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Brentford v Liverpool Preview
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Liverpool are back in PL action after the midweek win in the Champions League and Jesse is looking ahead to this game:
- big Liverpool win in the CL to kick-start PL defence?
- Ekitike the main man?
- a reunion with Jordan Henderson
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Global Sports Podcast Network - Creating the world’s first network of 30-minute daily podcasts for the world’s biggest sporting export, the English Premier League.
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Transcript
Liverpool's Recent Struggles and Comeback
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. It is the Friday forecast, so we are gearing up for this weekend's game against Brentford in the Premier League.
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's been a difficult few weeks for the Reds, a difficult month really. Three defeats in the Premier League, one in the Champions League. But Arnie Slot's men put all that behind them on Wednesday night after a resounding 5-1 win away at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.
00:01:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's talk a little bit about that win, because it has come at a really, really important moment for us. We were staring at a fifth consecutive loss, which is it just inconceivable. I mean, it was inconceivable that we were going to leave lee lose four in a row or even three in a row.
00:01:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But losing five in a row, that hasn't happened for, I think, over 70 years. So think it was really important that the team just got back on track, got back to winning ways, got a bit of confidence back into that team, particularly after the Manchester United loss.
Criticism and New Player Integration
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know we'd We'd had the international break for a couple of weeks and the hope was that the team would come back a bit fresher and just a new start, but it just couldn't have gone any worse, really.
00:02:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so you know the managers come in for criticism, the players have come in for criticism, and you know some of it's been fair, I think some of it has been... Over the top. And I think, again, I think it's more the kind of social media element that, you know, really kind of just reacts in a over the top way. I think, you know, this is a new set of players. A lot of these guys have come in and they do need some time to gel.
00:02:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think we saw signs of that on Wednesday night. a much, much better performance, much more fluid performance going forward.
00:03:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Defensively, I think we just looked a lot more solid, a lot more compact and just kind of confident, even though, and this was a disappointment that we conceded, you know, we conceded first, but And, you know, that there's pluses and there's there's pros and there's cons to that. Obviously, you don't want to concede a goal.
00:03:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the danger was that after the run that we've been on, four straight losses, and then we lose that big game against Manchester United,
00:03:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we go behind fairly early in the first half against Frankfurt. And the danger was that, you know, the shoulders drop and, you know, the players start feeling sorry for themselves and that, you know, this is just another
Standout Performances: Eketike vs Isak
00:03:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
negative. This is another goal conceded. And, you know, potentially this is another game that we're going to lose.
00:04:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
But to their credit, you know They didn't panic and no stage in that game did they give the impression that they were feeling sorry for themselves.
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
They really just got on with it, got back into shape. And as soon as we got the equaliser, I don't think there was any doubt in terms of who was going to win this game.
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, the the the man, i I guess, of the moment and the man that really kind of, I think, is the one shining light or one of the few shining lights, particularly in terms of the new players that come in, Hugo Eketike.
00:04:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, the contrast between Eketike, who's had a full preseason, and Alexander Isaac, who hasn't had any preseason, it couldn't have been more stark.
00:04:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was, I think was on full display on Wednesday night. It's like, I think he still looks short of that cutting edge, that sharpness, that sharpness in front of goal, that confidence in in front of goal.
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's probably feeling... a bit under pressure now. And that lack of confidence, you know, is is not going to help.
00:05:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you contrast that with Eketike. He comes on, he's always looking to make things happen. He's big, he's quick, and he's really positive in his movements and his and his actions. He's always looking for that quick forward pass or a quick...
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
forward movement and the goal that he scored I thought was a really really good goal I mean he showed great pace he got he picked up the ball I think around about the halfway line showed that kind of pace to move away from the last defender but then he also shows a couple of other things He shows his in-game intelligence.
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Instead of just running in a straight line, he immediately runs in the path of the last defender. And he gives that defender a decision to make.
00:06:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
He either lets him go and just hopes that he misses or the goalkeeper makes a save or he takes him out. And if he takes him out, it's a red card. And with with the home team 1-0 up and it's midway through the first half, he would be so stupid to give away a red card and and let his teammates play the entirety of the rest of the game with 10 men.
