
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast, brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. It's the Monday Review Show. I'm your host today, Jesse Sawa.
Match Analysis: Liverpool vs Fulham
00:00:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Liverpool are still top of the league after their dramatic 2-2 draw at home against Fulham. We'll go through all the action, analysis and player ratings in that game, as well as catch up on some of the other results in another eventful weekend of Premier League football.
00:00:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, Liverpool went into this game with a four-point lead over second-placed Chelsea. Six ahead of Arsenal and nine ahead of Manchester City, but the with of course a game in hand after last weekend's postponed Merseyside Derby.
Team Lineup and Injuries
00:00:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Starting line-up for Liverpool read as follows. Alison Becker returned to goalkeeping duties after that long-term injury. That's his first game back in the Premier League.
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
a back four of Trent Alexander Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dyck and Andy Robertson in midfield, Ryan Gravenberg and Curtis Jones and Dominique Suboslai and a front three of Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gatpo. Darwin Nunez dropping to the bench, but Liverpool were boosted by the return of Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa.
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now the game starts and within 60 seconds Andy Robertson who's you know bursting through into the Fulham area is clattered into by Fulham defender Isa Diop. He was booked for that challenge and it was checked by VAR for a possible red card but it remained a yellow.
00:02:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Robertson stayed down. He's not the kind of player to stay down unless it's serious and he was down for quite some time. And I'm wondering if what unfolded eventually was partly as a result of that injury because Fulham go ahead very shortly after.
00:02:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Iwobi who I thought had a really good game for Fulham out on that left hand side. I mean he's a player reborn under Marco Silva. He links up with the Fulham left back, Robinson, who again he had a very good game as well, crosses the ball and Pereira comes in at the back post.
00:02:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's deflected of Andy Robertson to give Fulham the lead. Could Robertson have done better, maybe got tighter to Pereira? And that's why I bring up the injury, because I think that's still something that is affecting his game. So 11 minutes in and Fulham are one up.
Tactical Adjustments Post-Red Card
00:02:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And just five minutes later, Fulham midfield at Sander Berg puts in a cross field ball to former Liverpool player Harry Wilson.
00:03:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
It looks like it's going to be dealt quite comfortably by Andy Robertson, but he mis-controls it and Wilson yeah pounces and Robertson brings him down. He's shown a straight red card for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity.
00:03:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now there was a little bit of controversy about that decision because the referee looked like he'd played an advantage and that the advantage fell to Raul Jimenez and he missed his chance and so should the referee be bringing that back and sending Robertson off?
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's something that has split opinion. I've heard some former players saying that it should not have been a red card, that he played the advantage and Jimenez missed. But in any case, Robertson was sent off. You know, that's quite a few mistakes that he's made this season. He gave away a penalty Arsenal as well.
00:04:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it forced a slot into making quite an interesting tactical change. And I was at the game on Saturday and on the stands, we were waiting for the inevitable substitution. Bring off an attacker or a midfielder, and then bring on Gerald Kwanza into centre back and move Gomez into that left back position that he's so familiar with because he played a lot of last season at left back.
00:04:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, Slott does move Gomez into left back, but what he does that surprises us is that he moves Gravenberg from midfield into the centre back position. And we're just wondering at this point, I mean, is there anything that Gravenberg can't do on a football pitch? I'm half thinking that the next time Alison gets injured, Arnie Slott is just going to throw the gloves at Ryan Gravenberg and say, look, go on, on you go, into goal.
00:05:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
In any case, Liverpool go into the halftime break, a goal down. So we've got a real game on our hands, down to 10 men, hardly any defensive reinforcements available because of the injuries to Canate, Simicas and Connor Bradley.
Key Moments and Draw Outcome
00:05:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But to Liverpool's credit, they came out out of the traps flying in the second half, and within just two minutes of the restart, Mohamed Salah plays a beautifully weighed cross into the box, and there's that man again, Cody Gappo, on the left, diving in to head home, Liverpool's equaliser.
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's now really a vital part of that frontline attack. A player completely transformed under slot. looks up a yard quicker. He's got a goal threat and this season he's really developed that in-swing cross where he'll cut inside from the left flank and then fire in these swinging crosses that are so difficult to to defend against. But this time he's the one who's on the receiving end of of a great cross by Muhammad Salah.
00:06:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's a gap post seventh goal in 10 games and Salah's been involved in 11 of the last 12 Premier League goals for Liverpool with that assist. Liverpool starting to dominate possession and they do that throughout the second half to the extent that some of the Fulham players after the game said that it really didn't feel like Liverpool were down to 10 men, which really just shows how well the team played.
