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Do Liverpool REALLY need Isak?? - Discussion + New Signings' Performances
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Join Karl Coppack and Louie Easton on whether or not Liverpool REALLY need to sign the Sweden striker.
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Transcript
Podcast Intro and Season Reflections
00:00:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
well um that's that's the new that that's the new uh intro for global sports podcast network uh There you go. That's a nicer 90s house anthem to kick things off here. You're listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast and I'm joined by the returning Karl Koppak. Karl, are you excited to the rejoin after the summer?
00:00:43
Karl
It's weird if it's summer. i i I need a summer more than most people, I think, because I do get to too heavily invested in what's going on. And bearing in mind, we had an ideal season um and I just sort of need to sort of calm down a bit. So when people said, oh, can't wait for the season to start again, I'm thinking I'm i'm all right for another month, to be honest.
00:01:03
Karl
you You
Transfers and Missed Opportunities
00:01:04
Karl
just carry on. there's And it's not as if there's nothing going on because it's transfer frenzy. um But then I went to the charity shield as I still insist on calling it and I thought yeah this is good I want to see Florian Verts again and you know and I want to see Hugo and TK and and and so i'm sort of I'm sort of back into it now and my my girlfriend's are away this weekend and I think I'm going to watch every single second of every single game I can possibly watch so you know
00:01:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and it was ah it was an interesting return because we've had two matches that, ah well, obviously one ended with a win, one ended with a loss. ah We're going to talk about, well, I suppose you could, if you want to look at it that way, you're more than welcome to.
00:01:38
Karl
Draw. Draw. We drew it. We drew it.
00:01:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Although after seeing that Salah penalty, I can't think of anything other than loss in this week.
00:01:49
Karl
Do you know what I did ah Wembley? Because obviously the penalties were down our end. you know, i I shouted out loud when he made that penalty. ah This is such an old man thing to shout. I shouted, come on, I paid for this.
00:02:02
Karl
Like he just wasn't bothered.
00:02:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it was it was... I mean, I felt bad for Harvey Elliott, to be honest. I don't know about you.
00:02:09
Karl
Yeah. was an awful penalty. If it wasn't for Moe, it would have been the worst penalty than of all of them.
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was a pretty nasty penalty. But I'm always against having players who just came on taking penalties anyway.
00:02:15
Karl
Yeah.
00:02:20
Karl
Yeah.
00:02:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's for that reason. He looked nervous stepping up and he looked gutted when he missed the old guy.
00:02:22
Karl
Yeah.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I mean, hopefully he'll get some ah playing time this season, regardless of where he is.
00:02:25
Karl
yeah
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, let's ah talk about the game that we did actually win. ah which was the Bournemouth game that just happened over
Liverpool's New Signings and Eketike's Role
00:02:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
the weekend. Obviously, me and Jesse already did do a review. So if you haven't checked that out, ah go and have a listen to that. Spotify, well wherever you're listening to this podcast, it will be there.
00:02:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But rather than focusing on the match, I'd like to sort of have more of a focus on our new signings because we... Did get to see plenty of them. um Obviously, Eketike, we'll talk more about him and whether or not we still want Alexander Isak later in the podcast.
00:03:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Kyle, I'll let you do the honours. Which one would you like to start off with?
00:03:08
Karl
let's Let's start with Big Hugo.
00:03:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Big Hugo, yes, of course, two goals in two games for Hugo Eketike now in competitive football. ah And it was a great goal as well. oh I almost got a little bit reminiscent of, and I know this is huge praise for a new signing, it kind of reminded me of a Luis Suarez with a sort of ricochet off the defender, anticipate the rebounds and then send the goalkeeper the wrong way as well.
00:03:30
Karl
loves that, yeah.
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, what a performance.
00:03:34
Karl
Yeah. i but I would say Torres myself, mostly because he's got a blonde at the top of his head and the camera's very high.
00:03:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:43
Karl
But he does this thing where when he's running towards a centre-half, he runs in sort of slight, almost like zigzag waves. to put the defender off his balance and Torres loves doing that.
00:03:55
Karl
lare Torres loved using his sensory garret gravity and like swerving constantly, um which is no bad thing and because he's got like blonde hair ah from the position I was watching that.