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so that was really intelligent play by Eketike. And then the other thing that he shows... is composure. He's really calm and composed. Once he's got in front of that defender, he gets to the edge of the area and then he just slows down. You can see him. He he slows down and what a composed finish, just slots it past the keeper And I think that really, really bodes well for Liverpool in terms of the kind of player that we've brought into the club.
00:07:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that there was huge fanfare around alex Alexander Rizak coming in, and rightly so, you know, probably alongside Erling Haaland, the best out-and-out number nine in the Premier League, one of the top finishers in Europe, and with the transfer fee, a British transfer record.
00:07:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
There was always going to be that fanfare around Isak coming in. And I suppose there was a natural tendency or an inclination to look at Hugo Eketike at 70, what, 70, 75 million pounds as something as a backup.
00:07:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or a number two to Isaac. But I think he's quickly shown that that is anything but the case. Right now, he's our main striker. He's our best striker and he's got a start.
00:08:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's got to start games. And if it means Isaac's on the bench, so be it. He's the one that's got to fight for that position. But, so you know, I think he's got to get a consistent run of games now, particularly now that Isak looks like he's picked up a groin strain.
00:08:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And that's why he didn't come out for the second half. And I just think it just puts that kind of question to bed for a while and that Ekotike will be our main striker moving forward. And that's no bad thing.
Set-Piece Improvements
00:08:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was really good to see us score from set pieces. We've been really, really poor this season from set pieces. And so both Van Dijk and Canate scoring from corners a is a huge plus point for us because you know that is something that we should be using more of. We should be utilising more.
00:09:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
The strength of Van Dijk and Canate in the air should be much more of a goal threat than we have been so far. and But the delivery of our corners, I think, you know was a lot better. Those kind of in swinging corners, you know far too often, I think we've been really wasteful with corners. But on Wednesday night, we we looked really, really good and and a really solid threat from set pieces.
00:09:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it looked like, you know, slot has changed things up. You know, we we looked like we were setting up in a almost like a traditional 4-4-2, freeing up Verts to drift around that kind of attacking third.
00:09:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I thought he had a good game. A couple of c assists, should have got a goal. Had Mohamed Salah squared it to him, you know, he had a tap in.
00:09:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he couldve he could have had two assists and a goal. But, you know, Salah just didn't didn't even look up to see him. Let's talk about Salah. I mean, he he came on in the second half, came on as a substitute, didn't look particularly happy, which is fine you don't expect him to be.
00:10:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he doesn't look like he's come out of that rut that he's in. He's spurned a couple of good chances, ones where one where you'd expect him to at least hit the target.
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the one where he could have set up Vurts was, I i think, I think it was a bad one. I think that Salah... Yes, you know, he needs a goal and he feels like he needs a goal. But I think he's also got to show that even in these kind of bad moments, these moments where he's not in the best of form, he's got a show that the team is the most important thing.
00:10:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think if he'd have assisted Virts to get his goal, I think it just would have showed himself, it would have shown showed the team and supporters that he's...
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's not dwelling on the fact that he's not scoring goals. It's not bringing him down. It's not stopping him from being effective. And that is a thing, you know, you can be out of form.
00:11:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can be a striker who's not scoring goals, but when the chance presents itself to materially affect the game and the scoreline by setting up one of your teammates to score a goal, then do that.
Salah's Form: Cause for Concern
00:11:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
do that and so you know I think that's something that was was a takeaway I think I think the reaction has been I still think the reaction has been overboard particularly online but that's you know that's that's no surprise I think we've got to separate the fact that you know sometimes players can have bad games. that can They can be out form.
00:12:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
It doesn't necessarily mean that it's the end end of Salah's career.
Key Attackers: Gakpo and Eketike
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know that There can be this kind of happy medium. But I think with his age profile, there's always this tendency to think, that's it, he's he's finished.
00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so far, i think Ekotike and Cody Gakpo, who I thought, again, thought he had another good game. Sometimes Gakpo could look predictable, but... bottom line is he's effective.
