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Liverpool LOSE to Crystal Palace - Monday Review
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Louie Easton unpacks a weekend of frustration after a painful first loss of the season in Croydon.
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Transcript
Introduction and Setup
00:00:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, you are listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network.
Solo Hosting Challenge
00:00:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
My name is Louis Easton, and this is one that I've been dreading all weekend. um If it was more fresh, I'd be more heated.
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But to be honest, I just haven't really had any energy to do this. um But I was the only person willing to do this because this is my slot. And ah interestingly enough, none of the other boys really wanted to join me.
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
and i mean, I can't blame them. It was...
Match Review: Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. um But this is the Monday Review episode of the Daily Liverpool podcast, um where we look back over the weekend, and we kind of try to piece together what we've seen.
00:01:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Straight away, i just want to say everyone was dreadful other than Alisson. um And I don't think that's a controversial... i mean Okay, maybe Sobos, Lyon, Chiesa were good. But other than them, everyone was equally dreadful against um Palace, who have been good this season.
00:01:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And, you know, it's even worse when Mark Gay was probably their best player of the entire match. You know, that man was an absolute mountain at the back. And it's no surprise why we really wanted to sign him. ah Just annoying we didn't sign him because now he's put it in a man of the match performance against us.
00:01:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And we've had our first loss of the season. fact, our second loss of the season, if you count the Community Shield, both of which against Crystal Palace. They really do seem to be our bogey team at the moment. um And they have been for quite a while now, other than COVID, when we absolutely smashed
Lineup Changes and Defensive Struggles
00:02:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
them. What was it? 7-0, 7-1, whatever it was.
00:02:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But the Liverpool that we saw on Saturday afternoon... was nothing like that team. um I mean, it's a pretty changed team ah from what we've seen. i mean, firstly, let's just look at how we started. We started with Connor Bradley at the back ah and no Cody Gakpo. Obviously, Ekatsike was out due to suspension, arguably the funniest suspension I've ever seen.
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
But... Yeah, it it was just a very depressing watch, a very slow death, um you might say, from a team who have scored nine goals in the last five matches before this.
00:02:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And ah we've won our last seven matches before this as well. ah Yeah, okay, all right. um So... We conceded in the first 10 minutes.
00:03:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Usually we score in the first 20 minutes and it took us 87 minutes to score ah on the
Defensive Depth Concerns
00:03:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
weekend. And Ibrahima Canate, yes, he won a lot of duels, but my goodness, that man had a calamitous performance.
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I hope Real Madrid were watching because this is what we've been putting up with a few times this season. And Canate, as we know, ah with defenders they need a little bit of time to adjust into the season to get into their flow um we are six matches into the premier league this season and he still hasn't really got into his flow i mean he's had a few ah good performances for us um i mean his performance against burnley a couple of weeks ago was absolutely terrific but just well off that uh on saturday got himself booked van dyke of course as well got himself booked but can i'll say
00:03:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
A couple of mistakes at the back really left Alisson exposed. And, you know, we just can't go on like this.
Evaluating Defensive Alternatives
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the fact that we haven't got any defensive depth in the centre-back position, especially with Giovanni Leone now out probably ah for the rest of the season, maybe, ah is my worry.
00:04:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's really put us in a difficult position um because Joe Gomez is our only cover if anything happens to Canate. And um I mean, at this point, I'd much rather play Gomez over Canate week in, week out if he wasn't so injury prone.
00:04:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah We've seen Gravenberg go into defense. We saw him go into defense once again. and um He... I mean, it's not his best position. He did well.
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't even know what our formation was at the end. I was confused watching it. um But it's just not sustainable. Obviously, Wataru Endo is another option because he played centre-back under slot for us a bit last season. And...
00:05:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he looked really good despite his height, you know, five foot ten. He loves to throw himself into tackles. That's why he has that mouth guard. He knows that he's going to get hit. He knows he's going to get hurt.
Mo Salah's Performance Critique
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I think he could be an option going forward.
00:05:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you know, you just want um defenders who are defenders. I don't think that's a controversial thing to say at all. Rhys Williams is our other option. Me and Jesse, of course, both members of the Rhys Williams fan club.
00:05:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you know, are we really going to be relying on Rhys Williams again? We haven't relied on him since, what, 2020? And, you know, he didn't look very good for us. He's quite slow and he just hasn't got the experience. He's been playing for Blackpool and Motherwell.
00:05:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if a couple of our defenders get injured, are we going to want him to play in Champions League nights for us? Absolutely not. um um Maybe you can prove me wrong, but I don't really want to take that risk.