00:06:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Slott makes some changes around the 70 minute mark. Off goes Curtis Jones and Cody Gackpo. On come Gerald Kwanza and Darwin Nunez.
00:06:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's Fulham's substitute, Rodrigo Munes, who actually puts the visitors ahead on 75 minutes. And again, it's Iwobi on that left-hand side, setting up Robinson, who, to be fair, I think he beats Kwanzaa too easily. I think as a centre-back, you've got to be a lot stronger. And so Kwanzaa has been struggling the times that he's been in in the game.
00:07:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
or picked into the into the team, but he failed to stop that cross and Robinson does square the ball to Muniz and he tucks it away.
00:07:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Slot responds a few minutes later, on 79 minutes, off come Sir Bosley and Alexander Arnold, and on come Harvey Elliott, and much to everyone's delight, Diego Jota. And they both make an immediate impact. Elliott going close with a a really good effort, a curling shot that goes just wide of the post. And then on 86 minutes,
00:08:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jota the Slaughter just does what he does. You know, he's been out for 11 games, being on the pitch all of five minutes and he finds himself one on one with the keeper. And in the stands, as soon as Jota went through, I can see some of the the fans are already starting to celebrate. We just knew he was going to score. And what a difference it makes having a reliable striker up top.
00:08:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's 2-2 and there's a fair amount of stoppage time. And, you know, Anfield is rocking now and you feel like a winner is coming. And right at the death, 94th minute, Jota's through, he lays it on for van Dyck, shot is blocked, comes to Diaz, shot is blocked, comes to Jota, and the shot is deflected over the bar for a corner.
00:08:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it sounds really wasteful, but you've got to give credit to Fulham. It was great defending. They were putting their bodies on the line. You could really see them fighting for this point.
Impact on Title Race
00:09:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so 2-2 is the final result. That's two back-to-back draws for Liverpool. It's time for a very, very quick bait break. We'll be back after this short message.
00:09:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so how do we see this result in the wider context of a title race? think the Arnie slot will take positives from this result, and the players will as well, as well and and they should. Of course, we'd have preferred the three points. And before the game 11 v 11, you'd be expecting a home win, but not an easy win.
00:10:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Fulham have been excellent this season, one of the teams I really enjoy watching. I'm a huge admirer of Marco Silva, I think he's done a terrific job at Fulham. So I was expecting a very tight game and I think in last week's Friday forecast I predicted a close 1-0 win.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously got it wrong. But I say that as an example of how good full them are that, you know, I wasn't predicting an easy to three nil win. So I think that Liverpool's confidence will not be unduly affected by these two draws.
00:10:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't see this as a wobble or a blip. And if it is, well, it's encouraging that we're still picking up points. And when you look at it in more detail, the Newcastle game, we didn't perform well at all in that first half in particular, but we rolled our sleeves up, got back into the game, should have won it, but for a last minute goalkeeping error, which cost us those two extra points.
00:11:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And in this game against Fulham, ascending off so early in the game meant that we were playing with 10 men foot for nearly 90 minutes. We dominated possession. We dominated the chances and shots at goal and scored two goals. And, you know, possibly should have won it at the end. So this isn't, I don't see a team that's kind of crumbling However, it does mean that Liverpool need to get back to winning ways and winning ways quickly. That means we go to Spurs next week and get all three points because if we don't, then it may well be the start of a bad run.
00:11:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd say it's huge for us that Diogo Jota is back. It could be a turning point in the title
Injury Challenges and Strategy Shift
00:12:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
race. Just coming back to the Jota goal. He's played through by Darwin Nunez and so Nunez is right behind Jota as the Portuguese heads towards goal. So I hope, I really hope he watched carefully what Jota does next. He doesn't panic.
00:12:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
He doesn't just get his head down and hit the ball as hard as he can. He cuts inside the defender, leaves him for dead, settles himself, gives the keeper the eyes and slips it past him as the keeper dives the wrong way.
00:12:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
composure in front of goal. That's the difference between Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunes at the moment. And it's a ah ah massive moment, I think, in our season that he's back fit and scoring goals. I think it gives the whole team a lift and just more confidence that we've got another forward that's so reliable in front of goal. We don't have to solely rely on Mohamed Salah.
00:13:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when you think that Jotter is back and scoring already, Kieza is touchwood, he's fit. So that's six forwards, all fit and ready. And I think in this period where we are really down to the bare bones defensively with all the injuries,
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And now the suspensions as well. Maybe Arnie Slott's best tactic is to try and outscore everyone now because we may start leaking goals if these injuries and suspensions continue to pile up. Okay, we're going to go for another short break and we'll come back and we'll go through some player ratings.