00:03:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:04:05
Karl
It was um It reminded me of him. I think there's an awful lot to him other than goals, which I think is going to be absolutely crucial. And that's where I think Darwin Nunez fell down. um And I think that there's a ah much more complete player there, which I think is going to make a a a huge difference for us.
00:04:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:21
Karl
um I loved straight away that you said this is this league is hard straight away. Like they're just on at you constantly. um
00:04:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:29
Karl
Rather than sort of, oh, yeah, you know, he didn't slat on it, you know, and say it's the best thing and since the last break. He's like, Jesus, this is hard. That's why he's going off early, because he's absolutely goosed after an hour. Because you've you've just got to put it, but I mean, particularly against Bournemouth as well, it just are just relentless.
00:04:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:45
Karl
um I thought that that was it was really promising. And it's difficult to judge a player after two games, but um straight away, I just think I can see how you work. where again, with other sign-ins, you don't see it yet. You think it'll come. Kirkhead is the best example probably for that, where you think you're you're all right, but you've got work to do before you can settle in and say, this is your Liverpool career now.
00:05:09
Karl
You've got to adjust. And that happens, like Fabinho happened to happen with him, you know, and things, and Andy Robertson. um
00:05:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:15
Karl
It takes a while sometimes to bed into what the process is, but Hugo Echettike just seems to be a sort of person who's going, I know what you want, but I would like i would like to breathe occasionally. um But I'll get it the space.
00:05:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah It's... He plays an interesting role.
00:05:26
Karl
There's fit and there's Liverpool. That's the problem.
00:05:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
he does
Debate: Should Liverpool Sign Isak?
00:05:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
He does play that sort of Klopp role almost where you kind of ask the forwards to come back and help out in defence as well. I mean, way more than Salah does at the moment, even though he does have his moments where he can track back.
00:05:37
Karl
Yeah.
00:05:39
Karl
Yeah.
00:05:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But ah is that important for this Liverpool squad where maybe the midfield are still struggling to find the forwards? In my opinion, I think that's exactly what we need and it's what we've been missing.
00:05:53
Karl
Yeah, and and also, i mean, there's a big example of that would be the Gakpo goal, where he takes the ball, he turns away from the goal, and he's saying, who's coming to join me?
00:06:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:04
Karl
Who wants this? um So he's always trying to bring other people into play. He will drop back in a sort of Firmino-type way, not as much as he did, and not and nowhereing near as well as he did, because no one ever could.
00:06:16
Karl
um But he he likes to bring the other team around him. I'm always slightly wary of... mean, they're talking today, we're recording this on Sunday about the Arsenal game. they've got a big number ah They've got a big number nine who's going to take the ball and you know do all this sort of stuff.
00:06:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:06:29
Karl
um I'm very wary of a nine um number nine who is the focal point. He shouldn't be the focal point. He should be bringing other people with him, particularly if you're playing two wide strikers next to you either side.
00:06:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:42
Karl
Your job is to find, you bring space for them.
00:06:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Goal scoring strikers, yeah.
00:06:45
Karl
That's what you do. That's why Firmino went deep so often. So Mane could overlap and underlap and things like that. ah And he seems to be a lot more, and to say that's only his second game, he understands the system straight away.
00:06:56
Karl
And there's only going to be good to come, I think. It's a fitness thing with him, obviously, to get to 90 minutes, but that's definitely going to happen.
00:07:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I suppose the question now is, after watching that performance, do we still need an Isak in our team? ah Because maybe that will sort of push Ekotike out of the team when he already is working pretty well in this system and had quite a strong start to a Liverpool striking career.
00:07:23
Karl
Yeah, you do. um Because what happens if he's injured? Who's Liverpool's number nine? It's not an immediate answer, I'd say.
00:07:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Would it?
00:07:30
Karl
I mean, you can use Virts as a false nine. I'd rather not because I think he does it i think he does better between the lines. um And we are down strikers.
00:07:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:07:39
Karl
We are down because of Jogo, obviously. um You could say that Eketika replaces Diaz. Nunez, you've got to replace him. We need another striker, I think, definitely, unless you believe, as as I do, that's ah that Dans is the future of Liverpool Football Club.