00:12:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's setting up chances. He's creating chances chances, particularly with that, again, that very predictable cut inside and whip the ball in with his right foot. But, you know, i think he could have set up a couple of goals with those crosses if the finishes were better.
00:12:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then he does get his goal as well. So I'd say that Ekatsike and Gakpo are are our most reliable attackers at the moment. And I think that, Arnie Slott's got to build around that that duo for for the next few games.
Midfield and Defensive Updates
00:13:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Federico Chiesa got game time and again, I think he showed his worth. He didn't get the start, which a lot of us thought that he was he was due and and deserved.
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just I'm not sure if if if Arnie Slott really fancies him that much. I think he says the right things about Chiesa. He always talks about his professionalism and his's his work rate, his attitude, his quality.
00:13:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that doesn't really translate into trusting him to start. And I really thought that this was the game where he was going to start, given that I think it was widely accepted that Salah was not going to start.
00:13:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. But, you know, he played, the the i think, the whole of the second half. And I thought, he again, he had a really good game. He showed a great attitude and he really brings a lot to our pressing game when he when he plays.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, certainly in the absence of Salah, that really is apparent. I thought our midfield, I thought was really good.
00:14:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Curtis Jones and Sir Bosley, I thought were excellent. I mean, Sir Bosley has probably been, he's probably been our best player all season and, you know, finished off the the night with with a really good goal, a a good finish from outside the area.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
but I just think he's all around performance. He's controlling that midfield. He's really now one of our senior midfielders now alongside McAllister and Gravenberg. You know, these are our go-to players in midfield, but Curtis Jones, I think again, he's had a very good season.
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
He hasn't had as much game time as you would have liked, but every time he's come on, he's affected the game. He's been really positive. And especially with McAllister not yet hitting his stride, I think there's an opportunity there for Jones to really cement a position in that midfield and just make him more of a shoo-in for slot and get him into that kind of McAllister, Gravenberg, Sir Bosley group where he's really, really a senior member of that midfield.
Injuries and Promising Performances
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I thought those those two were were were excellent in midfield. It was good to see and Andy Robertson back at left back. And I think he was a huge improvement on Milos Kerkhez.
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was solid. He kept that defensive shape really well, which is it's not surprising. I mean, him and Van Dijk on the left side of that defence have played alongside each other. for so long, they're just so vastly experienced.
00:16:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, he set up Ekotike's goal with a really nice through ball. I think he made it look easier than it was. He could easily have overhit that or underhit that. He just weighted it perfectly so that all Ekotike had to do was just kind of run into space and run onto the ball.
00:16:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i thought that was a really positive a positive note that Robertson was was playing and he played well.
Caution Against Frankfurt's Weak Defense
00:16:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
On the other side of that fullback position, Jeremy f Frimpong at right back only lasted, I'm afraid, about 20 minutes before being taken off with a hamstring injury.
00:16:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's an issue. Obviously, he's not going to be available for the weekend. And I would say it's going to be anything between three and six weeks. And it is a bit of a concern because, you know, he came back from a hamstring injury.
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think Slott has got to be really careful. Frimpong is one of these players, you know, he's, you know, he's he's quite short and he's fast.
00:17:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's really fast. and And the thing about these speedsters, they really, really rely on their, you know, their fast twitch muscles, their hamstrings.
00:17:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we've seen it happen so many times in the past where if they're overworked or they don't recover properly from from a hamstring and they do it again and again and again, it just can become a can recurring problem.
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
and you take something away in terms of their the dynamism, their explosiveness. And so I think that's something that Slot really got to be wary of and manage that really well.
00:17:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
That said, I thought Connor Bradley did well. he It was one of his better games this season and he could have actually scored twice. So that was really positive to see Connor Bradley back to some of the form that he showed last season. Marma Dashfield in goal, I thought made a couple of really smart saves.
00:18:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Disappointed that we conceded first. and I don't really blame him for that. But overall, look, a really good win. That performance was... You know, definitely more like a Liverpool team.
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good energy off the ball, much more positive going forward. I would would put in a note of caution, and this is not to kind rain on our own parade.