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So yeah, Kanate subbed off 74 minutes in and he's just such a worry, isn't he? ah I hope he can get back to into his good form again because he was terrific for us last season.
00:06:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But... this is not the same player as last season. Connor Bradley, right back, came off at halftime. I thought he was pretty suspect in the first half. He got pretty pocketed going down that right-hand side.
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
In fact, both our players on the right were pretty shocking. Mo Salah... was probably our worst player of the entire match. I think at one point he actually stopped a goal from going in. I haven't been able to bring myself to rewatch the highlights because I just, I cannot stand it.
00:06:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But I remember, I can't remember who it was who got the shot away, but it was on target, i think, and Salah stuck his leg out in the box and the ball just went over the bar. I just think, what the hell are you doing? It's just greed, isn't it?
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
For someone who is meant to be so clinical in the box, incredible with his decision-making in small areas, he's had a horrific start to the season.
00:07:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah He scored a winning penalty and one goal from open play, which, to be fair, was terrific on the opening gate ah game of the season. But this has just been
Player Analysis: Isak and Wirtz
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
inexcusable again from Salah.
00:07:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You know, he's got his big contract and... we were so excited about him renewing last season gutted when he lost out in the Ballon d'Or and didn't even make it into the top three.
00:07:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But when you're putting in performances like this, I can't really defend him. Um, Yes, they were playing fight with the back. Yes, they were very organized at the back and they were just sitting back the entire game. It was a horrific watch.
00:07:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Salah just really was not good once again. ah Dispossessed three times, offside once. ah He only had...
00:08:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
uh, one pass into the final third. He had six touches in the opposition box. He didn't have one successful dribble all game, uh, three shots, only one on target missed two big chances.
00:08:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, yeah, just a overall horrendous performance from Salah, unfortunately. And, um, listen, we all hope that he can get back into his, uh, good run, which he usually does in the first half of the season.
00:08:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, um, Hopefully, hopefully but he can sort it out before he goes to AFCON. um And maybe we'll just be playing Chiesa on the right-hand side for a bit because he's been one of our only positives ah over the weekend.
00:08:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah What else? Isak, yeah, a bit of a nothing match really, wasn't it, for his first start in the Premier League? Is that right? First start in the Premier don't know. um But 84 minutes played, three shots. He actually was pretty good when he did get the ball. He did that incredible run into the box where he was tackled last second.
00:09:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
What can you really do as a striker when you're playing against a team that don't want to play football and just want to sit in their own box? You can't blame Isak for his bad, ah for his nothing performance. I won't say bad performance because I don't think it was.
00:09:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But um you can't blame him at all. You can't blame Florian Wirtz either, in my opinion, because you've got great creative players who were fantastic in transitional play.
Crystal Palace's Defensive Strategy
00:09:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Isak a couple of times found himself on the left-hand side and just was quite effective, actually, in that position. um But when you've got Palace, who just wants to sit back for an entire match, defending and play on the counter-attack,
00:10:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's going to be difficult to play against them. I will give them a bit of credit for how they defended, but I don't want to give them too much because every single match this season we've played, other than maybe the Atletico game, we have played against teams who do not want to play football. They don't want to challenge the midfield.
00:10:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're content to just sit back for 90 minutes and clear everything away and maybe try and hit us on the counter. And, you know, it worked for Palace. They got the 2-1 win.
00:10:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, um you know, that's exactly what they want to do. But it's just so frustrating as a Liverpool fan when you've got a team who are so expressive in their play going forward and offer so much creativity.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then for us to just be passing it around the box for the entire game. It's, ah it's so annoying. Sobosla, I thought, had a great game. I think, honestly, this is going to be crazy to say. I think his best position is right back. Because every time he's played there, he has been terrific. He looked way better than Bradley at right back. And he did those fantastic deep crosses into the box, um which gave us a couple of chances. And...
00:11:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just, when Frimpong came on as well, I don't think he looked particularly great. um Although he did only play for, what, 15 minutes? So, yeah, I'd be happy to just see Soboslai as right back. I know it's harsh on Bradley and Frimpong, but every time he's played there, he has looked unbelievable.
00:11:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's been so consistent this season that I kind of just want to see him on the pitch in any capacity. And Florian Wurtz's best position is number 10, so it's best to just keep him there for the moment.
Standout Performances by Palace Players
00:11:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um... What else can I say? As for Palace, yeah, they defended well. I think Tyric Mitchell is a serious contender for the England left-back role. I don't really rate Myles Lewis Skelly that much.
00:12:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I think Mitchell is one of these just under-the-radar players. He plays more as a left-wing back, so he's used to having a bit more cover. Usually it's Mark Gay coming across to defend him, which he did terrifically.