00:07:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think Dans does deserve to be on the bench a bit more this season. But I just think when he spent 80 million on a striker in Eketike, and you can already see the quality that we've got there, do we need to then spend 120 million plus for another striker um who, to be honest, I've not been massively impressed with his attitude.
00:08:19
Karl
I've got views on the hours ah you exact thing. I i think the exact thing over some... It amazes me with clubs about how they sort of... He's to be dis disrespecting the fans, yeah, but the clubs are always more than happy to renege on deals, false promises. We had this with Torres.
00:08:33
Karl
um You know, he was told one thing and then they completely lied to him just to get him to stay and and things like that. and i like I agree with Isaac. It's been... He could have done this better. He could have just gone into training. I want to train with you, but, you know, i don't really want to play because you promised me this and I want to go.
00:08:48
Karl
Yeah.
00:08:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:50
Karl
But I know happens to lots of players. But when a club is trying to get a work player off the books, that's all right. I don't quite follow all that. that um I won't mention the journalist's name, but very keen to... I think i think a lot of people are sort of tend to support the clubs more without seeing the players' point of view. If he's acted that to us, I'd be furious.
00:09:10
Karl
But I did find it funny when years ago when Pierre van Hooydonk did it to Forrest because it was Forrest, so that's fine.
00:09:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:09:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean I do feel bad for the other Newcastle players who have to sort of shut this out when their main star, who, by the way, is being paid more than them, ah They're having to shut that out and perform, and you know Eddie Howe having to come out and defend him and all of this sort of thing that's going on.
00:09:30
Karl
Yeah.
00:09:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's just It's just not a very good look for Newcastle. not that i yeah He's absolutely not, and they have to try and find a replacement for him.
00:09:37
Karl
And Anthony Gordon's not a nine.
00:09:41
Karl
No. He's a great...
00:09:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
They went after Sheshko. He rejected them. They went after Eketike. He joined us. You just have to feel sorry for Newcastle at this point, but don't... you know I just don't get why you've got a player there who's not training with the with the first team and he's refusing to play in the matches at the moment as well.
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, that's just completely out of the question.
00:10:04
Karl
Yeah.
00:10:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why don't they just accept the £120 million pounds up front rather than sort of going to find a replacement first? I mean, does do you understand what I'm saying?
00:10:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
is that make sense to you?
00:10:15
Karl
Yeah. yeah that's ah it's it's like it's it's It's basically stupid. ah wrote a thing a few weeks ago said it the before the bid, and I said, Liverpool are going to bid and Newcastle are going to turn it down regardless what it is. Because I would.
00:10:29
Karl
Just out of sheer truculence. No, I don't like you. I'm to turn down whatever it is, no matter how impressive it going make you work for this. If I get another £10 million pound from him, that's fine, even though we don't need the money anyway.
00:10:40
Karl
ah want but Newcastle will have to be seen to say, no, he's our asset. He's our player. We've got big ambitions. We're not just going to go toe-to-toe with Aston Villa, which is pretty much what they are. and we we know we We're but're at the same table as you, so we're going to turn down that money. and That's a perfectly legitimate standpoint.
00:10:58
Karl
But at what point is there a world where basically they say, right, he's not playing, he's not having him. And Isaac has a year out of the game and Liverpool come in and say, all right, then 60 million quid.
00:11:08
Karl
And they take it because they have to.
00:11:11
Karl
What's the point of that?
00:11:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, that that is that that is a good point.
00:11:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But also, would would Newcastle accept that when they have gone out and bought a new I mean, I suppose they wouldn't have a choice in that circumstance.
00:11:25
Karl
But they're going Wister, aren't they?
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
that you can
00:11:26
Karl
which which is Which is fine for them to talk about a player that's not their own.
00:11:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Apparently they want two new strikers.
00:11:31
Karl
They do, yeah. They need two new strikers.
00:11:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
because they got rid of Callum Wilson as well. We've forgotten about that.
00:11:34
Karl
Yeah.
00:11:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
he He was back up.
00:11:35
Karl
Yeah.
00:11:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was never going to play up front. I mean, I still think maybe for the time being, they shouldn't be playing Gordon up front. Maybe they could be playing someone like Joe Alinton, who has experience at striker. But, you know, that's for their podcast.