00:18:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was a big win and and it was a really important win. But the note of caution is that Frankfurt, Eintracht Frankfurt, do concede goals. You know, this is this was their third 5-1 game in a row in the
Preview: Brentford's Counter-Attack Strategy
00:18:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Champions League. They beat Galatasaray 5-1.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
They lost to, I think it was Atletico Madrid 5-1. And now we've beaten them 5-1 and they concede and score goals for fun in the Bundesliga. So whilst I think it's a great confidence booster that we got the win and a big win under our belts, I'm not sure that we're going to find too many teams defending like that in the Premier League.
00:19:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the next team that we face in the Premier League is Brentford. And we'll preview that game right after this break.
00:19:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, so Liverpool are the visitors to Brentford for this Saturday. This Saturday's game is a Saturday night game. It's an 8pm kickoff UK time. That is 3pm Eastern time.
00:20:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Both teams are coming into this fixture with a patchy form, although Brentford do come into this game. off the back of that 2-0 win against West Ham, which sees them sitting in 13th place in the Premier League on 10 points.
00:20:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've had a change in manager, obviously Thomas Frank, left for Spurs, you know really hugely popular and influential manager at Brentford. He's the guy that took them into the Premier League.
00:20:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And really, i mean, he did so well.
Liverpool vs Brentford: Match History and Intrigue
00:20:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
He did so well to take them into the Premier League and then just keep them there and keep them there comfortably. They were never team that at any stage, do you think, right, they're they're just going to get relegated.
00:20:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's one of his great achievements is that, and as a club, that they entered into the Premier League and it feels like they've been there for like, you know 10 20 years but they only got promoted into into the Premier League in in 2021 but it just feels a lot longer than that and I think that's a huge credit to Thomas Frank because it does show how well that they've adapted in the Premier League and one of the reasons was is that they had a coach in Thomas Frank that was
00:21:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he was very pragmatic and he just played to the team's strengths. And, you know, you've seen managers come in yeah in the past. They take teams up and they're ideologues and they've got one way of playing. And even if they have the players or they don't have the players to play that style, they'll they carry on and they'll carry on until they get relegated and they still won't change.
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Thomas Frank, I think, I think he's very pragmatic and he plays to his team's strengths. And I think that Spurs will benefit from that.
00:22:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Brentford benefited from that when he was a manager. Now he's given way to Keith Edwards, who was their former set piece coach.
00:22:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, You know, they've they've got a bit of continuity there. Edwards knows the club really, really well. And I think it's interesting that he's he's been promoted from within as a set-piece coach. And think that may give us a clue as to Brentford's tactical approach at the weekend. Yeah.
00:22:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think long balls, sitting deep, playing on the counter-attack, much like United did against us last weekend. i think that will be their tactical play against Liverpool.
00:23:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, Thomas Frank used to do that. I think he used to like five at the back. And I think Edwards has continued in many the games to play that system, to debate play that formation.
00:23:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so I think that it's going to be a real battle for Liverpool. And I think they're they're really going to have to, you know, to win those aerial duels. They're going to have to be quite physical to come out of this game with with any points.
00:23:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, we've got a good record against Brentford. We've won our last five games against them. And we've scored at least once in every game that we've played against Brentford since they made it into the Premier League.
00:23:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
although, having said all that, we are not, I don't know why we don't like London at the moment. We're not travelling to London very well recently. And we've you know we've lost the last four games in the capital.
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, you know, you you would hope that that's going to be reversed in this weekend's fixture. Jordan Henderson is going to be lining up for Brentford against against Liverpool, where he enjoyed so much success. He was there for a very, very long time. And that is the club that he's most associated with.
00:24:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so you can be sure that he's going to be up for this game. and will really want to put in a good performance against his old team.
Lineup Predictions and Arsenal's Mistakes
00:24:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he was a great leader. I thought was a great captain.
00:24:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, despite that ill-fated move to to Saudi and then he moved to Ajax, He's come back to the Premier League and I thought he's i think he's performed really well for Brentford.
00:24:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's used his experience, his undoubted leadership qualities, as well as contributing a couple of really, really nice assists for his team. So I think that's going to be an interesting battle in the middle of the park and it will be a battle.