00:14:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, let's get into some player ratings. Alison Becker, as I mentioned, was back in goal. And I'm going to give him a seven out of 10. I thought thought it was a steady performance. I thought he was very secure with his handling. Came for crosses, caught everything he needed to catch, punched everything he needed to punch. Couldn't really fought him for either of the goals. In fact, the first one, he I think he's very unlucky because It looks like he's all set to save the first shot by Pereira, but Robertson deflects it past him. He made a couple of crucial saves, especially at the end against Adama Troere. But it was Troere, so he was never really gonna finish a one-on-one, was he? So I'm giving Alison a seven out of 10. Trent Alexander-Arnold right back, I'm gonna go for a five out of 10.
00:15:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Quite an average performance from our right back. His distribution was okay, but it was his positional work that really let him down. He was caught out of position on more than one occasion, and it really, really did stretch that back line. We were down to 10 men, so you know possibly those are mitigating circumstances, but in terms of that back line, I have to say he was probably the worst of the bunch, so five out of 10 for Trent.
00:15:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Joe Gomez, 8 out of 10, he worked his socks off after Robertson got sent off, covered left back, made some crucial blocks and interceptions, and was constantly making those marauding runs from a fullback position. And he just reminded everyone of just what an important member of this squad he is.
00:16:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
and how important he'll be this season given the number of injuries that are beginning to you know take take its toll on the team. So a really good performance from Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk,
00:16:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
again eight out of ten ah he had to be at his best particularly in organizing the defense and the midfield in front of him when the team went down to ten man and he was a he was a threat at the other end as well particularly towards the end of the game he had a shot blocked goalbound shot right at the death which could have got secured all three points so eight out of ten for van dyke andy robertson 4 out of 10. He just had one of those days to forget. He was fouled quite badly in the opening minutes, which it just looked like it really did affect him. he could possibly you know He could have done better with the first goal and a poor touch led to his red card.
00:17:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's been getting a lot of criticism this season because his standards have been so high over the last few years, has been arguably the best left back in the world, but he just really hasn't got going this season. I don't want to throw him under the bus and say,
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, that's it. He's done. We've got to get another left back. But I do think that at his age, I think we do need to start looking at someone that can give him competition, regular competition. But we keep Andy Robertson, he's his leader, he's a senior player, and it's always good to have him in the squad, even if it's you know, to play kind of irregularly, maybe maybe in kind of league cups and FA cups and Premier League games, but maybe not the big ones now, whether that's something that Robertson can live with. I don't know. But so you know, he had a poor game.
00:18:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ryan Gravenberg giving him an 8.5 out of 10 and a man of the match performance for me made a seamless transition into central defence when Robertson was red carded and you know really didn't put a foot wrong. He was as composed at centre back as he has been in the centre of our midfield this season.
00:18:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
went back into midfield towards the end of the game when we're really chasing that win. So a really, really good performance from Gravenberg, but I don't think anyone's surprised by that.
Rival Teams' Performance
00:18:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Curtis Jones, a solid seven out of 10. He did what Slott wanted him to do really in that midfield. As I said, particularly when we're down to 10 men to keep that midfield stable, keep the ball possession, keep the ball moving.
00:19:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it just wasn't the game where he could be adventurous, just just a solid performance. And the same for Sir Boslai. A lot of these guys' performances have been obviously affected by that red card. He had to be more disciplined in defense alongside Jones. he did set up a great counter attack chance for Salah. So a good seven out of 10 for Sir Boslai.
00:19:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Moving up to the front three, Muhammad Salaam giving him a 7 out of 10 as well. A good performance. A really good battle with Robinson, the Fulham left back.
00:19:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Salah got the better of him on a number of occasions in the first half, but Robinson, you know, kind of held his own in the second half. Salah provided the cross for Gatpos, headed goal at the start of the second half, and really should have had at least one goal, especially the counter-attack situation that was set up by Sir Bosley. You know, he's going to be disappointed with that. And a quick mention again for Robinson, the Fulham left back. I mean,
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was kind of maybe telling that so he had such a great performance at left back when our left back you know really had a a game to forget. So is that a sign that Liverpool should be looking towards the Fulham left back as a possible replacement? and That's something to keep an eye on. Lewis Diaz, 7 out of 10, a typical Lewis Diaz performance, full of energy.
00:20:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
full of hard work and industry, he just never stops running. have scored scored a spectacular overhead kick which he was ludicrously booked for and he had a decent chance that he headed over but thought he was he was pretty good. Gackpo, I'm giving eight out of ten. I thought he was excellent.