Liverpool's Squad Dynamics and Player Performances
00:11:47
Karl
Well, well.
00:11:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're talking about Liverpool here.
00:11:49
Karl
He's about as number nine as Anthony Gordon is for me. He's a midfielder, I think.
00:11:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I suppose, I suppose.
00:11:54
Karl
Yeah. Yeah.
00:11:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, Isak's on the table. Eketike, do you feel at all sorry for him ah having to continue to perform with, especially with the fact that this is what annoys me so much about Isak?
00:12:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
He only said he wants to join Liverpool after Eketike signed for us. We could have signed him before we put in a bid before. Then we got rejected and then we just went for Eketike instead.
00:12:20
Karl
yeah
00:12:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And suddenly he's on the table again. So with that in mind, do you at all feel sorry for Eketike? Because I had this conversation with Jesse and he said that it's just another challenge that he'll have to overcome as a footballer.
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
and He doesn't feel too bad for him.
00:12:32
Karl
yeah bull Also, they want to play with better players, so I can't see being a problem for them at all. Ultimately, I ah can't feel sorry for a footballer that plays Liverpool Football Club and is doing well.
00:12:43
Karl
but
00:12:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:12:44
Karl
That's the bottom line for me. No, I don't feel sorry for them at all. God, yeah.
00:12:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
you not feel sorry for Kiezer then?
00:12:51
Karl
um god yeah because he's the greatest man who's ever lived.
00:12:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
so Yeah, exactly.
00:12:54
Karl
i mean's There's no question of that. The thing is, I met a Palace mate before the Charity Shield in Euston for the game, and he said to me, who are we going to see from your lads today? And I said, everyone, because everyone plays, every game, really. All right, some only get like five minutes, or you know Robbo just comes on at the end or something like that.
00:13:15
Karl
They'll all get on. We're playing like two games a week for the next 50 weeks or something stupid like that. They'll all get a game. It's just, it's what do we do for 4-2-4, you know, play play them all. Do we give, it's all done to give people rest, isn't it? And that's because we know he's very, very serious lot about winning the league and winning the Champions League. And we need a big squad to do it.
00:13:37
Karl
So they're all going to play, it's but it's going to situation of, um, Ekotike is not going to play at Sunderland away because they've got Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
00:13:48
Karl
It's going to be that sort of thing, I think, more than any anything else. It's that sort of scenario where if we've got Isak, he can chop and change. I think Isak could be quite keen to play against Sunderland, you know, that sort of thing for obvious reasons. so They'll probably cheer him on, in fact.
00:14:02
Karl
um They didn't cheer on Callum Wilson yesterday, I noticed. ah Nor would I. But, ah yeah, so I think the squad's big enough. I don't i think they're all going to play and they're all going to moving around. So, for starters, no one knows where anyone's playing and anyway at the moment.
00:14:15
Karl
Apparently, Endo's a right-back. He isn't.
00:14:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:14:21
Karl
right
00:14:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, I'm impressed with that attitude, but I mean, I suppose it's because Connor Bradley's out.
00:14:24
Karl
Yeah. I'm going to sprint after him now, my boss. Okay, you know 33, don't you? Okay. Okay.
00:14:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, so that's all have for the first part. We'll talk more about the other players in just a moment. But first, it's time to hear from our sponsor, Bionic.
00:15:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Carl, you gave me the face like you'd never heard that before.
00:15:21
Karl
Extraordinary.
00:15:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, let's move on. um Someone that I did want to mention, Milos Kerkes. I do think, you know, I had a bit of sympathy for him because he kind of got teamed up on, ah especially by Semenyo, who was once again phenomenal for Bournemouth.
00:15:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I do think he struggled a little bit on that left-back role. He got himself a yellow card. He got subbed off two-thirds into the game. That's absolutely fine. But I want to know what you thought about him.
00:15:51
Karl
but There's going to be better days. I thought the same at Wembley as well. He just wanted to win every single ball, regardless of how legal it was to do so. he's like gee just there's an awful lot um I'm to say this from a position of affection.
00:16:08
Karl
There's an awful lot of Alberto Moreno about his tackling.
00:16:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought the exact same thing.