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so in terms of a predicted line-up for for Liverpool, Marmadashvili will continue in goal while Alisson recovers from that hamstring injury.
00:25:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think the back four, again, I think is going to be an interesting one. Canate Van Dijk, you know, you can put your money on on that being the centre-back pairing.
00:25:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I do think that slot, I've said it before, I think he's got it got to go with experience now for the next few games. we've got a good result in the Champions League. And now it's a tough away fixture in the Premier League.
00:25:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And bearing in mind that it's a Brentford team that is going to use set pieces. We've got a set piece coach as Brentford manager now. So I think that Kanate, Van Dijk, obviously start. I would continue with Andy Robertson at left back.
00:25:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that we just need to get a string of results now. And I think Robertson showed really good form on Wednesday night. And I think he should continue. Whether he does, obviously Slott may want to rotate further and and bring in Kerkhez because he didn't play midweek.
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I would stick with Robertson. And at right back now that Frimpong is out, I'd put Joe Gomez in at right back again to just add height to that Liverpool back line and to counter those, you know, Brentford long balls and just give a bit more defensive solidity. So that's the back four that I would go for. Gomez, Canate, Van Dijk and Robertson.
00:26:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think in midfield again, I think McAllister, he came on as a sub on Wednesday night and he just still doesn't look right. And so I would keep him on the bench and I would start with Curtis Jones and Dominic Saboslay who have shown you know excellent form.
00:27:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
A lot of this obviously depends on the fitness of Ryan Gravenberg, who he didn't he he was he didn't feature on Winter Night. And it's an ankle injury. Obviously, it all depends on the fitness news, whether he's fit enough to start.
00:27:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
If he is, then, you know, it's likely to be Gravenberg and Sir Bosley that play. But... I think Jones has done enough really to to get a starting berth. I really do.
00:27:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if Graverbert doesn't play, I would play Jones and Sir Bosley and Florian Verts in that midfield three. and it could be a midfield four it depends on how slot tactically lines up in terms of the the front three i would start with mahmoud salah and i would give the other two positions to hugo ekatike and cody gakpo who as i've mentioned i think those two ekatike gakpo have been our most effective and reliable strikers so
00:28:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would just start with those two. And I would start with Salah. I think that he's out of form. don't think that this is the end of Mohamed Salah. I really don't. And I think as as a team, we've got to...
00:28:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, we've got to get him up and running. It doesn't mean that we do that at the detriment of the team. But I think having Mohamed Salah that's producing goals and assists, it can only help us and put us in a good position to to win silverware this season. and So i think that would be our certainly would be my starting 11.
00:28:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so in terms of a predicted score, I do think that that midweek win was a big win for us. And we just looked a lot more solid defensively.
00:29:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that, you know, if we can come away with another win, I think it will just be a really, really big win. you've also got a fact to factor in that we're playing on Saturday.
00:29:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
If we do win, we're just a point behind Arsenal. Arsenal, I believe, are playing on Sunday and they're playing against Crystal Palace and that's not going to be an easy game. So we've got to make sure now that we're just picking up points now and slowly playing ourselves back into form because...
00:29:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whilst Arsenal are top of the league and they are looking very solid, defensively looking very sound, they don't look like they're conceding a lot of goals and they will but just purely because of the fact that they are strong in those set pieces, they're always going to create chances and come away with 1-0 wins like they did last week.
00:30:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But... there There is going to come a time, point in the season where they will feel the pressure, where they will have a defeat or a draw to deal with.
00:30:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's going to be how they deal with that. And we've got to be in a position where we can pounce, where we can capitalise on any slip up by Arsenal, because that is their big Achilles heel.
00:30:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's the one thing that we've got over them is the Arsenal are always, they're the bridesmaid, that they're always looking to win, but they never do. And I think we've got to really play on that and press on that insecurity that Arsenal inevitably will feel until that time where they do get over the line and and win the Premier League.
00:30:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But up until then, we've got to keep winning our games and putting pressure on Arsenal. Right, I think we'll leave it there. That's all for today. You've been listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:31:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. We'll be back after the Brentford game to bring you all the post-game reaction and analysis. Until next time, thank you for listening.