00:20:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
not just because he got Liverpool going with that goal early in the second half, which was so important to set this ah the tone for the rest of the game, but he also did an excellent job covering at left-back after the red card, so he really, really worked hard as well.
00:21:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of the subs, Gerald Kwanza came on 5 out of 10. He looked a bit shaky when he came on. He gave away a needless corner and didn't cut out the cross that led to Fulham's second. I don't want to be too harsh. He's he's still a young player.
00:21:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's difficult to come on the second half of a game that you're you're chasing and you're playing a defence and you know your team are down to 10 men, always sucept susceptible on a counter. But it just looks like he's short of confidence.
00:21:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
and that he really hasn't got over the mistake that he made last season at Manchester United, but more, I think, more significantly was the mistake that he made, the performance that he had in the first game of the season, a way to Ipswich, where he was subbed off, Kanate came on, and that was it. Kanate and Van Dijk is the centre-back pairing. It just seems that his's not his confidence has really been knocked.
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So five out of ten for Kwanzaa. Darwin Nunes, seven out of ten, you know, brought on his typical energy, chaos, you know, ah ah crucially set up Jota for the second, I do hope he took note of Jota's finish.
00:22:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Harvey Elliott, 7 out of 10, made an immediate impact when he came on, recycled the ball really well, moved it quickly, just got Liverpool going, you know, make sure that the the tempo didn't drop when in possession and he had a really, really good curled effort that, you know, just went wide at the post.
00:22:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, you know, that was, I think, positive for both Elliot and for Liverpool because he's going to be a really important player, I think, for the rest of the season. I think Arnie Slott has missed having him to call on in that midfield. So that was a real plus point. And the other plus point, Diego Jota, 8 out of 10, what a player, what a striker.
00:23:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
It took him just five minutes to remind us all what we've been missing. His directness is such a threat for opposition defences and he you know he took his chance with typical efficiency.
Title Race Dynamics
00:23:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So on a day that Liverpool took a point from their game, it was over to the chasing pack to close that gap at the top. Arsenal were up first with Everton, the visitors, and well, you know, what looked like a guaranteed three points for for the Gunners turned into a frustrating goal, a straw. So Arsenal unable to take advantage of Liverpool not taking three points in their game.
00:23:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Manchester City were up next. that's so That was a Sunday kick-off at 4pm at home in the Manchester Derby with Pep Guardiola looking to lift his deflated champions after another defeat in the Champions League mid-week going down 2-0 away at Juventus. It took the lead against Ruben Amorim's team And you think that this is going to be that crucial win for city to try and rebuild some of the confidence, you know, some kind of form. And then in just three extraordinary minutes, Ahmad Diallo wins a penalty with two minutes to go. Bruno Fernandez.
00:24:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, very calmly converts, you think, okay, points shared. But then on 90 minutes, Amityalo again, cuts through that city defence. Edison, the keeper is in absolute no man's land. What was he doing?
00:25:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, a Diallo shoots toward goal and Guardiola, I don't know what he's trying to do, but he tries to back heal. The ball away from goal completely misses it. And United score and condemn Man City to yet another defeat, a quite incredible run that Man City are on. And this is a huge crisis now for them. And you've got to say now that they are out of the title race, surely.
00:25:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
that left just city so finish sorry beg your pardon Chelsea to finish off the Premier League's weekend action at home to Brentford and a chance to close the gap on Liverpool and steal a march on Arsenal and Manchester City and the Blues promptly beat Brentford 2-1 at Stamford Bridge they are in real top form. That's five straight wins in the Premier League so the top of the table reads as follows. Liverpool are top of the league on 36 points but that's from 15 games.
00:26:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Chelsea now are just two points behind on 34 points. They played a game extra 16 games. Arsenal in third on 30 points. So six points behind Liverpool. They've also played 16 games. Nottingham Forest um up up to fourth on 28 points. Continuing their fantastic start to the season after a really impressive win over Villa at the weekend.
00:26:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
and then in fifth place played 16 on 27 points defending champions Manchester City.
Conclusion and Call to Action
00:26:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's how the Premier League table looks and it's shaping up to be quite a title race and Chelsea are definitely in it.
00:27:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that's all for today. You've been listening to the Daily live 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 GSPN Liverpool. You can email us, gspndailyliberpal at gmail dot.com. Join us again on Tuesday for our tax it tactics show, I should say, as we take a deeper dive into the weekends two to draw. Until then, thank you for listening.