00:16:12
Karl
but Yeah, there's you know, the the the famous Alberto Moreno long jump tackle that he used to do occasionally. We'd take a run and just jump two feet. That one ah he did against Arsenal, Jesus Christ, and then did it a minute later.
00:16:25
Karl
ah Kerkowski, I'm not saying he's that bad because he's a proper fullback. Alberto Moreno, to me, wasn't an especially good footballer. um But I think it'll come good. I just think out of all of the new signings, he's the one who needs to have a chat.
00:16:40
Karl
And I bet you Robbo's delighted because he's thinking, kid well, okay, if you're replacing me, you're not replacing me yet.
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I mean, I was...
00:16:48
Karl
And Robbo was great when he came on.
00:16:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I thought Robbo was absolutely terrific when he came. I mean, he actually had one of the fastest sprints out of the entire Liverpool team.
00:16:53
Karl
He was.
00:16:58
Karl
Yeah.
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
32.3 kilometres an hour. ah So all this talk about the legs have gone.
00:17:04
Karl
His legs have gone.
00:17:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm absolutely... I'm not having that at all.
00:17:06
Karl
No.
00:17:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not a chance.
00:17:07
Karl
No.
00:17:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And his attitude, his experience, his stamina, I still think there is so much that Robbo has to offer. So for the... While I will continue to support Kerkhez, I still think Robbo has at least another season in him.
00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know if you think the same.
00:17:22
Karl
there's always It's always nice to have a James Milner on the run your bench to do things like that. And I think that's going to be his role, to be honest. Even if we go back to a three, we'll get the old man back in and say, just calm this down and get us over the line, which is what he did.
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
but so
00:17:33
Karl
um i think
00:17:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
i I don't know if I agree with James Milner as a comparison.
00:17:38
Karl
Well, you know what mean?
00:17:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:17:38
Karl
Klopp used to bring Milner on the wrong with five minutes to go to say, OK, we all do this now.
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't think Robbo is one of those players that you can just bring on to close things off because I think he's i think he has so much energy.
00:17:46
Karl
I think he might become that, though.
00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, when with regards to his defending, I don't think that's the strongest part of his game. I think the strongest part of his game is keeping possession going forward and sprinting down the left-hand side. And he has a wonderful cross on him. He's great with the dead ball when he takes the corners as well.
00:18:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So,
00:18:07
Karl
He's the best crosser in the club, I'd say.
00:18:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
i ah yeah i think I probably agree with you Maybe Gakpo is still... up there for me but i yeah i i just think there's so much play career left of robo that we're just completely overlooking
00:18:14
Karl
Yeah, that's pretty good. But, I mean, if I wanted to cross on the penalty spot, ah he's the first man I'd go to.
00:18:26
Karl
Yeah, absolutely absolutely. Yeah, yeah. I completely agree with that. I just think it's because he's now a senior. There's rumours of him being vice-captain, which, I i mean, i Alison aside, I can't think of how else that could be.
00:18:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
i i support ah the talk is salah as well but i think that's just because it's salah
00:18:36
Karl
Yeah.
00:18:42
Karl
Yeah, should go give him everything. Yeah, it's... um But, you know, but he's in that he's in that group, isn't He's a senior player in the group. He's massively respected. You talk to him like he's a captain, you know, he's...
00:18:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. and Yeah, he's Scotland captain as well. And so so he's he's used to that sort of thing.
00:18:57
Karl
Yeah.
00:19:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah ah The other fullback now will go to the right hand side. Jeremy f
Player Highlights: Frimpong and Gomez
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Frimpong obviously scored in the Community Shield. um think he did pretty well again ah against Bournemouth.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I had questions about him defensively when he came in because I couldn't seem to find anything about him being a really good defender. um But, you know, I think he was ah think he's quite strong for someone who's only 5'7 or whatever he is.
00:19:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah i'd I'd argue he had ah very strong performance again, Carl.
00:19:30
Karl
and so against some pretty difficult opponents as well, you know who who loved the flanks. Bournemouth loved the flanks. I love the description of him, small man, big headband.
00:19:41
Karl
That's my favourite description of him so far.
00:19:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is that is very good.