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
um and i And I think he was great going forward on the left-hand side, you know, giving issues to Bradley. um And that Adam Wharton guy, I know we're linked to him.
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's a terrific player. um I kind of knew him more as a sort of holding midfielder. And ah yes, they were sitting back in their own box quite a lot. But if we are linked to him...
00:12:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And his transitional play is that good. I mean, I would not complain if we you were to get him um because his box to box play was absolutely terrific. I know he only played like three quarters, sorry, two thirds of the match.
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But even his dribbling is just really good. And he got a couple of touches in our box as well. Yeah. And, I mean, did he even get dribbled past that entire match? I don't think he did. And he's 21 years old.
Gravenberg's Midfield Isolation
00:13:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that is a player who's going to have a lot of um a lot of great matches ahead of him in his career. As for our box-to-box midfielder, Ryan Gravenberg, he was just completely outnumbered in that midfield. We saw McAllister sort of drift across, and he looked very disappointed to be taken off, but he didn't have a great game.
00:13:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um he was So Gravenberg was a bit isolated in midfield. He'd have a little bit of help, but he'd kind of look for the right wing for Salah, and then it would just kind of turn into nothing. thing um So maybe I was a bit harsh on Gravenberg, but um they made his game very, very hard.
Upcoming Challenges: Galatasaray and Chelsea
00:13:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
In fact, he was actually fouled four times. That's more than any other player in the entire match. um I mean, if Endo was there, it would have been him. so Yeah, ah just a bit of an off day from the entire team going forward. ah Our passes weren't making it their targets, and I think... um yeah Yeah, we've got Galatasaray tomorrow night.
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah Turkey is a very, you very difficult... In fact, it's renowned for being one of the hardest places to go in all of Europe. It's a hell of a long way away from Liverpool. In fact, it's probably the longest European journey in the Champions League.
00:14:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And Galatasaray are a very good team. um i mean, if you look at the players they have... I'm just going to get their latest starting XI up really quickly. um here we go so they just beat i'm gonna try and pronounce this right alan yaspor uh one nil away from home they were starting icardi up front they've got leroy sane as their number 10 they've got lucas torreira as a sort of holding the fielder davinson sanchez remember him he will he had the world of good ahead of him at one point uh
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Still only 29, by the way. ah Completed 90 passes in that match. um Used to play for Spurs. he was and Didn't really work out for him there. And then they've got a ah very capable goalkeeper in Urgachan Chahir.
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not going to pretend like I knew who he was just before I looked it up, but he got a 9.4 star rating because he made eight saves and he faced 2.58 expected goals and kept a clean sheet.
00:15:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
If that's not a sign of a good goalkeeper, I don't know what is. ah They don't like to play five at the back, unlike Palace, so that's good from that perspective. And they've actually got Hungarian in their team, Roland Salai.
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So we'll know who will be swapping shirts after that game, but... They've got Mario Lamina. They've got Victor Ossiman, obviously, and Ilkay Gundogan. Those three players are just names. We're all rested.
00:16:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's a sign of the fact that they are going to be bringing the big guns against us. ah They've scored 13 goals in their last five matches as well.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
00:16:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
umm I'm sure we'll do more of a Champions League preview. and But i'm what I'm saying is we can't just rely on passing it around for an entire match, trying to look good in the first half and then conceding again because we have conceded way too much this season. Yes, our attack is fantastic, but this whole thing where we have to try and outscore the opposition, it's not sustainable. It's not going to work over an entire season.
00:16:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
We need to sort out our midfield tracking back and defending counterattacks for the love of God. It's inexcusable now. It's happened too many times.
00:16:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I can't have a heart attack every time I watch a Liverpool match. Yes, they got a late winner against us. I understand it. 97th minute. Eddie Nketiah, for God's sakes. How are we conceding to Eddie Nketiah of all players?
00:17:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So, yeah, we just need to sort out our defending of the counterattacks, especially against a team with as much pace going forward as Galatasaray.
00:17:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And then we've got Chelsea next weekend, and that's going to be a real, real test. so um Because Chelsea were just beaten on the weekend as well against Brighton.
00:17:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So they'll be trying to bounce back from that as well. Anyway, let's hope for less counter-attacks. Let's hope for at least one comfortable win in these next few fixtures that we have. We're still top of the league.
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Unfortunately, Arsenal did get a last-minute winner against Newcastle, so that's not ideal. um But we'll leave it there. You've been listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. Stay tuned as we bring you some build-up for the Champions League football tomorrow.
00:18:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Take care and see you for the next one.