00:19:43
Karl
um the The best compliment I can give him is we went to pieces when he went off, because there's absolutely no reason why he should have gone off. But unless he was tiring a bit because, I mean, he's a good defender as much.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
o
00:19:54
Karl
And this does worry me when people say, oh, he's a great defender because he can get back quickly. And that tends to tell me he's in the wrong position or he's so he's overlapping.
00:20:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, I mean...
00:20:02
Karl
he's goingnna He's going to be overlapping Mo a lot, which means he's going to have to but get back quick.
00:20:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I mean, his energy is amazing on that right-hand side, and I think he's...
00:20:08
Karl
And where is Trent? um Yeah.
00:20:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because he's played on the right wing for the Netherlands, so...
00:20:15
Karl
He was a wingback, wasn't he, for Leverkusen as well. So it it was sort of,
00:20:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's he's given so much freedom to get forward. And, you know, when Canate is covering you, it doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence because he had an absolute rotter against Bournemouth. But Frimpong's energy was, just amazes me.
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's so, so quick. 36 kilometers an hour he reached in that match.
00:20:36
Karl
Yeah.
00:20:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like a horse on that right-hand side.
00:20:40
Karl
And isn't he a nice man? I love his interviews.
00:20:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's lovely.
00:20:43
Karl
Yeah, he's just a really nice... like i did the up so I watched the ah this thing you did about Scouse expressions, and I just loved how sort just confused he was by the whole thing.
00:20:55
Karl
Keks, what a keks.
00:20:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, you talk about the Cobbon interview.
00:20:56
Karl
You know, yeah the Cobb on it, yeah.
00:20:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:20:59
Karl
Yeah.
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, let's not go into that too much.
00:21:02
Karl
but i think But I think he's very sort of... yeah probably wise. ah Again, he seems to have settled a bit. um it's ah It's a rare world where, but basically I thought if he if he has a problem with his first season, that'd be due to his ability or his positioning or just not settled in.
00:21:18
Karl
And it wasn't, it wass because of the centre-back to his left. It was the problem. he He was his biggest problem because Ibu Canate had another nightmare. Just an awful game. so But think, so again, because he went off, I think. I wonder what happens when Conor's fit.
00:21:36
Karl
But, you know,
00:21:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that that's what I was going to ask you. Obviously, Gomez is back now as another option, but his best position is centre-back.
00:21:42
Karl
why
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's the James Milner that you were referring to Robertson as.
00:21:45
Karl
Yeah, yeah, probably, yeah. And Gomez did well when he came on as well.
00:21:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:49
Karl
He can play right. I mean, I'm playing Gomez at right back instead of end over. I don't know what the hell he was doing there.
00:21:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Yeah, it's Gomez's first game back.
00:21:56
Karl
You could even go three. yeah Yeah, but...
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
since Plymouth last year. That's how long it's been. How long ago was that?
00:22:04
Karl
Yeah, and that was his first game for about six months, wasn't it?
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't.
00:22:07
Karl
Well, I was at the Ipswich game last year when people were talking about he's he's going to Villa on Thursday. That's the end of Joe Gomez. He's still here and he's still getting Liverpool over the line.
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
there's There's always rumors of Gomez leaving and he always stays and everyone sort of just wants him to stay because I think he's such a good player to have around. He's that he's our longest serving player, for goodness sakes.
00:22:29
Karl
Yeah.
00:22:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And um he's never, I mean, he's not going to unsettle the changing room anytime soon, is He's completely level-headed and he can play in multiple different positions.
00:22:36
Karl
No.
00:22:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a player with a very, very good attitude. Yeah.
00:22:43
Karl
And he's Virgil's best mate as well. These things are important.
00:22:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'd play him over Kanate if he can reach that 2020 season level again.
00:22:49
Karl
I would.
00:22:50
Karl
I would, definitely.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:22:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Also, because he can drift over to the right back position as well on cover.
00:22:55
Karl
Yeah.
00:22:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Better, he's quick. I don't know if he's still quick after all his injuries, but from, I mean, he has been quick.
00:23:01
Karl
See him there again. Hell of a throw-in as well. I've forgotten all about his throw-in.
00:23:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's, oh yeah, he can get it so far. So it does beg the question, Bradley comes back, he gets back to full fitness.
00:23:06
Karl
yeah
00:23:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are you playing him over Frimpong at the moment or are you giving Frimpong a bit longer?
00:23:13
Karl
It's the same question as Izak and Ekotike, isn't it? They're all going to play.
00:23:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I suppose.
00:23:18
Karl
Yeah, they're all going to play at some point. So he will get lots of games.
00:23:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
but But when we start playing those teams like Chelsea, Arsenal and City, would you want Bradley to play or would you want Frimpong to play in that match ah based on what you've seen so far?
00:23:30
Karl
I think from there's not much in it, but i mean bo is I do really like Conor Bradley. I probably would play Conor Bradley just because I i think his engine's incredible and he's a lot more settled.
00:23:42
Karl
But it's probably going Fring Punk because he's his signing, i imagine. But it's lovely problem to have because what it isn't is Philip Deggan
00:23:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:23:51
Karl
It isn't Alberto Moreno. It isn't Insua. It isn't alre Andrea Dossena. I love these arguments just because of the dross we've had to put up with over the years. This is all that's fine by me. Play who you want because they're both really, really good players.
00:24:05
Karl
I think I'd just go Bradley.
00:24:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's also the captain of Northern Ireland now, Connor Bradley.
00:24:07
Karl
Of course they all are. They're all captains.
00:24:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's the youngest ever captain of Northern Ireland as well.
00:24:12
Karl
Yep.
00:24:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah What a problem to have. You're racking your head trying to work out what to do with this squad. ah I was a bit worried that if we did sign Isak and we didn't get rid of Nunez or Chiesa is probably going to stay now, that we would just have to find out a way to integrate them all into a team having their own role and all feeling settled because I was hoping that we wouldn't turn out like Frank Lampard's Chelsea where you've just got too many good players.
00:24:31
Karl
yeah
00:24:39
Karl
Liverpool B.
00:24:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
So,
00:24:41
Karl
Liverpool B, that's the answer.
00:24:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I suppose you could say that. um And there is one more new signing that we haven't really spoken about because there's not really that much to speak about from that Florian Vertz performance. I mean, we even after straight after the match, me and Jess said, he didn't do a lot, but he looked good.
00:24:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's one of those situations.
00:25:00
Karl
Yeah, yeah. he's ah hes ah I think it was one of those role those very aesthetic goals. Yeah, it's like aesthetic games he plays. I, again, to bring myself into the Liverpool sphere, I played on Friday night and I had a good game.
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:25:14
Karl
I didn't miss a single pass. I won everything whatsoever and I contributed nothing to the entire game, but I did really well. And if you times that by a million, you get Florian Verts, who was just looked lovely, loads of little drop and deep, little pop-offs, arm round. you ah the The thing I really loved at Wembley was the way he lets the ball go across his body.
00:25:34
Karl
He loves the ball around the corner and that's gorgeous to see from the position he's in, from bearing in mind how tight it is where he plays, how congested it is.
00:25:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:42
Karl
And he was fine without me ever thinking, oh, that's good. It's just nice to look at. But that's going to change. i mean, he's going to absolutely batter some teams this year.
00:25:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah He's the best player I have ever seen with their back to the opponent with the ball at their feet.
00:25:59
Karl
Yeah.
00:26:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's just, he's so slippery.
00:26:00
Karl
Yeah.
00:26:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's the perfect, perfect word for him.
00:26:03
Karl
Yeah.
00:26:05
Karl
Yeah.
00:26:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:26:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Losa-Cummoor, I mean, to me, this is our long-awaited replacement for Coutinho.
00:26:13
Karl
Yeah. mean, not the back injury. See, there's another example. um
00:26:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, there.
00:26:18
Karl
He went on strike two. Oh, no, it was a back injury that suddenly got better when there was a medical at Barcelona going.
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:26:24
Karl
It's funny that. um i love the I heard an expression used about Verts the other day, which is the ball doesn't arrive at him, it just hovers near him. The ball just hovers near his feet all the time. It's always his ball, even if it's not really his ball. It's just sort of always his. um He's going to better games than that. Again, he's got to get up to fitness level because there's a massive difference in terms of physicality between the Bundesliga and the Premier League.
00:26:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:26:47
Karl
and And he's going to get tired again.
00:26:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:26:49
Karl
And again, I thought we felt fell apart a bit. um he's got it I think he's going to get up to Zaboz-Lite level of enth enthusiasm at some point, but it's a slow process and he won't, so I'm happy with it.
00:27:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's it's such a good team to be a part of if you look at all of the footage behind the scenes. They all seem to be sort of laughing with each other and smiling but
00:27:09
Karl
And you know, Frimpong as well. it's It's important, the friendship thing as well, because you don't to to work and think, oh, God, it's him. um So, you know, the fact that him and Frimpong get on so well.
00:27:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
he does seem a bit like a sort of introvert though doesn't he he sort of keeps his head down and keeps himself to himself he's he's one of those characters that aren't obsessed with their outlook
00:27:27
Karl
um um I'm desperate um'm desperately trying not to use the word Teutonic. for obvious reasons. But yeah, there is something quite mechanical about him.
00:27:39
Karl
But if that if that involves putting trophies on the table for Liverpool, then I'm fine with that. I don't want Dietmar Hamann, is what I'm saying.
00:27:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, that that's that's a different German player for a different...
00:27:48
Karl
Great player, but I wouldn't want him anywhere near the dressing room, frankly.
00:27:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
An absolutely opposite when it comes to the sort of physicality as well
00:27:55
Karl
Yes. Yeah.
00:27:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll end it there, actually, because I we i think that covers basically everything.
00:27:58
Karl
Yeah.
00:28:01
Karl
Before we get sued...
00:28:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
and and That covers absolutely everything that I've wanted to talk
Young Talent: Giovanni Leone and Chiesa's Dedication
00:28:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
about. um The only player that we haven't seen integrated, I suppose, is the player that we signed a couple of hours before the match, Mr. Giovanni Leone.
00:28:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Someone that Jesse is really excited about. I don't know a thing about him. I don't know if you know anything about him that you want to quickly add.
00:28:21
Karl
Not at all.
00:28:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
not Not at all. No, well, 18-year-old...
00:28:23
Karl
I think I've watched a game involving Palmer since about 1993.
00:28:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
that probably back when Buffon was still there or around that time.
00:28:28
Karl
Yeah.
00:28:31
Karl
Yeah. Yeah. he great?
00:28:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so um well ah when when he plays, we'll talk about him.
00:28:34
Karl
yeah
00:28:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as the only thing I can say about him is he'll be nice to keep Chiesa a bit more grounded at Liverpool with another Italian face joining the squad.
00:28:47
Karl
oh roney great
00:28:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I love that man to bits.
00:28:51
Karl
i look I love that he ran over to his doctor when he scored.
00:28:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've been listening to the...
00:28:55
Karl
Again, things like that.
00:28:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Did he? I didn't know that.
00:28:56
Karl
Yeah, his doctor was on the bench, ran over and hugged his doctor and his they've got like a development coach there for that mentally now mental health type stuff. And, yeah you know, in a sort of Steve Peters type way, psychologist way.
00:29:09
Karl
And he ran over to them on the bench to thank them for getting him through his injury.
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, that's so nice, Matt. And i think after the match, he said something which really surprised me. um I'll get the tweet up, actually. Yeah, here it is. um I'm very happy at Liverpool. I will speak to the club, but I want to stay here and fight to win many trophies.
00:29:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
My goal is also because he because he ah scored that goal. He dedicated to two people, Diogo Jota. And the one man I thought he would never dedicate it Arna Slott.
00:29:35
Karl
Yeah.
00:29:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
He said, my goal is also dedicated to Arna Slott. He's always been great with me since day one. Even if I get only 10 or 15 minutes, I'm not sure I'm ready and able to do my best in order to play with this team. It's like the more you hear about this man, the more you like him.
00:29:51
Karl
Yeah. yeah You want to score for the people like that.
00:29:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's one of these players that aren't just appreciated by the fans of the teams he plays for. It's appreciated just by football fans in general.
00:30:00
Karl
Yeah.
00:30:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Anyway, i'm I'm very pleased that Chiesa now feeling a bit more settled and hopefully many more Premier League goals to come. You've been listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast. My name is Louis Easton.
00:30:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've been with Karl Kopach. We'll see you for the next one.
00:30:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
wrong that's the wrong ad we'll try that again we'll see you for the next one